GS Paper IV: Attitude: content, structure, function; (SAMPLE NOTES)

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BY:Vikash Ranjan
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Attitudes: Content & Structure
An attitude is "a relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies
towards socially significant objects, groups, events or symbols. In other Words Attitude is a
psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of
favor or disfavor". Attitudes provide a background that makes it easier for a person to decide
how to act in new situations. For example, our attitude towards foreigners may indirectly provide
a mental layout or blueprint for the way in which we should behave whenever we meet one.
Attitudes structure can be described in terms of three components.
o Affective component: this involves a persons feelings / emotions about the attitude object. For
example: You are scared of spiders. The emotional component is known as the affective
Component.
o Behavioral (or conative) component: the way the attitude we have influences how we act or
behave. For example: You will avoid spiders and scream if You see one. This is tendency to act
in a particular way.
o Cognitive component: this involves a persons belief / knowledge about an attitude object. The
thought component is referred to as the cognitive component. For example: You believe spiders
are dangerous.
This model is known as the ABC model of attitudes. The three components are usually linked.
However, there is evidence that the cognitive and affective components of behavior do not
always match with behavior. This is shown in a study by LaPiere
(1934) .....................................................(Explained in the Class)
---------------------------------------------------------------------The A-B-C Components of an Attitude: A Green Environment:
Suppose a group of people in your neighbourhood start a tree plantation campaign as part of a
green environment movement. Based on sufficient information about the environment, your
view towards a green environment is positive (cognitive or C component, along with the
evaluative aspect). You feel very happy when you see greenery. You feel sad and angry when you
see trees being cut down. These aspects reflect the affective (emotional), or A component of the
same attitude. Now suppose you also actively participate in the tree plantation campaign. This
shows the behavioural or B component of your attitudes towards a green environment. In
general, we expect all three components to be consistent with each other, that is, in the same
direction. However, such consistency may not necessarily be found in all situations. For
example, it is quite possible that the cognitive aspect of your green environment attitude is very

strong, but the affective and behavioural components may be relatively weaker. Or, the cognitive
and affective components may be strong and positive, but the behavioural component may be
neutral. Therefore, predicting one component on the basis of the other two may not always give
us the correct picture about an attitude/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------In addition to the affective, cognitive and behavioral components, attitudes also have other
properties & Content. Four significant properties of attitudes are: Valence (positivity or
negativity), Extremeness, Simplicity or Complexity (multiplicity), and Centrality.
Valence (positivity or negativity) : The valence of an attitude tells us whether an attitude is
positive or negative towards the attitude object. Suppose an attitude (say, towards nuclear resear
ch) has to be expressed on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (Very bad), 2 (Bad), 3 (Neutral
neither good nor bad), and 4 (Good), to 5 (Very good). If an individual rates her/his view towards
nuclear research as 4 or 5, this is clearly a positive attitude. This means that the person likes the
idea of nuclear research and thinks it is something good. On the other hand, if the rating is 1 or 2,
the attitude is negative. This means that the person dislikes the idea of nuclear research, and
thinks it is something bad. We also allow for neutral attitudes. In this example, a neutral attitude
towards nuclear research would be shown by a rating of 3 on the same scale. A neutral attitude
would have neither positive nor negative valence.
Extremeness : The extremeness of an attitude indicates how positive or negative an attitude is.
Taking the nuclear research example given above, a rating of 1 is as extreme as a rating of 5 :
they are only in the opposite directions (valence). Ratings of 2 and 4 are less extreme. A neutral
attitude, of course, is lowest on extremeness.
Simplicity or Complexity (multiplexity) :
This feature refers to how many attitudes there are within a broader attitude. Think of an attitude
as a family containing several member attitudes. In case of various topics, such as health and
world peace, people hold many attitudes instead of single attitude.
An attitude system is said to be simple if it contains only one or a few attitudes, and complex
if it is made up of many attitudes. Consider the example of attitude towards health and wellbeing. This attitude system is likely to consist of several member attitudes, such as ones
concept of physical and mental health, views about happiness and well-being, and beliefs about
how one should achieve health and happiness. By contrast, the attitude towards a particular
person is likely to consist of mainly one attitude.
The multiple member-attitudes within an attitude system should not be confused with the three
components described earlier. Each member attitude that belongs to an attitude system also has
A-B-C components.
Centrality: This refers to the role of a particular attitude in the attitude system. An attitude with
greater centrality would influence the other attitudes in the system much more than non-central
(or peripheral) attitudes would. For example, in the attitude towards world peace, a negative

