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

Editorial 1: Lighting the spark in U.K.-India cultural relations

Context

The cultural cooperation programme between the two countries focuses on ideas that promote the creative economy.

Introduction

May was a remarkable month for United Kingdom-India relations. The much-awaited Free Trade Agreement was approved by both Prime Ministers, and alongside it came another important highlight—strengthening their cultural ties, which added a new and meaningful layer to their partnership.

India-U.K. Cultural Cooperation Strengthened Through New Agreement

• On May 2, K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandyand India’s Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawatsigned the Programme of Cultural Cooperation (POCC) in Delhi.
• This agreement aims to deepen cultural tiesbetween the two countries and celebrates their shared creative spirit.
• The POCC focuses on five key areas:
  • Digital technologies for culture
  • Exhibitions and collections
  • Performances and events
  • Cultural property
  • Sustainability
• These themes support the creative economy, a major part of the U.K.’s industrial growth strategy.
• The agreement shows a mutual commitment to cross-cultural exchangeand economic cooperation.
• Prior to the signing, Lisa Nandywas the top international delegate at the WAVES Summit in Mumbai (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit).
• In her keynote speech, she highlighted the strong potential of India-U.K. creative industries, noting that they are sustainableand create wide employment opportunities.
• Lisa Nandy is also the first Labour Cabinet Minister of Indian heritage, adding symbolic depth to the partnership.

The growth of the creative arts sector

Theme	Details
Global Creative Arts Sector	– Projected to contribute 10% to global GDP by 2030. – G-20 New Delhi Summit 2023: Leaders emphasized the need for greater investment. – India’s hosting of WAVES highlighted its commitment, resulting in international agreements and business deals.
India-U.K. Partnership (POCC)	– Builds on global momentum through Partnership of Culture and Creativity (POCC). – Involves: • Indian Ministry of Culture • U.K. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport • British Council in India • Major U.K. institutions like Arts Council England, British Library, British Museum, Natural History Museum, and Science Museum Group.
Scope of Collaboration	– U.K. has 1,700+ accredited museums, offering immense potential for collaboration with Indian counterparts. – Key focus: Digital technology for cultural exchange and heritage-sharing.
POCC Vision	– Promotes a tech-driven creative economy. – Sectors included: Gaming, digital content, film, OTT, television, and more. – Aims to create inclusive opportunities for skilled workers and innovators.
India’s Strengths	– Rich cultural heritage + strong base in technology and skilled artisans. – Largest youth population globally. – Creative economy valued at $35 billion, employing 8% of India’s workforce (second only to agriculture).
ADB Report (2022) – Creative India	– Titled: “Creative India: Tapping the Full Potential”. – Found 6 of top 10 creative hubs in non-metro regions, e.g., Badgam (J&K) and Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu). – Reflects India’s diverse cultural ecosystem.
Education & Talent Pipeline	– Over 300 universities and 3,000 colleges in India offer courses in design, arts, and architecture. – India is nurturing a global creative workforce.

Strengthening India-U.K. Cultural Ties Through Global Collaboration

• During India’s G-20 presidency in 2023, the K. played a key rolein promoting cultural cooperation.
• Initiatives like artistic partnerships, creative grants, and year-long cultural exchanges(e.g., Wales in India) helped deepen ties.
• The collaboration culminated at the 2024 Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, symbolizing a strong India-U.K. cultural bond.

Why Global Cultural Partnerships Matter

• Creative economy is growing fastbut faces major challenges:
  • Shortage of skilled workers
  • Need for better education, vocational training, and apprenticeships
• International cooperationcan:
  • Help professionals gain global skills
  • Share best practicesand standards across borders

Technology’s Role in the Creative Sector

• Emerging techlike AI, AR, and VR is changing how the creative industries work.
• As highlighted in the British Council’s report Arts and Technologies in India: Reimagining the Future:
  • India must integrate digital toolsinto creative education.
  • Cross-border partnershipscan help professionals adapt to digital change.

India’s Vision for the Creative Economy

• India’s creative sector is expanding, supported by:
  • Its rich cultural heritage
  • A young, dynamic population
  • A bold national vision
• PM Narendra Modi’s goal: Make India a global creative hub.
• The roadmap includes:
  • Strong education systems
  • Skill development
  • Global collaboration
• Achieving this vision requires joint efforts from government, industry, and academia.

