The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 5th August 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

A Crisis of Trust

Why in News?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is under scrutiny and needs to show more transparency and neutrality in its actions, especially with the upcoming 2024 general elections. 

Introduction

• The trustworthiness of a democracy depends on how fair and transparent its electoral system is.
• When citizens, especially those who lose, doubt the fairness of elections, it damages public trust.
• Recent allegations against the ECI raise concerns about its neutrality and call for more accountability and openness in the electoral process.

The Importance of Electoral Credibility

• The legitimacy of any democratic system heavily relies on the perception of fairness in elections.
• Especially crucial is the acceptance of the process by the losing side, similar to a sporting match or court ruling.
• If losers perceive the system as biased, public trust in democracy erodes.

Recent Allegations Against the Election Commission of India (ECI)

• Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, has publicly accused the ECI of irregularities in the 2024 general elections.
• He has promised to reveal more evidence; judgment on the merits should wait until full details are disclosed.
• Criticism of the ECI isn’t new — even Narendra Modi, as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, had questioned its neutrality.

Rhetoric vs Reality: Political Accusations

• Some political attacks on the ECI may be aimed more at energizing supporters than addressing genuine concerns.
• In Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav claimed his name was missing from the draft roll — later traced to a mismatch in his EPIC number.
• While raising concerns is important, doing so without solid evidence can weaken democratic institutions.

Challenges Facing the ECI's Credibility

• Rather than dispelling doubts, recent ECI actions have triggered deeper questions about its transparency.
• Key functions under scrutiny include:
• Roll preparation
• Election scheduling
• Code of conduct enforcement
• Vote counting and complaint resolution

ECI's Response and Transparency Issues

• The ECI has largely defended electronic voting machines (EVMs) as tamper-proof.
• It insists that roll-related concerns be raised at designated stages.
• However, it has failed to fully clarify issues surrounding:
• VVPAT transparency: The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail involves centrally installed software and is linked to the control unit.
• Random tallying of VVPATs: This process has become inconsistent and lacks transparency.

The Need for Institutional Reassurance

• Not all political parties are equally equipped to monitor the electoral process in detail.
• Nonetheless, election integrity must transcend political competition — it should reassure every citizen.
• Ultimately, it is the ECI’s duty to proactively restore public confidence by addressing all concerns transparently and objectively.

Conclusion

• For a representative democracy to flourish, its electoral institutions must earn and uphold citizens’ trust.
• The ECI must move beyond mere defensiveness and actively demonstrate its neutrality, especially in handling EVMs, VVPATs, and electoral rolls.
• Restoring faith in elections is not just a political need—it is a constitutional responsibility and a pillar of democratic integrity.

The Missing Link in India’s Battery Waste Management

Why is it News?

 India should implement a just Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy with a minimum price to ensure effective battery waste management. 

Introduction

India is rapidly increasing its use of electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its goal to reduce carbon emissions. This shift is leading to a massive rise in the demand for lithium batteries, which is expected to jump from 4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2023 to nearly 139 GWh by 2035. Additionally, the growing renewable energy sector is boosting the need for battery energy storage systems (BESS). These developments are vital for India’s ambition to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070.

The Environmental Urgency of Battery Waste Management in the EV Era

As India embraces electric vehicles (EVs) for cleaner transportation, there is a pressing need for a strong recycling system to prevent environmental harm. Without proper recycling, the improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries can lead to serious environmental issues, such as hazardous materials leaking into soil and water.

• In 2022, lithium batteries accounted for 700,000 metric tonnes of e-waste out of a total of 1.6 million metric tonnes, highlighting the growing challenge of battery waste.
• In response to these risks, the government introduced the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) in 2022, aiming to promote sustainable management, recycling, and safe disposal of battery waste.

The First Problem: EPR Floor Price

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a key policy that requires producers to finance the collection and recycling of batteries to ensure a closed-loop system in the battery value chain.

• Producers rely on recyclers to meet their EPR targets because they lack the necessary infrastructure and logistics.
• Recyclers receive EPR certificates in return, but only if they are compensated with a minimum price known as the EPR floor price.
• The EPR floor price is vital for covering initial investments in various aspects such as:
  • Infrastructure
  • Research and Development (R&D)
  • Labour
  • Technology
  • Recycling methods

One of the major challenges is that the current EPR floor price is insufficient to sustain effective and safe recycling of lithium battery waste.

• Proper disposal of lithium batteries involves high costs due to the need for:
  • Advanced processing technologies
  • Safe transportation
  • Skilled labour to prevent environmental hazards 
• Lithium-ion batteries contain valuable minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Recovering these minerals can reduce import dependency and enhance resource security.
• If the EPR floor price does not reflect the actual cost of recycling:
• Legitimate recyclers may find their operations financially unviable.
• Informal and fraudulent recyclers may gain a competitive advantage, leading to:
• Fake certificates
• Hazardous waste dumping

These issues have previously affected India’s plastic waste sector, and similar problems could undermine circular economy goals in the battery sector.

Without a fair EPR pricing system, India could face severe environmental degradation, long-term health risks, and significant foreign exchange losses due to poor battery material recovery.

Therefore, establishing a robust and fair EPR floor price is essential to:

• Protect the environment
• Support recyclers
• Strengthen India’s battery supply chain
• Achieve circular economy objectives

A Resistance to Compliance

Large manufacturers and producers of consumer electronics are complicating waste regulation by resisting compliance, particularly in developing nations.

• These companies tend to implement lax policies in the Global South, allowing them to evade environmental responsibilities. This practice jeopardizes the establishment of sustainable battery ecosystems.
• Adjusting the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) floor price should not be perceived as an additional burden on consumers.
• This is because global metal prices have decreased over the past two years, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have not lowered product prices, indicating their capacity to absorb recycling costs.
• A realistic EPR floor price is essential for:
• Ensuring sustainable recycling
• Fostering a circular economy
• Preventing cost transfers to end users

India should implement an EPR pricing model that is: Fair, Globally benchmarked, and Reflective of the actual costs associated with battery collection, processing, and material recovery.

• As the system evolves, prices can gradually transition to market-driven rates with appropriate standardization.
• There is an urgent need for a multi-stakeholder dialogue involving the government, industry, and recyclers to establish a viable pricing structure based on global best practices.
• For example, the UK charges ₹600/kg for EV battery recycling, a rate significantly higher than those considered in India, even after adjusting for purchasing power.
• A robust EPR framework will:
• Safeguard legitimate recyclers
• Discourage non-compliance
• Facilitate audits by producers
• Propel the transition to a green economy through enhanced accountability and systemic reforms

Conclusion

India needs to urgently improve its enforcement mechanisms for effective battery waste management. This includes setting up strong audit systems, digitizing the issuance and tracking of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates, and imposing strict penalties for fraud and non-compliance.

 Equally important is bringing informal recyclers into the formal sector through training and regulatory support. This can help reduce hazardous practices and increase the nation’s recycling capacity. Addressing battery waste is not just an environmental issue; it is also an economic and strategic necessity. By adjusting the EPR floor price, reinforcing regulatory enforcement, and formalizing informal operations, India can turn battery waste from a pressing crisis into a catalyst for green growth and a genuine circular economy.