Essay Topics:

1. Knowing others is intelligence, knowing yourself is true wisdom.
2. Technological advancement is not a substitute for ethical responsibility, but a vehicle for its expression.

Case Study

Vikram is an urban planner in a fast-growing metropolitan city. His department has been tasked with overseeing the redevelopment of an old industrial area into a modern residential neighborhood. The project promises to rejuvenate a dilapidated part of the city and provide affordable housing for hundreds of families. However, the area in question is also home to a vibrant but lower-income community that has lived there for decades.

While the local government has promised that the redevelopment will bring economic opportunities and better living standards, Vikram has begun to uncover troubling details. Many of the residents have been living there for years and have a strong social and cultural attachment to the area. They also run small businesses that are crucial for their livelihoods. The redevelopment plan includes tearing down their homes and businesses, displacing them, and relocating them to a different part of the city, far from their current community and support systems. Moreover, there is a lack of detailed information on how the government will ensure affordable housing for the displaced families or whether they will be properly compensated.

Vikram is also aware that there are significant financial interests behind the project. Several influential real estate developers stand to gain immensely from the redevelopment, and their lobbying efforts have heavily influenced the planning process. Vikram, who was initially excited about the project’s potential to revitalize the city, now feels conflicted. On one hand, the redevelopment could bring economic growth, but on the other hand, it may cause social harm to the marginalized community that lives there.

As the project progresses, Vikram is put under pressure by his superiors to approve the project without further scrutiny, as delays could risk funding and affect the city’s overall development plan. He is aware that his career could suffer if he raises objections or calls for a review of the plan. At the same time, he is troubled by the ethical implications of displacing vulnerable communities for the sake of economic development and real estate profit.

Questions:

1. What are the key ethical dilemmas involved in this situation?
2. How should Vikram handle the apparent conflict of interest in this situation, with powerful developers pushing for the project and the displacement of a marginalized community?
3. Can economic growth justify the displacement of a community? What ethical principles should guide policymakers when planning such development projects.

Q. "Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows." - Martin Luther King, Jr. In the context of the above quote, discuss whether lasting peace can be achieved through violent means, or if non-violence is the only ethical way to attain peace. (150 words)

Q. Is ethical relativism a valid approach to governance in a multicultural society like India? Discuss its implications on policy formulation. (150 words)

Q. Critically assess the potential impact of the National Manufacturing Mission on India’s manufacturing sector. How can this initiative enhance the sector’s global competitiveness? (250 words)

Q. "The Himalayas are not just a geographical feature, but a living ecosystem, vital for sustaining the environment, biodiversity, and livelihoods." Discuss. (150 words)

Q. In what ways does India’s engagement with the G7 contribute to its global diplomatic aspirations and strategic autonomy? Discuss the challenges India faces in aligning with G7 priorities while maintaining its leadership role in the Global South. (250 words)

Q. "The Supreme Court of India has transformed Article 21 from a narrow procedural guarantee into a vast reservoir of substantive rights." Discuss with reference to relevant case laws. (150 words)

Q. “Indian society today is moving faster than its social vocabulary can interpret.” Analyze the societal implications of changing norms around gender, technology, and generational aspirations. (250 words)

Q. “Colonial land revenue settlements not only transformed agrarian relations but also reshaped rural society and politics in modern India.” Comment. (150 words)

Essay Topics:

1. We live in an age of information, but wisdom is a scarce resource.
2. The greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our own constraints.

Case Study

Meera is a senior executive at a publicly listed company in India, specializing in renewable energy projects. The company is in the process of bidding for a government contract to build a large solar power plant in a remote region. The contract is highly competitive, with several top-tier companies vying for it, and winning it would bring significant financial gain and visibility to Meera’s company.

A few months prior, Meera’s brother-in-law, Rajiv, was appointed as a senior official in the Ministry of Renewable Energy, the very ministry responsible for overseeing and awarding the contract. Meera and Rajiv have a close relationship, and although she knows that Rajiv has a strong professional reputation, she is also aware that he is under considerable pressure to ensure the success of the government’s solar power initiatives.

Meera’s company is one of the top contenders for the bid, but she learns that Rajiv may be in a position to influence the decision-making process, and there is a possibility that Rajiv might help her company’s bid, albeit subtly, given their personal relationship. Meera feels conflicted: while she knows her company is capable of delivering on the contract, she is aware that her family connection with Rajiv could create a perception of conflict of interest and lead to accusations of favoritism.