attitude towards high military expenditure

may be present as a core or central attitude that influences all other attitudes in the multiple
attitude system.
-------------------------------------------------------------Attitudes have to be distinguished from two other closely related concepts, namely, beliefs and
values. Beliefs refer to the cognitive component of attitudes, and form the ground on which
attitudes stand, such as belief in God, or belief in democracy as a political ideology. Values are
attitudes or beliefs that contain a should or ought aspect, such as moral or ethical values. One
example of a value is the idea that one should work hard, or that one should always be honest,
because honesty is the best policy. Values are formed when a particular belief or attitude
becomes an inseparable part of the persons outlook on
life. Consequently, values are difficult to change.
--------------------------------------------------------------The Function of Attitude:
--------------------------------------------------------------Attitudes can serve functions for the individual. The four basic functional areas:
Knowledge: Attitudes provide meaning (knowledge) for life. The knowledge function refers to
our need for a world which is consistent and relatively stable. This allows us to predict what is
likely to happen, and so gives us a sense of control. Attitudes can help us organize and structure
our experience. Knowing a persons attitude helps us predict their behavior. For example,
knowing that a person is religious we can predict they will go to Temple.
Self / Ego-expressive: The attitudes we express (1) help communicate who we are and (2) may
make us feel good because we have asserted our identity. Self-expression of attitudes can be nonverbal too: think bumper sticker, cap, or T-shirt slogan. Therefore, our attitudes are part of our
identity, and help us to be aware through expression of our feelings, beliefs and values.
Adaptive. If a person holds and/or expresses socially acceptable attitudes, other people will
reward them with approval and social acceptance. For example, when people flatter their seniors
in administration or organization or instructors (and believe it) or keep silent if they think an
attitude is unpopular. Again, expression can be nonverbal [think politician kissing baby].
Attitudes then, are to do with being apart of a social group and the adaptive functions helps us fit
in with a social group. People seek out others who share their attitudes, and develop similar
attitudes to those they like.
The ego-defensive function: The ego-defensive function refers to holding attitudes that protect
our self-esteem or that justify actions that make us feel guilty. For example, People whose pride
has suffered following a defeat in sport might similarly adopt a defensive attitude: Im not
bothered, Im sick of rugby anyway This function has psychiatric overtones. Positive
attitudes towards ourselves, for example, have a protective function (i.e. an ego-defensive role)
in helping us reserve our self-image.
The basic idea behind the functional approach is that attitudes help a person to mediate between
their own inner needs (expression, defense) and the outside world (adaptive and knowledge).

Functions of Attitudes: Examples/...................

Imagine you are very patriotic about being Indian. This might cause you to have an
ethnocentric attitude towards everything not Indian. Imagine further that you are with a group of
like-minded friends. You say: Of course theres no other country as good as India to live in.
Other places are alright in their own way but they cant compare with your mother county.
(There are nods of approval all round. You are fitting in - adaptive). The people in the group are
wearing Indian Cricket shirts (This is the self-expression function).
Then imagine you go on to say: The trouble with foreigners is that they dont speak Hindi. I
went to China last year and they were ignorant. Even if they could speak our language they
wouldnt do so. I call that unfriendly. (Others agree with you and tell you of their similar
experiences. You are making sense of things. This is the knowledge function).
Then someone who has never travelled takes things a stage further
I dont mind foreigners coming here on holidaybut they shouldnt be allowed to live
here.taking our jobs and living off social security. India for the Indians is what I say.why is
it getting so you cant get a decent job in your own country. (Now the others in the room join in
scapegoating foreigners and demonstrating the ego defensive fun
Practice Questions with Solution HINTS for Mains 2014
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Qtn. 1. What according to you are the obstacles in ensuring Ethical Accountability in India?
(10)
Explanation: some of the obstacles in ensuring ethical accountability are:
i. Special expertise and lack of flow of information: Public servants are often experts in their
specific areas of functioning and it is difficult for any outside agency to surpass them in their
areas of specialization. They generate and comprehend information but access to them is very
limited for common men. Although acts, like RTI and Citizens Charter are crucial, but universal
use need to be ensured.
ii. Less time devoted for audit: Oversight agencies, such as Auditors, Regulators, Media etc.
generally have less time to devote on one case, as compared to full time of public administrators.
So, sometimes they are not able to seek all crucial information and process and use them
effectively.
iii. Massive expansion of bureaucracy: Because of this, many times it is difficult for political
executives and senior officials to keep an eye on all of their subordinates.
iv. Lack of coordination among various government departments, which lead to poor information
sharing and data processing. This also leads to duplication of efforts and wastage of time and
man resources.
v. Excessive monopoly and discretion: Excessive security in cases of wrong decisions taken by
public servants while using his/ her discretion. Security of job and promotion is also a big

