According to the principle of double effect, sometimes, it is permissible to cause harm as a side effect (or “double effect”) of bringing about a good result. This doctrine was devised as ‘a neat algorithm’ for solving moral disputes in which an act literally has a ‘double effect, one good and the other bad.
This principle aids in resolving difficult moral situations as given below:

• The nature of the act: The action must either be morally good or neutral.
  • For example, a fire-fighter entering a building on fire to save the lives of the residents trapped in the building is an act of self-sacrifice. The fire-fighter acts to save lives while foreseeing that his actions may lead to his death as an unintended consequence.
• The proportionality condition: The good effect should be greater or at least equivalent in importance to bad effect.
  • For example, despite some collateral damage, military carrying out raids in hostile territories for the purpose of hunting downorganised crime groups is justified.
• The means-end condition: Forachieving the good effect, the bad means should not be used.
  • For example, a doctor prescribes heavy painkillers to reduce the pain of a patient while foreseeing that the drugs may reduce the patient’s life span. ‘
• The right-intention condition: The intention must only be to achieve the good effect. The bad effect must be only an unintended side-effect.
  • For example, during self-defence, an individual may kill another without any intention to kill the other.

However, on the other hand, the doctrine has been misunderstood as a valid excuse to allow an individual to cause harm to others as long as his intentions are inclined towards achieving something morally good. However, the individual making the action also has the responsibility to minimise the risk of the negative side-effect. Furthermore, the doctrine has restrictions as well, such as not acting in excess, inappropriately or without just cause. Thus, the principle of double effect offers a framework for weighing the morally good and bad implications of actions and guides individuals in morally challenging scenarios

1. (b) The Indian Republic chose Ashoka’s Lion Capitalat Sarnath as its state emblem to reflect the same harmony achieved by him and effect a continuity with his humane policies towards the people of the modern Indian nation. In this background, discuss the ethical teachings that find resonance in Ashoka’s life. 10

Answer:
Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor, is renowned for his transformation from a ruthless conqueror to a benevolent ruler. This transformation of his is an inspiration for modern times as well. The Indian Republic’s choice of Ashoka’s Lion Capital at Sarnath as its state emblem reflects the resonance of his ethical teachings in contemporary India. The Lion Capital at Sarnath, chosen as India’s national emblem, symbolizes the power of an enlightened emperor dedicated to upholding righteousness. By embracing this symbolism, modern India is committed to equality, socialjustice, and the triumph of truth.
Ethical teachings that find resonance in Ashoka’s Life:

• Self-transformation: One profound truth derived from Ashoka’s story is the remarkable ability to transform oneself and one’s ideals through self-reflection. It teaches individuals as well as organisations to cultivate self-awareness, reflect on their actions and take responsibility for their outcomes.
• Equality and justice: One of Ashoka’s remarkable achievements was the establishment of one of the earliest welfare states in the ancient world. Moreover, Ashoka’s concept of ‘Dhamma encompassed the principles of fairness, dignity and justice reflecting that the foremost aim of the State should be the well-being of its subjects.
• Tolerance and acceptance: Ashoka’s reign stands as a shining example of tolerance towards diverse faiths and dissenting viewpoints. His wisdom echoes the ongoing debates on free speech and tolerance, issues of inclusive growth as well as harmonious coexistence of different faiths.
• Diplomacy and peaceful coexistence: After conquering Kalinga, he established contact and maintained treaties with five contemporary Greek rulers. This early example of international negotiation to foster peaceful relations inspired India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and subsequent policymakers to establish diplomacy-based ties with neighbouring countries.
• Compassion and empathy: Ashoka demonstrated the socio-moral virtues of honesty, truthfulness, compassion, mercifulness, benevolence, nonviolence, and considerate behaviour towards all including animals. Ashoka’s emphasis on animal rights holds relevance even today, emphasizing the importance of humane treatment and wildlife preservation worldwide.
• Humanity and humility: Ashoka showed humanity and humility by serving his people, establishing hospitals for humans and animals, providing medicines, planting trees, constructing wells and resting places, and taking action against public negligence and animal cruelty.

Ashoka’s life and deeds remain pertinent as India progresses toward a courageous, proud, and influential nation guided by the principle of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (truth always triumphs).

