Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude UPSC PYQ 2018

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) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q67-->

A big corporate house is engaged in manufacturing industrial chemicals on a large scale. It proposes to set up an additional unit. Many States rejected 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) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q10-->

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 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) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q9-->

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 out 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 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)55 <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q11-->

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 the following : (a) 60 years of age or above. (b) Belonging to a reserved community. (c) Family income of less than ₹ 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 in his district since their birth. The old man 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 ₹ 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?3a:["$","$ <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q7-->

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 reach the public domain. The Ministry is going to announce a major road construction project for which land acquisition has already been identified and compensation rates for the land owners have been fixed according to government norms. The compensation is expected to be on the lower side. It is anticipated that once the project is announced, land prices in and around that area will rise sharply. In the meantime, the concerned Minister has asked you to realign the road in such a way that it passes near his 20-acre farm-house. He has also suggested that he will help to purchase land in your wife’s name around the proposed highway at the current nominal rates. The Minister assures you that there is no harm in doing so as the land is being purchased at the prevailing market price. He also wants you to keep him informed about the date when the project will be announced. If you report the alleged malpractices in the land procurement for the project to your higher authorities, it will cause a long delay in your department’s work, resulting in hardship to the farmers as well. Besides, the project is very essential; it will also lead to cutting down of a large number of trees, thereby destroying the green landscape of the area. How would you deal with this situation? Evaluate the options available to you, indicating their merits and demerits, and explain what your responsibilities are as a public servant.2e:[ <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q8-->

Explain the process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration. (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q68-->

State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance. (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q59-->

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 not? Make an argument by weighing the competing values in this case. (250 words)57:Tbdc, <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q12-->

What is meant by public interest? What are the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest? <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q61-->

What do each of the following quotations mean to you in the present context? "Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." — Mahatma Gandhi (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q6-->

What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of interest. (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GS-IV_Q63-->

Distinguish between "Code of ethics" and "Code of conduct" with suitable examples. (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GSIV_Q1b-->

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 answer. (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GSIV_Q4b-->

"The Right to Information Act is not all about citizens' empowerment alone, it essentially redefines the concept of accountability." Discuss. (150 words) <!--qid:MAINS_2018_GSIV_Q2b-->