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APPROACH – ANSWER: G. S. MAINS MOCK TEST - 2070 (2023)

SECTION – A
1. (a) Differentiating between courage and bravery, discuss why courage is often thought of as
the first of all virtues. (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Differentiate between courage and bravery.
• Highlight the importance of courage and establish its primacy.
• Conclude appropriately.
Answer:
Courage and bravery are virtues that are often used interchangeably. However, the two appear to
differ philosophically when contrasted. The difference between the two can be delineated as under:
• Fear: Courage involves the presence of fear, while bravery does not acknowledge any fear or
hesitation.
• Cause: Courage entails a cause, most commonly love, passion, compassion, need and concern
while bravery maintains its essence even without a cause.
• Thought behind action: Courage is a result of mindfulness. It is one’s decision to fight despite
one’s fears. Bravery is an inherent characteristic and does not involve much thinking and
manifests itself as second nature in those who possess it.
• Motivation: Bravery maintains its essence even without motivation. Naturally-brave people do
not require speeches or slogans. However, courage has to be fuelled with leadership or an
ability to inspire.
Aristotle recognized courage as a virtue, which is at the mean between rashness and cowardice. He
stated that courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees others.
Courage leads to consistent practice of other virtues such as honesty, generosity, perseverance,
impartiality, accountability etc. Courage as a virtue can be broken down into its constituent
elements that enhance one’s ability to deal with difficult situations:
• The courage of initiation and action requires us to step up to a challenging situation. It is that
virtue that transforms ordinary people into pioneers while other qualities find space for
expression afterwards. One cannot be innovative if he/she does not have the courage to try new
things. For example, Armstrong Pame, an IAS officer, built a 100 km long road in a remote hill of
Manipur without the government’s help through crowdfunding.
• The courage of voice is essential when it becomes necessary to bring attention to an issue that
is uncomfortable, but must be addressed. Other qualities like honesty, accountability, probity
are possible only after one has the courage of voice. One cannot be honest if he/she does not
have the courage to tell the truth. For example, Satyendra Dubey, an Indian Engineering Service
officer, showed extraordinary courage in exposing serious financial irregularities involving
influential persons for which he had to pay the price of his life.
• The courage of confidence in others involves lack of fear needed to let go of control in certain
situations. It means being open to new ideas and directions and having the courage of taking
responsibility as well. For example, Parikipandla Narahari, an IAS officer, has consistently
worked towards making Indian infrastructure accessible to the disabled and working on open
defecation-free initiatives.

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 • The courage of dealing with fear helps a person accept his/her identity, admit his/her flaws
and mistakes publicly if required and pursue one’s societal role virtuously. For example, Arjun
in Mahabharata demonstrated courage as he dealt with his fears of fighting against his own
family.
Therefore, courage is the prime virtue. Any great trait or skill a person has will remain hidden
unless he/she will have the courage to use it.

1. (b) Discuss how social, cultural and religious factors act as determinants of ethics.
(150words) 10
Approach:
• Briefly explain what you understand by determinants.
• Discuss how social, cultural and religious factors act as determinants of ethics for an individual.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Ethics of an individual is shaped by the various determinants in a society. These determinants
inform the way in which an individual acts or takes a decision and also reflect on what society
expects from its members in terms of behaviour. They can largely be categorized into social,
cultural and religious factors.
• Social factors acting as a determinant of ethics for an individual:
o In a society, most people accept standards that are ethical. It is reflected in an
individual’s interaction in his/her social life and with the community. For example, theft in a
civilized society is deemed unethical, therefore, an individual will also consider it as
unethical and desist from practicing it.
o However, one should not always equate being ethical to “whatever society accepts”, as
the society can deviate from what is ethical. For example, Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia
imposed on their citizens particular standards of living and tried to indoctrinate them.
o Parents, family and teachers shape the value system of a child. Their behaviour, conduct
and teachings influence the direction in which a child steers. For example, a patriarchal
family will instill similar values in a child, which could guide his/her thought process and
the way he/she behaves.
• Culture as a determinant of ethics for an individual:
o The ethical principles of an individual are influenced by his/her culture. For example,
Western culture seems to be individualistic while Indian culture is based on values of
universalism and multiplicity. Such values will be reflected in the individuals coming from
these societies.
o Literature, scriptures etc. guide a person’s conduct. For instance, the teachings of Vedic
literature, Buddhist literature etc. have been the basis of ethical conduct in many
societies/communities in India.
• Religion as a determinant of ethics for an individual:
o Most religions have an ethical component, often derived from supernatural revelation or
guidance. Some assert that religion is necessary to live ethically as it gives a clear guidance
of what is right/wrong and moral/immoral.
o Each religion carries its own set of standards for personal conduct. For example, it
determines choices people have in choosing a profession, a spouse, women’s roles, clothing
etc.
o Religions also impart teachings regarding certain ethical values. For example, one of the
central virtues espoused by Buddhism is ‘karuna’ i.e. understanding and identifying with the
suffering of all living beings.
Apart from these, there are other determinants as well such as a person’s conscience, political
factors like the law of the land and the Constitution, etc. Also, because law, society and religion can
deviate from what is ethical, one needs to constantly examine one’s moral standards to ensure that
they are reasonable and well-founded.

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2. (a) Bring out the relevance of the teachings of Gautam Buddha in contemporary times.
(150 words) 10
Approach:
• Introduce with a brief context of the problems associated with contemporary societies.
• Highlight the important teachings of Gautam Buddha and explain their relevance in
contemporary times.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Societies around the world are witnessing many issues like religious fundamentalism, corruption,
environmental degradation, socio-economic inequality etc. In this context, values stressed by
Gautam Buddha become even more relevant. These include:
• Taking 'the Middle Path’: It implies avoiding extremes, such as jingoism and unbridled
liberalism, religious bigotry and decrying religion, blind faith in what one considers right
without consideration for the other’s point of view, etc. Thus, it can help bring temperance in
public and private affairs.
• Controlling desires: Buddha considered ‘desire’ to be the main cause of ‘suffering’. He
stressed in his teachings that the way to extinguish desire is to liberate oneself from
attachments like greed, ignorance, delusion, hatred and destructive urges. This noble teaching is
relevant in tackling issues like increasing consumerism, rising materialistic tendency among the
people etc.
• Mindfulness: Buddha teaches people to notice present thoughts, feelings and sensations
without judgement. The aim is to create a state of ‘bare awareness’ where they can
differentiate between right and wrong.
• Momentariness: Buddha states that everything that has originated is bound to perish, and
there is temporariness or momentariness of everything. By using this, every person can
practice non-attachment and selflessness, as nothing is permanent in this world. This can
lead to conflict resolution in the domains of social conflict, administration as well as
international relations.
• Linkage between individual action and the world: In his concept of Karma, Buddha
propounds that if a person has a right mindset, his actions will be beneficial not just for
himself but for the whole world, including the environment. As per him, our actions affect
the planet in a harmful way because we are selfish and we crave things. The effects of karma
will continue to work in a person's rebirth, so by being compassionate, we will improve our own
future and the environment.
• Meditation: It means training of the mind. Buddha believed that everything emanates from a
person’s mind. When individuals around the world are facing issues like mental stress, over-
thinking, etc., a pure, trained, and a well-developed mind is a person’s greatest treasure.
• Right speech: This idea can liberate the world from the hatred spreading in the form of hate
speech, online trolling, bigotry etc.
Thus, in contemporary times, Buddha’s call to avoid extreme ways of practice and adopt the middle
way of reasonableness is the need of the hour.

