UPSC CSE Prelims 2024

Ethics Case Study 2021 Questions

 

Q.7) Sunil is a young civil servant and has a reputation for his competence, 

integrity, dedication and relentless pursuit of difficult and onerous jobs. 

Considering his profile, he was picked up by his bosses to handle a very 

challenging and sensitive assignment. He was posted in a tribal dominated 

district notorious for illegal sand mining. Excavating sand from river belt and 

transporting through trucks and selling them in black market was rampant. This 

illegal sand mining mafia was operating with the support of local functionaries 

and tribal musclemen who in turn were bribing selected poor tribal’s and had 

kept the tribal’s under fear and intimidation.

Sunil being a sharp and energetic officer immediately grasped the ground 

realities and the modus operandi followed by the mafia through their devious 

and dubious mechanism. On making inquiries, he gathered that some of their 

own office employees are in hand and glove with them and have developed close 

unholy nexus. Sunil initiated stringent action against them and started 

conducting raids on their illegal operations of movement of trucks filled with 

sand. The mafia got rattled as not many officers in the past had taken such strong 

steps against the mafia. Some of the office employees who were allegedly close 

to mafia informed them that the officer is determined to clean up the mafia’s 

illegal sand mining operations in that district and may cause them irreparable 

damage. The mafia turned hostile and launched counter-offensive. The tribal 

musclemen and mafia started threatening him with dire consequences. His family 

(wife and old mother) were stalked and were under virtual surveillance and thus 

causing mental torture, agony and stress to all of them. The matter assumed 

serious proportions when a muscleman came to his office and threatened him to 

stop raids, etc. otherwise; his fate will not be different than some of his 

predecessors (ten years back one officer was killed by the mafia).

(a) Identify the different options available to Sunil in attending to this situation.

(b) Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you

(c) Which of the above, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Sunil to 

adopt and why? (Answer in 250 words) 




Q.8) You are Vice Principal of a degree college in one of the middle-class towns. 

Principal has recently retired and management is looking for his replacement. 

There are also feelers that the management may promote you as Principal. In the 

meantime, during annual examination the flying squad which came from the 

university caught two students red-handed involving in unfair means. A senior 

lecturer of the college was personally helping these students in this act. This 

senior lecturer also happens to be close to the management. One of the students 

was son of a local politician who was responsible in getting college affiliated to 

the present reputed university. The second student was son of a local 

businessman who has donated maximum funds for running of the college. You 

immediately informed the management regarding this unfortunate incident. The 

management told you to resolve the issue with flying squad at any cost. They 

further said that such incident will not only tarnish the image of the college but 

also the politician and businessman are very important personalities for the 

functioning of the college. You were also given hint that your further promotion 

to Principal depends on your capability in resolving this issue with flying squad. In 

the meantime, you were intimated by your administrative officer that certain 

members of the student union are protesting outside the college gate against the 

senior lecturer and the students involved in this incident and demanding strict 

action against defaulters.

1. a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case.

2. b) Critically examine the options available with you as Vice Principal. What 

option will you adopt and why? (Answer in 250 words) 



Q.9) An elevated corridor is being constructed to reduce traffic congestion in the 

capital of a particular state. You have been selected as project manager of this 

prestigious project on your professional competence and experience. The 

deadline is complete the project in next two years by 30 June, 2021, since this 

project is to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister before the elections are 

announced in the second week of July 2021. While carrying out the surprise 

inspection by inspecting team, minor crack was noticed in one of the piers of the 

elevated corridor possibly due to poor material used. You immediately informed 

the chief engineer and stopped further work. It was assessed by you that 

minimum three piers of the elevated corridor have to be demolished and 

reconstructed. But this process will delay the project minimum by four to six 

months. But the chief engineer overruled the observation of inspecting team on 

the ground that it was a minor crack which to not in any way impact the strength 

and durability of the bridge. He ordered you to overlook the observation of 

inspecting team and continue working with same speed and tempo. He informed 

you that the minister does not want any delay as he wants the Chief Minister to 

inaugurate the elevated corridor before the elections are declared. Also informed 

you that the contractor is far relative of the minister and he wants him to finish 

the project. He also gave you hint that your further promotion as additional chief 

engineer is under consideration with the ministry. However, you strongly felt that 

the minor crack in the pier of the elevated corridor will adversely affect the health 

and life of the bridge and therefore it will be very dangerous not to repair the 

elevated corridor.

• Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a 

project manager?

(b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by the project manager?

(c) What are the professional challenges likely to be faced by the project 

manager and his response to overcome such challenges?

