GENERAL
STUDIES PAPER – IV
There are TWELVE questions divided in TWO SECTIONS
All questions are compulsory
SECTION A
Q 1 (a) State the three basic values, universal in
nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance . ( 150
words) 10 marks
(b) Distinguish
between ‘Code of ethics’ and ‘Code of conduct’ with suitable examples (150
words) 10 marks
Q2 (a) What is meant by public interest ? What are the
principles and procedures to be followed by civil servants in public interest ?
(150 words ) ( 10 marks)
(b) ‘The Right to
Information Act is not all about citizens’ empowerment alone, it essentially
redefines the concept of accountability.” Discuss. (150 words)
(10 marks)
Q3. (a) What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate
with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of
interest . (150 words) (10 marks)
(b) ‘In looking
for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and
energy. And if they do not have the first, the other two will kill you” –
Warren Buffet.
What do you understand by this statement in the
present-day scenario? Explain (150 words) (10 marks)
Q.4 (a) In doing a
good thing, everything is permitted which is not prohibited expressly or by
clear implication.” Examine the statement with suitable examples in the context
of a public servant discharging his/her duties ( 150 words) (10marks)
(b) With regard
to morality of actions, one view is that means are of paramount importance and
the other view is that the ends justify the means. Which view do you think is
more appropriate? Justify your answser . (150 words ) ( 10 marks )
Q5(a) Suppose the Government of India is thinking of
constructing a dam in a mountain valley bound by forests and inhabited by ethnic
communities. What rational policy should it resort to in dealing with
unforeseen contingencies? (150 words) (10 marks)
(b) Explain the
process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration. (150 words) (10
marks)
Q6 What do each of
the following quotations mean to you in the present context ?
(a) “The
true rule, in determining to embrace, or reject any thing, is not whether it
has any evil in it; but whether it has more evil than good. There are few
things wholly evil or wholly good. Almost everything , especially of
governmental policy , is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best
judgement of the preponderance between them is continually demanded.” – Abraham
Lincoln (150 words ) (10 marks )
(b) ‘Anger
and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.” – Mahatma Gandhi
(150 words) (10 marks)
(c) Falsehood
takes the place of truth when it results in unblemished common good.” –
Tirukkural ( 150 words ) (10 marks )
SECTION B
Q7. Rakesh is a responsible
district level officer, who enjoys the trust of his higher officials. Knowing
his honesty , the government entrusted him with the responsibility of
identifying the beneficiaries under a healthcare scheme meant for senior
citizens.
The criteria to be a
beneficiary are as the following :
(a) 60
years of age or above
(b) Belonging
to a reserved community
(c) Family
income of less than Rs.1 lakh per annum
(d) Post-treatment
prognosis is likely to be high to make a
positive difference to the quality of life of the beneficiary
One day, an old
couple visited Rakesh’s office with their application. They have been the
residents of a village of his district since their birth. The old is diagnosed
with a rare condition that causes obstruction in the large intestine. As a
consequence, he has severe abdominal pain frequently that prevents him from
doing any physical labour. The couple have no children to support them. The
expert surgeon whom they contacted is willing to do the surgery without
charging any fee. However, the couple will have to bear the cost of incidental
charges, such as medicines, hospitalization, etc., to the tune of Rs.1 Lakh.
The couple fulfils all the criteria except criterion ‘b’ . However, any
financial aid would certainly make a significant difference in their quality of
life.
How should Rakesh respond to the situation (250
words) 20 marks
Q8 As a senior officer in the Ministry, you have access
to important policy decisions and upcoming big announcements such as road
construction projects before they are notified in the public domain. The
Ministry is about to announce a mega road project for which the drawings are
already in place. Sufficient care was taken by the planners to make use of the
government land with minimum land acquisition from private parties.
Compensation rate for private parties was also finalized as per government
rules. Care was also taken to minimize deforestation. Once the project is announced,
it is announced, it is expected that there will be a huge spurt in real estate prices in and around that area.
Meanwhile, the Minister concerned insists that you
realign the road in such a way that it comes closer to his 20 acres farm house.
He also suggests that he would facilitate purchase of a big plot of land in
your wife’s name at the prevailing rate which is very nominal in and around the
proposed mega road project. He also tries to convince you by saying that there
is no harm in it as he is buying the land legally. He even promises to
supplement your savings in case you do not have sufficient funds to buy the
land. However, by the act of realignment , a lot of agricultural land has to be
acquired, thereby causing considerable financial burden on the government , and
also displacement of the farmers. As if this is not enough, it will involve
cutting down of a large number of trees
, denuding the area of its green cover.
Faced with this situation, what will you do you?
