AIR 53 · CSE 2016 · GS4 · 58 pages

Manuj Jindal: GS4 answer copy

18 answers by Manuj Jindal, as written in the test. Each question opens a page with how other toppers answered it.

The questions

Q1(a)What do you understand by the concept of civil service accountability? Are you satisfied with the present level of accountability in civil services? Discuss how the role of emotional intelligence becomes important in enhancing accountability?10 marks
Q1(b)Consider the following questions based on the relationship between religion and law i. Religious belief shouldn't serve as foundation for morality in a pluralistic society like India. ii. Law should prevail over religion whenever there is conflict between the two. Discuss how ethics can help having a better understanding of conflict between religion and law?10 marks
Q2(a)Since politics and business are inseparable, a good governance eco-system is a precondition for corporate governance. Comment.10 marks
Q2(b)Explain whether you will agree or not with the popular impression that in our country now there is no fear of the anti-corruption laws on the part of government officials? Discuss the factors which are responsible for such perception.10 marks
Q3(a)Given are two quotations of moral thinker/philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context: (a) "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that".10 marks
Q3(b)"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy".10 marks
Q4(a)Distinguish the following with suitable examples. (200 words) 10 i. Responsibility from fiduciary responsibility ii. Courage from courage of conviction iii. Integrity from impeccable integrity iv. Probity from probity in public life10 marks
Q4(b)An honest civil servant should not be harassed by anybody or agency or institution while in service or after retirement. It would make the civil servants working in the system nervous, which would not be in the interest of the country". Comment.10 marks
Q5What is 'success in life' for you? Explain with relevant references and examples. Discuss its importance in your life. Do you think success is essential for recognition in society?10 marks
Q6"A Constitution may indicate the direction in which we are to move, but the social structure will decide how far we are able to move and at what pace". In the light of this statement, do you think that attitudes held by us are the main cause of lack of desirable level change in our society? Discuss the hurdles faced in changing such attitude?10 marks
Q7The role of Media is very important in shaping people's thought and action. In this regard consider the following: i. Media should stand for peace and not for war. ii. Media shouldn't take side in the name of nationalism. Discuss how media ethics can help in explaining the above questions.10 marks
Q8In the face of prevalent circumstances, our efforts at combating corruption suffer for three basic reasons: - (i) Absence of a basic or minimal code of conduct that applies uniformly to every holder of public office or authority, irrespective of the wing of the State to which he belongs; (ii) A procedure that offers escape routes, at every step of the way, to the delinquent; and (iii) Lack of will or initiative on the part of authorities in catching the bull by the horns. Analyse them and give your appropriate response to each reason.10 marks
Q9You are in a subordinate position as a Revenue Officer next to the district head of your department. Your department is entrusted with revenue collection in the district. Annual and the corresponding monthly targets are duly achieved in the district where you are posted and the performance of that district is considered to be satisfactory and even good as compared to other districts in the state. Eventually, you come to know that there is more potential for revenue collection and hence you start applying more efforts. Your enthusiasm to collect more revenue has not gone well in the administration. You are advised from above and below your rank to maintain status quo or face consequences. All the staff seems to be in collusion and you have good evidence to believe that the nexus goes to the departmental headquarter. (a) Identify the various actions that you could take; (b) Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your actions. (c) What should be the most appropriate action in your view? Give adequate justification.20 marks
Q10You are the Chief Judicial Magistrate of a district and you have also administrative authority on district judiciary. In due course, a four days leave from work falls and everyone seems to enjoy the holidays. On the third day of the leave, you come to know through TV channels that one of your subordinate judges had been caught in a raid on a hotel, famed for prostitution in the neighbouring country. However, the judge is released without any case registered against him and is freed by the local police of the neighbouring country. The neighbouring country did it due to good relation with our country. Although the news did not reach to the press and public of your district, but staff members are aware about such incident. Majority of staff members want only warning should be given, but the other want the erring judge to be sacked. (a) What should be your courses of action in this case and discuss why they are necessary? (b) Discuss some feasible strategies to avoid such type of embarrassment in future.20 marks
Q11A joint operation has been started by security forces in a naxal affected area after one such ambush by naxalites in which some people and security personnel were killed. The operation has not received encouraging success. The local media in that area, has been reporting all the progress on day to day basis and it has been critical to security forces for their lack of success. The security forces are of view that the role of media is having demoralising effect on police force, on the one hand, and morale boosting for naxalites, on the other. You are District Magistrate of one such affected district. You have become popular due to your democratic way of handling the naxalites which has also resulted into surrenders in past. You get a call from the head of the joint operation to curtail media freedom and ensure that the local media reports in favour of administration. Even you are told not to shy away if there is need to gag media and arrest some journalists. (a) What are the options available to you in this situation? (b) Evaluate the pros and cons of each of your options and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons.20 marks
Q12The ministry of health appointed an expert team to conduct epidemiological study on the health of 1,000 agricultural workers to know the impact of pesticide exposure on health. The study finds that there are adverse impacts on the health of agricultural workers such as the possibility of skin cancer. The report finds its way in media which result into public outcry. However, the ministry rejects the findings of the team as it does not find satisfactory. The ministry of environment has requested the ministry of health not to disclose the findings unless it carries its own study to verify the facts as its expansion plan for genetically modified seeds may get affected. An RTI activist applies for information to PIO of ministry of health. Now, the PIO is in dilemma what he should do? So far, the PIO has a good record of disclosing information for which he has been recently appreciated. Suppose you are the PIO then discuss the merits and demerits of the following options and choose the most appropriate one, giving reasons. (a) The PIO should consult the higher authority and act as per the advice. (b) The PIO should refuse to disclose the information as it is sensitive and can create law and order problem. (c) The PIO should partially disclose the information which is not related to the adverse impact on health. (d) The PIO should disclose the complete information to maintain his good record.20 marks
Q13Under the ambitious interlinking of rivers programme, one state Chief Minister on the occasion of inauguration mentioned that khus grass should be laid in and around the confluence of the two rivers to promote tourism. Mr A is a sincere, honest and dedicated senior district forest officer. On the basis of the CM wishes, he issued tender for this grass and eventually, over Rs. 15 lakh was spent to buy 5 lakh ton grass and they were planted in around the confluence. Since due to flood, the grass planted were swept away, the department again started efforts to lay down the grass then it was found that there were irregularities and corruption. It has been reported that on paper, the quantity of grass shown is different from the quantity planted. Proper labourers were not also employed rather passers' by were given the task but interestingly, bill vouchers for wages have been issued. Suppose you are the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the state and you have been given task to take appropriate steps then how do you view the following questions a) Whether the issues in the case study are more about corruption rather than administrative efficiency? b) Although Mr A has dedication towards service but lacks work culture ethics. c) The issues are not about efficient utilisation of public fund but rather about quality of service. d) In your view, what should be the most appropriate action against Mr A? Give proper justification.25 marks
Q14There is a very strange story of electrification of a village in one state. The village is divided by a 50 feet road. The higher caste live on the one side of the road and people belonging to the lower caste live on the other side of the road. The power supply in the village has created a wide gulf between the two sections' living standards. On one hand, the upper caste has all the modern facilities such as TV, refrigerators, coolers and other luxury goods, but on the other, the lower caste struggle even if there is electric poll. They have to get their mobiles' charged through battery and children have to study under lantern. When the people belonging to lower caste went in past to electricity department to get power connection, they were refused on certain excuse. Recently, media has reported the incidents of discrimination. The power department is under huge pressure from the forward caste not to supply electricity to lower caste area and have threatened that if power is supplied, the village will experience violence. a) Suppose you are the Executive Engineer of the district and the matter come to your knowledge then how you will handle the situation to redress the grievances of people belonging the lower caste? b) In this case, what is more important for you: not disturbing the harmony or eliminating caste discrimination, which will necessarily result into disharmony? c) Discuss your strategies for similar cases in villages where caste discrimination prevails to eliminate such practices and ensure sustained harmony.25 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 220 words written

