What to read in The Hindu newspaper
20 November 2025
| No. | Headline (as printed) | Page No. | GS Paper & Topic | Theme / Issue | UPSC Relevance / Analytical Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India’s Russian oil cuts predate U.S. tariffs: data | 1 | GS 2 – IR / Global Policies & Trade Sanctions | Impact of global geopolitics on energy security | Highlights India’s calibrated energy strategy amid U.S. sanctions and price caps. Useful for energy diplomacy, strategic autonomy, and India–Russia–US triangular relations. |
| 2 | Nitish Kumar to take oath as Bihar’s Chief Minister for record 10th time today | 1 | GS 2 – Polity / State Legislature | Government formation & coalition politics | Reinforces Article 164, Governor’s role, and constitutional conventions in CM appointment. Illustrates continuity in regional political leadership. |
| 3 | Taliban Industry Minister begins India visit to boost ties, cut reliance on Pakistan | 1 | GS 2 – IR / Neighbourhood Relations | India–Afghanistan ties & regional stability | Shows India’s strategic pragmatism in engaging Taliban regime. Links to humanitarian aid, Chabahar connectivity, and regional counterterrorism. |
| 4 | Breaking the rules (Editorial) | 6 | GS 3 – Environment / EIA & Regulation | Non-compliance with environmental norms | Discusses flaws in environmental clearance mechanisms and enforcement. Useful for EIA 2006, polluter-pays principle, and sustainable governance ethics. |
| 5 | Reset with Riyadh (Editorial) | 6 | GS 2 – IR / India–Saudi Relations | Strategic and energy partnership | Analyses deepening defence, energy, and investment links; part of India’s “Act West” and multi-alignment diplomacy. Useful for West Asia strategy case study. |
| 6 | Recognise the critical role of the childcare worker (Editorial) | 6 | GS 2 – Social Sector / Health & Labour | Role of Anganwadi and childcare workforce | Highlights ICDS & POSHAN 2.0 implementation gaps. Links to women’s unpaid care work, social protection, and SDG 5 & 3. |
| 7 | Redefining the narrative of TB eradication worldwide (Editorial) | 6 | GS 2 – Health / Disease Eradication Programmes | Global TB elimination strategy | Focuses on community-led prevention, nutrition linkage, and India’s National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) progress toward 2025 target. |
| 8 | Metro Rail projects ride into political row | 7 | GS 3 – Infrastructure / Urban Development | Federal coordination in infrastructure | Highlights Centre–State friction in Metro projects. Links to urban mobility missions, PPP models, and federal fiscal challenges. |
| 9 | Hidden cost of polluted groundwater | 7 | GS 3 – Environment / Pollution Prelims – Water Pollution | Groundwater contamination & health cost | Examines economic & health burden of water pollution. Connects to Jal Jeevan Mission, CPCB standards, and groundwater sustainability policy. |
| 10 | Seven Maoists, including 3 women, killed in A.P. | 10 | GS 3 – Internal Security / Left-Wing Extremism | Anti-Maoist operations & gender dimension | Illustrates ongoing counter-insurgency operations under SAMADHAN strategy. Highlights gender participation in extremist movements. |
| 11 | Climate talks veer away from ‘implementation’ | 12 | GS 3 – Environment / Climate Diplomacy | COP30 negotiations & implementation gap | Analyses drift between pledges and action in global climate agreements. Links to Paris Agreement, CBDR principle, and climate finance debates. |
| 12 | ‘NBFCs’ home loan growth likely to lag’ | 13 | GS 3 – Economy / Financial Sector | NBFCs & credit growth trends | Reflects structural challenges in shadow banking post-rate hikes. Links to liquidity norms, RBI regulation, and financial stability. |