16 July 2025: Indian Express Editorial Analysis
1. She Too
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS2 – Governance, Issues Relating to Women’s Safety and Justice GS1 – Social Issues: Gender, Vulnerable Sections GS4 – Ethics: Accountability, Institutional Responsibility |
| Context |
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Institutional Failure and Legal Framework
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The Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act was enacted in 2013 to provide a safe working environment and ensure dignity for women. However, the case exposes persistent gaps in enforcement even after a decade of its existence.
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Despite an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and police complaints, the victim’s allegations were not adequately addressed, leading to fatal consequences.
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The Supreme Court in 2023 issued directions for a “time-bound verification” of compliance with PoSH standards, yet many institutions remain non-compliant.
Why Complaints Still Fail
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Institutional Apathy: Colleges and workplaces often treat complaints as procedural hurdles rather than as moral and legal imperatives.
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Power Asymmetry: Victims fear retaliation, stigma, and career jeopardy, while perpetrators often hold influential positions.
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Culture of Silence: Social stigma and lack of faith in systems deter women from seeking redress.
Impact on Women’s Safety
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The inability to address complaints promptly erodes trust in governance and legal systems, discouraging other victims from reporting harassment.
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High-profile cases during the #MeToo movement and protests by women athletes in 2023 highlight that the struggle for safe spaces is ongoing, even in well-publicized sectors.
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This institutional failure reinforces systemic gender inequality and perpetuates vulnerability for women in education and workplaces.
Steps Taken So Far
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The PoSH Act mandates Internal Committees in every organization and annual reports on compliance.
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Supreme Court directives (2023) emphasized timely verification and submission of compliance reports.
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However, poor monitoring and lack of accountability have rendered these measures largely ineffective.
Way Forward
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Strengthen Accountability: Mandatory audits of PoSH compliance, with penalties for non-compliance.
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Time-Bound Inquiry Mechanisms: Institutions should adhere strictly to prescribed timelines for addressing complaints.
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Cultural Change: Awareness campaigns to break stigma and encourage reporting without fear.
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Independent Oversight: Establish state-level bodies to supervise ICCs and review their functioning.
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Ethical Leadership: Institutions must prioritize student safety and foster trust through transparent redressal systems.
Conclusion:
The Balasore incident underscores that legal frameworks alone cannot ensure justice without institutional sensitivity and accountability. India needs to move beyond symbolic compliance toward robust, empathetic systems that protect dignity and safety. When women speak up, the system must listen and act decisively.
| Practice Question: (GS-2 | 15 Marks | 250 Words)
Despite progressive legislation like the PoSH Act, 2013, cases of sexual harassment and systemic apathy persist in India.” Discuss the underlying causes and suggest comprehensive measures for ensuring accountability and gender-sensitive governance. |
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 16 July 2025
2. Hedging against America
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS Paper 2 – International Relations (India and major powers, Effect of policies of developed countries), Global Governance |
| Context |
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Shifts in U.S. Foreign Policy Under Trump 2.0
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The Trump administration’s strategy focuses on unilateralism and transactionalism, undermining multilateral norms and alliances built since World War II.
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Trump’s imposition of 25% tariffs on Japanese imports, threats to NATO members, and criticism of European economic strategies highlight America’s pivot inward.
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Emphasis on reducing U.S. dependence on Asia and Europe reflects a departure from its historical role as a security guarantor.
Impact on Global Alliances
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Europe’s Strategic Dilemma: European nations are under pressure to develop independent security frameworks while balancing economic ties with the U.S. and China.
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Asian Response: Countries like Japan, India, and Australia face uncertainties on defense cooperation. Japan, despite increasing investments in U.S. bonds and markets, cannot escape Trump’s aggressive tariff regime.
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Collective Defense Concerns: The EU is accelerating defense cooperation and nuclear policy alignment, signaling strategic hedging.
India’s Strategic Calculus
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Maintaining Strategic Autonomy: India must balance ties with the U.S. without alienating its Eurasian partners like Russia or pushing China further into adversarial postures.
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Economic Concerns: New U.S. tariffs on Asian markets may disrupt supply chains, requiring India to diversify trade partnerships.
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Defense Cooperation: While India’s defense engagement with the U.S. deepens, it should not compromise flexibility in multilateral platforms like BRICS or SCO.
Emerging Global Trends
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De-risking and Supply Chain Realignments: Global partners seek “China plus one” strategies, offering India an opportunity to attract investment in technology and manufacturing.
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Shift from U.S. Security Umbrella: Countries are recalibrating policies to reduce dependence on Washington by forging regional defense pacts and enhancing local capabilities.
Conclusion & Way Forward
The world is witnessing a fragmentation of the liberal international order, with the U.S. no longer acting as the undisputed global leader. For India, this phase demands multi-alignment, strengthening regional frameworks like Quad and BIMSTEC, deepening ties with Europe, and engaging in calibrated engagement with the U.S. while avoiding strategic overdependence. Economic diplomacy, diversification of trade partners, and defense self-reliance must be central to India’s approach in this new geopolitical reality.
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Practice Question: (GS-3 | 10 Marks | 150 Words) |
Read more – 15 July 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
