Corruption

A state that does not have the political will and the discipline to enforce probity in governance, can not get rid of the menace of prolonged corruption. Discuss.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023

Probity in GovernanceCorruption

Having knowledge of an unethical act and allowing it to continue can spread a contagion that can affect multiple beings in society. Bertrand Russell

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023

World ThinkersDimensions of Ethics

While civil servants have the legal right to undertake post-retirement jobs, it raises key ethical issues. Comment.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023

Conflict of InterestEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are posted as Superintendent of Police in a district. A case has come up in which more than 30 girls were allegedly raped and sexually exploited at the city shelter home run by an NGO. The scandal came to light when media flagged complaints of sexual abuse of inmates of the city shelter home. A nexus of police, politicians, administration and criminals have been allegedly responsible for the racket going on for the last few years. In light of this, a lot of protests have erupted across the city. While, on one hand, media glare has meant that people are demanding swift action, you have been asked to go slow in investigating the case by top officers in your department. Elections in the state are due in a few months, so it has become a politically sensitive issue. You are also under immense political pressure from the ruling party to not take strict action and make compromises to cover up the case. Given the situation, answer the following: (a) Identify the issues involved in the case. (b) What are the options available to you? Which of these options will you choose? Justify your stand with logical arguments.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2020–2023

Pressure and LoyaltyCrisis Decision Making

What is red-tapism? Why is it considered a hurdle in the process of transitioning towards citizen centric governance?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2020–2021

Quality of Service DeliveryCivil Service Values

Many states in India have experimented with prohibition of liquor at various times. However, it is common knowledge that many such states have a thriving illegal liquor industry. Moreover, it is ironical that while many political parties have prohibition prominently mentioned in their manifestos, it is politicians who distribute alcohol among voters during their election campaigns. This also gives rise to illicit liquor trade and many people lose their lives to it. (a) What are the socio-economic problems that are widely attributed to alcoholism? (b) Do you think prohibiting liquor creates more problems than it proposes to solve? (c) Short of prohibition, what can be done to tackle the problem of rising alcoholism, particularly among the youth of the country?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2021

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCivil Service Values

There is a view that corrupt practices have been socially accepted in India. How can this 'acceptance' be shifted to 'rejection' towards corruption?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2020–2021

CorruptionSocial Influence and Persuasion

Administration discretion can be a blessing if used correctly, however its misuse can prove to be a curse. Discuss with examples.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2020–2021

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCivil Service Values

An important requisite for ensuring probity in governance is absence of corruption. Analyse.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2021

Probity in GovernanceCorruption

There is a view that the institutional mechanisms to ensure accountability of civil servants have weakened over time. In this context, discuss the need of a social accountability law in India.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2021

Accountability and Ethical GovernanceProbity in Governance

“People's indifference is the best breeding ground for corruption to grow”. Comment.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2021

CorruptionAccountability and Ethical Governance

It is essential that people have access to information if they are to have the capacity to exercise other rights. Discuss the statement with focus on importance of RTI in governance.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 7 toppers · CSE 2019–2021

Transparency and InformationAccountability and Ethical Governance

You work as a marketing consultant for a multinational company that specializes in various products including nutrient supplements, diet pills etc. The company pays its employees extremely well and provides satisfactory fringe benefits. Your manager has hinted that he will recommend you for overseas company transfer, which will improve your job profile. This has motivated you to work harder and perform better. The company has to advertise and sell a new weight loss pill 'X'. As per in-company research, it has minimal or no side effects and has no adverse impacts on health, which is its unique selling point (USP). You are given the responsibility of heading the marketing team for advertising pill 'X'. Due to a well-crafted marketing strategy including endorsement by a renowned celebrity, the product has generated considerable public attention. However, while working on an advertisement campaign for the pill, you find out that the in-company research findings of pill 'X' are fabricated. While it indeed has no side-effects, there are no proven benefits of taking the pill as well. It merely acts as a placebo. When you bring up the issue with your manager, he promptly tells you to keep the facts to yourself. He also indirectly brings up the fact that your performance review date is approaching and hints that you will get transferred overseas if you prove your loyalty to the company. Based on the given information, address the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders in this situation. (b) State the ethical issues that arise in this case. (c) Discuss your options in this scenario and mention your next step.

