What to Read in The Hindu Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: ​​A crisis of trust

Context

The Election Commission of India should demonstrate greater transparency and neutrality in its conduct.

Introduction

The credibility of a democracy hinges on the fairness and transparency of its electoral system. When citizens and especially losing parties doubt the impartiality of elections, it erodes public trust. Allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) highlight growing concerns about the system’s neutrality, demanding greater accountability and openness in the electoral process.

The Importance of Electoral Credibility

• The legitimacyof any democratic system heavily relies on the perception of fairness in elections.
• Especially crucial is the acceptanceof the process by the losing side, similar to a sporting match or court ruling.
• If losersperceive the system as biased, public trust in democracy

Recent Allegations Against the Election Commission of India (ECI)

• Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, has publicly accused the ECIof irregularities in the 2024 general elections.
• He has promised to reveal more evidence; judgment on the meritsshould wait until full details are disclosed.
• Criticism of the ECIisn’t new — even Narendra Modi, as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, had questioned its neutrality.

Rhetoric vs Reality: Political Accusations

• Some political attackson the ECI may be aimed more at energizing supporters than addressing genuine concerns.
• In Bihar, Tejashwi Yadavclaimed his name was missing from the draft roll — later traced to a mismatch in his EPIC number.
• While raising concerns is important, doing so without solid evidencecan weaken democratic institutions.

Challenges Facing the ECI’s Credibility

• Rather than dispelling doubts, recent ECI actionshave triggered deeper questions about its transparency.
• Key functions under scrutinyinclude:
  • Roll preparation
  • Election scheduling
  • Code of conduct enforcement
  • Vote countingand complaint resolution

ECI’s Response and Transparency Issues

• The ECIhas largely defended electronic voting machines (EVMs) as tamper-proof.
• It insists that roll-related concernsbe raised at designated stages.
• However, it has failed to fully clarify issues surrounding:
  • VVPAT transparency: The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trailinvolves centrally installed software and is linked to the control unit.
  • Random tallying of VVPATs: This process has become inconsistentand lacks transparency.

The Need for Institutional Reassurance

• Not all political partiesare equally equipped to monitor the electoral process in detail.
• Nonetheless, election integritymust transcend political competition — it should reassure every citizen.
• Ultimately, it is the ECI’s dutyto proactively restore public confidence by addressing all concerns transparently and objectively.

Conclusion

For a representative democracy to flourish, its electoral institutions must earn and uphold citizens’ trust. The ECI must move beyond mere defensiveness and actively demonstrate its neutrality, especially in handling EVMs, VVPATs, and electoral rolls. Restoring faith in elections is not just a political need—it is a constitutional responsibility and a pillar of democratic integrity.

 

Editorial 2: ​​The missing link in India’s battery waste management

Context

India must first adopt a fair Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy with floor pricing to ensure sustainable battery waste management.

Introduction

India, with its focus on decarbonisation, has seen a rapid surge in electrification, especially in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). According to projections, India’s lithium battery demand for EVs could rise dramatically from 4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2023 to nearly 139 GWh by 2035. Additionally, the country’s growing renewable energy sector is further accelerating this demand through the increasing use of battery energy storage systems (BESS). These developments are crucial in supporting India’s ambition to achieve its Net Zero emissions goal by 2070.

The Environmental Urgency of Battery Waste Management in the EV Era

• While the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs)is a welcome step towards clean mobility, it can result in environmental harm without a robust recycling framework.
• Improper disposalof lithium-ion batteries poses serious threats, including the leakage of hazardous materialsinto soil and water bodies.
• The challenge is magnified by the rising volume of battery waste— in 2022, lithium batteries made up 700,000 metric tonnes out of 6 million metric tonnes of total e-waste generated.
• In response to these environmental risks, the government introduced the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR)in 2022 to promote sustainable management, recycling, and safe disposal of battery waste.

The first problem is the floor price

• The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)is a core policy that mandates producers to fund the collectionand recycling of batteries, aiming to close the loop in the battery value chain
• Since producers lack the necessary infrastructureand logistics, they depend on recyclers to fulfill their EPR targets
• In return, recyclersreceive EPR certificates, but only if they are compensated with a minimum price, called the EPR floor price
• The EPR floor priceis crucial for covering upfront investments in:
  • Infrastructure
  • Research and development
  • Labour
  • Technology
  • Recycling methods
• A key challenge is that the current EPR floor priceis too low to sustain effective and safe recycling of lithium battery waste
• Proper disposalof lithium batteries is costly due to:
  • The need for advanced processing technologies
  • Safe transportation
  • Use of skilled labourto prevent environmental hazards
• Lithium-ion batteriescontain valuable minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, whose recovery can reduce import dependency and strengthen resource security
• If the EPR floor pricefails to reflect the real cost of recycling:
  • Legitimate recyclersmay find operations financially unviable
  • Informaland fraudulent recyclers gain a market edge, leading to:
    • Fake certificates
    • Hazardous waste dumping
  • Such issues have previously plagued India’s plastic waste sector, and similar trends threaten to undermine circular economy goalsin the battery sector
  • The absence of a fair EPR pricing regimecould lead to:
    • Severe environmental degradation
    • Long-term health risks
    • Over $1 billion in foreign exchange lossesby 2030 due to poor battery material recovery
  • A robust and fair EPR floor priceis essential to:
    • Protect the environment
    • Support recyclers
    • Strengthen India’s battery supply chain
    • Achieve circular economy ambitions

A resistance to compliance

• Large manufacturersand consumer electronics producers are making waste regulation harder by resisting compliance, especially in developing countries.
• These companies often adopt lenient policiesin the Global South, allowing them to bypass environmental duties, which threatens the creation of sustainable battery ecosystems.
• Adjusting the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) floor pricedoes not necessarily burden consumers, as:
  • Global metal priceshave dropped over the last two years.
  • OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)have not reduced product prices, indicating they can absorb recycling costs.
• A realistic EPR floor pricecan:
  • Ensure sustainable recycling,
  • Promote a circular economy, and
  • Avoid passing costs onto end users.
• India should adopt an EPR pricing modelthat is:
  • Fair,
  • Globally benchmarked, and
  • Reflective of the true costof battery collection, processing, and material recovery.
• As the system matures, prices can gradually shift to market-driven rateswith proper standardisation.
• A multi-stakeholder dialogueis urgently needed between government, industry, and recyclers to develop a viable pricing structure based on global best practices.
• For instance, the UK charges ₹600/kgfor EV battery recycling, which is significantly higher than rates considered in India—even after adjusting for purchasing power.
• A strong EPR regime will:
  • Protect legitimate recyclers,
  • Discourage non-compliance,
  • Enable auditsby producers, and
  • Drive the transition to a green economythrough accountability and systemic reform.

Conclusion

India urgently needs to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to manage battery waste effectively. This involves establishing robust audit systems, digitising the issuance and tracking of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates, and applying stringent penalties for fraud and non-compliance. Equally important is the integration of informal recyclers into the formal sector through training and regulatory support, which can curb hazardous practices and expand the nation’s recycling capacity. This is not merely an environmental concern—it is also an economic and strategic priority. By revising the EPR floor price, enhancing regulatory enforcement, and formalising informal operations, India can transform battery wastefrom an urgent crisis into a powerful driver of green growth and a truly circular economy.