Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (MGNREGA) was earlier known as National Rural Employment Scheme (NREGA). It is an Indian social-welfare programme aimed at fulfilling the ‘Right to Work’ provisions of the Constitution. MGNREGA was launched in 2006 under the Rural Employment sector by the Ministry of Rural Development. The main objective of the programme is to give a legal guarantee of wage employment to the adult members of rural households who are willing to do unskilled manual labour for a maximum of 100 days per household per year. Every rural household has the right to register under the scheme and, on registration, a Job Card is issued. A Job-Card holder can seek employment. The State Government shall pay 25 % of the minimum wage for the first 30 days as compensatory daily unemployment allowance to the families and wage for the remaining period of the year. MGNREGA works are undertaken by various Gram Panchayats. You have been appointed Administrator-in-Charge of the District. You have been given the responsibility of monitoring MGNREGA works undertaken by various Gram Panchayats and the authority to give technical sanctions to all such works. In one Panchayat in your jurisdiction you notice that your predecessor has mismanaged the programme: (i) Money not disbursed to actual job-seekers. (ii) Muster rolls of labourers not properly maintained. (iii) Mismatch between work done and payments made. (iv) Payments made to fictitious persons. (v) Job Cards issued without assessing genuine need. (vi) Mismanagement and siphoning of funds. (vii) Approved works that never existed. (a) What is your reaction to the above situation and how would you restore proper functioning of the MGNREGA programme? (b) What actions would you initiate to solve the various issues listed above? (c) How would you deal with the above situation?

Given below are three quotations of great thinkers. What do each of these quotations convey to you in the present context?

There is a technological company named ABC Incorporated which is the second largest worldwide, situated in the Third World. You are the Chief Executive Officer and the majority shareholder of this company. The fast technological improvements have raised worries among environmental activists, regulatory authorities, and the general public over the sustainability of this scenario. You confront substantial issues about the business's environmental footprint. In 2023, your organization had a significant increase of 48 % in greenhouse-gas emissions compared to the levels recorded in 2019, mainly due to the surging energy requirements of your data-centres, fuelled by the exponential expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-powered services need much more computational resources and electrical energy compared to conventional online activities. Although there is already a commitment and goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, the challenge of lowering emissions seems overwhelming as the integration of AI continues to increase. To achieve this goal, substantial investments in renewable energy use would be necessary. The difficulty is exacerbated by the competitive environment of the technology sector, where rapid innovation is essential for preserving market standing and shareholders' worth. To achieve a balance between innovation, profitability and sustainability, a strategic move is necessary that is in line with both business objectives and ethical obligations.

Raman is a senior IPS officer and has recently been posted as D.G. of a state. Among the various issues and problems/challenges which needed his immediate attention, the issue relating to recruitment of unemployed youth by an unknown terrorist group, was a matter of grave concern. Unemployment was relatively high in the state, especially among graduates and those with higher education, making them vulnerable and soft targets. Intelligence inputs suggested that a new global terrorist group had launched a drive to recruit such youth through social-media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, spreading secessionist ideology and extremist propaganda. The need of the hour is to act swiftly before the situation assumes serious proportions.

In the last few years, the coordinated strategy of the Central and State governments has substantially reduced the menace of Naxalism in many affected regions. However, in several remote districts the Naxal problem continues to pose the main internal-security threat. Recently, in one such district, a spate of violent incidents involving explosives and killings has taken place and reliable intelligence points to renewed activities of over-ground workers and foreign extremists in the area.

Sneha is a Senior Manager working for a big (reputed) hospital chain in a mid-sized city. She has been made in-charge of the new super speciality center that the hospital is building with state-of-the-art equipment and world-class medical facilities. The building has been reconstructed and she is starting the process of procurement for various equipment and machines. As the head of the committee responsible for procurement, she has invited bids from all the interested reputed vendors dealing in medical equipment. She notices that her brother, who is a well-known supplier in this domain, has also sent his expression of interest. Since the hospital is privately owned, it is not mandatory for her to select only the lower bidder. Also, she is aware that her brother's company has been facing some financial difficulties and a big supply order will help him recover. At the same time, allocating the contract to her brother might bring charges of favouritism against her and tarnish her image. The hospital management trusts her fully and would support any decision of hers. (a) What should be Sneha's course of action? (b) How would she justify what she chooses to do? (c) In this case, how is medical ethics compromised with vested personal interest?