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UPSC CSE : 2025
Civil servants hold the office of trust and stewardship, expected to act with integrity, impartiality (Yudhishthira, Mahabharata), and public accountability. Subash, Secretary PWD, faces a moral dilemma where personal, familial, and political pressures conflict with his duty. His decisions must balance dharma (duty), fairness, transparency, and rule of law, avoiding even the appearance of impropriety.
Key Stakeholders
Stakeholders |
|
(a) Ethical Issues Involved
(b) Options Available – Merits and Demerits
Options | Merits | Demerits |
1. Share info with son | -Short-term personal/familial gain (self-interest).
– Meets filial expectations. – Immediate satisfaction. |
-Violates duty, transparency, and the rule of law.
– Corruption/insider trading risk. -Long-term erosion of public trust and institutional integrity. |
2. Favour Minister’s nephew | – May strengthen political ties.
-Could accelerate project approval. – Short-term goodwill. |
-Violates meritocracy, fairness, and impartiality.
– Breaches Kantian duty ethics. – Sets precedent for nepotism. |
3. Refuse disclosure & act impartially | – Upholds Kantian duty ethics: act according to moral law.
– Protects public trust, integrity, and transparency. – Aligns with the Bhagavad Gita principle of karma yoga. |
-Faces pressure from son and minister.
-Potential delay in project approvals. – Short-term personal stress. |
4. Recuse from project decisions | – Avoids conflict of interest.
-Ensures administrative accountability. -Protects the reputation of PWD and oneself. |
– Limits professional influence.
– Could delay project execution. -May appear as avoidance of responsibility. |
(c) Recommended Course of Action: Combine Options 3 and 4
Conclusion
Ethical steadfastness ensures institutional credibility, public trust, and fairness. By prioritising dharma, impartiality, and integrity, Subash protects the essence of public service, demonstrating that personal and political pressures must never override ethical governance.
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