Hints - Ethics Test - 2 (@UPSC PDF)

GS Mains Q&A Test Series 2020
Test
Ans
Answwer Hints: Test No
Test .10
No.10
www.iasscore.in
ETHICS INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE

Section - A
1. Administrators must perform their duty to promote public welfare ‘by seeking a balance
between virtue, principle and good consequences’. Explain and illustrate.
Approach
1. Give a brief idea of duty of administrators. (30 words)
2. Throw light upon concepts like virtue, principles and consequences. (60 words)
3. Discuss merits and demerits of aligning with either of these to take decisions in office. (60
words)
Hints:
• Public administrators are to be guided by the end goal of public welfare. This cannot be debated.
What, however, can be debated is the meaning of public welfare and how best to achieve it.
Thankfully, in our polity, the task of defining what public welfare is to be undertaken by people
themselves through their elected representatives. The experts in policy making and policy execution
can at best give inputs in policy making. At the end of the day, task of administrators is ‘to
administer’ the policies made democratically.
• The problem arises when one ponders upon the path to achieve the goals of public welfare. As
we know, there are plural sources of ethical guidance for an individual and more so in case of
administrator. This can be one’s own understanding of morality and sense of what virtues one
wants to uphold (virtue ethics); it can be rules and principles that sustain an institution within
which an administrator works (deontology); and it can also be the end goal that needs to be
achieved (consequentialism).
• What happens at the time of execution is that the demands of ends desired may create conflict
with one’s own value system; or the institutional principles may not be in sync with what one
feels internally or the principles need to be bend to reach the goal. These are contesting pulls
which any administrator is bound to face when at work.
• This competing version of good is not easy to resolve. An administrator if guided by his virtues
may become over confident and self-righteous. This assumes that one knows more than what
many others together claim to know. It also disregards time tested principles of decision making
and assumes that one knows all. It also sets a precedent for future adventurism with rules and
regulations. This tendency should be avoided. This, however, doesn’t mean that one should hide
behind the rules and principles and shed personal responsibility and put entire blame on the
rules. At times, rules may also be either vague, inadequate or totally absent as happens at times
of crisis. In this situation, one’s own wisdom becomes important. Similarly, an obsession with
‘getting the work done’ also encourages one to play with principles. This may become a slippery
slope and may lead one to justify one’s action in all the cases.
https://telegram.me/UPSC_PDF
• Hence, what is needed is not to stick to any one source of ethical guidance. We must reflect upon
the idea of ‘practical wisdom’ that helps one to draw upon various sources in a concrete situation
by harmonizing virtue, principles and goals. Any dogmatic approach is bound to produce more
pain that pleasure for greatest number.
2. What do you understand by ‘conflict of interest’? Do you think ‘enlightened self-interest’

can help one resolve this conflict? Argue and illustrate.
Approach
1. Briefly explain the phrase 'conflict of interest' with suitable examples. (30 words)
2. Reflect upon the term 'enlightened self-interest'. (30 words)
3. Examine the difference and see how it can reconcile mutually competing selfish-interest. (90 words)
Hints:
• The phrase ‘conflict of interest’ is self-explanatory. It depicts a situation where two interests that
a person has cannot be simultaneously upheld or are at odds with each other. This normally
happens because an individual has multiple role obligations and each create different demands
E
on the individual. For example, one should not be a jury in one’s own case because being an
accused and being a judge demand different approaches from a person. Hence, one cannot be
OR
honest to at least one role obligation. Impartiality cannot be maintained. So, it is advisable that
one should avoid such a conflict of interest or resolve them.
• Enlightened self-interest on the other hand compels one to visualize that superficially competing
interest are actually not opposite to each other. They mere appear to be so. Underlying them is
a harmony that can take care of all these visibly contending interest. For instance, in an interview,
if a person gets to interview his own relative, it may appear that demands of relationship may
SC
go against demands of an objective process of selection. This may appear as a case of conflict of
interest. But if one probes a bit deeper, one may understand that the principle of objective
allocation of resources and opportunities is in overall benefit of the society. Here, one may borrow
Kant’s argument that one should act in a way that one may wish to become universal principle.
This suggests an ethic of reciprocity. This indirectly means that one should go for partiality in
allocation if he is comfortable with the idea that everyone else also is partial. This may create
chaos in the society.
GS
• Guidance in this direction are also abundantly available in our epics where it has been suggested
that in the welfare of the whole lies the welfare of the individual. This ethic is premised upon
a culturally and socially imbedded notion of individual. There is no essential dichotomy between
interests of the individual and society.
• Having said that, we must also not lose focus of the fact that in the name of overall interests,
individuals can be asked to make sacrifices for a section of people. One may be asked to sacrifice
their freedom and wishes. One may be singled out to suffer for overall development.
• Hence, there is a need to develop ability to discriminate between different concrete situations
where one needs to decipher how much one’s self-interest is narrow and how much one can be
enlightened and identify with the whole. Neither should individual disregard society nor should
society compress individual.
3. Explain the difference between ‘bureaucratic attitude’ and ‘democratic attitude’. Do

