Ethical Dilemmas in Government

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

In a democracy, the purpose of the government should be to make it easy for people to do good and difficult to do wrong. Comment.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 18 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Accountability and Ethical GovernanceCivil Service Values

What are the factors which drive people to take law in their own hands rather than following the due process of law? Discuss ways to address the problem of mob justice.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 18 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Law and MoralityEthical Dilemmas in Government

It is argued by some that nuclear weapons have acted more as a deterrent than leading to war and mass destruction. In this context, discuss whether it is ethically right to possess nuclear weapons to create nuclear deterrence.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2017–2020

Ethics in International RelationsDimensions of Ethics

Undercover journalism exposes injustices, negligence, corruption and wrongdoing and yet going undercover to expose wrongdoing remains controversial. But, undercover journalists contend that they are fulfilling a fundamental duty of finding truth through their journalism. They argue that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy and the duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. So, there are some supporters of this kind of journalism, which sometimes infringe the privacy of individuals. However, some journalists also urge avoiding surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. In this context, answer the following questions: 20 (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the practice of undercover journalism? (b) Do you support the practice of undercover investigation by journalists? Give reasons in support of your answer.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 14 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Dimensions of EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government

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

The excluded and marginalized section of society are worst hit by globalization. Take the case of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like Sentinelese of Andaman & Nicobar islands; their population has reduced drastically and they are facing various other problems as well. In this context answer the following questions: 20 (a) What are the challenges faced by PVTGs due to globalisation? (b) If you are posted as a Development Officer in such an area, what will be your priorities to reduce their vulnerabilities and ensure welfare?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 13 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Empathy and CompassionCivil Service Values

You are posted as a District Magistrate in a Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected district. The district has witnessed many instances of violence by the naxalites in the past. It has been observed that instances of violence increase as the elections approach. You, as a Returning Officer, are responsible for the smooth conduct of elections. Soon after the announcement of elections, the naxalites gave a call for their boycott and have been threatening people to stay away from them. The people of the district are eager to exercise their voting rights but are scared of the impending acts of violence. Further, with threat to their lives and a low expected turnout, the other electoral officers are also reluctant to go to these areas. In this context, answer the following: (a) Identify the civil service values that are crucial for working in such adversities. (b) Suggest a plan of action to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in such a situation.

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

Crisis Decision MakingCivil Service Values

You are the Chairman of a Committee, constituted by the government, to suggest measures to improve the quality of education in state-run schools. In view of the increasing dropout rate and the widening gap between students' learning ability in state-run and private schools, answer the following questions: (a) Examine the role of government in the education sector, especially providing primary and secondary education through state-run schools. (b) Identify the principles and values that would guide your recommendations in this regard. (c) Suggest some ways in which quality of education in state-run schools can be improved.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

Civil Service ValuesQuality of Service Delivery

You are a resident of a remote tribal district, where there is high incidence of malnutrition. As a remedial measure, the District Magistrate has initiated a programme to promote millet cultivation, especially on the lands currently lying fallow in the district. However, this well-intentioned move of the officer receives flak from the local tribals as this may not only change their age-old food habits, but also alter their traditional agricultural practices. They further cite lower remunerative prices of millets as another reason for continuing with their existing crop production pattern. As a civil servant aspirant, who has a keen interest in development of tribal areas, answer the following questions: (a) What according to you are the key issues and challenges involved in the above situation? (b) Identify the key stakeholders and their respective interests. (c) Suggest a course of action that the District Magistrate can take keeping in mind the larger tribal interests.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

Empathy and CompassionEthical Dilemmas in Government

As the administrator in-charge of your area, you are witness to the widespread food wastage in lavish parties as well as in restaurants and eateries, on one hand and people starving due to inability to ensure one square-meal a day, on the other. Realizing that it is not the scarcity of resources, but the habit of people that is causing paucity in availability of food, you decide that certain measures are needed to be taken in order to deal with the issue of starvation at the grassroot level. 20 Given the situation, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. (b) What measures would you take to deal with wastage of food in your area? (c) What explains this co-existence of affluence and hunger in developing countries like India?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Empathy and CompassionEthical Dilemmas in Government

You are posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district of a state where alcohol prohibition has been imposed recently. The District Excise department has conducted many raids and seized liquor in large quantities, for which it has received state-wide public appreciation. A few months later reports surface in the media that in this district, hundreds of seized bottles of illicit liquor are missing from the government malkhanas or stores. As a result, the government is left red-faced. You are asked by the DM, who is the overall in-charge of the district excise setup, to investigate the matter. Upon investigation, you unearth a nexus of politicians and government officials who smuggled seized liquor and sold it through spurious means both inside and outside the state. In this context, evaluate these options: 1. Report your findings to the DM and seek instructions for further actions, stating clearly the criminal offences committed prima facie. 2. Charge all accused under legal provisions and let the law take its own course. 3. Being aware of the seriousness of the matter, discretely put the detailed investigation report in the public domain and expose the nexus. Also, suggest, without restricting yourself to the given options, the final course of action that you would prefer.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

