Essay Topics

1. A rising tide lifts all boats.

2. Education is not the learning of facts. It's rather the training of the mind to think.

Case Study

Ananya Sharma is the Deputy Manager in a large public sector organization responsible for infrastructure development. The organisation has a strong technical reputation but suffers from a toxic work culture. Senior officers often shout at subordinates during meetings, take credit for juniors’ work, and discourage dissenting opinions. Long working hours without recognition have become the norm, leading to low morale and high staff turnover.

Ananya observes that talented young officers hesitate to share innovative ideas due to fear of humiliation. Women employees, in particular, feel uncomfortable raising concerns, as informal networks dominated by senior male officers control decision-making. Although there is no explicit harassment, the environment is psychologically unsafe and demotivating.

Recently, a capable junior officer, Ravi, made a small procedural error in a project file. Instead of constructive feedback, he was publicly reprimanded by a senior officer during a meeting. Deeply demoralized, Ravi applied for transfer, citing “personal reasons.” Similar incidents have become common, affecting productivity and team cohesion.

As a mid-level officer, Ananya is respected by her team but has limited authority over senior officials. She believes that such a toxic work culture not only harms employee well-being but also compromises efficiency, innovation, and public service delivery.

Ananya now faces a dilemma: whether to remain silent to protect her own career progression or take steps—formal or informal—to improve workplace culture, promote dignity, and uphold ethical values within the organization.

Q1. Identify the ethical issues involved in the above case related to workplace culture. How do such issues affect employee morale, productivity, and organizational effectiveness?

Q2.What ethical dilemmas does Ananya face as a mid-level officer in addressing toxic workplace practices? Discuss the possible courses of action available to her, highlighting their merits and limitations.

Q3. How can ethical leadership and positive organizational culture contribute to improved governance and employee well-being? Suggest measures to promote a healthy and inclusive work environment in public institutions.

Q. How does sound corporate governance contribute to ethical business practices and long-term sustainability of organizations? Illustrate with suitable examples. (150 words)

Q. “Emotional intelligence is as important as intellectual ability for effective leadership.” Discuss this statement in the context of public service delivery. (150 words)

Q. Quantum technologies are expected to transform computing, communication, and cybersecurity.Discuss India’s preparedness in this domain and the challenges that need to be addressed. (250 words)

Q. How can food processing and agro-based industries facilitate India’s transition from a farm-dependent to a manufacturing-led economy? (250 words)

Q. Judicial activism is both a safeguard and a challenge to democratic governance. Critically examine.(250 words)

Q. “India’s engagement with Africa is moving from solidarity to strategic partnership.” Critically analyse. (250 words)

Q. Assess the role of Buddhism and Jainism in challenging the socio-religious order of early historic India. To what extent were they reformist rather than revolutionary movements? (150 words)

Q. Explain how changes in the cryosphere, particularly the retreat of Himalayan glaciers, affect river systems, disaster risks, and long-term water security in India. (250 words)

Essay Topics

1.“Popular will may shape law, but it cannot be the foundation of justice.”

2. “Integrity begins where convenience ends.”

Case Study 

Ramesh Verma is the District Mining Officer (DMO) in a mineral-rich but economically backward district. The region has long struggled with illegal sand and stone mining, controlled by local contractors with strong political backing. These activities cause environmental damage, loss of state revenue, and frequent accidents involving villagers.

Soon after joining, Ramesh noticed that illegal mining continued openly at night despite repeated complaints. When he ordered surprise inspections and seizure of vehicles, he received a phone call from a local legislator, who advised him to “go slow” in the interest of maintaining social peace and employment. Informally, Ramesh was told by senior colleagues that previous officers who acted strictly were transferred within months.

Over time, a clear nexus emerged. Local politicians protected mining operators, the police avoided registering cases, and criminal groups ensured intimidation of villagers who protested. In return, illegal operators funded election campaigns and paid regular bribes to officials at multiple levels. Files related to mining violations were deliberately delayed or diluted in the district offices.

One evening, a serious accident occurred when an overloaded mining truck hit a group of villagers, killing two people. Public anger erupted, and media attention focused on the administration’s failure. Political leaders blamed “rogue elements” and pressured Ramesh to certify that the truck was operating legally.

Ramesh now faces a critical ethical dilemma. If he records the truth and initiates strict action, he risks political pressure, personal threats, and possible transfer. If he compromises, he becomes part of the political–bureaucratic–criminal nexus, undermining the rule of law, environmental protection, and public trust.

As a public servant, Ramesh must decide how to uphold integrity, legality, and accountability in an environment where institutional support appears weak and vested interests are deeply entrenched.

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

Q.2 How does the political–bureaucratic–criminal nexus affect public interest, environmental governance, and the credibility of public institutions?

Q.3 What should be the most ethically appropriate course of action in this case? Suggest both immediate administrative steps and long-term institutional reforms to prevent the recurrence of such political–bureaucratic–criminal nexuses.

