GS4 · Topic
Crisis Decision Making
Deciding under time pressure with incomplete information, and the ethics of acting or waiting.
189 UPSC Mains GS4 questions on Crisis Decision Making that toppers answered in test series, CSE 2014–2025, most answered first. Open one to see how toppers opened, built and closed it.
You are the Superintendent of Police of a city where a large slum has developed in recent decades on the property of Indian Railways. The Indian Railways has prepared a plan for expansion of the city railway station for which they want to get the slums demolished. They have requested the assistance of local police for the same, however, the people residing in those slums have responded angrily to this step and have occupied the railway tracks, resisting any action by the officials. Slum dwellers are asking for a suitable rehabilitation, citing that the city is under the grip of a cold wave as the month of December is in progress. This has not only halted the railway traffic on the route causing immense hardships to railway passengers but also posing risk of violence between slum-dwellers and the police. (a) Identify various issues involved in the case along with different stakeholders. (b) What course of action would you follow to end this situation of confrontation and resume normal functioning of the Railways?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021
Rules versus CompassionCrisis Decision Making
Ms. Sharma is the Director of the Department of Health and Family Welfare in a large Indian state. The department is responsible for implementing health policies, managing public health facilities, and ensuring the delivery of healthcare services. The workforce comprises a mix of senior officials, mid-level managers, and frontline health workers. Over the past few months, Ms. Sharma has received multiple complaints about Mr. Arvind Gupta, a senior official known for his authoritative management style. Mr. Gupta is a performance-driven officer who sometimes publicly berates subordinates and intimidates staff to get work done. One such complaint came from Ms. Anita Verma, a mid-level manager who reported that Mr. Gupta publicly berated her during a department meeting, calling her "incompetent" and "useless" in front of her peers. Ms. Verma stated that this incident severely impacted her mental health and work performance, causing her considerable distress. Other employees shared similar experiences. Mr. Ravi Kumar, a junior officer, recounted an instance where Mr. Gupta threatened to terminate his employment if he failed to complete an unrealistic workload within a tight deadline. He described Mr. Gupta's behaviour as harsh and demeaning, with frequent outbursts of anger and unwarranted criticism that created a climate of fear and anxiety in the workplace. Despite his behaviour, the despite his behaviour, Mr. Gupta is known for his extraordinary performance. He has played a key role in implementing several successful health initiatives, which has led to significant improvements in healthcare delivery in districts. His expertise and dedication have made him an indispensable asset to the department, making the decision to address complaints against him complex. Ms. Sharma is faced with a difficult decision. She knows that she must be firm, but she is also worried about the disruption in work flow due to action against Mr. Gupta.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2024–2025
Crisis Decision MakingWork Culture
The International Money Bank has granted loan to the government to construct ten dams. The dams would provide water for irrigation of crops, control floods in some parts of your district, and supply drinking water to numerous towns and cities. Seven of these dams are to be constructed in areas of high ecological value occupied by native groups who are challenging the government. The native groups, who oppose the construction of the dams, represent a minority compared to the multiple towns and cities which would benefit from the dams. Nevertheless, it should be taken under consideration that the natives consider the forests as their own. Also, their distinctive life style and culture is intimately related to the existence of these natural areas. It has been noted that the forests also have a very high ecological value. If this project is completed, their land would submerge and the natives would have to be relocated. The International Money Bank is aware of this yet it has granted the loan. You are the District Magistrate of this district. Every day protests and demonstrations are happening in your office. The government has given you the responsibility to manage the situation. What are the various options available to you. Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving reasons for it.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2016–2018
Environmental EthicsCrisis Decision Making
You have been recently posted as a District Education Officer in a district, which is notorious for mass copying. It again witnessed some disturbing incidents during the recent Board examination. In some of the examination centers located in your district, the parents virtually took over the centres to help their wards to copy during the exams. The parents justified their act by arguing that the concerned teachers did not take classes at all during the year. Upon enquiry, you found that invigilators turned a blind eye in this situation and school administrations were also involved in tampering with the CCTV footage of the incidents. You also found that teacher absenteeism has indeed been rampant. Further, concerns regarding this had been repeatedly raised by parents in the past, but no action was taken. (a) What course of action would you take in the immediate to short term to deal with the issue at hand? (b) Explaining the ramifications of such incidents for the society at large, highlight some long-term reforms that should be taken to prevent such incidents from re-occurring.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2019–2024
