What to Read in The Hindu Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: Some cheer

Context

India must broaden its energy import base to help maintain a lower trade deficit.

Introduction

India’s Q1FY26 trade data reflects a mixed picture, with modest growth in goods exports and a significant rise in services exports. While exports to the U.S. surged, the growing dependence on Russian crude poses risks. The data signals both opportunities and vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for strategic diversification in India’s export basket and trade partnerships.

Mixed Signals in Q1FY26 and June 2025 Trade Data

• Positive Signs:
  • Merchandise exports to the S. surged by 23.5%in June 2025 (to $8.3 billion) — the highest growth in 14 months.
  • This spike was possibly driven by pre-emptive stocking ahead of the expected July 9 “reciprocal tariffs” pause (now extended to August 1).
• Flat Overall Growth:
  • June goods exportsremained largely flat at $35.14 billion (compared to $35.16 billion in June 2024).
  • Quarterly growth (Q1FY26)in goods exports was marginal, at 92%, totaling $112.17 billion.

Services Exports Help Narrow Trade Deficit

• Merchandise trade deficit widenedyear-on-year in Q1FY26 to $67.26 billion (from $62.1 billion in Q1FY25).
• Services exports rose significantlyby nearly 11% to $98.13 billion (from $88.46 billion in Q1FY25).
• This helped reduce the overall trade deficit by 9.4%, showing the consistent strength of India’s services sector.

Crude Oil Dependence and Emerging Risks

• Refined petroleum productsmake up about 15% of India’s goods exports — a key vulnerability.
• India recently surpassed China to become the largest importer of Russian crude, now accounting for 36% of its oil imports.
• This reliance brings geopolitical risk, especially with former U.S. President Trump threatening 100% secondary tariffson countries importing Russian crude.
• The situation underlines the urgency for India to diversify its fuel sourcesand focus on renewables and electrification of transport.

Sectoral Performance and Structural Shifts

• Certain sectors showed strong year-on-year growth in June 2025:
  • Electronics: up 93%
  • Tea: up 64%
  • Meat, dairy, poultry: up 7%
  • Marine products: up 33%
• However, non-petroleum and non-gems/jewellery exports remained mostly flat, showing limited breadth in export growth.
• The MSME sector, responsible for 46% of India’s goods exports, needs targeted support to boost diversified merchandise trade.

High Stakes in U.S.-India Trade Negotiations

• The U.S. continues to be India’s largest export destination, accounting for 7% of total exportsin FY25.
• With only two weeks leftand three more negotiation rounds before a ‘mini’ Bilateral Trade Agreement is expected in autumn, India faces a crucial moment.
• Securing a favourable outcome is vital to ensure long-term stability and growth in exports.

Conclusion

India must leverage its services sector strength, boost non-oil merchandise exports, and support MSMEs to ensure balanced trade growth. As geopolitical uncertainties loom, diversifying energy imports and securing a favourable U.S. trade deal are critical. Sustained efforts in these areas will be key to reducing trade deficits and achieving resilient, long-term economic progress.

 

Editorial 2: A tectonic shift in thinking to build seismic resilience

Context

With earthquake activity increasing across India and the globe, the Government of India must take the lead in a national dialogue to ensure strict enforcement of seismic safety codes.

Introduction

The tremors felt in Delhi on July 10, 2025, at 9:04 a.m., measuring 4.4 on the Richter Scale — as per the National Center for Seismology (NCS) — are a wake-up call highlighting India’s seismic vulnerability. The epicentre, about 20 km southwest of Delhi at a shallow depth of 5 km, may not have caused major damage, but it revealed the fragility of Delhi’s infrastructure, where over 80% of buildings, especially those built before 2000, do not meet seismic safety norms.

• The July 2025 earthquakein Delhi was part of a series of seismic events across Asia since March 2025.
• These include the devastating 7.7 magnitude quakein Myanmar and Thailand.
• Additional tremors were recordedin Tibet and Greece, along with recurring seismic activity near the India-Myanmar border.
• As India sits on a highly tectonic zone, the urgency to enhance seismic resiliencehas become critical.

