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UPSC MainsGeneral Studies Paper IVEthicsPractice question

Contribution of Women in Ethics and Administration

Discuss the contribution of eminent women in ethics and public administration.

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How to approach

Introduce the topic by linking women's administrative contributions to ethical frameworks like Carol Gilligan's 'Ethics of Care'. In the body, categorize contributions thematically—grassroots policy reformers, historical pioneers, and modern administrative role models—highlighting relevant ethical values (deontology, virtue ethics, fortitude, altruism). Conclude with how this human-centric approach reshapes contemporary public administration.

Model answer

291 words

Introduction

Women leaders and administrators have historically reshaped governance by embodying Carol Gilligan's 'Ethics of Care'—transitioning public service from rigid, purely rule-bound mechanisms to relational empathy, equity, and holistic inclusivity. Their interventions have infused moral courage, accountability, and constitutional morality into everyday public administration.

1. Policy and Grassroots Reformers: Accountability and Equity

  • Aruna Roy (MKSS): Spearheaded the grassroots movement leading to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. She institutionalized transparency, social audits, and a deontological commitment to the citizen's right to know as an intrinsic moral duty of governance.
  • Ela Bhatt (SEWA): Organised over two million informal sector workers through the Self-Employed Women's Association. She pioneered compassionate leadership, financial dignity, and economic justice for marginalized communities.

2. Historical Pioneers: Moral Courage and Welfare

  • Savitribai Phule: Exemplified virtue ethics and extraordinary moral fortitude by braving severe social ostracism to champion universal female education and social reform in 19th-century India.
  • Ramabai Ranade: Founded the Seva Sadan in 1908, institutionalizing structural empathy, vocational rehabilitation, and welfare-oriented institutional administration for destitute women.
  • Sarojini Naidu: Serving as India's first female Governor (United Provinces), she integrated unwavering integrity, democratic ethos, and constitutional morality into executive governance.

3. Administrative and Social Exemplars: Inclusivity and Altruism

  • Ira Singhal (IAS): Exhibited exceptional fortitude by legally confronting and dismantling institutional discrimination within civil services recruitment, securing fair access for persons with disabilities.
  • Dr. Rani Bang: Demonstrated deep professional altruism and empathy by dedicating her medical career to pioneering community health interventions in the tribal regions of Gadchiroli rather than pursuing lucrative urban practice.

Conclusion

The contributions of these eminent women illustrate that public administration is most effective when guided by compassion, institutional integrity, and moral resilience. Embedding their human-centric approaches ensures a civil service that is both structurally efficient and fundamentally empathetic.

Key facts to remember

definition
Ethics of Care

A moral framework developed by psychologist Carol Gilligan emphasizing relational empathy, responsiveness to vulnerability, and compassion over abstract, universalized rules of justice.

example
Aruna Roy and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS)

Pioneered public hearings (Jan Sunwai) in rural Rajasthan, demonstrating how transparency and social audits operationalize public accountability into an enforceable citizen right.

example
Ela Bhatt's SEWA Model

Founded the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) to combine trade unionism with cooperative development, demonstrating ethical economic leadership for millions of unorganized workers.

Frequently asked questions

How does the 'Ethics of Care' transform conventional bureaucracy?

While traditional administrative paradigms rely heavily on Weberian rationality and legalistic compliance, the Ethics of Care prioritizes stakeholder empathy, contextual fairness, and the protection of vulnerable citizens.

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