Acme Ai
A
अ

Q.You are the manager of a spare parts company A and you have to negotiate a deal with the manager of a large manufacturing company B. The deal is highly competitive and sealing the deal is critical for your company. The deal is being worked out over a dinner. After dinner the manager of manufacturing company B offered to drop you to the hotel in his car. On the way to hotel he happens to hit motorcycle injuring the motorcyclist badly. You know the manager was driving fast and thus lost control. The law enforcement officer comes to investigate the issue and you are the sole eyewitness to it. Knowing the strict laws pertaining to road accidents you are aware that your honest account of the incident would lead to the prosecution of the manager and as a consequence the deal is likely to be jeopardised, which is of immense importance to your company. What are the dilemmas you face? What will be your response to the situation?

Examiner Demand & Directive Blueprint: Analytical / Multi-DimensionalIntro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words

How to approach: Identify every sub-question in the prompt, allocate dedicated sub-headings to each part, substantiate points with examples/data, and conclude with a forward-looking Way Forward.

Practice & AI Tools for This Question

Wrote an answer to this PYQ? Check it with Vision AI in 3 mins or generate custom mind maps.

Introduction

This situation presents a conflict between immediate corporate interests and the fundamental duty to uphold justice and human welfare. Resolving this case requires evaluating the long-term consequences of truthfulness versus corporate loyalty.

Body Analysis

Ethical Dilemmas

  • Truth vs. Business Interest: Providing an honest account will likely lead to the prosecution of Company B's manager, jeopardizing a critical business deal. Conversely, lying protects the deal but subverts justice.
  • Loyalty to the Company vs. Responsibility to the Law: Balancing the professional obligation to secure financial success for Company A against the civic duty to assist law enforcement and ensure justice for the victim.
  • Short-term Gain vs. Long-term Reputation: A compromised testimony might secure immediate profits, but any subsequent exposure of falsehood would permanently destroy the company's credibility and brand value.

Evaluation of Options

Option 1: Withhold the truth to secure the deal

  • Pros: Protects the immediate financial interests of Company A and secures the competitive deal.
  • Cons: Deprives the injured victim of justice, violates the law, and exposes the manager to future legal liability for perjury, creating severe long-term risks.

Option 2: Provide a completely honest account to the police

  • Pros: Upholds the rule of law, ensures the victim receives justice, and preserves personal and corporate integrity.
  • Cons: Risks losing the business deal, which could lead to short-term financial distress for Company A.

Recommended Response

I would choose Option 2 and provide a completely truthful account to the law enforcement officer.

This decision is justified by the following outcomes:

  1. Maximizing Societal Well-being: Allowing reckless driving to go unpunished endangers public safety. Upholding accountability deters dangerous behavior and protects the community.
  2. Preserving Long-term Trust: Ethical business practices build sustainable credibility. Partners and clients prefer dealing with organizations that demonstrate high integrity.
  3. Mitigating Business Impact: After fulfilling my legal duty, I would proactively contact Company B's senior leadership to explain the situation transparently, emphasizing that while the accident is a legal matter, Company A remains committed to delivering exceptional value under the proposed contract.
Reviewed by Avinash Sir (Lead UPSC Faculty) & Acme AI Research Team • Updated Sep 2026

Question Specifications, Marking Rubric & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Mains Examination 2017 (Question 4)
Paper & Syllabus TopicGeneral Studies Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude → Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude
Marks, Word Limit & Ideal Time20 Marks • 250 Words • Ideal Writing Time: 11–12 Minutes
Directive Word & Core DemandAnalytical / Multi-Dimensional: Address all explicit sub-parts of the question with balanced arguments, factual illustrations, and a solution-oriented conclusion.
Recommended Structure SplitIntro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words
AI Practice & Evaluation ToolsUpload Handwritten Answer for 3-Min Vision AI Evaluation | Generate Custom Answer & Mind Map

Related & Repeated UPSC Mains PYQs (6)

Past UPSC Mains questions connected to this node in the 3D PYQ Realm knowledge graph.

Explore Cluster in 3D Graph
2014 • GS4 • Q420 Marks

Suppose you are the CEO of a company that manufactures specialized electronic equipment used by a government department. You have submitted your bid for the supply of this equipment to the department. Both the quality and cost of your offer are better than those of the competitors. Yet the concerned officer is demanding a hefty bribe for approving the tender. Getting the order is important both for you and your company. Not getting the order would mean closing a production line. It may also affect your own career. However, as a value-conscious person, You do not want to give bribe. Valid arguments can be advanced both for giving the bribe and getting the order, and for refusing to pay the bribe and risking the loss of the order. What those arguments could be, Could there be any better way to get out of this dilemma? If so, outline the main elements of this third way, pointing out its merits.

Ethics & IntegrityRead Model Answer
2017 • GS4 • Q220 Marks

You are aspiring to become an IAS officer and you have cleared various stages and now you have been selected for the personal interview. On the day of the interview, on the way to the venue you saw an accident where a mother and child who happen to be your relatives were badly injured. They needed immediate help. What would you have done in such a situation? Justify your action.

Ethics & IntegrityRead Model Answer
2017 • GS4 • Q320 Marks

You are the head of the Human Resources department of an organisation. One day one of the workers died on duty. His family was demanding compensation. However, the company denied compensation because it was revealed in investigation that he was drunk at the time of the accident. The workers of the company went to strike demanding compensation for the family of the deceased. The Chairman of the management board has asked for your recommendation. What recommendation would you provide the management? Discuss the merits and demerits of each of the recommendations

Ethics & IntegrityRead Model Answer
2019 • GS4 • Q315 Marks

An apparel manufacturing company having a large number of women employees was losing sales due to various factors. The company hired a reputed marketing executive, who increased the volume of sales within a short span of time. However, some unconfirmed reports came up regarding his indulgence in sexual harassment at the workplace. After sometime a woman employee launched a formal complaint to the management against the marketing executive about sexually harassing her. Faced with the companies’ indifference, in not taking cognizance of her grievances, she lodged an FIR with the police.. Realizing the sensitivity and gravity of the situation, the company called the woman employee to negotiate. In that she was offered a hefty sum of money to withdraw the complaint and the FIR and also give in writing that the marketing executive is not involved in the case. Identify the ethical issues involved in this case. What options are available to the woman employee?

Ethics & IntegrityRead Model Answer
2023 • GS4 • Q110 Marks

You are working as an executive in a nationalized bank for several years. One day one of your close colleagues tells you that her father is suffering from heart disease and needs surgery immediately to survive. She also tells you that she has no insurance and the operation will cost about 10 lakh. You are also aware of the fact that her husband is no more and that she is from a lower middle class family. You are empathetic about her situation, However, apart from expressing your sympathy, you do not have the resources to fund her. A few weeks later, you ask her about the well-being of her father and she informs you about his successful surgery and that he is recovering. She then confides in you that the bank manager was kind enough to facilitate the release of Rs 10 lakh from a dormant account of someone to pay for the operation with a promise that it should be confidential and be repaid at the earliest. She has already started paying it back and will continue to do until it is all returned. 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?

Ethics & IntegrityRead Model Answer
2024 • GS4 • Q415 Marks

Sneha is a Senior Manager working for a big reputed hospital chain in a mid-sized city. She has been made in-charge of the new super speciality center that the hospitals building with state-of-the art equipment and world class medical facilities. The building has been reconstructed and she is starting the process of procurement for various equipment and machines. As the head of the committee responsible for procurement, she has invited bids from all the interested reputed vendors dealing in medical equipment. She notices that her brother, who is a well-known supplier in this domain, has also sent his expression of interest. Since the hospital is privately owned, it is not mandatory for her to select only the lower bidder. Also, she is aware that her brother’s company has been facing some financial difficulties and a big supply order will help him recover. At the same time, allocating the contract to her brother might bring charges of favouritism against her and tarnish her image. The hospital management trusts her fully and would support any decision of hers. A. What should be Sneha’s course of action? B. How would she justify what she chooses to do? C. In this case, how is medical ethics compromised with vested personal interest?

Ethics & IntegrityRead Model Answer

More UPSC Mains PYQs on Ethics & Integrity (GS4)

Build comprehensive topical mastery across Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude by practicing these related UPSC Mains questions.

View All Ethics & Integrity PYQs
2024 • GS415 Marks

There is a technological company named ABC Incorporated which is the second largest worldwide, situated in the Third World. You are the Chief Executive Officer and the majority shareholder of this company. The fast technological improvements have raised worries among environmental activists, regulatory authorities, and the general public over the sustainability of this scenario. You confront substantial issues about the business’s environmental footprint. In 2023, your organization had a significant increase of 48% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the levels recorded in 2019. The significant rise in energy consumption is mainly due to the surging energy requirements of your data centers, fuelled by the exponential expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Al-powered services need much more computational resources and electrical energy compared to conventional online activities, notwithstanding their notable gains. The technology’s proliferation has led to a growing concern over the environmental repercussions, resulting in an increase in warnings. Al models, especially those used in extensive machine learning and data processing, exhibit much greater energy consumption than conventional computer tasks, with an exponential increase. Although there is already a commitment and goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2030, the challenge of lowering emissions seems overwhelming as the integration of Al continues to increase. To achieve this goal, substantial investments in renewable energy use would be necessary. The difficulty is exacerbated by the competitive environment of the technology sector, where rapid innovation is essential for preserving market standing and shareholders’ worth. To achieve a balance between innovation, profitability and sustainability, a strategic move is necessary that is in line with both, business objectives and ethical obligations. A. What is your immediate response to the challenges posed in the above case? B. Discuss the ethical issues involved in the above case. C. Your company has been identified to be penalized by technological giants. What logical and ethical arguments will you put forth convince about its necessity? D. Being a conscience being, what measures would you adopt to maintain balance between AI innovation and environment footprint?

Ethics & IntegrityView Answer
2024 • GS410 Marks

“Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it, do not become others.” — Swami Vivekananda

Ethics & IntegrityView Answer
2024 • GS410 Marks

Global warming and climate change are the outcomes of human greed in the name of development, indicating the direction in which extinction of organisms including human beings is heading towards loss of life on Earth. How do you put an end to this to protect life and bring equilibrium between the society and the environment?

