Rules versus Compassion

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

As the head of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), you are tasked to complete the construction of a power plant. The project needs to be completed expeditiously to fulfil the promise made by the government to ensure access to power for all. The selected site is in a remote area and is ideal for plant construction. However, the project would require relocation of the people living in the vicinity. Initially, the local community objected to disruption in their lives but were convinced later about the economic benefits that would accrue to the region through this plant. The project had started gathering pace, but recently a local NGO working for environment protection got involved with the local community regarding the issue. And now the local community has started protesting against any developmental activity in the region. As the officer-in-charge for the speedy execution of the project, answer the following: (a) What are the issues involved in this case? (b) What course of action will you take and why?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 12 toppers · CSE 2020–2021

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEnvironmental Ethics

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

Given the rising tide of Covid induced fatalities, the government is under extreme pressure to deliver some vaccine to the population. You are the Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India. You are heading the committee to oversee the process of vaccine development and distribution to fight against the Covid outbreak in the country. You have been asked to expedite the process and come up with a solution at the earliest. Some vaccines are available around the globe, but they are in limited supply and also expensive. One of the indigenously developed vaccine has shown initial positive results, but health experts have raised concerns over its safety, efficacy and the methodology being followed for its approval. Other promising vaccines under development, following a rigorous methodology, may take months to enter the market. In this context: (a) What are the critical issues involved in the case? (b) Explain, with relevant reasons, the course of action that you would take.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 8 toppers · CSE 2020–2021

Crisis Decision MakingEthical Dilemmas in Government

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

You are posted as a District Magistrate (DM) of a district where residents are facing the menace of stray dogs. Instances of dogs chasing two-wheelers, cyclists and attacking pedestrians are on the rise. Elderly persons as well as children are the worst-hit and recently, an 8 year old girl was severely injured by a pack of dogs. The perceived magnanimity of the problem and inaction from government authorities have prompted vigilante groups to cull dogs in mass numbers. However, local NGOs have come out against such a practice of mass culling and are calling for stringent action against those killing stray dogs. (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above case? (b) As the DM, suggest short-term and long-term measures to tackle the above issue.

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

Environmental EthicsEthical Dilemmas in Government

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

You are working as a Divisional Forest Officer in an area which is home to tigers. Recently, there have been reports of a tiger venturing into agricultural fields and also killing livestock of villagers. Unfortunately, 2-3 villagers have been killed by some wild animals in last few weeks. Villagers claim that the tiger has killed their fellow villagers and request you to protect their lives and property by either relocating or killing the man-eater tiger. They also obstructed investigation of forest officials to ascertain whether it was the work of tiger or some other animals. Your attempts to trap the tiger have not been successful. Concerned over the delay in killing or relocating the tiger, villagers hire a private hunter to kill the tiger on their own and argue that they have a right to defend themselves and their property. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) Identify the issues involved in this scenario. (b) What steps would you take as the Divisional Forest Officer to ensure villagers' safety along with protection of tigers?

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

Environmental EthicsCrisis Decision Making

You are the Superintendent of Police of a city where a large slum has developed in recent decades on the property of Indian Railways. The Indian Railways has prepared a plan for expansion of the city railway station for which they want to get the slums demolished. They have requested the assistance of local police for the same, however, the people residing in those slums have responded angrily to this step and have occupied the railway tracks, resisting any action by the officials. Slum dwellers are asking for a suitable rehabilitation, citing that the city is under the grip of a cold wave as the month of December is in progress. This has not only halted the railway traffic on the route causing immense hardships to railway passengers but also posing risk of violence between slum-dwellers and the police. (a) Identify various issues involved in the case along with different stakeholders. (b) What course of action would you follow to end this situation of confrontation and resume normal functioning of the Railways?

