Pattern of Case Studies in

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the Ethics Paper and an

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Examination Strategy

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▪ In most of the UPSC case studies in the ethics paper, there is a
leading character or a protagonist, who has the responsibility and
authority to take action under the given circumstances.

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▪ Such a protagonist is most often a public official and in some cases a

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business executive .

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▪ In other cases, the protagonist is a citizen or an employee, who is not
the authority, but faces all the same an ethical issue at work or in the
society.

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▪ Finally, there are cases in which an individual faces an ethical dilemma

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in personal life .

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▪ The protagonist could be 'you' with a designation and authority.

▪ In some cases, 'you' are asked to advise the protagonist.

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▪ In many instances, at the end of the case, some options are suggested

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for the protagonist.

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▪ Sometimes, you are also asked to come up with more options. You are

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required to list the merits and demerits of each option.

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▪ At the end, you must recommend one or more options, justifying your
choice.
What are some examples of UPSC cases in each
category?
A. A public official facing an ethical issue:

▪ Addressing faulty construction in a municipality

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▪ Facing pressure in recruitment from a senior official

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▪ Facing pressure to disclose sensitive information

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▪ Responding to social prejudice in villages

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▪ Facing public and private ethics
B. A business executive facing an ethical issue:

▪ Responding to demand for bribe by government official

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▪ Facing social issues in setting up an industry

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C. An individual facing an ethical issue at workplace or in personal
life:

▪ Responding to unethical practice in company

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▪ Responding to sexual harassment at workplace

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▪ Facing the issue of a friend copying in the examination

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D. Public Policy issues:

▪ Issues of environment versus development

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▪ General issues of ethics in public service

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▪ Issues of displacement due to development

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What is meant by ethics?
▪ Ethics is the study of what is right and what is wrong in the conduct of
life.

▪ Ethics is concerned with what ought to be done to achieve what is

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good and what ought not to be done to avoid what is evil.

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 om
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Methods of Case Analysis

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and Resolution

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What could the UPSC be expecting from your
responses to the case studies ?
The preamble to the syllabus of the Ethics Paper says:

▪ "This paper will include questions to test the candidates' attitude and
approach to issues relating to integrity, probity in public life and his

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problem solving approach to various issues and conflicts faced by him

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in dealing with society.

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▪ Questions may utilise the case study approach to determine these

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aspects .

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What are the most common features of the cases
in the Examination?
▪ Some wrongdoing or unethical act has taken place, is still taking place,
or is expected to happen.

▪ The protagonist is required to set things right by taking actions.

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▪ Some options for the protagonist are listed and more are to be

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suggested by you.

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▪ After listing the merits and demerits of each option, you should

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recommend the best option (s) with justification.

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What kind of options or choices does the
protagonist have in the cases?
▪ There are mainly two types of options before the protagonist:

▪ ‘Right’ versus ‘Wrong’ option - The protagonist is clearly faced with

a ‘right’ action and a 'wrong' one. Here are examples:

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1. If an officer is offered bribe, accepting it is obviously wrong and

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refusing it is right.

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2. The financial officer of a company can present the proper accounts
(right) or he can falsify the accounts for some reason (wrong). In
Examples 1 and 2, the wrong actions are also illegal.

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▪ Any 'right' versus 'wrong' option involves a ‘moral temptation’ to get

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some benefit for ourselves through an immoral act .

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▪ Choice of two or more 'right' options - Such 'right' versus right
options create ethical dilemmas, since often we cannot choose both of
many of the options.

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▪ In most 'right' versus right situations, two or more core moral values

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come into conflict.

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▪ Here are two examples:

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1. UPSC Case 2016 - Q. No. 11:
▪ An officer has to decide whether to extend the benefits of a scheme to
an old and destitute woman.

▪ She fully deserves the help, but does not have the necessary

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documents.

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▪ The officer is faced with an ethical dilemma: He can deny her the

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benefit by following the rules, or extend the benefit to her on

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compassionate grounds (by using any permitted discretion or by

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finding a way to overcome the rules).
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▪ Both actions are "right", but he can choose only one of them. You can
call this a 'Justice versus Mercy' dilemma .
2. UPSC Case 2015 - Q. No. 12 :
▪ The officer has to decide on the order in which the disaster victims are
to be evacuated.

▪ Whatever order be follows, he would be taking the 'right' action of

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saving people.

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▪ The ethical dilemma is about choosing the sequence of evacuees.

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▪ Those later in the queue face a greater risk to their well being and even

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life.

