Question : It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. What are the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples.

(2014)

Question : Indicate two more attributes which you consider important for public service. Justify your answer.

(2013)

Question : One of the scientists working in the R&D laboratory of a major pharmaceutical company discovers that one of the company’s bestselling veterinary drugs, B has the potential to cure a currently incurable liver disease which is prevalent in tribal areas. However, developing a variant of the drug suitable for human being entailed a lot of research and development having a huge expenditure to the extent of Rs. 50 crores. It was unlikely that company would recover the cost as the disease was rampant only in poverty stricken areas having very little market otherwise. If you were the CEO, then—

a. Identify the various actions that you could take

b. Evaluate the pros and the cons of each of your actions

(2015)

Question : How understanding of ecological sensitivity is important before EIA (Environment Impact Assessment)?

Question : It is argued that spiritual awareness is innate and that it is an important component in human development. Justify this statement. How spirituality helps in inculcating ethical values in human beings?

Question : If you have to choose between Attitude and Aptitude, which one you should choose and why?

Question : It is well said that adopting any value is for the benefit of the concerned individual. Critically comment.

Question : Examine the following statements and state how much you agree? Explain with taking examples from your life. In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:

Question : “The value judgements of a society change from Generation to Generation depending upon the most significant aspects of social objectives.” How much you agree with this statement?

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples:

Question : How “Ego Defensive Mechanism” may be helpful in formation of Attitude?

Question : It is well said that “success in persuading people depends on the interplay of various aspects”. Explain all the aspects.

Question : How the strengthening of ethical and moral values in the governance may be ensured?

Question : Work culture refers to the attitudes, values and behaviour of individuals.

Question : Define Political attitude

Question : Define Observation learning

Question : Examine the following statements and bring out what it means to you in the present context.

Ethical value is a by-product of self-knowledge.

Question : Is it correct to say that ‘Freedom of will’ is an important human value? How is it in harmony with Indian value system of ‘Karmavad’?

Question : Define ‘Freedom’ and ‘Discipline’ with respect to human values and ethics. With the help of a suitable case study explain how true ‘freedom’ can be achieved and what role could ‘discipline’ play into it.

Question : Many administrators have contributed in strengthening the ‘basic human values’. Comment and bring out a case study to illustrate your point.

Question : How attitude predicts behaviour. Illustrate through example.

Question : What are moral attitudes and what is the significance of ‘Reverence’ in deter-mination of moral attitude of an individual.

Question : What is the political attitude of ‘Conservatives’ in a political system. A political party having a conservative attitude has to draft an election manifesto on the eve of a general election. It wants to focus on developmental issues and issues relating to poverty and hunger. Draw out a manifesto for the political party in 200 words and discuss its merits.

Question : What is the difference between ‘empathy’ and ‘compassion’. Illustrate with the help of a suitable example

Question : What is the significance of ‘creativity’ in the basic human value? What constructive role the parents and educational institutions can play in inculcating this human value in a seven year old child?

Question : Explain the MODE model of attitude toward objects to specific behaviour.

Question : “The parent is not the only source of values for the child, although obviously the inculcation of values begins in the home from early age”. Examine this statement in the current techno economic society.

Question : What do you mean by “public service values”? Explain with examples.

Question : Explain the term ‘Total quality management’

Question : Write about Tolerance in the current global society

Question : “The qualities of good work are not the qualities of good character”. Do you agree?

Question : Write about Moral attitude vs Political attitude

Question : What do you mean by ‘Empathy’?

Question : Write a brief note on different dimensions of ethics

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples:

Question : Explain the impact of emotional intelligence on bureaucratic structure.

Question : “Some people will always be bigger than others. Some will be smarter, more creative and so on. Moreover, a human capacity to perceive hierarchical differentiation is probably universal, even though responses to such differentiation may vary”. Examine the relevance of the above statement for the development of Moral Emotions.

Question : Critically examine the role of ethical efficacy in motivating ethical behaviour?

Question : What lessons you have learned so far on “preventing and dealing with ethical failures”. Explain your comments with examples.

Question : Whether you will support unethical behaviour with the intent to benefit others?

Question : How the sentiments known as moral emotions relate to a sense of ethical obligation?

Question : Examine the following statements and bring out what it means to you in the present context.
(a) “Conscience has three aspects- knowledge, authority and associated emotions.”

(b) “Freedom and Responsibility are the twin aspects of citizenship in a free society.”

Question : Define ‘emotional intelligence’. Why it is significant that civil servants should recognise the emotions of others, especially their subordinates?

Question : What are the 5 point parameters of Emotional Intelligence (Goleman Model) and what is their significance in governance?

Question : Explain how an emotional intelligent Civil servant can be more empathetic than a non-emotional intelligent one.

Question : Explain the following terms

Question : What do you mean by moral intellectualism of Socrates? To what extent are Socratic virtues applicable in modern administrative context?

Question : Briefly discuss Gandhi’s concept of nonviolence. How far Naxalites can succeed if they renounce the path of violence and adopt non-violent means?

