Mains Marathon

Day 45: Full Length Test GS 4

Q1: (i) With the increasing use of technology and data in governance, analyse the ethical challenges related to digital privacy and data security in the public sector. (150 words)

(ii) Evaluate the ethical dimensions of police misconduct and brutality. What reforms are needed to ensure greater accountability and ethical behaviour within law enforcement agencies? (150 words)

Q2: (i) Ethical leadership is the cornerstone of good governance, as it inspires public trust and champions transparency, accountability, and inclusivity within government institutions. Comment. (150 words)

(ii) There is a view that the Official Secrets Act is an obstacle to the implementation of Right to Information Act. Do you agree with the view? Discuss. (150 words)

Q3: (i) Discuss the ethical dilemmas associated with space exploration and commercialization. How can governments and international organizations promote responsible space activities while considering the potential impact on celestial bodies and extraterrestrial life? (150 words)

(ii) What do you understand by this quote: Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching." - C.S. Lewis (150 words)

Q4: (i) The ethical way is the intelligent way. What does this quote mean for the role of public servants in upholding ethical standards? (150 words)

(ii) Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." – Potter Stewart. Discuss the significance of this quote in the context of public administration and decision-making. (150 words)

(iii) What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? How can empathy help a civil servant in understanding the needs and feelings of the stakeholders and delivering better public service? Give suitable examples. (150 words)

Q5: (i) How can emotional intelligence help in resolving ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest in public administration? Illustrate with a case study of your choice. (150 words)

(ii) Character is like a tree, and reputation is like its shadow." - Abraham Lincoln. Discuss the importance of character in ethical leadership, and how it influences a leader's reputation in the public sector. (150 words)

Q6: (i) How can you develop a positive attitude towards life and work? Explain the benefits of having a positive attitude. (150 words)

(ii) What is the difference between moral relativism and moral universalism? How do they affect your ethical judgments and actions? (150 words)

Q7: You are the head of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that offers palliative care to cancer patients from the poor sections of the society. Since the last few months funding for your noble cause is dwindling due to which you are not able to fulfil the needs of the dependent people. One day, you are contacted by the owner of a big tobacco company who is willing to fund your NGO because he has to meet Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) targets. However, over the years working with cancer patients you have developed a deep hatred for tobacco companies. Now, the owner’s offer has put you in a moral dilemma. On the one side, you detest the thought of accepting support from a company that is doling out cancer through its products, and on the other hand, you feel that the company's aid is a godsend opportunity for your NGO to provide better care to patients.

(a) What are the various ethical issues involved here?

(b) Will it be morally right for you to accept money from the tobacco company?

Q8: You are posted as a District Magistrate. You come to know about a situation in the village under your jurisdiction where the population is suffering from Anaemia. An initiative was taken to provide fortified rice to villagers in order to provide nutrition to them, but villagers deny eating them as they have the misconception of the rice being the plastic rice. On the other hand, the village is also influenced by the Leftist movement, and you get to know that Naxalites are using this public perception for their own benefit, making it more difficult for the government to reach the people.

An alternate initiative was taken by providing iron tablets to people, but it created another misconception among villagers that these tablets lead to more weight of babies in pregnant mothers leading to delivery complications. Thus, it also ended in failure.

(a) What are the various issues involved in the above case study?

(b) How will you change the perception of the people in the backdrop of the spread of misinformation by the Naxalites?

Q9: Elections have been declared in the state. According to the election code of conduct, all major decisions have been put on hold. In this situation, chief secretary, Deepankar Prakash faced a delicate problem that arose from the failure of rains in some parts of the state.

In this case, extra power has to be supplied to farmers to enable them to run irrigation pump sets. Power was also needed to tackle drinking water supply problems. The situation led to public dissatisfaction and the Chief Minister knew that it would affect the party’s election prospects.

However, the state had no generation capacity, power has to be purchased at a high cost. Further, the state electricity board had no money. Funds can be given to the board only by withdrawing a large sum from the contingency fund.

In this situation, the chief minister has asked Deepankar Prakash to do something about the matter.

Imagine yourself as the chief secretary and discuss the different options available and how will you respond in this case?

Q10: Sunanda Vashisht, IAS, comes from a family with strong moral and religious inclinations. She is the DM of a Hindu majority district with substantial Muslim population. There is only one good town hall in the district headquarters controlled by the estate department under the DM. Every year, both Hindus and Muslims used to celebrate their prominent festivals like Eid, Diwali or Ganesh Puja, in this hall. This year Eid and a well-known Hindu festival coincides. And the groups of both communities protesting for allotting the hall to celebrate their religious festival.

