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UPSC CSE Mains 2024 — Case Study Questions with Answers

All 5 Case Study previous-year questions from UPSC CSE Mains 2024, each with the correct answer and a full explanation. Practise them as a free, timed mock test with instant scoring.

1. Q1.Case Study

   There is a technological company named ABC Incorporated which is the second largest worldwide, situated in the Third World. You are the Chief Executive Officer and majority shareholder of this company. Fast technological improvements have raised worries among environmental activists, regulatory authorities and the general public over the sustainability of the scenario. You confront substantial issues about the business's environmental footprint: in 2023, your organization had a significant increase of 48% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2019 levels. The significant rise in energy consumption is mainly due to the surging energy requirements of your data centres, fuelled by the exponential expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI); AI-powered services need much more computational resources and electrical energy than conventional online activities. The technology's proliferation has led to growing concern over environmental repercussions. Although there is already a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, lowering emissions seems overwhelming as AI integration increases, requiring substantial investments in renewable energy, made difficult by the competitive technology sector where rapid innovation is essential for preserving market standing and shareholder value. To balance innovation, profitability and sustainability, a strategic move is necessary aligned with both business objectives and ethical obligations. (a) What is your immediate response to the challenges posed in the above case? (b) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. (c) Your company has been identified to be penalized by technological giants. What logical and ethical arguments will you put forth to convince about its necessity? (d) Being a conscientious being, what measures would you adopt to maintain balance between AI innovation and environmental footprint?

2. Q2.Case Study

   Raman is a senior IPS officer recently posted as D.G. of a state. Among the issues needing immediate attention is the recruitment of unemployed youth by an unknown terrorist group, a matter of grave concern, as unemployment is relatively high in the state—especially grave among graduates and the higher educated, making them vulnerable soft targets. In a review meeting with senior officers, it came to light that a new terrorist group has emerged at the global level and launched a massive drive to recruit young unemployed people, with special focus on a particular community, with the clear objective of using them for militant activities, and is trying to spread its tentacles in his state through communal organisations and other contacts. Discreet inquiries by the police through the Cyber Cell revealed that a good number of unemployed youth are very active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, spending 6–8 hours each day using electronic devices/internet, showing sympathy and endorsing messages from alleged contact persons of the global terrorist group; their social media accounts reveal strong affinity, with many forwarding anti-national tweets on WhatsApp and Facebook, propagating secessionist ideology and posting content hyper-critical of government initiatives and policies, subscribing to extreme beliefs and promoting extremism. (a) What are the options available to Raman to tackle the above situation? (b) What measures would you suggest for strengthening the existing set-up to ensure that such groups do not succeed in penetrating and vitiating the atmosphere in the state? (c) In the above scenario, what action plan would you advise for enhancing the intelligence gathering mechanism of the police force?

3. Q3.Case Study

   With the multipronged strategy of the Central and State Governments specially in the last few years, the naxalite problem has been resolved to a large extent in the affected states. However, a few pockets in certain states still persist, mainly due to involvement of foreign countries. Rohit is posted as SP (Special Operations) for the last one year in one of the districts still affected by the naxalite problem. The district administration has taken up many developmental works to win the hearts and minds of the people. Over time, Rohit established an excellent intelligence network for real-time information on the movement of naxalite cadre, and a number of cordon-and-search operations are being conducted to instill public confidence and gain moral ascendancy. Leading one contingent, Rohit got a message that about ten hardcore naxalites with sophisticated weapons were hiding in a particular village. He reached the target village, laid a foolproof cordon and carried out a systematic search, and his team overpowered all the naxalites along with their automatic weapons. Meanwhile, more than five hundred tribal women surrounded the village and marched towards the target house, shouting and demanding the immediate release of the insurgents, claiming them as their protectors and saviours. The situation became critical as the women were extremely agitated and aggressive. Rohit tried to contact his superior, IG (Special Operations), on radio and mobile but failed due to poor connectivity. Two of the apprehended naxalites were hardcore top insurgents with prize money of Rs ten lakh on their heads and were involved in a recent ambush on security forces; not releasing them could let the situation get out of control as the women aggressively charged, possibly forcing Rohit to resort to firing, leading to loss of civilian lives and further complications. (a) What are the options available with Rohit to cope with the situation? (b) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rohit? (c) Which of the options do you think would be more appropriate for Rohit to adopt and why? (d) In the present situation, what are the extra precautionary measures to be taken by the police in dealing with women protesters?

4. Q4.Case Study

   With the summer heat being exceptionally severe this year, the district has been facing severe water shortage. The District Collector has been mobilizing subordinate officials to conserve the remaining water reserves to prevent the district from plunging into an acute drinking water crisis. Along with an awareness campaign for conserving water, strict measures have been taken to stop over-exploitation of ground water, with vigilance teams deployed to tour villages and find farmers drawing water from deep borewells or the river reservoir for irrigation. The farmers are agitated by such action. A delegation of farmers meets the District Collector and complains that while they are not being allowed to irrigate their crops, big industries near the river are drawing huge amounts of water through deep borewells for their industrial processes; they allege the administration is anti-farmer and corrupt, being bribed by the industry. The district needs to placate the farmers, who threaten a prolonged protest, while the District Collector must also deal with the water crisis; the industry cannot be closed as this would render a large number of workers 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?

5. Q5.Case Study

   Dr. Srinivasan is a senior scientist working for a reputed biotechnology company known for its cutting-edge research in pharmaceuticals. He is heading a research team working on a new drug aimed at treating a rapidly spreading variant of a new viral infectious disease which has been spreading across the world, with cases increasing in the country. There is huge pressure on Dr. Srinivasan's team to expedite the trials, as there is a significant market for the drug and the company wants the first-mover advantage. During a team meeting, some senior members suggest shortcuts to expedite the clinical trials and get the requisite approvals: manipulating data to exclude some negative outcomes and selectively reporting positive results, foregoing the process of informed consent, and using compounds already patented by a rival company rather than developing one's own. Dr. Srinivasan is not comfortable taking such shortcuts, yet realises meeting the targets is impossible without using these means. (a) What would you do in such a situation? (b) Examine your options and consequences in the light of the ethical questions involved. (c) How can data ethics and drug ethics save humanity at large in such a scenario?