Question : Is it correct to say that “Right mindfulness of Buddhism is quite similar to modern concept of ‘emotional intelligence’.?

Question : Explain the term ‘Outcome justice’.

Question : “Use of power need not necessarily be violent”. Explain with examples.

Question : “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Critically examine the statement.

Question : Examine the following statement and bring out what it means to you in the present context. “The use of power need not necessarily be violent.”

Question : Civility and humility are expressions of the spirit of non-violence.

Question : ‘Medieval Ethics was deeply influenced by the Church’. Comment and bring out the views of Thomas Aquinas.

Question : According to John Stuart Mill “The greatest happiness principle should be foundation of morals”. Comment (100 words). With a suitable case study (not more than 100 words), illustrate that this principle is still relevant.

Question : What were the views of Kautilya regarding ‘Integrity of Public Servants’? Do you think that the views are still relevant?

Question : ‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind’. Examine ethicality of this statement in the current global context.

Question : “Absolute power corrupts absolutely and lack of absolute power corrupts absolutely as well.” With suitable examples, critically comment on the statement.

Question : Explain the term ‘Benchmarking’ with example.

Question : The aspiration of civil servants while performing public service is constrained by the code of conduct. Do you agree?

Question : What are ethical issues involved in the process of benchmarking? Explain with suitable examples.

Question : “Open government is the governing doctrine which holds that citizens have the right to access the documents and proceedings of the government to allow for effective public oversight”

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples.

(a) ‘Corruption’

(b) Public Procurement

(c) Work Culture

(d) Quality of Service Delivery

Question : How can the Whistle-Blowing domain be expanded in India? Explain with suitable examples.

Question : “Open government is the governing doctrine which holds that citizens have the right to access the documents and proceedings of the government to allow for effective public oversight”. How much you agree with this statement?

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples:

(a) Canons of Financial Propriety

(b) Collusive corruption

(c) Social Audit

Question : “The solution to the problem of corruption has to be more systemic than any other issue of governance.” How much you agree with this statement?

Question : Critically examine the role of administrative machinery, presently existing in India for the prevention of corruption at the central and state levels.

Question : What are the provisions in Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, which prohibit civil servants from taking part in politics and elections? Give your opinion.

Question : Services of a civil servant were terminated because of a report made by the police authorities that he was not a fit person to be retained in the government service, as he had taken part in ‘RSS and Jansangh activities’. Give your views in view of the provisions under CCS (Conduct) Rules. What are the important judicial verdicts in this case?

Question : What are the different provisions and restrictions regarding acceptance ‘Gifts’ by civil servants under CCS (Conduct) Rules. Should a civil servant accept gifts at the time of his retirement if it exceeds the permissible limits?

Question : What are the various penalties prescribed under CCS (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, for bringing accountability in Civil Services? Do you think there is sufficient ground for amendment?

Question : What are the different provisions by which public authorities could share information’s to people under RTI Act, 2005. Is it correct to say that the Act is weak on this issue?

Question : Whether copy of opinions, advices, circulars, orders, could be given to the applicant? If the applicant wants a ‘sample’ of any material, whether it can be provided?

Question : Is the public authority legally or morally bound to develop and organize educational programmes to advance the understanding of the disadvantaged community? Had you been a PIO, what steps would you take in this direction? Answer quoting various provisions of the RTI Act 2005.

Question : What do you understand by ‘Coercive’ and ‘Collusive’ corruption in Public Services. Do you think that section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 provides undue protection to corrupt public servants?

Question : What do you mean by ‘professional ethics’? Make out a code of conduct of Nurses working in a hospital where children below the age of 2 years are receiving treatment.

Question : In the enthusiasm for cutting red tape, it is useful to remember the reasons some of that red tape got there in the first place. Explain with examples.

Question : “Quality begins with me” examine this statement in the context of probity in governance.

Question : “Emotions are always reactive in nature.” How much you agree with this statement?

Question : Critically examine the relevance of Emotional Intelligence in good governance.

Question : “A state cannot provide everything to citizens, there must be certain other mechanism also which help state in public service delivery.” How much you agree with the statement?

Question : For the sucessful and ethical completion of any project, there must be fine tuning between fund adequacy, policy framework and institutional capacity to deliver. Do you agree? Explain with examples.

Question : What is the role of state or institutions of state in strengthening the corporate governance in India.

Question : What are ethical issues involved in international relation? Explain by giving suitable examples.

Question : “At the time of entry into the government services, the motivation and enthusiasm of new entrants are generally high, however after few years of their service, these attributes recede in intensity”. Explain all the factors on which this statement is based?

Question : Do you think that accountability and ethics are closely related? Explain it with suitable examples.

Question : Examine the statement and bring out what it means to you in the present context. “Political neutrality is a cardinal virtue in the Indian Civil Service tradition.”

Question : What according to you are the obstacles in ensuring “Ethical Accountability” in India?

Question : “As a business, the media is under constant pressure to sell and to offer what sells, rather than what as the fourth estate ought to offer.” How much do you agree with this statement?

