Current Affairs

Editorials · 18 August 2026

Syllabus-mapped editorials, PIB updates, reports, judgments, and policy news for prelims and mains revision.

Today's practice test

18 August 2026

GS-2Editorials18 Aug 2026thehindu.com

On dignity in political discourse

The article analyzes the controversy surrounding a remark by Tamil Nadu's Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, during a rally, leading to his arrest. It uses this incident to highlight a broader shift in Tamil Nadu politics towards personality-driven discourse, amplified by social media, replacing ideological debates with personal attacks. The author criticizes the erosion of dignity and the resurgence of misogyny, contrasting it with the foundational ideals of self-respect and social justice of the Dravidian movement and the DMK. The article calls for accountability from the leader and the party to uphold political ethics and dignity in public life.

Read analysis
GS-2Editorials18 Aug 2026thehindu.com

The ‘proud Assamese’ from other States

The article discusses Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's appeal to non-native residents to identify as 'Assamese' in the ongoing Census exercise. This appeal aims to counter the declining share of Assamese speakers and address the state's changing ethno-religious demographics. The article delves into historical migration patterns, the assimilation of Bengali-origin Muslims (Na-Axomiyas), and the political motivations behind such demographic appeals, particularly concerning the protection of 'indigenous Assamese' and electoral calculus.

Read analysis
GS-2Editorials18 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Awaiting answers: On the student protests in Jharkhand

Students in Jharkhand are protesting against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations, demanding cancellation of disputed exams, a CBI investigation, and reconstitution of commissions. The protests highlight deep-rooted issues of transparency, delayed results, and lack of accountability in public sector recruitment in the state, leading to a loss of trust among aspirants. The state government has responded with investigations, arrests, and the cancellation of some exams conducted by a blacklisted agency, but faces pressure to ensure a fair and predictable recruitment system.

Read analysis
GS-3Editorials18 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Taxing ‘frivolous’ industries will not fund India’s science

The article critiques the flawed proposition of taxing 'frivolous' industries to fund science, arguing against a zero-sum economic view and highlighting the positive economic cascade effects of such industries. It then delves into significant issues with India's current science funding mechanisms, including rigid government earmarking, cumbersome procurement rules (e.g., GeM), archaic recruitment policies (UGC Act), and crippling restrictions on private and foreign investment (CSR rules, FCRA). The author advocates for liberalizing these bottlenecks, reducing dependence on government, and removing taxes/duties on scientific equipment to foster better scientific research and funding.

Read analysis
GS-3Editorials18 Aug 2026thehindu.com

Losing forest for trees: On the CAG’s audit of the Green India Mission

A performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) revealed that the Green India Mission (GIM), conceived to improve India's forest quality and expand forest cover, has largely failed to meet its targets over a decade. The mission achieved less than a tenth of its forest quality target and only four percent of its forest cover expansion goal. Intended convergence with schemes like CAMPA and MGNREGS did not materialize. GIM, a pillar of the National Action Plan on Climate Change and crucial for India's Paris Agreement carbon sink commitments, appears to be replaced by a tree plantation drive 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'. The audit highlights a critical distinction between planting trees and true forest restoration, as evidenced by the India State of Forest Report 2023, which shows a gain in 'tree cover outside recorded forests' but thinning dense canopy within recorded forests. The article uses the example of the Aravallis to illustrate that mere tree planting cannot undo complex ecological damage.

Read analysis

All 6 articles loaded.

UPSC MAINS PREP

Practise these topics in Mains evaluation

Upload a handwritten answer on any of these topics and get examiner-style feedback in under 2 minutes.

Upload your answer