GS Paper - IV Model Answers (2022) - 2 | UPSC Mains Answer Writing: Practice PDF Download

Q9: The Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravalli Hills to stop degradation of the forest cover and to maintain ecological balance. However, the stone mining was still prevalent in the border district of the affected State with connivance of certain corrupt forest officials and politicians. Young and dynamic SP who was recently posted in the affected district promised to himself to stop this menace. In one of his surprise checks with his team, he found loaded truck with stone trying to escape the mining area. He tried to stop the truck but the truck driver overrun the police officer, killing him on the spot and thereafter managed to flee. Police filed FIR but no breakthrough was achieved in the case for almost three months. Ashok who was the Investigative Journalist working with leading TV channel, suo moto started investigating the case. Within one month, Ashok got breakthrough by interacting with local people, stone mining mafia and government officials. He prepared his investigative story and presented to the CMD of the TV channel. He exposed in his investigative report the complete nexus of stone mafia working with blessing of corrupt police and civil officials and politicians. The politician who was involved in the mafia was no one else but local MLA who was considered to be very close to the Chief Minister. After going through the investigative report, the CMD advised Ashok to drop the idea of making the story public through electronic media. He informed that the local MLA was not only the relative of the owner of the TV channel but also had unofficially 20 percent share in the channel. The CMD further informed Ashok that his further promotion and hike in pay will be taken care of in addition the soft loan of ₹10 lakhs which he has taken from the TV channel for his son's chronic disease will be suitably adjusted if he hands over the investigative report to him.
(a) What are the options available with Ashok to cope up with the situation?
(b) Critically evaluate/examine each of the options identified by Ashok.
(c) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Ashok?
(d) Which of the options, do you think, would be the most appropriate for Ashok to adopt and why?
(e) In the above scenario, what type of training would you suggest for police officers posted to such districts where stone mining illegal activities are rampant?
Ans: The case study discusses an incident similar to the one involving Surender Singh, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) who was fatally injured while trying to stop mining activities near Pachgaon village in Haryana on July 19, 2022. The stakeholders in this situation include corrupt officials and politicians, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Ashoka (a journalist), police officials, the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the TV channel, mining mafias, judiciary, local MLA, local people, and the Chief Minister.
Ashoka, the journalist, faces several options in dealing with this dilemma, each with its own merits and demerits:
A. Follow the advice of CMD:
Merits:

• Salary hike and promotion.
• Soft loan for son's treatment.

Demerits:

• Loss of conscience.
• Injustice to the SP.
• Loss of free media.

B. Make the report public:
Merits:

• Increased popularity as a journalist.
• Justice for SP and his family.

Demerits:

• Risk of job loss.
• Death threats from mafia.
• Possible expulsion from the job.

C. Resign and find other avenues:
Merits:

• Intact conscience.
• Ability to publicize the report independently.

Demerits:

• Lack of funds for son's treatment.
• Possible unemployment.

The ethical dilemmas faced by Ashoka include personal growth vs social justice, his son's wellbeing vs free media, corruption vs justice for the SP's family, and the balance between nexus and morality.
The most appropriate option for Ashoka is Option C. He should resign from his current position and make the report public by starting his YouTube channel. Additionally, he should apply for jobs in other media channels. This approach would expose the truth behind the corrupt nexus involving media channels, politicians, civil officials, and the sand mafia.
Regarding the training for police officers posted to such districts, the following modules are recommended:

• Vehicle driving training in difficult terrain.
• Training for usage of modern technologies such as drones for surveillance.
• Modern weaponry and tactical training.
• Standard Operating Procedures for raiding such sites.
• 24x7 full support and communication channels from a central control room.

In the context of India being a democratic country, media plays a vital role as the 4th pillar of democracy. It is the media's responsibility to publish accurate reports and expose corruption. Media provides evidence, enabling the judiciary to make informed judgments.