Question : Explain the term ‘Public Service’ with suitable examples:

Question : The true value of corporate governance is much more than just ensuring compliance with regulations. Critically comment.

Question : Critically analyse the problems of policy making in India. Also propose solutions.

Question : What are ethical issues in “Intellectual Property Rights”? What measures you will suggest to redress these ethical issues?

Question : Ethics in finance helps in promoting fund raising capability of companies. How much you agree with this statement?

Question : How the application of ethics is helpful in understanding the concept of biodiversity?

Question : “The state as a trustee is under moral duty to protect natural resources. These resources meant for public use cannot be converted into private ownership”. How much you agree with this statement?

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples:

(a) Ethics in Planning

(b) Ethics in Information Technology

Question : “The law recognizes mitigating factors, but ethical duties require a higher standard.”

Question : The concept of public and private governance is entering a phase of convergence. How much you agree with this statement?

Question : How important is teaching ethics in educational institutions?

Question : Ethics in science and technology is central to a knowledge driven globalised economy.

Question : Do you agree that ‘individuals are the cause and society is the effect’? Support your view point with a suitable case study.

Question : What are the various provisions through which government brings values and ethics in private institutions?

Question : What is the significance of ‘freedom from’ to ‘freedom to’? Bring out a case study to illustrate your views.

Question : What do you mean by ‘Doctrine of Double Effect’? Illustrate it through example.

Question : What do you mean by ‘Ethical Dilemma’? Illustrate it through a suitable example. You are a police officer and your bodyguard has once saved your life by putting his life on risk. He has taken Rs. 500 from a person to help the man to get a favourable recommendation from you for grant of an arms license. Another police personnel has told you about the matter that your bodyguard has taken the money from someone. The case of arms license is genuine and your bodyguard makes a request to do the same. What will be your response?

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples:

(a) Ethics in information technology

(b) Ethics in human resource management

Question : Privatization, contracting out, and a commitment to competition are viewed as the tools of entrepreneurial behavior and decision making in the public sector. Are there significant ethical risks associated with employing these tools? Explain with examples.

Question : Explain the following terms with suitable examples:

(a) Ethics in IPR

(b) Utilitarianism

(c) Rights ethics and duty ethics

(d) Virtue ethics

Question : There is a transport office where people come for grant of driving licenses and for renewal of old licenses. They met the officer in charge to bring out a ‘citizen charter’ so that harrasment of people could be minimized and rampant corruption could be reduced. The officer has readily agreed to make such a charter within a period of 2 months.

Draw out a Citizen Charter on behalf of the transport officer and justify that it can improve quality of service delivery to people and corruption will be reduced.

Question : During examination, your best friend asks you to show him your answer sheet. He is insisting on to help him cheat from our answer sheet. Explain all the factors that you will consider while arriving at a suitable course of action.

Question : You have recently been transferred as an SHO of a very ordinary Police Station, notorious for regular insulation of theft. There were widespread apprehensions regarding the behaviour of police personnel throughout the area and that is why, common people never bother to co-operate with the police. The attitude of police officers had so much deteriorated that common people feared more from police than goons. Faith of the public has shattered from the police department. Crime rate was exponentially surging. Police officers never used to report on time and they did more harm to the innocents than the criminals.

The reports of notoriety of the police station had even reached to the Home ministry and then in a state level police meeting, it was decided to send you for improving the situation because of your good track record and sincerity.

(a) What would be your course of action?

(b) This is not mere a law and order crisis, but an attitudinal problem, which has badly impacted the behaviour of the police officers. What would you do to change their behaviour?

Question : Your friend is arguing that all minority communities in India should be converted to the religion practiced by the majority community in India. He argues that if uniformity exists, there will be unity in the country. He is trying to persuade you to accept his views.

Question : On your motorcycle you have brought your friend to a nearby bus stop to bid him goodbye. One girl in her mid-twenties is standing beside you waiting for a bus. Your friend eve teases the girl. The girl slaps your friend in the public and warns him that if he doesn’t apologise to her, she would file a complaint against him and send him to jail. Your friend who is nervous, requests you to start the bike and help him escape from the scene.

(a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above situation?

(b) In this situation, what will you do? Justify.

Question : Your son is pursuing engineering from one of the reputed colleges in India. On asking about his future career, he tells you that he is looking for a job in a foreign country. One day you happen to get access to his laptop and email when he is not at home. To your shock you find that he is actively involved in proliferation of terrorist organizations. His email conversations reveal that he has already taken part in several terrorist attacks by providing necessary online support to such missions. You are scared to talk to your son and confront him. You have lived a respectful and dignified life. Your family members and neighbours respect you and your family a lot.

Question : You are working as District Health Officer in a backward district. You are asked by the government to order all Primary Health Clinics (PHC) to conduct special mass immunization programmes for the infants. In one of the camps, post-immunization, ten infants die. You order for post-mortems, which reveal that the deaths were caused due to the use of non-sterilized instruments during immunization.