(d) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observation raised by the 

inspecting team? (Answer in 250 words) 



Q.10) The Coronavirus disease (COVID 19) pandemic has quickly spread to 

various countries. As on May 8th 2020,in India 56342 cases of corona had been 

reported. India with population of more than 1.35 billion had difficulty in 

controlling the transmission of Coronavirus among its population. Multiple 

strategies became necessary to handle this outbreak. The ministry of health and 

family welfare of India raised awareness about this outbreak and to take all 

necessary actions to control the spread of Covid 19. Indian Govt. implemented a 

55 day lockdown throughout the country to reduce the transmission of virus.

Schools and colleges had shifted to alternative mode of teaching-learning-

evaluation and certification. Online mode became popular during these days

India was not prepared for the sudden onslaught of such a crisis due to limited in 

terms of human resource, money and other facilities needed for taking care of 

this situation. This disease did not spare anybody irrespective of caste, creed 

,religion on the one hand have and have not on the other. Deficiencies in hospital 

beds, Oxygen cylinders, ambulances, hospital staff and crematorium were the 

most crucial aspects

You are a hospital administrator in a public hospital at the time when Coronavirus 

had attacked large number of people and patients were pouring into hospital day 

in and day out

• What are your criteria and justification for putting your clinical and non 

clinical staff to attend the patients knowing fully well that it is highly 

infectious disease and resources and infrastructure are limited?

(b)If yours is a private hospital, whether your justification and decision would 

remain the same as that of a public hospital? (Answer in 250 words) 



Q.11) A reputed food product company based in India developed a food product 

for the international market and started exporting the same after 

getting necessary approvals. The company announced this achievement and also 

indicated that soon the product will be made available for the domestic 

consumers with almost same quality and health benefits. Accordingly, the 

company got its product approved by domestic competent authority and 

launched the product in Indian market. The company could increase its 

market share over a period of time and earned substantial profit both 

domestically and internationally. However the random sample test conducted by 

the inspecting team found the product being sold domestically in variance with 

the approval obtained from competent authority. On further investigation it was 

also discovered that the food company was not only selling products which were 

not meeting the health standards of the country but also selling the 

rejected export products in the domestic market. This episode adversely affected 

the reputation and profitability of the food company

• What action do you visualize should be taken by the competent authority 

against the food company for violating the laid down domestic food 

standard and selling rejected export products in domestic market?

• What course of action is available with the food company to resolve the 

crisis and bring back its lost reputation?

• Examine the ethical dilemma involved in the case. (Answer in 250 words) 



Q.12) Pawan is working as an officer in the State Government for the last ten 

years. As a part of routine transfer, he was posted to another department. He 

joined in a new office along with five other colleagues. The head of the office was 

a senior officer conversant with the functioning of the office. As a part of general 

inquiry, Pawan gathered that his senior officer carries the reputation of being 

difficult and insensitive person having his own disturbed family life. Initially, all 

seem to go well. However, after some time Pawan felt that the senior officer was 

belittling him and at times unreasonable. Whatever suggestions given or views 

expressed by Pawan in the meetings were summarily rejected and the senior 

officer would express in the displeasure presence of others. It became a pattern 

of boss’s style of functioning to show him in bad light highlighting his 

shortcomings and humiliating publically. It became apparent that though there 

are no serious work-related problems/shortcomings, the senior officer was always 

on one pretext or the other and would scold and shout at him. The continuous 

harassment and public criticism of Pawan resulted in loss of confidence, self-

esteem and equanimity. Pawan realized that his relations with his senior officer 

are becoming more toxic and due to this, he felt perpetually tensed, anxious and 

stressed. His mind was occupies with negativity and caused him mental torture, 

anguish and agony. Eventually, it badly affected his personal and family life. He 

was no longer joyous, happy and other family members contented even at home. 

Rather without way reasons he would lose his temper with his wife and other 

family members. The family environment was no longer pleasant and congenial. 

His wife who was always supportive to him also became a victim of his negativity 

and hostile behavior. Due to harassment and humiliation suffering by him in the 

office, comfort and happiness virtually vanished from his life. Thus it damaged his 

physical and mental health.

• What are the options available with Pawan to cope up with the situation?

• What approach Pawan should adopt for bringing peace, tranquility and 

congenial environment in the office and home?

• As an outsider, what are your suggestions for both boss and subordinate 

to overcome this situation and for improving the work performance, 

mental and emotional hygiene?

• In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest for officers 

at various levels in the government offices? (Answer in 250 words)  

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