Surbhi Pathak: GS4 answer copy

The questions

1. Q1(a)Where the roots of private virtue are diseased, the fruit of public probity cannot but be corrupt. What do you understand by probity? Discuss ways of inculcating probity in public life.10 marks
2. Q1(b)Evaluate the role of citizen's charter in making governance citizen centric. Also, recommend some measures to make citizen's charters more effective.10 marks
3. Q2(a)Differentiate between the following: (i) code of conduct and code of ethics (ii) Accountability and responsibility10 marks
4. Q2(b)While successful managers make profit for their organizations, it is leaders who build successful organizations. In light of this statement, differentiate between a manager and a leader. Examine why leadership is considered a foundational value for a civil servant.10 marks
5. Q3(a)Right to Information Act, 2005, aims to make the governance process transparent and accountable, however, the sunshine legislation is beset with several challenges. Analyse.10 marks
6. Q3(b)Uniform Civil Code (UCC) aims to create a common set of laws governing personal matters, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption, irrespective of individuals' religious affiliations. In the context of the ongoing discourse on UCC in India, examine the challenges that arise when attempting to reconcile legal principles with diverse moral considerations. To what extent should the law be influenced by moral/religious principles?10 marks
7. Q4(a)"Why should a man be moral? Because it strengthens his will." - Swami Vivekanand. In this perspective, discuss the significance of morality for bringing efficiency and effectiveness in public administration. Do you think moral rigidity can be a hindrance in good governance?10 marks
8. Q4(b)Various practices and policies are implemented to uphold transparency, fairness, and accountability within administrative systems, encompassing both advantageous and disadvantageous aspects for the stakeholders involved and the overall administrative framework. Explore the ethical considerations that arise from the design and implementation of these administrative practices aiming to foster effective governance.10 marks
9. Q5(a)Civil servants who embody emotional intelligence exhibit a profound understanding of the human aspect of governance, enabling them to cultivate meaningful relationships, foster cooperation, and drive positive change. Examine ways in which Emotional Intelligence can be inculcated in civil servants.10 marks
10. Q5(b)The challenges posed by the corporate sector's impact on climate, environmental sustainability, and living conditions has highlighted the need for responsible and inclusive business practices. In this direction, the contemporary discourse on corporate governance is emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Evaluate the ESG framework in equipping the corporate world with the capabilities to fulfill its social roles and responsibilities.10 marks
11. Q6What does each of the following quotation mean to you? a) "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom"-Thomas Jefferson10 marks
12. Q6(b)"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion" - Abraham Lincoln.10 marks
13. Q6(c)"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." – Ruth Bader Ginsburg.10 marks
14. Q7Prachinmath is a pilgrim town nestled in the laps of Himalayas. The town is part of one of the border states of the country. It serves as the base for a highly revered and well-known pilgrimage undertaken by millions of people every year. The people of Prachinmath, who are largely from a close-knit community of Pahadi tribe, have lived in the area for several generations. The Pahadi people, since many generations, have developed a lifestyle which is integral to the ecosystem of Prachinmath. The traditional knowledge of the tribe passed from one generation to other have helped the people in living with the environment in a sustainable manner. The people of Prachinmath worshipped the local deity, and believed it to be their destiny to live in the region in a peaceful and harmonious way. However, the increasing pace of unplanned development, uncontrolled religious tourism, creation of strategic infrastructure etc., in the contemporary times have fundamentally altered the minimalistic nature of relationship that the people of Prachinmath had with the local/fragile environment. Prachinmath Bachao Committee (PBC), a civil society organization of Pahadi tribals, has consistently opposed the unbridled and brazen exploitation of the resources of Prachinmath. They have through petitions, jan sabhas, nukkad nataks etc., highlighted the grave consequences of the unsustainable development model that the state and the Union governments were adopting for Prachinmath. However, their petitions had fallen on deaf ears. Moreover, the government justified the infrastructure creation in Prachinmath in order to cater to its strategic and religious significance. The problems came to a head when the government decided to construct a tunnel in Prachinmath in order to generate hydroelectricity. The PBC as well as prominent geologists of the country vehemently opposed the idea citing its negative impact upon the region. The scientific community was of the opinion that Prachinmath sits on geological fault lines and is built on a debris of a landslide, any large-scale construction may cause irreparable damage to the environment. Nevertheless, the government went ahead with the project, constructing the tunnel in a record time, citing its necessity for the energy security of the country. Even many economists were of the opinion that increased energy capacity will help India curtail its import bill. Such steps were hailed by the governments as the stepping stone of the country towards strategic autonomy. The worst fears of the local and scientific communities came true when the houses in Prachinmath started showing large cracks. The reason for the crack, as found out after a detailed study, was attributed to the subsidence of land in Prachinmath. The sinking of the land, development of large cracks, collapsing of the buildings etc., caught the attention of social, electronic, and print media alike. Overnight, Prachinmath became the talk of the country. Even the international media highlighted the episode, and the existential threat that it posed to the local communities as well as the environment. The state and Union governments swung into action and formed an expert committee, comprising of scientists, bureaucrats, NDRF/SDRF personnel etc., to look into the matter. The committee advised the government to evacuate Prachinmath completely, as the sinking of the land was continuing. Working on the recommendations of the committee, government prepared a detailed resettlement and rehabilitation plan for the people of Prachinmath. The Pahadi people, who squarely blamed the government for the crisis, felt cheated by the actions of the government and refused to evacuate from Prachinmath, the place of their ancestors. a) What are the various conflicting interests in the above case study. b) As a DM of the district in which Prachinmath falls, how will you convince the people to evacuate from the area? c) What can we do to avoid such situations in the future.20 marks