Question : You are a police officer. You are known for utmost honesty and integrity. Recently, your son was diagnosed with cancer, which needs to be operated soon otherwise it may turn into deadly one. For the surgery, expert oncologists are needed. This may cause huge charges, which is not possible for you to pay. In the hospital where you admitted your son, an oncologist tells you that he may treat your son free of cost, but for that you need to help him in forfeiting some legal slum areas. He further promises you that in case if the plan happens to fail, then he will never out your name.

Question : A woman was brutally assaulted and physically harassed by the driver of the cab which she took to return to her home late at night from her office. Luckily, she survived with some injuries. That day she was forced to work late at night to achieve her yearly target. She was given free medical treatment as well as monetary compensation by the state government after media and public outrage in view of increasing crimes against women.

You are a Sub-inspector. The investigation case comes to your senior. After glancing through the file of this case, your senior is commenting that the woman should have stayed at home instead of going for work. He also tells that the government should not compensate such victims as these are mere accidents. He orders you to just ignore this case and look into other more critical cases.

(a) Identify the ethical issues, including your senior’s views, in the above case and critically comment on them.

(b) What are the options available with you? Explain which option you will choose and why?

Question : The government has proposed to mobilise public support for awarding persons who keeps his/her surroundings clean and shaming those who do not clean his/ her surroundings properly in order to give push to its Swachh Bharat Mission. Under this, people can directly upload photos of other person the social media and on the websites of PMO towards both awards and shame.

(a) Do you think awarding and shaming publicly is an ethical strategy to push people to keep his/her surroundings clean? Justify.

(b) In your opinion, how can government influence attitude of the people though alternative methods and tools? Suggest some of the alternate measures that government may take in this direction.

Question : Mr. X is posted as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in suburbs of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The shopkeepers of a nearby market complex, which lies in the area of Mr. X, are facing the problem of extortion. They have to give a fixed amount for their earning to a local goon, who extorts money from them by threatening them of dire consequences, even loss of life. The shopkeepers, due to fear, did not prefer to report the matter to the police station as they feel that police is unable to protect them and their family. Mr. X comes to know about this problem of shopkeepers through one of his sources. He also comes to know that the goon has the support of an influential politician, who belongs to the ruling party in Maharashtra. In the lack of initiatives taken by shopkeepers, it is difficult for Mr. X, to gather enough evidence against that goon. Under these circumstances what are the options available with Mr. X to deal with the issue? Is it correct for him to leave the issue unnoticed till shopkeepers come to him for registering of complain?

Question : You are the head of the Panchayat in a village of Haryana. A boy of lower caste, belonging to your village, has fled with the daughter of an upper caste landlord. Both were in love and wanted to marry but the caste conflict prevailing in the village was the biggest hurdle to them. Both families were at crossroads on this issue. So they planned to marry in the court of the nearby city and then came back to village. After the return to village, they met you before meeting the family members. On account of your position in village, they request you to convince their family members. The village has witnessed many caste conflicts and honour killings in the past on account of such incidents. You know that the matter may aggravate caste related tensions. Under this circumstance, what are the possible courses of action available to you? Is it correct for you to ask the newly married couple to leave the village immediately and help them in the same? Come out with the best possible step, which you feel should be taken by you as a Village Headman.

Question : You are the working as the Divisional Engineer in the Department of Signals in Indian Railways. A severe train accident, which has taken place in your zone, has resulted in the death of over 50 people.According to media reports, the accident is caused due to the transmission of wrong signals, which has resulted in the coming of two trains on the same track. This occurred because of the negligence of staff in your department. The government has set up an enquiry commission to look into the issue and suggest further actions to be taken. You have been appointed as the Head of the Commission. After conducting enquiry, you come across the gross negligence of duty by Mr. A, the Station Master of the station before which accident took place. He left the office during working hours for his personal work which resulted in transmission of wrong signals. But Mr. A is a close relative of the General Manager (GM) of your zone and you are getting constant pressure from him for manipulating the enquiry report. Your promotion as a Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) is due next month and a favorable report from GM office is essential for it. Also, the deadline set by the government for submission of report is also reaching closer. If you miss the deadline, your service record and hence your promotion, may get affected. What would be your reaction? Come out with an amicable solution to deal with the issue.

Question : Mr. Y, who is working as the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the Ministry of Urban Development, receives an application under Right to Information Act (RTI) 2005. The application seeks information regarding the method of allocation of contract to a local construction company owned by an influential Businessman. The contract pertains to a flyover, made by the aforesaid construction company. The flyover, just before the completion, has collapsed resulting in the death of two labours. Since the case did not attain much hype by media or any NGO, it was suppressed silently. Mr. Y knew that some of his superiors are involved in the suppression of the case. They have received heavy bribe from the construction company for allocation of contract and allotted the contract to the company, irrespective of the poor records and less experience of the company. If Mr. Y provides the true information, his superiors along with the company officials would be in trouble. He is continuously getting an undue pressure from his superiors to manipulate the information. Moreover the company officials have also offered him a huge sum of money in return of this favour. Mr. Y is also in the need of financial assistance as his father is admitted in aprivate hospital and waiting for the replacement of Kidney. What according to you should be the course of action taken by Mr. Y under these circumstances? Analyse the Dilemma faced by Mr. Y.

