GS4 · UPSC Mains
A bridge is being built by a powerful local contractor in a district. The Public Works Department (PWD) is responsible for issuing the tender, checking the quality of the bridge and giving approval to it. During the construction of the bridge, testing by the quality control lab in the PWD showed its strength to be slightly below the minimum value required for granting approval for its further construction and completion. The local contractor paid hefty bribes to some officials in the PWD to get the contract. These officials are pressurising the quality control lab in the PWD to sign the report and give the required approval to the bridge. The local MLA is also pressuring the concerned lab for the approval, as elections in the state are approaching and the bridge has to be inaugurated. However, the in-charge of the lab is aware that if he grants approval and any mishappening related to the bridge occurs in the future, he may come under scrutiny. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the issues involved in this scenario? (b) Evaluate the options available to the in-charge of the quality control lab in the given situation. (c) What course of action should the lab in-charge take? Justify with logical arguments.
GS4 · Case studies on the above issues
| Topper | Rank | Source | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ritika Pandey | — | VisionIAS | p.53 |
| Kumar Sushant | — | VisionIAS | p.54 |
| Surabhi Yadav | — | Vision | p.50 |
| Kanishak Aggarwal | — | Vision | p.54 |
| Ridhima Jain | — | VisionIAS | p.54 |
| Priyanka Choudhary | — | Vision | p.53 |
| K N Chandana Jahnavi | — | VisionIAS | p.53 |
| Dev Vrat Joshi | — | VisionIAS | p.54 |