GS4 · Practice questions
Ethics, integrity and aptitude
2,285 questions, with how toppers answered each. Years are the CSE year of the toppers who answered.
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Nithin is the head of the Marketing Department at Pehnava Clothings Ltd., a reputed apparel manufacturing company with a strong global presence. Known for its professionalism and consistent performance, the company had earned a credible name in both domestic and international markets. However, the firm was going through difficult times. For three consecutive quarters, it had witnessed a steep decline in sales. This trend had raised serious concerns among the top management regarding the company's competitiveness, profitability, and long-term stability. To address the situation, the leadership decided to restructure the marketing division and bring in dynamic leadership. A senior marketing executive, Mr. A, was hired after a rigorous selection process. He had an impressive career record and was known for turning around sales performance in other firms and building strong brand identities. With high expectations placed upon him, Mr. A was seen as the key figure to steer the company out of crisis. Mr. A soon began delivering results. Within a year, the company's revenue had almost doubled, and its brand visibility had increased significantly. His bold marketing strategies, proactive outreach, and innovative campaigns received appreciation from various quarters within the company. His performance drew the attention of the top management. There were deliberations about assigning him a larger role within the company, with a focus on long-term business strategy. He was also being considered for an internal award for 'Excellence in Leadership and Innovation'. However, alongside professional success of Mr. A, Nithin began receiving troubling feedback about his conduct in the workplace. Informal reports indicated that he frequently made inappropriate comments about women. In addition, he regularly sent indecent messages via social media apps to all team members, including his female colleagues. Although no formal complaint was lodged initially, Nithin could sense tension within the team, and signs of discomfort were becoming increasingly apparent. Some employees even started avoiding direct interaction with Mr. A. Team morale and interpersonal trust were gradually eroding, but employees remained hesitant to speak openly. The matter escalated one evening when Mrs. X, one of Mr. A's team members approached Nithin. Visibly disturbed and emotionally shaken, she disclosed that Mr. A had repeatedly engaged in inappropriate behavior towards her. She added that Mr. A had been making undesirable advances towards her and had even tried to touch her inappropriately in his cabin. She urged Nithin to take appropriate action in the matter, or else she would have no option but to resign from her position. a. Bring out the ethical issues involved in this case. b. What are the options available to Nithin? c. Critically examine each of the options identified by Nithin. d. Which of the options, do you think, would be more appropriate for Nithin to adopt and why?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCorporate Governance
While emotional intelligence is an essential tool for a public servant, it can also be misused to manipulate people to act against their own interests. Discuss with examples.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2023
Emotional IntelligenceSocial Influence and Persuasion
You are working as a Manager who handles critical projects in a private firm. You have recently been issued a notice by the Human Resource department that categorically highlights gender imbalance in your team and instructs you to recruit more females. Realizing the importance of this matter you decide to roll out vacancy requirements on an urgent basis and close it within a week. You receive several applications and start interviewing female candidates. However, you realize that the top four candidates are married and two of them are expecting their child. During the interviews the candidates commit on their priority for the project, till it finishes and show willingness to work from home, afterwards. What is the course of action that you will take? Explain the factors that you will take into account and justify the merits of the course of action.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2018–2019
Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government
In light of the recurring issues, there is a constant need to search for better ethical frameworks and models of corporate governance. Discuss with adequate examples and evidence in support of your arguments.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021
Corporate GovernanceAccountability and Ethical Governance
(Lack of team orientation) (Not to create internal noise)
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
IntegrityCorruption
Patriotism encourages ethical questioning, while nationalism often suppresses it. Discuss this statement in light of the formation of political attitudes during high-pressure national events. How can individuals develop moral attitudes that balance national interest with ethical reasoning?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
AttitudeSocial Influence and Persuasion
Educational institutions play a significant role in instilling ethical values among students. In this context, state the importance of promoting extra-curricular activities in educational institutions.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2019–2024
Family, Society and EducationHuman Values
"True compassion means not only feeling another's pain but also being moved to help relieve it". - Daniel Goleman
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021
Empathy and CompassionHuman Values
'Just-in-time' release of funds heralds a significant reform for the Indian government's payment architecture. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2024
Utilisation of Public FundsAccountability and Ethical Governance
In the parlance of governance, probity is often used in conjunction with integrity. How do you differentiate between the two? What is their importance in public life? What measures can help promote these values in governance?