What do you understand by the concept of civil service accountability? Are you satisfied with the present level of accountability in civil services? Discuss how the role of emotional intelligence becomes important in enhancing accountability?

Opening · a definition

Civil Service Accountability can be defined as the answerability of actions, decisions and official work of civil servants to the public and all stakeholders (government, international bodies, courts & justice system etc.)

Lacunaes in current accountability of civil services:

Body · points

(1) Lack of grievance redressal mechanism leads to civil servants not being accountable. → for eg: Citizen charters have not been adopted in over 80% of government departments.

→ Poor implementation of SEVOTTAM model of governance.

(2) Lack of feedback & control through Social Audits, citizen report cards etc. → even mandated social audits in MGNREGA not implemented.

(3) Delays in RTI inquiries & lack of proper data & information management i.e. government officers.

Hence, from accountability perspective, services have not been satisfactory.

Emotional Intelligence & Accountability

Emotional intelligence refers to the development of analytical & cognitive ability with respect to various emotions such as anger, etc.

It entails: (1) Self-Regulation (2) Self-monitoring (3) Autonomy (4) Feedback

Accountability is directly related to regulation, control, monitoring & reporting when needed.

Emotional intelligence develops both internal accountability for a civil servant as well as external accountability towards the public.

For eg: A highly emotionally intelligent civil servant such as IPS will be able to act with restraint in times of mob/crowd control as well as exercise force only when needed in dire circumstance.