Q10: You have done MBA from a reputed institution three years back but could not get campus placement due to COVID-19 generated recession. However, after a lot of persuasion and series of competitive tests including written and interview, you managed to get a job in a leading shoe company. You have aged parents who are dependent and staying with you. You also recently got married after getting this decent job. You were allotted the Inspection Section which is responsible for clearing the final product. In first one year, you learnt your job well and was appreciated for your performance by the management. The company is doing good business for last five years in domestic market and this year it is decided even to export to Europe and Gulf countries. However, one large consignment to Europe was rejected by their Inspecting Team due to certain poor quality and was sent back. The top management ordered that ibid consignment to be cleared for the domestic market. As a part of Inspecting Team, you observed the glaring poor quality and brought to the knowledge of the Team Commander. However, the top management advised all the members of the team to overlook these defects as the management cannot bear such a huge loss. Rest of the team members except you promptly signed and cleared the consignment for domestic market, overlooking glaring defects. You again brought to the knowledge of the Team Commander that such consignment, if cleared even for domestic market, will tarnish the image and reputation of the company and will be counter-productive in the long run. However, you were further advised by the top management that if you do not clear the consignment, the company will not hesitate to terminate your services citing certain innocuous reasons.
(a) Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the Inspecting Team?
(b) Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you.
(c) What option would you adopt and why?
(d) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you?
(e) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the inspecting Team?
Ans: The provided case study outlines a prevalent issue faced by professionals across various sectors. The problem described holds universal relevance.
(a) In the given situation, as a member of the Inspecting Team, several options are available:

• I can choose to overlook the defects and approve the product.
• I can refuse to comply with the company's instructions, highlighting the product's issues and refusing to pass it.
• I can attempt to persuade the management not to approve the product. Additionally, I can suggest measures such as rebranding or modifying the product, allowing me to maintain my integrity and help the company preserve its market position and reputation.

(b) A careful evaluation of these options is necessary:
Overlooking and passing the product:

• Positive: Job security.
• Negatives: Lack of moral courage, loss of consumer trust, and damage to the company's market reputation.

Declining to pass the product:

• Positives: Display of moral courage, integrity preservation, and upholding the company's reputation.
• Negatives: Job loss, launching the product against my advice, and potential display of a lack of emotional intelligence.

Convincing the management and modifying the product:

• Positives: Practicality, emotional intelligence, moral courage, and reduced risk to the company's consumer trust and market reputation.
• Negatives: Possible dismissal of suggestions, negative impact on career progression and job security, and potential harm to the company's reputation if suggestions are rejected.

(c) Personally, I would opt to persuade the management and propose modifications to the product, rebranding and launching it accordingly. This choice allows me to maintain job security, demonstrate moral courage, and uphold my integrity. Moreover, it may enable the company to safeguard its market reputation and customer trust.
(d) Ethical dilemmas faced in this case study include:

• Accountability to the Public vs Accountability to Company Management: Balancing delivering the correct product to customers with adhering to management instructions.
• Ethics vs Herd Mentality: Choosing between taking a stand and following the crowd.
• Profit vs Integrity: Deciding between financial gain and preserving personal integrity by addressing product issues.
• Moral Courage vs Job Loss: Deciding whether to take the right action despite the risk of job loss.

(e) Overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team could result in:

• Loss of customer trust and market reputation for the company.
• Cultivation of complacency within the company, detrimental to its growth.
• Decreased morale and motivation among employees.
• Dissatisfaction and distress among customers due to receiving subpar products from a previously reliable company.

Q11: Rakesh was working as Joint Commissioner in Transport Department of a city. As a Part of his Job profile, among others, he was entrusted with the task of overseeing the control and functioning of City Transport Department. A case of strike by the drivers' union of City Transport Department over the issue of Compensation to a driver who died on duty while driving the bus came up before him for decision in the matter.
He gathered that the driver (deceased) was plying Bus No. 528 which Passed through busy and congested roads of the city. It so happened that near an intersection on the way, there was an accident involving the bus and a car driver by a middle-aged man. It was found that there was altercation between the driver and the car driver. Heated arguments between them led to fight and the driver gave him a blow. Lot of passerbys had gathered and tried to intervene but without success. Eventually, both of them were badly injured and profusely bleeding and were taken to the nearby hospital. The driver succumbed to the injuries and could not be saved. The middle-aged driver's condition was also critical but after a day, he recovered and was discharged. Police had immediately come at the spot of accident and FIR was registered. Police investigation revealed that the quarrel in question was started by the bus driver and he had resorted to physical violence. There was exchange of blows between them. The City Transport Department management is considering of not giving any extra compensation to the driver's (deceased) family. The family is very aggrieved, depressed and agitated against the discriminatory and non-sympathetic approach of the City Transport Department management. The bus driver (deceased) was 52 years of age, was survived by his wife and two school-college going daughters. He was the sole earner of the family. The City Transport Department workers' union took up this case and when found no favorable response from the management, decided to go on strike. The union's demand was two-fold. First was full extra compensation as given to other drivers who died on duty and secondly employment to onefamily member. The strike has continued for 10 days and the deadlock remains.
(a) What are the options available to Rakesh to meet the above situation?
(b) Critically examine each of the options identified by Rakesh.
(c) What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by Rakesh?
(d) What course of action would Rakesh adopt to diffuse the above situation
Ans: Various potential stakeholders in the discussed case study include:

