28 June 2025: The Hindu Editorial

1. The Missing Carbon Budget

Source – Page 6, The Hindu Editorial

Topic: GS3 – Environment, Climate Change

Context

The editorial discusses the IPCC’s latest synthesis report, emphasizing the urgency to revise global carbon budgets to realistically meet the 1.5°C climate target.

Key Points:

• The IPCC has indicated that only about 250 gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions remain in the global carbon budget to limit warming to 1.5°C.

• Present emission rates mean this budget could be exhausted by 2029.

• India’s current and historical emissions, development needs, and carbon neutrality goal for 2070 place it at a crossroads.

Analysis:

• Developed countries must take greater responsibility due to their historical emissions.

• There’s a critical need for India to adopt cleaner technologies, especially in energy and transport sectors.

• Climate finance and technology transfer mechanisms are still inadequate.

• India’s updated NDCs need stronger compliance measures and public-private partnerships.

Way Forward:

• Enhance domestic carbon markets and green bonds.

• Strengthen afforestation efforts and carbon sinks.

• Align development policies with long-term sustainability.

Practice Question: With only a few years left in the global carbon budget to meet the 1.5°C target, critically examine India’s climate commitments and suggest a roadmap for sustainable development.

 

2. India’s Unpaid Care Economy and Women’s Labour

Source – Page 6, The Hindu Editorial

Topic: GS1 – Society; GS2 – Governance, Women Empowerment

Context

The article highlights the invisibility of unpaid care work performed predominantly by women and its implications for gender equality and economic planning.

Key Points:

• Unpaid care work includes child-rearing, elder care, and domestic chores, largely undertaken by women.

• The Time Use Survey (2019) shows stark gender differences: women spend 4.5 hours/day on unpaid work vs. men’s 0.5 hours/day.

• This affects women’s participation in the labour force and contributes to income inequality.

Analysis:

• Lack of recognition and valuation in GDP calculations.

• The pandemic worsened the burden of unpaid care.

• There is a need to integrate care economy in policy planning (e.g., through creche facilities, flexible work hours).

Way Forward:

• Recognize and redistribute unpaid care work.

• Implement gender-responsive budgeting.

• Use tools like time-use surveys regularly to inform policy.

Practice Question: Unpaid care work remains one of the most significant barriers to women’s empowerment in India. Discuss its socio-economic implications and suggest policy measures to address it(GS2 | 250 words | 15 marks)

Read more about – 27 June 2025: The Hindu Editorial Analysis