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UPSC CSE Mains 2021 — Case Study Questions with Answers

All 5 Case Study previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2021, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Case Study

   (a) Attitude is an important component that goes as input in the development of a human being. How to build a suitable attitude needed for a public servant? (b) In case of a crisis of conscience, does emotional intelligence help to overcome the same without compromising the ethical or moral stand that you are likely to follow? Critically examine.

2. Q2.Case Study

   You are Vice Principal of a degree college in a middle-class town. The Principal has recently retired and management is looking for a replacement, with feelers that you may be promoted as Principal. During the annual examination, a flying squad from the university caught two students red-handed using unfair means, personally helped by a senior lecturer of the college who is close to the management. One student is the son of a local politician responsible for getting the college affiliated to the reputed university; the second is the son of a local businessman who has donated maximum funds for running the college. You immediately informed the management, who told you to resolve the issue with the flying squad at any cost, saying the incident would tarnish the image of the college and the important personalities, and hinting your promotion to Principal depends on resolving it. Meanwhile, certain members of the student union are protesting outside the college gate against the senior lecturer and the students and demanding strict action against defaulters. (a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case. (b) Critically examine the options available with you as Vice Principal. What option will you adopt and why?

3. Q3.Case Study

   An elevated corridor is being constructed to reduce traffic congestion in the capital of a particular state. You have been selected as project manager on your professional competence and experience. The deadline is to complete the project within two years by 20 June 2021, since it is to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister before elections are announced in the second week of July 2021. During a surprise inspection, a minor crack was noticed in one of the piers, possibly due to poor material used. You immediately informed the chief engineer and stopped work, assessing that minimum three piers have to be demolished and reconstructed, delaying the project by four to six months. The chief engineer overruled the inspecting team, calling it a minor crack not impacting strength and durability, and ordered you to overlook the observation and continue at the same pace, citing that the minister wants no delay so the CM can inaugurate before elections; he informed you the contractor is a far relative of the minister, and hinted your promotion as additional chief engineer is under consideration. However, you strongly feel the minor crack will adversely affect the health and life of the bridge and it would be very dangerous not to repair it. (a) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a project manager? (b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by the project manager? (c) What are the professional challenges likely to be faced by the project manager and his response to overcome such challenges? (d) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observation raised by the inspecting team?

4. Q4.Case Study

   The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has quickly spread to various countries. As on 8 May 2020, India had reported 56342 positive cases. India, with a population of more than 1.35 billion, had difficulty controlling transmission, necessitating multiple strategies. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare raised awareness and took necessary actions; the government implemented a 55-day nationwide lockdown to reduce transmission. Schools and colleges shifted to alternative teaching-learning-evaluation-certification, and online mode became popular. India was not prepared for a sudden onslaught due to limited infrastructure in human resources, money and facilities. The disease did not spare anybody irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or 'have and have not'. Deficiencies in hospital beds, oxygen cylinders, ambulances, hospital staff and crematorium were most crucial. You are a hospital administrator in a public hospital at the time when coronavirus had attacked a large number of people and patients were pouring in day in and day out. (a) What are your criteria and justification for putting your clinical and non-clinical staff to attend to the patients, knowing fully well that it is a highly infectious disease and resources and infrastructure are limited? (b) If yours is a private hospital, would your justification and decision remain the same as that of a public hospital?

5. Q5.Case Study

   Pawan has been working as an officer in the State Government for the last ten years. As part of a routine transfer, he joined a new office along with five other colleagues. The head of office was a senior officer conversant with the functioning of the office but with a reputation of being a difficult and insensitive person with his own disturbed family life. Initially all went well, but after some time Pawan felt the senior officer was belittling him and being unreasonable. His suggestions and views in meetings were summarily rejected, with displeasure expressed in the presence of others. It became a pattern of the boss showing him in bad light, highlighting his shortcomings and humiliating him publicly; though there were no serious work-related problems, the senior officer would scold and shout at him on one pretext or another. The continuous harassment and public criticism resulted in loss of confidence, self-esteem and equanimity, making Pawan perpetually tense, anxious and stressed, his mind occupied with negativity, causing mental torture, anguish and agony. It badly affected his personal and family life—he was no longer joyous, happy and contented, and without any reason would lose his temper with his wife and family members. The family environment was no longer pleasant; his supportive wife also became a victim of his negativity and hostile behaviour. Comfort and happiness virtually vanished from his life, damaging his physical and mental health. (a) What are the options available with Pawan to cope with the situation? (b) What approach should Pawan adopt for bringing peace, tranquillity and a congenial environment in the office and home? (c) As an outsider, what are your suggestions for both boss and subordinate to overcome this situation and improve work performance and mental and emotional hygiene? (d) In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest at various levels in government offices?