15. Q7(a)a) उपरोक्त केस स्टडी में विभिन्न परस्पर विरोधी हित क्या हैं?
16. Q7(b)a) उपरोक्त केस स्टडी में विभिन्न परस्पर विरोधी हित क्या हैं? b) जिस जिले में प्राचीनमठ पड़ता है, वहां के डीएम के रूप में आप लोगों को इलाका खाली करने के लिए कैसे मनाएंगे? c) भविष्य में ऐसी स्थितियों से बचने के लिए हम क्या कर सकते हैं?
17. Q7(c)a) उपरोक्त केस स्टडी में विभिन्न परस्पर विरोधी हित क्या हैं? b) जिस जिले में प्राचीनमठ पड़ता है, वहां के डीएम के रूप में आप लोगों को इलाका खाली करने के लिए कैसे मनाएंगे? c) भविष्य में ऐसी स्थितियों से बचने के लिए हम क्या कर सकते हैं?20 marks
18. Q8Vihar is a state in the Northern part of the country. Prohibition laws in the state completely ban the storage, possession, sale, and consumption of liquor in any form. Despite the ban, the liquor mafia in the state has succeeded in supplying spurious liquor through various illegal dens. The activities of liquor mafia flourish under the nose of both the civil administration and the police department. Many Civil Society Organizations, women organizations etc., on numerous occasions complained to the authorities about the illegal production, sale, and consumption of liquor, but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears, and no substantial action was taken by the government to curb the menace. As fate would have it, one day there was an unfortunate incident when a large group of fifty construction labourers died after consuming spurious liquor from an illegal den being operated by the mafia. Many of the victims were sole bread winners of their families. While the state was clear on its position that consuming liquor in the state was an illegal activity that warrants no sympathy or compensation (for the next of kin) from the government, families of the victims and also many CSOs were demanding compensation for the families of the deceased construction labourers. The incident got both national and international coverage in print, electronic, as well as the social media. The pressure on the state government was mounting to amicably resolve the issue. Anjali is posted as the Joint Secretary in the Secretariat. The CM has asked her to create a detailed report on how should the state government handle this crisis. a) Under the given circumstances, what measures should Anjali recommend to handle the above crisis. b) Critically evaluate the decision of state government to not compensate the victims of spurious liquor.20 marks
19. Q9Kamlesh is a civil servant who has been recently posted as Additional Chief Secretary in the education department of the state. Kamlesh has a meticulous service record and is well known for his honesty, and a no-nonsense attitude. After joining the new department, the first major task before Kamlesh was to conduct the recruitments for the post of lecturers in government schools. The posts were lying vacant for a long time, and the government wanted to fill up the vacancies without further delay as it was one of the poll promises made by the present government. The recruitment process took place successfully under the supervision of Kamlesh. The concerned minister congratulated Kamlesh and informed him that the appointment letters will be allocated to the successful candidates in a ceremony which will be presided by the CM himself. Kamlesh was happy that his work was getting recognition at the highest level. One day, Kamlesh was sitting in his office when his secretary brought him a letter from a leading investigative journalist of the state. The letter dealt with the recently conducted recruitment of the lecturers. Kamlesh was shocked at the content of the letter. The investigative journalist had alleged that the question paper of the exam was leaked to a few successful candidates, who had also forged their documents to appear in the exam. The letter also highlighted a nexus of middlemen, politicians and civil servants who facilitate such illicit practices. Moreover, the investigative journalist had also attached credible proofs. Kamlesh corroborated the facts of the letters from his own sources and found the allegations to be true prima facie. Since the matter was serious and warranted immediate action, Kamlesh brought the matter to the notice of his minister. To his surprise, the minister asked him to sit over the matter for some time. Minister reasoned that bringing