SCORE

Test - 2

Ethics Mock
Test Series
IAS - 2016

By - Manoj K. Jha
 TEST - 02

ETHICS MOCK TEST SERIES 2016

ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE

Time Allowed: 3 hr. Max. Marks: 250

Q. Marks Instructions to Candidate

1.
• There are 18 questions.
2.
3.
4. • All questions are compulsory
5.
6. • The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated
7. against it.
8.
9.
• Content of the answer is more important than its length.
10.
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• Answers must be written in the space provided.
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14. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-
15. cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
16.
17.
18.

Name _______________________________

Roll No.___________________________
1. Invigilator Signature _______________ Mobile No.___________________________
2. Invigilator Signature _______________ Date ________________________________

Signature ____________________________
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Roll No.____________

SECTION - A

Q1. Answer the following questions:

(a) Can fashion be adjudged as moral or immoral? What is the role of dress code in setting
the nature, tone and working of the institutions? (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

(b) "If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are
good or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer." Analyze the underlying
meaning of this statement in the context of contemporary music with special reference
to India. (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

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Q2. Answer the following questions:

(a) How do you see the difference between doves, eagles and vultures - as ethical and
moral categories of different human beings? Which of these personifies the best of human
being? Explain why? (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

(b) While acting for 'change' and 'progress', should we be disappointed because we can do
too little? Give reasons in favour of your stand. (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

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Q3. Answer the following questions based on the linkage between religion and ethics:

(a) What is "Dharma" in Indian cultural and religious ethics? What is "Raj Dharma" according
to Indian thinkers? With reference to the ruling class in India, assess the extent of
observation of "Dharma" and "Raj Dharma." (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

(b) Why is there a conflict between religion and rationality? Which of the two is a better
guide for the promotion of morality in a society? Is being rational is also being just and
fair? (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

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Q4. Answer the following questions related to the different ethical theories and their
applications in the society:

(a) What is 'principle of ethical egoism'? Do you agree with the statement that 'in general,
nature of human society, if not properly regulated, would result in a chaos and a state of
war? Why 'conflict' becomes a more natural outcome than 'cooperation' in modern
societies? (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

(b) How ‘social contract ethics’ differ from ‘natural laws ethics’? Which of the two is better
and why? (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

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Q5. Answer the following questions related to the importance of trust and transparency in
the organization:

(a) What do you mean by Trust? How this value will help you in becoming a good Civil
Servant? How a civil servant can sustain trust in his entire career? What are the challenges
in doing so? (150 Words ) (10 Marks)

(b) Explain with examples how Whistle-blowing in civil services is both an ethical and
unethical act if seen in different perspectives? (150 Words ) (10 Marks)

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Q6. Answer the following questions related to linkage of free thinking and self development:

(a) 'Real freedom is of the mind and spirit; it can never come to us from the outside.' Analyze
the essence of this statement with reference to the working experience of Indian
bureaucracy. (150 Words ) (10 Marks)

(b) 'There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that is your
own self'. Explain the essence of statement. Also examine how a civil servant can live by
maintaining its true self. (150 Words ) (10 Marks)

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Q7. Answer the following questions related to linkage of perception and hope:

(a) What is the role of perception in making our views regarding complexities, conspiracies
and obstacles around us while pursuing our objectives? How does attitude help us to
conquer such difficulties in performing our duties? (150 Words ) (10 Marks)

(b) What is the best way to ignite hope and camaraderie in a country and its people? Should
we base our hope only on good things happening around us? What is the role of hope in
a society where 'good things' come only as an exception while 'bad things' are common
place? (150 Words ) (10 Marks)

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Q8. Answer the following questions:

(a) ‘The policies of the government always have a shadow of politics on them’. Distinguish
between politics and policy. Do you think that economic policies need introduction of
ethics, legal political thinking and social thinking to be effective in achieving welfare
and happiness? (75 Words ) (5 Marks)

(b) A civil servant is the socio-cultural product and not an isolated and idealized case. Do
you agree and why? Should a civil servant be an agent of change? Why most of the civil
servants end up doing sickening routine works for saving their feathers rather than
taking an entrepreneurial leap into creativity, innovation and change?
(75 Words ) (5 Marks)

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Q9. Opportunities are those gateways to success and fulfillment that open up often but people
generally fail to recognize it. What are the major barriers in recognizing the opportunities
in career of a civil servant? And what one can do to improve their ability of noticing new
opportunities? (150 Words) (10 Marks)

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Q10. An officer is a manager, a leader, a friend, a philosopher and a guide. But in all the roles
and in all the circumstances, no great work can be achieved by humbug. It is through
love, passion for truth, and tremendous energy, that all undertakings can be accomplished.
Examine the statement in the light of ethical prerequisites for being an effective Civil
servant. (150 Words) (10 Marks)

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Q11. What is the difference between rational intelligence and emotional intelligence? Why is
it important to have a blend of the two while taking a decision on an issue at personal or
social level? (150 Words) (10 Marks)

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Q12. Some situations you just can't control. For instance, someone you care about might betray
your trust. Or, no matter what you do and how hard you try, you might not be able to win
over that person you're trying to impress. There will be people who can't stand with you
no matter what you do, and then there will be people that adore you no matter what.
Situations like these - situations you can't control - will arise throughout life, and they
may change your course. That's just life. It is what it is. In this light how emotional
competence facilitates an individual to understand, manage and handle oneself and
others positively in various setting? (150 Words) (10 Marks)

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Q13. In the light of following statement discuss the role of empathy, sympathy, kindness,
generosity and benevolence in inculcating and imbibing spirit of service. Also state the
importance of 'consequentialism' and 'utilitarianism' in setting our priorities and
commitments in personal and public lives.

