Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

Authority in governance earns moral legitimacy when exercised with empathy and compassion, allowing administrators to understand citizens’ problems beyond rigid procedures. By transforming authority from mere control into empowerment, emotional intelligence (EI), which is the ability to recognise and manage one’s own and others’ emotions, helps officers apply power as a tool of service.

Body :

Relevance of EI & Compassion in Administrative Responsibilities

• Decision-Making and Policy Implementation: EI allows administrators to consider both rational analysis and human impact, ensuring policies are effective and humane.
  • During Covid-19, empathetic district magistrates provided food, shelter, and safe transport to migrant workers, balancing administrative guidelines with citizens’ real needs.
• Leadership and Team Motivation: An emotionally intelligent leader inspires and motivates subordinates.
  • T.N. Seshan, former Chief Election Commissioner, combined strict enforcement with fairness, earning team commitment and ensuring smooth electoral processes.
• Citizen-Centric Service Delivery: Compassion ensures inclusive and responsive governance.
  • IAS officer Armstrong Pame, known as the “Miracle Man” of Manipur, mobilized local communities to construct a 100 km road without government funds, reflecting empathy-driven leadership that prioritized community welfare over bureaucratic rigidity.
• Conflict Resolution and Grievance Redressal: Compassion helps resolve disputes and reduce tensions.
  • In Medak, Telangana, the district administration personally engaged with farmers protesting procurement policies, adjusting procedures based on dialogue, demonstrating trust-building through empathetic engagement.
• Crisis Management and Resilience: EI equips officers to manage high-pressure situations calmly.
  • During natural disasters, such as floods in Kerala, empathetic collectors coordinated relief operations while addressing psychological needs, ensuring efficient resource allocation and public reassurance.

Challenges in Practising Empathy

• Rigid bureaucratic structures, workload pressure, and the absence of emotional intelligence training often make administrators rule-bound rather than people-oriented.
• Emotional fatigue and institutional apathy can also blunt compassion in long service tenures.

Conclusion:

Empathy and compassion transform authority into ethical service, ensuring governance that not only enforces rules but also uplifts lives. Reforms like Mission Karmayogi emphasise behavioural training, self-awareness, and citizen engagement. Embedding emotional intelligence (EI) and compassion in administrative education and rewarding humane governance can institutionalise effective and people-centred administration.