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

Editorial 1: ​​Making India’s climate taxonomy framework work

Context

This is significant because the rollout of the taxonomy aligns with key transitions taking place in India’s climate finance ecosystem.

Introduction

Taxonomy for public consultation. As a foundational tool, the taxonomy seeks to mobilise climate-aligned investments, prevent greenwashing, and provide clarity to investors on which sectors, technologies, and practices support mitigation, adaptation, or transition. Significantly, the document presents itself as a “living framework”, designed to remain adaptable to India’s evolving priorities and international obligations. Yet, its ultimate effectiveness as a credible governance tool will depend on how successfully it operationalises this principle.

The review architecture

• Reference Framework: The review mechanism for India’s taxonomy can draw lessons from the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.4 Mechanism.
  • The Article 6.4 Supervisory Bodyuses a legal and editorial review system for climate market instruments.
  • Adopting similar principles would strengthen investor confidence, ensure legal clarity, and align India with domestic and international standards.
• Two-Tier Review System for Climate Finance Taxonomy:
  1. Periodic (Annual) Reviews
     • Designed for timely course correction.
     • Triggered by implementation gaps, international obligations, stakeholder feedback, or policy changes.
     • Must follow a structured and predictable process, with:
       • Fixed timelines
       • Clear documentation protocols
       • Mandatory public consultation

2. Comprehensive (Five-Year) Reviews
   • A deeper reassessment of the taxonomy’s relevance and robustness.
   • Considers emerging trendsin carbon markets, shifts in global climate finance definitions, and lessons from sectoral transitions.
   • Aligned with:
     • India’s five-year NDC update cycle
     • The global stocktake processunder the UNFCCC
   • Outcome: This dual-level review systemwill keep the taxonomy both responsive in the short termand resilient in the long term.

The substantive aspect of the review

• Two Core Aspects of Review:
  • Legal coherence
  • Substantive content clarity
• Legal Coherence: Assess the taxonomy’s alignment with India’s Energy Conservation Act, SEBI norms, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, and international obligations.
  • Ensure enforceability, remove redundancies, and harmonise termsto avoid overlaps.
  • Identify interdependenciesbetween climate finance mandates and other measures like green bonds, blended finance schemes, and environmental risk disclosures to prevent revisional inconsistencies.
• Substantive Content Clarity: Maintain a readable, coherent, and technically precise
  • Update definitionsto match evolving market standards, ensuring usability for both experts and non-experts.
  • Revise quantitative thresholds(e.g., GHG reduction targets, energy efficiency benchmarks) with empirical data and stakeholder inputs.
• Inclusivity and Accessibility: Ensure accessibility for MSMEs, the informal sector, and vulnerable communities, which are key to net-zero goalsbut face compliance barriers.
  • Provide simplified entry points, staggered compliance timelines, and proportionate expectations, especially in agricultureand small-scale manufacturing.

Institutionalising accountability

• Institutional Mechanism: The Ministry of Financeshould set up a standing unit within the Department of Economic Affairs or form an expert committee.
  • This body should include financial regulators, climate science institutions, legal experts, and civil society representatives.
• Transparency Tools: Develop public dashboardsto collect inputs, record implementation experiences, and publish review reports.
  • Ensure the taxonomy evolves in a predictableand transparent
• Review Process: Publish annual review summariesand five-year revision proposals in a consolidated, publicly accessible format.
  • This will enhance investor confidenceand improve ease of access.
• Policy Alignment: Coordinate the taxonomy with related instruments such as India’s carbon market mechanisms, disclosure obligations, and green bond frameworks.
• Contextual Relevance: The rollout comes at a time when:
  • The Carbon Credit Trading Schemeis moving towards full operationalisation.
    • Green bondsare becoming mainstream, even in stock market portfolios.
    • There is growing pressure to align public investment flowswith long-term climate goals.

Conclusion

A poorly designed or unclear taxonomy can weaken these initiatives. For a “living document” to serve its purpose, it must be supported by continuous review, open revisions, and structured participation. It is therefore essential that these elements are integrated into the final climate taxonomy framework.

 

Editorial 2: ​​Sedition redux

Context

New sedition law threatens freedom of expression further

Introduction

The repeated misuse of police powers to target journalists exposes the fragility of press freedom in India. The Assam Police’s summons under Section 152 of the BNS highlights how rebranded sedition laws are being weaponised against dissent. Without judicial safeguards, such actions risk silencing critical voices and undermining the democratic framework.

Misuse of Police Powers Against Journalists

• Filing frivolous casesand summoning journalists without proper evidence has become a routine tactic in states led by intolerant political leadership.
• The Assam Policerecently summoned Siddharth Varadarajan (Founding Editor, The Wire) and Karan Thapar(Consulting Editor, The Wire) under Section 152 of the BNS.
• This move reflects a pattern of intimidationand suppression of press freedom.

Assam Police’s Actions and Their Timing

• The summons were issued by the Guwahati Crime Branchin connection with a fresh sedition FIR on August 12, 2025.
• This coincided with the Supreme Court’s noticeon The Wire’s petition questioning the constitutionality of Section 152.
• On the same day, the Court had also protected the journalists from coercive action, making the Assam Police’s move egregious and defiant.
• Another summons, linked to a case at Morigaon Police Station, reportedly relates to The Wire’sreport on Operation Sindoor.
• The summons were procedurally flawed —
  • No FIR date mentioned
  • No details of alleged offence
  • No copy of FIR attached
• Such omissions, despite being mandatory under BNSS, point towards police intimidation.

Section 152 – A Rebranded Sedition Law

• Critics had feared Section 152is merely a revamped version of the colonial-era sedition law (Section 124A).
• The provision is more expansive and dangerousbecause:
  • It lowers the bar for prosecution by using vague terms such as “knowingly”.
  • It allows action even without malicious intent, unlike Section 124A which required proof of intent.
  • Ambiguity around terms like “sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India”enables broad misuse.
  • Even legitimate criticism of government policycan be construed as a threat to unity.
• The law creates a chilling effecton free expression and enables targeting of dissenters.

Judicial Oversight and the Way Forward

• The Supreme Court’s interventionin The Wire’s case highlights the potential misuse of Section 152.
• However, the Assam Police’s defianceunderscores the need for stronger judicial safeguards and clear guidelines.
• The onus lies on the Courtto declare such sedition laws — whether colonial or rebranded — as unconstitutional.
• Such laws have no place in a democracy, where dissent and press freedomare essential pillars of governance.

Conclusion

The controversy around Section 152 reaffirms fears of a chilling effect on free speech. By lowering the threshold for prosecution, it emboldens state authorities to intimidate critics. Only through judicial intervention and rejection of unconstitutional sedition laws can India safeguard democracy, protect journalistic freedom, and ensure that dissent remains a vital pillar of public discourse.