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Case Studies Paper - 4
IAS Express – a monthly current affairs booklet
RajasirIAS.com 9884 554 654 General Studies
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
1. A fresh engineering graduate gets a job in a
prestigious chemical industry. She likes the
work. The salary is also good. However, after
a few months she accidentally discovers that a
highly toxic waste is being secretly discharged
into a river nearby. This is causing health
problems to the villagers downstream who
depend on the river for their water needs. She
is perturbed and mentions her concern to her
colleagues who have been with the company
for longer periods. They advise her to keep
quite as anyone who mentions the topic is
summarily dismissed. She cannot risk losing
her job as she is the sole bread-winner for her
family and has to support her ailing parents
and siblings. At first, she thinks that if her
seniors are keeping quiet, why should she
stick out her neck. But her conscience pricks
her to do something to save the river and the
people who depend upon it. At heart she
feels that the advice of silence given by her
friends is not correct though she cannot give
reasons for it. She thinks you are a wise
person and seeks your advice.
(a) What arguments can you advance to show
her that keeping quiet is not morally right?
(b) What course of action would you advise
her to adopt and why?. [250 words].Answer:-Issues and values involvedi. River water as the common good of
society.
ii. Right to health of Villagers.
iii. Work culture and Organisational value of
chemical industry.
iv.Value of courage of Engineering graduate.
v. Ethical dilemma of choosing between
justice to villagers and rights of her family.
vi.Ethical dilemma of choosing between
integrity and social well being.
vii. Environmental ethics viii. Professionalism
and responsibility of chemical industry
towards society at large.
a) Arguments to convince her thatkeeping quiet is not morally right:• Under such situations, a person can either
adapt to the work culture or take the
responsibility to change it. Acting against
wrong is in itself morally uplifting.
• By keeping quiet she is failing to deliver
justice to villagers which she can. Benefits
are taken by the industry whereas burden
will fall upon the villagers.
• She is also putting the future of her
company in jeopardy. In short term, profits
will be gained by the company. But in long
term the news may get leaked to the
concerned government authorities, leading
to huge negative repercussions for all
stakeholders.
• She is also not setting right example for
other colleagues at work place. Doing
wrong and accepting the wrong are equally
punishable.
• She can show some courage and make her
family proud. It will also increase her
respect at work place.
• She will be guilty in her own court of
conscience and this will create inner
dissonance and guilt. For her own
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emotional and mental well-being, she
should not remain silent.
• Being a fresh graduate there is no dearth of
opportunity for her. Also integrity is non-
negotiable and non- selective. Jobs will
come and go but integrity once lost is
difficult to regain.
b) Advise to her• Do some ground research and come up
with concrete report about number of
people getting affected and the potential
harm caused to health. This will increase
her persuasion power and she will be taken
seriously.
• Take the report to her immediate boss and
invoke his/her conscience. If he doesn’t
listen then take it to senior management.
• Remind the company of corporate social
responsibility and responsibility towards
society.
• Trust and faith of people is required for
the long term interest of the company.
Once it is lost then sale of company will
be plummeted.
• Present a case study where companies lost
business due to loss of confidence of
people.
• Present the pertinent environmental laws
and punishment for violation to instil fear
as deterrent.
• If still the company doesn’t agree to treat
the waste then she must leave the job,
complaint to the concerned authority and
create awareness among people. She must
not be worried about her job as even if
continues with it, she will never achieve
happiness and satisfaction.
2. ABC Ltd. is a large transnational company
having diversified business activities with a
huge shareholder base. The company is
continuously expanding and generating
employment. The company, in its expansion
and diversification programme, decides to
establish a new plant at Vikaspuri, an area
which is underdeveloped. The new plant is
designed to use energy efficient technology
that will help the company to save production
cost by 20%. The company’s decision goes
well with the Government policy of attracting
investment to develop such underdeveloped
regions. The Government has also
announced tax holiday for five years for the
companies that invest in underdeveloped
areas. However, the new plant may bring
chaos for the inhabitants of Vikaspuri region
which is otherwise tranquil. The new plant
may result in increased cost of living, aliens
migrating to the region, disturbing the social
and economic order. The company sensing
the possible protest tried to educate the
people of Vikaspuri region and public in
general that how its Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) policy would help
overcome the likely difficulties of the
residents of Vikaspuri region. In spite of this
the protests begin and some of the residents
decided to approach the judiciary as their plea
before the Government did not yield any
result.
(a) Identify the issues involved in the case.
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(b) What can be suggested to satisfy the
company’s goal and to address the residents’
concerns?. [250 words].Answer:-a) Issues involved in the case• Negative attitude of people towards
development projects and change.
• Communication gap between corporate,
government and local people which leads
to protest and stalling of project.
• Effort of government to develop
underdeveloped regions through
developmental projects.
• Lack of involvement of locals in clearance
of projects.
• Need for widening the concept of
development which is mostly seen in terms
of only economic activity.
• Historical legacy of poor relations and
apathy among society, government and
private sector.
• Consciousness of people regarding social
structure and opposition against migrants.
• Poor level of tolerance and trust among
culturally diverse people.
• Bad precedents of non-inclusive
development where local people are
deprived from the fruits of growth and
natural resources.
b) Companies goal and residents concerncan be harmonized in following ways:1. Various persuasion techniques have to be
used to remove the trust deficit and
negative attitude of people:
• Success stories of development of
backward region due to coming of
industries have to be narrated to people in
the way that is easy to understand and
draw conclusion.
• Since the project is supported by
government, bureaucrats and local M.P’s,
MLA’s and Panchayat leaders can use
emotional intelligence to understand the
concern of people and take steps to resolve
them.
• Media can be effectively used to propagate
the positive message and importance of the
project.
2. The company must use CSR fund and
begin the social developmental work and
develop some social capital.
