Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

India has achieved rapid economic growth and set an ambitious goal of becoming a developed country by 2047. However, this growth coexists with social inequalities such as income disparity, gender gaps, and regional imbalances, as well as environmental challenges like pollution, resource depletion, and climate vulnerability. An ethical framework, rooted in justice, equity, and responsibility, is essential to guide policies toward inclusive and sustainable development.

Body :

Relevance of an Ethical Framework:

• Justice and Equity: Ethical governance demands prioritizing marginalized populations who remain excluded despite GDP growth.
  • For example, while 171 million Indians escaped extreme poverty since 2011, the richest 1% now hold over 40% of national wealth, while the bottom 50% own a mere 3% (World Inequality Lab, 2025).
  • This stark disparity calls for redistributive policies grounded in distributive justice.
• Gender and Social Equity: Women earn 34% less than men, and female labour force participation is 41.7% compared to men’s 78.8%.
  • Equity demands proactive policies like affirmative action and workplace fairness to reduce these gaps ethically.
• Sustainability and Responsibility: Ethical stewardship entails safeguarding ecosystems amid rapid growth. Delhi’s air quality index routinely exceeds hazardous levels (AQI >700), and urban water bodies degrade from unplanned urbanisation.
  • Initiatives like Kanchan Verma’s restoration of the Sasur Khaderi rivulet reflect ethical responsibility toward intergenerational equity.
• Transparency and Accountability: Equitable governance requires transparent decision-making and accountability mechanisms to prevent elite capture, corruption, and policy distortions that worsen inequality.
  • According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), India is ranked 96th out of 180 countries, reflecting ongoing challenges in transparency, accountability, and governance integrity.
• Social Reconstructionism: It emphasises education and participatory governance as tools to rebuild society by empowering marginalised communities and fostering inclusive decision-making in India.
  • This is reflected in grassroots institutions like Gram Sabhas, women-led Self-Help Groups such as Kudumbashree, and platforms like MyGov, which collectively promote social equity, ethical governance, and community-led development, aligning with the ethical imperative to transform socio-economic disparities into opportunities for collective progress.
• Integrating Ethics in Development Programs: Ethical considerations encourage policies that are inclusive, long-term, and environmentally conscious.
  • Corporate initiatives under the Companies Act 2013 (CSR) ensure businesses contribute to social welfare.
  • Government programs like the Clean Ganga Mission and the National Electric Mobility Mission incorporate sustainability into development planning.

Conclusion:

India’s development must go beyond GDP growth. As Mahatma Gandhi cautioned, “There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed”, underscoring the importance of ethical and sustainable development. By adopting an ethical framework that harmonises economic progress, social equity, and environmental sustainability, the country can ensure inclusive and enduring growth.