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.
Supreme Court Dismisses Petition Opposing Caste Census Count
- The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that there was no problem if the government decided to collect caste details during the nationwide Census process.
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who was leading a three-judge Bench, said that every government should know how many people belong to backward communities and how many people need welfare help. He said that this issue is connected to government policy.
- The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by petitioner-in-person Sudhakar Gummula, who argued that caste counting should not be included in Census 2027.
- Gummula told the court that there were many chances of politicians and corporate groups misusing caste-related information. He said there was no proper reason for collecting such a large amount of caste data.
- The Chief Justice replied that it was not the job or authority of the court to decide whether caste counting should or should not be part of Census 2027.
- The court said that the matter completely comes under the policy decisions of the government and later dismissed the petition.
- The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had already decided in a meeting held in April 2025 that caste counting would be included in Census 2027.
- After that decision, caste enumeration became a major and important part of the upcoming Census exercise.
- Till the 2011 Census, the Census process regularly collected caste-related information only for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- The government had also informed Parliament that caste counting would be included during the second phase of Census 2027.
- The first phase of the Census involved the House Listing Operation (HLO), under which details about housing conditions, household assets, facilities, and similar information of every household were collected.
- The second phase, called Population Enumeration, would include collecting demographic, social, economic, cultural, and other related information about people.
- Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar had said that properly and carefully collected caste data could become a tool for integration, comparing it to an MRI scan of the human body.
- The last detailed and complete nationwide caste Census in India was conducted during British colonial rule in 1931.
India and Italy strengthen defence cooperation, raise bilateral relations to a ‘special strategic partnership’
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that India and Italy have remained in regular contact regarding the conflicts in Ukraine, West Asia, and other regions facing violence.
- Speaking in Rome at the end of his multi-country Europe visit, Mr. Modi described India-Italy relations as a “win-win partnership”.
- He also welcomed the decision to raise bilateral relations to the level of a “Special Strategic Partnership”.
- Modi said that India clearly believes that all problems and conflicts should be solved through talks and diplomacy.
- The Ministry of External Affairs said that the Special Strategic Partnership will increase cooperation between India and Italy in areas such as trade, technology, defence, clean energy, and innovation.
- The partnership will also improve cooperation in the movement of skilled and unskilled workers through safe and secure systems.
- India and Italy signed a “Defence Industrial Road Map” during the visit.
- The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in critical minerals.
- Another agreement was signed between the Italian Corps of the Guardia di Finanza and India’s Directorate of Enforcement.
- A Joint Statement released during Mr. Modi’s visit announced that India and Italy have signed an agreement on agriculture and agricultural research.
- The agreement will connect Ministries and institutions from both countries for cooperation in the agriculture sector and research work.
- Both countries showed commitment towards a free, open, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
- They said this commitment would follow international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
- Regarding the Gulf situation, India and Italy called for freedom of navigation and the restoration of global trade movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Before the India-Africa Forum Summit-4, both countries agreed to work together on selected trilateral projects in Africa.
- The Joint Statement said that both Prime Ministers recognised the strategic importance of Africa for India and Italy.
- They agreed to cooperate with African partners in sectors such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), agriculture, education, healthcare, artificial intelligence, connectivity and infrastructure, and renewable energy.
- The cooperation in Africa will be carried out in line with India’s development partnership programmes in Africa and Italy’s Mattei Plan.
- During the visit, Mr. Modi was awarded the Agricola Medal for 2026 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations at the FAO headquarters in Rome.
Rajnath Singh holds extensive defence discussions in South Korea, stresses stronger strategic partnership
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held detailed bilateral talks with South Korea’s Minister of National Defence Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul on Wednesday.
- During the discussions, both countries agreed to increase defence cooperation in areas such as defence industry, maritime security, new technologies, logistics support, and military-level exchanges.
- According to the Defence Ministry, the two Ministers reviewed the full range of defence relations between India and South Korea.
- Both sides also repeated their commitment towards maintaining a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
- The talks highlighted the growing strategic coordination between India’s Act East Policy and South Korea’s regional strategic vision.
- Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to strengthen cooperation in defence, cybersecurity, and training exchanges.
- Agreements were also signed between India’s National Defence College and the Korea National Defence University to improve academic and defence training cooperation.
- The discussions also included cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, expanding the scope of the India–South Korea strategic partnership.
- Two major MoUs were signed for future-focused defence projects related to self-propelled air defence systems and directed energy weapon systems.
- Both of these defence projects will strongly support the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Important Questions
- Why did the Supreme Court describe caste enumeration in Census 2027 as a matter related to government policy?
- What demographic, socio-economic, and cultural information would be collected during the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027?
- Which sectors of trade, technology, defence, and clean energy will be strengthened under the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership?
- Why did India and Italy call for freedom of navigation and restoration of global trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz?
- Which areas of defence industry, maritime security, and emerging technologies were discussed during the bilateral talks in Seoul?
- How will the self-propelled air defence systems and directed energy weapon systems support the ‘Make in India’ initiative?
Important Vocabulary
- Enumeration – the process of officially counting people or things.
- Petition – a formal written request made to a court or authority.
- Demographic – related to the population and its characteristics.
- Systematically – done in an organised and planned way.
- Diplomacy – managing relations between countries through discussion.
- Bilateral – involving two countries or sides.
- Prosperous – successful and financially strong.
- Trilateral – involving three countries or groups.
- Maritime – related to the sea or ocean.
- Cybersecurity – protection of computer systems and digital data.
- Strategic – related to long-term planning for advantage or success.
- Logistics – the management of transport, supplies, and resources.
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