2. (b) If one takes care of the means the end will take care of itself. Discuss. (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Introduce with various perspectives around the morality of an action.
• Explain the significance of means over ends.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
There are various perspectives regarding morality of an action and its determinants.
Consequentialists believe that an action is morally correct if its consequences or ‘ends’ are good,
even if it is achieved through wrong ‘means’. While other schools such as deontology and virtue
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 ethics consider that an action is morally correct if it is done as per the duty/virtue of the person
concerned i.e., the ‘means’ adopted should be fair, even if the consequences are wrong. So, a sharp
dichotomy between ‘means’ and ‘ends’ exists in the western schools of thought.
Gandhiji on the other hand rejects this rigid dichotomy between ends and means and establishes
that ‘means’ alone should be the standard of reference of an action. He was of the view that any
good consequence achieved through wrong means would be short-lived, while a good end can be
delayed due to adoption of right means, but it will eventually take care of itself.
Significance of means over end:
• Development of an attitude of detachment: A person is always anxious about the result of his
action (ends). If our means are pure and our course is just and clear, all anxieties are removed.
This way we can also develop an attitude of detachment from ‘fruits’ and attachment with
actions and their means, that is 'karma'.
• Moral means is almost an end in itself: A man may think fulfilment of ends is the real reward
and ends will justify any means. However, moral means is almost an end in itself because virtue
is its own reward.
• Right ends always require right means: For instance-
o World Peace is a desirable end, but, as Dalai Lama points out, it cannot be achieved without
“emotional disarmament,” i.e., unless the people cleanse themselves from evils of rage,
anger, vengeance, and selfishness and foster happiness, harmony and brotherhood.”
o Sustainability is a profound goal, but, if the elements of sustainability are not
mainstreamed through changes in market-based economy, business/production models,
communicative approaches with local communities and their leaders, the goals will remain
elusive.
• Means are foreseeable, ends are not: Means can be controlled, managed and guaranteed, but
the ends cannot as they are not foreseeable. Thus, “if one takes care of the means the end will
take care of itself.”
• Ends changes in character with means: If we sow seeds of "babool", in no way can we reap
fruits of "mangoes". If one traces the wrong/evil path, there is no way s/he will get a good
result.
Therefore, it can be said that working ceaselessly on the path of good means such as the path of
non-violence, selfless service, compassion, and caring for the environment, one can achieve the ends
such as peace, sustainability, and empathy in one’s thoughts, words and actions.

3. (a) Explain the relevance of the following in the context of civil services: (150 words) 10
(i) Impersonality
(ii) Anonymity
(iii) Perseverance
(iv) Fairness
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction about some foundational values in civil services.
• Explain each of the values and its relevance one by one.
Answer:
Civil servants have to adopt certain foundation values in order to efficiently discharge their duties
with respect to policy determination, implementation of laws and administrative adjudication.
Some of the values and their relevance is being explained below:
(a) Impersonality: It means absence of emotional attachment in a situation. Civil servants have to
adopt 'impersonality’ while dealing with matters concerning policies, programmes and related
issues. They cannot afford to take or twist a decision on the basis of the persons involved or the
persons affected. They have to strictly conform to the principles, rules, guidelines etc. Impersonality
is required to ensure equality and justice in their functioning. For example – handling applications
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 under RTI requires an impersonal performance of the role to make sure that the information is
accessible to all without any bias.
(b) Anonymity: Anonymity describes situations where the acting person’s identity remains
unknown. Civil servants work on the principle of anonymity due to the permanent nature of their
jobs and to maintain neutrality. Minister is the one who would take responsibility for any actions of
the civil servant. Civil servants will not get credit for the success nor will they be blamed for the
failure. It is relevant since it helps them in taking honest and objective decisions solely meant to
move towards economic progress in line with the constitutional vision. For example, in the
Mundhra deal scam (1957), the Minister T.T. Krishnamachari was held constitutionally responsible
for the actions of his secretary (H.M.Patel).
(c) Perseverance: Perseverance corresponds to persistence in doing something despite difficulty
or delay in achieving success. It means showing persistence and courage towards achieving a goal
and staying firm on the path of one’s duty. For example, E Sreedharan, the metro man, displayed
perseverance while completing the Delhi metro project before the stipulated time. Another example
can be of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, whose perseverance eventually led to development of the Indian
Space program.
(d) Fairness: It means working without any biases or hint of favouritism in their actions. This is
required of the civil servant since our society is divided on multiple lines and a civil servant also
comes from this society, belonging to a particular caste/class/religion/gender/region. If he remains
‘conscious’ of those parameters, he’ll make biased decisions and treat citizens based on their socio-
economic status. The governance machinery will become a reflection of the societal fault lines
showing the signs of trust deficit, biases, discriminatory attitude etc. Fairness would prevent cases
of anonymous complaints against civil servants belonging to another caste, or promotions
preference owing to the person’s religion.

3. (b) With the help of relevant examples, bring out the difference between the following:
(i) Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient
(ii) Attitude and Aptitude
Approach:
• Explain the given concepts.
• Differentiate between them with examples.
Answer:
a) Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient
Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
It is a numerical score derived from one of the
several standardized tests designed to assess
an individual’s intelligence. It measures
numeric-linguistic and logical abilities.
IQ can be developed only to a certain extent
since genetic factors also play a role in its
development.
Intellectual intelligence (IQ) is not enough on
its own to be successful in life. One's IQ can get
him/her into a college, but it is emotional
intelligence that equips one to manage the
stress and emotions when facing final exams or
during an interview.
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(150 words) 10
Emotional Quotient (EQ)
It is not a numerical score. It represents
the relative measures of a person’s healthy
or unhealthy development of his/her
innate potential for emotional intelligence.
Two persons with the same level of IQ may
have different levels of EQ, as the latter is
the product of socialization. The
development of EQ takes place because of
the emotional lessons obtained from
parents, teachers etc.
EQ is believed to be a better indicator of
success at the workplace. People with high
EQ usually make better leaders and team
players because of their ability to
understand, empathize, and connect with
the people around them.
©Vision IAS
 b) Attitude and Aptitude
Attitude Aptitude
It is a relatively enduring organisation of Aptitude is the combination of abilities and
beliefs, feelings, and behavioural tendencies other characteristics, innate or acquired,
towards socially significant objects, groups, which is indicative of an individual’s ability
events or symbols. to develop proficiency in a particular area.
It is associated with virtues or character i.e. it
It is associated with competence or talent.
depends upon the underlying values of a For example, quantitative aptitude, verbal
person. It can be negative, positive or neutral.
aptitude, reasoning, etc.
It is regarded as a predictor of one’s It is the ability on the basis of which future
behaviour and is largely a mental aspect. performance can be predicted. It involves
both physical and mental aspects.
Attitude is hard to change. It requires Aptitude can be changed relatively easily
personal experience, cognitive dissonance, through learning, training and skill
knowledge, exposure etc. to change the enhancement.
attitude of a person.
Attitude in times of an event such as disaster In public service, aptitude may help a civil
management may determine the leadership servant achieve greater efficiency. For
abilities of an individual facilitating stress instance, someone who has the natural
management and overall composure of aptitude to understand issues of sanitation
people in times of distress. can be instrumental in the success of
sanitation campaigns.

