The Hindu Vocabulary Compilation

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

November 13/2015
Topic 1: "Towards Peace in the Northeast"
1. Imminent - Likely to occur at any moment.

2. Extradition - Formal request by one government to another government for it's
citizens in case of jurisdiction.
3. Crucial - Involving an extremely important decision.
4. Languished - Suffered in an unpleasant situation.
5. Faction - Organised group of people within a larger group.
6. Asylum - Refugee. ( Government's permission to stay in their country).
7. Kid-gloves - To treat with extreme tact or gentleness.
8. Fugitive - Someone who is running away or hiding from police .
9. Lethal - Dangerous.
10. Insurgents - People who are fighting against their own government.
11. Grievances - Complaints against an unfair act.
Topic 2 : " The Maldives Needs Democracy "
1. Brewing - Starting to develop.

2. Bolster - Strengthen or Sustain.
3. Sacked - Dismissed.
4. Probed - Searched into or examined thoroughly.
5. Inclination - One's own preference.
6. Purge - Undesirable things.
7. Confrontational - Arguments / Dispute.
8. Dissent - Strong disagreement or dissatisfaction.
9. Fissures - Split or deep crack.
10. Condemnation - Act of saying that something is unacceptable.
11. Consensus - Majority of Opinion.
12. Archipelago - Chain of small Islands.
November 14/2015
Topic 1 : " BJP's Larger Stock-taking"
1. Churn - In a confused state.

2. Emasculated - Weak and ineffective.
3. Assertion - Positive statement or Declaration.
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4. Posed - Asked.
5. Verdict - Conclusion or Result.
6. Repercussions - Unpleasant result.
7. Tussle - Fight Roughly.
8. Aura - Feeling or Sensation of a person.
9. Invincibility - Incapable of being defeated.
10. Reverberation - Serious effects followed by sudden event.
11. Innuendo - Indirect reference to something rude.
12. Encroachment - Something that become stronger and begins to restrict the power
of the other.
13. Rebuffed - Refused.
14. Rhetoric - Skill or Art of using language effectively.
15. Fora - Group in which people exchange their ideas.
Topic 2 : " Politicising a divided legacy"
1. Contemporary - Existing.
2. Secular - Not connected with Religion.
3. Communal - Connected with particular community or Religion.
4. Benign - Kind.
5. Tyrant - Who treats the people in a cruel and unfair way.
6. Rival - Compete.
7. Inexplicable - Incapable of being explained.
8. Inevitably - Necessarily.
9. Ruthless - Merciless or without pity.
10. Whimsical - Unpredictable.
11. Benevolence - Charitable gift.
12. Feted - Welcomed.
13. Fleeing - Run away from danger.
14. Detractors - Criticisers.
15. Placated - Satisfied.
16. Prevailed - Exist everywhere.
17. Persecution - Cruel and Unfair treatment of person or group.
18. Plunder - Robbery of Goods or Valuables.
19. Descendants - Deriving general character from ancestors.
20. Vouching - Supporting.


November 16/2015
Topic 1 : "Mr.Modi's London takeaway"
1. Delight - High degree of pleasure or enjoyment.

2. Invoked - Bring about.
3. Sidestepping - Avoid discussing about an issue.
4. Jibes - Rude or insulting remark about someone.
5. Testament - Evidence or Confirmation.
6. Diaspora - Group Migration.
7. Supplant - Replace.
8. Decline - Downward slope or Gradual decrease.
9. Strategic - Most important or general aspects.
10. Negotiation - Mutual discussion and Agreement.
11. Perhaps - May be, possibly.
12. Foment - Cause it to develop.
13. Consistent - Compatible.
14. Substantive - Real or Actual.
Topic 2 : 'Take Charge of OROP'
1. Boasts - Speak with excessive pride.

2. Enlistment - Act of joining the army.
3. Anomaly - An odd or strange situation.
4. Grievances - Complaints.
5. Travesty - Unnatural Likeness.
6. Apolitical - Not involved in political.
7. Indeed - In Fact, in truth.
8. Unintended - Purposed, Designed.
9. Fallouts - Results, Effects.
10. Credibly - Trustworthy.
11. Earnestly - Serious in Intention or Purpose.
12. Circumspect - Cautious or well considered.
13. Agitation - Act of moving into Violent.
14. Ridicule - Make fun of.
15. Cohesive - Unified.
16. Viable - Workable.
17. Disgruntled - Dissatisfied or displeased.

18. Shirk - Escape from or Avoid Fulfilling.
November 17/2015
Topic 1 : "Road from Paris for G-20"
1. Bound - Determined.
2. Swift - Quick action.
3. Collaborative - Combined action.
4. Heartening - Confidence to / Cheer.
5. Pitted - Was in fight.
6. Dominant - Major.
7. Guilty - Someone feel unhappy about his or her action.
8. Toppled - A position of Authority.
9. Regime - System of rule or Government.
10. Outrage - Intense feeling of anger and Shock.
11. Intervention - The act of coming between the groups.
12. Tackle - To deal with.
13. Obvious - Recognised.
14. Convention - Agreement.
15. Non-Combatant - A person who is not directly involved in battle.
16. Unequivocal - Absolute or Clear.
17. Obligation - A binding Promise.
Topic 2 : "Narendra modi & Jawaharlal Nehru"
1. Mentor - A wise counselor / loyal advisor.

2. Tactfully - Skilfully dealing any situations.
3. Baited - Teased.
4. Emphasise - Giving special attention.
5. Accused - Blamed.
6. Ethos - Fundamental Character or Spirit of a Culture.
7. Fostered - promoted the growth.
8. Bristles - To become rigid with anger.
9. Chronological - Arranged in the order of time.
10. Latter-day - Present day / Modern day.
11. Invocation - The act of calling upon a spirit.
12. Jibes - Insulting remark about someone.

13. Demeanour - Conduct / Behaviour.
14. Camaraderie - Feeling of trust among the group of people.
15. Iconography - Symbolic Representation.
16. Deliberately - Carefully considered.
17. Undermined - Attacked by secret means.
18. Conspiracy - An unlawful plan formulated in a secret by two or more persons.
19. Utterance - Vocal expression or Word that said.
20. Straitjacket - Very limited or restricting.
November 18/2015
Topic 1 : "France's 'war' on terrorists"
1. Personnel - Personnel of an organisation are the people who work for it.
2. Caliphate - Government lead by Islamic leader.
3. Strategy - Plan.
4. Tackle - To Handle.
5. Implicated - Involved in the harmful action.
6. Apparent - Clear / Readily seen.
7. Lapse - Temporary deviation from an expected condition.
8. Post-attack - To abuse or blame violently.
9. Scenario - Imagined events.
10. Xenophobic - Unreasonably hating anything foreign.
11. Chaos - Confused state.
12. Enhanced - Magnified.
13. Reorienting - Over again / Once more.
14. Topple - Cause them to lose power.
15. Status quo - The existing state.
Topic 2 : "The cause for the Rajya sabha"
1. Bracing - Strengthening.
2. Stormy - Characterised by Violent actions or speech.
3. Confronted - Came in front of.
4. Woefully - Unhappily.
5. Lament - To feel or express sorrow or regret.


6. Logjams - Any blockage or massive accumulation.
7. Bicameral - Having two houses as a legislative body.
8. Stall - To delay (Prevent from passing).
9. Veto - Veto power is used to stop or reject bills passed by the legislature.
10. Relevance - Important or Significance.
11. Chamber - Meeting hall of a legislative assembly.
12. Merely - Purely.
13. Devised - To form / design a plan.
14. Abrupt - Sudden or Unexpected.
15. Amendment - An alteration or addition to a current moving bill / constitution.
16. Trifled - To deal lightly.
17. Stalemate - Any position or situation in which no action can be taken.
18. Dilute - Reduce the strength.
19. Federal - Different states having important powers to make their own laws and
decisions.
20. Pragmatic - Practical point of view.
21. Concession - Special right to someone.
22. Amended - Changed for the better.
23. Partisan - Person who strongly supports a particular cause without thinking
carefully about the matter.
24. Confrontationist - Person who comes in front of opposition in an aggressive
manner.
November 19/2015
Topic 1 : " Stop this brinkmanship "
1. Brinkmanship - The technique of involving carefully in a dangerous situation in

order to secure the greatest advantage.
2. Reels under - Suffers because of.
3. Debilitating - Making weak.
4. Posed - Asked.
5. Plains-dweller - People who lives in plains.
6. Denied - Refused.
7. Onus - Difficult task.
8. Coercion - Act of inducing someone.
9. Covert - Secret.


10. Fillip - Strike smartly.
11. Elite - The best of anything.
12. Recourse - Access to a thing for protection.
13. Jingoism - Strong and Unreasonable belief in the superiority of our own country.
14. Wriggle out - Manage to avoid from doing it.
15. Espoused - Adopt or make one's own.
16. Status quoist - The existing state.
17. Ploy - A planned movement to gain advantage.
18. Tactic - A plan or procedure.
19. Rebuff - Abrupt rejection or Refuse.
20. Curbs - Control.
Topic 2 : " Death at the school "

1. Frantic - Wild with fear or pain.
2. Extricate - To free or release.
3. Fore - First in place.
4. Adherence - Steady devotion or support.
5. Fraught with - Full of / Involving.
6. Consequences - The effects.
7. Molestation - Disturb / Harm.
8. Corporal - Physical.
9. Gamut - The entire range.
10. Minefield - Area with hidden dangers or problems.
11. Freak - Sudden.
12. Cursory - Going rapidly over something without noticing details.
13. Leeway - It is the freedom to someone to take the action they want.
14. To pursue - To continue.
15. To Elude - To escape.
16. Satchel - A small bag.
17. Staggering - Very surprising.
18. Stirred - Made to think about it.
19. Conscience - Moral / one's inner sense.
20. Rouse - To bring out of a state of unconsciousness.
November 20/2015
Topic 1 : " Prosecuting David Headley "
1. Arraignment - Act of bringing someone before a court.


2. Conspirator - A person who takes part in an evil or unlawful plan.
3. Redundant - Unnecessary.
4. Plots - A secret plan to accomplish unlawful action.
5. Pleaded - To appeal.
6. Extradited - To give up to another nation at its request.
7. Ruled out - Decided that it is impossible.
8. Indictment - Serious criticism.
9. Buttress - Support to.
10. Deposition - Formal written statement given by a witness.
11. Rogatory - Pertaining to asking or requesting.
12. Testimony - Open Declaration.
13. Assailants - A person who attacks another.
14. Reiterated - To say or do again repeatedly.
15. Conspiracy - Unlawful or evil plan formulated in secret.
16. Maim - To injure people so badly that part of their body is permanently damaged.
17. Rouge - Dishonest.
18. Assuage - Satisfy.
19. Misgivings - Feeling of trust or distrust.
Topic 2 : " Planning for the next flood "
1. Woefully - Unhappy or very sad.

2. Tendency - Worrying or unpleasant action.
3. Inundation - Flood or covered with water.
4. Exposed - Left without protection.
5. Grim - Depressing / Difficult to accept.
7. Appalling - Bad or unpleasant.
8. Battered - Affected by very bad weather.
9. Clogging - Block / Obstruct.
10. Encroachments - One thing that spreads and restricts the range of the other.
11. Whittled - Reduce the amount of.
12. Rampant - Very common and increasing in an uncontrolled way.
13. Patronage - Financial support.
14. Curbs - Controls.
15. Desalting - Removing of sediments.
16. Intricate - Having many interrelated parts.
17. Burgeoning - Growing rapidly.


18. Daunting - Slightly afraid and worried.
19. Shortcomings - Weakness or deficiency in conduct.
November 21/2015


5. Grim - Depressing / difficult to accept.


15. Desilting - Removing of sediments.
November 23/2015




5. Grim - Depressing / Difficult to accept.
15. Desilting - Removing of sediments.
November 24/2015
Topic : "Pressing for free speech"

o Violate - to break or act against something (law)
o Unlawful - illegal
o Defiance - a challenging attitude or behavior
o Conflict - a serious disagreement (argument)
o Enforce - to make something happen with force (laws and rules)
o Intimidate - to frighten someone
o Sovereignty - free from external control
o Integrity - the state of being whole and undivided

o Remit - to give relief from (suffering)
o Refrain - to stop yourself from doing something
o Diktat - an order that must be obeyed
o Safeguard - a measure taken to protect something
o Toothless tiger / Ageing tiger - something that appears powerful but is very
weak
o Suo motu - something done on it's own, without depending on any external cause
[used in situations where a government or court acts on its own]
o Dissemination - to spread something (news)


o Thereupon - immediately after that
o To curb - to control
o Hush - to make silent
o Legitimate - logically correct
o Fettered - to restrict
o Shedding - to leave something
o Sedition - speech or behaviour directed against the peace of a state
November 25/2015
Topic 1 : "Crime and penalty in Bangladesh"

o Grievous crime - very serious crime (causing great sorrow)
o Applause - approval expressed especially by the clapping of hands
o Liberation - the process of trying to achieve equal rights
o Secular - not connected with religious or spiritual matters
o Contradiction - the act of going against
o Convicted - a person proved or declared guilty of an offense
o Dampen - to make dull
o Extremists - people who have beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and
unacceptable
o Execution - the process of performing a judgment or sentence of a court [mostly
Death sentence]
o Grappling - struggling
o Embitter - to make (a person) bitter
o Sympathisers - a person who supports a sentiment / opinion
Topic 2 : "Not without our girls"
o Phenomenon - a remarkable development

o Demographic - related to the structure of Population
o Implication - indication
o Prenatal - before birth
o Fertility - the ability to produce children
o Coercive - to control
o Offspring - children
o Anecdote - a small incident
o Immense - extremely large


November 26/2015
Topic 1 : "Aamir Khans right to speak"
o Reckoner - a handbook of tables used for easy calculations

o Intolerance - unwillingness to accept views / beliefs
o Fleeting - lasting for a very short time
o Heaped - filled or covered with
o Gracious - merciful
o Contrarian - a person who opposes or rejects people's opinion
o Churlish - difficult to work with or deal with
o Lampoon - publicly criticize something by using sarcasm (satires)
o Clamour - a loud and confused noise (people shouting)
o Short shrift - careless treatment
o Underpinnings - to serve as a foundation (to give support)
o Perceive - to come to an opinion about something
o Prompt - encourage to say something
o Disquiet - a feeling of worry or unease (to make upset)
o Reinforce - support
o Apprehensions - worry about the future
o Subtle - small but important
o Abject - lowering the pride / self-respect of a person
o Illiberalism - Narrow-mindedness
Topic 2 : "The India Story, in word & deed"
o Pitching - to set up
o Oratory skills - public speaking skills
o Reiteration - to say or do again or repeatedly
o Militate - influential effect
o Mammoth - huge
o Endorsement - the act of saying that you approve of or support something or
someone
o Conservative - traditional / a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new
ideas
o Declined - decreased
o Emerging - coming into existence / beginning
o Credible - able to be believed


November 27/2015
Topic 1 : "Warning signals from the Valley"

o Insurgency - a situation when a group of people attempt to take control of their
country by force
o Decisive - having the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively
o Fuelled - encouraged
o Spurt - move with a sudden speed
o Last-ditch effort - an effort or attempt that is made at the end of a series of
failures to solve a problem, and is not expected to succeed
o Appetite - a strong desire or liking for something.
o Emerging - growing
o Amid - surrounded by
o Heed - pay attention to
o Flourishing - developing rapidly and successfully
o Informants - a person who gives information
o Insurgents - a person fighting against government
o Muddy the waters - to make a situation more confused
o Attrition - decrease in numbers, size, or strength
o Containment - he action of keeping something harmful under control
o Holistic - focusing on whole rather than analysing into parts
o Dispute - argument
o Assuage - satisfy
o Grievance - complaint
o Intertwined - to become very closely involved with each other
o Infiltrate - to secretly enter something (a group or an organization) in order to get
information or do harm
Topic 2 : "Political shift in Argentina"
o Resonate - to resound
o Inherit - to receive or take over something from the previous holder (usually after
his death)
o Deregulation - the process of removing restrictions and regulations
o Trigger - to cause
o Tariff - tax on imports or exports
o Derailed - to cause a sudden stop
o Stagnation - to make something stand without moving
o Reaped - to obtain a return or reward


o Backing - support
o Backlash - a strong negative reaction by a large number of people
o Rejuvenate - make something look or feel better
o Sagging - sinking (decreasing to lower level)
November 28/2015
Topic 1 : "Grasp the climate moment"
1. Grasp - Understand.
2. Convention - Official Agreement between countries.
3. Evolve - Develop gradually.
4. Concrete plan - Definite and Specific plan.
5. Acknowledges - Admit to be real and true.
6. Incorporate - Includes.
7. Consequences - The effect or Result of something which occurred earlier.
8. Catastrophic - Sudden terrible disaster.
9. Negotiations - Mutual discussion.
10. Revolve - Discussion about a particular topic.
11. Radical - Fundamental / Root or origin.
12. Exhausted - Draw out.
13. Protocol - Treaty / Agreement.
14. Substantially - Considerable amount.
15. Mitigation - Lessen / Reduction.
16. Vulnerable - Weak and without protection / Open to attack.
17. Leap - Important change.
18. Pledges - Promises.
19. Hurdles - Problems / Difficulty.
20. Crafting - Making Skilfully.
Topic 2 : "Unhealthy defiance"
1. Defiance - Daring or bold resistance to authority.

2. Reluctance - Unwillingness.
3. Abide - To continue.
4. Deem - Hold as an opinion.
5. Inexpedient - Not suitable.
6. Unpalatable - Unacceptable.


7. Perilously - Very dangerous.
8. Peremptorily - Leaving no opportunity for refusal.
9. Amended - Changed for the better.
10. Regulate - Control or regulate by a rule.
11. Prohibiting - Preventing.
12. Legislation - Laws passed by a Government.
13. Re-enactment - The law which is agreed and made official once again.
14. Provision - Something provided.
15. Vocation - Particular Occupation / Business.
16. Regime - Government in power.
17. Defend - Maintain / uphold by argument.
18. Scrutiny - Investigation / close and searching look.
19. Violate - Break it.
20. Conservative - Unwilling to accept new change.
21. Plight - Condition / State / Situation.
22. Lapse - Moral fall.
23. Depravity - Dishonest / Immoral behaviour.
24. Mere - Nothing more nor better than.
25. Obscenity - Very offensive which shocks people.
26. Creeping - Developing gradually.
27. Exploitation - Use or Utilising for profit.
November 29/2015
Topic 1 : "Secularism and the Constitution"
1. Secularism - Involving in civil affairs beyond Religion.

2. Contemporary - Existing / Occurring.
3. Discourse - Formal Discussion.
4. Enshrined - Protected / Enclosed.
5. Deliberate - Slow and even.
6. Inviolability - Prohibiting violation.
7. Contention - Idea or Opinion expressing in an argument.
8. Relevance - Importance or Significance.
9. Emphasis - Special or extra importance.
10. Non-discrimination - Treating people with no difference.
11. Imbued - Become filled with.
12. Explicit - Fully and clearly expressed.


13. Reaffirming - To state positively / Maintain as true.
14. Laconic - Expressing much in few words.
15. Demeanour - Behaviour / Conduct.
16. Substantive - Most important and central aspects.
17. Asserting - Maintaining.
18. Tempted - Attracted.
19. Chastening - Regretting.
20. Apprehension - Fear of future trouble.
21. Overturning - To destroy the power of.
22. Agenda - A list / plan / outline.
Topic 2 : "Testing cricket's true colours"
1. Uncertain - Not confident.

2. Revolutionise - Bring great changes.
3. Anticipation - Expectation.
4. Replicated - Repeat / Duplicate / Reproduce.
5. Bump - Raise / Promote.
6. Sustain - Hold / Keep going.
7. Shrinking - To draw back.
8. Instance - Particular time or case.
9. Adequately - Sufficiently.
10. Overhang - Something that extends.
11. Makeshift - Temporary / Substitute.
12. Reviving - To activate.
13. Bilateral - Between two countries.
14. Denies - Refuses to agree.
15. Keenest - Showing strong feeling or desire.
16. Rivalry - Competition or Fighting between two groups.
17. Privilege - A special right.
18. Egalitarianism - Belief in the equality of all people.
19. Slapdash - Careless.
20. Acclimatised - One became used to new environment or situation.
21. Curiosity - Desire to know about something.
December 01/2015
Topic 1 : "Towards peace in the House"


Prime Minister Narendra Modis confabulations last Friday with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh on
the long-pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, a few hours after he struck an unusually conciliatory note on the
floor of Parliament, signalled a dramatic change of style. Gone was the air of aggression, the taunting tone, and the reminder
that his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, had won an election last year. Mr. Modis new mild manner seemed to be an
acknowledgement that a majority in the Lok Sabha is not enough, and he needs to build a consensus to give his governments
legislative agenda a chance. A year and a half after he came to power, the Prime Minister has begun to realise that no matter
how handsome a mandate the electorate might have given the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, barring the budget that
can get by with support only from the Lok Sabha all other laws need the backing of both Houses. Recent setbacks in the
Assembly elections have also dimmed the chances of the NDA significantly increasing its numbers in the Rajya Sabha. The
government needs to negotiate with the Opposition to get its bills passed. Else, the government risks attracting the phrase
policy paralysis in its second year, and thereby parallels with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance in its eighth. The
parallel has cautionary value: once UPA-2 lost the lines of communication with the Opposition, it lost control of its political
narrative.
After his Lok Sabha triumph, Mr. Modi had shown disdain for Parliament and the parliamentary process, barely attending the
House and refusing to answer tough questions on the floor of the House, when sought. Citing rules, he refused to concede to
the Congress the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, even as he kept his engagement with the Opposition
to the minimum. Indeed, he sought to implement at the Centre a model that had seen him virtually bypassing the Gujarat State
Assembly in the years that he was Chief Minister: a look at the records show the Assembly, as in most other States, barely
functioned; and whatever legislation had to be passed was done with minimal debate. That is clearly not possible in Delhi, where
the levels of scrutiny and resistance are much higher. More important, a Central government must reckon with the Rajya
Sabha, and courtesies need to be extended in one House to be reciprocated in the other. Now, with the economic reforms stuck,
and the electorate having spoken twice this year overwhelmingly against the BJP, first in Delhi and more recently in Bihar, the
Prime Minister appears to have finally read the writing on the wall. Mr. Modi made a good beginning on Friday, but he needs to
continue in the same way, engaging the Opposition even as he sends out a message of inclusion, tolerance and plurality by
checking the hotheads in his party, if he wishes to make a success of the rest of his tenure.
1. Confabulation - The act of talking informally.

2. Conciliatory - Tending to agree / Willing to end disagreement.
3. Aggression - Attacking behaviour / Offensive action.
4. Consensus - Majority of Opinion.
5. Mandate - Authority to carry it out as a result of winning an election.
6. Barring - Excepting.
7. Setbacks - Defeat.
8. Dimmed - Tending to be unfavourable.
9. Negotiate - Deal with.
10. Paralysis - Unable to act or function properly.
11. Cautionary - Containing a warning.
12. Narrative - Series of events.

13. Triumph - Victory / Great success.
14. Disdain - Think unworthy of notice.
15. Barely - Only just / No more than.
16. Citing - Mentioning.
17. Concede - Accept / Acknowledge as true.
18. Debate - Discussion.
19. Scrutiny - Investigation / Close and searching look.
20. Reckon with - Deal with / Include in consideration.
21. Courtesies - Polite behaviour.
22. Reciprocated - To make a return.
23. Overwhelming - Much greater.
24. Hotheads - One who acts too quickly without thinking / Short-tempered person.
25. Tenure - Period or term of holding.
Topic 2 : "End the stand-off"
The brief detention of 13 Indian border guards by the Nepali police on Sunday is yet another example of the deteriorating
relations between the two countries. Nepali authorities of the Armed Police Force (APF) say Indias Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
guards illegally crossed the border with weapons, while Indian officials say the guards had inadvertently stepped into the
neighbouring territory while chasing smugglers. The crux of the situation is, the differences between India and Nepal that have
led to a two-month blockade at the border are now having a direct impact on the close cooperation and trust that the SSB and
APF soldiers have shared for decades, and this marks a dangerous turn. It will require urgent discussions at every level of the
military and civilian leadership on both sides to now bring this situation to a resolution, clear the protestors to the largest extent
possible on the Nepali side, and clear the backlog of trucks that have been piling up on the Indian side since September 23 so
ordinary Nepalis can receive much-needed fuel, food, medicines and other essential supplies. While some trucks have been
released in the past few weeks, they are by no means enough, and all of Kathmandu now sees long serpentine queues for
every commodity. Regardless of relations at present, it is unacceptable for India to stand by, especially as the days and nights
grow colder, without moving in to help Nepal. Unicef, the United Nations Children's Fund, has warned that more than three
million children under the age of five in Nepal now face the risk of death or disease in winter.
This will by no means be easy. The government of Prime Minister K.P. Oli could start simply by pushing through the amendments
that his predecessor, Sushil Koirala, had cleared in the Cabinet. The government had also started talks with Madhesi leaders
to reach a consensus on constitutional amendments that would bring the country back to normalcy. But talks collapsed last
month, following which the government started police action against the protesters, which actually made matters worse. Prime
Minister Olis obsession with blaming India for all problems Nepal is facing serves as an excuse for his governments inability to
find a solution. India too must face the fact that all its attempts at intervention in the Constitution process have come a cropper.
It is time for diplomacy rather than a dogmatic stance, as bad relations with Nepal will begin to seep into every sphere of bilateral
ties, as they have already begun to taint the relations between the border security forces. Eventually, whatever the resolution,
India can only deal with the government in Nepal; it cannot engage any of the political groups there directly. Nor is it fighting a


popularity contest inside Nepal. A stable, peaceful democratic Nepal is in Indias best interests. For this to be realised, both
nations should first give up the confrontationist approach, and work together to resolve the impasse over the Constitution in
Nepal.
1. Detention - Maintenance of a person in custody or in prison.

2. Deteriorating - Become worse.
3. Inadvertently - Unintentional / Not Attentive.
4. Smugglers - Person who import or export goods secretly without the payment of
legal duty.
5. Crux - Most important part which affects everything else / Basic.
6. Protestors - People who express their objection.
7. Backlog - Hold in Reserve.
8. Piling - Assemblage of things lying one upon the other.
9. Serpentine - Curving and winding in shape.
10. Obsession - Idea / Domination of one's thought.
11. Come a cropper - Unexpected and embarrassing failure.
12. Diplomacy - Skill in managing negotiations or handling people.
13. Dogmatic - Refused to consider other's opinion.
14. Stance - Attitude.
15. Seep - Enters gradually.
16. Taint - Trace of something bad / Trace of dishonour.
17. Confrontationist - Person who face the opposition in an aggressive manner.
18. Impasse - Deadlock.
December 02/2015
Topic 1 : "No diplomacy by stealth"
The Paris handshake between Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indeed a welcome,
and unexpected, moment that could change the climate of the relationship. They had last spoken in Ufa in July though
they shared the same stage at the UN in September, they only managed a wave across the room. This is far from the vision
that Mr. Modi had himself laid out at the start of his tenure, one where neighbours would try to meet without occasion, and
engage to sort out bilateral issues, when possible. The stop-start nature of the Prime Ministers meetings have had an impact
on talks at every level of engagement, and even the meeting of the Directors General of Military Operations they agreed to five
months ago has not yet materialised. Other issues on which a resolution is required remain, and which have now been pending
for three years. These include the implementation of a liberalised visa regime, upgradation of trade checkpoint infrastructure at
the international border and the Line of Control, and other measures such as bank facilities to further trade that Prime Minister
Modi and Prime Minister Sharif have spoken of. Indias concerns about Pakistan giving free rein to terrorists like Hafiz Saeed
and establishment support to terror groups, too, remain. While Delhi has stuck to its principle of not taking substantive talks
ahead until it sees action from Pakistan on terrorism, it is heartening to note that basic trade between the two countries, business

visits and civil society conferences have not been barred. The Prime Ministers met in Paris even as the government must make
a decision on whether to allow their cricket teams to play in Sri Lanka. It must be remembered, that like the other issues, playing
cricket too is a commitment already made by Indian officials, and India stands to be penalised if it does not keep the BCCIs
contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
All these steps will be particularly important in creating an atmosphere for a productive visit by Mr. Modi to Islamabad in 2016,
when he has accepted an invitation to attend the SAARC summit. However, none of it will be possible without a sustained and
transparent process of engagement. Since this government took office, Indias Pakistan policy has been marked by stealth,
surprise and secrecy whether it was the invitation to SAARC leaders, the cancellation of Foreign Secretary-level talks, the
confabulations between the Prime Ministers in Kathmandu last November, dispatching the Foreign Secretary to Islamabad this
year, the Ufa engagement, or everything else that followed. It is time to unveil what the government plans to do on Pakistan. If
non-engagement was an option, the Prime Ministers would not have shaken hands or talked confidentially in Paris. If
engagement is the only way forward as it most certainly is then it must be done by taking the people into confidence, not
by keeping them in the dark about each new initiative, that seems to evaporate as soon as it is brought to light.
1. Sort out - Solve the problem.

2. Materialised - Happened.
3. Liberalised - Giving more freedom.
5. Free rein - Giving lot of freedom to do what they want.
6. Substantive - Real or actual.
7. Heartening - Cheering or Encouraging.
8. Barred - Prevented.
9. Penalised - Subject to Penalty.
10. Sustained - Maintained.
11. Transparent - Easily understood or recognised.
12. Confabulation - Act of talking informally.
13. Dispatching - Send off as a messenger.
14. Unveil - Introduce it to public.
15. Certainly - Surely / Without doubt.
16. Evaporate - Gradually becomes weaker and eventually disappears completely.
Topic 2 : "Time to abolish criminal defamation"
The observation by the Supreme Court that political leaders should not take criticism as a personal insult highlights a
particular kind of intolerance that is rarely referred to in the ongoing debate on the subject: the inability of public figures to
tolerate criticism and their repeated resort to criminal defamation proceedings to stifle adverse comment. Nothing exemplifies


this as much as the 100-odd prosecutions launched by the government of Tamil Nadu against politicians and the media. The
courts remark came in the context of several of cases of defamation reaching its portals in recent years. Under Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa, the law of criminal defamation is routinely set in motion within days of the publication of reports that are even
remotely critical of her governance. It is always initiated by the public prosecutors on behalf of the Chief Minister and members
of her Cabinet. It is needless to emphasise that criminal defamation has a chilling effect on free speech and undermines public
interest by coercing the media to observe self-censorship and self-restraint. Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code,
which criminalise defamation in India, have been challenged in the Supreme Court, but so far there is little hope that the State
will give up the use of this weapon against adverse coverage. It also showed questionable zeal in going up to the highest
court just to obtain the police custody of Kovan, a folk singer arrested on sedition charge, indicating a dangerously illiberal
attitude. The Union government has contended, much to the disappointment of proponents of the freedom of expression, that
these sections do not have any chilling effect on free speech.
Democratic opinion in many countries is veering around to the view that defamation should be treated as a civil wrong and
should not be pursued as a criminal case, and that the state has no compelling interest to protect the reputation of its individual
servants by prosecuting alleged offenders. In 2011, the Human Rights Committee of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights called upon states to abolish criminal defamation, noting that it intimidates citizens and makes them shy away
from exposing wrongdoing. Its misuse as an instrument of harassment is pervasive in India. Often, the prosecutors complaint
is taken at face value by courts, which send out routine notices for the appearance of defendants without any preliminary
examination whether the offending comments or reports come under one of the exceptions spelt out in Section 499. Thus, the
process itself becomes the punishment. It is internationally recognised that there ought to be some proportionality between the
status and influence of public officials and how far they could be defamed. The higher the officials are the greater will be their
resources to set right any impairment of their image, using their wide reach and influence over the public. It is time Indias
lawmakers scrapped criminal defamation from the statute book.
1. Defamation - Spoiling good name of others by telling something bad and untrue
about them.
2. Stifle - Prevent / Withhold.
3. Adverse - Unfavourable.
4. Exemplifies - Show or illustrate by examples.
5. Emphasise - To draw special attention.
6. Chilling effect - Discouraging effect.
7. Undermines - Making Weaken / Less strong / Less secure.
8. Coercing - Compel by force.
9. Self-restraint - Self-control.
10. Zeal - Great enthusiasm / Eager.
11. Sedition - Any action against government (Speech, Writing, Behaviour)
12. Illiberal - Narrow minded / Who do not giving much freedom or choice of action to
people.
13. Contended - Compete / Argued.

14. Proponents - A person who argues in favour of something.
15. Veering - Changing in direction.
16. Pursued - To continue / To follow.
17. Reputation - Good name.
18. Alleged - Suspected / Doubtful.
19. Covenant - Formal agreement between two or more persons.
20. Intimidates - Forcing someone to do things by inducing fear.
21. Harassment - Troubling repeatedly.
22. Pervasive - Spread throughout.
23. Defendants - Person against claim is brought in a court.
24. Impairment - The state of being damaged.
25. Scrapped - Get rid of / Cancel it.
26. Statute book - Record of all the laws made by the government.
December 03/2015
Topic 1 : "Dark clouds & a silver lining"
Making extensive preparations for rare, extreme situations is neither easy nor economical. Both the Tamil Nadu administration
and the residents of Chennai and its neighbouring districts were not ready for the relentless spells of rain after the North-East
monsoon set in, flooding homes and offices, roads and malls. Ordinarily, the worry for Chennai is a weak monsoon with deficit
rainfall that leaves little water for drinking purposes and irrigation. But, over the last 30 days, the government and the people
were dealing with the ill-effects of an unusually active monsoon that seemed intent on overcompensating for the deficit years
with record rainfall. Even as the city returned to some sort of normalcy after one torrential downpour, it had to contend
with another spell of rain. Displacement, traffic jams, power cuts, rising prices, and scarcity of food, the woes just would not
end for the people of Chennai. The situation was especially bad for those in the relatively new residential areas in the suburbs
where, in recent years, real estate growth was given priority over planned development. Also, more than the amount of rainfall,
Chennai was hit badly by the overflow of water from reservoirs and breaches in lakes and tanks, and the flooding of water
channels that were already choked with silt and refuse. With an unprecedented discharge of water, Chennais rivers have shown
no respect for the bridges and the roads, effectively cutting off people and places on one bank with the people and places on
the other bank. With bus and suburban railway services becoming inoperable, Chennai had to rely heavily on the new Metro
line and the Mass Rapid Transit System.
But the rains were not all about doom and gloom. The government did remarkably well in rescue and relief efforts, quickly
requisitioning the deployment of the armed forces to evacuate people in flooded areas and engaging in elaborate
rehabilitation work. In the end, even Opposition leaders readily praised the relief measures taken up in challenging
circumstances. The distress brought about by the rain also revealed the remarkable strength and character of the people in
the city and the affected districts, with NGOs supplementing the efforts of the government, and public- spirited individuals taking
up relief work, spending time and resources in reaching out to those left stranded. The Hindu is privileged to be a part of these
efforts. Social networks were full of messages offering help or information on where help would be available. Malls and private


schools and colleges too opened their doors to the flood victims. A radio taxi service provider, under criticism for failing to
arrange cabs, offered free boat services. Clearly, the civic solidarity was in evidence everywhere, with volunteers helping to
ferry the aged and the sick, and distribute food packets and warm clothes. Without a doubt, this has been the silver lining in the
dark clouds over Chennai over the last few weeks. The lessons learnt during this extended disaster should result in a hard look
at existing policies on urban planning, and a short-term revamp of the inadequacies in the civic infrastructure of urban areas.
1. Extensive - Far reaching / Wide.

2. Relentless - Unyieldingly severe / Harsh.
3. Deficit - Lack / Shortage.
4. Intent - Purpose.
5. Torrential - Violent / Extraordinarily large in quantity.
6. Downpour - Heavy rain.
7. Contend with - Deal with / Struggle against.
8. Woes - Great sadness.
9. Breaches - Result of breaking.
10. Choked with - Filled with.
11. Silt - Mud or sand which is carried along by a river.
12. Refuse - Trash / Unwanted things.
13. Unprecedented - Never before known.
14. Rely - Depend confidently / Put trust in.
15. Transit - Act of passing through.
16. Doom and gloom - Prediction of a condition marked by misfortune.
17. Deployment - Organisation and positioning.
18. Evacuate - Send them to a safe place.
19. Rehabilitation - Help them to live a normal life again.
20. Public-spirited - Showing an unselfish interest in public welfare.
21. Stranded - Prevented from leaving a place.
22. Privileged - (Here) A grant to an individual.
23. Civic Solidarity - People union.
24. Ferry - Carried in a boat.
25. Silver lining - Sign of a hope in an unfortunate situation.
26. Revamp - Restructuring / Revising something in order to improve it.
27. Inadequacies - Not good enough.
Topic 2 : "On hold and accommodative"
Making extensive preparations for rare, extreme situations is neither easy nor economical. Both the Tamil Nadu administration
and the residents of Chennai and its neighbouring districts were not ready for the relentless spells of rain after the North-East


monsoon set in, flooding homes and offices, roads and malls. Ordinarily, the worry for Chennai is a weak monsoon with deficit
rainfall that leaves little water for drinking purposes and irrigation. But, over the last 30 days, the government and the people
were dealing with the ill-effects of an unusually active monsoon that seemed intent on overcompensating for the deficit years
with record rainfall. Even as the city returned to some sort of normalcy after one torrential downpour, it had to contend
with another spell of rain. Displacement, traffic jams, power cuts, rising prices, and scarcity of food, the woes just would not
end for the people of Chennai. The situation was especially bad for those in the relatively new residential areas in the suburbs
where, in recent years, real estate growth was given priority over planned development. Also, more than the amount of rainfall,
Chennai was hit badly by the overflow of water from reservoirs and breaches in lakes and tanks, and the flooding of water
channels that were already choked with silt and refuse. With an unprecedented discharge of water, Chennais rivers have shown
no respect for the bridges and the roads, effectively cutting off people and places on one bank with the people and places on
the other bank. With bus and suburban railway services becoming inoperable, Chennai had to rely heavily on the new Metro
line and the Mass Rapid Transit System.
But the rains were not all about doom and gloom. The government did remarkably well in rescue and relief efforts, quickly
requisitioning the deployment of the armed forces to evacuate people in flooded areas and engaging in elaborate
rehabilitation work. In the end, even Opposition leaders readily praised the relief measures taken up in challenging
circumstances. The distress brought about by the rain also revealed the remarkable strength and character of the people in
the city and the affected districts, with NGOs supplementing the efforts of the government, and public- spirited individuals taking
up relief work, spending time and resources in reaching out to those left stranded. The Hindu is privileged to be a part of these
efforts. Social networks were full of messages offering help or information on where help would be available. Malls and private
schools and colleges too opened their doors to the flood victims. A radio taxi service provider, under criticism for failing to
arrange cabs, offered free boat services. Clearly, the civic solidarity was in evidence everywhere, with volunteers helping to
ferry the aged and the sick, and distribute food packets and warm clothes. Without a doubt, this has been the silver lining in the
dark clouds over Chennai over the last few weeks. The lessons learnt during this extended disaster should result in a hard look
at existing policies on urban planning, and a short-term revamp of the inadequacies in the civic infrastructure of urban areas.
1. Entrenched - Established firmly.

2. Rationale - Statement of reasons .
3. Abundantly - (Here) Extremely obvious.
4. Becalmed - Not progressive at all.
5. Anaemic - Lacking power / weak.
6. Inventory - Supply or stock of something.
7. Front - (Here) Situation.
8. Uptick - Rise / improvement.
9. Sizeable - Fairly large.
10. Buttress - Giving encouragement or support.
11. Sustainability - Ability to support.
12. Damp - Dull / Unenthusiastic.
13. Unnerving - Making Uncomfortable or worried.

14. Onus - Responsibility / Difficult task.
15. Astute - Clever.
16. Benign - Showing gentleness / Favourable.
17. Volatile - Sudden change.
18. Inherent - Existing permanently / Inseparable.
19. Opted - Choosed
20. Consolidation - Strengthening.
21. Restraint - Control.
22. Offset - Compensate.
23. Aggregate - Several smaller things.
24. Deliberation - Long and careful consideration.
25. Unclogging - Free of an obstruction.
26. Vigilant - Careful attention / Alert.
December 04/2015
Topic 1 : "Ending politics of remission"
The verdict of a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on legal questions relating to grant of remission to life convicts
exposes the haste with which the Tamil Nadu government acted in February 2014 in seeking to release the seven persons
serving life terms for plotting to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. The courts finding that the Central government has primacy
in according remission to life convicts in a case of this nature is a political setback to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. It was apparent
that she wanted to be seen as a champion of Tamil rights rather than the stern opponent of terrorism that she was believed to
be. In token compliance with a statutory requirement, she wrote to the Centre, giving just three days time for its opinion on their
release. Alarmed by the thought of Rajiv Gandhis killers being freed, the then United Progressive Alliance government rushed
to the Supreme Court to stall the process. Thus, the humanitarian question whether convicts who had only been accessories in
the LTTEs assassination plot should languish in prison even after 23 years was converted into a political issue. It became
embroiled in technical questions that were referred to a Constitution Bench. The validity of the Tamil Nadu governments decision
will be decided separately by a regular bench.
However, the larger significance here is that the court has barred State governments from invoking their statutory remission
power for the premature release of those sentenced by a High Court or the Supreme Court to a specified term above 14 years
without remission. It has rejected the theory that every convict, even those facing life-long incarceration, will have to be offered
a ray of hope, placing the interests of the victims of murder above those of the perpetrators. It indicates that those whose death
sentences are altered to life terms will have to spend the rest of their life in prison. At the same time, it has kept a small door
open for life convicts by declaring that one who had got the benefit of commutation of death sentence to life is not barred from
getting remission from the executive. In any case, it has said the constitutional powers of the President and the Governor for
grant of clemency remain untouched. The State government will now have to get the concurrence of the Centre in cases
investigated by Central agencies before it can use its power of remission to release convicts. Also, the sentences they are
undergoing must be for crimes relating to subjects falling under the Union governments executive powers. The court rejected


the idea that a State government can remit prison terms on its own without following the prescribed procedure. A lesson to be
drawn from this episode is that the release of prisoners ought to be dealt with on merits on a case-by-case basis by following
statutory procedures and not through whimsical or partisan acts of political misadventure.
1. verdict - an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are given
(judgment)
2. Remission - the cancellation of a penalty
3. Convict - a person found guilty of a criminal offence and serving a sentence of
imprisonment
4. Haste - hurry
5. Assassinate - murder an important person
6. Primacy - first preference
7. Apparent - clear
8. Stern - strict
9. Compliance - the act of conforming
10. Alarmed - warned
11. Languish - forced to remain in an unpleasant place (prison)
12. Embroiled - bring into a state of confusion
13. Incarceration - imprisonment
14. Perpetrators - someone who has committed a crime
15. Altered - changed
16. Barred - prevented
17. Clemency - mercy
18. Concurrence - agreement of cooperation
19. Whimsical - in a humorous way
20. Partisan - a strong supporter of a party
Topic 2 : "Myanmars best hope"
Aung San Suu Kyis meetings with Myanmars President Thein Sein and military chief General Min Aung Hlaing, nearly a
month after her partys resounding election win, are highly significant, given the tumultuous civil-military relations in the
Southeast Asian nation. Ms. Suu Kyi had reportedly asked for these meetings immediately after the polls. But the delay had
triggered some concerns over whether the still-powerful military would accept the election result and let her National League for
Democracy form the next government, which is expected to assume office on March 31. A presidential spokesperson later
allayed the concerns, saying both leaders had discussed a smooth transition and transfer of power to the newly elected
government. While the military-backed governments reassurance that it is committed to political transition is welcome, the
process of transition and building a constitutional framework for the new government could turn out to be a cumbersome process.
That is mainly because the military is unlikely to be willing to cede full control to the civilian government. The military-written


Constitution bars Ms. Suu Kyi from becoming the President because her children are not Burmese, and it reserves key Ministries,
including defence, interior and border security, for the military. Gen. Aung Hlaing has already said there would not be any change
in the Constitution to let Ms. Suu Kyi become the President. She has, on the other hand, vowed to lead the government whether
or not she is the President.
Ms. Suu Kyi is the best hope Myanmar has at this point of time. She is a stout democrat and widely popular, and her party has
a legitimate mandate to lead the country, which faces several problems from poverty to ethnic conflict. One of the reasons the
military agreed to a transition to a more democratic set-up was the realisation that it could not rule the country with an iron fist
forever. Despite years of suppression, the political opposition has been resolute. Besides, the internal dynamics of the Myanmar
society remain fragile. The Rohingya community, Muslims castigated as illegal immigrants, have been widely discriminated
against by sections of the Buddhist majority. The governments efforts to end the civil war with ethnic groups through negotiated
agreements were only partially successful as rebels in the region bordering China refused to sign ceasefire pacts in October.
The country also faces a huge economic challenge. What Myanmar needs now is a leader who can unify the people and take
the country to a new era of social and political democracy. A large number of people inside and outside the country believe that,
under the circumstances Ms. Suu Kyi may be the best person to take up the challenge. But the question is whether the generals
would let her do it. For her part, Ms. Suu Kyi needs to be more forthright in articulating an inclusive agenda, for example vis--
vis the Rohingya, that addresses ethnic tensions, and gives democracy in Myanmar a stronger chance.
1. Resounding - Great
2. Tumultuous - confused
3. Triggered - caused
4. Allayed - to reduce / calm
5. Transition - the process of changing from one state to another
6. Cumbersome - difficult
7. Cede - give up
8. Stout - strong
9. Legitimate - logical
10. Mandate - give (someone) authority to act in a certain way
11. Rule with iron fist - To rule with ruthless control (showing no pity on others)
12. Fragile - easily broken or damaged
13. Illegal immigrants - someone who lives in another country without legal
permission
14. Discriminated - to treat somebody in a different way (worst) because of their sex
/ caste etc
15. Ethnic group - a group made up of people who share a common cultural
background
16. Negotiated agreements - agreements obtained by discussions
17. Ceasefire - a temporary suspension of fighting


18. Forthright - direct and outspoken
19. Articulate - to express everything clearly
December 05/2015
Topic 1 : "Funding holds the key at Paris"
As the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases among individual countries, India is under pressure at the Paris Climate
Change conference to commit itself to a future trajectory of low emissions. All countries with a significant role in the accumulation
of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which leads to global warming, have made voluntary pledges that are aimed at the stabilisation
of global temperature rise below 2 Celsius. Indias own Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) promise to
reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030, over 2005 levels. A base agreement of this coalition of
the willing is now possible at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conference, but problems lie ahead. Among
the contentious issues is monitoring and verification of performance, which would inevitably be linked to grant of funding that is
vital to help affected communities adapt to the impact of climate change. The colossal losses arising from the Chennai deluge
underscore the importance of access to funds for adaptation. On the other hand, a five-year monitoring period from 2020, when
the pledges go into effect, would ratchet up the pressure tremendously. With such high stakes, it is vital that India continues its
strong cooperation with the G77+China bloc, which has been aggressively pursuing the principles of equity and
differentiated responsibilities, and simultaneously engage the developed world as the negotiations move into the high-level
segment next week.
The dichotomy of ambitions on halting dangerous climate change has been evident at Paris, with the most vulnerable island
states and the least developed countries expecting rising targets for emissions cuts to keep global temperature rise below 1.5
C, and liberal funding from rich nations. But even with sincere implementation of the 157 INDC submissions from 184 countries
(including the European Union member-states) which cover about 94 per cent of carbon emissions, the global temperature is
expected to rise beyond the target. India also has to contend with the growing movement to persuade investors to withdraw
from companies using polluting fossil fuels including coal, and tax these fuels at higher rates to consumers. Moreover, although
it has the largest emissions, China has won plaudits with its pledge to peak coal use in 2020, and all greenhouse gases by
2030, something that India cannot. For developing countries in Paris, however, the real challenge is to enshrine in the agreement
strong provisions for funding that have been promised but not delivered in the past. Many of them have submitted their INDCs
with funding as a condition, and India has estimated a staggering $2.5 trillion as its climate finance requirement until 2030. By
contrast, the total cross-border flows of funds is calculated to be $2.2 billion. It will take a great deal of diplomacy and
commitment to bridge the gulf in Paris.
1. Trajectory - Series of action that it follows over time.

2. Significant - Considerable / Important.
3. Voluntary - Done by one's own interest.
4. Pledges - Serious promises.
5. Intended - Purposed.
6. Intensity - High concentration.


7. Coalition - Group of people from different political or social groups who are
cooperating to achieve a particular aim.
8. Convention - Official Agreement between two or more countries.
9. Contentious - Characterised by argument.
10. Inevitably - Unable to be avoided.
11. Colossal - Extraordinarily large in size.
12. Deluge - A great flood of water.
13. Ratchet up - Increased by fixed amount and seems unlikely to decrease again.
14. Tremendously - Great in size.
15. Stakes - Risks.
16. Bloc - Group of nations that share common interests.
17. Pursuing - Follow in order to overtake or capture.
18. Negotiations - Mutual discussion.
19. Dichotomy - Contradictory groups / Great difference.
20. Vulnerable - Weak and without protection / Open to moral attack.
21. Liberal - Giving in large quantities.
22. Contend with - Deal with.
23. Plaudits - Enthusiastic expression of approval.
24. Enshrine - Protection.
25. Provisions - Providing or Supplying.
26. Staggering - (Here) Surprisingly added.
27. Diplomacy - Skill in managing Negotiations.
Topic 2 : "Fighting IS with air strikes alone"
With British jets having started bombing Islamic State locations in Syria, four of the five permanent members of the United
Nations Security Council have formally joined the war against the jihadist group. The United States, France and Russia are
already in the fray. But despite persistent bombing by these countries over the past few months, IS still holds on to the territories
it controls. Will Britain joining the war change the script? Prime Minister David Cameron himself warned against quick
expectations. He said its a complex war and that the country has to be patient and persistent. But the real problem that the
war against IS faces is not the campaign being less persistent; its that there is no coordinated strategy among the nations
fighting the jihadists. Syrias skies are already crowded. The downing of the Russian aircraft by Turkey over the Syrian border
last month exposed the faultlines of the anti-IS war. Countries involved in the war are also competitors for geopolitical gains and
they have divergent views towards the future of Syria. For example, the Americans want Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to
go, while the Russians are the main backers of the regime, saying the only sustainable alternative to IS is restoring the Syrian
statehood.


Does Prime Minister Cameron have a strategy to address these complexities? Or is his only plan, as that of his allies in the
West, to target the group from the air? He did not lay down a comprehensive strategy in the British Parliament while seeking
the support of Members of Parliament for the air strikes. His claim that there are 70,000 rebels ready to fight IS on the ground
is far from convincing. Who are these rebels? Syrian rebel groups are hardly united, and in tough battles in the past they fled,
leaving the territories and the weapons they got from Mr. Assads enemies to the hands of IS. Those who faced down IS on the
ground were the Kurds. But Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that is formally part of the U.S.-
led coalition against IS, is bombing the Kurdish rebels on the Syrian border. Besides, how will Mr. Camerons government
respond to allegations that Turkey was complicit with IS by facilitating the groups trade in oil? The ground situation is so
complicated that it is irrational to believe that sending a few more bomber jets into the Syrian skies would weaken IS. Of course,
the war against IS needs air cover. But it should be in a supplementary role. The main fight has to take place on the ground and
for that, the coalition needs coordination among the forces fighting IS, including the Syrian and Iraqi national army. Without such
a coordinated strategy, air strikes would only play into the hands of the jihadists.
1. Fray - Fight / War.

2. Persistent - Constantly repeated.
3. Despite - Despite is used to introduce a fact which makes the other part of the
sentence surprising.
4. Campaign - Series of planned movements carried out by armed forces.
5. Strategy - General plan designed to achieve something.
6. Exposed - Revealed.
7. Fault lines - Weak process which causes problems and failures.
8. Divergent - Different.
9. Backers - Person who supports a cause.
11. Allies - Another country that has an agreement to support it.
12. Rebels - People who are fighting against their own country's army.
13. Fled - Escaped.
14. Allegations - Its a statement saying that someone has done something wrong.
15. Complicit - Involved in illegal act.
16. Irrational - Without natural reason.
17. Supplementary - Things that are added to something in order to improve it.
December 07/2015
Topic 1 : "Speed up relief efforts"
Disasters bring out either the best or the very worst in people and organisations. Chennai, in the days immediately after the
worst phase of the November-December floods, saw both in equal measure. Even as public-spirited individuals and voluntary
organisations joined the administration in mounting rescue and relief operations to help the city recover from the shock of the
flash floods, petty politicians and miscreants revealed a dark side of the city: where others saw threats to life and property, they


saw opportunities for self-promotion and self-aggrandisement. Strangely, instead of helping the government in reaching relief
material to the victims of the floods in good time, many of the lower-level functionaries of the ruling All India Anna Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam seemed more intent on gaining political mileage for the party and for their leader, Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa. Images of Ms. Jayalalithaa were sought to be stuck on relief packages, leading to pile-up of relief materials
and avoidable delays in their distribution; State transport corporation buses that were ordered to ply free of charge for four days
greeted passengers with an image of the Chief Minister. Far from managing efficiently the humanitarian crisis building up, the
administrations efforts looked as if they were no more than a part of a public relations exercise in an election year. Of course,
ruling party workers were not the only ones to blame. For every person attempting to convey essential information through the
social media, there were at least two others spreading panic through misinformation and rumour-mongering. Criminals too took
advantage of a city in crisis mode by cheating people and looting houses.
Worse, State government officials were often directionless in dealing with the crisis. There was little by way of coordination
between the armed forces and the local bodies, resulting in deployment of personnel in areas where the flood situation was not
serious, and in delay in reaching areas that required help the most. Some of the Army officers supervising the relief operations
suspect that they were deliberately misled so that VIPs in posh localities could be rescued ahead of worse-affected commoners.
Clearly, the administration was too centralised in its operations to be truly effective in a crisis situation. Power supply is yet to
be restored in several parts of the city even after the flood waters receded as officials were waiting for instructions from political
higher-ups. Ms. Jayalalithaa did an aerial survey of the city and periodically issued statements and made appeals to the Centre
for help. But things were not moving on the ground, other than in terms of distribution of food. After having managed the earlier
spells of rain remarkably well, the administration just folded up when the water channels overflowed after the full force of the
rain was felt on December 1. As the crisis grew in proportion, the government machinery slowed down almost to the point of
stillness. Somewhere along the way, the political leadership of the State must have decided it was easier to try to counter the
negative publicity rather than manage the crisis. But without resolving the serious flood-related issues confronting the people of
Chennai and the surrounding northern districts, there can be no public relations victory for the government.
1. Public-spirited - Showing an unselfish interest in public welfare.

2. Mounting - Organising and supporting.
3. Petty - Ungenerous ( Not willing to give much money to people)
4. Miscreants - Someone who has done something illegal or behaved badly.
5. Aggrandisement - Expansion of power, wealth, rank, honour.
6. Intent - Eager and determined.
7. Mileage - (Here) Advantage.
8. Ply - To carry on / To apply.
9. Panic - Sudden fear.
10. Rumour-mongering - People who are spreading rumours.
11. Looting - Stealing / Anything taken by dishonesty.
12. Deployment - To arrange in a position of readiness.
13. Personnel - Group of people who work for it.
14. Deliberately - (Here) Planned it beforehand and made it to happen.

15. Posh - Luxurious / Upper class.
16. Receded - Moved away / Drained.
17. Aerial survey - Survey made from an aircraft.
18. Appeals - Request for aid or support.
19. Stillness - Quiet / The absence of motion.
20. Confronting - Meet facing.
Topic 2 : "Why Ms.Selija's story matters"
Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to his predecessor, Manmohan Singh, and Congress president
Sonia Gandhi in a conciliatory move to avert a deadlock in Parliament, the Rajya Sabha had reverted to its old normal. And if
whatever goodwill was generated by that meeting last Friday now appears to be so much water under the bridge, the treasury
benches must interrogate their own. The cause for fresh adjournments was former Union Minister Kumari Seljas statement on
Wednesday that she had been asked her caste at a temple in Gujarats Dwarka; and the response by BJP Ministers was a
playbook of ways to make a House not function. That there was a defence by the government was surprising enough, given
that Ms. Seljas disclosure simply required an inquiry into her specific experience and, more importantly, into the larger
prevalence of caste and gender discrimination. It was also disproportionate, even intimidatory. Senior Union Ministers charged
her with bringing up manufactured problems and pulled out her remarks from the visitors book at Dwarkas big temple to cast
doubts about the veracity of her remarks. In the event, the Ministers accepted Ms. Seljas clarification that the question about
her caste was posed at a smaller temple in Dwarka, and variously withdrew or regretted their statements. There the issue now
simmers on a slower burn, and the Congress may well use the faultiness to go on the hunt for other subjects to corner the
government on.
However, the disquiet over the governments handling of Ms. Seljas intervention is wider than its effect on the orderly conduct
of Parliament. Her identity, as a woman and, significantly, as a Dalit, was not incidental to the resonance of the question at
Dwarka. Temple entry has been an integral part of social reform in India, and was made a mobilising plank in the national
movement by Mahatma Gandhi. The Constitution gives the state immense power to enforce and make laws for throwing open
of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus. Ms. Seljas recollection that she was
asked about her caste at a time when she happened to be a Union Minister is not just a reminder that free temple entry is still a
work in progress but also that for all the power and privilege that may attach to an individual, there remains the overhang of
the older oppressive hierarchies of caste, if not always in operation but definitely in atmospherics. Whatever the specifics of Ms.
Seljas personal encounter, it must serve as a call to Parliament to strengthen the law to end restriction to temple entry on
account of caste and gender.
1. Conciliatory - Approach in a compatible way in order to win or gain.

2. Avert - Prevent.
3. Deadlock - A state in which progress is impossible.
4. Reverted - Return / Go back.
5. Goodwill - Friendly attitude / Kindness.


6. Water under the bridge - Refer to events that are in the past.
7. Interrogate - Examine by questions.
8. Adjournments - Temporary postpone of some events.
9. Disclosure - Act of giving new information.
10. Prevalence - Condition of being widespread.
11. Discrimination - Practice of treating one group of people less fairly than other
groups.
12. Inrimidatory - Forcing someone to do something by inducing fear.
13. Cast doubts - To cause people to be unsure about it.
14. Veracity - Truthfulness.
15. Posed - Asked.
16. Regretted - Feeling sad for their own action.
17. Simmers - Eventually builds up to a specific point.
18. Disquiet - Lack of calm or peace.
19. Resonance - Special meaning / Particularly important.
20. Integral part - Essential part.
21. Plank - Main principle on which it bases its policy.
22. Immense - Huge / Very great.
23. Privilege - Special right or advantage.
24. Overhang - Spread throughout / Extend.
25. Oppressive - Burdensome.
26. Hierarchies - Any system of person or things ranked one above another.
December 08/2015
Topic 1 : "Test of political will on GST"
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has rolled up its sleeves for the ongoing winter session of Parliament
in a bid to guarantee the passage of the Constitution amendment Bill that will usher in a Goods and Services Tax. The
government, which has staked a lot of political capital on ensuring that the April 1 target deadline for the implementation of GST
is met, has moved to try to build a consensus through a combination of political outreach and an internal reappraisal of some of
the contentious features of the tax measure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his predecessor Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to court bipartisan
support for the legislation in the Rajya Sabha, where the Congress still has the upper hand. And the government has said it
hopes to continue talks with the Opposition to reach an understanding. Separately, a panel headed by Chief Economic Adviser
Arvind Subramanian has recommended the government make some modifications to its proposals that are seen as helping to
pave the way for a resolution of the political deadlock over the Bill.
Among key suggestions are that the government drop the proposed additional 1 per cent levy on inter-State sales over and
above the GST rate, and that alcohol and petroleum products be included in the ambit of the tax. Crucially, however, the panel


shied away from endorsing the Congresss demand for writing into the statute an explicit cap of 18 per cent on the standard rate
of tax. Dr. Subramanian reasoned it would be unwise to limit the future freedom of the political process by laying down the
minutiae of policy. This could well end up being a bone of contention.
For both the government and the Congress, a lot now rides on the political calculations the two sides make ahead of a clutch of
State elections due next year. On test will be the sagacity and statesmanship of their respective leaders. A Congress
spokesperson was emphatic that the onus of finding a resolution to the differences lay with the government. The party stands
by its core demands that include the introduction of robust accountability measures.
The party claims that the governments efforts to communicate with the Opposition have been high on atmospherics and low on
substance. It is now time both sides rose above partisan considerations. That the implementation of GST will help reduce the
cascading impact of the prevailing multiplicity of taxes has been well-established. The projected benefit to the economy from an
expected improvement in administration and compliance of the indirect tax regime is also fairly beyond doubt.
The challenge will remain in warding off incipient inflationary pressures in the early stages of the implementation of the tax, and
enlightened politics is needed here. Both the Congress, which had once championed the GST, and Prime Minister Modi need
to show the political will to get this key reform measure passed to create a common market that could spur growth.
1. Rolled up its sleeves - To prepare for hard work.

2. Bid - Attempt to obtain it.
3. Usher - Lead / Introduce.
4. Ensuring - To make sure.
5. Consensus - Majority of Opinion / General Agreement.
6. Reappraisal - An estimate or considered opinion.
7. Contentious - Involving by argument / Controversy.
8. To pave the way for - To prepare for and to facilitate the entrance of.
9. Levy - An imposing or collecting.
10. Ambit - Boundary / Limit.
11. Crucially - Involving an extremely important decision.
12. Shied away from - Avoid doing it.
13. Endorsing - Support or approve.
14. Statute - Rule or law which has been made by a Government.
15. Explicit - Fully and Clearly expressed or demonstrated.
16. Unwise - Lacking in good sense.
17. Minutiae - Very small details.
18. Bone of contention - Subject of a disagreement or argument.
19. Sagacity - Quality of being intelligent and has the ability to make good decision.
20. Emphatic - Clearly or boldly outlined.
21. Robust - Strong and effective.
22. Cascade - Large amount of.
23. Prevailing - Exist everywhere.


24. Compliance - Cooperation / Act of confirming.
26. Inflationary - Reflective of.
27. Enlightened - Sensible and Modern attitude.
28. Championed - First among all competitors.
29. Spur - Makes it happen faster or sooner.
Topic 2 : "Amber signal on Delhi pollution"
The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has announced a slew of measures to address the very poor air quality and
pollution in the nations capital. It is, in principle, a largely welcome move that could push the needle for anti-pollution measures
to be adopted by other Indian cities as well. These are possibly the most significant steps taken after the introduction of
Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles in the city that are widely accepted as having helped reduce pollution. (However, it
is debatable if they will together have the kind of effect the CNG shift had.)
The benefits of this emphasis by the government on regulations to address the citys alarming air pollution levels will depend on
the manner of implementation as well as other concomitant actions. The announced measures include the closing down of two
thermal power plants, pushing the entry time of trucks into the city late into the night, the advancing of the cut-off date for Euro-
VI emission norms, among others.
But the proposal that has predictably received the most attention is the one on regulating private vehicle use by means of
licence plate restrictions. These curbs, that are to be implemented temporarily from January 1, 2016, will allow private four-
wheelers and two-wheelers access to Delhis roads only on alternate dates based on even/odd licence plate numbers. Cities
such as Bogota, Beijing, Mexico City and Paris have implemented such restrictions in the past, amongst other reforms to
decongest vehicle traffic and to reduce air pollution through expanding public transport and zoning certain areas as low
emissions only.
Licence plate restrictions by themselves are somewhat problematic: all private vehicles are treated equally, irrespective of
their purpose and the fuel they use. To mitigate this, the Delhi government has relaxed the restrictions in the case of emergency
use. Other exceptions such as car-pooling by multiple commuters should have also been considered. The larger point is that,
without a concomitant expansion and improvement in public transport, the introduction of licence plate restrictions could only
have a limiting effect.
The state of public transport in Delhi is relatively better than in most metropolitan cities in the country, with the capital enjoying
a privileged position in the fiscal scheme of things. But despite that, the public transport system is still not fully equipped to
handle the consequent increase in the number of commuters that could possibly occur due to the restrictions in place. Easing
and expanding public transport must be the Delhi governments priority.


The government had recently discontinued the Bus Rapid Transit System instead of addressing its design problems and
furthering its intended purpose of decongesting routes for public transport and enticing private vehicle users to shift. The
licensing regulations must be part of a package of well-sequenced and thought-out steps if they are to be more than a traffic
decongestion measure.
1. Amber signal - Public message.

2. Slew - Large number of.
3. Emphasis - Great stress or importance.
4. Concomitant - Accompanying / Occurring with something else.
5. Curbs - An enclosing framework.
6. Decongest - To diminish or end the overcrowding.
7. Mitigate - To make it less serious.
8. Car-pooling - Driving car for various purpose.
9. Commuters - Person's journey between home and work.
10. Privileged - Special right or advantage.
11. Consequent - Following or progressing logically.
12. Intended - To design.
13. Enticing - Persuade one to do that thing.
14. Well-sequenced - Continuous or connected series.
15. Thought-out - To think about until a conclusion is reached.
December 09/2015
Topic 1 : "Securing the pace of India-Pakistan talks"
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs touchdown in Islamabad marks a decisive moment in the Narendra Modi
governments Pakistan policy. While she is in Islamabad ostensibly for a conference on Pakistan, it is clear from the flurry of
meetings that bilateral engagement is back on track. After 18 months of starts and stops, New Delhi has taken a considered
position to re-engage with its most difficult relationship in the neighbourhood, a decision that must be lauded. It is also clear that
some lessons have been learnt from the past.
First, the meetings have been held without hype or announcement, with expectations being kept low. Second, after the Paris
meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as well as the Bangkok meeting between
the National Security Advisors and Foreign Secretaries of both countries, the joint messaging in Islamabad and Delhi has been
kept unified and simple. Finally, both sides have managed well the opposition within their own flanks over the reasons for the
re-engagement; very few discordant voices have been heard from the military establishment in Rawalpindi or the BJPs
headquarters and the partys Sangh Parivar allies, the kind that marked previous engagements.
It is to be hoped that all talks from this point onwards will follow the same path, building from one meeting to the next, until they
produce concrete results. A start would be the announcement of a structured set of meetings to be held on a regular basis

between officials at different levels that will protect the process from disruptions. Next, it is important that the confidence-building
measures already agreed to, on trade and visa liberalisation, are implemented at the earliest. Finally, the way forward on Jammu
and Kashmir and terrorism, the two lasting issues between India and Pakistan, must be charted out. This is by no means the
first government to attempt to do all of this. Others, including some with more experience, tried and failed.
The Modi government would therefore be well-advised to strike a different path and be more forthcoming, in public, on just why
they are meeting and what they hope to achieve. Despite his famous speech on breakfast in Amritsar, lunch in Lahore and
dinner in Kabul, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh didnt articulate just where his talks with the Pakistan government on
Kashmir had led, until it was too late to shape public opinion about them.
Mr. Modi must explain his vision for peace with Pakistan and what has spurred this new round of negotiations, especially since
none of the conditions for talks that he and his Cabinet Ministers had spoken of over the past few months has been met. In
Pakistan, the way forward should be even clearer: end support to all terror groups, especially those who seek violence against
India. While it is hardly possible to put behind the decades of bad blood between the two countries any time soon, it is possible
to pause, and to envisage a new chapter in relations.
1. Pace of - Speed at which it happens or done.

2. Touchdown - Landing of an aircraft.
3. Decisive - Particular result.
4. Ostensibly - Clearly demonstrative / Evident.
5. Flurry - Short intense period.
6. Lauded - To praise.
7. Hype - Exaggerated publicity.
8. Flanks - The side of anything.
9. Discordant - Disagreeable to the ear.
10. Concrete results - Definition and Specific results.
11. Disruptions - Something which is prevented from continuing.
12. Liberalisation - Giving more freedom.
13. Charted - Development or progress of something.
14. Forthcoming - Frank and cooperative.
15. Articulate - Expressed with clarity.
16. Spurred - (Here) Encouraged.
17. Bad blood - Unfriendly relations.
18. Envisage - Imagine about something that is true, real or likely to happen.
Topic 2 : "How India cleared the test"
Indias victory over South Africa in the recently concluded Test series was remarkable not just for the margin, but also the
manner. South Africa has been world crickets most formidable touring team this decade. Indeed, its ascent to the top was built


on not suffering a single series defeat overseas in nine years. India, moreover, has had its problems with South Africa. Where
Australias attacking style often drew Indias stirring best in response, something about South Africas controlled method
appeared to inhibit India, diminishing it.
The 3-0 triumph that Virat Kohlis men scripted this season was only Indias third win in 12 series against South Africa, and the
first since 2004. To so comprehensively outplay a bogey team, which also happens to be ranked No. 1, merits high praise. It
must be mentioned, however, that South Africa lost spearhead Dale Steyn in the first Test, depriving Hashim Amla of the
services of perhaps the finest fast-bowler ever in subcontinental conditions (90 wickets in Asia at the astonishing rate of one
every 40 balls). For a side still coping with the departures of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, giants instrumental in South
Africas success, it proved an insurmountable loss.
But South Africas troubles do not detract greatly from the achievements of India, itself a side in transition. Nor does the fuss
over the pitches. There is not anything underhand about making capital of home advantage as long as it does not unfairly tilt
the balance between bat and ball. Of the three surfaces on which India gained victory, a case can be made only against the
Nagpur wicket: its a case the International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently sitting in judgment on.
It is important instead to acknowledge Indias accomplishment, for there appears a significant shift in thinking. Mr. Kohlis
comment after the win in New Delhi that bowlers were the bosses in Test cricket did not receive much attention; but for a
country besotted with batsmen, it was momentous. There has also been an increased urgency to push for victory. Mr. Kohli
traced the onset of the resurgence to the tour of Australia where the team showed character even in defeats. We were always
on the opposition's heels.
The subsequent 2-1 win in Sri Lanka further strengthened the belief. The most heartening aspect of the performance against
South Africa was its wholesome nature. R. Ashwin rose magnificently to the challenge of being lead spinner again. But the
support he received from Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra and the faster bowlers was just as vital. Ajinkya Rahane topped the
batting charts, but there were important runs from everyone in the line-up.
The spirit of the team was perhaps best exemplified by the fielding; seldom has the commitment to winning together been this
apparent. The authorities in India must now use this platform not just to strengthen the Test side, but also to put in practice a
programme of outreach to draw back spectators to the five-day game.
1. Formidable - Causing fear because of great strength.

2. Ascent - Upward movement.
3. Stirring - Something makes people very excited and Enthusiastic.
4. Inhibit - To Prevent.
5. Triumph - Great success.
6. Outplay - Playing much better than other team.
7. Bogey - Anything that frightens.
8. Spearhead - (Here) Leading.
9. Depriving - To remove from the possession of.

10. Astonishing - Very surprising.
11. Insurmountable - Incapable of being surmounted or overcome.
12. Detract - To take away a part.
13. Fuss over - Paying lot of attention.
14. Accomplishment - Something done admirably or creditably.
15. Besotted - Liking someone foolishly.
16. Resurgence - Tending to rise again.
17. Seldom - Rarely / Occasionally.
18. Apparent - Readily seen / Open to view.
19. Spectators - Member of an audience.
December 10/2015
Topic 1 : "The Gandhis must face the courts"
Whatever be the merits of the charges against the principal office-bearers of the Congress party in the National Herald case, it
is an issue that has to be settled in a court of law, and not in the wider political arena, much less in Parliament. If the
Congress believes there has been no wrongdoing in the transactions related to the acquisition of Associated Journals Private
Ltd. by Young Indian, a non-profit company in which the party's president, Sonia Gandhi, and vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, are
the main shareholders, it must simply choose the judicial route to establish their innocence. The Delhi High Court order upholding
the trial court summons to both of them, along with other directors of Young Indian, is based on what it sees as prima
facie evidence of criminality. The best way to deal with the situation is to face it legally. When Subramanian Swamy first
questioned the legality of the transactions, it was the Congress that challenged him to take Ms. Gandhi and her son to court. It
is for those who make allegations to prove their charges, the party had said in 2012. It cannot then turn around now and say
that the entire proceedings amount to political vendetta. Even if there is a political motive, the partys president and vice-
president have to provide answers to the questions that have arisen from the trial court summons and the High Courts refusal
to intervene. To disrupt Parliament on an issue that involves no larger public interest goes against all democratic norms, and it
cannot be justified on any count. Indeed, to speak of political vendetta following a court summons is to cast aspersions on the
very independence of the judiciary.
A look at the facts of the case does make one doubt whether AJL could not have protected its shareholders interests by
liquidating some of its assets in order to return its loan to the Congress. The floating of Young Indian, described by the court as
a special purpose vehicle, does cast some suspicion. At the same time, the weak point in Dr. Swamys case seems to be the
absence of any identifiable victim who has been cheated or whose funds have been misappropriated. After all, the various
assets of AJL still stand in its name and the shareholders of Young Indian, which being a Section 25 (non-profit) company,
cannot get any dividend or profit out of the companys rental income. The Congress will have to believe in its own contention
that there was no entrustment in the first place for anyones trust to be breached and that no one claims to be deceived or
cheated. But the judicial process will have to be faced squarely without resort to political theatre. The charges of cheating and
criminal breach of trust against the Congress leaders will have to be countered only through the legal route.


1. Arena - Central stage or area.
2. Acquisition - Buying or obtaining something.
3. Upholding - Supporting.
4. Prima facie - At first appearance / At first view.
5. Allegations - Statement made with little or no proof.
6. Vendetta - Any prolonged or bitter fight.
7. Intervene - Involve.
8. Disrupt - To cause disorder / To destroy.
9. Aspersions - Depreciatory remarks or criticism.
10. Suspicion - Act of suspecting.
11. Misappropriated - To put to a wrong use.
12. Contention - Idea or Opinion expressing in an argument.
13. Breached - The act of result of breaking.
14. Deceived - To be unfaithful to.
15. Squarely - Directly.
Topic 2 : "Trumpeting bigotry"
American politics touched a new low this week when Donald Trump, a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination,
called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Mr. Trumps controversial remarks in the
past, including offensive statements about undocumented Mexican immigrants being rapists, insults to war veterans and sexist
attacks on women in the media, drew expected criticism from Democrats and other liberals. Yet, this time even fellow Republican
candidates and mainstream Republican Party heavyweights distanced themselves from Mr. Trumps views on Muslims. The
property moguls comment contradicts, morally if not legally, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires
that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Islamophobia
in the U.S., which surged after the 9/11 terror attacks, appears to be on the rise again. This time it is coterminous with soaring
worldwide anxiety about Islamic State, which has been linked to the Paris terror attacks of November and last weeks shooting
in San Bernardino, California. Little wonder then that the numerically significant cohorts of the U.S. conservative fold are lapping
up Mr. Trumps incendiary, divisive proposal. Their support is manifested in the one polling trend that has baffled campaign
analysts, Mr. Trumps evergreen lead over all other candidates, which shows no sign of withering in the face of his increasingly
reckless provocations. After this weeks foray into apparent bigotry, a rolling five-day poll by Reuters placed his support vote at
35.6 per cent, giving him a comfortable lead over Floridas Senator Marco Rubio, a distant second at 14.9 per cent.
The Trump phenomenon begs questions both tactical and strategic. Tactically, he has made a stark choice in the matter of
battle-versus-war and it could well win him the Republican nomination. His steady march to the far right of American politics is
a safe bet that he will emerge, or has already emerged, as the favourite of those who championed the cause of the Tea Party,
of immigration hawks, pro-lifers, white supremacists, gun-lovers and all manner of conservatives. However, that leaves the rest


of America unaccounted for, especially the elusive median and swing voters. Unless Mr. Trump abruptly changes tack post-
nomination, a move that could prove politically costly in itself, he may have handed the Democratic nominee, likely to be Hillary
Clinton, the keys to the Oval Office next year. Beyond the nomination battle, the broader strategic link between the rise of IS
and the worldwide proliferation of Islamophobia is paramount. Perhaps mindful of this link, Ms. Clinton has moved in exactly the
opposite direction, towards the political centre. She has taken a firmer stand against IS than President Barack Obama did, yet
spoken expansively about fostering an attitude of inclusiveness. Depending on which paradigm prevails, post-2016 America will
either continue to welcome minorities to its shores, or emerge as a source of recruitment propaganda for extremists.
1. Trumpeting - Announcing loudly or widely.

2. Bigotry - Stubborn and complete intolerance.
3. Phobia - Irrational fear or hatred Something.
4. Coterminous - Having the same border or covering the same area.
5. Soaring - Quickly increase by a great deal.
6. Anxiety - Feeling of nervousness or worry.
7. Cohorts - A companion or associate.
8. Lapping up - Receiving Enthusiastically.
9. Incendiary - A person who stirs up angry or fight among the people.
10. Divisive - Creating strong disagreement.
11. Manifested - Evident / Obvious.
12. Baffled - Confused.
13. Withering - To make someone feel ashamed or stupid.
14. Reckless - Careless.
15. Foray - A quick sudden attack.
16. Tactical - Expedient / Calculated.
17. Stark - Harsh and unpleasant.
18. Hawks - People who believes in using force and violence to achieve something.
19. Supremacists - A person who believes in the supremacy of a particular group.
20. Elusive - Hard to define .
21. Abruptly - Sudden / Unexpected.
22. Proliferation - Excessive spread or increase.
23. Paramount - Chief in importance or impact.
24. Firmer - Not likely to change.
25. Fostering - Being up / Raise.
26. Paradigm - An example serving as a model.
27. Prevails - Exist everywhere.
28. Propaganda - Information or rumours that spread widely to help or harm a person
or nation.
December 11/2015

Topic 1 : "Stay the course on Pakistan talks"
The agreement by India and Pakistan to resume structured talks, seven years after the composite dialogue was stopped
following the Mumbai terrorist attacks, marks a dramatic improvement in bilateral relations. Since Prime Minister Narendra
Modi met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Paris on the sidelines of the Climate Conference on November 30, both
sides have moved fast to tackle the key challenges that are holding back talks. The breakthrough was achieved at the National
Security Adviser-level discussions held in Bangkok on December 6. On the face of it, both sides have signalled that they are
ready for a give-and-take approach. Mr. Modis Bharatiya Janata Party, both in Opposition and so far in government at the
Centre, had opposed any resumption of dialogue without concrete action by the Sharif administration on the Mumbai attacks
of 2008. For the Pakistanis, mention of Kashmir is a key issue. Mr. Sharif came under sharp criticism at home over the Ufa
statement of July which had omitted any reference to Jammu and Kashmir. However, in the joint statement issued in Islamabad
on Wednesday, Pakistan has given assurances on an early completion of the Mumbai attacks trial, and resolved to cooperate
to eliminate terrorism. India, on the other side, has agreed to include Kashmir on the dialogue agenda.
Despite the agreement to resume talks, guarded optimism must be the dominant mood in New Delhi. Its the Modi governments
Pakistan moment. Eighteen months after it came to power, a period that saw an increase in border skirmishes and high-decibel
rhetoric, the government finally appears to have realised that there is no alternative to bilateral talks in engaging with Islamabad.
While the constructive steps the government has taken in the last 10 days, something which it failed to do in the past 18 months,
are really commendable, it has to be realistic about the challenges ahead. Mr. Modi is venturing into a path his predecessors
had tested and retreated from. The Manmohan Singh government had tried to kick-start stalled discussions through the
resumed dialogue process, which met with the same fate of the composite dialogue following the killing of Indian soldiers
almost three years ago. In the past, every time there was forward momentum in India-Pakistan ties, there were attempts by non-
state and extra-state actors on the Pakistan side to derail the process. Though its too early to predict the outcome of the
comprehensive dialogue, it can be certainly seen that the proposal, which will have all the pillars of the India-Pakistan
relationship, including economic ties, people-to-people contacts and high-level interaction, is a promising beginning. Both sides
have time to build a strong foundation of renewed engagement before Mr. Modi goes to Islamabad next September. The agenda
is wider this time. What is needed, and crucial, is the political will to stay the course irrespective of the challenges, and avoiding
playing to the gallery. New Delhi particularly has to internalise the logic of growing the constituency for peace within Pakistan,
in Indias own national interest, and therefore desist from unnecessary attempts at points-scoring.
1. Tackle - To Handle / Deal with.

2. Resumption - The act of resuming.
3. Agenda - Plan / Outline.
4. Guarded - Protected.
5. Optimism - Feeling of being hopeful about the future or about the success of
something in particular.
6. Skirmishes - Fight between people.
7. Rhetoric - Very impressive speeech bit may not be sincere or honest.


8. Venturing - Doing something that involves risks of failure.
9. Kick-start - Action that will start quickly.
10. Stalled - Temporarily stopped process.
11. Derail - Prevent it from continuing as planned.
12. Renewed - To begin or take up again.
13. Internalise - To incorporate through socialism.
14. Desist - Stop.
Topic 2 : "The law and the celebrity"
When celebrity status is in conflict with the law, public sentiment will revolve around two narratives. The narrative of power and
wealth would suggest high status is a burden, a disadvantage before the judiciary because judges will be chary of being seen
as favouring them. The more popular narrative, however, is that the slow criminal justice system is always skewed in favour of
celebrities. It will include folk wisdom that even the otherwise fair and strict judiciary will cave in to power and pelf. When an
occasional verdict brings down a famous personality, it will be seen as a victory for the citizen and a blow for justice. May 6,
2015 saw such a moment when Mumbai sessions judge D.W. Deshpande handed down a five-year prison sentence to
Bollywood star Salman Khan in a hit-and-run case. But cynicism took over before the day was out when he was given bail. Now,
before the year is out, a clean acquittal has been recorded in the Bombay High Court, and faith in the justice system has been
rocked again or reaffirmed, depending on which of the two narratives one subscribes to. For the rarefied world of Mumbai
stars and socialites, a superstar can do no wrong, and even if he does, the gravity of his offence should be balanced with
whatever charitable or humanitarian work he may have done, and the most lenient course adopted. The judge, in this milieu, is
a lonely man who has to apply the law and pass a verdict without being swayed by either the status of the individual involved or
public opinion.
The judgment of Justice A.R. Joshi acquitting Khan may be sound in law. Yet, it is likely to revive cynicism about the
administration of criminal justice in the country. It raises a host of questions, not least of which is about who killed Nurullah Sharif
in the September 2002 incident. The judge has termed a key eyewitness, Ravindra Patil, a police bodyguard who is now no
more, unreliable. Has it now been accepted that it was Ashok Singh, the actors driver who claimed responsibility in the latter
stages of the trial, who was driving the car that night? If so, is he going to be proceeded against? However, the questions are
not limited to the judgment. The police have been exposed for their shoddy investigation. An honest investigation is unlikely to
have resulted in doubts being cast on as basic an aspect as the identity of the person at the wheel. Crucial lapses in the handling
of the blood samples have been recorded. The judge has ruled that it was not proved either that Khan was driving the car or
that he was drunk. Why then does the verdict raise uncomfortable questions? It may be because after three recorded
convictions, Salman Khan is yet to be punished.
1. Conflict - Struggle / Fight.

2. Chary - Fairly cautious or careful.
3. Skewed - To turn aside.


4. Folk - Traditional or typical of a particular community or nation.
5. Wisdom - Knowledge About What is true.
6. Cave in - To cause to fall in / Surrender.
7. Pelf - Money or wealth.
8. Verdict - Judgement / Decision.
9. Blow - (Here) Disappointment.
10. Cynicism - It is the belief that people always act selfishly.
11. Rarefied - Special social status that makes it different from ordinary life.
12. Lenient - Not as strict as expected.
13. Milieu - Surroundings.
14. Swayed - Influenced.
15. Acquitting - To relieve from a charge of fault / To release.
16. Revive - Take up again.
17. Unreliable - Not dependable.
18. Latter - Near to the end.
19. Exposed - Left open.
20. Shoddy - Poor quality / Careless.
21. At the wheel - (Here) Person having great influence.
22. Crucial - Important.
23. Lapses - Temporary lack.
24. Convictions - Act of proving the guilty of offence or crime.
December 12/2015
Topic 1 : "Headway with David Headley"
The ostensible reason for the prosecution agreeing to the grant of judicial pardon to Pakistan-born American operative David
Coleman Headley is to strengthen its case against Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, charged with involvement in the
conspiracy behind the deadly Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 2008. The real purpose, however, is that India would like
Headley to testify on and establish before a Mumbai court what he has already admitted before a trial court in the United States
and to a team of the National Investigation Agency from India in June 2010: the role of state and non-state actors in Pakistan in
planning and carrying out the Mumbai terror strikes. Headley is now a prosecution witness. The sessions court in Mumbai trying
Abu Jundal has pardoned Headley in return for his promise that he would make a full and true disclosure of all that he knows
about the entire conspiracy. Headley had done much of the reconnoitring of targets for the team of assailants who executed the
26/11 plot. Last month, he was formally included as a co-conspirator in the case, and he has now been accepted as an approver.
His testimony would be adequate for the court to convict others involved in the plot, as the law on evidence in India is that an
accomplice shall be a competent witness against an accused person. Headleys conduct so far indicates that as a witness
during the trial he may speak credibly about the role of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and its handlers in the Pakistani intelligence
establishment.


It is indeed a positive development that Headley appeared, albeit in a virtual sense, before an Indian court for the first time. He
is serving a 35-year prison term in the U.S. after admitting to his role in a conspiracy to murder and maim people in Mumbai. In
terms of his plea bargain before a U.S. court, the 55-year-old former U.S. agent cannot be extradited to India or Pakistan, but
he is also obliged to testify in any foreign judicial proceedings held in the United States by way of deposition, video conferencing
or letters rogatory. However, it is an irony of sorts that the development coincides with the resumption of talks between India
and Pakistan, as the earlier composite dialogue had been stopped precisely because of the Mumbai attacks. The question that
may arise is whether the move to strengthen the prosecution case, and through that, Indias case against Pakistans role in the
26/11 attacks, will adversely impact the resumed bilateral dialogue. The answer, hopefully, will be in the negative. After all, in
their recent joint statement both countries condemned terrorism and affirmed their commitment to eliminating it. Trials relating
to the incident have been going on concurrently in both countries, with the proceedings on the Pakistan side moving quite slowly.
Expediting the judicial proceedings and taking them to their logical conclusion will not be inconsistent with the resumption of the
dialogue.
1. Headway - Progress in a forward direction.

2. Ostensible - Apparent.
3. Pardon - Forgiveness of an offence.
4. Conspiracy - An Agreement to commit a crime.
5. Testify - Give evidence.
6. Disclosure - Secret information.
7. Reconnoitring - Observing in order to gain information.
8. Assailants - Person who attacks.
9. Co-conspirator - Associate (involved in a crime)
10. Testimony - Statement or Declaration of a witness.
11. To convict - To prove / declare guilty of an offence.
12. Plot - A secret plan which is unlawful.
13. Accomplice - A person who knowingly helps another in a crime.
14. Competent - (Here) Suitable witness.
15. Credible - Trustworthy.
16. Albeit - Although / Even if.
17. Maim - To injure people so badly.
18. Extradited - To give up another state or nation at its request.
19. Obliged - To bind morally as by a promise.
21. Irony - Odd / Contrast.
22. Condemned - Strongly disapproval of.
23. Affirmed - To confirm.
24. Concurrently - Occurring simultaneously.


25. Expediting - To speed up the progress.
26. Inconsistent - Lacking Agreement.
27. Resumption - The act of resuming.
Topic 2 : "Illiberal law, roll it back"
Scan Haryanas statistics on key social indicators, and the picture that emerges is dispiriting. For example, in this State of rich
farmers and networked urban centres, 41 per cent of Scheduled Caste men have not cleared class 8; and 68 per cent of SC
women have not made it to class 5. Roughly 45 per cent of rural households do not have a toilet, and among SC households
that figure rises to 55 per cent. Put together, it is a picture of failure of the government to fulfil the part of the essential contract
that binds state and citizens: to provide the rule of law and social services. It was, therefore, an odd call to action by the Haryana
government earlier this year when it passed the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act to debar exactly these citizens failed
by the state from standing for panchayat elections. In a web of disqualifications, the full exclusionary potential of which is still
not precisely calculated, the law debars from contesting men who have not completed matriculation, women who have not
cleared class 8 (with the corresponding qualifications for SC men being class 8 and for SC women class 5), people who havent
paid arrears for specified agricultural loans or electricity bills, and those who do not have a functional toilet at home. The law
was challenged in court, and on Thursday the challenge was set aside by the Supreme Court.
It is unlikely that the government will file a review petition, given that the Bharatiya Janata Party is in power in Haryana and at
the Centre. However, the case against the law must be made politically, and emphatically so. For one, what the courts have
done is to uphold the power of the State legislatures to enact such laws it follows that civil society must persuade political
parties to rethink such qualifications, and to repeal the amendment in Haryana specifically and desist from introducing such
legislation in other States. A liberal democracy must of necessity refrain from certifying who may contest elections to represent
the people. It is dangerously illiberal to debar citizens from contesting elections when they are able to fulfil their responsibilities
as panchs, or legislators, as the case may be. Indeed, curbs on particular categories of people, instead of individuals in breach
of particular laws, from contesting elections carries the imprint of authoritarianism, and such restrictions have predictably been
popular with military juntas, from Pervez Musharrafs Pakistan (only college graduates could contest) to present-day Myanmar
(the bar on those with foreign nationals as spouses or children is obviously targeted at Aung San Suu Kyi). For yet another State
in India to join their ranks, even if it is for panchayat elections, is a setback for the worlds largest democracy.
1. Dispiriting - Causes to lose enthusiasm / Excitement.

2. Debar - To shut out or exclude from a place.
3. Web of - Complicated pattern of.
4. Exclusionary - Excludes a particular person or group.
5. Precisely - Accurately and exactly.
6. Emphatically - Strongly expressive / Expressing in a forceful way.
7. Enact - To make into an act.


8. Repeal - Withdraw.
9. Desist - Stop / To cease.
10. Refrain - Keep from doing.
11. Curbs - Control / Limit.
12. Breach - Act of breaking it.
13. Imprint - A mark.
14. Juntas - Military government taking power by force and not through elections.
15. Setback - To place in a particular position.
December 14/2015
Topic 1 : "Hope on climate & a long road ahead"
The Paris aggrement on climate change marks a milestone in preserving the earths environment and provides a floor on
which to build ambition and action. It is the outcome of a long struggle by millions of citizens around the world, aided by the
weight of scientific evidence linking severe, more frequent weather events such as cyclones and droughts to man-made
greenhouse gas emissions. The 195 country-parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change besides Palestine
which joined in Paris have acknowledged that global climate action can no longer be postponed. While their adoption of the
Agreement has created history, the sum total of national pledges by 189 nations will be unable to stop climate change that is
already happening. As the UNFCCC acknowledges, these pledges will not be able to keep temperature well below 2 degrees
C compared to pre-industrial levels, leave alone the aspirational target of a 1.5 C limit. It is also important to remember that
there is a long window before the promises on emissions cuts go into effect in 2020, a period during which developed nations
would continue to emit large volumes of greenhouse gases. Given such a background and its responsibility as a legacy polluter,
the richer half of the world, which secured the support of vulnerable and poor nations in Paris, must use the Agreement to
liberally share its prosperity and technology. It would be perverse if the climate pact is viewed as a business opportunity to fuel
a wave of growth for a few.
The signal from Paris is clearly for a shift away from polluting fossil fuels such as coal and oil to renewable energy, and the
adoption of smart policies and innovative technology. Like all other countries, India is now required to periodically report on its
targets and performance under the Agreement, and update its Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020. This will need the
active involvement of all States and wide consultations more so for the 175 gigawatt renewables revolution, including 100
GW from solar, to meet the 2022 target. The Centre should consider enacting a strong climate change law that harmonises
policies nationally, beginning with energy, buildings, transport, water, agriculture and urban development. The question of
adaptation to climate change and addressing loss and damage looms large for India, given the regular cycles of crippling
droughts, devastating flooding and lost livelihoods. There is not much to look forward to here in the Agreement, which speaks
of raising finance with $100 billion a year base by 2020, an amount that is grossly inadequate for the scale of catastrophic events
witnessed worldwide. The hope is that the Paris Agreement will, as a binding covenant, spur civil society to raise the pressure
on leaders to improve upon it every year, adding clear commitments for the developed nations to cut their emissions in favour
of the developing countries and raise financing significantly.


1. Aided - To promote the progress.
2. Convention - Official Agreement between countries.
3. Aspirational - Strong desire / Ambition.
4. Legacy - Anything handed down from the past.
5. Perverse - Contrary.
6. Pact - An Agreement.
7. Enacting - To make into an act.
8. Harmonises - To bring into an agreement.
9. Looms - (Here) To rise before the vision with an appearance of great size.
10. Crippling - Very serious / Harmful.
11. Devastating - Very shocking / Upsetting / Terrible.
12. Catastrophic - Causes a sudden terrible disaster.
13. Covenant - Formal written agreement.
14. Spur - Makes it happen faster or sooner.
Topic 2 : "Setback for Venezuela's socialists"
The socialists of Venezuela, first led by the late President Hugo Chvez and then by President Nicols Maduro, have had a
near-total hegemony over power for the past 17 years. But the results of the parliamentary elections held on December 6, in
which the centre-right opposition secured a supermajority with 112 seats out of the total 167, demonstrate that the socialist
narrative which Chvez painstakingly built over the ruins of West-backed dictatorships and the failures of free-market capitalism
has started losing its grip over the Venezuelan voters. Though an opposition victory was expected, their performance was better
than even the most optimistic forecasts. With a two-thirds majority in the legislature, the opposition now has the strength to
remove Supreme Court justices, pass laws and even draft a new Constitution, a move that could end Mr. Maduros presidential
tenure. What has led to such a huge defeat of the socialists? The Venezuelan election comes close on the heels of the defeat
of the leftist candidate, Daniel Scioli, in the Argentine presidential election. But it would be premature to see these two elections
as part of a larger trend in South America of the resurgence of the Right. Rather, what the Argentine and Venezuelan stories
tell is that the Left parties in these countries are paying a political price for the troubles in the economy.
In Venezuela, the socialists draw legitimacy and support from the governments pro-poor welfare policies. Chvezs redistributive
policies had lifted millions out of poverty and boosted real income, helping the ruling party establish itself among the vast majority
of the countrys poor. But this programme, largely funded by oil revenues, came under enormous strain when crude prices
tumbled compared to $115 a barrel in June 2014, it is now less than $40 a barrel in the global market. Chvezs original
plan was to diversify the economy. But he did not face any imminent economic threat as oil prices were relatively high during
his tenure. Mr. Maduros administration, which blamed the opposition for the economic worries of the country, however, failed
to devise an alternative plan to let the Bolivarian revolution stay afloat. Other economic and structural problems, such as high
inflation, shortage of essential goods and poor infrastructure made matters more difficult for him. More important, Mr. Maduro
lacks the political sharpness and charisma of Chvez, who, despite his combative style of politics, remained a highly popular
father figure of the nation during his term. He was also a unifying force within the Socialist Party where growing rifts are now

challenging Mr. Maduros authority. The election result is a wake-up call for the socialists. It is undisputed that the system that
Chvez built has benefited millions of Venezuelans. But Mr. Maduro and his team need to refocus their energy on strengthening
it, rather than simply blaming the opposition for every challenge they face.
1. Hegemony - Leadership.
2. Painstakingly - Careful / Showing diligent care and effort.
3. Dictatorship - The government ruled by the person who obtained power by force
and is used unfairly and cruelly.
4. Optimistic - Hopeful.
5. Forecasts - Statement of what is expected to happen in the future.
6. Tenure - The period or term of holding.
7. On the heels of - Something happens very quickly or immediately after another.
8. Resurgence - Tending to rise again.
9. Legitimate - According to law / Lawful.
10. Tumbled - To fall or decline rapidy.
11. Diversify - (Here) To invest in different types of industries, securities etc..
12. Devise - To plan / Elaborate.
13. Stay afloat - Having just enough money to pay their debts and continue operating.
14. Rifts - A serious quarrel or disagreement.
15. Setback - A check to progress / Defeat
December 15/2015
Topic 1 : "Cautious cooperation with Japan"
Japan has long been a significant investor in Indias infrastructure sector. Of late, there have been consistent efforts by both
New Delhi and Tokyo to transform this economic momentum into a special strategic and global partnership. Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abes three-day visit to India this month, during which both sides agreed to major deals, including the
introduction of Japans bullet train technology in India and an agreement onnuclear partnership, clearly sets the stage for
elevated bilateral ties in the future. The potential of Indo-Japanese economic partnership is huge. Despite India being one
the worlds largest economies, it accounts for only about 1 per cent of Japans imports, exports and direct investments abroad.
The proposed bullet train link between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which will have access to a soft Japanese loan of $12-15
billion at a concessional interest rate of 0.1 per cent, will cement economic cooperation further. Besides, this suits well Prime
Minister Narendra Modis agenda of building quality infrastructure in the country. The civil nuclear cooperation deal, after five
years of talks, marks a complete reversal of the policy Japan adopted towards India after the Pokhran nuclear tests in May
1998. Tokyo, which considers itself a champion of non-proliferation, had suspended much of its aid after Indias nuclear test.
The deal, however, can be seen as a Japanese seal of approval to Indias status as a nuclear-armed state.


To be sure, enhanced economic and energy cooperation will benefit both countries. Japan has capital and skill whereas India
has huge untapped potential. What they need is a clear road map, which, as the recent official exchanges show, is in the works.
But at the same time, India should be wary of the great game going on in Asia. It may not be a coincidence that Japan is
shedding its historical pacifist foreign policy, which helped its rise as an economic giant in Asia, at a time when its tensions with
China are on the rise and the United States has been pivoting towards Asia. The American strategy appears to be to build an
alliance in Asia to contain the rise of China. Japan, Washingtons strongest ally in Asia, is obviously one of the pillars of this
pivot strategy. It is hardly a secret that both the American and Japanese establishments want India to swing towards their
alliance. Mr. Abe had earlier written about the strategic need to forge a democratic security diamond with the U.S., Australia
and India. This is the challenge Indias policymakers would face while deepening the countrys partnership with Japan further.
New Delhi should get its economic and strategic priorities right and state them clearly. To script its own rise, India should build
strong ties with each power, instead of aligning with any particular bloc. The country will gain more from everybodys rise rather
than joining some geopolitical alliance that is not in its primary interest.
1. Cautious - Acts very carefully in order to avoid possible danger.

2. Of late - Recently.
3. Soft loan - Loan with a very low interest rate.
4. Non-proliferation - Limiting of the production and spread of nuclear or chemical
weapons.
5. Seal - Block.
6. Enhanced - To raise the value of.
7. Untapped - Something that has not yet been used.
8. Wary - Being careful / Watchful.
9. Shed - (Here) To get rid of.
10. Pacifist - Someone who believes that violence is wrong and refuses to take part in
wars.
11. Pivoting - Anything on which something depends vitally.
12. Forge - To form or make, especially by concentrated effort.
13. Bloc - A group of countries that have similar political aims and interest and that acts
together over some issues.
Topic 2 : "Get smart on diesel cars"
The National Green Tribunals decision to bar the registration of new and old diesel vehicles in Delhi till its next hearing on
January 6 comes as a blow though a temporary one for now to passenger vehicle manufacturers. Automobile-makers
have, in recent years, been building (from scratch, in a few cases) and scaling up their production capacities for diesel cars,
driven by the surge in demand for diesel-powered vehicles as the fuel was subsidised and far cheaper than petrol. The
differential between petrol and diesel prices has narrowed substantially since the government commenced the deregulation of


diesel pricing in 2013, and diesel now is only 22 per cent cheaper than petrol. But diesel vehicles, including the sport utility
vehicles, or SUVs, that are ubiquitous status symbols in the National Capital Region and beyond, now constitute 50 per cent of
the auto industrys passenger car sales. That vehicular exhaust from diesel cars, SUVs and freight trucks has been identified
as one of the major contributors to the alarming levels of particulate matter in Delhis atmosphere is well-established. The tribunal
has asked the Delhi and Central governments to decide whether a more permanent injunction prohibiting the registration of
diesel vehicles in the NCR would be advisable, given the serious contribution of vehicular pollution to the citys air quality.
Separately, the Supreme Court is set to hear on December 15 an independent plea to ban diesel vehicles in Delhi.
Industry has reacted predictably, terming the move as unfair and discriminatory, and calling for a more holistic solution, while
questioning the overall policy approach to diesel. With most of them investing to upgrade their technology to meet the more
stringent BS-V (Bharat Stage-V) standards due in 2019, they suggest fleet modernisation to replace the older commercial
transport vehicles, considered an equally major source of polluting exhaust emissions. Rating agency ICRA expects the share
of diesel vehicles in annual auto sales to decline to 30-35 per cent by 2017 as the price difference between diesel and petrol
narrows further. That may not help much in Delhi, the nations largest urban market for cars and SUVs. By way of comparison,
the U.S. has decided to curb emissions from vehicles by moving towards higher fuel efficiency standards for new cars, though
economists say it may only encourage people to drive even more. India is pursuing similar goals, but as Volkswagens defeat
device to rig emission tests for diesel vehicles shows, governments arent capable of enforcing such norms efficiently. In the
backdrop of the latest climate change commitments and the toxic air that hangs over Delhi, it could be an opportune moment
for Indian policymakers to use the tools of behavioural economics to alter peoples commuting preferences. Tax and other fiscal
incentives to shift both freight haulage and public road transportation to cleaner CNG- and LPG-based technologies is one thing.
But its perhaps time to take a bolder step and levy a hefty green tax on diesel-fuelled private vehicles and SUVs.
1. From scratch - From nothing / Without resources.

2. Scale up - Making something in a greater amount.
3. Surge - Sudden increase.
4. Substantially - Changes a lot / Very different.
5. Commenced - To begin / Start.
6. Ubiquitous - Existing or being everywhere.
7. Freight - Goods transported for pay.
8. Injunction - (Here) Order.
9. Holistic - Universal / Common to all.
10. Stringent - Very severe and strictly controlled.
11. Fleet - Quick.
12. Curb - Control.
13. Pursuing - To proceed in accordance with.
14. To rig - To furnish or provide with.
15. Enforcing - To put or keep in force.
16. Backdrop - (Here) General situation
17. Commuting - To travel regularly over some distance.


18. Levy - An imposing or collecting as of a tax.
19. Hefty - Large in amount.
December 16/2015
Topic 1 : "Peace in the pipeline"
After being called a pipe dream for decades, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline came one step closer to
reality on Sunday, with the groundbreaking ceremony at the Turkmen town of Mary attended by leaders of the TAPI countries.
The pipeline, that is set to cross over 1,700 km, through Herat and Balochistan before reaching the Indian Punjab border, and
will draw from the worlds second largest natural gas field of Galkynysh, comes full of promise. To begin with, it will reopen a
historic route that reconnects South Asia to Central Asia, in the way it was before the British Empire sealed it off. It will also
bring India and its neighbours much needed energy at competitive pricing, and could easily supply a quarter of Pakistans gas
needs, about 15 per cent of Indias projected needs, as well as Afghanistans requirements, by the time it is completed in the
2020s. This is a growing need, and even if India is able to source energy from other countries like Iran and further afield, both
the proximity and abundance of Turkmenistans reserves, that rank fourth in the world, will make it an attractive proposition. At
a time when China has already secured nearly half of its energy requirements from the region, and is working on the $400 billion
Russia-China gas pipeline, India has no time to lose in securing its interest in Central Asia. Finally, the TAPI pipeline gives this
fractured region a reason to work on a project together as well, and it is hoped the shared stakes in TAPIs success will ensure
that India, Pakistan and Afghanistan find ways of cooperating on other issues as well.
However, the project faces the challenge of terrorism today. Unless the pipeline is secured from the Taliban that operates on
both sides of the Durand Line, and from militant groups operating in Pakistan, it is hard to see how the TAPI dream can go
beyond the groundbreaking ceremony. By coming this far, we are overcoming a history of doubt and scepticism, said
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani at the ceremony. Certainly, the fact that the TAPI, pushed by Turkmen President
Gurbanguly Berdimohamedov, was able to bring leaders of three countries with relations as complicated as India, Pakistan and
Afghanistan share is itself remarkable. To envisage a $10 billion project that traverses all three countries with all the bad blood
between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Pakistan and India, is ambitious as well. If it can manage to loosen the tight bonds
between terror groups and their sponsors in Pakistan, who ought to see where their own interests lie, it will achieve the
impossible; something no amount of pressure, cajoling and threat from India, Afghanistan and other countries has been able to
effect in Pakistan thus far. The only way the project will be actualised is if the leadership of all four member-countries dont just
dwell on the world that exists today, but the region as it can be: connected, cooperative, peaceful and prosperous.
1. Sealed it off - Blocked.

2. Further afield - Away from / Far and wide.
3. Proximity - Nearness in place.
4. Abundance - Over sufficient quantity or supply.
5. Fractured - Splits into several parts.

6. Scepticism - Great doubt about whether something is true or useful.
7. Envisage - Think fully or deeply about.
8. Certainly - Surely / Without doubt.
9. Traverses - To pass through.
10. Bad blood - Unfriendly relations.
11. Ought to - Ought to is used for the statement which is moral and logical.
12. Cajoling - To persuade by promises.
13. Actualised - To turn into action or fact.
14. Dwell - Stay as a permanent.
Topic 2 : "Splendid decade, but miles to go"
There is now no doubt that the last 10 years were a time of extraordinary human development in India. When the World Bank
decided to raise its global poverty line from $1.25 a day (in Purchasing Power Parity, or PPP, terms) to $1.90 in October and
update the data for countries, it showed among other things that India had witnessed the fastest-ever decrease in the percentage
of its population below the poverty line between 2009 and 2011. The United Nations Development Programmes Human
Development Report released this week re-establishes this point. Indias Gross National Income more than doubled over the
last 15 years, from $2,522 (PPP) to $5,497 between 2000 and 2014, putting it into middle income status. This economic growth
translated into better human development outcomes as well; Indias Human Development Index value went from 0.462 to 0.609
between 2000 and 2014, a far higher increase than in the previous 15-year period. This was driven by improved economic
growth and increase in life expectancy as a result of improved health care, and less so from improvements in educational
outcomes, which have been harder to achieve, especially for women. Similarly striking is the story that emerges from India
Health Report: Nutrition 2015 released by the Public Health Foundation of India last week. Child undernutrition, which had been
declining slowly when data were last available in 2006, has begun to fall at historically high rates; between 2006 and 2014,
stunting rates for children under five declined from 48 per cent to 39 per cent, translating into 14 million fewer stunted children,
and declines in wasting translated into seven million fewer wasted children. These are extraordinary achievements.
Of course, India must not rest on these laurels. The UNDP report also showed that when inequality is factored in, India loses
nearly 30 per cent of its HDI values, meaning that outcomes vary substantially by class, caste and gender. If Indias women
were their own country, they would be 30 ranks lower on the HDI than the country as a whole is now, with far worse educational
outcomes dragging them down. Indian women are at a particular disadvantage in the workforce; the high proportion (up to 39
per cent of GDP by one estimate) of unpaid care work that falls on women alone pushes them out of the workforce, resulting in
one of the worlds lowest female labour force participation rates. The 2015 HDR, which is based on the theme of work, highlights
just how vulnerable and ill-prepared for the future the majority of the Indian workforce is, and without a social protection blanket.
The PHFI report also shows that Indias national successes mask massive inter-State variability; moreover, gender inequalities
are possibly having an impact on childrens nutritional outcomes. Coming at a time when there is a fear of social sector budget
cuts, these reports show that India must build on its human development successes with better redistributive justice.
1. Splendid - Excellent / Very good.


2. Striking - Noticeable.
3. Stunted - Slowed or stopped abnormally in growth.
4. Wasted - (Here) Tired and weak.
5. Rest on one's laurels - Satisfied with one's past or present honors.
6. Substantially - Changes a lot.
7. Workforce - Total number of persons employed or employable.
8. Vulnerable - Weak and Without protection.
December 17/2015
Topic 1 : "Tactless raid, unsavoury fallout"
There may be some questions of propriety arising from the CBI raids on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals office, but the
development need not have been followed by the unsavoury political war that has broken out between the Aam Aadmi Party
and the BJP indeed, between the Delhi and Central governments. The agency could have displayed greater tact while
conducting the searches in the Delhi Secretariat, aimed at Mr. Kejriwals Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar, as it has given
the impression that the Chief Ministers office was also searched. It is normal for a raided spot to be closed to the media, but by
keeping Mr. Kejriwal out of his office the CBI has given room for speculation that his office was also searched. It may be difficult
to fault the agency for conducting the search without any forewarning, but in a federal set-up, searching the premises of a
serving Chief Minister will always be looked at with suspicion, especially when the incumbent is not the subject of a probe. In
September, there was a CBI raid on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, but he had been under investigation
and there was no room for any oblique motive to be alleged, except by painting it all as political vendetta. Mr. Kejriwals
claim that the documents seized included a file movement register pertaining to the period November 15-December 15, 2015,
if true, could give credence to his charge that the investigation is not confined to Mr. Kumars decisions during the period from
2007 to 2014. But his grievance that he is being targeted in the name of a probe against his Principal Secretary requires more
proof. Meanwhile, perceptions of the use of the CBI for political ends by governments persists.
Mr. Kejriwals outburst against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a coward and a psychopath, was unbecoming of a
serving Chief Minister. Such bluster makes one wonder whether he sees the irony of questioning an investigation, given the
unlimited powers he had sought for a Jan Lokpal. There is, however, no doubt that Mr. Kejriwal has been quick to see the raids
as an opportunity to nominate himself as a national face of the anti-Modi political coalition. Being in confrontation over a principle
of governance with powers greater than himself has been part of Mr. Kejriwals strategy of giving his politics a mobilising edge.
And now as the AAP looks to expand its electoral footprint in the Punjab Assembly elections, having politicians from other parties
ranged behind him on a series of issues will certainly help. For its part, even if they had been unaware of the impending raids,
the response of BJP spokespersons and Ministers could not have been more self-defeating. Politically, they have allowed Mr.
Kejriwal to take the fight to them on his terms and put them on the defensive the onus is now on them to explain the federal
spirit that informs their equation with Opposition governments in the States.
1. Tactless - One's action is likely to offend other people.

2. Unsavoury - Morally unacceptable.
3. Fallout - Unpleasant consequences that follow it.


4. Propriety - Conformity to established standards of good or proper behaviour.
5. Speculation - Process of consideration.
6. Premises - Campus.
7. Suspicion - Act of suspecting.
8. Incumbent - Holding an indicated position.
9. Probe - Question closely / Examine thoroughly.
10. Oblique - Not expressed directly or openly.
11. Vendetta - Any prolonged or bitter fight / Quarrel.
12. Seized - To take hold of suddenly or forcibly.
13. Credence - Belief as to the truth of something.
14. Grievance - A Complaint.
15. Perceptions - Immediate recognition.
16. Persists - To continue firmly in some state / To last.
17. Outburst - A Sudden strong expression of emotion.
18. Coward - A person who lacks courage in facing danger or opposition.
19. Unbecoming - Shocking and unsuitable.
20. Bluster - To be loud.
21. Irony of - Odd / Contrast.
22. Coalition - A combination or alliance.
23. Confrontation - Fight or dispute between two groups.
24. Ranged - Moving around.
25. Impending - About to happen.
26. Onus - Responsibility.
Topic 2 : "Cautionary signals from the export slump"
The protracted slump in merchandise exports, which rounded out a 12th straight drop in November, is a cause for serious
concern. The sharp, almost 25 per cent, contraction in the overseas shipment of goods from a year earlier to $20 billion signals
there is more to this extended contraction than just the global economic weakness that has cast its shadow across trade
worldwide. While the slide in commodity prices, including that of oil and petroleum products, has contributed to the decline in
the value of exports in dollar terms, of greater worry is the continuing fall in demand for Indian engineering goods, and leather
and leather goods. The leather sector has been hurt by a combination of economic weakness in Europe, increased competition
and poor infrastructure. The theme of infrastructure hobbling the countrys trade competitiveness has been an enduring one
with the problems of power availability and inadequate road and port connectivity still continuing to dog exporters, especially
the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) that together accounted for more than 44 per cent of Indias exports in the
last fiscal year. The MSME sector also provides employment on a sizeable scale, including in semi-urban and rural areas, and
the export slowdown is sure to result in widespread labour distress that can only weigh on savings and consumption in the
broader economy. The slowdown also reflects on the low level of value-addition being achieved by Indias exporters, as is


evident in the widening trade deficit with China itself coping with declines in both exports and imports. While the main exports
to the northern neighbour are low value-added commodities such as cotton, copper alloys and iron ore, the imports include
machinery, electrical equipment and electronics that have resulted in the trade gap surging 32-fold to $48.5 billion in the decade
through March 2015.
The export slowdown is at the same time both a symptom and a potential trigger for domestic economic weakness. Any effort
to improve business competitiveness through reforms, including in areas such as labour and credit markets, especially for the
MSME segment, can surely give a fillip to the overall environment. The Make in India programme, if pursued cogently, can also
serve as a springboard for enhancing skills and technologies that can over time help reverse and possibly boost both volumes
and the value of overseas shipments. Also, the monetary and fiscal authorities need to be mindful of the fact that the rupee
while having weakened against the dollar, thus appearing to offer a price advantage to exporters has actually appreciated in
real terms against a trade-weighted basket of 36 currencies, making Indias exports less competitive. For this reason, the
Reserve Bank of India needs to continue its close vigil over inflation. Finally, even the pharmaceuticals sector, where exports
have grown, can ill afford to be complacent as the U.S. and Europe tighten regulatory oversight of generics and manufacturing
processes in India.
1. Cautionary - Containing a warning.

2. Slump - Fall heavily / To decrease .
3. Protracted - Lengthen / Prolong.
4. Contraction - A decrease in economic or industrial activity.
5. Cast its shadow - It causes it to appear there.
6. Hobbling - To hold back to the progress of.
7. Enduring - Lasting / Permanent.
8. Sizeable - Fairly large.
9. Deficit - A lack or shortage.
10. Surging - Increasing suddenly and greatly.
11. 32-fold - It means 32-times.
12. Fillip - A tap or strike smartly.
13. Cogently - Convincing.
14. Springboard - Something that supplies the condition for a beginning.
15. Enhancing - To raise the value of.
16. Vigil - Remain somewhere quietly for a period of time.
17. Can ill afford - Something prevent it from happening.
18. Complacent - Pleased / Self-satisfied.
December 18/2015
Topic 1 : "Inviting trouble in Kerala"


Petty local rivalries have combined with national-level politicking to create an embarrassing situation for Kerala Chief Minister
Oommen Chandy: after being invited to preside over a function where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to unveil the statue of
former Chief Minister R. Sankar, Mr. Chandy was asked to stay away by the organisers, who have formed an alliance with the
Bharatiya Janata Party. Whether or not this was done at the behest of senior leaders of the BJP, it is clear that the organisers,
the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, a Hindu backward class outfit, will need to take a major part of the
blame for putting the Kerala Chief Minister in an awkward position. But, neither the BJP nor the Prime Ministers Office could
have been unaware of the decision to keep the Chief Minister out. While the statue unveiling was a private function, and the
Chief Minister was not required to be invited, it was highly improper to have asked Mr. Chandy to skip the function citing silly
excuses after having first invited him. Both the SNDP and the Congress can lay claim to the political legacy of Sankar who
served in leadership capacities in the two organisations. But with the SNDP moving towards the BJP, the fight for Sankars
legacy seems to have got complicated in recent times. Over the days leading up to the unveiling of the statue, the Sangh Parivar
had attempted to dig up information about Sankars links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in his formative years.
Evidently, for both the SNDP and the BJP, to have a Congress Chief Minister preside over the function would have diminished
the political dividends that could be expected from projecting Sankar as a Hindu, backward class Ezhava icon. Whatever the
excuses given by SNDP leader Vellappally Natesan to Mr. Chandy, the fact remains that a Congress Chief Minister on the dais
would have been politically inconvenient for the SNDP and the BJP.
Not surprisingly, the controversy saw both the Congress and the Left parties on the same side, with former Chief Minister V.S.
Achuthanandan of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) describing the withdrawal of the invitation to Mr. Chandy as an insult
to Kerala as a whole. Both formations have suffered erosion in their support base following the rise of the BJP in Kerala on the
back of the growing influence of the RSS. The alliance with the SNDP has given the BJP greater reach ahead of next years
Assembly election, and leaders of other parties have remarked that the SNDP is acting as a feeder organisation for the BJP.
Without doubt, the SNDP-BJP alliance would see some social and political churning in Kerala. As it seeks to expand its base,
the RSS-BJP combine is evidently moving beyond seeing the Left parties as the prime enemy. In the past, RSS sympathisers
had overtly and covertly backed the Congress against the Left Democratic Front. That phase now seems to have ended.
1. Petty - not important and not worth giving attention to

2. Rivalry - competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field
3. Politicking - trying to force others to vote for a particular political party or
candidate
4. Preside over - to control a meeting or ceremony
5. Unveil - uncover (to remove a covering like a curtain from a new structure at a
ceremony)
6. Behest - a person's orders or command
7. Awkward - causing inconvenience
8. Citing - refering / quoting
9. Legacy - anything handed down from the past (Here : good name)
10. Formative - the time when something was formed
11. Diminished - to make smaller

12. Dividend - share in the profit
13. Erosion - the process of destruction
14. Alliance - a group formed for mutual benefit
15. Churning - shaking
16. Sympathiser a person who supports a sentiment / opinion
17. overtly - Openly
18. Covertly - Secretly
19. Backed Supported
Topic 2 : "Feds liftoff ends uncertainty"
The U.S. Federal Reserves decision to finally start normalising interest rates, by raising the fed funds rate by one quarter of a
percentage point, has emphatically ended the uncertainty over the direction the worlds largest economy is headed in. Seven
years after the Fed embarked on its record monetary expansion by beginning a programme of bond purchases and cutting
its benchmark rate to near zero to provide a stimulus in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S. central bank has
signalled that the American economy has definitely turned the corner. Fed chair Janet Yellens categorical assertion that the
decision reflects our confidence in the U.S. economy and that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) sees the economy
on a path of sustainable improvement, should give comfort to investors worldwide that a key engine of the global economy is
now ticking. Simultaneously, the Fed held forth the reassurance that its stance remains accommodative to support the recovery
and help return inflation to the targeted level of 2 per cent. The widely anticipated decision should now infuse some much-
needed optimism across both developed and emerging markets, especially at a time when global trade is stagnant and
commodity prices continue to remain depressed as demand from Chinas slowing economy stays muted. If history is any guide,
previous tightening cycles from the Fed both in 1999 and in 2004 were coterminous with increased capital flows into emerging
markets as economic growth in the U.S. spurred demand for goods and services in the developing and exporting nations. But
conditions, as some economists point out, are different this time, with the majority of emerging market currencies more
expensive than they were 11 years ago on an inflation-adjusted, trade-weighted basis. The immediate reaction in Indias markets
was positive on Thursday as both stocks and the rupee ended stronger. And with adequate foreign exchange reserves
accumulated as a bulwark against any sudden, sharp capital outflows, the Reserve Bank of India and Governor Raghuram
Rajan who had been calling for a gradual end to global easy money appear well-prepared to deal with any exigencies,
should they arise.
That the road ahead could still be anything but smooth and straight for both the global economy and the emerging markets is
also amply evident in the language contained in the Feds communication. The FOMC statement made it clear that economic
conditions will evolve in a manner that will warrant only gradual increases in the benchmark rate. This is shorthand for saying
that interest rates are likely to inch up and over a longer duration rather than mount a well-spaced and clearly graded timetable
of staircase steps. With Chinas surprise yuan devaluation of August and the resultant turmoil still fresh in memory, Chinese
policymakers, along with the monetary authorities in Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union, would be closely
tracked. For Indian companies, new overseas loans are likely to start getting costlier, and the appreciation of the dollar could
roil corporate balance sheets as debt-servicing gets more expensive.


1. Emphatically - in a forceful way
2. Uncertainty - doubtful
3. Embarked - started
4. Stimulus - something that causes a change or a reaction
5. Assertion - a statement that you strongly believe is true
6. Sustainable - able to continue over a period of time
7. Anticipate - to imagine or expect that something will happen
8. Infuse - to fill
9. Emerging - coming into existence
10. Stagnant - showing no activity / dull
11. Coterminous - having the same scope / duration
12. Spur - to encourage
13. Accumulated - to increase
14. Bulwark - a wall of protection
15. Exigency - an urgent need
16. Turmoil - disturbance / confusion
17. Roil - to cause trouble
December 19/2015
Topic 1 : "Unseemly turn in Arunachal Pradesh"
The saddest aspect of the political turmoil in Arunachal Pradesh is that its key actors have revived unedifying practices that
one would have thought the Indian polity had left behind some years ago: dissident ruling party legislators joining hands with
their political rivals to bring down an elected government, holding parallel or unauthorised Assembly proceedings, and the
Governor playing a partisan role. The conduct of Governor J.P. Rajkhowa in the ongoing crisis facing the Nabam Tuki
government, set off by a group of ruling Congress MLAs revolting against his leadership, is questionable. In S.R. Bommai in
1994, the Supreme Court decided that the only place for determining whether a Chief Minister has lost his majority is the floor
of the House, and not the Raj Bhavan. When it appeared that Mr. Tuki had lost the support of many of the legislators, the
Governor could have either asked him to prove his majority when the Assembly met on January 14, 2016, or, if the matter
brooked no delay, requested him to advance the session for the same purpose. There was no justification for the Governor to
advance the session to December 16 on his own, and a legitimate question arises whether the Constitution permits such action.
In another partisan act, he sent a message to the House to take up Resolution for removal of the Speaker as the first item on
the agenda.
The Congress has been ruling the State with the support of 47 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, but 20 ruling party legislators
have rallied under former Minister Kalikho Pul and joined hands with the 11-member Bharatiya Janata Party group in a bid to
unseat Mr. Tuki. They accuse the Chief Minister of financial mismanagement and corruption. In a pre-emptive move against the


rebels convening the Assembly on the Governors order, the government locked down the legislature building and the Speaker
disqualified 14 out of the 20 dissidents to bring down the number required for a majority. Disqualification under the anti-defection
law is subject to judicial review and the rebels could have challenged the Speakers decision. Instead, showing unseemly hurry,
the Deputy Speaker, a dissident himself, revoked their disqualification. All the rebels, along with the BJP and independent
MLAs, held a sitting of the Assembly at a makeshift venue, and removed the Speaker and then the Chief Minister through a
no-confidence motion. With the Guwahati High Court keeping in abeyance all the decisions taken at the rebel session, and
sharply questioning the Governors action in convening the Assembly, the rest of the crisis may play out in a courtroom.
Nevertheless, it would be a travesty of democracy if the current crisis results in the imposition of Presidents Rule without Mr.
Tuki being given an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the House. The Centre should avoid any impression that
constitutional norms will not be respected while handling the issue.
o Aspect - a particular part or feature of something

o Turmoil - disturbance / confusion
o Revived - to get energy / strength
o Unedifying - unpleasant and causing people to feel no respect
o Dissident - disagreeing
o Rivals - Opponents
o Partisan - a strong supporter of a party
o Revolting - unpleasant / nasty
o Brooked - to tolerate something
o Legitimate - logically correct / valid
o In a bid (to do something) - in an attempt
o Convening - come together for a meeting or activity
o Dissident - a person who opposes official policy
o Defection - withdrawing support or help
o Revoked - officially canceled
o Abeyance - suspension
o Nevertheless - in spite of that
o Travesty - a false representation of something
Topic 2 : "The challenge from Frances far-right"
The failure of Marine Le Pens Front National to win even a single region in this months elections in France demonstrates
that the majority of French voters are not yet ready to let the far-right party join governance. Had Ms. Le Pens anti-migrant, anti-
European party seized at least one of the regions, it would have had dramatic consequences for the French polity. However,
the election results, as the Socialist French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, himself had pointed out, are hardly a cause for
triumphalism. The FN had done remarkably well in the first round of the elections, held weeks after the November 13 Paris terror
attacks in which 130 people were killed. The party captured 28 per cent of the vote and came top in six out of 13 regions in that
round. This alarming rise of the FN had forced the two mainstream parties Nicolas Sarkozys centre-right Republicans and

President Franois Hollandes Socialists to enter into a de facto deal. The Socialists had even withdrawn their candidates
from two regions to support the Republicans against the FN. It took increased voter turnout and tactical voting by the main
parties to deliver the final blow to the FN in the second round of elections.
However, the FNs political momentum appears undiminished. What was an untouchable xenophobic far-right party on the
fringes of French politics is now a force that cannot be ignored. In the regional election, it received more votes than ever before,
and the number of its regional councillors tripled to 316. Ever since she took the reins of the party, Ms. Le Pen has been trying
to mainstream the FN without changing its basic ideological premises. She isolated the overtly anti-Semitic, racist wings of the
party, and projected the FN as a nationalist force with tough views on security, terrorism and migration. The rising security
challenges in the wake of the terrorist attacks, the inflow of refugees fleeing the conflicts in West Asia and North Africa, and
persistent economic slowdown and the crippling austerity policies of the government that have strengthened calls for
protectionism have all helped Ms. Le Pen sell her sectarian narrative to a large section of French society. The way the
mainstream parties blocked the FN in the election is commendable. But its not a sustainable strategy. If the material conditions
that helped the FN grow continue to persist, how long can the Socialists and the Republicans keep them away from power
through tactical voting? This is the biggest challenge French politicians face. If left unchecked, the influence of the far-right
sections could redraw the French political landscape, endangering the values of liberty, equality and fraternity.
o Triumphalism - an attitude or feeling of victory

o Alarming - worrying / disturbing
o De facto - in fact / whether by right or not
o Turnout - the number of people attending or taking part in an event
o Tactical voting - the act of voting for a political party or person that you would not
usually support in order to prevent another party or person from winning
o Undiminished - not reduced
o Xenophobic - showing a dislike against people from other countries / areas (similar
to Caste feeling)
o Fringe - the outer or less important part of an area
o Took the reins - took the control of something (here Party)
o Isolated - kept apart from others
o Overtly - openly
o Racist - a person who believes that a particular race is superior to another
o Conflict - serious disagreement / argument
o Crippling - to disable / to cause (someone) to become unable to walk or move
properly
o Austerity - a difficult economic situation caused by a government reducing the
amount of money it spends
o Commendable - praiseworthy
o Persist - to continue in an opinion in spite of difficulty or opposition


o Endangering - put (something) at risk or in danger
o Fraternity - friendship and mutual support within a group
December 21/2015
Topic 1 : "Justice that is rehabilitative"
A mature society will not give in to popular clamour and overturn sound legal principles and social norms that underpin its
justice system. The popular outrage over the release of a juvenile convict in the December 2012 Delhi gang rape case after
a three-year term in a Special Home is understandable, but it is just plainly wrong to demand that his detention should continue.
It is a misplaced view that juveniles who fell only a few months short of adulthood in the eye of law and were convicted for
heinous crimes such as murder and rape should be tried as adults. Nor is it legally tenable to argue that an unreformed convict
should not be released back into society on completion of the maximum permissible stint in a home for juveniles in conflict with
law. In fact, child-convicts growing into adulthood while being kept in a reformatory institution are ripe for rehabilitation. It will be
a greater crime to force them to spend further time in special homes or put them in prison along with adult criminals. It is futile
now to seek to establish that the former juvenile released now was the most brutal among the group that committed the gang
rape. To say this is not to lose ones sympathy for the grieving parents of the young rape victim who subsequently died.
None can afford to forget the crime that brought forth an unprecedented outpouring of anger and made the whole country
introspect about the way it treats its women.
The Delhi High Court has taken the correct view by refusing to stay the convicts release. It has taken note of the provisions for
post-release rehabilitation, especially through an individual care plan for his reintegration with society. The Juvenile Justice
Board should also receive quarterly follow-up reports for two years from the child welfare officer, probation officer or the NGO
concerned. Claims that the stay in the Special Home had had no effect on him and that he had been radicalised during his
confinement in the Special Home appear to be desperate arguments by an unconvinced society to stall his release. Children
fall foul of the law mainly because of neglect, abuse and poverty. There are no innate human propensities that magically
transform cherubic children into unregenerate criminals beyond redemption. The whole object of juvenile law in India is to
preserve the scope for rehabilitation and prevent recidivism. There is a pending Bill in Parliament that seeks to carve out a
separate category of child offenders in the age group of 16 to 18 involved in heinous crimes and transfer them to regular criminal
courts. It would be a retrograde step to enact this provision, even though other clauses in the Bill contain many progressive
aspects for children in need of care and protection. It is the wider society that will really benefit from rehabilitative justice for
child offenders and their transition to responsible adulthood.
o Clamour - a loud and confused noise (people shouting)

o Underpin - to support
o Outrage - strong reaction of anger
o Juvenile - young person (teenager)
o Convict - a person found guilty of a criminal offence and serving a sentence of
imprisonment


o Detention - a punishment in which a person must stay at somewhere (holding by
the police)
o Heinous (Crime) - very bad and shocking crime
o Tenable - based on evidence
o Unreformed - not changed or improved
o Permissible - permitted / allowed
o Stint - to give something in limited amounts (here : imprisionment)
o Conflict - a serious disagreement or argument
o Reformatory institution - an institution to which young offenders are sent as an
alternative to prison
o Futile - pointless
o Grieving - feeling sorrow (mainly because of somebody's death)
o Unprecedented - never done or known before
o Outpouring - an act of expressing an emotion or feeling in a very powerful way
o Introspect - examine one's own thoughts or feelings
o Rehabilitation - to teach (a criminal in prison) to live a normal and productive life
o Confinement - being held and can't move freely
o Foul - unfair / pollute
o Innate - natural
o Propensity - natural tendency to behave in a certain way
o Cherubic - having the innocence of a young child
o Unregenerate - sinful / very bad
o Redemption - the action of saving or being saved from sin
o Recidivism - going back to a previous behavior
o Carve out - to make or create
o Retrograde - directed or moving backwards
Topic 2 : "Not quite Congresss 1977 moment"
The new turn in a long-pending case involving allegations of misuse of funds of the Indian National Congress to buy
Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), a firm that published the National Herald, a now defunct publication linked to the party, has
put the spotlight on the Gandhis. For, between them, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are the main shareholders of Young Indian
Pvt Ltd (YIL), the Section 25 company of which AJL is now a subsidiary. The charge is that the Gandhis, along with other
directors of YIL, fraudulently acquired assets, largely AJL-owned countrywide real estate. The Congresss defence is that YIL
is a charitable company and that none of its directors has made any profit in short, that they hold it in trust for the party both
for charitable purposes and to restart a newspaper. The Congress has sought to project the legal proceedings as an instance
of political persecution by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, by linking it to Subramanian Swamy, who pursued the case. The
BJP-led government at the Centre, on its part, has tried to distance itself from the issue, stressing it is part of the judicial process


in which it has no hand. Whatever the motivations, if any, the case must now necessarily be settled in court, and the Congress
needs to fight it legally. Even so, the National Herald case has today indisputably acquired a political dimension.
With Sonia and Rahul Gandhis appearance in court on Saturday, the Congress is seeking to revive memories of the arrest
of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1977 on charges of abuse of power brought forward under the Janata Party
government. That became something of a defining moment of Indira Gandhis stint out of power, and she used it to mobilise her
defeated party and revive sympathy for the Congress amongst the people, heralding a political comeback. Today, in the party,
even though there is agreement that the National Herald case has acted as a catalyst for party workers to be activated, very
few as yet believe that it is enough to set it on a path of revival. For that, the entire Congress organisation has to be overhauled,
a new and vigorous leadership installed in the States to revive moribund units, and a clear strategy articulated, with a
comprehensive national vision and purposeful plan for Parliament. Even the decision on whether Sonia Gandhi will be replaced
as president of the party by Rahul Gandhi is on hold, ensuring that the uncertainty in the party continues. The show of party
solidarity with the Gandhis when they appeared at Delhis Patiala House court was evidently genuine, drawing from a feeling
that the future of the Gandhis is inextricably linked to the future of the Congress. It would be unfortunate, however, if the
Congress party expended too much political capital on this and restricted its mobilisation to the case against its president and
vice-president. Not only were the specifics of the charges against Indira Gandhi in 1977 different, that was a different news
ecosystem. The half-life of a political opportunity is now much shorter.
o Allegation - a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done
something wrong or illegal
o Defunct - no longer existing or functioning.
o Subsidiary - a company controlled by a holding company
o Fraudulent - dishonest and illegal
o Instance - an example
o Persecution - harassment
o Indisputable - unquestionable
o Revive - to bring back
o Heralding - announcing important news
o Catalyst - an event that causes great change
o Overhaul - overtake
o Vigorous - forceful
o Moribund - dead / at the point of death
o Articulate - able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly / free
movement
o Solidarity - unity
o Inextricably - impossible to separate
o Expended - to use or spend (something)
o Ecosystem - a complex network or interconnected system


December 22/2015
Topic 1 : "Right moves on the Soccer League"
For all the flutter that the Indian Super League (ISL) has managed to create so far, a thrilling finish of the kind witnessed on
Sunday, when Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa 3-2 in the final, seemed just apt. That the match was turned on its head with
barely seconds remaining, even as it ensured a fairy-tale end, brought out in good measure the vagaries of sport in general and
the quirkiness of football in particular. If Goa thought it had done enough to drag itself past the finish line when it took the lead
with three minutes left, it was not to be. It showed, yet again, how a momentary lapse in concentration can damage fortunes in
high-pressure situations. If anything, only the unsavoury incidents which followed the final whistle marred what was a fierce but
evenly contested tie. On the match itself there might not have been much to write home about. The flair and zest displayed by
both teams in their run to the final was seen only in patches. But final matches, in which caution is often the watchword and
avoiding mistakes is paramount, have a tendency to turn out the way this one did. However, there can be no doubting that the
leagues two best teams contested the final. Goa scored a league-high 29 goals to enter the knock-outs while Chennaiyin, in
addition to the 25 goals scored, also had the best defensive record, conceding only 15.
After a successful opening season, there was a fair amount of scepticism as the second season got under way two months ago.
For, the sophomores test is perhaps the toughest to pass. In spite of the bad press owing to the national teams capitulation in
the World Cup qualifiers, it can indeed be said that the ISL has managed to not lose its sheen. As Chennaiyin FCs manager
Marco Materazzi said on the eve of the final, I hope that everyone sees the difference. All of us have done well to raise the
level. Last year it took 19 points to reach the play-offs. This year it is 22. I hope the improvement keeps happening. If it does,
we will be the happiest people. It also helped that, unlike the previous season, the cream of Indian football including captain
Sunil Chhetri participated. Also, other Indian players under the tutelage of coaches such as the legendary Zico and Materazzi
himself have blossomed. Having said that, there is still room for considerable improvement. The tournament must be scheduled
in such a way that ISL matches do not run parallel to Indias international forays. The two are meant to complement each other,
ultimately leading to the uplift of both. Zicos repeated call for a single league, as against two separate entities in I-League and
ISL, with very limited, but extremely good foreign players, is to be considered. The Brazilian greats wealth of coaching
experience in developing nations coupled with his standing in world football does merit that.
o Flutter - a condition of nervous excitement

o Apt - appropriate or suitable
o Vagary - an unexpected change in a situation
o Quirkiness - an unpredictable act
o Momentary - of very short time
o Lapse - slip
o Usavoury - unpleasant
o Marred - damaged or spoilled
o Fierce - physically violent and frightening
o Flair - stylishness and originality


o Zest - great enthusiasm and energy.
o Watchword - a word or phrase expressing a person's or group's core aim or belief
o Paramount - more important than anything else
o Conceding - to admit defeat
o Scepticism - a doubt that something is true or useful
o Sophomore - second year
o Capitulation - an agreement
o Sheen - shine / brightness
o Tutelage - training / tuition
o Blossomed - to become matured or developed
o Room for improvement - a possibility or hope that someone or something will
improve
o Foray - a sudden short attack
o Uplift - to make (someone) happy or hopeful
Topic 2 : "Rajya Sabhas winter of disquiet"
Parliament has suddenly been galvanised into action, and the Rajya Sabha is now to take up for discussion amendments to
the Juvenile Justice Act. On Monday, the Supreme Court, wisely, refused to stay the release after three years of detention of
one of the men involved in the gang rape of December 16, 2012 who had not turned 18 at the time of the horrific crime. It is a
sign of falling standards that a resolve by parliamentarians to take up anything at all for deliberation is notice-worthy. But Rajya
Sabha MPs must pay heed to the disquiet that they are echoing a mob-like frenzy in signing up to the amendment to reduce
the age of juvenility, without enough reflection on why crime by young people puts different responsibilities for rehabilitation on
a society. The Rajya Sabha is on test today not only for the urgency with which it takes note of the sentiment on the street it
will be judged for the sense of proportion it brings to the subject and the evenness with which its members grapple with the
distinction between retribution and rehabilitation, between collective responsibility for the countrys young and abdication of the
vulnerable. In a larger sense, too, in 2015 the Rajya Sabha has been asked to make a case for its institutional relevance, and
how the House rises to the challenge would have implications for the assertiveness of Parliament as a whole.
The numbers are dismal. According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research, a Delhi-based think tank, as of December
18 the Rajya Sabha had wasted more than half its available hours in the winter session. Question Hour had functioned in the
House for only 15 per cent of the allotted time in contrast to 88 per cent in the Lok Sabha. The numbers do not reflect the
initiatives taken by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, in trying inventive ways to keep the
deliberative and questioning spirit alive. Over his two terms he has, for instance, got the House to take up questions even if the
MP against whose name it had been listed was absent, and to reschedule Question Hour to a quieter time of day but to little
avail. Discipline apart, of late there has been criticism of the Rajya Sabhas capacity to hold up non-money bills passed by the
Lok Sabha. This obviously draws from the ruling NDAs numerical disadvantage in the House. Critics overlook the essential
need for a permanent House in a country as diverse as India to ensure continuity as a check against sudden changes in
government and agendas, and to reflect the voice of States in this federal polity. If anything, the lack of numbers should propel

the ruling party to reach the extra inch across the aisles in the Lok Sabha, to agree to have its Ministers put to more stringent
questioning, even to interest Opposition MPs by adopting Prime Ministers Questions, and, most importantly, to loosen the
debate-snuffing restrictions of the anti-defection law and allow bipartisan coalitions to be built around specific pieces of
legislation. In Indias unique form of bicameralism, the key to unlocking a stand-off in one House inevitably lies in the other
House. Just as the way to institutional strength lies in empowering individual MPs.
o Galvanised - to stimulate to action

o Deliberation - the process of carefully considering what to do
o Heed - careful attention
o Disquiet - a feeling of worry or unease
o Echoing - to repeat
o Frenzy - uncontrolled and excited behaviour or emotion that is sometimes violent
o Juvenility - youthfulness
o Grapple - a struggle for superiority or dominance
o Retribution - the act of taking revenge
o Implication - an occasion when you suggest or show that someone is involved in
a crime
o Assertiveness - the quality of being confident and not frightned to say what you
believe
o Dismal - causing a mood of depression
o Overlook - fail to notice
o Propel - to push something forwards
o Aisle - a long, narrow space between rows of seats
o Stringent - strict
o Snuffing - to put an end in an abrupt or sudden manner
o Bipartisan - involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that
usually oppose each other's policies
o Coalitions - a group of people who join together for a common cause
o Bicameralism - having two parts
o Inevitably - Unavoidably (Impossible to avoid or prevent)
December 23/2015
Topic 1 : "Spains vote against the status quo"
The results of Sundays parliamentary election in Spain are the strongest challenge yet to the post-Franco political order that
has been dominated by the countrys two major parties the centre-right Popular Party and the Socialist Workers Party. In the
post-Franco years, the motto of the Spanish political class was ensuring a democratic transition, checking the militarys


overreaching influence, rebuilding the countrys damaged international reputation and creating a relatively prosperous society.
This socio-political project held sway for nearly four decades, with the established parties championing it. But the European
economic crisis, which particularly hit Spain hard, and the conservative response of the main political parties towards the crisis,
along with a generational change in Spanish society, seems to have ruptured the status quo. The two main parties have failed
to win a simple majority. The Popular Party of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy won 123 seats in the 350-member Parliament,
while the Socialist Workers Party secured only 90 seats. Both saw an erosion of popular support, while emerging parties, the
radical-left Podemos and the liberal Citizens party, made huge gains. They won 69 and 40 seats, respectively.
The performance of Podemos, which was formed only in January 2014, is particularly impressive. The party led by Pablo Iglesias
has a strong anti-austerity policy and has called for a new politics of peoples participation. They could resonate with the young
voters easily as the austerity policies adopted by the government are taking a toll on their lives while the economy is still
struggling. Joblessness among the youth is dangerously high, at 47 per cent. But during the campaign Podemos faced a Syriza
problem. Its rivals said if the radical-left party won, it would push Spain into a Greece-like crisis. Unlike in Greece, the Spanish
Socialists are not completely discredited among their support base. Podemos had actually toned down its radical rhetoric during
the campaign to present itself as a responsible Leftist force that can deal with the economic challenges of Spain. But they still
could not crack the rural vote base of the Socialists. The Citizens party, on the other side, is also critical of the establishment,
but it doesnt have any alternative economic agenda to offer, which limits its scope of growth. So theres no clear winner. The
transition is likely to be chaotic. One possible outcome of the election would be the formation of a weak coalition government.
The Left parties have said they would block the Popular Party from forming a government again. The Socialists and Podemos
are reportedly in talks. But both groups have divergent views on key issues, beginning with the economic policy. Even if a
coalition is put together, its unlikely to solve Spains main problems. Another scenario is a fresh election in a few months. In
either case, the churn in Spanish politics will continue until a clear leader emerges out of the present chaos.
o Transition - the process of changing from one state or condition to another

o Prosperous - bringing wealth and success
o Sway - a rhythmical movement from side to side
o Crisis - a difficult or dangerous time
o Hit (something) hard - if a situation hits you hard, it makes you so upset that you
have difficulty dealing with it
o Conservative - favoring traditional views and values (opposing change)
o Rupture - a break in friendly relations
o Status quo - the existing state or condition
o Erosion - the process destruction
o Emerging - newly created / recently growing
o Resonate - to create resound
o Taking a toll - to have a bad effect on something
o Rival - a person competing with another for the same objective

o Discredit - to damage the reputation of (someone)
o Rhetoric - related to Goals
o Agenda - list of things to do
o Chaotic - in a state of complete confusion
o Coalition - a group of people who join together for a common cause
o Divergent - different
o Unlikely - not going to happen
o Scenario - a description of possible actions or events in the future
o Churn - shaking (in a confused state)
Topic 2 : "Ominous signals from Ayodhya"
That the Ramjanmabhoomi movement was more political than religious in nature was evident from its very beginnings in
communal frenzy and bigotry. And that the demand for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya at the site where
the Babri Masjid stood would become more strident with every approaching general election was a foregone conclusion. Even
so, the offloading of truckloads of pink sandstone at the premises of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Ayodhya this month
adds a new element of provocative divisive politics in Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls for the Legislative Assembly in a little
over a years time. The elaborate ritual performed on the stones, the shila puja, is in itself an indication of the symbolism sought
to be evoked with the arrival of every batch of stones. Already, about one half of the total requirement of the stones necessary
for the building of the temple is lying at the premises, but the offloading of each truckload is celebrated as an event in time
marking the journey to the construction of the temple at the Babri Masjid site. Although the VHP insists that the entire exercise
is a routine affair, the fact that this is the first time in eight years that such activity is happening gives it an ominous colour.
Issues relating to the site, whether a Ram temple was pulled down or modified to build the Masjid, and who could claim
ownership of the plot of land believed by some sections of Hindus to be the birthplace of Ram, are still part of an unresolved
legal dispute after the Supreme Court stayed an order of the Allahabad High Court that split the disputed site in three parts.
With the restoration of status quo ante, no construction is possible at the site. By making preparations for the construction of a
temple without waiting for the court verdict, the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, a trust run by the VHP, is clearly attempting to whip up
communal passions over the dispute. Although the Samajwadi Party government of Akhilesh Yadav put the law and order
machinery on alert, in such tension-charged atmosphere it would take no more than a few rumour-mongers to disrupt communal
peace. However, with the Bharatiya Janata Party in power at the Centre, senior leaders are a lot more circumspect, not wanting
to be seen as defying court orders. Indeed, the BJP is at present fighting under the cover of the VHP, assuming that any political
gains from communal tensions over the issue would accrue to it, but the cost would be borne by the VHP alone. But the BJP is
mistaken if it thinks it can harness the demons the VHP unleashes. Hate campaigns have a life of their own, and could spiral
into unstoppable violence. The Ayodhya dispute should be left to the courts of law to adjudicate on. There can be no room for
political games to stir communal passions.
o Evident - clearly seen or understood

o Communal - related to the members of a group or community


o Frenzy - uncontrolled excitement or wild behaviour
o Bigotry - unable to accept other ideas, races, or religions
o Strident - presenting a controversial point in very forceful way
o Foregone - having gone before (previous / past)
o Offload - to unload
o Provocative - causing anger
o Divisive - intended to make people angry with each other
o Ritual - a ceremony or action performed in a religious way
o Evoked - to give rise to
o Ominous - suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future
o Pulled down - completely destroy a building (especially in order to use the land for
something else)
o Dispute - disagreement / argument
o Status quo ante - the existing state or condition
o Verdict - decision made by the court
o Whip up - to prepare
o Rumour-monger - a person who spreads rumours
o Disrupt - destroy the structure of something (here Peace)
o Circumspect - unwilling to take risks
o Defy - refuse to obey
o Accrue - to increase slowly as time passes
o Borne - to suffer
o Harness - control and make use of
o Unleashes - releases
o Adjudicate - make a formal judgement on a disputed matter
o Stir - to cause trouble intentionally between other people (especially by telling false
or secret information)
December 24/2015
Topic 1 : "Law-making amid moral outrage"
Legislators acting in response to moral outrage seen on television and during street protests and being apparently influenced
by the importunate gaze of victims of crime from the gallery, does not augur well for sound law-making. It may not be right to
characterise the quick passage of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill in the Rajya Sabha as a hasty
move because it has already been passed in the Lok Sabha in May 2015. The draft too had been slightly modified before that,
based on a February 2015 report of a standing committee of Parliament. Yet, it is difficult to overcome the impression that some
members may have been gripped by a bout of moral panic after the release of the youngest convict in the Delhi gang rape of
December 2012. The seeming sense of urgency was undoubtedly influenced by a section of the media demanding justice after


the convict was released from a Special Home on completing his three-year term there. An impression is sought to be created
that the countrys collective conscience demanded that a tough law be enacted to ensure that juvenile convicts committing
heinous crimes do not get away with light sentences. An edifying aspect of this legislative episode is that there are enough
voices around that understand that restorative justice is best ensured for this underclass by addressing the fundamental
problems that create juvenile offenders in society in the first place, by ensuring universal access to education and social care
for all children.
The Bill, which contains progressive aspects such as streamlining adoption procedures and extending the laws protection to
orphans and abandoned children, still suffers from the problems highlighted by the parliamentary panel. The government,
unfortunately, did not accept the view that children in a particular age group being subjected to the adult criminal justice system
will violate their right to equality under Article 14 and the objective of protecting children in Article 15(3) of the Constitution. It,
however, dropped a clause that provided for treating those who had committed crimes before reaching the age of 18 but were
apprehended after they turned 21, agreeing that it was unconstitutional. It extended the period of preliminary assessment (the
original draft called it inquiry) by the Juvenile Justice Board to determine whether a juvenile offender should be sent for
rehabilitation or tried as an adult, from one month to three months. The boards assessment will still be subject to judicial review
and may set off litigation over whether one 16-year-old was let off lightly or another was wrongly sent to an adult court. Such
decisions may also be influenced by the prevailing public mood. It would have been wiser to have let the law stand in conformity
with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which advocates equal treatment of all children under the age of 18. The
difference between sober assessment and mercurial action cannot be more starkly emphasised.
o Legislator - a person who makes law

o Outrage - intense feeling of anger and shock
o Iimportunate - annoying
o Gaze - a steady intent look
o Augur - to predict
o Hasty - speedy
o Bout - a short period of strong activity (feeling)
o Panic - sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety
o Conscience - a person's moral sense of right and wrong
o Enact - to make (law)
o Juvenile - teenager
o Convict - a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court
o Heinous - very evil
o Edifying - enlightening (to help somebody's moral improvement)
o Restorative - something that restores
o Streamlining - to improve something
o Apprehend - to take into custody

o Prevailing - having great influence
o Sober - dull
o Assessment - figuring out what someone knows or has learned
o Mercurial - Very fast
o Starkly - doing something in a strict way
o Emphasise - to make something important / stress it
Topic 2 : "An opportunity missed at Nairobi"
The Nairobi Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation concluded last week after negotiations stretched into an
unscheduled fifth day as delegates from the rich nations, emerging market economies and the Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) sought to hammer out an agreement acceptable to all. The final declaration, while helping salvage the primacy of the
WTO as the arbiter of international trade rules, left the LDCs and the emerging nations, especially India, trying to count their
gains as the U.S. and EU celebrated the outcome that quietly cast aside the Doha Development Agenda. That member-
countries may be prepared to make sacrifices was apparent from the outset after Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, in his
opening remarks, cited 2015 as a year in which nations demonstrated unparalleled cooperation in agreeing on collective
approaches to the pressing problems facing humanity. His references to the successful International Conference on Financing
for Development, the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the historic Paris agreement to combat
climate change, heightened delegates anxiety to conclude a deal. The fact that the WTO body was meeting for the first time in
Africa also meant that both developed countries and emerging market economies like India were wary of being seen as deal-
breakers. And the surge in bilateral, regional and plurilateral trade agreements, including the most recent Trans-Pacific
Partnership, cast its shadow too. The result is a modest one, with the key takeaways being the decisions to end all farm export
subsidies and liberalise global trade in information technology products.
From Indias point of view, the Nairobi declaration was disappointing on multiple fronts. From its relative pre-eminence among
emerging market economies with the principled position on sticking to the Doha agenda, India has returned with very few, if
any, of its demands met. There is no concrete agreement on a special safeguards mechanism to protect farmers in the
developing countries against sudden import surges, and no short deadline for a permanent solution on public stockholding for
food security purposes. And the lack of an unambiguous reaffirmation of the Doha Development Agenda means new issues of
interest to developed countries, including competition policy, government procurement and investment are now open for
negotiations. The lessons are clear. While negotiators from the developed countries came fully prepared to defend their strategic
aims, Indias leadership faltered for want of a clear-cut strategy. For the future, the government needs to broaden its preparation:
by holding wide-ranging meetings on WTO-related issues with all stakeholders in a bipartisan manner, renewing and
strengthening its ties with the developing and LDC economies to protect the development agenda, and finally bolstering its pool
of trade negotiators by picking the best and brightest trade experts and lawyers.
o Negotiations - discussions aimed at reaching an agreement

o Emerging - developing
o Hammer out - to produce (an agreement, plan, etc) after much discussion


o Salvage - to save something from damage or destruction
o Primacy - the state of being the most ?important thing
o Arbiter - a person / organization who has the power to settle an argument between
people
o Cast aside - to put something aside / to throw something away
o Apparent - clearly visible or understood
o Outset - the start or beginning of something
o Cited - refered
o Heightened - to increase the amount of (something)
o Surge - a sudden and great increase
o Plurilateral agreement - a multi-national legal or trade agreement between
countries
o Pre-eminence - superiority
o Concrete - real / existing
o Safeguard - a measure taken to protect something from damage
o Surges - a sudden and great increase
o Unambiguous - clearly expressed or understood
o Reaffirmation - confirmation
o Procurement - the act of obtaining something
o Falter - loss of courage or confidence
o Bolstering - supporting
December 25/2015
Topic 1 : "Judicial overreaction"
The initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against Booker Prize-winning writer Arundhati Roy by the Bombay
High Court appears to be an excessive reaction to adverse comment. Judges are expected to be uninfluenced by occasional
criticism relating to their judicial orders, especially by journalists and writers who are not parties before them. It behoves the
superior judiciary to ignore remarks on court proceedings and orders made out of activist zeal. In times when both mainstream
and social media are full of observers, critics, commentators and detractors, courts ought not to be unduly sensitive to outspoken
critics, subject of course to the rule that the criticism is fair and does not attribute motives to judges or malice to judicial
functioning. Ms. Roy is no stranger to the long arm of the courts contempt jurisdiction. The Supreme Court sentenced her to
one day in prison for criminal contempt for scandalising the judiciary through some remarks in 2002. A few years earlier, in
1999, the Supreme Court decided to be lenient towards her and her associates in the Narmada Bachao Andolan for their


comments on court orders. [T]he courts shoulders are broad enough to shrug off their comments, the Bench had remarked
then, in a measure of how the courts dignity is better served if it takes routine criticism in its stride and moves only against
vicious and tendentious remarks or actions that bring the judiciary into disrepute or ridicule.
Ms. Roys article in a magazine relating to the arrest and denial of bail to G.N. Saibaba of Delhi University does not appear
entirely to fall under such a category. The political sympathies reflected in the article for the wheelchair-bound lecturer are quite
obvious, but it is not possible to discern any wilful contempt for judicial processes in its expression of concern for his freedom,
health and well-being. Unfortunately, Justice A.B. Chaudhari sees in the piece a gameplan to obtain an order of bail knowing
fully well that the plea was turned down by the Sessions Court as well as a Single Judge of this Court. While initiating action
against Ms. Roy for criminal contempt, he seems to have read too much into an article sharply critical of the government and
the police that relates only indirectly to the judiciary in its comparison of instances of those who got bail (Babulal Bajrangi, Maya
Kodnani and Amit Shah) and those who did not. The majesty of the court ought to be any judges concern, but it is inconceivable
why an authors nasty language against the government and the police should be. The conclusion that her article, prima facie,
tends to interfere in the administration of justice merely because it appears to argue that Mr. Saibaba is entitled to release is
unfortunate. While safeguarding the judiciarys reputation and dignity, courts of law should not be seen as stifling free comment
and suppressing political dissent. The power of contempt should be used sparingly and that too, only against those wilfully
subverting justice, and not against critics of the state.
o Contempt - lack of respect (the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless)

o Adverse - harmful
o Behoves - it is right for someone to do something
o Zeal - enthusiasm for something
o Detractors - a person who puts you down
o Unduly - excessively
o Malice - the intention to harm someone
o Long arm - power
o Scandalise - to shock by improper behaviour
o Lenient - not overly strict (showing mercy when someone does something wrong)
o Shrug - to raise your shoulders and then lower them in order to say you do not
know or are not interested
o Vicious - deliberately cruel or violent
o Tendentious - promoting a specific, and controversial, point of view
o Disrepute - a state of having a bad reputation
o Ridicule - making fun of somebody (to laugh at someone in an unkind way)
o Discern - having or showing good judgement
o Inconceivable - unbelievable
o Prima facie - at first sight (based on what seems to be the truth when first seen or
heard)


o Stifling - forceful prevention (putting down by power or authority)
o Dissent - to publicly disagree with an official opinion or decision
o Subverting - to try to destroy or damage something (especially an established
political system)
Topic 2 : "Cess proceeds in a black hole"
The National Democratic Alliance government has just introduced a cess of 0.5 per cent on all taxable services for the
Swachh Bharat campaign. In February 2016, it will introduce a 2 per cent cess on airfares for all domestic flyers except those
flying to remote locations, and international travellers. This cess is meant to fund losses that airlines may incur in connecting to
hinterland locations. The Central government loves cesses, partly because it doesnt have to share the proceeds with State
governments. It has been levying them for several important causes including primary education, secondary education, road
development, the welfare of construction workers and beedi workers, clean energy, research and development and
universalisation of telecom coverage, among several others. But good intentions often pave the road to hell, as is evident from
the fact that over Rs.1.4 lakh crore of cess proceeds lie unutilised and inadequately accounted for in the governments books.
Take, for example, the case of the Secondary and Higher Education Cess paid by all income tax payers that has yielded over
Rs.64,000 crore between 2006 and 2015. Not a rupee of that has been spent, while hundreds of students now fork out more for
higher education since the government has discontinued the non-National Eligibility Test fellowship. That the government has
failed to even set up a fund to pool the proceeds shows the lack of planning that precludes and follows the levy of a cess. So is
the case with the proposed airfare cess. The government is yet to identify routes that the cess would subsidise, or spruce up
the many defunct civil airports.
The point of a cess is that the money it generates can only be used for the designated purpose so it can be an effective policy
tool in theory. But if the money isnt spent for the designated purpose, as the audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
of India tabled in Parliament has shown, it just stagnates and distorts the economy further: the additional tax brings down real
incomes without any accompanying gain in socio-economic indicators as targeted. Then there is the question of whether a given
cess is needed at all. Most reasons cited for levying a cess, such as purposes of education, are important enough for direct
budgetary allocations as happens in the developed world. So the government can simply raise the tax rate rather than impose
multiple cess levies. But with the Fourteenth Finance Commission increasing States share of the common pool of resources,
cesses are tempting for the Centre to shore up its own finances. If it wants to keep complicating the taxation system for good
intentions, the government should start disclosing a deployment plan to achieve the intended outcomes from cess collections
before imposing the next such levy on citizens.
o Cess - tax
o Hinterland - the land of a country away from the coast or the banks of major rivers
o Proceeds - money obtained from an event or activity
o Levy - impose / collect tax


o Inadequate - not enough (too small in amount)
o Yielded - produced
o Fork out - to pay an amount of money (especially unwillingly)
o Precludes - prevents from happening
o Spruce up - to make (somethingthing) smart and neat
o Defunct - no longer existing or functioning
o Designated - specific
o Stagnate - stop moving forward (not grow or develop)
o Distorts - to change something from its natural form
o Shore up - to support something
o Disclose - to reveal
o Deployment - the use of something in an effective way
December 26/2015
Topic 1 : "A bold & laudable initiative"
To achieve the impossible, it is precisely the unthinkable that must be thought, wrote a famous novelist. To that end, Prime
Minister Narendra Modis unannounced visit to Kabul and surprise stopover in Lahore is certainly as unthinkable as it is
a transformational moment for India. While several Indian Prime Ministers have attempted to turn ties with Pakistan into
something more neighbourly, nothing defines good neighbours more than Mr. Modis dropping in for tea to wish his counterpart,
Nawaz Sharif, on his birthday and to give his good wishes for his grand-daughters wedding. With the two visits on Christmas
day, bringing together Indias interest in engaging both Afghanistan and Pakistan, he has also reclaimed the SAARC moment
of his swearing-in ceremony in 2014, which many had called a masterstroke at the time. What is perhaps the most surprising is
not just that Mr. Modi decided to make the stops, but that they come at the end of a year when relations with both Afghanistan,
over talks with the Taliban, and Pakistan, over LoC firing and the NSA talks, were very troubled. Mr. Modi has ensured that a
curtain has been drawn on those troubles, and a new beginning will be made in the new year. Not just that, by making the
journey from Kabul to Lahore, he has transformed Afghanistan from a battlefield between India and Pakistan into a facilitator of
good relations. The road ahead is certainly perilous. Relations with Pakistan have often seen setbacks far worse than the strides
in ties. The Kargil war followed just such a bold initiative by Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the Lahore bus, and Manmohan Singhs
sustained talks on Kashmir with President Musharraf, who he invited for a cricket match to India to restart talks, went awry after
a series of attacks. However, if Mr. Modi were to dwell only on those perils, there would be no way of moving forward, and he
has been wise to take the high road to peace over the low road of discordant ties with Pakistan. The two foreign secretaries
should build on this breakthrough at their meeting scheduled for mid-January.
If Mr. Modis move towards Pakistan represents a maturing and progression of his position, then the Congress partys attack on
the Lahore visit represents a churlish regression in its position. It is surprising that the main opposition party has chosen to
criticise Mr. Modi for everything its own Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, risked so much for during his tenure. In 2007, many
were aghast when Dr. Singh said he dreamed of a time he could have breakfast in Amritsar, lunch in Lahore and dinner in


Kabul. With a few modifications, Mr. Modi, who is now the biggest beneficiary of the previous governments sagacious Pakistan
policy, has achieved that dream, in reverse.
o Laudable - deserving praise (admirable)

o Precisely - exactly (something done with perfection
o Stopover - a break in a journey
o Drop in/by - to visit someone
o Counterpart - a person having the same job / characteristics as another
o Masterstroke - an action that is very clever and produces success
o to Draw the curtain - to close something
o Facilitator - someone who helps a person or organization do something more easily
(by discussing things and suggesting ways of doing things)
o Perilous - something that is dangerous or very risky
o Setback - something that delays or prevents a process from developing
o Stride - an important positive development
o Sustain - to continue something as it is
o Awry - not working correctly
o Dwell - live at a specified place
o Peril - something that is very dangerous
o Take the high road - doing the right thing even if its not easy
o Discordant - harsh
o Breakthrough - an important event that helps to improve a situation or provide an
answer to a problem
o Progression - the process of developing (related to Progress)
o Churlish - rude (not polite)
o Regression - going back to previous state
o Aghast - filled with shock
o Sagacious - having a great understanding and the ability to make good judgments
Topic 2 : "Do right by Indias real NRIs"
Every detail of the latest story of abuse of Indian workers in West Asia is both horrifying and painfully emblematic of the condition
of Indian migrants to these countries. Three men from Kerala paid an agent to get them employment in Yemen, but they were
taken to Saudi Arabia instead. They were trained electricians but were made to work in a brick factory. They were beaten by
their employer with a wooden plank for refusing to do the work, the torture captured on camera and sent home to their families.
Theirs is far from the first such story of entrapment, deceit and abuse. In October, a woman worker from Tamil Nadu said that
her Saudi employer had tried to chop off her hand when she tried to escape. In September, a video emerged online which
seemed to show the abuse of an Indian construction worker by his Saudi supervisor. Journalists investigating the construction


of the 2022 FIFA World Cup infrastructure in Qatar found Indian workers were among those living in cramped accommodation
for low wages and long hours under often exploitative contracts. Earlier this month External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told
Parliament that there were over 7,400 complaints of exploitation made by Indian workers in Gulf countries in 2015 alone.
There are over 6 million Indian workers in West Asia, forming a quarter of the regions total expatriate workforce, including 2.8
million in the UAE, 1.8 million in Saudi Arabia, and over half a million each in Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. (Money repatriated to
India from the Gulf countries was $32.7 billion in 2014, compared to $10 billion from the U.S.) The International Labour
Organisation estimates that many of the 600,000 workers in the region who are victims of forced labour are Indian citizens. In
fact, the chain of exploitation begins at the recruitment and migration stage in India, as was the case with the men from Kerala
in Saudi Arabia a police officer in fact put them in touch with the agent. The Ministry of External Affairs is aware of the
problem; and Ms. Swaraj has been quick to respond to outrage over such incidents, offering help and support. However, there
has not yet been a lasting fix to the problem; recruitment remains largely unregulated, Indias push for higher wages remains
unfulfilled, and protections for Indian workers once they discover the nature of their employment are often difficult to come by.
Many of these workers are leaving behind impoverished lives, and might not always be in a position to assert their rights in the
hope of a better life for their families. These are Indias real NRIs in numbers and in terms of remittances and investment in
their home countries. India must do better by them.
o Abuse - to treat someone cruelly or violently

o Emblematic - symbolic
o Migrant - a person who moves from one place to another in order to find work or
better living conditions
o Entrapment - the act of causing someone to do something they would not usually
do by tricking them
o Deceit - to hide the truth (mislead)
o Cramped - uncomfortably small (not having enough space)
o Exploitative / Exploitation - using someone unfairly for your own advantage
o Expatriate - a person who lives outside their native country
o Repatriate - send (someone) back to their own country
o Outrage - an extremely strong reaction of anger
o Impoverished - financially destroyed (poor enough to need help from others)
o Remittance - the sending of money to someone at a distance
December 28/2015
Topic 1 : "New energy in old friendship"
Should old acquaintance be forgot, asks the famous song Auld Lang Syne, traditionally sung at the years end. Prime Minister
Narendra Modis visit to Russia last week, much in the manner of the song, was as much about reassuring a strong and
reliable friend of India, as he referred to Russia, as it was about chalking out new avenues for future cooperation in defence,
energy and space. These avenues are well- charted, with the annual summit between both countries giving a consistent direction


on all bilateral agreements, but relations have flagged in the past few years. This year the summit itself had to be put off several
times for one reason or another, and it was finally held on Christmas-eve, which was the last possible window before Russia
shuts down for holidays. In contrast, Indias relationship with the other world power, the United States, has seen a dramatic
year, particularly in military engagement. From U.S. President Barack Obamas visit to New Delhi as chief guest at the Republic
Day parade, when India and the U.S. signed their first military agreement outside South Asia as a maritime cooperation
agreement, firming up of more military exercises and joint development of defence equipment, visits by top U.S. generals, and
the first-ever visit by the Indian Defence Minister to an American military base all have given the impression that India is
abandoning its traditionally neutral strategic space.
While Prime Minister Modis visit may not have resulted in overturning that impression entirely, it has served as a major boost
to the outlook on India-Russia ties in the future. First, a series of defence acquisitions announced in the works will put Russia
back on top of military suppliers to India, a spot taken by the U.S. and Israel for more than five years. Second, the deal for 200
Ka-226T Kamov helicopters will become the first big Make in India project, which has tended to be only a slogan thus far. Third,
by investing time in the CEO summit that included several Indian players in the energy and defence sector, Mr. Modi and
Russian President Vladimir Putin have shown a desire to involve the private sector in areas that only saw government-to-
government deals. This move is the most significant: despite the close friendship the two have fostered, the immense goodwill
the people of the two countries share and the major dependence the Indian military has on Russian hardware, bilateral trade
ties have always been poor, and even today languish below $10 billion. Russian and Indian industrys interest and investment
will give what the leaders referred to as the old friendships new energy. An energy that will also bolster Indias plans for new
ties with Central Asia, and more recently, in the trips Mr. Modi made straight after his Moscow visit, with Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
o Acquaintance - someone you know a little about, but theyre not your best friend
or anything
o Chalking out - make a sketch of (to explain something carefully to someone)
o Avenue - approach to doing something
o Consistent - always behaving in the same way
o Contrast - to show a difference (opposition)
o Maritime - related to sea
o Firm up (something) - fix up (to fix something)
o Abandon - to leave something
o Neutral - having no personal preference
o Overturn - to change something (here impression)
o Outlook - point of view (a person's way of understanding and thinking about
something)
o Acquisition - the ?process of getting something
o Significant - important or ?noticeable


o Despite - without being affected by
o Foster - encourage the development of something
o Immense - extremely large / great
o Languish - to become weak
o Bolster - support or strengthen
Topic 2 : "Opposition for oppositions sake"
It must have caused the Congress party great political discomfort to watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a
surprise stopover in Lahore, exude bonhomie with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, and behave as if he could will India
towards better ties with Pakistan without help from anyone else. What the Congress-led government failed to do for ten years
between 2004 and 2014, despite the good intentions of its Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party and its
Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, seem able to do with ease: take the initiative in visiting Pakistan and set the agenda for talks with
Pakistan. The Congress is free to rue its missed opportunities, and, maybe, even blame a combative BJP-headed opposition
for the unimaginative and constricted foreign policy vis--vis Pakistan in that decade. But what it should not do is undermine the
efforts of Mr. Modi as he sets about doing what it would have liked to have done by itself. Of course, Mr. Modi can be faulted for
the U-turns in Indias South Asia foreign policy. But the time for such criticism is not now, when he and his government are
moving ahead in the right direction. The sudden boost to ties with Pakistan might have been unpredictable, as Congress leader
Anand Sharma saw it, but predictability is no virtue either. Also, it is of no great consequence if the visit was prearranged days
in advance or was the result of an impulsive decision. What matters is what ensues from Mr. Modis sudden overtures to
Pakistan. If the relations move up a level or two, and the surprise visit helps build greater trust between the two countries, then
it would have served its purpose. The visit can be termed frivolous only if the end results do not go beyond wishing Mr. Sharif
on his birthday or greeting his granddaughter on her wedding. To be dismissive of the Modi-Sharif meeting even without giving
it a chance to bear fruit betrays the political nervousness of the Congress more than anything else.
That, during its years in power, the Congress took its cautionary instincts on Pakistan to an absolute extreme was obvious.
Indeed Prime Minister Singh did not get the necessary support from his party or his Cabinet colleagues when he tried to take
the initiative in resolving outstanding issues with Pakistan most spectacularly, on the Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement. This
might have had to do with the fear of the BJP, then in opposition, taking political advantage of any normalisation of relations
with Pakistan by projecting it as a sell-out. But without doubt, Prime Minister Singh was seen as apolitical by the Congress
leadership, and was not given a free hand in taking initiatives of the kind that Mr. Modi has. The Congress should seriously
introspect about the need to place national interest above petty political calculations. For his part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
too must reach out to take opposition leaders into confidence on his vision for India-Pakistan talks else, bipartisan consensus
on such a crucial issue will remain elusive, with populist grandstanding continuing to threaten the countrys strategic and foreign
policy challenge.


o Stopover - a break in a journey
o Exude - to show something (feeling / emotion etc) very clearly or strongly
o Bonhomie - Friendliness
o Agenda - a list of items to be discussed at a formal meeting
o Rue - regret (to feel sorry for something)
o Combative - ready or eager to fight or argue
o Constricted - to become tighter and narrower
o Vis--vis - in comparison with
o Undermine - lessen the effectiveness
o U-turns - a change of plan
o Virtue - the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
o Consequence - a result or effect
o Impulsive - doing things suddenly without any planning and without considering
the effects they may have
o Ensue - to follow as a result
o Overtures - a communication made to someone in order to offer something
o Frivolous - not having any serious purpose or value
o Bear fruit - to produce successful results
o Betrays - to not be loyal to someone (do not do what they promised)
o Cautionary - warning
o Instinct - inborn behavior (something you don't need to learn)
o Absolute - perfect / complete
o Extreme - very large in amount or degree
o Obvious - easy to see / understand
o Spectacularly - in a very beautiful way that people admire
o Sell-out - one who betrays a cause for personal advancement
o Apolitical - not interested or involved in politics
o Introspect - to look inside (your own thoughts / behaviour etc)
o Petty - of little or no importance
o Bipartisan - supported by both sides (parties)
o Consensus - a general agreement (everyone agrees on something)
o Elusive - difficult to find / catch / achieve
o Populist - political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of
ordinary people by giving them what they want
o Grandstanding - behaviour that is intended to get public attention and approval
o Threaten - to tell someone that you will hurt them or cause problems if they do not
do what you want


December 29/2015
Topic 1 : "Hunger brews in Bengals tea estates"
North Bengals tea estates are witnessing an unfolding human tragedy as more deaths of tea garden workers were reported
this month from the region. With the industry as a whole struggling from soft prices and a drop in output as climate change
affects rainfall and weather conditions across the countrys tea-growing regions, several estates are reportedly being unofficially
shut, leaving thousands of hapless workers in the lurch. And even at gardens that are operating, living conditions for the
predominantly female workforce are said to be precarious, with access to housing, sanitation, healthcare and drinking water far
from adequate. A delegation of the State Assemblys Standing Committee on Labour that visited four tea estates cited
malnutrition as an apparent cause for the recent deaths of workers and said the State government was not doing enough to
resolve the crisis. Separately, an international fact-finding mission headed by the Global Network for the Right to Food and
Nutrition that visited tea gardens in West Bengal and Assam earlier this month painted a grim picture of extremely low wages
driving thousands of families to hunger and malnutrition. With a majority of the labour landless, tribal migrants who have little to
no other skills to help them find gainful work, the closures and unpaid wages in many estates are spurring a surge in the
incidence of starvation. While West Bengals Labour Minister this month told legislators the government was providing jobs
under the MGNREGA, medical vans and midday meals to workers at the closed tea gardens, and challenged opposition
members to prove the deaths were due to starvation and not natural causes, there is a tacit admission that there is a crisis
requiring the States intervention. The Ministers comment that none of the death certificates show starvation as the cause of
death is tragically ironic since acute hunger and dehydration leave a person too weak to work or even stir out seeking food or
water as alms. The victim ultimately dies of organ failure or an opportunistic infection that the body cant fight.
The bleak situation of these workers starkly highlights the absence of a social security net for rural workers, and specifically
labour in the plantation sector. Unless governments both at the Centre and the State develop adequate mechanisms to
safeguard the basic needs of non-unionised workers in vulnerable sectors such as the plantations, all efforts at labour law reform
will be quite vacuous and bereft of any meaning to the key factor of economic productivity: the worker. Rising above partisan
political considerations, the West Bengal government needs to act urgently to address the crisis and, if warranted, take strong
legal action against the managements of tea estates that have landed their workers on the brink of starvation and death. A
longer-term rehabilitation and re-skilling package is also required to help labour at the defunct estates find alternative work, and
measures must be taken, separately, to rejuvenate this key employment-providing sector.
o Brews - boiling
o Unfolding - becomes clear to other people
o Soft prices - a price that slowly goes down over time
o Several - more than two but not very many
o Reportedly - according to what many people say
o Hapless - having no luck (unfortunate)
o Lurch - not regular or normal
o Predominantly - mostly or mainly
o Precarious - in a dangerous state

o Adequate - enough
o Delegation - a group of delegates or representatives
o Malnutrition - a state of poor nutrition (lack of proper food)
o Crisis - difficult or dangerous time
o Painted a grim picture - to show worrying results
o Gainful work - the work which provides you money or food
o Closure - to close something
o Spurring - to cause something
o Starvation - suffering or death caused by lack of food
o Tacit - understood without being expressed directly
o Intervention - involvement / interference
o Ironic - unexpected
o Acute - extremely serious (sharp)
o Stir out - make to do something (causes)
o Alms - money or food given to poor people
o Victim - a person who was harmed with an action
o Ultimately - finally / at the end
o Opportunistic - to see a chance to gain some advantage from any situation
o Bleak - not hopeful or encouraging
o Starkly - very clearly
o Vulnerable - able to be easily hurt
o Vacuous - stupid
o Bereft - feeling great loss
o Partisan - strongly supporting a political party
o Brink - edge
o Rehabilitation - act of restoring something to its original state
o Rejuvenate - to restore something
Topic 2 : "Letting startups scale up"
Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement on Sunday that the government will unveil, in January, a comprehensive plan
to help make India the world leader in startups is noteworthy. A part of the plan is to link all the IIMs and IITs, central universities


and National Institutes of Technology via live connectivity. The move is expected to assist aspiring entrepreneurs plug into a
network of incubators, mentors and angel investors and provide them the ambience to try out their business ideas in the real
world. The startup policy is expected to, among other things, make it easier to start and exit a business, allow flexible hiring for
new firms in their first three to five years, and provide incentives for financiers, especially domestic funds, as 90 per cent of
startup financing currently comes from foreign venture capital funds. The governments hopes of making India a serious
contender to Silicon Valley may seem aspirational, but are also driven by the realisation that India needs many more new
enterprises to create 10 million jobs for the youth entering the workforce each year. Apps and services apart, India needs
startups in manufacturing, industrial design, agro-based food processing and renewable energy among some of the key sectors.
Many Indian startups have made a mark this year with valuations in billions of dollars. The home-grown Flipkarts and Snapdeals
have resiliently taken on the global e-tailing giant Amazon, so far. But many of these Indian success stories, more than 65 per
cent of startups, have left the country to operate from places like Singapore.
This exodus is not because India doesnt foster innovation per se. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, in fact, remarked that the
constraints people work with in India inspire more creativity and make their ideas more useful for the world. Indian entrepreneurs
from the small-scale factory owners in the 1970s and 1980s to the Bombay Club barons who resisted liberalisation in the
1990s have a history of successfully adapting their business plans to adversarial regulatory regimes. That startups blossomed
in the past few years was not related to the UPA governments policy or lack thereof. They came up despite the government.
Certainly, targeted interventions for startups would help. The mandatory use of Aadhaar for registering a new micro, small or
medium enterprise could, for instance, be done away with. Similarly, angel investments by domestic financiers should not be
treated as taxable income in the hands of a startup. Clearances and patents should be expedited, and crowd-funding allowed.
Most importantly, the labyrinth of regulations and compliances that even startups that attain scale end up being subjected to
making business sense for them to leave India has to be addressed. It is here that the new policy must deliver. As Mr. Pichai
said, the ease of doing business has improved, but it needs to get a whole lot better for India to meet its true potential.
o Unveil - to uncover
o Comprehensive - complete and including everything that is necessary
o Incubator - a place, especially with support staff and equipment, made available
at low rent to new small businesses
o Angel investor - an investor who provides financial support for small startup
companies
o Ambience - environment
o Contender - competitor
o Resilient - able to quickly return to a previous good condition
o Exodus - the movement of a lot of people from a place
o Foster - to encourage the development
o Adversarial - involving people opposing or disagreeing with each other
o Regime - government rule
o Blossomed - to develop in a promising or healthy way
o Thereof - about the thing just mentioned

o Intervention - involvement (to help)
o Instance - example
o Expedite - to make something happen more quickly
o Labyrinth - something that is very confusing
o Compliance - the act of obeying an order
December 30/2015
Topic 1 : "Short-sighted hike in U.S. visa fee"
The Barack Obama administrations decision to raise the visa fee for skilled professionals seeking temporary work in the U.S.
is set to hit Indian companies in the IT sector. Nasscom, the trade association, puts the expected losses at about $400 million
a year. The development comes in the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections when fear-mongering about American jobs
going to foreigners inevitably becomes part of the political rhetoric. The $1.8-trillion tax and spending bill, which authorises the
doubling of the fee for certain categories of H1B and L1 visas to $4,000 and $4,500, respectively, and was signed into law by
Mr. Obama, has raised concerns in India. Just as capital-surplus countries pitch for easier entry for their capital, India with
over 65 per cent of its 1.25 billion people below the age of 35 makes the case for free labour movement. Although India has
the options to take retaliatory steps or move the World Trade Organisations dispute settlement panel, the best course would
be to amicably resolve the issue at the diplomatic level. To successfully challenge the increase before a WTO panel, India will
have to prove the discriminatory nature of the fee hike on Indian firms vis--vis their competitors from other countries. That is
challenging since some Indian IT majors such as Infosys have said the American move will not impact the sector much. Taking
tit-for-tat steps would mean killing the goal of boosting bilateral trade from $100 billion today to $500 billion in the next few years.
American and Indian policymakers need to focus on the larger picture. Just as a labour-surplus India, a nation with high poverty
levels (with almost 300 million people, close to the entire population of the U.S., living on $1 a day), will need to gradually ease
restrictions on capital inflows, a capital-rich U.S. with a looming labour shortage (due to the growing retiree population) will have
to look at removing curbs on labour mobility sooner than later. U.S. authorities and lawmakers must also realise that their own
corporations trust Indian IT service providers not just for their quoted rates but for their ability to get the job done. More
importantly, as a Nasscom report of September 2015 points out, India-based IT companies providing services to American
businesses and other customers invested over $2 billion between 2011 and 2013, and paid $22.5 billion in taxes to the U.S.
Treasury in those years; in fact, they supported more than 411,000 direct and indirect jobs in the U.S., including 300,000 held
by U.S. citizens and permanent residents. In this period, over 120,000 Americans benefited from philanthropic activities by
Indian IT companies, which focussed on educating more Americans in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) skills. Such contributions apart, the U.S. must absorb the larger point it often makes to others: a globalising world seeks
greater interdependence, and not higher walls.
o Mongering - the action of deliberately arousing public fear (to spread fear among
people)
o Inevitably - unavoidably (something that is surely happen, unable to be avoided
or prevented)


o Rhetoric - speech or writing intended to be effective and influence people
o Pitch - to make someone to do something
o Retaliatory - to do something in response to an action (attack)
o Dispute - an official argument
o Amicably - friendly
o Discriminatory - to treat people differently (partiality)
o Impact - influence (to show effect)
o Tit-for-tat - giving back as much as you got (especially punishment)
o To focus on the larger picture - to focus on the most important facts about a
situation and the effects of that situation on other things
o Surplus - more than what is needed or used
o Looming - something unwanted is going to happen soon and causing worry
o Retiree - a person who has retired from his job
o Curbs - to control or limit something that is not wanted
o Treasury - A place in which private or public funds are received, kept, managed,
and disbursed
o philanthropic - to help others
Topic 2 : "Only for the rich ?"
Sometimes, when the state is faced with a legal challenge to its policy, all it needs to impress the judiciary is to make a suitably
pious claim. Kerala, a State that accounts for nearly 14 per cent of the countrys liquor consumption as well as one that boasts
of 100 per cent literacy, has managed to convince the highest court in the land that its policy of restricting bars that serve liquor
to five-star hotels will bring down drinking. It has successfully claimed that if liquor is made prohibitively expensive, the States
youth would be practically compelled to abstain from public consumption of alcohol. The court has accepted its argument that
its objective was to prohibit all public consumption of alcohol, and that the only reason it made an exception in favour of five-
star hotels was in the interest of tourism. The court sees no arbitrariness or caprice in this, saying even if it appears that there
may be close similarities between five-star hotels and four-star or heritage hotels, it is the preserve of the government to
differentiate between them. The judgment strikes at the root of non-discriminatory treatment under the Constitution merely on
the ground that the issue involved is the business of liquor. At one point, it recognises that a right to trade in liquor exists, and
that once the State permits it any restriction on it has to be reasonable. Yet, it goes on to hold that a moratorium on other
categories of hotels is not arbitrary or unreasonable because the potable liquor business, given supposed public health
concerns, is res extra commercium, or a thing outside commerce.
The reasoning behind the Supreme Courts decision to uphold Keralas latest liquor policy is twofold. First, it unexceptionably
roots its verdict in the rule that courts ought to be wary of interfering in policy matters. Secondly, and somewhat controversially,
it accepts a discriminatory classification in favour of five-star hotels. The exception on the ground of tourism is quite curious


because tourists, both foreign and domestic, are not drawn from the upper echelons of society alone. The court notes that no
one is barred from upgrading their hotels to five-star grade, yet it seems to have accepted a contention by the government that
it was not allowing bars in four-star hotels because three-star hotels may get themselves upgraded to four-star status! While
total prohibition may be a laudable objective and one of the Directive Principles of State Policy, it is doubtful whether confining
drinking to homes and private spaces by itself will bring down consumption. In a non-permissive society, it may only result in
converting drinking into a covert activity, a phenomenon requiring policing and also bringing corruption in its wake. The verdict
places a heavy burden on the State to rehabilitate those left unemployed by the closure of hundreds of bars, as well as to make
its policy succeed. It also needs to ensure that the sweeping discretion conferred on it to differentiate between classes of
licensees is not misused for any extraneous considerations.
o Pious - deeply religious

o Boasts - to have something to be proud of
o Compelled - forced to do something
o Abstain - to not do something (especially something enjoyable but bad)
o Consumption - to drink / to eat / to use something
o Arbitrariness - using power to do something without considering other people's
wishes
o Caprice - a sudden and usually silly wish to do something
o Preserve - maintain (something) in its original or existing state
o Strikes at the root - to hit on basics (to focus on the reason behind the problem)
o Merely - only
o Moratorium - a temporary prohibition of an activity
o To uphold something - to support something
o Twofold - having two parts
o Unexceptionable - having nothing that anyone could criticize or disapprove of (not
bad)
o Verdict - an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are given (Judge)
o Ought to - have to
o Wary - not completely trusting something or someone
o Echelons - a particular level or group of people within an organization
o Contention - an opinion expressed in an argument (disagreement)
o Laudable - worthy of high praise
o Confining - restricting something
o Permissive society - the society which allows behaviour that other people might
disapprove of (here drinking)
o Covert - not openly displayed (secret or hidden)
o Phenomenon - a situation that we can observe (this situation helps us to explain
something)


o In its wake / in the wake of - as a result of some event (after something)
o Rehabilitate - to restore normal life (here to give jobs)
o Discretion - the ability to behave without hurting anybody's feelings
o Extraneous - outside
December 31/2015
Topic 1 : "Good sense on LPG subsidy"
The National Democratic Alliance governments decision to limit the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy to those earning
Rs.10 lakh or less per year is one of those rare moves that will be cheered by economists and the poor alike. The decision
makes eminent sense why should the well-to-do be subsidised? Politically, the decision will win the government a lot of points
with the poor, who will hopefully be the beneficiaries of the savings made by limiting the scope of the subsidy. The more the
government saves, the more it can spend on expanding the reach of LPG connections among those who currently do not have
one. And given that the effect of removing this subsidy will, at current prices, mean an increase in the LPG bill of a household
consuming 12 cylinders a year by just a little more than Rs.2,200, or about Rs.188 a month, it is not going to receive brickbats
from that section of society either. The message is clear: if you are not going to give up your LPG subsidy on a voluntary basis,
then it will soon be compulsorily taken away from you. The governments Give It Up campaign has encouraged 57.5 lakh
beneficiaries of the LPG subsidy to opt out. But that clearly is not enough, considering there are 16.35 crore LPG consumers in
the country. However, the government is still opting to trust the people, with the declaration of income above Rs.10 lakh being
a voluntary move at the moment. The assumption is that once the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas gets its hands on the
full list of people declaring an income of above Rs.10 lakh a year from the Income Tax Department at the end of this financial
year, this leeway will also be removed. (Technically, the subsidy is being removed for those who earn more than Rs.10 lakh, or
whose spouse does.)
And it should, given the economic merits as well of such a move. At the moment, the governments revised estimates show that
it spent as much as Rs.2.66 lakh crore on subsidies in 2014-15. With such a large subsidy bill, it is imperative to fix the two
major problems plaguing most subsidy schemes in India: leakages and mis-targeting. Leakages refer to the phenomenon where
the subsidy does not reach the intended recipient due to corruption, pilferage or a variety of other causes. This has been quite
successfully addressed via the governments decision to transfer the subsidy payments directly to the recipients bank accounts,
something made easier with the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana. The decision to limit the LPG subsidy by income groups is
an attempt to address the mis-targeting problem. By doing this, the government is trying to ensure that the subsidy is only going
to go to those who need it. The hope is that rather than using the resultant saving simply to shore up the budget deficit, the
Centre will use it to ensure that LPG connections are provided for those who still depend on firewood and kerosene stoves.
o Alliance - a union or association formed for mutual benefit

o Eminent - Good
o Beneficiary - the recipient of money or other benefits
o Brickbats- An unfavorable remark (criticism)


o Voluntary - to do / give something willingly (without being forced or paid to do it)
o Opting - to make a choice from a range of possibilities
o Opt out - choose not to do something
o Leeway - freedom to do something the way you want to do it
o Spouse - A marriage partner; a husband or wife.
o Plaguing- causing worry / pain
o Phenomenon - something that exists and can be seen
o Imperative - Crucial
o Intended - planned
o Pilferage - the act of stealing
o Via - through
o Shore up - support
o Deficit - loss
o Firewood - wood that is burnt for a fire
Topic 2 : "A stand against reason"
Risk-taking, possible grievous injury and testing the limits of physical and mental exhaustion have always been part of
competitive sport, and the resultant tension has held the imagination of participants and spectators alike. But the participants
have a choice in partaking in the risk and are aware of the consequences intended or unintended of their actions even as
they engage in the sport with adequate precautions and take steps to mitigate unnecessary risks. Jallikattu, the popular bull
taming sport conducted every year during the Pongal season in Tamil Nadu, also engages young participants and spectators
in a violent and irrational risk-taking endeavour, requiring the taming of a raging bull at the risk of even fatal injury. Yet the bull
itself is a silent participant, goaded into frenzy in this sport and subjected deliberately to gruesome injury in the process. The
rush of adrenaline, in fact, drives participants to abandon caution, and many get gored, resulting in violent injuries and even
deaths. Spectators are not spared either as the temporary barricades that separate them from the bull run are mostly weak and
unsteady. Jallikattu might be a popular tradition having evolved from a single man-bull combat in the past to the random
spectacle that it is today, but that it is both irrational and against animal rights is beyond question.
In a judgment last year, the Supreme Court for this very reason had banned jallikattu along with bullock cart races in Tamil Nadu
and Maharashtra, ignoring the argument for tradition and culture. It is unfortunate, therefore, that the Tamil Nadu government
has urged the Centre to pass legislation even through the route of promulgation of an ordinance to amend the laws for the
conduct of jallikattu. Surprisingly, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has responded positively to this request.
Traditional belief systems and customs have been invoked by proponents of jallikattu to seek revocation of the ban. Only those
aspects of the customary rituals that put the well-being of participants and animals at disproportionate risk were considered in
the Supreme Court decision in banning jallikattu. It would have been appropriate for the Tamil Nadu government to absorb this
reasoning and explain it to rural youth who have complained about the loss of their traditional sport; instead, it has acceded to
irrational demands and sought to have the ban overturned. Dominant political forces in the State of Tamil Nadu had, in the

previous century, sought to contest irrational tradition by espousing rational values. The ideological decay and loss of fervour in
promoting such values is evident in the recent plea made by the State government and the support this has received from
opposition parties. The festive atmosphere during Pongal and the traditions of community bonding and competition can still be
easily retained without the irrational practice of jallikattu.
o Grievous - causing very serious pain

o Exhaustion - extreme physical or mental tiredness
o Spectators - a person who watches an activity
o Partaking - joining in an activity
o Consequences - results
o Adequate - enough
o Mitigate - making something less harmful
o Taming - to control an animal
o Irrational - not logical or reasonable
o Endeavour - try hard to do or achieve something
o Goad - to make an animal react or do something by continuously annoying or
upsetting them
o Frenzy - wild and violent behaviour
o Deliberately - consciously and intentionally
o Gruesome - extremely unpleasant and shocking (to deal with death or injury)
o Adrenaline - a harmone produced by the body when you are angry
o Gored - covered with blood (that has come from an injury)
o Evolved - to develop slowly
o Bullock cart - a two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen
o Promulgation - to announce something publicly
o Invoked - to use a law in order to achieve something
o Proponents - people who speak publicly in support of a particular idea or plan of
action
o Revocation - cancelling
o Ritual - a religious ceremony
o Disproportionate - too large or too small in comparison with something else
o Accede - agree to a demand
o Espousing - adopting or supporting something
o Decay - decompose
o Fervour - strong and sincere beliefs


