06 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. Reimagining the Classroom
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)

Topic: GS2: Education; GS1: Indian Society (Language and Culture)

Context

The editorial evaluates the CBSE’s recent push to implement the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in early education, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It stresses that while the intent is inclusive, top-down enforcement without dialogue may create barriers.

Importance of Mother Tongue:

• NEP 2020 and NCERT reforms endorse mother tongue education for better cognitive development in early learners.

• Research shows children learn concepts better in their first language.

Challenges in Implementation:

• Teachers are trained primarily in English or Hindi, not in regional languages.

• In multilingual classrooms, especially urban areas, enforcing one mother tongue is impractical.

Call for Inclusive Dialogue:

• Implementation should be gradual, flexible, and adapted to local contexts.

• Stakeholders—including teachers, parents, and communities—must be part of the process to ensure effectiveness.

Way Forward:

• Train teachers in regional language pedagogy and provide curriculum support.

• Promote multilingual classrooms while ensuring freedom of choice for learners and schools.

Practice Question: “Critically examine the challenges and opportunities in implementing mother tongue-based education under NEP 2020 in India. (GS-2, 15 marks, 250 words)

Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 06 June 2025

2. More Than States

(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)

Topic: GS1: Indian Society (Census); GS2: Governance and Federalism

Context

The editorial reflects on the challenges and implications of India’s delayed decadal Census, now scheduled to be completed by March 2027. It discusses the political centralisation of the process and growing calls for state-level involvement to ensure real-time, locally relevant data for governance.

Background:

• India’s tiger population rose to 3,682 in 2023, but states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Telangana show declining tiger numbers. A recent NTCA-WII report attributes this to depleted prey species like sambhar and wild boar due to poaching and poverty-driven bushmeat consumption.

Impact of Census Delay:

• India’s last census was in 2011; the 2021 edition was postponed due to COVID and has not resumed since.

• Welfare planning, urbanisation policy, and electoral delimitation suffer from outdated demographic data.

State Demands for Autonomy:

• States like Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh are demanding decentralised population surveys.

• The editorial argues this reflects a need to rethink Centre–State power-sharing in data collection.

Governance and Data Gaps:

• Without updated data, economic planning, welfare targeting, and job schemes are misaligned.

• The Census delay has hindered critical planning for housing, education, and healthcare in growing urban centres.

Way Forward:

• The Centre should involve states in population enumeration using shared platforms.

• A decentralised, real-time demographic data system could complement the formal Census process and enhance cooperative federalism.

Practice Question: Should India decentralise its population data collection by empowering states? Analyse in the context of governance and federalism. (GS2, 15 marks, 250 words)

Read more – 05 June 2025 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis