Editorial 1: The ‘3Cs’ that haunt Indian education today
Context
The government’s current three-point agenda is causing harmful effects in the field of education.
Introduction
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 may seem like a big reform, but it hides the fact that the government has shown little real concern for the education of India’s children and youth. Over the past decade, the Union Government’s actions have made it clear that its focus in education is only on three things—centralizing control, promoting privatization, and introducing communal influences into textbooks, curriculum, and institutions.
Key Issues and Consequences
- Excessive centralization has been a defining feature of the government’s functioning for the past 11 years, with the education sector facing the worst impact.
- Lack of consultation with State Governments, even for major policy shifts like NEP 2020.
- No meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) since September 2019, sidelining State Education Ministers.
- Disregard for federal principles, despite education being a Concurrent List subject under the Indian Constitution.
Coercion of State Governments
| Issue | Government’s Action | Impact on States |
| PM-SHRI Model Schools | States pressured to adopt the scheme | Grants under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) withheld as leverage |
| Right to Education (RTE) Act | Funds legally due to States not released | Affects financial support for free and compulsory education |
| Parliamentary Standing Committee’s Report | Report No. 363 calls for the unconditional release of SSA funds | Government’s actions violate constitutional morality |
Undermining Higher Education & Federalism
- Introduction of 2025 UGC draft guidelines that eliminate State Governments from Vice-Chancellor (VC) appointments.
- Governors, appointed as Chancellors, gain complete control over university leadership, reducing State influence.
- Represents a serious threat to federalism, shifting State-controlled universities under Union control through indirect means.
- The Government’s actions indicate a preference for power consolidation over democratic governance, risking the autonomy of education policy and institutions in India.
The issue of commercialisation
- The commercialization of education has been unfolding openly, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Key policies and actions have led to:
- Dismantling of public schooling through school closures and privatization.
- Increased financial burden on students due to withdrawal of government funding in higher education.
- Growing corruption in education-related institutions and agencies.
Impact on Primary and Secondary Education
| Key Policy | Changes Introduced | Consequences |
| Right to Education (RTE) Act | Originally mandated neighborhood schools (within 1-3 km for primary/upper primary) | Ensured accessibility of free education for all children |
| NEP 2020 & School Complexes | Replaces neighborhood schools with school complexes | Leads to large-scale closure of public schools |
| Public School Closures (2014–Present) | 89,441 public schools shut down | Poor children forced into expensive private schools |
| Private School Expansion | 42,944 private schools established | Unchecked privatization and rising education costs |
Privatization of Higher Education
| Policy Change | Government’s Action | Impact on Universities & Students |
| HEFA (Higher Education Financing Agency) | Replaces UGC block grants with market-rate loans | Universities must borrow and repay loans |
| Funding Cuts in Higher Education | Loans repaid through student fees | Leads to fee hikes, affecting affordability |
| Parliamentary Standing Committee (364th Report) | Found 78% to 100% of HEFA loans repaid by student fees | Burden shifted from government to students |
Corruption and Mismanagement in Education
- Bribery scandals in the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
- Failures in the National Testing Agency (NTA), affecting millions of students.
- Increased politicization and commercial influence over education institutions.
- The government’s retreat from public education funding, along with rising privatization and corruption, has made quality education inaccessible to the poor and financially burdensome for students across India.
There is a communalisation
- Government’s Agenda: Focus on communalizing education, aligning with the RSS and BJP’s long-standing ideological goals.
- Objective: Indoctrination and promotion of divisive narratives within the education system.
- NCERT Curriculum Changes
- Sanitization of Indian history to fit a particular ideological narrative.
- Removed content:
- Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
- Sections on Mughal India.T
- he Preamble to the Indian Constitution (later reinstated after public backlash).
- Hiring Practices: Large-scale recruitment of ideologically aligned professors, regardless of academic merit.
- Leadership Control: Key positions in IITs, IIMs, and central universities given to politically favorable individuals.
- UGC’s Role: Ongoing efforts to dilute qualifications for professorships and vice-chancellorships to allow ideological appointments.
- This politicization of education undermines academic integrity, distorts historical facts, and compromises educational standards in India.
Conclusion
Over the past decade, our education system has been systematically stripped of its commitment to public service, while education policy has been devoid of concerns about accessibility and quality. The relentless drive toward centralization, commercialization, and communalization has placed the burden squarely on students. This devastation of India’s public education system must come to an end.
Editorial 2: An IJS is an idea whose time has come
Context
An exclusive all-India selection process will address the need to open the doors of the judiciary to meritorious candidates.
Introduction
In the past few days, social media has been filled with many memes. One of the most popular says, “For the first time, a fire brigade has started more fires than it put out.” The truth is, the fire is still burning.
Disturbing incidents
- The shocking discovery by the Delhi fire brigade of half-burnt currency notes while extinguishing a fire at the official residence of a Delhi High Court Judge has caused a major controversy.
- The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has ordered an internal inquiry, which is expected to be completed soon and made public.
