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UPSC CSE Mains 2022 — Ethics Questions with Answers

All 8 Ethics previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2022, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Emotional Intelligence

   (a) Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is no rare thing in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate. (b) Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate civil servants to be more competent in tackling crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.

2. Q2.Ethics & Human Interface

   (a) The Rules and Regulations provided to all civil servants are the same, yet there is difference in performance. Positive-minded officers interpret the Rules and Regulations in favour of the case and achieve success, whereas negative-minded officers are unable to achieve goals by interpreting the same Rules and Regulations against the case. Discuss with illustrations. (b) It is believed that adherence to ethics in human actions ensures smooth functioning of an organization/system. If so, what does ethics seek to promote in human life? How do ethical values assist in the resolution of conflicts faced in day-to-day functioning?

3. Q3.Probity in Governance

   (a) "Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do." - Potter Stewart. (b) "If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher." - Abdul Kalam. (c) "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." - Dalai Lama.

4. Q4.Civil Service Values

   (a) What do you understand by the term 'good governance'? How far have recent initiatives in terms of e-Governance steps taken by the State helped the beneficiaries? Discuss with suitable examples. (b) Online methodology is being used for day-to-day meetings, institutional approvals in administration, teaching and learning in education, and to the extent of telemedicine in the health sector with competent-authority approvals. It has advantages and disadvantages for both beneficiaries and the system at large. Describe and discuss the ethical issues involved in the use of the online method, particularly for the vulnerable section of society.

5. Q5.Probity in Governance

   (a) Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different countries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. War has its own impact on different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affairs. (b) Write short notes on the following in 30 words each: (i) Constitutional morality; (ii) Conflict of interest; (iii) Probity in public life; (iv) Challenges of digitalization; (v) Devotion to duty.

6. Q6.Probity in Governance

   (a) A whistle blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen the protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle blower? (b) In the contemporary world, the corporate sector's contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing, but in doing so it is bringing an unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you think Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfil the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate work mandated? Critically examine.

7. Q7.Civil Service Values

   Ramesh is a State Civil Services Officer who got the opportunity of being posted to the capital of a border State after 20 years of service. His mother has recently been detected with cancer and admitted in the leading cancer hospital of the city; his two adolescent children have got admission in one of the best public schools. After settling as Director in the Home Department, Ramesh got a confidential report through intelligence sources that illegal migrants are infiltrating the State from the neighbouring country. He personally carried out a surprise check of the border posts with his team and caught red-handed two families of 12 members who had infiltrated with the connivance of security personnel. Investigation found that after infiltration, migrants' documents (Aadhaar Card, Ration Card, Voter Card) are forged and they are settled in a particular area of the State. Ramesh prepared a detailed comprehensive report and submitted it to the Additional Home Secretary, who summoned him a week later and instructed him to withdraw the report, saying higher authorities did not appreciate it and cautioning that if he failed to withdraw it, he would be posted out from the prestigious appointment and his due promotion would be jeopardized. (a) What are the options available to Ramesh as Director of the Home Department of the bordering State? (b) What option should Ramesh adopt and why? (c) Critically evaluate each of the options. (d) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ramesh? (e) What policy measures would you suggest to combat the menace of infiltration of illegal migrants from the neighbouring country?

8. Q8.Ethics & Human Interface

   Rakesh was working as a Joint Commissioner in the Transport department of a city, entrusted with overseeing the control and functioning of the City Transport Department. A case of strike by the drivers' union over the issue of compensation to a driver who died on duty came up for decision. The deceased driver was plying Bus No. 528 through busy and congested roads. Near an intersection there was an accident involving a middle-aged man; an altercation between the bus driver and the car driver led to a fight in which the bus driver gave him a blow. Passersby tried to intervene without success; both were badly injured and profusely bleeding and taken to the nearby hospital, where the bus driver succumbed to his injuries, while the middle-aged man recovered and was discharged. Police came to the spot, registered an FIR; investigation revealed the quarrel was started by the bus driver, who resorted to physical violence, with exchange of blows. The City Transport Department management is considering not giving extra compensation to the deceased driver's family, which is aggrieved, depressed and agitated against the discriminatory and non-sympathetic approach. The deceased, aged 52, the sole earner, was survived by his wife and two school/college-going daughters. The workers' union took up the case and, finding no favourable response, decided to go on strike, with a two-fold demand: full extra compensation as given to other drivers who died on duty, and employment to one family member. The strike has continued for 10 days and the deadlock remains. (a) What are the options available to Rakesh to meet the above situation? (b) Critically examine each of the options. (c) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rakesh? (d) What course of action would Rakesh adopt to diffuse the above situation?