Editorials/Opinions Analysis For UPSC 30 May 2025

Content:

1. Slow and unsteady
2. Danger in the sea
3. Rewriting the script of early childhood education

Slow and unsteady

Current Situation

• President’s Rule imposed after the failure of the State government to contain the ethnic conflict.
• Ethnic violence, including gunfights and arson, has reduced significantly.
• Some looted weapons have been returned; militant presence with advanced arms has declined.
• However, real peace remains elusive; physical and psychological barriers between communities persist.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance) ,GS 3(Internal Security)

Practice Question : In the context of the ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, critically examine the role of state institutions in conflict resolution. What reforms are needed to ensure inclusive peace and stability in conflict-prone regions?(250 Words)

Continued Tensions

• No restoration of free movement across highways or between the valley and hills.
• Displaced individuals from both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities are yet to return to their homes.
• Inter-community hostility remains strong; no visible reconciliation or dialogue has taken root.

Trigger Incident: Shirui Lily Festival

• A symbolic yet sensitive moment during the festival in Ukhrul:
  • Stickers were placed on State buses (carrying journalists) to conceal the identity of Manipur when passing through Kuki-Zo areas.
  • Intended as a security measure, it sparked anger in the valley—seen as capitulation to Kuki-Zo’s demand for a “separate administration.”
  • Shows how even minor administrative decisions can reignite civil unrest in such a fragile setting.

Key Challenges

• Union government’s balancing act: Managing ethnic sensitivities while ensuring security.
• Ethnic chauvinist groups and insurgents continue to influence ground realities.
• Civil society and militant factions are setting the narrative, sidelining democratic institutions.
• Trust in state institutions is eroded, giving space for radical voices.

Way Forward

• Strong disarmament drive needed—target both hill- and valley-based insurgent groups.
• Rehabilitation and return of displaced people must be prioritized.
• Union government must:
  • Reaffirm that militant voices won’t represent communities in peace processes.
  • Uphold the rule of law and democratic norms.
• Any move to restore the State Assembly should be conditional on:
  • Cross-community consensus.
  • Agreement on steps toward normalization and reconciliation.

Danger in the sea

• On May 24, the container ship MSC Elsa 3 began tilting off Kochi’s coast due to operational failure.
• The ship sank to a depth of 50 meters after the crew abandoned it.
• Cargo details:
  • 640+ containers on board.
  • 13 containers held hazardous substances:
    • 12 with calcium carbide (highly reactive with water).
    • 1 with rubber solution (believed to have caused plastic pellet pollution).
  • 50 containers, some empty, were floating adrift during monsoon weather.

Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology)

Practice Question : Maritime environmental disasters like the MSC Elsa 3 incident highlight the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness and regulatory frameworks in India’s shipping sector. Discuss the gaps in current mechanisms and suggest a robust response strategy.(250 Words)

Environmental Risks

• Plastic pellets washed ashore on the Kerala coast are linked to the ship’s cargo.
• Oil spill threat:
  • Ship carries 365 tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 60 tonnes of diesel.
  • So far, no major oil leakage, but risk remains high.
• Calcium carbide containers on the seabed could trigger underwater chemical hazards.
• Lack of clarity on disposal mechanisms for plastic pellets.

Systemic Issues

• Container trade lacks global transparency:
  • Cargo often passes through multiple hands with minimal inspection or tracking.
• Regulatory oversight on hazardous cargo handling is weak, especially during emergencies.
• Elsa 3 becomes a “toxic dump”, demanding urgent salvage operations.

Institutional Response

• The Coast Guard is the nodal agency under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP).
• Past failure: 2017 Chennai oil spill response was delayed and poorly coordinated.
• Current case in Kerala offers a window of opportunity for an efficient, timely response.
• Salvage operations are underway, under international insurance protocols.

Broader Implications

• India’s maritime sector is poised for rapid growth in traffic and cargo diversity.
• Plans to become a global transshipment hub will increase risk of maritime disasters.
• Effective disaster preparedness is critical for environmental security and economic credibility.

Way Forward

• Strengthen inter-agency coordination and disaster simulation protocols.
• Upgrade coastal states’ response infrastructure with faster access to oil booms, skimmers, salvage gear.
• Establish real-time cargo tracking and a hazardous cargo registry.
• Publicly accessible accountability mechanisms for shipping companies and port authorities.

Rewriting the script of early childhood education

Core Idea

• Early childhood education (ECE) can break the cycle of poverty and improve lifetime outcomes.
• Investment in ECE is economically efficient and socially transformative, as shown by the Heckman Curve.

Relevance : GS 2(Education)

Practice Question : Maritime environmental disasters like the MSC Elsa 3 incident highlight the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness and regulatory frameworks in India’s shipping sector. Discuss the gaps in current mechanisms and suggest a robust response strategy.(250 Words)

The “Lottery of Birth” in India

• 1 in 5 children in India is born into poverty, which impacts nutrition, learning, and future earning.
• Early disparities create long-term inequalities.
• Prof. Heckman’s model shows $7–12 returns for every $1 invested in early education.

Current Challenges in India’s ECE System

Lack of Instructional Time:

• 5.5 crore children aged 3–6 attend 14 lakh Anganwadis and 56,000 govt. pre-primary schools.
  • Anganwadi workers spend only 38 minutes/day on preschool instruction (vs. 2 hours scheduled).
  • Only 9% of pre-primary schools have dedicated ECE teachers.
  • Results: Poor foundational skills:
    • Only 15% can match basic objects.
    • Only 30% can identify larger/smaller numbers.
    • Many children skip pre-primary and enroll directly in Class 1.

Poor Resource Utilization:

• Government spends only ₹1,263 per child/year on ECE (vs. ₹37,000 on school education).
  • Few teachers and inadequate oversight:
    • 1 supervisor for 282 Anganwadis.
  • Learning materials often underutilized.

Low Parental Engagement:

• Parents care but lack awareness/guidance on ECE.
  • Simple measures (e.g., worksheets, participation in centres) can significantly help.

Positive State Interventions

• Uttar Pradesh:
  • Hiring 11,000 ECE educators for Balavatikas.
  • Trained master trainers on ECE pedagogy.

• Odisha:
  • Launching Shishu Vatikas and Jaduipedi Kits.
  • Making children school-ready at age 5–6.

• Madhya Pradesh:
  • Bal Choupal programme for parental awareness on play-based learning.

Path Forward

• Scale up investment in ECE — especially in:
  • Hiring dedicated teachers.
  • Training and oversight.
  • Learning resources.

• Engage parents via:
  • WhatsApp groups.
  • EdTech tools.
  • Community-led programmes.

Broader Vision (India@2047)

• By 2047, India will have over 1 billion workforce entrants.
• Strategic ECE investments can:
  • Help 200 million escape poverty.
  • Build capable, productive citizens.
  • Fulfill the vision of India as a Vishwa Guru (global teacher).

Conclusion

• ECE is not a welfare expenditure but a high-return investment.
• Rewriting the ECE script can reshape India’s future — economically, socially, and globally.