Federalism is a system of government in which powers have been divided between the Centre and its constituent parts such as states within a country. Though the word federation is not mentioned in the Indian Constitution, the country has a federal system having a rigid Constitution, bicameralism, independent Judiciary, division of powers between various levels of government, etc. However, it has been often argued that the Indian model of federalism has centralization tendencies. Centralized nature of the Indian federalism:

• Legislation by the Centre in ‘state subjects’: Under the Seventh Schedule, the legislative powers of the Centre and States are delineated in the Union List, State List, and Concurrent List.
  • In case of a deadlock between the Union and states over subjects in the Concurrent list, the Union law prevails.
  • The Union List contains more subjects than the State List.
  • Under Article 249 of the Indian Constitution, the Parliament has power to legislate with respect to a matter in the State List in the national interest.
• President’s Rule: Under Article 356 of the Constitution, the President can dismiss state governments and dissolve Legislative Assemblies, leading to central control of the states.
• Central agencies and institutions: The existence of central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) signifies the control of the Central government in matters of investigation and law enforcement.
• Other features:
  • The Union Parliament has been given unilateral discretion to reconstruct the boundaries of the states.
  • The Union government has the power of appointing Governors in the states and dissolving state governments by proclaiming President’s Rule if the Centre deems fit.

However, in the Indian model of federalism, states have been given adequate space and autonomy, as can be discerned through the following examples:

• State List: Under the Seventh Schedule, states have exclusive legislative rights on matters in the State List. Even when the Parliament makes a law under Article 249 of the Constitution, the state law can prevail if there is the consent of the President.
• Executive and financial powers: The state governments have the power to administer programmes and policies in their respective states, and they are responsible for rolling out the budget, and collecting and spending revenue.
• The Indian Constitution also provides for a system of fiscal federalism, which ensures that the states receive a share of revenue from the Central government.
• Special status and autonomy: The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for special provisions for tribal areas in the North-Eastern states allowing them a degree of autonomy in governance.
• Cooperative federalism: Different forums are established for promotion of cooperative federalism, such as the Niti Aayog, GST Council, Inter-State Council, etc. to promote the participation of state governments in the policy-making process.
• Others: One of most important moments for federalism in recent times is the revelation of the vital role of state governments in managing the COVID-19 crisis. After initial challenges, the Union government ceded adequate space and autonomy to the states for strengthening their healthcare facilities and managing localised lockdowns.

Indian federalism is a dynamic model that has witnessed a unique interplay of centralization and decentralization. While the Central government maintains significant control over the states, there are instances where autonomy has been granted to accommodate regional aspirations and promote cooperative federalism. The ongoing evolution of Indian federalism should ensure that the needs of a diverse country are effectively addressed.

Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor, is renowned for his transformation from a ruthless conqueror to a benevolent ruler. This transformation of his is an inspiration for modern times as well. The Indian Republic’s choice of Ashoka’s Lion Capital at Sarnath as its state emblem reflects the resonance of his ethical teachings in contemporary India. The Lion Capital at Sarnath, chosen as India’s national emblem, symbolizes the power of an enlightened emperor dedicated to upholding righteousness. By embracing this symbolism, modern India is committed to equality, socialjustice, and the triumph of truth.
Ethical teachings that find resonance in Ashoka’s Life:

• Self-transformation: One profound truth derived from Ashoka’s story is the remarkable ability to transform oneself and one’s ideals through self-reflection. It teaches individuals as well as organisations to cultivate self-awareness, reflect on their actions and take responsibility for their outcomes.
• Equality and justice: One of Ashoka’s remarkable achievements was the establishment of one of the earliest welfare states in the ancient world. Moreover, Ashoka’s concept of ‘Dhamma encompassed the principles of fairness, dignity and justice reflecting that the foremost aim of the State should be the well-being of its subjects.
• Tolerance and acceptance: Ashoka’s reign stands as a shining example of tolerance towards diverse faiths and dissenting viewpoints. His wisdom echoes the ongoing debates on free speech and tolerance, issues of inclusive growth as well as harmonious coexistence of different faiths.
• Diplomacy and peaceful coexistence: After conquering Kalinga, he established contact and maintained treaties with five contemporary Greek rulers. This early example of international negotiation to foster peaceful relations inspired India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and subsequent policymakers to establish diplomacy-based ties with neighbouring countries.
• Compassion and empathy: Ashoka demonstrated the socio-moral virtues of honesty, truthfulness, compassion, mercifulness, benevolence, nonviolence, and considerate behaviour towards all including animals. Ashoka’s emphasis on animal rights holds relevance even today, emphasizing the importance of humane treatment and wildlife preservation worldwide.
• Humanity and humility: Ashoka showed humanity and humility by serving his people, establishing hospitals for humans and animals, providing medicines, planting trees, constructing wells and resting places, and taking action against public negligence and animal cruelty.

Ashoka’s life and deeds remain pertinent as India progresses toward a courageous, proud, and influential nation guided by the principle of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (truth always triumphs).