INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 31ST JULY 2025

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-53

INDIAN EXPRESS DATED 31ST JULY 2025.

1.      ISRO-NASA NISAR Satellite Successfully Placed in Orbit

ISRO successfully launched the NISAR satellite, a joint Earth observation mission with NASA, into a Sun-synchronous polar orbit using a GSLV rocket—marking a first for such payloads. NISAR, equipped with dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR), will capture highly detailed images of Earth, enabling precise monitoring of climate change, urban development, agriculture, and natural disasters. At 2,392 kg, it is ISRO’s heaviest Earth observation satellite. The satellite will map the planet every 12 days, offering centimetre-level resolution. Over the next 90 days, ISRO will deploy and test its 12-metre antenna and calibrate the instruments for operational readiness. Science Minister Jitendra Singh hailed it as a major Indo-US achievement, following astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS mission. The NISAR mission showcases India’s elevation as a collaborative equal in space science with the United States.

2.      Trump Slaps 25% Tariff and Russia Penalty on Indian Goods

US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports starting August 1 and added an unspecified “penalty” for India’s purchases of Russian military and energy equipment. Citing India’s “obnoxious” non-tariff trade barriers and its dependence on Russia for oil and arms, Trump framed the move as a response to India’s growing ties with Moscow amid the Ukraine conflict. The Indian government has taken note and is studying the implications. Analysts see this as pressure to conclude a trade deal favorable to the US. The announcement comes just before a planned India-US negotiation round and may disrupt India’s strategic trade positioning. Trump’s rhetoric also focused on India’s role in BRICS, describing the bloc as an attack on the dollar. The move reflects a hardening US stance ahead of critical trade talks, raising stakes for India’s economic diplomacy.