What to read in Indian Express
18 November 2025
| No. | Headline (as printed) | Page No. | GS Paper & Topic | Theme / Issue | UPSC Relevance / Analytical Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PM urges 10-year pledge to shed ‘colonial mindset’ rooted in Macaulay’s 200-year legacy | 1 | GS 1 – Indian Society / Culture & Colonial Legacy | Colonial mindset & Macaulay’s impact on education | Highlights PM’s call for decolonisation of mind and institutions—relevant for cultural revivalism, indigenous knowledge systems, and NEP 2020 reforms. Links to GS 4 (Ethics – Moral regeneration). |
| 2 | India, Russia look to finalise new pacts during Putin visit | 6 | GS 2 – International Relations / Bilateral Relations | India–Russia strategic cooperation | Reflects strengthening of defence, energy, and trade partnerships amid global sanctions and multipolar shifts. Connects to S-400, nuclear cooperation, INSTC, and rupee–ruble trade. |
| 3 | New international student enrolments in US drop by 17% in 2025–26: Survey | 10 | GS 2 – International Relations / Education Diplomacy | India–US people-to-people ties & education policy | Decline in Indian student mobility highlights visa delays, rising costs, and global higher education competitiveness. Relates to soft power & diaspora engagement. |
| 4 | Operation Sindoor was 88-hr trailer, Army Chief warns Pak | 10 | GS 2 – India & its Neighbourhood Relations | Defence preparedness & deterrence | Symbolises India’s strong stance post-cross-border threats. Connects to proxy war in J&K, surgical strike doctrine, and military modernisation. |
| 5 | Tiger safari on non-forest land, no night tourism: SC | 11 | GS 3 – Environment & Ecology / Biodiversity Conservation | Supreme Court guidelines on tiger safaris | Reinforces judicial oversight in wildlife protection; ensures tourism doesn’t harm ecosystems. Links to Project Tiger, NTCA, Wildlife Protection Act (1972). |
| 6 | Digital arrest scams: SC asks Centre to decide on ratifying UN cybercrime treaty | 11 | GS 2 – Governance / Cybersecurity & Treaties | Global framework for cybercrime control | Pushes for India’s participation in Budapest Convention (or its successor). Useful for Internal Security (cyber threats) & digital governance ethics. |
| 7 | SC ruling in telecom dues case softens a crippling blow | 12 | GS 2 – Governance / Economic Policy & Regulation | AGR dues & telecom reform | Eases financial stress on telecom firms; connects to ease of doing business, regulatory balance, and digital infrastructure expansion. |
| 8 | Hasina death sentence is a travesty of justice | 12 | GS 2 – International Relations / Neighbourhood Politics | Democratic backsliding in Bangladesh | Editorial critique of judicial overreach & political suppression; implications for India–Bangladesh ties, SAARC stability, and refugee influx. |
| 9 | India’s art boom carries a colonial hangover | 13 | GS 1 – Art & Culture / Society | Colonial valuation of Indian art & markets | Examines persistence of Western dominance in art pricing & institutions. Links to cultural nationalism, heritage economics, and art decolonisation. |
| 10 | It’s time to fix climate finance. India has shown the way | 13 | GS 3 – Economy & Environment / Climate Finance | Global financial reforms for climate goals | Advocates reform in MDBs (World Bank, IMF) and green finance institutions. India’s role via G20 & ISA underlines climate equity & leadership. |
| 11 | At UN climate meet in Brazil, a prayer to save the sacred trees of the Amazon | 16 | GS 3 – Environment / Biodiversity & Climate Diplomacy | Amazon deforestation & indigenous rights | Connects global biodiversity loss with indigenous community resilience. Useful for global environmental ethics and sustainable development case studies. |
| 12 | Goods exports slip 12%; gold imports push trade deficit to an all-time high | 17 | GS 3 – Economy / External Sector | Trade deficit & export slowdown | Explains external vulnerability, gold demand impact, and rupee depreciation. Links to BoP trends, current account deficit, and Atmanirbhar Bharat export push. |
| 13 | How China dealt with air pollution, lessons for India | 19 | GS 3 – Environment / Pollution Control | Comparative policy learning | Details China’s clean-air strategy (coal bans, industrial relocation, monitoring). Provides case study for Delhi NCR air policy & urban environment management. |