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▪ In most of the UPSC cases, the protagonist must choose among two or
more 'right' actions.
How should you begin and proceed with the
analysis?
▪ Here you are at the Ethics examination, you have answered all the
theory questions, and you are ready to take up Section B: Case
Studies.

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▪ For each case, you have just about 15 minutes to complete the mental

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analysis written response.

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▪ What should you do ?

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▪ Follow the guidelines given below . As you read the case, answer the

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following questions and make rough notes:
▪ Case Summary - What are the main facts of the case?

▪ Stakeholders - Who are the people and/or which are the institutions
whose interests could be positively or negatively affected by the

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decisions taken by the protagonist ?

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▪ Core ethical issues - What are the core ethical issues faced by the

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protagonist?

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▪ Options, their merits and demerits:

1. What are the options given in the case?

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2. Are you asked to think of more options?

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3. What are the merits and demerits of each option?

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▪ Recommended option with justification:

1. What would be your recommended option?

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2. What is the justification ?

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3. What are the ethical principles that underlie the recommended

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option (if they can be articulated)?

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▪ Long - term measures:

▪ Does the case call for long - term measures that can be taken to
prevent the recurrence of the situation? This may not be

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applicable in all cases.

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What are the guidelines for writing the answer?
▪ Rearrange your rough notes in the proper order.

▪ Begin with a short introduction of one or two sentences.

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▪ Make it interesting enough to attract the attention of the examiner.

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A creative introduction can set your answer apart from those of

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other aspirants.

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▪ Use bullet points for the rest of the case discussion. Bullet points save
words and also make it easy for the examiner to follow your line of
reasoning.

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▪ When you come to options, begin with the least viable one and end

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with the recommended one.

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▪ You could use the following table:

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Options Merits Demerits

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▪ Where necessary, give the possible impact of each option on each
stakeholder.

▪ Where appropriate, suggest long - term measures to avoid the

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recurrence of such issues.

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▪ Make sure that you have answered the specific questions asked.

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Conclude with an interesting statement, if possible .

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How to approach the cases under Policy Issues
(Category D)?
▪ The guidelines given above will not suit the Category D cases.

▪ You should approach them the way you answer the theory questions.

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▪ You could, however, highlight the ethical issues to be considered while

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framing the policy.

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▪ Let us now apply the guidelines to a UPSC case study.

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UPSC Case 2014 - Q. No. 13: Officer facing corrupt
practices in a government department-
▪ Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services
examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get
through the civil services to serve the country.

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▪ However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not

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as rosy as he had imagined.

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▪ He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department

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assigned to him.

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▪ For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being
misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for
personal needs by the officers and staff.

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▪ After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was

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also not up to the mark.

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▪ Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which

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a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided

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external help in the examination.
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▪ Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors.

▪ However , he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and
ignore all these things, which were taking, place with the connivance of

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the higher-ups.

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nt
▪ Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable.

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▪ He comes to you seeking your advice.

▪ Indicate various options that you think are available in this situation.

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▪ How would you help him to evaluate these options and choose the

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most appropriate path to be adopted? ( 20 marks; 250 words )

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UPSC Case 2014- Q. No. 13 Analysis and
Resolution
▪ What does a new recruit with high ideals do when faced with corruption
and connivance at his first posting? How he reacts will define his entire
career!

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Facts :

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▪ Malpractices in department

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▪ Misappropriation of funds

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▪ Misuse of official facilities

▪ Malpractices in recruitment
Core ethical issues:

▪ Malpractices

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▪ Connivance of seniors

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 Options
Option Merits Demerits
1. Follow advice of seniors; Avoids trouble Troubled conscience
keep quiet

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2. Leak information to press Corruption exposed; Not quite ethical, the press and

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and NGOs government may take action NGOs may be silenced, suspicion

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could fall on Rameshwar. Also a

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violation of Code of Conduct

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3. Collect information and Ethical and open stand; may Report may be suppressed;

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evidence, send formal report to force seniors to act Rameshwar Vicitimized

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higher-ups

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▪ kk Option Merits Demerits
4. Begin taking action himself, Ethical approach; good Could face hurdles and
take up recruitment first, experience for future harassment; should keep proper
prevent cheating and documentation

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influencing selection. Then go

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on to other aspects where he

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has authority

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5. If Option 4 fails and he is Action on corruption likely Definite vindictive action against

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prevented from taking action; Rameshwar as whistle-blower

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send information to

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Anti-Corruption Bureau or

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Lokayukta
▪ Recommended: Options 3-4-5 in that order, because Rameshwar
cannot afford to stumble at the very first step. He can be harassed, but
not dismissed. He should just be ready for a transfer!

