Saurabh Sharma: GS4 answer copy

The questions

1. Q1(a)Too much dependence on data driven technologies can result in data colonisation and digital dictatorship. Discuss the various issues that may arise in this context and suggest remedial measures.10 marks
2. Q1(b)Due to the recent proliferation of social media, influencers have become important agents of change in the society. Discuss with examples. Also, highlight the ethical issues involved.10 marks
3. Q2(a)Prejudice and discrimination when left unaddressed have the potential to turn conflicts into violence. Discuss with examples.10 marks
4. Q2(b)Non-violence is the highest form of fundamental moral virtue. Comment.10 marks
5. Q3(a)Though the 'Me Too Movement' helped in creating some murmur with respect to sexual harassment of women at workplace, it has failed to create a lasting positive impact on the work culture in India. Do you agree?10 marks
6. Q3(b)India ranks 85th amongst 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index of 2021. In this context, discuss the various ways to tackle corruption in India, with special reference to Kautilya's Arthashastra.10 marks
7. Q4(a)An ethical work culture not only drives positive organisational outcomes but also helps employees thrive. Discuss.10 marks
8. Q4(b)Bring out the ethical principles on which a Citizen's Charter is formulated. Also, discuss its purpose and effectiveness in India.10 marks
9. Q5(a)Probity in public life is nothing but the reflection of integrity in personal life. Discuss.10 marks
10. Q5(b)The work culture of the police in India is said to be characterised by indecision, inefficiency and lack of empathy. Discuss. Also, suggest remedial measures in this context.10 marks
11. Q6(a)What does each of the following quotations mean to you? "It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently." – Fyodor Dostoyevsky.10 marks
12. Q6(b)“A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both.”- James Madison10 marks
13. Q6(c)"Character may almost be called the most effective means of persuasion." - Aristotle10 marks
14. Q7You are a young IAS officer and have recently joined as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in a district, which has been declared 'open defecation free'. However, you get information that some villages in your sub-division are still continuing the practice of open defecation out of habit despite availability of toilets. Your colleagues in the district administration confirm that the information is true. You call the village headmen of these villages and tell them to persuade their villagers to stop open defecation. But, they express their unwillingness and inability to fully stop this practice, in some cases they themselves consider it healthy to defecate in the open. You discuss this matter with the District Magistrate who forbids you from taking any official action, as this may cause the 'open defecation free' status given to the district to be withdrawn. As a young and dynamic officer, answer the following: (a) Why do people continue to practice open defecation even when they have access to toilets? (b) What are the options available to you as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in this case? Highlight the merits and demerits of each option. (c) What will be your course of action?20 marks
15. Q8You are the District Magistrate of a district, which is the hub of coaching centres for engineering as well as medical entrance exams. Recently, around 5 students have committed suicide owing to academic and social pressure. Students in the age group 15-18 years from across the country come to the district with the dream of getting admission into prestigious institutions like the IITs and AIIMS. However, the coaching institutions are business-minded and want to have toppers from their institute so that they can attract more students. They create a lot of pressure on students to perform, with differential treatment like forming different category of batches depending on students' performance. These students live as Paying Guests and in hostels away from their families and many cannot tackle the huge burden of competition and the