UPSC Prelims 2012 · CSAT

Question 80: Decision Making and Interpersonal Skills

As a citizen you have some work with a government department. The official calls you again and again, and without directly asking you, sends out feelers for a bribe. You want to get your work done. You would...

aGive a bribe.

bBehave as if you have not understood the feelers and persist with your application.

cGo to the higher officer for help verbally complaining about feelers.

dSend in a formal complaint.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b) or (c).

UPSC's key accepts (b) and (c). The official is hinting for a bribe without asking outright, so there is nothing explicit to report formally. Acting as though you have not understood the hints and pressing your application (b), or going to a higher officer with a verbal complaint about the hints (c), refuses to pay while still working to get the job done. Giving a bribe (a) is illegal and corrupt. Remember: never pay; choose actions that stay within the law.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Not accepted. Giving a bribe is corrupt and illegal.
(b) Accepted. Ignoring the hints and persisting avoids paying while pursuing your work.
(c) Accepted. A verbal complaint to a higher officer addresses the conduct without a formal case.
(d) Not accepted by the key. A formal complaint is a legitimate step, but the key prefers the quieter routes in (b) and (c).

Worth knowing: This is a judgement question; UPSC's key excludes the formal complaint (d), which many would regard as the correct civic response.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.