What to read in Indian Express
28 November 2025
| Headline | Page No. | GS Paper & Topic | Theme / Issue | UPSC Relevance / Analytical Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC for autonomous online regulator, Govt says amending rules on digital obscenity | 1 | GS 2 – Governance / Regulation of Online Platforms | Digital regulation, freedom of expression, and judicial oversight | The SC’s call for an independent content regulator underscores the balance between Article 19(1)(a) (free speech) and Article 19(2) (reasonable restriction). Relates to IT Rules 2021, Digital India Bill, and deepfake regulation. Important for media ethics & governance. |
| On Martian surface, a slice of Kerala: Periyar river, Varkala beach, ISRO birthplace | 1 | GS 1 – Geography | Planetary geography & geomorphology | Connects Earth’s coastal geomorphology (Periyar delta, Varkala cliff) to Martian topography, linking astro-geography and ISRO’s planetary research capacity. Useful for interdisciplinary geography questions. |
| Op Sindoor success defining moment in counter-terror strategy: President | 8 | GS 3 – Internal Security / Defence Preparedness | Counter-terrorism and defence modernisation | Recognises Operation Sindoor as a case study in joint forces synergy and pre-emptive anti-terror doctrine. Links to internal security reforms and modern warfare preparedness. |
| Without great powers on board, G20 is adrift | 12 | GS 2 – International Relations / Multilateralism | Global governance crisis | Evaluates declining cooperation within G20 amid U.S.–China rivalry and weak multilateralism. Adds depth to GS2 answers on reform of global institutions and India’s G20 leadership. |
| Childhood has changed, society must catch up | 12 | GS 2 – Social Sector / Education | Education reforms & child well-being | Discusses socio-digital changes shaping childhood; highlights mental health, NEP 2020 implementation, and family-school coordination. Use for Social Justice and Ethics case studies. |
| Rollback of quality control orders is good, but don’t make haste | 13 | GS 2 – Governance & GS 3 – Economy | Industrial regulation and MSME compliance | Explains easing of QCOs to aid domestic industry while maintaining standards. Link to Make-in-India, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and ease of doing business reforms. |
| Cyclone Ditwah headed towards TN, coastal AP & Puducherry | 14 | GS 1 – Geography / Climatology | Tropical cyclones & disaster preparedness | Illustrates Bay of Bengal cyclogenesis and regional vulnerability. Useful for case study in Disaster Management Act 2005 and IMD early-warning systems. |
| INS Mahe commissioned: features, strategic significance of ship | 16 | GS 3 – Internal Security / Maritime Security | Naval modernisation and blue-water strategy | Showcases India’s growing maritime deterrence & coastal defence capacity. Relates to Sagarmala, Indo-Pacific strategy, and maritime domain awareness (MDA). |
| The bamboo factor in Hong Kong fire | 16 | GS 3 – Disaster Management | Urban fire risk & construction safety | Analyses bamboo scaffolding hazards in dense cities—important for urban planning, safety codes, and UN Sendai Framework. |
| NASA rover’s ‘shocking’ Mars discovery | 16 | GS 3 – Science & Technology / Space | Mars exploration and planetary science | Highlights NASA’s Mars rover findings about subsurface electrical activity—link to astro-biology, ISRO-NASA collaboration and space ethics. |
| GM crops to genome editing: India’s journey | 16 | GS 3 – Science & Technology / Agriculture | Biotechnology & food security | Traces India’s path from Bt Cotton to CRISPR crops—policy, bio-safety, and regulatory evolution. Links to FSSAI, GEAC, and Bio-diversity Act. |
| Fin Min says rupee weakness in line with EM trends, inflation outlook encouraging | 17 | GS 3 – Economy / External Sector | Monetary policy, inflation management & forex trends | Discusses RBI-MoF coordination, exchange-rate dynamics, and inflation targeting. Use for BoP, monetary policy and economic stability answers. |