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

Editorial 1 : India’s choice between progress and parochialism

 

Context

Linguistic policies risk undermining India’s global and technological ambitions.

 Introduction

India is at a crucial crossroads, facing the twin forces of technological disruption and cultural nationalism. While the central government promotes economic self-reliance and global tech leadership—highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in co-chairing the AI Action Summit in Paris in February—its language policies could hinder these very aspirations.

 

The Contradiction in Language Policies

• Push for Linguistic Nationalism: The RSS chief’s call to reject English, Western attire, and customs reflects a growing ideological stance.
  1. Maharashtra’s move to mandate Marathi in government offices reinforces this trend.
  2. This contrasts with the reality that English is an official language and the dominant medium in higher education, law, healthcare, and global job markets.
• The Unequal Access to English: Despite its importance, only 10% of Indians have access to English proficiency.
  1. Political decisions have led to two parallel education systems:
  2. Privileged private school students gain access to global opportunities.
  3. 65% of government school children are limited by language barriers.
  4. This disparity risks creating a linguistic divide in economic mobility.

 

The Economic Impact of Language Policies

• The Risk of Linguistic Apartheid: As AI transforms the workforce, India’s failure to democratise English will deepen economic inequalities.
  1. Without access to English, a large section of India’s youth will be excluded from global industries.
• Lessons from Global Peers: Other Asian countries view English as essential for economic growth, not just as a language.
• Israel’s success offers a key lesson: Instead of isolating itself culturally, Israel has embraced global knowledge systems.
  1. It mandates English fluency alongside STEM education, ensuring broad access to innovation.

 

A Strategic Imperative, Not a Cultural Betrayal

• India must shift its perspective on English—from a colonial relic to an economic necessity.
• Promoting English is not a rejection of Indian culture, but a step toward global competitiveness.
• To build a strong workforce for the 21st century, India must empower its citizens with English proficiency rather than restrict it.

 

Language policy, equality meets pragmatism

English as a Strategic Economic Tool: Lessons from Asia

Country	Key Policy	Impact on Workforce & Economy
China	English from Primary School (2001)	Transformed from low-value manufacturing to a tech-driven economy.
	Gaokao Exam (National College Entrance Test)	English is a mandatory subject (150 points, equal to Chinese & Mathematics), ensuring students gain foundational skills.
	Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)	English fluency supports China’s global expansion, aiding diplomats, engineers, and project managers.
	State Media & Soft Power	English is now linked to global storytelling and diplomacy, moving beyond colonial perceptions.
South Korea	Suneung Exam (College Entrance Test)	English makes up 25% of the mandatory section, aligning with global benchmarks (TOEFL-style).
	Corporate & Cultural Integration	Companies like Samsung & Hyundai require English for R&D roles; K-pop stars release English tracks for global reach.
	Balance of Tradition & Pragmatism	Maintains cultural identity (hanbok, K-wave) while embracing English for economic growth.
Vietnam	National Foreign Language Project (NFLP) (2008-2030)	Aims for 70% of high school graduates & 100% of civil servants to be proficient in English.
	Government Investment	$1.4 billion project focuses on teacher training, rural digital classrooms, and industry-specific language skills.
	Economic Growth Strategy	English proficiency supports Vietnam’s goal of becoming a middle-tech manufacturing hub by 2045.

 

Key Takeaways for India

• English as a Skill, Not a Threat: These nations treat English like coding or calculus, essential for economic progress, not a cultural conflict.
• Systematic Integration: Unlike India’s inconsistent policies, China, South Korea, and Vietnam have long-term strategies ensuring English fluency benefits all sections of society.
• Global Competitiveness: Prioritising English in education and professional sectors has helped these countries compete in AI, tech, and global markets—an approach India must consider.

 

The AI era’s linguistic realities

Country-Wise Comparison of English Proficiency and Economic Growth

Country	English Proficiency & Its Role	Impact on Employment & Industry
India	English proficiency gap limits employment opportunities.  82% of remote tech roles require English.  Workers lacking English skills have 68%–85% reduced access to high-growth sectors.	India’s manufacturing hub aspirations are hindered by language barriers.  Industries struggle to find local talent, leading to hiring from other states.  Needs bilingual workforce (regional + English) to operate cyber-physical systems and global supply chains.
Vietnam	Strong focus on English in STEM education.  Semiconductor engineers proficient in English for global collaboration.	Thriving semiconductor industry due to English proficiency.  Access to global markets and international projects.
South Korea	Bilingual AI researchers excel in global tech.  Government-driven English education policies.	AI and tech industries benefit from a workforce skilled in both Korean and English.  Companies easily integrate into global R&D networks.
China	Myth: China succeeded without English.  Reality: China’s 1990s pivot to advanced manufacturing required English adoption.  400 million Chinese are learning English today.	Companies like Huawei implement internal English training programs.  English proficiency aids global expansion and international partnerships.
Global Perspective	19th-century industrialization relied on coal; 21st-century progress depends on technical and linguistic skills.  86% of employers see AI and data analytics(English-dominated fields) as growth drivers.	Advanced manufacturing, AI, and global trade require English fluency.  Nations that invest in English education gain better access to high-growth industries.

 

In India, constitutional parity and reality

• Language Divide in Education: India’s constitutional equality between Hindi and English has turned into a false dichotomy.
• NEP 2020’s vague multilingualism allows non-Hindi States (e.g., Kerala, Tamil Nadu) to prioritize English and mother tongues, boosting STEM enrolment and economic mobility.
• Hindi-first policies in some regions lead to weaker educational outcomes.
• English and Global Opportunities: 93% of global technical courses are in English; marginalizing it worsens colonial-era divides and limits fluency to elites.
• By 2050, India will form 23% of the global workforce, but without English proficiency, this advantage may turn into a crisis.
•  Job sectors like AI, cybersecurity, and green energy require English skills.
• Balancing Linguistic Pride and Practicality: Kerala’s model, teaching Malayalam and English from Class 1, shows that both can coexist.
• States treating English as optional violate constitutional equality and limit youth from national growth.

