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

Editorial 1: A caste census is not a silver bullet for social justice

Context

Elevating Census data as essential for justice or policymaking is a misguided distortion of its true purpose.

Introduction

Census data have traditionally served as the foundation of public policymaking in India, providing vital insights into areas like health, education, employment, and housing. Against this backdrop, the Narendra Modi government’sdecision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national Census has garnered significant attention. For many, it marks a long-awaited step toward gathering reliable data to better address the needs of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). However, the disproportionate focus on the caste census raises doubts about the intentions and commitmentof the ruling government, suggesting that welfare policies for marginalised groups have been unjustifiably delayedunder the guise of needing more accurate data.

The merit of caste census

What are the key aspects?	Reasons
Rationale for Caste Census	Supporters argue that a caste census offers an empirical basis to evaluate the socio-economic conditions of different caste groups, especially OBCs.
Use for Affirmative Action	They believe such data would support targeted affirmative action and help the state justify welfare schemes in courts, which often question the credibility of surveys and commission reports.
Intra-Group Analysis	Disaggregated data within the OBCs can expose intra-group disparities, aiding in policy development for Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs).
Cautionary Note	While valid, these claims may overestimate the potential of a caste census.
Institutional Practice	Caste enumeration should be a routine institutional activity in a diverse society like India.
Flawed Elevation of Role	Treating Census data as a prerequisite for justice or as the central basis for policy is a misguided and risky interpretation.
Role of Registrar General	The Registrar General of India is tasked with collecting neutral, factual data—not with guiding policy decisions.
Risk of Politicisation	Using the Census for political reform strains its mandate and risks politicising the institution.
Need for Objectivity	In a polarised political climate, it’s crucial to preserve the objectivity of Census operations.
Policy Responsibility	It is the duty of the political leadership to frame welfare policies using the best available evidence, not to defer action awaiting more data.

Caste-Based Inequality and Policy Response in India

• Social justice policiessuch as reservations, land reforms, and the Mandal Commission’s implementation were introduced without dependence on comprehensive statistical data.
• Public policy in Indiahas often been influenced by electoral calculations, ideological positions, and public mobilisations, rather than by survey-based evidence.
• The EWS reservationimplemented by the Modi government was not backed by detailed statistical findings or a commission report, but demonstrates the government’s authority to enact such measures.
• Since Independence, Scheduled Castes (SCs)and Scheduled Tribes (STs) have been included in the decennial Census, and their educational, economic, and social disadvantages are consistently reflected in national surveys such as the NSSO and NFHS.
• Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)continues to show an increase in crimes against SCs and STs, including sexual violence and offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
• The Bihar Caste Surveyand the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) reveal substantial economic vulnerability and internal diversity within the OBC category.
• Findings indicate that a majority of OBCsare employed in informal, insecure, and low-income jobs, lacking social security and upward mobility.
• Despite the availability of extensive caste-related data, the central governmenthas not introduced any major policy reforms to address these issues at the national level.
• Research shows that in key sectorsof the private economy—such as corporates, the IT industry, and media houses—the representation of SCs, STs, and OBCs remains limited.
• These groups also face underrepresentationin state-run institutions, particularly in higher education, the judiciary, and the top administrative services.

Social justice needs robust political will

• Surveys, reports, and researchshow that data alone does not shape public policy in India.
• It is the intent of the ruling classand democratic public pressure that truly drive policy decisions.
• A caste censusmay offer better insights, but it cannot solve problems on its own.
• Dataserves as a guide, but it cannot lead the way without direction.
• For a just and inclusive future, India needs the moral and political imaginationof its leaders.
• Without political will, even the best evidenceremains unused and ineffective.

Conclusion

The true challenge for the current national government is not merely gathering data on caste-based socio-economic divisions, but in boldly and sincerely implementing effective policies aimed at uplifting the most disadvantaged sections of society.

 

Editorial 2: ​Tough timing

Context

ISRO needs more resources to support India’s military needs

Introduction

Contemporary spaceflight faces a tense triangle of cost, reliability, and time. The recent failure of ISRO’s PSLV-C61 to launch the EOS-09 satellite underscores the challenges in ensuring mission success despite investments. EOS-09’s advanced radar capabilities were crucial for civilian applications and defense surveillance, highlighting the high stakes of reliable space technology.

The Cost-Reliability-Time Triangle in Contemporary Spaceflight

• Space missions today face a tense balance between cost, reliability, and time.
• It is difficult to definitively say if increased funding guarantees higher reliability, especially after recent mission failures.
• Example: ISRO’s PSLV-C61 mission failureto launch the EOS-09 satellite into a sun-synchronous polar orbit highlights these challenges.

Importance and Capabilities of EOS-09 Satellite

• Designed to capture high-quality radar imagesusing synthetic aperture radar and C-band data links.
• Intended for civilian uses:
  • Land-use mapping
  • Hydrology studies
• Also crucial for defense surveillance, providing data even during inclement weather.
• Given the tensions with Pakistan, all-weather surveillance data had tactical military value.
• The Department of Space invited Members of Parliament to the launch, unusual for a civilian earth-observation satellite, indicating its strategic importance.

Details of the PSLV-C61 Failure

• ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan reported a glitch in the rocket’s third stage shortly after liftoff.
• This malfunction prevented the satellite from reaching the intended altitude.
• The exact cause is still unknown.
• The incident demonstrates that even a well-understood launch vehicle like PSLV is not foolproof.

India’s Expanding Space Surveillance Ambitions

• India is launching the Space-Based Surveillance-3 programmewith plans to deploy 52 surveillance satellites.
• Out of these, 31 satellites will be manufactured by the private sector, which still requires ISRO’s oversight.
• The programme gains urgency following Operation Sindoor, which exposed gaps in India’s military space surveillance.
  • During this operation, India had to rely on a foreign commercial operatorfor frequent satellite data.

Challenges: Margin for Error, Urgency, and Pressure

• Small errors in rocket componentscan cause mission failure, linking cost directly to reliability.
• Time pressureis intense due to:
  • The urgent need for better surveillance capabilities
  • Climate change monitoring
  • Disaster risk assessment
• Developers cannot afford delays and must deliver across both civilian and military needs.

Recent Setbacks and Future Needs

• The PSLV-C61 failure follows the January failure of the NVS-02 navigation satellite launch.
• ISRO faces multiple challenges simultaneously:
  • A growing launch schedule
  • Research and development demands
  • Data acquisition and processing needs
  • Manufacturing capacity limits
  • Human spaceflight programme development
• To maintain competitiveness and meet India’s military and civilian space needs, it is reasonable to increase resources allocated to ISRO.

Conclusion

ISRO’s growing ambitions, including the Space-Based Surveillance-3 programme, confront significant technical challenges and time pressures. Recent failures reveal that even proven rockets like the PSLV are not infallible. To meet urgent civilian and military needs, address manufacturing limits, and sustain global competitiveness, increased resources and private sector collaboration are essential for India’s evolving space strategy.