01 May 2025: The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Global Disruption and Leader-led Changes: A Shifting World Order
(Source – Page 6, The Hindu International Edition)
| Topic: (Relevant GS Paper: GS2, GS3) |
| Context |
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Global Disruption
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Shifts in Global Power: The rise of new powers, coupled with technological advancements and geopolitical tensions, is destabilizing the existing global order. The United States, once the world leader, is experiencing internal divisions and unpredictable global engagements, making it less reliable as a global stabilizer.
Influential Leaders
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Xi Jinping (China): Under Xi’s leadership, China is enhancing its global influence, particularly in Asia, through strategic economic and military policies.
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Vladimir Putin (Russia): Putin’s aggressive foreign policy in Ukraine and beyond has reshaped Europe’s security landscape.
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Donald Trump (U.S.): Trump’s tariff war and unpredictable foreign policy have had a destabilizing effect on global trade and U.S. foreign relations.
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Volodymyr Zelensky (Ukraine): Zelensky’s leadership amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is pivotal in shaping European security and geopolitics.
Regional Impacts
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Europe’s Uncertainty: Europe faces a crisis, exacerbated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and Trump’s criticism of European defense capabilities. NATO’s future and the European Union’s strength are now in question.
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West Asia’s Instability: Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza and its attempts to expand territorial control are contributing to a volatile situation in the region. Syria’s collapse and internal conflicts in countries like Türkiye add to the instability.
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Islamic State Expansion: IS affiliates are spreading terrorism globally, including in Africa and South Asia, escalating security threats.
Asia’s Overlooked Tensions
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Afghanistan and Pakistan: Internal conflicts and terrorist activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan are intensifying. The spread of terrorist attacks across these regions is becoming more frequent.
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China-Taiwan Issue: Although tensions between China and Taiwan remain unresolved, China is focusing on expanding its influence in the region, posing a challenge to India and other nations.
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India-China Relations: Despite recent agreements, the rivalry between India and China continues, particularly over influence in Asia. China’s growing military presence in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific is reshaping regional power dynamics.
Conclusion/Way Forward
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The global order is undergoing a major shift due to the combined effects of geopolitical shifts, disruptive technologies, and leadership changes. As leaders continue to reshape the global order, regions like Europe, West Asia, and Asia will experience increasing instability. In this rapidly changing world, nations must remain vigilant and adaptable, ensuring robust foreign policies and alliances to navigate these disruptions effectively.
| Practice Question: Discuss the factors contributing to the disruption of the global order in the 21st century. How are key global leaders influencing the shift in power dynamics? (250 words |
2. India’s Shame: The Trap of Bonded Labour
(Source – Page 10, The Hindu Editorial)
| Topic: (Relevant GS Paper: GS1, GS2, GS3) |
| Context |
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Introduction to Bonded Labour in India
On May 1, while the world celebrates workers’ rights, the plight of millions in India continues to cast a dark shadow. Bonded labour remains a harsh reality for many, as the country’s economy thrives on exploiting its most vulnerable.
Real-Life Stories
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Mukesh Adivasi (Madhya Pradesh): In 2023, Mukesh and his family were trafficked 1,400 km to Karnataka, where they were forced into bonded labour on a sugarcane farm. Despite working long hours, Mukesh faced brutal violence when demanding wages, resulting in a shattered leg. He was rescued by the police but still suffers from emotional and physical trauma.
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K. Thenmozhi (Andhra Pradesh): At 13, Thenmozhi’s family took an advance for work in a Bengaluru brick kiln, only to face 12-14 hours of forced labour and abuse. They managed to escape, but the scars of the experience remain.
Bonded Labour: Causes and Structural Roots
Bonded labour continues due to both immediate triggers and deep-rooted structural causes:
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Immediate Triggers: Events like medical emergencies, religious ceremonies, dowries, food shortages, or the sudden loss of income push impoverished families to take loans or advances from employers, often leading to exploitation.
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Structural Causes: Issues such as caste, ethnic and religious discrimination, social exclusion, illiteracy, lack of legal aid, and employer monopolies on credit and labour markets create an environment ripe for exploitation.
These issues have transformed what should be a simple economic transaction into a system of coercion and control, perpetuating modern-day slavery.
Bonded Labour in India: Progress and Challenges
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Abolition of Bonded Labour: Bonded labour was officially abolished in India in 1975.
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Government’s 2016 Plan: The government announced a plan to release 1.84 crore bonded labourers by 2030. However, between 2016 and 2021, only 12,760 individuals were rescued, leaving a significant number still trapped. To meet the 2030 target, approximately 11 lakh labourers would need to be rescued annually, which seems overly optimistic given the current progress.
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Unorganised Labour: Of the 47 crore total workers in India, 39 crore are employed in the unorganised sector, including migrants who endure forced labour. The International Labour Organisation’s 2024 report highlighted that low-quality jobs dominate India’s workforce.
The Ground Reality
Unorganised workers, especially migrants, lack unionisation, which leaves them without the protection of collective bargaining. They face exploitative conditions, no formal contracts, and the constant threat of arbitrary dismissal. The Labour Codes of 2019-20 have further weakened workers’ rights, prioritising profit over people, making workers more vulnerable to exploitation.
Conclusion
Since 2022, investigations into forced labour in Indian industries have revealed a grim reality: the country’s economic growth is built on the exploitation of the most vulnerable. Migrant workers, displaced by climate change and poverty, face low wages, precarious work, and threats of dismissal. This systemic abuse prioritises profit over people and perpetuates modern slavery, as India’s economic growth continues to be fueled by bonded and forced labour.
| Practice Question: Discuss the causes and consequences of bonded labour in India. How has the government’s plan to eradicate bonded labour performed, and what more needs to be done to address this issue? (250 words) |
Read more – 30 April 2025: The Hindu Editorial Analysis