out this matter will bring ignominy not only to the department but also to the government. Further, the minister reasoned that cancelling the whole recruitment process will be detrimental for the education department, schools etc; also, the sincere and honest candidates who have invested a lot of time and money for preparation may also get affected negatively. He also reminded Kamlesh that the participation of the CM has already been announced. After leaving the minister's office, Kamlesh got a phone call from Minister's Personal Secretary (PS). The PS hinted to Kamlesh that the concerned candidates were connected to the ruling political party, and going against them may create professional troubles for Kamlesh. On the other hand, his cooperation in this matter, the PS assured, will not go unnoticed and will be handsomely rewarded. Kamlesh had just settled in his new posting. He knows that going against the wish of the Minister may cause him his present posting. What was more, Kamlesh's father is undergoing treatment in a local hospital. A shunting out from the district would mean that his father would have to be left alone to fend for himself. Further, Kamlesh's wife Priya, also a bureaucrat, is posted in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Kamlesh realises that his actions will also have a bearing on her career as well. a) Bring out various ethical dilemmas faced by Kamlesh. b) Consider yourself in Kamlesh's position. What are the various options available to you? c) Critically evaluate each of the option listed by you. d) Which of the above option should Kamlesh adopt and why?20 marks
20. Q9(a)Ethical dilemmas in the above case, that Kamlesh faces.
21. Q9(null)एक दिन, कमलेश अपने कार्यालय में बैठे थे, तभी उनका सचिव उनके लिए राज्य के एक प्रमुख खोजी पत्रकार का पत्र लेकर आया। यह पत्र हाल ही में आयोजित व्याख्याताओं की भर्ती से संबंधित है। पत्र का मजमून देखकर कमलेश हैरान रह गये। खोजी पत्रकार ने आरोप लगाया था कि परीक्षा का प्रश्नपत्र कुछ सफल उम्मीदवारों के लिए लीक कर दिया गया था, जिन्होंने परीक्षा में शामिल होने के लिए अपने दस्तावेज भी जाली बनाए थे। पत्र में बिचौलियों, राजनेताओं और सिविल सेवकों के गठजोड़ पर भी प्रकाश डाला गया है जो इस तरह की अवैध प्रथाओं को बढ़ावा देते हैं। इसके अलावा, खोजी पत्रकार ने विश्वसनीय सबूत भी संलग्न किए थे। कमलेश ने अपने स्रोतों से पत्रों के तथ्यों की पुष्टि की और आरोपों को प्रथम दृष्टया सही पाया। चूँकि मामला गंभीर था और तत्काल कार्रवाई की आवश्यकता थी, इसलिए कमलेश ने मामले को अपने मंत्री के संज्ञान में लाया। उन्हें आश्चर्य हुआ जब मंत्री ने उनसे मामले पर कुछ देर बैठने के लिए कहा। मंत्री ने तर्क दिया कि इस मामले को उजागर करने से न सिर्फ विभाग बल्कि सरकार की भी बदनामी होगी। इसके अलावा, मंत्री ने तर्क दिया कि पूरी भर्ती प्रक्रिया को रद्द करना शिक्षा विभाग, स्कूलों आदि के लिए हानिकारक होगा; इसके अलावा, सत्यनिष्ठ और ईमानदार उम्मीदवार जिन्होंने तैयारी के लिए बहुत समय और पैसा निवेश किया है, उन पर भी नकारात्मक प्रभाव पड़ सकता है। उन्होंने कमलेश को यह भी याद दिलाया कि सीएम के शामिल होने की घोषणा पहले ही हो चुकी है। मंत्री के कार्यालय से निकलने के बाद, कमलेश को मंत्री के निजी सचिव (पीएस) का फोन आया। पीएस ने कमलेश को संकेत दिया कि संबंधित उम्मीदवार सत्तारूढ़ राजनीतिक दल से निकटता से जुड़े हुए हैं, और उनके खिलाफ जाने से कमलेश के लिए पेशेवर समस्याएं पैदा हो सकती हैं। दूसरी ओर, पीएस ने आश्वासन दिया कि इस मामले में उनके सहयोग पर किसी का ध्यान नहीं जाएगा और उसे भरपूर इनाम दिया जाएगा। कमलेश अभी-अभी अपनी नई पोस्टिंग पर आए थे। वह जानते हैं कि मंत्री की इच्छा के विरुद्ध जाने पर उन्हें अपनी वर्तमान पोस्टिंग से हाथ धोना पड़ सकता है। और तो और, कमलेश के पिता का स्थानीय अस्पताल में इलाज चल रहा है। जिले से बाहर जाने का मतलब यह होगा कि उसके पिता की देखभाल के लिए अकेला छोड़ दिया जाएगा। इसके अलावा, कमलेश की पत्नी प्रिया भी एक नौकरशाह हैं, जो मुख्यमंत्री कार्यालय (सीएमओ) में तैनात हैं। कमलेश को एहसास होता है कि उसकी हरकतों का असर उसके करियर पर भी पड़ेगा। a) कमलेश द्वारा सामना की गई विभिन्न नैतिक दुविधाओं को उजागर करें। b) अपने आप को कमलेश की स्थिति में समझें। आपके लिए विभिन्न विकल्प क्या उपलब्ध हैं? c) आपके द्वारा सूचीबद्ध प्रत्येक विकल्प का आलोचनात्मक मूल्यांकन करें। d) कमलेश को उपरोक्त में से कौन सा विकल्प अपनाना चाहिए और क्यों? (20 अंक, 250 शब्द)20 marks
