28 JUNE 2025 THE HINDU EDITORIAL SIMPLIFIED
Missed Opportunity – India at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet
🧭 What Happened?
India attended a meeting of SCO — Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (10 countries).
The meeting ended without a joint statement.
Rajnath Singh, India’s Defence Minister, did not sign the declaration.
Reason: The final statement did not mention terrorism — Pakistan objected to it.
💥 Why Is This Important?
India faced a terrorist attack in Pahalgam recently.
India carried out Operation Sindoor to fight back.
India wanted the SCO to talk about terrorism and cross-border attacks (mostly caused by Pakistan).
But the final document:
Ignored terrorism
Mentioned issues in Balochistan (Pakistan), as per China's and Russia’s support to Pakistan.
📜 What Is the SCO Supposed to Do?
SCO was formed in 2002 to fight:
Terrorism
Separatism
Extremism
Its anti-terror agency, Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), was also present.
But instead of strong words, China and SCO leaders used vague statements like “modern threats.”
🧠 What Should India Do?
India needs to check if its message is not getting through to other countries.
India should try harder to convince other members to support anti-terror efforts.
India should not step away from the SCO — it would allow Pakistan to gain more influence.
📚 Relevance for CBSE Students
🔹 Class 10 – Social Science
Geography & Civics: Understanding international organizations, India’s role in the world, and terrorism as a threat to peace.
Contemporary world issues and diplomacy.
🔹 Class 11 – Political Science, Sociology
International Relations: Role of regional groups like SCO vs SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
Power politics among countries (India, China, Pakistan, Russia).
Government policies and diplomacy.
🔹 Class 12 – Political Science, Sociology, Geography
Foreign policy of India
Regional cooperation & global security
Role of international pressure, soft power, and multilateral diplomacy.
🗝️ Key Vocabulary (With Simple Meanings)
| Word | Meaning (Simple) |
|---|---|
| Communiqué | An official public statement or announcement made after a meeting |
| Withdrew | Pulled out; chose not to participate |
| At the behest of | On the request or order of someone |
| Resolve | Strong decision or determination |
| Draft resolution | A written proposal or agreement, not final |
| Separatism | Wanting to separate from a country or group |
| Extremism | Believing in extreme political or religious ideas |
| Anodyne statements | Very mild or bland comments, avoiding serious issues |
| Unhelpful | Not useful or supportive |
| Thaw | Improvement or warming in relations (like melting ice) |
| Dissociating | Distancing oneself or not being part of something |
| Parliamentary delegations | Groups of lawmakers sent abroad to represent the country |
| Rankle | To cause resentment or annoyance |
| Cross-border terrorism | Terrorism supported by one country in another country’s area |
| Multilateral | Involving multiple countries or parties |
No Time to Rest: India’s SDG Progress & Challenges
📈 India's Overall Performance in SDGs
India ranked 99th out of 167 countries in the Sustainable Development Report 2024.
First time India entered the top 100 since the report began in 2016.
Report published by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) — an independent body under the United Nations (UN).
🔁 India's SDG Ranking Over Time
2016: 110th out of 157 countries
2024: 99th out of 167 countries
Improvement by 11 ranks, but progress could have been faster.
More countries and improved metrics added in 2024 ranking.
Performance on Specific SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
🧑🤝🧑 SDG 1: No Poverty
India has fared better in reducing poverty.
However:
No official consumption expenditure data since 2018.
Poverty line (Rangarajan Committee) outdated:
₹33/day (rural)
₹47/day (urban)
Proxy data shows poverty almost halved:
2012: 22% (as per National Sample Survey Office - NSSO)
2023: 12% (as per World Bank)
🍚 SDG 2: Zero Hunger
Remains a major concern.
Disparity in nutrition access between income groups and urban/rural areas.
As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS):
Stunting (low height for age):
NFHS-4 (2015–16): 38.4%
NFHS-5 (2019–21): 35.5%
Wasting (low weight for height):
Decreased from 21.0% to 19.3%
Obesity (ages 15–49):
Almost doubled from 2006 to 2021
More common in urban rich
⚡ SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
India achieved near-universal electrification.
Issues remain in:
Power quality
Duration of supply
Urban-rural differences
India is the 4th largest country in renewable energy capacity (mainly solar & wind).
