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Question

You are working as an executive in a nationalised bank for several years. One day one of your close colleagues tells you that her father is suffering from heart disease and needs surgery immediately to survive. She also tells you that she has no insurance and the operation will cost about10 lakh. You are also aware of the fact that her husband is no more and that she is from a lower middle class family. You are empathetic about her situation. However, apart from expressing your sympathy, you do not have the resources to fund her.
A few weeks later, you ask her about the well-being of her father and she informs you about his successful surgery and that he is recovering. She then confides in you that the bank manager was kind enough to facilitate the release of ₹ 10 lakh from a dormant account of someone to pay for the operation with a promise that it should be confidential and be repaid at the earliest. She has already started paying it back and will continue to do so until it is all returned.

How would you react to the situation?

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2023 (Prelims) CSAT Official Paper (28-May-2023)

Discovering this would leave me in a profound moral quandary. My immediate reaction would be a mix of immense relief for my colleague's father and deep concern over the manager's actions. I would quietly but firmly impress upon my colleague the seriousness of the breach, emphasizing the critical importance of ensuring the repayment is meticulously completed. While deeply empathetic to her plight, I could not, in good conscience, condone such an act as it fundamentally undermines the trust essential to banking. Internally, I would grapple with my duty to the institution and my colleague's confidentiality, likely seeking discreet, principled guidance on how to navigate this highly sensitive and serious matter without causing further unforeseen harm, yet ensuring ethical standards are ultimately upheld.

Answered By:

Sakshi Negi

Sakshi Negi is a Delhi-based journalist and content specialist with expertise in educational content and digital media, focusing particularly on government exam preparation and career guidance. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from NRAI School of Mass Communication and her background as a Kendriya Vidyalaya alumna, she brings unique insights into the Indian education system and government sector opportunities.

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