UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 78 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Civil Servant Contractor Dilemma
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectPolity
- TopicGovernance
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
Ms. X is a mid-level civil service official working in the urban development department of a major city. Recently, she was involved in approving a contract for a public infrastructure project, a new community park. During the approval process, she received a piece of confidential information indicating that one of the shortlisted contractors had a history of poor workmanship and allegations of corruption in other cities, though nothing had been legally proven. The Head of the Department, Mr. Y, advised her not to disclose this information to the project committee or the public because it could delay the project and damage the city's reputation. However, Ms. X believed that withholding such information compromised transparency and public trust.
What amongst the following should Ms. X do now?
1. Immediately disclose the information to the project committee and the public
2. Recommend removing the contractor from the shortlist to protect the project's integrity
3. Propose a 'limited disclosure' to an oversight committee, while keeping the information confidential from the public for the time being
Select the answer using the code given below:
Show answer
Answer: B. 3 only
Analysis
Similarly, Option 2, recommending the unilateral removal of the contractor from the shortlist, is also problematic. Such a step would bypass established institutional procedures and the authority of the project committee, while relying on information that has not yet been conclusively proven. Administrative decisions must be based on due process and credible verification rather than unsubstantiated allegations.
Option 3, namely making a limited disclosure to an appropriate oversight or vigilance mechanism, represents the most balanced and ethically sound course of action. It ensures that the matter is brought to the attention of a competent institutional authority for scrutiny, while simultaneously protecting the confidentiality and reputational rights of the concerned contractor until the facts are properly established.
This approach upholds transparency within the institutional accountability framework, procedural fairness and due process, confidentiality where necessary, and the ethical duty of integrity expected from a public servant. At the same time, it allows Ms. X to act responsibly and independently without yielding to Mr. Y's improper instruction to suppress relevant information.
Therefore, only Statement 3 constitutes the most ethically defensible and administratively appropriate course of action, so the answer is Option (b).
Statement by statement
Option 1, which advocates immediate public disclosure of the allegations, is not appropriate at this stage because the allegations against the contractor remain unverified. Premature disclosure may unfairly damage the contractor's reputation, violate principles of natural justice, and expose the administration to potential legal liability.