MTO - All Editorials Snapshot: 15-October-2025

The Hindu Editorials snapshot

Editorial 1

Inflation Lessons – RBI Needs Sharper Forecasting

India’s retail inflation fell to a 99-month low of 1.54% in September 2025, bringing the average inflation rate for the first half of the fiscal year to 2.2%, well within the RBI’s comfort range of 2%-6%. However, consistently low inflation signals weak domestic demand, with sectors like clothing and footwear showing declining price growth. This mirrors oversupply scenarios like China’s, though India lacks the export momentum to balance demand. Government efforts to stimulate spending through tax cuts and GST reductions have raised savings rather than consumption. Sustainable recovery now hinges on higher real wages and renewed private investment. While investment announcements have risen, they must materialise soon to support growth. Given the low inflation environment, the RBI should consider deeper rate cuts to boost credit and spending rather than maintaining a conservative policy stance. More importantly, the central bank must address flaws in its forecasting process — its inflation projection dropped drastically from 4% in April to 2.6% by September. Accurate forecasting is essential for credibility and responsive policymaking in an evolving economic landscape.

Editorial 2

Karur Stampede Case – Judicial Overreach and Questions of Fairness

The Supreme Court’s decision to transfer the investigation into the Karur stampede, which killed 41 people at a rally of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), to the CBI raises serious concerns about judicial overreach and investigative balance. The Court intervened after confusion at the Madras High Court, where a single judge made sharp remarks about Mr. Vijay and his party, even though they were not directly connected to the case in question. However, by granting a CBI probe as “interim relief,” the Court has effectively made the change irreversible, since once the CBI files a charge sheet, the case cannot revert to the State police. The basis for the transfer — press conferences by State officials defending subordinates — is weak, as restricting them from publicly clarifying facts undermines transparency and accountability. This justification contradicts the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that warned against routinely ordering CBI probes merely due to allegations against local police. Moreover, the judgment focuses on administrative lapses while ignoring the organising party’s role, hinting at partiality. Questions also linger over procedural lapses in the petition itself, including disputed authorship. Justice demands clarity and fairness — not politically influenced intervention that risks muddying the accountability of those responsible for the tragedy.

The Indian Express Editorials snapshot

Editorial 3

Sharm el-Sheikh Summit – A Fragile Yet Vital Commitment to Peace

The October 13 hostage-prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, which paused years of conflict, has opened a narrow yet crucial path toward peace in West Asia. Following the breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump travelled to Egypt to co-chair an international summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, where over 20 world leaders pledged collective action to sustain progress in Gaza. The joint statement by the U.S., Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar committed to ensuring that both Palestinians and Israelis have equal rights, dignity, and security, marking a notable shift in Washington’s policy tone. However, the declaration avoided any explicit mention of Palestinian statehood. Trump’s public warmth toward Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — after previously denying him a U.S. visa — highlighted a new diplomatic opening. Yet, formidable challenges remain. The second phase of negotiations, focused on Gaza’s reconstruction and long-term security, lacks clarity and momentum. Peace will hinge on Hamas’s willingness to disarm and cede control to a reformed Palestinian Authority, and on Israel exercising restraint despite provocations. For President Trump, the test lies in ensuring that this fragile “Phase 1” promise translates into a durable “future of enduring peace” — a commitment that must be honoured beyond rhetoric.

Editorial 4

Diane Keaton – A Life of Vulnerable Brilliance

Diane Keaton, who passed away at 79, was not only a defining face of American cinema’s New Wave but also a timeless emblem of authenticity and unapologetic individuality. Across more than five decades, she portrayed women who were vibrant, imperfect, and emotionally raw — characters in films like Annie Hall and Something’s Gotta Give who loved, faltered, and lived freely beyond convention. Her fearless vulnerability on screen mirrored her off-screen persona: a woman who celebrated eccentricity with grace. From her iconic androgynous fashion — crisp suits, hats, and neckties — to her candid public presence, Keaton embodied self-acceptance and creative freedom. Her work and life together redefined femininity, showing that strength and sensitivity are not opposites but equal forces. Diane Keaton’s legacy endures as proof that transparency, imperfection, and individuality can be art forms in themselves.

Top Vocabulary Picks from Today’s Editorials

Word	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Unapologetically	Without regret or hesitation	Boldly, confidently	Regretfully, hesitantly
Candour	Quality of being open and honest	Honesty, frankness	Deceit, dishonesty
Disarming	Charming through openness or honesty	Appealing, endearing	Off-putting, hostile
Reimagined	Created again in a new or different way	Redefined, reinvented	Preserved, maintained
Yearning	Deep longing or desire	Craving, longing	Indifference, disinterest