January 01/2016
Topic 1 : "Caution on Free Basics"
Free and altruism are words that generally have a positive ring to them. But its clear that social media behemoth Facebooks
Free Basics programme, which it pitches as an altruistic endeavour to provide the have-nots a bridge to the Internet for free,
fails to evoke such a feel. Not without reason, though. For starters, as critics have repeatedly pointed out, there is a huge
difference between being a gateway to the Internet and being a gatekeeper to the Internet, and Free Basics worryingly has all
the makings of the latter. So, it does have the potential to trap subscribers in the metaphorical walled garden, what with the
immensely popular Facebook thrown into the free mix of offerings. That the whole package is offered free hardly surprises
anyone with even a little knowledge of how business models in the digital world work. Free, by the way, is a business model
that delivers returns in an unconventional way. There might be many variations of it but basically it is about accumulating millions
and millions of new users by offering products free, in the hope that the build-up could be milked for revenue in the years to
come. Thats the same tactic many start-ups use to show traction while pitching to big moneyed venture capitalists.
And where do you find an unrestricted Internet economy with millions yet untapped? Yes, India. There can be very little doubt
that the haves-have-nots digital divide in India is stark, and needs to be bridged as soon as possible. Credit is due to Facebook
for identifying this need and bringing a sense of urgency to addressing it. Credit is also due for the way its young founder Mark
Zuckerberg has fought doggedly for the ideas acceptance. It is close to a year now since he launched Internet.org, the earlier
avatar of Free Basics, in India. And during this period, there has never been a dull moment in the exchanges between the critics
of Free Basics and Facebook. As it stands, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the regulator, has asked Facebooks
Free Basics partner in India, Reliance Communications, to put the service on hold. The social media giant, showing little sign of
backing off, has done all that it can (tweaked its dimensions, launched a comprehensive advertising campaign, and got its
charismatic founder to pen articles) to get political and social acceptance to the idea. Its both impressive and unsettling at the
same time when one thinks about how a corporate, valued at over $300 billion, can spend so much money and effort on a
controversial project that is not even avowedly a pure business venture. The problem has reached the doorsteps of
policymakers. They have to not only decide the fate of services such as Free Basics but also find ways to deliver digital equality
fast. For, Free Basics cant be an excuse for the failures of the state in delivering universal access.
o Altruism - to help others, even if it results in disadvantage for yourself

(selflessness)
o To have a positive ring - to sound interesting / attractive
o Behemoth - something that is extremely large and powerful
o Pitches - to convince us to do something (here buying)
o Altruistic - showing a wish to help others, even if it results in disadvantage for
yourself
o Endeavour - try hard to do something
o Have-nots - economically disadvantaged people (poor)
o Evoke - to make someone remember something


o Metaphorical - to represent some truth about a situation or other subject
o Walled garden - a restricted range of information to which subscribers to a
particular service are limited
o Immensely popular - very popular
o Unconventional - unusual
o Accumulate - to collect a large number of things over a long period of time
o Traction - a product becoming popular or being accepted
o Untapped - not yet used
o Stark - simple
o Doggedly - to do something with strong determination (doing something even if it
is very difficult)
o Tweak - to improve something by making adjustments to it
o Avowedly - to declare openly and unashamedly
Topic 2 : "In search of an alliance"
As it faces another poll in West Bengal, five years after the All India Trinamool Congress ended its 34-year rule, the Communist
Party of India (Marxist) has brainstormed on ways to revive its sagging political fortunes at its party Plenum in Kolkata, the first
after 1978. The last few years have been forgettable for the party that once enjoyed considerable clout at the national level. At
no point of time did it hold power in States other than West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, but the CPI(M) was seen as a party of
intellectuals and made substantive interventions on policy matters, right from influencing Indias academic discourse on history
to mounting a powerful challenge to the India-U.S. nuclear deal in 2008. However, with the electoral loss in West Bengal, this
stature has taken a beating. While the party insists that this Plenum is not about its Bengal poll tactics but about making its
organisation fighting fit, the fact remains Bengal will have to be the starting point for the CPI(M) becoming fighting fit. The party
will have to reconsider its tactics on the ground in contending with the Trinamool Congress. Even some of the CPI(M)s staunch
supporters believe that the party might suffer another defeat at the hands of Mamata Banerjee if it does not swallow pride and
enter into an alliance with the Congress. The dilemma is not just ideological: whatever the nature of its relations with the
Congress in Bengal, the CPI(M) will have to necessarily fight the grand old party in Kerala. The political rhetoric in Bengal will
have to be very different from that in Kerala. Incidentally, both States go to elections at the same time in 2016.
Even if the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front wins in Kerala, where it appears to be ahead of a dispirited Congress right now,
another loss in Bengal could put a question mark on the partys long-term future, and seriously erode its national-level presence.
The issue of alliance is not the only existential dilemma of the party in a rapidly changing political landscape. The CPI(M) seems
to have lost its grip even on Bengals villages and its urban poor. And as the success of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi shows,
there is space for an urban politics focussed on issues of equity and welfare. The CPI(M), which has lost the support among all
its traditional support bases, appears unable to break free from the old mindset of engaging with the geopolitics of the Cold War
era. The promise of an egalitarian society, unaccompanied by any radical programme for change, no longer holds the same
appeal. Its jargon terms like neoliberalism, imperialism and scientific socialism may also not have any resonance
beyond a few campuses in India. The party will need to reinvent itself, directly speaking to the livelihood concerns and social

insecurities of the working classes, the weaker sections and women. Without finding a way of intervening on issues of immediate
concern to the people, the CPI(M) cannot hope to win back its core supporters or recover its historical role of framing larger
concerns about liberty and constitutionalism, a role no other party has quite the same aptitude for.
o Alliance - an agreement to work with someone else to try to achieve the same thing
o Brainstormed - held a group discussion to produce ideas
o Revive - to regain life / strength
o Sagging - sinking (here decreasing)
o Plenum - a meeting with all members present
o Clout - to hit (someone or something) hard
o Substantive - important / serious
o Intervention / Intervening - to involve in a difficult situation in order to improve
it
o Mounting - gradually increasing
o Stature - importance gained by ability or achievement
o Take a beating - to stop doing something for a while
o Tactics - plans for attaining a particular goal
o Contend - to compete in order to win something
o Staunch - very loyal (supporting)
o Dilemma - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or
more alternatives
o Rhetoric - influence
o Dispirited - not feeling much hope about a particular situation
o Erode - to slowly reduce or destroy something
o Geopolitics - political activity as influenced by the physical features of an area
o Egalitarian society - a society which believes in the equality of all people
o Radical - the belief that there should be great or extreme social or political change
o Jargon - special language used by people in the same work or profession (which is
difficult for others to understand)
o Resonance - the quality of being loud and clear
o Livelihood - the money people need to pay for food, a place to live, clothing, etc
January 02/2016
Topic 1 : "Revive NATGRID with safeguards"
The Central governments decision to revive NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid) is a welcome move in the fight against
terrorism, but it calls for caution and nuanced planning in the way it would be structured. According to the existing plan, NATGRID
will become a secure centralised database to stream sensitive information from 21 sets of data sources such as banks, credit

cards, visa, immigration and train and air travel details, as well as from various intelligence agencies. The database would be
accessible to authorised persons from 11 agencies on a case-to-case basis, and only for professional investigations into
suspected cases of terrorism. NATGRID was among the ambitious slew of intelligence reforms undertaken in the wake of the
Mumbai attacks of November 2008. Like NATGRID, most of these proposed reforms in the security establishment have not fully
materialised, yet again serving as a reminder that Indias memory is embarrassingly short.
In a data-driven, digitised world, it would be foolhardy to ignore the power of big data and its potential to provide real time tip-
offs and predictive intelligence to deal with the terrorist threat. Over the last two decades or so, during which the post-Cold War
chaos resulted in many violent non-state actors setting up shop, the very digital tools that terrorists use have also become great
weapons to fight the ideologies of violence. Social media and other platforms have become recruitment sites and propaganda
machines for terrorist groups, and formal banking channels are used as much as informal ones to transact terror funding. In
those same oceans of information are trends and information that could avert terrorist strikes. However, appreciation of the
power of digital databases to tackle terror must be accompanied by deep concern about their possible misuse. The Snowden
files are just one pointer to the widespread misuse in recent years of surveillance capabilities to compromise individual privacy
and even violate national sovereignty. Increasingly, there is also academic evidence to show that states are applying excessive
force and surveillance to tackle terrorism. The NATGRIDs efforts must be placed against these realities before the government
rushes into reviving it. When so much sensitive information about individuals is available on a single source, the potential for its
misuse would dramatically go up. The poor track record of the Indian security and intelligence agencies on individual privacy
and liberty must be kept in mind as the National Democratic Alliance government tries to nurture NATGRID, which has failed to
take off despite the aggressive push by the previous United Progressive Alliance government. The overdue initiative to revive
NATGRID must therefore be accompanied by action on the even longer-pending need to have effective oversight of intelligence
agencies by Parliament or an eminent group.
o Revive - regain life

o Nuanced - a very slight difference in appearance
o Reform - make changes in something in order to improve it
o Slew - large number of
o Embarrassingly - shamefully
o Foolhardy - brave in a silly way (taking unnecessary risks)
o Potential - someone's or something's ability to develop
o Tip-off - a secret warning / secret information
o Chaos - confusion
o Ideologies - a system of ideas
o Propaganda - information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause
o Avert - to prevent something bad from happening
o Sovereignty - supreme power or authority
o Nurture - to take care of something
o Overdue - not happening when expected / needed
o Eminent famous

Topic 2 : "Mr. Kejriwals challenge"
Arvind Kejriwal has always projected himself against the might of the establishment to give his message a rallying edginess.
He did so as an activist of the Right to Information campaign and subsequently against corruption and unexpectedly, a year
into his second stint as chief minister of Delhi, the old against-all-odds, anti-establishment manner continues to inform his style
of governance. His politics, by all appearances, thrives on this. More significantly, by persisting with the David-vs-Goliath
messaging, Mr. Kejriwal has framed questions of Centre-State relations and of equity and delivery of basic services in
coordinates that have resonance in all of India. As Chief Minister, Mr. Kejriwal has been in constant combat with the Lieutenant
Governor and the Prime Minister, an engagement that has often become too personal. But the extraordinary power-sharing in
Delhi accentuates the debate on the Centres reluctance to cede more ground to Chief Ministers in Indias rapidly federalising
polity. As Mr. Kejriwal told the The Hindu this week in an exclusive interview, characteristically combining the personal and the
institutional: Im the quarter-sized Chief Minister of a half-State, he (PM Modi) is the ruler of the country. Why is he after me?
Mr. Modi has rewritten the prime ministerial protocol too in relation to Chief Ministers by his appearance of being in constant
electoral campaign, and more substantively by his NITI Aayog-led reforms. But it is in Delhi, a Union Territory and not yet a
State, that the cut and thrust of the PM-CM face-off is playing out most anecdotally.
The tussle between Mr. Kejriwal and the Centre has many parts. There is the question of who should have the last word on
appointment of officers and disciplinary action. He has alleged larger destabilising design in the decision of bureaucrats to go
on mass leave this week. He has taken the fight to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley after a key bureaucrat in the Chief
Ministers office was raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation. He has grounded this combativeness with a politics of equity,
promising to share civic services with Delhis periphery and less privileged segments. The current traffic decongestion plan
as a strategy has had a dramatic impact in highlighting hazardous air pollution, and puts the VIPs exemption against an
entire citys participation. But what is of concern is that the Modi-Kejriwal face-off is affecting the city administration. In effect it
denies the Chief Minister a chance to give a permanent shape to his policies or provides him an alibi to evade doing so. Either
way, Mr. Modi will have to find a way to normalise the Delhi-Centre relations. For his own sake, as the asymmetry suits Mr.
Kejriwal politically. But more importantly, to return the federal spirit to Indias governance.
o Edginess - nervousness
o Subsequently - happening after something else (afterwards)
o Stint - a fixed period of time spent doing a particular job
o Thrives - make steady progress
o Persisting - to continue in some state
o Combat - fight
o Accentuates - put stress on something
o Cede - give up (power or territory)
o Protocol - rules of government
o Substantively - importantly


o Thrust - to push suddenly and strongly
o Anecdotal - based on personal observation
o Tussle - fight
o To have a last word - to make the final decision about something (winning the
argument)
o Alleged - to say something without proof
o Destabilising - to make a government lose power or control
o Grounded - to prevent
o Privileged - leally protected
o Segments - parts
o Traffic decongestion plan - a plan to reduce traffic
o Hazardous - risky / dangerous
o Periphery - boundary
o Alibi - an excuse for something bad or for a failure
o Evade - escape or avoid something
o Asymmetry - lack of equality or equivalence
January 04/2016
Topic 1 : "Stay the course after Pathankot"
Within the short space of a month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government have gone through the entire cycle of
India-Pakistan ties, as they have played for the past two decades ever since the two countries agreed to a composite, structured
dialogue between them. There has been talks about talks, talks about terror, a brief moment of euphoria with gestures of
renewing ties from the leaders, followed by an attack. While Mr. Modis Lahore landing was certainly bold, it has not yet proven
to be the game-changer that perhaps he too hoped it would be. Instead, the same kind of terrorist attack that has always
accompanied India-Pakistan engagement hit Pathankot in the early hours of Saturday. As with similar attacks in the past, it
should not surprise anyone if the terrorists came from Pakistan, and belonged to an anti-India group the Pakistani army has
neatly sidestepped in its otherwise fairly successful crackdown on terrorists in the past year. Frustrated by their inability to hurt
India, the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and others have tried to retain their relevance by
instead targeting the India-Pakistan dialogue process time and again. By not calling off talks immediately after the attack,
the Modi government seems to have indicated it will not allow these groups the satisfaction of achieving those aims. A sustained
dialogue is the only fitting answer to terrorist groups and to their handlers inside the Pakistan establishment who wish to
destabilise the peace process. In fact, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament last month that India would not
be provoked by saboteurs who want to stop the dialogue process in one way or another.
Going forward, the talks process must be further insulated from the veto of these forces. First, the foreign secretaries must
move quickly to set up a timetable of meetings of all the secretaries in the two countries involved in the comprehensive dialogue.
The process will receive momentum if India and Pakistan agree to a resolution on what are often called the low-hanging fruit
of issues such as visas, confidence building measures on the Line of Control, water issues and the Sir Creek dispute. The more


issues they are able to agree on, the greater their chances of addressing the single largest issue that holds back ties today, that
of terrorism. On this, it is for Pakistan to show its good intentions, by acting against the JeM and LeT, both in court and on the
ground in Punjab where they run extensive militias. India must stay the course it has set in the past month, including during the
National Security Adviser talks, where it has delivered its message firmly, but quietly, with no hint of the one-upmanship that
can hamper engagement. These actions will pave the road that was opened by the two Prime Ministers on Christmas day,
allowing them to slice through the proverbial Gordian knot on India-Pakistan ties, rather than having to disentangle the ends
that constantly threaten to strangle peace in the subcontinent.
o Composite - made up of several parts or elements

o Euphoria - a feeling of great excitement and happiness
o Gesture - an action that expresses your feelings or intentions
o Game-changer - something that affects a situation very much
o Sidestep - to avoid talking about somethng by starting to talk about something else
o Crackdown - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a painful way
o Sustain - to support emotionally
o Destabilise - to upset something
o Provoke - to cause a reaction (especially a negative one)
o Saboteurs - people who damage a situation on purpose
o Insulated - protected
o Momentum - the force that keeps an event developing after it has started
o Resolution - a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner
o Low-hanging fruit - goals which are easily achievable and which do not require a
lot of effort
o Dispute - a disagreement or argument
o Extensive - covering or affecting a large area
o Militias - a military force whose members are trained soldiers but who often have
other jobs
o Firmly - strongly and tightly
o One-upmanship - a situation in which someone does or says something in order
to prove that they are better than someone else
o Hamper - to prevent someone doing something easily
o Gordian knot - an extremely difficult problem / situation
o Disentangle - to separate things that have become joined or confused
o Strangle - to stop something from developing
Topic 2 : "Bangladeshs Islamist challenge"


The death sentence handed out to two students last week for the murder of a secular blogger in Bangladesh marks the first
major verdict in a string of cases related to the killings of writers in the South Asian nation. Ahmed Rajib Haider, 35, was hacked
to death by machete-wielding attackers in February 2013. The judge at a fast-track court found that the two students and another
man were guilty of murder and convicted another five people on lesser charges. Haiders murder had opened a new phase
of violence in Bangladeshs contemporary history. A number of secular writers have been targeted by Islamists ever since. In
2015 alone, five writers were killed in the country. Bloggers are victims of an ongoing conflict between the countrys secular
establishment and Islamist factions. The Awami League governments decision to open a trial of the war crimes committed
during the countrys 1971 liberation war did not go down well with Islamists. The conviction of some of the leaders of the
opposition parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami made matters more complicated. Extremist
sections are steadfastly opposed to the trial, but they lack the political capital to build a popular resistance against it. Therefore,
they turned towards violent protests against the war crimes trial, which created serious law and order problems in the country.
It was against this background that right-wing fringe groups such as the Ansarullah Bangla Team started targeting writers.
The bloggers, who consistently campaigned against the war criminals and demanded their executions, invited the wrath of
Islamists. The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had initially faced criticism for not doing enough to stop violence
against writers. Now, with a relatively fast conclusion of the trial of Haiders murder case and the passing of the highest possible
punishment to the convicts, the government appears to be upping the ante against the Islamists. The governments resolve to
bring the attackers to book is timely. But at the same time there are questions over the worsening security situation which allows
the extremists to carry out attacks and, more important, the governments increased reliance on the death penalty to address
the Islamist threat. Dhakas primary challenge is to prevent any such incidents taking place again. Islamists have apparently
issued a hit list of bloggers, threatening to kill them all. Given the recent cycle of violence, Thursdays verdict could trigger
more attacks by extremist groups. The government should not lower its guard. As regards the death penalty, it is worth noting
that the hanging of war criminals has done little in weakening Islamist politics in the country. Even in the case of bloggers
murders, long prison terms would be ideal which would not only strengthen the governments moral position in this conflict with
Islamist radicals, but will also weaken the latters narrative that the state is waging a war against them. Bangladesh needs a
comprehensive strategy to fight Islamists, because the latters target is not merely writers, but the countrys secular polity itself.
o Secular - not connected with religious or spiritual matters.

o Verdict - an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are given
o Hacked - to cut in a rough and violent way (here : attack with a knife)
o Machete - a large heavy knife
o Wielding - holding
o Convict - to declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offence by the judge
o Extremist - someone who has beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and
unacceptable (person with extreme opinions)
o Steadfastly - strongly and without stopping
o Consistently - in a systematic manner
o Execution - putting a criminal to death (hanging)

o Wrath - extreme anger
o Up the ante - to increase your demands or the risks in a situation in order to
achieve a better result
o Reliance - dependence on or trust in someone or something
o Apparently - as far as one knows or can see
o Hit list - a list of people to be killed for criminal or political reasons
o Trigger - an event that causes something bad to start
o Waging - carry on
o Comprehensive - complete (including everything that is necessary)
o Merely - just / only
January 05/2016
Topic 1 : "Dress code by judicial diktat"
Seeking to preserve the spiritual ambience in temples by prescribing a dress code for worshippers may appear to be a
laudable objective. However, courts of law should be cautious about framing their own rules in the guise of passing judicial
orders. A fiat from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court prescribing the sort of clothing that devotees should
wear while visiting temples has come into effect in Tamil Nadu from January 1. A single judge decided on November 26, 2015
that to curb the wearing of improper clothing by temple-goers, a dress code was inevitable. Even though what was before
him was only a petition for permitting a folk cultural performance on the premises of a village temple, he impleaded the State
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department as a respondent and proceeded to prescribe an interim dress code
straightaway. The code, that sets down dhotis or pyjamas with upper cloth, or formal trousers and shirts, for men, and saree or
half-saree with blouse, or churidars with upper cloth, for women, and any fully covered dress for children, will be in force until
the State government decides on implementing a code on the lines given in the court order. The department has now decided
to appeal to a Division Bench against the single judges order. It has rightly taken the position that the order was not in
consonance with the Tamil Nadu Temple Entry Authorisation Act, 1947, which permits individual temples to frame rules relating
to attire based on their own customs and traditions.
It is true that many places of worship belonging to all religions do have and enforce some sort of attire for worshippers and
visitors. There are temples that insist that male devotees should be bare-bodied above the waist while inside their precincts,
and many that allow only dhotis and bar trousers. However, these restrictions are framed by temple authorities based on local
tradition and customs. The acceptability of the worshippers clothing is decided by local circumstances and ought not to be
based on external decree, much less through a judicial diktat. In Tamil Nadu, tens of thousands of temples do come under the
State government through the HR & CE Department, but that does not automatically mean that a writ of mandamus can be
issued by the court to the authorities without sufficient cause or any public law principle. There is nothing to show that public
authorities had failed to do their duty of protecting the ambience of temples all over the State. The judges code may not be
unduly restrictive, but it raises the question whether there is any religious rule linking dress with devotion. It is not clear why the
prescription is gender-based, when some kinds of apparel shirts and trousers, for instance are worn by both men and


women. Judicial activism undoubtedly furthers public interest, but it is equally important that it is not used to impose a particular
world view on the public.

o Ambience - the character and atmosphere of a place
o Laudable - deserving praise
o Guise - appearance
o Fiat - an order given by a person in authority
o Curb - to control or limit something that is not wanted
o Inevitable - unavoidable
o Impleaded - to bring an action against
o Endowment - money that is given to an organization (Temple, college, hospital,
etc) in order to provide it with an income
o Interim - temporary (which is intended to be used or accepted until something
permanent exists)
o Consonance - agreement
o Attire - clothes
o Enforce - to make people obey a law
o Precincts - a part of a city or a town in which vehicles are not allowed, used for a
special purpose, such as shopping
o Writ - a legal document from a court that tells you that you will be involved in a
legal process and explains what you must do
o Unduly - to an unwarranted degree
o Apparel clothing
Topic 2 : "Time for a national security doctrine"
By restarting dialogue with Pakistan and acting with diplomatic restraint following the Pathankot attack, the Narendra Modi
government has wisely differentiated between the Pakistan government and non-state actors. The challenge thrown up by
the terrorist attack on the Pathankot air force base is to evolve Indias national security doctrine to include its response to
non-state actors. While carrying on diplomatic engagement with Pakistan, India needs a firm strategy to deal with terrorist threats
that are now the prime challenge to the state. Political consensus must be evolved, in a publicly transparent manner, to reflect
the complex challenge facing the country, detail its thresholds, interests that would be protected at any cost and response
calibration vis--vis armed aggression. The doctrine must be accompanied by a national security strategy that spells out the


command and control structures for meeting eventualities such as terror strikes, so that last-minute goof-ups such as those that
have been evident at the Pathankot airbase are not repeated. In the absence of such a clearly articulated consensus, Indias
response is qualitatively linked to the government of the day, its key leaders and their personal ability, or inability, to understand
and appreciate security challenges.
The proposed security doctrine must be anchored in the foundational values of the Constitution. India enjoys Westphalian
sovereignty, which grants it exclusive right to its domestic affairs and security but also comes with a huge bundle of
responsibilities. India still has no written national security doctrine, and whatever is practised as the doctrine, and strategy, is
vastly inadequate. The political class across the spectrum needs to come together to define Indias permanent interests. It is
time to move on from the unwritten grand strategy of working only towards the political unity and preservation of India to a
written doctrine that defines Indias role in the world and its commitment to protecting the life, liberty and interests of its people.
After every terrorist attack, there are shallow attempts by the establishment to fit episodic responses into academic frameworks
and proposals for security establishment reforms, but in no time things go back to default mode, until the next terrorist attack.
The recurring terrorist attacks are not just a humiliation for the country but also a nightmare that is repeatedly disrupting daily
routines and taking away precious lives. The very foundations of Indias security establishment need to be reformed if a robust
national security doctrine is to be implemented. The intelligence agencies are cloaked in mystery, and with no credible external
audit. Given the opacity of these agencies, intelligence alerts often emerge that have no credibility. In the process, credible
intelligence inputs, such as the one about Pathankot, are not treated with enough seriousness. The agencies that are to
provide security cover and neutralise terrorist threats do not have a cohesive command and control structure. It varies according
to who is in control in New Delhi. It is time to finally show that India can be more than a functional anarchy.
o Evolve - to develop slowly

o Doctrine - a belief
o Threats - a suggestion that something unpleasant or violent will happen
o Consensus - a general agreement
o Calibration - the process of checking or changing the accuracy of something
o vis--vis - in relation to
o Aggression - offensive action / attack
o Eventuality - a possible event or outcome
o Goof-up - a stupid mistake
o Articulated - able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly
o Anchored - gave support when needed
o Vastly - very much
o Inadequate - insufficient
o Preservation - the act of keeping something the same (preventing it from damage)
o Shallow - not so serious
o Episodic - happening only sometimes and not regularly
o Humiliation - the act of making someone feel ashamed

o Disrupting - disturbing
o Robust - strong and healthy
o Cloaked - covered
o Opacity - the quality of lacking transparency
o Emerge - to appear by coming out of something
o Credibility - the quality of being believable or trustworthy
o Neutralise - to stop something from having an effect
o Cohesive - united and working together effectively
o Anarchy - a situation in which there is no control
January 06/2016
Topic 1 : "A dangerous escalation"
The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an influential Shia cleric, by Saudi Arabia has expectedly led to a flare-up of sectarian
passions in West Asia. Sheikh Nimr was the most prominent religious leader of the Kingdoms Shia minority, which has long
been subjected to institutionalised segregation by the Sunni monarchy of the al-Saud family. He was the driving force behind
the 2011 protests in the countrys east, inspired by Arab Spring protests elsewhere. Moreover, Sheikh Nimr was a respected
cleric among the Shia community in general. He had spent years in Irans Shia seminaries. Tehran had repeatedly asked Riyadh
to pardon him. By executing him, ignoring all those pleas, Saudi Arabia has dangerously escalated its rivalry with Iran.
Within days, the stand-off has snowballed into a full-blown diplomatic crisis with sectarian overtones. Saudi missions in Tehran
and Mashhad were ransacked by protesters. In return, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan have cut diplomatic relations with Iran,
while the United Arab Emirates has downgraded ties.
West Asia is already witnessing sectarian conflicts. Iraq, which is torn apart on sectarian lines, is taking baby steps under the
new Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, to rebuild national unity. The country witnessed a bloody phase of sectarian strife in the
aftermath of the U.S. invasion. Parts of the country, including the second largest city, Mosul, are still under the control of Islamic
State, which is carrying out a systematic campaign against non-Sunni religious groups. In Yemen, the Shia Houthi rebels are
fighting forces loyal to a Saudi-protected government led by Sunnis. In Bahrain, the wounds of a Shia rebellion which was
crushed by a Sunni monarch with the help of the Saudis are still not healed. By executing Sheikh Nimr, Riyadh has poured oil
into this sectarian fire, for which the region will have to pay a huge price. For decades, one of the main sources of instability in
West Asia has been the cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Though the ultimate goal of both nations has been regional
supremacy, they use sectarianism as a vehicle to maximise their interests. While Riyadh has the support of Sunni monarchs
and dictators in the Arab world, Iran is aligned with Iraq and Syria, besides its proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the
Houthis in Yemen. This sets the stage for a dangerous Shia-Sunni conflict across the region. Unless tensions are dialled down
between these two heavyweights, there will not be peace in West Asia. Both the U.S. and Russia, allies of Saudi Arabia and
Iran respectively, have called for calm. Moscow has reportedly offered to mediate between Riyadh and Tehran. The U.S. and
Russia should use their influence to rein in further escalation of tensions. Unchecked, the Saudi-Iran rivalry could plunge the
region, already torn apart by invasions, civil wars and terrorism, into further chaos.


o Execution - the legal punishment of killing someone
o Cleric - a priest or religious leader (Christian or Muslim one)
o Flare-up - a situation in which violence suddenly starts
o Sectarian - a person strongly supporting a particular religious group and not willing
to accept other beliefs
o Prominent - famous
o Segregation - to keep one group of people apart from another and treat them
differently (because of caste / race)
o Monarchy - the system of having a king or queen
o Driving force - someone or something that has the power to make things happen
o Seminary - a training college for priests
o Stand-off - an argument, contest, etc., in which there is no winner
o Snowball - increase rapidly in size / importance
o Full-blown - fully developed
o Crisis - an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
o Overtones - something that is suggested, but is not clearly stated
o Ransacked - to search a place, stealing things and causing damage
o Downgraded - reduced
o Torn apart - to cause something to separate unwillingly
o Taking baby steps - initial stages of something
o Strife - angry disagreement
o Aftermath - the after-effects of an unpleasant event
o Invasion - an action or process that affects someone's life in an unpleasant and
unwanted way
o Monarch - a king or queen
o Poured oil in fire - increased danger
o Instability - the state of being unstable
o Supremacy - the position of being the best
o Proxy - the authority to represent someone else
o Set the scene/stage - the conditions have been made right for something to
happen
o Ally - a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose
o Rein - to control
o Escalation - a rapid increase (raise)
o Rivalry - a situation in which people compete with each other for the same thing
o Plunge - to become lower in value or level very suddenly and quickly


o Chaos - complete disorder and confusion
Topic 2 : "Bridging crickets credibility deficit"
The committee headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha has not disappointed cricket fans who favour a thorough
overhaul of cricket administration in the country. Under intense judicial scrutiny ever since the betting scandal hit the Indian
Premier League in 2013, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has been seen by many as a cosy club of individuals who treat
the various regional units as part of their personal fiefdom. The BCCI suffered from a serious credibility deficit as cricket-lovers
were convinced that the businessmen and politicians who run the cash-rich body in an opaque manner were not working entirely
in the games interest. The Supreme Court appointed the Lodha committee last year to suggest ways to rid cricket administration
of its many obvious ills, such as lack of transparency and accountability. The panel has mooted sweeping reforms in the
boards structure and functioning. The proposed measures could radically alter the way the BCCI functions as well as vastly
improve its public image and impart much-needed credibility: restricted tenures, bar on holding more than one office at a time,
limits on terms, cooling-off periods between the holding of one office and another, and steps to prevent the sort of conflict of
interest that was brazenly in view for many years. One significant suggestion is that government servants and ministers be kept
out of cricket administration. Even if the political class as a whole is not barred, it will at least prevent influential politicians in
government eyeing the spoils of office in cricket administration.
The report has two major suggestions related to public policy. One is the radical idea of legalising betting in cricket. Betting
cast a dark shadow on the IPL and led to two franchises being suspended. Many will welcome such legalisation as that will
bring in an element of regulation and monitoring. Its implementation, however, will hinge on suitable local legislation across the
country. The BCCI will have to ensure strict adherence to the condition that players, managers, officials or anyone associated
with cricket are not allowed to participate in betting. Another idea is that the BCCI which the Supreme Court held last year to
be a body discharging a public function be brought under the ambit of the Right to Information Act. It does sound attractive.
However, it will both require legislative change and a balancing rule that unnecessary queries are not directed towards decisions
made by captains and selectors of the national and domestic teams. It is not difficult to guess that the BCCI would prefer the
report to be non-binding and that it would contest some of the recommendations before the Supreme Court. A restructured
cricket board and an equitable system of voting by and in all its affiliated units will surely be in the games interest. What ultimately
matters is that cricket should not suffer because of whimsical individuals holding on to key posts in the administration and
working to cover up instead of preventing unsavoury developments.
o Overhaul - to repair or improve something so that every part of it works as it should

o Scrutiny - critical observation or examination
o Cosy - comfortable and pleasant
o Fiefdom - an area or type of activity that is controlled by someone
o Credibility - the quality of being trusted and believed in
o Deficit - loss
o Cash-rich - having a lot of cash available to spend


o Opaque - not able to be seen through (not transparent)
o Accountability - responsibility
o Mooted - suggested
o Sweeping - affecting many things or people
o Reform - make changes in order to improve it
o Radically - from basics
o Impart - to transmit
o Cooling-off period - a period in which two groups who are arguing can try to
improve the situation before taking further action
o Brazenly - openly (without any attempt to be hidden)
o Barred - banned
o Cast a dark shadow over/on something - to spoil a good situation with
something unpleasant
o Hinge on something - depends on something
o Adherence to - being faithful to
o Ambit - the scope of something
o Equitable - treating everyone fairly and in the same way
o Affiliated - officially attached or connected to an organization
o Whimsical - unusual and strange in a way that might be funny or annoying
o Unsavoury - unpleasant / offensive
January 07/2016
Topic 1 : "Think different on infrastructure"
When the going gets tough, public investment must be stepped up to pump-prime a slow-moving economy facing uncertain
headwinds of low commodity prices and faltering international trade. When the going is good, the private sector would also have
a role to play, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said, vowing to ramp up infrastructure investments in 2016-17. Ten
months ago, in his first Budget for a full financial year, Mr. Jaitley had scaled up such investment to Rs 1.25 lakh crore, two-
thirds of which was earmarked for road and railway projects. In the coming year, he has indicated that the priority will be rural
infrastructure as the stress in Indias villages after two bad monsoons has hit demand. This is deterring fresh private investment,
with many firms still struggling with past investment plans that are stuck or have become unviable. While economists debate
whether the government should stick to its fiscal consolidation road map or scale up public expenditure to spur the economy,
nobody will mind if a slightly higher fiscal deficit leads to more jobs while creating useful public assets. Low oil and commodity
prices offer the chance to build more infrastructure at a far lower cost, but as Mr. Jaitley said, We must have the intellectual
honesty to analyse our shortcomings and improve them.
So have higher allocations to infrastructure spending this year helped? Anecdotally, a few signs are positive. Demand for
bitumen, a key ingredient for building roads, has risen, as have enquiries for construction and earth-moving equipment.

Paying private contractors to build highways has boosted cash flows and enabled a few to re-enter the fray for new projects.
But all is not well yet. Core sector performance hit a decades low in November 2015. Though public investments have started
to gain traction, this is yet to reflect in the performance of investment-linked sectors, rating agency Crisil said, as demand
remains weak in end-user sectors such as real estate, with overcapacity in others. Of course, this is partly the lag effect
infrastructure projects take time to show results. Yet, an honest introspection should reveal the need to utilise public
infrastructure budgets more effectively without the cost- and time-overruns associated with the governments business as usual
approach. Take Indias largest industrial infrastructure project, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, set up as a special purpose
vehicle to shed the legacy burdens of departmental decision-making. Its crawling, though all the States along the corridor except
Delhi are run by the BJP. Or the Project Monitoring Group under the Cabinet Secretariat tasked with resolving stalled projects,
on which not much has been heard in months. Could the fact that these bodies were left without a head through most of 2015
have affected performance? Tapping the Consolidated Fund of India as well as innovative vehicles such as the National
Investment and Infrastructure Fund is laudable. Perhaps, it is also time to find a few good men who can get the job done on the
ground, grant them autonomy and fix accountability for outcomes.
o Pump-prime - the activity of helping something to develop (business, economy,

etc.) by giving it money
o Headwinds - a wind blowing in the opposite direction to the one you are moving in
(something that stops you moving)
o Faltering - lose strength or movement
o Vowing - dedicate to someone or something
o Ramp up something - to increase something
o Scaled up - to increase the size, amount, or importance of something
o Earmarked - to keep something for a particular purpose
o Deterring - discouraging (to prevent someone from doing something)
o Unviable - not capable of working successfully
o Spur - to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster
o Anecdotally - based on someones personal experience or information rather than
on facts that can be checked
o Bitumen - a black, sticky substance used for making roads (tar)
o Fray - competition
o Traction - the power that is used to pull something
o Reflect - to show / express something
o Partly - to some extent (not completly)
o Introspection - to look inside (ideas / thoughts / feelings etc)
o to Shed something - to get rid of something
o Legacy - an amount of money or property left to someone in a will
o Stalled - stopped
o Laudable - praiseworthy / commendable


Topic 2 : "Time for questions on Pathankot"
There is much relief as quiet finally returns to Pathankot. However, the immediate questions that need to be asked are about
the way the security operation was carried out from the moment a specific intelligence alert came to the Centre about the
possible targeting of the Pathankot airbase. This newspaper has already reported that by Christmas, a foreign intelligence
agency had passed on a tip-off about terrorists planning to attack the base. Was that not treated with seriousness because most
intelligence alerts do not mean anything? Is the response a reflection of the poor quality of general intelligence alerts? On
January 1, early morning, the abducted Superintendent of Police, Salwinder Singh, reported to the local police that his vehicle
had been snatched. By afternoon, the government at the Centre had confirmation about the presence of terrorists in
Pathankot. What the security establishment did from that moment raises several questions. A meeting chaired by the National
Security Adviser and attended by, among others, the chiefs of the Army and the Air Force, decided to rush NSG commandos
from Delhi. How did they take that decision, when it was clear that an airbase had to be protected and terrorists could be
anywhere in the district? Does this reflect the poor thinking of senior members of the security establishment? Or does it hint at
autocratic decision-making in New Delhi without professional participation?
Over the last few days, the government has been making a desperate effort to defend the course of action that was followed in
fighting terrorists. From informal briefings in New Delhi to the formal briefing on Wednesday evening by Lt. Gen. K.J. Singh,
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, the government has been putting up a spirited defence of the
operations. Gen. Singh admitted that the first to react to the terrorists were the DSC (Defence Security Corps) and Garuds, but
added that the second contact was the Army columns. As Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar did on Tuesday, Gen. Singh
claimed that there was total operational synergy, and he justified the time taken by saying that forces had to be applied
sequentially, and not simultaneously, and they were also careful to avoid a hostage situation and other eventualities. However,
all this does not answer the basic criticism by military veterans and security experts: despite the Pathankot airbase being at
shouting distance from thousands of Army soldiers trained to deal with terrorists, why were they not even called in to provide
perimeter security to the base? What was the need to send the NSG into a military installation where the Armys para
commandos and quick reaction teams would have been more familiar with the terrain? Why was the operational command not
handed over to the senior-most Army commander on the ground? The answers should not only inform decisions to hold those
responsible accountable for the mis-step in operations, but also lead to an upgrade of existing protocols.
o Tip-off - a secret warning

o Abducted - kidnaped
o Snatched - to take something suddenly and roughly (stealing)
o Airbase - a military airport where aircraft are kept and can land and take off
o Autocratic - related to a ruler with unlimited power (but not in a nice way)
o Desperate - hopeless (a situation is so bad and is impossible to deal with)
o Informal briefings - unofficial information
o Synergy - the cooperation of two or more organizations


o Sequentially - following a particular order
o Simultaneously - at the same time
o Hostage - someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to force the
other people involved to do what the enemy wants
o Eventuality - something unpleasant or unexpected that might happen in the future
o Veteran - a person who has had long experience in a particular field
o Within shouting distance - very close (close enough to hear someone shouting)
o Installation - an occasion when someone is put in an important job or position
o Terrain - physical features of a land
o Misstep - wrong step (mistake)
o Upgrade - to improve
o Protocols - set of official rules (here Militry rules)
January 08/2016
Topic 1 : "North Koreas provocative move"
The underground nuclear test by North Korea that apparently used a hydrogen bomb has expectedly aggravated tensions
in East Asia. South Korea, which called the explosion an unpardonable provocation, has already cancelled cross-border
initiatives. Japan has termed it a serious threat to its national security. Most major global powers, from the United States
to Russia and even China, have condemned the explosion. The provocation is likely to invite more economic punitive
measures by the United Nations Security Council. The North Korean economy is going through a tough phase, and any further
sanctions would jeopardise it further. Why Kim Jong-un took the extreme step now is anybodys guess, though the move itself
was not surprising given the regimes sinister, paranoid ways of operating. Ever since Mr. Kim became North Koreas leader
after his fathers death in 2011, he has flexed the countrys military muscle and caused provocations without hinting at any
tangible foreign policy goal. He ordered the countrys third nuclear test, which led directly to additional UN sanctions. Tensions
escalated between the two Koreas last year after they exchanged artillery fire. With the latest hydrogen bomb explosion claim,
he has upped the ante in this game of provocations.
Mr. Kims aim could be to tighten his grip of power over the state. The number of executions in North Korea reportedly rose
under his watch, triggering speculation over whether the regime is facing internal strains. In 2013, Mr. Kim had ordered the
execution of his uncle and former mentor. He may also be playing a high-stakes diplomatic game for an Iran-like deal where he
could swap his countrys nuclear arsenal for international recognition and economic partnership. The third and more likely
explanation is that Mr. Kim is sending a message to South Korea and the West that his regime is ready to go to any extreme in
the wake of military hostilities. This clearly demonstrates the failure of the nuclear diplomacy which the U.S. and other major
powers were involved in for the past several years. Whatever Mr. Kims real intentions, his moves come at the cost of regional
stability, and pose dangerous portents for the world. The only country that could reason with North Korea and persuade it to join
back talks is China. Even for Beijing, despite its historical ties with Pyongyang, it is a daunting task. Mr. Kim does not seem to
be particularly interested in the China-ally tag. In September, he refused an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to
attend celebrations marking the end of the Second World War. Four years after coming to power, he is yet to visit Beijing.
Despite his detachment and potential militarism, the world doesnt really have any option but to resume talks with Pyongyang.

China has the historical responsibility to lead the efforts to solve the crisis on the Korean peninsula, much like what the Russians
did in securing the Iran deal.
o Apparently - you have read or heard something although you are not certain it is
true
o Aggravated - to make a bad situation worse
o Unpardonable - too bad to forgive or be accepted
o Provocation - an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry
o Cross-border - between different countries
o Threat - a suggestion that something unpleasant or violent will happen
o Condemned - expressed complete disapproval
o Punitive - punishment
o Sanction - penalty for disobeying a law or rule
o Jeopardise - to put something into a situation in which there is a danger of loss
o Regime - government
o Sinister - making you feel that something bad will happen
o Paranoid - suffering from a mental illness in which you believe that other people
are trying to harm you
o Flexed - tightened
o Tangible - real
o Escalated - increased rapidly
o Artillery - very large guns that are moved on wheels or metal tracks
o Up the ante - to increase your demands or the risks in a situation in order to
achieve a better result:
o Speculation - to guess
o Mentor - an experienced and trusted adviser
o High-stakes - high risk
o Arsenal - a collection of weapons and military equipment
o Hostilities - an unfriendly attitude
o Diplomacy - the management of relationships between countries
o Pose - to cause a problem or difficulty
o Portent - a sign of something about to happen
o Persuade - convince
o Daunting - discouraging through fear
o Ally - a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one
o Peninsula - an area of land surrounded by water on three sides


Topic 2 : "For justice in equal measure"
News that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt will be released by the end of February after serving a five-year prison term for being
in possession of an AK-56 assault rifle over 20 years ago will surely draw contrasting reactions from the film industry on the one
hand and wider society on the other. His peers in filmdom and his legion of fans may see cause for great happiness in his
impending release. However, there may be a larger section of society that may wonder whether justice will truly be
served if Mr. Dutt, who is already seen to have enjoyed generous spells of furlough and parole while serving his sentence, is
being treated in a special way by his release being advanced by about eight months. Given the widespread perception
reinforced by the recent acquittal of another film star, Salman Khan, in a hit-and-run case that the system will work only to
the advantage and benefit of celebrities, questions will naturally be asked whether Mr. Dutt is being treated preferentially.
Arrested in the aftermath of the 1993 Mumbai blasts, he spent 18 months in prison before getting bail. In March 2013, the
Supreme Court confirmed a lower court conviction, but reduced his jail term from six to five years. After being given time to wind
up his film commitments, he began to serve the 42-month remainder of his term in May 2013. Even then, citing reasons as trite
as that he was married and had children, and that he had depicted on screen a form of Gandhian protest, many had appealed
for pardon on his behalf. The Maharashtra Governor, however, did not succumb to the demand for preferential treatment to him
solely on the basis of his popularity.
In the normal course, a prisoners release eight months ahead of the completion of his term will not give rise to unusual
scrutiny. Good behaviour is reason enough for routine remission for all convicts, and there may be no cause to suspect
that Mr. Dutt has been chosen out of turn. Yet, the State government will have to be cautious and scrupulous in computing the
exact number of days he is legally entitled to, mainly to dispel the popular impression that he is being favoured. The actor may
have spent as many as 146 days on parole or furlough since May 2013. In law, a furlough is an entitlement earned by spending
specified periods in jail, while parole is granted only in an emergency. Both are considered necessary to help prisoners maintain
continuity in their family life and help them avoid the ill-effects of protracted incarceration. Comparisons are also bound to be
drawn between Mr. Dutts case and that of Zaibunissa Kazi, a septuagenarian fellow-prisoner who is also serving a five-year
term in the same case. It will only be fair to expect that the rules of remission will apply in equal measure to all prisoners
regardless of their social stature or background.
o Possession - to own something

o Contrast - difference
o Peers - people who are the same age or has the same social position
o Legion - very large in number
o Impending - an event, which is going to be happen
o Generous - more than expected
o Furlough - a period of time that a prisioner is allowed to return temporarily to their
home
o Reinforced - to make something stronger
o Acquittal - the decision of a court that someone is not guilty


o Trite - repeated too often
o Depicted - represented
o Succumb - to lose the determination to oppose something
o Solely - only
o Scrutiny - critical observation
o Remission - the cancellation of a penalty
o Scrupulous - extremely honest
o Dispel - to remove fears / doubts
o Protracted - lasting longer than necessary
o Incarceration - imprisonment
o Septuagenarian - a person who is between 70 and 79 years old
January 09/2016
Topic 1 : "The U.S.s firearms menace"
U.S. President Barack Obama parted with the steely tradition of his two-term presidency this week, when he shed tears at the
White House over what appears to have become a top-of the-agenda item of his final year in office, gun control reform. Although
he broke down at the mention of six-year-olds massacred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, it was
anger that seared through his speech announcing executive actions to take on the stubbornly lax regulation of guns in the U.S.
These actions aim to expand background checks for gun ownership, boost funding for federal agencies enforcing gun laws,
improve treatment of mental health conditions nationwide, and herald an era of smart gun technology to prevent accidental
firearm deaths. Few would blame Mr. Obama for feeling frustration over the quagmire that has greeted every attempt of his
to start a conversation on what many worldwide would consider a reasonable restriction on the constitutionally enshrined right
to bear arms. He has pitched for tighter, more meaningful gun laws no fewer than 15 times from the Oval Office, and his most
ambitious attempt to bring the discussion to the floor of the Senate three years ago was speedily disposed of by hostile
lawmakers. This weeks executive action had echoes of that 2013 omnibus gun control bill, yet in the face of uncertain funding
prospects in a Republican-controlled Congress, likely resistance from conservative states and near-certainty of legal challenges,
it may lack the teeth to seriously impact gun proliferation.
There are two forces behind Americas abysmal progress in halting the regular occurrence of gun rampages in public spaces.
The first is what Mr. Obama described as the lies of the pro-gun lobby, whose lifeblood is the influential National Rifle
Association, funded largely by gun manufacturers. After every mass killing with guns, NRA spokespersons proclaim in the
American media that the only answer to gun deaths is more guns. Their efforts arebolstered by Republican presidential
hopefuls such as Donald Trump. The second, more intractable, impediment facing any would-be reformer is the U.S.s cultural
proclivity for gun ownership. Even though a Quinnipiac poll last month found 89 per cent overall support for expanded
background checks, a CNN poll the same month found that only 48 per cent of Americans favoured stricter gun control laws.
Like any other cultural revolution, unwinding this national obsession with guns will be a slow process. Ultimately the realisation


must dawn that, contrary to the Second Amendments promise that the right to bear arms will protect the public from the tyranny
of government, in the 21st century it is the tyranny of firearms that truly threatens the American way of life.
o Menace - something that is likely to cause harm

o Parted - separated
o Shed tears - cry
o Massacred - an act of killing a lot of people
o Seared - to have a strong unpleasant effect on someone's feelings or memories
o Stubborn - difficult
o Lax - without much care / control
o Enforce - cause something to happen by force
o Herald - a sign that something will happen
o Firearm - gun
o Quagmire - dangerous place / situation
o Enshrined - protected
o Bear arms - to carry weapons
o Pitch - a speech that attempts to convince someone to do something
o Disposed of something - to get rid of something / to deal with something so that
the matter is finished
o Hostile - not agreeing with something
o Echoes - repeats
o Omnibus - comprising several items
o Prospect - the possibility of some future event occurring
o Certainty - something that cannot be doubted
o Lack of teeth - lacking ability to punish for a given situation
o Proliferation - rapid increase in the number or amount of something
o Abysmal - extremely bad
o Rampage - violent and usually wild behaviour
o Lifeblood - most important thing for success / existence
o Proclaim - announce officially or publicly
o Bolstered - supported
o Intractable - hard to control or deal with
o Impediment - something that makes progress
o Proclivity - a tendency to choose or do something wrong
o Unwinding - relax after a period of work or tension
o Contrary - opposite in nature
o Tyranny - a situation in which someone completely controls you in an unfair way

Topic 2 : "Chinas contagious economic turmoil"
Chinas transition to a new normal rate of growth was always expected to be bumpy. But, as it shifts gears, the Asian giant is
spilling pain on to the rest of the world, and volatility is about the only certainty in the global economy at the moment. The yuans
depreciation on Thursday to its lowest level since 2011, again put stock markets and currencies worldwide under pressure.
Investors fear other countries could now be forced to consider competitive currency devaluations. The depreciation was less
unexpected than the devaluations in August and is in line with Beijings move to make the yuan all set to become a reserve
currency of the International Monetary Fund more market-linked. Theres a fresh worry: Chinas foreign exchange reserves
shrank by $108 billion in December, the biggest monthly drop on record, and declined by $513 billion last year. To put this
figure in perspective, Indias foreign exchange reserves added up to $350.4 billion on January 1. The accelerating outflows from
China, investors fear, could also be a sign of the countrys deepening troubles. China is rebalancing its economy, shifting it
away from a model of debt-fuelled infrastructure and low-cost exports towards lower but more sustainable growth, driven instead
by domestic consumption and services. Reformers in Beijing want to slow the Chinese economy, which expanded at a frenetic
10 per cent annually before 2008, and by about 7 per cent more recently. As the worlds second largest economy goes through
a recalibration, the question increasingly being asked is: are the authorities in Beijing in control of the transition?
The scale and span of Chinas trade gives it an over-sized influence over the global economy. Its waning appetite for
commodities and imports is hurting economies dependent on such exports. For India, though, the drop in international
commodity prices, especially of oil, is providing a silver lining as it is a net importer. The pain for India will come from the big
and growing trade deficit it has with China. The deficit, which was $48 billion at the end of March, had reached $36 billion in
the first eight months of this year and could worsen with the yuans depreciation. The Indian government must recognise that
the depreciating yuan is a threat above all to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make In India plan. Indian manufacturers already
suffer significant cost disadvantages. Their competitiveness will now diminish further against imports from China. Under the
burden of Chinas slowdown, global trade itself has shrunk. Recovery continues to elude the world more than seven years after
the financial meltdown in 2008 and the subsequent monetary easing worldwide. India must recognise that the global economic
scenario is far from healthy and take steps to spur domestic growth.
o Turmoil - a state of great disturbance / confusion

o Bumpy - not smooth
o Volatility - changing suddenly / suddenly become violent or angry
o Depreciation - reduction in the value
o Perspective - a particular way of considering something
o Accelerating - faster
o Outflows - a large amount of money that moves or is transferred out of a place
o Sustainable - able to continue over a period of time


o Frenetic - involving a lot of excited movement or activity
o Appetite - the feeling of wanting or needing something
o Silver lining - a sign of hope in an unfortunate situation
o Deficit - loss
o Threat - bad situation
o Diminish - reduce
o Shrunk - smaller than before
o Elude - escape
o Easing - move carefully
January 11/2016
Topic 1 : "Mehbooba Muftis tough task"
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who passed away on Thursday, leaving a vacuum in the mainstream politics of Jammu and Kashmir,
had for months been preparing for his political exit. In November 2015, just eight months after he took over as Chief Minister to
head what had seemed an impossible coalition of his Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, he had
begun to prepare for the succession, saying that his daughter, and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti deserved to be the Chief
Minister. She had worked in the party organisation and was better connected than he was with the people, he had stressed,
while adding that she had the experience of being both an MLA and an MP. There were indications at the time also of discussions
within the PDP as well as with the BJP leadership on the issue of Ms. Mufti being her fathers chosen successor. Of course,
there were murmurs of dissent within the PDP and some unhappiness in the BJP State unit as she had always been less
conciliatory than her father, especially when it came to her views on the role of the security forces and issues of human rights
violations. On her part, Ms. Mufti had voiced her reluctance about becoming Chief Minister. In fact, staying out of the
administration formally, her supporters felt, allowed her to carry along a wider cross-section of political opinion in the State. But
now, the moment of truth has arrived and the challenges before her as she readies herself to take charge of Jammu and
Kashmir will be enormous.
Running J&K has never been an easy task. But after a short spell of Governors Rule to accommodate her wish not to take
charge till the period of mourning for her father is over, Ms. Mufti will take over its reins at a particularly difficult moment in its
history. In recent months, thanks largely to the role played by the BJP, the State has been divided on the beef and dual flag
controversies. There has also been a spike in militancy: indeed, in the PDP strongholds of Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam and
Pulwama in southern Kashmir, there has been a more than a week-old hartal demanding a memorial for slain militants, a fallout,
many say, of local unhappiness with the PDPs alliance with the BJP. Ms. Mufti will have to balance the interests of the people
of the Kashmir Valley with those of Jammu while dealing with the Army and the security agencies. In the months to come,
friends, allies and rivals alike will watch the States first woman Chief Minister for the slightest misstep. She will have to temper
her politics to ensure that the coalition stays afloat, even as she combines assertiveness and diplomacy to keep her own flock


together. Ms. Mufti has both qualities of head and heart to be Chief Minister, but she may also need a big dose of luck for what
is one of the toughest jobs in the country.
o Vacuum - lack of something

o Mainstream - considered normal
o Coalition - group of people who join together for a common cause
o Succession - a process in which someone automatically takes an official position or
job after someone else
o Murmurs - to complain about something that you disagree with or dislike, but not
in a public way
o Dissent - a difference of opinion
o Conciliatory - compromising
o Reluctance - unwillingness to do something
o Cross-section - something that has been cut in half so that you can see the inside
o Enormous - very large in size
o Mourning - the expression of sorrow for someone's death.
o Take over/up the reins - to take control of something
o Spike - a narrow, thin shape with a sharp point at one end
o Stronghold - a place where a particular belief or activity is common
o Slain - to kill in a violent way
o Fallout - to argue with someone and stop being friendly with them
o Allies - people associated with others for some common cause or purpose
o Rivals - people competing with others for the same thing or in the same area
o Slightest - smallest
o Misstep - mistake
o Temper - hardness (the tendency to become angry very quickly)
o Afloat - out of debt or difficulty.
o Assertiveness - quality of being confident to say what you want / believe
o Flock - group of people
Topic 2 : "Sri Lankas historic opportunity"
It is a moment of great hope and some fear in Sri Lanka. As it takes the first step towards drafting a new Constitution, there is
renewed hope that the island nation will be able to reinvent itself as a modern state, one that brings economic prosperity and


national unity. At the same time, it is also difficult to ignore the fear that yet another opportunity presented by history may fail
owing to political opposition, ethnic extremism and an entrenched, if not systemic, resistance to change. President Maithripala
Sirisenas address to Parliament on the occasion of the tabling of a motion to create a Constitutional Assembly was bold in
its invocation of past failures. His candid reference to the failure to implement past agreements as the origin of the protracted
civil war showed deep understanding of his countrys situation. Laced with justified apprehensions about the likely impediments,
Mr. Sirisena has warned his countrymen against attempts to raise the bogey of external pressure and an alleged threat to the
special status of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. He is aware of the presence of extremists on both sides of the ethnic divide. He has
asserted that a constitutional solution will be indigenous. The process of constituting the entire membership of the current
Parliament as a Constitutional Assembly has begun. A steering committee will be tasked with drafting a new Constitution while
inputs from outside the parliamentary structure will be in the form of a Public Representation Commission.
For those familiar with the peace and reform processes of the last quarter century, it may appear that all talk of national unity
and a non-discriminatory system is not new. It is a measure of how much the events of the recent years had turned the clock
back on the discourse to resolve the national question that each time an incumbent President or Prime Minister spells out a new
vision, it is accompanied by new hopes and fears. The broad contours of an alternative constitutional framework are known. To
many, it lies in abolishing the executive presidency and reforming the electoral system. In recent years, promoting good
governance by strengthening democratic institutions, a comprehensive rights regime and substantive power-sharing
arrangements involving all ethnic minorities have been understood to be necessary elements. The path is clear, and the pitfalls
are known. The process may be long and the effort to secure a two-thirds majority in the Assembly, followed by a similar special
majority in Parliament and approval in a referendum, will require political will and hard work. The emergence of a new order
since 2015 under President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe provides a setting conducive for positive change, after
the first few years in the post-conflict phase were lost in triumphalist and nationalistic rhetoric. It is a historic opportunity for all
stake-holders, including Tamils, Muslims and plantation Tamils, to participate in the process. It is time all sides left their
nationalist rhetoric of the past behind.
o Drafting - to prepare a preliminary version of a document

o Constitution - the set of political principles by which a state or organization is
governed (especially in relation to the rights of the people it governs)
o Renew - to begin doing something again
o Owing to - because of
o Ethnic - relating to a particular race of people
o Extremism - unreasonable and unacceptable political / religious views
o Entrenched - fixed for so long (you can't change now)
o Invocation - to make someone have a particular feeling or remember something
o Candid - frank / straightforward
o Protracted - lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual.
o Laced with something - a small amount has been added to it
o Apprehension - anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
o Impediments - anything that slows or blocks progress

o Bogey - something that causes fear among a lot of people (without reason)
o Asserted - to say that something is certainly true
o Indigenous - naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving from
another place
o Reform - to make changes in something in order to improve it
o Turn the clock back - to make things to be the way they were in the past
o Contour - an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of something
o Abolishing - to end something
o Substantive - having a separate and independent existence
o Pitfalls - hidden or unsuspected dangers or difficulties
o Emergence - the process of coming into existence
o Conflict - fighting between two or more groups of people or countries
o Plantation Tamils - Tamil People who permanently settled in Sri Lanka
January 12/2016
Topic 1 : "Welcome measure to clean the air"
The Centres decision to adopt Bharat Stage VI automotive fuels nationwide by April 1, 2020 is a key measure that can, if
implemented properly, vastly improve air quality. Rolling out the BS VI standard nationally, skipping BS V, has significant cost
implications for fuel producers and the automobile industry, but its positive impact on public health would more than compensate
for the investment. Major pollutants such as fine particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide
emitted by millions of vehicles on Indias roads are severely affecting the health of people, particularly children whose lungs are
immature and hence more vulnerable. Thousands of premature deaths and rising rates of asthma episodes highlight the urgent
need to make a radical and complete shift to modern fuels and vehicle technologies. Past national policy of implementation of
the BS IV fuel standard failed primarily because this was not done all over the country and the technical standard also permitted
a higher level of sulphur in the fuel. Higher sulphur results in high volumes of fine respirable particulates measuring 2.5
micrometres (PM2.5) being generated in emissions. Since even this obsolete standard was not followed uniformly, many
vehicles, especially commercial passenger and freight carriers, have been using lower standard fuel supplied outside big cities.
This has rendered their catalytic converters incapable of absorbing pollutants.
Improved air quality, especially in big urban centres, depends on several factors in an era of fast motorisation. A bloated
population of vehicles using fossil fuels has affected travel speeds, worsening pollution levels. Poor civic governance has left
roads unpaved and public spaces filled with debris and construction dust, constantly re-circulating particulate matter in the air.
Moreover, the monitoring of diesel passenger and commercial vehicles the biggest contributors to total emissions for
compliance with emissions regulations remains poor. Such a record does not inspire confidence that retrofitting of old vehicles
to use higher quality fuels such as BS VI can be achieved smoothly. Equally, the distortions in urban development policy that
facilitate the use of personal motorised vehicles rather than expanding good public transport, walking and cycling, are glaring.

Many of these issues were underscored by the Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee on Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025 in its report
submitted in 2014. The panel also recommended appropriate levies to fund the transition to cleaner, low sulphur fuels. A study
by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi on fuel policy and air quality in the same year concluded that the best results would
be achieved by raising the fuel standard and introducing policy initiatives that would influence passenger behaviour and cut
personal travel kilometres by 25 per cent. The government has done well to advance the deadline for cleaner fuels by three
years. It must show the same diligence in making other policy changes in partnership with State governments to clean up the
air.

o Rolling out - to make a new product / service available for the first time
o Impact - have a strong effect on someone or something
o Compensate - to pay someone money in exchange for something that has been
lost or damaged
o Pollutants - the material that pollutes something
o Emitted - produced and discharged
o Severely - very seriously / harshly
o Vulnerable - something that is very easy to attack
o Premature - occurring before the usual time (too early).
o Respirable - able to be breathed in
o Obsolete - out of date
o Freight - goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft
o Rendered - cause to be or become / make
o Catalytic - an action causing a change
o Urban - related to a town / city
o Bloated - larger than necessary
o Civic - relating to a city or town (muncipal)
o Debris - broken or torn pieces of rubbish
o Particulate - an extremely small piece of dirt (especially one produced by road
vehicles)
o Compliance - the act of obeying an order, rule, or request
o Retrofitting - adding (a component or accessory) to something that did not have
it when manufactured
o Distortion - misleading
o Glaring - used to say that something bad is very common
o Underscored - give special importance to something (highlight)
o Levies - imposes a tax, fee, or fine
o Diligence - careful effort


Topic 2 : "Indias strategy for the near west"
With a series of high-profile visitors and visits planned, New Delhi is indicating its focus on West Asia in the coming year,
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to travel to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Palestine and possibly Iran. Leaders from those
countries and more are expected to come to Delhi as well, beginning with the Syrian Foreign Minister who is in Delhi now. The
renewed interest from India is welcome, and indicates the importance this region holds for it. In addition, it is important that the
government begins to explore options beyond bilateral relations with countries of this region, as India bids for a place as a
permanent member of the UN Security Council. This is not a region India can afford to take its eyes off. The explosive
discord between Iran and Saudi Arabia despite Irans landmark agreement with the P5+1 countries does not augur well for
the future of the region as a whole, given that each country has specific areas of influence in it. The devastation of
Yemen caused by Saudi Arabian strikes and fighting on the ground hint where that conflict could lead. The spread of Islamic
State may have been stopped due to bombing raids by the U.S. coalition in Iraq and the Russian support to Syrian troops in
Syria, but this is by no means a solution. The Israel-Palestine conflict has the potential to spark more tensions in this region at
any given time, and the burgeoning numbers of refugees fleeing the violence from Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and neighbouring
areas pose another potential threat to stability in the region and in countries where these hapless communities are forced to
take shelter.
Given the powder keg that the region now stands on, can India have a hands-off approach, and focus only on its bilateral
interests in the region? To begin with, the WANA (West Asia, North Africa) region is home to more than seven million Indians
who account for more than half of all remittances to India, adding up to $70 billion. Indias energy dependence on the region is
another reason for deeper engagement. The turmoil of the past few years in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen has unleashed untold
sufferings on Indians working there. India cannot afford to ignore this peril, or simply issue advisories for citizens not to go there.
It will have to take a deeper interest in resolving the regional conflicts. Sending troops to these areas is not an option. Given the
goodwill it enjoys, and Indias reputation of neutrality, it would be desirable for Prime Minister Modi to use his outreach in West
Asia as an interlocutor for dialogue instead. When signing the landmark joint strategic vision document with the U.S. to monitor
the South China Sea region, officials had pointed to Indias mandate for a role in upholding international rule of law. Much the
same logic would apply for Indias role in West Asia, one that is commensurate with its own ambitions on the world stage.
o Possibly - perhaps (used when something is not sure)

o Renewed - to begin doing something again (after a break)
o Explore - to search and discover about something
o Discord - disagreement between people
o Despite - without taking any notice of or being influenced by
o Augur - to be a sign of good or bad things in the future
o Devastation - great destruction or damage
o Coalition - group of people (here countries) who join together for a common cause
o Spark - a first small event or problem that causes a much worse situation to develop


o Burgeoning - begin to grow or increase rapidly
o Refugees - people who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape
war or natural disaster
o Flee - to escape by running away
o Pose - to cause something (problem / difficulty)
o Hapless - unfortunate
o Powder keg - a dangerous situation (actual meaning is a barrel of gunpowder).
o Hands-off approach - to allow others to make decisions about something, without
directly involved into the matter
o Bilateral - related to two countries
o Remittance - a sum of money sent in payment or as a gift
o Turmoil - a state of great disturbance / confusion
o Unleash - to suddenly release a violent force that cannot be controlled
o Peril - serious and immediate danger
o Advisory - an official announcement or warning
o Neutrality - the state of not supporting or helping either side in a fight /
disagreement (impartiality).
o Outreach - an effort to bring services or information to people where they live
o Interlocutor - someone who is involved in a conversation
o Mandate - an official order to do something
o Upholding - confirming or supporting
o Commensurate - in a correct and suitable amount compared to something else
o Ambition - goal (a strong desire to do or achieve something)
January 13/2016
Topic 1 : "A political misadventure"
Political opportunism in an election year often takes the form of dubious actions by the executive, and inevitably runs into a
judicial barrier. By staying the Union governments recent notification aimed at permitting jallikattu, the popular bull-taming
sport in Tamil Nadu, along with bullock cart races in some other States, the Supreme Court has stopped the Centres needless
misadventure in its tracks. The festivities associated with the harvest festival of Pongal in Tamil Nadu went off without jallikattu
in 2015 after the Supreme Courts May 2014 judgment prohibiting the sport on the ground that it perpetrates cruelty on animals
and endangers the lives of the participants. The State government ensured peace and prevented any unrest last year, despite
considerable unease and anger among the rural population. There is no reason why it could not have continued to practise the
same restraint and wisdom in accepting the court verdict. On the contrary, the issue became politicised in the run-up to the
Assembly election that is due in a few months from now. Political parties stoked popular sentiment in favour of reviving jallikattu
by demanding measures to circumvent the judicial bar. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre, looking to find a foothold
in the political fray in Tamil Nadu, made a calculated move by amending a 2011 notification that prevented bulls from being


exhibited or trained as performing animals, by exempting bulls deployed in jallikattu and cart-racing from its purview. The party
will now have to live with the criticism that it knew that the notification would be stayed, and all it was looking for was some
political capital.
The Centre will have to explain why it tried to get around a court verdict through a mere executive notification, when it is common
knowledge that it can be done only through legislation that removes the basis for the judgment and not merely by tweaking
some regulations. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has now urged the Centre to promulgate an ordinance to save the
traditional sport, but even that may be no solution. The law laid down by the Supreme Court is fortified by several legal
formulations. In a harmonious reading of animal rights in the context of the Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare (UDAW),
the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Constitution, the court has ruled that animals have a right
against human beings inflicting unnecessary pain and suffering on them. In effect, the entire sport has been declared violative
of the law against cruelty. Treating animals in a humane, non-exploitative way is now a constitutional requirement for any
executive action related to them. The States earlier regulatory Act on jallikattu was dismissed as an anthropocentric law that
was repugnant to the eco-centric law against cruelty to animals. Instead of continuing this artificial confrontation between
tradition and modern law, Tamil Nadu would do well to stop spearheading the cause of jallikattu, which is but a relic of a feudal
past.
o Misadventure - an unfortunate incident

o Opportunism - behaviour in which you use every situation to try to get power or
an advantage
o Dubious - doubting
o Inevitably - unavoidably
o Taming - make less powerful and easier to control
o Bullock cart - two-wheeled vehicle pulled by oxen
o Festivities - the celebration of something in a joyful way
o Harvest - the time of year when crops are cut and collected from the fields
o Perpetrate - to cause something to continue
o Endangers - to put someone at risk or in danger
o Unrest - disagreements or fighting between different groups of people
o Unease - a feeling of being worried about something
o Restraint - a condition that keeps someone under control
o Verdict - judgement
o On the contrary - opposite of something
o Stoked - encouraged bad ideas or feelings in a lot of people
o Reviving - restoring
o Circumvent - to avoid something (illegally)
o Foothold - a strong first position from which further progress can be made
o Deployed - to use in an effective way


o Tweaking - improve by making adjustments to something
o Urged - recommend (something) strongly
o Promulgate - to announce something publicly (especially a new law)
o Fortified - strengthened or protected
o Harmonious - friendly and peaceful
o Inflicting - cause something unpleasant / painful
o Violative - an action that acts against something
o Humane - showing kindness
o Exploitative - using someone unfairly for your own advantage
o Anthropocentric - considering humans and their existence as the most important
and central fact in the universe
o Repugnant - unacceptable
o Confrontation - a fight or argument
o Relic - a tradition from the past that continues to exist
o Feudal - old-fashioned
Topic 2 "Individual brilliance, derivative success"
Argentine and FC Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has reclaimed the billing as the best footballer in the world by winning his
fifth Ballon dOr award in the last eight years, a stupendous record considering no other player has won more than three such
awards. Portuguese and FC Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo finished second after having won in the previous two years.
That both players have finished in the top two in the award nominations since 2011 suggests that they are the best two footballers
in the world by some margin. Messi is the better player, combining the highest form of three important qualities dribbling,
passing and goal-scoring in one footballer. Ronaldo is as much and perhaps even more a sure finisher. But having them in
the Argentina and Portugal national teams is no guarantee for success. The fact that neither of them has experienced the
highest form of international success for their respective countries Messis Argentina lost to Germany in the 2014 World
Cup final and Ronaldos Portugal reached the 2004 Euro final before the player reached his peak suggests that their
respective awards were a function of their clubs overall success. Messis Ballon dOr, for example, followed FC Barcelonas
three victories in the UEFA Champions League, the Spanish La Liga and the Copa Del Rey in 2015.
Indeed, Messis Barcelona and Ronaldos Real Madrid have dominated club football in the past few years, the former more so.
These clubs have also designed their pattern and style of play in such a way that the abilities and output of their two key players
and goal-scorers in Messi and Ronaldo have been maximised. Real Madrids strategy of buying the most attack-minded players
in the world and Barcelonas nearly two-decades-long approach of building a squad based on a particular style of play and
combining home-grown and bought talent has complemented the strengths of Ronaldo and Messi, respectively. These
advantages are lacking in a national set-up, where the team squads are drawn from a more limited pool and their frequency of
playing and training together is limited compared to the almost perennial club football. Consequently, the individual successes
and strengths of both Messi and Ronaldo have not translated into national glory. Ronaldos goal-scoring record for Real Madrid


of 338 goals in 325 games and Messis 430 goals in 503 games and a record 26 trophies tower over their respective national
team outputs. These numbers re-emphasise the team nature of the sport. Ronaldo must thank his colleagues Luka Modric,
Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema and others for consistently putting him in a position to deliver for his club; Messis success
is predicated upon the cohesion of Barcelona and the brilliance of Neymar, Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique.
o Derivative - something which is based on another source

o Stupendous - extremely impressive
o By some margin - a noticeable differenc
o Dribbling - to move a ball along the ground with repeated small kicks or hits (in
football or hockey)
o Perhaps - used to show that something is possible
o Indeed - really (used to add some extra information that supports something you
have just said)
o Squad - a small group of people having a particular task (here players)
o Home-grown - own
o Complemented - to make something else seem better or more attractive when
combining with it (The music complements her voice perfectly)
o Lacking - not available
o Perennial - lasting a very long time
o Consequently - as a result
o Glory - an important achievement that earns someone great honour / praise
o Emphasise - to show that something is very important
o Colleagues - people with whom you work in a profession
o Consistently - something that's done the same way for a long time
o Predicated - to say that something is true
o Cohesion - the situation when the members of a group are united
January 14/2016
Topic 1 : "Mixed legacy of the Obama years"
In a speech long on past achievements and short on policy promises for his final year in office, U.S. President Barack Obama
delivered his seventh and last State of the Union address to a House of Representatives chamber on Tuesday. Equally
dedicating his time at the pulpit to defending his two-term record in office and to laying out a vision consistent with the liberal
paradigm of the Democratic Party, Mr. Obama posed four definitive questions, the answers to which he said would determine
how much progress the U.S. would make in the years ahead. First, on how the U.S. middle class finds sufficient opportunities
in the new economy to secure its prosperity; second, on how the U.S. harnesses the power of technology to tackle climate
change; third, what are the means to secure the safety of Americans at home and abroad without getting trapped in any military
quagmires; and fourth, how could America's leadership foster a less hateful, less anti-minority brand of national politics? In the
face of the Republican Partys attitude of rancour and suspicion, Mr. Obama has deftly navigated a path forward on domestic

priorities including healthcare reform, economic revival, and sustainable technologies in the energy sector. Yet his record on
foreign policy is more patchy and complex. The partial realisation of the dream of America leading a multilateral world sits rather
uncomfortably with notable cases of stasis and deepening conflict.
An unequivocal feather in Mr. Obamas cap is the dtente with Iran, which, on his watch, has rolled back its nuclear programme,
shipped out its uranium stockpile, and helped the world step back from the brink of war. So too is the revival of formal diplomatic
ties with Cuba last summer which, after more than 50 years of isolation and economic embargo, witnessed the relaxation of
travel restrictions but awaits a nod from the Republican-controlled Congress before trade can be fully opened up. At the macro
level, seven years since the end of Bush-era unilateralism, the adoption of multilateral, regionally focussed and hemispheric
political models have certainly come into vogue under the able guidance of the Obama machine. Yet, even as multilateralism
has thrived, bilateral crisis-resolution has taken a back seat. With Russia, the legitimate concerns of an important strategic
player are reduced to sound bites and talking heads on U.S. news channels. Consequently in Ukraine and Syria there is often
a hair-trigger situation. Washingtons China engagement was more reactive than proactive, and led to more aggressive positions
in the region. The unravelling security prospects of Afghanistan and the festering Palestine-Israel conflict were inconsistently
addressed over the two presidential terms. India, though, turned out to be the classic partner for Obamas America there was
enough bilateral economic depth to keep ties strong, and the shared idiom of pluralistic democracy held the two nations together
in a close but light strategic embrace.
o Legacy - something that is a part of your history

o Defending - to protect something against attack or criticism
o Laying out - to plan in detail
o Consistent - always behaving or happening in a similar way
o Liberal - respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour
o Paradigm - a typical example or pattern of something
o Posed - presented
o Definitive - considered to be the best (not able to be changed or improved)
o Determine - to decide what will happen
o Prosperity - the state of being successful and having a lot of money
o Harnesses - control and make use of something
o Quagmire - a difficult and dangerous situation
o In the face of something - despite having to deal with a difficult situation or
problem
o Rancour - a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past
o Suspicion - a feeling that something may be true
o Navigated - directed (controlled)
o Domestic - existing or occurring inside a particular country
o Revival - an improvement in the condition


o Patchy - sometimes good and sometimes bad
o Stasis - a state that does not change
o Unequivocal - leaving no doubt
o Dtente - an improvement in the relationship between two countries that in the
past were not friendly and did not trust each other
o Stockpile - a large amount of stock that are kept ready for future use
o Brink - the edge of
o Isolation - the condition of being alone
o Embargo - an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular
country
o Nod - approval
o Unilateralism - involving only one group or country
o Thrived - to grow / develop
o Take a back seat - to choose not to be in a position of responsibility in an
organization or activity
o Legitimate - reasonable and acceptable
o Strategic - helping to achieve a plan
o Sound bites - a short sentence or phrase that is easy to remember
o Hair-trigger - the characteristic of becoming very angry very easily
o Proactive - controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has
happened
o Aggressive - using forceful action to win or to achieve success
o Unravelling - make something known or understood
o Prospect - the possibility of being successful
o Festering - to become infected
o Embrace - to accept something enthusiastically
Topic 2 : "Incremental steps not enough"
The Defence Acquisition Council has approved a revised Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), aimed at boosting
indigenous defence procurement and encouraging better participation from the Indian private sector. The Council is headed by
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and includes key stakeholders of the defence establishment. Among its key decisions is a
proposal to introduce a new category of acquisition termed Buy Indian (or IDDM, indigenous design development and
manufacturing), which would become the most preferred acquisition category. Under Buy Indian, domestically designed

equipment with 40 per cent indigenous components or foreign-designed equipment with 60 per cent local components will be
considered. The new DPP has significantly increased the offset threshold for foreign contracts from Rs. 300 crore to Rs. 2,000
crore (with 30 per cent of the contract value to be procured from within India), while it has certain provisions for encouraging
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. At first glance, the DPP is an incremental improvement over recent efforts to reduce
Indias import dependence, which stands at 65 per cent of total defence procurement, to help create a robust military industrial
complex within the country.
It is imperative that India succeeds at the earliest in creating a cutting-edge domestic military industrial base: no major nation
state has transitioned to becoming a developed economy without one. Such a complex would create not only latest war
machines but also hothouse innovations and technologies to improve overall scientific capabilities, and make India self-reliant
at least in critical areas. If the ambition is to truly make Make in India a reality in the defence sector, then the DPP falls
significantly short of expectations. Many private sector participants have been flagging a host of issues, and inbuilt biases
against indigenisation. There are two key impediments to Indias private sector becoming active participants in defence R&D
and production: the monopoly enjoyed by defence public sector units, and the favours that foreign suppliers enjoy. DPSUs are
the workhorses of the sector as well as the biggest drag on indigenous military research. A significant number of them are
merely assembling foreign kits. Given Indias over-dependence on foreign military vendors, several biases have crept in
favouring them in procurements. A foreign vendor gets most of his payment on self-certification of project progress, while Indian
vendors have to wait for a government inspectors certification, which can delay payments by several months. A foreign vendor
enjoys upfront customs duty exemption, while the excise duty exemption for a local supplier is a reimbursement months after
he has supplied an item. The new DPP may work towards expanding the number of participants in military tenders, but it may
not help dramatically improve the present environment for all participants. Going by the present trend, the $100 billion and more
that India will spend over the next decade will mostly end up in foreign markets. Political boldness and radical reform are needed
in defence procurement. Neither is visible in the new DPP.
o Acquisition - the process of getting something

o Procurement - the action of obtaining something
another place
o Stakeholders - group of people who own a share in a business
o Robust - strong
o Imperative - extremely important or urgent
o Cutting-edge - highly advanced
o Transitioned - changed from one type to another
o Self-reliant - not needing help or support from other people
o Ambition - goal / target
o Flagging - becoming weaker
o Impediment - anything that slows or blocks progress
o Monopoly - a situation where an organization or group has complete control of
something

o Workhorse - something that operates without failing for long periods
o Vendors - sellers
o Crept - came slowly without being noticed
o Upfront - in advance
o Reimbursement - repayment for money you've already spent
o Radical - most important
o Reform - make changes in something inorder to improve it
January 15/2016
Topic 1 : "Return of terror in Indonesia"
The multiple terror attacks in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, which left at least seven dead, mark the return of organised
Islamist violence to the country after a brief period. The Southeast Asian country witnessed several terror attacks during the last
decade, including the 2002 Bali bombing that killed over 200 people. Most of such attacks were carried out by the home-grown
terrorist group, Jemaah Islamiyah, which has links with al-Qaeda. An effective military campaign against the JI by the
government, along with U.S.-model counter-terror strategies, helped Indonesia break up the extremist network and arrest the
tide of terror strikes. But Thursdays attack, the first major terror assault in the country in six years, has rekindled fears that
extremists are regrouping themselves at a time when it is going through a tough economic phase. Indonesia has blamed Islamic
State for the attack. The apparent target of the attackers was a downtown mall with outlets of Starbucks and Burger King, as
well as a diplomatic quarter in Jakarta. Its evident that the attackers wanted to inflict maximum damage, much the same way
the Bali tourist hotspot was attacked. But the plan didnt succeed, according to initial reports, as the gunmen were stopped at
the mall and sent back to a police post, where they opened fire.
Though major attacks were halted after the Malaysian leader of the JI was killed in a shootout in rural Indonesia in 2009, Jakarta
has stepped up security measures in recent times in the wake of growing Islamist challenges. If militants radicalised at home
and trained in Afghanistan posed security challenges in 2000-09, now radicalised youth get military training in Syria and Iraq.
Up to 700 Indonesians are estimated to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join Islamic State. The government has expressed
concern that their return would reinforce the broken extremist networks, bringing back another phase of organised violence.
There was a massive crackdown on suspected Islamists on New Year's eve. For the Islamists, Indonesia has always been a
high-stakes game. Though their influence among Indonesian society is negligible and their networks were broken up by the
state, the latest attacks show they still possess the capability to hit life. It is bad news for the government of President Joko
Widodo, which faces the challenge of rejuvenating an economy hit by a slowdown and falling commodity prices. Mr. Widodo,
who came to power in 2014, has been trying to portray Indonesia as a peaceful, stable place to attract investments to fund
growth. Terror attacks would certainly make his job harder. A bigger challenge is to prevent the return of attacks along the model
of the last decade. To stop Islamists making inroads into the worlds largest Muslim society, the government has to take on both
the extremist organisations and the extremists ideas. President Widodo should not let Islamists have their way.


o Witnessed - to see something happen (Here : experienced)
o Campaign - a series of military operations intended to achieve a goal
o Counter - to react to something with an opposing opinion or action
o Strategy - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as war
o Break up - coming to an end of something
o Extremists - people who have extreme (illegal / violent) political or religious views
o Tide - increase in a particular type of behaviour
o Assault - a violent attack
o Rekindled - to make someone have a feeling that they had in the past (here : fear)
o Regrouping - to form into a group again
o Blamed - declared that somebody or something is responsible for a fault or wrong
o Downtown - at the central part of a city
o Outlets - a shop that is one of many owned by a particular company and that sells
the goods that the company has produced
o Inflict - to force someone to experience something very unpleasant
o Hotspot - a very popular or active place
o Halted - to stop doing something or happening
o Shootout - a fight in which two people or two groups of people shoot at each other
with guns
o Stepped up - to increase
o In the wake of something - alerted after something happened
o Radicalised - to change a person or group's opinions in a negative way
o Pose - to cause problem / difficulty
o Reinforce - strengthen or support something
o Massive - large and heavy
o Crackdown - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more painful way
o High-stakes - a situation that has a lot of risk
o Rejuvenating - make something look or feel better
o Portray - to represent something in a specific manner (here : peaceful)
o Inroads - attacks
Topic 2 :"Stagflation risk ahead"
The latest Index of Industrial Production data, showing a contraction in factory output in November, should set alarm bells
ringing in North Block, especially when read along with the acceleration in retail inflation. While the reasons for the slump in

industrial production, including the festival holidays, were broadly known, the magnitude of overall decline as well as the drops
in specific industries are cause for concern. Both basic goods and capital goods proxies for manufacturing and investment
demand contracted 0.7 per cent and 24.4 per cent, respectively. The governments IIP figures also come close after the Nikkei
India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index, where the survey revealed a drop in output in December when companies
scaled back production on a decline in new orders. The gathering consensus among economists is that, save a few bright spots
like automobiles and consumer durables, demand is precariously placed. Two key drivers, the overseas export markets and the
rural economy, are both facing independent challenges. Global trade growth has been becalmed by Chinas slowdown and is
now being roiled by the yuans depreciation, while back-to-back deficient monsoons have sapped rural consumption
capacity. The economys momentum, thus, is threatened by the prospect of a sustained slowdown that may need to be
countered urgently by corrective fiscal interventions. With the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based reading rising for a fifth
straight month in December to 5.6 per cent, the accelerating retail inflation could end up posing a significant risk, of combining
with the faltering growth to produce stagflation.
Some economists, including the Chief Economic Adviser Dr. Arvind Subramanian, have mooted the idea of the government
temporarily straying from its fiscal consolidation path in order to enable it to step up spending on infrastructure to pump prime
the economy, especially given the low levels of private investment. Any additional public expenditure, when coupled with the
increased payouts for salaries and pensions as part of the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commissions
recommendations and the One Rank, One Pension scheme, will in turn fuel price pressures at the retail level and could
complicate the Reserve Bank of Indias inflation targeting agenda and monetary policy calculus. While oil prices remain in free
fall, offering succour, food prices continue to climb pushing food inflation to 6.4 per cent in December. And the outlook on that
front is hardly reassuring, with reports that unseasonal weather conditions including an El Nino-induced milder winter could lead
to the rabi crop yield ending up well below expectations in several regions. With the RBIs bi-monthly monetary policy and the
annual Central budget set to bookend February, all eyes will be on the next set of monthly IIP and inflation data to see if the
price gains will plateau, as the central bank had predicted in December, or continue to trend up, and whether output growth
recovers or not.
o Stagflation - an economic situation in which prices of goods and services

continually increase, many people do not have jobs, and businesses are not very
successful
o Contraction - the process of becoming smaller
o Set alarm bells ringing - an occasion when you realize that something is wrong
o Slump - to fall suddenly (prices / sales etc)
o Magnitude - the large size or importance of something
o Decline - decrease
o Proxy - the authority to represent someone else
o Bright spot - something that is good when everything else seems bad
o Precariously - something done in an uncertain manner
o Key drivers - factors that influences

o Becalmed - unable to move because of lack of something
o Roiled - disturbed
o Sapped - to make someone weaker
o Threatened - to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or someone
o Sustained - continuing for an extended period or without interruption
o Intervention - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to
improve it or prevent it from getting worse
o Faltering - losing strength
o Mooted - suggested
o Free fall - the process of losing value or strength quickly and continuously
o Succour - assistance
o Outlook - a view
o Hardly - almost not
o Plateau - a period during which there are no large changes
January 18/2016
Topic 1 : "Freedoms only for the outraged"
A comedian, Kiku Sharda, has been arrested under Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code for presumably outraging the
religious sentiments of Dera Sacha Sauda adherents by mimicking their leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The case was
filed by a Dera follower in Haryana, and the State police reached Mumbai to make the arrest. In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh,
meanwhile, a court has accepted a plea by a local leader of the Hindu Mahasabha for proceedings against actors Shah Rukh
Khan and Salman Khan. Their misdeed: wearing shoes in a temple on the sets of a television show. By the standards of
intolerance to creative, literary and academic work over the past two decades in India, these instances are unexceptional
and it is beside the point to iterate the commonsense distinction between reality and representation, between fact and
superstition. It is a meandering but firm line that links them up with the vandalisation of the Bhandarkar Institute in Pune over a
single line in a fine study of Shivaji; the intimidatory outrage that inhibits the release of films such as Bajirao
Mastani and Jodhaa Akbar which unsettle orthodox storytelling; the moral policing that forced the shooting of Water, on the
treatment of Hindu widows, to be shifted out of Varanasi; and the pressure on publishers to withdraw from circulation entire
books (Wendy Donigers The Hindus: An Alternative History) or excise chapters from compilations used as university texts (A.K.
Ramanujans Three Hundred Ramayanas). It is the line that has also run through the murders of Govind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi
and Narendra Dabholkar.
There is no doubt that Section 295(A) of the IPC is in urgent need of amendment to limit its misuse. As is the section dealing
with sedition, freely imposed by the state on folk singers, cartoonists, students watching cricket and defiant political upstarts.
But these are attendant issues of the crisis in Indias politics today. In democracies worldwide, questions of representation and
liberty have been taken forward in the political sphere, and in India even more so. Indias politics, by parties of the freedom
movement like the Congress but also regional parties, took the lead in increasing the space for rationalism, modernity, liberty


and freedom of expression. That uncompromising cover for liberty is now giving way to pervasive political competition to frame
hurt identities and nationalism for partisan advantage. And those freedoms and the modernity project have been rendered yet
more fragile in the past couple of years, with many of the so-called fringe outfits that feast on communal intimidation drawing
strength from their affiliation to the Sangh Parivar, and thereby to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Months after writers,
academics and artists foregrounded the abnormal circumstances today, it is unfortunate that Indias politics and its legislatures
have not joined the debate wholesomely. This is why it takes just a couple of outraged persons to remind the worlds largest
democracy that it has lost the essential instinct for liberty.
o Outraged - a feeling of anger and offence

o Presumably - by assuming reasonably
o Adherents - people who supports a particular party / person
o Mimicking - imitating someone in a funny way
o Meanwhile - while something is happening
o Misdeed - a type of bad behavior
o Intolerance - unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviour that differ from
your own
o Instances - examples
o Iterate - to repeat a process
o Distinction - difference
o Superstition - a belief, not based on reason or knowledge, but is connected with
old ideas about magic, etc
o Meandering - to move aimlessly
o Vandalisation - the act of deliberately destroying or damaging public or private
property
o Intimidatory - to frighten someone to make them do something you want
o Inhibit - to prevent someone from doing something by making them feel nervous
or embarrassed
o Orthodox - traditional beliefs
o Amendment - a change made to an original document or statement
o Sedition - the illegal act of making someone do or believe something
o Defiant - bold / disobedient
o Upstarts - people who have suddenly got power or an important position and takes
advantage of this in an unpleasant way
o Sphere - a subject or area of knowledge (here Political Knowledge)
o Pervasive - an unwanted influence spreading widely throughout an area or a group
of people
o Fragile - easily damaged

o Affiliation - a connection with a political party or religion
o Foreground - to give the most importance to a particular topic
o Abnormal - different from what is normal / usual (bad)
o Circumstances - events that change your life, over which you have no control
o Wholesome - morally good
o Instinct - inborn behavior (something you don't need to learn)
Topic 2 : "Starting up to stand still"
Two lakh passes were sought for the Start Up India workshop at New Delhis Vigyan Bhawan with a seating capacity of 1,350,
a good indicator of the interest in the action plan for start-ups unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a nine-hour
talkathon between Silicon Valley honchos, financiers, Indian unicorns and top government officials. Amidst the euphoria, at least
one Silicon Valley CEO, B.J. Arun of July Systems, warned that India was witnessing a bubble similar to the heady dot-com
rush of 1999-2000 in Silicon Valley with too much money chasing too few ideas. The high demand for passes to the event is
probably a sign of that growing bubble. India, Mr. Arun warned, wont recover as easily as the U.S. did after the bubble bursts,
only to be told by his Indian counterparts that there is no bubble and even if there is, the fittest would survive. That confidence
is refreshing, coming from under-40 first generation entrepreneurs. The governments action points seem laudable for starters,
if not deep enough. They include Rs. 10,000 crore of funding for the next four years, tax-free and labour-inspection-free
existence for start-ups for the first three years, speedier patent clearances with the exchequer footing most of the bill, and
promises to fix taxation hurdles that deter domestic and global financiers from bankrolling new ventures in the coming Budget.
That the government must intervene less for start-ups to succeed Mr. Modis core message drew the loudest cheers,
followed by the tax breaks on start-up profits. The tax breaks fly in the face of the corporate tax reform being pursued to lower
rates and phase out exemptions; but it is a headline-grabbing measure that wont hit revenues as few start-ups would make
profits in the first three years.
A bigger issue is the attempt to define the start-ups eligible for the sops, support and funding announced by the Prime Minister:
firms set up in the past five years with an annual turnover below Rs. 25 crore, working towards innovation, development,
deployment or commercialisation of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property. The
mere act of developing products or services that do not have potential for commercialisation or have no or limited incremental
value for customers would not be a start-up. Moreover, a start-up shall be eligible for tax benefits only after it is certified by an
inter-ministerial board. Slotting something like innovation into a template may not click and until more details emerge, it just
sounds like more red tape to clear to avoid some red tape. Smarter ventures would seek funding on their own and work without
official sops, but the government must not lose sight of the need to fix Indias overall business climate. Failing that, even with
tax sops, start-ups will continue to quit India and list or register elsewhere. Bubble or not, thats one issue Indian unicorns are
unanimous about.
o Stand still - a condition in which all movement or activity has stopped

o Unveil - to uncover
o Talkathon - an unusually long speech or discussion


o Honcho - a leader or manager (the person in charge)
o Amidst - in the middle of (surrounded by)
o Euphoria - a feeling of great happiness / craziness
o Counterparts - people of equal job position / level
o Deter - discourage someone from doing something
o Intervene - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to
improve it
o Headline-grabbing measure - doing something to get publicity (to be in Headlines
of new papers)
o Slotting - to place something in an order
o Red tape - official rules and processes that seem unnecessary
o Unanimous - fully in agreement
January 19/2016
Topic 1 : "A new beginning with Iran"
It was a remarkable moment in international diplomacy. Until last year, it was unimaginable that there would be a peaceful
solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis. Even when a deal was reached in July, critics continued to attack the efforts, questioning
the operating challenges of the accord and Irans dubious nuclear record. But proving its critics wrong again, Iran quickly acted
to rein in its nuclear programme. It decommissioned its enrichment centrifuges, removed the core of its heavy-water reactor and
shipped out most of its low-enriched uranium stockpile all in months. On Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency
confirmed Iran had complied with its commitments. Within hours, nuclear sanctions were removed, signalling Irans reintegration
with the global economy. The implementation of the deal demonstrates the willingness of both the U.S. and Iran to move past
their history of hostilities and begin a new future of cooperation. U.S. President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart
Hassan Rouhani deserve credit for their visionary determination. It was not easy to effect structural changes in the thinking of
their respective foreign policy establishments and chart a new course of constructive engagement. Both faced criticism at home.
There were regional challenges as well, such as the steadfast opposition from Israel. Still they stuck to the path of diplomacy
which brought new hopes to a region that is otherwise tormented by conflicts.
Over the past few months, U.S.-Iran ties have substantially improved. Though both sides maintain that cooperation is limited to
the nuclear deal, in actuality it is much broader. Tehran and Washington are engaged in Syria and Iraq. They share common
interests in Afghanistan. The quick release of American sailors whose patrol boats drifted into Iranian waters signalled the shift
in ties. The prisoner swap deal, announced just hours before the sanctions were lifted and under which Iran released four
Americans and the U.S. seven Iranians, is another indicator. But the question is whether these changes are sustainable and, if
so, what effects they can have on the troubled West Asian geopolitics. In Iran there appears to be a consensus on enhanced
engagement with the West. Despite the anti-American public posturing, often from the hard-line quarters of the establishment,
Irans political elite remains largely supportive of President Rouhanis moves. But its not the case in the U.S., where the
Republican front runners for the presidential election are highly critical of the deal. It is not clear what could happen to the Iran-

U.S. dtente if a Republican is elected to the White House. But if both nations overcome these challenges and sustain the
momentum, it can transform the region for the better in the long run. India should take the cue from the deal. A peaceful, stable
Iran is vital for its interests, particularly for energy security and connectivity. New Delhi should get Tehran on board, again.

o Crisis - an extremely difficult or dangerous point in a situation
o Dubious - doubting
o Rein - to guide / control something
o Decommission - withdraw something (especially weapons or military equipment)
from service
o Enrichment - improvement
o Stockpile - a large amount of stock (food, goods, or weapons) that are kept ready
for future use
o Complied - acted according to an order
o Sanction - a strong action taken in order to make somebody obey a law or rule / a
punishment given when they do not obey (penalty)
o Reintegration - to restore to a condition of unity
o Hostility - fighting in a war
o Counterpart - person of equal level / job
o Determination - the ability to continue trying to do something, although it is very
difficult
o Steadfast - staying the same for a long time and not changing quickly or
unexpectedly
o Tormented - great mental suffering and unhappiness
o Conflict - disagreement between people with opposing opinions
o Substantial - large in size
o Patrol - the act of checking that there is no trouble or danger in an area (especially
police / soldiers)
o Enhanced - increased
o Posturing - behavior or speech that is intended to attract attention and interest /
to make people believe something that is not true
o Elite - most powerful
o Dtente - an improvement in the relationship between two countries that in the
past were not friendly and did not trust each other
o Sustain - to cause or allow something to continue for a period of time
o Momentum - the force that keeps an event developing
o In the long run - at a time that is far away in the future

o Take the cue from something - to be strongly influenced by something
o Vital - absolutely necessary
Topic 2 : "Death of a Dalit scholar"
The suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, is yet another tragic testimony to the
feudal passions of caste that roil Indias institutions of higher education, which are known to harbour delusions of being
meritocracies. Vemula was one of five Dalit students, all belonging to the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), who had been
suspended by the administration. The suspension order allowed them to continue their studies in the university but denied
them entry to the hostels, administration building and other common places in groups. It is difficult to imagine a more blatant
exhibition of social boycott than such a punitive measure, directed at a group of students from a socially disadvantaged
community. That this comes from the governing elite of a central university makes it even more appalling. The ostensible reason
for the suspension of Vemula and the four others was an alleged clash between students belonging to the ASA and the Akhil
Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an affiliate of the right-wing Sangh Parivar. An inquiry by the university culminated in the
suspension order. It was against this punitive measure that they had been protesting. On Sunday, the young scholar decided to
cut short both his protest and his life. His suicide note, which was posted on social media, states categorically that no one is
responsible for his act, a statement that should not be taken at face value.
The police have registered cases against Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya, the University
of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor P. Appa Rao, and two ABVP activists on charges of abetment to suicide, and violation of the SC
and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Activists say the circumstances leading to Vemulas death were sparked by a letter from
Mr. Dattatreya to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, charging the ASA with being extremist and anti-
national. Trying to make sense of a death by suicide is an onerous, and frequently futile, exercise. But Vemulas death demands
it, not least because it is a national shaming. It brings the Indian state face to face with its utter failure in addressing the social
evil of caste and casteist discrimination. The Thorat Committee, constituted some years ago to investigate differential treatment
of SC/ST students in just one institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, had come out with a damning
indictment of the way Dalit students were treated. Forced into ghettoes in the hostel, discriminated against by teachers, denied
access to sporting and cultural activities, SC/ST students in Indias premier educational institutions walk into an environment
thats virulently hostile to them. Not surprisingly, according to one estimate, in the last four years 18 Dalit students chose to end
their lives rather than continue to battle on in these dens of caste prejudice and social exclusion. The first step toward treating
the rot of caste is to acknowledge it after Vemulas tragic death, it would be a crime not to.
o Scholar - a person who studies a subject in great detail, especially at a university

o Testimony - evidence or proof of something
o Feudal - a society that is organized according to rank (in which people of lower level
of society receive land to live and work for those higher than them in rank)
o Roil - to upset (someone or something) very much


o Harbour - keep (a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in one's mind /
especially secretly
o Delusion - belief in something that is not true
o Meritocracies - a social system / organization in which people have power because
of their abilities, not because of their money or social position
o Blatant - done openly without shame
o Punitive - intended as a punishment
o Affiliate - officially attached to an organization
o Culminated - reached a climax or point of highest development
o Cut short - to stop doing something before it is finished
o Abetment - to encourage / force to do something
o Violation - doing something that is not allowed by a law or rule
o Atrocity - an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act
o Sparked - a first small event or problem that causes a much worse situation t
o Extremist - someone who has beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and
unacceptable
o Onerous - a task involving a great effort, trouble, or difficulty
o Futile - having no effect or achieving nothing
o Discrimination - treating a person or particular group of people differently,
especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people (because of
their skin colour, sex etc)
o Damning - a report which includes a lot of criticism or shows clearly that someone
is wrong
o Indictment - a sign that a policy, system, society, etc. is bad or wrong
o Ghetto - very poor area, where people of a particular race or religion live closely
together and apart from other people
o Virulent - extremely poisonous or injurious
o Hostile - unfriendly
o Prejudice - an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling
o Exclusion - the act of not allowing someone to take part in an activity or to enter
a place
o Rot - unacceptable behavior
January 20/2016
Topic 1 : "Lessons from a floating armoury"


The conviction of 35 crew members of a foreign vessel for illegal possession of arms and ammunition marks the end of a
trial that threw little light on what exactly the ship was doing when it was seen anchored off Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu in October
2013. Those convicted, many of them nationals of Britain, Ukraine and Estonia, besides some Indians, were sentenced by a
sessions court recently to five years rigorous imprisonment despite a vigorous defence that their vessel, m.v. Seaman Guard
Ohio, was engaged in anti-piracy operations at sea and was looking for fuel and provisions while in distress. The Tamil Nadu
Police, through the Q Branch-CID, may have obtained a conviction under the provisions of the Arms Act, but its investigation
did not really determine whether the ship was engaged in something more suspicious than supplying armed manpower to
merchant ships. Its charted course lay somewhere in the direction of the Maldives, but what it was doing on the eastern coast
is not clear. The sentencing may be troubling for the countries involved, mainly because they may believe that their nationals
were imprisoned in harsh conditions for six months and forced to stay in India while out on bail for two and a half years. Going
by the detailed court verdict, neither Britain nor the other countries involved, including the U.S., to which the maritime security
company owning the ship, Advanfort, belongs, nor the flag state, Sierra Leone, could really help them prove their innocence.
The courts order is reasonably sound in legal principles. It records a finding that the ship was in Indian territorial waters; second,
there was no official document to prove that the company was authorised to do its business in the U.S. or elsewhere. Its
registration as a utility boat in Sierra Leone contradicted its claim that it was a security vessel. The court ruled that no licence
was produced to show that the armaments on board were legal. It rejected the defence of innocent passage and noted that its
log books did not disclose any distress. The strongest defence was that Section 45 of the Arms Act exempts arms on board a
sea-going craft from prosecution if they are part of its ordinary armaments. However, the court did not agree that the huge
cache of automatic and semi-automatic weapons, magazines and cartridges seized from it were part of its ordinary armaments.
The matter will surely be taken on appeal to the higher courts. The case ought to be an eye-opener to all countries on the
problem with private security agencies deploying floating armouries without adequate legal protection. The International
Maritime Organisation has guidelines for Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel, but what happens when these norms
clash with municipal law is an issue that the global maritime industry has to ponder over. This case underscores the need for
states to resolve issues arising out of a key, but weakly regulated sector.
o Armoury - a place where weapons and other military equipment are stored
o Conviction - the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a
criminal offence
o Crew member - a member of a group of people who work together, especially on
a ship
o Vessel - a ship or large boat
o Ammunition - objects that can be shot from a weapon (bullets or bombs)
o Throw light on something - to provide explanation for something that makes it
easier to understand
o Convicted - declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offence by the judge in a
court
o Rigorous - strict
o Despite - without influenced by something

o Vigorous - strong / forceful
o Sentence - a punishment given by a judge in court to a person or organization after
they have been found guilty of doing something wrong
o Verdict - decision made by the Court, after judging the facts that are given
o Maritime - connected with the sea
o Contradicted - opposite to something
o Armaments - weapons or military equipment
o Distress - extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain
o Exempts - to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc
o Cache - a hidden store of things
o Ought to be - it should be
o Eye-opener - something that shows or teaches you something in a surprising way
o Deploying - bring into effective action
o Adequate - enough
Topic 2 : "Growing crackdown on activists"
The audacious and unprovoked attack last week on a group of activists who held a peaceful rally in Rajasthan can only be
explained in terms of the rising resentment on the part of the ruling class towards civil society organisations demanding
accountability. Flagged off by social activist Aruna Roy, the Jawabdehi Yatra was aimed to spread awareness about government
schemes and raise the issue of accountability in their implementation. A mob, allegedly led by BJP legislator Kanwar Lal
Meena, attacked the members of organisations such as the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sanghathan (MKSS) at Aklera in Jhalawar
district, in a sign that sections of the ruling party in the State were unhappy with civil society activists entering a region falling
under a Lok Sabha constituency represented by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the past and by her son Dushyant Singh
now, and demanding answers from the authorities. While the police have registered a case and arrested some of the assailants,
it was only after video footage showing the apparent presence of Mr. Meena in the crowd was released that there is a hint that
his involvement may be probed. The 100-day yatra, under the banner of the Soochana Evam Rozgar ka Adhikar Abhiyan, itself
was as innocuous a programme as there could be. It merely tried to cover blocks across all the States districts to listen to
peoples grievances and spread awareness through street-corner meetings. The Rajasthan Chief Minister would do well to heed
the call for a formal inquiry into the incident, come out openly in condemning such unsavoury events, and prosecute the
offenders.
It is difficult to see this incident in isolation. The Centre itself has been a poor role model, looking at the way Greenpeace India
has been hounded and its registration sought to be cancelled. It is not difficult to surmise that a message is being sent out that
activism should be tempered by a nuanced deference to the states overarching interests. Even under the previous UPA
regime, activists in Tamil Nadu opposing the Kudankulam nuclear power project faced, and continue to face, hostile
treatment by various arms of the state. If bureaucratic aversion to criticism is often an adequate source of harassment and
intimidation, political players too weigh in with disparaging remarks against non-governmental organisations and individual


activists. Their influence is obvious in incidents as diverse as the prevention of a Greenpeace activist from going abroad and
the registration of a large number of cases against activists. In recent years, civil society has played a significant role in shaping
policy. Landmark pieces of legislation the Right to Information Act, for instance have come about only because the
government chose to involve stakeholders across the political and social spectrum and obtain their inputs and advice. Any
attempt to prevent the free functioning of such organisations will amount to de-legitimising key participants and stakeholders in
the countrys social, economic and political policymaking sphere.
o Crackdown - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more serious /

painful way
o Audacious - showing a willingness to take risks or offend people
o Unprovoked - occurring without motivation
o Resentment - painful anger you feel when someone does something wrong to you
o Accountability - completely responsible
o Mob - a large crowd of people causing trouble or violence
o Assailant - a person who physically attacks another (attacker)
o Probed - to try to discover information that other people do not want you to know
o Innocuous - not harmful or offensive
o Grievances - complaints
o Heed - careful attention
o Unsavoury - unpleasant
o Offenders - people who do something wrong or causes problems
o Isolation - separate (not connected to other things)
o Hound - to chase someone (because you want to get something from them)
o Surmise - to guess something, without having any proof
o Temper - to suddenly become angry
o Nuance - a very slight difference
o Overarching - most important
o Aversion - a strong dislike
o Intimidation - to frighten someone, in order to make them to do something that
you want them to do
o Disparaging - criticizing
o Legitimising - to make something legal or acceptable
o Sphere - an area of knowledge / work etc
January 21/2016


Topic 1 : "Dealing with the slowdown"
The International Monetary Fund has added to the prevailing economic gloom by cutting the global growth forecast. It now
expects the world economy to expand by 3.4 per cent in 2016. This is 0.2 percentage points below its forecast of October
last year. The revision has come just as Beijing released numbers that showed China posting the slowest growth yet in 25 years.
Though it reported a growth of 6.9 per cent in 2015, the year saw turbulence in the Chinese economy, with heavy capital
outflows and stock market volatility. The IMF has kept its growth forecast for China unchanged at 6.3 per cent in 2016, and the
fear is that Chinas economic slowdown could have a trigger effect on others. Reading the China factor in tandem with weak
commodity prices, the Fund has chosen to pare its global growth forecast. The latest IMF growth numbers no doubt reflect the
unfavourable ground conditions around the globe. Yet, they also underscore a sense of urgency in putting in place an action
plan that would catalyse and hasten the economic recovery process. Not surprisingly, the IMF has emphasised the need for
supportive measures in the near term to assist a recovery.
While ringing the slowdown alarm, the IMF, however, finds India better-placed vis--vis other large economies. It has kept its
growth forecast for India in 2016-17 unchanged at 7.5 per cent. Coming as it does at a time when global political and business
leaders make a beeline for Davos, the IMFs prediction could be seen to be a shot in the arm for Indian leaders to hard sell the
country at the World Economic Forum. At best, it could give India a psychological edge over others. But that alone may not be
sufficient to pull India to a higher growth orbit. In an inter-connected environment, global headwinds cannot be wished away.
Oftentimes, there have been comparisons between India and China in the global investing community. Managing the China
factor is very crucial for India to stay its course on the growth path. Containing the spillover effects of volatility in Beijing could,
however, prove a big challenge for monetary and fiscal planners in India in the coming days. Given that Indian exports have
been contracting month after month, the developments on the Chinese currency front are bound to pose fresh worries for the
economy. Though India is relatively better-placed, the economic slowdown is as much a concern for the country as it is for
others. Even as the IMF forecast provides India a comparative edge in wooing the global investor community, it is essential for
the government to coherently address the growing anxiety among domestic consumers and stem, if not fully reverse, the
demand slump. The budget will provide the NDA government an opportunity to announce a plan to mitigate economic distress,
especially in the farm sector, and show the political will to push job-creation as a central objective. Its a task the government
must not dodge.
o Prevailing - existing in a particular place or at a particular time

o Gloom - feelings of great unhappiness and loss of hope
o Forecast - predict or estimate something (a future event or trend)
o Turbulence - a state of confusion without any order
o Volatility - being easily excited
o Tandem - at the same time
o Pare - reduce (something) in size
o Underscore - to emphasize (something) or show the importance of (something)
o Catalyse - to make something start happening or start being successful

o Hasten - to make something happen sooner or more quickly
o Emphasised - give special importance or value to (something)
o vis--vis - in relation to something
o Make a beeline - to move quickly and directly toward something
o Prediction - a statement about what you think will happen in the future
o Shot in the arm - something that has a sudden and positive effect on something
(providing encouragement)
o Headwinds - opposition
o Wish away - to do nothing and hope that a problem will disappear
o Oftentimes - on many occasions
o Spillover - begins to affect another situation (in an unwanted way)
o Volatility - likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly
o Contracting - decrease in size
o Wooing - to try to make someone to support you or to use your business
o Coherent - logical and clear
o Slump - to fall suddenly (prices, values, or sales)
o Mitigate - make (something bad) less serious /painful
o Distress - a feeling of extreme worry, sadness, or pain
o Dodge - to avoid something unpleasant
Topic 2 : "Polarisation in Malda"
On the face of it, the violence unleashed in Malda on January 3 would appear to point to a dangerous escalation of a
communal protest by an obscure group called the Anjuman Ahle Sunnatul Jamaat. The group had organised a rally to protest
against remarks against Islam made by a Hindu right-wing leader in Uttar Pradesh nearly a month earlier a mob burnt a
Border Security Force (BSF) vehicle, then attacked and ransacked a police station and burnt vehicles in Kaliachak. However, a
deeper inquiry suggests that the violence was the result of a law and order breakdown in the largely backward and under-
developed district, which has been convulsed by agrarian distress, poverty and a political system thriving on patronage and
crime. The mob had specifically targeted the police and the BSF after a crackdown on poppy cultivation and the circulation of
fake currency notes, an illicit economic activity that is rampant in the area. It is clear from ground reports that the protest rally
was used as a ruse to unleash violence against the police in the Kaliachak area, with crime records and poppy storage facilities
being the primary targets for the looters and arsonists among the mob.
The subsequent attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party to give a communal colour to the violence is a sinister ploy to foment
more trouble in an already troubled district. Malda has for long been a pocket borough of the Congress party. The family of the
late A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury continues to wield influence and power through a client-patronage system. The Trinamool
Congress had hitherto been unable to breach the Congress stronghold despite establishing hegemony in most other districts.
The State governments business-as-usual reaction to the breakdown in law and order in Malda is possibly on account of the


Trinamool Congresss expectations of deriving some electoral advantage from religious polarisation. Meanwhile, the BJP, which
blatantly took recourse to dog-whistle politics in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, managing a decent showing in West Bengal,
has been unable to consolidate its position in the subsequent local body elections. With the increasing prospect of a Congress
alliance with the Left Front both the Congress and the CPI(M) leaderships in the State have signalled a preference for an
electoral understanding for the coming Assembly elections it is amply clear that tensions are being deliberately ramped up
in order to polarise voters in Malda. This process is being helped by the Trinamool governments lack of a will to curb criminality
and increasing threats to law and order in West Bengal. Communal riots and deterioration of civic relations are products of
cynical electoral strategies of communal and narrow-minded political outfits. It is to be hoped that the progressive social forces
in Malda will work to resist the political machinations that are under way to create a communal conflagration. That they are the
last hope is a searing indictment of the administration in West Bengal.
o Polarisation - the condiction where people become divided into different groups
and fight with each other
o Escalation - a rapid increase
o Protest - an action expressing disapproval of or objection to something
o Obscure - not clear and difficult to understand
o Mob - a large crowd of people who intended to cause trouble or violence
o Ransack - go through (a place) stealing things and causing damage
o Breakdown - failure
o Convulse - to shake violently with sudden uncontrolled movements
o Agrarian - relating to the land, especially the use of land for farming
o Thrive - to grow, develop, or be successful
o Patronage - the support given to an organization by someone
o Rampant - getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way
o Ruse - an action intended to deceive someone
o Arsonists - people who intentionally start fire in order to damage or destroy
something
o Sinister - giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will
happen
o Ploy - a cunning plan or action designed to turn a situation to one's own advantage
o Foment - to cause trouble to develop
o Wield - to have a lot of influence or power over other people
o Hitherto - until now or until a particular time
o Breach - an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement
o Hegemony - the position of being the strongest and most powerful and therefore
able to control others
o Blatantly - intentionally (when this is a bad thing)


o Recourse - a source of help in a difficult situation
o Dog-whistle - an aimed political message which is intended for, and can only be
understood by, a particular group
o Consolidate - to become stronger or more solid
o Subsequent - happening after something else
o Alliance - a union or association formed for mutual benefit (especially between
countries / organizations / political parties)
o Amply - sufficiently
o Deliberately - intentionally
o Ramp - increase the level or amount of (something) sharply
o Riots - a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd
o Deterioration - to become worse
o Cynical - believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere
o Conflagration - a large fire that causes a lot of damage
January 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Compassion on death row cases"
Death row convict Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq, a Pakistani national found guilty of conspiring to organise the attack on the
Red Fort complex in Delhi in 2000, in which two Army soldiers and a sentry were killed, has been given one more opportunity
of an oral hearing. His lawyers have been allowed by the Supreme Court to file a fresh petition seeking a review of the death
sentence confirmed by the court in August 2011 so that the matter can be heard once again in open court. The court has once
again demonstrated its inexhaustible capacity to deal with death penalty cases in a spirit of compassion. A September 2014
Constitution Bench judgment ruling that a 30-minute oral hearing in open court for every review petition involving the penalty is
a constitutional requirement was not applicable to Ashfaq, one of the petitioners before it. This was because the limited oral
hearing in death row cases was just an exception to the general rule that review petitions be decided by circulation of the papers
among judges. The exception was limited to those cases in which both a review petition and a subsequent curative plea had
already been rejected. In Ashfaqs case, the court declined to review his sentence in August 2012 and the curative petition was
rejected in January 2014. Chief Justice T.S. Thakur has, however, decided that he deserves a concession in order that even
the slightest possibility of error may be eliminated, for he was the sole convict who did not get the benefit of the earlier verdict.
After upholding Ashfaqs death sentence and declining to review it, obviously because there was no apparent error, is it not
mere moral tokenism to afford him another oral hearing? Howsoever one may answer this question, it cannot be disputed that
the Supreme Court has been dealing with cases culminating in the death penalty in a liberal spirit in recent years. It has
delivered a series of judgments widening the scope of the clemency jurisdiction. Even when constrained by an earlier judgment
by another five-member Constitution Bench allowing the disposal of review petitions without an oral hearing, the Bench, in 2014,


carved out an exception for death row cases alone by making oral hearing an integral part of reasonable procedure. By
extending the benefit to Ashaq, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist found guilty of plotting and facilitating an audacious attack , the court
is enhancing the value of due process. Some critics may question the wisdom of being magnanimous towards such offenders
and not taking a stern stand against all forms of terrorism. This apparent conflict between the thirst for condign punishment and
the twinge of conscience about sending one to the gallows will persist as long as the death penalty remains on the statute book.
Until it is well and truly abolished, it is only the court that can humanise the law and procedure relating to death and mercy.
o Compassion - a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad
luck of others and a wish to help them
o Conspire - make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act
o Oral - spoken (relating to the mouth)
o Inexhaustible - existing in very great amounts that will never be finished
o Exception - someone or something that is not included in a rule, group, or list
o Subsequent - coming after something in time / following
o Curative - able to cure or cause to get better
o Plea - a request made in an urgent and emotional manner
o Declined - politely refused
o Convict - to decide officially in a law court that someone is guilty of a crime
o Verdict - Judgement
o Tokenism - doing something (such as hiring a person who belongs to a minority
group) only to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being
treated fairly
o Howsoever - in whatever way / however
o Dispute - arguement about (something)
o Culminate - reach a climax or point of highest development
o Liberal - respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or behaviour
o Clemency - kindness when giving a punishment
o Constrained - forced to do something against your will
o Disposal - the action or process of getting rid of something
o Carved out - made or created
o Integral - necessary
o Plotting - secretly make plans to carry out an illegal or harmful action
o Facilitate - to make something possible or easier
o Audacious - showing a willingness to take risks or offend people
o Enhancing - increasing
o Wisdom - the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement (the
quality of being wise)

o Magnanimous - very kind and generous towards an enemy or someone you have
defeated
o Offenders - people who commit illegal acts
o Stern - strict
o Condign punishment - a punishment which is appropriate to the crime
o Twinge - a sudden short feeling of physical or mental pain
o Conscience - a person's moral sense of right and wrong
o Gallows - hanging as a punishment
o Persist - continue to exist (unpleasant feeling / situation)
o Abolish - formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution)
Topic 2 : "Grim reminder in Charsadda"
The attack by terrorists on Bacha Khan University in northwestern Pakistan, which left at least 21 people dead, raises
serious questions about Islamabads anti-terror strategy. The assault demonstrates that despite a year-long enhanced
counterterror offensive by the Army, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) retains the capacity to inflict lethal harm. The attack in
Charsadda in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (the old NWFP) comes over a year after the TTP stormed an Army school in
nearby Peshawar, killing 134 children. That massacre had prompted widespread anger, forcing the Army to launch a massive
crackdown on Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan lifted a moratorium on executions, detained thousands of suspected Islamist militants,
and stepped up attacks on the TTP. This had fractured the Taliban organisationally, and there were fewer attacks in big cities
last year. But, as the latest attack shows, the crackdown failed to neutralise the security challenges the TTP poses to the
Pakistani state.
This is mainly owing to two reasons. First, Pakistans counterterrorism strategy is heavily reliant on its security establishment.
To be sure, the army plays a vital role in any campaign against terrorist groups, but its focus would obviously be on the terrorist
infrastructure. But Islamabad needs a broader, more comprehensive strategy to deal with the issue at the grassroots level. It
has to identify and break up local terrorist networks, counter radical ideology, and more important, take adequate measures to
address lawlessness and extreme poverty in the northwestern mountainous region, a fertile recruiting ground for jihadists.
Second, Islamabads dual policy towards terrorism is self-defeating. Even as it fights groups such as the TTP, the Army is deeply
involved with the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network and anti-India terrorist groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Using
jihadists for strategic gains has been a deliberate strategy for Pakistans military establishment for decades. That strategy has
been proven counterproductive over the years. Unfortunately, Pakistan has continued this double game for geopolitical gains.
Even after the Peshawar attack, the Armys focus was only on the TTP factions, while it kept intact its good ties with the Afghan
Taliban, who control huge swathes of territory in the neighbouring country. As a result, the TTP, even if it is beaten by the Army,
can retreat to Afghanistan, regroup there and move back to Pakistan to carry out strikes. Pakistan is aware of these fault lines.
But it still wont amend its strategy because it looks at the Afghan Taliban as a strategic vehicle to expand its interests in South
Asia. This dual policy has weakened the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan, while making Pakistans own campaign against


extremism ineffective. Thus Pakistan remains caught between its own growing internal security challenges and a flawed
geopolitical strategy. The way forward for Islamabad is to come out of this mess and join other regional powers in a consistent
fight against all forms of terrorism.
o Grim - worried and serious or sad

o Assault - a physical attack
o Offensive - an attacking military campaign
o Retains - continue to have something
o Inflict - cause something unpleasant or painful to someone
o Lethal - very harmful or destructive
o Stormed - suddenly attack and capture (a building or other place) by means of
force
o Massacre - an act of killing a lot of people
o Crackdown - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more serious way
o Moratorium - a temporary prohibition of an activity
o Neutralise - to stop something from having an effect
o Reliant - to depend on something or someone in order to be able to do something
o Vital - essential
o Grassroots - the most basic level of an activity or organization
o Radical - relating to the most important parts of something or someone
o Adequate - enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose
o Fertile - a land capable of producing large quantities of crops
o Faction - a group within a larger group, especially one with slightly different ideas
from the main group
o Intact - complete (not damaged)
o Swathe - a large area (especially of land)
o Extremism - having beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and
unacceptable
o Flaw - fault / mistake / weakness
o Consistent - always happening in a similar way
January 23/2016
Topic 1 : "Uncertainty in Jammu & Kashmir"
Speculation continues to get free play about the next steps in government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. Since Mufti
Mohammad Sayeeds death on January 7 and the subsequent imposition of Governors Rule in the State, his daughter
Mehbooba Mufti has studiedly refused to reveal her hand. Unsurprisingly, the air is thick with talk of various scenarios. The


numbers in the effectively 87-member Assembly are such that the Peoples Democratic Partys options are seen to be many.
With 27 MLAs, it could ditch the BJPs 25 and form a government with the Congresss 12 and a handful of Independents. The
PDP could assert its centrality to the BJPs ambition to revive its first stint in government in the State by renegotiating terms. Or
it could force elections and thereby hope to reverse the perceived loss of popular support over its embrace of the BJP. Former
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, whose National Conference is the PDPs competitor in what is practically a zero-sum game in
the Valley, tried this week to reinforce the impression of a party out comparison-shopping in the sombre aftermath of its
patriarchs death, when he wrote an open letter to Ms. Mufti asking her to rise to the occasion or step back in other words,
form a government or let the Assembly be dissolved. Ms. Mufti appears to be holding all the cards, but her dilemmas too are
obvious. These range from stemming dissent in the PDPs ranks to consolidating its traditional political space as a party that
professes allegiance to New Delhi while administering the healing touch to the widest possible cross-section of the States
population, including separatist supporters.
In early 2015, it had taken all of Mufti Sayeeds stature and goodwill from his 2002-05 stint as Chief Minister to pull off the most
unexpected of coalitions, with the BJP. He had spoken of the need for the Valley to pull along with the Jammu region, where
the BJP had done spectacularly well, and the PDP sought to embed the coalition in a forward-looking Agenda for the Alliance,
seeking greater understanding from Delhi for the unique identity of Kashmir and enhanced funding for development. That
conciliatory framework sustained pressure on many counts during the past year. One, the breakdown in the ceasefire along the
border dimmed hopes of normalising ties and reviving commercial and people-to-people contacts with Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir. Two, delivery of development funds, especially a rehabilitation package for the 2014 floods, was too long drawn out.
And three, the creeping into Kashmiri public life of Hindutva issues like consumption of beef and J&Ks flag resulted in suspicion
about the BJPs political agenda, among the population and also within the PDP. These are the circumstances in which Ms.
Mufti must revisit the mandate of 2014. Indeed, there is a need for her to step up, and to do so urgently. She needs to find her
voice to articulate the vision that guides her in this extended moment of transition. J&K cannot afford this uncertainty to play out
much longer.
o Uncertainty - a situation in which something is not known

o Speculation - the activity of guessing possible answers to a question without
having enough information to be certain
o Studiedly - very carefully and intentionally
o Air is thick with something - there is too much of "something" is happening
o Ditch - to get rid of something or someone that is no longer wanted
o Ambition - a strong desire to do or achieve something
o Revive - restore to life or consciousness
o Stint - a fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or activity
o Negotiating - to have formal discussions with someone in order to reach an
agreement with them
o Perceived - to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about
something
o Reinforce - to make something stronger

o Sombre - dark / serious / sad
o Holding all the cards - to be in a strong position when you are competing with
someone else, because you have all the advantages
o Dilemma - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two
different things you could do
o Obvious - easy to see, recognize, or understand
o Stemming - originate in or be caused by
o Dissent - a strong difference of opinion on a particular subject, especially about an
official suggestion or plan or a popular belief
o Consolidate - make (something) physically stronger or more solid
o Allegiance - the loyalty of a citizen to his or her government
o Administering - to control the operation or arrangement of something
o Healing - to make or become well again
o Coalitions - group of people who join together for a common cause
o Spectacularly - in a very beautiful way that people admire
o Conciliatory - to end a disagreement or someone's anger by acting in a friendly
way or slightly changing your opinions
o Breakdown - failure
o Ceasefire - an agreement, usually between two armies, to stop fighting in order to
allow discussions about peace
o Dimmed - reduced
o Creeping - move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed
o Circumstances - a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is
o Articulate - able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly
o Transition - the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to
another
Topic 2 : "The unmet health challenge"
The first set of data from the National Family Health Survey-4 for 13 States and two Union Territories should be seen as a
report card on how effectively India has used its newly created wealth to alter a dismal record of nutritional deprivation, ill-health
and lost potential among its citizens, particularly women and children. Given the steady growth in real per capita GDP since the
1980s, and the progress made since Independence in overcoming severe undernourishment, enlightened policy approaches
could have brought about a giant leap from 1992-93, when the first NFHS was conducted, ensuring that no child or woman was
left behind in the quest for health for all. Evidently, the Indian state has not viewed the situation even at the height of a


prosperous phase of economic growth a decade ago of 39 per cent of children under the age of five remaining underweight
as constituting a national crisis. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that this failure to assume responsibility for child nutrition
has left 34 per cent of children in that age group underweight today. There is also a lot of evidence to show that the deprived
sections of Indias children have low weight even at birth due to the general neglect of womens nutrition and well-being.
It is imperative that the data coming out of NFHS-4 lead to the charting of a new policy course that makes access to nutrition
and health a right for all. Asserting this right would require the strengthening of the Integrated Child Development Services
scheme in all States, particularly those with a higher proportion of underweight and stunted children. In the first set of data, Bihar
and Madhya Pradesh bring up the rear on these crucial metrics of child development. It deserves mention that even within the
ICDS, there is a clear deficit in caring for the needs of children under three. Nutrition in the first two or three years of a childs
life has a lasting impact on her development; care given in later years, including freshly cooked meals at school, cannot undo
the setback caused by neglect during this foundational phase. Other key areas requiring intervention are access to antenatal
care, reduction of high levels of anaemia among women, and immunisation; it is a cause for concern that a State such as Tamil
Nadu with an active public health system recorded a reduced rate of full child immunisation compared with NFHS-3 data. Overall,
there is a need to assess the health of citizens more frequently than the current NFHS cycle of seven to 10 years allows. Data
gathered every two or three years would help make timely policy corrections. A fuller picture of the health of urban and rural
Indians will emerge later in the year when data for all States become available. They should send out the message that sustained
economic growth is not possible without state support to achieve the well-being of the population, especially women and
children.
o Unmet - not achieved or fulfilled

o Deprivation - a situation in which you do not have things or conditions that are
usually considered necessary
o Severe - causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc
o Enlightened - showing understanding, acting in a positive way
o Giant leap - significant and notableI progress
o Quest - search for something
o Evidently - in a way that is clearly seen or understood
o Prosperous - bringing wealth and success
o Crisis - a time of great difficulty / danger
o Imperative - an essential or urgent thing
o Asserting - state a fact confidently
o Stunted - prevented from growing or developing properly
o Rear - the back part of something
o Metric - a system or standard of measurement
o Deficit - loss
o Lasting - continuing to exist for a long time or for ever
o Impact - influence


o Setback - something that happens that delays or prevents a process from
developing
o Antenatal - before birth (related to pregnancy)
o Anaemia - a medical condition in which there are not enough red blood cells in the
blood
o Immunisation - the process of protecting a person against a disease by putting
vaccines into the body to make it produce antibodies
o Emerge - to become known
January 25/2016
Topic 1 : "Alert, fair, transparent"

The arrest and detention of at least 18 people from across the country by the National Investigation Agency and the Delhi
Police over the last few days for their alleged terror plans and sympathies to the Islamic State is a stark warning that the
authorities need to be on heightened alert. The Delhi Police caught four young men from Uttarakhand, while the rest have been
arrested by the NIA from across India. Both groups are accused of planning to carry out major terrorist attacks. The NIA believes
that the 14 men in its custody were in the process of organising a training camp to prepare for multiple attacks against domestic
and foreign targets. Officials say that both the arrested groups had been in touch with Shafi Armar alias Yusuf, who heads a
terrorist group named Ansar-ul-Tawhid that is aligned with the Islamic State and has former members of the Indian
Mujahideen in its ranks. This is a clear indication that the IS is no more a danger lurking in some distant land. In fact, next-door
Bangladesh has already witnessed a few lone-wolf attacks suspected to have been carried out by IS sympathisers.
The authorities now have the challenge of identifying terrorist modules, and possible lone wolves, without allowing any attendant
excesses. Real-life investigations are painstaking tasks, and the Indian agencies have often failed in due diligence on that front.
Therefore it is important that the government keep a close watch to ensure that the NIA and the Delhi Police carry out transparent
and professional investigations into the recent arrests. That will ensure public safety and also protect the individual liberty of
those accused of terror, but pending a fair trial. Experience worldwide has shown that the perception game is practically won or
lost while dealing with terrorist suspects. The investigations must be time-bound and chargesheets must be filed within a
reasonable timeframe. A quick trial is advisable to showcase that India has an uncompromising posture against terrorism
and will hand out punishments without any delay and swiftly, while protecting the constitutional rights of each of its resident.
Showcasing such a balanced approach towards terrorism is also very important to send out the message to the aggrieved and
those influenced by violent ideologies that Indian democracy is their best bet for a fair life. Young people drawn to various waves
of violence through history have mostly been individuals harbouring a perceived strong sense of grievance against the state.
Their violent activities are a response to what they believe to be injustices inflicted by the powerful. In India, there have been
three distinct waves of domestic Islamist terrorism since the early 1990s. There is no better way of addressing the grave threat
posed by young citizens drawn to extremist, violent ideologies than a fair, transparent and swift trial.


o Detention - the punishment of being kept in jail
o Alleged - doubtful or suspect
o Stark - extreme
o Heightened - make (something) higher
o Accuse - to say that someone has done something illegal
o Domestic - relating to a person's own country
o Lurking - move in a secret way so that you cannot be seen
o Next-door - very close
o Lone wolf attacks - attacks of a singler person
o IS Sympathisers - people who support IS
o Modules - parts
o Attendant - a person who is present on a particular occasion
o Excess - an amount of something that is more than necessary
o Painstaking - to take a lot of care or made a lot of effort
o Diligence - careful and using a lot of effort
o Fair Trial - protecting innocent against injustice
o Perception - the quality of being aware of things
o Posture - a way in which a government or other organization thinks about and/or
deals with a particular matter
o Swiftly - quickly
o Aggrieved - unhappy and angry because of unfair treatment
o Harbouring - sheltering
o Perceived - to come to an opinion about something
o Grievance - complaint
o Inflicted - forced someone to experience something very unpleasant
o Distinct - clearly noticeable
o Grave threat - serious risk / danger
o Posed - caused
Topic 2 : "Sobering reflection from Davos"
Chinas stock market turbulence and the impact its growth slowdown is having on the global economy were dominant themes
last week at the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos. And as the four-day gathering of
international finance and corporate captains, government policymakers and central bankers wound down on Saturday, the jury
was still out on whether China is headed for a hard landing or is in control of its transition. That China and its fortunes have
come to dominate discussions is testimony to the extent to which its companies and manufacturing industry have integrated
with the rest of the world, as well as to the increased international concern over the perceived opacity of the countrys banking
and financial sectors real levels of indebtedness. This was perhaps best reflected in International Monetary Fund
chief Christine Lagardes exhortation that financial markets need more clarity and certainty about Chinas management of

the yuans exchange rate, especially with reference to the U.S. dollar. A modeling study done by Oxford Economics posits that
a 10 per cent decline in the value of the Chinese currency against the dollar by the third quarter of 2016 if accompanied by
resultant competitive devaluations among emerging market peers could roil economies and markets worldwide, with the
eurozone and Japan projected to be the hardest hit. The domino effect could retard global growth by 0.2 per cent and hurt
countries including the U.S., Brazil, Russia and India. Interestingly though, the same study projects that China would have little
to show by way of gains from the yuans weakness, lending credence to the Chinese authorities assertions that they are not
interested in engendering a scenario of competitive devaluations. Still, that second-order effects of what happens in China will
be hard to hazard a guess about has already been proven by the recent volatility seen in markets worldwide. And the brave
words of regulators notwithstanding, central bankers are running out of ammunition. As Reserve Bank of India Governor
Raghuram Rajan said, monetary easing may have run its course and reached the limits of efficacy as a policy tool.
The other key takeaway from this years meeting at Davos was showcased in Pope Franciss admonition to the global political
and economic elite to reflect on their own role in creating inequality. An Oxfam study, released ahead of the WEF meet, said
the richest 1 per cent owned as much wealth as the remaining 99 per cent combined did, with the gap in wealth widening even
faster than anticipated. With politicians across continents and the entire ideological spectrum, from the far-right to the far-left,
focusing their rhetoric and stances on the growing rich-poor divide and seeking to tap the burgeoning discontent for electoral
gains, the Popes call to the wealthy and powerful to act to help address the inequality lends a powerful moral edge to the issue.
o Sobering - making you feel serious or think about serious matters

o Turbulence - disturbance
o Extent - the area covered by something
o Integrated - to join / mix with
o Concern - a matter of interest or importance to someone
o Perceive - to come to an opinion about something
o Opacity - being difficult to understand or unclear
o Indebtedness - owing money to someone
o Perhaps - we use this word to show that you are not sure about something
o Exhortation - to strongly encourage someone to do something
o Posits - a statement which is made on the assumption that it will prove to be true
o Emerging - starting to exist
o Peers - people of same social position / abilities
o Roil - to cause something to stop working in the usual or expected way
o Hardest hit - badly affected
o Domino effect - the situation in which something, usually something bad, happens,
causing other similar events to happen
o Retard - delay the progress or development


o Credence - truthfulness / believability
o Assertions - a statement that you strongly believe is true
o Engender - to make something happen
o Hazard - a danger or risk
o Notwithstanding - in spite of something
o Running out of something - lack of something (you don't have enough of
something)
o Ammunition - a supply or quantity of bullets and bombs
o Monetary - relating to money or currency
o Easing - move carefully
o Efficacy - the ability to produce a desired result
o Admonition - serious advice (warning)
o Elite - the richest / most powerful group in a society
o Anticipate - to imagine or expect that something will happen
o Stances - a way of thinking about something
o Discontent - dissatisfaction
January 26/2016
Topic 1 : "Grand words, but sobering reality"
American President Barack Obama struck a note of strong optimism this week on his countrys bilateral engagement with India,
emphasising in an interview the steady economic and strategic convergence that has occurred between Washington and
New Delhi on his watch. Indeed, Mr. Obama has held collaborative efforts with the governments of two Indian Prime Ministers,
first Manmohan Singh and now Narendra Modi, to an even keel. Notwithstanding the periodic diplomatic kerfuffle or policy
wrinkle, most disruptively over Devyani Khobragades detention, bilateral bonhomie has held in areas as diverse as expanding
trade and investment, regional and multilateral cooperation, counterterrorism coordination, military joint exercises, and most
recently, policies to fight climate change. Particularly with Mr. Modi at the helm, the two countries have steadily added strategic
depth to the bilateral relationship, whether on the Indian Ocean Region, the Paris climate change agreement, trilateral
exchanges with partners such as Japan, or third-country development projects such as those in the Africa region. Yet, some
uncomfortable, unanswered questions remain in this space, and they pertain to terrorist attacks in India emanating from across
its western border, to the paralysed civil nuclear agreement, and economic brawls that could, if unchecked, fuel spiralling
hostility.
Major terrorist attacks in India respectively in 2001 (the Parliament complex in New Delhi), 2008 (multiple targets in Mumbai)
and in 2016 (Air Force Station in Pathankot) have opened up a chasm of suspicion between New Delhi and Washington,

frustrating Indias foreign policy mandarins over Islamabads perceived double-game with Washington. While the U.S. President
in the interview this week described the Pathankot attack as inexcusable, it is a travesty of justice that terror masterminds
Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Masood Azhar are not under arrest despite New Delhi submitting evidence of their
complicity. The U.S. administration has leverage over Pakistan in the form of $13 billion in military aid under the Coalition
Support Funds programme, so why only use words to chastise non-action on this front? Regarding India-U.S. civil nuclear
energy cooperation, Mr. Obama expressed the hope that in the year ahead there would be deals for American companies to
build new reactors; yet it is hard to see how this would materialise given the insurance conundrum stemming from Indias Nuclear
Liability Law, which provides for legitimate protection in the event of a nuclear accident. Finally, a troubling question mark hangs
over India, along with China, remaining outside the framework of the U.S.-driven Trans-Pacific Partnership. Exclusion from this
trade framework may result in Indian firms losing market share to TPP signatories. Add to this the spate of mini-squabbles that
have broken out over intellectual property rights protection and compulsory licences in India, over visa restrictions in the U.S.
and a host of trade disputes that have reached the World Trade Organisation, and Mr. Obamas comment that the bilateral
relationship had absolutely not reached its full potential seems perfectly accurate.
o Sobering - making you feel serious and thoughtful

o Optimism - hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of
something
o Emphasising - giving special importance or value to (something) while speaking or
writing
o Convergence - the act of coming closer
o Collaborative - involving two or more people (groups) working together for a
special purpose
o Even keel - regular and well-balanced and not likely to change suddenly
o Notwithstanding - in spite of something
o Kerfuffle - noise, excitement, and argument
o Wrinkle - a problem, usually a small one
o Disruptive - causing trouble and therefore stopping something from continuing as
usual
o Detention - keep (someone) in official custody (for questioning about a crime or in
a politically sensitive situation)
o Bonhomie - cheerful friendlines
o Diverse - very different
o Counterterrorism - political or military activities designed to prevent terrorism
o At the helm - officially controlling an organization
o Trilateral - involving three parties
o Emanating - spreading out from a source
o Paralysed - unable to move or act
o Brawls - fight in a rough or noisy way


o Spiralling - a situation gets worse and is difficult to control because one bad event
causes another
o Hostility - fighting in a war
o Chasm - a very large difference between two opinions or groups of people
o Suspicion - a feeling or thought that something is possible
o Mandarins - a person who has a very important job in the government (powerful)
o Perceived - come to realize or understand something
o Travesty - a false representation of something
o Complicity - involvement in a crime or some activity that is wrong
o Chastise - to criticize someone severely
o Conundrum - a confusing and difficult problem
o Stemming - to take origins
o Legitimate - allowed by law
o Hangs over something - a problem exists at something (India)
o Signatory - someone who signs an agreement (person / organization / country)
o Spate - a larger number of events (especially unpleasant ones) happening at the
same time
o Squabbles - an argument over something that is not important
o Accurate - correct in all details (exact)
Topic 2 : "A debate beyond clicktivism"
The consultation process set in motion by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on the issue of differential pricing
of cellular data has set off a full-scale and no-holds-barred war of words between the authority and Facebook. The spat came
into the public domain last week when TRAI released its e-mail exchanges with the social networking giant. The telecom
regulator is clearly concerned about the unabashed enthusiasm demonstrated by Facebook to utilise indeed, exploit the
consultation process to drum up support for its Free Basics product. TRAI was scathing in its criticism of Facebooks high-
intensity lobbying exercise. The regulator minced no words, and accused Facebook of converting its consultation process into
a crudely majoritarian and orchestrated opinion poll. Also, TRAI is convinced that the campaign by Facebook to defend its
free Internet platform is wholly misplaced as the consultation paper is only on differential pricing for data services and not on
any particular product or service. The social networking giant has been collating responses from users of its platform, and
forwarding them to TRAI. Somewhere in this process, Facebook felt that somebody with access to the TRAI e-mail account had
blocked the receipt of its e-mails. That accusation was enough to provoke a confrontation with TRAI. More than anything else,
the stand-off between the two has brought the focus on the efficacy of the consultation process in an environment where private
enterprise is increasingly gaining greater clout. Also, it raises serious questions on the lobbying practices followed to shape
outcomes in a consultation process, and the potential impact on policy formulations.


In the Information Age, where communication enterprises are not just controlling but also redefining the way we interact, it is
imprudent and even risky to let them have a free run in setting the policy agenda. The right to do business does not automatically
give them the freedom to misuse their platforms to hijack policy initiatives by swaying public opinion. By means of its action,
Facebook clearly has walked into the conflict of interest argument. In the wake of rising support for net neutrality, Facebook
launched a multi-million dollar campaign late last year to support Free Basics, a re-branded version of its internet.org.
How tenable is it for an interested enterprise like Facebook to play a facilitating role in the consultation process initiated by
TRAI? The template response that it has procured from its users naturally has no articulation on the points made by TRAI.
Moreover, Facebook cannot arrogate to itself the right to represent users just because they use its platform. The TRAI-Facebook
face-off, unfortunately, has deflected the focus from the real issue: what kind of Internet access will suit a country like India with
over a billion people? A solution must focus on providing maximum benefit to the poor.
o Clicktivism - to use social media and the Internet to influence public openions
(politics / religion / other social issues)
o No-holds-barred - without limits or controls
o Spat - a short argument, usually about something that is not important
o Giant - a very successful and powerful person or organization
o Concerned - involved in something or affected by it
o Unabashed - without any worry about possible criticism or embarrassment (not
ashamed)
o Enthusiasm - interest
o Exploit - make full use of something
o Drum up something - to creat something very cleverly
o Scathing - criticizing someone or something very badly
o Lobbying - to try to convince a politician / government that a particular thing should
happen
o Minced - to speak in an affected way
o Accused - to say that someone has done something wrong / illegal
o Crudely - rudely and offensively
o Orchestrate - to arrange something carefully, and unfairly, to achieve a wanted
result
o Campaign - a planned group of activities that are intended to achieve a particular
aim
o Collating - collecting and combining (texts, information, or data)
o Accusation - a statement saying that someone has done something wrong / illegal
o Provoke - to cause a reaction (negative one)
o Stand-off - a situation in which agreement in an argument does not seem possible
o Efficacy - the ability to produce a desired result


o Clout - influence or power
o Imprudent - not showing care for the results of an action (rash)
o Tenable - able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
o Facilitating - make (an action or process) easy or easier
o Procured - to get something with care or effort
o Articulation - clarity
o Arrogate - to take something without having the right to do so
o Deflected - diverted
January 27/2016
Topic 1 : "Politics, impropriety and Presidents Rule"

It is unfortunate that Arunachal Pradesh, a sensitive border State, should find itself in the throes of an artificial constitutional
crisis. After seeking some clarifications from the Union government, President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the imposition
of Central rule. The proclamation will have to be approved by both Houses of Parliament and the validity of Presidents Rule
may be considered by the Supreme Court, but it is difficult not to discern a discredited political pattern behind the crisis that led
to the current situation. The pattern involves dissidence within the ruling party, the opposition joining hands with the rebels,
confusion over the likelihood of a floor test, and the Governor intervening in a partisan manner. It is in similar circumstances
that Article 356 of the Constitution has been misused in the past. And it was in such circumstances that the Supreme Court
declared in 1994 that the only place for determining whether a Chief Minister has lost or retained majority is the floor of the
House. Yet, the country is still witnessing the sad spectacle of partisan politics overshadowing constitutional propriety. It is
a poor commentary on the Narendra Modi government that instead of finding ways to facilitate a floor test it has imposed
Presidents Rule in the midst of an ongoing hearing before a five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. The
Congress in the State is also to blame because, having obviously failed to address the dissidence in its camp against Chief
Minister Nabam Tuki, it appears to be avoiding a floor test as it has not sought interim orders to that effect from the court.
Undoubtedly, there is a constitutional impasse because six months have elapsed since the last time the Arunachal Pradesh
Assembly met. That itself is a valid ground for Central rule. But it cannot be forgotten that events were manipulated in such a
way that the divided legislature never got an opportunity to meet and test the governments majority. The crisis was precipitated
when Governor J.P. Rajkhowa advanced the session scheduled for January 14, 2016 to December 16, 2015, and fixed a motion
seeking the removal of the Speaker as the first item on the agenda. In that controversial sitting at a makeshift venue, the Speaker
was removed and a no-confidence motion adopted against the Chief Minister. The Gauhati High Court has ruled that the
Governor was justified in advancing the session by acting on his own discretion if he had reason to believe that the Chief Minister
and the Speaker were stalling a particular motion. The constitutional question of whether the Governor can summon the
legislature on his own and whether he can send a message to the Assembly on what motion it should take up is now before the
Supreme Court. An authoritative pronouncement is necessary on this question, but what must not be forgotten is that political


processes followed should be rooted in norms of democracy, and not be at the mercy of any discretionary powers of
constitutional functionaries.
o Impropriety - dishonest behaviour

o Throes - experiencing something that is difficult, unpleasant, or painful
o Crisis - a time of great confusion / suffering
o Proclamation - the official announcement of an important matter
o Discern - to find out (recognize)
o Discredited - loss of respect in someone / something
o Dissidence - protest against official policy / government
o Likelihood - the chance that something will happen
o Intervening - take part in something to change the result
o Determining - to decide what will happen
o Spectacle - an unexpected situation that attracts attention, interest, or disapproval
o Overshadowing - appear more important than something
o Floor test - a test to prove majority (by head-count) on the floor of the House
(Parliament) for a crucial decision
o Interim - temporary
o Impasse - a situation in which no progress is possible
o Elapsed - passed
o Manipulate - handle or control in a skilful manner
o Legislature - the group of people in a country who have the power to make and
change laws
o Precipitated - to make something happen suddenly / unexpectedly
o Makeshift - temporary
o Justified - having a good reason for something
o Advancing - move forwards in a purposeful way
o Discretion - the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment
o Stalling - stopping
o Rooted - establish deeply and strongly
o Functionaries - people who has to perform official functions or duties (officials)
Topic 2 : "Consolidating ties with France"
Like many things French, the countrys relationship with India is an understated one. Yet, as President Franois Hollande


wrapped up his three-day visit to India, it would be a mistake to underestimate what the India-France relationship has come
to mean over the decades, devoid though it is of the grand claims attached to Indias relations with the big world powers. Russia
may be Indias oldest and biggest military supplier, the U.S. Indias newest close defence partner, and China Indias biggest
trading partner, but it is France that was Indias first strategic partner. As a result, and through the strategic dialogue
institutionalised since 1998, France and India have close ties on counterterrorism. These have been given a boost by the
agreement on intelligence-sharing and cooperation on investigations and judicial processes announced during the visit. In fact,
Prime Minister Modi described the common threats from Paris to Pathankot. On other fronts too, the relationship has held
strong. Despite global recrimination over the nuclear tests in 1998, France was the first to re-start nuclear talks with India, and
among the first to push nuclear trade with India in later years. While the Rafale aircraft deal has overshadowed much of the
discussion on French ties in the past few days, the fact is that France began to supply India aircraft (Toofani, or Dassault
Ouragan fighters) as early as in 1953, and has been a consistent supplier since. And over the years, the French space agency
CNES and the Indian Space Research Organisation have collaborated closely. It should therefore come as no surprise that Mr.
Hollandes marked the fifth visit by a French leader as Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade, something Mr. Modi referred
to when he said India-France relations have cleared every test over time.
However, the test that the two sides have not yet cleared is the one in bilateral trade. Despite 10 per cent growth in most years
and more than a thousand French companies operating in India, India-France trade hovers around $8 billion, which amounts to
half of Indias trade with the U.K. or Germany. A big reason for this is the impasse in Indias economic relations with the European
Union, which have been hanging fire for more than a year now; France is more vulnerable here than its neighbours. Mr. Modis
expected visit to Brussels for the EU summit in the next few weeks could clear the path for greater bilateral ties with France as
well, but India must look to other ways to build on this relationship. Some of those will come from the joint ventures and
partnerships envisaged during Mr. Hollandes visit, on infrastructure such as railways, smart cities and renewable energy
projects. But much more needs to come from Indian businesses engaging with France, even as the government moves on long-
promised reforms to aid exporters. To quote Mr. Hollande at the CEO forum, speaking about bilateral trade: We must go faster,
much faster and even then its too slow.
o Consolidating - to make something stronger

o Understated - presented in an effective way
o Wrapped up - to complete something / to bring something to an end
o Devoid - the lack of something (which is necessary)
o Strategic - used to provide military forces with an advantage
o Counterterrorism - political or military activities designed to prevent terrorism
o Threats - dangers
o Recrimination - arguments between people who are blaming each other
o Consistent - always behaving in a similar and positive way
o Collaborated - work jointly on an activity or project
o Bilateral trade - the exchange of goods between two countries
o Hover - to stay at a particular level
o Impasse - a situation in which no progress is possible

o Hanging fire - unexpected delay
o Vulnerable - able to be easily influenced or attacked
o Envisage - to imagine or expect something in the future (especially something
good)
o Engage - to become involved
o To aid - help / support
January 28/2016
Topic 1 : "A message in Amit Shah"
Amit Shahs re-election as president of the Bharatiya Janata Party for a full three-year term had probably been secured in
the summer of 2014 itself. As Prime Minister Narendra Modis closest political aide, one who crafted the campaign in Uttar
Pradesh to contribute 71 of the States total 80 seats and ensure the BJPs success in getting a clear majority in the Lok Sabha,
he had the organisations support and the momentum to take over the leadership of the party from Rajnath Singh. That
momentum may have been checked after the BJPs reverses in the Delhi and Bihar Assembly elections, but Mr. Modis and, by
extension, Mr. Shahs control of the party has not been. In Mr. Modis BJP, Mr. Shah is arguably the only claimant to the top
post. It is not only that Mr. Shahs power draws from his proximity to Mr. Modi; it is, more importantly, that Mr. Shahs exercise
of power as BJP president is seen, among the wider public and within the Sangh Parivar, to be in conjunction more with 7 Race
Course Road, the prime ministerial establishment, than with 11 Ashoka Road, the party headquarters. Indeed, the perfect fit of
the Mr. Modi-Mr. Shah partnership is seen in their joint messaging, with Mr. Modi playing the development-oriented patriarch
and Mr. Shah bringing up the majoritarian Hindutva mobilisation and agenda.
Mr. Shahs first challenge will be to reverse the impression of a party unable to stare down a fast-uniting opposition, as was
seen in Bihar. The BJP faces a batch of important Assembly elections in 2016, and just about a year from now Uttar Pradesh
must go to elections. That election may well bring the BJP full circle from the triumph of 2014, and its success or failure in
replicating the Lok Sabha sweep in the State Assembly could set the mood for the lead-up to the 2019 general election. Mr.
Shah is given to showcasing his achievement in increasing the partys membership three-fold to more than 100 million. But the
proof of success would obviously lie in electoral victories. And the BJP appears visibly lost for an effective strategy. After the
debacles in Delhi and Bihar, embarrassing for also having been fought in Mr. Modis name, it must decide whether to revive the
practice of declaring chief ministerial candidates, and thereby surrender poster space away from the Prime Minister. More
importantly, the party must take stock of the message it gives to rally its base and keep new voters interested. The softly played
polarisation of 2014 under the overarching development rhetoric, had by Bihar given way to outright Hindutva mobilisation.
Ministers have added their voice to communally divisive comments by Sangh rabble-rousers. In contrast, top leaders in the
government and the party have remained silent on hate crimes such as the lynching at Dadri. How Mr. Shah oversees an
appraisal of the partys message and mobilisation must be judged not only by the electoral outcome, but also by its conformity
to constitutional principles.


o Aide - an assistant to an important person (political leader)
o Crafted - arranged / designed
o Campaign - work in an organized and active way towards a goal
o Momentum - the force that keeps an event developing
o Proximity - nearness / closeness
o Conjunction - the situation in which events or conditions combine or happen
together
o Indeed - really or certainly (used to express that something is correct)
o Patriarch - the male leader of a family / group
o Stare down - to overcome something
o Triumph - a great victory or achievement
o Replicating - repeating / to make an exact copy of something
o Three-fold - by three times
o Debacle - a complete failure (especially because of bad planning and organization)
o Revive - regain life / strength.
o Rally the base - to get support from the people
o Polarisation - to divide people into completely opposing groups
o Rhetoric - speech or writing intended to influence people
o Outright - completely
o Mobilisation - assembling and making ready for an action
o Communally - belonging to the people of a community
o Divisive - causing great and unfriendly disagreement within a group of people
o Rabble-rousers - people who makes speeches that make people excited or angry
(usually intentionally in order to make them act in a particular way)
o Lynching - to punish a person without legal process or authority
o Conformity - behaviour that follows the usual standards that are expected by a
group or society
Topic 2 : "Denmarks absurd law on refugees"
The passage of a law by the Danish Parliament that allows the authorities to confiscate valuables from refugees is the latest
blow to those seeking asylum in Europe. Denmarks centre-right government says the legislation is intended to cover the cost
of each asylum-seekers treatment by the state, and bring refugees in line with unemployed Danes who also have to give up
their savings before they receive welfare benefits. But the reality is starker than what the government claims. The Danish move
is in line with the hawkish stand several European governments are taking towards asylum-seekers. Earlier in the month,


Switzerland started seizing valuables from refugees to help pay for their upkeep. Last week, Germanys southern states,
including Bavaria, adopted similar policies. Most of those seeking asylum in Europe are fleeing war, mass crimes and rapes.
Some of them make perilous boat journeys across the Mediterranean to reach the shores of Europe. Some pay huge sums to
people smugglers to get themselves out of their war-devastated nations. And they go to Europe seeing the relatively prosperous
and secure continent as their last hope to find a place to rebuild their shattered lives. These are the people the European
governments are seizing valuables from.
Yet, these moves are not surprising given the response of several European leaders to the refugee crisis. To be sure, Europe
is facing the biggest migrant crisis since the Second World War. In 2015 alone, more than 850,000 asylum-seekers landed in
Greece, from where most of them moved to other European countries through the open borders. But instead of coming up with
a bold pan-European plan to address the issue, the European leadership let member-states have their way. Hungary has
already sealed its boundaries to stop the entry of refugees. The Hungarian Prime Minister has, in fact, given a call to wall off
Greece from the rest of Europe to prevent the movement of refugees. Several Balkan leaders have recently demanded the
same. How can confiscating assets from the already vulnerable refugees and blocking them at the borders help address one of
the greatest humanitarian crises of our time? How can Europe, known for its human rights-driven, combative foreign policy, treat
the victims of wars as mere intruders? Besides the ethical arguments, Europe also bears some amount of direct responsibility
in this crisis. Most of the refugees reaching the continent are fleeing Syria and Libya. In Syria, besides helping rebels in the civil
war that has destabilised the country, European nations, particularly France and Britain, are waging a bombing campaign. In
Libya, France was in the forefront of an invasion that has thrown the country into chaos. And when the people fleeing these
countries reach its shores, Europe cannot just turn its back on them. Instead of building walls and seizing assets from the
refugees, what Europe actually needs is an effective resettlement plan at home, while pushing for peace and stability in the war-
hit countries.
o Absurd - stupid and unreasonable

o Confiscate - to take someone's property with authority
o Asylum - protection or safety, given by a government to people who have been
forced to leave their own countries because of war
o Refugees - people who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape
war or natural disaster
o Danes - native people of Denmark
o Starker - simpler
o In line with - similar to
o Seizing - to take something quickly and keep it
o Upkeep - the process of keeping something in good condition
o Fleeing - run away from a place of danger
o Perilous - full of danger or risk
o Mediterranean - the sea surrounded by southern Europe, North Africa, and
Western Asia
o Shore - the land along the edge of a sea

o War-devastated - destroyed by war
o Prosperous - wealthy
o Shattered - broken into very small pieces / very upset
o Crisis - a time of great difficulty or danger
o Wall something off - to build a wall around a place
o Combative - ready to fight / argue
o Intruders - someone who enters a place without permission in order to commit a
crime
o Ethical - relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong
o Destabilised - to make a government lose power or control
o Waging - to carry on something
o Invasion - the process of an army or country using force to enter and take control
of another country
o Turn your back on someone / something - to ignore someone / something by
turning away from them
January 29/2016
Topic 1 : "Mounting grievances, little regulation"
The suspected suicide last week of three women students, who were monetarily exploited by the management of an ill-
equipped private naturopathy and yoga college in Tamil Nadu, is a dark reminder of the absence of an effective regulatory or
grievance-redress mechanism in the higher education sector. Similar tragic episodes have played out in other parts of the
country as well. Yet, regulatory authorities have displayed little urgency in trying to rescue students trapped in vicious
environments that put their families in financial hardship and deprive them of a meaningful academic life. There is no dearth of
regulatory agencies governing colleges. A private institution can be established only after multiple clearances no objection
and essentiality certificates from the State governments, approval from apex bodies such as the AICTE and the MCI, and
affiliation from the respective regional universities. What is lacking is honest and meticulous scrutiny of an institutions real
strengths by academics, officials and experts vested with the responsibility of inspecting and certifying colleges. In a context
where colleges have proliferated, regulatory agencies that lack the wherewithal to physically inspect institutions grant approval
mainly based on documents submitted by them. They undertake only random on-site inspections. Many universities grant
affiliation if a college fulfils even 60 per cent of the stipulated requirements. Such porous systems are exploited by unscrupulous
colleges to submit fabricated records and obtain approvals. There have been numerous cases of medical and engineering
colleges employing ghost faculty members, or renting teachers, laboratory equipment, furniture and books for libraries during
inspections. No concrete steps have been taken to plug the loopholes in the enforcement of regulations. A simple proposal to
assign unique identification numbers to teachers of professional colleges to prevent duplication in faculty rolls has been pending
for years.


In another unhealthy trend in the pre-approval stage, courts often step in in favour of colleges after regulatory agencies reject
approval or universities refuse to grant affiliation citing infrastructure and academic deficiencies. This despite the Supreme Court
ruling in AICTE vs. Surinder Kumar Dhawan (2009) that the courts are neither equipped nor have the academic or technical
background to substitute themselves in place of statutory professional technical bodies and take decisions in academic matters
involving standards and quality of technical education. Post-approval, there is no enabling environment to encourage students
to raise grievances relating to over-charging and academic deprivation. Universities and many State governments have
conveniently adopted a hands-off approach, leaving students in irredeemable distress. Such a lackadaisical approach to
regulating higher education is equally responsible for colleges producing unemployable graduates. What is needed is not only
the strengthening of regulatory systems but also the appointment of academicians with uncompromising integrity to head
regulatory bodies and universities.

o Grievances - complaints
o Monetarily - related to money
o Exploit - to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage
o Ill-equipped - without the ability, qualities, or equipment to do something
o Naturopathy - a system of treating diseases using natural methods such as
controlling what a person eats, exercise, and treatments such as homeopathy and
acupuncture
o Played out - happened too many times
o Rescue - save (someone) from a dangerous or difficult situation
o Vicious - cruel or violent
o Hardship - something that causes difficult or unpleasant conditions
o Deprive - not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life (money, food
etc)
o Dearth of something - not enough of something (insufficient quantity)
o Apex Bodies - higher authorities
o Affiliation - a connection with a larger organization (here universities)
o Lacking something - do not have enough of something
o Meticulous - very careful and with great attention to every detail
o Scrutiny - examining something closely (for mistakes)
o Vested - Having full ownership rights
o Proliferate - increase rapidly in number
o Wherewithal - the money necessary for a particular purpose
o Stipulate - to say exactly how something must be or must be done
o Porous - not secured
o Unscrupulous - behaving in dishonest way in order to get what you want


o Fabricate - to make something false in order to cheat someone
o Obtain - to get something
o Numerous - great in number (many)
o Ghost faculty members - not real faculty member who are hired
o Loopholes - a small mistake in an agreement or law that gives someone the chance
to avoid having to do something:
o Citing - to mention / say something
o Deficiency - lack of something (shortage)
o Equipped - having the necessary tools
o Statutory - decided or controlled by law
o Hands-off approach - letting people do what they want and make their own
decisions, without telling them what to do
o Irredeemable - not able to be saved / improved / corrected
o Distress - extreme anxiety / sorrow /pain
o Lackadaisical - lacking enthusiasm and determination (carelessly lazy)
o Integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
Topic 2 : "Oommen Chandy must resign"
More than two years after it first broke, Keralas solar scam appears to have come to a head with a vigilance court in Thrissur
ordering an investigation and the registration of a first information report against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The immediate
reaction of the Chief Minister was to dismiss demands for his resignation, but this development has obviously rocked the United
Democratic Front government and further chipped away at its legitimacy. Till this week, Mr. Chandy had remained in the
scandals penumbra, shrugging off allegations about his personal involvement after packing off three official aides soon after
they were named as alleged go-betweens in the scam. The case draws from charges that prime accused Saritha S. Nair and
her former partner Biju Radhakrishnan had duped investors in a solar power company they had floated. They had allegedly
persuaded investors to put in money by flaunting connections with the Chief Ministers office. Police investigators have since
estimated the amount thus swindled to be around Rs.6 crore. Thursdays court order comes on a petition by an activist after
Saritha Nair deposed before the judicial commission investigating the case that she had paid a bribe of Rs.1.9 crore to the Chief
Minister through an aide. Mr. Chandy had been questioned for more than 11 hours by the commission a day earlier and
he had claimed innocence, but stopped short of agreeing to a lie detector test. With an FIR ordered, the issue has now moved
beyond questions and answers. For the legitimacy of the government, in deference to the post he holds, and in the interest of a
fair investigation, Mr. Chandy must resign forthwith as Chief Minister.
The leak of audio tapes wherein the voice allegedly of one of KPCC general secretaries Thampanoor Ravi was heard tutoring
Saritha Nair over the telephone, asking her to play safe in her testimony to the inquiry commission, has compounded the case
against Mr. Chandy. Significantly, two of his senior Cabinet colleagues, K.M. Mani and K. Babu, had recently put in their
papers as Finance Minister and Excise Minister, respectively, after adverse court orders in a bar bribery scam. (The Kerala
High Court has since stayed the orders in Mr. Babus case.) There is no space left for Mr. Chandy to try to brazen it out and

resist demands for his resignation without compromising the moral and ethical dignity of the Chief Ministers office. It is said in
Mr. Chandys defence that previous charges of graft and sexual favours levelled against him by Biju Radhakrishnan before
the same inquiry commission did not hold up against scrutiny. Nonetheless, Thursdays order leaves Mr. Chandy no option but
to fight his case legally. By doing so politically, and perhaps by pleading his case to his party in the run-up to Assembly elections
a few months from now, he would risk drawing Kerala into a constitutional crisis.
o Chipped - cut or break something into small pieces

o Legitimacy - the quality of being legal
o Penumbra - something that covers (the part of a shadow)
o Shrugging off - to treat something as if it is not important or not a problem
o Packing off - to send someone to another place
o Aides - assistants to an important person (especially a political leader)
o Go-between - a person who takes messages between people who are unable to
meet
o Accused - to say that someone has done something wrong / illegal
o Dupe - to deceive (cheat) someone
o Floated - started selling shares in a business or company
o Persuaded - to make someone do or believe something
o Flaunting - showing
o Swindle - to get money dishonestly from someone by cheating them
o Deposed - remove from office suddenly and forcefully
o Tutoring - instructing
o Testimony - a formal written or spoken statemen (given in a court of law)
o Compounded - made something worse
o Colleagues - people who work together
o Putting in papers - to submit resignation
o Adverse - adverse
o Brazen - bold and without shame
o Ethical - relating to moral principles
o Graft - the act of getting money through the dishonest use of political power and
influence
o Nonetheless - in spite of that
o Crisis - danger
January 30/2016


Topic 1 : "Giving cities the smart edge"
The Central governments framework for 20 cities to become smart over a five-year period can cover new ground if it
makes intelligent use of information technology to deliver better civic services. Rapid and poorly regulated urbanisation has
overwhelmed urban governments, rendering them incapable of providing even basic services such as clean water,
sewerage, pedestrian-friendly roads, public transport, uninterrupted power, street lighting, parks and recreational spaces. So
weak and uncoordinated is governance that commercial entities have wilfully violated building regulations and put up
unauthorised structures with severe impact on congestion, air quality and flood management and governments have gladly
regularised the violations later. The smart city plan now proposes to intervene and bring some order by upgrading the
physical infrastructure in select enclaves, and incentivising the use of information and communication technologies. Urban
Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has come up with a generalised definition of a smart Indian city as one that enables
a decent life to the citizens, and green and sustainable environment, besides enabling adoption of smart solutions, but the
exercise should lead to measurable outcomes.
The first batch of smart cities would create virtually new business districts in several cities, marking a departure from the
disaggregated urban development witnessed over the past few decades. This area-based development approach makes it
imperative that the resulting demand for mobility to and from the smart area be made an integral part of the plan, with an
emphasis on walkability, use of non-motorised transport and access to public transport. Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar have
shown high ambition by opting for a common travel card. Others such as Indore, Davangere and Belagavi plan Intelligent
Transport Solutions, something that has been unattainable for even a big metro such as Chennai. Although it enjoys high
visibility, the smart city programme is merely a framework for urban development aided by the Centre with a small initial
seed fund of Rs.500 crore, while additional finances have to come from public-private partnerships and local revenue. State
governments, including those left out of the first list, could unlock the potential of all cities with development policies that aim at
structural change. Improved public transport, for instance, has an immediate positive impact on the local economy. Technologies
such as GPS to inform passengers in real time on their mobile phones, and common ticketing, increase the efficiency of transport
use. Universal design in public buildings and streets would help all people, including those with disabilities. The challenge for
Smart Cities 1.0 is to provide proof of concept quickly and make outcomes sustainable. Care also needs to be taken that the
effect is not to create gated communities of best practices and civic upgrade in a wider landscape of urban distress. It is crucial
that these urban enclaves cater to the housing, health, education and recreation needs of a wide cross section of society, and
that the convergence of the Smart Cities programme with existing urban renewal projects countrywide be smooth.
o Civic - relating to a city or town

o Urbanisation - the process by which more and more people leave rural areas to
live in cities
o Overwhelmed - to cover something suddenly and completely

o Rendering - the way that something is performed
o Incapable - unable to do something
o Sewerage - waste and used water that is carried away from buildings through pipes
o Pedestrian - a person who is walking
o Wilfully - intentionally (doing something bad)
o Violated - to break or act against something (law, agreement, principle etc)
o Severe - very great
o Congestion - too crowded and causing difficulties
o Incentivising - to encourage someone to do something
o Come up with something - to suggest an idea or plan
o Adoption - accepting or starting to use something new
o Measurable - noticeable
o Virtually - almost (nearly)
o Disaggregated - to separate something into parts
o Imperative - crucial
o Mobility - the ability to move between different levels in society
o Emphasis - special importance / value given to something
o Walkability - a measure of how friendly an area is to walking
o Ambition - a strong desire to do something
o Opting - chosing
o Unattainable - not able to be achieved
o Merely - only
o Aided by - helped or supported by
o Potential - the capacity to develop into something in the future
o For instance - for example
o Gated communities - a group of houses, surrounded by fences or walls, that can
only be entered by the people who live there
o Landscape - all the visible features of an area of land
o Enclave - a place that is different in character from those surrounding it
o Cater - provide with what is needed or required
o Convergence - the act of coming closer


Topic 2 : "The trouble with spectrum pricing"
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indias latest recommendation on the reserve price for the auction of the 700 MHz
wireless spectrum could be a case where the pricing of a public asset may end up having the exact opposite effect: making a
scarce resource so expensive that its meaningful utilisation is compromised, and thus rendered unavailable to serve the larger
public good. That the telecom regulator, which has been in the vanguard of trying to spur both government and industry to
become more responsive to the larger public interest, should have opted to set such a high valuation benchmark is a touch
ironic. About 14 months ago, TRAI had, in a missive to the Department of Telecommunications, spelt out the rationale behind
its recommendations on valuation and reserve price of spectrum. While the specific backdrop of that particular communication
was the likelihood of the government opting to hold a supply-constrained auction, the broader arguments it made then remain
as germane. The regulator had pointed out that a very high per unit price realisation, while possibly helping meet immediate
fiscal needs, would only bleed the industry of resources. The high price of spectrum would also affect private investment in
network expansion and infrastructure. The financial viability of the industry, TRAI posited, was crucial both for its own health
and for the government to earn recurring revenues. All these issues are still relevant, as underscored partly by Bharti Airtels
recent results. The company has reported its first quarterly profit decline in two years, largely on account of higher spectrum
amortisation expenses.
It is no ones contention that the telecom regulator had not approached the task at hand with full transparency and openness in
its quest to arrive at meaningful valuations for seven frequency bands. A consultation paper that sought comments from all
stakeholders was followed by an open house discussion. TRAI spelt out the points made by varied participants, including many
from the industry who argued against an auction of the 700 MHz airwaves at a time when the network and device ecosystem is
not sufficiently developed. Still, considering the performance efficiency of the particular spectrum band and its utility in improving
and expanding high-speed wireless broadband services across rural areas, the regulator recommended that the government
put on the block the available frequencies in this spectrum at the next auction. It is in plumping for its own April 2012 formulation
of four times the reserve price of the 1800 MHz spectrum that TRAI appears to have made a less-than-appropriate choice. This
is particularly so as spectrum sharing and trading have been operationalised in the intervening period, boosting overall supply.
The regulators recommendation, for almost Rs.11,500 crore per MHz, if accepted, holds risks for an industry that serves a
crucial socio-economic objective.
o Spectrum - range of radio waves

o Public asset - something valuable belonging to the government
o End up - to finally be in a particular place or situation
o Scarce - insufficient
o Rendered - caused to be / became
o Vanguard - to be in leading position to develop something
o To spur - to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster
o Opted - to make a choice
o Missive - official letter


o Spelt out - to explain something very clearly
o Rationale - reasons
o Germane - relevant and appropriate
o Possibly - perhaps (used to indicate doubt)
o Viability - capable of success
o Posited - put in position (placed)
o Recurring - occur again repeatedly
o Underscore - to show the importance of something
o Partly - not completely
o Amortisation - spreading payments over multiple periods
o Contention - disagreement
o Task at hand - assigned work
o Transparency - the quality of doing something in an open way without secrets
o Openness - honesty
o Plumping - to became heavier
o Operationalised - put into operation or use
o Intervening - happening between two times or between other events
January 31/2016
Topic 1 : "Betting big on big data"
Science, as in other fields, is not buzzword-free and one such word doing the rounds is Big Data. Just how big is big? And is there any use of
spending money and producing a large amount of data in India when the West is already pumping so much data into public databases?
In the context of science, big data refers to the explosion of data now available as a result of modern, large scientific experiments and how it far
exceeds what has been traditionally available. For example, the amount of data produced from analysing the network of genes or genomes
from bacteria, plants, viruses, vegetables and animals in the last five years exceeds all such data from the fields of life sciences/biomedical
research in the last five decades. It is estimated that by 2025, exabytes (10 bytes) or the equivalent of about 300 million full-length Star Wars of
genomics data will be produced globally and will far exceed that from Twitter and YouTube.
Moreover, the genomics data being produced roughly doubles every year and will require new solutions in precision and accuracy for storage,
analysis, sharing and security. All this is of relevance to every citizen in India and not just computer geeks because it is such data that will help
find cures to vexing human diseases.


Disease-study
A study published last week in the journal Science Translational Medicine has reported the use of big data to untangle a lethal class of diseases
called prion diseases. They were previously known to have been caused by PRNP, an errant gene, and it was thought that having even one of
the known 63 variants of the gene would lead to the fatal disease. Thanks to cooperation from all involved scientists from multiple countries
who shared the data on prion disease genetics and study participants who agreed on sharing data from a large database and patients
researchers combed through the genomes of nearly 63,000 people and found that only four variants were pathogenic, three completely harmless
and no more than 10 per cent likely to cause disease. A killer disease had suddenly become much less fearsome and, through it, new ideas have
opened up on finding a cure.
There are lessons from this for India. It can begin by predicting global outbreaks of infectious diseases such as dengue fever and malaria using
customised models and an open-source framework. Big data can identify the cases of dengue fever or malaria cases on a map and predict the
spread of disease by overlaying the disease map with that of the movement of people. India will soon have the second-largest smartphone market
in the world. Therefore, by using mobile phone data analytics and real time movement of infected people, it is possible to pinpoint sources of
infection and predict areas of transmission.
Before doing this and going on to more ambitious targets such as curing diseases, a crucial step is to also learn from international efforts in large
data generation and sharing by building proper infrastructure at multiple levels. To find cures for rare diseases and others such as cancer and
heart diseases, we need to generate a large amount of genomics data, best done by building consortia on normal and different diseases and
making data available openly without compromising patient privacy. In this, we can leverage best practices already existing in the country, such
as in sectors like information technology, high-energy physics and astronomy, in building smart analysis, visualisation and interpretation platforms
for big data. Generating big data is necessary but will not be sufficient to solve societal problems unless it is available openly without compromising
patient privacy and ethical standards. Therefore, a comprehensive national big data policy framework is needed for analytical and other solutions
towards data storage, analyses, interpretation, archiving, sharing, distribution and collaboration.
Making all scientific data open, free and readily accessible without compromising privacy and ethics will be the right step. Placing data in the
hands of more than 500 million young Indians will help usher in the next phase of science-driven innovation in India.
o Buzzword - a word from a particular subject area that has become fashionable by
being used a lot (especially on television and in the newspapers)
o Pumping - filling with something (here Data)
o Context - the situation within which something exists or happens
o Explosion - a large increase in the number of something that happens very quickly
o Exceeds - to be greater than a number or amount
o Precision - the quality of being exact and accurate
o Vexing - annoying, worrying, or causing problems
o Untangle - to make a complicated subject or problem clear and able to be
understood
o Lethal - sufficient to cause death
o Errant - behaving wrongly in some way


o Variant - something that is slightly different from other similar things
o Combed - to search thoroughly
o Pathogenic - able to cause disease
o Fearsome - frightening
o Outbreak - a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome (war or disease)
o Customised - modified (something) to suit a particular task
o Predict - say or estimate what will happen in the future (especially the result of
something)
o Overlaying - cover the surface of something
o Pinpoint - to find or identify
o Ambitious - having a strong desire and determination to succeed
o Consortia - an association with several organizations
o Privacy - a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by other people
o Leverage - use something to maximum advantage
o Interpretation - the action of explaining the meaning of something
o Ethical - relating to moral principles of what is right and what is wrong
o Archiving - storing all the necessary records in one place for future use
o Collaboration - working with someone to get better results
o Usher - to guide people
o Innovation - the use of a new idea or method
Topic 2 : "Sugar tax may be the bitter pill to cut obesity"
After years of waiting, the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally took a stand on January 25 and urged governments to levy taxes on sugar-
sweetened beverages to end childhood obesity. The recommendation was based on a new report commissioned by it. The Commission believes
that there is sufficient rationale to warrant the introduction of an effective tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, the report notes.
Besides levying taxes, the WHO also recommends a host of other interventions such as increasing the amount of physical activity and improving
access to health food.
The impact of taxation measures on purchasing behaviours has been well documented in the case of tobacco. However, in the case of sugar-rich
drinks, the WHO acknowledged that strong evidence on the benefits is lacking but underlined that evidence will become available once countries
that have been levying such taxes on unhealthy foods and sugar-laden drinks monitor their progress.
Hungary, France, Finland and Mexico are among the many countries that have taken to such measures. A tax of 1 for a container has been
levied in France since January 2012 to combat rising obesity and raise funds. Thirty-four U.S. States and the District of Columbia have food taxes
that affect sugar-sweetened drinks; 23 States levy taxes targeting these drinks.


Mexico, which has one of the highest prevalence rates for overweight and obesity in the world at over 33 per cent in the age bracket of 2-18 and
around 70 per cent for adults, has demonstrated that significant reduction in consumption can be achieved through taxation. Excise tax of 1 peso
per litre on sugar-sweetened drinks and ad valorem tax of 8 per cent on energy-dense foods have been in place in the country since January 1,
2014. During the first year of taxation, a 6 per cent drop in average volume of unhealthy drinks purchased was recorded. The reduction was
greatest among households that belonged to the lowest socio-economic stratum, notes a paper published in January 2016 in the journal The BMJ.
An earlier study of November 2013, published in the journal BMC Public Health, also reported that an increase in the price of sugar-laden drinks
was directly associated with reduced consumption in Mexico, Brazil, France, and a few States in the U.S.
While the risks of childhood obesity are greatest in lower socio-economic groups in the high-income countries, data from Brazil and Mexico, which
are largely middle-income countries, confirm that levying taxes on sugar-rich drinks achieves the desired results in the target population.
The situation at home
In the case of India, at the current rate of sales of sugar-sweetened drinks, a 20 per cent increase in taxes will reduce overweight/obesity by 3 per
cent (11.2 million cases) and diabetes by 1.6 per cent (4,00,000 cases) between 2014 and 2023, a January 2014 modelling study published in
the journal PLOS ONE said.
One of the reasons for the WHO recommending taxation measures to rein in consumption of unhealthy food is the burgeoning number of
overweight and obese children younger than five years. In 2014, 41 million children in this age group were either overweight or obese across the
world.
India may be one of the biggest contributors to the global pool as obesity in people in the age group of 15-49 has increased steeply during the
last few years, as the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2014-2015 reveals.
In 11 of the 13 States where surveys were conducted in 2005-2006 and 2014-2015, the percentage of men and women with obesity (body mass
index or BMI 25 kg/m2) had increased sharply. Surprisingly, except in a few States such as Bihar, Meghalaya and Tripura, obesity has increased
modestly among women but doubled or more than doubled in men in all the States between 2005-2006 and 2014-2015.
However, nationally accurate estimates of childhood obesity in India are not available. According to a study published in the journal The BMJ last
year, prevalence of childhood obesity is between 5 and 14 per cent. The prevalence of overweight children under five years in India is less than
5 per cent, the WHO notes; this will still be big in absolute numbers.
A comprehensive national nutrition survey to be undertaken by UNICEF from March this year will cover children in the age group of 0-19 across
all 29 States. This will provide the much-needed data that can guide the government in framing policy guidelines. Meanwhile, all stakeholders
need to use the growth charts revised last year by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics for 5- to 18-year-old children to define overweight and
obesity (BMI of 23 and 27 respectively).
India faces a double whammy of obesity and underweight/wasted children. Though with respect to the last NHFS survey the percentage of
underweight children has reduced this time, it is still very high from nearly 14 per cent in Sikkim to nearly 44 per cent in Bihar. This is a big
concern as children who were born with low birth weight are at a greater risk of becoming overweight and obese when they consume energy-rich
diets and have a sedentary lifestyle.


This singularly must be the reason why India should seriously consider introducing additional taxes on sugar-laden dinks, besides encouraging
more physical activity in schools and other interventions.
o Bitter pill - something that is very unpleasant but must be accepted

o Took a stand - to have a strong opinion about something and not change it
o Urge - recommend (something) strongly
o Beverage - a drink of any type (other than water)
o Obesity - being extremely fat (that is dangerous for health)
o Rationale - reasons
o Intervention - interference in a difficult situation in order to improve it
o Impact - effect
o Prevalence - existing very commonly or happening often
o Energy-dense - the amount of energy (or calories) per gram of food
o Stratum - a level or class to which people are assigned according to their social
status
o Sugar-laden - full of sugar
o Rein - control
o Paediatrics - the branch of medicine dealing with children and their diseases
o Double whammy - a situation when two unpleasant things happen at almost the
same time
o Underweight - insufficient weight
o Sedentary Lifestyle - Lifestyle in which you have to spend much time seated
(sitting)
o Singularly - in a remarkable or noticeable way
Topic 3 : "Masculinity is in a crisis. Heres Y"
Manhood may have received its nastiest blow yet. Biology textbooks have long informed us that the Y chromosome, present only in males, is
critical for reproduction. But a study by researchers at the University of Hawaii (UoH) has shown that healthy mice can be made, using assisted
reproduction techniques, without any of the all-important Y chromosome genes. Normally a person gets 23 chromosomes the repository of our
DNA from each parent; 22 of the pairs are called autosomes and the X and Y are called sex chromosomes. The Y chromosome is present
in males, who have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes.
The diminution of man started two years ago after the research team, led by Monika A. Ward, UoH, showed that of the many genes of the Y
chromosome, only two Sry and Eif2s3y were needed for male mice to sire offspring with assisted fertilisation. Now, the same team, with
a collaborating researcher from France, Michael Mitchell [French National Institute of Health and Medical Research] (INSERM, Marseille), upped
that and produced males completely devoid of the entire Y chromosome.