"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received how
much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by
"I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was
homeless, and you took me in." (150 Words) (10 Marks)

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Q14. A competent civil servants' life is hectic, stressful and very demanding. In this
consequence evaluate the statement - 'The quality of their life would be certainly poorer
without aesthetic value'. (150 Words) (10 Marks)

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SECTION - B

Q15. Once you went to market with your mother for festive shopping. There you found that
most of the shopkeepers have employed children as attendants and were behaving very
harshly with them. You get very touched by seeing all this and started arguing with one
of the shopkeeper on this issue. Your mother told you to stop and asked you that if you
argue like this, he will remove the child and child may have no earning source for family.

(a) What will you do in consonance to your moral quality in this situation?

(b) Discuss limitations of various possible actions that you are suppose to take.

(c) Among the available options, which may yield the desired result in consonance to your
moral quality. (250 Words) (20 Marks)

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Q16. Public utilities and spaces in India are in a bad shape. Roads, water supply, street lighting,
market cleanliness, railway stations, parks, community centres, public toilets, rivers
and ponds are considered sole responsibility of the government to maintain without
charging anything. People consider that they have rights to better public utilities and
public spaces solely on the basis of government's ability to provide them.

(a) What should be the ideal way to manage the quality of public utilities and public spaces
in a populous country like India?

(b) Identify limitations of each competing options. (250 Words) (20 Marks)

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Q17. There was a conflict between the students of upper castes and Dalit community in a
central university. The Dean and Vice Chancellor called a reconciliatory meeting, but it
did not yield any result. The other day violence erupted in some parts of the university
and some hostels. Examinations are very close. Some students have to submit their Ph.D
thesis or M.Phil dissertations. Some politicians from a certain section put pressure on
the Vice Chancellor to take action against the agitating students.

(a) Discuss the various options available to Vice Chancellor.

(b) Justify why these options are worth considering? (250 Words) (20 Marks)

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Q18. Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or
handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. The Government
of India has adopted two-pronged strategy - eliminating insanitary latrines and
developing a comprehensive rehabilitation package for manual scavengers through a
survey. However, while manual scavenging for many may have ended as a form of
employment, the stigma and discrimination associated with it lingers on, making it
difficult for former or liberated manual scavengers to secure alternate livelihoods.

This is quite a common social stigma attached with them in the society.

One day few manual scavengers, employed to clean sewer and toilets inside the District
Court complex by the Public Works Department,were neither given any safety equipment,
nor gloves. When the advocates in the court premises opposed this, the engineer ignored
them by denoting the manual scavenging as "a small work" with no hazards involved.
When opposed by few advocates, it led to a fight between PWD workers and advocates.
Later advocates called a press conference and raised the issue - "We saw few workers
who were clad in their inners and were inside the drain cleaning it with bare hands. We
(lawyers) got together and opposed it but the engineers did not listen to us. Despite the
Supreme Court passing a judgment on this issue, it is shocking that even in court
complexes manual scavenging continues. Even government organizations are not
following the government rules."

You are a district administration head. Due to the above stated case, following situation
arises:

(a) All those involved in the manual scavenging and others ad hoc safaikaramchari went on
strike and demanded for better livelihood. When you called all the community members
for a meeting to discuss the issue, no one turned up.

(b) Advocates came to you and demanded for stringent action against the official and
threatened to go on strike.

(c) When you called to PWD official for understanding their version of the issue, they told
you that it was an urgent assignment pressurized from above; thus they did not have
time going for scheduled procedure. They felt very demotivated.

What are the best options available to solve the above stated problems? How will you
effectively address all the issues? And also discuss limitations of each course of action.
(250 Words) (20 M ark s)

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 The answers are written in form of “Thinking Line” rather than complete answer to place the
aspirant in right thinking direction so that he/she may be able to grasp the requirement of the
question and how to approach the answer in objective and articulated manner. Content,
Context & Structure of the answer will be discussed in the class.

Ethics Mock Test Series 2016

Answer Hints: Test No.2 www.iasscore.in

ETHICS, INTEGRITY AND APTITUDE

SECTION - A

1. Answer the following questions based on the linkage between culture and morality:

(a) Can fashion be adjudged as moral or immoral? What is the role of dress code in setting the

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nature, tone and working of the institutions?

Thinking line: OR
• Fashion cannot be adjudged as moral or immoral as morality are the principles concerning
the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour. Fashion can be good
or bad thing depending on the cultural ethos.

• But at the institutional level dress codes play an important role in setting the nature, tone
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and working of institutions

• Dress codes are sets of regulations governing what is and is not appropriate attire for a given
setting or event.

• Grace of occasion unwrittenly regulates the dress code, as the wedding or party dresses
cannot be wore at other places.
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• Offices set a specific dress code in order to create a perception of professionalism.

• Dress code ensures the conformation to the prevailing organisational culture and presents
the correct image of the company to the third party - agent / customers / suppliers.

• Dress codes promote a sense of unity amongst staff and contribute to company's brand.

(b) "If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed, if its morals are good
or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer." Analyze the underlying meaning
of this statement in the context of contemporary music with special reference to India.

Thinking line:

• Music is made up of many ingredients and, according to the proportion of components, it

can be soothing or vulgar or philosophical.

• Hence music is never bad or good, but just something pleasant to be experienced. The
'goodness' or 'badness' of instrumental music is based on the performers' competence and
skill.

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [1]

• Music directly affects the passions or states of the soul-gentleness, anger, courage, temperance,
and their opposites and other quality. When one listens to music that imitates a certain
passion, he becomes imbued with the same passion. If over a long time he habitually listens
to the kind of music that arouses ignoble passions, his whole character will be shaped to an
ignoble form.
• Music is an aesthetic value. Aesthetic values are concerned with inherent sense of beauty.
The society in peace and harmony promotes it.
• In India the stable kingdoms and inherent social values had led to richness of music.
• Hence it is rightly said: "If one should desire to know whether a kingdom is well governed,
if its morals are good or bad, the quality of its music will furnish the answer."
• In the contemporary India craze for the rap music has increased. It cannot be regarded as
immoral as music is amoral. But the words are poor. It matters not what kind of movement
it has the message should be moral to establish a moral society.