4. (a) What do you understand by political neutrality? Explain its significance in public service.
(150 words) 10
Approach:
• In introduction, explain political neutrality with examples.
• Highlight the significance of political neutrality in public service.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Political neutrality means absence of any political affiliations and biases while discharging
professional duties. Professional conduct without any bias towards any ideology ensures that the
law of the land is followed in spirit and the action of civil servants is not influenced by the party in
power or remains unaffected by the changes in politics.
For example, when a political executive is formulating a scheme for the public and seeking the
opinion of a civil servant, a politically neutral civil servant will not hesitate to offer his/her honest
opinion based on facts, precedents and feedback without any fear and favour. Further, while
implementing the government scheme, he/she should be committed to the objective of the State,
the Constitution, and should have faith in the program and intentions of the political executive.
Significance of political neutrality in public service:
• Handling political pressures: Upholding the value of political neutrality ensures that the civil
servant acts solely according to the merits of the case. Therefore, it implies serving equally well
governments of different political persuasions, irrespective of the civil servant’s own personal
opinion.
• Uphold Constitutional values: Political neutral civil servants would ensure rule of law is
followed thereby upholding the values of the Constitution without favouring any political
ideology.
• Handling emergency situations: A neutral civil servant would have a better credibility and
persuasive capability in negotiations in situations like communal riots, ethnic conflicts etc.
• Upholding interests of all sections: Neutrality brings in objectivity and often when funds are
to be allocated, a neutral and impartial civil servant would not favour his/her own village or
political party of his ideology but allocate funds based on the needs.
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 • Effectiveness and efficiency in public service delivery: Civil servant upholding values of
impartiality and neutrality would reduce corruption, red-tapism, etc. leading to efficiency and
effectiveness in public service delivery.
• Prevent Crony Capitalism: Without neutrality, a close relationship between bureaucracy and
large-scale firms having nexus with politicians might develop, perhaps leading to crony
capitalism.
• Upholds public trust: Being politically neutral helps civil servants to prevent favouritism,
nepotism and factionalism and in turn enhance people's trust in governance.
Present-day civil servants need to perform multiple functions of giving suggestions to political
representatives, addressing public grievances, institutionalization of the socio-economic changes,
delivering goods and services. Hence, a neutral and impartial bureaucracy is the need of the hour.

4. (b) There is more to integrity than honesty. Illustrate with examples. Also, suggest ways to
inculcate integrity as a value in civil services. (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Introduce by defining integrity and honesty.
• Substantiate upon how integrity is much more than just being honest, with a few examples.
• Substantiate the ways in which integrity can be inculcated in civil services.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Honesty simply means upholding and stating the facts as they are i.e., upholding the truth. Being
honest means choosing not to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive in any way. Integrity, on the other hand,
means thinking and doing what is right at all times, no matter what the consequences.
Honesty is a necessary but not a sufficient criterion for integrity. To be integral one has to be
honest, but not vice-versa. One can be honest in an act, but one needs to be integral in his/her whole
conduct. This means that there's more to integrity than honesty alone as discussed further below:
• Integrity encompasses the consistency in thought and action, integration of ideals,
conviction, standards, belief and behaviour. Therefore, it not only requires truthfulness
(honesty) but also the quality to do what is right in all circumstances.
• Integrity requires one to face challenging situations. For example, in the battle of
Mahabharata, Arjun was confused whether to follow dharma/righteousness/duty or to follow
kinship/inclination. Such conflict between duty (the right thing to do) and inclination is a
critical test to determine whether a person has high or low integrity.
• One can be honest in day-to-day life without necessarily showing integrity. Integrity means
soundness of moral character as well as honesty. One may be entirely honest without
engaging in the thought and reflection that integrity demands.
• The honest person may truthfully tell what he or she believes without the advance
determination of whether it is right or wrong. For example, a person may say “all athletes
cheat” and really believe in this statement - that’s honesty. But, not taking the effort to
determine whether this assertion is correct or not shows lack of integrity. Thus, one can be
honest without being integral.
Ways to inculcate integrity into civil services:
• Role Models: If a young recruit’s first posting is made under an honest officer, then he’s more
likely to remain honest because of mentoring by a good role model. Exercising honest
communication in day-to-day conversations can promote internalisation of integrity.
• Reward and Punishment: Using the carrot and stick policy, appropriate behaviour must be
rewarded and inappropriate behaviour should be punished accordingly.
• Sensitivity Training: Under this kind of employee engagement training, the person is made to
learn the desired value through role-playing so that the nuances of the same is understood.
• Code of Ethics: The 2nd ARC recommends setting up a code of ethics to set up the broad
principles for all departments of the government and ensuring adherence to the same.
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 Upholding the code of ethics, standards, norms and values of the civil services will promote and
practice professional integrity.
Integrity is a highly valued trait, especially in leaders. Integrity driven leadership further promotes
open communication and positive work culture. It is necessary for civil servants to develop as
leaders to ensure effective implementation of policies and socio-economic welfare of the people at
the ground level.

4. (c) What do you understand by probity? Why is it considered essential for good governance?
(150 words) 10
Approach:
• Briefly explain what you understand by probity.
• Mention the need of probity in ensuring good governance.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Probity is the quality of having strong moral principles such as honesty, integrity, uprightness,
transparency and incorruptibility and strictly following them. It is the act of following the highest
principles and ideals rather than merely avoiding corrupt or dishonest conduct. The tenets of
probity also include effective laws, rules and regulations to govern public life and fair
implementation of those laws.
Probity in governance:
Governance is the act and manner of managing a public office. While the Constitution and laws
provide legal framework for governance, probity is part of the ethical framework that determines
the nature of governance and the relationship between those governing and the governed.
Probity is essential for good governance as it:
• Enhances the credibility of the state apparatus: Since probity is concerned with the
procedures, processes and systems rather than outcomes, it ensures procedural integrity of the
institutions. This, in turn, leads to socio-economic development and increases credibility among
the public.
• Ensures institutional integrity: Probity maintains ethicality and legality of institutions
regardless of the individuals manning them. It involves adopting an ethical and transparent
approach, thereby allowing the governance process to withstand scrutiny.
• Efficiency of institutions: It leads to avoidance of sub-optimal outcomes, corruption and poor
perception, as it ensures an objective and independent view regarding the fairness of the
process.
• Minimizes individual discretion: Strict adherence to the highest moral standards enables the
public officials to deal with everyone impartially and in an objective manner.
• Prioritises public interest: Holders of public office who carry out their duties with integrity
will take decisions solely in terms of public interest and not in order to gain financial or other
material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.
• Focuses on equitable distribution of resources: An incorruptible system ensures that
welfare programmes for the poor and vulnerable sections are effectively carried out without
any scope for leakages, corruption, bribes etc. Further, it ensures equitable and just distribution
of resources.
Probity in governance ensures that the system remains transparent, accountable, responsive and
open to scrutiny. It also helps in building the legitimacy of the state, trust in its institutions and
checking abuse of power by government personnel. Additionally, it is vital for efficient and effective
system of governance and for socio-economic development.