you think ‘social audit’ can bridge the gap between the two?
Approach
1. Succinctly define/explain the terms. (60 words)
2. Introduce what social audit is and relate it with attitudinal change in bureaucracy. (90 words)
[2] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude
https://telegram.me/UPSC_MainsTests
Hints:
• It is often said that bureaucratic attitude and democratic attitude are opposite to each other.
Democracy is premised upon equal moral worth of each individual. In this capacity of equality,
they participate in decision making about those issues that affects them whereas bureaucracy is
based on expertise of select few individuals who assume power and centralise it and impose their
decision on society and lay people. This is the foundational understanding of bureaucracy which
stands with the fact that it has undergone transformation with time.
• Democratic attitude suggests decision making allows everyone to participate and is against
bureaucratic self-importance and centrality. It doesn’t assume that one individual knows more
than collective everyday wisdom of people. It believes in capacity of common masses to help add
some knowledge in policy making.
• Bureaucratic attitude is based on it being repository of privileged information that is not accessible
to people. It despises democratic participation and looks down upon people who are not literate.
Hence, it is anti-democratic in spirit.
• But with time, the realization has come that people need to be empowered to hold bureaucracy
accountable. It needs to ask questions to those whom it has given power and resources to work.
E
In this direction, various mechanisms have been devised. One of them is social audit. What
happens essentially in social audit is that the data provided by government is put to question by
OR
lay people. Civil society organizations work as a bridge to compare and contrast data and
information about execution of some schemes etc. from sources of government and cross verify
them with narratives of the people. Then, an open discussion is held where public servants are
asked open questions by lay persons about why there exists a gap between bureaucratic version
and popular version.
• This simple looking process has a deeper philosophical significance. It fundamentally questions
SC
the supremacy as well as finality of government’s version of the things. It situates people’s
knowledge at par with official knowledge. It at least gives them chance to compete with what
bureaucracy says. This is a radical rupture from the past.
• The outcome of social audits are many but what is important for this discussion is that it transforms
the attitude of the officials towards what people know and think. It makes them stakeholder in
the entire process. It makes officials reflect upon their intellectual arrogance and respect knowledge
GS
of lay people and brings idea of participation to concrete form. It makes them humble and
considerate.
• Thus, at least social audit has laid down a possible mechanism to bring an attitudinal change in
bureaucrats.
4. Dedication to public services can be cultivated only by treating public services not
as a profession but as a calling. Do you agree?
Approach
1. Focus on contrasting approaches to look at work i.e. career and calling. (75 words)
2. Relate calling with dedication. (75 words)
Hints:
• Any work that is done by an individual can be approached as either profession or as an internal
calling. The spirit with which the task at hand is undertaken determines the energy that one puts
in, the motivation one draws upon and the chances of succeeding in it. When one looks at public
services as profession, one is driven by its perks and privileges. It is not to be said that professional
approach makes one selfish or corrupt. A professional approach can also be efficient and honest.
This is not what is doubted. However, the difference lies in what drives one. In case one visualizes
Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude [3]
public service as calling, one doesn’t become limited by material motivations only. It is not only
a source of good personal life and social prestige. It is not only about personal growth. It is much
more than that. There can be a spiritual outlook towards the task at hand also. For instance, in
public office, one may not look at people to be served as facts or numbers but as a human being
who has emotions, possibly even an element of godliness in them. Mother Teresa, Mahatma
Gandhi were some eminent people in whom we find this streak. There are the people who could
realise the larger significance of their task.
• If we try to relate this distinction between career and calling with the concept of dedication, we
see that in case of career, the task at hand is normally replaceable. If one is offered better
incentives, one may be willing to switch the role. Logically, when something is replaceable, one
cannot pour ones heart out. Choices weaken the commitment. In contrast, when one looks at
something as calling, there is no artificial incentive required to keep one moving. The drive is
internal and not dependent on fears of failure. Hence, there is no apprehension or sense of
dissatisfaction in one’s mind. This clarity boosts commitment. One can fully pour in one’s mind,
body and soul to the task. Setbacks won’t be discouraging. One is in the feeling of Nickâma
karma. An action is done for its own sake. That process itself brings pleasure. No stone is left
unturned to finish the task.
E
• Hence, we see that dedication can be realized in public services only if one transcends that level
of social prestige or material incentives. That would automatically flow but that should not be
OR
made contingent. Sheer importance of the task should make one act.
5. What do you mean by ‘Ethical Dilemmas’? 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 favorable recommendation from you for grant of an
arms license. Another police personnel has told you about the matter. The case of
SC
arms license is genuine and your bodyguard makes a request to do the same. What
will be your response?
Approach
1. Explain what is meant by an Ethical Dilemma. (40 words)
GS
2. Evaluate the case for conflict of moral values at stake. (90 words)
3. Conclude by providing the best way forward. (20 words)
Hints:
Discussing ethical dilemma:
An ethical dilemma can be described as a circumstance that requires a choice between competing sets of
principles in a given, usually an undesirable or perplexing, situation. Conflicts of interest are possibly the
most obvious example that could place sector leaders in an ethical dilemma.
Public servants find themselves in dilemmas that include conflict between: the values of public
administration; justifications for the institutions; aspects of the code of conduct; personal values and
supervisor or governmental directive; professional ethics and supervisor or governmental directive;
personal values and professional ethics versus government directive; blurred or competing accountabilities;
and the dimensions of ethical conduct. To resolve the ethical dilemmas, a stakeholder needs to follow
moral viewpoints before making a decision.
It needs to be kept in mind that an ethical dilemma is not a set of choices between good and bad. Had
that been the case, there wouldn’t have been any dilemma as such. It is tough to choose because both the
values are good and worthy to uphold. For instance, for a doctor in war situation, it is tough to choose
between doctor’s ethics to save injured opponent and to help his country kill the opponent. His call as a
doctor and as a citizen may be tensile and this is what creates a dilemma.
In such cases, various ethical theories, hierarchies of values, professional codes, lives of great men, religious
injunctions, constitutional morality can give us fodder to think but at the end, one has to take a call
based on his conscience.
Dealing with this case:
In the above case study, the police officer is in an ethical dilemma whether to punish the bodyguard for
taking a bribe or not and whether to grant license or not. Here, the issue becomes complicated because
on a personal level, the officer’s life has been saved by the bodyguard. This makes the officer obliged to
the bodyguard and his dealings with him, even in a professional capacity, will be moulded because of
humane considerations. So, while deciding how to deal with this case of receiving a bribe, this personal
sense of obligation will create a dilemma for the officer against his professional choice.
Also, as highlighted in the case study, it is a genuine case for grant of arms license, the police officer is
duty-bound to recommend the case for grant of license, as it may be the case of personal safety, etc. On
the other hand, the bodyguard has taken a bribe of Rs. 500 from the applicant. This is a case of corruption
for sure. This will also send a message the to public that the bodyguard is a channel of corruption and
communication to the police officer. Hence, how the officer deals with his bodyguard also matters for his
personal image.
E
In this situation before taking any action, the intent and personal conduct of the guard should be taken
into account, (it is a general rule before giving punishment to analyse the motive of the crime). In a this
case, the personal conduct of the guard is good and he has taken a bribe to initiate the procedure for a
OR
genuine arms license case. Thus, he should call the bodyguard, and the petitioner, and ask the bodyguard
to return the money to the applicant and a warning must be given to avoid the same in future. If repeated,
he may call for disciplinary action against the guard.
6. Explain the difference between “political neutrality” and “program neutrality”. Which
of these is expected from a civil servant and why?
SC
Approach
1. Explain the two kinds of neutrality. (75 words)
2. See which of them is expected and why. (75 words)
Hints:
GS
• Neutrality is a value that is expected from civil servants. A civil servant should not be partisan
and take political stance. It has obvious problems. If a civil servant is not neutral politically, it
would imply that his political ideology would guide his actions. This may create problem in the
case of ruling dispensation having some other political outlook. Hence, he may not faithfully
advise or execute policies made by that government. This would render governance impossible.
Also, if the ideologies of civil servant and government is same and he allows it to affect his policy
advises, he may not offer fair and free criticism to the government. In this case also, public
welfare will be jeopardized. A partisan approach will also establish a possibility of quid pro quo
between political class and civil servants. This has propensity to damage institutional health also.
• But in popular discourse, one often hears that a government officer is not supposed to criticize
policies of the government. This is not accurate appreciation of the role of civil servants. A civil
servant’s duty is to give free and fair advice to the policy makers in best of their knowledge. This
policy prescription should be given keeping in mind greater common good. One may have to
sideline ones political bent in this regard. If a civil servant thinks, in best of his knowledge, that
a particular policy of the existing government won’t lead to greater common good, for whatever
reason, it is the dharma of that civil servant to register his observations in this regard. Neutrality
towards policies entails that one is not committed to public welfare seriously and this is lacksaidal
approach. This put to question to the dedication and commitment of the civil servant. If one
remains neutral, government and public in turn is deprived of the expertise of the civil servant.
Neutrality with respect to programs is also not expected because it allows a free hand to a
majoritarian, populist government to act against the principles of the constitution. Here, the role
of constitution as ‘vehicle of social transformation’ comes to be actualized by civil servants.
• Finally, one must not feel that not being program neutral entails activism. This is not at all
expected. Having offered ones free and frank advice on policy, the role of civil servant remains
to faithfully execute the final policy decision even if it is not in consonance with the advice of the
civil servant. Otherwise, governance will not be possible. The upper hand in a democratic polity
must be given to the elected representatives. Hence, we conclude that a civil servant should not
be program neutral but politically neutral.
7. “The ethical obligations to uphold the law requires that one subjugates one’s personal
beliefs (i.e. one’s own sense of morality) to discharge the duties of the office.” Do you
agree with this prescription?
Approach
1. Discuss both kind of ethical obligations i.e. own sense of morality and law. (75 words)
2. Critically evaluate the prescription of this statement. (75 words)
E
Hints:
• We understand that there are multiple sources of ethical guidance. Some have their locus within us
OR
and some are external to us. This maintains a healthy balance between individual free thinking
about what is good and what is not and social stability and predictability. Whereas individual sense
of morality is based on one’s own reflections, law reflects collective institutionalised sense of morality
which is accepted by overall collectivity. This way, it is more mature and prone to provide order.
• But, the existence of plural sources of ethical guidance is also bound to create tension and
SC
confusion. One source may give guidance contrary to another. In this case, resolving this conflict
becomes a challenge.
• Virtue ethics promotes dependence on abiding of certain virtues that guide good conduct. But if
someone is too obsessed with one’s own virtues, there is a possibility that one may become over
confident and self-righteous. This sense of superiority about one’s inner source and understanding
of morality may encourage one to deny the collective wisdom and time tested principles of society.
It also paves way for ethical anarchism if each of us agrees to be guided only by personal
GS
understanding.
• If one tries to locate this debate between individual morality and laws in the public services, one
must see how the final goal of public welfare can be achieved by the institution. Here, the
catchphrase is institution which is built by many people coming together. To make them proceed
towards a common goal demands their agreement to be guided by a common set of principles.
Laws are moral minimum over which all of us agree. If each of us deny this moral minima,
convergence between different actors is not possible.
• There is, however, a problem also with complete dependence on external sources of morality like
laws. This may allow people to not take personal responsibilities of their actions. They may prefer
to hide behind institutional processes. Also, many times, laws are absent, unclear or conflicting.
In such a situation, they fail to provide ethical guidance. Hence, there arises the need of conscience
or practical wisdom to see what is the right thing to do in that particular, concrete situation.
8. Reasons of corruption in public life can be traced to a poor understanding of role

