25 JUNE 2025 - THE HINDU EDITORIAL SIMPLIFIED
Nuclear Spectre: Israeli and U.S. Actions Against Iran
Ceasefire After Intense Conflict
After 12 days of missile and air attacks following Israel’s illegal aerial strike on Iran, a ceasefire was announced.
The attacks were called “pre-emptive” strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
These escalated into a full-scale war, with U.S. also striking Iranian nuclear sites.
Threat to Global Nuclear Stability
Attacks ignored risks of radioactive leakage.
Reflects a fragile international order under threat — from West Asia to Ukraine and the Indian subcontinent.
Iran’s Position and Past Commitments
Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
It had allowed international scrutiny of its nuclear facilities.
Iran also signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with P5+1 (five nuclear powers + Germany).
This agreement was undermined when the U.S. withdrew during Trump’s term.
New Dynamics and Iran’s Shift
The attacks may have damaged Iran’s uranium enrichment.
Iran may now be compelled to seek nuclear weapons as deterrence.
Iranian Parliament is considering a bill to exit the NPT.
Any steps by Iran could be used as pretext for more U.S.-Israeli aggression, violating NPT norms.
Israel’s Double Standards
Israel is not a signatory to the NPT.
It refuses international oversight of its undeclared nuclear arsenal.
Suggests Israel values nuclear weapons for destructive use, not just deterrence.
U.S. support allows Israel to continue aggression in Gaza and illegal wars in West Asia.
Global Nuclear Order in Decline
Russia’s nuclear threats post-Ukraine invasion adds to global instability.
Great power rivalry and misuse of deterrence doctrine are weakening global norms.
Nuclear disarmament is collapsing; nuclear-weapon states are modernizing arsenals.
Other nations may pursue nuclear weapons for self-defense.
Urgent Need for Global Action
The world needs:
Renewed diplomatic efforts to enforce conflict norms.
Stronger push for disarmament.
Firm global commitment to the NPT.
Without this, we risk entering a new era of nuclear brinkmanship—potentially worse than the Cold War.
A reset in West Asia, a ‘de-escalation’ for the world
A. West Asia Reset
Israel and the United States (U.S.) bombed Iran.
Action supported openly/tacitly by almost all regional and global powers.
European Union (EU) made noise but had no effect.
Russian Federation and People's Republic of China (China) remained silent despite past strategic pacts with Iran.
B. Iran Isolated
Iran’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China (2021) and Russia (2025) meant little.
These countries chose not to intervene.
C. New Power Dynamics
Iran's nuclear threat neutralized.
Israel now the only nuclear power in the region.
40,000 U.S. troops and several air/sea bases in West Asia ensure dominance.
D. Gulf Countries’ Shift
Feared both Iran and Israel.
Relied on Israel-U.S. alliance to protect from Iran.
Compromised on Palestinian issue.
Supported attacks on Iranian proxies (Lebanon, Syria, Gaza).
Remaining threat: Houthis (Yemen), militias (Iraq).
E. Iran Retaliates
Missile strikes on U.S. bases in Qatar (biggest base, 10,000 troops) and Iraq.
Equal number of missiles to bombs dropped by U.S.
Crossed boundary into Qatar — risk of wider war.
F. Political Survival in Tehran
For Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, this is existential.
Surrender = political suicide.
Fear of regime change by U.S.-Israel.
Gulf must act to avoid collapse like Libya/Iraq.
G. Ceasefire Call
U.S. calls ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
Iran backed down after proving it can retaliate.
Israel also suffered attacks (underreported in Western media).
Ceasefire prevents Hormuz closure and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) withdrawal.
H. Israel's New Agenda
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dream: destroy Iran’s nuclear program = fulfilled.
Now eyes annexation of Gaza and West Bank.
UN speech included map without Palestinian areas.
Ultra-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich push for full annexation by 2025.
I. Palestine Future at Risk
Will Israel be a democracy or an apartheid state?
Gulf countries silent, prioritizing ties with Israel.
56,000 Palestinians dead in Gaza; others starved, displaced.
J. India’s Role
No strong statement from India.
Maintains balance — ties with Israel and Iran (e.g., Chabahar Port).
Called for "de-escalation", just like it was told during Operation Sindoor.
Today, world just wants conflicts to de-escalate, not to determine who’s right or wrong.
Relevance :
Class 10
Social Science (Contemporary World Politics): Geopolitical tensions, West Asia conflicts.
Civics: Foreign policy, role of international organizations, peacekeeping.
Geography: West Asia's strategic location.
Class 11
Political Science: Power politics, international relations, nuclear diplomacy.
History: Impact of ideology, regime change, regional stability.
Economics: Effect of conflict on oil trade, Gulf economies, global markets.
Class 12
Political Science: U.S. unilateralism, Middle East peace process, balance of power.
