← All questionsGS4 · 2020 · Case Studies — Public Sector ·Building Safety, Corruption & Accountability
QUESTION 10
GS4
20 marks

You are municipal commissioner of a large city. A roof collapse at a mall under construction kills four labourers, including minors, and injures many. Your inquiry reveals poor construction material, an illegal additional basement, inspection failures, encroachment on protected urban space, and possible nexus between municipal officials and the builder. The previous commissioner is your friend; colleagues pressure you to go slow; the influential builder offers a bribe and threatens a false POSH complaint. Discuss the ethical issues, options available, and your chosen course of action.

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14 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

Discuss: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “You are municipal commissioner of a large city. A roof collapse at a mall under construction kills four labourers, including minors, and injures many. Your inquiry reveals poor construction material, an illegal additional basement, inspection failures, encroa…” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Building Safety, Corruption & Accountability.

DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Map the stakeholders, facts, competing obligations and the ethical/public-interest conflict embedded in the case≈65 words
  2. 2Answer each explicit sub-question in the case and compare feasible options using legality, consequences, rights, fairness and integrity≈65 words
  3. 3Choose and justify an implementable course of action, including safeguards, accountability and follow-through≈65 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Key facts and stakeholdersEthical/legal issuesRealistic options with consequencesReasoned choiceImplementation safeguards and accountability

Where marks usually go

  • Writing generally about Building Safety, Corruption & Accountability without directly resolving: “You are municipal commissioner of a large city.”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “A roof collapse at a mall under construction kills four labourers, including minors, and injures many.”

Value addition

  • Stakeholder map + options-versus-values decision matrix
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Official source anchors

These are authoritative sources selected for this exact PYQ. Where a card is an official-domain anchor rather than a fact-level citation, verify the precise provision, definition or data point on the linked source before using it.