Home › UPSC CSE Mains › 2023 › Case Study

UPSC CSE Mains 2023 — Case Study Questions with Answers

All 5 Case Study previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2023, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Case Study

   You are working as an executive in a nationalized bank for several years. One day a close colleague tells you that her father is suffering from heart disease and needs surgery immediately to survive; she has no insurance and the operation will cost about Rs. 10 lakh. You are aware that her husband is no more and that she is from a lower middle class family. You are empathetic but, apart from expressing sympathy, you do not have the resources to fund her. A few weeks later you ask about her father and she informs you of his successful surgery and recovery. She then confides that the bank manager was kind enough to facilitate the release of Rs. 10 lakh from someone's dormant account to pay for the operation, with a promise that it should be confidential and repaid at the earliest. She has already started paying it back and will continue until it is all returned. (a) What are the ethical issues involved? (b) Evaluate the behaviour of the bank manager from an ethical point of view. (c) How would you react to the situation?

2. Q2.Case Study

   A landslide occurred in the middle of the night on 20th July 2023 in a remote mountain hamlet, approximately 60 kilometres from Uttarkashi. The landslide, caused by torrential rains, resulted in large-scale destruction of property and life. You, as District Magistrate of the area, have rushed to the spot with a team of doctors, NGOs, media and police along with support staff to oversee rescue operations. A man came running to you requesting urgent medical help for his pregnant wife who is in labour and losing blood. Your medical team examined her and conveyed she needs blood transfusion immediately. On enquiry, you found a few blood collection bags and blood group test kits available in the ambulance, and a few team members have volunteered to donate blood. Being a physician who graduated from AIIMS, you know that blood for transfusion needs to be procured only through a recognized blood bank. Your team members are divided—some favour transfusion, some oppose it; the doctors are ready to facilitate the delivery provided they are not penalized for transfusion. You are now in a dilemma, as your professional training emphasizes prioritizing service to humanity and saving lives. (a) What are the ethical issues involved in this case? (b) Evaluate the options available to you, being District Magistrate of the area.

3. Q3.Case Study

   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 for work. Their two children, aged 5 and 3, are looked after by their domestic helper. At 9:30 pm her superior, Mr. Suresh, calls and asks her to prepare a detailed note on an important matter to be discussed in a Ministry meeting; she realises she will have to work on Sunday to finish the additional task. She reflects on how she had looked forward to this posting and worked long hours for months to achieve it, keeping the welfare of people uppermost in discharging her duties. She feels she has not done enough justice to her family nor fulfilled her duties in discharging essential social obligations—even last month she had to leave her sick child in the nanny's care to work. She feels she must draw a line beyond which her personal life should take precedence over her professional responsibilities, and that there should be reasonable limits to 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 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?

4. Q4.Case Study

   You have just been appointed as Additional Director General of the Central Public Works Department. The Chief Architect of your division, due to retire in six months, is passionately working on a very important project whose successful completion would earn him a lasting reputation. A new lady architect, Seema, trained at Manchester School of Architecture, UK, joined as Senior Architect. During the project briefing, Seema made suggestions that would add value and reduce completion time, making the Chief Architect insecure and constantly worried that all the credit will go to her. He subsequently adopted passive-aggressive behaviour, became disrespectful, corrected her in front of colleagues and raised his voice. This continuous harassment resulted in her losing confidence and self-esteem, feeling perpetually tense, anxious and stressed; she appeared in awe of him given his long tenure and vast experience. You are aware of her outstanding academic credentials and career record, but fear the harassment may compromise her much-needed contribution and adversely impact her emotional well-being. You have also learnt 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?

5. Q5.Case Study

   You hold a responsible position in a ministry in the government. One morning you received a call from the school of your 11-year-old son asking you to come and meet the Principal. You proceed 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 class hours. The class teacher further informs you that your son has lately become a loner, did not respond to questions in class, and had been unable to perform well in recent football trials. You bring your son home and in the evening, along with your wife, try to find the reasons for his changed behaviour. After repeated cajoling, your son shares that some children had been making fun of him in class and in the students' WhatsApp group, calling him stunted, duh and a frog; he names a few main culprits but pleads with you to let the matter rest. A few days later, during a sporting event, your colleague's son shows you a video in which students have caricatured your son and points out the perpetrators 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 your wife, stating that you engaged in physical bullying of children on the sports field, and it became viral. Friends and colleagues called to find out details, and a junior advised you to make a counter video explaining the background; you, in turn, posted a video captured during the event identifying the likely perpetrators responsible for your son's predicament, narrating what actually happened and bringing out the adverse effects of 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.