Case Study You are the District Magistrate (DM) of a district that is home to a famous ancient temple. Every year, during a specific month, the "Maha Yatra" (Great Pilgrimage) takes place, attracting nearly 10 lakh devotees from across the country. The local economy is heavily dependent on this month-long event, with shopkeepers, hoteliers, and transport operators earning 70% of their annual income during this period. Two weeks before the Yatra is scheduled to begin, a new, highly contagious virus strain breaks out in a neighboring state. While the mortality rate is low, the transmission rate is extremely high, and it causes severe respiratory distress in the elderly. Medical experts warn that large crowds could turn into "super-spreader" events, potentially overwhelming the healthcare infrastructure. The sentiment in your district is volatile: 1. Religious Leaders: The temple trust argues that the Yatra has continued unbroken for 200 years and cancelling it would be "inauspicious". 2. Economic Stakeholders: The local Traders' Association warns of mass protests if the Yatra is cancelled, as they have taken huge loans in anticipation of the season. As you deliberate, a report arrives stating that 5 cases of the virus have already been detected in your district. If the Yatra proceeds in full force, the district hospital is projected to collapse within days. If you cancel it, you risk a law and order breakdown and economic devastation for the locals. Questions: 1. Identify the ethical issues and dilemmas involved in this case. 2. What are the options available to you in the given situation? Discuss the merits and demerits of each option. 3. What course of action would you adopt in this situation? Justify your answer with reference to ethical principles.

Case Study Ms. Riya Malhotra is serving as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) in a backward, drought-prone block where a large section of the population depends on government welfare schemes such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), pensions, and employment under MGNREGA. During a routine inspection, Ms. Malhotra discovers serious irregularities in the local PDS system. Several fair price shop dealers have been diverting subsidised food grains to the open market with the alleged connivance of lower-level revenue and supply officials. Digital records show compliance, but ground verification and beneficiary testimonies indicate widespread exclusion of genuine households. If strict action is taken immediately, such as suspension of dealers and officials, there is a risk of disruption in food supply for thousands of vulnerable families in the short term. Moreover, some of the accused officials are known to be politically well-connected, and informal messages reach Ms. Malhotra advising her to “handle the matter sensitively” to avoid controversy. At the same time, civil society organisations and local media have begun highlighting the issue, questioning the administration’s commitment to transparency and justice. With the lean agricultural season approaching, any prolonged disruption in welfare delivery could worsen hunger and distress. Ms. Malhotra must decide how to act in a manner that ensures justice, protects the vulnerable, and upholds administrative integrity. Questions 1. What are the ethical issues involved in this case? 2. What options are available to Ms. Malhotra? Examine the merits and demerits of each. 3. What course of action should Ms. Malhotra adopt? Justify your answer in terms of ethical values, public interest, and administrative responsibility.

Case Study You are the newly appointed Secretary of the School Education and Literacy Department in a state known for the deep-rooted influence of the publishing mafia. As the Secretary, you face two major challenges. First, the mafia exploits the government's free book distribution scheme by colluding with officials to demand commissions, causing financial losses and compromising book quality. Second, they manipulate private school textbook purchases, forcing schools to buy expensive textbooks under the guise of quality education, which burdens students and families financially. Your predecessor, an honest officer, attempted to tackle these issues but faced severe resistance from the publishing mafia, leading to their resignation. Determined to combat this mafia, you must solve this issue and ensure a fair and transparent system for textbook procurement and distribution. 1. What are the stakeholders involved in this case? 2. How would you address the exploitation of the government's free book distribution scheme by the publishing mafia? 3. What long-term strategies would you implement to ensure a fair, transparent, and high-quality textbook distribution system for all students?

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 Dr. Ankur Sharma is a surgeon. He comes from a well-educated family. Rahul, his little son, is 7 years old and is showing some troubling behaviour patterns. Rahul has been taking pleasure in hurting and torturing creatures for the last two years. It all started when he would pick up some insects such as cockroaches and worms and take delight in cutting them to pieces with a blade. The family keeps some pets including rabbits and some days ago Mr. Sharma detected the boy vivisecting a rabbit in a lonely corner of their garden. By the time Mr. Sharma intervened it was all over, and young Rahul was almost relishing the sight of his bloody hand. Mr. Sharma, of course, scolded the kid but they are worried about the gruesome incidents likely to happen from this kind of perverse behaviour. What actions should the parents take? Select from the following options: 1. They should ignore the incidents as childish pranks. 2. They should explain to Rahul the need to behave kindly towards animals and to avoid violence in all forms. 3. They should take Rahul to a psychiatrist for counselling and treatment. 4. They should not let Rahul out of sight when he is alone.

Case Study Ananya Singh, a dedicated and empathetic IAS officer, is currently serving as the District Collector in a predominantly tribal and underdeveloped district of Jharkhand. The government has recently rolled out a revised Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) to ensure timely financial support for pregnant women and lactating mothers, aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition. A key feature of this new system is mandatory biometric authentication through Aadhaar at the time of benefit disbursal. The move is intended to reduce pilferage, eliminate ghost beneficiaries, and enhance accountability in welfare delivery. However, within a few weeks of implementation, several ground-level issues begin to emerge. Many elderly caregivers, especially grandmothers caring for children in the absence of parents, struggle with fingerprint mismatch due to worn-out biometric impressions. In remote tribal hamlets, poor internet connectivity and lack of functional biometric devices cause frequent transaction failures. Local Anganwadi workers and ASHAs report that over 30% of eligible beneficiaries have not received funds, causing significant distress, especially among marginalized families who rely on this support for basic nutrition. Concerned about the impact on vulnerable groups, Ananya considers allowing alternative forms of verification, such as physical ID checks, mobile OTP, or manual register maintenance, as a temporary stop-gap measure. However, she is advised against it by the State Department, citing strict central guidelines that prohibit deviation from the biometric-based process. Meanwhile, a reputed local NGO organizes protests and contacts the media, accusing the administration of systemic exclusion and violation of Article 21 (Right to Life with Dignity). Questions: (a) Identify the core ethical dilemma involved in the case. (b) What are the options available to Ananya? Critically evaluate each of them and suggest the most appropriate course of action. (c) What steps can be taken by public institutions to ensure that the use of technology in governance does not exclude the vulnerable?

Case Study In a rural region near the Ganga river basin, the local economy has increasingly become dependent on sand mining for construction purposes. The local government has issued permits for sand mining in limited areas under strict regulations. However, illegal sand mining is rampant in the region, with powerful contractors exploiting local resources and creating environmental degradation. Many contractors extract sand in excess of permitted limits and from non-designated areas, severely affecting the river's flow, local biodiversity, and nearby agricultural lands. During your inspection visit as a district official, you observe large-scale illegal sand mining activities despite the presence of regulatory bodies. Upon questioning, the workers claim they are employed by a registered contractor operating within the limits. However, you notice heavy machinery being used in restricted areas. Villagers complain that illegal mining is damaging their fields, causing erosion, and affecting water availability. Moreover, you learn that the local administration is allegedly turning a blind eye to the issue due to the involvement of influential political figures. 1. What are the stakeholders involved in this situation? 2. Bring out and discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. 3. What steps would you take to address the situation as a district official?