← All questionsGS4 · 2021 · Case Studies — Individual Morality ·Academic Integrity vs Career Advancement
QUESTION 8
GS4
20 marks

You are Vice Principal of a degree college and may be promoted as Principal. During annual examinations, a university flying squad catches two students using unfair means with the personal help of a senior lecturer close to management. One student is the son of a local politician important to the college; the other is the son of a major donor. Management asks you to resolve the matter with the flying squad at any cost and hints your promotion depends on it, while students protest demanding strict action.(a) Discuss the ethical issues.(b) Critically examine the options available and state what you would do and why.

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14 min
250 words
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What the examiner wants

Discuss · Critically examine: answer the exact PYQ as framed — “You are Vice Principal of a degree college and may be promoted as Principal. During annual examinations, a university flying squad catches two students using unfair means with the personal help of a senior lecturer close to management. One student is the son…” Treat each scoring limb separately instead of writing a general note on Academic Integrity vs Career Advancement.

Discuss · Critically examineAnswer 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 Academic Integrity vs Career Advancement without directly resolving: “You are Vice Principal of a degree college and may be promoted as Principal.”
  • Under-developing the second scoring limb: “During annual examinations, a university flying squad catches two students using unfair means with the personal help of a senior lecturer close to management.”

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.