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2. Answer the following questions:
(a) How do you see the difference between doves, eagles and vultures - as ethical and moral
OR
categories of different human beings? Which of these personifies the best of human being?
Explain why?
Thinking line:
• Doves are commonly seen as symbols of peace, love and hope. They are depicted as a
messenger of God or a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
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• Eagles are the symbol for great strength, leadership and vision. In spite of its enormous size,
the eagle still takes flight, seemingly effortlessly. This symbolizes that illusion of limitation
should not be seen as an obstacle to success.
• The vulture, however, is connoted in negative sense. Vulture search for the remains of an
animal and uses it for their survival. Similarly in the government system many human beings
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utilize the loopholes present in the system for their advantage.

• The personality of a human being should be peace loving, patient, courageous, having strong
leadership qualities and should work with wisdom. The personality should be flexible
according to the situation but the basic ethical entities should be intact under all circumstances.
• The human being should not have the attribute of using others as the means to their ends.
(b) While acting for 'change' and 'progress', should we be disappointed because we can do too
little? Give reasons in favour of your stand.
Thinking line:
• The process of change in a large-scale system is a mix of art and science. It requires scientific
principles to bring change and progress as well as requires social and human emotions for
strong determination and will power.

• But a system is "any collection of things that have some influence on one another." If we take
the example of Environment - Individual things like plants, people, schools, communities,
and watersheds - are all systems of interrelated elements. All have well-defined niche and
role in the maintenance of system whether small or big.

[2] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• Hence one should not be disappointed that he can do nothing big to change the system, even
small and genuine steps can bring change.

3. Answer the following questions based on the linkage between religion and ethics:

(a) What is "Dharma" in Indian cultural and religious ethics? What is "Raj Dharma" according
to Indian thinkers? With reference to the ruling class in India, assess the extent of observation
of "Dharma" and "Raj Dharma."

Thinking line:

• Dharma is the path of righteousness and living one's life according to the codes of conduct.
It is natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy,
and to save himself from degradation and suffering. This involves doing what is right for
the individual, the family, the class or caste and also for the universe itself.

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• Räja-dharma is a political virtue. It states that the leaders should be trained systematically
to become munificent and not merely be tax collectors. They should be trained to perform
OR
different sacrifices only for the prosperity of the subjects. It states that the main duties of
political leaders are to work for the public interest rather than self interest.

• In modern days the people in general occupy the administration by the strength of manipulated
votes, but they are never trained in the primary duties mentioned in the Dharma and Raj-
Dharma.
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• Under these circumstances the untrained administrators and leaders take unethical paths to
gain power and money.

• This has impacted the citizen participation in the policy making process and the whole
process shifted in the hands of few.
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(b) Why is there a conflict between religion and rationality? Which of the two is a better guide
for the promotion of morality in a society? Is being rational is also being just and fair?

Thinking line:

• The conflict between religion and rationality arises because the belief system can be either
evidence-sensitive or evidence-insensitive. The former views faith as closely coordinated with
demonstrable truths; the latter more strictly as an act of the will of the religious believer
alone. The former includes evidence garnered from the testimony and works of other believers.

• The revelation or set of revelations on which most religions are based is usually described
and interpreted in sacred pronouncements, either in an oral tradition or canonical writings,
backed by some kind of divine authority. They are immune from rational critique and
evaluation.

• For the promotion of morality in a society, both religion and rationality is required.

• Religion generates a sense of belongingness among people and connects people by common
culture, ethos and norms.

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [3]

• But the religious norms should not be practiced blindly, sense of rationality should be there
to develop moral society which respects basic human rights and maintains human dignity.

4. Answer the following questions related to the different ethical theories and their applications
in the society:
(a) What is 'principle of ethical egoism'? Do you agree with the statement that 'in general,
nature of human society, if not properly regulated, would result in a chaos and a state of
war? Why 'conflict' becomes a more natural outcome than 'cooperation' in modern societies?
Thinking line:
• Ethical egoism is a normative theory, which states that moral agents ought to do what is in
their own self-interest. Ethical egoism holds that actions whose consequences will benefit the
doer can be considered ethical.
• Ethical egoism does not, however, require moral agents to harm the interests and well-being

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of others when making moral deliberation.
• The human beings are both rational and social human being, but due to negative emotions
OR
the analytical and rational power of decision making reduces.
• Thus rules and regulations are needed to govern the human beings otherwise they may end
up in violating the basic human rights.
• The self-interest should not lead to harming the interests of others. There should be disciplined
freedom.
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• The dichotomy between cooperation and conflict in the present era is visible. In the present
era ending up in conflict has become more difficult than following the path of cooperation.
• Cooperation allows people and groups to work together to achieve a common goal or derive
mutual benefits. Cooperation allows participants to exchange valuable information that
helps both sides improve their knowledge bases and work in a time- and resource-efficient
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manner. But cooperation requires mutual understanding which due to less degree of cultural
similarity within and between the same societies is leading to development of intolerance.
• Further cooperation requires rational decision making rather than emotional and abstract
decision making and the capability of that is decreasing among people.
(b) How ‘social contract ethics’ differ from ‘natural laws ethics’? Which of the two is better
and why?
Thinking line:
• Natural Law Ethics means that there are laws (natural laws) that are higher than human-
made laws, because they are rooted in the very nature of humanity, which is universal to
all societies. It states that some rights (natural rights) are bestowed on every human. Such
natural rights designate basic demands for liberty and life's necessities. They impose absolute
limits on people to resist when it oversteps its proper moral bounds.
• However, in the absence of political order and law, everyone would have unlimited natural
freedoms, including the "right to all things" and thus the freedom to plunder, rape, and
murder; there would be an endless "war of all against all". To avoid this, free men contract
with each other to establish political community i.e. civil society through a social contract

[4] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

 in which they all gain security in return for subjecting themselves to an absolute Sovereign,
one man or an assembly of men. This lead to establishment of the concept of social contract
ethics.

