UPSC Mains 2022 GS4 Q6 — Whistleblowing and CSR
(a) Whistle-blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrongdoing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimization by the vested interests, accused persons and his team. What Policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blower? (Answer in 150 words) (b) In contemporary world, corporate sector's contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- suggestCritically examine
- Scope keywords
- protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blowerphysical harm and victimizationCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR)unprecedented onslaught on the climateefficient and sufficient enoughvested interests
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identification of gaps in the current Whistle Blowers Protection Act (2014) regarding anonymity and witness protection.
- Proposed administrative, legal, and technological policy measures for proactive whistleblower safety.
- Evaluation of the 'efficiency' of CSR in terms of fund utilization vs. actual impact (compliance vs. spirit).
- Assessment of the 'sufficiency' of CSR as a voluntary/mandated tool against systemic environmental externalities.
- Alternative frameworks like ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) or 'Polluter Pays' to supplement CSR limitations.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time describing the definition of a whistleblower rather than providing actionable 'policy measures'.
- Focusing only on the 2% financial spending of CSR instead of its ethical failure to address 'onslaught on climate'.
- Treating 'efficient' and 'sufficient' as the same concept; one refers to process/output and the other to adequacy of the tool itself.
- Failing to mention the ethical conflict between wealth generation and environmental degradation in the corporate context.
- Dimensions required
- Legal-Legislative (Whistleblower Act)Institutional (CVC/CBI roles)Environmental Ethics (Sustainability vs Profit)Corporate Governance (ESG framework)Socio-Economic (Impact on living conditions)
- Marks allocation hint
For part (a), allocate 30 words to the current crisis and 45 words to specific policy solutions. For part (b), use 25 words to acknowledge CSR's role, and 50 words to critically argue why it is insufficient for climate and environmental challenges, concluding with a balanced view.
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