Mains Practice Questions

Q. Climate change threatens to exacerbate global inequalities and create new ethical dilemmas around resource allocation. How should nations balance their own interests with global responsibilities in addressing this crisis? Examine the ethical principles that should guide international climate action. (150 words)

Q. The concept of 'ethical consumerism' places moral responsibility on individuals for their consumption choices. Discuss the potential and limitations of this approach in addressing global environmental challenges. (150 words)

Q "Resilience is not about putting up with something difficult, but about creatively adapting to challenging situations." Discuss (150 words)

Q. "Attitude shapes behavior, while aptitude determines capability." Analyze this statement in light of ethical governance. (150 words)

Q. Analyze the concept of "ethical fading" in organizational contexts. How can public institutions guard against this phenomenon and maintain high ethical standards over time? (150 words)

Q. Explain the concept of ‘empathy fatigue' in public service. How can administrators maintain empathy while dealing with constant exposure to societal problems? (150 words)

Q. Integrity and transparency are often cited as pillars of good governance. Discuss how these principles can sometimes conflict in real-world scenarios. (150 words)

Q. "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference in ethical leadership." Comment on this statement in the context of public administration. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the concept of moral particularism. How does it challenge traditional rule-based ethical frameworks? (150 words)

Q. How does the idea of 'moral agency' influence the responsibility of individuals in positions of power? (150 words)

Q. Examine the ethical significance of 'intent' versus 'outcome' in public service. How should civil servants weigh these factors in decision-making? (150 words)

Q. Discuss the ethical significance of the 'Golden Mean' How can this concept be applied to achieve balance in public policy decisions? (150 words)

Q. What is the 'ethics of care'? Contrast it with traditional ethical theories and discuss its significance in public administration. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the role of emotions in moral decision-making. Are emotions a hindrance or a help to ethical reasoning? (150 words)

Q. 'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated’.- Mahatma Gandhi
Discuss the ethical dimensions of animal welfare in the context of India's socio-cultural and economic realities. (150 words)

Q. “Happiness is the activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.” - Aristotle
Discuss the relationship between virtue, character, and happiness in the context of public service.(150 words)

Q.Discuss the relationship between law and ethics. How do they complement and conflict with each other? (150 words)

Q. "Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached."- Swami Vivekananda. What ethical principles can guide us in achieving our goals without compromising our values? (150 words)

Q. Discuss the concept of "natural law" and its place in ethical reasoning. Do you believe there are universal moral laws inherent in nature? (150 words)

Q. Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means." What qualities and approaches are necessary to resolve conflicts ethically and peacefully? (150 words)

Q. Explain the concept of cardinal virtues and how they can be applied to ethical decision-making in a bureaucratic environment. (150 words)

Q. Discuss how ethical egoism and ethical altruism influence decision-making in a professional setting. (150 words)

Q. Discuss how the principles of Gandhian ethics can be applied in the context of contemporary public service? (150 words)

Q. Compare and contrast Virtue Ethics with Consequentialism. Which approach do you think is most valuable for building a strong ethical character in a civil servant? (150 words)

Q. The concept of intrinsic value suggests that nature has value independent of its utility to humans. Discuss the ethical implications of this perspective on environmental policymaking. (150 words)

Q. Critically examine the relationship between rights and duties in a democracy. How do individual rights sometimes come into conflict with societal duties? (150 words)

Q.  Explore the contrasting approaches of the Ethics of Care and the Ethics of Justice.  Discuss how a civil servant might navigate situations where these ethical principles seem to conflict.  (150 words)

Q. Analyze the ethical concerns surrounding social media use by public servants. Propose guidelines for ethical conduct based on public service values. (150 words)

Q. Ethical relativism suggests morality is relative to a particular culture or society. Discuss. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the ethical theories of utilitarianism and deontology. How do these theories differ in their approach to decision-making? (150 words)