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12EthicsCaseStudiesforUPSCwithSampleAnswers

EthicsCaseStudies/RoleplayingQuestions
Disobeyinganinformalorder
DevAnandisworkingasaclerkinCollectorsoffice.Duetostaffshortage,Devalsoperformsthetaskof
raisingflagovertheofficebuildingeverymorningandtakingitdowneveryevening,althoughitisnotpart
ofhisofficialjobdescription.
OnedayacriminalturnedpoliticianMadanPuridies.Yearsago,Devanandsbestfriendwasmurdered
duringariotallegedlyorchestratedbyMadanPuri.
Nonetheless,StatesecretariatpassesanordertoallDistrictcollectors,tokeepNationalflagathalfmast
overtheiroffices,tomournthedeathoftheMr.MadanPuri.
DevAnandseesthisnewsonTV,getsangrywithsuchmockeryofournationalflag.Hedecidesnottogoto
officenextmorningandkeepsthedoorkeyofrooftopwithhimself.Heisconfident,noformalpunishment
canbegiventome,becausethiswasnotpartofmyofficialduty.AtmostCollectorsahibwillreprimandme
informallybutIdontcarebecauseMadanPurikilledmybestfriend.
DoyouthinkDevAnandhasmadetherightdecision?Yes/No/Why?
Answerkeypoints
DevAnandmadeawrongdecisionbecause:
1. ItpreventsotherstaffmembersfromcarryingouttheofficialorderfromStateHQ.
2. ItputshisbossinanembarrassingpositioninfrontoftheStateHQ.
3. IfDevsconsciencedoesntpermithimcarryingoutatask,heshouldinformhisboss.Butrunning
awaywithkeys,withoutinforminganyone=irresponsible.
4. Suchbehaviorisnotexpectedfromagoodteamplayer/apublicservant.

Returningunspentmoney
DevAnandisrunninganNGOtohelpstreetchildren.HereceivesgovernmentgrantofRs.2lakhrupeesfor
aprojecttoteachtheoutofschoolchildren,whoworkatteastalls,dobootpolishingetc.Ayearpasses,
butDevmanagedtoutilizeonly50,000rupeesfromthegrant.Despitehisbestefforts,hecouldntconvince
manypoorchildrenortheirfamiliestojoinhisNGOsprogram.
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Asperthegrantrules,DevhastoreturnalltheunspentmoneybacktogovernmentbytheendofMarch
31st.ButhiscolleaguePransuggestsfollowing:
1. IfwehonestlyreturnRs.1.5lakhback,thengovernmentofficialswillthinkweareamateur,ineffective
NGOsandtheyllsubstantiallyreduceourgrantfornextyearorevenworsetheyllnotgiveusany
projectnexttime!
2. WeshouldtakehelpofCAPremChopratomanipulateouraccountbooksandshowmajorityofthe
grantwasutilizedforeducation.
3. ManyotherNGOsdothesamethingthereisnoproblemnobodywillraiseanyobjection,aslongas
wegive20%ofthegranttoSDMinchargeofthisproject.
4. Althoughitsoundsunethicalbutwewontusethismoneyforpersonalneeds,welluseitonstreet
childrenonly.Henceouractisfullyethicalandmoral.
WhatshouldDevAnanddowiththemoney?
Answerkeypoints:
1. Becauseothersarealsodoingitisneverthevalidjustificationtocommitanunethicalorcriminal
act.
2. Twowrongsdontmakearight:
a. Manipulatingaccountbookstokeepthegrantmoney.
b. BribingSDMtokeepthegrantmoney.
3. Theshelflifeoflieanddeceptionisverylowespeciallywhenmanipulatingtheaccountbooksask
RamalingaRaju,exchiefofSatyam.
4. DevAnandwasunabletouse75%ofthegrantmoney,itimplies
a. DevdidnttryhardenoughOR
b. GovernmenthadexaggeratedtheamountofmoneyrequiredtoeducatetheoutofschoolchildrenOR
c. both
Inanycase,IfDevkeepstheunspentgrant,governmentwillcontinuepumpingmoremoneyotherNGOs
andtheSDMwillkeepamassingwealth.Therefore,DevAnandshouldreturntheunspentgrantbacktothe
government.

