Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Write any one of the following essays in 1000-1200 words (125 marks)
Q.1. “The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.”
- Objective of the Essay
This essay explores the tension between personal loyalty and intellectual honesty, urging a reflection on the complex role of the “man of knowledge” — whether as a thinker, leader, or citizen. It evaluates how true wisdom demands the ability to transcend emotional attachments, uphold principles over relationships, and balance compassion with clarity. It is a call to moral and civic maturity — where allegiance to truth overrides blind loyalty.
Focus:
- Conflict between emotional loyalty and moral truth
- Need for critical thinking within personal and political relationships
- Intellectual independence and its social consequences
- Role of principled dissent in leadership and reform
- The risk of conformity in friend-enemy binaries
2.Understanding the Topic
Key Terms:
- Man of knowledge: A seeker of truth — be it a reformer, public servant, academic, or engaged citizen.
- Love one’s enemies: Cultivating empathy, forgiveness, and objective reasoning even toward those who oppose us.
- Hate one’s friends: Having the courage to criticize or stand apart from one’s allies when they deviate from just or rational paths.
This statement critiques blind tribalism — suggesting that knowledge must rise above emotional partisanship. A society that only condemns the “other” and shields its own loses the very foundation of justice and reform.
Guiding Questions:
- Can someone be truly wise if they excuse wrongdoing by friends?
- How can criticism within one’s group be a form of deeper loyalty?
- What is the social cost of defending truth over comfort?
- How does leadership benefit from moral detachment?
- Can love for enemies be a sign of inner strength rather than weakness?
- Introduction Techniques
- Historical Hook: In the Constituent Assembly, B.R. Ambedkar criticized Hindu social practices, despite being born into the fold. He faced ridicule, accusations of betrayal, and alienation. Yet, in choosing truth over sentiment, he upheld justice for millions. A man of knowledge often pays this price — loving opponents but confronting his own.
- Philosophical Introduction: Wisdom is not measured by how fiercely we defend our side, but how fairly we assess all sides. Often, the truest test of integrity is not standing against enemies — but standing against friends when justice demands it.
- Quotation-Based Introduction: Nietzsche’s statement is a radical challenge to tribal thinking — urging thinkers and leaders to go beyond emotional binaries. The enemy might be wrong, but so can be the friend. Loving the former and confronting the latter is not contradiction, but courage.
- Anecdotal Introduction: In the 1980s, Indian journalist Arun Shourie exposed corruption within circles considered ideologically close to him. He didn’t stay silent in the name of friendship or political alignment. His pen was guided not by loyalty but by truth — a rare act of intellectual honesty.
- Structuring the Body
(Thematic Structure)
- Personal and Social Dimension
- In friendships and families, people often excuse ethical lapses due to emotional closeness.
- The courage to speak uncomfortable truths to one’s own group often leads to alienation.
- Philosophers like Socrates were condemned by their own city — not enemies — for questioning accepted norms.
- Social reformers like Periyar and Raja Ram Mohan Roy faced hostility from their own communities.
- True wisdom, therefore, involves emotional neutrality in moral judgment.
- Political and Leadership Context
- Leaders must distinguish between loyalty and sycophancy.
- Gandhi, while forgiving the British, also openly challenged casteism among his fellow Indians.
- Abraham Lincoln sought reconciliation with Confederates but didn’t hesitate to confront moral blindness in the North.
- Statesmen must love adversaries for peace, but confront allies for accountability.
- A man of knowledge leads not by partiality but by principle.
- Institutional and Governance Lens
- Judiciary is often the last bastion of neutrality — expected to stand above friend-enemy binaries.
- Landmark judgments (e.g., Kesavananda Bharati, Navtej Johar) reflected courage to challenge popular sentiment.
- Civil servants like E. Sreedharan or Vinod Rai made institutional decisions that sometimes went against political masters.
- Institutions of knowledge and governance require detachment from identity, group interest, or loyalty.
- Whistleblowers often expose not external threats but internal decay.
- Global and Ethical Perspective
- Thinkers like Noam Chomsky have consistently criticized U.S. policies — despite being American.
- Global figures like Malala Yousafzai or Greta Thunberg have challenged prevailing views within their societies.
- International institutions (like UNHRC) are respected when they apply universal principles without bias.
