Corruption

What do you mean by ethical political leadership? Do you think it is on a declining trend in India? If so, highlight the socio-political causes responsible for its decline.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022

Civil Service ValuesCorruption

You are the District Magistrate of a district that is known for making combustible substances such as match boxes and fire crackers. As per the The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, employment of children in such hazardous activities is prohibited. In this regard, government has also released a notification that owners of these manufacturing units need to report on the profiles of their employees annually as child labour has been prevalent in these industries. These manufacturing units, abiding by the directives of the government, publish such reports annually and claim to have successfully put an end to employment of child labour. However, it has been brought to your notice that these companies are taking advantage of a loopholes in the law. They have been outsourcing their hiring to independent contractors who engage families in the business. The families have been continuing to use child labour to supplement their income and also keep the cost of labour competitive so as to bag more such contracts and since they are not officially on the payroll of the companies, they are absolved of the legal liabilities. (a) Identify the ethical issues in this case. (b) How would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your action?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

CorruptionRules versus Compassion

Although bribery is illegal and counterproductive, public officials still demand bribes, and executives in the private sector remain tempted to pay up. In this context, discuss ways in which corporations can build a framework to eliminate the practice of offering kickbacks.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022

Corporate GovernanceCorruption

Civil servants, who are themselves honest, but do nothing to save the institution from corruption, do greater damage to the system. Elucidate.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022–2025

CorruptionProbity in Governance

A reputed Automobile company based in India developed an Electric Vehicle(EV) for the international market and started exporting the same after getting necessary approval. The company announced this achievement and also indicated that soon the product will be made available for the domestic consumers with almost same quality and safety features. Accordingly, the company got its product approved by the domestic competent authority and launched the product in the Indian market. The company could increase its market share over a period of time and earned substantial profit both domestically and internationally. However, the random sample test conducted by inspecting team found the product being sold domestically in variance with the approval obtained from the competent authority. On further investigation, it was also discovered that the automobile company was not only selling electric vehicles which were not meeting the stipulated safety standards of the country but also selling the rejected export vehicles in the domestic market. This episode adversely affected the reputation and profitability of the automobile company. (a) What action do you visualize should be taken by the competent authority against the automobile company for violating the laid down Domestic Vehicle Safety Norms and selling rejected export products in the domestic market? (b) What course of action is available with the automobile company to resolve the crisis and bring back its lost reputation? (c) Examine the ethical dilemma involved in the case.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government

Bhuvan-ultra is a famous real estate developer engaged mostly in housing projects. It has a very good track record of timely delivery of housing projects and enjoys a high level of trust among buyers. One of the ongoing projects of Bhuvan-ultra is a housing project with six residential towers. The construction has been in full swing for the last four years. Given the good record of the builder, all the flats have already been sold. Four out of six towers are complete and people have started living in these towers. Two other towers are near completion and it is expected that these would be ready in the next few months. Satish lives in a rented house and he daily crosses through this project on his commute to office. Satish always wanted to buy a flat in one of these towers. One day while reading the newspaper Satish came across a news article on the ongoing project of Bhuvan-ultra. Through the news article, he came to know that Bhuvan-ultra had permission to construct only four towers and it has illegally constructed two more towers in the project. The two illegal towers were standing on ground which was supposed to be a wetland. The entire conundrum points toward massive corruption and negligence by state development authorities. The matter went into the court and the court has ordered demolition of the two illegal towers. However, as the two illegal towers lie in close proximity with the other four legally constructed and inhabited towers, demolishing them is not only expensive but also a risky affair. Further, as all the six towers share a common basement, demolition of two towers can have implications for structural integrity of other four towers. Satish sits there thinking about the pain of the people who have invested their life's savings in the project and questioning whether he should ever invest in a residential property. He is also questioning himself whether demolition of a residential apartments in a country where lakhs of people are homeless, is justified or not. On the basis of above case study, answer the following: a) Identify various ethical dilemmas involved in this case study. b) What can be the other options to achieve justice in the given case, apart from demolition of the illegal towers? Evaluate each of these options and suggest the most suitable option.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2022

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEnvironmental Ethics

In a region of a northern state, the distribution of an old-age pension system has been criticised in a report, and it was found that there were inconsistencies in the process. According to the report, the procedure for identifying beneficiaries was not carried out correctly. The recipients of benefits provided by the programme were not ascertained in a manner that was stipulated by the procedure. The allowances were granted to people belonging to higher caste or those who had not completed the age of 60 years. According to the terms of the programme, they are ineligible to participate. A significant number of complaints were received regarding the withdrawal of funds by individuals who were not eligible to do so. You are the Divisional commissioner in the state responsible for its implementation through District Social Welfare Officer. Government seeks details of action taken by you to root out such practice in future and also disciplinary actions against the responsible officials. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as follows: a) Summon the District Social Welfare Officer, seek clarification on the report and suspend him. b) Suspend the District Social Welfare Officer and order an enquiry. c) Recommend the disciplinary action against the District Social Welfare Officer on the basis of enquiry. d) Take the stock of the situation personally by interacting with local people and then act accordingly. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these options and finally suggest the best course of action you would like to take, giving reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2022

CorruptionUtilisation of Public Funds

Though the internal control systems in India are impressive on paper, they have not worked well in curbing the issue of corruption in the administration. Comment. Also, discuss the various reasons for the same.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2022