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

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district, which has a bustling market in the district headquarters with a high footfall. The area has traditionally been occupied by street vendors and hawkers. They form an intrinsic part of the market system in the area and derive their livelihood from it. Recently, you got reports that the policemen posted in the area harass the hawkers and also extort 'hafta' - a weekly bribe - from them despite complying with the laws. It has been brought to your notice that while those who comply with this arrangement are allowed to carry on with their daily operations, those who do not are being evicted from the market area. In the process of eviction, they are even physically assaulted and their saleable items are often confiscated and destroyed. As a result, some street vendors have been staging protests against the local administration in the market and have blocked the normal market passage. They have also threatened to intensify their protest over a period of time. The local police, however, has been in denial of any such wrong doings and argue that they are merely removing illegal encroachments, which were causing traffic jam in the area. In this situation, answer the following: (a) Mention the stakeholders and ethical issues involved in the case. (b) As the Superintendent of Police, what course of action would you adopt for diffusing the tensions in the area? Also, suggest some policy recommendations, which will help resolve the issues in the long-term.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2019–2021

CorruptionEthical Dilemmas in Government

Discretionary power by itself is not pure evil but gives much room for misuse. Discuss in the context of administration in India.

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

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCorruption

You are a young officer posted as the Sub Divisional Magistrate in a district which houses factories for making match boxes and fire crackers. It is brought to your notice that a large number of children are working in these hazardous activities. The government had previously released a notification that owners of these manufacturing units need to report on the profiles of their employees annually to prevent child labour. 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, there are reports that these units are taking advantage of loopholes in the law. They are using contractors to continue to indirectly hire children without them officially being on the payroll of the units. Families of these child labourers are poor and see this as an essential source of income. An influential local politician also owns some of these manufacturing units and is known to put pressure on the officers involved for not taking any action against child labour. (a) Identify the stakeholders and ethical issues in this case. (b) How would you approach the problem and what would be the main elements of your action? (c) What medium to long-term measures will you propose to tackle the problem of child labour in the district?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2021

CorruptionEthical Dilemmas in Government

There was an incident at a company wherein a fire broke out and led to a number of casualties. During the preliminary inquiry, one of the employees and bystander witnesses, specified that the company had taken all the safety measures and the management was not at fault. During litigation, the same employee was identified as a witness and his deposition was to be taken. The issue is now in the court. You are a Senior Manager of the company and accompanying the said employee to the court for the deposition. On the way the employee tells you that he had lied during the inquiry; and that the truth was worse for the company than he had stated previously. (a) Identify the various ethical issues you would face in this situation. (b) What would you suggest the employee to do? Give reasons for your suggestions.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2021–2022

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCrisis Decision Making

Highlighting the importance of whistle-blowing in an organisation, discuss the systemic factors that determine whether a person would become a whistle-blower.

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

CorruptionAccountability and Ethical Governance

Records show that there have been numerous cases of custodial deaths in the last 20 years in India. Very few policeman have been convicted so far in such cases. Recently, you come across the case of custodial death of a youth in one of the backward districts of the country. It has been reported that the youth was detained on frivolous grounds of kidnapping a girl from another community. As a young graduate student, preparing for the civil services examination conducted by the UPSC, answer the following: (a) Why is there a frequent violation of the code of conduct and abuse of authority by law enforcement officers at various levels in India? (b) Is the use of violence and show of 'quick justice' by the policemen increasingly becoming acceptable by the society? Justify your stand with relevant arguments. (c) What can be done to comprehensively deal with the issue of torture and custodial deaths in India?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021–2022

Civil Service ValuesProbity in Governance

Crises, humanitarian or economic, often create the perfect storm for corruption to thrive. Discuss with examples. What measures can be taken to mitigate corruption during a crisis?

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021–2022

CorruptionCrisis Decision Making

You are a District Magistrate of an area which has seen a huge surge in COVID-19 cases during the second wave of pandemic in India. The health infrastructure is already overburdened. Hospitals are overwhelmed, crematoriums and burial sites are regularly running out of space, and covid testing is struggling to meet the demand. Also, the vaccination drive is at the risk of going off-track due to the demand-supply mismatch. During this difficult time, you come to know that there are some people who are engaging in black marketing, hoarding and profiteering by using every trick in the book to cheat, ransom and swindle Covid-19 patients and their kin in the name of scarcity of drugs, oxygen and hospital beds. Black marketing, hoarding and profiteering are a classic case of market failure, which highlights the significance of state intervention in a crisis situation. How can state effectively play the role of a regulator as well as service provider in such cases of market failure?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2021

Crisis Decision MakingCorruption

"While corruption is never good, not all forms of corruption are equally bad for the economy, nor do they cause the same kind of harm." Critically analyse the statement in the context of India.

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

CorruptionEthical Theories

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

What do you understand by Integrity Pacts? In light of recent events, analyse their utility in ensuring transparency and efficiency in public procurement in India.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021–2022

CorruptionProbity in Governance