3. The company can help in execution of
various skill development projects run by
government there by developing capacity
among locals for them to be less fearful of
outsiders or changing socio-economic
dynamics.
4. Government must appoint special officer
to listen to the grievances of people. This
will avoid the project getting delayed due
to litigation and the region being denied
the opportunity for development.
5. A more participative and transparent
approach on part of company is required.
A group of local residents chosen by
people themselves can be given a position
in company. They can have the power to
be part of decision making and voting on
local issues.
3. In our country, the migration of rural people
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to towns and cities is increasing drastically.
This is causing serious problems both in the
rural as well as in the urban areas. In fact,
things are becoming really unmanageable.
Can you analyze this problem in detail and
indicate not only the socio-economic but also
the emotional and attitudinal factors
responsible for this problem? Also, distinctly
bring out why: (a) Educated rural youth are
trying to shift to urban areas; (b) Landless
poor people are migrating to urban slums; (c)
Even some farmers are selling off their land
and trying to settle in urban areas taking up
petty jobs. What feasible steps can you
suggest which will be effective in controlling
this serious problem of our country?. [250words].AnswerAnswer: Educated rural youth is shifting to
get jobs which are not available in the rural
areas. The condition of landless is worse than
the urban labourers in urban slums; the
growing fragmentation of land holding has
made tilling of the land unviable forcing
marginal landholders to sell their lands. It is
more of a push factor than pull factor for lack
of opportunities in rural areas. By 2030,
India’s urban population is set to reach 590
million, an addition of approximately 300
million to India’s current urban population.
Much of this growth will be due to rural-
urban migration.
1. The economy efficiency of first sector
(agri- culture) should be improved and
there is a need to develop system who can
increase the income of farmers. The
excessive growth of tertiary sector and its
effect on economic growth, employment
and sustainability of the system has
become a matter of concern.
2. Eco-tourism in the rural areas should be
encouraged and intensified to create
employment in the rural and semi-rural
areas.
3. To streamline rural infrastructure especially
the roads and railway network.
4. If the digital divide is tackled properly then
most of the bottlenecks like illiteracy, lack
of skills, infrastructures, and investment in
rural areas could be improved.
5. According to the CAG, the irregularities in
MNREGA pertain to diversion of funds,
implementation of impermissible works
and deficiencies in maintenance of records.
Therefore, the functioning of MNREGA
should be improved.
4. Land needed for mining, dams and other
large-scale projects is acquired mostly from
Adivasis, hill dwellers, and rural communities.
The displaced persons are paid monetary
compensation as per the legal provisions.
However, the payment I often tardy. In any
case, it cannot sustain the displaced families
for long. These people do not possess
marketable skills to engage in some other
occupation. They end up as low paid migrant
labourers. Moreover, their traditional ways of
community living are destroyed. Thus, the
benefits of development go to industries,
industrialists and urban communities whereas
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the costs are passed on these poor helpless
people. This unjust distribution of costs and
benefits is unethical.
Suppose you have been entrusted with the
task of drafting a better compensation-cum-
rehabilitation-policy for such displaced
persons, how would you approach the
problem and what would be the mail
elements of your suggested policy?. [250words].Answer:-The case presents the difficulty and necessity
of balancing economic and social
development. Following are major issues and
values which must be taken into account
while reaching a plausible solution:
• Virtues of empathy and compassion for
marginalised and those who suffer
displacement.
• Proper rehabilitation and resettlement.
• Social justice – the benefit and burden
must be shared equally in society.
• Inclusive development
• Social capital as a common good
• Right to dignified life for those who suffer
for national development.
My approach• To make social justice embedded in
economic activity and development
project.
• There should be holistic rehabilitation and
resettlement program rather than just
monetary compensation.
• To ensure that living standard of displaced
people do not deteriorate.
• Local tradition and culture must be given
due respect and effort must be made to
preserve them. Main element of the policy
• Mandatory social impact assessment along
with environment impact assessment.
Local people must be integrated with the
development which will happen through
proposed project.
• Rehabilitation and resettlement process
must begin before the permission for the
project is granted.
• Company must use corporate social
responsibility fund to rehabilitation and
resettlement process.
• Skill development programs like “Hunar Se
Rojgar”, “SeekhoAurKamao”, Skill India
etc has to be run for capacity building and
increasing coping capability.
• People who face displacement must be
provided all government facilities like PDS
ration, Bank accounts, Aadhar number
etc. They must be protected from any kind
of discrimination in their new home.
• They must be shown ways and means for
employment opportunity.
• Social integration at new place must be
ensured.
• Government and company must keep
close contact with the migrants to help
them with their further problems and to
give them a “sense of belongingness”.
Displacement may become inevitable
sometime for economic development but
we need to ensure than the process
remains fair, just and inclusive.
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5. Now-a-days, there is an in- creasing thrust on
economic development all around the globe.
At the same time, there is also an increasing
concern about environmental degradation
caused by development. Many a time, we face
a direct conflict between developmental
activity and environmental qual- ity. It is
neither feasible to stop or curtail the
development process, nor it is advisable to
keep degrading the environment, as it
threatens our very survival. Discuss some
feasible strategies which could be adopted to
eliminate this conflict and which could lead to
sustainable development. [250 words].Answer:
To me development and ecology is the
most compatible form of relationship. There
is no contradiction at all. The ecology permits
the human being to modify them and sustain
their lives in such a manner that it continues
to shape again; again and again and forms a
cycle.
1. There is an immediate need to review the
overall strategy and programmes for the
development of tribal areas to plug
loopholes and to work out more viable
livelihood strategies.
2. Tribal people alienated from land should
be rehabilitated through the process of
afforestation.
3. The forest policies were made so
cumbersome and it was beyond the
understanding of both the implementor as
well as the tribals. Once again the
protracted laws made the purpose defeated
and a lot of intermediaries took undue
advantage of it. Therefore, make forest
laws very clear, short and amenable to
common people.