obligations of public servants. Explain.
Approach
1. Discuss role obligations of a public servant. (60 words)
2. See how its poor understanding manifests into corrupt behavior. (90 words)
Hints:
• Dharma of each role is different. In public life, people with power and position are expected to
keep their conduct in a particular way. The cardinal value that should guide a public servant is
public welfare. Everything else is derived from this basic premise. The essence of public services
is the duty to increase overall public good of the society using resources jointly owned by the
people in their corporate capacity by the due process established with the concurrence of the
people and giving account to them of the whole process.
• If we agree that above is the role obligation of the public servants, we would also agree that any
deviation from any of the premise can be deemed to be a corrupt act. It may look like working
for private/sectional interest, not following the due process, or not being accountable for their
conduct to people.
• A careful reflection would reflect that above are the major ways in which corruption manifests
itself. The major scams or cases of financial impropriety reveal how public money is used for
private gain or promoting interests of a particular section of society. This is the most common
understanding of corruption. At times, laws are bend to fulfill a certain task. Though it may
invoke utilitarian principles to justify itself but still it deviates from principles laid down that
should govern actions in public office. This means a person’s own understanding of morality
E
triumphs collective wisdom in form of laws. So there is action in discretion. Finally, there may
be a tendency not to give people details of how policy decisions are made, funds allocated, put
OR
to use etc. This breaches the trust people deposit in public servants.
• We see that a clearer understanding of what public services means would help one better align
their conduct with the role obligations. One gets corrupt if one doesn’t know whose resources are
being deployed, whose interests are being served, how decisions are being made, and if or not
public is being reported about the above.
SC
• However, knowledge may not always automatically translate into virtue. There may be need of
active steps to convert virtues into action. There may be understanding of what the role obligations
of public servants are but still there may be lack of strength of character, outside force to compromise
integrity etc. that can make a person behave against the role obligations.
• So, to remain incorruptible, one needs both knowledge about one’s role as well as character to
execute that knowledge.
GS
9. “Conscience is to law as a brush is to paint.” Reflect upon the significance of conscience

as a source of ethical guidance.
Approach
1. Open up the quote's metaphorical meaning. (50 words)
2. See how conscience helps apply law in specific situations. (50 words)
3. Can also add some point of criticism of dependence only on conscience. (50 words)
Hints:
• We know that there are multiple sources of ethical guidance. They can be internal or external to
the moral agent. Whereas law is an external source for moral guidance, conscience comes from
within. It is in the nature of the law to be objective and general. It lays down a principle for
action. Conscience differs from it in the sense that it is an act of intelligence that decides upon
goodness of a particular action in a concrete context. It needs to be understood that conscience
is not intuition or emotion. However, intuition, emotion, socialization etc. together go into
constitution of one’s conscience.
• Conscience is important because, as discussed above, law may not provide ethical guidance in all
practical situations. It may also be either totally absent, vague or conflicting. There may also be
certain crisis situations in which law does not provide any precedent. In these times, a readymade
code of conduct may neither be available, nor be suitable. Hence, the need arises for a practical
wisdom that borrows upon multiple sources of ethical guidance and puts them to solve a particular
ethical problem.
• For instance, a particular law may demand people to file a medico-legal case while helping an
accident victim but in a specific situation it may not be in the best interest of accident victim
keeping in view the paucity of time. Here, it is beyond doubt that law also intends to make the
whole process principle based but sticking to a rigid interpretation of law may also fail the very
aim of the law itself. It is in such concrete situation that one needs to take intelligent practical
decisions.
• The above discussion should not give a sense that decision making should be left to conscience
of moral agents in all circumstances. It may lead to moral anarchy. It would also be difficult to
bring predictability and order in the system. Hence, what is needed is an enlightened conscience
that knows where to use which source of ethical guidance.
10. “Integrity means earning and sustaining public trust by using powers responsibly,
for the purpose and in the manner for which they were intended.” Explain this
E
statement.
Approach
OR
1. Specifically focus on three thrusts of integrity i.e. source of public office, ends desired and due
process to be followed. (150 words)
Hints:
SC
• The state arises out of a social contract between people living in a territory. People come together
to collectively solve their issues which they cannot address on their own. State comes out of this
mutual negotiation between people. People deposit trust with the government that its resources,
authority etc. will be used for the intended purposes and in the right manner.
• To help achieve the above objectives, some moral values are needed to guide the actions of a
public servant. Integrity is one of them. Public servants are supposed to have integrity. Integrity
GS
is normally referred to mean a high degree of commitment to consistently upholding certain

