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

 

Editorial 1: ​A fundamental reset to drive manufacturing growth

Context

Amidst transformative global changes in the manufacturing sector, it is crucial to reinforce our focus on technical education, core engineering, and innovation.

Introduction

Global manufacturing and trade are rapidly shifting toward innovation-driven, medium-high- and high-tech products. This transition is fueled by advanced research and development (R&D), technological sophistication, high skill levels, and a complex supply chain network. Additionally, recent high tariffs imposed by the United States are likely to reshape the manufacturing landscape. Regardless of tariff policies, it is essential to strengthen the fundamentals through targeted policies that directly address prevailing challenges.

Ongoing National Efforts in Manufacturing

• India faces a significant challenge in strengthening its manufacturing sector.
• Since the economic reforms of 1991, consistent efforts have been made to elevate manufacturing’s role in the economy.
• Key flagship programmes include:
  • National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP)– launched in 2005
  • Make in India– introduced in 2014 to boost domestic production
• These initiatives have given momentum to sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and automobiles.

Global Comparison of Manufacturing Indicators

• A closer look at basic manufacturing metrics highlights key gaps:
  • Per capita value added in manufacturing (2023):
    • India: $0.32K
    • World average: $2K
  • Manufacturing productivity:
    • India: $8.9K
    • World average: $32K
  • According to World Bank data, India’s figures are significantly below global benchmarks.

Total Value Added in Manufacturing

• Comparative figures of total manufacturing value added:
  • India: $461 billion
  • China: $4,658 billion
  • United States: $2,497 billion
• These disparities underscore the scale of challenge India faces in catching up with major economies.

Productivity and Innovation Deficit

• In terms of productivity linked to R&D and innovation, developed economies lead:
  • United States: $159K
  • Germany: $103K
  • Taiwan: $79K
  • Malaysia: $36K
  • China: $21K
• These figures reflect a significant innovation gapbetween India and global leaders.

Path Forward for Competitiveness

• To compete globally, India must:
  • Increase per capita value additionin manufacturing
  • Enhance productivitythrough investment in R&D, innovation, and workforce skills
• A focused approach toward technological advancementand policy support is critical.

New approach to technical education

Area of Focus	Current Situation	Required Changes
Global Trends in Manufacturing	Manufacturing worldwide leverages R&D, skill development, and progressive university education.	India should align its educational system with global trendsin R&D, innovation, and skill development.
Role of Engineering Institutions	Engineering institutions in India play an important role in shaping the workforce.	Institutions must update curricula to meet emerging industrial needs and advance innovation.
Admission Process	The current entrance exams often focus on difficulty rather than fundamental knowledge or creativity.	Entrance exams should prioritize assessing creativity, problem-solving abilities, and fundamental knowledgeover toughness.
Curriculum During Graduation	Students focus heavily on academic inputs, notes, and grading.	Shift focus toward creative problem-solving, research, and higher-order thinking to foster innovation and industry readiness.
Student Skills at Graduation	Graduates excel at solving defined problems but lack the ability to address complex engineering challenges.	Graduates must develop the ability to visualize larger problems and engage in innovative thinking to meet industry needs.
Practical Learning	The current system lacks enough emphasis on practical work and hands-on learning.	50% of the curriculum should focus on practical work, including advanced labs, tool rooms, and assembly lines for R&D to develop skills for manufacturing.

Building core engineering

• Semiconductors, IT, and AIare of strategic importance and are integral to modern engineering systems.
• However, while AIand IT are crucial, core engineering remains fundamental.
• Strong engineering skills are needed in essential core streamssuch as:
  • Civil
  • Mechanical
  • Automobile
  • Production
  • Electrical
  • Electronics
  • Chemical
  • Metallurgy
  • Textiles
  • Biotechnology
• There is a need for robust engineering unitsin the country to:
  • Build equipmentand machinery.
  • Focus on technicaland management capabilities.
• These capabilities should enable the development of:
  • A variety of products, infrastructure, and transportation systems.
  • These systems should be designed for high-speed development across different terrains(plains, mountains, deserts, and oceans).
• Achieving this requires a significant investment in engineeringand R&D infrastructure, along with a sophisticated supply chain to support rapid development.

