Case Study

Mr. Saurabh Singh is the District Magistrate of a district where the State Board examinations for Class 12 are currently underway. The district has a history of examination malpractices, including cheating, impersonation, and organised paper leaks. Determined to ensure fairness, Mr. Singh has implemented strict measures, installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of flying squads, and strict enforcement of anti-cheating laws.

During an inspection of an examination centre in a rural area, a flying squad catches a group of students using unfair means. Among them is a meritorious girl student from an economically weaker background who is known in the village for her academic excellence and aspirations to pursue higher education. On questioning, she breaks down and reveals that she was under immense pressure from her family to secure top marks, as her scholarship and future prospects depend on her results. She admits that she made a mistake under stress.

At the same time, local reports indicate that organised cheating rackets are still active in other centres, often involving collusion between invigilators and local influential persons. Civil society groups and media are closely watching the administration’s actions, praising strict enforcement but also cautioning against “over-penalisation” of vulnerable students.

Some local leaders approach Mr. Singh informally, requesting leniency in this particular case, arguing that a harsh punishment could destroy the student’s future. On the other hand, education officials emphasise that any exception may weaken deterrence and send the wrong signal.

Mr. Singh must decide how to respond in a way that upholds examination integrity, ensures fairness, and reflects compassion without compromising the rule of law.

Questions

1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case?

2. What options are available to Mr. Singh? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each.

3. What should be the most appropriate course of action for Mr. Singh? Justify your answer in terms of ethical values and administrative responsibility.

Q. “Emotional intelligence is as important as intellectual competence in ethical decision-making.” Discuss. ( 150 words).

Q. To what extent is ethical decision-making a product of personal conscience rather than institutional design in situations marked by competing interests?. ( 150 words).

Q. With the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles by non-state actors, examine the challenges to border management and internal security, and assess the adequacy of India’s institutional preparedness. (250 words).

Q. In the backdrop of global economic uncertainties, supply-chain realignments and domestic structural constraints, critically analyse how India can sustain high growth while ensuring macroeconomic stability and inclusive development. (250 words).

Q. In recent years, multilateral institutions have faced challenges of legitimacy and effectiveness. Examine how India’s approach to multilateralism reflects both reformist aspirations and pragmatic engagement. (250 words).

Q. Amid concerns over declining parliamentary deliberation, reduced sittings and limited scrutiny of legislation, critically examine how legislative processes influence democratic accountability, transparency and the overall quality of governance in India. (250 words).

Q. In the context of increasing pressure on land resources and ecological stress, examine how geographical factors influence the patterns and processes of land degradation and desertification in India. (250 words)

Q. With the recognition of intangible cultural heritage at national and global levels, discuss how oral traditions, performing arts and indigenous knowledge systems contribute to cultural continuity and identity formation. (250 words)

Case Study

Dr. Neha Kapoor, a medical professional turned District Magistrate, is posted in a semi-urban district that has recently witnessed a sudden outbreak of a highly infectious respiratory disease. Within days, government hospitals are overwhelmed with patients, ICU beds are scarce, and there is an acute shortage of oxygen cylinders and life-saving medicines.

The district administration receives an emergency consignment of oxygen and critical drugs from the State government. However, the supply is far below the actual demand. Doctors on the ground inform Dr. Kapoor that they are being forced to make difficult choices about which patients should receive treatment, often prioritising those with higher chances of survival.

Meanwhile, influential individuals, including local politicians and wealthy citizens, begin pressuring the administration to reserve beds and oxygen supplies for their families and associates. Some private hospitals are also accused of hoarding essential medicines and overcharging patients.

On the other hand, frontline healthcare workers are exhausted and demoralised. They demand clear guidelines for triage and protection from legal or political backlash arising from life-and-death decisions.

Media coverage intensifies, highlighting both the suffering of patients and alleged administrative lapses. Public anger is rising, and there is a growing perception that access to healthcare is becoming inequitable.

Dr. Kapoor must take urgent decisions regarding allocation of scarce medical resources, regulation of private healthcare providers, and protection of frontline workers—while ensuring fairness, transparency, and public trust.

Questions

1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case?

2. What options are available to Dr. Kapoor? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each.

3. What should be the most ethical course of action for Dr. Kapoor? Justify your answer in the context of public health ethics and administrative responsibility.

Q. In democratic governance where public officials exercise significant discretion, examine why integrity is considered the cornerstone of public service. (150 words).