• Natural Law ethical theory assumes that humans naturally strive to reach a state of peace
and psychological contentment, unfettered by material concerns. Whereas Social Contract
Ethics assumes that as human being does not or cannot have enough security, they are
constantly striving for power and wealth, to help ensure security.

5. Answer the following questions related to the importance of trust and transparency in the
organization:

(a) What do you mean by Trust? How this value will help you in becoming a good Civil
Servant? How a civil servant can sustain trust in his entire career? What are the challenges
in doing so?

Thinking line:

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• Trust lies at the heart of a strong relationship. Trust is the foundational value in relationship.
The feeling of Trust in relationship is defined as: "To be assured that each human being
OR
inherently wants oneself and the other to be happy and prosperous".

• The trust in Public services underlies two principles; they shall not use public office for
private gains, and they shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any
private organization or individual. The public service implement programmes and policies.
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Hence, Trust in institutions is important for the success of government policies, programmes
and regulations that depend on cooperation and compliance of citizens. Also, trust is necessary
to increase the confidence of investors and consumers in the government.

• Thus the trust help in building a strong team thus helps in becoming a good civil servant.
As the civil servant will be able to fulfill once duty properly.

• Everything is built on trust. To sustain trust one needs to practice core values, consistency
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faith in their professional life.

a) Core Values lead to development of trusting relationships. Some examples are integrity,
fairness, reliability, strength of conviction, and openness. When these actions are repeated
time and time again, the relationship is strengthened and graduates to the next phase.

b) Consistency enables us to anticipate probable behavior and actions. It provides a certain

degree of comfort that helps us to maintain the relationship even through difficult times,
which is very foundation of trust.

(b) Explain with examples how Whistle-blowing in civil services is both an ethical and unethical
act if seen in different perspectives?

Thinking line:

• Whistleblowers are those individuals who call attention to possible wrongdoing within their
organizations. Whistle-blowing is the act, for an employee (or former employee), of disclosing
what he believes to be unethical or illegal behavior to higher management (internal
whistleblowing) or to an external authority or the public (external whistle-blowing).

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [5]

• According to few whistleblowers are noble characters, willing to sacrifice personally and
professionally to expose organizational practices that are wasteful, fraudulent, or harmful
to the public safety. On the other hand few thinks that whistleblowers are, by and large,
disgruntled employees who maliciously and recklessly accuse individuals they feel have
wronged them in order to attain their own selfish goals.
• Whistleblowers do call attention to genuine abuses of power by decision-makers in business
and government. They do often suffer retaliation for their ethical resistance. However,
whistleblowers may often be wrong in their accusations and their motives are not always
pure. Their actions can disrupt a workplace, and may cause serious harm to individuals
wrongly accused.
• Thus if seen in different perspectives the act of whistle-blowing become both ethical and
unethical.
• Hence the purity of their motives with which it has been done can decide the nature of it.
Before taking action in relation to the complain, thorough checking of the intention should

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be done to maintain the decorum and dignity of the organisation.
• The process of whistle-blowing should be according to the rules and they should not suffer
OR
impersonal reprisals for using internal channels to report perceived wrongdoing. The
establishment of a fair and impartial investigative process should be done.
6. Answer the following questions related to linkage of free thinking and self development:
(a) 'Real freedom is of the mind and spirit; it can never come to us from the outside.' Analyze
the essence of this statement with reference to the working experience of Indian bureaucracy.
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Thinking line:
• Freedom as 'inner freedom' emphasizes on the inner aspect of life. The closest English
equivalent would be 'freedom-hood' meaning 'freedom of one's consciousness state', the
conscious inner struggle for inner freedom for which all human beings strive for understanding
knowledge of one's connectedness with the world and other beings in the world i.e.
'enlightenment'.
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• Enlightenment is the mental condition of inner freedom. Inner freedom is freedom from the
ignorance of human nature and human potentiality... 'freedom of thought', freedom of mind
and freedom of conscience.
• Freedom is said to exist when an individual is not subject to external controls or coercion
and is able to make independent decisions and act in an autonomous way.
• Freedom is also about expanding the ability of people to freely express themselves and
develop their potential.
• Freedom in this sense is the condition in which people can develop their creativity and
capabilities.

• But the Politico-administrative relations have placed obstacles on the working of the Indian
Bureaucracy. Also the nexus between politicians-criminals is affecting the freedom of
bureaucrats to implement the programmes and policies in a more creative and efficianet
manner.

• In the present era bureaucrats have been given sovereign power in their hands. But this
power is robbed by hosts of self-seekers. The ideal form of freedom is curtailed on every side.

