Case Study Mr. Aditya Sharma is serving as the District Magistrate of a rapidly growing district where the state government has recently introduced an AI-based system to identify beneficiaries for welfare schemes such as housing subsidies, scholarships, and pension benefits. The system uses multiple datasets—income records, property ownership, electricity consumption, and bank transactions—to automatically generate a list of eligible beneficiaries. The government promotes the system as a major reform to improve efficiency, reduce corruption, and ensure objective targeting of welfare benefits. Initially, the new system significantly reduces manual processing and speeds up the delivery of benefits. However, during public grievance hearings, Mr. Sharma begins receiving numerous complaints from genuinely poor families who have been excluded from the beneficiary list. Upon investigation, he discovers that the algorithm relies heavily on digital and financial data. As a result, many informal-sector workers, migrant families, and people without regular digital footprints are being wrongly classified as “ineligible.” At the same time, some relatively well-off households with incomplete or outdated records have been included in the beneficiary list. Civil society organisations accuse the administration of creating “digital exclusion”, arguing that excessive reliance on automated decision-making ignores ground realities. When Mr. Sharma raises these concerns with higher authorities, he is advised to continue using the system because it is a flagship governance reform that demonstrates the government's commitment to transparency and technology-driven administration. Officials argue that questioning the system may undermine public confidence in digital governance. Meanwhile, media reports and social activists are increasingly highlighting cases of exclusion, portraying the administration as insensitive to the needs of vulnerable populations. Mr. Sharma must decide how to address these concerns while balancing technological efficiency, fairness, and accountability in welfare delivery. Questions 1. Identify the ethical issues involved in the above case. 2. What options are available to Mr. Sharma? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option. 3. What course of action should Mr. Sharma adopt to ensure both administrative efficiency and ethical governance? Justify your answer.

Case Study You are the founder of a social enterprise that provides solar lamps to rural villages that lack access to electricity. You have been working hard to scale up your impact and reach more communities in need. One day, you receive an email from the CEO of a major oil company who is interested in partnering with you. He says that he wants to support your cause and help you expand your operations. He also mentions that he has to meet Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards for his company. However, over the years working with renewable energy, you have developed a strong aversion to fossil fuel companies. Now, the CEO’s offer has put you in a moral dilemma. On one hand, you resent the idea of accepting help from a company that is contributing to climate change and environmental degradation, and on the other hand, you feel that the company’s assistance is a golden opportunity for your social enterprise to provide more light to the dark. A. What are the various ethical issues involved here? B. Will it be morally right for you to accept money from the oil company?

Case Study Priya, a dedicated IPS officer known for her integrity, is appointed as the Superintendent of Police in a district with a high crime rate and significant political interference. Despite facing frequent transfers, she uncovers evidence of the local MLA’s involvement in a human trafficking ring. The MLA has strong ties with the state's Home Minister, complicating her efforts to act without political pressure. A senior journalist offers Priya additional incriminating information and proposes publishing an exposé if she confirms the investigation. He hints that it could boost her career and secure a prestigious posting. However, Priya is wary of potential professional retaliation, the journalist's motives, and the risk of compromising the investigation by leaking details prematurely. She faces a dilemma between taking bold action or protecting the integrity of the investigation. 1. What are the stakeholders involved in the situation? 2. What are the ethical dilemmas in front of Priya? 3. As a principled police officer, what options are available to Priya in this situation, and which course of action would be the most appropriate?

From ‘rat-hole mining’ to ‘open cast mining’, India has witnessed major mining disasters. The main reason behind these calamities is the unscientific, illegal and unsafe mining in India. As and when such disasters are in the news, the incumbent governments and administration address it at the immediate level. But there is indifference to providing sustainable solutions which frequently causes such disasters. After such calamities, an administrative tendency has also been observed which puts the blame on victims. The tacit consensus of the government and administration to unsafe mining activities in India and the attraction of miners are mainly linked to revenue and employment realization. But such activities also lead to widespread loss to the public exchequer and environmental degradation. Therefore, there should be a holistic preparedness to prevent such calamities and to comprehensively cope if they occur. Identify the underlying ethical issues in the above case. As competent authority, discuss some of the feasible strategies to prevent and combat such calamities.

Case Study There is a disaster-prone state having frequent landslides, forest fires, cloudbursts, flash floods and earthquakes, etc. Some of these are seasonal and often unpredictable. The magnitude of the disaster is always unanticipated. During one of the seasons a cloudburst caused devastating floods and landslides leading to high causalities. There was major damage to infrastructure like roads, bridges and power generating units. This led to more than a lakh pilgrims, tourists and other locals trapped across different routes and locations. The people trapped in your area of responsibility includes senior citizens, patients in hospitals, women and children, hikers, tourists, ruling party’s regional president along with his family, additional chief secretary of the neighboring state and prisoners in jail. As a civil services officer of the state, what would be the order in which you would rescue these people and why? Give justifications.

You are the District Collector of a drought-prone area. The government has announced a relief package for the farmers, which includes waiving off their loans and providing them with free seeds and fertilizers. However, you find out that some of the local politicians and officials are misusing the funds and diverting the resources for their personal gain. They are also threatening the farmers who complain or refuse to cooperate with them. As a responsible officer, how will you deal with this situation? Explain the ethical issues involved and the course of action you will take.

Case Study Ritika, an IAS officer posted as the Public Information Officer (PIO) in a state department, has been facing mounting challenges due to widespread mismanagement in handling RTI requests. Citizens frequently report delays exceeding statutory limits, incomplete disclosures, and arbitrary denials citing vague exemptions. Several RTI applications relate to public procurement, environmental clearances, and fund utilization, raising concerns about corruption and administrative opacity. Despite repeated reminders and follow-ups, the backlog of pending RTI cases has grown substantially. Some senior officials in the department discourage timely compliance, fearing that disclosure might expose irregularities and implicate influential contractors or political patrons. A few junior officers have expressed fear that strict adherence to the RTI Act could attract harassment, transfers, or litigation. Meanwhile, civil society organizations and media outlets demand transparency, timely responses, and public accountability. The state government, concerned about negative publicity and political fallout, has subtly instructed Ritika to “avoid unnecessary disclosure” and focus on maintaining departmental harmony. At the same time, the Central Information Commission and local courts are actively monitoring compliance, with some PILs filed questioning delays and partial disclosures. Questions: A. What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Ritika in this situation? B. Evaluate the options available to her and their possible consequences. C. Suggest the most appropriate course of action for Ritika based on administrative accountability and citizen-centric governance. D. Propose long-term systemic reforms to improve RTI implementation, reduce backlogs, and protect officials from retaliation while ensuring transparency and participatory governance.