Misleadingforgoodpurpose
DevAnandistheinspectorinchargeofRampurPolicestation.Thepolicestationbuildingisindireneedof
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repairs,buthasntreceivedanygrantsforyears.Oneday,acyclonehitsanearbyarea,damagingmostof
thehousesandshops.AlthoughDevspolicestationgetspartiallydamaged,butmostofthebuildingremain
intact.Governmentsendsadisasterassessmentteamtoascertainthelevelofdamageandpayreliefmoney.
TheDSPMr.Pran,ordersDevAnandtodofollowing:
1. Hiresomelaborersanddestroytheremainingpartsofyourpolicestationbuilding.
2. Whendisasterassessmentteamcomes,youtellthembuildingcollapsedbythecyclone,andaskthemto
givepriorityinfundingafterallpolicestationisonethemostimportantpublicofficesinatown.
ShouldDevAnandobeyhisbosssorder?
Answerkeypoints
Theshelflifeoflieanddeceptionisverylow.Especiallywhenmanypeopleareinvolved.Inthiscase:
laborersandanybystanders.
BothDevandPranareriskingthemselvestoanunnecessarynegativepublicityandpossibledepartmental
inquiryandpunishmentforprofessionalmisconduct.Indeedpolicebuildingneededrepairsandshouldhave
beengivenagrantmonthsago,butthreewrongsdontmakearight:
1. Wantondestructionofapublicbuilding.
2. Misleadingthedisasterassessmentteam.
3. PoliceofficerDevAnandspendinghistimeandenergyinsuchactivityratherthandoingrescuerelief
patrollingdutyafterthedisaster.

PrivatematterofPublicemployee?
DevAnandisworkingasanunderSecretaryinthepensiondepartment.Oneday,hisfriendGuruDutt,an
SBIPO,narratesfollowingincident:
1. Forlasttwoyears,aretiredGovernmentemployeeMr.AshokKumarisgivingaway30%ofhis
monthlypensiontoMrs.BinduChopraeverymonththroughcheque.
2. IfoundMrs.BinduChoprahappenstobethewifeofMr.PremChopra,asectionofficerinthepension
officeunderyou(DevAnand.)
3. Ifeelsomethingisfishymaybethisispartofalargebribescamwhereseniorcitizensareforcedto
paymoneytocleartheirpensionfilesfromPremChopra,andhavetosubmitbribesinhiswifes
account.
DevAnandvisitsMr.AshokKumarshousebutheissufferingfromAlzheimersdisease,unabletogive
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coherentanswers.FrustratedDevAnanddirectlyconfrontsPremChopra.ButPremsaysMr.AshokKumar
wasafriendofmyfather.HehasnorelativesorchildrenandmywifeBinduhasbeentakingcareofhim
likedaughtersincealongtime.Therefore,Mr.AshokKumargivesusmoneyoutofgoodwill,sowecan
sendoursontoanexpensiveIITcoachingclass@Kota,Rajasthan.Besidesthisisapersonalfamilymatter
andnoneofyourdamnbusiness.
DoyouthinkDevAnandmadeablunderorwashemerelyperforminganethicalduty?
Answerkeypoints
Here,bothGuruDuttandDevAnandhasfailedtoactinresponsiblemanner.Because:
1. Abankermustkeephisclientsdataconfidential,unlessrequiredbythelawtodiscloseit.
2. GuruDuttdidntevenwaittocrossverifywhoelseisgivingmoneytoMrs.BinduChoprasaccount.
Becauseiftherewasalargescalebribescamthenlototherseniorcitizenswouldbemakingpayment
toBindusaccount,andnotjustMr.AshokKumaralone.
3. Eveninthatsituation,Gurudutthadtoconsulthisbosswithinhisownbankfirst.Hecannotgoaround
givinginformaltipstooutsiders.Thisisanunethicalactforabanker.
4. DevAnandtooactedinhastymanner.First,hestartsinvestigationbasedonaninformaltipfroma
bankerwhoisnotsupposedtotiphiminthefirstplace.Heshouldhaveconsultedthevigilance
departmentbeforemovingfurther.
5. Second,DevAnandconfrontsPremChopra,withoutanyhardcoreevidence.Whenyoureholdinga
publicoffice,youcantgoaroundaccusingpeopleinsuchhaste.Itbreakstheofficediscipline,destroys
thestaffmoraleandallowstheguiltypersontocoverhistracks.