Geography: Strategic importance of Strait of Hormuz.
Economics: Oil prices, international trade disruption.
History (Themes of World History): State formation, empire, and occupation patterns.
Vocabulary :
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tacit | Understood without being openly expressed. |
| Proxy | A group or state acting on behalf of another in conflict. |
| Annexation | Taking control of a territory by force or without agreement. |
| Ceasefire | An agreement to stop fighting temporarily. |
| De-escalation | Reducing the intensity or scale of a conflict. |
| Existential crisis | A situation threatening survival or identity. |
| Apartheid | A system of institutionalized racial or ethnic segregation. |
| Theological foundation | Belief system based on religion, especially in governance. |
| Geopolitical | Related to politics influenced by geography. |
| Regime change | Forcibly removing or replacing a country's government. |
| Non-Proliferation Treaty | International treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. |
| Chabahar Port | Indian-developed port in Iran, vital for regional connectivity. |
| Abraham Accords | Agreements between Israel and Arab states to normalize relations. |
| Occupation | Control of a territory by foreign military forces. |
| Ultra-right | Extreme conservative, nationalist political views. |
The need for gender equity in urban bureaucracy
1. India’s Urban Transformation
By 2050, 800 million Indians (half the population) will live in cities.
Urban areas are reshaping India’s democracy and development.
2. Progress in Political Representation
73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments: Mandate 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Governments (ULGs).
17 States and 1 Union Territory raised this to 50%.
As of 2024: Women = 46% of local elected representatives (Ministry of Panchayati Raj).
3. Gender Gap in Bureaucracy
Political presence of women has grown, but bureaucratic roles remain male-dominated.
Fields like urban planning, municipal engineering, transport, police lack female representation.
4. Current Statistics on Gender Gap
Indian Administrative Service (IAS): Only 20% women (IndiaSpend, 2022).
Police Force: Only 11.7% are women (Bureau of Police Research and Development, 2023).
Women mostly assigned desk duties.
5. Impact on Urban Design and Safety
Women use public/shared transport more (Delhi & Mumbai: 84% women vs 63% men).
Women’s needs: multi-stop trips, caregiving, local infrastructure.
2019 Safetipin Audit: 60% of public spaces were poorly lit.
Few women police = unsafe communities.
6. Why Representation Matters
Women bring lived experiences and empathy.
Prioritize: health, water, safety.
UN Women and Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations: Women improve trust in law enforcement.
Gender-sensitive design needs diverse institutions.
7. Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB): Missed Opportunity
GRB = Gender considerations in public finance.
Launched in India in 2005-06.
Leading States: Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
Examples:
Delhi: Women-only buses, lighting.
Tamil Nadu: Applied GRB across 64 departments (2022-23).
Kerala: Integrated gender goals in People’s Plan Campaign.
Challenges:
Weak monitoring.
Limited capacity in small cities.
Lacks focus on basics like childcare, pedestrian safety.
8. Global Best Practices in GRB
Philippines: 5% of local budgets for gender.
Rwanda: Integrated GRB in national planning.
Uganda: Gender equity certificates for funds.
Mexico: Links GRB to results-based budgeting.
South Africa: Participatory GRB planning.
These reforms redefine citizen-centric governance.
9. Way Forward: More Than Political Quotas
Need reforms in recruitment, retention, promotion of women.
Use affirmative action: quotas, scholarships in planning and engineering.
10. Global Examples of Gender-Equity Impact
Rwanda: More health and education spending.
Brazil: Sanitation and primary healthcare.
South Korea: Transit and public space redesign.
Tunisia: Technical roles for women = better safety, health.
Philippines: GRB funds for shelters, childcare.
Key Point: Gender equity = better governance, not just fairness.
11. Inclusive Cities for All
As India targets a $5 trillion economy, cities must be inclusive, equitable.
Mainstream gender via:
Audits
Participatory budgeting
Evaluation
GRB must be institutionalized across all Urban Local Governments (ULGs).
12. Women Must Shape Urban Governance
Representation must mean power and agency.
Use gender equity councils and models like Kudumbashree for smaller cities.
Women leaders are changing governance — now they must shape urban services and policies.
Conclusion:
To build cities for women, we must build cities with women.
Relevance :
Class 10
Social Science: Urban challenges, gender equality, role of local governments.
Civics: Role of women in governance and democracy.
Class 11
Political Science: Democratic decentralization, 73rd/74th Amendments.
Economics: Budgeting and inclusion in urban policy.
Sociology: Gender, equity, and urban life.
Class 12
Political Science: Governance models, affirmative action, public policy.
Geography: Urban development, infrastructure needs, spatial justice.
Economics: Public finance, budgeting, urban economic growth.
Sociology: Gender equity in public institutions and cities.