(a) Mention the ethical and situational challenges that are faced by the DM.

(b) Also mention your course of action to resolve the issue so that both communities can celebrate their festivals peacefully.

Q11: Suppose you are newly appointed as a District Collector, and a businessman approaches you to seek permission regarding building a mall in your city with a modernised ambience that once built will be a glorious addition to the city. However, the projected land for the mall is surrounded by slums, and therefore must be cleared before construction can begin.

The subordinate informed you that the slums were built illegally and have been breeding grounds for drug dealers and phone snatchers.

In addition, the businessman proposes that if you approve the tender, he will facilitate the purchase of a large plot of land in a renowned area of the city in the name of your wife/husband.

Critically examine various conflicts of interest and explain your course of action as a public servant.

Q12: You are a senior executive at a large healthcare organization that has recently implemented an artificial intelligence (AI) system to assist doctors in diagnosing and treating patients. The system uses machine learning algorithms to analyze patient data, identify patterns and predict outcomes. It has been designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

However, the system has recently come under scrutiny from the media, patient groups and regulators who are concerned about the ethical implications of using AI in healthcare. There are concerns that the system may be biased, as it has been trained on data that may not represent all patient populations. There are also concerns about the potential loss of privacy and autonomy for patients, as their data is being collected and analyzed without their explicit consent.

You have been tasked with addressing these ethical concerns and ensuring that the healthcare organization is operating in a responsible and ethical manner.

What steps will you take to address biases in AI systems and ensure that they are transparent and accountable?

Day 42: The use of animals in the drug-testing process is a controversial issue that involves serious ethical concerns. What are the alternative methods available to reduce or replace animal testing? Suggest some measures to ensure ethical standards and humane treatment of animals in scientific experiments. (150 words) 

Day 41: You serve as a Deputy Director in the Enforcement Department, and you receive an order from the Finance Secretary to conduct a raid on a politician from the opposition party. Upon reviewing the documents, you uncover irregularities in the politician's bank transactions. Upon further investigation within your department, you discover that this politician has a history of being a habitual tax offender and that ongoing legal proceedings are already addressing these matters in court. After careful consideration, you conclude that pursuing the raid at this point would not yield significant benefits, as the legal process is already in motion, and it would consume valuable department resources. You have communicated your assessment to your superiors; however, they continue to pressure you to carry out the order to appease higher-ranking political authorities.

1. In this scenario consider the following questions:

2. What ethical dilemmas arise from being ordered to raid an opposition party politician despite ongoing legal proceedings?

3. What are the options available to you? Critically analyse.

Given the factors at play, what decision will you ultimately make in response to the order? (250 words)

Day 40. What are the main causes of corruption in public service delivery? How can public servants prevent and combat corruption by adhering to ethical standards and values? (150 words)

Day 39: What does following quotation mean to you:

"Manpower without unity is not a strength." – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. (150 words)

Day 38: How does emotional intelligence contribute to the adoption and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, considering factors like stress management and self-awareness? (150 words) 

Day 37: How can the ethical principle of individual autonomy be balanced with the influence of crowd mentality in decision-making? Discuss. (150 words) 

Day 36: Javed is a young Assistant Collector. His wife Shabana is an author, activist and blogger. Both are very active on Facebook and twitter. At both places, Shabana has been posting her views/photos/links on communal riots, malnutrition, environmental degradation by SEZs and other socio-economic issues of the state. Javed has habit of clicking ‘like button’ on Facebook and “re-tweet” button on twitter to all the posts made by his wife, without even reading them, just to keep wife in good humor. However, this behavior has been highlighted by certain social media platforms, sparking widespread debate and concern. Amid these developments, a volatile crowd has gathered outside the collectorate office, demanding Javed's dismissal from his position.

Answer the following questions:

A. List the foundational values missing in Javed? Explain.

B. Suppose you’re the collector and chief Secretary directly sends an SMS order to you to ‘take care of this mess’, how will you proceed? (250 words)

Day 35: You are a doctor working in a government hospital in a remote area. The hospital is understaffed, under-equipped and overcrowded. You have to deal with many patients every day, some of whom suffer from serious and contagious diseases. You have a limited supply of medicines and resources, which forces you to make difficult choices regarding whom to treat and whom to refer to other hospitals. You also face pressure from some local politicians and influential people who want you to give preferential treatment to their relatives and supporters. You are committed to your profession and want to serve the people with honesty and integrity.