In last Fridays edition of the journal Science, Ms. Ward and her colleagues describe the production of these gender-bending mice by detailing
how they first replaced the first gene Sry with one from the autosome and the other with a gene from the X chromosome. While one may quibble
that the X chromosome used was from the male, theres been related research showing that the days of the Y chromosome are numbered. Both
the X and Y chromosomes are known to lose genes over time and due to the frenetic shuffling of evolution. However, women by virtue of
having two Xs were somehow able to swap and maintain their genes among themselves. The Y unpaired and solitary in the male does
not get a chance to replenish its genes as much. Also, there are far fewer genes on the Y chromosome than on the X. Jennifer Graves at the
Australian National University caused consternation earlier this decade when she estimated that within five million years, the Y chromosome,
and the men it produces, would disappear. More ominous was genetics professor Bryan Sykes who predicted the demise of the Y chromosome,
and of men, in as little as 1,00,000 years in his 2003 book Adams Curse: A Future without Men.
Not so grave
A flurry of studies that have since looked at the proclamations of Prof. Sykes and Prof. Graves more closely have now found that the future isnt
as dire. The loss of genes, apparently, isnt a steady loss and there are long periods of stability followed by bursts of attrition.
Jennifer Hughes and her colleagues at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, compared the human Y chromosome with that of
the Y from the chimpanzee supposed to have diverged atleast 4 million years ago from the line that begat humans and also with that of the
rhesus monkey which diverged from humans 25 million years ago. They reported in the journal Nature in 2012 that human chromosomes had lost
no further genes in the last six million years, and only one in the last 25 million years. The Y is not going anywhere and gene loss has probably
come to a halt, Dr. Hughes told the BBC.
While masculinity can breathe easy, Dr. Wards studies may provide new lines of investigation for male infertility. Though these results only hold
for mice and there are formidable ethical barriers to be negotiated, one thing is incontrovertible by now: it simply isnt raining men anymore.
o Masculinity - characteristic of a man

o Crisis - danger
o Manhood - the state of being a man
o Nastiest - very bad or unpleasant
o Blow - damage
o Repository - a place where things are stored
o Diminution - a reduction in the size
o Sire - the male parent of an animal
o Offspring - children
o Collaborating - work jointly on an activity or project
o Upped - increased (a level or amount).
o Devoid - lack of something
o Gender-bending - reversing the genders
o Quibble - criticism


o By virtue of something - as a result of something
o Solitary - single
o Replenish - fill up again (restore)
o Consternation - a feeling of worry, shock, or confusion
o Ominous - giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen
o Demise - the end of something that was previously considered to be powerful
o Flurry - a sudden, short period of activity
o Proclamations - a clear declaration of something
o Attrition - the process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness
o Diverged - to follow a different direction (different)
o Infertility - inability of a person / animal / plant to reproduce by natural means
o Formidable - very difficult to deal with
o Negotiated - to deal with something difficult
o Incontrovertible - impossible to deny because it is absolutely true
February 01/2016
Topic 1 : "Push for IMF reform"
Finally, the International Monetary Fund has made country quota reforms agreed by the G20 in 2010 a reality. One could
imagine a collective, global sigh of relief as the chief objector to the changes, the U.S. Congress, dropped its intransigence in
December and allowed the multilateral lender to adopt a country quota distribution that better reflects the power balance of
emerging markets in the global economy. With this structural shift, more than 6 percentage points of the quota, including both
the Funds capital and its proportionate voting rights, have been transferred from developed to emerging economies. The
greatest gains from the reforms accrue to the IMF itself, as the combined capital that its 188 member-countries contribute will
increase to approximately $659 billion from nearly $329 billion. Other winners are India and China, who have respectively
increased their voting shares by 0.292 and 2.265 percentage points. The emerging economies wrested a 2.6 percentage points
increase. The developed nations have had a haircut in their voting share, somewhere between 0.2 and 0.5 percentage points.
Consequently, India, China, Brazil, and Russia will be among the 10 largest members alongside large advanced economies. As
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said, it is appropriate to commend [the IMF] for ratifying these truly historic reforms.
But the reforms have come so late and after so much wrangling that, similar to its crisis-lending policies, they leave a bitter taste
in the mouth.
Back in May 2011, the Funds Executive Directors from the BRICS economies openly revolted against the prospect of the
position of Managing Director reverting to a European, deepening the woes of an organisation that had been rocked by the
resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn following sexual assault allegations. At the time, Arvind Virmani, Executive Director,
from India, argued that the 2008 global financial crisis erupted in developed countries and its provenance underscored the
urgency of reforming international financial institutions so as to reflect the growing role of developing countries in the world


economy. Multi-year Republican Party obstructionism in the U.S. meant that the negotiations were dragged into the mud of
dirty domestic politics, with some threatening to veto them unless President Barack Obamas landmark health-care reform was
repealed. Law-makers relented only afteryears of persuasion made them realise that their inaction was hurting U.S.
diplomacy. Even so, they extracted their pound of flesh, and the final reform plan acquiesces to their demand to rescind the
systemic exemption loophole, which allowed the Fund to lend to Greece in 2010. It is also a shame that BRICS nations had to
launch their own bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, before the high priests of the Fund felt the need to modernise
their quota structure. Despite all these push-factors, the process of governance restructuring at the IMF has not ended; it has
only just begun.

o Sigh of relief - to suddenly feel very happy because something unpleasant has not
happened or has ended
o Intransigence - refusing to change your opinions or behaviour
o Accrue - received by someone in increasing amounts
o Wrested - to get something with effort or difficulty
o Haircut - a reduction in an amount of money
o Alongside - together (in cooperation with)
o Ratifying - to make an agreement official
o Wrangling - a long complicated argument
o Leave a bitter taste in the mouth - unpleasant / bad experience
o Revolt - to take violent action against government or ruler
o Prospect - the possibility that something good might happen in the future
o Reverting - returning
o Woes - troubles (things that cause sorrow or distress)
o Erupted - to start suddenly and violently
o Provenance - the place of origin of something
o Underscored - gave extra importance
o Obstructionism - the act of intentionally stopping or slowing down an official
process
o Negotiations - discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
o Threatening - warning
o Veto - to refuse to allow something
o Repealed - officially cancelled


o Relent - to influence or pressure
o Persuasion - to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good
reason to do it
o Inaction - failure to do anything that might provide a solution to a problem
o Pound of flesh - something that you have the right to receive but is unreasonable
to demand from someone
o Acquiesces - to accept or agree to something unwillingly
o Rescind - officially cancelled
o Loophole - a small mistake in something that will help others to make use of it
Topic 2 : "Gujarat must give up terror bill"
Gujarat should give up its persistent efforts to get the controversial Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Bill,
2015, approved by the President. First moved by Narendra Modi in 2003 when he was Chief Minister of the State, the Bill has
been facing objections on the ground that it contains some draconian provisions. The Centre refused to clear the Bill three times
when the United Progressive Alliance was in power. The Union Home Ministry has now recalled the Bill from the office of the
President, to whom it had been sent for assent. The reason appears to be that it wants the Bill to be reworked based on additional
inputs from the State government. The controversial nature of the GCTOC Bill became apparent after A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as
President objected to a clause that made evidence based on interception of communication admissible in court. His successor,
Pratibha Patil, too declined assent. In March 2015, the Assembly passed the Bill and sent it afresh to the Centre for presidential
assent. The Centre ultimately prevailed in having the clause that permitted the State Home Secretary to authorise the
interception of telephone calls on his own dropped. Under the Indian Telegraph Act, State Home Secretaries do authorise
telephone taps, but using power delegated to them by the Centre. The watered-down Bill was sent last September to the
President for his assent. It has been recalled now, possibly because of fears that President Pranab Mukherjee might refuse
assent again.
Indias repeated experiments with anti-terrorism laws have been, by and large, unsuccessful. The Terrorist and Disruptive
Activities (Prevention) Act, 1985, a law considered as draconian as the Rowlatt Act of the colonial era, and its latter-day version,
the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2003, had been allowed to lapse after it was found that they were prone to persistent misuse.
However, with the substantive amendments made to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2012, the country does have an
effective law to curb modern-day terrorism. The Gujarat law is modelled on the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act,
but that does not make it any more acceptable. The Maharashtra law itself has not achieved any remarkable success in curbing
organised crime. When it was invoked recently in a cricket spot-fixing case in Delhi, it failed miserably during trial, demonstrating
how such laws can be reduced to a mockery through improper application. The GCTOC Bill also has provisions similar to earlier
anti-terrorism laws, such as making confession to a police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police admissible in court,
and allowing 180 days, instead of the usual 90, for the filing of a charge sheet. There is really no need for more State-level laws
of such a nature. Police investigators need better resources and training to combat organised crime and terror, and not laws
that abridge and modify conventional criminal procedure to the detriment of human rights.


o Persistent - continous
o Draconian - laws or rules that are really harsh
o Provision - the act of providing something
o Assent - approval
o Admissible - admissible
o Afresh - in a new or different way
o Prevail - to get control or influence
o Delegate - to give a particular job, duty etc. to someone else so that they do it for
you
o Disruptive - causing trouble and stopping something from continuing as usual:
o Lapse - a temporary failure
o Prone - likely to suffer from something
o Amendments - minor changes
o Invoke - to use a law in order to achieve something
o Miserably - in a way that is very unpleasant and makes you unhappy / disappointed
o Mockery - an action or event that seems stupid and without value
o To combat - to fight
o Detriment - harm / damage
February 02/2016
Topic 1 : "Djokovics dominance"
For a sport reeling from allegations of fixing, tennis needed the restoration of a semblance of normalcy. And few things have
been as normal these last few years as Novak Djokovic holding a trophy aloft. So the Australian Open received the finish it
so desperately wanted after its start was hit by the BBC and BuzzFeed expos. Djokovic never let his focus waver in sweeping
to his sixth title in Melbourne, tying Roy Emersons record for the most Australian Open crowns. The win was further evidence
of the 28-year-old Serbs dominance. He has won four of the last five Grand Slams, including the three most recent. In 10 of his
11 career Major victories, he has defeated Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray, the other members of the Big Four.
He has mastered each of these great men in 6-1 first sets this year and won 17 of his last 18 matches against Top 10 opposition.
On current form, Djokovic has no peer; indeed, the rest of the field will need a significant step up if they are to even begin to
stretch him. He doesnt merely enjoy a considerable athletic edge over everyone else the consistent depth and penetration
of his ball-striking from the baseline has never been surpassed in the games history. Consider that he has continued to make
technical and tactical improvements to his play, becoming more ruthless and clinical in the process, and it is clear his ambition
continues to burn bright. Indeed, he spoke after his win of getting back to work after a short celebration.


Sport advances in iteration, but perhaps never before in mens tennis have three of the finest, most dominant champions
succeeded each other so quickly. Djokovic now stands where only a few, Federer and Nadal among them, have stood before.
A sense of how difficult it is to maintain such superiority may be had from the womens game. Serena Williams has appeared
just as peerless over a similar period, but one match in which anxiety reduced her level and a brave, inspired opponent elevated
hers proved the difference between a Major won and one lost. Angelique Kerbers triumph will conveniently be classed as a
fairy-tale run. But 28-year-olds who have never before reached Slam finals dont do it on a wing and a prayer. They do it because
they finally realise failures transformative potential; because they are willing then to stake every last bit of their being on what
looks to others a long shot. In defeating Serena still one short of Steffi Grafs Open Era record of 22 Majors, but with at least
as strong a case for being considered the greatest ever and the formidable Victoria Azarenka, Kerber pulled off an
extraordinary coup under severe pressure. Another variation of the theme of dominance came in the womens doubles. Sania
Mirza and Martina Hingis claimed their third successive Grand Slam title together, extending their winning streak on tour to 36
matches. Like Djokovic and Serena, they will look at the remainder of 2016 covetously as an opportunity to enhance their
legacy.
o Dominance - power and influence over others

o Restoration - the process of returning something to its earlier good condition
o Semblance - resemblance / similarity
o Normalcy - the condition of being normal
o Aloft - in the air or in a higher position
o Desperately - extremely or very much
o Expos - a report in the media that reveals something discreditable
o Waver - become weaker
o Peer - a person who is having same abilities as you
o Indeed - really
o Significant - important or noticeable
o Consistent - always happening in a similar way
o Surpassed - exceed
o Ruthless - cruel
o Burn bright - to shine
o Iteration - the repetition of a process
o Peerless - unequaled
o Transformative - causing a major change to something
o Formidable - causing fear or respect


o Coup - an unexpectedly successful achievement
o Winning streak - a period of time when you win a lot of games
o Covetously - having a great desire to get something
o Legacy - something that is a part of your history
Topic 2 : "Towards a law on euthanasia"
The time for legislation to deal with euthanasia has come. The Union government has now informed a Constitution Bench of
the Supreme Court that its experts are examining a draft Bill proposed by the Law Commission in its 241st report. However, it
has been advised by the Law Ministry to hold back its enactment now, as the matter is pending before the court. Over a decade
ago, the government felt that legislation on euthanasia would amount to doctors violating the Hippocratic Oath and that they
should not yield to a patients fleeting desire out of transient depression to die. The governments latest stand represents
forward movement in the quest for a legislative framework to deal with the question whether patients who are terminally ill and
possibly beyond the scope of medical revival can be allowed to die with dignity. The question was raised with a great deal of
passion in the case of Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse who lay in a vegetative state in a Mumbai hospital between 1973 and 2015.
In a landmark 2011 verdict that was notable for its progressive, humane and sensitive treatment of the complex interplay of
individual dignity and social ethics, the Supreme Court laid down a broad legal framework. It ruled out any backing for active
euthanasia, or the taking of a specific step such as injecting the patient with a lethal substance, to put an end to a patients
suffering, as that would be clearly illegal. It allowed passive euthanasia, or the withdrawal of life support, subject to safeguards
and fair procedure. It made it mandatory that every instance should get the approval of a High Court Bench, based on
consultation with a panel of medical experts.
The question now before a Constitution Bench on a petition by the NGO Common Cause is whether the right to live with dignity
under Article 21 includes the right to die with dignity, and whether it is time to allow living wills, or written authorisations
containing instructions given by persons in a healthy state of mind to doctors that they need not be put on life-support systems
or ventilators in the event of their going into a persistent vegetative state or state of terminal illness. The governments reply
shows that the Directorate-General of Health Services has proposed legislation based on the recommendations of an Experts
Committee. The experts have not agreed to active euthanasia because of its potential for misuse and have proposed changes
to a draft Bill suggested by the Law Commission. However, there seems to be no support for the idea of a living will, as the
draft says any such document will be void and not binding on any medical practitioner. It is logical that it should be so, as the
law will be designed specifically to deal with patients not competent to decide for themselves because of their medical condition.
This has to be tested against the argument that giving those likely to drift into terminal illness an advance opportunity to make
an informed choice will help them avoid cruel and unwanted treatment to prolong their lifespan. To resolve this conflict between
pain and death, the sooner that a comprehensive law on the subject is enacted, the better it will be for society.
o Legislation - law


o Euthanasia - the act of killing someone who is very ill or very old so that they do
not suffer any more
o Hold back - to not do something (because of fear)
o Enactment - the process of passing legislation
o The Hippocratic oath - a promise made by people when they become doctors to
do everything possible to help their patients and to have high moral standards in
their work
o Yield - produce or provide
o Fleeting - short / quick
o Transient - lasting only for a short time
o Terminally ill - people who are suffering with a disease that will result in death
within a short time
o Dignity - the importance and value that a person has (which makes other people
respect them)
o Vegetative state - alive but showing no brain activity (in coma)
o Landmark - an important stage in something's development
o Verdict - an opinion or judgement
o Humane - showing kindness, care, and sympathy towards others
o Interplay - the way in which two or more things have an effect on each other
o Backing - help or support
o Lethal substance - something which is capable of causing death (poison)
o Authorisation - official permission for something to happen
o Persistent - continuing for long time
o Void - unacceptable (having no legal authority)
o Competent - able to do something well
o Drift - a continuous slow movement from one place to another
o Prolong - extend the duration of something
o Enacted - to put a law into action
February 03/2016
Topic 1 : "Gearing up for the Zika threat"


The World Health Organization has declared that the outbreak of Zika and congenital malformations and neurological
disorders in newborns believed to be connected to the virus is a global public health emergency. Since the current outbreak
began in Brazil in May 2015, nearly 1.5 million people are reported to have been affected. As of January 23, 4,180 suspected
cases of microcephaly a foetal deformation where newborns have abnormally small heads had been reported in Brazil.
There have also been cases of Guillain-Barr syndrome, a condition in which the immune system attacks the nervous system,
sometimes resulting in paralysis. A causal relationship between Zika virus and microcephaly is yet to be established, but it is
strongly suspected as the virus has been found in the placenta and amniotic fluid of infected mothers and in the brains of
foetuses and newborns. As the virus spreads in Latin America and the Caribbean, it has become difficult to estimate the true
scale of the epidemic since the infection remains asymptomatic in nearly 80 per cent of cases. The Zika virus has the potential
to spread wherever theAedes aegypti mosquito, that transmits the infection, is found and where people lack natural immunity
against it. As in the case of Ebola, no specific treatment or vaccine is currently available for the Zika virus; there are no rapid
and reliable diagnostic tests either. All this is likely to change as the WHOs declaration galvanises international response to
improve surveillance, detect infections and study the causal link between Zika infection and microcephaly and Guillain-Barr
syndrome. However, unlike diagnostic tests, vaccine development may face ethical problems as it would need to be tested on
pregnant women, who are the worst-affected.
Though there are stray hints of the Zika virus spreading through bodily fluids, the virus is normally spread by
the Aedes mosquito. The WHO has urged all countries where dengue is endemic to be on high alert and look out for cases of
Zika. The current natural immunity against the virus in the Indian population is not known. And since the Aedes, the vector for
both the dengue and Zika viruses, is widespread in India, aggressive mosquito control measures are needed. Indias poor
mosquito control measures are highlighted every dengue season the number of reported cases doubled from 40,571 in 2014
to 84,391 in 2015 (up to November 15). Unlike in the case of Ebola, laboratory capacity to confirm Zika cases is needed as
clinical diagnosis is unreliable; moreover, symptoms of Zika infection are similar to those of dengue. Besides the Delhi-based
National Centre for Disease Control and the Pune-based National Institute of Virology, which are equipped to confirm Zika
diagnoses, 10 regional laboratories could assist in testing. Surveillance for case clusters and newborns with typical symptoms
too has been activated. The Union Health Ministry has advised pregnant women to defer/cancel travel plans to Zika-affected
countries. Given the prevalence of the Aedes in India, public health authorities must strengthen contingency plans.
o Gearing up - to prepare for something that you have to do

o Congenital - a disease exists from birth
o Malformations - a condition in which a part of the body is wrongly formed
o Emergency - a serious, unexpected, and dangerous situation requiring immediate
action
o Outbreak - a sudden occurrence of something dangerous (war or disease)
o Foetal - related to the child in the womb (unborn)
o Immune system - the cells and tissues in the body that make it able to protect
itself against infection
o Placenta - the temporary organ that feeds a developing baby inside its mother's
womb


o Epidemic - a situation in which a large number of people get the same disease at
the same time
o Microcephaly - abnormal smallness of the head
o Ethical - relating to moral principles
o Stray - not in the right place
o Urged - recommended (something) strongly
o Endemic - a disease regularly found among particular people or in a certain area
o Unreliable - not able to be trusted or believed
o Virology - the branch of science that deals with the study of viruses
o Surveillance - close observation
o Contingency - something that might possibly happen in the future (usually causing
problems)
Topic 2 : "Hope floats again on Section 377"
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalises gay sex, reflects only medieval prejudice. A lost opportunity to
invalidate it has been dramatically resurrected. Two years ago, the Supreme Court declined to review its retrograde decision of
2013 upholding the validity of Section 377. By rejecting the review petition, the court then failed to make use of an opportunity
to revisit the contentious Suresh Kumar Koushal verdict and bring the law in line with its own vision of fundamental rights,
especially the idea that equality and dignity cannot be denied to any section. The court has now paved the way for a
comprehensive hearing on how to protect the dignity and rights of individuals with alternative sexual orientation by referring the
matter to a five-judge Constitution Bench. The Chief Justice has noted that the case involves questions with constitutional
dimensions. The court has indicated that the larger Bench could traverse beyond the limits of a curative petition, which is
essentially a limited, additional remedy to aggrieved litigants after the Supreme Courts final verdict and the rejection of a review.
There is new hope that the Delhi High Court judgment of 2009, reading down Section 377 to restrict its criminal import to non-
consensual sexual acts
The latest challenge to its continuance on the statute book comes in a fresh context where the intervening years have seen
considerable legal progress in the jurisprudence of sexual orientation and gender identity. In April 2014, while recognising the
transgender community as a third gender entitled to the same rights and constitutional protection as other citizens, a Bench of
the Supreme Court subtly recorded its criticism of Koushal. Departing from theKoushal formulation that there was no evidence
that Section 377 was an instrument of harassment, the Bench had highlighted the misuse of the provision as one of the principal
forms of discrimination against the transgender community. Further, it observed that even though insignificant in numbers,
transgenders were entitled to human rights. That was obviously a rebuttal of the earlier Benchs claim that those affected by
Section 377 were only a minuscule fraction of the population, as though the relative smallness of a groups size disentitled it
from constitutional protection. On the global front, the United States Supreme Court held last year that the gay community was
entitled to due process and equal protection in the matter of marriage, thus allowing same-sex marriages. In view of these
developments, the time has come for an honest judicial evaluation of where India stands on the issue of homosexuality. Some


may argue that it is up to the legislature to remedy the situation. In the backdrop of a provision that continues to have criminal
and public health consequences for a section of society, the court has a duty to enforce their fundamental rights rather than wait
for the political class to come up with a legislative remedy.
o Criminalise - turn (someone) into a criminal by making their activities illegal

o Medieval - uncivilized
o Prejudice - an unfair and unreasonable opinion
o Invalidate - to prove that an opinion is wrong
o Resurrected - restore to life
o Declined - politely refuse
o Retrograde - returning to older and worse conditions
o Uphold - confirm or support
o Contentious - controversial
o Paved the way - to make something possible
o Orientation - the particular things that a person prefers
o Traverse - travel across something
o Curative - cause to get better
o Essentially - importantly
o Litigants - people who are fighting a legal case
o Consensual - with the willing agreement of all the people involved
o Intervening - take part in something to prevent or alter a result
o Jurisprudence - a legal system
o Transgender - a person whose sexuality or gender is not readily characterized as
male or female
o Entitled - to give someone the right to do something
o Criticism - the act of saying that something or someone is bad
o Evidence - anything that can be used to prove something
o Harassment - the act of continuously abusing, insulting, or harming
o Discrimination - treating somebody differently (in a worse way) from the way in
which you treat other people
o Insignificant - too small or unimportant to consider
o Rebuttal - a statement that says that something is not true
o Minuscule - extremely small (tiny)
o Remedy - a successful way of curing a problem or difficulty

o Consequences - a result or effect
February 04/2016
Topic 1 : "Time to debate Governors powers"
By imposing Presidents rule in Arunachal Pradesh even before a mandatory floor test could establish conclusively that the
Congress government of Nabam Tuki had lost its majority, the Central government acted prematurely. Indeed, the Supreme
Court in seeking reasons for the decision, and observing that the matter is too serious, underscored what President Pranab
Mukherjee had said in his new years message to Governors: they must play, he said, their assigned role while respecting the
distinct authority and responsibility vested in the executive, the judiciary and the legislature, and help create a harmonious
relationship between the Centre and the States. When the Centre sought his assent for Presidents Rule in Arunachal Pradesh,
Mr. Mukherjee cautioned against a hasty decision indeed, one that runs counter to Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise
of cooperative federalism. But the government, projecting it as a textbook case for the use of Article 356, had its way. On
Monday, the Supreme Court accepted that a Governor is not answerable to the courts for the exercise of the powers of his
office. But simultaneously it ordered the Centre to release all documents including personal letters of the Chief Minister and
of his ministerial colleagues to enable Mr. Tuki to prepare a defence against the contents of Governor J.P. Rajkhowas report
that accuses him of instigating fellow Nyishis and funding public protests to seek the latters exit. The Governor also claimed
that he had been abused, threatened and nearly assaulted by Mr. Tukis Ministers, who joined protestors and even sacrificed
a mithun outside the Raj Bhavan.
However, this is not the first case of a clash between a Governor and the Chief Minister of a State in the past year. The Governors
of Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam Tathagata Roy, Ram Naik, Keshari Nath Tripathi and P.B. Acharya,
respectively have been on a collision course with the Chief Ministers of the States. Mr. Naik clashed with Chief Minister
Akhilesh Yadavs choice of Lokayukta, and sat over the States nominations for five members to the Legislative Council. In
Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi accused Mr. Acharya of interfering in the political affairs of the State. Mr. Acharya also hit
the headlines for his controversial Hindustan is for Hindus comment. Mr. Roy attracted adverse attention when he said publicly:
Whatever gave you the notion that I am secular? I am Hindu. The imposition of Presidents Rule in Arunachal Pradesh is, in a
sense, in keeping with the record of governments of all hues to use pliant Governors to dismiss opposition-run State
governments. However, at present there is another concern: many Governors are being seen as active agents working to
implement the Sangh Parivars Hindutva agenda. Later this month, when the President hosts the annual Governors conference,
it would be in order to have a deeper discussion on the constitutional proprieties that should guide a Governors word and deed.
o Debate - formal and serious discussion

o Mandatory - compulsory
o Floor test - to prove majority (by head-count) on the floor of the Parliament for a
crucial decision
o Conclusively - without any doubt
o Prematurely - before the due time


o Underscored - gave extra importance to something
o Vested - fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a legal right
o Harmonious - friendly and peaceful
o Assent - express approval or agreement
o Cautioned - warn or advise against doing something
o Hasty - hurried
o Instigate - to initiate
o Protest - an action of expressing disapproval of or objection to something
o Abused - treat with cruelty or violence
o Threaten - to warn someone that you will kill or hurt them if they do not do what
you want
o Assaulted - a violent attack
o Sacrificed - to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another
person
o Collision - a strong disagreement
o Accused - to say that someone has done something morally wrong
o Hit the headlines - to appear in the news suddenly
o Adverse - harmful
o Notion - a belief or idea
o Hues - different types
o Pliant - easily influenced
o Agenda - a list of aims or possible future achievements
Topic 2 : "Coming to grips with female foeticide"
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhis clarifications over her remarks on the existing ban on
sex-selective abortions should put the focus back on the real issues. There are three aspects to the proposal that she put forth
at a conference in Jaipur: establish the sex of the foetus when a pregnancy is detected; tell the mother about it and register the
fact in public records; and ensure that deliveries happen only in institutions and not at home. This twin strategy of tracking sex-
determined foetuses and requiring institutional deliveries is expected to ensure that female babies are not aborted, or killed at
birth. While this idea might seem persuasive, like many technological fixes it betrays a worrying lack of awareness of social
realities. The very attempt to record the status of the foetus involves the obvious risk of exposing women to undue psychological
and social pressure to abort female foetuses. Two, such an intrusion by the state into a womans personal-biological space is
unwelcome, even Orwellian. That such suggestions are being floated no matter how quickly they are withdrawn in the face
of criticism is an indication of Indias persisting inability to address the problem of female foeticide, and the continuum of
social ills that this practice reflects.


At the moment, there are few incentives for medical technicians, apart from public interest, to withhold information from families
on the gender of the foetus. And when such violations have come to light, prosecution has been indifferent. Maharashtra is
believed to have come down severely on errant doctors and clinics, which is significant given the likely impact the States large
population could have on child sex ratios. The record of Punjab and Haryana, with a high prevalence of sex-selective abortions,
also points to a modicum of enforcement. But there is a long way to go. After all, where traditional cultural norms dictate a strong
preference for boys, recourse to medical technologies could well reinforce socially detrimental personal choices. Clearly, the
emphasis ought to be on the reversal of Indias adverse sex ratio among children in the 0-6 year age group. On a national
average, the number of girls for every 1,000 boys in this segment of the population dipped to 918 in the 2011 decennial
population Census, with more disturbing regional variations. The corresponding figures were 927 and 933 in 1991 and 2001,
respectively. Notably, Ms. Gandhis six-time constituency of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh has seen a sharp drop in the child sex ratio
in the 2001-2011 inter-Census period. At 940, the figure was above the national average in 2001, but declined dramatically to
912 in the last Census. Pilibhit could easily set an example for the whole country, if only by a scrupulous compliance with the
spirit of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, under which any disclosure of the foetal status
is a punishable offence.
o Foeticide - the crime of killing a baby that has not yet been born
o Aspect - part of a situation / problem
o Put forth - to suggest an idea for consideration
o Persuasive - having the power or ability to convince
o Betray - unintentionally reveal (do not do what yo promissed)
o Undue - exceeding what is appropriate or normal (excessive)
o Floated - to suggest a plan or an idea to be considered
o Persisting - continues to exist (an unpleasant feeling)
o Continuum - a continuous sequence
o Incentive - a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something
o Withhold - to refuse to give something or to keep back something
o Violation - the act of doing something that is not allowed by a law or rule
o Come to light - to become known publicly
o Severely - strictly or harshly
o Errant - behaving wrongly in some way
o Prevalence - happening often
o Modicum - a small quantity of a particular thing (something Good)
o Detrimental - causing harm or damage
o Adverse - having a negative or harmful effect on something
o Dipped - to go down to a lower level
o Decennial - happening every ten years


o Declined - reduced
o Scrupulous - doing everything correctly and exactly as it should be done
o Compliance - obeying a law / rule
o Conception - the creation of child
o Pre-Natal - before birth (related to pregnancey)
February 05/2016
Topic 1 : "Mehbooba Mufti must take a call"
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti finally sent out a clear message to the Bharatiya Janata Party this
week. The Centre, she said, must initiate Jammu and Kashmir-specific confidence building measures to create an atmosphere
congenial for [the] formation of the new government, and announce a timeline to implement the Agenda for Alliance that the
BJP signed on to when it joined the PDP-led government headed by her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. His death a month
ago created a political vacuum that Ms. Mufti appeared reluctant to fill in a hurry. She was not just mourning the death of a father
who was a mentor and a comrade, but like her party colleagues, she too was not keen to continue with the alliance. In the 10
months that the Mufti government held office, the PDP saw a steady erosion in its support base, with the advantage perceived
to be going to the National Conference and the Congress. This was largely because the BJP had used the time to promote the
Sangh Parivars agenda. When Mr. Sayeed agreed last year to a political arrangement with the BJP, it was based as much on
his reading of the election results as it was on an agreement to honour the Agenda of Alliance that eschewed controversial
issues. The expectation was that aligning the PDP with the BJP would lead the Centre to cast an indulgent eye on Jammu and
Kashmirs developmental needs.
However, the BJPs national leadership allowed its State unit to foment trouble, instigated controversies on sensitive issues
ranging from consumption of beef to flying the State flag alongside the national tricolour, thereby unsettling the atmosphere
needed for good governance. Mr. Sayeeds death has provided the PDP the opportunity to hit the pause button to remind the
BJP of its obligations and, from a partisan perspective, recover lost political ground. The BJP has sought time to consider its
options: its State unit is eager to form a government again, but the national leadership has not demonstrated any eagerness in
this direction. While it is not clear how much should be read into the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not visit Mr.
Sayeed when he was being treated in a Delhi hospital, it is evident that there has been no visible overture from any senior BJP
leader after his death either. But differences between alliance partners cannot be sufficient reason for any brinkmanship that
could jeopardise governance. Indeed, it is only after Governor N.N. Vohra took the initiative to communicate the requirement
that there has been any movement. As constitutional expert A.G. Noorani argues, the PDP-BJP government has not lost its
majority in the House, and the creation of a political deadlock for political reasons should not be permitted. It is clearly time
that Ms. Mufti bit the bullet and accepted the responsibility of providing the troubled State with a government or stepped up
to the situation and said that her party is out of the reckoning in the government-formation process.
o Congenial - friendly and pleasant

o Timeline - a plan that shows how long something will take or when
things will happen


o Vacuum - an empty space
o Reluctant - unwilling to do something
o Mourning - the expression of sorrow for someone's death
o Comrade - a friend who you supports you in difficult and dangerous
situations
o Erosion - damage
o Perceived - came to realize or understand something
o Eschewed - to avoid something intentionally
o Aligning - give support to someone
o Indulgent- allowing someone do what they want (especially when this
is not good for them)
o Foment trouble - to cause or develop trouble
o Instigated - initiated
o Obligations - something that you must do
o Perspective - point of view
o Overture - a communication made to someone in order to offer
something
o Brinkmanship - the activity of trying to get what you want by saying
that if you do not get it, you will do something dangerous
o Jeopardise - to put (someone or something) into a dangerous situation
o Reckoning - the process of calculating or estimating something
Topic 2 : "A racist turn in Bengaluru"
Less than four months after an Australian man was violently harassed for sporting a tattoo of an Indian goddess, Bengaluru
is in the news again, for sinking to new lows of bigotry and vigilantism. This time it was a Tanzanian woman at the receiving
end of mob fury. It all reportedly began with an accident in which a Sudanese national drove his car over a 35-year-old woman,
killing her. A mob quickly gathered, determined to mete out instant justice. When he managed to flee, his car was burnt down.
Half an hour later, a Tanzanian student who happened to be passing by with her friends stopped by to inquire what was going
on. The mob turned its ire on her and her three friends even though they were in no way connected to the Sudanese man


involved in the accident other than being, in the eyes of the mob, of the same race as the Sudanese, African. She was
chased, assaulted, and had her clothes torn by the mob before being rescued. Her car, too, was torched. The incident occurred
on Sunday, but the police did not register a complaint until Tuesday. The lackadaisical response of the law and order machinery
prompted the Tanzanian High Commission to register a protest with the Indian government. This, in turn, prompted External
Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to write to Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah. By Thursday, four suspects had been
arrested and investigations are currently on.
The entire episode raises a disturbing question: is it any longer possible, or even plausible, to express shock at what has
happened? Such acts of violence are not peculiar to Bengaluru alone. Indeed, something like this did happen, not too long ago,
in Delhi. Under the controversial guidance of a Law Minister of the State, African women were branded as prostitutes and
molested in a midnight raid. The Bengaluru mob, too, seems to have given free rein to racism. The repeated targeting of
Africans suggests a case of pathological colourism discrimination and hostility directed against dark-skinned people. Indians
cultural preference for fair skin is well known, and amply attested by the vast market for fairness creams. It is quite common to
find people remark admiringly on how fair a newborn baby is. And matrimonial advertisements are notorious for seeking fair
brides. However, to reduce the depressing message from this episide to skin colour alone would be to underestimate the
discrimination and violence in India against those who are visibly different. Some years ago, Bengaluru saw an exodus of
young people from northeastern India residing in the city after rumours spread of violence targeting them. In the national capital,
even as the megalopolis becomes more cosmopolitan, the periodicity of assaults on residents from the northeast is such that
there appears to be a pattern. Certainly, both the citizenry and the law and order machinery need to be sensitised to the
prejudices. But the task can only be achieved if strong political expression is given to the essential value of diversity and
tolerance.
o Racist - believing that other races are not as good as your own and
therefore treating them unfairly
o Sporting - showing
o Bigotry - intolerance towards those who have different opinions than
you
o Vigilantism - taking the law into your own hands
o At the receiving end of something - suffered because of something
o Determined - wanting to do something very much and not allowing
anyone to stop
o Mete something out - to give or order a punishment (especially cruel
or unfair treatment)
o Ire - anger
o Assaulted - to make a physical attack
o Mob - a large crowd of people (causing trouble or violence)
o Rescued - saved (someone) from a dangerous or difficult situation
o Torched - to set fire
Lackadaisical - lacking enthusiasm and determination (carelessly lazy)
o

o Machinery - organization
o Prompt - to make something happen
o Protest - a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to
something
o Plausible - able to be believed
o Peculiar - strange
o Molest - to touch or attack someone in a sexual way against their wishes
o Free rein - the freedom to do, say what you want
o Pathological - related to people who are unable to control their
behaviour (unreasonable)
o Colourism - discrimination against people with a dark skin tone
o Discrimination - treating a person or particular group of people
differently (in a worse way)
o Hostility - unfriendliness
o Amply - sufficiently
o Attested - provided
o Vast - extremely big
o Exodus - a lot of people from a place leaving at the same time
o Megalopolis - a very large, heavily populated city
o Citizenry - the group of people who live in a particular country or place
o Diversity - many different types of things or people being included in
same place
o Tolerance - willingness to accept behaviour and beliefs of others
February 06/2016
Topic 1 : "The case against Ashok Chavan"
When one Governor refuses to accord sanction to prosecute a former Chief Minister but another, his successor, grants it in the
same case, some legal questions are bound to arise. Yet, on an overall assessment of the twists and turns in the Adarsh
Cooperative Housing Society scandal in Mumbai, the latest decision of Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao to allow the
prosecution of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan ought to be welcomed as a positive move towards public accountability.
There was an alleged element of quid pro quo in Mr. Chavans favourable decisions while in office and the fact that his mother-
in-law and the brother of his father-in-law had flats allotted in the society. It is only just and fair that the trial court is given an
opportunity to assess the legal consequence of Mr. Chavans actions. The earlier refusal of former Governor K.
Sankaranarayanan to grant sanction to prosecute Mr. Chavan had derailed the entire case against him, as the Central Bureau
of Investigation moved to delete his name from the charge sheet. However, the Special CBI Court declined the request, noting


that the charge under the Prevention of Corruption Act does not go away merely because the Governor refused sanction for the
offences of cheating and conspiracy. Mr. Chavan has questioned the legality of the CBI approaching the Governor for sanction
for a second time after Mr. Sankaranarayanan had gone into the matter and refused it. However, the State governments advice
to the present Governor to accord sanction is based on new facts.
The fresh grounds relate to the observations of the Justice J.A. Patil Commission report which talked of a nexus established
between the acts of Mr. Ashok Chavan and the benefit derived by his close relatives in the form of membership of Adarsh CHS,
and a Bombay High Court order in 2014 upholding the trial courts refusal to drop his name from the charge sheet. It cannot be
forgotten that the entire issue of according sanction to prosecute a public servant for the offences of conspiracy, cheating and
forgery is only academic. In 2006, the Supreme Court had laid down that by their very nature such offences do not require prior
sanction as they cannot be regarded as having been committed by a public servant in the discharge of official duties. It is
surprising that the CBI approached the Governor for sanction in the first place under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure
Code for the offences of conspiracy and cheating. In any case, it could have gone ahead with the prosecution in respect of the
Prevention of Corruption Act, which does not require sanction after the accused has demitted office. The idea of shielding public
servants from frivolous complaints is the ostensible justification for the sanction provision in law. This technical requirement,
however, has more often been a shield for corrupt public servants, especially political leaders. The sooner this bugbear of
legitimate prosecution is abolished, the better it would be for probity in public life.
o Accord - an official agreement

o Successor - a person who follows next in order
o Assessment - the action of evaluating
o Twists and turns - complicated dealings
o Scandal - an actio that causes a public feeling of shock and strong moral
disapproval
o Ought to - need to
o Alleged - said (without proof)
o Quid pro quo - a favour or advantage granted in return for something
o Derailed - to prevent a plan or process from succeeding
o Declined - politely refused
o Conspiracy - the activity of secretly planning with other people to do something
bad or illegal
o Nexus - an important connection between group of things
o Derived - to get something
o Uphold - confirm or support
o Sanction - official permission or approval for an action
o Demitted - resign from (an office or position)
o Frivolous - not having any serious purpose or value


o Ostensible - appearing to be one thing when it is really something else
o Bugbear - a particular thing that annoys or upsets you
o Abolished - to end an activity officially
o Probity - the quality of having strong moral principles (honesty)
Topic 2 : "A jobs scheme that steadied India"
It is now a decade since the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched, and it can be
said with reasonable assurance that the programme has been largely successful in living up to what it set out to do: provide
employment to Indias rural poor and improve their livelihoods. Sceptics of the spending programme, launched in 2006, had
raised concerns that it would be yet another opportunity for middlemen to pocket funds. They had dismissed the argument that
the design of MGNREGS as a demand-driven scheme would make it more targeted and less prone to leakage. Ten years on,
the sceptics have been largely proved wrong. Yes, the efficiency of implementation of the scheme varies across States, there
is a degree of wastage of resources, there is an issue with delayed payments, works undertaken have not held up in some
States, and there remains some information asymmetry leading to uneven implementation. Yet, by and large, study after study
has found that MGNREGS has served as a source of employment for the poor in distress situations such as drought, crop
failures and lean rural employment days. It has helped raise rural wages steadily over time, and in places where it has been
implemented well, built rural assets such as irrigation canals and roads have augmented local infrastructure.
Yet, it is also evident now that over the last five years there has been sluggishness in MGNREGSs implementation. There have
been ups and downs in the Central outlay for the scheme, in terms of allocations as a percentage of overall budget spending
and, most importantly, delays in releasing funds to States for wage payments. This has led to a relative slack in demand and
consequently a drop in the work hours and even a decline in the average rural wage rate increases in these years. This is
primarily because both the Congress-led UPA in its second term in government and the current BJP-led regime have been less
than enthusiastic about the need for the scheme. Indeed, data show that only in the past year has the BJP government come
around to realising its utility, even if grudgingly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had remarked last year that his government saw
MGNREGS as a symbol of the failures of the Congress governments, and that after 60 years, it was a travesty that we were
still making people dig holes. These remarks symbolised, at one level, a flawed understanding of the scheme, and at another,
a negative mindset about demand-driven welfarism. It took a distressed agrarian situation with the failure of the rabi crop and
less-than-optimal rains for the MGNREGS to get its due, and the proportion of delayed payments was reduced in the first three
quarters of 2015-16 from what it was in 2014-15. Even so, the implementation of the scheme has continued to be better in some
States as opposed to even drought-hit States. It is clear that there needs to be a better political understanding of the need for
and the efficacy of welfarism.
o Living up to something - to be as good as something / someone hopes

o Livelihood - the way someone earns the money people need to pay for food, a
place to live, clothing, etc


o Sceptics - people who questions or doubts something
o Prone - likely to experience a particular problem
o Varies - different from each other
o Asymmetry - lack of equality or equivalence between parts of something
o Uneven - not regular / equal
o Drought - a long period when there is no rain
o Augment - to increase the size or value of something by adding something to it
o Sluggishness - moving or operating more slowly than usual and with less energy
or power
o Outlay - an amount of money spent on something
o Slack - loose
o Decline - reduction [Note : In the above article Decline means to refuse politely]
o Grudgingly - unwillingly
o Travesty - represent in a false way
o Flawed - not perfect (containing mistakes)
o Efficacy - the ability to produce a desired or intended result
February 07/2016
Topic 1 : "Nuclear ambiguities"
Indias nuclear politics was in the limelight again last week, and not for the best of reasons. More than five years after it signed
the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC), India ratified the insurance pooling agreement, which pertains to
civil liability in the event of a nuclear accident in any of the acceding countries. Prima facie, this was a good move, bringing to
an end a game of will-they-or-wont-they, which had cast India in poor light internationally and which sat uncomfortably beside
three hard-fought nuclear landmarks the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement (CNA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
waiver, both passed in 2008, and Indias Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), which became law in 2010. However,
Indias CSC ratification does not clear the air so far as an important stumbling block to bilateral nuclear commerce is concerned:
is CLNDA truly in conformity with the CSC, as Indian officials have repeatedly claimed, or does it cast a shadow of doubt on
supplier liability, which is a matter of critical importance to U.S. nuclear corporations? The ambiguity stems from two clauses of
CLNDA, Sections 17(b) and 46. Under Section 17(b), liability for a nuclear accident can be channelled from the operator, which
is the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, to suppliers of nuclear material, specifically if the accident is due to an act of the
supplier or his employee, which includes supply of equipment or material with patent or latent defects or sub-standard services.
Section 46 permits victims of a nuclear incident to sue the operator or the supplier for damages applying tort law, even though
such proceedings would be beyond the scope of CLNDA and its liability cap, and thus exposing suppliers to unlimited liability.


Both clauses are likely to raise suppliers cost of insurance cover, possibly beyond what is feasible commercially and within the
confines of competitive energy pricing.
Indias CSC ratification is a reminder of the steep fall from the heady days of the announcement of the CNA a decade ago to
the weak and unconvincing efforts by the Narendra Modi administration, following U.S. President Barack Obamas visit to
India, to persuade corporations such as General Electric-Hitachi and Westinghouse that they would not be liable in the event
of an accident. Indias reliance on contractual rules and parliamentary debates to explain away supplier concerns has been
greeted with scepticism by representatives of U.S. nuclear corporations first on the grounds that no rule can supersede
constitutional statute, and second, as there are other, on-record views in Parliament that contradict those cited by the MEA.
While the liability morass has stymied U.S. investment in Indian reactors, Russia, France and Japan have moved forward with
their respective bilateral agreements for nuclear commerce. This suggests that the recognition of India as a responsible nuclear
power by the international community the U.S. and the other NSG states has allowed for windows of opportunity for nuclear
commerce in India, even in the post-Fukushima world.
o Ambiguity - unclearness / confusion

o Limelight - the focus of public attention
o Convention - a formal agreement
o Supplementary - extra
o Compensation - money that is paid to someone in exchange for something that
has been lost or damaged or for some problem
o Ratified - to make an agreement official
o Pooling - the act of sharing or combining two or more things
o Pertain - related to something
o Liability - the state of being legally responsible for something
o Accede - agree to a demand / request / proposal
o Prima facie - based on the first impression
o Waiver - an agreement that you do not have to pay or obey something
o Clear the air - to remove the bad feelings between people
o Stumbling block - something that prevents action or agreement
o Conformity - behaviour that follows the usual standards that are expected by a
group or society
o Claimed - to say that something is true or is a fact (although you cannot prove it
and other people might not believe it)
o Latent - existing but not yet developed
o Victims - people who are suffered because of something
o Sue - to take legal action against a person or organization
o Tort - a wrongful act
o Feasible - capable of doing something without too much difficulty


o Confines - the outer limits of something
o Ratification - the act of voting on a decision or signing a written agreement to
make it official
o Steep fall - very quick fall
o Heady - having a strong effect
o Persuade - to convince someone to do something
o Scepticism - doubting that something is true or useful
o Supersede - to replace something, especially something older or more old-
fashioned
o Statute - a law that has been formally approved and written down
o Contradict - show to be false / prove negative
o Cited - refered / mentioned
o Morass - a complicated or confused situation
o Stymied - to prevent something from happening
Topic 2 : "Harbinger of change in global trade"
The formal signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by the 12 member-countries of the mega-regional free trade
agreement is a milestone for international trade and, by extension, the global economy. With worldwide trade having slowed
sharply since the 2008 financial crisis and now faced with headwinds from Chinas slowdown, the deal, yet to be ratified, could
provide a much-needed fillip to growth. As the World Bank noted in a study in January on the macro-economic implications of
the TPP, the pact could, by 2030, help boost the overall GDP of member-countries by 1.1 per cent. And given that the grouping
includes two of the worlds three largest economies the U.S. and Japan and overall accounts for more than one-third of
the worlds economic output, the spillover benefits would be significant. Moreover, given the diversity of the member-countries
from the mineral-rich, trade-intensive Latin American economies of Peru and Chile, to the NAFTA triumvirate of Canada, the
U.S. and Mexico, ASEAN members Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam, trans-Tasman neighbours Australia and New
Zealand, and Japan the TPP also demonstrates a willingness to look beyond domestic political considerations and hammer
out a far-reaching agreement that could act as a template for future multilateral trade deals. Yet, the pact is far from a done deal
as it still needs to win legislative backing in the member-states. That may be far more difficult than the seven-year-long
negotiations, with both the Democratic presidential candidates and two leading Republican contenders in the U.S., Donald
Trump and Ted Cruz, opposed to it. Mr. Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders are the most vocal critics, arguing that the TPP
will cost American jobs.
For India, the agreement provides an opportunity to reflect on its approach to multilateral trade talks, while underscoring the
need to build a strong multi-disciplinary cadre of specialist free-trade analysts and negotiators. Though the World Bank projects
a limited trade diversion impact on non-members, including aggregate GDP losses of about 0.1 per cent by 2030, India could


suffer market share losses in certain categories of exports as a result of preference erosion. With the South Asian Free Trade
Agreement (SAFTA) having made little to no difference to Indias terms of trade in the neighbourhood, and the country having
ceded substantial ground at the latest Nairobi meeting of the World Trade Organisation, it is high time the government proactively
girded for the challenges ahead. Like China, where an editorial in the state-run Global Times exhorted the Asian giants
leadership to focus on strengthening its own economy than worry about the TPP, India too needs to aim at setting its house in
order. From ensuring the creation of a domestic common market through adoption of the long-delayed Goods and Services Tax,
to building its own multilateral bloc of emerging and developing economies that can act as a bulwark against TPP-like groupings,
India has its task cut out.
o Harbinger - something that shows what will happen in the future

o Headwinds - an economic situation that slows down the growth of an economy
o Fillip - something that causes a sudden improvement
o Implications - to suggest something without saying it directly
o Pact - agreement
o Spillover - a situation, which begins to affect another situation
o Diversity - difference
o Triumvirate - a group of three (organizations / countries), who are in control of
another (organization / country)
o Hammer something out - to reach an agreement or solution after a lot of
argument or discussion
o Far-reaching - having great influence on many people or things
o Template - something that is used as a pattern for producing other similar things
o Legislative - relating to laws
o Backing - support
o Negotiations - discussions aimed at reaching an agreement
o Contenders - people who competes with each other to try to win something
o Reflect on something - to affect other people's opinion of someone or something
o Underscoring - highlighting something (to draw special attention to something)
o Negotiators - people who participate in discussions
o Impact - powerful effect (influence)
o Aggregate - something formed by adding together several amounts or things
o Erosion - the process of damage / damaging
o Ceded - gave up something (power or territory)
o It's high time - it is about the right time for something
o Proactively - controlling a situation by causing something to happen
o Girded - to get ready to do something


o Bulwark - something that protects you from dangerous or unpleasant situations
February 09/2016
Topic 1 : "Why Siachen must be demilitarised"
The February 3 avalanche on the Siachen glacier that buried 10 Indian Army soldiers is a stark reminder to both India and
Pakistan about the cost of military deployment in such inhospitable territory. The bodies of most soldiers of the 19 Madras
Regiment are yet to be recovered from the post on the northern part of the glacier, at a height of 19,600 feet. This was not an
isolated incident but part of a growing trend in that region, as global warming dramatically affects the glacier. Last month, four
soldiers of 3 Ladakh Scouts were killed when an avalanche hit a patrol party in the Ladakh region, not very far from the site of
the present tragedy. Avalanches are a threat not just to Indian soldiers, but also to the Pakistani troops. In April 2012, in the
Gayari sector, 129 soldiers of the 6th Northern Light Infantry of the Pakistani military and 11 civilian contractors were buried by
a massive avalanche. It is not just avalanches; the challenging terrain of the glacier and its surroundings as a whole have been
regularly claiming lives. According to reliable estimates, over 2,000 soldiers from both sides have died on the Siachen glacier
since 1984, when India beat Pakistan by a few days to occupy many of the strategic locations on the glacier.
Ever since the two militaries began a costly engagement on the glacier, there have been numerous efforts by both countries to
find a way to demilitarise the glacier. In June 1989, they came very close to clinching a final deal. The two sides had agreed to
work towards a comprehensive settlement, based on redeployment of forces to reduce the chance of conflict, avoidance of the
use of force and the determination of future positions on the ground so as to conform with the Shimla Agreement and to ensure
durable peace in the Siachen area. Ever since then, India and Pakistan have tried diplomatically to find a way to demilitarise
the region. However, a lack of political will on both sides has meant that the status quo holds, and soldiers continue to pay a
very high price in that remote snowy outpost. India has in the past suggested delineation of the Line of Control north of NJ 9842,
redeployment of troops on both sides to agreed positions after demarcating their existing positions, a zone of disengagement,
and a monitoring mechanism to maintain the peace. Given Prime Minister Narendra Modis personal initiative to visit Lahore on
Christmas day and to push forward peace with Pakistan, it would only be the next logical step to look at the low-hanging fruits
in bilateral issues to build trust. The demilitarisation of Siachen is definitely doable. This is not only because it is diplomatically
possible, but also because there is a critical mass of opinion in both India and Pakistan that neither can sacrifice, or put in harms
way, so many lives on the inhospitable glacier. If the initiative is not seized by both sides now, the vagaries of nature will continue
to exact a toll on forces deployed in Siachen, even if peace holds.
o Demilitarised - to reduce a nation's army, weapons, or military vehicles

o Avalanche - a large amount of snow falling quickly down from the side of a
mountain
o Glacier - a large amount of ice that moves slowly
o Stark - complete / extreme
o Inhospitable - an environment which is harsh and difficult to live in
o Isolated - far away from other places
o Troops - soldiers


o Infantry - soldiers marching on foot
o Terrain - an area of land
o Strategic - used to provide military forces with an advantage
o Clinch - confirm
o Redeployment - the process of sending soldiers to work in a different place
o Conform - to behave according to the socially acceptable standards
o Durable - able to last a long time without becoming damaged
o The status quo - the present situation
o To pay a very high price - to experience very bad result of something you have
done
o Remote - far away from any towns or cities
o Outpost - a small military camp or position at some distance from the main army
o Delineation - the action of indicating the exact position of a border or boundary
o Demarcating - making a dividing line
o Low-hanging fruits - Targets or goals which are easily achievable and which do
not require a lot of effort
o Doable - it can be achieved / performed
o Sacrifice - to give up something valuable
o Put in harms way - in a dangerous situation
o Seized - to take something quickly and keep or hold it
o Vagaries - unexpected changes that cannot be controlled
Topic 2 : "The curious case of Julian Assange"

Personal liberty still eludes WikiLeaks founder and Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange, despite a ruling by a United Nations legal
panel that has declared his confinement arbitrary and illegal. The ruling of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
the authoritative UN body that pronounces on illegal detentions based on binding and legal international instruments has met
with support, but not surprisingly, with a bitter backlash as well, notably from governments that have suffered incalculable
damage from WikiLeaks relentless exposures. Sweden and Britain have rejected the panels findings outright, despite the
fact that they are signatories to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the European Convention on Human
Rights and the other treaties upon which the UN legal panel has based its recommendation. The same countries have in the
past upheld rulings of the same panel on similar cases such as the arbitrary detention of the Myanmar leader Aung San Suu
Kyi and former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed. The British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, has called the ruling
ridiculous, and dismissed the distinguished panel as comprising lay people, not lawyers. As for the Swedish Prosecutors
Office, it has declared that the UN bodys opinion has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish


law. In other words, both countries argue that his confinement is not arbitrary but self-imposed, and he is at liberty to step out,
be arrested, and face the consequences.
The specific allegation of rape that Mr. Assange faces in Sweden must be seen in the larger international political context of
his confinement. He has made it clear he is not fleeing Swedish justice, offering repeatedly to give evidence to the Swedish
authorities, with the caveat that he be questioned at his refuge in London, either in person or by webcam. While he will have to
prove his innocence, Mr. Assange is not being paranoid when he talks of his fear of extradition to the U.S.: Chelsea Manning,
whose damning Iraq revelations were first carried on WikiLeaks, was held in a long pre-trial detention and convicted to 35 years
of imprisonment. The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed on more than one occasion that there is a pending prosecution
and Grand Jury against him and WikiLeaks. Mr. Assanges defence team argues that the Swedish police case is but a
smokescreen for a larger political game plan centred on Washington, which is determined to root out whistle-blowers such as
Mr. Assange, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning for exposing dirty state secrets. It was WikiLeaks that carried the shocking
video evidence of the wholesale collateral murder by the U.S.-led forces of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to
thousands of pages of evidence of other violations of sovereignty and international law. By defying the UN panels carefully
considered recommendation that Mr. Assange be freed and awarded compensation, Britain and Sweden are damaging their
own international standing. They must reverse their untenable stand and do what law and decency dictate by allowing Mr.
Assange an opportunity to prove his innocence without fearing extradition to the United States.
o Curious - strange and unusual

o Eludes - escapes / avoids
o Confinement - the situation in which a person forcefully kept somewhere
o Arbitrary - using unlimited personal power without considering other people's
wishes
o Detention - the act of forcing someone officially to stay in a place
o Incalculable - not able to be calculated or estimated
o Relentless - harsh
o Outright - completely
o Convention - an agreement between states covering particular matters
o Ridiculous - stupid or unreasonable
o Distinguished - authoritative
o Lay people - people who don't have specialized or professional knowledge of a
subject
o Impact - effect / influence
o Context - situation
o Fleeing - running away from a place or situation of danger


o Caveat - a warning to consider something before taking any more action
o Refuge - a place that gives protection or shelter from danger
o Paranoid - suffering from a mental illness in which you believe that other people
are trying to harm you
o Extradition - sending someone back to the country or state where they will be
punished of a crime
o Damning - an evidence saying very strongly that someone has made a serious
mistake
o Revelations - a surprising and previously unknown fact that has been disclosed to
others
o Smokescreen - something that hides the truth
o Determined - wanting to do something very much and not allowing anyone or any
difficulties to stop you
o Root out - to find and remove (something or someone)
o Whistle-blower - a person who tells about something illegal that is happening,
especially in a government department or a company
o Defy - to refuse to obey
o Untenable - not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
February 10/2016
Topic 1 : "Adhering to basics and freedom"
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has to be commended for batting unambiguously for net neutrality, the
principle of non-discrimination that is vital for the Internet to remain an open platform. Its decision was made clear on Monday
when it prohibited telecom providers from charging differential rates for data services. The regulators stance is commendable
for two other reasons as well. One, it had to face enormous pressures to tinker with the way the Internet is governed. And, two,
net neutrality, with its numerous interpretations, is a complex concept. The latest ruling could no doubt set the tone for regulators
across the globe, especially those of countries that have socio-economic features akin to Indias. More important, it would ensure
that generations of Indians are not forced to be satisfied with services that pretend to be the Internet itself, robbing them of the
real benefits of the medium. TRAIs decision would bring relief and cheer to the millions of Indians as also some voluntary
groups that admirably campaigned for months together for this result, worried as they were that the regulator would give up
on net neutrality. The danger had seemed that real. In the last year or so, there have been more than a few attempts by the big
players to offer Internet services that intrinsically seemed to violate this principle. The public debate on net neutrality began
during late 2014 when Indias top telecom carrier Bharti Airtel decided to charge users extra for the use of applications with
which they can make free calls over the Internet.


But the most prominent and persistent among the companies has to be Facebook, which spent a lot of time in pitching its Free
Basics initiative as an altruistic effort that would help millions of Indias Internet have-nots. Its founder, Mark Zuckerberg,
took a personal interest in the campaign. Facebooks global rebranding of its internet.org initiative as a platform open for all but
adhering to Facebooks standards, which offered free and basic services, was arguably the consequence of the debate over
net neutrality in the country. The point about providing at least some access to millions of new users for free, who otherwise
cannot afford it, must have been difficult for TRAI to ignore. And that is why it is important to recognise that a no to Free Basics
does not imply a failure on the part of TRAI to recognise the importance of catering to the Internet have-nots. In fact, the regulator
has noted that it is not against the provision of limited free data that allows a user to explore the Internet. Simply put, it finds this
route palatable because the choice is with the user. This is also a route that Free Basics could explore in the immediate future
in order to stay alive in India. The regulators problem with a price-based differentiation has more to do with the fact that in a
market such as India it would distort consumer choice and have consequences that wouldnt be understood easily. The ruling
also suggests that while TRAI recognises the need for India to bridge the digital divide, it realises that compromising the basic
ideals of the Internet is not the way to do it.
o Commended - to praise formally or officially

o Unambiguously - to express something in a clear way
o Discrimination - treating a person or particular group of people in a worse way
from the way in which you treat other people, because of their skin colour, sex,
sexuality, etc
o Vital - absolutely necessary; essential
o Stance - a way of thinking about something (especially expressed in a publicly
opinion)
o Commendable - deserving praise
o Tinker - to make small changes to something (especially in an attempt to repair or
improve it)
o Interpretation - the action of explaining something
o Complex - difficult to understand
o Pretend - to behave as if something is true when you know that it is false (especially
in order to cheat people)
o Voluntary - working for a cause without payment
o Admirably - deserving respect
o Campaigned - worked in an organized and active way towards a goal
o Intrinsically - importantly (natural part of something)
o Violate - to break a law / agreement
o Debate - a formal discussion on a particular matter
o Prominent - very well known
o Persistent - lasting for a long time (difficult to get rid of)


o Altruistic - to help others, even if it results in disadvantage for yourself
(unselfishness)
o Campaign - a planned group of activities to achieve a particular aim
o Rebranding - to change the way that an organization is seen by the public
o Adhering - to stick to (to completely depend on something)
o Consequence - a result / effect
o Imply - to communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly
o Catering - to provide something
o Palatable - acceptable / satisfactory
o Distort - to give a misleading or false impression
o Ruling - a decision
Topic 2 : "Time for pharma course correction"
The Finance Ministrys decision to withdraw customs duty exemptions for 76 life-saving drugs will at once make them
more expensive and impact patients who are already paying a high price for such medical treatment. It is important to keep in
mind that a majority of Indians meet health care costs through out-of-pocket expenditure, and any increase is bound to adversely
affect them. It is true that the customs duty waiver is an interim measure, and that the list has to be revised periodically. Certain
drugs now removed from the list are either no longer used by patients or are being manufactured in India at a lower cost than
the imported ones, and therefore should be removed from it anyway. However, it is not clear what public interest is served by
removing certain essential medicines that are either not manufactured in India or whose demand currently exceeds local
manufacturing capacity. While the government has been enthusiastic about withdrawing the exemption for 76 drugs, it has failed
to include certain life-saving or essential drugs that have been launched recently and are under patent protection. This indicates
that consultations have not been broad-based; this has to be corrected as the patients interest should be the priority. Unlike in
the case of other commodities where the consumer is the decision-maker, doctors prescription preferences, sometimes based
on partisan considerations, dictate whether a patient ends up buying imported drugs even when locally manufactured options
are available at a lower price. It is for this reason that the withdrawal of 22 per cent customs duty exemption on imported drugs
could have an impact on a patients budget; imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) will also increase the cost of
generics made locally.
Since the late 1990s, India has lost out to China in the API market. Active as well as enabling support from the government in
various forms helped the Chinese industry flood the Indian market with cheap APIs. While the product patent regime that came
into full force since 2005 and the flooding of the market with Chinese APIs may appear to be genuine reasons for giving the
Indian industry cover to catch up, any protection cannot be long-lasting. The only way for the Indian drug industry to grow is by
investing in research and development and in producing novel drugs that enjoy patent protection. India is the pharmacy of the
South, but that dominance is restricted to generics. This has to change, and the government has to extend support in larger
measure. As is the case in the U.S., many drugs that go on to become commercially profitable have their origins in academic


and government institutions. Unfortunately, the recent decision to cut research funding will not help the industry. The earlier the
government realises this and changes its priorities, the better it would be for the country.
o Exemptions - to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc

o Expenditure - an amount of money spent
o Adversely - in a way that is harmful (likely to cause problems)
o Waiver - an agreement that you do not have to pay something
o Broad-based - something that will affect many different activities
o Commodities - useful or valuable things
o Partisan - someone who supports a person
o Ends up - to finally be in a particular situation
o Regime - a system or ordered way of doing things
o Novel - new and original
February 11/2016
Topic 1 : "Growth data send conflicting signals"
The latest GDP data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) raise more questions than they answer. While on the
face of it, the projection of 7.6 per cent growth at constant prices for the fiscal year ending March 31 sounds both attainable and
impressive, a closer look at the other sets of numbers, including the third-quarter reading, raises some flags. The pace of
economic expansion is estimated to have slowed to 7.3 per cent in the three months ended December, from 7.7 per cent (based
on an upward revision) in the preceding quarter. Separately, the gross value added (GVA) growth projections for seven of the
nine industry classifications for the full year show a slowdown from the comparable 12-month period, which is a second flag.
The two industries where the CSO expects expansion in the current fiscal to outpace that of last year are agriculture and
manufacturing. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is estimated to expand 1.1 per cent in 2015-16 as against a 0.2 per
cent contraction, and manufacturing is pencilled to post 9.5 per cent growth, from 5.5 per cent in 2014-15. This is where it gets
more confusing. In its latest monetary policy review on February 2, the Reserve Bank of India cited slackening agricultural and
industrial growth as a prime reason for a loss in economic momentum in the third quarter. With the CSO data showing a 1 per
cent GVA contraction in agriculture in the period ended December and the RBI pointing to a decline in rabi sowing by end-
January, it is hard to see where the farm sector will derive the necessary impetus from in the current quarter to help undergird
overall growth.
As far as manufacturing goes, the January purchasing managers index (PMI) expanded to a four-month high, partly helped
by resumption of output at factories affected by the December floods. Still, the sustainability of this expansion could be


undermined as the same PMI release also pointed to a drop in output and new orders for makers of investment goods. The
weak overseas demand environment, reflected in the protracted exports slump, is also a dampener. The robust growth estimate
brings us to a crucial related question: how reliable are the data as currently calculated, a concern raised by several
economists including RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. He has cautioned against laying too much store by the numbers if
they dont adequately capture the net economic impact of an activity. For instance, under the new methodology indirect taxes
are included and this is seen by some experts as inflating the overall figures, without necessarily resulting in increased output.
The government has an opportunity later this month to address many of these concerns and clarify on both the data points and
the rationale behind its methodology when it presents the annual Economic Survey. It is important that it dispels all doubts and
enhances the credibility of official statistics at a time when India seeks its rightful place at the high table of the world economic
order.
o Conflicting - different and opposing

o On the face of it - from the way it looks
o Projection - a calculation or guess about the future based on information that you
have
o Attainable - Achievable
o Raise a flag - bring something to notice
o Pace - speed
o Slowdown - a decline in economic activity
o Outpace - to improve faster than someone
o Cited - stated (to mention something)
o Slackening - to become slower or less active
o Momentum - the force that keep something developing
o Impetus - something that encourages a particular activity
o Undergird - provide support for something
o Partly - not completely
o Sustainability - ability or capacity of something to be able to continue over a period
of time
o Undermined - to make someone less powerful
o Protracted - lasting for a long time or longer than expected
o Slump - to fall suddenly
o Dampener - a thing that prevent (someone or something) from doing something
o Robust - strong
o Concern - to cause worry to someone
o Cautioned - say something as a warning
o Adequately - exactly (acceptable in quality or quantity)
o Methodology - a system of methods used in a particular area of activity


o Inflating - increase (something) by a large or excessive amount
o Rationale - a set of reasons that cause a particular set of actions
o Dispel - to remove fears, doubts, and false ideas, by proving them wrong or
unnecessary
o Enhance - increase
o High table - most important place at something
Topic 2 : "Questions after the deposition"
Details from the ongoing deposition of David Coleman Headley have brought back dark memories for India, not just of the
horror of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, but also of the cold-blooded planning that went into the massacre of over 160 men, women
and children. It is certainly important that the Mumbai court has been able to record the testimony of Headley, and make part of
Indian court records all that he had told a court in the United States several years ago. The testimony has not yet revealed much
that wasnt in the court records, or in the testimony he gave before National Investigation Agency officials in 2010. Even so, it
will be significant in the trial of Abu Jundal as well as in a future trial of Hafiz Saeed and any of the masterminds in the unlikely
event of Pakistan making them available to India. Although the move from the U.S. authorities to arrange the deposition of
Headley for the Mumbai court now hearing the 26/11 conspiracy case has come late, it is still no less welcome. The specifics
of how Headley was sent to India, his contacts with the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership and the Inter-Services Intelligence officers
he names for having given him espionage training, and even perhaps locals in India who may have colluded with him, are all
vital to the case, and it is hoped that prosecutors will extract more information from Headley in the coming days.
Clearly, the deposition from Headley, who expects a full judicial pardon in exchange for giving it, comes at a cost that must be
counted. It has meant that India gives up all chances of bringing the self-confessed terror planner, who scoped out the locations
to be targeted as well as the entry and possible exit points for the LeT terrorists. It also means that India has not questioned the
delay from the U.S., and prosecutors may not be able to fill the glaring gaps in their understanding of Headleys background
that have been raised: including his double role as a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration informant, the cover for his frequent
visits to India, including one after the 26/11 attacks, and the reasons his links with Pakistani military officials were not investigated
by the U.S. This is why after the hearing is completed the government must be more forthcoming in explaining its decision to
offer a pardon. The deal may have been the best of imperfect choices before India, but given the magnitude of the crime
involved, the government must share the details. The spotlight on Headley should also convince Pakistan to fast-track its trial
of the masterminds of the Mumbai attacks, perhaps even accepting a similar deposition from Headley in the case. Eventually,
it is in the interest of India-Pakistan relations as well as justice for the victims of 26/11 that the trial in Pakistan is brought to a
successful conclusion. If Headleys deposition prompts that, the benefit will override all other concerns.
o Deposition - a formal written statement made or used in a law court

o Horror - an extremely strong feeling of fear and shock


o Testimony - a formal written or spoken statement
o Trial - a formal examination of evidence by a judge
o Masterminds - people who plan a difficult activity (crime)
o Unlikely - not promising (likely to fail)
o Deposition - a formal written statement made or used in a law court
o Conspiracy - a secret plan by a group to do something harmful
o Espionage - the discovering of secrets (especially political or military information
of another country)
o Colluded - to act together secretly or illegally in order to cheat someone
o Vital - absolutely necessary / essential
o Extract - to remove or take out something
o Pardon - the action of forgiving
o Comes at a cost of something - to include disadvantages in order to get what you
want
o Confess - to admit that you have done something wrong
o Informant - a person who gives information to another
o Forthcoming - ready or made available when wanted or needed
o Pardon - the action of forgiving
o Magnitude - size
o Spotlight - focus
o Fast-track - to speed up something
o Eventually - in the end
o Victims - a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident
o Prompts - to make something happen
o Override - to reject or cancel (a decision, view, etc.)
o Concern - anxiety / worry
February 12/2016
Topic 1 : "TERIs disgraceful appointment"
It is a matter of disgrace that an eminent man who leaves his position under a cloud of serious charges of sexual harassment
is able to return to an executive position in the same organisation without any compunction. The appointment of climate
scientist R.K. Pachauri as executive vice-chairman of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in a position apparently
created for him, is contrary to the spirit of Indian law that now accords great importance to the safety of women and the special


enactment to deal with sexual harassment at the workplace. Dr. Pachauri went on leave in February 2015 from TERI and quit
the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change. However, even after an Internal Complaints Committee found him guilty of
misconduct on a complaint by a woman researcher, he returned to TERI last July on the strength of an interim order by an
industrial tribunal staying the complaints panels report. With a new Director-General taking over at TERI, Dr. Pachauri has been
accommodated in a position from which he can wield power and influence over employees and researchers in an organisation
that is partially funded by the government. His continuance in this organisation is untenable. It is apparent from the emergence
of a second complaint and reports that his return has caused dismay among many women employees that the charge is not
related to one incident or a rare lapse in behaviour, but a repeatedly displayed propensity. Second, his being around in the face
of an ongoing criminal investigation against him is wholly inappropriate and against the spirit of the Sexual Harassment of
Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
In many ways, TERI as an employer appears to have ignored its obligations under the Act. The complainant is not in the
organisation anymore, indicating that conditions for her continuance were not facilitated by the management. It did not act
immediately on the internal committees report, as can be discerned from the fact that there was no follow-up disciplinary action.
The jurisdiction of an industrial tribunal to stay the findings of an internal panel under the special law is a legal question that may
be decided in ongoing proceedings before the Delhi High Court. As an organisation, TERI has a global profile as well as a
considerable body of achievement behind it in the field of energy efficiency and climate science. Its Governing Council has
eminent people of impeccable credentials. Not unexpectedly, Dr. Pachauri denies any wrongdoing and doggedly seeks to retain
his position. However, it is incomprehensible why the organisation and the eminent people on its governing body should support
him. In fact, it is the management of TERI that ought to be assisting the complainants in pursuing legal remedies. It should now
act to ensure that Dr. Pachauri does not play a role in TERI any more. As for the 75-year-old scientist who headed an
organisation that shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, it is time for him to rest on his tainted laurels.
o Disgraceful - shockingly unacceptable

o Eminent - famous, respected, or important
o Under a cloud of something - to not be trusted because people think you have
done something bad
o Charge - to publicly say that someone is doing something bad
o Compunction - a feeling of guilt / deep regret (for doing something wrong)
o Apparently - as far as one knows
o Accords - give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition)
o Enactment - the process of making something law
o Misconduct - unacceptable or improper behavior
o Tribunal - a special court which is officially chosen by the government, to examine
(legal) problems of a particular type
o Untenable - cannot be supported

o Dismay - a feeling of unhappiness and disappointment
o Propensity - the natural tendency to behave in a particular way (especially bad
way)
o Obligations - something that you must do
o Complainant - a person who makes a formal complaint in a law court
o Facilitated - make (an action or process) easy or easier
o Discern - recognize or find out
o Jurisdiction - the authority of a court or official organization to make decisions and
judgments
o Impeccable - perfect (with no problems or bad parts)
o Credentials - qualifications / background
o Doggedly - with strong determination to do something (even if it is very difficult)
o Incomprehensible - not able to be understood
o Remedies - successful ways for dealing with a problem or difficulty
o Tainted - affected with a bad or undesirable quality (polluted)
o Laurels - praise for a person because of something they have done
Topic 2 : "After New Hampshire, Sanders in focus"
In what is being hailed as a victory for outsiders, Bernie Sanders, the underdog in the U.S. Democratic nomination race, stole
a march on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the first primary elections of the season, in New Hampshire, and
controversial property billionaire Donald Trump captured the most Republican votes. Mr. Sanders, a Senator from Vermont,
won 60.4 per cent of the primary vote in the State, leading Ms. Clinton by nearly 22 points. In doing so, he scooped up 15
delegates to her nine and almost instantly attracted a wave of donor funding to his campaign, to the tune of $6.4 million. Although
New Hampshire is preponderantly white, the self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist won a thumping majority across a variety of
demographic cohorts, except for those over 65 years of age and for households earning more than $200,000. While he may
have benefited from New Hampshire sharing a border with Vermont, this early upset in Ms. Clintons presumed-unassailable
lead has thrust Mr. Sanderss campaign into fourth gear and energised his supporters across the U.S. Importantly, his victory
has put the Democratic Party establishment, which until now has thrown its weight behind Ms. Clinton, on notice. Although the
partys super-delegates are supporting Ms. Clinton over Mr. Sanders by a margin of 355-14, they may well switch their support
to Mr. Sanders if he continues to snatch victories in other States.
Yet, by no means is it obvious that Mr. Sanderss call for a revolution will thus sway every State. At the national level Ms.
Clinton outperforms Mr. Sanders in the support she enjoys with minorities by 71 to 20 per cent. She has vigorously courted the
African-American demographic, with a recent visit to Flint, Michigan, to discuss its water-poisoning crisis; she has announced
joint campaigns with the families of unarmed African-Americans who died in controversial encounters with law enforcement;
and post-New Hampshire she will likely focus her campaign on systemic racism, criminal justice reform, voting rights and gun
violence. Mr. Sanders, who will face his first big test with the African-American vote in the mixed demographics of South Carolina


and is possibly aware of the weak link in his campaign strategy, met this week with civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton to
amplify his message of support to this community. It is unclear what dividends such late manoeuvres could yield. The other
critical factor is the rise and rise of Mr. Trump. Although he is the philosophical antithesis of Mr. Sanders, they share certain
similarities: their attacks on dark pools of campaign finance dominating U.S. elections; their rejection, albeit for different reasons,
of the notion of American exceptionalism; and their anti-establishment positions, including distrust of the mainstream media. If
these two men float to the top through the primary races, that must reflect Americans frustration with the jaded politics of
Washington. But equally they must know that each man holds firm to a radically different vision for reshaping their country.
o Stole a march on somebody - to get an advantage over somebody

o Senator - a member o US Senate (assembly)
o Scooped up something - to lift something with your hands or arms in a quick
movement
o To the tune of - in the approximate amount mentioned
o Preponderantly - mostly or mainly
o Proclaimed - announce officially or publicly
o Thumping - of an impressive size / amount
o Cohorts - a group of people with a shared characteristic
o Presumed - to believe something to be true because it is very likely (even-though
you are not sure)
o Unassailable - in such a strong position that you cannot be defeated
o Snatch - to take hold of something suddenly and roughly
o Sway - to move slowly from side to side
o Outperforms - perform better than
o Vigorously - forcefully / strongly
o Courted - pay special attention to
o Demographic - a particular sector of a population
o Enforcement - to make people obey a law
o Racism - The belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race and the
people of other races are not as good as the people of your own
o Possibly - used when something is not sure (to indicate doubt)
o Reverend - a title for a priest of the Christian Church
o Amplify - to make something louder
o Dividends - (a part of) the profit of an organization that is paid to the people who
own shares in it
o Manoeuvre - a cleverly planned action that is intended to get an advantage
o Yield - provide


o Antithesis - a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something
else
o Albeit - although
o Distrust - the feeling of not trusting someone or something
o Jaded - losing interest because you have experienced something too many times
o Firm - in a way that will not become loose
o Radically - completely
February 13/2016
Topic 1 : "Banks ultimately need autonomy"
Banks, it is often said, are the fulcrum of a robust economy. Healthy banks are an essential prerequisite for placing the economy
on a higher growth orbit. The banking scene in India, however, presents an absolutely scary picture. A combination of factors
ranging from poor credit appraisal to political interference and mismanagement by borrowers have conspired to push the banking
industry into a messy cobweb. Bank after bank, especially the government-owned, has come out with poor third-quarter results.
The stressed assets (comprising gross non-performing assets plus written-off assets and restructured assets) account for 14.1
per cent of total bank loans as of September 2015, up from 13.6 per cent in March 2015. For public sector banks, the stressed
assets were in the vicinity of 17 per cent at the end of September, while the figure for private sector banks stood at 6.7 per cent.
The rising stress level, or increase in bad loans, has yielded a twin fallout of declining profitability at banks and poor credit
disbursal. The double effect is already telling on the economy in various ways. For long, banks have either managed to, or rather
been allowed to, keep the stress invisible, giving the outside world very little clue as to the happenings inside the industry. The
Reserve Bank of India under Raghuram Rajans stewardship, however, has decided to clean up banks books rather than
letting them camouflage the real picture. There are two polar approaches to loan stress, he said at the CII Banking Summit
in Mumbai this week. One is to apply band-aids to keep the loan current, and hope that time and growth will set the project
back on track. Sometimes this works. But most of the time, the low growth that precipitated the stress persists. The fresh lending
intended to keep the original loan current grows. Facing large and potentially un-payable debt, the promoter loses interest, does
little to fix existing problems, and the project goes into further losses. Indeed, legacy problems should be given a burial, and
should not be allowed to persist. So hinting, Dr. Rajan articulated the need for surgical action to retrieve the health of the industry.
Forcing banks to recognise a problem is one thing, and finding a viable long-term solution to it is quite another. That requires
not just holistic thinking but an out-of-the-box approach as well, especially in the evolving global context. A meaningful fix can
happen only if banks are given functional autonomy at various levels. Restricted freedom inevitably leads to a blame game,
making it even more difficult to fix responsibility. The concept of arms- length relationship especially needs to be clearly defined
and implemented in letter and spirit in the banking industry. It is not just about how much money the Central government will
freshly pump into stressed banks. The litmus test for the government lies in its ability, and capacity, to let go of control. The
banking system indeed needs a change in the way it is managed.
o Ultimately - finally (used to highlight the most important fact in a situation)


o Autonomy - the power or right of an organization to be independent and govern
itself
o Often - frequently
o Fulcrum - something that supports or sustains
o Robust - Powerfully built
o Prerequisite - a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to
happen
o Orbit - range of control or influence
o Scary - causing fear
o Appraisal - the act of examining someone / something in order to judge their
qualities, success, or needs
o Conspired - To join or act together to commit an illegal or wrongful act
o Messy - (a situation) confused and difficult to deal with
o Cobweb - Confusion
o Comprising - consist of
o Asset - an item of property owned by an organization
o Vicinity - the area near or surrounding a particular place
o Yielded - produced or provided
o Fallout - the unpleasant effects of something that has happened
o Stewardship - the way a person controls or organizes something
o Camouflage - to hide something
o Precipitated - to make something happen suddenly
o Potentially - possibly (possibility of becoming something)
o Persist - continue to exist
o Articulated - able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly
o Retrieve - to find and bring back something
o Viable - capable of working successfully
o Holistic - dealing with the whole of something (not just a part)
o Arms length relationship - to not allow someone to become too friendly with you
o Pump into something - to spend a lot of money trying to make something operate
successfully
Topic 2 : "A wave of awe and opportunity"


The detection of ripples in space-time, known as gravitational waves, here on Earth marks a watershed moment for
astronomy and for science as a whole. The detection at once improves our understanding of the workings of the universe and,
more important, throws open a big opportunity to study it from completely new angles. It opens the way to get information about
the evolution of galaxies and black holes. There is also a symmetry to the timing of the discovery: it comes a century after Albert
Einsteins general theory of relativity held that acceleration of massive bodies should produce gravitational waves, which travel
through the universe at the speed of light. The gravitational waves detected, and announced to the world on Thursday, were
produced more than a billion years ago by a cataclysmic collision of two black holes, one of them with a mass 36 times that of
the Sun and the other slightly smaller at 29 times, into one black hole. The gravitational waves give scientists insights into the
final moments before the merger. The signals of gravitational waves were detected on September 14, 2015 by twin Laser
Interferometric Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors located about 3,000 km apart at Hanford, Washington and in
Livingston, Louisiana, in the United States. Though the observatory is capable of picking up gravitational waves produced by
binary neutron stars colliding and merging, signals from such a collision from the same distance would have been extremely
weak for LIGO to pick up; neutron stars are much smaller in size than black holes and produce weaker signals. The successful
capture of gravitational waves by LIGO is a testimony to humankinds scientific and engineering expertise to build extraordinarily
sensitive instrumentation capable of detecting variations of the order of a thousandth of the diameter of a proton.
Fittingly, this giant step for science is the result of truly global cooperation. About 60 researchers from more than a dozen
institutions in India were part of the over-1,000-strong army of scientists in the collaboration. Nearly 35 Indian scientists are co-
authors of the landmark scientific paper that describes the results. The way to find the signal buried in the noise came from an
Indian scientist. Similarly, the oscillation of cosmic bodies after a collision was predicted by an Indian scientist back in 1971.
Several observatories widely separated from one another will help in determining the direction of any event with greater accuracy
and also confirm the genuineness of the signal. Quick approval to construct the proposed Rs.1,260-crore gravitational wave
observatory in India could help obtain unique information about the universe; unlike light, gravitational waves can pass through
the universe unobstructed and hence carry otherwise unobtainable information. The facility would also provide a much-needed
technological boost and immensely benefit researchers based in India. And for years to come, we will continue to listen to the
chirp sound produced by the gravitational waves, and marvel at sciences capacity to detail ever more minutely the place of
humankind in the vastness of space and time.
o Awe - a feeling of great respect (sometimes mixed with fear or surprise)

o Ripples - a series of waves
o Watershed - an event or period that is important because it represents a big
change in how people do or think about something
o Throws open - to cause to move with great force or speed
o Symmetry - similarity
o Acceleration - increase in speed or rate
o Cataclysmic - sudden and violent
o Collision - an accident that happens when two things (here black holes) hit each
other with force
o Insight - clear and deep understanding


o Merger - an occasion when two or more things join together to make one larger
thing
o Fittingly - in an appropriate manner
o Giant - very big
o Collaboration - the action of working with someone to produce something
o Oscillation - to move repeatedly from one position to another
o Determining - controling or influencing something directly (deciding what will
happen)
o Unobstructed - clear and open (not blocked by anything)
o Unobtainable - not able to get
o Immensely - extremely (to a great extent)
o Chirp - a short, sharp, high-pitched sound
o Marvel - great surprise or admiration
o Minutely - very carefully (looking at every small detail)
o Vastness - the quality of being extremely big
February 15/2016
Topic 1 : "State overreach on the campus"
The Union governments response to the recent developments at Jawaharlal Nehru University betrays a disquieting intent to
create an atmosphere of fear amongst its students and teachers. The rationale for the police action was an event to mark the
anniversary of the execution of Afzal Guru, a convict in the Parliament attack case, and it is alleged that slogans were raised
against Indias sovereignty. However, unless there was actual incitement to violence, there really was no case for the police to
swoop down on the campus, arrest students, and slap charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy on them. The Delhi Police
seemed to have taken the cue from a remark made by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that anti-national activities would
not be tolerated, and invoked the draconian pre-Constitution law of sedition. The arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, president of the
JNU Students Union, who belongs to the All-India Students Federation, an organisation known to be affiliated to the CPI, is
quite inexplicable, except in terms of the theory that he was chosen for his political antipathy to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi
Parishad, the RSSs student wing. Neither his union nor the party to which it is affiliated supports separatism in Kashmir or
opposes parliamentary democracy. The union has in fact disassociated itself from the views expressed by a small group of
students who organised the event. Yet, an impression is sought to be created that Mr. Kumar and many other like-minded
student activists in JNU are anti-national.
Once again, Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, which makes sedition punishable with life imprisonment, has been casually
invoked despite the Supreme Court repeatedly cautioning that even words indicating disaffection against the state will not
constitute the offence, unless there is a call for violence or a pernicious tendency to create public disorder. It is difficult to dismiss


the police action as a routine or expected response by the state to reports of allegedly anti-national speeches. The JNU campus
nurtures political opinion of all shades. It is a haven for legitimate dissent and a locus of inevitable differences. Its atmosphere
should not be undermined by some to whom its intellectual space is an eyesore. In recent times, the suicide of a scholar in the
University of Hyderabad roiled the student community across the country and created an upsurge against the ruling dispensation
wielding its ideological influence on campus activities. The misconceived manner in which Afzal Guru was commemorated by a
handful of JNU students should not be a provocation for tarring the students union with the brush of alleged anti-nationalism.
The government should not sense in these developments an opportunity to suppress all dissent and seek to kill the ideological
orientation of some student groups. Deviation from its own notion of nationalism cannot be treated as sedition. The line between
dissent and treason may be thin to some, but the ability to distinguish between the two is a constitutional duty of the state. And
given the history of its misuse and its incompatibility with a modern Constitution, Section 124-A of the IPC ought to be junked
altogether.
o Overreach - reach out too far (crossing the limits)

o Betray - do not do what you promised
o Disquieting - causing worry
o Intent - determined to do something / aim
o Rationale - The fundamental reasons for something
o Convict - a person who is in prison because he did something wrong (crime)
o Alleged - claimed (said without proof)
o Sovereignty - the power of a country to control its own government
o Incitement - to encourage someone t feel something unpleasant
o Swoop down - attack
o Slap - a gentle warning or punishment
o Conspiracy - an agreement to perform together an illegal act
o Cue - A signal for action
o Tolerated - allowed
o Draconian - strict
o Constitution - supreme law
o Affiliated - officially connected to an organization
o Inexplicable - cannot be explained / Strange
o Antipathy - strong dislike
o Separatism - the belief of a particular group of people that they should be
independent and have their own government
o Disassociated - to consider as separate and not related
o Like-minded - having similar tastes or opinions


o Cautioning - to say something as a warning
o Pernicious - having a harmful effect
o Tendency - a strong chance that something will happen in a particular way
o Disorder - a state of confusion
o Nurture - to care and protect something while it is growing
o Dissent - a strong difference of opinion on a particular subject
o Locus - center or focus of an activity
o Inevitable - unavoidable
o Eyesore - an unpleasant or ugly sight in a public place
o Roiled - to cause something to stop working in the usual way
o Upsurge - a sudden and large increase in something
o Dispensation - exemption from a rule
o Wielding - having a lot of influence or power over other people
o Misconceived - fail to understand (something) correctly
o Commemorated - to remember officially and give respect to a person or event
o Provocation - action or speech that makes someone angry
o Tarring - to cover
o Treason - (the crime of) showing no loyalty to your country (especially by helping
its enemies)
o Distinguish - to understand the difference between two things
o Junked - to get rid of something because it is of no use or value
Topic 2 : "War and possible peace in Syria"

The agreement reached in Munich by major world powers, including the United States and Russia, to work towards a cessation
of hostilities in Syria within a week is the most constructive step yet to find a political solution to the countrys civil war. For years,
the world looked away when Syria was transformed into a geopolitical battlefield where several countries were involved, either
directly or through their proxies, to maximise their interests. The war has nearly destroyed the country, triggering an
unprecedented humanitarian crisis. A report released last week by the Syrian Centre for Policy Research paints a picture graver
than what even the UN had estimated. About 470,000 people have been killed and 1.9 million injured since the crisis began in
March 2011. Nearly 45 per cent of the population has been displaced, while life expectancy has dropped from 70 to 55.4 in five
years. That a civil war in a small nation of about 23 million people was allowed to get this catastrophic, itself points to the failures
of the international system.
The positive development in the Munich agreement is that both Russia and the U.S. have strongly come out for a cessation of
hostilities. Russia is directly backing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, while the U.S. and its allies, Saudi Arabia and
Turkey, support the anti-regime rebels. To be sure, both blocs have different solutions to offer for the crisis. While the Russians


want the regime to be sustained, with or without Mr. Assad, the Americans and their allies want Mr. Assad to go. Still, there is
some common ground. Both Washington and Moscow are fighting the Islamic State. Despite its military intervention in favour
of the Assad regime, Russia is consistently pushing for an eventual political solution. The U.S. has over the years mellowed its
hardline stand. Though it still calls for Mr. Assads ouster, it doesnt say when he should go. This common ground opens the
possibilities for a ceasefire, which, if it is put in place successfully, could set the stage for serious negotiations. But even the
implementation of a ceasefire faces serious challenges. Since the Russian intervention, the regime forces have made substantial
advances on the ground. The weakening of rebel positions has upset their regional backers. Saudi Arabia and Turkey have
announced they are considering sending ground troops to Syria. If they do that, Russia would be forced to expand their
involvement, which would dangerously escalate the crisis. Another key question is whether President Assad, already
emboldened by the military advances made, would be ready to make concessions. In an interview last week he vowed to retake
the whole of the country by force. But after the near-total destruction of Syria, it is delusional to think of a military solution. If the
U.S. and Russia are committed to the Munich agreement, they should put serious pressure on their allies and bring them to the
table. Thats the only way forward for Syria.
o Cessation - ending or stopping something

o Hostilities - fighting in a war
o Geopolitical - political activities influenced by the physical features of a country
o Proxies - one appointed or authorized to act for another
o Triggering - causing something (especially bad)
o Unprecedented - never happened or known before
o Humanitarian - involved in or connected with improving people's lives and
reducing suffering
o Crisis - a time of extreme difficulty or danger
o To paint a picture (of something) - to describe or show something in a particular
way
o Graver - seriously bad
o Life expectancy - the average period that a person may expect to live
o Catastrophic - causing sudden great damage
o Backing - helping / supporting
o Allies - supporters
o Sustained - to allow something to continue for a period of time
o Common ground - opinions or interests shared by two or more groups (who
disagree about most other subjects)
improve
o Consistently - doing something in a systemati manner
o Pushing for something - to demand something repeatedly


o Eventual - happening at the end of something (as a result)
o Mellowed - relaxed
o Hardline stand - uncompromising / strict attitude on a particular issue
o Ouster - the process of removing someone from an important position or job
o Ceasefire - an agreement between two armies, to stop fighting in order to allow
discussions about peace
o Set the stage for something - conditions have been made right for something to
happen (something is likely to happen)
o Negotiations - the process of discussing something with someone in order to reach
an agreement with them
o Substantial - important
o On the ground - among the general public
o Escalate - increase rapidly
o Emboldened - to make someone brave
o Concession - the act of admitting defeat
o Vowed - to make a determined decision to do something
o Delusion - belief in something that is not true
February 16/2016
Topic 1 : "Owning without interfering"
Promises are extremely easy to make for a politician. The problem, however, lies in delivering on them. Tougher still is to do
so in a time-bound manner. The coming Union budget provides Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that one near-term opportunity to
walk the talk, and make good his words. Mr. Jaitley appears to be acutely aware that time is ticking away. He also understands
that any dithering on the reform front would drastically impair the chances of a quick economic recovery for the country. Realising
the exceptional predicament he finds himself in at the moment, the Finance Minister hinted at a series of banking reforms while
addressing a session at Make in India Week in Mumbai on Sunday. The Indian banking system is in crisis at the moment with
bank after bank, especially the government-owned ones, reporting hefty losses in the face of mounting bad loans. The Reserve
Bank of Indias ordained clean-up notwithstanding, the banking system desperately needs to be pulled permanently away from
the legacy elements that have played havoc for long. The government is committed to zero interference and letting the
institutions run professionally, Mr. Jaitley said in Mumbai. And the boards of the banks have to be run professionally. He went
on to assert that the government would ensure the banks worked purely on professional considerations. At the same time, he
felt that the country had not reached a stage where the government could pull out of the banking system altogether. If you see
the last three-four decades, state-owned banks have played an important role as they reached out to areas where there was no
banking, he said. No doubt, the banking system remains out of bounds for far too many underprivileged sections. However,
oftentimes this fact has been conveniently used to perpetuate the governments hold over the banking system. Reducing its
financial stake in state-owned banks can, at best, help fill the coffers of the government. It does not, however, unburden the

government of the problem of conflict of interest. History is replete with instances of subtle and not-so-subtle interference by the
government in the banking system, resulting in decisions based on partisan, populist or simply expedient considerations.
If the zero-interference assurance given by Mr. Jaitley has to have any meaningful and practical implication, the government
would do well to at least reconfigure its financial stake in the banking industry. This could be done by ring-fencing the
governments equity stakes in banks by transferring its shares into an independent, professionally-managed holding company.
In an integrated global environment, financial decision-making has become an increasingly complex process involving very
many dynamic imponderables. Given that fact, banks will be well-served if they are allowed to carry on their businesses without
somebody interfering in their work time and again. The circumstances are currently ideal for Mr. Jaitley to break new ground in
the banking field.
o Interfering - to involve in a situation when your involvement is not wanted or is

not helpful
o Extremely - very
o Delivering - to achieve or produce something that has been promised
o Time-bound - particular period
o Walk the talk - to do what one said one would do, not just making empty promises
o Acutely - in a very clever or detailed way
o Ticking away - goes past
o Dithering - to be unable to make a decision about doing something
o Drastically - acting rapidly or violently
o Impair - to spoil something or make it weaker so that it is less effective
o Realising - become fully aware of something
o Exceptional - unusual
o Predicament - a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation
o Reforms - make changes in something in order to improve it
o Hefty - large and heavy
o Ordained - ordered (something) officially
o Notwithstanding - although (in spite of)
o Desperately - extremely (very much)
o Legacy - money or property that you receive from someone after they die
o Havoc - confusion and lack of order
o Assert - to say something confidently
o Pull out - withdraw from an undertaking


o Underprivileged - without the money, possessions, education, opportunities, etc.
that the average person has
o Oftentimes - on many occasions
o Perpetuate - to cause something to continue
o Coffers - the money that an organization has in its bank accounts and available to
spend
o Unburden - to free yourself of something that is worrying you
o Replete - full
o Expedient - helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally
acceptable
o Implication - the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not
directly stated
o Ring-fence - to make sure that a sum of money is protected and only used for a
particular purpose
o Equity - the quality of being fair and impartial
o Imponderables - something that cannot be guessed or calculated because it is
completely unknown
o To break new ground - to do or discover something new
Topic 2 : "Conundrums for the Congress"
In West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry that will face Assembly elections in 2016, the Bharatiya Janata
Party is relatively weak, but the political configuration in these States (and a Union Territory) will not make it any easier for the
partys chief national opposition, the Congress, to take advantage of the situation. The Congress senses that the road to its
revival at the Centre passes through these States alleyways where regional forces dominate, except in Assam. In Tamil Nadu,
the Congress has resurrected its tried-and-tested alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to consolidate votes in the
States multi-party electoral landscape. Even so, for the Congress it will be a tough task to sell this alliance as a better alternative
to the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, as public memory of the United Progressive Alliance is still relatively
fresh. The Congresss other alternative was to throw its weight behind a third front, but the party has long forsaken any ambition
to lead a non-Dravidian alliance. Its weak presence is a consequence of its long-term decline in Tamil Nadu, despite the hold in
the popular imagination of Kamaraj rule, the partys halcyon days some 50 years ago. In any case, its claim to the Kamaraj
legacy is now under dispute following the revival of the Tamil Maanila Congress. Whether the Congresss aspiration for short-
term gains will materialise depends less upon political arithmetic and more on the public appraisal of the ruling AIADMK. And
with the opposition space still being inchoate, the outcome is difficult to forecast.


In Kerala and West Bengal, the Congress is caught in a bind. The wilful adoption of a subsidiary role to Mamata Banerjees
Trinamool Congress enfeebled the Congress over time, and explains its State leaderships desperation now to ally with its long-
term nemesis, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front. But just as the CPI(M)s central leadership is divided over
the question of an alliance its West Bengal unit is in favour of a tie-up even as the central leadership remains undecided
the Congress high command faces a Hobsons choice. An alliance with the Left Front would enable a viable contest against the
Trinamool Congress and thus a better harvest of seats in West Bengal but this may help the BJP gain a foothold in Kerala
where the Congress-led front and the opposition CPI(M)-led front are the main contestants, and are at loggerheads. For the
Congress leadership, leaving the political choice of alliance-building to its federal units based on local expediency is an easier
option. This is unlike the Left Front, which cannot take a political decision without answering ideological questions on a tie-up
with the Congress and what this would mean for its chances in Kerala, where it would hope to gain from anti-incumbency against
the Congress. In Assam, the Congresss choices are less stark but its challenges the burden of anti-incumbency and a
communally polarised build-up are strong. The party has its task cut out.
o Conundrums - problems that is difficult to deal

o Relatively - comparatively
o Sense - Awareness
o Revival - the process of becoming more active or popular again
o Alleyways - a narrow road or path
o Resurrected - to bring someone back to life
o Tried-and-tested - found to be successful
o Alliance - a group of countries, political parties, or people who have agreed to work
together because of shared interests or aims
o Consolidate - to combine
o Electoral - relating to or consisting of electors
o Throw your weight behind - to use your influence to support someone or
something
o Forsaken - to stop doing or having something
o Consequence - a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or
not convenient
o Decline - to refuse
o Halcyon days - a very happy or successful period in the past
o Legacy - inheritance
o Dispute - a disagreement or argument.
o Aspiration - something that you hope to achieve
o Appraisal - to examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities,
success
o Inchoate - partly formed, or not completely developed


o Outcome - result or effect of an action
o Forecast - to say what you expect to happen in the future
o In a bind - in a tight or difficult situation; stuck on a problem
o Wilful - (something bad) done intentionally
o Adoption - taking something as your own
o Enfeebled - weaken
o Desperation - the feeling of needing or wanting something very much
o Ally - combine
o Nemesis - person who is very difficult to defeat
o Tie-up - a connection or agreement that joins two things or organizations
o Hobson's choice - a situation in which it seems that you can choose between
different things or actions, but there is really only one thing that you can take or do
o Viable - able to work as intended or able to succeed
o Harvest - gather in
o Foothold - a strong first position from which further progress can be made
o Loggerheads - to strongly disagree (with someone)
o Expediency - helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally
acceptable
o Ideological - based on or relating to a particular set of ideas or beliefs
o Incumbency - the period during which someone has a particular official position
o Stark - clear
o Polarised - to cause something to divide into two completely opposing groups
February 17/2016
Topic 1 : "Making cities clean and sustainable"
Acentury ago, Mahatma Gandhi lamented that the Indian city was mostly a stinking den, and Indians as a people were not used
to city life. The squalid urban landscapes of the 21st century, with mountains of garbage merely relocated to the suburbs to
maintain clean cities, would seem to prove that not much has changed since then. The quest for clean cities has only grown
more complicated, as steady urbanisation is putting pressure on a poorly prepared municipal administration system, and the
more affluent consumers produce ever-higher volumes of trash. The neglect of social housing, sanitation and water supply has
ensured that there is nothing like a truly clean, green and sustainable city. It would not be fair, of course, to dismiss the efforts
of cities such as Mysuru, Chandigarh and Tiruchirapalli, which have scored the top three ranks in the competition organised by
the Swachh Bharat Mission of the Ministry of Urban Development to choose the cleanest cities for 2015. In fact, with the high
level of political will now being shown to address the problem of waste and filth, there has never been a better time for State
governments to act. Beyond the cosmetic solution of removing waste to landfills or releasing untreated sewage into hidden
waterways, however, the challenge is staggering even with the 1.04 crore household toilets and five lakh community and


public toilets to be built, the sewage treatment capacity in cities would have to be expanded by 63 per cent. The scenario is
equally depressing for solid waste, since only 20 per cent of it can be treated scientifically at present.
The Centres decision, against this background, to ask fertilizer companies to sell municipal compost is among the more
promising initiatives to stem the rising pile of trash. Cities can take a leaf out of international best practices, and encourage
communities to create food gardens in every area possible using this resource. At the very least, reduction of garbage can be
achieved if residents start segregating their waste at home, and municipalities acquire the systems to manage it. But there is a
major policy disconnect here, since tonnage-based contracts issued by cities have created a vested interest in transporting
waste to landfills, rather than to reduce it through rules that require segregation, composting and recycling. The imagery of
the Swachh Bharat Mission, which currently dwells on citizen behaviour and the visual appeal of clean cities, needs to extend
to waste reduction and recycling. Building the necessary infrastructure is easier today, since a variety of financial instruments
are available, including Central funds, corporate sponsorship and the Swachh Bharat cess on services that alone will garner an
estimated Rs.3,700 crore during 2015-16. Achieving sustainable clean cities will ultimately depend on the attention devoted to
human development and environmental governance. Without inclusive city planning, affordable housing, water and sanitation,
the trend of urbanisation can only add to the squalor that depressed Gandhiji in Varanasi. This is the bulwark on which cities
can achieve cleanliness and good health.

o Lamented - to express sadness and feeling sorry about something
o Stinking - having a bad smell
o Squalid - a place extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially as a result of poverty
or neglect
o Urban - in a city or town
o Landscape - scenery
o Merely - just
o Suburb - the outer area of a town
o Steady - not moving or changing suddenly
o Urbanisation - the process by which more and more people leave the countryside
to live in cities
o Affluent - having a lot of money or owning a lot of things
o Trash - waste material
o Filth - dirt
o Cosmetic - Corrective changes, etc. are intended to make you believe that
something is better when, really, the problem has not been solved
o Landfills - the process of getting rid of large amounts of rubbish by burying it
o Sewage - waste matter such as water or human urine or solid waste
o Staggering - very shocking and surprising


o Pile - a mass of something that has been placed somewhere
o Take a leaf out of - to copy something that someone else does because it will bring
you advantages
o Reduction - the amount by which something is lessened
o Segregating - to keep one thing separate from another
o Tonnage- the size or carrying capacity of a ship measured in tons
o Vested - fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a legal right, benefit
o Imagery - visual images
o Dwells - to live in a place or in a particular way
o Garner - to collect something, usually after much work or with difficulty
o Devoted - loyal
o Bulwark - something that protects you from dangerous or unpleasant situations
Topic 2 : "The curious case of Justice Karnan"
In the chronicles of aberrant behaviour by judges, Justice C.S. Karnan of the Madras High Court would occupy one of the most
prominent spots. Few judges have by their conduct within and outside the court damaged the standing of the judiciary to this
degree or exposed the helplessness of the system in dealing with over-the-top functioning. The judge now appears to have
crossed all bounds, and his understanding of the law is such that he takes up the case of his own transfer to the Calcutta High
Court and stays the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India. This is just the latest instance of his ways that have included,
even as a sitting judge, his going into the court when a Division Bench was hearing a petition on the selection of judges and
seeking to file an affidavit opposing the list of appointees recommended by the Chief Justice. His interaction with other judges
in the High Court was found to be so offensive that 21 of them signed a petition of complaint and a Chief Justice of the High
Court was constrained to send a formal communication to the Chief Justice of India seeking his transfer. To top it all, the Madras
High Court registry had to file a petition in the Supreme Court of India after he had passed a suo motu order staying the
recommendation of the Chief Justice of India transferring him and get his order stayed. That he has frequently raised the issue
of his caste status complaining to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and even threatening to file criminal
charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against chief justices and other judges
in justification of his conduct, has only served to trivialise the issue of caste discrimination and the genuine difficulties that
Dalits face.
It is inconceivable that so long a rope would have been given to any judge in a well-ordered democracy functioning under the
rule of law. It was almost two years ago that the Supreme Court condemned Justice Karnans conduct in seeking to argue in
another court as uncharitable and ungenerous, and indecorous. Yet, he was allowed to continue with his ways, each
subsequent episode marking a new low. While his initial selection is itself testimony to the weakness of the collegium system of
appointments, the Karnan episode has brought to light the inadequacies of the judicial system in keeping its own house in order.
Impeachment is one option, but if a judge facing impeachment chooses to brazen it out rather than resign, it goes before
Parliament where political considerations come into play. Short of impeachment, very few effective measures seem to be
available. Even the remedy of transfer now being applied would only shift the problem to another high court, though by removing


him out of his familiar circle of friends and supporters it may serve to mute it. The most that can be said of the transfer is that it
is better than doing nothing.
o Curious - strange / unusual

o Chronicles - a written record of historical events
o Aberrant - different from usual (especially in an unacceptable way)
o Prominent - important / famous
o Over-the-top - in an uncontrolled way
o Affidavit - a written statement that someone makes after promising officially to tell
the truth
o Constrained - to control what you do by keeping you within particular limits
o To top it all - if you have been describing bad things that happened, and then say
that to top it all something else happened, you mean that the final thing was even
worse
o Suo motu - something done on it's own, without depending on any external cause
[used in situations where a government or court acts on its own]
o Threatening - to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them or cause problems if
they do not do what you want
o Trivialise - to make something seem less important than it really is
o Inconceivable - impossible to imagine or think of
o Condemned - expressed complete disapproval
o Conduct - behaviour
o Uncharitable - unkind and unfair
o Ungenerous - not willing to give or share things (especially money) / mean
o Indecorous - behaving badly or rudely
o Testimony - a clear proof of something
o Collegium system - it is a system under which appointments and transfers of
judges are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most
judges of the Supreme Court.
o Brought to light - to discover something and reveal it to the public
o Inadequacies - inability to deal with a situation
o Impeachment - a formal process of saying that a govt official did something wrong
(an unlawful activity)
o Brazen - doing someting very open and shocking way without shame
o Resign - voluntarily leave a job or office
o Come into play - becoming active, operative, or effective

o Remedy - a successful way of dealing with a problem or difficulty
February 18/2016
Topic 1 : "Right step on savings schemes"
The 25-basis points reduction in interest rates on short-tenure small savings schemes from April 1 may have come as a huge
disappointment for countless savers. For the middle class, especially for millions of retired persons, these schemes are risk-
free, and provide safe parking slots for their hard-earned money. The returns these schemes offer also help them balance their
budget. Read in this light, the decision to pare the interest rates on these schemes, even if only by a small measure, is bound
to put the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre in an uncomfortable position vis--vis a crucial component of
society, the middle class, which is considered the core constituency of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The decision, however, must
be viewed in the context of the big picture that is emerging on the national economy. The Reserve Bank of India cut the key
policy rate by a total of 125 basis points in 2015, and it has only been partially transmitted to end-borrowers. In fact, a little less
than half of this reduction had been passed on by banks to their clients. The problem, in a way, lies in the peculiar predicament
the banks find themselves in. It is easy to put banks on the mat for not passing on the rate reduction to customers. Already
under huge stress, they can do so only if they could correspondingly cut their deposit rates. But there is a catch here. The
deposit mobilisation exercise of banks often encounters competition from these small savings schemes. By reducing the interest
rates on short-term savings schemes, the government has sought to erase the return advantage they currently enjoy over
similar-tenure government securities. Indeed, it has set the stage for a uniform interest rate regime at least from a short-term
perspective and cleared a major roadblock for banks in cutting their deposit rates, and eventually the lending rates as well.
Viewed from this perspective, the move is a welcome one.
By leaving the interest rates on long-term and certain special category savings schemes unchanged, the government has sent
out the message that it has in mind the larger good of society as a whole, and that it is keen to encourage people to save for
the future. A distorted interest regime is the principal cause for driving the economy into a costlier zone. For individuals, no
doubt, the impact of the interest rate cut on small savings schemes could be immediate and visible in terms of lower returns on
their savings. However, the effect of such a cut will have a cascading effect on the entire value chain, and will inevitably bring
the cost structure down for the economy. Surely, that is the right way to go. The government has indeed done well to take this
less-than-popular step.
o Tenure - period of time

o Countless - too many to be counted
o Retired - to leave your job or stop working because of old age or ill health
o Risk-free - does not involve any risk
o Parking - leave (something) in a convenient place until required
o Hard-earned - achieved only after a lot of effort
o Returns - profit from an investment
o Pare - to reduce something


o Vis--vis - in relation to
o Crucial - extremely important or necessary
o Core - most important part of something
o Constituency - the people who live and can vote in a particular area
o Partially - only in part; to a limited extent
o Transmitted - to pass something from one person or place to another
o Borrow - to take or obtain with the promise to return the same or an equivalent
o Peculiar - unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way
o Predicament - a difficult, unpleasant or embrassing situation
o On the mat - being formally disapproved by someone in authority
o Encounter - to face something unexpectedly
o Set the stage for something - prepare the conditions for something
o Perspective - a particular way of considering something (point of view)
o Roadblock - something that stops progress
o Distort - to change something from its usual, original, natural condition
o Inevitable - something that is sure to happen and cannot be prevented
Topic 2 : "J&K needs a government"
Jammu and Kashmir needs an elected government in place without further delay in order to address the discontent that has
been mounting since the death of the Peoples Democratic Party patriarch, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. A spike in violence
has worsened an already fragile political situation. In the five weeks since Governors Rule was imposed in the State after his
death, three civilians have been killed, falling to the bullets of the security forces in two separate incidents. A dramatic downturn
has been visible in the last few weeks. In Pulwama on January 20, a civilian, Parvez Ahmad Guroo, got caught in the crossfire
between the security forces and militants; and hundreds of people from neighbouring villages pelted the security forces
personnel with stones, shouting anti-India slogans, impervious to the teargas shells that were being lobbed back. In the melee,
one militant was killed, but two escaped with the help of sympathetic locals. And the arrest on Monday in the national capital on
sedition charges of former Delhi University teacher S.A.R. Geelani who had been acquitted in the 2001 Parliament attack
case for organising an event in Afzal Gurus support, has added to the sense of uncertainty and confusion in the Kashmir
Valley. This is especially so because simultaneously Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar
was also arrested on sedition charges, for alleged involvement in campus events where anti-India slogans were raised and the
hanging of Afzal Guru was questioned. Given that the PDP has previously also voiced concerns about the quality of justice Afzal
Guru got, the partys position too has become complicated in striking an understanding to revive its alliance with the Bharatiya
Janata Party.

If the growing disaffection in the Kashmir Valley is to be arrested and the concerns of the people addressed, it is best done
politically by an elected government, and not through direct rule from Delhi. Given that a PDP-BJP coalition remains the most
likely outcome from the current Assembly, the two parties need to come to an understanding very quickly, or indicate definitively
that their coalition is no longer possible. This should enable the Governor to explore government-formation with other parties,
or look at the possibility of dissolving the Assembly and advancing elections. The framework of the Agenda of Alliance the
common minimum programme that the two parties agreed to last March already exists. The PDP has specific complaints
about the BJP-led Centre not delivering on development funds to the State adequately and on time. There is also unease about
the fallout of Hindutva issues in Jammu and Kashmir, especially over the issue of consumption of beef and the use of the State
flag. The slapping of sedition charges on various people in Delhi has also cast a shadow on the Valley. Far too much is at
stake in Jammu and Kashmir for the BJP and the PDP to ignore the grave situation on the ground and to seek to use the
interregnum of Governors rule to maximise their respective negotiating positions.
o Discontent - a feeling of wanting an improved situation (dissatisfied)

o Mounting - slowly increasing
o Patriarch - head
o Spike - to rise to a higher amount
o Fragile - damaged
o Downturn - a reduction in something
o Crossfire - gunfire from two or more directions
o Pelted - to throw a number of things quickly at someone
o Impervious to something - not influenced or affected by something
o Melee - a large noisy uncontrolled crowd
o Sedition - speech that is intended to influence other people to oppose their
government
o Acquit - free someone from a criminal charge
o Voiced - expressed
o Concern - a worried or nervous feeling about something
o Striking - attracting attention for unusual reasons
o Revive - restore to life
o Disaffection - feeling of being dissatisfied (especially with people in authority or a
system of control)
o Coalition - the joining together of different political parties for a particular purpose
(for a limited time)
o Definitively - clearly
o Dissolving - close down or dismiss (an assembly or official body)
o Advancing - coming


o Framework - a system of rules, ideas that is used to plan or decide something
o Fallout - unfavourable / harmful results of a situation or action.
o Cast a shadow on something - to spoil a good situation with something
unpleasant
o At stake - at risk
o Gave situation - seriously bad situation
o Interregnum - a period when a country or organization does not have a leader
o Negotiating - to deal with something difficult
February 19/2016
Topic 1 : "Restore propriety in Arunachal Pradesh"
The revocation of Presidents Rule in any State ought to be welcomed, as it paves the way for the installation of a popular
government. The latest Supreme Court order allowing the Union government to withdraw the proclamation bringing Arunachal
Pradesh under Central rule may end the prevailing uncertainty and help avoid a constitutional vacuum, but it may not prevent
more legal tangles. There will certainly be a political tussle over the course of action that Governor J.P. Rajkhowa ought to adopt
as soon as the suspended Assembly is revived. The Congress argues that its regime headed by former Chief Minister Nabam
Tuki will stand automatically restored. However, there is enough indication that the Governors favoured option will be to invite
the Congress rebel Kalikho Pul, who has the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party, to form the government. Mr. Pul may have
little difficulty in passing a floor test as he claims the support of 32 MLAs in the Assembly, which now is 58-strong. While lifting
its earlier directive to maintain the status quo, the Constitution Bench has not interfered with the Gauhati High Court order
staying the disqualification of 14 legislators by Speaker Nabam Rebia. This may mean that the 14 Congress dissidents will be
allowed to vote on the confidence motion. At the same time, the Bench has asked the High Court to expedite the final hearing
on their petitions challenging the legality of their disqualification.
Legally, there is no bar on the Governor inviting anyone who, in his opinion, is in a position to command a majority to form the
government as early as possible. However, a question will surely arise as to whether he should not first allow Mr. Tuki an
opportunity to test his majority, especially if the 14 MLAs whose disqualification has been stayed are allowed to vote. Another
issue of propriety would be whether the Governor should ask for a vote in the House before the High Court decides on the
validity of their disqualification. And if Mr. Pul is invited first and he demonstrates his majority thanks to the clutch of Congress
rebels with him, a piquant situation would arise if the Constitution Bench declares the imposition of Presidents Rule illegal. The
Tuki regime may have to be reinstated even though the House has reposed faith in another Chief Minister! There is little doubt
that constitutional propriety has taken a beating in Arunachal Pradesh in the last couple of months. The list of unseemly
developments is long. Dissidents managed to unseat a Chief Minister with active support from the Raj Bhavan, whose incumbent
advanced a scheduled Assembly session; a farcical sitting of the Assembly took place at a makeshift venue; questionable


resolutions were passed to remove the Speaker and the Chief Minister, and Presidents Rule was imposed in the midst of a
Supreme Court hearing. Indisputably, democracy works through political processes, but it becomes a travesty when partisan
politics overshadows constitutional norms.
o Propriety - correct moral behaviour or actions

o Revocation - to officially declare that an agreement, permission, a law, etc. is no
longer in effect (cancelled)
o Paves the way for something - make it easier to do something
o Proclamation - an official announcement
o Vacuum - lack of something (emptiness)
o Tangles - disagreements
o Tussle - to have difficult disagreements or strong arguments
o Revived - restore to life or consciousness
o Backing - help or support
o Floor test - a test to prove majority (by head-count) on the floor of the Parliament
for a crucial decision
o Directive - an official instruction
o Status quo - the present situation
o Clutch - to take or hold something tightly
o Piquant - interesting and exciting
o Imposition - the introduction of a new law or system
o Reinstated - restore something to it's former position or state
o Reposed faith in somebody - to place your trust or hopes in somebody
o Unseemly - (behavior) which is not proper or appropriate
o Dissident - a person who publicly disagrees with and criticizes their government
o Unseat - to remove someone from power
o Incumbent - the person who has or had a particular official position
o Farcical - a situation that is very badly organized
o Midst - in the middle of an event, situation, or activity
o Indisputable - true, and impossible to doubt
o Travesty - something that fails to represent the values and qualities that it is
intended to represent


o Partisan - strongly supporting a person, principle, or political party (without
considering or judging the matter very carefully)
o Overshadows - to cause someone or something to seem less important or less
happy
o Constitutional - relating to an established set of principles governing a state
o Norm - an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that most people
agree with
Topic 2 : "A landmark for Indian scientists"
The Union Cabinet has finally granted in-principle approval for a gravitational wave detector in India. The clearance, awaited
for five years, comes close on the heels of the detection of the elusive gravitational waves for the first time; the Laser
Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) based in Washington and Louisiana in the U.S. found evidence
of gravitational waves coming from two black holes colliding and fusing together 1.3 billion light years away. By virtue of having
the same sensitivity as the LIGO detectors in the U.S. and being geographically separated by thousands of kilometres, the
Rs.1,200-crore LIGO-India project, scheduled to become operational in about eight years, will at once vastly improve the level
of accuracy and ability to detect new gravitational wave events. Since all detectors may not be operational all the time for
instance, the VIRGO detector, based near Pisa in Italy, had remained shut on September 14, 2015 the addition of an Indian
detector will increase the chances of detecting events that generate gravitational waves. When the advanced LIGO and LIGO-
India detectors reach their full sensitivity, many more events will become detectable and the ability to detect faraway signals
would also increase dramatically. For instance, 50 to 100 gravitational wave-generating events a year may become detectable.
And in the case of neutron stars, signals from as far away as 600 million light years could be detected as compared with 200
million light years now.
Though Indian scientists were part of the LIGO project, their involvement was limited to theoretical aspects and data analysis.
The LIGO-India project will change this altogether as the construction, commissioning and running of the observatory will be
Indias responsibility. It will offer unprecedented opportunities for Indian industry and scientists from diverse fields to be actively
involved in a scientific project of a scale never before seen in the country. For instance, though many of the critical components
such as mirrors and lasers will be shipped from the U.S., an ultra-high capacity vacuum system that can handle one million litres
of vacuum (as in the case of CERN), and secondary optics, have to be manufactured in India. An active programme to develop
optics for the laser system that could be used in future upgrades to the detectors is already under way at the Indore-based Raja
Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology. Currently only a few students from Indian institutions are able to participate in the
LIGO project, but this will change completely when the observatory becomes operational in India, providing easier access for a
larger number of students. Besides playing a pivotal role in gravitational wave astronomy, the Indian observatory could thus be
a catalyst in changing the landscape of Indian scientific efforts. Together with other mega projects such as the India-based
Neutrino Observatory project, experimental science will at last get a much-needed boost in the country.


o Granted - an amount of money given especially by the government to a person or
organization for a special purpose
o In-principle - basic idea
o Awaited - to wait for something
o On the heels of - to happen very soon after something
o Elusive - to not be caught by someone
o Interferometer - an instrument to make precise measurements of length of
displacement in terms of the wavelength
o Evidence - one or more reasons for believing that something is true or not true
o Black hole - an imaginary place in which things are lost
o Collide - to hit something violently
o Fusing - to join (different pieces or elements) together physically, as by melting or
heating
o Light year - the distance that light travels in one year (about 9.5 million million
kilometres)
o By virtue of - because or as a result of
o Operational - to make it work
o Accuracy - the fact of being exact or correct
o Remained shut - To continue in the same closed state
o Detector - a device used to find particular substances or things, or measure their
level
o Faraway - distant
o Altogether - completely
o Unprecedented - never having happened or existed in the past
o Diverse - different types
o Shipped - transport goods
o Vacuum - empty space
o Optics - the study of light and of instruments using light
o Under way - it is happening now
o Observatory - a building from which scientists can watch the planets, the stars,
the weather, etc
o Operational - in or ready for use
o Besides - in addition to; also
o Pivotal - central and important


o Astronomy - the scientific study of the universe and of objects that exist naturally
in space, such as the moon, the sun, planets, and stars
o Catalyst - a person or event that quickly causes change or action
o Landscape - a view or picture
o Experimental - new invention or product based on untested ideas or techniques
and not yet established or finalized
February 20/2016
Topic 1 : "Apple stands up to surveillance"
Apple CEO Tim Cooks revelation this week that the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation wants his company to take the
unprecedented step of hacking into the iPhone 5 device used by terrorists in the San Bernardino, California attack in December
2015, highlights the complexity that the world today faces in simultaneously pursuing two well-meaning goals: digital security
and national security. The problem is, it seems that one cannot be pursued without jeopardising the other. Mr. Cook, who
opposes the order, is clearly privileging the former, while the FBI is interested in the latter. The CEO was quick to explain that
as a matter of policy Apple regularly complied with valid subpoenas and search warrants, including in the San Bernardino case,
in which he said Apple had made its engineers available to advise the FBI. However, in opposing the FBIs order, his remarks
represent the sharpest public protest by any of the Silicon Valley tech giants against the post-Snowden U.S. surveillance state.
In this, he has also got support from tech heavyweights such as Google and Microsoft. Their defiance is understandable. For
the tech giants, compliance with such orders can easily put at risk the value proposition of data protection they pitch to their
users, thereby putting their businesses in peril. As more and more of our lives get played out in the digital world, more advanced
security features will inevitably become central to their offerings in the future. Mr. Cook knows this well his note was addressed
to the customers.
According to Mr. Cook, the FBI has asked Apple to produce a new version of the iPhone operating system (OS) that would
circumvent critical security features such as the automatic memory wipe that happens when the wrong login code is entered 10
times. The authorities, Mr. Cook said, intend to have this new operating system installed on the government-owned iPhone
recovered during the investigation of the San Bernardino attack, yet there may be no guarantee that the government would limit
the use of this special OS to this device alone. Mr. Cooks discomfiture with complying with the FBIs request has to do with
and rightly so the lurking risk that the iPhone hack programme that Apple considers too dangerous to create would inevitably
produce backdoor access to all iPhones. After all, the debate stirred up by Edward Snowden resulted in an effective end to the
bulk collection of the phone records of millions of Americans. Such progress would be undone if new surveillance weapons were
built and entrusted to the NSA. Yielding to this one ask, which the FBI proposes to enforce via the 227-year-old All Writs Act,
could bring in a flood of such requests from around the globe, including from regimes where the legal framework to constrain
cyber-snooping operations may be far from adequate with regard to protecting the civil liberties of citizens. The argument that


this is for a one-off case is thus weak. As the technologists know, there may be little that is exclusive or one-time about special
access.
o Surveillance - close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal

o Revelation - a surprising and previously unknown fact that has been disclosed to
others
o Pursuing - follow or chase (someone or something)
o Jeopardising - to put (someone or something) into danger
o Privileging - to give special importance to something
o Former - the first of given two things (which were previously mentioned)
o Latter- the first of given two things (which were previously mentioned)
o Complied - met specified standards
o Subpoena - a legal document ordering someone to appear in a law court
o Warrant - an official document, signed by a judge or other person in authority, that
gives the police permission to search someone's home, arrest a person, or take
some other action
o Protest - express an objection to something
o Giants - very successful and powerful people or organizations
o Defiance - behaviour in which you refuse to obey someone or something
o Compliance - obeying an order, rule, or request
o Peril - great danger
o Inevitably - unavoidably (sure to happen and cannot be prevented)
o Circumvent - to avoid something (especially cleverly or illegally)
o Intend - to have as a plan or purpose
o Discomfiture - a feeling of unease or embarrassment(uncomfortable)
o Lurking - hidden
o Stirred up - to cause an unpleasant emotion or problem to begin or grow
o Entrusted - assign the responsibility for doing something to someone
o Yielding - giving a product
o Enforce - cause (something) to happen by force
o Regimes - governments
o Constrain - to control and limit something
o Snooping - to try to find out about other people's private lives:
Topic 2 : "The emperors new nationalism"


From Hyderabad to Jawaharlal Nehru University, from the death of Rohith Vemula to the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, a clear
political agenda by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party can be discerned. At first flush, this is a party whose top leaders and
they include members of the Union Cabinet are all too willing to pick fights with student leaders and give establishment cover
to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the Sanghs student wing. But to see events that have unfolded over the past week
only as the governments battle for ideological control for Indias universities, as real and as condemnable as the effort is, would
be to miss the gravity of the moment. In the national capital this week, the Home Minister gave currency to parody accounts of
Pakistani terrorists to build a case against JNU students and yet remained visibly unmoved by the obstinate refusal of the citys
police force, which comes under his charge, to arrest nationalist lawyers and a party MLA who beat up students on and around
court premises. BJP spokespersons affected condemnation of the violence, but breathed outrage about the allegedly seditious
sentiments voiced at a meeting on the JNU campus to mark the death anniversary of Afzal Guru, convicted in the 2001
Parliament attack case and hanged in 2013. Such false equivalence has never been seen since Independence, between a
Central government virtually refusing to honour the states essential compact with its citizenry to enforce the law and the right
of Indians to freely express their sentiments, that too in the especially free zone that university campuses are meant to be. And
its utterance should frame an anxiety the Prime Minister must respond to, that nationalism is being adopted as a political and
executive touchstone by which Indians are sought to be divided between those with the ruling dispensation and those not.
Besides taking the fight to the countrys campus that is most identified with Left politics, the JNU development was obviously a
chance for the BJP to recover from the excesses of Hyderabad. With it, the party has reframed the ABVPs adoption of
nationalist outrage from a Sangh versus Dalit binary to one in which the identities of anti-nationalists are insinuated, and not
overtly specified. It is, thus, a curious overlay to agitations over the JNU incidents that all Central universities are now required
to fly the national flag. It is a dangerous phase in this countrys history when the government at the Centre is seen to be actively
assisting in a right-wing effort to shape the discourse on nationalism. This is why the use of Section 124-A of the Indian Penal
Code on sedition acquires greater menace than in instances in the past, when it has mostly been used by thin-skinned politicians
to fend off critiques. Its application against JNU students and the unchecked violence against students and activists at Delhis
Patiala House courts have sent out a message that the rule of law could be enforced selectively. If Prime Minister Narendra
Modi differs from this dark reading of events, he needs to speak up.
o Nationalism - patriotic feeling

o Discerned - recognize or find out
o First flush - at the start of something
o Pick fights - to start a fight or argument with someone on purpose
o Unfolded - became clear to other people
o Condemnable - deserving strong disapproval
o Gravity - seriousness
o Parody - to copy the style of someone or something in a humorous way
o Unmoved - not affected by emotion or excitement
o Obstinate - a problem / situation, that is difficult to deal with


o Condemnation - the expression of very strong disapproval
o Seditious - the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people
to disobey their government
o Convicted - to decide officially in a law court that someone is guilty of a crime
o Equivalence - the condition of being equivalent (equality)
o virtually - nearly / almost
o Essential - necessary or needed
o Citizenry - the citizens of a place
o Enforce - to make people obey a law
o Utterance - the action of saying or expressing something aloud
o Anxiety - a feeling of worry
o Touchstone - an established standard or principle by which something is judged
o Dispensation - exemption from a rule (special permission)
o Excess - an amount of something that is more than necessary
o Insinuated - suggest or hint something bad in an indirect and unpleasant way
o Overlay - to cover something
o Agitations - the situations in which people protest or argue in public, in order to
achieve a particular type of change
o Thin-skinned - sensitive to criticism (easily hurt by criticism)
o Fend off somebody - to push or send away an attacker or other unwanted person
o Speak up - to express one's opinions frankly and publicly
February 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Delivering on Make in India"
In its last 18 months, the UPA government faced up to an economic reality: new investments had come to a halt and projects
worth lakhs of crores of rupees caught in red tape were turning unviable, posing a threat to banks that had lent for them. The
then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, heeded Finance Minister P. Chidambarams concern about the impact on public sector
banks if these projects were not brought back on track through high-level intervention. When the NDA government assumed
office, it found that the mechanism that Dr. Singh had approved to fix the problem a project monitoring group in the Cabinet
Secretariat to steer around roadblocks to big-ticket manufacturing and infrastructure projects had helped clear projects worth
Rs.6.5 lakh crore. In June 2014, the Prime Ministers Office asked the group to ascertain if the projects it had helped had begun
operations. The PMO wanted to know if more chimneys were billowing smoke, if production was going up and jobs were being
created on the ground. Three months later, the government launched its Make in India programme to encourage the world


to use the country as a global production hub. It promised reforms on norms for foreign direct investment many of which it
subsequently delivered and a fix for problems that gave the country a poor reputation among foreigners, including
unpredictable tax policies and a difficult regulatory environment.
Over the last week, about 1,000 CEOs and 4,000 delegates representing 2,000 overseas firms were in Mumbai at a glitzy
event to showcase Make in India, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented as the biggest brand to emerge from the
country. He said India was adding deregulation to its strengths of democracy, demography and demand, and promised to end
retrospective taxation that had spooked investors during the UPA rule. The Industries Ministry has claimed that Rs.15.2-lakh
crore worth of investments were committed at the event. These include some by foreign firms such as Oracle (Rs.2,749 crore)
and Ascendas (Rs.4,571 crore), but the list is dominated by Indian players making announcements to coincide with the occasion,
including a Rs.6,204-crore project by public sector undertaking Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers. Instead of doubting the
numbers, it may be more pertinent to focus on two other developments of the week. Authorities served Vodafone a reminder for
tax, which warned of asset seizure in case of failure to pay the dues, prompting a sharp reaction from the British firm. It also
emerged that Foxconn was yet to follow through on a $5-billion investment it had announced in Maharashtra last August. To
capitalise on the success of Make in India, the government must now show sustained improvement on the ease of doing
business and create a transparent and stable tax environment to prove it is capable of delivering on its intent. It should use the
same yardstick to measure Make in Indias success as it did for the earlier stalled projects: would products start rolling out of
factory gates anytime soon?
o Face up to something - to accept that a difficult situation exists

o Red tape - official rules and processes that seem unnecessary and delay results
o Unviable - not capable of working successfully
o Posing - causing
o Threat - something likely to cause damage or danger
o Heeded - pay attention to
o Concern - worry
o Impact - powerful effect
improve it
o Steer - to control
o Roadblocks - something that stops progress
o Ascertain - make sure of something
o Billowing - spreading over a large area
o Hub - central point
o Delegate - a person authorized to represent others, sent to a conference
o Glitzy - fashionable and attractive


o Deregulation - reduction or elimination of government power in a particular
industry
o Demography - the study of changes in a particular area during a period of time
o Retrospective - dealing with past events or situations.
o Spooked - frightened
o Pertinent - relevant
o Intent - intention or purpose
o Yardstick - a standard by which you can judge the success or value of something
o Stalled - stopped
o Rolling out - to make a new product available for the first time
Topic 2 : "Unreasonable demands"
The recurrence of violent protests led by relatively well-off communities demanding reservation, be it Patidars in Gujarat last
year or Jats in Haryana this year, is perplexing. The Jats are a relatively prosperous land-owning community in Haryana and
are regarded as being high on the social ladder in the region. Their political and social might is even more evident in the
influence they wield in rural areas and in the leadership of the dominant political parties in the State. The National Commission
for Backward Classes had in the past come out with specific reasons against the inclusion of the Jats in Haryana in the Other
Backward Classes (OBCs) list. This was overruled by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre
through a notification in March 2014, promising a special quota for Jats over and beyond the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs
in jobs and higher education. It was left to the Supreme Court in March 2015 to reiterate the reality and to quash the decision of
the UPA to include Jats in nine States among OBCs, stating that caste alone could not be the criterion for determining socio-
economic backwardness. Clearly, even if the demands do not make any constitutional or legal sense, the bipartisan consensus
over
o Unreasonable - not fair or acceptable

o Recurrence - to happen many times or to happen again
o Protests - an action expressing disapproval of or objection to something
o Well-off - wealthy / rich
o Perplexing - confusing
o Prosperous - very rich
o Regarded - consider or think of in a specified way
o Might - power / strength
o Dominant - having power and influence over others
o Overruled - rejected

o Reiterate - to say something again and again
o Quash - to forcefully stop something that you do not want to happen
o Emboldened - give someone the courage or confidence to do something
o Protesters - people who shows that they disagree with something by standing
somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc
o Consequence - result
o Uplift - improvement
o Underprivileged - people without the money, education, opportunities, etc. that
the average person has (poor people)
o Strata - stages
o Hierarchy - a system in which people or things are arranged according to their
importance
o Standing - position / status
o Persisting - continue to exist
o Sluggishness - moving or operating more slowly than usual and with less energy
or power
o Agrarian economy - the economy makes its money from farming rather than
industry
o Fuelled - increased / maked it stronger
o Do away with something - to get rid of something
o Agitations - a state of anxiety or nervous excitement.
February 24/2016
Topic 1 : "Keeping it parliamentary"
Parliaments Budget session opened on Tuesday against a turbulent backdrop of unrest on university campuses, the Jat
agitation in Haryana, an agrarian crisis, terrorist strikes and attacks on freedoms. In a bid, therefore, to blunt an anticipated
attack by the Opposition, the Modi government has adopted a strategy to confront its critics directly by making the JNU sedition
controversy the centrepiece of this session. MPs from the Bharatiya Janata Party, rather than those from the Opposition, have
already given notice for a discussion on the subject ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget. By presenting itself as


the flag-bearer of nationalism, the BJP believes it will be able to seize the advantage from the Opposition while detracting
attention from economic and governance issues. Already, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar are building public opinion for the
nationalist cause through various programmes, including vigilante activity by RSS sympathisers. In presenting the majority
community as being under siege, the BJP and the Parivar have shifted the discourse to anxiety about the country being
threatened by anti-national elements.
President Pranab Mukherjees customary address to Parliament has, in fact, set the tone. It ended with a reference to Subhas
Chandra Bose, one of the many heroes of the freedom struggle whom the BJP has appropriated as an icon, and quoted him as
saying, Nationalism is inspired by the highest ideals of the human race. The President also impressed on MPs that the
democratic temper calls for debate and discussion, and not disruption or obstruction. For his part, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi expressed the hope that Parliament would be utilised for constructive debates. The opening days of the Budget
session traditionally leave little space for the Opposition. The sittings in the sessions first half, in any case, will be dominated
by the Presidents Address and the debate on it, the introduction of and discussion on the Union and Railway budgets and
private members business. The government has also prioritised the passage of the Enemy Property (Amendment & Validation)
Bill to replace an ordinance, and the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill that provides for delimitation of constituencies in West
Bengal following the exchange of territories with Bangladesh. By proposing a discussion on Rohith Vemula and the JNU crisis,
the BJP has further eroded space for the Opposition to seize the initiative. With elections to five Assemblies expected to be
notified soon, the debate will obviously be framed in a surcharged context and political parties will be especially keen to play to
the gallery. Indeed, given that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is not bound by lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha in
getting money bills passed, the government may be tempted to resist the parliamentary etiquette of letting the Opposition shape
the session. This would be a mistake. The government has not yet completed its second year in office, but Parliament is already
stuck in deadlock. Unyielding postures during this session on either side could stall all forward movement.
o Turbulent - moving unsteadily or violently

o Unrest - a state of dissatisfaction / disturbance
o Agitation - a state of anxiety or nervous excitement
o Agrarian - relating to the land (especially the use of land for farming)
o Crisis - a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering
o Strike - a sudden attack
o In a bid - attempting or trying
o Blunt - to make a feeling less strong
o Anticipated - expected
o Strategy - a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term aim
o Confront - come face to face with someone / something
o Sedition - the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people
o Centrepiece - the most important par of something
o Detracting - diverting
o Vigilante - a person who tries in an unofficial way to prevent crime

o Sympathiser - a person who supports a political organization
o Discourse - written or spoken communication or debate
o Threaten - to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them or cause problems if they
do not do what you want
o Customary - usual
o Set the tone - to establish a particular mood or character for something
o Disruption - disturbance or problems which interrupt an event or process
o Obstruction - behaviour or actions that prevent something from happening or
working correctly
o Constructive - having useful or beneficial purpose
o Delimitation - boundary line
o Constituency - an area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative body
o Eroded - to slowly reduce or destroy something
o Seize - take (an opportunity) eagerly
o Play to the gallery - to behave in a way inorder to make people admire or support
you
o Etiquette - the set of rules that control accepted behaviour in particular social
groups or social situations
o Unyielding - completely unwilling to change a decision, opinion, demand
o Posture - a particular approach or attitude.
o Stall - to stop making progress
Topic 2 : "Clean air agenda for the cities"
Air quality has a strong bearing on Indias ability to sustain high economic growth, but national policy has treated the issue with
scant importance. This is evident even from the meagre data on pollution for a handful of cities generated by the ambient air
quality measurement programme. A new report from Greenpeace, based on NASAs satellite data, indicates that people living
in some parts of India are at greater risk for health problems linked to deteriorating air quality than those living in China. The
measurements for Aerosol Optical Depth, which have been used to assess the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that gets
lodged deep in the lungs, point to a worsening of air quality in India in the 10-year period from 2005, particularly for States
along the Punjab to West Bengal corridor, compared to Chinas eastern industrial belt. This finding matches the Air Quality
Index data for cities monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board. Quite simply, pursuing business as usual is not tenable,
and the Centre has to act to enforce control mechanisms that will make the air safe to breathe. This has to begin with a more
comprehensive system of real-time data collection, expanding the coverage from the present 23 cities (not all of which provide
full or regular information) to all agglomerations with a significant population and economic activity, and within a given time
frame. Putting the data in the public domain in an open format will enable multiple channels of dissemination, including apps
created by the community for mobile devices, and build pressure on both policymakers and polluters.


High levels of particulate matter in cities arise from construction and demolition activity, burning of coal in thermal plants, as
also biomass, and from the widespread use of diesel vehicles, among other sources. The Ministry of Environment and Forests
has six-year-old data that attribute about 23 per cent of particulates to construction activity in six cities studied, and another 20
per cent to diesel vehicles. The onus of curbing pollution from these sources is on the States, and evidently they are not taking
their responsibility seriously. Greater transparency in data dissemination and public awareness hold the key to change.
Technological solutions to contain construction dust are equally critical, as is the low-cost solution of covering all urban surfaces
with either greenery or paving. Widespread burning of biomass for cooking can be avoided if the government encourages
innovation in solar cookers. Cheap, clean-burning stoves can have a dramatic effect as well. The transformation of cities through
good public transport and incentives for the use of cycles and electric vehicles which India is committed to achieve under
the Paris Agreement on climate change will reduce not merely particulate matter but also nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide
and carbon monoxide. There is little doubt that the worsening air quality in Indian cities is already affecting the lives of the very
young and the elderly, and reducing labour productivity. India needs a time-bound action plan.
o Bearing - to have an influence on something or a relationship to something

o Scant - very little and not enough
o Evident - easily seen or understood
o Meagre - (of amounts or numbers) very small or not enough
o Handful - an amount of something that can be held in one hand
o Ambient - (especially of environmental conditions) existing in the surrounding area
o Deteriorate - to become worse
o Aerosol - a metal container in which liquids are kept under pressure and forced out
in a spray
o Assess - to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of something
o Particulate - an extremely small piece of dirt, especially one produced by road
vehicles, that causes pollution
o Lodge - to (cause to) become stuck in a place or position
o Monitor - a machine that regularly tests something
o Pursue - to proceed in accordance with
o Tenable - Suitable and acceptable
o Enforce - to make people obey a law, or to make a particular situation happen or
be accepted
o Comprehensive - including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of
something
o Agglomeration - a large group of many different things collected or brought
together
o Domain - an area of interest or an area over which a person has control


o Disseminate - to spread or give out something, especially news, information,
ideas, etc., to a lot of people
o Policymaker - a member of a government department, legislature, or other
organization who is responsible for making new rules, laws, etc
o Arise - to happen
o Demolition - the act of destroying something
o Biomass - dead plant and animal material suitable for using as fuel
o Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among many people
o Attribute - a quality or characteristic that someone or something has
o Onus - the responsibility or duty to do something
o Surface - the outer or top part or layer of something
o Paving - a surface made up of flat stones laid in a pattern
o Dramatic - very sudden or noticeable, or full of action
o Transformation - a complete change in the appearance or character of something
or someone
o Incentive - something that encourages a person to do something
o Time-bound - Attached to a certain moment or era in time
February 25/2016
Topic 1 : "Restoring goodwill with Kathmandu"
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Olis just-concluded six-day visit to India has come at an important juncture. The visit came after
months of turmoil in the Madhes, or plains, region of Nepal following protests demanding a more federal framework in the new
Constitution. India had tacitly backed the agitations, which resulted in a virtual blockade and a shortage of essential supplies
in Nepal. After a prolonged period of vacillation, Mr. Oli committed to amendments in the Constitution that would satisfy some
of the demands made by the Madhesis. This yielded an easing of the blockade after the protestors called off their stir. The net
result of the Indian hand in the unrest, and of New Delhis perceived partisanship, had been a resurgence of jingoism in
Kathmandu. It was also damaging for India, as the stand-off drained the goodwill gained from its commitment to supporting
Nepals reconstruction after the devastating earthquake in 2015. The two countries clearly needed to recalibrate their positions,
and this is a good start. Nepal has to maintain cordial relations with India; its economic dependence, especially as a landlocked
state, is well understood and was, in fact, reinforced during the economic blockade. India too needs a friendly Nepal, whose
geopolitical importance due to the open border between the two countries cannot be overstated. It is also in Indias interest that
there be political stability in Nepal, to prevent the spillover effect any turmoil can have for the bordering States of Bihar and Uttar
Pradesh and to secure the republican consensus needed to pull millions of Nepalis out of poverty.
'To that extent, Prime Minister Olis visit has helped reset some priorities. The emphasis by both sides was on taking forward
the reconstruction assistance that India has promised. A memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed. Other MoUs
covered economic aid for road projects, enhancing power transmission, and easing travel and transit of goods. As regards the


question of the Constitution, the Indian government had not budged much from its earlier position on the need for a consensus
through dialogue with the dissenting Madhesis to take their concerns on federalism on board. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi
did acknowledge that the conclusion of the Constitution-writing process is an important achievement. The onus is now on Mr.
Oli, his Cabinet and his party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). They could still project the halt in the
economic embargo and return to normalcy in the Madhes as a sign of victory and resist any further concessions towards a truly
federal Nepal. But that would only amount to further brinkmanship, which could prove detrimental again in the longer run. New
Delhi too should dwell on the lessons from the recent deterioration in ties and on the need for a calibrated position that supports
inclusive democracy in Nepal yet does not amount to interference. Mr. Olis visit has demonstrated the importance of high-level
ownership of bilateral engagement to return relations to a mutually beneficial equilibrium.
o Restore - to return something or someone to an earlier good condition or position

o Conclude - to end a speech, meeting, or piece of writing
o Juncture - a particular point in time
o Turmoil - a state of confusion, uncertainty, or disorder
o Agitation - worry and anxiety
o Blockade - the situation in which a country or place is surrounded by soldiers to
stop people or goods from going in or out
o Prolong - to make something last a longer time
o Vacillate - to be uncertain what to do, or to change often between two opinions
o Amendments - a change to a law that is not yet in operation and is still being
discussed
o Yield - produced or provided
o Ease - to make or become less difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc
o Stir - to cause problems between people
o Unrest - a state of dissatisfaction, disturbance
o Perceived - become aware or conscious of something
o Partisanship - strongly supporting a person, principle, or political party, without
considering or judging the matter very carefully
o Resurgence - a new increase of activity or interest in a particular subject or idea
that had been forgotten for some time:
o Resurgence - bringing again into activity
o Jingoism - the extreme belief that your own country is always best
o Stand-off - a situation in which agreement in an argument does not seem possible
o Drained - very tired / to lose something
o Devastating - causing a lot of damage or destruction
o Recalibrate - readjust
o Cordial - friendly, but formal and polite


o Landlocked state - a state, which is almost surrounded by land
o Overstated - to describe something in a way that makes it seem more important
or serious than it really is
o Spillover affect - a situation begins to affect another situation in an unpleasant or
unwanted way
o Turmoil - a state of great disturbance, confusion
o Emphasis - special importance
o Dissenting - to disagree with other people about something
o Onus - something that is one's duty or responsibility
country
o Brinkmanship - the activity of trying to get what you want by saying that if you do
not get it, you will do something dangerous
o Detrimental - causing harm or damage
o Dwell on something - to keep thinking about something
o Deterioration - the process of becoming worse
o Equilibrium - a stable / balanced situation
Topic 2 : "A sordid record in Chhattisgarh"
Adivasi rights activist and Aam Aadmi Party leader Soni Sori was attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants in Chhattisgarh
on February 20. They threw an acid-like substance on her, which left her in deep pain, and her face swollen with chemical burns.
This was not the first physical attack on Ms. Sori. As international human rights watchdogs have reported, Ms. Sori was also
allegedly tortured and sexually assaulted by the Chhattisgarh police while in their custody in October 2011. The latest attack on
her comes in the wake of a series of developments that suggests a government-endorsed clampdown on free speech and
dissent in the State. Earlier this month, Malini Subramaniam, a journalist associated with the news portal Scroll, and Jagdalpur
Legal Aid, a group of human rights lawyers working with Adivasis, were allegedly forced out of the State for highlighting police
atrocities against the tribal population. Both the journalist and the lawyers have claimed that their landlords were intimidated by
the police into issuing eviction notices on them. It is worth noting that Ms. Sori had been trying to lodge an First Information
Report against the Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range. She has been leading a powerful Adivasi movement that has
sought to hold the State administration accountable for the killing of Adivasis in fake encounters, arbitrary arrests, and alleged
sexual assault and torture of Adivasi women by the police and security forces. She had planned to highlight these issues through
a 200-km march from Bijapur, set to end in Jagdalpur on International Womens Day, March 8, before she became a target of
the latest attack.


For some time now, free speech and dissent have been on the retreat in Chhattisgarh. The official excuse for this has been the
ongoing civil conflict between the state and Maoist insurgents. But the fact that individuals who have no connection with
the conflict are being forced out, suggests a larger anti-democratic agenda at work. And this is in keeping with the pattern across
the world where so-called underdeveloped but mineral-rich regions have fallen prey to fierce corporate plunder of natural
resources at the expense of the local population. The Bastar region is rich in minerals as also Adivasi settlements, and the
people are loathe to giving up their land for resource-extraction. It is their resistance to being forcibly evicted from their land
best exemplified in the figure of Ms. Sori that is the trigger for the crackdown on democratic rights in Chhattisgarh. Given the
current political scene where a perverse form of nationalism is threatening to shut down free speech, the attack on Ms. Sori
represents another front in the battle against the criminalisation of dissent. The kind of spotlight that has been illuminating the
absurd charges of sedition against the JNU students needs to also be focussed on the likes of Ms. Sori who have been waging
such battles for a long time.
o Sordid - morally wrong and shocking

o Borne - Carried or transported by. Often used in combination: motorcycle-borne
o Assailants - a person who attacks another person
o Swollen - larger than usual
o Watchdog - to watch carefully, esp. so as to detect illegal or unethical conduct
o Allege - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving
proof
o Assaulted - to attack someone violently
o In the wake of - following or as a result of something
o Endorse - to make a public statement of your approval or support for something or
someone
o Clampdown - a sudden action taken by a government or people in authority to
stop or limit a particular activity
o Dissent - a strong difference of opinion on a particular subject, especially about an
official suggestion or plan or a popular belief
o Intimidated - frightened
o Eviction - to force someone to leave somewhere
o Lodge - to make an official complaint about something
o Retreat - to go away from a place or person in order to escape from fighting or
danger
o Fierce - strong and powerful
o Plunder - to steal goods violently from a place
o Loathe - to hate someone or something
o Resistance - the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing
to accept something


o Exemplify - to be or give a typical example of something
o Trigger - an event or situation, etc. that causes something bad to start
o Crackdown - a situation in which someone starts to deal with bad or illegal
behaviour in a more severe way
o Criminalisation - the process by which behaviors and individuals are transformed
into crime and criminals
o Spotlight - focus
o Illuminating - giving you new information about a subject or making it easier to
understand
o Absurd - stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way
o Waging - to fight a war or organize a series of activities in order to achieve
something
February 26/2016
Topic 1 : "Marshalling resources to stay on track"
The Railway Budget is notable both for the absence of big-ticket schemes and for its quiet emphasis on process changes that
hold the promise of ushering in long-term improvements in the viability of the Indian Railways. Given the backdrop of a shortfall
in traffic receipts exacerbated by low freight demand from the core sector Railway Minister Suresh Prabhus projection
of savings of Rs.8,720 crore compared with budget estimates for the current fiscal year reflects a finance professionals
approach in adopting austerity measures to contain costs. Building on those gains, the budget has projected that notwithstanding
the substantial jump in salary and pension costs consequent upon the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commissions
recommendations, the impact would be minimised to an 11.6 per cent increase in working expenses next year. This will lead to
a two percentage point rise in the operating ratio. To address the resultant paucity of funds for capital expenditure, the Minister
plans to step up efforts to monetise various assets, including land, and boost non-fare revenue, use the private-public-
partnership model more extensively, and work jointly with State governments to both formulate and fund region- or city- specific
projects. Citing the international average of 10 to 20 per cent of railway network revenues accruing from non-tariff sources, the
budget sets a goal of bringing that share on a par over the next five years from the prevailing sub-5 per cent. Mr. Prabhu has
rightly realised that a major challenge is to recover lost ground in freight haulage, where a persistent decline has had a negative
impact not only on the Railways finances but on the economy as well. The approach enunciated to address this spans three
key tacks expanding the freight basket by moving away from dependence on bulk commodities, rationalising tariffs to stay
competitive and building terminal capacity. From containerisation to roll-on/roll-off, time-tabled freight trains, and long-term tariff
contracts, the budget has posited several steps to regain the market share of the Railways in goods transportation.
Given the political constraints on resource mobilisation the Railways faces in a year of a major round of Assembly elections, Mr.
Prabhu has taken a therapeutic approach to ensure a long-term solution. Aware that the success of any plans would hinge on
their execution, he has spelt out initiatives to restructure operational management and processes. The Railway Board is to be


reorganised along business lines with cross-functional teams focussed on areas such as non-fare revenues, speed
enhancement and information technology. Seven missions to set horizon-based agendas have been proposed. While the
objectives appear achievable, Mr. Prabhus challenge will be to bring them to fruition, especially because many potential
partners, including cash-strapped State governments, may be hard-pressed to find the money.
o Marshalling - to bring together or organize people or things in order to achieve a

particular aim
o Notable - worthy of attention or notice
o Emphasis - special importance
o Ushering - guiding
o Viability - ability to work as intended or to succeed
o Shortfall - an amount that is less than the level that was expected or needed
o Exacerbated - make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse
o Freight - goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft
o Projection - a calculation or guess about the future, based on information that you
have
o Reflects - to show / express something
o Contain - to control
o Notwithstanding - in spite of something / but
o Substantial - large in size / value / importance
o Paucity - not enough of something
o Extensively - of great extent (having a great range)
o Citing - to mention something as proof
o Accruing - to receive something over a period of time
o Prevailing - existing at a particular time / current
o Lost ground - to become less popular or to be given less support
o Haulage - the commercial transport of goods
o Persistent - continous
o Enunciated - to express something in clear manner
o Rationalising - to make something more efficient
o Posited - to suggest something as a basic fact or principle from which a further
idea is formed or developed
o Constraint - a limitation or restriction
o Therapeutic - causing someone to feel happier

o Hinge on - depends on
o Execution - the act of doing or performing something, especially in a planned way
o Spelt out - to say or explain something very clearly
o Initiative - a new plan to achieve something or to solve a problem
o Enhancement - improvement
o To bring them to fruition - to make them successful
o Potential - having the capacity to develop something
o Hard-pressed - having a lot of difficulties doing something (especially because
there is not enough time or money)
Topic 2 : "A prudent decision"
Can computer programmes be granted patents? On February 19, Indias patent office wisely answered this question in the
negative, putting an end to months of ambiguity over the patentability of computer programmes. In this process, the patent
office, called the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, effectively reversed an August 2015
guideline that had triggered the ambiguity in the first place. Till that guideline came, Indias stance on this issue had been clear
through a 2002 amendment to the Patents Act: that software per se was not to qualify for patent protection. However, lawmakers
also recognised that the intention must not be to reject inventions involving software that may include certain other things,
ancillary thereto or developed thereon. Experts have interpreted this exception to refer to innovations in both software and
hardware. The 2015 guideline threatened to unsettle that nuance. According to that, technical advancements could be sufficient
grounds on which to confer patents. Its nullification is welcome as such rules, though seemingly on the side of innovation, do
not enable a level playing ground. For starters, the share of patents held by Indians has traditionally been low, and it continues
to be so. Also, the field of software is dominated by corporate giants with deep pockets and significant expertise, and they can
easily out-patent the others out of business. The smaller companies and start-ups and there are far too many aspirants with
that profile then not only have to spend huge sums of money to protect their work, but they also have to be financially and
operationally ready to defend themselves.
The patent office hasnt left it at just that. It has also issued a three-stage test to examine applications of computer-related
inventions. Step one is to interpret the claim. Once that is done, step two is to deny the claim in case the contribution lies only
in mathematical model, business method or algorithm. Step three is to assess if the invention is claimed in the field of software
in conjunction with a novel hardware. The important point to note is the recognition that software in itself is never patentable.
This is a prudent stance, because there are inherent problems in figuring out if software is patentable or not. And this is true the
world over. Germany and New Zealand exclude software from patentability. In many other parts of the world, the positions are
nuanced, like the one taken by the European Patent Convention, which does not entertain applications when they pertain to
computer programmes as such, but it does have an open mind when they lead to non-obvious contributions. In the U.S., a
more open policy has led to a flood of patents, and consequently the negative connotation that the term patent thicket carries
now. There is a more important reason for holding back software from a patents regime. And this goes back to what MIT


researchers James Bessen and Eric Maskin showed many years ago: imitation promotes innovation. Patents are a hindrance
here.
o Prudent - careful and avoiding risks

o Patent - the official legal right to make or sell an invention for a particular number
of years
o Ambiguity - doubtfulness
o Reverse - to change the direction, order, position, result, etc. of something to its
opposite
o Trigger - to cause something bad to start
o Stance - a way of thinking about something, especially expressed in a publicly
stated opinion
o Per se - by or in itself or themselves
o Ancillary - providing support or help
o Thereto - to the thing just mentioned
o Thereon - on the thing that has been mentioned
o Interprete - to decide what the intended meaning of something is
o Unsettle - disturb
o Nuance - a very slight difference in appearance
o Nullification - to cancel something
o Seemingly - according to the facts that you know
o Giants - very powerful people
o Deep pockets - having a lot of money
o Expertise - expert skill or knowledge in a particular field
o Defend - to protect from attacks or criticism
o Interpret - to decide what the intended meaning of something is
o Lies - to exist
o Assess - calculate or estimate the value of something
o Conjunction - combination
o Stance - a way of thinking about something
o Inherent - existing as a natural or basic part of something
o Exclude - remove from consideration
o Convention - a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job or have a
similar interest
o Pertain - appropriate / related
o Obvious - predictable / easy to understand

o Connotation - something suggested by a word
o Imitation - the action of using someone or something as a model
o Hindrance - obstacle (something that makes it more difficult for you to do
something)
February 27/2016
Topic 1 : "Cautious optimism"

The Economic Survey presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reaffirms the positive growth numbers
that have been projected by many global agencies, including the International Monetary Fund. Coming just a couple of days
ahead of the Union Budget, the larger picture detailed by the Economic Survey should provide Mr. Jaitley a measure of
confidence to show the business-friendly side of the BJP-led NDA government with a reform-oriented road map. The Survey
indicates the possibility of India posting 7-plus per cent GDP (gross domestic product) growth for the third year in a row. A 7.2
per cent growth rate in 2014-15 and a possible 7.6 per cent expansion in 2015-16 must be read favourably in the context of the
global slowdown and domestic concerns about the farm sector after insufficient monsoon rains followed by a warm winter. The
Survey is quite optimistic about 7 to 7.75 per cent growth in the coming fiscal year in fact, the claim is made that conditions
do exist for raising the economys growth momentum to 8 per cent or more in the next couple of years. Liberally lauding the
government for its initiatives on the fiscal front, the Survey indicates that the Centre should be in a position to adhere to its fiscal
deficit target of 3.9 per cent of GDP. A robust expansion in the service sector, accelerated growth in industry and a pick-up in
IIP (Index of Industrial Production) have all, according to the Survey, created a climate of optimism. Still, given the extremely
uncertain external environment, the Survey warns that Indias growth will face considerable headwinds.
Only 5.5% who earn are tax payers: Economic Survey
It is in offering a prescription to deal with this malady of becalmed global demand that the Survey makes bold. It makes a strong
and valid case for giving a big push to agriculture, health and education. It repeats the widely articulated industry demand for
addressing the exit problem that is hurting the economy. Calling it a Chakravyuha challenge, the Survey lists the enormous
fiscal, economic and political costs involved in sustaining incapacitated ventures. Another meaningful suggestion is that India
move from a pro-industry approach to one that is genuinely pro-competition. The growth momentum, it is felt, could well be
sustained by activating domestic sources of demand. Interestingly, the Survey sees in the implementation of the Seventh Pay
Commission recommendations a demand-booster. The Reserve Bank of India, however, has chosen to view the pay panel-
induced payout from the prism of inflation. The Survey has rightly called for a quick resolution to the twin balance sheet
challenges the impaired finances of public sector banks and corporate houses. Indeed, this requires a holistic and fair
solution. Suggestions such as plugging leakages in subsidy payouts, bringing more income-earners into the tax net, phasing
out tax exemptions, not raising exemption threshold limits, introducing differential power tariff and imposing higher property
taxes are all resource-raising options listed to deal with the resource crunch. How much of this purposefulness will in fact inform
the new Budget will be ascertained on Monday.


o Cautious optimism - a feeling that there are some reasons to hope for a good
result, even if you do not expect complete success or improvement
o Reaffirm - confirm the validity of (something previously established)
o Project - estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends
o Monetary - relating to the money in a country
o Ahead - in front
o Reform - an improvement, especially in a person's behaviour or in the structure of
something
o Road map - a plan for how to achieve something
o GDP - Gross Domestic Product: the total value of goods and services produced by
a country in a year
o Favourable - giving you an advantage or more chance of success
o Domestic - relating to the running of a home
o Insufficient - not enough
o Momentum - the force that keeps an object moving or keeps an event developing
after it has started
o Liberally - given or used generously
o Laud - To prise
o Adhere - to stick firmly
o Fiscal - connected with (public) money
o Deficit - the total amount by which money spent is more than money received
o Robust - strong and healthy
o Accelerated - faster than usual
o Uncertain - not able to decide about something or not known or fixed
o Headwind - a wind blowing in the opposite direction to the one you are moving in
o Malady - a problem within a system or organization
o Becalmed - to stop the progress of
o Bold - strong in colour or shape, and very noticeable to the eye
o Articulate - express or state clearly
o Enormous - extremely large
o Incapacitate - to make someone unable to work or do things normally, or unable
to do what they intended to do
o Venture - a new activity, usually in business, that involves risk or uncertainty
o Impaired - weakened or damaged


o Indeed - really or certainly
o Holistic - dealing with the whole of something (not just a part)
o Payouts - a large amount of money that is paid to someone
o Phasing out - to gradually (step by step) stop using something
o Threshold - the level or point at which something starts to happen
o Tariff - a tax to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports
o Crunch - a difficult situation that forces you to make a decision or do something
o Purposefulness - having a purpose.
o Ascertained - to make sure of something
Topic 2 : "Bolivias Morales transformation"

It may be tempting to decry Bolivias referendum vote on February 21 as being illustrative of a drift towards autocracy by
popularly elected leaders. The charismatic Evo Morales sought a mandate to run for a fourth presidential term in 2019, but it
was denied in a close vote. Whatever the moral merit underlying such a judgment, the truth is that in the absence of a
constitutionally stipulated limit on the Presidents term in office, unlike in France or in the United States, strong and popular
figures tend to seek successive re-election. As regards the countries of Latin America, attempts to get around the constitutional
process in this respect cut across the ideological divide. There is a common thread that runs through the contemporary
experience of countries as diverse as Venezuela and Colombia. This is the memory of political volatility, U.S.-backed military
dictatorships and armed insurgency, and the consequent shadow of institutional instability that often remains well after the
installation of directly elected governments. In fact, Mr. Moraless bid for his current third term was similarly secured through a
constitutional sanction, one that eventually culminated in his record second-best electoral performance.
That said, judging from the public mood of rejection of another electoral contest for the once near-invincible, and first indigenous,
President, the outcome must seem not inconsiderable a victory for democracy, especially since the persona of Mr. Morales has
been almost indistinguishable from his political rhetoric and policy initiatives. The nationalisation of natural resources and utilities
matched his anti-imperialist stance. His cash-transfer schemes transformed one of Latin Americas poorest countries into one
of the regions fast-growing economies and in the process halved levels of extreme poverty. Cumulatively, the political stability
and macroeconomic performance of the recent years are a comparison in contrast with the marginalisation of the majority
indigenous population during the 1964-1982 military rule and the crippling impact of structural adjustment in the years
immediately thereafter. But the result in the referendum may have put Bolivias evolving democratic ethos at a crossroads in so
far as it reflects a shift away from the large peasantry that once constituted the support base of the Movement Toward Socialism
(MAS). A bulk of this segment is today an assertive, ambitious and perhaps anxious middle class that has seen much of the
optimism of the boom in commodity prices and consumer spending evaporate following the slump in the global demand for oil.
While there were as many incumbents in office in the five years preceding President Moraless ascent to power in 2006, MAS
has apparently not thrown up the next line of leadership in the period it has been in office. Moreover, Opposition parties in Bolivia
today seem to have coalesced solely on the issue of denying another term for the incumbent President. From now until the end
of the Morales era, is a time for introspection.


o Morales - moral principles
o Decry - to criticize something as bad, without value, or unnecessary
o Referendum - a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked t
decide an important political or social question
o Illustrative - helping to explain or prove something
o Drift - a continuous slow movement
o Autocracy - government by a single person that has unlimited power or authority
o Charismatic - people able to influence others and attract their attention and
admiration
o Underlying - used to describe something on which something else is based
o Stipulate - to say exactly how something must be done
o Tend to - regularly or frequently behave in a particular way
o Get around something - to find a way of dealing with or avoiding a problem
o Contemporary - existing or happening now
o Backed - supported
o Insurgency - an occasion when a group of people attempt to take control of their
country by force
o Consequent - happening as a result of something
o Instability - the state of being unstable
o Culminated - reach a climax
o Invincible - impossible to defeat
another place
o Persona - the particular type of character that a person seems to have and that is
often different from their real or private character
o Indistinguishable - impossible to judge
o Utilities - the usefulness of something, especially in a practical way
o Imperialism - a system in which a country rules other countries
stated opinion
o Cumulatively - increasing by one after another
o Stability - a situation in which something is not likely to move or change


o In contrast with something - opposite to something
o Marginalisation - the process of treating someone or something as they are not
important
o Crippling - to cause serious damage to someone or something
o Impact - effect
o Evolving - to develop slowly
o Ethos - the set of beliefs, ideas, etc
o At a crossroads - to be at a stage when you have to make a very important
decision
o Peasantry - related to the people who owns or rents a small piece of land and
grows crops
o Constituted - to form or make something
o Assertive - confident
o Ambitious - having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed
o Boom - a period of sudden economic growth
o Evaporate - to disappear
o Slump - to fall suddenly (prices / values / sales etc)
o Incumbent - the person who has a particular official position
o Preceding - coming / happening before someone or something
o Thrown up - to leave the job / stop doing something
o Moreover - (used to add information) also and more importantly
o Coalesced - to come or grow together to form one thing or system
o Solely - only (not involving anyone or anything else)
o Introspection - examination of your own ideas, thoughts, and feelings
February 29/2016
Topic 1 : "Reworking the Supreme Courts role"
By admitting a Special Leave Petition that seeks the setting up of a National Court of Appeal to hear routine appeals in civil
and criminal matters from the High Courts, the Supreme Court has signalled its willingness to grapple with a question that has
been raised unsuccessfully in the past. The question is whether the apex court should be burdened with the responsibilty of
examining the correctness of every case decided by the High Courts, and whether it should not be allowed to devote its time
entirely to settling questions of constitutional importance. The underlying issues may include the accumulating backlog of
cases in the Supreme Court, and the need to separate pending cases into those that touch upon constitutional questions and
other routine matters. Constitutional questions may refer to the validity of a statute or a rule, or to issues that require
interpretation of the Constitution. A third concern relates the oft-cited difficulties of litigants from different parts of the country for
whom New Delhi may be too far. The solutions put forward include dividing the Supreme Court into a Constitutional Division
and a Legal Division; having the principal Constitution Bench in Delhi and creating four regional Benches to hear appeals on


High Court orders; and, third, creating a National Court of Appeal that will have four Cassation Benches for the adjudication of
non-constitutional matters.
According to the Union Law Ministry, which recently rejected a lawyers demand for a National Court of
Appeal, successive Chief Justices of India have been against the establishment of Benches outside Delhi. Further, it has
obtained legal opinion that a Constitution amendment to revisit the Supreme Courts role would be impermissible as it would
change the courts character under the Constitution. The opinion appears to disfavour a suggestion by the Law Commission in
its 229th Report (2009) that if necessary Article 130 (The Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in such other place or places, as
the Chief Justice of India may, with the approval of the President, from time to time, appoint) may be amended to implement
its suggestion that Cassation Benches may be set up in four regions, while the Constitution Bench sits in Delhi. Courts of
Cassation are courts of last resort to reverse decisions of lower courts. A key issue to be settled is whether it will be advisable
for the highest court to share with a possibly inferior court of appeal its power under Article 136 to grant special leave to appeal
on High Court orders. Also, in recent times the Supreme Court has been conscious of its role as the interpreter of the
Constitution, and holds a sitting of a Constitution Bench virtually every day. Even within the present structure, regional Benches
may help address the problem of access to justice but not that of accumulation of cases. The idea of a National Court of Appeal
requires consideration, but in a manner that would not undermine the undoubted authority of the Supreme Court of India.
o Routine - a usual or fixed way of doing things

o Willingness - readiness (being prepared to do something)
o Grapple - to fight (especially in order to win something)
o Apex - the top or highest organization
o Burdened - something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with
o Examining - to look at or consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order
to discover something about them
o Devote its time - to give all of its time
o Accumulating - gather together or acquire
o Backlog - a large number of things that you should have done before and must do
now
o Concern - to become involved with something
o Oft-cited - often refer to
o Litigant - a person involved in a lawsuit
o Put forward - to state an idea or opinion, or to suggest a plan
o Adjudication - a formal judgement on a case
o Amendment - a change to a law that is not yet in operation and is still being
discussed
o Impermissible - not permitted or allowed


o Disfavour - disapproval or dislike.
o Last resort - a final action, used only when all else has failed
o Inferior - lower in rank
o Virtually - almost
o Undermine - to make something less powerful / effective
Topic 2 : "For a green economy that is also just"
Indias solar power programme has come under intense scrutiny by global political and business leaders, especially given its
aggressive intent and extensive trade opportunities. The programme, a part of the National Solar Mission, envisages
an addition of 100,000 megawatts of solar power capacity by 2022. This initiative is also seen as a critical sub-component of
the global effort to limit the extent of climate change. The recent ruling by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against India
must be read against this background. The WTO has ruled that the domestic content requirement (DCR) imposed by New Delhi
on the production of solar cells and modules under the National Solar Mission violates global trade rules. According to the
dispute settlement panel of the WTO, These are inconsistent with both Article III:4 of the GATT [General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade] 1994 and Article 2.1 of the TRIMS [Trade-Related Investment Measures]. It has gone on to say that the DCR
measures do accord less favourable treatment within the meaning of the provision under Article III:4 of the GATT 1994. The
WTO ruling comes three years after the U.S. raised a dispute against India, and following the inability of the two countries to
agree on the changes suggested by New Delhi to its solar programme. India is convinced that the DCR is a mechanism to
facilitate sustainable development. It has even indicated that it is willing to apply the DCR only for buying solar panels used for
government sector consumption, and has assured the U.S. that power generated from such subsidised panels will not be sold
for commercial use. Coming as it does in the midst of a presidential election year, the WTO order in this instance is a significant
victory for the U.S. Hailing the ruling, President Barack Obama said: The U.S. cant have other countries engaged in practices
that disadvantage American workers and American businesses. Given the potential for positive social and economic outcomes
from the ambitious solar power programme, India will be compelled, as some other countries have done, to contest the WTO
ruling before the appellate body.
The WTO ruling also comes soon after the Paris climate change agreement, and is bound to open up a wider debate across
nations over whether initiatives such as the solar mission, with its social relevance and significant implications for a green
economy, must be viewed only from the prism of a pure business opportunity. Given Indias size and also the need to provide
meaningful job opportunities for millions of people, it is imprudent to conceive of a framework that either disadvantages or
discourages domestic endeavour. The fight against climate change is not an exclusive cause; it has to move in tandem with the
provision of jobs and the creation of an environment that facilitates a green economy. The onus for this lies not just on the
developing countries. It is time the big economies realised their responsibility in building a greener world.
o Intense - extreme and forceful or (of a feeling) very strong

o Scrutiny - careful examination, inspection


o Aggressive - determined to win or succeed and using forceful action to win or to
achieve success
o Intent - giving all your attention to something
o Envision - to imagine or expect that something is a likely or desirable possibility in
the future
o Domestic - existing or occurring inside a particular country
o Inconsistent - not staying the same in behaviour or quality (Changing)
o Accord - (a formal) agreement
o Sustainable - able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
o Subsidised - to pay part of the cost of something
o Commercial - making or intended to make a profit
o Midst - in the middle of an event, situation, or activity
o Hailing - to call someone in order to attract their attention
o Potential - ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
o Ambitious - having a strong wish to be successful, powerful
o Compelled - force to do something
o Appellate - involving an attempt to get a legal decision changed
o Wider - including number of people (great)
o Debate - serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part
o Initiative - a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem
o Relevance - connected with what is happening or being discussed
o Implications - the effect that an action or decision will have on something else in
the future
o Prism - a transparent glass or plastic object that separates white light that passes
through it into different colours
o Imprudent - unwise
o Conceive - to imagine something
o Framework - a system of rules, ideas, or beliefs that is used to plan or decide
something
o Exclusive - limited to only one person or group of people
o Tandem - having two things arranged one in front of the other
o Realise - to understand a situation, sometimes suddenly


March 01/2016
Topic : "A message aimed at the heart of India"
Stung by the criticism of being a suit boot ki sarkar and by the National Democratic Alliances electoral reverses in Bihar,
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has made bold to address the perception deficit in announcing a raft of proposals aimed at the
rural sector and farmers. From a cess of 0.5 per cent on all taxable services that would expressly be used to finance
improvements in agriculture and schemes to benefit farmers, to a dedicated long-term irrigation fund with a corpus of Rs.20,000
crore, the Union Budget seeks to pave the path for making good Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise to double farm
incomes by 2022. Other measures to further this course include an outlay of Rs.19,000 crore that the Central government will
spend this year on rural roads as part of its goal to ensure that all habitations are connected by 2019, and a push to achieve
universal village electrification in the next two years. Between improved road connectivity and the availability of electricity, the
potential is significant for a multiplier effect on the rural economy and improvements to the quality of life for residents of the
hinterland. Two more steps are noteworthy. The Budget proposes the introduction of a health insurance scheme that would
provide up to Rs.1 lakh as coverage against hospitalisation costs for economically weak households, with senior citizens above
the age of 60 eligible for another Rs.30,000 in top-up cover. While the sum offered as protection is low by most standards for
contemporary critical in-hospital care, especially in the private sector, for the indigent this could well mean the difference
between not even attempting to seek medical care and a chance at surviving a debilitating illness. The other, equally laudable,
initiative is to provide all families below the poverty line with cooking gas. This can afford those in underprivileged homes the
dignity of a quicker and less harmful way to keep their kitchen fires running.
From a larger macroeconomic perspective, Mr. Jaitley has for now said he will stick to his prior fiscal deficit commitments, but
he has simultaneously flagged the need for more flexibility in dealing with situations when overall economic conditions are
unfavourable. For this he has proposed the setting up of a committee to review the entire road map mandated by the Fiscal
Responsibility and Budget Management Act of 2003 to study the possibility of having a target range instead of fixed numbers
that would give the government the needed policy space to align a fiscal expansion or contraction with credit availability. For
the individual tax payer, the Budget offers little to cheer, save some tax sops that lower and middle income families can leverage
to invest in affordable housing, or squirrel away some more cash from an increase in the deduction towards house rent. The
salaried class is likely to feel hard done by a move to tax 60 per cent of the corpus created from contributions to the Employees
Provident Fund starting April 1 as part of a move to create a pensioned society. With elections to five provincial Assemblies
due this year, Mr. Jaitleys focus on the rural and agrarian communities is clear proof that the Budget still retains its relevance
as a powerful messaging tool of a governments political stances. Whether Budget 2016 will engender a harvest of votes, only
time will tell.
o Stung - annoyed (feel upset by something)

o Perception - the quality of being aware of things
o Deficit - the amount by which something is too small (money)
o Raft - a large number of (a lot)
o Cess - tax

o Expressly - clearly
o Pave the path for something - to make something possible
o To ensure - to make sure
o Habitation - residence
o Potential - the ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
o Significant - sufficient / important
o Multiplier effect - increase in final income
o Hinterland - a part of the country that is far away from the big city areas
o Noteworthy - worth paying attention to
o Indigent - needy person (poor)
o Seek - to ask for help
o Debilitating - making someone or something weak
o Underprivileged - without the money, possessions, education, opportunities, etc.
that the average person has
o Dignity - calm, serious, and controlled behaviour that makes people respect you
o Macroeconomics - the branch of economics that studies the behavior and
performance of an economy as a whole
o Flagged - highlighted
o Flexibility - the ability to be easily modified
o Mandated - gave (someone) authority to act in a certain way
o Align - to arrange
o Expansion - the increase of something in size, number, or importance
o Leverage - use (something) to maximum advantage
o Squirrel away - to hide or store something, especially money, in order to use it in
the future
o Provident - making arrangements for future needs, especially by saving money
o Provincial - the parts of the country that are not the capital city
o Rural - countryside
o Retains - continue to have something


stated opinion
o Engender - to make something happen
o Harvest - the result of an effort or activity
March 02/2016
Topic 1 : "The health net should cover all"
The announcement in the Union Budget of an insurance scheme against catastrophic health expenditure for the weaker
sections should become part of a calibrated plan to provide universal health coverage. When it comes to public health
expenditure, India brings up the rear among even many developing countries. Budget 2016-17 takes the incremental step of
introducing some insurance protection against high out-of-pocket expenditure that pushes families into poverty. In this context,
the plan to provide access to dialysis for kidney failure at district hospitals through a dedicated national programme is an
intervention that is overdue. Some States, such as Tamil Nadu, have insurance to pay for hospitalisation through a government-
backed plan. As a scaled-up national programme, there is much to learn from the experience of countries such as Thailand and
Japan. What stands out about them, as evident from a study conducted by the World Bank and the Japanese government, is
the use of general revenues to augment payroll taxes in Thailand, and the firm capping of care costs through standardised
benefits and standardised payments. Both aspects viable funding to universalise access and tightly regulated costs to guard
against profiteering combined with a guarantee of quality care are important to India, where the health sector has grown
amorphously in the absence of strong regulatory oversight. These learnings are critical to also avoid the moral hazard of
unethical institutions gaining access to the Rs.1 lakh government-funded health insurance through unnecessary hospitalisation.
A nominal increase in the annual health budget, pegged at 9.5 per cent over 2015-16, and a growing role for profit- oriented
care systems and private insurance can only retard Indias progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). There is evidence
that a significant number of young Indians aged 23 to 35 are not buying health insurance since they find it expensive. This trend
skews the risk pool towards older citizens who are more likely to seek care, leading to the familiar cycle of higher premiums and
more claims. The answer clearly lies in moving towards UHC under a time-bound programme that covers everyone, using a
combination of subscriber payments and tax funds, and strong controls over cost of care. There is a challenge also to scale up
dialysis access. Besides equipping district hospitals with the necessary machines, training of medical professionals to closely
monitor patients availing the service is vital. The national roster of nephrologists is only about 1,100 strong, while the incidence
of renal failure is of the order of 2.2 lakh patients a year, as pointed out in the Budget speech. Creating the human resources
needed has to be accorded top priority. The dialysis programme, laudable as it is, underscores the importance of preventing
end-stage renal disease, and regular monitoring of kidney health at the population level. On the broader agenda, political parties
and social movements can no longer ignore the imperative of providing quality health care to all.
o Catastrophic - involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering

o Calibrated - To make corrections in; adjust
o Bring up the rear - to be at the back of a group that is going somewhere


o Out-of-pocket - used about money that you have to spend yourself rather than
having it paid for you, for example by your employer or insurance company
o Dialysis - a process of separating substances from liquid by putting them through
a thin piece of skin-like material, especially to make pure the blood of people whose
kidneys are not working correctly
o Intervention - the act or fact of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult
situation
o Overdue - not done or happening when expected or when needed
o Hospitalisation - the act of taking someone to hospital and keeping them there for
treatment
o Backed - give financial, material, or moral support to
o Scaled-up - o increase the size, amount, or importance of something, usually an
organization or process
o Capping - covering
o Standardised - to make things of the same type all have the same basic features
o Profiteering - to take advantage of a situation in which other people are suffering
o Amorphous - having no fixed form or shape
o Oversight - a mistake made because of a failure to notice something
o Hazard - a danger or risk
o Unethical - not morally correct
o Nominal - very smal
o Pegged - identified / marked
o Retard - to make something slower
o Skew - to cause something to be not straight or exact
o Availing - using
o Vital - essential (absolutely necessary)
o Roster - a list of people's names, often with the jobs they have been given to do
o Nephrologists - kidney specialist
o Incidence - the occurrence, rate, or frequency of a disease
o Renal - relating to the kidneys
o Underscores - highlights


Topic 2 : "Looking beyond economic quick-fixes"
In an all-too-familiar replay, finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of 20 countries meeting in
Shanghai drove home the complexities of formulating a collective response to the persisting global slowdown in growth, even
as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reiterated its call for coordinated action at the multilateral level to contain risks to the
real economies from market turbulence. The Funds prescription ahead of the gathering, as in the recent past, lays particular
stress on fiscal stimulus measures to boost demand, as against over-reliance on monetary policies. But the reaction from
national capitals was along expected lines. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew pressed hard a long-standing concern of
Washington that China ought to increase domestic consumption and Germany adopt fiscal stimulus. His counterpart in Berlin,
Wolfgang Schaeuble, was equally categorical as he ruled out his countrys support for a fiscal stimulus and instead continued
to insist on structural reforms as the remedy. Mr. Lew even suggested, ahead of the Shanghai meet, that it may be a case of
financial markets misreading the situation on the state of the real economy.
Despite the strong divergence of perceptions that have long underpinned the groups overall approach, their promise in
Shanghai to refrain from a competitive devaluation of currencies to promote exports could go some way to soothe investor
sentiment. Such an assurance is significant in the light of the 4 per cent depreciation in the value of the renminbi last year that
set off turmoil in global stock markets and a flight of capital from the country. Currency volatilities could continue to pose concerns
as emerging economies experienced a slowdown in 2015 most notably Brazil, and China, which earlier this decade overtook
the U.S. as the worlds largest trading nation. Theeconomic recession in Brazil, the worst in over a century, and the combined
effects of the collapse of Chinese imports into Latin America, could well have had a significant impact on world trade, which
contracted to its lowest since the global financial crisis, according to the World Trade Monitor of the Netherlands Bureau for
Economic Policy Analysis. Yet, there is good evidence of the G-20s capacity for concerted action. In 2014, it pledged to take
steps to raise the groups gross domestic product by an additional 2 per cent by 2018. The measures implemented so far would
cause an increase of just 0.8 per cent by that deadline. The current situation should lend greater urgency not merely to achieve
the goal, but to extend the measures into other areas that have been identified for common action. The political engagement
from the G-20 in the wake of the 2008 global meltdown was immense. That resulted in the fiscal stimulus, the stabilisation of
the banking sector and the injection of capital into international financial institutions. The rich and emerging economies should
summon the resolve and the will to promote a more equitable international order.
o Beyond - outside or after a specific limit

o Quick fix - an easy remedy or solution (especially a temporary one)
o Drove home - to state something in a very forceful and effective way
o Reiterated - say something again or a number of times (for clarity)
o Coordinated - effectively organized so that all the parts work well together
o Multilateral - involving more than two groups or countries


o Prescription - the act of telling someone else what they must have or do
o Gathering - meeting
o Stimulus - something that causes growth or activity
o Over-reliance - over dependence or trust in someone or something
o Along expected lines - similar to something as expected
o Pressed hard - having a lot of difficulties doing something (especially because
there is not enough time or money)
o Adopt - choose to take up or follow (an idea, method, or an action)
o Counterpart - a person or thing that has the same purpose as another one in a
different place or organization
o Categorical - without any doubt or possibility of being changed
o Ruled out - to say officially that something is impossible or will not happen
o Insist - demand something forcefully
o Divergence - the situation in which two things become different
o Perception - the way in which something is understood or interpreted
o Underpinned - to give support to something
o Refrain - to avoid doing or stop yourself from doing something
o Devaluation - official lowering of the value of a country's currency
o Soothe - to make someone feel calm or less worried
o Significant - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention
o Depreciation - a decrease in the value of a currency relative to other currencies
o Renminbi - the system of currency of the People's Republic of China
o Turmoil - a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty
o Volatility - changing suddenly and unexpectedly
o Pose - to cause something (especially a problem / difficulty)
o Recession - a period when the economy of a country is not successful and
conditions for business are bad
o Collapse - the sudden failure of a system, organization, business, etc
o Impact - a marked effect or influence
o Contracted - decreased in size, number, or range
o Crisis - a time of geat difficulty or danger


o Concerted - coordinated
o Pledge - to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something
o Meltdown - a complete failure (especially in financial matters)
o Immense - extremely large or great
o Stabilisation - to fix something (to stop changes)
March 3/2016
Topic 1 : "Provident fund reform needs more clarity"
The Central government finds itself in the thick of a controversy over the Budget proposal to tax a part of the accumulated
corpus in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) upon withdrawal. Gauging the popular mood, the Opposition is seeking
to corner the government on this issue. The proposal is seen to hurt particularly the salaried middle class, considered a core
constituency of the BJP. Pension schemes offer financial protection to senior citizens, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in
the Budget speech. I believe that the tax treatment should be uniform for defined benefit and defined contribution pension
plans. He proposed tax exemption for withdrawal of up to 40 per cent of the corpus at the time of retirement in the case of
the National Pension Scheme (NPS). In the case of superannuation funds and recognised provident funds, including the EPF,
the same norm of 40 per cent of the corpus being tax-free would apply to contributions made after April 1, 2016. From a larger
social security perspective, Mr. Jaitleys intention to lay the groundwork for a pensionised society is laudable. In an ideal
environment, there is a justifiable case for prescribing a level-tax treatment for similarly positioned pension plans. However, in
the pursuit of a principled taxation policy, the government should have imposed a similar provision for its own employees
retirement savings in the General Provident Fund. But as things stand, they will continue to get a tax-free lump sum for their
sunset years from the GPF apart from a pension, albeit on a defined contribution basis through the NPS for those who joined
service after 2004.
The government should have also tried to distinguish between a regular pension scheme and a provident fund (that also provides
a pension). Why should it force EPF subscribers to get two pension cheques, which once credited to their account would form
part of their taxable income? The point is, the reform needs to be carefully calibrated. Besides the tax benefits it fetches, EPF
is often seen as a reliable tool to force-save for the future. It has been, in a way, playing a critical role in inculcating the habit of
saving in a country with a very limited social security net. In a sense, individual contributions to EPF could also be construed as
a way of enabling a corpus to meet critical lifetime event expenditures. In any case, the contribution of employees to the provident
fund is not tax exempt beyond the annual ceiling of Rs.1.5 lakh. Therefore, the tax on withdrawal will be tantamount to double
taxation. For, one would have paid tax at the time of contribution as well. If the intention is to prod people to plan for pension,
the government would do well to invigorate the Employee Pension Scheme, which exists today as a component of the EPF.
The limited annuity product option also does not help the cause of force-driving people into a pension system. The government
appears to have put the cart before the horse in this instance.
o Provident - making arrangements for future needs, especially by saving money



o In the thick of something - in the most active or dangerous part of a particular
situation
o Accumulated - to gradually increase in number or amount
o Corpus - the main body of a structure
o Gauging - to make a judgment about something, usually people's feelings
o Corner - to force somebody into a place or situation from which they cannot easily
escape
o Constituency - voters of a specified group / area
o Uniform - remaining the same in all cases and at all times
o Superannuation - regular payment made into a fund by an employee towards a
future pension
o Norm - something that is usual or standard
o Intention - aim or plan
o Lay the groundwork (for something)- to do what is necessary before an event
or process can begin
o Justifiable - there is a good reason for it
o Lump sum - a single payment made at a particular time (opposite to a number of
smaller payments or instalments)
o Albeit - although
o Distinguish - to notice or understand the difference between two things
o Calibrated - adjusted
o Inculcating - to fix beliefs or ideas in someone's mind, especially by repeating them
often
o Construed - to understand the meaning in a particular way (especially of other
people's actions and statements)
o Tantamount - being almost the same or having the same effect as something
(usually something bad)
o Prod - to encourage someone to take action (especially when they are slow or not
willing to do that)
o Invigorate - to give strength or energy
o Annuity - a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year
o Put the cart before the horse - to do things in the wrong order
Topic 2 : "Blow for reformists in Iran"


Final results from Irans February 26 elections to Parliament and the clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, show that the
moderates have clinched a resounding political victory. In the 290-seat Parliament, the reformist allies of President Hassan
Rouhani won at least 85 seats, while the moderate conservatives secured 73 seats. Together they will control the House. The
hardliners, who were steadfastly opposed to Mr. Rouhanis reform agenda, won only 68 seats. In the 88-member Assembly of
Experts, the clerics backed by reformists and centrists claimed 52 seats. This is not the first time Iranian voters have spoken
their mind against the hardliners. For the last many years they have consistently pushed reformist or less conservative
candidates through Irans rigid electoral process. Still, last weeks twin elections were highly significant for Irans polity in general
and Mr. Rouhani in particular for a number of reasons. This was the first election after Mr. Rouhani secured the historic nuclear
deal with world powers last year, ending the countrys isolation in return for giving up its nuclear programme. The hardliners were
opposed to the nuclear deal. Even the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had warned the political leadership several
times against any rapprochement with the West. The hardliners had also opposed Mr. Rouhanis plans to open up the countrys
economy and reach business deals with overseas companies, including those from the West.
Had the moderates suffered an electoral setback, it would have been a major blow to Mr. Rouhanis reform agenda. It would
also have cast a shadow on his re-election prospects next year. Now it is evident where the popular support lies. And with his
allies controlling Parliament, the President could push his legislative and economic agenda at ease. Second, the election of
more moderate candidates into the Assembly of Experts than hardliners is a significant achievement for the reformist movement.
The Assembly is an important clerical body in Irans Islamist establishment which can, technically, choose the next Supreme
Leader. If the clerics elected to the body work in coordination with the moderate politicians, that could change the balance of
power in Irans complex polity. However, to anticipate any dramatic change in the system would be overriding the mandate.
Those who call for rapid improvement in the human rights situation in Iran and for the weakening of the role of the clergy in
politics will continue to be disappointed. The system is too complicated, with direct checks on the powers of everyone but the
Supreme Leader. As long as the Supreme Leader backs the hardliners, Mr. Rouhani is unlikely to take any radical initiatives.
Nevertheless, the election results represent a clear step forward in Irans gradualist transformation from a rigid Islamist theocracy
into a broader religious democracy. Mr. Rouhanis challenge is to build on the electoral momentum and strengthen the moderate
currents in Irans politics and society, and thereby expedite the pace of transformation.
o Resounding - very great

o Allies - someone who helps and supports
o Hardliners - politician who sticks uncompromisingly to a set of ideas or policies
o Steadfastly - strongly and without stopping
o Cleric - a priest or religious leader
o Backed - to give financial or moral support
o Rigid - fixed, not able to be changed

o Rapprochement - an agreement reached by opposing groups or people
developing
o Cast a shadow on something - to spoil a good situation with something
unpleasant
o Overriding - more important than any other considerations
o Rapid - fast or sudden
o Clergy - religious leaders, especially Christian priests, ministers, etc
o Radical - relating to the most important parts of something or someone
o Nevertheless - despite what has just been said or referred to
o Theocracy - a system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a
god
o Pace - speed
March 04/2016
Topic 1 : "Reviving the politics of remission"
The decision of the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu to release the seven life convicts in the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi
assassination case and seek the Union governments view on the move is a politically partisan attempt to corner Chief Minister
Jayalalithaas electoral rivals and place the national parties in a spot ahead of the Assembly elections to be held this summer.
It needs a perverse disregard for normative politics to convert the humanitarian issue of granting freedom to prisoners
incarcerated for nearly a quarter century into an electoral trump card. To add perspective, it must be recalled that on February
18, 2014, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentences of three conspirators in the Rajiv Gandhi case to life terms
on the ground that there was an unreasonable delay in the disposal of their mercy petitions. The very next day the AIADMK
government declared that it would release all seven life convicts in the case and gave a three-day deadline to the Centre to
give its views, marking a dramatic leap from capital punishment to en masse release, within 24 hours. The Supreme Court
intervened to stay their release after the Congress-led government of the day challenged the decision. A Constitution
Bench settled the substantive questions of law arising from the issue, holding on December 2, 2015, that the Centre had


primacy in according remission to life convicts in a case that involves consultation between the Centre and the State. It observed
that the remission law should not be used for the rescue of hardened and heartless offenders.
Commuting death sentence to life imprisonment is an act of compassion. Releasing the beneficiaries of such commutation, on
the other hand, requires careful consideration on a case-by-case basis. It can be nobodys argument that life convicts should
be locked away for life. At the same time, it is noteworthy that lifelong imprisonment is now seen as an alternative to the death
penalty. There may be instances when the death sentence is deemed excessive, while a regular life term, which has scope for
remission after 14 years, seems inadequate. In such cases, imprisonment for the rest of ones natural life may be the appropriate
punishment. Any decision on releasing such convicts will have to be made after evaluating the gravity of the crime, the probable
effect of their release on society, and the essential inhumanity of prolonged incarceration without even a sliver of hope of
freedom. Some may believe it is time to set free the Rajiv case prisoners as they were mere accessories in the assassination,
while the masterminds are dead. But there can be no omnibus order covering everyone. With the Supreme Court saying these
convicts should not even be allowed a ray of hope, the BJP-led government at the Centre may not respond positively. The
AIADMK regime could have explored the scope for a constitutional remedy such as invoking the Governors clemency power
under Article 161. Instead, it has chosen a legally discredited route for political gains.

o Convict - someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime
o Assassination - the murder of someone famous or important
o Rival - a person competing with another for the same objective or for superiority
in the same field of activity
o Perverse - strange
o Disregard - ignore (pay no attention to)
o Normative - relating to rules
o Incarcerate - to put or keep someone in prison
o Trump card - main advantage
o Perspective - outlook
o Recalled - remembered
o Commuted - to change a punishment to one that is less serious
o Conspirators - people who secretly plan to do something bad or illegal
o Disposal - the action of getting rid of something
o Leap - move quickly and suddenly
o En masse - all together (in a group)
o Intervened - to take part in something to prevent or alter the result
o Primacy - the state of being the most important thing
o Remission - the cancellation of a penalty


o Rescue - to save (someone) from a dangerous or difficult situation
o Offenders - people who commit illegal acts
o Compassion - a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness
o On the other hand - * used when you are comparing two different facts or two
opposite sides of a situation
o Deemed - considered
o Excessive - too much
o Inadequate - not good enough or too low in quality
o Evaluating - judging
o Gravity - seriousness
o Inhumanity - extremely cruel and brutal behaviour
o Prolonged - continuing for a long time or longer than usual / lengthy
o Incarceration - imprisonment
o Sliver - very small / thin
o Mere - * used to say when something is not important
o Accessory - someone who helps another person to commit a crime but does not
take part in it
o Masterminds - people who plan a difficult activity (crime)
o Explore - to search and discover (about something)
o Invoking - to use a law in order to achieve something
o Clemency - mercy (kindness when giving a punishment)
o Discredit - to cause people to stop respecting someone
Topic 2 : "Welcome release, strange remarks"
The Delhi High Court order releasing Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union leader Kanhaiya Kumar on interim bail for
six months is the only welcome news to come out of the three-week-long sedition drama in the national capital. During
these three intense weeks, the Delhi police embarked on an unwarranted investigation into a meeting organised by a small
group of students on the campus on February 9, dubbing the speeches and slogans made there as anti-national. Mr. Kumar
was arrested on February 12, and later, two more surrendered in the case. Mr. Kumar has been charged with sedition, even
though he was neither the organiser nor an active participant in a programme at which allegedly anti-national slogans were
raised on February 9. Unsubstantiated allegations and unreliable video footage containing inaudible slogans and unclear images
were used to put together a legally untenable case of sedition against some students. It is singularly unfortunate that while


granting Mr. Kumar bail with a time limit, the Delhi High Court chose to make unusual observations strengthening the police
theory that the entire JNU campus suffers from some unpatriotic and anti-national infestation that requires cleansing through
pro-active policing. The court goes to the extent of saying that it is releasing Mr. Kumar on bail as a conservative method of
treatment for a supposedly serious infection that would otherwise require surgery.
It is a curious bail order. In many respects, it accepts the prosecutions case. It concludes that the activities at the event were
anti-national, but does not say if the essential ingredients for invoking the sedition charge were present. It declares that Mr.
Kumar cannot invoke the freedom of speech under Article 19(1) (a), and appears to anchor its decision to grant bail on the sole
ground that he should remain in the mainstream. The courts condition that Mr. Kumar should furnish an undertaking that he
would not actively or passively participate in any activity that may be termed anti-national is a vague stipulation. In a democracy,
the court should seek to have a restraining influence on the executive, but should not be seen as contributing to any partisan
discourse that pits radical campus politics against a narrow notion of nationalism. The country is witnessing a disturbing trend
of left-wing students, and liberal intellectuals backing their right to practise their brand of politics, being dubbed anti-national,
while the Army and its admirers are placed in patriotic counterposition to them. Courts should not give the judicial imprimatur to
the bogus binary sought to be created between seditious students and selfless soldiers. Student activists cannot be portrayed
as enemies of the families of martyred soldiers. The government must see reason and drop its attempts to criminalise contrarian
views, especially when there is no proof of actual incitement to subversive violence. It should give up the use of Section 124-
A, which covers sedition. The provision deserves a place only in history books, not the statute book.
o Sedition - the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people
o Intense - very serious
o Embarked - to begin (a course of action)
o Uwarranted - not justified or authorized
o Allegedly - * something is said but proof has yet to be produced
o Unsubstantiated - not supported or proven by evidence
o Unreliable - not able to be trusted or believed
o Inaudible - unable to be heard
o Untenable - not able to be defended / justified
o Unpatriotic - not showing love for your country
o Infestation - the act of attacking / causing problems in large numbers
o Cleansing - used to describe something that cleans or is used for cleaning
o Pro-active - controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than
waiting to respond to it after it happens
o Essential - important

o Ingredients - parts of something
o Mainstream - the way of life or set of beliefs accepted by most people
o Furnish - provide
o Undertaking - a formal written promise to do something
o Vague - not clearly expressed
o Stipulation - to say exactly how something must be or must be done
o Restraining - to prevent (someone or something) from doing something / keep
under control or within limits
o Partisan - a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person
o Discourse - a speech or piece of writing about a particular, usually serious, subject
o Radical - expressing the belief that there should be great or extreme social or
political change
o Notion - belief about something
o Backing - supporting
o Counterposition - opposite position
o Imprimatur - authoritative approval
o Bogus - not genuine or true
o Binary - consisting of two parts
o Portray - to describe / represent
o Martyred - person who has been killed because of their religious or political beliefs
o Contrarian - a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion
o Incitement - to encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent
o Subversive - trying to destroy or damage something
March 05/2016
Topic 1 : "High stakes in the Assembly polls"
With Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi announcing the election schedule for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Assam and Puducherry, the campaign for a most intriguing cluster of Assembly elections can be said to have begun. Taken
together, these four States and one Union Territory do not carry spectacular weight for the ruling BJP at the Centre. The party
would obviously be anxious to build upon its Lok Sabha showing in Assam, and wrest power in the State from the Congress,
which has ruled since 2001. The BJP has named Sarbananda Sonowal as its chief ministerial candidate, as part of a strategy
to give its campaign focus and avoid exposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the kind of direct political face-off that its
adversaries exploited in the Bihar Assembly elections. The BJP has also finalised a tie-up with the Asom Gana Parishad and
the Bodoland Peoples Front. For the BJP, Assam has long been a cherished prize, and it has always seen itself to be in with
a chance, given the States ethnic and communal fault lines. But the coming election has more significance as it would test the
partys capacity to claim the terrain marked on its 2014 general election victory map. After the stumbles in the Delhi and Bihar
elections, Assam would in part determine whether the Modi wave of two years ago was just a singular event, or whether it is a


realistic indicator of the partys potential to extend its geographical reach that demands of the Prime Minister to be a constant
campaigner.
The BJPs ambitions will obviously be limited in the other poll-bound States. Yet, it is in these face-offs that implications for its
government at the Centre and its prospects in future Assembly elections may be found. The 2014 Modi wave gathered
momentum in large measure because of a scattered opposition to the BJP. Its Bihar setback in 2015 was on account of the
coming together of parties opposed to the BJP. The alliances that are being formed for the elections are not as natural as
Bihars, and should they succeed in forging a durable understanding, the prospects of large chunks of the anti-BJP vote getting
pooled would grow. That there is a demand for an informal understanding between the Left parties and the Congress in West
Bengal even as they stare down each other in Kerala may indicate, first, opposition unity against the Trinamool Congress
but such arrangements would foreshadow greater anti-BJP consolidation among parties in Parliament and outside. That the
BJP, which during different periods shared power at the Centre with both the DMK and the AIADMK, now has no leading regional
party with it in Tamil Nadu hints at the uncertain prospects it faces in finding more support in the Rajya Sabha. The learning
is for the Narendra Modi government to absorb: that the polarising strategy of the Sangh Parivar and even some of the Union
Ministers will make the task of governing India increasingly difficult.
o Campaign - a planned group of activities that are intended to achieve a particular

aim
o Intriguing - very interesting because of being unusual or mysterious
o Cluster - a group of similar things that are close together
o Spectacular - very exciting to look at
o Wrest - forcibly pull something from someone
o Adversaries - opponents
o Exploited - made full use of something
o Cherished - to love, protect, and care for someone / something that is important
to you
o Significance - the quality of being worthy of attention; importance
o Terrain - a specific area
o Stumbles - to make a mistake / losing control
o Determine - to control or influence something directly, or to decide what will
happen
o Potential - having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future
o Campaigner - a person who works in an organized and active way towards a goal
o Ambitions - a strong desire to do or achieve something
o Implications - the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not
directly stated
o Prospects - the possibility of being successful, especially at work


o Momentum - the force that keeps an object moving
o Scattered - covering a wide area
o Prospect - the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring
o Chunk - a large part of something
o Stare down - to look at someone for so long
o Foreshadow - be a warning or indication of a future event
o Uncertain - not completely confident or sure of something
o Polarising - to cause something to divide into two completely opposing groups
Topic 2 : "A better deal for bus commuters"
In 2014-15, India added nearly 20 million vehicles, mainly two-wheelers, but also two million cars, vans and so on to the existing
172 million registered motor vehicles. Several million more have been added since, as public transport remains inadequate.
Personal transport has now reached saturation limit in the cities, resulting in gridlock, rising air pollution, lost productivity and ill-
health. The Union Budget for 2016-17 has made a timely intervention at such an inflection point, with the move to expand the
public transport system. The Motor Vehicles Act is to be amended to open up the passenger segment, and more entrepreneurs
will be able to operate bus services. It will be up to the States, though, to accept the new liberalised regulatory system. Any
measure to modernise Indias public transport and help the commuter should be welcomed. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is on
target when he talks of greater investment, employment and multiplier effects for the economy stemming from such a move.
The law enabling State road transport undertakings dates back to 1950, and many States have failed to progressively augment
their operations after opting for full or partial nationalisation, especially in the cities. Private operators, on the other hand, have
rapidly increased their share of the total number of buses. The Budget proposal to open up the sector has the potential to
reverse the effects of the neglect and obsolescence.
Regulation is often seen as the obstacle that has affected the growth of bus transport. Yet, a scheme of the kind that the Budget
proposes cannot run without a sound regulatory framework, if the goal is to remove erstwhile monopolies and introduce greater
competition even in those States where private provision in urban and inter-city services already exists. Optimally, a system
should lay down standards, identify areas of operation, fix prices and enable participation by entrepreneurs. As the National
Transport Development Policy Committee 2013 said in its report, there is a need for a strategy panel at the national and State
levels. This is necessary to take a comprehensive view of rail, road, waterway and non-motorised modes. On the question of
encouraging private sector participation in bus services, the experience of London is worth studying: routes are tendered as per
schedules, fares are fixed by the city government, and buses are run by franchisee operators who are paid according to mileage.
What stands out in this model is the use of intelligent transport systems of the kind the new taxi companies in India use to
determine whether the contractor is adhering to schedules, and to analyse demand-supply patterns. For passengers, they
provide efficient real-time service information. Indias bus transport system lacks the wherewithal to make such studies using


massive amounts of data as it is technologically outdated. Buses are also unpopular because they are not ergonomically
designed as per the national bus code. A renaissance in bus services is possible, but not without modern design standards and
service-level benchmarking that are ensured through strict enforcement.
o Commuter - someone who regularly travels between work and home

o Saturation - to fill a thing or place completely so that no more can be added
o Gridlock - a situation where roads in a town become so blocked by cars that it is
impossible for any traffic to move
o Intervention - the act or fact of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult
situation
o Inflection - change
o Amend - to change the words of a text, especially a law or a legal document
o Segment - one of the smaller groups or amounts that a larger group or amount can
be divided into
o Entrepreneur - someone who starts their own business
o Liberalize - to make laws, systems, or opinions less severe
o Modernise - designed and made using the most recent ideas and methods
o Stem - arise from
o Nationalisation - a process in which a government takes control of an industry or
company and becomes its owner
o Potential - ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
o Obsolescence - a service is no longer wanted even though it may still be in good
working order
o Regulation - a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority
o Obstacle - something that blocks progress
o Regulatory - controlling
o Erstwhile - previous
o Monopoly - complete ownership or control of something
o Lay down - to put something down in order to show you are not going to use it
again
o Tendered - to give or offer something
o Franchise - a right to sell a company's products in a particular area using the
company's name
o Mileage - a number of miles travelled or covered

o Adhering - to maintain loyalty
o Wherewithal - the money or other means needed for a particular purpose
o Ergonomics - the scientific study of people and their working conditions, especially
done in order to improve effectiveness
o Renaissance - a new growth of activity or interest in something, especially art,
literature, or music
o Benchmark - a level of quality that can be used as a standard when comparing
other things
March 07/2016
Topic 1 : "Review the fiscal consolidation path"
Passed almost three years after it was first introduced in Parliament, that too in a significantly watered down form, the Fiscal
Responsibility and Budget Management Act has faced a rocky road in terms of implementation. Paused four times since its
enactment in August 2003, including for a reset of the fiscal deficit target in 2008-09 following the global financial crisis, the
FRBM Act has become a subject of animated debate. Central to this has been the question of whether the law has served the
purposes for which it was envisaged. There is no denying that the Act has helped focus attention on the issues relating to fiscal
consolidation thanks to the mandatory medium-term and strategy statements that the government of the day is required to
present annually before Parliament. But with regard to the larger objective of ensuring macro-economic stability, the record has
been less than ideal. Both headline consumer price inflation and the debt-servicing costs for the Central government were, at
different points in the post-FRBM era, at divergence with the performance of fiscal deficit, raising questions about the over-
emphasis on a cast-in-stone target number. The nub of the issue is this: has the law allowed the government the elbow room
needed to use all the fiscal tools at its command to ensure that the growth momentum is maintained, without either significantly
fuelling inflation or curtailing spending on vital and socio-economically relevant development programmes? If it has not, this may
be the time to review the Act, and if necessary, amend it significantly.
It is in this context that Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys Budget proposal to have a committee review the implementation of the
FRBM Act even as he committed himself to sticking to the 3.5 per cent fiscal deficit target for the next financial year is
timely and germane. He has referred, for instance, to the possibility of adopting a target range rather than a specific number.
The argument is that this would give the necessary policy space to deal with dynamic and volatile situations such as the one
India currently faces global economic and financial market uncertainty, a slowdown in China, and tepid private investment
demand domestically. The suggestion that fiscal expansion or contraction should be aligned with credit contraction or expansion,
as mentioned in the Budget speech, is worth exploring. While any attempt to jettison or even revisit the fiscal deficit targets is
bound to draw sharp criticism from, among others, the global credit rating agencies, Mr. Jaitley has to look no further than the
BRICS compatriot China. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has just unveiled a budget deficit of 3 per cent of GDP, the highest
level for that country since 1979 and a significant jump from last years 2.3 per cent target. But Mr. Jaitley will need to ensure
that any resources freed up from a fiscal reset, when that happens, are spent imaginatively for an economic stimulus, and
primarily on the creation of long-term public assets.


o Consolidation - to combine several things, especially businesses, so that they
become more effective
o Significantly - in a way that is easy to see or by a large amount
o Watered down - altered to make something weaker (made less extreme than the
original)
o To face a rocky road - to experience a difficult period and have a lot of problems
o Enactment - the process of passing legislation
o Crisis - a time of intense difficulty or danger
o Envisaged - to imagine or expect something in the future
o Consolidation - to combine several things, so that they become more effective
o Emphasis - special importance, value given to something
o Nub - the most important or basic part of something
o Elbow room - adequate space to move or work in (freedom to do what you want)
o Fuelling - helping to develop something
o Curtail - to stop something before it is finished / to reduce or limit something
o Amend - make minor changes to something in order to improve it
o Germane - relevant
o Volatile - likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly
o Tepid - not enthusiastic
o Aligned - arranged
o Exploring - inquire into something / discuss in detail
o Jettison - to decide not to use an idea or plan
o Compatriot - a friend or someone you work with
o Unveiled - to show something for the first time
o Imaginatively - cleverly / creatively
o Asset - property


Topic 2 : "Dont let down the children"
With worrying levels of stunting and lack of healthy weight among children revealed by the fourth round of the National Family
Health Survey (NFHS) for 15 States, Budget 2016-17 was expected to provide some remedies. To begin with, it could have
raised funding for the flagship nutrition programme, the Integrated Child Development Services. Instead, the Budget has dealt
the ICDS a blow in the form of a 7 per cent cut over the revised estimate of expenditure for the previous year, of about Rs.15,500
crore. This follows the pattern of Budget 2015-16 which cut the outlay initially, but with provision of some supplementary grants
later in the year. Such an approach to a welfare programme that is so crucial to the health of the next generation reflects a poor
set of development priorities. It also defies economic reasoning, given that India has been growing steadily after liberalisation
and has the wherewithal to substantially raise social sector expenditure annually. To their credit, several States have used the
ICDS to improve health and welfare by providing good supplementary nutrition to children under six; the support of the
Supreme Court has also helped in ensuring that commercial interests are unable to corner the funds, and there is provision for
community oversight. The Ministry of Women and Child Development must focus on States such as Bihar and Madhya Pradesh
with a large burden of stunted, wasted and underweight children as revealed by the latest NFHS data. Figures for all States
together will give a full picture, including best practices.
Empirical evidence on the effectiveness of supplementary nutrition should prompt the Centre to enhance funding for the ICDS.
Data from an earlier round of the NFHS show that when nutrition is available every day to children under two, there is a marked
positive effect on their height, particularly for girls. Such early interventions have a life-long impact, in the form of higher
productivity and earnings. Scholars have, however, found a tendency within the ICDS in some States to neglect the needs of
children less than two years old. Only 6 per cent in this age group were getting adequate daily nutrition a decade ago. The more
progressive States have corrected the bias, with striking results. There is a clear lesson here for others, and it is incumbent on
the Central Ministry to monitor the implementation of the scheme. It can take the support of local communities and self-help
groups, as provided for in the Supreme Court judgment of 2004, to ensure that wholesome cooked meals are provided and
contractors are not engaged. More recently, the court wanted high standards of hygiene and nutrition maintained in ICDS
centres. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has missed the opportunity in the Budget to secure the future of Indias children, but he
can still make amends. Raising the outlay, instituting a mechanism to heighten awareness among communities in less developed
States and achieving full coverage are needed remedies.
o Remedy - a successful way of curing an illness or dealing with a problem or difficulty

o Flagship - the best or most important product / idea that an organization owns or
produces
o Nutrition - the process of providing the food necessary for health and growth
o Integrate - to combine two or more things in order to become more effective
o Expenditure - the total amount of money that a government or person spends
o Supplementary - extra
o Crucial - important


o Defy - openly refuse to obey a person, decision, law, situation, etc
o The Wherewithal - the money necessary for a particular purpose
o Substantial - large in size / importance
o Ensuring - to make sure that something will happen
o Provision - the action of providing or supplying something for use
o Stunted - prevent from growing or developing properly
o Underweight - below a weight considered normal or desirable
o Empirical - based on what is experienced or seen rather than on theory
o Enhance - improve / increase
o Scholar - a specialist in a particular branch of study
o Tendency - an attitude, habit, or situation that is starting to develop in a particular
way
o Adequate - satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity
o Bias - very unusual or easily noticed (attracting a lot of attention)
o Incumbent - to be necessary for someone
o Wholesome - something which is good for your health
o Amends - to do something good to show that you are sorry about something you
have done
o Heighten - make (something) higher
March 08/2016
Topic 1 : "Staking claim to Twenty20 supremacy"
Indias triumph in the Asia Cup will have surprised no one. It would appear that not only are M.S. Dhonis men the best
Twenty20 outfit in world cricket, as evidenced by their No.1 ranking, they are also close to impossible to master in the
subcontinent. The win Indias sixth Asia Cup title and its first in this shortened format was not merely a statement of
regional dominance. The India team would now assume that it has served notice to anyone who might have designs on the
World Twenty20, which will be hosted in the country over the next four weeks. Bangladesh might have briefly threatened a coup
in the rain-shortened final it deserves great credit for its brave, attacking cricket all tournament but few teams are as adept
at the chase under pressure as India. The batting unit contains a mix of disruptive firepower and nerveless skill, contest-ending
weapons both. When deployed calmly with the certainty that comes from doing it repeatedly, as Indias batsmen have in the
Indian Premier League no target is safe. As team director Ravi Shastri said after the final, this is a unit that knows how to get
the job done a truism on the face of it, but, as Germany has shown in international football tournaments, one that has been
coined to explain the unexplainable. In sport, there is such a thing as the tournament team. Australia is the most obvious
example this era in cricket. Dhoni-led teams havent been far off, however; indeed the current one enters the World T20 as the
overwhelming favourite.


