Topic: “Dignity as Justice: Reforming the Response to Sexual Violence”

Source: The Hindu (Lead)

1. Comprehensive Syllabus Mapping

• GS Paper II: Mechanisms, laws, institutions, and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections; Judiciary; Welfare schemes.
• GS Paper IV: Ethics and Human Interface; Moral and Political Attitudes; Justice as a Fairness principle.

2. Context and the ‘Phaltan’ Catalyst

The editorial is written against the backdrop of the “Phaltan Case”—a horrific incident of sexual violence in Maharashtra that has reignited a national debate on the “Betrayal of Institutions.” While the criminal acts themselves are devastating, the editorial focuses on the “Second Crime”: the systemic humiliation of the victim by the police, medical examiners, and the media. In early 2026, this case has forced the Supreme Court to issue new “Trauma-Informed” directives, which The Hindu analyzes as a move from “Retributive Justice” to “Dignity-based Justice.”

3. Extended Multi-Dimensional Analysis

I. The Legal Mandate: Beyond the Penal Code

For decades, Indian law focused on the “Act” of violence. In 2026, the editorial argues that the focus must shift to the “Experience” of the survivor. It highlights the “Trauma-Informed Prosecution” guidelines. Under these new norms, the burden of proof is being re-evaluated to prevent the “re-victimization” of women during cross-examination. The editorial critiques the persistence of “Character Evidence”—where a woman’s past is used to mitigate a defendant’s crime—as a relic of a patriarchal legal system that must be purged.

II. Institutional Betrayal: The Police and the Hospital

The editorial introduces the concept of “Institutional Betrayal.” When a survivor goes to a police station and is met with skepticism, or to a hospital and faces an invasive “two-finger test” (despite its legal ban), the State becomes a co-perpetrator. In 2026, the editorial demands that “Sensitivity Training” move from being an optional seminar to a mandatory certification for all first responders. Failure to follow “Dignity Protocols” should result in the immediate suspension of the officer-in-charge.

III. The Media’s Moral Vacuum

A significant portion of the analysis is dedicated to the “Trial by Media.” The editorial notes that in 2026, digital news cycles thrive on “Victim Blaming” for clicks. By leaking the survivor’s identity or “investigating” her lifestyle, the media creates a hostile environment that discourages other survivors from coming forward. The editorial calls for a “Digital Ethics Code” that imposes heavy punitive damages on media houses that violate the privacy of survivors of sexual violence.

IV. Judicial Interpretation: Dignity as a Constitutional Absolute

Invoking Article 21 (Right to Life and Liberty), the editorial argues that “Dignity” is not a luxury but a constitutional absolute. It praises recent 2025-26 judgments that have ruled that a delayed FIR in sexual assault cases should not be seen as a sign of a “fabricated story” but as a natural response to trauma. This “Psychological Realism” in the judiciary is a major step forward, but the editorial warns that it has yet to trickle down to the lower courts (the mofussil judiciary).

V. Societal Policing of Morality

The editorial poses a fundamental question: Can law protect women when society continues to police their morality? It critiques the “Good Victim vs. Bad Victim” binary. In the Phaltan case, public sympathy was conditional upon the victim’s “purity.” The editorial argues that the 2026 feminist movement must focus on “Unconditional Bodily Autonomy,” where the right to say ‘No’ is protected regardless of the woman’s social status, clothing, or location.

VI. Technological Dimension: The Promise and Peril of AI in Evidence

By 2026, AI is being used to reconstruct crime scenes and analyze forensic DNA at record speeds. However, the editorial warns against “Algorithmic Bias.” If AI tools are trained on historically biased data, they might inadvertently favor defendants from certain social backgrounds. The 2026 roadmap must include “Ethical Audits” of all forensic AI tools to ensure they serve justice, not prejudice.

VII. Way Forward:

1. Specialized ‘Dignity Cells’: Every district hospital must have a 24/7 “One-Stop Centre” where legal, medical, and psychological aid is provided in a single, secure environment.
2. Fast-Track ‘Dignity Courts’: Cases of sexual violence should be heard in “In-Camera” proceedings by judges specifically trained in trauma psychology.
3. Anonymity by Design: Use “Privacy-Preserving Technologies” in court records to ensure a survivor’s identity is automatically redacted from all public-facing digital documents.
4. Community-Led Restorative Justice: Move beyond just “jailing the offender” to “rehabilitating the survivor” through State-funded education, housing, and employment support.

