The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 17th June 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Water Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink

Why is it News?

 Having access to trustworthy water quality information could motivate many people to choose alternatives to bottled water. 

Introduction

World Environment Day 2025, celebrated on June 5 with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution,” highlighted the urgent need for worldwide action against plastic pollution. With over 400 million tonnes of plastic produced each year and less than 10% recycled, the day called for individuals, cities, and nations to adopt sustainable practices and reduce reliance on single-use plastics.

World Environment Day 2025: A Call to Action

• Observed on: June 5, 2025
• Theme: ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’
• Purpose: Reflect on environmental fragility and the power of collective action.
• Plastic Pollution Stats: Estimated global cost of plastic pollution ranges from $300 to $600 billion annually, with over 400 million tonnes of plastic produced each year and a recycling rate of less than 10%.
• Environmental Impact: Annually, 11 million tonnes of plastic waste enter lakes, rivers, and seas, while microplastics contaminate food, water, and air.
• Key Solution Highlighted: Emphasis on avoiding single-use plastics and improving recycling levels.

Local Challenge: Bengaluru and Bottled Water Dependence

• Trigger Incident: Personal realization during a commute regarding the difficulty of refilling water without resorting to a plastic bottle.
• Broader Context: Bengaluru, once known for its abundance of lakes, now faces challenges in providing accessible and safe drinking water in public spaces. 

Global Trend: Bottled Water and Environmental Impact

• Global Bottled Water Sales: Exceeding half a trillion litres sold annually.
• Primary Driver: Lack of trust in the safety and reliability of alternative water sources.
• Environmental Cost: Heavy reliance on single-use plastic contributes to increased pollution.

Exploring Solutions: The Bengaluru Research Initiative

• Partnership: Collaboration between the U.K. and India with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
• Research Focus: Investigating restaurant water sources and consumer attitudes towards water quality.
• Key Findings: Many water samples tested did not meet safe drinking standards, and consumers are more open to alternatives if reliable water quality data is provided. 

Technology-Driven Trust Building

• Inspiration from Home Use: People tend to trust filtered water at home because these systems are regularly maintained and monitored.
• Tech-based Filters: These filters now offer data on water consumption tracking, maintenance needs, and alerts.
• Proposal for Public Spaces: Displaying real-time filter maintenance status in locations such as restaurants, shopping malls, and offices to increase public confidence in consuming non-bottled water. 

Path Forward: Bengaluru as a Model for Change

• Opportunity for Innovation: Utilizing Bengaluru’s technology ecosystem to develop smart water solutions.
• Benefits: Reducing dependency on plastic bottles, promoting sustainable local alternatives, and creating a replicable model for other cities.

U.K.–India Climate Cooperation

• Areas of Collaboration: Sharing expertise and programming, joint efforts in science and technology, climate finance, and renewable energy, and projects focused on green energy connectivity and climate adaptation.

Conclusion

 Addressing plastic pollution necessitates both innovation and trust. The initiative in Bengaluru to enhance access to safe drinking water through transparent, technology-enabled solutions has the potential to inspire similar efforts globally. Strengthening partnerships like the U.K.–India collaboration on sustainability and climate action underscores the importance of local solutions backed by scientific expertise and shared responsibility in making a meaningful impact in the fight for a cleaner and greener planet.

India’s Uneasy Balancing Act in the Bay of Bengal

 Why in News? 

 India’s economic involvement in the Bay of Bengal region is showing signs of improvement, with increasing trade volumes through eastern ports like Visakhapatnam, Paradip, and Haldia. The recent BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement is expected to enhance trade by streamlining regulations and reducing port costs. This agreement is a positive development for a region that has historically faced challenges in trade integration, indicating a move towards better economic connectivity. 

Contradiction Between Optimism and Action 

• Optimism in Trade
  •  India’s trade volumes are rising through eastern ports. 
  •  BIMSTEC Maritime Agreement promises regulatory ease. 
• Unexpected Move: In April, India withdrew the transshipment facility for Bangladesh. This facility had allowed Bangladesh to route exports via Indian ports to third countries. 
• Official Reason: Logistical issues cited: port congestion and export delays. 
• Perception in Dhaka: Viewed as a diplomatic signal of India’s disapproval. Possibly linked to Bangladesh’s growing engagement with China. 
• Triggering Context: Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser, during a speech in Beijing, described India’s Northeast as ‘landlocked’. Called Bangladesh a maritime lifeline, which was seen as provocative in New Delhi. 

Strategic Sensitivities and Maritime Priorities

• Indian Response
  • New Delhi viewed the statement as undermining its Northeast connectivity strategy. 
  •  PM Modi and ministers have emphasised the Northeast’s strategic importance.

• India's Maritime Strategy: India is actively investing in coastal infrastructure through the Sagarmala programme.

• East Coast Progress:  Cargo movement on the east coast has more than doubled in a decade.

