AIR 14 · CSE 2020 · GS4 · 58 pages

Karishma Nair: GS4 answer copy

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

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Highlighting the attributes of leadership, analyse why it is important for a civil servant.10 marks
  2. Q1(b)A civil servant needs to be objective as well as empathetic. What do you understand by objectivity? Discuss its relationship with empathy.10 marks
  3. Q2(a)With rapidly increasing use of information technology, what according to you is the role of ethics in cyber space?10 marks
  4. Q2(b)Transparency in government organisations is an essential pre-condition for good governance. Elucidate.10 marks
  5. Q3(a)Given below are quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. Bring out what they mean to you in the present context: (a) A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones. Nelson Mandela.10 marks
  6. Q3(b)The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence. Rabindranath Tagore10 marks
  7. Q44. होटल स्वामी को नोटिस जारी करेंगे और न्यूनतम मजदूरी अधिनियम के अंतर्गत अपनी शक्तियों के अनुसार कार्यवाही करेंगे। इनमें से प्रत्येक विकल्प के गुणों और दोषों का मूल्यांकन कीजिए तथा कारण प्रस्तुत करते हुए अपनी पसंद की कार्यवाही का सुझाव दीजिए।
  8. Q4(a)For achieving success, attitude is equally, if not more important than ability. Discuss with the help of examples from your daily life.10 marks
  9. Q4(b)The core of high Emotional Intelligence is self-awareness. If you don't understand your own motivations and behaviours, it is nearly impossible to develop an understanding of others. Discuss with the help of appropriate examples.10 marks
  10. Q5(a)What do you understand by Integrity Pacts? Highlight the role they can play in bringing transparency in allotment of public contracts and ensuring proper utilization of public funds in India.10 marks
  11. Q5(b)In the context of rapid technological change, discuss the significance of inculcating moral and spiritual values in educational institutions.10 marks
  12. Q6Explain the main elements of integral humanism as propounded by Deen Dayal Upadhyay and highlight its contemporary relevance.10 marks
  13. Q7It is imperative for a country like India, that code of ethics should be implemented for civil servants on social media platforms as well. Discuss.10 marks
  14. Q8Discuss how effective corporate governance can ensure the equitable treatment of all stakeholders.10 marks
  15. Q9You are posted as the Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district of a state where alcohol prohibition has been imposed recently. The District Excise department has conducted many raids and seized liquor in large quantities, for which it has received state-wide public appreciation. A few months later reports surface in the media that in this district, hundreds of seized bottles of illicit liquor are missing from the government malkhanas or stores. As a result, the government is left red-faced. You are asked by the DM, who is the overall in-charge of the district excise setup, to investigate the matter. Upon investigation, you unearth a nexus of politicians and government officials who smuggled seized liquor and sold it through spurious means both inside and outside the state. In this context, evaluate these options: 1. Report your findings to the DM and seek instructions for further actions, stating clearly the criminal offences committed prima facie. 2. Charge all accused under legal provisions and let the law take its own course. 3. Being aware of the seriousness of the matter, discretely put the detailed investigation report in the public domain and expose the nexus. Also, suggest, without restricting yourself to the given options, the final course of action that you would prefer.20 marks
  16. Q10You are posted as a District Magistrate in a Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected district. The district has witnessed many instances of violence by the naxalites in the past. It has been observed that instances of violence increase as the elections approach. You, as a Returning Officer, are responsible for the smooth conduct of elections. Soon after the announcement of elections, the naxalites gave a call for their boycott and have been threatening people to stay away from them. The people of the district are eager to exercise their voting rights but are scared of the impending acts of violence. Further, with threat to their lives and a low expected turnout, the other electoral officers are also reluctant to go to these areas. In this context, answer the following: (a) Identify the civil service values that are crucial for working in such adversities. (b) Suggest a plan of action to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections in such a situation.20 marks
