Ethics Case Studies Compilation (6 to 10) | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

Q.6. He is the director of a well-known private engineering college. Your college is rated among the top private colleges in the country. Each year, independent rating agencies award ratings to different colleges based on specific parameters. One of the most important criteria for rating is the number of students admitted to foreign universities. One day, a student comes to you with a request to increase your grades / grade points. He obtained 8.9 marks and the top foreign university requires at least 9.0 marks to be admitted. If you help revise his or her grade from 8.9 to 9.0, he or she may earn a higher university admission, which may also improve the quality of your college.
What are the different options available to you? Please provide reasons for choosing the best option for your decision.
Ans. The college engineering degree plays an important role in attracting advanced students. Getting a good rating is an important factor in the success of the institution and its financial viability as these institutions have to build their own resources to run the institutions. Private institutions often follow the wrong ways to improve their standards. In addition, increasing your grades can help a student gain a degree in foreign higher education. It is a matter of moral dilemma that arises because of a conflict between the basic principle of honesty and kindness. Now let’s explore the different options in this case.
1. You can order paper reviews at the request of the student and ask the examiner to award high marks to ensure that the student gets 9/10 marks. In this way, the student is admitted to a foreign university and the level of your institution is improved. However, such an action would be tantamount to violating the principle of honesty as you have not been faithful in performing your duties. It is illegal and immoral to give a student marks for consideration without studying. Many such requests may come in the future from other students whom you will not reject without violating the principle of equality and justice. If the news becomes public, your reputation and reputation will be tarnished. So, this is not the right choice.
2. The second way is to refuse a student's request. As a result, the student fails to gain admission to a top foreign university and your institutional rating also suffers. This is a violation of the principle of benefit even though the principle of fidelity is maintained.
3. The third option would be to allow for an honest review of the answer sheet. Allows due modification without any guidance to the inspector. When a student gets extra marks, it benefits him and the school. As a result, he satisfies the moral standards of honesty and benefit. If his grade does not improve, it may not have helped him, but he has violated the code of conduct as the principle of benefit cannot be extended to give illegal profits to anyone. So, this is the best option.

Case - 7

Q.7. She is a Hindu teacher in a public school. Your son is also attending the same school, in class XII. He has to face Board exams this year. Good for other subjects besides maths. You have failed the annual Math exam and your wife is very worried about her. Your son if not a good and obedient child. He too is naturally sensitive. However, he does not like subjects in general, especially math. If he fails the class XII, he may become depressed and follow the wrong path. After all, the XII Class Board Examination Center is at your relative's school. Your wife asks you to seek help from the principal to replace the math teacher during the test to help your child. What are the different options to choose from? Rate each option and give reasons for choosing the right option.
Ans. All parents are concerned about the future of their children. They want their children to do well in tests as their academic achievement protects their jobs and their future in India. Board results are important for gaining a good college admission, and improving job opportunities. It is also true that cheating is common in many schools in India and a little help can help a student get good grades. However, cheating is illegal and immoral. Cheating with the help of a teacher is extremely immoral as teachers should avoid cheating and passing on appropriate values to children, and they themselves do not violate the code of conduct.
The various options available to you are as follows:
1. You could talk to the person and ask him to help your child. If the system says no, you would be humiliating and insulting a close relative. If he says yes, the child may get better grades but may cheat in the future. He may become so engrossed in his studies that he knows he can cheat on tests to get just the right grades. He may be arrested one day and his job is ruined. This is not the right choice.
2. The second option is to find a good math teacher and ask him or her to teach your son. Often, students do not like to read a lesson because they do not fully understand the subject. Under the guidance of a capable teacher, they may be able to develop interest in the study and begin to like it. And then their performance gets better and they feel more confident in life. Thus, hiring a good teacher can improve a child's performance without resorting to any illegal means. This is a good option for quickly solving a problem.
3. The third step is to encourage your child to work hard and to instill in him a love for reading. Children need constant love and support from their parents. Parents should encourage their children directly or in person who the children respect. If a child is motivated, he can work hard with or without the help of a teacher and succeed in tests. So, this is the best way to get a long-term foundation.

