2013 CSAT, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2013 · CSAT

Question 80: Decision Making and Interpersonal Skills

You are a teacher in a University and are setting a question paper on a particular subject. One of your colleagues, whose son is preparing for the examination on that subject, comes to you and informs you that it is his son’s last chance to pass that examination and whether you could help him by indicating what questions are going to be in the examination. In the past, your colleague had helped you in another matter. Your colleague informs you that his son will suffer from depression if he fails in this examination. In such circumstances, what would you do ?

aIn view of the help he had given you, extend your help to him.
bRegret that you cannot be of any help to him.
cExplain to your colleague that this would be violating the trust of the University authorities and you are not in a position to help him.
dReport the conduct of your colleague to the higher authorities.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b) or (c).

Setting the paper makes you a trustee of the University's examination process. Revealing the questions would be a serious breach and unfair to other candidates, even if the colleague once helped you or his son might feel low. UPSC accepts politely refusing, or refusing while explaining that helping would betray the trust of the University. Reporting a colleague is a heavier step than a single request calls for.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong. Leaking questions to repay a favour is a breach of trust.
  • (b) Acceptable. Declining to help keeps the examination fair.
  • (c) Acceptable. Explaining that this would violate the University's trust declines firmly and courteously.
  • (d) Wrong. Reporting him goes further than the situation calls for.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2013, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.