GS4 · Topic
Accountability and Ethical Governance
Answerability for a decision, strengthening ethical and moral values in governance, and institutional mechanisms for it.
328 UPSC Mains GS4 questions on Accountability and Ethical Governance that toppers answered in test series, CSE 2013–2025, most answered first. Open one to see how toppers opened, built and closed it.
Ensuring that government decisions are not influenced by public officials' private interests is a growing concern. Discuss in the context of India. Also enumerate the core principles reflected by OECD guidelines for managing conflict of interest in the public sector.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 19 toppers · CSE 2017–2020
Conflict of InterestProbity in Governance
Enumerate the mechanisms that promote accountability of public officials in discharging their functions and responsibilities in India. Also discuss why ensuring accountability for performance is not a simple task in government service.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 19 toppers · CSE 2017–2020
Accountability and Ethical GovernanceProbity in Governance
In a democracy, the purpose of the government should be to make it easy for people to do good and difficult to do wrong. Comment.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 18 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Accountability and Ethical GovernanceCivil Service Values
Discuss, with examples, the significance of principles of public life as recommended by Nolan committee. Why are these principles considered as an essential set of expectations from public servants?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 18 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Civil Service ValuesAccountability and Ethical Governance
What are the factors which drive people to take law in their own hands rather than following the due process of law? Discuss ways to address the problem of mob justice.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 18 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Law and MoralityEthical Dilemmas in Government
A state that does not have the political will and the discipline to enforce probity in governance, can not get rid of the menace of prolonged corruption. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Probity in GovernanceCorruption
India cannot march successfully in to the 21st century with the administrative system having a colonial mindset. Discuss in context of the bureaucratic work culture in India.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Civil Service ValuesWork Culture
While civil servants have the legal right to undertake post-retirement jobs, it raises key ethical issues. Comment.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government
Increasing participation of people in governance and easy access to information is what transforms governance to good governance. Elaborate.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Transparency and InformationProbity in Governance
Though it may seem that accountability and efficiency are antithetical to each other, accountability is a sine qua non for good governance. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Accountability and Ethical GovernanceCivil Service Values
You are working as a District Magistrate in an aspirational district where women literacy and sex ratio is one of the lowest in the country. It is brought to your notice that a woman who has been elected as 'Sarpanch' on a seat reserved for women candidates in a panchayat in your district is head 'only on the paper'. All the work related to the panchayat is actually carried out by her husband. Even the flag hoisting ceremony on Independence Day is carried out by her husband. However, her husband happens to be a good administrator as indicated by that panchayat's performance on various developmental parameters as compared to other panchayats in the district. Also, her husband enjoys the support of the local people. Given the situation, answer the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders and issues involved in this case? (b) What options are available to you as the District Magistrate in such a scenario? Also, evaluate each option and indicate what option will you choose.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Civil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in Government
Undercover journalism exposes injustices, negligence, corruption and wrongdoing and yet going undercover to expose wrongdoing remains controversial. But, undercover journalists contend that they are fulfilling a fundamental duty of finding truth through their journalism. They argue that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy and the duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. So, there are some supporters of this kind of journalism, which sometimes infringe the privacy of individuals. However, some journalists also urge avoiding surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. In this context, answer the following questions: 20 (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the practice of undercover journalism? (b) Do you support the practice of undercover investigation by journalists? Give reasons in support of your answer.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 14 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Dimensions of EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government
The issues confronting humanity are multifaceted - from political conflicts and human rights abuses to pandemics and climate change. They are not contained within national borders, nor do they fit into the silos of separate government agencies or academic specialties. What is required is greater international cooperation, mutual respect, abiding by international laws and participative global decision-making. However, over the last decade, it has been observed that international relations have overshadowed these basic tenets of global governance and now we are at the verge of serious global catastrophic risks. When it comes to the structures of global governance, business as usual, is no longer an option. Not only an improvement in our understanding of risks is required but also taking responsibility to lead collective action for a coordinated global response. (a) What do you think are the factors hindering collective actions? (b) Provide a case for the moral obligation of the international community to come together and find solutions to the problems we face. (c) What should be the principles guiding such international cooperation?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2020–2021
Ethics in International RelationsAccountability and Ethical Governance
When people use a common resource without a coordinated plan the result is often a tragedy of the commons in which the resource is depleted. In this context, discuss the various ethical challenges arising out of utilization of Global Commons.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2020–2021
Environmental EthicsEthics in International Relations
Discuss how effective corporate governance can ensure the equitable treatment of all stakeholders.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2019–2022
Corporate GovernanceAccountability and Ethical Governance
Transparency in government organisations is an essential pre-condition for good governance. Elucidate.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022
