Garima Agrawal: GS4 answer copy

The questions

1. Q1(a)The crux of ethical behavior lies not only in standards, but in their adoption in action and issuing sanctions against their violation.10 marks
2. Q1(b)Ethical qualities of a civil servant come handy in times of a crisis. Elucidate using the example of a natural disaster.10 marks
3. Q2(a)The bailout package offered to large financial corporations in response to global financial crisis raised important ethical questions. Discuss the ethical issues involved in giving bailout packages to financial corporations using taxpayers' money.10 marks
4. Q2(b)There is an entrenched perception in our country that the police is biased against the minority community. Why does such a perception exist? Suggest steps to bridge the police community gap.10 marks
5. Q3(a)India's abysmal record in sex ratio and gender violence reflects the general attitude of the society towards women. Discuss. In this context, how could an attitudinal change be brought about?10 marks
6. Q3(b)In the parlance of governance, probity is often used in conjunction with integrity. How do you differentiate between the two? What is their importance in public life? What measures can help promote these values in governance?10 marks
7. Q4(a)How does the use of social media influence political participation and civic engagement? Discuss with examples.10 marks
8. Q4(b)What are the objectives behind the creation of Citizens' Charter? How does a Citizens' Charter ensure transparency and accountability in governance? What are the impediments in its effective implementation?10 marks
9. Q5(a)RTI is termed as a master key to good governance. Highlight the role of RTI in making the administration and governance of our country more ethical and responsive.10 marks
10. Q5(b)Differentiate between persuasion and social influence. How can persuasion be made effective to bring about an attitudinal change? Give two examples where you brought about a positive attitudinal change through persuasion.10 marks
11. Q6In spite of the existence of a Code of Conduct for public servants, its implementation has been tardy and of limited success. Discuss. Further, suggest steps which could be taken to improve the efficacy of the Code of Conduct. What role can Code of Ethics play in reinforcing the Code of Conduct.10 marks
12. Q7Given below is a quotation. Bring out what it means to you in present context. "The intellect has sharp eye for methods and tools, but is blind to ends and values." -Einstein.10 marks
13. Q8Your 16 year old cousin, Leena, loves to play basketball but her peers mock her short height, so much so that Leena has developed a negative attitude towards all sports. As a responsible elder cousin, how will you convince Leena to take up sports once again?10 marks
14. Q9In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow (in around 250 words) : 9. You are the dean of an engineering college. You have received a complaint regarding prejudice against students from lower castes by some senior professors. These professors have contributed a lot academically to the university. However, this particular instance has disturbed peace and harmony in the campus. (a) Discuss the immediate steps you would take to contain growing discontent among some students. (b) Discuss the action to be taken if the professors are found to be guilty and also evaluate the steps if it comes out to be a false case against the professors. (c) What should be the responsibilities of professors and students to create positive social ambience in the campus?20 marks
15. Q10You are working in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and posted in a rural area. There are many government programs being run by your Ministry under which people are given financial help after verification of the required documents. Every day you encounter some cases, in which people from weaker section are not able to avail the benefits due to faulty or insufficient documents. However, there are also some instances of people trying to forge documents, which makes verification important. What will be your approach towards cases wherein those from the weaker section are not able to avail the benefits due to insufficient documents - will you go by the rule book or exercise discretion in selected cases based on your experience. Discuss both options available to you and evaluate them.20 marks
16. Q11You have been recently posted as Superintendent of Police of a district which has a famous temple. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in your district on the issue of allowing entry of women in the temple. The women were trying to break the allegedly 400-year-old tradition of the temple, which banned women from entering its inner sanctum. Recently a 350-strong group of women was stopped by the temple administration from entering the temple. This led to a scuffle wherein few women participating in the protest were manhandled. There is a pressure on you from local politicians who want you to prevent any such forced entry as elections are approaching. (a) Do you think there is a dichotomy between progressive values guaranteed to women by the Constitution and regressive traditions which continue in the garb of religion? How can this dichotomy be resolved? (b) How would you manage the law and order situation created by the forced entry? (c) How would you manage and mould patriarchal attitude of the temple administrators and male elders to ensure harmony.20 marks
17. Q12You are a manager in a sales firm. Mr. A and Mr. B are two juniors working under you. Mr. A is a hardworking person who completes his work before time and hardly takes a leave. His work is meticulous and you have never received any complaint about his work. However, in your personal meetings with Mr. A, you realized that he kept to himself and spoke only when required. You received similar feedbacks from his colleagues as well. Mr. B is not as hard working and completes his work at the very last moment. You also come to know that using his rapport with his colleagues he gets his work done by them. In your meetings with him, he comes across as a confident person but lacking in sincerity. Both are expecting promotion this year, but you can promote only one of them as you have only one vacant position. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) Discuss the merits and demerits of choosing one amongst the two for promotion. (b) Based on your evaluation, whom will you choose for the job? (c) What steps will you take to keep all the employees motivated who did not get promotion on expected lines?20 marks
18. Q13Mr. A is an honest senior bureaucrat who retired some time back. He has worked across many positions and wields immense influence in the corridors of power. His wife was working in a consulting firm. She has now quit her job and started her own consulting firm that will bid for government contracts also. Mr. A himself intends to contribute his experience and insider knowledge about the government operations to prepare for the bid. When prodded about any conflict of interest, Mrs. A argued that she always wanted to own her own consulting firm and bid for government projects so that she could improve the quality of government operations through her services. But earlier she could not since her husband was a bureaucrat in the same city and various government rules prevented her from doing so. As he has now retired she can take up this job. (a) What are the ethical issues involved in this case? (b) What are steps that can be taken by Mr. A to resolve these ethical issues? (c) What is the best option for Mr. A? Support your answer with appropriate reasons.20 marks
19. Q14You are an undergraduate student in a leading Law University. You go with your college friend Surender to his village to attend his sister's marriage. Surender's parents are farmers and are financially very poor. They have somehow managed to send him to the university by selling their land. After interaction with the relatives attending the marriage, you find out that the bride is not of marriagable age, which makes it a case of child marraige. The family wants early marriage of the daughter to avoid huge demands of dowry in the future. You are well aware that child marriage is illegal in India. So, you discuss the issue with your friend who says that he is helpless and can't do anything. Your friend feels that his family is already doing too much for him and he cannot argue and change his parents' decision. In this situation, what are the possible actions you can take? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of them.20 marks

The answers