What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : Needed: The Big Leap

Context: On AI, the big leap India needs.

 

Introduction: The past six weeks have shattered conventional wisdom about AI dominance. A new era of innovation, disruption, and geopolitical manoeuvring has arrived. Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind.

 

Global AI Landscape Shifts

• Emergence of DeepSeek
  1. Features: Matches GPT-4 capabilities, open-source, free.
  2. Implications: Challenges Western AI dominance; highlights efficiency and strategic intent over resource abundance.
• AI Action Summit (Paris) Outcomes
  1. Growth must take precedence over excessive regulation.
  2. France unveiled a €109 billion AI investment plan, underscoring the urgency of substantial investments to maintain global competitiveness.

 

China’s Strategic AI Advancements

• Technological Breakthroughs
  1. Pure Reinforcement Learning (self-refining AI models).
  2. Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) Architecture (reduces compute costs).
  3. Multi-Head Latent Attention (enhanced data processing).
  4. Distillation techniques (knowledge transfer to smaller models).
• Hardware Independence: Shift from NVIDIA’s CUDA to PTX to bypass export controls.
• Strategic Mindset
  1. Focus on engineering excellence over pure research.
  2. Resilience against geopolitical constraints (e.g. U.S. export bans).

 

India’s Position and Imperatives: Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision

• Goal: Transition from developing to developed nation via AI-driven transformation.
• Key Pillars
  1. Talent Development: Build world-class AI expertise.
  2. R&D Leadership: Foster cutting-edge innovation (not just consumption).
  3. Human-Centric AI: Prioritize societal benefit and ethical frameworks.
• Challenges
  1. Need to move beyond incremental progress.
  2. Must lead AI disruption to avoid dependency on foreign technologies.

 

U.S. Policy Responses

• Biden Administration’s Last-Minute Directives
  1. GPU Export Controls: Restrict advanced AI tech to adversaries, streamline exports to allies.
  2. Clean Energy Push for Data Centres: Mandate low/zero-carbon energy for AI infrastructure.
• Post-Biden Shifts
  1. Trump revokes AI safety order but retains export/energy policies.
  2. VP Vance emphasizes dominance in chips, software, and regulatory influence.

 

Geopolitical and Economic Implications

• New World Order
  1. Disruptors: Nations mastering AI innovation and scalable engineering (e.g., China).
  2. Disruptees: Countries reliant on external tech or slow to adapt.
• Critical Determinants of Leadership
  1. Control over AI supply chains (chips, software, data).
  2. Regulatory agility and investment in R&D.
  3. Alignment of AI with national priorities (e.g. sustainability, labour markets).

 

Conclusion: For India, the era of incremental progress is over. If we are to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047, we cannot afford to be mere participants in the AI revolution — we must lead its disruption.

 

Editorial 2 : Dressed For Success

Context: India’s textiles and apparel industry.

 

Strategic Importance of Textiles for Job Creation

• Key Goal: Job creation as a non-negotiable priority for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047.
• Current Status
  1. Second-largest employer after agriculture, providing 45 million direct jobs.
  2. Projected to grow at 10% annually, reaching USD 250 billion by 2030.
  3. Potential to add 1 million jobs annually (10% of India’s total requirement) if exports hit $100 billion.

 

Global Opportunities

• Shifting Dynamics
  1. China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam (top exporters) face geopolitical and internal challenges.
  2. Global markets increasingly view India as a stable alternative.
• India’s Advantages
  1. Stable economy and government.
  2. Strong diplomatic ties.
  3. Centuries-old textile tradition.
  4. Young workforce.

 

Government Initiatives Driving Growth

• Key Schemes
  1. PM MITRA Parks: Develop integrated textile hubs in labour-rich regions.
  2. PLI Scheme: Incentivize large-scale manufacturing.
  3. RoSCTL: Rebate taxes to boost export competitiveness.
• Impact: Addresses infrastructure gaps and cost inefficiencies.

 

Domestic Market Potential

• Growth Drivers
  1. Rising middle class and Gen Z demand.
  2. E-commerce and quick commerce expanding access to fashion.
• Consumption Trends
  1. Resilient demand despite crises (e.g. Covid).
  2. Domestic market expected to reach $100 billion.

 

Challenges to Overcome

• Cost Disadvantages: 15-20% higher costs vs. Bangladesh/Vietnam due to labour inefficiency.
• Labour Issues
  1. Geographic mismatch: Jobs in hubs (e.g. Tiruppur) vs. labour availability in UP, Bihar, Odisha.
  2. High attrition (10%): Migration, high living costs, and wage sensitivity.
• Gender Dynamics: Women form 90% of blue-collar workforce. They need safe, stable jobs for empowerment.

 

Solutions for Sustainable Growth

• Location Strategy: Develop PM MITRA Parks in labour-surplus states (UP, Bihar, Odisha, MP).
• Industrial Housing Policy
  1. Subsidized housing near factories to reduce attrition, improve productivity, and increase take-home pay.
  2. Government support via grants, GST exemptions, or relaxed FSI norms.
• Empowering Women Workers: Formalize employment to integrate women into the economy.
• Balancing Automation & Jobs: Use automation to boost efficiency but prioritize job creation through industry expansion.

 

Way Forward and Conclusion

• Recalibration Needed
  1. Align policy incentives with labour availability.
  2. Address infrastructure gaps (housing, transport).
  3. Leverage domestic demand to cushion global market volatility.
• Outcome Potential
  1. Position India as a global textile giant, capturing market share from China.
  2. Achieve USD 100 billion exports and 10 million+ new jobs by 2030.