Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 30 April 2025

Content:

1. Growth pangs
2. A powerful judicial remedy for waste management

Growth pangs

Context: Current Industrial Output Scenario

• IIP growth slowdown: FY25 average at 4%, the lowest in four years, down from 5.9% in FY24.
• March 2025 IIP rose marginally to 3% (from 2.7% in Feb), driven largely by seasonal surge in electricity demand.

Relevance : GS 3(Indian Economy)

Practice Question : India’s industrial sector, especially MSMEs, is facing headwinds from global trade turbulence and weak domestic demand. Critically examine the structural and cyclical factors affecting industrial growth in India. Suggest a roadmap for reviving industrial output and ensuring sustainable growth.(250 words)

Sector-Wise Analysis

• Mining: Sharp fall from 7.5% (FY24) → 2.9% (FY25).
• Manufacturing: Moderated to 4% (FY25) from 5.5% (FY24).
• Electricity: Slowed to 5.1% from 7%, despite March seasonal rise.
• Consumer Non-Durables: Degrowth of -1.6% in FY25 (vs +4.1% in FY24) → indicates rural distress.
• Consumer Durables: Growth doubled from 3.6% to 8% → suggests urban consumption recovery.

Demand Side Concerns

• Rural consumption weakened: Due to high food inflation in Oct–Dec FY24 and falling farm incomes post vegetable price crash.
• Urban consumption stable: Boost in consumer durables shows resilient middle-class demand.
• Retail inflation: At 4.6% in FY25, lowest in 6 years → masks rural distress.

Investment and Lending Trends

• RBI policy rate cut: From 6.5% (Jan) to 6% (April) → Lower lending rates.
• Private Capex still weak: Despite cheaper credit, uncertain global trade outlook deters investment.
• Domestic consumption push needed: Government stimulus required to fill demand gap.

External Sector & MSMEs

• Flat goods export growth: Reflects global slowdown + strained U.S.-India trade ties.
• MSMEs under pressure:
  • Contribute 45.8% to exports.
  • Grew from ₹4 lakh cr (FY21) → ₹12 lakh cr (FY25).
  • Employ ~250 million, mostly in micro enterprises.
• Policy need: Fast-track Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with U.S. to secure MSME resilience and job security.

Key Policy Imperatives

• Targeted rural stimulus: To revive non-durables consumption and restore farm incomes.
• Accelerate BTA with U.S.: To insulate MSMEs from global turbulence.
• Boost public capex: To offset private sector hesitancy.
• Ease of Doing Business reforms: Especially for micro and small manufacturers.
• Export diversification strategy: Reduce dependence on a few large markets.

A powerful judicial remedy for waste management

Context :Plastic Waste Crisis in India

• India = World’s largest plastic polluter: Emits 9.3 million tonnes/year, ~20% of global plastic emissions (Nature study).
• Emission definition: Includes plastic debris & open burning transitioning from managed to unmanaged systems.
• Plastic waste generation underestimated:
  • Official figure: 0.12 kg/person/day.
  • Study estimates actual: 0.54 kg/person/day.
• Waste collection overestimated:
  • Claims 95% coverage, but excludes:
    • Rural areas
    • Informal recycling
    • Open burning

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology )

Practice Question :“India’s waste management challenge is not only a governance issue but also a constitutional and judicial concern.” Examine the role of data, local governance, and the judiciary in ensuring effective waste management in India. (250 words)

Himalayan States: Underestimated Risk

• Severe plastic pollution in Indian Himalayan Region.
• Lack of baselinedata on:
  • Waste quantity & quality
  • Local capacity for waste management

Data Deficiency & Accountability Gaps

• CPCB reports rely on SPCB/PCC → Municipal bodies → often unverified, inconsistent data.
• No disclosed methodology for data collection or waste audit.
• Rural India & areas outside urban local bodies → entirely unaccounted in waste data.
• Urges transparent, auditable waste data across all jurisdictions.

Judicial Imperative & Constitutional Duty

• SC observation: Environmental protection is a constitutional mandate and linked to fundamental rights.
• Courts must ensure:
  • Time-bound compliance with environmental orders
  • Justice for affected individuals through real-world impact, not just paper schemes

Infrastructure Deficit & the Role of Local Bodies

• Local governments = primary stakeholders in waste management.
• Needs:
  • Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
  • Sanitary landfills
  • Linkages to EPR kiosks
• Use of geotagging to map and monitor infrastructure.

Strengthening EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

• PIBOs(Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners.) must collectively create accessible EPR kiosks for:
  • Urban + Rural bodies
  • Segregation & recovery at source
• Tailor kiosk locations by:
  • Waste volume
  • Geography
  • Accessibility
• Operationalisation of EPR must be planned & mandatory.

Supreme Court’s ‘Continuing Mandamus’ – A Game-Changer

• Tannery Case (Jan 2024): SC ordered cleanup in Vellore, TN → landmark use of continuing mandamus.
• Ensures:
  • Remediation
  • Regular monitoring
  • Accountability for non-compliance
• SC: Govt schemes often fail on ground → Courts must ensure real enforcement.

Polluter Pays Principle Reaffirmed

• Absolute liability:
  • Compensation for victims
  • Restoration of ecology
• Violation triggers liability: Direct pollution, negligence, licence breaches, or ecological damage.
• Govt Pay Principle: Government must pay first → recover from polluters later.

Way Forward

• Mandamus-based judicial oversight on waste management → crucial for:
  • Enforcing accountability
  • Real-time compliance
  • Environmental justice
• Judicial push + data transparency + tech integration → India can lead global waste solutions.