The government under PM Awas yojana has promised to provide affordable housing to the urban poor. However, after the inspection, it was found that there is a shortage of residential plots in the city. You as the District Magistrate have requested the government to release some vacant public land for the construction of houses under this scheme.  While accepting the proposal, the concerned minister suggests that 20% of houses should be allotted from his discretionary quota. In this situation, you have the following options: 1. Simply follow the orders of the minister. 2. Tell the minister that the proposed discretionary allotments will lead to serious controversy. 3. Delay the matter. 4. Oppose the decision tooth and nail. Analyze these options and what advice you would have given to the minister?

Case Study You are a young field athlete, proudly representing India in your debut at an international championship. While staying at the athletes' village, you accidentally enter the common restroom and see a few senior team members injecting themselves with an unidentified substance. Suspicious, you ask them about it. They explain that it's a ‘recovery booster, a performance-enhancing drug (PED) that supposedly helps with endurance and muscle repair. They further suggest that using it is common practice, especially in global competitions, and if you want to remain competitive and secure your place in the team, you should consider taking it too. Later, while contemplating whether to approach the coach, you learn from another junior athlete that the team coach is not only aware but has allegedly recommended its use, citing ‘national interest’ and ‘medal pressure.’ Questions: (a) What are the key ethical dilemmas involved in this situation? (b) What are the possible courses of action available to you in this scenario? (c) What course of action would you choose and why?

Case Study Vikram is an urban planner in a fast-growing metropolitan city. His department has been tasked with overseeing the redevelopment of an old industrial area into a modern residential neighborhood. The project promises to rejuvenate a dilapidated part of the city and provide affordable housing for hundreds of families. However, the area in question is also home to a vibrant but lower-income community that has lived there for decades. While the local government has promised that the redevelopment will bring economic opportunities and better living standards, Vikram has begun to uncover troubling details. Many of the residents have been living there for years and have a strong social and cultural attachment to the area. They also run small businesses that are crucial for their livelihoods. The redevelopment plan includes tearing down their homes and businesses, displacing them, and relocating them to a different part of the city, far from their current community and support systems. Moreover, there is a lack of detailed information on how the government will ensure affordable housing for the displaced families or whether they will be properly compensated. Vikram is also aware that there are significant financial interests behind the project. Several influential real estate developers stand to gain immensely from the redevelopment, and their lobbying efforts have heavily influenced the planning process. Vikram, who was initially excited about the project’s potential to revitalize the city, now feels conflicted. On one hand, the redevelopment could bring economic growth, but on the other hand, it may cause social harm to the marginalized community that lives there. As the project progresses, Vikram is put under pressure by his superiors to approve the project without further scrutiny, as delays could risk funding and affect the city’s overall development plan. He is aware that his career could suffer if he raises objections or calls for a review of the plan. At the same time, he is troubled by the ethical implications of displacing vulnerable communities for the sake of economic development and real estate profit. Questions: 1. What are the key ethical dilemmas involved in this situation? 2. How should Vikram handle the apparent conflict of interest in this situation, with powerful developers pushing for the project and the displacement of a marginalized community? 3. Can economic growth justify the displacement of a community? What ethical principles should guide policymakers when planning such development projects.

You are the Vice-Chancellor of a Public University. Recently, the management has decided to increase the hostel and tuition fees substantially. The students are unhappy with the management's decision and are staging a widespread protest in the university campus. A student from the weaker section came to you and explained his inability to pay the proposed hike in fees due to his weak financial family background. His father is a ragpicker and his mother works as a maid. He informed you about similar conditions of other financially weak students who are unable to pay the hiked fees. He also informed you that one of his friends is planning self-immolation in protest under the influence of some politically motivated students. With the passing of the day, the protest is growing violent, with several incidents of violence between security forces and students. Even though you also do not agree with the management's decision, but are under severe pressure from the government to implement the proposed hiked. In such circumstances, is it right to move forward with the management's decision? Identify the moral dilemma faced by you. Analyze your role and duties, along with a suitable course of action.

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.