🛠️ SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Improved due to:
Mobile phone penetration
Financial inclusion via Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
COVID-19 revealed:
Huge digital divide
Low internet access in rural areas
Affects education outcomes (SDG 4)
⚖️ SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
India lags in:
Governance
Rule of law
Press freedom
Independent institutions
No significant improvement during Prime Minister Modi’s government years
📚 Relevance for CBSE Students
🔹 Class 10 – Social Science
Sustainable Development Goals
Social inequality (poverty, hunger)
Access to public services (electricity, internet)
🔹 Class 11 – Economics, Political Science
Poverty estimation and measurement
Digital divide in development
Governance and democratic institutions
🔹 Class 12 – Geography, Political Science, Economics
Sustainable development and indicators
Public infrastructure and financial inclusion
Institutional quality and governance
Global rankings and India's position
Vocabulary:
| Term | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|
| SDG | Sustainable Development Goal – global goals set by the UN to make the world better by 2030 |
| SDSN | Sustainable Development Solutions Network – a UN body that studies progress on SDGs |
| Poverty line (Rangarajan) | Minimum income needed to survive; ₹33/day (rural), ₹47/day (urban) |
| NSSO | National Sample Survey Office – government body that collects economic data |
| NFHS | National Family Health Survey – government survey on health, nutrition, population |
| Stunting | Children are shorter than normal for their age due to poor nutrition |
| Wasting | Children are too thin for their height – shows malnutrition |
| Obesity | Too much body fat, often due to unhealthy food and lack of exercise |
| Electrification | Supplying homes and areas with electricity |
| UPI | Unified Payments Interface – system for digital money transfers in India |
| Infrastructure | Roads, electricity, internet, buildings, etc. – the basic systems of a country |
| Governance | How a country is run, including laws, justice, and policies |
| Rule of law | Everyone follows the law equally |
| Press freedom | The right of the media to report freely and independently |
| Institutions | Systems like courts, parliament, police that run the country |
Practising Equality in Constitutional Courts
🏛️ What Happened?
In May 2025, the Supreme Court of India gave a judgment in the case Jitender @ Kalla vs State (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi).
It asked all High Courts to make new rules for selecting senior advocates.
The Court looked back at older cases — especially Indira Jaising vs Supreme Court of India (2017 & 2023).
But the Court did not question the system that gives special status to some lawyers.
⚠️ Why This Matters?
The legal system affects not only courts but also democracy.
In India, there is growing inequality among lawyers.
This system favors the elite few and hurts justice for common people.
📜 What Is Section 16 of the Advocates Act, 1961?
The Advocates Act is a law that regulates lawyers in India.
Section 16 allows courts to give the title “senior advocate” to a lawyer based on:
Legal ability
Years of experience
Special knowledge
This creates a division among lawyers — senior advocates vs ordinary advocates.
Critics say it promotes unequal treatment, even if both groups are capable.
🇺🇸 U.S. Example: Legal Inequality
A Reuters news report (2014) called “The Echo Chamber” showed that:
In the United States, a few top lawyers (only 66 out of 17,000) got most Supreme Court cases.
These lawyers mostly represented corporate companies.
The report warned that this gave an unfair advantage to rich clients.
India's system is not yet the same — but it is at risk of becoming similar.
⚖️ What Did the Supreme Court Say in Earlier Cases?
🟩 Indira Jaising Case (2017)
Justice Ranjan Gogoi wrote the judgment.
A group called National Lawyers’ Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms challenged:
Section 16 of the Advocates Act
Supreme Court Rules, 2013
Rules for how senior lawyers get priority in court
But the Court rejected these challenges.
🟦 Jitender Case (2025)
The Court said the point system used before was too subjective (based on opinion).
It still allowed lawyers to apply for senior status, which was seen as “giving consent”.
But the Court did not answer important questions:
Is it fair to divide lawyers?
Is the system constitutional (legal and equal)?
Should a larger bench decide?
📚 Historical and Constitutional Context
Many freedom fighters were lawyers.
After independence, India aimed to be a socialist republic.
The word "socialist" was added to the Preamble of the Constitution in 1977 (42nd Constitutional Amendment).
The Court used foreign examples (Nigeria, Australia, Singapore, Ireland), but ignored India’s own equality laws.
😟 Problems with the Current System
A small group of star lawyers gets most attention in courts.
Many good lawyers go unnoticed, especially women and marginalised groups.
Judges often choose people similar to themselves — this is called homo social morphing.
It creates:
Legal elitism
Unfair treatment
Reduced diversity
Poor people may feel courts are only for the rich and powerful.
