Section A
Q1 (a): What do you understand by ‘moral integrity’
and ‘professional efficiency in the context of corporate governance in India?
Illustrate with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words)
(b)
International aid is an accepted form of helping resource-challenged
nations. Comment on ethics in contemporary international aid. Support your
answer with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Q2 (a): “Corruption is the manifestation of the
failure of core values in the society.” In your opinion, what measures can be
adopted to uplift the core values in the society? (Answer in 150 words).
(b) In the context of work environment,
differentiate between ‘coercion and undue influence’ with suitable examples.
Q3: Given below are three quotations of great
thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?
(a) “The simplest arts of kindness are by far more
powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”- Mahatma Gandhi
(b) To awaken the people, it is the women who must
be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the
nation moves”.- Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) “Do not hate anybody, because that hatred that
comes out from you must, in the long run, come back to you. If you love, that love
will come back to you, completing the circle- Swami Vivekananda
Q4 (a): “What really matters for success, character,
happiness and lifelong achievements is a definite set of emotional skills -your
EQ- not just purely cognitive abilities that are measured by conventional IQ
tests.” Do you agree with the view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
(b): Differentiate ‘moral intuition” from ‘moral
reasoning’ with suitable examples.
Q5 (a): Is conscience a more reliable guide when
compared to laws, rules and regulations in the context of ethical decision
making. Discuss
(b) Probity is essential for an effective system of
governance and socio-economic development. Discuss
Q6 (a): What were the major teachings of Guru Nanak?
Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.
Section B
Q7. You are
working as an executive in a nationalised bank for several years. One day one
of your close colleagues tells you that her father is suffering from heart disease
and needs surgery to service. She also tells you that she has no insurance and
the operation will cost about Rs 10 lakh. You are also aware of the fact that
her husband and that she is from a lower middle class family. You are
empathetic about her situation. However, apart from expressing your sympathy,
you do not have the resources to fund her.
A few weeks later, you ask her about the well-being
of her father and she informs you about his successful surgery and that he is
recovering. She then confides in you that the bank manager was kind enough to
facilitate the release of 10 lakhs from a dormant account of someone to pay for
the operation with a promise that it should be confidential and be repaid at
the earliest. She has already started paying it back and will continue to do so
until it is all returned.
(a) What are the ethical issues involved?
(b) Evaluate the behavior of the bank manager from
an ethical point of view.
(c) How would you react to the situation?
Q8. A landslide occurred in the middle of the night
on 20th July 2023 in a remote mountain hamlet, approximately 60 kilometers from
Uttarkashi. The landslide was caused by torrential rains and has resulted in
large-scale destruction of property and life. You, as District Magistrate of
that area, have rushed to the spot with a team of doctors, NGOs, media and
police along with numerous support staff to oversee the rescue operations.
A man came running to you with a request for urgent
medical help for his pregnant wife who is in labour and in loosing blood. You
directed your medal team to examine his wife. They return and convey to you
that this woman needs blood transfusion immediately. Upon enquiry, you come to
know that a few blood collection bags and blood group test kits are available
in the ambulance accompanying your team. Few people of your team have already
volunteered to donate blood.
Being a physician who has graduated from AIIMS, you
know that blood for transfusion needs to be procured only through a recognized
blood bank. Your team members are divided on this issue; some favour
transfusing, while some others oppose it. The doctors in the team are ready to
facilitate the delivery provided they are not penalised for transfusion. Now
you are a dilemma. Your professional training emphasizes on prioritising
service to humanity and saving lives of individuals.
(a) What are the ethical issues involved in this
case?
(b) Evaluate the options available to you, being
District Magistrate of the area.
Q9. At 9 pm
on Saturday evening, Rashika, a Joint Secretary, was still engrossed in her
work in her office. Her husband, Vikram, is an executive in an MNC and
frequently out of town in connection with his work. Their two children aged 5
and 3 are looked after by their domestic helper. At 9:30 pm her superior, Mr.
Suresh calls her and asks her to prepare a detailed note on an important matter
to be discussed in a meeting in the Ministry. She realises that she will have
to work on Sunday to finish the additional task given by her superior.
She reflects on how she had asked forward to the
posting and had worked long hours for months to achieve it, he had kept the
welfare of people uppermost in discharging her duties. She feels that she has
not done enough Justice to her family and she has not fulfilled her duties in
discharging essential social obligations. Even as recently as last month she
had to leave her sick child in the nanny’s care as she had to work in the
office. Now, she feels that she must draw a line, beyond which her personal
life should take precedence over her professional responsibilities. She thinks
that there should be reasonable limits to the work ethics such as punctuality,
hard work, dedication to duty and selfless service.
(a) Discuss the ethical issue involved in this case.
