{"id":65057,"date":"2025-09-25T11:33:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T06:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=65057"},"modified":"2025-10-10T11:57:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:27:46","slug":"daily-editorial-analysis-25-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/daily-editorial-analysis-25-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Editorial Analysis 25 September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>India\u2019s Muted Voice, Its Detachment with Palestine<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>recognition of Palestinian <\/strong>statehood by France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and Australia <strong>marks a significant moment in international diplomacy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>These decisions are <strong>more than symbolic gestures<\/strong>: they represent the global community\u2019s growing acknowledgment of the Palestinian people\u2019s legitimate aspirations for freedom, dignity, and sovereignty.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India, once a leading voice in this movement, recognised Palestinian statehood as early as 1988<\/strong>, guided by its moral compass and a worldview shaped by its own struggle against colonialism.<\/li>\n<li>Yet, <strong>in the present moment of unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza<\/strong>, India\u2019s silence raises critical questions about <strong>whether the nation has abandoned its historic role as a champion of justice in global affairs.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>India\u2019s Legacy of Moral Leadership<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Strategic Calculation Along with Ethical Clarity<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>India\u2019s foreign policy has historically been defined <strong>not only by strategic calculation but also by ethical clarity. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Even before independence, <strong>India condemned apartheid in South Africa<\/strong>, severing trade ties with the regime and raising the issue at the United Nations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>During the Algerian war<\/strong> of independence, <strong>India was a steadfast supporter of anti-colonial struggle. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Similarly, <strong>in 1971, India intervened to halt atrocities in East Pakistan<\/strong>, contributing to the creation of Bangladesh.<\/li>\n<li><strong>When the Vietnamese people were suffering<\/strong> under foreign aggression, <strong>India stood firmly for peace and justice. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This <strong>moral outlook was enshrined in the Constitution<\/strong>, where the promotion of international peace and security is recognised as a directive principle of state policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Principled and Nuanced Position on Israel-Palestine Conflict<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India was among the first countries to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) <\/strong>in 1974 and has consistently supported a two-state solution that upholds Palestine\u2019s right to self-determination while encouraging peaceful coexistence with Israel.<\/li>\n<li><strong>It has consistently backed UN resolutions<\/strong> affirming Palestinian rights and condemning settlement expansion, while simultaneously maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India\u2019s contributions to Palestinian development, <\/strong>through scholarships, healthcare aid, and capacity-building, <strong>have reflected its commitment to justice.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Present Crisis and India\u2019s Silence<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The outbreak of hostilities in October 2023 placed the Israel-Palestine conflict back at the centre of global attention.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hamas\u2019s brutal attacks on Israeli civilians were followed by an Israeli military response<\/strong> that has devastated Gaza.<\/li>\n<li><strong>More than 55,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, have been killed<\/strong>. Infrastructure has been obliterated, famine looms, and civilians are being shot while seeking food.<\/li>\n<li>In this humanitarian catastrophe, <strong>the world has been slow to act, implicitly legitimising Israel\u2019s actions. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Against this backdrop, <strong>the recognition of Palestine by new countries signals a long-overdue reassertion of international justice.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Yet India, historically one of the strongest voices<\/strong> for oppressed peoples, <strong>has retreated into silence. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The <strong>current government\u2019s approach appears driven less by constitutional values than by personal diplomacy<\/strong>, particularly the Prime Minister\u2019s close relationship with his Israeli counterpart.<\/li>\n<li>This <strong>personalisation of foreign policy is unsustainable<\/strong>, reducing a nation\u2019s historic commitments to the vagaries of individual friendships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Way Forward: The Need for Ethical Continuity<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>issue of Palestine cannot be treated merely as a matter of foreign policy<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>It is also a moral and civilisational question, one that resonates with India\u2019s own history of colonial subjugation.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Palestinian struggle for sovereignty echoes India\u2019s fight against imperialism<\/strong>, both peoples endured dispossession, exploitation, and denial of fundamental rights.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For India, to remain silent<\/strong> in the face of Palestinian suffering <strong>is not neutrality; it is complicity.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>What is expected of India is not blind partisanship<\/strong> but principled leadership, the ability to stand for human dignity and justice regardless of political convenience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India\u2019s past foreign policy was defined by courage, moral clarity<\/strong>, and a sense of global responsibility.<\/li>\n<li>At a time when much of the world is rediscovering its commitment to Palestinian statehood, <strong>India cannot afford to be silent. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The challenge is not only geopolitical but ethical: <strong>whether India remains true to its heritage as a voice for the oppressed or allows personal diplomacy to erode its role as a moral leader<\/strong> in world affairs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>India\u2019s Muted Voice, Its Detachment with Palestine FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Q1. <\/strong>Why is the recognition of Palestinian statehood by countries like France and the UK significant?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>It signals growing global support for the Palestinian people\u2019s right to sovereignty and justice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2. <\/strong>How has India historically positioned itself on issues of global justice?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>India has often taken principled stands, supporting struggles against apartheid, colonialism, and genocide.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3. <\/strong>What has been India\u2019s traditional stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>India has supported a two-state solution, backed Palestinian rights, and maintained diplomatic ties with both sides.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4. <\/strong>How has India\u2019s response to the recent Gaza crisis been described?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>India\u2019s response has been marked by silence and deeper economic engagement with Israel, despite the humanitarian catastrophe.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5. <\/strong>Why is Palestine considered a moral and civilisational question for India?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans.<\/strong> Because Palestine\u2019s struggle for freedom mirrors India\u2019s own anti-colonial history, making silence a betrayal of its ethical heritage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/indias-muted-voice-its-detachment-with-palestine\/article70089822.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Just a Pinch Can Reduce an Indian\u2019s Salt Overload<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In recent years, <strong>the discourse on nutrition and health in India has largely revolved around the harmful effects<\/strong> of sugar and excessive oil consumption.<\/li>\n<li>This is <strong>unsurprising given the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)<\/strong>, particularly obesity, across all age groups.<\/li>\n<li>However, <strong>amidst this focus, one equally significant dietary concern remains underappreciated<\/strong>: the high consumption of salt among India\u2019s population.<\/li>\n<li>Despite being deeply ingrained in India\u2019s food culture, <strong>excess salt intake has profound health consequences, making it imperative for public health policies to address this issue<\/strong> with the same urgency as sugar and fat consumption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Extent of the Problem<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Scientific data reveal that Indian <strong>adults consume between eight to eleven grams of salt daily<\/strong>, nearly double the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) recommended limit of five to six grams.<\/li>\n<li>Unlike sugar and fat, where a substantial portion comes from processed foods, <strong>nearly three-fourths of India\u2019s salt intake originates from home-cooked meals. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Staples such as pickles, papad, and other traditional items contribute to this problem.<\/li>\n<li>Furthermore, <strong>the cultural habit of keeping salt shakers on dining tables and the rise in eating out<\/strong>, where restaurants enhance flavours with more oil, butter, and salt, <strong>only exacerbate the issue.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Salt is not always visible. It exists in hidden forms in bread, cookies,<\/strong> sauces, and even sweet items like cakes.<\/li>\n<li>Packaged and ultra-processed foods, <strong>often categorised under the high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) label, saturate the market. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>While their harmful effects are recognised, <strong>salt reduction seldom receives the same advocacy as sugar or oil reduction. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This <strong>neglect persists despite the fact that hypertension, a condition strongly linked to excess salt intake, affects 28.1% of Indian adults<\/strong> and significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Misconceptions and Myths<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Public understanding of salt consumption is further complicated by widespread myths.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Many Indians believe alternatives such as rock salt, black salt<\/strong>, or Himalayan pink salt are healthier options.<\/li>\n<li>In reality, <strong>all salts contain sodium, and their excessive consumption leads to the same harmful effects. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>In some cases, <strong>these alternatives are consumed in greater amounts<\/strong> due to their milder taste, compounding the problem.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Moreover, they are often not iodised, which can lead to iodine deficiency, <\/strong>a condition India has long battled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Multi-Pronged Approach<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Expanding Nutritional Boards<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Current initiatives such as <strong>sugar and oil boards should evolve into HFSS boards that encompass salt as well. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This would highlight the collective risks of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, fat, and salt.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Behavioural Change Campaigns<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Public campaigns must encourage gradual salt reduction during cooking, flavouring food with herbs and spices, and using low-sodium substitutes when medically appropriate.<\/li>\n<li>Crucially, <strong>these substitutes should be consumed under medical advice<\/strong>, as high-potassium alternatives can be risky for individuals with kidney disease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Early Intervention in Children<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Since salt preference is an acquired taste, efforts must begin in early childhood.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Infants and toddlers should not be given added salt,<\/strong> while older children should consume the same minimally salted food as adults.<\/li>\n<li>Establishing healthy taste preferences early can help reduce long-term salt dependency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Reforming Public Food Programmes<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Millions of vulnerable Indians, <strong>including children in schools, pregnant women at Anganwadi centres, and patients in hospitals<\/strong>, depend on government meals.