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

Editorial 1: ​Insular, paranoid

Context

Under Donald Trump, the U.S. is becoming a nation uncertain of its own identity.

Introduction

In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping ban on citizens from 12 nations, citing national security. This decision, echoing his 2017 Muslim-majority travel ban, marks a renewed crackdown on legal immigration. It reflects the administration’s efforts to reshape the U.S. immigration landscape, fueling debates on xenophobia, national identity, and America’s global image.

Expanded Immigration Ban under National Security Pretext

• President Donald Trumphas announced a new entry ban on citizens from 12 countries, citing national security concerns.
• This move is seen as an extension of his administration’s broader effort to restrict legal migration.
• The targeted countries are primarily from West Asia and Africa, including:
  • Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
• Additional restrictionshave been placed on:
  • Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Scope and Impact of the Ban

• The ban applies to individuals outside the U.S.; however, even those with active visas may face re-entry issuesif they leave the country.
• Trump justified the ban by referencing a recent terrorist attack by an Egyptian manand claimed it would help prevent similar threats.
• Critics point out inconsistencies — for instance:
  • Egypt, despite the attack, is not on the banned list.
  • Spain, which had 20,000 visa overstays, is excluded.
  • In contrast, Chad, with only 400 overstays, has been banned.

Series of Anti-Migration Measures Since January

• Since beginning his second term in January, President Trump has implemented multiple anti-immigration policies:
  • Suspension of the asylum systemat the southern border.
  • Termination of temporary legal statusfor citizens of Haiti, Venezuela, and Cuba.
  • Revocation of legal statusfor thousands of foreign students.
  • Halt in visa interview schedulingat U.S. diplomatic missions.
  • Plan to screen social media accountsof students and scholars.

Impact on International Students and U.S. Academia

• These policies have triggered uncertainty and disruptionacross American universities.
• The new ban further amplifies concerns about the U.S.’s diminishing opennessand pluralistic identity.

Erosion of America’s Global Image

• The U.S., once described by Ronald Reaganas a “shining city on a hill”, now appears increasingly insular and fearful.
• Trump’s rhetoric that immigrants bring crimeis widely disputed.
• Many individuals affected by the ban are fleeing violence, war, and persecution, especially in countries like Haiti and Afghanistan.
• These people are victims seeking refuge, not security threats.
• By shutting America’s doorsto immigrants and refugees, the Trump administration is not enhancing national security.
• Instead, it is damaging the U.S.’s historical imageas a welcoming nation, and pushing it towards becoming a self-doubting and closed society.

Conclusion

Far from ensuring safety, the sweeping immigration bans under Trump’s leadership undermine the U.S.’s legacy as a refuge for the oppressed. The move reflects a shift toward an insular, paranoid republic, alienating war victims and students alike. It erodes pluralism, damages international goodwill, and betrays the American promise of freedom, diversity, and opportunity for all.

 

Editorial 2: Water management in India needs a new course 

Context

The scientific community and policymakers should concentrate on the Source to Sea (S2S) approach.

Introduction

The theme of World Water Day 2025, celebrated every year on March 22, was ‘Glacier Preservation’. The year 2025has also been named the International Year of Glacier Preservation by the United Nations. Additionally, March 21 is the first time being observed as the World Day for Glaciers. This year also marks the start of the ‘Decade of Action on Cryospheric Science’ (2025-2034).

Global Focus on Water, Glaciers, and Ocean Science in 2025

• Several global eventshave focused on the theme ‘Water and Glaciers – From Science to Policy’, emphasizing the need for regional and local actions.
• The United Nations World Water Development Report 2025themed ‘Mountain and Glaciers – Water Towers’highlighted the critical role of mountain waters and alpine glaciers in the sustainable development of mountain regions and downstream communities.
• This focus is especially important due to the rapid changes in the mountain cryosphere(the frozen parts of the Earth), which will greatly affect downstream water resources.
• The year 2025also marks the midpoint of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), with the vision of ‘Science we need for the ocean we want’.
• Key concerns in this ocean decade include rising coastal and marine pollution, coastal hazards, increasing sea surface temperatures, sea level rise, and loss of marine biodiversity.

Water Connects Upstream and Downstream Systems

• Water links different geographical areas through an upstream-downstream connection.
• Human actions upstream directly affect the environment downstream.
• The natural hydrological cycleworks on its own, but human activities change it at local levels.
• Examples of human impacts:
  • Building dams
  • Diverting water for farming and other uses
  • Extracting water from lakes, rivers, and underground sources
  • Polluting water bodies
• These activities change how fresh water flows into coastal areas and the ocean, harming marine life.

The Problem with Current Water Management

• Current water management often ignores the upstream-downstream connection.
• This neglect is becoming a major global issue.
• Recognizing this, the Source to Sea (S2S) approachwas introduced in January 2012 through the Manila Declaration.

