VAJIRAM & RAVI

[Institute for IAS Examination]

MINI TEST (Section B) NO. 07

Time Allowed: One Hour Maximum Marks: 80

Answer the following in not more than 250 words each: Each Question carries 20 marks
(20marks x 4 = 80 marks)

1. You are the District Magistrate (DM) of a district in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. Your
jurisdiction includes a cluster of villages where open defecation is deeply ingrained in the
cultural norms. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has mandated the eradication of open
defecation, but you face stiff resistance from villagers who see this as an attack on their
traditions and way of life.

The villagers argue that open defecation has been a part of their culture for generations,
and they see no reason to change. They are also skeptical of the health benefits of using
toilets, believing that open defecation is a natural and harmless practice. Furthermore,
some villagers express concerns about the cost and maintenance of toilets, as well as the
lack of privacy in shared facilities. The situation is further complicated by the influence of
local leaders who are reluctant to challenge traditional practices for fear of losing support
within the community.

As the DM, you are caught in a complex ethical dilemma. On one hand, you have a duty
to uphold the law and implement government policies, including the SBM. You are also
aware of the significant health risks associated with open defecation which
disproportionately affect children and women. On the other hand, you also have a
responsibility to respect the cultural sensitivities of the villagers and avoid imposing
solutions that are alien or unacceptable to them.

a) Is it ethical to impose practices that conflict with deeply held beliefs, even if they are
intended to benefit the community?
b) Should the government adopt a top-down approach, enforcing toilet construction and
use through fines and penalties? What are the ethical implications of such approach?
c) What measures can be taken to ensure that toilets are used regularly and maintained
properly, even after the initial enthusiasm of the campaign subsides?

2. With the summer heat being exceptionally severe this year, the district has been facing
severe water shortage. The District Collector has been mobilizing his subordinate officials
to conserve the remaining water reserves for preventing the district from plunging into
acute drinking water crisis.

Along with an awareness campaign for conserving water, strict measures have been taken
 for stopping the over-exploitation of ground-water. Vigilance teams have been deployed
to tour the villages and find the farmers who are drawing water from deep borewells or
from the river reservoir for irrigation. The farmers are agitated by such action. A
delegation of farmers meets the District Collector with their issues and complains that
while they are not being allowed to irrigate their crops, big industries located near the
river are drawing huge amounts of water through deep borewells for their industrial
processes. The farmers allege that their administration is anti-farmer and corrupt, being
bribed by the industry. The district needs to placate the farmers as they are threatening
to go on a prolonged protest. At the same time, the District Collector has to deal with the
water crisis. The industry cannot be closed as this would result in a large number of
workers being unemployed.

(a) Discuss all options available to the District Collector as a District Magistrate.
(b) What suitable actions can be taken in view of mutually compatible interests of the
stakeholders?
(c) What are the potential administrative and ethical dilemmas for the District Collector ?

3. Sneha is a Senior Manager working for a big reputed hospital chain in a mid-sized city. She
has been made in-charge of the new super speciality center that the hospitals building
with state-of-the art equipment and world class medical facilities. The building has been
reconstructed and she is starting the process of procurement for various equipment and
machines. As the head of the committee responsible for procurement, she has invited
bids from all the interested reputed vendors dealing in medical equipment. She notices
that her brother, who is a well-known supplier in this domain, has also sent his expression
of interest. Since the hospital is privately owned, it is not mandatory for her to select only
the lower bidder.

Also, she is aware that her brother’s company has been facing some financial difficulties
and a big supply order will help him recover. At the same time, allocating the contract to
her brother might bring charges of favouritism against her and tarnish her image The
hospital management trusts her fully and would support any decision of hers

a) What should be Sneha’s course of action ?

4. After your training, you are appointed as an IAS officer and given charge as SDM in district
known for unlawful activities and mafia raj. When you reach your office on the first day,
you find many men with valuable gifts waiting to welcome you at your office door. There
are many influential people and your subordinates also who want to meet you on your
first day of joining to greet and welcome you to your new job. Sub-ordinates also want to
be in your good books hence presenting you costly gifts.
 On enquiry, you found that these influential people have involvement in the unlawful
activities in the district which you will be investigating and filing legal proceedings against
them. They are here for your friendship and your sub-ordinate also inform you that they
are dangerous people.

Taking gifts from them would mean you have accepted their friendship. In this regard,
answer the following questions-

a) What are the ethical issues you face in the given case study.
b) What ae the various options available to you?
c) What would be your course of action in given case study? Explain with justifications.

VAJIRAM & RAVI

MINI TEST (Section B) NO 08(Part-2)

Time Allowed: 30 Min Maximum Marks: 40

Answer the following in not more than 250 words each: Each Question carries 20 marks
(20marks x 2 = 40 marks)

1. A building permitted for three floors, while being extended illegally to 6 floors by a builder,
collapses. As a consequence, a number of innocent labourers including women and
children died. These labourers are migrants from different places. The government
immediately announced cash relief to the aggrieved families and arrested the builder.

Give reasons for such incidents taking place across the country. Suggest measures to
prevent their occurrence.

2. Rajesh Kumar is a senior public servant, with a reputation of honesty and forthrightness,
currently posted in the Finance Ministry as Head of the Budget Division. His department
is presently busy in organising the budgetary support to the states, four of which are due
to go to the polls within the financial year.
This year’s annual budget had allotted 8300 crores for National Housing Scheme (NHS), a
centrally sponsored social housing scheme for the weaker sections of society. 775 crores
have been drawn for NHS till June.
The Ministry of Commerce had long been pursuing a case for setting up a Special Economic
Zone (SEZ) in a southern state to boost exports. After two years of detailed discussions
between the centre and state, the Union Cabinet approved the project in August. Process
was initiated to acquire the necessary land.
Eighteen months ago, a leading Public Sector Unit (PSU) had projected the need for setting
up a large natural gas processing plant in a northern state for the regional gas grid. The
required land is already in possession of the PSU. The gas grid is an essential component
of the national energy security strategy. After three rounds of global bidding the project
was allotted to an MNC, M/s XYZ Hydrocarbons. The first tranche of payment to the MNC
is scheduled to be made in December.
Finance Ministry was asked for a timely allocation of an additional 6000 crores for these
two developmental projects. It was decided to recommend re-appropriation of this entire
amount from the NHS allocation. The file was forwarded to Budget Department for their
comments and further processing. On studying the case file, Rajesh Kumar realized that
this re-appropriation may cause inordinate delay in the execution of NHS, a project much
publicized in the rallies of senior politicians. Correspondingly, non-availability of finances
would cause financial loss in the SEZ and national embarrassment due to delayed payment
in an international project.
Rajesh Kumar discussed the matter with his seniors. He was conveyed that this politically
sensitive situation needs to be processed immediately. Rajesh Kumar realized that
diversion of funds. from NHS could raise difficult questions for the government in the
Parliament.
Discuss the following with reference to this case:

(a) Ethical issues involved in re-appropriation of funds from a welfare project to