07 July 2025: Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. Message is Also Strategy
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)

Topic: GS Paper 2 – Governance; International Relations; GS Paper 3 – Internal Security

Context

The editorial by Sanjaya Baru discusses the strategic communication lapses during Operation Sindoor, comparing them to the better-managed communication strategies during earlier operations under Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. It stresses the need for professional media handling and clear narrative-building during sensitive military actions, both for domestic reassurance and international credibility..

Key Issues in Operation Sindoor’s Messaging

• Lack of Clarity on Objectives:
  Before the operation began, there was no clear communication about India’s limited aim—targeting terror camps across the LoC. This raised false expectations among the public and led to disappointment when no territorial occupation or large-scale military retaliation occurred.

• Absence of Narrative for Ceasefire:
  After the operation was paused, there was confusion on whether it was a ceasefire, a strategic pause, or a political decision. Mixed statements by the military and civilian leadership created a perception of unpreparedness.

• Poor Media Strategy:
  There was no integrated effort to manage the narrative. Statements by CDS and defence attaches abroad added to domestic confusion. Lack of a single spokesperson or media strategy team, unlike past operations, hampered India’s message.

Contrast with Vajpayee and Manmohan Eras

• Strategic Media Advisory Structures:
  Both PMs had used the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) or dedicated teams to brief the media. For example, Manmohan Singh invited President Musharraf for talks after Op Parakram, showing political acumen and global signalling.

• Unified Communication Channel:
  PMO-led daily briefings, clear diplomatic positions, and a civilian spokesperson kept the narrative professional, controlled, and aligned with India’s strategic goals.

• International Optics Managed Better:
  During the Kargil conflict, Indian diplomacy projected Pakistan as the aggressor and effectively used global media to win perception battles. That strategy was absent in Op Sindoor.

Why Strategic Communication Matters

• Shapes Public Sentiment and Morale:
  Mixed messaging can damage national morale, especially in times of conflict.

• Helps International Diplomacy:
  Countries judge credibility by how governments manage crises. Disjointed communication damages India’s global image.

• Avoids Domestic Political Blame Games:
  A professional, non-political communication plan keeps the focus on national interest, not party lines.

Conclusion/Way Forward:

• Institutionalize Strategic Communication: Create a dedicated unit within the NSC Secretariat to manage messaging during national security operations.

• Civil-Military Coordination: Ensure seamless communication between political leadership and armed forces during conflicts to avoid mixed signals.

• Media Management Training: Select and train officials in crisis communication, media handling, and digital diplomacy.

• Mock Communication Drills: Simulate information flow and public briefings alongside military exercises to test preparedness.

• Enhance Global and Domestic Signalling: Craft clear narratives to strengthen both international perception and domestic morale during operations.

Practice Question: (GS-2 | 15 Marks | 250 Words) Discuss the importance of strategic communication during military operations. What lessons can India learn from past conflicts to improve messaging and public diplomacy?

Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 07 July 2025

2. Election Omission

(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)

Topic: GS Paper 2 – Polity and Governance (Electoral Reforms, Role of Election Commission, Inclusion and Rights)

Context

The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar starting June 28, 2025. The intent is to clean electoral rolls ahead of elections, but the method, timing, and conditions have raised concerns of exclusion, especially among vulnerable sections in a state already marked by low documentation, high migration, and frequent natural disasters like floods.

Concerns with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Process

• Timing Near Elections: The SIR has been initiated merely four months before elections, a period when voter roll revision becomes logistically and administratively challenging, particularly in a flood-prone and high-migration state like Bihar.
• Low Digital Uptake: Only 3% of the forms were uploaded in the initial days. This highlights digital illiteracy and infrastructure gaps in rural Bihar.
• Documentation Hurdles: EC has asked for 10+ documents for verification if names weren’t in 2003 electoral rolls — a bureaucratic burden especially for those with limited records or literacy.
• Fear of NRC-like Process: The documentation-heavy approach and lack of clarity have triggered panic among communities, with parallels being drawn to NRC (National Register of Citizens) anxiety.
• Impact on Vulnerable Sections: The burden of proof disproportionately affects migrant workers, SCs, STs, Muslims, elderly and the homeless, making them more likely to be excluded from the democratic process.

Contrast with Bihar’s Electoral Reform Legacy

• Positive Historical Precedents: In the 1990s and 2000s, Bihar benefited from the EC’s bold electoral reforms under TN Seshan’s era. The state saw significant democratization, including better Dalit and poor voter inclusion.
• Need for Deeper Democratization: With only 14.7% graduation rate and less than 2% of population with valid passports, Bihar remains socio-economically backward — making inclusive electoral practices all the more essential.
• Need for Trust-Building: The EC’s actions must uphold public trust, transparency, and the sanctity of universal adult franchise. The current mode of exclusion may further alienate the already disenfranchised.

Institutional and Legal Issues

• Legal Mandate vs Ethical Responsibility: While Article 324 empowers EC to revise rolls, the current execution appears detached from constitutional morality and public accessibility.
• Violation of Due Process: The heavy burden of proof violates the principle of ease of voting and inclusiveness laid down in previous reforms.

Recommendations and Way Forward

• The Election Commission should postpone the revision exercise until after elections, especially in a socio-economically vulnerable state like Bihar.
• A better model would include consultation with civil society, greater transparency, and robust public outreach before implementation.
• Instead of emphasizing exclusion, the EC must reaffirm its role in deepening electoral participation through inclusive reforms.
• Simplifying documentation, using Aadhar or Voter ID alone, and integrating with welfare databases can reduce exclusion errors.
• At stake is not just one state’s election, but the credibility of democratic institutions and voter trust in India’s electoral system.

Practice Question: (GS-2 | 10 Marks | 150 Words) Critically examine the implications of the Election Commission’s recent Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. How can the process be made more inclusive and transparent?

Read more – 05 July 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis