Conflict of Interest

Ensuring that government decisions are not influenced by public officials' private interests is a growing concern. Discuss in the context of India. Also enumerate the core principles reflected by OECD guidelines for managing conflict of interest in the public sector.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 19 toppers · CSE 2017–2020

Conflict of InterestProbity in Governance

You are posted as a District Magistrate in a district, where many large factories and commercial establishments are located. One such factory is owned by one of your close friends. You visit each other's home frequently and are often seen in public together. Recently, media reported about poor working conditions in your friend's factory. Upon enquiry with the labor office, you come to know that the factory has witnessed frequent labour unrests in the past as well. However, the labour officer told you that he was hesitating to take any action due to your proximity with the owner of the factory. With reference to the facts of the case, answer the following questions: (a) Identifying the stakeholders and public cause, discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) As the District Magistrate, what appropriate course of action will you take? Give reasons for the same.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

Conflict of InterestImpartiality and Objectivity

You, a manager in one of the top IT firms in the country, are tasked with hiring new recruits for an upcoming project. You find that the company has given tacit instructions of not hiring female candidates in view of the new maternity law passed by the Government. You find this highly objectionable and lodge a protest with people in the higher management but they are firm as they want to cut down all the unnecessary costs. Based on this information, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the stakeholders and their interests in the situation. (b) What are the dilemmas that a recruiting manager may face in such a scenario? (c) What are the different options available to you? Which one will you pursue and why?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 10 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government

Should a person resort to leaking of information in case of wrongs done in the organization ? Does it cause a conflict of interest between the personal, organizational and societal spheres? Discuss with examples.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2016–2019

Conflict of InterestCorruption

Mr. X is the head of an NGO working in the field of environment conservation and protection. He is in dire need of funds for the NGO's operations and payments to his staff. He is approached by an official of a large infrastructure company, who is ready to provide the required funding for the NGO. But, in a quid pro quo, he asks Mr. X to raise objections over the bypassing of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) norms in an ongoing PPP project through his NGO. This project is being implemented by a rival infrastructure company. Mr. X knows that there have been instances of high level corruption in the process of granting EIA to mega projects and the information provided by the official seems to be authentic. Hence, he accepts the money and agrees to raise the objection. (a) Considering the circumstances of the case, is Mr. X correct in accepting the money? Give appropriate reasons for your answer. (b) If you were in place of Mr. X, what would have been your course of action? Give reasons for it.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government

A mid level manager in a food and beverages firm has been assigned the responsibility to deal with tensions arising in a rural area between the firm and the local farmers. These farmers supply the company with bananas, which are used exclusively by the company in its niche products. The banana plantations are growing a variety developed by the firm. The core issue revolves around the perceived violation of company's IPR as many of the farmers in the neighbouring areas have also started growing the same variety of banana. It is suspected that the farmers with whom the company had a contract have shared the breed with others in the region. The legal department of the firm is of the opinion that a legal complaint against the farmers is the only way to protect the IPR of the company. It would also set a precedent for the future. However, many in the firm also believe that such a step would escalate the matter. In such a scenario, identify the key issues to be addressed. What measures would you suggest to deal with these issues?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 7 toppers · CSE 2019–2021

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are posted as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in a district. As the SDM it is your responsibility to conduct interviews and select a candidate for the post of an ASHA worker in the district. On the day you are conducting the interviews, you are approached by the MLA of the local constituency who asks you to choose a particular lady for this position by overlooking the other candidates. On checking her documents you find that she is eligible in all respects. The MLA implores that she should be given the post on compassionate grounds as her husband was a soldier who was martyred in a war. Some of the options to handle the situation could be as follows: (a) Ignore the MLA and proceed with the process of selection. (b) Speak to your superior and seek his guidance on the matter. (c) Appoint the lady to the post as it is a compassionate appointment. Also suggest other possible options. Evaluate each of these options and suggest the best course of action, giving reasons for it.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 7 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Pressure and LoyaltyCivil Service Values

You, the chairperson of a State Public Service Commission (SPSC), come to know that there were instances of rampant cheating in a competitive exam conducted recently by the SPSC. Your daughter, who also appeared in this exam and is confident of clearing it corroborates the same. However, she denies engaging in any such activity herself. 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) Identify the different stakeholders and their interests in the case above. (b) Enumerate the options you have to handle the current situation. What will be your choice and why? (c) Suggest measures that you would take to make sure that a similar situation does not arise in future.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are working as a senior doctor in the oncology department of a super specialty hospital located in Delhi. While accessing the quotations from reputed pharmaceutical companies to hospitals, you unearth a nexus between pharma firms and the hospital administration. You get to know that they are hand-in glove with each other and trying to fleece cancer patients by selling drugs at exorbitant prices, even though low cost alternative drugs are available in the market. Being the head of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare, who is working against the arbitrary price regime of life saving drugs, you get a chance to represent your case before the Health Minister of your state. However, certain other doctors of the Alliance have asked you to present a distorted reality in front of the Minister since they are obtaining pecuniary benefits from such a scheme of nexus, which would cease if the nexus gets exposed. 20 (a) Identify the main stakeholders and ethical issues involved. (b) Analyse the possible solutions for addressing the issues. (c) What would be your final course of action and why?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentConflict of Interest

It is at the interface of public action and private interest that the need arises for establishing not just a code of ethics but a code of conduct. In this context, highlight the need for drafting a code of ethics as well as a code of conduct.

