A topper · CSE 2023 · GS4 · 52 pages

Garima Mundra: GS4 answer copy

16 answers by Garima Mundra, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

  1. Q1(a)"Ethics is a luxury for which states and their leaders have no time." Discuss. What is the relevance of ethics in International affairs in the present times?10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Differentiate between Coercive and Collusive corruption and critically analyze the measures that are available to fight each of them.10 marks
  3. Q2(a)If you were asked to design a new framework for defining work culture in Government agencies, what would the basic tenets of such a framework be?10 marks
  4. Q2(b)Technology has brought private affairs of people in the public space today. Do you think people have become more unethical today, as compared to the past?10 marks
  5. Q3What do you understand by the "doctrine of double effect"? Discuss with an example. (10 marks, 150 words) How do legal and moral aspects of tax evasion and tax avoidance differ? Are all things legal always moral? Explain with examples.10 marks
  6. Q4(a)Discuss the role of family in inculcating values in your life. What modifications would you like to make in such values while passing it on to your children? Illustrate with examples from your life.10 marks
  7. Q4(b)E. Shreedharan has listed four values that are cherished by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation which have helped in DMRC success story. DMRC has punctuality of 99.6 per cent. These values are Intellectual Integrity, Social consideration, Punctuality and Moral conscience. Explain each of them with one contemporary example.10 marks
  8. Q5(a)Differentiate between the following using suitable examples: ii) Empathy and Compassion There exist a perceived mistrust between the people and administration. What negative attitudes do the people and officials hold against each other? How to bring change in these attitudes? (10 marks, 150 words) Why is objectivity considered a foundational value in civil services? Is it possible for a civil servant to always be objective? Justify your answer with an example.10 marks
  9. Q5(c)"You can't teach good judgment through general rules, because you already need judgment to know how rules apply." (i) What do you understand by 'good judgment'? (ii) How can it be ensured among civil servants, if not through rules?10 marks
  10. Q5(ii)Differentiate between the following using suitable examples: Intelligence and Emotional intelligence10 marks
  11. Q7Jomath is known as the winter abode of lord Badrinath. Tourists visit for religious pilgrimage as well as for its scenic beauty. One of 6 tehsils, it was all quiet and business as usual in the city until the last few months of 2022 when forces of nature began to push back and residents began to protest. Their homes -- and other manmade structures in the city -- started developing cracks. Upon consltations with experts, it was determined that the town sits atop ancient glacial debris, and the region is hit by a geological phenomenon known as land subsidence, which is a gradual settling, or sinking of the surface due to the removal of water, oil, natural gas, or mineral resources from the ground. Jomath was always vulnerable to earthquakes as the region falls in the seismic zone V. What made things worse is the weak foundation of the city. Every structure needs a strong foundation, but Jomath, which houses over 20,000 people, apart from the heavy tourist influx, has none. In the last several decades a boom in construction has made this region extremely vulnerable and susceptible to major land deformation. Experts blame the rapid rise in construction activities in the area to the widening of the Yatra road and National Highway 7, which runs through the town taking tourists and cargo to the holy shrine every year. The land subsidence was also triggered by an incessant spell of rain in the region in the last few years, which deposited more water on the surface. There is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe after the pandemic. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between development activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the developmental process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival. a) What are the ethical issues involved in the conflict between development activity and environmental quality? b) Discuss some possible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development.20 marks
  12. Q8You are a young, aspiring and sincere employee in a government office working as an assistant to the director of your department. Since you have joined recently, you need to learn and progress. Luckily your superior is very kind and ready to train you for your job. He is a very intelligent and well-informed person having knowledge of various departments. In short, you respect your boss and are looking forward to learning a lot from him. Since you have good tuning with the boss, he started depending on you. One day due to ill health he invited you to his place for finishing some urgent work. You reached his house and before you could ring the bell you heard shouting noises. You waited for a while. After entering the house the boss greeted you and explained the work. But you were constantly disturbed by the crying of a woman. At last, you inquired with the boss but his answer did not satisfy you. The next day, you were compelled to inquire further in the office and found out that his behavior is very bad at home with his wife. He also beats up his wife. His wife is not well educated and is a simple woman in comparison to her husband. You see that though your boss is a nice person in the office, he is engaged in domestic violence at home. In such a situation, you are left with the following options. Analyse each option with its consequences. a) Just ignore thinking about it because it is their personal matter. b) Report the case to the appropriate authority. c) Your own innovative approach towards the situation.20 marks
  13. Q9You are a civil services aspirant and often engage in rousing discussions with your friends on issues in news. One of your close friends, who is also a fellow aspirant, comes to you for discussing some of the issues related to ethical conduct in public service. He raises the following points:- 1. In the present times, when unethical environments are quite prevalent, individual attempts to stick to ethical principles may cause a lot of problems in one's career. It may cause hardship to the family members as well as risk to one's life. Why should we not be pragmatic and follow the path of least resistance, and be happy with doing whatever good we can? 2. When so many people are adopting wrong means and are grossly harming the system, what difference would it make if only a small minority tries to be ethical? They are going to be rather ineffective and are bound to get frustrated. 3. If we become fussy about ethical considerations, will it not hamper the economic progress of our country? After all in the present age of high competition we cannot afford to be left behind in the race of development 4. It is understandable that we should not get involved in grossly unethical practices, but giving and accepting small gratifications and doing small favours increases everybody's motivation. It also makes the system more efficient. What is wrong in adopting such practices? Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On the basis of this analysis, what will be your advice to your friend?20 marks
