{"id":77518,"date":"2025-12-12T11:46:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=77518"},"modified":"2025-12-12T11:46:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:16:31","slug":"daily-editorial-analysis-12-december-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/daily-editorial-analysis-12-december-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Editorial Analysis 12 December 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>The Stark Reality of Educational Costs in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Education is a constitutionally guaranteed right in India. Article 21A ensures <strong>free and compulsory education<\/strong> for children aged six to 14, while the NEP 2020 extends this vision to cover ages three to 18.<\/li>\n<li>Despite these commitments, schooling continues to impose a <strong>substantial financial burden<\/strong> on families, as shown by recent national data.<\/li>\n<li>Therefore, it is important to analyse enrolment patterns, educational expenditure, and the growth of private coaching to assess the widening gap between constitutional promises and the reality faced by households.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Enrolment Patterns: The Growing Shift to Private Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Government schools still enrol <strong>55.<\/strong><strong>9%<\/strong> of students nationally, yet private unaided schools account for a significant <strong>31.9%<\/strong> of enrolments.<\/li>\n<li>This shift is far more prominent in urban areas, where <strong>51.<\/strong><strong>4%<\/strong> of students attend private institutions compared to <strong>24.3%<\/strong> in rural regions.<\/li>\n<li>The gender gap remains small, with <strong>34% of boys<\/strong> and <strong>29.<\/strong><strong>5% of girls<\/strong> enrolled in private schools.<\/li>\n<li>Across all levels of schooling, urban private enrolment is consistently higher, reaching <strong>62.<\/strong><strong>9% at the pre-primary<\/strong> stage and declining to <strong>42.3% at higher secondary<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Compared with previous NSS data, private school enrolment has risen across both rural and urban India, particularly at the primary and middle levels.<\/li>\n<li>This upward trend reflects increasing parental preference for private institutions, driven by perceptions of better quality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Educational Expenditure: The Financial Burden on Households<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Despite official guarantees of free education, many government school students still incur costs. <strong>25.<\/strong><strong>3% of rural<\/strong> and <strong>34.7% of urban<\/strong> government school students report paying course fees.<\/li>\n<li>In private schools, the figure is almost universal, with around <strong>98%<\/strong> of students paying fees.<\/li>\n<li>The fee gap between government and private schools is stark. In rural government schools, annual fees range from <strong>\u20b9823 to \u20b97,308<\/strong>, while in rural private schools they range from <strong>\u20b917,988 to \u20b933,567<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Urban households face even higher private school fees, from <strong>\u20b926,188<\/strong> at pre-primary to <strong>\u20b949,075<\/strong> at higher secondary.<\/li>\n<li>When converted into monthly terms, private schooling represents a heavy burden: rural families spend <strong>\u20b91,499\u2013\u20b92,797<\/strong> per month, while urban families spend <strong>\u20b92,182\u2013\u20b94,089<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>These costs align with the monthly consumption of <strong>the poorest 5% to the third income decile<\/strong>, indicating that private schooling consumes a disproportionate share of household budgets.<\/li>\n<li>This challenges the notion that basic education in India is effectively free.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Private Coaching: An Additional Layer of Inequality<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Private coaching has become widespread, with <strong>25.<\/strong><strong>5% of rural<\/strong> and <strong>30.7% of urban<\/strong> students relying on it.<\/li>\n<li>The proportion rises sharply at higher levels of education, reaching <strong>36.<\/strong><strong>7% in rural<\/strong> and <strong>40.2% in urban secondary<\/strong> schooling.<\/li>\n<li>Coaching costs add another burden. Urban students spend an average of <strong>\u20b913,026<\/strong> annually on tuition, almost double the rural average of <strong>\u20b97,066<\/strong>. At the higher secondary stage, expenditures rise to <strong>\u20b922,394 in urban<\/strong> and <strong>\u20b913,803 in rural<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>The demand for coaching is driven by <strong>higher household income, better parental education, and urban residence<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>It is particularly common among students in private schools, where teachers are often <strong>underpaid and underqualified<\/strong>, compelling families to seek external academic support.<\/li>\n<li>Coaching has also become a <strong>symbol of academic prestige<\/strong>, deepening inequalities between socio-economic groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Implications for Equity and the Public Education System<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The rise in private schooling and coaching has significant implications for educational equity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Families with limited means<\/strong> face difficult choices, often stretching their finances to provide what they perceive as better educational opportunities.<\/li>\n<li>Declining enrolment in government schools further weakens these institutions by reducing demand and resource support.<\/li>\n<li>Private coaching amplifies learning disparities. Students from wealthier households gain academic advantages that poorer students cannot afford, widening long-term socio-economic gaps.