Ethics, integrity and aptitude

Since there are law, rules, regulations, ethics and conscience to guide public servants conducts, most of the time they may face moral dilemma. In this context consider the following questions: i. In such situation one should give preference to law and rule over conscience as the latter is difficult to establish objectively. ii. Explain with any specific example which has conflict between them that how you will overcome such moral dilemma?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

The role of Media is very important in shaping people's thought and action. In this regard consider the following: i. Media should stand for peace and not for war. ii. Media shouldn't take side in the name of nationalism. Discuss how media ethics can help in explaining the above questions.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Dimensions of EthicsSocial Influence and Persuasion

Government has officially decided to construct a nuclear power plant in one district of a state. All the clearances have been done such as design, disaster profiling of the area, population which will be relocated, etc., and the location has been found very ideal for the plant. Since the location is in remote area which is sparsely populated, there are over 2000 population which are going to be affected in relocation. The locality has children, youths, adult men and women, aged, farmers, local traders and businessmen. They have been living happily in that remote area and with their collective efforts; largely the village has been self reliant. They are not against the plant or any developmental project but they also don't want disruption in their lifestyle, social harmony, belongingness and emotional attachment, recreation, business, and farming, which they have narrated to you on your visit to the area. Some of them have even threatened that if this happen, they will commit suicide. Suppose you are a government officer and has been given with adequate power the task to successfully relocate them, then a) What will be the order of priority to the above stakeholders while exploring various options and why? b) What are the various options available to you? c) Evaluate them and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons.

25 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEmpathy and Compassion

There is a report of racism at one such international airport of the country. Miss A has alleged that the immigration officer 'humiliated' her by repeatedly asking questions about her nationality. The officer looked at her passport and told you didn't look like an Indian. The officer also asked her other inappropriate questions like number of states in the country and the number of states bordering her state. Although she has not filed a formal complaint but the incident has gone viral on social media. There have been reactions also from all quarters including government of India. It is very shameful for the country that people belonging to a particular region are still doubted on their nationality. Suppose you are the head of the immigration department of the airport then a) Give your reaction to the above incident. b) Evaluate the following options and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons i. No any courses of action will be taken as it is one-off incident. ii. Only warning should be issued to the officer that he should not repeat in future. iii. First allegation should be established and Miss A should be persuaded to file a formal complaint to proceed for disciplinary action against the officer. iv. Warning should be issued to the officer and a sensitisation programme should be initiated in the department about for appropriate conduct.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Civil Service ValuesEmpathy and Compassion

What are human nature and its role in guiding human conduct? How human nature of Indian people can be described? (i) It is due to human nature that India has peace and harmony in our society. (ii) Human nature of people is responsible for no or slow progress of our country in many aspects.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Human ValuesDimensions of Ethics

Discuss the following views on the relationship between corruption and salary of civil servants: (a) How does low or high salary affects the conduct of civil servants? (b) Low salary in public agencies are among important reasons for high level of corruption.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

CorruptionProbity in Governance

Explain whether you will agree or not with the popular impression that in our country now there is no fear of the anti-corruption laws on the part of government officials? Discuss the factors which are responsible for such perception.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

CorruptionProbity in Governance

Socially and economically marginalized women are used to make a profit, often at the cost of their own health and reproductive autonomy, in the name of commercial surrogacy. Discuss the ethical issues associated with commercial surrogacy. Should commercial surrogacy be completely banned?

Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentDimensions of Ethics

You are a Secretary in a government department. Your Minister has proposed an unemployment grant, which is expected to cost the public exchequer heavily. Having already taken the decision, he asks you to come up with research to support the scheme. Despite your best efforts, you fail to find socio-economic benefit in it. You approach the Minister with relevant facts and studies and ask him to reconsider his decision. Instead, he asks you to suppress the negative impacts and actively promote the scheme through mass media as the perceived social impacts are more important than economic impacts. Elections are due in a short time and the political party currently in power is expected to win. You are also due for promotion at the same time. You are expected to fully cooperate in the situation and make the scheme a success, however flawed its foundations may be. (a) List the different stakeholders in the above situation and mention their prospective interests. (b) Discuss the ethical dilemma which you face in this situation. (c) Some of the alternatives for you to handle the situation could be: • Do as asked by the Minister.. • Insist on publication of results and let the public decide whether it wants the scheme. • Call a press conference and brief the media about the results and the callous attitude of the Minister. Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving reasons for it.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

