Current Affairs

Editorials · 09 September 2026 · Indian Polity & Governance

Syllabus-mapped editorials, PIB updates, reports, judgments, and policy news for prelims and mains revision.

09 September 2026

GS-2Editorials09 Sep 2026thehindu.com

Reclaiming universities through trust, student voice

The article discusses the growing assertiveness of Indian students, particularly Gen Z, and the underlying governance crisis in higher education institutions. It highlights a Supreme Court intervention regarding the Bar Council of India's (BCI) order affecting NALSAR students, emphasizing the need for academic freedom and student voice. The author argues against the prevailing 'control model' of university governance, which leads to V-C centric administrations, declining public funding, and suppression of free speech, advocating instead for a 'liberty model' that fosters trust, student participation in decision-making, and democratized campuses to address student grievances and promote knowledge creation.

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GS-2Editorials09 Sep 2026thehindu.com

Perilous retreat: On gram sabhas, tribal land issues

The article warns that attempts to dilute the Forest Rights Act (FRA) by requiring consent from only a majority, rather than all, affected gram sabhas for projects, pose a significant threat to tribal land rights and survival. It highlights a suggestion by the Committee on Public Undertakings and criticizes the potential reduction of gram sabhas to mere corporate stakeholders. The article also points out a dangerous regulatory vacuum created by the Tribal Affairs Ministry's refusal to claim jurisdiction, leaving Centre and State governments unchecked. It emphasizes that land is fundamental to tribal communities' livelihoods, culture, and autonomy, and calls for strengthening the powers of gram sabhas under FRA, PESA, and the Land Acquisition Act.

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