← All questionsGS4 · 2018 · Case Studies — Public Sector ·Minister Road Realignment Coercion
QUESTION 8
GS4
20 marks

As a senior ministry officer, you have advance knowledge of a mega road project. A minister asks you to realign the road closer to his farmhouse and offers to facilitate purchase of nearby land in your wife’s name. The change would increase land acquisition, public cost, displacement and tree cutting, while potentially benefiting the minister and you. What will you do? Critically examine the conflicts of interest and your responsibilities as a public servant.

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14 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

Critically examine: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “As a senior ministry officer, you have advance knowledge of a mega road project. A minister asks you to realign the road closer to his farmhouse and offers to facilitate purchase of nearby land in your wife’s name. The change would increase land acquisition,…” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Minister Road Realignment Coercion.

Critically examineWeigh the strengths and the weaknesses, then give a balanced verdict.

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 Minister Road Realignment Coercion without directly resolving: “As a senior ministry officer, you have advance knowledge of a mega road project.”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “A minister asks you to realign the road closer to his farmhouse and offers to facilitate purchase of nearby land in your wife’s name.”

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.