Mains Marathon

Day 47: You are the District Magistrate of a city with a history of communal sensitivity. Recently, during a religious procession, an altercation broke out between members of two communities over the route passing through a disputed area. The incident quickly escalated, with stone-pelting reported from both sides, leading to injuries and damage to property. Social media posts,many of them fake or exaggerated,have gone viral, further inflaming sentiments.

Local markets have shut down, and fear has gripped the residents. Several political leaders are making provocative statements to consolidate their respective vote banks. Intelligence reports warn that if the situation is not contained within the next 24 hours, the unrest could spread to neighbouring districts. Religious leaders from both sides have expressed distrust in the administration, accusing it of bias in handling the initial skirmish.

The police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144, but there is pressure from higher authorities to restore normalcy quickly to avoid economic disruption. Meanwhile, human rights activists are cautioning against excessive use of force, and the media is aggressively covering the events, often focusing on the most sensational aspects.

In this tense atmosphere, you must decide how to defuse the immediate crisis while ensuring that communal harmony is restored in the long run. Any misstep could either lead to charges of inaction or accusations of heavy-handedness.

A. Identify the ethical issues and administrative challenges in this case.

B. How would you manage law and order without violating civil liberties?

C. What measures would you take to counter misinformation and rebuild trust between communities?

D. Which values and principles of public service would guide you in making impartial and effective decisions in this sensitive situation? (250 words)

Day 47: You are the District Collector of a drought-prone district in Maharashtra. Over the past year, the region has faced consecutive crop failures due to erratic monsoons and pest infestations. Many farmers are burdened with high-interest loans taken from informal moneylenders, as institutional credit is either inaccessible or delayed.

Last week, a 42-year-old farmer from a nearby village committed suicide after his cotton crop failed for the third consecutive season. His death has sparked protests from local farmer unions, who accuse the administration of neglecting rural distress. The media is extensively covering the incident, painting the district as a symbol of the agrarian crisis. Opposition parties have begun staging demonstrations demanding immediate compensation and loan waivers for all affected farmers.

Your preliminary inquiry reveals that although government crop insurance schemes exist, the majority of farmers in the district are either unaware of them or find the claim process too cumbersome. The deceased farmer’s family claims they approached the agriculture department multiple times for assistance but received no meaningful response.

Civil society activists are urging you to take strong measures to prevent further suicides, including mental health support, simplified credit access, and immediate financial relief. However, your budgetary allocation for the current fiscal year is already strained, and any large-scale financial commitment could face resistance from the state finance department. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s office has asked for a detailed report within 48 hours.

A. Identify the ethical dilemmas and governance challenges in this case.

B. How would you balance short-term relief with long-term structural reforms to address agrarian distress?

C. What steps would you take to ensure accountability of local administrative machinery?

D. Which values of public service should guide your decisions in preventing such tragedies in the future? (250 words)

Day 47: You are posted as the Chief Medical Superintendent of a large government hospital serving a population of over two million people. Recently, the hospital has been in the news for all the wrong reasons such as shortage of essential medicines, malfunctioning diagnostic equipment, long waiting times, poor hygiene, and reports of negligence leading to patient deaths.

On joining, you discover that many doctors and nurses are irregular, citing low pay and high workload. Several suppliers have links with influential local politicians, resulting in poor-quality medicines and inflated bills. The hospital’s maintenance contracts are pending renewal due to corruption allegations. Patients from rural areas and poor backgrounds face discrimination and are often asked for bribes to get admitted or tested. Senior staff are resisting reforms, fearing exposure of past malpractices.

A recent audit report has flagged gross violations of safety protocols, and a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the High Court demanding urgent improvement in services. The Health Minister has privately advised you to “avoid creating too much trouble” before the budget session.

A. Identify the ethical and administrative issues in this case.
B. How will you ensure patient care without provoking political backlash?
C. What steps will you take to eliminate corruption and improve staff accountability?
D. Suggest the ethical values that must guide a public health administrator. (250 words)

Day 47: You are serving as the District Magistrate of a metropolitan city ahead of a major election. In recent weeks, there has been a surge in the circulation of deepfake videos on social media platforms. Some of these videos depict prominent political leaders making inflammatory statements they never actually made, while others target private citizens with fabricated compromising content.

A viral deepfake showing a local religious leader making derogatory remarks has already triggered communal tension in parts of the city. The police cyber cell has traced the source to multiple anonymous accounts operating from outside the state, but arrests are proving difficult due to jurisdictional issues and the rapid spread of the content.

Civil society groups are demanding immediate action, claiming that inaction will fuel misinformation and social unrest. However, political parties are accusing the administration of bias, alleging that the selective targeting of certain content violates freedom of expression. Meanwhile, journalists warn that overreach in curbing deepfakes could be used as a pretext to suppress legitimate dissent.

Adding to the complexity, a tech startup in your district has offered an AI-based detection tool for a free trial, but it requires access to large datasets of citizens’ images and voices, raising privacy concerns. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also directed you to ensure that law and order is maintained without unduly restricting digital freedoms.

A. Identify and discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.

B. How would you ensure a balanced approach that addresses the deepfake threat while safeguarding freedom of expression?

C. What values of public administration should guide you in handling this crisis? (250 words)

Day 46: You are Anand, an honest Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in a semi-urban region of a state where illegal sand mining is controlled by a well-organized mafia. A junior revenue inspector, recently transferred to your division, confidentially informs you about daily truckloads of illegally mined sand being moved at night, with the connivance of local police and panchayat officials.