moral principles.
• If we focus upon three focus areas discussed above in the approach, we see that accountability,
public interest, neutrality, objectivity etc. are certain values and principles which a civil servant
is expected to uphold. This is because public trust can be genuinely upheld only by using power
responsibly and towards intended goals. Towards such an exercise of power what is required is
not to succumb to temptations and fears. The decision making should be guided by objectivity
and non-partisanship. Only in such cases the public welfare can truly be taken care of.
• On the contrary, if decisions are taken on whims and fancies, interest of certain sections, or
private interest is favored in place of public interest, the trust in public services will be eroded.
There may be various reasons of not upholding the above mentioned principles. It can range from
personal material gratification to poor work culture to political coercion. Whatever may be the
reason, the basic premise of using authority for public welfare will not be satisfied.
• So what is required is careful cultivation of ethical competence. It would entail a clear knowledge
of moral principles, right attitude towards ethical issues and skill to put this knowledge to resolve
specific ethical problems. It would also demand strengthening of internal moral compass. One
should not give into allurements of perks or threats and coercion.
• Only if public servants realise what their role obligation is and accordingly cultivate relevant
value system can the public trust be actually upheld.
11. The term ‘accountability’ can evoke various emotions in a public servant. Positive
among them are trustworthiness and ownership and negative among them are
liability, fear and punishment. Discuss.
Approach
1. Introduce the value of 'accountability'. (50 words)
2. See how it creates different emotions in different people depending on their outlook towards
public services. (100 words)
Hints:
• Accountability is seen as a key value that should guide actions of public servants. It simply means
to give account of your actions to people. This accounting can be about how public resources are
being used, what is guiding decision making, who is beneficiary etc. We have discussed reasons
of it being called ‘public services’ elsewhere also.
• Accountability is extracted by some externally imposed mechanisms. Some institutions have been
E
created to hold public servants accountable. Accountability implies an arrangement for reward
and punishment also exists corresponding to the conduct of public servants.
•
OR
We also agree that the moral values imbibed by various people are different. Some are honest and
have integrity whereas others may not have transcended that level of material self-interest that
has ability to make one corrupt. It is natural that those who have not abided by the role obligation
of public servants and delivered their duty in right spirit will be threatened by the idea of giving
account of their deeds to public. This is what this question is asking one to explain.
SC
• The public servants who have done their duty with integrity are not afraid to render themselves
open. They take full ownership of their actions since moral agents act on free will. They develop
a sense of ownership of the public good they have done. They don’t play blame game or don’t
hide behind institutional structure. They also keep their virtues in mind. In return, it helps public
develop faith and trust in such public servants. Public feels that the trust they have reposed in
public institutions hasn’t been betrayed.
GS
• On the contrary, those public servants who haven’t keep their integrity intact, have taken partisan
decisions, favored certain sections and not public at large etc. won’t feel comfortable with the
idea of public scrutiny. They prefer secrecy and want to hide behind decisions of others. They
avoid taking responsibility of what they have done. Naturally, the idea of accountability strikes
terror in them. They don’t take it as an exercise in appraisal but as a judgment on their work and
action of reward and punishment.
• What is needed, hence, is to look at accountability as a logical process flowing out of a true
understanding of public services. It should not threaten the public servants. 2nd ARC reports also
suggest that there should be adequate mechanisms to safeguard an honest civil servant. Decision
making involves wisdom and it can go wrong. Accountability should not become a process of
scapegoatism of civil servants. It will, otherwise, discourage courageous and innovative decision
making.
12. Bureaucratic morality in any society is but a mirror of the political morality prevailing
there in. Explain and illustrate with the help of examples.
Approach
1. Explain the linkage between bureaucratic morality and political morality. (100 words)
2. Bring suitable examples to substantiate your points. (50 words)
Hints:
Independent India inherited the best administrative machinery proudly claimed as “the Steel Frame of
India” by Sardar Patel among all developing nations post decolonization, along with a morally upright
and dedicated public service. During the past three decades, there has been an enormous increase in the
scope of governmental activity and in the range of its objectives. Welfare state is the norm to exist for a
modern state. This goal of welfarism has deposited immense power and authority in the hands of public
officials as well as huge public resources at their disposal. This has increased opportunities for abuse of
power and authority, as well as incidents of unethical activities. This is visible empirically in the Corruption
Perception Index too. Bureaucratic immorality has engulfed the political and administrative apparatus
of the country. The bureaucratic machinery has forgotten what “public” means in public administration.
It is addicted to serve particular sectional interests. There are many probable reasons of such a decline of
bureaucratic morality.
Perhaps the most important determinant of the integrity of public servants is the quality of politics.
Constitutionally, it is under the overall guidance of elected political executive that bureaucracy is supposed
to work. This is in keeping with the spirit of democracy also. If politics attracts and rewards men and
women of integrity, competence and passion for public good, then the society is safe and integrity is
maintained. But if honesty is incompatible with survival in politics, and if public life attracts undesirable
E
and corrupt elements seeking private gain, then abuse of authority and corruption becomes the norm. In
such a political culture and climate, desirable initiatives will not yield adequate dividends. The bureaucrats
align themselves with political leaders to serve their vested interests. This leads to the politicization of the
OR
bureaucracy. We cannot forget that civil servants also share with other human beings common human
weaknesses. They are also driven by incentives like praise, humiliation, money, promotion, etc. Now, the
point is whom the political culture rewards. People will confirm to those ethos that bring them rewards.
This is basic human nature. If political culture rewards conformist, partisan and compliant officers, this
will gradually become the guiding morality of bureaucrats also. But if corrupt officers are timely punished,
this behaviour will be discouraged.
SC
It is unfortunate that we have seen upright officers to be at the target of both commercial vested interests
like Satyendra Dubey and Manjunath Sanmugham and political interests like Sanjeev Bhatt. Still, we
have between us exceptional bureaucrats who brave all odds and suffer a lot to maintain their integrity.
However, we should not leave our society at the mercy of some people but bring a change in political
culture that allows good enough people to work.
GS
13. What is implied by the word “public” in public administration? Relate the meaning
of corruption with deviation in above understanding of “public”.
Approach
1. Explain what "public" means in public administration. (50 words)
2. Define "corruption". (30 words)
3. Discuss how corruption is related with a misunderstanding about "public". (40 words)
4. Suggest ways in which a public servant can better realize it. (30 words)
Hints:
Explaining Public Administration:
Public administration is defined as “public leadership of public affairs directly responsible for executive
action”. In a democracy, it has to do with such leadership and executive action, in terms that respect
and contribute to the dignity, the worth, and the potentials of the citizens. It refers to management of
resources that are publicly owned in a way that enhances public interest. Further, the individuals carrying
out the task are publicly accountable for their actions. Public interest means allocation of resources in a
way that furthers collective well-being and is consistent with ethical and constitutional norms, thereby
helping individuals develop fully into citizens. In effect and in spirit, public must remain center of all
analysis in public office.
Discussing Corruption:
Deviation from the genuine meaning of public takes place in two ways:
• What constitutes public interest?
• Who constitutes the public?
Ordinarily, corruption means use of public office for private gains. If we relate corruption with the way
above paragraph defines spirit of public administration, it refers to the dishonest and fraudulent contract
made on behalf of the public but for private interest or for supposed public interest that only serves a
narrow section of it by catering to a particular group or community.
It is the circumscribing of the “public” to include a few at the expense of the larger majority. This may
not happen only due to monetary considerations but also on account of ideological predispositions.
Large scale development related displacement, a preoccupation with urban chores, etc., while state-
sanctioned, when see through the broader understanding of public interest are still ethically problematic
since they limit the meaning of “public” to a small section and assume that the interests of a rich minority
reflect those of all citizens. This may be due to one belonging to certain section of society or belief in an
E
ideology that doesn’t equal moral worth of all human beings.
The notion of public interest, however, can also assume tyrannical proportions as seen with the justification
of extraordinary laws or crackdown on civil society groups. Such actions are also based on incorrectly
OR
assuming equivalence between the interest of the state (or its officials) or the ruling party with the public
at large. Most devastating or absurd actions like mega hydraulic projects or construction of statues of
great men using public money in a rather poor nation are all justified in the name of larger public
interest.
How public interest can be better realized by public servants?
SC
• It can be done by ingraining a clearer understanding of public interest among public servants.
What we have discussed in opening paragraph is the essence of public administration.
• By evaluating whether actions of public servants are truly in the furtherance of public interest in
its broadest sense and in consonance with the ideals of the Constitution and by linking it to
Gandhi’s talisman where he urged to evaluate one’s actions with respect to needs of the last man
GS
and taking corrective measures, one can realize the genuine public interest.
• By undertaking a dialogic and bottoms up approach to public administration by including the