- Ethical theories (Kant’s duty ethics, Gandhi’s satyagraha) demand constancy of values, not convenience.
- Knowledge, when allied to ethics, becomes a force of reform — not dogma.
- Building Arguments
Real-Life Examples:
- Bhagat Singh: Opposed both British rule and the compromises of moderate Indian leaders.
- Justice H.R. Khanna: Dared to dissent during the Emergency — against his own government.
- Aruna Roy: Critiqued governance failures despite being part of reformist circles.
- J.S. Mill: Argued for liberty even when it meant defending unpopular minorities.
Constitutional Anchors:
- Article 19: Freedom of expression — essential for self-critique and reform.
- Article 14: Equality demands impartial treatment — friend or foe.
- Directive Principles (Art. 39, 46): Justice for the weak often demands challenging dominant groups.
- Preamble: Justice, Liberty, Equality — not conditional on group loyalty.
Philosophical Theories:
- Rawls’ Veil of Ignorance: Design rules as if you don’t know who your friends are.
- Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Act only on that principle you would universalize.
- Ambedkar’s Social Democracy: Liberty is meaningless without fraternity — and fraternity demands fairness, not flattery.
- Gandhian thought: Non-violence is active resistance to injustice — even if it’s internal.
Conclusion Techniques
- Vision-Based Conclusion: A society rooted in knowledge and fairness cannot afford to see truth through the lens of allegiance. Whether in courtrooms, classrooms, or parliament, the courage to critique friends and forgive enemies is what preserves the dignity of democratic life.
- Return-to-Intro Conclusion: Just as Ambedkar dared to confront social wrongs in his own fold, true reformers embrace the difficult path. It is easy to condemn enemies. It takes wisdom — and pain — to correct friends. But that is what builds just societies.
- Philosophical Conclusion: Truth is not a favour to be extended selectively. It is a responsibility to uphold, even when it costs us comfort, status, or companionship. The man of knowledge must therefore be loyal — not to people, but to principle.
Q.2. India’s Vision for 2047: Evaluating the Roadmap Towards a Developed Nation in Its Centenary of Independence.
1.Objective of the Essay
This essay tests the student’s ability to critically assess a long-term national vision — one that encompasses economic development, social inclusion, technological progress, environmental sustainability, governance reform, and India’s role in the global order. The focus lies not only in presenting aspirational goals but in evaluating whether India’s institutional capacity, demographic energy, and policy direction are aligned with the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Focus:
- Holistic definition of “developed nation”
- Status and gaps in India’s developmental roadmap
- Challenges across economic, social, and political dimensions
- Institutional and technological preparedness
- A balanced vision combining growth with justice and sustainability
2.Understanding the Topic
Key Terms:
- India@2047: A government-led visioning exercise marking 100 years of Independence, aiming to transform India into a global leader and developed nation.
- Developed Nation: Beyond GDP — includes human development, technological leadership, environmental resilience, social equity, and institutional strength.
- Roadmap: Set of reforms, initiatives, and strategies — both short- and long-term — including schemes like Gati Shakti, Digital India, Green Energy Mission, NEP 2020, etc.
Guiding Questions:
- What constitutes a “developed” India in the 21st century context?
- Is the current policy trajectory sufficient to meet that goal?
- What are the key structural, social, and political challenges?
- How are citizens, civil society, and the private sector contributing?
- How can India balance speed, equity, and sustainability by 2047?
3.Introduction Techniques
- Historical Hook: In 1947, a newly independent India embarked on a journey of self-rule amidst deep poverty and illiteracy. As it approaches its 100th year of independence, the nation stands at a critical juncture — aspiring not just for growth, but for inclusive and sustainable development. India@2047 is both a vision and a test of our collective resolve.
- Philosophical Introduction: A nation’s greatness is not measured by the height of its buildings or the size of its economy alone, but by the dignity it offers its weakest citizen. A developed India by 2047 must thus be just, green, digital, inclusive, and globally respected.
- Quotation-Based: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, “India’s Amrit Kaal is a time for dreams with deadlines.” The centenary of independence is not just a celebration but an accountability checkpoint — a time to ask: How far have we come, and how far are we prepared to go?