[6] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• But as stated real freedom comes from inside hence bureaucrat should work according to
virtues and code of ethics to bring creativity and efficiency in the system.
(b) 'There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that is your
own self'. Explain the essence of statement. Also examine how a civil servant can live by
maintaining its true self.
Thinking line:
• The characteristics required for being an ethical and moral sound person can be taught to
people but whether he will adopt it or not depend on oneself attitude towards those values.
Self is the core of any development and the first stage and place of improvement.
• This is true for everything external to us. We can't control all the external conditions coming
in life; we can just keep our internal soul in peace and solace to handle the uncertainties
with perfection.
• The person can do all is to move for personal development. Personal development is about

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developing and improving aspects of an individual which can include areas such as education,
motivation, feelings, health, skills, abilities, and more.
OR
• As life and circumstances are constantly changing, it is necessary to continue developing as
a person in order to improve as individuals and to be able to adapt to changing situations.
Gandhi rightly said: "You must be the change you want to see in the world." "As human
beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth
of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves."
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• If you change yourself you will change your world. If you change how you think then you
will change how you feel and what actions you take. And so the world around you will
change. Not only because you are now viewing your environment through new lenses of
thoughts and emotions but also because the change within can allow you to take action in
ways you wouldn't have - or maybe even have thought about - while stuck in your old
thought patterns.
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• And the problem with changing your outer world without changing yourself is that you will
still be you when you reach that change you have strived for. You will still have your flaws,
anger, negativity, self-sabotaging tendencies etc. intact.
• So any development starts with the "Self." This is place you are certain about. Once you
bring improvement consequence will reflect in the outer world also.
• Civil servant can live with a true self by following the ethical and virtuous path in
organization. Self determination and self confidence is important as trust in oneself will not
lead to succumbling by external pressure.
7. Answer the following questions related to linkage of perception and hope:
(a) What is the role of perception in making our views regarding complexities, conspiracies and
obstacles around us while pursuing our objectives? How does attitude help us to conquer
such difficulties in performing our duties?
Thinking line:
• Attitudes play a major role in affecting our behavior. They influence how we feel and
behave toward others in our decisions.
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [7]
• This attitude is dependent on perception which is the process by which individuals organize
and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment. This
perception determines the thinking process for pursuing the objectives.
• A positive attitude helps to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism
and makes it easier to avoid worries and negative thinking. If something bad happens,
optimists will review the situation and then assess what the actual problem is and try to
resolve it. He is then in much better state to take controls and sorts out the problem.
• This also helps in fulfilling one’s duty as with positive thinking and right perception about
the life gives motivation for facing the obstacles of life.
(b) What is the best way to ignite hope and camaraderie in a country and its people? Should
we base our hope only on good things happening around us? What is the role of hope in a
society where 'good things' come only as an exception while 'bad things' are common
place?

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Thinking line:
• Ups and downs are the part of life. Tough times happen to all no matter how strong or
OR
powerful or confident the person is. The tough times viciously force person to lose hope and
end with negativity.
• At this point the individual should have hope to come out of this vicious cycle.
• In the society people face issues such as violence, theft, social downturn, etc but these
negativities should not overpower the individual’s positive thinking. The hope should be
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there that society in link with government be able to solve it.

• The trust among people is must in society to help each other in moving out of the negative
thoughts.
• The hope and camaraderie should be ignited by bringing awareness about the importance
of unity and steps should be taken to maintain equality. To be effective, the cause of social
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service should be bigger than individual. A self-centered “cause” won’t work.

8. Answer the following questions:
(a) ‘The policies of the government always have a shadow of politics on them’. Distinguish
between politics and policy. Do you think that economic policies need introduction of
ethics, legal political thinking and social thinking to be effective in achieving welfare and
happiness?
Thinking line:
• Public policy is the definite course or method of action selected by government, institution,
group or individual from among alternatives and in the light of given conditions to guide
and, usually, to determine present and future decisions.
• The public policy of the government is determined by the politics by the Government in
power.
• The government is moving from the role of being doer to the facilitator. In this the conflict
of interest arises between public interest and interest of the economy i.e. interest of the
market.

[8] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• But in the case of liberalised market economy, the relation between citizen and market
become more of a client-company rather than citizens that have respective rights provided
by the law of land.
• This hampers inclusive growth and people who are able to give user charges for respective
services survive.
• Hence Economic policies need introduction of ethics, legal political thinking and social thinking
to be effective in achieving welfare and happiness.
• In India there has been a dramatic rise in expenditure on programmes of social inclusion in
the last five years but this is accompanied by growing complaints about implementation. The
weaker sections of the society, for whom these schemes are primarily intended, are often not
able to benefit because they are not sufficiently empowered to access the benefits due to
them. Hence economic policies need introduction of ethics for proper utilization of funds.
• It should work on the Principle of Maximum Social Advantage to avoid diversion of funds
to unproductive things.

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(b) A civil servant is the socio-cultural product and not an isolated and idealized case. Do you
agree and why? Should a civil servant be an agent of change? Why most of the civil
OR
servants end up doing sickening routine works for saving their feathers rather than taking
an entrepreneurial leap into creativity, innovation and change?
Thinking line:
• In the ancient state, the purpose of state was only threefold – defending the realm from
external aggression, maintaining internal order, and rendering rough and ready justice. The
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roles of civil servants were limited, and the might of the sword prevailed.
• Whereas, in the 20th century state, the role of state get redefined for helping the citizen in
fulfilling their potential. Dignity, opportunity, and justice became the new watchwords and
the role of bureaucracy vastly expanded.
• Hence Civil servant is a socio-cultural product – selected from the society, trained to serve
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the society and act as visible face of government within the society.
• But civil servants remain unresponsive to popular demands, desires and aspirations. It tends
to regard itself as the self-appointed guardian and interpreter of public interests. They put
too much emphasis on “Procedure through proper channel” and precedents.
• The innovativeness and creativeness has taken a back seat due to political interference,
judicial over-activism and media over-activism.
• This reduces the passion for initiatives in the civil servant and they end up working for
saving themselves from inquiry or accountability.
9. Opportunities are those gateways to success and fulfillment that open up often but people
generally fail to recognize it. What are the major barriers in recognizing the opportunities
in career of a civil servant? And what one can do to improve their ability of noticing new
opportunities?
Thinking line:
• Opportunity is an appropriate or favourable time or occasion that comes in the life of almost
everyone only if one takes it positively.