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5. (a) Although utilitarianism is arguably the most reason-based approach to determining right
and wrong, it has obvious limitations. Discuss. (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Explain the concept of utilitarianism.
• Discuss the relevance of utilitarianism in decision-making and determining right and wrong.
• State the limitations of utilitarianism.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
Utilitarianism is a philosophical view about how one can evaluate a wide range of things that
involve choices that people face. It prescribes that one should choose the option that ‘maximises
utility’ i.e., that action should be chosen which produces the largest amount of ‘good’. It is a form of
consequentialism as it depends upon the end result of the choices made. Among the things that can
be evaluated are actions, laws, policies, character traits, and moral codes.
Utilitarianism provides a reason-based approach in determining right and wrong, as:
• Unlike other theories which focus on subjective motives, utilitarianism provides an objective
path for determining correct action i.e. the one which provides more utility than the other
options.
• Both customary and philosophical moral codes often consist of absolute rules. Utilitarianism,
though acknowledges the benefits of rules, sees no reason to obey a rule when more well-
being can be achieved by violating it.
• It helps in making correct judgments both in individual cases and in choices about
government actions and policies. For instance, if two people are suffering and there is enough
medication for only one, utilitarianism provides an objective answer regarding who should be
treated first.
• Utilitarianism requires impartiality and equal consideration of all people’s needs and
interests. It emphasizes that agents are to be neutral while making a decision.
Limitations of utilitarianism:
• The most common argument against utilitarianism is that it may approve actions that are
clearly morally wrong. For instance, if a judge can prevent riots that will cause many deaths
only by convicting an innocent person of a crime and imposing a severe punishment on that
person, utilitarianism implies that the judge should convict and punish the innocent person.
• Utilitarianism may allow the will of the majority over aspects of a society.
• If everyone believed that morality permitted lying, promise-breaking, cheating, and violating
the law whenever doing so led to good results, then no one could trust other people to obey
rules. People’s behaviour would lack predictability and consistency that are required to sustain
trust and social stability.
• It fails to recognize the moral legitimacy of giving special preferences to anyone including
ourselves and people that we care about.
While the philosophy of utilitarianism may be employed in policy making and implementation, it is
equally important to achieve the ends through the right means. In this context, Gandhiji has rightly
said that ends are not always foreseeable, while means can be controlled, managed and guaranteed.

5. (b) What do you understand by ethical dilemma? Explain with examples, how it can lead to
crisis of conscience. (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Define ethical dilemma.
• Explain how it leads to crisis of conscience.
• Give relevant examples.
• Conclude accordingly.

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Answer:
An ethical dilemma can be described as a circumstance that requires a choice between competing
sets of principles/values in a given, usually undesirable or perplexing, situation. Conflict of
interest is possibly the most obvious example that can place people, especially in the public sector,
in an ethical dilemma.
Ethical dilemma leading to crisis of conscience:
• Conscience is the ability to determine right from wrong, to decide whether to act with truth or
deceit. When a person acts wrongly, the conscience pricks and alerts the person to avoid such
an action. This happens in situations, where one finds it difficult to decide the due ethical
dilemma.
• Despite this inner alert, if one acts against his/her conscience to meet the demand of the
situation then there is a crisis of conscience.
Examples of ethical dilemma leading to crisis of conscience:
• Public life: Public officials often face ethical dilemma, sometimes leading to crisis of conscience.
For instance, consider a case where a public official has been ordered to forcefully evict illegal
shelters from government land. While studying the case the official finds that the occupants are
poor people with no other alternative for their survival. In such case the official faces ethical
dilemma as s/he has to choose between her/his conscience of giving them time to vacate or
perform his duty. If s/he performs her/his duty and goes against the interest of poor people
without taking into account their concerns, there will be crisis of conscience.
• Public activism: An officer facing the dilemma of providing regular water supply and other
infrastructural services to occupants of illegal settlements. The voice of conscience may
motivate the officer to provide for basic facilties while the rules may prevent him from doing so.
Abiding by the rules and choosing not to provide the facilties may lead to a crisis of conscience.
• Example from personal life: I saw a poor child stealing a pencil from a stationary shop
without paying for the same. Though I wanted to report this incidence to the shopkeeper, I side-
lined my voice of conscience, as the child seemed to be poor and needy. Thus, there was an
ethical dilemma between two values, i.e., protecting the poor child vs. reporting the act of
stealing. Choosing any one of two options may lead to a crisis of conscience.
From above, we can say that it is normal to have ethical dilemma. However, it must be ensured that
the voice of conscience gets heard and the person does not make decisions when faced with crisis of
conscience.
To avoid a situation of crisis of conscience, an individual should develop sound moral and ethical
judgement, which can help them make the choice between the good and bad. Also, there needs to
be proper legal setup to check any deviation and the wrong doers ought to be punished.

6. (a) What is code of conduct? How is it different from code of ethics? (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Start with a brief about code of conduct.
• Differentiate between code of conduct and code of ethics.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
A code of conduct is a directional document containing specific practices and behaviour that are
followed or restricted under the organisation. It is intended to demonstrate an organisation’s
values, provide guidelines for behaviour, measure employee success and act within the law.
Its purpose is to assure people outside the profession or organization that they can expect a
degree of uniformity as relates to expectation of performance and moral conduct from employees
of the profession or organization.

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 Though code of conduct and ethics might sound similar, there are certain differences between the
two. These are discussed below:
Basis Code of Conduct Code of Ethics
Definition Policies and rules both employees Contains core ethical principles, values and
and employers must adhere to. ideals of the organisation.
Nature It is directional in nature. It is aspirational in nature.
Scope It is narrower in scope as it limits It is wider in scope as it provides subjective
itself to objective content. content that influences one’s decision
making in a conflicting environment.
Applicability It provides for those elements It provides for those elements that the
that the members of an members of an organisation are expected to
organisation must obey. adhere to.
Objectivity It provides for a clear set criteria The standards provided here are generally
about which actions are required, non-specific and are designed to provide a
acceptable or prohibited. set of values for decision making.
However, both codes are similar in the objectives they intend to seek, for they are both used
in an attempt to encourage specific forms of behaviour by employees. Ethical guidelines
attempt to provide guidance about the values and choices to influence decision making. Conduct
regulations assert that some specific actions are appropriate, others inappropriate. In both cases,
the organization's desire is to obtain a healthy range of acceptable behaviour from
employees.
These documents help employees understand how they can feel good about being
contributing members to the company's future success. An organization's culture differs from
industry to industry, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution for building and adopting a strong
organizational culture. Tools to help manage the expectations of employees, and gather
information on actions that challenge the code will help to build and strengthen the internal
culture.