Transparency and InformationAccountability and Ethical Governance
You are the Chairman of a Committee, constituted by the government, to suggest measures to improve the quality of education in state-run schools. In view of the increasing dropout rate and the widening gap between students' learning ability in state-run and private schools, answer the following questions: (a) Examine the role of government in the education sector, especially providing primary and secondary education through state-run schools. (b) Identify the principles and values that would guide your recommendations in this regard. (c) Suggest some ways in which quality of education in state-run schools can be improved.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022
Civil Service ValuesQuality of Service Delivery
With rapidly increasing use of information technology, what according to you is the role of ethics in cyber space?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022
Technology and EthicsDimensions of Ethics
As the administrator in-charge of your area, you are witness to the widespread food wastage in lavish parties as well as in restaurants and eateries, on one hand and people starving due to inability to ensure one square-meal a day, on the other. Realizing that it is not the scarcity of resources, but the habit of people that is causing paucity in availability of food, you decide that certain measures are needed to be taken in order to deal with the issue of starvation at the grassroot level. 20 Given the situation, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. (b) What measures would you take to deal with wastage of food in your area? (c) What explains this co-existence of affluence and hunger in developing countries like India?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Empathy and CompassionEthical Dilemmas in Government
You are posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district of a state where alcohol prohibition has been imposed recently. The District Excise department has conducted many raids and seized liquor in large quantities, for which it has received state-wide public appreciation. A few months later reports surface in the media that in this district, hundreds of seized bottles of illicit liquor are missing from the government malkhanas or stores. As a result, the government is left red-faced. You are asked by the DM, who is the overall in-charge of the district excise setup, to investigate the matter. Upon investigation, you unearth a nexus of politicians and government officials who smuggled seized liquor and sold it through spurious means both inside and outside the state. In this context, evaluate these options: 1. Report your findings to the DM and seek instructions for further actions, stating clearly the criminal offences committed prima facie. 2. Charge all accused under legal provisions and let the law take its own course. 3. Being aware of the seriousness of the matter, discretely put the detailed investigation report in the public domain and expose the nexus. Also, suggest, without restricting yourself to the given options, the final course of action that you would prefer.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022
CorruptionEthical Dilemmas in Government
What are the issues involved in the above case? (b) With a limited budget at your disposal, you decide to allocate funds to tackle witchcraft-related superstitions. How would you justify your decision to the community and stakeholders? (c) Given that witchcraft-related crimes were not initially reported by the BDOs, how would you address this lack of communication and ensure better reporting and transparency moving forward?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 11 toppers · CSE 2024–2025
Utilisation of Public FundsEmpathy and Compassion
The recent decision by the government to ban use of red beacons is only a symbolic gesture and a lot more needs to be done to end the VIP culture in India. Critically discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 10 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Civil Service ValuesWork Culture
The more remotely power is exercised from the people, the greater is the distance between authority and accountability. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 10 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Accountability and Ethical GovernanceProbity in Governance
Why did Gunnar Myrdal use the term 'soft state' in the context of South Asia? Do you think such a characterisation is still relevant in the case of India today?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 10 toppers · CSE 2017–2019
Civil Service ValuesAccountability and Ethical Governance
Technical efficiency ensures resource utilization and social efficiency ensures fulfillment of social needs, what does ethical efficiency ensure? Do you think ethical efficiency is more important than technical and social efficiency? Why/Why not?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 10 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Dimensions of EthicsCivil Service Values
Ethical business practices are key for long-term survival of a company. Comment.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2020–2021
Corporate GovernanceDimensions of Ethics
What is red-tapism? Why is it considered a hurdle in the process of transitioning towards citizen centric governance?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2020–2021
Quality of Service DeliveryCivil Service Values
Citizens' involvement in decision-making is critical to ethics in governance. Do you agree that effective civic engagement mechanisms can facilitate an ethics-driven administration? What do you think are the mechanisms that citizens can use for ensuring ethics in governance?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Probity in GovernanceAccountability and Ethical Governance
Quality of public service delivery is a major determinant of the quality of life of vulnerable sections in a highly unequal society divided along the lines of class, caste, religion, etc. In this background, do you think that public service delivery is efficient and sufficient enough to improve the lives of vulnerable groups in India? Critically examine.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
Quality of Service DeliveryEmpathy and Compassion
Given the rising tide of Covid induced fatalities, the government is under extreme pressure to deliver some vaccine to the population. You are the Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India. You are heading the committee to oversee the process of vaccine development and distribution to fight against the Covid outbreak in the country. You have been asked to expedite the process and come up with a solution at the earliest. Some vaccines are available around the globe, but they are in limited supply and also expensive. One of the indigenously developed vaccine has shown initial positive results, but health experts have raised concerns over its safety, efficacy and the methodology being followed for its approval. Other promising vaccines under development, following a rigorous methodology, may take months to enter the market. In this context: (a) What are the critical issues involved in the case? (b) Explain, with relevant reasons, the course of action that you would take.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2020–2021
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government