CorruptionEthical Dilemmas in Government

You have recently been posted as a District Labour Officer in a state, which derives a substantial revenue from tourism. You come to know that a big hotel in the area has not been paying wages as per the Minimum Wages Act. The hotel owner is a powerful local leader having contacts with many influential officials of the state. You have the power to take sou-moto cognizance of such violations and accordingly you initiate a preliminary enquiry into the matter. However, no worker is willing to come forward to lodge a formal complaint because they fear loss of employment. Meanwhile, your action has attracted notice of the higher authorities, and you are advised to drop the matter altogether. You are deeply concerned about the situation as it involves not only violation of the Minimum Wages Act but also denial of basic human rights of the worker. (a) Identify the issues involved in the given case. (b) Consider the options given below: 1. Follow the informal advise of the higher authorities. 2. Convince the owner of the hotel to take note of these violations and take appropriate remedial measures. 3. Submit a detailed report on the matter highlighting violations of workers’ rights and seek formal directions from the competent authority. 4. Serve a notice to the hotel owner and initiate action as per your powers under the Minimum Wages Act. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these options and suggest your preferred course of action, giving reasons.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 11 toppers · CSE 2019–2022

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCrisis Decision Making

The recent decision by the government to ban use of red beacons is only a symbolic gesture and a lot more needs to be done to end the VIP culture in India. Critically discuss.

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

Civil Service ValuesWork Culture

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

At times, moral behaviour can be constrained by the complexity of legal system. Explain. In this context, explain the purpose of legal protection for good samaritans in the case of road accidents.

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

Law and MoralityEthical Dilemmas in Government

Examine the different ethical issues involved in the use of public shaming as a punitive measure. Do you think this is an appropriate measure to address the problem of rising crime rates.

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

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentProbity in Governance

Why did Gunnar Myrdal use the term 'soft state' in the context of South Asia? Do you think such a characterisation is still relevant in the case of India today?

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

Civil Service ValuesAccountability and Ethical Governance

Mr. Pradeep is a senior civil servant in the central government and is involved in the budgeting department. In the course of performing his duties, he comes to know about diversion of funds earmarked for SC/ST sub-plan for other purposes. While he is not directly responsible for this aspect of the budget, he raised his concerns to the department concerned. He also learns that the minister responsible as well as senior most civil servants are aware of the practice and have given tacit approval for it. Soon thereafter, Pradeep was summoned to talk on the issue and was told that since the matter is not within his jurisdiction, he should 'keep his nose out of it'. After much soul searching, Pradeep decided to obey his supervisors by leaving the matter alone. Based on the information given, answer the following questions: 20 (a) Elaborate on the internal dissonance that Pradeep faces in the given situation. (b) On what basis can the decision of Pradeep be justified? (c) Had you been in Pradeep's place, what would have been the course of action chosen by you? Recognise the merits and demerits, if any.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentUtilisation of Public Funds

While discussing the ethical issues that journalists face on a regular basis, examine the causes of increased sensationalism in news media in recent times.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2016–2019

Corporate GovernanceDimensions of Ethics

Issues around economic inclusion are not just about income gaps, there are many dimensions of moral and ethical choices as well. Discuss.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2016–2019

Dimensions of EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government

Why do civil servants have a special obligation to uphold ethical standards? What are the main areas of concerns for implementation of an effective ethical standard in civil services? In this context, suggest measures to remedy these concerns.

10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2018–2020

Civil Service ValuesAccountability and Ethical Governance

You are a civil servant posted in a state where elections were recently held. The newly elected Chief Minister had promised to ban alcohol in several of his election campaigns as well as his election manifesto, which was widely praised and supported by women of the state. Fulfilling his electoral promise, the Chief Minister has ordered a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol in the state. Following the ban, concerns have been raised about the feasibility of the ban and whether the government should interfere in what is considered by many to be a matter of personal choice. (a) Who are the stakeholders in this case and how are they affected by the ban? (b) Is blanket ban on alcohol a feasible action? (c) Identify the issues that may arise while enforcing the ban and the steps you will take to handle them, as a civil servant.

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

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentLaw and Morality

You are the chief executive of ABC Ltd., an automotive component manufacturing company. Until recently, all of your production plants were located in City X. However, the cost of production has risen, causing profits to decline. A number of factors have led to an increase in the production costs. First, the union representing the workers in your plant waged a successful strike resulting in increased salary and benefits. A second factor has been imposition of stringent environmental regulations. Shareholders are concerned about the declining fortunes of the company. Many of the competitors have moved their operations to less-developed cities, where the operating costs are less than in City X. ABC Ltd. is a major employer in the city where it is located, and you know that a plant closure will cause economic dislocation in the city. Given the situation, answer the following questions: (a) What are the ethical issues involved in this case? (b) How can the interests of different stakeholders be reconciled in this case?

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

Corporate GovernanceEthical Dilemmas in Government