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VOL. I · EST. 11.2025 
SatyaDheesh
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India's Ground Truth Record
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The Hindu UPSC Notes — 26 October 2026

6 exam-relevant reports from The Hindu, as UPSC notes · GS1 1 · GS2 3 · GS3 2

All notes of this day (every source) →PDFs →

GS1 · History · Society · Geography · 1

GS1Geography › Geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, cyclones, volcanoes)Prelims

Cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ likely to intensify into very severe storm by October 27, 2026

Why in news: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning that cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27, 2026, before making landfall on October 28.

Cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam with wind speeds of 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph. The storm is predicted to make landfall between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts on the morning of October 28, 2026.

Prelims pointers (5)
  • FactCyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ expected wind speeds: 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph
  • PlaceLandfall location: Between northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts
  • BodyIMD (India Meteorological Department) is the agency providing the cyclone tracking
  • Intl. orgWMO (World Meteorological Organisation) identifies tropical cyclones as the second-most dangerous natural hazards after earthquakes
  • FactFive tropical cyclone regional bodies exist: WMO Typhoon Committee, WMO Panel on Tropical Cyclones, Regional Association I Tropical Cyclone Committee, Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee
Mains angle

Q. Discuss the geographical factors influencing the intensification of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the institutional framework for cyclone naming and monitoring.

  • Meteorological monitoring: Role of IMD in early warning systems and coastal hazard mitigation
  • Naming protocols: Standardization by WMO regional bodies to ensure clear communication during disasters

Keywords: Tropical Cyclone · Bay of Bengal · IMD · Natural Hazards · Coastal Management

The Hindu ↗+1 more on this storyAlso GS3 · Natural disasters & response

GS2 · Polity · Governance · IR · 3

GS2International Relations › India's bilateral relationsPrelims

Modi congratulates Lula after he defeats Flávio Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes

Why in news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on winning his fourth presidential term in Brazil after defeating Flávio Bolsonaro.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won the Brazilian presidency by a margin of nearly 4.4 million votes against Flávio Bolsonaro. PM Modi expressed intent to deepen the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership and advance Global South priorities.

Prelims pointers (3)
  • FactLula da Silva won the Brazilian presidency by a margin of nearly 4.4 million votes.
  • PostLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the President-elect of Brazil.
  • FactPM Modi emphasized the advancement of shared priorities of the Global South.
Mains angle

Q. Discuss the significance of the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership in the context of the Global South's aspirations in a multipolar world.

  • Geopolitical alignment: Strengthening South-South cooperation to counter Western-centric economic hegemony
  • Trade synergy: Leveraging Brazil's agricultural output and India's manufacturing scale for Global South integration

Keywords: Strategic Partnership · Global South · South-South Cooperation · Multipolarity · Diplomatic Engagement

The Hindu ↗
GS2Polity & Constitution › Judiciary & landmark judgmentsMains

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan says mass disenfranchisement violates Articles 14 and 326

Why in news: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asserted that mass disenfranchisement violates Articles 14 and 326 of the Constitution, sparking a debate on judicial propriety and the limits of judicial commentary on sub judice matters.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan spoke at NALSAR University of Law regarding the constitutional right to vote and the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The discussion highlighted the 'Restatement of Values of Judicial Life' (May 7, 1997), which restricts judges from public debate on pending matters.

Prelims pointers (2)
  • Act / BillSection 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950: Requires notice and a hearing before the deletion of a name from the electoral roll, except in cases of death.
  • BodyRestatement of Values of Judicial Life: Adopted by the Full Court of the Supreme Court on May 7, 1997, to guide judicial conduct.
Mains angle

Q. Critically analyze the tension between a judge's duty to remain impartial and the necessity of judicial engagement with human consequences in constitutional matters.

  • Judicial Propriety: Conflict between public advocacy for human rights and the prohibition on commenting on sub judice matters.
  • Constitutional Integrity: The status of the right to vote as an integral component of the basic structure of the Constitution.
  • Procedural Safeguards: Ensuring due process under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to prevent arbitrary disenfranchisement.

