GS4 · UPSC Mains

Naveen and Vinod, final year undergraduate students at ABC college of engineering, are close friends. Naveen has been a meritorious student and got appointed as the secretary of the training and placement cell, which has the mandate to oversee the campus placements of the students. Vinod, on the other hand, spent more time on leisure activities and paid less attention to his academic performance. However, the lackadaisical attitude of Vinod began to reflect on his grades. His poor performance in the majority of subjects meant that he had to complete some courses again, in order to graduate in time. As Vinod struggled to complete his extra courses, he barely had any time left for anything else. The immense fatigue was also evident from his deteriorating physical and psychological health. Around this time the campus placement in the ABC college had started. While all other students were preparing for the recruitment tests, Vinod had barely any time for the same. Vinod's parents, who had taken loan for Vinod's education, are expecting Vinod to get a good job. The guilt of wasting his college years and letting down his poor parents was becoming unbearable for Vinod, as a result of which he had a nervous breakdown. Naveen, who in his capacity as secretary of training and placement cell, was busy organising the recruitment drive, was aware that the chances of Vinod getting recruited were very slim. He also knew that Vinod was repenting in true sense and working very hard to complete his courses, despite his deteriorating emotional health. Naveen was afraid that if Vinod did not get a job, he may take some extreme step. Naveen has in his possession the question paper for the recruitment test to be held next week. Vinod had in the past requested Naveen to help him in any way possible to get a decent job. While Naveen knows that sharing the questions with Vinod may help him get through the exam, it would be ethically incorrect. Now, Naveen is in a dilemma over the course of action he should take. a) What are the ethical dilemmas before Naveen in this case? b) Identify and evaluate the various courses of actions available before Naveen. If you were in Naveen's shoes, which course of action would you choose and why? (20 marks, 250 words)

20 marks · 250 words · 8 toppers answered this · seen 2023

GS4 · Case studies on the above issues GS4 · Public/civil service values & ethics in public administration — status & problems; ethical concerns & dilemmas; conflict of interest

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