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

Editorial 1: The university versus constitutionally protected speech

Context

No institution has the right to limit anyone’s freedom of speech except for the reasons listed in Article 19(2).

 Introduction

John Milton, in his famous 1644 pamphlet Areopagitica, declared, “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.” He opposed the licensing system (imprimatur) that required authors to get government permission before publishing. This system was first introduced in England in 1538 after the printing press arrived and was brought back by Parliament in 1643.

Today in India, several High Courts and even the Supreme Court are examining petitions about the limits of freedom of expression. This raises important questions:

• Should we return to the outdated system where government or university approvalis needed before expressing opinions?
• Are university teachersexpected to be silent machines, only producing research papers and not sharing their views on current issues?
• Is free speechno longer seen as essential to human dignity and individual self-fulfillment?
• Has truthlost its independence as the highest public good?
• Are excessive restrictions on free speechbased on assuming the state’s infallibility?

These questions are critical for India because how it answers them will strengthen or weaken its ethical claim as a true Vishwaguru (world teacher). Currently, India’s position is undermined by its low rank of 151 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index, which affects its reputation globally. At the same time, the principle of ‘nation first’ must guide us all. After all, no debate or freedom can survive if the nation itself is threatened. India must remain united against enemies who repeatedly sponsor and export terrorism. The recent Operation Sindoor was a timely and strong response to such threats.

Freedom of Speech and Academic Expression

• We must return to the constitutional visionand win the battle of ideas.
• Every writershould clarify that their views are personal and don’t represent the institution they serve.
• Simply expressing an opinion should not be labeled as ‘activism’by university management or vice-chancellors.
• An expression of opinionmay be dissent, but it is not necessarily activism.
• Public academic institutionsoften tolerate even activism and active politics.
• Example: A professor once became the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (1991-93).
• Writers should not expect institutional supportfor their personal views.
• Courts must protect constitutionally guaranteed free speech, consistent with their past pro-freedom of speech rulings.
• The S. Supreme Court(Texas vs Johnson, 1989) recognized burning the national flag as protected expression — India need not follow that far.
• John Stuart Mill emphasized that minority opinions must not be silencedeven if they contradict the majority.
• British jurist William Blackstone (1769)stated that a free press is essential to a free state.
• The S. First Amendment (1791)explicitly protects freedom of speech and the press.

Why Freedom of Speech Matters in Democracy and Education

Concept	Explanation
Democracy	Government by choice; people must know all available options to make informed choices.
Expression of Alternative Views	Alternative views must be allowed and protected for democracy to thrive.
Individual Self-fulfillment	Freedom to express emotions, opinions, frustrations, and happiness is essential for personal fulfillment.
Academic Environment	University owners must realize that restricting speech suffocates individuals and hinders research.
Ancient Gurukul Example	Scholars like Aryabhata, Chanakya, Gargi Vachaknavi, and Charaka flourished because education was free and open, not controlled by the state.
Current Situation	Today, universities are overregulated and underfunded, restricting free flow of ideas.

Freedom of Expression and Truth

• Freedom of expressionis crucial for attaining the truth.
• John Milton said:
  • “Though all winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple; who ever knew truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter.”
• In the age of fake news, allowing everyone to speakhelps people decide who is telling the truth.
• Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.observed:
  • “The best test of truth is the power of thought to get itself accepted in the competition of market.”
• Allowing all views to be expressedsupports the government in protecting citizens from falsehoods.

Key Principles of Freedom of Speech

Principle	Explanation
Freedom is Not Absolute	Free speech has limits; it cannot be used to spread unnecessary or harmful talk.
Constitutional Objectives	The right to free speech must serve to:
	– Search for truth
	– Help people form opinions about government actions
	– Ensure people’s participation in governance

Reasonable Restrictions on Freedom of Speech

• The Constitutionallows only “reasonable restrictions” on the freedom of speech and expression.
• The term “reasonable”was added by the First Constitutional Amendment (1951).
• Restrictions can be imposed in the interests of:
  • Sovereignty and integrity of India(added by the Sixteenth Amendment, 1963)
  • Security of the state
  • Public order(added in 1951)
  • Decency and morality
  • Friendly relations with foreign countries(added in 1951)
  • Defamation or incitement to an offence
• No restrictions can be imposed by the government through executive orders; they require legislation.
• Courts use the “doctrine of proportionality”to test if restrictions are reasonable.

Important Judicial Observations

Case/Concept	Key Points
Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India (2020)	– Recognized the right to Internet as part of free speech.
	– Restrictions must be legitimate, necessary, and least intrusive.
	– State has the burden of proof to show restrictions are proportionate and reasonable.
Supreme Court on Institutions	– No institution can restrict free speech except as per Article 19(2) grounds.
	– Private educational institutions cannot impose restrictions simply due to regulatory controls.
Dr. Janet Jeyapaul vs S.R.M University (2015)	– Private universities considered ‘state’ because they perform public functions.
	– Arbitrary actions by such institutions violate Article 14 (right to equality and protection against arbitrariness).