Indian Businesses Supporting Cultural Heritage

• Indian companies are actively contributingto cultural preservation and sustainability.
• Royal Enfield, a well-known K.-India motorcycle brand, is involved in social impact work in the Himalayas.
• Through its Social Mission, and in partnership with UNESCO, it is:
  • Preserving intangible cultural heritage
  • Supporting over 580 artisansvia a textile conservation project called The Himalayan Knot
• The initiative focuses on:
  • Protecting sustainable textile traditions
  • Creating new market opportunitiesfor traditional craft communities

Business as a Cultural Storyteller

• This initiative was personally shared with  Lisa Nandyat a reception in Delhi, hosted by British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron and the writer.
• The event also marked the launch of the Birmingham chapter of the Serendipity Arts Festival.
• It served as a powerful reminderthat businesses can also be storytellers, helping to connect heritage, creativity, and commerce.

Conclusion

What truly connects the U.K. and India are the people and the stories they share. In a world facing conflict and uncertainty, culture and creativity continue to be powerful forces for healing and building bridges between nations. That is why we must celebrate and invest in the creative energy that brings us together.

 

Editorial 2: Quantum challenge

Context

India must undertake administrative reforms to drive meaningful progress in quantum technology.

Introduction

India has taken a significant stride in quantum cybersecurity with IIT-Delhi and DRDO demonstrating Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). As quantum computing threatens traditional encryption, such innovations promise secure, future-proof communication. However, despite the National Quantum Mission’s vision, administrative hurdles, funding delays, and foreign dependencies risk undermining progress in this strategically vital frontier.

Breakthrough in Quantum Cybersecurity by IIT-Delhi and DRDO

Key Scientific Achievement

• Researchers from IIT-Delhiand the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated a quantum key distribution (QKD)
• This system transmitted quantum-encrypted communication across 1 km of free spacewithin the IIT-Delhi campus.
• The QKD system ensures that:
  • Two parties can securely exchange encrypted messages.
  • Any eavesdropping attempt causes detectable changes in the encryption keys.
  • The communication remains secure even against actors with immense computing power.

Why the Quantum Advantage matters?

• Traditional cybersecurityrelies on encryption based on mathematical problems.
• Quantum computersthreaten this model as they can potentially break these codes with superior processing capabilities.
• Quantum cybersecurityoffers:
  • Unbreakable communicationregardless of adversary computing capacity.
  • Real-time breach detection.
  • Global applicability—scalable to satellites, enabling a pan-India quantum communication network.

National Quantum Mission (NQM): Context and Challenges

Overview of NQM

Aspect	Details
Launch Year	2023
Approved Budget	₹6,003 crore (till 2031)
Original Proposed Budget	₹8,000 crore (announced in 2020)
Key Themes	Quantum communication, computing, sensing, metrology

Challenges Undermining Progress

1. Administrative & Financial Bottlenecks

• Low fund disbursementdespite approval.
• Cumbersome paperworkand absence of single-window clearances delay research.
• Venture capital inflowinto quantum startups remains negligible.

2. Human Resource and Infrastructure Constraints

• Government remunerationis far below global salary standards.
• Researchers face:
  • Short-term contractsdue to funding uncertainty.
  • Rental of equipmentdue to lack of ownership or access.

3. Foreign Dependency

• Key hardware like cryostatsand sensors must be imported.
• Quantum softwareis largely developed by multinational corporations, limiting self-reliance.

Global Investment Comparison

Country	Investment Level (Relative to India)
India	₹6,003 crore (~baseline)
United States	~5 times higher
China	~20 times higher

Way Forward

• Scaling IIT-Delhi’s innovation requires more than scientific talent.
• Administrative reformis essential to:
  • Streamline processes,
  • Ensure timely funding,
  • Build robust local infrastructure,
  • Attract and retain talent.
• Without addressing structural constraints, India risks falling behind in the quantum race—despite its demonstrated capabilities.

Conclusion

India’s breakthrough in quantum communication signals immense potential, but scaling it demands more than isolated scientific success. Without administrative reforms, financial commitment, and reduced technology dependence, the National Quantum Mission may falter. To compete globally, India must align its policy infrastructure with its scientific ambitions, ensuring sustained growth in this critical technological domain.