AIR 57 · CSE 2022 · GS4 · 52 pages

Aditi Varshney: GS4 answer copy

18 answers by Aditi Varshney, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Emotional intelligence is highly instrumental for public officials to successfully navigate the various complexities and contradictions they face in both their public and private life. Do you agree?10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Why, sometimes, it is felt that suitably modifying people's attitudes is critical for maximizing policy outcomes? Explain various tools at disposal of an administrator to change people's attitudes. (10 marks, 150 words) (b) Kautilya’s teachings for running an effective administration and achieving welfare goals remain relevant even today. Justify with suitable illustration.10 marks
  3. Q2(a)Examine with the help of examples how living in harmony with nature has always been an integral part of Indian cultural traditions and social values.10 marks
  4. Q3(a)"Five things should be pondered over before you act: Resources, weapons, time, place and deed" - Thirukkural.10 marks
  5. Q3(b)"If a good teacher becomes a soldier, the society will lose a good teacher and get a bad soldier" - Aristotle.10 marks
  6. Q3(c)"No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which by far the greater part of the numbers are poor and miserable" – Adam Smith.10 marks
  7. Q3(d)"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do" - Potter Stewart.10 marks
  8. Q4(a)What do you understand about compassion fatigue? Provide the cause responsible for this outcome in care providers and suggest remedial measures.10 marks
  9. Q4(b)What do you mean by ethical political leadership? Do you think it is on a declining trend in India? If so, highlight the socio-political causes responsible for its decline.10 marks
  10. Q5(a)Governance guided by the value of impartiality is necessary but not sufficient to ensure justice in society. Analyse in context of increasing inequality in Indian Society10 marks
  11. Q5(b)Modern technology has the potential to not only reinforce existing social biases but also generate discriminatory outcomes. Explain with the help of suitable examples10 marks
  12. Q6What do you understand by the terms Ethics and Morality? Why should one be moral in their life?10 marks
  13. Q7The onslaught of the Covid-19 Pandemic resulted in loss of many lives. Many families were left without anyone to take care of children and many parents lost their beloved children. This situation left an environment of misery. Taking this situation into consideration, the Chief minister of a state declared a scheme under which Rs 5 Lac will be provided to a family who had suffered a loss of life during the Covid-19 onslaught. Vikram Singh is a responsible district level officer, who enjoys the trust of his higher officials. Knowing his honesty, the government entrusted him with the responsibility of identifying the beneficiaries under the declared scheme. The criteria to be a beneficiary are the following: (a) Aadhar card of the deceased. (b) Belonging to a reserved community. (c) Family income of less than 1 lakh per annum. (d) Valid death certificate which mentions Covid as Primary cause of Death. One day, an old couple visited Vikram's office with their application. They have been the residents of a village in his district since their birth. The old man informed Vikram that his Son has died due to the Covid. His son was the sole breadwinner and after his demise they have been left helpless as there is no income and now he has to provide for the future of his three grandchildren. Whatever money has been left with them, they are using it to fund children's education and other expenses and are hopeful that the recently declared scheme would benefit them greatly. The Old couple fulfills all the criteria except criterion 'a' and 'd'. However, any financial aid would certainly make a significant difference in their quality of life. How should Vikram Singh respond to the situation?20 marks
  14. Q8Bhanjanagar is a sleepy Sub-division of Ganjam district of Odisha. Ganjam district had been a witness to devastation caused by many tropical cyclones over the years. Unfortunately, this year Cyclone Fani hit the Eastern coast of India, with Bhanjanagar being the point of landing of cyclone causing massive disaster resulting in loss of property and lives. You are heading the rescue operations in the Bhanjanagar area which is seriously ravaged by the cyclone. Thousands of people are rendered homeless and deprived of food, drinking water and other basic amenities. Rescue work has been disrupted by heavy rainfall and damage to supply routes. The local people are seething with anger against the delayed limited rescue operations. When your team reaches the affected area, the people there heckle and even assault some of the team members. One of your team members is even severely injured. Faced with this crisis, some team members plead with you to call off the operations fearing threats to their life. In such trying circumstances, what will be your response?20 marks
  15. Q9A very famous Chip manufacturing company is located in Hyderabad. It employs a large number of women employees and is seen as a leader in providing equitable access to employment opportunities by providing gender Justice. However, the company is facing loss in sales due to multifarious reasons. The company's management decides to hire a reputed marketing executive, whose concerted efforts and planning led to increase in the volume of sales within a short span of time. However, some unconfirmed reports came up regarding his indulgence in sexual harassment at the work place. After sometime, a woman employee lodged a formal complaint to the management against the marketing executive about sexually harassing her. Faced with the company's indifference in not taking cognizance of her grievance, she lodged an FIR with the Police. Realizing the sensitivity and gravity of the situation, the CEO of the company called the woman employee to negotiate. In that she was offered a hefty sum of money to withdraw the complaint and the FIR and also give in writing that the marketing executive is not involved in the case. Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. What options are available to the woman employee?20 marks
