Prologue
Finally, UPSC has uploaded a sample paper for GS4 (Ethics) for mains exam:
They gave total six sample questions:
- Three questions on theory /definition/Essay type
- Three case studies (basically extension of what you’ve faced under Decision making MCQ questions in Prelim CSAT paper II)
Candidates may please note that the sample questions below are indicative but not exhaustive. The range and depth of questions that would be asked may differ.
Three Questions on Theory/Definition/Essay
1. Ethical human conduct
What do you understand by ‘Ethical Human Conduct’? In what way is it important to be ethical along with being professionally competent?
2. Definitions
What do you understand by the following terms? Point out their specific relevance in public service;
- Intellectual integrity
- Empathy
- Perseverance
- Spirit of service
- Commitment
Indicate two more attributes which you consider very important for public servants. Justify your answer.
3. Inspiration
Which great Indian personality has inspired you the most as a role model and how have you been able to benefit in your own life by such an inspiration?
Three Case studies
Case study#1: sexual harassment
You have been working with your team for almost a year. One of your subordinates Mr. A is very effective and hard working, he takes responsibility and gets things done. However, you have heard that Mr. A makes loose comments about women. Mrs X who is working under A, comes to you, she is visibly disturbed. She tells you that Mr. A has been making undue advances towards her and has even asked her to go out for dinner with him. She wants to give a written complaint seeking action against Mr. A. wha twould you do and why ?
Case Study#2: Cheater friend
You have grown up with X, who has been your best friend since childhood. You have shared your joysand sorrows and have been each other`s confidante. Both of you are in your final year graduation and writing your final exams. In the exam you notice that your friend is copying and cheating a lot. What would you do and why?
Case Study#3: Bogus Sarkari hospital
You are posted as the Medical Superintendent of a District level Govt. Hospital which caters to the need of poor patients from surrounding rural areas along with the local people from the district town.
As such the hospital has very good infrastructure and adequate equipment to cater to this need. It also receives sufficient funds to meet the recurring expenditure. Inspire of this there have been repeated complaints particularly from the patients which include the following
- Very poor maintenance and un-hygienic conditions in hospital premises.
- The hospital staff frequently demanding bribes from the patients for the services rendered.
- The negligent attitude of the Doctors resulting in times of casualties.
- Siphoning of a substantial stock of medicine by the staff and selling it out.
- Strong nexus between the senior Doctors of the hospital and the owners of local private nursing homes and testing labs as a result of which the patients are strongly misled and dissuaded from availing the hospital facilities and rather compelled to purchase costly medicines from market and get medical tests and even operations done from private medical houses.
- There also exist a notorious employee union which puts undue pressure and resents any reformative step by the administration.
Ponder over the situation and suggest effective ways to tackle each of the above mentioned problem.
Cheater Friend –
My intentions are clear that I want the best for my friend.
And if I am indeed his friend then it’s my responsibility to nip the devil of foul-playing in the bud by getting him caught. Because if he’s not made to realise now, it can aggravate to higher things tomorrow.
I may have to face my friend’s wrath or I could be excluded from my group, but I would be sure that I did what I thought was right (in reference to my morality and friend’s greater good).
dear sir, i don’t know about SSC exam can you explain and when will the exam call-far will be announced
Good discussion.
ABout the case of Cheater friend:
I have gone through few above answer, but have point of view quite strange.
Ethically we all know copying is wrong and as our moral responsibility we must stop it happen, But my question is can we really stop our close friend from copying also risking his career if he is caught, may be we have over looked that the invigilator might be very strict.
One imp fact which we have over looked is the examination is the final year graduation. Since its a degree exam and not any entrance will one risk a friends career, it might be possible that due to some unavoidable circumstances your friend could not prepare for a particular subject hence he opted for copying.
I feel that it would be more just, if you once assured that your friend have copied enough so that he wont fail that particular subject in the graduation exam, then inform the invigilator about mal-practice going on and keep the rest on him. In this way it would not be unjust to other hard working peoples as well.
I very well know that cheating in exam is wrong and unethical, but my arguments deserve some comments and thinking.
plz reply…
it doesn’t matter what the unavoidable circumstances are .he can appear for the exam next time u very well know that cheating in exam is wrong and unethical ,just think that in this case he is not ur friend , automatically u will do what is ethical.if ur friend get good marks in the exam then he will take away ur job so think again.
@Durga Shakti Nagpal
People may have complains against UPSC but I wonder why demand of additional attempts offended you :P
Competent people do not bother about how many people compete with them. Rather they compete with themselves and attain excellence irrespective of challenges they are subjected to. Your question to a gentleman- “What were you doing from last three attempts?” is not something that’s expected from any prudent person, especially from someone who aspires to become a civil servant in true sense. Being confident about qualifying to become an IAS officer in the very first attempt is really nice. However, your statement reflects that you have not only crossed that fine line where confidence becomes over-confidence but you have also crossed the line where confidence becomes arrogance.
Had you not used a pseudo name, I would have appreciated and would have prayed for your success. I would have liked to check the list for your name.
Please do not get offended by this response of mine as it is just an advice which may help you get sublimed and help you ignore demands of others as long as it does not suit you.
All the best !
Well said Manish.
mrunal sir awaiting for further ethics material
hi could someone please give me any idea on the definitional terms on ethics aptitude and integrity ( GS4) have been scouting the books and related materials however none seem to be what the exam prescribes!!
SIR REQUEST FOR
KARNATAKA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
1) GS 1, 2 , 3 & 4 PAPER NOTES.