Question : Sri S.R. Shankaran, an Andhra Pradesh Cadre IAS Officer, took note of the plight of bonded labourers. The sensitivity and commitment with which the work has been pioneered by him on the abolition of bonded labour is marked as a watershed in the administrative history of Andhra Pradesh. Drawing inspirations from his work what you can do to eliminate atrocities on the members of S.C / S.T, if you become a Civil servant and are vested with necessary power and authority for this purpose.

Question : An external terrorist organisation has been able to have several bomb blasts in a town causing large scale casualties. The police suspect that the terrorists have some local support and they have arrested a local young man who appears to have supported the terrorists. How the law enforcement agencies will persuade the young man to become an approver?

Question : Mr X is working as Head of a developmental organisation dealing with water supply schemes in an urban area. Y and Z are his two subordinates. Y is the engineering head and Z is a finance man. Both Y and Z were earlier good friends, but now the differences between the two have gone all time low. Whenever Y brings any water supply proposal and is sent for the financial concurrence of Z, he makes adverse observations, which makes difficult for X to take a final decision. How X will resolve their differences so as to ensure that water supply schemes do not get delayed?

Question : A young Civil servant has been posted as Sub Divisional Magistrate in one of the most backward parts of the country. He finds various malpractices in distribution of old age pension schemes, in public distribution system and in poverty alleviation programmes. He finds that a section of his subordinates are a part of the problem rather than solution. To his surprise he comes to know that local ruling party members are badly involved in various malpractices.

(a) What steps the civil servant will take to bring integrity in his subordinates?

(b) How the SDM will be able to bring objectivity in distribution of old age pension?

(c) What steps the civil servant will take to ensure that food grains meant for poor people reach them?

(d) Through his hard work and extensive tour of the rural areas, what qualitative change, the SDM can bring in implementation of poverty alleviation programmes?

(e) How the young officer will ensure that partisan efforts on the part of ruling party members could be nullified?

Question : There is a distillery unit, which is manufacturing one of the best brands of liquor in a remote tribal area. The unit has come into existence after the villagers provided their lands to the management at a concessional rate. The unit is earning reasonably good revenue. What type of social responsibilities and initiatives are expected from the management of the unit?

Question : You are a Block Development Officer in charge of agriculture, rural development, primary education, PDS etc. There is a general complaint about your office that caste certificates, income certificates, PDS related work are never done without a price. Whenever you want to take reformative measures, two of your supervisors ‘X’ and ‘Y’ oppose and incite your work force. There is a strong pressure from civil society on you to immediately take some steps for bringing transparency, accountability and reducing corruption in your office.

(a) How you will discipline ‘X’ and ‘Y’ and bring accountability in your office?

(b) What steps you will take to bring transparency in the working of your office?

(c) How will you ensure better delivery of services like caste certificates, income certificates, etc.

(d) What specific measures you would take to reduce corruption in your office?

Question : You are head of big government organisation and the appointing authority of group ‘B’ employees. Repeated complaints are reaching to you that a group ‘B’ employee regularly comes to the office in a drunken condition. One day, he entered the room of another officer in drunken state and abused him. On being protested, he assaulted the concerned officer. With the help of other employees, he was overpowered and brought before you. How you will proceed to discipline him and also send the right signal in the organisation?

Question : A civil servant has been arrested in a corruption related case in which other co-accused are some politicians and leading businessmen. CBI wants to persuade the civil servant to tell the truth and become an approver in the case. How the investigating officer will move in the matter (step by step)?

Question : You are a senior civil servant and in charge of disaster management in a district. You have come to know that 5 members of a family have been washed away in flash floods and two children having age of 12 years and 8 years have survived. The children are weeping bitterly as they have nothing to eat and depend upon. On the spot visit you find the situation to be very pathetic how would you console and normalise the children and what specific steps you would take to rehabilitate them.

Question :

You are a police officer and are engaged in anti-terrorist operation. You have come to know that some dreaded terrorists are hiding in a house. You had ordered your forces to take possession of the house and get the terrorists arrested. It is a densely populated locality and you are apprehensive that many civilians might be killed. Suddenly the terrorists start firing and people become scared and nervous. Security forces are also in two minds, as to what to do. How you will handle the situation and restore the confidence of the people.

Question : In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) Evaluate each of these options & choose the option which you would adopt giving reasons.

(c) What are the factors you would consider in reaching to the course of action?

Question : In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that follow:

Mr. X started as an energy producer in 1990 and later on moved into energy trading. The company that was making huge profits by the year 2000 and was also rated as one of the largest company on the Fortune 500, unexpectedly collapsed in 2008. Mr. X had impressed the public by entering into a unique concept of trading energy, and it deceived the public with false profits.

Also, the company had huge debts, all of which were not shown on the company accounts. To hide these large amounts of debt and losses, Mr. X had made many partnerships with companies that were run by Mr. X’s executives who profited from this deal and deceived the public. It used creative accounting techniques and manipulated its books which kept the investors in dark and led to an all time rise in its stock prices.

