Q. Discuss the significance of impartiality and non-partisanship in ensuring ethical governance. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the ethical challenges arising from overlapping private relationships in public offices. How can conflict of interest be institutionally addressed? (150 words)

Q. Discuss the fiscal and administrative sustainability of Public Distribution System (PDS) in the context of rising food subsidy bills. How can efficiency be improved without compromising welfare objectives? (250 words)

Q. How far has India’s disaster management framework moved from a relief-centric approach to a mitigation- and resilience-based approach? Discuss with suitable examples. (250 words)

Q. How does deglobalisation challenge the principles of liberal international economic order? Examine its impact on developing countries, particularly in terms of growth, employment, and technology access. (250 words)

Q. Examine the challenges faced by Urban Local Bodies in India in delivering basic services in the context of rapid urbanisation. How can institutional and financial reforms enhance urban governance? (250 words)

Q. Discuss the impact of the declining joint family system on social security, care economy, and inter-generational relations in India. (250 words)

Q. Indian temple architecture reflects regional diversity within a shared civilisational framework. Discuss with suitable examples from Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara styles. ( 250 words)

Essay Topics

1. Nature protects those who protect it.

2. Development is not merely the expansion of choices, but the cultivation of conscience.

Case Study

Dr. Ananya Rao is a senior drug regulator in a state where several pharmaceutical manufacturing units produce low-cost medicines, including paediatric cough syrups, for both domestic use and export. These medicines are widely used by economically weaker sections due to their affordability.

Recently, reports emerged that a batch of cough syrups manufactured by a local company was linked to the deaths of several children after consumption. Preliminary investigations indicated the presence of toxic contaminants due to the use of substandard raw materials and poor quality control. International media coverage has raised serious concerns about India’s pharmaceutical regulatory standards, affecting the country’s reputation as the “pharmacy of the world.”

The manufacturing company claims that it complied with existing regulations and argues that stricter enforcement and frequent inspections would increase production costs, making medicines unaffordable for the poor and harming export competitiveness. Some political and industry stakeholders have informally urged Dr. Rao to avoid drastic action such as suspension of licenses, citing potential job losses, investor backlash, and diplomatic sensitivities.

At the same time, families of the affected children are demanding accountability, criminal prosecution, and compensation. Public trust in the healthcare system and drug safety mechanisms is visibly eroding.

Questions

1.Discuss the ethical dilemma between affordability of medicines, industrial growth, and the principle of ‘non malfiance’ in Bio ethics ethics.

2.What options are available to Dr. Ananya Rao in responding to this crisis? Evaluate the ethical merits and limitations of each option.

3.What course of action should Dr. Rao adopt to uphold medical ethics, accountability, and public interest while ensuring long-term credibility of the health system? Justify your answer.

Q. Public trust in administration is a function of value-based conduct rather than procedural efficiency alone. Discuss. (150 words)

Q. Emotional Intelligence is often described as the “moral compass of leadership.” Critically analyse this assertion with suitable examples. (150 words)

Q. Explain how advances in semiconductor technology underpin developments in AI, 6G communication, and quantum computing. (150 words)

Q. Cyber security has emerged as a critical pillar of national security in the digital age. Discuss the major cyber security challenges faced by India and evaluate the institutional, technological, and legal measures taken to address them. (250 words).

Q. The effectiveness of regional groupings depends not only on institutional design but also on political will among member states.Critically analyse this statement with suitable examples. (250 words)

Q. How has competitive federalism complemented or conflicted with co-operative federalism in India? Illustrate your answer with recent policy initiatives and inter-state dynamics.(250 words)

Q. The Treaty of Versailles and subsequent post–World War I settlements sowed the seeds of long-term instability. Analyze how boundary reconfigurations contributed to political and social tensions in Europe.(250 words)

Q. Population growth in India is no longer a uniform challenge but a region-specific phenomenon. Discuss the demographic diversity across states and its implications for governance and federal policy planning. (250 words)

Essay Topics

Q1.Technology empowers, but institutions humanise governance.
Q2.Progress without purpose is movement without meaning.