Conclusion

When an author or writer faces consequences, the law is very clear — if what they say is not protected by the Constitution, then no one should defend them. But if their speech is within constitutional limits, the institution should support them. Otherwise, it can discourage teachers and make it hard to bring in great scholars. Students are the true voice of the university. Private school owners should remember that the Supreme Court says education is a profession, not a business. We should welcome different opinions because in a healthy democracy, every voice matters. A university is a place of many ideas and knowledge.

 

Editorial 2: A Eurocentric reset, a gateway for India

Context

The U.K.-EU reset could reshape India’s trade, diplomatic ties, and soft power influence in the West.

Introduction

In a diplomatic move with wide-reaching impact, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new agreement with the European Union (EU) marks a strong “reset” in their relations, restarting cooperation on food standards, fishing rights, defence, and border checks. Though this may seem Eurocentric, it creates new opportunities and challengesfor India that require immediate focus.

• The K.and the EU are among India’s key trade and diplomatic partners, and their renewed alignment could reshape India’s global strategy.
• For Indian exporters, it may simplify complianceand restore supply chain flow.
• For policymakers, it offers a chance to strengthen strategic alliances. For the diaspora, it could transform educationand migration opportunities.
• In short, the K.-EU reset is more than a regional shift —
  • it is a moment that could redefine India’s trade routes, diplomatic ties, and soft power influencein the West.Renewed Collaboration Impact on Indian Exports

• Key Areas of Cooperation:
  • Food safety
  • Customs coordination
  • Fisheries
• Trade Statistics FY2024:
  • Exports to EU: $86 billion
  • Exports to U.K.: $12 billion
  • Both regions are strategically importantfor India’s external trade.

Challenges and Opportunities Post-Brexit

• Indian exporters face two separate regulatory regimesin the U.K. and EU.
• Important sectors affected: pharmaceuticals, textiles, seafood, agro-based products.
• A harmonised U.K.-EU regulatory frameworkcan:
  • Simplify compliance
  • Reduce redundant processes
  • Lower operational costs

Sector-Specific Benefits and Concerns

• Pharmaceuticals:
  • India supplies over 25%of the U.K.’s generic medicine needs.
  • A unified approval processwould speed up clearances and cut costs.
• Seafood:
  • Indian exports valued at ₹60,523.89 crore (~$7.38 billion)in FY2024.
  • Aligned food and fishing standards could reduce trade barriers.
• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs):
  • Might struggle with stricter common standardsdue to limited capital and technical expertise.
  • To stay competitive, India must enhance its export ecosystem.
• Strategic Measures for Competitiveness
  • Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP)
  • Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme

Geopolitical Significance Beyond Trade

• The K.-EU foreign policy alignment, especially in defenceand the Indo-Pacific, presents India with new avenues to deepen its multilateral coordination with the EU.
• India’s existing frameworks include:
  • EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025
  • Renewed Comprehensive Strategic Partnershipwith the U.K. (2022), focusing on cybersecurity, climate action, and maritime security.

Enhanced Global Cooperation Opportunities

• As the U.K. realigns with the EU, India could gain from unified Western supporton international platforms such as:
  • The United Nations
  • The G-20
  • The World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Strategic partnerships with France, Germany, and the K.are crucial for:
  • India’s defence modernisation
  • Achieving technological ambitions, especially in naval power.

Key Bilateral and Multilateral Defence Engagements

• India-France bilateral tradereached $15.1 billion in 2024-25.
• Landmark defence agreementswith Germany and the K. focus on:
  • Technology transfer
  • Joint development projects
• A coordinated K.-EU defence policymay facilitate deeper trilateral/multilateral partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, where there are shared concerns about China’s assertiveness.

Leveraging India’s Global South Leadership

• India’s leadership role in the Global South, highlighted during its G-20 presidency in 2023, can be further strengthened by:
  • Utilizing the K.-EU rapprochement
  • Driving collective efforts on climate finance, digital infrastructure, and global governance reforms
• A unified Western bloccould become a more reliable ally if it engages with India in a strategic and assertive manner going forward.

Enhancing trade and talent power

• India has the world’s largest diaspora, with significant communities in the K.and across the EU.
• In 2024, the U.K. issued over 110,000 student visasto Indian nationals, making India one of the top sources of international students.
• Post-Brexit restrictionslimited Indian professionals’ access to EU markets.
• However, renewed K.-EU border coordinationcould enable partial mobility, establishing a semi-integrated talent corridor.
• This framework could also strengthen India’s migration agreementswith Germany, France, and Portugal by integrating them into a wider K.-EU mobility system.

Conclusion

These converging shifts — trade liberalisation, mobility reintegration, and foreign policy alignment — offer rare diplomatic and economic opportunities. To seize them, India must fast-track reforms, modernise export infrastructure, and strengthen its role in global governance.