6. (b) Bring out the relevance of the seven principles of public life stated by the Nolan Committee
in the Indian context, with the help of examples. (150 words) 10
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction about the Nolan Committee.
• Mention the seven principles referred by the Committee.
• Explain each principle to show how it is important in the Indian context, with examples.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The Committee on Standards in Public Life (1994, UK), chaired by Lord Nolan provides seven
principles to improve standards of behaviour in public life, namely – selflessness, integrity,
objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. These recommendations are known
as “Nolan Committee Seven Principles”.
Importance of Nolan Committee Seven Principles for public servants in the Indian context:
• Selflessness: Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. This
becomes relevant as a large section of the population is disadvantaged. For example, Shri Lal
Bahadur Shastri did not amass wealth and bought a car by taking a loan from the bank.
• Integrity: Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other
obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the
performance of their official duties. It is important for fighting corruption, maintaining
neutrality and fairness etc. For instance, T. N. Seshan, former Chief Election Commissioner of
India showed integrity in implementing the Model Code of Conduct despite constant pressure
from the then political parties.

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 • Objectivity: In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding
contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should
make choices based on merit. This is helpful in preventing nepotism. For instance, beneficiaries
of government schemes are chosen on certain objective criteria and the public servants have to
follow the guidelines in this regard.
• Accountability: Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the
public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office. This is
relevant to ensure that the civil servants do not become ‘masters’ and instead serve the public.
For example, in India, accountability of civil servants is indirect through the Legislators, who in
turn, are accountable to the public through elections.
• Openness: Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and
actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only
when the wider public interest clearly demands it. This is considered as the “best disinfectant
against corruption”. In this context, the RTI Act, 2005, is a landmark legislation in ensuring the
openness in Indian administration.
• Honesty: Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interest(s) relating to their
public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising so that the public interest is
protected. For example, U.Sagayam, uploaded the details of his assets on the district website
when he was the Collector of Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu.
• Leadership: Holders of public office should motivate others to achieve certain goals and set
themselves as examples. For instance, G.Srijana, Commissioner of Greater Visakhapatnam
Municipal Corporation, demonstrated her leadership skills by performing her duties during the
COVID-19 pandemic when she could have availed maternity leave.
The Nolan Committee Principles are relevant to today’s public servants across the world, especially
in India. It is important that they uphold these principles in order to ensure good governance.

SECTION – B
In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that
follow (in around 250 words):
7. The Right to Information (RTI) Act is one of the most important reforms brought by the
government. You have recently been transferred as the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the
irrigation department of a district. While inspecting the RTI applications, you find that many of
these applications relate to information on the recruitment of staff in your department. Your
juniors point out that all of these have been filed by an aspiring local politician who may be
trying to create an issue related to irregularities in recruitment in the department. The
department fears that he is filing RTI applications for political gains in the upcoming state
elections.
In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) Identify the stakeholders and the issues involved in the case.
(b) What measures will you take to handle the situation? (20)
Approach:
• Give a brief overview of the case.
• Mention the stakeholders and issues involved in the case.
• State the measures that you will take to handle the situation.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The given case relates to the misuse of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. A local politician is
filing multiple RTI applications to get information about the recruitment of staff by the irrigation
department of the district. The department suspects that the politician may create an issue
regarding irregularities, if any, in the recruitment process for political gains.

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 a) Stakeholders in the case:
• As the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the irrigation department of the district, I am
responsible for replying to the RTI queries.
• The local politician who is filing the RTI applications as he is probing a probable matter of
irregularity.
• The officers and staff involved in the recruitment process as they are legally responsible
for conducting a fair and transparent recruitment process.
• The candidates who have applied for the vacant positions as any wrongdoing will not only
deprive them of their rightful right of employment but also hamper their morale.
• The general public, as the recruitment process is related to a government department and
public trust can be lost in the government machinery if irregularities are found.
Issues involved in the case:
• Negative propaganda: Considering the nature of applications filed by the same local
politician, there may be chances that the information being asked will be misused for
creating an issue regarding irregularities in the recruitment process.
• Personal gain: Through the negative propaganda, the politician may be trying to give a
boost to his political ambitions.
• Disturb the government: Multiple RTIs of the same nature by a single person will divert
time of the public servants and adversely affect their work. This further increases the trust
deficit between the people and the government.
• Malafide intention in the recruitment process: There are chances that some
irregularities (corruption, neglect of merit, favouritism, etc.) have been committed in the
recruitment process in the irrigation department.

b) In order to tackle the issue, I would take the following measures as the PIO of the irrigation
department:
• Whatever may be the intention of the local politician, there is a need to carry out a detailed
analysis of the recruitment process. And if there is any irregularity, it must be noted and
reformative steps need to be taken:
o Any recruitment made by compromising merit needs to be cancelled and
employment opportunity must be given to the deserving candidates.
o The government officials, staff and the middlemen, if any, involved in such
irregularities must be penalised as per the existing legal provisions. This will serve as
a deterrent in the future.
o The politician and the local media can be requested to not create negative propaganda
for personal gains. However, they must be allowed to make the public aware about the
systemic failures. This will help in ensuring transparency and accountability in the
system.
• However, if the intention of the politician is solely to disturb the government and the RTI
applications have been made solely with the motive of personal gains, then the following
long-term steps need to be taken:
o Transparency: The government must proactively disclose all the data related to
recruitment on its websites. Thus, if any RTI application is there regarding the
recruitment process, such application can be easily answered, directing the person to
the link to that information.
✓ This will not only deter the public officials from committing wrongdoings but will
also restrict RTI applications filed for personal gains.
o Classification and segregation of the RTI application: With the use of ICT and big
data, the RTI applications of similar nature could be kept at the same location and
disposed of in a similar way.
o Give an affidavit along with applications: The persons who have been identified to file
false/motivated applications in the past must be asked to give an affidavit along with the
RTI applications. This will prevent the filing of ill-motivated RTI applications.

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 o Increase the fee of seeking information: Currently, the fee charged for getting
information under the RTI Act is very low (Rs. 10). In this context, a suggestion can be
made to the government to consider increasing the fee in order to deter false and
frivolous RTI applications, especially for those persons who file a large number of RTI
applications within a short span of time.
o Check on the person involved in filing multiple RTIs on a regular basis: The
government must be vigilant when it comes to such persons, as based on the
information they receive, they could blackmail other persons for monetary gains.
The RTI Act is one of the watershed reforms brought by the government to empower the common
masses and ensure transparency in the system. However, this important legal tool must not be
allowed to be misused. Thus, there is a need to ensure adequate checks and balances in this regard.

