How to Study The Hindu Newspaper Editorial for UPSC? A Comprehensive Guide

The Hindu editorials are important for UPSC aspirants for strengthening their current affairs for both the Prelims & Mains.

UPSC is tough & a very competitive exam. With it, comes huge stress & one requires a lot of preparation and planning. One of the biggest components of this exam is General Studies, and for that, you need to know how to study The Hindu newspaper editorial for UPSC.

This section requires you to have a deep knowledge of diverse subjects. To help you with this, The Hindu editorials offer valuable insights into current affairs & issues, history, economics, polity, society, culture, and international relations. It even aids in other topics like ethics & values. 

These are some of the important things that candidates should keep in mind for hot topics. This blog will help you understand how to study The Hindu newspaper editorials for UPSC CSE properly & efficiently within the minimum time limit.

What are Editorials?

The dictionary defines an editorial as ‘a piece of writing that gives the author’s opinion on a subject’. They are opinions on a given subject/topic, written in a strongly worded format, usually with several points.

In print & digital media, editorials are kind of news articles where one or a group of knowledgeable people express their opinion on a newsworthy topic or socio-economic issue. These editorials are usually published in a separate column across newspapers or a website where they can be read by a larger audience.

Editorials are one of the most common type of content published by news networks and websites. Content like these are also known as op-eds. These usually come from a single author and express a clear opinion on a newsworthy topic. They are usually popular content types and can serve a variety of purposes.

Also Read: UPSC Preparation Strategy.

Why are Editorials Important for UPSC?

Editorials give a detailed analysis of a topic/current event. They are not as informal as a daily news piece, but neither as formal as a research paper. They serve as a medium of thought and opinion of a writer or a group of writers. Reading editorials will help you broaden your horizons and make you a well-opinionated person.

This is because they add perspectives and insights that you might not be aware of while dealing with the news. We begin to look at the different sides of the topic and what we can learn from them. They aid in your critical thinking.

The topic of the editorial can be anything from political news, regional news, sports news, to culture, to popular trends. As a reader, you may be interested in editorials for a variety of reasons, such as gaining insight into trivial societal issues for UPSC, or perhaps you are simply curious as to how an industry leader views are given in the news headlines.

Related Article: Critical Thinking For UPSC Exam Preparation.

Why Should You Read The Hindu Editorials for UPSC Preparation?

Editorials are important from the UPSC point of view as reading them not only provides you with immense information on current affairs and GS papers but also shapes your perspective according to the need of the exam.

What does UPSC actually seek? A strong & well-balanced perspective and opinion of course.

You can use facts, figures, and information from the editorial part for the Prelims section but for the Mains section, you need a fresh, neutral, and opinionated perspective so that you can actually write a good answer.

Keeping aside the examination purpose, it is a fact that every learned citizen must have a serious and neutral opinion on the ongoing issues, governance, defense, international relations, and other topics. Reading a newspaper article like an editorial from any newspaper whether it is “The Hindu” or “The Indian Express”, is very important to keep oneself informative and knowledgeable.

The Hindu editorials are important for the UPSC CSE because of its coverage of almost every topic from politics to media to crucial issues. Without supporting the left or right, being cheesy & exaggerative, it maintains the traditional style of news dissemination.

You can also go for editorials of The Indian Express as it is also an important and famous newspaper among UPSC aspirants. Editorials and news articles of these newspapers cover most of the subjects in a neutral and well-structured way by not being biased which is important for answer writing.

You might also like to read:

1. How To Start Answer Writing Practice For UPSC.
2. How To Write Answers In UPSC Mains.

Tips on How to Study The Hindu Newspaper Editorial for UPSC CSE?

1. Read every article and editorial relevant to the UPSC syllabus without getting distracted. For that, you have to go through the entire syllabus first and align every current topic with your reading to reap the most out of it.
2. Read it with the purpose of writing a well-structured, unbiased & well-opinionated answer for GS papers, especially for GS- 2 and GS-3 papers. A qualitative answer with an independent opinion is always appreciated.
3. Read actively on a daily basis and try to write every understanding of yours on paper. Keeping profound notes of your answers will help you prepare for the UPSC Prelims & Mains together.
4. Read it without getting too much affection for a particular opinion for UPSC preparation. Try to understand the writer’s perspective and do some research on crucial and informative articles that helps in shaping your perspective.