Q. In contemporary governance systems increasingly driven by rules and procedures, examine whether ethical conduct can be sustained without internalisation of moral values. (150 words).

Q. With growing risks from climate change, sea-level rise and extreme weather events, analyse the need for integrating climate adaptation strategies with disaster risk reduction policies. (250 words).

Q. With India aspiring to become a $5-trillion economy amid global economic uncertainty and supply-chain disruptions, examine the challenges in sustaining high economic growth while ensuring macroeconomic stability. (250 words).

Q. In the context of shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, analyse the strategic significance of maritime partnerships for India’s security and economic interests. (150 words).

Q. “Passive euthanasia raises complex intersections between law, ethics, and medical decision-making.” Analyse how Indian courts have attempted to balance these dimensions through evolving jurisprudence. (250 words)

Q. In the context of the twentieth century, examine how industrialisation, imperialism and ideological conflicts collectively reshaped the global political order. (250 words).

Q. With the expansion of digital communication and social media, analyse how public discourse and social attitudes are being reshaped in Indian society. (150 words).

Essay Topics

1. “The quality of a society is reflected not in its achievements, but in its choices.”

2. “Civilisations endure when wisdom keeps pace with innovation.”

Case Study

Mr. Aditya Sharma is serving as the District Magistrate of a rapidly growing district where the state government has recently introduced an AI-based system to identify beneficiaries for welfare schemes such as housing subsidies, scholarships, and pension benefits. The system uses multiple datasets—income records, property ownership, electricity consumption, and bank transactions—to automatically generate a list of eligible beneficiaries.

The government promotes the system as a major reform to improve efficiency, reduce corruption, and ensure objective targeting of welfare benefits. Initially, the new system significantly reduces manual processing and speeds up the delivery of benefits.

However, during public grievance hearings, Mr. Sharma begins receiving numerous complaints from genuinely poor families who have been excluded from the beneficiary list. Upon investigation, he discovers that the algorithm relies heavily on digital and financial data. As a result, many informal-sector workers, migrant families, and people without regular digital footprints are being wrongly classified as “ineligible.”

At the same time, some relatively well-off households with incomplete or outdated records have been included in the beneficiary list. Civil society organisations accuse the administration of creating “digital exclusion”, arguing that excessive reliance on automated decision-making ignores ground realities.

When Mr. Sharma raises these concerns with higher authorities, he is advised to continue using the system because it is a flagship governance reform that demonstrates the government's commitment to transparency and technology-driven administration. Officials argue that questioning the system may undermine public confidence in digital governance.

Meanwhile, media reports and social activists are increasingly highlighting cases of exclusion, portraying the administration as insensitive to the needs of vulnerable populations.

Mr. Sharma must decide how to address these concerns while balancing technological efficiency, fairness, and accountability in welfare delivery.

Questions

1. Identify the ethical issues involved in the above case.

2. What options are available to Mr. Sharma? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option.

3. What course of action should Mr. Sharma adopt to ensure both administrative efficiency and ethical governance? Justify your answer.

Q. In democratic societies where public opinion and media scrutiny are intense, discuss how ethical conduct of public officials shapes public trust in institutions. (150 words)

Q. In contemporary governance systems driven by efficiency and outcomes, discuss whether ethical considerations such as compassion and fairness risk being sidelined in public administration. (150 words).

Q. With the rise of deep-tech startups in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space technology, India is seeking to enhance its position in the global technology landscape.In this context, evaluate the role of deep-tech innovation and startups in strengthening India’s global technological competitiveness. (250 words).

Q. With the growing recognition that effective climate mitigation requires both technological innovation and ecological resilience, discuss how nature-based solutions can complement technological interventions, particularly in the context of ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. (250 words).

Q. Social justice requires not only economic redistribution but also social recognition and empowerment.Discuss. (150 words)

Q. “India’s policy of multi-alignment is most tested during geopolitical crises.” Analyse this statement in the context of recent West Asian conflict. (250 words)

Q. Plate tectonics has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the Earth’s surface processes. Discuss its role in explaining major geological features. (150 words)

Q. Colonial rule altered the trajectory of Indian art and cultural institutions. Examine both the disruptions and new opportunities that emerged during this period. (250 words)

Essay Topics:

1. A civilisation survives not by strength alone, but by self-correction.

2. Order without justice is merely organised injustice.