Politicalneutrality
PremChopra,acivilsocietyactivist,haslaunchedamassmovementtochangePrimeministerialformof
governmenttopresidentialformofgovernment.DevAnandisanundersecretaryinthePMO.Before
joiningcivilservice,hehaddonePh.Donthedemeritsofpresidentialformofgovernment.Heisinvitedby
anewschannelforprimetimedebate.Thenewschannelanchor,Mr.ArnabGoswamiassuresDevAnand
following:
1. Itllbeonlyaneducationalintellectualdebateamongscholars.
2. Nopoliticiansfromrulingoroppositionpartyareinvitedinourshow.
3. Youreinvitedinyourcapacityasascholarinpoliticalscienceandnotasabureaucrat.
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ShouldDevAnandacceptArnabGoswamisinvitationfornewsdebate?
Answerkeypoint:
No.Becausebureaucratsshouldnotvoicetheiropinionaboutpoliticalmattersonpublicplatform.Evenif
nopoliticianisinvited,someotherscholar/participant/anchormightraisepointsinfavouroragainstthe
rulingpartyduringthedebate,andDevwillfindhimselfinapoliticalminefield.

PoliticalneutralityPart.2
Tocurtailthemountingfiscaldeficit,FinanceMinisterPranChindudecidestomergeagricultureministry
withforestministrycoalministrywithoilministryandreducepersonnelinthecentralservicesby30%.
Butoppositionpartyishardlyraisinganyobjectiontheyareoccupiedwithonionpriceriseissue.Mediais
toobusycoveringMSDhonisnewhairstyle.
DevAnand,anemployeeintheCabinetsecretariatfeelsbothOppositionpartyandmediahavefailedto
performtheirethicaldutytoinformcitizensaboutmattersofpublicinterest.Therefore,hestartswriting
anonymousblogsandtweetstoinformpublicaboutthenegativeconsequencesofChindusausterity
measures.IsDevAnanddoingtherightthing?
Answerkeypoints:
No.DevAnandisnotdoingtherightthing.
Roleofpublicservantistoobeythewillofthecommunityarticulatedthroughtheelectedmembers
includingthesaidFinanceMinister.
Publicservanthastoremainpoliticallyneutral.DeviscrossingthatLaxmanRekhabyhisanonymous
blogs.

SalaryhikevsTeamspirit
DevAnandhasbeenservingastheChieffireofficerincityforover3years.Becauseofhisefficient
management,therewereveryfewfireincidents,noliveswerelostandpropertydamagewasminimum.He
enjoysalmostacelebritylikestatusinlocalmediaandcitydwellers.Astheelectionyearcomes,Mayor
Pran,withanaimtogarnergoodwillamongvoters,framesabudgetwith10%payraisetofirebridgestaff
and25%payraisefortheChieffireOfficer.ShouldDevAnandacceptitornot/Why?
Answerkeypoints:
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1. Firefightingisateamwork.Teamleadermustdisplayfairnessandequity.
2. IfDevaccepts25%raise,itcouldpromotehisimageasanaloof,insensitive,selfservingboss.Staff
maynotfollowhisleadwithsameenthusiasmafterwards.
3. Exemplaryleadershipiscriticaltoencouragingethicalbehavioringovernmentorganizations.
4. Therefore,DevshouldnotacceptmorethanwhatisbeingofferedtootheremployeesofFirebrigade.
(10%).

HoldingCharityAuctionsintheOffice
Pran,thebankemployee,approachesBankManagerDevAnandandsaysfollowing:
1. Mychildissufferingfrombloodcancer.Idonthavehealthinsurancepolicyandmysalaryis
insufficienttomeetthesemedicalexpenses.
2. Butovertheyears,Ivebeencollectingautographedbatsandballsofvariouscricketers.
3. Iseekyourpermissiontoholdacharityauctionintheoffice.Illalsosendflierstoclientsofourbank.
Everyoneiswelcometobidforthesebatsandballs,soIcanraisemoneyforthemedicaltreatmentof
mychild.
ThreeotherbankemployeesPremChopra,MadanPuriandRanjithoverhearthisconversation.Theyalso
informDevAnandindeedPransfinancialsituationisverybadandhischildwilldieifthetreatmentisnot
doneontime,thereforepermissionshouldbegiventoholdthischarityauction.
ShouldDevgivepermissionornot?
Answerkeypoints:
1. No.BecausesomemembersmayinformallyfeelpressuredtogivemoneyEspeciallyPransjuniors
andsubordinates.
2. Itmightcreateafeelingofalienationbetweenemployeeswhobidandthosewhodont.
3. Nexttimeanotheremployeewilltrytodothesame,maybewithatrivialreasone.g.Imwillingto
auctiontshirtsautographedbyfilmstarstorepaythelastEMIofmyhomeloan,allowmetohold
auctionintheoffice.AndifDevsaysnothattime,itmightcreateanimpressionDevisbiasedtowards
certainemployeesstaffmoralegoesdown.
4. Therefore,itisbesttokeepauctionsandothermoneyraisingactivitiesoutoftheworkplaceirrespective
oftheirnobleaims.