Q. Accountability and transparency are foundational values of ethical governance. Analyze their ethical significance and explain how the absence of these values affects public trust in democratic institutions.(150 words)

Q. Attitude plays a critical role in shaping ethical behaviour in individuals and institutions. Examine how attitudes influence ethical decision-making in public administration. (150 words)

Q. In an increasingly volatile global economic environment, India’s macroeconomic stability depends on prudent management of inflation, external sector vulnerabilities, and capital flows. Discuss the policy trade-offs involved. (250 words)

Q. Climate change is acting as a risk multiplier for disasters.’ Analyse this statement in the context of disaster management in India. (250 words)

Q.“Executive dominance often undermines institutional checks and balances in governance.” Discuss (150 Words)

Q. India’s relations with Russia continue to evolve amid shifting global geopolitics. Examine the strategic, economic, and geopolitical dimensions of contemporary India–Russia engagement. (250 Words)

Q. The Indian national movement transcended the demand for political freedom and simultaneously functioned as a powerful instrument of social transformation. Discuss (150 words)

Q. Indian society has witnessed a shift from joint family structures to nuclear and single-person households. Examine the social, economic, and cultural factors driving this transformation and its implications for social security and care systems. (250 words)

Essay Topics:

1. In an age of increasing efficiency, humanity’s greatest need is compassion, not perfection.”

2. “Justice must be rooted in principles, not in public opinion.”

Case Study

You have recently taken charge as the District Collector of a semi-urban district dealing with frequent encroachment disputes and rising public expectations from the administration. Soon after assuming office, you notice that one of your junior officers, Raghav, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), has gained significant popularity on social media. He regularly posts updates of inspections, public interactions, and enforcement actions, portraying an image of an energetic and proactive officer. However, you gradually observe that his posts often include videos of surprise inspections, images of junior staff standing tensely behind him, and clips of punitive actions such as sealing shops—sometimes with strong captions like “Action speaks louder than words.” One such video of sealing a commercial establishment goes viral, drawing public praise but also criticism that procedural fairness was not clearly shown.

Colleagues quietly mention that this public display of authority may create more fear than trust. Shopkeepers tell a senior police officer that they hesitate to visit the SDM office, worried that ordinary grievances may be recorded and posted online. An informal complaint from a local MLA describes the SDM’s conduct as “high-handed” and motivated by publicity. An anonymous petition also reaches your office alleging inadequate notice in the sealing operation, although the official records show non-compliance.

You realise that the issue does not involve an obvious legal violation but presents subtle ethical dilemmas, the line between transparency and intimidation, the responsible use of social media, the dignity of individuals during enforcement, and the need for young officers to balance enthusiasm with institutional propriety.

As District Collector, you must decide how to address the situation while preserving administrative integrity, maintaining the morale of a promising officer, and ensuring that citizens do not feel humiliated or threatened by the misuse, intentional or unintentional, of official power.

Question:

Q1.Identify the core ethical issues involved in this case. Explain their relevance to public administration.

Q2. Do you think the SDM’s use of social media, though legal, raises ethical concerns? Justify your answer using principles of public service, propriety, and dignity of individuals.

Q3. As the District Collector, what steps will you take to address the situation in a fair, balanced, and constructive manner? Provide short-term and long-term measures.

Q4. Suggest a code of conduct or guidelines for civil servants’ use of social media that balances transparency, accountability, and ethical restraint.

Q. “Despite unprecedented advances in genome engineering, synthetic human genome projects remain constrained by ethical and biosecurity concerns.” Discuss. (150 words)

Q. “Probity ensures the moral compass of a civil servant, while aptitude ensures functional excellence”. Elucidate with suitable examples . (150 words)

Q. CRISPR-based gene therapy has moved from laboratory research to clinical application within a decade.Discuss the scientific mechanism behind this therapy and evaluate its effectiveness based on recent global clinical outcomes. (250 words)

Q.“India’s fertilizer policy needs a paradigm shift from product-based subsidy to result-based nutrient management.” Discuss this in the context of the emerging role of nano fertilizers and precision agriculture. (250 words)

Q. While digital governance initiatives aim to create more accountable and transparent governance,they often risk exacerbating existing socio-economic inequalities.Analyze this paradox in the light of India’s push of ‘ Digital Public Infrastructure’(DPI). (250 word)

Q. “India’s approach to evolving multipolar world order is characterised by the Multi alignment and strategic autonomy.” Analyze the effectiveness of this approach in securing India’s core national interests,particularly in dealing with challenges posed by the rise of China. (250 words)

Q. “Contrast the bronze sculptural traditions of the Pala and Chola periods. How do these artistic divergences reflect the differing socio-religious environments of the two empires?” (150 words)

Q. “The challenge is not only to remove colonial residues but to avoid creating new forms of intellectual dependence.” In the context of debates on decolonising education, analyse how India can strike a balance between indigenous ethos and scientific-temporal modernity. (250 words)