  17. Q11You are posted as a District Magistrate in a district, where many large factories and commercial establishments are located. One such factory is owned by one of your close friends. You visit each other's home frequently and are often seen in public together. Recently, media reported about poor working conditions in your friend's factory. Upon enquiry with the labor office, you come to know that the factory has witnessed frequent labour unrests in the past as well. However, the labour officer told you that he was hesitating to take any action due to your proximity with the owner of the factory. With reference to the facts of the case, answer the following questions: (a) Identifying the stakeholders and public cause, discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) As the District Magistrate, what appropriate course of action will you take? Give reasons for the same.20 marks
  18. Q12You are a resident of a remote tribal district, where there is high incidence of malnutrition. As a remedial measure, the District Magistrate has initiated a programme to promote millet cultivation, especially on the lands currently lying fallow in the district. However, this well-intentioned move of the officer receives flak from the local tribals as this may not only change their age-old food habits, but also alter their traditional agricultural practices. They further cite lower remunerative prices of millets as another reason for continuing with their existing crop production pattern. As a civil servant aspirant, who has a keen interest in development of tribal areas, answer the following questions: (a) What according to you are the key issues and challenges involved in the above situation? (b) Identify the key stakeholders and their respective interests. (c) Suggest a course of action that the District Magistrate can take keeping in mind the larger tribal interests.20 marks
  19. Q13You have recently been posted as a District Labour Officer in a state, which derives a substantial revenue from tourism. You come to know that a big hotel in the area has not been paying wages as per the Minimum Wages Act. The hotel owner is a powerful local leader having contacts with many influential officials of the state. You have the power to take sou-moto cognizance of such violations and accordingly you initiate a preliminary enquiry into the matter. However, no worker is willing to come forward to lodge a formal complaint because they fear loss of employment. Meanwhile, your action has attracted notice of the higher authorities, and you are advised to drop the matter altogether. You are deeply concerned about the situation as it involves not only violation of the Minimum Wages Act but also denial of basic human rights of the worker. (a) Identify the issues involved in the given case. (b) Consider the options given below: 1. Follow the informal advise of the higher authorities. 2. Convince the owner of the hotel to take note of these violations and take appropriate remedial measures. 3. Submit a detailed report on the matter highlighting violations of workers’ rights and seek formal directions from the competent authority. 4. Serve a notice to the hotel owner and initiate action as per your powers under the Minimum Wages Act. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of these options and suggest your preferred course of action, giving reasons.20 marks
  20. Q14You are the Chairman of a Committee, constituted by the government, to suggest measures to improve the quality of education in state-run schools. In view of the increasing dropout rate and the widening gap between students' learning ability in state-run and private schools, answer the following questions: (a) Examine the role of government in the education sector, especially providing primary and secondary education through state-run schools. (b) Identify the principles and values that would guide your recommendations in this regard. (c) Suggest some ways in which quality of education in state-run schools can be improved.20 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 161 words written

Highlighting the attributes of leadership, analyse why it is important for a civil servant.

Opening · a constitutional or legal provision

Nolan Committee highlights leadership as a foundational civil service value. It entails acting in an exemplary manner to motivate, persuade others towards a goal.

Attributes of leadership

Body · points

→ Integrity & commitment to work. → Area specific knowledge. → High emotional intelligence. → High motivation & persuasion skills. → Dynamism to assess situations and act accordingly. → Transformation & holistic upliftment of followers. → Makes more leaders, than followers.

Importance in civil servants • Need to motivate and persuade subordinates for effective work culture. • Needs to take responsibility for actions in era of accountability. • In development administration needs to act as change manager for people. • Effects bureaucratic & political culture. • Leadership needed during crisis management to reduce chaos, maintain coordination. • Civil servants act as hands of Govt., thus must exude leadership to the citizens.

Close · a summary

Vitality of leadership remains in civil services where it acts as the epitome of responsibility & knowledge in the society guided to development.