14 October 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis

1. Extending social justice 

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Editorial Page; Page: 08)

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice

Context:

The article discusses the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling affirming the constitutional validity of sub-categorizing Scheduled Castes to address internal inequalities, reversing a 2004 verdict.

Supreme Court’s Rejection of Review Petitions

• In its decision released on October 4, 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed review petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs), which it had affirmed in its August 1 judgment.
• The ruling indicates a significant shift in the discourse on reservations, yet many critics argue that the core issues remain unresolved.
• The judgment is seen in the context of earlier decisions, particularly the 2022 verdict on the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation, which critics claim undermined the Court’s previous progressive stance on social justice.
• However, the recent sub-categorization ruling is viewed as a partial restoration of the Court’s social justice doctrines.

Reversal of the 2004 Verdict

• The 6-1 majority ruling by a seven-judge bench is a landmark decision that overturned the 2004 judgment in E V Chinnaiah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh.
• In that earlier case, sub-categorization was deemed unconstitutional, and the Andhra Pradesh “Rationalisation of Reservation” Act of 2000 was struck down.
• The current judgment focuses on the “deemed fiction” of legal categories, arguing that Article 341 of the Constitution, which deals with Scheduled Castes, is about selecting existing castes rather than creating new ones.
• This distinction grants immunity to Article 341 from executive interference, but the state or central executive can still address internal inequalities within the SCs without altering the composition of the schedules.

Legal Framework for Sub-Categorization

• The core legal principle outlined in the judgment is that sub-categorization is a tool for promoting substantive equality, not an exception to it.
• This is a significant departure from past interpretations that often restricted reservations under the guise of maintaining administrative efficiency.
• The judgment also rebukes the 2022 EWS ruling, which excluded SC, ST, and OBC groups from EWS reservations, asserting that sub-categorization must not exclude socially and educationally advanced groups within SCs.
• Furthermore, the ruling requires that any sub-categorization schemes must be backed by empirical evidence of material inequalities, particularly in government employment.

Historical and Empirical Evidence of Inequality

• The judgment takes the important step of discussing the historical and empirical evidence of internal discrimination within the SC community, dating back to the creation of the SC list in 1936.
• It highlights contemporary studies documenting inequalities and even untouchability practices within the SCs. This body of evidence underscores the need for sub-categorization to address these internal disparities, yet the public discourse surrounding the verdict has largely failed to focus on these issues.

The Challenge of Public Debate and Policy

• Despite the historical and empirical evidence supporting sub-categorization, public debate has not adequately engaged with the issue. Critics have often equated sub-categorization with opposition to reservations in general, ignoring the vastly different social and political context of today.
• The ruling reflects a shift from earlier resistance to reservations, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging caste-based discrimination and ensuring adequate representation and access to public resources for marginalized sub-groups within the SCs.

Addressing Internal Inequality within Scheduled Castes

• The judgment makes clear that addressing internal inequalities within SCs will not be easy. Transparent and evidence-based criteria for sub-categorization need to be developed, with clear limits and judicial review mechanisms to ensure constitutional goals are met.
• However, as the experiences of states like Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have shown, successful sub-categorization is possible with broad public consensus.
• The verdict emphasizes the need for unity among SCs to secure their rights, but a unity based on justice and recognition of internal inequalities.

Conclusion: The Path Forward for Social Justice

• The Supreme Court’s decision highlights the importance of addressing internal inequalities within the Scheduled Castes, as envisioned by B.R. Ambedkar.
• While the challenges are significant, the ruling sets a legal framework for achieving substantive equality within the SC community. By promoting a more nuanced approach to reservation, the decision lays the groundwork for a more just and equitable system, acknowledging the vulnerabilities of minorities within the SCs and the need for policies that promote true social justice.

What are the Challenges for Sub-Classification?

Data Collection and Evidence: Gathering accurate and comprehensive data on the socio-economic conditions of different sub-groups within SCs and STs is essential.States must rely on empirical evidence to justify their sub-classification decisions. Ensuring data accuracy and avoiding biases can be challenging. Balancing Interests: Sub-classification aims to uplift the most disadvantaged sub-groups, but balancing competing interests can be complex. Uniformity vs. Diversity: While sub-classification allows tailoring policies, it may lead to variations across states. Striking a balance between uniformity and addressing local needs is a challenge. Political Resistance: Sub-classification policies can face opposition from political groups that either support or oppose changes to reservation systems, leading to potential delays and conflicts. Social Tensions: Sub-classification might exacerbate existing social tensions within SC/ST communities, leading to intra-community conflicts and divisions. Administrative Burden: The process of creating, managing, and updating sub-categories adds a significant administrative burden on government agencies, necessitating additional resources and manpower.