Here are two important things to look out for, in & about any editorial of The Hindu.

1) What is Relevant and Attention-Worthy?

1. You can search for any judgment or ruling/remark by the Supreme Court or the High Court to understand the writer’s opinion and find out the relevance in the syllabus of the judgments you note down.
2. Social issues or challenges are important topics that demand your attention as this will not only aid in the answer writing but also the interview. Identifying problems & issues in editorials is necessary. Understanding the pros & cons of making notes of recent incidents will be helpful. You can quote them to validate your point. Examples include moral policing, restrictions on freedom of speech, and caste riots.
3. Take notes on topics that the departments and ministries are debating in the government. Equally crucial is comprehending all sides of the argument. For example, issues on linking rivers, water sharing & resource distribution, etc.
4. It is necessary to identify government programmes, policies, and efforts. From a Prelims point of view, this is very important.

Also Read: How To Read The Hindu For UPSC.

You should take notes on some of the following:

1. Objectives and aims of policies made by the Government.
2. Ministry and department under which it operates.
3. Key points of the policy.
4. Constitutional provisions related to schemes and policies.
5. For UPSC Mains, you need to understand the issues related to the policy/scheme and should have a neutral opinion on it.

2) From Where Can You Get The Hindu Editorial PDFs?

Editorials are generally found as physical/print format in the Editorial, OP-ED, or in the Opinion section of the newspaper. But as observed in the UPSC preparation for working professionals, many aspirants will need a soft copy. For that, you can subscribe to the monthly or yearly plan from the official website of The Hindu like, E-paper and the Editorial.

Making Notes from The Hindu Newspaper Editorials

Here are some tips to help you make effective notes from The Hindu editorials:

1. Read the editorial carefully and attentively: Make sure you understand the main argument, key points, and examples the author is using to support their argument.
2. Identify the main points: Highlight or underline the main points and arguments the author is making in the editorial.
3. Use abbreviations and symbols: When making notes, use abbreviations and symbols to save time and space. For example, use “&” for “and”, “w/” for “with”, etc. As mentioned in our blog on revision strategy for UPSC, you can also use mnemonics & acronyms.
4. Focus on the key points: The editorial is usually quite lengthy, so it’s important to focus on the key points and not get bogged down by details.
5. Write brief summary sentences: After you’ve identified the key points, write brief summary sentences that capture the main ideas. These sentences should be concise, yet comprehensive.
6. Organize your notes: Group related points together and use headings and subheadings to make your notes more organized and easy to read.
7. Add your own thoughts and reflections: As you make notes, add your own thoughts and reflections on the topic. This will help you better understand and retain the information.

By following these steps, you can make effective notes from The Hindu editorials that are easy to review, understand, and remember.

Related Article: Digital vs Handwritten Notes For UPSC.

Topper’s Views on the Importance of The Hindu Newspaper Editorials for UPSC

Toppers or successful candidates in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exams view The Hindu newspaper editorials as an important source of information for the following reasons:

1. Relevance: The Hindu newspaper editorials cover current issues and events, making them relevant to the UPSC exams, which often test candidates on their knowledge of current affairs.
2. Objectivity: The Hindu editorials are known for their balanced and objective approach, which is important for the UPSC exams, where the focus is on understanding different perspectives and arguments.
3. In-depth analysis: The Hindu editorials provide in-depth analysis of current issues and events, which is essential for the UPSC exams, where the questions often require a deeper understanding of the topics being tested.
4. Wide coverage: The Hindu covers a wide range of topics, including politics, economics, society, and international relations, making it a valuable resource for the UPSC exams, which test candidates on their knowledge of diverse subjects.
5. Developing writing skills: Reading and making notes from The Hindu editorials can also help candidates improve their writing skills, which are important for the essay writing portion of the UPSC exams.

In conclusion, toppers view The Hindu newspaper editorials as an important resource for the UPSC exams due to their relevance, objectivity, in-depth analysis, wide coverage, and ability to help develop writing skills.

You might also like to read: Best Current Affairs Magazine For UPSC.

Summary

In conclusion, we’ll like to mention the following points in order to address your query of how to study The Hindu newspaper editorial for UPSC:-

1. Read regularly.
2. Focus on key issues.
3. Make notes.
4. Reflect & analyze.
5. Practice writing.
6. Discuss with others.

FAQs on How to Study The Hindu Newspaper Editorial for UPSC