associated mental stress. The recent spate of suicide by 5 students has been highlighted by the national media and you have been asked by the Chief Minister to present a report of the situation and take steps on the matter. The Chief Minister has also asked you to keep the matter away from limelight so that the coaching centres continue with their business and generate revenue for themselves as well as the state. Upon investigation, you find out that 2-3 of the most famous coaching institutions are run by political leaders of the ruling party. They are involved in false advertisements in order to lure students. They also create undue pressure on the students to perform. Also, there is an emerging black market for performance enhancing drugs, which have become common among the students. (a) Highlight the stakeholders involved and discuss the associated ethical issues in the given case. (b) Given the situation, what will be your course of action? (c) Discussing the various reasons for increased cases of suicides among students, suggest measures to address the issue in the long-run.20 marks
16. Q9You are appointed as the Project Director in a large infrastructure company of the country. The company has won the rights to develop a port and its hinterland in a state. The project has economic and strategic significance for the country as it would develop a leading transshipment hub in the region and would lead to higher exports and earnings through its operation, flourishing of new businesses and also create employment opportunities. Also, the successful completion and operationalization of the project is important for the company as some of its previous projects were halted due to protests by the local communities and not only the reputation of the company but also significant investments are at stake. The land acquisition for the project has been completed as per the laid down rules and regulations. The Environmental Impact Assessment has been carried out and the project has received the go ahead from the concerned authorities. Also, rehabilitation and alternative livelihood opportunities are made available to the affected people as per the laid-down norms. However, once the construction started, some farmer groups started agitating on the grounds that they have not been adequately compensated and that the project will not negatively impact their livelihoods. They are demanding that either the project be halted or the compensation provided to them, should be increased substantially by way of money and assured jobs. In this context, answer the following: (a) Identify the relevant stakeholders in this case and the issues affecting them. (b) Evaluate the merits and demerits of ceding to the demands of the protesting groups, in the given context. (c) What course of action will you follow?20 marks
17. Q1010. जलवायु परिवर्तन से निपटने के लिए, हरित ऊर्जा को सबसे अच्छे समाधानों में से एक माना जाता है। देश अब कोयले की जगह जलविद्युत, जीवाश्म ईंधन के स्थान पर सौर ऊर्जा, पेट्रोल और डीजल से संचालित कारों की जगह इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों (EVs) को अपना रहे हैं। EVs को एक स्वच्छ, हरित और टिकाऊ विकल्प के रूप में पेश किया जा रहा है। इलेक्ट्रिक कारें बैटरी का उपयोग करती हैं तथा इन बैटरियों के निर्माण हेतु प्रयुक्त लिथियम और कोबाल्ट दुर्लभ धातुएं हैं। बैटरी में कोबाल्ट इसे स्थिर रखता है और इसके सुरक्षित संचालन में मदद करता है। कोबाल्ट का उपयोग लगभग आधी इलेक्ट्रिक कारों में किया जाता है, जो एक बैटरी में लगभग चार से 30 किलोग्राम तक उपयोग होता है। आप उस जिले के जिलाधिकारी हैं जहां कोबाल्ट प्रचुर मात्रा में पाया जाता है। ऐसी ही एक कोबाल्ट साइट में जाने पर आपको पता चलता है कि खदानों में बच्चों को काम पर रखा गया है और ये बच्चे रोजाना अपने जीवन को संकट में डालकर कार्य करते हैं। वे ऊर्ध्वाधर सुरंगों में प्रवेश करते हैं जो वयस्कों हेतु प्रवेश करने के लिए बहुत संकीर्ण हैं और भट्टी जैसे वातावरण की अमानवीय परिस्थितियों में कोबाल्ट की खुदाई करते हैं। हालांकि, वे केवल कभी-कभी ही फावड़े का उपयोग करते हैं और सामान्यतः अपने हाथों से ही खुदाई करते हैं। उन्हें मास्क, दस्ताने, कार्य हेतु उचित कपड़े नहीं दिए जाते हैं और एक बार में केवल 20 मिनट तक की ही ऑक्सीजन दी जाती है। फिर भी ये छोटे बच्चे घंटों खुदाई करते हैं। कोबाल्ट के पत्थरों को खोदने के पश्चात, वे उन्हें तोड़ते हैं, उन्हें धोते हैं और फिर उन्हें बेचने के लिए बाजार में ले जाते हैं। इस संबंध में, निम्नलिखित प्रश्नों के उत्तर दीजिए: (a) उपर्युक्त प्रकरण में शामिल नैतिक मुद्दों पर चर्चा कीजिए। (b) कानूनी और संस्थागत उपायों के बावजूद, भारत में बाल श्रम के जारी रहने के कारणों पर चर्चा कीजिए। (c) दी गई स्थिति के संदर्भ में, जिले में बाल श्रम की समस्या के समाधान के लिए आप क्या कदम उठाएंगे? (250 शब्दों में उत्तर दें)
