Ethics, integrity and aptitude

You are a young athlete representing India at an international-level competition. During the competition, you witness a few senior athletes injecting something using a syringe, in private. When you approach them, they explain that it is a performance enhancing drug, which is very common in such competitions and you should take the same as well. You are in fear and decide to approach the coach to discuss the event you witnessed. However, you get to know that the athletes are taking the drug at the advice of the coach himself. (a) What would you do in this scenario? Discuss the options available to you and chart your course of action. (b) Why do you think use of unfair means to enhance performance is common in competitive sporting event? How can this practice be minimized?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

IntegrityEthical Dilemmas in Government

Which administrator had a lasting impact on your decision to join the civil services and why? Should administrators have increased media presence so that the common man can know more about their efforts and achievements? Justify your stand.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2016–2018

Civil Service ValuesDedication to Public Service

A. “There is only one responsibility of business, namely to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase profits.” Do you think corporations, by indulging in social responsibilities, are compromising their core resource utilisation and production responsibility by diverting resources into unproductive social endeavours?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2022–2024

Corporate GovernanceCivil Service Values

Given the effects that cultural attitudes about menstruation have on women, there is need to follow a strategic approach in combating these. Discuss.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

AttitudeSocial Influence and Persuasion

A renowned and critically acclaimed producer-director has come up with a new movie based on retelling of the freedom movement. The trailer of this project depicts prominent freedom fighters and various aspects of their personalities. It is a project that involves substantial sums of money and has taken collaborative efforts of 3 years. However, certain political and social activists have objected to what they perceived as negative portrayal of some freedom fighters. As such, they have opposed the release of this movie and issued threats with serious consequences. This has come in the context of increase in the number of instances involving many groups issuing threats against one or the other movie. In such a context you have been designated as the head of a special committee with the broad responsibility of reviewing the film certification process in general as well as the checking the historical accuracy of the events depicted in this particular movie. (a) Who are the key stakeholders you would involve as part of the consultation process? (b) What are the principles that you would consider while giving your recommendations to the government? Also, provide an outline of a solution that you deem appropriate in the prevailing context.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCivil Service Values

Income inequality is a matter of grave concern for the Indian society. In this context, examine the relevance of Gandhiji's concepts of 'Sarvodaya' and 'Trusteeship'.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Indian ThinkersDimensions of Ethics

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." – Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2020–2024

Human ValuesDimensions of Ethics

Value of compassion towards the weak extends the limits of operations of a public servant by introducing flexibility but dilutes the principle of objectivity. Discuss. If a conflict arises between the value of compassion and principle of objectivity, how will you deal with it as a public servant?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2016–2018

Empathy and CompassionImpartiality and Objectivity

Civil Services ethics has everything to do with management. It is as much a Departmental as a personal issue. Leaders who fail to create systems that facilitate ethical conduct are equally to blame as much as those who indulge in ethical misconduct. Do you think the Departmental culture leads to ethical misconduct or is the individual with weak willpower culpable? Discuss.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2023–2024

Work CultureCivil Service Values

Investigative reporting by media can be a significant source of information on corruption. What are ethical issues involved in investigative journalism? What safeguards can be introduced to prevent its misuse?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2016–2018

Transparency and InformationCorruption

You are posted as a District Education Officer (DEO) in a Maoist affected district. You have been specifically given the responsibility to work on the literacy mission. After reading the education reports and doing field visits, you find that the number of out of school children has increased drastically and the motivation among students and teachers is also low. While certain basic infrastructure is already in place, the major hurdle in attracting students to these schools include the attitude of inhabitants towards education and the security risks involved in sending children to schools. Given the situation, answer the following questions: (a) Analyse the reasons behind such an attitude. 20 (b) As a DEO, what are the steps that you would take in order to increase the school attendance and change the prevalent attitude of inhabitants towards education?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2017–2018

Social Influence and PersuasionAttitude

Ensuring accountability in the administration just adds another layer in the bureaucratic process. Examine. Differentiate between accountability and responsibility. Suggest some measures through which administrative accountability can be made more effective in India.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2016–2018

Accountability and Ethical GovernanceCivil Service Values

The moral circle of humanity has been expanding constantly over time. Discuss in this context whether non-human entities should have the same rights as humans beings.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2021

Environmental EthicsDimensions of Ethics

“A sense of duty is useful in work, but offensive in personal relations.” Russell

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

Ethics in Private and Public LifeDimensions of Ethics

Corporate Governance provides a framework that defines the rights, roles and responsibilities of various groups within an organization. (a) Elaborate the need to incorporate the principles of Corporate Governance to enhance the effectiveness of the public sector enterprises. (b) Identify the challenges specific to the public sector when it comes to the application of good practices of corporate governance.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2017–2018

Corporate GovernanceAccountability and Ethical Governance

“Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.” Plato

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

World ThinkersDimensions of Ethics

"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values." - Ayn Rand.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2020–2024

