Mains Practice Questions

Q. Codes of ethics and codes of conduct are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings and functions. Explain the differences between codes of ethics and codes of conduct and provide examples of each. (150 words)

Q. The Right to Information (RTI) Act is considered a cornerstone of transparency and accountability in democratic societies. Discuss the ethical implications and utility of RTI in promoting good governance and social justice. Analyze with suitable examples. (150 words)

Case Study

You are a government employee working in the Ministry of Finance. You are responsible for reviewing and approving financial transactions. One day, you receive a request for approval to transfer a large sum of money to a foreign bank account. The request is made by a senior official in your ministry. You are suspicious of the request and ask the official to explain why the money is being transferred. The official tells you that the money is for a secret project that is being carried out by the government. You are not satisfied with this explanation and ask the official to provide you with more information. The official refuses to provide you with any further information and tells you that you must approve the transfer of the money, or you will be fired.

Q. What should you do in this situation?

Q. How does corporate social responsibility impact Indian society and what are some potential benefits and challenges in implementation of corporate social responsibility? (150 words)

Q. What are the challenges of upholding ethical standards in public service? (150 words)

Case Study

Nila, a civil servant, is appointed as a District Magistrate in a remote and tribal-dominated region. The region has been facing several challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, high unemployment rates, and lack of access to basic amenities. The tribal population in the area is predominantly dependent on farming and forest produce for their livelihood. However, due to industrialization and urbanization, their land and forests are being taken over by big corporations for mining, deforestation, and other projects, leading to displacement and loss of livelihood for the local population.

As the District Magistrate, Nila is tasked with maintaining law and order, ensuring the welfare of the citizens, and promoting development in the region. She is also responsible for facilitating the smooth functioning of the projects undertaken by the corporations, which are expected to bring in investments and job opportunities for the locals.

However, as she spends more time in the region, Nila realizes that the projects are causing irreparable damage to the environment, depleting natural resources, and violating the rights of the tribal population. She also learns that the corporations are indulging in corrupt practices and exploiting the locals for cheap labor. On the other hand, Nila also understands that the region urgently needs investments and job opportunities to improve the standard of living of the locals.

What should Nila do in such a situation? What ethical principles should guide her decision-making process?

Q. Discuss the significance of integrity in public administration and the measures that can be taken to foster a culture of integrity in the civil service. (150 words)

Q. What is the relationship between ethics and aptitude? How does a person's moral character affect their ability to make rational decisions and act in the best interest of society? (150 words)

Case study

You are a government official working in the health department of a state notices that the medicines supplied to government hospitals are of sub-standard quality. On further investigation, you found out that the procurement department has been taking bribes from pharmaceutical companies to supply low-quality medicines at higher rates. You bring this to the attention of your superiors, but they refuse to take any action as they are also involved in the corruption.

What would you do in this situation?

Q. Evaluate the impact of cultural values on ethical behavior in public service. (150 words) 

Q. Examine the importance of accountability and transparency in promoting ethical behavior in public administration. (150 words)

Case Study 

You are an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer posted in a developing country that is known for its human rights violations and corruption. Your job is to represent India's interests and promote friendly relations with the host country. However, you find that your host country's government is involved in several unethical practices, including suppression of political dissent, censorship of media, and siphoning off foreign aid. 

One day, you receive a confidential report from your embassy that confirms the host country's government's involvement in illegal activities, including money laundering, trafficking of drugs and arms, and supporting terrorist organizations. The report also states that some Indian companies are indirectly involved in these illegal activities by providing them with funding and logistics support. 

Q. In this scenario, what would you do as an IFS officer, and how would you justify your actions ethically? 

Q. How can civil servants promote integrity and probity in public life? (150 words)

Q. How can ethical considerations be incorporated into environmental policy-making? (150 words)

Case Study

You are a district collector of a drought-prone area where farmers are suffering from crop failure and debt. You have been allocated funds by the state government to provide relief measures such as food grains distribution, loan waivers and employment generation schemes.

