{"id":57991,"date":"2025-08-04T11:39:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T06:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=57991"},"modified":"2025-10-13T14:26:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T08:56:02","slug":"daily-editorial-analysis-4-august-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/daily-editorial-analysis-4-august-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Editorial Analysis 4 August 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>The \u2018Right to Repair\u2019 Must Include the \u2018Right to Remember\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In May 2025, <strong>the Indian government took a bold step by accepting a proposal for a Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This initiative, along with new e-waste policies incentivising formal recycling, <strong>marks a timely push for sustainable electronics. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>While these developments signal progress, <strong>the path to a truly sustainable and inclusive digital future demands more than regulatory reform.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>It <strong>requires deep appreciation and support for the tacit,<\/strong> cultural knowledge that underpins India\u2019s vibrant but often overlooked repair economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Invisible Backbone of India\u2019s Technology Ecosystem<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India\u2019s evolving digital and AI policies,<\/strong> exemplified by initiatives like Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (NSAI), <strong>prioritise innovation and data-driven efficiency. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Yet, <strong>the informal repair sector, composed of mobile and appliance fixers <\/strong>working in bustling places like Delhi\u2019s Karol Bagh and Chennai\u2019s Ritchie Street, <strong>remains largely invisible to digital and policy frameworks. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This <strong>sector\u2019s knowledge is not written in manuals or stored in software;<\/strong> rather, it is embodied in experience, intuition, and adaptability.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>work of these repairers extends the life of electronics far beyond planned obsolescence<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>They diagnose faults through sensory cues, reuse components, and improvise solutions with modest tools.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Their significance goes far beyond mere economic contribution<\/strong>, they sustain India\u2019s material resilience, often in the face of increasing consumer disposability and devices designed to be unrepairable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>The Value of Tacit Knowledge<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tacit knowledge<\/strong>, passed through mentorship, observation, and hands-on practice<strong>, is central to India\u2019s repair culture. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Unlike formal training, <strong>it thrives on learning by doing, adapting to context,<\/strong> and improvising.<\/li>\n<li>As AI systems continue to evolve, <strong>drawing upon patterns shaped by this real-world problem-solving,<\/strong> the contributions of informal workers become ever more crucial.<\/li>\n<li>Yet, <strong>these communities typically receive little formal recognition<\/strong> or policy support, exacerbating imbalances even as technology advances due to insights sourced from their labour.<\/li>\n<li>Globally, <strong>the Right to Repair movement is gaining ground.<\/strong> The European Union now mandates manufacturers to offer spare parts and repair documentation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India, too, has made strides<\/strong>, launching a Right to Repair framework and a national portal.<\/li>\n<li>Yet, <strong>to lead effectively, India must recognise repair not merely as a service, but as essential knowledge work.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Gaps and Blind Spots in Policy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>In 2021\u201322, India was the world\u2019s third-largest generator of e-waste<\/strong>. Rules emphasising Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rightly pressure manufacturers to manage products at end-of-life, but rarely position repair as the frontline defence against waste.<\/li>\n<li><strong>National skilling schemes and educational policies<\/strong>, such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, <strong>praise experiential learning and traditional knowledge, yet seldom provide concrete pathways for passing on repair skills.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>This oversight illustrates a broader blind spot<\/strong>: while policies tout repair and reuse principles, they risk marginalising the very workforce at the heart of these practices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sustainability initiatives like Mission LiFE champion environmental consciousness but must extend to supporting the informal economy<\/strong> that makes such goals possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Unmaking and the Circular Economy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>A pivotal idea emerging from research is unmaking, <strong>deliberately designing products with the expectation that they will be disassembled<\/strong>, repaired, or repurposed.<\/li>\n<li>This <strong>approach recognises every breakdown and repair as a source of learning and innovation<\/strong>: a recovered circuit board becomes <strong>a learning device, and a rescued phone part restores connectivity for someone in need.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Repairers are thus not simply menders of material goods, but stewards of the circular economy<\/strong>, embodying the principles of reuse and longevity that sustainability demands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Way Forward: Reimagining Policy and AI for Repair Justice<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India\u2019s tradition of frugality and innovation<\/strong>, seen in the everyday practices of jugaad, <strong>predates digital reforms. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>However, <strong>new technology often prioritises compact design<\/strong> and proprietary control over repairability.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A recent iFixit report showed that just 23% of smartphones sold in Asia are easily repairable<\/strong>, largely due to design choices.