The Manila Declaration and Its Goals

• Adopted by 65 countries.
• Focuses on protecting the marine environment from pollution caused by land-based activities.
• Encourages:
  • Better cooperation and coordination at all levels.
  • Integrated management from land to ocean (“ridge to reef” approach).
  • Involvement of all stakeholders.
  • Innovative solutions to solve environmental problems.

International Initiatives Supporting S2S

Initiative	Date	Purpose	Host Organization
Manila Declaration	Jan 2012	Promote integrated land to sea resource management	Adopted by 65 countries
SIWI Action Platform for S2S	Sept 2014	Connect decision-makers and experts; improve cooperation	Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
IUCN Hosting of S2S Platform	Since Jan 2025	Facilitate global cooperation and best practices	International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Core Idea Behind Source to Sea (S2S) Approach

• Earth’s water systems (freshwater and marine) are interconnected parts of one system.
• Current water governance treats different parts separately — rivers, lakes, oceans — which is ineffective.
• A holistic, integrated approach is needed for better results.

Recommendations from the 2012 United Nations University Report

• Overcome the traditional separation of water bodies such as:
  • Rivers
  • Aquifers
  • Lakes
  • Large marine ecosystems
  • Open oceans
• Use a socio-ecological system scalethat:
  • Includes scientific tools like transboundary diagnostic and causal chain analysis.
  • Helps understand and solve complex water-related problems across borders.
• These recommendations are important for all countries to improve international water management projects.

Challenges in India’s Water Management

• Uneven water availability:Water resources vary greatly across regions.
• Unequal access:Many people face difficulty in obtaining clean and sufficient water.
• Increasing pollution:Rivers and water bodies are heavily polluted.
• Climate change:Alters rainfall patterns, exacerbating water scarcity.
• Conflicts:Disputes over water between states and communities.

Key Facts and Reports on India’s Water Situation

Report/Source	Year	Findings
NITI Aayog Study	2018	– 600 million people may face water stress – Possible GDP loss of 6% due to water scarcity
Aquaduct Water Risk Atlas (WRI)	N/A	India could face extreme water stress affecting agriculture and economy
Central Pollution Control Board	2022	– Identified 311 polluted river stretches across 279 rivers in 30 States/UTs
Solid Waste Management	N/A	India produces 1.7 lakh tonnes daily; only 53% treated; untreated waste pollutes water bodies
Groundwater Usage	N/A	– Uses 60.5% of extractable resources nationally – Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan use >100%
Groundwater Quality and Risk	N/A	– 25% of groundwater units under risk – Over 60% irrigation and 85% drinking water depend on groundwater

Groundwater: Critical but Under Threat

• Groundwater supports most irrigated farming and drinking water.
• Over-extraction in some states exceeds sustainable limits.
• Quality of groundwater is declining, threatening water security.

Reasons Behind India’s Water Management Problems

• Fragmented approach:Water issues are managed sector-wise, not holistically.
• Inter-State and multiple jurisdictions:Rivers and water bodies often cross state boundaries.
• Multiple governance systems:Coordination across different levels is weak.

Governance Systems Involved in Water Management

Level of Governance	Governing Body	Area of Responsibility
Local	Private owners, Panchayats	Local commons like village water sources
State	Local/state government	State-level water bodies and resources
National	State government	National water bodies, rivers crossing states
Global	National government	Global water resources and international waters

The Coordination Challenge

• Activities related to water management are spread across multiple tiers.
• Effective management requires nested governance—where local, state, national, and global policies align.
• A comprehensive water policyfor India is essential to unify these efforts.

An approach on the fringes

• The first National Water Policywas introduced in 1987.
• Since then, several attempts have been made to modify and add new featuresto the policy.
• In 2015, a committee was formed to restructure the Central Water Commission and Central Ground Water Boardinto a National Water Commission.
• In 2019, the Ministry of Jal Shaktiestablished a committee of independent experts to draft a new National Water Policy.
• This committee suggested various policy recommendationsto address water management challenges.
• Several states have also developed their own water policiesto address local issues.
• Despite these efforts, the Source to Sea (S2S) approachhas not yet attracted significant attention from policy planners.
• Two case study initiatives are being considered under the S2S framework:
  • Nutrient management of Delhi waterbodiesas part of the S2S platform.
  • A proposed project under the S2S Future programmeto study the relationship between human settlements and the S2S landscape in the Indo-Gangetic basin.

Conclusion

It is important to change our approach and move towards the Source-to-Sea (S2S) method by using a social-ecological system framework. This will help in the coordinated achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 and 14, which focus on freshwater and marine ecosystems. The main aim should be to connect Target 6.5 (integrated water resource management) with Target 14.1 (reducing pollution from land-based activities). This can be done by involving all stakeholders, bridging the gap between science, policy, and action, and promoting innovative solutions.