Ethics & IntegrityView Answer
2024 • GS310 Marks

Mission Karmayogi is aiming for maintaining a very high standard of conduct and behaviour to ensure efficiency for serving citizens and in turn developing oneself. How will this scheme empower the civil servants in enhancing productive efficiency and delivering the services at the grassroots level ?

Ethics & IntegrityView Answer
2024 • GS410 Marks

The soul of the new law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is Justice, Equality and Impartiality based on Indian culture and ethos. Discuss this in the light of major shift from a doctrine of punishment to justice in the present judicial system. (150 words, 10 Marks)

Ethics & IntegrityView Answer
2024 • GS310 Marks

“In Indian culture and value system, an equal opportunity has been provided irrespective of gender identity. The number of women in public service has been steadily increasing over the years.” Examine the gender-specific challenges faced by female public servants and suggest suitable measures to increase their efficiency in discharging their duties and maintaining high standards of probity.

Ethics & IntegrityView Answer

Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Mains 2017 GS4 (Ethics & Integrity)

How should I structure the answer for this UPSC Mains 2017 GS Paper IV (Ethics) question on Ethics & Integrity?

This 2017 GS Paper IV (Ethics) question carries 20 marks with a 250-word limit and uses the "Analytical / Multi-Dimensional" directive. Identify every sub-question in the prompt, allocate dedicated sub-headings to each part, substantiate points with examples/data, and conclude with a forward-looking Way Forward. Follow the ideal word split (Intro: ~30–35 Words • Body: ~175 Words (4–5 sub-headings + diagram/data) • Way Forward: ~35–40 Words) and aim to finish within 11–12 Minutes.

Which UPSC Mains syllabus topic does this 2017 question belong to?

This question is part of General Studies Paper IV — Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude under the syllabus module "Ethics, Integrity & Public Service Aptitude". You can explore all repeated questions from Ethics & Integrity in Acme AI's 3D PYQ Realm or filter all Ethics & Integrity PYQs on the Mains PYQ Directory.

How can I get my handwritten answer to this 2017 GS4 PYQ evaluated by AI?

Write your answer on standard UPSC margin sheets, scan it as a PDF or image, and click "Evaluate My Answer (AI)" on this page to open Acme AI's Vision Transformer evaluator (/upsc-answer-evaluation?subject=GS4). It evaluates your structure, directive alignment, diagrams/maps, and handwriting presentation in under 3 minutes with 99% human-examiner accuracy (20 free credits on signup).

Can I generate a custom mind map or Hindi model answer for this question?

Yes. Click "Generate Answer & Mind Map" on this page to open Acme AI's Answer Generator (/gen-ans) with this exact 2017 GS4 question pre-filled. You can generate custom topper-grade answers with embedded Mermaid flowcharts and mind maps in either English or Hindi.

AI-Powered Mains Mastery Suite

Turn Passive PYQ Reading into Active Answer Writing

Evaluate your handwritten UPSC Mains answers in 3 minutes with Vision AI or generate custom model answers with mind maps.

Vision Transformer AI • < 3 Mins20 Free Credits

AI UPSC Mains Answer Evaluation

Practice writing any PYQ on paper and upload your handwritten scan (PDF or image) for instant, rubric-aligned UPSC examiner feedback.

  • Direct Pixel Vision AI (Not Flat OCR): Evaluates your handwritten diagrams, maps, flowcharts, and spatial presentation
  • 99% Human-Examiner Accuracy: Pinpoints missing dimensions, directive-word drift, and value-addition opportunities
  • All Papers & 18 Optionals: Covers GS 1–4, Essay, Anthropology, PSIR, Sociology, Geography, History & more in English & Hindi
  • Annotated Copy + Topper Benchmark: Visual margin ticks, remarks, and matched topper copy comparisons
Instant Copy Checking (PDF / JPEG / HEIC)
Start Free• 20 Free Credits (No Card Required)
Trained on 15,000+ CopiesFlowcharts & Mind Maps

AI UPSC Answer Generator & Mind Maps

Generate topper-grade model answers for any UPSC PYQ, current affairs editorial, or mock question—complete with visual mind maps and flowcharts.

  • Embedded Mind Maps & Flowcharts: Automatically builds visual diagrams you can replicate in the exam hall for +1.5 extra marks
  • Strict Directive & Word Discipline: Calibrated for 150-word (10M), 250-word (15M), and 1000-word Essay structures
  • Committee, SC & Data Citations: Enriches body paragraphs with 2nd ARC, NITI Aayog, Constitutional Articles, and SDG hooks
  • Auto-Matched Topper Copies & PYQs: Every generated answer links to similar past UPSC questions and ranker scripts
Custom Model Answers in English & Hindi
Instant Generation• Topper-Grade Structure & Diagrams
Looking for a structured year-long Mains schedule?

Join the Acme Mains Program (AMP 2027 — 45 Tests) or 1-on-1 Personal Mentorship with Avinash Sir.