You plan a night raid and seize multiple vehicles and detain some contractors. The next day, a local MLA publicly criticizes you and accuses you of harassment and corruption. You’re informed through unofficial channels that your transfer file is being prepared in the Secretariat.
Simultaneously, social media is lauding you as a “model officer”, and citizens in the area begin a small movement against sand mafia influence. However, your family back home begins receiving threatening messages, and your junior officer now wants to withdraw his testimony.

A. What are the key ethical dilemmas faced by Anand?

B. Evaluate the possible options before him, including:

a. Continuing the crackdown alone

b. Requesting central/state protection and escalating the issue

c. Seeking a discreet transfer while filing a confidential report

C. What decision would you take? Justify it with reference to the foundational values of civil service. (250 words)

Day 46: You are Razia, an IAS officer posted as the Deputy Commissioner of a district undergoing the final phase of a citizenship verification process (such as the NRC). Thousands of people are excluded from the final list, many of whom are daily wage workers, marginal farmers, and women with incomplete documentation due to poverty, illiteracy, or displacement during floods.

Among the excluded are families who have been residing in the region for decades. There are widespread protests and growing communal tensions. Some groups accuse the administration of bias and targeting minorities, while others demand firm action to protect “indigenous identity.”

Your report to the state government is expected to be strictly objective, but you are personally aware that many of the excluded families are likely genuine citizens. Your junior officer suggests manipulating some data to “correct obvious errors,” but it would violate legal protocol.

A. What are the ethical conflicts Razia is facing in this situation?

B. Evaluate the short-term and long-term consequences of the following actions:

a. Manipulating records to include genuinely excluded people

b. Strictly adhering to documentation rules despite humanitarian concerns

c. Recommending a fresh field verification exercise

C. What decision should Razia take? Justify it with reference to ethical principles and professional conduct. (250 words)

Day 46: You are Priya, an IAS officer posted as the District Supply Officer (DSO) in a backward district where the Public Distribution System (PDS) is crucial for the survival of thousands of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

Soon after taking charge, you receive complaints and whistleblower reports revealing that several fair price shops (FPS) dealers are diverting subsidized food grains to the black market using fake ration cards and forged digital records. Your field verification confirms massive leakage. Some departmental officials are also complicit.

When you initiate inquiries, senior officers warn you to go slow, citing political sensitivities and long-standing “arrangements.” You are also informed that the local minister’s relative is one of the biggest FPS contractors. Meanwhile, genuine beneficiaries continue to suffer, and civil society organizations are demanding immediate corrective measures.

A. What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Priya in the current situation?

B. What are the options available to her? Critically examine the possible consequences of each.

C. What course of action would you recommend? Justify it with ethical reasoning. (250 words)

Day 46: You are Rahul, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer posted as the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Coordinator in a hilly district of a Himalayan state. The region is prone to natural disasters such as landslides, flash floods, and particularly cloudbursts.

Recently, a devastating cloudburst hit the upper valley, killing several people, damaging houses, destroying forest cover, and washing away critical infrastructure, including a small hydroelectric dam. Preliminary assessments indicate that unscientific construction on fragile slopes, deforestation, and lax environmental clearances contributed to the scale of the disaster.

A confidential report from the local geologist suggests that warnings about vulnerable zones and probable cloudburst areas were ignored by the district administration due to pressure from political leaders and real estate lobbies.

Now, a Central Team is visiting the area to assess the situation. You are asked to prepare a report on the causes and response to the disaster. However, your senior bureaucrats and the political leadership direct you to downplay environmental negligence and instead attribute the event entirely to “natural, unpredictable forces.” You are warned that highlighting administrative lapses may affect your future postings and promotions.

Meanwhile, grieving villagers, displaced tribals, and climate activists are demanding transparency, accountability, and sustainable reconstruction policies.

A. What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Rahul in this case?

B. Evaluate the options available to him and the consequences of each.

C. Suggest the best course of action for Rahul. Justify with ethical reasoning and principles of good governance.  (250 words)

Day 45: "Work culture reform is the silent revolution needed in India’s governance."
Analyse its significance for efficiency, transparency, and citizen trust. (150 words)

Day 45: The RTI Act was envisioned as a tool for participatory democracy. Critically evaluate how political, bureaucratic, and technological factors have shaped its effectiveness in the last decade. (150 words)

Day 45: "A Code of Ethics inspires, while a Code of Conduct enforces." Critically analyse this distinction in the context of public service in India. (150 words)

Day 45: "Probity ensures that power remains a trust, not a privilege.” Examine this statement in the context of India’s governance system. (150 words)

Day 44: “In business ethics, stakeholders matter more than shareholders.” Evaluate the ethical shift from shareholder primacy to stakeholder welfare in modern corporate governance. (150 words)

Day 44: “Ethical foreign policy is not about charity; it is about justice.”Analyze the moral responsibility of developed nations towards least developed countries (LDCs) in the context of climate finance and technology transfer. (150 words)

Day 44: “Corruption is not just the abuse of power, but the betrayal of trust.”Assess how corruption erodes institutional integrity and public confidence in governance. (150 words)

Day 44: “An ethical dilemma occurs when values collide, not when values are absent.”Discuss this statement in the context of competing values like transparency and confidentiality in governance. (150 words)

Day 43: "Justice is the first virtue of social institutions."Analyze how Rawls' theory of justice can help in designing policies for inclusive and equitable governance. (150 words)

Day 43: "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law."How can Kant’s categorical imperative guide ethical decision-making in civil services? (150 words)

Day 43: “Gandhi’s doctrine of the seven sins is not merely moral reflections but ethical benchmarks.” How can a civil servant use these principles as ethical checks in everyday decision-making? (150 words)

Day 43: “A crisis of conscience is a storm within; emotional intelligence is the anchor.” Analyze this statement in the context of administrative decision-making under ethical conflict. (150 words)