SECTION A : ANSWERS TO THEORY QUESTIONS
1. (a) All human beings aspire for happiness. Do you agree? What does happiness mean to you? Explain with examples.
(10 marks and 150 words)
Ans. Thatallhumanbeings seek happinessisina sensetrue.Aristotle,Bentham,andpsychological egoists propounded this view. Happiness can mean only sensual enjoyments; hence Mill distinguished between animal satisfactions and happiness resulting from refined cultivation of arts or spirituality. Happiness criterion fails to explain many actions such as the sacrifices which soldiers make in battle; of asceticism of saints; and of mothers jumping into rivers to save their children. Some argue that such self-denial gives these actors happiness. But this sounds artificial. People’s motives and goals differ, and happiness is not their sole aim.
Just trying to go after happiness is futile for it creates satiety and staleness. Happiness is a bye product resulting from intense interest and absorption in certain activities like art, philosophy, science or sports. Happiness is a state of mind. We experience it within a stable family, productive work, literary/artistic interests, and while helping the needy within our means. Paradoxically, egoism hinders happiness. (160 words)
(b) What does ethics seek to promote in human life? Why is it all the more important in public administration? (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Ethical teachings aim at following goals:
• Explaining what is right and what is wrong in our actions and conduct
• Clarifying good and bad in relation to our motives, thoughts and goals
• Spelling out virtues and vices
• Promoting beneficence, kindness, good will, and fair play
• Emphasizing cultivation of good character through constant efforts
• Equipping moral agents to handle moral conflicts and situations
• Encouraging enlightened andrefined social perspectives
• Creating feelings of reverence for nature, theological curiosity and desire for self- perfection
Public administration should aim at serving people. This implies that administrators need an ethical orientation for sympathetically and earnestly helping people at large. Public administration involves constant decision-making. As diverse interests are involved in them, qualities of objectivity, open mindedness, evenhandedness and adherence to norms are crucial. Misconduct, abuse of power and self-aggrandizement have to be shunned. Hence ethics is critical in public life. (153 words)
2. (a) In the context of defence services, ‘patriotism’ demands readiness to even lay down one’s life in protecting the nation. According to you, what does patriotism imply in everyday civil life? Explain with illustrations and justify your answer. (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. In essence, patriotism in civic life refers to conduct which strengthens the nation and promotes its ethos. Such conduct is covered under fundamental duties mentioned in Constitution. Among these are:
• Respecting constitutional ideals and institutions
• Following ideals that animated Independence struggle
• Upholding and protecting national sovereignty, unity and integrity
• Defending the country and serving it when required
• Promoting harmony and brotherhood among all Indians and respecting women
• Preserving our composite culture, environment and protecting public property
• Adoptingscientificand humanist ideals
• Educating our daughters
Examples of unpatriotic behaviour in civil life are: shouting anti-Indian slogans in universities; defacing or writing on national monuments; speaking against the unity of India; running down armed forces for showing one’s independence and dissent; spreading unfounded rumours during communal riots to add fuel to fire; and speaking ill of other religions or language groups.
We need not make fervent displays of patriotism. We should earnestly do our work whichever job we hold. (165 words)
(b) What do you understand by ‘probity’ in public life? What are the difftculties in practising it in the present times? How can these difftculties be overcome? (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Probity stands for impeccable standards of morality in public life. It goes beyond financial honesty or non-corrupt behaviour. Probity means that public servants will take no undue advantage of any sort from their office. They will avoid any semblance of impropriety. They will show intellectual honesty and will give policy-advice to ministers objectively.
Officers face following problems in upholding probity:
• Lax moral environment
• Political pressures for wrong doing
• Lack of support from seniors
• Risks to career of honest officers
• Getting side-lined to insignificant posts
• Frequent transfers andinconvenience to family
Honest officers have to be prepared to make sacrifices for principles. Virtue is its own reward. They can gently oppose improprieties. They can appeal to the good sentiments of seniors and political leaders. As the difficulties arise from external sources beyond their control, officers cannot overcome them on their own. But because of judicial pronouncements, CAG audits and greater risks of exposure, wrong doers now face may change things. (164 words)
3. (a) “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, but knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” What do you understand by this statement? Explain your stand with illustrations from the modern context. (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Knowledge in one of its aspects is power. A knowledgeable person scores over ignorant opponents. This is obvious in games like chess. In public administration, knowledge covers grasp of rules, regulations and policies applicable to important decisions. These should be used for public good. But knowledgeable but unscrupulous people can twist these for personal gain or for helping cronies. Such officers can cleverly hide their tracks and even involve unsuspecting colleagues in their nefarious actions. In contrast, well- meaning but ill-informed officers are ineffective. They are unable to translate their good intentions into action.