• Rakesh, the joint commissioner in the transport department of the city.
• Union of the city transport department.
• Deceased driver.
• Deceased driver's two school-college going daughters.
• Survived car driver.
• Police and its duties.

A) Possible options available to Rakesh to address the situations mentioned above:

• Rakesh can accept both demands of the transport union.
• Rakesh can reject both demands of the transport union.
• Rakesh can accept one of the demands for departmental comfort and reject the other.
• Rakesh can appoint a departmental enquiry team comprising half members from the union and half from the department.
• Rakesh can send strict warnings to those involved in the strike and use police force to resolve the dialogue.
• Rakesh can seek advice from the commissioner.

B) Critical examination of each option identified by Rakesh:
Rakesh can accept both demands of the transport union:
Merits:

• Quick resolution of the deadlock, allowing the transport department to resume full capacity operations.
• Deceased driver's family would receive immediate justice.
• Rakesh can focus on departmental work, enhancing productivity.

Demerits:

• May override the police investigation report, potentially sending the wrong message to other bus drivers.
• Could lead to a departmental jurisprudence case.

Rakesh can reject both demands of the transport union:
Merits:

• Savings for the department's exchequer.
• Upholds department management's decisions.

Demerits:

• Prolonged deadlock, reducing departmental productivity and efficiency.
• Deceased driver's family may face serious economic and livelihood concerns.

Rakesh can accept one of the demands for departmental comfort and reject the other:
Merit:

• Deadlock resolution, partial relief for the deceased driver's family, and restored departmental productivity and efficiency.

Demerits:

• Potential conflict with the police investigation report.
• Continued deadlock if the transport union insists on both demands.
• Rakesh can appoint a departmental enquiry committee with equal representation from the union, department, and police department. The union should resume work and wait for the committee's decision. During this period, Rakesh can organize departmental funding to support the deceased driver's family.

Merits:

• Potential win-win situation for all parties involved.
• Comprehensive and agreeable resolution points.
• Sets an example of integrated dispute resolution.
• Police department can provide a proportionate legal solution, fostering departmental sympathy towards the deceased driver's family.

Demerits:

• Time-consuming due to the involvement of multiple parties.
• Wastage of time and resources if the committee's conclusion is inconclusive.

Rakesh can send strict warnings to those involved in the strike and use police force to resolve the dialogue:
Merits:

• Potential resumption of work due to fear of police force.

Demerits:

• Risk of violence and escalation of the situation.
• Introduction of trust deficit and bitterness among union workers and department management.
• Decreased departmental productivity.

Rakesh can seek advice from the commissioner:
Merits:

• Experienced advice from the commissioner.
• Builds confidence with the commissioner for future decisions.

Demerits:

• Commissioner may diplomatically refuse to help.
• Commissioner could question Rakesh's crisis management abilities.

C) Ethical dilemmas faced by Rakesh:
Principle of natural justice vs. Due process of Law:

• Balancing extra compensation and job rights for the deceased driver's family with legal constraints.

Right vs. Duty:

• Balancing public duty as a joint commissioner with the rights of the deceased driver's family.

Public accountability vs. Personal accountability:

• Juggling accountability to the public service with personal empathy and compassion.

Code of conduct vs. Code of ethics:

• Navigating between following rules and regulations and acting ethically and morally.

Morality vs. Law:

• Balancing moral obligations under the principle of natural justice with adherence to statutory laws.

Conflict of Conscience:

• Struggling with personal values and professional obligations as a public servant.

D) Possible course of action for Rakesh:
Rakesh can opt for a comprehensive approach by appointing a 'Departmental enquiry committee' comprising equal members from the Transport Union, the department, and the police department. The union should resume work and await the committee's decision. During this time, Rakesh can organize departmental funding to assist the deceased driver's family. This approach promotes a win-win situation, encourages integrated dispute resolution, and allows for a proportionate legal solution. If the committee's decision does not favor the deceased driver's family, Rakesh can consider organizing departmental crowdfunding and providing ad hoc job opportunities to support the family, demonstrating his empathetic and compassionate approach as a public servant.

Q12: You are appointed as an officer heading the section in Environment Pollution Control Board to ensure compliance and its follow-up. In that region, there were large number of small and medium industries which had been granted clearance you learnt that these industries provide employment to many migrant workers Most of the industrial units have got environmental clearance certificate in their possession. The environmental clearance seeks to curb industries and projects that supposedly hamper environment and living species in the region. But in practice most of these units remain to be polluting units in several ways like air, water and soil pollution. As such, local people encountered persistent health problems. It was confirmed that majority of the industries were violating environmental compliance. You issued notice to all the industrial units to apply for fresh environmental clearance certificate from the competent authority. However, your action met with hostile response from a section of the industrial units, other vested interest persons and a section of the local politicians. The workers also became very hostile to you as they felt that your action would lead to the closure these of industrial units, and the resultant unemployment will lead to insecurity and uncertainty in their livelihood. Many owners of the industries approached you with the plea that you should not initiate harsh action as it would compel them their units, and cause huge Financial loss, shortage of their products in the market. These would obviously add to the sufferings of the labourers and the consumer alike. The labour union also sent you representation requesting against the closure of the units. You simultaneously started receiving threats from unknown corners. You however received supports from some of your colleagues, who advised you to act freely to ensure environmental compliance. Local NGOs also came to your support and they demanded the closure of the polluting units immediately
(a) What are the options available to you under the given situation?
(b) Critically examine the options listed by you.
(c) What type of mechanism would you suggest to ensure environmental compliance?
(d) What are the ethical dilemmas you faced in exercising your option?
Ans: (a) In the role of an officer, I often encounter situations where multiple options for decision-making are available. It is essential to choose the course of action that serves the best interests of all stakeholders. In this particular scenario, I have two potential approaches:
The first option involves immediate and direct action, wherein I could shut down all industries that are causing environmental harm without considering the immediate consequences such as unemployment among workers, protests from labor unions, and increased health issues due to reduced access to essential medicines.
The second option entails convening a meeting with industrial owners and environmental NGOs to find a middle ground. This approach involves setting limits on harmful elements, promoting the use of better alternatives, and encouraging medium-sized industries to obtain new environmental clearances, all with the assistance of NGOs.
(b) In the first option, I would be fulfilling my duty without considering the long-term effects. While it may lead to immediate reductions in health problems and pollution, it could result in poverty, deteriorating health due to poverty, and other indirect environmental issues in the long run, such as the spread of diseases.
In the second option, I am taking a comprehensive approach by engaging with all sections of society. This approach avoids immediate industry shutdowns and seeks common ground among stakeholders. Although it may not yield immediate positive results, it has the potential to reduce pollution in the long term without causing protests or unemployment.
(c) The proposed environmental compliances include categorizing industries based on their environmental impact and imposing stricter rules on the most harmful ones. Additionally, every industry would be responsible for managing its waste and maintaining water treatment plants. The use of sustainable alternatives for harmful chemicals would be encouraged, and strict measures, such as obtaining new environmental clearances, would be imposed on the most harmful industries. Industries exceeding prescribed limits and using restricted chemicals would face monetary penalties.
(d) I will face an ethical dilemma between fulfilling my duty and demonstrating compassion and empathy towards migrant workers. While completing my duty is a rational expectation, making decisions with empathy towards migrant workers is not only rational but also moral and ethical. Another ethical challenge arises in balancing environmental protection and job preservation. Finding the right balance between these competing interests is crucial for making ethical decisions in this context.