GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Ethics Case Study - 5 | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

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 selfreliant 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 the 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 probability of exporting the same to a friendly country. The Director-General wanted the Chairman to discuss the details with his staff in 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 manufacturing of indigenous weapons in the country. He also stated that all indigenous arms manufacturing nations have a very good record of the international arms trade. As the Chairman of BML, what are your views on the following points? 
1. As an arms exporter of a responsible nation like India, what are the ethical issues involved in arms trade? 
2. List five ethical factors that would influence the decision to sell arms to foreign governments. (UPSC MAINS GS4)

Ethical issues arising 

• Against Gandhian principle of non violence 
• Against vasudevo Kutumbukam 
• boosting arms export for business vs expenditure on peace mission/SGDs for humanity 
• importer maintain the sanctity of contract and not involved in proliferation 
• technological transferred can be used against our own nation 
• taint India’s soft power and diplomacy’s might because exporter of arms can be seen as “merchant of death” 
• weapons can be exported to a nation which doesn’t have same regard for human rights 
• diverting HR towards destructive things rather constructive things 
• moral courage of importer for proportional response using our weapon 
• waste disposal and environmental ethics 

• Ethical factors influencing decision making 

• Need of money for welfare activities in short term 
• Proportional use for security and deterrence 
• continue to enjoy technological superiority over adversaries to secure our own nation 
• Preventing the proliferation of weapons exported 
• Redundancy of traditional weapons in coming days and rise of cyber warfare so grabbing the opportunity 
• Reduce dependency on arms trade for profit and make India hub of manufacturing of other state of the art technologies like ISRO.