But by August 2008, the existing CEO of the company resigned, and it reported huge losses in October 2008. By late 2008, it admitted that the company had been manipulating its books and showing inflated profits. Mr. X in December 2008, filed for bankruptcy and later the matter was investigated and within a short span of time, the company had large amounts of unpaid debt and worthless shares. It was also revealed that the top executives of the company made huge profits by selling Mr. X’s shares at the right time, thereby leaving all the losses to be borne by other investors.

(a) Analyse the above case in terms of importance of corporate governance.

(b) Suppose you have been appointed for the task of auditing the account books of the company, what should be your course of action?

Question : Total sanitation campaign is launched in one of the backward district of Bihar. Due to unhygienic environmental conditions in rural areas many infectious diseases like typhoid, malaria and cholera spread which ruins the health of the people. Women and girls are badly sufferers as they have to wait for darkness for privacy and dignity. There are increasing instances of sexual and physical assault on them when toilets are in remote location. But the rural people, particularly the aged, do not want to change their traditional practice of open defecation. Hence, total sanitation campaign faces daunting challenges of adaptability especially in this educationally backward district. Various villages of other districts have been benefitted by this program of Ministry of Rural Development. The prime aim of this program is to popularize sanitation and hygienic environment in the rural areas. You are recently posted as the Sub-divisional Magistrate in that district. The chief secretary of Bihar is showing keen interest in this project. Considering your past performances, the administration is quite hopeful.

(a) How would you transform the minds of rural people which are loaded with orthodox beliefs?

(b) You have gathered information from various sources and a close review of the performance of the total sanitation campaign in other districts show that a total commitment on the part of key officials can bring out social change. How will you implement it in your district?

Question : You are recently posted as an SDM in a remote district. You come to know that the local MLA’s followers of the area, who are mainly small contractors and elected members of Gram Panchayat along with local officials, are misusing MGNREGA funds. You find that they smoothly siphoned off funds using fake job cards and without allocating bilateral cards to the villagers. You also come to know that all this was done at the behest of the local MLA. The state government has taken cognizance of the issue after a media report highlighted the matter and has ordered inquiry into the scam.

You have been given the onus to enquire into the matter. The local MLA is pressurizing you to file a false report. Some contractors and officials have contacted and requested you not to mention their names in the report in return for a hefty bribe. Recently, you have also started getting non – traceable threat calls.

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) Evaluate each of these options & choose the option which you would adopt giving reasons.

(c) What should be your course of action?

Question : You have been promoted as Additional Secretary in the ministry of defence and throughout your career, you have earned great respect because of your integrity. Defence minister trusts you and has given you great discretion in taking decisions. In a deal involving direct government to government contract with a major arms supplier, you are tasked with speeding up the contract agreement and finalize the deal. The manufacturer, who will benefit immensely if the process is expedited, on many occasions has personally contacted you and expressed his frustration in the slow movement of files in the ministry.

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) Explain the ethical dilemma and cognitive dissonance present in this case.

Question : ABC Co. Ltd. is a socially responsible company. Its objectives, plans and policies are made keeping in mind the interests of various stakeholders as well as society. It currently decided to launch a new social program for the benefits of homeless poor children of the city, but after cost estimation of the project, it concluded that it cannot afford the associated costs of the program in its current profit level. The other two available options for launching the program are – (i) increase in prices of its products which would lead to increase in profits and (ii) decrease in wages of the employees. Either of the two options is against the concept of social responsibility. The company, therefore, decides to drop the program.

(a) Suppose, you have been recently transferred and promoted as the General Manager of the company and you have been assigned with the task to re-look into the viability of the launching of the program, what course of action do you suggest for the company?

(b) Can the company maintain balance between the interests of various stakeholders in the above situation? If so, how?

Question : Due to huge power crisis in the state, government had launched a massive dam construction programme in an area as this area has huge untapped hydro-electric potential. In this programme, there would be huge mass displacement of people and large scale submergence of agricultural lands. Although proper resettlement and rehabilitation along with calculated compensation was assured to the people residing in the submergence region, still they were unsatisfied and unwilling to leave their own homes and native lands. Their issue of contention was that the compensation amount was decided without considering the fertility value of the land. Also, they were demanding proper rehabilitation and resettlement and compensation before initiation of the dam construction project, so that they might peacefully shift to some other location and would not be denied their rights.

You are a civil servant, who had been assigned the task of persuading people of your district in support of the government initiative.On reading the required reports, you came to know that the contention of the people was right as the original value of land was much more than the compensation amount. On raising this issue in a meeting with seniors, you were told that the amount of compensation could not be increased any further and your job was to provide all possible assistance in the execution of the programme and right now, your first duty was to persuade the people at any cost.

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) How would you manage the dissonance between your cognition and behaviour?

