Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that things are not as rosy as he had imagined. He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark. Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However, he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the connivance of the higher-ups. Rameshwar felt highly disillusioned and uncomfortable. He comes to you seeking your advice.
What the examiner wants
Set out Rameshwar's options against fund misuse and exam cheating, evaluate them and recommend the best path.
Demand-wise check
- 1Stakeholders: Rameshwar, beneficiaries of welfare schemes, honest recruitment candidates, colleagues, seniors, public trust≈40 words
- 2Ethical issues: loyalty to seniors vs loyalty to Constitution, courage vs prudence, complicity through silence≈40 words
- 3Options: (i) keep quiet and adjust; (ii) resign in disgust; (iii) raise it internally in writing with evidence; (iv) complain to CVC/vigilance under the whistleblower framework; (v) go to media≈40 words
- 4Evaluation: silence makes him complicit; resignation abandons the field; media first breaches conduct rules; internal and vigilance routes are lawful and effective≈40 words
- 5Recommendation: collect evidence, act within his own jurisdiction, report in writing, escalate to vigilance/CVC, seek allies, maintain conduct; recruitment cheating merits criminal complaint≈40 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Where marks usually go
- Recommending resignation or leaking to media first
- Not separating the three irregularities, which need different responses
Draw this
- Decision tree: silence → complicity; resign → exit; report internally → escalate to CVC → criminal action
Value addition
- LawWhistle Blowers Protection Act 2014 protects public servants making disclosures of corruption.Parliament, 2014
- PolicyPIDPI Resolution (2004) made the CVC the designated agency to receive whistleblower complaints and protect identity.Government of India, 2004
- ExampleAshok Khemka's 2012 cancellation of a land mutation in Haryana despite more than 50 transfers in his career.Public record
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 31 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aakash Garg · AIR 5 · Page 33 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 35 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 33 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
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