4. To me, the ecology is not merely confined
to leaves, trees and plants, water bodies,
etc., but those who preserve them matters.
To me, if the condition of the tribal
deteriorates then the condition of ecology
is bound to deteriorate. We cannot afford
to divorce the tribals from the forests and
land tillers from the land and fishermen
from the sea.
5. Proper survey of the typography and
impact of industries over its ecology must
be made.
6. Prudent application of science and
technology in driving transformation
towards sustainable development.
7. The benefits of Panchayats Extension to
Schedule Areas (PESA) were never
capitalized even after 17 years. It should be
capitalized at the optimum level.
6. Rameshwar successfully cleared the
prestigious civil services examination and was
excited about the opportunity that he would
get through the civil services to serve the
country. However, soon after joining the
services, he realized that things are not as rosy
as he had imagined. He found a number of
malpractices prevailing in the department
assigned to him. For example, funds under
various schemes and grants were being
misappropriated. The offi- cial facilities were
frequently being used for personal needs by
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the officers and staff. After some time, he
noticed that the process of recruiting the staff
was also not up to the mark. Prospective
candidates were required to write an
examination in which a lot of cheating was
going on. Some candidates were provided
external help in the examination. Rameshwar
brought these incidents to the notice of his
seniors. However, he was advised to keep his
eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these
things which were taking place with the
connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt
highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He
comes to you seeking your advice. Indicate
various options that you think are available in
this situation. How would you help him to
evaluate these options and choose the most
appropriate path to be adopted? [250 words].AnswerTo me only they can sustain such pressure
who are above their need and greed, above
their feelings, desires, principles, aspirations
and even oneself. A civil servant has to
balance everything. He has to balance a
moment when he feels that he has power to
do something but the very next moment he
will be forced to realize that he has no power
to do so; when he tries to punish his
subordinate by transferring him, he himself
gets transferred; when he wants to implement
the welfare and development schemes, he
finds that the vested interests dominate and
consume the fund; when he is emotionally
charged, he is told to be neutral. Let me first
define the meaning and scope of the concept
of accepting challenge. It is an attitude to
pursue the objectivity of the conceived goal
even against all odds and powered by will
power and engineered by confidence.
A person takes challenge to contribute
positively and constructively to the society in
which he lives and survives. In doing so, one
has to forget every kind of trouble or any
kind of convenience. You have to put
yourself beyond pale of discomfort and
grievances. In other words, you cannot
complain to any one; you cannot blame
anyone. You are the trend-setter and you
have to leave such examples to be followed
by others. If you fail, the society is bound to
suffer. You have to carry the expectations and
aspirations of the entire society.
Under such a situation, there is only one
option: stay there, choose the necessary lesser
evil and make a strategy to deal with them
and be prepared to face ups and downs with
an evolutionary and progressive approach. He
should take written action against the
cheating and write the whole issue with
audio-video evi- dences to his seniors and
also seek their instructions in written form.
And wait for their instructions.
7. Saraswati was a successful IT professional in
USA. Moved by the patriotic sense of doing
something for the country she returned to
India. Together with some other like-minded
friends, she formed an NGO to build a
school for a poor rural community.
The objective of the school was to provide
the best quality modern education at a
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nominal cost. She soon discovered that she
has to seek permission from a number of
Governments agencies. The rules and
procedures were quite confusing and
cumbersome. What frustrated her most was
the delays, callous attitude of officials and
constant demand of bribes. Her experience
and the experience of many others like her
has deterred people from taking up social
service projects.
A measure of Government control over
voluntary social work is necessary. But it
should not be exercised in a coercive or
corrupt manner. What measures can you
suggest to ensure that due control is exercised
but well meaning, honest NGO efforts are
not thwarted?. [250 words].Answer:-The case presents the importance of NGO’s
in social development and also difficulty in
smooth functioning of even well-meaning
NGO’s. Following are other issues and values
involved in the case:
• Value of sacrifice and courage in Saraswati
to leave a successful career in USA.
• Empathy and compassion for poor.
• Role of NGO in taking forward the Right
to Education in rural areas.
• Bureaucratic layers in decision making.
• Poor work culture at government officials.
• Absence of respect of law and demand for
bribe.
• Issue of good governance, responsiveness,
quick clearance and maintaining the
enthusiasm of NGO’s in social sector
initiative.
• Right of government to monitor the
functioning of NGO’s.
• Unethical conduct on part on many NGOs
leading to strict control by government.
Following steps must be taken to ensure
that due control is exercised by the
government over NGO’s and at the same
time well-meaning and honest NGO’s are
not thwarted:
• The trust deficit between government and
NGO’s must be removed. This would be
the first step in making the functioning of
NGO’s easier. This can be done by
transparency and proactive declaration of
NGO’s work by themselves.
• A voluntary acceptance of a code of ethics
by all NGOs.
• Involvement of local people in NGOs
functioning.
• Voluntary disclosure of funding and work
done in every financial year by NGOs.
• Introducing the concept like “Right to
clearance” for NGO’s as well as they play
very important role in social sector. The
prior investigation and analysis regarding
NGO’s work must be completed in time
bound manner.
• Work culture in government offices must
be improved. Official must be made more
responsive, objective, and competent.
• Government officials must be attached
with masses with the string of empathy and
compassion. This will enable them to be
more responsive to social sector initiatives.
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• Strict implementation of anti-corruption
laws and check on demand for bribes.
Grievance redressal mechanism against
such cases.
• Use of ICT to tract the functioning of
NGO’s by feedback from ground to
obviate the detailed and delayed scrutiny of
NGO’s proposal and yet keep due control.
