The Hindu Editorial Analysis : 28th September 2026

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.

India Criticizes Sharif’s UN Speech, Reaffirms Its Right to Self-Defence

• While delivering India’s National Statement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that India would use its right to defend itself against terrorism. At the same time, he focused on how conflicts and wars are affecting the countries of the Global South.
• In response to the speech given by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier, in which he had criticised India for launching Operation Sindoor last year, Mr. Jaishankar said that there could be “no dilution” in the world’s approach of having zero tolerance towards terrorism.
• Referring to Mr. Sharif’s speech, Mr. Jaishankar said that a “serial practitioner of terrorism” had presented a wrong version of the facts before the UN General Assembly. He said that arguments were being used to make terrorism appear normal and to claim that those responsible for it should not face its consequences.
• In his speech, Mr. Sharif had called Kashmir the “jugular vein” of Pakistan and had accused India of violating human rights in the region.
• Sharif had also alleged that the BJP government had created a “reign of terror” against minorities in India.
• In reply, Mr. Jaishankar said that India would exercise its right to defend itself against terrorism. He also said that governments involved in state-sponsored terrorism for a “cross-border purpose” must be held responsible for their actions.
• Jaishankar also responded to Mr. Sharif’s statement that India was “weaponising water” by keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
• He said that friendship and goodwill cannot exist together with terrorism. He added that any understanding or agreement based on such a situation would naturally be questioned.
• Earlier on the same day, Indian and Pakistani diplomats had also exchanged strong words, showing the continuing differences and tensions between the two countries.
• While explaining India’s position on major global conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and West Asia, Mr. Jaishankar said that countries located far away from these conflicts were also suffering even though they were not responsible for them.
• He pointed to the effect of these conflicts on the “Four Fs” — Food, Fuel, Fertilizers and Finance — and said that the countries facing the greatest impact often have the least say in decisions related to these conflicts.
• Jaishankar said that the UN General Assembly must recognise and deal with the “true state of affairs”, especially the fact that the effects of global conflicts are not felt equally by all countries.
• He also spoke about the attacks on seafarers in both the Ukraine and West Asia conflicts. He said that 18 Indians had been among those killed in these attacks.
• He called the targeting of seafarers “completely unacceptable” and said that India had joined Liberia and 23 other partners in an initiative to bring global public attention to such unjustified attacks.
• While speaking about Israel’s war in Gaza, Mr. Jaishankar said that India believes that peace can be achieved through a two-state solution.
• He added that India is continuing its humanitarian work and is providing relief supplies to Palestinians affected by the conflict.
• Jaishankar also said that a multi-polar world is emerging, meaning that power and influence are becoming spread among more countries. He said that the international order created after 1945 would have to change according to the “new realities” of the world.

EC shifts to damage control mode after facing flak over SIR

• On Saturday, the Election Commission (EC) announced several measures to deal with the concerns related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country.
• One of the important measures announced by the EC is that physical hearings will be stopped for voters whose details could not be matched with the existing records or whose enumeration forms have logical discrepancies or differences.
• The Election Commission clarified that the declaration attached to Form 6, which is used by people for fresh registration as voters, will be mandatory only during the present SIR process.
• This means that new voters who apply to get their names included in the electoral rolls after the current SIR process is over will not have to submit this declaration.
• The Election Commission also said that any person whose name has been left out during the SIR process or after it can apply for inclusion in the electoral rolls.
• This facility is available to everyone who is eligible, including young people and first-time voters. They can apply to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) concerned to get their names included in the electoral rolls.
• The EC said that a special drive for enrolment will be started immediately to help such people get their names added to the electoral rolls.
• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process has already been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, according to the Election Commission.
• These new measures were announced after a meeting of the full bench of the Election Commission on Saturday afternoon.
• The announcement came a few days after reports of differences or a rift among the Election Commissioners over these and other matters related to the SIR process, as well as issues concerning the internal working of the Election Commission.
• The Election Commission’s press note was specially accompanied by a photograph showing all three Election Commissioners.
• The press note also clearly stated that the measures announced “have the approval of the full commission.” This means that the decisions announced had the approval of all three Election Commissioners.

Trump Rejects Iran’s Proposal to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

• S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the fighting in West Asia.
• Iran presented the proposal at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It said that the proposal had been sent to the United States through Qatari mediators. Iran said that the proposal could reopen the important waterway and bring an end to the fighting in the region within seven days.
• While speaking to reporters at the White House, Mr. Trump said, “I reject their proposal… I rejected their deal.”
• Before leaving for Tennessee, Mr. Trump said that Iran wanted to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately because it was losing badly. He said, “We’re winning tremendously.”
• Trump further said that Iran wanted to make a deal and added that he also liked making deals. He said that Iran wanted to reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately because it was not receiving any money. He explained that Iran earned its money through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The United States has placed an economic blockade on Iran to put pressure on the Iranian government to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s blockade has greatly reduced the movement of ships through the strait. However, Mr. Trump once again claimed that the United States had control over the waterway.
• The Wall Street Journal was the first newspaper to report that Mr. Trump had rejected Iran’s proposal. The report was based on information provided by unnamed U.S. officials.
• According to the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Trump privately doubted whether Iran would meet his demands. The newspaper also reported that he had told his staff that he believed another bombing campaign against Iran was likely after the November U.S. midterm elections to Congress.
• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in an interview with the CBS programme Face the Nation, said that Iran was ready to hold talks with the United States on its nuclear programme and other issues. However, he made it clear that Iran would not accept any kind of “bullying or coercion.”

Important Questions

1. What did External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar say at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) about India’s right to defend itself against terrorism?
2. What did S. Jaishankar say about the “Four Fs” — Food, Fuel, Fertilizers and Finance and their impact on the countries of the Global South?
3. What measures did the Election Commission (EC) announce regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
4. What did the Election Commission say about the inclusion of names left out during the SIR process, including young people and first-time voters?
5. What did U.S. President Donald Trump say about Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the fighting in West Asia?
6. What did Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian say about holding talks with the United States on Iran’s nuclear programme?

Important Vocabulary

1. Dilution — Making something weaker or less effective.
2. Jugular — Extremely important or vital.
3. Abeyance — A temporary suspension or pause.
4. Seafarers — People who work or travel at sea.
5. Enumeration — The process of counting or listing people or things.
6. Discrepancies — Differences or inconsistencies.
7. Mandatory — Required or compulsory.
8. Enrolment — The process of being officially registered.
9. Mediators — People or groups who help opposing sides reach an agreement.
10. Blockade — An action that prevents movement into or out of a place.
11. Tremendously — To a very great extent.
12. Coercion — The use of force or pressure to make someone do something.