  16. Q10You are a Sub-Divisional Magistrate of a large city, having the reputation of a very honest and upright officer. A huge hospital in your city is working day and night to ensure Emergency services are carried out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One night, during monsoons, fire engulfed the Covid ward causing instant death of 20 patients including 10 minors. Many more were seriously injured requiring immediate medical attention. The mishap resulted in a big hue and cry, forcing the government to institute an inquiry. Your preliminary enquiry has revealed a series of anomalies. The material used for the cables was of poor quality. Despite the approved building plans permitting only one basement, an additional basement has been constructed which required more power demand causing stress on the system. This was overlooked during the periodic electrical inspections by the building inspector of the municipal corporation. In your enquiry, you noticed that the hospital has more demand of power than sanctioned by the electricity department. Apart from this you also noticed many irregularities in compliance to the fire safety guidelines. There were no proper exit routes indications and many other technical irregularities with respect to fire safety. The permission to have higher load demand and No Objection Certificate for fire safety was accorded by the previous Sub-Divisional Magistrate who is not only your senior and well known to you professionally, but also a good friend. Prima facie, the case appears to be of a widespread nexus between officials of the district administration and the hospitals. Your colleagues are putting pressure on you to go slow in the enquiry. The previous SDM happens to be a close relative of a powerful minister in the state cabinet. The previous SDM is persuading you to hush up the matter, promising you a fortune to do so. He also hinted that if this matter is not resolved at the earliest in his favour there is somebody in his office who is waiting to file a case against you under the POSH Act. (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) What are the options available to you in this situation? (c) Explain your selected course of action.20 marks
  17. Q11A reputed Automobile company based in India developed an Electric Vehicle(EV) for the international market and started exporting the same after getting necessary approval. The company announced this achievement and also indicated that soon the product will be made available for the domestic consumers with almost same quality and safety features. Accordingly, the company got its product approved by the domestic competent authority and launched the product in the Indian market. The company could increase its market share over a period of time and earned substantial profit both domestically and internationally. However, the random sample test conducted by inspecting team found the product being sold domestically in variance with the approval obtained from the competent authority. On further investigation, it was also discovered that the automobile company was not only selling electric vehicles which were not meeting the stipulated safety standards of the country but also selling the rejected export vehicles in the domestic market. This episode adversely affected the reputation and profitability of the automobile company. (a) What action do you visualize should be taken by the competent authority against the automobile company for violating the laid down Domestic Vehicle Safety Norms and selling rejected export products in the domestic market? (b) What course of action is available with the automobile company to resolve the crisis and bring back its lost reputation? (c) Examine the ethical dilemma involved in the case.20 marks
  18. Q12Sudha Bharadwaj and her son Pankaj are planning to attend a symposium on Disability Rights being held at Mumbai. Pankaj is an especially abled child with cognitive and developmental challenges. Both of them reached the Ranchi airport through an onerous travel made via public transportation of the state government which wasn't disabled friendly and not accessible. By the time they had gone through the security check and reached the gate (almost an hour ahead of boarding), Pankaj seemed to be in the throes of hunger, thirst, anxiety and confusion. He had become visibly distressed due to the tiresome procedures and extra compliance from his side. His mother, obviously knew how to handle his meltdown - with patience, some cajoling, some stern-ness, many hugs etc. And the other passengers were stopping by to ask if they needed any help or support. This also caught the attention of some of the fellow passengers traveling by the same flight. Some of the fellow passengers approached Vamika Oberoi, who happens to be the Airline manager. These passengers informed Vamika that the distressed child is in a state of panic and they are not overly comfortable in flying with him as he seemed unfit to travel and could jeopardize the safety of the airplane. Under the aforementioned circumstance, discuss the ethical issues involved in the case? What course of action should be taken by Vamika?20 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 163 words written

Emotional intelligence is highly instrumental for public officials to successfully navigate the various complexities and contradictions they face in both their public and private life. Do you agree?

Opening · a definition

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to reason with emotions and use emotions to reason for giving one's best in any complex situation.

Helps in navigating through professional & public life

Body · points

  1. In cases of severe stress e.g. competing public demands, communal Riets etc.
  2. In complex situations e.g. Naxal Affected areas. Dr Tamboli Ayyaj (IAS) - Bijapur distt who constructed a hospital despite compelling situations
  1. In cases of organisational work culture. → allows to effectively cooperate
  2. Dealing with public → effective communication
  3. Public diplomacy and international diplomacy

In private life

  1. To balance one's private and professional life. → Keeping it separate.
  2. To effectively communicate with family members especially when as a public official, people are unable to spend time at home.
  3. To find adequate time for rejuvenation from public work and rededicate ourselves to duty.

Close · a quotation

As Marcus Aurelius said, Rulers of the world are rulers of their minds - This signifies the importance of Emotional Intelligence