📚 CBSE Relevance:
| Class | Subject | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Social Science – Civics | Justice system, equality, rights, democracy |
| 11 | Political Science | Rule of law, legal institutions, judicial reforms |
| Sociology | Social stratification, privilege, discrimination | |
| 12 | Political Science | Indian Constitution, rights, judiciary |
| Legal Studies (Optional) | Structure of courts, legal profession, senior advocates | |
| Sociology | Inequality, legal caste system, exclusion | |
| History | Role of lawyers in freedom movement | |
| English | Reading comprehension, debates, critical thinking |
🗝️ Vocabulary :
| Word | Meaning (Simple) |
|---|---|
| Senior Advocate | A lawyer given a special status by courts for their ability/experience |
| Designation | Officially giving someone a title or role |
| Plutocracy | Rule or control by the wealthy |
| Oligarchy | Rule by a small group of powerful people |
| Subjective | Based on personal opinions, not facts |
| Constitutional muster | Whether something is allowed by the Constitution |
| Pre-audience | Right to speak before others in court |
| Statute | A written law |
| Empirical | Based on real data or experience |
| Homogenous | Similar in kind, lacking diversity |
| Homo social morphing | Preference for people like oneself (gender/class/etc.) |
| Creamy layer | The more privileged section within a reserved or marginalised group |
| Intellectual apartheid | Unequal access to legal or knowledge-based spaces |
| Judicial diversity | Representation from different backgrounds in the legal system |
A China-led Trilateral Nexus as India’s New Challenge
🌏 1. Recent Trilateral Meeting: China–Pakistan–Bangladesh
Held in Kunming, China
Focus: Cooperation and deeper engagement
Comes after a similar China–Pakistan–Afghanistan trilateral (May 2025)
Goal:
Expand the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
Make Pakistan a key player again
Distract India from broader regional leadership
⚔️ 2. Background: Strategic Alignments Since 1962
After the India–China War (1962):
China saw Pakistan as a strategic partner
Pakistan relied on China for:
Military help
Economic support
By end of 2024, Pakistan owed China $29 billion in loans
80% of Pakistan’s arms come from China
🚨 3. Operation Sindoor & China–Pakistan Support (May 2025)
After the Pahalgam terror attack (April 2025):
India responded with Operation Sindoor
China:
Called India’s response “regrettable”
Backed Pakistan’s call for an investigation
Pakistan used Chinese-made military equipment
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister reaffirmed “iron-clad friendship” with China
Trilateral with Afghanistan and other countries followed
🧩 4. China–Pakistan “Plus One” Strategy: An Old Idea Resurfaces
Historical tactic (1965): Using East Pakistan, China, and Nepal to surround India
Current India:
Confident and responsive
Carried out retaliations after:
Uri attack (2016)
Pulwama attack (2019)
Pahalgam attack (2025)
No longer fears nuclear blackmail
India's responses:
Suspended Indus Waters Treaty
Halted trade
Targeted Pakistani military
Highlighted Pakistan’s military weaknesses
China surprised by India’s handling of:
Doklam (2017)
Galwan (2020)
🤝 5. India’s Regional Engagement vs China’s Influence
Maldives:
China unsure about President Mohamed Muizzu
Muizzu turned to India to support economy
Nepal:
Signed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement
But funding issues and slow progress
Sri Lanka:
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake engaging with India first
Respects India’s regional red lines
Bangladesh:
Despite tensions, India did not block trilateral energy cooperation with Nepal
🔁 6. Shift in Bangladesh and Afghanistan
Before regime changes (2021 in Afghanistan, 2024 in Bangladesh):
Both supported India against terrorism
Now:
Pakistan and China are drawing them closer
Especially worried about India–Taliban engagement
Pakistan increasing political and economic ties with Bangladesh
⚠️ 7. New Risks: Terrorism and Regional Instability
Afghanistan and Bangladesh:
Have historic ties with Pakistan
Could become centres for cross-border terrorism
China + Pakistan:
Trying to make India’s neighbours hostile
Want to push China’s BRI projects into the region
Aim to keep India occupied with security issues
🟨 8. Conclusion: India's Challenges Ahead
Real challenge: China, not just Pakistan
China uses Pakistan to:
Create complexity
Distract and isolate India
South Asian nations must balance India and China
India should:
Express clear red lines
Make sure misadventures are met with costs
📚 CBSE:
| Class | Subject | How It’s Relevant |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Social Science – Geography & Civics | Neighbouring countries, foreign policy, national security |
| 11 | Political Science | India’s foreign policy, regional diplomacy, international relations |
| History | 1962 War impact, Cold War alignments | |
| Geography | Geopolitics, China’s BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) | |
| 12 | Political Science | India–China–Pakistan relations, regional groupings, security challenges |
| Legal Studies | India's response under international law, treaties, terrorism | |
| Sociology | Regional inequality, conflict and cooperation | |
| Economics | Trade impacts, debt diplomacy, foreign investment in South Asia |
Vocabulary:
| Term | Full Form / Meaning |
|---|---|
| BRI | Belt and Road Initiative – China’s global infrastructure development strategy |
| CPEC | China–Pakistan Economic Corridor – A major trade and infrastructure project |
| Indus Waters Treaty | A 1960 treaty between India and Pakistan to share river waters |
| Iron-clad friendship | A term used to describe a very strong alliance or relationship |
| Geopolitics | Politics influenced by geography, power, and international relations |
| Retaliation | A response to an attack or wrongdoing |
| Redlines | Limits or boundaries a country will not allow others to cross |
| Diplomatic clout | Influence in international affairs |
| Cross-border terrorism | Terrorism that involves actors or support from other countries |
| Economic corridor | A route of economic activity, trade, and infrastructure |
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