You are a no-nonsense, honest officer. You have been transferred to a remote district to head a department that is notorious for its inefficiency and callousness. You find that the main cause of the poor state of affairs is the indiscipline of a section of employees. They do not work themselves and also disrupt the working of others. You first warned the troublemakers to mend their ways or else face disciplinary action. When the warning had little effect, you issued a show-cause notice to the ringleaders. As a retaliatory measure, these troublemakers instigated a woman employee amongst them to file a complaint of sexual harassment against you with the Women’s Commission. The Commission promptly seeks your explanation. The matter is also publicised in the media to embarrass you further. Some of the options to handle this situation could be as follows: (i) Give your explanation to the Commission and go soft on the disciplinary action. (ii) Ignore the Commission and proceed firmly with the disciplinary action. (iii) Brief your higher-ups, seek directions from them and act accordingly. Suggest any other possible option(s). Evaluate all of them and suggest the best course of action, giving your reasons for it. (250 words)

1. Given below are two questions to be answered in 150 words each: 1 (a) In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard. 1 (b) "Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherence of the rule of law." Examine the significance of constitutional morality for a public servant, highlighting its role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration.

2. Answer the following in about 150 words each: 2 (a) Carl von Clausewitz once said, "War is a diplomacy by other means." Critically analyse the above statement in the present context of contemporary geo-political conflict. 2 (b) Keeping the national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas in the country.

3. Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context? (Answer each in 150 words) 3 (a) "Those who in trouble untroubled are, Will trouble trouble itself." – Thiruvalluvar 3 (b) "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." – William James 3 (c) "The strength of a society is not in its laws, but in the morality of its people." – Swami Vivekananda

4. Answer the following in about 150 words each: 4 (a) "For any kind of social re-engineering, by successfully implementing welfare schemes, a civil servant must use reason and critical thinking in an ethical framework." Justify this statement with suitable examples. 4 (b) What are the major teachings of Mahavira? Explain their relevance in the contemporary world.

5. Answer the following in about 150 words each: 5 (a) "One who is devoted to one’s duty attains highest perfection in life." Analyse this statement in reference to the sense of responsibility and personal virtues expected from a civil servant. 5 (b) To achieve holistic development goal, a civil servant acts as an enabler and active facilitator of growth rather than a regulator. What specific measures will you suggest to achieve this goal?