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

 

Editorial 1 : India to Expand its Hypersonic Arsenal with LR-ASHM Missile

GS 3: Science & Technology (Defence Technology, Indigenous Weapons Systems and National Security)

Why in News: DRDO showcased the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-ASHM) for the first time during the 77th Republic Day Parade, 2026, signalling India’s entry into advanced hypersonic warfare capabilities.

Key Details

LR-ASHM is a hypersonic glide missile developed by DRDO for Indian Navy’s coastal defence and sea-denial operations.

It has a range of about 1,500 km and can travel at speeds up to Mach 10.

The missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, making it extremely difficult to detect and intercept.

Successful testing was conducted on 16 November 2024 off the Odisha coast.

Hypersonic Weapons: Concept and Strategic Importance

Definition: Hypersonic weapons travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) and combine speed, manoeuvrability, and precision.

Difference from Ballistic Missiles: Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that follow predictable parabolic paths, hypersonic systems fly lower and manoeuvre mid-course, evading missile defence systems.

Global Strategic Competition: Countries such as USA, China, and Russia are aggressively developing hypersonic weapons, making it a critical domain of modern warfare.

Military Advantage: Hypersonic weapons significantly compress enemy reaction time, enhancing deterrence and first-strike survivability.

LR-ASHM: Key Technical Features

Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV): LR-ASHM uses a glide vehicle that is boosted initially and then performs an unpowered hypersonic glide through the atmosphere.

Speed and Range: It can achieve speeds of Mach 10 and strike targets up to 1,500 km within approximately 10–15 minutes.

Quasi-Ballistic Trajectory: The missile flies at low altitude with manoeuvrability, making detection by ground-based and ship-borne radars extremely difficult.

Two-Stage Solid Propulsion: Stage-1 boosts the missile to hypersonic velocity, after which the glide vehicle separates and manoeuvres towards the target.

Operational Significance for Indian Navy

Sea Denial Capability: LR-ASHM can neutralise enemy warships, enabling India to deny adversaries access to critical maritime zones.

Indian Ocean Region (IOR): The missile strengthens India’s deterrence posture in the strategically vital Indian Ocean, a major global trade and energy route.

Multi-Target Engagement: It is capable of hitting both static and moving targets, including aircraft carriers and advanced naval platforms.

Future Variants: Versions with ranges up to 3,500 km are under development, further enhancing India’s maritime strike capability.

Detection Evasion and Survivability

Low-Altitude Flight: Flying close to the surface reduces radar horizon visibility, delaying enemy detection.

High Manoeuvrability: Continuous in-flight manoeuvres prevent accurate trajectory prediction by missile defence systems.

Reduced Interception Probability: Existing air defence systems are largely optimised for ballistic or cruise missiles, not hypersonic glide vehicles.

Strategic Deterrence: These features make LR-ASHM a credible deterrent weapon rather than merely a tactical missile.

India’s Broader Hypersonic Missile Programme

Hypersonic Glide Technology: LR-ASHM represents a major indigenous breakthrough in materials, thermal protection, and guidance systems.

Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM): DRDO is also developing scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missiles, which fly within the atmosphere using sustained propulsion.

Scramjet Technology: Scramjets enable efficient operation at hypersonic speeds by maintaining supersonic airflow in the combustion chamber.

Tri-Service Deployment: Army, Air Force, and ship-launched naval variants are either under development or under consideration.

Conclusion

India’s induction of LR-ASHM marks a decisive step towards technological self-reliance and credible deterrence in the hypersonic domain. Continued focus on indigenous propulsion, sensors, and command-and-control integration will be essential. As hypersonic weapons reshape global military balance, India’s expanding arsenal strengthens its strategic autonomy and maritime security in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.

EXPECTED QUESTION UPSC CSE

Prelims MCQ

1. Hypersonic weapons are defined as weapons travelling at speeds greater than:
   (a) Mach 3
   (b) Mach 5
   (c) Mach 7
   (d) Mach 10
   Answer:(b)

 

Editorial 2 : Fiscal Readiness & Growth

GS 3: Indian Economy (Government Budgeting, Public Expenditure, Taxation, Fiscal Policy and Infrastructure Development)

Why in News: The Union Budget for FY 2026–27 is scheduled to be presented on 1 February 2026, amid debates on government spending, taxation levels, and infrastructure priorities.

Key Details

India’s economy is described as being in a ‘Goldilocks phase’—stable growth with controlled inflation.

The FY 2025–26 Union Budget size was ₹50.65 lakh crore, reflecting high public expenditure.

Direct tax-to-GDP ratio remains low despite relatively high marginal tax rates.

Capital expenditure on infrastructure has tripled since 2019–20, raising questions about future priorities.

Government Spending: Size, Quality and Impact

Magnitude of Public Expenditure: India’s government spending is around 30% of GDP, comparable with some emerging market economies, though lower than countries like Brazil, South Africa and China.

Improvement in Spending Quality: Over the last 25 years, spending efficiency has improved due to higher capital expenditure and greater devolution of funds to states under Finance Commission recommendations.

Shift towards Capex: The government has prioritised infrastructure-led growth, as capital spending has a higher multiplier effect compared to revenue expenditure.

Fiscal Prudence Concerns: While high spending supports growth, concerns remain regarding fiscal deficit targets and long-term debt sustainability.

Taxation in India: Low Base, High Rates

Direct Tax-to-GDP Ratio: At around 7.6%, India’s direct tax-to-GDP ratio is among the lowest for both emerging and developed economies.

Narrow Tax Base: Around 80 million income tax returns were filed in AY 2024, but a majority reported zero taxable income, limiting revenue potential.

Improving Compliance: The number of non-zero income tax filers has doubled in the last five years, reflecting better formalisation and digital enforcement.