CorruptionCrisis Decision Making
Ways to tackle slums & encroachments in Urban areas A certain State government was running a welfare scheme for promoting safe motherhood among rural landless laborers' families. The scheme involves the transfer of funds to the beneficiaries to enable them to mitigate income loss due to maternal care responsibilities. Since its implementation, the scheme has done reasonably well on maternal health and economic indicators. You are the Director of the Department responsible for implementing and operating the scheme. Recently you have been receiving reports of welfare fraud being committed by families by producing fake bona fide. The families committed the fraud with the help of local officials responsible for scrutinizing the bonafide. You were concerned because the fraud being committed was seriously undermining the scheme's efficiency. You called for a departmental meeting to discuss and find a solution to the problem. In the meeting, it was decided to merge several available government data sets such as Aadhar cards, voter ID cards, marriage certificates, birth certificates, bank details, and other personal assets. By merging all the data sets, the department would be able to develop the beneficiary's economic profile. And this will help the department scrutinize the documents and detect fraud. This was a comprehensive strategy, but it risked violating an individual's data privacy. As a Department head, you wanted to detect and prevent fraud, but at the same time, you were apprehensive about violating the Data privacy of the stakeholders. (a) What are the issues involved in the above case? (b) Do you think violating data privacy is justified to prevent welfare fraud? Why/ Why not? (c) What, according to you, can be the reasons for such welfare frauds happening in the country? (d) Are there any ways and means to prevent such fraud? Give your suggestions.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2022–2024
Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCorruption
Case Study 3: It was Assembly election times, and you were deputed to a constituency on election duty where one of your responsibilities was to monitor candidates' campaign expenses and supervise the campaigns' videography. As you take charge and start working, you realise the challenge you have got into. Two of the candidates had a criminal background, and the whole contest was more or less between these two only. As the campaigns picked pace, you noticed that both the candidates indulged in inciting the voters on caste and religious grounds. Further, they were doling out monetary inducements in blatant violation of the election code of conduct. You had all of it on record, thanks to your videographer. You decided to warn them before taking any strict action, so you called them and confronted them with the evidence. Much to your relief, they quietly accepted the mistake and promised to comply with the codes. Two days after the meeting, you get the news that one of your videographers was severely beaten by the goons of one of the candidates. And the beating of the videographer was meant as a warning to you. Further, the same evening you get a call threatening you with dire consequences if you interfere with the campaigns. You realise that your decisions are proving to be dangerous for the people working with you. You didn't feel good about endangering the safety of your staff. 1. What are the issues involved in the above case? 2. Is it ethically justified to be devoted to duty at the cost of the personal safety of the staff? Discuss. 3. How will you go about doing your election duties without compromising the safety of your staff? Explain.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2024–2025
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
You are the Municipal Commissioner of a large city, which has witnessed unprecedented increase in biomedical waste. Recently, 15 sanitation workers lost their lives and close to 100 have been seriously infected owing to this increase in waste. Apart from biomedical waste, the city is also facing a major problem in management of household waste. There is a view that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems of the waste management sector. Despite the fact that the government has notified rules regarding disposal, collection and treatment of waste and has initiated numerous awareness campaigns in the past, still, the problem does not seem to be getting under control. In view of this, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the stakeholders and the significance of their involvement in addressing the issue. (b) In your opinion, what are the reasons behind apathy of people towards issues like waste disposal that affect the larger interests of the society? (c) As the Municipal Commissioner, suggest some practical techniques to bring about an attitudinal change among residents of the city towards this issue.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021–2022
Crisis Decision MakingAttitude
Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly regarded as essential for effective public service. Do you agree that EI enhances ethical decision-making and administrative performance, especially in high-pressure sectors such as policing or disaster response? Support your answer with a relevant example.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Emotional IntelligenceCivil Service Values