Human ValuesWorld Thinkers

The effective implementation of the Right to Information Act will create an environment of vigilance which will help in functioning of a more participatory democracy. Elaborate.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Transparency and InformationAccountability and Ethical Governance

Open Government Data (OGD) can be seen as a step towards greater transparency and accountability in India. In this context, discuss the benefits of OGD and the challenges which lie therein.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2021

Transparency and InformationAccountability and Ethical Governance

Access to quality basic services plays a critical role in enhancing individual capabilities to participate fully in the growth of the nation. (a) Discuss the statement in the context of vulnerable sections of India. (b) Analyse the challenges with regard to quality service delivery in India.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Quality of Service DeliveryCorruption

You are posted in the Department of Mines, and one of your roles is to help your Department Head negotiate mining leases with private contractors. Recently, the state government demarcated a new mining zone and planned to invite bids for the mining blocs. You were instructed to oversee the bidding process and speed up the contract negotiations. As planned, the tenders were released, bids came in, and tenders were allocated as per the norms. All this happened at a breakneck speed. You wondered, why the hurry? But it was not your place to think and question; you quietly went about your work. As the contractors were about to start operations, you had to instruct them on environmental concerns to watch out for. And to do that, you read the environmental impact assessment report submitted by a consulting firm hired by the department. To your surprise, the report was shoddy and looked cooked up. You got suspicious and raised the issue with your Head, who politely instructed you to do what you were told, and he reminded you that the Department had revenue targets and was under pressure from the Ministry. After the meeting, you, on your own accord, did some digging and found out that the report was fraudulent and the mining activity that was about to start would lead to a massive environmental disaster which the State could not afford. (a) What are the issues and value violations you notice in the above case? (b) What are the options available to you? (c) Discuss the advantage and disadvantages of each option and identify your chosen course of action. (d) Do you think that environmental considerations are sometimes overrated at the cost of development?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Environmental EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government

Business ethicists believe that external and internal regulations are insufficient for curtailing or preventing corporate malpractices; they strongly advocate the presence of whistleblowing mechanisms as a check against corporate misgovernance. Do you think corporate governance is incomplete without whistleblowing? Why/Why not? Explain

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2024–2025

Corporate GovernanceCorruption

Singh Garh is a primarily rural district with minimal relatively insignificant industrial activity, except for one consumer goods manufacturing plant, which was the primary source of employment. Development indicators such as health, literacy, etc., were much below the national average. Along with developmental issues, another grave concern was the slow rise in child marriages. Despite the legal sanctions, child marriage continued to rise unabated. Rashmi, a social work postgraduate who escaped an early marriage, started an NGO for rescuing and rehabilitating child marriage victims. In the last five years, she saved a lot of young girls from becoming victims of child marriage. Her modus Operandi was simple. She had developed a network of informants in villages who relayed information to her, and after verifying, Rashmi with help from local law enforcement personnel, prevented the marriage from happening. Rashmi did commendable work, but she made some enemies in the process. The local leaders resented her popularity with women and young girls in particular. To expand her activities, Rashmi contacted the management of the only industrial unit in the district. She successfully persuaded the company to contribute to her activities and the NGO. The company even gave her access to their facilities to conduct workshops for workers to raise awareness about the issue of child marriage. As she started her workshops and campaign on the company premises, the initial response was lukewarm and, at times, complete indifference. But she persevered. After a couple of months, one day, the company union members stopped her from entering the company and even threatened her with violence. Rashmi spoke with the management, who supported her and ensured her safety. The management issued a circular supporting Rashmi and her NGO. To management's surprise, after a week of the circular, the Union called for a flash strike and threatened to continue the work stoppage if the NGO activities continued. The workers believed that Rashmi's campaign was corrupting the women's minds and disrespecting their traditions. The company's management seeing the aggressive reaction sought to assuage the workers by stopping the NGO activities. Rashmi tried to persuade the management by highlighting their social responsibility to the community. But the management was curt in replying that every social problem is not their moral responsibility. Rashmi was disappointed with the management's decision and wondered how best to involve the company in her campaigns. (a) What are the issues involved in the above case? (b) What do you think Rashmi should do? Would it be a good idea for Rashmi to involve local administration? Suggest an implementable course of action. (c) Do you think companies should also accept responsibility for the social problems of the region where they operate? Why/why not? (d) What could be the reasons for such an aggressive reaction from the workers union? How do you think Rashmi should handle the workers union?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2023–2025

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government

Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to create a common set of laws governing personal matters, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, irrespective of individuals' religious affiliations. In the context of the ongoing discourse on UCC in India, examine the challenges that arise when attempting to reconcile legal principles with diverse moral considerations. To what extent should the law be influenced by moral/religious principles?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2020–2024

Law and MoralityDimensions of Ethics