8. Suppose one of your close friends, who is
also aspiring for civil services, comes to you
for discussing some of the issues related to
ethical conduct in public service. He raises
the following points : (i) In the present times,
when unethical envi- ronment is quite
prevalent, individual attempts to stick to
ethical principles may cause a lot of problems
in one’s career. It may also cause hardship to
the family members as well as risk to one’s
life. Why should we not be pragmatic and
follow the path of least resis- tance, and be
happy with doing whatever good we can?.
(ii) When so many people are adopting wrong
means and are grossly harming the system,
what difference would it make if only a small
minority tries to be ethical? They are going to
be rather ineffective and are bound to get
frustrated.
(iii) If we become fussy about ethical
considerations, will it not hamper the
economic progress of our country? After all,
in the present age of high competition, we
cannot afford to be left behind in the race of
development.
(iv) It is understandable that we should not
get involved in grossly unethical practices, but
giving and accepting small gratifications and
doing small favours increases everybody’s
motivation. It also makes the system more
efficient. What is wrong in adopting such
practices?
Critically analyze the above viewpoints. On
the basis of this analysis, what will be your
advice to your friend? [250 words].Answer:
To some extent, even our society-pressure
even forces civil servants to fail
misunderstand glorious difference between
means and ends. They conceive getting into
the civil services as an end whereas it is just a
proper means to do something good in the
interest of the nation and the people in
general. It sets forth a high profile legitimate
platform to perform and leave a mark behind.
It gives an extraordinary opportunity. The
society suffers when these extraordinary
powers fall into the hands of ordinary people,
whose behavioural and cognitive wavelength
is not commensurate with the authority and
the responsibility associated. In life nothing
comes as a free lunch. You have to pay a
price for everything you get. Responsibility
and accountability is the price for wielding
this legitimate power. So, it is the foremost
challenge to comprehend that a civil servant
should not expect the booty of power free of
cost, but as and when he asks it for free then
the whole society pays for it on his behalf.
Unfortunately, it is a heavy amount.
The fate of the system and society depends
on the level of the guts, commitment and the
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conviction of the person who has accepted
the chal- lenge to do something beyond him.
Don’t re- gret about your decision; about
your honesty; about your stand. Relish it. I
am sure this will give you pleasure of a
heaven even in moments of greatest despair
and discomfort. Either accept the challenge
or be a part of the hell.
9. Suppose you are an officer in-charge if
implementing a social service scheme to
provide support to old and destitute women.
An old an illiterate woman comes to you to
avail the benefits of the scheme. However,
she has no documents to show that she fulfils
the eligibility criteria. But after meeting her
and listening to her you feel that she certainly
needs support. Your enquiries also show that
she is really destitute and living in a pitiable
condition. You are in a dilemma as to what to
do. Putting her under the scheme without
necessary documents would clearly be
violation of rules. But denying her the
support would be cruel and inhuman.
(a) Can you think of a rational way to resolve
this dilemma?
(b) Give your reasons for it. [250 words].Answer:-This case presents the difficulty in
implementing socially important schemes
without any exclusion. Following are other
important issues and values involved:
• Objectivity in public service
• Rule of law and work culture
• Virtues of empathy and compassion for
poor and destitute.
• Right of genuine beneficiaries to avail
social service schemes.
• Effectiveness and inclusiveness of
government schemes.
• Organisational and personal value conflict.
a) The dilemma is to maintain rule of law
and organisational value and work culture
without compromising on the personal value
of empathy and compassion for the poor and
destitute.
To resolve the dilemma I will follow the
rule for the scheme. As per the rule old lady is
not eligible for the scheme. Rules are made
with proper reasoning and for greater good of
society. It provides legitimacy and credibility
of government bodies. Understanding this
will help me resolve my dilemma. However
on personal level I will also try to preserve my
own values to avoid any crisis of conscience
and inner dissonance. I will help the old lady
with some money for temporary respite and
take adequate step to bring her under the fold
of beneficiary of the scheme. This will ensure
consonance between organisational and
personal values.
b) Objectivity is considered as cardinal value
of civil servant. This helps in equal and
impartial treatment of all. This helps in not
allowing any sense of relative deprivation to
creep in. This is why following the rule can
help in resolving ethical dilemma. It is the
objectivity which makes bureaucracy legal and
rational. Making exceptions can set wrong
precedent for employees and opportunity for
the corrupt. Further the problem of
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exclusion has to be dealt with holistically. The
issue of documentation has to be resolved for
all of the likes of the old lady. Error in law
must be rectified as laws are made for men;
men are not made for laws. They are the
means to achieve the ends of equality. For
this systemic change is required.
Discretionary approval of individual for the
scheme will create more problems of error,
nepotism and corruption.
10. Suppose you are the CEO of a company that
manufactures specialized electronic
equipment used by a government department.
You have submitted your bid for the supply
of this equipment to the department. Both
the quality and cost of your offer are better
than those of the competitors. Yet the
concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe
for approving the tender. Getting the order is
important both for you and for your
company. Not getting the order would mean
closing a production line. It may also affect
your own career. However, as a value-
conscious person, you do not want to give
bribe. Valid arguments can be advanced both
for giving the bribe and getting the order, and
for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the
loss of the order. What those arguments
could be? Could there be any better way to
get out of this dilemma? If so outline the
main elements of this third way, pointing out
its merits. [250 words].AnswerBalancing our individual emotions with an
innate understanding of others’ emotions, for
the betterment of the overall emotional
landscape of family, societal and
administrative institutions is the ultimate basis
and utility of Emotional Intelligence.