  14. Q10In late November, as a thick layer of smog settled on the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, patients began to experience extended wait times. Long lines snaked along the vast building and backed up for several yards. Computers at the hospital had stopped working, so medical reports could not be generated. Though patients were still being treated, paper bills were being handed out. After a few days, people who feared that traveling back home would be too expensive began to sleep under a nearby overpass to wait it out. A massive cyberattack had compromised the health data of millions of patients, from those who live in extreme poverty to high-profile politicians, bureaucrats and judges. The Delhi Police had a bigger problem at hand. They were in possession of an email that read, "What happened? Your files are encrypted? What is the price to repair? The price depends on how fast you can pay to us," reported news sources. The police soon confirmed that the servers at AIIMS were attacked and data was being held for ransom. Police sources were quoted as saying the attack originated oustide the country. Cybersecurity experts express larger concerns. Since India does not have robust cybersecurity systems or strong data protection laws, the breach has made observers uneasy about plans to digitize the health records of all Indians. Cybersecurity experts are doubtful about getting informed consent as that concept is relatively new in the country. With plans for ubiquitous sharing of health records across hospitals, doctors, insurance agencies and health tech firms, Indians' health data is expected to be more prone to leaks, data breaches and exploitation. Currently, the safety of a patient's data will depend on how safe the hospital servers are. Under the present regulatory regime, all hospitals will be responsible for storing and protecting the patient data they collect. a) Identify the ethical issues associated with ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure. b) What measures would you suggest to pursue digitization while balancing the risks of scaling up? Justify.20 marks
  15. Q11Sita is a young woman living in a small village in rural India. She belongs to a lower-caste community that has traditionally been associated with manual scavenging. Sita's parents were manual scavengers, and as a child, she had often accompanied them on their rounds, collecting and disposing of the excreta of their higher-caste neighbours. When Sita turned 18, she decided that she didn't want to continue with this degrading and unhealthy work. She wanted to break free from the cycle of poverty and discrimination that had trapped her community for generations. However, finding alternative employment was not easy. Sita had little education and few skills, and the only jobs available to her were in the informal sector, where wages were low and working conditions were poor. One day, Sita heard about a job opportunity at the local municipality. The municipality was looking for a "safai karamchari" to clean the streets and dispose of the garbage. Sita applied for the job and was selected. At first, Sita was excited about her new job. She earned a regular wage and had the satisfaction of doing work that was important to the community. However, as time went on, Sita began to realize that her job involved much more than just cleaning the streets. She was often asked to clean and dispose of the excreta of people who were unable to do so themselves, either because of age, illness, or disability. Sita was uncomfortable with this aspect of her job and found it demeaning and degrading. She knew that manual scavenging was illegal and that it violated the rights of the individuals she was asked to serve. She also knew that it carried serious health risks, as she had to work without protective gear or equipment. However, Sita was afraid to speak out or to refuse the tasks that were assigned to her. She needed the job to support her family and was afraid of losing it if she complained or refused to do the work. She also feared social ostracism and discrimination if she went against the traditional roles and expectations of her community. a) Identify the ethical issues involved in this case b) What role do the municipality and the community play in addressing the issue of manual scavenging in this case? c) What can be done at the societal level to address the root causes of manual scavenging and to promote the rights and dignity of those affected by it?20 marks
  16. Q12You are the manager of a company X, in which you have worked since last 15 years. It is known for its unique values and the work culture which is very healthy and encouraging. You and your team work synergistically with each other and also enjoy harmony with personal and organizational values, a bond which has evolved over years. Recently, you got to know that your company has been acquired by another company Y and you along with your team would now be employees of company Y. After interacting with the top management of company Y, you realize that the core values followed by company Y are completely different and opposite to that of the value system of company X. For example, the core value of company X is 'customer satisfaction' but that of company Y is 'profit maximization'. (a) What conflicts do you think you will face in this situation? (b) Examine the merits and demerits of the options available to you, and which option would you choose and why.20 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 179 words written

"Ethics is a luxury for which states and their leaders have no time." Discuss. What is the relevance of ethics in International affairs in the present times?

Opening · a quotation

Henry Kissinger said, 'There is no permanent friend or enemy in International Relations, only interests are permanent.'

Body · points

Ethics is a luxury

  1. Multipolar world Every nation works in its own self interest and forms need-based alliance. Eg - Difference in India-US relation from 1971 war to 2020 QUAD association.

  2. Realism theory Puts national interest over global interest. Eg- Justification of war by Russia.

  3. Increasing inequality Rich nations get richer exploiting poor nations. Eg- Non-following of Common-but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR)

(4) Protectionism approach of countries like USA (America First policy)

Relevance of ethics in IR

(1) Common goods Global commons like space, Antarctica require rational and ethical approach

(2) Transitioning global scenario Rise of countries like India and China and development of minilaterals. Eg - demand for reform in UNSC

(3) Global challenges Climate change, energy scarcity, GHG emissions require fixation of responsibility. Eg - Donald Trump quitting Paris Agreement.

(4) Increasing war crimes and human rights violation.

Close · a framework

Eg - Rohingyas in Myanmar and Uighurs (China)

Ethical approach to IR requires following of India's philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.