1(a). In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Social media has transformed governance and citizen engagement, but it brings forth profound ethical dilemmas:
- Truth vs. Misinformation: Fake news, deepfakes, and algorithmic amplification distort reality. For instance, during the 2023 Manipur violence, morphed videos worsened tensions. Here the ethical dilemma lies between freedom of expression (Art. 19(1)(a)) and restrictions to preserve public order (Art. 19(2)).
- Privacy vs. Surveillance: Platforms collect massive user data. The Cambridge Analytica scandal showed misuse of personal data for political manipulation. In India, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 attempts to balance privacy with state’s necessity of monitoring the digital space.
- Commercial Interest vs. Social Responsibility: Algorithms reward divisive content, prioritising profit over societal well-being. The ethical question is whether tech companies should act as neutral platforms or moral guardians.
- Empowerment vs Frauds: On one hand social media has empowered the older generation through several facilities in their mobiles and enabling easy communication with their loved one, on other hand they have been targetted through several scams like fake digital arrests, fake customs duty scams etc.
- Anonymity vs. Accountability: While anonymity empowers vulnerable voices, it enables trolling, cyberbullying, and hate speech.
- Democracy vs. Polarisation: Social media empowers citizen activism (#MeToo, CAA protests) but also spreads echo chambers undermining democratic deliberation.
- Exposure vs Inappropriate Content: Platforms like Youtube, X and Instagram have exposed people to several new dimensions of art, thought and knowledge, but at the same time inappropriate content has often been the cause of concern as well. The recent controversies related to Samay Raina’s shoe point towards this issue.
Way forward:
- Stronger fact-checking mechanisms (eg- Press Information Bureau fact-check initiative).
- Promotion of media literacy in school curricula.
- Independent regulatory oversight by a body dedicated to monitoring the activities on online platforms
- Awareness campaigns, especially focussed on elderly people and children, to make them aware about the risks of social media.
Thus, social media’s dilemmas demand balancing rights with responsibilities, guided by constitutional values of liberty, fraternity, and dignity.
1(b). "Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment but a product of civil education and adherence of the rule of law." Examine the significance of constitutional morality for public servant highlighting the role in promoting good governance and ensuring accountability in public administration. (Answer in 150 words) 10
Dr. Ambedkar emphasised that constitutional morality—adherence to values of the Constitution—must guide public life, since it is not innate but inculcated through education and rule of law. For public servants, its significance is profound:
- Ensuring Rule of Law: Constitutional morality anchors administration in Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21 (right to life and dignity). A civil servant must avoid arbitrariness and uphold fairness in welfare delivery (e.g., implementing government welfare schemes without favouritism).
- Promoting Accountability: Instruments like RTI Act (2005) operationalise Article 19(1)(a), enabling transparency. Public servants adhering to constitutional morality ensure responsiveness to citizens and accountability to Parliament, as stressed by the Second ARC report.
- Protecting Minority Rights: Constitutional morality protects individual freedoms against majority dominance. In Navtej Johar vs. Union of India (2018), SC held that constitutional morality overrides social morality, legalising same-sex relations. A public servant must adopt this principle in administration, ensuring dignity to marginalised groups.
- Good Governance: Upholding Directive Principles (Art. 38 – social justice, Art. 39 – reducing inequalities) requires public servants to prioritise welfare of vulnerable sections, not political expediency. For example, equitable PDS distribution even in remote tribal areas.
- Civil Education: As Ambedkar stated, democracy thrives on educated citizens and ethical administrators. Schemes like Mission Karmayogi aim to cultivate constitutional values in bureaucracy.
For a public servant, constitutional morality is the ethical compass balancing personal beliefs, political pressures, and public duty. It is central to good governance, social justice, and citizen trust—transforming administration into a true instrument of the Constitution.
