1. National Security & Maoist Insurgency
Topic: Death of Maoist Leader Basavaraju
Source: The Hindu
Key Points:
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Namballa Keshav Rao (Basavaraju), general secretary of CPI (Maoist), killed in Chhattisgarh.
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Major success against Left-wing extremism; Basavaraju had led major attacks since 2018.
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The insurgency is weakening due to reduced recruitment and declining support from tribal populations.
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Editorial advocates peace talks over continued militaristic suppression.
🌍 2. International Relations & Higher Education
Topic: Trump vs. Harvard & Ban on Foreign Students
Source: The Hindu
Key Points:
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U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration bans Harvard from enrolling foreign students in 2025–26.
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Over 27% of Harvard’s students are international; includes 750+ Indians.
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The move is politically motivated and harms the global image of American education.
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Harvard is preparing legal action; editorial warns of long-term reputational damage.
💨 3. Health Infrastructure
Topic: Medical Oxygen Access Crisis
Source: The Hindu (Authored by Saima Wazed, WHO SE Asia Director)
Key Points:
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5 billion people lack reliable access to medical oxygen; South and East Asia have the worst gaps.
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COVID-19 revealed weaknesses in oxygen systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
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Barriers include equipment shortage, lack of funding, and insufficient trained staff.
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Urges multi-stakeholder action, infrastructure investment, and adoption of solar-based systems.
🔥 4. Counter-Terrorism & Kashmir
Topic: Operation Sindoor & Internal Challenges in J&K
Source: The Hindu
Key Points:
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India’s Operation Sindoor followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike by Pakistan-backed groups.
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Local support for terrorism and intelligence lapses highlighted.
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Calls for a balanced approach—combining military and socio-political strategies.
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Urges focus on internal deradicalization and citizen-centric policies in Jammu & Kashmir.
📸 5. Espionage & Social Media
Topic: Arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Rani
Source: The Hindu
Key Points:
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Travel vlogger Jyoti Rani arrested for alleged espionage linked to Pakistan contacts.
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She visited Pakistan multiple times and allegedly had ties to intelligence officials.
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No direct evidence of information leaks yet; probes extended to other influencers.
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Raises concerns about manipulation via digital media and sleeper cells.
🧪 6. Judiciary & Economic Policy
Topic: Bhushan Steel Supreme Court Verdict
Source: Business Line
Key Points:
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SC ordered liquidation of Bhushan Power & Steel due to procedural lapses.
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Critics argue it ignores alternative resolution mechanisms and causes economic harm.
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Calls for prioritizing revival over liquidation under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
🌾 7. Agriculture & Ecology
Topic: India’s Rice Production & Ecological Impact
Source: Business Line
Key Points:
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India leads global rice production but at high environmental cost—water usage and soil depletion.
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Push for sustainable practices like gene-edited varieties, SRI, and direct seeding.
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Suggests shifting policy support from rice to pulses and oilseeds.
💰 8. Economy & Inequality
Topic: District-Led Growth Strategy
Source: Business Line
Key Points:
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GDP growth is concentrated in a few districts; many remain economically backward.
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Bengaluru, Mumbai, and a few others drive state economies.
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Urges improved district-level economic data and targeted investments for inclusive development.
📰 9. Media, Information Warfare & Cybersecurity
Topic: Aftermath of Operation Sindoor – Digital Battles
Source: The Hindu
Key Points:
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India faced over 1.5 million cyber-attacks post-Operation Sindoor, mostly from hostile nations.
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Highlights need for information dominance and narrative control.
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Stresses transparent media, real-time fact-checking, and cyber defense integration.
📖 10. Culture & Literature
Topic: International Booker Prize for Kannada Literature
Source: The Hindu
Key Points:
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Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq won the International Booker Prize 2025 for Heart Lamp.
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Translation by Deepa Bhasthi brought regional stories to global audiences.
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Encourages more translations and recognition of marginalized voices in Indian literature.
