The UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination is renowned as one of the most prestigious and challenging competitive exams in India. In the year 2013, the General Studies Paper 4, often referred to as GS 4, presented candidates with a diverse array of ethical dilemmas and situational questions. This paper aimed to evaluate the ethical and moral aptitude of aspiring civil servants, testing their ability to navigate complex issues with integrity and sound judgment. Through a series of case studies and theoretical inquiries, candidates were required to demonstrate their understanding of ethical principles and their practical application in governance and public administration. The UPSC GS 4 paper serves as a crucial benchmark for selecting individuals who possess not only the knowledge but also the ethical fortitude necessary to serve the nation with honesty, fairness, and dedication.
Q12. You are heading a leading technical institute of the country. The institute is planning to convene an interview panel shortly under your chairmanship for selection of the post of professors. A few days before the interview, you get a call from the Personal Secretary (PS) of a senior government functionary seeking your intervention in favour of the selection of a close relative of the functionary for this post. The PS also informs you that he is aware of the long pending and urgent proposals of your institute for grant of funds for modernization, which are awaiting the functionary’s approval. He assures you that he would get these proposals cleared.
(a) What are the options available to you?
(b) Evaluate each of these options and choose the option which you would adopt, giving reasons. (250 Words, 20 Marks)
Tags: Case Studies
Case Summary: I am head of a leading technical institute of the country. The institute is planning to organize an interview panel shortly under your chairmanship for selection of the post of professors. A few days before the interview, I got a call from the Personal Secretary (PS) of a senior government functionary seeking my intervention in favour of the selection of a close relative of the functionary for this post.
Stakeholders: Me, the Institute, Personal Secretary (PS) of a senior government functionary.
Ethical Issues/Ethical Dilemmas: Merit of institution, favoritism, my ethical responsibility as a Head.
Answers:
(a)
| Options | Merits | Demerits |
| (i) Favour Personnel secretary relative | Long pending and urgent proposals of the institute for grant of funds for modernization, which are awaiting the functionary’s approval will be cleared. | This option is morally wrong as it will compromise the merit of Institutions and promote nepotism. |
| (ii) Say no to PS directly | The merit of the institution will be upheld. | This option can hurt the ego of PS and he may misuse his power against the institution’s interest. |
| (iii) Shall bring this issue in front of Institute’s directors and members | The decision to select PS kin will be taken collectively. | As a head of Institute, this option will show that I am incompetent to take decision independently. |
(b) In this case, the option I will choose is the method of persuasion and sticking to the path of non-favouritism and putting forward a merit-based objective selection process.
Persuading PS that the selection decision is not my discretion, I have to take other member’s advice. And also following the Institute’s policy that selection is based on test, the preferred candidate has to follow the selection protocols of the company which can’t be compromised.
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