A balanced and pragmatic approach would be
needed because the stake is very high ranging
from personal to organisational. It is not a
simple exercise of choosing good over evil,
but between two evils. So, I would choose the
lesser evil in the hope of saving my
organisation, protecting my job and others
job too by directly avoiding confrontation
with the seniors and tender management. I
will thus, bribe the tender management and
try to prevent the imminent crisis of the
company. But I will firmly and strongly
communicate my sincere disliking about the
bribing and other illicit practices. I will send a
clear cut message that from next time the
same thing wouldn’t be done. In the
meantime, I will do all the home work at two
levels: (a) further improvement of the quality
of the product and (b) having a direct
communica- tion with top most senior of the
tender man- agement. I shall endeavour to
understand his motivations and surrounding
environment that might have compelled them
to resort to cheating, and then systematically
either remove those inhibitors to ethical
conduct or change his opinion in favour of
perseverance and eth- ical conduct. I need to
better detect and identify problems before
they snowball into bigger problems, following
the principle of ‘prevention is better than
cure’, which is equally applicable for any
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administrative philosophy.
11. You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You
have been transferred to a remote district to
head a department that is notorious for its
inefficiency and callousness. You find that the
main cause of the poor state of affairs is the
indiscipline of a section of employees. They
do not work themselves and also disrupt the
working of others. You first warned the
troublemakers to mend their ways or else face
disciplinary action. When the warning had
little effect, you issued a show cause notice to
the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure,
these troublemakers instigated a woman
employee amongst them to file a complaint of
sexual harassment against you with the
Women’s Commission. The Commission
promptly seeks your explanation. The matter
is also publicized in the media to embarrass
you further. Some of the options to handle
this situation could be as follows : (i) Give
your explanation to the Commission and go
soft on the disciplinary action. (ii) Ignore the
Commission and proceed firmly with the
disciplinary action. (iii) Brief your higher-ups,
seek directions from them and act
accordingly. Suggest any other possible
option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest
the best course of action, giving your reasons
for it. [250 words].AnswerAn evaluation of the various options available
to me, follows:-
1. Option 1- Give your explanation to the
Commission and go soft on the disciplinary
action
Merits Demerits
Preventing personal
harm by clarifying
facts in the case to
the commission
Foregoing duty to
maintain departmental
efficiency by going soft
on disciplinary action
Responding to call
of authority of the
Commission;
exhibiting a sense
of transparency and
accountability
Giving in to wrong
means used by the
section of employees to
thwart the enquiry
Maintaining a good
public image in
media
Fulfilling moral
responsibility of
checking wrongdoing
Shows sensitivity
towards women
and women issues
Promoting the section
of employees to be
further more
indisciplined; would
lower the motivation
levels of other
employees
2. Ignore the commission and proceed firmly
with the disciplinary action
Merits Demerits
Doing duty to
maintain
departmental
efficiency by
continuing with the
departmental enquiry
Not responding to
public authority;
doesn’t exhibit sense
of transparency and
accountability
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Not giving in to
wrong means used by
the employees
Could cause great
personal harm
Fulfilling moral
responsibility of
checking wrongdoing
Good Image of public
servants not
maintained in media
Raising the
motivation levels of
other employees who
do their duty
No response to
Commission shows
insensitivity to women
issues
3. Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from
them and act accordingly
Merits Demerits
Ensuring effective
communication with seniors-
honouring lines of authority;
Shows less
initiative from
my side
will help seek their guidance
and experience in such
matters;
Caving in to
the pressure to
some extent
taking the seniors into
confidence on the matter
could prevent/reduce
personal harm later
4. Reply to the commission’s notice, brief
higher-ups about the incident and continue
disciplinary action
Merits Demerits
Preventing personal
harm by clarifying facts
in the case to the
commission
Could still lead to
personal harm as
the case of sexual
harassment may
cause emotional
stress to me and
my family; also
affect my career
records
Responding to call of
authority of the
Commission; exhibiting a
sense of transparency
and accountability;
Maintaining a good
public image in media;
Shows sensitivity
towards women and
women issues
Ensuring effective
communication with
seniors- honouring lines
of authority; will help
seek their guidance and
experience in such
matters; taking the
seniors into confidence
on the matter could
prevent/reduce personal
harm later
Doing duty to maintain
departmental efficiency
by continuing with the
departmental enquiry;
Not giving in to wrong
means used by the
employees; Fulfilling
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moral responsibility of
checking wrongdoing
Raising the motivation
levels of other employees
who do their duty
Hence, Option 4 is the most holistic course
of action with least demerits. It is through
this option that I can fulfil all my duty
obligations, respond to authority of the
Commission, take seniors into confidence as
well as minimise personal harm.
12. You are a young, aspiring and sincere
employee in a Government office working as
an assistant to the director of your
department. Since you have joined recently,
you have to learn and progress. Luckily your
superior is very kind and ready to train you
for your job. He is a very intelligent and well-
informed person having knowledge of
various departments. In short, you respect
your boss and are looking forward to learn a
lot from him.
Since you have a good tuning with the boss,
he started depending on you. One day due to
ill health he invited you at his place for
finishing some urgent work.
You reached his house and before you could
ring the bell you heard shouting noises. You
waited for a while. After entering the house
the boss greeted you and explained the work.
But you were constantly disturbed by the
crying of a woman. At last, you inquired with
the boss but his answer did not satisfy you.
Next day, you were compelled to inquire
further in the office and found out that his
behavior is very bad at home with his wife.
He also beats up his wife. His wife is not well
educated and is simple woman in comparison
to her husband. You see that though your
boss is a nice person in the office, he is
engaged in domestic violence at home.
In such a situation, you are left with the
following options. Analyse each option with
its consequences.
(a) Just ignore thinking about it because it is
their personal matter.
(b) Report the case to the appropriate
authority.
(c) Your own innovative approach toward the
situation. [250 words].Answer:-In this case there is lack of integrity in the
superior as his attitude and behaviour in
public life and private life is different.
Following are other issues and values
involved in the case:
• My personal integrity vs. My social well
being
• Good work culture at work place.
• Right of a women to be treated with
dignity and respect.
• Empathy and compassion for vulnerable
women.
