The Hindu — Important News Articles & Editorial Analysis
Daily Current Affairs · International Edition · Raman Academy, Sanjauli, Shimla
In Today's Edition
- Core Sectors Grow at Five-Month High of 5%GS III · Economy
- India Approves First Dengue Vaccine (QDENGA) for Ages 4–60GS II · Social Justice
- India's Green Transition Is Missing Long-Duration Energy StorageGS III · Environment
- Reclaiming Footpaths: Taking Cities Back from CarsGS II · Polity
- Why Inflation Is Rising in IndiaGS III · Economy
- Editorial: Canada–India Defence Collaboration for a Secure FutureGS II · Intl Relations
Core Sectors Grow at Five-Month High of 5%
The Hindu · Page 01
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (DPIIT) recently released a new and updated series of the Index of Core Industries (ICI). In June 2026, India's core industrial sectors grew at 5% — the fastest in five months. The most striking feature of the new series is the shift of its Base Year from 2011-12 to 2022-23 and the addition of Iron Ore as the 9th core industry.
Key Points & Deep Analysis
- Inclusion of a 9th Sector: Given its major contribution to industrial development and steel manufacturing, Iron Ore is now a core industry — taking the total from eight to nine core sectors.
- Revised Weights & Methodology: Sector weightages and estimation techniques have been updated to reflect the economy's structural changes more accurately.
- Unprecedented Iron Ore Growth (43.9%): A massive June surge, up from 19% in May.
- Other Major Sectors: Positive growth in Electricity (9.8%), Cement (9.8%), Steel (4.6%), and Coal (1.4%) — signalling improved infrastructure and construction activity.
The Base Effect Behind the Headline Number
Experts attribute much of the 43.9% iron-ore jump to the Base Effect — the same sector had contracted 16.4% in June 2025. A very low base in the previous year makes even a modest recovery look enormous in percentage terms.
| Sector | June 2026 Growth | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore (new) | +43.9% | Amplified by 16.4% contraction in June 2025 |
| Electricity | +9.8% | Infrastructure demand |
| Cement | +9.8% | Construction activity |
| Steel | +4.6% | Positive |
| Coal | +1.4% | Positive |
| Crude Oil | −4.2% | Hydrocarbon contraction |
| Natural Gas | −7.4% | Higher imports |
| Refinery Products | −4.7% | Slower export of refined products |
| Fertilizers | −3.3% | Import-driven |
The near-universal contraction in hydrocarbon-linked sectors stems from high imports (aided by lower global crude prices) and a slowdown in refinery-product exports.
Static Dimensions (Mains Linkage)
- Index of Industrial Production (IIP): Core industries are the basic sectors that lay the foundation for all other industries; they carry over ~40% weight in the IIP, so their performance directly shapes overall industrial and economic growth.
- Need for Base-Year Revision: Over time, production structures, consumption patterns and new technologies make an old base year (2011-12) misrepresent the current economy; the 2022-23 base gives policymakers cleaner data and reduces statistical distortion.
- Base Effect: The impact a low/high base of the previous year has on the current growth rate — a small real improvement on a low base appears very large (as with iron ore).
- Import Dependency & Energy Security: Contraction across hydrocarbons plus rising imports underlines India's continued exposure to global crude prices and supply chains.
Q. 'Base Effect' means—
(a) An increase in the basic production cost of an industry
(b) The current growth rate appearing higher or lower due to the base figures of the previous year
(c) Changing the base year of an industry
(d) A change in production cost due to inflation
Click to reveal answer
India Approves First Dengue Vaccine (QDENGA) for Ages 4–60
The Hindu · Page 06
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted market authorization for the dengue vaccine QDENGA (TAK-003) from Japan's Takeda — India's first anti-dengue vaccine, approved for the 4–60 age group. With India accounting for about one-third (33%) of global dengue cases, the approval is seen as a major milestone in India's public-health framework against infectious diseases.
Key Features of QDENGA
- Live-Attenuated Tetravalent Vaccine: Protects against all four serotypes (DENV-1, 2, 3, 4).
- No Pre-vaccination Screening: Unlike the earlier 'Dengvaxia', there is no need to test for prior infection before administering QDENGA.
- Two-Dose Regimen: Two subcutaneous doses, three months apart.
- High Efficacy: In Phase III trials, up to 80.2% efficacy against dengue infection and 90.4% against hospitalization.
India Implications: Significance of the Approval
- High Disease Burden: Dengue cases in India have risen 11-fold over two decades; the vaccine can ease the public-health load.
- Economic Savings: Relief for middle- and low-income groups from out-of-pocket hospitalization costs and lost productivity.