This is not to say India is without vulnerability. As Mohammad Amir proved again in helpful conditions, no batsman enjoys the
combination of pace, bounce and movement. The Pakistani left-armers spell was one of the moments of the Asia Cup heart
warming and eye-catching in equal measure, given his road back from perdition and the sheer spectacle great fast-bowling sets
up. But it was just that: a moment. For a side to subject Indias batting, it will need more. And considering it is unlikely that India
will play on wickets that assist the pacemen to the same degree in the World T20, the chances of an encore are remote. Mystery
spin is the other thing that has challenged India in the past; there doesnt seem to be enough of it around this time, however.
Perhaps the greatest dangers to Indias batting comes from within: complacency and ego. The bowling still needs work; it can
unravel when attacked. But Jasprit Bumrah and his unique action offer India a difference-maker, in support of R. Ashwin. The
others will need careful handling, but Dhoni, perhaps the finest reactive captain in the game, is adept at it. The fielding moreover
is world-class, so chances will be taken and occasionally created. The Asia Cup was a title to be won, but also preparation;
having achieved both objectives in some style, India will be confident about what lies ahead.
o Stake a claim - if you stake a claim to something, you say or show that you have
a right to it and that it should belong to you
o Supremacy - the leading or controlling position
o Outfit - team
o Evidence - one or more reasons for believing that something is true / not true
o Subcontinent - a large area of land that is part of a continent, often referring to
South Asia
o Have designs on something - aim to obtain / achieve something
o Threatened - to tell someone that you will cause problems if they do not do what
you want
o Adept - very skilled or proficient at something
usual
o Firepower - effective power or force
o Nerveless - confident
o Deployed - move into position for some action
o Far off - a great distance away
o Overwhelming - very great in amount
o Vulnerability - the condition in which you will be easily physically, emotionally, or
mentally hurt or attacked
o Heart warming - emotionally rewarding


o Eye-catching - very attractive or noticeable
o Perdition - a state of punishment that goes on for ever
o Sheer - completely / nothing other than
o Spectacle - an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts attention
o Unlikely - not probable or likely to happen
o Encore - a repeated or additional performance at the end
o Remote - small in amount / very less
o From within - by the people who belong to an organization / team and not by
people from outside it
o Complacency - a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation
that prevents you from trying harder
o Unravel - make something known or understood
o Adept - having a natural ability to do something that needs skill
o Moreover - also and more importantly
Topic 2 : "Time to deliver on Womens Bill"
By clockwork precision, talk about the Womens Reservation Bill has duly floated in ahead of March 8, International Womens
Day. President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari have called for reviving the Constitution (108th)
Amendment Bill to reserve for women one-third of seats in Parliament and the State legislatures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has been less forthcoming in revealing whether his government has any plans to pilot the Bill through the Lok Sabha. This is
particularly disappointing. The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha in March 2010 amid obstructive theatrics from parties such
as the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party, but also with an unusual level of cooperation among the national parties,
especially the Congress, which was leading the United Progressive Alliance government, and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Thereafter they could not or would not overcome similar odds in the Lok Sabha to deliver on their stated support for the
Bill. Six years on, Mr. Modis BJP commands a clear majority in the Lok Sabha. It is therefore in a position not only to get the
Bill passed by mopping up the support of just a few more MPs, but also to force the Congress and the Left into reaching out
across the aisle in a polarised Parliament to affirm fidelity to a long-voiced promise. Every session of Parliament must serve as
a reminder that the real stumbling block to the Bill has not been political from parties opposed to it, but essentially patriarchal
within the very same parties that have affirmed support to it.
In the two decades since it was first presented in Parliament, different governments have tried clearing it but faced tremendous
opposition, often accompanied by manhandling and name-calling. It is obvious that despite the pretty speeches and public
posturing, the political space in the country, regardless of the ideological divide, is uniformly and strongly chauvinistic. Opposition
to the Bill has often taken the form of a demand for the proposed quota to be diced along other parameters of disadvantage,
such as caste and class. Additionally, resistance has been rationalised as a caution that womens quota would be appropriated
by relatives and proxies of powerful politicians, neatly ignoring the fact that such a reality could well obtain with regard to male
legislators too. Women need to overcome gender prejudice firstly in their respective parties before entering the wider electoral


fray. It is also a sign of lack of seriousness on the Bill that parties have not taken up a considered discussion of the impact of
the rotation of reserved constituencies envisioned, and purposefully debate its merits against suggestions for double-member
constituencies, proportional representation and mandatory womens quotas for parties while announcing candidate lists for
elections. To have more women in legislatures and the government is a big step towards empowering women in society. The
experience of several village panchayats that have women as effective leaders bears testimony to this fact. Affirmative action
of this kind is the best way to usher in social and gender justice.
o Clockwork - very regularly, or at exactly the planned times

o Precision - the quality or condition of being exact and accurate
o Duly - in accordance with what is required or appropriate
o Floated - to suggest a plan or an idea to be considered
o Reviving - restore to life or consciousness
change laws
o Pilot - test a scheme before introducing it more widely
o Obstructive - trying to stop someone from doing something by causing problems
for them
o Theatrics - behaviour that is intended to get attention (acting)
o Thereafter - after that time
o Mopping up - the activity of dealing with a small number of people, problems, etc.
that remain after most of them have been defeated or solved
o Aisle - a long, narrow space between rows of seats
o Polarised - to divide people into two completely opposing groups
o Affirm - to publicly show your support for an opinion or idea
o Fidelity - honest support
o Stumbling block - something that prevents action or agreement
o Patriarchal - ruled or controlled by men
o Tremendous - very great in amount or level, or extremely good
o Manhandling - to touch or hold someone roughly and with force
o Name-calling - using abusive language (insulting)
o Posturing - behaviour
o Regardless - despite (not being affected by something)
o Uniformly - in same manner (not changing or different in any way)
o Chauvinistic- believing that women are naturally less important, intelligent, or able
than men
o Diced - to do something extremely dangerous and silly
o Rationalised - to try to find reasons to explain your behaviour, decisions, etc

o Caution - great care and attention
o Appropriated - to make something suitable or fitting for a particular purpose
o Proxy - a person authorized to act on behalf of another (representative)
o Fray - fight
o Envisioned - imagine as a future possibility (visualized)
o Empowering - give someone the authority or power to do something
o Testimony - evidence / proof of something
o Affirmative - supportive
o Usher - show or guide (someone) somewhere
March 09/2016
Topic 1 : "Dont compromise on privacy"

The Aadhaar Bill, which the government introduced in the Lok Sabha last week, has not come a day too soon. More than six
years have passed since the first attempt was made to give legal validity to Aadhaar, an ambitious project that seeks to provide
unique identification numbers to each individual in a country of over a billion people, collecting demographic and biometric
information in the process. And through these years, amid many legal and political challenges and a change in government,
over 98 crore numbers have been issued. The stated idea of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies,
Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, is to provide for efficient, transparent, and targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and
services. This, along with a clause that says the unique numbers will not be considered as proof of citizenship, is welcome.
And yet, the process of legislating for Aadhaar has not been wholly reassuring. The Bill has attracted immediate criticism for
being introduced as a money bill, by virtue of which it does not require approval of the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP-led
government does not have the numbers to ensure its passage. Bypassing the Upper Houses vote does give the Bill an easy
route to becoming law. The question is, given that Aadhaar was a signature project of the Congress-led UPA, could not the
government have made the effort to reach out to lawmakers across the board on such a crucial, bipartisan issue?
Wider political consensus and scrutiny are vital. Section 7 of the Bill, for instance, makes proof of Aadhaar necessary for receipt
of certain subsidies, benefits and services. This must be read in the backdrop of a Supreme Court ruling that said Aadhaar
cannot be made mandatory. A key concern over the collection of personal information on this scale is data protection. There
are provisions in this Bill that seem to address the concern, including one that prohibits any official from revealing information
in the data repository to anyone. But the exceptions cause unease. Two provisions are particularly troubling. The first is Section
29(4), by which no Aadhaar number or biometric information will be made public except for the purposes as may be specified
by regulations. The second, which experts have already flagged, is Section(33), under which the inbuilt confidentiality clauses
will not stand when it concerns national security. The only reassurance could be that in such cases the direction has to come
from an official who is not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the government. Nonetheless, without robust laws to protect
their data, citizens would be rendered vulnerable. It is not about just snooping. It is also being said that in order to be useful and


effective, Aadhaar data might have to be used alongside other databases. That could trigger further privacy questions. There is
little doubt that India needs to streamline the way it delivers benefits, and to empower citizens with a basic identification
document. But this cannot be done without ensuring the strictest protection of privacy.

o Validity - the state of being officially true or legally acceptable
o Ambitious - having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed
o Seeks - desire to obtain or achieve (something)
o Demography - the study of changes in the number of births, marriages, deaths,
etc. in a particular area during a period of time
o Biometric - referring to detailed information about someone's body, such as the
patterns of colour in their eyes / fingerprints etc, that can be used to prove who that
person is
o Clause - a particular part of a written legal document
o Reassuring - say or do something to remove the doubts and fears of someone
o Virtue - behaviour showing high moral standards
o Bypassing - to ignore a rule or official authority
o Certain - some
o Ruling - an authoritative decision made by judge
o Concern - important point which is to be worried about
o Provisions - a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular thing must
happen or be done
o Repository - a central location in which data is stored and managed
o Exception - something that is not included in a list / statement / law
o Confidentiality - the state of being secret
o Nonetheless - in spite of that
o Robust - strong
o Rendered - provided
o Vulnerable - exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed

o Snooping - to look around a place secretly, in order to discover things or find out
information about someone or something
o Alongside - together / in cooperation with
o Trigger - to cause something bad to start
o Streamline - to improve the effectiveness
o Empower - give (someone) the authority or power to do something
Topic 2 : "Government cuts its losses on EPF"
Facing mounting criticism, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre has decided to drop its Budget proposal to tax a
portion of the EPF (Employees Provident Fund) corpus upon withdrawal. An ill-conceived move both context- and content-
wise, it has deservedly been given a burial. In view of the representations received, the government would like to do a
comprehensive review of this proposal, and, therefore, withdraw the proposal in paragraph 138 and 139 of my Budget speech,
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a statement in the Lok Sabha. The government has also withdrawn the proposal to limit
tax-free contributions by the employer to the provident fund account of an employee to Rs.1.5 lakh a year. This did not gel with
the Budget speech rationale for taxing EPF savings to bring parity in tax treatment between the EPF and the National Pension
System (or NPS, where employers can pay up to 10 per cent of salary as contribution without any such cap). By putting the
EPF back into an EEE tax regime (where contributions, income as well as the accumulated corpus are all exempt from tax), the
governmentsvolte-face would help retain the EPFs popularity among the salaried class, most of whom are part of it not out of
choice but by statutory default. The Finance Minister had himself called them hostages to the EPF in his last Budget, but instead
of setting them free, he thought it better to tax them citing fair taxation principles. It is still not clear whether the government had
initially thought it could pull the taxation proposal past its middle-class constituency. In the event, the tax on EPF withdrawal
gave additional ammunition to an aggressive Opposition, including the Congress party. Differences within the National
Democratic Alliance and the Cabinet finally ensured the climbdown by the Finance Ministry.
While announcing a return to status quo on the EPF, the Finance Minister has rightly retained the Budget provision allowing
NPS subscribers to withdraw 40 per cent of the corpus without any tax liability. The remainder 60 per cent will attract a
combination of withdrawal tax and deferred tax on the annuity products one buys. In a way, partial tax relief for the NPS will
narrow the existing tax-induced gap between the EPF and the NPS. The strident opposition to EPF tax must be read in the
context of the virtual absence of a social security net of any worth in India. There are no two views on the need to move towards
a pensioned society. However, this cannot happen abruptly or in a coercive manner people need to be nudged over time to
gear up for such transitions. Whatever the intention, it was the out-of-the-blue approach of the government that triggered an
uproar. A sheepish rollback is a smart move, ahead of a round of Assembly elections. It is to be hoped that this U-turn will trigger
a larger debate on ushering in a holistic social security ecosystem in the country.
o Mounting - increasing
o Ill-conceived - not carefully planned or considered
o Deservedly - it deserve it to happen


o Burial - the act of putting something into ground (unwanted things / dead bodies)
o Employer - boss (a person / organization which gives work to you and pays for it)
o Rationale - the reasons that cause a particular set of beliefs or actions
o Parity - the condition of being equal
o Accumulate - to gradually increase in number or amount
o Volte-face - a sudden change in an action / policy which is completely opposite
o Statutory - permitted / required
o Default - to fail to do something
o Hostages - something that is controlled by an outside influence
o Citing - stating / refer to something
o Constituency - a group of voters in a specified area
o Ammunition - facts that can be used to support your argument (especially to defeat
opponents)
o Aggressive - very angry and ready to attack
o Climbdown - to change your opinion or admit that you were wrong
o Liability - the state of being legally responsible for something
o Annuity - a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, for the rest of their life
o Induced - to cause something happen
o Strident - loud and harsh
o Abruptly - suddenly / unexpectedly
o Coercive - forceful
o Nudged - pushed
o Transition - change
o Intention - something that you want and plan to do
o Out-of-the-blue - completely unexpected
o Uproar - a situation in which a lot of people complain about something angrily
o Sheepish - embarrassed because you know that you have done something wrong
or silly
o Rollback - reduction / restore of something
o U-turn - a change of plan
o Ushering - guiding
o Holistic - dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just
a part


March 10/2016
Topic 1 : "Evasive politics on Muzaffarnagar"
Those who dont learn from history may be fated to repeat it, but what about those who dont get their history down in the first
place? Indias record in officially taking stock of communal riots has been especially poor in recent decades, and the report of
the Justice Vishnu Sahai commission inquiring into the 2013 Muzaffarnagar violence plays to form. The report, tabled in the
Uttar Pradesh Assembly this month, zeroes in on the negligence of the local administration, the failure of the intelligence
agencies and exaggeration on social and print media for the violence that coursed through many districts of U.P., leaving more
than 60 dead and 60,000 homeless, an overwhelming number of them Muslims. Commissions of inquiry are often guided, by
framing the terms of reference in a particular way, to conclusions that are politically manageable for governments. Whether by
omission or by the terms set for it, the Sahai commission appears to have exonerated the entire political class. It has also
stopped short of extending the line of responsibility for local administrative failures to the Secretariat in Lucknow. Certainly,
responsibility must be fixed on the intelligence and administrative machinery for failing to pick up and act upon signs of trouble
leading up to a combustive mahapanchayat of September 7, 2013. But once the mahapanchayat gave a rousing war cry, as
violence was visited upon unsuspecting rural dwellings in Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts, and as the survivors fled in
search of safety, the Akhilesh Yadav government distinguished itself by responding exceedingly slowly, a lack of haste that was
widely seen to be deliberate.
While giving a clean chit to Mr. Yadavs Samajwadi Party government, the Sahai report mostly glosses over the role of the
Sangh Parivar in the violence. There appears to be an effort on the part of the SP to deny the Bharatiya Janata Party any
opportunity to bring Muzaffarnagar back into the political discourse indeed, to deny the BJP a chance to sharpen communal
politics. Just recently, the BJPs candidate won a by-election in Muzaffarnagar after a polarising campaign. If this is an
indication that the SP is regretting its obvious strategy in 2013 to play along with the BJPs divisive politics in the hope that it
would consolidate the anti-BJP votes to its advantage, the party would have to do much more to come clean. The fissures that
started showing in September 2013 have grown with time. These have to be addressed administratively, by providing
compensation to the victims and bringing the guilty to book. But they cannot be fixed if the politics itself remains evasive, with
the BJP using its Hindutva strategy to consolidate its vote and its opponents side-stepping the issue for fear of giving Hindutva
more oxygen. The Narendra Modi government made a statement about where it stands by making one of the accused, Sanjeev
Balyan, a Union Minister. That the Samajwadi Party government and the Opposition parties refuse to engagingly contest the
anodyne conclusions of the Sahai report is a depressing indication that, for now, the political healing touch needed to rectify the
wrongs of 2013 is absent.
o Evasive - answering questions in a way that is not direct or clear, especially because
you do not want to give an honest answer
o Fated - not able to be avoided because planned by a power that controls events
o Riots - a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd
o Inquiring - wanting to know something
o Exaggeration - a statement that represents something as better or worse than it
really is


o Coursed - developed
o Overwhelming - very great or very large
o Omission - someone or something that has been left out or excluded
o Exonerated - to state that someone is not guilty of something
o Combustive - the process of burning
o Rousing - exciting
o Dwellings - a house or place to live in
o Survivors - people who are able to continue living their life successfully despite
experiencing difficulties
o Fled - escaped by running away
o Distinguished - successful
o Haste - excessive speed / hurry
o Deliberate - done consciously and intentionally
o Gloss over something - to avoid considering something (such as an embarrassing
mistake, to make it seem not important, and to quickly continue talking about
something else)
o Deny - to say that something is not true
o Discourse - written or spoken communication or debate
o Indeed - used to introduce a further and stronger or more surprising point
o Polarising - to divide into two completely opposing groups
o Regretting - feel sad, or disappointed over something that you have done or failed
to do
o Divisive - used to describe something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly
disagreement within a group of people
o Consolidate - to combine several things, so that they become more effective
o Fissures - faults
o Compensation - something (money) awarded to someone in recognition of loss,
suffering, or injury
o Guilty - the person who has done something wrong or who has committed a crime
o Evasive - answering questions in a way that is not direct or clear, especially because
you do not want to give an honest answer
o Side-stepping - avoid dealing with or discussing (something problematic or
disagreeable)
o Accused - a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime
o Anodyne - intended to avoid causing offence or disagreement
o Healing - to improve bad situation


o Rectify - to correct something or make something right
Topic 2 : "Maria Sharapova and a poser for sport"
Two months after the tennis world was rocked by match-fixing allegations, Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion
and the highest-paid female athlete, dropped a bombshell when she admitted to testing positive for the recently prohibited
drug meldonium at the Australian Open. She has been provisionally suspended from March 12. The drug was added to the
Prohibited List of 2016 on January 1 after being on the World Anti-Doping Agencys (WADA) monitoring list in 2015. The Agency
banned the substance because of evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance. According to
WADA, a substance is placed in the prohibited list if it enhances performance, poses a threat to health, or violates the spirit of
sport. In this case, by aiding the circulation of oxygen through increased blood flow, the medication (primarily meant to treat
serious heart problems) enhances performance, thus violating the spirit of sport. The effect of the drug is similar to other banned
substances autogenous and allogeneic blood transfusion for extra doses of red cells and the erythropoietin hormone to
produce more red blood cells to increase oxygen supply to muscles, thereby enhancing endurance. Since the drug was banned
on January 1, 2016, the titles Sharapova won during her career will not be taken back. Nonetheless, by netting one of the
biggest stars, the tennis anti-doping programme has at once brought to an end the debate on whether it has been soft on tennis
players; two other tennis players were caught as recently as in 2013.
While some may be inclined to consider Sharapovas an honest mistake, as she did not know that the mildronate medication
that she had been taking for the last 10 years is also known as meldonium, it raises a few questions. Sharapova has been
residing in Florida since 1994, and it is unclear how she gained access to the drug, as it is not approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration. She is still to adequately explain the medical requirements that necessitated its consumption for a decade,
as according to the company that manufactures the drug, the treatment course may vary from four to six weeks and it can be
repeated twice or thrice a year. But she can seek a retroactive therapeutic use exemption by proving the merit of her case.
Whether or not she enjoyed the performance-enhancing benefits of the drug during the last decade, it once again underlines
the fact that scientific evidence-gathering and testing methods are slow to catch up with the increased use of performance-
enhancing substances. This case should serve as a reminder for India too to clean up its act. While India may not be producing
many world-class athletes and sportspersons, it ranks very high in terms of the number of cheats. According to a 2013 WADA
report, with 91 dope offenders, India is ranked third, behind Russia and Turkey. Russia had 212 persons testing positive for
prohibited substances, while Turkey had 155.
o Poser - a problem or question that is difficult to solve or answer

o Allegation - a claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong
o Provisionally - temporarily (for the present time but likely to change)
o Prohibited - banned
o Substance - an illegal drug
o Enhancing - increasing


o Poses - presents a problem or danger
o Threat - danger / damage
o Violates - to act against something (especially a law)
o Aiding - helping / supporting
o Medication - a drug or other form of medicine that is used to treat or prevent
disease
o Thus - therefore / as a result
o Autogenous - arising from within or from a thing itself
o Allogeneic - taken from different individuals
o Transfusion - an act of transferring blood
o Endurance - the ability to keep doing something difficult for a long time
o Nonetheless - in spite of that / nevertheless
o Inclined - to have an opinion about something
o Adequately - satisfactorily / in an acceptable manner
o Necessitated - to cause something to be needed, or to make something necessary
o Retroactive - to have effect from a date before something (a law) was approved
o Therapeutic - relating to the healing of disease / treatment
o Underlines - highlights
o Catch up - to reach the same quality or standard as someone or something else
o Offender - a person who commits an illegal act
March 11/2016
Topic 1 : "A flight shows up the system"
Vijay Mallyas quiet departure, a week before the Supreme Court heard a plea from a consortium of lenders to his defunct
Kingfisher Airlines seeking an order restraining the businessman from leaving the country, glaringly exposes the loopholes in
the system that prevails in India. The court was informed by the government that the liquor baron flew out on March 2, the same
day the banks had moved the Debt Recovery Tribunal to have Mr. Mallya arrested and his passport frozen. The failure on the
part of the tribunal and subsequently the Karnataka High Court to act immediately to ensure that Mr. Mallya remained within the
country to face judicial proceedings prompted the lenders to petition the Supreme Court. The Kingfisher Airlines promoter
faces cases for the recovery of about Rs.9,000 crore the airline owes the banks for which he had stood personal guarantee.
That a consortium of 13 banks, which includes the countrys largest lender, the State Bank of India, and the might of the
government were unable to restrain a person declared a wilful defaulter from evading due process and flying abroad right
under the nose of the authorities, reflects poorly on the justice and law enforcement systems. Timely judicial orders protect the
parties interests, but in this case even the DRT order stopping a payment of $75 million from Diageo to Mr. Mallya appears
to have come too late as the British company had already paid him a significant part of the amount. Even a look-out notice
issued to all airports had no effect, according to the Central Bureau of Investigation.


Mr. Mallya has sought to project the corporate loan default as a case of business failure due to macroeconomic factors and
adverse government policies. The banks, however, say he is a wilful defaulter. The CBI also alleges corruption in a Rs.900-
crore loan sanctioned by top officials of IDBI Bank despite the airlines poor credit rating. And the Enforcement Directorate has
registered a money-laundering case against him in connection with the same transaction. Mr. Mallya has sought to portray
himself as a wronged man, singled out for multiple proceedings while those who owe much bigger sums have not been
designated as defaulters or investigated. He has also claimed that banks had recovered Rs.1,244 crore through the sale of
pledged shares and that another sum of Rs.1,250 crore deposited in the High Court is available for recovery. These charges
and claims can only be judicially settled, for which Mr. Mallyas presence and availability are vital. He would do well to return to
the country if he wishes to establish his innocence and bona fides. For the banks and their recovery processes, it is a question
of credibility, as they can ill-afford to give the impression to the average borrower that a high-flying debtor can get away with
brazen default. For Mr. Mallya, the lesson from this episode is that flaunting his wealth may give a man an appearance of
flamboyance in good times, but it ill-serves his reputation in circumstances of adversity, especially when he is perceived to be
flouting the law.
o Departure - the action of leaving

o Plea - an urgent and emotional request (to court)
o Consortium - an association of several companies
o Glaringly - used to say that something bad is very common
o Loophole - a small mistake in an agreement or law that gives someone the chance
to avoid having to do something
o Prevails - to be common among a group of people or area
o Baron - an important or powerful person in a specified business or industry
o Subsequently - after a particular thing has happened (afterwards)
o Restrain - prevent (someone or something) from doing something / keep under
control or within limits
o Evading - to avoid or escape from someone or something
o Right under the nose of - to be in a place that you can clearly see
o Adverse - unfavourable
o Despite - without being affected by / in spite of
o Singled out - to choose one person or thing from a group for special attention
(criticism / praise)
o Bona fides - a person's honesty and sincerity of intention
o Credibility - the fact that someone can be believed or trusted
o Brazen - obvious (without any attempt to be hidden)
o Flaunting - to show something you are proud of in order to get admiration


o Flamboyance - very confident in behaviour
o Reputation - the opinion that people in general have about someone or something
o Adversity - a difficult or unpleasant situation
o Perceived - to come to an opinion about something
o Flouting - to intentionally not obey a rule, law
Topic 2 : "Action plan to fix public sector banks"
The bloated levels of stressed assets in Indias state-owned banks have been a big cause for concern for quite some time now.
With the Reserve Bank of India keeping up the pressure on them to identify, recognise and make provision for bad loans, a
better picture can be had of the magnitude of the stress in the banking system. The RBI is convinced that banks should clean
up their books so that legacy issues are dealt with once and for all to enable them to move forward with a clean slate. This has,
predictably, caused a scare across different layers of the economy. Given this somewhat grim background, there were legitimate
expectations that the Centre, being a majority owner of public sector banks, would step in to provide increased fund assistance.
In the end, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has stuck to what he had promised earlier, and committed in his Budget speech capital
infusion into these banks of just Rs.25,000 crore for the coming year. Mr. Jaitleys offer is inadequate given the magnitude of
the fund needs of these banks. Asserting that we are solidly behind these banks, he did indicate that the government would
find fresh funds should a requirement arise. Capital need is just a subset, or consequence, of the larger malaise of inefficiency
that has been hurting these public sector banks for a long while now. Indeed, as Mr. Jaitley suggested in the Budget speech,
the strength of the financial sector is dependent on a strong and well-functioning banking system. Viewed in this context, the
decision to set up a Banks Board Bureau, headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, is a significant move
forward. The board could yet be an effective mechanism to end political interference in business procedures and decision-
making in banks. An empowered independent bureau such as this could help reset the concept of an arms-length relationship
in public sector banking. Once ownership is delinked from management, fixing accountability becomes that much easier. This
can foster a decision-making framework that privileges business sense. It is, however, important to ensure that systems are in
place to make the autonomous functioning of this bureau sustainable.
Mr. Jaitley has done well to take a holistic approach to the bad loans problem. Letting the sponsor of an asset reconstruction
company to hold up to 100 per cent stake in it should spur foreign entities to look at the Indian bad asset market as an
opportunity. A bankruptcy code is long overdue, and it would help banks pursue recovery action purposefully. A tough regulator
and a stingy government appear to have combined forces tacitly to lay the groundwork for possible M&A (mergers and
acquisitions) activity in the Indian banking space. It is commendable that there is a concerted effort to clean up the ecosystem
to ensure fair play in the banking field.
o Bloated - excessive in size or amount

o Provision - a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular thing must
happen or be done


o Clean slate - a state in which you are starting an activity or process again, not
considering what has happened in the past at all
o Caused a scare - cause great fear or nervousness
o Given - knowing about or considering a particular thing
o Grim - worrying, without hope
o Infusion - the act of adding one thing to another to make it stronger or better
o Inadequate - lacking the quality or quantity required (insufficient)
o Asserting - to behave in a way that expresses your confidence
o Indicate - point out / show
o Arise - to happen
o Subset - a part of a larger group of related things (not the main thing)
o Consequence - result / effect
o Malaise - a general feeling of discomfort
o Inefficiency - a situation in which someone or something fails to use resources
o Context - the situation within which something exists or happens, and that can help
explain it
o Significant - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention / noteworthy
o Arms-length relationship - a relationship lacking friendliness
o Delink - break the connection between two things
o Privilege - an opportunity to do something special
o Autonomous - independent and having the power to make your own decisions
o Holistic approach - dealing with or treating the whole of something
o Stake - a share or a financial involvement in business
o Bankruptcy - when you unable to pay your debts, the law of court sells your
property to pay your debts
o Overdue - not done or happening when expected or when needed
o Pursue - to try to do something / achieve something
o Purposefully - showing that you know what you want to do
o Stingy - unwilling to spend money


o Concerted - planned / coordinated
March 12/2016
Topic 1 : "Heeding the spirit of the amendment"
For the second year in a row, an Opposition-sponsored amendment to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents Address has
been adopted by the Rajya Sabha. Last year, the Motion of Thanks was amended on the issue of black money; this week, the
amendment focussed on legislation passed by Bharatiya Janata Party governments in Rajasthan and Haryana limiting the rights
of citizens to contest panchayat elections. Before 2015, there were just three occasions on which the Presidents Address was
amended in the Rajya Sabha, once each during the tenures of Indira Gandhi, V.P. Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The
Presidents Address sets out a governments policies and programmes, and is first approved by the Union Cabinet. Should an
amendment to the Address be carried through in the Lok Sabha, the government would have to resign. There is, of course, no
such obligation in the Rajya Sabha, but it is still seen to undermine the governments ability at consensus-building. For the
members of the Rajya Sabha, it is a way to give notice that they cannot be taken for granted. It is therefore not just an
embarrassment for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government to have faced this situation twice less than halfway
through its five-year term. It also hints at the ruling partys failure to reach out to the Opposition and forge a working consensus
on the legislative agenda. With its clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the BJP may feel unencumbered by the need for floor
management of the sort that ruling coalitions have had to work at over the past couple or decades this weeks vote shows
that its lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha does in fact demand an inventive outreach to the Opposition if it wants support on
important Bills in the Upper House.
The first instance of such an amendment to the Motion of Thanks came in 1980 on the issue of engineering defections. The
second was in 1989, when six amendments including on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and the India-Sri Lanka
accord were approved. The third occasion was in 2001, when the House adopted an amendment on the sale of a public
sector undertaking, Balco, to a private company. These were all politically contentious issues. So was the issue on which the
Opposition parties mobilised themselves this year, and it raises vital questions for democracy. Imposing curbs on who may
contest panchayat elections based on requirements of educational qualifications and having toilets in homes effectively cuts the
underprivileged out of the fray. The BJP could plead helplessness over its lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha, and instead cite
the passage in the House of the Real Estate Bill this week as proof that it is getting on with its legislative workload. Or it could
heed the spirit of the institutional mechanism of the amendment to a Motion of Thanks, and take up the subject highlighted for
a follow-up debate in Parliament.
o Heeding - pay attention to something

o Amendment - a minor change or addition to improve something
o Address - a formal speech
o Contest - an event in which people compete for authority
o Tenures - the period of time during which you were in a position (PM, CM etc)
o Obligation - something that you must do


o Undermine - to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less likely to
succeed
o Taken something for granted - to not show that you are grateful for someone or
something, and forget that you are lucky to have them
o Embarrassment - a feeling of shame
o Alliance - a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between
political parties
o Halfway - in the middle of a period of time
o Hints - something that you say or do that shows what you think or want (usually in
a way that is not direct)
o Forge - to make or produce something, especially with some difficulty
o Unencumbered - not having any burden
o Coalition - the joining together of different political parties or groups for a particular
purpose, usually for a limited time
o Lack of something - something is not available
o Inventive - having the ability to create or design new things or to think originally
o Outreach - the extent or length of reaching out / reach further than something
o Defection - the act of leaving a country, political party, etc. to go to another one
o Accord - an official agreement
o Mobilised - to organize or prepare a group of people for a purpose (fight)
o Vital - important
o Underprivileged - people who are not enjoying the same standard of living or
rights as the majority of people in a society
o Fray - fight / argument
o Cite - refer to
o Heed - pay attention to / take notice of
o Follow-up - a continuation or repetition of something that has already been started
or done
Topic 2 : "Respect for nature is devotion"


The grandiose spectacle that the Art of Living Foundation has organised on a thousand-acre site on the floodplain of a river
in Delhi to demonstrate humanitarianism and the oneness of cultures will go down as a spectacular example of thoughtless
environmental destruction. The Central and Delhi governments have, in a display of extraordinary non-application of mind,
allowed a private entity to take over part of the Yamuna floodplain, an area with well-known ecological vulnerabilities, for a
show. The low priority accorded in recent times to environmental impacts of official decisions is manifest here: large parts of
the biodiversity-rich floodplain have been irresponsibly levelled, provision made for approach roads and vehicle parking, and
a massive, 40-foot-high stage with garish symbols built for the event. The Union Ministry of Culture, the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
governments, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Lalit Kala Akademi and other organisations that have supported the three-day
extravaganza should worry that they have lent their credentials to the creation of a large and destructive footprint for the river.
The Yamuna is a major resource for Delhi, and there is a great deal of scientific literature on why it should be protected and
rejuvenated for the benefit of the national capital region. Studies done on Delhis water needs indicate that there are twice as
many people living in the city than it can support based on carrying capacity norms. The imperative therefore should be to help
the Yamuna use its full potential of recharging its aquifers using monsoon flood flows across a generous one-kilometre width,
bringing more precious water to Delhi.
It should surprise everyone that the NDA government, which has been making a high-profile campaign of river-cleansing
projects, allowed unregulated construction activity on the Yamuna floodplain and removal of vegetation without so much as a
sound environmental impact assessment. Deploying the Army to put up long bridges was also unwarranted. The National
Green Tribunal, which heard a petition against the holding of the so-called world culture festival, noted that the Art of Living
Foundation had failed to submit even a detailed project report on the works it was undertaking after it obtained permission from
the Delhi Development Authority last year. Faced with a Rs.5-crore initial fine imposed by the NGT, the head of the Foundation,
Sri Sri Ravishankar, first decided to brazen it out and not remit the penalty, although saner counsel seems to have prevailed.
The NGT has rightly ordered an exhaustive review by a special committee of the damage caused to the river and its floodplain.
The only option for the Foundation should be to meet the full cost of scientific restoration, consistent with the polluter-pays
principle. Having claimed the participation of 3.5 million people from 155 countries, it should not be difficult for the organisers to
mobilise the funds needed to restore the ecology of an invaluable part of the countrys natural heritage.
o Devotion - religious worship / love

o Grandiose - larger and containing more detail than necessary
o Spectacle - an unusual or unexpected event that attracts attention
o Floodplain - an area of flat land near a river that is often flooded when the river
becomes too full
o Humanitarianism - involved in or connected with improving people's lives and
reducing suffering
o Oneness - a state of being joined as one thing, and no longer separate
o Thoughtless - not considering how your actions or words may upset someone
o Destruction - the process of causing so much damage to something that it no
longer exists or cannot be repaired
o Entity - organization

o Ecological - relating to the environment
o Vulnerability - the state of being open to be attacked
o Accorded - give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition)
o Manifest - to show something clearly
o Massive - very large in size
o Garish - unpleasantly bright
o Extravaganza - a large, exciting, and expensive event
o Credentials - qualification / power
o Footprint - effect
o Rejuvenate - to restore / to make something look or feel fresh
o Indicate - to show / to point out something in a clear way
o Imperative - extremely important / urgent
o Aquifer - a layer of rock, sand, or earth that contains water or allows water to pass
through it
o Unregulated - not controlled or supervised by regulations or laws
o Vegetation - plants that are found in a particular area
o Assessment - the act of judging or deciding the amount, value, quality, or
importance of something
o Deploying - move army into position for military action
o Unwarranted - not justified or authorized
o Brazen something out - to act confidently and not admit that a problem exists
o Remit - to send money to someone
o Exhaustive - complete and including everything
o Mobilise - to prepare / organize
o Ecology - the relationships between the air, land, water, animals, plants etc
o Invaluable - extremely useful
o Heritage - features belonging to the culture of a particular society which have
historical importance
MARCH 14/2016
Topic 1 : "Protecting the homebuyer"


The Rajya Sabha has passed the much anticipated Real Estate Bill, overcoming the sharp political rivalries that have stalled
a lot of legislative activity in the House. In the course of five years, the Bill went through several rounds of discussions and
numerous changes were made to its original text before it passed muster. Once enacted, it would finally give homebuyers
enough confidence to be less inhibited by the buyer beware caution in a sector largely known for honouring the terms of
deals mostly in the breach. An industry estimate suggests that about 10 lakh buyers invest every year in a house. According to
Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation M. Venkaiah Naidu, a total of 76,044 companies are involved in the real
estate sector. It is estimated to contribute about 9 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product). He told the House that a total of
17,526 projects were launched between 2011 and 2015 with an investment value of Rs.13.70 lakh crore. The sheer scale of
these numbers demands that this sector be run on transparent lines, taking into consideration both the need to foster fair play
and encourage equity. Given the deep political divide in Parliament, it is encouraging to see that parties have risen above narrow
considerations to let this important pro-consumer legislation go through.
Beyond just being a disciplinary legislation that regulates the haphazard functioning and the presence of unscrupulous operators
in the real-estate business, the Bill will also bring in a sense of comfort and feeling of security to homebuyers. Compulsory
registration of any project of the size of 500 square metres in size or involves eight apartments, a separate escrow account to
park collections, greater clarity in the definition of carpet area, a tighter penalty norm for structural defects in construction, a
mandatory consent clause for changes in construction plans and other such provisions will go a long way in boosting consumer
confidence. Read in tandem with the stringent disclosure norms and penalty provisions, including imprisonment, in some cases,
for delays and other contractual failures on the part of a builder, this legislation is a necessary and desirable means to clean up
the real estate sector. It is hoped that the legislation will improve the trust quotient, which has been identified as a key factor
hurting the credibility of the sector that serves the role of a multiplier in a growing economy. If that happens, it would go a long
way in strengthening the overall demand sentiment. A better regulatory environment could also inject a sense of clarity in the
operation of the industry, and facilitate prospective investors to look at it as a huge opportunity. It is important to note that the
Central legislation has to be implemented by the States. The responsibility of providing the enabling ecosystem rests with them.
The proof of the pudding will lie in the manner the States implement the legislation.
o Homebuyer - a person who buys a house or flat

o Anticipated - to imagine or expect that something will happen
o Rivalries - opponents (a situation in which people, businesses, etc. compete with
each other for the same thing)
o Stalled - stopped
o Legislative - having the power to make laws
o Muster - support
o Enacted - make (a bill or other proposal) law
o Inhibit - to prevent someone from doing something by making them feel nervous
or embarrassed
o Beware - used to warn someone to be very careful about something or someone
o Breach - an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement
o Alleviation - the act of reducing something unpleasant

o Sheer - important
o Fair play - fair and honest treatment of people
o Equity - the quality of being fair and impartial
o Haphazard - not having an obvious order or plan
o Unscrupulous - behaving in dishonest or unfair way in order to get what you want
o Escrow - an agreement between two people or organizations in which money or
property is kept by a third person or organization until a particular condition is met
o Consent - permission for something to happen or agreement to do something
o Provisions - a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular thing must
happen or be done
o Stringent - having a very severe effect, or being extremely limiting
o Disclosure - the act of making something known
o Desirable - worth having and wanted by most people
o Quotient - a degree or amount of a specified quality or characteristic
o Prospective investors - people who are expected to invest on something
o Rests with somebody - if a responsibility or decision rests with someone, they are
responsible for it
o Proof of the pudding - said to mean that you can only judge the quality of
something after you have tried, used, or experienced it
Topic 2 : "Transparency at any cost"
The shutdown of the 220 MW Unit-1 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station located in Gujarats Surat district following
leakage of heavy water used to cool the nuclear reactor, on March 11, the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
plant disaster in Japan, is at once a reminder of the inherent risks associated with operating nuclear reactors and the importance
of augmenting safety mechanisms. Unlike the Fukushima accident, rated seven (the highest level) on the International Nuclear
and Radiological Event Scale, where meltdown of the core of three reactors occurred due to the failure of the cooling system, it
is reassuring that the safety systems of the KAPS reactor worked as intended, including the backup cooling systems, thus
preventing any cascading event leading to radioactivity release outside the plant. While this may be a rare event for a functioning
plant that happened for the first time in India, it is a cause for concern that the magnitude of the coolant system failure was
significant. That the reactor has been shut down and an independent assessment of the safety situation at the plant is
being undertaken by scientists from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board evokes confidence. The second unit here has
remained shut since July 2015 for maintenance. While the AERB has maintained its independence in terms of its risk


assessment and management functions, there is no room for complacency. It must be borne in mind that collusion between the
Japanese government, the countrys regulator and the operator had led to many violations that were detrimental to the
environment and human health.
Given the heightened fear of nuclear energy in India following the Fukushima disaster, the only way AERB officials can reassure
the public and win confidence is by being more transparent with its findings, however grave they are, and by taking all necessary
steps to ensure that similar events are averted in the future. Just as lessons learnt from the Fukushima accident led to an
enhancement of the level of safety of the backup systems in reactors that are under construction in India, lessons from this
incident should be put to good use. These steps are indeed warranted as India plans to increase the installed nuclear power
capacity from the current 5,780 MW to 10,080 MW by the end of the Twelfth Plan (2017) and 20,000 MW by 2020. Also, India
gave an assurance in Paris that by 2030 it would reduce carbon emissions relative to its GDP by 33-35 per cent from 2005
levels and also generate 40 per cent of the countrys electricity from non-fossil fuel-based sources, using among others the
solar, wind and nuclear options. While India has positioned itself as a leader in the renewable energy sector by playing a pivotal
role in the creation of the International Solar Alliance, the nuclear space is plagued by delays in completing the construction of
reactors, as seen in the case of Kota in Rajasthan (RAPP 7 and 8) and at Kakrapar (KAPP 3 and 4). Whether public sentiment
supports fresh nuclear reactor proposals would depend on how well the AERB fulfils its tasks.
o Transparency - the quality of being done in an open way without secrets

o Shutdown - a closure of a factory or system (due to a fault or for maintenance)
o Associated - connected
o Augmenting - to increase the size or value of something by adding something to it
o Meltdown - an extremely dangerous situation in a nuclear power station in which
the nuclear fuel becomes very hot and melts through its container and escapes into
the environment
o Core - central part
o Reassuring - to comfort someone and stop them from worrying
o Intended - planned / expected
o Cascading - to happen quickly and continously in large amounts
o Concern - worry about something
o Coolant - a liquid or gas that is used to remove heat from something
o Significant - important to be worthy of attention
o Assessment - the act of judging something
o Evokes - to make somebody feel something
o No room for something - something is not acceptable
o Complacency - a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation
that prevents you from trying harder
o Borne - carried or moved


o Collusion - agreement between people to act together secretly or illegally in order
to deceive or cheat someone
o violations - an action that breaks or acts against something (law, agreement etc)
o Detrimental - harmful
o Heightened - increased
o Reassure - to comfort someone and stop them from worryin
o Grave - seriously bad
o Averted - prevented
o Emissions - the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc
o Renewable - can be produced as quickly as they are used
o Plague - to cause worry / pain / difficulty
MARCH 15/2016
Topic 1 : "Why marital rape must be a crime"
The question whether marital rape should be treated as a criminal offence has once again arisen after Union Minister for
Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi repeated the governments stand in a written reply in Parliament. She said,
The concept of marital rape as understood internationally cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors
like level of education/illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs [and the] mindset of the society to
treat the marriage as a sacrament. This controversial formulation must be familiar to those calling for marital rape to be
criminalised and those opposing it on the ground that it would ruin the institution of marriage. The argument that there is too
little education and too many customs and beliefs in Indian society is often held up to stall legal reforms. The principal objection
to the criminalisation of rape within a subsisting marriage is rooted in western tradition too. It originates in the common law
principle of marriage as coverture, the idea that the woman is always under the husbands protection and authority. In England,
Matthew Hales 1736 dictum that a man can never be guilty of raping his lawful wife, for by their mutual matrimonial consent
and contract, the wife hath given herself up in this kind unto her husband which she cannot retract, has been abandoned in
progressive jurisdictions.
The Justice J.S. Verma committee, which recommended sweeping changes in the law relating to offences against
women, called for marital rape to be made an offence. This was not implemented. The present Indian law exempts non-
consensual sex between a husband and wife, not being less than 15 years of age, from being charged with rape. However, by
another provision it makes rape of a wife who is living separately a criminal offence. The age limit of 15 years above which
marital rape is not an offence is inherently problematic, as normally sex with a girl up to the age of 18 is an offence regardless
of consent. The exemption given to marital rape, as Justice Verma noted, stems from a long out-dated notion of marriage which
regarded wives as no more than the property of their husbands. Marital rape ought to be a crime and not a concept. Of course,
there will be objections such as a perceived threat to the integrity of the marital union and the possibility of misuse of the penal


provisions. It is not really true that the private or domestic domain has always been outside the purview of law. The law against
domestic violence already covers both physical and sexual abuse as grounds for the legal system to intervene. It is difficult to
argue that a complaint of marital rape will ruin a marriage, while a complaint of domestic violence against a spouse will not. It
has long been time to jettison the notion of implied consent in marriage. The law must uphold the bodily autonomy of all women,
irrespective of their marital status.
o Marital - relating to marriage or the relations between a married couple

o Offence - an illegal act
o Stand - an attitude towards a particular issue
o Poverty - the state of being extremely poor
o Myriad - a countless or extremely great number of things
o Mindset - a person's way of thinking and their opinions
o Sacrament - a religious ceremony
o Formulation - the action of creating or preparing something
o Ruin - to spoil or destroy something completely
o Institution - a custom or tradition that has existed for a long time and is accepted
as an important part of a particular society
o Stall - stop
o Reform - make changes in something, in order to improve it
o Coverture - the legal status of a married woman, considered to be under her
husband's protection and authority
o Dictum - a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle
o Guilty - responsible for breaking a law
o Lawful - recognized by law or rules
o Hath - past tense of Have
o Retract - to take back an offer or statement, etc
o Abandoned - left
o Progressive - happening or developing gradually or in stages
o Sweeping - affecting many things / complete
o Offences - illegal acts / crimes
o Exempts - to excuse someone from something
o Consensual - with the willing agreement of the people involved
o Inherently - in natural manner
o Stem - originate in or be caused by

o Perceived - become aware or conscious of something
o Penal - relating to legal system
o Purview - the scope of the influence of something
o Intervene - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to
o Spouse - a husband or wife
o Jettison - to get rid of something / to decide not to use an idea or plan
o Implied - suggested but not directly expressed
o Uphold - confirm or support something
o Bodily - relating to the human body
o Autonomy - freedom from external control or influence / independence
Topic 2 : "Ensure a credible clean-up in Kodaikanal"
The settlement in the Kodaikanal mercury poisoning case, which came to light 15 years ago after the release of contaminated
waste materials into the environment, brings partial closure to a long-running struggle between the community and a major
industrial corporation. Hindustan Unilever Limited has come to an agreement with 591 former workers and their
families for payment of ex gratia amounts towards livelihood and skill enhancement. The Madras High Court has taken the
settlement on record, and the disbursal of the fund should bring some succour to those who suffered various health setbacks
that they believe are related to mercury exposure. The closure is the culmination of a sustained campaign by environmental
activists and concerned citizens for these 15 years, which got global attention after a rap song on the plight of those
affected went viral on the Internet. The HUL case highlights the often neglected questions of occupational health interests of
workers, and poor diligence shown by governments in allowing industries that handle toxic materials without satisfactory
management processes. Many workers in Kodaikanal were claiming for over a decade that they fell ill after working in the
thermometer factory, but received little government support. That is unsurprising, considering that occupational health receives
low priority in policymaking, while environmental concerns are counterposed to rapid growth of industry as an obstacle. The
Kodaikanal story should convince Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who said his Ministry would no longer be a
roadblock, that a culture of superficiality in making impact assessments is unsustainable, even counterproductive.
There is also the unresolved issue of the clean-up of the unit, of environmental remediation and the standards to be adopted.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has to ensure that the decontamination meets the highest standards adopted anywhere,
and in any case, not less than the new standards being considered by the Environment Ministry as part of its guidelines for
contaminated sites. While many national institutions have gone into the issue of fixing a remediation standard, there appears to
be clear divergence between what the Ministrys draft of 2015 proposes a soil clean-up standard of 6.6 mg per kg for
residential purposes and the much higher quantum of 20 mg/kg that is under consideration by the pollution control authorities.
Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a fresh and transparent review of the ecological issues arising from any mercury residues
in Kodaikanal, an important segment of the southern Western Ghats, before a decontamination plan is finalised. The pollution


issue in the hill town arose from the open sale of 5.3 tonnes of mercury-contaminated scrap from the factory to a dealer; several
tonnes of scrap was moved by the company from its yard in 2001. Government and industry should now endeavour to regain
public trust, and this is possible only through credible scientific scrutiny and community participation. Crippling pollution cannot
be justified as a small negative externality that must be endured for short-term growth.
o Ensure - to make something sure to happen

o Credible - convincing
o Contaminated - poisonous / impure
o Partial - incomplete
o Ex gratia - sum of money paid when there was no obligation to pay it (to show
good intentions)
o Livelihood - the money people need to pay for basic needs (food, a place to live,
clothing, etc)
o Disbursal - the act of spending money
o Succour - assistance and support given to someone, especially someone who is
suffering or in need
o Setback - something that delays or prevents a process from developing
o Culmination - the highest or climax point of something
o Concerned - worried
o Plight - a dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation
o Diligence - careful and using a lot of effort
o Toxic - poisonous
o Counterposed - set against or in opposition to
o Obstacle - something that blocks you / prevents you
o Roadblock - a barrier
o Superficiality - never thinking about things that are serious or important
o Assessment - the act of judging or deciding
o Unsustainable - not able to be maintained at the current rate or level
o Counterproductive - having the opposite of the desired effect
o Unresolved - not solved or ended
o Remediation - the process of improving or correcting a situation
o Decontamination - to remove dangerous substances from something
o Contaminated - poisonous
o Remediation - the process of improving or correcting a situation

o Transparent - open and honest, without secrets
o Residue - a small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone
o Scrap - the metal which was thrown away for reprocessing because it is not useful
o Crippling - to cause serious damage by making weak and not effective
o Externality - damage caused by a company's activities for which it does not pay
o Endured - to suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful
MARCH 16/2015
Topic 1 : "Mutual benefit in an unnatural alliance"
After a series of electoral reversals for both in the last five years at all levels Parliament, Assembly, local bodies the Left
Front and the Congress have decided on a seat-sharing understanding in West Bengal in order to take on the Trinamool
Congress. Viewed historically, this is nothing short of proving politics to be the art of the impossible. For the Communist Party
of India (Marxist), the largest stakeholder in the Left Front, an alliance with the Congress is especially problematic, both politically
and ideologically. The Congress is its major opponent in its remaining strongholds of Kerala and Tripura. Indeed, Kerala goes
to the polls at the same time, and the CPI(M)-led alliance would be keen to wrest power back from the Congress-led UDF
government there. The CPI(M) had announced at its party congress in 2015 that it would not align with the Congress given the
serious ideological differences. It therefore had to nuance its engagement with the Congress so as not to be perceived to be
compromising on its political and ideological positions. For years, the CPI(M) has worked out an elaborate set of fronts
to suit various political circumstances. The Left Front in West Bengal has existed for decades as a cogent ideological block of
parties. The Left Democratic Front in Kerala is slightly less ideologically coherent. In West Bengal, the united front mechanism
with the Bangla Congress in 1967 was adopted to build electoral alliances with disparate political forces based on common
programmes. The CPI(M)s recourse to a seat-sharing arrangement without a common minimum programme is more common
in States where it is weak.
The Congress had to overcome a political dilemma on the question of an alliance, as traditionally the party has found it difficult
to recover electoral ground ceded to coalition partners. The understanding, without an official alliance, has helped these parties
break out of a zero-sum game. It is another matter whether the Congress and the Left Front, which have been traditional rivals
in the State for decades, will manage to translate this understanding into transferring their vote to each other. Certainly, their
support bases are not as distinct as they used to be. The CPI(M) is now less of a class-based organisation after holding power
for nearly three and a half decades in the State before its loss in 2011. Both parties have positioned themselves as responsible
alternatives to the patronage-based governance of the Trinamool. The Congress has pockets of strong support in a few rural
districts, and the Left expects to capitalise on this through the understanding. On the other hand, there has been little sign of
the rural electorate, a large majority of which shifted its support to the Trinamool following the land acquisition-related
controversies during Left Front rule, moving away from it. A sting in the tail for the Trinamool could be the corruption scams


involving its leaders. If anything, the Congress-Left understanding will force the Trinamool to defend its record against a united
opposition, rendering the 2016 Assembly election a referendum on its own tenure.

o Reversal - a change to an opposite direction
o Nothing short of something - almost (or equal to) something
o Stakeholder - a person who own a share in a business
o Ideological - shared ideas or beliefs
o Opponent - someone who competes with or opposes another in a contest, game,
or argument
o Strongholds - a position that is strongly defended
o Keen - having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm
o Wrest - forcibly pull something from somebody
o Align - give support to somebody
o Nuance - a very small difference
o Perceive - become aware or conscious of (something) / come to realize or
understand
o Elaborate - detailed
o Circumstance - a fact or event that makes a situation the way it is
o Cogent - clear, logical, and convincing
o Slightly - to a small degree / not considerably
o Coherent - logical and clear
o Disparate - different in every way
o Dilemma - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or
more alternatives
o Ceded - to allow someone else to have or own something (especially unwillingly or
because you are forced to do so)
purpose
o Rivals - people competing with eachother for the same thing or in the same area
o Distinct - different in nature from something else of a similar type
o Capitalise - take the chance to gain advantage from something
o Electorate - all the people who are allowed to vote
o Controversies - a lot of disagreement or argument about something
o Sting in the tail - an unexpected / unpleasant / problematic end to something

o Referendum - a vote in which all the people of an area are asked to give their
opinion about an important political or social question
o Tenure - the right to remain permanently in a job
Topic 2 : "An opportunity for peace in Syria"
Vladimir Putin has once again surprised world leaders by ordering the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. As in the
case of Mr. Putins other major foreign policy moves in his current term as Russian President, such as the annexation of Crimea
and the intervention in Syria, not many had seen this coming. While announcing the decision he said the principal tasks set for
the armed forces of Russia in Syria have been accomplished, without detailing the achievements. Though Mr. Putins claims
may sound rhetorical, it is not difficult to understand the rationale behind the move. The five and a half months of Russian
intervention has irrevocably changed the course of the Syrian civil war. As Russia started the bombing campaign on
September 30, the regime looked fragile after continuous military setbacks. President Bashar al-Assad had publicly
acknowledged that his army was struggling with manpower shortages. But since the Russian involvement started, the regime
has regained some territory, weakened rebel positions and disrupted rebel supply lines. It even expanded its reach to the
outskirts of Aleppo, once considered completely lost to militant groups. The timing of the Russian move is also important. The
Geneva peace talks between the regime and the opposition are set to start. For the first time in the five years of the conflict, the
prospects of peace look less doomed, if not actually bright. A ceasefire between the rebels and the regime that came into force
two weeks ago is still holding, however fragile it might be. By announcing the troop withdrawal, Moscow is putting enormous
pressure on the Assad regime to make real compromises in the peace talks. Moreover, Mr. Putin does not want Russia to be
dragged into a protracted war, the way the Soviet Union got trapped in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
However, this does not mean Russia is deserting Syria. Mr. Putin has made it clear that Russia would continue to operate the
Latakia airbase. Needless to say, the Russian presence at the Tartus naval facility on the Mediterranean Sea will continue. This
will allow Russia to quickly deploy troops in Syria in the future if the need arises. So Mr. Putins actual plan appears to be to use
the momentum created in favour of the regime by the Russian intervention to find a political settlement to the Syrian crisis. This
is consistent with Russias position towards Syria. From the advent of the crisis, Moscow has been insisting on a political solution.
Russias concern is less about protecting Mr. Assad than about retaining the core of the Baathist state, which, Moscow believes,
is vital for the survival of Syria in the long fight ahead against terrorist groups such as the Islamic State. Now it is time for the
rebels and their backers, including the United States, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to respond to Russias gestures. They should
make use of the opportunity at the Geneva talks to push for reconciliation with the regime. Because the only alternative to talks
is pushing Syria into war again.
o Troops - soldiers or armed forces

o Annexation - to take control of an area of land or a country, usually by force or
without permission
o See something coming - to expect something to happen


o Accomplished - highly trained or skilled in a particular activity
o Rhetorical - intended to seem important or influence people
o Rationale - the reasons that cause a particular set of beliefs or actions
o Intervention - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult situation
o Irrevocably - something that is done in such a way that it cannot be undone
o Campaign - a series of military operations intended to achieve a goal
o Fragile - not strong / delicate
developing
o Acknowledged - accepted
o Rebel - a person who does not like rules or authority, and shows this by behaving
differently from most people in society
o Disrupted - interrupt something by causing a disturbance or problem
o Doomed - likely to have an unfortunate outcome / sure to fail
o Ceasefire - a temporary suspension of fighting
o Protracted - lasting for a long time / longer than expected
o Deserting - to leave a place without help or in a difficult situation and not come
back
o Deploy - move (troops) into position for military action
o Momentum - force
o Crisis - a time of intense difficulty or danger
o Consistent - always behaving or happening in a positive way
o Advent - the fact of an event happening
o Insisting - demanding something forcefully
o Concern - worry
o Retaining - continue to have (something)
o Core - main part of something
o Vital - absolutely necessary / important
o Backer - a person / organization / country that supports someone or something
(especially financially)
o Reconciliation - the restoration of friendly relations
MARCH 17/2016


Topic 1 : "Caste atrocities and political abdication"
The murder of a 22-year-old Dalit man at Udumalpet in western Tamil Nadu has brought to the fore the worst aspects of todays
Tamil society: the resurgence of caste pride, a shameless disregard for individual rights when they are in conflict with the
hegemonic order, and an anachronistic belief in the notion of caste purity and pollution. That a group of mercenaries could
casually surround V. Shankar and his 19-year-old wife Kausalya, and brutally slay one of them and leave the other seriously
wounded on the edge of a busy road does not merely indicate a lack of fear of the law. It demonstrates a disquieting confidence
that no one would dare challenge or pursue them. Often characterised as honour killings because their motivation arises from
the idea that a woman marrying outside her community brings dishonour to the family, such murders in India normally involve
family members rendering brutal justice to the transgressor within. In recent years, it appears to work in a different way in
Tamil Nadu. In such murders, the victims are often Dalits, for daring to transgress social mores to marry someone deemed to
be above their station in life. Thus, E. Ilavarasan, a Dalit youth whose marriage to a Vanniyar woman led to caste riots in
November 2012 and whose body was found on a railway track in July 2013, and Gokulraj, another Dalit youth murdered for
talking to a Gounder girl last year, were clearly victims of caste atrocities.
In the case of Shankar, too, the emphasis seemed to be mainly on wreaking vengeance against a Dalit man; though the element
of punishing the family member too was present, as Ms. Kausalya was also attacked with long knives and remains in hospital.
Whether in alleged defence of imaginary family honour or as a strike against Dalit assertion, such murders have become
disturbingly frequent. The regrettable part of the entire episode is that major political parties tend to condemn such murders only
in general terms, and avoid any mention of the role of dominant castes. Seldom do they confront the arrogance of some castes
that enjoy political patronage and operate as enforcers of norms in some regions, especially targeting Dalits. Caste groups have
become powerful political lobbies. Caste associations attract young and educated members of the community. Shockingly,
Shankars murderers drew fulsome praise on social media from committed caste adherents. There is a shallow debate over
whether present-day caste consciousness indicates the failure of the Dravidian social reform movement in Tamil Nadu. It is
futile to blame social reformers who fought for caste-based reservations when it is the political leadership of recent years that
has given credence and credibility to caste icons. Tamil society, which prides itself on its cultural moorings, needs to look
inwards. Freedom to choose who to love has been seen to be a distinguishing sign of progressive societies. That it can be
denied in this day and age is a disgraceful commentary on our times.

o Abdication - failure to fulfil a responsibility or duty
o Fspect - a particular part or feature of something
o Resurgence - a new increase of an activity (which had been forgotten for some
time)
o Disregard - pay no attention to something / ignore
o Conflict - a serious disagreement
o Hegemonic - the position of being the strongest and most powerful and therefore
able to control others


o Anachronistic - old-fashioned
o Mercenaries - people who fights for anybody who pays them
o Brutally - in cruel / violent manner
o Slay - kill a person (or animal) in a violent way
o Wounded - injured (especially with a cut or hole in the skin)
o Merely - only / just
o Lack of something - the fact that something is not available
o Pursue - follow / chase
o Honour killing - the killing of a relative (especially a girl or woman) who brought
dishonour on the family
o Dishonour - a state of shame (loss of people's respect)
o Transgressor - person who violates a rule / crosses his (or her) limits
o Victim - a person harmed, injured, or killed
o Mores - the traditional customs of society
o Deemed - to consider or judge something in a particular way
o Riot - a violent disturbance of the peace by a group of people
o Emphasis - special importance / value
o Vengeance - the punishing of someone for harming you or your friends or family
o Alleged - said something without proof
o Assertion - a statement that you strongly believe is true
o Regrettable - making you feel sad and sorry about something
o Condemn - express complete disapproval
o Seldom - rarely (not often)
o Confront - to face a difficult situation
o Arrogance - being unpleasantly proud and behaving as if you are more important
than other people
o Patronage - the support given to a group by someone
o Lobbies - people who have good control over political parties / government
o Fulsome - expressing a lot of admiration or praise for someone
o Adherents - people who supports a particular party / caste / group
o Shallow - not so serious or careful
o Consciousness - the state of understanding and realizing something


o Credence - to believe that something is true
o Denied - to say that something is not true
o Disgraceful - shockingly unacceptable.
Topic 2 : "A new chapter in Myanmar"
The election of U Htin Kyaw as Myanmars President is a watershed moment in its history. Mr. Htin Kyaws government would
be its most democratic administration since 1962 when the military seized power. During this period, the generals ran a
repressive regime that denied the people even basic democratic rights and isolated the country internationally. For Myanmars
pro-democracy camp, the election is a moment of joy, and sorrow. Finally a legitimate, democratic government is in place, but
there is deep disappointment at the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi, their rightful leader, could not become the President. A
provision in the military-era Constitution bars Ms. Suu Kyi from assuming the highest office as her children are foreign citizens.
Her National League for Democracy (NLD) lacks the parliamentary power to rewrite the Constitution. Efforts by Ms. Suu Kyi to
reach a settlement with the generals did not bear fruit either. It was against this background that she nominated Mr. Htin Kyaw,
an economist and writer she has known from her early school days, as the partys presidential candidate. Ms. Suu Kyi has made
it clear that she will be in control of the government, irrespective of her constitutional status.
While the formation of a democratic government is clearly a firm step forward, the new government faces an uphill task.
Primarily, it has to address the deep economic problems. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in Asia. In the years of
isolation under the junta, economic growth stagnated, trapping millions in acute poverty. Getting the economy back on track is
no easy task, and Myanmar will need regional and global assistance. Besides, though the generals have agreed to civilian
takeover of political power, they still wield enormous influence over Myanmars institutions. One-quarter of seats in both Houses
of Parliament are reserved for the military. This prevents any constitutional amendments without the militarys approval. The
military also has direct control of three key Ministries: defence, home affairs and border affairs. Two recent actions of the military
indicate it is still not ready to cede influence over institutions completely. The first is its refusal to let Ms. Suu Kyi become the
President. It knew that if Ms. Suu Kyi, hugely popular at home and widely respected abroad, becomes President, that could
expedite the countrys transition into a full democracy. Second, by successfully getting Myint Swe, a controversial retired general
who served the previous junta, elected as one of the two vice-presidents, the military has sent a clear message to the
government that it is not going to completely stay away from power. But the good news is that the balance of power has clearly
shifted in favour of the pro-democracy camp after the November elections. Ms. Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw will have to
tread cautiously but purposefully to build on the democratic gains, and expedite Myanmars transition into a full democracy.
o Watershed moment - important turning point / historical change

o Seized - take hold of something suddenly and forcibly
o Repressive - to not allow something
o Denied - refuse to give something requested or desired
o Isolated - to separate something from other things
o Legitimate - allowed by law (reasonable and acceptable)


happen or be done
o Bear fruit - to produce successful results
o Irrespective - without considering
o Constitutional - allowed by a constitution (set of political rules)
o Firm - strong
o Uphill - leading to a higher place
o Junta - a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force
o Stagnated - to stay the same and not grow or develop
o Trapping - getting into a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which it is difficult
or impossible to escape
o Acute - if a bad situation is acute, it causes severe problems or damage
o Back on track - getting something in a correct position
o Takeover - an act of getting control of something
o Amendments - minor changes
o Cede - to give up power
o Abroad - in foreign countries
o Transition - a change from one form or type to another
MARCH 18/2016
Topic 1 : "Be bold in revisiting the sedition law"
The governments admission in Parliament that the present definition of sedition in the Indian Penal Code is too wide and
requires reconsideration, is the first indication that the fallout of the Kanhaiya Kumar episode has had a chastening effect on
the ruling party. There seems to be a realisation that invoking the draconian penal provision against students of the Jawaharlal
Nehru University was an act of overreach by the Delhi Police. Further, legal luminaries had pointed out that the essential
ingredient of sedition an imminent threat to public order was absent in the case. Opinion is growing that the relevant
provision, Section 124-A, has no place on the statute book. While Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured Opposition
members that an all-party meeting on the issue would be convened after the Law Commission submitted its report on the matter,
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju made a pointed reference to concerns that the definition of sedition was very wide. He
also sought to clarify that he was not discussing the merits of the case against JNU students or defending the action of the
Delhi Police, indicating a significant political climbdown. In other remarks, Mr. Rijiju recalled that the Law Commission in its 42nd
Report had rejected the idea of repealing the section altogether. A look at the 1971 report shows that in fact it wanted to expand
the term relating to exciting disaffection towards the government established by law to cover disaffection towards the
Constitution, Parliament, the government and legislatures of the States, and the administration of justice.


In penal law, vague and over-broad definitions of offences often result in mindless prosecutions based merely on the wording
of the act that seems to allow both provocative and innocuous speeches to be treated as equally criminal. While upholding
sedition as an offence that fell under the public order restriction on free speech, the Supreme Court ruled that it ought to be
invoked only if a particular speech or action had a pernicious tendency to create public disorder. Words such as excites or
attempts to excite disaffection or brings into or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt are unacceptably vague, and the
further explanation that disaffection includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity compounds the problem. The provision in
effect appears to demand affection towards the government, except for a general exception allowing disapproval of
governmental measures. Two High Courts had declared Section 124-A unconstitutional before the Supreme Court upheld the
section in 1962 in Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar. The Law Commission, while revisiting the issue, should take into account
recent developments, especially the flagrant instances of misuse of the sedition law and the tendency to invoke it against those
involved in strident forms of political dissent and scathing criticism of governments. One way to limit its mischief is to narrow the
definition; but a more rational and constitutional option would be to scrap the provision altogether.
o Revisiting - considering a situation or problem again or from a different point of

view
o Sedition - language or behaviour that is intended to convince other people to
oppose their government
o Reconsideration - review / the act of considering something again
o Indication - a sign that something is true
o Fallout - the unpleasant results or effects of an action
o Chastening effect - the effect which makes someone understand that they have
failed or done something wrong
o Invoking - to make someone have a particular feeling or remember something
o Draconian - extremely harsh and painful
o Overreach - to fail by trying to do more than you can manage
o Luminaries - a person who inspires or influences others
o Ingredient - one of the parts of something successful
o Imminent - about to happen
o Relevant - connected with what is happening or being discussed
o Statute book - a book in which laws are written
o Convened - to bring together a group of people for a meeting
o Pointed - expressing criticism in a direct way
o Defending - to protect someone or something against attack or criticism
o Climbdown - an occasion when you change your opinion or admit that you were
wrong
o Repealing - if a government repeals a law, it causes that law no longer to have any
legal force
o Disaffection - no longer supporting or being satisfied with an organization or idea


o Vague - not clearly expressed / known / described / decided
o Over-broad - not sufficiently restricted to a specific purpose
o Offences - illegal acts
o Provocative - causing anger or another strong reaction
o Innocuous - not harmful or offensive
o Upholding - confirm or support something
o Disorder - a state of confusion
o Excite - to cause someone to feel very enthusiastic and eager
o Contempt - the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless
o Disloyalty - not supporting someone / something that you should support
o Enmity - a feeling of hate
o Upheld - confirm or support (something which has been questioned)
o Flagrant - a shocking bad action which is very common
o Strident - expressed in forceful / harsh language
o Scathing - criticizing someone or something in an unkind way
o Mischief - misbehaviour
o Rational - based on clear thought and reason
o Scrap - to not continue with a system or plan
Topic 2 : "Aadhaar disquiet in the House"
When the Narendra Modi government chose to introduce the Aadhaar Bill in the Lok Sabha a couple of weeks ago as a
money bill, the move came under sharp criticism. The Rajya Sabhas recommendations on a money bill are non-binding, and
the Lok Sabha can reject them. The BJP-led NDA does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha, and this was therefore seen as
a way to avoid a defeat of the legislation. On Wednesday, this controversial strategy allowed the Lok Sabha to pass the Aadhaar
(Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, in its original form, ignoring a handful of
amendments to the legislation in the Upper House. It is unfortunate that the government chose to so summarily toss aside the
Rajya Sabhas concerns. Giving legal validity to a project that seeks to provide unique identification numbers to more than a
billion people, that too after many futile attempts over six years, is no doubt an achievement. But the Bills un-amended passage
is a missed opportunity, for those amendments would have only strengthened the stated idea behind it, which is to provide an
efficient and transparent process to transfer benefits and subsidies.


The Oppositions effort in the Rajya Sabha, spearheaded by Congress Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh, was focussed
around issues of privacy as well as preventing the use of Aadhaar being made mandatory. Very serious concerns have been
raised from various quarters that the proposed Aadhaar database facilitates mass surveillance, and that there are not enough
checks to secure citizens data from misuse. The Aadhaar Bill has provisions to deal with data protection, but these are not
sufficient because exceptions are built into confidentiality clauses. One of those exceptions can occur on the grounds of national
security. One of the five changes successfully moved by Mr. Ramesh was to substitute the words public emergency and public
safety for national security. A related amendment aimed to include the Central Vigilance Commissioner or the Comptroller
and Auditor General of India in the committee to decide on requests for biometric data. He had also sought to make Aadhaar
optional, by permitting alternative means of identification and giving individuals the choice to opt out of the system. According
to the Bill, Aadhaar is necessary for receiving certain services and benefits. An amendment successfully moved by Mr. Ramesh
sought to do away with a clause that deemed nothing in this Act shall prevent the use of the Aadhaar number for establishing
the identity of an individual for any purpose, whether by the state or any body, company or person. Certainly, critics of the
amendments would compare the Congress-led UPAs version of the Aadhaar Bill and the NDAs version to point out the
Congresss hypocrisy now that it is no longer in power. But that is a political point. What is important, and disquieting, is that the
Opposition did seek to work in popularly voiced privacy concerns within the ambit of the legislation, and these interventions
have been disregarded.
o Disquiet - worry
o Non-binding - not legally necessary to obey or follow
o Subsidies - money given as part of the cost of something, to help or encourage it
to happen
o Summarily - in short and clear manner (that gives the main facts or ideas about
something)
o Toss something aside - to throw away or get rid of something
o Futile - pointless / having no effect or achieving nothing
o Concern - worry
o Mass - a large number of people or objects crowded together
o Surveillance - the careful watching of a person or place
o Misuse - use (something) in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose
o Exceptions - something that is not included in a rule, group, or list
o Confidentiality - secrecy / privacy
o Substitute - to use something instead of another thing
o Emergency - a serious, unexpected, and dangerous situation requiring immediate
action


o Vigilance - the action of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties
o Comptroller - controller
o Auditor - someone whose job is to carry out an official examination of the accounts
of a business and to produce a report
o Biometric data - detailed information about someone's body (such as the patterns
of colour in their eyes / finger prints) that can be used to prove who that person is
o Opt out - choose not to participate in something
o Certain - some (but not all)
o Deem - to consider or judge something in a particular way
o Hypocrisy - a situation in which someone acts that he / she believe something that
they do not really believe
o Ambit - the range or limits / scope / range of something
o Intervention - the act of intentionally involving in a difficult situation
o Disregarded - pay no attention to / ignored
MARCH 19/2016
Topic 1 : "Undermining the SYL Canal"
The Punjab Assembly continues to thumb its nose at the law of the land. A day after a five-judge Constitution Bench of the
Supreme Court ordered status quo on land marked for the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, on Friday
the Assembly unanimously resolved that it cannot be allowed to be built. It is not clear whether this is an emotive cover for the
Punjab government to wind down the efforts to change the facts on the ground by even levelling the canal. But the events of
the past week frame political adventurism of an order that this country has not witnessed in a long time. Supported by a political
consensus that brings the Opposition Congress and even the Aam Aadmi Party on board the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya
Janata Party governments unilateral repudiation of inter-State agreements, they put the onus on the Centre to reiterate the
redlines that cannot be crossed in a federal set-up. On Monday, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Sutlej-Yamuna Link
Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights) Bill 2016, seeking to return land acquired for the canals construction
to the original owners free of cost, and thereby completely destroy the work (still incomplete after more than three decades) to
channel to Haryana its duly allotted share of the waters of the Ravi and the Beas. Even though the Governors assent has not
come for the Bill, work on levelling the land, scooping earth and flora along the canal began at fever pitch, causing ecological
damage and wiring up the original owners into frenzied activity.
The origins of the crisis go back to 2004, when the State passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements legislation. With this, it
reneged on its upper-riparian responsibility to share water with Haryana through the SYL Canal. The matter went to the Supreme
Court, and hearing finally started this month. The 2004 abdication has now been aggravated by wilful destruction of parts of the
canal, on which hundreds of crores of rupees have already been spent. The earlier effort to reap political dividend by raising the
spectre of Punjabs fields turning barren has been topped by exciting hopes on the possibility of farmers getting back lost land.


All political parties are on board. The 2004 law was passed under Amarinder Singhs Congress government. The 2016 Bill has
been guided by Parkash Singh Badals SAD-BJP government. Twelve years ago, the Congress-led government at the Centre
refused to read the Riot Act to a Congress Chief Minister. Today, a BJP-led Central government is keeping silent at the outrage
fomented by its own coalition in Punjab. Inter-State water disputes tend to be particularly emotive, and thereby amenable to
populist politics. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, most issues relating to the SYL Canal had been sorted out. Indeed, by the
1990s, much of the construction of the 212-km-long canal had been completed in Punjab. It is against this groundwork that the
Punjab government-led destruction and repudiation of a federal agreement must be squarely condemned.
o Undermining - destroying the base or foundation of something

o Thumb your nose at someone - to show no respect toward someone or something
o Status quo - the present situation or condition
o Unanimously - without opposition (with the agreement of all people involved)
o Emotive - causing strong feelings
o Wind down - slowly lose power
o Political adventurism - the willingness to take risks in politics
o Consensus - a general agreement.
o Unilateral - involving only one group or country
o Repudiation - rejection of a proposal or idea
o Reiterate - say something again or a number of times
o Redline - a boundary or limit which should not be crossed
o Rehabilitation - to return something to a good condition
o Assent - approval or agreement
o Scooping - digging
o Flora - the plants of a particular place
o Fever pitch - a state of extreme excitement
o Frenzied - uncontrolled and excited
o Legislation - a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by
a parliament
o Reneged - to fail to keep a promise or an agreement
o Riparian - relating to or situated on the banks of a river
o Abdication - to stop controlling or managing something that you are in charge of
o Wilful - doing something bad intentionally
o Reap - gather
o Dividend - the profit (of a company) that is paid to the people who own shares in
it

o Spectre - the idea of something unpleasant that might happen in the future
o Barren - unable to produce plants or fruit
o Riot - a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd
o Fomented - to cause trouble to develop
purpose (usually for a limited time)
o Amenable - willing to accept or be influenced by a suggestion
o Populist - representing or relating to the ideas and opinions of ordinary people
o Groundwork - preliminary or basic work
o Repudiation - rejection of a proposal or idea
o Squarely - directly
o Condemned - express complete disapproval of something
Topic 2 : "Politics of intimidation"
It is far from clear where in the rule book there is sanction to suspend a member of a legislature for allegedly outraging the
nationalist sentiments of colleagues. But as things stand, Waris Pathan, a member of the Maharashtra Assembly, is
suspended for the remainder of its Budget session for refusing to chant along to Bharat Mata ki Jai. The sequence of events
that led to his punishment is unbecoming of a legislative chamber. Mr. Pathan belongs to the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen. Imtiyaz Jaleel, the partys other MLA, participating in a debate on the Governors Address, criticised the State
governments plans to build memorials for historical and contemporaneous political leaders, including Shivaji, B.R. Ambedkar
and Bal Thackeray. Questioning the expenditure, he sought funds for public goods such as hospitals, when a Bharatiya Janata
Party MLA cornered him on his loyalties and demanded that the AIMIMs two MLAs chant Bharat Mata ki Jai. Mr. Pathan said
he would not, drawing an uproar from MLAs not only of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, but also of the Opposition Congress
and Nationalist Congress Party. Following some threatening slogans, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil moved a resolution
to suspend Mr. Pathan for the rest of the session, and it was carried through unanimously. Even by the recent standards of
intimidation within some legislatures, the Maharashtra Assemblys action is a dangerous one and must be contested legally
if it is not to become a precedent that would further hollow out Indias constitutional freedoms.
The suspension of a member for asserting his freedom of expression is a particularly spectacular low for democracy. Indias
legislatures enjoy extraordinary privileges to secure the freedom of expression, drawn from the British House of Commons
historic struggle to win autonomy from the Crown. Over the decades they have absorbed dissent against the Indian Republic
far more potent than this insistence by Mr. Pathan that he be allowed to choose how to word his loyalty to India. Indeed, it is a
matter of pride for Indian democracy that not only have legislatures accommodated different ideas of nationhood but they have
emerged the stronger for that. Wednesdays events therefore must be seen for the alarm that they represent for the
substitution of a new politics of intimidation in place of Indias more organic politics of persuasion. If politics is going to fall in
place around binaries forced by slogans such as Bharat Mata ki Jai, with ideologues like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs

patriarch marking deeper lines in the sand, and giving smaller political groups such as Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM more
polarising means to profess their challenge to a majoritarian consensus, the polarisation can only be fought from the middle
ground on the basis of basic democratic values. That political parties see little value in holding this ground must be cause for
foreboding about the Bharat Mata ki Jai touchstone migrating out of the State legislature.
o Intimidation - to frighten or warn someone (usually inorder to make them do what

you want)
o Sanction - a strong action taken in order to make people obey a law or rule, or a
punishment given when they do not obey
o Outraging - a feeling of anger and shock
o Colleague - a person with whom one works in a profession or business
o Chant - to repeat or sing a word or phrase continuously
o Sequence - a particular order in which related things follow each other
o Unbecoming - not correct or not acceptable
o Criticize - to express disapproval of someone or something
o Memorials - a statue or structure established to remind people of a person or event
o Contemporaneous - happening or existing at the same period of time
o Loyalties - your feelings of support or duty towards someone or something
o Uproar - a situation in which a lot of people complain about something angrily or
make a lot of noise
purpose (usually for a limited time)
o Resolution - an official decision
o Unanimously - without opposition (with the agreement of all people involved)
o Contest - to oppose an action as mistaken or wrong
o Precedent - an action, that has already happened and can be used as a reason why
a similar action or decision should be performed
o Hollow out - to make something empty
o Asserting - to say a fact or belief confidently and forcefully
o Spectacular - very exciting to look at / great
o Privileges - special rights / advantages available only to a particular person or
group
o Autonomy - the right of independent / self-government
o Potent - having great power / influence
o Insistence - forceful behaviour

o Alarm - a warning of danger
o Persuasion - a particular set of beliefs (religious or political ones)
o Ideologue - a person who believes very strongly in particular principles and tries
to follow them carefully
o Patriarch - leader (mainly of a religious group)
o Polarize - to divide a group (contains different people or opinions) into two
completely opposing groups
o Profess - to state something
o Majoritarian - a person who supports government by a majority
o Foreboding - a feeling that something very bad is going to happen soon
o Touchstone - an established standard or principle by which something is judged
o Migrating - moving from one part of something to another
MARCH 21/2016
Topic 1 : "The challenge in Jammu & Kashmir"
Of late, political uncertainty has hit some of Indias strategically significant border States Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand,
Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Of these, J&K is undoubtedly the most sensitive State, where the Government of India has
bled physically and financially for over 25 years to stop the separatist discourse and bring its people back to the political
mainstream. But the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in early January culminated in a political crisis as
the two coalition partners, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, fell out, with the former accusing the
latter of not abiding by the Agenda of Alliance, the goodwill treaty that had brought them together. Last week, the hope of
such a coalition government emerging was renewed when Mehbooba Mufti, who is deemed a natural political successor to her
father, met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi. The meeting only resulted in further estrangement and left one big question: will
the BJP be able to give Ms. Mufti what she wants? So far, she has declared the Muftis decision to join hands with the BJP an
unpopular choice, but she has been vague when it comes to explaining where the BJP has gone wrong with the Agenda of
Alliance. The BJP has not been forthright enough either. It is unclear what the party would or would not seek to deliver under
the Agenda. For the Centre, governing Jammu and Kashmir has not been easy, not even in the post-insurgency era. Previous
governments led by the BJP or Congress, backed governments in the State by making efforts to fill its budget deficits, fix its
battered infrastructure and skilfully tackle separatist elements.
The three successive governments in post-insurgency Kashmir could only function when they had the Centres backing. In the
early 2000s, the decision of the Vajpayee government to allow cross-LoC trade and travel, enter into bilateral engagement with
Pakistan, and talk to Kashmiri separatists on the side, not only increased voter confidence but also brought the mainstream
discourse back to the Valley. A decade later, with the arrival of the PDP-BJP coalition government, a similar approach was
expected. But the State seems to be vulnerable again, with the number of militant strikes increasing and the absence of a civilian
government furthering political alienation. For the BJP, the need of the hour is to work out an alliance with the PDP and scuttle
any attempts to subvert Ms. Mufti within her party through undemocratic means, such as horse-trading. It is equally important


to cultivate a strong mainstream leadership in the State by giving politicians like her the space to bargain with the Centre within
the constitutional framework. Therefore, the BJP must not use the government at the Centre to make political gains in Jammu
and Kashmir. It should revisit the Agenda of Alliance and also set the terms of the Agenda in concrete terms. If that does not
work, it should simply go for new elections. Any undemocratic attempt to break the deadlock could have larger ramifications.
o Of late - recently
o Strategically - in a planned manner
o Undoubtedly - without doubt
o Separatist - a person who supports the separation of a particular group of people
from a larger body on the basis of caste, religion, or gender
o Discourse - communication in speech or writing
o Mainstream - the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are shared by most people and
considered as normal
o Demise - a person's death
o Culminated - reach a climax point (at the end)
purpose, usually for a limited time
o Accusing - saying that you think someone has done something bad
o Abiding - stick to a specific emotion / feeling without changing
o Treaty - a written agreement between two or more countries / organizations,
formally approved and signed by their leaders
o Estrangement - to have had a serious argument with someone and no longer
friendly with them
o Unpopular - not liked by many people
o Vague - not clearly expressed / known / decided
o Forthright - honest or direct in behaviour
country by force
o Deficit - the amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small
o Battered - damaged (hurt by being repeatedly hit)
o Skilfully - with great skill
o Successive - following one another
o Backing - help / support
o Bilateral - involving two countries / parties

o Alienation - the act of making someone stop supporting and agreeing with you
o Scuttle - to escape
o Subvert - try to destroy or damage something (especially an established political
system)
o Horse-trading - unofficial discussion in which people make agreements that
provide both sides with advantages
o Cultivate - to try to develop and improve something
o Bargain - an agreement between two or more people or groups as to what each
will do for the other
o Deadlock - a situation in which agreement in an argument cannot be reached
o Ramification - the possible results of an action
Topic 2 : "Smart rate cut in small savings schemes"
Without doubt, it is a very unpopular course to pursue. Yet, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has decided to act
boldly and slash interest rates on several Centrally sponsored savings schemes. The decision will upset senior citizens,
and the salaried middle class that forced the government to reconsider its decision to tax a portion of the Employees' Provident
Fund (EPF) corpus upon withdrawal. The government has also decided to reset these rates every quarter. The objective is to
align them with market rates. It has not come all of a sudden: there were enough hints to indicate that the government is not
averse to shedding its populist mindset and looking to deal with economic issues from a realistic perspective. For instance, the
government has excluded people above an annual income threshold from availing of the subsidy for LPG for household
use. And though the government finally abandoned the Budget 2016 proposal to tax EPF, it was a clear indicator of things to
come. Viewed in this context, there is a method in the manner in which the government has set out to implement its economic
agenda. Its latest action on small savings could yet deliver the unkindest of cuts to its core constituency, the middle class. For,
the rate cut covers a broad spectrum of schemes, including the Public Provident Fund (PPF), the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and
the National Savings Certificates (NSC). Surprisingly, the cut has also not spared schemes with a larger social intent, such as
those for girl children and senior citizens. However, the government has decided to maintain the interest spread on such
schemes. The rate cut is bound to emerge as a fresh rallying point for the Opposition to corner the government. These schemes
have been a safe bet and offered assured returns for the salaried sections. These are also useful instruments to foster the
saving habit among people. You cannot easily wish away the social security concerns thrown up by the rate cut decision, and
the government will have to politically defend the cut.
Read in tandem with the U.S. Federal Reserve decision last week to keep its interest rate policy unchanged, the rate cut on the
Centrally backed small savings schemes must clear the way for the Reserve Bank of India to lower its policy rates. Though the
RBI had slashed its key policy rate by 125 basis points in 2015, banks had been extraordinarily reluctant to pass on the full
benefits to borrowers. The deposit mobilisation efforts of the banks have faced unequal competition from small savings schemes,
which offer artificially fixed, higher interest rates. That makes it difficult for banks to transmit fully the benefits of rate cuts made
by the RBI. The rate cuts on savings schemes represent a necessary course correction to right the distortions in the system. It


will also inevitably usher in a competitive cost structure in the economy for the greater public good. The cuts make good
economic sense, and the government should stand firm on it.
o Pursue - follow or chase (someone or something)

o Boldly - with confidence (not frightened of danger)
o Corpus - a collection of written texts
o Align - arrange / adjust
o Averse - strongly disliking or opposed to
o Shedding - to get rid of something
o Excluded - removed from consideration
o Threshold - at which something starts to happen
o Availing - using / taking advantage of something
o Abandoned - left
o Context - the situation within which something exists or happens, and that can help
explain it
o Constituency - a group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to
a legislative body
o Spectrum - range
o Spared - to not hurt or destroy something
o Intent - the plan to do something
o Emerge - to appear
o Rallying point - something that people are attracted to and come together
o Wish away something - to do nothing and hope that a problem will disappear
o Concerns - worries
o Thrown up - to produce new problems or ideas
o Defend - to protect someone or something against attack or criticism
o Slashed - to cut / reduce something
o Reluctant - not willing to do something
o Mobilisation - the process of organizing and preparing something
o Transmit - to pass something from one place to another
o Distortions - changes

o Usher - to guide
o Stand firm - to remain in the same place or at the same level
MARCH 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Back to the Hindutva basics"
On the opening day of the Bharatiya Janata Partys two-day national executive meeting on March 19, president Amit Shah set
the tone not just for the deliberations but also for the approaching Assembly elections. The battle lines between the nationalist
and anti-national forces, according to him, had already been drawn. The theme was picked up by other senior leaders Rajnath
Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad stressing that while political opposition and dissent were acceptable, neither
anti-national activity nor slogans would be permitted in the name of freedom of speech. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi touched on the subject only briefly on the second day: while saying that the BJP had always given primacy to
nationalism and patriotism, he instead chose to expand on issues of governance, stressing that the partys mool mantar should
be development, development and development. The BJP also used the occasion to target the Congress, portraying it as anti-
national. Mr. Shah took Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to task for standing in solidarity with those who had shouted
allegedly anti-national slogans on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. He said it was hypocritical of a party that had
imposed the Emergency, crushing the freedom of the press and ordinary citizens, to lecture others on freedom of expression.
Finally, the political resolution concluded by stressing that the BJP remains the only political party where a person without any
illustrious pedigree or connections can rise to the very top of the party yet another swipe at the Congress.
The BJP may have aggressively trained its guns on the Congress over the weekend at its first national executive meeting
after its defeat in Bihar last year, but it is clear that its electoral setbacks and its failure to fix the economy are forcing it back
to its basics of divisive communalism. There was a clear tension visible as the BJP sought to balance its development slogan
with a return to its time-tested Hindutva line, though now clothed in the national tricolour. The political resolution adopted on the
last day of the session described nationalism as an article of faith, and claimed that upholding the primacy of the slogan of
Bharat Mata ki Jai was a reiteration of our constitutional obligation as citizens. The gap between pronouncements by Mr.
Modi and those around him, as well in the wider Sangh Parivar, would suggest that either he is not in control or he believes that
this Janus-faced, seemingly contradictory, approach will help him polarise political discourse to the BJPs advantage even as
he retains plausible deniability by remaining above the fray, ready to battle another day. Indeed, the resolution described Mr.
Modi as a beacon of hope and trust, while Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu called him a gift from god and a messiah. So, while
Mr. Modi speaks of development, the cry by others of Bharat Mata ki Jai, with its dog-whistle invocation of a majoritarian
agenda, will be a call to the saffron storm troopers.
o Back to basics - returned to the main principles of something

o Executive - someone in a high position, who makes decisions and puts them into
action
o Set the tone (for something) - to establish a particular mood or character for
something
o Deliberations - considering or discussing something

o Battle line - a line defining the positions of opposing groups in a fight or controversy
o Slogans - a short easily remembered phrase (especially used to promote an idea
or a product)
o Touch on something - to mention a subject quickly when speaking or writing about
another subject
o Primacy - importance
o Nationalism - great love of your own country
o Patriotism - the feeling of loving your country more than any others and being
proud of it
o Portraying - describing / showing
o Solidarity - agreement
o Allegedly - used to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without
giving proof
o Hypocritical - behaving in a way that you have higher standards or more noble
beliefs than you actually have
o Imposed - to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc on someone
o Emergency - a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring
immediate action
o Resolution - an official decision that is made after a group or organization has
voted
o Illustrious - well known / respected / famous
o Pedigree - family history
o Swipe - to hit somebody
o Aggressively - behaving in an angry and violent way
developing
o Divisive - something that causes great and unfriendly disagreement within a group
of people
o Adopted - choose to take up or follow (an idea / method / action)
o Upholding - confirm or support something
o Reiteration - to say or do something again
o Pronouncement - a formal or authoritative announcement or declaration
o Janus-faced- having two completely different characteristics
o Seemingly - appearing to be something
o Contradictory - different from each other


o Polarise - to divide people into two completely opposing groups
o Discourse - communication / debate
o Plausible - seeming likely to be true / reasonable
o Deniability - the ability to refuse something especially on the basis of being
officially uninformed
o Above the fray - not involved in a particular argument
o Battle - fight
o Beacon - signal
o Messiah - a leader who is believed to have the power to solve the world's problems
o Dog-whistle - a small political message which is aimed for, and can only be
understood by a particular group
o Invocation - to make someone have a particular feeling or remember something
o Majoritarian - a person who supports government by a majority
o Saffron - orange yellow colour
o Stormtroopers - a group of specially trained and violent soldiers
Topic 2 : "Forging unity by force of crisis"
There is hardly any element that is not contentious or controversial in the agreement that the European Union (EU) has
struck with Turkey to stem the flow of thousands of mostly Syrian migrants and refugees on to its shores. It could not have
been otherwise, given the intra-EU divisions on a collective approach to the current refugee crisis and staunch domestic
opposition to Ankaras entry into the EU. Despite Turkeys long-standing bid for membership in the bloc, bolstered by its strong
secular, liberal and democratic credentials and geographic contiguity, ties between Ankara and Brussels have not been the
most cordial in recent years. Turkeys record on human rights under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, exemplified by the
systematic suppression of freedom of expression and ill-treatment of the countrys Kurdish minorities, has drawn strong
condemnation from EU leaders. Now the bloc has promised once again to revive negotiations on a specific aspect of Ankaras
protracted accession process, in return for the admission of Syrian refugees from Greece. But the motivation to open talks on a
relatively minor element of the package, frozen at one point, is itself meant to paper over a more fundamental objection, from
Cyprus, to Turkeys EU membership. Nicosia has vetoed EU-entry talks unless and until Ankara accords formal recognition to
the Greek-Cypriot administration. That is seen to be critical for the reunification prospects of the island state, divided during the
1974 war with Turkey. Another curious component of the deal is the EU decision to advance the date for the liberalisation of
visas to Turkish nationals. The concession comes at a time when the EUs Schengen passport-free travel zone, the most visible
symbol of the founding principles of the Union, is already under considerable strain as a consequence of the refugee crisis.
Notable in this regard are recent unilateral moves by Austria and Hungary to seal borders along the Balkans, not without causing
some embarrassment to Berlin, but intended to contain the fallout of Germanys more accommodative stance on migration.
Then there is the decision whereby every new migrant reaching Greece via the Aegean Sea would be turned over to Turkey, in
exchange for Ankara transferring one to the EU but with the total subject to a limit. Human rights groups have criticised the


move as being both immoral and illegal. Athens has to contend with the fresh logistics and administrative challenges of turning
back migrants on top of an already explosive situation. For Ankara, the difficulties centre on its readiness to extend protection
for migrants from other nationalities, in addition to Syrians, on the lines of the Geneva Conventions. This is an area where the
EU would tread cautiously in view of its strained relations with Turkey in recent years. If the agreement is to be received more
favourably than it was when sealed, the parties would have to display sagacity in their diplomatic dealings, and sensitivity on
the humanitarian front during its implementation.
o Forging - to make or produce something (especially with some difficulty)

o Hardly - only just / almost not
o Contentious - causing disagreement
o Controversial - causing disagreement or discussion
o Stem - to stop something unwanted from spreading or increasing
o Refugee - a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape
war, persecution, or natural disaster
o Shore - the land along the edge of a sea
o Otherwise - in another way
o Staunch - to stop something happening
o Domestic - occurring inside a particular country
o Despite - without being influenced by
o Bid - an attempt or effort to achieve something
o Bolstered - supported
o Credentials - qualifications
o Contiguity - in contact / in touch
o Cordial - friendly
o Exemplified - to be an example of something
o Suppression - the act of ending something by force
o Condemnation - the expression of very strong disapproval
o Negotiations - discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
o Protracted - lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual
o Accession - the attainment of a position of rank or power
o Minor - very small (lesser in importance)
o Paper over something - to cover something
o Veto - an official power or right to refuse to accept or allow something

o Accords - give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition)
o Reunification - an occasion when a country that was temporarily divided into
smaller countries is joined together again as one country
o Component - part
o Advance - move forwards in a purposeful way
o Liberalisation - relaxation of government restrictions
o Consequence - result
o Unilateral - involving only one group or country
o Embarrassment - a feeling of worry / shame / difficulty
o Fallout - the unpleasant results or effects of an action or event
o Stance - a way of thinking about something (especially expressed in a publicly
stated opinion)
o Migration - moving from one country to another
o Via - going through or stopping at a place on the way to another place
o Criticised - indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way
o Immoral - morally wrong
o Contend - to compete / struggle in order to win something
o Logistics - the careful organization of a complicated activity so that it happens in a
successful and effective way
o Explosive - likely to cause great anger or controversy
o Tread - walk
o Cautiously - more carefully
o Strained - spoiled
o Sagacity - having or showing understanding and the ability to make good
judgments
o Humanitarian - improving people's lives and reducing suffering
MARCH 23/2016
Topic 1 : "Wise counsel needed in Uttarakhand"
The political crisis in Uttarakhand finally, and inevitably, reached Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, with Congress and
Bharatiya Janata Party delegations separately seeking President Pranab Mukherjees attention. The BJP has demanded the
dismissal of the Congress Harish Rawat government, arguing that it has lost its majority, and questioning the role of Speaker
Govind Singh Kunjwal in refusing a division of the vote on the State Budget. The party claims it now has the support of 36 MLAs
in the 70-member Assembly, including of nine rebel Congress MLAs. The Congress party, in turn, charged the BJP with using


unconstitutional means, and expressed apprehensions about the Centre imposing Presidents Rule in the State. As the timeline
holds, Mr. Rawat has to prove his majority in the House by March 28. Meanwhile, the Speaker has given the nine rebel MLAs
time till March 26 to reply to notices asking them to show cause why they should not lose their membership of the Assembly
under the Anti-Defection Act. The Congress has also expelled its former Chief Minister Vijay Bahugunas son, who is leading
the revolt. The spark for the rebellion is linked to the spoils of office. Mr. Bahuguna reportedly wanted ministerial posts for his
loyalists, portfolios that are currently held by members of the Progressive Democratic Front, which has a total of six seats in the
House and supports the Congress.
With this, Uttarakhand unfortunately faces a new phase of political uncertainty. It was created out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000 after
a long grass-roots level struggle for statehood to meet the unique administrative needs of the Himalayan region. The States
composite character demands genuine, responsive politics to bind the 13 districts into an organic whole. Indeed, party politics,
as contrasted with the social coalition that won the statehood, is still a work in progress in crafting the balance and depth to
keep the different regions and constituencies on board. Both the BJP and the Congress, during their respective stints in power,
have struggled to paper over intra-party rivalries. In the case of the Congress, it has finally spilled over into outright rebellion.
Mr. Rawat had been seen to be the front runner for the chief ministership after the 2012 Assembly elections, when the Congress
high command airdropped Mr. Bahuguna, perceived to be a Gandhi family loyalist. Two years later, he was replaced by Mr.
Rawat. Now, the ambit of the Anti-Defection Act is being tested in ways that could influence and nastily so the campaign
for the next Assembly elections, due by early 2017. It is important that lessons in propriety from the recent experience in
Arunachal Pradesh be learnt and the sanctity of the office of Governor be protected. It is not clear how much of the Uttarakhand
rebellion has been extraneously engineered and how much of it draws from the Congress lax political management. Either way,
the Centre needs to handle the situation with a light touch, and it must wait out the vote of confidence sought by the Governor.
o Counsel - advice
o Delegations - a group of representatives
o Dismissal - the act of ordering someone to leave
o Majority - the difference in the number of votes between the winning person or
group and the one that comes second
o Rebel - a person who rises in opposition against an established government or
leader
o Unconstitutional - not allowed by the constitution (set of rules for government) of
a country or organization
o Apprehensions - anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
o Imposing - to force someone to accept something (law)
o Meanwhile - while something else is happening
o Expelled - to officially make someone leave an organization
o Revolt - take violent action against an established government (because they
refuse to be controlled or ruled)

o Loyalists - strong supporters
o Portfolio - a particular job of a member of a government (his area of responsibility)
o Grass-roots level - basic level
o Genuine - sincere (truly what something is said to be)
o Responsive - reacting quickly and positively
purpose
o Constituency - a group of voters in a specified area
o Stints - a fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or activity
o Rivalry - a situation in which people compete with each other for the same thing
o Spilled over - to continue for a longer time than expected
o Outright - completely or immediately
o Front runner - the person that is most likely to win something
o Perceived - become aware or conscious of (something) / come to realize or
understand
o Ambit - the range or limits of the influence of something
o Nastily - unpleasantly
o Sanctity - the quality of being very important
o Extraneously - coming from outside
o Lax - not sufficiently strict / careful
Topic 2 : "A pivotal shift to Cuba"
American President Barack Obamas visit to Cuba is a remarkable moment in global diplomacy for various reasons. Till a
few years ago, a U.S. President walking down the streets of Old Havana with his family, meeting the Cuban leader at the Palace
of Revolution and even saying that the U.S. should face up to criticism by Cuba all would have looked beyond imagination.
The two countries, bitter foes during the Cold War era, remained hostile towards each other even after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, till President Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Ral Castro who succeeded his brother and leader of the Cuban
revolution Fidel Castro in 2008 began a process of rapprochement in December 2014. Over the past several months,
Washington took a number of steps, including removing Cuba from its list of nations charged with sponsoring terrorism, to
restore confidence in bilateral relations. Havana reciprocated by reopening its embassy in Washington. Mr. Obamas visit, the
first by a U.S. President since 1928, is the symbolic culmination of this diplomatic engagement. It confirms the view that
Washingtons traditional Cuba policy, rooted in Cold War animosity, is way past its use-by date. In July 2015, after both
countries announced that they would restore diplomatic relations, Mr. Obama said the U.S. had been clinging to a policy
that was not working. Despite U.S. efforts to weaken the Communist Partys rule, Cuba stood tall in Latin America. Even those


who expected Cuba to fall after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, as the country was largely dependent on aid from Moscow,
were proved wrong. A new wave of socialist forces in the continent actually strengthened Cubas standing in the region. The
blunted opposition of the Cuban American community towards Havana, as well as the demand from American capitalist sections,
especially big farming, for new markets, may also have influenced Mr. Obamas thinking. Cubas positive responses to U.S.
overtures, mainly driven by economic imperatives, set the stage for a grand deal.
But the road ahead may not be all that smooth. The hour-long joint media conference in Havana, despite all its hype, also
exposed old grievances. President Castro demanded that the embargo be lifted and Guantnamo returned to Cuba for full
normalisation of relations. President Obama said he had pressed the Cuban leader over his countrys treatment of dissidents.
All this indicates that full normalisation of ties will take time. The removal of sanctions needs Congressional approval, which,
given the opposition to the rapprochement from Conservative Republicans, is unlikely to come in the near future. Also, it has to
be seen what the next U.S. Presidents Cuba policy will be. On the other side, Cuba is unlikely to radically overhaul its approach
towards dissent. Nor does the Communist Party have any plan to end its monopoly over power. But future challenges should
not cloud the significance of this weeks breakthrough. Mr. Obama and Mr. Castro have created a historic momentum in bilateral
ties, and it is up to the next generation of leaders to build on it.
o Pivotal - important
o Various - different
o Revolution - a change in the way a country is governed (using violence or war)
o Beyond - outside of a stated limit
o Bitter foes - enemies
o Collapse - sudden failure of something
o Counterpart - a person or thing that has the same purpose / job as you
o Reciprocated - to behave in the same way as someone else
o Embassy - the office of the people who represent their country in a foreign country
o Culmination - the highest or climactic point of something (after a long time)
o Animosity - strong dislike / opposition / anger
o Clinging - to stick to something (to hold something tightly)
o Stood tall - to be brave and proud
o Disintegration - the process of losing strength (to become weaker)
o Aid - help
o Blunted - weak
o Overture - a communication made to someone in order to offer something
o Imperative - an essential or urgent thing


o Grievance - a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly /
wrongly
country
o Dissident - a person who publicly disagrees with and criticizes their government
o Sanction - an official order (such as the stopping of trade) that is taken against a
country
o Congressional - belonging or related to the US Congress
o Radical - believing that there should be great social or political change
o Overhaul - to improve something to make it work better
o Monopoly - to have complete control of something (so that others have no share)
o Cloud the Significance - to reduce the importance of something
o Breakthrough - a sudden development
o Momentum - the force that helps something to move / develop
MARCH 24/2016
Topic 1 : "The message in the Brussels attack"
This time it is Brussels. The bomb attacks that have killed at least 31 people at the airport and a metro station in the Belgian
capital demonstrate that jihadists remain a serious security threat to European societies despite a massive security crackdown
since the November 2015 Paris attacks. Brussels, which hosts key European Union institutions, is the de facto capital of
Europe. By striking in the city four days after Salah Abdeslam, thought to be the lone remaining perpetrator of the Paris
attacks, was caught, the terrorists have sent a strong message not just to the Belgian government but to the entire European
establishment. The Belgian government woke up to the terrorist threat it faces only after the Paris attacks that killed at least 130
people. Several of the attackers came from the Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek. Security forces had carried out a massive
combing operation in the neighbourhoods and even locked down the capital city for days. But still it took more than four months
for the Belgian authorities to track down and arrest Abdeslam, who was reportedly planning more attacks in Europe. What is
more tragic and surprising is that the authorities still could not stop the attack. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michels words
that what we feared has happened, bluntly point to the failure of the intelligence and security establishment.
The Brussels attacks also come in a broader context of global jihadists stepping up attacks on civilians around the world. The
Islamic State in particular, which has claimed responsibility for the Brussels strike, has carried out a number of attacks across
the world, from Paris to Ankara, in recent months. One of the reasons for these attacks in faraway locations is that the group is
facing military setbacks in and around the so-called caliphate, the seat of its influence. Attacking public places and killing
innocent people may appear to be sheer madness. But for groups such as the IS, there is a rationale. First, not being able to
expand the territories of the caliphate, the IS wants to export terrorism to other countries so as to stay relevant and find more
recruits. Second, and more important, the IS is fighting a war against the civilisational values of the modern world. By attacking
the public, it wants to create panic in free and open societies, break their social cohesion and then reap the dividends. And it is
certain by now that Europe is high on the hit list of the IS because it knows that when it hits Western societies, which are


generally known for democratic, secular and pluralistic values, it sets off the real panic button. For the same reasons, the
challenges before Europe are also greater. To be sure, it has to raise security operations to a higher standard and strengthen
cooperation among other countries in fighting terrorist groups such as the IS and al-Qaeda. But Europe should do it cautiously,
without compromising on its moral values and imperilling civil liberties. But refusing to give in to the jihadists designs is as
important as security measures in this fight one that is not going to get over any time soon.
o Security threat - a possible danger that manages the security and cause harm
o Crackdown - a situation in which someone starts to deal with bad or illegal
behaviour in a more serious way
o De facto - in fact (whether by right or not)
o Perpetrator - someone who has committed a crime
o Establishment - organization
o Several - some (more than two but not many)
o Neighbourhood - surrounding / nearby area
o Combing - to search thoroughly (look through)
o Tragic - very sad
o Bluntly - to speak without trying to be polite or considering other people's feelings
o Faraway - a long way away
developing
o Caliphate - an Islamic state, especially one ruled by a single religious and political
leader
o Rationale - the reasons that cause you belive in something
o Territory - an area of land that is considered as belonging to a particular person or
country
o Relevant - closely connected with what is happening
o Recruit - a new member of an organization (especially the army)
o Cohesion - the situation when the members of a group or society are united
o Reap - to collect / gather
o Dividend - profit
o High on something - stood at top position of something
o Hit list - a list of people / organization who someone intends to murder or take
unpleasant action against

o Pluralistic - different types of people, who have different beliefs and opinions,
within the same society
o Cautiously - very carefully
o Imperil - to put something or someone at risk or in danger
Topic 2 : "In search of an alternative"
In unerring succession over the last five decades, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have alternately ruled Tamil Nadu, where no national party has been in power since the
Congress lost in 1967. Dislodging the party in power has been the overarching objective of other parties, and the thought of
providing an alternative to the two mainstays of Tamil Nadu is only a minor theme in any election. The coming together of
Vijayakant and the four-party Peoples Welfare Front (PWF), which includes two regional parties and the two Left parties, to
forge a third front is therefore a significant development. As the party with the third largest vote share in the State, Mr.
Vijayakants decade-old Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) may not have really lived up to its early promise, but in
tandem with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (MDMK) of Vaiko and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a Dalit party, it seems to be in a position to mount a
semblance of a challenge to the two formidable leaders M. Karunanidhi of the DMK and Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK. Mr.
Vijayakant, who will be projected as the new fronts chief ministerial candidate, was the most sought-after political ally in the
run-up to the Assembly election, with the DMK, the PWF and the BJP courting his company. The DMK went out of its way to
win him over, but Mr. Vijayakants political instincts seem to have taught him that he should lead a front rather than join one.
Mr. Vijayakant, who floated his party in 2005, began as a lone ranger and garnered an impressive 8.5 per cent vote share in the
2006 Assembly polls, followed by an improved figure of 10.3 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Frustrated that his vote
share was not translating into seats, he tried the alliance route in 2011, joining hands successfully with the AIADMK, winning
29 out of the 41 seats his party contested. But he lost out in political terms as he could no longer project himself as an
alternative. He was part of the National Democratic Alliance in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll and drew a blank. His performance as
Leader of the Opposition in the last five years was largely inconsequential. The lack of a clear policy or programme for his party
and his own image as an inarticulate, confused and perennially angry man, and one whose party is largely controlled by close
family members, do not exactly mark him out as a leader with great potential. Yet, his presence as a challenger in the fray may
have helped transform the search for an alternative from being just an ambition into a concrete idea. This summers vote may
be a real opportunity to examine whether the voters of Tamil Nadu will be content with alternately voting in two powerful parties,
or whether they would like a viable choice in the form of a combination of parties equidistant from the two main forces.
o Alternative - something that you can use if you do not want to use another one
o Unerring - always right (never failing to hit a target)
o Succession - a number of similar events that happen, after each other
o Alternately - in a manner in which two things each replace the other


o Dislodging - removing something or someone by force, from a fixed position
o Mainstays - the most important part of something (here imoprtant parties)
o Includes - to contain something
o Forge - to make or produce something
o Significant - imoprtant
o In tandem - working together
o Mount - to organize / initiate
o Semblance - a situation or condition that is similar to what is wanted or expected
o Formidable - causing you to have fear or respect for someone because that person
is powerful
o Projected - planned for the future / calculated based on information already known
o Sought-after - much in demand
o Ally - someone who helps and supports
o Run-up - the final period of time before an important event
o Courting - to pay special attention to (someone) in an attempt to win their support
or favour
o Instincts - behaviour
o Floated - to move or act without purpose
o Lone ranger - one who acts alone and without consultation or the approval of
others
o Garnered - to collect something
o Translating - converting
o Drew a blank - failed to get the required result
o Inconsequential - not important
o Lack of something - something is not available
o Inarticulate - unable to express feelings or ideas clearly
o Perennially - repeatedly
o Potential - having the capacity to develop something in the future
o Fray - fight
o Concrete - clear
o Content - satisfy
o Equidistant - equally far or close (at equal distances)
APRIL 13/2016
Topic 1 : " The power of one against many"


Electoral alliances and seat-sharing adjustments have their advantages as well as disadvantages in a first-past-the-post
system. In Tamil Nadu, while most of the opposition parties are more conscious of the advantages, the ruling All India Anna
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam seems more mindful of the disadvantages of seat-sharing. Chief Minister and AIADMK general
secretary Jayalalithaa set aside just seven of the 234 Assembly seats for allies; even in those seven, the alliance party
candidates will technically be AIADMK members, as they will have to contest on the partys Two Leaves symbol. But it is not
clear whether it is confidence alone that has made Ms. Jayalalithaa spurn alliance proposals from major parties, including the
Tamil Maanila Congress. She could be open to the possibility that the election may result in a hung Assembly and worried that
alliance partners could switch sides after the results are out. The strategy appears to be one of maximising the yield by contesting
as many seats as possible in the hope that a divided opposition will not be able to capitalise on any anti-incumbency sentiment
among the voters. A similar strategy worked in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, with the AIADMK winning 37 of the 39 seats in
the State. In the opposition camp, minor political parties, which usually rally behind either the DMK or the AIADMK in a general
election, have tried to create an alternative. Most significantly, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam led by actor-politician
Vijayakant has decided to assume the leadership of a third front that includes parties such as the Marumalarchi Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam of Vaiko, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the two Left parties. The TMC, after failing to strike an
alliance with the AIADMK, is also now part of this front, giving it a semblance of viability.
Ms. Jayalalithaa will be emulating her political mentor, AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran, if she returns to power. Since
1984, when MGR came back as Chief Minister despite being confined to a hospital bed in the United States throughout the
campaign, no one has been able to retain power in the State. On issues such as prohibition, she is tailing the opposition, offering
to introduce it in phases after all the opposition parties made this a major election point. Also, the go-it-alone strategy will not
work as well as it did in the Lok Sabha election. While it was unable to bring the DMDK into its fold, and only has the Congress
as a major ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi may be still able to tap into the
anti-incumbency vote by virtue of being the largest opposition party by far. Parties such as the DMDK and the Pattali Makkal
Katchi, with a rural support base similar to that of the AIADMK, could cut into both the anti-establishment vote and the pro-
AIADMK vote. Polarisation will work to the advantage of the DMK. But Ms. Jayalalithaa is banking on the multiplicity of her
opponents in the first-past-the-post system.
1. First-past-the-post - Voting system where candidate receiving more votes.

2. Conscious - Fully aware of.
3. Mindful - Attentive or Careful.
4. Allies - Supporting parties in election.
5. Spurn - To reject by thinking that they are unworthy of notice.
6. Strategy - A plan for obtaining a specific goal.
7. Capitalise - To take advantage of.
8. Significantly - Importantly.
9. Semblance - The slightest appearance or trace.
10. Viability - The capacity to be sustained.
11. Emulating - Imitating with effort to equal.
12. Mentor - An influential senior or supporter.

13. Confined - Being in a particular place.
14. Prohibition - Prevention.
15. Tailing - Watching closely behind someone about where they go and what they do.
16. Virtue - More excellence / Thinking and doing what is right and avoiding what is
wrong.
17. Polarisation - A sharp division.
18. Banking in - Expecting it to happen (here)
Topic 2 : "Keeping tigers in the green zone"
In a world facing tremendous pressure on space and resources, a rise in the number of wild tigers is cause for cheer. The big
cats are shy and react negatively to human presence. Any credible estimate of growth in their population indicates that a good
conservation policy has been at work. According to the latest count released by the World Wildlife Fund and the Global Tiger
Forum, over 600 tigers have been added to the global number of some 3,200 in 2010. Yet, determining the health of an
elusive species across countries using absolute numbers is a flawed approach, because it risks shifting the focus away from
the health of core populations that persist in a small area of individual countries. India made terrible counting mistakes in the
past and failed to undertake intensive scientific censusing of tigers across the country. It came as no surprise when tigers were
wiped out of Sariska, and a chastened government corrected its methodologies. Using relatively better techniques, including
photographic capture and recapture, the national assessment by the Ministry of Environment and Forests came up with the
estimate of 2,226 tigers in 2014, representing an increase from the previous count of 1,706 in 2010, and well above the dismal
figure of 1,411 four years previously. Now that India is hosting the Third Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation with
successes to show, it should commit itself to scientific methods even more.
In the future, wild tigers will survive if countries can maintain inviolate core habitats for breeding populations, ensure habitat
connectivity for genetic exchange and crack down on poaching of both tigers and prey. There are wildlife reserves in Madhya
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand where the Environment Ministry wants to improve
conditions for tiger breeding. As part of this exercise, Rs.380 crore has been made available to Project Tiger this year. What is
conspicuous, however, is the lack of political will to remove industrial pressures on forests. The proposal to widen National
Highway 7 in Central India, for instance, has become controversial because of the dreadful impact it would have on tigers in the
Kanha-Pench and Kanha-Nagzira corridors in Maharashtra. It is contradictory to talk of protecting source populations which
occupy only 6 per cent of the habitat on the one hand, and simultaneously engage in destructive activities in the same forests.
Mitigating the damage through benign alternatives is vital. Such green leadership would also make Indias collaboration with
other countries in the Global Tiger Forum meaningful, demonstrating to them the unique experience of a populous nation
conserving forests and wildlife and providing life-sustaining ecosystem services to all. The Environment Ministry must also view
independent scientific organisations as partners, and stop putting up bureaucratic hurdles to research in protected areas.
Effective conservation demands transparency.
1. Tremendous - Extraordinarily great in size.

2. Credible - Trustworthy / Worthy of belief.


3. Estimate - To form an approximate judgement or Opinion.
4. Elusive - Something or someone taht is difficult to find.
5. Flawed - Mistakes / Having imperfection.
6. Persist - Continues to exist.
7. Terrible - Very bad.
8. Intensive - Concentrating a lot of effort in order to achieve a lot in a short time.
9. Wiped out - Destroyed.
10. Chastened - Feel regret for bad behaviour.
11. Dismal - Lowering or which is bad in Depressing way.
12. Inviolate - Free from violation / Undisturbed.
13. Crackdown - Strong official action that is taken to punish people who break laws.
14. Poaching - Illegal practice of hunting.
15. Conspicuous - Easily seen or noticed.
16. Instance - Example.
17. Dreadful - Causing great fear.
18. Contradictory - Logically opposite.
19. Mitigating - To make less severe.
20. Benign - Favourable / Showing gentleness or kindness.
21. Vital - Important / Necessary.
22. Bureaucratic hurdles - Involving complicated rules and procedures which can
cause long delays.
23. Transparency - Easy to see or understand.
APRIL 14/2016
Topic 1 : " Green shoots? Maybe, but they need watering "
Are there green shoots in the economy? Do Achche Din lie ahead of us? Given the number of times such false hopes have
been raised over the past couple of years, it is much too hasty to conclude that the recent thread of positive economic data puts
the country firmly on the path of accelerated economic growth. While three data points suggest that the economy may be
turning the corner, they dont offer conclusive evidence that there will be a period of sustained growth. The Index of Industrial
Production (IIP) has registered a 2 per cent growth in February after three consecutive months of decline. While it is significant
that industrial activity is returning to the expansionary mode, the cumulative growth rate of 2.6 per cent in the first eleven months
of this fiscal doesnt call for cracking open the champagne. After all, this is lower than last years 2.8 per cent and also well
below the 6 per cent expansion in output the country has averaged in the last ten years. As for the dip in consumer price
inflation to 4.8 per cent in March from over 5 per cent, this moderation, particularly in the food component of the index, is good
news as it puts more disposable income in the hands of consumers. But then, low inflation rates have a flip side too. By hurting
nominal GDP growth and corporate revenues, very low inflation can adversely impact job prospects and income growth, both
of which are crucial for the feel-good factor in the economy. A third trigger to growth is expected from the Reserve Bank of


Indias accommodative policy stance on both interest rates and liquidity, reiterated in its recent review. It is perhaps this,
combined with the Centres concerted push on promoting infrastructure and encouraging start-ups, that has prompted RBI
Governor Raghuram Rajan to predict that India is poised for a leap in production.
While the stimulus measures will take some time to play out, one factor that could have an immediate impact on the economy
is a bountiful monsoon. The IMDs forecast that there is a 64 per cent probability of the South West monsoon bringing in above-
normal or excess rain is indeed good news after two consecutive seasons of drought-like conditions. Erratic growth in agriculture
has been the wild card in Indias GDP estimates in recent years. In 2015-16, industry and services were estimated to grow at
7.3 and 9.2 per cent, respectively, while agriculture played spoilsport at 1.1 per cent. Though the farm economy contributes just
17 per cent of Indias GDP, the last two years have provided ample proof that rural distress has a disproportionate impact on
consumption. Given that the sector employs nearly half the workforce, everyone from toilet soap manufacturers to light
commercial vehicle makers looks at rural spends to shore up bottomlines. Policymakers may not like it, but at this juncture it
appears Indias economic prospects are still dependent on the benevolence of the rain gods.
1. Lie ahead of - Going to happen soon or in the future.

2. Hasty - Impatient / Thoughtless.
3. Firmly - Steadily.
4. Accelerated - To cause greater development.
5. Turning the corner - Situation starts to improve after a difficult period.
6. Conclusive - Certainly true.
7. Decline - Decrease.
8. Expansionary - Tending towards expansion.
9. Cumulative - Increasing by successive additions.
10. Cracking open the champagne - Used to indicate success or growth.
11. Disposable income - The part of a person's income remaining after deducting
personal income taxes.
12. Flip side - Opposite side.
13. Nominal - Being such in name only.
14. Adversely - Unfavourable effect / Negatively.
15. Crucial - Important.
16. Reiterated - To say or do again / Repeatedly.
17. Perhaps - Maybe / Possibly.
18. Concerted - Performed together.
19. Prompted - Induce to action.
20. Poised - Ready for particular situation.
21. Leap - Sudden increase.
22. Bountiful monsoon - Great monsoon / Favouring monsoon.
23. Erratic - Abnormal / Not Following regular pattern.


24. Wild card - Qualities are unknown / Unpredictable.
25. Spoilsport - Spoiling the pleasure of others.
26. Ample - Fully sufficient.
27. Distress - Great pain.
28. Shore up - Doing something in order to support the weak one.
29. Bottomlines - Deciding factors.
30. Juncture - Important times (here)
31. Benevolence - Act of kindness / Desire to do good to others.
Topic 2 : " A firm handshake, not an embrace "
Definitive changes in policy do not happen suddenly one day; often they happen over weeks and months, and sometimes
years. The three-day visit of U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, which concluded on Tuesday, appears to fit into a new
security paradigm that is unfurling under the Narendra Modi government. By agreeing to sign the Logistics Exchange
Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), India has sent out a clear signal that it has no inhibitions about being bound in strategic
engagements with the U.S. Once concluded, the agreement would give American aircraft and warships access to Indian military
bases for logistical purposes, including refuelling and repair. In turn, Indias military will enjoy similar access to U.S. bases. This
would qualitatively transform Indias relations with the U.S. The logistics agreement had been first proposed officially in June
2004, but the UPA government remained wary of seeing it through. The then Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, in particular was
concerned that it was too intrusive and could also be perceived as a signal that India was jettisoning its policy of non-alignment.
Indeed, for all the atmospherics of the American visit this week, it appears that the NDA government shares some of the UPAs
reticence, especially on India-U.S. issues that have multilateral implications or that could impact Indias relations with other
countries. Significantly, the logistics agreement, one of three foundational agreements the U.S. has been insisting on, was not
signed in the course of Mr. Carters visit, as the Americans had expected. This gives New Delhi time to tackle the ongoing
domestic debate over a possible loss of sovereignty.
While the joint statement refers to ensuring freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
has been careful to avoid the U.S.s repeated references to joint patrols. Even the agreement on sharing data on commercial
shipping traffic that Mr. Carter had expected to conclude during his visit will be the subject of another round of talks. The pause
is wise. New Delhi must take a considered view of the repercussions that such a strategic alliance may have for Indias relations
with other countries. Moreover, the U.S. administration will change in the year ahead, and it would be wise to wait for the next.
Significantly, Indias concerns about continued American military funding and defence transfers to Pakistan still remain
unaddressed. Meanwhile, Mr. Parrikar and Mr. Carter have agreed to expand collaboration under the Defence Technology and
Trade Initiative, infuse greater complexity in their military engagements and maritime exercises, commence discussions on
submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare, and initiate a bilateral maritime security dialogue that would include diplomats
and the defence establishments. A firm handshake with the U.S. is welcome, but it need not be an embrace, just yet.
1. Firm - Steady.
2. Embrace - Accept.
3. Definitive - Most reliable or complete.


4. Paradigm - It is a model for something that explains it.
5. Unfurling - Spreading / Developing.
6. Inhibitions - Feelings of fear or embarrassment.
7. Qualitatively - Concerned with qualities.
8. Wary - Alert / Being careful.
9. Intrusive - Coming without invitation.
10. Perceived - Realised / Recognised.
11. Jettisoning - Carefully rejecting or Deciding not to use.
12. Indeed - In fact / In truth.
13. Reticence - The state of being reserved , especially with regard to speaking freely.
14. Implications - Things are likely to happen as a result.
15. Insisting - Demand / Intention.
16. Tackle - To deal / To solve.
17. Sovereignty - Independence / Rightful status.
18. Wise - Sensible (here).
19. Repercussions - An effect or Result of some event or action (often indirect or
remote).
APRIL 18/2016
Topic 1 : "Country without a pause"
At a closed-door meeting with BJP office-bearers recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a case for holding elections
to Parliament, State legislatures and local bodies simultaneously. Last week, a group of ministers initiated a discussion
with Election Commission officials on the proposal. Certainly the proposal is far from new, having been made earlier by top BJP
leaders. L.K. Advani has advocated it on occasion, and the BJPs manifestos for the 2009 and 2014 general elections promised
to evolve a method of holding Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously. The reasons cited are to check election
expenditure and to impart stability to State governments. As a general idea, simultaneity can hardly be faulted as it would check
election expenditure, free the Central government from a populism that is forced on it by a constantly ticking election cycle, and
end the repeated pause on decision-making because of the model code of conduct. It is a necessary debate that the Prime
Minister has begun. But it must be evaluated with a clear focus on the problems it seeks to solve, as well as its practicability.
Yes, the early years of the Republic saw simultaneous elections to national and State legislatures. That this link was firmly
broken by the early 1970s provides an inkling of the difficulties in mandating it for Indias Westminster-inspired parliamentary
democracy. For instance, how do fixed-term legislatures square up with other constitutional and democratic processes, such as
the requirement that the government command the confidence of the Lower House? This operates at many levels. In the event
of a government losing its majority and no other party being able to mop up the numbers, it would be untenable to hold off
elections for too long. In addition, fixed terms would militate against the freedom that a government has to go back to the people


any time to refresh its mandate. Given that partisan stand-offs are inhibiting cooperation across the aisles, to dispense with the
option of returning to the people for a refreshed mandate would be self-defeating. In fixed-term legislatures, as in the U.S., there
is a clear separation between the legislature and the head of government. Such a system is far removed from that envisaged
by the founders of our Constitution, who settled for a Cabinet system of government that comprises a constitutional head and
the exercise of power through a Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The solution to excessive campaign
expenditure and a much too focussed eye on the electoral cycle is better found in persuading political leaderships to develop
self-discipline and to explain to the people the need for unpopular, but necessary, decisions. The sporadic advocacy of
simultaneous elections by the BJP is informed by self-interest as well. An overlapping campaign would rejig the federal terms
in its favour by allowing it to project its prime ministerial candidate against regional parties chief ministerial aspirants.
o Closed-door meeting - Not open or accessible to the public (held in privacy)

o Office-bearer - a person holding a position of authority in an organization
o Legislatures - the group of people in a country or part of a country who have the
power to make and change laws
o Advocated - publicly recommended or supported
o Manifesto - a public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an
election by a political party or candidate
o Evolve - develop slowly (step by step)
o Expenditure - the action of spending funds
o Impart - make (information) known
o Stability - a situation in which something is not likely to change
o Simultaneity - the property of two events happening at the same time
o Populism - the ideas and opinions of ordinary people
o Code of conduct - a set of rules about how to behave and do business with other
people
o Firmly - forcefully
o Inkling - a feeling that something is true or likely to happen, although you are not
sure
o Mandating - giving (someone) authority to act in a certain way
o Square up - assume the attitude of a person about to fight
o Mop up something - to finish the last part of a job after most of it has been
completed
o Untenable - not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection
o Militate against something - to make something less likely to happen or succeed
o Partisan - a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person
o Inhibiting - to prevent someone from doing something by making them feel
nervous or embarrassed


o Envisaged - to imagine or expect something in the future (especially something
good)
o Persuade - to make someone to believe something
o Sporadic - happening sometimes (not regular or continuous)
o Overlapping - partly coincide in time
o Rejig - organize (something) differently / rearrange
o Aspirant - a person who has ambitions to achieve something
Topic 2 : "Chew on this: the risks of smokeless tobacco"
In a much-needed measure to keep the consumption of chewing tobacco under check, the Delhi government has extended
by a year the ban on the sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco scented, flavoured and mixed sold
in forms such as gutka, pan masala, khaini and zarda. The extension of the ban has come after the previous notification expired
recently. In 2012, a few States, beginning with Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, banned gutka just
months after the notification of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 came
into effect. The FSS Act clearly states that tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products. By the
end of 2012, all of 14 States had banned gutka, and in 2013, following the Supreme Courts direction, gutka was banned in all
the States. Besides gutka, 11 States including Delhi have over a period of time banned flavoured chewing tobacco, and three
States Maharashtra, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have banned flavoured areca nut too. There is a strong case for all
States to ban pan masala as manufacturers have effectively sidestepped the FSS Act by selling chewing tobacco and pan
masala in separate sachets. Also, the rampant surrogate advertisement of pan masala products has made a mockery of the
ban on gutka. The biggest blow for tobacco control in India, which has banned the advertisement of all tobacco products, came
through the amendment of the Cable Television Networks Amendment Rules 2009; in contravention of the World Health
Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the amended Rules allow for the use of the brand name or logo of
tobacco products for marketing non-tobacco products.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, functioning under the WHO, had stated in a 2008 monograph that areca nut
is carcinogenic to humans (Group I). In India, areca nut is the second most consumed carcinogen after tobacco. Also, many
of the flavouring agents used in pan masala, a cunning mix of natural products and chemicals, are dangerous substances. So
what is preventing the Central government from extending the scope of the amended FSS Act to include areca nut and thereby
ban the sale of pan masala in India? After all, the number of smokeless tobacco users in India is alarmingly high at 206 million,
as estimated in an August 2012 paper in The Lancet. Unlike in the case of smokers where less than 10 per cent of cigarette-
users are women and a little over the same percentage consumed bidis about 50 per cent of consumers of smokeless
tobacco are women, according to the 2009-2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey. The number of oral cancer deaths caused by
chewing tobacco is alarmingly high. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, about 100,000 new oral cancer
cases are diagnosed every year and nearly 50 per cent of these lead to death within one year of diagnosis. Its time the
government came down heavily on chewing tobacco.


o Chew - to crush food into smaller, softer pieces with the teeth so that it can be
swallowed
o Chew on something - to think about something carefully for a long time, before
making a decision about it
o Consumption - to eat something
o Ingredients - main part of something (especially food)
o Besides - in addition to / also
o Areca nut - suparee
o Sidestepped - avoid something
o Sachet - a small sealed bag or packet containing a small quantity of something
o Rampant - (of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way
o Surrogate - replacing something else
o Mockery - the act of making fun of someone or something
o Contravention - to do something that a law or rule does not allow (to break a rule
/ law)
o Convention - an agreement between states covering particular matters
o Monograph - a long article on a particular subject (detailed written study)
o Carcinogenic - something that causes cancer
o Cunning - clever
o Amend - make minor changes to something
o Alarming - causing worry or fear
o Lancet - a small knife with two cutting edges and a sharp point
o Oral - relating to the mouth
o Diagnosed - identify the nature of an illness by examination of the symptoms
APRIL 19/2016
Topic 1 : "Grounding Vijay Mallya"
The suspension of Vijay Mallyas diplomatic passport by the Ministry of External Affairs, within a week of his failing for the
third time to heed an Enforcement Directorate summons to appear in connection with a money laundering probe, is a prompt
and appropriate step. The Directorate had repeatedly sought his personal presence and, in the face of non-compliance, wrote
to the MEA seeking revocation of the passport. The Ministry, which has given the liquor baron a weeks notice to explain
why the official travel document should not be revoked or impounded, should increase the pressure on him to return to India
and face the law of the land. As a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha he is due to retire on June 30 and as someone who
portrays himself as the victim of a campaign of calumny and asserts that he has neither the intention nor any reason to
abscond, it is appropriate that he submit himself to due process. At its last hearing, the Supreme Court had given him time until


April 21 to clarify when he would appear before the court. Regardless of his dim view on the merits of the allegations against
him, Mr. Mallya still has to discharge his liabilities, which the banks that have lent to his companies have quantified at about
Rs.9,000 crore. He also has to answer the Central Bureau of Investigations charge that the Rs.900-crore loan Kingfisher
Airlines had taken from IDBI Bank involves money-laundering; it is in this connection that an open-dated, non-bailable warrant
against him was issued by a special court in Mumbai.
Mr. Mallyas elbow room is shrinking, and he must know that he is not merely battling the legal consequences of corporate loans
gone bad. He is also battling a widespread perception that the loans went bad because of his profligate ways, poor management
and possible malfeasance. His flamboyant lifestyle has been central to contributing to a negative public perception; if anything,
his sudden exit from the country has only added weight to such a view. He has challenged the determination by banks that he
is a wilful defaulter by arguing that he is personally not a borrower, and only gave a personal guarantee for corporate loans. Any
credibility that one could attach to his defence will have to flow from his own conduct and submission to due process in this
country, something that the Supreme Court has underscored by asking him for a possible date for his appearance and an
authentic statement of his assets. The Central government must not ease the pressure on him, and must take recourse to all
diplomatic and legal means to achieve the objective of bringing him back. It cannot afford to lend the impression that it allowed
Mr. Mallya leave India at a crucial stage in the legal proceedings for recovery of the money due from him and is not doing
enough to submit him to the process of law.
o Heed - to pay attention to something (especially advice or a warning)

o Summons - an order to appear before a judge
o Money laundering - the crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally
through banks and other businesses to make it seem as if the money has been
obtained legally
o Probe - an attempt to discover information by asking a lot of questions
o Prompt - an action done quickly, without delay
o Non-compliance - not obeying a rule or law
o Revocation - cancelling something with authority
o Baron - an important or powerful person in a specified business or industry
o Revoked - officially cancelled
o Impound - seize
o Portray - to represent someone
o Victim - a person harmed as a result of a crime / accident
o Calumny - the making of false statements about someone in order to damage their
reputation
o Asserts - to say that something is certainly true
o Intention - aim / plan
o Abscond - to go away suddenly and secretly in order to escape from somewhere


o Allegation - a statement, that someone has done something wrong or illegal
o Liabilities - debts
o Quantified - to measure or judge the size or amount of something
o Elbow room - freedom to do what you want
o Shrinking - becomeing smaller in size or amount
o Consequences - results / effects
o Perception - a belief or opinion
o Profligate - spending money in a way that wastes it and is not wise
o Malfeasance - an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour
o Flamboyant - very confident in behaviour, and liking to be noticed by other people
o Wilful - intentional
o Defaulter - someone who does not pay interest or other money that they owe
o Authentic - real / true
o Ease - make something less serious / difficult / painful etc
Topic 2 : "Are negative rates the new normal ?"
If it is hard to agree on strategies that are critical for global growth, then at least avoid the ones that could hurt progress. This
seems like a reasonable reading of the deliberations at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund last week. Clearly, the earlier impatience to see a return to the robust rates of growth that preceded the 2008 meltdown is
gradually giving way to a more sober acceptance of a modest medium-term recovery. Chinas slowest rise in GDP since early
2009, low global commodity prices, and the uncertainty over Britains continued membership of the European Union,
together seem to contribute to a more cautious stance. Scepticism over excessive reliance on monetary tools, especially in the
backdrop of the prolonged low interest rates in the eurozone, is not unfamiliar in these forums. But U.S. Treasury Secretary
Jacob Lew was in line with the majority when he spoke uneasily about the pursuit of negative nominal interest rates, currently
being adopted by six central banks and 25 per cent of the world economy. The explicit opposition to negative rates could partly
be explained by the exceptional and experimental nature of this particular measure rates of zero per cent and below have
been a rarity until very recently. Proponents see negative rates as a means to induce consumers to spend more and banks to
lend more, with the potential to spur growth and raise inflation expectations.
The implications of low or negative returns for individual savings, however, could be mixed. Customers would either have to
save more to meet long-term targets or hold cash to avoid its adverse effects, assuming that banks brave themselves to pass
on the burden. The negative rates policy has thus come under considerable attack both in Germany and Japan, despite the
macroeconomic objectives they were designed to realise. A more serious objection, in view of the sizeable ageing populations
in these societies, is the impact on the viability of pensions, life insurance and savings vehicles. German Finance Minister
Wolfgang Schuble has gone so far as to blame the rise of populist anti-EU parties for the European Central Banks negative


rates policy, dubbed penalty rates in his country. Growing public anger is also said to limit any room for manoeuvre for further
rate cuts by Japan. Curiously, within two months of the hike in the U.S. in the rate of lending last December, the chair of the
Federal Reserve did not rule out a plunge into negative territory. While emphasising the potential to create additional stimulus
in the economy and maintain price stability, the IMF is tentative about how long governments may persist with negative rates.
Meeting in Shanghai earlier this year, the Group of 20 countries agreed to refrain from a competitive devaluation of currencies.
It may not be long before negative rates policies, which in effect weaken currencies, are pushed up the agenda for concerted
action.
o Strategy - a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term aim

o Deliberation - long and careful consideration or discussion
o Impatience - easily annoyed by someone's mistakes or because you have to wait
o Robust - strong
o Preceded - come before (something) in time
o Meltdown - a complete failure, especially in financial matters
o Gradually - slowly (step by step)
o Sober - serious and calm
o Modest - not large in size or amount, or not expensive
o Commodity - a product that can be traded, bought, or sold
o Cautious - careful to avoid problems or dangers
stated opinion
o Prolonged - continuing for a long time or longer than usual / lengthy
o In line with something - similar to / at the same level as something
o Uneasily - slightly worried or uncomfortable about a particular situation
o Pursuit - the act of trying to achieve a plan, activity, or situation, usually over a
long period of time
o Explicit - stated clearly and in detail
o Proponent - a person who speaks publicly in support of a particular idea or plan of
action
o Induce - to make someone to do something
o Spur - to encourage something happen faster
o Inflation - a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money
o Implications - the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not
directly stated
o Adverse - harmful (preventing success / development)

o Viability - ability to continue to exist / succeed
o Manoeuvre - a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care
o Curiously - strangely
o Plunge - to (cause someone or something to) move or fall suddenly
o Emphasising - to show that something is very important or worth giving attention
to
o Tentative - not sure / fixed
o Persist - continue in an opinion, even though there is difficulty or opposition
o Refrain - stop yourself from doing something
o Devaluation - official lowering of the value of a country's currency
o Concerted - coordinated (jointly arranged or carried out)
APRIL 20/2016
Topic 1 : "Of populism and prohibition"
Across India, States are marching towards total prohibition. Kerala has embarked on a 10-year path to total prohibition, by
first limiting the sale of hard liquor to five-star bars and restaurants and gradually reducing the number of sale points. Bihar
initiated a two-step plan, with a ban on country liquor effective from April 1, followed just days later with a prohibition on the
sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor, bureaucratese for everything other than country brew. Indeed, in a sign of the moral panic
that grips political parties at the mention of prohibition, the Bihar Assemblys successful adoption of the Bill banning country
liquor was accompanied by a unanimous resolution by MLAs that they would not consume alcohol. Now a similar
competitiveness is playing out in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign. The ruling AIADMK has countered the DMKs
pledge to turn the State dry by affirming a graded shift. This is not the first time India has grappled with the social consequences
of alcohol consumption, such as alcoholism, indebtedness and domestic violence. For example, vestiges of prohibition-era
practices survive in States such as Maharashtra, though the law tends to realistically look the other way; Gujarat of course
continues to remain dry. In recent decades, States such as Haryana and undivided Andhra Pradesh adopted a prohibitory
regime, but abandoned it soon after. Whether the current spate of prohibition legislation will sustain is unclear. But once again,
the populist solution of prohibition is being offered without attendant focus on the social problems that it seeks to address.
The creep of the nanny state to guard citizens from their worst selves, or at least their lack of self-discipline, is worrying. It is
perhaps the overhang of the Gandhian spirit of the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution that inhibits politicians
and civil society from shedding hypocrisy and initiating public advocacy of moderation. However, there is a pragmatic case
against prohibition as well. Banning the sale and consumption of alcohol has, in this countrys experience, not been an effective
check against its use. It has only criminalised the activity, with disastrous consequences for individual health, the economy and
administration these include bootlegging, liquor mafias, spurious liquor, and a complicit police. It also deprives States of an
important source of revenue. For instance, in Tamil Nadu nearly Rs.30,000 crore, or over a quarter of its revenue in 2015-


16, came from taxes on the sale of alcohol and excise on manufacturing spirits. This income has enabled successive regimes
from 2006 onwards to splurge on social sector schemes, especially the trademark programmes to supply free rice to nearly all
ration card holders, distribute consumer goods and maintain its pioneering nutritious noon meal scheme for all children in
government and aided schools and anganwadis. Certainly, alternative sources of revenue must be found if prohibition can
virtuously, magically transform society. That case has, however, not been made, in argument or by experience.
o Populism - political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of
o Prohibition - the act of officially not allowing something
o Embarked - to begin an action
o Gradually - slowly over a long period of time
o Initiated - to cause something to begin
o Brew - to make beer
o Grips - have a strong or serious effect on something
o Unanimous - fully in agreement
o Resolution - an official decision that is made
o Countered - to react to something with an opposing opinion or action
o Pledge - a serious or formal promise
o Affirming - to publicly show your support for an opinion or idea
o Grappled - to fight (especially in order to win something)
o Indebtedness - owing money to someone
o Domestic violence - the situation in which someone you live with (husband / wife
/ father) attacks you and tries to hurt you
o Vestige - a small part or amount of something larger
o Abandoned - left
o Spate - a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones,
happening at about the same time
o Creep - to move slowly, quietly, and carefully in order to avoid being noticed
o Nanny state - a government that tries to give too much advice or make too many
laws about how people should live their lives, especially about eating, smoking, or
drinking alcohol
o Overhang - to have a negative effect on a situation
o Inhibits - prevents
o Shedding - getting rid of something / leaving

o Hypocrisy - a situation in which someone pretends to believe something that they
do not really believe
o Advocacy - public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy
o Pragmatic - solving problems in a sensible way that suits the conditions that really
exist now, rather than obeying fixed theories, ideas, or rules
o Consumption - the act of using, eating, or drinking something
o Disastrous - causing great damage
o Bootlegging - making / selling something illegally
o Spurious - fake
o Complicit - involved with others in an activity that is unlawful or morally wrong
o Deprives - prevents from having or using something
o Excise - a tax made by a government on some types of goods produced and used
within their own country
o Splurge - an act of spending money freely
o Pioneering - involving new ideas or methods
o Virtuous - having good moral qualities and behaviour
Topic 2 : "Deepening crisis in Brazil"
Brazils Lower House of Congress has decided to start impeachment proceedings against President Dilma
Rousseff, inflicting another blow to her and her embattled left-wing party. Ms. Rousseffs popularity has eroded fast over the
last year with a deepening economic crisis and a spreading corruption scandal, in which several of her Workers Party (PT)
leaders have been implicated. Some of her recent moves to ride out the crisis, such as appointing former President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva as her Chief of Staff, backfired in the face of legal, congressional and political opposition. Even crucial allies in
Parliament such as the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party deserted her, providing her rivals the required number of
votes in the Lower House to send the impeachment motion to the Senate. It is not yet clear whether her rivals will secure a
majority in the Senate to impeach the President. But Brazil appears set to become even more deeply politically polarised given
the resolve to press ahead with the impeachment process against a backdrop of daily street demonstrations by those for and
opposed to Ms. Rousseff and a virtual collapse of governance.
Few would have imagined that Ms. Rousseff would be engulfed in such a crisis when she was re-elected two years ago,
extending the PTs rule to a fourth consecutive term. Though her margin of victory was not large, it was still comfortable. But
ever since her re-election, Brazils economy has been on a downward slide, with global commodity prices falling. Ms. Rousseff
could do little as the economy slowed down, then stalled and finally slid into the worst recession since the 1930s. Her immediate
response was to slash public spending to rein in the deficit, which alienated the core support base of the PT, the working
population. Undercut by economic troubles, Ms. Rousseff became an easy target for the opposition, which sniffed an opportunity


to end the seemingly interminable PT rule. The oppositions claims that its battle to remove Ms. Rousseff is a fight against
corruption is a cover for a larger power struggle. The President has not been implicated in any corruption case. The impeachment
motion is based on allegations that during her 2014 campaign she manipulated government books to hide the real numbers
relating to Brazils deficit. Ironically, many of her rivals, including House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, the leader of the impeachment
campaign, face serious corruption charges. Yes, it is true that Ms. Rousseff could have managed the crisis better. Her
ineffectiveness in addressing the countrys vital problems and failure to take allies along are cases in point. However, the
oppositions bid to oust an elected President based on unproven charges of fudging accounts exposes a more Machiavellian
game plan. If the impeachment goes through, it would set an unhealthy precedent for a country with a history of coups.

o Impeachment - the process of saying that a public official is guilty of a serious
crime in connection with their job
o Proceedings - a series of events that happen in a planned and controlled way
o Inflicting - causing to be suffered by someone or something
o Embattled - involved in or prepared for war
o Eroded - slowly destroyed
o Scandal - an action which is morally or legally wrong and causes public shock
o Implicated - to show someone was involved in a crime
o Backfired - to have the opposite result from the one you planned / expected
o Rivals - opponents
o Polarise - to divide something into two completely opposing groups
o Engulfed - to powerfully affect (someone)
o Consecutive - continuous
o Stalled - stopped making progress
o Recession - a period when the economy of a country is not successful and
conditions for business are bad
o Slash - to cut / reduce something
o Rein - to control
o Alienated - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and agreeing
with you
o Interminable - continuing for too long (endless)
o Manipulated - handled or controlled something in a skilful manner
o Ironically - in a way that is different or opposite from the result you would expect
o Vital - extremely important / essential
o Fudging - to adjust / change something to get required results
o Machiavellian - cunning
o Coup - a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power


APRIL 21/2016
Topic 1 : "Rollback redux"
Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has backed off from enforcing new rules to restrict employees from emptying
their provident fund accounts before they turn 58 years old. This is the second time in just over a month that the government
has backtracked on a major policy shift concerning retirement savings in PF accounts. Another U-turn may be called for once
the implications of new rules issued by the Finance Ministry to forfeit unclaimed deposits in small savings schemes sink in.
Earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley withdrew two paragraphs of his Budget with a provision to tax three-fifths of employee
PF accumulations at the time of retirement. That rollback came within a week, in the face of a widespread political backlash.
The rules restricting EPF withdrawals were notified nearly 10 weeks before they were rolled back. Though there were some
murmurs of discontent and many rushed to withdraw PF balances from previous jobs, it was only when violent protests rocked
Bengaluru that the Centre changed tack. It first tried to buy peace with a three-month deferral and relaxations to allow
employees access to their entire EPF balance for the marriage of children, the purchase of a house, enrolment in an educational
course, and switch to a government job. Less than 24 hours later, the rules were simply scrapped. Most of the protesters in
Bengaluru are employed in the textile sector, where India is fast ceding ground to Vietnam and Bangladesh; jobs are vulnerable
and workers cannot take it for granted that they will be employed under the same conditions till the age of 58.
The violence may be seen as an act of desperation, and the Centres rationale ensuring people dont fritter away their PF
savings during their working life is good in theory. But it does not take into account the fact that people often withdraw EPF
balances when they change jobs, simply because transfers are not handled smoothly at the PF office. Moreover, the labour
market has undergone a paradigm shift; it is now characterised by greater job mobility, contractualisation and weaker security
of tenure. A similar we know whats best for the people strand of thinking was evident in the Budget proposal to tax EPF
savings. The Finance Ministry claimed it was meant to nudge people into buying an annuity with their retirement corpuses rather
than blow them away. The quick rollbacks in the face of protests create an impression that the government hadnt done its
homework in these cases. Had it persisted, more people may have preferred informal jobs (without mandatory payroll deductions
like EPF), thus defeating the larger objective of creating quality formal sector jobs, that account for just 10 per cent of the
workforce. Micromanaging retirement choices for the privileged few is a waste of time. Redoubling efforts at providing genuine
social security for the other 90 per cent of the workforce is a far better idea.
o Rollback - reduction / withdraw something

o Redux - brought back
o Backed off - to stop being involved in a situation
o Enforce - to make people obey a law / to make a particular situation happen or be
accepted
o Provident fund - an amount of money consisting of regular payments by an
employee and an employer over a period of time that the employee receives when
they leave a company or retire
o Backtracked - to go back

o U-turn - a complete change of plan to opposite one
o Implication - the effect that an action or decision will have on something else in
the future
o Forfeit - to lose something
o Accumulation - an amount of something that has been collected
o Notified - informed in formal / official manner
o Murmurs - complaints that are expressed privately
o Discontent - dissatisfaction
o Violent - used to describe a situation or event in which people are hurt or killed
o Deferral - delay
o Scrapped - discarded or removed
o Ceding - give up something
o Take something for granted - to never think about something because you
believe it will always be available or stay exactly the same
o Rationale - the reasons that cause a particular set of actions
o Fritter away something - to waste something
o Undergone - experienced something that is unpleasant or something that involves
a change
o Paradigm shift - a time when the usual way of doing something changes
completely
o Contractualisation - replacing of regular workers with temporary workers who
receive lower wages with no or less benefits
o Tenure - the right to remain permanently in a job
o Nudge - to push (to make people doing something)
o Persist - to continue in an opinion even though there is difficulty or opposition
o Micromanaging - to control every part of something
o Redoubling - make something much greater
Topic 2 : "Frontrunners seize the day"
The Empire State has smiled upon its own. In Tuesdays primary elections, New York yielded rich bounties to Democrat and
former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and also to Republican property billionaire Donald Trump. Both were already


frontrunners in the race to win their partys nominations for the November 2016 presidential election, going by the number of
delegates each had garnered. In sweeping New York, both candidates have consolidated their leads over their nearest rivals
and set themselves up for victory in the July conventions in Philadelphia and Cleveland, respectively. Ms. Clinton, who has led
by a sizeable margin over her only Democratic rival, self-described socialist and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, sprinted to
the finish line in the state that she represented in the U.S. Senate for eight years from January 2001. Of the 247 delegates
available for the taking, she scooped up 135 and won 57.9 per cent of the vote. Mr. Sanders managed to win 104 delegates
after getting 42.1 per cent of the vote, but he now faces an increasingly uphill road to the nomination with 19 states still to hold
their primaries or caucuses, and 1,692 delegates remaining. To seal his nomination Mr. Sanders would have to win 71 per cent
of these outstanding delegates, a prospect that is not necessarily impossible given his seven straight victories prior to New York.
However, to achieve that he would need a major national-level popularity surge that could offset Ms. Clintons overwhelming
lead with super delegates, or unpledged party heavyweights who can cast a vote in favour of any candidate of their choosing
at the convention.
The broader lesson is simple: ensure that you are the darling of the party mainstream and you will go much farther in the
delegate count than if you are a maverick with an ideological plinth that challenges the rugged individualism and unbridled
excesses of Wall Street capitalism that so many in America instinctively veer towards. The battle for the Grand Old Partys
nomination is the perfect mirror image of the Democratic experience. The maverick in this case is frontrunner Mr. Trump, the
plain-speaking casino owner who has made disparaging remarks that have offended a variety of minorities including
Muslims, Mexicans, women, and the differently-abled. After his resounding victory in New York, Mr. Trump holds at least 845
delegates against his nearest rival Senator Ted Cruzs 559. However, the GOPs deep disenchantment with Mr. Trumps
campaign, not to mention the prediction by nationwide polls that he would fare less well against Ms. Clinton than Mr. Cruz would,
implies that a contested convention could be on the cards. This will happen if Mr. Trump fails to snatch 1,237 delegates, the
minimum necessary to secure the nomination. In effect, a potentially chaotic nomination process could engender a political crisis
that would pit the GOP leadership not only against Mr. Trump, but also against the millions who voted for him this year.
o Frontrunners - people who are most likely to win something

o Seize - to take something quickly and keep or hold it
o Yielded - produce / provide
o Bounties - a sum paid by the state to encourage trade
o Delegates - a person sent or authorized to represent others
o Garnered - gathered or collected
o Consolidated - to become stronger
o Rivals - people competing with others for the same thing
o Convention - a large formal meeting of a political party
o Respectively - in the same order as first mentioned
o Sprinted - run at full speed over a short distance
o Scooped up something - to lift something in a quick movement
o Caucus - a meeting of a small group of people in a political party

o Surge - to move suddenly and powerfully forward or upward
o Offset - to balance one influence against an opposing influence, so that there is no
great difference as a result
o Darling - a person who is very much loved or liked
o Mainstream - the ideas / beliefs shared by most people
o Maverick - a person who thinks and acts in an independent way
o Plinth - base
o Rugged - strong and simple
o Individualism - the habit of being independent
o Unbridled - uncontrolled
o Instinctively - a behaviour which is not thought about, planned, or developed by
training
o Veer - to change direction suddenly
o Mirror image - a person or thing that closely resembles another
o Casino - a public room or building where gambling games are played
o Disparaging - criticizing someone or something in a way that shows you do not
respect or value him, her, or it
o Offended - to make someone upset and angry
o Differently-abled - disabled
o Resounding victory - great victory
o Disenchantment - a feeling of disappointment about someone or something you
previously respected
o Campaign - work in an organized way towards a goal
o Be on the cards - to be likely to happen
o Potential - possible when the necessary conditions exist
o Chaotic - in a state of complete confusion and disorder
o Engender - to cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition)
APRIL 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Reasons and excuses for violence"
The provocation for violence is often very different from the underlying cause. After days of unrest in Jammu and Kashmirs
Handwara town, in which five civilians died, it now emerges that the trigger for all the moral outrage and protests the report
of a molestation bid on a young woman by a soldier may not have had any basis in fact. She submitted before the Chief
Judicial Magistrate, Handwara, that she was assaulted by a local youth, and not by any of the Army personnel stationed in
Handwara. The facts of what actually happened are still contested, but the manner in which the rumour of the involvement of


an Army man in the attack spread through the town points to the widespread distrust of the armed forces in the area.
The dismantling of four Army bunkers at the town square was thus a necessary, and welcome, response to bring the situation
under control and to restore normalcy in the area. The larger reason for the protests was precisely that: the high level of
resentment in the town against the obtrusive presence of the Army. Reports, factual or rumoured, of the assault on the young
woman provided a spark to draw attention to what is locally perceived as the larger problem: the repressive force of the Army
against civilians. The deaths of young people in subsequent protests further aggravated the local populations anxiety about
failing to keep young men and women out of harms way. The dispiriting takeaway is that if it had not been the assault on the
young woman, it would have been some other issue.
The response from the locals, including government servants, holds out a lesson for the Centre. It is that such incidents will
tend to recur as long as a deeper political engagement eludes Kashmir. However much the Centre may defend the deployment
of the Army citing strategic reasons, it remains an inescapable fact that its obtrusive presence adds to the political alienation of
the people as well as sporadic human rights violations and harm to civilians caught in the crossfire. In fact, Handwara is one of
the areas relatively free of militancy, one that witnesses good turnouts in elections. That the Army demolished four bunkers
instead of asking for reinforcements in Handwara following the violence is partly on account of this reading of the situation.
Street protests, and violence against the armed forces on some emotive issue or the other, have unfortunately become a part
of everyday life in Kashmir. Given the persisting militant activity in the Valley, reducing the Army presence in any substantive
manner is not an immediate possibility. But steps such as reducing the Army deployment in densely populated areas, and
ensuring accountability for the actions of the security forces, should help keep the fragile peace in the Valley.
o Excuse - a reason that you give to explain why you did something wrong
o Provocation - action or speech that makes someone angry
o Unrest - a state of dissatisfaction / disturbance
o Emerges - to appear by coming out of something or out from behind something
o Molestation - to touch or attack someone in a sexual way
o Stationed - to assign to a specified place for a particular purpose, especially a
military one
o Contested - to participate in a competition to get something
o Distrust - the feeling of not trusting someone or something
o Dismantling - to get rid of something, usually over a period of time
o Precisely - exactly
o Resentment - to feel angry because you have been forced to accept someone or
something that you do not like
o Factual - using or consisting of facts
o Assault - to make a physical attack
o Spark - a first small event or problem that causes a much worse situation to develop
o Perceived - become aware or conscious of (something)
o Repressive - to control what people do, especially by using force
o Subsequent - following (coming after something)


o Out of harms way - in a safe place
o Dispiriting - causing someone to lose enthusiasm and hope
o Takeaway - a main message or piece of information that you learn from something
you hear or read
o Recur - occur again repeatedly
o Eludes - escape from or avoid (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), in a skilful or cunning
way
o Defend - protect from harm or danger
o Deployment - to send military troops into duty
o Citing - refering / stating
o Obtrusive - too noticeable
o Alienation - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and agreeing
with you
o Sporadic - occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places
o Crossfire - gunfire from two or more directions passing through the same area
o Demolished - defeated
o Densely - containing a lot of matter in a small space
o Fragile - broken (easily destroyed)
Topic 2 : "A misguided ban in Delhi"
The Delhi governments decision to ban surge pricing by taxi service aggregators, which follows a similar ban imposed
by Karnataka, is misguided. In Delhis case, the surge pricing ban has flowed from the imposition of the odd-even licence
plate rule, which has increased the demand for taxis. The odd-even scheme may be a welcome intervention to reduce traffic
congestion in the Union Territory, but the decision to clamp down on surge pricing by aggregators such as Uber and Ola, which
is set to continue even after Phase Two of the odd-even scheme ends on April 30, is counterproductive. As expected, after the
ban, the number of taxis plying on Delhis roads has dropped. Arbitrary interventions in the demand-supply market are pointless
in the absence of alternative solutions. If Uber and Ola are charging their customers unscrupulous sums, the only long-term
solution for the Delhi government is to provide its residents with cheaper and better public transport. The rapid growth and
popularity of taxis managed by aggregators across India is a testimony to the fact that public transport and transit facilities
remain hopelessly inadequate. Surge pricing, essentially an algorithm-based mechanism that determines fares based on supply
and demand, exists in slightly dissimilar forms in other areas, including that of transport. Airlines have the flexibility to raise fares
depending on demand, subject to a cap. And the Railways sets aside some seats for those willing to pay more, based on the
knowledge that demand generally outdoes supply when it comes to train tickets.
In general, aggregators have helped customers with more taxi options and reduced prices. There is evidence to suggest that
drivers of taxis and autorickshaws who ply under an aggregators brand earn more on an average than they would otherwise.
There has also been substantial competition from domestic players in the aggregator market, allaying fears about monopoly
operations by multinational players. Some regulations of course are both necessary and welcome. For instance, guidelines have
been released by the Ministry of Road Transport to ensure that taxi commutes are safe and that aggregators cannot be owners
of fleets unless registered as operators. Aggregators are part of the new economy; they use modern technology to disrupt the


traditional, and often moribund, market. They have succeeded by bringing in efficiencies in both cost and convenience, which
have been central to their popularity. Obtrusive regulation of these new players would work against the interests of both the
commuter and the driver. Instead, governments can do more in the medium term to enhance options in terms of better modes
of public transport, greater frequency of bus and metro services during rush hour and perhaps even adoption by mass transport
of applications using similar algorithms to allow passengers to plan their commute better. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
has invested significant political capital in the odd-even scheme. Tilting at windmills will not help. A more useful intervention
would have been to enhance public awareness about how these algorithms work in commuters favour, and at the most cap
surge pricing to a predetermined multiple of the regular rate.
o Surge pricing - raising the price based on increasing demand

o Aggregator - an organization that collects information from the internet pages of
other businesses and puts it on a single website
o Misguided - having faulty judgement or reasoning
o Intervention - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult situation
o Congestion - to become too blocked or crowded and causing traffic jams
o Clamp down on something - to take strong action to stop or limit a harmful or
unwanted activity
o Counterproductive - having the opposite of the desired (estimated) effect
o Arbitrary - based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason
o Unscrupulous - having or showing no moral principles (not honest or fair)
o Transit - the carrying of people or things from one place to another
o Inadequate - insufficient for a purpose
o Determines - cause (something) to occur in a particular way or to have a particular
nature
o Outdoes - to do something better than someone else
o Ply - to work regularly at something
o Substantial - of considerable importance
o Allaying - relieving pain / fear
o Monopoly - to have complete control of something, especially an area of business,
so that others have no share
o Commutes - travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a
regular basis
o Fleets - a number of vehicles operating together or under the same ownership
o Disrupt - interrupt (an event, activity, or process) by causing a disturbance or
problem
o Moribund - not active or successful
o Commuter - a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis
o Predetermined - to decide or arrange something at an earlier time
APRIL 23/2016
Topic 1 : "On going beyond 'Bommai
The Uttarakhand High Courts verdict declaring the imposition of Presidents Rule in the State as unconstitutional was
expected, but the quick stay on its operation granted by the Supreme Court means that Harish Rawat is once again a former


Chief Minister and Presidents Rule is back in force. The dismissal of an elected government on the eve of a confidence vote
was a drastic measure that no court could have unequivocally endorsed. The High Court after all was only applying the law laid
down in the Bommai case in 1994, which made it clear that the only place to ascertain the majority of a government was the
floor of the House. In assessing the merits of the Centres case for the imposition of Presidents Rule, the High Court had to
examine three main contentions. These were the unusual passage of the Appropriation Bill through a voice vote rather than
a division (following which the Bill was not sent for approval to the Governor), the summary disqualification of nine dissident
ruling party legislators, and a sting video that allegedly caught Mr. Rawat offering inducements to win back the support of
dissidents. Serious though these issues are, the Uttarakhand High Court concluded, and perhaps with some justification, that
they did not add up to a breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the State.
While it is impossible to predict what the Supreme Court will make of the High Courts judgment the full details of which are
not yet available the controversy in Uttarakhand is symptomatic of the kind of problem that requires a judicial fix going
beyond the rules laid down by the Bommai judgment. Seminal though it was, the Bommai case was essentially about imposing
a restraint of gubernatorial discretion nay, even machination. By the 1980s, Raj Bhavans had become a stage for headcounts
and horse-trading; some incumbents resorted to questionable means to prevent legitimate attempts to cobble up a majority.
The judgment did put an end, or at least considerably mitigate, this kind of problem. However, those relating to the application
of Article 356 today are somewhat more complex. Chief Ministers cling on to posts even after dissidents have clearly reduced
their governments to a minority, and partisan Speakers manipulate floor tests by a selective application of the anti-defection
law. (The BJP is no stranger to this cynical and self-serving game; in 2010, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa won the floor test
in Karnataka after 16 legislators were summarily disqualified.) If earlier the problem was that of partisan Governors, the issues
that need to be addressed in todays political context are that of partisan Speakers and vitiated floor tests. Bommai placed
severe limitations, and very rightly in our federal set-up, on the Centres discretion to dismiss politically inconvenient
governments. While keeping the handcuffs that this judgment had introduced in place, what we need are some fetters to keep
the ruling party and their friendly Speakers from making a mockery of floor tests.
(Judgement)
o Unconstitutional - not allowed by the constitution (= set of rules for government)
of a country or organization
o Dismissal - a decision that someone or something is not important / rejection
o Unequivocally - totally or expressed in a clear and certain way
o Endorsed - to make a public statement of your approval or support for something
or someone
o Ascertain - make sure of something
o Merits - advantages
o Contention - the disagreement that results from opposing arguments
o Legislator - a person who makes laws
o Sting - carefully planned
o Inducement - bribe
o Perhaps - used to express uncertainty or possibility
o Breakdown - a failure of a system
o Controversy - a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because
it affects or is important to many people

o Symptomatic - showing the proof of something
o Judicial - related to a law court or judge
o Beyond - outside of the limit
o Seminal - strongly influencing later developments
o Restraint - calm and controlled behaviour
o Gubernatorial - relating to a governor
o Discretion - the ability to decide something
o Nay - used to introduce a second and more appropriate phrase in a sentence when
the first phrase was not strong enough
o Machination - secret plans / schemes
o Incumbent - the holder of an office or post
o Cobble up - to put something together carelessly
o Mitigate - make (something bad) less serious or less painful
o Cling on to something - to try very hard to keep something
o Manipulate - handle or control something in a skilful manner
o Defection - to leave a country, political party, etc., especially in order to join an
opposing one
o Cynical - believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere
o Vitiate - to destroy or damage something
o Fetters - a pair of chains that were tied round the legs of prisoners to prevent them
from escaping
Topic 2 : "Growing cracks in the U.S.-Saudi alliance"
When U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday to attend a regional summit of Gulf leaders, he was
welcomed by the local governor, not by King Salman Bin Abd al-Aziz himself. Given that the monarch personally welcomed
other leaders who arrived for the summit, this is a strong indicator of the deep rift in the U.S.-Saudi alliance. The visit was
positioned as a major diplomatic outreach to the kingdom by Mr. Obama, perhaps his last as the President, to allay concerns
about Washingtons approach towards Iran and other contentious issues such as the civil war in Syria. But it turned out to be a
low-key affair with both sides holding on to their respective positions. This is not the first awkward moment in the over 70-year-
old U.S.-Saudi alliance. On the face of it, relations are riddled with contradictions. One is a democracy that has even embedded
human rights issues into foreign policy actions. The other is a closed society ruled by a conservative, authoritarian family. But
economic and strategic interests the U.S.s dependence on the Gulf for oil, the fight against Soviet communism and the war
on terror had helped both countries set aside these contradictions and build a strong partnership based on trust. Of late, with
the region witnessing massive changes, this partnership has come under enormous strain.
Relations turned sour when Washington refused to protect the regime of Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian dictator, when he was
threatened by mass protests. The mistrust deepened when President Obama declined to bomb Syria. It hit a new low when
the Iranian nuclear deal was signed. The Obama administration is against bombing Bashar al-Assads regime because it
thinks a collapse of the state in Syria would help the Islamic State. Likewise, it wants Iran to play a more responsible role in
regional politics, especially in stabilising Iraq and defeating the IS in Syria: both are vital for American interests in the region.
This marks a clear divergence of interests between the U.S. and its Sunni Gulf allies, who are worried about Irans growing


stature in West Asia. Interestingly, Mr. Obama pressed ahead with his policy despite pressure from the Gulf. One reason is that
the U.S. is no longer dependent on the Gulf for oil, thanks to its domestic shale boom. Another is the realisation in Washington
that it needs Iran to stabilise the region. That doesnt mean it is going to abandon Riyadh or embrace Tehran. Both the U.S. and
Saudi Arabia still need each other. Despite tensions, U.S. defence sales to the kingdom and other Gulf countries have soared
in recent years. The U.S. is still committed to the security of its Gulf allies. On the other side, Washington and Tehran do not
even have full diplomatic relations. But the underlying message of Mr. Obamas policy changes is that it cant be business as
usual for the Saudis. A rebalancing is under way.
o Cracks - breaks in something, but it does not separate, but very thin lines appear
on its surface
o Alliance - a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between
countries or organizations
o Regional - related to a particular area of a country
o Summit - a meeting between heads of government
o Monarch - king, queen, or emperor
o Rift - a serious break in friendly relations
o Diplomatic - involving the management of the relationships between countries
o Outreach - reach further than something
o Allay - to relieve / reduce something
o Awkward - causing difficulty / hard to do or deal with
o Riddled with something - if something is riddled with bad features, such as
mistakes, it is full of them
o Contradiction - a combination of words that is nonsense because some of the
words suggest the opposite of some of the others
o Embedded - attached
o Enormous - very large in size / quantity
o Turned sour - to be unsuccessful / to not develop in a satisfactory way
o Mistrust - lack of trust / suspicion
o Deepened - to become deeper
o Declined - politely refuse
o Collapse - sudden fall down of something
o Likewise - in the same way / also
o Vital - extremely important
o Stature - importance or reputation gained by ability or achievement
o Shale - a type of soft, grey rock
o Boom - a period of sudden economic growth, especially one that results in a lot of
money being made
o Abandon - give up / leave completely
o Embrace - to hold something very closely
o Soared - increased in a rapid leve
o Ally - a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one
o Rebalance - to change the amount or level of one or more things in order to
improve a particular situation


MAY 09/2016
Topic 1 : "Poverty and the death row"
Opposition to the death penalty is often rooted in arguments about its irreversibility, its essential cruelty, the possibility of error
and the false sense of justice in doing unto convicted murderers what they had done to their victims. In the Indian context,
politics surrounding the prisoners ethnic origin or linguistic affinity is often the basis for pleas for clemency. Rarely is a more
compelling reason invoked: the possibility of an offenders economic background, educational level, social status or religious
identity working against his interests in legal proceedings. A report released on Friday by the National Law University, Delhi, on
the working of the death penalty in India provides validation and proof for something that those familiar with administration of
justice knew all along: that most of those sentenced to death in the country are poor and uneducated; and many belong to
religious minorities. In addition, a revealing number is that as many as 241 out of 385 death row convicts were first-time
offenders. Some may have been juveniles when they committed capital offences, but lacked the documentation to prove their
age. Against the salutary principle that those too young and too old be spared the death sentence, 54 death row convicts whose
age was available were between 18 and 21 at the time of the offence, and seven had crossed 60 years of age. An average
prisoner awaiting execution is likely to be from a religious minority, a Dalit caste, a backward class, or from an economically
vulnerable family, and is unlikely to have finished secondary schooling.
The late President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, had once said a study by his office into the background of convicts seeking mercy
showed a social and economic bias. He digressed from his prepared text during a public lecture to ask, Why are so many
poor people on death row? The link between socio-economic standing and access to competent legal counsel and effective
representation is quite strong. A question of concern that arises is whether these statistics indicate systemic bias or
institutionalised prejudice. It is not uncommon that legal grounds unavailable to the vulnerable are invoked in favour of the
influential. A recent instance is that of four prisoners from a political party who were sentenced to death for burning a bus during
a protest and killing three women students. The court, while commuting their sentence, invoked the doctrine of diminished
responsibility and reasoned that those gripped by mob frenzy were not fully cognisant of the situation around them. While
invoking any ground to commute a death sentence to life is welcome, the impression is inescapable that such relief often comes
at a very late stage and only to those with the means to pursue legal remedies till the very end. When a judicial system that is
seen as favouring the influential resorts to capital punishment, it will be vulnerable to the charge of socio-economic bias. Law
and society, therefore, will be better served if the death penalty itself is abolished. These statistics must reinforce the larger
moral argument against the state taking the life of a human being any human being as punishment.
o Poverty - the state of being extremely poor

o Death row - in prison and waiting to be killed as a punishment for a crime
o Opposition - strong disagreement
o Penalty - punishment
o Rooted in something - to be based on something or caused by something
o Irreversibility - not possible to change (impossible to return to a previous
condition)


o Victims - people harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other
event or action
o Context - piont of view (the situation within which something exists or happens)
o Linguistic - connected with language or the study of language
o Affinity - a liking or sympathy for someone or something, especially because of
similar characteristics
o Clemency - mercy (kindness when giving a punishment)
o Compelling - if a reason, argument, etc. is compelling, it makes you believe it or
accept it because it is so strong
o Offender - a person who commits an illegal act
o Juvenile - a young person
o Salutary - causing improvement of behaviour or character
o Vulnerable - weak
o Bias - the action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair
way
o Digressed - to leave the main subject temporarily
o Prejudice - an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed
without enough thought or knowledge
o Instance - incident (example)
o Commuting - to change a punishment to one that is less serious
o Doctrine - a belief or set of beliefs, especially political or religious ones, that are
taught and accepted by a particular group
o Mob - a large angry crowd (group of people)
o Frenzy - uncontrolled and excited behaviour or emotion that is sometimes violent
o Cognisant - having knowledge or awareness
o Inescapable - unable to be avoided
o Abolished - to officially end something
o Reinforce - strengthen or support
Topic 2 : "Bangladeshs battle for its future"
The murders of liberals, bloggers, secularists and LGBT rights activists continue in Bangladesh. Over the past few weeks, a
Hindu tailor, a gay rights advocate, a social media activist and a Sufi leader have been killed by suspected Islamists. The exact
identity of the killers is widely contested. The Jamaat-e-Islami, the leading Islamist group, denies any link to the attacks while
many disagree with the breezy attempt to connect the Islamic State to the killings. Any which way you look at them, the murders
cannot be seen in isolation from the ongoing war crimes trials of those who collaborated with the Pakistan Army during the
Liberation War of 1971, causing countless deaths in the months leading up to the creation of Bangladesh. The attacks are but
indications of a battle being waged between two sets of ideas on the countrys past, present and future. The first set imagines
Bangladesh as a nation born of a struggle against the linguistic and cultural hegemony of what was then West Pakistan, and
founded on a commitment to liberal, secular and civic values. The second imagines the country not in civic terms but as yet
another outpost of political Islam. The activists have bravely taken positions on the front lines of this struggle against Islamists.
It is this stark contrast that has rendered the rights activists sworn enemies of the Islamists.


