AIR 3 · CSE 2019 · GS4 · 64 pages

Pratibha Verma: GS4 answer copy

19 answers by Pratibha Verma, 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: (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 morality in day-to-day life? Give an example from your own life where you chose moral 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. 10 (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. Q9A hilly state witnessed torrential rains leading to loss of life and property. Apart from the local inhabitants there were tourists stranded in large numbers. With the supply chains broken and increased demand, it was observed that local shopkeepers started selling essential goods at very high prices. With a very restricted possibility of being evacuated in the coming few days, the stranded people feel helpless. A crumbled governance infrastructure in remote areas has multiplied the extent of their agony. Given this situation, answer the following questions. 20 (a) Identify the various stakeholders in the case and give a reasoned account of their interests. Given the administrative, market and ethical perspective of viewing the situation, do you think there is a conflict in the priorities of these stakeholders? (b) Suggest ways to harmonize competing interests in order to resolve the issues, provide relief and prevent escalation of conflict.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. 20 (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. 20 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. 20 (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. Q1320 marks
  19. Q1420 marks

The answers

Question 1(a) · 10 marks · 206 words written

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

Opening

Public trust - Civil services are the interface between state & people and their relationship with people and their trust in them upholds the state machinery from collapse & fulfilment of objective of welfare state. Because of trust public agitation & protest reduces.

Objectivity - is the value of making decisions without personal feeling, emotions, biases and only taking into account the fact of cases present before civil servant. Evidence based decision making leads to impartiality & efficiency of government.

Body · points

(iii) Strength of character - enables civil servants to stand firm on the qualities of honesty, integrity & transparency in their day-to-day duties, ethical dilemmas & discretionary decision making which makes public administration clean & corruption free.

(iv) Empathy - In today's world its not enough to just solve the problem, its important to listen intently to problem of people & approach to the root cause of grievance. People approach civil servant for their issues and their perception of state is formed on basis of humanity showed by them.

(v) Selflessness - service to others is the religion of civil servants. Their motive, their duty & hence their actions should be guided not be maximizing the interest of themselves but by serving the interest of people.

Close · no separate close

None written.