8. You are the managing director of a pharmaceutical company. Your company has won a tender
for supply of generic affordable medicines to the state health department. In order to win the
tender, you had kept the profit margins very low. However, after winning the tender, you got a
call from the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Health Minister for a 2% cut in the total
purchase of goods. You tried to meet the Health Minister in this respect, but he also hinted at
doing the job as per the instructions of the OSD. You cannot refuse to go ahead with the tender
because of the risk of losing your 5% security deposit. Further, the firm can be blacklisted for
not fulfilling the obligations of the approved tender.
Some of the options to deal with the situation are given below. Evaluate the merits and
demerits of each of these options.
(a) Follow the advice of the minister and comply with the demands of the OSD.
(b) File a police complaint against the OSD for corruption.
(c) Tip the media anonymously about the issue to build pressure on the concerned Minister.
(d) Leave the allotted tender.
Also, not limiting to the options given above, suggest the course of action you will take, giving
appropriate reasons. (20)
Approach:
• Give a brief introduction highlighting the issue of corruption in the case study.
• Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of the options.
• Give a course of action and state the reasons for the same.
Answer:
The case highlights the prevalence of corruption in the higher echelons of the government
machinery. It shows the surcharge that a business person needs to pay to the government officials
or Ministers in order to keep his/her business running and getting the tender of projects. The
administration seems to have a tight hook on the private players engaged or interested to engage
with the government projects.
The above case study also displays a similar situation for the managing director of the
pharmaceutical company. The merits and demerits of the options are given below:
(a) Follow the advice of the Minister and comply with the demands of OSD.
Merits:
• The company will get the tender of the project and it may get preference in the future
projects as well since corruption is already prevalent.
• Future benefits might cover the limited profits in this project.
• Reputation of the firm would be preserved since not complying might not only just lead to loss
of tender but also blacklisting.

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 Demerits:
• A 2% premium would be fixed or even an increased cut for any other future tenders that the
company might win.
• I will become party to a crime as per the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Also, it will lead
to financial irregularities in the account books of the company and go against corporate
governance norms.
(b) File a police complaint against the OSD for corruption.
Merits:
• Action would be initiated against corrupt officers, which might be helpful in instilling fear in
them against any such wrongdoing in the future.
• The corruption case would bring this matter to public scrutiny.
• It may result in some stringent measures from the top leaders of the state.
• This option presents an opportunity to usher in the change towards a corruption free
business environment.
Demerits:
• Risk of police complicity with the Minister leading to punitive actions by the latter.
• Any further action might result in a long-lasting court case. This could lead to a stay on the
tender project and attaching of the deposit for the time being.
• Involvement in a legal issue might also affect other business avenues coming in.
(c) Tip the media anonymously about the issue to build pressure on the concerned Minister.
Merits:
• Using one of the four pillars of the state to transform the system.
• I will not be directly linked with the complaint so the chances of any repercussion if the
company goes ahead with the project are less.
• The pressure on the concerned Minister may lead to rescinding the demand.
• It might lead to a reformation campaign from the top leader of the state to ensure visibility of
transparent governance under his rule.
Demerits:
• The media might not take up the issue with such rigor as required for the prompt action and
wide coverage of the matter.
• This may become just another corruption news which loses steam in a few days.
• The risk of linking me to the complaint and blacklisting the firm still persists.
(d) Leave the allotted tender.
Merits:
• Leaving the allotted tender would not make me complicit in the matter.
• The company can pursue business elsewhere with a clear conscience of the officials involved.
• The company might lose the security deposit but it will not gain animosity from a Minister.
Demerits:
• Risk of blacklisting the firm and losing on all the future projects which might have come the
company’s way owing to lack of reputation, as the Minister might take it as a hostile action.
• Demoralizing effect on the persons working in the company, if the company does not go ahead
with the tender.
• Not resolving the matter of corruption in this tendering process will prevail the status quo in
future allotments as well.
In this situation, I would take the following course of action:
• Meet the OSD and the Minister once again to explain how much the business margins hamper
with this cut and to make them understand the criminality of such a demand. This would give
them a chance to make the process “corruption free and transparent”.
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 • If it does not work, I would personally write a letter or meet the CM of the state. If he takes
matters into his own hands and makes swift decisions, it would help in reforming and cleaning
up the tender process. He, being responsible for the good governance of the state, and the power
he holds vis-à-vis his Ministers might bring justice in the matter.
• Opposition leaders or some social activists can be involved in the issue and pressure can be
created on the concerned Minister through protest.
• Apart from that, there are also options of writing to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and to
the Prime Minister’s Office, informing about the issue and requesting them to take cognizance
of the matter. If such high offices are involved in the issue, it would definitely bring in weightage
in reforming the ongoing process.
• In the meanwhile, the above-mentioned steps like tipping the media or filing a police
complaint can be taken simultaneously so that all round pressure can be applied.
• Also, the management of the company should be taken into confidence, so that even if the
company loses the contract, there should be no impact on the future work of the company and
the morale of the employees.
The government needs to take strict measures to not just establish transparent and corruption free
processes on paper but also ensure that existing loopholes are not being abused by the people in
power.

