2017 - IAS EXPRESS

You are a Public Information Officer (PIO) in a government department. You are aware that the RTI Act, 2005 envisages transparency and accountability in administration. The act has functioned as a check on the supposedly arbitrarily administrative behaviour and actions. However, as a PIO you have observed that there are citizens who filed RTI applications not for themselves but on behalf of such stakeholders who purportedly want to have access to information to further their own interests. At the same time there are those RTI activists who routinely file RTI applications and attempt to extort money from the decision makers. This type of RTI activism has affected the functioning of the administration adversely and also possibly jeopardizes the genuineness of the applications which are essentially aimed at getting justice. What measures would you suggest to separate genuine and non-genuine applications? Give merits and demerits of your suggestions. (250 words)

The Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in government operations. However, the misuse of RTI applications for vested…

A building permitted for three floors, while being extended illegally for 6 floors by a builder, collapses. As a consequence, a number of innocent labourers including women and children died. These labourers are migrants of different places. The government immediately announced cash relief to the aggrieved families and arrested the builder. Give reasons for such incidents taking place across the country. Suggest measures to prevent their occurrence. (250 words)

The tragic incident involves the illegal extension of a building that led to its collapse, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, including migrant laborers.…

You are the manager of a spare parts company A and you have to negotiate a deal with the manager of a large manufacturing company B. The deal is highly competitive and sealing the deal is critical for your company. The deal is being worked out over a dinner. After dinner the manager of manufacturing company B offered to drop you to the hotel in his car. On the way to hotel he happens to hit motorcycle injuring the motorcyclist badly. You know the manager was driving fast and thus lost control. The law enforcement officer comes to investigate the issue and you are the sole eyewitness to it. Knowing the strict laws pertaining to road accidents you are aware that your honest account of the incident would lead to the prosecution of the manager and as a consequence the deal is likely to be jeopardised, which is of immense importance to your company. What are the dilemmas you face? What will be your response to the situation? (250 Words)

The situation involves a car accident caused by the manager of Company B, with whom I am negotiating a critical business deal. As the sole…

You are the head of the Human Resources department of an organisation. One day one of the workers died on duty. His family was demanding compensation. However, the company denied compensation because it was revealed in investigation that he was drunk at the time of the accident. The workers of the company went to strike demanding compensation for the family of the deceased. The Chairman of the management board has asked for your recommendation. What recommendation would you provide the management? Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the recommendations. (250 words)

The situation at hand involves a worker’s death while on duty, complicated by the fact that he was drunk. His family is seeking compensation, which…

You are aspiring to become an IAS officer and you have cleared various stages and now you have been selected for the personal interview. On the day of the interview, on the way to the venue you saw an accident where a mother and child who happen to be your relatives were badly injured. They needed immediate help. What would you have done in such a situation? Justify your action. (250 Words)

The question presents a moral and ethical dilemma involving a high-stakes personal interview for an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer position and a critical emergency…

You are an honest and responsible civil servant. You often observe the following:

(a)There is a general perception that adhering to ethical conduct one may face difficulties to oneself and cause problems for the family, whereas unfair practices…

Without commonly shared and widely entrenched moral values and obligations, neither the law, nor democratic government, nor even the market economy will function properly. What do you understand by this statement? Explain with illustration in the contemporary times. (150 words)

The statement suggests that shared moral values and obligations are essential for the proper functioning of law, democratic government, and market economy. Without them, these…

Discipline generally implies following the order and subordination. However, it may be counter-productive for the organisation. Discuss. (150 Words)

Discipline, often associated with order and subordination, can sometimes be counter-productive for organizations, as it may stifle creativity and hinder adaptability. In conclusion, while discipline…

Increased national wealth did not result in equitable distribution of its benefits. It has created only some “enclaves of modernity and prosperity for a small minority at the cost of the majority.” Justify. (150 Words)

Increased national wealth has not always led to equitable distribution of benefits, often creating enclaves of modernity and prosperity for a minority while leaving the…