PYQ: Whether National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSCJ) can enforce the implementation of constitutional reservation for the Scheduled Castes in the religious minority institutions? Examine. (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-2 2018)

Practice Question:  Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes in promoting substantive equality. How does this decision address internal inequalities within the SC community, and what challenges does it pose for future policy implementation? (250 words/15 m)

2. The problem with free food

(Source: Indian Express; Section: The Ideas Page; Page: 09)

Topic: GS2 – Governance – Food Security

Context:

The article discusses the challenges and economic implications of India’s food subsidy system in light of World Food Day, emphasizing the need for reforms to ensure sustainable food security and reduce inefficiencies.

World Food Day: A Global Commitment

• World Food Day, observed every year on October 16, is a significant reminder of the global commitment to food and nutritional security, led by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Over the years, tremendous progress has been made in increasing food production through better seeds, efficient farm machinery, and the use of fertilization and irrigation techniques.
• However, despite these advancements, global hunger persists. According to the FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, 2.33 billion people still face moderate to severe food insecurity, underscoring the ongoing challenge to ensure food security for all.

The Theme of World Food Day 2024: Right to Food for a Better Future

• This year’s theme for World Food Day, “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” emphasizes the importance of making food accessible to all.
• The concept of the “Right to Food” was instrumental in the Indian government’s passage of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013. The Act provides subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the Indian population.
• While it aimed to reduce hunger, the NFSA has also raised concerns about the economic burden it places on the government due to the ballooning food subsidy costs.

Economic Rationality and Targeted Subsidies

• Critics argue that distributing free food to more than 800 million people in India is economically unsustainable. In contrast, the targeted food subsidy regime initiated by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was seen as more rational.
• Under that system, the most vulnerable received free food, while those above the poverty line paid a significant portion of the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• This targeted approach avoided the blanket provision of free food to a large portion of the population and focused on ensuring food security for those who needed it most.

Changing Definitions of Poverty and Continuing Subsidies

• The current government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has adopted a different measure of poverty using the NITI Aayog’s Multi-dimensional Poverty Index.
• According to this index, India’s poverty rate has significantly declined, from 29.13% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23. Despite this achievement, free food distribution continues to cover a large portion of the population, raising questions about the necessity and sustainability of such extensive subsidies.
• Critics argue that individuals should be encouraged to earn their basic food needs rather than relying on government handouts.

The Economic and Social Costs of Excessive Subsidies

• Food subsidies, along with other large subsidies such as those for fertilizers, are the biggest drains on the Union budget. They divert resources from more productive investments in areas like agricultural research and development (R&D), precision farming, and women’s education.
• These areas have a far greater impact on long-term food and nutritional security than providing free food. Moreover, subsidies often lead to corruption and inefficiency, with research indicating that 25-30% of food and fertilizer subsidies never reach their intended beneficiaries.
• This high level of leakage undermines the purpose of programs like the Right to Food.

The Path to Reform: Rationalization and Digitization

• Reforming the current system of food and fertilizer subsidies is possible, but it requires political will and efficient planning. The government must commit to rationalizing these subsidies and implement reforms within a short period—six to 12 months.
• A dedicated team with expertise in the agricultural sector is necessary to ensure these reforms are carried out effectively.
• Digitization of the agri-food system could play a key role in this reform process, providing a more robust and transparent way to monitor subsidies and ensure that resources reach those who need them.

Conclusion: Towards a Sustainable Agri-Food Future

• For India to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030, significant reforms in the agricultural subsidy system are needed.
• Without bold reforms, the country risks falling into a cycle of inefficient subsidies and missed opportunities for sustainable agricultural development. The Modi government has the opportunity to make Indian agriculture more resilient, climate-adaptive, and nutrition-focused.
• However, without action, the current system may continue to stagnate, hampering efforts to eliminate malnutrition and ensure long-term food security.

Global Hunger Persistent Challenge in the Economy

Despite initial progress, towards food security and accessibility, the challenges like hunger and malnutrition continue to affect millions of people on a global level.  According to the FAO, over 800 million people suffer from hunger, and many more are affected by food insecurity and malnutrition. Hunger is not only a humanitarian crisis but also an economic issue that gets worse by conflicts, economic downturns, and climate change. World Food Day 2024 brings the spotlight to these challenges, calling for the global community to come together and address the root causes of food insecurity. The day acts as an opportunity to support policies that promote sustainable agriculture, reduce food waste, and ensure equitable food distribution.

PYQ: Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO. (200 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2013)

Practice Question:  Critically analyze the effectiveness of India’s current food subsidy system in addressing food security and malnutrition. What are the key challenges associated with the system, and how can reforms, such as targeted subsidies and digitization, contribute to a more sustainable solution? (250 words/15 m)