The Hindu Editorial Analysis : 10th July 2024

The Hindu Editorial Analysis

We understand the significance of reading The Hindu newspaper for enhancing reading skills, improving comprehension of passages, staying informed about current events, enhancing essay writing, and more, especially for banking aspirants who need to focus on editorials for vocabulary building. This article will delve into today’s editorial points along with practice questions and key vocabulary.

Five Army soldiers killed in militant ambush in Jammu and Kashmir

Six personnel injured as convoy comes under fire from both sides in Badnota near Kathua; Army paratroopers airdropped to tighten the cordon. This is the fourth terror incident in 48 hours in Jammu and Kashmir.

• On Monday, militants ambushed Army soldiers in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the death of five soldiers and injuries to five others. Subsequently, the Army retaliated, engaging the attackers in a gunfight.
• Preliminary reports indicate that an Army patrol, consisting of light and heavy vehicles, came under fire from two directions when the convoy reached Jenda Nallah in Badnota village, 124 km from Kathua town. The attackers also launched grenades at the convoy, which took place around 3:30 p.m. The vehicles involved belonged to the Army’s 9 Corps, known as the Rising Star Corps.
• The militants, whose number is unknown, launched the attack at a location with a hill on one side and a steep slope on the other. Initial reports suggested the attackers descended from the hillside. One truck took the brunt of the militants’ fire.
• Reinforcements have been rushed to the site to prevent the militants from fleeing. Army paratroopers were airdropped near the encounter site to further tighten the cordon. The critically injured soldiers were taken to a hospital in Kathua.
• The attack took place on the anniversary of the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter on July 8, 2016, in south Kashmir. It is also concerning as it coincided with a visit by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi just four days prior.
• General Dwivedi received a briefing from the Rising Star Corps, which oversees Kathua. This marks the fourth militancy-related incident in the last 48 hours in Jammu and Kashmir. In separate incidents in south Kashmir on July 6 and 7, six militants and two soldiers lost their lives. Additionally, one soldier sustained injuries in an attack in Rajouri on Saturday morning.

The Supreme Court states that canceling the NEET-UG entirely will be the “absolute last resort”

• The Supreme Court on Monday stated that canceling the undergraduate National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024 in its entirety was an “extreme last resort,” as it would affect the lives of over 23 lakh students who took the exam for medical admissions.
• Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud concluded that the leakage of questions and the compromise of the exam’s integrity was unquestionable.
• “One thing is crystal clear: there has been a leak. The compromise of the exam’s integrity is indisputable. Now, we must determine the extent of this leak before considering a retest. We live in a world where leaks are not unheard of. However, a retest impacts the lives of 23 lakh students. Cancelling the NEET-UG exam would be an extreme last resort, considered only if no other options remain. If we cannot distinguish between genuine and compromised results, a retest may be necessary,” observed Chief Justice Chandrachud in court.
• The three-judge Bench, including Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, criticized the Union government and the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting the exam, for their reluctance to acknowledge the issue and urged them to assist the court in determining the extent of the leak.
• Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the importance of understanding the nature and extent of the leak to determine whether the NEET-UG 2024, conducted on May 5, should be canceled. The court is exploring the possibility of identifying those responsible to avoid subjecting students to the ordeal of a re-test.
• However, petitioners represented by advocates Mathew Nedumpara and Charu Mathur, who are seeking a re-test, argued that the credibility of the exam had been compromised. They asserted that it was impossible to separate the perpetrators from the innocent candidates, as the fraud was systemic in nature.
• Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, stated that the leaks were isolated incidents of local malpractice. He challenged the “unprecedented” phenomenon of 67 candidates scoring a perfect 720 out of 720, pointing out that the top 100 candidates came from 95 different sectors across 56 cities in 18 States and Union Territories.
• The NTA contended that the NEET syllabus in 2024 was relatively easier compared to the previous four years, during which there were only seven perfect scorers in total. Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized that the decision on whether a re-test was necessary or not would be guided by established legal principles.
• “The court needs to evaluate, using the presented data, whether the breach is widespread and has undermined the integrity of the entire examination process. It also needs to determine if it’s feasible to distinguish between those who benefited from the breach and those who did not. If segregation is not feasible, a re-examination may be necessary. Conversely, if the breach is limited to specific centers, ordering a re-examination may not be appropriate, particularly when it impacts over 23 lakh students,” explained the Chief Justice.
• The Supreme Court insisted that the NTA provide “full disclosure.” It emphasized that it was now time for the Centre and the NTA to employ all available technology, common sense, and legal knowledge to identify those responsible for the wrongdoing.
• The court directed the NTA to submit a response by Thursday, the next hearing date, addressing specific queries from the Bench. These include details such as when and where the leaks were initially detected, how the questions were leaked and distributed, the timeline between the discovery of the leak and the actual exam on May 5, actions taken thus far to identify those who benefited from the leak, and the methods employed to identify these candidates.
• The court indicated that on Thursday it would decide whether to publish the complete results, excluding those of candidates under scrutiny.

