← All questionsGS4 · 2019 · Case Studies — Public Sector ·Case Studies — Public Sector
QUESTION 8
GS4
20 marks

Honesty and uprightness are hallmarks of civil servants, but bona fide administrative decisions can sometimes have unforeseen adverse consequences. Recent cases of civil servants being prosecuted and imprisoned for bona fide mistakes have rattled morale. How does this trend affect civil-service functioning? What measures can ensure honest civil servants are not implicated for bona fide mistakes? Justify.

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14 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

Justify: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “Honesty and uprightness are hallmarks of civil servants, but bona fide administrative decisions can sometimes have unforeseen adverse consequences. Recent cases of civil servants being prosecuted and imprisoned for bona fide mistakes have rattled morale. How…” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Case Studies — Public Sector.

JustifyAnswer exactly what the question asks.

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 Case Studies — Public Sector without directly resolving: “Honesty and uprightness are hallmarks of civil servants, but bona fide administrative decisions can sometimes have unforeseen adverse consequences.”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “Recent cases of civil servants being prosecuted and imprisoned for bona fide mistakes have rattled morale.”

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.