Experienced engineers can tinker with specifications of machinery or works so as to exclude some bidders. Their equipment will become technically unacceptable. The field will be left open for favoured companies. One can tweak other tender criteria. Net worth of a company is a qualification for participating in tenders. One can increase the net worth so as to exclude firms otherwise eligible. (156 words)
(b) “Human beings should always be treated as ‘ends’ in themselves and never as merely ‘means’.” Explain the meaning and signiftcance of this statement, giving its implications in the modern techno-economic society. (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. This statement is one of the variants of Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative. Human beings occupy a privileged position in creation. Unlike other organisms, they are endowed with reason and capacity for conceptual thought. This attribute entitles them to a high moral standing, and their life and self-chosen aims are treated as inviolable. This also means that existence of human beings is itself the highest end. Therefore, men can never be treated as instruments for achieving any other goal. Any objective however noble, which diminishes human dignity, is unacceptable.
This principle has often been violated in history. Examples are holocaust, killing of Kulaks during Russian collectivization and atrocities during Cultural Revolution in China. New technologies like cloning and stem cell research may tempt scientists and politicians to conduct experiments which violate the sanctity of human life and dignity. Similar dangers lurk in robotics and artificial intelligence; these advances need regulation in human interest. (154 words)
4. (a) Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving speciftc examples; describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development. (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Dayanand Saraswati inspired me in my ethical development. He recognizedthe weaknesses-
--like idol worship, priestly class and excessive ritualism--which crept into Hinduism, and sought to remedy them. He lost faith in idol worship when he witnessed a rat running over Shiva idol and nibbling at offerings devotees gave. Thus, he changed his traditional views based on factual observations. His openness is remarkable considering his rural roots and conservative education.
He was not just negative, but revived authentic, ancient Hindu practices. He opposed caste system and desired merit-based upward social mobility. He advocated that women should have full equality, as in ancient India, with men. This is a forward-looking idea presaging modern concepts of gender equity. His insistence that priests should be learned and pure hearted applies to all religions. Dayanand Saraswati created organizations for social work. I was also influenced by his modern and enlightened ideals. (148 words)
(b) There is a heavy ethical responsibility on the public servants because they occupy positions of power, handle huge amounts of public funds, and their decisions have wide-ranging impact on society and environment. What steps have you taken to improve your ethical competence to handle such responsibility? (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Public servants can improve their ethical competence in the following ways:
• Studying the relevant codes of conduct and codes of ethics
• Understanding the norms governing their actions and decisions
• Appreciating the need for being ethical and projecting a clean image
• Understanding what constitutes misuse or abuse of power
• Scrupulously avoiding such practices including arbitrary use of power and highhandedness
• Ensuring that decisions are taken in larger public interest, and eschewing sectional concerns and prejudiced approaches
• Factoring in the concerns of the poor and vulnerable in decisions
• Being environmentally conscious, and becoming proficient with various laws, policies and programmes for protecting environment
• To learn rules of financial propriety, analysis of financial issues especially tendering processes,
• Learning to be on guard against financial irregularities and frauds
• Ensuring disposal of natural resources only through competitivebidding
Familiarity with above topics will enable public servants to ethically discharge their duties. (158 words)
5. (a) The current society is plagued with widespread trust-deftcit. What are the consequences of this situation for personal well-being and for societal well-being? What can you do at the personal level to make yourself trustworthy? (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Trust-deficit implies that people distrust one another and the social and political institutions governing them. This situation damages individual and social welfare. Trust is essential for harmonious working of society. Economic transactions and social interactions suffer if individuals and economic agents distrust one another. Breach of trust is a vice and keeping promises is a virtue. If students do not trust teachers, if citizens do not trust police, if litigants have no faith in judiciary, and if constituents distrust elected representatives, economic progress will suffer.
Peopleandinstitutions have to work hard to re-establish an atmosphere of trust.Politicians should act morally, refurbish their image, and work for people’s welfare. Public servants should observe norms and reduce corruption. They should provide services diligently and promptly to citizens. Business men should adhere to sound and ethical business practices. Families and religious groups should promote and observe moral values. Removing trust deficit needs raising morality across society. (155 words)
(b) It is often said that poverty leads to corruption. However, there is no dearth of instances where affluent and powerful people indulge in corruption in a big way. Whatare the basic causes of corruption among people? Support your answer with examples. (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Low pay and facilities can lead to corruption since employees unable to meet expensesor access essential services resort to corruption. Permanent government servants are now well paid though contract employees still get poor pay. As corruption is practised by the well-off too, poverty alone does not explain corruption.
