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.
Flash Floods in Uttarakhand Claim Four Lives
- At least four people lost their lives and many others are missing in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, after sudden floods caused by heavy rainfall hit the Kheer Ganga river on Tuesday afternoon.
- The floods affected several hotels and houses in Dharali town, which is located at a height of 8,600 feet above sea level. Videos taken by locals showed big waves of water taking away buildings, people, and everything else nearby.
- People were shouting to warn others to run and save themselves. The whole market area of this tourist town was destroyed quickly and turned into a river filled with mud.
- About 25 buildings — including hotels, guesthouses, and houses — were completely destroyed. The local officials think around 60 to 70 people are still missing or stuck in the area.
- Lieutenant-Colonel Manish Shrivastava from the Army office in Dehradun reported that nine Army personnel are still missing. He also mentioned that about 20 people were rescued in the initial hours of the operation.
- District Magistrate Prashant Arya said the floods, which came at 1:45 p.m., caused a lot of damage to both people and property, especially around Dharali town.
- ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) officials stated that various teams rescued 32 people. By the time this report was prepared, nearly 120 individuals had been rescued and provided with first aid.
- Temporary relief camps have been established to support people affected by the floods. Hospitals were told to keep a special area ready with beds, oxygen, and medicines to treat the injured.
- The area near Harshil helipad, another tourist place that also has Army and ITBP camps, was badly damaged too. Rescue teams from the SDRF, Army, and ITBP were immediately deployed to the area to provide assistance.
- Because of bad weather and expected more heavy rain, the local government said all schools in the area will be closed on July 6 as a safety step.
- Disaster teams are using loudspeakers and sirens to tell people in nearby villages like Chilyanisaur, Bhatwari, and Dunda to leave their homes and go to safer places.
- All trekking permits in the Uttarkashi area are now stopped until further notice, to keep people safe from possible more floods.
- Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his sorrow and directed officials to carry out rescue and relief work quickly. He stated that he is keeping a close watch on the situation.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also contacted Mr. Dhami to receive an update on the developments. They promised that the central government would help in every possible way.
- Later the same day, more flood news came from Sukhi Top, another tourist place in Uttarkashi. No one died there, but the water in the river increased quickly.
U.S. President Announces Significant Tariff Hike on India Within 24 Hours
- S. President Donald Trump said that India was not a fair trading partner and announced he would increase import taxes on Indian goods within 24 hours because India bought oil from Russia.
- During a television interview with CNBC, Trump claimed that India imposes the highest taxes in the world. He said the U.S. doesn’t do much business with India because of these very high taxes.
- He also said that India sells a lot to the U.S., but the U.S. doesn’t sell much back. He plans to raise taxes even more, over the current 25%, due to India’s Russian oil trade.
- Trump accused India of supporting Russia’s war efforts by purchasing its oil. He warned he would not be happy if India keeps doing this, even after earlier talks between the countries.
- When asked if a trade deal with India was possible, Trump said the big problem was the high taxes. He also said even if India removes taxes now, it’s too late because of the oil trade.
- The day before, Trump had already said he would increase U.S. taxes on Indian goods. He claimed India buys a lot of Russian oil and makes big profits by selling it again.
- India strongly replied, saying the U.S. and the European Union are unfairly blaming India for buying oil from Russia, while they themselves still do business with Russia in many areas.
- India’s Foreign Ministry stated that, unlike India which buys from Russia to protect its economy, the U.S. and EU continue trading with Russia in items like fertilizers, chemicals, steel, machinery, and transport equipment.
- The Ministry also pointed out that the U.S. keeps buying Russian materials like uranium for nuclear energy, palladium for electric vehicles, and other important chemicals and fertilizers.
- India said that such blame is unfair and not reasonable. India said it will take whatever steps are needed to protect its own economy and national safety, as any strong country should.
- On August 1, Trump signed a new law called “Further Modifying The Reciprocal Tariff Rates,” which increased import taxes on over 60 countries, including a big 25% tax on India.
AAP, Parents Voice Concerns Over Delhi Private School Fee Regulation Bill
- The Delhi Assembly had strong debates over the School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025. The Opposition wanted it sent to a special committee to include feedback from more people.
- The debate started after Education Minister Ashish Sood introduced the Bill. The aim is to control how much private schools can raise their fees and to stop unfair fee increases.
- BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay called the Bill a big step in Delhi’s school system. Ajay Kumar Mahawar also commended Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for standing with parents facing difficulties due to increasing school fees.
- AAP MLA Prem Chauhan shared worries about how the fee control committee was made. He said six out of the eleven members are from schools, which could make the decisions unfair.
- Chauhan stated that parents should have a stronger role in the committee. He warned that the process to complain is too long and might stop parents from getting justice on time.
- AAP asked again for the Bill to be sent to a Select Committee that includes both BJP and AAP members. They also asked to freeze fee hikes this academic year due to delays.
- BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht disagreed. He said the large support from the public shows that this Bill is important and needed to fix long-standing fee problems in Delhi schools.
- While these talks were happening inside the Assembly, some parents were protesting outside. They gave their ideas to Minister Sood and asked for better ways to raise concerns at the district level.
- These parents said that any parent, not just 15% of them, should be allowed to report problems to the district committee so that everyone has a fair chance to speak up.
- Parents were also worried that some of the rules in the Bill about fees were unclear. They asked for a simple, open fee system so schools don’t misuse the rules.
- The Education Minister’s team said he had already met with parents before the Bill was discussed. They said the opposition’s claims were not true and that parent concerns were already included.
- The Minister said that this Bill makes the 1973 Delhi School Education Act stronger. It brings better checks, stronger protections, and tougher punishments to help students and parents.
Important Questions
- What damage did the heavy rainfall and flash floods cause in Dharali town?
- What rescue work did SDRF and ITBP teams do during the Uttarkashi floods?
- Why did Donald Trump raise tariffs on Indian goods because of Russian oil trade?
- How did India reply to the U.S. accusation about buying oil from Russia?
- Why did AAP leaders in the Delhi Assembly demand that the Private School Fee Regulation Bill be sent to a Select Committee for more discussion and feedback?
- What concerns did parents raise about the fee regulation committee mentioned in the School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025?
Important Vocabulary
- Torrential – very heavy or intense (usually used for rain)
- Helipad – a landing place for helicopters
- Evacuate – to move people away from danger to a safe place
- Personnel – people who work in an organization, especially military or emergency services
- Tariff – a tax on goods coming into a country
- Reciprocal – given or done in return; mutual
- Accused – blamed or charged with doing something wrong
- Executive (order) – a command or law made by a leader, especially a president
- Regulation – a rule or law meant to control something
- Transparency – being open and honest; nothing is hidden
- Grievance – a complaint or issue someone has, especially against an authority
- Safeguards – actions or laws made to protect people or things from harm
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