legitimate claims of relatively disenfranchised and suppressed groups by including them in their
understanding of “public”, one can make decisions regarding disposal of public resources more
democratic.
Hence, it is important that public interest is conceptualized in a way that is consistent with the spirit of
the Constitution and furthers positive freedom of citizens. One needs to go to initial hypothetical situation
in which people with equal moral worth and with joint ownership of resources of land entered into a
social contract and created state to serve their interest. Then only an administrator can constantly gauge
whether or not his action is respecting that initial contract of trust with its citizens. Any deviation from
the above can be loosely or strictly called as corruption.
Section - B
In the following questions carefully study the cases presented and then answer the question that
follows:
14. You are head of a charitable trust that takes care of education, clothing, food and other
basic needs of children from the marginalized community. Your organization also offers
health services to the members of the weaker section. You find it difficult to serve
qualitatively because of the crunch of funds. The trust runs on donations and
contributions from donors only. There has been a regular fall in contribution from
several eminent persons who were prime donors previously. The response to your
decision to go for a small advertisement to get a donation for the good cause is not
very encouraging. However, a prominent local politician albeit with a criminal record
offers a hefty donation. You are in dire need of money to keep running the charitable
trust.
What are the options available? Analyze.
E
Hints: OR
Following options are available:
1. Taking donation from the politician
2. Rejecting offer of that politician as he has a criminal record
3. Asking him to directly assist to those who are in need
SC
4. Reducing our operational scale to affordable level, so that we can sustain the charitable work
Taking donation from the politician:
Merits:
There is no problem in taking “unconditional” donation for the noble cause irrespective of the background
of the donor. Alfred Nobel earned his fortunes by supplying bombs during the war years on whose
GS
donated corpus/ funding and name, Nobel Prize is given. In a way it will be an opportunity for a wrong
doer/criminal to work for the betterment of the society and beginning of mending his ways. The word
unconditional is very important. If I read ulterior motives or vested interest, I should reject donation
from a tainted politician.
Demerit:
Receiving the funds from tainted politician will bring a bad name to the trust. In future, there can be
investigations regarding money laundering done by the politicians using the NGOs. In that case, there
will be humiliation faced by the trust and years of honest work will go in vain. Future sources of funding
may also be threatened. It won’t be wise as well as moral to jeopardise the future of children dependent
on the trust. Over a period of time the fund providers would try to have greater say in the policies of
charity. Involving people with tainted track records may absolve them from the image and guilt of
wrong doing, but they may vitiate the institution for their own vested interests and the goal of serving
the marginalized people may take a back seat.
Rejecting offer of that politician as he has a criminal record:
Merit:
There is a belief that “means to achieve a goal should be as “pure and untainted” as the “noble purpose”
itself is. This is a thumb rule and very difficult to reject. So generally tainted money should not be accepted
as it will not only ruin the image of charity, but also affect the nature and character of institution. It is,
however, a matter of intelligent discretion to read any “heart change” in a tainted politician whose track
record is about wrong doing. Nevertheless, people do change; but very rarely.
Demerit:
The immediate needs of funds won’t be met. The future of children may be under darkness if the trust
doesn’t resume work. It may also infuriate the politician who might have some calculations in donating
to the trust. It would mean defending principles and ignoring hard material realities.
Asking the politician to directly assist to those who are in need:
Merit:
Although it will be a good idea to suggest him to directly help the marginalized people, the politicians
may be angry on the trust and may hamper the working of charity for marginalized children. However,
this is cost worth paying to stop dirty source of funding that may create a plethora of problems in future
for the trust and even lead to exploitation of the marginalized people. If at all change has taken place in
the man with a tainted background, it must be left on him to carry his Good Samaritan and philanthropic
act on his own to establish his own credentials.
Demerit:
Our purpose of getting funds to revamp the work of trust won’t be served. We may be helping abstract
human beings by guiding the politician to help people but that doesn’t factor in the real people with
E
whom the charitable trust has developed a relationship. This will help us to manage our conscience but
will not be of much help to children dependent on our trust.
Reducing our operational scale to affordable level, so that we can sustain the charitable work
OR
Merit:
Charitable institutions should be moral and ethical and recourse to quick pragmatism or short cuts for
fund raising is undesirable as it might have consequences for trust, image and even proper functioning
of the trust. Reducing the size and operation level can ensure quality in whatever service the charitable
trust provides. No service should be judged by its size. Serving the people is very noble work in itself and
SC
it is recognized by people over a period of time. They gradually start respecting such institutions and
their leaders and have a desire to engage with such institutions by providing funds and doing errands
including services. This situation may require adjusting the operation and services of the charity according
to availability of funds and to maintain a smaller size so as to maintain quality of services and character
of the institution. This is desirable and possible to save the character of the institution.
Demerit:
GS
This also sounds like shrugging off the responsibility. The idea should be to make all possible efforts to
fulfil the unsaid commitment towards the dependent children. It will be against the virtue of responsibility.
Final course of action:
In medium to long-term, efforts should be made to broaden the donor base of the trust. That will secure
the pool of funds raised as small contributions from large number of donors is preferable over huge
donations from shady sources. This will also sensitise the people. Crowd funding is becoming an attractive
source for civil society to raise funds and work without undue external pressures.
15. The issue of displacement is seen as a necessary evil in order to construct industries,
infrastructures such as dams, mining, roads, and power projects, which are intended
to serve the "greater good". The protests by civil society and peoples against land
acquisition have been growing in recent years. These protests and violence
increasingly question the so-called "greater good". In fact, whether it is Bhatta-Parsaul
in UP, Nandi gram in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala
and recently in Tamil Nadu, all point the need to examine the matter differently.
You are part of a big MNC and facing such protest against the expansion of your
plant. You are the CEO of a company, which is involved in the manufacturing of
products. It has created a good employment opportunity for the locals. But the local
residents are not happy with the management of the company and a big group of
local residents are protesting continuously. Actually, as part of expansion spree your
company needed more land to increase the manufacturing base. Opening a new plant
at a different location will increase the production cost. Government has allocated a
few acres of land to increase the manufacturing capacity of the plant as this will also
give a boost to the local employment. Government has assured for the rehabilitation
package for the displaced people. However, there is a huge protest against this allotment
as few people get displaced from their roots. They are demanding closure of the plant.
Your father is a Minister placed in the concerned Ministry. He is influential and very
well networked. Company's management is pushing you to manage the situation and
local authority through your father, as relocating new unit at new place will increase
the cost of production, and the company may lose market share in terms of sales if
the cost goes high. Based on the above situation answer the following questions:
(a) What are the options available to you?
E
(b) Discuss the merits & demerits of each option.
(c) What will be your final call? Justify.
OR
Hints:
(a) In the above case, the manufacturing industry though provide employment to the locals but
uprooting a sizable population. Thus, the options available are:
Convince management to stop expansion plan now:

