UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q14 — Banking Ethics Case
You are working as an executive in a nationalised bank for several years... (a) What are the ethical issues involved? (b) Evaluate the behaviour of the bank manager from an ethical point of view. (c) How would you react to the situation? (Answer in 250 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Evaluate
- Scope keywords
- executive in a nationalised bankethical issues involvedbehaviour of the bank managerethical point of viewHow would you react
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identify the conflict between organizational hierarchy (loyalty to manager) and fiduciary duty (loyalty to bank/public money).
- Analyze the potential systemic impact of the manager's actions on the bank’s non-performing assets (NPAs) and public trust.
- Formulate a step-by-step action plan that balances internal grievance redressal with external whistleblowing if necessary.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing too much on the legal/banking regulations instead of the 'ethical' dimensions required by GS4.
- Being overly confrontational or rebellious without following the proper administrative channel or chain of command.
- Ignoring the personal risk-reward ratio and failing to mention protection mechanisms like the Whistleblowers Protection Act.
- Failing to distinguish between 'professional misconduct' and 'ethical dilemmas' in the manager's behavior.
- Dimensions required
- Deontological EthicsFiduciary ResponsibilityOrganizational IntegrityIndividual Conscience vs. AuthorityPublic Interest/Common Good
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate approximately 50-60 words for part (a) identifying 3-4 distinct ethical issues. Devote 70-80 words to part (b) for a nuanced critique of the manager's ethics. Use the remaining 100-110 words for part (c) to provide a pragmatic, phased reaction strategy that demonstrates both integrity and professional maturity.
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