Policy Dilemma: High marginal tax rates with a narrow base raise questions about tax buoyancy, equity, and the need for rationalisation.

Infrastructure Spending: From Catch-up to Expansion

Sharp Rise in Capital Expenditure: Union government capex increased from ₹4.2 lakh crore in 2019–20 to ₹11.21 lakh crore in 2025–26, signalling a strong infrastructure push.

Focus on Physical Connectivity: Investment in roads, railways, ports, and logistics aims to reduce transaction costs and enhance competitiveness.

Global Comparison: Despite progress, India’s road density and average speeds remain lower than advanced economies, indicating scope for improvement.

Execution Capacity: Improved project management, digital monitoring, and private sector participation have strengthened implementation capability.

India’s ‘Goldilocks Phase’: Opportunities and Risks

Macroeconomic Stability: Controlled inflation, stable growth, and manageable external balances place India in a relatively favourable position.

State-led Investment Cycle: Public investment is expected to crowd in private investment, supporting medium-term growth.

Social Sector Pressures: Rising spending needs in health, education, and welfare must be balanced with fiscal discipline.

Global Uncertainties: External risks such as geopolitical tensions and global slowdown may influence budgetary priorities.

Conclusion

The FY27 Union Budget presents an opportunity to consolidate India’s growth momentum by improving spending efficiency, widening the tax base, and sustaining productive infrastructure investment. A balanced approach combining fiscal prudence with growth-oriented reforms will be critical for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development.

EXPECTED QUESTIONS FOR UPSC CSE

Prelims MCQ

1. India’s direct tax-to-GDP ratio is low primarily due to:

(a) Low marginal tax rates

(b) High tax evasion alone

(c) Narrow tax base

(d) High indirect taxes

Answer: (c)

Descriptive Question

1. “Infrastructure-led growth remains central to India’s development strategy.” Discuss in the context of recent trends in public capital expenditure. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

 

Editorial 2 : Recovering the Idea of Ganarajya

GS 2: Indian Polity & Governance (Constitution, political philosophy of the Republic, democratic ideals and values)

Why in News: Republic Day 2026 has renewed debate on the deeper meaning of India as a Ganarajya (republic), beyond its formal identification as a Ganatantra (electoral democracy).

Key Details

The Constitution and Indian passport describe India as a Ganarajya, while Republic Day is officially celebrated as Ganatantra Divas.

The distinction highlights two different ideas of a republic: procedural democracy and normative republicanism.

Contemporary political challenges raise questions about the ethical foundations of the Indian republic.

The idea of Ganarajya emphasises equality, civic virtue, and absence of domination.

Ganatantra: Procedural and Minimal Meaning of Republic

Negative Definition of Republic: In Political Science, a republic is often defined as a system where the head of state is not hereditary. This merely distinguishes republics from monarchies.

Limited Analytical Value: Since most modern states, democratic or authoritarian, are republics, this definition has little explanatory or normative value.

Ganatantra as Electoral Mechanism: In a broader sense, ganatantra refers to the institutional framework of elections, representation, and majority rule.

Conceptual Redundancy: As it overlaps with loktantra (democracy), ganatantra becomes a procedural and repetitive concept, offering limited political imagination.

Ganarajya: Normative and Ethical Idea of Republic

Republic as a Moral Order: Ganarajya conceives the republic as a community of equals, not merely a system of governance.

People as Active Custodians: Citizens are not only the source of power but also active checks on authority, holding rulers accountable.

Civic Virtue and Collective Norms: The republic sustains itself through shared ethical norms, civic responsibility, and public reasoning.

Beyond Formal Institutions: The strength of ganarajya lies not only in constitutional bodies but in public conscience and moral restraint on power.

Indian and Global Republican Traditions

Western Republicanism: In European political thought, republicanism emphasises freedom as absence of domination, not merely absence of monarchy.

Ancient Indian Parallels: Concepts like “samanna-rajya” (rule by equals) reflect early Indian republican ideas, though distinct from modern democracy.

Caution against Historical Romanticism: Ancient ganas such as Vaishali were lineage-based oligarchies, not mass democracies, yet they enrich India’s republican imagination.

Continuity of Ethical Ideas: Indian republicanism blends civilisational ethics with modern constitutionalism.

Jan–Gan–Man: Indian Expression of Ganarajya

Jan (People): Represents the source of sovereignty, affirming popular legitimacy of the state.

Gan (Collective Equality): Emphasises citizens as a political community of equals, not fragmented identities.

Man (Collective Conscience): Refers to ethical reflection and moral judgment, beyond temporary public opinion.

Constitutional Reflection: This spirit is embedded in the Constitution through values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Ganarajya and Contemporary Political Challenge

Beyond Democratic Backsliding: Current challenges go beyond weakening of institutions to an assault on the ethical foundations of the republic.

Limits of Legal Defence Alone: Defending constitutional text is insufficient if constitutional values lose public legitimacy.

Historical Roots of Constitutional Ideals: These values emerged over a century-long national movement, not merely in the Constituent Assembly (1946–49).

Swadharm of the Republic: Ganarajya demands fidelity to its ethical duty (swadharm)—equality, dignity, and freedom from domination.

Conclusion

To face contemporary political challenges, India must recover the lost normative meaning of ganarajya. Republic Day should inspire citizens not only to celebrate constitutional rituals but to defend the ethical soul of the republic. Upholding civic virtue, collective conscience, and accountability is essential to preserve the swadharm of India’s republic.

EXPECTED QUESTION UPSC CSE

Descriptive Question

1. Differentiate between Ganatantra and Ganarajya. How does the concept of Ganarajya help in addressing contemporary political challenges in India? (150 Words, 10 Marks)