1. Public life occasionally witnesses individuals adopting methods of non-violent protest to draw attention to policy issues. Examine the ethical significance of such acts in a constitutional democracy.
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Non-violent protest is the peaceful expression of dissent to influence public policy without causing harm. In a constitutional democracy, it reflects the ethical balance between citizens’ conscience, democratic participation and constitutional values.
I. Ethical Significance of Non-Violent Protest
- Democratic participation: Enables citizens to engage beyond elections and strengthens participatory democracy. J.S. Mill argued that free expression and dissent are essential for a healthy democracy.
- Moral conscience: Demonstrates integrity, moral courage and commitment to justice. Gandhi’s Satyagraha exemplified truth and persuasion over coercion.
- Protection of rights: Gives practical meaning to Articles 19(1)(a) & 19(1)(b), reinforcing constitutional morality.
- Accountability: Compels governments to justify policies, promoting transparency and responsiveness.
- Voice for the marginalised: Empowers weaker sections to seek justice, advancing equality and human dignity. John Rawls regarded civil disobedience as a legitimate, public and non-violent appeal against serious injustice in a nearly just society.
- Peaceful conflict resolution: Martin Luther King Jr. held that non-violence seeks reconciliation and justice rather than defeating opponents.
II. Ethical Limits and Responsibilities
- Kant’s principle of respect for persons requires protests to remain peaceful and respect others’ rights.
- Methods should be proportionate, truthful and avoid harming public welfare.
- Protest should remain open to dialogue and constructive engagement.
Non-violent protest is an ethical instrument that strengthens democracy by converting dissent into constructive participation. Guided by truth, constitutional morality and responsibility, it promotes justice while preserving constitutional order. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”
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2. To what extent can monetary policy alone control inflation in an economy where price pressures originate from supply-side factors? Discuss.
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Inflation can arise from demand-side factors (excess demand) or supply-side shocks such as food shortages, energy price spikes and supply chain disruptions. While the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses monetary policy to maintain price stability under the Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework (4% ± 2%), its effectiveness is limited when inflation is predominantly supply-driven.
Extent to Which Monetary Policy Can Control Supply-Side Inflation
- Cannot directly increase supply: Higher interest rates cannot raise agricultural output or improve logistics.
- High economic cost: Aggressive rate hikes reduce investment, consumption and employment without addressing the root cause.
- Food inflation dominance: Food accounts for nearly 46% of the CPI basket, making inflation highly sensitive to weather and supply disruptions.
- Imported inflation: Global crude oil or commodity price shocks are beyond the RBI’s control.
However, Monetary Policy Still Plays an Important Role
- Anchors inflation expectations, preventing temporary shocks from becoming persistent.
- Prevents second-round effects, such as wage-price spirals.
- Maintains macroeconomic and financial stability, strengthening confidence in the economy.
- Supports exchange rate stability, moderating imported inflation.
Need for Complementary Measures
- Supply-side interventions: Improve agricultural productivity, storage, logistics and cold-chain infrastructure.
- Fiscal measures: Rationalise fuel taxes, targeted subsidies and calibrated import-export policies.
- Trade policy: Timely imports of essential commodities and strategic buffer stock management.
- Structural reforms: Strengthen supply chains, renewable energy and market reforms.
- Better Centre–State coordination for food distribution and price monitoring.
Monetary policy is necessary but not sufficient to control supply-driven inflation. As Raghuram Rajan observed, central banks cannot produce more onions or oil. A durable solution requires a coordinated monetary, fiscal and structural policy response, ensuring price stability while sustaining growth. Such a balanced approach aligns with the objective of inclusive and sustainable economic development.
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