UPSC Mains 2015, GS Paper 4
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- 1Q1(a).What is meant by 'environmental ethics'? Why is it important to study? Discuss any one environmental issue from the viewpoint of environmental ethics.10 marks · Dimensions of ethics
- 2Q1(b)(i).Differentiate between the following: Law and Ethics2 marks · Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance
- 3Q1(b)(ii).Differentiate between the following: Ethical management and Management of ethics2 marks · Dimensions of ethics
- 4Q1(b)(iii).Differentiate between the following: Discrimination and Preferential treatment2 marks · Impartiality and non-partisanship
- 5Q1(b)(iv).Differentiate between the following: Personal ethics and Professional ethics2 marks · Ethics in private and public relationships
- 6Q2(a).Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context: "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."10 marks · Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India
- 7Q2(b).Given are two quotations of moral thinkers/philosophers. For each of these, bring out what it means to you in the present context: "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."10 marks · Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from the world
- 8Q3(a)."A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties." Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples, where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically.10 marks · Laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance
- 9Q3(b).How do the virtues of trustworthiness and fortitude get manifested in public service? Explain with examples.10 marks · Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance
- 10Q4(a)."Social values are more important than economic values." Discuss the above statement with examples in the context of inclusive growth of a nation.10 marks · Human Values — lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators
- 11Q4(b).Some recent developments such as introduction of RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc., are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to take prompt decisions. Analyze this situation in detail and suggest how this dichotomy can be resolved. Suggest how these negative impacts can be minimized.10 marks · Information sharing and transparency in government; Right to Information
- 12Q5(a).Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. Distinguish between these two terms and write their merits and demerits.5 marks · Attitude — Content, structure, function
- 13Q5(b).Two different kinds of attitudes exhibited by public servants towards their work have been identified as the bureaucratic attitude and the democratic attitude. Is it possible to balance the two to create a better administration for the faster development of our country?5 marks · Attitude — Content, structure, function
- 14Q6(a).Today we find that in spite of various measures like prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. Evaluate the effectiveness of these measures with justifications.5 marks · Challenges of corruption
- 15Q6(b).Today we find that in spite of various measures like prescribing codes of conduct, setting up vigilance cells/commissions, RTI, active media and strengthening of legal mechanisms, corrupt practices are not coming under control. Suggest more effective strategies to tackle this menace.5 marks · Challenges of corruption
- 16Q7.At the international level, the bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one's own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This leads to conflicts and tensions between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples.10 marks · Ethical issues in international relations and funding
- 17Q8.Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of 'Conflict of Interest'. What do you understand by the term 'Conflict of Interest' and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation, how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples.10 marks · Ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions
- 18Q9.A private company is known for its efficiency, transparency and employee welfare. The company though owned by a private individual has a cooperative character where employees feel a sense of ownership. The company employs nearly 700 personnel and they have voluntarily decided not to form a union. One day suddenly in the morning, about 40 men belonging to a political party gate-crashed into the factory demanding jobs in the factory. They threatened the management and employees, and also used foul language. The employees feel demoralized. It was clear that those people who gate-crashed wanted to be on the payroll of the company as well as continue as the volunteers/members of the party. The company maintains high standards of integrity and does not oblige the civil administration, including law enforcement agencies. Such incidents occur in the public sector also. (a) Assuming that you are the CEO of the company, what would you do to defuse the volatile situation on the day of the gate-crashing and dharna inside the company premises by the unruly crowd? (b) What could be the long-term solution to the issue involved in the case? (c) Every solution/action, that you would suggest, is likely to have positive and negative impact on you (as CEO), on the employees and on the performance of the employees. Analyse the consequences of each of the actions suggested by you.20 marks · Corporate Conduct
- 19Q10.You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to the children attending the school. The Headmaster has now appointed a new cook in the school to prepare the meals. However, when it is found that the cook is from Dalit community, almost half of the children belonging to higher castes are not allowed to take meals by their parents. Consequently the attendance in the school falls sharply. This could result in the possibility of discontinuation of midday meal scheme, thereafter of teaching staff and subsequent closing down the school. (a) Discuss some feasible strategies to overcome the conflict and to create right ambience. (b) What should be the responsibilities of different social segments and agencies to create positive social ambience for accepting such changes?20 marks · Personal, Family and Social-Norm Dilemmas
