GS4 · Practice questions
Integrity
44 questions match. Years are the CSE year of the toppers who answered.
All 36 themesFewer themes
While a code of conduct merely establishes minimal standards of conduct, a better strategy to promote ethical work culture is through internalization of values. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 16 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Codes of Ethics and ConductWork Culture
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
It is sometimes believed that moral scrupulousness in one's private life automatically guarantees high moral stature in professional life. Do you agree? Justify your stand with logical arguments.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Ethics in Private and Public LifeIntegrity
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
You are working as a District Magistrate in an aspirational district where women literacy and sex ratio is one of the lowest in the country. It is brought to your notice that a woman who has been elected as 'Sarpanch' on a seat reserved for women candidates in a panchayat in your district is head 'only on the paper'. All the work related to the panchayat is actually carried out by her husband. Even the flag hoisting ceremony on Independence Day is carried out by her husband. However, her husband happens to be a good administrator as indicated by that panchayat's performance on various developmental parameters as compared to other panchayats in the district. Also, her husband enjoys the support of the local people. Given the situation, answer the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders and issues involved in this case? (b) What options are available to you as the District Magistrate in such a scenario? Also, evaluate each option and indicate what option will you choose.
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2020–2023
Civil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in Government
What do you understand by "integrity-based civil disobedience"? Do you think a challenge to personal integrity can be a justifiable cause for responsible disobedience in civil services? Explain.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 11 toppers · CSE 2021–2025
IntegrityEthical Dilemmas in Government
Public service requires not merely legal but also morally principled action. Public service requires the public servant to place loyalty to the constitution, laws, and ethical principles. Among the three, which do you think must acquire primacy while carrying out official functions? Why? Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 11 toppers · CSE 2021–2025
Civil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in Government
"Man cannot do right in one department of life whilst he is occupied in doing wrong in any other department." Gandhi. Do you think an individual's personal ethics impacts professional life or they both can be compartmentalized? Explain your position with relevant examples.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 11 toppers · CSE 2021–2025
Ethics in Private and Public LifeIndian Thinkers
In the context of civil service, distinguish between moral and nonmoral values. Identify 5 basic moral values that can serve as foundational values for all services irrespective of the department. Give reasons why those values can be considered foundational.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 9 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Civil Service ValuesAptitude for Civil Service
Values that guide public administrators can often compete with each other, owing to their relative importance to the larger public interest. Discuss with examples.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCivil Service Values
The moral fiber and ethical conduct of public officials not only influence the standard of governance but also their own interests and performance. Elaborate.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2022–2025
Civil Service ValuesProbity in Governance
"If ethics are poor at the top, that behavior is copied down through the organization." - Robert Noyce
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2023–2024
Civil Service ValuesCorporate Governance
In pursuit of political power, means are often compromised that leads to competitive reliance on unethical practices resulting in erosion of public trust. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 7 toppers · CSE 2019–2023
Civil Service ValuesEthical Dilemmas in Government
What do you understand by the terms 'ethics' and 'integrity'? Do you think they are interrelated? Explain with examples the relationship between ethics and integrity in the context of public administration.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Dimensions of EthicsIntegrity
The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain. Confucius.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2019–2023
World ThinkersHuman Values
"Attitudes, shaped by personal beliefs and values, influence the ethical behaviour of public servants." Explain how moral and political attitudes impact administrative neutrality and integrity in public service.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
AttitudeImpartiality and Objectivity
As professionals, civil servants are career focused and are also self-interested. At the same time, their service ethos imposes an obligation to serve the public interest selflessly. Is it possible for a civil servant to reconcile career and service obligation? Explain your position.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Civil Service ValuesDedication to Public Service
It takes more than a corporate governance policy to inspire ethical behavior and sustain a truly ethical workplace. Discuss.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2019–2023
Corporate GovernanceWork Culture
"The strength of a professional public service lies in its ability to remain non-partisan, even in a deeply political environment." Do you agree that partisanship undermines the ethical foundation of public administration? Discuss the risks posed by political bias among civil servants and the safeguards that help uphold neutrality.
10 marks · 150 words · Answered by 6 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Impartiality and ObjectivityCivil Service Values
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
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
You are posted as the General Manager (CSR) in a large public sector undertaking (PSU) in the mining sector. Your role involves evaluating and disbursing funds under the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandate, especially in districts affected by mining-related displacement. Your team has shortlisted three NGOs for a major livelihood promotion initiative: • Two are small, field-tested organizations with verifiable work in the affected tribal belt. • The third is a well-connected urban NGO, recently floated by a relative of a senior PSU board member. It has flashy brochures and political backing, but no track record in the region. During internal discussions, subtle signals are sent that favour the third NGO, with phrases like "strategic alignment" and "long-term stakeholder management." The CSR committee chair even jokes, "It's just CSR, not rocket science." Meanwhile, field officers caution you that the communities need culturally rooted, decentralized interventions and the urban NGO's one-size-fits-all proposal won't work. Some colleagues suggest approving all three, dividing funds equally. You must finalize your funding recommendation this week. Technically, all three proposals have processed minimum screening, though the field evidence differs widely. Your decision will affect both ground impact and organizational politics and will set a precedent for future CSR allocations. 1. What are the ethical concerns involved in the allocation of CSR funds in this case? 2. How would you assess the competing pressures of organizational politics and public interest? 3. What decision would you take, and how would you justify it ethically and professionally?
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 5 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
Conflict of InterestCorporate Governance
(Lack of team orientation) (Not to create internal noise)
20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2023–2025
IntegrityCorruption