Section B of GS Paper IV consists of case studies — about half of the 250-mark paper. Each presents a realistic administrative, corporate or personal situation in which values collide, and asks what you would do. There is rarely one “correct” answer; examiners reward clear identification of issues, balanced evaluation of options, and a course of action that is lawful, practical and humane.

What UPSC asks. GS IV is a Mains-only paper. Case studies typically ask you to (a) identify stakeholders and ethical issues, (b) evaluate options with their merits and demerits, and (c) state and justify your course of action. Themes recur: pressure from superiors or politicians, conflict of interest, corruption and whistle-blowing, disasters, development versus environment, social prejudice, and dilemmas in corporate, medical and technological settings.

Step	What to write
1. Facts	The dilemma in one or two lines
2. Stakeholders	Everyone affected, including the voiceless
3. Ethical issues	Values in conflict, named precisely
4. Options	Three or four, each with merits and demerits
5. Course of action	Lawful, practical steps — immediate and long-term
6. Conclusion	A value, principle or thinker that justifies the choice

Start with How to solve ethics case studies, then practise with the case-study practice set.