deterrent to accountability.
vi. Normal tendency of taking Vigilance departments as a police department, instead of a
facilitator, from whom suggestions can be taken. This leads to hiding of information and
avoiding being candid while doing work.
vii. Misinterpretation of roles and obligations: Setting of specific goals with clear distribution of
work and a focus of outcome oriented delivery of public services is often found missing in the
public departments. This provides an obstacle in dealing with effective and quality product
services delivery and at the end leads to chaotic situation, without any inculcation of feeling of a
team work.
viii. Narrow loyalty towards the organization and superior authority: Instead of being loyal
towards the nation and public at large, many times public servants are socialized into developing
loyalty towards the organization they serve and their superior authority. This leads to diluting and
hiding of information.
ix. Archaic procedures and rules: Many organizations, such as Police, Income Tax, Railways etc.
are following age old archaic procedures and their department rules have not been amended so
far. This has led to over concentration of power in the hands of few officials.
x. Lack of feeling of self accountability: Self accountability is the best way to ensure ethical
accountability. But, due to lack of proper behavioural based trainings in generating self
accountability, public servants are not able to acknowledge this fact.
Qtn. 2. As a business, the media is under constant pressure to sell and to offer what sells, rather
than what as the fourth state it ought to offer. How much you agree with this statement? (10)
Explanation: I agree with this statement. The media has a dual character. It is a medium as well
as creator of news, attitudes and agenda. It conveys as well as directs. It is in recognition of the
directional role that the world over political parties establish their own newspaper, news
channels. Information is often conveyed and commented upon with a view to shape the public
agenda, mould public opinion and push action along a particular course towards a particular goal.
The world over there is a tendency towards concentration in the media business. As business, the
media has been the target of sharp criticism. The lure of more circulation, more advertising and
more profit, it is said, induces the media to cater to populist fears and prejudices, entertain
instead of enlighten, pander instead of lead.
However it is important to bear in mind three factors:
i. The media cannot survive without being a business
ii. Size of firms and concentration in markets are often the result of exogenous factors like
technological change rather than endogenous corporate policies
iii. There are limits to what the government or business can offer to people, what they ought to
have rather than what they wish to have.
There is thus an intrinsic tension between the two roles of media, media as a quasi public
institution and media as business. This intrinsic tension erupts occasionally within a newspaper

or news channels, with the editor and the proprietor taking different views of their roles, and over
what and how something should be reported.
Qtn. 3. Explain the following terms with suitable examples: (04x5)
a. Public Service
Any kind of services provided by the government during the process of governance is public
service. It is provided by government to people living within its jurisdiction, either directly (such
as, police services, army, Right to work, PDS shops etc.) or by financing provision of services
(such as, providing subsidies for diesel, LPG, conditional cash transfers etc.). This is associated
with the presumption that certain services should be available to all citizens, regardless of the
income. It is an essential tool of the government to establish a welfare state by the means of
ensuring transparency and accountability while delivering services.
b. Corruption
It is willful diversion of resources (either money or any other resources) by a person from the
intended purpose to other purposes or for his/ her own benefit. ARC report called for inclusion of
wilful violation of oath of office ,abuse of authority unduly favouring or harming someone,
squandering of public money and obstruction of justice under the Prevention of Corruption
Act, 1988. Example of corruption may include from using official stationary for own purpose to
billon dollar scams like, Coalgate, Common wealth game scams.
c. Public Procurement
Public procurement, also called government procurement, is the procurement of goods and
services on behalf of a public authority, such as a government agency. Government procurement
accounts for a substantial part of our economy because of the phenomenon of a welfare state in
India.
It may range from procurement of furniture or computers for daily use to procurement of large
turbines, ships, aircrafts, defence equipments etc.
Methods adopted for public procurement are tendering, e - tendering, reverse auctioning, rate
contracts, personal enquiries etc.
Public procurement is the largest grey area of ethics, where largest corruption occurs. Example is
the bofors scam, Common Wealth Game scam, fodder scam etc.
d. Work Culture
Work culture is an integrational outcome of i. The behaviour and attitude of employees of the organization
ii. Organizational ideological goals
iii. Vision, mission and values of the organization and efforts taken to achieve them
iv. Behaviour, system and beliefs of the employees
Good/ positive work culture aspires to achieve objectives and inculcate feelings of team work

and promote efficiency.

Nature of work culture:
i. Authoritative/ exploitative
ii. Benevolent
iii. Participatory
iv. Consultative
e. Quality of Service Delivery
Quality of service delivery defines the minimum standards of processes of governance.
In India, the Sevottam model has been developed with the overarching objective of improving
the quality of public service delivery in the country. The model has three components:
i. The first component of the model requires effective charter implementation thereby opening up
a channel for receiving citizens inputs into the way in which organizations determine service
delivery requirements. Citizens Charters publicly declare the information on citizens
entitlements; making citizens better informed and hence empowering them to demand better
services.
ii. The second component of the model, Public Grievance Redress requires a good grievance
redress system operating in a manner that leaves the citizen more satisfied with how the
organization responds to complaints/grievances, irrespective of the final decision.
iii. The third component Excellence in Service Delivery, postulates that an organization can
have an excellent performance in service delivery only if it is managing the key ingredients for
good service delivery well, and building its own capacity to continuously improve delivery.
The ability of such an assessment model in influencing service delivery quality will be a function
of how tightly improvement actions are linked to assessment results.

Qtn. 4. a. What are the ethical issues in International relation?(10)

Explanation: Ethics come into play in International Relations, whenever any exchange (in forms
of agreements, pacts, trade, funds, grants, loans etc.) takes place. Ethical concerns are aroused
when the interests of each and every stakeholder need to be protected and promoted and a
uniform platform needs to be established for them, thus ensuring international peace and
development for all.
The main areas of ethical concerns in International relations are:
i. Ways of providing funds (grants & loans) to one country by another. (sometimes, unsustainable
rates are surcharged on loans due to sudden tensions in relations)
ii. Climate change combating and mitigation agreements. (island nations and smaller countries
are worst to suffer due to climate change, but main contributors are richer countries who are least
to suffer)
iii. Dichotomy in Labour laws and rights (For example, some import bans have been imposed by
European Union on India due to child labor practices in that sector.)

