A topper · GS4 · 64 pages

Akshay Pillay: GS4 answer copy

20 answers by Akshay Pillay, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1The foundational values of efficiency, impartiality, empathy, and incorruptibility are an integral part of civil services. Elaborate with relevant examples.10 marks
  2. Q1(a)It is morally permissible to perform an action in pursuit of a good end in full knowledge that the action might also bring about bad results. Critically examine the statement with examples.10 marks
  3. Q1(b)Educational institutions play a significant role in instilling ethical values among students. In this context, state the importance of promoting extra-curricular activities in educational institutions.10 marks
  4. Q2(a)An essential element that distinguishes a career in public service from jobs elsewhere is its focus on public service ethos. Discuss.10 marks
  5. Q3(a)The foreign policy of nations is primarily guided by national interests. Do you think the pursuit of such exclusive concerns leaves little scope for ethics in international relations? Discuss.10 marks
  6. Q3(b)Corporate Social Responsibility can help in changing the perception of 'business ethics' being an oxymoron. Critically analyze.10 marks
  7. Q4(a)Given below are quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. Bring out what they mean to you in the present context: Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit. Mahatma Gandhi10 marks
  8. Q4(b)Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value. Albert Einstein10 marks
  9. Q5The effects of climate change will be felt most keenly by developing nations eg submergence of small island nations states like Maldives due to sea level rise. small nations are virtually powerless to arrest climate change. thus developed nations must behave responsibly and accept their differentiated responsibilities regarding climate change.
  10. Q5(a)Citizens' Charters by themselves cannot achieve the desired results in improving quality of public services. Discuss the statement in light of the Sevottam Model.10 marks
  11. Q5(b)What do you understand by social capital? Explain its relationship with good governance.10 marks
  12. Q6Emotional Intelligence is an essential ingredient for managing personal and organizational change. Comment.10 marks
  13. Q7Do you agree that privatization and outsourcing of selected public services will help improve the quality of public service delivery and in particular reduce the incidence of corruption? Substantiate.10 marks
  14. Q8Discuss the contributions of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to the idea of social justice in India.10 marks
  15. Q9You are posted as the District Magistrate in a district, which has been ravaged by floods recently. The severity of floods has not only led to destruction of shelter and livelihood, but also created risks of deadly diseases spreading in the area. Street thugs have taken advantage of the situation and are looting and stocking anything they can get their hands on. There are reports that many shops and homes have been broken into and looted. Some suspect that this is the work of illegal immigrants from a neighbouring country, who have been residing in the district for a long time. The local MLA is objecting to extension of relief and rehabilitation assistance to these illegal immigrants. A number of residents of the district have also joined the MLA and are arguing that citizens have the first right on the country's resources, particularly in the prevailing situation. In this context, answer the following: (a) Do you think that citizens of a country have the first claim on resources of a nation in every situation? Justify your answer with valid arguments. (b) Given this information, chart a course of action based on priorities of the administration.20 marks
  16. Q10You are the Commissioner of a city municipal corporation. Recognizing the state of some of the old buildings, you have categorised these under the list of dilapidated buildings. You have also issued an advisory to residents regarding the status and hazards of living in such buildings and asked them to vacate the premises. However, even after such a notification, residents continue to occupy such buildings and refuse to vacate. These are mostly poor people who have no other alternative available and would be rendered homeless if they vacate the premises. While you are trying to figure a way out for these people, your worst fears come true when one of the four-storeyed buildings on the list collapsed after heavy rains. Following the incident, public outrage led to accusations against the corporation for not getting the building vacated. (a) What challenges do you face as the Commissioner in this situation? Highlight the steps you will take to address these. (b) What measures will you take to prevent reoccurrence of such unfortunate incidents?20 marks
  17. Q11You have been recently posted as a District Education Officer in a district, which is notorious for mass copying. It again witnessed some disturbing incidents during the recent Board examination. In some of the examination centers located in your district, the parents virtually took over the centres to help their wards to copy during the exams. The parents justified their act by arguing that the concerned teachers did not take classes at all during the year. Upon enquiry, you found that invigilators turned a blind eye in this situation and school administrations were also involved in tampering with the CCTV footage of the incidents. You also found that teacher absenteeism has indeed been rampant. Further, concerns regarding this had been repeatedly raised by parents in the past, but no action was taken. (a) What course of action would you take in the immediate to short term to deal with the issue at hand? (b) Explaining the ramifications of such incidents for the society at large, highlight some long-term reforms that should be taken to prevent such incidents from re-occurring.20 marks
  18. Q12You are recently posted as District Magistrate in a district, which is a major hub of industrial activities and attracts workers from different places and communities. The workers of these industries often utilize the open spaces on roads for performing their daily prayers, though only for a short period of time. The lack of a place of worship close to the work places, is cited as the reason for continuance of this practice. However, some residents of nearby areas have been objecting to this practice due to the inconvenience caused by congestion on the roads. There have also been complaints of alleged illegal encroachments over public land in garb of this practice. One day, you are informed that a group of locals disrupted the workers at the time of worship. The incident led to clashes between several groups and a law and order problem has arisen in the district. Given the situation, answer the following: (a) What are the options available before you? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each one of them. (b) What course of action would you choose and why?20 marks
  19. Q13You are the district magistrate in a district of a hill state. An NRI tycoon is planning to arrange a large wedding ceremony in your district. Given the scale of the ceremony, a feasibility report was prepared. The report has called for a cautious approach and has raised concerns regarding its impact on the environment. Recognizing this, the NRI has offered extra compensation for the prospective environmental damages. Also, the local MLA and some prominent residents are arguing that such a wedding can help in developing the district as a tourist hotspot and turn it into a popular wedding destination, bringing prosperity for the residents. Given the situation, answer the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders in the given situation and their respective interests. (b) Highlight the options available to you and the course of action you will take, giving reasons for the same.20 marks
  20. Q14The challenge of climate change presents the world with several fundamental ethical dilemmas. From a global perspective, it presents the world with a collective action problem: all countries have a collective interest in controlling global carbon emissions. But each individual country also has incentives to over-consume in response to societal demands for economic growth and prosperity. Developing nations faced with these costs may encounter further challenges as the impact of climate change will most likely fall disproportionally on the poor, thus also raising issues of fairness and inequality. As an intergenerational problem, the consequences of actions taken by the current generation will have the greatest impact on future generations. While it is intuitive that the current generation has some ethical responsibility to leave an inhabitable world to future generations, the extent of this obligation is less clear. Answer the following questions in this regard: (a) To what extent do humans have a moral responsibility to future generations that are yet to be born? (b) Do developed countries have a greater responsibility to take action and bear more costs of controlling climate change than developing countries?20 marks

