What to read in Indian Express
19 December 2025
1. Looking to expand market access, India inks free trade pact with Oman
- Page
- GS 2: International Relations: India–West Asia relations and bilateral trade agreements (FTAs/CEPA), including India’s engagement with GCC countries and their strategic and economic significance.
2. No respite in sight, Delhi AQI worsens, likely to turn ‘severe’ over weekend
- Page 4
- GS 3: Environment & Ecology: Air pollution, environmental degradation, and impact of meteorological factors on urban air quality (AQI management).
3. How to separate BS VI-compliant private vehicles from the older ones
- Page 4
- GS 3: Environment & Ecology: Environmental pollution and degradation; government policies and standards for controlling air pollution (Bharat Stage emission norms)
4. Domestic market stagnant, Japan’s mega banks set sights on India
- Page 9
- GS 3: Indian Economy: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Banking & Financial Sector reforms, and India’s integration with the global financial system.
5. India-Russia logistics agreement, with eye on Arctic, Indo-PacificTop of Form
- Page 9
- GS 2: International Relations: India–Russia bilateral relations and strategic defence cooperation (including logistics agreements, Indo-Pacific and Arctic engagement).
6. MGNREGA was the ground beneath our feet. It’s slipping awayBottom of Form
- Page 10
- GS 2: Governance: Government policies and interventions for development, issues relating to poverty alleviation, employment generation, decentralisation and social justice (MGNREGA).
7. The teacher’s red pen should open minds, not shut doors
- Page 10
- GS 4: Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude: Role of teachers, ethical dimensions of education, power–knowledge relationship, values like equality, freedom, dignity, and critical thinking in society.
8. RBI shores up rupee. It may be good to let it be
- Page 10
- GS 3: Indian Economy: Issues relating to monetary policy, exchange rate management, rupee–dollar dynamics, RBI interventions, inflation and external sector (BoP & capital flows).
9. Al start-ups need copyright backing
- Page 11
- GS 3: Science & Technology (Artificial Intelligence, IPR & Innovation policy)
10. Notes from a very short Parliament session
- Page 11
- GS 2: Indian Polity, under the topic “Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, parliamentary devices, and accountability mechanisms.”
11. How Oman trade deal adds heft to India’s West Asia strategy
- Page 13
- GS 2: International Relations: India’s bilateral and regional groupings and agreements, and India’s relations with West Asian countries (FTAs/CEPA as part of India’s West Asia strategy).
12. ‘SEBI plans to revamp M&A rules to protect retail investors, expedite deals’
- Page 13
- GS 3: Indian Economy: Financial Markets, Regulation of Securities Market, and Role of SEBI in protecting investors