Case Study

Suresh is a District Magistrate in a socio-economically backward region where brick kilns, stone quarries, and small manufacturing units provide employment to a large number of unskilled and migrant workers. Many of these workers belong to marginalized communities and are heavily indebted to contractors due to advances taken for medical expenses, marriages, or survival needs.

Recently, a group of social activists submitted a complaint to Suresh’s office alleging the prevalence of bonded labour practices in several work sites. Workers are reportedly forced to work long hours at extremely low wages, are not allowed to leave until their debts are repaid, and face threats and physical intimidation if they attempt to escape. Identity documents are often confiscated by contractors, and children are also made to assist their parents at work sites.

The contractors deny the allegations, claiming that workers are employed voluntarily and that advance payments are a common practice. Some local political leaders and influential business owners, who have economic stakes in these units, have informally advised Suresh to “handle the matter sensitively” to avoid social unrest and disruption of local economic activity.

Media attention is increasing after the rescue of a bonded labourer revealed inhuman living conditions and custodial violence at one of the sites.

Questions

Q1. Identify the ethical issues involved in the case from the perspectives of bonded labourers, employers, and public authorities.

Q2. What options are available to Suresh in dealing with this situation? Critically evaluate each option.

Q3. As the District Magistrate, what course of action should Suresh adopt to uphold constitutional values, human rights, and ethical governance? Justify your answer.

Q. Ethics operates at multiple levels, individual, organizational, and societal. Examine these dimensions of ethics and analyze how ethical failures at one level can undermine ethical governance as a whole.(150 words)

Q. In a society marked by growing materialism and individualism, human values often come under stress. Discuss the relevance of human values in ensuring ethical governance and inclusive development. Illustrate with suitable examples. (150 words)

Q. Discuss the institutional and procedural mechanisms adopted for gender budgeting in India. Evaluate the challenges in translating gender budget allocations into measurable social outcomes. (250 words)

Q. COP-30 has been projected as a critical milestone for accelerating global climate action after the first Global Stocktake. Examine the significance of COP-30 in the context of strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and bridging the ambition gap. (250 words)

Q.“India’s governance challenge lies not in the absence of reforms but in persistent gaps in implementation.” Critically examine. (250 words)

Q.“Constitutional provisions by themselves are insufficient to sustain democratic governance unless they are animated by constitutional morality.” Discuss. (250 words)

Q. Bhakti and Sufi traditions played a transformative role in shaping India’s socio-cultural landscape.Discuss their contributions to religious harmony, vernacular literature, and popular culture. (250 words)

Q. Urbanisation in India has increasingly ignored geomorphological and hydrological constraints. Discuss how this has contributed to urban floods and environmental degradation. (250 words)

Essay Topics

1. “Technology can amplify human potential, but it cannot replace human judgment.”

2. “Cultural roots give societies resilience in times of rapid change.”

Case Study

Rakesh Mehta is the Executive Engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD) of a rapidly developing district. His department is responsible for awarding contracts for road construction, public buildings, and infrastructure maintenance. Recently, the government sanctioned a major road development project aimed at improving connectivity in rural areas.

During the tendering process, Rakesh notices that the bidding conditions have been subtly modified to favour a particular private contractor. The technical eligibility criteria appear unnecessarily restrictive, effectively eliminating genuine competitors. Informally, Rakesh learns that senior officials and local political leaders are pressuring the department to ensure the contract goes to this preferred bidder in exchange for financial kickbacks and political funding.

Although the selected firm quotes a higher price and has a questionable track record, the tender evaluation committee is being influenced to overlook these issues. When Rakesh raises procedural concerns, he is advised by colleagues to “go with the system” and reminded that officers who previously opposed such practices were sidelined or transferred.

Meanwhile, local citizens and media have started raising concerns about poor quality of public works and rising costs in government projects. Rakesh now faces a moral dilemma—whether to remain silent and protect his career or uphold transparency and fairness at the risk of professional retaliation.

Questions

Q1.Identify the ethical issues involved in the above case.

Q2.What ethical dilemmas does Rakesh Mehta face as a public servant while dealing with political pressure and irregularities in the tendering process?

Q3.What should be the most appropriate course of action for Rakesh to ensure transparency, accountability, and public interest in the tendering process?