The sharp battle lines, drawn ideologically and on the streets, go back to the Shahbag protests in 2013 seeking capital
punishment for Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla and a ban on the organisation. To the ruling Awami Leagues credit,
the government set up the war crimes trials despite threats from the Islamists. It also sought thus to delegitimise groups such
as the Jamaat-e-Islami that had harboured war criminals and allied themselves with powerful political forces, including
successive military dictatorships and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, to stall the transition of Bangladesh into a progressive,
democratic nation state. But Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has tended to limit her governments role to prosecuting the trials.
The government has failed to bring the assassins of bloggers, rights activists and others to justice it perhaps fears a greater
blowback from the Islamists if it does so. As crucially, it is refusing to articulate the political narrative connecting the attacks to
the war crimes trials. This abdication exposes ordinary citizens as the first line of defence against extremism. Ms. Hasina will
be jeopardising Bangladeshs future as a democratic nation if her government does not rally on the side of the rights activists
against the Islamists. Already, groups such as the Islamic State seem to be emboldened by the actions of the Islamists and
have publicly sought to deepen their base in Bangladesh. The longer the government remains on the sidelines in this fight for
secularism, the stronger the forces of extremism will become.
o Liberals - people who respect and allow many different types of beliefs or behaviour
o Secularists - people who believe that religion should not be involved with the
ordinary social and political activities of a country
o LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
o Contested - to oppose an action as mistaken or wrong
o Isolation - to separate something from other things
o Trial - a formal examination of evidence by a judge
o Hegemony - leadership or dominance
o Stark - complete
o Rendered - to cause someone or something to be in a particular state
o Delegitimise - withdraw authority from
o Dictatorship - government by a dictator (a leader who has complete power in a
country and has not been elected by the people)
o To stall - to stop
o Assassin - a person who murders an important person for political or religious
reasons
o Blowback - the unexpected and negative results of a political action or situation
o Articulate - able to express thoughts and feelings easily and clearly
o Abdication - failure to fulfil a responsibility or duty
o Extremism - the holding of extreme political or religious views
o Jeopardising - to put (someone or something) into a situation in which there is a
danger of loss, harm, or failure
o Rally - recover
o Emboldened - to get the courage or confidence to do something
MAY 10/2016


Topic 1 : "The crisis in Nepal"
Once again, Nepal appears to be on the brink of leadership change. The past few days have seen frenetic activity, driven by
Maoist leader Prachandas desire to oust Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli just months after he took charge. While the attempt
has been stalled for the moment, it may be only a matter of time before the number-crunchers get to work to forge an alternative
coalition in the 601-member Parliament. There is a difference of only 24 seats between Mr. Olis Communist Party of Nepal
(UML) and the Nepali Congress. With their 83 seats, the Maoists can always tip the balance. Keeping the confidence of a
fragmented Parliament was always going to be a challenge for Mr. Oli. But he finds himself embattled so early in his tenure is
also the result of failing to deliver on three important promises. The first is that of a more equitable Constitution and polity, that
accommodates the sensitivities of Madhesis, Janjatis and other marginalised groups. The second is that of reversing the
estrangement with India. Yes, Mr. Oli has reached out to different groups, and invited the SLMM, or the Samyukta Loktantrik
Madhesi Morcha, back for talks after a three-month hiatus. The strain in ties with India has been prevented from worsening,
thanks to conciliatory statements from Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa over the weekend. It is on the third, and possibly
most pressing, responsibility that Nepals government has failed its people entirely: speeding up reconstruction after last years
earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people. NGOs estimate that only about one per cent of the 7,70,000 destroyed houses have
been properly reconstructed; millions are living in damaged, unsafe homes or in temporary shanties. At this rate, another winter
may well come and go without children returning to proper schools, and without hospitals acquiring the facilities to serve Nepals
most wanting. It is a mystery why Mr. Olis government has been so lethargic in drawing up a comprehensive plan to spend the
billions of dollars committed by the world community.
India too must share some responsibility for the political crisis in Nepal. For the past six months, New Delhi has raised the ante
with Kathmandu. New Delhi has criticised Nepals Constitution, banding with other countries at the UN Human Rights Council
as well as with the European Union to rebuke Nepals government. Behind the scenes, Foreign Ministry and PMO officials have
expressed their discomfort with Mr. Olis leadership and his overtures to China. In fact, it is widely believed in Kathmandu that
India played a role in the late Sushil Koiralas surprise election challenge to Mr. Oli last year and had a hand in Mr. Prachandas
gambit this month. The Nepali street is particularly conducive to rumours about Indian interference, even if much of this has no
basis in fact. Regardless, this is enough reason for New Delhi to quickly adopt a more open and more energetic outreach, one
that is aimed at nothing more than the overall progress of the Himalayan republic.

o Brink - the point where a new or different situation is about to begin
o Oust - to force someone to leave a position of power, job or place
o Stalled - stopped
o Number-crunchers - someone whose job involves working with numbers and
doing calculations / computers
o Forge - to make an illegal copy of something in order to cheat
purpose
o Tip the balance - to cause a change, esp. in making something more likely to
happen
o Fragmented - consisting of several separate parts
o Embattled - having a lot of problems or difficulties

o Marginalise - to treat someone or something as if they are not important
o Hiatus - a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity
o Conciliatory - intended to show that you care about the feelings or opinions of
someone who is angry or upset with you
o Shanties - small houses, usually made from pieces of wood, metal, or cardboard,
in which poor people live, especially on the edge of a city
o Lethargic - having little energy (feeling unwilling and unable to do anything)
o Comprehensive - including or dealing with all elements or aspects of something
o Ante - an amount of money that each person must risk in order to be part of a
game that involves gambling
o Rebuke - express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their
behaviour or actions
o Regardless - despite / not being affected by something
o Outreach - the extent or length of reaching out
Topic 2 : "All up in smoke?"
Expectedly, tobacco companies are resisting a new regulation that the mandatory pictorial warnings on cigarette packages be
made larger. The legal challenge to the new rule is likely to be finally settled in the weeks ahead, but till then, as per the Supreme
Courts directives, the larger warnings must be printed. For now, cartons will have up to 85 per cent of the packet devoted to
graphic messaging. Having lost the argument on the health effects of cigarette consumption, as well as passive smoking,
cigarette-makers are pleading that tobacco-growers will be adversely affected. Experience in other countries suggests that they
are fighting a losing battle. Australia has become something of a shining example for the rest of the world to follow in clamping
down on suggestive branding. In 2012, it pioneered a move to have cigarettes sold in logo-free plain cartons to deter smokers.
This month, the European Court of Justice backed a measure to cover two-thirds of a cigarette packet with health cautions in
the 28 member-states of the European Union. Earlier, the ECJ had prohibited the use of descriptive terms such as light and
mild to differentiate among cigarettes. This was in addition to the mandatory disclosure on cigarette packs of the ingredients.
The smoking habit is often picked up by suggestive nudges through advertising, peer pressure, and cultural signals that
associate smoking with hipness, attitude, stress-busting, and so on. Indeed, Canberras post-implementation report shows that
there has been a statistically significant drop in the prevalence of smoking since packages have gone logo-less.
In tandem with the latest restrictions on how cigarettes are packaged, the EU and the U.S. have clamped down on the sale of
electronic cigarettes. In the U.S., e-cigarettes cannot be sold to people under 18 years of age. This is the result of a growing
consensus that far from being a harm-free alternative as claimed by industry lobbies, e-cigarettes could sooner or later lure
consumers to take up the real thing. Curiously, it was when the new nicotine-based substitute began to make inroads that some
tobacco giants were more willing to acknowledge the toxic chemicals and carcinogens released while smoking. However, they
continue to pin their hopes on a challenge at the WTO, which they are fighting together with countries that have strong interests
in the tobacco crop. That ruling may still be some time away. But the public health campaign must continue apace with the
enforcement of extensive curbs on smoking in public spaces. This is an effective way to help break the smoking habit, besides
of course protecting bystanders from second-hand smoke. Countries such as India have enforced rules that warnings be affixed


in films when someone lights up on screen. There is still some way to go in the business of cracking down on surrogate
advertising. Having temporarily won its battle in the Supreme Court on packaging, it is time New Delhi did more to discourage
smoking.
o Go up in smoke - to be wasted
o Resisting - to refuse to accept or be changed by something
o Pictorial - to express something using pictures / illustrated
o Directives - official or authoritative instructions
o Carton - a box made from thick cardboard / packet
o Passive - not directly involved
o Pleading - requesting
o Adversely - having a negative or harmful effect on something
o Fight a losing battle - to try hard to do something when there is no chance that
you will succeed
o Clamp down on something - to take strong action to stop or limit a harmful or
unwanted activity
o Pioneered - to develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of
knowledge, or activity)
o Deter - to discourage (someone) from doing something
o Backed - give financial, material, or moral support to something
o Ingredient - part or element of something
o Nudge - small push
o Hipness - style
o Stress-busting - getting rid of stress
o Lobby - to try to influence somebody that a particular thing should or should not
happen, or that a law should be changed
o Lure - tempt somebody to do something
o Inroads - direct and noticeable effects on something
o Toxic - poisonous
o Carcinogen - a substance that causes cancer
o Apace - quickly
o Bystander - a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part
of it
o Enforced - compulsory
o Affixed - attached
o Surrogate - replacing someone else or used instead of something else
MAY 11/2016
Topic 1 : "Freedom to map India"


The concern about the proposed law to introduce a stringent process for the use of geospatial data is not unwarranted.
According to a draft of the Geospatial Information Regulation Bill circulated for feedback, all information that can be represented
on geographical maps will have to be necessarily vetted by a special authority before being publicised. Of course, India has
always been wary of sharing map-making powers. The anxiety, post-1947, draws as much from the nature of the countrys
territorial disputes as from the security implications of a more laissez-faire map policy. Most of these anxieties are, of course,
overblown. This is why two aspects of the new legislation need to be separated and carefully considered before rushing the final
draft for Parliaments approval: the possibility of harassment for possession of widely prevalent cartographic imagery at odds
with the official boundary (think most foreign magazines), and the implications for a host of applications, commercial or in the
public interest, that need real-time updates. Any company, organisation or individual that disseminates maps contradicting
official versions could face up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to Rs. 100 crore. The proposed legislation envisages
appellate authorities and enforcement agencies a signal that issues of misrepresentation could be dealt with more strictly
than they are currently.
The Survey of Indias two-dimensional, multi-coloured maps, of varying resolutions, have served to give us a static picture of
the world around us. But geospatial maps, which the government wants to oversee, reflect how our neighbourhoods are mutating
in real time. They allow us to capture the extent and nature of air pollutants around us, plot the unsustainable plundering of our
groundwater, gauge the spread of a new flu outbreak to confirm if official estimates of, say, a malaria outbreak are understated,
or that simply plot restaurant options in a neighbourhood. The provisions suggest that any modification to the maps or value
addition also need to be cleared. The time lag the proposed process would impose, as well as the possibility of updates being
rejected have worrying, disruptive implications. The draft Bill says that the government will vet geospatial information to preserve
the security, sovereignty and integrity of the country a broad objective that could be misused by the authorities to prevent
any inconvenient information from being tracked, besides creating an avenue for rent-seeking. This is ironic considering that
the Centre has a data-sharing policy in place since 2012 that exhorts departments to make their data on health statistics, forests,
weather, and so on, more accessible to the public and in machine-readable formats. That the government says it is open to
modifying the draft is reassuring. Much like telecom spectrum, geospatial imagery too is a resource that is only beginning to be
valued. It would be better mined to the profit of the public and the government with a transparent policy that values
information more than fines.

o Proposed - put forward (a plan or suggestion) for consideration by others
o Stringent - serious / strict
o Geospatial - relating to data that is associated with a particular location
o Unwarranted - not justified or authorized
o Feedback - information about reactions to a product
o Vetted - to make a careful and critical examination of (something)
o Publicised - make (something) widely known
o Wary - not completely trusting or sure about something or someone


o Implication - the action or state of being involved in something
o Laissez-faire - unwillingness to get involved in something
o Overblown - bigger or more important or impressive than it should be
o Rushing - moving quickly
o Prevalent - existing very commonly or happening often
o Cartography - the art of making or drawing maps
o Disseminate - spread something (especially information) widely
o Contradicting - exactly opposite to something
o Envisage - to imagine or expect something in the future, especially something good
o Appellate - involving an attempt to get a legal decision changed
o Enforcement - to make people obey a law, or to make a particular situation happen
or be accepted
o Oversee - supervise in an official capacity
o Mutating - changing
o Plundering - stealing / removing something violently
o Gauge - to calculate something
o Outbreak - a time when something suddenly begins, especially a disease or
something else dangerous or unpleasant
o Understated - to describe something in a way that makes it seem less important,
serious, bad
usual
o Implication - the effect that an action or decision will have on something in the
future
o Avenue - a way of approaching a problem or making progress towards something
o Ironic - happening in a way that is opposite to what is expected
o Exhorts - strongly encourage to do something
Topic 2 : "His name is Sadiq Khan"
My name is Sadiq Khan and Im the Mayor of London, he said after a bitterly fought election. Whether or not he meant it as
just a statement of fact, for voters of South Asian origin in the British capital the words would have carried a particularly affirming
resonance. In the end, Mr. Khan triumphed easily in the May 5 vote, giving his Labour Party much-needed cheer. The London
mayoral election has been a prestigious one since the directly elected office was created in 2000. It helped that Mr. Khans two,
and only, predecessors were larger-than-life figures who freely took on their party leaderships, giving the office a higher profile


than its limited powers may merit. Ken Livingstone staged his 2000 campaign at odds with the Labour Prime Minister, Tony
Blair, still wildly popular at the time. Boris Johnson, consistently flamboyant and attention-seeking, now leaves the office to head
straight off on a bus tour to rally voters around the Leave option in the Brexit referendum on June 23. Prime Minister David
Cameron, of Mr. Johnsons Conservative Party, invokes the spectre of war and isolation if Britain does indeed exit the European
Union. But the prestige of the office derives in greater measure from the civic ambitions Mr. Livingstone and Mr. Johnson realised
in their respective two-term stints.
Attracting investment and talent while ensuring urban inclusion is a growing challenge in big cities around the world and
London, with its global city dimensions, continues to project 21st century challenges and opportunities more engagingly than
any other. For example, Mr. Livingstone proved critics wrong by successfully implementing the congestion tax and using the
revenue to strengthen public transport, creating a template for urban planners. Mr. Johnson giddily got on a bicycle, withstanding
outrage from motorists for taking away space for cycles. During his campaign, Mr. Khan promised to freeze transport fares,
significantly increase the number of homes created in the city annually, and reserve half of these for Londoners. Zac Goldsmith,
his Conservative rival, was comparatively vague on specifics, and mounted what can be aptly described as a racist attack on
Mr. Khan by accusing him of engaging with Muslim extremists. This was an attempt to harness, if not create, Islamophobia.
That Londons diverse electorate rejected Mr. Goldsmiths polarising campaign lends a heartwarming sheen to the 2016 mayoral
election. After his election, Mr. Khan spoke of the need for big tent politics rather than politics that speaks almost exclusively
to the ideological base a message seen to be directed at his party chief, Jeremy Corbyn, too. That is why it is not only the
rise of the son of a bus driver and a seamstress of Pakistani origin that makes Mr. Khans election so fascinating from afar. It is
also the promise of a new cosmopolitan politics.
o Bitterly - in a way that shows strong negative emotion such as anger or

disappointment
o Affirming - to publicly show your support for an opinion or idea
o Triumphed - achieved a victory / to be successful
o Predecessors - people who held a job or office before the current holder
o Larger-than-life - if someone is larger than life, that person attracts a lot of
attention because they are more exciting or interesting than most people
o Consistently - in a way that does not vary (change)
o Flamboyant - very confident in behaviour, and liking to be noticed by other people
o Brexit - an exit (short for "British exit")
o Referendum - a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked to
give their opinion about or decide an important political or social question
o Spectre - the idea of something unpleasant that might happen in the future
o Isolation - to separate something from other things with which it is connected or
mixed
o Stint - a person's fixed or allotted period of work


o Urban - related to a city or town
o Withstanding - to oppose a person or thing successfully
o Significantly - in a sufficiently great or important way as to be worthy of attention
o Rival - a person competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in
the same field of activity
o Vague - not able to think clearly
o Racist - a person who believes that a particular race is superior to another
o Accusing - saying that someone has done something bad
o Extremists - people who holds extreme political or religious views, especially who
advocates illegal, violent, or other extreme action
o Harness - to control something, usually in order to use its power
o Islamophobia - dislike of Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force
o Polarising - to divide something into two completely opposing groups
o Big tent - used in reference to a political party's policy of permitting or encouraging
a broad spectrum of views among its members
o Seamstress - a woman whose job is sewing and making clothes
o Fascinating - extremely interesting
o Cosmopolitan - containing or having experience of people and things from many
different parts of the world
MAY 12/2016
Topic 1 : "Lessons from Uttarakhand"
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawats victory in the floor test was a foregone conclusion after the Supreme Court
barred nine dissident Congress legislators from participating in the confidence vote. The votes of 27 remaining loyalists and a
six-member bloc have seen him through. The result, which has been confirmed by the Supreme Court, brings an end to the
Bharatiya Janata Partys political misadventure in exploiting the dissidence within the Congress and attempting to install a
government either run or backed by defectors. Ever since the government led by it hastily imposed Presidents Rule on the eve
of a floor test scheduled in March, it has been unable to convince the judiciary of the justification for doing so. Two legal principles
stood in the way of its plan: the bar on defection and the primacy of the floor test in determining a governments majority.
Whatever be the right of legislators to disagree with their leadership, it is limited by the rule against defection, as the law stands
at present. In Uttarakhand, of course, the situation was complicated by the fact that a clear majority in the State Assembly
made up of BJP and rebel Congress MLAs had pressed for a division of votes in writing in advance of the Appropriation Bill
being taken up. While there is no escaping the fact that Mr. Rawat had lost his majority in the House, one lesson from the
development is that one piece of impropriety (remaining in office by the use of the Speakers disqualification powers) does not


justify another piece of possible illegality (the imposition of Presidents Rule after attempts at toppling a government were
stalled).
As for Mr. Rawat, he will still have to face possible prosecution if the CBI decides to press ahead with its probe into a sting
operation that showed him offering bribes to some MLAs for their support. The legal challenge to his reinstatement is also by
no means over, with the Supreme Court still to take a view on whether the disqualification of the rebel Congress MLAs was
valid. At a larger level, the Uttarakhand crisis raises important questions that are relevant to the functioning of democracy: should
Chief Ministers who have lost their majority take recourse to the anti-defection law to stay in power? Is disqualifying inconvenient
MLAs an acceptable way of managing the majority of a government? On the flip side, should a few lawmakers, who constitute
a fraction of a partys strength in the legislature, be allowed to topple a regime at the behest of the opposition? While the floor
test rule to prove majority laid down by the Bommai judgment must remain, the time may have come to rethink the provisions
that give Speakers untrammelled power to adjudicate on the issue of defection, particularly when such rulings can have a direct
bearing on a trust vote. Bommai insured State governments to a large extent against the Centres machinations, as the BJP
has just rediscovered to its embarrassment. But the growing misuse of the anti-defection law by ruling parties across the political
spectrum suggests that Assemblies need some insurance against scheming State governments as well.
o Floor test - a test to prove majority (by head-count) on the floor of the Parliament
for a crucial decision
o Foregone conclusion - a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens
o Legislator - a person who makes laws (a member of a legislative body)
o Loyalist - a person that strongly supports the government or ruler in power
o Bloc - group
o Misadventure - an unfortunate incident
o Exploiting - to use something in a way that helps you
o Dissidence - protest against official policy
o Backed by - supported by
o Defector - a person who leaves his own group to join an opposing one
o Hastily - hurriedly
o Defection - to leave a country / political party, etc., especially in order to join an
opposing one
o Rebel - a person who is opposed to the political system in their country and tries to
change it using force
o Impropriety - behaviour that is dishonest, socially unacceptable, or unsuitable for
a particular situation
o Toppling - remove (a government or person in authority) from power
o Probe - a thorough investigation into a crime or other mattee
o Sting operation - an operation implemented by undercover agents to catch
criminals while they are doing illegal things
o Reinstatement - the action of giving someone back a position they have lost
o Valid - legally or officially acceptable
o On the flip side - opposite side of something
o Topple - to (cause to) lose balance and fall down
o Behest - a person's orders or command


o Untrammelled - not limited by rules or any other controlling influence
o Adjudicate - to act as judge in a competition or argument / to make a formal
decision about something
o Machination - a plot or scheme
Topic 2 : "Closing the tax bolthole"
More than three decades and several billions of dollars of lost revenue after India entered into a bilateral Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement with Mauritius, the two countries have finally renegotiated the terms of their agreement. The signing, this
week, of the protocol for amending the treaty means that with effect from April 1, 2017, companies and investors resident in
Mauritius will have to pay capital gains tax on the sale of shares purchased, on or after that date, in a company based in India.
The amendment to the convention has been some time coming. In 2011, the UPA government had informed Parliament that a
joint working group was in place since 2006 to ensure adequate safeguards to prevent misuse of the DTAA and that work
was in progress to strengthen the agreement and improve the exchange of information on tax matters. However, nothing
concrete emerged. The present NDA government too, in its first full Budget, presented in 2015, acceded to opposition from
overseas investors and postponed the implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) to 2017. It is against this
backdrop that the amendment to the DTAA with Mauritius comes as a very welcome development that could help plug a
significant loophole for tax avoidance. The practice of setting up companies in Mauritius merely to take advantage of the DTAA
and the prevailing low tax rates there will now be rendered pointless. There is to be a mandatory check of the main purpose and
bona fides of a business a firm based in Mauritius will be deemed to be a shell or conduit company if its total operational
expenses in that country are less than Rs.27 lakh. It will not be eligible for the 50 per cent reduction in tax rate on capital gains
to be applicable to investments made under the amended DTAA during a transitional two-year period between April 1, 2017 and
March 31, 2019. From April 1, 2019, all transactions attracting capital gains tax for investments made out of Mauritius will be
taxed at the full applicable rate prevailing at the time in India.
The DTAA amendment will also ensure Indias conformity to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and
G20-led guidelines on combating base erosion and profit shifting. In 2015, the OECD had spelt out a series of measures
countries needed to take to curb abusive tax avoidance by multinational enterprises including steps to tighten double taxation
avoidance treaties. For a country keen to play a greater role in global decision-making, the move to seal a key route for the
round-tripping of capital generated out of tax-dodging enterprises will help boost both revenue and confidence in the rule of law
in India. It is beyond doubt that ensuring a level playing field for all international investors, irrespective of domicile, can only
serve to enhance Indias attractiveness as an investment destination in the long run.
o Bolthole - a place where a person can escape and hide

o Several - more than two but not many
o Bilateral - having or relating to two sides
o Renegotiate - to discuss an agreement again in order to change it
o Amending - making minor changes to something
o Concrete - clear
o Emerged - to appear by coming out of something or out from behind something


o Loophole - a small mistake in law that gives someone the chance to avoid having
to do something
o Rendered - provided / gave
o Bona fides - documentary evidence showing that a person is what they claim to be
/ credentials
o Conduit - a way of connecting two places
o Conformity - to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are
expected by the society
o Combating - to take action to reduce or prevent (something bad or undesirable)
o To curb - to control or limit something that is not wanted
o Treaty - a written agreement between two or more countries, formally approved
and signed by their leaders
o Dodging - avoiding
o Domicile - the country that a person treats as their permanent home
MAY 13/2016
Topic 1 : "Drought relief on order"
That scarcity of water and its poor quality plague many parts of India this year is widely acknowledged today. Yet it has taken
the Supreme Court to call out the reluctance of some States to declare a drought while simultaneously decrying the Centres
recourse to federalism as an excuse to avoid taking up the matter with these States. In the judgment, delivered on a writ
petition filed by the non-governmental organisation Swaraj Abhiyan, the Supreme Court concluded that Bihar and Haryana had
been remiss in not officially declaring a drought despite clear indications of water scarcity; also that Gujarat was late in its
declaration made in April 2016. The governments of Bihar and Haryana had argued that a declaration of drought was not
necessary as rainfall deficits had eased in many districts by July 2015. But the Supreme Court has pointed out that many districts
in these States have since progressively suffered rainfall deficits till as late as October 2015. The court also said that steps
taken by State governments for irrigation and foodgrain production, or the presence of perennial rivers (which the Bihar
government has submitted as a factor), alone cannot determine whether there is a drought-like situation or not. It has directed
the Centre to take proactive steps in drought mitigation as well as in assessment, planning and relief as mandated by the
Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Drought is attributed to rainfall deficit in several States, suggesting that meteorological and natural factors are primarily
responsible for the phenomenon. This, however, is an incomplete explanation. Water scarcity in both surface and ground
water is also the result of failure to regulate water extraction, storage, wastage and patterns of use. The excessive use of
deep borewells to extract groundwater has eroded the capacity of aquifers to replenish. Poor reservoir management has led to
silt accumulation, among other issues limiting water storage. Lack of water harvesting and over-irrigation owing to cropping


choices and patterns have depleted water tables. Preparation for drought and ipso facto for a deficit in annual rainfall must go
beyond mitigation and include steps to address this man-made scarcity. This cannot be done without a coordinated effort at all
levels of government. The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to constitute a National Disaster Response Force, establish
a National Disaster Mitigation Fund, formulate a National Plan on mitigation and crisis management, and standardise the
methodology for declaring a drought. If one sets aside the question of whether this is another case of judicial overreach, it is
difficult to deny that this is a truly landmark judgment. By laying down a broad framework for dealing with such situations and
firmly emphasising that the government cannot absolve itself from acting decisively, the manner in which we deal with drought
in the future may change markedly, and for the better.
o Drought - a long period when there is little or no rain

o Scarcity - shortage
o Decrying - publicly declare to be wrong or evil
o Federalism - the system of giving power to a central authority
o Writ - the authority to rule or make laws
o Remiss - lacking care or attention to duty / negligent
o Irrigation - to supply land with water so that crops and plants will grow
o Perennial - lasting a very long time
o Proactive - taking action by causing change and not only reacting to change when
it happens
o Mitigation - the action of reducing the seriousness of something
o Mandate - give (someone) authority to act in a certain way
o Attribute to something - to say or think that something is the result of something
else
o Extraction - the process of removing something by force
o Eroded - gradually destroyed
through it
o Replenish - fill (something) up again
o Slit - cut
o Accumulation - an amount of something that has been collected
o Harvesting - the process of collecting a natural resource to use it effectively
o Depleted - reduced
o Ipso facto - used to say that it is reasonable to state or believe something based
on facts that are already known
o Constitute - to legally establish or make something
o Overreach - to fail by trying to achieve more than you can manage
o Emphasising - give special importance or value to something
o Absolve - declare (someone) free from guilt or punishment
o Decisive - able to make decisions quickly and confidently


Topic 2 : "Regime change in Brazil"
It is a coup by another name. With the suspension of President Dilma Rousseff from office on Thursday through a Senate
impeachment vote, the Brazilian opposition has secured a rare political victory. The impeachment, approved with a 55-22
majority, brings to an end 13 years of rule by the Workers Party (PT). It also puts Ms. Rousseffs political future in limbo as she
now has to weather the impeachment trial, which could last up to six months and will determine if she may or may not regain
the presidency. While the opposition politicians are understandably happy with the outcome, the impeachment is likely to deepen
Brazils political crisis at a time when the country needs a stable administration to cope with the enormous challenges it faces,
especially the current economic crisis, and chronic corruption. Certainly, Ms. Rousseff could have done more to lead her country
out of this situation. Her government was ill-prepared to cope with the challenges of the global drop in commodity prices, which
hit Brazils export-dependent economy particularly hard. Some of the measures she took, such as cutting public expenditure to
control deficit, were counter-productive as they drove the PTs traditional base, the working people, away from her. Besides,
she could do little to check the pervasive corruption within the PT. The question of course is whether such political failures
warrant an impeachment. Also, will the forcible removal of Ms. Rousseff help address any of the major problems Brazil faces
now?
Those who support the impeachment, politicians and others, say it is a fight against corruption and Ms. Rousseffs economic
ineptitude. This line of reasoning has at least two problems. First, she has not been implicated in any corruption case. Ironically,
Vice-President Michel Temer, who will now take over as acting President, has been named in a Petrobras bribery scandal.
According to surveys, only 2 per cent of Brazilians support him for President, while 60 per cent favour his impeachment. Even
the head of the Senate and the man who oversaw the impeachment vote, Renan Calheiros, is the subject of 11 criminal probes.
Second, it is not clear what kind of changes the incoming acting President can bring about to rescue Brazils economy from a
free fall and to stabilise its politics given that he faces corruption charges and has no popular mandate. Though Ms. Rousseff
is unpopular, the PT still commands respect among large sections of Brazils poor. If the PT continues its street protests against
the impeachment, which have at times turned violent, that would make it that much more difficult for Mr. Temer to establish
credible authority. The best, and the democratic, way out of this crisis would be to call fresh elections and let the people decide
who should be the next President. He or she could start afresh on the basis of a new mandate. Unfortunately, Brazils political
elite appear to be more interested in political manoeuvring than in addressing the real issues.
o Coup - a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government
o Senate - the smaller upper assembly in the US, US states, France, and other
countries
o Impeachment - to make a formal statement saying that a public official is guilty
of a serious offence in connection with their job
o Limbo - an uncertain situation that you cannot control and in which there is no
progress or improvement
o Weather - to deal successfully with a difficult situation or a problem
o Cope - to deal successfully with a difficult situation
o Ill-prepared - not ready or prepared for something


o Counter-productive - having the opposite of the desired effect
o Pervasive - spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people
o Warrant - to make a particular activity necessary
o Ineptitude - lack of skill, ability, or competence
o Implicated - to show that someone is involved in a crime or partly responsible for
something bad that has happened
o Scandal - an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing
general public outrage
o Probe - a thorough investigation into a crime or other matter
o Stabilise - to become fixed or stops changing
o Protest - a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something
o Credible - convincing
o Elite - the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society
o Manoeuvring - the action of cleverly planning something to get an advantage
MAY 14/2016
Topic 1 : "A disappointing verdict"
The Supreme Court verdict upholding the provisions of the Indian Penal Code that make defamation a criminal offence is
retrograde and out of tune with the times. Many countries, including neighbouring Sri Lanka, have decriminalised defamation,
which should be a civil offence alone. The court has unfortunately accepted the self-serving argument by the Centre that criminal
defamation does not have a chilling, inhibiting effect on the freedom of expression. In fact, there is enough anecdotal evidence
that its existence on the statute book leads to self-censorship, and that it is often used to stifle legitimate criticism. The court
has sought to create an artificial balance between the fundamental right of free speech under Article 19(1) (a) and the right to
reputation as part of ones right to life under Article 21. When an individual has the recourse to sue respondents in civil courts
for damages against loss of reputation, there is hardly any justification to keep the criminal option open. It is true that defamation
is one of the reasonable restrictions to free speech envisaged in the Constitution, but this is not enough to justify retaining its
criminal component. In the Indian context, criminal defamation is not generally a dispute between two individuals. It is invariably
a shield for public servants, political leaders, corporations and institutions against critical scrutiny as well as questions from the
media and citizens. The challenge to the validity of Section 499 and 500 of the IPC was undoubtedly the biggest free speech
issue to have arisen in recent times. The two-judge Bench could have referred the matter to a Constitution Bench.
If criminal defamation is really needed to protect reputations, it is befuddling how the right to reputation under Article 21 can be
extended to collectives such as the government, corporations and institutions, which presumably have the resources to set right
damage to their reputations. The origins of criminal defamation lie in the Court of the Star Chamber of King Henry VIII, where it
was used as a means of punishing disrespect towards authority. Some State governments seem to go by this principle while
filing defamation complaints against political rivals, media organisations and journalists. The outcome is often of little
significance, as it is the process that is the punishment. The court could have read down Section 199 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure that allows public prosecutors to step into the shoes of allegedly defamed public servants. It is patently unfair to allow

the State to use its legal machinery to suppress criticism without public servants concerned being required to testify in court on
the actual injury or loss of reputation suffered by them. The faith the court has reposed in the ability of prosecutors and lower
court judges to apply their mind before instituting cases or issuing summons is worrying. Given the presence of key political
figures among those who challenged the provisions, perhaps the last hope is that Parliament may be rallied to scrap it.
o Uphold - to say that a decision that has already been made (especially a legal one)
is correct
happen or be done
o Defamation - the action of damaging the good reputation of someone
o Offence - an illegal act / a crime
o Retrograde - returning to older and worse conditions, methods, ideas, etc
o Out of tune - not in agreement with someone or something
o Decriminalised - to stop something from being illegal
o Inhibiting - slowing down a process or the growth of something
o Anecdotal - not based on facts or careful study
o Statute - a written law passed by a legislative body
o Stifle - to prevent something from happening
o Sue - to take legal action against a person or organization
o Envisaged - to imagine or expect that something is a desirable possibility in the
future
o Invariably - always
o Shield - protection
o Befuddling - confusing
o Collective - an organization or business that is owned and controlled by the people
who work in it
o Presumably - used to say what you think is the likely situation
o Rival - a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for
superiority in the same field of activity
o Significance - the quality of being worthy of attention / importance
o Step into the shoes of somebody - to take someone's place
o Allegedly - used to say that something has happended (although there is no proof).
o Patently - clearly / without doubt
o Reposed - to keep something in a particular place
o Instituting - introducing / establishing
o Rallied - to come together in order to provide support
o Scrap - to not continue with a system or plan
Topic 2 : "BCCI after Shashank Manohar"


Shashank Manohars resignation as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has come at an inopportune
moment for the sport in this country. Conversely, his re-election as the chairman of the International Cricket Council is a fillip to
the games apex body. In his recent stint at the ICC, Mr. Manohar helped curb the disproportionate powers and profit of the so-
called big three, India, Australia and England, an initiative that has been insufficiently lauded. And on his watch, the BCCI has
been able to recover a semblance of equilibrium after its credibility had been steadily eroded since 2013. Beginning with
controversies drawing from conflicts of interest in the Indian Premier League, the BCCI had come under a gathering cloud. The
boards functioning eventually came to be scrutinised by the Supreme Court, which has made some extraordinary interventions.
In fact, recommendations on a clean-up by the court-appointed Lodha panel are still being heard in the Supreme Court. It is not
clear whether Mr. Manohar chose to leave the BCCI on account of his inability to adequately tide over the Lodha storm or
whether he simply saw it as a prerequisite for election as the ICCs first independent chairman. Till now he had been serving in
the ICC post as the BCCIs nominee. New rules, in the framing of which he played a role, stipulate that nominees not be attached
to any board.
Now that he has been elected as chairman of the ICC on Thursday, Mr. Manohars fresh stint will be closely watched. Freed
from his moorings at the BCCI, will he bring some coherence to the administration of international cricket, particularly to its
calendar? Post-IPL, international cricket is being played basically to the dictates of the games most profitable territories read
India, Australia and England. Will he, for instance, revive the Future Tours Programme that gave all ICC full members assurance
of matches with each other? Will he check the BCCIs arbitrariness in forcing its agenda on other boards? Meanwhile, back at
the BCCI, different lobbies are at work to swing the numbers to their own advantage. Whoever steps into Mr. Manohars shoes
will first have to contend with the Lodha panels wide-ranging recommendations. These include an age cap of 70 years for office-
bearers, a representative of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to oversee financial transactions, withdrawal of full
membership to the Cricket Club of India and Railways (among others), induction of the northeastern States, and the removal of
BCCI office-bearers from the IPL Governing Council. Mr. Manohar worked towards implementing some of the suggestions but
much more needs to be done. If the Supreme Courts unerring gaze is focussed on the BCCI, it only has itself to blame. The
top item on the next board presidents agenda has to be to avert a slide back to the BCCIs bad old ways and reverse the
impression that it is an opaque, old boys club.
o Inopportune - occurring at an inappropriate time

o Conversely - from a different and opposite way of looking at this
o Apex - the top or highest part of something
o Lauded - praised highly
o Semblance - similarity
o Equilibrium - a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced
o Eroded - slowly destroyed
o Scrutinise - to examine something very carefully in order to discover information
o Intervention - the act becoming involved intentionally in a difficult situation


o Tide over somebody / something - to supply someone for a short time with
something that is lacking
o Prerequisite - a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to
happen or exist
o Nominee - someone who has been nominated for something
o Stipulate - to say exactly how something must be done
o Moorings - the ropes or chains that keep you from moving away from a particular
place
o Coherence - the situation when the parts of something fit together in a natural or
reasonable way
o Dictates - orders
o Territory - an area, that is considered as belonging to or connected with a particular
country / organization / person
o Arbitrariness - based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason
o Meanwhile - on the other hand
o Lobby - to try to convince a politician, the government, or an official group that a
particular thing should or should not happen
o Swing - to move
o Contend - struggle
o Comptroller - a controller (used in the title of some financial officers)
o Oversee - to watch or organize a job or an activity to make sure that it is being
done correctly (supervise)
o Office-bearer - a person holding a position of authority in an organization
o Unerring - always right or accurate
o Gaze - to look at something or someone for a long time
o Opaque - not able to be seen through / not transparent
MAY 16/2016
Topic 1 : "Left, Right, Left ?"
An emerging third player in a polarised political field can effect unpredictable changes to the electoral outcome. The Bharatiya
Janata Party will not end the dominance of the two alliance formations in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic
Front and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front, but may be set to alter the political scene in the State in new ways.
Traditionally, BJP sympathisers, drawn from the considerable cadre base of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have voted
against the Left, seeing the Congress as the lesser, god-fearing evil. However, with the BJP now scaling up to a significant
presence in Kerala, a section of Hindu votes may shift towards it and away from the Congress. At the same time, such
calculations may be upset if the BJP, now in a seat-sharing arrangement with a party that purports to represent the States large
Ezhava population, traditional supporters of the Left, makes electoral inroads into this upwardly mobile backward class
community. Keralas polarised politics hides a deeply fragmented polity held together by coalitions and power-sharing. Smaller
parties have earned their place in one or the other front on account of their proven ability to tilt the scales for the Congress and
the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in specific constituencies. The UDF-LDF polarisation was thus achieved on the basis of
accommodative politics, and not through marginalisation of the smaller players. Over the years, casteist and religious groups

have found a place in both fronts, and some parties have moved from one front to the other with ease. But the BJP, with its
right-wing politics and its anti-Congressism, is a different political force it cannot, and maybe will not, allow itself to be
assimilated in either of the two fronts. Kerala might thus be witnessing a slow political churning, one that could unsettle the two
major fronts with long-term consequences. While parties seeking to represent the Muslim and Christian communities, the Indian
Union Muslim League and the factions of the Kerala Congress, may not cohabit with the BJP, its future may lie in replicating the
success it had in wooing the Ezhava-backed BJDS, and attracting the support of other caste-based outfits.
The LDF seems to have overcome, if only on the surface, the factional rivalry in the CPI(M) between former Chief Minister V.S.
Achuthanandan and former State secretary of the party Pinarayi Vijayan. The UDF is mired incorruption scandals and the
anti-incumbency factor hangs heavy on Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The bar bribery scandal, involving Kerala
Congress (Mani) leader and former Finance Minister K.M. Mani has also exacerbated divisions within the UDF. This is an
important election for the Congress, which is looking for an Assembly election victory it can call its own after the Lok Sabha
debacle of 2014, and for the Left, which desperately needs to return to power in Kerala after losing its stranglehold on West
Bengal. In a State where a small vote swing can determine the result, much will depend on how BJP supporters vote: they will
determine whether this election will alter the revolving-door pattern that has seen one Front yielding to another every five years.

o Polarised - to divide into two completely opposing groups
o Unpredictable - likely to change suddenly and without reason
o Outcome - result
o Alter - change
o Sympathiser - a person who supports a political organization or believes in a set
of ideas
o Scaling up - to increase the size
o Purports - to pretend to be something, especially in a way that is not easy to
believe
o Upwardly mobile - moving to a higher social class (by becoming richer)
purpose (for a limited time)
a legislative body
o Marginalisation - to treat someone or something as if they are not important
o Assimilate - to become part of a group
o Churning - move very forcefully or energeticaly
from the main group
o Cohabit - coexist / live together
o Replicating - to make an exact copy of something / reproducing
o Wooing - seeking the favour / support
o Rivalry - competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field
o Mired - to be involved in a difficult situation, especially for a long period of time
o Scandal - an action regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public
outrage
o Exacerbated - to make something that is already bad even worse
o Debacle - a complete failure (especially because of bad planning and organization)
o Desperately - extremely or very much


o Stranglehold - a position of complete control that prevents something from
developing
o Swing - change / move
o Determine - cause (something) to occur in a particular
o Alter - change
o Revolving-door pattern - repeating pattern (one after another)
o Yielding - to give up the control of or responsibility
Topic 2 : "A new strongman in the Philippines".
During his election campaign, Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines was often compared to Donald Trump. Like the Republican
Partys presumptive candidate, Mr. Duterte ran a divisive, anti-establishment campaign built around a strongman image. His
contempt for law, threats to shut down Congress and pledge to send the army and the police to kill criminals had all revived
memories of Ferdinand Marcoss brutal dictatorship, brought to an end by a revolution in 1986. Mr. Dutertes victory in the
presidential elections by a clear margin, has thrown the future of the Philippines into uncertainty. The countrys political elite are
partly responsible for the triumph of his brand of politics. Though outgoing President Benigno Aquino is hailed as a champion
of economic reforms, the high growth barely trickled down to the poor. Despite the economy clocking an average annual growth
rate of 6.3 per cent between 2010 and 2015, the percentage of Filipinos living below the national poverty line in 2015 stood at
26.3, almost the same as in 2009. Infrastructure is poor and corruption is persistent. The revolution that brought the Marcos era
to an end has, over the years, ossified into oligarchic rule, with a few political dynasties pulling the strings. Mr. Duterte, known
for his crackdown on crime in Davao as the citys Mayor, presented himself as an alternative to the oligarchs in Manila. His
populism and showmanship helped rally the electorate to his side.
The race to the presidency from the office of a city Mayor was indeed tough. But ruling a country of 100 million people that faces
enormous challenges is going to be harder. Mr. Duterte lacks experience in national politics and support among the legislators.
If he turns dictatorial, as Marcos did, he risks a mass rebellion. Those who voted him to power could easily turn against him. If
Mr. Duterte is serious about implementing reforms to spread growth beyond Manila, he will require the help of the very legislators
he antagonised during the campaign. He should tread cautiously because the established parties that control Congress can
make his job more difficult. Two of Mr. Aquinos immediate predecessors faced impeachment charges one had to resign and
the other was jailed after her term was over. Geopolitically, Mr. Dutertes election comes at a crucial moment. The Philippines
and China are in a stand-off over claims in the South China Sea. Mr. Dutertes brash comments on other countries, including
regional allies, seem to point to a lack of diplomatic equanimity needed to grapple with complex geopolitical issues. These
challenges and weaknesses dont guarantee his failure as President. But he would do better if he toned down the rhetoric,
adopted a more conciliatory approach in order to buy peace with political rivals, and pursued an inclusive, growth-centric
approach.
o Presumptive - to believe based on the information that you have

o Divisive - tending to cause disagreement between people
o Contempt - a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or
something
o Revived - restored / to bring something back to life
o Brutal - unpleasant or harsh
o Dictatorship - government by a leader who has complete power in a country and
has not been elected by the people


o Elite - the richest, most powerful group in a society
o Partly - to some extent; not completely
o Hailed - called / praised
o Reforms - changes
o Trickled down - used to refer to a situation in which something that starts in the
high parts of a system spreads to the whole of the system
o Persistent - lasting for a long time / difficult to get rid of
o Era - a period of time of which particular events or stages of development are typical
o Ossified - fixed (unable to change)
o Oligarchy - government by a small group of powerful people
o Dynasties - a series of rulers or leaders who are all from the same family
o Pulling the strings - to be in control of an organization
o Crackdown - a series of serious measures to restrict undesirable or illegal people
or behaviour
o Populism - political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of
o Showmanship - the ability to do things in a way that attracts attention
o Enormous - very large in size / quantity
o Dictatorial - a ruler with total power
o Rebellion - violent action organized by a group of people who are trying to change
the political system in their country
o Reforms - improvements
o Antagonised - to make someone dislike you or feel opposed to you
o Tread - to move in a specified way
o Impeachment - to make a public official guilty of a serious offence in connection
with their job
o Geopolitically - political activity as influenced by the physical features of a country
or area of the world
o Brash - showing too much confidence and too little respect
o Allies - countries that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one
o Equanimity - calmness and composure, especially in a difficult situation
o Grapple - to fight, especially in order to win something
o Toned down - to make something less forceful or offensive
o Conciliatory - intended to show that you care about the feelings or opinions of
someone who is angry or upset with you
MAY 17/2016
Topic 1 : "The fee for NSG membership"
Chinas announcement that it intends to oppose Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group unless it agrees to
sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) comes just a month ahead of the NSGs annual plenary session. For the past year, India
had made admission to the 48-member NSG a focus of its international outreach, though membership has been a goal since
the India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement was signed in 2008. Several major countries including the U.S., Russia, Germany,
the U.K. and Australia have openly backed the bid, despite the fact that India is not a signatory to the NPT, widely considered
to be a key criterion for NSG membership. In 2015,India reached out to many other NSG members, including those such as
Ireland and Sweden that are members of the pro-disarmament group, the New Agenda Coalition, and have traditionally been
opposed to its admission. The visit to New Delhi of NSG Chairperson Rafael Grossi in October 2015, when he spoke of
taking the request forward, was seen to be a positive sign in this effort. Thus the disappointment after the signal from Beijing


last week. Clearly, Chinas stand is a combination of its fraught relations with India as well as its desire that its all-weather
friend Pakistan not be disadvantaged in the process. While this ignores Pakistans well-known proliferation record, it also points
to failure on the part of Indian diplomats tasked with convincing China that admitting India to the NSG is the logical thing to do.
However, this is not the end of the road for Indias NSG ambitions. Indeed, it is a signal that more persuasive diplomacy is
needed to bring around naysayers such as China from blocking New Delhis bid, much as was done to bring China on board to
get India the NSG waiver in 2008. For this, the government must begin an internal debate to appraise its own position on the
NSG membership, and to figure out how far it is willing to go to secure it. It will, first, have to reckon with the possibility that NSG
members could object to an India-specific ruling, and that other non-NPT countries, including Pakistan and Israel, may also
benefit from any flexibility that is shown in Indias case. Second, there is a possibility that India could receive a second class
membership, and not be considered a nuclear weapons state by the NSG. The third, and most important, point is that
membership of the NSG, a body set up specifically in response to Indias nuclear test in 1974, will eventually require India to
curtail its nuclear weapons programme. U.S. President Barack Obamas comments, made after the Nuclear Security Summit,
that the nuclear arsenals of India and Pakistan are taking them in the wrong direction, underscore this. If India aims to be part
of the elite NSG club, it must have a realistic idea of what the fee for full membership is, added to the diplomatic outreach
required to win support from China. A full and transparent cost-benefit analysis is crucial.

o Treaty - a written agreement between two or more countries
o Plenary - a meeting or session attended by all participants at a conference or
assembly
o Though - however
o Signatory - a person, organization, or country that has signed an agreement
o Key - important
o Criterion - a standard by which you judge, decide about, or deal with something
o Disarmament - the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons
o Coalition - the joining together of different political parties or groups for a
particular purpose
o Fraught - full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers
o Diplomat - an official representing a country abroad
o Ambitions - targets / goals
o Persuasive - making you want to do or believe a particular thing
o Naysayers - someone who says something is not possible, is not good, or will fail
o Appraise - to examine someone or something in order to judge their qualities,
success, or needs
o Reckon - to think or believe
o Flexibility - the ability to be easily modified / willingness to change or compromise
o Curtail - to stop something before it is finished, or to reduce or limit something
o Arsenals - a collection of weapons and military equipment
o Underscore - underline / highlight


o Elite - a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a
group or society
o Crucial - very important
Topic 2 : waiting to exhale
After topping the list of cities with the most polluted air, Delhis ranking has improved in the latest air quality
assessment published by the World Health Organization. Indias car-dominated national capital is no longer in the top ten cities
choked by particulate matter. The top spot is now taken by Zabol, a city in Iran crippled by a vast disappeared wetland, dust
storms, deforestation and desertification. The WHOs upgrading of Delhi may appear a positive, but it is cold comfort to India
because the problem of small particulate matter (PM) measuring 10 and 2.5 micrometres is still deep-rooted, and its health
impact has been under official scrutiny only in recent years. Also, while Delhi has come to the 11th place for fine particulate
matter pollution, many other cities in north India with a history of poor air quality are still high on the WHO list. This is unsurprising,
as scientific studies point to distinct causative factors and atmospheric conditions in this part of the country that lead to very
poor air quality. It is becoming clearer, for instance, that there is a higher risk of premature death from respiratory and cardiac
conditions in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar, where living conditions are already difficult, and there is
a large population suffering long-term exposure to PM and PM from a variety of sources, including household cooking. It is
strongly quantified through research that air pollution increases the risk of death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
heart problems, lung cancer and other chronic ailments. This should prompt the Centre, which frames environmental law, to act
speedily.
It has been known for long that the States along the Indo-Gangetic basin register higher levels of particulate matter pollution
due to specific factors. Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh contribute a large part of the air pollution suffered by
populations in the east too. A policy of mitigation should therefore aim to reduce the burning of solid cooking fuels and agricultural
biomass, which takes place in the post-monsoon and winter seasons. This requires a coordinated approach involving the Centre
and the States, and enlightened welfare policies relating to improved cooking stoves, solar stoves and cooking gas, low-cost
heating facilities and affordable shelter. These measures would contribute to a reduction in the general burden of disease, and
reduce the number of premature deaths linked to pollution. In fact, one government-funded study by IIT Delhi suggests that if
India could meet its target for PM levels of 40 micrograms per cubic metre which is not at all ambitious since the national
average is about 37.3 over 44,000 premature deaths could be prevented annually. It is important to curb the use of automotive
fossil fuels, and promote public transport and non-motorised alternatives such as cycling and electric vehicles. Urbanisation
also needs to become green, with eco-sensitive administrations providing paved surfaces, wetlands, parks and trees.
o Exhale - breathe out

o Assessment - to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of
something
o Choked - to have serious difficulty in breathing
o Particulate matter - matter in the form of very small separate particles
o Crippled - seriously damaged
o Vast - of very great extent or quantity
o Deforestation - clearing of trees, transforming a forest into cleared land
o Desertification - the process by which land changes into desert


o Cold comfort - poor or inadequate
o Deep-rooted - strongly felt or believed and very difficult to change or get rid of
o Impact - effect or influence
o Causative - acting as the cause of something
o Premature death - death that occurs before a person reaches an expected age
o Respiratory - relating to breathing
o Cardiac - relating to the heart
o Several - more than two but not many
o Household - a group of people (family), who live together
o Quantified - express or measure the quantity of
o Chronic - (especially of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time
o Obstructive - trying to stop someone from doing something by causing problems
for them
o Pulmonary - relating to the lungs
o Ailment - illness
o Prompt - to make someone decide to say or do something
o Mitigation - the action of reducing the seriousness or painfulness of something
o Enlightened - showing understanding, acting in a positive way, and not following
old-fashioned or false beliefs
o Ambitious - it needs a great amount of skill and effort to be successful or be
achieved
o Administration - the management of public affairs / government
MAY 18/2016
Topic 1 : "The ghosts of Sykes-Picot"
West Asia lies in tatters. Parts of the border between Iraq and Syria have been virtually erased by the Islamic State. Syria itself
is divided among multiple groups. Iraqs government has no control over at least a fourth of its territory. Iraqi Kurdistan, an
autonomous region, has demanded freedom from Baghdad. The Syrian Kurdistan region is being run by the Kurds themselves
for the first time in several decades. The regional map is fractured in many more ways. What triggered this crisis? Part of the
blame lies with a century-old agreement between Britain and France that is viewed as the source of the modern map of West
Asia. When the British and French signed the Sykes-Picot pact a century ago on May 16, 1916 to divide the huge land
mass of the Ottoman Empire between themselves, their primary concern was to retain their colonial interests. In the process,
the map prepared by diplomats Mark Sykes and Franois Georges-Picot ignored local identities, leaving several ethnic and
social contradictions unaddressed. Even when actual boundaries were identified after the First World War, the focus was on
colonial and regional interests, not on the political preferences of the people. Against this background, it may not be a
coincidence that over the years the most powerful political ideologies that emerged from the region directly or indirectly
challenged the Sykes-Picot system. Both Nasserism and Baathism sought to transcend the territorial nationalist boundaries.
Egypt and Syria even went ahead to declare a United Arab Republic, an experiment that collapsed after the 1961 coup in
Damascus. And now, even Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the IS, calls for an end to the Sykes-Picot conspiracy.


The modern map of the region may not bear any great resemblance to the original lines drawn by Sykes and Picot. What matters
more now than the actual Sykes-Picot map is the legacy of the agreement: foreign interventions. From the colonial carve-up to
the Iraq war or the fight against the IS, foreign involvement in the region continues, and often exacerbates the crises rather than
solving them. Equally problematic has been the failure of West Asias leaders to live up to the challenges of their respective
states. Over the years, they resisted reform and ran largely oppressive systems rooted in social conservatism and patronage.
They showed no interest in tackling the problems the Sykes-Picot pact failed to address, such as the Kurdish question. Their
authoritarianism simply sharpened the social contradictions in their states, while intra-regional rivalries made peace elusive.
The rise of the IS is a result of these external and internal problems. If the Iraq war unleashed sectarian and jihadist demons,
they found a battlefield in Syria where President Bashar al-Assads dictatorship triggered a civil war, which was in turn worsened
by his regional rivals. Both the interventionists from abroad and the warring dictators at home should rethink their approaches.
Else, the ghosts of Sykes-Picot will continue to haunt West Asia.
o Ghost - the spirit of a dead person

o Sykes-Picot - a secret agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland and the French Third Republic
o Tatters - irregularly torn pieces of something
o Virtually - nearly / almost
o Territory - an area of land, that is considered as belonging to a particular country
or person
o Autonomous - having the freedom / ability to be independent and govern itself
o Fractured - divided
o Triggered - to cause something bad to start
o Colonial - relating to a colony or colonies
o Diplomats - an official representing a country abroad
o Contradictions - a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are
opposed to one another
o Unaddressed - not considered or dealt with
o Coincidence - an occasion when two or more similar things happen at the same
time, especially in a way that is surprising
o Ideologies - a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a political system,
party, or organization is based
o Emerged - came out
o Transcend - to go further, rise above, or be more important or better than
something, especially a limit
o Collapsed - suddenly fall down
o Conspiracy - the activity of secretly planning with other people to do something
bad or illegal
o Resemblance - to look like or be like someone or something
o Legacy - something that is a part of your history or that remains from an earlier
time
o Interventions - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult situation
o Exacerbate - to make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse
o Resist - to fight against something or someone that is attacking you
o Reform - change


o Oppressive - cruel and unfair
o Conservatism - the quality of not usually liking or trusting change
o Authoritarianism - demanding that people obey completely and refusing to allow
them freedom to act as they wish
o Elusive - difficult to find, catch, or achieve
o Unleashed - to suddenly release a violent force that cannot be controlled
o Sectarian - (a person) strongly supporting a particular religious group and not
willing to accept other beliefs
o Demons - evil spirits
o Battlefield - a place where a battle is being fought or has been fought in the past
o Rival - opponent (a person or thing competing with another for the same objective
or for superiority in the same field of activity)
o Interventionists - people / countries who often becoming involved in the problems
of others
o Warring - at war with each other
o Haunt - to cause repeated suffering or anxiety
Topic 2 : "Speaking up in numbers"
A long election season is finally coming to a close. Polling for elections to the legislative assemblies in West
Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry began on April 4, and concluded on May 16. A cluster of elections in
States as far apart geographically as Kerala and Assam and as varied in the ideological choices before the voters as West
Bengal and Tamil Nadu is bound to change the political landscape of the country. In the hiatus between polling and the
counting on May 19, one message of the people of India already rings loud and clear: they have kept their date with the ballot
at the voting booth. The voter turnout in some of the States that went to the polls this year is as high as 84.7 per cent, as in
Assam, where it is nearly 9 percentage points more than it was in 2011. Similarly, based on provisional estimates from the
Election Commission, Keralas turnout increased by 2.1 points to 77.4 per cent. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and West Bengal may
have suffered drops of 4.03, 2.1 and 1.9 percentage points respectively, but the registered turnouts of 74.3 per cent, 84.1 per
cent and 82.8 per cent are quite high. This trend of rising participation in the democratic process is in tune with the pattern seen
over the last decade or so. Certainly, voter interest has been enhanced because of the relative ease in polling brought about
and other steps taken by the EC. These include an increase in the number of polling stations, the use of voter identification
cards and photo electoral rolls, and a computerised system that allows for easier verification of residence. The ECs outreach
through various public officials and well-known personalities as part of its voter awareness programme has given voting a do-
good aura. And the Commissions regular updates of electoral rolls have taken off the list the names of people who have moved
home, resulting in an increase in voting percentages.
Indian democracy occupies a unique position among parliamentary democracies, not only in terms of the scale of electioneering
and overall participation but also the social inclusion that voting day witnesses. The enhanced participation of the poor and
marginalised sections in the voting process in India is in contrast to that seen in many developed countries, such as the U.S.,
where gerrymandering and lack of documentation in effect disenfranchise them. Indeed, Indian voters speak of feeling special
on polling day. Waves of electoral reform and the ECs continued initiatives have simplified the voter registration process. But
this special feeling draws from more than the administrative processes at the voting booth, for that polling day, every Indian


stands equal. Voters, especially those from the deprived segments, often speak of the self-affirmation they perceive on this day,
when the Constitutions promise of equality is tangible, however transiently. It is a reminder of the compact the state has with
citizens, with those who have reposed faith in the system and in the leaders they elect.
o Legislative - having the power to make laws

o Concluded - ended
o Cluster - a group of similar things
o Varied - containing or changing between several different things or types
o Landscape - all the visible features of an area of land
o Hiatus - a pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity
o Ballot - system of secret voting
o Turnout - the number of people who are present at an event (especially the number
who go to vote at an election)
o Provisional - for the present time but likely to change
o In tune with someone/something - having a good understanding of someone or
something
o Certainly - surely
o Enhanced - better than before
o Outreach - an effort to bring services or information to people where they live
o Various - different
o Electioneering - the activity of trying to convince people to vote for a particular
political party
o Witnesses - evidences / proofs
o In contrast to - opposite to
o Gerrymandering - to divide an area into election districts (areas that elect
someone) in a way that gives an unfair advantage to one group or political party
o Disenfranchise - to take away power or opportunities, especially the right to vote,
from a person or group
o Deprived - not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life (money, food
etc)
o Segments - parts
o Affirmation - to publicly show your support for an opinion or idea
o Perceive - become aware or conscious of (something)
o Tangible - real and not imaginary
o Transiently - temporaryly
o Compact - closely and neatly packed together
o Reposed - to keep
MAY 19/2016
Topic 1 : "Tamil Nadus direct cash transfers"
The Election Commission may believe it has done enough by postponing voting in two Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu
where there were allegations of rampant voter bribery and distribution of cash and gifts over the last month, and ordering an
inquiry. But given the situation on the ground, coupled with the ECs own grim portrayal of the widespread electoral malpractice,
deferring the election in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur by a week is a grossly inadequate response. For one, there is enough


reason to believe that the cash-for-votes phenomenon has taken deep roots in all constituencies. Also, deferment means little
in the long run if recovery of cash is not followed up with the implementation of strategies to stamp out this perversion.
In Aravakurichi, the EC seized Rs.4.77 crore from a person linked to the AIADMK and its Ministers. It seized Rs.1.98 crore
from the DMK candidate and his son. It found evidence that ambulances were used for cash runs to distribution points. Details
of ward-wise distribution, possibly of up to Rs.6 crore, have been found in Thanjavur. A well-oiled cash distribution system was
undoubtedly in place. Some cases have been registered, but the candidates remain untouched. Hence the widespread
scepticism about the ECs claim that with the seven-day postponement the vitiating effect of the money and gifts distributed
would lose its intensity.
The term money power is used to describe the financial clout of some candidates backed by superior resources. In Indias
electoral history, there have been any number of allegations of attempts to influence voters. However, Tamil Nadu is acquiring
a reputation for its well-oiled cash economy of electioneering, with every vote seen to be on auction. This dynamic, in part,
explains why Assembly elections in the State are becoming so lacklustre, with the essential democratic outreach through
manifestos and programmes replaced by competing rosters of freebies and, behind the scenes, the promise of payment for
votes. By-elections held a decade ago heralded the beginning of large-scale bribing of voters, and there are suggestions that
few, if any, constituencies are wholly free of cash enticements. Indeed, candidates tremble at the prospect of meeting voters
empty-handed. The EC has used its enormous powers effectively to end most malpractices across the country. It has worked
successfully to increase turnouts and opened up access to polling booths to all sections. However, it has clearly failed to contain
money power, especially in Tamil Nadu. That is only to be expected. The EC cannot wage this battle alone efforts to curb
the flow of cash in election campaigns need to be embedded in a wider cleaning up of the account books of political parties.
Campaign finance remains anachronistically opaque, and the distortions include not just money power at election time, but
also corruption in administration and in, say, the use of local area development funds. The only cause for cheer in this grim
scenario is that voters do not necessarily vote for the highest bidder.
o Postponing - to delay an event and plan that it should happen later

a legislative body
o Bribery - the crime of giving someone money or something else to convince that
person to do something you want
o Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among many people
o Malpractice - failure to act correctly or legally when doing your job
o Grossly - very
o Inadequate - lacking the quality or quantity required (insufficient for a purpose)
o Phenomenon - something (unusual / interesting) that exists
o Deferment - temporary delay in taking someone into a job / position
o Stamp out something - to get rid of something that is wrong or harmful
o Perversion - the changing of something so that it is not what it was or should be
o Well-oiled - operating smoothly
o Untouched - not affected


o Vitiating - to destroy or damage something
o Clout - influence or power, especially in politics or business
o Acquiring - developing
o Reputation - the opinion that people in general have about someone or something
o Electioneering - the activity of trying to convince people to vote for a particular
political party
o Auction - a public sale in which something is sold to the highest bidder
o Lacklustre - without energy and effort
o Outreach - an effort to bring services or information to people where they live or
spend time
o Manifesto - a written statement of the aims and policies of a political party
o Roster - a list of people's names, often with the jobs they have been given to do
o Freebie - a thing that is given free of charge
o Herald - to be a sign that something important, and often good, is starting to
happen
o Enticement - something used to attract or to tempt someone
o Tremble - to shake slightly, usually because you are cold, frightened, or very
emotional
o Turnouts - the number of people attending or taking part in an event (the number
of people voting in an election)
o Wage - to fight a war inorder to achieve something
o Anachronistically - related to an error in order
o Opaque - difficult to understand
o Distortion - the action of giving a misleading impression
Topic 2 : "Rebooting ties with Iran"
Even before India announced Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Iran, it was certain that the Centre was keen on
taking ties with this extended neighbour to a higher level. The removal of sanctions on Iran following the nuclear deal has
ended its isolation, and enabled its return to the economic and diplomatic mainstream. Over the last few months, Iran hosted
several high-profile visitors, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Three senior
Ministers of the Modi government, including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, have travelled to Tehran in the past
few months to step up engagement, revive some stalled joint projects as well as set the stage for the prime ministerial visit. Mr.
Modis trip on May 22-23 is expected to bridge the trust deficit in bilateral cooperation and boost energy and trade ties while
expediting Indias connectivity plans. Strong ties with Iran are vital for India. The key factor is energy. Till sanctions were imposed
on Iran, it was Indias second largest source of crude oil after Saudi Arabia. Once the Chabahar port in Iran is developed, it
will offer India alternative access to landlocked Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan. Both Iran and India share the goal of a stable
government in Kabul free of the Talibans influence. Globally, New Delhi and Tehran are on the same page in their opposition
towards groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.


Despite these shared interests, bilateral ties took a beating during the sanctions years. India had voted against Iran at the
International Atomic Energy Agency over its clandestine nuclear programme and, under pressure from the U.S., slashed oil
imports from the country by up to 40 per cent during the period. New Delhi had also backed off from a pipeline project that aimed
to bring natural gas from Iran to India through Pakistan. But with sanctions removed and foreign countries and companies
rushing back to Tehran to seize business and economic deals, it is important for India to reboot relations. Iran also seems keen
on pursuing stronger ties with India. The Iranian government had invited Mr. Modi some months ago and expressed interest in
expediting stalled projects. Mr. Modis visit assumes greater significance in the larger context of his own policy of enhanced
engagement with West Asia. The Iran visit comes after his trips to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and ahead of
visits to Qatar and Israel. The government appears to be trying to reach out to the three poles of the region. While it will pursue
good ties with the Sunni Gulf for energy supplies, Iran would act as a gateway to Central Asia besides enhancing Indias energy
security. Israel remains one of Indias top defence and technology suppliers. The success of this policy depends on New Delhis
capacity to do the balancing act. The Iran visit is an opportunity to restore equilibrium in Indias foreign policy, which, of late,
was seen to be skewed towards Israel and Saudi Arabia.
o Rebooting - to start something again or do something again, in a way that is new

and interesting
o Certain - to know or say something without doubt
o Keen - very interested, eager, or wanting (to do) something very much:
o Sanctions - an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken against a
country in order to make it obey international law
o Mainstream - considered normal, and having or using ideas, beliefs, etc. that are
accepted by most people
o High-profile - attracting a lot of attention and interest from the public and
newspapers, television, etc
o Stalled - stopped
o Set the stage for something - to make it possible for something else to happen
o Deficit - the amount by which something is too small
o Bilateral - involving two countries
o Expediting - to make something happen more quickly
o Vital - absolutely necessary (essential)
o Stable - strongly fixed (not likely to move or change)
o Clandestine - secret (kept secret or done secretively)
o Slashed - to very much reduce something
o Backed off - to stop being involved in a situation
o Seize - to take something quickly and keep or hold it
o Significance - importance
o Balancing act - a situation in which a person tries to give care and attention to two
or more activities at the same time
o Equilibrium - a state of balance:
o Skewed - uddenly changed direction or position
MAY 20/2016
Topic : "The meaning of victory and defeat"


Five Assembly elections, and five different winners. But the voters did not distribute their favours equitably. The Congress, the
only party with a realistic chance of being part of a winning coalition in all the five elections, won only one, the least important
politically, the Union Territory of Puducherry. In Assam, it ceded ground to its principal rival at the national level, the Bharatiya
Janata Party, for the first time. In Kerala, where it headed a coalition government as the leading member of the United
Democratic Front, it lost heavily to the Left Democratic Front led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In West
Bengal, the partys incongruous alliance with the Left Front failed to enthuse voters, who saw it as devious and opportunistic.
And in Tamil Nadu, the revival of the alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam yielded little dividend for the Congress.
The BJP, however, can take heart from its victory in Assam, where it managed to stitch together an alliance with regional parties,
the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland Peoples Front. In West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, the two big States in which it is a
minor player, the BJP will not be displeased with the success of the Trinamool Congress over the Left-Congress alliance and of
the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over the DMK-Congress alliance. Both victors have better relations with the
BJP than with the Congress. In Kerala, the BJP made its debut by winning its first seat, signalling that it could emerge as a third
force in the medium to long term. So, in a head-to-head with the Congress, the BJP is the clear winner in this round of Assembly
elections.
In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK led by Ms. Jayalalithaa did well to overcome anti-incumbency. Not since her political mentor
M.G. Ramachandran won in 1984 has any Chief Minister retained power, winning a comfortable majority despite the close
contest. After decades of alliance politics, Tamil Nadu seems to be moving towards a polarisation between the two major
Dravidian parties. The third front, led by the party of actor-turned politician Vijayakant, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida
Kazhagam, failed to win a seat. Indeed, it was supplanted as the third force by the Pattali Makkal Katchi, which polled almost
as many votes as the six-party DMDK-led front. The DMKs allies fared worse than it did, raising the question whether it gave
away too many seats in trying to win new friends. Although the alliance with the Congress seems to have worked in the deep
south, where the national party retains a support base, in many other places the DMK appeared to have only made things easier
for the AIADMK by handing over the seats to its allies. Two things seemed to have settled the election in the AIADMKs favour.
First, the anti-incumbency sentiment, if it existed at all, was not as strong as many observers believed it was. Second, the
existence of a multi-cornered contest served to blunt anti-incumbency even further. Her biggest challenge is how to manage
her revenue-sapping promise of introducing a phased prohibition without scaling down her populist policies. Also, she will have
to contend with a much stronger Opposition than before, with the DMK alliance having won over 40 per cent of the seats in the
Assembly.
In Kerala, the LDF, having returned with a comfortable majority, will now have to choose between its two chief ministerial
aspirants, former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and former State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Mr. Achuthanandan is the
popular face of the CPI(M), but Mr. Vijayan is the organisation man, commanding greater support within the party. Whoever is
chosen will be tasked with improving governance in this politically conscious State of unforgiving voters. The Left, and the
CPI(M) particularly, would have been devastated with a loss in Kerala, given how poorly the party fared in West Bengal. Kerala
ranks high on most human development indices; what it has failed to do over the years is to leverage this effectively to attract
industry and investment to become even more prosperous.
In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress appears to have perfected the art, learnt from the Left Front, of managing elections.
Its leader, Ms. Banerjee, has a knack for identifying popular issues and aggressively mobilising support around them. Quite

remarkably, the Trinamool was able to overcome the anti-incumbency factor and improve on its 2011 tally against the combined
strength of the Left and the Congress. The CPI(M) will rue the decision to ally with the Congress, despite serious
reservations within a section of the national leadership. The alliance clearly helped the Congress more than the Left, which
astonishingly ended up with fewer seats than its junior partner. The Lefts continually sliding electoral performance in West
Bengal raises questions about how it can reinvent itself in a State it ruled for three decades. Quick-fix alliances are not the
solution; if anything, it lies in winning back the support of the peasantry and the labour class, which it has lost in part to the
Trinamool. In Assam, the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance was able to convince people of the importance of putting up a joint fight
against their long-time rival, the Congress. By registering its first victory in an Assembly election in the Northeast, the BJP
will hope to use this as a launchpad for further consolidation in the region. All in all, it is the Congress, having lost control of two
States, which has reason to be most disheartened by the results; the victory in Puducherry in alliance with the DMK is small
consolation. The question about how it can reverse the slide after 2014 will only become sharper now. As for the BJP, its boasts
of having emerged a truly national player are vastly exaggerated. While it has repeatedly demonstrated it is better placed in
direct face-offs against a diminishing Congress, there are parts of India where its presence is either marginal or very slight. This
is relevant for a party looking to retain power in 2019. It is difficult, if not well-nigh impossible, to repeat its stunning 2014 sweep
of the Hindi heartland; the seats the BJP will lose here will need to be compensated in States where its base is weak. It made
no headway in Tamil Nadu. And while its performance in West Bengal and Kerala was much better, it needs to do a lot more
before it can be regarded as a serious player in these States and a truly pan-Indian presence as the Congress once was.
o Victory - an occasion when you win a competition

o Defeat - to cause someone or something to fail
o Favour - the support or approval of something or someone
o Equitably - treating everyone fairly and in the same way (equally)
purpose
o Ceded - to allow someone else to have or own something (especially unwillingly or
because you are forced to do so)
o Rival - a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for
o Incongruous - unusual or different from what is around or from what is generally
happening
o Alliance - a group of political parties who have agreed to work together because of
shared interests or aims
o Enthuse - to make someone interested
o Devious - dishonest (but clever and successful)
o Opportunistic - using a situation to get power or an advantage
o Revival - an improvement in the condition, strength, or fortunes of someone or
something
o Dividend - profit
o Take heart - to feel encouraged
o Stitch together - to create or form something quickly or roughly
o Victors - people who defeat an opponent in a competition
o Debut - a person's first appearance or performance
o Emerge - to become


o Retained - continued to have something
o Polarisation - to divide into two completely opposing groups
o Supplanted - replaced
o Retains - to keep or continue to have something
o Sapping - to make someone weaker or take away strength or an important quality
from someone
o Scaling down - to make something smaller than it was
o Conscious - knowing what is happening around you
o Unforgiving - not willing to forgive people for things they do wrong
o Devastated - completely destroyed or ruined
o Fared - performed
o Indices (plural form of Index) - lists and catalogues
o Leverage - power to influence people and get the results you want
o Prosperous - successful
o Perfected - perfectly formed
o Knack - a skill or an ability to do something easily and well
o Aggressively - seriously (determined to win or succeed and using forceful action
to win or to achieve success)
o Mobilising - to organize or prepare something
o Tally - score
o Astonishingly - very surprisingly
o Fewer - very low (small number of something)
o Sliding - to go into a worse state, often through lack of control or care
o Reinvent - to change so much that it appears to be entirely new
o Peasantry - people who are not well educated
o Launchpad - a foundation or starting point
o Consolidation - make (something) physically stronger or more solid
o Disheartened - to lose confidence, hope, and energy
o Consolation - something that makes someone who is sad or disappointed feel
better
o Boasts - to have or own something to be proud of
o Vastly - extremely big
o Exaggerated - to make something seem larger, more important, better, or worse
than it really is
o Face-off - a direct fight / argument between two people or groups
o Diminishing - reducing in size or importance
o Marginal - very small in amount or effect:
o Retain - continue to have something
o Well-nigh - almost
o Heartland - the central or most important part of a country / area
o Headway - forward movement or progress, especially when this is slow or difficult
o Regarded - considered
o Pan-Indian - relating to the whole of India


MAY 21/2016
Topic 1 : "Against all odds"
Nothing is more difficult than to turn the tide of history. That All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general
secretary Jayalalithaa won the support of the voters of Tamil Nadu for a second consecutive term as Chief Minister, defying
the historical weight of six previous Assembly elections, which had voted out the incumbent, is truly remarkable. That she
achieved this without any significant allies more out of choice than force of circumstance is quite extraordinary. Ms.
Jayalalithaa adopted a high-risk strategy that relied as much on opposition disunity as on the strength of her own party. There
was a mild swing of votes away from the AIADMK; and the main Opposition, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, gained from the
collapse of the third front led by the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. But, in the end, Ms. Jayalalithaa was the clear
winner, leading her party to success in 134 seats, 16 more than an absolute majority in the 234-member Assembly. What
separated the AIADMK from the DMK-led front was only 1.1 per cent of the total votes, but this was enough for a party with a
more or less uniform support base across the State. Not even her political mentor M.G. Ramachandran, the charismatic founder
of the AIADMK, who won three elections in a row beginning 1977, had dared to contest all the seats without entering into seat
adjustments with other parties. In doing so, Ms. Jayalalithaa revealed herself as a shrewd strategist, building on her political
experiment in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, in which the AIADMK fought all the 39 seats and lost just two. The victory has
dispelled any remaining doubts that the AIADMK is the single largest force in the State in a situation where the rival DMK is
unable to stitch together a viable alliance, it can expect to triumph. This election was also a much-needed reminder to political
parties that people do not vote as a Pavlovian response; anti-incumbency was mitigated this time by a shrewd mix of populism
and social welfare programmes, something that a clutch of political pundits and opinion polls failed to detect.
Although the AIADMK has been voted in with a reduced majority, and the Assembly will have a strong Opposition, Tamil Nadu
seems to have given Ms. Jayalalithaa the mandate to continue with her social welfare programmes initiated over the last five
years. The AIADMK leader had expanded welfare measures by opening canteens with subsidised food, and selling everything
from salt, bottled water, and medicines to maternity kits and cement at subsidised rates. During the next five years, the tasks
before her are greater and possibly even more challenging. They include expanding the achievements on the education and
health fronts, improving Tamil Nadus infrastructure to attract more investment, and ensuring that its manufacturing sector is not
hobbled by power shortages and growing competition from neighbouring States.
o Against all odds - If you achieve something against all odds, you achieve it
although there were a lot of problems and you were not likely to succeed
o To turn the tide - to reverse the trend of events
o Consecutive - following each other continuously
o Term - the fixed period of time that something lasts for
o Defying - refuse to obey
o Incumbent - the person who has a particular official position
o Adopted - choose to take up or follow (an idea, method, or an action)
o Strategy - a detailed plan for achieving success
o Relied - depended


o Disunity - disagreement within a group
o Collapse - to fall down suddenly
o Absolute - very great or to the largest degree possible
o Charismatic - having the special power that makes you able to influence other
people
o Revealed - to make known or show something that is surprising or that was
previously secret
o Shrewd - having or showing sharp powers of judgement
o Strategist - someone with a lot of skill and experience in planning (especially in
military, political, or business matters)
o Dispelled - make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear
o Mitigated - to make something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad
o Clutch - grasp (something) tightly
o Mandate - official permission for something to happen
o Subsidised - to pay part of the cost of something to keep the selling price low
o Maternity - the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth
o Infrastructure - the basic systems and services, such as transport and power
supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively
o Hobble - to limit something
Topic 2 : "The message from West Bengal"
The Red disaster has drawn the spotlight away from the Green splash in West Bengal, and recriminations in the Communist
Party of India (Marxist) are ringing louder than celebrations in the Trinamool Congress. The verdict has expectedly opened old,
unresolved debates in the CPI(M). The decision of the State unit of the party to forge a seat-sharing agreement with the
Congress was taken against the central leaderships firm reservations, and the air is already thick with both misgivings and
excuse-making. It is not clear if the party will take away from its West Bengal disaster lessons of theory, praxis or realpolitik
or none at all. But on a larger canvas, the election result suggests significant messages from the electorate. Indeed, these
messages could be projected nationwide. For one, the electorate has again rejected the politics of cynicism. Voters have
showed that they couldnt care for an alliance that is scared to even utter its own name. The Congress-CPI(M) seat-sharing
was referred to as jot in Bengali, but quibbles about its definition gave away the lack of conviction in the two parties for it to be
anything but an expedient measure, with no positive outreach. Left Front chairman Biman Bose would say in interviews that it
was not an alliance, simply seat-sharing. It is impossible to say after the event whether the Left-Congress combine would have
got more seats had they gone to voters with a common minimum agenda, and levelled with voters on the obvious contradiction
about facing each other down in the Kerala elections. But certainly, the Left would not have found itself floundering to give an
honest account of itself, as it is today.


The fact, however, is that the West Bengal elections were not lost by the Left Front and Congress. They were won by the
Trinamool Congress. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went back to the people with a firmness of conviction. She owned the
record of her five years in office. Elections in India, especially at the State level, now pivot less on anti-incumbency. With the
increased focus on development and delivery of essential services over the last two decades, incumbency is not always a
disadvantage. Governments that defend their record, that do not get squeamish about taking on election-time charges flying
their way, are usually unbeatable. Ms. Banerjee won West Bengal in 2011 when the Left Front had its back to the wall. She has
retained it, now in 2016, by knitting together a welfare politics that not only borrows freely from the Lefts economic agenda, but
also customises outreach Rs.2 per kg rice, cycles for students, stipends for young women who continue their studies,
recruitment of special police constables from the Maoist belt of Jangalmahal, recreation facilities, and so on. This has left Ms.
Banerjees government struggling with a debt-GDP ratio of 35.5 per cent. But her opponents were not exactly cornering her on
that.
The Red disaster has drawn the spotlight away from the Green splash in West Bengal, and recriminations in the Communist
Party of India (Marxist) are ringing louder than celebrations in the Trinamool Congress. The verdict has expectedly opened old,
unresolved debates in the CPI(M). The decision of the State unit of the party to forge a seat-sharing agreement with the
Congress was taken against the central leaderships firm reservations, and the air is already thick with both misgivings and
excuse-making. It is not clear if the party will take away from its West Bengal disaster lessons of theory, praxis or realpolitik
or none at all. But on a larger canvas, the election result suggests significant messages from the electorate. Indeed, these
messages could be projected nationwide. For one, the electorate has again rejected the politics of cynicism. Voters have
showed that they couldnt care for an alliance that is scared to even utter its own name. The Congress-CPI(M) seat-sharing
was referred to as jot in Bengali, but quibbles about its definition gave away the lack of conviction in the two parties for it to be
anything but an expedient measure, with no positive outreach. Left Front chairman Biman Bose would say in interviews that it
was not an alliance, simply seat-sharing. It is impossible to say after the event whether the Left-Congress combine would have
got more seats had they gone to voters with a common minimum agenda, and levelled with voters on the obvious contradiction
about facing each other down in the Kerala elections. But certainly, the Left would not have found itself floundering to give an
honest account of itself, as it is today.
The fact, however, is that the West Bengal elections were not lost by the Left Front and Congress. They were won by the
Trinamool Congress. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went back to the people with a firmness of conviction. She owned the
record of her five years in office. Elections in India, especially at the State level, now pivot less on anti-incumbency. With the
increased focus on development and delivery of essential services over the last two decades, incumbency is not always a
disadvantage. Governments that defend their record, that do not get squeamish about taking on election-time charges flying
their way, are usually unbeatable. Ms. Banerjee won West Bengal in 2011 when the Left Front had its back to the wall. She has
retained it, now in 2016, by knitting together a welfare politics that not only borrows freely from the Lefts economic agenda, but
also customises outreach Rs.2 per kg rice, cycles for students, stipends for young women who continue their studies,
recruitment of special police constables from the Maoist belt of Jangalmahal, recreation facilities, and so on. This has left Ms.
Banerjees government struggling with a debt-GDP ratio of 35.5 per cent. But her opponents were not exactly cornering her on
that.
o Spotlight - public attention


o Recriminations - arguments between people who are blaming each other
o Verdict - Judgement
o Unresolved - not solved or ended (a problem or difficulty)
o Debates - serious discussions
o Firm - strong
o Air is thick with something - the situation is completely filled with something
o Misgiving - a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event
o Excuse-making - giving reasons to explain why you did something wrong
o Disaster - a sudden accident that causes great harm, damage, or death, or serious
difficulty
o Praxis - the process of using a theory or something that you have learned in a
practical way
o Realpolitik - a system of politics or principles based on practical rather than moral
or ideological considerations
o Cynicism - believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not
sincere
o Alliance - a group of political parties who have agreed to work together because of
shared interests or aims
o Scared - frightened or worried
o Utter - to say
o Quibble - a slight objection or criticism
o Conviction - a strong opinion or belief
o Expedient - helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not morally
acceptable
o Contradiction - a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed
to one another
o Floundering - to experience great difficulties or be completely unable to decide
what to do or say next
o Firmness - the quality of being strong
o Pivot - the central or most important thing in a situation
o Incumbency - the holding of an office or the period during which one is held
o Essential - absolutely necessary / extremely important
o Squeamish - easily upset or shocked by things that you find unpleasant
o Have your back to the wall - to have very serious problems that limit the ways in
which you can act
o Retained - continue to have something
o Knitting together - joining together of different parts
o Customises - modify (something) to suit a particular task
o Stipend - a particular amount of money that is paid regularly to someone
o Cornering - to force so
MAY 23/2016


Topic 1 : "The turn of the strongman"
The political drama that was expected after the LDF victory, as a result of the rivalry between the two stalwarts of the
Communist Party of India (Marxist), former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and former State secretaryPinarayi Vijayan,
did not materialise. The transition to power was a smooth affair with Mr. Vijayan chosen as the CPI(M)s legislature party leader
and Mr. Achuthanandan stepping aside graciously, albeit after some gentle persuasion from the national leadership of the party.
Mr. Achuthanandan was the face of the Left Democratic Fronts campaign, drawing massive crowds to his meetings as he took
on the Congress on issues such as poor governance and corruption. But old age and ill-health, as well as political exigencies,
necessitated the relinquishing of his claim on the chief ministership. It is Mr. Vijayan, the quintessential organisation strongman,
who enjoys the support in all tiers of the party. Having risen through the CPI(M) ranks in north Keralas Kannur district, a hotbed
of political violence between the Communist and Sangh Parivar cadres, he lacks the geniality and mass appeal of Mr.
Achuthanandan. But during his years as the State secretary, Mr. Vijayan was the backbone of the party, holding the organisation
together within a disciplinary framework that gave no scope for either internal dissent or external threats. Other than his public
spat with Mr. Achuthanandan, for which both were suspended from the Polit Bureau, Mr. Vijayan is not known for being out of
step with the party line.
The LDF did not return to power on a wave of popularity. Its victory was facilitated, and in no small measure, by the ineptness
of the United Democratic Front, the surge in the vote share of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and its role as a keen watchdog during
its years in opposition. Given his age, Mr. Achuthanandan could not be as active as the leader of the opposition over the last
five years as he was in 2001-06. Given the rise of the BJP in Keralas politics, Mr. Vijayan, given his political acumen, may well
be the right person at the helm for the CPI(M). But clearly, it is his skills as an administrator that will be under test in the next
five years. In his earlier stint in government, as the Minister for Power and Cooperation in the E.K. Nayanar government for two
years from 1996, Mr. Vijayan faced corruption charges, but was subsequently cleared by a special court. Despite being a hard-
nosed communist, the new Chief Minister of Kerala is not averse to big ticket investment, something the State badly needs.
Indeed, in this he is more forward-looking than Mr. Achuthanandan, who is schooled and set in the old ways as an administrator.
Kerala needs a more dynamic Left-leaning government, one that harmoniously accommodates both industrial growth and social
welfare. Retaining power in Kerala is more easy than regaining it. Mr. Vijayan would do well to remember this as he readies to
govern this politically conscious State.
o Strongman - a person who is very powerful and able to cause change (especially
of a political type)
o Stalwarts - loyal, reliable, and hard-working supporters
o Materialise - happen
o Transition - the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to
another
o Legislature - the group of people in a country or part of a country who have the
power to make and change laws
o Step aside - to leave an important job or position, especially to allow someone else
to take your place
o Graciously - pleasantly and politely
o Albeit - although


o Persuasion - to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good
reason to do
o Massive crowds - large group of people
o Exigencies - the difficulties of a situation, especially one that causes urgent
demands
o Necessitated - make something necessary as a result
o Relinquishing - to give up something
o Quintessential - being the most typical example or most important part of
something
o Tiers - levels
o Hotbed - a place or situation where a lot of a particular activity, especially an
unwanted or unpleasant activity, is happening
o Cadre - a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or
profession
o Geniality - the quality of having a friendly and cheerful manner
o Mass appeal - something that a large number of people like
o Backbone - the main support of a system or organization
o Dissent - a strong difference of opinion
o Threats - warnings to cause you damage or danger
o Spat - a short argument (usually about something that is not important)
o Facilitated - make something (an action or process) easier
o Ineptness - without skill for a particular task
o Watchdog - a person or organization responsible for making sure that somebody /
something obey particular standards and do not act illegally
o Hard-nosed - practical and determined (tough-minded)
o Averse - having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
o Big-ticket - expensive
o Harmoniously - friendly and peacefully
o Retaining - to keep or continue to have something
Topic 2 : "Inclusion plus development"
The Bharatiya Janata Partys conquest of Assam is momentous not only for its scale but also for the hopes that accompany
it. Its first electoral win in the State was comprehensive: 86 out of 126 seats in Assembly, and a combined vote share of 41.5
per cent for the BJP-led alliance, numbers that suggest the verdict was more than a mere expression of anti-incumbency against
15 uninterrupted years of Congress rule. The win has bred an air of expectation perhaps not seen since 1985, when the Asom
Gana Parishad, the BJPs junior ally this time, also reduced the Congress to the mid-20s in terms of seats, primarily on a plank
of safeguarding the rights of the States indigenous communities against illegal immigration from Bangladesh. It is indicative of
the slow pace of progress in the frontier State that the BJPs successful campaign, three decades on, was also mounted on a
promise to solve the foreigners issue, and usher in all-round development. Its two leading faces at the poll stump, chief
ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal and campaign committee convener Himanta Biswa Sarma, have the requisite
credentials for this dual message. It was Mr. Sonowals dogged legal pursuit that resulted in the Supreme Court scrapping the
Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act in 2005, an Act specially legislated for Assam in 1983, and which was perceived
to be a hindrance in the actual detection and deportation of illegal residents. Mr. Sarma, 23 years a Congressman before


switching to the BJP in August 2015, was regarded as one of the more enterprising ministers in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet, with
notable achievements in teacher recruitments and medical facilities in government hospitals.
The BJP insists that Assam has voted for change, for prosperity, for peace, for good governance and that the secular identity
of the State would be preserved. Mr. Sonowal has also promised to seal the border with Bangladesh. The fact is, Assam
shares only 263 km of which 44 km is riverine of the 4,096-km boundary between India and Bangladesh, and the onus of
fencing and barb-wiring the border and formulating processes for the return of proven illegal immigrants back to Bangladesh
rests on the Centre. In any case, there are more pressing matters at hand in a State where roughly one-third of the population
lives below the poverty line and whose human development indicators are among the worst in the country. Going forward, there
are other political minefields to navigate if the new government seeks to implement some of its campaign promises, such as the
one to grant Scheduled Tribe status to six indigenous communities that constitute 40 per cent of the States population. Assam
is a mosaic of ethnic and religious groups of uncommon diversity, and the BJP-led alliance must temper its poll-winning rhetoric
with ground reality. The anti-immigrant rhetoric during campaigning at times virtually conflated Muslims with illegal immigrants.
The new government must expressly reassure the minorities. The State needs a development narrative in its social tapestry.
o Momentous - of great importance

o Comprehensive - including or dealing with all elements of something
o Alliance - a union or association of political parties formed for mutual benefit
o Perhaps - used to show that you are not certain about something
o Plank - an important principle on which the activities of a political group are based
o Safeguarding - protecting
o Indigenous - native (naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving
from another place)
o Immigration - the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country
o Slow pace - slow speed
o Frontier - a border between two countries
o Usher - to guide
o Convener - a person whose job it is to call people together for meetings of a political
party
o Requisite - necessary or needed for a particular purpose
o Dogged - very determined to do something (even if it is very difficult)
o Scrapping - to not continue with a system or plan
o Perceived - become aware or conscious of something / come to realize or
understand something
o Hindrance - a thing that limits the development of something
o Detection - to discover something
o Deportation - to force someone to leave a country, especially someone who has
no legal right to be there
o Enterprising - good at doing new and difficult things (especially things that will
make money)
o Insists - demands something forcefully

o Preserved - to maintain something in its original or existing state / to keep
something as it is
o Barb-wiring - covring with steel fencing wire
o Pressing - requiring quick or immediate action or attention
o Minefields - areas that contains mines (bombs)
o Mosaic - contains many small groups
o Diversity - the fact of many different types of things or people being included in
something
o Temper - the tendency to become angry very quickly
o Conflated - combined two or more groups into one
o Reassure - say or do something to remove the doubts and fears of (someone)
o Narrative - a particular way of explaining or understanding events
o Tapestry - complex sequence of events
MAY 24/2016
Topic 1 : "Death of a terrorist"
The death of Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, the leader of the Afghan Taliban, has thrown the insurgency into its
second leadership crisis within a year. Mansour, who took over command of the Taliban after its founderMullah Omars
death was announced in July 2015, had a chaotic year. His attempts to capture more territory from Afghan troops were thwarted,
and his plans to unify the group under his leadership never succeeded. Now, after a year of bloodshed and internal power
struggles, he has been killed in an American drone strike in Pakistans Balochistan province, miles away from the actual
battleground. Whether this development weakens the insurgency will depend on three main factors. First, todays Taliban are
not a cohesive force. Mansour never enjoyed the authority that his predecessor had. Omars family had challenged him, and a
breakaway faction under commander Mullah Mohammad Rasool may have even cooperated with Afghan intelligence against
him. If Mansour, a long-time associate of Omar, failed to unify the Taliban, it is doubtful if his successor would succeed in doing
so. Mansours deputy, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who was practically in charge of the Talibans attacks over the past few months, is
tipped to become its next leader, but having been brought into the Taliban network only last year he could face resistance within
the group.
Second, Pakistan will continue to play a major role in Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghanis initial plan was to persuade the
Taliban to come for talks through Pakistan, and he reached out to Islamabad. But this did not go far as the Taliban under
Mansour continued to stage attacks on security personnel and civilians. Even the circumstances of his death raise serious
questions. Mansour was killed not in Pakistans restive north-west, where the Taliban operate from, but in Balochistan. This
raises questions about how Mansour managed to travel so freely in Pakistan. The U.S. airstrike, the first in Balochistan, also
indicates its willingness to widen the drone war in Pakistan, putting more pressure on the government. The third factor is the
state-of-play of the peace process. When Omars death was made public, the Taliban had already begun talks with the
government, though a section within the organisation, mostly field commanders, continued to oppose negotiations. Mansour
had a choice between peace and war. He chose the latter, perhaps in a bid to win over the rank and file of the Taliban and to


present himself as a hard-nosed militant. The war helped him win neither more territory nor control over the organisation. What
he managed to do was to unleash widespread death and destruction, eventually prompting the U.S. to target his life. Kabul has
to keep in mind these three factors when it makes the next move. Its in an advantageous position now the Taliban are
leaderless and divided, and Pakistan stands exposed. Whoever the groups next leader is, Kabul should press ahead with the
plan for talks, either directly or through Pakistan, without being complacent on security. The U.S. must continue to put pressure
on Islamabad to use its influence on the militant group.
o Thrown - to send suddenly into a particular state or condition

country by force:
o Command - control over something and responsibility for it
o Capture - take control over some place by force
o Territory - an area of land that is considered as belonging to a particular country
or person
o Troops - soldiers on duty in a large group
o Thwarted - to stop something from happening or someone from doing something
o Unify - to bring together / combine
o Bloodshed - killing and violence
o Drone - a type of aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled by someone
on the ground
o Strike - a sudden attack, typically a military one
o Province - an area that is governed as part of a country or an empire
o Battleground - a place where a battle is being fought
o Cohesive - the situation when the members of a group or society are united
o Predecessor - someone who had a job or a position before someone else
o Breakaway - an act of separating from a group, especially because of disagreement
from the main group
o Successor - someone that comes after another person
o Resistance - the refusal to accept something
o Persuade - cause (someone) to believe something / convince
o Stage - to organize an event
o Restive - unwilling to be controlled
o State-of-play - the way in which something is happening or developing
o Negotiation - discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
o Hard-nosed - practical and determined / tough-minded
o Prompting - the act of encouraging someone to do something
o Press ahead - to start or continue doing something in a serious way, although it is
difficult
o Complacent - feeling so satisfied with your own abilities or situation that you feel
you do not need to try any harder
Topic 2 : "iForays in the Indian market"


Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cooks visit to India this month marks a definite change of course for the technology giant. Unlike its
peers, till now it hasnt worried much about making or selling its wares in the country and the course correction is timely. Mr.
Cooks visit, the first to India by an Apple CEO in the companys 40-year history, comes barely a month after its first quarterly
revenue fall in 13 years. The long period of heady sales growth, making Apple the worlds most valuable company by market
capitalisation, seems to have ended. Even as critics debate whether this is due to the innovations pipeline at Apple drying up or
a global slowdown, the Cupertino-based company is now finding that customers in its two main markets the U.S. and China
are not as eager as before for its premium phones and tablets. In the last six months, the Apple share has lost about a fifth
of its value. Last month, maverick billionaire-investor Carl Icahn sold his stake in Apple, citing concerns about Chinas attitude,
the trigger being Beijings decision to shut down Apple iTunes movies and iBooks stores. This is far more serious than it may
appear, as Apple offers not just hardware but a whole marketplace. It is clearly time for Apple to nurture a big, promising market.
India is that market.
Mr. Cook has taken the task of engaging with India seriously. He has ticked all the boxes including visiting the
Siddhivinayak temple, meeting Bollywood stars, watching an IPL cricket match, and calling on the Prime Minister. But he would
know that India can be no match for China in the scheme of things for Apple immediately. True, India proved to be a rare high-
growth region for the company in the last quarter. But that growth came from a very small base. Not only is China a key
manufacturing base for Apple, it also accounts for about a fourth of its sales. As Mr. Cook pointed out, India is now where China
was seven to 10 years ago. It is poised to become the second-largest smartphone market in the world but its buyers are
extremely price-sensitive. Apple is premium. There is little doubt amongst analysts that there is immense potential for Apple in
India in the long run. But till it gets there, Apple would want to see how much of the market it can tap for its products and its
marketplace. Its plan to sell pre-owned phones, which was overruled by the government recently, was an attempt in this
direction. Two announcements made by Apple during Mr. Cooks visit regarding the opening of its first development centre
in India and the establishment of a design and development accelerator in Bengaluru show how Apple is now looking at India
not only as a market. But the big news that the Centre would have liked to hear Apple manufacturing in India has proved
to be elusive. For now.
o Definite - clearly true or real

o Giant - of very great size or force
o Peer - someone at your own level
o Wares - articles offered for sale
o Barely - only just
o Heady - having a powerful effect
o Critics - someone who says that they do not approve of someone or something
o Innovations - the use of a new idea or method
o Premium - used to refer to something that is of higher than usual quality
o Maverick - a person who thinks and acts in an independent way, often behaving
differently from the expected or usual way
o Stake - a share or a financial involvement in a business
o Citing - referring
o Nurture - to take care of and protect something
o Ticked all the boxes - to fulfill all the requirements


o Calling on somebody - to ask someone in a formal way to do something
o Poised - ready to do a particular thing at any moment
o Price-sensitive - a price-sensitive product is one whose sales are influenced by
price rather than quality
o Pre-owned - previously owned by someone else
o Elusive - difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember
MAY 25/2016
Topic 1 : "Raising the stakes with Chabahar"
A trilateral transport corridor project, inked in Tehran this week by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders of Iran
and Afghanistan, has the potential to alter the geopolitical map of South and Central Asia. Mr. Modis visit also put an end to
years of ambivalence on the development of Irans Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman, the focal point of the corridor project.
New Delhi and Tehran had agreed in 2003 to develop the port, near the Iran-Pakistan border. But the project did not take off,
mainly owing to international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, but also on account of inertia in Delhi. The
removal of sanctions after Irans nuclear deal has provided New Delhi an opportunity to revitalise bilateral ties. The road, rail
and port development projects, once implemented, will change the way India, Afghanistan and Iran do business. For India, the
projects have specific economic and strategic significance. India and Afghanistan have failed to realise the full economic
potential of their friendship owing to connectivity problems. The Pakistan link between India and landlocked Afghanistan has
been an obstacle, given Islamabads tense diplomatic ties with both New Delhi and Kabul, and sometimes with Tehran too.
Once the Chabahar port is developed, Indian ships will get direct access to the Iranian coast; a rail line to the Afghan border
town of Zaranj will allow India a route around Pakistan. This will surely boost trade with Iran and Afghanistan. Besides, the
proposed free trade zone in the Chabahar area offers Indian companies a new investment destination at a well-connected port
city. India has already said its companies will set up plants in sectors such as fertilizers, petrochemicals and metallurgy in the
zone. It will also supply $400 million worth of steel rails to Tehran to build the railway link.
From a strategic point of view, Chabahar is situated just 100 km from Pakistans Gwadar port, the centrepiece of a $46 billion
economic corridor that China is building. Though the Indian investment in Chabahar, at $500 million, does not match the scale
of the Chinese project, the Chabahar port will act as a gateway for India to Central Asia bypassing the China-Pakistan arc. The
long-term potential of this connectivity is immense. The real challenge lies in execution. Indias record in finishing big-ticket
projects abroad is far from consistent. Also, with Tehran becoming the new destination of global powers, India needs to energise
its diplomacy to keep engagement with Iran on an even keel, irrespective of outside pressure. With the Chabahar project, India
has raised the stakes in Tehran substantially, and also raised the bar on its own regional ambitions. It cannot afford to let bilateral
ties drift again, as it happened over the past decade.
o Stake - a share or a financial involvement in something such as a business

o Trilateral - involving three groups or countries
o Inked - signed (a contract / agreement)
o Potential - someone's or something's ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
o Ambivalence - having two opposing feelings at the same time

o Take off - to start or be successful
o Sanctions - an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken against a
country in order to make it obey international law
o Landlocked - (of a country or region) almost or entirely surrounded by land
o Obstacle- something that blocks the movement / development
o Metallurgy - the scientific study of the structures and uses of metals
o Strategy - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as war, politics,
business, industry, or sport
o Situated - in a particular position
o Centrepiece - the most important or attractive part of something
o Gateway - a way of achieving something
o Bypassing - to avoid something by going around it
o Abroad - in or to a foreign country or countries
o Far from consistent - not in a similar, positive way
o On an even keel - regular and well-balanced and not likely to change suddenly
o Substantially - to a large degree (to a great extent)
o Raised the bar - setting a higher standard of quality
o Ambitions - goals
o Bilateral - involving two groups or countries
o Drift - to move slowly, without any control
Topic 2 : "ISROs new frontiers"
With the successful launch on Monday of the first technology demonstrator of the indigenously made Reusable Launch
Vehicle (RLV), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken a baby step in building a vehicle that can be reused
multiple times to launch satellites into orbit. The hypersonic flight, that lasted about 770 seconds from lift-off to splashdown in
the Bay of Bengal, reached an altitude of about 65 km before re-entering the atmosphere at nearly five times the speed of
sound. Many more such successful launches have to be undertaken before the RLV becomes a reusable launch system to put
satellites into orbit. Some of the objectives of this weeks launch were to test the aero-thermodynamic characterisation of the
vehicle with wings when it re-enters the atmosphere at hypersonic speed; the control and guidance system; the control system
to land the vehicle at a specific location; and the hot structure, the basic body-carrying part of the vehicle with heat protecting
tiles. The ultimate objective is to test the vehicles performance when it travels at a speed of Mach 25 using air-breathing
propulsion. It will take 10 to 15 years, and several more launches, before ISRO readies a reusable launch vehicle for commercial
use.
Building a fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle will play a pivotal role in cutting down by as much as 80 per cent the cost of
launching satellites into orbit. In fact, ISRO is already well-known for launching satellites at a far cheaper cost than other space
agencies. Currently, the bulk of the launch cost comes from building the rocket, which can be used just once, as the rockets get
burnt on re-entry into the atmosphere. No other space agency has reusable launch vehicles in operation, and ISRO has taken


a lead in developing one. Learning from the mistakes of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in its
space shuttle programme, ISRO will not use the same reusable vehicle to launch satellites and carry astronauts as it drastically
reduces the payload capacity and thereby increases the cost per kg. ISRO will also use cutting-edge technology to shield the
launch vehicle from intense heat to reduce, if not completely eliminate, refurbishment expenses. Getting this right would enable
the vehicle to be reused within a very short span of time. If all works as per plan, ISRO should be able to break even after 25 to
50 launches, bringing down the cost of further launches on the same vehicle.
o Frontier - a topic inviting research and development

o Indigenously - originated / developed in a perticular country without the help of
other countries
o Baby step - an act that makes a very small amount of progress towards achieving
something
o Hypersonic flight - a flight which has the speed of more than five times the speed
of sound
o Lasted - continued for a specified period of time
o Lift-off - the moment when a space vehicle leaves the ground
o Splashdown - a landing by a spacecraft in the sea
o Altitude - height above sea level
o Propulsion - a force that pushes something forward
o Rapidly - very quickly
o Orbit - the curved path through which objects in space move around a planet or
star
o Aeronautics - the science of designing, building, and operating aircraft
o Drastically - suddenly and seriously
o Payload - the equipment carried in a spacecraft
o Intense - extreme and forceful or very strong
o Refurbishment - cleaning and making something look new again
o Break even - reach a point in a business when the profits are equal to the costs
MAY 26/2016
Topic 1 : "Resolving the NEET conundrum"
The ordinance granting a years exemption to State government institutions from NEET, the National Eligibility-cum-
Entrance Test, provides timely relief to lakhs of students. There was confusion, and anxiety, after the Supreme Court suddenly
decided that the test should be the sole basis for medical and dental college admissions from this year onwards. Several State
governments objected to NEET, arguing that its implementation would denude them of the power to regulate admission to
institutions run by them, as well as to private institutions within their jurisdiction. Some States have their own legislation
governing admission and had strong objections to the prescriptive approach underlying NEET. The Centre clearly had no option
after the State governments brought pressure on it. The exemption is, however, limited to undergraduate courses of State
government institutions. Admission to postgraduate courses and all courses in private medical and dental colleges will still
be under NEET. And from next year, NEET will be the sole national test to decide a candidates admission to any medical or


dental course. The regulations that introduced NEET were struck down by a Supreme Court Bench in 2013 by a 2:1 majority.
The dissenting judge, Justice A.R. Dave, now heads the Bench hearing the review petition against that judgment. The 2013
verdict has been recalled, but the review plea is yet to be disposed of. The Bench is keen on enforcing NEET immediately.
A common national test for professional courses is faultless, in principle. In this connection, it will address the problem of private
institutions selling medical courses at astronomical prices to candidates who may lack aptitude. Yet, it is important that the
ground is properly prepared before the implementation of a common test. State governments have to be convinced that their
socio-economic priorities will not be affected by centralised regulation of admissions, and that regional disparities in syllabi and
linguistic differences will be adequately resolved. There is also a larger legal issue since there are Supreme Court judgments
that have underlined the unfettered right of unaided, minority institutions to regulate their own admissions processes, subject to
their being fair, transparent and non-exploitative. These contradictions need to be ironed out, and it would have been far better
had the court allowed the political executive to assess the feasibility of having a common national test this year instead of ruling
on what is essentially an executive decision. A perfect pan-Indian medical admission system needs to be carefully crafted in the
present environment, not rammed home by judicial fiat.
o Conundrum - a confusing and difficult problem or question

o Ordinance - an authoritative order
o Exemption - happening at the best possible moment
o Sole - only / single
o Several - some
o Denude - to remove the covering of something
o Regulate - to control something
o Jurisdiction - the official power to make legal decisions and judgements
o Legislation - laws / rules
o Prescriptive - saying exactly what must happen, especially by giving an instruction
or making a rule
o Regulations - official rules made by an authority
o Dissenting - expressing strong disagreement
o Verdict - a decision made after judging the facts that are given
o Plea - a request made in an urgent and emotional manner
o Sisposed of - to deal with something so that the matter is finished
o Keen - very interested, eager, or wanting to do something very much
o Enforcing - to make people obey a law
o Astronomical - extremely large
o Convinced - completely sure about something
o Disparities - differences
o Linguistic - related to language
o Unfettered - not limited by rules or any other controlling influence
o Unaided - without any help from anyone else / independently
o Contradictions - a combination of statements, ideas, or features which are
opposed to one another
o Ironed out - to remove problems or find solutions
o Feasibility - possibility

o Crafted - to make in a skilful way
o Ram something home - to show the importance of what you are saying in order
to make some people understand it
o Fiat - an order given by an authority
Topic 2 : "On the road to smartness"
With the second round of 13 cities making it to the Centres list, there are now 33 urban agglomerations that have made a
successful bid to become smart cities. The idea of city managers accepting a challenge to make specific smart proposals is
being followed in several countries at different levels of development. Cities in the developed world are focussed on self-driving
cars, electric vehicles and smart grids, while those in India are yet to meaningfully address basic issues such as walkability,
public transport, waste management and pollution. This was evident in the latest round, for instance, with the Lucknow municipal
administration, which made the best-rated bid, finding that 58 per cent of residents who took part in its online survey cited traffic
and transport as their top priority, with 24 per cent highlighting solid waste management. Unsurprisingly, this is also
representative of the national story. City administrations have done a poor job of gathering data available from multiple sources
and analysing them to make informed decisions on civic services. A lot of new information about what people do is now available
from commercial services that use mobile phone applications, such as taxi companies, and the anonymised data with them can
aid planning.
Cities that have successfully bid for Central seed funding face the real challenge of attracting private partners to raise the
massive resources needed. The 20 cities chosen in the first round are expected to spend Rs.48,063 crore on projects, and
the 13 in the second round, Rs.30,229 crore. Intelligent parking could be one way to mobilise funds and cut congestion. By
integrating IT, motorists could be guided to available parking spaces in various locations in a city, using real-time information.
Over time, it would be possible to even predict the availability of parking spaces based on usage patterns. A smart city should
look at robust IT connectivity and digitalisation. At the consumer end, however, few cities have achieved this. They have not
integrated the databases of their service agencies for water, transport, property and energy, and are therefore unable to serve
citizens online. This is the low-hanging fruit of civic smartness waiting to be picked, and it should be mandatory for all million-
population cities to do so in a time-bound manner. The benefit of investment in urban regions is bound to increase property
values, and governments should tap into the surplus to fund more programmes, especially affordable housing. All cities can
become smart, if the Urban Development Ministry makes available off-the-shelf open source technology solutions for
management. In the smart world, sharing rules. And governments should set the pace.
o On the road to something - to be likely to achieve something

o Agglomerations - a large group of many different things collected or brought
together
o Grid - a system of wires through which electricity is connected to different power
stations across a region
o Walkability - a measure of how friendly an area is to walking
o Cited - to mention something as proof


o Priority - something that is very important and must be dealt with before other
things
o Civic - relating to a city or town, especially its administration (municipal)
o Anonymise - to remove any information that shows which particular person
something relates to
o Aid - help
o Mobilise - to organize or prepare something
o Congestion - too much traffic and movement is made difficult
o Integrating - to combine two or more things in order to become more effective
o Predict - to estimage / guess with the present experience
o Pattern - a particular way in which something is done, is organized, or happens
o Robust - strong and unlikely to break or fail
o Low-hanging fruit - something that can be achieved very easily
o Tap into something - to manage to use something in a way that brings good
results
o Surplus - an amount that is more than is needed
o Off-the-shelf - used to describe a product that is available immediately and does
not need to be specially made to suit a particular purpose
o Set the pace - to establish a rate or standard that others have to achieve
MAY 27/2016
Topic 1 : "Reaching out to Africa"
The Ministry of External Affairs, in the end, was mobilised sufficiently to persuade African envoys to call off their
proposed boycott of the Africa Day event in the national capital on Thursday. But by then, by their extreme threat of rebuffing
the host countrys invitation, they had made their point and for India, embarrassingly so. First, by centring their protest around
something as particular to them as Africa Day, the African Heads of Mission have highlighted how India fails to appreciate the
continents changing identity and aspirations by not forging constructive people-to-people contact. And second, by making
common cause around the murder of a Congolese student in Delhi, they have shown India a brutal mirror. Many attacks on
African students may be isolated incidents of urban crime that could catch any individual in its grip, irrespective of identity, but
there is a latent expression of discrimination in our everyday interactions that is stinging, that makes the next attack a reminder
of a larger problem. Upon hearing of the boycott threat, the government went into damage control, with the Minister of State in
the MEA reaching out to African envoys, and a mechanism being worked out for a meeting with Heads of Mission every three
months. However, the remarkable manner in which the problem of Afro-phobia has been brought to public attention demands
more more diplomatic introspection and more political will to address dehumanising prejudices in Indian society.
It is not that India has not recognised the growing importance of Africa. Last year, the Modi government rendered the Africa
Summit a spectacular splash to show that it is mindful of the continents rising profile. The 54 countries of the African Union
indeed, the 54 seats in the UN General Assembly are key to Indias global ambitions. African countries too are responding
to Indias rise by appointing more senior diplomats and often senior politicians to their missions to New Delhi. One consequence
is that the envoys do not follow an older, sedate template for their roster of duties. As the MEAs announcement of the
mechanism of minister-level interactions shows, the diplomatic outreach needs re-evaluation. More importantly perhaps, envoys


today are more conscious of public opinion back home. They see it to be their remit to respond to anxiety, even anger, over the
treatment of their citizens. India is scaling up its engagement with Africa Vice President Hamid Ansari begins a visit to
Morocco and Tunisia next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes later this year. But this is not only about Africa. India fails
itself by carrying on, business as usual, instead of politically and socially tackling the discrimination and violence faced by its
citizens as well as visitors.
o Reach out to - to offer help and support to someone

o Persuade - to make someone do something by convincing them
o Envoys - people who are sent as representatives from one government or
organization to another
o Call off - cancel
o Boycott - withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country,
organization, or person) as a punishment or protest
o Extreme - reaching a highest degree / very great
o Threat - a suggestion that something unpleasant or violent will happen
o Rebuffing - to refuse to accept a helpful suggestion or offer from someone, by
answering in an unfriendly way
o Host - to provide the space and other things necessary for a special event
o Embarrassingly - nervously, worriedly and uncomfortably
o Centring - the action or process of placing something in the middle of something
else
o Protest - a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something
o Aspiration - a hope of achieving something
o Congolese - belonging to Congo (a country located in Central Africa)
o Brutal - cruel / violent
o Isolated - far away from other places, buildings, or people
o Irrespective of something - without considering something
o Latent - existing but not yet developed
o Discrimination - treating a person or particular group of people differently,
because of their skin colour, sex, sexuality, etc
o Stinging - making you feel upset and annoyed
o Reaching out to somebody - to try to communicate with a person or a group of
people
o Diplomatic - acting in a way that does not cause offence
o Introspection - examination of and attention to your own ideas, thoughts, and
feelings
o Dehumanising - reducing human values and qualities
o Prejudices - an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling
o Rendered - provided or gave (a service, help, etc.)
o Splash - to show something in a very noticeable way
o Mindful - conscious or aware of something
o Consequence - a result of a particular action or situation
o Sedate - calm, slow and dignified
o Template - something that is used as a pattern
o Roster - a list of people's names, with the jobs they have been given to do

o Remit - to refer a matter to someone in authority to deal with (responsibility)
o Scaling up - increasing
o Tackling - to try to deal with something or someone
Topic 2 : "Birth pangs of payments banks"
Barely nine months since the Reserve Bank of India announced the names of the 11 applicants who had won in-principle
approval to start payments banks, three have backed out. Tech Mahindra this week became the latest to drop its plans,
and joined Cholamandalam Investment in citing competition and a long gestation period as key considerations in reaching the
decision. That a corporate entity, which initially evaluated the business to be attractive enough to apply and was prepared to
compete with other players to win a coveted licence, could have cited competition as a reason to withdraw is intriguing. While
it is true that this experimental banking licence would allow licensees limited scope to earn attractive interest spreads since they
are prohibited from lending loans, the constraints of the business model were already known. Similarly, given the banking
regulators focus on extending a remittances and payments network to unbanked and far-flung rural areas, it was understood
that this new breed of niche banks would take more than a few years to establish standalone profitability. So, the argument of
a long gestation period also wears thin. The logical surmise is that after the first flush of excitement at the prospect of winning
a banking licence albeit a watered down one they have realised that catering to a customer base that largely comprises
low-income households, farmers and the migrant workforce may not be such a rosy proposition after all.
For the RBI, the experience of having its chosen applicants develop cold feet must be disconcerting, given the time and effort
invested in the process. Its disappointment is reflected in Deputy Governor S.S. Mundras recent comment that some kind of a
processing fee could be considered as a levy on those withdrawing their applications. But central bankers too need to do some
introspection. For one, the ground has shifted in the months since the RBI released draft guidelines for the payments banks in
November 2014. The National Payments Corporation of India recently introduced its Unified Payments Interface that is
expected to alter the way payment transactions are conducted. Also, commercial banks are now aggressively pushing their own
mobile application-based offerings, eroding the potential that payments banks had for the banked and technology-savvy
segment. Ultimately, though, it is in everybodys interest to see a pared down field of banks unveiling their payments services
when the licences are finally issued, especially if the goal of widening financial inclusion is to be sustainably met over the long
term.
o Birth pangs -
o actual meaning - pains associated with the process of childbirth
o meaning in this topic - difficulty / painful feeling associated with a
development of something
o Barely - by the smallest amount / only just
o In-principle approval - a general approval, although the details are not yet
checked properly
o Gestation - the period of the development of ideas, thoughts, or plans
o Coveted - strongly desired by many
o Licensee - a person who has official permission to do something
o Prohibited - to officially refuse to allow something
o Constraints - limitations or restrictions

o Remittances - an amount of money that you send to someone
o Unbanked - not having access to the services of a bank or similar financial
organization
o Far-flung - places that are a great distance away
o Rural area - countryside undeveloped area
o Niche - a job or position that is very suitable for someone, especially one that they
like
o Standalone - a standalone company or organization manages its own activities and
does not depend on a larger organization for money or approval
o Profitability - the ability of a business to earn a profit
o Wears thin - to become less convincing, acceptable, or popular (due to repeated
use)
o Surmise - to guess something, without having much or any proof
o Albeit - although
o Watered down - changed so as to be weaker in force or value
o Catering - provide with what is needed or required
o Workforce - the group of people who work in a company, industry, country, etc
o Rosy - if a situation is described as rosy, it gives hope of success or happiness
o To develop cold feet - to suddenly become too frightened to do something you
had planned to do
o Disconcerting - to make someone feel suddenly uncertain and worried
o Invested - to put money, effort, time, etc. into something to make a profit or get
an advantage
o Reflected in somebody - to affect other people's opinion of someone or
something, especially in a bad way
o Levy - impose (a tax, fee, or fine)
o Introspection - the examination or observation of your own mental and emotional
processes
o Unified - combined
o Interface - to communicate with someone, especially in a work-related situation
o Alter - to change something (usually slightly)
o Aggressively - using forceful action to win or to achieve success
o Eroding - to slowly reduce or destroy something
o Potential - having the capacity to develop into something in the future
o Savvy - practical knowledge and ability
o Pared down - decreased slowly
o Unveiling - showing or announcing publicly for the first time
o Financial inclusion - delivery of financial services at affordable costs to
disadvantaged and low-income parts of society
o Sustainably - able to continue over a period of time
MAY 28/2016
Topic 1 : "Mr. Obama at Hiroshima"
As expected, U.S. President Barack Obama did not utter any apology on behalf of his country for dropping an atomic bomb
on Hiroshima in 1945. But such is the power of personal presence that by the simple act of laying a wreath at the Hiroshima

Peace Memorial on Friday, he sent out an uncommonly gripping message: you cannot truly commit yourself to preventing a
repeat of an atrocity if you do not admit in the most candid manner that it in fact occurred. Mr. Obama did so with a gesture that
will be one of the defining images not only of his presidency but also of the wider struggle to rid the world of nuclear weapons,
when he embraced a survivor of the attack. The visit did not have the high emotionalism of Willy Brandts trip to Warsaw, when
the West German Chancellor fell to his knees, but the drift of history that Mr. Obama was tugging at was different. He was
walking through such a political minefield to make it to the memorial that it had not been certain till almost the last moment
whether he would even meet the survivors, or hibakusha. Death fell from the sky, Mr. Obama said of the Hiroshima bombing,
and it showed that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself. The nearest any previous occupant of the White House
had come to acknowledging the devastation caused by the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was Jimmy Carter, but only
after he demitted office. Mr. Obamas call for a moral revolution issued at Hiroshima makes the sober, and sobering, point that
the wrongs of living memory cannot be evaded, no matter what the provocation, and he did dwell on wartime Japans excesses.
On a narrower time horizon, Mr. Obamas visit to Hiroshima can be viewed against the backdrop of his landmark address in
Prague in 2009, when he laid bare his disarmament agenda. He declared that as the only country to have deployed the nuclear
weapon, the U.S. had a moral responsibility to act. Those remarks earned Mr. Obama plaudits from the global peace
movements, whereas hawks at home attacked him as an apologist President. But the pragmatist in Mr. Obama minced no words
in Prague, in saying that as long as nuclear weapons were around, the U.S. would maintain a credible deterrent, even while
striving for a reduction in the arsenals of Washington and Moscow. More recently, he made it clear that the point of the visit to
Hiroshima was not to revisit Harry Trumans decision. Therein lurks a hard-nosed, statesman-like approach to rid the world of
nuclear weapons. In his two terms in the White House, Mr. Obama has made a modest beginning. Understanding his realism
is critical to covering the long and arduous road ahead.
o Utter - to say something

o On behalf of - to speak, act, or be present officially for another person or people
o Wreath - an arrangement of flowers and leaves in a circular shape, used as a
decoration or as a sign of respect and remembrance for a person who has died
o Memorial - a statue or structure established to remind people of a person or event
o Uncommonly - not seen, happening, or experienced often
o Gripping - very interesting or exciting
o Candid - truthful and straightforward / frank
o Rid - make someone or something free of (an unwanted thing)
o Embraced - to hold someone closely in your arms, especially as a sign of affection
o Survivor - a person remaining alive after an event in which others have died
o Emotionalism - showing too much emotion
o Drift - a continuous slow movement
o Tugging - to pull with force or effort
o Minefield - an area of land that contains mines (= bombs)
o Occupant - a person who lives or works in a room or building
o Demitted - resign from (an office or position)


o Evaded - escaped or avoided
o Provocation - an action or statement that is intended to make someone angry
o Dwell on something - to keep thinking or talking about something, especially
something bad or unpleasant
o Excesses - actions beyond the limit of what is acceptable
o Narrower - limited
o Disarmament - the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons
o Plaudits - praise
o Hawk - a person who strongly supports the use of force in political relationships
rather than discussion or other more peaceful solutions
o Apologist - a person who offers an argument in defence of something controversial
o Pragmatist - the person who have the quality of dealing with a problem in a
sensible way
o Minced - talk honestly
o Credible - able to be believed or trusted
o Deterrent - a thing that discourages people from doing something
o Striving - making great efforts to achieve something
o Arsenals - a collection of weapons and military equipment
o Lurk - to wait or move in a secret way so that you cannot be seen, especially
because you are about to attack someone or do something wrong
o Hard-nosed - practical and determined / tough-minded
o Arduous - difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy
Topic 2 : "Landing a quick-fix"
The Centres plan to identify surplus land held by government departments and public sector undertakings with a view to
auctioning such land to the private sector, or deploying it for urban renewal projects, is noteworthy. This also appears to be in
sync with the Budget promise to encourage public sector firms to divest individual assets and re-invest the proceeds in new
projects. A committee has been tasked with creating an inventory of public landholdings and identifying plots that are not needed
for future expansion or strategic purposes, and thus could be alienated for other uses. As past strategic disinvestment cases
have shown, valuation of land is a prickly issue that leaves governments susceptible to extreme scrutiny from political peers as
well as the auditor. In addition, it can take years to conclude. For example, the Tata Group bought a stake in VSNL in 2002, but
the government could only put a number on the value of its extensive surplus landholdings by 2011. To that extent, the Budgets
promise to divest specific assets (such as land) of public sector firms through the auction route with total transparency, it is
to be hoped seems pragmatic. More so since the Modi government has chosen to refrain from any lock, stock and barrel
privatisation of PSUs.
However, this approach also reflects a lack of institutional memory in the government. Five years ago, a scam-hit UPA
government had set up the Committee on Allocation of Natural Resources to suggest transparent mechanisms that would
eliminate discretionary powers in such allocations. It had determined not just how much land was under the domain of Central
government departments, but also how much was under encroachment. Of the 16 lakh acres of defence land outside the
cantonments, 11,000 acres had been encroached upon. Every department told the panel it had no land to spare that could be


considered surplus. The committee had mooted creating a depository of all government/public sector land with satellite mapping
done to indicate actual usage, which it is hoped the new panel will also do. Other recommendations are also pertinent: land
transactions should be on an outright sale basis with the optimal land use being approved before the sale, via e-auction. It must
also be kept in mind that this exercise is a minor recompense for the larger reform agenda that the government has set aside:
amending the land acquisition law. A model tenancy law that the NITI Aayog has mooted as an alternative reform step to allow
the leasing of agricultural land, also remains a work in progress. The government needs to put more energy into those solutions
for faster economic growth.
o Quick-fix - something that seems to be a fast and easy solution to a problem but
is in fact not very good or will not last long
o Surplus - more than what is needed or used / excess
o Deploying - to use something in an effective way
o Divest - to sell something
o Proceeds - the amount of money received from a particular event or activity or
when something is sold
o Inventory - a complete list of items
o Alienate - transfer ownership of (property rights) to another person or group
o Disinvestment - to sell your shares in a company or to stop taking part in a
business activity
o Prickly - complicated and difficult to deal with
o Susceptible - easily influenced or harmed by something
o Scrutiny - the careful and detailed examination of something in order to get
information about it
o Peer - a person who is the same social position or the same abilities as other people
in a group
o Auditor - someone whose job is to carry out an official examination of the accounts
of a business and to produce a report
o Conclude - to end / to complete
o Stake - a share or a financial involvement in something such as a business
o Pragmatic - solving problems in a sensible way that is based on practical rather
than theoretical considerations
o Refrain - to avoid doing something
o Reflects - shows
o Lack of something - to not have or not have enough of something that is needed
o Discretionary - decided by officials and not fixed by rules
o Determined - wanting to do something very much and not allowing anyone or any
difficulties to stop you
o Domain - an area of territory owned or controlled by a particular ruler or
government
o Encroachment - the act of slowly taking control of someone's land
o Cantonment - a building or area where soldiers live
o Mooted - to suggest something for discussion
o Depository - a place where things are stored
o Pertinent - relevant or applicable to a particular matter
o Recompense - compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered


o Set aside - the act of paying farmers in order not to grow crops on areas of land,
or land of this type
o Amending - changing
o Tenancy - the right to use land or live in a building in exchange for rent
MAY 29/2016
Topic 1 : "Awash in red ink"
A year since the Reserve Bank of India ended regulatory forbearance the norm that allowed banks to avoid treating
restructured loans as sub-standard the pile of stressed assets at lenders has grown manifold, lengthening the shadow over
balance sheets. Forced by the central banks time-bound Asset Quality Review to classify troubled loans correctly and make
appropriate provisions for them, lender after lender has reported sizeable losses or dramatic declines in profit in recent quarters.
The biggest lender, the State Bank of India, last week posted a 66 per cent plunge in fourth-quarter earnings as provisioning
for non-performing assets banking parlance for loans where borrowers have defaulted on repayments more than doubled
to Rs.12,139 crore. And SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya indicated that while a bulk of the stressed assets on its books
had been recognised last quarter, more provisioning was in the offing as the bank leads lenders in the race to meet the RBIs
goal of completely overhauling balance sheets by March 2017. That the clean-up is inflicting short-term pain on banks and
investors is evident. The bigger question is how much more red will be inked and what cost this is likely to impose on the
economy. The SBI, for instance, has said that while gross NPAs (as a percentage of the entire Rs.15 lakh crore it has advanced
to borrowers) jumped to 6.5 per cent, or Rs.98,173 crore, at the end of March, it was placing loans amounting to another
Rs.31,000 crore on a watch list for exposure under stress. Coming as it does from a lender whose total loans amount to more
than one-tenth of Indias GDP, the disclosures of bad and stressed loans reflect the extent of distress its borrowers representing
various sectors of the real economy are experiencing. Iron and steel, engineering, power and construction are some of these
key industries that undergird the economy.
The Centre is cognisant of the magnitude of the problem and has in large measure moved in lock-step with the central bank in
addressing the systemic and regulatory issues that need fixing. An autonomous Banks Board Bureau is now in place, tasked
with the specific brief of ensuring that state-owned lenders will hereafter be ring-fenced from political interference in the selection
of top management and on business strategy. Separately, a Bankruptcy Code intended to improve the legal framework for
assisting creditors in taking defaulters assets through a liquidation and recovery process has won parliamentary backing and
could soon be in operation. At the same time, there is the risk that a clutch of lenders will need greater levels of capital infusion
than previously estimated; this will test the fiscal deficit as well as the taxpayers willingness to underwrite the excesses of the
past.
o Awash - covered with a liquid (here red ink)

o Red ink - * this is a slang term denoting a financial loss
o Forbearance - the quality of being patient and self controlled
o Restructured - organized differently


o Pile - objects positioned one on top of another / a lot of something
o Stressed asset - an account where principal and/or interest remains overdue for
more than 30 days
o Manifold - many and of several different types
o Sizeable - large
o Declines - to gradually become less / lower
o Non-performing assets - a loan for which the principal or interest payment
remained overdue for a period of 90 days
o Parlance - a group of words or style of speaking used by a particular group of
people
o Defaulted - to fail to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally have to do
o Repayment - the action of paying back a loan
o Offing - likely to happen soon
o Overhauling - overtaking
o Inflicting - to force someone to experience something very unpleasant
o Disclosure - the action of making new or secret information known
o Undergird - to strengthen or support (something) from below
o Cognisant - having knowledge or awareness
o Magnitude - the great size or extent of something
o Lock-step - agreeing completely with someone
o Autonomous - having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs
o Brief - a set of instructions given to somebody about a job or task
o Ensuring - to make something sure to happen
o Ring-fenced - guarantee that (funds allocated for a particular purpose) will not be
spent on anything else
o Bankruptcy - a legal process involving a person or business that is unable to repay
their debts
o Defaulter - someone who does not pay interest or other money that they owe
o Liquidation - to cause a business to close, so that its assets can be sold to pay its
debts
o Backing - support
o Clutch - to take hold of something tightly
o Infusion - the act of adding one thing to another to make it stronger or better
o Fiscal - relating to government revenue, especially taxes
o Underwrite - sign and accept that you are legally responsible for something (so
guaranteeing payment in case loss or damage occurs)
Topic 2 : "Enter the superbug?"
Alarm bells have been sounded after a woman in the U.S. was detected with bacteria resistant to a last-resort antibiotic.
The 49-year-old was carrying E. coli bearing a new gene, mcr-1, which is resistant to even colistin, the last available antibiotic
that works against strains that have acquired protection against all other medication. This is the first reported case of the mcr-1

gene in an E. coli strain found in a person living in America, but it raises worries about how far it may have spread. The results
of mcr-1 gene identification were published recently in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. Though resistance
to colistin has been detected for about 10 years in several countries, the danger from this has been somewhat played down
since such resistance was brought about by gene mutations that cannot spread easily between bacteria. But mcr-1 poses a
threat of an entirely different order; in this case a small piece of DNA (plasmid) found outside the chromosome carries a gene
responsible for antibiotic resistance. Since the gene is found outside the chromosome, it can spread easily among different
types of bacteria, as well as among patients. In the case of E.coli, the colistin resistance is not insurmountable as it is still
treatable by other known drugs. But were the gene to spread to bugs treatable by only last-resort antibiotics, we could be facing
the dreaded and indeed, long-anticipated superbug. Thus, the discovery of mcr-1 in more countries and settings increases
the chances of the emergence and spread of resistance against all available antibiotics. It could well lead to an era without
effective drugs to treat bacterial infections the post-antibiotic age, as it were.
The mcr-1 gene was first identified in China in November 2015, following which there were similar reports from Europe and
Canada. The unchecked use of antibiotics in livestock is a major reason for the development of drug resistance. Indeed, given
the widespread use of colistin in animals, the connection to the drug-resistant mcr-1 gene appears quite clear. A November
2015 paper in The Lancet noted that a significantly higher proportion of mcr-1 positive samples was found in animals compared
with humans, suggesting that the mcr-1 gene had emerged in animals before spreading to humans. Besides being administered
for veterinary purposes, colistin is used in agriculture. The global community needs to urgently address the indiscriminate use
of antibiotics in an actionable manner, and fast-track research on the next generation of drugs.
o Superbug - a type of bacteria that causes an illness that cannot be cured by

antibiotics
o Sound alarm bells - if something rings/sounds alarm bells, it makes you start to
worry because it is a sign that there may be a problem
o Resistant - not affected by something
o Last resort - a final course of action, used only when all else has failed
o Colistin - a 50 year-old antibiotic that is being used increasingly as a 'last-line'
therapy to treat infections, when essentially no other options are available
o Chemotherapy - the treatment of diseases using chemicals
o Played down - represented as being less important than in reality
o Mutation - a permanent change in something
o Insurmountable - too great to be overcome
o Dreaded - to feel extremely worried or frightened about something that is going to
happen
o Emergence - the fact of something becoming known or starting to exist
o Unchecked - if something harmful is unchecked, it is continuing or increasing
without or despite any limits or attempts to prevent it
o Livestock - animals and birds that are kept on a farm, such as cows, sheep, or
chickens
o Lancet - a small knife with two cutting edges and a sharp point that a doctor uses
when cutting the skin
o Significantly - by a large amount
o Emerged - move out of or away from something and become visible
o Administered - to control the operation or arrangement of something


o Veterinary - relating to the diseases, injuries, and treatment of farm and domestic
animals
o Indiscriminate - not showing careful thought or planning, especially so that harm
results
o Fast-track - the quickest route to a successful position
MAY 31/2016
Topic 1 : "Enough, but much too late"

When it is too late, even too much can seem too little. By scrapping the poll notification for two Assembly constituencies in
Tamil Nadu, Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, where money and gifts had been distributed to voters by candidates and members
of the two major parties, the AIADMK and the DMK, the Election Commission probably hoped to at least partially redeem its
image as a tough, no-nonsense institution, that is both independent and powerful. Nothing more was at stake. The results are
out, the AIADMK has formed the government with 134 of the other 232 seats, and whatever happens in these two
constituencies will have no impact in the larger scheme of things. However, in the context of the rampant distribution of
favours in cash and kind to voters in the run-up to the polls, the EC was under pressure to restore popular confidence in its
ability to curb electoral malpractice. Its reputation was at stake. As a result, in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur the Commission did
all that it was empowered to do, baring teeth and claw, and asserting its authority vis--vis other constitutional authorities.
Postponement was the most it could have done, after having deferred the elections earlier; disqualification of the candidates
was beyond its remit. Unprecedented it might have been, but the calling off of the electoral process, on a maximalist exercise
of power, seemed as if it was the only course open to the EC.
The events and happenings in the two constituencies differed in degree, and not in type, from what occurred elsewhere in the
State. As reports from different parts of Tamil Nadu suggested, there were few constitutencies, if any, that were totally free of
the pernicious influence of money and other inducements. Therefore, the ECs action in these two constituencies may be
construed as one that did little but carry symbolic weight. A Commission with better resources and more manpower on the
ground for the entire State not to mention much greater courage may have considered postponement of the entire
Assembly election. But such a drastic course of action would have had serious ramifications for the democratic process. Even
so, it must be granted that the EC went well beyond merely delivering a mild reprimand to the parties. Its detailed order
clearly recorded its displeasure with Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, who broke both convention and propriety by asking
that the polls be held before June 1, or in time for the Rajya Sabha election. In doing so, the EC underlined its independence
and authority and signalled that it would not be cowed down by political pressure. In taking on the Governor for his overreach
and refusing to quietly acquiesce in this matter, the EC deserves to be commended.
o Scrapping - removing / cancelling

o Redeem - to make something seem less bad
a legislative body
o Context - the situation within which something happens
o Rampant - (of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way

o Malpractice - improper, illegal, or negligent professional behaviour (doing
something wrong in your work)
o Reputation - the good opinion that people in general have about someone or
something, based on past behaviour or character
o Empowered - to have official authority or the freedom to do something
o Baring - except if a particular thing happens
o Teeth and claw - to work very hard to achieve / do something
o Asserting - to behave in a way that expresses your confidence, importance, or
power and earns you respect from others
o Vis--vis - in relation to / with regard to
o Postponement - to delay an event and plan or decide that it should happen at a
later date or time
o Deferred - delayed until a later time
o Remit - the area that a person or group of people in authority has responsibility for
or control over
o Calling off - to cancel
o Maximalist - a person who holds extreme views and is not prepared to compromise
(especially in politics)
o Degree - an amount or level of something
o Elsewhere - some other place
o Inducements - money / gifts given to you to make you do something
o Construed - to understand the meaning of something in a particular way
o Not to mention - * used when you want to emphasize something that you are
adding to a list
o Drastic - serious and sudden
o Ramifications - the possible results of an action
o Reprimand - a formal expression of disapproval
o Displeasure - a feeling of annoyance or disapproval
o Convention - a way in which something is usually done
o Underlined - to show that something is very important or worth giving attention to
o Cowed down - to do something in favor of somebody, because they frightned /
warned you to do
o Acquiesce - to unwillingly accept or agree to something
o Commend - to formally praise someone or something
Topic 2 : "The rise and rise of Virat Kohli"

Sunrisers Hyderabad deservedly won the Indian Premier League title and ruined Royal Challengers Bangalores Sunday
night party in its backyard, Bengalurus M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Sunrisers captain David Warner marshalled his resources
rousingly and also chipped in with 69 quick runs. Yet, even as he failed to clinch the final for RCB, the 2016 season undoubtedly
belonged to skipper Virat Kohli. The Twenty20 format is configured for short bursts of drama, mostly to the batsmens advantage,
so that the narrative of a T20 tournament is a cascade of rapid-fire innings, with one knock fading into the other. Often a batsman
is as good as his last innings. It is in this context that Kohli showed his mastery over all formats of cricket by rewriting the record
books. His 973 runs in 16 games came at a strike-rate of 152.03, and an average of 81.08, and were studded with four hundreds,


each noteworthy in its own way. It is the highest individual tally in a season; at one point even 1000 runs seemed possible. With
this Kohli became the most prolific run-getter in the nine-year history of the IPL, with 4110 to his name, ahead of Suresh Rainas
4098. It was certain that Kohli would walk away with the accolades, and he bagged the Orange Cap for maximum runs and
also got the Most Valuable Player award.
Not since Sachin Tendulkars explosive Desert Storm knocks in Sharjah in 1998 has an Indian batsman left such a firm imprint
on a limited-overs contest. In this years IPL, Kohli was in the zone, his bat a mere extension of his arm, pulling out shots at will
that no fielding team could anticipate or limit. Kohli held centre stage, ahead of Chris Gayle and A.B. de Villiers, also part of
RCB, but this is only part of the achievement. Throughout the tournament Kohli gained tempo, shepherded his team, destroyed
bowlers with huge sixes and was always alert to the little gaps in the field through which he threaded boundaries. What makes
it particularly remarkable is that this was a sportsman not simply validating his rising profile, but also raising the profile of the
tournament itself. His four centuries came double-fast. The first, against Gujarat Lions, was reached in 63 balls, the second
against Rising Pune Supergiants in 56, the third against Gujarat Lions in 53, and the fourth against Kings XI Punjab in just 47.
His 54 runs in the final did not have the same impact, and it was the lone blip in a remarkable summer that Kohli and cricket will
remember for long.
o Deservedly - in the way that is deserved / rightfully

o Ruined - destroyed or spoiled
o Marshalled - assembled and arranged (a group of people) in order
o Rousingly - making people feel excited and proud or ready to take action
o Clinch - to finally get or win something
o Skipper - the captain of a sports team
o Cascade - to fall quickly and in large amounts
o Context - point of view
o Studded with - to cover with
o Tally - a record or count of a number of things
o Prolific - producing a great number or amount of something
o Accolade - praise and approval
o Bagged something - to accomplish or achieve something
o Firm Imprint - strong mark
o Contest - a competition
o Held centre stage - to be at the centre of attention
o Tempo - the speed at which an event happens
o Shepherded - to guide or direct in a particular direction
o Threaded - to join together
o Validating - to prove that something is correct
o Blip - something that is small or unimportant or that does not last a long time
JUNE 1/2016
Topic 1 : "The cost of failure"


The Congress has always been a party of many factions, unfettered and free at the lower tiers and forcibly united at the top by
a dynastic leadership. If it is truly democratic, it is only in the sense that it takes a lax view about factional infighting and
indiscipline. Its intolerant side is reflected most sharply in its refusal to entertain any discussion or introspection on the role of
the Nehru-Gandhi family. Despite all the noise about the need for a surgical intervention to save the party after its dismal showing
in four major Assembly elections, the organisation is still unable to have an honest and rational discussion on the leadership
issue. After every failure, the favourite target of criticism is the clique surrounding the dynasty the family itself is above reproof.
In todays context, the focus is invariably limited to whether Sonia Gandhi should continue as president, whether she should
immediately hand over the leadership to Rahul Gandhi, or why only Priyanka Gandhi can save the day. It is arguable that a
large party like the Congress, with its diverse support base and competing regional satraps, needs to be guided by a strong and
unassailable leadership. But this should not stand in the way of an honest appraisal of the loss in Assam which gave the BJP
a historic victory. The defeat in Kerala, though expected, has hurt it. The party was left holding on to the tiny Union
Territory of Puducherry, a poor consolation prize. The failure to build a viable alliance in Assam and the inability to
accommodate those unhappy with the regional leadership of the party cost the Congress dearly. Although it did well to stitch
together alliances with the Left in West Bengal and the DMK in Tamil Nadu, there is no guarantee these will last. If success
promotes binding, failure speeds up unfastening.
Some of the problems the Congress faces at the national level were reflected in Puducherry, where the central leadership had
to resolve differences within the local unit on who should be Chief Minister. The eventual choice was V. Narayanasamy, an
AICC general secretary who had not even contested the Assembly election. Very often, the criteria for electing leaders of the
legislature party have more to do with loyalty to the national leadership and less to do with their acceptance among voters or
the cadre. The party that ran the Congress close in this election, the AINRC, is led by N. Rangasamy, who had to leave the
Congress after other factions rallied against him. The national leadership of the Congress has always been deeply suspicious
of regional strongmen, and factional rivalry has served as a tool to keep middle-level leaders in check. While this might
strengthen the position of the national leadership in the organisation, the long-term consequences of such an approach are
debilitating.
from the main group
o Lower tiers - lower levels
o Dynastic - a series of rulers or leaders who are all from the same family
o Lax - without much care, attention, or control
o Infighting - competition between people within a group, especially to improve their
own position
o Intolerant - disapproving of or refusing to accept ideas or ways, which are different
from your own
o Introspection - examination of your own ideas, thoughts, and feelings
o Dismal - sad and without hope
o Rational - based on the reason or logic
o Clique - a small group of people who spend their time together and do not welcome
other people into that group
o Reproof - an expression of blame or disapproval


o Satraps - local rulers
o Unassailable - unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated
o Stand in the way of something - to try to stop or prevent something
o Appraisal - the process of examining someone or something in order to judge their
qualities, success
o Consolation - a small prize given to someone who has taken part in a competition,
but who has not won
o Accommodate - to give what is needed to someone
o Unfastening - to release or open something that is fixed or closed
o Reflected - to show / express something
o Eventual - happening or existing at the end
o Contested - to take part in a competition
o Criteria - a standard by which you judge, decide about, or deal with something
change laws
o Loyalty - a strong feeling of support
o Rallied against something - to protest against something
o Strongmen - people who are very powerful and able to cause political change
o Debilitating - causing weakness
Topic 2 : "No jokes please, were Indian"
Sometimes the reaction is the real joke. The police force in Indias financial capital have sought legal opinion to check if they
have grounds to file an FIR against a comedian for a video he recently posted on the messaging application, Snapchat. The
Mumbai police were following up on a complaint from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, a political party with a remarkably low
threshold for taking offence. And the MNS was not the only party outraged by the post by Tanmay Bhat, a comedian fairly
well-known for his roast videos, or takedowns of celebrities. Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena, for instance, decided to make it
clear that people like Mr. Bhat should be whipped in public. Using the face swap feature on Snapchat, Mr. Bhat had spoofed
Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar, with jibes about his cricketing ability and her long singing career. It was certainly not
polite. It could be argued that locker-room chatter goes with the roast territory, and that it is in the nature of the beast to push
the boundary of how much political incorrectness can be deemed passable. The point here is not to applaud his sense of humour
or to condemn it. It is to spotlight the speed with which the system mobilises to shut any expression of mockery targeted at
the well-known.
That the effect is to stifle freedom of expression, to force the next person to look over her shoulder before mocking the next
public figure, is obvious and intended. To be mocked is the most trying way of being critiqued. One can ignore evenly stated
takedowns not spoofs that make folks laugh. To deal with mockery in a democratic society, one needs to be committed to a
public culture of engagement, of openness to questioning. Indias public figures are clearly not. Politicians and celebrities (mainly
film and cricket stars) have failed India not just by using the strongest arm of the law to curb expressions of humour aimed at

them, thereby forcing self-censorship on what we may laugh about. They have failed it by not enabling sensitisation on what
should pass as good humour and what may not. When jokiness is curbed so menacingly and for all the brave front they may
put up, cartoonists and comedians are lonely people against the might of the state the only response is to rally to defend
freedom of expression. In an environment where possibly personal jokes are seen to warrant scrutiny and police action, no
space can be available for shared humour, for comedy to evolve sufficiently so that the larger community internalises what is
truly, even rockingly, funny and whats not so progressive.
o Sought - to ask
o Grounds - reasons sufficient in law to do something
o Threshold - the level or point at which you start to experience something
o Taking offence - to be insulted by someone or something
o Outraged - feeling anger and shock
o Roast - to criticize very seriously
o Takedowns - to make somebody feel ashamed or stupid
o Whipped - to beat with a leather rope
o Swap - exchange
o Spoofed - to imitate somebody in a funny way
o Jibes - insulting remarks that are aimed to make someone look stupid
o Locker-room chatter - used to describe the type of sexual jokes and remarks that
men are thought to enjoy when they are together
o Passable - satisfactory / just good enough to be acceptable
o Applaud - show approval or praise by clapping
o Condemn - express complete disapproval of
o Spotlight - to receive a lot of public attention
o Mobilises - to organize or prepare something
o Mockery - teasing language or behaviour directed at a particular person
o Stifle - to prevent something from happening, being expressed, or continuing
o To look over her shoulder - to behave in a way that shows you feel nervous about
something that might happen
o Obvious- easy to see, recognize, or understand
o Intended - planned or meant
o Critiqued - judged
o Evenly - in equal amounts
o Openness - honest and not trying to keep things secret
o Sensitisation - the process of becoming highly sensitive to specific events or
situations
o Curbed - controlled
o Menacingly - harmfulluy
o Evolve - to develop slowly
o Internalises - to accept or absorb an idea, opinion, belief, etc. so that it becomes
part of your character
o Progressive - encouraging change in society


JUNE 2/2016
Topic 1 : "Shell shock at Pulgaon"
Roughly 130 tonnes of ammunition blew up in the fire at the Armys Central Ammunition Depot in Pulgaon, in
Maharashtras Wardha district, in the early hours of Tuesday. The cause is unclear, and the high toll of life and material at Indias
largest ammunition dump calls for not merely an inquiry, which has already been ordered by the Army, but also a thorough
appraisal of the standard operating procedures for storage and inventory. The fire began past midnight, and it is to the credit of
the Quick Reaction and Fire Fighting Teams that it was eventually restricted to just one shed. By the time the fire was brought
under control around 6 a.m., the authorities had also evacuated people from neighbouring villages, where the impact of the
explosions set off by the fire was visible in cracked houses and debris scattered from the depot. The CAD Pulgaon is a 7,100-
acre facility that is in effect the main ammunition cupboard for the Army. From standard-issue bullets to Brahmos missiles,
virtually all types of ammunition purchased by the Army are stored here, feeding 14 ammunition depots and field ammunition
depots across the country. These 14 depots further distribute the ammunition to field formations. The brave operation by the
small group of men, at risk to their own lives, has saved Indias nuclear-armed military from a much bigger setback.
The accident also comes at a time when the shortage of War Wastage Reserve (WWR), the ammunition held in the Army
inventory, is exercising military observers and the top brass. The officially sanctioned requirement is that WWR equivalent to 40
days of intense war be held by the Army. However, a CAG audit in 2015 pointed out that the Army itself was procuring
ammunition based on Minimum Acceptable Risk Level (MARL) requirements, which averaged to WWR for 20 days of intense
war. Even this MARL level was not being maintained, the audit found, with availability of ammunition, as on March 2013, below
the MARL for 125 out of a total of 170 types of ammunition the Army was using. Significantly, the audit pointed to serious
concerns regarding fire safety, transportation and storage. In violation of prescribed safety standards, the Army continued to
transport explosives in ordinary vehicles, not enough had been done to ensure environmentally friendly and timely disposal of
expired explosives, and the storage facilities were poor. Even today in Pulgaon there are sheds covered with tarpaulin. This
tragedy must be a wake-up call, for the government and the military, to improve the safety of ammunition dumps and to accident-
proof the transport of ammunition. Even the slightest lapse can have a devastating effect, as we are finding out this week.
o Shell shock - mental illness caused by experiences of war

o Ammunition - bullets and bombs
o High toll - huge suffering, deaths, or damage
o Dump - a place where things of a particular type are stored, especially by an army
o Appraisal - to examine something in order to judge
o Inventory - a detailed list of all the things in a place
o Eventually - in the end (after a long delay)
o Evacuated - to remove (someone) from a place of danger to a safer place
o Debris - broken or torn pieces of something larger
o Scattered - throw in various random directions (due to explosion)
o Depot - a place for the storage of large quantities of equipment
o Feeding - supplying with material or power
o Setback - something that happens that prevents a process from developing


o Brass - complete confidence and lack of fear
o Intense - of extreme force, degree, or strength
o Audit - an official inspection of an organization's accounts
o Procuring - to get something, especially after an effort
o Violation - an action that acts against something (especially a law, agreement,
principle)
o Prescribed - set by a rule or order
o Disposal - the act of getting rid of something
o Tarpaulin - waterproof cloth used as a covering
o Tragedy - a very sad event or situation (especially one involving death or suffering)
o Slightest - very small in amount
o Devastating - highly destructive or damaging
Topic 2 : "The challenge of sustaining growth"
The latest GDP growth data released by the Central Statistics Office show that Indias economy expanded by 7.9 per cent in
the three months ended March, a sharp acceleration from the marginally downsized 7.2 per cent achieved in the preceding
quarter. Significantly, that this growth has been achieved despite a prolonged and widespread drought, which would certainly
have dampened rural demand, is noteworthy. Even if it is assumed that this provisional figure is likely to be revised downward
by about 10 basis points, in line with the revisions for recent quarters, the number would still end up keeping India at the top of
the heap among the worlds fastest-growing major economies. The result of the strong fiscal fourth-quarter performance is that
growth for the full year was lifted to 7.6 per cent, from 7.2 per cent in 2014-15. And the wind in the sails was clearly the robust
private consumption expenditure, which increased 7.4 per cent last fiscal compared with 6.2 per cent the year earlier. But then,
different statistics offer different perspectives, and some of the other data released by the CSO paint a more modest picture of
the economy. Gross Value Added at basic prices provisionally grew 7.2 per cent for the full year, barely nudging up from the
7.1 per cent pace posted in 2014-15, and slower than the Reserve Bank of Indias projection for 7.4 per cent growth. The GVA
figure is significant because it strips the impact that taxes and subsidies have on the overall GDP number. Thus a substantial
5.6 per cent contraction in the amount the government spent on subsidies helped inflate GDP, and by extension the pace of
growth.
The outlook for the current quarter and the rest of this year may then hinge a lot on this years monsoon: firstly, in terms of the
volume of rainfall, and then critically in its geographical and seasonal distribution. Heavy rains in areas that faced flooding last
year or with crops standing in the fields ready for harvest can do more damage to the rural economy than help provide the widely
expected demand fillip. And with the CSO data revealing private sector investment having slowed and showing barely any signs
of revival, the onus of providing some investment stimulus may rest squarely with the government through increased public
expenditure outlays. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan also has his task cut out as he is to present the bi-monthly monetary policy
statement on June 7. Given the growth data, the forecast for a normal monsoon, and the global uncertainties, he would be
justified if he opts to hold interest rates and wait and watch instead.


o Sustaining - to continue for a period of time
o Statistics - a collection of numerical facts or measurements
o Sharp - happening suddenly, quickly, and strongly
o Downsized - to become smaller
o Preceding - come before (something) in time
o Prolonged - continuing for a long time / lengthy
o Widespread - existing or happening in many places
o Dampened - to make something less strong
o Noteworthy - worth paying attention to
o Provisional - for the present time but likely to change
o Likely - probably
o Downward - towards a lower place or level
o In line with something - similar to something
o Top of the heap - a position superior to everyone else (at the highest point)
o Fiscal - relating to government revenue
o Robust - strong
o Expenditure - the action of spending funds
o Paint a more modest picture - to show / describe something in a small size /
amount
o Barely - only just
o Nudging - to push something up gently
o Projection - an estimation or guess about the future based on information that you
have
o Significant - sufficiently great / noteworthy
o Strips - removes something
o Thus - as a result of this / therefore
o Inflate - increase something by a large or excessive amount
o Hinge - dependent on something
o Monsoon - the season of heavy rain
o Flooding - a situation in which an area is covered with water, especially from rain
o Harvest - the time of year when crops are cut and collected from the fields
o Squarely - directly
o Opts to - make a choice from a range of possibilities
JUNE 03/2016
Topic 1 : "Finding judicial closure in Gulbarg"


For a country that has borne communal and mob violence of horrific dimensions, every conviction for murder and rioting is a
rare victory for justice and accountability. The Ahmedabad Gulbarg Society massacre, in which 69 Muslims, including former
Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were murdered by a rampaging mob, was one of the most gruesome incidents of the Gujarat riots of
2002. The conviction of 24 persons, including 11 for murder, by a Special Court in Ahmedabad for their role in the incident,
marks a partial, but significant, victory for the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court to probe specific
cases of the post-Godhra riots, after serious misgivings were expressed on the manner in which the cases were being
investigated and tried. That identified members of a mob have been found guilty of murder, and several others for rioting, arson
and unlawful assembly, will go some way in giving the victims a sense of closure. The quantum of punishment will be known
shortly, but nothing short of life imprisonment is in store for at least 11 found guilty of capital offences. Given Indias long
experience of seeing perpetrators of communal violence get away, it is some consolation that many of the Gujarat riots cases
are reaching a logical judicial conclusion. The Best Bakery and Bilkis Bano cases ended in convictions after being transferred
out of Gujarat. After the SIT took over, the more sensational cases also saw rioters being jailed. The Naroda Patiya
massacre, in which 97 Muslims were killed, resulted in a historic verdict, as the trial court upheld the conspiracy angle and
sentenced a former Gujarat Minister and a Bajrang Dal leader to life. For a riot at Sardarpura, in which 33 people were killed,
31 were convicted and 42 acquitted.
After the SIT gave a clean chit to Narendra Modi and repudiated allegations by Ehsan Jafris widow that, as Chief Minister of
Gujarat, he had instructed the police to let the mob run riot, the Gulbarg Society case became a rallying point for those pleading
that the Modi administration be implicated in the riots. The SIT included a police inspector and a BJP councillor in the charge
sheet, but both are among the 36 now acquitted. The prosecution was unable to prove any conspiracy behind the communal
violence with the court finding insufficient evidence of pre-planning, never easy to establish in a case such as this. The collapse
of the conspiracy angle does not imply an acceptance of the narrative that the Gujarat riots were an angry, reflexive response
to the Godhra train carnage. The lines between spontaneity and subtle orchestration are hard to delineate. Likewise, there is a
difficulty in assessing the varying degree of moral culpability between commission and wilful omission. It would be well to
remember this as the Gujarat riot cases reach their judicial closure.
o Borne - carried or moved by a particular thing:

o Mob violence - violence caused by a large crowd of people
o Horrific - very bad and shocking
o Dimension - a part or feature or way of considering something
o Rioting - violent public disturbance
o Rampaging - a large group of people moving through a place in a violent and
uncontrollable manner
o Gruesome - extremely unpleasant and shocking, and usually dealing with death or
injury
o Conviction - the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a
criminal offence
o Partial - incomplete
o Significant - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention / noteworthy.


o Constituted - to form or make something
o Probe - a thorough investigation into a crime or other matter
o Misgiving - a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event
o Arson - the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property
o Quantum - a required or allowed amount
o In store - going to happen soon
o Capital offence - a crime that can be punished by death
o Perpetrator - someone who has committed a crime
o Communal - belonging to a group of people
o Consolation - something that makes someone who is sad or disappointed feel
better
o Conviction - the fact of officially being found to be guilty of a particular crime
o Trial court - a court of law where cases are tried in the first place, as opposed to
an appeal court
o Conspiracy - a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful
o Acquitted - to decide officially in a law court that someone is not guilty of a
particular crime
o Repudiated - rejected
o Rallying point - something that makes people join together to support a person,
cause, etc
o Implicated - show (someone) to be involved in a crime
o Collapse - the sudden failure of something
o Imply - indicate
o Carnage - the killing of a large number of people
o Spontaneity - happening or done in a natural, often sudden way, without any
planning
o Subtle - making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something
o Orchestration - to arrange something carefully, to achieve a wanted result
o Delineate - to describe or mark the edge of something
o Culpability - responsibility for a fault or wrong / blame
o Wilful - intentional / deliberate
o Omission - someone or something that has been left out
o Closure - an act or process of closing something
Topic 2 : "Tragedy of the boat people"
The death of about 700 people in three shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea is another reminder of the horrors of
the refugee crisis confronting Europe. Despite the obvious danger of crossing the sea on small, unseaworthy vessels, tens
of thousands of refugees from Africa and West Asia make this perilous journey every year, fleeing war and misery. This year,
more than 2,000 people have drowned trying to reach Europe, a number that may well surpass last years 3,700. Europes
response to the crisis has been far from effective. Globally there is a spike in the number of refugees over the past few years,
mainly due to the wars and civil strife in West Asia and North Africa. Europe cannot insulate itself from such problems in its


wider neighbourhood. Refugees have taken two major routes to reach Europe: from Turkey to the Greek islands, and from Libya
to Italy. The One In, One Out deal reached recently between the European Union and Turkey, under which Europe will resettle
one Syrian refugee in the continent for every Syrian returned to Turkey from the Greek islands, has seen the arrival of refugees
from Turkey subside. But the closure of this route has prompted those who smuggle refugees to shift their focus to Libya,
resulting in a surge of arrivals on the Italian coast.
Europe needs a comprehensive plan to tackle this crisis. First, it should welcome more people. But for Germany and Sweden,
European countries have largely been shy of accepting refugees. Second, Europe needs to have a more efficient and proactive
search and rescue mission with the required financial muscle. Italy has proposed the creation of euro bonds to finance the
response facility, a move Germany opposes. If Europe wants to prevent people from drowning, rescue teams should be provided
the resources they ask for. Third, the official European position is that more should be done to stop refugees from leaving for
Europe in the first place. This cannot be done unless there are functional, cooperative governments in these countries. The EU
could reach an agreement with Turkey because there is a stable authority in Ankara that could implement the plan. But Libya
has been in the midst of a violent civil war ever since the regime of Muammar Qadhafi was toppled in a war led by Europeans.
This makes it difficult to crack down on the sophisticated smuggling network that has developed over the last few years. Any
plan to check the flow needs to be supplemented by efforts to find peace in Libya.
o Shipwrecks - the destruction of a ship at sea by sinking or breaking up

o Refugee - a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape
war, persecution, or natural disaster
o Confronting - facing a difficult situation
o Unseaworthy - (of a boat or ship) not in a good enough condition to sail on the
sea
o Vessels - ships / large boats
o Perilous - full of danger or risk
o Fleeing - running away from a place or situation of danger
o Misery - great unhappiness
o Drowned - died by being unable to breathe underwater
o Surpass - exceed / be greater than
o Spike - a sharp increase in something
o Strife - violent or angry disagreement
o Insulate - to protect someone or something from harmful experiences or influences
o Subside - become less intense, violent, or serious
o Prompted - encouraged
o Proactive - creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after
it has happened
o Financial muscle - financial strength
o Stable - strong
o Toppled - fell down
o Sophisticated - intelligent


o Supplemented - add an extra element or amount to
JUNE 04/2016
Topic 1 : "Its raining cheer"
For the first time in three years, the India Meteorological Department has projected that the monsoon rains will be above
normal. Rainfall during the June to September southwest monsoon season is forecast to be 106 per cent of the long period
average, with a margin of error of 4 per cent. Coming as the forecast does after two years of an acute drought that has turned
large swathes of the hinterland into parched dustbowls, and a scorching summer that has sent the mercury soaring past records
in many regions, the prospect of abundant rains is obviously cause for cheer. With the lives of more than two-thirds of Indias
1.3 billion people directly linked to the fortunes of the rural economy, and almost 80 per cent of Indias annual rainfall a product
of the southwest monsoon, the import of the IMDs prediction cannot be overstated. Significantly, the Met department also
expects the above-normal rains to be well distributed across the key crop farming areas in the north-west, central and southern
peninsular regions, with the likelihood of a shortfall seen only for the north-east. In its April policy statement, the Reserve Bank
of India had highlighted the significance of the rains to monetary policy when it said a normal monsoon in 2016 could provide a
favourable supply shock by strengthening rural demand and augmenting the availability of farm produce that would help
moderate inflation. While agriculture and allied economic activities contribute just a little over 15 per cent to overall Gross Value
Added, they have a disproportionate impact on rural consumption, as they provide livelihood for almost half of the countrys
workforce. So for manufacturers of goods ranging from personal care products to tractors, a bountiful monsoon can potentially
deliver a substantial boost to sales. Adequate rainfall, especially in upstream catchment areas, would also help improve
electricity supply in States more dependent on hydel-power, such as Karnataka and Kerala.
However, the capricious nature of weather phenomena and the fact that the IMD has a success rate of about 30 per cent in
correctly predicting the rainfall range over the last 10 years demand that expectations remain well anchored till the actual onset
and subsequent advance of the monsoon has been established. The government needs to use this opportunity to strengthen
the water retention and storage infrastructure. In his Budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said work on least five
lakh farm ponds and dug wells would be taken up as part of MGNREGA, and it is hoped a fair portion of that has been executed
or is set to begin. Given the alarming levels to which groundwater has declined countrywide, the Centre and States need to be
more focused on enabling recharge of aquifers and existing water bodies.
o Meteorological - relating to weather conditions

o Projected - estimated something based on the present trends
o Forecast - predict or estimate (a future event)
o Margin - the amount by which one thing is different from another
o Swathes - a row / line of grass, corn, or other crop
o Parched - (especially of earth or crops) dried out because of too much heat and not
enough rain
o Dustbowl - an area of land where the ground is very dry and where the air is often
full of dust
o Scorching - very hot

o Soaring - increasing rapidly above the usual level
o Abundant - more than enough
o Obviously - in a way that is easy to understand or see
o Rural - related t countryside rather than the town
o Monsoon - the season of heavy rain after the summer in hot Asian countries
o Prediction - to say that an event or action will happen in the future
o Overstated - to describe or explain something in a way that makes it seem more
important or serious than it really is
o Peninsular - related to the land that is bordered by water on three sides but
connected to mainland
o Inflation - a general, continuous increase in prices
o Allied - combined
o Impact - influence / effect
o Workforce - the group of people who work in a company, industry, country, etc
o Bountiful - large in quantity
o Substantial - of considerable importance, size, or worth
o Upstream - (moving) on a river or stream towards its origin
o Catchment - the action of collecting water, especially the collection of rainfall over
a natural drainage area
o Capricious - changing behaviour suddenly and unexpectedly
o Onset - the beginning of something
o Retention - the continued possession, use, or control of something
o Alarming - worrying or disturbing
through it
Topic 2 : "Drawing Kabul into a closer embrace"
Indias policy of deepening its engagement in the post-Taliban Afghanistan through economic reconstruction will mark a
milestone when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates a dam built with Indian aid in Herat province. The 42 MW dam,
with an investment of over $275 million, will boost the agricultural and industrial sectors of Herat, one of the few success stories
in this war-torn country. The project underlines Indias resolve to sharpen its profile in the region. The Herat visit comes close
on the heels of a regional corridor agreement Mr. Modi signed with Iranian and Afghan leaders in Tehran, under which India
will finance the development of Irans Chabahar port, which will be linked to Afghan road networks.
Indias interest in seeing Afghanistan move towards greater peace and prosperity cannot be overstated. India is one of the
closest regional powers that has invested in institution and infrastructure building in Afghanistan. For India, Afghanistan has
immense strategic potential. Besides the infrastructure work India has initiated and completed, it has also signed the TAPI
pipeline project that aims to bring natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan and Pakistan to India. More important,


a friendly, stable regime in Kabul is geopolitical insurance against Pakistans deep state. Both countries share concerns about
Pakistans good-terrorist-bad-terrorist nuancing. Afghanistan is currently going through a particularly turbulent transition. The
government in Kabul has been stretched in trying to stop Taliban advances over the past few months. President Ashraf Ghani
seems to have realised that a complete military victory is improbable. In fact, Mr. Modi goes to Afghanistan at a time when Mr.
Ghani is openly targeting Pakistan for supporting the Taliban. This raises the question of whether New Delhis engagement
should be limited to infrastructure development or whether it should expand its relationship. Lately, India has signalled a small
shift in its policy by delivering M-25 attack helicopters to Kabul. But it remains cautious about making larger overtures on security
and is wary of being sucked into a never-ending war. Such caution is required. But it should not deter India from playing a bigger
role in a country whose stability is vital for its regional ambitions and whose people traditionally count India as a well-meaning
friend. As the Chabahar agreement brought together India, Afghanistan and Iran, New Delhi should work to bring together more
regional powers invested in Afghanistans stability and economic development.
o Embrace - to include something, often as one of a number of things

o Reconstruction - to build or create again something that has been damaged or
destroyed
o Milestone - an important event in the development or history of something
o Aid - help
o Province - an area that is governed as part of a country
o Boost - improve or increase something
o Sectors - areas
o War-torn - seriously damaged by a long war
o Underlines - to show that something is very important or worth giving attention to
o Resolve - to solve or end a problem or difficulty
o Sharpen - to make something clearer
o Come on the heels of something - to happen very soon after something
o Corridor - a long piece of one country's land that goes through another country
o Prosperity - a successful condition
o Invested - to put money into something to make a profit or get an advantage
o Strategy - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations
o Stable - strongly fixed / not likely to move or change
o Geopolitical - relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced
by geographical factors
o Nuance - a very slight difference in appearance
o Turbulent - involving a lot of sudden changes, arguments, or violence
o Improbable - not going to be happen
o Infrastructure - the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g.
buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
o Cautious - very careful
o Wary - not completely trusting something or someone
o Sucked into - pulled into


o Deter - to prevent someone from doing something
o Vital - necessary for the success of something / extremely important
o Ambition - a strong wish to achieve something
o Count - consider
JUNE 06/2016
Topic 1 : "Mayhem in Mathura"
At least 27 people are dead, including a Superintendent of Police, after violence in Mathura, which has only begun to throw up
details of a deeply secretive cult. But the longer timeline of the Swadhin Bharats land grab in the citys Jawahar Bagh since
2014 and the recap of those fateful final hours on Thursday draw a clear line of indictment running from officials in Mathura to
the Uttar Pradesh administration in Lucknow. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has admitted to lapses in the police operation to
evict the group, with estimates of those present going up to 3,000. In their own defence, district officials say the police did not
go to Jawahar Bagh to clear the 200 acres involved, only to recce the area. The explanation given for a Superintendent of Police
landing up at the spot with a few dozen men and a bulldozer in tow is that the action was meant to create an opening on one
side of the encroachment, so that, during a final operation, those believed to be held coercively by the cult could have safe
passage. The settlers have expectedly been on edge after the Allahabad High Court ordered their eviction. Lapses is too mild
a word to explain the botched operation, undertaken with a few dozen personnel but with the provocation of a bulldozer. There
was a clear intelligence failure the administration was unaware of the large cache of arms stored by the settlers. The police
were unprepared for the ferocity of the attack, during which LPG cylinders were exploded, destroying habitations and causing
roughly half the total deaths, including that of the leader of the cult.
Swadhin Bharat had arrived in Mathura from Madhya Pradeshs Sagar district in April 2014, seeking permission to halt for a
couple of days. They were ostensibly on their way to Delhi to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar. But they stayed on, and over
time their list of irrational demands became known: annulling the election of the President and Prime Minister, issue of Indian
National Army currency, sale of 40-60 litres of fuel for a rupee. All this was wrapped in a dreamy, nationalist homage to Subhas
Chandra Bose. At the same time, they chased Horticulture Department staff off the park and met any visitors with fierce violence.
Locals tell fantastical stories about their parallel administration, something the authorities were not wholly unaware of. FIRs
were filed, the District Magistrate informed higher-ups in Lucknow formally, and attempts were made to use drones to snoop on
the settlement. In the meantime, the two days became years. There is a clear picture emerging that the groups leadership
enjoyed the patronage of the powerful. This must be inquired into, along with other lapses in the police action.
o Mayhem - a violent situation in which there is no order or control

o Throw up something - to produce new problems or ideas
o Cult - something that has become very popular with a particular group of people
o Timeline - a line that shows the time and the order in which events have happened
o Land grab - the act of taking an area of land by force
o Fateful - having an important and usually negative effect on the future
o Administration - the management of public affairs / government
o Evict - to force someone to leave somewhere

o Recce - the process of visiting and quickly looking around a place in order to find
out information about it
o Landing up - to finally be in a particular place, state, or situation
o Tow - to pull a car, boat, etc. along, fastened behind another vehicle
o Encroachment - entry to another's property without right or permission
o Coercively - forcefully
o On edge - nervous or worried
o Mild - not serious
o Botched - something that is done badly / carelessly
o Provocation - action that makes someone angry
o Cache - a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden place
o Ferocity - being frightening and violent
o Habitations - houses
o Ostensibly - appearing to be one thing when it is really something else
o Annulling - to officially announce that something no longer exists
o Homage - special honour or respect shown publicly
o Horticulture - the study or activity of growing garden plants
o Fierce - very / extremely
o Snoop - to look around a place secretly, in order to discover things or find out
information about someone or something
o Meantime - until something expected happens
o Inquired - to ask for information
Topic 2 : "Punching above his heavyweight"
Spectator sport is at its riveting best when the script involves an underdog, virtually down and out, marshalling his last ounce
of energy to turn the tables on a fancied opponent. Both within and outside the ring, Muhammad Ali embodied that never-say-
die spirit. In 1964, a young Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, with a gold at the Rome Olympics behind him, squared off against
the reigning world heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston. Critics gave him no chance, but his quick feet and quicker
counterpunches forced Liston to stay in his corner and give up at the beginning of the seventh round. A decade on, Ali was still
taking blows on his chin and standing tall, using his rope-a-dope strategy to eventually wear out George Foreman, one of the
hardest punchers in history, after taking a pounding on the ropes. Then he knocked him out in the Rumble in the Jungle match
in Kinshasa in 1974. The same resilience came in handy as he weathered near-38C temperatures to last 14 rounds and win
by technical knockout against his greatest rival, Joe Frazier, in the Thrilla in Manila in 1975. By the time he retired in 1981, Ali
had a 56-5 professional record (including 37 knockouts). But years of pounding took a physical toll, and he bravely fought the
debilitating effects of Parkinsons disease for more than three decades until his death on June 3 even as he turned into a global
icon of peace and an ambassador of sport at large in his later years.
The truth, however, is that the legend of Muhammad Ali will endure as much for his political activism, his showmanship and
his glib talk that forced the world to see the context of his exploits in the ring. In an America emerging from the Jim Crow era,
Ali confronted racism insistently, and with uncommon dignity. He took his anti-racism polemic to another level with conversion
to Islam early in his reign as heavyweight champion of the world. He refused to be drafted into the U.S. Army in Vietnam in


