R2R NEWSPAPER NOTES

Fresh SSB batches starting 17th July. Referred articles were published in The Hindu.

1. View India's Gender Gap Report Ranking as a Warning

• India's Global Gender Gap Ranking: India ranks 131 out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report (2025), indicating significant disparities in economic participation, health, and survival.
• Structural Issues:
  • Economic Participation: Women remain largely under-represented in decision-making roles and face a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work. The Time Use Survey highlights this disparity.
  • Health and Survival: India's sex ratio at birth remains skewed, and women have lower life expectancy than men. High rates of anemia among women (57%) contribute to poor health outcomes.
  • Education: While progress has been made in education, there is a need to improve women's well-being and access to basic services like health and education.
• Supporting Senior Citizens:
  • India's senior citizen population is projected to nearly double by 2050, reaching close to 20% of the total population.
  • This demographic shift will predominantly affect women, who often experience high dependency due to lower pension entitlements.
  • NFHS-5 data shows low attainment levels for women.
  • The care needs of the elderly will rise, necessitating a robust support system for women to ensure economic growth.
• A Sideline on Economic Empowerment: The article highlights that budgetary allowances alone will not close the gender gap. Instead, deep-rooted structural changes and systemic reforms are necessary to address gender inequality.
• India's Future: To close the gender gap by 2070 (as projected by the McKinsey Global Institute), India needs to prioritize investments in childcare centers, elder care services, and maternity benefits. This will enable millions of women to enter or re-enter the workforce.

• US Sanctions Against UN Special Rapporteur: The US Department of State has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestinian territories. This action follows her criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which she has described as "genocide."
• Legal and Ethical Concerns:
  • The sanctions are deemed "dangerous and absurd" and undermine the global multilateral order.
  • Albanese's mandate is from the UN Human Rights Council, and her work involves investigating human rights violations.
  • The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also faced US sanctions for its investigations into alleged war crimes.
  • The article argues that sanctioning an official for carrying out their mandate is irrational and politically motivated.
• Implications for International Justice:
  • The US action undermines international law and accountability.
  • It creates a precedent for silencing critical voices and impeding investigations into human rights abuses.
  • The article highlights the hypocrisy of calling for accountability while sanctioning those who seek it.
• Call for De-escalation: The author urges the US to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and prioritize a peaceful resolution, rather than stifling criticism. The upcoming BRICS summit is mentioned as an opportunity for the US to reflect on its actions.
• Global Overreach: The article concludes that the US should not use its power to silence a voice, especially when it comes to human rights issues in conflict zones.

• English as a Medium of Instruction (MOI): English medium education is an aspiration for many Indians, but its imposition as the sole MOI is unacceptable.
• Debate on MOI:
  • The debate on MOI is ongoing, with the Bharatiya Janata Party advocating a three-language policy.
  • Educationists argue that instruction in the mother tongue promotes better learning outcomes in early stages.
  • The National Education Policy (NEP) is described as "anti-English," promoting local languages.
• Linguistic Diversity and Choice: India's linguistic diversity necessitates freedom of expression and choice in MOI. A 2014 Supreme Court ruling in Karnataka established that parents have the right to choose the MOI for their children.
• Demand for English: The demand for English medium schools is growing, especially among the middle class and in urban areas. This demand is largely met by substandard and expensive private institutions.
• English Skills and Global Opportunities: English language skills are essential for global services sector jobs and upward mobility. However, the article argues that knowledge is empowering regardless of language.
• Social Inequality: The author asserts that privileging English medium education can exacerbate social inequalities, making it inaccessible for disadvantaged sections of society.
• Conclusion: The article argues against making English the mandatory MOI at the primary level. It suggests that while English is important, the user's choice and access to quality education in their mother tongue should be prioritized to advance the ambitions of the most disadvantaged sections of society.

NEWS IN SHORTS