- WHO Pre-qualification: Recognized by the WHO, potentially paving the way for inclusion in India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
Challenges & Concerns
- Cost & Accessibility: A high private-market price could limit reach among poorer sections.
- Public vs Private Vaccination: Immediate UIP inclusion poses a budgetary challenge.
- Risk of Neglecting Vector Control: Over-reliance on the vaccine could relax mosquito-breeding control and sanitation drives.
- Cold Chain & Logistics: Maintaining the two-dose system efficiently in rural and remote areas.
Related Static Dimensions
- Dengue Virus: A single-stranded RNA Flavivirus.
- Vector: Transmitted mainly by female Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
- Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE): Infection with a second serotype after recovering from a first can be more severe (Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever).
- CDSCO & DCGI: Under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, the DCGI is the apex body approving new drugs and vaccines.
- NCVBDC: National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control — nodal agency for dengue and malaria prevention.
Q. 'Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE)' is related to which of the following?
(a) Waning immunity after vaccination
(b) The disease becoming more severe upon infection with a second serotype following infection with a first serotype
(c) Antibiotic resistance
(d) Genetic mutation of the virus
Click to reveal answer
Why is vaccination alone insufficient for dengue control? Explain in the context of the 'One Health' approach. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
India's Green Transition Is Missing Long-Duration Energy Storage
The Hindu · Page 07
India is moving toward net-zero by 2070 and 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, but grid stability remains a challenge because solar and wind are intermittent. India recorded a peak demand of 270.8 GW in May 2024. Solar is available by day, yet demand peaks during heatwaves and at night — where short-duration batteries fall short. Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES), which can store and discharge continuously from 8 hours up to several days, could be a main pillar of the transition.
What Is LDES — and How It Differs
- LDES: A group of technologies that store excess renewable energy and supply it continuously as electricity or thermal energy for 8 hours up to days, weeks, or seasons.
- Short-Duration (< 8 hours): Lithium-ion batteries — balance only day-to-day fluctuations.
- Long-Duration (> 8 hours): Protects the grid from blackouts during prolonged adverse weather (heatwaves, low sun/wind in the monsoon).
Major LDES Technologies & Their Characteristics
| Technology | Efficiency | Cost / Duration | Key Limitation / Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumped Hydro (PHES) | 70–80% (most mature) | ~$0.12/kWh | Needs specific topography & abundant water |
| Compressed-Air (CAES) | 40–70% | ~$0.10/kWh | Needs underground caverns (salt caverns / depleted gas fields) |
| Thermal Storage | 55–90% | ~200 hours discharge | Still in R&D phase |
| Flow Batteries (e.g., Vanadium Redox) | 80–85% | 10–24 hours | Location-flexible; 3-MWh system at NTPC, Greater Noida |
| Hydrogen-based | Low (current) | Up to 1,000 hours | Efficiency still low |
| CO₂ Batteries | — | 160-MWh pilot | Testing started at NTPC, Kudgi (Karnataka) |
| Iron-Air | — | — | New and promising |
India Implications: Policy Gaps
- Short-term focus: The '2026 Long-Term National Resource Adequacy Plan' targets 80 GW battery storage and 94 GW PHES by FY2035-36 — covering average discharges of only 4 and 6 hours respectively.
- No dedicated revenue mechanism: Unlike the UK and California, India lacks a dedicated Revenue Support Mechanism for LDES.
- Geographical & environmental bottlenecks: The cheapest options (PHES, CAES) need specific locations and face long land/environment clearance timelines.
- Cost–efficiency trade-off: Storing for longer is technically expensive; using short-duration batteries beyond ~6 hours is economically unviable.
Static Dimensions (GS III)
- Policy Framework: National Electricity Policy (NEP), National Energy Storage Framework; COP26/COP28 non-fossil commitments.
- Economics: Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS), Viability Gap Funding (VGF), monetization of 'Ancillary Services' on power exchanges.
- Geography & Environment: Ecological impact of pumped-storage projects in the Western Ghats / Himalayas; effect of extreme weather on grid demand.
Way Forward
- Include LDES in the National Framework for Promoting Energy Storage Systems.
- Technology-agnostic incentives: Extend VGF/subsidies beyond lithium to flow batteries, thermal and CAES.
- Co-location with data centres that need uninterrupted power.
- De-risk investment with a UK-style Minimum Revenue Guarantee; establish Single Window Clearance and train SLDC/NLDC staff for multi-day charge-discharge operations.
