December 16 – GS4/Ethics: 2025 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Q. 

• It is alleged by the media that the hooch tragedy is the direct and natural consequence of the patronage given by the leaders, including ministers and MLAs for turning a blind eye to the rampant illicit liquor trade in the state.
• Meanwhile, the state government is under attack from opposition parties for not taking immediate and adequate action. The state government in a hasty response transferred district magistrate and suspended several police officials for negligence of duty.

You are the newly appointed district magistrate of the region.

a. Identify the stakeholders and the ethical issues involved in the case.
b. What best course of action will you adopt to resolve the issues in this case?
c. What long term steps will you take to make sure such incidents do not occur in future.

"Before looking at the solution of this question you may try this question at your own first"

Introduction
The given case of hooch tragedy involves multiple stakeholders and requires a number of issues to be resolved. In dealing with this case as an administrator I will have to maintain very high ethical standards and efficiency in management of the ongoing crisis to bring relief and justice to victims of hooch tragedy and dismantle the illegal liquor trade and their supporters to restore the public faith in the Government.

Body

a) 

b) Best course of action to resolve the issues in this case -

• The first two courses of actions would not be taken by me because the former is professionally inappropriate and latter is morally unsound.
• With the third and fourth course of action,I would be able to prevent further deaths in hooch tragedy and provide immediate relief to the people affected by the mishap.
• With the fifth and sixth course of action, I would be able to crack down on the illegal liquor trade and initiate judicial proceedings against the people responsible for the loss of lives to justice. These actions should restore the public faith in the government.
• There are few caveats in these courses of action but most of them are temporary and manageable in the line of duty.

c) To find permanent solution and in order and to address the other underlying issues the following long term measures will be taken-

Conclusion
Thus, in this case my endeavour would be to not only curb the illegal liquor trade but also to minimise the consumption of liquor as it is bad for health and also a constitutional obligation. The above plan would help me as a district collector to take decisions which are morally sound and rationally appropriate to restore the law and order situation at the earliest and bring maximum justice to most of the stakeholder.