CorruptionAccountability and Ethical Governance

You are a Sub-Divisional Magistrate of a large city, having the reputation of a very honest and upright officer. A huge hospital in your city is working day and night to ensure Emergency services are carried out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One night, during monsoons, fire engulfed the Covid ward causing instant death of 20 patients including 10 minors. Many more were seriously injured requiring immediate medical attention. The mishap resulted in a big hue and cry, forcing the government to institute an inquiry. Your preliminary enquiry has revealed a series of anomalies. The material used for the cables was of poor quality. Despite the approved building plans permitting only one basement, an additional basement has been constructed which required more power demand causing stress on the system. This was overlooked during the periodic electrical inspections by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. In your enquiry, you noticed that the hospital has more demand of power than sanctioned by the electricity department. Apart from this you also noticed many irregularities in compliance to the fire safety guidelines. There were no proper exit routes indications and many other technical irregularities with respect to fire safety. The permission to have higher load demand and No Objection Certificate for fire safety was accorded by the previous Sub-Divisional Magistrate who is not only your senior and well known to you professionally, but also a good friend. Prima facie, the case appears to be of a widespread nexus between officials of the district administration and the hospitals. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the enquiry. The previous SDM happens to be a close relative of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. The previous SDM is persuading you to hush up the matter, promising you a fortune to do so. He also hinted that if this matter is not resolved at the earliest in his favour there is somebody in his office who is waiting to file a case against you under the POSH 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 1 topper · CSE 2022

CorruptionPressure and Loyalty

You are posted as a Customs official in one of renowned port cities of India. Your team has recently intercepted a consignment having over 5000 kilograms of red sandalwood. Red Sandalwood, also known as Red Sanders, is a prohibited item for export and is covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list and hence you detained a few individuals for their alleged involvement in trying to smuggle it to another country. However, you later come to know that these people are working for an influential businessman with close ties to the ruling party of the state. Your seniors in the department have verbally instructed you not to register any compliant as yet. You are fearful that a deal will be struck between the businessman and a few corrupt officers of your department and the detained persons will be freed. You are ready to go ahead and file the complaint but at the same time are also fearful of departmental action against you if you disobey your seniors. (a) What are the various options available to you in the given case? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these. (b) Also indicate (without necessarily restricting to the above options) your course of action and the reasons for the same.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2022

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCorruption

You are the Chairperson of Staff Selection Commission of a state. Recently, an exam for recruitment to the position of sub-inspectors was conducted by the Commission. But a video of some students using hi-tech devices like spy-mics, and placing "solvers" to cheat in the exam by hiding bluetooth devices in wig, has been surfacing on the internet. Also, this is not an isolated incident; many instances of organized cheating scandals have shocked the state in recent years. Students are agitated and demanding cancellation of the exam and there is pressure on you to resign. However, your daughter had also appeared in this exam and is confident of clearing it. There are many other students who had waited for this exam for a long time and are hopeful of clearing it with honest efforts. 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) Highlight the ethical issues concerned in the case. (b) Why is cheating in examinations prevalent in many states across India? (c) What measures would you take to make sure that a similar situation does not arise in future?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2022

Conflict of InterestCorruption

You are a Sub-Divisional magistrate of a large city, having the reputation of a very honest and upright officer. A huge hospital in your city is working day and night to ensure Emergency services are carried out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One night, during monsoons, fire engulfed the Covid ward causing instant death of 20 patients including 10 minors. Many more were seriously injured requiring immediate medical attention. The mishap resulted in a big hue and cry, forcing the government to institute an inquiry. Your preliminary enquiry has revealed a series of anomalies. The material used for the cables was of poor quality. Despite the approved building plans permitting only one basement, an additional basement has been constructed which required more power demand causing stress on the system. This was overlooked during the periodic electrical inspections by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. In your enquiry, you noticed that the hospital has more demand of power than sanctioned by the electricity department. Apart from this you also noticed many irregularities in compliance to the fire safety guidelines. There were no proper exit routes indications and many other technical irregularities. The permission to have higher load demand and No Objection Certificate for fire safety was accorded by the previous Sub-Divisional Magistrate who is not only your senior and well known to you professionally, but also a good friend. Prima facie, the case appears to be of a widespread nexus between officials of the district administration and the hospitals. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the enquiry. The previous SDM happens to be a close relative of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. The previous SDM is persuading you to hush up the matter, promising you a fortune to do so. He also hinted that if this matter is not resolved at the earliest in his favour there is somebody in his office who is waiting to file a case against you under the POSH 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 1 topper · CSE 2022

CorruptionPressure and Loyalty

Transparency is not only a bulwark against corruption in administration but also strengthens moral standards in governance. Discuss.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2022

Transparency and InformationProbity in Governance

You have recently been posted as a District Labour Officer in a state, which derives a substantial revenue from tourism. You come to know that a big hotel in the area has not been paying wages as per the Minimum Wages Act. The hotel owner is a powerful local leader having contacts with many influential officials of the state. You have the power to take suo-moto cognizance of such violations and accordingly you initiate a preliminary enquiry into the matter. However, no worker is willing to come forward to lodge a formal complaint because they fear loss of employment. Meanwhile, your action has attracted notice of the higher authorities, and you are advised to drop the matter altogether. You are deeply concerned about the situation as it involves not only violation of the Minimum Wages Act but also denial of basic human rights of the worker. (a) Identify the issues involved in the given case. (b) Consider the options given below: 1. Follow the informal advise of the higher authorities. 2. Convince the owner of the hotel to take note of these violations and take appropriate remedial measures. 3. Submit a detailed report on the matter highlighting violations of workers' rights and seek formal directions from the competent authority. 4. Serve a notice to the hotel owner and initiate action as per your powers under the Minimum Wages Act. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these options and suggest your preferred course of action, giving reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2022

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentPressure and Loyalty