General Studies — Paper IV
(a)Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is not rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate.
(b)Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.
(a)The Rules and Regulations provided to all the civil servants are same, yet there is difference in the performance. Positive minded officers are able to interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations.
(b)It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions would ensure smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced by him in his day-to-day functioning?
What does each of the following quotations mean to you?
(a)“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do.” — Potter Stewart
(b)“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher.” — A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
(c)“Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.” — Dalai Lama
(a)What do you understand by the term ‘good governance’? How far recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State have helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples.
(b)Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in the administration and for teaching and learning in education sector to the extent telemedicine in the health sector is getting popular with the approvals of the competent authority. No doubt, it has advantages and disadvantages for both the beneficiaries and the system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of online method particularly to the vulnerable section of the society.
(a)Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affair.
(b)Write short notes on the following in 30 words each: (i) Constitutional morality (ii) Conflict of interest (iii) Probity in public life (iv) Challenges of digitalization (v) Devotion to duty.
(a)Whistle-blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blower?
(b)In contemporary world, corporate sector’s contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine.
Prabhat was working as Vice President (Marketing) at Sterling Electric Ltd., a reputed multinational company facing a sales downturn. His division was desperately trying to secure a big Ministry of Defence order, and he had been reprimanded by the Executive Director for poor performance, with his job and financial security at stake (a home loan EMI, his children’s education, and his ailing mother’s medical care). A candidate, Subhash Verma, applied for a Manager position through a reference from the Defence Minister’s office. During the interview, Verma revealed he possessed copies of a rival company’s (Unique Electronics Ltd.) confidential bid documents for the same tender, and offered to hand them over in exchange for being hired — a move that could let Sterling Electric win the tender. Prabhat was stunned, torn between the temptation to save his job and company, and being aware of Verma’s dishonesty in stealing his own company’s papers. He asked Verma to return the next day.
(a)Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case.
(b)Critically examine the options available to Prabhat in the above situation.
(c)Which of the above would be the most appropriate for Prabhat and why?
Ramesh, a State Civil Services Officer, was posted as Director in the Home Department of a border State after 20 years of service, while his mother battled cancer and his two children had just been admitted to good schools. He received an intelligence report of illegal migrants infiltrating from a neighbouring country, and personally led a surprise check that caught two families (12 members) infiltrating with the connivance of border security personnel — who were also forging their Aadhaar, ration, and voter cards to settle them in the State. Ramesh prepared a detailed report and submitted it to the Additional Secretary. A week later, the Additional Home Secretary summoned him, said the report was not appreciated by higher authorities, and directed him to withdraw it — warning that refusal would cost him his prestigious posting and his upcoming promotion.
(a)What are the options available to Ramesh as the Director of the Home Department of the bordering State?
(b)What option should Ramesh adopt and why?
(c)Critically evaluate each of the options.
(d)What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ramesh?
(e)What policy measures would you suggest to combat the menace of infiltration of illegal migrants from the neighbouring country?
The Supreme Court banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop forest degradation, but stone mining continued in a border district with the connivance of corrupt forest officials and politicians. A young, dynamic SP trying to stop this menace was killed by a truck driver fleeing a mining raid, and the case saw no breakthrough for three months. Ashok, an investigative journalist with a leading TV channel, took up the case on his own and, within a month, exposed a complete nexus of the stone mafia with corrupt police, civil officials, and a local MLA close to the Chief Minister. When Ashok presented his report, the CMD of the channel advised him to drop the idea of making it public — revealing that the MLA was a relative of the channel owner and an unofficial 20 percent shareholder in the channel. The CMD further offered Ashok a promotion, a pay hike, and adjustment of a ₹10 lakh soft loan (taken for his son’s chronic illness) if he handed over the report instead.
(a)What are the options available with Ashok to cope up with the situation?
(b)Critically evaluate/examine each of the options identified by Ashok.
(c)What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok?
(d)Which of the options, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Ashok to adopt and why?
(e)In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest for police officers posted to such districts where stone mining illegal activities are rampant?
You completed an MBA three years ago and, after facing a COVID-19 recession and a long series of competitive tests, got a job in a leading shoe company’s Inspection Section, responsible for clearing the final product — while supporting dependent aged parents and a newly-started married life. The company decided to export to Europe for the first time, but a large consignment was rejected by the European inspecting team for poor quality and sent back. Top management ordered the same consignment be cleared for the domestic market instead. As part of the Inspecting Team, you flagged the glaring poor quality to the Team Commander, but the rest of the team signed off anyway. You raised the concern again, warning it would tarnish the company’s reputation, but management warned that refusing to clear the consignment could cost you your job.
(a)Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the Inspecting Team?
(b)Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you.
(c)What option would you adopt and why?
(d)What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you?
(e)What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team?
Rakesh, Joint Commissioner in a city’s Transport Department, had to decide a strike by the drivers’ union over compensation for a bus driver who died on duty. The driver had been in an accident at an intersection after an altercation with a middle-aged car driver; both were badly injured, and the bus driver died while the car driver recovered. Police investigation found the bus driver himself had started the quarrel and resorted to physical violence. Despite this, the Transport Department management was considering denying any extra compensation to the deceased driver’s family (a wife and two school/college-going daughters, with the driver as sole earner) — and the workers’ union, upset at this unsympathetic response, had gone on strike for 10 days demanding both full extra compensation (as given to other drivers who died on duty) and a job for a family member. The deadlock continued.
(a)What are the options available to Rakesh to meet the above situation?
(b)Critically examine each of the options identified by Rakesh.
(c)What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rakesh?
(d)What course of action would Rakesh adopt to diffuse the above situation?
You are appointed as an officer heading a section in the Environment Pollution Control Board, overseeing a region with many small and medium industries employing migrant workers — most holding environmental clearance certificates but, in practice, still polluting air, water, and soil, causing persistent health problems for local people. After confirming most industries were violating environmental compliance, you issued notices requiring fresh clearance certificates. This met hostile response from a section of industrial units, vested interests, and local politicians; workers also turned hostile, fearing closure and unemployment. Industry owners pleaded against harsh action citing financial loss and market shortages, the labour union pushed back against closures, and you began receiving anonymous threats — while some colleagues and local NGOs supported your enforcement action and even demanded immediate closure of the polluting units.
(a)What are the options available to you under the given situation?
(b)Critically examine the options listed by you.
(c)What type of mechanism would you suggest to ensure environmental compliance?
(d)What are the ethical dilemmas you faced in exercising your option?
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