• Courage to bring justice against domestic
violence.
• Balancing personal interest at office with
moral responsibility of checking Boss’s
behaviour at home.
a) Just ignore thinking about it because it is
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their personal matter. Ignoring the matter will
avoid putting my boss in an embarrassing
situation in front of me and others. It will
also not affect my relation with him and not
create any hurdle for me at work place. It will
help maintain the prevailing good work
culture at office. However I will be held
guilty in my own court of conscience. I lose
my integrity as I will not act as per my values
of empathy and compassion. Sense of guilt
may arise in me leading to inner dissonance
and crisis of conscience. Also justice to my
boss’s wife will not be done as my boss’s
behaviour will remain the same. My value of
courage will be compromised and this will
affect me all through my career, especially
when my boss knows that I can’t stand for
my own values. The incident will also create a
bad precedent for society in general.
b) Report the case to appropriate authority
This may act as deterrent and may change my
Boss behaviour at home. This will preserve
my value of courage, empathy and
compassion. I may also be able to safeguard
the rights of my boss’s wife. But there is no
surety that this will bring endogenous changes
in my boss. It may appear to be a short term
solution to the problem. Since my boss is
good in public relations, there is a hope that
with proper guidance, he may improve in his
personal relations. Complaint against him will
publicize the matter leading to great
embarrassment and also the degradation of
relations between me and my boss. So I
would not risk my relation with my boss
without surety of justice for his wife.
c) My innovative approach towards the
situation. Lasting effect can come when
change from within is brought in my boss
while maintaining his dignity. This will ensure
healthy and sustainable relation between him
and his wife. I will try following innovation
approach:
• I will narrate him some moral stories,
informally, at work place, to bring
attitudinal change in him.
• I will invite him for some movie with
persuasion power towards respecting
women and changing attitude towards
them.
• I will invite him at my own home with his
wife and show how well I treat my wife.
This may move his conscience as he is a
good person at work place.
• I will try to find some strength and
qualities in his wife which will make my
boss more appreciative of him.
13. You are heading a leading technicalinstitute of the country. The institute isplanning to convene an interview panelshortly under your chairmanship forselection of the post of professors. A fewdays before the interview, you get a callfrom the Personal Secretary (PS) of asenior government functionary seekingyour intervention in favor of the selectionof a close relative of the functionary forthis post. The PS also informs you that heis aware of the long pending and urgentproposal of our institute for grant of funds
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for modernization, which are awaiting thefunctionary's approval. He assures youthat he would get these proposals cleared.A. What are the options available to you?B. Evaluate each of these options andchoose the option which you wouldadopt, giving reasons. (250 words) 20marks.Answer(A) The various options available are-
1. Tell the senior of the wrongfulness of the
act, and try to persuade him.
2. Ask him for written instructions, as it is
against the procedure, and you would
require special permission do to the same.
3. Outrightly reject his claim and complaint
to his seniors.
4. Lodge a complaint against him.
Divulge the information as the builder has a
good quality service record.
(B) Since it is against the established
procedure, in no way can the information be
leaked. If the builder is really good, he would
automatically get the contract from the
government.
You should try to persuade the senior of the
unjust and unprofessional action that he is
suggesting. However, if the senior does not
change his mind, you should ask him to give
his written instructions for the mater, as
divulging the information to any particular
builder is against the established procedure,
and you would require the special written
orders of the senior to execute the command.
It is most probable that the senior would not
agree to give the written order, as he would
be aware of the illegal nature of these
directions.
Outrightly rejecting the directions of the
senior might offend him, for not complying
with his directions. However, in no case shall
the inappropriate act be done.
Lodging a complaint with the anti-corruption
cell might also prove ineffective, due to the
lack of evidence against the senior. Thus, the
most practical solution in this case would be
consult the superior authorities regarding the
matter, and reporting to them the details.
14. You are the Executive Director of anupcoming Infotech Company which ismaking a name for itself in the market.Mr. A, who is a star performer, is headingthe marketing team. In a short period ofone year, he has helped in doubling therevenues as well as creating a high brandequity for the company so much so thatyou are thinking of promoting him.However, you have been receivinginformation from many corners about hisattitude towards the female colleagues;particularly his habit of making loosecomments on women. In addition, heregularly sends indecent SMS’ to all theteam members including his femalecolleagues. One day, late in the evening,Mrs. X, who is one of Mr. A’s Teammembers, comes you visibly disturbed.She complains against the continuedmisconduct of Mr. A, who has beenmaking undesirable advances towards her
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and has even tried to touch herinappropriately in his cabin. She tendersher resignation and leaves your office.(a) What are the options available to you?(b) Evaluate each of these options andchoose the options you would adopt,giving reasons. (250 words) 20 marks.Answer(a) This is a very sensitive matter, and shall
be dealt with great responsibility. The various
legitimate options available are-
Option (1) Explain the female employee
about the credentials of Mr. A and ask her to
ignore the issue.
Option (2) call an urgent meeting about the
issue and take disciplinary action.
Option (3) immediately expel Mr. A for such
act.
Option (4) First, talk to Mrs. X and calm her,
as she is under a traumatic condition. And
assure her that a strict disciplinary action
would be taken at the earliest.
(b)
Option (1) might not be resorted as it would
be highly unethical to expect Mrs. X to forget
the issue. Issues of sexual harassment shall
not be ignored.
Option (2) might be considered, as no
decision can be taken arbitrarily, and proper
channels have to be followed. However,
given the exigency of the case, it is of an
urgent need to take some immediate actions,
while protecting the privacy of the lady
employee.
Option (3) might appear just, but might not
be the best course of action, because in an
organization decisions are made through
proper channels and procedures. Thus, while
there is no doubt that Mr. A shall be given
severe punishment for his offense, this shall
be done through organizational procedure.
