Public servants are likely to confront with the issues of “Conflict of Interest”. What do you understand by the term “Conflict of Interest” and how does it manifest in the decision making by public servants? If faced with the conflict of interest situation how would you resolve it? Explain with the help of examples. (150 Words)

Conflct of interest is a situation that has the potential to undermine the impartiality of a person because of the possibility of a clash between the person's self-interest and professional interest or public interest.

Since a public servant has immense responsibilities and powers simultaneously, this phenomenon can manifest in his decision making whenever he portrays partiality towards a person or an organization or puts his personal interest above public welfare.

A public servant should resolve any such situation thinking about the public good first. For example, an IPS officer gets to know that one of his relatives is caught in a serious crime in the region of the former’s ambit. In such a conflict, the officer tends to save his relative, but in order to be impartial as a public ‘servant’ he should deal with the case by the rule of law.

Similarly, an IAS officer has the option to be partial for a political boss who rewards him with greater authorities and promotion. But, while displaying non-partisanship, he should deal with every project keeping public interest in mind.