Case Study You are posted as the District Magistrate in a rural district of India with a significant population belonging to various caste groups. Despite legal provisions and affirmative action policies, instances of caste discrimination are prevalent in the district. Recently, a group of Dalit students from a government school in a predominantly upper-caste village have approached you, complaining of discrimination and harassment by their upper-caste classmates and teachers. The students allege that they are often made to sit separately, are not allowed to use the common water source and face verbal abuse from their peers and teachers. They also claim that their grades are intentionally marked lower than those of their upper-caste counterparts. Upon investigation, you find that the allegations are substantiated, and there is a deep-seated bias against the Dalit students in the school. The school management, dominated by upper-caste members, is reluctant to address the issue, citing "tradition" and "social norms." As the District Magistrate, how would you approach this situation ethically and effectively to address the caste discrimination in the school? What steps would you take to ensure justice for the Dalit students and promote a more inclusive and equitable environment in the school?

Pawan is pursuing MBA and shares a room with you in the private hostel. He desperately needs a job after completing his course because of educational loan and weak economic background. In his last two semesters, he couldn’t secure good grades due to serious illness. In current semester he has to secure good marks at any cost to satisfy minimum criteria for placements. Few days before the final semester exam, he comes to you and asks for money. He is stressed and nervous. He tells you about his plan to purchase semester papers to clear the exam and convinces you for the same by giving reference to his bad health, family status and his education loan. In such circumstances, would it be right to lend money to him? (a) Identify the moral dilemma faced by you. (b) Analyse your role and duties as a friend, also suggest your course of action.

Case Study Dr. Sharma, a senior scientist at a renowned biotechnology company, leads a research team developing a drug to treat a rapidly spreading variant of a new viral infectious disease. With cases increasing worldwide and in India, there's immense pressure on Dr. Sharma's team to expedite the drug trials. The company seeks to capitalize on the significant market potential and gain a first-mover advantage. During a team meeting, senior members propose shortcuts to accelerate the clinical trials and secure quick approvals. These include manipulating data to exclude negative outcomes and selectively report positive results, bypassing informed consent procedures, and using patented compounds from a rival company instead of developing their own. Dr. Sharma feels uncomfortable with these shortcuts but realizes that meeting the targets is impossible without employing such means. She now faces a difficult decision that pits scientific integrity and patient safety against market pressures and the urgent need for a treatment. 1. Who are the stakeholders involved in this situation? 2. What are the ethical dilemmas faced by Dr. Sharma? 3. What course of action should Dr. Sharma take in this scenario?

Case Study: You are a senior surgeon in a prestigious hospital in Bengaluru, known for its state-of-the-art facilities and high-profile patient base. During a routine audit of the hospital’s procurement and billing practices, you uncover a troubling scenario-the hospital’s administration is involved in a practice where certain high-cost medical supplies and treatments are being marked up exorbitantly, even though alternative, more affordable options are available. The hospital has entered into a partnership with several suppliers, ensuring that these high-cost supplies are purchased exclusively, despite their high price and limited effectiveness compared to other alternatives.As the chairperson of the Ethical Medical Practitioners Association, you are deeply concerned about the implications of these practices on patient care and financial sustainability. However, some senior doctors in your hospital, who are benefiting from kickbacks provided by the suppliers, urge you to remain silent about the issue to avoid disrupting hospital operations and to preserve their personal benefits. They argue that the inflated prices are helping to maintain the hospital’s high profit margins, which are crucial for its survival and continued growth. Questions: (a) Identify the main stakeholders and ethical issues involved. (b) Analyze the potential consequences of exposing the unethical practices for both the hospital and the healthcare system. (c) What actions would you take in this situation, and what ethical principles would guide your decision-making process?

Chulbul was a close aide of a minister in his constituency. He is known for his hooliganism. Once he got into a fracas in a mall and badly beat up a shop owner’s son. Normally, Chulbul had his way in such matters. However, the shop owner took a firm stand and registered a case against Chulbul. The police officer in charge was new and was proceeding according to law. He refused to dilute the case against him. He makes appeals to the minister for not interfering in the matter. However, the minister tells him that he will transfer the police officer. Further, it is rumored, that a close relative of the minister will be joining as his replacement. Imagine yourself as the police officer who is to be transferred. Discuss the different options available and how will you respond in this case?

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.