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

Editorial 1: The paradox of the approach to the Manipur issue

Context

The position on this, which is also a national security issue, is troubling.

Introduction

As the deadlock in Manipur reaches two years, the long wait for a political solution still seems out of reach. Even after causing massive destruction, the death of over 250 people, and forcing thousands to live in poor relief camps, the violence in Manipur has not been treated as a top national priority. This is painfully clear as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to avoid visiting the State or offering a clear plan to end the crisis. This stands in sharp contrast to the quick and serious response he gave to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which even led him to cut short his Saudi Arabia trip and announce policy steps.

India-Pakistan Stand-off vs. Manipur Crisis

• The brief military stand-offbetween India and Pakistan received a swift response.
• This action reflected the strong public sentimentthat:
  • Terrorist infrastructureacross the Line of Control must be destroyed, and
  • Pakistanshould be punished for its alleged role in cross-border terrorism.
• As the ceasefire termsand diplomatic negotiations between the two nuclear powers stay in the spotlight,
  it is highly unlikely that:
  • Manipur’s ongoing human tragedyand
  • The political deadlockwill receive the serious national attention they truly deserve.

The approach to the northeast

• There is a clear differencein how New Delhi treats Manipur compared to Kashmir.
• This reflects a broader patternin India’s Northeast policy, driven more by:
  • National security concerns, and
  • Regime preservation, rather than local realities.

Key Differences: Manipur vs Kashmir

Aspect	Manipur	Kashmir
Threat Perception	Seen as a low-level security concern, despite recent unrest	Viewed as a core national security issue involving Pakistan & China
External Involvement	Past support from China & Pakistan now minimal and outdated	Active geopolitical tensions continue
Recent Framing Attempts	Efforts made to project Kuki groups as cross-border threats	Long-standing framing as a geopolitical flashpoint

Recent Developments in Manipur: A Closer Look

• Civil society and security expertsattempted to blame Kuki militants:
  • Example: In Sept 2024, CM’s office cited “credible inputs” warning about 900 militantswith rocket launchers.
  • This was used to justify strikeson Kuki-Zomi-Hmar villages.
• However, real threatsremain underplayed, especially:
  • The rise of Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs)since May 3, 2023.
  • These groups are being used to maintain law and orderas the State fails to protect certain villages.
• The ‘buffer zone’, created after Home Minister Amit Shah’s visitin May 2023, divides:
  • The Meitei-dominated valleys, and
  • The Kuki-Zomi-Hmar hill regions.

Policy Shortcomings

• New Delhi’s focus remains on political optics, not real reform.
• Missed opportunities since Operation All-Clear (2004):
  • No major improvement in intelligence gathering,
  • Lack of counterinsurgency upgrades,
  • Stalled modernisation of the police and army.

The case of fencing as an obsolete outlook

• New Delhi is aggressively pushingto:
  • Scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR)with Myanmar.
  • Spend over ₹31,000 croreto fence the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border, including the 398 km stretch in Manipur.
• This hardline stancereflects:
  • An outdated view of security.
  • A response to majoritarian insecuritiesfrom valley-based groups.
  • A political move aligned with pork-barrel politics, benefiting contractors and brokers.
• Naga and Mizo groupshave shown strong opposition, exposing deep divisions in the region.

Key Concerns Around Border Fencing Policy

Issue	Impact/Explanation
Security Justification	Seen as excessive and not rooted in current threats.
Ethnic Opposition	Nagas and Mizos oppose fencing that separates transborder communities.
Political Benefit	Helps regime consolidation and supports local patronage networks.
Act East / Neighbourhood Policy	Fencing may undermine regional ties and alienate border populations, hurting India’s diplomacy.