SC
Merits:
This option is most preferred as this will de-escalate the protest. And it will not have impact on the
overall operation of the company.
It will also be beneficial in the long run for all the stakeholders as the brand image of the company would
improve and people will have no point for protest and agitation.
GS
Further convincing the management would be easier as it is an internal affair whereas managing all
other stakeholders will be difficult and complex because they are exogenous to the system having their
own interests.
Demerits:
The management of companies is often more interested in profit margins and sales targets rather than
compliance of rules.
Further meeting demand of locals may increase the cost of production, reduce profit margins and even
affect sales adversely. Hence, convincing the management of the company may prove out to be a herculean
task.
Insisting on to stop expansion may cost your job in the worst case on the allegation of incompetence on
your part.
Directly talk to local political leaders to influence situation temporarily:
Merits:
The option of talking with local political leaders is needed immediately to dilute the crisis and keep the
company going. This solution is better than calling police and taking coercive actions. it will help to clear
the doubts and apprehensions of the people.
Demerits:
The local political leaders might have their own agenda in mind rather than public interest. They might
be creating pressure on the company for donation for their party or personal gratification. They usually
make mountain of a molehill to gain coverage in media and garner public support.
In all these cases totally relying on them may not solve the crisis because the local political leaders may
not give any guarantee of not waging protest again. Personal gratification of one leader may set a precedent
for other leaders to use pressure tactics for the same in future.
Request father to influence local people:
Merits:
Management and administration are an art of ‘the possible’ and ‘pragmatism’. You can use your influential
father or any other influential contact to engage locals for better settlement.
Since your father is a minister, he can use his position and authority to settle the issue by engaging them
in dialogue also through use of police.
Demerits:
People may not easily trust your father because you are CEO of the company against which protest is
E
going on.
In the worst case this may cost the image of the CEO as well as his father if any unholy alliance for
OR
wrong doing comes in light, which may attract legal action.
Use media to spread news that closing of plant may hamper local employment & growth opportunity.
Merits:
This is an indispensable measure even if you explore the first two. Many of the protests happen because
of misconception and suspicion. Making people aware through media is a good step to avoid confusion,
SC
suspicion and apprehension.

Demerits:
Using media for creating favorable public opinion based on facts/realities is one thing and simply using
the platform for propaganda is other. Any move to force lies and befool people would severely damage
the image of the company and spoil the chances of solving the problem. People may feel cheated and
GS
deceived. Creating misconception or pervading untruth is immoral and unethical as well.

(b) Final course of action:
The approach would be to coopt the opposition of people affected by displacement by making them
participant and stakeholder in the process of expansion of the plant. People are opposed to this plan
because their interests are not being catered to in this process. The idea would be to provide employment
to the people based on their levels of skills in the company and provide for housing and education of
their children. Dissatisfaction can be addressed only by sharing benefits of development process and not
by brutal use of state machinery exploiting the links. It doesn’t pass the test of either morality or strategy.
For a peaceful functioning of the company, it is important that people around aren’t disenchanted. CSR
can also be a suitable mechanism to improve social status of the company.
16. In a major demolition drive, civic authorities demolished around 1,300 illegal
hutments in a cosmopolitan town. According to the officials, the encroached land of
20 acres belonged to the forest department. It was the same location where few
months back, the Chief Minister's flying squad had discovered the unauthorized
settlement having illegal electricity and water connections. There was a group of
people who tried to resist the demolition drive, but cops managed to thwart any such
attempt and the demolition drive was carried out. After the success of first demolition
drive, concerned department wants to continue the drive. However on the other hand,
slums are providing low-wage workers as well as cheap vending of essential
commodities like vegetables and eggs. Besides, their women folk work as "Aayas"
(babysitters) or "didis" (maid servants) in the middle class urban households. But
slums deface the beauty of the cities and spread lots of dirt and squalor in the vicinity.
They are also deemed to be breeding grounds and hideouts for criminals. A strong
case has been made by the superior authorities to remove these slums and their
dwellers by force, even if it was mid-winter. As a Municipal officer you have to execute
the order. You have come to know that senior officials are taking this decision under
pressure. What are the options before you to deal with the situation?
Hints:
Introduction:
This case presents a web of values at stake. One on side is a need to treat human beings in a compassionate
manner and on the other there is the law at stake. Informal economies in India are a site of confusion in
the sense that here law and unlawful merge. They are also the dirty backyard of beautiful urban landscape
without which survival of urban India is impossible. There is also a utilitarian justification for existence
of illegal settlements. In essence, the officer in the above case has to strike a balance between these pulls
E
in different directions. Keeping in mind ultimate dignity of human body as suggested by Kant and utility
of illegal settlement, the officer has to uphold the letter of the law in this case by undertaking demolition
drive.
OR
Options available are as follows:
• Continue the demolition because its illegal
• Refuse to demolish on compassionate grounds
• Delay demolition till winter is over
SC
• Search for alternate arrangements in a shelter

Analysis:
Continue the demolition because its illegal:
Merit: To uphold the law is the supreme duty of the public officer. This will also remove breeding
GS
ground for juvenile criminals.

Demerit: From the standpoint of utility, the working class that provides critical service to the middle
class will be disorganized and hence their service delivery will become affected. It also goes against the
compassionate bureaucracy being an expectation. The dignity of human beings is being violated by
continuing demolition drive in mid-winter.
Refuse to demolish on compassionate grounds:
Merit: It will protect the homes of slum dwellers in harsh weather and hence their chances of survival
will increase. Sensitivity to human suffering is a key virtue for a human being. Other than upholding this
categorical imperative, the use value of slum dwellers will also be secured in favor of middle class.
Demerit: Refusing to continue demolition will go against the design of rigid bureaucracy. It also seems
to favor emotions over law. By refusing orders of seniors, I will be creating insecurities for my self-
interest in the organizational set up.
Delay demolition till winter is over:
Merit: This will be a humane approach towards following of orders. This option provides the breathing
space for my conscience while pursuing my duties in this capacity as a public office holder. On the other
hand, I will also buy some time to get this demolition drive stopped by bringing relevant local politicians
in the loop who can articulate demands of slum dwellers politically. Slum dwellers can also organize
themselves meanwhile against such administrative step. In effect, I will be doing indirectly what my
morality asks me to do.
Demerit: It will be tough to get this delay order passed in the wake of pressure from above. I will also be
tagged and recognized as a non-compliant officer which may harm my future interests. It may become
difficult to carry on the drive once it is stopped.
Conclusion:
My approach will be to ensure that slum dwellers have a dwelling. This end goal will guide my steps. In
this regard, immediate stopping of the demolition drive is a must. Having secured it, I will undertake an
effort to arrange an alternate dwelling for them. In this buffer time, I will put my efforts to get the illegal
settlement legalized and developed in-situ. I will engage with relevant department to procure the land.
Rather than going completely administrative way, I will utilize political space also to give voice to demands
of people so that I can make it a ground to halt the demolition drive. This would be reflective of a
democratic system.
But if everything fails in a dark situation, my position will be compelling me to undertake demolition
drive. That would pose me with the choice either to undertake the drive or resign as my conscience
doesn’t permit me.
17. You are a middle-ranked officer in the Ministry, known for your honesty and integrity.
You find that the Private Secretary of the Minister suggests you to deal with certain
E
matter in a particular way. When you tell him that the suggestion is against
Government rules, he confirms that this is the desire of the Hon. Minister. Following
options come in your mind to deal with the problem.
OR
(a) Ask the Private Secretary (P.S.) to confirm in writing.
(b) Meet your senior officer and seek his suggestion and guidance.
(c) Refuse the offer of Private Secretary and stick to rules only.
(d) Bring the matter into records and suggest that rules be changed to accommodate
SC
the views of Minister.