9. The promotion of harmful products like liquor, tobacco, etc. through mass media and
advertisements have been banned in India. However, many companies are roping in big
celebrities to promote these harmful products and brands through surrogate advertisement. In
the disguise of another product, surrogate advertising is used to promote regulated products,
like cigarettes and alcohol, There have been many debates on this issue, particularly in recent
times, with many arguing that such advertisements should be banned altogether.
In this context, answer the following:
(a) What are the ethical issues involved in surrogate advertising?
(b) Suggest steps that can be taken to address these type of advertisements in India. (20)
Approach:
• Give a brief overview of the case.
• Discuss the ethical issues involved in it.
• Mention the steps to address surrogate advertisements in India.
Answer:
After the implementation of the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995 and the
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003), new advertising appeals used
by most liquor and tobacco companies circumvent the ban by what is called surrogate advertising.
The companies advertise surrogate products through celebrities and influencers, such as audio
cassettes, drinking water, soda, juices, playing cards, etc. under the brand name with which they
advertised liquor or tobacco earlier. Examples include Bacardi Blast music CDs, Bagpiper Club Soda,
Officer’s Choice playing cards, Kamla pasand mouth freshener etc. The masking product i.e. the
music CDs, or mineral water might not even be marketed in real, as it is just a strategy used to
generate top of the mind recall and mislead consumers, especially the young generation, to attract
them towards their other harmful products like tobacco, liquor, etc.
(a) Ethical issues involved in surrogate advertising include:
• Deceptive advertisement: The aim of surrogate advertising is not to promote the sales of its
supposed new product but to keep the brand in public mind and promote a product whose
advertising is prohibited legally.
• Nudging consumers to buy harmful products: Successful advertisement campaigns push
sensitive products such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages, which influence vulnerable minds
by showing such products as trendy, cool, fashionable and subject to consumption through peer
pressure and indulgence.
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 • Insensitive behaviour of celebrities/influencers: Celebrities and influencers promoting
harmful products through surrogate advertisements give more preference to money than to
their responsibility towards their fans and upholding public interest at large.
• Concealment of information: Popular brands deliberately try to conceal facts or give
misleading information, which influence the public to change their buying behaviour without
telling them their real motive. For instance, Pierce Brosnan, an actor, claimed that the endorsing
company (Ashok & Co.) cheated him by not disclosing the harmful nature of its product ‘Pan
Bahar’.
(b) Surrogate advertising is an attempt to circumvent the law. The government issued a notification
banning surrogate advertising of liquor in print, electronic and outdoor media. No advertisement is
permitted which promotes directly or indirectly, sale or consumption of cigarettes, tobacco
products, wine, alcohol or liquor. However, the practice of surrogate advertising is still unabated in
India and even though regulatory authorities have taken heed, enforcement is still elusive.
Steps that can be taken to combat surrogate advertising in India are:
• Framing clear and unambiguous laws banning surrogate advertisements for different
products under a single brand name. For instance, companies selling alcohol or tobacco under
any brand name, should not be allowed to use the same brand name and tagline for other
products and should be pensalised if they do so.
• Providing more power to the Advertising Standards Council of India to enable it to take
action against false and misleading advertisements and keep a close vigil over clever evasion of
the law, instead of just issuing notices.
• Asking the electronic and print media to adhere to the advertising codes and to not
entertain surrogate advertisements.
• Requiring advertising agencies to have full knowledge of the products under the same
brand for which they are promoting advertisements, and taking legal actions against those
agencies which design surrogate advertisements.
• Conducting consumer awareness programmers to help people understand the negative
impacts of surrogate advertisements. In this context, youth-led campaigns by NGOs such as
HRIDAY(Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth), SHAN (Student Health
Action Network) etc. are appealing to the government for a comprehensive ban on surrogate
advertising.
Thus, comprehensive law and policy on surrogate advertisements is imperative to not only keep
check on TV ads but also put vigil on companies that are turning to event sponsorship and
innovative integrated marketing communications strategies to promote their harmful products.

10. You are a young officer who has recently been posted as the District Magistrate in a district
where power cuts are a regular phenomenon. A thermal power plant is proposed in your
district, which has the potential to not only meet the energy demand of yours but also that of
neigbouring districts, and also provide employment opportunities for the people of your
district. However, a few people from the district are protesting against it because of the
concerns of displacement and the potential pollution issue that the project may lead to. It is
brought to your notice that prominent local leaders have mobilized a large crowd and are
planning to march towards the Collectorate. You have also received information that the crowd
may turn violent due to the presence of miscreants. In the context of this situation, address the
following:
(a) Identify the stakeholders and highlight the issues involved in the above case.
(b) State the measures that you would take as the District Magistrate. (20)
Approach:
• Provide a brief introduction to the case. Here, development vs displacement issues could be
highlighted.
• Identify the stakeholders of the case along with issues involved.

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 • State the short term and long term measures that could be taken to solve the issues presented in
the case.
• Conclude accordingly.
Answer:
The above case is a classic example of the development versus displacement debate. It also
highlights the complexity in the functioning of the government where the interests of the various
stakeholders have to be incorporated to ensure proper implementation of the policies and
development projects.
(a) The stakeholders involved in the above case and the issues involved are as follows:
• Citizens: The people of the district are facing the issue of power cuts and the proposed thermal
power plant could resolve the issue of power cuts.
o Regular power cuts must have been impacting the living standards and economic growth of
the district.
o Establishment of a power plant may eliminate the unemployment issue of the area.
o A development project of this magnitude will benefit not only the district but other areas of
the state as well.
• People against the move: A section of the district population is dissatisfied due to the
preserved ill-effects of the proposed thermal power project like threat of displacement and
environmental pollution due to which they are protesting.
• Leaders of the local community: The leaders of the local community are driven by the
interests of the community. They want to ensure that the lives of the local community members
should not be adversely affected.
• State: The State stands to benefit from the proposed project as the project will supply power to
the other districts of the State as well and create employment opportunities for the local
population.
• District Magistrate: It is the duty of the District Magistrate (DM) to ensure that the
development projects are implemented and at the same time peace, stability, and law and order
are maintained in the district.
The debate around development and displacement often involves the purported intentions of
various stakeholders and competing interests. While the proposed development project will solve
issues related to power cuts and also create employment opportunities, the threat perception
amongst people regarding pollution, ecological issues and displacement is serious too.
(b) As the District Magistrate, measures I would take in the above-presented case would include:
• Use my social persuasion skills to engage with members and leaders of the community: I
will meet with the members of the local community and their leaders. The purpose of the
meeting would be to account for their grievances and assure them that appropriate measures
would be taken to ensure that the interests of the local community are upheld. I will also ensure
transparency in all stages of implementation to further allay their fears.
• Social and Environmental Impact Assessment: Using the findings of the EIA report, I would
try to allay fears among the aggrieved sections. I would also assure them of their participation in
various stages of decision making going forward.
• Rehabilitation of people affected by displacement: I would assure the aggrieved that their
housing, social, and livelihood concerns will be accounted for, while taking decisions regarding
their relocation and rehabilitation.
• Undertake capacity building of the members of the local community: In the longer term, I
will arrange for capacity building of the members of the local community so that they could
benefit from the employment opportunities that the thermal power plant will offer.
• Maintaining law and order: To deal with a situation of possible unrest, I will take the help of
the police to ensure that the law and order are maintained in the district. I will also ensure that
the miscreants in the crowd are identified and warned of police action beforehand.
To ensure the rights of the local community during such situations, the government introduced the
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement
Act, 2013. The need of the hour is enforcement of this law in its true spirit.
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11. Today, digital games and gameful interactions with a digital dimension are rapidly becoming
pervasive in society. It is a highly engaging pastime and also a vehicle for acquiring knowledge
and/or modifying attitudes and behaviours at various levels, whether by explicit intention or
otherwise. Online games’ increasingly important role in society brings about ethical
implications that cannot be ignored, and have sometimes been the object of heated public and
academic debate.
(a) Discuss the various social and psychological issues involved in online gaming.
(b) Give some suggestions to address the harmful impact of online gaming on the society. (20)
Approach:
• Start by defining online gaming and briefly explain its potential.
• Elaborate on the ethical issues involved in online gaming.
• Conclude by giving suggestions to reduce its harmful impact on society.
Answer:
Online Gaming implies playing games, which need an internet connection. The industry has seen a
significant spike in demand across various types of online games such as multiplayer online games,
role-playing games, real-time strategy or skill games, for example:
• Fantasy games, poker, rummy etc. involving betting and wagering,
• Interactive games based on transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI),
augmented reality (AR).
(a) The Indian online gaming industry is estimated at Rs. 13,600 crores and expected to reach Rs.
29,000 crores by 2025. This is largely on account of increasing smartphone penetration,
affordable internet, India’s young demography, increasingly sophisticated games with a
shorter learning curve etc. Although, it is highly engaging and may serve as vehicles for
acquiring knowledge and/or modifying attitudes and behaviours at various levels, there are
certain ethical issues involved:
• Negative impact on vulnerable sections: There are games that have a high proportion of
violence or objectification of women characters, stereotyping of specific communities. A
good proportion of gamers are children and this can have disastrous consequences w.r.t
their personality and socialisation.
o The study by McAfee corp found that 83% of kids in India aged 10 to 14 use
smartphones and 22% of Indian children have experienced cyberbullying at some
time.
• Gaming addiction: Online games often utilize elements of human psychology and
behaviour to make these games addictive and stimulate end users, to serve the interests of
their business owners. Constant availability of these games leads to addiction, creating
issues of social dysfunction (poor social skills).
o The World Health Organization (WHO) categorised gaming disorder as a mental
health condition in 2018.
• Poor educational performance: Easy access to online games, particularly among children,
can interfere with school and educational performance of children due to time constraints.
o Continued exposure to such games can lead to loss of socio-cultural conditioning and
moral values as well.
• Health issues: The immersive games and increased game hours can lead to multiple health
issues such as stress, anxiety, depression with disruption of sleep and discordant
eating patterns.
• Disordered gambling: The lack of national gaming regulation increases chaos, leading to
rising illegal gaming apps from hidden players with ulterior motives.
(b) Suggestions to address the harmful impact of online gaming on the society
• Enforce statutory warnings: Psychiatrists recommend that as a bare minimum, statutory
warnings and mandatory breaks should be enforced to prevent binge gaming. Among those