Q. Which of the following technologies utilizes underground caverns or depleted gas fields for energy storage?
(a) Pumped Hydro Energy Storage
(b) Compressed-Air Energy Storage (CAES)
(c) Flow Battery
(d) Thermal Storage
Click to reveal answer
Analyze the key limitations of India's current energy-storage policy and suggest necessary improvements. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Reclaiming Footpaths: Taking Cities Back from Cars
The Hindu · Page 08
In a landmark judgment in Maniyar Elias v. P. Ayyappan (2026), the Supreme Court held that walking safely on marked footpaths is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(d) (freedom of movement) and Article 21 (life and personal liberty). The disappearance of, or encroachment on, footpaths is not merely a civic issue — it is a public-health crisis, a road-safety lapse, and a failure of urban governance.
Key Issues & Analysis
- Public Health: Car-centric infrastructure deprives citizens of walking. The rise of non-communicable diseases (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, fatty liver) is tied to inactivity. Per the WHO India Physical Activity Profile 2024, ~49.4% of adults and 74% of adolescents (11–17) don't meet recommended activity levels. Walking is low-cost "preventive medicine."
- Road Safety: Per MoRTH and NCRB (2024), nearly 60–67% of road-accident fatalities are pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Encroached footpaths force pedestrians onto high-speed main roads.
- Urban Planning Deficit: Cities are measured by flyovers and wide roads rather than safe walkable kilometres; sporadic "anti-encroachment drives" are punitive, not permanent solutions.
Related Static Dimensions
- Article 21: Right to a dignified life, clean environment and safe transit; Article 19(1)(d): right to move freely across India.
- DPSP (Article 47): Improving public health is a primary duty of the State.
- Street Vendors Act, 2014: Protects vendors' livelihoods within designated "vending zones."
- 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: Empowers Urban Local Bodies to plan roads, bridges and civic amenities.
- National Urban Transport Policy, 2006: States that roads should be planned for the movement of people, not vehicles.
- SDGs: SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities).
Way Forward & Recommendations
- National Active-Mobility Mission linking Urban Development, Transport, Health and Education to promote walking and cycling.
- Complete Streets Concept: Mandate continuous, shaded, well-lit, barrier-free footpaths in every new road project.
- Orderly Allocation: Footpaths for pedestrians, designated vending zones for vendors, marked parking for vehicles, and heavy fines for illegal footpath parking.
- Ward-Level Transparency: Municipal Commissioners to publish ward footpath maps and annual "Encroachment-free Footpath Audits."
- Inclusive Infrastructure: Sloped ramps, public toilets and benches for the elderly, children, women and wheelchair users; plus car-free mornings and traffic-calming near schools.
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Article 19(1)(d) grants the right to move freely throughout the territory of India.
2. Under Article 21, the Supreme Court has developed an expansive interpretation of the right to a dignified life.
Which of the above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Click to reveal answer
Encroachment on footpaths in Indian cities is not merely an issue for urban administration; it is also a matter of public health and road safety. Explain. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Why Inflation Is Rising in India
The Hindu · Page 10
India has seen a sharp surge in Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation. The traditional view holds that inflation arises purely from demand-supply imbalance (overheating). But drawing on Michal Kalecki's structural economics, the article argues current Indian inflation is not mainly demand-pull; it is largely driven by cost-push factors and supply shocks — chiefly rising fuel prices and monsoon uncertainty in agriculture.
Kalecki's Structuralist Approach: Two Types of Commodities
- Primary commodities (food, minerals): prices are demand-determined; short-run supply is almost fixed (vertical). A poor monsoon or drought (El Niño) cuts supply and prices rise sharply — e.g., falling tomato or mango output.
- Manufactured commodities (cars, bicycles, toothbrushes): prices are cost-determined. Factories usually run below full capacity, so higher demand raises output, not price. Prices instead rise via a profit markup on production costs — when crude/fuel costs rise, manufacturers pass them to consumers.
| Feature | Primary Commodities | Manufactured Commodities |
|---|---|---|
| Price determination | Demand-determined | Cost-determined (profit markup) |
| Short-run supply curve | Almost fixed (vertical) | Elastic; factories below full capacity |
| Main inflation trigger | Poor monsoon / drought → supply shock | Rising crude/fuel input costs |
Main Causes of Current Inflation
- Fuel & Power: India imports ~85% of its crude oil; rising global prices cause "imported inflation."
- Cost-Push in Manufactured Goods: Weak labour bargaining power means wages don't drive inflation; instead crude/fuel — key inputs — push the WPI manufactured index up rapidly.
