Reconciling Development and Rights: The Global Ethics Summit 2026

A key component of this framework is the Gandhian concept of 'Trusteeship.' Gandhi argued that the state and wealthy individuals should not act as owners of resources but as trustees for the benefit of society, especially the marginalized. By viewing land through the lens of stewardship rather than exploitation, policymakers can move toward a more inclusive model of development. Furthermore, the discussion integrated modern distributive justice theories, such as John Rawls’ 'Difference Principle,' which suggests that social and economic inequalities are only justified if they result in compensatory benefits for the least advantaged members of society. In the context of land rights, this means that any project must ensure that the displaced communities are not just compensated financially but are made primary stakeholders and beneficiaries of the development. UPSC Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper IV (Ethics), specifically regarding ethical dilemmas in administration and the contributions of moral thinkers like Gandhi. It also provides a theoretical foundation for answering questions in GS Paper I (Society) and Anthropology/Philosophy optional papers concerning tribal displacement and sustainable development. Aspirants can use these frameworks to argue for more nuanced Social Impact Assessments (SIA) in governance.