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.
Cyclone Montha Hits Coast; Heavy Rain Lashes Parts of A.P.
- The strong cyclone named Montha started hitting the coast near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- Between 11.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., the storm moved at a speed of 17 km per hour and was located 120 km east of Machilipatnam and 110 km south of Kakinada.
- By 5.30 p.m., Montha was also 220 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam and 460 km southwest of Gopalpur, Odisha, bringing heavy rainfall to both states.
- After hitting north coastal Andhra on Monday, the heavy rain shifted to SPSR Nellore and Prakasam districts. Many places in these areas received more than 100 mm of rainfall.
- Ulavapadu in SPSR Nellore recorded 167 mm rainfall, followed by Kavali with 162.75 mm and Dagadarthi with 147.5 mm, according to the IMD.
- In Prakasam district, Singarayakonda received 131.5 mm, Pakala 122 mm, and Ongole 100.5 mm rainfall between 8.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
- Kakinada saw only light rain till 7 p.m., and the IMD withdrew red alerts for some districts, while it issued orange alerts for others.
- Orange alerts were given for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Nandyal, and other nearby districts in Andhra Pradesh.
- Due to two days of heavy rain, over 43,000 hectares of crops were flooded, affecting around 83,000 farmers, according to early reports from the agricultural department.
- Paddy and cotton crops were damaged the most, and losses in the power sector crossed ₹2,200 crore because of damage to substations, transformers, and electric lines.
- Visakhapatnam district got 147 mm of rainfall on Monday, and the municipal corporation cleared 119 fallen trees from different parts of the city.
- The Kakinada administration set up 401 relief camps and moved 35,000 people to safety. More people were expected to be shifted, as 67 villages, five towns, and Kakinada city were affected.
- District Collector S. Shan Mohan said 1,600 school buses were used to help evacuate people from the coastal and low-lying areas hit by the cyclone.
- Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered NDRF and SDRF teams to stay in and around Kakinada to handle the severe cyclone situation.
- Due to strong winds and rain, 20 trains, including 10 from Visakhapatnam and 11 from South Central Railway divisions, were cancelled on Tuesday.
- A train from Bhubaneswar passing through Visakhapatnam was also cancelled, causing major problems for passengers in the cyclone-affected region.
- At Visakhapatnam airport, 32 flights were cancelled, and only one small nine-seater flight between Vizag and Jeypore operated during the bad weather.
- The Vijayawada–Vizag–Vijayawada IndiGo flight for Wednesday was cancelled, though other flights from Visakhapatnam were expected to run normally later.
- Vijayawada airport cancelled 16 flights, while four flights from Tirupati were also stopped because of Cyclone Montha’s strong winds and heavy rain.
- The IMD said weather would improve by Wednesday, as alerts were lowered, but damage checks and relief work were still going on in the affected districts.
IIP Growth Slows to 4% in September, a Three-Month Low
- India’s industrial growth slowed down to 4% in September 2025, the lowest in the past three months, marking the slowest first-half growth in five years.
- Data from the Ministry of Statistics showed industrial growth at 3.2% in September 2024, rising to 4.3% in July 2025, before slowing again in September.
- The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 3% overall between April and September 2025, the weakest growth since at least 2020.
- During April–September 2021-22, IIP had grown 24% due to the pandemic’s low base, followed by 7% in 2022-23, 6.3% in 2023-24, and 4.1% in 2024-25.
- The slowdown in September came mainly because of weak performance in mining, primary goods, and consumer non-durables. The mining sector even shrunk by 0.45% that month.
- Mining output had grown 6.6% in August 2025 and 0.2% in September 2024, showing a big drop in production compared to the previous months.
- Consumer non-durable goods (like daily-use items) fell 2.9% in September 2025, after already falling 6.4% in August 2025, while they had grown 2.2% in September last year.
- Economist Madan Sabnavis said this drop could be due to delayed GST rate cuts, which were implemented late in September, so people did not immediately buy more products.
- He added that the GST cut mainly helped this sector, and its benefits might start showing in October–November, once old stocks with higher prices are sold out.
- The consumer durables sector (like electronics and home appliances) did better, with 10.2% growth in September 2025, compared to 3.5% in August and 6.3% a year earlier.
- Primary goods growth slowed sharply to 1.4% in September 2025, down from 5.4% in August 2025 and 1.8% in September 2024, showing weak demand.
- The manufacturing sector, however, performed better, with growth rising to 4.8% in September 2025, up from 3.8% in August and 4% in September 2024.
Centre Approves Terms for 8th Central Pay Commission
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference for the Eighth Central Pay Commission (CPC), which will review the salaries and retirement benefits of Central government employees.
- The government had already announced the plan for the 8th CPC in January, to look into pay and benefits for employees across all Central departments.
- Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Commission was set up quickly after approval in January, showing efficient coordination among government departments.
- He said the process included wide consultations with major ministries such as Defence, Home, Railways, and Personnel, which employ large numbers of Central workers.
- The Commission will have one chairperson, one part-time member, and one member-secretary, and will submit its recommendations within 18 months of being formed.
- Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (Retd.) will lead the Commission as chairperson, providing judicial knowledge and leadership for the pay review.
- Professor Pulak Ghosh from IIM Bangalore will be the part-time member, bringing academic and data-based insights into salary analysis.
- Petroleum Secretary Pankaj Jain will act as the member-secretary, ensuring smooth coordination and management of meetings and consultations.
- About 50 lakh Central government employees will be affected by the Commission’s decisions. The government also discussed the plan with several State governments, which showed support.
- The CPC will consider factors such as India’s economic condition and fiscal responsibility while suggesting new pay structures and benefits.
- It must also make sure the government still has enough funds for development projects and welfare schemes, keeping a balance between pay hikes and public spending.
- The Commission will study unfunded pension liabilities and how its recommendations could impact national finances.
- It will also check how the new pay changes might affect State government budgets, to maintain fairness and financial stability across all levels of government.
- In addition, the CPC will compare the pay, benefits, and working conditions of Central employees with those in public sector companies and the private sector.
- The formation of the 8th CPC and approval of its Terms of Reference mark a major step for the government, as it will affect millions of employees and play an important role in India’s financial planning.
Important Questions
- How did the Kakinada district administration prepare for Cyclone Montha, as mentioned by the India Meteorological Department (IMD)?
- What was the estimated financial loss in the power sector caused by Cyclone Montha’s heavy rain and strong winds?
- What were the main reasons for the slowdown in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in September 2025, according to the Ministry of Statistics?
- How did the late GST rate cuts affect the consumer non-durables sector during September 2025?
- Who are the members of the Eighth Central Pay Commission, and what roles will they perform?
- How will the CPC balance pay hikes for government employees with the need for fiscal prudence and public spending?
Important Vocabulary
- Landfall – when a storm or cyclone first touches the land after moving over the sea.
- Evacuated – moved people from dangerous places to safer areas.
- Submerged – covered or flooded completely by water.
- Assessments – careful checks or reports made to understand the level of loss or damage.
- Contraction – a decrease or shrinking in size, level, or amount.
- Fiscal – related to government income, spending, and money management.
- Durables – goods meant to last for a long time, like electronics or furniture.
- Deceleration – a slowing down of speed or growth rate.
- Constituted – formally set up or created.
- Consultations – discussions held to get opinions or advice before making a decision.
- Emoluments – salaries, wages, or other financial benefits given to employees.
- Sustainability – the ability to continue or maintain something over time without causing harm.
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