<\/li>\n<li>These programmes should introduce salt regulations, train cooks, and implement procurement standards to safeguard public health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Front-of-Pack Labelling<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>India should adopt mandatory warning labels for high-salt foods, drawing inspiration from countries such as Chile, which have pioneered such measures.<\/li>\n<li>Labelling, <strong>salt ceilings in processed foods, and restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods <\/strong>to children are crucial regulatory steps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Community and Family-Level Interventions<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Practical measures like <strong>removing salt shakers from restaurant tables<\/strong>, families auditing weekly purchases of HFSS items, and discouraging repeat purchases can curb consumption.<\/li>\n<li>Local innovations at the household and community levels will also prove vital.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Integration with National Health Programmes<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Salt reduction is already part of India\u2019s National Multisectoral Action Plan (2017\u201322) for NCD prevention.<\/li>\n<li>However, <strong>stronger cross-ministerial collaboration and integration into broader health programmes are necessary. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>As the government formulates a new multi-sectoral plan, salt reduction should be embedded as a central objective.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Case for Stronger Regulation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>WHO describes salt reduction as a best buy public health intervention<\/strong>, yielding twelve dollars of return for every dollar invested.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Such evidence underscores the cost-effectiveness of salt reduction initiatives<\/strong>. Yet, isolated awareness efforts are insufficient.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>mix of regulatory measures, such as mandatory labelling, procurement reforms<\/strong>, and marketing restrictions, <strong>must combine with grassroots-level interventions to yield meaningful results.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Salt, <strong>an invisible but equally harmful component of modern and traditional diets alike<\/strong>, demands urgent attention.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Excessive consumption is fuelling the country\u2019s rising burden of hypertension<\/strong> and cardiovascular diseases, which strain both families and the healthcare system.<\/li>\n<li><strong>By debunking myths, reforming food systems<\/strong>, and promoting behavioural change, <strong>India can take bold steps toward reducing salt intake. <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Ultimately, <strong>an integrated and multi-pronged strategy that balances regulation<\/strong>, awareness, and community participation <strong>is essential to safeguard public health and reduce the burden of NCDs for future generations.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Just a Pinch Can Reduce an Indian\u2019s Salt Overload\u00a0FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Q1. <\/strong>How much salt do Indian adults consume daily compared to the WHO recommendation?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Indian adults consume eight to eleven grams of salt daily, which is nearly double the WHO\u2019s recommended limit of five to six grams.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2. <\/strong>What percentage of salt intake in India comes from home-cooked meals?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Nearly three-fourths of salt intake in India comes from home-cooked meals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3. <\/strong>Why are rock salt, black salt, or Himalayan pink salt not healthier alternatives?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>They all contain sodium, which contributes to high blood pressure, and many are not iodised, which can lead to iodine deficiency.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4. <\/strong>Why should salt reduction begin with children?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans.<\/strong> Salt preference is an acquired taste, so reducing salt early helps children develop healthier eating habits.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5. <\/strong>What regulatory step can India adopt to reduce salt intake in processed foods?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>India can adopt front-of-pack warning labels on high-salt foods, similar to measures implemented in Chile.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/just-a-pinch-can-reduce-an-indians-salt-overload\/article70089872.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Digital Payments and the Formalisation of the Indian Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The Indian economy has witnessed <strong>significant progress in formalisation<\/strong> over the past decade.<\/li>\n<li>While formalisation of firms and workers has advanced gradually, the <strong>most striking transformation has occurred in household transactions<\/strong>, primarily driven by the <strong>adoption of digital payments<\/strong> platforms such as Unified Payments Interface (UPI).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Dimensions of Formalisation:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Firms: <\/strong>GST registrations reflect increasing entry of businesses into the formal tax net.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Workers: <\/strong>EPFO enrolments show rising formal sector employment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transactions: <\/strong>The largest transformation has occurred here, with <strong>UPI<\/strong>-led digital payments <strong>replacing cash in routine and non-routine expenditures<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Rise of Digital Payments:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h5><strong>UPI transactions (April\u2013June 2025):<\/strong><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>9 billion transactions<\/strong> (person to merchant) took place through the UPI platform amounting to <strong>Rs 20.4 lakh crore<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>This is <strong>equal to almost 40%<\/strong> of private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) during the quarter, up from 24% two years ago.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Food and beverages sector:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Households <strong>spent roughly Rs 3.4 lakh crore<\/strong> on food and beverages (including alcohol) through the UPI platform.