However, you find out that some local politicians and officials are involved in diverting these funds for their personal gains. They have also threatened some honest staff members who tried to expose their corruption.

You have evidence against these corrupt people but you also know that they have strong political connections and influence in the area.

Q. What will you do in this situation?

Q. Explain how ethics contributes to social and human well-being. (150 words)

Q. What do you understand by ‘moral courage’? Why is it important for a civil servant? Give an example of a situation where you displayed moral courage. (150 words)

Case Study

You are a junior officer in a government department that deals with food distribution schemes. You have been working under a senior officer who is respected and admired for his efficiency and honesty. However, one day you come across some documents that reveal that he has been siphoning off funds from the schemes for his personal use. You are shocked and confused by this discovery.

What would you do in this situation and why?

Q. What do you understand by emotional intelligence? How can it help you in improving your interpersonal skills and decision making? Give examples from your own life or from any public figure. (150 words)

Q. What are the principles of natural justice? How are they applied in administrative decision making? Explain with examples. (150 words)

Case Study

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?

Q. What ethical principles should guide decisions regarding issues such as human rights, conflict resolution, and the use of force in international affairs? (150 words)

Q. What are the key ethical theories and frameworks, and how can they be applied to real-world ethical dilemmas? (150 words)

Case Study

Shradha Sharma is a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. She has been working for the past 20 years and has a reputation for being honest, competent, and impartial. Her department has been tasked with granting environmental clearances to a large corporation that wants to build a new factory in a forest area.

Shradha Sharma knows that the project could have serious environmental impacts, including deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and pollution. She also knows that the corporation has a history of flouting environmental norms and regulations in other parts of the country.

Shradha Sharma is under intense pressure from the corporation to grant the clearance, as it would create thousands of jobs and bring in large investments. On the other hand, she is also under pressure from environmental activists and NGOs who are urging her to reject the clearance, citing the potential environmental and social costs.

Shradha Sharma is facing dilemma between her duty as a public servant to promote development and create jobs, and her duty to protect the environment and safeguard the interests of the local communities. She has to decide whether to grant or reject the environmental clearance, and her decision will have far-reaching consequences.

Q. What factors should Ms. Sharma consider in making her decision? What are the possible solutions to this ethical dilemma, and what are the trade-offs involved in each solution?

Q. Discuss the concept of "ethical relativism" and evaluate its merits and demerits as a basis for ethical decision-making. (150 words)

Q. How does the principle of utilitarianism relate to ethical decision-making in public policy? Discuss with the help of an example. (150 words)

Case study

You are a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Rural Development. The Ministry is responsible for implementing various welfare schemes for rural areas such as employment guarantee, housing, and sanitation programs. Your personal values and beliefs are aligned with the objective of the Ministry to bring about positive change in the lives of rural citizens.

One of your close friends, Tarun, who is a successful businessman, approaches you with a proposal to start a joint venture. Tarun wants to bid for a rural sanitation project that is currently being tendered by the Ministry. The project involves the construction of toilets in rural areas and is part of the government’s larger mission to improve sanitation facilities in rural India.

What would you do in this situation?

Q. What is the relationship between ethics and morality in a society, and how do they differ from each other? (150 words)

Q. What are the key principles of deontological ethics and how do they differ from consequentialist ethics? (150 words)

Case study

Mr. Sudarshan is a highly competent and experienced civil engineer working in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He has been assigned the responsibility of overseeing the construction of a major road project in the state. The project has been awarded to a private company, Rudra Inc.

During the course of the project, Mr. Sudarshan becomes aware of certain irregularities and unethical practices being carried out by Rudra Inc. These include the use of sub-standard materials, overcharging for work done, and making payments to government officials such as Mr. Bhushan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, to secure the project contract.

What should Mr. Sudarshan do in this situation? What ethical principles should guide his decision-making process?