The answers

Question 1 · 10 marks · 197 words written

The foundational values of efficiency, impartiality, empathy, and incorruptibility are an integral part of civil services. Elaborate with relevant examples.

Opening · a constitutional or legal provision

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission had recommended drafting a public service code with values like empathy and impartiality.

Body · points

  1. Efficiency - speed and quality of public service delivery eg public distribution system helps uplift poorest of the poor.
  • Efficient governance ensures ease of doing business, aiding investment to boost growth.
  • Efficient governance builds goodwill for goverments among citizens.
  1. Impartiality - An impartial civil servant will not discriminate between ruling party and opposition's constituencies during governance.
  • An impartial civil servant has no

favourits in his organization, reducing risk of jealousy and rivalry derailing an organisation

  1. Empathy - For citizens who have lost everything due to natural disasters, a civil servant expressing empathy means a lot. • Empathy drives civil servants to go beyond the call of duty eg. Kozhikode Collector Prashant Nair's 'Operation Sulaimani' to distribute leftover food from hotels among the homeless.

  2. Incorruptibility - It is key to efficient execution of government services like recruitment and award of contracts. • The reputation of honest bureaucrats like Ashok Khemka helps reduce trust deficit between the civil services and citizens.

Way forward - Extensive emphasis on value inculcation during training of civil servants.

Close · a way forward

None written.