Vocabulary :
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Urban transformation | Major change in how cities grow, function, and govern. |
| Constitutional Amendment | Change made to the Constitution of India. |
| Panchayati Raj Institutions | Village-level self-governance bodies. |
| Urban Local Governments | City-level elected bodies (e.g., municipalities). |
| Bureaucracy | Administrative system of officials and government workers. |
| Gender-responsive budgeting | Allocating budgets based on gender-specific needs. |
| Tokenistic | Symbolic, without real effect or change. |
| Affirmative action | Policies to increase opportunities for underrepresented groups. |
| Participatory budgeting | Involving citizens in deciding budget priorities. |
| Glass ceiling | Invisible barrier that limits women’s advancement in careers. |
| Kudumbashree | Kerala’s women empowerment and poverty eradication program. |
| Empathetic enforcement | Law enforcement with understanding and compassion. |
| Lived experiences | Real-life day-to-day experiences that shape one’s perspective. |
| Gender-sensitive design | Planning with focus on needs of all genders. |
| Citizen-centric governance | Governance focused on the needs of people rather than officials. |
Two billion people don’t have safe drinking water
A. Global Water Inequality
Nearly 6 billion people have safe drinking water at home — clean, always available, and not contaminated.
2 billion people lack access to this basic need.
B. What Unsafe Access Means
Only 156 million people collect water from unsafe sources like rivers or lakes.
Most others (around 1.8 billion) have piped or protected sources, but:
Water is not in their home,
It is not always available,
It may not be fully clean.
C. Key Definitions
Safe Drinking Water: Water that is contamination-free, available when needed, and at home.
Improved Water Source: Piped system, spring, or borehole — potentially safe, but not guaranteed clean when consumed.
D. Shift in Focus (Post-2017)
In 2017, the focus moved from “improved water source” to “safe drinking water”.
Problem: Even if water is clean at the source, it may become unsafe after storage or transport.
E. Global Progress
95% of world population now uses improved water sources.
Even poorer countries show rapid growth in infrastructure.
Challenge: Expanding shared pipelines into home-level connections.
F. Health Crisis
Unsafe water causes 800,000+ deaths per year.
Leads to diseases:
Cholera, Dysentery (diarrheal),
Polio, Hepatitis
Also causes malnutrition, linked to 50% of childhood deaths.
Low-income countries suffer most, with over 5% deaths from unsafe water in worst-affected places.
Relevance :
Class 10
Geography: Water resources, sanitation, global access.
Science: Diseases due to water, hygiene.
Civics: Public health as a basic right.
Class 11
Political Science: Inequality in basic rights.
Geography: Global distribution of resources.
Economics: Infrastructure & public goods.
Class 12
Biology: Water-borne diseases, malnutrition.
Geography: Urban-rural infrastructure gap.
Political Science: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Economics: Global health disparity and infrastructure costs.
Vocabulary:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Safe Drinking Water | Water that is clean, contamination-free, and available at home |
| Contamination | Presence of harmful substances or organisms |
| Improved Water Source | Piped system/spring/borehole that likely delivers clean water |
| Pathogens | Microorganisms that cause diseases |
| Diarrheal Diseases | Illnesses causing severe diarrhea, e.g., cholera, dysentery |
| Polio | A viral disease that can cause paralysis |
| Hepatitis | Liver inflammation caused by virus or toxins |
| Malnutrition | Poor nutrition due to lack of food or infections, weakens immunity |
| Infrastructure | Basic systems like water pipes, roads, electricity in communities |
| Universal Access | Equal availability of basic services like water to everyone |
U.S.’s heavy duty attack on Iran’s nuke site
On June 21, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a military airstrike on Iran’s nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
It was part of Operation Midnight Hammer.
Claimed goal: to neutralise Iran’s nuclear threat and support Israel.
Weapons Used in the Attack
B-2 Spirit stealth bombers used:
Dropped GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) — special bombs that destroy deep underground targets.
Total of 14 MOPs were dropped.
Decoy aircraft used to mislead Iranian defences.
U.S. Navy submarine launched over 24 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles.
Total 75 precision weapons used.
Fordow hit first at 6:40 p.m. EDT; all 3 sites severely damaged.
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber: Key Facts
Only fully stealth bomber in U.S. fleet.
Built by Northrop Grumman.
Only 21 units built (19 now active).
Cost: Over $2 billion each.
Range: 6,000 miles (without refueling).
Carries: 40,000 lbs of bombs.
Longest mission: 44 hours in 2001 (Afghanistan).
B-2 flew 37 hours non-stop for this Iran mission.
Maintenance and Limitations of B-2
Needs 100 hours of maintenance for 1 hour of flight.
Stealth depends on special materials and shape.
Requires climate-controlled hangars to avoid damage.