4.Structuring the Body
(Thematic Structure)
- Economic Transformation: From Emerging to Advanced Economy
- Aspirations include $30 trillion economy, global manufacturing hub, startup ecosystem leadership
- Focus on Gati Shakti, PLI schemes, and Make in India
- Digitization and fintech revolution as enablers
- Challenge: income inequality, jobless growth, informal sector vulnerabilities
- Need for skilling, MSME support, and investment in R&D
- Social Justice and Human Development
- Vision 2047 includes eliminating multidimensional poverty, ensuring universal health and education
- Initiatives like NEP 2020, Ayushman Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission, PM POSHAN
- Challenge: caste- and gender-based inequities, malnutrition, learning poverty
- Need to improve HDI rank (132/191 in 2023), literacy quality, and social mobility
- Role of civil society and decentralized governance
- Sustainability and Climate Leadership
- India’s net zero pledge by 2070; intermediate goals for 2047
- Missions: National Hydrogen Mission, solar energy push, ethanol blending, EV adoption
- Challenge: balancing energy needs with environmental protection
- Urbanization, water crisis, and climate adaptation in agriculture
- Vision of “Panchamrit” — aligning development with climate justice
- Governance, Institutions, and Democratic Deepening
- India@2047 aims at transparent, responsive, and technology-driven governance
- Reforms: Digital India, e-governance, Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile trinity
- Challenges: institutional overreach, trust deficits, corruption, federal tensions
- Strengthening local self-government and judicial reforms
- Ensuring constitutional values guide policymaking
- India’s Global Role and Strategic Leadership
- India seeks to be a voice for the Global South, leader in multilateral diplomacy
- Aspirations for UNSC permanent seat, global tech and pharma leadership
- Act East, Neighbourhood First, and Indo-Pacific strategies
- Challenges: regional instability, border tensions, global economic decoupling
- Promoting Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in global climate and development discourse
5.Building Arguments
Examples and Data:
- Digital Infrastructure: Over 1.2 billion Aadhaar-linked citizens; UPI processing 10+ billion monthly transactions
- Social Achievements: 250 million lifted out of poverty (NITI Aayog, 2023)
- Climate Action: 40% of installed electricity from non-fossil fuel sources (ahead of target)
- Startups: 100+ unicorns and growing innovation hubs
- Governance: Ease of Doing Business rank improved from 142 (2014) to 63 (2020)
Constitutional Anchors:
- Preamble: Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity — vision benchmarks
- Article 21: Right to life with dignity — foundation for development goals
- Directive Principles: Sustainable, equitable economic and social order (Art. 38, 39, 47)
Committees and Reports:
- NITI Aayog Vision 2047 Strategy Paper
- Economic Survey 2023-24: Productivity, demographic dividend
- National Education Policy 2020: Foundation for a knowledge economy
- Swaminathan Commission: Roadmap for agricultural sustainability
Theoretical Lens:
- Amartya Sen’s Capabilities Approach: Development as expansion of freedoms
- Gandhian Vision: Antyodaya — the upliftment of the last person
- APJ Abdul Kalam’s Vision 2020: Technology + ethics + people-first governance
Conclusion Techniques
- Vision-Based Conclusion: India@2047 is not just a government plan — it is a shared commitment. A developed India must rise not just in GDP rankings, but in compassion, capability, and character. If we align innovation with inclusion, and power with purpose, India can emerge not only as a developed nation, but a morally enlightened one.
- Return-to-Intro Conclusion: As 1947 marked India’s birth in freedom, 2047 must mark its maturity in justice. A century later, our true independence will be defined not by what we gained, but by what we became — a society that dignifies all and leads responsibly.
- Philosophical Conclusion: Development is not a destination but a continuous process of becoming — more humane, more inclusive, and more accountable. India’s tryst with destiny is not yet over; it now calls for courage, clarity, and collective will to complete the journey we began in 1947.
Quotes on Education for Essay
- “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.” – Swami Vivekananda
- “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
- “The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values.” – William S. Burroughs
- “Literacy in itself is no education. Literacy is not the end of education or even the beginning.” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “Real education consists in drawing the best out of yourself.” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” – George Washington Carver
- “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle
- “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” – Aristotle
- “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
- “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.” – Rabindranath Tagore
- “Education should be such that it liberates the individual and helps realize their full potential.” – Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
- “The end of all education should surely be service to others.” – Cesar Chavez
