The Hindu Editorial Analysis : 27th June 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.

Indian Astronaut Returns to Space After 41 Years, Heads to ISS

• India’s human space programme officially began as Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhan­shu Shukla was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday as part of the Axiom-4 mission.
• The Ax-4 mission was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S., after experiencing multiple delays, marking a significant step forward for India in the field of human spaceflight.
• Group Captain Shukla said, “This is not the start of my journey to the ISS but the start of India’s human space programme,” encouraging all Indians to join in and support this historic mission.
• In his inaugural message from the mission, Shukla called for national unity and patriotism, declaring, “Let us unite and begin India’s journey into human space exploration. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat,” which stirred widespread enthusiasm and pride across the nation.
• Group Captain Shukla, serving as the pilot of the Ax-4 mission, embarked on a 28-hour space journey alongside Commander Peggy Whitson from the U.S., and specialists from Poland and Hungary.
• The SpaceX Dragon crew capsule carrying the astronauts is scheduled to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) at approximately 4:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time on Thursday.
• Once docked, the Ax-4 mission crew members will remain aboard the ISS for 14 days, engaging in scientific research, educational outreach, and various commercial activities representing their respective countries.
• The Ax-4 mission’s research agenda includes almost 60 scientific experiments and activities involving participation from 31 countries, highlighting international collaboration in space exploration.
• Upon successful docking at the ISS, Group Captain Shukla will make history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to board the ISS and the first Indian in space in the last 41 years.
• On Wednesday at 12:01 p.m. local time, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, carrying the SpaceX Dragon capsule and the team of astronauts.
• Approximately 10 minutes after liftoff, the Dragon capsule successfully separated from the rocket’s second stage, and its nose-cone opening sequence commenced, confirming a smooth launch and transition into space.

GST Council May Review and Reduce Items Under 12% Tax Slab

• The GST Council’s upcoming meeting is expected to focus on reducing the 12% tax slab and deciding on the tax treatment of service intermediaries, which could save the sector thousands of crores.
• The meeting, initially planned for June, has been delayed due to disagreements among Council members regarding the location, and is now expected to take place in July 2025 after a gap of over six months.
• As per existing regulations, the GST Council is supposed to meet once every quarter, i.e., every three months, but this meeting will exceed that stipulated interval significantly due to the delays.
• A major agenda item is simplification and rate rationalisation, particularly focusing on the 12% slab, with one recommendation suggesting it could be minimised or potentially eliminated altogether by the Council.
• Another key agenda point is the taxation of service intermediaries, who are currently taxed at 18% even when serving foreign companies; this 18% tax rate is likely to be removed soon.
• If the 12% rate is removed, GST would then have four standard rates: 0%, 5%, 18%, and 28%, excluding special rates like 0.25% on diamonds and 3% on gold and silver.
• Tax expert Saurabh Agarwal from EY India stated it is unlikely that the GST Council will fully abolish the 12% slab, but they may gradually shift items out of this category.
• As part of tax rationalisation measures, certain goods taxed at 12% could be shifted to the 5% slab, while some items currently under the 18% rate may be reduced to 12%.
• This move reflects changing consumer habits and higher income levels, as items like toothpaste and soap, now taxed at 18%, are increasingly seen as essentials rather than discretionary goods.
• Experts have warned that shifting items from the 12% to the 5% slab may harm manufacturers, as they could lose eligibility for input tax credit, affecting their overall tax benefit and costing more.

CBSE Class 10 Students to Have Choice Between Two Exam Attempts

• Starting from the 2026–27 academic session, CBSE Class 10 students will have the opportunity to appear for Board exams twice, aiming to reduce exam-related pressure and boost student performance, in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020.
• Under this revised system, students can attempt to enhance their marks in up to three academic subjects, provided they pass the compulsory first examination, which will be held annually in mid-February.
• According to CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh, appearing in the first exam is mandatory for all students. Those who qualify will have the option to sit for a second attempt in selected academic subjects for score improvement.
• The improvement exam can be taken in no more than three subjects, chosen from Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and the two language subjects. The higher score between the two attempts will be recorded as the final result.
• Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised the move as a significant step to ease exam pressure and support joyful learning, aligning with NEP 2020 and global educational practices promoting student-centric approaches.
• In 2025, approximately 23.72 lakh students took the Class 10 board exams, with a pass rate of 93.66%. CBSE anticipates that this new initiative will offer students greater flexibility and more chances to succeed.
• The results of the first mandatory examination will be released in April, while the second improvement exam will take place in May, with results being announced by the board in the month of June.
• Students may opt for the improvement test in one, two, or three subjects only after they receive their results from the initial mandatory exam, expected to be released in April.
• CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj said the board’s data analysis showed students already scored well in vocational subjects, thus improvement options will now focus solely on academic subjects.
• Under the revised plan, improvement exams can now be taken in three academic subjects rather than two, which offers students a 60% opportunity to enhance their overall academic performance significantly.
• Students who miss three or more subjects in the first examination will be barred from sitting for the second exam. This step aims to ensure students treat the mandatory exam with seriousness and discourage the practice of “opportunity shopping.”
• Those who either skip or fail in at least three subjects during the first attempt will be placed in the ‘Essential Repeat’ category and must retake the exams in the following academic year.
• Those failing or missing one or two subjects will be categorized under ‘Compartment’ and allowed to appear in the second improvement exam for those subjects during the same academic year.
• For the academic year 2025–26, the compartment exams will follow the traditional schedule and be conducted in July with the results released in August, continuing the current established practice.
• Beginning in the 2026–27 academic session, the compartment exam will be combined with the second improvement exam, which will be held earlier in June. This move is intended to streamline the exam process and minimize delays.

Important questions

1. Which Indian astronaut served as the pilot for the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS)?
2. What historic achievement did Group Captain Shukla accomplish upon docking at the ISS?
3. What is one of the main agenda points of the upcoming GST Council meeting regarding tax slabs?
4. According to the article, what tax rate are service intermediaries currently subjected to?
5. What major suggestion regarding the 12% GST rate is expected to be reviewed by the GST Council in its forthcoming meeting?
6. Why is the GST Council considering removing the 18% tax rate currently applied to service intermediaries dealing with foreign companies?

Important vocabulary

1. Inaugural: representing the first event or occurrence in a planned series.
2. Patriotism: strong love and loyalty toward one’s nation.
3. Collaboration: working jointly with others.
4. Docking: the process of joining a spacecraft to a space station.
5. Rationalisation: the process of making a system more efficient or logical.
6. Intermediaries: agents or middlemen in transactions.
7. Exceed: to surpass a set limit or expected level.
8. Stipulated: specifically stated or required by rule.
9. Compartment: a classification for students who do not pass one or two subjects.
10. Mandatory: required by rules or laws.
11. Flexibility: the ability to adapt or make choices.
12. Opportunity shopping: selectively skipping exams to take advantage of future options.

Download Online Mock Test Mobile APP

• Join Official Telegram Channel
• Join Official Whatsapp Group

Get FREE Study Materials & PDFs for IBPS , RBI, SBI, LIC AAO , LIC Assistant, NIACL & Other Exams Over the mail and Whatsapp