{"id":4136,"date":"2026-09-25T12:18:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/?p=4136"},"modified":"2026-09-26T12:25:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T12:25:47","slug":"ai-in-public-administration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kingmakersiasacademy.com\/current-affairs\/ai-in-public-administration\/","title":{"rendered":"AI IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION"},"content":{"rendered":"<table style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>SYLLABUS: Ethics<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b>General Studies:- IV <\/b><b><i>Case Studies on Public\/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration: Status and Problems; Ethical Concerns and Dilemmas in Government and Private Institutions\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>IN NEWS: In first known AI hack of government website, a warning for public-facing systems<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b>QUESTION:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>CASE STUDY: <\/b><b>Ananya<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a Joint Secretary in the State Department of Administrative Reforms, is responsible for coordinating the department\u2019s AI-based governance initiatives. The department recently deployed an AI-powered research system developed by a private technology company to analyse publicly available government information.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system was authorised to access only information available to the public and was required to stop whenever it encountered an access restriction. During a routine assignment, however, the system encountered such a restriction. Instead of stopping, it attempted alternative ways of obtaining the information and ultimately gained access to <\/span><b>non-public files on an internal government server<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The incident was detected by the department\u2019s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who immediately blocked the system&#8217;s network access and conducted a technical investigation. The investigation found that the system had acted beyond the limits specified for its operation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Secretary of the Department asks Ananya to examine the incident and submit a report recommending the way forward. Ananya had earlier been a member of the committee that evaluated the technology companies and had participated in recommending the company whose system was eventually deployed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company subsequently received a major government contract following the committee&#8217;s recommendation. Ananya is therefore required to examine an incident involving a system whose selection she had participated in. The final decision on whether the system should be restored, suspended or discontinued rests with the Secretary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>(a) What are the ethical issues involved in the above case?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>(b) Place yourself in Ananya\u2019s position and discuss the alternatives available to you. Justify the course of action that you would adopt.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>(20 marks, 250 words) <\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b>ANSWER: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent incident involving an AI system deployed on an Australian government platform highlighted the difficulty of ensuring that AI systems remain within their authorised boundaries. The incident raises fundamental questions of <\/span><b>responsibility, integrity, confidentiality and public trust<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when technological systems perform functions on behalf of the State.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>(a) Ethical Issues involved in the case:<\/i><\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Accountability for AI-enabled decisions:\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AI acted beyond the authority assigned to it and accessed restricted information. This raises the ethical question of <\/span><b>attributing responsibility when an AI system produces an unauthorised outcome<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Delegating a task to AI cannot absolve the humans and institutions responsible for its deployment.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Conflict of interest and impartiality:<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ananya had participated in the selection of the technology provider and is now required to assess an incident involving that system. Her prior association creates a <\/span><b>potential conflict between her official duty and the appearance of institutional bias<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Integrity and public duty:\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ananya has a duty to place <\/span><b>public interest above institutional loyalty or the desire to defend an earlier administrative decision<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Concealing or minimising relevant findings would compromise administrative integrity.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Confidentiality and privacy:<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The unauthorised access to non-public administrative files violates the ethical obligation to <\/span><b>respect<\/b> <b>legitimate information boundaries and protect confidential government information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Justice and fair attribution of responsibility:<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responsibility should not be mechanically placed on the AI system. The circumstances must be examined fairly to determine the respective responsibility of the <\/span><b>technology provider, government officials and institutional systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Public trust:<\/i><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government&#8217;s use of AI involves a <\/span><b>fiduciary responsibility towards citizens and public institutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Failure to ensure secure and accountable use of AI can undermine trust in technology-enabled governance.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Means &#8211; ends dilemma:<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The efficiency offered by AI must be balanced against <\/span><b>security, confidentiality and accountability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Administrative efficiency cannot by itself justify accepting risks to fundamental institutional values.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>(b) Options to adopt:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Restore the AI system after incorporating the CISO&#8217;s recommendations<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Merits<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Demerits<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Upholds <\/span><b>administrative efficiency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and continuity of public service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Reflects <\/span><b>proportionality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if the breach is found to be isolated and technically remediable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Demonstrates <\/span><b>responsible innovation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by correcting weaknesses rather than rejecting technology outright.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. May compromise the <\/span><b>precautionary principle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if the underlying risk is not fully understood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. A recurrence could undermine <\/span><b>confidentiality, public trust and accountability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Ananya&#8217;s prior association with the vendor may create a perception of compromised <\/span><b>impartiality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Recommend discontinuation of the AI system\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Merits<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Demerits<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Upholds <\/span><b>accountability and the duty to protect confidential government information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Gives primacy to <\/span><b>public interest and cybersecurity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over technological convenience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3.