Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 12 May 2025

Content:

1. Fire and ceasefire
2. Right to know
3. Why India must get the Caste Census right
4. A fundamental reset to drive manufacturing growth

Fire and ceasefire

Ceasefire Announcement and External Mediation

• India and Pakistan reached an understanding to cease military action after three days of intense fighting.
• U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire; senior American officials were reportedly involved in facilitating talks.
• Raises concerns about third-party involvement in a bilateral issue, especially regarding Kashmir.

Relevance : GS 2 (International Relations and Governance)

Practice Question:Discuss the implications of third-party mediation in bilateral conflicts, with particular reference to the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement. What are the potential risks of foreign involvement in Kashmir?(250 Words)

Trigger and India’s Response

• The conflict escalated after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam (April 22) targeting tourists.
• India’s military response signals a new security doctrine: overt retaliatory action for cross-border terrorism.
• Pakistan’s strategy of denial and indirect support to terror has been explicitly challenged by India.

Impact on Civilians and Armed Forces

• Indian armed forces showed professionalism and bravery.
• Civilian suffering noted in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab – in terms of life, property, and peace.
• India reaffirmed its pluralist, democratic identity, rejecting Pakistan’s attempts to sow communal discord.

Domestic Political Reactions and Accountability

• Opposition demands transparency: calls for an all-party meeting and a special Parliament session.
• Public accountability urged on casualties, military operations, and decision-making processes.
• Emphasizes that truth must not be a casualty in the fog of war.

Geopolitical and Strategic Concerns

• China’s reported support to Pakistan adds complexity to the regional power dynamics.
• U.S. mediation risks internationalising the Kashmir issue, which India has traditionally opposed.
• India’s stance: Kashmir is a bilateral issue, and foreign involvement undermines sovereignty.

Call for Political Maturity

• Urges for cool-headed leadership, national unity, and respect for professional military judgment.
• Emphasizes that strategic security and national progress require political consensus and social harmony.

Right to know

Supreme Court’s Intervention

• On May 9, 2025, the Supreme Court set aside a Delhi High Court order that directed the Wikimedia Foundation to take down a Wikipedia page.
• The High Court’s earlier ruling viewed user comments on a defamation case and the judge’s order as contempt, prompting a take-down directive.
• A Division Bench upheld the initial decision, but the Supreme Court overturned it, emphasizing constitutional freedoms.

Relevance : GS Paper 2 (Polity, Governance, and Constitution)

Practice Question : Evaluate the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the right to know in the context of the Wikimedia Foundation case. What does this ruling signify for freedom of speech and judicial transparency in India?(250 words)

Fundamental Rights Emphasized

• The right to know is protected under Articles 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (right to life and liberty).
• Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asserted that public debate is vital, even if a matter is sub judice.
• Courts must be cautious about overreacting to criticism or dissenting voices, especially on public platforms.

Contempt vs. Free Speech

• The Supreme Court noted that mere criticism of court orders does not amount to contempt.
• The presumption of contempt must not override democratic values like openness, transparency, and criticism.
• Public engagement with court processes helps in strengthening judicial accountability.

Wikimedia Foundation’s Role

• Wikipedia operates as a user-edited platform, with Wikimedia Foundation only providing technical infrastructure.
• It acts as an intermediary under the IT Act, not responsible for user-generated content unless proven complicit.
• The platform’s democratic nature empowers users while shielding them from undue suppression.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

• The related case by ANI is still pending; the Delhi High Court may need to reassess the matter considering the right to know principle.
• The Court is expected to evaluate Wikipedia’s intermediary status in light of free speech and public interest protections.

Need for Judicial Sensitivity

• High Courts must be more attuned to fundamental rights, especially regarding digital platforms and public discourse.
• Transparency in court proceedings, as emphasized by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, ensures that judges are accountable in public perception.
• Judicial overreach in curbing online debate may threaten civil liberties and democratic norms.

Why India must get the Caste Census right

Significance of Caste Census

• Bold and transformative step: Inclusion of caste enumeration in the next Census is essential for social justice and evidence-based policymaking.
• Not identity politics: Caste counting reflects lived realities; ignoring it promotes caste blindness and sustains inequality.
• Visibility enables inclusion: Without caste data, many marginalised communities remain statistically invisible and excluded from welfare.

Relevance : GS 2 (Polity, Social Justice, and Governance)

Practice Question: Discuss the constitutional and legal imperatives of conducting a caste census in India. How does accurate caste data contribute to the proper implementation of social justice policies?(250 Words)

Constitutional and Legal Imperatives

• Caste as a proxy for backwardness: Supreme Court judgments have upheld the use of caste for identifying social and educational backwardness.
• Constitutional mandate: Reservation policies (education, jobs, elections) require accurate, disaggregated caste data.
• Inconsistency in current data: SC/ST data collected since 1951; OBCs left out despite being constitutionally eligible for reservations.