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▪ True cases of honest officers have shown that when they take a bold

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stand, seniors and politicians often backaway. ( 252 words )

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UPSC Case 2015 - Q . No. 13 : Officer facing
malpractice in allotment of government land
▪ You are heading a district administration in a particular department.

▪ Your senior officer calls you from the State Headquarters and tells you
that a plot in Rampur village is to have a building constructed on it for a

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school.

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nt
▪ A visit is scheduled during which he will visit the site along with the

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chief engineer and the senior architect.

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 Contd…
▪ He wants you to check out all the papers relating to it and to ensure
that the visit is properly arranged.

▪ You examine the file, which relates to the period before you joined the

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department.

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nt
▪ The land was acquired from the local Panchayat at a nominal cost and

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the papers show that clearance certificates are available from the two

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of the three authorities who have to certify the site's suitability.

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 Contd…
▪ There is no certification by the architect available on file .

▪ You decide to visit Rampur to ensure that all is in order as stated on

file.

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▪ When you visit Rampur, you find that the plot under reference is part of

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Thakurgarh Fort and that the walls, ramparts, etc., are running across

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it.

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 Contd…
▪ The Fort is well away from the main village and therefore a school here
will be a serious inconvenience for the children.

▪ However, the area near the village has potential to expand into a larger

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residential area.

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nt
▪ The development charges on the existing plot, at the Fort, will be very

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high and the question of heritage site has not been addressed.

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 Contd…
▪ Moreover, the Sarpanch, at the time of acquisition of the land, was a
relative of your Predecessor.

▪ The whole transaction appears to have been done with some vested

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interest.

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 Contd…
(a) List the likely vested interests of the concerned parties.

(b) Some of the options for action available to you are listed below.
Discuss the merits and demerits or each of the options :

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(i) You can await the visit of the superior officer and let him take a

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decision.

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(ii) You can seek his advice in writing or on phone.

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 Contd…
(iii) You can consult your predecessor/colleagues, etc. and then
decide what to do.

(iv) You can find out if any alternate plot can be got in exchange and

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then send a comprehensive written report.

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▪ Can you suggest any other option with proper justification? ( 250

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words; 25 marks )

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UPSC Case 2015 - Q. No. 13 Analysis and
Resolution
▪ So often we read about shady land deals in India . Selling off
government land as private property is very common!

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 Contd…
▪ Facts: Suspected malpractices in acquisition of land for a village
school.

▪Land acquired from Panchayat at a nominal cost

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▪Land encroaching on heritage site

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▪Location of school far away from village

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▪High development cost

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▪Lack of full clearance for land

▪Sarpanch a relative of previous collector

 Contd…
Likely vested interests:

▪ Sarpanch could have made money

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▪ Nexus between the Sarpanch and the Department of Archeology

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Education Department and another authority providing clearance

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Required action from protagonist:

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▪ Check papers, prepare for visit by senior officer

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 Contd…
Options
Option Merits Demerits
1. Await the visit of the senior Avoids trouble Shirking responsibility; senior
officers and let him take a officer not happy to find out

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decision facts on arrival

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2. Seek the advice of senior Avoids trouble; guidance from Cannot convey all the details to

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officer over phone or in writing an experienced officers the senior officer over phone or

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in a letter

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3. Consult your predecessor, Could get advice Predecessor may be

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colleagues unreachable or unwilling to

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discuss matter; insufficient

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information
4. Send to senior a Proactive effort; Investigation Resistance and retaliation from
comprehensive written report likely guilty
to senior (see below)
 Contd…
▪ Option 4: The report should include

▪ Evidence of encroachment on heritage site, lack of clearances

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▪ Evidence of improper land transaction

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▪ Distance of land from village Availability of alternative land in or

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near the village (government land or clear land available for sale)

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Option 4 is recommended for given reasons. (260 words)

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Case Study
▪ You are aspiring to become an IAS officer and you have cleared
various stages and now you have been selected for the personal
interview. On the day of the interview, on the way to the venue you saw

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an accident where a mother and child who happen to be your relatives

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were badly injured. They needed immediate help. What would you

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have done in such a situation? Justify your action. (25 Marks)

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▪ Subject matter: Dilemma between achieving career ambition Vs
responding to accident as a good samaritan.

▪ Stakeholders involved: The mother, child, me, my family, society at

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large and the UPSC.

