Table of Contents
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 explore today’s editorial points, along with practice questions and key vocabulary.
Trump and MEA Clash Over Russian Oil Imports
- India and the U.S. had a public disagreement over Russian oil. Trump said that Prime Minister Modi had promised to stop buying oil from Russia, but India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied that such a talk ever happened.
- The MEA explained that India is only trying to widen and balance where it gets its energy from, depending on market needs. It didn’t clearly confirm or deny if India was reducing Russian oil imports.
- This difference of opinion over Russian oil — which led the U.S. to put penalty tariffs — is believed to be slowing down trade talks between India and the U.S.
- Even though India said it isn’t under pressure, data from The Hindu showed that Indian state oil companies reduced Russian oil imports by 45% between June and September this year.
- MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there was no talk between Modi and Trump about Russian oil. He said they only discussed peace in Gaza and trade-related matters.
- Trump said he was confident that India would soon stop buying oil from Russia, adding that Modi had told him India would end the purchases, though not immediately.
- At the White House, while speaking beside U.S. Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor, Trump said India’s move to stop buying Russian oil would be completed soon.
- He called it an important step and added that he expected China to also cut down on oil imports from Russia shortly.
- In reply, China’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of “unilateral bullying” for criticizing its energy trade with Russia and said China had every right to buy energy from wherever it wanted.
- Trump called Modi a “great man” who “loves Trump,” and said he didn’t want to harm Modi’s reputation or political career.
- He also called India an “amazing country,” saying that Modi’s long time in power showed stability, unlike before when leaders changed often.
- The MEA repeated that India’s main focus is to protect consumers from rising energy prices and to keep the energy market stable.
- It said India’s goal is to make sure energy prices stay steady and supplies remain reliable by buying from many different countries.
- Reacting to the U.K.’s sanctions on Nayara Energy, which is partly owned by Russia’s Rosneft, the MEA said India does not accept such one-sided sanctions from any other country.
- Randhir Jaiswal also said there should be no double standards in global energy trade and that India will make its own fair and independent energy decisions.
Sri Lankan PM Reminisces at Her Alma Mater
- Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya started her first official visit to India by going back to her old college — Delhi University’s Hindu College — where she warmly remembered her student days.
- She met India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who said they talked about India’s continued help to Sri Lanka and ways to work together more in education and skill-building programs.
- During her visit, she also spoke with business leaders and attended a diplomatic event. She is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for official talks.
- Her meeting with Modi is expected to focus on boosting economic cooperation, improving transport and trade links, and making the India–Sri Lanka partnership stronger.
- Amarasuriya first came to India in 1991, when universities in Sri Lanka were shut down because of unrest. She studied Sociology at Hindu College on a scholarship from India.
- She said when she first arrived in Delhi, she came with dreams, hopes, worries, and fear, but the city welcomed her and made her feel at home.
- She said Delhi’s respect for different cultures made it special and unforgettable. Returning to Hindu College after more than 30 years filled her with joy and nostalgia.
- She thanked her professors for encouraging her to think deeply, question unfairness, and never accept injustice as something normal.
- She remembered that classroom discussions on inequality, feminism, and human growth were very meaningful and connected closely with what was happening in society at that time.
- After finishing college, Ms. Amarasuriya went to Australia for a Master’s degree and later earned a PhD in Social Anthropology, focusing on child protection.
- Her PhD research studied how the government and society work together, looking at issues of social justice and child welfare.
- She said her time at Hindu College had a deep influence on her academic journey and inspired her lifelong work on justice, equality, discrimination, and human rights.
- She said the education she received at Hindu College became the foundation of her beliefs and shaped how she has lived and worked ever since.
- Talking about India–Sri Lanka relations, Ms. Amarasuriya said the partnership between the two countries is “structural,” not just temporary, and is important for both nations’ future.
- She said India has always been a reliable friend, helping Sri Lanka recover from its economic crisis and playing an important role in keeping the region stable.
- She also assured that Sri Lanka will never allow its land to be used in ways that could harm India’s safety or strategic interests.
- Amarasuriya visited her old classrooms, including classroom number 27 at Hindu College, where she studied Sociology as an undergraduate student.
Census Pre-Test First Phase to Begin on November 10
- The first test round for Census 2027 will take place from November 10 to November 30 in selected areas across all States and Union Territories.
- According to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, people will be able to fill in their details online between November 1 and November 7.
- The notice said that the plan for counting castes has not been decided yet, as only the first phase — the Houselisting and Housing Census — has been officially announced so far.
- In 2019, the questions for both the Housing Census and Population Enumeration, along with the National Population Register, were tested together from August 12 to September 30.
- This pre-test will check how well the full two-part exercise — the Housing Census and Population Enumeration — works. The actual Census will happen between April 2026 and February 2027.
- Census 2027 will be India’s first fully digital Census, and also the first to include a caste count since India became independent in 1947.
- The pre-test will help check how useful the questions are, how accurate the data collection is, how well people are trained, and how good the overall management is during the process.
- As The Hindu reported on July 9, this pre-test only includes questions about household facilities for now, as part of the Housing Census stage.
- This will be India’s first Census since 2011 because the 2021 Census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now finish in 2027.
- The earlier pre-test for the postponed 2021 Census took place in 2019, covering more than 26 lakh people in 76 districts across 36 States and Union Territories.
Important Questions
- What explanation did India’s Ministry of External Affairs give about its energy sourcing amid Trump’s claims on Russian oil imports?
- How did the disagreement over Russian oil imports affect trade talks between India and the U.S.?
- What memories did Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya share during her visit to Hindu College at Delhi University?
- What key issues are expected to be discussed between Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the official meeting in India?
- What is the main purpose of the Census 2027 pre-test scheduled between November 10 and November 30?
- Why is Census 2027 considered unique compared to previous Indian censuses?
Important Vocabulary
- Disagreement – A situation where two sides do not have the same opinion.
- Imports – Goods or resources brought into a country from abroad.
- Sanctions – Penalties or restrictions placed by one country on another.
- Unilateral – Done by one country or person without the agreement of others.
- Reminisces – Thinks or talks fondly about past experiences.
- Alma Mater – The school, college, or university one has graduated from.
- Nostalgia – A warm, emotional feeling about the past.
- Anthropology – The study of human societies, cultures, and their development.
- Enumeration – The act of counting or listing individuals or items.
- Registrar – An official responsible for keeping records or conducting surveys.
- Pandemic – A worldwide outbreak of a disease.
- Facilities – Basic services or equipment provided for people’s use.
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