12 May 2025 Indian Express Editorial


What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : The Air Quality Puzzle

Context: India’s air pollution strategy needs atmanirbharta.

Introduction: The Make in India initiative has boosted the morale of the country’s youth. From Chandrayaan to Covid-19 vaccines and Vande Bharat trains, India has proved its mettle. But, when it comes to improving air quality and mitigating the health impacts of pollution, India lags behind.

Key Achievements: Improving Air Quality

  • Indigenous Innovations: Development of SAFAR (2010), India’s first air quality forecasting system.
  • Past Milestones
    • National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (1984).
    • Delhi’s CNG-based public transport transition.
  • Institutional Strengths
    • Presence of agencies like ESSO (Earth System Science Organisation) and IMD (India Meteorological Department).
    • Recent initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation to promote industry-R&D collaboration.

Persistent Challenges

  • Air Quality Crisis
    • Indian cities consistently rank among the world’s most polluted.
    • Health and economic impacts of pollution remain unmitigated.
  • Structural Gaps
    • Funding Issues: Pollution control boards frequently return unspent funds despite claims of financial shortages.
    • Research Dependency: Over-reliance on foreign-funded studies and data (e.g. US climate research shutdown under Trump exposed vulnerabilities).
    • Limited Reach: Indigenous systems like SAFAR restricted to only four cities.
  • Governance & Collaboration
    • Fragmented efforts between institutions (e.g. weak ESSO-IMD-CPCB collaboration).
    • City-centric approaches instead of integrated airshed management.

Foreign Influence and Concerns

  • Questions Raised
    • Why are developed nations funding air quality studies in India despite having no direct stake?
    • Why are Indian institutions not leading research on domestic air pollution?
  • Implications
    • Risks of data dependency and unequal climate sanctions in global frameworks.
    • Foreign-funded projects often prioritize elite institutions, sidelining local expertise.

Way Forward: Strategic Recommendations

  • Indigenous Solutions
    • Launch polar-orbiting satellites for independent global data collection.
    • Scale successful models like SAFAR nationwide.
  • Integrated Frameworks
    • NARFI(National Air Quality Resource Framework): Proposed unified platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and evidence-based policymaking.
    • Shift from city-centric to airshed management strategies.
  • Strengthening Institutions
    • Enhance ESSO-IMD-CPCB collaboration to set global benchmarks.
    • Prioritize health-centric measures and food security in pollution control.
  • Funding & Equity
    • Address disparities in resource allocation to avoid funnelling funds to select institutions.
    • Encourage industry sponsorship and diversify international partnerships.

Case Studies & Lessons

  • Delhi’s CNG Transition: Demonstrated rapid policy impact but lacked scalability.
  • SAFAR’s Limitations: Successful but confined to four cities due to institutional inertia.
  • EV Adoption: States like Kerala and Maharashtra show promise in sustainable transitions.

Conclusion: India’s air quality crisis demands urgent structural reforms, including decentralized research, equitable funding, and integrated governance. By leveraging existing institutions, scaling indigenous innovations, and adopting airshed-based strategies, India can achieve true atmanirbharta in pollution control while contributing to global climate goals.

 

Editorial 2 : Stitching a New Story

Context: India-UK FTA and India’s textile sector

Overview of the India-UK FTA

  • Key Provisions
    • Zero-duty access for Indian industrial goods.
    • Tariff elimination on 99.3% of animal products, 99.8% of vegetable/oil products, and 99.7% of processed foods.
  • Reduced tariffs on British imports
    • Whiskey and gin: Tariffs cut from 150% to 75% (phased reduction to 40% over 10 years).
    • British cars: Tariffs reduced from 100% to 10%.
  • Ambitious Target: Aim to increase bilateral trade from $23.3 billion to $120 billion by 2030

Current Trade Dynamics

  • UK’s Global Trade Profile (2024)
    • Imports: $815.5 billion
    • Exports: $512.9 billion
  • India-UK Trade Composition
    • Indian exports to UK: Machinery, mineral fuels, pharmaceuticals, apparel, and footwear.
    • UK exports to India: Pearls, nuclear reactors, spirits, and vehicles.

Opportunities for India’s Textile & Apparel (T&A) Sector

  • Market Potential
    • UK’s Apparel Imports: $26.9B (2024)
    • UK’s apparel imports are dominated by China (25%), Bangladesh (20%) and India (6%).
  • Post-FTA Advantage: Zero tariffs on Indian apparel vs. competitors’ 11–12% tariffs.
  • Employment Impact
    • T&A sector employs 45 million people in India.
    • Access to high-end UK markets could boost labour-intensive sectors like footwear, toys, and apparel.

Structural Challenges in India’s T&A Sector

  • Fragmented Manufacturing Base: MSMEs operate in silos across states, limiting economies of scale.
  • Disjointed Value Chain: Geographical dispersion increases logistics costs and delays (63-day delivery time in India vs. 50 days in Bangladesh).
  • Policy Issues with Manmade Fibers (MMF)
    • Inverted GST structure: Higher taxes on inputs (fibres) than finished goods.
    • Restrictive quality norms hinder global competitiveness.

Way Forward: Recommendations

  • Policy Interventions
    • Operationalize PM MITRA Parks:Focus on export-oriented hubs in Navsari (Gujarat) and Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu).
    • Simplify Compliance: Eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for exporters.
    • Rationalize GST for MMF: Align tax structure to reduce input costs.
    • Expand Trade Negotiations: Prioritize EU and US for zero-duty access.
  • Industry Practices
    • Global Aesthetics & Compliance
      • Adopt ESG standards to comply with EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) by 2029.
      • Embed traceability and green audits in supply chains.
    • Logistics Efficiency: Reduce delivery timelines to match competitors like Bangladesh.
  • Product Innovation: Shift to High-Value Products
    • Focus on activewear, athleisure, and technical textiles dominated by MMF.
    • Invest in functional fabrics and integrate with global retail supply chains.

Conclusion: The India-UK FTA presents a transformative opportunity for India’s T&A sector. Realising the full potential hinges on integrated hubs to consolidate fragmented value chains, modern manufacturing practices aligned with global standards and proactive policy reforms to address structural inefficiencies.

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