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Editorial 2:

Topic: “The De-Dollarization Fever: Trump’s Tariffs and the Global Shift”

Source: The Hindu (Second Editorial)

1. Comprehensive Syllabus Mapping

• GS Paper III: Indian Economy; Effects of liberalization on the economy; Changes in industrial policy.
• GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

2. Context and the 500% Tariff Threat

The editorial reacts to the recent approval of a U.S. bill (supported by Senator Lindsey Graham) that empowers President Trump to impose up to 500% tariffs on countries—specifically naming India, China, and Brazil—that continue to purchase Russian oil or attempt to bypass the U.S. dollar. This “Aggressive Protectionism” is viewed by The Hindu as a desperate attempt to maintain the dollar’s hegemony in an increasingly multipolar world.

3. Extended Multi-Dimensional Analysis

I. The Erosion of Dollar Hegemony

For 80 years, the U.S. dollar has been the world’s “Anchor Currency.” In 2026, this is under threat. The editorial analyzes the “De-dollarization” trend, where countries are increasingly settling trades in local currencies (Rupee-Rouble, Yuan-Riyal). The U.S. response—punitive tariffs—is described as a “Negative Feedback Loop.” The more the U.S. uses the dollar as a weapon, the faster other nations will seek alternatives.

II. The Indian Dilemma: Strategic Autonomy vs. Market Access

India is in a unique “Squeeze.” The U.S. is India’s largest trading partner, but Russia is a key energy and defense provider. The editorial critiques the U.S. demand that India “stop buying Russian oil.” With India accounting for 20% of Russia’s crude exports in 2025, complying with the U.S. would lead to a catastrophic energy crisis at home. India’s 2026 strategy must be to “Diversify without Defying.”

III. The Rise of Alternative Payment Systems

The editorial explores the technological “Workarounds.” India’s UPI-LANKA-UAE linkages and the BRICS Pay initiative are mentioned as the “New Financial Plumbing.” By 2026, the world is moving toward a “Bifurcated Financial System”—one led by the West (SWIFT) and another by the Global South (CIPS/UPI). The editorial warns that this fragmentation will lead to lower global efficiency but higher “Sovereign Security.”

IV. Economic Dimension: The Spectre of 500% Tariffs

A 500% tariff is not a tax; it is a “Trade Embargo.” If applied to Indian IT services or pharmaceuticals, it would decimate India’s export earnings. However, the editorial notes that this is also a “Self-Harm Policy” for the U.S. If the U.S. blocks Indian medicines or Brazilian food, it will face domestic hyper-inflation. The 2026 global economy is too “Inter-twined” for such blunt instruments to work without collateral damage.

V. Geopolitical Dimension: The BRICS+ Consolidation

The U.S. threats are inadvertently strengthening the BRICS+ alliance. The editorial notes that Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are now coordinating their energy sales to move away from the “Petrodollar.” If the U.S. follows through with the 500% tariffs, it might find itself “Isolated by its own Sanctions.” India’s role as the “Swing State” in this 2026 cold war is more critical than ever.

VI. The Environmental Factor: Oil vs. Transition

The editorial links the oil tariffs to the U.S. withdrawal from the International Solar Alliance. By punishing oil trade while also withdrawing from green tech, the U.S. is effectively trying to “Freeze the Energy Map.” India must respond by doubling down on Green Hydrogen and domestic “Deep-Tech” energy solutions to reduce its vulnerability to both Russian oil and American sanctions.

VII. Way Forward:

1. Sovereign Wealth Protection: India should increase its gold reserves and diversify its forex holdings away from U.S. Treasuries.
2. Rupee Internationalization: Push for Rupee-based settlements with all G20 partners, not just sanctioned ones, to make the practice “Normative” rather than “Evasive.”
3. WTO Dispute Settlement: Lead a coalition of “Tariff-Targeted” nations to revive the WTO Appellate Body and challenge unilateral protectionism.
4. Domestic Manufacturing (Aatmanirbharta): Treat the 500% tariff threat as a “Sputnik Moment” to achieve total self-reliance in critical sectors like semiconductors and advanced chemicals.

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Mains Practice Question

“The ‘Dignity-based Justice’ in domestic law and ‘De-dollarization’ in global trade are both movements toward ‘Sovereign Re-assertion.’ Critically evaluate how India can balance its internal social reforms with its external economic security in a period of high global volatility.”