Question : You have been recently posted as a SDM in a remote area, where literacy rate is very low. One morning, while you are busy with some file work, an illiterate old man somehow manages to enter directly to your chamber. He is continuously criticizing government policies and public servants in a very loud and irritating voice. His tone is so much loud that whole office is getting disturbed. You at once call your subordinate and ask him the reasons for grieves of old man. Your subordinate tells you that the old man have come several times to know about the details of a currently modified old age pension scheme. He also tells you that the old man has been informed many times about the scheme, but he is not able to understand and in turn loudly abuses staff there. You are busy in some unavoidable work, which needs to be completed that day only as CM wants that file urgently. You also know that making the old person understand the scheme by yourself will take lot of time and your subordinates will not be able to make him understand.

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) Evaluate each of the options and explain your course of action.

Question : You have just finished your training and joined as a doctor in a very reputed government hospital. One day, while on night duty, you have been approached simultaneously by two patients – an octogenarian and a 5 year old child. Both of them are victims of recently out broken epidemic in the area. Situations of both of them are very critical and both of them need your urgent attention. You know that delay of even five minutes can cost the life of the neglected patient. No one was around there to help you. Three other doctors, who should be available for night duty have marked their attendance and left the hospital.You try to call them, but no one picked the call. So, the onus to save their lives lies entirely on you. But you have not handled any such case in past and you are a naïve in this particular field related with concerned epidemic. Also, you could attend only one patient at a time and that may risk the life of other.

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) Discuss the emotional dilemma in this case.

Question : A new lady officer, Kanika has been transferred from district headquarter to the field unit of department of disaster management, which is a male – dominated sector. You are the officer-in charge of the field unit, has just come to know about this. The state government is anxious to move more women into all levels of the department to reduce gender bias. She will be the first woman officer to get posting in the field unit. Upon learning this news, several employees of the field unit opined that they don’t like the idea of a woman supervising their work and pressurize you to use your connections in the district HQ to prevent Kanika’s posting here.They also felt that a rescue operation being a tough job is not suitable for the woman. But the department believed that women can play a valuable role during rescue operations due to empathy and sensitivity they have. At present their place and presence in the department is marginal. This gap in deficiency would be obliterated with more affirmative action like adequate representation of women from the grass-roots to the highest level of the department, greater access to education and training, improved HRD strategy focused on women participation and commitment of top management.

(a) What are the available options with you?

(b) Evaluate each of the options and explain your course of action.

Question : As an officer of the Ministry of Mines, you are given special responsibility to excavate and inspect some fertile farmlands where recently a research anticipated huge deposits of rare Uranium, a very costly element and which has the capacity to reduce dependency on imports for fuelling nuclear power plants. The farmers of the area has the feeling that if they allow excavation in their land, whole area would become a mining site and they would lose their livelihoods forever. This is indeed true and you are well aware that if Uranium would be found, then the whole area would be converted to a mining site. The villagers, majority of whom are poor and marginal landholders, protest against the government and request you to not to step on their farmland. They dare you of dire consequences in case if you proceed. Further, there are bright chances that in case if you succeed in the project, you would be promoted to a higher post.

(a) What are the ethical and moral dilemmas involved in the situation? Suggest some practical solution to overcome the dilemmas.

(b) “The greatest happiness of the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation.” How will you balance your course of action in the above situation according to this statement?

Question : As a Chief Medical Officer (CMO), you have the responsibility of successful implementation of an immunization programme for the females of a district, where maternal mortality rate is very high and literacy rate is very low. A section of local community claiming that immunisation of females is against their religious beliefs as in their community, females are not allowed to step out of homes, have boycotted the programme and the people of the community even threatened to destroy immunization camps of their area. You request them to allow the female members of reproductive age group to undergo immunization, highlighting the risks of non-immunisation. You even show them the benefits through videos. Despite your efforts, they are not convinced. Some of your staff members suggest you not to press further as they may harm you. Even your husband and family members ask you not to take risk as you might face violent protest from the community.

(a) What are the available options with you? What should be your course of action?

Question : Your college friend has formed a radical student group to fight eve teasing by punishing the culprits by using violent means, such as pelting stones at them or by beating them blue in front of the students. On asking, he tells you that female harassment has become an integral part of Indian society and measures taken by politicians can neither reduce nor eliminate it. He informs you the propaganda that he first wants to remove crime against women in campus and then he will shift his focus to the entire city by recruiting more of youths in his group. He used to say that system, police and courts are inefficient in fighting social evils and youths of the country has the responsibility to root those out. He even offers you to join his group.

Thought, in society incident of famele..higher and we should have to combat these incident but it doesnot mean that we should go on the pah of violence taking loaw in our own hand doesn’t serve any purpose rather it may create disturbance in society and leads to anarchy.

(a) What is your opinion on your friend’s arguments? What advice would you like to give him? Critically comment. Will you join the group? If yes, why? If not, why not?

(b) Critically examine the ‘cognitive dissonance’ involved in this situation.

