Case Study Recently, in a tragic incident occurred in west Delhi where a 20-year-old woman was found naked and dead. She had been dragged beneath a car for 12 kilometers. According to reports, the occupants of the car, which included the son of a ruling party president, were aware that the woman was trapped under the car but chose to keep driving in order to avoid getting caught. Additionally, there is reported pressure on the police by the ruling party to resolve the case quickly and protect the accused. As a IPS officer you were given responsibility to handle the case, what would you do in this scenario?

Case Study Mr. Siddhant is the chairman of a cultural organization under the central government. The organization has a historical and cultural legacy. Recently he has been charged with the responsibility of organizing an international event by involving artists from different countries. For this event, he has roped in a famous personality from Bollywood as the brand ambassador and face of the event. This has helped in popularising the program at a wide scale and also in the generation of revenue. However, in the mid of the preparation, a female singer artist came in front of the media and accused the Bollywood personality of sexual harassment 10 years ago when she was a minor and searching for work. This accusation has sparked controversy and protest by the public. People are raising their voices against his involvement in the event. Meanwhile, the National Commission of Women has also approached Mr. Siddhant and demands the removal of the Brand Ambassador. Mr. Siddhant is in mid of the finalization of the event and all the preparations regarding inviting people from different parts of the world, their accommodation, etc have already been done. Initially, his consciousness pushed him to do something in this regard but because of external pressure, he is not sure about the right course of action. With reference to the above case study– (a) What arguments can you give him to show that keeping quiet is not morally right? (b) What course of action would you advise him to adopt and why?

Case Study Ananya Sharma is the Deputy Manager in a large public sector organization responsible for infrastructure development. The organisation has a strong technical reputation but suffers from a toxic work culture. Senior officers often shout at subordinates during meetings, take credit for juniors’ work, and discourage dissenting opinions. Long working hours without recognition have become the norm, leading to low morale and high staff turnover. Ananya observes that talented young officers hesitate to share innovative ideas due to fear of humiliation. Women employees, in particular, feel uncomfortable raising concerns, as informal networks dominated by senior male officers control decision-making. Although there is no explicit harassment, the environment is psychologically unsafe and demotivating. Recently, a capable junior officer, Ravi, made a small procedural error in a project file. Instead of constructive feedback, he was publicly reprimanded by a senior officer during a meeting. Deeply demoralized, Ravi applied for transfer, citing “personal reasons.” Similar incidents have become common, affecting productivity and team cohesion. As a mid-level officer, Ananya is respected by her team but has limited authority over senior officials. She believes that such a toxic work culture not only harms employee well-being but also compromises efficiency, innovation, and public service delivery. Ananya now faces a dilemma: whether to remain silent to protect her own career progression or take steps—formal or informal—to improve workplace culture, promote dignity, and uphold ethical values within the organization. Q1. Identify the ethical issues involved in the above case related to workplace culture. How do such issues affect employee morale, productivity, and organizational effectiveness? Q2.What ethical dilemmas does Ananya face as a mid-level officer in addressing toxic workplace practices? Discuss the possible courses of action available to her, highlighting their merits and limitations. Q3. How can ethical leadership and positive organizational culture contribute to improved governance and employee well-being? Suggest measures to promote a healthy and inclusive work environment in public institutions.

Case Study You are serving as the District Magistrate of a coastal district where a major port-led industrial corridor project has been proposed to boost exports, infrastructure and employment generation. The project has strong support from the state government and industry groups, who argue that delays could affect investment inflows and regional development. However, the project area includes ecologically sensitive coastal wetlands and fishing villages dependent on marine resources for livelihood. Environmental experts have warned that large-scale construction may increase coastal erosion, biodiversity loss and long-term disaster vulnerability in a cyclone-prone region. During consultations, local communities raise concerns regarding displacement, inadequate rehabilitation and loss of traditional livelihoods, while many unemployed youth support the project for economic opportunities. You also discover that certain environmental clearances were expedited under administrative pressure and that some officials are reluctant to formally record objections despite serious concerns. Meanwhile, media narratives have become polarised, portraying the administration either as anti-development or insensitive to environmental and social justice concerns. Questions: 1. Identify the ethical issues and conflicting values involved in the case. 2. What are the options available to you? Evaluate their merits and demerits. 3. What course of action would you adopt to balance developmental needs, environmental sustainability and social justice?

Case Studies Q. You are a government officer under the central government. In the pursuit of improved public services, the central government is implementing a digital transformation initiative, involving the collection and analysis of citizens' data. You are vested with the responsibility of implementing the digital transformative initiative of the central government. During the implementation process, concerns were raised about the right to privacy and the potential misuse of personal data by private tech firms. While the initiative promises socio-economic development, questions about fair benefits distribution and societal inequalities have emerged due to a lack of clear regulations. A. What are the ethical challenges that you face as an officer in charge of the digital transformation initiative? B. How would you balance the competing interests of the government, the citizens, and the private tech firms in this situation?