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

Editorial 1: ​India needs to design an inclusive pension system

Context

As India’s population changes, the government needs to create a pension system that includes and supports everyone.

Introduction

Pensions help retired people live with financial security and dignity when they stop working. After retirement, income drops while expenses like healthcare and inflation continue to rise, making a pension safety net important.

Current Pension Coverage in India

• According to the Economic Survey 2025–26, India’s pension savings are only 17% of its GDP, far behind developed countries where it reaches up to 80%.
• Only about 12% of Indian workers have formal pension coverage.
• Most support goes to government and organised sector workers, while informal workers rely on voluntary schemes like
  • the National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana, which covered just 5.3% of the total population in FY24.

Importance of Including Informal Workers in Pensions

• Around 85% of India’s informal labour forcecontributes to over half of the country’s GDP.
• As the gig economy grows, more workers are being left out of the current pension system.
• This exclusion is not just a policy gap but could lead to a serious financial crisisin the future.
• By 2050, India’s old-age dependency ratio(number of older people supported by working-age people) will rise to 30%.
• To become a developed economy by 2047, India must ensure old-age financial securityfor all.

Challenges in Expanding Pension Coverage

• Expansion is held back by problems in scalability, public awareness, and long-term sustainability.
• The main issueis the fragmented structure of pension schemes, especially for informal workers.
• Government schemes like the gig worker social security fundonly cover a small portion of the informal workforce and add to the confusion.

Global Lessons in Inclusive Pension Systems

• Japanhas a mandatory, flat-rate pension for all residents aged 20–59, including self-employed and farmers.
• New Zealandgives a universal pension to all citizens aged 65+, with a 10-year residency rule — nearly 40% of elderly people depend on it.
• These countries have clear, multi-tiered pension systemsthat serve the entire population.

Need for Awareness and Access

• In India, most pension schemes for informal workers are voluntary, so low awarenessblocks participation.
• Financial literacy is low, and education on pensions needs to start from school level, like in Australia.
• Countries like the Netherlandssend yearly pension updates to workers, keeping them informed.
• The UKuses an opt-out pension model, encouraging automatic participation.
• Nigeriahas improved pension access by investing in digital infrastructure, making it easier for people to join and track their pensions.

Ensuring sustainability and liquidity

Key Parameter
Need for Sustainability	It is crucial to maintain the financial strength and liquidity of pension funds to ensure people retire with dignity.
India’s Pension Status	According to the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2024, India scored only 44% overall, with a sharp drop in adequacy, meaning pensions may not be enough to support retirees well.
Global Comparison	China is struggling to keep its public pension system running without help from private funds. This shows the importance of involving private pensions.
Successful Models	Countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Australia use private pension funds to strengthen their public systems.
US Approach	The United States protects pension investments using targeted debt funds to ensure stable and safe returns.

Key Reforms Needed for Pension Expansion

• India must address the three major challenges:
  Scalability, Sensitisation, and Sustainability.
• The first step is to unify all scattered pension schemesunder a single regulator for better coordination.

Proposed Tiered Pension Structure

Tier	Type	Features
Tier 1	Basic Pension	Mandatory, flat-rate contribution for everyone, regardless of job type.
Tier 2	Occupational Pension	Employer-based schemes, either mandatory or opt-out, with automatic enrolment and minimum contributions.
Tier 3	Voluntary Savings	Extra savings options with tax incentives, flexible plans, and market-linked returns to boost retirement income.

Additional Measures to Support the System

• Launch financial awareness campaignsin schools and colleges to build early understanding of pension planning.
• Create easy-to-use digital platformsfor pension enrolment and tracking.
• Make it mandatory to issue annual pension entitlement statementsto increase transparency.
• Introduce strict investment rules and oversightto keep pension funds liquid and well-managed for long-term needs.

Conclusion

As India’s population changes, it is important to provide a minimum pension for everyone, including informal workers. A clear and fair pension system will help ensure basic financial support after retirement. Policymakers need to act now to create a system that includes all types of workers, no matter what job they do.

 

Editorial 2: A chance to rebuild the trust, restore faith in air travel 

Context

Investigating the Ahmedabad air crash properly is important to assure passengers that air travel remains safe.

Introduction

The fatal crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, has led to a surge in fear-driven coverage by TRP-hungry media and self-proclaimed YouTube ‘experts’ spreading unverified theories. Reports of other Boeing 787 Dreamliner incidents, even if unrelated, are increasing public anxiety. Thankfully, the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) have been found intact. Investigations are being supported by the NTSB (USA) and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (UK), and we can expect accurate data soon. Meanwhile, Boeing must act quickly to counter rumours, especially to protect the Dreamliner’s reputation.

Eyewitness Account & Initial Observations

• The only survivorof the flight shared with media:
  • He heard a loud thuda few seconds after take-off.
  • Lights onboard flickeredpost-lift-off.
• These observations have led to speculations of dual engine failure:
  • Amateur YouTube footage shows deployment of the RAT (Ram Air Turbine).
  • The RAT deployment typically indicates power or engine failure.

Rising Concerns Around Boeing 787 Safety

• Past incidentsinvolving other international Boeing 787 aircraft are being cited by critics.
• Growing concern is being amplified onlinevia YouTube and social media.

