Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

A crisis of conscience refers to a situation where an individual experiences intense moral conflict between what is ethically right and what external pressures, expectations, or personal interests demand. It is the point at which one’s inner moral compass clashes with temptations, fear of consequences, or social ties. Such situations test the strength of one’s integrity, honesty, fairness, and moral courage.

Body :

Crisis of Conscience

• It represents an internal struggle between ethical principles and external pressures.
• It arises when following one’s moral values may lead to personal loss, discomfort, or conflict.
• It reflects a clash between duty vs. emotion, truth vs. convenience, or public interest vs. personal obligation.
• It demands moral courage and clarity to act according to conscience rather than compromise.

Example From My Life: Handling a Crisis of Conscience

Context:

• I was part of my college’s organising committee for a major cultural event.
• A close friend submitted a sponsorship proposal after the deadline and requested me to include his organisation’s logo on promotional material.

Nature of the Crisis:

• Conflict between personal loyalty and institutional fairness.
• Pressure to make an exception “just this once.”
• Fear that refusing may affect the friendship.

Values in Conflict:

• Integrity, impartiality, transparency vs. friendship, social expectation, emotional pressure.

Options Before Me:

• Accept the request and compromise fairness.
• Reject the request outright and risk straining personal relations.
• Seek a middle path by delaying the design (not feasible due to strict deadlines).

Ethical Reasoning Applied:

• Giving exceptions would be unfair to sponsors who followed rules.
• It would set a wrong precedent and weaken the credibility of the organising committee.
• Upholding rules ensures trust, equality, and professionalism.

Final Decision:

• I politely but firmly refused the request.
• I explained that the rules ensured fairness for all participants and bending them would compromise organisational integrity.

Outcome:

• The friend initially felt disappointed but later appreciated the reasoning.
• The event proceeded smoothly, with consistent standards for all sponsors.

Conclusion

This incident taught me that a crisis of conscience is not just about recognising the right path, but having the moral courage to follow it despite pressure. For public servants, such inner conflicts are common and must be resolved by upholding integrity, impartiality, and commitment to public interest. As Mahatma Gandhi wisely said, “In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.”