Case - 8

Q.8. Mukesh is a good farmer. He has two daughters and is still married for years. He should marry one of his daughters as soon as he is 25 years old. However, he does not have enough money to pay the lobola. One of his friends suggests he take out a bank loan for farming and use that money to pay a lobola. He said the government might get rid of all farm debt before the election; therefore, he should not have to worry about repaying the loan. Mukesh took a loan from a large agricultural bank and used that money to marry his daughter by paying a good lobola. However, no such loan repayment program was announced by the government. Shortly thereafter, the bank sent him a notice when he began to pay off his mortgage. However, he does not currently have the funds to repay the loan. A few days later, the bank officials — along with the police — arrived in the village and sealed it. Mukesh could not bear to be embarrassed and committed suicide. Her family was devastated. His wife filed a lawsuit against him and accused him of murdering her husband.
1. What mistakes did Mukesh make?
2. Can bank officials be held accountable for Mukesh's death? Give reasons.
Ans. The cancellation of farm debt has become quite commonplace in India. Many political parties are promising to waive farm loans before the election to get farmers' votes. Many farmers are waiting for the loan to be cancelled and misusing the loan for other purposes. However, people also know that politicians often do not live up to promises made during elections.
Therefore, Mukesh did not have to take out a farm loan to pay the lobola. His thinking about repaying the loan seemed wrong. He should not have listened to the advice of a friend, and he should have used his mind and thinking before the loan shark and used the same to marry his daughter. It also had to create a situation where the government would fail to announce the cessation of the loan. His act of suicide was an act of cowardice; it was also immoral as he left his family in trouble, and failed to fulfill the role of husband and father. Banks are in the business of lending money and receiving deposits.
They are under obligation to repay the investor with interest promised. The same money is loaned to banks by people with higher interest rates so that they can pay the fixed amount and make a profit on the scheme. If people refuse to repay the loan, banks will not be able to repay it to their creditors. Bank officials, therefore, have good reason to continue taking action against those who violate the law.
However, bank officials must follow all proper procedures before seizing assets. They will not be charged with murder if they have been performing their duties legally and following the procedures. They can only be wrong if they break the rules and regulations. However, such a violation would not be the same as murder.

Case - 9

Q.9. ABC is a well-known private school in the city. Children from very wealthy families study there. The school includes the services of several independent bus drivers based on highly competitive bids to transport children from home and school. One day when one of the buses will leave the children after school; met with a very serious accident. Fourteen children died on the spot. The driver fled the scene. Investigations revealed that the driver was drunk and was speeding. This has been the talk of the town and parents have been demanding action against the school principal as he was the one who appointed the bus drivers and ignored safety measures. Police arrested the principal and launched a search operation in India to arrest the driver.
1. Why do such accidents happen so often in India? Analyze the reasons.
2. Did the police have a reason for arresting the principal?
3. If you had to set a goal to avoid such types of road accidents, what would you suggest to the government? 
Ans. 
1. It is the responsibility of the school to provide safe transportation services for its learners. Schools often try to reduce their costs by renting cars at cheaper prices than by renting their own buses. They often reward a carrier who charges a small fee, disregarding safety regulations such as police driver certification, vehicle status, etc. Drivers are often inexperienced and drive recklessly after drinking. Schools and transport operators ignore this deviation as it is considered normal. Such neglect often leads to such fatal risks.
2. When road accidents such as these involving young children occur, it becomes national news and often shouts to clear the responsibility for the principal of the school. This puts pressure on the police to arrest a policy or person of the school's senior management to calm parents' feelings and to satisfy the media. However, the police must act in accordance with facts and evidence instead of emotions. If all the rules were followed by the principal, he should not be arrested. However, if there are deliberate violations of the rules, arrests can be made depending on the degree of negligence. Imprisonment under public or media pressure is unforgivable.
3. To reduce the risk of this type of risk, systemic changes are required. Instead of working after such accidents, preventive measures should be taken to save the lives of future victims. The following recommendations may be made to the government to avoid similar risks in the future. (i) Bus safety procedures and driver's certification of drivers must be informed by law, and must be strictly monitored.
(ii) A surprising standard inspection of appointed government officials to ensure compliance with all procedures.
(iii) Strict punishment for school authorities and transporters, including the withdrawal of schooling for breach of prescribed procedures.
(iv) The maximum amount of compensation must be determined by the government for the deaths of students and serious injuries in road accidents, which should be received from school administrators and transporters in the case of student deaths.

Case -10

Q.10. Ankit is the only son of a senior government official. His father is placed in town in a very important department and is often invited to various functions as a senior guest; and his photographs are regularly published in local newspapers. Ankit is very proud of his father. His friends are also proud of him, because he is a friend of the Son of man who has such an influence. One day, the CBI raided his home and his father's office. The CBI obtains details of the asset and arrests the father. The front page of tomorrow's newspaper deals with the arrest of his father. When Ankit goes to school the next day, everyone laughs at him. Most of his friends talk about his father's imprisonment. Others laugh when he passes by them. No one wants to talk to her now, she is being deceived by her friends. Ankit is depressed. The next day, she commits suicide. Analyze the issues involved in this case.
1. How should Ankit behave in this situation?
2. If you were Ankit's friend, what advice would you give him?
Ans. Corruption is one of the biggest threats to India. Many government officials have been involved in corruption and money laundering. It is said that destructive power and total power are utterly destructive. Corruption is often commemorated with the influence of a government official. Although family members enjoy the legal and illegal benefits and rights of government officials, they do not want to pay the full price for such illegal rights. It is a great misfortune for any child to bear the shame of the illegal act of his parents.
1. Ankit had to expect the reaction of his friends to follow in such a situation. However, this reaction is temporary as people forget such incidents and life becomes normal again. He should have ignored the reaction of his classmates.
2. You can advise Ankit that by law, everyone is treated as an innocent person until proven guilty. It is the duty of the courts to decide whether a person is guilty or not. It is a fact that most corruption cases fail to stand up for the law, and then fail in court. Therefore, his father had a very good chance of being acquitted by the court. In addition, it is also true that the CBI often acts under the direction of politicians and corrects innocent people. Therefore, it is possible that his father was loyal but was organized by the CBI. Therefore, in this difficult time for his family, he must be brave and stand with his parents.