UPSC Mains 2024 GS4 Q10: model answer
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 hospital is 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?
What the question wants
Sneha's conflict of interest in procurement involving her brother.
How to structure it
Intro: conflict of interest even in a private hospital. Body: (a) course of action: disclose, recuse, fair process; (b) justification: integrity, trust, patient welfare; (c) how medical ethics is compromised when personal interest enters procurement. Conclusion.
- 1(a) course of action: disclose, recuse, fair process
- 2(b) justification: integrity, trust, patient welfare
- 3(c) how medical ethics is compromised when personal interest enters procurement
Model answer
Sneha leads procurement for a new super speciality centre and her brother, in financial trouble, has bid. Full trust from management makes her duty heavier, not lighter.
- 1Disclose relationship in writing
- 2Recuse from evaluation
- 3Independent panel, published criteria
- 4Record reasons for the award
- 5No contact with brother on the bid
(a) Course of action
- Disclose the relationship in writing to management at once.
- Recuse herself from evaluating bids where her brother's firm competes; let another senior member or an independent panel decide.
- Ensure clear, published criteria: quality, after-sales service, price, track record.
- If his firm wins on merit, record the reasons transparently; if not, accept it.
- Avoid discussing the bid with her brother.
(b) Justification
- Conflict of interest is about perception as much as fact; recusal protects her credibility.
- Trust from management must be honoured, not used.
- Fair competition gives patients the best equipment.
- Family duty can be met by personal support, not by the hospital's contract.
(c) How medical ethics is compromised
- Patients' safety depends on equipment quality; favouritism may bring inferior or costly machines.
- Higher costs are passed on to patients, hurting access.
- It breaks the principles of beneficence and justice, and erodes public trust in hospitals.
- It sets a culture where kickbacks and nepotism spread, as seen in scandals over overpriced stents and implants.
By stepping aside, Sneha keeps her integrity, the hospital's name and patients' interest intact.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
conflict of interest recusal transparency beneficence nepotism
Where most answers lose marks
- Rejecting the brother without due process.
- Awarding the contract because management trusts her.
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17 Oct 2026Learn the concept
Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/QP_CSM_2024_GenStud_IV_03102024.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.