- The judge involved has been repatriated to his parent High Court.
- Double standards in the judicial system:
- Any other public servant in a similar case would have faced an FIR and investigation.
- A former CJI once included himself in an inquiry committee regarding a sexual harassment complaint against him, leading to public outrage and his eventual withdrawal.
Key Issues and Their Implications
| Issue | Details | Implications |
| Judicial Silence | This episode highlights a known issue that has been largely ignored. | Brings focus on judicial accountability. |
| Lokpal vs Judiciary | The Supreme Court objected to the Lokpal’s order taking cognizance of a corruption complaint against a High Court Judge. | Raises concerns over judicial accountability and transparency. |
| Insensitive Judicial Ruling | A High Court Judge ruled that touching a minor girl’s body and breaking her pyjama strings was not enough to charge an accused with rape or attempt to rape. | Supreme Court stayed the order, citing “total lack of sensitivity”. |
Common Factor in These Cases
- All three cases involve High Court Judges.
- Each judge came through the Collegium selection process.
- The Collegium system has long been criticized for:
- Lack of transparency.
- Influence of judicial dynasties, leading to:
- Selection of incompetent and mediocre judges.
- Nepotism in judicial appointments.
- These incidents underscore the urgent need for reform in judicial accountability and selection.
- The opaque Collegium system continues to raise concerns about merit and fairness in judicial appointments.
- There is a pressing demand for greater transparency and accountability in the judiciary.
Revival of the NJAC Debate
- The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act has once again become a topic of discussion.
- Key details of the NJAC Act:
- Passed by Parliament with the ratification of 16 State Assemblies.
- Received Presidential assent in December 2014.
- Later struck down by the Supreme Court.
- Many believe the Supreme Court could have conducted a judicial review to assess whether the law was in line with constitutional provisions, rather than striking it down entirely.
Alternative Solution: Indian Judicial Service (IJS)
- Instead of continuing the NJAC debate, a more practical and immediate solution could be the creation of an Indian Judicial Service (IJS).
- This service would follow the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) model, known for its:
- High competitiveness.
- Transparency.
- Merit-based selection.
- The UPSC already selects top civil service officers for:
- Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
- Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
- Indian Police Service (IPS).
- Indian Revenue Service (IRS).
- If State-level Judicial Service Officers are selected through competitive exams, a national-level selection system for senior judicial positions could ensure fairness and competence.
Comparison: Collegium System vs. Indian Judicial Service
| Function | Collegium System | Indian Judicial Service (Proposed) |
| Selection Process | Opaque, based on recommendations of judges | Transparent, based on competitive exams |
| Meritocracy | Can favor judicial dynasties and subjective selection | Ensures merit-based appointments |
| Accountability | Limited transparency and public scrutiny | Clearly defined rules and selection criteria |
| Nationwide Representation | Tends to favor a small group of legal families | Provides equal opportunity to candidates across India |
- The Indian Judicial Service (IJS) could bring much-needed transparency and meritocracy to judicial appointments.
- A structured, UPSC-style selection process for judges would eliminate nepotism and enhance the credibility of the judiciary.
- Given the past discussions on IJS, this could be the right time to implement it for a more efficient and fair judicial system.
Advantages of an Indian Judicial Service (IJS)
- Inclusivity and Representation
- The higher judiciary is currently dominated by an elite group of families.
- Women and marginalized communities have poor representation.
- An Indian Judicial Service (IJS) would allow meritorious candidates from all regions and backgrounds to compete for senior judicial positions.
- Recruitment by UPSC for Transparency
- The Supreme Court could entrust recruitment to the UPSC, ensuring a fair and competitive selection process.
- The UPSC, in consultation with High Courts and legal experts, would define:
- Selection criteria.
- Recruitment method.
- This system would protect the judiciary from executive interference.
- Transparent Selection and Oversight
- Open selection process with publicly available details would replace the secretive Collegium system.
- After selection, comprehensive training would ensure judges are proficient in multiple branches of law.
- The Supreme Court could establish an oversight mechanism to:
- Ensure integrity in the judiciary.
- Take disciplinary action against those who violate ethical standards.
Comparison: Collegium System vs. Indian Judicial Service
| Aspect | Collegium System | Indian Judicial Service (IJS) |
| Representation | Dominated by a few families | Inclusive of all backgrounds |
| Selection Process | Opaque, based on internal recommendations | Transparent, handled by UPSC |
| Executive Interference | Potential influence | Insulated from political pressure |
| Post-selection Training | No structured training | Comprehensive legal training |
| Judicial Oversight | Limited accountability | Supreme Court-led oversight mechanism |
Conclusion
The implementation of an Indian Judicial Service (IJS) is a crucial step toward ensuring transparency, meritocracy, and inclusivity in judicial appointments. A structured, UPSC-style selection process will help eliminate nepotism, enhance judicial accountability, and restore public confidence in the judiciary. Reforming the current system is necessary to uphold the integrity of India’s democratic and judicial institutions.