22. Q10XYZ is a premiere coaching institute located in Chatterjee Nagar locality of Himnagar. XYZ specialises in the coaching for medical and engineering entrance examination. The main office of the coaching, where the daily classes are conducted, is located in a congested locality, from where several other coaching institutes also operate. One day, while classes were in session in the top floor of the building and some 200 odd students were in attendance, a fire broke out in the premises of XYZ coaching. The fire incident created a commotion among those present in the building. Everyone, in a state of confusion, started running helter-skelter. Some students rushed to the very narrow stairs. Many stumbled and fell, hurting themselves. The emergency exit plan of the building was not suitable to cater to the large number of students and staff. In order to save themselves from asphyxiation, some students broke the window of the classroom. However, in absence of a fire stairs they had to climb down using the balcony ledge. In the process, many students had a free fall and hurt themselves badly. While two boys lost their life due to stampede caused while exiting the building, one girl got fatally injured while climbing down the ledge. The civil administration immediately started an audit of the building. Joseph is posted as the Municipal Commissioner of Himnagar. Chatarjee Nagar falls under his jurisdiction. Joseph has ordered an enquiry into the whole incident. Coincidentally, Joseph's younger brother, Frank, is also a student of XYZ coaching. He was not present in the coaching during the fateful day. The owner of the XYZ coaching approaches Joseph and requests him to be lenient in the enquiry report. They propose that looking at the good track record of Frank they are willing to give a scholarship to fund not only his coaching fees but also his graduation from any college in the country. They also promise that since Frank is a sincere student, they will dedicate their top faculty to ensure that Frank comes out with flying colours in the coming under graduate entrance examination. Joseph knows that his brother has repeatedly failed in the entrance examinations earlier and a special focus will help him immensely. Also, Joseph himself was under student debt, which he was still paying in small instalments from his own salary. Recently married, and having risen from a poor family, Joseph has always worried about funding his brother's education. a) Identify various ethical concerns in the case study. b) You are a friend of Joseph. Joseph turns to you for advice. What advice will you give to joseph and why?20 marks
23. Q10(a) b)संयोग से, जोसेफ का छोटा भाई, फ्रैंक भी XYZ कोचिंग का छात्र है। वह उस दिन कोचिंग में मौजूद नहीं था। XYZ कोचिंग का मालिक जोसेफ के पास जाता है और उसे जांच रिपोर्ट में नरमी बरतने का अनुरोध करता है। उनका प्रस्ताव है कि फ्रैंक के अच्छे ट्रैक रिकॉर्ड को देखते हुए वे न केवल उसकी कोचिंग फीस, बल्कि देश के किसी भी कॉलेज से स्नातक की पढ़ाई के लिए भी उसे छात्रवृत्ति देने को तैयार हैं। वे यह भी वादा करते हैं कि चूंकि फ्रैंक एक ईमानदार छात्र है, इसलिए वे यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए अपने शीर्ष संकाय को समर्पित करेंगे कि फ्रैंक आगामी स्नातक प्रवेश परीक्षा में अच्छे अंक लेकर आए। जोसेफ को पता है कि उसका भाई पहले भी प्रवेश परीक्षाओं में बार-बार असफल हुआ है और विशेष फोकस से उसे काफी मदद मिलेगी। इसके अलावा, जोसेफ स्वयं एक ऋण के अधीन था, जिसे वह अभी भी अपने वेतन से छोटी किस्तों में चुका रहा था। हाल ही में शादी हुई और एक गरीब परिवार से आने के कारण, जोसेफ हमेशा अपने भाई की शिक्षा के वित्तपोषण के बारे में चिंतित रहता है। a) मामले के अध्ययन में विभिन्न नैतिक चिंताओं की पहचान करें। b) आप जोसेफ के मित्र हैं। जोसेफ सलाह के लिए आपके पास आता है। आप जोसेफ को क्या सलाह देंगे और क्यों?20 marks
24. Q11Kamal is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. He has been recently transferred as the Municipal commissioner of the Kartavya Nagar Municipality. Kamal is an honest and no-nonsense officer. He has been known for having a tough stance against corruption, lethargy, and indiscipline at the workplace. In his new responsibility as the Municipal commissioner, Kamal finds that the day-to-day functioning of the municipal office is in a very sorry state. The inefficiency and ineffectiveness have brought matters to such a pass that even the basic responsibilities like cleanliness of the city, upkeep of public places, redressal of grievances etc., are not fulfilled. Upon enquiring, Kamal finds that the reason for rampant indiscipline and corruption