VAJIRAM & RAVI

[Institute for IAS Examination]

Ethics Program-2025

MINI TEST (Section B) NO. 01

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 a Municipal Commissioner in a rapidly growing urban city, responsible

for overseeing a major public transportation project aimed at introducing a new
metro rail system to alleviate traffic congestion and promote sustainable urban
development. The project is a priority for the state government, with significant
public and political attention. During the project’s execution, you observe the
following perceptions among your team, local politicians, and contractors:

a) There is a belief among your colleagues that strictly adhering to ethical conduct, such
as rejecting undue favors or resisting pressure to favor certain contractors, could lead
to professional isolation or personal hardships.

b) Many in the municipal corporation and contractor community believe that since a
large number of officials engage in unfair practices (e.g., accepting kickbacks or
manipulating tender processes), a small group of ethical officers cannot effect
meaningful change. They argue that aligning with these practices ensures smoother
project execution and quicker approvals.

c) Some stakeholders assert that rigid adherence to ethical standards, such as following
exhaustive environmental clearance processes or transparent bidding procedures,
delays critical infrastructure projects like the metro. They argue that bending rules is
sometimes necessary to meet tight deadlines and achieve broader urban development
goals.

d) There is a perception that while large-scale corruption is undesirable, giving and

accepting small favors (e.g., hosting dinners for contractors or accepting minor gifts
like gadgets) enhances efficiency.

I. Critically analyze the merits and demerits of each of the four perceptions (a–d).
II. How can you, as the Municipal Commissioner, balance ethical governance with
the urgent need for urban development?

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 2. You hold a responsible position in a ministry in the government. One day in the
morning you received a call from the school of your 11-year-old son that you are
required to come and meet the Principal. You proceed to the school and find
your son in the Principal's office. The Principal informs you that your son had
been found wandering aimlessly in the grounds during the time classes were in
progress. The class teacher further informs you that your son has lately become
a loner and did not respond to questions in the class, he had also been unable to
perform well in the football trials held recently. You bring your son back from
the school and in the evening, you along with your wife try to find out the
reasons for your son's changed behaviour. After repeated cajoling, your son
shares that some children had been making fun of him in the class as well as in
the WhatsApp group of the students by calling him stunted, duh and a frog. He
tells you the names of a few children who are the main culprits but pleads with
you to let the matter rest.

After a few days, during a sporting event, where you and your wife have gone to
watch your son play, one of your colleague's son shows you a video in which
students have caricatured your son. Further, he also points out to the
perpetrators who were sitting in the stands. You purposefully walk past them
with your son and go home. Next day, you find on social media, a video
denigrating you, your son and even your wife, stating that you engaged in
physical bullying of children on the sports field. The video became viral on social
media. Your friends and colleagues began calling you to find out the details. One
of your juniors advised you to make a counter video giving the background and
explaining that nothing had happened on the field. You, in turn posted a video
which you have captured during the sporting event, identifying the likely
perpetrators who were responsible for your son's predicament. You have also
narrated what has actually happened in the field and made attempts to bring
out the adverse effects of the misuse of social media.

(a) Based on the above case study, discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of
social media.
(b) Discuss the pros and cons of using social media by you to put across the facts to
counter the fake propaganda against your family.

3. You have just been appointed as Additional Director General of Central Public
Works Department. The Chief Architect of your division, who is to retire in six
months, is passionately working on a very important project, the successful
completion of which would earn him a lasting reputation for the rest of his life.
A new lady architect, Seema, trained at Manchester School of Architecture, UK
joined as Senior Architect in your division. During the briefing about the project,
Seema made some suggestions which would not only add value to the project,
but would also reduce completion time. This has made the Chief Architect
insecure and he is constantly worried that all the credit will go to her.
Subsequently, he adopted a passive and aggressive behaviour towards her and

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 has become disrespectful to her. Seema felt it embarrassing as the Chief
Architect left no chance of humiliating her. He would very often correct her in
front of other colleagues and raise his voice while speaking to her. This
continuous harassment has resulted in her losing confidence and selfesteem.
She felt perpetually tensed, anxious and stressed. She appeared to be in awe of
him since he has had a long tenure in the office and has vast experience in the
area of her work.

You are aware of her outstanding academic credentials and career record in her
previous organisations. However, you fear that this harassment may result in
compromising her much needed contribution in this important project and may
adversely impact her emotional well-being. You have also come to know from
her peers that she is contemplating tendering her resignation.

(a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above case?
(b) What are the options available to you in order to complete the project as well as to
retain Seema in the organization?
(c) What would be your response to Seema's predicament? What measures would you
institute to prevent such occurrences from happening in your organization?

4. At 9 pm on Saturday evening, Rashika, a Joint Secretary, was still engrossed in

her work in her office. Her husband, Vikram, is an executive in an MNC and
frequently out of town in connection with his work. Their two children aged 5
and 3 are looked after by their domestic helper. At 9.30 pm her superior, Mr.
Suresh calls her and asks her to prepare a detailed note on an important matter
to be discussed in a meeting in the Ministry. She realises that she will have to
work on Sunday to finish the additional task given by her superior. She reflects
on how she had looked forward to this posting and had worked long hours for
months to achieve it. She had kept the welfare of people uppermost in
discharging her duties. She feels that she has not done enogh justice to her
family and she has not fulfilled her duties in discharging essential social
obligations. Even as recently as last month she had to leave her sick child in the
nanny's care as she had to work in the office. Now she feels that she must draw a
line, beyond which her personal life should take precedence over her
professional responsibilities- She thinks that there should be reasonable limits
to the work ethics such as punctuality, hard work, dedication to duty and selfless
service.

(a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in this case.

(b) Briefly describe at least four laws that have been enacted by the Government with
respect to providing a healthy, safe and equitable working environment for women.

(c) Imagine you are in a similar situation. What suggestions would you make to
mitigate such working conditions?

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