The Hindu Editorial Analysis : 20th December 2025

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.

SC asks EC to consider ground realities across States

• The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission of India (EC) to take a “sympathetic view” of requests that seek more time for the enumeration stage of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, keeping in mind the real situation on the ground in different States.
• A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked the EC to take an “appropriate decision” after petitioners from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala said that the enumeration process, even after earlier changes, was still being done in too much hurry.
• The petitioners said that although the schedule was changed earlier, the time given for enumeration was still not enough in both States.
• In Kerala, the enumeration period was extended till December 18, and the draft voter list is planned to be published on December 23.
• In Uttar Pradesh, the revised deadline for the enumeration work was extended till December 26.
• Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the petitioners, including Barabanki MP Tanuj Punia who challenged the SIR in Uttar Pradesh, questioned why the exercise was being done so urgently when the State Assembly elections are only due in 2027.
• Dave told the court that the Assembly elections are expected to be held in April or May 2027, and considering the very large population of Uttar Pradesh, there was no strong reason to complete the process in such a rushed manner.
• Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate C.K. Sasi, who were representing Kerala, supported this request and asked the Supreme Court to direct that more time be given for the enumeration process.
• Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the EC, opposed any direct order from the court to extend the deadline. He said that the Election Commission was already keeping a close watch on the situation, which is why extensions had been granted earlier as well.
• Dwivedi requested the court to leave the matter fully to the EC, saying that no court order was needed for granting any further extension.
• The Bench, which included Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, fixed January 6, 2026, after the winter break, to hear the case challenging the constitutionality of the SIR exercise.
• Sibal claimed that around 25 lakh voters in Kerala would be left out of the draft voter list. He gave examples where a wife’s name was excluded while the husband’s name was included, and later even the husband’s name was removed. He also pointed out that the EC had not yet filed its reply to the challenge.
• The court also refused to look into a plea that raised concerns about citizens’ private data being shared with “volunteers” during the enumeration process, noting that the earlier extension had already been announced on December 11, which was the previous deadline for submitting enumeration forms.

India inks agreement with Oman enabling duty-free exports and labour mobility

• India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Thursday. Under this agreement, Oman will allow India duty-free access on 98.08% of its tariff lines, which covers 99.38% of India’s exports to Oman.
• In return, India has agreed to reduce or remove tariffs on 77.79% of its total tariff lines, which make up 94.81% of India’s imports from Oman.
• Apart from removing tariffs on goods, the agreement also includes several benefits for India’s services sector, especially to make it easier for Indian workers and professionals to work in Oman.
• The CEPA was signed in Muscat by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef.
• The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
• In the financial year 2024–25, India exported goods worth $4.06 billion to Oman, which made up 0.93% of India’s total exports.
• During the same period, India imported goods worth $6.5 billion from Oman, accounting for 0.91% of India’s total imports.
• Speaking at the India-Oman Business Forum, Prime Minister Modi said that the CEPA would bring new confidence and energy into the India-Oman relationship in the 21st century and would act as a model for future cooperation.
• He said the agreement would help increase trade, boost the confidence of investors, and open up new opportunities in many sectors.
• This CEPA is Oman’s first trade agreement with any country since its deal with the United States in 2006. It is also India’s second agreement with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country, after the agreement signed with the UAE in February 2022.
• Goyal said that the agreement would also serve as an important gateway for India to access markets in the GCC region, eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Africa.
• According to a government press release, labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, sports goods, plastics, furniture, agriculture, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and automobiles will get full tariff benefits under the agreement.
• India has kept some sensitive items outside the agreement. These include agricultural products such as dairy, tea, coffee, rubber, tobacco, gold and silver bullion, jewellery, footwear, sports goods, and scrap of certain base metals.
• One of the major features of the CEPA is better mobility for Indian professionals. Oman has increased the quota for intra-corporate transferees from 20% to 50% and extended the stay period for contractual service suppliers from 90 days to two years. There is also an option to extend this stay by another two years, along with easier entry and stay rules for skilled professionals in key sectors.

Allahabad HC Directs Grant of Protection to 12 Live-in Couples

• The Allahabad High Court said that even though live-in relationships may not be accepted by everyone in society, they are not illegal. The court directed the Uttar Pradesh police to provide protection to 12 live-in couples who were facing threats from their families.
• Justice Vivek Kumar Singh, while hearing petitions filed by 12 women from different parts of the State, said that living together without marriage is not a crime.
• The court referred to the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and pointed out that the law gives protection and maintenance to women in domestic relationships without using the word “wife”.
• The court said that once two adults choose each other as partners, no family member or any other person has the right to interfere in or disturb their peaceful life.
• The Bench stressed that the State has a constitutional duty to protect the life and personal freedom of every citizen.
• The court made it clear that fundamental rights cannot be taken away just because the people involved are not married. It said that the right to life is more important than social approval or marital status.
• The court also referred to the Indian Evidence Act and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. These laws presume that a couple is married if they have lived together for a long time. The court said such legal presumptions should be used to protect the rights of women and children who are part of live-in relationships.

Important Questions

1. Why did the Supreme Court ask the Election Commission of India to take a “sympathetic view” of requests related to the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision?
2. Why did petitioners from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala say that the enumeration process of the Special Intensive Revision was still rushed even after the schedules were revised?
3. What percentage of tariff lines will Oman grant duty-free access to India under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement?
4. How will the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement improve labour mobility for Indian professionals in Oman?
5. Why did the Allahabad High Court direct the Uttar Pradesh police to provide protection to the live-in couples?
6. How did the court use the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, to support live-in relationships?

Important Vocabulary

1. Sympathetic – showing understanding and concern for a problem
2. Enumeration – the process of counting and recording details
3. Petitioners – people who approach the court with a request
4. Constitutionality – whether something follows the Constitution
5. Tariff – a tax charged on imported or exported goods
6. Merchandise – goods that are bought and sold
7. Quota – a fixed number or limit allowed
8. Labour-intensive – industries that require a lot of workers
9. Live-in relationships – couples living together without marriage
10. Interfere – to disturb or get involved without permission
11. Fundamental rights – basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution
12. Presume – to believe something is true until proved otherwise

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