Why Use Bunker Busters (MOP)?
Fordow nuclear site is buried 80–90 meters deep in a mountain near Qom.
Normal bombs or Israeli weapons can’t reach it.
GBU-57 MOP can:
Penetrate 200 feet of earth or 25 feet of concrete.
Guided by GPS (Global Positioning System).
Each B-2 can carry 2 MOPs.
Future Plans – B-21 Raider
B-21 Raider: next-generation stealth bomber in development.
Smaller, more modern, cheaper (about $550 million each).
Will replace B-2 in future.
First units to enter service in next few years.
Unclear Outcome
U.S. says facilities are severely damaged, but not fully destroyed.
Enriched uranium’s location unknown.
Strike not for regime change, but to eliminate nuclear threat and defend U.S. troops and Israel.
Relevance :
Class 10 Geography/Civics: Understanding global conflicts and peace-building.
Class 11 Political Science: U.S. foreign policy, strategic alliances, modern defence.
Class 12 History & Pol. Science: Nuclear politics, Middle East conflicts, U.S.–Iran–Israel relations.
Science & Physics (10–12): Real-world application of GPS, stealth, aircraft engineering, bomb technology.
Vocabulary:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stealth Bomber | Aircraft designed to avoid detection by radar |
| GBU-57 MOP | A 30,000 lb bunker-busting bomb to destroy deep underground targets |
| B-2 Spirit | Advanced U.S. stealth bomber aircraft |
| Tomahawk Cruise Missile | Long-range missile launched from submarines or ships |
| Operation Midnight Hammer | Code name for U.S. airstrike mission on Iran’s nuclear facilities |
| Enrichment Facility | Plant where uranium is processed for nuclear energy or weapons |
| Precision Strike | Military attack done with high accuracy to limit damage |
| Decoy Aircraft | Fake or secondary planes used to mislead enemy radar |
| GPS (Global Positioning System) | Satellite-based navigation and targeting system |
| Northrop Grumman | U.S. company that builds advanced military aircraft including B-2 and B-21 |
| B-21 Raider | Future stealth bomber replacing B-2, with modern features |
Why no FIR yet against Justice Varma, ask MPs on law panel
Cash Recovery Case: Justice Yashwant Varma
In March 2024, a fire at Justice Yashwant Varma’s Delhi residence led to the discovery of “unaccounted-for” cash.
An in-house inquiry by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) termed the cash suspicious and valuable.
The report stated the money couldn’t have been stored without Justice Varma or his family’s knowledge.
Despite this, no FIR (First Information Report) has been filed, and no criminal investigation has begun.
Legal Barrier: The 1991 K. Veeraswami Judgment
The judgment requires prior consultation with the CJI before registering criminal charges against higher court judges.
MPs called this a major legal obstacle to judicial accountability and want the Union Government to seek a review.
Parliamentary Law Panel’s Demands
MPs (from both ruling and opposition) want:
Filing of an FIR against Justice Varma.
New legislation on judicial service rules, including provisions for suspension.
Enforcement of asset declarations and a code of conduct.
A cooling-off period of 5 years before retired judges can take government assignments.
Political & Legal Figures Involved
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also criticised the Veeraswami judgment, calling it “judicial legerdemain” (legal trickery).
Justice Varma has been sent back to the Allahabad High Court and denied all allegations.
The Justice Secretary was told to submit a detailed report on reforms in the next meeting.
Key members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice include:
Brij Lal (Chairman, BJP)
Ranjan Gogoi (Former Chief Justice of India, nominated MP)
P.P. Chaudhary (Former Law Minister, BJP)
MPs from Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, etc.
Relevance:
Class 10 (Civics):
Rule of Law
Independence and Accountability of the Judiciary
Class 11 (Political Science):
Judiciary and its structure
Role of the Supreme Court and Judicial Review
Class 12 (Legal Studies / Political Science):
Judicial Conduct & Ethics
Checks and Balances
Post-retirement roles of judges
Role of Parliament in holding judiciary accountable
Also useful in Class 12 Current Affairs and Essay Writing/Case Studies.
Vocabulary:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FIR (First Information Report) | First official police complaint to initiate investigation |
| CJI (Chief Justice of India) | Highest-ranking judge of the Supreme Court |
| In-house Inquiry | Internal investigation within the judiciary |
| Judicial Legerdemain | Clever but misleading judicial or legal trickery |
| Repatriated | Sent back to original post (here, to Allahabad High Court) |
| Exchequer | Government’s treasury/funds |
| Impeachment | Process by which Parliament removes a judge or top official |
| Code of Conduct | Official ethical guidelines for behavior |
| Unaccounted Cash | Money for which no legal source or record exists |
| Post-retirement Job Ban | Restriction on judges taking government roles after retiring |
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