You are posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of a district, which has witnessed several lynching related crimes in the recent past. One day, a police station in the district got an SOS that in a particular village under their jurisdiction, two women have been accused of witchcraft and are now being paraded naked by the villagers. Given the past record of crimes in the village, it was likely that they would be killed by the villagers. When a police team from the station reached the spot and tried to save the two women from the mob, a scuffle broke out. In the ensuing scuffle, the police were brutally attacked and they had to retaliate by lathicharging in order to save themselves. The incident left three villagers dead. There is anger amongst the villagers, who are also a critical vote bank of the ruling party in the state. As the SP, you have been instructed to institute a quick enquiry and take the strictest action against the police team who lathicharged. You are aware that with elections around the corner, you need to diffuse the situation quickly. Given the situation, answer the following : (a) Identify the stakeholders and the issues involved in the above case. (b) What are the options available to you? Which of these will you choose and why? (c) As an objective and scientfic-tempered administrator, what steps will you suggest in the long-run to deal with mob lynching?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022–2024
Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCrisis Decision Making
Identify the options available to you. 2. Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your options.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2016–2019
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
As the District Magistrate of X city, you are responsible for overseeing the construction of a new metro depot in an urban forest area, which is a critical infrastructure project aimed at improving public transportation and reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. The project, however, requires the clearance of a substantial portion of the forest, which has triggered strong opposition from environmental activists, local residents, and NGOs. This forest is widely regarded as essential for the city's ecological balance, often referred to as the city's "lungs." In addition to the environmental concerns, you are under considerable pressure from politicians at the state-level to expedite the project, given the upcoming elections in two years. The political leadership emphasizes the benefits of the metro project for the city's development and its potential to garner electoral support. The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time for thousands of commuters and potentially decrease overall vehicle emissions in the city. However, it would also lead to the loss of thousands of trees and disrupt local ecosystems. As you prepare to make a decision, you are aware that your choice will have far-reaching consequences for both the city's development and its environment. (a) Identify the ethical dilemmas involved in the above case. (b) Evaluate the options available to you in the above situation. Which of these would you choose and why? (c) Suggest some measures that could be implemented to balance urban development needs with environmental conservation in future projects.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2024–2025
Environmental EthicsCrisis Decision Making
Despite his behaviour, Mr. Gupta is recognized for his exceptional work performance. He has been instrumental in implementing several successful health initiatives, significantly improving healthcare delivery in districts. His expertise and dedication have made him an indispensable asset to the department, complicating the decision to address the complaints against him. Ms. Sharma had a tough decision to make. She knew she had to be strict, but she was also worried about the workflow disruption that action against Mr. Gupta could cause. (a) What are the issues and dilemmas that confront Ms. Sharma? (b) What ethical principles should guide Ms. Sharma in addressing the harassment and bullying complaints in her department? (c) What long-term strategies should be implemented to prevent harassment and bullying in government departments? How can these strategies promote a culture of respect and inclusivity?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2025
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
You are a Municipal Commissioner of a tier-2 city experiencing rapid urban expansion. Several high-rise residential and commercial buildings are under construction in the city to meet the growing demand for housing. One such luxury residential complex is being built, employing hundreds of daily-wage labourers, many of whom live in temporary settlements at the construction site. Late one night during the monsoon season, a large section of scaffolding and concrete slabs collapses from the upper floors of one of the under-construction buildings. Seven labourers, including two minors, die on the spot. Several others are critically injured and rushed to the hospital. The tragic incident results in public outrage, intense media scrutiny, and protests by a local NGO. The state government orders a formal inquiry and directs you to submit a report within a week. Your preliminary investigation reveals a series of irregularities. The construction material used is substandard and not in accordance with the National Building Code. Although the approved plan permits construction of fifteen floors, the builder has illegally added two extra floors. Moreover, the structure has encroached on land demarcated for a community park and a fire service lane under the city's Zonal Development Plan. These violations are not reported during site inspections conducted by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. The building clearance was granted during the tenure of your predecessor, who is not only your batch-mate but also a close friend. Both of you were roommates during your training at LBSNAA. Prima facie, the case appears to involve a widespread nexus between officials of the Municipal Corporation and the builder. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the inquiry. Some of them suggest that holding the builder accountable could damage the city's image among investors and slow down urban development. Meanwhile, you come to know that the builder is the younger brother of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. One evening, his personal aide visits you privately. He suggests that the matter could be "mutually settled" and offers you a premium apartment worth ₹2 crore in the same residential complex. In the same breath, he hints that if the matter is not resolved swiftly in the builder's favour, someone in his office is prepared to file a complaint against you under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. b) What are the options available to you in this situation? c) Explain your selected course of action.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2017
CorruptionCrisis Decision Making
Vihar is a state in the Northern part of the country. Prohibition laws in the state completely ban the storage, possession, sale, and consumption of liquor in any form. Despite the ban, the liquor mafia in the state has succeeded in supplying spurious liquor through various illegal dens. The activities of liquor mafia flourish under the nose of both the civil administration and the police department. Many Civil Society Organizations, women organizations etc., on numerous occasions complained to the authorities about the illegal production, sale, and consumption of liquor, but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears, and no substantial action was taken by the government to curb the menace. As fate would have it, one day there was an unfortunate incident when a large group of fifty construction labourers died after consuming spurious liquor from an illegal den being operated by the mafia. Many of the victims were sole bread winners of their families. While the state was clear on its position that consuming liquor in the state was an illegal activity that warrants no sympathy or compensation (for the next of kin) from the government, families of the victims and also many CSOs were demanding compensation for the families of the deceased construction labourers. The incident got both national and international coverage in print, electronic, as well as the social media. The pressure on the state government was mounting to amicably resolve the issue. Anjali is posted as the Joint Secretary in the Secretariat. The CM has asked her to create a detailed report on how should the state government handle this crisis. a) Under the given circumstances, what measures should Anjali recommend to handle the above crisis. b) Critically evaluate the decision of state government to not compensate the victims of spurious liquor.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
Crisis Decision MakingRules versus Compassion
You are posted as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in a backward district. Recently, a young couple belonging to different castes eloped from the village belonging to your sub-division. They wanted to marry but the caste conflict prevailing in the village was a big hurdle for them. So, they planned to get married secretly and then come back to the village. On account of their elopement, the girl's family, which belongs to the dominant landlord caste, filed a case of kidnapping against the boy and have riled up the villagers against him and his family. After their return to the village, the couple meet you before meeting their family members. On account of their official position, they request you to convince their family members and other members of the village to accept them. The village has witnessed many caste conflicts and honour killings in the past on account of such incidents and the present matter may aggravate caste-related tensions. Under these circumstances, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the stakeholders and associated issues in the given case. (b) What are the options that you have? Highlight your course of action and give suitable justification for the same.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2021
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
Bhanjanagar is a sleepy Sub-division of Ganjam district of Odisha. Ganjam district had been a witness to devastation caused by many tropical cyclones over the years. Unfortunately, this year Cyclone Fani hit the Eastern coast of India, with Bhanjanagar being the point of landing of cyclone causing massive disaster resulting in loss of property and lives. You are heading the rescue operations in the Bhanjanagar area which is seriously ravaged by the cyclone. Thousands of people are rendered homeless and deprived of food, drinking water and other basic amenities. Rescue work has been disrupted by heavy rainfall and damage to supply routes. The local people are seething with anger against the delayed limited rescue operations. When your team reaches the affected area, the people there heckle and even assault some of the team members. One of your team members is even severely injured. Faced with this crisis, some team members plead with you to call off the operations fearing threats to their life. In such trying circumstances, what will be your response?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022
Crisis Decision MakingDedication to Public Service
