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Public and Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration

20 questions

2025

  1. 2025 · GS4 · 10 marks“Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherence of the rule of law.” Examine the significance of constitutional morality for public servant highlighting the role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration.
  2. 2025 · GS4 · 10 marksIndia is an emerging economic power of the world as it has recently secured the status of fourth largest economy of the world as per IMF projection. However, it has been observed that in some sectors, allocated funds remain either under-utilised or misutilised. What specific measures would you recommend for ensuring accountability in this regard to stop leakages and gaining the status of third largest economy of the world in near future?
  3. 2025 · GS4 · 10 marksKeeping the national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas in the country.
  4. 2025 · GS4 · 10 marksIn the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard

2023

  1. 2023 · GS4 · 10 marksIs conscience a more reliable guide when compared to laws, rules, and regulations in the context of ethical decision-making? Discuss.
  2. 2023 · GS4 · 10 marksWhat do you understand by ‘moral integrity’ and ‘professional efficiency’ in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples.

2021

  1. 2021 · GS4 · 10 marksBesides domain knowledge, a public official needs innovativeness and creativity of a high order as well, while resolving ethical dilemmas. Discuss with suitable example.
  2. 2021 · GS4 · 10 marksIn case of a crisis of conscience does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical and moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine.

2020

  1. 2020 · GS4 · 10 marks“Hatred is destructive of a person’s wisdom and conscience that can poison a nation’s spirit.” Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer.

2019

  1. 2019 · GS4 · 10 marksWhat is meant by 'crisis of conscience'? How does it manifest itself in the public domain?

2018

  1. 2018 · GS4 · 10 marksWhat is mean by conflict of interest? Illustrate with examples, the difference between the actual and potential conflicts of interest.
  2. 2018 · GS4 · 10 marksExplain the process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration.

2017

  1. 2017 · GS4 · 10 marksConflict of interest in the public sector arises when (a) Official duties, (b) Public interest, and (c) Personal interests are taking priority one above the other. How can this conflict in administration be resolved? Describe with an example
  2. 2017 · GS4 · 10 marksCorporate social responsibility makes companies more profitable and sustainable. Analyse.

2016

  1. 2016 · GS4 · 10 marks“Max Webar said that it is not wise to apply to public administration the sort of moral and ethical norms we apply to matters of personal conscience. It is important to realize that the state bureaucracy might possess its own independent bureaucratic morality.” Critically analyse this statement.
  2. 2016 · GS4 · 10 marksWhat do you understand by the terms ‘governance’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical governance’?

2015

  1. 2015 · GS4 · 10 marksPublic servants are likely to confront with the issues of “Conflict of Interest”. What do you understand by the term “Conflict of Interest” and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples
  2. 2015 · GS4 · 10 marksSome recent developments such as the introduction of the RTI Act, media and judicial activism, etc. are proving helpful in bringing about greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of the government. However, it is also being observed that at times the mechanisms are misused. Another negative effect is that the officers are now afraid to take prompt decisions. Analyze the situation in detail and suggest how the dichotomy can be resolved. Suggest how these negative impacts can be minimized.

2013

  1. 2013 · GS4 · 10 marksWhat is meant by ‘crisis of conscience’? Narrate one incident in your life when you were faced with such a crisis and how you resolved the same.
  2. 2013 · GS4 · 10 marksWhat do you understand by the term ‘voice of conscience’? How do you prepare yourself to heed to the voice of conscience?