The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 16th June 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Mind the Gap

Why is it News?

India has fallen to 131st place out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, indicating ongoing gender inequality. 

• Although there have been improvements in areas like economic participation, health, and education, the decline in political empowerment is holding back progress. 
•  The report emphasizes the urgent need for policy changes, better representation, and a societal shift towards real gender equality. 

Introduction

India’s position in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, ranking 131 out of 148 countries, underscores the persistent issue of gender inequality. While there have been improvements in economic participation, health, and education, the decline in political empowerment is a significant setback. This situation calls for urgent policy actions, reforms in representation, and a societal shift towards genuine gender parity.

India’s Performance in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025

Global Ranking and Score

• India ranks 131 out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025 by the World Economic Forum.
• This reflects a decline of two positions from the previous year.
• India’s overall gender parity score is 64.1%, placing it among the lowest in South Asia.

Assessment Criteria of the Index

The Index measures gender parity across four key dimensions:

• Economic Participation and Opportunity
• Educational Attainment
• Health and Survival
• Political Empowerment

Areas of Improvement or Stability

Economic Participation and Opportunity

• There was a slight improvement of +0.9 percentage points in this area.
• Estimated earned income parity increased from 28.6% to 29.9%.
• The labour force participation rate remained steady at 45.9%, the highest recorded for India.

Educational Attainment and Health & Survival

• Both of these dimensions showed positive changes, contributing to higher subindex scores.

Major Area of Decline: Political Empowerment

• Female representation in Parliament
• Declined from 14.7% to 13.8% in 2025.
• This marks the second consecutive year of decline since 2023.
• Women in Ministerial Positions
• Fell from 6.5% to 5.6%, continuing the downward trend since 2023.

Way Forward: Policy and Political Will

Structural Reforms Needed

• India needs to build on existing gains and address shortcomings with strong policies and decisive political will.
• Historical Hurdles
• The Women’s Reservation Bill, introduced in 1996, faced decades of delay and resistance.
• It was eventually passed in 2023, reserving one-third of seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.
• However, implementation is deferred until 2029, following the next Census and delimitation exercise.

Beyond the Index: Real Gender Equity

• Ranking should not be the sole goal; the focus must be on substantive gender equity within India.
• Political parties need not wait until 2029 to enhance female representation.
• They can take proactive steps now to field more women candidates and foster inclusivity in political processes.

Conclusion

• India needs to shift its focus from merely improving global rankings to achieving real gender equality.
• The delayed implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act and the decline in female representation highlight systemic issues.
• With political commitment, timely execution, and inclusive leadership, India can create a truly equitable society and turn gender justice from a goal into reality.

India Needs a Sincere Aircraft Accident Investigation

Why is it News?

 The recent crash of Air India AI171 in June 2025 has brought to light the urgent need for reform in India's aviation safety and accident investigation framework. Critics argue that while India has the necessary talent and technical capability to investigate air accidents, the system lacks the institutional courage to uncover the truth. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is supposed to be independent, operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), creating a conflict of interest. This situation raises concerns about the transparency and effectiveness of aviation safety measures in the country. 

•  The need for a comprehensive overhaul of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) and a shift from reactive to proactive safety measures is emphasized to align with India's growth as one of the world's largest aviation markets. 

Introduction

In India, every life lost in an aircraft accident should lead to a serious investigation and accountability. However, the current system seems more focused on covering up the truth than ensuring justice and safety. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is supposed to be an independent body, but it is controlled by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). This creates a conflict of interest because MoCA also regulates airlines and appoints the leaders of AAIB and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Unlike railway accidents, which are investigated by an independent Commissioner of Railway Safety, aviation inquiries are under the control of the very authorities they are meant to investigate.

Stop the firefighting

• Accident Severity: The incident on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad involved serious aircraft mishaps, not just operational glitches. It should serve as a crucial reminder for improving aviation safety in India. 
• Safety Framework Gap: We need to reevaluate India's aviation safety framework considering the rapid growth of the sector. 
• Recent Incidents
  • Helicopter Crashes: These incidents point to weaknesses in rotorcraft operations. 
  • Flying School Accidents: These accidents highlight problems in pilot training standards. 
  • Weather-related Incident:. May 2025 incident involving an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar underscores issues in weather preparedness. 
  • Ground Handling Lapses: The cancellation of Çelebi Aviation's permit raises serious concerns about airport security. 
• Systemic Weakness: These incidents are not isolated; they indicate deeper structural problems within India's aviation safety system. 
• Risk Management: Are we actively identifying risks, or just responding after failures? 
• Prevention vs Reaction: Relying on firefighting measures is not sustainable. India needs a proactive aviation safety system focused on prevention, not just reaction. 
• Investigative Scope: The committee investigating the Air India AI171 crash should look beyond a single accident. 
• Policy Outdated: India's aviation sector has surpassed the current National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP). 
• NCAP Reform: A thorough reform of the NCAP is necessary, making safety a core principle in all aviation policies and regulatory decisions. 
• Global Responsibility: Integrating safety at every level is essential for India to responsibly manage its role as one of the world’s largest aviation markets.

 Historical Neglect of Honest Reviews 

The Air Marshal J.K. Seth Committee Report from 1997 is the most honest and thorough review of aviation safety in India.

• It highlighted systemic issues such as:
• Fragmented oversight
• Lack of independence in institutions
• Insufficient training and resources
• Regulatory capture

Despite its importance, the report was ignored because it revealed uncomfortable truths. New investigative committees must address these persistent issues and avoid superficial reviews that lead to no action.

Examples of Investigative Contradictions

Misuse of AAIB Reports

 The Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, make it clear that the purpose of investigations is to prevent future accidents, not to assign blame. However, law enforcement and courts often misuse the findings of the AAIB, treating them as legally binding even though these reports are non-judicial and technical in nature. 

Police and judicial authorities, lacking expertise in aviation, tend to use AAIB reports to reach conclusive guilt, often without understanding the full context. This misinterpretation leads to the truth being distorted, and the reports are used for legal or punitive actions rather than for their intended purpose of improving safety.

Convenient Blame: The Pilot as Scapegoat

Investigators and courts often rush to blame the pilot for accidents because:

• It simplifies legal processes and speeds up insurance claims.
• It protects other parties involved, such as airlines, maintenance crews, and air traffic controllers, from facing scrutiny.
• The label of “pilot error” is used even in situations where the entire system is at fault.

This practice turns the deceased pilot into a scapegoat and avoids deeper accountability for the accident.

Institutional Failures and Structural Control

Data vs Reality

Urgent Reforms for Aviation Safety in India

• Structural Independence: Move the AAIB and DGCA to an independent body reporting to Parliament for unbiased investigations.
• End Parallel Committees: Stop forming ad hoc committees that undermine official investigations.
• Legal Safeguards for AAIB Reports: Protect AAIB reports from misuse in criminal trials without expert validation.
• Reform Rule 19(3) of Aircraft Rules, 1937: Introduce a no-blame culture for pilots, ensuring protection unless gross negligence is proven.
• Independent Ombudsman: Appoint an ombudsman to review aviation accident report processes, ensuring accountability.

Conclusion

India has the necessary talent and technical capability to investigate aircraft accidents thoroughly. However, what is lacking is the institutional will to confront and reveal the truth. This is the essence of the writer's appeal: to conduct honest and earnest investigations into such accidents, prioritizing truth and human life over maintaining a superficial image. This should be the legacy India aims to establish, not just for the lives lost in aviation incidents but also for those lost in the ensuing silence.