The Option (4) is the most apt course of
action, as it addresses the immediate as well
as long-term needs. Since Mrs. X has faced an
assault, she is in a disturbed state. It is the
foremost duty of the head, to calm her, and
make her understand that justice would be
done. She shall also be assured that her
privacy would be protected. Further, the
perpetrator should be dealt strictly, as there
are multiple proved incidences of sexual
advances from his side. Thus, as the final
decision, Mr. A shall be expelled from
service, with an appropriate legal action
against him.
15. You are working as an ExecutiveEngineer in the construction cell of aMunicipal Corporation and are presentlyin-charge of the construction of a flyover.There are two Junior Engineers under youwho have the responsibility of day-to-dayinspection of the site and are reporting toyou, while you are finally reporting to theChief Engineer who heads the cell. Whilethe construction is heading towardscompletion, the Junior Engineer havebeen regularly reporting that allconstruction is taking place as per designspecifications. However, in one of yoursurprise inspections, you have noticed
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some serious deviations and lacunarwhich, in your opinion, are likely to affectthe safety of the flyover. Rectification ofthese lacunae at this stage would requirea substantial amount of demolition andrework which will cause a tangible loss tothe contractor and will also delaycompletion. There is a lot of publicpressure on the Corporation to get thisconstruction completed because of heavytraffic congestion in the area.When you brought this matter to thenotice of the Chief Engineer, he advisedyou that in his opinion it is not a veryserious lapse and may be ignored. Headvised for further expediting the projectfor completion in time. However, you areconvinced that this was a serious matterwhich might affect public safety andshould not be left unaddressed. What willyou do in such a situation?Some of the options are given below.Evaluate the merits and demerits of eachof these options and finally suggest whatcourse of action you would like to take,giving reasons. (250 words) 20 Marks.AnswerFollow the advice of the Chief Engineer and
go ahead.
1. Make an exhaustive report of the situation
bringing out all facts and analysis along
with your own viewpoints stated clearly
and seek for written orders from the Chief
Engineer.
2. Call for explanation from the Junior
Engineer and issue orders to the
contractor for necessary correction within
targeted time.
3. Highlight the issue so that it reaches the
superiors above the Chief Engineer.
4. Considering the rigid attitude of the Chief
Engineer, seek transfer from the project
or report.
1. would be unethical to follow. Although it is
in compliance with the norms of the
organizational structure, but it violates the
ethical principles. Since the project has
been observed for severe lapses in quality,
it is unwise to carry forward with it.
2. might be appropriate from a formal
perspective, as it would make sure that the
Chief Engineer has noticed the lacunae in
the project, and still is ordering to carry on
with it. This would save the concerned
Executive Engineer from any implications.
However, from an ethical point of view, it
is highly unwise to carry on with the
project.
3. is a plausible option, as the Junior
Engineers, directing in-charge of the
project should be called for explanation for
the lapses in the project. Also, all possible
moves shall be made to make sure that the
project is completed in a stipulated
timeframe. The contractor should also be
dealt with strictly, and held answerable for
the shortcomings in the quality standards.
4. might be resorted in case the Chief
Engineer is adamant about going on with
the project. Since there would be no option
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left, if the Chief Engineer is adamant about
his decision, the Executive Engineer would
have to approach the superiors with a
detailed report.
5. would be an attempt to escape from the
problem, while ignoring one's moral
responsibility. Thus, it would be unethical
on the part of the Executive Engineer to
run away from his duty.
An ethical, and required course of action
would be to halt the project immediately, and
make the preparations for the re-work. Since
the matter involves public safety, it cannot be
left to chances. Any outburst from the public
shall be dealt appropriate. Also, those
responsible for the lapses in the project shall
be dealt strictly.
16. So far as child labor norms for hazardousindustries like firecrackers industry areconcerned, International LabourOrganization (ILO) has set the minimumage as 18 years. In India, however, thisage is 14 years. The units in industrialclusters of firecrackers can be classifiedinto registered and non-registeredentities. One typical unit is householdbased workThough the law is clear on the use ofchild labour employment norms inregistered/ non-registered units, it doesnot include household based works.Household based work means childrenworking under the supervision of theirparents/relative. To evade child labornorms, several units project themselves as
household-based works but employchildren from outside.Needless to say that employing childrensaves the costs for these units leading tohigher profits to the owner. On your visitto one of the units at Sivakasi, the ownertakes you around the unit which hasabout 10-15 children below 14 years of age.The owner tells you that in his household-based unit, the children are all hisrelatives. You notice that several childrensmirk, when the owner tells you this. Ondeeper enquiry, you figure out thatneither the owner nor the children areable to satisfactorily establish theirrelationship with each other.a. Bring out and discuss the ethical issuesinvolved in the above case.b. What would be your reaction after yourabove visit? (300 words) 25 marksAnswer(a) This case involves very crucial issues
relating to human and child rights.
First, there is an employment of the small
children in hazardous factories, putting their
lives under threat. This is a clear violation of
their child rights.
Secondly, since it is highly probable that the
children working in those units are not the
relatives of the owner, it might be possible
that those children have been forcefully
brought to the production centre. Thus, this
involves a case of child trafficking, which is a
criminal offense under the Indian
Constitution.
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Thirdly, it is also highly probable that the
children are being kept forcefully under
inhuman conditions, while depriving them of
the opportunity of education and
development.
Such confinement of the minor children is
highly unethical and uncalled for. It is a clear
case of violation of the child rights as well the
fundamental rights, enshrined under our
constitution. By making the children work
under hazardous conditions, the owner of the
production unit is putting their lives in
jeopardy, while infringing every opportunity
of self-development.
