Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on “Ethics in Public Administration: Concepts and Challenges” for the Civil Services Examination, along with their answers

Which of the following is considered a core principle of ethics in public administration?
- A) Accountability
- B) Profit Maximization
- C) Risk Avoidance
- D) Personal Gain
- Answer: A) Accountability
What is the primary purpose of a Code of Ethics in public administration?
- A) To enhance personal gain
- B) To guide public officials in their professional conduct
- C) To restrict employee rights
- D) To avoid legal liability
- Answer: B) To guide public officials in their professional conduct
Which concept emphasizes the importance of honesty and transparency in public service?
- A) Nepotism
- B) Integrity
- C) Favoritism
- D) Confidentiality
- Answer: B) Integrity
Which of the following is a challenge faced by public administrators in maintaining ethical standards?
- A) Excessive transparency
- B) Conflict of interest
- C) Over-regulation
- D) Public scrutiny
- Answer: B) Conflict of interest
The principle of ‘public accountability’ in public administration means:
- A) Officials are accountable to their political parties
- B) Public officials are answerable to the public for their actions
- C) Public officials report only to their superiors
- D) There is no need for transparency
- Answer: B) Public officials are answerable to the public for their actions
What is the role of transparency in ensuring ethical behavior in public administration?
- A) To conceal information
- B) To prevent external audits
- C) To promote openness and prevent corruption
- D) To limit public access to records
- Answer: C) To promote openness and prevent corruption
Which term refers to the practice of using one’s position for personal benefit or gain?
- A) Bribery
- B) Nepotism
- C) Conflict of interest
- D) Favoritism
- Answer: C) Conflict of interest
What is the primary focus of ethics training for public officials?
- A) Enhancing technical skills
- B) Understanding ethical principles and applying them in decision-making
- C) Improving managerial skills
- D) Increasing productivity
- Answer: B) Understanding ethical principles and applying them in decision-making
Which principle requires public administrators to make decisions based on merit and fairness rather than personal relationships?
- A) Equality
- B) Meritocracy
- C) Nepotism
- D) Partiality
- Answer: B) Meritocracy
Which of the following is an ethical issue related to public procurement processes?
- A) Fair competition
- B) Transparency in bidding
- C) Bribery and corruption
- D) Equal opportunity
- Answer: C) Bribery and corruption
The concept of ‘public trust’ in public administration refers to:
- A) Trust between public officials and their political parties
- B) Trust between public officials and the public they serve
- C) Trust between public officials and private sector partners
- D) Trust between public officials and international organizations
- Answer: B) Trust between public officials and the public they serve
Which ethical principle ensures that public officials make decisions that are in the best interest of the public, rather than for personal gain?
- A) Integrity
- B) Accountability
- C) Public interest
- D) Neutrality
- Answer: C) Public interest
Which of the following is a method for preventing ethical violations in public administration?
- A) Restricting public access to information
- B) Implementing comprehensive ethics policies and procedures
- C) Reducing oversight and audits
- D) Allowing personal gain from official duties
- Answer: B) Implementing comprehensive ethics policies and procedures
What is the role of whistleblowing in maintaining ethical standards in public administration?
- A) To cover up unethical behavior
- B) To promote secrecy
- C) To report unethical behavior and corruption
- D) To reduce transparency
- Answer: C) To report unethical behavior and corruption
Which principle suggests that public officials should avoid personal financial dealings that might influence their official duties?
- A) Transparency
- B) Accountability
- C) Conflict of interest
- D) Professionalism
- Answer: C) Conflict of interest
What does the ‘right to information’ entail in the context of ethical governance?
- A) Limiting public access to information
- B) Ensuring public access to information about government actions
- C) Restricting information to government officials only
- D) Hiding information from the public
- Answer: B) Ensuring public access to information about government actions
Which of the following is a challenge in enforcing ethics in public administration?
- A) Strong leadership
- B) Effective training programs
- C) Inadequate oversight and weak enforcement mechanisms
- D) Clear ethical guidelines
- Answer: C) Inadequate oversight and weak enforcement mechanisms
The principle of ‘equity’ in public administration emphasizes:
- A) Favoritism in decision-making
- B) Equal treatment and fairness for all individuals
- C) Personal gain in public decisions
- D) Secrecy in decision-making processes
- Answer: B) Equal treatment and fairness for all individuals
Which of the following ethical issues is related to the misuse of public resources?
- A) Nepotism
- B) Bribery
- C) Embezzlement
- D) Conflict of interest
- Answer: C) Embezzlement
Which of the following is an example of ethical leadership in public administration?
- A) Ignoring public grievances
- B) Setting an example through personal integrity and transparency
- C) Engaging in corrupt practices
- D) Avoiding accountability
- Answer: B) Setting an example through personal integrity and transparency
What is the objective of ethics audits in public administration?
- A) To identify areas for financial gain
- B) To evaluate the effectiveness of ethics policies and practices
- C) To reduce transparency
- D) To limit public scrutiny
- Answer: B) To evaluate the effectiveness of ethics policies and practices
Which term describes favoritism shown towards friends and family members in public appointments?
- A) Integrity
- B) Meritocracy
- C) Nepotism
- D) Transparency
- Answer: C) Nepotism
Which of the following is NOT a recommended practice for promoting ethical behavior in public administration?
- A) Providing ethics training
- B) Implementing clear policies and procedures
- C) Encouraging secrecy and withholding information
- D) Establishing mechanisms for reporting unethical behavior
- Answer: C) Encouraging secrecy and withholding information
Which principle of public administration requires officials to act in a manner that is fair and just, without bias?
- A) Accountability
- B) Impartiality
- C) Transparency
- D) Professionalism
- Answer: B) Impartiality
Which ethical issue arises when a public official receives gifts or favors from stakeholders?
- A) Embezzlement
- B) Conflict of interest
- C) Nepotism
- D) Bribery
- Answer: B) Conflict of interest
What is the significance of ‘ethical decision-making’ in public administration?
- A) To maximize personal benefits
- B) To ensure that decisions are made with consideration of moral principles and public interest
- C) To avoid transparency
- D) To prioritize political gains
- Answer: B) To ensure that decisions are made with consideration of moral principles and public interest
Which of the following is a key component of an effective ethics management program in public administration?
- A) Unclear guidelines
- B) Lack of training
- C) Regular review and reinforcement of ethical standards
- D) Avoiding accountability
- Answer: C) Regular review and reinforcement of ethical standards
Which term refers to the misuse of authority to obtain benefits for oneself or others?
- A) Favoritism
- B) Bribery
- C) Corruption
- D) Nepotism
- Answer: C) Corruption
Which principle ensures that public officials are answerable for their actions to the public and their superiors?
- A) Accountability
- B) Transparency
- C) Confidentiality
- D) Neutrality
- Answer: A) Accountability
What is the role of ethics committees in public administration?
- A) To oversee financial transactions
- B) To review and address ethical issues and violations
- C) To provide technical training
- D) To manage day-to-day operations
- Answer: B) To review and address ethical issues and violations

These questions and answers cover various aspects of ethics in public administration, including core principles, challenges, and practices that promote ethical behavior in the public sector.

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