Spouseinthesameoffice
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DCPDevAnandmarriesSubinspectorRosie.Intheoffice,RosiedoesntdirectlyreporttoDevAnadbut
Devhasresponsibilityforsigningoffonherannualevaluation.AlthoughDevdoesntgiveanypreferential
treatmenttoRosiebutoneofhercolleague,PremChopra,complainedseveraltimestotheDIGPran:Dev
saabalwaysgiveshighestratingstohiswifeandImalwaysgivenaverageratingsdespitemybest
performanceincriminalinvestigations.
DIGconductsinquiry,doesntfindanythingagainstDevAnand.LaterDevofficiallyreprimandsPrem
Chopraforthisunprofessionalbehavior.
FrustratedPremChopranarratesthisincidenttohiswifeBindu.Bindudecidestotakemattersinherown
hands,writesananonymousemailtothelocalpress,informinghowRosiehasntlegallydivorcedherfirst
husbandMarco,yetsheisstayingwithDCPDevAnandandgivesvividdetailsoftheiradulterouslivein
relationship.
Ritareporter,anexpertonsuchmasalanews,startsgivingballbyballcommentaryinhernewspaperabout
Rosiespastbyinterviewinghercollegefriends,neighbors,relativesetc.Everybodyinthetownstarts
gossipingaboutthis.DevaskshisITexpertfriendGuruDutttoinvestigate.GuruDuttdigsoutthatemail
originatedfromPremChoprashomecomputer.WhatshouldDevAnanddo:ReprimandPremChopraonce
more?Suspendhimforindiscipline?Suehimfordefamation?Isdoingnothinganoption?
Answerkeypoints:
1. Doingnothingisnotaviableoptionsincesituationslikethisonlyfesterandbecomemoreproblematic.
2. Itisneveragoodpracticeforapublicofficialtohavearelativeinasubordinateposition.Despite
effortstoavoidperceivedactsoffavoritism,soonerorlatertheofficialwillfindhimselfbeingaccused
ofaninappropriateaction.Therefore,PoliceandMilitaryorganizationsoftenhaveantifraternization
policies.(e.g.AspertheUSAirForcerules,oneofthecouplehastoquitfromtheservice.)
3. Thissituationisallabouttheperceptionoffavoritism.Theperceptionmayormaynotbetruewhether
DevAnandisgivingpreferentialtreatmenttoRosieduringannualperformanceevaluation.
4. Topreventthisfromhappening,DevAnandneedstostopchasingPremChopraandtakestepstogethis
wifepostedinanotheroffice,orseekhisowntransfertoanotheroffice.
5. Lastbutnotleast,theDevAnandshouldputtorestthequestionofthelegalityofhismarriagetoavoid
futureaccusations.

PrivateendorsementbyPublicOfficial
PremChoprarunsacompanythatoffersprivatesecurityguards,CCTV,burglaryalarmandothersecurity

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devices.
DCPDevAnandlearnsthateverytimeafteratheftorrobberytakesplace,PoliceInspectorPranadvicesthe
victimandbystanderstoinstallsecuritydevicesfromPremChoprascompanytomaketheirhomeand
shopssecurefromcriminals.PraneventellsthemWhenyougotoPremChoprasoffice,tellhimIvesent
you,hellgiveyouspecialdiscount.
DevconfrontsPranaboutthismatter.Pranjustifieshisactionbysaying:
1. Yes,ItakemoneyforPremChopratoendorsehissecurityproductsforhomesandoffices.
2. No,Imnotdoinganythingunethicalbecause
a. Iusethismoneytopaymyinformersandkeepacheckoncriminalelements.Idontspentthis
moneyonmyselformyfamily.
b. Evenmunicipalbusesandrailwaywagonshaveadvertisements,thenwhyisanendorsementbya
cityofficialunethicalorillegal?
3. Besides,PremChoprassecuritydevicesareveryeffectiveatpreventingburglary.
ShouldDevAnandpermitPrantocontinuethisendorsementactivity?Yes/No/Why?
Answerkeypoints
1. Advertisementonbus/railwaywagonisnotsameasapublicofficialpromotingabrand.Becausethose
bus/railwayadsdontinterferewithvehiclesprimaryfunctionoftransportingpersonsfromoneplace
toanother.Butwhenapublicofficialpromotesabrand,heisspendingpartofhisofficetimeand
energyforprivategainratherthanservingthecitizen.
2. IfDevpermitsPran,thenotherstaffmemberswillalsostartsimilarmarketing.Thuspartoftheoffice
timewilldivertedtosellingproductsratherthansolvingcrime
3. Mightevenleadtointernalrivalriesaboutwhoisearningmorecommissions.
4. Citizensmayfeelinformalpressuretobuysuchproductsfearingtheirfile/matterwillnotbecleared
bythepublicofficialsotherwise.
5. Endorsementsofcommercialproductsbypublicofficialscaneasilyresultinanunethicalsituation:
sharingfinancialgainthroughbribes,kickbacks,orpostemploymentopportunitiesforgovernment
officials.
Inshort,itwillopenaPandorasbox.Therefore,DevAnandshouldorderPrantostopthisactivityatonce.

