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

Vijay was Deputy Commissioner of a remote district of a Hilly Northern State of the country for the last two years. In the month of August, heavy rains lashed the complete state followed by cloudburst in the upper reaches of the said district. The damage was very heavy in the complete state, especially in the affected district. The complete road network and telecommunication were disrupted and the buildings were damaged extensively. People's houses have been destroyed and they were forced to stay in the open. More than 200 people have been killed and about 5000 were badly injured. The Civil Administration under Vijay got activated and started conducting rescue and relief operations. Temporary shelter camps and hospitals were established to provide shelter and medical facilities to the homeless and injured people. Helicopter services were pressed in for evacuating sick and old people from remote areas. Vijay got a message from his hometown in Kerala that his mother was seriously sick. After two days Vijay received the unfortunate message that his mother has expired. Vijay has no close relative except one elder sister who is a US citizen and staying there for the last several years. In the meantime, the situation in the affected district deteriorated further due to resumption of heavy rains after a gap of five days. At the same time, continuous messages were coming on his mobile from his hometown to reach at the earliest for performing the last rites of his mother.

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?

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.

What do you understand by 'moral integrity' and 'professional efficiency' in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words)

'International aid' is an accepted form of helping 'resource-challenged' nations. Comment on 'ethics in contemporary international aid'. Support your answer with suitable examples. (Answer in 150 words)

Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance? (Answer in 150 words)

Is conscience a more reliable guide when compared to laws, rules and regulations in the context of ethical decision-making? Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)

As District Magistrate, you face a dilemma over immediate blood transfusion for a pregnant landslide victim, where only unbanked blood is available.

Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affair. (Answer in 150 words)

In contemporary world, corporate sector's contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine. (Answer in 150 words)

Identify ten essential values that are needed to be an effective public servant. Describe the ways and means to prevent non-ethical behaviour in the public servants. (Answer in 150 words)

Besides domain knowledge, a public official needs innovativeness and creativity of a high order as well, while resolving ethical dilemmas. Discuss with suitable example. (Answer in 150 words)

"Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face persecution or human right violation." Examine the statement with reference to ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with open society. (Answer in 150 words)

An independent and empowered social audit mechanism is an absolute must in every sphere of public service, including judiciary, to ensure performance, accountability and ethical conduct. Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words)

Discuss the role of ethics and values in enhancing the following three major components of Comprehensive National Power (CNP) viz. human capital, soft power (culture and policies) and social harmony. (150 words)

'The will to power exists, but it can be tamed and be guided by rationality and principles of moral duty.' Examine this statement in the context of international relations. (150 words)

Distinguish between laws and rules. Discuss the role of ethics in formulating them.

"Non-performance of duty by a public servant is a form of corruption". Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. (150 words)

What is meant by the term 'constitutional morality'? How does one uphold constitutional morality? (150 words)

What is meant by 'crisis of conscience'? How does it manifest itself in the public domain? (150 words)

State the three basic values, universal in nature, in the context of civil services and bring out their importance. (150 words)

What is meant by public interest? What are the principles and procedures to be followed by the civil servants in public interest?

What is meant by conflict of interest? Illustrate with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of interest. (150 words)

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)

Explain the process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration. (150 words)

"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 every thing, especially of governmental policy, is an inseparable compound of the two; so that our best judgment of the preponderance between them is continually demanded." — Abraham Lincoln (150 words)

Conflict of interest in the public sector arises when (a) official duties, (b) public interest, and (c) personal interest are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved? Describe with an example. (150 words)

Examine the relevance of the following in the context of civil service: (a) Transparency (b) Accountability (c) Fairness and justice (d) Courage of conviction (e) Spirit of service (150 words)

Corporate social responsibility makes companies more profitable and sustainable. Analyse. (150 words)

Strength, peace and security are considered to be the pillars of international relations. Elucidate. (150 words)

Increased national wealth did not result in equitable distribution of its benefits. It has created only some "enclaves of modernity and prosperity for a small minority at the cost of the majority." Justify. (150 words)

Differentiate between the following (200 words): (i) Law and Ethics (ii) Ethical management and Management of ethics (iii) Discrimination and Preferential treatment (iv) Personal ethics and Professional ethics

"A mere compliance with law is not enough, the public servant also has to have a well-developed sensibility to ethical issues for effective discharge of duties." Do you agree? Explain with the help of two examples, where (i) an act is ethically right, but not legally and (ii) an act is legally right, but not ethically. (150 words)

At the international level, the bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one's own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This leads to conflicts and tensions between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples. (150 words)

What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration? (150 words)

What does 'accountability' mean in the context of public service? What measures can be adopted to ensure individual and collective accountability of public servants? (150 words)

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)

Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialised electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for supplying this equipment to the department. Both the quality and the cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding an undue favour from you in the form of a bribe to process the order in your favour. The order is very important for your company as well as for your own career. Refusal to pay the bribe may result in the order going to your competitor and could also lead to blacklisting of your firm. What are the options available to you? Which option would you adopt and why? Evaluate each option on merits and demerits and justify the course of action you propose to take. (250 words)

Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined. He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice. Indicate various options that you think are available in this situation. How would you help him to evaluate these options and choose the most appropriate path to be adopted? (250 words)

What do you understand by the term 'voice of conscience'? How do you prepare yourself to heed to the voice of conscience? (150 words)