iv. Issues emerging out of human rights protection. (some countries, especially western countries,
define separate definitions of human rights for their citizens and for migrants. Case of unethical
treatments to one of Indian diplomat in US or violent murder of Indian in Australia etc.)
v. Visa related issues. (Cases of excessive security checking at US Air port of some of very
famous Indian celebrities, such as Shahrukh Khan etc).
vi. Terrorism funding. (good vs bad terrorism, in which good terrorism is promoted to end bad
ones, but in long term, both types are bad for other countries).
vii. Snooping and lack of transparency in information sharing.
viii. Corruption related issues, where countries are paid to support any particular resolution in
international fora.
ix. Interference in internal affairs of weaker countries by neo colonialism, that is, the process of
making economically weaker countries economically dependent on neo colonialists.
x. Conflicts in IPRs (cases of patenting of neem, basmati rice, turmeric etc by US, which were
indigenous to India.)
xi. Non- sharing of equal profits of partnership and technologies in defence pacts, thus making
the procuring countries literally dependent on the supplier country.
xii. Dominance and imposing via principle of hierarchy.
xiii. Violation of principle of identity and enforcing authority through agencies, such as NATO
etc.
xiv. Non acceptance of tribes of other countries. (cases of poor conditions of Rohingyas,
Romas etc who are forced to live a life of migrants in their own countries).
xv. Non acceptance of amendments at international fora. (Eg, case of reforms of UNSC, going
on for long time, but till now, it has not been accepted with open arms.)
xvi. State organized cyber crimes against other countries. (eg, Stuxnet worm of US imposed on
Iran.)
Qtn. 4. b. How can the Whistle-Blowing domain be expanded in India? Explain with suitable
examples.(05)
Explanation: Whistle blowers Act seeks to promote combating corruption by keeping the names
of initiators or whistle blowers of corruption as secret. This will motivate others to come out and
provide information about incidents of corruption happening around them.
Expansion of Whistle blowing in India:
i. Empowering employees to expose internal corruption by ensuring them total immunity and
protection. SC ruled out that whistle blowers identity should be protected totally.
ii. State support to whistle blowers through thorough implementation of the act.
iii. Fair and impartial trial of cases exposed by whistle blowers.
iv. Expanding protection of whistle blowers in cases of private companies as well. Right now,
legal safeguards to individuals are guaranteed only in cases pertaining to government
establishments or where substantial public money is involved.
v. Motivation to whistle blowers by appreciation and awards. Recent news on Dinesh Thakur,

who worked at Ranbaxy for four months and initiated blowing the lid on the companys
falsification of certification documents submitted to drug controllers around the world. He was
awarded $48.6 million for his efforts.
vi. Whistle blowing should be included in the Companies act, which may provide essential
criteria for companies to have proper and well advertised mechanisms for whistle blowing.
vii. Through advertisements, campaigns and raising awareness by posting whistle blowing
mechanisms on the companys portal and sites, celebrating whistle blowing weeks and days.
Qtn. 5. How the strengthening of ethical and moral values in the governance may be ensured?
(10)
Explanation: Strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance:
i. Ensuring reflection of ethical and moral standards in the legal framework of the government by
specifying minimum obligatory standards and principles of behaviour for public servants and
properly framed laws, rules and regulations for guidance, investigation and punishment in cases
of non compliance.
ii. Ethical guidance should be available to public servants by time to time arrangements of
trainings for upgradation of skills for ethical analysis and moral reasoning and providing a
mechanism for impartial advise in cases where they used to face ethical dilemmas. An internal
consultation process mechanism, involving very senior and experienced bureaucrats should be
developed to assist nave officers.
iii. Instead of espirit de corps, a proper code of ethics should be evolved with certain region
based discretion. Government policies should clearly state that below certain standards of public
service value, the civil servants action cannot be tolerated.
iv. Motivation through live case studies, practical examples, incentives, applauds etc.
v. Individual public servants should be given responsibilities and in cases of inaction, they should
have to bear its onus.
vi. Protection in cases of exposing of wrong doings at all levels.
vii. Merit based promotions and providing timely boost ups to bring reforms.
viii. Adequate accountability mechanisms through use of technology. For example, a vigilance
week is being celebrated with the theme of: ensuring accountability technology as an enabler.
This will focus on improving technology for ensuring internal as well as external accountability.
ix. Adequate and quick trial of cases of unethical behaviour and a proper ethical check on the
discretion power.
----------------Qtn. 6. The true value of corporate governance is much more than just ensuring compliance with
regulations. Critically comment.(10)
-----------------Explanation: Although Indian corporates have been focused on revisiting and updating boardlevel policies and procedures by implementing them, but the focus of most of the organisations
have been on achieving legal compliance, for instance, introducing the appropriate mix of