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthening public school quality is therefore critical to reducing reliance on both private schools and tutoring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Path Forward: Strengthening Publicly Funded Schools<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Achieving the NEP 2020 vision of universal and equitable education requires a <strong>revitalised public education system<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Improved infrastructure, better-trained teachers, and strengthened classroom processes can help rebuild public confidence.<\/li>\n<li>High-quality government schools would reduce the need for costly private schooling and limit dependence on coaching.<\/li>\n<li>Research links <strong>school quality directly to reduced reliance on private tuition<\/strong>, indicating that systemic improvements in government schools can create more equal learning conditions for all students.<\/li>\n<li>Investment in teacher development, foundational learning, and early education is essential for inclusive progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Schooling in India remains <strong>financially demanding<\/strong>, despite constitutional guarantees of free education.<\/li>\n<li>Rising private school enrolment, high fees, and the normalisation of private coaching impose heavy burdens on households and reinforce educational inequality.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthening public schools is essential to ensuring that education remains a <strong>right rather than a privilege<\/strong>, and to creating a system that is both equitable and accessible for all children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Stark Reality of Educational Costs in India\u00a0FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Q1. <\/strong>What does Article 21A guarantee to children in India?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Article 21A guarantees free and compulsory education to children aged six to 14 years.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2. <\/strong>Which type of schools have higher enrolment in urban areas?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Private schools have higher enrolment in urban areas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3. <\/strong>Why do many students rely on private coaching?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Many students rely on private coaching because school quality is uneven and teachers, especially in private schools, may be underqualified or underpaid.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4. <\/strong>What financial burden do private schools impose on families?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>Private schools impose high annual fees that often match or exceed the monthly consumption budgets of low-income households.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5. <\/strong>What is one major way to reduce educational inequality in India?<br \/>\n<strong>Ans. <\/strong>One major way to reduce educational inequality in India is to strengthen the quality of government schools.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/lead\/the-stark-reality-of-educational-costs-in-india\/article70385413.ece#:~:text=Although%20education%20is%20meant%20to,adds%20to%20the%20financial%20burden.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hindu<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>The Madras High Court Must Break Its Silence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>High Court judge appointments are first recommended by the Collegium \u2014 the Chief Justice of the High Court and its two senior-most judges.<\/li>\n<li>The recommendation goes to the State government, which may raise objections or request clarifications.<\/li>\n<li>However, once the Collegium reiterates its recommendation or provides the required clarifications, the State government is obliged to accept the decision.<\/li>\n<li>In this context, this article highlights the growing constitutional concerns surrounding the Madras High Court Collegium\u2019s recent recommendations, focusing on procedural irregularities, the exclusion of a senior judge, and the urgent need for transparency and systemic reform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Clarification Sought on Composition of the Madras High Court Collegium<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The Madras High Court Collegium recommended six district judges for elevation in November 2025.<\/li>\n<li>While the State government raised no objections regarding the candidates\u2019 merit, it sought clarification on a procedural issue \u2014 the constitution of the Collegium itself.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Case of Justice Nisha Banu<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Justice J. Nisha Banu, elevated in 2016, is the second most senior judge of the Madras High Court and thus a rightful Collegium member.<\/li>\n<li>However, a Supreme Court Collegium recommendation dated October 14, 2025 ordered her transfer to the Kerala High Court and placed her ninth in seniority there.<\/li>\n<li>Despite this transfer order, she has <strong>not joined<\/strong> the Kerala High Court and continues to serve at Madras, making her de facto a Collegium judge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>State Government\u2019s Concern: Why Was She Excluded<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The State questioned why Justice Nisha Banu was excluded from the Collegium consultations and why Justice M.S. Ramesh, the next senior judge, was included instead.<\/li>\n<li>It sought clarification on:\n<ul>\n<li>The legal authority behind this substitution<\/li>\n<li>Whether any Supreme Court directive or constitutional principle justified bypassing a senior judge<\/li>\n<li>Whether the Collegium assumed that Justice Nisha Banu was no longer part of the Madras High Court<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The Collegium did not address these concerns and instead proceeded to recommend nine more advocates for additional vacancies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Constitutional and Procedural Implications<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The Memorandum of Procedure clearly states that the Chief Justice and the two seniormost judges of the High Court must form the Collegium for recommending appointments.