While evaluating bids for a government project, one of the participants privately offers you a "small favour" in exchange for fav…

Question

While evaluating bids for a government project, one of the participants privately offers you a "small favour" in exchange for favourable consideration, claiming that "such practices are normal everywhere."

What would be the most ethical course of action?

1. A. Politely decline the offer and ignore the incident
2. B. Reject the offer and immediately report the attempt to higher authorities (Correct answer)
3. C. Accept the offer but ensure that the selection process remains fair
4. D. Delay the decision to avoid confrontation

Correct Answer

Option B — Reject the offer and immediately report the attempt to higher authorities

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Reject the offer and immediately report the attempt to higher authorities.

Key Points

• A bribe attempt requires two responses: refusing it, and reporting it.
• Refusal alone protects the individual official but leaves the practice free to continue with the next officer.
• Reporting converts a private refusal into an institutional record, which is what deters repetition.

Additional Information

• Option A (decline and ignore) is the tempting near-miss answer; it is incomplete precisely because it suppresses the information.
• Option C is untenable — accepting the favour is the offence, whatever the eventual outcome of the bidding.
• Option D avoids the issue and allows the offer to stand unanswered.
• The claim that *such practices are normal everywhere* is a standard rationalisation and carries no weight in ethics or in law.

*Ministry of Papers worked solution. The Commission has not yet published the official key for this paper; this answer will be reconciled with it on release.*