Ritika Verma the director of a reputed heritage conservation NGO that has spent over a decade protecting ancient monuments and ecologically sensitive cultural landscapes in the semi arid region of Rajasthan. Recently the state government has unveiled a major Solar Energy Park Project spanning nearly 5 000 hectares of largely barren but historically significant desert land dotted with ancient stepwells (Baolis) medieval Caravanserai ruins and sacred groves that are home to several endangered desert flora and Tauna The project is expected to make the state Keader tn renewable energy. reduce emissions significantly and provide green electrici ns aligning with S national renewable energy goals and global climate commitments. It will also create thousands of direct and indiregt jobs Yor local villagers many of whom ts sa Be Saat struggle with seasonal migration and poverty. grazing land for pastoral communities and nao og Se habitats that support unique desert biodiversity. Local communities are divided some want the project for jobs and development while others fear it will disrupt their traditional livelihoods cultural heritage sites and spiritual groves that hold deep cultural significance. Adding to Ritika's dilemma her NGO recently received significant donations from an international renewable energy foundation the same foundation that has invested heavily in the Solar Park project. Her board expects her to balance environmental stewardship with a progressive stance on green energy. Meanwhile local activists accuse the NGO of hypocrisy if it supports the project and betrayal if it opposes clean energy goals. (a) Identify and briefly discuss the key ethical issues involved in this case. (b) What options are available to Ritika? Critically analyze each option. (c) Suggest a course of action that Ritika should take in this situation. Justify your answer with suitable ethical principles and values. (20 marks 250 words)

Topper: Shiksha Pathak · AIR 453 · 2025 · Page 56