The danger of unpreparedness

Aspect	Details
Tectonic Cause	India’s seismic risk arises from the northward movement of the Indian Plate, colliding with the Eurasian Plate at 4–5 cm per year, forming the Himalayas.
Great Himalayan Earthquake Threat	The region is overdue for a magnitude 8+ earthquake, which could affect over 300 million peopleacross northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Delhi’s Seismic Risk	Located in Seismic Zone IV (high risk) with a PGA of 0.24g, Delhi is close to a major tectonic boundary and is home to 33.5 million people and over 5,000 high-rises, many non-compliant with seismic codes.
Code Non-Compliance	Many structures do not follow the IS 1893:2016 Code (by Bureau of Indian Standards) that requires ductile detailing and shear walls for earthquake resistance.
Historical Earthquakes	– Bhuj (2001): 7.7 magnitude, 20,000+ deaths – Nepal (2015): 7.8 magnitude, widespread devastation
Seismic Zones in India	Ranges from Zone II to Zone V. Zone V includes the northeast (e.g., Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Recent Quakes in Zone V Regions	– Mandalay, Myanmar (Mar 28, 2025): 7.7 magnitude – Myanmar Border (May 17, 2025): 5.2 magnitude
Tsunami Risk	Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in Zone V, remain at high tsunami risk due to subduction zone activity, as seen in the 2004 tsunami.
Himalayan Seismic Activity	Tibetan quake (May 12, 2025): 5.7 magnitude, caused tremors in Sikkim, underscoring Himalayan unrest.
Global Quake Indicators	Greece (May 22, 2025): 6.2 magnitude quake shows global tectonic instability, though direct impact on India is minimal.

Greater danger with urbanisation

• Delhi’s rapid urbanisation exacerbates the risk it faces. Older structures in East Delhi’s Risk: Built on liquefaction-prone soil, with many poorly designed high-rises, East Delhi is highly vulnerable to intense seismic shaking.
• Early Warning but Low Awareness: The IndiaQuake appby National Center for Seismology (NCS) provides real-time alerts, but public awareness and code enforcement are still inadequate.
• Lessons from Abroad:
  • In Bangkok, updated seismic codes (since 2007)limited damage, despite a flat-slab collapse in 2025.
  • In Myanmar, the 2025 quake tollworsened due to poor code enforcement.
• Global Seismic Activity: Earthquakes in Greece, Indonesia, Chile-Argentina, and Ecuador (May 3, 2025), though distant, show a globally dynamic seismic phase, underlining the need for Indian preparedness.
• Himalayan Seismic Gap: Stress continues to build since the 1905 Kangra quakeand 2015 Gorkha (Nepal) quake, pointing to a potentially devastating Himalayan event, with Delhi at high risk.
• Urgency for Code Enforcement: India must strictly implement seismic codes, especially in high-risk citiesand retrofit vulnerable structures.
• Delhi Action Steps:
  • Retrofittingolder buildings with steel jacketing
  • Mandating deep pile foundationsin seismic zones
  • Accelerating compliance checksby the Delhi Development Authority
• Guwahati (Zone V) Measures:
  • Enforce IS 1893:2016 Code
  • Avoid construction on the Brahmaputra floodplain
  • Use base isolation techniquesfor critical structures
• Bhuj Preparedness: Expand retrofitting effortsand build community disaster response teams.
• Strengthening Early Warning: NCSshould extend early warning systems to rural areas in Zone V, improving safety beyond major cities.

Global lessons

• Concrete & Ductile Detailing: Use of 30–40 MPa concretewith ductile detailing serves as a model for earthquake resilience, though it is suited to lower seismic zones (0.1g–0.2g) — unlike India’s Zone V which faces much higher seismic forces.
• Warning from Myanmar: The severe damagecaused by unreinforced masonry in Myanmar’s 2025 quake is a cautionary tale for India to avoid similar neglect.
• Tailored Retrofitting Needed:
  • The Northeast’s soft soilsand Kutch’s sandy basins demand custom seismic strategies.
  • Experts estimate India needs ₹50,000 crore annuallyfor nationwide retrofitting efforts.
• No Room for Delay: With increasing seismic activityin India and across the globe, the country cannot afford further delay in earthquake preparedness.
• Government Leadership Required: The Government of Indiamust take charge with:
  • Strict enforcementof seismic codes
  • Mass public awareness campaigns
  • Investment in resilient infrastructure
• Citizen Responsibility: Every citizen should:
  • Learn about emergency preparedness kits
  • Follow safe building practices
  • Be aware of evacuation plans and drills

Conclusion

The Bhuj earthquake stands as a stark reminder of how lack of preparedness can magnify the scale of disaster and loss. It continues to serve as a haunting lesson for India, where frequent tremors highlight the urgent need to build seismic resilience. This is not just a technical necessity but also a moral responsibility to safeguard lives and livelihoods. In light of these ongoing threats, a national dialogue must be initiated to drive proactive action before another major quake occurs. The recent tremor in Delhi reinforces this urgency, calling for a decisive shift from vulnerability to strength through enforcement, awareness, and robust infrastructure.