Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 21 July 2025

Content

1. India can reframe the Artificial Intelligence debate
2. Temples of social justice
3. The Soil of a Nation

India can reframe the Artificial Intelligence debate

Key Issues Raised

• Geopolitical AI fragmentation: US-UK rejected the 2025 Paris AI Declaration, while China supported it.
• Governments lag behind Big Tech in regulating and steering AI responsibly.
• Global South’s under-representation in key AI forums.

Relevance : GS2 (International Relations) & GS3 (Science & Tech) – AI diplomacy, global governance, India’s digital leadership.

Practice Question: India is uniquely positioned to democratise global AI governance. Discuss with reference to the upcoming AI Impact Summit and India’s digital public infrastructure model. (250 words)

India’s Strategic Leverage

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Aadhaar, UPI as inclusive tech models
• Democratic consultative edge: MyGov platform crowdsourced summit agenda
• Bridging power: India’s credibility with both Western and developing nations

Five Actionable Ideas from India’s Experience

1. Pledges + Scoreboard:
   1. Each stakeholder commits 1 AI goal (e.g. AI in rural education, health translation tools).
   1. Public tracking ensures accountability beyond optics.

• Front-row Seat for Global South:
  • Push for inclusive participation in leadership photos and policy decisions.
  • Propose “AI for Billions” Fund: Cloud credits, fellowships, multilingual data support.

• Global AI Safety Collaborative:
  • Develop shared checklists, stress tests, and incident logs across nations.
  • India’s institute can lead with an open-access evaluation kit.

• Middle Path on Regulation:
  • Avoid extremes of US deregulation, EU rigidity, China’s state control.
  • Draft a voluntary Frontier AI Code: red-team disclosure, compute transparency, accident hotline.

• Prevent AI Forum Fragmentation:
  • Promote broad-based, non-aligned agenda.
  • Bridge tensions between tech blocs (US-China) with constructive diplomacy.

Value Addition:

India’s Comparative Advantage

• Digital Public Goods Champion: Endorsed at G20, DPI model scalable to other nations
• Neutral Diplomatic Actor: Trusted by both the West and Global South
• Technological Depth + Political Will: IndiaStack, Bhashini, and National AI Mission already in play

Possible Prelims Angle

• AI Safety Summit 2023 – hosted at Bletchley Park, UK
• MyGov platform – public engagement tool by MeitY
• Seoul Pledge – international commitment on safe frontier AI

Temples of social justice

Context

• Controversy in Tamil Nadu over use of temple surplus funds for building colleges.
• Raises key issues of religion, law, and social justice, particularly in South India.

Relevance : GS1 (Indian Society) & GS2 (Governance, Polity) – Religion and law, temple reforms, social justice in South India.

Practice Question: Temples have historically served both spiritual and social roles. Analyse how modern state regulation of temples in Tamil Nadu reflects a continuity of this tradition in advancing social justice. (250 words)

Historical Legislative Framework

• 1817: Religious Endowments and Escheats Regulation by East India Company – first attempt to regulate temple funds.
• 1858: Queen Victoria’s Proclamation promised non-interference in religious practices post-1857 Mutiny.
• British Approach:
  • No interference in core religious rituals.
  • Regulation allowed over secular aspects like land, administration of endowments.

Justice Party & Hindu Religious Endowments

• 1922: Justice Party introduces Bill No. 12 to regulate Hindu temple funds.
• 1925: Law enacted despite opposition—allowed diversion of surplus temple funds for secular welfare.
• Legacy Law: Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959:
  • Section 36: Surplus temple funds can be diverted with Commissioner’s approval.
  • Section 66: Funds can support universities/colleges teaching Hindu religion or temple architecture.

Temples as Socio-Cultural Institutions

• Historically (e.g. Chola & Vijayanagara periods), temples were:
  • Centres of learning and culture.
  • Recipients of royal land and resource endowments.
  • Inscriptions confirm their use for education and welfare purposes.

Constitutional Validity

• The 1959 Act and its provisions have been upheld by courts.
• Use of surplus for education is legal and aligned with the original historical intent of temple use.

Social Justice and Temple Reform

• Self-Respect Movement → pushed for state regulation of temples to:
  • Fight casteism.
  • Enable temple entry laws (1936, 1947).
  • Enable appointment of non-Brahmin priests (e.g. TN, Kerala).

• State oversight is crucial to uphold:
  • Anti-caste justice.
  • Equitable use of public religious resources.

Current Relevance

• As elections approach, political rhetoric may distort facts.
• Clarity on the legal-historical-social framework can prevent voter polarisation.

