25 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. Fear Was the Currency
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)

Topic: GS1 – Post-Independence Indian History, GS2 – Governance

Context

This editorial reflects on how fear and political repression enabled Indira Gandhi’s government to impose and sustain Emergency, silencing the opposition and weakening democratic structures.

Mechanisms of Repression

• Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency fearing the rising opposition and judicial challenges to her rule.
• Thousands were detained without trial under preventive detention laws.
• Media censorship and clampdown on political activity eliminated dissenting voices.

Role of Judiciary and Bureaucracy

• Judiciary, barring exceptions, failed to protect fundamental rights.
• Civil servants became instruments of repression rather than neutral administrators.

Political Consequences

• Indira Gandhi underestimated public resentment; she assumed disorganised opposition posed no threat.
• Ultimately, Emergency backfired politically — she lost the 1977 elections and the Congress faced severe backlash.
• Emergency showed how democratic decline is often enabled by institutions failing to check executive power.

Conclusion/Way Forward:

• Democracy relies on vigilance — by the people, the opposition, and institutions.
• The Emergency remains a case study on how power centralization and fear erode democratic foundations.

Practice Question: (GS-1 | 10 Marks | 150 Words) Analyze the causes and consequences of the 1975 Emergency in India. How did it reshape India’s democratic and political institutions?

Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 25 June 2025

2. A Fragile Pause

(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS3 – Internal Security

Context

The editorial analyzes the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah after escalated cross-border attacks, emphasizing how fragile peace can be amid larger geopolitical tensions.

Ceasefire Terms & Context

• A mediated ceasefire was announced after deadly tit-for-tat missile strikes.

• Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel remain on high alert despite halting direct conflict.

• Recent Iranian general’s assassination added tension to the region.

Geopolitical Instability

• West Asia’s security equilibrium remains fragile due to overlapping conflicts.

• Both US and European powers face limitations in their diplomatic leverage.

• The Gaza war and nuclear deal breakdown feed regional unrest.

Risks of Escalation

• Even minor skirmishes can rapidly spiral into full-scale war.

• Civilian infrastructure and lives in Lebanon and Northern Israel remain vulnerable.

• Political pressure within Israel and Iran could reignite hostilities.

Conclusion/Way Forward

• India must maintain a balanced stance on Israel-Iran tensions to protect strategic interests.

• Regional organizations and UN diplomacy must push for long-term de-escalation frameworks.

• Peacekeeping models from UNIFIL can be revisited to stabilize the region.

Practice Question: (GS-2 | 10 Marks | 150 Words) Discuss the implications of recurring ceasefire violations and fragile truces in West Asia. What role can global institutions play in ensuring lasting peace?

Read more – 24 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis