Mains Practice Questions

Q. What do you understand by the term Just War Theory?

Q. What are the main aspects or components of International Morality?

Case Study

You serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a startup business that is gaining recognition in the industry. Mr. Anuj, a well-known performer, is in charge of the marketing department. He has contributed to the company's revenues by more than doubling in just one year, and you are considering giving him a promotion because of this. However, you have heard rumours regarding his behaviour with his female coworkers, specifically his propensity for making crude remarks about women, from a variety of sources. Additionally, he frequently sends lewd SMS messages to the entire team, including his female coworkers.

One day, Mrs. Akshita, a member of Mr. Anuj's team, comes to you in the late evening, clearly upset. She complains about Mr. Anuj's ongoing inappropriate behaviour because he has been making unwanted overtures toward her and even attempting to touch her inappropriately in his cabin. She steps down from her position and departs your workplace. (20 marks | 250 words)

(a) What are the options available to you?

(b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option you would adopt, giving reasons.

Q. Describe Human Values and explain the role of society in the inculcation of values in the members of society. (150 Words)

Q. What do you understand by the terms Compassion, Sympathy, Tolerance, and Equity in your life? Explain.

Case Study

Suppose you are newly appointed as a District Collector, and a businessman approaches you to seek permission regarding building a mall in your city with a modernised ambience that once built will be a glorious addition to the City. However, the projected land for the mall is surrounded by slums, and therefore must be cleared before construction can begin.

The subordinate informed you that the slums were built illegally and have been breeding grounds for drug dealers and phone snatchers.

In addition, the businessman proposes that if you approve the tender, he will facilitate the purchase of a large plot of land in a renowned area of the city in the name of your wife/husband.

Critically examine various conflicts of interest and explain your course of action as a public servant.

Q. Despite the emphasis on the Citizen Charter in day-to-day administration, there are many shortcomings attached to it. Discuss. (250 Words)

Q. Social Audit is a powerful tool in the hands of the people to ensure financial accountability. In light of this statement discuss its major shortcomings and give suggestions to reform it. (150 Words)

Case Study

Rohit has aided a businessman by speedily paying the bills for the goods he had provided to the government. The payment was sizable and it enabled the merchant to avoid a cash shortage. The businessman was so moved that he gave Rohit gifts as a token of his gratitude. Rohit turns them down. Soon after, Rohit visits a hill station with his family where the businessman owns a hotel. He conveys in advance to the businessman that he would like to stay in his hotel and checks into that hotel. The hotel management, on instructions from the businessman, treats Rohit and his family as guests and refuses to accept payment from Rohit. Even Rohit does not insist on making payment.

Q.1 Discuss the ethical issues and ethical dilemmas involved in the case.

Q.2 How would you have behaved if you were at Rohit’s place? Suggest the way-out.

Q. Emotional Intelligence helps an individual to cope with various difficult situations in life. In light of this statement discuss the multiple components of Emotional Intelligence and its relevance in Civil Services. (250 Words)

Q.” Attitude is a small thing but it makes a big difference". Discuss the factors that contribute to the formation of attitude and functions of attitude. (250 Words)

Case Study

Suppose you are the Superintendent of Police in a district. The state has experienced an increase in communal riots in the past few months. A recent incident occurred in a small village. Mud houses were set on fire. Geeta and her daughter Roopa, who was three and a half years old, fled the village after violence broke out.

Once they reached a nearby village, they were attacked by a group of people. Geeta and her daughter were brutally raped and murdered, and the local police have refused to register the case as two police stations are bordered by the area where the bodies were found.

Locals from the village and relatives of the deceased are protesting and accusing the police of negligence and demanding the arrest of the offender with strong political backing. However, your senior calls you and asks you to conceal and distort the truth.

(a) Identify the stakeholders and various dimensions of the crisis involved in the issue.

(b) What would be the course of action taken by you to manage the situation as a Superintendent of Police? Identify measures that can be taken to prevent rapes (250 words)

Q. “An action which leads to undesirable consequences may be moral and an action that leads to good consequences can be immoral.” Comment (150 Words)

Q. What are the four core qualities of a civil servant in the public administration and discuss their significance. (150 Words)

Case Study

India hosts a number of migratory bird species every year who fly here either in search of feeding ground or to escape freezing winters of their natural habitat. At a major bird nesting lake in India, thousands of birds have died in a mysterious way. The deadly lake is surrounded by mining areas and possibly due to the discharge of effluents from the mining process, the lake got polluted. The junior manager working in the same mining area happens to discover the cause of the death of the birds. He is perturbed and discusses this with his colleagues who ask him to keep silent as this may cost him his job. He cannot risk losing his job as he is the sole breadwinner of his family and has to take care of his ailing parents and siblings. At first, he thinks that if his colleagues are quiet, why should he stick out his neck. But his conscience pricks him to do something to save the lake and the birds who depend upon it. He decides to take the matter to his senior.