(b) Briefly describe at least four laws that have
been enacted by the Government of India with respect to providing a healthy,
safe and equitable working environment for women.
(c) Imagine you are in a similar situation. What
suggestions would you make to mitigate such working conditions?
Q10. Vinod is an honest and sincere IAS officer.
Recently, he has taken over as Managing Director of the State Road Transport
Corporation, his sixth transfer in the past three years. His peers acknowledge
his vast knowledge affability and uprightness.
The Chairman of the State Road Transport Corporation
is a powerful politician and is very close to the Chief Minister. Vinod comes
to know about many alleged irregularities of the Corporation and the
high-handedness of the Chairman in financial matters.
A Board Member of the Corporation belonging to the
Opposition Party meets Vinod and hands over a few documents along with a video
recording in which the Chairman appears to be demanding bribe for placing a
huge order for the supply of QMR tyres. Vinod recollects the Chairman
expediting clearing of pending bills of QMR tyres.
Vinod confronts the Board Member as to why he is
shying away from exposing the Chairman with the so-called solid proof he has
with him. The members inform him that the Chairman refuses to yield to his
threats. He adds that Vinod may earn recognition and public support if he
himself exposes the Chairman. Further, he tells Vinod that once his party comes
to power, Vinod’s professional growth would be assured.
Vinod is aware that he may be penalised if he
exposes the Chairman and may further be transferred to a distant place. He
knows that Opposition Party stands a better chance of coming to power in the
forthcoming elections. However, he also realises that the Board Member is
trying to use him for his own political gains.
(a) As a conscientious civil servant, evaluate the
options available to Vinod.
(b) In the light of the above case, comment upon the
ethical issues that may arise due to the politicization of bureaucracy.
Q11. You have just been appointed as Additional
Director General of Central Public Works Department. The Chief Architect of
your division, who is to retire in six months, is passionately working on a
very important project, the successful completion of which would earn him a
lasting reputation for the rest of his life.
A new lady architect, Seema, trained at Manchester
School of Architecture, UK joined as Senior Architect in your division. During
the briefing about the project, Seema made some suggestions which would not
only add value to the project, but would also reduce completion time. This has
made the Chief Architect insecure and he is constantly worried that all the
credit will go to her. Subsequently, he adopted a passive and aggressive
behaviour towards her and has become disrespectful to her. Seema felt it
embarrassing as the Chief Architect left no chance of humiliating her. He would
very often correct her in front of other colleagues and raise his voice while
speaking to her. This continuous harassment has resulted in her losing
confidence and self-esteem. She felt perpetually tensed, anxious and stressed.
She appeared to be in awe of him since he has had a long tenure in the office
and has vast experience in the area of her work.
You are aware of her outstanding academic
credentials and career in her previous organizations. However, you fear that
this harassment may result in compromising her much needed contribution in this
important project and may adversely impact her emotional well-being. You have
also come to know from her peers that she is contemplating tendering her
resignation.
(a) What are the ethical issues involved in the
above case?
(c) What would be your response to Seema’s
predicament? What measures would you institute to prevent such occurrence from
happening in your organization?
Q12. You hold a responsible position in a ministry
in the government. One day in the morning you received a call from the school
of your 11-year-old son that you are required to come and meet the Principal.
You proceed to the school and find your son in the Principal’s office. The
Principal informs you that your son had been found wandering aimlessly in the
grounds during the time classes were in progress. The class teacher further
informs you that your son has lately become a loner and did not respond to
questions in the class, he had also been unable to perform well in the football
trials held recently. You bring your son back from the school and in the
evening, you along with your wife try to find out the reasons for your son’s
changed behavior. After repeated cajoling, your son shares that some children
had been making fun of him in the class as well as in the WhatsApp group of the
students by calling him stunted, duh and a frog. He tells you the names of a
few children who are the main culprits but pleads with you to let the matter
rest.
After a few days, during a sporting event, where you
and your wife have gone to watch your son play, one of your colleague’s son
shows you a video in which students have caricatured your son. Further, he also
points out to perpetrators who were sitting in the stands. You purposefully
walk past them with your son and go home. Next day, you find on social media, a
video denigrating you, your son and even your wife, stating that you engaged in
physical bullying of children in the sports field. The video became viral on
social media. Your friends and colleagues began calling you to find out the
details. One of your juniors advised you to make a counter video giving the
background and explaining that nothing had happened on the field. You, in turn
posted a video which you have captured during the sporting event, identifying
the likely perpetrators who were responsible for your son’s predicament. You
have also narrated what has actually happened in the field and made attempts to
bring out the adverse effects of the misuse of social media.
(a) Based on the above case study, discuss the
ethical issues involved in the use of social media.
(b) Discuss the pros and cons of using social media
by you to put across the facts to counter the fake propaganda against your
family.
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