mocktoofficer.in/editorials-snapshot-3-november-2025

The Hindu Editorials snapshot

Editorial 1

Migration Debate: On the First Phase of 2025 Bihar Assembly Election

Migration became the focal point of the Bihar Assembly election campaign during the first phase of polling. Opposition parties led by the RJD criticised the NDA government of BJP‑JD(U) for failing to generate employment within the State, forcing people to migrate for work. The ruling coalition, in response, downplayed the issue and instead raised an unfounded fear of “illegal immigrants” in Bihar — a claim disproved by the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), which found no large‑scale foreign presence. Such tactics, the editorial argues, reflect political cynicism and xenophobia rather than concern for workers’ welfare.
The Opposition’s slogan — “Generate employment, stop migration” — appeals emotionally but oversimplifies the issue. Census 2011 showed 74.54 lakh Biharis living elsewhere in India — a pattern with deep historical roots. Migration is not necessarily a sign of failure; it can foster social mobility and human development. Instead of treating out‑migration as a threat, the State should see it as part of India’s economic integration. The editorial suggests that Bihar must address its low education and health standards, invest in skills and productivity, and create infrastructure for genuine growth. A better approach is to strengthen the State economy while recognising that the mobility of young workers is a natural and desirable feature of India’s development story. The goal should be to empower migrants — not stigmatise or blame them.

Editorial 2

Compound Effect: On Digital Arrest Scams

The Supreme Court has ordered a detailed probe into the growing threat of digital scams — particularly “digital arrest” schemes where fraudsters pose as law‑enforcement officers to extort money from targeted citizens. These scams have evolved beyond isolated cybercrimes into a vast, cross‑border criminal industry. Many “scam compounds” operate across Southeast Asia, especially in Myanmar, where weak state control and alleged regime collusion allow them to flourish.
Human trafficking lies at the core of this racket. Victims — often educated Indians — are lured by fake job adverts offering attractive overseas posts. Once abroad, they are trafficked into Myanmar’s militia‑controlled zones and forced to run online fraud operations under threat of torture, confinement and sexual violence. The so‑called “pig‑butchering” scams mix romance fraud with cryptocurrency investment fraud, duping victims around the world. Money from these syndicates flows through money mules and institutions like Cambodia’s Huione Pay before being turned into cryptocurrency, making detection and recovery extremely difficult.
The masterminds behind this transnational crime are organised Chinese syndicates. India thus faces a two‑fold crisis: its citizens held in forced scam labour abroad, and others at home being cheated by those very operations. The editorial calls for simultaneous action — public awareness campaigns by the Reserve Bank of India and governments, stronger cybercrime enforcement, and international cooperation. India must work with Thailand, China, Vietnam, and others to pressure Myanmar and Cambodia to close these factories. The UN should treat this as modern‑day slavery requiring an urgent global response.

The Indian Express Editorials snapshot

Editorial 3

IPO Market Is Booming, but Don’t Ignore Red Flags

India’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) market continues to experience record-high activity. Established companies such as LG Electronics and Tata Capital, along with mid-sized firms and start-ups like Lenskart, Groww, and Pine Labs, are turning to the primary market to raise funds. Experts predict that IPO offerings this year will exceed those of 2024. According to EY’s global report, India now ranks alongside the United States and China as one of the top three countries contributing the most to global IPO activity in the latest quarter.

This growing enthusiasm highlights the increasing depth of India’s capital markets, supported by a surge in both institutional and retail participation beyond major cities. The rapid growth in demat accounts and consistent SIP inflows from mutual funds reflect rising household interest in equity markets. Reforms introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have also widened access for large investors.

However, the bullish sentiment is accompanied by concerns over inflated valuations and short-term investment behaviour. Many recent IPOs have underperformed due to overpricing, and data reveal that nearly half of retail investors sell their shares within a week, indicating a preference for listing-day profits rather than long-term wealth creation.

A Kotak study found that out of the ₹1.17 lakh crore raised this year, nearly one-third was used for investor or promoter exits instead of fresh business expansion. While this demonstrates a strong pipeline and growing confidence in the Indian market, it also underscores the need for investor discipline and robust corporate governance monitoring.

Overall, the IPO boom is a positive indicator for India’s financial sector — but sustaining it will depend on transparent pricing, balanced valuations, and responsible investor participation.

Editorial 4

Regime Change Bogey Is Undemocratic

For over five years, student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, and others have been imprisoned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with their trials yet to begin and repeated bail pleas rejected. The cases originate from the 2020 anti-CAA protests and Delhi riots, but the Delhi Police now allege that these protests were part of a “criminal conspiracy for regime change.” The editorial describes this as dangerous spectre-mongering, aimed at portraying dissenters as terrorists and delegitimising democratic protest.

India’s Constitution permits “regime change” only through free and fair elections, where governments are peacefully replaced by the people’s mandate — a process that has occurred multiple times, including after the Emergency. Equating peaceful protests with conspiracies to overthrow the state undermines this democratic foundation. Over the past decade, critics of the government have often been unfairly branded “anti-national” or “urban Naxal”; the new label of “regime change” continues this troubling pattern of criminalising dissent.

Peaceful demonstrations by students, farmers, and citizens are integral to any democracy. Mistaking such protests for acts of terrorism threatens constitutional rights and weakens public trust. As noted in the 2021 Delhi High Court bail order for co-accused Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, conflating protest with terror reflects a mindset that erodes freedom of expression and democratic debate.

The editorial concludes that dissent is not an attack on the state — it is a fundamental part of a vibrant and healthy democracy.

Top Vocabulary Picks from Today’s Editorials

Word	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Bogey	False or exaggerated fear	False alarm	Reality
Incarcerated	Imprisoned	Confined	Released
Expedite	To make faster or hasten	Accelerate	Delay
Affidavit	Official written statement used as evidence	Declaration	Informal note
Spectre‑mongering	Spreading fear through imaginary threats	Fear‑spreading	Reassurance