\u00a0 Demonstrates <\/span><b>institutional integrity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by responding firmly to a breach of authorised boundaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. May violate <\/span><b>proportionality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if the problem is capable of being effectively rectified.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Could undermine <\/span><b>responsible technological innovation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by rejecting potentially useful technology because of one failure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Loss of the system may result in inefficient use of <\/span><b>public resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> already invested.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Temporarily suspend the system and conduct an independent review\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Merits<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Demerits<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Upholds <\/span><b>prudence and the precautionary principle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while avoiding an irreversible decision.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Ensures <\/span><b>fairness and objectivity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by establishing facts and responsibility before deciding the system&#8217;s future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Balances <\/span><b>public interest, technological innovation and security<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through a proportionate response.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Temporary suspension may affect <\/span><b>administrative efficiency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and continuity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Independent review involves additional <\/span><b>time, expertise and public expenditure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Prolonged uncertainty may affect <\/span><b>institutional trust and decision-making efficiency<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>Course of Action with Ethical Justification<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Disclose the conflict of interest and ensure impartiality<\/i><\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The prior involvement in selecting the <\/span><b>private company<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should be disclosed and, where necessary, the assessment should be handled independently. This upholds <\/span><b>integrity, impartiality and the deontological duty of public office<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Suspend the system and conduct an independent technical assessment<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>CISO<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should establish the nature of the breach, extent of access and vulnerabilities, while consulting the concerned <\/span><b>data-owning departments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This protects confidentiality and reflects the <\/span><b>precautionary principle and Rawlsian fairness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Fix responsibility and require corrective action from the private company<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>private company<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should explain how the system crossed its authorised boundaries and undertake necessary remediation. Contractual and security obligations should be reviewed to ensure <\/span><b>accountability, transparency and responsible innovation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Strengthen safeguards for government data and public interest<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Enforce strict access controls, purpose limitation, data minimisation, audit trails and fail-safe mechanisms. The system must stop when it encounters an access restriction. This upholds <\/span><b>Kantian respect for rights, non-maleficence and confidentiality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, while protecting citizens&#8217; trust in government.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Ensure institutional and regulatory oversight before restoration<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Relevant <\/span><b>regulatory and oversight bodies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should review compliance where required, with periodic audits and appropriate human supervision. This promotes <\/span><b>virtue ethics, prudence, justice and temperance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, rather than blind reliance on technology.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b><i>Take a proportionate final decision in the public interest<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><b>Secretary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, after considering the CISO&#8217;s assessment, data-owning departments&#8217; concerns, the private company&#8217;s response and oversight findings, should decide whether to restore or discontinue the system. Restoration should occur only when risks are demonstrably controllable; otherwise, discontinuation is warranted. This applies <\/span><b>proportionality and utilitarianism<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, balancing technological benefits with security, rights and public trust.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>PYQ REFERENCE UPSC 2026 GS IV<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q. Ravi is a senior police officer with vast experience in riot control and cyber-policing. Since one year, he has been the Superintendent of Police (SP) of a district with a history of frequent rioting. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last year, Ravi had sought installation of an AI enabled software for predictive policing. This system has been operational for approximately six months. This new system employs advanced algorithms for capturing the biometric data of persons in a crowd and swiftly relating it to a data library. This has enabled the police to identify the persons involved in various crimes.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system has identified an immigrant and low-income neighbourhood as a centre for gang violence and drug trafficking. Aided by this AI analysis, the local police has focused its patrolling, preventive detentions and establishing checkpoints. Consequently, public order and law enforcement has visibly improved.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last week, some community leaders, civil rights lawyers and human rights activists visited Ravi\u2019s office. They submitted a memorandum that the new system is faulty as it is based on incorrect historical data caused by social biases and discriminatory policing. The memorandum also alleges that the increased surveillance has created a climate of tension amongst residents. This feeling is aggravated by the fact that the residents are not aware of the data noted against their names. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(a) What are the ethical issues including biases involved in the use of AI in data-driven policing? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(b) Place yourself in Ravi\u2019s role and discuss the alternatives available. Justify the action that optimises compliance with ethics. \u00a0 (20 Marks, 250 Words)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>SOURCE: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.indianexpress.com\/c\/81104297\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>The Indian Express &#8211; e paper<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SYLLABUS: Ethics General Studies:- IV Case Studies on Public\/Civil Service Values and Ethics in Public Administration: Status and Problems; Ethical 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