19 April 2025 The Hindu Editorial

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

Editorial 1: Steering the decarbonisation of India’s logistics sector

Context

India's logistics sector, which produces a lot of carbon emissions, needs to become more eco-friendly.

Introduction

Viksit Bharat is more than just a dream—it's a promise to build a stronger, self-reliant India by 2047. At the heart of this mission is inclusive development, making sure that every citizen, business, and region benefits from growth. But can we reach this goal without a logistics sector that is big, efficient, and ready for the future? From smooth supply chains to strong last-mile delivery, a reliable and scalable logistics network is key to fair and lasting progress.

Infrastructure, efficiency, and accessibility are key to inclusive logistics growth.
Environmental focus is equally critical for a future-ready, resilient network.
India’s logistics sector is among the most carbon-intensive globally.
A green transformation is essential.
To meet the 2070 net zero goal, emissions from transport, warehousing, and supply chains must be reduced.

Carbon cost of mobility

High Carbon Footprint of the Logistics Sector:
1. This sector is a major source of carbon emissions, mainly due to oil combustion.
2. It contributes about 13.5% of India’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Road transport alone accounts for over 88% of these emissions (IEA, 2020).
4. Trucks contribute 38% of CO₂ emissions, with roads handling 90% of passenger travel and 70% of freight movement (IEA, 2023).
Role of Other Transport Modes: Domestic aviation contributes about 4% to logistics-related emissions.
1. Coastal and inland shipping adds less to emissions compared to road freight.
2. Government plans aim to triple inland waterway movement and increase coastal shipping by 1.2 times by 2030.
Warehousing Adds to the Burden: The warehousing sector also significantly contributes to emissions, as it supports large-scale freight movement.
Need for Balanced Growth: The sector must balance economic expansion with sustainability goals.
Action is urgent—achieving both growth and green goals requires immediate attention.

Shift from Road to Rail: Global Examples

China:
1. Invested heavily in rail expansion
2. Rail share in freight: ~50%
United States:
1. Early adopter of rail decarbonisation
2. Efficient, lower-emission transport option
Lesson for India:
1. Increase rail freight share
2. Rail is electrified, near zero-emission, and cost-efficient

Cleaner Road Freight: India’s Bold Step

Road freight cannot be ignored
Structural changes needed for emission cuts
Recent initiative:
1. Overhead electric wires for trucks
2. Pilot project: Delhi–Jaipur corridor
3. Goal: Efficient, low-emission freight transport

Green Push: Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways

Mode	Green Strategy
Coastal Shipping	Use of LNG, methanol, biofuels, and electricity
Inland Waterways	Electric/biofuel barges, solar-assisted boats
IMO Global Target	50% cut in emissions by 2050 (from 2008 levels)

Air Transport: Hardest to Decarbonise

High dependence on refined fuels
Costly transition
Hope lies in:
1. Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs)
2. Offsetting via improvements in other transport sectors

Warehousing: The Hidden Emitter

High energy consumption = High carbon output
Green solutions:
1. Shift to solar, wind, geothermal power
2. Focus on energy efficiency in warehouse operations

Conclusion

Decarbonising India’s logistics sector is not just about reducing emissions—it's about creating a stronger, more competitive, and future-ready industry. The sector is at the edge of a major shift, and sustainable growth depends on this change. By increasing rail freight, electrifying road transport, using cleaner fuels in shipping, and improving energy efficiency in warehouses, India can build a high-performing logistics network with lower environmental impact. The time to act is now. With the right policies and investments, India has the potential to become a global leader in developing a cleaner, greener, and more efficient logistics system. The path to a greener future is already laid—now it's time to speed up the journey.

Editorial 2: A restoration of sanity to the constitutional system

Context

The importance of the top court’s judgment on the Tamil Nadu Governor is in the need to make necessary changes in the Constitution regarding the issue of assent to Bills.

Introduction

The judgment of the Supreme Court of India on April 8, 2025, in the case of The State of Tamil Nadu vs The Governor of Tamil Nadu and Anr., is considered a landmark because it has brought more clarity to the constitutional provision about the Governor’s assent to a Bill. The case is about the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R.N. Ravi, who kept 10 Bills with him for many years without making a decision. When the Assembly passed the Bills again and sent them to him, the Governor, instead of giving his assent as required by Article 200 of the Constitution, sent them to the President of India for review. He did this only after the Tamil Nadu Government approached the top court.

Supreme Court Declares Bills Assented to After Governor's Delay

The Bill does not die

Key provisions
Article 200	It outlines the course of action for the Governor when a Bill passed by the legislature is presented to him.
Governor’s Role	The logical step for the Governor is to give assent to the Bill. However, if the Governor decides to withhold assent, Article 200 allows him to declare that he is withholding assent.
Effect of Withholding Assent	Initially, it seems that withholding assent would result in the Bill dying. However, the Court clarified in the State of Punjab vs Principal Secretary to The Governor of Punjab and Another (2023) case that withholding assent does not end the Bill.
Court’s Explanation	The Court clarified that when the Governor withholds assent, the Bill must be sent to the legislaturefor reconsideration as soon as possible. The legislature then decides whether to return it in its original form or with amendments.
Governor’s Action After Reconsideration	After the Bill is sent back by the legislature, the Governor must give assent to it. The Governorcannot exercise a veto against the Bill.
Judicial Explanation (2023)	The Court stated that if the Governor decides to withhold assent, he must follow the first proviso of Article 200, which requires remitting the Bill to the legislature for reconsideration. Without this step, the Governor would have a veto over the elected legislature.
Tamil Nadu Case Follow-up	The Court reaffirmed this principle in the Tamil Nadu case, emphasizing that withholding assent does not end the Bill but mandates that the Governor send it back to the legislature for reconsideration, after which the Governor must give assent.

The Court’s ‘time limit’ and legality in the Historic Judgment

Time Limit for Assent Decision: The Court set a time limit for the Governor and President to decide on assent to Bills: 1 to 3 months.
Legality of Time Limit: The Court clarified that Article 200 requires decisions within a reasonable period if no time limit is prescribed.
1. Deliberate inaction by the Governor on assent is seen as a threat to the federal polity.
Governor’s Discretion in Withholding Assent: The Court ruled that the Governor can withhold assent or reserve a Bill for the President only on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Judicial Review of Governor and President’s Decision

Judicial Review: The Court established that no exercise of power under the Constitution is beyond judicial review.
Kerala Governor’s Objection: The Kerala Governor argued that the Court's decision was judicial overreach, and that only Parliamenthas the power to amend the Constitution.
Constitution Bench Dispute: Some lawyers claim that the issues decided by Justice Pardiwala’s Bench should be handled by a Constitution Bench under Article 145(3).
Court’s Role in Preventing Constitutional Subversion: The Court aimed to restore the constitutional system by preventing the arbitrary and deliberate inactionof constitutional authorities.