Meera’s dilemma is compounded by the fact that the company’s shareholders are pushing for aggressive expansion and winning this contract could significantly increase the company’s market value. However, Meera is also deeply concerned about maintaining ethical standards, public perception, and the integrity of both her personal and professional reputation.

Questions:
a) What are the key ethical dilemmas involved in this situation?
b) What steps should Meera take to ensure that her involvement in the bidding process remains ethical and transparent, given her personal connection to Rajiv?
c) What are the potential risks of allowing personal relationships to influence corporate governance decisions, particularly in public sector contracts, and how can these risks affect the company’s long-term success?

Q. Can human actions be considered ethical if they violate societal norms but serve a higher moral purpose? Discuss with examples. (150 words)

Q. How does objectivity differ from neutrality and impartiality? Illustrate your answer with suitable examples from public service. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the current flood management strategies adopted by Indian cities. How effective are these strategies in mitigating urban flooding, and what improvements can be made in flood risk management and disaster preparedness? (250 words)

Q. Assess the role of green investments in India’s transition to a sustainable economy. How can India integrate environmental sustainability with economic growth in the context of its ‘Net-Zero’ emissions target by 2070? (250 words)

Q. India is navigating an increasingly complex and dynamic geopolitical environment. Discuss how India seeks to balance its multilateral engagements with the pursuit of strategic autonomy in foreign policy. (150 words)

Q. The role and institutional independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been a subject of increasing debate in recent times. Discuss the key issues affecting its functioning and suggest reforms to enhance its autonomy. (250 words)

Q. Primary rocks form the foundation of Earth’s geology. Discuss their types, formation processes, and distinguishing features. (150 words)

Q. The colonial administration in India significantly altered the traditional tribal systems. Analyze the consequences of these disruptions and the responses of the tribal communities to these changes. (250 words)

Essay Quotes:

1. The measure of a man is what he does with power.
2. Poverty is the worst form of violence.

Case Study:

As an Airworthiness Officer with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), you have been assigned to conduct a post-crash safety audit following a tragic incident involving a major airline. A commercial aircraft operated by the airline crashed, resulting in fatalities, civilian property damage, and significant public concern over the safety of air travel.

During your audit, you uncover alarming issues with the airline's operations. These include recurring technical faults in the fleet, such as flight control irregularities, as well as incomplete and inconsistent maintenance logs. Despite multiple complaints from crew members over the years, these concerns were neither properly addressed nor escalated by the airline’s management.

Additionally, you find that the airline has inadequately maintained crew training records, casting doubt on the airline’s compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards. A crew member further alleges that the crashed aircraft had known mechanical issues and that staff complaints had been ignored for an extended period.

The airline is part of a well-connected and influential business group, with a strong public image. A senior executive from the airline downplays the severity of the issues, insisting they are minor and will be resolved. Furthermore, your superior has informally advised you to tread lightly, suggesting that highlighting these problems could harm national morale and cause a political backlash.

You are now faced with a difficult decision: should you file a thorough and detailed report of your findings, which could potentially trigger urgent reforms in the airline’s operations but may provoke political and personal risk? Alternatively, should you withhold certain findings to avoid causing harm to the airline’s reputation and national sentiment, despite the potential risks to public safety?

Questions:

(a) What are the key ethical issues present in this case? Highlight the conflicting duties and interests affecting your judgment.

(b) What are the options available to you? Discuss the merits and demerits of each.

(c) Which option would you choose and why? Justify your decision using relevant ethical principles and the responsibilities of a regulatory authority during a crisis.

Q. How does this quotation by John C. Maxwell, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way," apply to civil servants in the current context? (150 words)

Q. Attitude plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of civil servants. How does a positive attitude contribute to efficient civil service, and what personal and external factors influence the development of this attitude? (150 words)

Q. Discuss the impact of deforestation on biodiversity and climate change in India, highlighting the government initiatives undertaken to mitigate these effects. (150 words)

Q. Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a key tool in improving governance and public service delivery in India. Discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with its adoption in the public sector. (250 words)

Q. The concept of federalism is fundamental to India's political structure. Discuss its role in promoting effective governance and ensuring political stability in a diverse country like India. (150 words)

Q. With reference to Supreme Court judgments, discuss the role of the judiciary in promoting social justice in India, and how its interpretations have shaped policies for marginalized sections of society. (250 words)

Q. The evolution of Indian painting from cave murals to miniature traditions reveals shifts in patronage and cultural narratives. Comment. (150 words)

Q. India is poised to reap a demographic dividend due to its young population profile. Discuss the opportunities and challenges of leveraging India’s demographic dividend for economic and social development. (250 words)