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [9]

• In the life of a person so many opportunities come but he ignores or give little importance
to them, sometimes unknowingly and sometimes knowingly. The result is that he suffers or
repents all his life.
• The major barriers in recognizing the opportunities in case of civil servant are:
a) Civil servant is so much busy in routine work thus focus more on current happenings
rather than creative thinking.
b) Opportunities require people to move out of their comfort zone and people are scared
of change either due to lack of confidence or some external factor.
• Steps needed for improving the ability of noticing opportunities are: the individual should
be alert and prepared to hear the call of the opportunity that may come at any moment.
• An individual should be characterized by low levels of self-centeredness and a low degree
of importance given to the self. Whenever there is the notion of "self", there is fear; the fear
of failure, the fear of being defeated, the fear of being rejected, the fear of making mistake,

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the fear of poor health, the fear of losing face and the fear of not being recognized. It is
rather common for us to see someone hesitating to do thing proactively because his or her
OR
mind is too occupied with "self" which is followed by "fear". On the other hand, when one
forgets about "self", one will have no fear and see the opportunities more clearly.
10. An officer is a manager, a leader, a friend, a philosopher and a guide. But in all the roles
and in all the circumstances, no great work can be achieved by humbug. It is through love,
passion for truth, and tremendous energy, that all undertakings can be accomplished. Examine
the statement in the light of ethical prerequisites for being an effective Civil servant.
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Thinking line:
• A civil servant is a public officer who needs to act as manager, leader, and philosopher
based on situations.But the deceptive behaviour of civil servants are due to the three most
common ethical violations seem to be: Lack of service culture; Bribe and “gift” taking; Abuse
of conflict of interest.
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• Ethically justified action requires that the individual has the ability to consider different
alternatives and to place himself in the position of the other person (empathy). It is equally
essential to differentiate between the performance of one’s tasks and one’s personal opinions.
This requires love, passion and dedication to meet the targets that is interlinking of personal
and professional ethics.
• The ethical perquisites for being an effective Civil Servant are:
a) A civil servant should hold high moral principles and conduct himself in a manner befitting
his status as a civil servant.
b) A civil servant should maintain a positive attitude and shall seek to further develop his
virtue and righteousness, as well as to enhance his professional knowledge, abilities and
skills so as to make his work more efficient and effective.
c) A civil servant should be punctual and shall devote his time fully for the benefit of the
government service.

d) A civil servant shall be prudent in the use of government property, safeguarding it and
exercising care against damage, as though the property were his own.
[10] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
e) A civil servant should act responsibly in carrying out his duties, and should cooperate and
assist colleagues through the contribution of ideas, through joining in the work, and
through helping to solve problems, as well as through proposing improvements in work
procedures for work under oneresponsibility.
11. What is the difference between rational intelligence and emotional intelligence? Why is
it important to have a blend of the two while taking a decision on an issue at personal
or social level?
Thinking line:
• Intelligence is the use of reason or intellect in solving problems and directing conduct.
• Rational intelligence is one’s ability to build mental-models that explain the world and the
accuracy with which an individual can determine options available in the given situation
without bias.
• On the other hand, emotional intelligence is the ability to understand our own and other's

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emotions. Emotional intelligence is related to how people interact with each other.
• EI deals with the higher self, whereas RI deals with its realization.
OR
• In the contemporary world blend of both the qualities are needed.
• As in the case of civil servant, the complexity at workplace has increased tremendously.
The civil servants are facing many internal (within organization) and external obstacles.
Hence while taking any decision thy have to use both emotional as well as rational
intelligence to understand the political, economic as well as social consequences related to
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it.
12. Some situations you just can't control. For instance, someone you care about might betray
your trust. Or, no matter what you do and how hard you try, you might not be able to
win over that person you're trying to impress. There will be people who can't stand with
you no matter what you do, and then there will be people that adore you no matter what.
Situations like these - situations you can't control - will arise throughout life, and they
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may change your course. That's just life. It is what it is. In this light how emotional
competence facilitates an individual to understand, manage and handle oneself and others
positively in various setting?
Thinking line:
• To live life to its fullest requires experiencing and enjoying the full range of human emotions.
But in real life people don't understand their emotions; they don't recognize what they are
telling, how they can be helpful, or how to respond to them.
• People mistakenly overreact to various negative emotions while suppressing positive ones.
• In this situation the emotional competence come into action. Emotionally competent people
are aware of their emotions and welcome the message each emotion brings. Emotionally
competent adults develop the essential social skills to recognize, interpret, and respond
constructively to emotions in themselves and others.
• It can increase the satisfaction in relationships as it increases gratification and contentment
with the many simple events in life. It can give greater insight and help to better understand
the motives and actions of oneself and others. It can free oneself from anger, hate, resentment,
vengeance, and other destructive emotions that cause hurt and pain. This will reduce
much of the stress in life.

Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [11]

• A person can feel relief and enjoy greater peace-of-mind, autonomy, intimacy, dignity,
passion, and wisdom by engaging constructively and positively with others.
• It helps in handling the situation as it is, we can't change the external circumstances but can
just make ourself calm, peace and solace from inside.
13. In the light of following statement discuss the role of empathy, sympathy, kindness,
generosity and benevolence in inculcating and imbibing spirit of service. Also state the
importance of 'consequentialism' and 'utilitarianism' in setting our priorities and
commitments in personal and public lives.
"At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received how
much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by
"I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was
homeless, and you took me in."
Thinking line:

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• Today in the society there is an increase in selfishness, and general lack of concern for other
individuals. What we have in India today is not a giving and sharing society, but a grabbing
society, not a sacrificing society but a consumer society. Self seeking and exploitation of the
OR
weak has become common place. These maladies result in general unhappiness and a retreat
from goal of general welfare and fulfilment.
• The achievement and happiness of an individual’s life is determined by its actions. The
purpose of life is to help other and maintain empathy and generosity for the upliftment of
people. The life should be judged by its quality (ethical acts) rather than quantity.
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• In the case of public servant, Spirit of service and sacrifice is an essential ingredient. The
public servant should work for the greatest good of greater people. The intention of his
actions should be in tune with the ethical behaviour as he is the visible face of the government
acting as link between citizen and government.
• The trust, a sense of belongingness and generosity for the downtrodden is must to achieve
the foundational values required for the public services.
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14. A competent civil servants' life is hectic, stressful and very demanding. In this consequence
evaluate the statement - 'The quality of their life would be certainly poorer without aesthetic
value'.
Thinking line:
• Civil servants act as an instrument of the government to operationalise socio-economic goals
of development. In due course of attainment of this goal, their life becomes hectic and
stressful as they are the most visible part of government and have a duty to work for the
emancipation of the people.
• The stressful and hectic work schedule lead to development negative attitude and de-motivation
in the person which ultimately get reflects in the work.
• Thus to improve the quality of life, attitude and thinking Perception, appreciation and
enjoyment of beauty, and creation of things of beauty are important human activities.
• Aesthetic values are concerned with development of our inherent sense of beauty.
• The experience of beauty makes life vibrant, colourful and happy.

[12] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• Besides sensuous pleasures, it can touch our deepest emotional chords and even arouse
noble human sentiments by stimulating our imagination and providing appealing semblances
of harmony, peace and unity.
• They indeed contribute significantly to the fullness of good life.
SECTION - B
15. Once you went to market with your mother for festive shopping. There you found that
most of the shopkeepers have employed children as attendants and were behaving very
harshly with them. You get very touched by seeing all this and started arguing with one
of the shopkeeper on this issue. Your mother told you to stop and asked you that if you
argue like this, he will remove the child and child may have no earning source for family.
a) What will you do in consonance to your moral quality in this situation?
b) Discuss limitations of various possible actions that you are suppose to take.

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c) Among the available options, which may yield the desired result in consonance to your
moral quality.
Thinking line: OR
• Child labour has become a common problem in society. Many children are forced to work
because of poverty. Especially where adult unemployment is very high and there is no
social security, families are forced to push their children to work in order to survive.
• By seeing the pathetic condition of the child naturally one will take firm action against the
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employee as per the Child Labour Prevention Act but this action has many limitations.
• Due to applicability of laws the employee will remove the child from job and he will end
up in vicious cycle of poverty again. The parents may force him to work in more hazardous
place for earning which may not be as visible as the shop.
• Secondly, if he takes legal action then police may take action against his parents, which
may deteriorate the situation further.
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• Thirdly providing better employment to parents and schooling to child may not be feasible
for the individual.
• Hence we need to provide training to the child workers during their free time so that they
can develop alternative livelihoods for them in more dignified manner and also attain
schools. The vocational training or employment opportunities can be initiated for their
parents with the support of NGOs so that the children need not to work for livelihood.
(Note: These are just Thinking Line. Detail answer alongwith structure will be discussed in the
class).
16. Public utilities and spaces in India are in a bad shape. Roads, water supply, street lighting,
market cleanliness, railway stations, parks, community centres, public toilets, rivers and
ponds are considered sole responsibility of the government to maintain without charging
anything. People consider that they have rights to better public utilities and public spaces
solely on the basis of government's ability to provide them.
a) What should be the ideal way to manage the quality of public utilities and public spaces
in a populous country like India?
b) Identify limitations of each competing options.
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [13]
Thinking line:
a) The management of the public resources is considered the sole responsibility of the government.
However, in a populous country the government alone cannot perform its duty efficiently.
Active support from people is also needed. An ideal way to manage the quality of public
utilities and public space should depend on both government initiatives as well as people's
participation. Community and cooperative efforts should support government programmes
and initiatives through physical, mental and financial involvement in the management of
these things. Awareness must be created among the people about their civil responsibilities.
b) There is certainly an urgent need for attitudinal change. The government has taken a number
of initiatives but the main problem lies only with the implementation which is due to lack
of positive attitude. The government can only take initiatives. Active support from people is
also equally important. This can be said to be the broader issue as the government has taken
initiatives for no open defecation but there is a need of change in the attitude of the people.
As long as the feeling of "Mera Ghar, Mera Gaon, and Mera Desh" (a slogan of Swachh

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Bharat) will not come among the people, no amount of government initiatives would help
improve the things. OR
c) User charges, apart from generating required resources for maintenance of public utilities
and spaces also instil a sense of belonging and responsibility and act as a disincentive for
irresponsible or wasteful use of the public utilities and spaces. As far as justification of user
charges is concerned it must not be viewed by generation of resources only, but also other
advantages that it brings. It will make people use them with a sense of responsibility and
will act as a negative enforcement in case the responsibility is not taken care of. At the same
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time, there are many people whose paying capacity may be limited, but they cannot be
denied the use of public utilities and public space in a democratic and welfare state. The
government has the responsibility to take into consideration the status of all the people.
There may be sections of society who may not be able to afford such levying of the charges.
In such a circumstance the pricing of public utilities and public space should be affordable.
It should be such that it fulfils both the objectives. Inclusive growth should be the sole
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purpose of all the government initiatives.

(Note: These are just Thinking Line. Detail answer alongwith structure will be discussed in the
class).

