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UPSC Mains Answer Writing Practice GS 4 – Free Test 12
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1. “Keeping silence in the face of injustice is tantamount to abetting it.” Analyze (10 Marks)
2. How emotional intelligence is important for civil servants in various circumstances? Give examples. (10 Marks)
3. Explain probity in governance. How can we inculcate in civil servants? (10 Marks)
4. What are the various factors that influence ones attitude? Elaborate with examples. (10 Marks)
5. “Focus on justice rather than law, for the purpose of law is to be just.” Analyze (10 Marks)
6. Analyze the various ethical issues that surround whistleblowing among civil servants. (10 Marks)
7. Explain the purpose of ethics and morality in preserving social harmony and peace.
8. Discuss the ethical issues involved in nations dealing with refugee crisis.? How can we ensure that the basic human rights principles are not violated in such situations. (15 Marks)
9. You are the director of a department that has recently been engulfed in the #MeToo campaign when two of the deputy directors working under you have been publicly named as sexual predators by two women in the department. As directed by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, you must initiate a committee of inquiry and submit the report within 90 days. Before initiating the committee you are faced with two narratives, first, that this is not the first time both women have come forward with similar accusations; second, that you have known both the deputy directors and their families for quite sometime now, and you have noticed nothing in their behaviour that says they could have been the sexual predators as alleged. Now, while the women you to begin the inquiry process at the earliest, but the deputy directors deny all charges and say that they want to pursue defamation cases against their main accusers. Simultaneously, public pressure is against you with the media discussing the case on a regular basis.
(a) As a director of the department what will be your course of action for starting an official investigation? State the merits and demerits of whatever course of action you decide to follow.
(b) Do you also agree that the sexual nature of a crime makes the crime ethically different and difficult (to handle) from other crimes? Give valid reasons to support your views. (20 Marks)
10. You have recently become part of the selection committee of three people, which oversees the final selection of the players for a team at the state level. The sponsorship of the tournament as well as of your team is largely dependent on a business house as the game played by your team has not been a very popular one and doles from the government and support from very few reluctant private business groups has kept the things going. Now, in the meeting of the selection committee, you realize that many of the players who have performed well in the local circuits are missing from the list of players selected for the nationals. Also, few players in the tentative playing list seem to be there only on account of the backing of some senior executives of that business house which is the main sponsor of the team as well as of the tournament to be held. You are told by your colleagues that this is the accepted practice and any resistance to it will risk the very possibility of participation of the team in the tournament as the business house can delay necessary funds or even withdraw its sponsorship. This will ruin the chances of the team members – most of whom are there on the basis of their merit, to stake claim for selection in the national team. There is not enough time to manage funds from alternative sources or look for new sponsors.
(a) What would you do under these circumstances:
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- You will allow the status-quo keeping in mind the larger interests of your team and practicality of the situation.
- You will take a vocal stand against the malpractice in spite of the risk of jeopardizing the participation of your team in the present tournament.
- Any other course of action.
(b) Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the options available before you and rationalise your course of action in such a scenario (20 Marks)
11. It has been reported in media that in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh people belonging to a particular community still practices manual scavenging. After being inquired they told the media persons that they have been practicing it for ages and it has been their traditional occupation. Some others argue that since they don’t have any other source of regular livelihood, therefore they don’t have any alternative. They are not completely aware of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. As manual scavenging has been legally abolished but majority of them are still willing to do menial work as manual scavenger due to their attitude.
- Suppose you are the Social Welfare Development Officer of the district then discuss your strategies to tackle the issues of manual scavenging and livelihood of the people.
- What steps you would take to bring attitudinal changes in the community and rehabilitate them properly? (15 Marks)
12. A girl studying in government school has topped 12th exam from her district. She belongs to low income family which sustains on daily wages. In the felicitation program organized by the school, the state education minister announces that the government will bear all the education expenses of girl’s higher education. The promises by the minister are also publicized in the local media.The assurance by minister motivated the parents to take education loan for her admission in a medical college in one such major city of the state. Meanwhile, the government in the state has changed after elections. When parents approached the new minister, they were denied any form of financial help. The parents find it difficult to continue her higher education as they are not able to meet the college expenses. Also, they are fearful about how to repay the education loan.
- Suppose you are the head of the college and the parents approach you for intervention then what appropriate course of action will you take?
- Inyourviewwhethertheex-ministerhasanyresponsibilitytosupport her financially, if parents give newspaper clippings in support of promise made by the ex-minister. Give reasons in support of yourargument. (15 Marks)