Case Study 1: You are an IAS officer newly appointed as the Director of the State Education Department. The department has a reputation for inefficiency, resistance to change, and low morale among staff. Upon taking charge, you’re confronted with several challenges: On your first day, you notice that many employees arrive late and leave early. When you inquire, you’re told that this has been the norm for years and attempts to change it have always failed. You receive a report indicating that the state’s educational outcomes are among the lowest in the country, with high dropout rates and poor learning levels. However, when you discuss this with your senior staff, they argue that the data is flawed and the situation isn’t as bad as portrayed. A group of teachers approaches you with complaints about delayed salaries, lack of training opportunities, and political interference in transfers and postings. They seem sceptical about your ability to address these long-standing issues. You discover that a significant portion of the department’s budget for infrastructure development remained unutilized last year. When you ask for explanations, officials cite bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of coordination with other departments. The Chief Minister’s office has asked for a comprehensive plan to improve the state’s education system within a month. However, your initial suggestions for reforms are met with resistance from various quarters, including some influential teacher unions. You learn that several schools in remote areas are functioning with severe teacher shortages, but urban schools are overstaffed. Attempts to rationalize teacher postings in the past have led to protests and political backlash. A reputed NGO offers to partner with the department to implement innovative teaching methods in government schools. However, some of your colleagues are wary, citing past failures of public-private partnerships. Questions: 1. How would you go about changing the work culture in the department? What challenges do you anticipate and how would you overcome them? 2. How would you address the issue of teacher shortages in remote areas while managing potential resistance? 3. How would you maintain a positive attitude in the face of systemic challenges and resistance to change? (20 Marks, 250-300 words)