- 20Q11.One of the scientists working in the R & D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company discovers that one of the company's best selling veterinary drugs, B has the potential to cure a currently incurable liver disease that is prevalent in tribal areas. However, developing a variant of the drug suitable for human beings entailed a lot of research and development having a huge expenditure to the extent of ₹ 50 crores. It was unlikely that the company would recover the costs as the disease was rampant only in poverty-stricken area having very little market otherwise. If you were the CEO, then— (a) identify the various actions that you could take; (b) evaluate the pros and cons of each of your actions.20 marks · Corporate Conduct
- 21Q12.There is a disaster-prone State having frequent landslides, forest fires, cloudbursts, flash floods and earthquakes, etc. Some of these are seasonal and often unpredictable. The magnitude of the disaster is always unanticipated. During one of the seasons, a cloudburst caused devastating floods and landslides leading to high casualties. There was major damage to infrastructure like roads, bridges and power generating units. This led to more than 100000 pilgrims, tourists and other locals trapped across different routes and locations. The people trapped in your area of responsibility included senior citizens, patients in hospitals, women and children, hikers, tourists, ruling party's regional president along with his family, additional chief secretary of the neighbouring State and prisoners in jail. As a civil services officer of the State, what would be the order in which you would rescue these people and why? Give justifications.20 marks · Disaster and Emergency Response
- 22Q13.You are the head of the district administration in a particular department. Your superior officer calls you from the State headquarters and tells you that a plot in village Rampur is to be developed for a school building. A schedule of visit is drawn up during which he would visit the site along with the Chief Engineer and Senior Architect. He wants you to check all the papers pertaining to the matter and ensure that the arrangements for the visit are properly made. You check the file, which is from before you assumed charge in the department. The plot was acquired from the local panchayat at a nominal cost and the papers show that out of the three officials who have to give certificate of suitability of the plot, two have given their approval certificates. No certificate of the architect is available in the file. You decide to visit Rampur to ensure that everything is in proper order as stated in the file. When you go to Rampur, you find that the plot in question is part of the Thakurgarh fort and that walls, ramparts, etc. are spread across it. The fort is far from the main village, so the school there would be a great inconvenience to the children, but the land near the village is likely to be converted into a large residential complex. Development charges for the existing plot in the fort would be much higher and no attention has been paid to the issue of a heritage site. However, at the time of acquisition of the plot, the Sarpanch was a close relative of your predecessor. The entire transaction appears to have been carried out with some vested interest. (a) List the possible vested interests of the concerned stakeholders. (b) Some options of action available to you are given below. Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options: (i) You could await the visit of the senior officer and let him take the decision. (ii) You could seek his advice in writing or on phone. (iii) You could consult your predecessor/colleagues and then decide what to do. (iv) You could find out whether any alternative plot can be made available in lieu of this and then send a comprehensive written report. Can you suggest any other option with sound reasons?25 marks · District and Local Administration Dilemmas
- 23Q14.You are recently posted as district development officer of a district. Shortly thereafter you found that there is considerable tension in the rural areas of your district on the issue of sending girls to schools The elders of the village feel that many problems have come up because girls are being educated and they are stepping out of the safe environment of the household. They are of the view that the girls should be quickly married off with minimum education. The girls are also competing for jobs after education, which have traditionally remained in boys’ exclusive domain, adding to unemployment amongst .male population. The younger generation feels that in the present era, girls should have equal opportunities for education and employment, and other means of livelihood. The entire locality is divided between the elders and the younger lot and further sub-divided between sexes in both generations. You come to know that in Panchayat or in other local bodies or even in busy crossroads, the issue is being acrimoniously debated. One day you are informed that an unpleasant incident has taken place. Some girls were molested, when they were en route to schools. The incident led to clashes between several groups and a law and order problem has arisen. The elders after heated discussion have taken a joint decision not to allow girls to go to school and to socially boycott all such families, which do not follow their dictate (a) What steps would you take to ensure girls' safety without disrupting their education? (b) How would you manage and mould patriarchal attitude of the village elders to ensure harmony in the inter-generational relations?25 marks · Personal, Family and Social-Norm Dilemmas