GS4 · 20 marks · 250 words

You are posted as a District Magistrate in a Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected district. The district has witnessed many instances of violence by the naxalites in the past. It has been observed that instances of violence increase as the elections approach. You, as a Returning Officer, are responsible for the smooth conduct of elections. Soon after the announcement of elections, the naxalites gave a call for their boycott and have been threatening people to stay away from them. The people of the district are eager to exercise their voting rights but are scared of the impending acts of violence. Further, with threat to their lives and a low expected turnout, the other electoral officers are also reluctant to go to these areas. In this context, answer the following: (a) Identify the civil service values that are crucial for working in such adversities. (b) Suggest a plan of action to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in such a situation.

Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

Crisis Decision MakingCivil Service ValuesAptitude for Civil ServiceDedication to Public ServiceEmpathy and CompassionEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentSocial Influence and Persuasion

Syllabus: Case Studies on above issues.

How toppers approached it

From all 13 answers · about 380 words · 54% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening85%
  • A constitutional or legal provision8%
  • A restatement8%

Body

  • Points69%
  • Points and prose31%

Close

  • No separate close62%
  • A summary31%
  • A way forward8%

The toppers’ answers

Shubham KumarAIR 1 · CSE 2020 · 279 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Left wing Extremism is threatening India's internal security, though in recent times it has reduced and now limited to 106 districts; out of which 36 districts are more concentration of LWE.

Body · points

(a) Civil services values involved :-

(1) Courage - This situation needs courage & conviction to stand against naxalites knowing fully that it is threat to my life.

(2) Responsibility - As I am assigned to conduct free and fair election, I am duty bound to undertake the challenge.

(3) Leadership - to motivate others, so that people and other officers show courage and determination to fight.

(4) Emotional Intelligence - to manage the situation effectively.

(5) Upholding constitution - by conducting free & fair election

Diagram
Local Panchayat People State Adm. / District Administration \ \ \ Government ------------------- Stakeholders ------------------- Naxalites / \ / \ / \ Security forces Myself & ECI Local NGOs / Media

(b) Free and fair election is hallmark of a successful democratic state.

Plan of action :-

(ii) Increasing the security - I will ask the seniors (state level incharge for conducting the election) to increase the security , but before that I (i) will Inform to appropriate person / Administration → This will involve state & district governments & administration

(iii) Calming People so that there is no panic

(iv) Ensuring security of the region.

(v) Confidence building through Local Media, NGOs, local administration → showing that everything is secure

(vi) Conduct of Election in free & fair way.

Close

It requires leadership skill to motivate electoral officers and convince them to go to the area.

Further arrangement should be done for any mishappening. From Ambulance to arrangement of health facilities. Also stress call or hotline can be activated to entire district so that people can inform the administration in case of any suspicious activity. Thus above case study require fortitude & courage.

More on Crisis Decision Making

Deciding under time pressure with incomplete information, and the ethics of acting or waiting.

All GS4 questions on Crisis Decision Making