Introduction and Syllabus Context

Topic 66 — "Non-factual case studies" — is a new format in the RPSC 2026 Mains syllabus, likely modelled on the UPSC Civil Services Ethics paper (Paper IV, GS), which has included case studies since 2013. In the old RPSC pattern (2021, 2023), administrative ethics questions were conceptual — "Explain social justice," "What is accountability?" The new 2026 syllabus adds case-based questions that test applied ethical reasoning.

This is the single most important format change in the 2026 Paper II. The RPSC examiner will likely set one 10-mark case study (or two 5-mark scenarios) requiring candidates to:

1. Identify the ethical dilemma.
2. Map stakeholders and competing interests.
3. Apply ethical frameworks — consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics, Rawlsian fairness.
4. Recommend a course of action with reasoned justification.

This chapter provides:

• The theoretical framework for case study analysis.
• 5 full sample case studies with the complete four-step methodology demonstrated.
• Glossary and revision tools.

---