Mains Marathon

Day 58: Full Length Test GS IV

Question 1. (a) Give examples that back up the lifeboat ethical principle. (150 Words)

(b) How do values work? Draw attention to the significance of values in governance. (150 Words)

Question 2. (a) What are the ethical concerns associated with the use of artificial intelligence in military security? (150 Words)

(b) In light of India's non-alignment policy, do you perceive a change in its international ethics? Give justifications for your answer. (150 words)

(c) Describe e-Citizen Charter? Give an example of how the PRAGATI platform may support an efficient grievance resolution process. (150 Words)

Question 3. (a) What essential roles do impartiality and nonpartisanship play in establishing a neutral approach in public service? Give instances that will help to back up your argument. (150 Words)

(b) Controlling their emotions is essential for public servants. Discuss the undesired unpleasant emotion that s/he should avoid. (150 Words)

Question 4. (a) Analyze Kautilya's perspectives on corruption in governance. How much are these concepts still relevant in Indian culture today? (150 words)

(b) How are Mahatma Gandhi's Eleven Pledges still applicable in today's society? (150 words)

Question 5. (a) While some individuals hold the opinion that values change over time and in different circumstances, others firmly hold that there are some human values that are both universal and immutable. Explain with examples. (150 words)

(b) Power sharing and participatory decision-making are required for effective leadership. Provide relevant examples to back up your response. (150 words)

Question 6. (a) Consider the function of emotional intelligence in the diverse context that exists for an administrator. Also identify the primary characteristics that an emotionally intelligent administrator should possess, Examine with examples. (150 words)

(b) The demands of growth and the requirements of climate justice must be balanced. Give an explanation of the contemporary importance of climate justice from this perspective. (150 words)

Question 7. ABC Ltd. is a significant global corporation with diverse commercial operations and a broad shareholder base. The firm is constantly growing and creating jobs. As part of its development and diversification strategy, the business intends to create a new facility in Vikaspuri, an underdeveloped region. The new facility is planned to make use of energy-efficient technologies, which will enable the business to cut manufacturing costs by 20%. The business's choice is in line with the government's strategy of luring investment to improve these neglected areas. Additionally, the government has announced a five-year tax break for businesses that make investments in underdeveloped regions. Unfortunately, the generally quiet residents of the Vikaspuri district may experience mayhem as a result of the new plant. The new facility may raise living expenses, attract foreigners to the area, and fundamentally change the local social and economic structure. The corporation attempted to inform the inhabitants of Vikaspuri region and the public at large about how its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy would assist to overcome the expected challenges faced by the residents of Vikaspuri region after feeling the possibility of a protest. Despite this, demonstrations start, and some locals opt to go before the courts after their government-level appeals were unsuccessful.

(a) Identify the ethical issues involved in the case.

(b) What can be suggested to satisfy the company’s goal and to address the residents’ concerns?

Question 8. A military squad tracks down a terrorist group that is planning an attack that would murder hundreds of people. They have control over a drone that can attack the terrorists with a bomb and stop the attack. A little girl selling bread near the bombing zone is seen on video as the squad prepares the bombs. Should they carry out their strategy killing the girl in order to stop many other people from being killed?

(a) Examine the options available to the military team, along with their pros and cons.

(b) In this scenario, as the head of the military team, what course of action would you adopt? (250 words)

Question 9. When a young female IAS official enters a government department, she finds widespread gender prejudice. The male employees do not like to receive commands from senior female officials, and women are not assigned major departmental initiatives. Suggest ways that the young IAS officer may do to eliminate such discrimination and make the workplace more welcoming to women.

Question 10. A legal firm counts you as a partner. One of your company's clients is a successful businessman with a strong reputation in society. For the past five years, this client has had a contract with the company. However, this client is currently thought to be a part of India's largest bank scam. The client is believed to have fled to a nation that can only extradite him with strong evidence, as he is now on the run. Investigative authorities search your company in connection with this case and uncover evidence that incriminates the client. However, you are aware that the company still has access to a wealth of material that is essential for determining the client's guilt. You come to the realization that finding the client and bringing him to justice is crucial for the nation.

What would you do if this circumstance arises? Analyze numerous conflicts of interest critically and describe your obligations as a responsible citizen of the nation. (250 words)

Question 11. The Indian parliament just enacted a bill intended to revolutionize the country's economy. Many famous economists applaud this piece of legislation as progressive and one that will boost economic growth in the years to come. Unfortunately, because the political administration did a poor job of explaining the potential effects of the reforms to those who would be impacted by them and bypassing several parliamentary procedures, alarmed citizens began nonviolent demonstrations calling for the reforms to be reversed. International attention has been drawn to the extent and dedication of the protesters. Western celebrities and campaigners have recently raised the topic on social media channels. The administration suspects that unscrupulous individuals who are spreading propaganda and disinformation are behind the organized way in which social media posts have surfaced. The administration formally rejected the tweets, branding them "motivated" and "misinformed," in an aggressive step. It's interesting that social media tweets from Indian celebrities asserting that these protests are internal affairs and should be free of propaganda also appeared. Many people have also raised the possibility that these posts were created with official approval.

