Editorials Analysis – 08 April 2025

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SOURCE : THE HINDU  Description  Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar has retired as Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) after serving since February 2022. Known for championing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he introduced key reforms including recognition of foreign qualifications and greater academic flexibility. One major move during his tenure was replacing the UGC-CARE journal list with a new evaluation system. He also pushed for multidisciplinary learning and student autonomy in higher education, reflecting the spirit of NEP. Key...

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SOURCE : THE HINDU  Description  The “Health of the Nation 2025” report by Apollo Hospitals reveals that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are affecting individuals at a younger age, even in childhood. Screening of over 2.85 lakh students showed alarming rates of obesity, pre-hypertension, and blood sugar issues. Women face heightened health risks post-menopause, with sharp increases in diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, and hypertension. The report stresses early detection and holistic health management to combat the growing NCD burden in India. Key...

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SOURCE : THE HINDU Description  The Supreme Courts of India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance judicial cooperation through exchanges, training, and research. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna called it a new chapter in bilateral legal ties, emphasizing the importance of cross-border learning in constitutional democracies. The MoU will address shared judicial challenges, including delays, digitisation, and access to justice. CJI Khanna also acknowledged how both nations’ courts have influenced each other’s landmark decisions, including...

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SOURCE : THE HINDU  Description  The Indian government has raised the price of domestic LPG cylinders by ₹50 and increased excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹2 per litre. However, retail fuel prices remain unchanged. The move aims to help oil marketing companies recover from losses due to international LPG price hikes. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri clarified this isn’t linked to recent global tensions, and added that fuel prices may still drop if crude prices continue falling. India...

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SOURCE : THE HINDU  Description  Global stock markets, including India’s, witnessed sharp declines on Monday due to escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, coupled with recession fears. The Sensex fell by nearly 3%, while global indices like Japan’s Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng saw some of their steepest drops in years. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs on Chinese goods unless China rolled back its retaliatory measures. Markets showed some signs of recovery later in the...