Administrative and Policy Needs

• Caste data critical for reservation rationalisation: Current policy lacks empirical basis; vulnerable to arbitrary demands and elite capture.
• Rohini Commission data: Only 10 OBCs take 25% of benefits; 75% of OBCs receive minimal or no benefit — highlights intra-group disparity.
• Need for sub-categorisation: Accurate caste data enables defining “creamy layer” and ensures equitable distribution within groups.

Failures of SECC 2011

• Legal and technical flaws: Not conducted under Census Act, lacked statutory authority.
• Execution by non-expert ministries: Rural and Urban Development ministries lacked domain expertise.
• Data chaos: Poorly trained enumerators, open-ended questions led to 46 lakh caste entries — unusable dataset.

Success of Bihar’s Caste Survey

• Model example: Used a validated caste list (214 castes + “Others”), pre-tested tools, and trained enumerators.
• Proved feasibility: A credible caste count is achievable with proper planning and political will.

Blueprint for a Robust Caste Census

• Legal Mandate: Amend Census Act, 1948 to include caste enumeration.
• Appropriate Authority: Assign task to Registrar General & Census Commissioner, not political ministries.
• Structured Questionnaire: Use dropdowns for caste, sub-caste, aliases, and surnames with digital codes.
• State-specific Lists: Collaborate with State governments, sociologists, and communities for draft and feedback.
• Enumerator Training: Region-specific modules to ensure understanding of local caste complexities.
• Digital Infrastructure: Use handheld devices with restricted, preloaded caste data to reduce error.
• Representative Staffing: Deploy neutral enumerators without local bias or conflicts.
• Independent Oversight: Set up district-level audit and monitoring committees.
• Pilot Testing: Trial runs in diverse States to refine methodology before full-scale implementation.

Conclusion

• Administrative feasibility proven: India already counts 2,000+ SC/ST castes; OBC and upper caste enumeration is overdue.
• Political and moral urgency: Partial counting must end; the time to correct decades of data denial is now.
• Caste Census = Policy Justice: It is the foundation for rational, inclusive, and transparent governance.

A fundamental reset to drive manufacturing growth

• Global Shifts in Manufacturing:
  • Manufacturing is transitioning towards innovation-driven, medium-high, and high-tech products.
  • Key drivers include advanced R&D, technological sophistication, high skills, and complex supply chains.
  • The U.S.’s high tariffs and global shifts are reshaping manufacturing dynamics, requiring a reset in policies and practices.

Relevance : GS 3 (Economic Development)

Practice Question: Assess the current state of India’s manufacturing sector and compare it with global manufacturing standards. What are the primary factors responsible for India’s low per capita value added in manufacturing?(250 Words)

• Current State of India’s Manufacturing:
  • India’s per capita value added in manufacturing ($0.32K) and productivity ($8.9K) are significantly lower than global averages ($2K and $32K, respectively).
  • India’s total manufacturing value added ($461 billion) is far behind China ($4,658 billion) and the U.S. ($2,497 billion).
  • Developed economies outpace India in R&D-linked productivity, underscoring the need for improvements in India’s manufacturing sector.

• Need for Technical Education Reform:
  • India’s engineering education must evolve to foster creativity, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking.
  • Focus should shift from rote learning and academic grading towards practical problem-solving and innovative application of science and technology.
  • Engineering education needs to prioritize practical work (50% of curriculum) and establish advanced laboratories and workshops for skill development

• Importance of Core Engineering:
  • While fields like AI, IT, and semiconductors are crucial, core engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) remains foundational for robust manufacturing growth.
  • India must build strong engineering capabilities across multiple sectors to develop critical infrastructure and machinery for diverse terrains and industries.
  • Developing sophisticated R&D infrastructure and supply chains for core engineering will be key to driving manufacturing growth.

• Creating an Ecosystem for Innovation:
  • Innovation ecosystems, like Silicon Valley, are essential for driving manufacturing success through high-skilled manpower and robust R&D infrastructure.
  • India needs to replicate this model in the manufacturing sector, emphasizing industrial infrastructure and capital investment.
  • State-specific manufacturing parks with advanced facilities should be established, providing quick setups for new units and supporting prototype development.

• Supporting Manufacturing Startups:
  • Manufacturing startups should be encouraged around engineering infrastructure, laboratories, and innovation-driven environments.
  • Engineering institutes must focus on enhancing R&D and aligning their curriculum with skill development, supporting innovation in manufacturing.

• Policy and Financial Support:
  • To transform India’s manufacturing sector, there is a need to increase R&D expenditure from 0.65% to 2% of GDP.
  • An additional 1% of GDP should be allocated to developing industrial infrastructure.
  • A comprehensive policy framework must be designed to adapt to the evolving global manufacturing landscape and support long-term growth.

• Strategic Focus:
  • The strategy for growth should involve:
    • Developing advanced research labs.
    • Building robust industrial infrastructure.
    • Ensuring a sound policy system that supports innovation and adapts to global changes.

Conclusion : India must address these critical areas—technical education reform, core engineering, innovation ecosystems, and increased R&D investment—to drive sustained growth in the manufacturing sector and remain competitive globally.