Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Buddha’s Middle Path, or Madhyamaka, advocates a balanced approach, avoiding extremes of indulgence and austerity. In civil services, it offers a pragmatic ethical framework ensuring objectivity, justice, and impartial governance, fostering equity and long-term public trust.

Body

The Middle Path and Ethical Decision-Making in Governance

• The Middle Path embodies moderation, pragmatism, and rational thinking, enabling civil servants to make balanced, ethical, and impartial decisions.
• It aligns with deontological ethics (duty-based approach) and virtue ethics, promoting righteous conduct (Dhamma) in governance.
• It reflects constitutional morality, ensuring fair and inclusive governance without bias towards any ideology, class, or community.

Application of Middle Path in Civil Services:

• Balanced Policy Formulation
  • Civil servants must balance economic growth with social equity, ensuring that development is sustainable and inclusive.
  • Example: Balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability through policies like National solar Mission, Green GDP and Panchamrit targets.
• Impartiality in Decision-Making
  • Avoiding political pressure or bureaucratic inertia, officers must adhere to objectivity, transparency, and fairness.
  • Example: T.N. Seshan’s electoral reforms balanced constitutional provisions and administrative efficiency, upholding democratic integrity.
• Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building
  • The Middle Path promotes dialogue over confrontation, crucial for resolving disputes and ensuring cooperative governance.
  • Example: NITI Aayog’s cooperative federalism approach balances state autonomy and central oversight, ensuring harmonious policy execution.
• Corruption-Free and Ethical Administration
  • Excessive power leads to authoritarianism, while excessive leniency leads to inefficiency—a balanced approach is crucial.
  • Example: E-governance initiatives like DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) reduce leakages while ensuring welfare delivery without bureaucratic discretion.
• Handling Public Grievances with Empathy
  • Civil servants must balance procedural efficiency with compassion, ensuring effective service delivery without bureaucratic red tape.
  • Example: IAS officer Armstrong Pame’s road construction initiative in a remote region, balancing public welfare and procedural compliance.

Ethical Theories Supporting the Middle Path in Governance

• Aristotle’s Golden Mean: Encourages moderation in virtues, resonating with the Middle Path’s emphasis on avoiding extremes.
• Rawls’ Theory of Justice: Advocates fairness while ensuring the least privileged are not disadvantaged.

Conclusion

Buddha’s Middle Path serves as a moral compass for civil servants, guiding them toward equitable, inclusive, and unbiased governance. In an era of complex ethical dilemmas, its emphasis on moderation, integrity, and fairness ensures long-term administrative stability and public trust.