Prateek Kumar, the Project Manager, is in charge of the construction of a highly anticipated highway that is expected to drive regional development. The project aims to enhance connectivity, boost trade, and create substantial employment opportunities. Given its importance, it has become a focal point for the ruling party, which is actively promoting it as a symbol of progress ahead of the upcoming state elections next year. The timely completion of the highway is crucial, as the Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate it upon completion. This has led to added pressure on Prateek and his team to meet the approaching deadline, which is set for next month. During a routine inspection, Prateek discovers that a particular stretch of the highway has been built with substandard materials. This section fails to meet the required safety and durability standards, posing a serious threat to public safety and lives. If left unresolved, the compromised quality could lead to accidents, undermining both the project's credibility and the government's promises for safe and reliable infrastructure. Concerned, Prateek raises the issue with the contractor, but the contractor downplays the severity, claiming that minor adjustments will fix the problem without causing major delays. In a subsequent team meeting, some senior members suggest that Prateek overlook the quality concerns to ensure the project remains on schedule. They argue that the majority of the highway meets standards and emphasize the severe economic and political consequences of delays. With elections approaching, they stress the importance of the Chief Minister's inauguration as a key political event. They warn that any delay could damage the ruling party's image, harm its electoral prospects, and potentially have repercussions for the team and the organization. Later, the contractor privately approaches Prateek with a substantial bribe, urging him to ignore the issue and allow the project to proceed. The contractor justifies his actions by citing financial pressures and the need to complete the project on time. Prateek is an honest and upright officer, but he understands that addressing the problem would delay the project, making it impossible to meet the deadline. (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to Prateek as the Project Manager? Critically evaluate each of the options. (c) What option should Prateek adopt and why?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2025
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
You have recently been appointed as the District Collector of an impoverished district, which has been witnessing drought for the last couple of years. Corruption at lower levels of bureaucracy has further aggravated the situation. The district also faces the problem of diminishing resources of drinking water. Despite, the gravity of the problem, the response from the central and the state government is lackadaisical. Moreover, the media coverage of the problem is also dismal. To make matters worse, the younger members of the community are migrating in search of work to the urban areas without much success, leaving the elders, women, and children behind to fend for themselves. (a) As the District Collector what would be your priorities for solving the problem? (b) How would you tackle the situation? (c) What long term measures would you take to prevent the future recurrence of the problem?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2017–2018
Crisis Decision MakingCorruption
You are posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) of a district, which has witnessed several lynching related crimes in the recent past. One day, a police station in the district got an SOS that in a particular village under their jurisdiction, two women have been accused of witchcraft and are now being paraded naked by the villagers. Given the past record of crimes in the village, it was likely that they would be killed by the villagers. When a police team from the station reached the spot and tried to save the two women from the mob, a scuffle broke out. In the ensuing scuffle, the police were brutally attacked and they had to retaliate by lathicharging in order to save themselves. The incident left three villagers dead. There is anger amongst the villagers, who are also a critical vote bank of the ruling party in the state. As the SP, you have been instructed to institute a quick enquiry and take the strictest action against the police team who lathicharged. You are aware that with elections around the corner, you need to diffuse the situation quickly. Given the situation, answer the following : (a) Identify the stakeholders and the issues involved in the above case. (b) What are the options available to you? Which of these will you choose and why? (c) As an objective and scientific-tempered administrator, what steps will you suggest in the long-run to deal with mob lynching?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022
Crisis Decision MakingPressure and Loyalty
You have recently been posted as a Nodal Education Officer in one of the districts, where mass cheating in examinations is a regular phenomenon. Media reports have shown parents and relatives scaling school walls and buildings to pass answer chits to students taking secondary school examinations in the district. Moreover, with the advent of new technological devices, cheating in examinations has become more sophisticated and exam rules are flouted openly. On investigation, it has come to your notice that these rackets are run by many school authorities, including exam invigilators who are mostly teachers, and they are hand in glove for profits. With a shortage of staff, invigilators threaten go on mass strikes if any action is taken. Conducting the exams, cancelling them on account of cheating and having re-exams are a loss of time and money for the government and this vicious cycle goes on. As the Nodal Education Officer of the district, address the following questions: (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above case? (b) How will you resolve the issues in the given case? (c) What long-term strategy needs to be adopted to deal with the menace of cheating in various examinations?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