18. Q10(in this regard, answer the following questions:)In this regard, answer the following questions: (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. (b) Despite the legal and institutional measures, discuss the reasons behind the prevalence of child labour in India. (c) In context of the given situation, what steps will you take to address the issue of child labour in the district?20 marks
19. Q11You are one of the producers of a television reality show. The show is very popular in the country and has a wide viewership among all sections of the society and across various regions. However, a controversy has emerged wherein in the latest season of the show, a contestant from the film industry who has been accused of sexual harassment by many of his co-workers has been accepted as a participant. Several media houses have reported it and have criticized the show for giving a national platform to one of the country's most high-profile alleged perpetrators of female harassment. They term it as a denigration of those women who had bravely spoken up about their harassment. In a personal capacity, you also feel the same and are of the view that such a controversial person should not have been invited to the show. However, when you talk to other producers of the show, it is very close to the host of the show, who is an extremely popular public figure in the country. The show commands a huge fandom and success of the show is also contingent on him. None of the producers want to antagonize the host. In the given situation, answer the following questions: (a) What are the ethical issues involved in the case? (b) What are the options available to you and what will be your course of action? (c) Discuss the positive and negative impacts of trial by media in such cases.20 marks
20. Q1212. आप हाल ही में भारत के एक महानगर में जल आपूर्ति और सीवरेज बोर्ड के मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी के रूप में नियुक्त हुए हैं। हाल ही में, एक ऐसी घटना हुई थी जिसमें दो गरीब लोगों की शहर के एक पॉश मोहल्ले में सीवर की जोखिमपूर्ण सफाई के दौरान मौत हो गई थी, जिसमें शहर के शीर्ष कॉर्पोरेट प्रमुख रहते थे। प्रारंभिक रिपोर्ट में पाया गया कि उक्त मोहल्ले के कुछ निवासियों ने स्थानीय शहर प्रशासन की जानकारी के बिना सीवर की सफाई के लिए निजी कर्मचारियों को नियुक्त किया था। संबंधित निवासियों के साथ-साथ दोनों मृत लोगों को काम पर नियोजित करने वाले निजी ठेकेदार के खिलाफ लापरवाही के कारण हुई मौत का मामला दर्ज कर लिया गया है। यह शिकायत उस मोहल्ले के निवासियों के लिए एक चौंकाने वाली घटना थी, जिनमें से अधिकांश ने पहले कभी कानूनी कार्रवाई का सामना नहीं किया था। जांच के दौरान मोहल्ले के लोगों ने शिकायत की कि स्थानीय प्रशासन लंबे समय से सीवरों की सफाई नहीं कर रहा है, जिसके कारण उन्हें निजी कर्मचारियों को काम पर रखना पड़ा। आपको यह भी पता चला है कि नगर प्रशासन में मेंटेनेंस कार्यों को लेकर असमंजस की स्थिति बनी हुई है, जिसका आज तक कोई समाधान नहीं हुआ है। समग्र रूप से नगर प्रशासन भी आवश्यक बुनियादी ढांचे के निर्माण और सीवेज सफाई से संबंधित कार्य करने के लिए सुरक्षात्मक गियर प्रदान करने के लिए धन की कमी का सामना कर रहा है। दूसरी तरफ, मृतक के परिजनों ने मुआवजे के लिए सरकार पर दबाव बनाना शुरू कर दिया है। साथ ही, मीडिया ने भी इस घटना के लिए नगर प्रशासन की उदासीनता को जिम्मेदार मानते हुए हंगामा किया है और मोहल्ले के हाई प्रोफाइल निवासियों के खिलाफ दर्ज शिकायतों को वापस लेने के लिए दबाव बना हुआ है। उपर्युक्त स्थिति के आलोक में, निम्नलिखित प्रश्नों के उत्तर दीजिए: (a) संबंधित मुद्दों के साथ प्रकरण में शामिल हितधारकों की पहचान कीजिए। (b) दिए गए प्रकरण में आपके समक्ष उपलब्ध विकल्पों का मूल्यांकन कीजिए। आप इनमें से कौन-सा विकल्प चुनेंगे और क्यों? (c) भविष्य में ऐसी घटनाओं को रोकने के लिए आप कौन-से दीर्घकालीन उपाय करेंगे? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दें)20 marks

The answers