Superficial Security Moves and Arms Mismanagement

• National security policy is driven more by opticsthan real reforms:
  • Arms surrender ceremoniesare public shows, not backed by sincere disarmament efforts.
  • Of 6,020 stolen arms, only about 4,000 returnedso far.
  • As of March 6, 2025, 894 armswere surrendered after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla’s deadlines.
• Example of hollow optics:
  • On Feb 27, the Arambai Tenggol militiaheld a weapon surrender parade with 246 weapons.
  • Many were country-made guns, raising doubts about the seriousness of the act.
  • No strong legal actionhas followed the surrender deadlines.

Consequences of Weak Security Policy

• The abundant availability of armsand lack of credible State response keeps the ethnic security dilemma alive.
• President’s Rule, imposed on Feb 13, 2025, followed a BJP rebellion and leadership change.
  • Sent a symbolic warningto all armed groups that violence won’t be tolerated.
  • However, real enforcement and reformsremain lacking.

Conclusion

A slow but steady return to normal might lead to serious political talks with opposing groups, in a way that respects real demands and builds trust in government institutions. While rival parties marked May 3 differently — one calling it ‘separation day’ and the other a ‘day of remembrance and reflection’ — to support their political agendas, solving the political deadlock and restoring law and order will need real policy changes that go beyond show politics and power preservation.

 

Editorial 2: ​Under control

Context

Low retail inflation is encouraging news for both consumers and policymakers

Introduction

April’s retail and wholesale inflation data reveal a significant decline, hitting a 69-month and 13-month low respectively. This signals a positive shift for both the public and policymakers, reflecting the success of recent monetary measuresand government interventions. The easing of key food prices, alongside efforts to improve supply management and address liquidity constraints, indicates that inflationary pressures are gradually coming under control.

April’s Inflation Trends: A Positive Sign

• Retail inflation hit a 69-month lowin April.
• Wholesale inflation reached a 13-month low.
• This data offers relief to both the public and policymakers.

Implications for the Public and Policymakers

• For the public:
  • Confirms that the easing of prices observed earlier in the year is continuing.
• For policymakers:
  • Confirms that last year’s high inflation is now under control.
  • Validates the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) decision to cut interest rates twice consecutively.

Key Drivers Behind Falling Inflation

• Retail inflation decrease primarily due to:
  • Nearly 11% contraction in vegetable prices.
  • 2% decrease in pulse prices.
• The reduction in vegetable prices is influenced by a high base effect— last year, vegetable inflation was between 27% and 30% during February to April.
• Wholesale inflation decline caused by:
  • An 26% contraction in vegetable pricesin April.
  • This also reflects a high base effect, as prices were nearly 12% higher in April last year.

Government’s Role in Inflation Control

• Efforts contributing to easing inflation include:
  • Increasing buffer stocks of essential food items.
  • Conducting open market releasesof food stocks.
  • Easing importsduring supply shortages.Other Influencing Factors

• Liquidity crunch in banksduring early months of the year:
  • Reduced liquidity means less money available for lending to companies and the public, which can suppress inflation.
• Future inflation outlook depends on:
  • The progress and variability of the monsoon season.
  • Tariff uncertaintiesand possible retaliations affecting trade.

Policy Implications from Latest Inflation Data

• Potential RBI monetary policy response:
  • Likely to encourage further interest rate cutsin June.
  • Decision will also depend on the upcoming GDP growth datascheduled for release at month-end.
• Fuel pricing concerns:
  • Public sector oil marketing companies should reduce fuel pricesto reflect the 22-month low crude oil inflation in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
  • If prices are not adjusted, the government should abandon the current dynamic pricing policy, which is ineffective since fuel prices have remained almost unchanged for three years despite a 42% drop in oil prices.

Conclusion

The latest inflation trends suggest the Reserve Bank of India may consider further interest rate cuts, contingent on upcoming GDP data. Meanwhile, the government must address fuel pricing policies to maintain credibility. Despite the positive signs, inflation’s future remains dependent on factors such as the monsoon and trade uncertainties, making continued vigilance essential for sustained economic stability and growth.