Critically examine various conflicts of interest and explain what are your
responsibilities as a public servant . (250 words) 20 marks
Q.9 It is a State where prohibition is in force. You are
recently appointed as the Superintendent of Police of a district notorious for
illicit distillation of liquor. The illicit liquor leads to many deaths,
reported and unreported, and causes a major problem for the district
authorities.
The approach till now had been to view it as a law and
order problem and tackle it accordingly. Raids arrests, police cases , criminal
trials – all these had only limited impact. The problem remains as a serious as
ever.
Your inspections show that the parts of the district
where the distillation flourishes are economically, industrially and
educationally backward. Agriculture is
badly affected by poor irrigation facilities. Frequent clashes among
communities gave boost to illicit distillation. No major initiatives had taken
place in the past either from the government’s side or from social
organizations to improve the lot of the people.
Which new approach will you adopt to bring the problem
under control ? (250 words) (20 marks)
Q.10 A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing
industrial chemicals on a large scale.
It proposes to set up an additional unit.
Many States rejects its proposal due to detrimental effect on the
environment. But one State government acceded to the request and permitted the
unit close to a city, brushing aside all opposition.
The unit was set up 10 years ago and was in full swing
till recently. The pollution caused by the industrial effluents was affecting the land, water and
crops in the area. It was also causing serious health problems to human beings
and animals. This gave rise to a series of agitations demanding the closure of
the plant. In a recent agitation thousands of people took part, creating a law
and order problem necessitating stern police action. Following the public
outcry, the State government ordered the closure of the factory.
The closure of the factory resulted in the unemployment
of not only those workers who were engaged in the factory but also those who
were working in the ancillary units. It
also very badly affected those
industries which depended on the chemicals manufactured by it.
As a senior officer entrusted with the responsibility of
handling this issue, how are you going to address it? (250 words) ( 20 marks)
Q11. Dr.X is a leading medical practitioner in a city. He
has set up a charitable trust through which he plans to establish a
super-speciality hospital in the city to cater to the medical needs of all
sections of the society. Incidentally, that part of the State had been
neglected over the years. The proposed hospital would be a boon for the region.
You are heading the tax investigation agency of that
region. During an inspection of the doctor’s clinic, your officers have found
that some major irregularities. A few of them are substantial which had
resulted in considerable withholding of tax that should be paid by him now. The
doctor is cooperative . He undertakes to pay the tax immediately.
However, there are certain other deficiencies in his tax
compliance which are purely technical in nature. If these technical defaults
are pursued by the agency, considerable time and energy of the doctor will be
diverted to the issues which are not so serious, urgent or even helpful to the
tax collection process. Further, in all probability, it will hamper the
prospects of the hospital coming up.
There are two options before you :
(i)Taking a broader view, ensure substantial tax
compliance and ignore defaults that are merely technical in nature.
(ii) Pursue the matter strictly and proceed on all fronts, whether substantial or merely
technical.
As the head of the tax agency, which course of action
will you opt for and why ? (250 words) (20 marks)
Q.12 Edward Snowden, a computer expert and former CIA
systems administrator, released confidential Government documents to the press
about the existence of Government surveillance programmes. According to many
legal experts and the US Government, his actions violated the Espionage Act of
1917, which identified the leak of State secrets as an act of treason. Yet,
despite the fact that he broke the law, Snowden argued that he had a moral
obligation to act. He gave a justification for his ‘whistle blowing’ by stating
that he had a duty ‘to inform the public as to that which is done in their name
and that which is done against them.”
According to Snowden, the Government’s violation of
privacy had to be exposed regardless of legality since more substantive issues
of social action and public morality were involved here. Many agreed with
Snowden. Few argued that he broke the law and compromised national security,
for which he should be held accountable.
Do you agree that Snowden’s actions were ethically
justified even if legally prohibited? Why or why nor? Make an argument by
weighing the competing values in this case ( 250 words) (20 marks )
SYLLABUS
PAPER-V General Studies- IV: Ethics, Integrity, and
Aptitude
This paper will include questions to test the candidates'
attitude and approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life
and his problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him
in dealing with society. Questions may utilize the case study approach to
determine these aspects. The following broad areas will be covered. Ethics and
Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in human
actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics in private and public relationships. ü Human Values - lessons
from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators;
role of family, society and educational institutions in inculcating values. ü Attitude: content,
structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behavior;
moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion. ü Aptitude and foundational
values for Civil Service , integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship,
objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion
towards the weaker-sections.
ü
Emotional intelligence-concepts, and their utilities and application in
administration and governance. Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers
from India and world. ü
Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems;
ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws,
rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance;
accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral
values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding;
corporate governance. ü
Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of
governance and probity; ü
Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes
of Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen's Charters, Work culture, Quality of
service delivery, Utilization of public funds, challenges of corruption. Case
Studies on above issues.