(a) What arguments can he advance to show that whatever is being done by the mining industry is not morally right?

(b) What course of action should he adopt in case his senior refuses to entertain his complaint and why? (250 Words)

Q. Analyse the importance of work culture as a component of effective governance. Discuss how Indian work culture is at variance with the Western work culture? (150 Words)

Q. “It isn’t enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it, and it isn’t enough to believe in it, one must work at it. '' Analyse this statement in the context of international relations. (150 Words)

Q. What are the principles of effective public service delivery? Why is it an important component of governance? Explain in the context of Sevottam model. (150 Words)

Q. In the religious land of India, there exists the exploitative custom of sexual slavery known as the Jogini system (a local variation of the Devadasi system) which involves marrying young girls to a deity. This social evil has resisted the legal measures aimed at curbing it till date, despite having been prohibited as per the Devadasi (Prohibition of Dedication) Act. You are posted as a District Magistrate and you get to know about such practice taking place in the area of your jurisdiction. Two Dalit girls have been confined and being prepared for dedication to God as devadasis. The children are forced into becoming Devadasis by their own parents because girls are their only source of income in most cases. In a society where a girl child is often considered a liability, turning them into Devadasis is how patriarchy works to transform them into assets. You also get to know of child prostitution being practiced in the name of Devadasi.

(a) What course of action will you take in such a scenario?

(b) What are the issues involved in banning the practice of Devadasi system, in spite of the laws already present against it? (250 Words)

Q. What are the standards of public life as expounded by the Nolan Committee? (150 Words)

Q. What is e-Citizen Charter? Describe how the PRAGATI platform can help in effective Grievance redressal mechanism? (150 Words)

Q. What is Information Ethics? Explain how RTI Act can help in maintaining ethical governance in the country. (150 Words)

Case Study

Mr. Siddhant is the chairman of a cultural organization under the central government. The organization has a historical and cultural legacy. Recently he has been charged with the responsibility of organizing an international event by involving artists from different countries. For this event, he has roped in a famous personality from Bollywood as the brand ambassador and face of the event. This has helped in popularising the program at a wide scale and also in the generation of revenue. However, in the mid of the preparation, a female singer artist came in front of the media and accused the Bollywood personality of sexual harassment 10 years ago when she was a minor and searching for work. This accusation has sparked controversy and protest by the public. People are raising their voices against his involvement in the event. Meanwhile, the National Commission of Women has also approached Mr. Siddhant and demands the removal of the Brand Ambassador. Mr. Siddhant is in mid of the finalization of the event and all the preparations regarding inviting people from different parts of the world, their accommodation, etc have already been done. Initially, his consciousness pushed him to do something in this regard but because of external pressure, he is not sure about the right course of action. With reference to the above case study–

(a) What arguments can you give him to show that keeping quiet is not morally right?
(b) What course of action would you advise him to adopt and why? (250 Words)

Q. What do you understand by the Code of Conduct? Explain its utility in changing governance structure in India. (150 Words)

Case Study

Q. You are posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) in a city where a horrific incident of gang rape and murder of an IT professional has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. Since the culprits are still at large, the public anger is mounting and the aggrieved family is refusing to cooperate in investigations because they have no faith in the local police. Earlier, when they tried to lodge a missing complaint of the victim in a nearby police station, they were turned away as the police said that the area falls outside their jurisdiction. In such circumstances when the police force is under heavy media scrutiny.

(a) What will you do to dissuade the rising mistrust between the public and the police?
(b) Also, bring out the long term measures to check this ever growing menace of violence against women. (250 Words)

Q. The basic thrust of the Citizen’s Charter is to render public services citizen-centric by making them demand-driven rather than supply-driven. How an organization should utilise citizen charter for effective governance? (150 Words)

Q. Examine the need of Code of Ethics for civil servants in India. (150 Words)

Q. What is ethical dilemma? Mention the different types of ethical dilemmas faced in government institutions and also suggest ways to resolve them. (150 Words)

Case Study

You are the head of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that offers palliative care to cancer patients from the poor sections of the society. Since the last few months funding for your noble cause is dwindling due to which you are not able to fulfill the needs of the dependent people. One day, you are contacted by the owner of a big tobacco company who is willing to fund your NGO because he has to meet Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) targets. However, over the years working with cancer patients you have developed a deep hatred for tobacco companies. Now, the owner’s offer has put you in a moral dilemma. On the one side, you detest the thought of accepting support from a company that is doling out cancer through its products, and on the other hand, you feel that the company's aid is a godsend opportunity for your NGO to provide better care to patients.

(a) What are the various ethical issues involved here?
(b) Will it be morally right for you to accept money from the tobacco company? (250 Words)

Q. What do you understand by Probity? Explain its importance in governance with relevant examples? (150 Words)