The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 30th July 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Interrupted Growth

Why in News?

Recent data shows a slowdown in India's industrial production, raising concerns about the impact of climate-related disruptions, particularly due to irregular monsoon patterns. These disruptions are significantly affecting crucial sectors such as mining and electricity. Despite these challenges, India's economic data frameworks have not yet fully integrated climate attribution. As extreme weather events become more frequent, it is becoming increasingly important to incorporate climate risk into economic reporting. This integration is no longer optional but necessary for accurately reflecting the realities of industrial growth and economic stability.

 Sluggish Industrial Growth: Key Highlights from June's IIP 

 Overall Industrial Growth 

• In June 2025, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) experienced its lowest growth in 10 months, at just 1.5%. This was a significant decline compared to stronger performances in previous months.
• The slowdown was primarily attributed to decreases in mining and electricity production.

 Mining & Electricity Output 

• Mining output witnessed a drastic fall of 8.7% in June 2025, a sharp contrast from a growth of 10.3% in June 2024.
• Electricity generation also contracted by 2.6%, compared to a growth of 8.6% in the same period last year.

 Reason for the Decline 

• The decline in mining and electricity production was largely due to the early and erratic monsoon, which caused waterlogging in major mining regions such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• For instance, Jharkhand experienced 504.8 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 12, 2025, significantly above the normal of 307 mm, although some districts still faced rainfall deficits.
• Additionally, power distribution infrastructure was adversely affected, further disrupting supply chains and reducing demand.

 Mixed Picture Across Industrial Segments 

• Despite the challenges, overall industrial output showed a modest increase of 3.9% in June 2025, an improvement from 3.5% in June 2024.
• Positive contributors to this growth included:
• Capital goods: +3.5%
• Intermediate goods: +5.5%
• Infrastructure goods: +7.2%

This indicates that government-led infrastructure spending is a significant driver of industrial activity.

 Climate Disruptions: Still Missing from Official Economic Narratives 

• There is a persistent reluctance among institutions to link economic slowdowns to climate events, despite increasing evidence of such connections.
• Official explanations for data fluctuations often mention factors like high base effects, supply chain issues, input cost variations, global demand weakness, and domestic consumption shortages.
• However, climate-induced disruptions, particularly those affecting mining due to monsoon irregularities, are seldom recognized.
• In comparison, institutions like the European Central Bank and the Bank of England are beginning to incorporate climate risk into their assessments of output and financial stability.
• Indian agencies such as the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have been slower to adopt similar frameworks.
• Attributing climate impacts requires scientific modeling and probabilistic analysis, which policymakers may hesitate to do to avoid politicizing economic data.
• Progress is being made, as seen in the RBI's Financial Stability Reports that now include climate risk. However, production-side metrics like the IIP still lack climate-related considerations.

 The Way Forward 

• There is an urgent need for India to integrate climate risk assessment into macroeconomic indicators like the IIP and GDP.
• Doing so will enhance:
  • Policy planning
  • Resilience to environmental shocks
  • Transparency in economic data
• A systemic shift toward climate-aware economic reporting is both necessary and long overdue.

 Conclusion 

India needs to fundamentally change its economic reporting by acknowledging the impact of climate events on the economy. Ignoring climate risks in important indicators like the IIP limits the government's ability to respond effectively and the public's understanding of economic conditions. As global institutions become more advanced in analyzing the macroeconomic implications of climate change, India must also adapt to ensure sustainable growth in a world where climate volatility is increasing.

Deaths in School

 Why in News? 

 The infrastructure condition in public schools requires immediate attention. 

 Introduction 

The unfortunate incident of a school building collapsing in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district has brought to light the severe neglect of infrastructure in India's government schools. Despite promises made in policies and budget allocations, safety and basic facilities are often ignored, particularly for marginalized students. With more than 70,000 government schools in Rajasthan alone, this incident serves as a harsh reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform.

 Rajasthan School Tragedy: A Grim Reminder of Neglected Infrastructure 

• On July 25, 2025, a part of the Piplodi Government School building in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, collapsed during the morning prayer.
• The incident led to the tragic death of seven students, with several others injured, predominantly from tribal communities.
• The following day, another similar collapse occurred in Nagaur district, but fortunately, there were no casualties as it was a school holiday.
• The school in Jhalawar had not been flagged for being in poor condition, highlighting serious flaws in safety assessments.
• This tragedy ignited widespread public outrage, drawing attention to the deplorable state of government school infrastructure.

 Scale of the Problem: Systemic Neglect of Government Schools 

• Rajasthan is home to over 70,000 government schools, catering to nearly 84 lakh students, primarily from marginalized and low-income backgrounds (UDISE 2023–24).
• The State’s Education Department has identified around 8,000 schools as being in poor structural condition.
• However, incidents like the Jhalawar collapse indicate that many more schools may be unsafe, despite not being officially listed.
• Although the government allocated ₹650 crore across two budgets for infrastructure improvement, bureaucratic inefficiencies have hindered effective implementation.
• The current BJP-led State government must prioritise structural safety and upgrades in public schools.

 Policy Gaps: NEP Goals vs Ground Reality 

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aimed to increase education spending from 4.6% to 6% of GDP, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
• However, five years later, there is little evidence of meaningful implementation of these recommendations.
• Policy focus has shifted towards self-financing, privatization, and reducing government support, benefiting higher education but neglecting basic schooling.
• In many developed countries, primary education remains a government responsibility.
• While initiatives like model schools are important, they should not come at the expense of mass school education.

 Reforms Needed: Back to Basics 

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) are crucial for India’s future workforce productivity and demographic advantage. However, current discussions often emphasize pedagogical reforms and non-formal learning methods, overlooking the importance of infrastructure and staffing. For significant improvement, governments need to focus on:

• Upgrading unsafe infrastructure
• Hiring and training qualified teachers
• Ensuring the implementation of NEP recommendations

The incident in Rajasthan should act as a wake-up call nationwide — prioritizing school safety is essential and fundamental.

 Conclusion 

 The tragic event in Rajasthan should trigger a national consciousness. As India strives to leverage its demographic potential, the emphasis must shift back to fundamental public education, encompassing not only pedagogy and digital advancements but also infrastructure and staffing. Achieving the objectives outlined in NEP 2020 necessitates public investment in basic education. Safe and functional schools are pivotal for establishing a productive and equitable future.