Probity in Governance

Right to Information Act, 2005, aims to make the governance process transparent and accountable, however, the sunshine legislation is beset with several challenges. Analyse.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021–2024

Transparency and InformationAccountability and Ethical Governance

You are posted as the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) in a coastal district prone to flooding. During the monsoon season, rising river levels have led to early warnings from the disaster management unit. While reviewing preparedness files, you come across an internal report marked "confidential", generated by a recent IIT study. It identifies five low-lying zones that could face severe flash floods due to poor drainage and encroachment, including two residential clusters never marked as high-risk before. You ask the Disaster Management Officer (DMO) why this wasn't part of the public advisory. He says, "If we release this now, people will panic. Plus, there are real estate interests in those areas. Let's wait till there's a visible threat." You raise the issue with the District Collector, who replies, "We've alerted key departments. The public warning system is already stretched. We'll evacuate if needed." That evening, a local journalist sends you a Right to Information (RTI) query asking whether flood zone mapping has been updated. The DMO suggests you say "study still under review." You're conflicted. Sharing the report could save lives and push preventive action, but may trigger panic, disrupt the local economy, and place you at odds with senior officers. Delaying could lead to loss of life, for which you may later be blamed. 1. What are the competing ethical principles and administrative risks the ADM must consider in this case? 2. How should the ADM respond to the situation, balancing duty, protocol, and public interest? 3. Suggest three institutional practices that can improve transparency and responsiveness in disaster-prone districts.

15 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentTransparency and Information

Do you agree that ethical governance encompasses more than just clean administration, it involves inclusive, participatory, and value-driven governance? Suggest implementable measures to institutionalise ethical governance in India.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Accountability and Ethical GovernanceProbity in Governance

Where the roots of private virtue are diseased, the fruit of public probity cannot but be corrupt. What do you understand by probity? Discuss ways of inculcating probity in public life.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021–2024

Probity in GovernanceEthics in Private and Public Life

If you were asked to design a new framework for defining work culture in Government agencies, what would the basic tenets of such a framework be?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2023

Work CultureProbity in Governance

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

Abha is currently working as the DM of a district. One day, she went to a village for inspecting the progress of a certain village development project. Abha was not satisfied with the pace of the work and wanted to talk with the Sarpanch of the village about the same. Abha went to the panchayat office where she found the Sarpanch standing just outside the office. The Sarpanch greeted Abha and offered her a seat. Abha sat down and started discussing the matter with the Sarpanch. She noticed that Sarpanch was still standing. She thought that Sarpanch was not sitting because of hesitation or out of respect for the officer. She requested him to take a seat but he reluctantly sat on a wooden stool. Abha jokingly asked him if he liked the stool so much that he chose it instead of a chair, to which the Sarpanch replied that he was not allowed to sit on a chair as he belonged to a Dalit community. Abha was taken aback by this response. Abha enquired further about the issue. The sarpanch explained that since the Sarpanch position was reserved for SC community, he won the election. But despite being the official head of the panchayat, he did not have any power. He was neither allowed to enter the panchayat office nor was given access to official documents. A separate water pot was kept for him outside the office and he was not allowed to use the common water pot. He worked as a rubber stamp who merely signed the given document. He went on to tell Abha that last year he was not even allowed to hoist the national flag during the Independence Day celebration. Abha was shocked about hearing the kind of discrimination that the Sarpanch faced. On the basis of this case study answer the following questions: 1) Why do caste-based discriminations still persist even after 75 years of independence? 2) Examine the various ethical issues involved in this case. 3) Identify various stakeholders and their responsibilities for creating an egalitarian society.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2023

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEmpathy and Compassion

Sita is a young woman living in a small village in rural India. She belongs to a lower-caste community that has traditionally been associated with manual scavenging. Sita's parents were manual scavengers, and as a child, she had often accompanied them on their rounds, collecting and disposing of the excreta of their higher-caste neighbours. When Sita turned 18, she decided that she didn't want to continue with this degrading and unhealthy work. She wanted to break free from the cycle of poverty and discrimination that had trapped her community for generations. However, finding alternative employment was not easy. Sita had little education and few skills, and the only jobs available to her were in the informal sector, where wages were low and working conditions were poor. One day, Sita heard about a job opportunity at the local municipality. The municipality was looking for a "safai karamchari" to clean the streets and dispose of the garbage. Sita applied for the job and was selected. At first, Sita was excited about her new job. She earned a regular wage and had the satisfaction of doing work that was important to the community. However, as time went on, Sita began to realize that her job involved much more than just cleaning the streets. She was often asked to clean and dispose of the excreta of people who were unable to do so themselves, either because of age, illness, or disability. Sita was uncomfortable with this aspect of her job and found it demeaning and degrading. She knew that manual scavenging was illegal and that it violated the rights of the individuals she was asked to serve. She also knew that it carried serious health risks, as she had to work without protective gear or equipment. However, Sita was afraid to speak out or to refuse the tasks that were assigned to her. She needed the job to support her family and was afraid of losing it if she complained or refused to do the work. She also feared social ostracism and discrimination if she went against the traditional roles and expectations of her community. a) Identify the ethical issues involved in this case b) What role do the municipality and the community play in addressing the issue of manual scavenging in this case? c) What can be done at the societal level to address the root causes of manual scavenging and to promote the rights and dignity of those affected by it?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Ethics in Private and Public LifeEmpathy and Compassion

Recently CJI Chandrachud held "RTI as dead letter", largely due to inefficiency and unwillingness to disseminate info causing opaque governance.

Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Transparency and InformationProbity in Governance

What is probity in governance? What is the purpose and importance of probity in governance? Are there any measures to ensure probity in governance?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Probity in GovernanceTransparency and Information

Probity in public life is nothing but the reflection of integrity in personal life. Discuss.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Probity in GovernanceIntegrity

Discuss the role of ethics and values in turning India into a 5 trillion-dollar economy.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Civil Service ValuesCorporate Governance

India ranks 85th amongst 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index of 2021. In this context, discuss the various ways to tackle corruption in India, with special reference to Kautilya's Arthashastra.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

CorruptionIndian Thinkers

Vihar is a state in the Northern part of the country. Prohibition laws in the state completely prohibit 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 laborers. 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 1 topper · CSE 2023

Crisis Decision MakingRules versus Compassion

It is said, "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely", highlighting on essence of responsible use of power.

Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Probity in GovernanceCorruption

Differentiate between Coercive and Collusive corruption and critically analyze the measures that are available to fight each of them.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

CorruptionProbity in Governance

Efficient public service delivery will be ensured when people are aware enough @ Nordic countries.

Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Quality of Service DeliveryTransparency and Information

What is the significance of probity in governance, and how does leadership play a crucial role in fostering probity and ethical governance in public service? Provide suitable illustrations to support your explanation.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2023

Probity in GovernanceAccountability and Ethical Governance