UPSC Mains 2020 · GS IV · Q8 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

The Chairman of Bharat Missiles Ltd (BML) was watching a program on TV wherein the Prime Minister was addressing the nation on the necessity of developing a self-reliant India. He subconsciously nodded in agreement and smiled to himself as he mentally reviewed BML's journey in the past two decades. BML had admirably progressed from producing first generation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to designing and producing state of the art ATGM weapon systems that would be the envy of any army. He sighed in reconciliation with his assumptions that the government would probably not alter the status quo of a ban on export of military weaponry. To his surprise, the very next day he got a telephone call from the Director General, Ministry of Defence, asking him to discuss the modalities of increasing BML production of ATGMs as there is a possibility of exporting the same to a friendly foreign country. The Director General wanted the Chairman to discuss the details with his staff at Delhi next week. Two days later, at a press conference, the Defence Minister stated that he aims to double the current weapons export levels within five years. This would give an impetus to financing the development and manufacture of indigenous weapons in the country. He also stated that all indigenous arms manufacturing nations have a very good record of international arms trade. As Chairman of BML, what are your views on the following points ?

(a) As an arms exporter of a responsible nation like India, what are the ethical issues involved in arms trade ?
(b) List five ethical factors that would influence the decision to sell arms to foreign governments.

हिन्दी में

भारत मिसाईल लिमिटेड (बी.एम.एल.) के अध्यक्ष टीवी पर एक कार्यक्रम देख रहे थे जिसमें प्रधानमंत्री आत्मनिर्भर भारत के विकास की आवश्यकता पर राष्ट्र को सम्बोधित कर रहे थे । अवचेतन रूप में उन्होंने हामी भरी और मन ही मन मुस्कुराते हुए बी.एम.एल. की विगत दो दशकों की यात्रा की मानसिक पुनर्समीक्षा की । प्रथम पीढी (फर्स्ट जेनरेशन) की एण्टी-टैंक गाईडेड मिसाईल (ए.टी.जी.एम.) के उत्पादन में प्रशंसनीय रूप से आगे बढ़ कर बी.एम.एल. अब अत्याधुनिक तकनीक पर आधारित ए.टी.जी.एम. हथियार प्रणालियों के डिजाइन और उनका उत्पादन कर रहा था जो विश्व की किसी भी सेना के लिए ईर्ष्या का कारण होगें । आह भरते हुए उन्होंने अपनी इस पूर्वधारणा के साथ समझौता किया कि संभवतया सरकार सैनिक हथियारों के निर्यात पर प्रतिबंध की यथास्थिति को नहीं बदलेगी । उन्हें आश्चर्य हुआ कि अगले ही दिन महानिदेशक, रक्षा मंत्रालय से बी.एम.एल. द्वारा ए.टी.जी.एम. के उत्पादन में बृद्धि करने की रीतियों पर चर्चा करने के लिए उन्हें फोन आया क्योंकि संभावना है कि एक मित्र विदेशी देश को उनका निर्यात किया जा सकता है । महानिदेशक चाहते थे कि अध्यक्ष अगले सप्ताह दिल्ली में उनके अधिकारियों से विस्तृत चर्चा करें । दो दिन बाद, एक संवाददाता सम्मेलन में, रक्षामंत्री ने कहा कि अगले पाँच वर्षों में वे वर्तमान हथियार निर्यात स्तरों को दो-गुना करने का ध्येय रखते हैं । यह देशज हथियारों के विकास और निर्माण के वित्तपोषण को प्रोत्साहन देगा । उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि सभी देशज हथियार निर्माता राष्ट्रों का अंतर्राष्ट्रीय हथियार व्यापार में बड़ा अच्छा रिकॉर्ड है । बी.एम.एल. के अध्यक्ष के रूप में निम्नलिखित बिंदुओं पर आपके क्या विचार हैं :

(a) हथियार निर्यातक के रूप में भारत जैसे उत्तरदायी देश के हथियार व्यापार में नीतिपरक मुद्दे क्या हैं ?
(b) विदेशी सरकारों को हथियारों के विक्रय संबंधी निर्णय को प्रभावित करने वाले पाँच नीतिपरक कारकों को सूचीबद्ध कीजिए ।

Ethics in International Relations

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Do you think corporate businesses such as GAMA must consider international ethics while pursuing business interests? Why/why not? (c) Do you think a corporate's social responsibility extends beyond one's immediate community to the international community? Why/Why not? (d) Do you think the Defence sector companies marketing sensitive technologies must be regulated by their respective governments, or regulation may curtail their entrepreneurial and innovation energy? Discuss.”

RuhaniAIR 5 · CSE 2023 · 142 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

This case deals with the signing of business deal between countries ABC, GAMA and XYZ.

Body · points

a) ETHICAL ISSUES INVOLVED • Human rights violation by XYZ • Signing of deal between GAMA & XYZ • Good business, but with questionable clients.

b) GAMA must look at business ethics while pursuing business interest. However, if business interests can be misused for human rights violation, then GAMA must not pursue business interests solely.

c) CSR extends to the country concerned because the law defines the jurisdiction where CSR is to be done. However, CSR must extend to international community.

d) Defence sector companies need to be regulated, not strangulated.

Regulation is important so that they do not take too many risks and perform any action that harms nation's interest. However, excessive regulations must be avoided as entrepreneurs need a simplified and conducive environment to operate.

4 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper IV, Q8. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.