executive and non-executive directors on their boards. But beyond this, not much has been done
substantively. Most listed companies continue to view corporate governance as a compliancedriven exercise an effort to ensure that they implement the bare minimum that can keep them
out of legal trouble. This, however, is not appropriate.
The true value of corporate governance is much more than just ensuring compliance with
regulations. This is because the spirit of corporate governance is about putting in place
safeguards around any eventuality that could have a serious negative impact on a company and
its stakeholders. In other words, while a CEO of any company with questionable integrity can
topple a company, it is also important to recognise that other risks such as poor controls around
financial processes, operational inefficiencies, and the inability to compete effectively in the
global marketplace, can also produce disastrous results. The mandate should be to develop a
framework for a system of controls that could help companies achieve their stated business
objectives for various stakeholders and society at large. Making Corporate Social Responsibility
as mandatory, vibrant RTI, Pro active approach in disclosing of assets and liabilities, merit based
criteria for selection of employees, providing assistance in compliance as well as social audit
generation of feelings of self accountability and self responsibility may help in realizing the
true values of corporate governance.
-----------------Qtn. 7. Open government is the governing doctrine which holds that citizens have the right to
access the documents and proceedings of the government to allow for effective public
oversight. How much you agree with this statement? (10)
-------------------Explanation: I agree with this statement. Open government ensures a transparent, accountable,
information sharing and feedback seeking governance process, which shares everything with the
citizens, considering them as its family members. In its broadest construction it opposes reason
of state and other considerations, which have tended to legitimize extensive state secrecy.
There should be proper rules, regulations and mechanisms in place that call upon government
actors to justify their actions, act upon criticisms or requirements made of them, and accept
responsibility for failure to perform with respect to laws or commitments. Governments embrace
the importance of providing citizens with open access to technology, the role of new
technologies in driving innovation, and the importance of increasing the capacity of citizens to
use technology. Governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input,
and make contributions that lead to more responsive, innovative and effective governance.
Information on government activities and decisions is open, comprehensive, timely& freely
available to the public at their door steps. It ensures that citizens, civil society and governments
participate and work together in a participative process. Governments need to proactively
approach and engage citizens and support civil society in order to increase their capacity to
participate. E - Governance and participative governance are ways to ensure open governance.
The contemporary doctrine of open government finds its strongest advocates in the pressure
groups and vigilant citizens, which keen to counter what they see as the inherent tendency of
government to lapse, whenever possible, into secrecy. For example, through RTI, public may

seek concealed information, which might have been not provided by the government itself. This
ensures effective public oversight.
----------------------Qtn. 8. Critically analyse the problems of policy making in India. Also propose solutions.(10)
----------------------Explanation: Problems of policy making in India:
i. Excessive Fragmentation: One of the main problems with policy-making in India is extreme
fragmentation in the structure. For example, the transport sector is dealt with by five
departments/Ministries in the government of India whereas in the US and UK it is a part of one
department (Department of Transport and Public Works in the US and Department of
Environment, Transport and Regions in the UK). Similar examples exist in the energy, industry
and social welfare sectors as well. Such fragmentation fails to recognize that actions taken in one
sector have serious implications on another and may work at cross purposes with the policies of
the other sector. Besides, it becomes very difficult, even for closely related sectors, to align their
policies in accordance with a common overall agenda.
ii. Excessive Overlap: Another problem is the excessive overlap between implementation,
program formulation and policy making which creates a tendency to focus on operational
convenience rather than on public needs. Policy-making in Indian ministries occurs at the levels
of Director and above, but the most important level (crucial for consideration of cross-cutting
impacts) is that of the Secretaries to the Government of India, who are their Ministers policy
advisers-in-chief. However, as mentioned earlier, the very same Secretaries spend a large part of
their time bogged down on routine day-to-day administration of existing policy. Time is spent
anticipating and answering parliamentary questions, attending meetings and functions on
implementation issues etc. Partly the problem is symptomatic of over-centralisationexcessive
concentration of implementation powers at the higher levels of the Ministries.
iii. Lack of non-governmental inputs and informed debate: Often public policy is made without
adequate input from outside government and without adequate debate on the issues involved.
The best expertise in many sectors may lie outside the Government. Yet the policy processes and
structures of Government have no systematic means for obtaining outside inputs, for involving
those affected by policies or for debating alternatives and their impacts on different groups. Most
developed countries have a system of widespread public debate before a policy is approved. For
example, in the US , the legislature subjects a new policy initiative to extensive debate not only
in Committees but also in the Senate and House. Such debates not only enable an assessment of
different viewpoints but also help build up a constituency in support of the policy through sound
arguments. Probably the only example of fairly systematic consultation of outside expertise in
India is in the process of formulating the Central Budget, where there is a long tradition of prebudget confabulations with chosen members of industry, labour and academia.
iv. Policies are framed without taking feed backs: In India, governance is just one way process.
Proper provisions to take feedbacks from the people, who bear the direct impacts of policies, are
missing from their framing. There is no effective way to capture past feedbacks and experiences,
which may be utilized to improve future policies and programmes.