CorruptionCrisis Decision Making
A forest fire has broken out in a hilly district and is rapidly spreading toward an eco-sensitive area that includes four villages (ESA villages). These villages lie along the forest fringe and are surrounded by difficult terrain. The region is known for its biodiversity and traditional forest-based livelihoods. The inhabitants of these villages are mostly poor tribal communities, dependent on forest resources for their sustenance. You, as the District Magistrate of the area, have rushed to the spot with a medical team, police personnel, NGOs, media, and support staff to oversee the rescue and containment operations. Your disaster response team on the ground is small and poorly equipped. Reinforcements from the district headquarter have been requested, but they may take several hours to arrive due to the remoteness and challenging terrain. In the meantime, a group of trained ex-forest guards and local youth from the villages offer to help. They are experienced and familiar with the area. However, existing government rules do not permit the engagement of unofficial personnel in fire control operations without formal clearance and insurance coverage. Your team members are divided on this issue. Some members argue that volunteers should be engaged immediately to prevent the fire from spreading. Others caution that involving them without proper approval and safety cover could be risky and against protocol. As the District Magistrate, you are also the Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). The fire is spreading at a very rapid rate, and immediate action is required to protect lives, property, and the environment. You are now in a dilemma. a) What are the options available to you? b) Critically evaluate each of the options identified by you. c) What option would you adopt and why? d) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2017
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
As a concerned friend and an aspiring civil servant who can frame policies for the public in the future and has a moral duty towards them, what are the options available to you in such a situation? (b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option you would adopt, giving reasons.
Answered by 2 toppers
Crisis Decision MakingEmpathy and Compassion
You decide to take the metro to avoid traffic as you have an urgent business meeting in your office and you already are running late. In metro you find a man teasing a young woman. Before you could think of anything, the woman out of frustration gets down on next stoppage with eve-teaser still being in the metro. What would you do in such a situation? Justify your action.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2018
Crisis Decision MakingEmpathy and Compassion
What are the ethical issues related to population control of a compulsory nature that you would consider before approving or rejecting the recommendation? (b) What would be your course of action in the aforementioned case? Suggest reasons for the same.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2021
Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCrisis Decision Making
You are an IFS officer who heads a diplomatic mission in a European country. You live there with your wife and children. Your parents and few of your relatives are also visiting you for vacation. The country is known for its scenic mountains and it is a popular destination for tourists. In an unexpected turn of events, the country in which you are posted has been attacked by its neighbour due to some unresolved bilateral issues. All the major transportation channels have been adversely impacted by the attack. Flights have been cancelled and airspace above the country has been declared unsafe for commercial aircrafts. You have received an urgent communication from New Delhi asking you to prepare a plan for evacuation of Indians from the besieged country. You have been informed that a friendly neighbouring country of India has sought India's help to evacuate its citizens. Due to war, only a limited number of people can be evacuated in one go and multiple rounds would be required for evacuating everyone. You have identified following groups of people who are to be evacuated: i. You, your wife, children, parents and relatives. ii. Diplomatic staff at the mission. iii. Indian tourists visiting the country. iv. Indian students studying in the country v. A film crew and actors who were shooting a film in the country. These include some of the biggest names of Bollywood. vi. Citizens of the friendly neighbouring country that has requested India's help. As a civil services officer of the state, what would be the order in which you would evacuate these people and why? Give Justifications.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers
Crisis Decision MakingDedication to Public Service