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2017–2018
Probity in GovernanceIntegrity
The increasing use of digital surveillance technologies for maintaining law and order is a debatable issue. Critically examine the statement from the ethical point of view.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
Technology and EthicsDimensions of Ethics
You are DM of a very poor district in the hinterland of India. It has come to your notice that manual scavenging is widely prevalent in the district even though the new law prohibits manual scavenging in any form. Upon enquiry, you have found that the number of manual scavengers has been reported to be very low, however, hundreds of dry latrines in the district depict a different picture. You have also noticed two more important trends: first, most of the manual scavengers are Dalits, and second, in many of the cases they themselves go to the houses and request the owners to clean their toilets manually, as it would provide monetary benefits. The entire district administration has been criticized by the media and there is political pressure on you to manipulate the data in a way that it shows less number of manual scavengers in the district. Based on the given information answer the following: 1. Identify the ethical issues associated with manual scavenging. 2. List the options available to you in the given case. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each. 3. Discuss some feasible steps that you can take to control this serious problem.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2016–2017
Empathy and CompassionCrisis Decision Making
'Knowledge gives us power, love gives us fullness.' - Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021–2022
Indian ThinkersHuman Values
It has been argued that traditional approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR) are inadequate. Discuss. Also, examine the role of Social License to Operate (SLO) in this regard. 10 (Social License to Operate: SLO)
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2018–2019
Corporate Governance
Maintaining traditional bonds and familial relationships in an increasingly globalized world requires personal relationships to be governed by ethical principles. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2020–2024
Ethics in Private and Public LifeFamily, Society and Education
Explain why altruism constitutes one of the core values in public life. In this regard, suggest some measures to foster altruistic behaviour in public services.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2023
Human ValuesDedication to Public Service
Citizens' Charters by themselves cannot achieve the desired results in improving quality of public services. Discuss the statement in light of the Sevottam Model.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2019–2024
Citizens ChartersQuality of Service Delivery
You are the Dean of Academics of a University. It has been brought to your notice that some students have raised a complaint against Mr X, a specially-abled Professor at the University, for not performing his academic duties diligently. The Head of the Department (HoD) tried to have a conversation with him regarding these complaints; however, Mr X feels that he is a victim of internal politics and is being discriminated against on account of him being specially-abled. He also conveyed to the HoD that he will file a complaint of discrimination against the University under The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. As the Dean of Academics, it is your responsibility to uphold the academic standards of the University and take any administrative decision in this regard. In this case, answer the following questions: (a) State the stakeholders and the ethical issues in the given case. (b) What are the options available to you? (c) Evaluate each of these options and state the option which you would choose, citing reasons.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2024
Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCivil Service Values
Explain the meaning of self-efficacy, along with its key determinants. Also, discuss the significance of high self-efficacy for a civil servant.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2024
Aptitude for Civil ServiceEmotional Intelligence
You are posted as a District Development officer in a district with a low literacy rate and poor health indicators. As you took charge, your Health Secretary had given express instructions that your priority is to improve health indicators by enhancing the delivery of healthcare services. After taking over, you traveled around the district to study and identify ways of improving healthcare services. During your field trip, you discovered that the issue was not the accessibility of services; it was something else. You found the problem was the myths, misconceptions, and malpractices that hindered the uptake of health care services. For instance, people believed that vaccines caused impotence, immunization was equivalent to birth control, using antenatal care was counterproductive to the health of the mother and baby, and so on. You realize that these beliefs were the behavioral barriers that stood in the way of health and nutrition services. And these behavioral barriers made it difficult for front-line workers to reach out. You discussed your observations with the Health Secretary, and he advised you to seek inputs from the neighboring district DDO who was doing some good work. When you met with the neighboring DDO, you learned he was experimenting with the faith leader's influence and reach to persuade people. You were unsure about roping in faith leaders to help you overcome the behavioral barriers. As a civil servant, you felt it would be a mistake to involve faith leaders in health service schemes. When you shared your apprehensions with the Secretary, he firmly instructed you to try and innovate. (a) What are the issues involved in the above case? (b) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Faith leaders as influencers and persuaders? (c) If there are no faith leaders, what other options do you have to break behavioral barriers? (d) Do you think it is ethically right for a civil servant to involve faith leaders in promoting government schemes?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Social Influence and PersuasionEthical Dilemmas in Government
Given below are quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. Bring out what they mean to you in the present context: (a) The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Mahatma Gandhi
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2019–2021
Indian ThinkersHuman Values
The role of emotional intelligence is crucial for public servants in overcoming adversity. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021–2022
Emotional IntelligenceCivil Service Values
Compassion is the courageous choice to feel another's suffering as one's own, and to act upon it, even when silence is safer and indifference is easier. Examine the significance of compassion as an essential ethical value for civil servants in India. Illustrate your answer with suitable examples.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2025
Empathy and CompassionCivil Service Values
Digital ethics principles are necessary to prevent erosion of public values and deal with the ethical implications of digitizing governance systems. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2024
Technology and EthicsAccountability and Ethical Governance