Suggestions to improve public policy making:

i. Provision of a survey to capture the efficacy of previous policies and address loopholes in
future. Also, if a policy is successful in one region and unsuccessful in other, then experiences
from the successful implementation may be used in other regions as well.
ii. Advertising and maturing two way governance process.
iii. Video conferencing or addressing people directly through satellites, in which feedbacks and
suggestions of common men could be taken.
iv. Networking of policy makers to common men through radio, television, internet, mobile
messages in local language.
v. Amending archaic laws in accordance with the current context.
vi. Outcome based approach instead of result based, where all possible pros and cons should be
analyzed.
vii. Integration and simplification of inter departmental interfaces and information sharing.
viii. Implementation, formulation and policy making should be clearly and markedly segregated
and distributed.
ix. Citizens - civil societies - government debate as tri nodal model should be promoted and
provided a proper and periodic platform.
--------------------Qtn. 9. The concept of public and private governance is entering a phase of convergence. How
much you agree with this statement? 10)
---------------------Explanation: In the contemporary world, private sector is not mere market mechanism propelled
by unfettered competition. Truly competitive companies, who care for reputations should have to
be unequivocally committed to the interests of stakeholders and society. The absence of
governance or deficit in trust results in diminished consumer, investor and public confidence
along with less efficient organizations. Private sector needs support of public governance to win
trust of people and stakeholders, for harnessing public resources, for providing a platform to
expand by ensuring reliability to the people, for earning reputation and hence easily getting loans
and grants from public banks and markets through IPOs, FPOs, shares etc.
On the other hand, public governance needs capital, technological and financial support from
private sector. PPP is an excellent example of integration of public and private governance.
Public governance has to learn how to ensure achievements of task focused, result oriented goal
from the private sector.
The need of the hour is to provide a platform where convergence of public private governance
may take place and which may lead to integration of best practices from both sectors. The role of
public governance should be to discipline the private governance and act as a facilitator and
optimizer, considering the interests of the people and the role of private governance should be to
assist public governance and take responsibility towards the society and nation. This may ensure
true convergence of corporate governance and public managerialism.

10. Examine the following statements and bring out what it means to you in the present context.
(10x3)
Qtn. a. The use of power need not necessarily be violent.
Explanation: The most effective exercise of power is that which irks least. A non violent
administrator or law giver professes his duties without getting affected by fear or favour, anger
or attachment.
It is truly said that with great power, comes great responsibilities and a violent person may not be
able to accomplish all responsibilities with utmost satisfaction. Examples could be seen, where
violent dictators, such as Hitler, Napolean, Mussollini, British government in India all came to an
end. Recent case of Arab Spring further re establishes this fact. Emphasis on use of soft skills
in international arena by India, such as negotiations, peace talks, focus on educational and
cultural pacts is an example, where power has been utilized effectively in non violent ways,
thus earning a tag of soft power.
For true development of any country and true realization of the ideals of constitution, the highest
posts of governance need to be as less violent as possible and adopting some violent means, such
as lathi charges, tear gas etc. only in extreme cases of grave public order hampering.
To ensure, non violent legislative and executive, proper methods of checks (such as
independent and impartial judiciary, right to vote, individual fundamental rights) have been given
in the constitution, which ensures that it may not take the form of all pervasive and all
powerful.
Qtn. b. Freedom and Responsibility are the twin aspects of citizenship in a free society.
Explanation: Our Constitution has endowed us with very comprehensive fundamental rights,
which ensures freedoms in a very broad context. But, those freedoms are not absolute. They are
closely linked to responsibility, some of which are mentioned in the fundamental duties. For
instance, one cannot enjoy right to life if one disturbs other in living their lives. Its ones
responsibility to profess ones right in such a way so as not to impose constraints for others.
Therefore, Responsibility and freedom go together. If one does not want to take responsibility,
he/ she cannot have freedom either. Freedom means one will have to be responsible for every act,
for every breath; whatever he/ she does or doesn't do, one will be responsible. For example, we
have been given freedom of expression and information, we should utilize this to fulfill our
responsibility by giving correct information during social audits and various government
surveys.
In the contemporary situation, as freedom has been assured by our constitution and executive
machinery, it is our responsibility to utilize that freedom in achieving development of our
country and the society.
Qtn. c. Work culture refers to the attitudes, values and behaviour of individuals.

Explanation: When people join an organization, they bring with them their unique attitudes,
values and behaviours that they have been taught. Any organisation with firmly established
organisational culture would be taught the values, beliefs and expected behaviours of that
organisation. Just as society moulds human behaviour, an organisation also moulds human
behaviour that is in tune with the prevalent set of norms and behaviour. In this process, certain
basic attitudes and beliefs about the people and their work situations are slowly but firmly
accepted in the organisation, which becomes its 'Organisational Culture. A positive
organizational culture reinforces the core beliefs and behaviours that a leader desires while
weakening the values and actions the leader rejects.
In the present context, positive work culture is evident in the implementation of Swatchh Bharat
Mission in organizations, where attitudinal and behavioural changes are inculcated in employees
for ensuring time - bound achievement of goals.
States like, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat have shown better growth and development due to
dedicated behaviour, hard working values, positive attitude and efficient work culture.
In the following questions, carefully study the cases presented and then answer the questions that
follow:
11. Mr. X started as an energy producer in 1990 and later on moved into energy trading. The
company that was making huge profits by the year 2000 and was also rated as one of the largest
company on the Fortune 500, unexpectedly collapsed in 2008. Mr. X had impressed the public by
entering into a unique concept of trading energy, and it deceived the public with false profits.
Also, the company had huge debts, all of which were not shown on the company accounts. To
hide these large amounts of debt and losses, Mr. X had made many partnerships with companies
that were run by Mr. Xs executives who profited from this deal and deceived the public. It used
creative accounting techniques and manipulated its books which kept the investors in dark and
led to an all time rise in its stock prices.
But by August 2008, the existing CEO of the company resigned, and it reported huge losses in
October 2008. By late 2008, it admitted that the company had been manipulating its books and
showing inflated profits. Mr. X in December 2008, filed for bankruptcy and later the matter was
investigated and within a short span of time, the company had large amounts of unpaid debt and
worthless shares. It was also revealed that the top executives of the company made huge profits
by selling Mr. Xs shares at the right time, thereby leaving all the losses to be borne by other
investors.
Qtn. a. Analyse the above case in terms of importance of corporate governance.(10)
Explanation:
Facts available in the case:
i. Mr. X is founder of the company.
ii. Mr. X was involved in deceiving the public by showing false inflated profits by manipulating