Dr. Mehra is a senior drug developer at a leading pharmaceutical company in India, renowned for producing various medications, including lifesaving drugs critical for treating chronic and rare diseases. Since its inception, the company has emphasized the quality and affordability of its drugs. Recently, under revised government guidelines, pharmaceutical companies are required to market a finished product only after obtaining "satisfactory results" from tests on the ingredients. Additionally, they must retain a sufficient quantity of samples of both intermediate and final products to allow repeated testing or verification of a batch. Dr. Mehra's team is in the final stages of developing a new medication for a rare but life-threatening disease. This drug has shown promising results in clinical trials. However, there have been unresolved concerns about the long-term side effects of the drug, observed in a small percentage of trial subjects. Despite this, the company has not released any major drug in the past decade, leading to significant pressure from the board members to expedite the drug's release. (a) Identify the stakeholders in the above case study. (b) Discuss the ethical issues faced by Dr. Mehra. (c) Analyse the options available to Dr. Mehra in the above case. Which of these would you choose and why?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2024–2025
Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government
You are a Superintendent of Police tasked with conducting an internal departmental inquiry into an alleged case of custodial torture and subsequent disappearance of three tribal persons. The case of the police force is that these persons were habitual offenders who had committed theft. The police had nabbed them for interrogation but they escaped from the police custody and are absconding. Family members of these persons, on the other hand, maintain that they were falsely framed in the case and were not in a condition to flee due to custodial torture. They are alleging foul play on the part of the police and suspects that the police is behind their disappearance. Prima facie, you find many lacunae in the police investigation. The policemen did not produce these persons before the Magistrate nor did they get them medically examined, as required by the law. One of your seniors, without referring to the case, informally talks to you about the adverse working conditions of the police force and insinuates that all police personnel should help each other. He also says that all serving officers need to be mindful of the fact that they are part of the police force and should not do anything which may tarnish the reputation of the police department. (a) Identify the stakeholders and various issues involved in the case. (b) How will you conduct a fair and impartial inquiry that ensures that public perception regarding cover-up in such cases does not gain ground? (c) Highlight the reasons for the continuing impunity of custodial deaths in India, and recommend steps that authorities should take to resolve it.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2021
Civil Service ValuesCrisis Decision Making
You have been appointed by Election Commission as a booth level officer to oversee the conduct of elections in a remote and under-developed area. For the preparations of elections, you have been instructed to ensure maximum voter turnout. For this, you conduct a series of meetings with the people in villages encouraging them to vote in large numbers. However, they confront you with the fact that despite so many previous elections, the promises made by representatives remain unfulfilled and even the basic necessities of livelihood are not available. As such, they are ignorant of your appeals and are subsequently not forthcoming even to listen to you, let alone giving assurances to vote. Based on this information, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the stakeholders in the situation along with their interests. (b) What are the factors that you will take into account to convince the people and ensure maximum voter turnout?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2018
Civil Service ValuesCrisis Decision Making
How does emotional intelligence contribute to overcoming challenges and achieving success in high-stress environments? Discuss its impact on resilience and decision-making.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2024–2025
Emotional IntelligenceCrisis Decision Making
Rashmi is a young IPS officer who is posted as the SP law and order in a district that has a history of communal clashes. During a cultural event, a political leader made certain controversial comments regarding the religion of another community that can potentially harm communal harmony in the district. The representatives of the aggrieved community met Rashmi with their complaint. An FIR was registered in the matter and the police department promptly started an investigation. During questioning, the accused political leader denied the charges. He claimed that he was exercising his right to freedom of expression and had no intention of hurting anyone's feelings. He even offered to tender an apology if his statement had hurt someone's religious feelings. However, the aggrieved community was not satisfied with this apology and demanded strict action against the accused. The next day, a video went viral on social media in which the accused political leader can be seen making derogatory statements against another religious faith. However, Rashmi suspects that the video going viral on the internet is a doctored video and someone has mischievously edited it to make it more vitriolic and inflammatory. The video has ignited communal tensions in the district. The accused political leader belongs to an influential community and his community has put their support behind him. Local intelligence has warned that some anti-social elements are trying to use this opportunity to create communal riot in the district. The entire matter has been politicized and is being covered by the national media. In this situation answer the following: a) What differentiates a hate speech from a free speech? b) Why does social media have a very strong influence over the actions and thoughts of its users? c) What is the most suitable course of action for Rashmi in this situation? Justify.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers
Crisis Decision MakingSocial Influence and Persuasion