- Food Inflation & Supply Shocks: El Niño and erratic monsoons hit agricultural output; drought conditions are the biggest contributor to food inflation.
| Index | What It Covers | Key Weights |
|---|---|---|
| WPI (Wholesale) | Wholesale rates of goods; services excluded | Manufactured 64.2%, Fuel 13.15% |
| CPI (Consumer) | Prices paid by final consumers; services included | Food & beverages 45.86% |
Related Static Dimensions
- Inflation Targeting: RBI targets CPI at 4% ± 2%. Limitation: monetary policy can curb demand but not supply-side shocks like global fuel prices or monsoon deficits.
- Countercyclical Tax Policy: When crude prices rise, cut excise/customs on fuel to steady pump prices; when oil is cheap, raise taxes to collect revenue.
Solutions & Way Forward
- Expand agricultural infrastructure: Massive irrigation investment to decouple farming from monsoon uncertainty; accelerate 'Per Drop More Crop' and micro-irrigation.
- Use fiscal/tax policy effectively: Adopt countercyclical indirect-tax cuts on fuel instead of relying only on RBI rate hikes.
- Supply-chain & buffer-stock management: Better buffer stocks for essentials and expanded cold storage to prevent supply shocks.
- Reduce fuel dependency: Promote renewables (solar, wind) and ethanol blending to insulate the economy from oil-price shocks.
Q. Which of the following situations is an example of cost-push inflation?
(a) An increase in consumer demand due to rising income
(b) Excessive public expenditure by the government
(c) An increase in production costs due to a rise in crude oil prices
(d) An increase in the demand for loans due to a reduction in interest rates
Click to reveal answer
Why is the nature of current inflation in India primarily considered to be cost-push? Explain with suitable examples. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
Canada–India Defence Collaboration for a Secure Future
The Hindu · Page 08 · By Chris Cooter, High Commissioner for Canada to India
Context: Amid global turmoil, technological transformation and an emerging multipolar order, this editorial highlights a rising strategic and defence partnership between India and Canada. In a "rupture in the world order" and "decade of crisis," the author argues that the coming together of natural partners like India and Canada across defence, technology and critical minerals is vital for both nations' security and economic stability.
Deep Analysis: Key Points
- Changing Security Landscape: The spread of drones, autonomous systems and space weaponry has transformed warfare. Canada has raised defence spending to over 2% of GDP by March 2026, targeting 5% by 2035, with a comprehensive rearmament framework.
- Bilateral Engagement: Defence Advisers appointed in Ottawa and Delhi; a dedicated 'Defence Dialogue' agreed; joint naval exercises (RIMPAC, Talisman Sabre); and an India National Defence College delegation visit deepening military-college exchanges.
- Industrial & Technological Cooperation: Canada's 'National Defence Investment Agency' and 'Defence Industrial Strategy' aim to diversify supply chains; it views India as a co-development and co-production partner, with ~half-a-billion-dollar aerospace investment and a Drone Innovation Hub opening doors for Indian startups and MSMEs.
- Space Cooperation: Canada's RADARSAT constellation can strengthen India's Maritime Domain Awareness in the Indo-Pacific; complementary aerospace/R&D capabilities balance India's manufacturing scale.
- Critical Minerals: Canada holds major reserves of uranium (world's 3rd largest), cobalt, helium, rare earths (10th largest) and tungsten (5%). The 'Canada-India Critical Minerals Value Chain MoU' (Feb–Mar 2026) reduces single-country (China-centric) dependence.
- Shared Heritage: The sacrifice of Royal Canadian Air Force personnel at the Kirkee War Cemetery (Pune) in WWII symbolizes a deep historical bond.
India Implications: Strategic Static Dimensions
- Strategic Autonomy (GS II): Security dialogue with Canada helps India maintain balance of power in the Indo-Pacific; like-minded democracies coming together builds supply-chain resilience; Indo-Canadian diaspora is a socio-economic pillar.
- Make in India in Defence (GS III): India's emphasis on technology transfer and joint manufacturing aligns with Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy.
- Critical Minerals Security: Canada is a reliable partner for KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), securing raw materials for EVs, semiconductors and defence systems.
- Civil Nuclear Cooperation: Stable uranium supply (e.g., a 'Cameco' arrangement) supports India's green-energy transition and nuclear capacity expansion by 2047.
Challenges & Way Forward
- Challenges: Resolving the trust deficit from recent political and extremism-related tensions; and the execution gap in converting MoUs into practical projects and commercial contracts.
- Pragmatic Reset: Move beyond differences toward mutual economic, defence and energy interests.
- CEPA: Early finalization of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to boost bilateral trade and investment.
- Indo-Pacific Cooperation: Deepen naval cooperation for anti-piracy, disaster management and maritime domain awareness.
"In a multipolar world order, India–Canada relations are not limited merely to bilateral interests but are also linked to global supply chains and Indo-Pacific security." Discuss. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
