GS4 2025 Q4 10 marks 150 words Environmental ethics

UPSC Mains 2025 GS4 Q4 — Environmental ethics

Keeping the national security in mind, examine the ethical dilemmas related to controversies over environmental clearance of development projects in ecologically sensitive border areas in the country. (Answer in 150 words)

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Question Decoded — examiner's intent

Directive verbs
examine
Scope keywords
national securityethical dilemmasenvironmental clearancedevelopment projectsecologically sensitive border areas
Implicit sub-parts
  • The inherent conflict between 'Sovereign Duty' (border defense) and 'Planetary Duty' (ecological preservation).
  • Identification of specific ethical dilemmas: Rights of local/tribal populations vs. utilitarian national interest.
  • The procedural ethics of bypassing environmental impact assessments (EIA) for strategic urgency.
  • A synthesis or 'Ethical Way Forward' that balances sustainable development with strategic imperatives.
Common pitfalls
  • Focusing too much on geography or naming specific border roads/tunnels instead of the underlying 'Ethical' trade-offs.
  • Treating it as a GS3 Environment question by listing biodiversity loss without linking it to the GS4 'Ethical Dilemma' framework.
  • Taking a one-sided stance (either purely pro-environment or purely pro-military) instead of 'examining' the friction between the two.
  • Failing to mention the 'Inter-generational equity' vs 'Immediate security' conflict.
Dimensions required
Utilitarianism vs. DeontologyEnvironmental Ethics (Anthropocentrism vs. Ecocentrism)Security and Strategic RealismSocial Justice and Tribal RightsAdministrative Ethics (Accountability and Transparency)
Marks allocation hint

Spend 30 words defining the security-ecology nexus. Devote 80-90 words to detailing the specific ethical dilemmas (e.g., speed vs. due process, national vs. local interest). Use the final 30 words to suggest a framework like 'Strategic EIA' or 'Eco-sensitive Infrastructure' to conclude.

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