AIR 3 · CSE 2021 · GS4 · 60 pages

Gamini Singla: GS4 answer copy

19 answers by Gamini Singla, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Open Government Data (OGD) can be seen as a step towards greater transparency and accountability in India. In this context, discuss the benefits of OGD and the challenges which lie therein.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)An important requisite for ensuring probity in governance is absence of corruption. Analyse.10 marks
  3. Q2(a)Enumerate the decisive factors behind moral attitude. Also, discuss any incident from your life wherein you brought about a change in someone's attitude around an important social issue.10 marks
  4. Q2(b)Highlighting the importance of whistle-blowing in an organisation, discuss the systemic factors that determine whether a person would become a whistle-blower.10 marks
  5. Q3(a)Transparent governance promises an accountable state but a balance has to be achieved between disclosure requirements and administrative privileges for efficient governance. Discuss.10 marks
  6. Q3(b)Citizen empowerment is a natural outcome of a Citizen’s Charter. Critically evaluate in the Indian context.10 marks
  7. Q4(a)Emotional Intelligence is an essential ingredient for successful implementation of pandemic induced emergency response. Comment in the light of COVID-19 pandemic.10 marks
  8. Q4(b)Discretionary power by itself is not pure evil but gives much room for misuse. Discuss in the context of administration in India.10 marks
  9. Q5(a)Explain the ethical issues involved in spending government funds for advertisement campaigns and publicity.10 marks
  10. Q5(b)Explaining the concept of political neutrality, discuss its significance in administration. Also, highlight how the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules seek to ensure political neutrality in the civil services.10 marks
  11. Q6(a)What do each of the following quotations mean to you? (a) We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far." - Swami Vivekananda10 marks
  12. Q6(b)"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." - Albert Einstein10 marks
  13. Q6(c)"Virtue lies in our power, and similarly so does vice; because where it is in our power to act, it is also in our power not to act." - Aristotle10 marks
  14. Q7दल की सोशल मीडिया टीम का एक प्रमुख सदस्य होने के नाते, आपको सफलतापूर्वक यह अभियान चलाने का उत्तरदायित्व सौंपा गया है। (a) इस प्रकरण में सम्मिलित प्रमुख नैतिक मुद्दे क्या हैं? (b) आपके द्वारा की जाने वाली कार्रवाई क्या होगी? इस तरह की स्थिति में अपनी अनुक्रिया के कारण बताएं?20 marks
  15. Q8You 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
  16. Q9You have recently been posted as a District Development Officer in a traditionally rural area that has seen rapid economic development in the past few years. You notice that there is a huge disparity between the number of male and female children in the area. When you go to the hospital and check the birth registry, you realise that registered new-born babies are mostly males. On further investigation, you notice a similar pattern in the village primary school, which has more male students than females. When you raise the issue with your colleagues, they ignore it and carry on with their work. You suspect that the practice of female foeticide may be entrenched in the area as you had read about the issue in the context of this state while studying for the Civil Services Examination. It seems to you that respected members of the community like doctors, politicians and government officials have chosen to ignore the issue, given the prevalence of patriarchy and mind-set of voters in the area. Thus, despite rapid economic development, preference for male child continues to persist. Based on the information above, answer the following: (a) Do you have any ethical duty in this scenario? Justify your views. (b) What would be your next steps and why?20 marks
  17. Q10According to some reports, gambling and betting together, while illegal, have evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry in India with one estimate pegging the market at $60 billion. Added to this is the wide reach of cricket as a sport and the periodic cases of betting in it making to news. It has been suggested by some that making gambling and betting legal would resolve many issues and also contribute to the exchequer. On the other hand, there remains a strong opinion against doing so. (a) What is your opinion on the matter? (b) Also, identify the merits of the arguments in opposition to the stand you have taken.20 marks
  18. Q11You work as a marketing consultant for a multinational company that specializes in various products including nutrient supplements, diet pills etc. The company pays its employees extremely well and provides satisfactory fringe benefits. Your manager has hinted that he will recommend you for overseas company transfer, which will improve your job profile. This has motivated you to work harder and perform better. The company has to advertise and sell a new weight loss pill 'X'. As per in-company research, it has minimal or no side effects and has no adverse impacts on health, which is its unique selling point (USP). You are given the responsibility of heading the marketing team for advertising pill 'X'. Due to a well-crafted marketing strategy including endorsement by a renowned celebrity, the product has generated considerable public attention. However, while working on an advertisement campaign for the pill, you find out that the in-company research findings of pill 'X' are fabricated. While it indeed has no side-effects, there are no proven benefits of taking the pill as well. It merely acts as a placebo. When you bring up the issue with your manager, he promptly tells you to keep the facts to yourself. He also indirectly brings up the fact that your performance review date is approaching and hints that you will get transferred overseas if you prove your loyalty to the company. Based on the given information, address the following: (a) Identify the stakeholders in this situation. (b) State the ethical issues that arise in this case. (c) Discuss your options in this scenario and mention your next step.20 marks
  19. Q12There was an incident at a company wherein a fire broke out and led to a number of casualties. During the preliminary inquiry, one of the employees and bystander witnesses, specified that the company had taken all the safety measures and the management was not at fault. During litigation, the same employee was identified as a witness and his deposition was to be taken. The issue is now in the court. You are a Senior Manager of the company and accompanying the said employee to the court for the deposition. On the way the employee tells you that he had lied during the inquiry; and that the truth was worse for the company than he had stated previously. (a) Identify the various ethical issues you would face in this situation. (b) What would you suggest the employee to do? Give reasons for your suggestions.20 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 144 words written

Open Government Data (OGD) can be seen as a step towards greater transparency and accountability in India. In this context, discuss the benefits of OGD and the challenges which lie therein.

Opening · a definition

Open Government data refers to the process of making data publicly accessible and open to scrutiny and inquiries.

Body · points

Diagram
- Open data - Transparency - openness - in public domain - Accountability - responsiveness - answerability

Benefits of open Government data

  1. Ensures Right to Information - a fundamental right under Article 21 of constitution

  2. Empowers the public and ensures citizen centric administration

eg an open data on amount of food grains distributed helps to decipher where actions are in right direction 3. good governance 4. creates deterrence against mal-administration 5. Public participation through discussions and asking questions on data.

Challenges associated

  1. Some data items need to be kept secret to ensure national security eg data on buying of weapons like Rafale
  2. Data protection law yet not framed → curbs right to privacy
  3. Frivolous queries such as in RTI → time wastage

Close · a source

As Kris Gopalakrishna committee suggested, non personal data must be available to abide by good governance