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.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Begins Its Inaugural Journey
- During a two-day visit to West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started India’s first overnight sleeper Vande Bharat train, which connects Kolkata and Guwahati.
- The inauguration programme was held in Malda on Saturday.
- Along with this train, the Prime Minister also virtually flagged off four new trains from different places in West Bengal to other States.
- While launching the train, Mr. Modi said that this first sleeper Vande Bharat train now connects the land of Maa Kali with the land of Maa Kamakhya.
- He said that these new trains would make travelling easier for people and would also help in increasing trade.
- The Vande Bharat sleeper train will run between Howrah and Kamakhya stations six days a week in both directions.
- The train will leave Howrah at 6.20 p.m. and Kamakhya at 6.15 p.m.
- The total travel time of the sleeper Vande Bharat train will be around 14 hours.
- The other trains launched were four Amrit Bharat Express trains.
- These Amrit Bharat Express services will run from New Jalpaiguri to Nagercoil, from New Jalpaiguri to Tiruchirappalli, from Alipurduar to Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru, and from Alipurduar to Mumbai (Panvel).
- The launch of these new trains is being seen as an attempt to prepare the ground ahead of the upcoming West Bengal elections.
- In his speech, Mr. Modi said that people from other countries are now making videos of Indian trains and telling others how much India’s railway system has improved.
- Modi stressed that the new Vande Bharat sleeper train has been made in India.
- The Prime Minister said that Indian Railways is becoming modern as well as self-reliant.
- He mentioned that about 150 Vande Bharat trains are currently running across the country.
- Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was present at the event.
- Vaishnaw said that food from Bengal and Assam would be served on the sleeper Vande Bharat train.
- The Mayfair Spring Valley Resort in Guwahati has joined with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to provide food on this train.
- Many senior BJP leaders were present at the programme, including MP Sukanta Majumdar.
- The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, also attended the event.
- BJP State president Samik Bhattacharya was present as well.
- West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose also attended the programme.
- At the same event, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for several road and railway projects worth about ₹3,250 crore.
- He launched a project to build a new railway line between Balurghat and Hili.
- Projects related to modern freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri were also started.
- The Prime Minister launched the upgradation of the Siliguri Loco Shed.
- He also launched the modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district.
- In addition, he laid the foundation stone for repairing and widening the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway 31D to four lanes.
- Later in the day, the Prime Minister addressed a public meeting of BJP workers and supporters at a ground in Malda.
Trump announces tariffs on eight European nations over Greenland
- In a fresh move linked to his long-standing interest in buying Greenland, U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on several European countries and NATO partners.
- This announcement came even though trade agreements had already been finalised with the U.K. and the European Union in 2025.
- Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social.
- The tariffs apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland.
- He said that these countries would have to pay a 10% tariff on goods they export to the United States starting February 1.
- He added that this tariff would rise to 25% from June 2026.
- Trump wrote that the tariff would continue to be charged until a deal was made for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
- Last week, these countries sent a small number of soldiers to Greenland after Denmark requested support.
- This happened due to rising threats from Mr. Trump, which he mentioned in his post.
- Greenland is a resource-rich island in the Arctic region and governs itself, but it is officially under Denmark, which is a NATO member.
- Trump claimed that the countries involved had gone to Greenland for unclear reasons.
- He described the situation as very dangerous for the safety and survival of the planet.
- According to him, their actions had pushed the situation to a level that could not continue.
- He also said that global peace and security were at risk because of what was happening around Greenland.
- A spokesperson from the German government said that Germany had taken note of Mr. Trump’s statement.
- The spokesperson added that Germany was in close contact with its European partners.
- The spokesperson told The Hindu by email that the countries concerned would decide together how to respond.
- In his post, Mr. Trump claimed that Russia and China wanted to take control of Greenland.
- He also said that Denmark was not capable of defending Greenland.
- Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command chief, Major General Søren Andersen, said in an interview published on Saturday that Russia and China are not seen as threats to Greenland at present.
- On Thursday, a Russian government spokesperson rejected the claim that Russia or China planned to occupy Greenland.
Under Trump’s Gaza plan, the U.S. appoints Rubio, Blair, and Kushner to the ‘Board of Peace’
- The White House announced on Friday the names of some members of a group called the “Board of Peace.”
- This board is meant to oversee the temporary administration of Gaza.
- Gaza has been under a fragile ceasefire since October, and the board is expected to function during this period.
- The announced members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
- According to a plan shared by the White House in October, President Donald Trump himself will be the head of this board.
- Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have both agreed to Mr. Trump’s plan regarding Gaza’s temporary governance.
- The plan says that a Palestinian group of experts will be formed, but it will work under the supervision of this international board.
- The international board will oversee how Gaza is governed during the transition period.
- Many human rights experts and activists have criticised this arrangement.
- They say that a U.S. President controlling a board that governs another region looks similar to a colonial system.
- Tony Blair’s role has also been criticised because of his involvement in the Iraq war and Britain’s past imperial role in West Asia.
- The White House has not clearly explained what duties each member of the board will have.
- None of the members announced so far are Palestinians.
- The White House said that more members of the board will be named in the coming weeks.
Important Questions
- What did Prime Minister Narendra Modi say about the connection between the land of Ma Kali and the land of Ma Kamakhya while inaugurating the sleeper Vande Bharat train?
- What projects worth an estimated ₹3,250 crore were launched and had foundation stones laid by the Prime Minister at the same programme in Malda?
- Which European countries will face a 10% tariff on their exports to the United States starting February 1, according to Donald Trump’s Truth Social post?
- What did Major General Søren Andersen say about Russia and China being threats to Greenland?
- Who are the members announced by the White House for the “Board of Peace” intended to supervise the temporary governance of Gaza?
- Why have several human rights experts and advocates criticised the arrangement of President Donald Trump overseeing the international board that supervises the transitional governance of Gaza?
Important Vocabulary
- Inaugural – marking the first official start of something.
- Virtually – done through online or digital means, not physically present.
- Modernisation – process of making something more modern.
- Rehabilitation – repairing and improving something that is damaged or old.
- Tariffs – taxes placed on goods coming from other countries.
- Self-governing – having the power to manage one’s own affairs.
- Escalating – increasing or becoming more serious.
- Unsustainable – unable to continue for a long time.
- Ceasefire – an agreement to stop fighting for a period of time.
- Technocratic – run by experts rather than elected leaders.
- Transitional – relating to a temporary change period.
- Colonial – related to control by a foreign power over another region.
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