1967, and relinquished his title, and four years of his sporting prime, in becoming a conscientious objector exhorting his
countrymen to settle the more important, internal war against racism. The words are telling: No, Im not going 10,000 miles
from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker
people the world over. His emergence as a counter-cultural icon of the 1960s inspired other African-American athletes in
different professional sports, basketball in particular. Ali transcended boxing, and then transcended sport. Was he the greatest
of all time, as he claimed to be? Such categorisations are always debatable. Whats undisputed is that he punched well above
his heavyweight all the time.
o Punching above your weight - competing against someone who you are no match
for
o Heavyweight - a weight in boxing and other sports, typically the heaviest category
(ranges from 81 to 91 kg)
o Spectator - a person who watches at a show, game, or other event
o Riveting - extremely interesting
o Underdog - in a competition, the person or team considered to be the weakest and
the least likely to win
o Marshalling - combining / arranging in an order
o Turn the tables on somebody - to change a situation so that you now have an
advantage over someone who previously had an advantage over you
o Fancied - expected to succeed
o Embodied - to represent an idea exactly
o Never-say-die - * said to encourage people to keep trying (to refuse to stop trying
to do something)
o Squared off - to prepare to fight, compete, or argue with someone
o Reigning - ruling (being the most recent winner of a competition)
o Critics - people who express an unfavourable opinion of something
o Counterpunch - a punch thrown in return for one received
o Rope-a-dope strategy - a boxing technique
o Wear out somebody - to make someone extremely tired
o Pounding - repeated and heavy striking or hitting of someone
o Knocked out - in boxing, the act of hitting the other fighter so that they fall to the
ground and are unable to get up again within ten seconds
o Rumble in the Jungle - a historic boxing event held in Kinshasa, Zaire (Congo) on
October 30, 1974
o Resilience - the quality of being able to return quickly to a previous good condition
after problems
o Came in handy - to be useful
o Rival - the person competing with you for the same thing
o Thrilla in Manila - 3rd and final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe
Frazier
o Toll - suffering / damage
o Endure - suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently
o Showmanship - skill in making people feel entertained
o Glib talk - speaking in a confident way, but without careful thought or honesty
o Exploit - to use something in a way that helps you


o Confronted - come face to face with something
o Racism - the belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race and that the
members of other races are not as good as the members of your own
o Insistently - forcefully
o Dignity - calm, serious, and controlled behaviour that makes people respect you
o Polemic - a piece of writing or a speech in which a person strongly attacks or
defends a particular opinion, person, idea, or set of beliefs
o Reign - the period of time when you are in a top position
o Draft - to select (a person or group of people) and bring them somewhere for a
certain purpose
o Relinquished - to give up something
o Conscientious - putting a lot of effort into your work
o Exhorting - strongly encouraging somebody to do something
o Countrymen - people living or born in a rural area
o Emergence - the process of coming into existence
o Transcended - to go further, rise above, or be more important or better than
something
o Undisputed - accepted (everyone agrees about it)
JUNE 07/2016
Topic 1 : "Clear the air on FDI in retail"
Given the Centres focus on attracting investment and improving Indias Ease of Doing Business ranking, it is time it took an
unambiguous stand on foreign direct investment (FDI) in retailing. While it is true that the government has eased some rules
relating to investment in single-brand retail operations, the norm on sourcing locally remains a significant grey area, as reflected
in the discussions around Apples plans for India. In November, the Centre eased the rules permitting 100 per cent FDI in Single
Brand Product Retail Trading subject to the sourcing caveat the precondition being that companies with more than 51 per
cent foreign ownership must source 30 per cent of the value of goods in India, preferably from medium, small or micro
enterprises. In isolation, the requirement of a certain proportion of domestic content in the products has a socio-economic
relevance, given its potential to create jobs and protect livelihoods. But the sourcing norm has inhibited FDI inflow; worse, it
could fall foul of the WTOs National Treatment norms. The Centre therefore amended this condition allowing for an exemption
to entities selling products having state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technology, and even more ambiguously, in cases where
local sourcing is not possible. Predictably Apple has sought waivers citing the exemption clause. Its case seems to have found
support with Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who said her Ministry was in talks with the Finance Ministry on allowing
Apple to open company-owned stores in India and to explore whether there was a need for separate guidelines for sourcing
waivers.
Rather than get into a potentially convoluted debate about when exemptions should be given, the best course, given the
circumstances, is to drop the sourcing condition altogether. It is counterproductive and open to charges of arbitrariness. Allowing
Ministry officials the discretion to decide on what constitutes cutting-edge technology or whether local sourcing is possible or
not opens the door for less-than-transparent outcomes and the possibility of litigation. A competitor that has invested in local
manufacturing capacity would justifiably feel hard done by if a rival incorporating a similar level of technological advancement
in its products were exempted. The Centres stated objectives for relaxing FDI norms improving the availability of such goods


for the consumer and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian enterprises through access to global designs, technologies and
management practices would be rendered fruitless if overseas companies, subject to the whims of interpretation, opt out of
either entering the market or from making significant investment. Ultimately, keeping it simple works best, especially when it
concerns investment rules.
o Clear the air - to remove the bad feelings between people

o Unambiguous - completely clear
o Eased - to make something less serious / difficult / painful
o Grey area - a situation that is not clear or where the rules are not known
o Precondition - a condition that must be fulfilled before other things can happen
o Preferably - if possible
o Isolation - the condition of being alone / separate
o Certain - some / limited
o Proportion - part / share
o Inhibited - not confident enough to say or do what you want
o Fall foul of something - to break a rule or law (especially without a plan / purpose)
o Norms - standards
o Amended - made minor changes to something, in order to improve it
o State-of-the-art - very modern and using the most recent ideas and methods
o Ambiguously - having or expressing more than one possible meaning
o Predictably - as expected
o Citing - refering to something
o Clause - a particular part of a written legal document
o Convoluted - (an argument) became extremely complex and difficult to follow
o Altogether - completely / totally
o Counterproductive - having the opposite of the desired effect
o Arbitrariness - using unlimited personal power without considering other people's
wishes
o Discretion - the ability to behave without hurting anybody or attracting too much
attention, especially by keeping information secret
o Constitute - to form or make something
o Litigation - the process of taking legal action
o Incorporating - to include something as part of something larger
o Advancement - development or improvement
o Enhancing - improving / increasing
o Rendered - to become
o Fruitless - failing to achieve the desired results
o Overseas - related to foreign countries
o Whim - a sudden wish or idea


o Opt out - to choose not to be part of an activity / to stop being involved in
something
o Ultimately - finally (in the end)
o Concerns - to become involved with something / related to something
o
Topic 2 : "The Djokovic standard"
Has completing the career Grand Slam winning each of the four Majors at least once become easier in mens tennis,
with the increased homogeneity of surfaces and playing styles? Or is the sport simply at a singular moment in its lifetime with
three of its greatest champions succeeding each other so swiftly? There is truth in each argument, and one does not necessarily
contradict the other. But what is beyond debate is Novak Djokovics quality. It has been clear these last two years that the Serb
has elevated his game to rarefied heights. The only caveat to his being recognised as one of the best of all time was the lack of
a French Open title. In conquering Roland Garross unforgiving clay, the destroyer of so many dreams, Djokovic has armoured
his legacy. He is just the eighth man to achieve the career Slam; also only the third, after Don Budge and Rod Laver, to hold all
four Majors at the same time. Budge (1938) and Laver (1962, 1969) did it in a single year, whereas Djokovics string of four
began last Wimbledon. But while the calendar year Grand Slam remains tenniss holy grail, Djokovic has managed something
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the two men to precede him to the career Slam this era, have not.
Where then does Djokovic sit at the table of the greatest-ever? Only Federer (17), Nadal and Pete Sampras (14 each) have
more Major titles than his 12. But Sampras never made a Roland Garros final. Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver (11 each) have fewer
Grand Slam crowns, but persuasive cases. Borg did the French-Wimbledon double thrice when the transition from clay to grass
was at its most challenging; and he played just one Australian Open, a tournament many top players did not bother travelling to
at the time. Laver, meanwhile, lost out on five years of his prime (1963-68) because he turned professional. Some have
suggested that Djokovic winning the calendar Slam this year will earn him the strongest claim to the title of the Greatest of All
Time. Its a discussion that will rage and rage, for like many things in sport, its unknowable. More readily apparent, however, is
why Djokovic is so good. Nobody can stay with him in the long rally, for he enjoys a significant athletic edge over everyone else.
And much like against a fully fit Nadal, the pressure to do too much too soon weighs heavily on opponents. Significant technical
advancements to his forehand and serve have allowed Djokovic to dictate play, making him less reactive. Working meticulously,
he has honed the modern baseline style to its subtlest, most effective form. His mental resilience, moreover, has both drawn
from and supplemented the physical to a point where he now appears invulnerable. In professional sport, where every mask
cracks, that is the hardest illusion of all.
o Homogeneity - similarity (of the same kind)

o Swiftly - quickly (within a short time) in a smooth and easy way
o Contradict - to be so different from another fact or statement that one of them
must be wrong
o Debate - a serious discussion / argument
o Serb - a person belongs to Serbia
o Elevated - raised (placed in higher levels)
o Rarefied - without any of the problems of ordinary life
o Lack of something - not having something
o Conquering - successfully take control of something

o Unforgiving - unpleasant or difficult to deal with
o Destroyer - a person or thing that destroys something
o Armoured - protected by a strong covering
o Legacy - something that is a part of your history or that remains from an earlier
time
o String - a set of objects joined together
o Holy grail - something that is extremely difficult to get
o Precede - come before in time / order / position
o Era - a period of time in which some important events happened
o Persuasive - making you want to do or believe a particular thing
o Transition - the process of changing from one state or condition to another
o Claim - a statement that something is true
o Dictate - to influence something
o Meticulously - very carefully (with great attention to every detail)
o Honed - became perfect
o Subtlest - making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something
o Resilience - the quality of being able to return quickly to a previous good condition
after problems
o Invulnerable - impossible to damage or hurt in any way
o Where every mask cracks - where it is hard to fake/hide things
o Illusion - something that is not really what it seems to be (not true)
JUNE 08/2016
Topic 1 : "States of the Congress"
Ordinarily, Ajit Jogis decision to form a new political party in Chhattisgarh wouldnt have caused as much as a mild flutter
in the Congress. His reputation has been under a cloud for a long while and his importance in the Congresss scheme of things
has declined. Having become the first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh upon its formation in 2000, he lost the State to the BJP in
2003, which has held it since then; meanwhile, the Congress has frittered an inordinate amount of political capital in trying to
defend him in a string of controversies. His exit should have been the opportunity for the Congress to signal its regeneration in
the State. But the Congress today is affected by a sense of helplessness. In State after State, crisis has struck in the past few
months from the defections in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to the exit of important leaders such as Gurudas Kamat
and Himanta Biswa Sarma in Maharashtra and Assam, respectively. There is a tendency for entrenched Congresspersons
around the party president and vice-president to see every crisis as a self-serving opportunity to embed themselves as advice-
givers. To talk of how the party should be organised and how exactly each crisis may be the moment to hasten Rahul Gandhis
succession or, alternatively, to put it on hold.
The Gandhi family succession is an issue the Congress grapples with in its own peculiar way, but there is no evidence of the
party rectifying its internal organisation to fix the lines of communication and accountability between the high command and the
State units. Put simply, the Congress needs to reclaim its political coherence by reassessing the functioning of its general
secretaries in working with State leaderships. Run down the list of office-bearers today and there are far too many young


leaders of old, brought in by Rajiv Gandhi to break the hold of power-brokers. Where is the generational change? There is merit
in periodic, mostly unsolicited, advice to the Congress that it must empower its leaders in the States the party needs to only
look at the returns from giving Sachin Pilot a freer hand in Rajasthan. Such advice is also borne of the experience that once the
Congress cedes political space to a regional party, it pretty much gets turfed out of the State. But to fulfil its obligation as a
democratic opposition, a national party cannot be a conglomerate of State units led by local satraps. The Congress needs to
connect the dots to align its Akbar Road headquarters in New Delhi with the State units. The party HQ is in as much need of
reform as the Pradesh Congress Committees.
o Ordinarily - in a normal way

o Mild - not so serious (gentle and calm)
o Flutter - slightly uncomfortable
o Reputation - the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or
something
o Under a cloud - to not be trusted or popular because people think you have done
something bad
o Declined - decreased (became smaller)
o Frittered - to waste money, time, or something
o Inordinate - much more than usual or expected
o Defend - to protect someone against attack or criticism
o String - series (a set of objects joined together)
o Controversy - a lot of disagreement or argument about something
o Regeneration - to improve a place or system, especially by making it more active
or successful
o Defection - the act of leaving a country, political party, etc. to go to another one
o Entrenched - strongly established and difficult to change
o Embed - attach to a group / party
o Hasten - be quick to do something
o Succession - a process in which someone automatically takes an official position or
job after someone else
o Grapples - to fight, especially in order to win something
o Peculiar - strange
o Rectifying - correcting
o Coherence - the situation when the parts of something fit together (logical
interconnection)
o Reassessing - to think again about something
o Periodic - happening repeatedly over a period of time
o Unsolicited - not asked for
o Freer hand - a hand that make you free
o Borne - carried or moved by a particular thing
o Cedes - give up power / authority
o Turfed - force (someone) to leave somewhere
o Conglomerate - consisting a number of different parts that are grouped together


o Connect the dots - bringing together information from different places
o Align - arrange
Topic 2 : "A cautionary note"
Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has opted for caution, citing the uncertainty surrounding the future trajectory
of inflation and signs of an upside bias to expectations. In leaving interest rates unchanged while retaining an accommodative
monetary policy, he has chosen to leave all options on the table and wait to see how various global and domestic factors pan
out. That the RBI has opted for watchfulness, notwithstanding the prospect of an above normal and well-distributed monsoon
that has the potential of being a source of disinflationary pressure, is testimony to the central banks concern about keeping
inflation expectations well-anchored. Consumer price inflation posted a surprisingly rapid acceleration to 5.39 per cent in April
on the back of a more-than-seasonal jump in the prices of food items including vegetables, fruits, sugar, meat, fish, pulses and
edible oils. Separately, international prices of commodities have started to strengthen, including that of crude oil; this has begun
feeding through into higher transport and communication costs. The overall impact of these trends has been that the inflation
expectations of households, projected three months ahead, moved up marginally in May after the previous survey had shown
a decline. And the elephant in the room is the anticipated implementation of the Seventh Central Pay Commissions
recommendations: to what extent the increased payouts will fan inflation has yet to be quantified, and will ultimately depend on
the Centres timetable for implementation.
The RBI has also flagged the challenges to sustaining Indias economic momentum: global growth is uneven and struggling to
gain traction, world trade is floundering for want of demand, the U.S. is weighed down by contracting industrial activity and
exports, deflationary pressures are building in Japan, and the slowdown in China shows no signs of reversing. Besides, if Britain
votes to leave the European Union, there is a real risk of some turmoil in the financial markets, according to Dr. Rajan, who
added that the RBI is armed with adequate reserves to weather any volatility that may emerge. On the domestic front, green
shoots are visible on many fronts. Cargo traffic at major ports, commercial vehicle sales, cement output and steel consumption
are leading an upturn that point to a more broad-based expansion. The RBIs own surveys reveal healthier order books and a
pick-up in capacity utilisation that can help trigger a revival in private investment. Ultimately though, a lot will hinge on how the
monsoon fares, and how much the Centre is willing to invest by way of capital to bolster public sector banks. The central bank,
in the end, can only do so much.
o Cautionary - serving as a warning

o Opted for something - chose something
o Citing - refer to something
o Trajectory - the path followed by an object
o Inflation - continuous increase in prices
o Bias - the action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair
way
o Accommodative - willing to adjust to differences in order to obtain agreement
o Monetary policy - actions taken by a government to control the amount of money
in an economy and how easily available it is (for example by changing the interest
rate)
o On the table - being discussed or considered

o Various - many different
o Pan out - to develop in a particular way
o Watchfulness - paying careful attention and ready to deal with problems
o Notwithstanding - although / in spite of something
o Disinflationary - a situation in which a country's prices go down, or do not go up
as quickly as before
o Rapid - happening in a short time or at a great rate
o Pulses - seeds such as beans or peas that are cooked and eaten
o Edible - suitable or safe for eating
o Commodities - raw materials or primary agricultural products that can be bought
and sold
o Crude oil - oil from underground that has not yet been made into other products
o Marginally - very small in amount (slightly)
o Elephant in the room - if you say there is an elephant in the room, you mean that
there is a problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about
o Anticipated - expected / predicted
o Extent - the degree to which something happens or is likely to happen
o Fan - to encourage bad emotions or behaviour to get worse
o Payout - a large amount of money that is paid to someone
o Ultimately - finally / in the end
o Sustaining - strengthening or supporting
o Uneven - not regular / equal
o Traction - the fact of an idea, product, etc. becoming popular or being accepted
o Floundering - to experience great difficulties or be completely unable to decide
what to do next
o Weighed down - to make somebody feel worried and unhappy because of
problems, responsibilities, and duties
o Turmoil - a state of great disturbance, confusion
o Volatility - sudden change
o Emerge - to appear by coming out of something
o Green shoots - signs of growth or renewal (especially of economic recovery)
o Cargo - goods carried on a ship
o Upturn - an improvement or a change to a higher level or value (especially in
economics)
o Trigger - to cause something to start
o Hinge - attach or join
o Bolster - support or strengthen
JUNE 09/2016

Topic 1 : "A big crack in the glass ceiling"
Even before Americans went to the polling booths on Tuesday for a blitzkrieg of primaries across six States, history was in the
making. According to a survey by a news agency, Hillary Clinton had already secured more than the minimum of 2,383 delegates
necessary to clinch the nomination at the Democratic Partys convention in Philadelphia. This would make her the first woman
to clinch the presidential nomination of a major political party in the U.S., an achievement that comes 96 years after women in
the worlds oldest democracy won the right to vote. If the superdelegates backing her stay true to their promise to support her
at the convention, then Ms. Clinton will have finally won the bid to be on the ballot as a presidential candidate, eight years after
she first gave it a shot. Of course, to occupy the White House, she will first have to ward off a stiff attack from presumptive
Republican nominee Donald Trump, the fire-breathing property billionaire. At the moment Ms. Clintons strong delegate count
puts in the shadow her only Democratic rival the self-declared socialist Bernie Sanders. Yet regardless of what Mr. Sanders
does going forward, he will be recognised for consistently tilting the hateful discourse of this election year towards a more
humane, less bigoted idiom and fighting unapologetically against economic inequality and the influence of special interests.
Among the challenges Ms. Clinton faces is the need to win, before November, the hearts and minds of Mr. Sanders supporters,
who are disenchanted with a policy that is seen as favouring the super-rich. Her credentials as former Secretary of State, First
Lady and a well-connected Washington insider place her in stark contrast to Mr. Sanders. She will have to travel many miles to
persuade the young, liberal millennial cohort that supports him, convincing them she has the quintessentially Democratic value
of batting for the middle class through publicly provided safety nets. Then there is the other persona that she has to contend
with: Mr. Trump. Despite vicious verbal attacks on minorities, including Muslims, Mexicans and the differently abled, women
and the media, he has soared from strength to strength on the back of astonishing support from a socially insecure Middle
America. Ms. Clintons much stronger lead in nationwide opinion polls in previous months has shrunk to a mere two-point
average across seven major polls. If she is to ultimately become Madam President, she will have to step deftly through a
quagmire of troubling questions surrounding the 2012 Benghazi attack, her use of a private email server while serving as
Secretary, and her ties to Wall Street finance.
o Glass ceiling - a point after which you cannot go any further, usually in improving
your position at work
o Blitzkrieg - a sudden attack that is intended to surprise and quickly defeat the
enemy
o Primary - a preliminary election to select the candidates for a principal, especially
presidential, election
o Delegates - a person sent or authorized to represent others (an elected
representative)
o Convention - a large formal meeting
o Superdelegate - (in the Democratic Party) an unelected delegate who is free to
support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party's national
convention
o Bid - competetion
o Ballot - a system of voting secretly


o Ward off something - to prevent something unpleasant from harming or coming
close to you
o Stiff attack - serious / strong attack
o Presumptive - believed to be something
o Nominee - a person who is nominated as a candidate for election
o Fire-breathing - very angry and emotional in speech, manner, or behavior
o Puts in the shadow - to make you receive little attention because someone else is
better known or more skillful
the same field
o Consistently - in a way that does not change
o Bigoted - unreasonably attached to a belief, opinion
o Unapologetically - not sorry about having caused someone problems or
unhappiness, even though people might expect you to be sorry
o Inequality - difference
o Disenchanted - disappointed by someone or something previously respected
o Stark - complete
o Persuade - to make someone do or believe something by convincing them
o Cohort - a group of people who support a particular person
o Quintessentially - being the most important part of something
o Persona - the particular type of character that a person seems to have and that is
often different from their real or private character
o Differently abled - disabled
o Soared - raised very quickly to a high level
o Astonishing - extremely surprising
o Shrunk - to become smaller
o Deftly - cleverly
o Quagmire - a difficult and dangerous situation
Topic 2 : "Never in Punjab"
Udta Punjab is not the first film that the Central Board of Film Certification has sought changes in. And as in several previous
instances of censorship, its demand has no rational basis and violates the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.
The plot line of the film is anchored in Punjabs widespread drug addiction, a problem that has been extensively researched and
detailed. It is widely known that drugs are laying waste the people of the State. Ironically, the CBFC wants Punjab expunged
from the title along with edits so that the drama could be read as taking place anywhere in the country, not specifically in Punjab.
Depictions of live issues and events are usually introduced with the caveat that resemblance to real persons is accidental, and
it would be logical to assume that this is where the Board should have left it. The reasons for its censorious zeal are not difficult
to guess. Assembly elections in Punjab are less than a year away, and the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, which leads a coalition
with the Bharatiya Janata Party, is being cornered most acutely on drug abuse. It is accused not only of failing to check the drug


trade, but also of turning its eyes away from the involvement of well-connected individuals. The films producer has taken the
matter to court, and one must await further legal developments to know the fate of the film. But in his inordinate enthusiasm in
talking down Udta Punjab, CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani has only brought the issue of drug consumption in Punjab back into the
spotlight.
It is just as well that the matter of certification has been taken to the courts. As film-makers scope the landscape for realistic
depictions of immediate issues, they face resistance in the form of CBFC recommendations or outright threats of violence from
assorted groups. From Bombay in the Nineties to Vishwaroopam more recently, the right of producers to screen their films is
often negotiated politically. There have been many efforts to secure the freedom of expression for example the G.D. Khosla
report in 1969 recommended independent members on the Board, then called the Central Board of Film Censors.
Independence has remained elusive and even if full autonomy of the Board is ensured, there is no guaranteeing that the
institution would be any less scissor-happy. Perhaps the Shyam Benegal Committee set up early this year by the Information
and Broadcasting Ministry has offered a more practical solution: the CBFC should only certify a film and its scope should be
restricted to categorising the suitability of the film according to the audience group for which it is intended.
o Rational - based on clear reason / logic
o Violates - to break or act against something (especially a law / agreement)
o Plot line - the story of a film
o Anchored - presented
o Addiction - the need or strong desire to do or to have something
o Extensively - covering a large area / having a great range
o Expunged - removed completely
o Depiction - the way that something is represented or shown
o Resemblance - to look like someone or something
o Zeal - great enthusiasm or eagerness
o Coalition - the joining together of different political parties or groups for a
particular purpose, usually for a limited time
o Acutely - completely
o Abuse - to use something for the wrong purpose in a way that is harmful (misuse)
o Accused - to say that someone has done something morally wrong, illegal, or
unkind
o Enthusiasm - interest
o Spotlight - receiving a lot of public attention
o Resistance - a force that acts to stop the progress of something or make it slower
o Threats - warnings (suggestions that something unpleasant or violent will happen,
if a particular action or order is not followed)
o Assorted - consisting of various types mixed together
o Negotiated - happening or existing as a result of formal discussions
o Elusive - difficult to find, catch, or achieve
o Autonomy - independence
o Scissor-happy - using scissors and then cut something up that you shouldnt
o Categorising - to put people or things into groups with the same features

JUNE 10/2016
Topic 1 : "The new symphony in India-U.S. ties"
At the end of his rousing speech to the U.S. Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi quoted Walt Whitman to indicate that
there was a new symphony in play between India and the U.S. The past two years bear out such lyricism in the bilateral
relationship. Defence ties have been consolidated in three ways: in defence procurement from the U.S. as well as co-
development projects, which are worth over $14 billion; in coordination, cooperation and sharing of information between the two
defence forces; and increasingly, on the idea of working together on operations on piracy, peacekeeping and patrolling.
However, it is the strategic relationship, with Indias positioning on non-alignment, that is the most dramatic score in the
symphony. Although the Centre has drawn the line at an alliance and joint patrols, it is clear from the joint vision statement
signed in New Delhi last year that the Modi government intends to move closer to the U.S. on defence issues. In recognition,
during Mr. Modis visit the U.S. declared India a major defence partner, a designation specially created to describe this new
relationship and one that is just short of a military alliance. In 2005, Manmohan Singh told the U.S. Congress of how Indias
growth and prosperity is in American interest, and the heavy lifting has yielded annual bilateral trade of $107 billion now. On
Wednesday, Mr. Modi took the theme forward by saying, A stronger and prosperous India is in Americas strategic interest.
All symphonies have a short pause between movements, and the government must take a similar pause as the U.S.
administration changes to chart the road ahead. It must also factor in the strategic closeness with the U.S. on its other key
bilateral engagements, from Russia to China, and within the neighbourhood. Mr. Modis statement that a strong U.S. partnership
will ensure security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on seas all the way from Asia to Africa and from
the Indian Ocean to the Pacific will be read by Beijing with some concern; India should either reassure China or be prepared
for a counter-move from Beijing on this count. Mr. Modi seemed to suggest India has firmly put its Cold War compacts behind it
when he said the Indo-U.S. relationship has overcome the hesitations of history. If such a candid admission can be made
across the seas inside the U.S. Congress, the Modi government would serve Indias foreign policy well to explain its strategic
shift to Parliament too. This is a necessary domestic input to allow the relationship to be a bridge to a more united, humane
and prosperous world, words that drew standing ovation.
o Rousing - exciting
o Quoted - repeatd the words that someone else has said or written
o Lyricism - the beautiful expression of personal thoughts and feelings
o Consolidated - to become stronger
o Procurement - to get something, especially after an effort
o Piracy - the unauthorized use or reproduction of another's work
o Peacekeeping - the activity of preventing war and violence
o Patrolling - to go around an area to see if there is any trouble or danger (especially
soldiers or the police)
o Strategic - relating to the gaining of overall or long-term advantage
o Non-alignment - if a country is non-aligned, it does not support or depend on any
powerful country or group of countries
o Dramatic - very sudden or noticeable, or full of action and excitement

o Drawn the line - to never do something because you think it is wrong
o Alliance - a group of countries, political parties, or people who have agreed to work
together because of shared interests or aims
o Designation - an official title or name
o Heavy lifting - serious or difficult work
o Pause - a short period in which something such as a sound or an activity is stopped
before starting again
o Navigation - the process of directing the way that a ship, aircraft, etc. will travel
o Concern - to involve someone directly
o Reassure - to do something to remove the doubts and fears of someone
o Counter-move - a move made in opposition to another
o Firmly - strongly and tightly
o Cold War - a state of extreme unfriendliness existing between countries
o Hesitations - doubts
o Candid - truthful and straightforward (frank)
o Standing ovation - an occasion when the people in an audience stand up to clap
at the end of a performance or speech because they liked it very much
Topic 2 : "Preparing cities for high water"
If governments paid serious attention to the economic geography of Indias cities, they would be doing a lot more to prepare
for annual weather events like the monsoon. UN Habitat estimates that by 2030 India will have 14 major clusters of cities
accounting for 40 per cent of its GDP. Other assessments indicate that nearly 80 per cent of economic production will be in
urban areas by that year. What this underscores is the extremely vulnerable condition of cities as economic assets. Proof of this
is available from catastrophic events such as unprecedented flooding in Chennai in 2015 and in Mumbai some years ago. Even
with weak insurance cover for the general population, the volume of claims in Chennai crossed Rs.5,000 crore, highlighting the
avoidable losses arising out of infrastructure deficits. Much of the total loss was borne by individuals. On the other hand, cities
devote vast amounts of their revenue merely to repair roads after the monsoon rather than create new assets. This is a colossal
planning failure, and governments should at least now draw up integrated plans to make cities and growing towns resilient to
weather events and disasters. This should begin with the creation of information systems that tell administrators about weather
patterns, anomalies, flooding data and population impacts.
The Chennai floods exposed the mindless permissions for construction in floodplains, and the high tolerance to commercial
encroachment of wetlands. They also highlighted the indifference among policymakers over providing decent housing for
migrants. This approach is eroding the economic gains of urban India. If megacities that face seasonal storms are to be
strengthened, they should be provided with more water harvesting facilities in the form of urban wetlands with connected drains.
Suburban lakes have to be revived. Natural ecological structures are readily available to achieve this. City managers should not
commit the mistake of building engineered systems to transfer precious rain flows to the sea, ignoring water security for growing


populations. A transparent building code that alerts buyers to hazard-free property is vital. Equally, governments need to ensure
that during the monsoon, basic requirements of urban living such as transport, safe water supply, energy and health systems
are not severely disrupted. On the positive side, city residents have a higher degree of education, capability and financial
wherewithal, and these should help administrations find durable solutions. Much of urbanising India is yet to be built, and it can
be designed to withstand the vagaries of monsoons and other weather events.
o Annual - happening once every year

o Monsoon - the season of heavy rain after the summer in hot Asian countries
o Habitat - the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually lives
o Clusters - groups
o Urban areas - areas related to City / Town
o Extremely - to a very great degree / very
o Vulnerable - able to be easily influenced or attacked
o Assets - useful or valuable things
o Catastrophic - involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering
o Flooding - a situation in which an area is covered with water, especially from rain
o Volume - the number or amount of something
o Avoidable - possible to avoid
o Infrastructure - the basic systems and services, such as transport and power
supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively
o Borne - to accept / tolerate something unpleasant
o Devote - to give your time or effort completely to something
o Colossal - extremely large or great
o Draw up something - to prepare something, usually something official, in writing:
o Integrate - to combine two or more things in order to become more effective
o Disaster - an event that results in great harm, damage, or death, or serious
difficulty
o Anomaly - something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected
o Impacts - effects
o Floodplain - an area of flat land near a river that is often flooded when the river
becomes too full
o Tolerance - willingness to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different from your
own, although you might not agree with or approve of them
o Encroachment - to take control or possession of something which is not your's
o Policymakers - a member of a government department, who is responsible for
making new rules, laws, etc.
o Migrants - people who travels to a different country or place, often in order to find
work
o Eroding - slowly reduceing or destroying something
o Harvesting - the process of collecting a natural resource to use it effectively
o Suburban - the outer area of a town

o Revive - to bring something back to life
o Ecology - the relationships between the air, land, water, animals, plants, etc. of a
particular area
o Precious - of great value because of being rare, expensive, or important
o Hazard - something that is dangerous and likely to cause damage
o Vital - very important
o Disrupted - prevented / stopped
o Wherewithal - the money necessary for a particular purpose
o Urbanising - to build houses, offices, etc. in an area of countryside so that it
becomes a town
o Withstand - to be strong enough, or not be changed by something
o Vagaries - unexpected events or changes that cannot be controlled and can
influence a situation
JUNE 11/2016
Topic 1 : "Steering India to safer roads"
Road accidents in India kill more people than some epidemics, but the Central and the State governments refuse to see it for
what it is a national crisis. The antiquated traffic management and transportation system resulted in 1,50,000 deaths and left
more than half a million injured last year, affirming the countrys status as among the riskiest in the world for road users.
Significantly, the counts for deaths and injuries in accidents are viewed as less than accurate. The Road Safety in India status
report 2015 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, says injuries requiring hospitalisation are likely to be underestimated
by a factor of four and for all injuries by a factor of 20. For everyone undertaking a road journey, the risk of a fatal accident has
been rising steadily: absolute fatalities in 2014 showed a 6 per cent average annual growth rate compared to 1970 figures. Data
also show that more than half of those killed last year were in the productive age group of 15 to 34, pointing to a calamitous loss
of young lives. This is a public health emergency that requires immediate action. One of the most productive measures to bring
down accidents is zero tolerance enforcement. Strong policing reduces the risk for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians
and two-wheeler riders, who must be compelled to wear helmets.
In spite of fast-paced motorisation, India does not have a scientific accident investigation agency. Nine years have passed since
the Sundar Committee on Road Safety and Traffic Management recommended the creation of a safety board through legislation.
Under the archaic Motor Vehicles Act and the Indian Penal Code, the police adopt simplistic methods to determine driver fault,
rather than look at composite factors including bad road design and failure of civic agencies to maintain infrastructure while
fixing responsibility for accidents. It is unlikely that the proposed National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board will lead
to dramatic improvements, since it is envisaged only as an advisory body. Without empowered oversight, it is impossible to
eliminate systemic corruption in transport departments in vehicle certification and licensing of drivers, and poor monitoring of
roadworthiness of commercial vehicles. The Centre should also act on the virtual monopoly held by automotive companies on
the sale of spares and servicing of vehicles, which is raising cost of ownership and affecting quality of maintenance. Research
suggests there will be an annual rise in fatalities until 2042, before a decline sets in. That distressing prognosis can be changed


only through determined action today.
o Steering - to take something in the direction in which you want it

o Epidemic - a particular problem that seriously affects many people at
the same time (disease)
o Antiquated - old-fashioned or outdated
o Affirming - to state something as true
o Injury - physical harm or damage to someone's body caused by an
accident or an attack
o Accurate - exact
o Hospitalisation - the act of taking someone to hospital and keeping
them there for treatment
o Underestimated - estimate (something) to be smaller or less important
than it really is
o Undertaking - a formal pledge or promise to do something
o Fatal - causing death
o Steadily - calmly and in a controlled way
o Fatality - an occurrence of death by accident, in war, or from disease
o Annual - occurring once every year
o Calamitous - a serious accident or bad event causing damage or
suffering
o Emergency - a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation
requiring immediate action
o vulnerable - able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt,
influenced, or attacked
o Pedestrians - a person who is walking, especially in an area where
vehicles go
o Compelled - force someone to do something
o Fast-paced - happening very quickly
o Legislation - the process of making laws
o Archaic - very old or old-fashioned.
o Composite - something that is made of various different parts
o Civic - relating to a city or town, especially its administration; municipal
o Infrastructure - the basic physical and organizational structures and
facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation
of a society
o Unlikely - not the same as you would usually expect
o Envisaged - form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or
known)
o Empowered - to give someone official authority or the freedom to do
something
o Oversight - responsibility for a job or activity and for making sure it is
being done correctly
o Monitoring - observing and checking the progress or quality of
something


o Roadworthiness - ability of a vehicle to be in a suitable operating
condition for safe driving
o Monopoly - complete control of something, especially an area of
business, so that others have no share
o Distressing - upsetting
o Prognosis - a statement of what is judged likely to happen in the future
o Determined - having made a strong decision and decided not to change
it
Topic 2 : "Growing unrest in France"
France is no stranger to strikes. But weeks-long unrest by left-leaning labour unions against the policies of a Socialist
government is unprecedented. The unions that began the strike on May 17 are demanding that the government abandon
a bill to reform Frances strict labour laws. If the bill is passed in Parliament or taken to law through a decree, employers
will be allowed to negotiate the 35-hour maximum working week and severance payments if they need to downsize the
workforce in times of financial difficulty. The government says overhauling the labour laws is necessary for job creation,
and that it is part of a larger reform push to spur economic growth. Growth is stalled at around 1 per cent. The
unemployment rate hovers at more than 10 per cent, twice that of Germany. Youth unemployment is stubbornly high at
25 per cent. Franois Hollande, one of the most unpopular presidents in modern France, has to jump-start reforms to
spur growth before next years presidential elections.
But the question is whether Mr. Hollande can accomplish this while antagonising the unions that helped him come to
power four years ago. Before the 2012 elections, he had presented himself as an ally of the working population and vowed
to squeeze the wealthy to protect Frances egalitarianism. But once in power, Mr. Hollande turned business-friendly, and
the constituency that elected him felt betrayed. The government appears determined to move ahead with the reform plan
despite the strike, which has already affected fuel distribution in parts of France. However, over the past two months the
unions have demonstrated that they have mass support for the protests. Since March 31, tens of thousands of French
citizens have taken to the streets against the government. Also, a section of the ruling Socialist Party is opposed to the
governments economic policies. Unilaterally proceeding with the legislation could deepen rifts within the party and trigger
more public unrest. These protests come at a particularly delicate time for France. The country is already under a state
of emergency. After last Novembers Paris attacks, it remains on heightened alert. The European Championship football
tournament began in Paris on Friday, and its successful conduct needs the help of Frances workers and security
personnel. In such a scenario, the last thing the country needs is an open showdown between workers and the
government. In the end, there may be no option available to either but a compromise. The government must realise the
limits of high-handedness and unilateralism, just as the unions need to face up to the reality that the French economy,
fired by government and European Union subsidies and a publicly funded welfare system, cannot hold amid stalled
growth.

o Strikes - attacks

o Left-leaning - sympathetic to the left in politics
o Abandon - to leave
o Reform - to make an improvement, especially by changing the structure
of something
o Decree - an official statement that something must happen
o Negotiate - to have formal discussions with someone in order to reach
o Severance - money paid by an employer to an employee whose job the
employer has had to bring to an end
o Downsize - make something smaller
o Workforce - the group of people who work in a company, industry,
country, etc
o Overhauling - to repair or improve something so that every part of it
works as it should
o Stalled - stopped
o Hovers - to stand somewhere
o Stubbornly - difficult to move, change, or deal with
o Jump-start - to improve a situation by taking a particular action
o Accomplish - achieve or complete successfully
o Antagonising - to make someone dislike you or feel opposed to you
o Vowed - promised
o Egalitarianism - believing that all people are equally important and
should have the same rights and opportunities in life
o Constituency - a group of voters in a specified area who elect a
representative to a legislative body
o Betrayed - cheated
o Demonstrated - clearly showed
o Protests - a strong complaint expressing disagreement, disapproval, or
opposition
o Unilaterally - involving only one group or country
o Rift - a serious break in friendly relations
o Trigger - an event that causes something bad to start
o Delicate - a situation that needs to be dealt with carefully in order to
avoid trouble
o Emergency - a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation
requiring immediate action
o Heightened - to increase or make something increase
o Scenario - situation
o The last thing the country needs - something that the country do not
want
o Showdown - an important argument that is aimed to end a
disagreement that has existed for a long time
o High-handedness - using power or authority more forcefully than is
needed, without thinking about the feelings or wishes of other people
o Unilateralism - the process of acting, reaching a decision without
consulting others


o Subsidy - money given as part of the cost of something, to help or
encourage it to happen
o Amid - surrounded by / in the middle of
o Stalled - stopped
JUNE 13/2016
Topic 1 : "Voting to defeat"
Surprise victories and shock defeats are usually the stuff of the direct elections; much less frequently that of indirect
elections to the Rajya Sabha. When elections to the Upper House throw up a surprise, they usually reveal stories of
dissension and, on occasion, extraneous influences of a dubious sort. The >unexpected jolts in the last round of Rajya
Sabha elections were caused by MLAs in the Congress in Haryana and the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. Strategies
drawn up at the leadership level came to naught as the legislators, dissatisfied with the choice of candidates or the style
of decision-making, ensured the defeat of official nominees. The Congress high command decided to ignore the early
warning signs in Haryana, blinkered by the overwhelming desire to defeat the independent candidate sponsored by the
Bharatiya Janata Party media baron Subhash Chandra. For the Haryana unit of the party, the course adopted by its
leadership, of joining hands with the Indian National Lok Dal to support the lawyer R.K. Anand, made little political sense
as the two parties are fighting for the same political space in the State. In this instance, the interests of the national
leadership and those of the State unit were in direct conflict. The Congress high command was more intent on reducing
the support for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha, if only by one. But the partys MLAs were more concerned about how the
battlelines are drawn in Haryana. What makes the situation worse for the Congress is that it is in no position to act against
the rebels. The 15 MLAs, who very deliberately invalidated their votes, have the backing of large sections of the State
unit, led from the front by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. It is the national leadership of the party that will
have to pay heed to this message.
In Karnataka, it was the Congress that was the beneficiary of another partys internal bickering. Dissidence within the
JD(S) has a longer history, and the cross-voting had more to do with dissatisfaction with the leadership's style of
functioning than with the choice of candidate. Although some of the rebels are considered close to Congress Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah, who was formerly with the JD(S), their vote was largely a signal to the JD(S) leadership, and not so much
out of love for the Congress. In Uttar Pradesh, the >Congress managed to get Kapil Sibal elected despite some cross-
voting in favour of Preeti Mahapatra, a Gujarat-origin entrepreneur considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Like in some earlier Rajya Sabha elections, there was evidence in this round of wealthy candidates securing votes across
party lines, reinforcing the belief that elections to the Upper House continue to be influenced by the power of money.
o Defeat - to cause someone or something to fail

o Victory - an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game,
or other competition
o Throw up - to produce new problems or ideas


o Dissension - arguments and disagreement, especially in an
organization, group, political party, etc.
o Extraneous - not directly connected with or related to something
o Dubious - feeling doubt
o Jolts - shocks
o Strategy - a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall
aim
o Drawn up something - to prepare something, usually something
official, in writing
o Naught - nothing
o Ensured - to make sure about something
o Nominees - a person who is nominated as a candidate for election
o Blinkered - unable to understand other people's beliefs
o Sponsored by - supported by
o Baron - an extremely powerful person in a particular area of business
o Adopted - choose to take up or follow (an idea, method, or course of
action)
o Joining hands (with somebody) - to unite with other people or groups
o Instance - an example of something
o Intent - determined to do something
o To draw battlelines - to clearly show the differences between two ideas
or opinions
o Rebel - a person who rises in opposition against an established
government or leader
o Deliberately - consciously and intentionally / on purpose
o Invalidated - to officially stop something acceptable
o Backing - support
o To pay heed - to pay attention to something (especially advice or a
warning)
o Beneficiary - a person who derives advantage from something
o Bickering - to argue about things that are not important
o Dissidence - protest against official policy
o Entrepreneur - someone who starts their own business
o Reinforcing - strengthening or supporting
Topic 2 : "On the brink"
As a deepening economic crisis aggravates Venezuelas severe social and political unrest, it has exposed the fragility of
its institutions to deal with the situation. Plagued by long years of populism kept afloat on a sea of oil, the plunging prices
of crude have resulted in a lethal mix of goods shortages and hyperinflation, threatening to push the country into a state
of chaos. Already, there are snaky queues for food and medicines and a crippling shortage of electricity that has forced
a two-day week for government employees and blackouts across the country. The oft-repeated grievance of President
Nicols Maduro, the charismatic Hugo Chvezs hand-picked successor, that Venezuela is the victim of an economic


war is beginning to have an increasingly hollow ring as his government struggles to repay the massive external debt it
accumulated during the oil boom even as it is forced to cut down on imports of basic necessities to avoid a default.
As a rash of criminal activity and a >surge of angry protests break out on the streets, the opposition, buoyed by a victory
in the congressional elections last December, is looking to oust Mr. Maduro. The focus now is on the fate of the recall
referendum, with the opposition claiming it has the required 1.85 million signatures to force one and the government
dismissing this as fraudulent, something that a pliant National Electoral Council has endorsed by declaring about a third
of the signatures on the petition as invalid. The opposition, led by Henrique Capriles, a former presidential candidate,
wants the referendum to be held by January next year as a victory would mean a fresh presidential election. Were the
referendum to take place later, then a Maduro loss would merely mean that his Vice-President runs the country until 2019.
The big question is whether the country can afford to wait for the political process to play itself out. Time and patience are
wearing thin. It is becomingly apparent that Mr. Maduro, who has become isolated within the region he was described
as a traitor to ethics by the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States will be unable to carry the
country for much longer with rhetoric of jingoism and victimhood. The President has the backing of the armed forces and
a government-stacked Supreme Court and is now armed with emergency powers to confront allinternational and
national threats. It is imperative that he allows some sort of international mediation with the immediate aim of calming
political tempers and dealing with the shortage in food and medicines. The risks otherwise are a slip into dictatorship or,
even worse, anarchy.
o On the brink - at the point where a new or different situation is about

to begin
o Aggravates - to make a bad situation worse
o Fragility - the quality of being easily broken or damaged
o Plagued - to cause continual trouble
o Populism - political ideas and activities that are aimed to get the support
of ordinary people by giving them what they want
o Afloat - floating (not sinking)
o Plunging - dropping suddenly
o crude - natural mineral oil
o Lethal - extremely dangerous
o Hyperinflation - a condition where the price of everything in a national
economy goes out of control and increases very quickly
o Threatening - expressing a threat of something unpleasant or violent
o Snaky - angry
o Crippling - causing serious harm
o Blackouts - a period when all lights must be turned out
o Oft-repeated - frequent (here Oft means often)
o Grievance - an official statement of a complaint over something believed
to be wrong or unfair


o Charismatic - having a special power to influence other people and
attract their attention and admiration
o Hand-picked - selected carefully with a particular purpose in mind
o Successor - someone that comes after you
o Victim - somebody harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime,
accident, or other event or action
o Accumulated - gathered
o Boom - a period of sudden economic growth
o Default - to fail to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally
have to do
o Surge - a sudden powerful movement
o Protests - an occasion when people show that they disagree with
something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc.
o Break out - start suddenly
o Buoyed by something - to feel happier or more confident about a
situation
o Fraudulent - dishonest and illegal
o Pliant - easily influenced or directed
o Endorsed - declare one's public approval or support of
o Patience are wearing thin - to become less and less patient
o Isolate - to keep a person separate from other people
o Traitor - a person who cheats someone
o Rhetoric - speech or writing intended to be effective and influence
people
o Jingoism - the extreme belief that your own country is always best
o Imperative - having great importance / crucial
o Mediation - to talk to two separate people or groups involved in a
disagreement to try to help them to agree or find a solution to their
problems
o Temper - to suddenly become angry
o Anarchy - a situation in which there is no organization and control
JUNE 14/2016
Topic 1 : "Americas new terror reality"
The toxic forces of global jihadist terror, lax gun control laws and pernicious homophobia converged on Sunday night at
a gay club in Orlando, Florida. The >outcome was the worst mass shooting incident in U.S. history. Omar Mateen, 29, a
U.S.-born son of Afghan immigrants, killed 50 people and injured at least 53 using both a handgun and a long gun,
thought to be an AR-15-style assault rifle. This bloodshed, which marked the 16th mass shooting during the presidency
of Barack Obama, speaks to that plague of peaceful American society: gun proliferation bolstered by constitutional
protection under the Second Amendment, and relentless lobbying on Capitol Hill by the National Rifle Association, with
its deep pockets. Mateen, who was known to have ranted about gay people in the past, meticulously targeted the gay


nightclub, reflecting the persistence of deep prejudices about the community, notwithstanding the U.S. Supreme
Courts >landmark decision nearly a year ago upholding marriage equality. While the latest attack is another grim
bookmark in the annals of gun control reform and hate crimes against the LGBT community, the standout dimension of
the incident is without doubt the creeping menace of lone wolf attacks linked to Islamic State (IS), and the prognosis for
the American security state.
The surest sign of the heightened political temperature surrounding domestic terrorism of this sort came from the instant
reactions of the two presumptive presidential candidates, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. While
both >focussed on scoring political points, neither sought to tackle the phenomenon of mounting lone wolf attacks. On
Sunday, Mateen said on a call >he made to the 911 emergency line that he swore allegiance to IS. Experts have noted
that such a pledge has come to be considered a core element of the IS protocol. In December 2015, the San Bernardino,
California, attackers posted such an oath of allegiance on Facebook. In May 2015, the shooter at a cartoon exhibit
displaying images of the Prophet Muhammad in Texas posted tweets pledging loyalty to IS. These public pledges prior
to a violent attack eerily mesh with the recent exhortations of IS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who called on
supporters to kill innocents in the U.S. and Europe during the holy month of Ramzan. Without overreach that would
amount to curbing civil liberties, the U.S. surveillance and security apparatus would have to respond with a higher level
of creativity to deal with lone wolf strikes. Significantly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation had interviewed Mateen twice
but found no evidence of any terror links. In the U.S. it is all too easy for a psychotic, bigoted or otherwise unstable
individual with leanings towards jihadist extremism to act out his beliefs in the land that has one gun for every human
being.
o Toxic - poisonous / harmful

o Lax - not sufficiently strict / serious / careful
o Homophobia - a fear or dislike of gay people
o Converged - combined
o Outcome - result / effect of an action, situation
o Immigrant - a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign
country
o Injured - hurt or physically harmed
o Plague - to cause worry, pain, or difficulty to someone or something over
a period of time
o Bolstered - supported or strengthened
o Amendment - a minor change or addition designed to improve a text,
piece of legislation, etc
o Relentless - continuing in a serious way
o Lobbying - the activity of trying to convince someone in authority, to
support laws or rules that give you advantage
o Deep pockets - to have a lot of money
o Ranted - speak or shou in an angry way

o Meticulously - very carefully
o Persistence - the fact of continuing in an opinion even there is difficulty
or opposition
o Prejudices - an unfair and unreasonable opinion about something
o Notwithstanding - although
o Upholding - confirming or supporting
o Grim - very serious
o Annals - a record of events year by year
o LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
o Standout - the best example of something
o Creeping - happening / developing slowly
o Lone wolf - a person who likes to do things on their own without other
people
o Prognosis - a statement of what is judged likely to happen in the future,
especially in connection with a particular situation
o Domestic - relating to a country
o Presumptive - believed to be something, based on the information that
you have
o Mounting - slowly increasing
o Allegiance - loyalty and support for a ruler, country, group, or belief
o Protocol - the system of rules used at an organization
o Oath - a promise
o Eerily - strange in a frightening and mysterious way
o Mesh - to join together in the correct position
o Exhortations - to strongly encourage someone to do something
o Curbing - to control or limit something that is not wanted
o Apparatus - the technical equipment or machinery needed for a
particular activity or purpose
o Psychotic - suffering from serious mental disease
o Bigoted - a person who has strong, unreasonable beliefs and who does
not like other people who have different beliefs
o Extremism - someone having beliefs that most people think are
unreasonable and unacceptable
Topic 2 : "Public land and private treatment"
By asking five prominent private hospitals in the national capital >to deposit nearly Rs.600 crore to compensate for their
failure to treat poor patients, the Delhi government has drawn attention to the social obligation of healthcare providers in
the corporate sector as well as the need for timely enforcement of applicable regulations. According to the Kejriwal
government, trusts and registered societies to which public land was allotted to establish hospitals were required to
earmark a percentage of their medical facilities and services for indigent patients. The administration is now moving
against institutions that failed to comply with the provision. As early as in 2007, the Delhi High Court had acted on a public
interest litigation to lay down that 10 per cent of inpatient facilities and 25 per cent of outpatient services be provided free


of cost to the poor. The effect of non-compliance was the repayment of the allegedly unwarranted profits the hospitals
had made. The hospitals that have now been fined dispute any failure to treat the required number of indigent patients
and plan to challenge the order. While the courts will have the final say on the dispute, the principle of opposing
profiteering in the health sector cannot be faulted.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that government accounts for only one-third of Indias healthcare spend
well below what is desirable. As a result, we have a situation in which the private sector accounts for a significant part
of healthcare services. Given the low penetration of health insurance, about 86 per cent of expenditure on health comes
out of peoples pockets. This strengthens the case for private hospitals to dedicate a part of their services to those who
cannot afford treatment. However, there is no national legislation that makes this mandatory. In the case of Delhi, it is
enforced as a condition on which land is allotted to private hospitals. Wherever such regulations can be legally enforced,
it is best that they are monitored on a real-time basis and rigorously enforced. In the present case, it has taken years to
assess the audited accounts of the hospitals and initiate action to recover their profits. Enforcing social obligations of
private service providers must go hand in hand with other measures to achieve the real goals of health policy: universal
health coverage and protection for all sections against excessive out-of-pocket medical expenditure.
o Prominent - famous / important

o Compensate - to give (someone) money, in recognition of loss
o Enforcement - the process of making people obey a law
o Regulations - an official rule or the act of controlling something
o Earmark - to keep something for a particular purpose
o Indigent - poor / needy
o Comply - to act according to an order, set of rules, or request
o Non-compliance - failure to act according to a wish or command
o Allegedly - used to say that something is claimed to be taken place, but
there is no proof
o Profiteering - taking advantage of a situation in which other people are
suffering to make a profit
o Desirable - worth having
o Significant - sufficiently great
o Penetration - the selling of a company's products in a particular market
or area
o Legislation - laws
o Enforced - to make compulsory by force
o Rigorously - in a strict or serious way
o Assess - to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance of
something
o Audited - to make an official examination of the accounts of a business
and produce a report
o Initiate - to cause something to begin
o Go hand in hand with something - closely related to something

o Out-of-pocket - having lost money in a transaction
JUNE 15/2016
Topic 1 : "The censor is snipped"
The Bombay High Court has handed out a lesson to the scissor-happy members of the Central Board of Film
Certification, one that they, especially its overzealous chairman Pahlaj Nihalani, should learn at least now. While ordering
that Udta Punjab be granted a certificate in the Adult category and >allowed to be screened with one cut and a
disclaimer, the court has served a reminder that certification, and not censorship, is the real job of the CBFC. And that
the power to order changes and cuts must be exercised only in line with provisions of the Constitution and Supreme Court
orders. Its mandate is not to interfere with the film-makers creative process and freedom of expression. More importantly,
the CBFC has been advised not to look at cinema like a grandmother and instead move with the times and understand
the impulses of present-day creators who may have a candid and direct manner of storytelling. It has reminded the Board
that a film should be seen as one whole and its scenes and dialogues be not taken out of context. The CBFC had no
business in the first place to appoint itself the guardian of the honour of Punjab and take umbrage at the portrayal of the
prevailing reality of widespread drug addiction in the State. Suggesting that references to Punjab and other places be
deleted amounted to ordering that a film about a besetting vice in a particular geographical area be converted into a vague
tale in a make-believe world.
The reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) have been routinely invoked to choke free speech and expression. These
restrictions were never meant to include such things as whether people, in power or otherwise, found something in poor
taste, offensive or against the grain of social or political opinion. We live in a country where hurt sentiment is used to seek
curbs on all manner of creative expression in books, music, art and film. In doing what he did, Mr. Nihalani may not,
as some of his detractors allege, have been batting for the ruling dispensation in Punjab, which is slated to go to the polls
next year. But he is guilty, at the very least, of succumbing to the view that hurt sentiments (whether real or manufactured)
are a basis for ordering extensive and story-altering cuts in a film. The Shyam Benegal Committee, which recently
submitted its report on norms relating to film certification, >recommended that the CBFC should be nothing more than a
certification body. It has suggested that films be classified on the basis of their suitability to different age groups. After Udta
Punjab, reforming the CBFCs functioning has acquired a new urgency.
o Snipped - cut (something) with scissors

o Handed out something - to give something to each person in a group
or place
o Scissor-happy - using scissors and then cut something up that you
shouldnt
o Overzealous - someone who gets too excited about something
o Disclaimer - a formal statement saying that you are not legally
responsible for something

o Exercised - applied / used
o In line with - similar to, or at the same level as something
o Provisions - the act of providing something
o Impulse - a sudden strong wish to do something
o Candid - truthful and straightforward / frank
o Take something out of context - to use only part of something, so
that the original meaning is changed
o Guardian of the honour - a person who protects the honour of
somebody
o Umbrage - to feel upset or annoyed (because you feel that someone has
been rude or shown no respect to you)
o Portrayal - to represent or describe someone or something in a painting,
film, book
o Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among many
people
o Addiction - the need or strong desire to do or to have something
(especially drugs / alcohol / smoking etc)
o Besetting - having a lot of trouble with something
o Vice - a moral fault or weakness in someone's character
o Vague - not clearly expressed
o Routinely - used for describing what often or usually happens
o Choke - to make movement difficult or impossible
o Offensive - causing someone to feel upset / annoyed
o Grain - a very small piece of something
o Detractors - a person who disparages someone or something
o Allege - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong
without giving proof
o Dispensation - exemption from a rule or usual requirement
o Succumbing - to accept defeat
o Altering - changing
o Reforming - making changes in something
o Acquired - obtained
o Urgency - needing attention very soon
Topic 2 : "Microsofts new link"
The decision of Microsoft >to spend over $26 billion to buy LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional network, is an
earnest attempt by the company founded by Bill Gates for continued relevance in a space that it once dominated, to the
point of being a monopoly. That space the technology sector is nothing like what it was in the 1980s and 1990s,
when Microsoft ruled. Over the last decade and a half, the rise of the Internet, social media, and smartphones have
dramatically altered the contours of this space, giving rise to new and more powerful companies such as Google,


Facebook, and Amazon. Add to this mix, Apple, a company almost as old as Microsoft but one that could afford to look
beyond its legacy products and create new ones, even new categories. For a long time, Microsoft wasnt able to reconcile
itself to such changes, tied as it was to the old way of doing things. As recently as last year, a sizeable share of its $93.5
billion revenue came from its old business model of selling its operating system and Office suite to desktop buyers across
the world. When Microsoft did wake up, the game had already slipped from its hands. Rather than create the future, as
the clich in the technology world goes, Microsoft had to reconcile itself to playing me-too in this new world.
This is not the first time Microsoft is trying the acquisition route to make up for lost years. Three years ago, it bought the
phone-maker Nokia for nearly $8 billion, a move that its then CEO Steve Ballmer called a bold step into the future. But
Microsoft got nowhere with that buy and had to write down the investment eventually. Notwithstanding this, critics are
more optimistic about its latest acquisition, Microsofts biggest ever. Satya Nadella, who took over as CEO in 2014, has
been laying emphasis on playing to the companys strengths. He has since focussed on new businesses such as cloud
services, one of the fast-growth areas for the company. But what does a software-seller have to do with a social network?
Microsoft has a history of providing tools to businesses. And LinkedIn, though certainly not the most high-profile social
network around, is in the business of linking business professionals in the new age. With more than 400 million members,
LinkedIn makes its money through recruitment ads and subscriptions. As its CEO, Jeff Weiner, noted in a post:
Essentially, were both trying to do the same thing but coming at it from two different places: For LinkedIn, its the
professional network, and for Microsoft, the professional cloud. The coming together is sure to give Microsoft the traction
it needs to thrive in a digital age, as it moves away from its legacy.
o Earnest - completely serious

o Relevance - the relation of something to the matter
o Monopoly - (an organization or group that has) complete control of
something, especially an area of business, so that others have no share
o Sector - area / part
o Altered - changed
o Contour - an outline representing the shape of something
o Look beyond - to think or plan further than someone or something
o Legacy - something that is a part of your history or that remains from
an earlier time
o Reconcile - restore friendly relations between
o Sizeable - very large
o Slipped - to move out of the correct position
o Clich - something that is very often made and is therefore not original
and not interesting
o Me-too - a company's me-too product is one that is designed to be
similar to a very popular product made by another company
o Critics - people who says that they do not approve of someone or
something
o Optimistic - hopeful and confident about the future

o High-profile - attracting much attention or publicity
o Subscription - an amount of money that you pay regularly to receive a
product or service
o Essentially - necessary or needed
o Thrive - to grow, develop, or be successful
JUNE 16/2016
Topic 1 : "Politics of positions"
Legal issues become needless controversies when politics casts a dark shadow on them. The issue of the >President
withholding assent to a Delhi government Bill seeking to protect its 21 parliamentary secretaries from incurring
disqualification on the grounds of holding an office of profit, is a flagrant example. Chief Minister >Arvind Kejriwal accuses
the Narendra Modi government of having a political motive in advising the President against granting assent. He cites the
prevailing practice of appointing parliamentary secretaries in several other States, notably in Gujarat and Punjab, where
the BJP and its allies are in power. Further, laws in these States expressly protect them from disqualification a
protection that he says Delhi is being denied by the Centre. The matter is essentially a mix of two legal questions: whether
the post of parliamentary secretary, paid or unpaid, is an office of profit; and whether MLAs are given the positions only
to get around the constitutional limit on the number of ministers a State can have. These questions can be settled through
the Election Commission and the courts of law, and attempts to politicise them are unnecessary. The parliamentary
secretaries are under notice from the EC to show cause why they should not be disqualified for holding an office of profit.
The Centre appears reluctant to clear the Bill as it may amount to granting retrospective protection and pre-empting the
ECs opinion.
Mr. Kejriwal contends that his parliamentary secretaries do not draw any salaries or perquisites. He ought to canvass this
point before the Election Commission. The EC will have to go by the set of tests evolved by the Supreme Court on whether
a particular post is an office of profit: whether the government makes the appointment, remunerates the appointee, has
the right to remove the appointee and controls the appointees functions. Further, some High Courts have ruled that
parliamentary secretaries are essentially ministers and their appointment would be struck down if it resulted in the
ministrys strength breaching the constitutional limit. Under Article 164 (1A) of the Constitution, introduced in 2003, the
Council of Ministers should not comprise more than 15 per cent of the strength of a Legislative Assembly. In the case of
the 70-member Delhi Assembly, the limit is 10 per cent, or seven ministers. Such questions arise because the term office
of profit and the post of parliamentary secretary do not yet have a clear legal definition. A legislative solution applicable
across the country is needed. That should ensure that there are no double standards in applying the law on office of
profit.
o Legal - relating to the law

o Casts a dark shadow on something - to spoil a good situation with
o Withholding - to refuse to give something

o Assent - the expression of approval or agreement
o Incurring - experience something unpleasant
o Flagrant - shocking because it is easy to observe
o Accusing - saying that someone has done something wrong / illegal
o Motive - a reason for doing something
o Granting - agreeing to give or allow (something requested)
o Cites - to mention something as proof
o Allies - people who helps and supports you
o Politicise - to make something or someone political
o Reluctant - not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it
o Retrospective - looking back on or dealing with past events or situations
o Pre-empting - take action in order to prevent something happening
o Contends - to say that something is true
o Perquisites - advantages
o Canvass - to try to get political support or votes
o Evolved - developed slowly
o Remunerates - to pay someone for work or services
o Appointee - someone who has been chosen officially for a job or
responsibility
o Essentially - necessary or needed (a basic thing that you need)
o Struck down - to declare (a law) illegal
o Breaching - an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement
Topic 2 : "To be or not to be"
For the British voter, its a rare moment. The results of the June 23 referendum, the second vote in 41 years on United
Kingdoms place in the European Union, will have implications for generations to come. But unlike in 1975, when those
Britons who wanted the country to remain within the European Economic Community had a clear lead over those who
wanted it to exit, this is a neck- and-neck race. According to one poll tracker, the exit camp has a one percentage point
lead over the remain lobby in the weighted average of recent major polls. There is widespread resentment among voters
against the current terms of Britains membership in the EU, and sections of the Tories and other far-right politicians are
trying to exploit this. The Brexit camp argues that owing to the EU membership, Britain is not allowed to make changes
in existing laws and take independent economic decisions. Such restrictions have cost the country economically and are
partly responsible for high unemployment. The camp also blames the EUs immigration policies for migrant arrivals. But
most of these arguments appear hollow as a post-Brexit scenario could throw up even worse outcomes.
Beyond the rhetoric, the Brexit lobby is yet to make a convincing case in support of the argument that leaving the EU
would benefit the U.K. economically. On the other hand, the Treasury assesses that Brexit would slow down growth, and
could lead to a loss of 36 billion in tax receipts. In the short term, a No vote will throw the country into political instability
as Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to resign. There will also be economic uncertainty as Britain will have to
negotiate its new relationship with the EU within two years. A bigger problem would be trade. Currently, almost half of
Britains exports go to other EU countries. The economic impact of losing access to the EUs single market will be huge.


One alternative is to follow the Norwegian model. The Scandinavian country is not part of the EU but has access to the
single market. But Norway has had to make huge concessions for this access, including making payments into EU
budgets. Another option is for Britain to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU. But this route has at least two
problems. First, free trade deals are unlikely to cover financial services. Second, the U.K. will face competition from other
economic powerhouses such as the U.S. and India in negotiating a trade agreement with the EU. On its own, the U.K.
will be at a disadvantage compared to the bigger markets. Moreover, Brexit would put the idea of a united Europe in
danger as it could have a domino effect. The voters decision will have serious effects on not just the country but on the
whole region.
o Referendum - a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are

asked to give their opinion about or decide an important political or social
question
o Implication - the conclusion that can be drawn from something
although it is not directly stated
o Neck- and-neck race - a race inwhich participants are so close or similar
that it's impossible to tell who's going to win
o Poll tracker - a person who asks the same set of questions to a small
group of people repeatedly over time to measure how their opinions,
needs, etc. change
o Resentment - to feel angry because you have been forced to accept
someone or something that you do not like
o Tories - supporters of the Conservative Party
o Brexit - an exit (= act of leaving) by Britain from the European Union
(short for "British exit")
o Blame - to say that someone or something is responsible for a fault or
wrong
o Immigration - the act of someone coming to live in a different country
o Migrant - a person who moves from one place to another in order to find
work or better living conditions
o Hollow - without real significance or value
people
o On the other hand - in a way that is different from the first thing you
mentioned
o Assesses - calculate or estimate the price or value of
o Instability - uncertainty caused by a sudden change in the present
situation
o Impact - a powerful effect
o Concession - a thing that is granted, especially in response to demands
o Unlikely - not the same as you would usually expect
o Powerhouse - a country, organization, or person with a lot of influence,
power, or energy

o Domino effect - the situation in which something (usually something
bad) happens, causing other similar events to happen
JUNE 17/2016
Topic 1 : "Cracking down on idol-looters"
The >thriving trade in illicitly procured temple idols was exposed yet again after officers of the Idol Wing of the Tamil
Nadu Police raided the premises of the Chennai-based businessman Deenadayalan on May 31. The sheer scale of the
seizure 71 stone idols, 41 metal idols, 90 paintings and an ivory item signals how big and brazen the idol-looting
business is in India. The value of the loss from this activity cannot be computed in merely commercial terms; every item
illegally exported robs the country of a bit of its heritage. The Deenadayalan raids, for example, yielded idols of Ganapathy,
Dakshinamoorthy, Garudalwar, Boodevi and Sridevi, and numerous pillars and vessels too, mostly dating back to the
unparalleled refinement of Dravidian sculpture and architecture during the Chola age. The octogenarian ran four art
galleries in Tamil Nadu and one in Karnataka, each possibly a hub for storage and smuggling. The meticulously organised
nature of this shadowy business hints at the deep and vast network of idol thieves who have plied their trade across not
only Tamil Nadu but numerous other Indian States and even broader territories of South and South East Asia.
The most notable among these is the >smuggling ring of Subhash Kapoor, the alleged kingpin who is now in a Tamil
Nadu prison after being arrested in the U.S. in 2011 for illegally shipping artefacts to his Art of the Past gallery in New
York and to other museums. The loot of Indian antiquities by Kapoor and Co. stretches as far back as the early years of
Indian Independence, when Subhashs father Parshotam Ram Kapoor began plundering cultural institutions in the
subcontinent and selling objects for profit. The law of the land has changed since then. In the 1970s India became a
signatory to the UNESCO convention on preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.
Under this rubric, no such culturally significant objects could be removed from India under any circumstances. Although
more evidence connecting Deenadayalan to Kapoor is yet to emerge, it is clear that a loot of heritage on a breathtaking
scale has continued despite the evolving legal framework to protect it. Although enforcement action and public awareness
of idol-smuggling have expanded, it has only been in the last few years that idols recovered on foreign soil have trickled
back. Notably, 200 artefacts estimated at $100 million were returned to India in Washington this month during the U.S.
visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is an urgent need to halt the outflow of idols. That requires building up the
manpower and surveillance capabilities of the police to disrupt the gangs, and facilitating inter-agency and international
cooperation.
o Cracking down - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more

serious way
o Idol- a picture or statue that people pray to as part of their religion
o looters - people who steal something dishonestly by using force
o Thriving - growing
o Illicitly - illegally

o Procured - to get something, especially after an effort
o Exposed - made (something) visible by uncovering it / reveal the true,
objectionable nature of (someone or something)
o Wing - a group of an organization
o Raided - a short sudden attack, usually by a small group of people
o Premises - the land and buildings owned by someone, especially by a
company or organization
o Sheer - used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful
something is
o Seizure - the action of taking something by force or with legal authority
o Ivory - the hard yellowish-white substance that forms the tusks of some
animals such as elephants, used especially in the past to make decorative
objects
o Brazen - bold and without shame
o Heritage - something belonging to the culture of a particular society
o Numerous - great in number / many
o Vessel - a curved container that is used to hold liquid
o Dating back - to have existed for a particular length of time or since a
particular time
o Unparalleled - having no equal / better or greater than any other
o Refinement - a small change that improves something
o Sculpture - the art of forming solid objects that represent a thing,
person, idea, etc. out of a material such as wood, clay, metal, or stone
o Octogenarian - a person who is between 80 and 89 years old
o Meticulously - very carefully
o Shadowy - used to refer to someone or something about which little is
known
o Plied - to sell or to work regularly at something, especially at a job that
involves selling things
o Numerous - many
o Territory - (an area of) land, that is considered as belonging to or
connected with a particular country or person
o Alleged - said, without proof
o Kingpin - the most important person within a particular organization
o Artefact - an object made by a person, and having historical background
o Antiquities - objects from the ancient past
o Plundering - stealing goods violently from a place, especially during a
war
o Subcontinent - a large area of land that is part of a continent, often
referring to South Asia
o Signatory - a person, organization, or country that has signed an
agreement
o Convention - an agreement between states covering particular matters,
especially one less formal than a treaty
o Rubric - a heading on a document
o Circumstances - situations
o Breathtaking - extremely exciting / surprising
o Trickled - to arrive or move somewhere slowly, in small numbers


o Halt - to stop
o Outflow - a large amount of money, valuable items, or people that is
transferred out of a place
o Surveillance - the careful watching of a person or place, especially by
the police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected
o Disrupt - to prevent something
o Facilitating - to make something possible or easier
Topic 2 : "Views to watch"
There is little that is surprising about Indias recent >refusal to allow Google to launch its Street View service, which
gives users a 360-degree view of public spaces. As this newspaper has reported, the proposal was rejected following
objections raised by the Defence Ministry. The decision is said to have come in the backdrop of the >terror attack on the
Pathankot airbase in January, with investigators suspecting that terrorists used Google Maps to study the topography of
the targeted area. Barely days after the airbase attack, the Delhi High Court asked the government to examine the issue
of sensitive locations such as defence installations and nuclear power plants showing on Google Maps. It isnt clear if
these concerns have been addressed. Street View goes a step further than the maps. It displays panoramic views of
public spaces, thanks to images captured by Googles moving vehicles, adding a layer of depth and reality to the maps.
India has hinted that its refusal is not final and that such issues could be resolved once the > Geospatial Bill, which seeks
to regulate map-creation and sharing, comes into force. But it is unclear whether this will help, given that the proposed
legislation is somewhat overenthusiastic about regulation. India isnt the first country to seem troubled by Street View.
Since its launch in 2007 in the U.S., the service has faced roadblocks in many countries. In the U.S., for instance, both
the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense had concerns over Google capturing images of
sensitive locations. In Europe, especially Germany, concerns over loss of privacy took centre stage. The script wasnt
different in Japan.
And yet, Street View is available in all these countries. Solutions were eventually found. Before long, the service figured
out a way to blur peoples faces and licence plates automatically before the pictures were made public. In the U.S., Google
was asked to remove sensitive information, and its image-capturing cars were ordered to keep off military bases. In
Germany, households were given the option of blurring their buildings. In Japan, the height from which the cameras
scanned the neighbourhoods was lowered and local governments were notified prior to Googles photography. Even
Israel, which takes internal security very seriously, gave the green signal to Street View five years ago, reportedly making
sure Google doesnt show images in real-time and only photographs public spaces open to all. While there is an obvious
tourism angle involved, Google representatives have spoken of Street Views usefulness in disaster management. All
things considered, it might not be in Indias best interests to keep out this technology for long.
o Proposal - a plan or suggestion, especially a formal or written one, put

forward for consideration by others
o Objection - an expression or feeling of disapproval or opposition /
reason for disagreeing
o Backdrop - the general situation in which particular events happen


o Airbase - a military airport where aircraft are kept and can land and take
off
o Topography - the physical appearance of an area of land
o Installation - a place where there are buildings and equipment that
have a particular, especially military, purpose
o Panoramic view - a view of a wide area
o Geospatial - relating to data that is associated with a particular location
o Legislation - law
o Roadblocks - actions that prevent something from happening or
working correctly
o Privacy - someone's right to keep their personal matters and
relationships secret
o Took centre stage - to be at the centre of attention
o Household - a building that people, usually one family, live in
o Disaster management - activity of preparing for and successfully
dealing with extremely difficult or damaging events
JUNE 18/2016
Topic 1 : "Nervous takeoff"
The >civil aviation policy, unveiled after much ado, ticks all the right boxes. The intent to fast-track the sector and harvest
its multiplier effects on the economy, spurring investments, tourism and employment, is clear. Making flying affordable
and bringing more cities on the air transport map either by reviving defunct airports or building no-frills as well as full-
fledged commercial terminals would boost domestic traffic, but the target to more than triple passenger numbers by
2022 is too ambitious. A critical reform is the de-politicisation of identifying destinations. Indeed, resources ought to be
deployed based on economics rather than as populist gestures to the hinterland voter. The >regional connectivity
scheme will be purely demand-driven, on the basis of commitments from airlines and State governments. Aiming for a
Rs.2,500 air ticket for hour-long flights by securing concessions from States and airports and subsidising airlines is a
populist gesture. Implementing a subsidy-based network comes with its perils oil prices tend to swing, and the wisdom
of a dole for flyers on new routes to be financed by a levy on flyers on high-traffic routes is questionable. A complex
regime would make airlines hesitate before investing in smaller aircraft for such routes.
Liberalising the right to fly abroad by scrapping the five-year domestic flight operations requirement doesnt create real
room for manoeuvre for investors. Quick offers of international routes may not mean much for new airlines; it is not
financially feasible to scale up to a fleet of 20 aircraft just to get the right to deploy the next one on an overseas route.
Similarly, while an open sky policy with SAARC countries is a positive, it has a misleading ring when applied to countries
beyond a 5,000-km radius. India already has unused flying rights to EU countries and an open-sky policy with the U.S.
and the U.K. The success of the regional connectivity plan will hinge on concessions from States in the form of free land,
lower utility rates and tax cuts on aircraft fuel. The Centre has offered to grant special economic zone status for any
aeronautical manufacturing activity. But such sops are not as tempting as they used to be. While the policy promises to


bring down airport user charges and make flying cheaper, future tariffs at airports will be calculated on a hybrid till basis
that allows operators to use just 30 per cent of non-aeronautical revenues to subsidise costs. This would not only push
up airport costs, but also run counter to the single till approach followed by the independent airport economic regulator.
The trajectory of the policy seems right, but several unseen variables remain. These could well throw Indian aviation off
the flight path that the government has sought to determine.
o Nervous - worried and anxious

o Takeoff - if an aircraft, bird, or insect takes off, it leaves the ground and
begins to fly
o Aviation - the activity of flying aircraft, or of designing, producing, and
keeping them in good condition
o Unveiled - show or announce publicly for the first time
o Ado - trouble or difficulty
o Ticks all the right boxes - fulfils all the necessary requirements
o Intent - intention or purpose
o Fast-track - the quickest route to a successful position
o Harvest - the process or period of getting results of your work
o Spurring - to encourage an activity or development or make it happen
faster
o Reviving - giving new strength or energy to
o Defunct - no longer existing, living, or working correctly
o No-frills - no extra or unnecessary details
o Ambitious - having or showing a strong desire and determination to
succeed
o De-politicisation - to cause something or someone to have no political
connections
o Populist - representing or relating to the ideas and opinions of ordinary
people
o Demand-driven - operated, moved, or controlled by demand
o Subsidising - to pay part of the cost of something
o Peril - serious and immediate danger
o Swing - to change
o Dole - the money that the government gives to people who are
unemployed
o Regime - a particular way of operating or organizing a business
o Hesitate - to pause before you do something
o Liberalising - remove or loosen restrictions on something
o Scrapping - removing from service
o Manoeuvre - a movement or set of movements needing skill and care
o Feasible - able to be made, done, or achieved
o Overseas - related to other countries
o Unused - to not be familiar with a particular habit or experience


o Hinge - attach or join with
o Sop - something of little importance or value that is offered to stop
complaints or unhappiness
o Tariff - a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports
o Trajectory - the curved path that an object follows after it has been
thrown or shot into the air
o Determine - to control or influence something directly
Topic 2 : "Merger makes waves, again"
A little more than three months after detecting gravitational waves from the merger of two massive black holes, the Laser
Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors recorded on December 26, 2015, gravitational waves
from the merger of two smaller black holes nearly 1.4 billion years ago. This has confirmed that the merger of binary black
holes recorded on September 14, 2015 was not a chance discovery, and opened a new category of objects to be observed
in the universe. While the September event was from the merger of black holes 36 and 29 times the mass of the Sun, the
December event was from the merger of smaller black holes that had 14 and eight times its mass. As a result of their
lighter masses, the signal from the last 27 orbits of the black holes before they merged lasted more than one second in
LIGOs frequency band. Unlike the September event, when three times the mass of the Sun was radiated as gravitational
waves, such waves from the December event came from one mass of the Sun. Hence, the signals from the December
event were a lot weaker compared with the first one (which was like a short-duration burst), and distributed over a longer
stretch of time, thus getting buried in noise. Yet, scientists were able to tease out the signal thanks to the seminal work
of Indian scientists in adapting a special technique for gravitational wave data analysis and theoretical modelling of the
expected signals.
The two observations were made by two LIGO detectors located in the U.S. Livingston in Louisiana and Hanford in
Washington during a four-month run from September 2015. The next observation run beginning September 2016 will
have an improved sensitivity of 25 to 75 per cent. As a result, the volume of the universe that can be studied will increase
by 1.5 to two times, and the detectors will be in operation for a longer duration of six months. Hence, three times the
number of events will be witnessed. The Virgo detector, a third interferometer located near Pisa, Italy, which has a design
that is close to LIGO but is not quite identical, is expected to become operational during the latter half of LIGOs upcoming
observation run. Simultaneous operation of the three detectors and the 26 millisecond difference in the arrival time of
incoming gravitational wave signals between LIGO and VIRGO will improve the ability to locate the source of each new
event. The precision of source location will further improve when the arrival time difference increases to 39 milliseconds
as LIGO-India, the fourth detector, begins operations by January 2023. Its a promising time ahead for science.
o Merger - an occasion when two or more things join together to make

one larger thing
o Make waves - to cause difficulty
o Black hole - a region in space where gravity is so strong that nothing,
not even light, can escape

o Mass - the amount of matter in any solid object or in any volume of
liquid or gas
o Lasted - continued for a specified period of time
o Radiated - emited (energy, especially light or heat) in the form of rays
or waves.
o Hence - as a consequence; for this reason
o Tease out something - to try to get information or understand a
meaning that is hidden or not clear
o Seminal - strongly influencing later developments
o Witness - to see something happen
o Precision - the quality of being exact
JUNE 20/2016
Topic 1 : "A strategic exit"
In declaring that he will not seek a second term after his first ends in September, Reserve Bank of India Governor
Raghuram Rajan has chosen the best and most dignified way out of a situation that was getting increasingly ugly. Over
the last few months, his extension became the subject of fevered speculation as it became increasingly apparent that
sections within the Modi government were uncomfortable with his continuance. The complaints against Mr. Rajan varied
they included the relatively trifling (his choice of words and plain-speaking ways), the debatable but substantive (his
unwillingness to lower interest rates despite stable macro-economic indicators), and the indisputably ridiculous (his
alleged lack of commitment to India). The last, coupled with the Centres decision to form a search panel to select all
financial sector regulators, could have nudged Mr. Rajan to rule himself out of the race two and a half months before his
term ends. In doing so, he has saved the Centre from the possible repercussions that a refusal to grant a second term
could have had. After all, the RBI Governor has an enormous amount of credibility with international investors (the impact
of his exit on foreign portfolio flows will be keenly watched), and he has earned himself the reputation of having skilfully
managed the countrys currency, inflation and foreign exchange reserves in a faltering world economic climate.
On monetary policy, the Centres uneasiness stemmed from what it believed was an important reason for the economy
not taking off as fast as it could have. The slow pace of interest rate cuts, a result of what Mr. Rajan saw as fresh or rising
inflationary pressures, is on that list; but although the RBI has cut rates by 1.5 percentage points since 2015, private
investments are still moribund. The central banks crackdown on the evergreening of loans, forcing banks to acknowledge
bad loans rather than throw more good money after bad, has led to record losses across the public sector banking system.
This has been another source of friction. By ruling himself out for a second term, Mr. Rajan has brought down the curtain
on the unfortunate and unpleasant politics around his continuance. In choosing his successor, the Centre must remember
that the central bank, by its very remit, is concerned about inflation and that the country needs a Governor with enough
independence and authority to maintain a balance between the aspirations for growth and the concern about rising prices;
it is also imperative that the new central bank chief has a free hand in charting a course to fix banks books so that they
can begin lending again. A rubber stamp for rate cuts wont do, and it is not such a bad thing if a healthy tension exists


between the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry. As Mr. Rajan himself once said, if the two always agreed,
the public should be very worried.
o Strategic - helping to achieve a plan (in business or politics)

o Dignified - having or showing a controlled, serious, and calm manner
that is worthy of respect
o Fevered - unnaturally excited or active
o Speculation - the activity of guessing possible answers to a question
without having enough information
o Continuance - the state of remaining in existence or operation
o Varied - containing or changing between several different things or types
o Trifling -- unimportant
o Debatable - open to discussion or argument
o Substantive - having a strong basis in reality and so important
o Unwillingness - unable to do something
o Despite - without taking any notice of or being influenced by
o Indisputably - true, impossible to doubt
o Ridiculous - stupid or unreasonable
o Alleged - said by some people, although you have no proof
o Nudged - pushed something or someone gently
o Repercussion - the bad effect that an actio has on something
o Portfolio - a particular job or area of responsibility of a member of a
government
o Keenly - carefully
o Reputation - the good opinion that people in general have about
someone
o Inflation - continuous increase in prices
o Faltering - losing strength
o Climate - the general development of a situation
o Uneasiness - worry or anxiety
o Stemmed - originated / started
o Inflationary - causing price increases
o Moribund - not active or successful
o Crackdown - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more
serious way
o Evergreening - a variety of legal, business and technological strategies
o Bad loan - a loan which is unlikely to be paid back
o Friction - disagreement or unfriendliness caused by people having
different opinions
o Brought down the curtain - to end something
o Successor - a person that comes after another person (in a job)
o Remit - to refer a matter to someone in authority to deal with
o Aspiration - a hope of achieving something
o Imperative - very important / crucial


o Has a free hand in something - * indicates that you are available and
willing to provide some kind of help
o Rubber stamp - approve automatically without proper consideration
Topic 2 : "Indian hockeys new stride"
Four years after the Indian hockey team finished last at the London Olympics, the men stood on the same turf with their
heads held high, silver medals at the elite Champions Trophy gleaming around their necks. It was a historic win, the
second podium finish at a major international competition in six months and, going into the Olympics, an indicator of how
much India has advanced. The team lost in a shootout, but holding world champion Australia goalless for 60 minutes was
in itself commendable, given that no one except the players believed it could be done. That it came a day after losing 4-
2 to the same opposition makes it more impressive. It is the culmination of a long process that often threatened to derail.
The process began with Spanish coach Jose Brasa and trainer Jesus Garcia Pallares in 2009 soon after the team missed
the Olympic bus for the first time. Pallares was the man who brought science into training despite a very brief stay. It
continued with David John who assisted Michael Nobbs and then Jason Konrath and now Matthew Eyles. Despite the
exit of several coaches in this period, the team always had a good trainer to ensure that fitness did not suffer.
Indias performance was notable in a number of ways. It had the least experienced side with an average of 79.27 games
per player (compared to 140 for Britain and 160 for Belgium). Despite resting many key players, the young side held its
own against experienced opponents. The teams improved fitness is noticeable. Till recently, it was difficult for an Indian
player to keep pace with an Australian. In the final, the Australians struggled to break free. There is also a belief in the
team that they belong in the top order. There is hurt at not being able to put one across Australia, and that pain is critical.
A team without the hunger to win cannot be expected to strive for it. There is a lot to do still. India conceded too many
penalty corners and earned too few. There is too much dependence on P.R. Sreejesh in goal-keeping, and when he has
an off-day, India struggles. But these issues can be resolved. Once Indian teams played with five in attack. In the final, it
had the same number in defence. The team not only changed its entire gameplan but also stifled Australia by sheer dint
of stamina and willpower within 24 hours of looking ragged. That deserves to be appreciated.

o Turf - the area that a group considers its own
o Elite - most powerful
o Gleaming - shining brightly
o Podium - a raised area on which a person stands to speak to a large
number of people, to conduct music, or to receive a prize in a sports
competition
o Indicator - something that shows what a situation is
o Shootout - a fight / competition between two groups
o Goalless - without any goals being scored (goal less)
o Culmination - to end with something
o Threatened - warned


o Derail - to prevent a plan or process from succeeding
o Opponent - person who is competing against you in a sports event
o Keep pace with - to make progress, or to achieve something
o Break free - to escape from something
o Strive - make great efforts to achieve or get something
o Conceded - admit or agree that something is true after first denying or
resisting it
o Off-day - the day when you do not work
o Stifled - prevented something from happening
o Dint - as a result of something
o Stamina - the physical and/or mental strength to do something difficult
o Willpower - the ability to control your own thoughts and the way in
which you behave
o Ragged - not performing well / not in a good condition
JUNE 21/2016
Topic 1 : "The Centres big reform push"
With India now acknowledged as the fastest growing large economy in the world and also edging up in the World Banks
ease of doing business rankings, the time is ripe for the country to open its doors wider to Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI). This is exactly what the Centre has done by raising FDI caps in some sectors (airlines from 49 to 100 per cent),
sweeping others entirely into the automatic route (cable TV, brownfield airports) and diluting preconditions for sectors
with restrictions (relaxation of sourcing norms in single-brand retail and technology norms for defence). FDI is stickier and
more resilient to business cycles than mercurial Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) flows. At a time when the private sector
has a limited appetite to invest and when the government is tied down by fiscal constraints, India needs to seek out foreign
capital to keep its growth engines purring. That foreign investors are interested in India is evident: there has been a 23
per cent surge in inbound FDI, which touched a record $55.5 billion in 2015-16.
Even so, it is simplistic to assume that merely opening up more sectors or setting more liberal equity caps will have foreign
investors queuing up to invest. Indias experience suggests that actual investment interest in the newly liberalised sectors
will be tied to three factors. One, foreign investors, like domestic ones, are ROI (Return on Investment) focussed.
Therefore, sectors that are already witnessing booming consumer demand such as DTH television, airlines and
pharmaceuticals are more likely to attract quick investment flows than those that are in need of bailouts (asset
reconstruction firms) or entail long gestation periods (airports or defence). Two, even if the Centre is willing to reduce
initial entry barriers, frequent market or pricing interventions can deter investors. The Centre seems to have recognised
this in watering down the sourcing norms for FDI in single-brand retail. But its attempts to woo FDI into pharma may be
stymied by increasing price controls and the lack of clarity in the policy on essential drugs. Three, the experience with
sectors such as insurance suggests that foreign investors committing long-term capital expect to exercise control over
the entities they fund. Overall, there is no disputing that the FDI relaxations, irrespective of whether they were timed to


signal the Centres commitment to reforms in the face of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajans exit in September, are a step
in the right direction. But as we have learnt from the past, the devil is usually in the detail.
o Reform - make changes in (something, especially an institution or

practice) in order to improve it
o Acknowledged - recognized as being good or important
o Edging up - going up in a list
o Ease - to make or become less serious, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc
o Time is ripe - correct time to do something
o Open the door to something - to make something possible / to allow
something new to start
o Diluting - making something weaker
o Precondition - a condition that must be fulfilled before other things can
happen or be done
o Norms - an accepted standard or a way of doing something
o Stickier - difficult to deal with
o Mercurial - changing suddenly and often
o Appetite - a strong desire or liking for something
o Fiscal - relating to government revenue, especially taxes
o Constraint - a limitation or restriction
o Purring - making a soft vibrant sound
o Surge - a sudden powerful forward or upward movement
o Liberal - respecting and allowing many different types of beliefs or
behaviour
o Queuing up - a group of people eagerly waiting to do something
o Domestic - related to one's own country
o Booming - having a period of rapid increase in something good
o Pharmaceutical - relating to the production of medicines
o Bailout - an act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or
economy to save it from collapse
o Firm - a company or business
o Entail - to make something necessary, or to involve something
o Barriers - limitations
o Deter - to prevent someone from doing something
o Watering down - to make something less serious / stronger than it was
o Stymied - to prevent something from happening or someone from
achieving a purpose
o Disputing - arguing
o Irrespective of something - not taking (something) into account /
regardless of something
o Devil is usually in the detail - * used for saying that "something may
seem simple, but in fact the details are complicated and likely to cause
problems"
Topic 2 : "Olympics in the time of Zika"


The World Health Organisation has confirmed that the Olympic Games scheduled to be held in August in Rio de Janeiro
will go ahead, the Zika virus notwithstanding. An Emergency Committee meeting convened by the WHO Director-General
said there is very low risk of the virus spreading globally as a consequence of the Games being held in Brazil. The local
mosquito population level is expected to drop sharply in August, the Brazilian mid-winter, and the annual infection rate is
expected to peak before that. Intensive vector-control measures at and around the venue will reduce transmission risks.
It is possible that a few individuals may get infected and contribute to a global spread and start off a new chain of local
transmission. But the risk will be the same as in any country where the local transmission of the Zika virus is ongoing; it
does not get amplified even when thousands come together, as the committee has noted. The WHO, however, has
stressed that pregnant women should refrain from travelling to Brazil and other countries where the virus is circulating.
The onus is now on Brazil to ensure that mosquito-control measures are intensified, surveillance is enhanced, and as
required by the WHO, to make all information public about the virus circulation, surveillance and vector-control measures.
Indians travelling to any country with a Zika transmission trail have to take precautionary measures during their stay and
on return. The first case of Zika virus infection through needlestick injury suggests that it is likely to be as infectious as
HIV. While the virus primarily spreads through infected Aedesmosquitoes, through blood, and from mother to foetus
(vertical transmission), several studies have confirmed a sexual route. While the Zika virus has been detected in saliva,
urine and breast milk, there is no evidence yet of its transmission through these body fluids. But in the case of semen,
the viral load has been found to be 100,000 times more than in both blood and urine even two weeks after the onset of
symptoms. The virus has been found in semen even 62 days after symptom onset. A June 2016 study in The Lancet has
found evidence of late sexual transmission 44 days after symptoms show up. It is for these reasons that the WHO
recommends that men and women returning from countries with Zika transmission consider abstinence or adopt safe sex
practices for two months, with these strategies extended for at least six months for men who exhibit symptoms. As the
landscape of Zika transmission is evolving, there is a critical need to exercise caution. More so as the Aedes aegyptiis
widely prevalent in India and the chances of the virus becoming endemic are high.
o Zika - a virus carried by mosquitoes that may be connected with birth

defects such as microcephaly ( having an abnormally small head), if a
pregnant woman is infected
o Notwithstanding - although / in spite of
o Convened - assembled / to bring together a group of people
o Consequence - an unpleasant result or effect
o Intensive - involving a lot of effort or activity in a short period of time
o Amplified - to increase the size or effect of something
o Ensure - to make sure that something is going to happen
o Intensified - to become greater, more serious, or more extreme
o Surveillance - close observation
o Enhanced - increased / improved
o Vector-control measures - methods to limit or destroy insects
(mosquitoes)


o Precautionary measures - actions that re done to prevent something
unpleasant or dangerous happening
o Needlestick - an accidental puncture of the skin with an unsterilized
instrument
o Infectious - likely to spread or influence others in a rapid manner
o Foetus - a young human being before birth, after the organs have
started to develop
o Saliva - the liquid produced in your mouth to keep the mouth wet and
to help to prepare food to be digested
o Semen - the male reproductive fluid
o Viral - relating to virus
o Onset - the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant
o Symptom - any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is
caused by a particular disease
o Abstinence - not doing something (especially drinking alcohol or having
sex)
o Strategy - a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall
aim
o Evolving - developing slowly (step by step)
o Caution - care taken to avoid dangers
o Prevalent - existing very commonly or happening often
o Endemic - regularly found and very common among a particular group
or in a particular area (especially of a disease)
JUNE 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Opening our skies"
With the latest round of reforms in the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, the Centre has boasted that most sectors
would now be eligible for automatic approvals, making India the most open economy in the world for FDI. At least in the
civil aviation sector, for which the Centre also unveiled a new policy last week targeting greater connectivity at cheaper
fares, that opinion seems a little ahead of time. Raising the FDI limit for airlines (including regional operators for whom
FDI of 49 per cent was only allowed last November) to 100 per cent, with automatic approvals for foreign ownership up
to 49 per cent, sounds good on the face of it. But it is more likely to bring relief for domestic carriers looking to raise capital
or forge an alliance with a global airline than attract many new players into the fray. This is because global airline players
continue to be hemmed in by the 49 per cent ownership limit set by the United Progressive Alliance government in 2012,
following which ventures such as AirAsia India and Vistara took off. In theory, a foreign airline could tie up with other
institutional investors like private equity funds to form a 49:51 joint venture and tap Indias double-digit air traffic growth.
Even if a strategic airline investor agrees to be a junior partner, securing a scheduled operator permit still requires an
airlines chairman and at least two-thirds of its directors to be Indian citizens, and substantial ownership and effective
control to be vested in Indian nationals. There need to be swift changes in the small print, if the skies are to be as open
as hoped for in the aviation policy.


The Centre has admitted this balancing act is part of a dynamic, calibrated process to make domestic carriers more
competitive for now. This process is also driven by security concerns. While the U.S. originally barred foreign control of
airlines in 1926 so that its military could take charge of civilian aircraft in times of strife, most countries adopted a similar
stance following World War II, citing security concerns and the need to protect the turf of national airlines. The U.S. now
allows around 25 per cent foreign ownership in airlines, South Korea permits 49 per cent and Chile a full 100 per cent,
even as it has done away with national control and ownership norms. Australia has now scrapped limits on airline
ownership for aircraft flying within its airspace a model that could very well serve Indias aviation policy objectives of
tripling passenger traffic by 2022 and developing regional connectivity. To stay at the forefront of FDI reforms in a slowing
global economy, India could have proposed a bolder reform in airline ownership norms and dovetailed that with its vision
of an open sky policy within the SAARC region and beyond. That would have been a global game changer.
o Skies - plural of Sky

o Boasted - to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done or
what you own
o Aviation - activities related to aircrafts
o Unveiled - announced
o Automatic - done without thinking about it
o On the face of it - without knowing all of the relevant facts
o Domestic - local
o Forge - to make something
o Alliance - an agreement to work with someone else to try to achieve the
same thing
o Fray - an energetic and often not well-organized effort
o Hemmed in - to surround in a restrictive manner
o Ventures - a new business activity that involves risk
o Investors - people who provide money to an organization
o Equity - the value of the shares issued by a company
o Substantial - of considerable importance
o Vested - held completely, permanently
o Swift - happening quickly
o Calibrate - to check whether an equipment is working properly or not
o Strife - fighting or disagreement between people or groups
o Stance - a publicly announed openion about something
o Turf - an area that a group / organization considers its own
o Scrapped - discarded or removed something from service / to not
continue with a system or plan
o Tripling - increasing three times
o Reform - changes to improve something
o Dovetailed - to join together
o Game changer - something that affects a situation or area of business
very much
Topic 2 : "A dangerous game"


It is now beyond a shadow of doubt that BJP MP Hukum Singhs infamous list, made up of members of Hindu families
that had allegedly fled his Lok Sabha constituency Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh and in neighbouring Kandhla in
Shamli district, was a piece of fiction. Many of those who figured in the list were either still in residence or had left much
earlier in search of better prospects. Moreover, there is evidence that many of those who moved out of Kairana and
Kandhla did so not so much because of communalism but crime. Both towns are in the grip of powerful and violent criminal
gangs, which have had a free run of the area. All the fact-finding teams, irrespective of their political affiliation, have been
in agreement that the region was under the threat of such groups, particularly one run by Mukeem Kala, engaged in
extortion. After his list was exposed as a gross and mischievous exaggeration, Mr. Singh himself backtracked, claiming
that the migration was, in fact, essentially a law and order problem. But mischief had already been done, and with a
hugely important Assembly election scheduled for next year, it is impossible to disregard the idea that it was wholly
intended. The Kairana exodus lie exacerbated social tensions in the region, which is yet to recover from the
Muzaffarnagar violence of 2013. As before, the party is talking in two voices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has exhorted
the BJP rank and file to focus on development, while others in the party are not below using the issue as a campaign
plank.
It has been left to civil society and sections of the media to highlight the untruths and take some of the sting out of the
BJP MPs claims. The counter- narrative is not coming strongly enough from the political class. That said, even if Mr.
Singhs lists were meant to spread fear, the follow-up did put the spotlight on the thriving criminal activity in the region.
Unchecked crime that affects business and working communities in U.P.s mofussil towns has long been associated with
Samajwadi Party rule. The Akhilesh Yadav government has done little to change this perception. During the
Muzaffarnagar riots, the actions of the SP and its government suggested that they were more than willing to play the
game of communal polarisation as a two-step with the BJP. The SP paid for it in the Lok Sabha elections. If the party has
learnt its lessons, it is still to demonstrate this in sufficient measure. Till then, the larger anxiety remains. In a region with
mixed populations, the consequences of painting a largely crime-related phenomenon with a broad communal brush
could have lethal consequences.
o Beyond a shadow of doubt - if you know or believe something beyond

a shadow of a doubt, you are sure that it is true
o Allegedly - if someone allegedly does something, another person says
that they have done it, even though this has not been proved
o Piece of fiction - a part of the profits or advantages that come from an
activity
o Prospects - opportunities
o Affiliation - a connection with a political party or religion, or with a larger
organization
o Threat - a situation or an activity that could cause harm or danger


o Extortion - a crime in which someone gets money or information from
someone else by using force or warnings
o Mischievous - behavior that will cause trouble / danger
o Exaggeration - making something seem larger, more important, better,
or worse than it really is
o Backtracked - to say that you did not mean something you said earlier
o Mischief - damage / harm
o Disregard - ignore / pay no attention to
o Exodus - a situation in which a lot of people leave a place at the same
time
o Exacerbated - make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling)
more worse
o Exhorted - to strongly encourage someone to do something
o Plank - an important principle on which the activities of a political group,
are based
o Untruth - a lie or false statement
o Take the sting out of something - to make something less unpleasant
o Follow-up - a continuation or repetition of something that has already
been started or done
o Thriving - growing / developing
o Mofussil towns - towns lying outside an urban Centre
o Perception - a belief or opinion, often held by many people and based
on how things seem
o Polarisation - to divide a group into two opposing groups
o Consequences - results of a situation
o Phenomenon - an event or situation that can be seen to happen or exist
o Lethal - extremely dangerous
JULY 1/2016
Topic 1 : "Now, another epic wait"
Another season of the HBO series > Game of Thrones has just come to an epic end, leaving a mammoth television
audience and millions of netizens with a penchant for the illicit happiness of near-real-time downloads with a long,
painful wait until they can start marking their calendar for the countdown to the next. Over six seasons, the adaptation of
George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire has gripped the global imagination with its tapestry of history, mythology
and fantasy. It has become the pop culture phenomenon of this decade since its debut in 2011, sparking feverish
speculation about the cast and characters through the intervening period between one season and the other U.S.
President Barack Obama was among the legions who wanted to know if Jon Snow, a much-loved protagonist who
ostensibly gets fatally stabbed in the Season 5 finale, would get resurrected. (Spoiler alert: he was.) In fact, in its latest
season the show took Martins epic fantasy series into unmapped plot lines. With 26 Primetime Emmy Awards and
counting, with at least two more seasons planned, and an official viewership figure of 8.9 million for the Season 6 grand
finale, what explains GoTs critical success and phenomenal popularity? It all boils down to quality, and sheer scale. The
series has an enormous ensemble cast portraying warring families across two fictional continents. Its shooting has

taken GoT to places as far apart as Northern Ireland, Croatia, Morocco, and the U.S. And its panoramic sweep and
treatment of battle sequences have eclipsed most big-screen renditions.
The fantasy genre has anyway always captivated audiences; The Lord of the Ringstrilogy early this millennium raked in
an estimated $2.9 billion at the box office. But unlike Hollywood, American cable television was historically hamstrung by
operating budgets. As it finds newer global audiences through network tie-ups and streaming services, the expanding
viewer base has given television programming the wherewithal to rival films in scale and reach. GoTinterweaves fantasy
with history and throws in malevolence, intrigue, and grisly bestiality to conjure a phantasmagoria that imagines the past
as much as recreates it. Its success has even spurred some historians in the U.K. to use the series as an entry point for
the young to engage with medieval history, though such an exercise is fraught with grave dangers of
misrepresentation; GoT, after all, shuffles across inchoate space and time. Perhaps projecting it into the present and
the future as we dont know it might be a more informing exercise. The wanton blood and gore of modern-day terrorism
and civil wars make the Dark Ages a more apt description for our times.
o Epic - extremely large and good

o Series - a set of television or radio broadcasts on the same subject
o Throne - the special chair used by a ruler, especially a king or queen
o Mammoth - extremely large
o Netizens - users of the Internet
o Penchant - a strong liking for something
o Illicit - illegal or disapproved of by society
o Adaptation - a film, television drama, or stage play that has been made
from a written work
o Gripped - to keep someone's attention completely
o Tapestry - used in reference to a complex sequence of events
o History - (the study of or a record of) past events considered together,
especially events of a particular period, country, or subject
o Mythology - a popular belief that is probably not true
o Fantasy - a story that describes situations that are very different from
real life, usually involving magic:a story or type of literature that
describes situations that are very different from real life, usually involving
magic
o Pop culture - the culture which is popular and enjoyed by ordinary
people, rather than experts or very educated people
o Phenomenon - something that is extremely successful
o Sparking - to cause start of something
o Feverish - unnaturally excited or active
without having enough information to be certain
o Intervening period - the period (gap) between two events or activities
(here seasons)
o Legions - large numbers of people
o Protagonist - one of the main characters in a story (hero)
o Ostensibly - appearing or claiming to be one thing when it is really
something else

o Fatally - very seriously / cruelly
o Stab - the act of pushing a knife into someone
o Finale - the last part
o Resurrect - restore (a dead person) to life
o Spoiler alert - (in a discussion or review of a film, book, television
drama, etc.) a warning that an important detail of the story is about to
be revealed
o Unmapped - unexplored / not yet touched
o Plot line - story
o Boils down to something - if a situation boils down to something, that
is the main reason for it
o Sheer - completely
o Enormous - very large in size, quantity
o Ensemble - a group of people acting together as a whole
o Portraying - representing / acting as
o Warring - fighting with each other
o Fictional - the type story that is written about imaginary characters and
events and not based on real people and facts
o Panoramic - a view of a wide area
o Eclipsed - to make another thing seem much less important
o Renditions - performances
o Genre - a style or category of art, music, or literature
o Captivate - to hold the attention of someone by being extremely
interesting, exciting or attractive
o Raked in - earned large amount of money
o Hamstrung - to restrict something
o Tie-up - an agreement between two organizations
o Wherewithal - the money needed for a particular purpose
o Rival - a person or thing competing with another for the same objective
or for superiority in the same field of activity
o Interweaves - to combine two or more things
o Malevolence - causing or wanting to cause harm or evil
o Intrigue - to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange,
unusual, or mysterious
o Grisly - extremely unpleasant, especially because death or blood is
involved
o Bestiality - behaviour that is very cruel or like that of an animal
o Conjure - to make something appear by magic
o Phantasmagoria - a confused group of real or imagined images that
change quickly, one following the other as in a dream
o Spurred - encouraged
o Medieval - related to the Middle Ages (the period in European history
from about AD 600 to AD 1500)
o Fraught = full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers
o Grave = seriously bad
o Inchoate = not completely developed / clear
o Wanton - of something extremely bad, showing no care at all
o Gore - to cause an injury to someone / blood that has come from an
injury and become thick


o Civil war - a war fought by different groups of people living in the same
country
Topic 2 : "A fillip to growth, and maybe inflation"
The Cabinets decision to > raise salaries and pensions for more than one crore government employees and pensioners
by implementing the Seventh Pay Commissions recommendations will impart a fillip to consumption demand and
economic growth. With recent data from the Centre as well as the Reserve Bank of India showing that > robust private
consumption is > a key driver of current economic momentum, additional money in the hands of the government staff and
retired personnel is bound to fuel a healthy demand for a variety of goods and services. As expected, the announcement
of the pay increases has been welcomed by industry groups, from automobile manufacturers to consumer durables
sellers. And with the additional payout from the government toward the enhanced pay, allowances and pensions projected
to exceed Rs.1.14 lakh crore over the course of the current fiscal year ending in March 2017, the multiplier effect is bound
to be significant. Inevitably, the Centres decision will put upward pressure on salaries in State governments as well as
the private sector. Separately, the decision to more than triple the ceiling for house building advance to Rs.25 lakh from
Rs.7.5 lakh is likely to provide a much-needed incentive for more government and defence personnel to invest in housing,
and thereby boost employment. Combined with indications of a normal monsoon and the marginal impact of the fallout
from Brexit so far, the portents for the economy are indeed positive. Besides the anticipated increases in spending, the
higher pay and pensions are also expected to bolster savings, which could help the banking and financial system channel
funds to meet investment demand.
There are, however, some risks from the increased salary and pension outgo. In its June monetary policy statement, the
RBI had flagged the upside risks to the inflation outlook posed by several factors including the implementation of the
Seventh Pay Commissions recommendations. There is some relief on the price pressure front with the Cabinet keeping
the decision on raising allowances on hold while a committee headed by the Finance Secretary examines the implications
of accepting the pay panels prescriptions. A higher house rent allowance would have immediately stoked retail inflation,
which is already at a 21-month high. The other concern relates to the impact on government finances, particularly the
effort at fiscal consolidation. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is confident that the > budget deficit will be contained within
the > 3.5 per cent of GDP target this financial year, but how this will be achieved is not yet clear.

o Impart - to give something a particular feeling
o Robust - strong
o Durables - items like cars and home appliances (large pieces of
equipment for the home) that are intended to last several years
o Payout - a large amount of money that is paid to someone
o Allowances - money that you are given regularly, especially to pay for
a particular thing
o Fiscal - connected with (public) money / government revenue

o Inevitably - sure to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented
o Ceiling - upper limit
o Monsoon - the season of heavy rain during the summer in hot Asian
countries
o Impact - a powerful effect
o Brexit - an exit (act of leaving) by Britain from the European Union
(short for "British exit")
o Portent - a sign or warning that something is going to happen
o Anticipated - expected that something will happen
o Bolster - to support or improve something or make it stronger
o Outgo - the outlay of money
o Posed - caused
o Implications - effects that an action or decision will have on something
in the future
o Prescriptions - recommendations given by a committee
o Stoked - excited and very happy about something
o Consolidation - the process of becoming or of making something
stronger or more successful
JULY 02/2016
Topic 1 : "Sri Lanka must stay the course"
The frequent human rights updates in Geneva provide an occasion for the world to discuss Sri Lankas post-war situation,
especially the progress made in investigating the excesses during the last phase of the civil war that ended in 2009. Until
last year, the country considered the process hostile and inimical to its interests. Now, with a new government in Colombo,
there has been constructive engagement with the international community and Sri Lanka says it is looking for ways to
implement a unanimous resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in October 2015. The UNHRC has tried
to >nudge Sri Lanka towards rebuilding civilian lives through resettlement, reducing the military presence in the north and
east, and delivering accountability for past crimes through a credible judicial process with international participation.
However, the update presented by High Commissioner Zeid Raad al-Hussein in Geneva does not present an
encouraging picture. He expressed concern about the heavy military presence in Tamil areas, noting that the process
of the military returning land to its civilian owners has been tardy. There is a lack of urgency in coming up with tangible
measures to build confidence among minorities and victims of human rights violations. In turn, Foreign Minister Mangala
Samaraweera has informed the ongoing session in Geneva that the government has instructed the military to release by
2018 all civilian land it holds. He has promised that the proposed judicial mechanism will inspire confidence among the
stakeholders, but has drawn attention to the divergent views in the country on it, perhaps a hint of further delay.
Sri Lanka went through a democratic transition in 2015 when it elected Maithripala Sirisena as President, ending the 10-
year reign of Mahinda Rajapaksa, which was marked by post-war triumphalism and a disregard for the plight of ethnic

minorities. Later, the parliamentary election led to a national unity government that promised good governance, economic
revival, and transitional justice for the war-affected. But even today the High Commissioner has reason to be anxious that
those promises are at risk. The road was not expected to be smooth for Sri Lanka when it embarked on an ambitious
effort towards national reconciliation and accountability. But the government is frittering away energy and time on political
controversies, the row over the appointment of a new Central bank governor being an example. Having set in motion the
process for a new Constitution and measures for reconciliation and reform, any loss of momentum now on the part of the
government will result in a loss of credibility.
o Excesses - an amount of something that is more than necessary,

permitted, or desirable
o Inimical - harmful
o Constructive - useful and intended to help or improve something
o Engagement - an arrangement to do something
o Unanimous - (of two or more people) fully in agreement
o Resolution - an official decision that is made after a group or
organization has voted
o Adopted - choose to take up or follow something (an idea, method, or
course of action)
o Nudge - to push
o Resettlement - to move to another place to live
o Credible - trusted
o Judicial - involving a law court
o Tardy - slow or late in happening
o Victims - people who suffered because of something
o Violation - an action that acts against something, especially a law
o Stakeholders - group of people who own a share in a business
o Divergent - to follow a different direction, or to be or become different
o Reign - the period of time when a person rules a country
o Triumphalism - an unpleasant show of pleasure and satisfaction
because you have won or done better than someone
o Disregard - the fact of showing no care or respect for something
o Plight - an unpleasant condition, especially a serious, sad, or difficult
one
o Revival - he process of becoming more active or popular again
o Transitional -a change from one form or type to another
o Anxious - worried / nervous
o Embarked - to begin an action
o Ambitious - having a strong wish to be successful
o Reconciliation - the restoration of friendly relations
o Accountability - a situation in which someone is responsible for things
that happen and can give a satisfactory reason for them
o Fritter away something - to waste money, time, or an opportunity
o Credibility - the quality of being trusted / believed in

Topic 2 : "Heeding the 24x7 potential"
Removing regulatory barriers to employ more people in various areas of economic activity is a national priority, and the
Centres Model Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2016 to enable
operation of such services >all 365 days of the year, and round-the-clock , is a significant step forward. As the Economic
Survey for 2015-16 notes, there is a robust annual growth in services such as trade, hotels, transport and communications.
Creating a healthy environment for the growth of consumer-focussed services will catalyse it further. >The model law ,
which is available to the States to either adopt fully or in a modified form, is to be welcomed for specifying labour issues
such as working hours, overtime, casual and earned leave, protection for women including transport access for those
opting to work night shifts, and workplace facilities. It is all too evident that in the existing regulatory regime, many of these
aspects are impressively inked on paper, but with poor outcomes in practice. Workers are left without effective
mechanisms of redress. In the model law, protections are to be enforced by a cadre of Chief Facilitators and Facilitators.
This is a moment to strike a blow for the rights of workers, and State governments must show as much concern for labour
welfare as the facilitation of business. The Labour Ministry can achieve this by welcoming online registration of complaints,
and the process can be aided by trade unions.
There is much to welcome in the model law; its major innovation is the elimination of the licensing bureaucracy, and
therefore a lot of corruption. A simplified, online common registration procedure for the businesses covered by the Act
should definitely be part of State law; this would be a big leap in ease of doing business. State governments looking to
accelerate economic activity and generate higher revenues should adopt the law immediately. Two areas that need urgent
reform in all States are provision of reliable public transport and strong law enforcement. Even in big cities with organised
bus, rail and feeder networks, these systems are not reliable at night. The new sharing economy has been filling the gap
with app-based commercial taxi services operating 24x7, but a decision to promote retail services round-the-clock
requires a good, affordable public transport backbone with security arrangements to ensure safe travel. One other aspect
of reform to support employees of shops and establishments is health care. It should be mandatory for employers to cover
their medical expenses through standalone or group insurance policies, since private health insurance is generally
unaffordable to such workers.
o Heeding - to pay attention to something

o Potential- ability to develop / achieve / succeed
o Barriers - restrictions
o Round-the-clock - happening or done all day and all night
o Robust - strong
o Consumer - a person who buys goods or services for their own use
o Catalyse - to make something start happening or start being successful
o Labour - workers, especially people who do practical work with their
hands

o Opting - to make a choice
o Regime - a particular way of operating or organizing a business, etc
o Aspect - one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc
o Outcomes - results / effects
o Redress - money that you have to pay to someone else because you
have injured that person or treated them badly
o Enforced - to make a particular situation happen or be accepted
o Cadre - a small group of trained people
o Facilitators - someone who helps a person or organization do something
more easily or find the answer to a problem, by discussing things and
suggesting ways of doing things
o Strike a blow - to do something that supports something
o Facilitation - to make something possible or easier
o Aided - helped or supported
o Trade union - an organization that represents the people who work in a
particular industry, protects their rights, and discusses their pay and
working conditions with employers
o Innovation - (the use of) a new idea or method
o Bureaucracy - a system for controlling or managing a company, or
organization that is operated by a large number of officials employed to
follow rules carefully
o Big leap - big achievement in sudden
o Accelerate - to speed up something
o Revenue - the income that a government or company receives regularly
o Reform - improvement
o Reliable - trusted / believed
o Enforcement - the process of making sure that people obey something
such as a law or rule
o Affordable - not expensive
o Backbone - the most important part of something, providing support for
everything else
JULY 04/2016
Topic 1 : "Sunny times for solar"
The World Banks agreement with the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA) to help it mobilise a trillion dollars in
investments by 2030 and >its billion-dollar programme to support Indian initiatives for expanded solar generation are
significant steps in the global transition to a clean energy pathway. While the cost of solar power has been declining, one
of the biggest obstacles to a scale-up in developing countries has been the high cost of finance for photovoltaic projects.
That problem can be addressed by the ISA through the World Bank partnership, as the agreement will help develop
financing instruments, reduce hedging costs and currency risks, and enable technology transfer. India has raised its
ambitions five-fold since the time >it launched the National Solar Mission, and the target now is an installed capacity of
100 gigawatts by 2022 out of a total of 175 GW from all renewables. Strong policy support is also necessary to improve


domestic manufacture of solar cells and panels, which has remained unattractive because cheap imports are available.
Indias efforts have also suffered a setback, with the adverse WTO ruling against the stipulation of a prescribed level of
domestic content for solar projects. Developing a strong solar manufacturing industry is essential for sustained economic
growth, and to connect those who never had the boon of electricity.
Support from the World Bank for large-scale and rooftop solar deployments, innovative and hybrid technologies, and
storage and transmission lines presents an opportunity for India to go the German way and achieve energiewende, or
energy transition. For instance, the $625-million grid-connected rooftop solar fund could help strengthen State-level
programmes for net metering. A transparent regime that enables individuals and communities to plug into the grid without
bureaucratic hurdles would unlock small-scale private investment. There are several pointers from Germanys experience
as a leading solar- and wind-powered nation to prepare for a major ramping up of these green sources. Arguably, the
strength and reliability of a power grid capable of handling more power than is available are fundamental to induct higher
levels of renewable power. The emphasis here must also be on improving transmission lines: the World Bank programme
promises to provide the necessary linkage to solar-rich States. Making power grids intelligent to analyse and give priority
to use the output of renewables, accurately forecast the weather to plan next day generation, and viability mechanisms
for conventional coal-based plants are other aspects that need attention. Innovation in battery technology is a potential
gold mine for the solar alliance and for India to exploit.
o Sunny times - happy moments / good days

same thing
o Trillion - 1,000,000,000,000
o Investment - the act of putting money into something to make a profit
o Initiative - a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a
problem
o Transition - change
o Declining - reducing
o Obstacle - something that prevent progress
o Scale-up something - to increase the size, amount, or importance of
something
o Photovoltaic - able to produce electricity from light, or relating to the
process of doing this
o Hedging - the activity of reducing the risk of losing money
o Ambition - a strong wish to achieve something / goal
o Renewables - types of energy such as wind power and power from the
sun that can be replaced as quickly as they are used
o Domestic - local
o Setback - something that happens that delays or prevents a process
from developing
o Stipulation - saying exactly how something must be or must be done

o Essential - absolutely necessary; extremely important
o Boon - a thing that is helpful or beneficial
o Rooftop - the outer surface of a building's roof
o Energiewende - german word for energy transition
o Regime - a particular way of operating
o Bureaucratic - involving complicated rules and processes that make
something slow and difficult
o Hurdle - a problem that you have to deal with before you can make
progress:
o Ramping up something - to increase something
o Arguably - used when stating an opinion or belief that you think can be
shown to be true
o Reliability - able to be trusted or believed
o Emphasis - special importance, value given to something
o Accurately - exactly / correctly
o Forecast - estimate / predict
o Viability - to work as expected or able to succeed
o Conventional - traditional and ordinary
o Innovation - (the use of) a new idea or method
o Exploit - to use something in a way that helps you
Topic 2 : "The horror in Dhaka"
The attack in an >upmarket caf in Dhaka has left 28 people dead, including six gunmen, and Bangladesh is clearly
shaken. Over the past three years, the country has seen at least 40 targeted killings by militants, with each new attack
raising fears about the growing clout of radicalised groups. The latest represents a marked escalation. The Islamic State
has claimed responsibility for the nearly 11-hour siege. Till now the Bangladesh government has never accepted that the
IS has been operating in the country. Even so, it is clear that IS-style rhetoric against minorities and foreigners and the
use of horrifying violence are influencing Bangladeshi militants. >Of late, gay rights activists, Hindu priests, secular
bloggers and Shia mosques have all come under attack. In the latest, assailants separated foreigners from locals and
hacked them to death one by one. The timing of the attack, at the start of the Ramzan holidays, may also be significant.
The IS has called upon its supporters to attack crusaders and apostates during the holy month of Ramzan.
The Dhaka attack takes the fight to the government of Sheikh Hasina. For months, the government tried to play down the
threats from jihadists, saying those were the acts of local groups. Its focus was on weakening the political opposition,
including the Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladeshs largest Islamist party. When liberal and secular activists were attacked, the
government partly blamed them for insulting religious sensibilities. When the > IS and al-Qaeda claimed responsibility
for the murders, the authorities said no foreign terrorist group was involved. It is only recently that the government


launched a major crackdown on radicalised groups, but over this period the extremists have grown in strength to carry
out mass attacks. The IS and al-Qaeda see Bangladesh as an arena of potential expansion.
The IS had released audio propaganda in Bangla. The simmering tensions between the government and the Islamist
organisations have lent radicalised groups an opportunity to drive their agenda and find recruits. To address this, the
government needs both short- and long-term strategies. The immediate task is of course to address the worsening
security situation. The targeted killings started three years ago, but the government has appeared to hold itself back on
pursuing the murderers and their handlers. The long-term challenge is to check growing radicalisation. In this context, the
ruling Awami League, perceived to be at the liberal end of the political spectrum, must step back and reconsider its high-
handedness in dealing with opposition and dissent. If Bangladeshs democracy is hollowed out, only the extremists will
benefit.

o Upmarket - very high quality and intended to be bought by people who
are quite rich
o Clout - power and influence over other people or events
o Radicalised groups - a group of people who believes that there should
be great social or political change
o Escalation - a rapid increase / a rise
o Siege - an operation in which a police or other force surround a building
and cut off supplies, with the aim of forcing an armed person to surrender
o Rhetoric - something intended to be effective and influence people
o Assailants - people who physically attack others
o Hacked - to cut into pieces in a rough and violent way
o Significant - important to be worthy of attention / noteworthy
o Crusader - someone who works hard for a long time to achieve
something that they strongly believe is morally right
o Apostate - someone who has given up their religion or left a political
party
o Play down - to make something seem less important or less bad than it
really is
o Threat - something likely to cause damage or danger
o Sensibilities - feelings
o Crackdown - a series of serious measures to restrict undesirable or
illegal people or behaviour
o Arena - a stage to perform an act
o Propaganda - information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving
one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other
way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions
o Simmering - something that is simmering is controlled but may burst
out at any time, often violently
o Strategies - detailed plans to achive success in situations like war /
politics / business
o Perceive - become aware or conscious of (something) / come to realize
or understand


o Step back - to temporarily stop being involved in an activity or situation
in order to think about it in a new way
needed, without thinking about the feelings or wishes of other peopl
o Hollowed out - became empty inside
JULY 05/2016
Topic 1 : "Baghdad in disarray"
The blast in Baghdad, >which killed more than 200 people, is the latest, and the deadliest, in a string of attacks carried
out by terrorists around the world during Ramzan. The Islamic State has boastfully claimed responsibility for the attack
that >occurred in front of a Shia mosque in one of the busiest commercial areas in the heart of the Iraqi capital. The
carnage comes weeks after Iraqi troops, under American air cover and assisted by Iran-trained Shia militias, defeated the
IS in Fallujah, one of the first cities it had captured in Iraq in early 2014. >The loss of Fallujah is a big blow to the so-called
Caliphate, whose territory has been shrinking over the past year in a series of military setbacks. In fact, Iraqi troops are
now preparing for the final battle in Mosul, Iraqs second largest city from where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the
Caliphate two years ago. But these military setbacks havent done anything to blunt the ability of the IS to stage major
terror attacks, as the latest violence shows. Secondly, by targeting Shias, the IS is trying to deepen Iraqs sectarian
wounds. In an online statement claiming the Baghdad bombing, the group clearly stated that it targeted a Shia gathering.
In 2006, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had led a series of attacks on Shias that triggered a civil
war between the two dominant communities. This sectarian tension helped the IS capture Mosul in 2014.
The attack, moreover, highlights the worsening security situation in Baghdad. Despite repeated protests and international
warnings, the Iraqi government is simply not able to provide basic security to its citizens. If in other global cities terror is
an irregular threat, Iraqis live dangerously in its shadow every day. The problems Iraq faces today are partly structural. It
never completely recovered from the American-led invasion of 2003 which destroyed the state and threw society into
anarchy. One reason the IS machinery became so strong in Iraq is that many battle-ready Saddam-era generals, who
had lost their jobs after the Americans disbanded the Iraqi military, joined its ranks. But the Iraqi leadership also must
bear responsibility for the current mess. If former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was viewed with suspicion by Sunnis for
his sectarianism, the incumbent, Haider al-Abadi, is seen to be too incompetent to be a wartime Prime Minister. He has
not been able to implement even the promised reforms, and this has virtually stalled governance, helping jihadists exploit
the security gaps in the big cities. Iraq needs a stable, inclusive administration that takes care of the basic needs of its
people while at the same time fighting terror. It is a tall order, but Iraq today doesnt have the luxury of time or choice.
o Disarray - the state of being confused and having no organization

o Deadliest - causing or able to cause death
o String of - continuous


o Boastfully - to say (something about oneself) in a proud way
o Claimed - to say that something is true or is a fact,
o Occurred - (especially of accidents and other unexpected events)
happened
o In the heart of - in the most important part of something (central point)
o Carnage - the violent killing of large numbers of people
o So-called - used to express one's view that something is inappropriate
o Caliphate - an Islamic state, especially one ruled by a single religious
and political leader
o Territory - (an area of) land, that is considered as belonging to or
o Setbacks - something that happens that delays or prevents a process
from developing
o Blunt - make something less sharp / useful
o Sectarian - (a person) strongly supporting a particular religious group
and not willing to accept other beliefs
o Wounds - a damaged area of the body, such as a cut or hole in the skin
or flesh
o Triggered - caused something bad to start
o Dominant - having power and influence over others
o Worsening - to become worse or to make something become worse
o Protest - an occasion when people show that they disagree with
something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc
o Threat - something that likely to cause damage / danger
o Partly - to some extent; not completely
o Structural - relating to the way in which parts of a system or object are
arranged
o Invasion - an occasion when an army or country uses force to enter and
take control of another country
o Destroyed - damaged something so badly
o Anarchy - a situation in which there is no organization and control,
especially in society, because there is no effective government
o Machinery - the structure and systems of an organization or process
o Disbanded - to break a group
o Mess - a situation that is full of problems
o Suspicion - a belief or idea that something may be true
o Sectarianism - strongly supporting a particular religious group and not
willing to accept other beliefs
o Incumbent - the holder of an office or post
o Incompetent - not having the ability to do something as it should be
done
o Reform - to make an improvement
o Stalled - stopped
o Exploit - make full use of and derive benefit from (a resource)
o Stable - strong (not likely to change)
o Terror - violent action that causes extreme fear
o Tall order - something that is difficult to do
o Luxury - great comfort


Topic 2 : "Look whos stalking"
The > brutal hacking in broad daylight of S. Swathi, a young Infosys employee, at Chennais Nungambakkam railway
station has shone a harsh light on public safety in the city. The murder has, expectedly, reinforced a sense of insecurity.
The Chennai police, which did extremely well in nabbing the man suspected of killing her, and the administration, must
engage with civil society to restore confidence through a review, and upgrade, of existing checks. The tragic incident
highlights the >countless crimes against women that we need to address legally, administratively, and socially. As
loved ones and investigators work backwards to identify signs that Swathi was being stalked, signs that could have been
picked up early and possibly prevented the incident, the death must underline a point too easily missed in our casual day-
to-day encounters: that crimes against women are a continuum. It is unfortunate that it should take extreme violence for
society and the law and order machinery to understand that cracking down on everyday harassment is essential. Had
Swathi reported her stalker to an authority, would it have made her safer? We cannot definitively answer that in hindsight.
What is without doubt is that stalking is far too commonly considered a mildly annoying practice, a playful way of courting
even. Women, and even young girls, are anyway not conditioned to approach figures of authority at home, in schools
and colleges, at the workplace, in the local police station to report harassment that falls short of violence, and
sometimes not even that.
Swathi fell to a death that was preventable. >Even as she is mourned, we must make people see stalking as the corrosive,
potentially violent act it is. After the Delhi gang rape of December 2012, as the country was nudged out of its chalta hai
attitude to crimes against women, Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. Provisions of that law
sought to sharpen identification of crimes against women, to make it easier for them to approach the authorities to register
complaints, and to secure their dignity in this process of getting justice. Stalking was one of the crimes the Act dealt with.
It can lead to a fine and imprisonment of up to three years for the first offence; and for any subsequent conviction to
imprisonment of up to five years. It is an offence to follow a woman and contact, or attempt to contact, her, to foster
personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by her; or monitor her use of the Internet, email or
any other form of electronic communication. But for a woman to be sufficiently empowered to say no, there needs to be
stronger awareness.
o Stalking - the crime of illegally following and watching someone over a

period of time
o Brutal - cruel, violent, and completely without feelings
o Hacking - killing somebody with knife
o In broad daylight - if a crime is committed in broad daylight, it happens
during the day, when it could have been seen and prevented
o Shone a harsh light on something - to show / say directly that
something is very bad
o Nabbing - catching someone who did something wrong

o Engage - involve
o Tragic - very sad (often involving death and suffering)
o Countless - so many to be counted
o To address - to give attention to / to deal with a problem
o Continuum - a continuous sequence
o Extreme - very great
o Cracking down - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more
serious way
o Harassment - behaviour that annoys or upsets someone
o Definitively - surely (without any doubt)
o Hindsight - the ability to understand a situation only after it has
happened
o Mildly - not seriously
o Playful way - funny and not serious
o Preventable - able to be stopped from happening
o Mourned - to feel or express great sadness, especially because of
someone's death
o Corrosive - harmful and causing bad feelings
o Potentially - possibly
o Nudged-out - to force someone come out of something
o Amendment - a minor change to improve something
o Dignity - the importance and value that a person has, that makes other
people respect them
o Imprisonment - to put someone in jail
o Offence - an illegal act / crime
o Conviction - a formal diclaration by the court that someone is guilty of
a criminal offence
o Foster - to encourage the development or growth of feelings
o Disinterest - lack of interest
o Empowered - to give someone freedom / authority to do something
JULY 06/2016
Topic 1 : "Disabled and disheartened"
Progressive legislation and enabling administrative orders constitute the policy framework under which the government
deals with the >rights of persons with disabilities and seeks to provide them equal opportunities. However, it is only when
tested in practice that the real efficacy of the policy is known. Recent court verdicts suggest that the implementation of
measures conferring rights on the people with disabilities is still far from adequate. This is in spite of statutory reservation
in jobs and other measures formulated with great care. The Supreme Courts recent verdict, >declaring illegal two office
memoranda of 1997 and 2005 on the manner in which reservation of seats for the disabled should be handled, is the
latest instance of the governments policy approach being exposed as inadequate. Though the verdict in Rajeev Kumar
Gupta and Others v. Union of India arose out of a specific grievance that the disabled were denied the benefits of


reservation in Group A and Group B posts in the Prasar Bharati Corporation, it is applicable across the entire spectrum
of public employment in the two categories. The court ruled that limiting the disabled quota to posts filled through direct
recruitment in the two groups is in contravention of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights
and Full Participation) Act, 1995; also, that the disabled quota will extend to promotions. It directed that vacancies among
posts identified for the disabled must be filled through reservation, regardless of the mode of recruitment be it promotion
or direct recruitment. The ruling has significantly enhanced the scope for the disabled to gain employment in the higher
echelons.
In October 2013, in Union of India v. National Federation of the Blind, the court had noted the alarming reality that the
disabled were out of jobs not because their disability came in the way, but rather due to social and practical barriers.
Even then, the court had noted that some provisions of the 2005 office memorandum were inconsistent with the 1995
Act. However, the government is yet to modify it suitably. In the latest ruling, a Division Bench has said it is disheartening
to note the admittedly low numbers of persons with disabilities much below the 3 per cent earmarked for them in
government employment years after the enactment. It is time the Centre evolved a more inclusive policy that is in full
conformity with its legal obligations. It should activate the UPA governments proposal to enact an improved law. If
necessary, the draft Bill of 2014 could be revamped after wider consultation with stakeholders. The ultimate objective
should be to render complete justice to the countrys estimated 2.68 crore disabled people.
o Disabled - not having one or more of the physical or mental abilities that
most people have
o Disheartened - to lose confidence, hope, and energy
o Progressive - happening / developing slowly in stages
o Legislation - laws
o Enabling - making something possible or easier
o Constitute - to be considered as something
o Framework - a system of rules, ideas, or beliefs that is used to plan or
decide something
o Efficacy - the ability to produce a desired or expected result
o Verdict - an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are
given (judgement)
o Formulate - to develop all the details of a plan for doing something
o Memoranda - an informal legal agreement
o Instance - an example
o Grievance - a complaint that you have been treated unfairly
o Spectrum - a range of something (here public employment)
o Contravention - an action that is against a law or rule
o Enhanced - improved / increased
o Echelon - a level or rank in an organization / a profession, or society
o Barrier - something that prevents movement or access
o Inconsistent - not staying the same in behaviour or quality

o Disheartening - causing to lose confidence, hope, and energy
(discouraging)
o Earmarked - to keep something for a particular purpose
o Enactment - the making of a law
o Conformity - behaviour in accordance with socially accepted standards
o Revamped - give new and improved form, structure, or appearance
o Stakeholders - a person or group of people who own a share in an
organization
o Render - to provide / to give
Topic 2 : "Discovery with Juno"
In yet another remarkable achievement, the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations >Juno spacecraft has
successfully entered the orbit around Jupiter without being knocked down by the planets intense magnetic field and
radiation. That the spacecraft, which >had travelled 2.8 billion km since its launch on August 5, 2011, passed through a
spot that was originally planned for, when it came closest to the planet, provides a measure of the level of success of the
mission. Juno, with a diameter of 11.5 ft, is not the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Jupiter. But unlike its
predecessor, the Galileo spacecraft that explored the planet between 1995 and 2003, Juno will study Jupiter much more
thoroughly given the array of nine scientific instruments that it carries on board. The most important difference between
the two missions is Junos ability to see below the dense cloud cover of Jupiter; only a probe of Galileo entered the
planets atmosphere. Getting as close as 5,000 km from the cloudtops and being able to see through the clouds will make
it possible for Junos camera, Junocam, to take close-up photos of the poles and other points of interest. The main
objectives of the mission are to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter, to find out if the planet, like Earth, has a
solid rocky core, to uncover the source of its intense magnetic field, to measure water and ammonia in deep atmosphere,
and to observe the auroras.
Though the nine instruments will be turned on by the end of the week, the first full set of observations will not take place
before the end of August when the spacecraft comes close to Jupiter on its first orbit; science experiments will begin in
full earnest in mid-October when it gets into a 14-day orbit. Juno will orbit the planet from pole-to-pole, minimising the
amount of radiation exposure, but the orbit will ultimately shift due to Jupiters intense gravitational field, making the
spacecraft pass through more intense regions of radiation. Though shielded by a titanium vault, the radiation from Jupiter
will slowly but surely compromise the instruments by the time it finishes its mission in February 2018. But before this
happens, scientists expect to collect enough information to further our understanding of how the giant planet was formed
some 4.5 billion years ago, and of the origins of the solar system. The amount of water it contains and the nature of its
core will provide clues about where the planet formed early in the systems life span. After orbiting the planet 37 times
and returning invaluable scientific information, Juno will incinerate in Jupiters atmosphere in early 2018 as the Galileo
spacecraft did.
oDiscovery - the process of finding information, a place, or an object,

especially for the first time

o Orbit - the curved path through which objects in space move around a
planet or star
o Being knocked down - being hit by something and fell down
o Intense - of extreme force / great strength
o Unlike - different from / not similar to
o Predecessor - a thing that has been followed or replaced by another
o Probe - to examine something with a tool, especially in order to find
something that is hidden
o Aurora - a natural appearance of coloured light in the sky
o Earnest - completely serious
o Shielded by - completely covered by
o Vault - a roof / cover
o Compromise - to risk having a harmful effect on something
o Invaluable - extremely useful
o Incinerate - destroy by burning
JULY 07/2016
Topic 1 : "At home in New Delhi"
With a few broad brushstrokes, > Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completely remodelled his Council of Ministers. It
is not just that Tuesdays rejig is his most expansive since 2014 in terms of the number of Ministers inducted (19), sent
packing (five) and transferred (including the big swap at the Human Resource Development Ministry). With the portfolio
allotment and the manner of announcing it, by holding back the big surprises for hours after the swearing-in ceremony at
Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mr. Modi has sent out the signal that he is his own man. As with all reshuffles, >there are losers and
gainers in relative terms. But it has been sought to be conveyed that the sum of these losses and gains is the profile of a
Prime Minister in firm control of his Ministry of someone conscious of the authority he wields with a clear majority in
the Lok Sabha, and equally, someone who is no longer a stranger to New Delhi and therefore in need of guidance to
negotiate his way. Basically, Mr. Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah have made clear that to read the
reason for a portfolio allotment or change one needs to map the straight line of accountability between the Minister and
the Prime Ministers Office. There are no concessions to regional satraps. Even the nod to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh in Nagpur is through the agenda, and not personnel.
Mr. Modi has clearly traded the promise of >a lean Ministry in the minimum government, maximum governance credo
for electoral considerations by expanding the Ministry. The emphasis is on bringing in more Ministers to give an edge to
the Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat Assembly election campaigns in the months ahead, and careful arithmetic in
inducting Dalit, OBC and tribal leaders is evident. The inclusion of Anupriya Patel, whose U.P.-based Apna Dal is on the
brink of merging itself with the BJP and who is a Kurmi, is a good example. Induction of Dalit Ministers is an effort to right
their under-representation in the Ministry and to take the edge off the BSP and Aam Aadmi Party challenge in U.P. and
Punjab, respectively. But this flabbiness is restricted to the junior levels of the Ministry. At the top, by taking away the
Information and Broadcasting portfolio from Arun Jaitley and by replacing Smriti Irani in the HRD Ministry by promoting


Prakash Javadekar, Mr. Modi has made clear that he does not perceive shortcomings in his governments agenda or
performance, but is impatient with cacophony. This has been a highly controlled exercise, one that will consolidate his
grip on power, a prospect that will worry his political rivals as well as some within his own party, a cadre-based
organisation on which he has firmly stamped his authority.
o Broad - very wide

o Brushstroke - the way in which a plan or idea is explained
o Remodelled - changed the structure or form of something
o Rejig - organize something differently / rearrange
o Expansive - covering a wide area in terms of space or scope / extensive
o In terms of something - in relation to something
o Swap - an act of exchanging one thing with another
government
o Holding back - to hide something
o Swearing-in - an official ceremony in which someone starting a new
official job formally promises to be loyal and honest and to perform their
duties well
o Be your own person/woman/man - to be in control of your life and
not allow other people to tell you what to do
o Reshuffle - interchange the positions of (members of a team, especially
government ministers)
o Conveyed - to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood
by other people
o Firm - strong
o Conscious - to be aware of something
o Wields - to have a lot of influence or power over other people
o Credo - a set of beliefs that influences the way you live
o Emphasis - the particular importance or attention that is given to
something
o To give an edge - to give slightly better importance
o Campaigns - a series of organized activities or events intended to
achieve a result
o Inducting - to accept someone officially as a member of an organization
o Inclusion - including someone in a group
o On the brink of - * if someone or something is on the brink of a
situation, that situation is likely to happen soon
o Flabbiness - softness
o Perceive - become aware or conscious of something
o Impatient - wanting something to happen as soon as possible
o Cacophony - a harsh and unpleasant mixture of loud sounds


o Consolidate - make something stronger or more solid
o Rivals - people who are competing with you for the same objective or
for superiority in the same field of activity
o Cadre - a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose
or profession
o Stamped - to make a mark in your work / activity so that people will
remember you
Top 2 : "Resurrecting the author"

>An author who declared himself dead last year has been judicially resurrected. Under intense pressure from
conservative religious and caste groups, award-winning Tamil writer Perumal Murugan had announced his death in a
literary sense. That was his way of voicing his anguish at being hounded by some in his hometown of Tiruchengode in
Tamil Nadu for writing a novel that they deemed prurient and defamatory, four years after its publication. Perumal Murugan
was forced to agree to a written unconditional apology at a peace committee meeting organised by local officials at
Namakkal in the face of orchestrated protests to demand > a ban on his novel Mathorubhagan (One Part Woman) and
his prosecution. In a welcome verdict that reinforces the point that jurisprudence in the country is still speech-protective
and is unwilling to accept any role for faceless mobs in silencing an author, the Madras High Court has rejected the
demand for banning the book or prosecuting him, and declared that it will not allow self-appointed super-censors in society
to decide what people read or see. It has upheld the freedom of writers to write and advised those professing to be hurt
by a book to just avoid reading it.
The >160-page judgment by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul builds on a series of
progressive rulings. It has applied the contemporary community standards test in concluding that there is nothing obscene
in the novel. It has affirmed that the novels focus is on recording the travails of a childless couple subjected to community
ridicule rather than what the books opponents allege: that it is an attempt to vilify the deity in a Tiruchengode temple or
the women who lived in the town by linking them to a social practice of having sex with strangers on one particular night
as part of an age-old temple festival. The Bench has instead reminded the authorities of their duty to secure freedom of
expression and not pander to mob demands in the name of preserving law and order. The court draws on the argument
that eroticism is not unknown in Indian artistic tradition and rebuts suggestions of vulgarity by pointing to the merit of using
the earthy language spoken by the people. If there is one thing in the judgment that sits uneasily in this well-articulated
defence of free expression, it is that the state should have an experts body to resolve such conflicts. Even if the
objective is to counter unreasonable protests, the notion of having a committee to advise the government in dealing with
a conflict between protection of free speech and maintaining law and order may itself represent a grave compromise.
o Resurrecting - restore (a dead person) to life

o Intense - of great force / strength
o Conservative - not usually liking or trusting change
o Anguish - qextreme unhappiness caused by physical or mental suffering
o Hounded - being chased by someone

o Deemed - considered or judged something in a particular way
o Purient - encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters, especially
the sexual activity of others
o Defamatory - damaging the good reputation of someone
o Unconditional - complete and not limited in any way
o Apology - an act of saying that you are sorry for something wrong you
have done
o Orchestrated - with every detail very carefully planned, sometimes
secretly
given
o Reinforces - to make something stronger
o Jurisprudence - the study of law and the principles on which law is
based
o Faceless - characterless and dull
o Mob - a large crowd of people
o Professing - to state something
o Community - the people living in one particular area or people who are
considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, or
nationality
o Obscene - offensive
o Affirmed - to state something as true
o Travails - the difficulties that are experienced as part of a particular
situation
o Ridicule - to laugh at someone in an unkind way
o Vilify - to say or write unpleasant things about someone or something,
in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of them
o Deity - a god or goddess
o Pander - to please other people by doing or saying what they want you
to do or say
o Eroticism - sexual desire or excitement
o Rebuts - to argue that a statement or claim is not true
o Earthy - referring to sex and the human body in a direct way
o Well-articulated - clearly spoken / expressed
o Conflict - an active disagreement between people with opposing
opinions or principles
JULY 08/2016
Topic 1 : "Grim lessons from the Iraq invasion"


For many, >Britains Iraq War Inquiry report, released on Wednesday by Sir John Chilcot who headed the investigation,
came as confirmation of what they already believed. Yet, t >he conclusions of a government-appointed committee that
Prime Minister Tony Blair exaggerated the case for the 2003 invasion and led Britain to war before all peaceful options
were exhausted are of great significance. They have the power to influence both contemporary politics and future policy-
making. The >inquiry also found that Mr. Blairs government was ill-prepared to face the consequences of the
war. >Thirteen years after the U.S. and the U.K. invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein, the real motives
of the war have still not been sufficiently explained. The case for war built by Mr. Blair and U.S. President George W.
Bush crumbled to dust after the invasion. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, nor could the attackers
prove any substantial link between al-Qaeda and Saddam. As a result, the war lacked all justification. Hundreds of
thousands of Iraqis were killed and millions wounded and displaced. The destruction of the Iraqi state and the chaos that
followed set the stage for the rise of several extremist groups. The roots of the Islamic State, perhaps the most vicious
and potent terrorist machinery today, go back to one such group, al-Qaeda in Iraq.
What is worse, the big powers refused to learn any lesson from the Iraq tragedy. Even after it was clear that the invasion
was disastrous, the West forced another regime change in Libya in 2011, repeating the same mistakes committed in Iraq
and creating another haven for extremists. British Prime Minister David Cameron, who voted for the Iraq war in 2003,
wanted military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a proposal rejected by the House of Commons in 2013.
Though the U.S. and the U.K. shelved the plan to directly attack Syria, they continued supporting anti-regime rebels in
the country, worsening its security situation and further helping terrorist groups such as the IS and Jabhat al-Nusra. There
is no disputing the ruthlessness of these dictators. But toppling them through wars or weakening their regimes through
proxy civil wars is far more dangerous, as these crisis-hit nations would recount. The Iraq war set off the contemporary
chaos in West Asia and North Africa, and no one knows where it will all end. Mr. Blair still has an unapologetic air, but his
successors cant turn a blind eye towards the Chilcot findings if they are serious about preventing more such
misadventures. As Jeremy Corbyn, chief of the Labour Party, said, All those who took the decisions laid bare in the
Chilcot report must face up to the consequences of their actions, whatever they may be.

o Conclusion - the final part of something / end or finish of an event
o Exaggerated - to make something seem larger, more important, better,
or worse than it really is
o Exhausted - (of resources or reserves) completely used up
o Significance - the quality of being worthy of attention / importance.
o Inquiry - an official process to discover the facts about something bad
that has happened
o Ill-prepared - not ready or prepared for something
o Consequence - a result of a particular action or situation
o Topple - to (cause to) lose balance and fall down

o Regime - a government, especially an authoritarian one
o Crumbled - to become weaker in strength or influence
o Substantial - of considerable importance, size, or worth
o Lacked - to not have or not have enough of something that is needed or
wanted
o Justification - a good reason or explanation for something
o Wounded - injured, especially with a cut or hole in the skin
o Displaced - forcibly move from native places
o Chaos - a state of total confusion with no order
o Set the stage for - prepare the conditions for the occurrence or
beginning of something
o Extremist - someone who has beliefs that most people think are
o Potent - having great power, influence, or effect
o Tragedy - a very sad event or situation, especially one involving death
or suffering
o Disastrous - extremely bad or unsuccessful
o Haven - a safe or peaceful place
o Shelved - to not take action on something until a later time
o Rebels - a person who is opposed to the political system in their country
and tries to change it using force
o Worsening - to make something become worse
o Disputing - an argument or disagreement
o Ruthlessness - not thinking or worrying about any pain caused to
others / cruel
o Dictator - a leader who has complete power in a country and has not
been elected by the people
o Toppling - to (cause to) lose balance and fall down
o Proxy - authority given to a person to act for someone else
country
o Unapologetic - not sorry about having caused someone problems or
unhappiness, even though people might expect you to be sorry
o Successor - someone that comes after another person
o Turn a blind eye - to ignore something that you know is wrong
o Misadventure - an accident or bad luck
o Laid bare - to make something known
Topic 2 : "Fixing the pulses deficit"
While the economys revival is still a work in progress, higher food prices, >especially of pulses, are affecting nutritional
intake across India. The government is counting on a good monsoon season to spur growth and cool down the prices of
essential food items. Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said on Thursday that the governments move to raise
the minimum support price for pulses is expected to help push up their output and thereby contain food inflation. While a


good monsoon would increase output, >it does not necessarily mean that food prices will come down, especially those of
pulses. Monsoon rains between 2005-06 and 2008-09 were normal or above normal, yet the retail cost of pulses rose at
an alarming pace in three of the four years. The Centre has already undertaken some measures to deal with the current
uptick in dal prices: creating a buffer stock, imposing stock limits, and offering tur dal at Rs.120 a kg through mobile vans.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is signing a pact with Mozambique to double pulses imports from that country. More dal
diplomacy is under way to scale up the approximately 5 million tonnes of pulses India procures from 46 countries.
But imports cannot be a sustainable solution. Farm policy mandarins need to wake up to the reality that demand for pulses
is rising even in parts of the world where it hasnt been a staple diet. Another warning came from the Food and Agriculture
Organisation of the United Nations, which has incidentally designated 2016 as the year of pulses to highlight their
importance in curbing malnutrition. As population increases and incomes rise, pushing up demand for high-protein foods
like pulses, the weaker sections may be forced to simply cut back on consumption. This is a worrying portent for a country
where per capita pulse intake has already fallen by more than a third over the past 55 years. There are structural problems
in boosting output. Farmers, for instance, prefer to sow wheat and paddy instead of pulses, thanks to the Minimum Support
Price regime. Since the Centre may not have the resources to procure dal on the same scale as wheat and paddy, it
needs to think beyond the usual template. Now that it has allowed 100 per cent FDI in food processing, dismantling the
Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee laws that cripple free trade for farmers could pave the way for them to deal
directly with large traders and retailers, thereby creating the assured market they need and bringing down consumer costs
by getting rid of the myriad intermediaries.
o Revival - an improvement in the condition of something
o Nutritional - healthy
o Intake - an amount of food, air, or another substance taken into the
body
o Essential - absolutely necessary; extremely important
o Retail - the activity of selling goods to the public, usually in shops
o Pace - speed
o Uptick - an increase in something
o Buffer stock - a large supply of a commodity (a crop, metal, fuel, etc.)
that is bought and stored when extra is available, and sold when there is
not enough, in order to control its price and quantity in the economy
o Pact - a formal agreement
o Scale up - to increase the size, amount, or importance of something
o Procures - to get something, especially after an effort


o Mandarin - a person who has a very important job in the government,
and who is sometimes considered to be too powerful
o Staple diet - food that is eaten routinely
o Designated - officially give a specified status or name to
o Curbing - to control or limit something that is not wanted
o Malnutrition - physical weakness and bad health caused by having too
little food, or too little of the types of food necessary for good health
o Cut back - an act of reducing something
o Consumption - the act of eating something
o Portent - to be a sign that something bad is likely to happen in the future
o Sow - to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow
o Paddy - a field where rice is grown
o Regime - a system of rules that control something
o Template - something that is used as a pattern or an example for
something else
o Dismantling - to get rid of a system or organization, usually over a
period of time
o Cripple - to cause serious damage to someone or something
o Pave the way - to make something possible
o Myriad - a very large number of something
o Intermediary - a person who acts as a link between people in order to
try and bring about an agreement (a mediator)
JULY 09/2016
Topic 1 : "Enayam. Threes a crowd ?"
The Union Cabinets >decision to approve the construction of a new port on Tamil Nadus west coast at Enayam near
Colachel is obviously aimed at making good a poll promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The location of the facility so
close to another mega container terminal, however, >has invited doubts about its viability, even its necessity. Envisaged
as a gateway container trans-shipment hub for cargo moving to and from India and along one of the worlds major shipping
lanes connecting the Suez Canal to east Asia, >Enayam is being projected as a competitor to Colombo. Chosen for its
natural water depth of about 20 m, and proximity to the east-west international shipping lane, the proposed port will be
located about 40 km south of Vizhinjam in Kerala, where the Adani Group is developing a trans-shipment container
terminal. It is planned under the landlord model, where the States publicly owned Chennai Port Trust, the V.O.
Chidambaranar Port Trust, and the Kamarajar Port will make the initial equity investment, build the breakwater, undertake
dredging and enable road and rail connectivity, while private companies operate the berths and provide the equipment.
Enayam port is expected to cost about Rs.6,500 crore in the first phase, when container handling capacity is projected at
1.5 million TEUs. The proposed initial funding for the Rs.27,000- crore project raises questions over the facilitys feasibility
given the capital requirement and the ability of the existing major ports to find the money.
Another concern is about the proximity to the Adani concession at Vizhinjam, leave alone the Vallarpadam facility off
Kochi; whether two major container trans-shipment hubs can be justified in terms of the potential traffic they aim to attract


is debatable. With global trade still becalmed by the worldwide economic slowdown, the outlook for container shipping
demand remains cloudy. That Enayam will be designed to berth the latest and largest Triple-E class container vessels,
however, does indicate that the Ministrys planners have a strategic vision and are counting on a future rebound in world
trade. According to the preliminary study for this port, trans-shipment traffic at the terminal is projected to surge fourfold
from 700,000 TEUs in 2020 to 2.8 million TEUs by 2025, and touch 3.9 million TEUs by 2030. Whether the potential is
realised ultimately hinges on several factors. These include commitment from the State and Central governments to
promote industrial activity in the ports hinterland; speedy, transparent and fair land acquisition; and provision of world-
class road, rail and coastal shipping links to allow cargo to move rapidly in and out of the port.
o Obviously - in a way that is easy to understand or see / clearly

o Viability - ability to work as intended (expected)
o Envisaged - to imagine or expect something in the future, especially
something good
o Tans-shipment - shipment of goods or containers to an intermediate
destination
o Hub - the central or main part of something where there is most activity
o Proximity - nearness in space, time
o Proposed - to offer or suggest a possible plan or action for other people
to consider
o Equity - the value of the shares issued by a company
o Breakwater - a very large wall that is built from the coast out into the
sea to protect a beach or harbour from big waves
o Dredging - to remove unwanted things from the bottom of a river, lake,
etc. using a boat or special device
o Berth - a ship's allotted place near the edge of the sea
o Projected - calculated based on the information you have
o Feasibility - the possibility that can be made, done, or achieved, or is
reasonable
o Debatable - open to discussion or argument / not clear
o Becalmed - if a ship with sails is becalmed, it cannot move because there
is no wind
o Cloudy - not transparent or clear
o Vessel - a large boat or a ship
o Strategic - a detailed plan for achieving success
o Counting on something - to be confident that you can depend on
something
o Rebound - recover in value, amount, or strength after a decrease or
decline
o Surge - a sudden powerful forward or upward movement
o Fourfold - by four time
o Hinges - depends
o Hinterland - the land behind the coast or the banks of a river, or an
area of a country that is far away from cities
o World-class - one of the best that there are of that type in the world
o Cargo - the goods carried by a ship, aircraft, or other large vehicle


Topic 2 : "And now there are two"
The > number of prime ministerial hopefuls is down to two in the United Kingdom, lending a semblance of political
normalcy in what has been a chaotic period. Till the final vote by Conservative Party members on September 9, it can at
least be said with certainty that Britain will have a woman Prime Minister, either current Home Secretary Theresa May or
the junior Energy Minister, Andrea Leadsom. It has been a long and turbulent fortnight. Take back control, reclaim your
sovereignty, rang the >Brexiteers cries before the historic June 23 referendum. In the event, chaos has reigned supreme
ever since. Fast on the unexpected Brexit verdict came a brutal political betrayal, not to mention the gathering storms in
Brussels, and London has not been lacking for drama or surprise. It must have come as no small relief for Conservative
MPs that neither of the two women who now remain in the race for Downing Street had anything directly to do with the
coldly calculated elimination of their once principal contender. Boris Johnson, the former Mayor of London, had staked
his prime ministerial ambitions on leading the Leave campaign to victory on a dangerously divisive platform against
immigration and an imagined loss of national sovereignty. His nemesis was his friend Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary,
who curated Mr. Johnsons leadership bid, till he suddenly announced his own candidature. With both the polarising men
out of the reckoning, the delicate and difficult responsibility of shaping Londons exit strategy without burning too many
bridges with the European Union will fall on the shoulders of either Ms. May or Ms. Leadsom.
Despite the overwhelming support she won among the Conservative MPs, Ms. May will need to reinvent her image for
the sake of the party rank and file. Her support for the Remain camp during the campaign did not go down well with the
sizeable Eurosceptics among them. But she can foreground her six-year stint as Home Secretary, the longest for a
Conservative in over 50 years, and one in which she has been tough on matters of immigration control. Ms. May has
spoken about honouring the popular will, especially after David Cameron emphasised the need for his successor to be a
convinced Brexiteer. Ms. Leadsom is sure to play up her Leave credentials to the partys strongly Eurosceptic activists at
the grass roots. Whoever wins will face the challenge of knitting together a nation bruised from within also, of
negotiating with a bigger, if not stronger, Europe and a world even more distant from empire. British pragmatism and
common sense may be a guide through this arduous journey. But it will certainly not be easy.
o Hopeful - a person likely or hoping to succeed

o Normalcy - the condition of being normal / the state of being usual or
expected
o Fortnight - a period of two weeks
o Brexiteers - supporters of Brexit (Britain's exit from the European
Union)


question
o Reigned - to be the main feeling in a situation
given
o Betrayal - not being loyal to your country or a person, often by doing
something harmful
o Lacking - if something that you need is lacking, you do not have enough
of it
o Principal - main / first in order of importance
o Contender - someone who competes with other people to try to win
something
o Staked - supported
o Campaign - a planned group of especially political, business, or military
activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim
o Divisive - used to describe something that causes great and sometimes
unfriendly disagreement within a group of people
o Nemesis - someone's nemesis is a person or thing that is very difficult
for them to defeat
o Curated - to be in charge of selecting
o Bid - an offer to do something when you are competing with other people
to do it
o Polarising - to cause something, especially something that contains
different people or opinions, to divide into two completely opposing
groups
o Reckoning - the action or process of calculating or estimating something
o Delicate - needing careful treatment, especially because easily damaged
o To burn bridges - to destroy all possible ways of going back to past
situation
o Reinvent - to produce something new that is based on something that
already exists
o Sizeable - large
o Eurosceptic - a person, especially a politician, who opposes closer
connections between Britain and the European Union
o Foreground - to give the most importance to a particular subject, etc
o Stint - a fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or
activity
o Emphasised - to show that something is very important or worth giving
attention to
o Credentials - documents that state the abilities and experience of a
person and show that the person is qualified for a particular job or activity
o Grass roots - the ordinary people in a society or an organization,
especially a political party
o Bruised - emotionally hurt as a result of a bad experience


o Negotiating - to have formal discussions with someone in order to
reach an agreement with them
o Empire - a very large and important business or organization
o Pragmatism - the quality of dealing with a problem in a sensible way
o Arduous - difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy
JULY 11/2016
Topic 1 : "Ending impunity under AFSPA"
Accountability is a facet of the rule of law. This established legal principle has acquired fresh significance after
the >Supreme Court ruled that the armed forces cannot escape investigation for excesses in the course of the discharge
of their duty even in disturbed areas. In such notified areas, security personnel enjoy statutory protection for their use
of special powers. While hearing petitions demanding an inquiry into 1,528 deaths in counter-insurgency operations and
related incidents in Manipur, the court has said the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the purported
immunity it offers to the use of force even to the extent of causing death are not invincible. Such legal protection,
especially in a State that has been under AFSPA for nearly 60 years, has to yield to larger principles of human rights, and
no allegation of the use of excessive or retaliatory force can be ignored without a thorough inquiry. This is a requirement
both of democracy and for the preservation of the rule of law. The court has sought tabulated details on 62 specific cases
in which there is some evidence that the deaths involved were not genuine operational casualties but extrajudicial killings
or fake encounters. Even though the 85-page ruling draws its broad principles from an earlier Constitution Bench verdict
in Naga Peoples Movement of Human Rights (1997), it has special meaning in the present context, with a growing body
of opinion that AFSPA should be repealed or amended.
The court is not unaware of the circumstances prevailing in Manipur and its neighbouring States. What has caused
consternation is the near-total absence of any inquiry. In most cases, not even a first information report has been
registered, and in some, the cases are against the victims. The court has acknowledged that additional powers have been
given to the armed forces to deal with terrorism effectively. However, it also made clear that this cannot be an excuse for
extrajudicial killings whenever such allegations surface, they have to be investigated, regardless of whether the person
concerned is a dreaded criminal, terrorist or insurgent. The court has reminded the authorities of the circumstances in
which the use of force, even to the point of causing death, is immune from prosecution and the Armys own list of dos and
donts while operating in a disturbed area. It has rejected the notion that every person bearing arms in a disturbed area
is ipso facto an enemy. The occasion calls for an investigation into allegations of enforced disappearances and
extrajudicial killings, especially those already documented or partially probed. It must give momentum to the demand for
the repeal of AFSPA as a necessary step to end impunity.
o Impunity - freedom from punishment or from the unpleasant results of

something that has been done


o Established - having existed or done something for a long time and
therefore recognized and generally accepted
o Acquired - to get something
o Armed forces - a country's army, navy, and air force
o Excesse - an amount of something that is more than necessary,
permitted, or desirable
o Counter-insurgency - military or political action taken against the
activities of revolutionaries
o Provisions - the action of providing or supplying something for use
o Purported - appear to be or do something, especially falsely
o Immunity - a situation in which you are protected from legal action
o Invincible - too powerful to be defeated or overcome
o Yield - produce / provide something
o Allegation - a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has
done something wrong or illegal
o Retaliatory - harmful to someone who has done something to harm you
o Preservation - the act of keeping something the same or of preventing
it from being damaged
o Casualties - people killed or injured in a war or accident
o Extrajudicial - not legally authorized
o Verdict - a decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case
o Repealed - if a government repeals a law, it causes that law no longer
to have any legal force
o Amended - make minor changes inorder to improve something
o Circumstances - results of an event
o Prevailing - existing at a particular time; current
o Victims - people harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime,
o Dreaded - causing strong feeling of fear or worry
o Insurgent - someone who is fighting against the government in their
own country
o Immune - not able to be punished or damaged by something
o Ipso facto - used to say that it is reasonable to state or believe
something based on facts that are already known
o Probed - enquire into something closely
Topic 2 : "Race in America"
The sniper attack in Dallas, Texas, leading to the death of five policemen, has widened a racial wound in the United
States that was being picked at for the past few years. With his choice of targets and venue, the sniper, Micah Johnson,
changed around the message of a Black Lives Matter march on Thursday in the city, one among many across the country
called to peacefully protest the shocking killing of two black men in police action earlier in the week in Louisiana and


Minnesota. America has been simmering these past few years over the deaths of blacks at the hands of police personnel.
These deaths are disproportionately high in number compared to the percentage of African Americans in the population,
and many of them the 2014 encounter in Ferguson, Missouri, for example are seen to suggest an institutionalised
tolerance of racism. Each such incident has threatened to incrementally widen the gulf between the police and black
citizens, and President Barack Obama has strived to play a mediating role between police and community leaders to
bridge the gulf and to make progress on reforms in policing and the justice delivery system. Johnson, a former U.S. Army
reserve, was black, and from all evidence deliberately targeted white police officers. His attack has the potential to widen
the racial gulf further, and change the focus of the debate from the need for institutional reform to open blame-calling.
Mr. Obama, who was on a tour of Europe when the police deaths happened, said from Warsaw that he would travel to
Dallas as soon as possible. But before that he has wisely drawn a line separating Johnsons action from his black identity,
and the assassins agenda from the protesters grief. By definition, if you shoot people who pose no threat to you
strangers you have a troubled mind, he said. Indeed, reports suggest that Johnson was battling his own demons ever
since he returned from Afghanistan but the particulars of Johnson, a demented individual as Mr. Obama called him,
may become incidental to the viciously polarising political wars that are framing the American presidential election. Mr.
Obamas racial and ethnic identity has been constantly attacked by Republicans, and the far right in America has kept an
unswerving focus on his outreach to black community leaders as well as his struggle to put checks on the easy availability
of guns in the country. The irresponsible politics of some Republicans was in evidence after Dallas, too. How Mr. Obama
negotiates this ugly aftermath in the days ahead could come to define his term in the White House.
o Sniper - someone who shoots at people from a place where they cannot
be seen
o Racial - happening between people of different races (groups / castes)
o Wound - a problem or great unhappiness
o Picked at something - to select something from a group
o Protest - an action expressing disapproval to something
o Simmering - boiling
o Disproportionately - too large or too small in comparison to something
else
o Institutionalised - to make something become part of a particular
society, system, or organization
o Tolerance - willingness to accept behaviour and beliefs that are
different from your own, although you might not agree with or approve
of them
o Racism - the belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race
and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of
your own
o Threatened - to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or
someone
o Gulf - difference between the ideas, opinions, or situations of two groups
of people
o Strived - make great efforts to achieve or obtain something

o Mediating - to talk to two separate people or groups involved in a
disagreement to try to help them to agree or find a solution to their
problems
o Deliberately - intentionally / on purpose
o Potential - having the capacity to develop into something in the future
o Assassin - a person who murders an important person for political or
religious reasons
o Agenda - a list of aims
o Protesters - someone who shows that they disagree with something by
standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc
o Grief - very great sadness, especially at the death of someone
o Demon - evil spirit
o Demented - unable to think or act clearly because you are extremely
worried, angry, or excited by something
o Viciously - cruelly (planning to hurt someone or something very badly)
groups
o Unswerving - always strong and never becomes weaker
o Evidence - one or more reasons for believing that something is true
(proof)
o Aftermath - the period that follows an unpleasant event or accident, and
the effects that it causes
JULY 12/2016
Topic 1 : "Calming the Valley"
Burhan Wani, the 22-year-old commander of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen gunned down last week by the security forces in
Anantnag, was credited with mobilising a new generation of the disaffected in Jammu and Kashmir. In the violent
aftermath of his death, however, young men and women have taken the fight to the security forces on the street. Pitched
battles have engulfed the Valley. Wani was obviously a prize catch. His engaging manner had turned him into a legend
before his death, as he coasted on personal charisma and social media smarts to become the poster boy of a new phase
of Kashmiri militancy that is homegrown. But having got their man, the security forces failed spectacularly in managing
the situation. After the death of over a hundred Kashmiris in the stone-pelting protests in the summer of 2010, the J&K
police and the paramilitary forces were said to have evolved less lethal ways of bringing under control what is essentially
political mobilisation. The fact that so many civilians have been killed or injured in the eye this month, with a high
percentage having possibly lost vision altogether, suggests that no care has gone into keeping the casualties low. Faced
with an attacking mob, policemen are bound to perceive a sense of siege. But it is imperative that any response should
be measured and never grossly disproportionate to the cause of action forgetting this lesson in Kashmir has time and


again led to the fuelling of a further cycle of protests, to attracting more impressionable and aggrieved youngsters to
attack symbols of authority.
This is a cycle that cannot be broken by brute force. The Central and State governments have reached out to the
Opposition and separatist leaders to dissuade young Kashmiris from street violence. But appeals for calm must be
strengthened with a demonstrable capacity for a political conversation. When tens of thousands of Kashmiris hit the
streets in mourning for a fallen militant, there is a spectrum of political opinion that presents itself. They can be dispersed
with pellets. But if mainstream politics does not speak to them, if their arguments are not heard patiently to be countered
or fleshed out, as the case may be, the calm that eventually obtains will be an illusion. The Valley has been restive for
more than a year now. In this period, Wani is not the only militant whose funeral has drawn people in the thousands. But
after long, after more than a decade of violence led by foreign militants, he was the rare local boy to be seen in a leadership
role. To put his mourners in a with-us-against-us binary would, as Omar Abdullah has said, give him a recruiting power
from beyond the grave.
o Valley - an area of low land between hills or mountains, often with a

river running through it
o Commander - a person in authority, especially over a body of troops or
a military operation
o Gunned somebody down - to shoot someone and kill or seriously injure
them
o Mobilising - to prepare and organize group of people for a purpose
o Disaffected - dissatisfied
o Pitched battles - a large fight in which both sides stay in the same place
o Engulfed - to surround and cover something or someone completely
o Legend - someone very famous and admired, usually because of their
ability in a particular area
o Coasted - move easily without using power
o Poster boy - famous person
o Homegrown - if something is homegrown, it belongs to or was
developed in your own country
o Spectacularly - extremely
o Stone-pelting - to throw number of stones quickly at someone
o Paramilitary - paramilitary group is organized like an army but is not
official and often not legal
o Evolved - develop gradually
o Lethal - very harmful or destructive (sufficient to cause death)
o Casualties - people killed or injured in a war or accident
o Perceive - become aware or conscious of something / come to realize or
understand


o Siege - the surrounding of a place by an armed force in order to defeat
those defending it
o Imperative - crucial (very important)
o Disproportionate - too large or too small in comparison with something
else
o Fuelling - to increase / make something stronger
o Impressionable - easily influenced
o Brute force - very strong or forceful / very harsh
o Dissuade - to convince someone not to do something
o Demonstrable - able to be proved
o Mourning - the expression of sorrow for someone's death
o Fallen - killed
o Spectrum - wide range
o Dispersed - distribute or spread over a wide area
o Pellets- bullets
o Mainstream - the ideas, attitudes, or activities that are shared by most
people and regarded as normal
o Countered - speak or act in opposition to
o Fleshed out something - to add more details or information to
something
o Illusion - a false idea or belief
o Restive - unwilling to be controlled or be patient
o Funeral - a religious ceremony for burying or burning the body of a dead
person
o Mourners - people who are very sad about somebody's death
Topic 2 : "Tournament of the underdog"
Such is the nature of knockout tournament football that it is not the team with the most gifted personnel or the finest style
of play that necessarily triumphs in the end. Often the trophy is lifted by the side that knows best how to survive. Portugal
did not play the prettiest football at Euro 2016 nor did it possess the most talented group of players, but its resolve and
organisation were second to none. Eders extra-time winner against France, in what was a dour final in Paris, gave the
Iberian nation its first major international trophy, ending the pain of five semifinal exits and one runner-up finish in global
competitions. There is no denying that Portugal rode its luck along the way. It progressed to the knockout stages by the
skin of its teeth, after finishing third in Group F; found itself in what was undeniably the easier half of the draw; and over
the course of the five weeks won only one match in regulation time. But all that will matter little in the final analysis. The
victory came as sweet relief for Portugals captain and talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, who was stretchered off the pitch in
tears in the first half. He would end the night sobbing on his colleagues shoulders, but not for the reasons he may have
imagined at that stage. His efforts in Portugals success, having almost single-handedly dragged it to the final, should
cement Ronaldos legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.


For France, though, the loss came as a soul-crushing blow. Euro 2016 was played in the shadow of the November terrorist
attacks in Paris and the home team had continually spoken of helping heal some wounds. The Stade de France, the
venue for Sundays final, had itself come under attack, during hauntingly a friendly match between France and
Germany. A French victory in the same arena would have been poignant. But it was not to be. This result, however, must
not detract from the host nations performances en route to the final, or indeed the brilliance of its little forward Antoine
Griezmann, whose own sister, incidentally, survived the massacre at the Bataclan concert hall. But Euro 2016, expanded
to 24 teams to much disapproval, will forever be remembered as the tournament of the underdog. Iceland, a nation of just
over 300,000 people, memorably advanced to the quarterfinals while Wales, a deeply passionate, spirited side, made it
as far as the last four; both were appearing at the European championships for the first time. Teams like Albania, Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland enjoyed fervid, heart-warming support in the stands; their presence was impossible to
ignore. Indeed there was much joy for the uncelebrated, right to the very end.
o Tournament - a competition for teams or single players in which a series

of games is played, and the winners of each game play against each other
until only one winner is left
o Underdog - in a competition, the person or team considered to be the
weakest and the least likely to win
o Knockout - a competition in which only the winners of each stage play
in the next stage, until one competitor or team is the final winner
o Possess - to have or own something / to have a particular quality
o Resolve - strong determination
o Second to none - the best (as good as or better than all others)
o Dour - unhappy and very serious
o Denying - sto say that something is not true
o By the skin of your teeth - if you do something by the skin of your
teeth, you only just succeed in doing it
o Undeniably - certainly true
o Sobbing - cry noisly
o Cement - to make something stronger
an earlier time
o Soul-crushing - causing a person to lose confidence, hope, and energy;
discouraging
o Heal - if a bad situation or painful emotion heals, it ends or improves,
and if something heals it, it makes it end or improve
o Wounds - a problem or great unhappiness
o Hauntingly - in a way that cannot be forgotten
o Arena - a large, flat area surrounded by seats used for sports or
entertainment
o Poignant - causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness
o Detract from something - to make something seem less valuable or
less deserving of admiration than it really is
o En route - on the way


o Passionate - having very strong feelings or emotions
o Fervid - having or showing feelings that are very strong
JULY 13/2016
Topic 1 : "This time in Africa"
The notion of using tax as a tool to alter consumer food preferences cannot be faulted in principle. Mexico provides us
with proof that levying additional taxes on non-essential food items that are rich in fat or calories can effectively alter food
choices. The country witnessed a 5.1 per cent dip in consumption levels in foodstuff that had more than 275 kcal/100 g
energy density following the imposition of an 8 per cent levy in 2014. Sugar-sweetened drinks saw a 12 per cent drop in
intake at the end of the very first year the tax was introduced. In this context, Keralas decision to slap a 14.5 per cent tax
on certain calorie-rich food items such as pizzas, doughnuts and pasta sold in branded restaurants may seem like a step
in the right direction. But it bears the stamp of being little more than a political gimmick. For once, such foods sold by
branded restaurants, consumed by the higher middle and upper classes, are a very tiny part of the problem of poor food
choices for the States population. If the principal purpose was to tax some multinational food chains, then the decision is
understandable. But ignoring a wide variety of high-calorie food items and focussing on a few is no more than tokenism.
The revenue that Kerala hopes to mop up from this Rs.10 crore is also meagre.
If the State is serious about reining in consumption of unhealthy food, then there are several measures it should quickly
adopt. The first is to set a threshold limit for fat and/or calorie and tax all foods items that are above this limit. Bringing
sugar-sweetened drinks and refined products under the taxable product list should be a priority. There is no reason why
packaged food items that have high salt content should not be additionally taxed. Indians are known to consume a few
times more than the World Health Organisations recommended limit of 5 grams a day and most of it comes from
packaged food items. Similarly, what excuse can there be for not charging a very high rate of tax on food items that
contain trans fats? There are a number of food items sold in India that contain as high as 35-40 per cent of trans fats.
Trans fatty acids, made through the process of hydrogenation of oils, which improves the stability or shelf life of the
foodstuff that contains them, pose serious coronary risks. Taxing bad foods should be accompanied by cross-subsidies
of healthy and wholegrain food items. Only a holistic approach such as this will be effective in making a real change in
our food consumption behaviour.
o Core of - central (most important) part of

o Evocative - making you remember or imagine something pleasant
o Imbues - inspire with a feeling or quality
o Warmth - a friendly and enthusiastic quality in someone or something
o Maritime - connected with the sea
o Accompanied - be present or occur at the same time as (something
else)
o Enhancing - improving


o Shortfall - an amount that is less than the level that was expected or
needed
o Host - a person who receives or entertains other people as guests
o Shoring up something - to support or improve an organization,
agreement, or system that is not working effectively or that is likely to
fail
o Trajectory - path
o Inhibited - not confident enough to say or do what you want
o Formidable - causing you to have fear or respect for something or
someone because that thing or person is large, powerful, or difficult
problem
o Diverse - including many different types of people or things
o Pharmaceuticals - relating to the production of medicines
o Alliance - a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially
between countries or organizations
o Renewable - energy forms which can be produced as quickly as they
are used
o Imports - to buy or bring in products from another country
o Raw materials - any material, such as oil, cotton, or sugar in its natural
condition, before it has been processed for use
o Processed - perform a series of mechanical or chemical operations on
(something) in order to change or preserve it
o Emphasised - give special importance or value to (something)
o Racism - the belief that people's qualities are influenced by their race
and that the members of other races are not as good as the members of
your own
o Vestige - a small part or amount of something larger, stronger, or more
important that still exists from something that existed in the past
o Omission - to fail to include or do something
o Outreach - an effort to bring services or information to people where
they live or spend time
o Sustained - continuing for a long time
Topic 2 : "Slowing down fast food"
Drawing a link between Indian and South African cultures during his four-nation visit to Africa, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi referred to the journey from Gujarat to Durban as one through the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (globalism)
to Ubuntu, the last a Zulu word that expresses the core of humanism. The evocative reference imbues the historical links
between India and African nations with a unique warmth. But Mr. Modi also made it clear that this visit was more than
about words. In an interview to a South African newspaper, he outlined his focus areas: energy, food and maritime
security. His stops at Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya were accompanied by discussions on securing
lines of coal and natural gas and funding capacity-building in energy production. In Tanzania and Mozambique, in
particular, there were discussions on enhancing the export of pulses to India to meet a demand shortfall. As he travelled
along the southern coast of Africa, Mr. Modi spoke to his hosts in detail about shoring up maritime ties as part of the


Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and linking Indias own Sagar-Mala outreach for Indian Ocean islands with the
South Africa-authored Operation Phakisa, that focusses on Africas combined strengths in blue economies and ocean
governance. India has been slow to upgrade ties with Africa, and it must chart its own trajectory without competing with,
or being inhibited by, Chinas formidable presence in the continent. Chinas current hold in trade and investment in Africa
is three times Indias, and South Africa, for instance, has a key role in promoting the Maritime Silk Route programme as
part of the One Belt One Road initiative.
Mr. Modis visit to these four countries in southern and east Africa should, therefore, be seen as a work in progress. Africa
is a continent of 54 countries, and each has diverse reasons to improve ties with India from sharing low-cost
technologies and pharmaceuticals, building on the Solar Alliance and renewable energies, and growing markets for each
others goods. For instance, 84 per cent of Indias imports from the Sub-Saharan region still come from raw materials and
natural resources, not consumer or processed goods. However, if there was one message that Mr. Modi could have
emphasised more, it was the concern over racism in India that students and others from Africa often face. As he spoke
in Durban to the Indian community on the history of racism that Indians and Africans had fought together for many
decades, a line about Indias commitment to fight the remaining vestiges of racism domestically would not have been out
of place. The omission is, in fact, also a reminder that the outreach to African countries needs to be sustained back home
in Indian cities too, in the true spirit of Ubuntu.
o Fast food - hot food that is quick to cook or is already cooked and is
therefore served very quickly in a restaurant
o Alter - to change something
o Levying - an amount of money, such as a tax, that you have to pay to
a government or organization
o Non-essential - not absolutely necessary
o Rich in something - having high quantity of something
o Witnessed - to see something happen
o Dip - to go down to a lower level
o Consumption - the amount used or eaten
o Density - the relationship between the mass of a substance and its size
o Levy - tax
o Intake - an amount of food, air, or another substance taken into the
body
o A step in the right direction - an action that increases the possibility
of success
o Bears - carries
o Gimmick - a trick to attract attention / publicity
o Tiny - very small
o Principal - main


o Tokenism - doing something in order to make people believe that you
are being fair and including all types of people and issues when this is
not really true
o Revenue - income
o Mop up - to finish dealing with something
o Meagre - very small or not enough
o Reining - keeping under control
o Several - some (seperate and different)
o Adopt - choose to take up or follow
o Threshold - maximum limit
o Refined - with impurities or unwanted elements having been removed
by processing
o Priority - B2 something that is very important and must be dealt with
before other things
o Excuse - a reason or explanation given to justify a fault or offence
o Trans fat - a type of fat that is produced by hydrogenation (when
vegetable oil is made into solid fat) and is used in fried foods
o Shelf life - the length of time for which an item remains usable, fit for
consumption
o Coronary - an extremely dangerous medical condition in which the flow
of blood to the heart is blocked by a blood clot
o Cross-subsidization - a situation in which profits from one activity are
used to pay for another activity that is losing money or making less
money
o Holistic - dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone
and not just a part
JULY 14/2016
Topic 1 : "Turning back the clock"
Once again, a Congress Chief Minister unseated by internal rebellion that enjoyed the backing of a friendly regime at the
Centre is set to return to office. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that status quo ante as on December
15, 2015, should be restored in Arunachal Pradesh. This means that Nabam Tuki will return as Chief Minister and Kalikho
Pul, the dissident who formed the government with the help of the BJP after a brief spell of Presidents Rule, and even
proved his majority in a floor test in February, will have to go. In political terms, the verdict is yet another rebuff to the
Narendra Modi government, after the Uttarakhand misadventure that led to the reinstatement of Harish Rawat as Chief
Minister. In Arunachal Pradesh, events took an unseemly turn last December when the Governor, J.P. Rajkhowa,
intervened in an apparently partisan manner by advancing a session of the State Assembly by nearly a month and asking
the House to take up a motion to remove the Speaker as the first item on the agenda. This led to a shutdown of the
legislature at the behest of the Chief Minister and the Speaker, and the dissidents holding a parallel session at a makeshift
venue, where the Speaker was removed and a no-confidence motion against the government adopted. The subsequent
imposition of Presidents Rule and the installation of the Pul regime raised questions about the propriety of the BJP-led
Central governments approach to Congress-ruled States.