17. There was a conflict between the students of upper castes and Dalit community in a central
university. The Dean and Vice Chancellor called a reconciliatory meeting, but it did not
yield any result. The other day violence erupted in some parts of the university and some
hostels. Examinations are very close. Some students have to submit their Ph.D thesis or
M.Phil dissertations. Some politicians from a certain section put pressure on the Vice
Chancellor to take action against the agitating students.
a) Discuss the various options available to Vice Chancellor.

b) Justify why these options are worth considering?

Thinking line:
• The right way to address the issue would have been to gain the trust of the students and
told that the university condemns such acts of violence in the premised and the authorities
are looking in to the matter.

[14] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

• This could be done by frequent request and urging the students to relinquish violence, taking
trust building measures, isolating the fighting students, making a squad of students to stop
violence by selecting students acceptable to both the fighting groups and intimating the
students that there degrees and marks would also depend on their human attributes and not
solely on their performance in niche subject of studies.
• Their parents must be immediately informed and taken in good confidence.
• Even after these measures if the need arose, police might have been called in a small presence
to instil the feeling of security rather than spreading fear or bullying the own students.
(Note: These are just Thinking Line. Detail answer alongwith structure will be discussed in the
class).
18. Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling
in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. The Government of India has
adopted two-pronged strategy - eliminating insanitary latrines and developing a
comprehensive rehabilitation package for manual scavengers through a survey. However,

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while manual scavenging for many may have ended as a form of employment, the stigma
and discrimination associated with it lingers on, making it difficult for former or liberated
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manual scavengers to secure alternate livelihoods.
This is quite a common social stigma attached with them in the society.
One day few manual scavengers, employed to clean sewer and toilets inside the District
Court complex by the Public Works Department,were neither given any safety equipment,
nor gloves. When the advocates in the court premises opposed this, the engineer ignored
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them by denoting the manual scavenging as "a small work" with no hazards involved.
When opposed by few advocates, it led to a fight between PWD workers and advocates.
Later advocates called a press conference and raised the issue - "We saw few workers who
were clad in their inners and were inside the drain cleaning it with bare hands. We (lawyers)
got together and opposed it but the engineers did not listen to us. Despite the Supreme
Court passing a judgment on this issue, it is shocking that even in court complexes manual
scavenging continues. Even government organizations are not following the government
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rules."
You are a district administration head. Due to the above stated case, following situation
arises:
(a) All those involved in the manual scavenging and others ad hoc safaikaramchari went on
strike and demanded for better livelihood. When you called all the community members for
a meeting to discuss the issue, no one turned up.
Thinking line:
• Actions should start from “building trust” and not “aggravating suspicion”. This point
should be conveyed and sent to all the stakeholders. If we try for betterment of a social rote,
it will not happen by the ‘blame game’.
• Better employment demand is based on the social perception of scavenging being a ’lowly’
work with low wages and lower social status. Nevertheless in essence it is like any other
occupation which serves a great purpose for the society as well as provides livelihood.
• But because of skewed social value system both the scavenging staffs as well as those who
get their services consider it a lowly job. So at the first instance this ‘mental block’ or wrong
attitude should be given up.
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [15]
• This requires an open mind and a utilitarian understanding by both the side regarding the
issue of scavenging. However, this will take time because social change process takes time.

• However, the working conditions can be improved; better equipment and safety tools for
health, hygiene and security etc. may be provided along with some extra cash incentives to
the scavenging staff to convince them that society ‘respect’ their work and recognizes their
‘contribution’. It may instill ‘confidence’ among them and restore their ‘dignity’ partially.

• If they are undeterred and still continue with the proposition of strike, the administrators try
to call their representatives and listen to their grievances with a promise to accept their
legitimate demands.

• Even then if they continue their stir, if other channels are closed and there is a need, the
higher authorities should take strong actions against the strikers (like cut in wages for
absence or suspension) if they not come back on duty, but at the same time give incentives
to those who come to work.

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• If things become normal the suspended workers should be called back. The approach in such
cases should be the use of ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’.
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(b) Advocates came to you and demanded for stringent action against the official and threatened
to go on strike.

Thinking line:
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• As far as possible government officials need to set the precedent for others, hence should
follow the laws pertaining to the scavenging. The demand for advocates for stringent action
should not be construed as forcefully subjugating the scavenging staff to work and
administrative staff to take inhuman actions may not work.

• Advocates are educated and if the concerned departments convince them that law pertaining
to the scavenging would be henceforth complied strictly then they may understand.
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• Advocates are only one of the stakeholders and it needs to understand the constraints of
other agencies involved in implementing the law.

• Other agencies may be given time and constraints faced by them in implementing the laws
need be removed for an optimum and efficient implementation of laws related to manual
scavenging. Also in case of inadvertent failures, there must be some flexibility, as in the case
cited above (in court premises). But it should be “exception” than” rule.”

(c) When you called to PWD official for understanding their version of the issue, they told you
that it was an urgent assignment pressurized from above; thus they did not have time going
for scheduled procedure. They felt very demotivated.

Thinking line:

• The stakeholders, especially the officers and workers must be made aware about their rights
and duties in this regard.

• And there needs to be adequate arrangement for grievance redress of all the sides- service
providers, service beneficiaries and law implementers.
[16] Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
(d) What are the best options available to solve the above stated problems? How will you
effectively address all the issues? And also discuss limitations of each course of action.
Thinking line:
• Officer must take trust building measures. The advocates may be made to understand that
this is a complex social problem and cannot be instantly solved.
• It is time taking process. It must be conveyed by the administration that their point is ‘well
taken’ and they have raised their voice at the right occasion. There is no need to be de-
motivated.
• Such problems have a long historic and social legacy behind them and the perception of
these works as “lowly’ and people doing it also as ‘low’ needs to be fought through education
and awareness campaigns.
(Note: These are just Thinking Line. Detail answer alongwith structure will be discussed in the
class).

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OR
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Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude [17]