2 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
1. Decoding GDP
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS2: Governance, Internal Security, Migration, Fundamental Rights |
| Context |
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Background:
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After the Pahalgam terror attack, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed border and urban states to crack down on illegal migrants. Several past efforts in Assam and Delhi have sparked legal challenges and accusations of ethnic profiling. The Supreme Court has emphasized that even undocumented individuals are protected under Article 21, mandating fair legal processes. Despite this, many detentions and deportations continue without clear verification or judicial oversight.
Criminalization Without Due Process:
- Deportations are often conducted without hearings, notice, or access to legal recourse.
- There’s no uniform law defining “illegal immigrant,” leading to arbitrary interpretations.
- Security operations must follow constitutional safeguards and humanitarian standards.
Ethnic and Economic Targeting:
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Many crackdowns focus on linguistic or religious minorities, raising concerns of profiling.
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Low-income workers, particularly Bengali speakers, are disproportionately affected.
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Instances of Indian citizens mistakenly detained highlight systemic flaws.
Politicization of Enforcement
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Anti-immigration narratives are often used before elections to polarize voter bases.
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State governments adopt inconsistent deportation policies based on ruling party priorities.
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Bureaucrats face pressure to deliver quick results without legal backing.
Judicial Interventions Ignored
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Supreme Court rulings mandate humanitarian checks, which are frequently bypassed.
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Lower courts have stayed or reversed several deportations in recent years.
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The lack of legal remedy undermines the credibility of India’s legal system.
Way Forward:
- India must codify a comprehensive legal definition of “illegal migrant” through a national law.
- Deportations should only occur post-verification, with judicial safeguards and review mechanisms.
- States must depoliticize enforcement and empower independent civil institutions to oversee processes.
| Practice Question:
National security imperatives must align with constitutional protections. Examine the legal and ethical challenges in India’s deportation policy for undocumented migrants. (GS2, 150 Words, 10Marks) |
2. Back on Road to Growth
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS3: Indian Economy, Growth, Reforms, Investment Climate |
| Context |
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Background of India-Russia Relations:
- The National Statistics Office (NSO) revised India’s FY25 Q4 growth upward to 8.2%, reflecting strong government-led capital expenditure and services recovery. However, consumption remains uneven and private investment sluggish. India still faces systemic issues like high regulatory friction, low female labour force participation, and underutilized tax potential. The editorial cautions that headline numbers mask foundational inefficiencies that may stall long-term momentum.
Strong GDP But Uneven Drivers
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Growth is driven mainly by public infrastructure and service sectors.
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Manufacturing and private investment lag behind, showing weak productivity growth.
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Agriculture and MSMEs still struggle with cost and market access issues.
Private Investment Weakness
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Private capital formation is yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
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Risk aversion and regulatory delays deter businesses from scaling up.
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Financial market fragmentation reduces credit access for small firms.
Limited Job Creation
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Employment elasticity remains low across high-growth sectors.
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Women’s labour force participation continues to decline.
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Informal sector recovery has not matched formal output recovery.
Fiscal Fragility and Subsidy Overhang
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Election-linked spending spikes have stressed the fiscal deficit.
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Revenue mobilization is weak due to slow nominal GDP growth.
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Public debt levels limit future room for countercyclical spending.
Way Forward
- India needs bold land, labour, and tax reforms to unlock long-term investment potential.
- Policies must incentivize innovation, MSME formalization, and female workforce inclusion.
- Maintaining fiscal prudence while prioritizing capital expenditure is key to resilience.
| Practice Question: Despite robust GDP figures, India’s economic recovery remains fragile and uneven. Examine structural bottlenecks and propose reform measures to ensure sustained growth. (GS3, 15 marks, 250 words) |
Read more – 31 May 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