Sunday’s downpour disrupts Mumbai’s lifelines

Rail tracks and roads submerged; 50 flights canceled; schools closed; CM prioritizes aiding citizens in distress, with all systems on 24-hour alert.

• The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai after the financial capital received between 267 mm and 300 mm of rainfall in a heavy downpour starting Sunday night.
• The rain disrupted life, causing severe waterlogging on major routes and low-lying areas, leading to traffic jams across the city. Many railway tracks were submerged, disrupting train services. By 11 a.m. on Monday, around 50 flights had been canceled.
• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that heavy rainfall in certain low-lying areas has resulted in waterlogging and disruptions to suburban train services. More heavy rain is anticipated today (Monday). Andheri, Kurla, Bhandup, Kings Circle, Vile Parle, and Dadar are witnessing substantial water accumulation. Vehicles can be observed floating in rainwater, and pedestrians are navigating knee-deep water on the streets.
• At 8:35 a.m., a team from the National Disaster Response Force rescued two girls after a landslide occurred at the Vikhroli Park site.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that the highest priority was being given to helping citizens, with all systems on 24-hour alert.
• Shinde convened a meeting with multiple agencies, including the State Disaster Control Cell, the BMC, and the railway administration, to assess the situation. He stated that district-level teams were working in coordination to address the issues.
• “The BMC control room is monitoring around 5,000 locations across Mumbai. A flood gate is being installed at the Mithi River to prevent seawater from entering the city during high tide. Excess water is being pumped back into the river. Pumping stations have been established at seven locations in Mumbai,” said Mr. Shinde.
• The Railways and the BMC have installed pumps to drain accumulated water in and around the city. “For the first time in the country, an experiment like micro-tunneling is being used to aid in drainage,” said Mr. Shinde.
• All educational institutions in the city will remain closed on Tuesday. Civic authorities have urged citizens not to panic during emergencies and to contact the BMC Disaster Management Cell at 1916.

Important questions

1. How did the Army respond immediately following the ambush in Kathua?
2. Why is the timing of this attack significant in relation to previous incidents in Jammu and Kashmir?
3. How did Chief Justice Chandrachud characterize the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam and what conditions did he emphasize should determine the need for a retest?
4. What steps did the Supreme Court direct the NTA to take regarding the NEET-UG exam scandal, and why did the court insist on these actions?
5. What measures has Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced to manage the flood situation in Mumbai, and how are local authorities responding to the crisis?

Important vocabulary

1. Ambush: a surprise attack where individuals or a group lie in wait, typically in a concealed or hidden location, to strike.
2. Cordon: A line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to or from an area, typically to control the movement of people.
3. Encounter: A sudden and unexpected meeting or confrontation, often used in military contexts to describe clashes or engagements with hostile forces.
4. Integrity: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
5. Systemic: Relating to or affecting an entire system, often implying that a problem or issue pervades the entire system rather than being isolated.
6. Malpractice: Improper, illegal, or negligent professional behavior or treatment, typically in relation to rules or standards.
7. Segregation: The action or state of setting someone or something apart from others, especially as a result of specific characteristics or circumstances
8. Waterlogging: The filling or saturation of an area with water, often leading to flooding or obstructed movement
9. Landslide: The sudden movement of a large amount of rock, earth, or debris down a slope
10. Micro-tunneling: A method used for installing small diameter tunnels underground

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