<\/li>\n<li>Ignoring a senior judge raises questions about constitutional validity, institutional integrity, and adherence to established norms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Core Issue<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether intentionally or by oversight, the <strong>non-inclusion<\/strong> of Justice Nisha Banu in the Madras High Court Collegium contradicts the prescribed procedure.<\/li>\n<li>The State government is therefore entitled to a clarification, as transparency and adherence to constitutional norms lie at the heart of judicial appointments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>When Procedural Lapses Threaten Constitutional Legitimacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Procedural norms in judicial appointments are not trivial technicalities but the very basis of the Collegium\u2019s constitutional legitimacy.<\/li>\n<li>Since the Collegium system is built entirely on <strong>judicial precedent<\/strong>, it must strictly follow established procedures to maintain credibility.<\/li>\n<li>Excluding a judge who continues to hold administrative authority, without recorded reasons, and replacing them with another judge lacking jurisdictional basis, undermines the validity of the Collegium\u2019s decisions.<\/li>\n<li>An improperly constituted Collegium risks rendering its recommendations <strong>void<\/strong>, creating a constitutional crisis rooted in uncertainty over who is authorised to decide.<\/li>\n<li>These concerns intensify long-standing criticisms of the Collegium system \u2014 including opacity, alleged nepotism, inadequate representation, political influence, and limited accountability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Need for Transparency and Clarification<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The Madras High Court Collegium must explain, in law and procedure, why Justice Nisha Banu was excluded and Justice M.S. Ramesh included.<\/li>\n<li>Silence threatens structural judicial integrity and fuels speculation about motive.<\/li>\n<li>A judge\u2019s ideological or personal background cannot justify deviation from constitutional norms.<\/li>\n<li>Impartiality, consultation, and adherence to justice must guide judicial decisions. Any departure from this principle weakens public trust.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Call for Supreme Court\u2013Led Collegium Reforms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The situation highlights the need for long-pending reforms:\n<ul>\n<li>Clear rules on Collegium composition<\/li>\n<li>Published reasons for decisions<\/li>\n<li>Mandatory disclosures to enhance transparency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The Supreme Court must revisit the system to prevent ambiguity and inconsistency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Core Issue: Legality of the Appointment Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The controversy is not about the capability of the six district judges or nine advocates recommended.<\/li>\n<li>The question is whether their elevation followed <strong>Article 217<\/strong> and the Memorandum of Procedure, which requires recommendations from the Chief Justice and the two seniormost High Court judges.<\/li>\n<li>If the Collegium\u2019s constitution itself is questionable, then its recommendations also lose validity.<\/li>\n<li>This creates a <strong>constitutional conflict<\/strong> between the judiciary and the State government \u2014 a crisis that can only be resolved through transparency, adherence to procedure, and systemic reform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Madras High Court Must Break Its Silence FAQs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Q1.<\/strong> Why did the State government seek clarification from the Madras High Court Collegium?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> The State sought clarification on why the senior-most eligible judge, Justice Nisha Banu, was excluded from the Collegium despite still serving at the Madras High Court.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2.<\/strong> What makes Justice Nisha Banu\u2019s exclusion constitutionally significant?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Her exclusion contradicts mandatory procedure requiring the Chief Justice and two seniormost judges to form the Collegium, raising questions about legality and institutional integrity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3.<\/strong> How does an improperly constituted Collegium affect judicial appointments?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> If the Collegium is wrongly constituted, its recommendations risk invalidation, creating uncertainty over authority and triggering a potential constitutional conflict with the State government.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4.<\/strong> What broader issues about the Collegium system does this situation highlight?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> It exposes systemic problems\u2014opacity, lack of accountability, alleged favouritism, and inadequate representation\u2014strengthening calls for transparent criteria, published reasons, and structural reforms.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5.<\/strong> Why is Supreme Court intervention considered necessary?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Only the Supreme Court can reform Collegium rules, ensure consistent procedures, mandate disclosures, and clarify composition norms to prevent recurring disputes in judicial appointments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/the-madras-high-court-must-break-its-silence\/article70385470.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Daily Editorial Analysis 11 December 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-77518","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\/77518","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=77518"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77518\/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=77518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}