in the municipal office is primarily a group of errant employees. While they do not work themselves, they also create nuisance in the office, thereby disrupting the work of other sincere employees. Moreover, it also comes to Kamal's knowledge that these employees indulge in corrupt practices by demanding bribes from people for petty tasks. Further, Kamal has noticed that the undisciplined employees come to office late, leave early and also remain absent from work without permission. Kamal gets to know that the ringleader of these employees is a close relative of a local MLA. In order to improve the working condition of the municipal office, Kamal warns the mischievous employees to mend their troublesome ways or to face strict disciplinary actions. However, Kamal's warning has little effect on the thick-skinned employees, who continue to work in their wayward ways. Finally, Kamal issues a show cause notice to all the troublesome employees for their various acts of indiscipline. As a retaliatory measure, a woman employee amongst these troublesome workers files a complaint of sexual harassment against Kamal with the Women's commission. The commission has asked for Kamal's explanation in this matter. Also, this fabricated matter is publicised in the media to embarrass Kamal further. Moreover, the MLA begins pressuring Kamal to go soft on these employees. Some of the options before Kamal to handle this situation could be as follows: i) Give his explanation to the Commission and go soft on the disciplinary action. ii) Ignore the commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action. iii) Brief his higher-ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly a) Evaluate all the above courses of action and suggest the best course of action, giving your reasons for it. b) What according to you are the reasons behind poor work culture in public offices? Also, recommend measures to improve the same.20 marks
25. Q12You are the managing director of an upcoming advertising company which has made a name for itself in the market in a very short time. Varun is a star employee of your company who has consistently given good performance. Some of the most popular advertisements of the company, in recent times, have been an outcome of Varun's creative ideas. Since his joining, Varun has helped in almost doubling the revenues of the company, by bringing new clients and improving the brand equity of the company. You place high value in Varun's professional competence and are in the process of giving him a bigger responsibility in the company. However, you have been hearing rumours from various sections about the attitude of Varun towards his female colleagues. It has come to your notice that Varun is habitual of passing loose and lewd comments on the female employees of the company. Furthermore, Varun regularly sends indecent messages on phone to all the employees, including female workers. One day, Geetanjali, an employee working in Varun's team comes to you visibly disturbed. She complains to you about the repeated misbehaviour of Varun towards her. She informs you that Varun has on many occasions made undesirable physical advances towards her. She also tells that last evening before her shift was about to end, Varun called her in his cabin and tried to touch her inappropriately. She requests you to conduct an enquiry by the internal complaints committee (formed under POSH Act). She also tells you that in case appropriate action is not taken against Varun, she will be forced to resign from her position. You personally know Geetanjali as a dedicated and honest employee of the company. You are aware that she is the sole breadwinner of her family and has to support her teen-age brother and ailing mother. You also understand that unless the situation was really serious, Geetanjali would not have thought of resignation. On the other hand, an enquiry against Varun may affect the financial growth of the company. Also, you know that if Varun is fired for his actions, many big clients may leave the company. a) What are the ethical issues involved in this case study? b) Evaluate the different options available to you. In this situation, which option will you adopt and why? c) What steps will you take to ensure a safer workplace for women in your company?20 marks

The answers