Content:
- Secret threats
- Leaky pipeline
- From a rules-based world to shambolic disorder
- India’s shame — the trap of bonded labour
Secret Threats
Concerns Over State Surveillance:
- Supreme Court concern: The issue is not whether spyware like Pegasus can be used, but who the legitimate targets are.
- The alleged surveillance of politicians, judges, journalists, and others reflects arbitrary misuse of state power.
- The lack of cooperation from both the government and potential victims hampered the investigation by the court-appointed committee.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance, Judiciary)
Practice Question :“The use of spyware like Pegasus raises serious concerns about digital surveillance and democratic accountability.” Discuss the legal, ethical, and institutional safeguards necessary to prevent misuse of surveillance powers in India. (15 marks)
Pegasus & Digital Snooping:
- Pegasus, a military-grade spyware sold only to governments, is allegedly used without accountability.
- Apple continues to send security alerts to users in India, suggesting ongoing surveillance activities.
- Surveillance techniques are evolving fast; so are the tools used by criminals and terrorists.
Legal and Ethical Dilemmas:
- Legitimate concerns of national security must be balanced against fundamental rights and due process.
- Arbitrary denial of transparency and procedural fairness is unacceptable.
- Surveillance must be guided by laws, not by executive whims.
Threat to Democracy:
- Such actions undermine democratic freedoms, civil liberties, and activism.
- No agency should interfere in free political expression or democratic discourse.
Need for Stronger Oversight:
- If surveillance powers are expanded, strong legal guardrails must accompany them.
- Must include:
- Clearly defined protocols and standards.
- Oversight by judiciary or independent bodies.
- Timely audits and public accountability.
Constitutional Compass:
- In times of uncertainty, constitutional values and rights must guide state actions.
- National security should not become an excuse for executive overreach.
- A democratic state must uphold transparency, rule of law, and individual dignity.
Leaky Pipeline
Context : Staffing Crisis in R&D Institutions:
- A study of 244 public-funded R&D institutions shows a decline in permanent scientific staff in 2022–23.
- Fewer institutions reported hiring permanent staff compared to the previous year.
- Contractual staff (19,625) outnumber permanent staff (12,042), a significant structural concern.
- 14% increase in contractual hires over the previous year reflects a growing dependence on short-term contracts.
Relevance : GS 2(Education ) ,GS 3 (Science & Technology)
Practice Question : Examine the causes and consequences of the declining permanent workforce in India’s publicly funded R&D institutions. Suggest long-term measures to strengthen India’s scientific capacity. (15 marks)
Structural Weaknesses in Scientific Ecosystem:
- Strategic sectors (defence, space, atomic energy) not included in the report—yet face similar or worse staffing issues.
- TIFR has ~60% of sanctioned scientific posts unfilled, indicating deep-rooted neglect.
- Across atomic energy institutions, 1 in 4 sanctioned posts is vacant—impacting core research and operations.
Mismatch Between Policy Ambition and Ground Reality:
- Government has announced missions in quantum computing and AI, but lacks adequate human resources to execute them.
- R&D push towards industry-oriented research will fail without stable and committed scientific manpower.
- Earlier reforms like IISERs and 4-year UG programs aimed to retain young scientists, but structural disincentives persist.
Need for Institutional Strengthening:
- Without full-time, long-term research careers, innovation and scientific output will remain stagnant.
- Vacancies and overreliance on temporary contracts erode research continuity and morale.
- Talented scientists may opt for foreign institutions or private sector, worsening India’s brain drain.
Urgent Reforms Required:
- Ensure respectable salaries, adequate research funding, and world-class infrastructure across public institutions.
- Create clear career pathways for young researchers to remain in academia and public research.
- Address systemic hiring delays and policy inertia that block institutional growth.
Conclusion:
- India’s scientific ambitions must be backed by robust human capital policies.
- Fixing the “leaky pipeline” is essential to becoming a global science and technology leader.
From a rules-based world to shambolic disorder
Global Disorder and Leader-Led Disruption
- The world is moving from structured, rules-based order to unpredictability and chaos.
- Leaders (Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Zelenskyy) are seen as key agents of change challenging the old world order.
- This shift is not temporary—it’s a deep systemic transformation with few historical parallels.
Relevance : GS 2 (International Relations ), GS 3 (Internal Security)
Practice Question :The current global disorder is marked by authoritarian disruption, weakening institutions, and resurgence of conflict. In this context, evaluate India’s strategic posture and foreign policy priorities. (15 marks)
The U.S.: From Stability to Turmoil
- Once a pillar of democratic order, the U.S. is now internally divided, affecting global confidence.