Critically evaluate each option and suggest the best options with justifications.
Hints:
In civil services, civil servants need to coordinate with the political executive. The ministers may not be
fully conversant with the rules and regulations, and hence sometimes they are expected to unduly influence
GS
civil servants in decision making. Normally, they convey their desire through their P.S. who are themselves
senior civil servants. This is because at times, politicians and bureaucrats have different interests to
protect and different values to uphold. Though expected to work according to rule book and protected
constitutionally, we must not forget that India is a democratic republic and civil servants have to work
under the elected representatives to fulfill the dreams of constitution makers. Such communications to
seek favors ordinarily don’t happen in writing and openly but via confidants. Hence, the chances of
bureaucrats to be held guilty remains. But this cannot cross swords with each other and work at cross
purposes. It is in this complex and clumsy matrix of constitutional protection, bureaucratic values and
populist pressures that civil servants operate.
In this case, the P.S to Minister has conveyed something which cannot be done, as per the existing rules,
and the officer is in a fix. Various possible options have been given in the case above, ranging from
adherence to law strictly to consultations with more experienced bureaucrats to finding a middle path of
respecting the wish of the elected leader within the possibilities of law.
The critical evaluation of various options are given below:
(a) In case of asking in written the orders of minister, the P.S. will have to rethink and come up with
a convincing argument that might make the Minister understand, that matter cannot be resolved
in the way minister wants. However, the Minister might ask his P.S. to convey his desire in
writing. The middle ranked Civil Servant can then, examine the issue in accordance with the
rules and can very well express his/her opinion. This would demonstrate the law abiding nature
of the bureaucrat. But there is a possibility that the minister may not take this strict rule adherence
of bureaucrat in a positive way. This is human nature to assert power and get the interests served
even by bending laws. In such a situation, the bureaucrat will be tagged as a non-committed
bureaucrat which may reflect in transfers and postings. Hence, the bureaucrat will be paying, as
cost, his personal interest to uphold values of civil services.
(b) This is a normal practice. So, the senior officer will be aware of tactics of deal with such offers.
The senior officer might orally suggest the minister/P.S. not to press the issue. In that case, the
consultation with senior will give a better understanding of work culture at the interface of
politics and bureaucracy. It is probable that senior may suggest him how to bypass the law to
abide by minister’s request. Then it will be the call of the civil servant to weigh the issue according
to his value system. But, there are chances that the senior civil servant may suggest to meet the
minister and explain him or may even refuse to get into the matter. The middle ranked officer
will then have to decide what to do or may look for other option. So, ultimately it will be and
should be the call of individual civil servant to observe the matter and take step in accordance
with values and rules guiding the office.
(c) Out rightly refusing the P.S. is inappropriate, because P.S. is also a civil servant and is expected
to uphold the rules and educate the minister accordingly. Point blank refusal may result into
straining of personal relation and may also be termed as disobedience. Too much sticking to letter
E
of the law may not look at subjectivities involved in the process. Hence, there should be scope
of accommodation of genuine interests if law can be creatively interpreted in good spirit. Only
merit in this step is that it will keep the bureaucrat lawful and hence safe.
OR
(d) By dealing the issue in file and deliberating it on the point of merit is a good option, because one
is only upholding the rules, but the minister might overrule the objection. In that case, resubmission
of the file can be made. This step will tackle both adherences to rules as well as scope of change
but through due process. Still, since it may be time taking, it may irk the minister and personal
relationship may be strained.
SC
Best option will be to initially refusing the P.S. and reminding him the existing procedure. When insisted
by written orders, one should deal the matter and put everything on record as suggested in option (d).
At this stage, one should personally meet the secretary of the department and should apprise him the
ground reality and get suggestions. In the entire process, the effort of civil servant should be sincere and
impersonal so that minister doesn’t make it an issue of ego. The civil servant should make it clear that his
only driving force is following laws so that accountability can be ensured. In extreme circumstance, one
GS
should remain prepared to bear the cost of upholding ethical values of civil services.
18. Suppose you are a popular SHO of an urban Police Station. Under your jurisdiction,
several cases of motor bike/scooter theft, mobile phone theft and pickpocket have
been reported. Most of these cases have not been properly attended and investigated
by the police. The citizens are annoyed because of this. You have decided to bring a
citizen’s charter to focus on these issues in a time bound manner. Draw out a citizen’s
charter and suggest how you will bring continuous improvement in the charter. Also
discuss significance of your citizen’s charter and challenges in executing it.
Hints:
Citizen’s Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the
Organisation towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and
Consultation, Non-discrimination and Accessibility, Grievance Redress, Courtesy and Value for
Money. This also includes expectations of the Organisation from the Citizen for fulfilling the commitment
of the Organisation. The Citizen’s Charter is not legally enforceable and, therefore, is non-
justiciable. However, it is a tool for facilitating the delivery of services to citizens with specified standards,
quality and time frame, etc., with commitments from the Organisation and its clients.
A good Citizen’s Charter should have the following components:
• Vision and Mission Statement of the Organisation
• Details of Business transacted by the Organisation

