Mains Practice Questions

Q. What do you understand by medical ethics? Examine its relevance in the context of deteriorating patient-physician relationship in India. (150 words)

You are the Superintendent of Police (SP) in the district where instances of honour killing are rampant. One day you receive a phone call from a girl informing you of the potential threat to her and her partners’ life from her family as she has decided to marry a boy belonging to a lower caste. Moreover, the local police station is not filing the FIR or granting them protection. You ask her to visit your office but she demands police protection to come out from the hideout as her father’s goons are chasing her.

On further inquiry, you come to know that the girl is the daughter of one of the most powerful Minister of the State and both girl and boy are legally eligible to get married. The family is concerned about the family prestige due to the lower caste of the boy and also of the financial stability of marriage as they both are unemployed. You are under extreme political pressure to charge the boy of kidnapping the girl or else face the consequences.

In such circumstances, point out the ethical dilemma faced by you and options available to you. Also, chalk out the course of action you would prefer to follow. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by ethical governance and examine how is it different from good governance? (150 words)

Q. Examine the reasons and situations that lead to a conflict of interest for a public servant and ways to resolve them. (150 words)

Q. You are District Magistrate of a flood-prone district. The flood control department has allocated forty crore rupees for building embankments in the low lying area of the river bed. There have been various complaints from locals over the delay in project completion, violations of rules and misuse of funds by the nexus of politicians and contractors.

During monsoon, the embankment construction couldn’t withstand a single season of flooding. This has led to the submergence of many villages in floodwater and thousands of people are trapped in the villages. The villages are completely cut off and there is a scarcity of food and drinking water. Due to water stagnation, there is also a risk of epidemic spread in the region.

There is huge discontent and protest over the allegation of corruption against the local politician. As he is a popular face of ruling political party in the state, there is severe pressure from political heads to cover the corruption issue. Defying the orders of political bosses will bring wrath towards you and may also lead to transfer.

1. As a District Magistrate what will be your course of action to manage the situation in the district. (200 words)
2. Identify the various dimensions of the crisis involved in the issue. Based on your understanding, suggest measures to deal with the crisis. (200 Words)

Q. Discuss the similarities and differences between the code of ethics and code of conduct. (250 words)

Q. The needs of development must be balanced with that of climate justice. In this context, explain the relevance of climate justice in the present times. (250 words)

Q. You are a Municipal Corporation Commissioner of your city which is under heavy rainfall over the last few days. The boundary wall of one of the housing society collapses. The incident took place at midnight, leading to the death of 12 workers, including two children, sleeping in the shade beside the wall. 

On the preliminary inquiry, it has been found that inspite of inappropriate soil conditions, the permission to construct wall was given by previous Municipal Commissioner, who happens to be your close friend. Also, irregularities in construction material have been found and the other officials in the department are trying to influence or manipulate you. The whole scenario seems like a nexus between the officials of the municipal department and builder. However, the builder is a close relative of one of the most powerful leaders of the party in power and is trying to threaten you. 

(A) What are the ethical issues involved and the options available to you in such a situation? 

(B) Also, suggest a course of action you would like to follow.

Q. Some people feel that values keep changing with time and situation, while others strongly believe that there are certain universal and eternal human values. Discuss with examples. (250 words)

Q. Explain with examples, how emotional intelligence can be used by the civil servants for better governance. (250 words)

Q. You are a traffic constable and while on duty you see 3 people riding a motorcycle without a helmet and jumping the red signal. On stopping them, you came to know that one of them met with an accident due to potholes and is severely bleeding and due to non-arrival of ambulance they are taking him to the hospital. On further enquiry, you came to know that the driver does not have a driving license and works as day wager. While on his way to work, he found the man lying injured on the road and in a rush to take him to hospital, he left his helmet on the site of an accident. The driver expresses his financial inability to pay increased fines. Recently, due to the enforcement of new Motor Vehicles Act, you are under severe pressure from your seniors for strict enforcement.    

1. What are the ethical issues involved and the options available to you in such a situation. 

2. Also suggest a course of action you would like to follow. (250 words)

Q. “Businesses cannot be successful when the society around them fails.” Analyse the need for Corporate Social Responsibility in light of the above statement. (250 words)

Q. Examine the following quote:

“ I'd rather have a free press without a government than a government without a free press.” (250 words)

You are posted as an SDM in a division of district which is undergoing ethnic turbulence since sometime. There has been a substantial loss of lives and property due to the disturbance, following which you are given implicit orders by the ruling party of the area to move a certain section of population, belonging to a particular ethnic group, out of the area to control the situation. This order has put you in a difficult position as it goes against your own ethical values of targeting a section of population and moving them out of their homes. However, not following the orders will be taken as dereliction of duty and will put the onus on you for the loss of lives.

A. In this situation, what are the options available to you?

B. In your opinion, what can be the most appropriate course of action and why? (250 words)

Q. What is empathy? Is it an important trait for the present-day civil servants? Explain with examples.

Q. Examine the contribution of Bhakti movement to ethics along with its impact on society. (250 words)

Q. Ambedkar warned that Bhakti in religion may be a road to the salvation of the soul, but in politics, Bhakti or hero worship is a sure road to degradation and to eventual dictatorship. Comment. (150 words)

Q. Discuss Kautilya’s philosophy of “Yatha Raja Tatha Praja” (As the king is, so will be the people) in the context of today’s political leadership in India. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by conscience? Discuss the different conceptions of conscience given by moral thinkers. (250 words)

Q. Examine Kautilya’s ideas on governance and corruption. How far are these ideas relevant in today’s Indian society. (250 words)

Q. A free media has a crucial role in the prevention, monitoring and control of corruption. Analyse. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by feminist ethics? How is “ethic of care” different from “ethic of justice”? (150 words)

Q. What do you understand by bioethics? Discuss issues related to bioethics in India. (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by cognitive dissonance? Give some instances where a civil servant may experience cognitive dissonance. (250 words)

Q. Define and differentiate between the following terms:- (150 words)

(a)Sympathy

(b)Empathy

(c)Compassion

Q. Discuss how ‘Right to Information’ has helped in furthering the goals of democracy and impediments still remaining in its implementation. (250 words)

Q. Which are the institutions in India that promote ethical accountability in public service and what are the challenges in ensuring it? (250 words)

Q. What do you understand by emotional intelligence? Substantiate its significance in civil services. (150 words)

Q. Differentiate between the following terms:  

1.Meta ethics and normative ethics.

2.Deontology and consequentialism

(250 words)

Q. Examine the relevance of ‘honesty’ and ‘courage of conviction’ in the context of civil service.