- Trump’s transactional policies (e.g., tariff wars) disrupted global trade, reducing U.S. growth potential.
- “Trumponomics” has harmed premier institutions and foreign student inflow—both critical to U.S. innovation and economy.
Europe in Crisis
- NATO’s future is uncertain; EU appears weak and disoriented.
- U.S. disengagement has left Europe vulnerable amidst ongoing conflict with Russia.
- Trump’s criticism of Europe’s defense inadequacies has further deepened divisions.
West Asia: Rising Instability
- Israel’s actions in Gaza and Syria hint at territorial expansionism.
- U.S. and Western powers are failing to restrain Netanyahu, emboldening regional dominance.
- Collapse of Syrian administration under Ahmed al-Shara and erosion of governance exacerbate instability.
- Old regional feuds (e.g., Ethiopia–Eritrea) and rising tensions in Türkiye add to the chaos.
- Israel may preemptively strike Iran, citing its nuclear ambitions—risking wider conflict.
Resurgence of Terrorism
- Recent attacks (e.g., Pahalgam in Kashmir) indicate a reactivation of violent extremism.
- Afghanistan and Pakistan are both facing internal collapse, acting as breeding grounds for new terror groups.
Asian Dynamics and China’s Opportunism
- China is focusing on economic recovery and leveraging U.S. withdrawal to expand influence.
- It has stepped up naval presence in Indian and Pacific Oceans and beyond the ‘nine-dash-line’.
- Southeast Asia sees rising Chinese outreach as smaller nations tilt toward Beijing.
- China-India rivalry is intensifying despite superficial agreements (e.g., Ladakh border easing).
India’s Strategic Dilemma
- India must stay vigilant amid China’s assertiveness and growing regional chaos.
- Stability in South and Southeast Asia is fragile—countries like Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh face domestic unrest.
Conclusion
- The present world order is under threat from disruptive leadership and rising authoritarianism.
- A ‘cauldron of consequences’ awaits as institutions weaken, alliances falter, and peace becomes fragile.
- India must recalibrate its strategic posture in response to an increasingly anarchic global landscape.
India’s shame — the trap of bonded labour
Context and Introduction
- The article marks International Labour Day by spotlighting the ongoing crisis of bonded labour in India.
- Despite legal abolition in 1975, millions remain trapped in forced labour, especially in the informal sector.
Relevance : GS 2 (Governance , Social Justice)
Practice Question :Despite being legally abolished, bonded labour continues in various forms across India. Discuss the socio-economic causes and critically assess the effectiveness of government initiatives in eradicating it. (15 marks)
Case Studies Highlighting Exploitation
- Mukesh Adivasi (Shivpuri, MP): Trafficked 1,400 km to Karnataka, brutally beaten for demanding wages; now crippled physically and emotionally.
- K. Thenmozhi (Puttur, AP): Trapped in a Bengaluru brick kiln at age 13; faced beatings, abuse, and missed education; escaped barefoot with family.
Root Causes of Bonded Labour
- Immediate Triggers: Medical emergencies, dowries, food shortages, sudden job loss, etc.
- Systemic Factors:
- Caste- and religion-based social exclusion.
- Illiteracy and lack of awareness.
- Monopolies by employers over credit and labour markets.
- Control by social elites enabling a cycle of debt and servitude.
Government Response: Data vs. Reality
- 1975: Bonded Labour Abolition Act passed.
- 2016: Govt. pledged to rehabilitate 1.84 crore bonded labourers by 2030(The Minister of State for Labour and Employment Estimates).
- 2021: Only 12,760 rescued so far — leaving ~1.71 crore still trapped.
- To meet the goal, 11 lakh must be rescued per year, which is unrealistic given past trends.
Unorganised Sector and Forced Labour
- 47 crore total workforce in India:
- 8 crore in organised sector.
- 39 crore in unorganised/informal sector — most vulnerable to forced labour.
- ILO 2024 Report: Low-quality, informal jobs dominate Indian employment landscape.
Weak Labour Rights and Lack of Unionisation
- Informal workers lack:
- Union protection.
- Collective bargaining.
- Job security or contracts.
- Labour Codes (2019–20) have diluted earlier protections, undermining Ambedkar’s vision of worker empowerment.
Key Takeaways
- Bonded and forced labour is not just a legal issue but a deep moral, economic, and systemic crisis.
- The government’s response has been grossly inadequate.
- Without policy reform, accountability, and worker empowerment, millions will remain trapped.