(a) How will you cope with these challenges?

(b) What are the ethical dilemmas involved in this case?

(c) What are the possible courses of action available to you, and discuss the merits and demerits of each option while justifying your chosen course of action?

Day 34: Why in professional spheres, practicing probity serves as a moral compass in guiding decisions and actions towards the right path? (150 words) 

Day 33: The essence of Buddha's teachings lies in the Middle Path, a principle applicable across various facets of existence. Elaborate with examples. (150 words) 

Day 32: In what ways might moonlighting raise ethical dilemmas related to time management, productivity, and the overall well-being of individuals juggling multiple roles? (150 words) 

Day 31: How can religion and rationality coexist in a modern society where scientific advancements challenge traditional beliefs? Analyse. (150 words) 

Day 30: Social media can be a source of information as well as misinformation for the bureaucrats. How can the bureaucrats ensure that they use social media in a responsible and ethical manner to access reliable and relevant information for their work? (150 words) 

Day 29: You have recently assumed the role of district magistrate in an area that is grappling with a persistent water crisis. The available water sources are contaminated with substances like arsenic, leading authorities to mark several public taps as unfit for use. Despite these warnings, school children continue to drink this water, resulting in health issues like stomach pain and discolored teeth. Over the past five years, cases of knee pain and even some cancer cases have been reported.

Upon investigating the situation, you discover that a chemical company responsible for producing paints is exacerbating the water crisis. The company is extracting water beyond permissible limits and disposing of harmful chemical waste underground. However, it is also a significant source of employment for local youth and contributes to the business activities of local companies. Seeking guidance from your superiors, you are advised to handle the situation with caution.

Given this scenario, consider the following questions:

1.Identify the ethical dilemmas present in this situation.
2.What are the options available to you. Critically Analyse each option.
3.What final course of action will you take and why. (250 words)

Day 28: How do Rules and Regulations help to establish a level playing field and prevent favoritism or discrimination, contributing to an ethical work environment? (150 words)  

Day 27: What does this quotation means to you:

“The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet.”

-Swami Vivekanand. (150 words)

Day 26: It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude. Elaborate. (250 words) 

Day 25: What are the key differences between wants and needs, and how do societal influences shape individual perceptions and prioritization of these two concepts? (150 words) 

Day 23: You are a young and dynamic IPS officer posted as the Superintendent of Police in a district notorious for communal violence. You have been working hard to maintain law and order and prevent any communal flare-ups in your jurisdiction. You have also earned the respect and trust of the local people and the administration for your honesty, impartiality and efficiency.

One day, you receive a call from your senior, the Director General of Police (DGP), who is also your mentor and guide. He tells you that he has received a tip-off from a reliable source that a large consignment of illegal arms and explosives is being smuggled into your district by a notorious gangster who has links with some extremist groups. He says that the consignment is expected to reach a remote village in your district by nightfall, and that it is meant to be used for carrying out a series of bomb blasts in various places of worship during the upcoming festival season. He says that this is a very sensitive and urgent matter, and that you have to act swiftly and decisively to stop the consignment and arrest the gangster and his associates.

He also tells you that he has arranged for a special team of commandos from the state police headquarters to assist you in this operation. He says that the team will reach your district by evening, and that you have to coordinate with them and lead the operation. He says that he has full confidence in your abilities and judgment, and that he expects you to deliver results.

However, he also warns you that there is a catch. He says that the tip-off has come from a rival gangster who is an old enemy of the gangster involved in the arms smuggling. He says that the rival gangster has offered to provide more details about the location and movement of the consignment, but on one condition. He wants you to eliminate his enemy during the operation, and make it look like an encounter. He says that he will not cooperate otherwise, and that he has enough influence and contacts to sabotage the operation if his demand is not met.

He says that this is a golden opportunity to get rid of two birds with one stone, and that you should not let it go waste. He says that he understands the ethical dilemma you may face, but he urges you to be pragmatic and flexible in this situation. He says that sometimes, you have to compromise on some principles for the greater good of the society. He says that this is one such situation, where you have to choose between saving hundreds of innocent lives and following the rule of law.

He says that he will not force you to do anything against your will, but he expects you to do what is best for the nation. He says that he will support you in whatever decision you take, but he also reminds you of your duty and responsibility as an IPS officer. He asks you to think carefully and act wisely.

What will you do in this situation? Explain the ethical issues involved and justify your decision.