The ministry of health appointed an expert team to conduct epidemiological study on the health of 1,000 agricultural workers to know the impact of pesticide exposure on health. The study finds that there are adverse impacts on the health of agricultural workers such as the possibility of skin cancer. The report finds its way in media which result into public outcry. However, the ministry rejects the findings of the team as it does not find satisfactory. The ministry of environment has requested the ministry of health not to disclose the findings unless it carries its own study to verify the facts as its expansion plan for genetically modified seeds may get affected. An RTI activist applies for information to PIO of ministry of health. Now, the PIO is in dilemma what he should do? So far, the PIO has a good record of disclosing information for which he has been recently appreciated. Suppose you are the PIO then discuss the merits and demerits of the following options and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons. (a) The PIO should consult the higher authority and act as per the advice. (b) The PIO should refuse to disclose the information as it is sensitive and can create law and order problem. (c) The PIO should partially disclose the information which is not related to the adverse impact on health. (d) The PIO should disclose the complete information to maintain his good record.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Transparency and InformationEthical Dilemmas in Government

Right to Service acts are part of a broader rights-based approach to social policy that has rippled through India over the past decade and a half. Many states have passed public service guarantee acts, also known as Right to Service acts. A state government has set up the Public Service Management Department to oversee the implementation of the Right to Service acts and you have been made its head. After some time you come to observe the following facts: First, officials often wait until towards the end of the maximum allotted time period to complete a service. It could be that officials are creating a new opportunity for bribes, taking money to speed the service up (especially for time sensitive services like caste certificates that may be required for a job or university application). Second, lower officials did express concern about Right to Service Acts being implemented unfairly or being distracting. For example, some said that if there was to be a time limit for processing applications and completing the work within stipulated time then there should also be a limit on how many applications can be accepted. They also felt that the fear of a penalty did make them prioritize processing these applications, but at the expense of their other works. (a) As the head of the Department how you will explain the behaviour of the officials? (b) Except the two options which are given below, what other options are available for you to address the issues of case study. Evaluate their merits and demerits and choose the best option, giving reasons. (i) Set up a citizen grievance redressal cell in the office. (ii) Install CCTV in the office and fix a limit on how many applications can be accepted.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Quality of Service DeliveryCorruption

Discuss the following questions based on role and responsibility of an ethical public administrator. i. He/she must pay attention to both, immoral means to attain moral ends; and moral means to attain moral ends. ii. He/she must prefer policy impartiality over ethical neutrality.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

There is a very strange story of electrification of a village in one state. The village is divided by a 50 feet road. The higher caste live on the one side of the road and people belonging to the lower caste live on the other side of the road. The power supply in the village has created a wide gulf between the two sections' living standards. On one hand, the upper caste has all the modern facilities such as TV, refrigerators, coolers and other luxury goods, but on the other, the lower caste struggle even if there is electric poll. They have to get their mobiles' charged through battery and children have to study under lantern. When the people belonging to lower caste went in past to electricity department to get power connection, they were refused on certain excuse. Recently, media has reported the incidents of discrimination. The power department is under huge pressure from the forward caste not to supply electricity to lower caste area and have threatened that if power is supplied, the village will experience violence. a) Suppose you are the Executive Engineer of the district and the matter come to your knowledge then how you will handle the situation to redress the grievances of people belonging the lower caste? b) In this case, what is more important for you: not disturbing the harmony or eliminating caste discrimination, which will necessarily result into disharmony? c) Discuss your strategies for similar cases in villages where caste discrimination prevails to eliminate such practices and ensure sustained harmony.

25 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Rules versus CompassionCivil Service Values

Discuss the following terms which are based on popular presumptions and perceptions in civil services (a) One can be either 'corrupt and efficient' or 'honest and inefficient'. (b) Democratic ethos and bureaucratic ethos are at loggerhead. (c) The doctrine of committed bureaucracy undermines the concept of neutrality.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Civil Service ValuesImpartiality and Objectivity

“Life will be simpler and much more enjoyable if we were all self conscious of our moral responsibility as self-imposed morality is much better than state-imposed laws in every sense”.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Law and MoralitySources of Ethical Guidance

What do you understand by the concept of civil service accountability? Are you satisfied with the present level of accountability in civil services? Discuss how the role of emotional intelligence becomes important in enhancing accountability?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Accountability and Ethical GovernanceEmotional Intelligence

The idea of 'minimum government and maximum governance' has become a popular model of governance today. In the light of this statement, analyse the following questions with suitable illustrations and in the end explain how ethics can help in reconciling both views? i. It propagates the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi-that people should govern themselves, that is, self governance. ii. This idea runs afoul to the fact that people cannot govern themselves, they must be governed.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016

Civil Service ValuesIndian Thinkers

Discuss the relationship between accountability and responsibility. Can we say a responsible government is ethical government? Explain.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2016