Question : You are posted as Deputy Commissioner of a backward district in one of drought prone state. Recently, a continuous farm crisis due to severe drought for two adjacent years has hit poor farmers in this district and many of the farmers are left with no options, but to resort to suicide pushed by debt burden, unavailability of food to eat and other factors. There were many protests outside your office demanding waiver of their loans. Banks of the area have in fact adopted the policy of ‘naming and shaming’, where peasants who paid back interests and loans are appreciated and those who defaulted are criticized publicly by publishing their photos in the local newspaper.

You want to meet the agitating farmers personally and to do whatever possible for the farmers. But, you were asked by your seniors not to go for field visits on occasions of such protests and not to meet farmers personally as that might risk your life. In a recent protest, a farmer tries to commit suicide by burning himself in front of your office despite the presence of police force. Even though he was rushed to hospital, he could not be saved. Next day, media, NGOs and farmers’ organisations accuse you of causing the death of this farmer. They accuse you that you did not appear and hear his grievances personally. They are calling for your suspension by the government.

(a) What are the options available with you? Examine the merits and demerits of each of the options and justify your correct course of action.

(b) How will you overcome your emotional dilemma, psychological guilt feeling and mental agony in the above situation?

Question : You are working as a clerk in a government department. Your salary can help you lead a reasonable life but you are not able to save any money for the future and education of your child and to provide lavish life style to your family. Recently, influenced by government’s persuasion to give up LPG subsidy, you decide to do the same. Your wife has become furious on this. She tells you that it is for rich people to give up LPG and not for her family which is struggling hard. She further starts comparing you with other employees of your rank, who are making money over their salaries and living a lavish life. She even provokes you to do the same citing reason that system cannot be improved by a single person and you are unnecessarily bothering about the nation. She further adds that it is better for you to keep your family happy.

(a) What are the options available with you? What should be your course of action? Will you go ahead and give up LPG subsidy? Is your wife justified in opposing your decision? Justify.

(b) How will you balance your personal responsibilities and your work ethics? How will you overcome the ethical dilemma and emotional confusion involved in the above situation?

Question : You are recently posted as DM of a district which is notorious for frequent rapes and abuses against women. In your research about the districts profile, you find that the district has one of the lowest sex ratios in the country, highest female illiteracy and is following a tradition of male dominance by curbing women’s rights since long time. You also find that politics in the region has thrived on tradition of religious prejudices based on violating women’s rights. Your investigations reveal that most of the atrocities committed against women in the region are mostly by political activists belonging to prominent political parties and religious groups.You are informed that police have refused to even register complaints filed by women victims.

(a) As DM what are the ethical and moral issues involved in this situation?

Question : Being Superintendent of Police of a District, where juveniles ‘crime rate is too high, you are appointed to a committee to submit report regarding a boy of 17 years and 9 months involved in heinous and barbaric crime of brutal sexual abuse and murder.

The relatives of victim girl plead the government and committee to treat some of these juveniles as adults and punish them accordingly.

(a) What are the emotional dilemmas involved in the above situation? How will you overcome your emotional dilemmas, situational emotional outbursts and preconceived notions?

(b) Examine the involved ‘Cognitive Dissonance’ in this situation. Justify.

Question : In India, many pilgrimage sites are located at ecologically sensitive regions and it is said that allowing tourism or pilgrimage in these regions poses threat to ecology there.You are DM of a district, where a pilgrimage site is located at an ecologically sensitive region. The local people of the district come to meet you and request you to allow open pilgrimage site, which is closed due to pressure from ecologists.

(a) What are the options available with you? What should be your course of action?

(b) Examine the ethical issues involved in the above situation?

Question : You have been posted in such a department, where frequent transfers of honest officers are very common. Those officers who are not ready to accept terms and conditions of politicians and big businessmen are often harassed and frequently transferred to ‘not so good’ posts. This causes a sort of mental harassment to the officers and to his family too.

(a) Will you be ready to face such frequent transfers to uphold law and impart your duty as per rule book?

(b) What values are needed to endure these harassments? Assuming your family suggests you to ‘compromise’ with the ruling class and stay in a place for long time so as to live a peaceful life and provide good education to your children, what will you do? Discuss.

Question : You are working as District Collector in a remote district in one of India’s North-eastern states prone to frequent natural disasters. Recently a massive earthquake struck your district causing huge loss of property and lives. The situation is demanding urgent but careful relief measures to protect lives and offer humanitarian assistance to affected population. You are made in-charge of relief work. Some local politicians are asking you to help them in making money out of relief packages and in return, they offer you 20%. In case if you reject the offer, they threatenedyou for life.

(a) How will you manage the situation? What will be your priorities? Discuss.

(b) What are the options available with you? What should be the correct course of action?

Question : You are working as Superintendent of jail. A politician convicted of rape and murder who has already served 2 years in jail is under severe depression. His wife is on death bed due to cancer. He requests you to allow him to see his wife at his home one last time before she dies. Your wife, who is a social worker, after coming to know about convict’s request, requests you to allow him to see his wife once subverting court procedures.

(a) What are the available options with you? Will you follow your wife’s suggestion? Justify.

(b) If you follow your wife’s suggestion, what are the likely consequences that you might face? Enumerate.