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

Editorial 1: The scramble of fertilizers

Context:

This year India has received above normal rainfall from the South west monsoon. This has led to more Kharif sowing of various crops, mainly rice and maize. As a result, there is high demand for fertilizers. Their supply is constrained by limited domestic production and imports shortfall especially from China.

Above-normal rainfall led to more Kharif sowing:

• For the period from June-August, India received above normal rainfallwhich was temporally and spatially well distributed.
• It received the 8.9% above long-period averagerainfall in June, 4.8% in July, and 5.5% in August. The pre-monsoon month of May also received 106.4% above-normal rainfall.
• The timely monsoon and above-normal monsoon has resulted in more sowing of Kharif crops. The rice sown in this period is 420lakh hectares (LH), higher than 390 LH sown in corresponding time in previous year.
• Area under maize has also shown the similar jump.
• Long Period Average (LPA)is defined as the benchmark for rainfall forecasts and is based on the average rainfall received over the past 50 years (e.g., 1971-2020).
• Above Normal Rainfall: According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), is for rainfall between 104% and 110% of the LPA.

Demand of fertilizer has increased:

• Good rainfall has resulted in adequate soil moisture, which is reflected in high acreage area under Kharif crops. It has resulted in high demand for fertilizers supplying essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur(S).
• Fertilizer sale has registered a double –digit growth for April-July 2025 period. These fertilizers include urea, single use superphosphate (SSP), muriate of potash (MOP), and fertilizers containing N, P, K and S in various combinations.
• All fertilizers except DAP (diammonium phosphate) have registered growth in their sale. DAP has recorded dip in its sale. Farmers have substituted it with other P-containing fertilizers such as 20:20:0:13 and SSP.

Supply constraints:

• Domestic production for urea and DAP has registered a decline compared to the last year. Though it increased for NPKS complexes and SSP.
• There has been decline in their imports as well.  Rising demand and limited supply has resulted in depletion of fertilizer stocks in the country.
• Farmers apply DAP and other phosphatic fertilizers at the time of sowing. Phosphorus is essential for proper root establishment and early plant growth.
• They apply urea, which supplies nitrogen, a little later. For rice, it is applied in doses. First dose applied 8-10 days after sowing, second dose after 25-30 days and third dose after 45-50 days.
• The supply shortfalls have resulted in long queues of farmers to procure the necessary fertilizers. Many farmers have hoarded the fertilizers. This has amplified this supply shortfall.

Demand-Supply Mismatch not estimated by governments:

• Rice and maize require high nitrogen supplies. It is supplied generally by applying 3 or more urea bags per acre for these crops. This is unlike soyabean and pulses which have low nitrogen requirements and they naturally fix the nitrogen levels in the soil.
• Above-normal rainfall has resulted in increased sowing under rice and maize crops. This has resulted in high fertilizer demand and supply mismatch.
• With major Indian reservoirs filled to near 83.5% of their total storage capacity, Rabi season will also face strong fertilizer demand. This fertilizers crisis is likely to persist in upcoming Rabi season.
• DAP and urea imports have largely been impacted by decline in exports from china amid bilateral crisis in India-China relations. With PM Modi meeting Chinese president on the sidelines of SCO summit, these imports are expected to rise.

Way Forward:

India must rationalize the application of fertilizers as farmers apply overdose of fertilizers. It must also ensure fertilizer supply from diverse countries rather than relying on handful of countries like China. Fertilizers are essential for ensuring the food security of India. India must also promote Zero Budget Natural Farming and Organic farming as alternative to traditional agricultural practices relying on fertilizers.

 

Editorial 2: A reconnection in Tianjin

Context:

Recently PM Modi visited Tianjin for SCO summit. He also met Chinese President XI Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. This bilateral summit has restored the relations which were stalled post Galwan military stand-off in 2020.

Tianjin Summit and its outcomes:

• This summit comes at a crucial time when India-US relations are facing turbulence due to the arbitrary usage of tariffs as weapon by the US.
• Both the leaders have endorsed the agreements already signed during the visit of China’s foreign minister this August. This followed the consensus built during the bilateral meet of both leaders in Kazan, Russia in 2024.
• However, the outcomes of this visit must be viewed cautiously as both countries have troubled relationship post war in 1962. After military standoff in Galwan, Ladakh the bilateral relations were at all time low. Kazan meetand Tianjin meet have restored some normalcy in relations.
• This normalcy must not be considered as breakthrough in relations. Both countries have contentious issues such as territorial-cum-border dispute since their birth in 1947 and 1969 of India and China respectively. These issues have bedeviled the relationship for many years.
• Official statements released by both countries following the Tianjin summit shows that border talks will still remain the “work in progress”. Both these countries will cooperate in other domains while simultaneously holding talks to resolve border dispute.

India-US relations post Tianjin visit:

• This visit marks a watershed in Geopolitics as India, Russia, and China all three are impacted by the US actions.
• Till US imposed tariffs on India, it maintained a delicate balance between its ties with US and Russia. It has remained an active member of QUAD, and maintained close relation with US. It has also been able to maintain close ties with Russia.
• US tariffs has shifted the foreign policy focus towards maintaining good ties with Russia and China.
• It does not mean that India, in pursuit of maintain close ties with China and Russia, sever its ties with US. India has followed the policy of Non- Alignment since 1947. This has allowed India to ensure that it core interests are fulfilled at the same time it can engage with its diverse strategic bilateral partners.
• India-US relations had been bitter during the Cold war era from 1974 to 2005 due to the differences over Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Following the India-US nuclear deal in 2008, there have been a steady consolidations in India-US relations.
• The tariff imposed by US has strained these relations. India remains committed to maintain good relations with US in the long term due to its favorable strategic calculus.

India-China Relation has always been strained:

• India and China have a history of breakdowns and reaffirmation in their bilateral relations.
• Since 1962, China has followed adverse policy towards India. In cold-war era it has aligned with the US to thwart Indian nuclear tests in 1998. It has also tried to spoil 2008 nuclear deal with US.
• Now, it adversely affects Indian interests by aligning with Pakistan through policies such as Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that violates the sovereignty of India.

Way Forward:

India-China relations have been restored by their recent bilateral meetings in Kazan and Tianjin. SCO discussions in Tianjin have pointed to current geopolitical reality of multi-polar world. Currently, when major global powers are facing complex problems and power struggle, India follow its doctrine of Non-Alignment. This will help meeting its interest and also strategically navigate the power dynamics in multi-polar world.