UPSC Paper 4 Question Paper

Here is a sample question paper for UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam General Studies Paper IV (Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude):

SECTION A

1. (a) What do you understand by the term ‘ethical dilemma’? How can it affect decision-making in public administration? Provide examples. (150 words)
2. (b) Discuss the role of family and educational institutions in inculcating values among individuals. (150 words)
3. (a) What are the foundational values for civil servants? Explain the importance of any three of these values in the present socio-political context. (150 words)
4. (b) How do social influence and persuasion affect ethical decision-making? Illustrate with examples. (150 words)
5. (a) What is emotional intelligence, and how can it be applied in administration? Discuss its importance with suitable examples. (150 words)
6. (b) Discuss the contributions of any one moral thinker/philosopher from India or the world and their relevance in today’s society. (150 words)
7. (a) Explain the concept of public service. How do codes of ethics and codes of conduct strengthen the concept of public service? (150 words)
8. (b) What do you understand by corporate governance? Discuss the ethical issues involved in corporate governance. (150 words)

SECTION B

Answer the following questions in about 250 words each:

1. You are the head of a department and you find that a substantial amount of office stationery is being misused by the staff. How will you handle this situation to ensure ethical practices in your department? (250 words)
2. A public official has been accused of accepting a bribe for awarding a contract. Discuss the measures you would take to ensure probity in public life and administration. (250 words)
3. In a particular region, a school building collapses due to poor construction, resulting in the loss of lives. Analyze the ethical issues involved and suggest ways to address them. (250 words)
4. During a public health crisis, there is a shortage of essential medicines. As a senior administrator, how would you ensure fair and equitable distribution of the medicines? (250 words)
5. You are an officer in charge of disaster management in a flood-prone area. Discuss the ethical dilemmas you might face and how you would resolve them to ensure effective management. (250 words)

CASE STUDIES

1. A senior officer in your department is found to be indulging in favoritism and nepotism while making appointments. Analyze the situation and suggest measures to ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process. (250 words)
2. A whistleblower in your organization has reported financial irregularities in a major project. Discuss the ethical issues involved and the steps you would take to address the situation, protecting the whistleblower’s identity and ensuring justice. (250 words)

These questions are designed to assess your understanding of ethical principles and your ability to apply them in real-life scenarios. Focus on clear, concise, and well-reasoned answers.