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 who are just beginning excessive use, enforcing breaks after a stipulated time will improve
control and prevent bingeing.
• Legal clarity: There’s a need for proper regulations on games involving betting and
wagering from the states or the Centre can be asked to make regulations under Article 252
of the Indian Constitution.
• Regulatory clarity: Establish a single regulatory body for the entire online gaming industry
to standardize regulations. The regulator can also help in taking immediate steps to prevent
import of games which are harmful to society.
• Information, Education and Communication (IEC): Use IEC to spread awareness on
gaming ills and the benefits of responsible playing, good health and being social.
• Supervise children at home: Parents should supervise children’s online gaming to check
the type of games, time spent and learning outcomes.
• Curbing loss-chasing: A cap can be introduced on the number of transactions for an
individual across platforms or one platform to avoid greater economic losses.
Owing to the potential harmful impact online gaming can have over its users and the society as a
whole, whether by intention or design, there is a need to regulate the segment after careful
deliberation and debate.

12. Climate change and environmental degradation have caused havoc globally. It has
repercussions on the life and livelihood of each and every individual on the planet. Despite its
huge impact, climate change and environmental conservation have not become an electoral
issue in India. Globally, green parties are making strides, albeit gradually. In countries like
Netherlands, Sweden and Australia, they have begun to make a mark in electoral politics. In
India, however, there is no such development.
(a) In your view, why has politics in India not seen it’s ‘green moment’ yet?
(b) Do you think people in India are generally apathetic to climate change and environment
related issues? Suggest some initiatives to bring about a change in the attitude of the people
towards the issue. (20)
Approach:
• Briefly state the facts of the case.
• Discuss the reasons behind climate change not becoming a political issue in India.
• Discuss whether Indians are apathetic to environmental issues.
• Suggest measures that can be taken to bring about a change in the attitude of the people
towards environmental issues.
Answer:
The case presents an issue which shows the lack of politicization of environmental issues in India.
Neither the political parties nor the voters are taking up climate change and associated events as an
electoral issue. This is despite the fact that India is the 4th largest emitter of greenhouse gases
behind China, the US, and the EU. Globally, many ‘green parties’ have emerged in several
democracies. They are taking up environmental issues in an effort to secure a sustainable future.
(a) The absence of the ‘Green Moment’ in Indian politics may be due to following factors:
• Developed vs Developing country issue: Developed countries have enough resources to
invest in the environment, while developing countries are still stuck in resolving basic
issues such as removal of poverty, creation of infrastructure, tackling agrarian distress etc.
○ Further, any solution to climate problems must include a massive switch over to
renewables, whereas developing countries have still not exploited the cheaper source of
energy like coal or shale gas. Therefore, environmental conservation is not a priority in
the election manifestos of the political parties.
• Marginalized voice: The population facing direct consequences of climate change reflects a
marginal voice as against issues like economic development, job opportunities and national
security, which affect all segments of the population.
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 • Lack of awareness: The anecdotal evidence suggests that many people do not think about
water, air, and other environmental resources, beyond their material usage. For instance,
burning of agricultural residue, industrial and vehicular pollution, etc. continue unabated all
over the country. Several surveys have also reported that a large population of youth is not
aware of the causes of climate change.
• Failure of civil society: It has arguably failed in informing the people and engaging them in
making climate change a political issue.
• Electoral performance: Lack of awareness and preferences among voters mean that
political entities can’t carve a niche for themselves or survive politically while emphasizing
environmental issues as matters of electoral importance. Therefore, the political
performance of ‘approximate green parties’ such as the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party
(UKPP) and the Indian Peoples Green Party (IPGP) have been below par.
(b) Environmentalism is deep rooted in the Indian cultural traditions and ethos. However, the
advent of industrialization and urbanization have increased energy consumption and
environmental degradation by several folds. This has further led to apathy towards nature as:
• The culture of conspicuous consumption has trumped the traditional ties that bounded
Indians to nature.
• Industrial development has occurred by flouting environmental norms, while the State for
long has remained a mute spectator.
• The civil society also could not do justice to the environmental causes.
• India has the dubious distinction of having more environmental conflicts than any other
country in the world.
While all these arguments point to the people’s apathy towards nature, there is an
acknowledgment of the fact that the environment needs to be saved and people should live in
sync with nature. However, a large number of people have to be provided basic minimum
facilities first, and only after that issues such as water and air quality can be taken into account.
This calls for some initiatives to bring about a change in the attitude of the people towards the
environmental issues. This can be done through:
• Creating awareness: The public must be sensitized regarding the ill-effects of
environmental degradation and its impact on current and future generations. Deteriorating
environment—abysmal air quality, toxin-laden water, vanishing forests and rivers,
persistent cycles of epidemics and reducing productivity of farm soils—should not be
accepted as a ‘new normal’.
• Behavioural changes: Policies need to be framed where the focus should be on effecting
behavioural changes in the masses through effective communication. For instance, Swachh
Bharat Mission focused on generating awareness and bringing about a behaviour change
regarding sanitation practices, and augmentation of capacity at the local level.
• Relationship between environment and economics: Whatever is bad for the
environment is also bad for the country's growth and development. Environmental
resources are finite. Any damage or uprooting sets us many decades backward. People
should be made aware of this linkage.
• Role of the State: The State should take upon itself to empower the citizens to become
more sensitive towards the environment and regard it as a common good.
Climate change and environmental degradation is an ethical issue in itself, because it has intra as
well as inter-generational implications. However, perhaps after a large section of the affluent and
the middle-class feels the heat of the climate emergency, people will want governments to change
on the basis of environmental issues.

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