Mains Marathon

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)