• Details of ‘Citizens’ or ‘Clients’
• Statement of services including standards, quality, time frame etc. provided to each Citizen/
Client group separately and how/ where to get the services
• Details of Grievance Redress Mechanism and how to access it
• Expectations from the ‘Citizens’ or ‘Clients’
• Additional commitments such as compensation in the event of failure of service delivery.
Before preparing the citizen charter, detailed discussion could be made with the subordinates and public-
spirited citizens. This is important because 21st century public administration is about participation of
public in the process of governance. This consultation will educate me more about how people perceive
policing and what all do they expect from police. A know-all attitude of police can only be self-destructive.
It will also help manage perception of police as an irresponsive entity. Using this knowledge from
participatory discussion, I will decide the priority areas for police to focus upon.
Citizen charter in this case could be a follows:
E
1. Name of the office - XYZ Police Station
2. Types of services being provided: OR
• Registering of complaints a spot of theft, pickpocketing, etc.
• Action on the complaint to be taken as soon as possible.
• The police department will ensure to cooperate with the citizens to resolve their cases.
3. Detailed information about services- Can be obtained from the reception. Also available on the
SC
website.
4. Name /telephone no of Grievance Redressal office - Mr. ‘X’ with telephone no. and e-mail.
(Time to be specified) Grievances to be redressed within 3 days.
Significance of the Charter - Charter is a modest start through which time-bound delivery of service
are being promised. Every services are being delivered time-bound. Formats and all necessary information
GS
are available both on reception and on organization website. Since subordinates have been consulted
while preparing the charter, they will provide assistance in preparing the charter and they will provide
all assistance to make it succeed.
Difficulties - Since it is time-bound delivery of services, hence initially some difficulties are bound to
come. There could be large number of grievance petitions and hence the concerned office and other
members will have to take necessary extra steps for redressal. Also, it takes time to change to work
culture in an organization. The demand increase prompted by the charter may not be catered to in one
go and hence some skirmishes may be there. What is needed is patient handling and gradual training of
staff to suit the new responsive work culture.
Revising and upgrading the charter - After 6 month a third-party evaluation by a team comprising of
retired officials, citizen groups/people could be done and having satisfied with the result it could be
upgraded like online registration of application, etc., could be attempted. 360o feedback can be taken
from all important stakeholders both responsible for its execution as well as who are recipients of services.
It must be kept in mind that with time, expectations and needs of people will change and this should
correspond with change in citizen charter and work culture of organisation.
19. You are the officer-in-charge for the transfer and posting of the personnel of a particular
department. This position is very difficult mainly for two reasons, i.e., (1) people closer to
the power corridor try to influence you, and (2) the women officers often send requests to
postpone transfer orders on the pretext of family responsibilities. Consider the following
situations and give your views with suitable explanations.
(a) A Cabinet Minister sends a D.O. letter (semi-official letter) to you regarding the posting
of an official on a supposedly 'lucrative assignment' for which you have already
decided to appoint a more competent officer with a good track record of honesty,
integrity, probity and timely delivery. What will you do?
(b) As per the rules in your department, every officer needs to be transferred from one
destination to another after three years. A woman officer comes to you with a request
that as the new destination allotted to her is far flung and remote, she would fail to
provide medical treatment to her ageing and sick in-laws who need constant clinical
help. But according to her innate qualities and high level of expertise, the new
destination would need an officer like her to deliver best results and meet official
targets. What will you do?
(c) The position of the officer-in-charge of transfer and posting provides a very lucrative
opportunity to make money and cultivate liaison for a life time. One should not be
'too idealistic' to ignore such opportunities and must adopt a 'pragmatic approach'.
E
Do you agree? Give reasons.
Hints: OR
This case puts me in a position where I have to use my knowledge as well as integrity to distribute public
offices among competent people. This decision should in principle be guided by imperatives of public
services only and no personal interests or prejudices should affect the choices that I make. But as said,
this is ideal situation. We need to visualize the allegedly impersonal, inhuman institutions in terms of
living humans who man them. These humans are affected by each and everything that affects any
ordinary human being. They face demands of weakness of will, selfishness, vested interests etc. It also
SC
faces genuine needs created by human condition. It is another matter that people in public offices are
expected to uphold certain higher values. These precise values of impartiality, objectivity, compassion
etc. are out to test in this case.
(a) Administrative job is for the welfare of the people. Hence the competent person should be placed
in the post. Generally D.O letters should be honoured within the range of laws, rules and
regulation as well as suitability for the job. But in no case an inefficient and corrupt person should
GS
be offered a position for which better options are available because doing so would not be in the
interest of the nation or for the larger benefit of the people. Still, I will see of the person whose
case is being pushed by the minister is worthy of this assignment or not. If it so happens that the
person though may be coming through request of minister is capable and suitable, I may consider
sending him to the office. In such a case, I will not make it an issue of personal ego to not abide
by request of minister. But if he is not, saying no with humility will be an art and also a matter
of uprightness. It might happened that not honouring DO Letter from a minister of cabinet rank
may cause me personal harm in terms of career prospects ahead, but this is a given in public
administration and one should know that such challenges will come every day and they don’t
justify deviation from principles.
(b) It may be unfortunate but working women in developing societies are playing a dual role. The
woman is both an ‘officer’ for the department and a ‘homemaker’. For call of duty, she should
be transferred to the assignment for which she is most suited. But one of the basic principles of
modern human resources management is also to take care of the human and personal concerns
of the officers while doing transfer and posting. The human and personal concerns, however,
have to be considered as and when it is in conflict with professional requirements. The officers
who have such concerns as education of children or clinical treatment of parents must be offered
retention of quarters or allowance for travel when required or any other incentive or support, but
work cannot be allowed to suffer because of personal reasons. It also needs to be understood that
if she is transferred under coercion, she won’t be able to fully concentrate on her work and it
would lead to inefficiency. Some arrangement has to be made so that she can manage both her
responsibilities. I can try to see if there can be alternatives to her being sent to the new location
without compromising the quality of work. At a more personal level, it can be enquired if other
members of family can help her better deal with her issues. If nothing works, I will transfer her
and provide her flexibilities within law to deal with her situation and meanwhile find a good
replacement for her so that administrative work is not subdued in long run.
(c) Although some people utilize transfer and posting authority for money-making or liaison, these
acts are highly objectionable, undesirable and illegal- neither professional ethics nor law permit
this. Thus it should be construed as misuse of authority and an immoral act. But it is not as if
there are no other vantage point to engage with this debate. Ethical egoism would argue that one
must act in one’s own self-interest. Utilitarian principles would press one to maximize pleasure
and act accordingly. In a world where we see pragmatically that people who are making networks
with people in power reap benefits in long term and those live with ideals may have to sacrifice
their personal interests. This has potential to demotivate those people who have willingness to be
virtuous.
So, there are all kinds of approach to ethical reasoning and the debate is yet not concluded. It ultimately
depends on conscience of the individual to take the call. We have all kind of people in public life ranging
from those who made riches out of public money, those who died with asset worth one suitcase full of
E
clothes and those who died at the hands of mafia in the line of duty. Theories of moral reasoning can
help us open the debate but it takes intellectual courage and will power to take a call and end the debate
and go to action. OR

SC
GS

Hints - Ethics Test - 2 (@UPSC PDF)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Hints - Ethics Test - 2 (@UPSC PDF)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GS Mains Q&A Test Series 2020

ETHICS INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE

2. What do you understand by ‘conflict of interest’? Do you think ‘enlightened self-interest’

3. Explain the difference between ‘bureaucratic attitude’ and ‘democratic attitude’. Do

[2] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude

Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude [3]

[4] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude

8. Reasons of corruption in public life can be traced to a poor understanding of role

[6] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude

9. “Conscience is to law as a brush is to paint.” Reflect upon the significance of conscience

Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude [7]

is normally referred to mean a high degree of commitment to consistently upholding certain

[8] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude

Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude [9]

• Who constitutes the public?

• By undertaking a dialogic and bottoms up approach to public administration by including the

Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude [11]

[12] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude

Convince management to stop expansion plan now:

suspicion and apprehension.

deceived. Creating misconception or pervading untruth is immoral and unethical as well.

• Search for alternate arrangements in a shelter

ground for juvenile criminals.

the views of Minister.

• Details of Business transacted by the Organisation

[20] Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude

Hints: Ethics Integrity and Aptitude [21]

You might also like