Ecosystem for innovation

Aspect	Details
Success of Silicon Valley (U.S.)	Attributed to a strong innovation ecosystem with skilled manpower and robust R&D infrastructure.
East Asian Countries’ Success	Benefited from policies fostering innovation systems and industrial infrastructure.
Success of Startups	Driven by the existing innovation ecosystem, particularly in the service sector.
Industrial Ecosystem for Manufacturing	Requires capital investment and a multi-pronged, systemic approach to create a manufacturing ecosystem.
State-Specific Manufacturing Parks	Should be established with modern facilities to facilitate quick setup of new units.
Prototypes Development	In-house capabilities should be developed within manufacturing parks for creating prototypes.
Required Facilities	Facilities for design software, measurement instruments, performance testing, and product certification should be available in parks.
Focus of Engineering Institutes	Should enhance R&D and align curricula with skill development and innovation.
Encouraging Manufacturing Startups	Should focus on engineering infrastructure and labs to support new manufacturing startups.

Conclusion

To transform manufacturing, the strategy must begin with the development of advanced research labs and the creation of robust industrial infrastructure. This requires increasing R&D expenditure from the current 0.65% of GDP to 2%, along with an additional 1% of GDP investment in industrial infrastructure. Ultimately, it calls for a strong policy framework capable of crafting innovative solutions in a rapidly evolving global environment.

 

Editorial 2: Right to know

Context

High Courts should be more attuned to safeguarding fundamental rights.

Introduction

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on May 9, 2025, emphasized the importance of the right to know and the freedom of expression in public discourse. The Court set aside the Delhi High Court’s order to remove a Wikipedia page related to a defamation case, affirming that vigorous public debate, even on sub judice matters, is essential for democracy. The case highlights the need for judicial sensitivity towards fundamental rights, ensuring transparency and accountability in the judicial process.

Supreme Court of India’s Order on May 9: Key Aspects

• Background of the Case
  • On May 9, 2025, the Supreme Court of Indiaset aside the Delhi High Court’s order directing the Wikimedia Foundation to remove a page on Wikipedia.
  • The page detailed a defamation caseand a discussion forum where some users commented adversely on the High Court’s order.
  • The High Courthad issued an interim order in October 2024 after Wikipedia users created a page regarding the defamation case. The page included a forum where users expressed criticism of the single judge’s order.
  • The High Court construed the creation of the page and the forum discussions as actions in contempt of courtand issued a take-down order.
• Development of the Case
  • After the single judgeissued the interim order, the Division Bench upheld it.
  • This led the Wikimedia Foundationto appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Supreme Court’s Observations
  • Justices Abhay S. Okaand Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the importance of debating important issues publicly. They stated that:
    • “Every important issue needs to be vigorously debated by the people and the press, even if the issue of debate is sub judice before a court.”
    • The High Courthad overreacted to the adverse comments made about its take-down order in the discussion forum.

Key Points in the Supreme Court’s Ruling

• The Court’s orderfocused on the legality of the take-down order concerning the Wikimedia Foundation’s appeal.
• This ruling followed a similar one from April 2025, which set aside a take-down orderto remove allegedly defamatory edits on the ANI Wikipedia page.
• The right to knowwas identified as a basic right under Articles 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech) and 21 (right to life and personal liberty).
• The ruling cast the case against the Foundationin a light that may have been overlooked by the Delhi High Court.

Right to Know and Access to Justice

• The Supreme Court noted that the right to knowis crucial for the public’s ability to participate in public development and to access justice.
• The right to knowis linked to the democratic process and ensures that citizens are informed, allowing them to participate meaningfully in public debates.

Intermediary Status of the Wikimedia Foundation

• The Wikimedia Foundation’s roleis limited to providing the technical infrastructure for Wikipedia.
• The Foundation does not engage in the creation or curationof content but allows users to create and edit pages according to established guidelines.
• This setup allows users to operate independently, and Wikipedia itself only collects and organizes informationfrom external sources, rather than generating new content.

Impact of the Ruling on the Foundation’s Role

• The Wikimedia Foundationhelps ensure that users can contribute freely, protecting them against reprisalsfrom powerful entities while maintaining the quality of contributions through its democratic platform.
• The Court held that freedom of expressionand the right to know must be upheld, and this principle should guide decisions involving the Foundation’s intermediary status.

Public Discourse and Accountability

• Justices Oka and Bhuyaninvoked former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, quoting Jeremy Bentham:
  • “Publicity about courtroom proceedings… keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial.”
• This reference underscored the importance of public accountabilityand the role of public discourse in maintaining transparency and integrity in the judicial process.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s ruling reaffirms the right to know as a fundamental aspect of democracy, emphasizing the critical role of free expression and public debate. By overturning the Delhi High Court’s take-down order, the Court upholds the principle that the public should have access to information and the right to scrutinize judicial actions. This decision reinforces the idea that judicial transparency and accountability are vital for the healthy functioning of democracy, ensuring that public discourse remains open and unimpeded.