INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 10TH JULY 2025

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-32

INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 10TH JULY 2025.

1.    EC Doesn’t Follow Own Practice, Puts Onus on Voters, Ignores Existing           Rolls

The Election Commission (EC) has come under criticism for deviating from its own established practices during the electoral roll revision process. Observers and civil society groups point out that the EC’s decision to discard the pre-existing rolls and make fresh enrolment the responsibility of voters risks disenfranchising millions, especially migrant and marginalised populations. While the EC defends this as a move to ensure updated and clean rolls, critics argue that this approach undermines the principle of universal suffrage. They highlight how such a step increases the burden on the citizen, rather than the state, to secure their democratic rights. The editorial underscores the irony of a constitutional body designed to protect voting rights adopting procedures that may suppress them. It calls for a return to established norms, the use of Aadhaar-seeded data for verification, and a voter-friendly rather than voter-adverse approach to roll revision.

2.    Namibia Says Will Roll Out UPI After Modi, President Hold Talks

In a significant development for India-Africa digital diplomacy, Namibia has agreed to roll out India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Modi and Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba. This follows India’s broader strategy of exporting its digital public infrastructure as a tool of foreign policy, especially in the Global South. UPI, widely hailed for revolutionizing digital payments in India, is now being adopted in several countries with Indian technical support. Namibia’s move signals trust in India’s fintech capabilities and reflects New Delhi's intent to forge deeper economic and technological ties with African nations. The agreement also complements India’s broader strategic engagement with Africa, aiming to counterbalance China’s economic influence. The editorial views this as a win-win: it promotes financial inclusion in Namibia while strengthening India’s geopolitical and economic leverage through technology diplomacy.