Data & Analysis Delays in India

Source/Device	Status in India	Commentary
DFDR (Digital Flight Data Recorder)	Likely delayed	Due to bureaucratic hurdles, the data release may take years.
CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder)	Not public yet	Delay expected, similar to DFDR.

 

• CCTV footagefrom Ahmedabad airport has been widely circulated.
• Provides a reasonable visual reconstructionof the take-off sequence.

Runway & Environmental Conditions

Parameter	Value at Time of Incident	Impact/Inference
Runway Used	Runway 23	Length: 3,505 m (11,499 ft)
Temperature (Actual)	37°C (runway likely > 40°C)	Affects engine performance
ICAO Corrected Runway Length	Approx. 2,764 m (9,068 ft)	Due to temperature corrections per ICAO Doc. 9157
Atmospheric Pressure	1000 hPa	Further reduction in engine and lift performance

• Key Point: Aircraft reportedly used full runway lengthbefore lift-off, suggesting sub-optimal take-off conditions.

Critical Take-off Procedure & Errors

• Flight computerscalculate speed and thrust based on:
  • Atmospheric conditions
  • Aircraft weight and potential engine-out scenarios
• Landing gearmust retract before aircraft reaches 35 ft altitude:
  • In this incident, gear was not retracted, likely adding excess drag.

CCTV Frame-by-Frame Indicators

• First 18 seconds: Normal acceleration visible.
• Take-off Roll:
  • Nose lift-off followed by a rightward swing.
  • Suggests failure in the left engine.
  • Aircraft lifted off at the end of runway, as per officials.
• Possible Causes of the “Thud” Heard:
  • Engine failure
  • Bird strike
  • Debris ingestionafter runway end (seen in dust cloud in footage)

Engine Performance Clues

Observation	Inference
Dust cloud seen in CCTV post-lift-off	Left engine was still running momentarily
Dust cloud disappears after a few seconds	Left engine may have shut down
Birds visible in video	Possible bird ingestion by second engine
No bird remains found on runway	Ingestion likely occurred beyond runway in overrun area

Final Moments Before Impact

• After second engine failure, the aircraft likely entered a stall.
• Subsequently, the aircraft descended uncontrollablyand crashed into a building.
• The aircraft exploded upon impact, as seen in the final frames.

Probable Chain of Events

1. Take-off under high temperature conditionsled to reduced engine performance.
2. Aircraft used full runway, possibly overloaded or underpowered.
3. First engine likely failedat or just after rotation (nose lift).
4. Aircraft continued climb with gear down, increasing drag.
5. Second engine possibly faileddue to bird or debris ingestion.
6. Aircraft stalled and descended, hitting a structure and bursting into flames.

Similar Incident: Indian Airlines A300 (September 29, 1986)

• On September 29, 1986, an Indian Airlines Airbus A300with 185 passengers and 11 crew members was flying from Chennai to Mumbai.
• During take-off, as the aircraft reached a 5° to 8° nose-up attitude, a loud noisewas heard from the right side, followed by intense vibration.
• The commander took controlfrom the co-pilot and attempted to abort the take-off.
• Despite deploying reverse thrust and wheel brakes, the aircraft could not be stoppedon the runway and overran onto kutcha ground.
• Thankfully, no firebroke out, but the aircraft was destroyed beyond repair.
• All 196 occupants survived, with 14 sustaining minor injuries.
• Cause of the Incident: “The probable cause was the wrong decision by the commander to reject take-off after rotation, triggered by a bird strike on the right engine.”

Flight IC571 and AI171: Striking Parallels

• The IC571 and AI171cases present significant flight safety lessons.
• The concept of Take-off Safety Speed (V1)is critical:
  • Once past V1, take-off must be continued, as there isn’t enough runway left to stop safely.
• In the 1986 case, although the decision to reject was after rotation and V1, it saved lives.
• Yet, Indian Airlines pilots were criticisedfor deviating from procedural norms.

AI171: A Pilot’s Impossible Choice

• The captain of AI171lifted off at the very end of the runway.
• He, along with his crew, passengers, and others on the ground, tragically lost their lives.
• This represents a Hobson’s choice— a moment where a pilot must decide instantly:
  • Continue with reduced thrust or reject with insufficient runway?

Possible Contributing Factors: Overloading

Factor	Observation
Hand baggage	Many passengers reportedly carried more than 7 kg allowed.
Duty-free items	Additional unaccounted weight, possibly 10 kg per passenger.
Total extra load	For a full cabin, this could amount to 2+ tonnes of excess weight.
Environmental conditions	The take-off occurred on a hot day, further affecting performance.
Resulting impact	May explain the extended take-off roll before lift-off.

Key Operational Questions

• Why was there no recognition of slow accelerationby the pilots?
• Why was the landing gear not retractedafter lift-off?
• Were the runway markings(last 2,000 feet) observed and factored in?
• Could a take-off rejectionat that point have saved lives?

Final Determination: Awaiting Recorder Data

• Only the analysis of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR)and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) will offer:
  • A full sequence of events.
  • Insights into pilot actions, warnings, and instrument readings.

Conclusion

Passengers should remember that air travel is among the safest ways to travel. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, in particular, has maintained an excellent safety record for the past 14 years, making it a reliable aircraft. However, Boeing’s reputation took a hit with the 737 MAX controversy, during which the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB were seen as inactive. We hope all parties will now act responsibly and work to rebuild public trust.