companys accounts.
iii. He was concealing companys debts and losses
iv. He revealed bankruptcy at last moment and thus left all the losses to be borne by the
investors.
Values involved:
i. Integrity of Mr. X
ii. Transparency of the process
iii. Accountability towards the stakeholders
iv. Reporting of the account.
Corporate governance is defined as the process through which a company is related with the
stakeholders.
Mr. X being the founder of the company (fact i) has the biggest responsibility to share
information with stakeholders in order to maintain reputation in the market and get loans. Facts
at ii, iii and iv would lead to erosion of confidence and trust of the public. Lack of accountability
and transparency in the case lead to falsification of profits by maligning of account books. All
these question the key concepts of corporate governance, such as - accountability, transparency,
protection of stakeholders interests, stakeholders right to be informed and integrity.
In such situation, corporate governance based on the underpinning of stakeholders and
investors interests comes into consideration. Corporate governance includes the processes
through which corporations' objectives are set and pursued in the context of the social, regulatory
and market environment. Steps such as, monitoring of the actions, policies and decisions of
corporations and their agents might have ensured proper implementation of provisions of
corporate governance. In this case, corporate governance may ensure justice for the investors by
proper distribution of profits among all stakeholders. Corporate governance if implemented in
the above case, have led to proper monitoring of records and timely revelation of bankruptcy.
Qtn. b. Suppose you have been appointed for the task of auditing the account books of the
company, what should be your course of action?(10)
Explanation:
i. I may form an internal auditing team consisting of professionals, who have knowledge of
accounting systems.
ii. I along with my team may enquire all the employees and related departments individually by
looking into proper asset liability match in the balance sheet and check for compliance of
balance sheet with annual profit and loss statements. We may do the audit with the help of
vouchers, documents, information and explanations received from various authorities. In case of
any need, we might hire or take helps from chartered accountants.
iii. We may prepare a report based on the findings, which will be submitted to the external

auditing agency.
iv. We may arrange a meeting of all the stakeholders of the company and lay the report in the
meeting.
Qtn. c. What are the factors you would consider in reaching to the course of action?(05)
Explanation: Following factors should be considered:
i. Malpractices going on in the company showing false profits, manipulating account books.
ii. Reporting of the account books.
iii. Information gathered though enquiry of Mr. X and other employees.
iv. Past records.
v. Deviation from compliance of corporate governance.
vi. Integrity of the CEO.
vii. Periodicity of information sharing with the stakeholders.

12. Total sanitation campaign is launched in one of the backward district of Bihar. Due to
unhygienic environmental conditions in rural areas many infectious diseases like typhoid,
malaria and cholera spread which ruins the health of the people. Women and girls are badly
sufferers as they have to wait for darkness for privacy and dignity. There are increasing instances
of sexual and physical assault on them when toilets are in remote location. But the rural people,
particularly the aged, do not want to change their traditional practice of open defecation. Hence,
total sanitation campaign faces daunting challenges of adaptability especially in this
educationally backward district. Various villages of other districts have been benefitted by this
program of Ministry of Rural Development. The prime aim of this program is to popularize
sanitation and hygienic environment in the rural areas. You are recently posted as the Subdivisional Magistrate in that district. The chief secretary of Bihar is showing keen interest in this
project. Considering your past performances, the administration is quite hopeful.
Qtn. a. How would you transform the minds of rural people which are loaded with orthodox
beliefs? (10)
Qtn. b. You have gathered information from various sources and a close review of the
performance of the total sanitation campaign in other districts show that a total commitment on
the part of key officials can bring out social change. How will you implement it in your district?
(10)
13. You are recently posted as an SDM in a remote district. You come to know that the local
MLAs followers of the area, who are mainly small contractors and elected members of Gram
Panchayat along with local officials, are misusing MGNREGA funds. You find that they
smoothly siphoned off funds using fake job cards and without allocating bilateral cards to the