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nt
▪ Ethical dilemmas:

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▪ • Personal ambitions vs. Moral responsibility to help others

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• Being punctual to the interview vs Saving life

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• Personal and family’s dream to be civil servant vs Moral obligation to
relatives
Options Merits Demerits

Morally abdicating my duty to

Punctuality will be maintained
Ignore the accident and head save life Selfish and against
Personal ambition will be

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to the interview my conscience Poor example

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fulfilled

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of an aspiring civil servant

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Hampers the years of hard work

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Moral obligation towards my to be a civil servant Failing my

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Skip the interview and help the

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relatives will be met A good and my family’s dream

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victims

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example to the society Unbalanced decision making in

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response to multiple needs

Admit them to a nearby hospital

Rescue the relatives Realise my
and quickly try to reach the Risk of missing the interview
career goals Clear conscience
interview venue
Final Course of action
▪ I shall choose the last option because I have a moral responsibility to help
the victims, and a personal responsibility to myself, my family and my career.
I worked hard to reach the interview stage, so it makes sense to balance
both these obligations.

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▪ So my immediate response would be to quickly move the victims to my cab.

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Using Google Maps, I’ll check for nearby hospitals and find the shortest route

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possible to get there. I will call the hospital and ask them to arrange

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emergency services by the time we reach.

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▪ Along the way, I will also call the relatives’ family and ask them to reach the

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hospital. I will admit the victim to the hospital and pay any charges, if
required. If it gets late for the relatives to reach, I will entrust the cab driver to
kindly look after her, pay him his waiting charges and proceed to the
interview.
▪ In the meantime, I will also check if I can reach out to anyone who can
inform the interview panel about my situation and that I may reach late.
If I do get delayed, I will make every attempt to convince the authorities
involved as to the reasons why it happened. As soon as the interview

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is done, I will come back to the hospital and check on the victims’

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condition and help them in anyway I can.

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▪ As remarked by Gandhiji “The best way to find yourself is to lose

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yourself in the service of others”. By helping people, we not only make

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the world a better place but also stay true to our conscience. It leads to

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harmony, balancing social good with personal ambition.
Case Study
▪ You are in-charge of the National Park (NP).

▪ Struggling for funds due to the pandemic.

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▪ Expanding visit timing of NP is not allowed as it might interfere with the

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nocturnal activities of the animals of the park.

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▪ The NP has received a proposal for a sizable donation from a major

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company on the condition that their CEO would visit with his family at

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night to tour the NP.

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▪ You have received a call from Chief Minister’s Office to facilitate the
visit as the CEO is CM’s friend. You are in a state of indecision.
Summary
▪ You are in-charge of the National Park- NP is struggling for
funds due to pandemic

▪ Expanding visit timing, but current rules do not allow-

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nocturnal activities of the animals of the park.

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▪ NP has received a proposal - CEO of a company who is

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friend of CM would visit NP at night time with his family in

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return of a huge donation.

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▪ As the in-charge, you know that it is prohibited.

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▪ You have received a call from Chief Minister’s Office to not
cause any trouble and facilitate the visit. You are in a state
of indecision.
Questions
▪ What are the ethical issues involved in the case
study?

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▪ What are some of the choices available to you?

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▪ What choice would you make and why?

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Stakeholders involved
▪ In-charge of the National Park

▪ CEO of a major company

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▪ Chief Minister’s Office

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▪ Wildlife of the National Park

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Ethical issues involved

Integrity

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nt
Environmental

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welfare issue Rule of law

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Ends vs Means issue Following seniors order
vs Moral righteousness
 Option 1 - Allowing visit of CEO during
night

Merits Demerits

om
l.c
ai
•Rule of law is not obeyed in

gm
• Chief Minister’s Office orders are

@
spirit.

47
followed, and it might be good for

ant
sh
you in future .

su
•You will face an ethical dilemma.

ul
ak
ah
m
• It is possible that you will receive

r
fo
•Nocturnal activities of the

y
donation for National Park.

nl
O
animals of the park will be
affected.

•It will set a wrong precedence

that might open a new challenge
for wildlife in the National Park.
 Option 2-Not allowing the visit of CEO
during night

Merits Demerits

om
l.c
ai
gm
@
• It will uphold the rule of law. • Disobeying Chief Minister’s Office

47
ant
orders might impact your service.

sh
su
• It is moral and ethical decision.

ul
ak
ah
• You will not receive donation for the

rm
fo
• Nocturnal activities National Park.

y
nl
O
• of the animals of the park will not be
affected.

• You uphold the integrity as In-charge

of the National Park.
 Option 3-Pursuing the CEO to visit in daytime while informing CMO
about challenges of night visit

Merits Demerits
•Nocturnal activities of the animals •CEO might not be convinced, and

om
of the park will not be affected.

l.c
you may lose the donations.

ai
•There is no breach of laws. So,

gm
@
rule of law upheld.