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

Codes of Ethics and ConductConflict of Interest

Big firms often undertake sub-contracting to complete large infrastructure projects in a timely manner. You recently joined one such firm as a manager responsible for awarding these contracts. Looking at the past records, you find that all contracts for the past few years have been awarded to a particular firm, X. Your superior has asked you to award an upcoming contract to the same firm. Although, not binding, company procedure maintains that sub-contracting work should be offered after competitive bids. This is to ensure that the firm most suitable for the project in terms of operations and finance gets the contract. When you discuss this with your superior, he insists that hiring of the firm X has been done as per legal norms of the company and no official rule has been violated. You decide to contact the owner of the firm X. After doing so, you realize that he is the nephew of your superior, who is also a shareholder in the company. (a) State the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) Does this form of transaction between two private parties constitute a conflict of interest? Justify. (c) Evaluate the possible ways of awarding contracts in such a situation with their merits and demerits. Also state which method would be more suitable in each situation.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Conflict of InterestCorporate Governance

You are a teacher in the Science department of a reputed college. Your HoD (Head of Department) has been a good mentor to you and has guided your career progress. You get to know from one of your students that the HoD gives private tuitions at his residence, which is disliked by many others in the department. There are also rumours that he might be giving extra marks to the students taking his tuitions. When enquired, his reply is that he is not alone and a few other teachers are giving private tuitions as well. He assures you that it is beneficial for the students as some of them need extra attention. He advises you not to make a fuss about it and indirectly reminds you about the assessment rating, which is due this week. You are aware that a good rating will definitely get you the due promotion. The HoD is due to retire in 4 months. (a) What are the dilemmas that you face in this situation? (b) Highlight the course of action that you would adopt and give reasons for the same.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are a young recruit to the IAS. Upon the completion of your training you have been posted in a subdivision of a district where industrial development has been lagging. The area has large reserves of minerals and a significant tribal population. The government has identified the area for a large thermal power plant and also adequate expansion of mining. This announcement has seen a rise in land prices in the area as well as unrest among the local population about possible land acquisition. As part of routine examination of records you observe large land purchases in recent years that are linked with the family of the local politician, who is also a member of the state cabinet. You also recognise that much of this land is around the site of the proposed industrial area. Further, one of your staff members also informs you that the family has been buying in the name of drivers, cleaners as well as domestic helps. You feel that having been aware of the policy decision the politician has played a role in these purchases. Incidently your relations with the politician have been cordial and he is a popular figure in the area. (a) As the official responsible for acquisition of land and payment of compensation for the land acquired, what are the ethical issues that you face in the given situation? (b) What will be your response to a suggestion that in view of these benami land transfers a freeze on land sale in the area should be enforced? (c) What is the course of action that you would take? Justify with reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2018–2019

Conflict of InterestCorruption

Value conflicts are common in the public sphere of life to everyone and a public servant is not an exception to this. What are the common value conflicts that a public servant faces? How can a public servant overcome those value conflicts?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2019

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentConflict of Interest

(11) Stakeholders involved and ethical issues involved. (a) Given the situation, suggest a course of action you will take.

Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2019

Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government

Government has issued a tender for a mega road project. As a senior official in the Ministry, you are responsible for issuing the notice, examining the prospective tender offers and selecting the final vendor for providing the services. You are an upright officer. One of your relatives owns an infrastructure company and his company have applied for the above mentioned contract. After preliminary examination, you have reached the conclusion that your relative's offer best suits the government requirement. Initially, you had taken enough care that you are not at all instrumental in helping your relative. The Minister in charge of the Ministry wants you to allot the contract to the company of his choice-Company B. The said company has no previous experience in the field of Infrastructure. For contract to be allotted to company B, even the pre-established criteria may have to be changed. Therefore, you suspect the promoters of the company have made generous donations to ruling political party. The Minister is promising your career advancement in lieu of complying with him. a. Critically examine various conflicts of interest and explain what your responsibilities as a public servant are. b. Faced with this situation, what will you do?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2019

Conflict of InterestPressure and Loyalty