(a) Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case.

(b) Suggest alternative measures that could have been employed by the government to deal with the situation. (250 Words)

Question 12. You have experience in cyber intelligence and are an honest police officer. Throughout your impressive career, you have dismantled several criminal networks, followed the digital operations of terrorists, and revealed illicit money infrastructures. As a cyber specialist, you used spying, espionage, hacking, and malware to assault targeted people's networks. You've had a string of achievements in this area that have made you well-known among government officials. A minister's personal assistant approaches you at the retirement celebration of the head of your department and extends an invitation for a private meeting with the minister. In your discussion with the minister, he tells you about a recent defense agreement for the purchase of cutting-edge aircraft that the opposition is contesting due to a lack of openness. The minister requests that you examine a few prominent opposition leaders' private emails and conversations in order to expose their prior fraudulent behavior. The aircraft purchase won't be hampered since this will put them in a defensive posture. You believe that this agreement is crucial for safeguarding India's airspace.

(a) In such circumstances, will you agree to the minister’s proposal?

(b) Do you think that spying on citizens in the name of national security is justified in a democratic system? (250 Words)

Day 55: Case Study

In a region containing a tiger biosphere reserve, you have been assigned as a forest range officer. The habitat for tigers has recently shrunk owing to the building of a highway that runs through the biosphere reserve, and tiger populations have increased sharply. As a result, there have been instances of tigers escaping the forest and infiltrating the adjacent villages, killing animals and leaving people killed. Agitated locals have started poisoning and killing tigers as a result.

(1) Do you think action taken by villagers in this situation is right? Give reasons in support of your answer.

(2) What are the options available to you to resolve this situation? (250 words)

Day 54: In religion, Bhakti may lead to spiritual salvation, but in politics, Bhakti or Hero worship leads to degradation and eventually authoritarianism. Comment. (150 words)

Day 53: The ideals and philosophies of Gandhi include both human rights and sustainable development. Discuss. (150 words)

Day 52: Situations have meaning because of emotions. Witout emotions, one would respond to situations in an automatic and uncontrolled way. Discuss the many facets of emotional intelligence and emphasize its significance for civil servants in light of this assertion. (150 words)

Day 51: When taking into account the responsibility of civil servants, discuss the importance of "honesty" and "courage of conviction".

Day 48: Media outlets plead for our attention and play a persuasive role to legitimize the government's agenda. Illustrate. (150 words)

Day 47: Describe the meaning of "probity" and how it relates to India's civil services. (150 words)

Day 46: Examine the many explanations of conscience put forward by different moral thinkers. (150 words)

Day 45: What are the five ethical characteristics that can be used to predict a civil servant's effectiveness? Explain why they belong in the matrix. (150 Words)

Day 44: What are the fundamentals of providing outstanding public services? What makes it such a crucial part of governance? Explain using the Sevottam model. (150 Words)

Day 43: Plato's influence on the development of virtue theory. Illustrate. (150 words)

Day 41: Case Studies

Yashodhara is a senior forest official who was just sent to a forest range that is both a popular trekking destination and a sacred location for native tribal people. Unfortunately, the trekking destination is only accessible to men since indigenous tribal culture prohibits women from approaching the hill location that houses their deity.

The State High Court recently overturned this unofficial ban on women, and there has been pressure from women's groups to open the trekking site to everyone, but the local tribal group is opposing. You are concerned that opening the site may spark tribal protests, jeopardizing law and order and jeopardizing the safety of trekkers to the site.

(A) What are the options open to Yashodhara in this scenario? Discuss along with their merits and demerits?

(B) Which would be the most appropriate action that Yashodhara would take in this situation and why? (250 words)

Day 40: Initiatives taken by citizens to fight corruption are the result of a vibrant social consciousness. Discuss. (150 words)

Day 39: "Public service is a public trust," explain the significance of the basic principles of public services in light of this statement. (150 words)

Day 38: Discuss the significance of emotional intelligence in dealing with mob demonstrations and violence. (150 words)

Day 37: What exactly do you mean by empathy? Discuss how it is an important characteristic for present Civil Servant. (150 Words)

Day 36: Morality is not doctrine of how we may make ourselves happy but how we may make ourselves worthy of happiness. (150 words)

Day 34: Examine various explanations of conscience put forwarded by different moral thinkers. (150 words)

Day 33: Elucidate the significance of constitutional morality and its implications? (150 words)