Keywords: Judicial Propriety · Sub Judice · Basic Structure · Due Process · Equality · Judicial Impartiality

The Hindu ↗
GS2Polity & Constitution › Elections, ECI & electoral reformsPrelims

61,059 Form-7 applications filed without mandatory reasons in Karnataka electoral rolls

Why in news: The Election Commission of India (ECI) website revealed that 61,059 Form-7 applications for deleting names from Karnataka's electoral rolls were filed by officials without mandatory reasons.

EROs and AEROs in Karnataka filed 61,059 Form-7 applications after the September 23, 2026 deadline. In Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike South, 10,374 applications were filed, while a discrepancy of 13,808 applications exists between the ECI website and Chief Electoral Officer reports.

Prelims pointers (4)
  • Fact61,059 Form-7 applications were filed without mandatory reasons in Karnataka.
  • PlaceBruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike South saw 10,374 applications filed.
  • FactA gap of 13,808 applications exists between ECI website data and Chief Electoral Officer reports.
  • FactThe deadline for filing these applications was September 23, 2026.
Mains angle

Q. Discuss the importance of ensuring the integrity of electoral rolls and the mechanisms available to prevent unauthorized deletions of voters.

  • Data integrity: Discrepancies between official reports and public portals undermine public trust in electoral transparency
  • Procedural lapse: Filing deletions without mandatory reasons bypasses safeguards against arbitrary disenfranchisement

Keywords: electoral roll · voter disenfranchisement · transparency · administrative accountability · data integrity

The Hindu ↗

GS3 · Economy · S&T · Environment · Security · 2

GS3Disaster Management › Natural disasters & responsePrelims

Odisha bans fishing and tourist entry in 6 districts as cyclone Arnab nears

Why in news: The Odisha government prohibited fishing and tourist entry in six districts as Cyclone Arnab approached, with the IMD predicting landfall in Andhra Pradesh.

The Odisha government banned fishing and tourist entry in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nabarangpur. The IMD predicted Cyclone Arnab would make landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, 2026.

Prelims pointers (3)
  • PlaceDistricts affected in Odisha: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nabarangpur
  • FactCyclone Arnab predicted landfall: Andhra Pradesh on October 28, 2026
  • FactSchool closures scheduled for October 28-29, 2026
Mains angle

Q. Discuss the multi-dimensional challenges in disaster management for coastal and inland districts during cyclonic events in Eastern India.

  • Logistical bottleneck: Coordinating simultaneous school closures and agricultural harvesting across diverse rural districts
  • Economic trade-off: Balancing immediate livelihood preservation for fishing communities against safety protocols during landfall

Keywords: Disaster Mitigation · Early Warning Systems · Climate Resilience · Crisis Management

The Hindu ↗Also GS1 · Places in news / mapping
GS3Environment & Ecology › Climate change & international agreementsPrelims

Deep depression over Bay of Bengal to become very severe cyclonic storm

Why in news: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a depression over the Bay of Bengal intensifying into a deep depression, expected to become a very severe cyclonic storm by October 28.

The storm is projected to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast with wind speeds of 115 kmph to 125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph. State governments in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu have initiated emergency protocols, including school closures and minister deployments.

Prelims pointers (4)
  • BodyIndia Meteorological Department (IMD) is the agency responsible for reporting the cyclone's intensification.
  • FactThe storm is expected to reach wind speeds of 140 kmph by October 28.
  • PlaceThe storm is projected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast.
  • FactOdisha government deployed 8 ministers to vulnerable districts for cyclone preparedness.
Mains angle

Q. Discuss the institutional and logistical challenges in achieving a 'zero-casualty' objective during severe cyclonic events in the Bay of Bengal region.

  • Early Warning Systems: Integration of IMD data with last-mile communication to ensure timely evacuation.
  • Inter-State Coordination: Managing resources and disaster response across neighboring states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Infrastructure Resilience: Strengthening coastal embankments and power grids against high-velocity wind gusts.

Keywords: cyclonic storm · disaster management · early warning system · zero-casualty objective · Bay of Bengal

The Hindu ↗

Earlier days

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These are SatyaDheesh's own UPSC notes, written from reports published in The Hindu. SatyaDheesh is not affiliated with The Hindu. Every note links to the original report; read it in full on thehindu.com. How these notes are made