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021

Rules versus CompassionCrisis Decision Making

You are a District Magistrate posted in a backward district of the country. You are responsible for getting an Atal Residential School built on the village land in your district. The contract for the construction of the school has been assigned to a popular local leader's son. This land is presently occupied by tribal communities but they cannot produce any ownership records. They claim that they have resided on the land for generations. They also allege that the administration is pressurising them to vacate their land to build the school and have assured that they will be relocated elsewhere. However, they are hesitant to do so as it will uproot them from their homes and will affect their livelihood. One of the prominent tribal leaders has highlighted this issue and it has caught the attention of the mainstream media. In the light of the situation, answer the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders involved in the case and their respective interests. (b) Discuss the various ethical concerns in the given case. (c) What are the options available to you and which of these options you will choose? Justify.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021–2022

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentEmpathy and Compassion

You are an IPS officer on your first posting in a very poor and isolated rural area of one of the most backward states of the country. In your office complex, of which you are the incharge, there is a frequent sewage related problem, causing inconvenience to the employees in your office complex and severely affecting the efficiency of the workplace. It might also lead to health disorders and diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea etc. To resolve it, the cleaning workers are made to do manual scavenging work without due regards to their safety. Most of these workers are from marginalised castes and are discriminated against socially. You are aware of the laws banning manual scavenging and the loopholes around it. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the issues which you need to address in this situation? (b) Present your course of action to deal with the given situation.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2021

Empathy and CompassionRules versus Compassion

What are the ethical issues related to population control of a compulsory nature that you would consider before approving or rejecting the recommendation? (b) What would be your course of action in the aforementioned case? Suggest reasons for the same.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 2 toppers · CSE 2021

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentCrisis Decision Making

Mr. X is a renowned Architect. He receives a contract of Rs. 500 crores to design and lead a building project that would not only be an architectural landmark but also involves engineering challenges the solutions for which would change the industry. The building would house the headquarters of a successful company Fictitious Corp. Its chairman, Mr. Y is renowned for his acumen as well as temper. After spending time on the drawing board, Mr. X comes up with an innovative design which in itself is a masterpiece. His office had to lay out the plan and then coordinate with the engineering firms to execute it to perfection. The building is constructed in record time and is praised for its ingenuity and the experts also look at it as an engineering milestone. After six months of its construction, Ms. Z, a doctoral student of mathematics, visits the building for her work on structural engineering calculations. She has immense respect for Mr. X's work. However, she finds that her calculations do not satisfy the requirements of structural integrity for which the building has been widely hailed. She realizes that the building's structure has a deficiency based on the bolted beams used for structural support; this was inadequate if the impact of vertical winds on the building is taken into account. It not only created a threat for the building and its occupants but also the buildings and people nearby. Mr. X is informed of these calculations by the student and her supervisor. However, Mr. X, meticulous as he is, has confidence on his work and detailed design. He looks at the issue seriously and spends time on the design. He indeed finds no flaw in his design and also notes that his design entails the use of welded rather than bolted beams. At the time he is negotiating the construction of another building where the issue of welded versus bolted metal beams is a sticking point. Mr. X prefers welded beams as they are twice as strong as the requirements are. However, the engineering firm responsible for actual construction job and procuring the steel beams points out that double bolted beams are strong enough to meet the requirement, are cost effective and also fulfill the building code requirements. After the meeting Mr. X visits the Fictitious Corp building, and to his horror he realizes that bolted rather than welded beams have been used in the construction of the building. He asks for the design that his office has used after final approval. He notices that indeed the final designs show the use of bolted beams. These beams are classified as trusses which do not meet the regulatory requirements but not the structural capacity as envisaged by Mr. X initially. He further enquires and is told that the engineering firm responsible for construction work had also given similar arguments about the sufficiency, cost effectiveness and regulatory compliance of the bolted beams, which were accepted, and final design was passed by the buildings department. Mr. X goes into isolation and looks at the final building blueprint and compares it with the original. He quickly identifies the repercussions; the city faces a strong cyclone once in 16 years on an average. If such a cyclone was to hit, the building would sway and may collapse on the nearby buildings. He visits the building in the night again and realizes that a relatively small intervention on the 30th floor would resolve the issue. However, this would mean approaching the Fictitious Corp leadership and new construction approvals from the buildings department. It entails an almost certain risk of litigation and his license for practicing structural engineering being revoked. (a) Identify the most pressing issues? Which ones would you address on priority? (b) What would be your advice to Mr. X and Mr. Y? Also, sufficiently clarify the reasons for such an advice.

20 marks · 250 words · Answered by 1 topper · CSE 2021

Ethical Dilemmas in GovernmentIntegrity