ManofWordorManofMoney?

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DevAnandisabrilliantmathsteacherinaprivateEnglishmediumschoolinAhmedabadandgetsyearly
packageofRs.3lakhs.AnotherschoolatBarodaoffershimpackageofRs.3.5lakhs.Devmakesaverbal
commitmenttotheBarodaschoolprinciple,Sure,Illjoinyourschoolfromnextmonth.
ButwhenDevsubmitshisresignationtoAbadschool,itsPrincipleMr.Pranrequestshimtostayandoffers
newpackageofRs.3.8lakhs.ShouldDevtakebackhisresignation?yes/no/why?
Answerkeypoints
fromethicalperspective,evenverbalacceptance=contract.Andcontractmustbehonored.
EvenifPranscounterofferishigher,Devhasamoralobligationtoremainconsistentwithhisoriginal
intention(ofjoiningBarodaschool).

Couragewithapricetag
(CopypastinganewsreportfromTheHindu)
December7,2012,Chandigarh.
RobanjitKaur,23yearolddaughterofASIRavinderpalSinghwasreturninghomeafterherIELTS
coachingclasswhenShiromaniAkaliDalleaderRanjitSinghRanaandhisgoonsstartedteasingher.She
calledupherfatherMr.RavinderpalSingh,anASIwithPunjabPolice.
Whenherfatherarrivedandconfrontedthegroup,aheatedargumentfollowedandRanapulledouthis
pistolandbeganfiringatbothfatheranddaughter.Bothreceivedbulletinjuriesandfathercollapsed.
EvenasMs.Kaurstruggledtoshiftherfatherintoavehicletotakehimtohospital,Ranaandhisgang
returnedwitharifleandshotRavinderpalSinghagaininfullpublicview.
Ms.Kaursaidtomedia,Ranakeptkickingandhittingusinfullpublicglare.Icriedandpleadedforhelp
buteveryoneranaway.Evenwhentheambulancecame,Ihadtoliftmyfatherintoitasnoonecameto
helpme.
Endofnews.
ASociologistremarks:Ourgovernmenthasnotsetupasystemtoencouragecivilianstofightagainst
criminalacts.Whyshouldsomeoneriskinjuryortheirlifetosaveanotherifoneslifeorlivelihoodis
endangered?Governmentneedstoenactanewschemenamedafteryouknowwho,torewardanycivilian
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withRs.10lakh,agovernmentjobanda3BHKflat,ifhepreventsacrimeinapublicplace.
Doyoubelieveannouncingbigfinancialrewardstopedestrianswhostandupagainstacriminal,willchange
thesituation?Doesorcancouragehaveapricetag?Yes/No/Why?
Answerkeypoints
1. Indeedanactofcourageshouldberewardedandapplauded.
2. ButrunningaschemewithRs.10lakhandagovernmentjob,mightleadtovigilantemobsof
unemployedyouth,roamingaroundwithhokeysticksandbaseballbatslookingforacrimetohappen
(ororchestratingacrimebythemselves)inordertogetthemoneyandthejob.
3. Inthegivencase,goonswerearmedwithpistolsandrifles.Nounarmedciviliancanbeexpectedto
fightwiththem.Infuture,mightleadtoasituationwhereapoormanintentionallyjumpsinthefight,
knowingfullywellthathellbekilledbutonlydoingsohisfamilycangetRs.10lakh.
4. Maintenanceoflawandorderisstatesresponsibilitynotcivilians.Moneyisbetterspentonrecruiting
morepolicemenandjudges.
Formoreoncasestudies&revisionnotes,visitMrunal.org/ETHICS

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