<\/li>\n<li>To address this, <strong>repairability must be embedded in design norms<\/strong> and procurement standards from the outset.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ministry of Electronics and IT<\/strong>: Incorporate repairability into AI and procurement criteria.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Department of Consumer Affairs<\/strong>: Expand the Right to Repair to include classification and community participation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ministry of Labour and Employment<\/strong>: Formally recognize informal repairers through platforms like e-Shram, extending social protections and training.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ministry of Skill Development<\/strong>: Develop skilling programs tailored to the adaptive, non-standardised nature of repair work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Supporting repair is not just about intellectual property <\/strong>or technological efficiency, <strong>it is about valuing the quiet, essential labour<\/strong> that keeps society\u2019s electronics running.<\/li>\n<li>As philosopher Michael Polanyi once said, <strong>We know more than we can tell.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>By preserving the tacit knowledge at the core of repair culture,<\/strong> <strong>India can build a just, repair-ready technological future,<\/strong> one where sustainability, innovation, and human wisdom go hand in hand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The \u2018Right to Repair\u2019 Must Include the \u2018Right to Remember\u2019 FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Q1. <\/strong>What significant step did the Indian government take in May 2025 to promote sustainable electronics?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>It accepted a report proposing a Repairability Index for mobile phones and appliances, ranking products based on ease of repair, spare part access, and software support.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2. <\/strong>Why is tacit knowledge important in India\u2019s repair economy?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Tacit knowledge, passed down through observation and hands-on experience, enables repairers to creatively diagnose and fix devices, sustaining India\u2019s material resilience beyond planned obsolescence.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3. <\/strong>What are some gaps in India\u2019s current policies regarding repair work?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>While policies emphasize recycling and formal skilling, they often overlook informal repairers, the tacit nature of repair skills, and the need to integrate repairability into design and procurement.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4. <\/strong>What does the concept of \u2018unmaking\u2019 refer to in sustainable product design?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Unmaking involves designing products to be easily disassembled, repaired, or repurposed, making breakdowns opportunities for learning and reuse rather than failures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5. <\/strong>How can AI and government ministries support India\u2019s informal repair sector?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>AI can help codify tacit repair knowledge into shareable formats, while ministries can incorporate repairability criteria into policies, recognize informal repairers formally, and create tailored training programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-right-to-repair-must-include-right-to-remember\/article69890803.ece#:~:text=But%20as%20India%20takes%20steps,policy%20landscape%20is%20evolving%20rapidly.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hind<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Another Slip Up by India in the Trade Pact with the U.K.<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>India-United Kingdom Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) introduces notable changes to India\u2019s approach toward intellectual property (IP),<\/strong> particularly in the field of access to medicines and technology transfer.<\/li>\n<li>Chapter 13, especially <strong>Article 13.6, signals a significant shift in India\u2019s policy stance,<\/strong> raising deep concerns about its impact on public health, affordable medicine access, and broader developmental goals.<\/li>\n<li>Therefore, <strong>it is important to delve into the shift in India\u2019s policy stance and it broader implications. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Shift in India\u2019s Policy Stance and Concerns About Its Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Dilution of India\u2019s Position on Compulsory Licensing<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically, <strong>India has been a staunch defender of compulsory licensing<\/strong>, a mechanism that allows governments to authorise the production of patented products without the patent owner\u2019s consent, especially to address high medicine prices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The new CETA provision, however, elevates voluntary licensing as the preferable and optimal route<\/strong> for access to medicines.<\/li>\n<li>This <strong>represents a move away from compulsory licensing<\/strong>, which India had previously championed at both domestic and multilateral levels.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The case of Natco Pharma\u2019s compulsory license in 2012 for the anticancer drug sorafenib tosylate is illustrative<\/strong>: the price for one month\u2019s treatment fell from \u20b92,80,428 to under \u20b98,800, making the drug vastly more affordable for Indian patients.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Such cases highlight how compulsory licensing can play a critical role<\/strong> in counteracting the excessive rent-seeking behaviours enabled by strong patents.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><strong>Legal and Policy Safeguards under Threat<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>India\u2019s alignment with the WTO\u2019s TRIPS Agreement had <strong>originally retained regulatory mechanisms for compulsory licensing within the Patents Act.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>It <strong>tailored to public interest grounds<\/strong>, such as lack of availability or high prices of patented products.<\/li>\n<li>Periodic reporting on the \u2018working\u2019 (commercialisation) of patents was also a key safeguard, <strong>ensuring patents actually benefit Indian consumers.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This <strong>safeguard has been eroded. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Changes brought about by India\u2019s prior free trade agreements<\/strong> and now reinforced by CETA have extended the reporting period <strong>reducing transparency and making enforcement of the working requirement more challenging. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This, in turn, weakens another pillar for compulsory license issuance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Problems with Voluntary Licensing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Voluntary licensing <strong>relies on the consent and negotiating strength of patent holders,<\/strong> which tend to favour powerful multinational pharmaceutical firms over domestic generic producers in developing countries.<\/li>\n<li>Organisations like M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF) have shown <strong>that voluntary licenses come with restrictive terms, such as supply controls and geographic limitations<\/strong>, limiting their ability to guarantee widespread, affordable access.<\/li>\n<li>For example, <strong>when Cipla produced remdesivir under a voluntary license<\/strong> from Gilead Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic, <strong>the resulting price in India, after currency adjustments, was actually higher than what Gilead charged in the U.S.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This example <strong>underscores the inability of voluntary licenses to serve as a reliable mechanism<\/strong> for affordable access to essential medicines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Broader Implications: Weakening Demand for Technology Transfer<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Beyond public health, <strong>CETA may also undercut India\u2019s long-standing demand for technology transfer on favourable terms<\/strong> from advanced countries.<\/li>\n<li>This demand, <strong>rooted in the 1974 United Nations General Assembly\u2019s New International Economic Order (NIEO),<\/strong> was designed to spur industrialization and environmental progress in developing countries.<\/li>\n<li>Yet<strong>, despite decades of advocacy, significant barriers<\/strong> such as slow technology transfer and <strong>restrictive IP regimes persist.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>India\u2019s 2024 update to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change explicitly noted that <strong>IP and inadequate technology transfer remain obstacles to scaling up climate-friendly technologies.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>By moving away from demanding favourable terms for technology transfer, as signalled in the new CETA commitments, <strong>India compromises its leverage in global negotiations related to climate change and sustainable development.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India\u2019s commitments under the CETA intellectual property chapter represent more than mere legal adjustments<\/strong>, they reflect a shift in policy priorities <strong>with profound implications for public health, affordable medicine access<\/strong>, and the right to technology transfer.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>prioritisation of voluntary over compulsory licensing dilutes critical safeguards<\/strong> that helped India protect public interest, while the weakening of demands for favourable technology transfer terms risks <strong>undermining India\u2019s role as a leader among developing nations in international negotiations.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The <strong>broader consequence is a potential reduction in affordable access to medicines<\/strong> and slower progress toward industrialization and environmental sustainability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Another Slip Up by India in the Trade Pact with the U.K. FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Q1. <\/strong>What key shift does Article 13.6 of the India-UK CETA introduce regarding access to medicines?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Article 13.6 promotes voluntary licensing as the preferred method for ensuring access to medicines, moving away from India\u2019s previous support for compulsory licensing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2.<\/strong>\u00a0How did compulsory licensing benefit Indian patients in the case of Natco Pharma and sorafenib tosylate?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Compulsory licensing allowed Natco Pharma to offer the anticancer drug at under \u20b98,800 per month, compared to the original price of \u20b92,80,428 charged by the patent holder.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3.<\/strong>\u00a0What risk is posed by favouring voluntary licensing over compulsory licensing?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0Voluntary licenses can come with restrictive terms set by patent holders, limiting affordability and access, especially for generic manufacturers in developing countries.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4.<\/strong>\u00a0How has the patent \u201cworking\u201d requirement changed under recent trade agreements?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>The reporting period for patent \u201cworking\u201d status has been extended to at least every three years, reducing transparency and making enforcement of compulsory licensing grounds more difficult.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5.<\/strong>\u00a0How does the CETA affect India\u2019s position on technology transfer in multilateral forums?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0By shifting away from demanding technology transfer on \u201cfavourable terms,\u201d India weakens its ability to negotiate for climate-friendly technologies and support industrialization.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/another-slip-up-by-india-in-the-trade-pact-with-the-uk\/article69890844.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hindu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daily Editorial Analysis 4 August 2025 by Vajiram &#038; Ravi covers key editorials from The Hindu &#038; Indian Express with UPSC-focused insights and relevance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":50653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[141,882,909],"class_list":{"0":"post-57991","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-daily-editorial-analysis","8":"tag-daily-editorial-analysis","9":"tag-the-hindu-editorial-analysis","10":"tag-the-indian-express-analysis","11":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57991\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}