The Hindu Editorial Analysis In English | Free PDF Download

Table of Contents

Trouble in the hills

• 7 years ago, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel issued recommendations for the preservation of the fragile western peninsular region.

• Madhav Gadgil, who chaired the Union Environment Ministry’s WGEEP, has said the recent havoc in Kerala is a consequence of short-sighted policymaking, and warned that Goa may also be in the line of nature’s fury.

• Kasturirangan Committee: it was set up to examine the WGEEP report.

• Mantra: S u s t a i n a b l e D e v e l o p m e n t

• Allowing extractive industries operate is arguably the most contentious.

Gadgil panel

1. Create the regulatory framework

2. Set up an apex Western Ghats Ecology Authority

3. State-level units, under the Environment (Protection) Act

4. Adopt the zoning system

• At issue in the Western Ghats is the calculation of what constitutes the sensitive core and what activities can be carried out there.

• In Kerala, for instance, one expert assessment says 39 lakh households are in the ESZs outlined by the WGEEP, but the figure drops sharply to 4 lakh households for a smaller area of zones identified by the Kasturirangan panel.

Musical chairs

• Scott Morrison was on Friday sworn in as Australia’s seventh Prime Minister in 11 years.

• Mr. Morrison replaced a man who became the latest in a long line of leaders knifed in the back by ambitious colleagues.

• Mr. Turnbull’s departure from politics will spark a byelection for his Sydney seat, threatening the government’s waferthin one-seat Parliamentary majority.

• Differences over finding an effective approach to tackle global warming go to the heart of divisions between the conservative and moderate sections within the Liberal Party in the world’s largest coal-exporting nation.

• The overall package, which aims to reduce energy prices and comply with emissions standards.

• Mr. Dutton is even said to have thought of pulling Australia out of the Paris accord.

• But the bigger task is for Australia’s leaders to rise above partisan ends to address humanity’s gravest challenge of global warming.

• 2019 general elections.

• – 2019 general elections.

Important News

• Gave regular warnings to Kerala, Tamil Nadu tells SC

UAE officials say flood aid not finalized

• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan earlier this week said the UAE had decided to extend financial assistance of ₹700 crore, considering the Gulf nation’s special relationship with Kerala; 80% of around three million Indians working and living in the UAE are from Kerala.

• The Gulf kingdom’s willingness to help Kerala had been conveyed to the State government by NRI businessman M.A. Yusuff Ali, he told reporters on Friday.

• “He confirmed that the UAE ruler had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While it is for the Centre to decide on whether to accept the offer, I am of the opinion that we should.”

Mirchpur killings: 32 people convicted

• Eight years after caste violence rocked Mirchpur village in Haryana, the Delhi High Court on Friday convicted four persons for murder and 28 others from the Jat community for rioting and other crimes.

Extension for Nagaland interlocutor

• The centre’s main interlocutor in Nagaland RN Ravi gets extension. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his his extension until further order.

• A 1976 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre, Mr. Ravi retired as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau in 2012. He was appointed as chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), which works under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), in September 2014, months after the NDA came to power.

• Mr. Ravi has closely worked with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval during the latter’s stint as Intelligence Bureau Director and is learnt to have his confidence. Mr. Ravi was in charge of the northeast desk during his stint with IB.

Poll panel to brainstorm on key issues

• In the times of social media and phased elections, how can campaign silence be maintained during the last 48 hours before polling?

• The Election Commission will be debating this and seven other issues, including limiting of expenditure and increasing participation of women, at a multi-party meeting on Monday. All seven registered national political parties and 51 State political parties have been invited.