Mains Practice Questions

Case Study:

You are the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of a flood-affected district. Thousands of people have been displaced in the recent floods. The state government has sent an emergency relief fund that is significantly lower than what is required. You are instructed to distribute it “based on urgency and vulnerability.”

However, you face the following situation:

1. Village A is politically influential. The local MLA pressures you to allot a major share of relief funds there. He hints that “future cooperation” will depend on your decision.

2. Village B is severely affected, but it has poor road connectivity. Delivering aid there will take extra time and resources.

3. Village C has fewer casualties but houses a large migrant labour population that lacks documents required for official relief distribution.

4. Your field staff privately suggests that you divert some funds for logistics (vehicles, fuel, meals). Official guidelines prohibit this, but without these expenses, delivery to remote areas will be delayed.

5. The media is reporting that the administration is “slow and careless,” adding further pressure.

You must decide how to allocate the limited resources fairly, efficiently, and ethically, while handling political pressure, administrative constraints, and humanitarian concerns.

Question:

Q1. Identify the major ethical issues involved in this situation.

Q2. As the SDM, outline the options available to you. Evaluate each option using ethical principles.

Q3. What would be your final course of action? Justify your decision with proper reasoning, referencing ethical theories and principles of public service.