Value Additions

1. Constitutional Backing

• Article 25(2)(a) empowers the State to regulate secular activities of religious institutions for reform and welfare.
• Justifies using temple funds for education, health, and social uplift within Hindu community.

2. Judicial Precedent

• Shirur Mutt Case (1954): Supreme Court drew a distinction between religious and secular activities.
• Held that management of temple funds falls under secular domain, allowing state regulation.

3. Historical Continuity

• Chola and Pandya eras: Temples ran Vedic schools, libraries, hospitals, and granaries.
• Shows continuity of using temple resources for both religious and secular welfare.

4. Colonial and Pre-Independence Roots

• 1817 Religious Endowment Act (British): First state entry into temple finance.
• 1922 & 1925 reforms: Enabled use of surplus temple income for Hindu education and welfare — long before 1959 Act.

5. HR&CE Act, 1959

• Legal basis for current practice in Tamil Nadu.
• Allows use of surplus funds for:
  • Hindu schools and hostels
  • Orphanages, maternity centres, and annadanam
  • Educational scholarships, pilgrimage aid

6. Social Justice Impact in Tamil Nadu

• Enabled temple entry for Dalits (1939 Madurai; 1947 across Tamil Nadu).
• Facilitated non-Brahmin priest appointments and inclusive temple administration.
• Funded hostels, Veda Pathashalas, and scholarships for Hindu SCs and OBCs.

The Soil of a Nation

Source : TIE

Central Argument

India needs a paradigm shift in agricultural policy — from indiscriminate use of fertilisers to tailored, science-based soil nutrition management — to enhance both crop yield and human nutrition.

Context

• India has achieved food surplus status, becoming the world’s largest rice exporter in FY25 (202 MT).
• Despite this, malnutrition and undernutrition remain significant due to poor micronutrient content in crops.
• Current practices focus on caloric sufficiency, but not nutrient density, especially micronutrients like zinc, iron, and sulfur.

Relevance: GS3 (Agriculture, Environment, Health) – Soil health, fertiliser reform, nutrition-sensitive farming.

Practice Question: Despite food surplus, India suffers from hidden hunger due to poor soil health. Examine how a soil-first agricultural strategy can ensure nutritional security in India. (250 words)

Core Issues Highlighted

1. Soil Nutrient Deficiency Crisis (2024 Status)

Based on Soil Health Card Scheme (2024) data:

• Zinc deficiency in soil translates into zinc-poor cereals, leading to cognitive issues, stunting, and child malnutrition.
• The deficiency of SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) implies poor soil structure, low water retention, and low microbial activity.

2. Misuse and Imbalance of Fertilisers

• Overuse of Urea (Nitrogen): 54% excess use in states like Telangana.
• Underuse of P & K:
  • Phosphorus short by 8%
  • Potassium short by 89%

This imbalanced fertilisation leads to:

• Declining soil health and crop nutrition.
• Nutrient mining: Continuous depletion of specific nutrients.
• Environmental harm: Nitrogen leaching, water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Health Implications

• Nutrient-deficient soils = Nutrient-deficient crops = Malnourished humans.
• The poor nutrition of crops leads to:
  • Stunting
  • Reduced immunity
  • Cognitive delays
  • Lower workforce productivity

Key Recommendations

A. Reform Fertiliser Use

• Move from blanket subsidy-based fertiliser policies to:
  • Customised fertiliser recommendations based on soil test data.
  • Nutrient-based subsidy reform.
  • Balanced application of N-P-K-S-Zn-B.

B. Revamp Soil Health Card Scheme

• Make it dynamic, digital, and location-specific.
• Link with real-time nutrient dashboards and farmer advisory apps.
• Track micronutrient status and recommend crop rotations.

C. Promote Organic Carbon and Bio-inputs

• Use of:
  • Crop residues
  • Green manure
  • Biofertilisers
  • Agroforestry

D. Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture

• Focus on nutrient-rich crops like millets, pulses, biofortified grains.
• Integrate public health goals into agri-policy.

Institutional Response

• ICRIER & OCP Nutricrops are piloting:
  • Data-driven, soil-specific interventions.
  • Internationally benchmarked soil health solutions.
  • Technology-based diagnostics for farmers.

Conclusion

“We must start by healing Mother Earth. Only then can we walk as a healthy nation.”

The article advocates a shift in India’s agri-policy thinking — from a “calorie-sufficiency mindset” to a soil-first, nutrition-sensitive strategy. Only through data-driven, region-specific soil nutrition management can India secure agricultural resilience and national health outcomes.