Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

A welfare state is founded on the principle of social justice, ensuring the well-being of all citizens, especially the marginalized.

• Ethical governance in a welfare state requires policies that promote equity, inclusivity, and dignity, aligning with moral responsibilities like fair distribution of resources, protection of fundamental rights, and empowerment of disadvantaged sections.

Body

Ethical Obligations of a Welfare State:

• Protection of Fundamental Rights and Human Dignity
  • A welfare state must guarantee basic freedoms, equality, and dignity for all citizens.
  • India’s Constitutional Basis:
    • Article 14-18: Right to Equality ensures non-discrimination.
    • Article 21: Right to Life and Personal Liberty (expanded to include Right to Privacy, Environmental Protection, etc.).
  • Example: Supreme Court rulings like K. S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (Right to Privacy, 2017) reinforces ethical commitments to personal dignity.
• Ensuring Social and Economic Justice:
  • A welfare state must correct historical injustices and bridge socio-economic inequalities.
    • Rawls' theory supports affirmative action for marginalized communities.
  • India’s Constitutional Basis:
    • Preamble: Ensures Justice—Social, Economic, and Political.
    • DPSPs (Directive Principles of State Policy): Guide the state in securing welfare through policies (Articles 38, 39, 41, 43, 46).
  • Example:
    • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) promotes economic justice through guaranteed employment.
• Equitable Distribution of Resources:
  • Ethical governance requires redistribution of wealth and opportunities to uplift the weaker sections of society.
  • India’s Constitutional Basis: Article 39(b): Ensures that "ownership and control of material resources are distributed to serve the common good."
  • Example: Land reforms, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and subsidies for essential commodities.
• Empowerment of Marginalized Sections:
  • A just welfare state takes affirmative action to uplift disadvantaged groups, ensuring equal participation in national progress.
  • India’s Constitutional Basis:
    • Article 15(4) & 16(4): Affirmative action for SCs, STs, and OBCs in education and employment.
  • Example:
    • Reservation policies in education and jobs under Articles 15(4) and 16(4).
• Universal Access to Basic Needs (Health, Education, and Social Security):
  • Ethical governance necessitates providing basic necessities like education, healthcare, and social security.
    • Utilitarianism justifies welfare schemes like PDS and free healthcare for maximum societal benefit.
  • India’s Constitutional Basis:
    • Article 21A(Right to Education) and Article 47: Duty of the state to improve public health and nutrition.
  • Example:
    • National Education Policy (NEP 2020) promotes inclusive education.
    • Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) provides free health insurance to vulnerable sections.
• Transparency, Accountability, and Participatory Governance
  • Ethical governance requires transparency, accountability, and active citizen participation in decision-making.
  • India’s Constitutional Basis:
    • Right to Information (RTI Act, 2005) strengthens transparency.
    • Panchayati Raj (73rd & 74th Amendments) promotes decentralized governance.
  • Example: Social audits under MGNREGA, participatory governance models in Kerala.

Challenges in Fulfilling Ethical Obligations

• Implementation Gaps: Welfare schemes often face inefficiency and corruption (e.g., leakages in PDS).
• Social Inequalities: Despite affirmative action, caste and gender-based discrimination persist.(Indian women earn only Rs 40 for every Rs 100 earned by men)
• Bureaucratic Red Tape: Administrative inefficiencies slow down welfare delivery. (A recent MGNREGA report highlights workers' grievances over corruption, delayed wages, lack of work, and bureaucratic hurdles in accessing entitlements.)

Conclusion

For a welfare state to fulfill its ethical obligations, governance must be rooted in fairness, dignity, and inclusivity. As B.R. Ambedkar rightly said, "The progress of any society depends on how it treats its weakest sections." Ethical governance in a welfare state must, therefore, prioritize justice and empowerment over mere administration.