<\/li>\n<li>This works out to <strong>around 17% <\/strong>of all UPI transactions (person to merchants) or <strong>around 21%<\/strong> of all household expenditure on these items in the quarter (April\u2013June 2025).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Non-food sector:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Digital payments are used for <strong>paying for a wide range of goods and services<\/strong>, ranging\n<ul>\n<li>From <strong>payment of utility bills<\/strong> (electricity, water and gas) and <strong>petrol<\/strong>,<\/li>\n<li>To buying clothes, medicines, electronic goods and cigarettes,<\/li>\n<li>To paying for haircuts and taxi.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Expenditure on these non-food items accounts for <strong>roughly two-thirds<\/strong> of all person to merchant transfers through the platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><strong>Beyond routine consumption:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>In July 2025, households transferred <strong>Rs 93,857 crore to debt<\/strong> collection agencies presumably to repay loans, a significant share of which are taken to finance consumption.<\/li>\n<li>In the same month, households also transferred <strong>Rs 61,080<\/strong> <strong>crore <\/strong>to security brokers and dealers, presumably for the purpose of <strong>investing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Cash vs Digital Paradox:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Despite the surge in digital payments, <strong>India still has high cash usage<\/strong> \u2014 similar to countries like Germany.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key areas of cash use:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Land and gold purchases.<\/li>\n<li>Election financing.<\/li>\n<li>Precautionary household savings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Trends in Cash Holdings:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Demonetisation (2016) and Pandemic (2020\u201321): <\/strong>Led to surge in household currency holdings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Post-pandemic decline: <\/strong>Currency share in household financial savings dropped from 12.5% (2020\u201321) to 3.4% (2023\u201324).<\/li>\n<li><strong>ATM withdrawals: <\/strong>Declined from 81 crore transactions (\u20b92.8 lakh crore, July 2019) to 44 crore transactions (\u20b92.3 lakh crore, July 2025), even as the economy doubled.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Currency with public to GDP ratio: <\/strong>Fell from 12.9% (March 2022) to 10.9% (March 2025).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Key Takeaways from these Trends:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>UPI <\/strong>as a<strong> tool of financial inclusion<\/strong> and economic formalisation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shift in consumption behaviour<\/strong> \u2014 both routine (food, utilities) and non-routine (loan repayment, investments).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Declining reliance on cash<\/strong> for transactions and precautionary savings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Macroeconomic impact<\/strong>: Lower currency-to-GDP ratio, better monetary transmission, reduced black economy potential.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Challenges<\/strong>: Cash dominance in land, gold, and political funding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Way Ahead:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>India appears to be <strong>nearing an inflection point<\/strong> in its currency usage trajectory.<\/li>\n<li>With <strong>digital payments steadily replacing cash<\/strong> in both urban and rural consumption, along with formalisation of firms and workers, the role of cash in the economy may decline further.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy priorities:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Strengthen digital infrastructure<\/strong> in semi-urban and rural areas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enhance cybersecurity and digital literacy.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Address <\/strong>persistent cash usage in land, gold, and political financing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The deepening of digital payments marks <strong>a structural shift<\/strong> in India\u2019s economic formalisation journey, potentially heralding <strong>a transition to a less-cash economy<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Digital Payments and the Formalisation of the Indian Economy FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Q1<\/strong>. What are the three key dimensions of formalisation of the Indian economy?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans<\/strong>. Formalisation occurs through firms (GST registrations), workers (EPFO enrolments), and transactions (UPI adoption).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2<\/strong>. How has UPI contributed to the formalisation of household transactions in recent years?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans<\/strong>. UPI transactions reached \u20b920.4 lakh crore (Q1 FY26), covering ~40% of PFCE, signifying a major shift from cash to digital modes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3<\/strong>. What evidence suggests a declining reliance on cash for precautionary savings in India?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans<\/strong>. The share of currency in household financial savings fell from 12.5% in 2020\u201321 to 3.4% in 2023\u201324.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4<\/strong>. Despite rising digital adoption, why does cash remain significant in the Indian economy?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans<\/strong>. Cash continues to dominate in land and gold purchases, election financing, and as a store of value for precautionary savings.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5<\/strong>. What trend does the currency-to-GDP ratio indicate about India\u2019s cash economy?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans<\/strong>. The currency-GDP ratio declined from 12.9% (2022) to 10.9% (2025), suggesting India may be nearing an inflection point toward a less-cash economy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/upi-transaction-atm-cash-economy-10262988\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daily Editorial Analysis 25 September 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-65057","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\/65057","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=65057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65057\/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=65057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}