Hindu Editorial Snapshot – 05 June – 2025
Falling short: on India’s EV journey
On June 2, 2025, India advanced its electric vehicle (EV) strategy by introducing a concessional 15% import duty on completely built-up EV units, conditional upon a minimum investment of ₹4,150 crore over three years and phased domestic value addition. This initiative is part of the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI), allowing up to 8,000 annual imports per manufacturer for five years. The policy supplements previous efforts like the FAME scheme but does not adequately address technology transfer, a key area where India lags behind China.China, which started EV promotion in 2009, integrated joint ventures and subsidies worth $230 billion to secure technology and become the global leader in EV adoption and production. The U.S., despite significant funding including through the Inflation Reduction Act, has a slower EV adoption rate. In 2024, of 17 million global EV sales, China contributed 11.3 million, followed by Europe and the U.S.India aims for a 25% domestic value addition initially, leveraging ICE vehicle components and Software-as-a-Service models. However, it must replicate China’s model by mandating joint ventures and facilitating battery technology access to truly transform mobility and achieve global competitiveness in EV manufacturing.
At long last: On the IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who played the inaugural IPL match in 2008, finally won their maiden title in the 18th edition of the league on June 3, 2025, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final at Ahmedabad. After years of underachievement and three runner-up finishes, the victory marked redemption for the team and a fitting tribute to Virat Kohli’s enduring presence since the league’s inception. Kohli, the long-time backbone of the franchise, finally overcame the absence of an IPL title that had long eluded him.The title win was shaped by key contributions from Rajat Patidar, Kohli’s experience, Krunal Pandya’s bowling, and Josh Hazlewood’s pace, with several players chipping in with valuable cameos. Despite their loss, Punjab Kings impressed under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, and he is expected to play a bigger role in India’s ODI setup. Mumbai Indians recovered from a slow start to reach the playoffs along with Gujarat Titans.Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), led by an ageing M.S. Dhoni, experienced a sharp decline, finishing last and facing the need for a major rebuild. The 2025 IPL season, which began on March 22, was extended due to the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. New talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan also emerged. Despite its commercial and competitive success, Kohli reiterated that Test cricket remains vastly superior in quality, a sentiment he hopes modern players will acknowledge.
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