(b) My reaction, as a common man, would be
to inform the owner of the unit about the
provisions of the Constitution regarding the
employment of children under hazardous
conditions. Next, I would try to know if the
children really are his relatives. On the basis
of my strong suspicion, I would report the
matter to the local police station, and request
them to make an inquiry in the matter. Also,
it would be necessary to report the matter to
the local NGOs and the Child Rights
Commission, so that an adequate enquiry
might be initiated.
As a long-term measure, I would file a PIL in
the Supreme Court regarding the
confinement of the minor children in
hazardous production units, in the guise of
relative. Also, I would write to the National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR) regarding the gross violation of
child rights in the concerned region.
Also, I would also try to make an
investigation about the number of such
children employed in the domestic units in
that area.
ASSIGNMENT17. You’re an IAS aspirant, staying in a PG with
four roommates. Two of your roommates
belong to scheduled tribe and one of your
roommates is Brahmin. You belong to non-
Brahmin but backward community. Your
Brahmin roommate is finding often
inconvenience in sharing the utensils and
vessels commonly with ST roommates. Your
Brahmin roommate is economically not well
placed and hence he finds difficult to move
out of room due to cost benefit
considerations as you’re his close friend, he
often shares with you about inconvenience
staying with ST roommates.
a. What will you suggest to Brahmin
roommate? (100 Words)
b. What is your personal non-inclined
stand with respect to sharing with ST
roommates? (100 words)
18. You are a shop owner in a busy bazaar. On
one particular day, an innocent person is
being followed by a group of goondas to kill
him. He reaches your shop and asks for a safe
hidden place. The group of goondas is fully
equipped with weapons.
a. What will be your course of action in this
context?
b. In case, the individual who seeks safe
hidden at your custody is also an anti social
element, what will be your course of action?
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19. You are a district magistrate of a red corridor
state. On one fine day, one naxalite group has
kidnapped you. You come to understand that
your life is under threat. This naxalite group
puts certain demands to the government in
order to release you. Those demands placed
are in such a way that the government is not
ready to bow immediately, government is
trying to alter the terms and conditions.
Trying to negotiate the naxalite to dilute their
demands.
a. What do you expect the government to
do?.
b. As a district magistrate how will you handle
this situation?.
20. Your friend who is also a civil service aspirant
is staying with you in a private
accommodation. Considering his parental
poverty and his economic condition, you
started helping him to share the
accommodation without any financial
contribution towards the rental part and
boarding and lodging expenses. After some
period, you observe that he started becoming
lethargic and inconsistent in preparing for the
exam. One day he brings another person
saying his disabilities and making him stay
without paying anything. What would be your
response to this scenario?.
21. A 15 year old boy realizes that he is a
transgender and he started showing
behavioral changes of being a transgender.
His parents throw him out of the family. As a
social activist residing in that particular area,
how would you mediate between the boy and
the family?. What are your suggestions to
change the societal attitude in such cases?.
22. You are walking home from your work.
There is a railway track nearby, which
bifurcates some distance away from your
home. While on your way you notice that
four women have been tied to the tracks. A
goods train is approaching fast. Some
distance away you notice that your daughter is
walking on the other track which is actually a
bridge below which a deep gorge is located.
There is an option to save all five women by
changing the route of the train to other track.
If you do so, you will kill your daughter. Your
daughter has no escape option. She is
unaware of any of these developments as she
is walking blissfully listening to her favorite
songs from iPod from her headphones. That
track on the bridge is not used by trains
owing to some reasons. You cannot run and
untie all five women as it’s impossible to do
so without risking your life. If you do so, you
will also get killed along with the five women.
In this situation, what will you do? And
explain why.
23. Kamali recently landed a well-paying
software job in a reputed company in Pune.
She has an ambition to become a civil
servant. She is working hard towards it.
Recently she wrote the entrance for Prime
Minister’s Rural Development Fellowship
(PMRDF) and got selected as its Fellow.
Though she received better salary in the
present job, she wanted to accept the PMRD
Fellowship and work for it. She will be posted
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in a far away state from her present location.
The district where she will be posted is a
sensitive region severely affected by Naxal
problem. Few days ago, few civil servants and
policemen were killed by Naxals in an
ambush. Kamali’s parents do not want her to
leave the present job. Her boyfriend with
whom her marriage is fixed is also not
supporting her. She thinks that this fellowship
would equip her with skills needed to work as
an IAS officer in case she gets selected in
future. (a) If you are in Kamali’s place, what
decision will you take? Give reasons. (100
Words). (b) Do you think it’s right on her
boyfriend’s and parents’ part to say no to her
decision? Critically comment. (100 Words).
24. A man convicted for rape and murder of two
15 year old girls has been awarded death
sentence by the court. His sentence is due in
3 days. You are the in charge of the jail and
have been assigned to supervise his death
sentence. The convict becomes seriously ill
two days before he is about to be hanged.
Preliminary medical tests reveal that he has
blood cancer. Your colleagues advise you that
as he is about to be executed, the matter
should be kept as secret and the convict
should be kept in his cell. Even jail doctors
advise you the same. They also tell you that
this convict deserved such a death for his
crime. What will you do in this situation?
Explain why.
25. Anand is working as a clerk in Collector’s
office. Due to staff shortage, Anand also
performs the task of raising flag over the
office building every morning and taking it
down every evening, although it is not part of
his official job description.
One day a criminal turned politician Madan
dies. Years ago, Anand’s best friend was
murdered during a riot allegedly orchestrated
by Madan.
Nonetheless, State secretariat passes an order
to all District collectors, to keep National flag
at “half- mast” over their offices, to mourn
the death of the Mr.Madan.
Anand sees this news on TV, gets angry with
such mockery of our national flag. He decides
not to go to office next morning and keeps
the door key of roof top with himself. He is
confident, “no formal punishment can be
given to me, because this was not part of my
official duty. At most District Collector will
reprimand me informally but I don’t care
because Madan killed my best friend.” Do
you think Anand has made the right
decision?. Substantiate your answer.