You, the chairperson of a State Public Service Commission (SPSC), come to know that there were instances of rampant cheating in a competitive exam conducted recently by the SPSC. Your daughter, who also appeared in this exam and is confident of clearing it corroborates the same. However, she denies engaging in any such activity herself. Whatever decision the Commission takes is bound to affect the career of a large number of candidates who appeared in the exam, including your own daughter. (a) Identify the different stakeholders and their interests in the case above. (b) Enumerate the options you have to handle the current situation. What will be your choice and why? (c) Suggest measures that you would take to make sure that a similar situation does not arise in future.

(i) Me as chairperson (ii) My daughter (iii) Other applicants in the examination (iv) SPSC as an institution (v) Society at large

(i) chairperson job is to ensure smooth & democratic functioning of the institute which protects all the candidates equally. Also the career of my daughter might be jeopardised. This leads to conflict of Interest.

(ii) Daughter - career in threat → future humiliation if taking fathers help to clear the exam If no action taken (iii) others → might be last chance to appear career under threat (iv) SPSC → image as an impartial & institute under danger (v) Society → instances of cheating increasing & taking any possible steps to succeed.

(b) Options (i) Take No action as my daughter is confident of clearing which might be jeopardised if action is taken (ii) Issue an detailed enquiry into the process to make sure such reports are not rumours. The examination is conducted at huge scale

with expenses of the state.

(iii) Scrap the examination & order for new exam as there were instances of cheating & honest candidates shouldn't miss out.

I'll take the 2nd option of an detailed inquiry so that due process of law is followed. At the same time I'll recuse myself from the post, either temporarily or move to other post, so that my conflict of interest doesnt come into the path of justice.

It'll ensure that my no future allegation can be made upon me for misappropriation.

If the report validates cheating, then a reexamination should be held along with

an enquiry into the causes of cheating earlier.

(c) Steps to prevent similar situation:

(i) Use hi-tech security measures so that paper cannot be leaked.

(ii) CCTV & flying squad surveillances at the venues to curb instances of cheating.

(iii) A policy of zero-tolerance to cheating & life time ban of indulging candidates to set a precedent & deter future repeats.

(iv) Giving adequate opportunities - multiple