Legally, the main significance of the Arunachal Pradesh verdict lies in the clarity it provides on the Governors role. The
Governor has no authority to resolve disputes within a political party; nor is he the conscience-keeper of the legislature.
He has no discretionary power to advance an Assembly session without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers;
nor can he fix its agenda. On Mr. Rajkhowas defence that he was acting to prevent constitutional improprieties such as
a Speaker, for whose removal a motion was pending, adjudicating on the disqualification of some MLAs, the Court has
made three points about the Governors intervention: he had no role in the removal of the Speaker, he had no authority
to interfere in the Speakers powers under the anti-defection law, and he had no basis to act on the views of a group of
21 breakaway Congress MLAs, who clearly did not constitute a two-third fraction of the 47-member Congress Legislature
Party to be lawfully recognisable. Mr. Tuki may now struggle to demonstrate his majority as 14 MLAs disqualified under
his regime have been reinstated by a recent judgment of the Gauhati High Court. Whether he survives or not, this is not
the last we will hear about the issue of how manufactured majorities in State Assemblies are to be dealt with in the
constitutional scheme of things.
o Turning back the clock - to make things the same as they were at an
earlier time
o Unseated - to remove someone from power
o Rebellion - violent action organized by a group of people who are trying
to change the political system
o Backing - support
o Status quo ante - the situation that existed before
o Dissident - a person who publicly disagrees with and criticizes their
government
o Floor test - a floor test is done to prove some type of majority (usually
by head-count) on the floor of the Parliament for a crucial decision
given
o Rebuff - to refuse to accept a helpful suggestion or offer from someone,
often by answering in an unfriendly way
o Misadventure - an accident or bad luck
o Reinstatement - the act of giving someone back their job
o Unseemly - not proper or appropriate
o Intervened - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in
order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse
o Apparently - as far as one knows or can see
o Advancing - move forwards in a purposeful way
o Legislature - the group of people in a country who have the power to
make and change laws
o Behest - a person's orders or command
o Makeshift - temporary and of low quality, but used because of a sudden
need

o Disputes - a disagreement or argument
o Conscience-keeper - a superior, who by his influence makes his
dependants act as he pleases
o Improprieties - behaviour that is dishonest, socially unacceptable, or
unsuitable for a particular situation
o Adjudicating - make a formal judgement on a disputed matter
o Defection - the act of leaving a country, political party, etc. to go to
another one
o Lawfully - allowed by the law
o Reinstated - restore (someone or something) to their former position or
state.
Topic 2 : "Law and diplomacy on South China Sea"
As expected, Beijing lost no time in rejecting the unanimous ruling of an international tribunal at The Hague that China
has no legal basis for much of its claims on the South China Sea. But given the tribunals lack of powers to enforce its
rulings, a resolution of the dispute with the Philippines will have to be the stuff of international diplomacy. Generally, this
is not such a bad thing as judicial verdicts on issues of contested sovereignty can trigger a nationalist backlash. The court
at The Hague ruled that Chinas claims to the waters within the so-called nine-dash line, with wide-ranging economic
interests, was in breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The case was brought to the court in 2013 by the
Philippines, centring on the Scarborough Shoal, but Beijing chose to boycott the proceedings. Yet, Vice Foreign Minister
Liu Zhenmin, while asserting Chinas sovereignty over the South China Sea, has committed to negotiations with the
Philippines following the ruling. Indeed, China now has more compelling reasons to reconsider its overall position.
The setback at The Hague comes at a critical juncture in Chinas bid to bolster its global economic status. This relates to
its long-standing ambition to be accorded recognition as a market economy under the World Trade Organisation. As the
2016 deadline looms, China insists the upgrade is automatic as per WTO rules. The European Parliament thinks
otherwise, and voted overwhelmingly in a non-binding resolution in May to delay a decision. Currently, Brussels levies
anti-dumping tariffs on imports from Beijing to mitigate the effects of supposedly unfairly low prices on a range of
commodities. Against this backdrop, the Chinese leadership is unlikely to allow itself any distraction in the form of a long-
drawn confrontation in its backyard, with its adverse diplomatic fallout. Instead, Beijing is more likely to rally support to its
cause for increased trade. History bears witness to a more constructive play of diplomatic forces in similar high-stakes
inter-state disputes. For instance, although Washington ignored a 1986 verdict of the International Court of Justice,
concerted pressure led to the eventual end to U.S. backing for Nicaraguan insurgents. In the current case at The Hague,
the U.S. cant exert much moral pressure as it has not even ratified the United Nations Convention. Conversely, as a
party to the law alongside Manila, there is more pressure on Beijing to comply. It is possible that big-power plays on the
South China Sea will now be behind us. After three years of litigation, this does not seem like a bad thing after all.


o Unanimous - (of two or more people) fully in agreement
o Tribunal - a special court or group of people who are officially chosen,
especially by the government, to examine (legal) problems of a particular
type
o Claim - to say that something is true or is a fact, although you cannot
prove it and other people might not believe it
o Enforce - to make people obey a law, or to make a particular situation
happen or be accepted
o Dispute - an argument or disagreement
o Verdict - a decision made after judging the facts that are given
o Backlash - a strong feeling among a group of people in reaction to a
change or recent events in society or politics
o Breach - an act of breaking a law / agreement
o Convention - a large formal meeting
o Boycott - to refuse to take part in an activity as a way of expressing
strong disapproval
o Proceedings - legal action
o Asserting - to say that something is certainly true
o Negotiations - the process of discussing something with someone in
order to reach an agreement with them
o Compelling - if a reason, argument, etc. is compelling, it makes you
believe it or accept it because it is so strong
from developing
o Accorded - agreed
o Looms - something seems likely to happen soon and causes worry
o Insists - to say strongly or demand forcefully, especially when others
disagree with or oppose what you say
o Overwhelmingly - very great or very large
o Levies - imposes a tax, fee, or fine
o Tariffs - taxes
o Mitigate - make (something bad) less serious
o Supposedly - according to what is generally assumed or believed
o Unfairly - not treating in an equal way
o Adverse - harmful / unfavourable
o Concerted - jointly arranged or carried out / coordinated
o Insurgents - people fighting against a government


o Exert - to use something such as authority, power, influence, etc. in
order to make something happen
o Ratified - (especially of governments or organizations) to make an
agreement official
o Litigation - the process of taking a case to a court of law so that a
judgment can be made
JULY 15/2016
Topic 1 : "Theresa Mays challenges"
Three weeks after a majority of Britons voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, the British political landscape
looks entirely different. David Cameron, who called the referendum, is no more the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson, an exit
campaigner who was widely expected to replace Mr. Cameron, backed off even before the contest for the new Prime
Minister began. Michael Gove, another Brexiteer who entered the race, was rejected by Conservative MPs. Theresa May
rose from this post-referendum chaos to become the second woman Prime Minister of the U.K. A seasoned politician with
administrative experience, Ms. Mays style of working and policy preferences often invoke comparisons with Margaret
Thatcher and Angela Merkel. As Home Secretary for six years, she oversaw Britains security services, borders and police
forces. Despite her hard-line positions on immigration at the Home Office she supported a net immigration cap she
chose to back the Remain camp, like Mr. Cameron, during the referendum campaign. This pragmatic euroscepticism may
have helped her win over both the doves and hawks within the Conservative Party.
That the U.K. has put an end to political uncertainty quicker than expected is good news for both the country and Europe.
But the challenges Ms. May faces are unprecedented. The Conservative Party is divided. Legislators and other party
leaders may endorse her for now, but going forward she could find it tough to maintain the equilibrium between the
centrists and right-wing conservatives. Mr. Camerons decision to call the referendum to appease the right-wingers shows
how unstable that equilibrium can be. Secondly, the Tories were re-elected last year under Mr. Camerons leadership on
promises of fixing the countrys economic worries. The Brexit vote has already done damage to the fragile economic
recovery. Ms. Mays immediate task would be to restore investor confidence. Thirdly, there is an alarming rise of
xenophobia in the U.K. which threatens its social cohesion, which no ruler can ignore. A yet larger challenge for Ms. May
would be dealing with the Brexit referendum outcome. Mr. Cameron had promised to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty
if there was a Leave vote. In the event, he did not. None of the Brexiteers managed to succeed him. Ms. May, herself a
Remain supporter, faces a difficult situation. If she doesnt begin the process of taking the U.K. out of the EU, she faces
the wrath of Brexiteers within and outside her party. If she invokes Article 50, it could have immediate repercussions for
the economy and Londons ties with Scotland. This is a tall order that even Ms. Mays idol, Margaret Thatcher, would
have struggled with.


o Majority - the greater number
question
o Landscape - all the visible features of an area
o Campaigner - a person who works in an organized and active way
towards a goal
o Backed off - to stop being involved in a situation, usually in order to
allow other people to deal with it themselves
o Brexiteer - supporter of Brexit (an exit by Britain from the European
Union)
o Conservative - not usually liking or trusting change, especially sudden
change
o Seasoned - having a lot of experience of doing something and therefore
knowing how to do it well
o Invoke - to make people remember something
o Oversaw - to watch or organize a job or an activity to make certain that
it is being done correctly
o Hard-line - extreme and serious and not likely to change
o Cap - limit
o Back - support
o Pragmatic - solving problems in a sensible way that suits the conditions
that really exist now, rather than obeying fixed theories, ideas, or rules
o Euroscepticism - criticism of and strong opposition to the European
Union (EU)
o Doves - people in politics who prefer to solve problems using peaceful
methods instead of force or violence
o Hawks - people who strongly support the use of force in political
relationships rather than discussion or other more peaceful solutions
o Uncertainty - not known or fixed / not completely sure
o Endorse - support
o Equilibrium - a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced
o Appease - to prevent further disagreement in arguments by giving to
the other side an advantage that they have demanded
o Tories - supporters of the Conservative Party
o Fragile - damaged
o Xenophobia - extreme dislike or fear of foreigners, their customs, their
religions, etc
o Threatens - warns
o Cohesion - the situation when the members of a group or society are
united
o Trigger - to cause something to start
o Repercussions - the effect that an action, event, or decision has on
something, especially a bad effect


o Tall order - a task or job that is difficult to deal with
Topic 2 : "Learning to control crowds"
With the death toll rising to at least 38 in the clashes in the Kashmir Valley, the brutal crowd-control tactics of the police
have come under the spotlight. They call into question the changes in standard operating procedure that were made after
the violent protests of 2010, when scores of people died, mostly to bullet injuries. A decision had then been taken to
introduce non-lethal pellets. But ammunition can only be as non-lethal as the tactics employed. And it is evident that
the security forces have failed to exercise enough restraint, given the nature of injuries sustained by many young men
and women. A high number of the injured have suffered pellet injuries in the eyes. For instance, in one Srinagar hospital
alone, the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, of the 87 civilians who were brought in with injuries, about 40 had sustained
pellet injuries to their eyes. Of these, doctors concluded that 19 persons, or almost half of those with eye injuries, may
never recover their eyesight. Do the mathematics, and a terrifying picture presents itself. The Centre has obviously, and
correctly, read the situation, and rushed a team of eye specialists to the Valley. But the tragically excessive loss of life,
limb and sight this month must force a serious rethink on how policemen are equipped and trained to bring calm to the
streets.
Pellets have been fired from 12-bore guns for riot control. These are not long-distance weapons. Police around the world
have been trained to aim for below the knee. The idea is that the pain caused by the pellets, usually made of metal and
sometimes encased in rubber, acts as a deterrent without maiming or causing serious life-inhibiting injuries. Theoretically,
it sounds viable. The reality thats obtained in Kashmir this month tells another story. It speaks to a lack of both training
and leadership. It is nobodys case that it is an easy job to control a violent crowd, but it is the duty of the police to do so
by causing as little injury as possible. They must ensure that the force they use is never disproportionately excessive to
the cause of action. In the heat of the moment, there was a clear lack of restraint, evident in the numbers injured by the
spray of pellets. Even as the best medical care is now sought to be provided, a more holistic healing must be expeditiously
administered. It has to be a political exercise. This week of violence must also end with the assurance that the security
forces have learnt important lessons the most important among them being the adoption of more humane measures
for crowd control.
o Crowd - a large group of people who have come together

o Clash - fight or argument between people
o Tactic - a planned way of doing something
o Violent - using force to hurt or attack
o Scores of - groups of (large number of)


o Non-lethal - not deadly (not capable of causing death)
o Pellets - small metal objects that are shot from some types of gun
o Ammunition - objects that can be shot from a weapon, such as bullets
or bombs
o Concluded - to judge or decide something after thinking carefully about
it
o Terrifying - to frighten someone very much
o Dushed - done in a hurry
o Valley - an area of low land between hills or mountains
o Tragically - very sad, often involving death and suffering
o Excessive - an amount that is more than acceptable, expected, or
reasonable
o Limb - an arm or leg of a person
o Equipped - supply with the necessary items for a particular purpose
o Encased - covered completely
o Deterrent - a thing that discourages someone from doing something
o Maim - to injure a person so seriously that a part of their body will no
longer work as it should
o Life-inhibiting - something that causes death
o Viable - able to work as expected or able to succeed
o Lack of something - something is not available or that there is not
enough of it
o Disproportionately - too large or too small in comparison to something
else
and not just a part
o Healing - to make or become well again, especially after a cut or other
injury
o Expeditiously - quickly
o Administer - to control the operation or arrangement of something
o Humane - showing kindness, care, and sympathy towards others,
especially those who are suffering
JULY 16/2016
Topic 1 : "France in the crosshairs of terror"
Festivities in France to celebrate Bastille Day were brutally cut short when a truck careened through a packed crowd in
the French Riviera town of Nice. The driver, identified as a French national of Tunisian origin, was shot dead by the police,


but not before >he had killed 84 people , leaving bodies, including those of children, strewn on the seaside walkway, the
Promenade des Anglais. President Franois Hollande quickly termed it a terror attack, extended the ongoing state of
emergency for three months and called for intensifying air strikes in Syria and Iraq. The attack is the third major one in
France in less than 18 months, following last Novembers siege of Paris that claimed 130 lives, and the January 2015
attack on the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 persons dead. Although social media channels of the
Islamic State were flooded with messages acknowledging the Nice attack, no group had officially taken responsibility for
it in its immediate aftermath.
There are two broad lines of analysis that the attack calls for. The first is the tactical question of how to deal with the lone
wolf, the solitary potential terrorist motivated by everything from bigotry and mental illness to a genuine belief in the ultra-
violent, nihilistic philosophy of the IS. Lone wolves are committed to carrying out suicide missions and taking as many
innocent lives as possible, sometimes drawing direct inspiration from the words of IS leaders. A case in point here is of
IS spokesman Muhammad al-Adnani who has called upon the faithful to run over [American and French disbelievers]
with your car. How can they be stopped in any part of the world? In the post-Mumbai attacks scenario, Indian intelligence
agencies cannot afford to be complacent about this, even as a growing number of alleged IS sympathisers are reported
in different parts of the country. Secondly, a question that countries such as France must ask themselves is a strategic
one. For instance, how could the French leadership do more to re-examine the roots of the social alienation and economic
misery that engulf so many among its almost five million Muslims and leave them vulnerable to radicalisation? Such
introspection could potentially reset deep-seated ethno-religious dissonance and, over the longer term, take the edge off
the recruitment drives of extremists lurking in the shadows of Syria, Iraq, and the Internet.
o Crosshairs - two thin wires crossing each other in a gun or other device,
which you use to help you aim at something
o Terror - extreme fear
o Festivities - the parties, and other social activities with which people
celebrate a special occasion
o Brutally - cruelly, violently, and completely without feelings
o Cut short - to have to stop doing something before it is finished
o Careened - move speedily in an uncontrolled way
o Packed crowd - completely full crowd
o Strewn - to spread things over a surface (not in order)
o Termed - named
o Ongoing - continuing
o Emergency - something dangerous or serious, such as an accident, that
happens suddenly or unexpectedly and needs fast action in order to avoid
harmful results
o Intensifying - to make something more serious
o Air strike - an attack made by aircraft
those defending it
o Satirical - using humour to criticize people or things and make them
seem silly

o Although - but
o Flooded with messages - to receive so many messages that you
cannot deal with them
o Aftermath - the effects and results of something bad
o Tactical - using a particular method or plan for achieving something
o Lone wolf - somebody who prefers to act alone
o Bigotry - having very strong, unfair opinions and refuses to consider
different opinions
o Ultra-violent - extremely violent
o Nihilistic - rejecting all religious and moral principles in the belief that
life is meaningless
o Spokesman - a person who makes statements on behalf of a group or
individual
o Run over somebody - to hit someone with a vehicle and drive over
them, injuring or killing them
o Scenario - a description of a situation, or of a situation that may develop
in the future
o Complacent - feeling so satisfied with your own abilities or situation that
you do not feel that you need to try any harder
o Alleged - believed to be true, but not proved
o Sympathisers - people who support a political organization or believes
in a set of ideas
o Strategic - a detailed plan for achieving success in difficult situations
o Re-examine - to look at something in detail again
o Alienation - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting
and agreeing with you
o Misery - great unhappiness
o Engulf - to surround and cover something or someone completely
o Vulnerable - able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt,
o Radicalisation - the process by which a person or group comes to hold
more serious views, especially with regard to politics
o Introspection - examination of and attention to your own ideas,
thoughts, and feelings
o Dissonance - disagreement
o Take the edge off something - to make something unpleasant have
less of an effect on someone
o Extremists - someone who has beliefs that most people think are
o Lurking - to be remain hidden so as to wait to attack someone when you
get chance
Topic 2 : "Freedom for the farmer"
The Maharashtra governments decision to promulgate an ordinance this week to exempt farmers from having to
mandatorily sell their fruit and vegetable crop at mandis governed by a 1963 law on marketing farm produce, is a bold
and laudable step. That Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stood his ground against the powerful lobby of middlemen,


who shut shop in protest, is even more commendable. The problem with the present regime, under which produce has to
be sold through Agricultural Produce Market Committees, is that farmers seldom benefit from price movements; traders
rake in the upside that consumers are forced to shell out. When onion prices soar, for instance, it is usually traceable to
APMC mandis in Nashik. This reform could help check household food expenditure by cutting out high intermediary costs
to an extent. But an even more critical objective is to make Indian agriculture a sustainable economic activity.
Maharashtras move is pertinent as acute indebtedness among farmers in the State has become almost systemic over
the past decade. If the Central government wants to double farmers incomes in five years (not an easy task even over a
decade, going by official data from 2003 to 2013), several interventions are necessary, including better irrigation facilities,
and the freedom to sell output where farmers get the best price. Fruits and vegetables are a good place to start dismantling
monopolies of the sort that Indian industry was freed from 25 years ago. Despite a substantially lower acreage than crops
such as cereals and pulses, they contribute a quarter of farm sector incomes. Estimates vary, but there is no denying that
a significant chunk of horticultural produce just rots. That wouldnt be the case if farmers could sell easily to food
processing units, or even directly to consumers via e-commerce channels.
Breaking the stranglehold of APMCs must be accompanied with easier access to credit and market information services,
for which farmers often rely on their captive buyers; there also needs to be a greater push for cooperative groups so that
marginal and small farmers have adequate negotiating heft in a free market. Healthy competition among private traders
and processing units, government procurement agencies and cooperative farmer-producer groups would improve price
discovery from farm to fork. Going ahead, Maharashtra and other States also need to back the Centres ambitious plan
unveiled this April to create an e-National Agriculture Market for 25 major crops. BJP-ruled or not, States must wrestle
with vested interests and create more choices for the farmer and the consumer. Though seven States had already
implemented the Centres June 2014 advisory to allow farmers to sell their horticultural produce anywhere instead of
through APMCs, Maharashtras initiative is crucial as it has a larger agrarian economy with a greater impact on national
food market dynamics.
o Promulgate - to announce something publicly, especially a new law

o Exempt - to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc.
o Mandatorily - compulsorily (something that must be done)
o Laudable - deserving praise and commendation
o Stood his ground - to refuse to be pushed backwards, or to continue in
your beliefs in an argument
o Lobby - a group of people who try to convince the government or an
official group to do something
o Middlemen - people who buy goods from producers and sells them to
retailers or consumers
o Protest - a strong complaint expressing disagreement, disapproval, or
opposition

o Seldom - not often; rarely
o Rake in something - to earn or get a large amount of money
o Shell out - to pay money for something, especially when the cost is
unexpected and not wanted
o Soar - to reach a great height
o Traceable - able to be found or followed
o Reform - to make an improvemen
o Household - the people who live in a house or flat when they are
considered as a single unit (family)
o Expenditure - the total amount of money that a government or person
spends
o Intermediary - being between two other related things, levels, or points
o Extent - level / amount
o Pertinent - relating directly to the subject being considered
o Acute - if a bad situation is acute, it causes serious problems or damage
o Indebtedness - owing money
o Interventions - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult
situation
o Irrigation - the process of supplying water to land so that crops and
plants will grow
o Dismantling - to get rid of a system or organization, usually over a
period of time
o Monopoly - (an organization or group that has) complete control of
o Substantially - to a large degree
o Acreage - an area of land, typically when used for agricultural purposes,
but not necessarily measured in acres
o Cereals - grains used for food, for example wheat, maize, or rye
o Vary - change / different from each other
o Denying - to say something is not true
o Chunk - part of something
o Horticultural - the activity of growing garden plants
o Stranglehold - a position of complete control that prevents something
from developing
o Rely - depend
o Captive buyers - buyers who regulary buy from same sellor
o Negotiating - to have formal discussions with someone in order to reach
o Procurement - to get control over something
o Farm to fork - used to refer to the various processes in the food chain
from agricultural production to consumption
o Back - support
o Ambitious plan - if a plan or idea is ambitious, it needs a great amount
of skill and effort to be successful or be achieved
o Wrestle - struggle


problem
o Impact - powerful effect
o Dynamics - forces that produce movement
JULY 18/2016
Topic 1 : "Lessons from Arunachal Pradesh"
The >return of a Congress government , albeit with a different Chief Minister, restores a semblance of political stability
in Arunachal Pradesh, which was caught in a political and constitutional crisis. In a clever and unexpected twist, the
Congress retained power by backing 36-year-old >Pema Khandu as Chief Minister after it became evident that former
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki would fail to command a majority. The credit must primarily go to the >Supreme Court for
reinstating the Tuki regime purely on grounds of constitutional propriety, despite serious doubts about whether he
commanded a majority. The numbers in the legislature tell an interesting tale. Out of the 47 MLAs with the Congress, 14
were disqualified by the Speaker in December, while two were told that their resignations had been accepted. The game-
plan was to give the impression that the rebels had 31 MLAs, a clear majority. When >Kalikho Pul, the rebel faction head,
was sworn in as Chief Minister in February, he claimed the support of 29 Congress MLAs. (Orders disqualifying 14 MLAs
had already been stayed.) He declared that his 30-strong group had merged with another party. The strategy was to
claim that two-thirds of the Congress Legislature Party had merged with another party, the only situation in which an act
of defection is permitted under the law. After Mr. Tukis regime was reinstated after the Supreme Court verdict, he stood
no chance of surviving a floor test. This impending embarrassment appears to have goaded the Congress to shake off
months of lethargy. It salvaged the situation by recognising the dissidents grievances, offering the leadership to a more
acceptable candidate and winning back the entire rebel faction.
Earlier, the Congress leadership had ignored the deep divisions within the legislature party and the extent of
dissatisfaction within its own ranks, which resulted in Mr. Tuki no longer enjoying the confidence of the House. Using this
situation, the Governor intervened by arrogating to himself the power to advance a duly convened Assembly session and
seeking to set the agenda for it. The BJP responded to the unfolding crisis with cynical opportunism by backing a rebel
faction in the Congress and playing along with, if not encouraging, overreach by the Raj Bhavan. Now that the Supreme
Court has reemphasised the limits of the Governors role, the political class needs to show that it has learnt the right
lessons, a significant one being that parties should not seek to use individual ambitions for political ends. There is a
stronger case than ever before for greater care in the appointment of Governors and the manner of their functioning.
Guidance is available in abundance the reports of the Sarkaria and Punchhi Commissions, for instance. A better sense
of propriety is required to heed it.
oAlbeit - although

o Retained - continue to have (something); keep possession of
o Credit - praise, approval, or honour
o Primarily - mainly
o Reinstating - to give someone back their previous job or position
o Commanded - control over someone or something
o Majority - in an election, the difference in the number of votes between
the winning person or group and the one that comes second
o Legislature - the legislative body of a country or state
o Tale - story
o Disqualified - declare (someone) ineligible for something (especially for
a competition)
o Game-plan - a plan for achieving success
o Rebel - a person who is opposed to the political system in their country
o Faction - a group within a larger group, especially one with slightly
different ideas from the main group
o Merged - to combine or join together
o Strategy - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as
war, politics, business etc
another one
o Floor test - a test to prove some type of majority (usually by head-
count) on the floor of the House that is the Parliament for a crucial
decision regarding the country
o Impending - used to refer to an event, usually something unpleasant or
unwanted, that is going to happen soon
o Embarrassment - a feeling of shame or uncomfortableness
o Goaded - to make a person or an animal react or do something by
continuously annoying or upsetting them
o Lethargy - the feeling of having little energy or of being unable or
unwilling to do anything
o Salvaged - to try to make a bad situation better
o Dissident - a person who opposes official poli
o Grievances - a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated
unfairly
o Intervened - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in
o Arrogating - to take something without having the right to do so
o Convened - to bring together a group of people for a meeting, or to meet
for a meeting
o Unfolding - (of events or information) slowly develop or be revealed


o Cynical - used to say that someone's feelings or emotions are used to
your own advantage
o Opportunism - behaviour in which you use every situation to try to get
power or an advantage
o Overreach - o fail by trying to achieve, spend, or do more than you can
manage
o Reemphasised - to say again that something is very important
o Abundance - a very large quantity of something
Topic 2 : "Turmoil in Turkey"
Turkeys is a classic case of a >coup-prone political system . The military is a relatively autonomous and popular
institution. It has in the past toppled civilian governments four times. There had always been tension between the ruling
elite and the military establishment. But the relatively stable rule of the Justice and Development Party since 2002 and
the popularity of its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan had projected a picture of military coups having become a thing of the
past. >The developments that unfolded on Friday and Saturday > bust this myth. Even President Erdogan didnt foresee
the attempt. His success in taking back the reins of government is good for both Turkey and the larger West Asian region.
Turkey is important for regional security at a time when West Asia is in turmoil. Instability here is in nobodys interest.
However, the failed coup exposes the weakness of Mr. Erdogans regime. The fact that it was not a minor revolt by a few
soldiers, but an uprising by thousands of troops, raises serious questions about the coherence of the Turkish state. Mr.
Erdogan has contributed to the weakening of the state in many ways: his disastrous foreign policy that has worsened the
security situation; forced Islamisation that has sharpened the contradiction between the Islamist and secular sections;
and the push to rewrite the Constitution to award more powers to himself.
The coup-plotters may have sensed they would get support from the anti-Erdogan masses and the secular political class.
Sections of the population have problems with Mr. Erdogans politics. At Istanbuls Gezi Park, thousands braved his brutal
police force in 2013. Despite the government crackdown on liberal academia, opposition, media and social networks,
Turkey still has a thriving public sphere where anti-Erdoganism is a common theme for mobilising people. But they dont
want the soldiers to solve their problem through force. That is why thousands thronged the streets to defend the
government they had elected. That is why even Mr. Erdogans fiercest critics in the opposition denounced the coup. The
question now is how the fissures that have been exposed will impact Turkey. It depends, in large measure, on the choices
Mr. Erdogan makes. He could see the peoples commitment to democracy and use the crisis as an opportunity to
reconsider his dictatorial policies. Or he could use the military revolt as a pretext to purge more of his enemies and get
what he always wanted, which is a more powerful executive presidency. His choice will guide the future of Turkeys
democracy.


o Autonomous - having the freedom to act independently
o Toppled - to (cause to) lose balance and fall down
o Elite - the richest, most powerful group in a society
o Stable - strong / fixed
o Unfolded - if a situation or story unfolds, it develops or becomes clear
to other people
o Foresee - to know about something before it happens
o Instability - uncertainty caused by the possibility of a sudden change in
the present situation
o Exposes - to show something
o Regime - a particular government or a system or method of government
o Revolt - if a large number of people revolt, they refuse to be controlled
or ruled, and take action against authority, often violent action
o Uprising - an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, by many
people in one area of a country against those who are in power
o Coherence - the quality of being logical
o Weakening - make or become weaker in power, resolve, or physical
strength
o Disastrous - causing great damage
o Contradiction - the fact of something being the complete opposite of
something else or very different from something else, so that one of them
must be wrong
o Coup-plotters - people who makes a secret plan to attack the
government
o Crackdown - a situation in which someone starts to deal with bad or
illegal behaviour in a more serious way
o Thriving - very successful
o Mobilising - to organize or prepare something, such as a group of
people, for a purpose
o Thronged - a crowd or large group of people
o Fiercest - physically violent and frightening
o Critics - someone who says that they do not approve of someone or
something
o Denounced - to criticize something or someone strongly and publicly
o Fissure - a state of disagreement
o Dictatorial - of or typical of a ruler with total power
o Revolt - take violent action against an established government or ruler
o Pretext - a dummy reason for doing something that is used to hide the
real reason
o Purge - to get rid of people from an organization because you do not
agree with them
o Executive - relating to or having the power to put plans or actions into
effect
o Presidency - the job of being president, or the period when someone is
a president


o Democracy - a political system in which citizens can elect people to
represent them
JULY 19/2016
Topic 1 : "Shuffling the deckchairs ?"
Abrupt > political realignments are not uncommon in Nepal. After the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre)
led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda withdrew support to K.P. Olis Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-
Leninist)-led government last week, >another such rearrangement appears to be on the cards. A no-confidence motion
is due to be taken up in Parliament on July 21, and the numbers are stacked against Mr. Oli. The opposition Nepali
Congress led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and the UCPN(M-C) have worked out an alternative arrangement to share power.
Mr. Prachanda will lead the government for nine months, and Mr. Deuba will then take over for the next nine months until
the scheduled parliamentary elections. If, as expected, the UCPN(M-C)-NC coalition manages to form the government
with the support of smaller Madhesi parties and other groups, this would mark the 24th government in the 26 years since
the first Jan Andolan led to the end of absolute monarchy and the beginning of parliamentary democracy in Nepal. The
creation of a new republic in 2008 has not changed things there have been eight prime ministers in eight years. Mr.
Olis government had barely managed to get a grip on the reconstruction effort after the devastation of the 2015
earthquake and the instability in the federal arrangement after the turmoil in the Terai with Madhesi groups protesting
against the new Constitution.
The promulgation of a Constitution took place in a peculiar set of circumstances. Following the second Constituent
Assembly elections, the status quoists political leaders across parties who were not part of the second Jan Andolan
in support of a federal republic led the process of promulgation. Mr. Oli, one such politician, had never showed any
enthusiasm for a truly federal Nepal and chose to ignore the demands of Madhesi, Tharu and Janajati groups that sought
greater decentralisation of power. With Mr. Prachandas volte face on this issue, a marriage of convenience made it
possible for Mr. Oli to remain in power with the support of a motley group in Parliament comprising Maoists and former
royalists. Hushed in this power game were the issues the Maoists originally stood for: recognition of the less privileged
sections through a federal restructuring of the state, and redistribution. With little movement on these issues in the past
year, a fresh start can be possible if Mr. Prachanda and Mr. Deuba commit to fulfilling some of the federal demands and
to redouble post-quake reconstruction efforts. Given the Nepali political classs track record, there is bound to be cynicism.
It is up to the two to prove the cynics wrong.
o Shuffling - to move similar things from one position or place to another

o Deckchair - a folding chair for use outside
o Abrupt - sudden and unexpected
o Realignment - the process of changing the way an organization works
o Uncommon - unusual
o Unified - united / combined

o On the cards - to be likely to happen
o Motion - a formal suggestion made, discussed, and voted on at a
meeting
o Stacked - covered or filled with a large amount of things
o Coalition - the joining together of different political parties or groups for
a particular purpose, usually for a limited time
o Monarchy - a country that has a king or queen
o Protesting - expressing an objection to what someone has said or done
o Promulgation - to announce something publicly, especially a new law
o Peculiar - different to what is normal or expected / strange
o Circumstances - events that change something, over which you have
no control
o Constituent - a voter in a particular area of the country
o Enthusiasm - a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or
activity
o Decentralisation - to move the control of an organization or
government from a single place to several smaller ones
o Volte face - a sudden change from one set of beliefs or plan of action to
the opposite
o Marriage of convenience - a marriage that is arranged for practical,
financial, or political reasons
o Motley - consisting of many different types that do not appear to go
together
o Hushed - very quiet and serious
o Less privileged - people who are poor and have no social advantages
o Redistribution - to share something out differently from before,
especially in a fairer way
o Redouble - make or become much greater
o Post-quake - after the earth quake
o Cynicism - the belief that people care only about themselves and are
not sincere or honest
o Cynics - people who believe that people are only interested in
themselves and are not sincere
Topic 2 : "Finding a NEET balance"
It is a matter of immense relief for students and education administrators that the > Supreme Court decided not to stay the
Centres ordinance granting a > one-year exemption to State government institutions from the > National Eligibility-cum-
Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses. The Bench wisely refrained from suspending it, though its displeasure was
obvious. With lakhs of > students preparing to sit for NEET-2 on July 24, it obviously did not want to cause chaos. The
court found the ordinance disturbing and lacking in taste, and hinted that its legality was open to doubt. However, it is
difficult to blame the Centre for resorting to the ordinance, which is aimed at resolving practical difficulties faced by many
State governments in changing their admission policy at short notice. It was only in April that a five-judge > Bench recalled


its 2013 verdict striking down the regulations by which NEET was sought to be introduced. Both state-run and aided or
unaided private institutions were not covered by a common eligibility or entrance test in the past few years. The courts
decision to reinstate NEET and declare that it would be the sole means of admission from the current academic year itself
came as a stunning blow to both the authorities and students. Thanks to the ordinance, this years MBBS admission is
out of the way.
However, the fundamental question remains open: do we need a national-level common test, and if so, should it cover all
institutions, government and private, aided or unaided and run by minorities or otherwise? > NEET may be the answer to
issues such as the need for an admission process that is fair, transparent and non-exploitative the triple test laid
down by the Supreme Court and to curb the commercialisation of medical education. It may also provide a national
pool of eligible students from which government and other institutions could choose students in the order of merit on the
basis of their reservation scheme or any other extant policy. However, the courts cannot be impervious to the other side.
Aspirants belong to different States, speak different languages and come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Any
common system that is introduced must be practical and feasible. It should not be hastily thrust on unwilling or unprepared
sections of society without due deliberation. The Bench that recalled the earlier verdict should hear the entire matter soon
and pass a reasoned final judgment before the next academic year, spelling out the ingredients for a common test that
will impinge neither on the priorities of States nor the rights of minority institutions.
o Immense - great
o Administrator - a person responsible for carrying out the administration
of a business or organization
o Refrained - stop oneself from doing something
o Suspending - to stop something from being active, either temporarily
or permanently
o Displeasure - unhappy
o Chaos - a situation in which everything is confused and in a mess
o Legality - the fact that something is allowed by the law
o Blame - to say that someone did something wrong
o Vrdict - an official judgment made in a court
o Striking down - (of a court) to decide that a law or rule is illegal and
should be ignored
o Regulations - a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority
o Aided - working with the help of somebody
o Reinstate - restore (someone or something) to their former position or
state
o Sole - only
o Laid down - to officially establish a rule, or to officially say how
something should be done

o Commercialisation - to organize something to earn money and make a
profit
o Pool - a group of people who are available to work
o Extant - used to refer to something very old that is still existing
o Impervious - unable to be affected by
o Diverse - very different from each other
o Feasible - possible and practical to do easily or conveniently
o Hastily - hurriedly
o Thrust - to push suddenly and strongly
o Deliberation - considering or discussing something
o Spelling out something - to explain something in a very clear way with
details
o Ingredients - necessary parts of something
o Impinge - to have an effect on something
JULY 20/2016
Topic 1 : "Cleaning up cricket"
The significance of some judicial interventions trumps the fact that they are unusual or are marred by excessive activism.
The Supreme Courts project to revamp the cricket administration is one such. It has >accepted the recommendations of
a committee > headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha, which favoured sweeping structural reforms and
specific rules to eliminate conflicts of interest and the creation of near-permanent tenures and fiefdoms. In its overall
approach, the court has shown a sharp understanding of two broad ills: the concentration of power in the president of the
Board of Control for Cricket in India and the patronage extended by the office to favoured individuals who enjoy the
presidents confidence. The panels recommendations stem from the same concern: they include restrictions on the
number of terms and overall tenure for office-bearers, a bar on anyone holding more than one office at a time, a cooling-
off period between one tenure and another, and the replacement of the bloated working committee with a nine-member
Apex Council with player representation. Normally, a private body would not be subject to such restrictions in its right to
form an association. And the BCCI may well believe its powers are unfettered or at least not subject to judicial
micromanagement. But cricket is a national sport and the BCCI, irrespective of its legal status, must act in a transparent
and accountable manner as a trustee of the game. The need to do so is all the greater given the huge infusion of corporate
funding in recent years, which has attracted an assortment of operators and shadowy interests seeking to capitalise on
crickets popularity.
It was the betting scandal that hit the Indian Premier League in 2013 that brought to the fore the unsavoury aspects of
the cricketing administration. An impression had gained ground that the Board operated like a cosy, self-serving club.
That it was important to put an end to grave conflict of interest issues that have plagued the game and take a hard line
against malpractices such as match-fixing and spot-fixing is indisputable. One may disagree with some aspects of the
courts order such as the one State one vote rule and the placing of a cap on the age of office-bearers these are
details best left to administrative bodies. But these are but cavils given the overall thrust of the order, which is aimed at


introducing a measure of professionalism in the management of the game. It is here that the Supreme Courts order will
be tested in the years to come. If it brings about greater transparency in the operation of both commercial and sporting
aspects of cricket, it would mean a significant victory for its genuine proponents and supporters.

o Intervention - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in
o Trumps - to beat someone or something by doing or producing
something better
o Marred - spoiled
o Activism - the use of direct and noticeable action to achieve a result,
usually a political or social one
o Revamp - give new and improved form, structure, or appearance to
something
o Sweeping - affecting many things or people
o Conflicts - serious disagreements or arguments
o Tenure - the holding of an office
o Fiefdom - an area or type of activity that is controlled by someone
o Ills - bad things
o Stem from something - to start or develop as the result of something
o Office-bearer - a person holding a position of authority in an
organization
o Cooling-off period - the time gap between a series of events
o Bloated - excessive in size or amount
o Apex - the highest point of something
o Micromanagement - to control every part of a situation, even small
details
o Accountable - someone who is accountable is completely responsible
for what they do and must be able to give a satisfactory reason for it
o Manner - the way in which something is done
o Infusion - the act of adding one thing to another to make it stronger or
better
o Assortment - a group of different types of something
o Shadowy - used to refer to something very less known
o Capitalise - take the chance to gain advantage from something
o Scandal - an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and
causing general public outrage
o Unsavoury - unpleasant, or morally offensive
o Gain ground - become more popular or accepted
o Cosy - comfortable and pleasant


o Conflict - disagreement between people with opposing opinions or
principles
o Plagued - to cause worry, pain, or difficulty to someone or something
over a period of time
o Take a hard line against something - to be very serious in the way
that you deal with someone or something
o Malpractices - failure to act correctly or legally when doing your job,
often causing injury or loss
o Indisputable - unable to be challenged or denied
o Cavils - to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that
are not important
o Thrust - push suddenly or violently in a specified direction
o Proponent - a person who speaks publicly in support of a particular idea
or plan of action
Topic 2 : "A Total Campdown"
The > disruption of normal life in the Kashmir Valley after the >killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan
Wani was conveyed most poignantly by a photograph of a half page of advertisements in a Kashmiri newspaper. One
personal ad after another announced the cancellation of wedding functions on account of what one of them called the
prevailing situation. By the weekend, after curfew, violent clashes, and mobile, cable TV and Internet disruptions, the
morning newspaper too disappeared. In a move as ill-advised as it was vicious, the police >prevented the printing and
distribution of local newspapers >. It highlighted how suffocating the effort to control the narrative has been, cutting off
oxygen to all avenues for Kashmiris to voice their anger and to exchange information. The cc issued a statement
condemning the clampdown, terming it a direct assault to the freedom of the press. The ban was to be reviewed after
July 19 but the government reacted to the criticism a day earlier, >contending that there had been no ban at all, and
that it was the result of a miscommunication.
This is not the first time the authorities have cut off communication links to thwart collective mobilisation, or to inhibit the
circulation of information. And this is not the first time they will shrug off criticism with the familiar justification for the
information freeze: to cool the air, to stop impressionable young people from being drawn out on to curfew-bound streets,
to counter the signalling from Pakistani TV channels. What is forgotten is that such a clampdown reinforces the sense of
siege that has kept anger in the Valley on a slow boil. The protests after Wanis death were, by all accounts, spontaneous.
Instead of engaging with the range of reasons that drew young Kashmiris out to the streets in the full knowledge that they
risked injury, even death, the governments at the Centre and in the State took refuge in platitudes and evasion. The death
toll has crossed 40, thousands are injured, many of them with sight-threatening eye injuries from indiscriminately fired
pellets. After days of curfew, residents are running low on essentials, especially food and medicine. To disrupt channels
of communication is to turn away inhumanly from the first responsibility of a civil administration to mobilise resources
to rush aid and succour to the ailing and distressed. And to stem the free flow of information and views, even on a


miscommunication, is to admit something yet more worrying that the authorities could no longer countenance the
prospect of people getting updates on the situation around them.
o Clampdown - a sudden action taken by a government or people in

authority to stop or limit a particular activity
o Disruption - to prevent something, especially a system, process, or
event, from continuing as usual or as expected
o Valley - a low area of land between hills or mountains
by other people
o Poignantly - causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness
o On account of something - because of something
o Prevailing situation - current situation
o Curfew - a rule that everyone must stay at home between particular
times, usually at night, especially during a war or a period of political
trouble
o Ill-advised - not wise, and likely to cause problems in the future
o Suffocating - preventing something or someone from improving or
developing in a positive way
o Avenue - way
o To voice - to say your opinion on something
o Condemning - to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for
moral reasons
o Miscommunication - failure to communicate ideas or intentions
successfully
o Thwart - to stop something from happening or someone from doing
something
o Mobilisation - to assemble military services
o Inhibit - to prevent someone from doing something by making them feel
o Shrug off something - to treat something as if it is not important or not
a problem
o Freeze - to stop something
o Impressionable - easily influenced by other people
those defending it
o Slow boil - getting angry slowly
o Spontaneous - happening or done in a natural, often sudden way,
without any planning or without being forced

o Refuge - (a place that gives) protection or shelter from danger, trouble,
unhappiness, etc
o Platitudes - a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content,
that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful
o Evasion - the act of avoiding something or someone
o Death toll - the number of deaths resulting from a particular cause
o Threatening - risky
o Indiscriminately - in a way that does not show care or judgement
o Pellets - small metal objects that are shot from some types of gun
o Essentials - basic things that you cannot live without
o Disrupt - to prevent something, especially a system, process, or event,
from continuing as usual or as expected
o Inhumanly - cruel and causing suffering to people
o Succour - help given to someone, especially someone who is suffering
or in need
o Ailing - experiencing difficulty and problems
o Distressed - upset or worried
o Countenance - to approve of or give support to something
o Prospect - the possibility that something good might happen in the
future
JULY 21/2016
Topic 1 : "Dangerous vigilantism"
Even as the reverberations of the > violence inflicted on a group of Dalit men by cow protection vigilantes near the
small Gujarat town of Una are felt in Parliament, > the protests continue to spread across the State. Large parts of
Saurashtra, the region rocked most by agitations led by Dalit groups, were practically shut down on Wednesday >after a
bandh call, and different modes of protest have been adopted. It is a protest that appears to have grown organically in
response to the violence the men bore on July 11, a video of which had been posted online by one of the assailants. They
were stripped, flogged, bound and paraded on accusations that they had killed a cow for skinning. It is a videographic
record of both random and systemic cruelty. The various modes of protest must be seen as a cry for redressal and
systemic social change all around. Some have protested >by attempting suicide, and one died after consuming a
poisonous substance. Certain protesters have taken to dumping animal carcasses near a district officials office. There
has been mobilisation on the streets across Gujarat, with one policeman succumbing to injuries after stone-pelting by
protesters. There are plans for more State-wide protests. This is a rage that needs a comprehensive and holistic response
rather than a confrontationist approach relying heavily on firefighting.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has met the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the atrocity and
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke about the assault in Parliament, terming such acts against Dalits a social evil
that everyone must come together to combat. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sought to corner the Bharatiya
Janata Party for social terror, and party leaders are scheduled to visit Una, as are representatives of many other political

parties. The victims of the Una assault must be reassured by the authorities seeing to it that their assailants are punished;
moreover, the administration must ensure their safety, so that reprisals are not visited upon them. But for this to happen,
the Central and State governments need to level with the people. Cow protection ( gau raksha) cannot be a cover for the
pursuit of the kind of aggressive vigilantism that has been witnessed in different parts of the country, more often than not
as an exercise in communal consolidation. That violence and intimidation in the name of the cow (or beef) will not be
tolerated is a message that needs to go out quickly and unequivocally not only from the Gujarat government but also
from the Centre.
o Vigilantism - The unofficial way to prevent crime (because they do not

think that official organizations, such as the police, are controlling crime
effectively)
o Reverberations - effects that spread and affect a lot of people
o Inflicted - to force someone to experience something very unpleasant
o Agitations - the situation in which people protest or argue, especially in
public, in order to achieve a particular type of change
o Shut down - stopped
o Adopted - choose to take up or follow (an idea, method, or course of
action)
o Bore - to tolerate or endure something, especially something unpleasant
o Assailants - people who physically attack others
o Stripped - to remove the clothing of someone
o Flogged - beat (someone) with a stick as a punishment
o Bound - tied with a rope
o Paraded - a large number of people walking or in vehicles, all going in
the same direction
o Accusations - a statement saying that someone has done something
wrong
o Skinning - remove the skin from an animal
o Redressal - give payment for a wrong that has been done
o Consuming - eating / drinking
o Carcass - the body of a dead animal
o Mobilisation - to organize or prepare something, such as a group of
o Succumbing - die from the effect of a disease or injury
o Stone-pelting - to throw a number of stones quickly at someone or
something
and not just a part
o Confrontationist - to fight or argue
o Firefighting - the activity of stopping fires burning
o Victim - a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime,
o Condemned - expressed complete disapproval of something

o Atrocity - an extremely cruel act
o Corner - to force somebody into a situation from which they cannot
easily escape
o Reprisal - activity against another person, especially as a punishment
o Pursuit - the act of trying to achieve a plan, activity, or situation, usually
over a long period of time
o Consolidation - make (something) physically stronger or more solid
o Intimidation - to frighten or warn someone, usually in order to convince
them to do something that you want them to do
o Unequivocally - expressed in a clear way
Topic 2 : "Many lives in one jail term"
Consecutive prison terms for those convicted of more than one offence in a single trial are infrequent in India. When
those who have attracted great public odium by the enormity of their crimes are found guilty, the judges are seen to have
the option of awarding sentences that are consecutive, to be undergone one after another as opposed to concurrently,
where the longest jail term subsumes the shorter ones. On rare occasions, for example in the case of self-proclaimed
godman Premananda in Tamil Nadu, two life sentences have been ordered to run consecutively. The > Supreme Court
has now provided clarity on the question of whether two or more sentences of life imprisonment can be made to run one
after another. It is basically irrational and anomalous, says the Constitution Bench. As life imprisonment is for the
remainder of ones life, unless ended by remission or commutation, multiple life terms should be counted concurrently.
Accordingly, judgments that run contrary to this principle have been overruled. Consecutive sentences are still permissible
if one is a fixed term and the other is one of life, provided the term sentence is completed first and the life sentence begins
later.
Unbelievably lengthy prison sentences are not common in India, unlike in some jurisdictions in the West. However, most
of these countries balance it with a robust system of probation or parole. On the other hand, the idea of releasing a
prisoner under supervised probation after a part of the sentence has been served is still rare in India; both state and
society expect convicts to be imprisoned for as long as possible. This highlights an issue that occasionally crops up in
judicial discourse: the absence of sentencing guidelines in India. In theory, sentences can be deterrent, retributive,
reformative or restorative. However, the present sentencing paradigm is judge-centric, leaving much to the courts
discretion. Some believe this may be right because no two offences, or even offenders, are likely to be the same.
Circumstances (aggravating or mitigating), motive and nature of the crime are all taken into account by judges in
sentencing. For heinous crimes, the ideas of deterrence and retribution inform judicial discretion, and hence the more
popular verdicts are those that award condign punishment. Until sentencing guidelines are framed by the legislature or
the superior judiciary, individual judges will have to carry the burden of awarding punishment that befits the crime. By


holding that there shall be no consecutive life terms, the court has offered a ray of hope to even those locked away for
life, even if it may not guarantee release. For, justice ultimately cannot be merely retributive.
o Consecutive - following each other continuously

o Convicted - to decide officially in a law court that someone is guilty of a
crime
o Offence - an illegal act
o Trial - a formal examination of evidence by a judge, in order to decide
guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings
o Infrequent - not occurring often / rare
o Odium - hate and strong disapproval
o Enormity - very great size or importance
o Concurrently - happening or existing at the same time
o Subsumes - to include / absorb something
o Self-proclaimed - said or announced about yourself
o Anomalous - different from normal / standard
o Remission - cancellation
o Commutation - the act of changing a punishment to one that is less
serious
o Permissible - permitted / allowed
o Unlike - different from
o Robust - strong
o Probation - a period of time when a criminal must behave well and not
commit any more crimes in order to avoid being sent to prison
o Parole - permission for a prisoner to be released before their period in
prison is finished, with the agreement that they will behave well
mentioned
o Convict - someone who is in prison because they are guilty of a crime
o Occasionally - sometimes but not often
o Crops up - appear / occur
o Deterrent - to discourage someone from doing something
o Retributive - punishment that someone deserves because they have
done something very bad
o Reformative - able to improve something
o Restorative - having the ability to get back to the previous condition
o Paradigm - a typical example or pattern of something / pattern or model
o Judge-centric - based on judge
o Discretion - the right or ability to decide something
o Aggravating - making you feel angry
o Mitigating - making something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad
o Heinous - very bad and shocking
o Condign - appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing
o Befit - suitable

o Retributive - punishment that someone deserves because they have
JULY 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Trumping the odds"
>Donald Trump is the Republican Party nominee for the November presidential election. This has brought cheer to the
great many conservative Americans who voted for him in the primaries. It has also caused a ripple of consternation among
his detractors within the Grand Old Party and his Democratic opponents, many among who are possibly still in a state of
disbelief that the real estate mogul trounced as many as 16 rivals and scored resounding primaries victories in 37
States. >The GOP convention in Cleveland, Ohio, was symbolic of the state of this race. A number of party heavyweights
stayed away from the festivities, with some saying they had to go fly fishing, and others to mow their lawns. Their implied
distaste for the apotheosis of Mr. Trump has been a consistent theme of the election season this year, and it reflects a
deep fracture between the Republican leadership and the mass base. Many attribute the rise and rise of Mr. Trump to
the partys subtle pandering to racist claims that emerged early in his campaign. >Mr. Trumps most vitriolic statements
have targeted minorities including Muslims, Mexicans, women, the LGBT community and the differently abled, not to
mention the media. How much did Republican heavyweights speak out against, say, his call for a ban on Muslims entering
the U.S.?
This week those very same Republican bosses who remained silent as a wave of conservative support aligned itself with
the base values of one man must find themselves in a political terrain that feels like quicksand. On the one hand, they
watched tacitly as their partys nominee positioned himself in the hateful corners of the far-right. On the other, there is a
deep irony in the fact that many rank-and-file Republicans, for example those who subscribe to the minimum-government
agenda of the Tea Party, distrust Mr. Trump and believe he is a liberal who spent his time in corporate America getting
Democrats elected. This cohort, as well as Democrats and many outside America, believe that Mr. Trump has at best a
rudimentary understanding of domestic and foreign policy. Domestically, could a man who has a wink-and-nod policy
towards attacks on African-Americans, one who equated Mexicans to drug dealers and rapists, be made responsible for
healing the chasm between overzealous armed police and fearful racial minorities? Abroad, could a man who has
promised to bomb the hell out of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq be handed launch codes of the most fearsome
nuclear arsenal in the world? Unless the United States has unshakeable faith in the capabilities of such a man, it had
better spend the next few months casting about for alternative choices.
o Trumping - to outrank or defeat someone or something

o Odds - difficulties
o Nominee - a person who is nominated as a candidate for election
o Cheer - encouragement


o Primaries - in the US, an election in which people choose who will
represent a particular party in an election for political office
o Ripple - an emotion that spreads gradually through a person or a group
of people
o Detractors - people who publicly criticizes someone
o Opponent - someone who competes with or opposes another in a
contest, game, or argument
o Possibly - perhaps (used to indicate doubt)
o Mogul - an important or powerful person
o Trounced - defeat heavily in a contest
o Rivals - people competing with you for the same objective or for
o Heavyweights - important people of a specific field
o Festivities - celebrations
o Fly fishing - the activity of trying to catch fish using a hook made to look
like a fly or other insect in order to attract the fish
o Mow - cut down (grass) with a machine
o Distaste - a dislike of something that you find unpleasant or
unacceptable
o Apotheosis - the highest point in the development of something
o Consistent - always behaving or happening in a similar, especially
positive, way
o Pander to someone / something - to please other people by doing or
saying what you think they want you to do or say
o Claims - to say something
o Vitriolic - intentionally unkind or causing hurt
o Quicksand - deep wet sand that sucks in anyone trying to walk across
it
o On the one (or the other) hand - used to present factors which are
opposed each other
o Tacitly - understood without being openly expressed
o Irony - a strange situation in which things happen in the opposite way
to what you would expect
o Cohort - a friend or supporter, especially of someone you do not like
o Rudimentary - basic, and not detailed or developed
o Wink - to quickly close and open one eye as a sign to someone, for
example a sign that what you have just said is a joke or a secret
o Nod - to move your head first downwards and then upwards, to show
that you agree, approve, or understand
o Equated - to consider one thing to be the same as or equal to another
thing
o Healing - to make or become well again
o Chasm - a very large difference between two opinions or groups of
people


o Overzealous - too enthusiastic and eager
o Armed - using or carrying weapons
o Fearsome - frightening
o Arsenal - a collection of weapons
o Unshakeable - if someone's trust or belief is unshakeable, it is strong
and cannot be made weaker or destroyed
Topic 2 : "Get on with the GST"
Another session of Parliament has begun with the BJP-led government expressing its determination to ensure the
adoption of the Constitution amendment bill to usher in the >long-delayed Goods and Services Tax. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has invested significant political capital in wresting a favourable outcome. In the >recent Cabinet
reshuffle, he changed the team in the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry for better floor management. Addressing an all-party
meet on the eve of the session, Mr. Modi appealed to members to give primacy to the national interest while urging
bipartisan support for the GST bill. So far, the Congress had reiterated its credentials in championing the GST during its
years in power as proof that it is committed to the tax reform measure, without fully explaining its obstructionism once out
of office. But now it has adopted a conciliatory tone on working with the government to hammer out a consensus. With
many non-Congress Opposition parties expressing their willingness to see the legislation through, there is hope that the
remaining sticking points will be sorted out.
The Centre has, by all indications, >agreed to drop the proposed additional 1 per cent levy on inter-State sales over and
above the GST rate, as sought by the Congress. The differences over the dispute-resolution mechanism have also
narrowed. The remaining bone of contention involves the question of an explicit cap on the GST rate and whether it ought
to be made a part of the amendment bill itself. Whatever the rate, capped or uncapped, it is obvious that the GST regime
will boost economic activity. It will subsume multiple indirect taxes, including State-level sales tax, octroi and other levies,
that make doing business in India a compliance as well as logistical nightmare. Seamless movement across States is
critical for a truly national common market, and for incentivising producers of goods and services to scale up investment
and create jobs. A more efficient system for collecting indirect taxes, a far larger contributor to the exchequer than direct
taxes, could also create room for higher public investment in areas such as education and health. Certainly, the challenge
of warding off incipient inflationary pressures in the early stages of the taxs implementation will require enlightened
policies. For the BJP and the Congress, the next couple of weeks will be a real test of political sagacity in pulling together
and delivering on a reform they have both advocated. No party may, for now, get the GST regime entirely of its liking
but it is better to initiate change on the basis of a reasonable consensus rather than wait for that elusive perfect
agreement.
o Determination - the ability to continue trying to do something, although

it is very difficult
o Adoption - the decision to use or accept a particular idea, method, law
o Usher - to guide

o Invested - put (money) into financial schemes, shares, property
o Significant - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention /
noteworthy
o Reshuffle - interchange the positions of government ministers
o Appealed - make a serious / urgent request
o Primacy - importance
o Urging - to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude
they should take
o Bipartisan - involving two political parties with different ideas or policies
o Reiterated - to repeat something in order to make it very clear to people
o Credentials - personal qualities, achievements, or experiences that
make someone suitable for something
o Obstructionism - the act of intentionally stopping or slowing down an
official process
o Conciliatory - trying to end an argument and make people feel less
angry
o Hammer something out - to reach an agreement or solution after a lot
of argument or discussion
o Narrowed - limited to a small area of interest, activity, or thought
o Contention - the disagreement that results from opposing arguments
o Explicit - clear and exact
o Amendment - a change to a law that is not yet in operation and is still
being discussed
o Regime - a particular way of operating
o Subsume - include or absorb (something) in something else
o Octroi - tax that you pay on goods when you bring them into a particular
local area
o Compliance - to act according to an order, set of rules, or request
o Nightmare - an extremely unpleasant event or experience
o Incentivising - motivate or encourage (someone) to do something
o Exchequer - the government department that receives and gives out
public money
o Warding something off - to prevent someone or something unpleasant
from harming
o Incipient - just beginning
o Inflationary - a general, continuous increase in prices
o Enlightened - knowing the truth about something
o Sagacity - having or showing understanding and the ability to make
good judgments
JULY 23/2016


Topic 1 : "Russias tainted athletics"
Ever since the German broadcaster ARD released a documentary, titled Top-secret doping: How Russia makes its
winners, in late 2014, skeletons from the Russian closet have been > tumbling out at an embarrassing rate. The
documentary had alleged that Russia was funding an East German-style doping programme and that an elaborate
network was in place to cover it all up. In November 2015, a report by Dick Pound, > a former president of the World Anti-
Doping Agency, corroborated most of the revelations. Mr. Pound uncovered what he called a deeply-rooted culture of
cheating.
The International Association of Athletics Federations then suspended the Russian track and field team from international
competition and last month >refused to overturn the ban, not satisfied with Russias efforts at overhauling its system.
Even as the IAAF left the door open for individual athletes to prove that they had been training outside Russia, and
therefore be allowed to compete as neutral athletes at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the IAAFs doping review board
rejected all but two of the applications. A subsequent appeal by the affected athletes to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
has now been turned down, with another report, this time by Richard McLaren, a highly respected Canadian law professor,
released just before the CAS ruling, proving to be the final nail in the Russian coffin.
It confirmed that dope-tainted urine samples > were substituted with clean ones during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics,
in collusion with the Russian Sports Ministry, the Russian security service FSB, and the Centre of Sports Preparation of
National Teams of Russia.
Coming as it does on the eve of the Olympics, the pinnacle of sporting excellence, fair play and credibility, this episode
raises troubling questions. The main finding of the McLaren report is that Russian athletes from the vast majority of
summer and winter Olympic sports had benefitted from the doping programme. For this reason alone, it is difficult to
argue against a total ban on the 387-member strong Russian Olympic contingent.
The International Olympic Committee, owing to the overlapping worlds of geopolitics and sports, might well leave the
decision to individual sporting bodies, but the overwhelming stench is something the quadrennial extravaganza could do
without. Russia has argued that collective responsibility is hardly acceptable and that its own system should be trusted
to deal with such transgressions.
Fingers have also been pointed at disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong to prove that the West does not have a clean record
either. There is a difference. It was, in fact, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that was instrumental in exposing Armstrong. In
Russias case, > there was active collusion in the wrongdoing.
o Tainted - spoiled
o Doping - the act of giving a person drugs in order to make them perform
better in a competition


o Skeletons from the closet - an embarrassing secret about your past
that you do not want anyone to know
o Tumbling out - to fall or drop out of something
o Embarrassing - nervous, worried, or uncomfortable
o Alleged - to say something without proof
o Elaborate - involving many carefully arranged parts
o Corroborated - confirmed
o Revelation - a surprising and previously unknown fact that has been
disclosed to others
o Deeply-rooted - strong, happening for so long abd it is difficult to
change
o Track and field - group of sports in which people compete, including
running, jumping, and throwing
o Overturn - to change a legal decision
o Overhauling - to completely change a system in order to make it work
more effectively
o Left the door open - provided the possibility that something might
happen
o Neutral - not supporting or helping either side in a disagreement /
impartial
o Subsequent - following (coming after something in time)
o Arbitration - the process of solving an argument between people by
helping them to agree to an acceptable solution.
o Final nail in the coffin - an event that causes the failure of something
that had already started to fail
o Tainted - spoiled
o Collusion - to do something secretly with another person or group, in
order to cheat others
o Pinnacle - the most successful point
o Vast - of very great extent or quantity
o Contingent - a group of people from the same country, organization, etc
who are part of a much larger group
o Geopolitics - political activity as influenced by the physical features of a
country or area of the world
o Stench - a bad effect that follows an unpleasant event or situation and
is noticeable for a long time
o Quadrennial - recurring every four years
o Extravaganza - a large, exciting, and expensive event or entertainment
o Transgression - an action that breaks a law or rule
o Disgraced - to be a very bad situation
o Instrumental - involved in an important way in making something
happen
Topic 2 : "Reaching out to the Valley"
Two weeks after > protests in the Kashmir Valley caught the authorities by surprise, a semblance of calm has been
restored. It is a tenuous one, built on extended curfews, and it has come at a huge price. Even as the government faces


difficult questions about the blunt tactics employed to disperse crowds of stone-pelters across Kashmir, there is an evident
effort at political outreach.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh sought an all-party meeting to address the problem. > Jammu
and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti chaired another such meeting in Srinagar that asked Delhi to engage in a
larger political dialogue with all stakeholders, including separatists. These are important, necessary steps.
But given the record of outreach in the Valley, the Centre needs to > get its framework for a political conversation right. If
the proposal to include stakeholders in a larger process is to be credible, the idiom must be genuine. Regrettably, far too
much of the vocabulary on Jammu and Kashmir is platitude and hollow cliche.
The challenge before the government is to demonstrate that it is not reaching out as an automatic response learnt from
some worn-out troubleshooting manual but to show it has acknowledged the outrage, weariness, and distress in the
Valley. That it cares enough to be open to being nudged out of its certitudes.
Former Home Minister > P. Chidambarams suggestion this week that India assure the people of Kashmir that it is
conscious of the spirit of the grand bargain promised at accession almost 70 years ago has invited a rebuttal from a senior
BJP Minister at the Centre. Even the Congress party has reacted cautiously to the wide-ranging interview to India Today
TV in which he emphasised the importance of carrying Kashmiris along.
But if national politics means to respond to the > cries of agony from the Valley this month, it must adopt Mr.
Chidambarams touchstone that the issue in the Valley is not about land but about people. Former Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee had forged a way forward by seeking talks within the framework of humanity, thereby sidestepping the
issue of allegiance to the Constitution.
The gains of that breakthrough have long since been dissipated. Mr. Chidambarams appeal that India accept an
asymmetric devolution of powers for J&K, which it has recommended for the Tamil provinces in Sri Lanka, is one such
idea that could open a route forward. It should not be reflexively dismissed.
o Reaching out to - to offer help and support to someone

o Caught by surprise - to happen unexpectedly
o Semblance - a situation or condition that is similar to what is wanted or
expected, but is not exactly as hoped for
o Tenuous - thin, weak, and easily broken
times, usually at night, especially during a war or a period of political
trouble
o Disperse - if a crowd of people disperses, or if someone disperses it, the
people separate and go in different directions
o Stone-pelters - people who throw stones repeatedly at others


o Chaired - to be the person in charge of a meeting, committee, or
company
o Stakeholder - a person or company that has invested in a business and
owns part of it
o Separatist - a member of a group of people who want to be independent
o Framework - a set of principles, ideas etc that you use when you are
forming your decisions and judgments
o Regrettably - used for saying that you are sad or sorry about something
o Platitude - something that has been said so often that it is no longer
interesting and shows a lack of imagination
o Hollow - empty inside
o Cliche - not interesting or exciting
o Worn-out - too old or damaged to use any longer
o Outrage - anger and annoyance
o Weariness - bored / tiredness (especially after working hard for a long
time)
o Distress - a feeling that you have when you are very unhappy, worried,
or upset
o Nudged - to move slowly and almost reach a higher point or level
o Certitude - the feeling of being certain about something
o Conscious - noticing that something exists or is happening and realizing
that it is important
o Bargain - an agreement in which two people or groups each promise to
do something
o Accession - the occasion on which someone formally takes a position of
authority
o Rebuttal - a statement that says that something is not true
o Cautiously - carefully
o Emphasised - to give particular importance or attention to something
o Agony - great pain
o Touchstone - a standard that is used for testing or judging other things
o Forged - to develop a successful relationship
o Sidestepping - to avoid something difficult or unpleasant
o Breakthrough - an achievement that comes after a lot of hard work
o Dissipated - spending too much time and money on physical pleasures
that are not good for your health
o Asymmetric - the quality of being different or strange
o Devolution - the process of taking power from a central authority or
government and giving it to smaller and more local regions
o Provinces - the parts of a country outside the capital city or the large
cities
o Reflexively - without thinking
JULY 25/2016
Topic 1 : "Erdogans coup"


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans vengefully disproportionate response to the failed coup of July 15 is hardly
surprising. Given the authoritarian streak in his government, many had warned that he would capitalise on the opportunity
to purge his enemies and critics. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening now. >Mr. Erdogan blames Fethullah
Gulen, a U.S.-based Turkish cleric, for the coup, though he has yet to furnish any evidence. But the government has
already arrested, fired, suspended or served notice on about 58,000 people, largely Gulen supporters. Media groups are
under pressure not to carry reports critical of the President. >A three-month state of emergency declared last week gives
Mr. Erdogan sweeping powers; one of the first presidential decrees was to close down institutions linked to Mr. Gulen.
Given the depth and breadth of the crackdown, Turks must wonder whether this is the kind of democracy they wanted
restored when they risked their lives on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul on July 15 and 16 in fighting back the coup-
plotters.
The failed coup was a chance for Mr. Erdogan to genuinely explore the reasons that led to the military revolt and take
steps to address systemic failures. It was also an opportunity to strengthen democratic institutions and address the
concerns about his dictatorial policies, and the threats to constitutional secularism, one of the founding principles of
modern Turkey. Instead, Mr. Erdogan appears convinced that the political capital he gained is best used to oust his
enemies, real and imagined, from influential sectors. This marks a dangerous turn. A large-scale crackdown on a society
that has strong democratic currents within it and a history of revolts against rulers will only invite public resentment. In the
case of Turkey, every junta regime in the past was forced to hand over power to civilian leaders. Even the brutal military
takeover of 1980 didnt last long. So if Mr. Erdogan and his supporters think they will emerge stronger with the purge,
they could well be proved wrong. Secondly, the crackdown has already damaged Turkeys standing globally. From a
leader who survived a coup attempt, Mr. Erdogan has transformed his international image into that of a revengeful
strongman. Even his allies in the West have asked him to act within the rule of law. Thirdly, while it is important to hold
those responsible for the coup accountable for their actions, an all-out attack on the military roughly a third of the
command structure has been purged could be counterproductive. Heightened tensions between the civilian
government and the military can only have a destabilising effect.

o Vengefully - expressing a strong wish to punish someone who has
harmed you or your family or friends
o Disproportionate - too large or too small in comparison with something
else
o Authoritarian - demanding that people obey completely and refusing to
allow them freedom to act as they wish
o Streak - an often unpleasant characteristic that is very different from
other characteristics
o Capitalise on something - to use a situation to your own advantage
o Purge - to get rid of people from an organization because you do not
agree with them
o Cleric - a religious leader

o Furnish - to provide
o Emergency - an unexpected situation involving danger in which
immediate action is necessary
o Sweeping - complete
o Decree - an official order that has the force of law
o Coup-plotters - people who secretly makes plans to do something illegal
or harmful
o Revolt - take violent action against an established government or ruler
o Dictatorial - telling people what to do and refusing to listen to their
opinions
o Constitutional - relating to an established set of principles governing a
state
o Secularism - the belief that religion should not be involved with the
o Founding - established or originated
o Large-scale - involving many people or things, or happening over a
large area
o Resentment - an angry unhappy feeling that you have when you think
you have been treated unfairly or without enough respect
o Junta - a military or political group that rules a country after taking
power by force
o Takeover - to get control of something from somebody
o Emerge - to become
o Standing - position, status, or reputation
o Survived - continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or
hardship
o Revengeful - wanting and taking revenge
o Strongman - a person who is very powerful and able to cause change,
especially of a political type
o Roughly - approximately
o Purged - rid (someone) of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition
o Counterproductive - having the opposite of the expected / wanted
effect
o Destabilising - to make a government or political group lose power or
control
Topic 2 : "The sullying of scientific literature"
In a rare and highly commendable move that has sent out a strong message to the Indian scientific community, the
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has dismissed a senior scientist working at its Chandigarh-based Institute
of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) over serious charges of data fabrication in at least seven papers published in peer-


reviewed journals. At least three papers published in 2013 in the journal PLOS ONE were retracted once preliminary
investigation carried out at IMTECH revealed that the data were cooked up. Though Swaranjit Singh Cameotra was not
directly involved in data fabrication, his complicity in the scientific misconduct became clear. The scale of misconduct by
Dr. Cameotra is way lower in comparison to the South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk and the Japanese
stem cell researcher Haruko Obokata, but it is nevertheless significant. A senior member is responsible for data produced
by his team. As the U.S. Office of Research Integrity (ORI) has laid down, being complicit in multiple instances of scientific
misconduct merits firm action. An editor of one of the retracted papers said the reviewers were unable to spot the
fabrication as the data appeared solid, though all the three papers had the same theme of a bacterium isolated from a
natural environment metabolising certain chemicals. It is, however, quite surprising that no one at IMTECH suspected
any foul play as the scientist published 15 papers in 2013.
The only bright spot in the otherwise sorry episode has been IMTECHs readiness and willingness to get to the root of
the problem rather than brushing the allegations under the carpet, as many scientific institutions in India regularly do. One
of the biggest handicaps that journal editors face when confronted with evidence of scientific misconduct by Indian
researchers is non-cooperation by institutions in thoroughly investigating such matters. This is the reason why certain
fraudulent practices by Indian scientists have seldom been exposed. One of the best ways to tackle this ill is to set up a
nodal body on the lines of the ORI in the U.S. Any case of scientific misconduct brought to its notice should be investigated
by the respective institutions and the matter taken to its logical conclusion. A body on the lines of the ORI should also be
actively involved in preventing misconduct and promoting research integrity through expanded education programmes.
This will go a long way in reducing instances of misconduct by scientists. It will also greatly help to reduce the amount of
trash that sullies scientific literature and prevent other serious researchers from wasting their time repeating meaningless
experiments.
o Sullying - damaging the purity of something

o Scientific - relating to science
o Sent out a strong message - to make someone understand that a
particular thing is right or true
o Microbial - realted to a very small living thing, especially one that causes
disease, that can only be seen with a microscope
o Fabrication - to invent or produce something false in order to cheat
someone
o Peer-review - the process of someone reading, checking, and giving his
or her opinion about something that has been written by another scientist
or expert working in the same subject area, or a piece of work in which
this is done
o Retracted - withdraw (to take back)
o Preliminary - basic / initial
o Revealed - to let something become known, for example a secret or
information that was previously not known
o Cooked something up - to invent a story, plan, etc., usually dishonestly

o Misconduct - seriously bad or dishonest behaviour, especially by
someone who has a position of responsibility
o Stem cell - a cell that is taken from a person or animal at an early stage
of development and is capable of developing into cells of any type, for
example nerve cells or blood cells
o Laid down - to officially establish a rule, or to officially say how
something should be done
o Complicit - involved in or knowing about something bad that happens
o Instance - an example of something happening
o Isolated - separated from other things with which it is connected or
mixed
o Metabolising - to use chemical processes in the body to turn food into
energy, new growth, and waste products
o Foul play - behaviour that is not fair or honest or that does not keep to
accepted rules
o Bright spot - something that is good when everything else seems bad
o Readiness - a state of being ready and able to deal with what might or
will happen
o Get to the root of problem - to discover the truth / origins about a
problem
o Allegations - statements, made without giving proof, that someone has
o Brushing something under the carpet - to hide a problem or try to
keep it secret instead of dealing with it
o Handicap - something that makes it difficult for you to do something
o Confronted - to face, meet, or deal with a difficult situation or person
o Thoroughly - very much
o Fraudulent - illegal or dishonest
o Seldom - not often (very rarely)
o Nodal - central
o On the lines of - similar to
o Trash - something that is of low quality
o Sullies - spoils something that is pure or someone's perfect reputation
JULY 26/2016
Topic 1 : "Islamic State in Afghanistan"
Saturdays >twin blasts in Kabul, in which at least 80 people died and over 260 were injured, is a clear escalation of the
Afghan conflict by the Islamic State. Over the past two years, the IS has built some presence in eastern Afghanistan,
operating largely from the chaotic Nangarhar province. But by carrying out one of the worst mass attacks in Kabul in 15
years, it has flaunted its growing footprint. It has sent a message that it is now a force to reckon with in Afghanistan. In
turn, the attack once again exposes the chinks in the countrys security armour. Despite support from U.S. troops and its
superior air cover, the Afghan military hasnt been able to do much to prevent Taliban attacks in recent months. Now, with


the IS also joining the fray, the security situation could become much worse. For the IS, Afghanistan is a potential area
of expansion. It is under increasing pressure in Iraq and Syria in the wake of sustained attacks by, variously, the U.S.,
Kurdish groups and the Iraqi and Syrian national armies. Over the past year it has lost territory and thousands of fighters,
forcing the leadership to look for other countries, especially Libya and Afghanistan. Groups such as the IS are most
comfortable amidst chaos. The IS has exploited the post-war chaos in Iraq and the civil war uncertainty in Syria.
Afghanistan falls into the same category. The civil war has substantially weakened post-Taliban state-building in
Afghanistan, leaving several regions, particularly the mountainous areas along the Pakistan border, beyond the control
of the government. Unsurprisingly, it is in one such district that the IS has found a foothold.
The Kabul attack also fits into the ISs sectarian narrative. The targets of the blasts were the Hazaras, the third largest
ethnic group in Afghanistan, which is mainly Shia. In both Iraq and Syria the IS has exploited the Shia-Sunni rivalry to win
the support of Sunnis, particularly disaffected youth from the community. By directly attacking the Hazaras, the IS is
clearly trying to whip up sectarian passions. This is a dangerous game that even the Taliban has largely stayed away
from in Afghanistan. Though the Hazaras were persecuted under the Taliban in the 1990s, the Afghan civil war did not
turn sectarian like the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. The IS is trying to change this equation, because only then can it hope
to spread its Sunni fundamentalist ideology to the Afghans. The question is how the Afghan government and the
international coalition will respond to these twin challenges. If they indeed let the IS gain ground, as happened with the
Taliban in the 1990s, the consequences will be far more disastrous.

o Escalation - the process of becoming greater or more serious
o Chaotic - happening in a confused way and without any order or
organization
o Flaunted - to deliberately try to make people notice your possessions,
beauty, abilities etc, because you want them to admire you
o Reckon - to believe or accept that something is true or exists
o Chink - a small narrow crack or opening
o Armour - strong covering that protects something
o Fray - an energetic and often not well-organized effort, activity, fight, or
disagreement
o Worse - more unpleasant or bad than something else or than before
o Variously - in different ways, by different people or at different times
o Territory - areas of countries
o Amidst - in the middle of or surrounded by something
o Chaos - a situation in which everything is confused
o Exploited - make full use of and derive benefit from a situation
o Uncertainty - not knowing what to do or believe, or not able to decide
about something

o Substantially - by a large amount or degree
o Mountainous - covered with mountains
o Foothold - a strong first position from which further progress can be
made
o Sectarian - caused by disagreements among people from different
religious groups
o Rivalry - a situation in which people, businesses, etc. compete with each
other for the same thing
o Whip up - to encourage strong emotions or behaviour in people
o Persecuted - to treat someone extremely badly
o Ideology - a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a
political system, party, or organization is based
o Coalition - a temporary union of different groups who agree to work
together to achieve a shared aim
o Consequences - results or effects of something
o Disastrous - causing a lot of damage or harm
Topic 2 : "Adding injury to insult"
The quality of a countrys democracy is reflected not only in the robustness of its institutions but also from the texture of
its political discourse. The tasteless and indefensible >remarks by a Bharatiya Janata Party leader about Bahujan Samaj
Party chief Mayawati, which provoked similar vulgarity from herself and her partymen, paint a particularly depressing
picture of Indias democracy today. Dayashankar Singh, vice-president of the BJPs Uttar Pradesh unit, employed a
coarse analogy with prostitution that smacked of a deep-seated sexist bias, ostensibly to highlight Ms. Mayawatis alleged
practice of allotting the party ticket to the highest bidder. The unpardonable slur was bereft of nuance and had no place
in civilised political discourse. The BJP moved quickly to take action against Mr. Dayashankar, but this firmness seemed
borne in large measure of the desire to curb the political fallout in Uttar Pradesh, the countrys most populous State that
goes to the polls next year, and which has a sizeable Dalit vote. The expelled party functionarys remarks were made at
a time when the BJP is already on the back foot in Gujarat where it is battling protests and popular >outrage following the
brutal assault of four Dalits by self-styled cow protection activists.
For her part, Ms. Mayawati would have done well had she stopped with defending her partys fund-raising policies and
drawing attention to Mr. Dayashankars prejudice against women politicians. Regrettably, in trying to pay her detractor in
the same coin, she justified the use of sexist and highly derogatory remarks by BSP men directed at the wife and minor
daughter of Mr. Dayashankar, who went into hiding fearing a physical attack on himself. As a result, the opportunity to
seize the high moral ground was squandered; more importantly, so was the chance to highlight the need for a reasoned
debate on maintaining a certain decorum even in the heat of political combat. Like the BJPs disapproval of Mr.
Dayashankar, it is possible that Ms. Mayawatis aggressive response, a clear overreaction, is tied to narrow electoral


considerations and the need to extract whatever political capital was possible from the situation. The irony is that it is
unlikely that any of this ugly theatrics will sway voters. As a strong woman politician, Ms. Mayawati will carry memories
of many slurs she has borne as she emerged to take over the reins of the BSP and attain the political stature she has.
She has the power and the ability to alter the very lexicon of politics in the Hindi heartland. This is something she should
recognise rather than fritter away in a torrent of angry words.
o Adding injury to insult - to make a bad experience even more painful

o Democracy - a country in which power is held by elected representatives
o Reflected - to show / express something
o Robustness - strength
o Texture - appearance
o Tasteless - likely to upset someone
o Indefensible - not able to be protected against attack
o Provoked - to cause a negative reaction
o Vulgarity - jokes, actions etc with a sexual meaning that is considered
to be rude or offensive
o Partymen - people belonging to a political party
o Coarse - rude
o Analogy - comparison between things that have similar features
o Prostitution - engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment
o Smacked of something - a sign of something bad
o Deep-seated - very difficult to change or get rid of
o Sexist - refering to women's bodies, behaviour, or feelings in a negative
way
o Bias - the action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing
in an unfair way
o Ostensibly - appearing to be one thing when it is really something else
o Alleged - claimed to be true, even though this has not been proved
o Unpardonable - extremely bad or offensive
o Slur - a remark that is intended to insult someone or to damage their
reputation
o Bereft - not having something or feeling great loss
o Nuance - a slight difference that may be difficult to notice but is fairly
important
o Firmness - the quality of being forceful and making people do what you
want
o Desire - to want something, especially strongly
o Sizeable - large
o Expelled - to force someone to leave an organization, or country
o On the back foot - in a worse situation than other people or groups
o Battling - fighting
o Outrage - a feeling of anger and shock

o Assault - physical attack
o Self-styled - given a name or title by yourself without any official reason
for it
o Activists - people who takes part in activities that are intended to
achieve political or social change, especially the members of an
organization
o Prejudice - an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially
when formed without enough thought or knowledge
o Regrettably - making you feel sad and sorry about something
o Detractor - someone who criticizes something or someone, often
unfairly
o Derogatory - showing strong disapproval and not showing respect
o Squandered - wasted
o Decorum - behaviour that is controlled, calm, and polite
o Overreaction - to react in an extreme, especially an angry or frightened,
way
o Theatrics - behaviour that is intended to get attention
o Sway - to move slowly from side to side
o Borne - to accept, tolerate, or endure something, especially something
unpleasant
o Reins - control of a company, government, or organization
o Stature - the amount of public respect or popularity
o Alter - to slightly change something
o Lexicon - all the words used in a particular language or subject
o Heartland - the central part of a country or area
o Fritter - waste time, money, or energy on unimportant matters
o Torrent - a large amount of something, especially something unpleasant
SEP 01/2016
Topic 1 : "Turkeys dangerous move on Syria"
Turkeys incursion into Syria has opened a new front in the already complicated Syrian civil war. Turkey and the other
regional powers in West Asia, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran, have been active players in the Syrian conflict since
2011, but this is the first time one of them has sent its army into Syria to join combat. Ankara says the move is to fight the
Islamic State; within days of rolling its tanks into Syria, Turkey declared that it had cleared the border town of Jarabulus
of IS fighters. But there is little doubt that the real target of the Turkish forces are the Kurdish militias. The IS had been
active in Jarabulus since 2013, and used the town as a key supply route for men and materials. Over the last few years,
Turkey had largely ignored IS activities on the Syrian side of the border. It moved into action only after the U.S.-backed
Kurdish forces recaptured Manbij, another town close to the border, from the IS. After taking positions in Manbij, Kurdish
rebels had moved towards Jarabulus. If Kurds seize Jarabulus as well, it would allow them unprecedented control over
the Syrian-Turkish border region and also cut Turkey off from the last remaining cross-border supply routes.


Unsurprisingly, after taking control of Jarabulus, Turkish aircraft and ground troops started attacking Kurdish positions in
Manbij, demanding that they retreat to the east of the Euphrates.
Turkey has two concerns. First, if it loses cross-border access to Syria, the Ankara-backed rebels would be in a weaker
position in the Syrian civil war, which would in turn jeopardise Turkeys plans for a future Syria. Second, if Kurdish militias
are allowed to further consolidate in the semi-autonomous Syrian Kurdistan, that would pose a direct strategic threat to
Turkey, given the Syrian Kurds deep ties with their Turkish counterparts who are at war with Ankara. So Turkey wants to
rupture the Kurdish momentum. This move, however, marks a dangerous turn of events. Kurds have proved the most
effective ground force against the IS. All the major border towns they control, such as Kobane, Tal Abyad and now Manbij,
were recaptured from the IS after long and bloody ground battles. In fact, the decline of the IS started with their defeat by
Kurds in Kobane. Besides, the Turkish incursion makes the Syrian war more complicated. Given their recent battle history,
Kurds wont give up their position easily. This means that if Turkey persists with its operation, the border towns could
witness another spell of war, while making the task of resolving the Syrian conflict more difficult. Unfortunately, Turkey
seems less bothered about the chaos in Syria than the growing clout of Kurds.
o Incursion - a sudden attack

o Active player - someone who is very involved in an activity or
organization
o Conflict - angry disagreement between people or groups
o Combat - fighting during a war
o Recaptured - used force to take control of an area again
o Rebels - someone who tries to remove a government or leader using
force
o Seize - to take control of a place or situation using military force
o Cross-border - between different countries, or involving people from
different countries
o Unsurprisingly - in a way that you expected
o Troops - soldiers, especially in large numbers
o Retreat - to go away from a place or person in order to escape from
fighting or danger
o Concern - a feeling of worry about something
o Jeopardise - to put something such as a plan or system in danger of
being harmed or damaged
o Militia - a group of ordinary people who are trained as soldiers to fight
in an emergency
o Consolidate - to become more stronger
o Autonomous - independent and has the power to govern itself
o Strategic - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as
war, politics, business


o Counterparts - someone or something that has the same job or purpose
as another person or thing, but in a different country, time, situation, or
organization
o Rupture - an end to a friendly relationship or to a peaceful situation
o Momentum - progress or development that is becoming faster or
stronger
o Decline - to become less or worse
o Incursion - a sudden attack on an area controlled by other people
o Persists - to continue to do or say something in a determined way
o Witness - to see / experience
o Spell war - to cause something bad to happen in the future
o Resolving - to solve or end a problem or difficulty
Topic 2 : "Advance the Budget"
Fifteen years after the timing of the Union Budget was advanced by six hours from 5 p.m. on the last working day of
February, the Centre is contemplating unveiling it a month or more ahead. This may appear to be a superfluous shift to
some, but it could significantly alter governance outcomes if managed well. As of now, though the Budget is tabled before
the commencement of a new financial year in April, its provisions often do not become the law of the land till some time
in May, when Parliament passes the Finance Bill. So whether it is a new social sector scheme, a highway project for
which the Finance Minister has allocated funds, or simply the transfer of funds to States, there is little action till, say, June.
Official expenditure data confirm that spending remains particularly low in the first two months of the financial year. There
is a spike in the last two quarters not just because ministries scramble to exhaust their allocated funds, but also because,
for instance, the onset of the monsoon season in June makes it difficult to execute infrastructure projects in the second
quarter. Effectively, proposed annual capital expenditure is rushed through from October to March rather than through
the year, creating a tardy and bumpy transmission mechanism for any intended stimulus.
This now assumes greater importance especially since in the past two years public investment has been the
governments mantra to revive growth, and is likely to remain the key determinant of the economys direction for a while.
Whether presented in the end of December or in January, a budget endorsed by Parliament by the end of March could
allow ministries, State governments and businesses to get down to implementation as soon as the year begins and plan
their spending based on the requirement for a project rather than weather exigencies. There is, of course, the challenge
that the government may lack enough data about the state of the economy by January, be it tax collections or GDP
numbers. So the Chief Economic Advisers team will have to grapple with tighter deadlines to put together the Economic
Survey with less data at its disposal. Then again, the February 28 Budget also relies on revised estimates. And while
Finance Ministry mandarins may find themselves pressed for time if Finance Minister Arun Jaitley manages to move to
an earlier Budget in 2017, the Goods and Services Tax rollout deadline of April 2017 would mean much less work for


them at least on the indirect taxes side of the Budget document. Around 51 per cent of the 738 promises in the UPAs 10
full Budgets remained works in progress (that is, unmet) by the time the next Budget was presented. If switching the
Budget presentation date can turn this around, it would be well worth it.
o Advanced - well developed

o Contemplating - to consider doing something in the future
o Unveiling - the act of officially announcing something such as a plan or
a new product
o Superfluous - not needed or wanted
o Significantly - by a large amount, or in a way that is easily noticeable
o Alter - change
o Outcome - the final result of a process
o Table - to suggest formally in a meeting something that you would like
everyone to discuss
o Commencement - the beginning of something
o Provisions - the act of providing something
o Expenditure - money spent by a government, organization, or person
o Spike - a sudden increase in something
o Scramble - to hurry or try very hard to get something, often competing
with other people
o Exhaust - to use all that you have of something
o Allocated - to officially give something to someone
o Onset - the beginning of something
o Monsoon - a period of heavy rain in India and Southeast Asia
o Execute - to complete something that you have agreed or planned to do
o Infrastructure - the basic systems and services, such as transport and
power supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work
effectively
o Propose - to offer or suggest a possible plan or action for other people
to consider
o Annual - happening once a year
o Rushed - done in a hurry
o Tardy - delayed
o Bumpy - not smooth / equal
o Intended - aimed
o Determinant - something that controls or decides how something else
will develop or what result it will have
o Endorsed - to express support for someone or something
o Exigencies - the difficulties of a situation
o Grapple - to fight, especially in order to win something
o At somebody's disposal - available to be used by someone
o Relies - depends
o Revised - changed / improved
o Mandarins - senior government officials
o Pressed - in a difficult situation because you do not have enough time,
money, or other things that you need

o Rollout - the introduction of a new product
o Switching - to change from one thing to another
o Turn something around - to cause a situation or organization to
change in a positive direction
SEP 02/2016
Topic 1 : "The rise and fall of Dilma Rousseff"
The fall of Dilma Rousseff from being one of the most popular politicians to an impeached leader is much more than a
story of a corrupt President being stripped of her powers by a righteous legislature. The >exit of Brazils first woman
President brings the 13-year rule of the left-leaning Workers Party (PT) to an end. The charge levelled against her is that
she used illegal bookkeeping manoeuvres to hide a growing deficit. Though this is a crime in Brazil, several of those who
piloted the impeachment process in Congress have themselves been charged with corrupt practices. Almost all the
leading political parties, including new President Michel Temers Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, were implicated
in the Petrobras corruption scandal. Ms. Rousseff is in fact one of the very few high-profile politicians not to be implicated
in the Petrobras scam. Moreover, her presidency was not quite the failure it is made to appear as. She completed her
first term and was re-elected in 2014 with a clear majority. Through all this, she purposefully continued the welfare
programmes initiated by her predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, particularly in the education, health and housing
sectors.
To understand Ms. Rousseffs fall, one has to look instead at the complex layers of Brazils polity. It is a comparatively
young democracy in which the PT rose to power defying established structures. The power struggle within Brazils political
class has never been a settled affair. When Mr. da Silva was President, he was able to keep in check the class interests
stacked against him with his immense popularity. Ms. Rousseff not only lacked his charisma and mass appeal, but also
failed to right the economy when a steep fall in global commodity prices hit Brazil hard. The consequences were
devastating: for instance, the Brazilian economy grew 7.6 per cent in 2010, the year she won her first term; it is estimated
to contract 3.2 per cent this year. It is amid this economic gloom and nationwide anger against corrupt politicians in the
wake of the Petrobras scandal that her opponents used the charges of fudging books to build a case for impeachment.
But the impeachment doesnt solve the problems Brazil faces. The economy is still in the doldrums, and is unlikely to
bounce back in the near future given the global headwinds. President Temer is as unpopular as Ms. Rousseff had
become, as was evident from the loud boos he received from spectators at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics.
Brazils opposition may have gained power after a long wait through a parliamentary coup, but the political and economic
turmoil is likely to remain for long.
o Impeached - saying that a public official is guilty of a serious crime

relating to their job
o Stripped of - to remove
o Righteous - morally correct

o Legislature - the part of government that makes and changes laws
o Bookkeeping - the job of recording an organizations financial accounts
o Manoeuvre - an action or movement that you need care or skill to do
o Deficit - the total amount by which money spent is more than money
received
o Piloted - to be responsible for introducing a new law or system and
making sure it is established
o Implicated - to show that someone is involved in a crime
o Petrobras - A Brazilian multinational corporation in the petroleum
industry
o Scandal- a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest or
immoral way that shocks people
o High-profile - attracting a lot of attention and interest from the public
and newspapers, television, etc
o Presidency - the job of being president
o Purposefully - showing that you know what you want to do
o Welfare - the health and happiness of people
o Predecessor - someone who had a job or a position before you
o Comparatively - as compared to something else
o Defying - to refuse to obey someone or something
o Established - having existed for a long time, and therefore recognized
as good or successful
o Charisma - a strong personal quality that makes other people like you
and be attracted to you
o Steep fall - fell very quickly from high to low
o Commodity - something that can be bought and sold (especially a basic
food product or fuel)
o Consequence - a result or effect of something
o Devastating - causing a lot of harm or damage
o Amid - in the middle of or surrounded by
o Fudging - to avoid making a decision or giving a clear answer about
something
o The doldrums - unsuccessful (showing no activity or development)
o Bounce back - to start to be successful again after a difficult period
o Headwind - a wind blowing in the opposite direction to the one you are
moving in
o Boos - expressions of strong disapproval or disagreement
o Spectator - someone who watches a public activity or event
o Ceremony - a formal public event
Topic 2 : "Full circle in Singur"
The >Supreme Courts verdict on the Singur land acquisition issue is a re-statement of first principles relating to the

limitations of eminent domain. By quashing the entire land acquisition process done by the erstwhile Left Front
government in West Bengal, the court has reiterated that the term public purpose cannot be arbitrarily invoked to acquire
land and hand it over to a private party. One of the two judges has categorically held that there was no public purpose
in the land acquisition as it was solely for the benefit of Tata Motors. The other judge has conceded that given the
governments policy of industrialisation and the potential for employment generation, the acquisition was indeed for a
public purpose. But he also ruled that the failure to hold a proper inquiry into objections from the public, and the fact that
the State Cabinet had decided to acquire land for the project even before the acquisition was notified as per law, rendered
the entire process void. The ruling is undoubtedly a political victory for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,
who took up the cause of those whose lands were taken away in Singur, making it a key election issue of the pivotal
Assembly election of 2011, when she wrested power from the long-serving Left Front. With the farmers set to get back
their land, and the court allowing them to keep the compensation they had earlier received or claim it now if they are yet
to get it, this allows her to score points afresh over the CPI(M).
The judgment does not lay down any new law. The dispute over whether the Singur land was acquired for a public
purpose or not is largely academic, now that the outdated Land Acquisition Act, 1894, has been repealed and replaced
by legislation that aims at transparency in acquisition and makes fair compensation and resettlement a statutory right of
those who lose their land. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and
Resettlement Act sets out the categories of projects that would fall under public purpose, and allows acquisition for private
companies subject to provisions related to consent, compensation and rehabilitation. There may be some apprehension
that the judgment will deter fresh investment by the private sector, inasmuch as it may preclude land acquisition for major
projects. However, courts have by and large interpreted public purpose liberally, often allowing the governments view
to prevail. The lesson from Singur is that thoughtless and fast-tracked acquisition, often to the detriment of due process
and the interests of those deprived of land and livelihood, is the real issue and not promotion of industrialisation.
o Re-statement - to say something again
o Domain - a particular area of activity
o Quashing - to use force or violence to stop the political action taken by
a group of people
o Reiterated - to say something again
o Arbitrarily - unfairly
o Categorically - in a very clear way (without any doubt)
o Held - to support something
o Solely - involving nothing except the person or thing mentioned
o Conceded - to admit that something is true
o Indeed - really


that has happened
o Notified - to tell someone officially about something
o Rendered - to provide a service, or to give help to someone or
something
o Void - a situation in which something important that is usually present
is no longer there
o Pivotal - important
o Wrested - got something with efforts or difficulty
o Compensation - oney that someone receives because something bad
has happened to them
o Dispute - a serious disagreement
o Academic - relating to schools, colleges, and universities, or connected
with studying and thinking
o Outdated - old and no longer suitable for modern purposes, methods,
or situations
o Repealed - to state officially that a law no longer has legal authority and
has ended
o Transparency - openly (without any secrets)
o Resettlement - to go and live in a different region or country
o Statutory - legal
o Rehabilitation - to return someone to a good, healthy, or normal life or
condition
o Consent - permission or agreement
o Apprehension - worry about the future, or a fear that something
unpleasant is going to happen
o Deter - to make someone decide not to do something
o Inasmuch - used for adding a comment that explains or makes clearer
what you have just said
o Preclude - if one thing precludes another, the first thing prevents the
second one from happening
o By and large - when everything about a situation is considered together
o Interpreted - to understand an action, situation etc in a particular way
o Thoughtless - not considering how your actions or words may upset
someone
o Fast-tracked - to make something happen, develop, or progress more
quickly than usual
o Detriment - harm or damage
o Livelihood - (the way someone earns) the money people need to pay
for food, a place to live, clothing, etc
o Industrialisation - the process of developing industries in a country
SEP 03/2016
Topic 1 : "A disruptive debut"
That Mukesh Ambanis >roll-out of fourth-generation telecommunication services through Reliance Jio would shake up


the telecom market was anticipated. Still, the specifics of the ambitious pricing and customer acquisition plans unveiled
at the Reliance Industries annual shareholders meeting were audacious. From making voice calls and domestic roaming
completely free to offering 4G data connectivity at a fraction of the average market tariff, the latest entrant has, in one fell
swoop, altered pricing dynamics in the sector for the foreseeable future. In the process, the company has also ended up
putting the spotlight on data being at the core of mobile telephony services. With more than 90 per cent of almost 350
million Indians currently accessing the Internet on mobile devices, the availability, affordability and quality, in terms of
browsing speeds, of the data service becomes critical. This is particularly pertinent as India makes more and more public
goods and services accessible online. For a nation seeking to leverage the explosive growth in mobile telephony that has
resulted in more than one billion subscriptions, the future lies in moving an increasingly larger share of economic activity
across industries on to digital platforms. By setting out to provide its services at a significantly lower cost than most
competitors, Reliance is attempting to alter the benchmark for consumer expectations on data quality. It seeks to make
the proposition more sticky by bundling in mobile applications that will enable users to tap into a range of media.
How significantly the industry landscape is altered will ultimately depend on the reliability of the service that Reliance
ends up providing. To be sure, the largest rival mobile phone operators have been quietly making their own preparations
for Reliances entry and are certain to have factored in various strategic scenarios. As consumers opt to sample Reliances
4G services, it is inevitable that the competition will take a short-term knock on some operating parameters such as
average revenue per user, average margin per user, subscriber churn, and data revenue growth. But the long-term health
of the industry is unlikely to be seriously impaired as the size of the market in India is large enough to absorb one more
player. Given the low operational costs of the business and the groups overall capacity to raise capital at will, Mr. Ambani
has the leeway to wait until Reliance Jio turns profitable. Fortunately, it is the consumer that stands to gain the most by
this latest disruption.
o Disruptive - causing trouble and therefore stopping something from

continuing as usual
o Debut - the occasion when someone performs or presents something to
the public for the first time:
o Roll-out - to make a new product, service, or system available for the
first time
o Specifics - exact details
o Ambitious - if a plan or idea is ambitious, it needs a great amount of
skill and effort to be successful or be achieved
o Unveiled - to announce something officially that was previously a secret
o Audacious - done with extreme confidence
o Domestic - local (relating to a person's own country)
o Roaming - the ability to use your mobile phone when you are travelling,
without having to make long-distance or international phone calls
o Tariff - charges


o Entrant - a company that starts selling a particular product or service,
or selling in a particular place, for the first time
o In one fell swoop - if you do something in one fell swoop, you do it all
at the same time
o Altered - changed
o Foreseeable future - future, that can easily be imagined or known
about before it happens
o Ended up - to finally be in a particular place or situation
o Spotlight - a lot of public attention
o Affordability - the state of being cheap enough for people to be able to
buy
o Pertinent - relevant to something
o Explosive growth - very sudden growth
o Significantly - in a way that is relevant or that has an important effect
on something
o Alter - to make something different
o Benchmark - a level of quality that can be used as a standard when
comparing other things
o Proposition - an offer or suggestion, usually in business
o Sticky - a business where people like to spend a long time
o Bundling - the act of selling several products or services together
o Reliability - the ability to be depended on
o Rival - a person, team, or business that competes with another
o Strategic - carefully planned in order to achieve a particular goal
o Scenario - a situation that could possibly happen
o Opt to - make a choice from a range of possibilities
o Inevitable - sure to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented
o Knock - damage / harm
o Churn - rapid and continuing movement and change
o Unlikely - not likely to happen
o Impaired - damaged or weakened
o Absorb - to take something in
o Player - someone who is very involved in an activity or organization
o Leeway - freedom to act within particular limits
o Disruption - an interruption in the usual way that a system, process, or
event works
Topic 2 : "The terror in the Philippines"
It may be unfair, or at least much too premature, to suggest that Philippines President Rodrigo Dutertes strongman rule
is a throwback to the brutal dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. But the fact is that after a period of sustained and often
spectacular economic growth, even if there has been little of the trickle-down effect, the country has suddenly become a
political hot spot under the rule of what global investors describe as a wild card President. Hopes that his landslide win in
May would influence the brusque-mannered maverick to moderate his populist rhetoric have been belied as Mr. Duterte
seems determined to carry out his pledge to kill 100,000 criminals to bring security to the country. Official figures state

that about 1,800 people have been killed by the police and in extrajudicial murders committed by vigilante groups in
pursuit of Mr. Dutertes so-called war on drugs since he assumed office in July. He has also threatened to restore the
death penalty to root out crime and drugs. In fact, in a brazen display of his alleged complicity in criminal conduct, Mr.
Duterte once quipped that the death squads he backed had in fact eliminated more than twice the number that human
rights groups claimed. His reign has struck such terror among the people that some 600,000 potential suspects have
thought it better to simply turn themselves in to the authorities.
Mr. Dutertes abrasive style is apparently fettered neither by respect for the religious sensibilities in his majority Catholic
country nor the diplomatic niceties expected of a nations leader. He resorted to an expletive to vent his ire at the traffic
snarl during the visit of Pope Francis. On another occasion, he lashed out against the United Nations for criticising the
human rights situation in the Philippines, saying that his country would quit the organisation. Mr. Duterte is evidently
unmindful of the jarring note his remarks strike; as many as 10 per cent of Filipinos are resident overseas, contributing
substantial remittances to the domestic economy. Mr. Dutertes shrill rhetoric is, perhaps quite predictably, prompting
comparisons among activists and commentators with the equally pugnacious U.S. presidential nominee, Donald Trump.
But there is a larger long-term significance for any society from the electoral success of a rabble-rouser political figure
such as Mr. Duterte. This is the imperative of timely intervention to contain and correct the social and political damage
that inevitably results from economic growth, if it is not inclusive or sustainable. The mandate handed to Mr. Duterte was
not out of the way for large sections of the people that were impatient for more. Change was what they yearned for; what
shape it would take was perhaps beyond their grasp.

o Unfair - not treating people in an equal way, or not morally right
o Premature - happening too soon or before the usual time
o Strongman - a political leader who rules by force
o Throwback - a person or thing that is similar to an earlier type
o Brutal - extremely violent
o Dictatorship - government by someone who takes power by force and
does not allow elections
o Sustained - continuing at the same level or rate for a long time
o Spectacular - extremely impressive
o Trickle-down - a situation in which something that starts in the high
parts of a system spreads to the whole of the system
o Hot spot - a place where there is often a lot of violence or fighting
o Investors - a person / organization who puts money into something in
order to make a profit or get an advantage:
o Landslide - the winning of an election with an extremely large number
of votes
o Brusque - speaking quickly in an unfriendly way using very few words
o Paverick - an independent person who has ideas and behaviour that are
very different from other peoples
o Moderate - to make something acceptable to a large number of people


people
o Rhetoric - a style of speaking or writing that is intended to influence
people
o Belied - to make someone or something appear to be different from how
they really are
o Pledge - to promise seriously and publicly to do something
o Extrajudicial - not within the usual powers of the law
o Vigilante - someone who tries to catch and punish criminals by
themselves, without waiting for the police
o Pursuit - the process of trying to achieve something
o So-called - used for showing that you think a word used for describing
someone or something is not suitable
o Threatened - to tell someone that you will cause them harm, especially
in order to make them do something
o Root out - to find something bad or illegal and get rid of it
o Brazen - behaving in a way that is not moral or socially acceptable
o Alleged - said to be true, even though this has not been proved
o Complicity - involvement in a crime or some activity that is wrong:
o Quipped - to say something funny or clever
o Death squads - a group of people who illegally kill other people,
especially their political opponents
o Eliminated - to get rid of something that is not wanted or needed
o Claimed - to say that something is true or is a fact, although you cannot
prove it
o Reign - government (the period of time when somebody rules a country)
o Turn somebody in - to take a criminal to the police, or to go to them
yourself to admit a crime
o Abrasive - rude and unfriendly
o Fettered - to keep someone within limits or stop them from making
progress
o Sensibilities - someones tendency to be shocked or offended by
something
o Diplomatic - relating to the profession or skill of preserving or creating
friendly relationships between countries
o Niceties - the way of behaving that people consider to be correct
o Resorted - to do something extreme or unpleasant in order to solve a
problem
o Expletive - a rude word that you use when you are angry, annoyed, or
upset that might offend some people
o Vent - to express your feelings of anger very strongly
o Ire - anger
o Traffic snarl - to make traffic unable to move
o Lashed out - tried to attack someone suddenly and violently
o Evidently - in a way that is easy to see
o Unmindful - not remembering, noticing, or being careful about
something
o Jarring - surprising, or slightly shocking
o Substantial - large in amount


o Remittances - a payment for goods or services that you send by post
o Shrill - unpleasant
people
o Predictably - something that is expectable
o Prompting - the act of trying to make someone say something
o Pugnacious - quick to argue or fight with people
o Nominee - someone who has been nominated for something
o Rabble-rouser - a person who makes speeches that make people
excited or angry, usually intentionally in order to make them act in a
particular way
o Imperative - extremely important and urgent
o Intervention - becoming involved in a difficult situation to change the
result
o Contain - to control
o Inevitably - something that is sure to happen and cannot be prevented
o Sustainable - capable of continuing for a long time at the same level
o Mandate - the authority of an elected government or official to do the
things that they promised to do before an election
o Impatient - annoyed because something is not happening as quickly as
you want or in the way you want
o Yearned - to want something a lot, especially something that you know
you may not be able to have
o Beyond their grasp - outside their understanding (they are unable to
understand)
SEP 05/2016
Topic 1 : "From dissent to disapproval"
History shows that principled dissent often leads to reform. >Justice J. Chelameswar has acted on his famous dissent.
After disagreeing with the majority on a Constitution Bench that struck down the law enacted to establish a >National
Judicial Appointments Commission, the judge, who is part of the five-member >Supreme Court collegium, has opted to
keep out of its proceedings. In a letter to the Chief Justice, he is understood to have raised the issue of lack of transparency
in the collegiums functioning. His position is consistent with his dissenting judgment, in which he had spoken elaborately
on the ills of the system. He had articulated his view that the executive cannot be shut out of judicial appointments, and
that according primacy to the judiciary in the matter of appointments is not the only way to preserve its independence. Of
course, Mr. Chelameswars latest missive is fraught with serious consequences. It has brought the focus again on the
manner in which the judiciary functions on its administrative side. It may further delay the finalisation of the collegiums
view on the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for appointment and transfer of judges. With over 480 vacancies in the
high courts and three in the Supreme Court, differences within the collegium may delay appointments, leading to
significant alterations in the tenure and promotion prospects of judges and Chief Justices. Mr. Chelameswars boycott is
undoubtedly based on principle; however, it raises the question whether he is not bound to be part of the collegium system
as long as it is in force.


Irrespective of the serious reservations about the verdict in the NJAC case, the collegium system is here to stay. A fresh
and transparent procedure for appointments was to be worked out by the executive. The Centre has sent its draft MoP,
but it appears the collegium is reluctant to approve some of the clauses. The fact that the exact nature of the differences
between them is not known only strengthens Mr. Chelameswars point about opacity. The revision process should not be
kept under wraps. Public interest, especially the principle of judicial independence, will be better served if the procedure
under preparation is thrown open to a debate. The judiciary showed the way forward by asking the Centre to prepare a
revised memorandum. It should also end the impasse by taking an early call on firming up the procedure. In the light of a
clear admission by the majority of judges in the NJAC case of the need for infusion of transparency, it will be welcome if
Mr. Chelameswars position strengthens the support for reforming it.
o Dissent - strong disagreement

o Disapproval - the feeling of having a negative opinion of someone or
something
o Principled - always behaving in an honest and moral way
o Reform - to make changes in something, in order to improve it
o Struck down - if a judge or court struck down a law, they officially end
it
o Enacted - to make a proposal into a law
o Collegium - an advisory board
o Opted to - to make a choice
o Keep something out - to not go in a place, or to stop someone or
something from going into a place
o Proceedings - legal action
positive, way
o Elaborately - in detailed manner
o Ills - problems
o Primacy - more powerful or important than anything else
o Preserve - to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it
from decaying or being damaged or destroyed
o Missive - an official long letter
o Fraught - very worried and with a lot of problems
o Significant - very important
o Alterations - changes
o Tenure - the period of time during which someone has an important job
or is an elected official
o Prospects - the possibility that something will happen, especially
something good
o Boycott - to not take part in an event
o Undoubtedly - used for saying that something is surely true or is
accepted by everyone
o Irrespective - not taking (something) into account


o Reservations - a feeling of doubt about whether something is good or
right
o Verdict - an official judgment made in a court
o Clause - a part of a legal document or law that officially states that
something must be done
o Opacity - the quality that makes something such as a statement or
problem difficult to understand
o Revision - the process of changing, improving, or making additions to
something such as a plan, law, or piece of writing
o Kept under wraps - to hide something
o Debate - a discussion in which people or groups state different opinions
about a subject
o Firming something up - to make something more certain or less likely
to change
better
Topic 2 : "Promise versus performance"
It is far from easy to live up to ones promise and potential. The Aam Aadmi Party was founded on a belief in the possibility
of changing the system, working outside of it. But over the last couple of years, the party and its maverick leader Arvind
Kejriwal have shown themselves unable to deliver on their promise or rise to their potential. From the selection of
candidates to the process of decision-making in the party, the AAP is now seen running counter to its own stated
philosophy of transparency and accountability in public life. In Punjab, the party appears to have lost the political plot with
Mr. Kejriwal unwilling to allow an independent regional leadership to emerge. Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who was sacked
as the State convenor over allegations of bribery, has demonstrated that he is no pushover by winning the support of a
huge section of the AAP. Navjot Singh Sidhu, the cricketer-turned-politician who quit the BJP recently, chose to float an
alternative platform, Awaaz-e-Punjab, rather than join with the AAP. Delhi was only a stepping stone for Mr. Kejriwal, who
wants to project himself as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From his choice of Lok Sabha seat in the
2014 election he chose to take on Mr. Modi in Varanasi to his frequent Twitter barbs aimed at the Prime Minister, it
is clear that he fancies himself as a national level leader. Delhi was no more than a launch pad for his political career;
Punjab, the only State where the AAP performed well in the Lok Sabha election, is the next logical step. Whether it is Mr.
Chhotepur or Mr. Sidhu, it is clear no one will be allowed to share the leadership space with Mr. Kejriwal in the AAPs
Punjab unit.
But Punjab is not the only cause of problems in the party. In recent months, some of its ministers and MLAs have been
caught on the wrong side of the law. The party did defend some of them, alleging, and perhaps not entirely falsely, that
the Centre was using the Delhi Police to target the party and its prominent members. Indeed, this became another issue
in the AAPs battle to bring law and order in the national capital region under the State governments purview. In the latest
controversy involving its Women and Child Welfare Minister Sandeep Kumar, the AAP took the high moral ground, and


sacked him soon after a video recording of him with a woman in a sexual act was released by a media house. Mr. Kumar
was removed from the party as well, as it became clear he had known of the presence of the camera. Evidently, there
was more to lose than gain from defending Mr. Kumar, who alleged he was targeted as he was a Dalit. Mr. Kejriwal seems
to have set his sights high, but Punjab will judge him by what he did in Delhi as well. The AAP needs to recover its purpose
as a catalyst for political and social change if it is to grow beyond Delhi.
o Versus - used to compare two things in order to show that they are
different or that one is better than the other
o Far from - used for saying that the real situation is the opposite of what
you mention
o Live up to - to be as good as what was expected or promised
o Potential - someone's or something's ability to develop, achieve, or
succeed
o System - rules that decide how a society, country, or organization
should operate and that cannot be changed even though they seem unfair
to you
o Maverick - an independent person who has ideas and behaviour that are
o Accountability - a situation in which people know who is responsible for
something and can ask them to explain its state or quality
o Plot - a secret plan to do something bad
o Unwilling - if you are unwilling to do something, you do not want to do
it or you refuse to do it
o Regional - relating to a particular area
o Sacked - removed from his job
o Allegation - a statement that someone has done something wrong or
illegal even though this has not been proved
o Bribery - the crime of giving / taking money illegally
o Pushover - an opponent who is easy to defeat
o Stepping stone - an event that helps you achieve something else
o To take on - to fight or compete against someone
o Frequent - happening often
o Barbs - a remark that is funny but unkind
o On the wrong side of the law - doing illegal things
o Defend - to protect someon against attack or criticism
o Alleging - saying that something is true, even though this has not been
proved
o Perhaps - used for saying that you are not sure about something
o Prominent - very well known and important
o Purview - the limit of someone's responsibility, interest, or activity
o High moral ground - morally better than someone else
o Evidently - in a way that is easily seen or understood
o Set sights high - to decide to achieve something
o Catalyst - someone / something that causes great change

SEP 07/2016
Topic 1 : "Return of the Cauvery crisis"
With the Southwest monsoon falling short this season, the story of any other monsoon-deficient year is being repeated:
Tamil Nadu rushing to the Supreme Court citing the crisis faced by its farmers, the court ordering release of some water,
and protests erupting in Karnataka. The reason for this endless cycle of sporadic litigation and ad hoc adjudication is that
the two States continue to avoid any mutual engagement to share the shortfall during distress years. And there is no
permanent, independent mechanism to ensure this. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which gave its award in 2007,
has asked the parties to share the deficiency on a pro rata basis. However, a major problem in implementing this aspect
is the absence of a Cauvery Management Board and a Regulatory Authority, which the Tribunal had wanted created to
oversee implementation. Instead, after notifying the final award in 2013, the Union government set up a Supervisory
Committee comprising officials from the Union government and the Central Water Commission and representatives of
both States. The court has now asked Tamil Nadu to approach the committee, which will decide on further releases.
The Supreme Courts direction, when implemented, will ensure about 13 thousand million cubic (tmc) feet of water to
Tamil Nadu over 10 days. This will not be adequate to save the entire samba crop, Tamil Nadu leaders argue, while their
Karnataka counterparts contend that this itself is a huge burden, given the States own storage deficit. It is understandable
that the political leadership of any State would not want to be seen as betraying the interests of its farmers. Yet, the desire
to protect ones own interests should not shut out empathy for ones neighbour. Ideally, any distress-sharing formula
should come from a technical body. It would have helped if the Centre, which dilly-dallied for six years before notifying
the final award under a judicial direction, had set up the Cauvery Management Board and Regulatory Authority. In the
longer term, experts will have to devise a sustainable agricultural solution for the Cauvery basin, as the river does not
seem to have the potential to meet the farming requirements of both sides. In a world of depleting water resources, fewer
crop seasons and lower acreages, a resort to less water-intensive crops and better water management hold the key. Non-
political initiatives, such as the Cauvery Family, a body formed a few years ago covering farmers of both States, could
help disperse the clouds of hostility that gather over the border whenever the Cauvery crisis erupts. Politics and passion
should not be allowed to hold sway.
o Cauvery - Kaveri river of South India

o Monsoon - rainy season
o Falling short - to fail to reach an amount or standard that was expected
or hoped for, causing disappointment
o Deficient - not good enough
o Rushing - moving quickly
o Citing - to mention something as a reason why something has happened
o Crisis - a time of great suffering
o Erupting - to start suddenly with a lot of violence or noise


o Sporadic - happening sometimes; not regular or continuous
o Ad hoc - done only when needed for a specific purpose, without planning
or preparation
o Adjudication - to act as judge in a competition or argument, or to make
a formal decision about something
o Mutual - belonging to two or more people
o Shortfall - a lack of something that you need or want
o Distress - 1 a feeling that you have when you are very unhappy,
worried, or upset
o Ensure - to make sure that something happens or is done
o Award - a judgment given by a court of law
o Tribunal - a special law court organized to judge a particular case
o Deficiency - a state of not having, or not having enough, of something
that is needed
o Pro rata - calculated according to the individual situation
o Aspect - a particular part, feature, or quality of something
o Authority - a group of people with official responsibility for a particular
area of activity
o Oversee - to watch or organize an activity to make sure that it is being
done correctly
o Comprising - consisting
o Representative - someone who speaks or does something officially for
another person or group of people
o Approach - to meet someone in order to do something such as make a
request or business agreement
o Counterpart - a person, who has the same purpose as another one
in a different place or organization
o Betraying - if someone betrays something such as a promise, they do
not do what they promised
o Desire - a strong feeling of wanting to have or to do something
o Empathy - the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences
by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation
o Dilly-dally - to waste time
o Notifying - to tell someone officially about something
o Devise - to invent a plan, system, object, etc., using your intelligence
o Depleting - reducing
o Acreage - an area of land, often measured in acres
o Intensive - involving
o Hold the key - to have control of something
problem
o Hostility - opposition to something
o Hold sway - to be the main influence on peoples opinions or behaviour


Topic 2 : "The Grumbling 20"
A noble mission of far-sighted global cooperation to avoid a looming economic crisis brought together a doughty group
of nations, representing 85 per cent of the worlds GDP and two-thirds of its population, under the banner of the G20.
However, after the dark days of the 2008 crisis inspired then-freshly-elected U.S. President Barack Obama to take over
the reins of financial regulatory reform, the annual gathering of the group has, it would appear, degenerated into a publicity
opportunity for divergent national concerns. As Hangzhou played host to the G20 meeting, there were reports that the
Chinese government had emptied the city of its original inhabitants for the duration of the summit an act that seemed
symbolic of the final communiqu of the G20 itself, pretty on the outside but lacking in substance. Among the major issues
that found mention in the summit was the question of excess steel capacity in China resulting in a flood of cheap imports
into India, the U.K. and other economies. Despite reports of resistance from China to any mention of steel policy
coordination in the 7,000-word communiqu, the document had a call for increased information sharing and cooperation
through the formation of a Global Forum on steel excess capacity.
Climate change was the other major agenda point. Notwithstanding Mr. Obamas disappearing dream of securing full
global support for the Paris Agreement before his second term ends, a symbolic show of solidarity towards this goal in
the form of the U.S. and China ratifying the Agreement last week failed to produce any dramatic commitments in
Hangzhou. Contrarily in India, media reports struck a note of relief that Prime Minister Narendra Modis negotiators had
fobbed off any attempts to insist that the deal be done before a December 2016 deadline. Numerous low-key objectives
shared by multiple G20 members, such as strengthening enforcement against international tax avoidance and advancing
cooperation on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, certainly got a shot in the arm from this G20 gathering. Yet, there is no
comparison to the patchy and vague nature of progress in these smaller goals to the collaboratively evolved financial
regulation architecture that emerged from the ashes of the 2008 meltdown and put the brakes on excessive risk-taking
by banks. This only begs the question: has the G20 lost its way, outlived its usefulness? Would it be more institutionally
efficient to revert to other regional groupings that have overlapping conversations on these very subjects? It may well be
time to re-examine the G20s purpose and, if necessary, recast its vision and mission entirely.
o Grumbling - to complain about someone or something in an annoyed

way
o Noble - behaving in an honest and brave way that other people admire
o Far-sighted - able to imagine what effects an action will have in the
future so that you make good decisions
o Looming - (of something unwanted or unpleasant) about to happen soon
and causing worry
o Crisis - an urgent, difficult, or dangerous situation
o Doughty - determined and not easily frightened
o To take over the reins - to take the control of something

o Reform - to make an improvement in something
o Degenerated - to become worse
o Divergent - different from each other
o Inhabitant - a person or animal that lives in a particular place
o Communiqu - an official statement, especially to newspapers, radio,
or television
o Resistance - refusal to accept something new
o Excess - an amount that is more than acceptable, expected, or
reasonable
o Climate - the general weather conditions usually found in a particular
place
o Agenda - all the things that need to be done
o Notwithstanding - despite something
o Disappearing - to no longer happen or exist
o Solidarity - agreement between and support for the members of a
group, especially a political group
o Ratifying - to make an agreement official by signing it or formally
accepting it
o Dramatic - sudden and surprising
o Contrarily - in opposite way
o Negotiator - someone who tries to help two groups who disagree to
reach an agreement with each other
o Fobbed off something / someone - to convince someone to accept
someone or something you want to get rid of
o Insist - to say firmly or demand forcefully
o Numerous - existing in large numbers
o Low-key - without much activity or reaction
o Enforcement - the process of making sure that something happens
o Advancing - moving forwards or progressing
o Erosion - reduction or destruction of something important
o Gathering - a group of people meeting together
o Vague - not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided
o Collaborative - involving people or groups working together to produce
something
o Evolved - developed slowly
o Regulation - an official rule that controls the way that things are done
o Emerged from the ashes - to start exists again
o Meltdown - a sudden and complete failure of a company, organization,
or system
o Put the brakes - to slow down or stop an activity
o Excessive - much more than is reasonable or necessary
o Outlived - to live or exist longer than someone or something
o Revert - to return to a previous state
o Overlapping - if two or more activities, subject overlap, they have some
parts that are the same
o Conversation - a talk between two or more people (groups), usually a
private and informal one
o Re-examine - to look at or think about something carefully again
o Recast - to change the way that someone or something is or appears to
be


SEP 08/2016
Topic 1 : "Triple whammy"
The egregious practice that many Muslim men employ to divorce their wives instantaneously and without their consent,
merely by uttering the word talaq thrice, was rendered legally invalid by the Shamim Ara vs State of UP judgment of 2002
and subsequent orders from various High Courts. But this has not stopped the practice; many Muslim women are unaware
of the judgments or have had to accept such pronouncements owing to pressure from conservative sections. Many
women have undergone severe trauma after being thrown out of their homes. Shayara Bano, one such victim of this
arbitrary custom not to speak of years of domestic violence has filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court
seeking a ban on the practice. The conservative All India Muslim Personal Law Board that seeks to wield influence on
questions of Muslim personal law has, predictably, found it an occasion to air its regressive views on the issue. In a
counter-affidavit, the >Board has defended the practice in terms that are shocking even by its own standards. It claims
that the custom is a way out to avoid long-running court proceedings and that, in the absence of triple talaq, a husband
may resort to murdering or burning alive his wife because of the time-consuming legal proceedings that might otherwise
be involved. It further claims that Indian society is patriarchal, and that personal laws of all communities are aligned
with the patriarchal notion. It defends the right to grant divorce to the husband alone, because men have greater power
of decision making and uses a dubious line of argument on gender ratio to justify the practice of polygamy.
The AIMPLB, a body with no legal status, has long argued that divorce under Islamic law is undesirable and that triple
talaq is a sin; however, it maintains it is a valid and effective form of laying a marriage asunder. In truth, there is no
sanction for the triple talaq in the Koran, which has laid down elaborate injunctions on divorce, in stark contrast to the
immediate and irrevocable nature of the triple talaq. This practice has been either explicitly derecognised in Muslim-
majority countries such as Indonesia, Iran and Tunisia or implicitly in countries such as Pakistan, which provides for a
mandatory arbitration procedure after the pronouncement of talaq. The Supreme Court must not be swayed by the
arguments put forth by the AIMPLB, which has held that personal laws cannot be challenged. Considering the clear and
elaborately laid-down norms on marriage in the Koran that grant equal rights to the husband and wife to pursue divorce
proceedings and the right to equality guaranteed in the Indian Constitution, it is high time that the Supreme Court ruled
this practice as illegal.
o Triple whammy - a situation when three unpleasant things happen at

almost the same time
o Egregious - extremely bad
o Employ - to use someone
o Instantaneously - happening immediately, without any delay
o Uttering - to say something

o Practice - something that is usually or regularly done, often as a habit,
tradition, or custom
o Unaware - not understanding or realizing something
o Pronouncements - an official announcement
o Conservative - not willing to accept much change, especially in the
traditional values of society
o Undergone - to experience something that is unpleasant or something
that involves a change
o Severe - very serious
o Trauma - a bad experience that makes you feel very upset, afraid, or
shocked
o Victim - someone who has been hurted or killed as the result of a crime
o Arbitrary - based on chance rather than being planned or based on
reason
o Domestic violence - violent or aggressive behaviour within the home
o Litigation - use of the legal system to settle a disagreement
o Regressive - relating to behaviour that is not responsible or controlled
o Affidavit - a legal document containing a written promise that something
is true
o Defended - to protect someone or something from attack
o Custom - something that people do that is traditional or usual
o Resort - the fact that you have to do something because there is no
other way of achieving something
o Patriarchal - ruled or controlled by men
o Aligned - to give your support publicly to something
o Dubious - not completely good, safe, or honest
o Polygamy - the custom of having more than one husband or wife at the
same time in societies where this is legal
o Undesirable - not wanted, approved of, or popular
o Asunder - into forcefully separated pieces
o Sanction - official order
o Injunction - an official order to stop someone from doing something
o Irrevocable - not able to be changed
o Derecognised - withdraw recognition of something
o Arbitration - the process of solving an argument between people by
helping them to agree to an acceptable solution
o Pronouncement - an official announcement
o Swayed - to cause something to move or change
o Pursue - to try to achieve / get something
o It is high time - used for saying that something should be done soon
Topic 2 : "Sri Lanka conquers malaria"
Sri Lanka has become malaria-free. On September 5, the World Health Organisation >officially recognised this huge

public health achievement . The WHO certifies a country so when the chain of local transmission is interrupted for at least
three consecutive years; the last reported case was in October 2012. With no local transmission reported, Sri Lankas
priority since October 2012 has been to prevent its return from outside, particularly from malaria-endemic countries such
as India. There were 95, 49 and 36 cases reported in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively, all contracted outside Sri Lanka.
In a commendable initiative, Sri Lanka adopted a two-pronged strategy of targeting both vector and parasite, undertaking
active detection of cases and residual parasite carriers by screening populations irrespective of whether malaria
symptoms were present. Early detection and treatment of asymptomatic parasite carriers, who serve as reservoirs of
infection, played a crucial role in interrupting the chain. While this was achieved by means of house visits and by starting
mobile clinics in high-transmission areas, real-time monitoring through effective surveillance systems, community
awareness and mobilisation also played their role. The public sector and the private sector were oriented to the common
goal of eliminating malaria by enhancing case notification and achieving 100 per cent detection and confirmation through
tests. Sri Lanka expanded the coverage of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to protect high-risk populations, and
used multiple methods to reduce mosquito numbers.
Sri Lanka was close to eliminating malaria in 1963, when it reported just 17 cases. But a premature lowering of the guard
and growing resistance to DDT led to rising incidence in the 1980s. The precise reasons for the failure of the eradication
programme were not clear. Some of the major challenges the country had to face before it interrupted local transmission
were the Plasmodium falciparum parasite becoming resistant to the chloroquine drug, behavioural changes in the vector,
asymptomatic carriers and vector reintroduction. But the tide turned from 2000 when a steady reduction in the number of
cases was recorded. Sri Lanka joins the ranks of 34 countries that have been certified malaria-free since the 1960s. The
Maldives was >certified so in 2015 ; Argentina and Kyrgyzstan may soon be. Eradication of the disease in India remains
a challenge, but it could learn some lessons from Sri Lanka even if the scale and complexity of the task is significantly
different.
o Conquer - to deal with or successfully fight against a problem

o Interrupted - to stop something from happening
o Consecutive - continous (follow one after another without any break)
o Priority - something that is very important and must be dealt with before
other things
o Endemic - very common, or strongly established in a place or situation
o Contracted - to become ill with a disease
o Commendable - deserving praise (used to formally praise someone or
something)
o Initiative - an important action that is expected to solve a problem
o Adopted - to decide to start using a particular idea, plan, or method
o Two-pronged - involving two stages
o Strategy - a detailed plan for achieving success in difficult situations
o Vector - an insect or animal that carries a disease from one animal or
plant to another
o Parasite - an animal or plant that lives on or in another animal or plant
of a different type and feeds from it

o Undertaking - something difficult or complicated that you do
o Residual - remaining after most of something has gone
o Symptom - any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is
caused by a particular disease
o Asymptomatic - showing no symptoms of a particular disease
o Reservoirs - a large supply of something
o Mobile - easy to move and use in different places
o Surveillance - the careful watching of something
o Oriented - aimed
o Enhancing - improving
o Expanded - to make something become larger in size
o Long-lasting - continuing for a long period of time
o Insecticide- a chemical for killing insects
o Premature - happening or done too soon
o Incidence - the rate at something happens
o Precise - exact and accurate
o Eradication - to get rid of something completely or destroy something
bad
o Resistant - not harmed or affected by something
o Significantly - a way that is easy to see
SEP 09/2016
Topic 1 : "Making A.P. special"
How special can special be? That Andhra Pradesh, post-bifurcation, needed a helping hand from the Centre was never
in question. But the modalities of the >special status the State wanted , needed to be worked out. Could it be declared a
Special Category State, or was the right way to grant it a special financial package that did not require meeting the
mandated requirements for Special Category status? A.P. does not qualify as a Special Category State; it has neither
geographical disadvantages such as hilly terrain nor historical disadvantages such as socio-economic and infrastructural
backwardness and unviable finances. Eventually, when the Centre >announced a special package , the emphasis was
on assisting the State on the basis of the road map laid down in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, an oral
commitment made in 2014 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the report of the 14th Finance Commission and the
recommendations of the Niti Aayog. The package, valid for five years till 2020, might not have everything that Chief
Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had asked for, but meets most of the reasonable expectations of a State struggling to
recover from bifurcation and dealing with the imminent loss of the capital city, Hyderabad. The Polavaram irrigation project
was declared a national project; a railway zone was to be formed in the State and the Central Board of Direct Taxes was
to issue two notifications on tax concessions. Special Category status could only have been a crutch; the package might
be the stimulus that it needs after bifurcation. Under the circumstances, this is a good deal.
However, the political battle over the Special Category status is not going to get over soon. Opposition parties, led by the
Congress and the YSR Congress, have targeted Mr. Naidu for failing to convince the Centre. That his Telugu Desam


Party is in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party will invite charges of a sell-out of A.P.s interests. Union Minister M.
Venkaiah Naidu of the BJP, perhaps anticipating this reaction, indicated that the Centres support would be a continuous
process. The TDP government must look ahead, and use the special package to boost growth and create conditions for
employment generation. While concentrating resources on building the capital at Amaravati, Mr. Naidu must not lose sight
of the immediate development goal: the livelihood concerns of ordinary people. That could be his political legacy: a Chief
Minister who saw the State through a difficult phase and laid the foundation for a robust economy.
o Bifurcation - the division of something into two parts

o Modality - a particular way of doing or experiencing something
o Mandate - to give official permission for something to happen
o Terrain - an area of land
o Socioeconomic - related to the differences between groups of people
caused mainly by their financial situation
o Infrastructural - related to the basic physical and organizational
structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies)
o Backwardness - the state of not being developed
o Eventually - at the end of a process or period of time in which many
things happen
something
o Reorganisation - a change in the way that something such as a
company is organized, in order to improve it
o Oral - spoken but not written
o Valid - legally accepted
o Imminent - coming to happen very soon
o Irrigation - the process of supplying land with water so that crops and
plants will grow
o Crutch - something that provides help and support and that you depend
on too much
o Stimulus - anything that encourages something to happen, develop, or
improve
o Circumstance - a condition that affects a situation
o Alliance - an arrangement between two or more people, groups, or
countries by which they agree to work together to achieve something
o Sell-out - a situation in which someone does something that is the
opposite of what they had promised or that seems to be against their
principles
o Perhaps - used for saying that you are not sure about something, or
that something may or may not be true
o Anticipating - to guess that something will happen
o Look ahead - to think about what will happen in the future and plan for
these events
o Lose sight of - to forget about your main aim because you are thinking
too much about other things


for food, a place to live, clothing, etc.
o Legacy - something such as a tradition or problem that exists as a result
of something that happened in the past
o Laid the foundation of something - to produce the basic ideas or
structures from which something much larger develops
o Robust - strong and successful
Topic 2 : "Taking the Paris process forward"
The >ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change by the United States and China, which together account for
38 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, provides much-needed momentum for the global compact to be in force
beyond 2020. As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has emphasised, 26 countries have already acceded to the accord;
to reach the target of 55 per cent emissions, 29 more must come on board. For the U.S., this is a landmark departure
from its long-held position of not accepting a binding treaty like the Kyoto Protocol, where emerging economies heavily
reliant on fossil fuels have no firm commitments. The Paris Agreement addressed this issue by stipulating voluntary but
verifiable emissions reduction goals for all parties, within the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities that
underpin the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Contrary to the belief that a requirement to cut GHGs will
make economies less competitive, a major section of global industry and business has reaffirmed the potential for trillions
of dollars in green investments flowing from the ratification of the Paris Agreement by the U.S. and China. This is a clear
pointer for India, which is estimated to have the third highest individual country emissions as of 2014.
There are distinct >low-carbon pathways that India has outlined in its national plan submitted to the UNFCCC. Among
these, the scaling up of renewable energy and non-fossil fuel sources to 40 per cent of installed power production capacity
by 2030 is predicated on technology transfer and the availability of Green Climate Fund resources. Not much progress
has been made in this area, and Minister of State for Environment Anil Madhav Dave confirmed recently that no
contribution had been received from the Fund. Helping India lock in the right technologies in its growth trajectory is
important for a global reduction in greenhouse gases. It is important for the U.S. to help accelerate this process in the
area of power generation, following up on the assurances given by Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit
on clean energy finance, technology, solar catalytic funding and help for power grid upgradation. New Delhi can, in
parallel, do much more on domestic policy to achieve green and low energy intensive growth such as taxing fossil
fuels, managing emissions from waste better and making low-carbon buildings mandatory. India joined other G20
countries at Hangzhou to commit itself to addressing climate change through domestic policy measures. For that to
happen, the Centre must initiate a serious discussion with the States on the national imperatives.
o Ratification - to make an agreement official by signing it or formally

accepting it
o Climate - the type of weather that a country or region has


o Emission - something, especially a gas, that goes into the air
stronger
o Compact - smaller than most things of the same kind
o Beyond - outside
o Acceded to something - to agree to do something
o Accord - a formal agreement
o On board - as part of a group or team, especially for a special purpose
o Landmark - a major event or achievement that marks an important
stage in a process and makes progress possible
o Departure - an occasion when someone leaves a job or an organization
o Binding - (an agreement) that cannot be legally avoided or stopped:
o Treaty - an official written agreement between two or more countries
o Protocol - a set of rules for the correct way to behave on formal
occasions
o Emerging - just beginning to exist or be noticed
o Reliant - depending on someone or something
o Stipulating - to say exactly how something must be done
o Voluntary - done without being forced or paid to do it
o Verifiable - able to be proved
o Differentiated - to see or show a difference between things
o Underpin - to be an important basic part of something, allowing it to
succeed or continue to exist
decide something
o Convention - a large formal meeting of people who do a particular job
or have a similar interest
o Contrary - completely different or opposed to something else
o Reaffirmed - to formally and officially state something again
o Trillions - a very large number or amount of something
o Ratification - the official way to confirm something
o Pointer - something that shows the development or progress of a
situation
o Distinct - separate and different in a way that is clear
o Scaling up - to increase the size, amount, or importance of something
o Renewable energy - energy that can be produced as quickly as it is
used
o Predicated on - depended on
o Trajectory - the way in which a process or event develops over a period
of time
o Accelerate - to make something happen at a faster rate
o Following up - to do something in addition to what you have already
done, in order to be sure of achieving your aim
o Assurance - a promise
o Catalytic - causing a chemical reaction to happen more quickly
o Upgradation - the process of improving the quality or usefulness of
something
o In parallel - at the same time
o Intensive - involving a lot of effort, energy, or attention


o Mandatory - compulsory (ordered by a law or rule)
o Initiate - to make something start
SEP 10/2016
Topic 1 : "Effective, but not equitable"
The > dynamic fare pricing announced for the Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains on an experimental basis has
been justified by the Ministry of Railways as a means to > shore up lagging passenger revenues. The Ministry says the
cost per passenger kilometre today is around 73 paise, while the Railways recovers only 37 paise. The flexible fare system
means only the first 10 per cent of seats and berths will come at the base fare, with 10 per cent increases for every batch
of 10 per cent sold. The increase will be capped at 1.5 times the base fare. The 77 pairs of the three classes of trains
account for 13 to 14 per cent of the Railways passenger revenues. On the face of it, the need to increase passenger
fares is understandable. Without a robust component of fare-based revenue from passenger trains it will be difficult for
the Railways to spend on infrastructure and amenities and focus on features such as safety all of which are imperatives.
The question is whether the flexible fare system is the ideal way to do so.
First, these fare increases in the premium trains for some classes could result in airfares being lower at certain times and
routes. This could wean away some train travellers. Second, the increase in the prices under the scheme begins much
too early, when a bare 10 per cent of the seats are sold. As a result, it puts far too much pressure on passengers to book
early. It would have made more sense for the Railways to expand the scope of Tatkal booking, which is currently limited
to one day before travel. A Tatkal scheme with flexible and cascading pricing coupled with an increase in the number of
tickets and an extension of the time frame would penalise those who buy their tickets late rather than most passengers
on a train. Third, unlike taxi, bus or air services, train services in this country are a monopoly. The Rajdhanis and the
Shatabdis are premium trains, which are favoured by the relatively better off. The real worry is that the experiment may
be extended to include other long-distance trains in the future. A relatively poorer person who makes a late decision to
travel should not be priced out by such a system by a monopolistic provider that aims to provide a public service. Yes,
the Railways must find a way to increase revenue from passenger traffic if it is to convert itself into a healthy and self-
sufficent organisation. The issue is what the best or the most painless way to do this is.
o Effective - successful in producing a desired or expected result

o Equitable - treating everyone fairly and in the same way (impartial)
o Dynamic - continuously changing
o Justified - if you are justified in doing something, you have a good
reason for doing it
o Shore up something - to give support or help to something that is
having problems or is likely to fail
o Lagging - the act of falling or staying behind


o Revenues - the income that a government or company receives
regularly
o Flexible - able to be changed easily according to the situation
o Capped - a limit on the amount of money that can be charged
o Component - one of the different parts of something
o Infrastructure - the basic systems and services a country or
organization uses in order to work effectively
o Amenity - something that makes it comfortable or enjoyable to live or
work somewhere
o Imperatives - something that is very important and urgent
o Ideal - best / of more suitable type
o Premium - the amount by which the price of a share is higher than its
original price
o Cascading - fall quickly in large amounts
o Coupled - combined
o Monopoly - (an organization or group, that has complete control of
o Better off - in a better situation
o Priced out - the state of being unable to invest in a particular product
or service
o Self-sufficent - needing no outside help
Topic 2 : "Reining in the adventurist North"
> North Koreas fifth nuclear test may have had an explosive yield of no more than ten kilotons, somewhat less than the
bomb dropped on Hiroshima, but its reverberations have set alarm bells ringing around the region, even across the Pacific.
This underground test of a nuclear warhead could herald a new era of heightened brinkmanship in the Korean Peninsula.
Concern stems from the claim by the North Korean government that with this detonation the regime has succeeded in
miniaturising nuclear weapons to the point of attaching them to ballistic missiles. These fears are justified given the long
trajectory of the Norths nuclear weapons drive. It first conducted a nuclear test in 2006, followed by three more, in 2009,
2013 and > in January this year. Each time the magnitude of the tremor associated with the test, an indicator of the energy
yield, has increased, from around 4.3 in 2006 to 5.3 in 2016. In parallel, the regime is believed to have developed
increasingly sophisticated delivery systems, ballistic missiles with a growing range. Earlier this week, Pyongyang test-
fired three ballistic missiles, which > landed within a few hundred kilometres off Japans coast. U.S. officials believe it may
have conducted at least 22 launches this year. Condemnation of this test by the UN did little to dampen the defiance of
the Norths Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. Sanctions slapped on it in March have failed to have any effect, as they have
since they were periodically imposed since 1992.
With multiple reports emerging over the years of hardships faced by the North Korean population, including famine,
poverty and rampant human rights violations, the latest explosive test may be an opportune moment to pause and re-
examine the value of the sanctions aimed at isolating the Norths regime internationally. No globally coordinated strategies


will succeed as long as Beijing plays spoiler as it has done historically. Notwithstanding the praise from U.S. President
Barack Obama for Beijings improved adherence to recent sanctions policies, reports from the border region with the
North hint at continued trade with China. Further, this weeks test will exacerbate peninsular tensions over a plan to deploy
THAAD, a U.S. missile defence system, in South Korea. Both Beijing and Moscow have protested against that proposal,
even though the White House appears firm on its intent to protect its treaty ally. Even if Washington and Beijing managed
to somehow set aside strategic mistrust and collaboratively squeeze Pyongyangs weapons development agenda, the
country is already believed to have a standing stock of 15 to 20 nuclear weapons, which are effectively beyond the pale
of sanctions. A more sustainable approach may be to breathe life into the Six-Party Talks, and invest diplomatic currency
in bringing Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. History suggests that failure to do so will only lead to one outcome.
o Reining in Something / Someone - to control unwanted activity or

growth
o Adventurist - some one who is willing to take risks in order to gain an
unfair advantage in business or politics
o Explosive - sudden and great
o Yield - to produce something
o Reverberations - an effect that spreads over a wide area or lasts for a
long time
o Alarm bells - something that makes you feel something unpleasant or
dangerous is going to happen
o Warhead - the front part of a bomb or missile that explodes
o Herald - a sign that something will happen, change, etc
o Era - a period of time that has a particular quality or character
o Heightened - to become stronger
o Brinkmanship - the act of deliberately taking risks and making a
situation as bad as it can be in order to force a particular result
o Peninsula - a long piece of land that is mostly surrounded by water, but
is joined at one end to a larger area of land
o Stems from something - to start or develop as the result of something
o Claim - to say that something is true, even though there is no definite
proof
o Detonation - the act of making something such as a bomb explode
o Miniaturising - the process of making something very small using
modern technology
o Ballistic missile - a type of missile that travels long distances and
cannot be controlled after it has been launched
o Trajectory - the high curving line in which an object such as a missile
moves through the air
o Magnitude - the strength of an earthquake, measured with numbers
from 1 to 10, where 10 is the most powerful
o Tremor - small earthquake
o In parallel - if two or more things happen in parallel, they happen at the
same time and are connected
o Sophisticated - complicated and advanced in design


o Condemnation - a public statement in which someone criticizes
someone or something seriously
o Dampen - to make something such as a feeling or hope less strong
o Defiance - refusal to obey a person or rule
o Sanction - an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken
against a country in order to make it obey international law
o Slapped something on - to order that something should be done
immediately, especially as a punishment
o Periodically - in a way that is repeated after a particular period of time
o Imposed - to introduce something such as a new law or new system,
and force people to accept it
o Hardships - difficult or unpleasant conditions of life
o Famine - a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number
of people, causing illness and death
o Poverty - the condition of being extremely poor
o Sampant - (of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an
uncontrolled way
o Violation - an action that is in opposition to a law, agreement, principle
etc
o Re-examine - to look at or think about something carefully again
o Isolating - to keep someone separate from others
o Coordinated - to organize things into a system
o Strategy - a plan or method for achieving something
o Spoiler - something that is produced to compete with something else
and make it less successful
o Adherence - the action of continuing to obey a rule, law, agreement etc
o Exacerbate - to make a problem become worse
o Protested - to disagree strongly with something
o Treaty - a written agreement between two or more countries, formally
approved and signed by their leaders
o Ally - a country that makes an agreement with another country that they
will work together to help each other, especially in a war
o Set aside - to officially state that a particular legal decision will no longer
be followed
o Collaboratively - in the manner of working with others on a joint projec
o Agenda - a plan or aim that is kept secret
o Standing stock of weapons - a total number of weapons held by an
organization
o The negotiating table - a situation or place in which people formally
discuss something in order to reach an agreement
o Outcome - the final result of a process, meeting, activity etc
SEP 12/2016
Topic 1 : "An office of loss"


After the categorical verdict of the Delhi High Court last month that the Capital > is a Union Territory, it was quite clear
that any decision made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal without the Lieutenant Governors approval will be rendered
illegal. Counsel for the Delhi government had to concede the point in court, leading to the appointment of 21 Delhi
legislators as > parliamentary secretaries being set aside. The appointments, made in March 2015, suffered from multiple
legal infirmities. Apart from the lack of the LGs concurrence, it raised the question of whether it was an office of profit
under the government, something legislators are barred from holding. The penalty stipulated in the Constitution for a
legislator holding an office of profit is disqualification. The Election Commission has reserved its verdict on the question
whether these 21 MLAs have incurred such disqualification, and it is possible for the Aam Aadmi Party now to ask the
matter to be closed, citing the courts setting aside of the appointments. At the same time, it cannot be denied that the
EC could still choose to decide whether these MLAs had indeed held an office of profit for nearly a year-and-a-half. They
had been rendered further vulnerable after the President withheld assent to a Delhi Bill to protect them from incurring
disqualification once again because it was introduced without the LGs approval.
Mr. Kejriwal could have avoided this setback had he > not given executive oversight responsibilities to so many of his
partys legislators. In practice, parliamentary secretaries are junior ministers. In this case, their appointment could also
have been challenged on the ground that after their inclusion, the strength of the Council of Ministers had exceeded the
constitutional limit of 10 per cent on the strength of the Delhi Assembly. In the case of other States, the limit is 15 per
cent. In some States, parliamentary secretaries have been able to stave off disqualification by getting the post saved from
disqualification by legislation. However, no one has been able to get around the numerical cap on the size of the Ministry
under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution. All told, Mr. Kejriwal got himself into a legal quagmire by seeking to take on the
LG in the belief he had the same leeway as other CMs did. He will continue to maintain that the post of parliamentary
secretary, inasmuch as it entails no salary or perquisites, is not an office of profit. Yet, it cannot be denied that the issue
has caused him loss of face, of credibility and some of the moral righteousness that propelled him to power.
o Categorical - without any doubt

o Union Territory - an area in India that is ruled directly by the central
government
o Rendered - considered (to become)
o Concede - to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true
o Legislators - people who have the power and authority to create new
laws
o Set aside - to officially state that a particular legal decision will no longer
be followed
o Suffered from something - to experience the effects of something bad
o Infirmity - physical or mental weakness
o Concurrence - agreement between people
o Barred - prevent or prohibit (someone) from doing something
o Stipulated - to say what is allowed or what is necessary
o Incurred - to experience something unpleasant as a result of something
that you have done

o Disqualification - a situation in which someone is not allowed to take
part in something because they have committed an offence or have done
something that is not allowed by the rules
o Citing - to mention something as an example, explanation, or proof of
something else
o Denied - to say that something is not true
o Rendered - to express, show, or perform something in a particular way
o Vulnerable - someone who is vulnerable is weak or easy to hurt
physically or mentally
o Withheld - to refuse to give something
o Assent - agreement with or approval of a plan or suggestion
o Incurring - to experience something, usually something unpleasant, as
a result of actions you have taken
o Setback - a problem that delays or that stops progress or makes a
situation worse
o Executive - the part of government that makes certain that laws are
being used as planned (The other two parts of government are the
legislature and the judiciary.)
o Oversight - something that you do not notice or think of that causes
problems later
o Exceeded - to go above an official limit
o Get around something - to find a way of dealing with a problem or of
avoiding it
o Quagmire - a situation that is so difficult or complicated that you cannot
make much progress
o Leeway - the amount of freedom that someone has to make their own
decisions or to take action
o Inasmuch as - used for adding a comment that explains or makes
clearer what you have just said
o Entail - to make something necessary, or to involve something
o Perquisite - an extra benefit that you get from your job
o Loss of face - the state of no longer being respected by people because
of something that you have done
o Credibility - able to be believed or trusted
o Moral righteousness - the quality of being morally good or correct
o Propelled - to cause something to happen
Topic 2 : "ISRO makes India proud again"
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) crossed an important milestone with the > successful launch of weather
satellite INSAT-3DR using a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle equipped with the indigenous cryogenic upper
stage. The successful launch marks a departure from the long history of failures with the GSLV; except for the first, every
launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the workhorse of ISRO, has been a success. That September 8
launch marks the > third consecutive success; the fact that it is the first operational flight by the GSLV carrying the
indigenous cryogenic upper stage is confirmation that India now belongs to the elite club of countries that have mastered
the cryogenic technology. Maintaining structural and thermal integrity of the engine at very high temperatures during


combustion just a few centimetres away from 250 C, a temperature at which materials behave very differently, is a
huge challenge. Likewise, igniting a cryogenic fuel and sustaining the combustion for a prolonged period is a daunting
task. The Thursday launch had fully utilised the maximum payload carrying capacity of the GSLV-Mk II by carrying the
heaviest satellite (2,211 kg) ever from Indian soil. This became possible only because the cryogenic upper stage was
used. Unlike solid and liquid propellants, the specific impulse or thrust provided by a cryogenic rocket stage is much
higher and is therefore more efficient to carry heavier payloads.
Unlike in the case of the PSLV where industry participation is around 80 per cent, it is > only about half in the case of the
GSLV. ISRO is a research and development organisation and not a production organisation, but the lack of greater
industry participation has resulted in it being unable to launch more satellites in a year using the GSLV. However, efforts
are under way to change this and ISRO has set a target of two GSLV launches in a year by 2018-2019. Even as the
GSLV-Mk II has completed its first operational flight, ISRO is busy preparing for a ground qualification test of a more
powerful GSLV-Mk III launch vehicle in about two months. The first experimental flight using the GSLV-Mk III is scheduled
to take place by the end of this year and will use a new cryogenic engine. With an ability to provide double the thrust
compared with the current cryogenic technology, the vehicle would be able to carry payloads up to four tonnes. This
would mean that the GSLV-Mk III, when fully operational after three-four launches, will make ISRO truly independent by
not having to rely on facilities abroad for launching heavier payloads. Besides independence, the country would stand to
gain tremendously through cheaper launches.
o Milestone - an event or achievement that marks an important stage in

a process
o Equipped - having the necessary tools / equipment, etc
o Indigenous - developed in a place or country without the help of other
o Cryogenic - low temperature
o Departure - an occasion when someone leaves a place
o Workhorse - a very useful piece of equipment that you use a lot
o Consecutive - following one after another in order
o Elite - the best in a group
o Mastered - acquire complete knowledge or skill in something (a subject,
technique, or art)
o Structural - related to the structure of something
o Thermal - relating to heat
o Integrity - the quality of being whole and complete
o Combustion - the chemical process in which substances mix with
oxygen in the air to produce heat and light
o Likewise - in the same way
o Igniting - to make something start to burn
o Sustaining - to provide the conditions in which something can happen
or exist
o Prolonged - continuing for a long time
o Daunting - very difficult
o Payload - the equipment or people in a space vehicle
o Soil - a country

o Unlike - different from someone or something else
o Propellant - a substance used for making something move forwards, for
example fuel for sending a rocket into space
o Impulse - something that is the driving force behind something else
o Thrust - to put something somewhere with a quick hard push
o Lack of something - a situation in which you do not have something
o Take place - to happen
o Rely on something - to depend on something
o Tremendously - extremely /very much
SEP 13/2016
Topic 1 : "State of the Congress campaign"
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis kisan yatra continues to roll through Uttar Pradesh. In advance of the
Assembly elections due early in 2017, Mr. Gandhi is on a >Deoria-to-Delhi trek , and in its early days he has managed to
keep the spotlight on his presence in various ways. His khaat sabhas created a flutter as some rural folk, invited to sit
around informally, >took off with the stringed cots . The subsequent wisecracks by political opponents about Congress
workers struggling to stop the flight of the khaats were, wisely, dovetailed into the message of acute rural distress that
the party is seeking to amplify. A poor farmer making off with a freebie as basic as a charpoy >was being called a thief ,
said Mr. Gandhi, taking aim at the BJP government at the Centre, while flamboyant businessmen who dupe banks were
being politely referred to as defaulters. So far, Mr. Gandhi has taken >pot shots at all his opponents : he said the elephant
(the election symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party) has eaten away everything, the cycle (symbol of the ruling Samajwadi
government) is punctured, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes selfies with the powerful, not with ordinary farmers.
If this gives the appearance of indiscriminate attacks on all foes, the strategy may in fact be rather more carefully
calibrated. The Congress must know it has no chance of succeeding in its avowed aim of winning the election alone
but to count as a political force in U.P. and at the national level, the party needs to be seen to be backing itself, and being
the primary spokesperson of the electorates aspirations.
That these roadshows are not about U.P. alone is obvious from the absence from the frame of the Congresss chief
ministerial candidate, Sheila Dikshit. Whether the roadshows will meet with the level of success that Sonia Gandhis 2004
campaign through U.P. or Mr. Gandhis own 2009 mobilisation did is still uncertain. Each of those journeys through U.P.
gave the Congress the ability to throw its voice farther on the national stage. Those were, however, Lok Sabha campaigns,
in which the Congress has tended to fare better than in State elections. For instance, it got 21 (out of 80) Lok Sabha seats
in 2009, but three years later managed just 28 (out of 404) Assembly seats. Since then, in the singular summer of 2014
the BJPs campaign left the Congress and the two regional giants witless. So the Congress campaign is being waged as
much against the incumbent government in Lucknow as that in New Delhi. Mr. Gandhis media managers have succeeded
in moderating the surround sound of the yatra with no sectional vote base anymore, the Congress now has the
opportunity to unveil a cohesive, inclusive manifesto.


o Roll through - to be at attendance at an event
o In advance of something - before something
o Keep the spotlight on something - to attract attention to something
o Flutter - a short period of excited activity
o Rural Folk - people of the countryside
o Sit around - to spend time sitting down and doing nothing
o Informally - not officially
o Took off - to remove something
o Wisecrack - a joke or clever remark that upsets or annoys you
o Flight - an act of escape, running away, or avoiding something
o Dovetailed - to fit together, or to work together well
o Acute - very serious
o Amplify - to increase the size or effect of something
o Freebie - something that is given to you as a free gift, especially as a
way of attracting your support for or interest in something
o Charpoy - a bed used especially in India consisting of a frame strung
with tapes or light rope
o Flamboyant - very confident in behaviour, and liking to be noticed by
other people, for example because of the way you dress, talk, etc
o Dupe - to deceive / cheat someone
o Defaulters - peopple who does not pay interest or other money that
they owe
o Pot shot - a criticism that is rather unfair or that is made only to make
someone look bad
o Indiscriminate - done without considering who or what you harm or
damage
o Foes - enemies
war, politics, business, industry, or sport
o Calibrated - adjusted
o Succeeding - to achieve something that you have been aiming for
o Avowed - publicly claimed or promised
o Primary - most important
o Spokesperson - someone whose job is to officially represent an
organization, for example in dealing with journalists
o Electorate - all the people who are allowed to vote in an election
o Aspiration - something that you want to achieve
o Roadshows - a series of public events, each of which happens in a
different place
o Mobilisation - a group of people coming together in order to achieve
something
o Uncertain - not clearly known or understood
o Fare better - performed better
o Giant - a very successful and powerful person or organization


o Witless - stupid or showing no intelligence
o Moderating - to make something less serious
o Unveil - to announce something officially that was previously a secret
o Cohesive - combining well to form a strong well-organized unit
o Inclusive - an inclusive group or organization tries to include many
different types of people and treat them all fairly and equally
o Manifesto - a formal statement expressing the aims and plans of a group
or organization, especially a political party
Topic 2 : "They are the world"
The findings of the Unicef report, Uprooted: The Growing Crisis for Refugee and Migrant Children, could not be grimmer.
Over 50 per cent of the 50 million children who have migrated or been forcibly displaced across borders are said to have
fled violence. About one in three children who live outside their country of birth >is a refugee . The much smaller ratio of
displacement for adults less than one in 20 according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reveals the
starkness of the situation. The UNHCR says that in the decade ending 2015, the number of child refugees almost doubled.
Last year, Syria and Afghanistan alone accounted for nearly half the worlds child refugees, highlighting the brutal impact
of the war on a segment of society that had little to do with the conflict directly or otherwise and is the most vulnerable.
The last decade saw two landmark rulings on the conscription of child soldiers. The first was the 2007 judgment of the
UN-backed tribunal for Sierra Leone against three men from a rebel armed group. The other was the conviction of
Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga by the International Criminal Court in 2012.
Against this backdrop, the dramatic rise in school enrolment under a global universal primary education drive, or the
halving of infant mortality rates under the Millennium Development Goals, seem like postcards from another universe.
The shocking reality of trafficking in boys and girls, conscription by armed groups in conflict zones and exploitation in the
sex trade has overshadowed these advances, portending both immediate and long-term danger to whole generations.
Paradoxically, the recommendations of the Unicef report are so comprehensive that short of swift and sweeping changes
in global policy and practice, they are unlikely to yield tangible results. A case in point is the suggestion that governments
should address the root causes of conflict, violence and extreme poverty, and instead divert scarce resources to fulfil
more fundamental necessities of life. The spirit underlying this idea is as compelling as the complexities of realpolitik that
impede its translation into action. This is evident in respect of the challenge of combating international terrorism by a
delineation of its political antecedents. Conversely, the idea to dispense with the detention of children seeking refugee
status and to do away with reporting requirements, potentially benefiting 11 million, is a more pragmatic proposal. Prima
facie, there is merit in this approach, as governments may be expected to take a more sympathetic view on humanitarian
imperatives.
o Finding - a piece of information that is discovered during an official

examination of a problem, situation, or object
o Uprooted - to remove a person from their home or usual environment

o Refugee - someone who leaves their country, especially during a war or
other threatening event
o Migrant - someone who travels to another place or country in order to
find work
o Grimmer - unpleasant and worrier
o Displaced - to force something or someone out of its usual or original
position
o Fled - to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear
o Starkness - seriousness
o Impact - an effect / influence
o Segment - part
o Little - a small amount (almost nothing)
o Vulnerable - weak or easy to hurt physically or mentally
o Ruling - an official decision made by a court or by someone in a position
of authority
o Conscription - the process of making people join the armed forces
type
o Rebel - someone who tries to remove a government or leader using force
o Armed group - a group of people carrying weapons, especially guns
o Conviction - a decision by a court of law that someone is guilty of a
crime
o Warlord - a military leader who controls a country or, more often, an
area within a country
o Against the backdrop of something - to describe whats going on in
the background or surrounding context when something else happens
o Dramatic - sudden and surprising
o Halving - to reduce something to half its original size, number, or
amount
o Infant mortality - the death of children under the age of one year
o Trafficking - the activity of buying and selling goods or people illegally
o Exploitation - unfair treatment of someone
o Overshadowed - to be a negative feature or influence that spoils
something
o Portending - to be a sign or warning of something that will happen
o Paradoxically - used for saying that something is strange because it is
the opposite of what you expect
o Comprehensive - including many details of something
o Swift - happening quickly or immediately
o Sweeping - affecting many things or people; large
o Unlikely - not going to happen
o Yield - to produce
o Tangible - important and noticeable
o Scarce - not easy to find or get


o Underlying - used to describe something on which something else is
based
o Compelling - interesting or exciting enough to keep your attention
completely
o Realpolitik - politics based on practical ideas rather than moral ideas
o Impede - to make it more difficult for someone to do something
o Evident - easy to see, notice, or understand
o Combating - to do something in order to try to stop something bad from
happening or a bad situation from becoming worse
o Delineation - to describe something in a simple way
o Antecedents - someone or something existing or happening before,
especially as the cause or origin of something existing or happening later:
o Dispense - to provide something such as a service, especially officially
o Pragmatic - involving practical results rather than theories and ideas
o Prima facie - based on what seems to be true, before a situation has
been examined in detail
SEP 14/2016
Topic 1 : "Sharing without caring"
Emotions often trump reason. The Cauvery water dispute is turning out to be less about water and irrigation and more
about linguistic chauvinism and regional identity. Nothing else can explain the > mindless violence in Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu over the Supreme Court order asking the former to release water to the latter, keeping in view the distress situation
in both States in a season of deficit rainfall. Many of the acts of violence have been perpetuated in the two States by
chauvinistic, fringe organisations that have little to do with the farming community or its interests. It is clear that there is
insufficient water in Karnatakas reservoirs to meet the full irrigation needs of both States. The point of the Supreme Court
order was to make the States share their distress and not to magically fulfil the needs of farmers on both sides. But
political parties and some media houses, especially regional language television channels, have sought to portray the
issue as one that pits the people of one State against that of the other. Indeed, the two major national parties, the
Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, have taken different stands in the two States on this issue. No party or State
government appears to believe it can afford to be seen as taking even so much as a conciliatory step toward defusing
the crisis. On some previous occasions when Karnataka released water in a distress year the State government did so
quietly so as to not give chauvinistic elements any opportunity to inflame passions.
Cauvery is an inter-State dispute, but this is no reason to turn the issue into a raging controversy that draws the peoples
of the two States into confrontation. That Tamil-speaking people settled in Karnataka for generations are made to feel
insecure, and business establishments run by entrepreneurs tracing their familial ties to Karnataka are targeted in Tamil
Nadu are indications of how the water dispute goes beyond the interests of the people and becomes mixed up with the
emotive issue of linguistic identity. Ideally, as stipulated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, the technicalities of
water-sharing should be left to the Cauvery Management Board, which is to monitor the water flows with the help of the


Cauvery Regulation Committee and the respective State authorities. If Cauvery is not to be made a plaything in the hands
of chauvinists, the governments of the two States as well as at the Centre need to send out a strong signal to the
marauding mobsters that violence, in whatever name, will be put down strongly by the security forces. As laid down by
the CWDT, the issue of water-sharing should be left in the hands of technical experts, and not politicians who are hostage
to the emotions of a parochial fringe.
o Trump - any advantage held in reserve until needed

o Cauvery - a river in south India (Kaveri)
o Dispute - a serious disagreement
o Turning out - developing in a perticular way
o Linguistic Chauvinism - a belief that your own language is best and
more important than any other language
o Mindless - mindless people do not think about what they are doing
o Former - used for referring to the first of two people or things that you
have mentioned
o Latter - used for referring to the second of two people, things, or groups
that have just been mentioned
or upset
o Deficit - a lack of a quality (very less than you needed)
o Perpetuated - to make something such as a situation or process
continue, especially one that is wrong, unfair, or dangerous
o Chauvinistic - someone who believes that their own country, race, sex,
or group is better than any other
o Fringe - the less important part of an area, group, or activity
o Farming - the activity of a being a farmer
o Insufficient - not enough
o Fulfil - to reach a particular standard, or to have the qualities that are
necessary for something
o Portray - to show or describe something in a particular way
o Pits - to make you have very strong unpleasant feelings or in which
something bad is happening
o Indeed - used for adding a statement that supports and increases the
effect of what you have just said
o To take different stands - to publicly express different opinions
o Conciliatory - trying to end an argument and make people feel less
angry
o Defusing - to make a difficult or dangerous situation calmer by reducing
or removing its cause
o Inflame - to make a situation worse by making people more angry or
excited
o Passions - a powerful emotion such as love or anger
o Inter-State - existing or taking place between states
o Raging - happening with a lot of force or violence


o Controversy - a lot of disagreement or argument about something,
usually because it affects or is important to many people
o Linguistic - related to the language
o To monitor - to watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time
in order to discover something about it
o Plaything - an object used for pleasure or enjoyment, such as a child's
toy:
o Marauding - going from one place to another killing or using violence,
stealing, and destroying
o Mobsters - someone who is a member of a criminal organization
o Laid down - to state officially what someone must do or how they must
do it
o Hostage - a person who is the prisoner of someone who threatens to kill
them if they do not get what they want
o Parochial - not interested in things that do not affect your local area
directly
Topic 2 : "The ceasefire in Syria"
The agreement reached between Russia and the United States in Geneva on > a ceasefire in Syria is perhaps the best
opportunity for a solution to the five-and-a-half-year old civil war. Under it, Russia will prevent the regime of President
Bashar al-Assad from bombing rebel-held areas, while the U.S. will join hands with Russia in the fight against jihadist
groups, including the Islamic State. The > broad framework of the deal is the Putin Plan, made public a year ago while
announcing Russias intervention in Syria. Vladimir Putin wanted Syrian statehood to be restored and the major powers
to come together in the fight against the jihadists. When Russia made the proposal at the UN General Assembly, not
many had expected that Moscow and Washington would come together on Syria. The U.S.s initial response to the
Russian intervention was sceptical, with reservations about Russia attacking non-IS rebel groups. There were fears about
the conflict escalating into a full-blown war. Instead, the Putin Plan seems to have worked, albeit with a heavy human
cost. The intervention has bolstered the Syrian regime, changing the balance of the conflict. Mr. Assads regime was on
the verge of collapse a year ago; it is now stable at least in its strongholds. The rebels influence has shrunk, though they
appear to be unbeatable in many of the small towns they control. This stalemate and the fear of more bloodshed may
have prompted both the U.S. and Russia to play down their differences.
This time, the prospects for peace are brighter given the investment the two military powers have made. Both the rebels
and the regime have welcomed the deal. There are positive changes at the regional level as well. Turkey, a staunch
supporter of the rebels, had recently said Mr. Assad could play a transitional role in Syria. Two big challenges remain.
First, can Russia halt Mr. Assads fighter jets? Though Moscow wields strong influence over Damascus, it has in the past
expressed uneasiness over the stubbornness of the regime. The regime is now making gains in the battlefield. Even if
Mr. Assad agrees to suspend the bombing, it is not clear if he will be prepared to make any meaningful compromises in


the peace talks. Second, the rebels fighting the regime are not a unified force. Russia wants Fateh al-Sham, a former
affiliate of al-Qaeda, to be singled out and attacked. The U.S. has agreed to this suggestion in principle, but its practicality
is uncertain. However, the odds should not overshadow the significance of the agreement. If the ceasefire is clearly
established, that itself would be quite an achievement given the horrors of the war.
o Ceasefire - an agreement to stop fighting for a period of time, especially

in order to discuss permanent peace
o Perhaps - used for saying that you are not certain about something
o Civil war - a war fought between different groups of people within the
same country
o Regime - a government that controls a country, especially in a strict or
unfair way
o Intervention - a situation in which someone becomes involved in a
particular issue, problem etc in order to influence what happens
o Statehood - the status of a place as an independent country
o Sceptical - having doubts about something
o Escalating - to become much worse or more serious, or to make
something do this
o Full-blown - in its most complete and developed form
o Albeit - although (used for introducing a comment that slightly changes
or reduces the effect of what you said before it)
o Bolstered - to make something stronger or more effective
o On the verge of something - about to do something or experience
something
o Collapse - to suddenly fail or stop existing
o Stronghold - a place where the majority of people have the same
political or religious beliefs
o Shrunk - to become smaller in size
o Unbeatable - impossible to defeat in a competition
o Bloodshed - a situation in which people are killed or injured, especially
during fighting
o Prompted - to cause something to happen or be done
o Play down - to try to make a problem or difficult situation seem less
important than it is
o Prospects - the possibility that something will happen, especially
something good
o Staunch - loyal, and showing strong belief in something or strong
support for something
o Transitional - temporary
o Halt - a temporary or permanent stop in a process
o Uneasiness - worry or anxiety
o Stubbornness - difficult to deal with
o Unified - behaving or treated as one group
o Affiliate - to have a connection with or support a larger organization or
group


o Singled out - to choose one person or thing from a group for special
attention, especially criticism or praise
o Overshadow - to be a negative feature or influence that spoils
something
o Established - having existed for a long time, and therefore recognized
as good or successful
o Horror - a very strong feeling of shock, fear caused by something
extremely unpleasant
SEP 15/2016
Topic 1 : "Running in the family"
Akhilesh Yadavs tussle with his uncles has been a >consistent feature of his tenure as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
But the rapid developments of this week could mark the deepest fissure in the ruling Samajwadi Party. In the span of a
few hours on Tuesday, >tensions that have simmered ever since Mr. Yadav came to power in early 2012 rose to a
crescendo. Mr. Yadav shifted out the State Chief Secretary, Deepak Singhal, who had been in the post for only two
months, a man seen to be close to Shivpal Singh Yadav, brother of his father and SP chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav. In no
time, the Chief Minister was replaced by Mr. Shivpal Yadav as the partys U.P. unit president. Thereafter, Mr. Akhilesh
Yadav stripped his uncle of most of the portfolios he held in the Cabinet. There the matter now rests, with party
confabulations with Mr. Mulayam Singh shifting to Delhi, and the young scion issuing statements asserting his writ as
Chief Minister of U.P. How this realigns the SPs lines of authority, and eventually shapes its campaign for the Assembly
elections, depends on what gives in the family feud.
The Chief Minister and his uncles have made moves and counter-offensives on a crowded chessboard these past years,
with Mr. Mulayam Singh keeping the ultimate command in his own hands. The Opposition, for its part, never loses the
opportunity to highlight how the Chief Minister is undermined by his uncles, those related by blood and those who
exercise authority by virtue of their long stint in the party the allegation is that in effect the State has four-and-a-half
chief ministers. The result of this tussle is that at every point of discord, it is made evident that the Chief Minister does not
hold enough sway over the party organisation in turn, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav loses no opportunity to emphasise that his
calling card in politics is clean, aspirational governance that is focussed on development and law and order. In the run-
up to the State elections, he is seeking to foreground this image, and pushing back on the discord with his uncles. A day
before the Chief Secretarys sacking, he dismissed two Ministers caught in corruption charges, evidently without securing
his fathers nod. Earlier, he forced the revocation of a Shivpal-engineered merger of the Quami Ekta Dal into the SP, on
account of its criminal antecedents. Mr. Akhilesh Yadav could, in fact, pull this discord to the partys electoral advantage.
He does not carry the burden of incumbency issues, primarily the politics of patronage and rent-seeking. But for this to
happen he may have to force his father to show his hand more unambiguously and recover some control of the SPs
State unit.


o Tenure - the holding of an office
o Fissure - a state of incompatibility or disagreement
o Simmered - grows slowly stronger over a period of time and could
become more serious at any moment
o Crescendo - an increase in excitement, danger, or action
o Stripped - remove something
o Portfolios - a particular job or area of responsibility of a member of a
government
o Confabulations - conversations
o Scion - a young member of a rich or important family
o Asserting - to do something to show that you have power
o Writ - an official document that tells someone to do something or to stop
doing something
o Realigns - to change the position of something
things happen
o Campaign - a series of actions intended to produce political or social
change
o Feud - an argument that has existed for a long time between two people
or groups, causing a lot of anger or violence
o Counter-offensives - an attack against someone who has already
attacked you
o Crowded - containing a lot of people, especially too many
o Undermined - to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less
likely to succeed, or to make something weaker
o Virtue - a good moral quality in a person, or the general quality of being
morally good:
o Stint - a period of time spent doing something
o Discord - disagreement between people
o Sway - to influence or change someones opinion
o Emphasise - to give particular importance or attention to something
o Aspirational - showing that you want to have more money and a higher
social position than you now have
o Foreground - the area that is of most importance and activity, or that
people pay attention to
o Sacking - an act of removing someone from a job
o Nod - approval
o Revocation - the act of stating officially that an agreement, right, or
legal document is no longer effective
o Engineered - arranged
o Merger - the process of combining two organizations to form a bigger
one


o Antecedent - something that happened or existed before something
else and is similar to it in some way
o Incumbency - an official position
o Patronage - help or money that is given to a person or organization
o Unambiguously - clearly
Topic 2 : "Sapping Indias vitality"
The death of several people in Delhi linked to an outbreak of >dengue, chikungunya and malaria has once again exposed
the inadequacy of national public health programmes that aim to eliminate vector-borne diseases. There was a sharp
increase in the incidence of chikungunya in the country in 2015 over the previous year, although official data do not
attribute any deaths to the infection. Dengue cases have also steadily risen, from 75,808 in 2013 to 99,913 last year, with
the death toll rising from 193 to 220 during this period. The footprint for malaria has grown, with over 1.1 million cases
last year, although the number of people dying from the infection has shown a recent decline, going by official statistics.
It must, of course, be borne in mind that there is some evidence of under-reporting of malaria, leading to the criticism that
the full impact of the disease is not captured by government data. Delhis residents are, of course, not alone in suffering
from the failures of long-running vector control programmes, although they are justified in feeling disgusted at
the >politicisation of the problem . The irony is that India, with its focus on rapid economic growth and prosperity, is
nowhere near victory in the battle against productivity-sapping infections spread by mosquitoes and other insects, while
a nimble neighbour like Sri Lanka could declare itself malaria-free.
There are several aspects to the >Sri Lankan experience that could help evaluate the efforts of Indias States in their
battle to control disease-spreading vectors. Better results were achieved by the island nation through integration of
different approaches. This includes focussing on mosquito control in irrigation and agriculture, introducing new classes of
insecticides for residual spraying within houses, and scaling up distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets even in areas
caught up in conflict. Mobile centres for access to diagnostics and treatment also helped halt disease transmission. For
India to achieve its goal of eliminating malaria by 2030, and curb other vector-borne diseases, there has to be sustained
effort and political will. The dengue map for 2015 shows that Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal and Gujarat were the
worst-affected. On chikungunya, Karnataka needs special help, as it has a disproportionately higher incidence compared
to other States. Evidently, it will take active surveillance and close collaboration with local governments to eliminate the
hotspots. Mobilising the community to participate in sanitation campaigns holds the key, although families that live in
deprived neighbourhoods will need generous municipal assistance, improved civic facilities and access to free health
care.
oSapping - take away strength or an important quality from someone

oVitality - energy and strength
oSeveral - some
oOutbreak - the sudden start of war, disease, violence etc
oInadequacy - not good enough or too low in quality

o Eliminate - to get rid of something that is not wanted or needed
o Vector - an insect or other small animal that carries diseases between
larger animals and humans, but is not itself harmed by the disease
o Vector-borne diseases - diseases which are transmitted indirectly
when a vector bites or touches a person
o Attribute - to believe / say that something is the result of a particular
situation, event, or persons actions
o Footprint - the amount of space that something uses
o Decline - to become less
o Borne in mind - to realize that something is true
o Under-reporting - to record less numbers than the actual values
o Criticism - comments stating that something is wrong or bad
o Impact - an effect, or an influence
o Disgusted - feeling very angry and upset about something that you do
not approve of
o Irony - a strang situation in which things happen in the opposite way to
what you would expect
o Prosperity - the situation of being successful and having a lot of money
o Productivity - the rate at which something is produced
o Sapping - gradually weaken or destroy (a person's strength or power).
o Nimble - able to move quickly and easily
o Evaluate - to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or
value of something
o Integration - the process of combining two or more things into one
o Insecticides - a chemical substance made and used for killing insects,
especially those that eat plants
o Residual - remaining after the rest of something has gone or ended
o Scaling up - to make something larger in size, amount etc than it used
to be
o Conflict - a situation in which it is difficult for two things to exist together
o Diagnostics - identifying a particular illness using a combination of signs
and symptoms
o Halt - a temporary or permanent stop in a process
o Curb - control
o Disproportionately - if something is disproportionate, it is bigger or
smaller than it should be in comparison to something else
o Evidently - easily seen or understood
o Surveillance - to carefully observe something
o Collaboration - he process of working with someone to produce
something
o Hotspot - a place where there is often a lot of violence or fighting
o Mobilising - if you mobilize a group of people, or if they mobilize, they
come together in order to achieve something
o Community - the people who live in an area
o Sanitation - the systems for taking dirty water and other waste products
away from buildings in order to protect people's health


o Campaigns - a series of actions intended to produce political or social
change
o Holds the key - to have control of something
o Deprived - not having the things that are essential for a comfortable life
o Generous - willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more
than is usual or expected
o Civic - relating to a town or city, especially to its government and public
activities
SEP 16/2016
Topic 1 : "Apples tax troubles"
The hefty > 13 billion in back taxes the European Commission imposed on Apple should have drawn Europe and the
U.S. closer in their common quest to crack down on corporate tax avoidance. But the unprecedented penalty to hit the
American tech giant has triggered angry outbursts at home and could well put paid to hopes for transatlantic cooperation,
especially on the trade and investment partnership agreement, in the immediate future. The latest ruling by the European
Union competition commissioner may not be the last against U.S. multinationals in what is increasingly being viewed as
harmful to tax diplomacy. As with the > Starbucks decision in 2015 and the ongoing probe into McDonalds, both
concerning two different countries, the Commission alleges that Irelands ultra-low, single-digit tax arrangements with
Apple were in violation of EU state aid rules. Notably, the Commission has not taken issue with Dublins 12.5 per cent
rate of corporate taxation. Curiously, the possibility of clawing back billions of euros, estimated to be worth the countrys
health-care budget for a year, is not an attractive prospect for Dublin, home to hundreds of multinationals thriving on its
decades-old foreign direct investment policies that include low corporate taxation. Instead, Ireland, which risks losing
jobs, has resolved to appeal the decision along with Apple, whose Irish subsidiaries account for 90 per cent of the
companys foreign profits.
On the other hand, there is no confusion on the other side of the Atlantic on what the move by Brussels implies. U.S.
politicians are piqued that a big chunk of the money that firms such as Apple may eventually have to pay European
governments could instead have filled domestic coffers, but for a domestic stumbling block. This is the regulatory
loophole that companies exploit to defer, indefinitely, levies on profits from their overseas subsidiaries until they are
repatriated. As matters stand, the 35 per cent tax rate in the U.S., compared to Irelands 12.5 per cent, is an incentive for
American firms to retain the advantage of the deferral clause. Meanwhile, a 2014 regulation to curb so-called corporate
inversion, a manoeuvre whereby American firms relocate their headquarters to benign countries to trim domestic tax bills,
is said to have had limited effect in the absence of legislation. Global efforts backed by more than 80 countries to combat
cross-border tax avoidance, known as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, are still at an early stage. EU action targeting
individual corporations could well be seen, at this juncture, as an irritant in that larger endeavour.
o Hefty - large and heavy

o Back taxes - taxes that have been unpaid in the year that they were
due


o Imposed - to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed
or received
o Quest - an attempt to achieve something difficult
o Crack down - to start dealing with bad or illegal behaviour in a more
severe way
o Avoidance - the act of avoiding something or someone
o Unprecedented - never having happened or existed before
o Giant - a very large and successful company
o Triggered - to make something happen
o Outburst - a sudden forceful expression of emotion, especially anger
o Transatlantic - between countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean
o Multinational - a large company that has offices, shops, or factories in
several countries
o Diplomacy - the profession or skill of preserving or creating friendly
relationships between countries
o Alleges - to say that something is true or that someone has done
something wrong or illegal, even though this has not been proved
o Ultra-low - extremely low
etc
o Aid - money, food, or other help that an organization or government
gives to a country or area where people need it
o Curiously - in an unusual and interesting way
o Possibility - the chance that something might happen or be true
o Clawing - attacking
o Prospect - the possibility that something will happen
o Subsidiary - a company that is owned by a larger company
o On the other hand - used for giving two different opinions about
something
o Implies - if one thing implies another thing, the other thing is likely to
exist or be true
o Pique - a feeling of anger, especially caused by someone damaging your
feeling of being proud of yourself
o Chunk - a large amount or part of something
things happen
o Coffer - the supply of money that an organization has available to spend
o Stumbling block - a difficulty that causes mistakes or prevents progress
o Regulatory - a regulatory organization or company controls an activity,
process, or industry
o Loophole - a small mistake in an agreement or law that gives someone
the chance to avoid having to do something
o Exploit - to use a situation so that you get benefit from it, even if it is
wrong or unfair to do this
o Indefinitely - for a period of time that has no fixed end
o Levy - an amount of money, such as a tax, that you have to pay to a
government or organization


o Repatriate - to send money that you earn in a foreign country back to
your own country
o Firm - a business or company
o Retain - to keep someone or something
o Curb - to control or limit something that is harmful
o Inversion - a change that makes something the opposite of what it was
before
o Manoeuvre - a clever or dishonest action that you do to get something
that you want
o Benign - pleasant and kind
o Legislation - a law, or a set of laws
o Combat - fight
different countries
o Irritant - something that annoys you
o Endeavour - an effort to do something, especially something new or
difficult
Topic 2 : "The message from Shahabuddin"
If there is one person who embodies the contradictions in the alliance between the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya
Janata Dal, it is the criminal-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin. A former Member of Parliament of the RJD who
is now out on bail after spending 11 years in jail, he symbolised >everything that was wrong with the Lalu Prasad raj in
Bihar. Indeed, when Nitish Kumar first took over as Chief Minister in 2005, he seemed intent on making an example of
the gangster who defied law-enforcing authorities and ensured his writ ran in his constituency Siwan. With Shahabuddin
roaming free in Bihar on being granted bail by the Patna High Court, Mr. Kumar >will necessarily have to ignore his veiled
threats and snide remarks. When Mr. Kumar got the government to pursue the cases against the gangster, he was fighting
the RJD; now, however, he is in alliance with that party. Although the government is likely to oppose the bail order in the
Supreme Court, there is little doubt that the political situation in Bihar has changed since the time Shahabuddin went to
jail. Improving the law and order situation freeing Bihar from jungle raj was one of Mr. Kumars campaign planks in
2005, when in the company of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he ousted the RJD from power. Now, as the head of a JD(U)-
RJD government, he must speak a different language. So far, in Bihar, with his clean, no-nonsense image he has bested
Mr. Prasad in two elections and a Narendra Modi-led BJP in a third. To not take on Shahabuddin for fear of offending his
alliance partner is therefore not an option for Mr. Kumar.
If the Nitish Kumar government were to continue to put pressure on Shahabuddin by pursuing the cases against him to
their logical end, it would be to shake the JD(U)-RJD alliance from its comfort zone. Shahabuddin seems acutely
conscious that he needs to drive a wedge between the RJD and the JD(U) for the sake of his own political survival. His


remark that Mr. Kumar was a Chief Minister of circumstances and that the RJD would come to power on its own in the
next election is a reflection of this. Shahabuddin found endorsement for this view from another prominent RJD leader,
Raghuvansh Prasad, and it was left to Lalu Prasad to strike a semblance of a balance. Clearly, the short-term interests
of the RJD are tied up with the interests of Mr. Kumar, but equally, the long-term interests of the party depend on Mr.
Prasad striking an independent line. No one could have driven home this truth the way Shahabuddin did.
o Embodies - to include something

o Contradictions - differences
o Symbolised - to be considered as a typical or perfect example of
something
o Indeed - used to express that something is correct
o Took over - to take control of something (job)
o Intent - the intention to do something
o Defied - to refuse to obey someone or something
o Enforcing - to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people
doing something
o Constituency - a division of a country that elects a representative to a
parliament
o Roaming - moving freely over a wide area
o Veiled - not direct but is easily understood
o Snide - deliberately unkind in an indirect way
change
o Plank - an important aspect of something, on which it is based
o Ousted - to remove someone from a position of power
o Speak/talk the same language - to have the same ideas and attitudes
as someone else
o Speak a different language - to change your ideas and say exact
opposite to whoat you said earlier
o Nonsense - ideas, behaviour, or statements that are not true or sensible
o Offending - causing a problem
o Pursuing - to follow a course of activity
o Comfort zone - a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which
your ability and determination are not being tested
o Acutely - used for emphasizing that a feeling, often an unpleasant one,
is very strong
o Drive a wedge between somebody - to damage the good relationship
that two people or groups of people have
o For the sake of somenone - in order to help or bring advantage to
someone
o Survival - the fact or state of continuing to live or exist, especially in
difficult conditions
o Circumstance - a fact or condition that affects a situation


o Endorsement - an occasion when someone gives official or public
support to a particular person or thing
o Prominent - important and well known
o Semblance - a situation or condition that is similar to what is wanted or
expected, but is not exactly as hoped for
o Striking - attracting your interest or attention because of some unusual
feature
o Driven home - to state something in a very forceful and effective way
SEP 17/2016
Topic 1 : "A break-up foretold"
Sometimes the symptom, and not its underlying cause, seems like the real problem. If Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti has anything to worry about, it is not the resignation of her party MP, > Tariq Hameed Karra, but the
issues he raised while announcing his decision to quit the Peoples Democratic Party and the Lok Sabha. Despite his call
to like-minded people to join him, Mr. Karra is unlikely to get critical support within the party to threaten Ms. Muftis
standing in the PDP. However, while drawing attention to the unrest in the Kashmir Valley, and the civilian killings, he
has also pointed to the irreconcilable differences between the PDP and its alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mr. Karra might have been politically opportunistic in the timing of his resignation, but there is no way the PDP can get
away from having to define, to its political constituency, the nature of its relationship with the BJP. Ideologically, the PDP
has more in common with the National Conference than with the BJP. But, after a fractured mandate in the 2014 Assembly
election, it chose to ally with the BJP rather than explore the possibility of an alliance with the NC and the Congress. The
NC was a rival, with the support bases of the two parties overlapping in many areas of the Valley. The BJP, however, had
its base in Jammu and did not compete with the PDP. Short-term political calculations inevitably led to a PDP-BJP alliance.
To be sure, Ms. Mufti had grappled with the contradictions in the relationship with the BJP before she was sworn in as
Chief Minister following the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, her father. But the BJP, just as conscious as the PDP of
the need to protect its own vote bank, did not give an inch while renegotiating the terms of engagement. Not surprisingly,
she failed to wrest any major concessions from the BJP. Whatever the nature of Mr. Karras political ambitions, he has
framed the dilemma for Ms. Mufti. Clearly, she cannot go into an election in alliance with the BJP. Both the PDP and the
NC, at different points, have allied with the Congress. But the BJP, with its Hindutva plank, is a non-starter as an electoral
ally for any party seeking to represent the Muslims of Kashmir. The coalition government of the PDP and the BJP is likely
to fall before the Assembly election, but it is in the interest of both parties to remain together in power for the longest
period possible. The break-up seems like an event foretold; what is uncertain is the nature of the trigger and the timing.
o Break-up - the end of a relationship

o Foretold - to say what is going to happen in the future
o Symptom - a sign of a larger problem


o Underlying cause - underlying causes, facts, ideas etc are the real or
basic ones, although they are not obvious or directly stated
o Despite - used for saying that something happens even though
something else might have prevented it
o Like-minded - like-minded people, groups etc have similar tastes,
interests, and opinions
o Threaten - to tell someone that you will cause them harm, especially in
order to make them do something
o Unrest - angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting against
something
o Irreconcilable - irreconcilable opinions, aims, or disagreements are so
opposed to each other that it is impossible to reach an agreement
o Opportunistic - using a situation to get power or an advantage
o Constituency - one of the official areas of a country that elects someone
to represent it in a parliament or legislature
o Ideologically - based on a set of political opinions or beliefs of a group
or an individual
o Ally - someone who is ready to help you, especially against someone else
who is causing problems for you
o Overlapping - if two objects overlap the edge of one fits over the edge
of the other (some aspects are shared by more than one object)
o Valley - a low area of land between mountains or hills
o Inevitably - used for saying that something is certain to happen
o Grappled - to fight with someone
o Contradictions - a difference in two or more statements, ideas, stories
etc that makes it impossible for both or all of them to be true
o Vote bank - a loyal group of voters from a single community, who
continously support a specific candidate or political party in elections
o Not give an inch - to not change your opinion
o Re - used to add the meaning "do again"
o Negotiating - to try to reach an agreement by discussing something in
a formal way
o Wrest - to get land, power, or possessions from someone, usually by
fighting
o Ambitions - something that you very much want to do, usually
something that is difficult to achieve
o Dilemma - a situation in which you have to make a difficult decision
o Plank - an important aspect of something, on which it is based
o Coalition - a temporary union of different political parties that agree to
form a government together
o Trigger - to make something happen


Topic 2 : "Towards a national health policy"
The Supreme Courts order directing the Centre to ask States to end the >oppressive practice of sterilising women in
large camps is a timely reminder that the country must urgently adopt a rights-based health policy. Many course correction
measures have been ordered by the court in the Devika Biswas public interest case, and if they are implemented
vigorously, they can greatly improve womens welfare. Civil society can effectively monitor sterilisation activity, if, as the
court has directed, the list of approved doctors at the State and regional levels and members of quality assurance
committees, and details of compensation claims are publicised on the Internet. At the same time, compensation for losses,
including deaths, should be raised substantially. The larger question is that of the fairness of promoting permanent
contraception, often for young women, who are unable to exercise their reproductive rights due to social and economic
factors. Last year, the Population Division of the UN took note of the extraordinary levels of sterilisations resorted to in
India 65 per cent of all contraceptive methods and pointed to a potential mismatch between what is being offered
and what women would like, which is to delay or space out births. Unthinking resort to tubectomies for population control
also ignores the evidence from some developed States in India that womens empowerment through education and
employment brings down fertility, without sacrificing choice.
Ensuring the safety of women who undergo a tubectomy is of immediate concern, and the Centre should give rule-based
authority to the Supreme Courts directions. A significant number of women have died due to the procedure during the
past three years. Every death due to family planning surgery is one too many, and the State concerned must be called to
account. In the case of > Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Kerala, which did not take the question of
mismanagement in sterilisation camps raised in the petition seriously, the court has acted decisively and called for
monitoring and issue of appropriate orders by the respective High Courts. Such action is wholly welcome, because it
reinforces the idea of the right to health being inseparable from the right to life. This is the message that the Centre must
take from the judgment, as it works on a national policy for health. Empowerment of women through full opportunity in
education and employment, and access to all contraception options, should be central to national policies. Offering
financial incentives and subjecting women to permanent contraceptives is unacceptable.
o Towards - in the direction of

o Oppressive - to treat people unfairly or in a cruel way
o Practice - the actual performance of an activity in a real situation
o Sterilising - to perform an operation on someone to make them unable
to produce children
o Adopt - to decide to start using a particular idea, plan, or method
o Vigorously - completely, strongly
o Welfare - the health and happiness of people
o Monitor - to regularly check something or watch someone in order to
find out what is happening


o Compensation - money that someone receives because something bad
has happened to them
o Publicised - to publish or broadcast information about a thing or person
o Fairness - behaviour that is reasonable and right
o Promoting - to support or encourage something
o Contraception - methods for preventing a woman from becoming
pregnant, or the use of such methods
o Exercise - an action or actions intended to improve something or make
something happen
o Resort to something - to do or use something because it is the only
thing available
o Unthinking - used about something that you do without thinking that it
might be wrong or stupid
o Tubectomy - surgical removal of the fallopian tubes
o Empowerment - to give someone more control over their life or more
power to do something
o Sacrificing - to give up something important or valuable so that you or
other people can do or have something else
o Ensuring - to make sure that something happens or is done
o Undergo - to experience something that is unpleasant or something that
involves a change
o Significant - very large
o Mismanagement - to organize or control something badly
o Decisively - able to make decisions quickly and confidently
o Reinforces - to make an idea, belief, or feeling stronger
o Inseparable - if two or more things are inseparable, they are so closely
connected that they cannot be considered separately
o Unacceptable - too bad to be accepted, approved of, or allowed to
continue
SEP 19/2016
Topic 1 : "Political malady and legal remedy"
Those looking for loopholes are always one step ahead of those seeking to plug them. For decades, since the aaya ram,
gaya ram days of Indian politics, Parliament and courts have been coming down on mass defection and frequent change
of party loyalties. But no piece of legislation is a deterrent when politicians, for what are usually self-serving reasons,
decide to switch parties. After the Supreme Court restored the > Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh in July,
most of the partys MLAs returned under the leadership of a new Chief Minister, Pema Khandu. But, in a couple of months,
they have again deserted the Congress to join the Peoples Party of Arunachal, a constituent of the North-East Democratic
Alliance, > a front led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The reason adduced for the switchover is laughable: to have better
relations with the BJP-led government at the Centre. In effect what the MLAs have done is get over the legal hurdles to
defection. Once the Supreme Court restored the Congress government of Nabam Tuki, those who had deserted the party
returned on condition that Mr. Khandu, and not Mr. Tuki, be the Chief Minister. This must have seemed the easiest way


to stay in power for those who had allied with the earlier government of Congress rebels led by Kalikho Pul. Now, in a
replay of the mass defection, the Congress rebels have taken care to play by the book. There is no unseating of the
government, no withdrawal of support by the ruling partys MLAs. Instead, the change is neat and clean, from a Congress
government to a pro-BJP PPA government. The Governor had no role; and a legal challenge to the realignment is made
that much more difficult.
Several legislative efforts have been made to curb defections. The 52nd Constitution Amendment provided for
disqualification of defectors other than in the case of a split in the party, involving a group of not less than one-third of its
members. A later amendment disallowed splits, and provided only for merger in cases where at least two-thirds of the
members of one party merged with another party. This too did not prove to be a deterrent, as has been evident in
Arunachal Pradesh. True, defections engineered through unscrupulous means undermine democratic institutions and
subvert the peoples mandate. But, so far, the cure for this malady in the form of legislation does not seem to have had
any effect. When defection is made more difficult, the means adopted become even more inventive. Ideally, the matter of
dealing with defection should be left in the hands of the voters. Legal remedies to what is essentially a political issue will
never work.
o Malady - a disease / a serious problem

o Remedy - a successful way of curing an illness or dealing with a problem
or difficulty
o Plug - to fill a hole with a piece of suitable material
o Aaya ram, gaya ram (hindi) - the situation of jumping from one party
to another
o Defection - to leave a country, political party, or organization and go to
another one
o Loyality - support that you always give to someone or something
because of your feelings of duty and love towards them
o Deterrent - something that makes people decide not to do something
by making them realize that something unpleasant could happen to them
o Restored - to return something or someone to an earlier good condition
or position
o Deserted - left alone in a difficult situation
o Constituent - one of the parts that form something when they combine
same thing
o Adduced - to give reasons why you think something is true
o Switchover - a change from one thing to another
o Laughable - very silly, or unreasonable
o Hurdles - a problem that you have to deal with before you can make
progress
o Allied - connected by a political or military agreement

o Play by the book - following the rules exactly
o Unseating - to remove someone from a position of power
o Realignment - to change the position of something
o Amendment - a change made to a law or agreement
o Split - to divide into smaller groups
o Merger - the process of combining two companies or organizations to
form a bigger one
o Engineered - to arrange for something to happen, especially in a useful
and skilful way
o Unscrupulous - willing to do things that are unfair, dishonest, or illegal
o Undermine - to make something or someone become gradually less
effective, confident, or successful
o Subvert - to attack or harm a government or established system of law,
politics etc
o Cure - a solution to a problem
o Adopted - to decide to start using a particular idea, plan, or method
o Inventive - good at thinking of new and original ideas or methods
o Ideally - in the best possible way
Topic 2 : "Coherence in the neighbourhood"
Over the past week, >India played host to Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani and > Nepals Prime Minister Pushpa
Kamal Dahal Prachanda, visits that marked a repair of relationships with both countries. Mr. Prachandas meeting with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was cordial, and though no large announcements were made, the message thats gone
out is that both countries wish to put the bitterness of the past year and the economic blockade behind them. New Delhi
is acutely conscious of Mr. Prachandas challenges: a potentially shaky tenure in office given his coalitions narrow
majority, the difficulty in building a two-thirds consensus for the constitutional amendments he has committed to, as well
as the massive task of reconstruction after the > April 2015 earthquake. As a result, it didnt force him to commit on a
timeline for amendments demanded by Madhesi and other groups that feel marginalised by the new Constitution. The
joint statement referred to Mr. Modi welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Government of Nepal to take all sections of the
society on board for effective implementation of the Constitution, but it didnt mention the word amendment. India instead
focussed on delivering on its own promises to Nepal, including hydropower and highways infrastructure projects. This
shows a maturing of New Delhis position, since the phase of stern statements against the Koirala and > Oli governments
on the Madhesi issue.