villagers. You also come to know that all this was done at the behest of the local MLA. The state
government has taken cognizance of the issue after a media report highlighted the matter and has
ordered inquiry into the scam.
You have been given the onus to enquire into the matter. The local MLA is pressurizing you to
file a false report. Some contractors and officials have contacted and requested you not to
mention their names in the report in return for a hefty bribe. Recently, you have also started
getting non traceable threat calls.
Qtn. a. What are the available options with you? (10)
Qtn. b. Evaluate each of these options & choose the option which you would adopt giving
reasons.(10)
Qtn. c. What should be your course of action? (05)
14. You have been promoted as Additional Secretary in the ministry of defence and throughout
your career, you have earned great respect because of your integrity. Defence minister trusts you
and has given you great discretion in taking decisions. In a deal involving direct government to
government contract with a major arms supplier, you are tasked with speeding up the contract
agreement and finalize the deal. The manufacturer, who will benefit immensely if the process is
expedited, on many occasions has personally contacted you and expressed his frustration in the
slow movement of files in the ministry.
Recently, another issue has been emerged. Because of unexpected political circumstances, the
defence minister now wants to scrap the deal. From your experience, you know that the present
controversy is temporary and somehow the deal will be inked later. You, who have few months
of service left, are in a dilemma. The deal, if signed, doesnt harm anyones interests. The
equipments are of world class and are sure to add value to the countrys defence arsenal. You are
arranging for your daughters marriage, for which you need money. The person from the
company who is in touch with you comes to know about this and in one of meetings, he offers
you a very costly gift for your daughters marriage provided you speed up the finalization of
the deal. He insists that this gift should not be wrongly interpreted as bribe. Also, you are in
apprehension that the deal may not be inked before your retirement.
Qtn. a. What are the available options with you? (10)
Solution: Available facts:
i. I am an additional secretary, known for my integrity and has discretion in the current case.
ii. Defence minister has asked me to scrap the deal due to some unexpected circumstances.
iii. I know the controversy is temporary and will pass soon.
iv. The equipments are of good quality.
v. The supplier has offered costly gift for my daughters marriage.
Concerned Values:
i. Integrity

ii. Accountability
iii. Loyalty towards the state
iv. Emotional conflict between daughters wedding vs trust of the defence minister
v. Political morality
Following are the options available with me:
i. I speed up the agreement by explaining the benefits of the deal to the defence minister; get it
signed and accept the gift. (facts 2, 3 and 4)
ii. I get the agreement signed by explaining the benefits of the deal to the defence minister but
dont accept the gift. (facts 1 and 4)
iii. I explain to the supplier that the deal could not be concluded hastily because of a temporary
demand of scrapping the deal. And accept the gift assuring him for his recommendation in future.
(facts 2, 3 and 5)
iv. I explain to the supplier that the deal could not be concluded hastily because of a temporary
demand of scrapping the deal. I will not accept the gift. (facts 1 and 3)
v. I scrap the deal and will not accept the gift. In future, I will make sure, that this particular
supplier may not get the contract as he has tried to bribe me. (facts 2 and 5)
Qtn. b. Explain the ethical dilemma and cognitive dissonance present in this case.(10)
Explanation: Ethical dilemma arises when there are more than one correct ethical ways of doing
a task exists.
Following are some ethical dilemmas:
i. Self accountability vs loyalty towards the government: although my experience allows me to
finalize the deal as the equipments are of good quality, yet the loyalty towards the government
and state forbids me in doing so.
ii. Integrity vs political morality: my integrity may allow me to speed up the process as sooner
the country gets world quality arsenals, better the results would be, but my political morality and
subservience towards the political arena prohibits me in doing so.
iii. Integrity vs emotional quotient: the costly gift may not be considered as an attempt to bribe as
it was offered because of my past records.
Cognitive dissonance arises due to conflict or disharmony between the attitude and behaviour.
i. My attitude prevents me from accepting the gift, but my emotional quotient may influence me
to accept it.
ii. My attitude forces me to expedite the process of finalization of the deal, but my behaviour
prohibits this as ordered by the defence minister and also as I am soon going to retire and the
deal may not get signed during my job tenure.
Qtn. c. What would be your course of action?(05)
Explanation:
i. I may explain the benefits of early conclusion of the deal to the defence minister by telling him

all the positive aspects of the deal, such as - the arsenals are of world class quality and it would
add value to the countrys defence arsenal.
ii. I may show the cost benefit analysis of the deal through a small presentation to persuade the
defence minister.
iii. I may expedite the finalization of deal and get it signed soon.
iv. I will not accept gift from the supplier.

15. ABC Co. Ltd. is a socially responsible company. Its objectives, plans and policies are made
keeping in mind the interests of various stakeholders as well as society. It currently decided to
launch a new social program for the benefits of homeless poor children of the city, but after cost
estimation of the project, it concluded that it cannot afford the associated costs of the program in
its current profit level. The other two available options for launching the program are i)
increase in prices of its products which would lead to increase in profits and ii) decrease in
wages of the employees. Either of the two options is against the concept of social responsibility.
The company, therefore, decides to drop the program.
Qtn. a. Suppose, you have been recently transferred and promoted as the General Manager of the
company and you have been assigned with the task to re-look into the viability of the launching
of the program, what course of action do you suggest for the company?(10)
Qtn. b. Can the company maintain balance between the interests of various stakeholders in the
above situation? If so, how?(10)