47
•Chief Minister’s Office might get

nt
•CEO can explore more in daytime

a
sh
upset by not following orders

su
and better arrangements can be

ul
completely.

ak
made to convince him/her to do

ah
m
donations.

r
fo
•Chief Minister’s Office orders are

y
nl
O
not disobeyed.
•It is morally and ethically sound
decision.
•No controversy in media is raised
by doing so. Therefore, lesser
number of administrative
challenges will be there.
•Integrity of yours will not be at
Choice (Recommended option)
▪ (c) It being in-charge of the National Park, will choose the Option 3

(Pursuing the CEO to visit in daytime while informing CMO about

om
l.c
challenges of night visit). It is best suited for its merits and has

ai
gm
@
47
nt
lesser demerits. This option is helpful in resolving all the ethical

a
sh
su
ul
ak
issues involved here.

ah
m
r
fo
y
nl
O
What should be your touchstones while coming up
with the best option or options for the protagonist
?
The following elements run though the examples of case analysis given
above:
▪ No compromise on ethics

om
▪

l.c
Compassion toward all

ai
gm
▪

@
Dialogue as a way of resolving problems

47
ant
▪

sh
Confrontation only if it is unavoidable

su
ul
ak
ah
rm
fo
y
nl
O
▪ Belief in the basic goodness of human beings
▪ Giving everyone a chance to become a good person
▪ Punishment only as a last resort

om
l.c
▪ 'Do nothing' is always an option.

ai
gm
@
47
nt
▪ Many do follow this option and thus perpetuate unethical behaviour.

a
sh
su
ul
ak
ah
▪ In your responses, never recommend the 'Do nothing' option in the

rm
fo
y
nl
face of unethical acts.
O
What are the laws, regulations and rules you should be familiar with
in order to carry out an informed analysis and resolution of cases?
It will be useful to know the answers to questions such as:
▪ What powers does a civil servant have in matters of corruption?
▪ What can institutions such as the Election Commission, Lokayukta,

om
and Anti - Corruption Bureau really do in matters of corruption? What

l.c
ai
gm
orders can they issue and who should implement them?

@
47
nt
▪ What measures and pathways are open to individuals who face

a
sh
su
ul
unethical behaviour in government, business, or society?

ak
ah
m
▪ What are the Conduct Rules for civil servants?

r
fo
y
nl
O
▪ What are the main provisions of laws such as the Sexual Harassment
of Women at Workplace Act of 2013?
What are the ground rules you could follow while
resolving cases involving public officials?
Ideally, a public official should follow the following ground rules while
taking decisions:

▪ Do not compromise on ethics.

om
l.c
ai
gm
▪ Do not yield to pressure from seniors or politicians.

@
47
ant
sh
su
▪ Do not escape responsibility by going on leave or seeking a transfer.

ul
ak
ah
m
r
fo
▪ Remain ethical in both public and private spheres.

y
nl
O
▪ Keep service to people as your uppermost value.

▪ Have compassion toward all. Maintain a dialogue with the

stakeholders: Take everybody along . listen to the other side, and invite

om
l.c
ai
suggestions.

gm
@
47
nt
▪ Use punishment as a last resort, give everyone a second chance.

a
sh
su
ul
ak
ah
rm
fo
y
nl
O
▪ Take less than what the rules/laws permit, give more than what the
rules/laws require.

To the extent possible, these rules should be reflected in the way you

om
l.c
ai
respond to the case studies.

gm
@
47
ant
sh
su
ul
ak
ah
rm
fo
y
nl
O
How can a public official be sure that he or she
has made an ethical decision?
There is no foolproof test for an ethical decision. However, a decision is
very likely to be an ethical one if the official can answer all the following
questions with a firm 'yes’:

om
l.c
▪ Is it legal ?

ai
gm
@
47
nt
▪ Is it just and fair ?

a
sh
su
ul
ak
ah
▪ Is it in public interest ?

rm
fo
y
nl
O
▪ Are you proud of taking the decision? Would you be ready to share the
decision with your family?
At a deeper level, a public official could abide by Gandhiji's talisman:

I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the
self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the

om
l.c
ai
face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen,

gm
@
and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any

47
ant
sh
use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control

su
ul
ak
over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj for

ah
m
the hungry and spiritually starving millions ? Then you will find your

r
fo
y
nl
O
doubts and your self melt away.

Try to apply the tests to the decision ( s ) that you recommend in a given
case .