Corruption arises from one’s unethical nature. Virtuous people refuse to be corrupt despite being poor. Many poor auto rickshaw drivers return valuables which passengers forgetfully leave behind. Rich doctors and lawyers take cash payments to avoid taxes. Excessive regulations breed corruption; officers are bribed by businesses to violate rules and speed up work. Corruption is also political. Parties fund their elections by striking backdoor deals with industrialists. Permissive morals, cynicism and lack of accountability promote corruption. Many recent scams would have gone unchecked but for CAG audit and judicial activism. Devoted and dutiful politicians and bureaucrats can ensure clean administration. (150 words)
6. What factors affect the formation of a person’s attitude towards social problems? In our society, contrasting attitudes are prevalent about many social problems. What contrasting attitudes do you notice about the caste system in our society? How do you explain the existence of these contrasting attitudes? (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Several factors influence an individual’s attitudes towards social problems. These include: hisfamilyand social background; hiseconomicstatus; hiseducation;age,occupation,and
membership in an urban or rural community; his ideological views; his knowledge; and his personality traits. Some of these factors are interdependent.
People either support or oppose caste system. These contrasting views depend on the interplay of factors impinging on one’s attitude to caste system. Members from traditional, conservative, orthodox and rural households may support caste system. They are part of its hierarchy; their relatives and friends are from the same caste; they tend to marry within caste. They have no exposure to modern social or economic trends or occupations. In contrast, those with urban, educated background and working in far off states in modern sectors and meeting diverse groups will have weaker caste affiliations. Caste barriers are weakening, though caste based political mobilization is gaining strength. (151 words)
7. What does ‘accountability’ mean in the context of public service? What measurescan be adopted toensureindividual andcollective accountabilityof public servants? (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Accountability means that officials are answerable to higher officials or to political leaders for due discharge of their functions. Ministers are individually answerable to prime minister, and the cabinet to parliament. Public servants are also answerable in another sense. They not only have to perform assignedtasks but also have to followlawsand rules in discharging their functions. Accountability implies that public servants should also follow ethical norms whether included in codes of conduct or in ordinary morals.
Accountability is enforced through external and internal controls. Controls on public servants from outside bureaucracy include legislative supervision of administrative action; judicial scrutiny of government policies and orders; and popular participation in government. The internal controls include: rules and procedures; ethical and work standards; disciplinary measures for punishing erring officials; democratizing administration; and provisions for freedom of information and whistle blowers. Ideally, accountability should become part of the mindset of officials and should be spontaneous. (154 words)
8. We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. (10 marks, 150 words)
Ans. Violence against women takes place in different situations. Women face violence at home, while commuting to work, and when on outings.
For reducing domestic violence against women, social efforts are needed. Programmes highlighting women’s role as mothers and guardians of children will help reduce domestic violence. It is often dowry related. Dramas and visual clips should be used to highlight the inequity of dowry demands and to refine sentiments of husbands and in-laws.
Women police and plain clothes men should be deployed on buses and local trains both during peak and off traffic hours. Known rowdies should be periodically rounded up. Young women should be given training in self-defence. Their psychological strength should be boosted so that they can act bravely. Young girls should move in groups and
help one another in meeting violence. They should not frequent bars and similar places at least during late hours. They should take care not to get trapped in lonely areas.
9. Now-a-days, there is an increasing thrust on economic development all around the globe. At the same time, there is also an increasing concern about environmental degradation caused by development. Many a time, we face a direct conflict between developmental activity and environmental quality. It is neither feasible to stop or curtail the development process, nor it is advisable to keep degrading the environment, as it threatens our very survival.
Discuss some feasible strategies which could be adopted to eliminate this conflict and which could lead to sustainable development.
(250 words, 20 marks)
Ans. Although conflicts arise often between economic development and environmental preservation, they can be largely reconciled. We should not adopt an either/or approach, favouring exclusively environment or development. Sustainable development aims at balancing the two.
Environmental concerns should be built into policies. While trying to develop natural resources, build projects and generate power, their impacts on environment have to be minimized. Our climate change policy seeks to tackle many adverse effects of global warming. Simultaneously, it promotes sustainability in ecologically fragile areas.
Low carbon growth strategy, especially in energy and related sectors, reduces environmental damage. By reducing the energy intensity of GDP growth, by promoting energy efficiency and non-conventional energy sources, the consumption of depleting resources and emissions of GH gases can be reduced. Similarly, clean technologies both promote growth and cause less pollution.
By conserving ecologically fragile areas such as Himalayas and Western Ghats, we can preserve environment, speed up growth and protect the livelihoods of the poor. Conservation strategies have to cover lakes, water bodies, rivers, mangroves and coastal areas. It is essential to conserve the biodiversity of the nation. Unless the extensive and rich gene pool of crops and biota is safeguarded, our food security will be endangered. Such biodiversity is best conserved in biospheres and other protected areas.
To minimize the adverse effect of projects, they are environmentally assessed, and suitable safeguards are built-in. Projects can be located in areas where they will have least harmful effects.
Children have to imbibe lessons about the need to conserve environment. Then it will get into the mindset of future generations. (262 words)