UPSC Mains 2015 · GS IV · Q8 · 10 marks · 150 words

Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of ‘Conflict of Interest’. What do you understand by the term ‘Conflict of Interest’ and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples.

हिन्दी में

लोक सेवकों के समक्ष ‘हित संघर्ष (कन्फ्लिक्ट ऑफ इन्टरेस्ट)’ के मुद्दों का आ जाना संभव होता है। आप ‘हित संघर्ष’ पद से क्या समझते हैं और यह लोक सेवकों के द्वारा निर्णयन में किस प्रकार अभिव्यक्त होता है? यदि आपके सामने हित संघर्ष की स्थिति पैदा हो जाय, तो आप उसका हल किस प्रकार निकालेंगे? उदाहरणों के साथ स्पष्ट कीजिए।

Conflict of Interest

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “What do you understand by the term "Conflict of Interest"? How does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? In what ways can it be minimized?”

Ishan BhatnagarAIR 5 · CSE 2025 · 174 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

"Conflict of interest" refers to a bias introduced because a person's personal interests get into conflict with their public role as administrator or adjudicater.

Body · points

manifestations

  1. Subject matter bias | eg a homophobic person deciding on entitlements of LGBTQIA+.

  2. Pecuniary bias | where public servants stand to gain from decision. eg road route such that it is near property of officer.

  3. Personal bias | eg a appointment committee headed by senior officer considering employment of his son.

  4. Processual Bias - veto is vested with chairperson, or where other officals do not get effective say.

Addressing bias

  1. Immediately record conflict of interest.

  2. Recuse from decisions involving bias, where possible.

  3. Disclose in advance → reconstitution of search committee etc.

  4. Sensitization to reduce subject matter bias - eg gender sensitization.

  5. Fair processes with equal voice to all.

Close · a quotation

Lord Acton said that "justice must not just be done, but seen to be done". Hence every bias - real or perceived must be duly addressed in administrative decision making.

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper IV, Q8. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.