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.
Trump Raises Tariff on Indian Goods to 50%
- S. President Donald Trump signed a new order on Wednesday that will make Indian goods more expensive to sell in America. He added another 25% tax (called a tariff) on products coming from India. This is because India is still buying oil from Russia, and the U.S. doesn’t agree with that.
- Earlier, on July 31, Mr. Trump had already added a 25% tariff. Now, with this new order, the total extra tax on Indian goods entering the U.S. becomes 50%.
- The first 25% will start from Thursday. The second 25% will begin 21 days later. This is part of the U.S.’s way of reacting to how India is handling its trade, especially with Russia.
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has called these new taxes unfair, wrong, and unreasonable. They said they are very disappointed with the U.S. decision.
- Trump’s order said this was needed to handle a national emergency (as mentioned earlier in Executive Order 14066), and so more tariffs were necessary.
- The order explained that India will face this extra 25% tax because it is either directly or indirectly buying oil from Russia.
- President Trump has already warned India several times that it could face penalties if it continues to buy Russian oil. This is especially sensitive because of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
- In response to earlier warnings, India said the U.S. and even the European Union are still doing business with Russia. So, India feels it’s being treated unfairly.
- The MEA stated that India requires oil to support the energy needs of its 1.4 billion citizens. So its oil imports are based on what’s available in the market and how much energy the country needs. They said energy security is a national priority.
- The MEA also said it’s unfortunate that the U.S. is targeting India with these actions, especially since other countries are involved in similar trade. India added that it will take whatever steps are needed to protect its national interests.
- C. Ralhan, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), said this decision is a major setback for Indian exports, as almost 55% of goods India sends to the U.S. will now be impacted.
- He added that this 50% total tax will add a heavy cost to Indian products. It will make them 30% to 35% more expensive compared to goods from other countries that are not facing such high tariffs.
- At the same time, trade officials from both countries are working on the first part of a new U.S.-India trade agreement, which they hope to finish by this fall. The next round of talks is set for August 25 in Delhi.
- Ajay Srivastava, who works with the Global Trade Research Initiative, said that India should stay calm. He advised India not to take revenge for the next six months and also not to negotiate while being pressured.
- He also said that India should only cut back on buying oil from Russia if it makes financial sense, not because the U.S. or other countries are forcing it to.
190 People Rescued in Uttarkashi After Flash Floods
- In Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, around 190 people were rescued on Wednesday from Dharali town, one day after flash floods caused heavy damage and several people went missing.
- The whole town was covered in mud and slush after the floods. Rescue teams also found two dead bodies as they continued looking for the missing people.
- Heavy rain caused landslides, which blocked roads and made it harder for rescue teams to reach the area.
- Rivers across Uttarakhand are still overflowing past the warning mark. The state has been getting nonstop heavy rainfall for over 50 hours, which is increasing the risk of more floods and damage.
- Vinod Kumar Suman, the Secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, said that they believe about 15 people are still missing. He added that rescue efforts are ongoing.
- Suman said the government is giving full support to rescue teams so they can work without stopping, even in such tough weather and difficult terrain in Dharali.
- About 150 soldiers from the Rajputana Rifles, along with 12 soldiers from the Ghatak battalion, are already helping with the rescue.
- 100 ITBP soldiers are already helping in the area, and 40 Army soldiers are walking from Nelong Valley to join the rescue efforts.
- A 50-member medical team from the Army has reached Tekla, while 80 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) jawans are stuck in Papadgadh due to landslides.
- Suman also said that 130 more ITBP soldiers will reach the flood-hit area on Thursday to make the rescue and relief work stronger.
Government Says Aadhaar Face ID Will Make Exams Fairer
- The Indian government says using Aadhaar face authentication will help make competitive exams more fair and honest, and build more trust among students.
- On Wednesday, the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry told Parliament that using face ID will also improve how exams are managed.
- The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) have already been allowed to use Aadhaar face recognition.
- This system uses a phone camera to check if a person is real and alive (called “liveness”) and then matches their face with the one on their Aadhaar card.
- The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) also recently said that new Universal Account Numbers (UANs) for workers and pensioners will now only be made using Aadhaar face verification.
- More people are interested in face ID because some workers and elderly people have trouble using fingerprints — especially if their hands are worn out or old.
- In reply to a question by MP A. Raja, the ministry said Aadhaar face and iris scan will now be promoted for people who cannot use fingerprint properly.
- India Post Payments Bank, which works under the Department of Posts, started using face authentication this month. It supports India’s Digital India and Financial Inclusion goals.
- The bank said that Aadhaar face ID helps make sure everyone is included, and supports the values of equality, access, and empowerment through digital identity.
- Any Aadhaar-based verification, including face ID, must first be approved by the IT Ministry. This ensures that everything is properly checked and controlled.
- As per the new Aadhaar rules for Good Governance (2025), both private and government organisations must send a proposal to the IT Ministry before using face or iris authentication.
- The Ministry checks these proposals through a platform called SWIK (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge). The UIDAI (Aadhaar authority) also looks into each request.
- Data from the SWIK portal shows that only 1 to 6 proposals are approved each month, showing that the system is very selective.
- This Monday, the Sports Authority of India got permission to use Aadhaar face ID to verify athletes, coaches, and staff for things like registration, attendance, and direct benefit transfers (DBT).
- This will help with sports programs like Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), making them more efficient and transparent.
- Since 2020, a total of 312 government organisations at the central and state level have been approved to use Aadhaar-based authentication under the SWIK rules, showing that Aadhaar is being used more widely.
Important Questions
- Why did President Trump impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, and how is it connected to India’s oil imports from Russia?
- What does S.C. Ralhan say about the impact of the 50% tariff on Indian exports to the U.S.?
- What challenges did rescue teams face in Dharali town after the flash floods in Uttarkashi?
- How did Indian Army soldiers and ITBP personnel help in the rescue and relief operations after the floods in Uttarkashi, and where were they deployed?
- How is Aadhaar face authentication expected to increase transparency in competitive exams according to the government?
- What role does the SWIK portal play in approving the use of face and iris authentication?
Important Vocabulary
- Tariff – A tax placed on goods coming from another country.
- National emergency – A serious situation declared by the government that needs urgent action.
- Penalties – Punishments or extra charges for doing something that’s not allowed.
- Setback – Something that causes progress to slow down or stop.
- Flash floods – Sudden, strong floods that happen quickly due to heavy rain.
- Landslides – Large amounts of earth or rocks sliding down a hill or mountain.
- Slush – Thick, muddy water caused by rain or melted snow.
- Terrain – The physical features or type of land in an area.
- Authentication – The process of proving someone’s identity.
- Transparency – Being open and clear, especially in processes or decisions.
- Inclusion – Making sure everyone, including weaker groups, is involved or supported.
- Iris scan – A security method that uses the colored part of the eye to confirm identity.
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