AIR 12 · CSE 2020 · GS4 · 58 pages

Mithun Premraj: GS4 answer copy

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

The questions

  1. Q1(a)Explain the significance of the following in the context of civil service: 10 (iii) Strength of character10 marks
  2. Q1(b)Do you think nation states owe a responsibility towards asylum seekers? What are the considerations that should, in your opinion, go into the making of a refugee policy? Provide arguments with contemporary examples.10 marks
  3. Q2(a)Why do civil servants have a special obligation to uphold ethical standards? What are the main areas of concerns for implementation of an effective ethical standard in civil services? In this context, suggest measures to remedy these concerns.10 marks
  4. Q2(b)While families are the first socializing agents, which inculcate moral values in a child, the role played by schools in this regard is also indispensable. Discuss.10 marks
  5. Q3(a)What is the significance of ethics in day-to-day life? Give an example from your own life where you chose ethical action and elaborate the reasons for your choice of that action.10 marks
  6. Q3(b)Analyse the ethical dimensions of using nuclear deterrence as a self-defense strategy.10 marks
  7. Q4(a)We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give. (i) Highlight the importance of value of altruism for a society. (ii) Discuss the role of education in imparting such values.10 marks
  8. Q4(b)Giving examples, examine the relationship between personal and professional ethics of civil servants.10 marks
  9. Q5(a)Given below are two quotations of moral thinkers/ philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context. (a) If people scrutinize their own faults as they do the faults of others, mankind will be freed of all evil.10 marks
  10. Q5(b)Courage is the first of human qualities because it's the quality that guarantees the others.10 marks
  11. Q6How do law and conscience act as source of ethical guidance? Explain with examples.10 marks
  12. Q7Differentiate between the following using examples: (ii) Ethics and Etiquette10 marks
  13. Q8Good corporate governance is not an end in itself. It is a means to support economic efficiency, sustainable growth and financial stability. Discuss.10 marks
  14. Q9You are the District Development Officer posted in a backward region where open defecation is rampant and there is high child mortality due to diarrhoea. Under the Center's Swachh Bharat Abhiyan you spearheaded the construction of thousands of toilets in your area; still people relieve themselves in the open. The media and the opposition parties are already labelling the programme as a failure and waste of public money. You have been asked to report on the reasons for low usage and bring about a change. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the reasons behind people not using the constructed toilets? (b) How can people's attitude towards open defecation be changed? Give a reasoned account of the steps that you will take to bring about this change.20 marks
  15. Q10The steady decline in sex ratio suggests that marked improvement in the economy and literacy rates do not seem to have had any impact on this index. In fact, the availability of new technology and its easy access for the urban, wealthy and educated have worsened the trend and harmed the status of women in Indian society. (a) Explain why the phenomenon should not be simply viewed as a medical or legal issue and more attention should be given to the ethical issues involved. (b) Give some suggestions to tackle the problem of declining sex ratio. (c) Discuss the ethical dilemma involved in Right to abortion vs. Prevention of female foeticide. How can this be resolved?20 marks
  16. Q11You are the officer-in-charge responsible for monitoring allotment of foodgrains under the Public Distribution System to BPL families in a given district. A group of BPL families in the district claim that they have been denied ration from fair price shops due to non-linking of Aadhar card with their BPL cards. They remark that the government and officers concerned are not empathising with their situation and stage a silent protest. Further, the incident is also being linked to similar instances in other areas of the country where people were denied access to PDS benefits due to similar reasons. The government receives a lot of criticism for this incident on social media networks. You are now in a conundrum, as you are aware that the BPL families need to get foodgrains on time. However, as a government officer, you also need to follow the prescribed rules. Media scrutiny has further aggravated the situation and you realize you need to tread carefully. Based on the information above, answer the following: (a) List the issues in the given situation that the parties involved are facing. (b) What step(s) will you take in the situation to ensure that the demands of the aggrieved persons are met without violating the rules? (c) In this context, briefly discuss how the poor in the country currently face digital exclusion and its consequence(s).20 marks
  17. Q12You are working as a senior doctor in the oncology department of a super specialty hospital located in Delhi. While accessing the quotations from reputed pharmaceutical companies to hospitals, you unearth a nexus between pharma firms and the hospital administration. You get to know that they are hand-in-glove with each other and trying to fleece cancer patients by selling drugs at exorbitant prices, even though low cost alternative drugs are available in the market. Being the head of Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare, who is working against the arbitrary price regime of life saving drugs, you get a chance to represent your case before the Health Minister of your state. However, certain other doctors of the Alliance have asked you to present a distorted reality in front of the Minister since they are obtaining pecuniary benefits from such a scheme of nexus, which would cease if the nexus gets exposed. (a) Identify the main stakeholders and ethical issues involved. (b) Analyse the possible solutions for addressing the issues. (c) What would be your final course of action and why?20 marks
  18. Q13You are working as a Manager who handles critical projects in a private firm. You have recently been issued a notice by the Human Resource department that categorically highlights gender imbalance in your team and instructs you to recruit more females. Realizing the importance of this matter you decide to roll out vacancy requirements on an urgent basis and close it within a week. You receive several applications and start interviewing female candidates. However, you realize that the top four candidates are married and two of them are expecting their child. During the interviews the candidates commit on their priority for the project, till it finishes and show willingness to work from home, afterwards. What is the action that you will take? Explain the factors that you will take into account and justify the merits of the course of action.20 marks
  19. Q14Mr. A is a senior most member of a highly reputed company with considerable customer interface. In recent months, the business of the company has been going down. On detailed analysis, it was found that some of the functionaries of the company have impulsive nature, which has many a times led to altercations with the customers and even among themselves. This has adversely affected the work culture and sullied the image of the company in the market. He seeks your advice, as you are his friend as well as a person who understands management. (a) What are the factors that you would consider in making your advice? (b) What steps will you suggest to deal with the situation that the company faces?20 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 201 words written

Explain the significance of the following in the context of civil service: 10 (iii) Strength of character

Opening · no separate opening

None written.

Body · points

i) Public Trust

  • Governance and administration can be effective only if it is responsive to the public and involves participation of public.
  • Public trust is important for public participation. Trust is garnered through honest, efficient, transparent and accountable governance.

ii) Objectivity

  • To avoid any real or potential conflict of interest or ethical dilemma in public services.
  • Gives a clear framework for duty and service.
  • Individual feelings and personal subjectivity can lead to corruption, nepotism, maladministration.

iii) Strength of character

  • Shows courage and integrity of a civil servant in face of multitude of challenges.
  • In our society, political interference, blackmail, populism etc may hamper good governance and prompt officers to deviate from their virtues → strength of character necessary to remain unperturbed.

iv) Empathy

  • A civil servant effectively works for good of society → To properly understand and act according to needs of people, empathy with the circumstances of society necessary.
  • Can help devise plans and formulate action for societal well being.

v) Selflessness

  • A civil servant should be concerned more about public interest than personal in his pursuit of duty.
  • To help avoid corruption, nepotism, self-aggrandisement and neglect of duty.

Close · no separate close

None written.