• Policy Support

  •  GST cuts on bunker fuel. 
  •  Incentives for coastal shipping. 
• Broader Vision
  • Maritime trade is treated as a national priority. 
  •  India aims to be a regional integrator through enhanced logistics and connectivity. 

Tensions amid reenergised BIMSTEC

India’s Regional Trade Vision and BIMSTEC Push

•  India has made a strategic effort to revive BIMSTEC as a platform for regional integration. 
•  The BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement aims to harmonise customs procedures, foster multimodal transport linkages, and reduce trade costs and frictions within the Bay of Bengal. 
•  For smaller economies like Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal, access via Indian ports is critical for regional trade and connectivity. 

Withdrawal of Bangladesh Transshipment Facility: A Disruption

• India’s Action: Revoked Bangladesh’s transshipment facility in April, enabling Dhaka to use Indian ports for third-country exports. 
• Perceived Justification: India cited port congestion and exporter delays as reasons for the revocation. 
• Dhaka’s Interpretation: The move was seen as a political signal, possibly linked to Bangladesh’s diplomatic outreach to China. 
• Contextual Trigger: Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser referred to India’s Northeast as ‘landlocked’ in Beijing, promoting Bangladesh as the maritime gateway, which provoked India. 
• Strategic Sensitivity: This narrative clashed with India’s emphasis on the Northeast’s strategic autonomy and role in connectivity. 

Impact on Bangladesh’s Economy

•  The ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which contributes over 85% of Bangladesh’s foreign exchange, is disproportionately affected by the withdrawal of the transshipment facility. 
•  Exporters had become reliant on Indian gateways for faster shipment timelines and lower transportation costs. 
•  Alternative routes, such as via Sri Lanka or Southeast Asia, are now seen as costlier and more time-consuming. 
•  The revocation adds uncertainty to export logistics, especially amidst fragile global demand for Bangladeshi products. 

Escalation of Trade Tensions

New Restrictions

Implications:

•  India imposed curbs in May on seven categories of Bangladeshi goods, including garments, plastics, and processed foods. 
•  Land route restrictions were also implemented, allowing goods to enter India only through seaports such as Kolkata or Nhava Sheva, rather than Northeastern land ports. 

India’s Justification:

•  India cited Dhaka’s restrictions on yarn imports via land routes as the reason for these measures. 

Bangladesh’s View:

•  Bangladesh perceives India’s actions as disproportionate and retaliatory, particularly in light of the earlier revocation of the transshipment facility. 

Strategic Signaling vs. Cooperative Regionalism

•  Some in New Delhi argue that the recent actions serve as a reminder to Dhaka about the risks of strategic hedging. 
•  Bangladesh has been increasing its ties with China, reopening maritime trade with Pakistan, and asserting its role as a connector. 
•  However, these actions are sovereign decisions that Dhaka is entitled to make. 
•  If India uses trade access as leverage, it risks undermining the principle of cooperative regionalism and sending a negative signal to the rest of South and Southeast Asia. 

Wider Regional Implications

 This issue extends beyond India–Bangladesh relations. Countries like Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka are closely observing the developments. The concern is not just about the use of leverage, which is expected from major powers, but about the perception that maritime trade, once seen as neutral and shared infrastructure, is becoming: 

•  Transactional 
•  Politicized 
•  Vulnerable to geopolitical shifts 

India’s Strategic Trade Advantage

Port Strengths:

•  India has the most extensive and efficient port infrastructure in the Bay of Bengal region, with rapidly expanding cargo-handling capacity. 
•  Coastal shipping and multimodal linkages in India are more advanced than those of any other BIMSTEC member. 

Strategic Limitation:

•  However, infrastructure alone does not guarantee regional leadership. 
•  Credibility and consistency in policy are equally important in a fragmented and cautious region like the Bay of Bengal. 

Risks of Politicised Trade Facilitation

• Concern: Shifting trade policies that are perceived as politically motivated can undermine trust among regional partners. 
• Impact: Neighbouring countries may begin to hedge their bets, diversifying trade routes away from India, which would reduce India’s regional influence. 
• Regional architecture may stall: India’s broader vision for regional integration under BIMSTEC could face setbacks if trade facilitation is politicised. 

Bay of Bengal: A Region at Crossroads

• Opportunities: The Bay of Bengal region has the potential to become a vibrant corridor linking South and Southeast Asia, with improved connectivity fostering sustainable regional growth. A well-executed BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement could significantly reshape trade dynamics in the region. 
• Challenges: Despite these opportunities, the region remains strategically sensitive. The increasing overlap between economic policy and geopolitical considerations could lead to instability and mistrust among nations. 

Conclusion

•  India has the chance to clarify its stance on the transshipment agreement with Bangladesh. This could involve outlining specific conditions for reinstating the agreement or establishing a rules-based framework that protects trade from political influences. 
•  Such a step would not only reassure Dhaka but also signal positively to the wider Bay of Bengal region. 
•  However, the bigger challenge is for India to strike a balance between its strategic objectives and the need to build regional trust. Currently, the indications regarding this balance are unclear and inconsistent.