 

Conclusion

Asia’s growth shows that nations using language as a political tool stagnate, while those mastering language skills thrive. India must see English as essential infrastructure, not a political issue. The choice isn’t between English and regional languages but between readiness for AI and quantum computing or falling behind. Vietnam’s 22-year language push proves change is possible. For India, the countdown to 2047 has begun.

 

Editorial 2 : The gender budget — bigger allocations, little impact

 

Context: If the gender budget does not take into account the combined effects of caste, class, gender, and the digital gap, it will not effectively support India's women.

 

Introduction

The Union Budget 2025-26 has been praised for significantly increasing funds for women-focused schemes, with the total gender budget reaching ₹4.49 lakh crore—a 37.25% rise from last year’s ₹3.27 lakh crore. Even after accounting for an estimated inflation rate of 3.61%, the increase remains considerable.

 

Despite rising allocations, why are the results poor?

Year	Gender Budget Allocation (₹ Crore)
2022-23	1,71,006.47
2023-24	2,38,219.75
2024-25	3,27,158.44
2025-26	4,49,028.68

 

What are the key Observations?

• The consistent rise in gender budget allocation highlights the government’s commitment to reducing gender disparities.
• However, despite increased spending, economic benefits for women, particularly those from marginalised groups like Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), have not improved proportionally.

 

Allocations for Marginalised Groups (2025-26):

Scheme	Allocated Amount (₹ Crore)	Purpose
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN)	300	Socio-economic development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan	75	Tribal welfare initiatives

 

What are the key challenges and recommendations?

• Despite two decades of gender budgeting, past evaluations have not been effectively incorporated, leading to gaps in addressing caste, class, and tribal intersections.
• As Vikas Singh from Daang Vikas Sansthan notes, digitization has created access barriers for women lacking digital literacy.
• Eliminating intermediaries through digital systems is a step forward, but urgent investment in digital literacy programs is necessary to ensure women can independently access welfare benefits.

 

Outdated Census data, other gaps

Budget Allocation and Challenges for SC/ST Women

Category	Union Budget 2025-26 Allocation (₹ Crore)	% Increase from Previous Year
Ministry of Tribal Affairs	14,925.81	45.79% (from ₹10,237.33 crore)
Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP)	Not Detailed	–
Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP)	Not Detailed	–

 

What are the key issues and gaps?

1. Lack of Gender-Specific Data
   1. SCSP and TSP funds are distributed across Ministries, but without gender-disaggregated data, assessing their direct impact on SC/ST women is difficult.
   2. The absence of an updated Census since 2011 further weakens data-driven policy decisions.
2. Underutilisation of Funds
   1. According to the Dalit Adivasi Budget Analysis 2023-24 (NCDHR), over 35% of SCSP and TSP allocations remain unspent due to:
      • Bureaucratic delays
      • Complex paperwork and procedural barriers
      • Low outreach and poor information dissemination
3. Limited Accessibility to Welfare Schemes
   1. Many SC/ST women struggle to access benefits due to financial jargon and a lack of awareness.
   2. Despite economic surveys detailing allocations, women primarily seek schemes, subsidies, and direct government support to ease daily hardships.
4. Challenges in Tribal Areas
   1. Government schemes often fail to address regional, cultural, and social diversities.
   2. Poor access to education and healthcare in tribal regions further marginalises women.
   3. The literacy rate among tribal women (49.4%) is significantly lower than the national female literacy rate (64.63%) (Census 2011).

 What are the recommendations?

• Ensure gender-specific tracking of SCSP and TSP allocations to measure impact on women.
• Improve community involvement in planning and fund utilisation.
• Simplify procedures and enhance awareness campaigns to increase accessibility.
• Invest in education and healthcare tailored to tribal regions for long-term empowerment.

 

Key Insights from Sandeep Patnaik on Gender Budgeting and Local Governance

• Strengthening Local Institutions: Increasing budget allocations alone is not enough; effective utilisation of existing funds is equally important.
  1. Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) play a crucial role in ensuring last-mile delivery of services.
  2. However, PRIs often lack autonomy and resources to implement gender-sensitive policies effectively.
• Addressing the Issue of "Sarpanch Husbands": Many elected women representatives face proxy rule by their husbands, limiting their ability to bring real change.
  1. The government must introduce strict regulations to curb this practice and empower women leaders.

 

Recommendations for an Effective Gender Budget

• Intersectional Gender Budget Audits: Gender budgets should be designed after thorough audits that account for caste, class, and tribal identities at both the central and state levels.
•  Community-Led Participatory Approaches: The government must involve women from SC/ST backgrounds in planning and monitoring welfare schemes.
  1. Kerala’s Kudumbashree mission is a successful example where community-led implementation improved outreach and effectiveness.
• Transparent Fund Monitoring and Public Accountability: Establish transparent tracking systems to ensure funds are used effectively.
  1. A gender budget tracking portal should be created to enhance public accountability and oversight.

 

Conclusion

Increasing the budget for women is a good step, but real progress depends on how well it is used. If issues like caste, class, gender, and the digital gap are ignored, the budget will not truly help women. To bring real change, policies must go beyond symbolic efforts and focus on fairness, accessibility, and accountability.