With Mr. Ghani, the outreach began a year ago, after it became clear that Afghanistan had lost confidence in Pakistans
ability to bring the Taliban to book or to the table for talks. Moreover, the U.S., Afghanistans biggest security provider,
made a shift in its old policy of cutting India out of the security equation, and actively encouraged New Delhi to help
provide military assistance to Kabul. Even so, during Mr. Ghanis visit, India opted for a less overt approach to
Afghanistans wish list of helicopters, tanks and ammunition assistance, with the joint statement and agreements signed
merely mentioning their resolve to counter terrorism and strengthen security and defence cooperation as envisaged in
the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement. Mention of Pakistans support to terrorist groups was muted as
well. However, Mr. Ghani did give a scathing account of Pakistans actions at a speech at a Delhi think tank later. The
Afghan and Nepali visits had another common thread, of landlocked countries in need of road and railway trade routes.
It is hoped that, going forward, India will take a leadership role in maximising their options, as it has done with Afghanistan
through the Chabahar port project in Iran.
o Coherence - the situation when the parts of something fit together in a

natural or reasonable way
o Neighbourhood - the people who live near each other
o Host - a place or organization that arranges a special event and provides
the area, buildings, equipment, or services needed for it
o Cordial - friendly
o Bitterness - feeling angry or upset because of a bad experience,
especially when you think that you have been treated unfairly
o Blockade - the situation in which a country or place is surrounded by
soldiers or ships to stop people or goods from going in or out
o Acutely - in a way that shows a clear understanding
o Shaky - not strong (very weak)
o Tenure - 1 the period of time during which someone has an important
job or is an elected official
o Narrow - limited / small
o Consensus - agreement among all the people involved
o Amendments - a change made to a law or agreement
o Massive - very large or heavy
o Reconstruction - the process of building something again
o Timeline - a plan of when something should happen or how much time
something should take
o Marginalised - to limit or control something or someone
o Constitution - a set of basic laws or principles for a country that describe
the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in which it is governed
o Infrastructure - the set of systems within a place or organization that
affect how well it operates, for example the telephone and transport
systems in a country
o Maturing - to become more developed


o Stern - serious / difficult
o Even so - used for introducing a statement that seems surprising after
what you said before
o Wish list - a list of things you want, often things that you know you
cannot have
o Ammunition - bullets, bombs etc that can be fired from a weapon
o Envisaged - to have something as a plan or an intention
o Muted - not as strong as usual (to become silent)
o Scathing - criticizing someone or something in a very strong way
o Think tank - a group of people who work together to produce new ideas
on a particular subject
o Landlocked - surrounded by the land of other countries and having no
coast
o Trade - the activities of buying and selling goods or services
SEP 20/2016
Topic 1 : "Responding to Uri"
Gathering evidence regarding the four terrorists who stormed the >army base in Uri, killing 18 soldiers, suggests they
are from Pakistan and had been sent across the border explicitly for this attack. In fact, the entire operation has the
fingerprints of >Pakistans military establishment , showing yet again the countrys persistent use of terrorism as state
policy. The four terrorists reportedly got to the camp early in the morning, in all probability across the Line of Control just
6 km away. The terrorists carried automatic rifles, under-barrel grenade launchers and other equipment, most of it with
Pakistani markings, according to Director General of Military Operations Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh. Over the last three
decades or so, India has been at the receiving end of Pakistani statecraft of terrorists unleashed to attain state objectives;
Uri is the latest provocation. India has limited manoeuvrability as far as a military response goes. Narendra Modis
restrained, but firm, response is an indication that India may not play the reckless game many would like it to. Condemning
the cowardly attack, he said those behind it would not go unpunished the heavy-lifting will in all probability be done
diplomatically.
In responses in New Delhi, and on the ground in Kashmir, one thing has emerged: that India still does not have a
comprehensive national policy to deal with domestic militancy as well as >cross-border terroris >m. Given Indias
inconsistent and incomplete responses, the adversaries, both states and terror organisations, are able to exploit, and
often poke fun at, the lack of a robust national doctrine. The latest attack also captures the complex reality of India-
Pakistan ties and the >Kashmir issue . It calls for an alert security grid and sophisticated policy responses; neither can
be achieved by rhetoric and simplistic blame games. The Indian security forces have been dealing with militancy and
cross-border infiltration since Kashmir went up in flames in the late 1980s. The gradual decline in violence in the Valley
over the years was reversed starting 2014, and since then strife in the Valley and infiltration from the Pakistan side have


both steadily climbed. The Prime Minister should take the lead to bring together leaders across the spectrum to work
towards finding peace, while drawing up a national security doctrine that is free of biases and myopia. India needs to let
its adversaries know it is a power capable of more than mere rhetoric while assuring its own people that its options are
rooted in constitutional values. For both, a well-documented national security doctrine could be a first step.
o Gathering - the process or activity of collecting information

o Evidence - one or more reasons for believing that something is true or
not true
o Stormed - to use force to enter a place and take control of it
o Army base - a centre from which military activities are coordinated
o Explicitly - fully and clearly expressed or demonstrated
o Establishment - organization
o Persistent - lasting for a long time or difficult to get rid of
o Probability - a measure of how likely something is to happen
o Line of Control - the military control line between the Indian and
Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Kashmir and
Jammu
o Grenade - a small bomb that someone throws or fires from a gun
o Markings - a pattern of marks painted on the surface of something
o Statecraft - the skill of governing a country
o Attain - to succeed in achieving something
o Objective - something that you plan to achieve
o Provocation - something that causes you to react in an angry or violent
way
o Manoeuvrability - ability to be moved easily in situations that need care
or skill
o Restrained - controlled and not emotional
o Firm - strong / hard
o Reckless - not thinking about the possible bad effects of your actions
o Condemning - to criticize something or someone strongly
o Cowardly - lacking courage
o Unpunished - not punished for having done something wrong or illegal
o Heavy-lifting - difficult work that needs a lot of effort
o Diplomatically - acting in a way that does not cause offence
o Emerged - to become known
o Comprehensive - complete
o Domestic Militancy - violent acts committed by citizens or permanent
residents of a place against their own people or property
different countries
o Inconsistent - not always behaving in the same way or producing the
same results
o Adversary - an enemy or opponent
o Exploit - to use a situation so that you get benefit from it, even if it is
wrong or unfair to do this


o Poke fun at - to make unkind jokes about someone or something
o Robust - strong
o Doctrine - a set of principles or beliefs, especially religious or political
ones
o Sophisticated - knowing and understanding a lot about a complicated
subject
people
o Blame game - a situation in which one party blames others for
something bad or unfortunate rather than attempting to seek a solution
o Infiltration - the process of secretly joining an organization or go into a
place in order to find out information about it or damage it
o Went up in flames - to burn or be destroyed by fire
o Gradual - slowly (step by step)
o Violence - actions or words that are intended to hurt people
o Bias - to influence someones opinions, decisions etc so that they behave
or think in an unfair way
o Myopia - lack of intelligence, understanding or careful thought
o Assuring - to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is
definitely true, especially in order to remove doubt about it
Topic 2 : "The road from Bratislava"
Unity and cohesion were conspicuously absent at the Bratislava castle where the EU 28 minus 1 met to discuss the
post- >Brexit world . Nobody is harbouring any illusions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission
President Jean-Claude Juncker admitted that the EU is in an existential crisis. Brexit is only the latest symptom of the
fear and discontent that have spread across the continent, fuelled by the migrant crisis, Islamophobia, Eurozone woes
and terrorist attacks. Fridays meeting was organised by >Donald Tusk , President of the European Council, that provides
strategic direction to the EU, in order to diagnose the situation and to forge a united path forward. This is not going to be
an easy task given that the bloc is split into factions, mainly around issues of economics and migration.
The Bratislava Declaration offers a road map for the next six months, on migration, border security, counter-terrorism,
defence and economic and social development, providing political backing to measures announced by Mr. Juncker in his
State of the Union address in Brussels. Europe is much like a stack of Jenga blocks at present. Each move needs
precision and care in order to preserve the integrity of an increasingly tenuous union. The declaration identifies various
areas for action. Some of these are likely to find wide acceptance, such as funding for strategic investments across the
region, establishing a common capital market across the EU and acquiring advanced traveller information to secure
borders. Other areas, such as migration, are more contentious. Hungarians will participate in a national referendum in
October to decide whether they will accept the recommended share. The EU must find a creative, humane and effective
solution to receive and resettle refugees. Another contentious proposal is the European army. Mr. Juncker had proposed
that member-states move towards pooling and centralising their defence and diplomatic resources. While there may be


advantages with regard to defence procurement and operational efficiency and capabilities, it is exactly this kind of a
more Europe response to a problem that has left EU member-states and citizens disenchanted and fearful of what they
see as Brusselss overreach. Brussels will do well to heed the lessons of Brexit. This can be done in at least two ways.
First, by focussing on the big picture and on areas where it has a comparative advantage while letting national
governments take the lead in others. Second, by encouraging members to engage more rigorously with their citizens on
EU issues explaining policies and their outcomes, collecting feedback, and inviting ideas. These steps will go a long
way towards, to use Mr. Tusks phrase, not letting this crisis go to waste.
o Unity - a situation in which people, groups, or countries join together or

agree about something
o Cohesion - a situation in which people or things combine well to form a
unit
o Conspicuously - very noticeable or easy to see
o Absent - missing from a place or situation
o Harbouring - keep (a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in
one's mind, especially secretly
o Illusion - a false or wrong belief or idea
o Chancellor - the leader of the government in some countries (Germany
/ Australia)
o Existential - relating to human existence and experience
o Discontent - the unhappy feeling that you have when you are not
satisfied with something
o Fuelled - to make something increase or become worse, especially
o Migrant - related to the people who travels to another place or country
in order to find work
o Islamophobia - hatred or fear of Muslims and Islam
o Woes - problems and worries
o Diagnose - to find out where the problem is
o Forge - to develop a successful relationship, especially in business or
politics, with another country, organization, or person
o Bloc - a group of countries or people with the same political aims
o Split - divided
o Factions - small parts / groups
o Road map - a plan or set of instructions that makes it easier for someone
to do something
o Counter-terrorism - the actions and methods of a country that are
intended to stop the activities of people who use violence to achieve
political aims
o Backing - support
o Jenga - a game of physical and mental skill
o Precision - the quality of being very accurate and exact


o Preserve - to take care of a place or building in order to prevent it from
being harmed or destroyed
o Integrity - the quality of behaving according to the rules and standards
o Tenuous - weak and likely to change
o Acquiring - to get something
o Contentious - causing disagreement between people or groups
o Referendum - an occasion when everyone in a country can vote to make
a decision about one particular subject
o Refugee - a person who has escaped from their own country for political,
religious, or economic reasons or because of a war
o Pooling - to share something such as money, ideas, equipment etc with
a group of people, especially so that they can work more effectively
together
o Centralising - to give control of a country, organization, or industry to
one central group of people
o Procurement - the process of obtaining something, especially with
effort or difficulty
o Disenchanted - disappointed and no longer enthusiastic about someone
or something
o Overreach - to fail by trying to achieve, spend, or do more than you can
manage
o Big picture - the most important facts about a situation and the effects
of that situation on other things
o Comparative - judged in comparison to something such as a previous
situation or state
o Rigorously - thoroughly and carefully
o Feedback - comments about how well or how badly someone is doing
something, which are intended to help them do it better
SEP 21/2016
Topic 1 : "Copyright and copy-making"
The Delhi High Court > verdict that photocopying portions of academic publications to make course packs for students
does not amount to copyright infringement has been interpreted by many as a victory for the wider public interest of
ensuring affordable access to quality educational material. The only question of law that arose in the suit filed by Oxford
University Press, Cambridge University Press and Taylor & Francis was whether the making of course packs by the Delhi
University by authorising a photocopying store to make numerous copies of course material drawn from different books
amounts to copyright infringement. The court says copyright is not a natural or common law right in India, but is subject
to statute. It proceeds to hold that photocopying for academic purposes is not an infringement as Section 52(1)(i) of the
Copyright Act permits the making of copies of literary works by a teacher or pupil in the course of instruction, a phrase
interpreted to cover whole academic sessions, from the preparation of syllabus onwards.


Given that the > law contains provisions barring infringement of copyright and listing acts that do not constitute
infringement, there is no doubt that the legislature wanted to balance copyright protection with the public interest in
ensuring access. Interestingly, the judge sees the no infringement clauses as being consistent with articles in the Berne
Convention and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which provide for domestic
legislation to permit reproductions for specific purposes, as long as they do not conflict with normal exploitation of the
works or unreasonably prejudice the rights-holder. The publishers have argued, in vain, that universities should not allow
unrestricted photocopying, but instead apply for licences through the Indian Reprographic Rights Organisation, a
registered copyright society. The publishers may pursue this aspect in their appeal, if there is one. The verdict may justly
raise the concern whether conferring unrestricted reprographic rights on academic institutions will drive reputed publishers
out of the field of education. It is true that academic publications, especially international ones, are expensive, putting
them beyond the reach of many students. But the question is whether the balance between the competing interests has
been fully preserved in the law. If reputed publishers feel that there is insufficient copyright protection and back out of
educational publishing in the country, it will be equally injurious to the public interest.
o Copyright - the legal right to control the production and selling of a

book, play, film, photograph, or piece of music
o Photocopying - to copy documents or pictures from one piece of paper
to another using a photocopier (Xerox)
o Portions - a part of something
o Academic - relating to education
o Course pack - a compilation of any photocopied extracts from one or
more sources which is intended to provide students with a compilation of
materials designed to support the teaching of a course
o Infringement - the action of breaking a law, agreement (violation)
o Interpreted - to explain the meaning of something
o Victory - the fact of winning a competition or battle
o Affordable - cheap enough for ordinary people to afford
o Statute - a law passed by a government and formally written down
o Pupil - a person who is taught by another (student)
o Provision - a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular
thing must happen or be done
o Barring - except if a particular thing happens
o Constitute - considered to be
o Ensuring - to make certain that something happens or is done
o Berne Convention - an international agreement governing copyright,
which was first accepted in Berne, Switzerland, in 1886
o Intellectual - relating to your ability to think and understand things,
especially complicated ideas
o Conflict - disagreement


o Exploitation - the use of something in order to get an advantage from
it
o Unreasonable - not fair or acceptable
o In vain - without success
o Reprographic - used to describe equipment or systems for copying text
or pictures
o Pursue - to try to achieve something
o Justly - used for saying that there is a good reason for something
o Conferring - to give something such as authority, a legal right, or an
honour to someone
o Reputed - famous
o Expensive - costs a lot of money
o Beyond someones reach - used for saying that someone cannot have
or do something because they do not have enough money or skill
o Preserved - to keep something as it is
o Back out - to decide not to do something
o Injurious - causing harm or damage
o Public interest - the fact that the public has a right to know about
something because it affects them
Topic 2 : "500 and counting"
Milestones are curious things in cricket. Round numbers such as fifty, the century, ten-wicket hauls and career runs
in multiples of 1000 allow a measure of achievement in a sport. They also offer a moments pause to reflect. As >India
prepares for its 500th Test a milestone 84 years in the making it seems apposite to assess its legacy in the games
classical form. It is also germane to consider the future, given the fear in some quarters that the shorter versions will
cannibalise Test cricket. There was certainly nothing in the early years to suggest India would become the economic
superpower it is today. Although the great Wally Hammond said new-ball bowler Amar Singh came off the pitch like the
crack of doom in Indias first-ever Test, against England at Lords in 1932, success proved elusive. While there were
moments of individual brilliance Vijay Hazares twin hundreds against Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller at Adelaide in
1948, perhaps the most memorable of them it wasnt until 1952 that India won a Test.
M.A.K. Pataudi first pursued the idea of a vibrant, united team in the 1960s, and bequeathed it to Ajit Wadekar. The
coming together of E.A.S. Prasanna, B.S. Chandrasekhar, Bishan Bedi, and S. Venkataraghavan spinners the cricket
world remains in awe of and the arrival of the indomitable Sunil Gavaskar not long after, formed the nucleus of the side
that beat West Indies and England away in 1971. With the emergence of Kapil Dev a world-class, all-round match-
winner there was more for other countries to be wary of. But it wasnt until after the turn of the millennium that India
became consistently successful, home and away. The rivalry against Australia, birthed in > 2001 at Eden Gardens, was
transformative. In Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly and
Zaheer Khan, India had a Golden Generation. M.S. Dhoni was the first of a new era of players to break through from


smaller, less traditional cricket centres, and for a period India was the worlds best team. That crown slipped subsequently,
but matters have seldom appeared as encouraging as they do now. At the helm are two men with an empathy for bowlers:
Virat Kohlis declaration last year that bowlers were the bosses in Test cricket was momentous for a culture obsessed
with batsmen; and few know more about bowling teams to victory than Kumble. As West Indies and Australia, the only
two nations to have put out truly dominant teams, have shown, a lot falls into place when the bowlers are looked after. If
the Board of Control for Cricket in India continues being supportive and it must be commended for laying out a 13-Test
home season the foundation for the next 500 will be suitably robust.
o And counting - used to say that a figure (number) is constantly

increasing
o Milestone - an important event in the development or history of
something
o Curious - unusual and interesting
o Round number - a number that ends in 0, such as 40, 450, or 4000
o Haul - a usually large amount of something
o Apposite - relevant and appropriate to what is happening or being
discussed
o Assess - to judge or decide the amount, value, quality, or importance
of something
an earlier time
o Germane - relevant to a subject that is being discussed
o Cannibalise - to take parts of something, in order to make something
else
o Superpower - a country that has great military, economic, and political
power
o Crack of doom - a peal of thunder announcing the Day of Judgement
o Elusive - difficult or impossible to achieve
o Pursued - to try to do or achieve something
o Vibrant - energetic, exciting, and full of enthusiasm
o United - to join together as a group
o Bequeathed - pass something on or leave something to someone else
o Coming together - if people or groups come together, they meet or join
in order to do something
o In awe of something / someone - fearful and respectful of someone
or something
o Indomitable - very determined and impossible to defeat
o Nucleus - the central or basic part of something
o Emergence - the process of appearing or becoming recognized
o World-class - one of the best in the world
o All-round - good at doing a lot of different things, especially in sport
o Consistently - continuously
o Rivalry - a situation in which people, teams, businesses etc compete
with one another
o Transformative - causing a major change to something or someone,
especially in a way that makes it or them better

o Break through - to force your way through something that is stopping
you from moving forward
o Slipped - fell down
o Subsequently - happening after something else
o Seldom - not often
o At the helm - in control
o Empathy - the ability to understand how someone feels because you can
imagine what it is like to be them
o Momentous - very important because of effects on future events
o Obsessed - considering someone or something as so important that you
are always thinking about them
o Dominant - more important, powerful, or successful than the other
people or things of the same type
o Falls into place - when things fall into place, they happen in a
satisfactory way, without problems
o Looked after - to take care of someone or something and make certain
that they have everything they need
o Commended - to praise someone or something formally or publicly
o Laying out - to arrange something
o Robust - strong
SEP 22/2016
Topic 1 : "Managing the Cauvery dispute"
Judicial intervention often resolves questions that the executive finds too sensitive to handle. By directing the Centre to
constitute a Cauvery Management Board within four weeks, the >Supreme Court has created space for the water-sharing
dispute to be handled in a scientific and responsible manner by a legally constituted technical body. The board, assisted
by a regulation committee, is the mechanism prescribed by the Tribunal in its final order for implementing its award. It will
be a technical body consisting of irrigation engineers and agronomists, and will have independent members as well as
representatives of the basin States. It can formulate the manner in which water should be shared in a season of distress.
The courts intervention also exposes the helplessness of governments at the Centre in handling inter-State issues. It is
part of a long historical pattern. It was at the instance of the Supreme Court that the >Cauvery Water Disputes
Tribunal was formed more than a quarter century ago; and again, it required court orders to pave the way for an interim
award to be passed in 1991, and for it to be notified in the Gazette of India later. It took another order for the Tribunals
final award of 2007 to be notified in 2013, six years later. The court has done a significant service in nudging the Centre
to provide a legal and technical framework for the equitable distribution of water.
This is not the first attempt to create an institutional mechanism. In 2013, the Centre notified the formation of a
Supervisory Committee consisting of the Secretary, Union Water Resources Ministry, as chairman, and the Chief
Secretaries of the basin States as members. That the latest decision of the Supervisory Committee, which directed
the >release of 3,000 cusecs of water for 10 days to Tamil Nadu, did not find favour with either State shows the difficulties
involved in managing inter-State disputes even through an institutional mechanism. The Supreme Court, too, has


intervened to double the quantum of water to be released. All this shows that apart from permanent mechanisms, technical
panels and seasonal adjudication, a spirit of accommodation is required among the basin States. Also needed is a clearer
appreciation of the fact that the entire water yield in the Cauvery basin is not enough to provide for the requirements of
both States. It is time for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to take a hard look at their agricultural economies: the area under
cultivation, the number of crops per year and the water-intensive nature of the crops. Unless these are adjusted to suit
the water availability, such disputes will keep surfacing.
o Cauvery - Kaveri river

o Resolves - to solve or end a problem or difficulty:
o Executive - someone in a high position
o Constitute - if several people or things constitute something, they
combine to form it
o Prescribed - decided by a law or a rule
o Award - a judgment given by a court of law
o Irrigation - to supply land with water
o Agronomist - the study of crops and the types of soil they grow in
o Basin - the area of land from which streams run into a river, lake, or sea
o Formulate - to develop a plan, system, or proposal carefully, thinking
about all of its details
o Distress - an unpleasant and difficult situation caused by a lack of basic
things
o Exposes - to make something publicly known
o Helplessness - unable to do anything to help yourself or anyone else
o Pave the way - to create a situation that makes it possible or easier for
something to happen
o Interim - temporary and intended to be used or accepted until
something permanent exists
o Gazette - an official newspaper that publishes lists of people in
government, legal, military, or university jobs
o Significant - very important / noticeable
o Nudging - to push something or someone gently
o Framework - a system of rules, laws, agreements etc that establish the
way that something operates in business, politics, or society
o Equitable - fair and reasonable because everyone is treated in the same
way
o Supervisory - in charge of people or activities
o Quantum - the smallest amount or unit of something
o Apart from - except for someone or something
o Adjudication - to make an official decision about a problem or
disagreement


o Accommodation - a change in behaviour or attitude that helps people
work together or end a disagreement
o Yield - to make a profit
o Take a hard look at something - to examine something very carefully
in order to improve it in the future
o Cultivation - the use of land for growing crops or plants
o Water-intensive - involving a lot of water
o Surfacing - raising / appearing
Topic 2 : "Putin tightens his grip"
The outcome of Russias parliamentary election was never in question. The United Russia party of President Vladimir
Putin has dominated the political landscape ever since it was founded in 2001. Even so, the margin of the victory was
unexpected. The >September 18 elections were held against the backdrop of a protracted economic crisis, tensions
between Russia and the West, and a war of attrition in the countrys neighbourhood. Lower oil prices and western
sanctions have hit ordinary Russians hard. Russias economy contracted by 3.7 per cent last year and is expected to
shrink further by 0.7 per cent this year. Conventional wisdom suggests that economic hardships trigger anti-incumbency
sentiment. But in Mr. Putins Russia just the opposite has happened. When the results were declared, his party won more
than three-quarters of the 450-member Duma. The Communist Party and the Liberal Democratic Party have retained
some presence in the national Parliament, while the Yabloko and the Parnas, the two liberal parties critical of the Kremlin,
failed to even enter the Duma. This could partly be because of the lack of a united opposition in Russia. The Communists
and Liberal Democrats are hardly opposition parties, and agree with the Kremlin on most policy decisions. The anti-
Kremlin parties have failed in, or been hindered from, building a broad base among the electorate. Alexey Navalny, the
leader of the popular anti-government protests of 2011, has been barred from contesting elections. Boris Nemtsov,
another popular opposition leader, was shot dead last year in Moscow. At present, there is no opposition leader in a
position to challenge the personality cult of Mr. Putin.
In any case, memories of the anarchic pre-Putin era may still be prompting Russians to stick by him. Mr. Putin is largely
credited with fixing the economy and providing a stable political leadership to the country. Under his watch, Russia has
come out of its self-imposed strategic retreat and started playing an active global role. Russias annexation of Crimea
from Ukraine and a combative foreign policy in Syria and elsewhere have proved popular among his domestic
constituents. But the Russian economy continues to be heavily dependent on energy exports. If crude oil prices remain
low for long, economic pain will persist. Though the muscular foreign policy is popular at home, Moscow has had to pay
a heavy price for it. Whatever Mr. Putin had done in his first and second terms to rebuild ties with Europe, particularly with
Germany, lies in a shambles in the wake of the Ukraine crisis. If Mr. Putin wants to rebuild Russia as a credible global
power, a persistent economic crisis and a stormy neighbourhood are not going to help.
oTighten your grip on something - to begin to control someone or

something more strictly

o Outcome - the final result of a process / activity
o In question - if something is in question, there are doubts about it
o Protracted - continuing for a long time, especially longer than is normal
or necessary
o Attrition - the process of making an enemy physically and mentally
weaker by continuously attacking them
o Neighbourhood - the people who live near each other
o Sanction - an official order to stop communication, trade, etc with a
country that has broken international law
o Contracted - to become smaller in amount or quantity
o Shrink - to become smaller in size
o Conventional - of the usual, traditional, or accepted type, instead of
being new and different
o Wisdom - the ability to make good decisions based on knowledge and
experience
o Hardship - something that makes your life more difficult or unpleasant
o Retained - to keep or continue to have something
o Partly - mostly or usually
o Hardly - only just; almost not
o Hindered - to stop someone or something from making progress or
developing
opposition
o Barred - to officially say that someone must not do something
o Anarchic - not showing respect for official or accepted rules, behaviour,
organizations, leaders, etc
o Prompting - the action of encouraging or reminding someone to do
something
o Stick by someone - to continue to support someone who is in a difficult
situation
o Credited someone with something - to say or believe that someone
is responsible for a particular achievement
o Stable - not changing frequently and not likely to suddenly become
worse
o Under his watch - under his control
o Self-imposed - self-imposed rules, punishments etc are ones that you
have chosen for yourself
o Retreat - to change your ideas, opinion, or decision because of criticism
or opposition from other people
o Annexation - to take control of a country or region by force
o Combative - ready to fight, argue with, or oppose someone
o Elsewhere - some other place
o Persist - to continue to exist
o Muscular - very strong and attractive


o To pay a heavy price - to experience the bad result of something you
have done
o Shambles - something that is very badly organized and that does not
operate effectively
o In the wake of something - if something happens in the wake of
something else, it happens after and often because of it
o Stormy - involving a lot of anger or arguments
SEP 23/2016
Topic 1 : "Getting Railways on track"
That it took 69 years after Independence for India to >merge the Railway Budget with the Union Budget is an indication
of how difficult it can be to junk colonial-era traditions that may have outlived their utility. In 1924, when the first Railway
Budget was presented, the Railways entailed more funds than Indias expenditure on all other aspects of administration
combined. So it made sense to present a separate Budget. That equation changed long ago, and now the Railways
outlay is just 6 per cent of the total expenditure proposed in the Union Budget for this year. In fact, revenues from the
domestic aviation business are more than the Railways traffic earnings. Nearly Rs.2.5 lakh crore has been planned this
year as defence expenditure, but it found little mention in the Finance Ministers Budget speech. Yet, >the ritual of the
Rail Budget has continued even as the economy opened up over the past 25 years. A key reason that it lingered so long
is Indias fractured polity and the tendency of coalition partners to demand Railways as a juicy portfolio with its possibilities
for populist posturing and patronage. With the luxury of a majority in the Lok Sabha and a Railway Minister like Suresh
Prabhu who has refused to use the Rail Budget as a launchpad for new trains and railway lines, the NDA has thrown its
weight behind a plan that takes away the annual temptation to make the Railways a vote-magnet.
Indias annual economic jamboree will now be over in two days the tabling of the Economic Survey followed by the
Union Budget instead of three. Railway Ministers will no longer need to conjure up fancy and often regurgitated
promises about new, improved services for passengers without charging them the operational costs of reaching their
destination. The pressure to hold commuter fares has skewed the Railways freight rates, year after year. Indeed, the
change is already being felt; tweaking of tariffs outside the Budget has begun. Consider the changes in coal freight and
the introduction of flexible pricing on premium passenger trains. However, the Centre needs to now seriously consider
setting up an independent tariff regulator to depoliticise fares. New lines and trains should be determined by economic
viability rather than the constituencies covered. Initiatives such as demand-driven clone trains must be deployed to boost
earnings, and the Rs.37,000-crore tab on social obligations, including concessional ticketing, must be borne by the
exchequer. The Railways accounts need to be cleaned up and made bankable. Scrapping the Rail Budget is a good
starting point to fix the fading utility. Bringing it back safely on track will take a lot more doing, and undoing.


o Getting something on track - to make progress with something and
likely to succeed
o Merge - to combine or join together
o Junk - to get rid of something because it is of no use or value
o Colonial - relating to a system or period in which one country rules
another
o Era - a historical period with a particular character or feature
o Outlived - to live longer than someone else
o Utility - a service that is used by the public, such as an electricity or gas
supply or a train service
o Entailed - to involve something
o Administration - the activities involved in managing a business,
organization, or institution
o Outlay - an amount of money spent for a particular purpose
o Revenues - income from business activities or taxes
o Domestic - relating to a country
o Defence - actions that you take to protect someone or something that
is being attacked
o Found little mention - didn't say anything
o Ritual - a formal ceremony
o Lingered - to stay somewhere longer than is necessary
o Fractured - divided
o Tendency - a strong chance that something will happen in a particular
way
o Juicy - a juicy job or activity is interesting and enjoyable
o Portfolio - all the responsibilities of a government minister
o Possibilities - chances
o Populist - representing the interests and opinions of ordinary people
o Posturing - to do things only because you want people to notice you,
admire you, or be afraid of you
o Launchpad - the surface from which a missile, space vehicle etc is sent
into the air or into space
o Throw your weight behind - to use your influence to support someone
or something
o Vote-magnet - something that fetches you votes in elections
o Jamboree - a large organized event that many people go to
o Tabling - to suggest formally in a meeting something that you would like
everyone to discuss
o Conjure up - to create or achieve something difficult or unexpected
o Regurgitate - to repeat facts or ideas that you have heard or learnt
without understanding them or thinking about them for yourself
o Commuter - someone who travels regularly to and from work
o Skewed - not accurate or exact


o Freight - the transport system that carries goods
o Tweaking - to make small changes in order to improve something
o Tariffs - taxes that a government charges on goods that enter or leave
their country
o Flexible - able to make changes easily
o Premium - an amount of money paid in addition to the usual amount
o Regulator - a person or organization whose job is to be certain that
companies, systems etc act fairly and follow rules
o Depoliticise - remove from political activity or influence
o Viability - the quality of being able to happen or having a reasonable
chance of success
o Boost - to help something to increase, improve, or become more
successful
o Obligations - something that you must do for legal or moral reasons
o Concession - a reduction in the usual price of something, made available
to students, old people, etc
o Exchequer - the government department responsible for a countrys
financial matters
o Bankable - likely to make money
o Scrapping - to decide not to continue with something such as a plan or
an event
o Fading - to become less famous or less important
o Undoing - the cause of someone's failure, or of someone's loss of power
or money
Topic 2 : "The curious death of Ramkumar"

The claim that Ramkumar, the alleged lone assailant who stalked and killed young Swathi, took his own life by biting a
live wire pulled out from a switchboard inside the prison is unusual. His lawyer alleges he was murdered. Even without
questioning the suicide theory, it is clear that the prison administration has much to answer for. Ramkumar had >suicidal
tendencies , going by the police claim that he tried to slash his own throat when he was about to be arrested. Prison
authorities say he was indeed under continuous watch by warders, and that he had been given psychological counselling.
More ought to have been done to prevent the incident, as the case had become unusually sensitive, with the public debate
assuming strong caste and communal overtones. It is surprising that the closely watched suspect had easy access, at a
moment when he was conveniently alone, to a switchboard near the prison dispensary. It also so happened that the
CCTV cameras installed in the modern prison did not cover that particular area where he chose to end his life. If he did
commit suicide, there has been undoubted lapse in monitoring his movements.
Prison suicides set off questions about the conditions of incarceration in our jails, often seen as overcrowded and
understaffed. Suicide by electrocution is rare, as it is not difficult to deny prisoners any form of access to live electrical
cables. There is truth in the theory that it is difficult to prevent a person determined to commit suicide, even if some
correctional psychologists disagree. There ought to be an initial evaluation of incoming prisoners to identify those with a
high risk of suicide. Thereafter, periodic assessments of their state of mind should be made. While continuous watch is


inescapable, designing suicide-resistant cells and auditing jails to identify and remove possible anchoring points for
attempts to die by hanging are other necessary measures. When Ramkumar was arrested there was a sense of
reassurance among the public, even though a few demanded a CBI investigation based on a few purported lacunae in
the police version. The police were expected to put an end to all speculation about whether he was the real culprit by
bringing him to trial. It is a pity this did not happen. The Tamil Nadu government should order a judicial probe in order to
credibly allay any impression, false though it may well be, that the case was sought to be closed extra-judicially.

o Suspect - a person believed to have committed a crime or done
something wrong
o Given rise to - cause to happen
o Lone - single / only
o Assailant - someone who violently attacks another person
o Stalked - to hunt a person or animal by following them without being
seen
o Unusual - not normal, common, or ordinary
o Tendency - if someone has a tendency to do or like something, they will
probably do it or like it
o Slash - to cut in a violent way
o Warder - someone whose job is to guard prisoners in a prison
o Counselling - advice and help that you give someone with their
problems
o Ought to have (done something) - used when you realize that
someone did not do the right thing in the past
o Dispensary - a place in a hospital where you can get medicines and
drugs
o Incarceration - to keep someone in a closed place and prevent them
from leaving it
o Overcrowded - containing too many people or things
o Understaffed - not having enough workers to do a job quickly or
effectively
o Electrocution - to kill or injure someone with electricity
anyone or any difficulties to stop you
o Inescapable - impossible to avoid or ignore
o Auditing - to examine something carefully, especially to decide on its
effectiveness
o Reassurance - the act of making someone feel less worried about
something
o Purported - said by some people to be real or true, but not proved to
be real or true

o Lacunae - an empty space where something is missing
without having enough information to be certain:
o Culprit - someone who is responsible for doing something bad or illegal
o Probe - an attempt to find out the truth about an issue, problem, or
accident
o Credibly - capable of being believed; believable
o Extra-judicially - done without the permission of or without using the
official legal system
SEP 24/2016
Topic 1 : "Jaw-jaw at the General Assembly"
In what is possibly the sharpest castigation of Pakistan on the world stage, India has asserted its right of reply to Prime
Minister >Nawaz Sharifs speech at the UN General Assembly with some rather rough words. Calling >Pakistan a
terrorist state that is now training militant proxies with a toxic curriculum at its Ivy League of terrorism, the First
Secretary at Indias UN mission accused Mr. Sharif of having delivered a hypocritical sermon to the Assembly. India
pointed out that Pakistans nuclear proliferation record, which is marked by deception and deceit, hardly gave it the right
to speak of Indias eligibility to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group, as Mr. Sharif had done. Finally, India said his
championing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani as a symbol of the latest Kashmiri intifada was further
proof of Pakistan being a state sponsor of terrorism. Mr. Sharifs speech at the UN was indeed full of gross inaccuracies
on the subject of >Jammu and Kashmir , including his reference to the promise of a plebiscite, which in UN annals can
only be considered after Pakistans troops vacate the territory it currently occupies. Mr. Sharifs contention that Pakistan
is the principal victim of terrorism supported, sponsored and financed from abroad was clearly a stretch. While his
sympathetic reference to Wani was an affirmation of Pakistans support to the Hizbul, it was compounded by his refusal
to speak of the 18 Indian >soldiers killed in the Army camp in Uri in an attack allegedly carried out by terrorists from
Pakistan. That the Prime Minister of Pakistan should devote more than half his speech at the UN to the Kashmir issue,
which Pakistan has long accepted must be resolved bilaterally, was disappointing. However, in a signal of how little such
rhetoric matters, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made no reference to it in his speech.
There is, unfortunately, little evidence that Indias response, which elicited loud cheers back home, was regarded any
more by the UNGA than Mr. Sharifs was. Despite the powerful language of Indias retort which will no doubt be echoed
in the address External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj delivers next the world has little time for a low-intensity conflict
that has stretched on for almost 70 years. Indias diplomats have fought and struggled for decades to keep Kashmir off
the UNs agenda, and the Centre does no good to its case by bringing the subject back into focus by joining issue with
Pakistan in such a high-pitched manner. For the moment, it would be advisable to keep its powder dry and rhetoric sober
as India investigates the intelligence and procedural lapses in failing to avert the Uri attack, and weigh its strategic
options.


o Jaw-jaw - talking, especially lengthy and pointless discussion
o Possibly - used when something is not certain
o Castigation - to criticize someone or something seriously
o Asserted - to speak or behave in a strong, confident way
o Proxies - people authorized to act on behalf of another
o Toxic - harmful
o Accused - to say that someone has done something morally wrong,
illegal, or unkind
o Hypocritical - saying that you have particular moral beliefs but behaving
in a way that shows these are not sincere
o Sermon - a long talk in which someone advises other people how they
should behave in order to be better people
o Proliferation - to increase a lot and suddenly in number
o Deception - the act of hiding the truth, especially to get an advantage
o Deceit - dishonest behaviour that is intended to trick someone
o Hardly - used for saying that something is almost not true or almost
does not happen at all
o Championing - to publicly support or defend a set of beliefs, political
aims, or a group of people
o Intifada - a violent act of oppostion by the Palestinian people to the
Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
o Sponsor - to support a person, organization, or activity by giving money,
encouragement, or other help
o Inaccuracy - a statement, detail, or measurement that is not accurate
o Including - used for mentioning that someone or something is part of a
particular group or amount
o Plebiscite - a vote by everyone in a country about a very important issue
o Annals - the official records of an organization, arranged according to
their date
o Troops - soldiers
o Vacate - to leave a place
o Territory - an area of land controlled by a particular country, leader, or
army
o Contention - an opinion or statement that something is true, especially
one made during a discussion or argument
o Principal - main
o Victim - someone who has been harmed, injured, or killed as the result
of a crime
o Sympathetic - supporting a plan, action, or person
o Affirmation - an action of support or approval
o Compounded - to make a problem or difficult situation worse
o Devote - to spend a lot of time or effort doing something
o Bilaterally - involving two groups / countries
people
o Elicited - to make someone react in the way that you want


o Retort - to reply immediately in an angry or humorous way to something
that someone has said
o Echoed - repeated
o Diplomats - officials whose job is to represent their government in a
foreign country
o High-pitched - higher than usual
o Keep its powder dry - remain cautious and ready for a possible
emergency
o Lapse - a short or temporary period when you fail or forget to do
something in the right way
o Avert - to prevent something bad or harmful from happening
Topic 2 : "Raiders of hidden arks"
The return to India of three ancient sculptures from the >National Gallery of Australia is another milestone in the long
and difficult campaign waged by several countries to repossess their cultural treasures, which have often been bought by
museums from idol smugglers. As the provenance of the artefacts the 900-year old statues of Goddess Pratyangira
and Seated Buddha, and the third century Worshippers of Buddha became clear, the only ethical course open to the
Australian gallery was to restore the sculptures, which it must be commended for pursuing. Evidently, the two icons other
than the sandstone Seated Buddha were acquired from a >New York-based art dealer, Subhash Kapoor , for about
$840,000 on the strength of fake documentation: he is now facing prosecution in Tamil Nadu. These are by no means
isolated instances. In June, the United States formally returned to India about 200 stolen cultural objects, which include
2,000-year-old artefacts, part of a $100 million trove unearthed by an investigation of Kapoors art business. What
emerges from these long battles to reclaim articles that constitute cultural heritage is the insight that a dedicated national
agency with State government support would be better equipped to fight the scourge of theft and illicit transfer. With
trained personnel, it could devote itself to the task of documenting antiquities and ensuring that the countrys ports are
sealed against smuggling.
The National Gallery of Australias inquiry into the status of its Asian art objects conducted by a retired judge, Susan
Crennan, has had the positive outcome of identifying 22 articles that have questionable or doubtful credentials, 14 of
which were purchased from Kapoor. Many of the findings in the Australian review underscore the importance of creating
a strong repository of information of all Indian antiquities, backed up by unimpeachable forensic records, so that they may
be claimed without difficulty at a future date. A lot of the illicit trade has been carried out by smugglers who have laundered
the provenance of idols using fake documentation designed to overcome the prohibition imposed by the Antiquities and
Art Treasures Act, 1972 on non-governmental exports. Providentially, it is the records of a research institution such as
the French Institute of Pondicherry that helped establish the claim to the 11th-12th century Nataraja idol stolen from Tamil


Nadu in 2006. Documentation of antiquities using public and private records should become a national mission. These
treasures could then be put on display in national museums.
o Raiders - someone who attacks a place using force

o Ark - a box containing treasure
o Ancient - very old
o Sculptures - statues (stone, metal, or wood)
o Milestone - great achievement
change
o Waged - paid regularly for work
o Repossess - to take back something
o Smuggler - someone who secretly and illegally takes goods or people
into or out of a country, especially as a way of earning money
o Provenance - the place where something first came from
o Artefacts - an object that was made a long time ago and is historically
important
o Evidently - to say that something is easily seen or understood
o Sandstone - a type of pale yellow stone, made from sand that has
become hard over many years
o Prosecution - the process or act of accusing someone of a crime and
asking a court of law to judge them
o Isolated - to separate something from other things
o Formally - officially
o Trove - a store of valuable things
o Unearthed - to find something that is buried in the ground
o Emerges - comes out
o Heritage - the art, buildings, traditions, and beliefs that a society
considers important to its history and culture
o Insight - a chance to understand something or learn more about it
o Antiquity - an object or building that existed in ancient times and still
exists
o Questionable - not certain, or wrong in some way
o Credentials - documents that prove who you are or that show your
qualifications or status
o Underscore - to highlight something
o Repository - a place where large quantities of things are stored or kept
safe
o Unimpeachable - impossible to doubt or criticize
o Forensic - relating to the use of scientific methods to solve crimes and
to find out who committed them
o Provenance - a list of the people who have owned a work of art, used
for proving that it was really made by the artist that people claim it was
made by
o Prohibition - a law or rule that stops people from doing something
o Providentially - happening exactly when needed but without being
planned

SEP 26/2016
Topic 1 : "Falling behind schedule"
Current educational attainments remain far from adequate for the enhancement of personal well-being and social
progress, according to a report of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Immigrant populations
are especially disadvantaged, an area that deserves particular attention given the recent scramble for shelter and succour
among millions of refugees. The findings in the OECDs Education at a Glance 2016 report make for sober reading all
round, viewed against data on the many rewards individuals and societies are able to reap when endowed with higher
qualifications. For instance, people with a masters degree stand a close to 90 per cent wage advantage in the 35 countries
of the OECD. Correspondingly, their governments receive over a lifetime about 100,000 in taxes and social contributions
more than they invest on a graduate. There has been a 4 percentage point increase in the rate of enrolment in tertiary
education in the decade ended 2014. These are encouraging facts; the logical case therefore should be for greater public
investment in this sector. But across the spectrum the trend is clearly in the opposite direction. While the report shows an
8 per cent rise in real-term spending per child in the five years up to 2013, it also notes a 14 per cent increase in private
expenditure in the region in the same period. Private spending by students and households is estimated at some 30 per
cent in the tertiary education sector alone. This has to be viewed against the backdrop of the relentless regime of
economic austerity in the years following the financial crisis, with serious implications for equity and the knowledge
economies of the future.
A broader issue mentioned in the report, which covers besides OECD members, partner-countries including India, is the
likelihood that states may not be able to realise the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal pertaining to the provision of
quality education. This concern is echoed in the Unesco 2016 report. The need to achieve the targets relating to SDG 4,
to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, cannot be overstated, given that it is the pivot on which the realisation
of several other fundamentally important developmental objectives remains. Indeed, almost the entire success of the
2030 agenda rests squarely on the education target. The objectives of reduction of poverty, alleviation of hunger,
expansion of employment, empowerment of women and gender equality are all influenced by the qualifications and skills
that men and women possess. And of course at another level, without an educated and empowered populace, the dream
of an enlightened, more tolerant and peaceful world would forever remain elusive.
o Falling behind schedule - to fail to do something on time

o Attainment - the process of achieving an aim or particular level of
success
o Adequate - good enough or large enough for a particular purpose
o Enhancement - the process of improving something
o Well-being - the state of feeling healthy and happy
o Immigrant - someone who comes to live in a country from another
country

o Disadvantaged - disadvantaged people do not have the same
advantages as other people, for example because they do not have much
money
o Deserves - if you deserve something, it is right that you get it
o Scramble - to compete with other people for something there is very
little of
o Succour - to help someone
o Refugees - people who leave their country, especially during a war or
o Sober - with a serious attitude
o Reap - to get something as a result of something that you do
o Endowed - to give money to a school, hospital, or other institution
o Correspondingly - used for saying that one thing is related to another,
or is caused by another
o Enrolment - the process to put yourself or someone else onto the official
list of members of a course, college, or group
o Tertiary - relating to colleges and universities
o Relentless - continuing in a serious or extreme way (a bad situation)
unfair way
o Austerity - an economic policy by which a government reduces the
amount of money it spends by a large amount
o Implication - a possible effect or result
o Equity - a fair and reasonable way of behaving towards people, so that
everyone is treated in the same way
o Likelihood - the chance that something might happen
o Pertaining to something - to be directly related to something
o Pivot - the most important thing that something is based on or depends
on
o Alleviation - to make something less painful or serious
o Populace - the people who live in a particular country or area
o Enlightened - showing understanding, acting in a positive way, and not
following old-fashioned or false beliefs
o Tolerant - willing to accept someone elses beliefs, way of life etc without
criticizing them, even if you disagree with them
Topic 2 : "Rafale takes flight at last"
The signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and France for 36 Rafale multirole fighter jets brings to
an end 17 months of hard bargaining, following Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to dump the Medium Multi-Role
Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender and the announcement during his visit to Paris last year of direct purchases. The first
such major acquisition in almost two decades, it comes as a breather for the Indian Air Force, which has been facing


depleting fighter strength. As Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar pointed out, given its technological superiority the Rafale
will augment the IAFs capability. The weapons package, which includes the Meteor radar-guided Beyond Visual Range
air-to-air missile, considered best-in-class with a range of over 150 km, and the Scalp long-range air-to-ground missiles
with a range of 300 km, will help maintain the IAFs air superiority as they have no equivalents in the region. Given the
technological sophistication and the long range, the Rafales are expected to play a lead role as nuclear delivery platforms
in Indias second-strike capability, replacing the Mirage 2000 fighters.
The acquisition will cost the exchequer 7.87 billion, or about Rs.59,000 crore, which is a high price compared to $10.5
billion approved for 126 fighter jets under the original MMRCA deal in 2007. The basic aircraft costs about 91 million,
which is high in comparison to other contemporary four-plus generation aircraft. The Centre has claimed savings of
several million in the hard bargain, but the Defence Ministry would do well to share more information in Parliament. It is
unclear why the government decided to buy just 36 fighters, which creates logistical and operational complications and
pushes up the overall cost for reasons of economies of scale. In fact, Indias is now one of the most diverse air forces,
with Western and Russian- origin aircraft with Indian and other systems incorporated in them. The IAF has been
attempting to narrow the diversity to optimise utilisation and bring down the cost of operations. The current trajectory of
procurement indicates that those plans may be on hold. The government is scouting for another fighter to be inducted in
large numbers and produced in India under the Make in India initiative. In the years to come, the indigenously built Light
Combat Aircraft Tejas and the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft from Russia will join the force, adding to the diversity.
While the Rafale deal is a welcome step, it is high time India made procurements based on a long-term integrated plan.
o Inter-Governmental - involving governments of different countries

o Multirole - (of an aircraft) capable of performing several roles
o Bargaining - discussions between people in order to reach agreement
on something such as prices, wages, working conditions, etc
o Dump - to get rid of someone or something that you no longer want or
need
o Acquisition - the process of buying something
o Breather -a short rest from work or activity. To take a breather means
to have a rest
o Depleting - reducing
o Augment - to increase the size, amount, or value of something
o Meteor - a large piece of rock from space that passes into the Earths
atmosphere and appears as a bright light in the sky
o Radar - a system that uses radio signals for finding the exact position of
something such as an aircraft or a ship
o Superiority - the fact that one person or thing is better, more powerful
etc than another
o Equivalents - someone or something that has the same value,
importance, or meaning as someone or something else
o Sophistication - the quality of knowing and understanding a lot about a
complicated subject


public money
o Contemporary - modern, relating to the present time
o Logistical - relating to the process of planning and organizing to make
sure that resources are in the places where they are needed, so that an
activity or process happens effectively
o Diverse - including many different things
o Narrow - limited in range or variety
o Diversity - the fact of many different types of things or people being
included in something
o Optimise - to make something as good as possible
o Utilisation - the process of using something in an effective way
of time
o Procurement - the process of buying supplies or equipment for a
government department or company
o Scouting - the action of gathering information about enemy forces or an
area
o Inducted - to officially take someone / something into the armed forces
problem
o Indigenously - related to a particular region or country
SEP 27/2016
Topic 1 : "Positive signals from the GST Council"
Within a fortnight of President Pranab Mukherjee signing off on the > 122nd Constitution Amendment Bill to introduce
the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, work on the next steps has begun. The GST Council, led by the Union Finance
Minister and with representatives from all States, had its first meeting on September 22-23, flagging off the process of
determining the nitty-gritty of the new indirect tax system and resolving differences on crucial first-principle issues. Time
is of the essence, as just six months remain for the April 1, 2017 deadline that the Centre has set for ringing in the GST.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has admitted that the deadline is challenging, but going by the outcomes of the first meeting
of the Council, it is clearly doable. Apart from agreeing on the rules and timetable for its meetings, the Council reached a
consensus on the threshold turnover for a business to be covered by the GST, Rs.20 lakh, which ensures that the new
tax will not be a compliance burden for small retailers and traders. It has also agreed on the draft compensation formula
for States revenue losses and accepted industrys rationale to subsume myriad cess levies in the GST.
An important signal at this juncture is the Centres decision to let go of the Central Board of Excise and Customss proposal
to create dual control over the assessment of businesses with an annual turnover of up to Rs.1.5 crore and give States
that power. Experts reckon that a large number of assessees fall below this threshold. By conceding ground on this
contentious issue, the Finance Minister has sent a welcome message of give-and-take. This is important given the need
to resolve more tangled Centre-State tax issues on the Councils agenda quickly, if the model laws for Central, State and
integrated GST are to be ready for Parliaments winter session. It is evident that all States participated with an open mind,

including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, irrespective of their ratification strategies for the Constitution amendments in their
respective Assemblies. All decisions were arrived at by consensus. The Centre and the States appear to be informed by
the roll-out experience of the Value-Added Tax regime, and the States want to be on the same page through discussions
and support one another rather than get divided along regional or party lines. This bodes well for the GST, where every
decision has to be taken by the Council based on a majority view: the States have two-thirds voting power and the Centre
has one-third. It is to be hoped that this accommodative spirit of cooperative federalism prevails.
o Council - a group of people elected or chosen to make decisions or give

advice on a particular subject, to represent a particular group, or to run
a particular organization
o Signing off - to announce the end of something
o Constitution - the set of political principles by which a state or
organization is governed
o Flagging off - to inaugurate something
o The nitty-gritty - the basic facts of a situation
o Doable - able to be done
o Threshold - a level at which something happens (limit)
o Turnover - the value of the goods and services that a company sells in
a particular period of time
o Compliance - the practice of obeying a law, rule, or request
o Rationale - the set of reasons that something such as a plan or belief is
based on
o Subsume - to include something or someone as part of a larger group
o Levies - taxes (an amount of money that you have to pay)
o Juncture - a stage in a process or activity
o Reckon - to think or believe
o Tangled - very complicated and difficult to deal with
o Ratification - the official way to confirm something
o To be on the same page - thinking in a similar way (to understand and
agree with what is being done or suggested)
o Accommodative - to provide enough space for something
o Prevails - to get control or influence
Topic 2 : "Joining the climate high table"
The Centres decision to ratify the Paris Agreement on climate change on October 2 is a welcome affirmation of Indias


commitment to join the global community in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As an emerging nation with a
large number of people living without access to electricity, Indias predicament of having to generate more energy for
poverty eradication while simultaneously curbing GHGs is universally acknowledged. But there is no denying that the
country has adopted an approach that is predicated on a much-too-high use of fossil fuel-based technologies. This needs
to be addressed as all nations look towards the next phase, when the climate agreement comes into force. There is near
certainty that the decision made in Paris will become operational before the deadline for signatures set for April 2017: 61
country-parties responsible for 47.79 per cent of emissions have ratified it so far. What remains is for individual countries
in Europe, and the European Union, to review their commitments after Brexit, and sign up to reach the target of 55 per
cent of total GHG emissions. Indias decision to join, overcoming a reticence that was apparently linked to the failure to
enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group, is commendable. It would, in any case, have come under pressure to do so since the
Paris process is sure to move ahead with Europes entry.
With climate commitments becoming almost inevitable, a national consultative process on low carbon strategies cannot
be delayed. In order to comply with the Paris process, every aspect of energy use would need precise measurement in
the years ahead, which several sectors of the economy are ill-equipped to do at present. Upgrading the electricity grid to
take in higher volumes of renewable power is an urgent necessity if India is to realise the national goal submitted to the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to install 100 gigawatts of solar power capacity by 2022. A bold new policy
on urban design to curb emissions from buildings and transport has to be written into all relevant legislation. Such far-
reaching steps can be taken only with the active participation of State governments, many of which remain on the
periphery of the discussion. That needs to change, and a blueprint for action has to be drawn up, if a convincing case is
to be made for assistance from the $100 billion a year that the rich countries are to put together by 2020. Fundamentally,
national policy should mandate even higher levels of taxes on fossil fuels and transfer the benefits to eco-friendly options,
be it solar panels, efficient light bulbs, bicycles, green buses/trains, and greening initiatives.
o Climate - the general weather conditions usually found in a particular

place
o High table - a table at a formal meal where the most important guests
sit
o Ratify - to make an agreement official by signing it or formally accepting
it
o Predicament - a difficult or unpleasant situation that is not easy to get
out of
o Eradication - to get rid of something completely, especially something
bad
o Curbing - to control or limit something harmful
o Theres no denying - used for saying that something is clearly true
o Predicated - depends on
o Address - to try to deal with a problem

o Emission - the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc
o Reticence - not willing to provide information about something
o Apparently - based only on what you have heard, not on what you are
certain is true
o Inevitable - impossible to avoid or prevent
o Consultative - providing advice, information, or help on a particular
subject
o Precise - exact and accurate
o Ill-equipped - without the necessary equipment, skills, or abilities to do
something
o Upgrading - to make a computer or other machine more powerful or
effective
o Renewable - something that can be produced as quickly as that is used
o Convention - a meeting that a lot of people belonging to a particular
profession or organization go to in order to discuss things
o Far-reaching - affecting a lot of people or things in an important way
o Periphery - the less important part of a group or activity
o Blueprint - a detailed plan for doing something new
o Eco-friendly - designed to cause as little harm as possible to the
environment
o Greening - the process of becoming more active about protecting the
environment
problem
SEP 28/2016
Topic 1 : "Debating America"
The first of three U.S. presidential debates lived up to the hype as the world was treated to the sight of an experienced
politician, and first-ever woman nominee for the White House, take on a brash and surprisingly popular property tycoon.
While most media analysts seemed to hand victory in the debate to Democrat and former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, numerous online polls, most of them based on anonymous voting and non-scientific response targeting, appeared
to suggest that it was her Republican rival Donald Trump who won. To an extent, the terms of the debate, set by moderator
and NBC News anchor Lester Holt, ended up favouring Ms. Clinton. Mr. Holt tipped the scales towards Ms. Clinton when
he brought up Mr. Trumps refusal to reveal his tax returns, the birther controversy over Barack Obamas place of birth,
Mr. Trumps alleged support for the Iraq War, and his comment on Ms. Clintons look. Yet, what featured significantly
less was Ms. Clintons use of a private email server, her responses to the controversy over the 2012 Benghazi attack,
and broader criticism of the Clinton charitable foundation and her proximity to Wall Street, issues that would have put her
on the back foot. As it turned out, she emerged from the brawl with poise and a lawyer-like command over the tempo of
the debate as she held out several baits for Mr. Trump, which he took.


Ms. Clinton forensically focussed on Mr. Trumps weaknesses, including his preference for tax cuts for big businesses
over income support for the middle class, his past business and personal dealings that hinted at racist values, and the
destabilisation potential of his foreign policy proposals on NATO, Iran, North Korea, China and Mexico. The deeper
question that the Clinton-Trump clash continues to pose, however, is: How has a candidate such as Mr. Trump come this
far? Why has his habit of offending politically significant minorities, including Mexicans, African-Americans, Muslims, the
LGBT community, the differently abled and women, not dented his popularity? In part, it comes down to sheer
showmanship, and Ms. Clinton, for all her measured responses and detailed elucidation of policy prescriptions, falls far
behind Mr. Trump on that count. However, the more worrisome force behind the rise and rise of Mr. Trump is that his
candidature hints at continuing nationwide disenchantment over political dysfunction in Washington. That Americans may
be willing to risk it all and throw a metaphorical grenade at the federal government to shake things up after years of
partisan bickering and policy logjams suggests that their leaders must work to heal a bitterly polarised electorate and
temper this distaste for the federal governance architecture.
o Debating - argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner

o Lived up to something - to be as good as what was expected or
promised
o Hype - to repeatedly advertise and discuss something in newspapers, on
television, etc. in order to attract everyone's interest
o Nominee - a person who is nominated as a candidate for election or
award
o Brash - behaving and talking in a loud and confident way that annoys
other people
o Tycoon - a rich and powerful person who is involved in business or
industry
o Numerous - many
o Anonymous - f someone is anonymous, no one knows their name
o Moderator - 1 someone who is in charge of a discussion, meeting etc
between people with different opinions
o Anchor - someone who presents a television or radio programme,
especially the news
o Ended up - to be in a particular place or state after doing something or
because of doing it
o Birther - birthers are opponents of US President Barack Obama, who
claim that he is not a 'natural born citizen' (not born in the USA)
o Proximity - how near something is to another thing, especially in
distance or time
o On the back foot - in a worse situation than other people
o Turned out - to happen in a particular way or to have a particular result,
especially an unexpected one
o Emerged - to come to the end of a difficult period or experience
o Brawl - a noisy fight in a public place
o Poise - a controlled and relaxed way of behaving, even in difficult
situations
o Tempo - the speed at which something happens

o Baits - something that is offered in order to persuade someone to do
something
o Forensically - in great detail
o Racist - someone who does not like or respect people who belong to
races that are different from their own and who believes their race is
better than others
o Destabilisation - to make a government, area, or political group lose
power or control
o LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender
o Dented - to have a bad effect on something
o Sheer - used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a
quality or feeling is
o Showmanship - skill in making people feel entertained
o Elucidation - to make something easier to understand by giving more
information
o Worrisome - causing you to feel worried
o Disenchantment - disappointment (no longer enthusiastic about
someone or something)
o Dysfunction - a failure to work well
o Metaphorical - intended to represent particular aspects of something
else
o Partisan - showing strong and usually unfair support for one particular
person, group, or idea
o Bickering - to argue about things that are not important
o Logjam - a situation in which one problem is stopping anything else from
being done
o Bitterly - in a way that shows strong negative emotion such as anger or
disappointment
o Polarised - to form two very different groups, opinions, or situations
that are completely opposite to each other
o Distaste - a feeling of dislike for someone or something that you do not
approve of
Topic 2 : "Troubled waters"
By holding a meeting on the Indus Waters Treaty and scheduling another later this week on MFN (Most Favoured Nation)
status to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled his intent to examine all the non-military options before
the government for a strong response to the Uri attack. Blood and Water cannot flow together, he is reported to have
said. However, after the meeting, officials made it clear that the IWT will hold, at least for the moment. Instead, the Centre
drew up a list of measures to optimise use of the Indus waters, that India has so far failed to do. The fact is that abrogating
the IWT is a non-starter as an option, and the holding of the meeting at this juncture ill-considered. For one, it confused
the message in Mr. Modis Kozhikode speech, appealing to Pakistani citizens better instincts to wage a war on poverty.
More important, the 1960 treaty for the Indus and five tributaries flowing from India to Pakistan was brokered by the World
Bank (then, the IBRD), and has held through wars and conflicts along the Line of Control. Revoking it would threaten


regional stability and Indias credibility globally. It remains unclear what India intends to do with the western rivers in
question beyond the short-term plan to irrigate Jammu and Kashmirs fields better. Dams required to hold the course of
the tributaries of the Indus to alter water levels to Pakistan dramatically would take more than a decade to build. Given
the environmental and geopolitical consequences of such actions, they are unlikely to elicit any international funding.
It is clear that the Centre didnt think through its next steps when it declared with a grand flourish, amplified by frenzied
television headlines, that the Prime Minister would review the Treaty. But it did limit the potential damage by bringing
down the heated rhetoric with a rational analysis on the Treaty. It would be wise if India proceeds with a sense of pragmatic
caution in making further statements on Pakistan for instance, revoking the MFN status will hardly punish Pakistans
economy given the low levels of bilateral trade. Terrorist attacks such as the one at Uri require a combination of measured
but firm responses, rather than weighing every option in full public view. India cannot also ignore the fact that the Uri
attack has exposed the need to shore up its defences. As India has realised time and again, its response to provocation
must carry the message that the country is dependable and not given to irrational, irresponsible actions that its neighbour
is often prone to.
o Troubled waters - a difficult situation or time

o IWT - Indus Water Treaty (India and Pakistan)
o Drew up - to prepare something, usually something official, in writing
o Optimise - to make something as good as possible
o Abrogating - to end a law, agreement, or custom formally
o Ill-considered - made or done without careful thought
o Instincts - a natural ability to know what to do in a particular situation
o Tributary - a small river that flows into a larger river
o Brokered - to arrange the details of a deal, plan etc so that everyone
can agree to it
o Revoking - to officially say that something is no longer legal, for
example a law or a document
o Threaten - to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or
someone
o Stability - a situation in which things happen as they should and there
are no harmful changes
o Credibility - qualities that someone has that make people believe or
trust them
o Dramatically - sudden and surprising or easy to notice
o Geopolitical - relating to politics, especially international relations, as
influenced by geographical factors
o Elicit - to make someone react in the way that you want
o Flourish - to be very successful

o Frenzied - uncontrolled and excited behaviour or emotion that is
sometimes violent
people
o Pragmatic - dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that
is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations
o Shore up something - to support or improve an organization, that is
not working effectively or that is likely to fail
o Provocation - an action or statement that is intended to make someone
angry
o Neighbour - someone who lives near you
o Prone - likely to suffer fro something unpleasant
SEP 29/2016
Topic 1 : "Rescuing the Syrian truce deal"
Over the past five and a half years, every international effort to bring violence in Syria to an end has collapsed. The UN
has largely been a spectator since what began as civil strife spiralled into a deadly war between the regime and a group
of rebel groups supported by outside powers. In this time, half a million people have been killed. The Geneva I and II
peace plans did not even take off. Russia and the U.S. had earlier agreed to cease hostilities, but the agreement did not
hold. When Moscow and Washington, which support the regime and the rebels, respectively, decided to go ahead with
talks despite the initial setback and finally came up with a proper ceasefire agreement earlier this month, hopes were high
about bringing at least some temporary relief to Syrians. But within a week of reaching the agreement, the Syrian regime
and the rebels are back fighting each other, erasing the advances made through months of negotiations. It is immaterial
to ask who has violated the terms of the agreement, given the hostility and the contradictory accounts of who did what.
The Syrians blame the U.S. for violating the terms first with airstrikes, killing more than 60 Syrian soldiers in Jebel Tharda
on September 17, a few days into the deal. The U.S. says the strike was a mistake. It, in turn, blames Russian jets for
attacking a UN aid convoy in Aleppo a few days later, which Moscow denies. Amid the allegations and counter-allegations,
the war drags on, creating more havoc, especially in Aleppo that has witnessed heavy regime bombardment and where
2.5 lakh people are believed to be trapped.
There are two key impediments to achieving truce. First, President Bashar al-Assad is now making advances in the
battlefield. Recapturing Aleppo, once Syrias largest city, has always been high on his agenda, and he may be less keen
to compromise at a time when he is winning. But the problem is that while trying to recapture the city his forces might
commit another massacre, which the world should not let happen. Being Mr. Assads greatest supporter, Russia has a
moral responsibility to end the siege of Aleppo. But Russia has its own concerns. It wants the rebels to isolate the jihadists
among themselves, particularly Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and has been asking the West to target such groups. Though the


U.S. has said it is fighting all jihadist groups in Syria, it is now focussed only on the Islamic State, which is in retreat. The
U.S. and Russia need to stay engaged in talks. The word truce may appear to be a clich in todays Syria, but an
international ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Russia still seems to be the best option to turn around the Syrian
situation.
o Rescuing - save (someone) from a dangerous or difficult situation

o Truce - a short interruption in a war or argument, or an agreement to
stop fighting or arguing for a period of time
o Collapsed - to suddenly fail or stop existing
o Spectator - someone who watches a public activity or event
o Spiralled - to continuously become worse
situation worse
o Advance - an improvement or development in something
o Negotiations - formal discussions in which people or groups try to reach
an agreement, especially in a business or political situation
o Immaterial - not important or relevant
o Violated - to do something that is in opposition to a law, agreement,
principle etc
o Contradictory - contradictory statements, information, ideas, or beliefs
disagree with each other and cannot both or all be true
o Blame - to say that someone or something is responsible for an accident,
problem, or bad situation
o Convoy - a group of vehicles or ships travelling together, often with
other vehicles or ships providing protection for them
o Amid - in the middle of or surrounded by something
o Havoc - a situation in which there is a lot of damage or destruction
o Bombardment - an attack on a place made by dropping bombs from
planes or by firing large guns for a long time
o Impediment - something that makes progress, movement, or
achieving something difficult or impossible
o Truce - an agreement between two people or groups involved in a war,
fight, or disagreement to stop it for a period of time
o Massacre - the action of killing of a lot of people
o Isolate - to keep someone in a place away from other people
o Clich - a phrase or idea that is boring because people use it a lot and it
is no longer original


Topic 2 : "The SAARC gambit"
Indias decision to pull out of the SAARC summit in Islamabad this November, with Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh
deciding to follow suit, effectively draws the curtain on what was increasingly becoming a farce. Since the previous Nepal
summit, Pakistan has blocked all protocols to better link the region, while India has pursued a SAARC minus Pakistan
plan to push through with agreements it is keen on. Meetings in the run-up to Islamabad have been overshadowed by
ongoing India-Pakistan tensions for months now. Basic courtesies were set aside by both countries after the Pathankot
attack. Islamabad dropped any plans to send a representative to India to formally extend an invitation to the summit, as
is the custom. Home Minister Rajnath Singh was given a mixed welcome by his Pakistani hosts during the Home Ministers
meeting in Islamabad in August, prompting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to cancel his visit for the subsequent SAARC
Finance Ministers meeting. Afghanistan and Bangladesh too had downgraded their participation in these meetings
because of their anger with Pakistan on its continued support to terror groups in the respective countries. Uri proved to
be the final straw, especially in view of Pakistans refusal to even issue a statement condemning the attack, galvanising
India to reach out to other SAARC member-countries in an effort to diplomatically isolate Pakistan. But Sri Lanka and
the Maldives, and Nepal, the acting SAARC Chair, have kept out of the boycott.
The Modi government cannot claim much more than a pyrrhic victory for the SAARC process getting derailed in this
manner. With one-fifth of the worlds population, South Asia is home to two-fifths of the worlds poor. It has abysmally low
intra-regional trade. It was precisely to work around bilateral tensions in the subcontinent, especially between its two
biggest members, and to make space for discussion on common issues such as trade, infrastructure, sustainable
development and poverty alleviation, that SAARC was set up. The founding principle was that together South Asia had a
better chance of fighting its shared ills, an idea that held the group together for decades in the face of intermittent regional
tensions. Of course, this is not the first time that a SAARC summit has been postponed. But given the prevailing
environment of deep mistrust and tension, it is unlikely that the summit will be rescheduled to take place in the near future.
This is something that will cause serious damage to the multilateral process and raise even more questions about the
future and relevance of SAARC.
o Gambit - something that you say or do in an attempt to gain an

advantage
o Pull out - to stop being involved in an activity, event, or situation
o Farce - a situation or event that is silly because it is very badly
organized, unsuccessful, or unfair
o Protocols - a set of rules for the correct way to behave on formal
occasions
o Pursued - to follow a course of activity
o Overshadowed - to be a negative feature or influence that spoils
something
o Courtesies - polite behaviour, or a polite action or remark

o Custom - something that people do that is traditional or usual
o Host - someone who invites people to a meal or party
o Prompting - the act of trying to make someone say / do something
o Final Straw - the last in a series of unpleasant events that finally makes
you feel that you cannot continue to accept a bad situation
o Condemn - to say publicly that you think someone or something is bad
or wrong
o Galvanising - to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong
and immediate reaction
o Diplomatically - in a way that does not cause offence
o Isolate - to keep someone from othes by putting them in a different
place
o Boycott - to not take part in an event
o Pyrrhic - a victory that is not worth winning because you lost a lot in
order to achieve it
o Derailed - to prevent something from continuing in the way that it was
planned
o Abysmally - extremely bad or low in quality
o Intra-regional - within one region of a country
o Precisely - clearly / exactly
o Bilateral - involving two groups / countries
o Subcontinent - a large area of land that forms part of a continent,
especially the part of Asia that contains the countries of India, Pakistan,
and Bangladesh
o Alleviation - to reduce a bad situation
o Intermittent - happening sometimes but not regularly or often
o Prevailing - existing at a particular time or in a particular place
o Mistrust - a feeling that you should not trust someone or something
o Multilateral - involving three or more groups
SEP 30/2016
Topic 1 : "Heed the boundary"
The Lodha Committees status report, highlighting how the Board of Control for Cricket in India has failed to adopt the
recommended administrative reforms, has left the games officials in a quandary. In a 79-page report filed in the Supreme
Court, Justice R.M. Lodha has said the BCCIs current office-bearers would have to relinquish their posts for the proposed
changes to be effected. Lending greater force to the punch, Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said the BCCI elite would
have to fall in line, or else we will make them fall in line. The provocation for these firm strictures was the BCCIs Annual
General Meeting in Mumbai on September 21, where a slew of decisions were taken, ranging from the nomination of
Sharad Pawar as alternate director for International Cricket Council meetings to the appointment of new selection
committees. The actions were seen as a failure to heed the Supreme Court. When the Lodha Committee green-lighted
the BCCIs AGM, it was with the caveat of sticking to appraising the year 2015-16, but the board discarded the
retrospective gaze and instead looked ahead. The appointment of selection committees, to cite one example, went against


norms set by Justice Lodha, who had recommended a three-member panel. The board stuck to the status quo of having
five.
Wednesdays developments in court now put the BCCI in a piquant situation. The BCCIs elbow room has shrunk, and it
is expected that the chastised board will toe the line, though it has time till October 6 to file a reply in the Supreme Court.
This sorry state of affairs couldnt have come at a more inopportune moment. India has a home season bounty 13
Tests, including the match that concluded in Kanpur this week, and an imminent Ranji Trophy schedule. Now there is the
risk of disarray. The sport is perhaps Indias best-governed, but the administrators refuse accountability. The cricket
schedule (domestic and international) is well- drawn, former cricketers get a generous pension, young players find
financial security in the Indian Premier League, and there is much to cheer in Indian cricket. But a refusal to embrace
transparency and the lack of respect for the ordinary fan have been emblematic of a feudal mindset that guides crickets
officialdom. BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke has been quoted as saying the board did what it felt was best for the game; BCCI
president Anurag Thakur has often declared he is out to clear wrong perceptions. Their intentions are, however, yet to
be matched by their actions. They need to take care they do not precipitate what could be the most serious crisis yet for
Indian cricket.
o Heed - pay attention to

o Administrative - relating to the management of a company,
o Quandary - a state of not being able to decide what to do about a
situation in which you are involved
o Office-bearer - a person who holds a position of authority and
responsibility in a government or other organization
o Relinquish - to give up your power, position, or an advantage, especially
when you do not want to do this
o Proposed - offered formally as an idea or plan
o Elite - a small group of people who have a lot of advantages and keep
the most power and influence
way
o Firm - strong
o Stricture - a statement of severe criticism or disapproval
o Slew - turn violently or uncontrollably
o Heed - to consider someones advice or warning and do what they
suggest
o Green-lighted - to give your approval for something
o Caveat - a warning of the limits of a particular agreement or statement
o Discarded - to get rid of something that you no longer want or need
o Retrospective - relating to or considering things that happened in the
past
o Gaze - to look at something or someone for a long time
o Cite - to mention something

o Status quo - present situation
o Piquant - interesting and exciting, especially because of being
mysterious
o Elbow room - freedom to do what you want:
o Chastised - to criticize someone
o Inopportune moment - an inopportune moment is not convenient,
suitable, or right
o Bounty - money offered as a reward
o Imminent - likely or certain to happen very soon
o Disarray - a situation in which people are very confused or things are
not organized, especially because something unexpected has happened
o Generous - larger or more expensive than usual or expected
o Embrace - to completely accept something such as a new idea
o Emblematic - generally accepted as being a symbol of a quality, idea,
or principle
o Officialdom - government departments, or the people who work in them
[This word usually shows that you dislike these people, because you think
they are not helpful]
o Perception - a particular way of understanding or thinking about
something
o Intention - a plan in your mind to do something
o Precipitate - to make something happen or begin to exist suddenly and
quickly, especially something bad
Topic 2 : "Crossing the Line of Control"
After running through a variety of non-military responses to the September 18 terrorist strike at an Army camp in Uri, the
Centre on Thursday announced that Indian forces had carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control. With this,
Indias next steps, post-Uri, are in uncharted terrain, with New Delhi abandoning the self-proclaimed policy of strategic
restraint adopted in the face of earlier provocations by terrorists believed to be backed by Pakistan. The operation, that
began and concluded in the early hours of Thursday, was claimed to be a military success, with no injuries to the Indian
para-commandos who went across the LoC into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to attack several locations. The decision to
strike in this manner was evidently taken after specific intelligence that terrorist groups were planning attacks in India.
This may not be the first time India has undertaken quick cross-LoC operations, but it has never before chosen to share
information so publicly.
The terms surgical strike and pre-emptive strike used by the Centre were intended to convey that this was not an
attack on Pakistans defence forces, but a targeted action against terrorists poised to wreak damage in India. Pakistan of
course has played down the Indian operation, characterising it as an act of habitual cross-border shelling. It is welcome
that New Delhi declared the strikes complete shortly after the operation, with the DGMO calling his Pakistani counterpart


to convey that India would not escalate the conflict beyond this. This, along with the briefings held in New Delhi for envoys
of various countries, indicates that the Centre wants to end hostilities with Pakistan for the moment. This strengthens the
view that the operation was the result of pressure on the Modi government to manufacture a strong response to Uri. Over
the past few days there has been a cascade of moves to underline that such provocations cannot be followed with
business as usual. The government reviewed the working of the Indus Waters Treaty, declared it is flirting with the idea
of reviewing Pakistans Most Favoured Nation status, and pulled out of the SAARC heads meet to be held in Islamabad.
Having made it known that India does not want further escalation, even as people living along the International Border
and the LoC are shifted to safer locations, the Centre will need to articulate what it regards as the new normal and
indeed, how it hopes, or plans, to dissuade Pakistan from escalating the situation in turn.
o Surgical strike - a military attack, especially by air, that is designed to

destroy something specific and to avoid wider damage
o Uncharted - an uncharted place or situation is completely new and
therefore has never been described before
o Terrain - an area of land, usually one that has a particular physical
feature
o Abandoning - to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever
o Self-proclaimed - used for saying what a particular person,
organization etc describes themselves as, even though other people
might not agree
o Strategic - carefully planned in order to achieve a particular goal,
especially in war, business, or politics
o Restraint - the limit or control of the expression of strong emotion or
opinion
way
o Early hours - the period of time between midnight and the very early
morning
o Claimed - to say that something is true, even though there is no definite
proof
o Injury - physical damage done to a person or a part of their body
o Para-commando - a soldier trained to jump out of planes wearing a
parachute
o Evidently - used for showing that a statement is based on known facts
o Pre-emptive - if something is pre-emptive, it is done before other
people can act, especially to prevent them from doing something else
o Convey - to communicate ideas or feelings indirectly
o Poised - about to do or achieve something after preparing for it
o Wreak - to cause very great harm or damage
o Shelling - attacks by soldiers who are firing shells
o Counterpart - someone or something that has the same job or purpose
organization
o Escalate - to make something become greater or more serious


o Briefings - a meeting or document in which people receive information
or instructions
o Envoy - an official who represents their country in another country, with
a rank below an ambassador
o Pulled out - to stop being involved in an activity, event, or situation
o Articulate - able to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly
and effectively
o Dissuade - to make someone not to do something
OCT 1/2016
Topic 1 : "Taking the road less dusty"
The likelihood of at least 600,000 deaths being caused annually in India by fine particulate matter pollution in the air is
cause for worry, even if the data released by the World Health Organisation are only a modelled estimate. The conclusion
that so many deaths could be attributed to particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in size is, of course, caveated, since
comprehensive measurement of PM2.5 is not yet being done and the linkages between pollution, disease and deaths
need further study. What is not in doubt is that residents in many urban areas are forced to breathe unhealthy levels of
particulates, and the smallest of these PM10 and less can penetrate and get lodged deep in the lungs. The WHO
Global Burden of Disease study has been working to estimate pollution-linked health impacts, such as stroke and
ischaemic heart disease, acute lower respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data on fine
particulates in India show that in several locations the pollutants come from burning of biomass, such as coal, fuel wood,
farm litter and cow dung cakes. In highly built-up areas, construction debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust add to the
problem. The Prime Minister launched an Air Quality Index last year aimed at improving pollution control. The new data,
which the WHO says provide the best evidence available on the terrible toll taken by particulates, should lead to intensified
action.
A neglected aspect of urban air pollution control is the virtual discarding of the Construction and Demolition Waste
Management Rules, notified to sustainably manage debris that is dumped in the cities, creating severe particulate
pollution. The Environment Ministry has highlighted the role that debris can play as a resource. Municipal and government
contracts are, under the rules, required to utilise up to 20 per cent materials made from construction and demolition waste,
and local authorities must place containers to hold debris. This must be implemented without delay. Providing cleaner
fuels and scientifically designed cookstoves to those who have no option but to burn biomass, would have a big impact
on reducing particulate matter in the northern and eastern States, which are the worst-hit during winter, when biomass is
also used for heating. Greening the cities could be made a mission, involving civil society, with a focus on landscaping
open spaces and paving all public areas to reduce dust. These measures can result in lower PM10 and PM2.5 levels.
Comprehensive measurement of these particulates is currently absent in many cities, a lacuna that needs to be
addressed.


o Dusty - covered with dust (dry soil or sand)
o Annually - once every year
o Particulate - an extremely small piece of dirt, especially one produced
by road vehicles, that causes pollution
o Modelled - to produce a simple technical description to show how
something such as a process, system, or theory works
o Estimate - to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of something
o Conclusion - the final part of something
o Attributed to something - to believe that something is the result of a
particular situation
o Caveate - a warning to consider something before taking any more
action
o Comprehensive - including many details or aspects of something
o Urban - relating to towns and cities
o Penetrate - to get inside an object or body
o Lodged - to (cause to) become stuck in a place or position
o Impact - an effect / an influence
o Ischaemic - related to a medical problem in which there is not enough
blood flowing to a part of the body
o Respiratory - relating to the process of breathing air in and out
o Pulmonary - relating to your lungs
o Pollutant - a substance that is harmful to the environment
o Debris - the broken pieces that are left when something large has been
destroyed
o Vehicular - relating to vehicles
o Exhaust - the waste gas from an engine, especially a car's, or the pipe
the gas flows through
o Toll - the total amount of harm or damage
o Intensified - more serious
o Virtual - almost a particular thing or quality
o Discarding - to get rid of something that you no longer want or need
o Demolition - the act of destroying something, such as a building or other
structure
o Landscaping - to make a piece of land more attractive by adding plants,
paths, or other features
o Paving - to cover the ground with a hard surface, especially with bricks
or blocks of stone etc
o Lacuna - an unfilled space; a gap.
o To address - to deal with a problem
Topic 2 : "The return of Hekmatyar"
The peace agreement reached between the Afghan government of President Ashraf Ghani and warlord Gulbuddin
Hekmatyar speaks volumes about the current situation in the country. Hekmatyar is not the type of leader a legitimate
government may like to make peace with. The butcher of Kabul faces charges of killing thousands of Afghans during


the U.S.-backed anti-Soviet jihad in the 1980s and the civil war in the early 1990s. He fell out with his American patrons
during the civil war involving different mujahideen groups, and turned against the U.S.-led coalition troops after their 2001
invasion of Afghanistan. But even after being declared a global terrorist by the U.S. in 2003, and his militia, the Hezb-i-
Islami, being placed on the UN list of foreign terrorist organisations, Hekmatyar, now believed to be living in Pakistan,
continued to fight the Afghan government and the coalition troops. Over the years his influence has dwindled, but he still
commands a sizeable group of rebel soldiers who can continue to irritate Kabul. But why should the Afghan government
negotiate a peace deal with a weakened warlord who faces charges of war crimes? Under the agreement, Hekmatyar will
be made part of all government decisions and actions. Besides, the Hezb-i-Islami fighters will be integrated into the Afghan
armed forces and Mr. Ghani will request the UN to remove the terrorist tag.
One plausible explanation is that the Afghan government is desperate to find a breakthrough in the 15-year-old civil war.
Mr. Ghanis previous attempts to reach out to the Taliban have come to nothing. Despite the recent setbacks to their
leadership, the Taliban now control more territories than ever since they were ousted from power in 2001. They have
demonstrated the capability to strike any location they choose to. By reaching a peace deal with Hekmatyar, Mr. Ghani
is sending the message to the Taliban that peace between warlords and the government is not impossible, provided the
former are ready to shun violence and work within the Afghan Constitution. The President may also be hoping that if
Hekmatyar rallies the various political and militant factions of the Hezb-i-Islami behind the government, it would strengthen
the regimes position in the long term. But it is a gambit. The accord is unlikely to have any immediate impact on security
as the Taliban are still at war. The deal could be counterproductive politically as well because of Hekmatyars record
having him associated with the government could dent its legitimacy. But for Mr. Ghani, presiding over a regime grappling
with infighting, incompetence, lack of resources and massive security challenges, there are not too many easy choices
that are without risk.
o Warlord - a military leader

o Speaks volumes - provides a lot of information, especially in an indirect
way
o Lgitimate - allowed by law
o Butcher - someone who has killed a lot of people, in a cruel and violent
way
o Charge - an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime
o Fell out with somebody - to argue with someone and stop being
friendly with them
o Patron - a person or group that supports an activity or organization,
especially by giving money
o Militia - a military force whose members are trained soldiers but who
often have other jobs
o Dwindled - to become smaller in size or amount

o Sizeable - large
o Irritate - to make someone angry or annoyed
o Negotiate - to try to reach an agreement by discussing something in a
formal way
o Plausible - likely to be true
o Desperate - very worried and angry because you do not know how to
deal with an unpleasant situation
situation worse
o Ousted - to remove someone from a position of power, especially in
order to take that position
o Shun - to avoid something
o Factions - small groups within a larger group, consisting of people with
different opinions from the rest
unfair way
advantage
o Accord - a formal agreement between countries or groups
o Counterproductive - having the opposite result to the one you wanted
o Grappling - to fight with someone
o Infighting - competition between people within a group, especially to
improve their own position or to get agreement for their ideas
o Incompetence - lack of ability to do something successfully or as it
should be done
o Massive - very large in size, amount, or number
OCT 03/2016
Topic 1 : "No short cuts in Maharashtra"
The immediate provocation for the series of rallies in the name of Maharashtras numerically dominant Marathas might
appear to be the rape and killing of a 14-year-old girl in Ahmednagar district. All the three accused so far in the case are
Dalits. While the protesters have demanded justice for the victim, their rallies have been used as a pretext for Marathas
to reiterate a long-standing demand for reservations under the Other Backward Classes category and for scrapping the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989. The Marathas demand for reservations
mirrors similar ones made recently by Patidars and Jats in Gujarat and Haryana, respectively. As with Patidars and Jats,
the demand for inclusion in the OBC quota is fuelled by anxiety about relative economic backwardness among a large
cross-section of Marathas. Their inability to move up the economic ladder and the lack of adequate opportunities in a
sluggish agrarian economy have been key factors in the agitations for reservations. Yet, the demand for reservations for
Marathas, traditionally seen as upper castes, goes against the spirit of affirmative action that has guided eligibility for
quotas in Central and State lists. Marathas are a dominant caste and play a central role in electoral politics as well as the
political economy of the State. In any case, it has been judicially established that economic criteria alone cannot be taken

as determinants of backwardness. The Bombay High Court had stayed an order by the previous Congress-NCP
government for 16 per cent reservations for Marathas in educational institutions and jobs over and above the almost 50
per cent quota for SC/STs and OBCs put together.
The other key demand in the Maratha agitations, for the scrapping of the POA Act, seems to be clearly directed at
perceived Dalit assertion. Such demands have been voiced in the past too by political groups representing landed
backward classes in States such as Tamil Nadu. The implementation of the POA Act has been sketchy across India, and
Maharashtra is no exception. Conviction rates remain low, even if reporting of crimes against SCs and STs and their
registration have increased, as a result of increasing awareness among Dalits and Adivasis of their legal options. Indeed,
there is a case for better implementation of the Act, certainly not for its scrapping. It is therefore disturbing that political
parties are trying to appropriate the seemingly spontaneous protests for any electoral dividends. The Devendra Fadnavis-
led government would be well-advised to address the States agrarian distress and need for more job creation, instead of
opting for short cuts such as expanding reservations, which in any case may not ultimately pass judicial scrutiny.

angry
o Rally - a public meeting that a lot of people go to in order to support
someone or something or to protest against someone or something
o Numerically - involving or expressed in numbers
o Accused - a person or group of people who are charged with a crime
o Protesters - someone who publicly shows their opposition to something
such as a law or policy
of a crime
o Pretext - a pretended reason for doing something that is used to hide
the real reason
o Reiterate - to say something again, once or several times
o Long-standing - having existed for a long time
o Scrapping - to decide not to continue with something such as a plan or
an event
o Fuelled - to make something increase or become worse, especially
o Anxiety - a worried feeling you have because you think something bad
might happen
o Backwardness - the state of not being developed, modern, or advanced
o Cross-section - a group that contains an example of all or most types
of people or things
o Inability - the fact of not being able to do something
o Sluggish - not performing or reacting as well as usual
o Agrarian - relating to or involving farming or farmers
o Agitation - worry and anxiety


o Affirmative - relating to a statement that shows agreement or says
"yes"
o Determinant - something that controls or decides how something else
will develop or what result it will have
o Key - important
o Perceived - to understand or think about something in a particular way
o Assertion - a statement that you strongly believe is true
o Sketchy - not detailed or complete
crime
o Certainly - used for emphasizing that something is definitely true or will
definitely happen
o Dividend - a share of the profits
o Well-advised - showing good judgment:
o Scrutiny - the careful and detailed examination of something in order to
get information about it
Topic 2 : "OPECs roll of the dice"
The agreement reached at the extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, in Algiers,
to trim the cartels collective output by about 700,000 barrels a day, in an effort to balance supply and demand in the
global oil market, caught markets by surprise. It was well-acknowledged that the group needed to take decisive action to
staunch the two-year-long slide in global crude prices, that saw Brent prices more than halve from about $103 a barrel in
end-August 2014 to $45.45 a barrel on September 1 this year. Still, it was unclear if there could be a meaningful
consensus on production cuts among disparate member-countries which included the small-yet-prosperous West
African country of Gabon, crisis-hit Venezuela, and fractious West Asian nations such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. That the
56-year-old grouping arrived at an agreement, albeit after leaving a decision on country-specific production targets to
November, reflects just how desperate the situation had become for most oil-producing economies. The output cut,
announced for the first time in eight years, is a tacit admission by the groups largest producer Saudi Arabia that its pump-
at-will approach has hurt its economy as much, if not more, than the pain it may have caused North American oil
producers, including U.S. shale interests, that the policy largely sought to target.
While the big U.S. shale producers have resiliently hung on and even begun investing in new acreage this year, Saudi
Arabia found itself with a huge hole in its budget. A fiscal deficit of 16 per cent of GDP in 2015 that is projected to slightly
narrow to about 13 per cent this year forced spending cuts, including on wages and fuel subsidies. This year the kingdom
was driven to make its first overseas borrowing in more than a decade, a five-year $10 billion loan. With the economys
growth set to slow to about 1 per cent in 2016, it had few options but to return to the main fuel of its economic engine,
crude oil. Given the countrys involvement in conflicts across the region, both openly as in Yemen and tacitly as in Syria,
its rulers have possibly realised the need to squeeze more revenue out of every barrel of oil. OPEC reportedly made a


concession to Iran in order to win its involvement in the deal by exempting it from immediate production caps. With
demand growth for petroleum slowing far more rapidly than previously predicted, the success of the production curbs in
reviving oil prices will significantly hinge on cartel discipline something that has often been lacking in the past.
o OPEC - Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

o Roll of the dice - a risky attempt to achieve something
o Cartel - a group of people or companies who all agree to sell something
at the same price so that they can all make profits without competing
with one another
o Barrel - in the oil industry, a barrel of oil is equal to 159 litres
o Caught someone by surprise - to happen unexpectedly
o Well-acknowledged - well known or accepted by many people
o Staunch - always loyal in supporting a person, organization, or set of
beliefs or opinions
o Crude - oil from rocks underground in a natural state that has not yet
been treated
o Halve - to reduce something to half its original size, number, or amount
o Disparate - disparate things belong to very different groups or classes
o Prosperous - rich and successful
o Fractious - easily upset or annoyed
o Albeit - although
o Desperate - very serious or bad
o Tacit - expressed or understood without being said directly
o Resiliently - showing the quality of being able to return quickly to a
previous good condition after problems
o Acreage - an area of land, often measured in acres
o Fiscal deficit - a fiscal deficit occurs when a government's total
expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates
o Wage - an amount of money that you earn for working, usually according
to how many hours or days you work each week or month
o Subsidy - an amount of money that the government or another
organization pays to help to reduce the cost of a product or service
o Overseas - happening or existing in a country across the sea from your
country
o Exempting - to allow someone to ignore something such as a rule,
obligation, or payment
o Cap - a limit on the amount of money that you can spend or charge
o Curb - to control or limit something
o Reviving - to become, or to make something become, active, successful,
or popular again
o Hinge - attach or join with
o Cartel - a group of similar independent companies who join together to
control prices and limit competition

o Lacking - if something important or useful is lacking, it does not exist or
is not available
OCT 4/2016
Topic 1 : "In black and white"
The Centres move to mop up black money from the economy by giving taxpayers amnesty to declare undisclosed past
income by paying tax on it at an effective, slightly high rate of 45 per cent has yielded a surprisingly positive dividend.
The four-month window granted for evaders to come clean opened sluggishly, but eventually over 64,200 assessees
disclosed undeclared assets worth at least Rs.65,250 crore. Stern warnings from the Prime Minister himself about tough
action and possible jail terms for those who failed to declare their cartloads of black money may have added punch to
the Finance Ministrys pitch. The haul is considerably higher than the Rs.4,164 crore in assets and black money held
abroad disclosed under a similar arrangement with a higher tax rate in 2015. This time, the tax department rightly focussed
on demystifying and propagating the scheme, so potential beneficiaries were reassured that they would not be
persecuted. The almost Rs.30,000 crore in taxes being raked in provides a cushion for the Centre on the fiscal deficit
management front since it hadnt set any explicit revenue expectations from the scheme.
The final stocktaking is still on, so the record collections under this scheme, vis--vis similar endeavours in the past, could
rise further. The Centre, however, must not consider this the end of its campaign on black money. To put things in context,
the average undisclosed income per taxpayer under the scheme stands at Rs.1.01 crore; and though the disclosures are
nearly double those in the last income amnesty scheme (around Rs.33,700 crore), nearly two decades have passed since
then, making comparisons misleading. The tax department is aware that Rs.65,250 crore is just the tip of the iceberg
it had sent seven lakh letters to suspected evaders based on information on about 90 lakh high-value transactions that
took place without PAN card details. The tax department must crack down on such evaders and spruce up its data-mining
methods to expand the countrys shallow tax base. While the departments efforts have revealed undisclosed income of
over Rs.58,000 crore in the last two and half years, and more is being pursued from tax havens where Indian holdings
have come to light, all of this is akin to treating the symptoms without addressing the root cause. If the Centre is serious
about attacking Indias thriving black economy, it needs to be bold and, for starters, make electoral funding transparent,
curb the misuse by the wealthy of tax-free income sops for farmers, and encourage cashless transactions.
o In black and white - official, in writing or printing (of an agreement,

contract, or statement)
o Mop up something - to finish dealing with something (to completely
remove it)
o Amnesty - a situation in which a government agrees not to punish, or
to no longer punish, people who have committed a particular crime
o Undisclosed - not reported publicly (secret)
o Slightly - not very much, only a little
o Yielded - to produce something useful such as information or evidence

o Dividend - a part of the profit
o Evaders - people who avoid paying tax
o Sluggishly - not performing or reacting as well as usual
o Eventually - at the end of a process
o Assessee - a person by whom any tax or any other sum of money is
payable
o Disclosed - to make something known publicly, or to show something
that was hidden
o Undeclared asset - something such as money or property that you do
not tell the tax authorities about
o Stern - serious
o Cartloads - the amount that you can carry in a cart (a large quantity of
amount)
o Haul - to take something, especially by force
o Considerably - a lot (large or of noticeable importance)
o Demystify - to make something that is difficult easy to understand,
especially by explaining it clearly
o Propagating - to spread ideas, beliefs etc to a lot of people
o Potential - possible or likely in the future
o Beneficiaries - someone who gets an advantage from a situation
o Reassure - to comfort someone and stop them from worrying:
o Persecuted - to treat someone extremely badly
o Raked in - to earn a lot of money
o Cushion - something, especially money, that is a protection against the
possible effects of something bad
o Fiscal deficit - a situation which occurs when a government's total
expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates
o Stocktaking - the counting of all the goods, materials, etc. kept in a
place
o Vis--vis - compared to or relating to someone or something
difficult
change
o Misleading - causing someone to believe something that is not true
o Just the tip of the iceberg - a problem or difficult situation that shows
that a much more serious problem exists
o Crack down - to start dealing with someone or something much more
strictly
o Spruce up something - to improve the appearance of something by
making it neater or by adding decorations
o Data-mining - the process of searching a database using special
software in order to find out information
o Shallow - of little depth (very small in amount)
o Revealed - to show something that was covered or hidden
o Pursued - to try to achieve something
o Haven - a safe or peaceful place
o Come to light - to become known publicly
o Akin - having some of the same qualities


Topic 2 : "The elusive peace in Colombia"
Colombia has missed, narrowly, an opportunity to end its five-decade-long civil war. Had a majority of the electorate
voted yes in Sundays referendum on a peace agreement reached between the government of President Juan Manuel
Santos and the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), it would have immediately set in motion
the process of disarming the rebels. But the accord was rejected by a razor-thin majority, throwing the future of peace
and war as well, which both the government and the rebels had declared over into uncertainty. It is not difficult to
understand popular anger against FARC. The rebel group is accused of massacres, trading in illegal drugs and running
extortion rackets. Over 52 years, the conflict has claimed 220,000 lives and displaced about six million people. A dominant
section of Colombias political class, led by former President lvaro Uribe, was actively campaigning for a no vote. Mr.
Uribe had charged President Santos with handing Colombia over to FARC. The main criticism is that justice is being
sacrificed for achieving peace. Under the terms of the current agreement, most of FARCs rank and file would be allowed
to lead civilian lives. The leadership will be judged in special tribunals with reduced sentences.
With all its imperfections, this was the best opportunity in decades to end a war in which both sides have committed
terrible crimes. While the atrocities committed by FARC are well-documented, government troops and the army-backed
right-wing paramilitaries stand accused of excessive use of force, turning the Colombian countryside into a war zone.
Where President Santos differed from his predecessors was in the realisation that there was no military solution to this
conflict, leading to negotiations with the rebels four years ago with Cubas mediation. The no vote doesnt necessarily
mean that the country will be pushed back into war. Both President Santos and FARC chief Timochenko have said they
would continue efforts to make peace. But it is not clear what options they have but to renegotiate a fresh deal and put it
to another referendum. That means the government and the rebels may have to go through another round of tortuous
talks. While reaching a new agreement has its own challenges, it is plausible for both sides, having established goodwill
and trust over the past four years of negotiations, to look for creative diplomatic solutions to end the war for good. The
Colombian government should also try to win over the opposition, which would strengthen its appeal to the public for a
deal. The alternative to peace is to send FARC back to the jungles and risk a potential resumption of the war.



o Guerrilla - a member of a military group that is not official and usually
wants to change a political situation (Their main method is to make
unexpected attacks in small groups.)
o Set something in motion - to make a series of events or a process start
happening
o Disarming - making someone feel less angry or unfriendly because of
the way you behave or talk to them
o Razor-thin - veru small
o Accuse - to say that someone has done something wrong or committed
a crime
o Massacre - the action of killing of a lot of people
o Trading - the activity of buying and selling goods
o Extortion - a crime in which someone gets money or information from
someone else by using force or threats
o Racket - a dishonest or illegal activity that makes money
o Claimed - if war, disease, or an accident claims someones life, they die
as a result of it
o Displaced - to force someone to leave their own country and live
somewhere else
o Sacrificed - to give up something important or valuable so that you or
other people can do or have something else
o Sentence - a punishment given by a judge
o Imperfection - a fault, or a bad quality
o Terrible - causing or involving serious harm or damage
o Atrocities - cruel and violent acts, often in a war
o Well-documented - based on or supported with a lot of written evidence
o Troops - soldiers, especially in large numbers
o Paramilitaries - a paramilitary group is organized like an army but is
not official and often not legal.
a crime
o Countryside - the area outside towns and cities, with farms, fields, and
trees
o Predecessor - the person who had a job or official position before
someone else
o Negotiation - the process of discussing something with someone in
o Mediation - the process by which someone tries to end a disagreement
by helping the two sides to talk about and agree on a solution
o Tortuous - extremely complicated
o Plausible - likely to be true


o Diplomatic - to deal with people in a sensitive way that does not upset
or offend them
o Resumption - the start of something again after a temporary stop
OCT 5/2016
Topic 1 : "Bolstering growth amid risks"
The Monetary Policy Committees decision, at its maiden meeting, to >cut the benchmark repurchase (repo) rate by 25
basis points held no surprise for markets. What had been on watch was the language of the policy statement, the extent
of consensus in the committee and the manner in which the new Reserve Bank of India Governor and chairman of the
MPC, Urjit Patel, presented the central banks positions. Articulating the main concern that informed the newly constituted
rate-setting panels rationale for reducing interest rates, Mr. Patel said the global demand environment was clearly looking
far bleaker than previously anticipated, with the forecast for world economic growth set to be downgraded further. The
focus, he signalled, therefore needs to remain on supporting the domestic economy through an accommodative monetary
stance. That the MPC has opted to lay primacy on supporting growth while keeping its sights firmly trained on the RBIs
central remit to target a medium-term retail inflation objective of 4 per cent, within a band of plus/minus 2 per cent, bodes
well. Decision-making by committee is never easy, and given the short time the MPC had since its constitution last month,
the lucidity of the policy statement shows its six members have hit the ground running. While the minutes of the meeting
that will reveal each members arguments will become available on October 18, all six voted for the rate cut. The
decision reflects the broad consensus that the risks to growth from global uncertainty and financial markets volatility
remain high, especially ahead of the U.S. presidential election, and that a rate stimulus was warranted given the recent
slowing in retail inflation.
Even as it expects an improvement in the outlook for food inflation on the back of increased sowing and supply
management measures undertaken by the government, the MPC has been cautious in flagging the risks to the trajectory
for price gains. In the panels opinion, the main factors that could play a contributory role in furthering a fresh cost spiral
would be the higher house rent allowances mandated by the Seventh Pay Commission, the increase in minimum wages
and the possible spillovers through minimum support prices. Multiple factors augur well for the outlook for both the
industrial and services sectors. But the worsening trade demand could offset the gross value added (GVA) momentum,
the MPC noted, while retaining the RBIs GVA growth forecast of 7.6 per cent. That the panel has made a decisive start
to rate-setting through deliberation is clear; how it weathers harsher domestic and external challenges, should they
emerge, remains to be seen.
o Bolstering - to support or improve something or make it stronger

o Amid - surrounded by; in the middle of
o Monetary - relating to a countrys money and to the systems that a
country uses for controlling its money supply
o Maiden - first

o Benchmark - an amount, level, standard etc that you can use for
judging how good or bad other things are
o Extent - the size and importance of a problem or situation
o Articulating - to express thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively
based on
o Bleake - if a situation is bleak, there is little or no hope for the future
o Anticipate - to think that something will probably happen
o Forecast - a statement about what is likely to happen, based on
available information and usually relating to the weather, business, or
the economy
o Downgrade - to reduce something to a lower rank or position
o Domestic - relating to the country being talked about, and not other
countries
o Stance - an attitude or view about an issue that you state clearly
o Opt - to make a choice or decision from a range of possibilities
o Lucidity - the way something clearly expressed and easy to understand
o Hit the ground running - to immediately work hard and successfully at
a new activity
o Uncertainty - a nervous feeling that you have because you think bad
things might happen
o Volatility - a situation can suddenly change or become more dangerous
o Warranted - to make a particular activity necessary
o Inflation - an economic process in which prices increase so that money
becomes less valuable
o Outlook - an idea about what a situation will be like in the future
o Sowing - to cause a bad emotion or condition to begin somewhere so
that it will grow or continue
o Cautious - careful to avoid problems or danger
o Flagging - marking for attention or treatment in a specified way
of time
o Panel - a group of people who make decisions or judgments
o Furthering - to help the progress of something so that it is more likely
to be successful
o Spillover - the effects of an activity that have spread further than was
originally intended
o Augur - to be a sign of especially good or bad things in the future
o Offset - to balance the effect of something
o Deliberation - long and careful thought or discussion
o Harsher - unpleasant and difficult to deal with


Topic 2 : "Clinching the N-deal with Japan"
India has completed agreements for civil nuclear cooperation with 11 countries so far, including the U.S., Russia,
Australia, Canada and South Korea, but the > upcoming agreement with Japan could be the most significant. Japan is
the only country to have been the victim of a nuclear attack, and its decision to sign an agreement with India, a country
that has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), would be a first. Reservations in
Japan against nuclear energy have hardened after the Fukushima accident. Tokyos support to the deal so far is therefore
an indication of the importance it accords to relations with India. For India, the civil nuclear agreement with Japan is
especially important for the message of trust it would convey to Nuclear Suppliers Group members in a year the country
hopes to have its admission accepted. Japans support at the NSG has been particularly marked. In fact, India and Japan
share many multilateral platforms, including membership of the G-4 group that is knocking at the UN Security Councils
door for reform. Beyond symbolic reasons, Japanese nuclear energy technology and safety parameters are widely
considered to be cutting-edge, and many critical parts needed for Indian reactors are made by Japanese manufacturers.
These will not be available to India until the agreement is done. Although India has even considered trying to manufacture
them locally, there wont be alternatives to Japan for several years. Even the U.S. civil nuclear deal, that is yet to be
actualised, is contingent on the deal with Japan, given that the current discussions for six reactors in Andhra Pradesh are
with Westinghouse, which is owned by the Japanese company Toshiba.
It may appear baffling why the deal has taken so long to negotiate. The main sticking point has been Indias refusal to
sign the NPT, as it considers the treaty unfair to the developing world. This is why New Delhi is keen on ensuring that in
the haste to seal the deal by the time Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Japan this winter, it doesnt give in to pressure
to adhere to anything more than its own self-declared moratorium on testing. The Japanese insistence on a nullification
clause that the agreement would cease as soon as India tests, will be judged with this balance in mind. Particularly post-
Fukushima, Japanese manufacturers will also be expected to be more generous with India on the liability issue, given
their own experience with the enormous cost of cleaning up. As always, and even more so than with the India-U.S.
agreement, the devil will be in the detail of the final draft.
o Clinching - to get or win something

o Victim - someone who has been harmed, injured, or suffered as the
result of a crime
o Non-Proliferation - a policy of preventing any increase in the number
of chemical weapons that countries have
o Hardened - became harder
o Convey - to communicate ideas or feelings indirectly

o Knocking at somebody's door - to ask somebody's permission to join
with them
o Cutting-edge - extremely modern and advanced
o Actualise - to make something happen / to achieve something
o Contingent - a group of people representing an organization or country,
or a part of a military force
o Baffling - impossible to understand
formal way, especially in a business or political situation
o Sticking point - a sticking point in a discussion is a point on which it is
not possible to reach an agreement
o Haste - great speed in doing something because of limited time
o Adhere - believe in and follow
o Moratorium - an official agreement to stop an activity temporarily
o Insistence - a very strong statement that something must happen or
that something is true
o Nullification - the act of cancelling something
o Generous - showing a readiness to give more of something, especially
money, than is strictly necessary or expected.
o Liability - legal responsibility for causing damage or injury, or for paying
something
o Enormous - very large in size or quantity
o The devil is in the detail - used for saying that something may seem
simple, but in fact the details are complicated and likely to cause
problems
OCT 06/2016
Topic 1 : "Disquiet over Cauverys flows"
When the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) proposed the setting up of a Cauvery Management Board, it did so
for very good reasons. During monsoon deficit years, the pattern of flows in the different sub-basins will not match the
schedule of water deliveries worked out on the basis of normal year readings. The CMB was conceived as a body that
would monitor the storage position in the Cauvery basin and the trend of rainfall, and assess the likely inflows for
distribution among the States. The tribunal was emphatic in its final award: the CMB is integral to the resolution of
disputes, between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and also Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and Kerala, over
the schedule of releases for irrigation downstream. For the >Central government to now oppose the setting up of the
CMB, taking cover under Article 262 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act,
1956 that forbid the Supreme Court from intervening in inter-State water disputes is little more than a streak of twisted
logic. Indeed, the Section of the 1956 Act that gives the orders of tribunals set up by the government under it the same
force as an order of the Supreme Court is being invoked not to strengthen the orders of the Cauvery tribunal but to subvert
one of its crucial recommendations. The Supreme Courts direction to the Centre to constitute the CMB was in keeping
with the tribunal order, and not in contravention of it, as the government was trying to make it appear.


The fact that the Centre did such a hasty U-turn on the CMB while making its submission in the Supreme Court suggests
that political factors may have been at play. The Assembly election in Karnataka, where the BJP has high stakes, is less
than two years away. In contrast, Tamil Nadu, where the BJP has no real base, has recently concluded its election. If
there is a good legal argument against the setting up of the CMB, it is that a larger, three-judge Bench of the Supreme
Court is already seized of the matter. Tamil Nadus plea to constitute the CMB had been clubbed along with the main
appeal filed challenging the 2007 final award of the CWDT. In the short term, the Supreme Courts acceptance of the
suggestion that a technical team visit the Cauvery basin and report back on the ground realities seems to be the only
certain way of depoliticising the dispute. But any long-term solution will necessarily have to be on the basis of the well-
thought-out recommendations of the CWDT, and the mechanism provided for the sharing of waters in a year of distress.
o Disquiet - worry
o Cauvery - Kaveri (river in south India which rises in north Kerala)
o Dispute - an argument or disagreement (especially an official one
between)
o Sub-basin - a large area of land whose surface water all flows into a
particular river or lake
o Conceived - to invent a plan or an idea
o Emphatic - done or said in a strong way and without any doubt
o Integral - necessary and important as a part of a whole
o Irrigation - the method in which water is supplied to plants at regular
intervals for agriculture
o Downstream - in the direction a river or stream is flowing
o Forbid - to state that something is not allowed, according to a rule, law,
or custom
o Intervening - take part in something to change the result
o Streak - part of
o Twisted logic - to use false logic
type
o Invoked - to use a law or rule in order to achieve something
politics etc
o Contravention - the action of doing something that is not allowed by a
rule, law, or agreement
o Hasty - done in a hurry because you do not have much time
o U-turn - a complete change from one opinion or plan of action to an
opposite one
o At play - to do something for enjoyment or interest, without much care
and effort


o High stakes - involves a lot of risk or serious consequences
o In contrast - used when you are comparing two things or people and
saying that the second one is very different from the first
o Seized - take hold of suddenly and forcibly
o Certain - having no doubts that something is true
o Depoliticising - to cause something or someone to have no political
connections
o Well-thought-out - well planned
o Mechanism - a way of doing something that is planned or part of a
system
o Distress - an unpleasant and difficult situation
Topic 2 : "Crickets ranking put to the Test"
Indias >ascent to the number one position in Test rankings offers some cause for cheer given the tumult off the field,
with the R.M. Lodha Committee and the Board of Control for Cricket in India still >sparring over administrative
reform. Indias 178-run victory over New Zealand in the second Test at Kolkata, paving the way for a series triumph,
secured the lead billing. This is the fourth instance of India securing the top slot in the International Cricket Councils
rankings since it was introduced in 2003. It is significant that out of the four stints, irrespective of the time frame, three
have been over the past year. For a squad evolving from the pangs of transition and with big shoes to fill, from those of
Sachin Tendulkar to those of Anil Kumble, it has done remarkably well. The combined numbers of the playing XI at Kolkata
were 28.54 years in age and 27.54 in the average number of Tests played for such a young team to register dominance,
under Virat Kohlis captaincy, is no mean achievement. When India first secured the number one ranking in 2009, it was
a team packed with contemporary greats, including Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag, M.S.
Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.
In contrast, the current line-up is a work in progress, with cricketers still working out their natural slot in Tests. Kohli and
R. Ashwin remain the pivots, while Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha have established their staying
power as Test cricketers. The emergence of opener K.L. Rahul is a good sign, especially given Indias traditional dilemma
in finding batsmen capable of seeing off the new ball. These men form the core that can take India forward. However,
much remains to be done. The opening combine is yet to firm up, and Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma need to re-
establish their solidity. The bowling remains over-reliant on Ashwin. These shortcomings should be sorted out over a long
home season in the course of which India will host England, Australia and Bangladesh. The first two will offer keen
competition, unlike what India encountered against the West Indies and New Zealand. For now, there is the third Test at
Indore, and a 3-0 sweep against New Zealand would give India confidence for the rest of the season. As for the team
displaced from the top position in the ICC ranking, Pakistan, its short-lived reign poses a question about the difficulty in
grading Test teams. Pakistan plays most of its matches away from home, and therefore does not enjoy a similar
advantage. Nonetheless, the dominance of the two subcontinental teams in the ICC ranking affirms the strength of South
Asian cricket.


o Put something to the Test - to find out how good or how effective
someone or something is
o Ascent - the process of moving to a higher level or position
o Cheer - encouragement
o Tumult - a loud noise caused by a large mass of people
o Sparring - arguing
o Victory - an occasion when you win a game, competition etc
o Paving the way for something - to make something possible
o Triumph - a great victory or success
o Stint - a period of time spent doing something
o Irrespective - despite a particular fact, situation, or quality
o Squad - a sports team
o Evolving - to gradually change and develop over a period of time
o Pang - a very strong, sudden, and unpleasant pain or emotion
o Transition - the process of changing from one situation, form, or state
to another
o Big shoes to fill - to have to meet high expectations about something
that came before
o Dominance - a situation in which one person or thing has more influence
or power than any other
o No mean achievement - a great achievement
o Packed with something - to fill something with things or people of a
particular type
o Contemporary - modern, or relating to the present time
o Great - someone who is admired by a lot of people, especially someone
famous
o Pivot - the central or most important person or thing in a situation
o Emergence - the process of appearing or becoming recognized
o Dilemma - a situation in which you have to make a difficult decision
o Firm up - to become more certain or less likely to change
o Re-establish - to return something to an earlier good condition or
position
o Solidity - the quality of being solid (strong)
o Over-reliant on somebody - completely depends on somebody
o Shortcomings - a fault or a failure to reach a particular standard
o Sort out - to do what is necessary to deal with a problem, disagreement,
or difficult situation successfully
o Displaced - to force something out of its position
o Reign - a period of time during which a particular person, group, or thing
is very important or a powerful influence
o Nonetheless - despite what has just been said


o Subcontinental - a large area of land that forms part of a continent,
especially the part of Asia that contains the countries of India, Pakistan,
and Bangladesh
OCT 07/2016
Topic 1 : "Chief Minister in a hurry"
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will clearly leave no stone unturned in giving his >prohibition policy a legislative punch.
Within days of the Patna High Court >striking a blow to the total prohibition regime in the State , the government notified
the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, and >approached the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court order. The
haste throws some light on Mr. Kumars political strategy, which is aimed at distinguishing himself in a crowded landscape.
Prohibition was >his main campaign outreach to women voters in the 2015 Assembly elections. Having won the votes of
women in earlier elections on schemes such as bicycles for schoolgirls, prohibition gave his Janata Dal (United) an added
moral aura he was fighting a no-holds-barred election against his former ally, the BJP, and he was fighting in alliance
with Lalu Prasads Rashtriya Janata Dal. In the event, he was returned to the Chief Ministers post, but with the RJD
getting a greater number of MLAs than the JD(U). Mr. Kumars natural claim to the big post draws from his personal
credibility, seen to be more potent than his partys. This connect with a wide cross-section of the public, as a politician
empathetic to aspirations for a dignified, socially and educationally empowered life, had him in the fray for a larger national
role during his BJP-allied days, and so too in his current anti-BJP politics.
The prohibition plank, with its Gandhian overtones and empathetic message to women, gives Mr. Kumar a chance to
arrogate to himself the mantle of a moral campaigner nationally. In the immediate term, it allows him to set himself apart
from the RJDs rougher politics, and change the subject soon after his government found itself emitting the wrong
message on law and order, particularly when Mohammad Shahabuddin was briefly out on bail. By attempting to overcome
the High Court order, Mr. Kumar may have underlined his assertiveness, but he has, in the process, missed the
opportunity the court gave him to reconsider the harsh punishments outlined in the previous law, with all the questions
they pose for civil liberties, as well as the very architecture of the legislation. The prohibition regime forces the deployment
of the police to seal the States border, and away from more mindful policing within, which was the change Mr. Kumars
long chief ministership promised. The punishment worked into the current law gives the police greater opportunity for
rent-seeking. This may alienate the very constituencies that keep him in the running for a role larger than his partys
electoral footprint.
o Leave no stone unturned - to do everything possible to solve a

problem or to find something out
o Prohibition - the action of officially preventing something from being
done
o Legislative - relating to laws or to the process of creating new laws
o Striking a blow - to do something that harms something severely
o Notified - to inform someone officially about something


o Excise - a tax that a government charges on services used and goods
sold inside its country
o Throws some light on something - something that throws light on a
situation provides an explanation for it or information that makes it easier
to understand
o Strategy - a plan or method for achieving something, especially over a
long period of time
o Distinguishing - a distinguishing feature, mark etc makes something
clearly different from other similar things
o Crowded - containing a lot of people
o Campaign - work in an organized and active way towards a goal.
o Aura - quality
o No-holds-barred - without any limit on what you are allowed to do
o Ally - someone who helps and supports you (friend)
trust them
o Potent - powerful, or effective
o Empathetic - able to understand how someone feels because you can
imagine what it is like to be them
o Aspiration - something that you want to achieve, or the wish to achieve
something
o Dignified - having or showing a composed or serious manner that is
worthy of respect
o Empowered - stronger and more confident
o Allied - connected by a political or military agreement
o Plank - something that is important to the success or failure of
something
o Overtone - a quality or feature that is noticeable but not obvious
o Arrogate - to take power that is not legally yours
o Mantle - the authority or responsibility connected with someones
position, duties, or beliefs
o Campaigner - a person who takes part in organized activities that are
intended to change something in society
o Set someone apart - to make someone or something different and
special
o Emitting - sending
o Briefly - for a short time
o Overcome - to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem
o Underlined - to show clearly that something is important or true
o Assertiveness - the quality of behaving in a confident way in which you
are quick to express your opinions and feelings
o Outline - to give the main ideas of a plan or a piece of writing without
giving all the details


o Deployment - if a government or army deploys soldiers or police, it uses
them
o Mindful - careful about or conscious of something
o Policing - the control of an area or a problem by police
o Alienate - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and
agreeing with you
parliament
o Footprint - the amount of space on a surface that something needs
Topic 2 : "Stamping down on prejudice"
The revival of the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014, and the Union Cabinets >approval for provisions that
make discrimination against people living with the virus punishable, are positive steps. Such laws, however, can only
deliver benefits within the overall constraints imposed by an underfunded public health system. Where the legislation can
make some difference, with active monitoring by HIV/AIDS support groups, is in ensuring that acquiring the infection does
not mean an end to education, employment, access to housing and healthcare due to discrimination. The success of the
anti-discrimination aspects hinges on the readiness of governments to accept the inquiry findings of ombudsmen, to be
appointed under the law, and provide relief. Since the new law is intended to both stop the spread of the disease and
help those who have become infected get antiretroviral therapy as well as equal opportunity, it will take a high degree of
commitment to provide effective drugs to all those in need. In August, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare put the
number of people getting free treatment nationally at 9,65,000, of which 53,400 are children. This must be viewed against
the most recent estimate last year, that 2.1 million people live with HIV in India, of whom 7,90,000 are women. Regional
variations in access to diagnosis and treatment must be addressed.
The legislation and the structure of complaints redress that it proposes should provide some relief to thousands of families
that face discrimination in admitting children to school, an infected individual getting a job, or treatment in hospital. Unlike
many other diseases, however, HIV/AIDS has received global attention and funding, thus building up pressure on
governments to come up with supportive policies. Communities will now have the opportunity to ensure that the strongest
element of the prospective law, assuring confidentiality of HIV status, is enforced. A breach could invite imprisonment
and a fine. Yet, the proposals approved by the Cabinet fail on one important count: the insurance industry is allowed to
use actuarial calculations to limit access to products to people with HIV. The Centres initiative is palpably weak, since a
universal system would not discriminate against people with any form of illness, and would fully embrace the goal of
health and welfare for all. National AIDS Control Organisation data for 2015 indicate that while there is an >overall
decline in HIV prevalence among visitors to antenatal clinics, there was a rise in nine States. The government must get
down to business and close such gaps.
o Stamping down - to put down by force or authority


o Revival - the process of becoming active, successful, or popular again
o Prevention - to stop something from happening
o Provision - a part of an agreement or law that deals with a particular
problem
o Discrimination - unfair treatment of someone because of their religion,
race, or other personal features
o Constraint - something that limits your freedom to do what you want
o Underfunded - does not have enough money to run properly
o Monitoring - to regularly check something or watch someone in order
to find out what is happening
o Ensuring - to make sure that something is happening
o Acquiring - to get a disease, illness, or infection
o Hinges - depends
o Inquiry - an official examination of a problem in order to get information
or the truth
o Ombudsmen - someone whose job is to deal with complaints that people
make about an organization or particular type of business
o Intended - aimed
o Antiretroviral - antiretroviral drugs are used to treat certain types of
virus, especially HIV (the virus that causes AIDS)
o Diagnosis - a statement about what disease someone has, based on
examining them
o Address - to try to deal with a problem
o Redress - to fix a problem and make changes
o Funding - money that a government or organization provides for a
specific purpose
o Come up with something - to think of something such as an idea or a
plan
o Prospective - likely or expected to happen
o Confidentiality - a situation in which important information must be
kept secret
o Enforce = to make people obey a law, or to make a particular situation
o Breach - an act of breaking a law
o Imprisonment - the punishment of being put into prison (Jail)
o Actuarial calculations - the calculations to find various sorts of risk that
insurance companies insure people against
problem
o Palpably - something you can easily see or understand
o Embrace - to completely accept something
o Decline - to gradually become less, worse, or lower
o Prevalence - very common in a particular place or among a particular
group
o Antenatal - relating to the medical care of pregnant women, or to the
time before a baby is born
o Get down to business - to start doing something that you need to do


OCT 08/2016
Topic 1 : "A Nobel push for peace in Colombia"
In a long year of war and strife, it is a silver lining that the Nobel Committee in Oslo was spoilt for choice in deciding
upon the recipient of the 2016 Peace Prize. A > landmark nuclear deal brought a peaceful closure to Irans purported
nuclear weapon ambitions and paved the way for better relations between Tehran and the West, making the key
negotiators leading contenders for the Prize. The yeoman efforts of the > White Helmets of Syria, a group of local
volunteers in Aleppo and other parts of war-ravaged Syria who help rescue people injured or stranded in bomb attacks in
war zones, merited recognition. But the > ending of one of the longest-running civil wars was the achievement that got
the highest recognition by the Committee. The Nobel Peace Prize for 2016 has been > awarded to Colombian President
Juan Manuel Santos after his government painstakingly concluded negotiations by > signing an accord with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), winding down hostilities in a > 52-year-old civil war. The accord, signed
on September 26, 2016, provided for the disbanding of FARC militants and for the rebels to join the political process as
a routine political party, besides conceding demands by FARC to address inequities in Colombias rural areas through
development programmes and land distribution. FARC also agreed to dismantle drug production facilities in areas in its
control which had helped finance the war against the Colombian government. This was a landmark accord that provided
an opportunity not just for peace but also for better prospects in the war against drug production and trade in Colombia.
Merely a week after the accord, the government received a setback as its attempt to get the accord ratified through a
referendum > failed. About 50.23 per cent of the voters who turned out (the turnout was less than 40 per cent) > voted
against the peace agreement. Both the government and FARC have ruled out a return to war despite this setback, and
even the advocates of the no vote, including former President lvaro Uribe, have sought fresh negotiations for what
they deem to be a better accord. The Nobel committee recognises that despite the setback there is the need for a broad-
based dialogue to further the peace process. In doing so, it has provided Mr. Santos the persuasive pulpit he had lost
following the referendum. The award should enable his government to seek a renewed accord that does not militate
against the previous one and seals a durable peace. The Peace Prize is a testimonial to the patience required to bring
about closure to complex, long-running conflicts. In this case at least, it is well-deserved.

o Silver lining - an advantage of difficult or unpleasant situation
o Spoilt - destroy the value or quality
o Closure - the end of something
be real or true


o Paved the way - if something paves the way for/to something else, it
makes the other thing possible
o Negotiator - someone who tries to help two groups who disagree to
reach an agreement with each other
o Contender - someone who competes with other people for a prize or job
o Volunteers - someone who offers to do something without being forced
o War-ravaged - severely damaged by a long war, especially between
different groups from the same country
o Rescue - to save someone from a dangerous or unpleasant situation
o Injured - hurt in an accident or attack
o Stranded - left somewhere with no way of going anywhere else
o Painstakingly - in a way that shows you have taken a lot of care or
made a lot of effort
an agreement
o Winding down - to end, or to finish something gradually
o Disbanding - if a group of people disbands or is disbanded, its members
stop working together
o Conceding - admiting
o Inequity - an unfair situation
o Dismantle - to separate the parts of something such as a machine so
that they no longer form a single unit
o Prospect - the possibility that something will happen, especially
something good
situation worse
o Ratified - to make an agreement official by signing it or formally
accepting it
o Turned out - to go somewhere in order to be present at an event or take
part in an activity
o Ruled out - to stop considering something as a possibility
o Broad-based - used to describe something that will affect many
different places, activities, etc
o Persuasive - good at making people agree to do or believe what you
want them to
o Militate against something - to make something more difficult to do
or less likely to happen
o Durable - able to stay in good condition for a long time
o Testimonial - an event that is organized as a formal way of thanking
someone for their work
o Complex - something that is complex has a lot of details or small parts
that make it difficult to understand or deal with


Topic 2 : "The lure of the exotic and esoteric"
If wonderful discoveries happening in biology had acted as a trigger for Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan
to switch from physics to chemistry, the nearly matured and well-established field of chemistry failed to enthuse >Yoshinori
Ohsumi, and he shifted to biology. Autophagy a fundamental process for degrading and recycling cellular components
was known long before he ventured into the field, but it was his paradigm-shifting research that revealed the importance
of this fundamental process that comes into play every other minute. His seminal work helped reveal that vacuoles in
yeast and lysosomes in human cells are not just garbage bins but recyclers and fuel producers. Right from the stage of
embryo development to countering the negative effects of ageing, autophagy plays an important role. As in the case of
many Laureates, Dr. Ohsumis initial years were more than frustrating, but he prevailed. His approach to science is an
antithesis to what is generally seen in todays young researchers, and that precisely is what helped him break new ground
and bag the Nobel Prize this year only the third Laureate since 2010 to not share the Prize for Physiology or Medicine
with others.
But lysosomes and other cellular bodies would be severely impacted if molecular machines in our body failed to work
synchronously to carry materials around in a cell and for several other functions. Though not as elegant as the molecular
machines at work inside us, the work done by Jean-Pierre Sauvage, J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa, the
winners of the > Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has set the ball rolling in the endeavour to realise Nobel Laureate Richard
Feynmans dream more than 50 years ago of building very small machines. Though very primitive at this point in time,
science will see one of the biggest revolutions when the cogs and cranks of their work are finally put together to build
machines on a nanoscale; nanomachines will find applications in diverse fields, from medicine to electronics. Much like
the nanomachines of tomorrow, David J. Thouless, F. Duncan M. Haldane and J. Michael Kosterlitzs theoretical
explanations for exotic states of materials by using topological concepts will give birth to a completely different class of
products. > This years Nobel-winning physicists, they predicted the exotic behaviour that other scientists later found at
the surface of materials and inside very thin layers, such as superconductivity and magnetism in extremely thin materials.
Physicists are now looking beyond the ordinary to find new and exotic phases of matter that change in a stepwise fashion.
o Lure - he quality or power that something or someone has that makes

it, him, or her attractive
o Exotic - interesting or exciting because of being unusual or not familiar
o Esoteric - known about or understood by very few people
o Laureate - a person who has been given a very high honour because of
their ability in a subject of study
o Switch - to change from one thing to another
o Enthuse - to express excitement about something or great interest in it
o Autophagy - a natural mechanism whereby unncecessary or
dysfunctional cellular components are disassembled
o Ventured into - to do something that is a risk

o Paradigm-shifting - a time when the usual and accepted way of doing
or thinking about something changes completely
o Seminal - containing important new ideas and having a great influence
on later work:
o Vacuole - a space that contains air or liquid inside a living cell, often
storing an important chemical or food substance
o Embryo - an animal or human before it is born, when it is beginning to
develop and grow
o Countering - to take action in order to oppose or stop something or
reduce its negative effects
o Frustrating - making you feel annoyed and impatient because you are
prevented from achieving something
o Prevailed - to get control or influence
o Antithesis - the exact opposite
o Break new ground - to do something completely different from what
has been done before
o Severely - very seriously
o Elegant - impressive because it is simple and effective
difficult
o Primitive - at a very simple stage of development, before modern
technology
o Cog - someone considered as a minor part of a large organization
o Crank - someone with ideas or behaviour that you think are very strange
o Nanoscale - relating to structures that are less than 100 nanometres in
length
o Predict - to say that an event or action will happen in the future,
especially as a result of knowledge or experience
o Exotic - interesting or exciting because of being unusual or not familiar
o Superconductivity - the ability of some metals to allow electricity to
pass through them without any resistance at very low temperatures
o Beyond - outside or after (a stated limit)
OCT 10/2016
Topic 1 : "The ground beneath our feet"
India needs a different approach to grow its economy and must remove bottlenecks so that foreign investors can operate
in the country just as its own corporates expand their global footprint, >Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said
during his India visit last week. His remarks may appear out of sync with the official discourse on Indias recent economic
performance, especially the liberalisation of foreign direct investment and record inflows clocked since the Modi
government was sworn in. Mr. Lees concerns, however, dont stem from FDI policy per se, but two intertwined reform
showpieces of the NDA one abandoned after hot pursuit in its first year and another that remains a work in progress.
These are amendments to the land acquisition law and improvements in the ease of doing business, respectively. Indian


officials told business leaders accompanying the Singapore Prime Minister that they are free to invest in India if they can,
on their own, acquire the land to set up shop on. As Mr. Lee pointed out, that makes investing in India virtually impossible
industrial parks that Singapore had proposed in the past remain non-starters. The Centre may not be used to such
public plain-speaking, even from Western leaders with longer reform wish lists, but it must take the Prime Ministers cue
for introspection and course correction.
Modernising Indias land laws was high on the governments agenda in 2014-15; an ordinance was promulgated thrice to
effect necessary changes till Parliament could pass a law. Global investors were assured that land acquired under the
ordinance would be safe from any subsequent changes to the law. But the Centre wilted in the face of Opposition
resistance. A model land-leasing law formulated by the Niti Aayog was mooted for States to adopt instead, but a billion-
dollar plant is unlikely to come up on leased foundations. Since then, a proposed nuclear plant has moved out from
Gujarat owing to land acquisition problems, Indias largest FDI proposal from South Koreas Posco is all but off, and job
creation has hit a five-year low. India moved up 12 places in the World Banks Ease of Doing Business index last year
and may rise further. But the index is only based on speed of paperwork in Mumbai and Delhi, where there is little space
for big new industries; such rankings dont directly translate into more FDI. The Prime Minister has set a target for India
to reach the top 50 ranks in the index, but getting a construction permit online is no good if large tracts of land cannot be
provided job-creating investment. If the idea to bury the land reform was to secure farmers votes and, in the process,
alternative jobs are not created for the young and those who want to move out of agriculture, castles in the air are all that
will be built.
o Beneath - in or to a lower position than someone or something, under

someone or something
o Approach - to deal with something
o Bottleneck - a problem that delays progress
o Footprint - the amount of land, energy, water etc that a person or
organization uses in order to exist or operate
o Out of sync - uncoordinated / unsynchronized
o Discourse - a speech or piece of writing about a particular, usually
serious, subject
o Liberalisation - to make laws or rules less strict so that people have
more freedom
o Foreign direct investment - money that is invested in companies,
property, or other assets by people or organizations from other countries
o Inflow - an amount of something such as money or goods that comes
into a place
o Clocked - attained
o Per se - by or of itself
o Intertwined - to be closely connected with something else
o Showpiece - an extremely good example of something that deserves to
be admired
o Abandoned - left / no longer used

o Acquisition - the process of buying something or obtaining it in some
other way
o Ease - the ability to do something easily
o Accompanying - going with someone
o Invest - to put money, effort, time, etc. into something to make a profit
or get an advantage
o Acquire - to get something
o Non-starters - an idea, plan, or person with no chance of success
o Plain-speaking - the act of saying clearly and honestly what you think
without trying to be polite
o Cue - a signal for someone to do something
o Introspection - the process of carefully examining your own feelings,
thoughts, and ideas
o Modernising - to make something more modern
o Ordinance - a law or rule made by a government or authority
o Promulgated - to make an idea or belief known to as many people as
possible
o Thrice - three times
o Wilted - to become weaker
o All but - almost
o Tract - a large area of land
o Castles in the air - plans that have very little chance of happening
Topic 2 : "Leading the divided nations"
The United Nations Security Councils broad consensus in >nominating Antnio Guterres for the post of Secretary-
General is an auspicious start to what could be a more assertive UN in wrestling with the many crises of the world. Last
week, 13 of the 15 members of the Council, including the five veto-wielding permanent members, sent the name of the
former Portugal Prime Minister to the General Assembly for final approval. If the Assembly passes his nomination, then
as the UNs ninth Secretary-General Mr. Guterres will have to expediently attend to a number of pressing issues, including
the worsening international refugee crisis and the scourge of terrorism, both in part linked to the debilitating Syrian war.
His experience as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees will come in handy as he goes about negotiating to find
shelter for and rehabilitate refugees from Syria, who at last count numbered well above four million worldwide. At the
UNHCR, Mr. Guterres is said to have focussed on organisational reform and innovation by taking funding out of the
headquarters and pushing more money out to the field. It is clear that he is passionate about the cause of refugees; he
has frequently appealed to the international community over the migrant crisis and has vowed to continue being their
spokesman.


An equally challenging agenda point facing Mr. Guterres is to find creative ways to bridge the chasm between Western
powers on the one hand and Russia and China on the other. Ironically, owing to his very commitment to address the
refugee crises, he may be considered an activist. This could be a recipe for stasis, if not disaster, in any campaign to
broker a peace deal in Syria. Mr. Guterres can ill afford such obstructionism. As an institution, the UN is frequently accused
of being bloated and bureaucratic, and has come under fire over allegations of sexual abuse by its peacekeepers in the
Central African Republic. Although he has a reputation for being an instinctive strategist, Mr. Guterres will have to hand-
pick a capable team of advisers. But has he already struck bargains with China or Russia over who will get some key
political posts? Will he stay true to his promise, made earlier, to ensure that the higher echelons of the UN have 50 per
cent women employees? That goal, set 20 years ago by the UN, is far from being met. In fact, Mr. Guterres own candidacy
came as a disappointment for some, given that there were no fewer than seven women in the race and not one of them
even came close to winning.
o Consensus - a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of

people
o Auspicious - suggesting a positive and successful future
o Assertive - behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to
express your opinions and feelings
o Crises - difficult, or dangerous situations
o Expedient - helpful or useful in a particular situation, but sometimes not
morally acceptable
o Pressing - urgent or needing to be dealt with immediately
o Scourge - something or someone that causes great suffering or a lot of
trouble
o Come in handy - to be useful
o Rehabilitate - to return something to a good condition
o Vowed - to make a determined decision or promise to do something
o Spokesman - someone who is chosen by a group or organization to
speak officially to the public for them
o Chasm - a very large difference between two opinions or groups of
people
o Ironically - in a way that is different or opposite from the result you
would expect
o Activist - a person who believes strongly in political or social change and
takes part in activities such as public protests to try to make this happen
o Recipe - something which is likely to lead to a particular outcome.
o Stasis - a condition in which there is no movement or change


o Can ill afford something - used for saying that someone should
definitely not do something because it will cause problems
official process
o Accused - to say that someone has done something wrong or committed
a crime
o Bloated - a bloated organization or system is not effective because it is
too large or has too many workers
o Bureaucratic - involving a lot of complicated rules, details, and
processes
o Come under fire - to be criticized
o Peacekeeper - a soldier in a military force that has been sent to a place
in order to prevent war, especially between groups who have been
fighting there
o Reputation - the opinion that people have about how good or how bad
someone is
o Instinctive - done without thinking, because of a natural tendency or
ability
o Strategist - someone with a lot of skill and experience in planning,
especially in military, political, or business matters
o Hand-pick - select carefully with a particular purpose in mind
o Struck bargains - to reach an agreement on a price (for something)
o Echelons - a particular level or group of people within an organization
such as an army or company
o Far from being met - not met
o Candidacy - the fact that someone is a candidate in an election
o No fewer than - used before a number to show that it is larger that you
might expect
OCT 12/2016
Topic 1 : "Bandwidth for growth"

For a country whose telecommunications ministers worry about being labelled call drop ministers, the recent auction of
2350 megahertz of telecom spectrum was disappointing. Only seven out of 11 telecom players in India participated, and
there were takers for just around 40 per cent of the prized radio frequency band on offer. In fact, four operators will fork
out 90 per cent of the Centres receipts from this auction, around Rs.66,000 crore, half of which will accrue to the
exchequer this fiscal. That translates into a 43 per cent shortfall from the Budget estimates from spectrum sales for this
year, though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has pointed out that the inflows from the black money amnesty scheme would
help the Centre balance its books. The official argument is that the poor response is a function of the high indebtedness
(nearly Rs.400,000 crore at last count) of Indias telcos; the latter could, in turn, cite the high base price set by the
government, pegging the potential value of the spectrum at Rs.560,000 crore. Any operator looking to build a national
network using the most efficient spectrum on offer in the 700 MHz band would need over Rs.57,000 crore. Not
surprisingly, not a single player evinced interest in this band.


In fact, it has been a suboptimal outcome from the perspective of every single stakeholder. Indias telecom success story
has been integral to the countrys growth story in recent years, demonstrating to the world its ability to tap and grow the
domestic market quickly as well as establish a global footprint. But a billion consumers, endless minutes of talk-time a
day and low tariffs are not enough if the quality of service on offer is deteriorating, both in data and voice. In many areas,
networks that should operate at 65 per cent capacity are working at 95 per cent due to high congestion, leading to poor
voice services, as the telecom regulator, R.S. Sharma, noted recently. Despite the new spectrum with telcos, the sheer
volume of voice traffic means that improvements in quality may be marginal. Similar issues plague data traffic. The focus
of the existing telcos strategy for this auction has been to acquire enough spectrum to bolster 4G data services in urban
markets, where they expect tough competition from the new player, Reliance Jio. This could have a bearing on the quality
of connectivity and the reach of several of the governments ambitious programmes, from Digital India to direct benefit
transfer. The government needs to learn from this episode and free the bureaucracy from the fear of the auditor and the
investigator soon, for better outcomes in all its plans.
o Bandwidth - the range of frequencies used to send information over a

distance using phone wires
o Telecommunications - the science and technology of sending
information by telephone, radio, or television
o Labelled - to use a word or phrase to describe someone or something
o Call drop - the situation when the telephone calls were cut off before the
speaking parties had finished their conversation and before one of them
had hung up (due to technical reasons)
o Auction - public sale of goods or property, where people make higher
and higher bids (offers of money) for each thing, until the thing is sold to
the person who will pay most
o Spectrum - a range of radio waves or light waves
o Player - a person or organization that influences a situation, especially
in business or politics
o Taker - someone who takes something
o Prized - considered to be very important or valuable
o Fork out - to spend money on something, especially when you do not
want to
o Receipts - the amount of money received during a particular period by
a business or government
o Accrue - to increase in number or amount over a period of time
public money, in the UK and some other countries
o Fiscal - relating to money and financial matters, especially taxes
needed
o Pointed out something - to tell someone something
o Inflows - an amount of something such as money or goods that comes
into a place
o Amnesty - a situation in which a government agrees not to punish
people who have committed a particular crime

o Balance the books - to make sure that the amount of money spent is
not more than the amount of money received
o Indebtedness - the state of owing something (usually money) to
someone
o Telcos - telecommunications companies
o Pegging - to fasten something
succeed
o Evinced - to show a particular feeling
o Suboptimal - not of the highest standard or quality
owns part of it
o Integral - necessary and important
o Demonstrating - to show something clear
o Tap - to get or make use of something (money)
o Domestic - local
o Endless - never finishing
o Tariffs - a list of the prices charged
o Deteriorating - to become worse
o Congestion - a situation in which a place is crowded with people or thigs,
so that it is difficult to move around
o Marginal - very small in amount or effect
o Plague - to cause worry, pain, or difficulty to someone or something
over a period of time
o Urban - related to a city or town
o Ambitious - determined to be successful
o Bureaucracy - a complicated and annoying system of rules and
processes
o Auditor - someone whose job is to officially examine the financial
records of a company, organization, or person to see that they are
accurate
Topic 2 : "A prized contract"

The work in microeconomic theory for which Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrm have received >this years Economics
Nobel Prize goes back to the 1970s and 1980s when the foundations of contract theory were being firmed up. Their work
has provided economists the tools to understand interactions between entities in a range of fields, such as the design of
performance incentives in firms and schools, corporate governance, privatisation, constitutional law, and entrepreneur-
investor relationships. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences highlighted that their contributions to understanding
real-life contracts and institutions, as well as the pitfalls when designing new contracts were crucial. Mr. Holmstrm, in
1979, published a theoretical model and result that significantly enhanced the understanding of risk and incentives in
employer-employee relationships. This was called the informativeness principle, which said performance should be linked


to all variables or outcomes that provide information on the actions taken by an agent, such as a firms manager, and not
just the outcomes she can effect. Remunerating a manager based on just the share price of her firm will reward and
punish her for factors beyond her control, and a better contract would therefore link managerial compensation to the firms
share price relative to the share prices of other comparable firms. Mr. Harts key contribution to contract theory has been
the notion of incomplete contracts. Not all information is available ex ante; how does a contract allow principals (such as
employers) and agents (such as employees) to negotiate unforeseen situations? The work by Mr. Hart and his colleagues
in this area was cited by the Academy for its breakthrough nature.
The Economics Nobel raises larger questions given the high-profile nature of the subject and the fact that it is the only
social science for which a prize is awarded. Analysis from The Economist and the Nobel organisation shows that of the
77 laureates who shared the 48 economics prizes awarded between 1969 and 2016, all of 38 were U.S. residents and
10 were British. Economic historians Avner Offer and Gabriel Sderberg recently pointed out that while the prize may not
have a significant liberal or conservative bias, only one person has been awarded a prize for social democracy how
governments provide for their people as opposed to hard economics despite social democratic principles governing
how 30 per cent of GDP is allocated in developed countries. Why this has happened is perhaps less important than
pointing out that it has happened, so there is an awareness of what the economics prize is, and what it is not.
o Prized - considered to be very important or valuable

o Microeconomic - relating to specific parts or aspects of an economy
o Firmed up - to become more definite
o Interaction - the process by which different things affect each other or
change each other
o Entity - a separate unit that is complete and has its own character
o Constitutional - allowed by the constitution of a country or organization
o Entrepreneur - someone who uses money to start businesses and make
business deals
o Investor - a person or organization that invests money
o Pitfall - a problem that is likely to happen in a particular situation
o Crucial - extremely important
o Enhanced - made better, especially by artificial methods
o Informative - giving a lot of information in a helpful way
o Variable - something that can change and affect the result of a situation
o Remunerating - to pay or reward someone for their work
o Notion - knowledge or understanding of something
o Ex ante - calculated or existing before a particular event
formal way
o Unforeseen situation - a situation, that you did not expect
o Colleague - someone who works in the same organization or department
as you

o Cited - mentioned
o Breakthrough - a discovery or achievement that comes after a lot of
hard work
o Laureate - someone who has won a prize for their achievements,
especially a Nobel Prize
o Liberal - a supporter of the Liberal Party of the UK, Canada, or Australia
o Conservative - a supporter of the Conservative Party
o Perhaps - used for saying that you are not certain about something, or
OCT 13/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A pragmatic arrangement"
What threatened to become a constitutional impasse in Tamil Nadu has been averted with Governor Ch. Vidyasagar
Rao > allocating the portfolios held by the ailing Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, to her seniormost colleague in the Cabinet,
O. Panneerselvam. He also made it clear that Mr. Panneerselvam will preside over Cabinet meetings. The arrangement,
to continue until Ms. Jayalalithaa resumes her duties, is undoubtedly a pragmatic move, as it addresses the concern
about who is responsible for governance in the interregnum caused by the > Chief Ministers hospitalisation. Mr. Rao
appears to have broached the need for an interim arrangement with representatives of the AIADMK government as soon
as it became clear that Ms. Jayalalithaa would require a prolonged stay in hospital. > Opposition parties were getting
uneasy over the possibility that unelected members of her inner circle could be calling the shots. Perhaps the arrangement
could have been made a few days earlier, if only the ruling party had shown less reluctance to acknowledge the reality
that the Chief Ministers health does not permit her to discharge her duties. It is a matter of satisfaction that the impasse
has ended. Given the constitutional bar on any such inquiry, it will be unwise to question the claim that the present
arrangement has been made as per the advice of the Chief Minister.
Developments in 1984, when Governor S.L. Khurana > reassigned M.G. Ramachandrans portfolios to V.R.
Nedunchezhiyan and asked the latter to preside over Cabinet meetings, constitute a guiding precedent favoured by
several jurists. D.D. Basu says in his Shorter Constitution of India: If the Governor allocates the functions of the Chief
Minister, under Art.166(3), to some other Minister during the temporary absence (say, illness) of the Chief Minister, the
functions of the Chief Minister under the Constitution can be discharged by that other Minister, e.g., to preside over
meetings of the Council of Ministers; to communicate to the Governor the decisions of the Council of Ministers under
Art.167(a); to advise dissolution of the Legislative Assembly under Art.174(2)(b). It is often said that the Constitution is
wisely silent on some aspects, so that constitutional functionaries are not unduly constrained by mere words and may act
effectively to deal with a variety of emergent situations. However, given what has transpired recently in Tamil Nadu, it
may be advisable to adopt the convention that the minister next in seniority to the Chief Minister is automatically
recognised as officiating chief executive when she or he is temporarily unavailable, due to ill-health or otherwise.


o Pragmatic - solving problems in a sensible way that suits the present
conditions, rather than obeying fixed theories, ideas, or rules
o Threatened - to be likely to cause harm or damage to something or
someone
o Impasse - a situation in which progress is not possible because none of
the people involved are willing to change their opinion or decision
o Averted - to prevent something bad or harmful from happening
o Allocating - to officially give something to someone (especially a job /
position)
o Portfolio - all the responsibilities of a government minister
o Ailing - ill and weak
as you
o Preside - to be in charge of something
o Resume - to start something again after stopping temporarily
o Undoubtedly - used for saying that something is certainly true or is
o Interregnum - a period of time when there is temporarily no one in
charge of a country or large organization
o Broached - to begin a discussion of something difficult
o Uneasy - slightly nervous, worried, or upset about something
o Calling the shots - to be in a position of control or authority
o Acknowledge - to accept or admit
o Unwise - stupid
o Reassign - to give an employee a different job
o Dissolution - the process of formally ending a parliament
o Aspect - a particular part, feature of something
o Functionary - an official who works for a government or a political party
o Unduly - to an unwarranted degree
o Constrained - behaving in a way that is very controlled and not natural
o Mere - used to say that something is not large or important
o Transpired - happened
o Convention - a way of behaving that is generally accepted as being
normal and right
o Officiating - to perform the official duties
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Stop the Saudi war in Yemen"
> Saudi Arabias 18-month-long military operation in Yemen has been replete with attacks on civilian centres and mass
casualties. But even by recent standards, the horrific strike on a mourning hall in Sanaa on October 8 that left at least


140 people dead and more than 500 injured, most of them civilians, was unprecedented. Since its start in March 2015,
the brutal military campaign in one of the poorest Arab countries has evoked international criticism against the Saudis for
the use of excessive force, even allegations of war crimes. But Saudi Arabia has appeared to pay no heed. Riyadh claims
it is defending the internationally recognised regime of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which operates out of the
southern city of Aden, against Shia Houthi rebels. But while defending a government that doesnt seem to enjoy any
legitimacy at home, Riyadh and its allies have turned Yemen into a humanitarian catastrophe. The UN estimates that
over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have so far been killed and millions displaced since the Saudi intervention. Besides,
the countrys already poor healthcare system has crumbled and its economy is in a shambles. More than half of Yemens
28 million people do not get enough food, while close to 400,000 children endure severe malnutrition. Even from a
strategic point of view, the Saudi intervention is a disaster. After 18 months of incessant bombing, the Houthis are still
defending their bases, including the capital city, while the Hadi administration operates out of some pockets. Neither the
human suffering nor the futility of the campaign has compelled Saudi Arabia to look for other solutions.
This is because Riyadh sees this war as part of its rivalry with Iran. It considers the Houthis to be agents of Iran, and does
not want Tehran to have a proxy presence in its backyard. But Saudi Arabia cannot be allowed to destroy Yemen further
to defend its narrow geopolitical ambitions. Washington supports the campaign through intelligence-sharing and by vetting
targets. Moreover, the Obama administration announced a $60-billion arms deal for Riyadh months after the Yemen
operation began. It expressed deep concern after the Sanaa bombing, but stopped short of taking any action. The U.S.,
which recently pulled out of the Syria peace talks citing Russias bombing of Aleppo, should ask similar questions of the
Saudis, and use its ties with Riyadh to find a diplomatic solution to the Yemen crisis. What Yemen needs is an immediate
ceasefire between the Houthis and the Saudis, followed by talks involving all parties, not more bombings.
o Replete - full of something

o Mass - a large quantity of number
o Casualties - people who are injured or killed in an accident or military
action
o Horrific - so shocking that it upsets you
o Mourning - the process or ceremony of expressing great sadness
because someone has died
o Civilians - people who does not belong to the armed forces or the police
(normal people)
o Evoked - to bring a particular emotion, idea, or memory into your mind
o Criticism - comments that show that you think something is wrong or
bad


sugges
unfair way
o Rebels - who try to remove a government or leader using force
o Defending - to protect someone or something from attack
o Legitimacy - the fact that something is legal
o Catastrophe - an event that causes a lot of damage or makes a lot of
people suffer
o Displace - to force someone to leave their own country and live
somewhere else
o Crumbled - to stop being effective
o Shambles - something that is very badly organized and that does not
operate effectively
o Endure - to suffer something difficult or unpleasant in a patient way over
a long period
o Malnutrition - a medical condition in which you are weak or ill because
you do not eat enough or do not eat enough of the right foods
o Disaster - something very bad that happens and causes a lot of damage
or kills a lot of people
o Incessant - continuing for a long time without stopping
o Futility - a lack of purpose, importance, or effectiveness
o Compelled - to force someone to do something, or to get something
from someone using force
with one another
o Proxy - someone who has the authority to do something for you
o Geopolitical - political activity as influenced by the physical features of
a country or area of the world
o Vetting - make a careful and critical examination of (something)
o Arms - weapons, for example guns or bombs
OCT 14/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Triumph of the troubadour"
Over the last century, the >Nobel Prize in Literature has sprung its fair share of surprises. In 1950, for instance, the prize
went to the philosopher Bertrand Russell, who quickly followed this up with two books of awkward and astoundingly
pedestrian short stories, written and published almost as if they were intended to justify the award. The trend has since


persisted, with the Swedish Academy picking writers across genres and geographies. They include Swedish poet >Tomas
Transtromer in 2011, the oft-banned Chinese >Mo Yan in 2012, Canadian short story writer >Alice Munro in 2013, French
novelist >Patrick Modiano in 2014 and Belarusian journalist >Svetlana Alexievich , who has mined oral histories
extensively for her non-fiction work on life in the Soviet Union, last year. Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, a long shot in the
Nobel sweepstakes for years, is this years delightfully idiosyncratic choice, for having created new poetic expressions
within the great American song tradition.
While the purists might be aghast, what possibly clinched it for the 75-year-old is that he isnt just another musician with
a five-decades-plus career. His lyrics almost bordering on the philosophical when he asks some weighty questions
about peace and war in his 1962 hit, Blowin in the Wind chronicled Sixties Americas angst, marking him out as a
counterculture icon although Dylan himself would later deny having lent his voice to a generation. Like his contemporary
Leonard Cohen, Dylan also wrote in a manner that made listeners, almost contradictorily, both engage and distance
themselves from the music. In his hands the music and the lyrics merged and separated, urging us to respond to his
songwriting as melody and rhythm, at one level, and as sheer poetry at another. His role as an influential modern English
poet has been underrated, despite his profoundly personal odes about war, peace, love and closure. So has been his
contribution to the evolution of modern music forms few, for instance, would trace rap musics seeds in Dylans 51-
year-old classic advisory for young adults, Subterranean Homesick Blues. With every passing decade, he has reinvented
himself with a unique ability to stir hope in listeners even while plumbing the depths of darkness in his themes. If Dylans
body of work were to be compared to any one piece of art, Pablo Picassos Guernicaperhaps comes closest. Like the
beam of sunlight on a solitary flower in a slain soldiers hands in the depressing scene of the Spanish town destroyed by
war, Dylan still brings hope in a world going increasingly awry. And thats worth a Nobel.

o Troubadour - poet and singer
o Sprung - to happen or appear somewhere suddenly or unexpectedly
o Awkward - difficult to deal with and embarrassing
o Astounding - very surprising or shocking
o Pedestrian - someone who is walking, especially in a town or city,
instead of driving or riding
o Intended - aimed
o Justify - to show that there is a good reason for something,
especially something that other people think is wrong
o Persisted - to continue to exist
o Genre - a particular style used in cinema, writing, or art, which can be
recognized by certain features
o Oft - often
o Extensive - very large in amount
o Non-fiction - swriting that is about real people and events, not
imaginary ones


o Sweepstakes - a competition for a prize, esp. for money, in which those
who win are chosen by chance
o Idiosyncratic - unusual or strange
o Purist - someone who believes in and follows very traditional rules or
ideas in a subject
o Aghast - shocked and upset
o Clinch - to manage to win or achieve something
o Chronicle - a written record of historical events
o Angst - a strong feeling of worry about what you should do, how you
should behave, or what will happen in the future
o Counterculture - a way of life and set of attitudes that is deliberately
different from the main culture in society
o Contemporary - alive or existing at the same time as a particular event
or person
o Contradictory - if two or more facts, pieces of advice, etc. are
contradictory, they are very different from each other
o Merged - combined / joined together
o Underrated - if a person or thing is underrated, especially a performer,
writer, or sports player, most people do not recognize how good that
person or thing really is
o Profoundly - extremely / greatly
o Odes - poems written about a particular person, thing, or event
o Closure - the feeling that an unpleasant experience has ended or been
settled
o Subterranean - under the ground
o Reinvented - to change something that already exists and give it a
different form or purpose
o Stir - to make someone think about something
o Plumbing - connecting
o Solitary - tending to spend a lot of time alone
o Slain - killed in a violent way (in war)
o Awry - in the wrong position
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Of politics and administration"
Do smaller units make for better administration? It is no surprise that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao
thinks so. After all, that was an important reason for the movement demanding the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and
statehood for Telangana. But it is a telling commentary on the development so far, that people geographically removed
from the district headquarters feel a sense of alienation from centres of power. Actually, Chief Minister Chandrasekhar
Rao originally intended to create just 14 new districts; this was one of the election promises for the 2014 polls. Later, on
the basis of the report of a Cabinet subcommittee, a draft notification was issued for 17 new districts. But after fresh
demands from sections of the people, the > Chief Minister finally settled on 21 new districts for a total of 31. Also, 25
additional revenue divisions, 125 new mandals, four new police commissionerates, 23 new police subdivisions, 28 new
circles and 91 more police stations have been carved out. The new units could facilitate better monitoring of government

schemes, and provide a more even distribution of resources. Indeed, one of the few intended benefits of the Members of
Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) is just this: an even spread of resources, and local inputs into
framing of development work. A bottom-up approach to development that allows local stakeholders greater say in
decision-making on issues directly affecting their lives is certainly welcome, if undertaken after studying the cost to benefit
ratio.
But the governments reasons for creating new districts morphed from administrative to political. The decision to increase
the number of districts was taken following the spiralling of an agitation in Jangaon, Sircilla and Gadwal. Undivided Andhra
Pradesh had fewer districts. Alongside the benefits in terms of ease of governance of smaller districts, there are costs to
be borne: creation of additional administrative infrastructure, transfer of personnel, and replication of paperwork. The Rs.
1 crore sanctioned for each district for initial arrangements will hardly suffice. At present, the existing staff are being
redeployed, and existing buildings are being utilised for administrative purposes. But in the longer term the State will have
to incur huge expenditure to create administrative infrastructure in each new district headquarters town. Increasing
bureaucratic work at the village level will not automatically lead to better governance outcomes. The Chief Minister must
use this opportunity to involve local communities in all decision-making on the development road map in their areas.

o Bifurcation - to divide something into two parts
o Statehood - the status of a place as an independent country / state
o Commentary - a discussion of something such as an event or theory
o Geographically - relating to an area or place
o Alienation - the feeling that you do not belong in a particular society,
place, or group
o Intended - aimed to do something
o Subcommittee - a small group of people who are part of a larger
committee and who meet to discuss one particular thing
o Draft - something such as a plan, letter, or drawing that may have
changes made to it before it is finished
o Revenue - income from business activities or taxes
o Carved out - to successfully create or get something
o Bottom-up - starting with details rather than a general idea
owns part of it
o Morphed - to change from one thing into another by small and
interconnected steps
o Spiralling - show a continuous and dramatic increase.
o Agitation - a feeling of being worried or upset
o Replication - the action of copying or reproducing something
o Suffice - to be enough


o Redeploy - to move someone or something to a different place or a
different job
o Incur - to lose money
spends
processes
to do something
OCT 15/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A return to Cold War tensions"
A big foreign policy challenge awaiting the next U.S. President is the > frosty relationship with an angry, resurgent
Russia. Talk about a post-Cold War partnership between the worlds two greatest military powers is now a thing of the
past. It looks like a throwback to the Cold War days with Russia and the U.S. fighting a proxy war in Ukraine, > leading
two competing military operations in Syria and raising allegations and counter-allegations on a host of issues, ranging
from human rights violations and breaking international norms to interfering in each others domestic politics. Tensions
came to a head this month when the U.S. pulled out of talks with Russia over the Syria conflict. This was immediately
after President Vladimir Putin abandoned a key nuclear disarmament treaty with Washington, demanding the removal of
sanctions on Moscow. If the belligerence and intransigence both countries display are any indication, international politics
is set to get a lot more murky. There could be several triggers for this escalation, but the real problem is that the Cold
War-era mistrust between Washington and Moscow was never really buried. Friction has been increasingly evident on
the watch of President Putin, as he pursues an aggressive foreign policy framed around what he regards as Russian
interests. This happened in Georgia in 2008, Ukraine in 2014 and Syria the year after. In turn, the Obama administrations
coercive diplomacy in dealing with Russias aggression has widened the rift. The > suspension of Russia from the G8
moved Moscow farther away from the West, while sanctions negated the goodwill built, since the 1990s, between Moscow
and the West.
To be sure, Russia is a shadow of what the Soviet Union was at its peak. Its economy is struggling in the wake of the
slump in oil prices. Its currency is in a free fall. Its geopolitical influence is largely limited to the Central Asia and Caucasus.
And its foreign policy doesnt have any high moral groundthe interference in Ukraine was a direct threat to the modern
international system, while in Syria its defending a brutal regime thats accused of killing its own citizens. But in an
international system largely dominated by the U.S., Russia, still an extremely consequential military power, remains the
key player whose cooperation is necessary to resolve several of todays crises. Treating it as a rogue nation or trying to
isolate and weaken it through sanctions and other means could only be counterproductive. The >Iran nuclear deal shows
that even the most complex international issues could be resolved if Russia and the U.S. work together with creative
diplomacy. Ideally, that should set the model for U.S.-Russia partnership.


o Cold War - unfriendly relations between countries who are not at war
with each other
o Foreign policy - a government's policy on dealing with other countries,
for example in matters relating to trade or defence
o Frosty - unfriendly
o Resurgent - becoming popular again
o A thing of the past - something that no longer happens
o Throwback - a person or thing that is similar to an earlier type
o Proxy war - a war caused by a major power which does not itself
become involved
o Host of - a lot of
etc
o Came to a head - if something comes to a head, a situation reaches a
point where something must be done about it
o Abandoned - left
o Disarmament - a process by which a country reduces or gets rid of its
weapons or armed forces
o Belligerence - very unfriendly and angry
o Intransigence - refusing to change your opinions or behaviour
o Murky - used to describe a situation that is complicated and unpleasant
o Escalation - the process of becoming more serious
o Mistrust - to have doubts about the honesty or abilities of someone
o Friction - disagreement
o Pursue - if you pursue a plan, activity, or situation, you try to do it or
achieve it
o Aggressive - behaving in an angry or rude way that shows you want to
fight, attack, or argue with someone
o Regard - consider or think of in a specified way
o Coercive - using force or threats to make someone do something
o Rift - a disagreement between two people or groups
o Negated - to make something have no effect
o Shadow of something - the problems, sadness, trouble etc caused by
a particular situation or event
o In the wake of something - happening after an event or as a result of
it
o Slump - to be suddenly reduced to a much lower level
o Free fall - an occasion when a price or value suddenly becomes much
lower


a crime
o Consequential - happening as an indirect result of something
o Key player - an important person, company, etc. in a particular area of
activity
o Crises - difficult or dangerous situations
o Rogue - dishonest
o Isolate - to keep someone in a place away from others
o Counterproductive - having the opposite result to the one you intended
o Ideally - preferably (in the best possible way)
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Time to decongest our prisons"
The overcrowding of prisons in the country is a long-standing problem that is seldom addressed effectively. Even though
the Supreme Court has, from time to time, raised the issue of prison reforms in general, and that of overcrowding in
particular, measures to decongest jails have been sporadic and half-hearted. The issue is once again in the news, with
the Supreme Court bemoaning that prisons in Delhi and nine States have an >occupancy rate of 150 per cent of their
capacity . The average occupancy in all jails in the country was 117.4 per cent, as of December 31, 2014. What makes
the picture bleaker is that there is little change even though the court has passed a series of interim orders to the States
on measures to decongest prisons. In particular, the court had on February 5 and May 6 this year spelt out steps that the
authorities should take to reduce prison occupancy. Cramped conditions in prison militate against the prisoners right to
good health and dignity. Further, as pointed out by the amicus curiae in this case, an excessive prison population creates
problems of hygiene, sanitation, management and discipline. Of equal concern are the available staff strength and the
level of training they receive.
It is unedifying to note that not one State or Union Territory has bothered to prepare a plan of action, as directed by the
court five months ago, to reduce crowding and to augment infrastructure so that more space is available to each prisoner.
The court received some information about proposals for constructing additional jails, but has found that these are only ad
hoc proposals, with no indication of either a time frame or the resources provided for building these facilities. The courts
sense of disquiet is understandable, as many States seem to ignore the obvious mismatch between the extent to which
they keep the law and order machinery active and the space and resources provided for those jailed under such action.
Last year, it was found that a little over two-thirds of Indias prisoners were undertrials. Poverty remains the main reason
for this, as most prisoners are unable to execute bail bonds or provide sureties. Since 2014, there is some effort to invoke
Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, under which >undertrials who have completed half of the maximum jail
term specified for their offences may be released on personal bonds. But much more needs to be done. Failing to address
the problem of crowded jails may prove costly for the administration of criminal justice.


o Decongest - to make something wider so that people can move freely
o Overcrowding - unpleasant conditions caused by too many people or
things being in the same place
o Seldom - not often (almost never)
o Sporadic - not regular or frequent
o Half-hearted - done with no real interest or enthusiasm
o Bemoaning - to complain or say that you are disappointed about
something
o Occupancy - the number of things, such as rooms, that are being used,
in relation to the total number available
o Bleaker - if a situation is bleaker, there is no hope for the future
o Spelt out - to say or explain something very clearly
o Cramped - small and crowded
o Militate against something - to make something less likely to happen
or succeed
o Dignity - respect that other people have for you
o Hygiene - the practice of keeping yourself and the things around you
clean, in order to prevent illness and disease
o Sanitation - conditions and processes relating to peoples health,
especially the systems that supply water and deal with human waste
o Unedifying - unpleasant and without any useful or positive features
o Augment - to increase the size, amount, or value of something
o Ad hoc - done only when needed for a specific purpose, without planning
or preparation
o Disquiet - a feeling of being very worried or nervous
o Undertrial - a person who is appearing in a law court because they have
been accused of committing a crime
o Poverty - a situation in which someone does not have enough money
to pay for their basic needs
o Surety - someone who agrees to pay money if you do not go to court
when you should
o Invoke - to use a law or rule in order to achieve something
OCT 17/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Cool the world"
Although it took seven years to come to fruition, the Kigali agreement to amend the Montreal Protocol and substantially
limit the emission of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that contribute to global warming represents major progress. The
important role played by this group of chemicals, used in refrigeration and air conditioning, is evident from the scientific
estimate that without a mitigation plan, HFCs could warm the world by an additional half a degree Celsius by the end of
the century. As with other such global compacts on environmental matters, India pressed for a more lenient deadline at
the Rwanda negotiations. Ultimately, it agreed to start freezing HFC use in 2028, four years later than its peer club


countries China, Brazil and those in Africa, and achieving maximum reduction by 2047, two years after they do. In
welcome contrast, however, India has ordered the manufacturers of HFC 23 a by-product of another chemical used in
refrigerant gas manufacture and with a staggeringly high contribution to global warming to now capture and dispose
of it at their own cost. The decision is of particular significance, considering the expansion of refrigeration and air
conditioning in India with a rise in incomes, leading to higher levels of HFC release into the atmosphere.
One of the questions before India in its implementation of Montreal Protocol commitments is the need to align its goals
for Make in India with green technologies in order to remain competitive in global markets. Inducting alternatives to
HFCs, such as hydrocarbons, ammonia and carbon dioxide, in the relevant industries should happen sooner than
anticipated and possibly become even attractive as the cost of technologies falls. The changeover is actually an
opportunity to achieve a leapfrog effect. The imperative, in any case, should be environmental. It is worth recalling that
the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer adopted in 1985 (operationalised later by the Montreal
Protocol) followed a phase when major producers of chlorofluorocarbons, the earlier generation of refrigerants, tried to
discredit the link between the chemicals and the developing problem of the ozone hole. Persistent and credible science,
however, swayed public and political opinion in favour of a phase-out of CFCs. As with the Paris Agreement on climate
change, which is strengthened by the Kigali amendments, developing countries will legitimately expect rich countries to
aid them as they seek to acquire green technologies for industrial use. Given the impact of global warming, countries and
people who have historically never been part of the problem should not have to argue their case for liberal assistance.
o Fruition - the result that you wanted to achieve from a plan or idea
o Amend - to make changes to a document, law, agreement etc, especially
in order to improve it
o Protocol - a set of rules
o Emission - a substance, especially a gas, that goes into the air
o Global warming - the slow increase in the temperature of the Earth
caused by gases such as carbon dioxide that are collecting in the air
around the earth and stopping heat escaping into space
o Mitigation - a reduction in the harmful effects of something
o Pressed - to be in a difficult situation because you do not have enough
time, money, space, etc
o Lenient - not as serious or strong in punishment or judgment as would
be expected
o Deadline - a specific time or date by which you have to do something
o Ultimately - after a process or activity has ended
o Contrast - a noticeable difference between people or things
o Refrigerant - a substance used for refrigeration (cooling)
o Staggering - very shocking and surprising
o Dispose - to get rid of something that you no longer need or want

o Align - to adjust
o Inducting - to officially accept someone / something into a group
o Changeover - a change from one method, system, or activity to another
o Leapfrog - to go straight from a job or position that was lower in status
than someones to one that is higher than theirs
o Convention - a formal agreement between governments of different
countries about how they should behave towards each other or towards
the people in their country
o Discredit - to make people think that something is not true
o Persistent - lasting for a long time
o Swayed - controlled / influenced
o Phase-out - to gradually stop using something
o Developing country - a country with little industrial and economic
activity and where people generally have low incomes
o Legitimate - fair and reasonable
o Aid - help
behaviour
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Quick exit in Kerala"
If there is one thing that the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala cannot afford, it is tolerance of corruption and nepotism.
The resignation of E.P. Jayarajan as Industries Minister, following charges of nepotism, brought to a quick end what could
have turned out to be a major political embarrassment for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. After having come to power
attacking the Congress-led United Democratic Front over a string of scandals, Mr. Vijayan could not allow himself to be
seen as endorsing acts of indiscretion by his Minister especially since Mr. Jayarajan is from Kannur, the same district
as Mr. Vijayan, and is considered a loyalist. Once it became clear that Mr. Jayarajan had favoured his relatives in
appointments to State public sector undertakings, he stood politically isolated within the party. Indeed, it was not only the
national leadership of the CPI(M), but Mr. Vijayan as well who was keen on containing the controversy in its nascence.
Even before the meeting of the State Secretariat of the party discussed the issue, the Chief Minister said, in a post on his
Facebook page, that the Chief Secretary had been asked to probe allegations of nepotism. Also, the Vigilance and Anti-
Corruption Bureau decided to initiate a quick verification of the charges. Mr. Jayarajans defence was more in the nature
of an explanation: that he was being targeted for acting against corruption in the industries department. Letting the issue
to fester would have resulted in criticism from within the CPI(M) as well as the opposition. The partys decision to ask Mr.
Jayarajan to quit eventually seemed no more than a formality.
The CPI(M) would like to contrast the quick, quiet exit of Mr. Jayarajan with the reluctance of UDF ministers to step down
in the face of inquiries instituted against them. That it had to deal with one of its own ministers, and not a member of an
allied party, helped in the speedy resolution of the issue. In the bar bribery case, in which Kerala Congress (M) leader

K.M. Mani was involved, the UDF could not act without risking the stability of the coalition. Mr. Jayarajans exit is no
serious loss to the administration. If anything, he had been an embarrassment on at least two previous occasions. First,
in a faux pas, when asked to give his comments on the death of Muhammad Ali, he described the boxing icon as a Kerala
sportsman. On another occasion, he took on long jumper Anju Bobby George, who was then heading the Kerala Sports
Council, questioning the concessions extended to her by the previous government. Ms. George accused him of insulting
her, and resigned. In asking Mr. Jayarajan to go, the CPI (M) had nothing to lose, and a lot to hold on to.
o Tolerance - willingness to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different

from your own, although you might not agree with or approve of them
o Nepotism - the act of using your power or influence to get good jobs or
unfair advantages for members of your own family
o Embarrassment - a feeling of being nervous or ashamed because of
what people know or think about you
o String - a group of similar or connected things
o Scandal - a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest or
o Endorsing - to express support for someone or something, especially in
public
o Indiscretion - something you do that shows a lack of judgment
o Loyalist - a person or group that strongly supports the government or
ruler in power
o Undertaking - a job, business, or piece of work
o Isolated - feeling alone and unhappy, with no friends to support you
o Controversy - a disagreement, especially about a public policy or a
moral issue that a lot of people have strong feelings about
o Nascence - beginning to exist or develop
o Probe - an attempt to find out the truth about an issue, problem, or
accident
o Vigilance - the activity of watching a person or situation very carefully
so that you will notice any problems or signs of danger immediately
o Fester - to become worse because no one has dealt with it
o Criticism - comments that show that you think something is wrong or
bad
things happen
o Reluctance - unwillingnes to do something
o Step down - to give up a job or position
o Allied - related because of having shared qualities or interests
o Resolution - the action of solving a problem or dealing with a
disagreement in a satisfactory way
o Bribery - the crime of giving money or presents to someone so that they
will help you by doing something dishonest or illegal

o Faux pas - words or behaviour that are a social mistake or not polite
o Concession - something you give or allow to someone in order to reach
an agreement
o Accused - to say that someone has done something wrong
OCT 18/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Only about terrorism ?"
Over a period of 48 hours, India hosted leaders of the five-nation BRICS as well as the seven-nation BIMSTEC (Bay of
Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), which together represent two-thirds of humanity
and more than a quarter of the worlds growth. While BIMSTEC has geographical moorings, BRICS is a unique
organisation of countries that came together in 2006 not because of geography, history or wealth, but because of their
promise as key emerging economies. While the promise has faded, their ability to grab the worlds attention and
challenge the old order is still unmatched, as Russia, India, China, Brazil and South Africa remain leaders in their
respective regions. What they say on financial systems, development initiatives, sharing of resources like water, oil,
precious minerals and land, as well as battling climate change and poverty has a wide-ranging impact. It is, therefore,
unfortunate that the outcome of the BRICS summit and the outreach to BIMSTEC countries has been popularly
condensed into what they had to say on a single issue: terrorism, with only a few paragraphs out of the 109-para Goa
Declaration dominating the discourse. The domestic context is partially responsible. Even before the Uri attack, New Delhi
had embarked on a diplomatic mission to isolate Pakistan by raising the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil at
international fora the campaign escalated after the deaths at the Uri Army camp. As a result, Indias interventions at
the G-20 summit in China, the ASEAN summits in Laos, the UN General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Movement meet in
Venezuela, and elsewhere resounded with outrage with Pakistans continued cross-border adventurism.
Given this success, New Delhi would have done better to bring the spotlight in Goa back to its own declared goals of
building economies and bringing prosperity in the region. A united message to the rich world on a more equitable
distribution of global resources, deployment of the New Development Bank and climate change was in order. However,
in his speech on the outcomes of the BRICS deliberations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to anchor his remarks
on concerns about cross-border terrorism that werent entirely reflected in the final Goa Declaration. Officials may well
explain it away as a lack of consensus in the grouping, suggesting that China influenced the moderation of the eventual
text. However, the single-issue focus also reflects a failure on the part of the Centre in forging a larger, more broad-based
narrative to match the scale of the gathering hosted in Goa.
o Hosted - to arrange a special event and provide the area, buildings,

equipment, or services needed for it
o As well as - in addition; and also
problem


o Moorings - a place where a boat or ship can be tied up
o Faded - to become less important
o Unmatched - better than all others
o Battling - to try very hard to deal with a difficult situation
o Poverty - a situation in which someone does not have enough money to
pay for their basic needs
o Wide-ranging - covering many subjects
o Outreach - the practice of providing help and advice to people in a
community before they have to ask for it
o Condensed - to become shorter or smaller
o Discourse - a long and serious speech or piece of writing on a particular
subject
o Context - the general situation in which something happens
o Partially - not completely
o Embarked - to start a journey / visit
o Isolate - to keep someone away from other people
o Emanating - to express a quality or feeling through the way that you
look and behave
o Fora - meetings in which people can talk about a problem or matter
especially of public interest (plural form of Forum)
change
o Escalated - to become more serious
o Non-Aligned - a country that is non-aligned does not receive support
from a more powerful country
o Outrage - a strong feeling of anger and shock at something that you feel
is wrong or unfair
o Adventurism - a way of managing a business, government, or the
armed forces that is considered dangerous and might have negative
results
way
o Deliberations - discussions in which a subject is considered carefully
different countries
o Moderation - opinions and actions, especially in politics, that are
reasonable and not extreme
o Forging - to work hard to achieve something
o Broad-based - used to describe something that will affect many
different places, activities, etc


Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "What the state cannot bear to hear"
The recent arrests of several people in Tamil Nadu on charges of spreading rumours about the health of Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa are a cause for serious concern. While the State police might have its reasons to worry about threats to
public order in the wake of wild rumours circulating on social media, arresting so many people reflects a heavy-
handedness and a failure to distinguish between unfounded speculation and motivated trouble-mongering. Nearly a
month after the Chief Ministers unfortunate hospitalisation on September 22, the people of Tamil Nadu know very little
about her health, other than the details released through sparsely-worded hospital bulletins. Given that there has been
no official word from the State government, it is not entirely unnatural that her extended stay in hospital has led to people
speculating about her ill-health some of them owe allegiance to rival political parties. To arrest people on charges of
posting WhatsApp or Facebook messages is a gross abuse of authority. Not surprisingly, it has led people to believe that
such action betrays the State governments desperation to prevent any conversation that is at odds with the overly cheerful
statements put out by AIADMK functionaries and sanitised press releases. If the government is keen on curtailing
rumours, it would do better by keeping people updated regularly on the broad state of the Chief Ministers health, a matter
that is a source of concern for all well-meaning people in the State.
The arrest of two employees of a bank in Coimbatore is particularly unsettling, as the police went solely by the word of
an AIADMK functionary. Neither the CCTV footage nor the testimony of other bank employees suggests any attempt on
the part of those arrested to disrupt public order or, even, spread rumours. Even if the two employees did speak of the
Chief Ministers health condition, the conversation constituted a private exchange it cannot be compared to posts on
social media, even if many of these posts were just as innocuous. If causing public unrest is the real concern, what are
the police doing about the thousands of AIADMK workers who are making a public ritual of their prayers and offerings for
the Chief Minister to return to good health? Criminal intimidation, public mischief are sections of the law that have been
used by police, at the behest of overenthusiastic political bosses, on the basis of a mistaken sense of personal loyalty to
Ms. Jayalalithaa. At a time when there is a groundswell of sympathy for Ms. Jayalalithaas condition, and hope that she
recovers from her illness, such acts dont reflect well on those currently in charge of the State administration.
o Cannot bear - if you cannot bear something, you cannot accept or do it

because it makes you very unhappy
o Several - a number of people or things that is more than two or three,
but not many
o Rumours - unofficial information that may or may not be true
it


o Heavy-handedness - using too much force, or not considering peoples
feelings enough when dealing with a situation
o Distinguish - to recognize the differences between things
o Unfounded - not supported with facts or evidence
o Speculation - ideas or discussion about why something has happened
or what might happen
o Trouble-mongering - to encourage trouble
o Very little - nothing
o Sparsely - small in numbers or amount
o Bulletin - an official statement about something important
o Gross - extremely bad
o Abuse - cruel, violent, or unfair treatment
o Betray - to not be loyal to your country or a person, often by doing
something harmful such as helping their enemies
o Desperation - the worry and anger that someone feels because they do
not know how to deal with a bad situation
o At odds with - disagreeing with someone
o Functionary - an official who works for a government or a political party,
especially one with unimportant or boring office duties
o Sanitise - to change something by removing unpleasant information
from it
o Curtailing - to reduce or limit something
o Well-meaning - trying to help but often making things worse
o Unsettling - something that is unsettling makes you feel nervous,
confused, or upset
o Testimony - a formal statement about something that you saw, know,
or experienced, usually given in a court of law
o Innocuous - not likely to offend or upset anyone
o Ritual - a formal ceremony
o Intimidation - to deliberately make someone feel frightened, especially
so that they will do what you want
o Mischief - behaviour, that is slightly bad but is not intended to cause
serious harm or damage
o At the behest of someone - because someone has asked or ordered
you to do something
o Groundswell - a sudden increase in peoples feelings about something
o Sympathy - a natural feeling of kindness that you have for someone who
is experiencing something very unpleasant
OCT 19/2016


Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Personal laws and the Constitution"
The Centres categorical stand that personal laws should be in conformity with the Constitution will be of immense
assistance to the Supreme Court in determining the validity of practices such as triple talaq and polygamy. By arguing
that such practices impact adversely on the right of women to a life of dignity, the Centre has raised the question whether
constitutional protection given to religious practices should extend even to those that are not in compliance with
fundamental rights. The distinction between practices essential or integral to a particular religion, which are protected
under Article 25, a provision that seeks to preserve the freedom to practise and propagate any religion, and those that go
against the concepts of equality and dignity, which are fundamental rights, is something that the court will have to carefully
evaluate while adjudicating the validity of the Muslim practices under challenge. From the point of view of the fundamental
rights of those affected, mostly women, there is a strong case for these practices to be invalidated. The idea that personal
laws of religions should be beyond the scope of judicial review, and that they are not subject to the Constitution, is
inherently abhorrent. The affidavit in which the All India Muslim Personal Law Board sought to defend triple talaq and
polygamy is but an execrable summary of the patriarchal notions entrenched in conservative sections of society.
This is not the first time that aspects of Muslim personal law have come up for judicial adjudication. On triple talaq, courts
have adopted the view that Islam does not sanction divorce without reason or any attempt at reconciliation, and that talaq
would not be valid unless some conditions are fulfilled. There are judgments that say the presence of witnesses during
the pronouncement of talaq, sound reasons for the husband to seek a divorce and some proof that an attempt was made
for conciliation are conditions precedent for upholding a divorce. The present petition before the Supreme Court seeks a
categorical ruling that talaq-e-bidat an irrevocable form of triple talaq that is permitted but considered undesirable in
Islam is unconstitutional. There are many who contend that instant divorce is not allowed, and that the triple talaq has
to be spread over a specified time period, during which there are two opportunities to revoke it. Only the articulation of
the third makes it irrevocable. It should be possible for the court to test these practices for compliance with the
Constitution.
o Constitution - a set of basic laws or principles for a country that describe

the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in which it is governed
o Stand - to behave in a particular way
o Conformity - behaviour that is acceptable because it is similar to the
behaviour of everyone else
o Immense - extremely good
o Determine - to control or influence something directly, or to decide what
will happen
o Triple talaq - a method of giving divorce in Islam by saying "I divorce
you" three times
o Polygamy - the practice or custom of having more than one wife or
husband at the same time


o Practice - a way of doing something, especially as a result of habit,
custom, or tradition
o Adverse - negative, unpleasant, or harmful
o Dignity - respect that other people have for you or that you have for
yourself
o Compliance - the act of obeying an order, rule, or request
o Distinction - difference
o Essential - completely necessary
o Integral - necessary to make a whole complete
o Propagate - to spread ideas, beliefs etc to a lot of people
o Evaluate - to think carefully about something before making a judgment
about its value, importance, or quality
o Adjudicating - to make an official decision about a problem or
disagreement
o Invalidate - to make something such as a document, contract, or
process no longer legally effective
o Abhorrent - if something is abhorrent to you, you dislike it very much,
usually because you think it is immoral
is true
o Execrable - extremely bad in quality
o Patriarchal - a society, system, organization in which men have all or
most of the power and influence
o Entrenched - entrenched attitudes or feelings have existed for a long
time and are difficult to change
o Aspect - the appearance of someone or something
o Reconciliation - a new and friendly relationship with someone who you
argued with or fought with
o Witnesses - someone who sees a crime, accident, or other event happen
o Pronouncement - an official public statement
o Precedent - an action that has already happened and can be used as a
reason why a similar action should be performed or made
o Upholding - if a court of law upholds something such as a claim, it says
that it is correct
o Irrevocable - impossible to change or stop
o Undesirable - bad, or harmful
o Unconstitutional - not allowed or not legal according to the constitution
(=set of official rules or principles) of a particular country or organization
o Contend - to say that something is true
o Revoke - to officially say that something is no longer legal, for example
a law or a document
o Articulation - the expression of thoughts, ideas, or feelings in words
o Irrevocable - impossible to change or stop
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Evacuating patients"


The tragic death of at least 22 people and injuries caused to dozens of others in the > SUM Hospital fire in Bhubaneswar
on Monday throws up the question: what lessons were learnt from the > AMRI Hospital fire in Kolkata that claimed over
90 victims five years ago? Was the hospital fire fighting system activated immediately and were emergency measures
taken to evacuate patients? These and other aspects of the incident must be addressed by an impartial investigation. If
each deadly fire in a medical facility provided lessons in hindsight, Indias hospitals should be witnessing fewer events
annually, with a sharp decline in casualties. That would follow the global trend, as causes of hospital fires are understood
better, and regulations tightened for safety of patients, their families, visitors and staff. There is also insight within the
country on why fires in hospitals could be particularly fierce. One study by IIT Kharagpur engineers points to enrichment
of the local environment by oxygen leaks, which sets off fires in thin plastics. The National Building Code is specific,
requiring hospitals to have horizontal evacuation exits for bedridden patients and sprinkler systems for structures of
specified height, which would cover most medical institutions.
Prevention of fires and emergency response are not high priorities in India, viewed by the Centre as a municipal function
under State governments. With a steady decline in the enforcement of urban regulations and building plans, fire risks
have multiplied in public buildings. It will take enormous political will and active judicial oversight to enforce best practices
and rein in violators. Meanwhile, patients and visitors could get a modicum of risk protection and suitable compensation
if all institutions offering any form of medical care are compulsorily required to be insured against disasters. Such a
regulation would make a hospital insurable only if it installs good quality fire warning and control systems. There are
reports that not enough could be done in the SUM Hospital fire to move patients away quickly, as the blaze spread and
affected vulnerable people receiving intensive care. It is also believed there were not enough ambulances available to
shift the patients out. Such evacuation is not the responsibility of the hospital alone, it is also the local administrations.
Looking ahead, the Centre and State governments should address fire risk in medical institutions as a top order priority.
This can be achieved by understanding the hazard, adopting the right infrastructure, enforcing the building code, and
holding frequent fire drills to do things correctly in an emergency.
o Tragic - very sad, often involving death and suffering

o Throws up - to produce something new or unexpected
o Claimed - if war, disease, or an accident claims someones life, they die
as a result of it
o Measures - an action that is intended to achieve or deal with some
problem
o Evacuate - to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe
o Impartial - not connected to or influenced by one particular person or
group
o Hindsight - the opportunity to judge or understand past events using
knowledge that you have gained since then
o Decline - to become less

o Casualties - people who are injured or killed in an accident
o Insight - a chance to understand something or learn more about it
o Fierce - physically violent and frightening
o Evacuation - the action of moving people from a dangerous place to
somewhere safe
o Bedridden - having to stay in bed because of illness or injury
o Sprinkler - a piece of equipment fixed to the ceiling of a room that
spreads water over the room if a fire starts
o Enforcement - the process of making sure that something happens,
especially that people obey a law or rule
o Urban - relating to towns and cities, or happening there
o Regulations - an official rule that controls the way that things are done
o Multiplied - increased in large amount
o Enormous - very large in size or quantity
o Oversight - the job of checking that a process or system is working well
o Violator - someone who breaks a law
o Modicum - a small amount of something, especially a good quality
o Blaze - a large fire that causes a lot of damage, especially when a
building is burning
o Vulnerable - weak or easy to hurt physically or mentally
o Hazard - something that could be dangerous or could cause damage or
accidents
o Enforceg - to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people
o Fire Drill - a practice of the emergency procedures to be used in case of
fire
OCT 20/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A closure of the Indian mind"
A video released by film-maker Karan Johar pledging not to work with talent from the neighbouring country is obviously
a last-ditch attempt to salvage his forthcoming production, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. With the effect of a Rorschach test, Johars
pitch can be read in divergent ways. At one level, as an outright capitulation to the mob, angrily led in Mumbai by the
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, as well as to a wider audience currently consumed by a low-grade intolerance of anything
Pakistani. At another, as a cleverly coded defence of a film starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan by drawing attention to
the labour of 300 Indians on the project who face unfair rejection. Either way, the larger issue is the ease with which a
boycott of people from a particular country is enforced, so that everyone is intimidated into falling in line to a Tebbit-like
test. Mumbai has, of course, long kept Pakistani sportspersons at bay. Three years ago, the Pakistani womens cricket
team at the World Cup had be shifted out to Cuttack, diminishing not just Mumbai, but India itself for the failure to uphold
the spirit of sport essential to a liberal democracy. Last year, even Pakistani umpires and television commentators were


compelled to pull out of their duties at an international match in Mumbai. Its not Mumbai alone. In 2013, for instance, no
team fielded Sri Lankan cricketers in Indian Premier League matches in Chennai.
But the current, post-Uri rash of objections to Pakistani artists is widespread concerts have been cancelled from
Gurgaon to Bengaluru, and the airwaves crackle regularly with some film or sport personality averring to keep apart from
his Pakistani counterparts. However, it would be under-reading the challenge to Indias syncretic legacy if the political
silence around such boycotts was not highlighted. It is not enough for officials at the Centre to say that there is no change
in the visa policy for Pakistani citizens. When the political leadership in government and in Opposition does not take
the lead in persuading the silent majority that barriers to cultural and academic exchange are undemocratic and represent
a closure of the Indian mind, it renders vulnerable the scattered individuals who are willing to stand up to bullying. On
Pakistan, the ambivalent attitude to snapping cultural ties highlights important foreign policy questions. Do we use Indias
incredible soft power to win over Pakistanis and others to the ideals of democracy, liberalism, secularism, syncretism for
the greater good of the neighbourhood? Or do we reduce all people-to-people contact to unrelenting enmity?
o Closure - an act of closing something

o Pledging - to promise seriously and publicly to do something
o Talent - a person or people with a natural ability for being good at a
particular activity
o Neighbouring - near each other
o Last-ditch - a final try at achieving something difficult, when other
attempts have already failed
o Salvage - to try to make a bad situation better
o Forthcoming - happening soon
o Rorschach test - a test of someones personality
o Pitch - the level or degree of activity or of someones emotions
o Divergent - different from each other
o Outright - without hiding your feelings
o Capitulation - to accept something or agree to do something unwillingly
o Mob - a large crowd of people that is dangerous or difficult to control
o Intolerance - disapproving of or refusing to accept ideas or ways of
behaving that are different from your own
o Boycott - to not take part in an event, or to not buy or use something
as a way of expressing strong disapproval
o Enforced - happening because of a situation that you cannot control or
prevent
o Intimidated - feeling nervous or frightened of someone or something
o Diminishing - to become less important
o Uphold - to show that you support something such as an idea by what
you say or do
behaviour
o Compel - to force someone to do something
o Crackle - to be full of something such as nervousness or excitement

o Averring - to say that something is certainly true
o Counterpart - a person or thing that has the same purpose as another
one in a different place or organization
o Syncretic - the combining of different religions, cultures, or ideas
o Legacy -something such as a tradition or problem that exists as a result
o Persuading - to make someone agree to do something by giving them
reasons why they should
o Renders - to make
o Scatter - separate and move quickly in different directions
o Bullying - behaviour that frightens or hurts someone smaller or weaker
o Ambivalent - feeling two different things about someone or something
at the same time, for example that you like them and dislike them
o Liberalism - the act of making laws, systems, or opinions less serious
o Secularism - the belief that religion should not be involved with the
o Syncretism - the combining of different religions, cultures, or ideas
o Unrelenting - used for describing someone who continues to do
something with a lot of determination
o Enmity - a feeling of hate
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A decisive battle for Mosul"
After losing Tikrit in April 2015 and Fallujah in June 2016, the Islamic State has been left with little territory under its
control in Iraq. Mosul, the countrys second largest city, is its last significant bastion. It was where its leader Abu Bakr al-
Baghdadi declared a caliphate in June 2014. And it was the ability of the IS to establish territorial control and run an
administration that qualitatively separated it from other radical jihadi groups such as al-Qaeda. The capture of Mosul
symbolised its effectiveness in combat against a weakly organised Iraqi army and a sectarian Iraqi state, then under
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. When a coalition of Iraqi armed forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga, Shia militia groups
supported by U.S.-led air strikes and other special forces marched on Mosul on Monday, the long-planned offensive to
defeat the IS decisively was finally put into action. The plan is for the Peshmerga and the militias to barricade the city
from the east and south, respectively, while counter-terrorism forces and police enter the city, engage in street battles
and secure it, leading to final capture. It will not be easy, even if the IS is a much weakened force compared to what it
was in 2014.
The offensive to dislodge the estimated 5,000 IS fighters is expected to last many weeks. Visuals and reports filtering out
from the battle zone already point to the large-scale use of suicide bombers in armoured trucks and cars taking on the
coalition's tanks and advance forces. The million or so residents of Mosul the Sunni Arabs among them in particular
who bore the excesses of the sectarian attacks led by Mr. al-Malikis government are ready to rebel against the IS, but
are wary of the Shia militias. This suggests that a military victory over the IS will not suffice, and the Mosul operation
would be a test of the Iraqi governments capacity to mend the sectarian conflict that enabled the rise of the IS in the first


place. Other complications too threaten the operation. The participation of Turkish forces in the attacks has not been
welcomed by Baghdad, as Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called this a transgression of Iraqi sovereignty. The
international efforts in this operation are focused towards providing air support to the Iraqi forces beyond the planning but
this must not be limited to the military battle alone. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) expects a million
people to be displaced during the conflict and requires international funding to help organise shelter for them. It is
necessary for the UN to look ahead to ease the humanitarian crisis that could follow after the Mosul battle and help Iraq
in its reconstruction.

o Territory - an area of land that is officially part of a country
o Bastion - a place where an army has strong defences
o Symbolised - to be considered as a typical or perfect example of
something
o Combat - fight
religious groups
o Offensive - unpleasant or insulting, and likely to make people upset or
embarrassed
o Peshmerga - a nationalist Kurdish fighter
o Militias - a group of ordinary people who are trained as soldiers to fight
in an emergency
o Barricade - to prevent people from getting into a city or an area
o Counter-terrorism - the actions and methods of a country that are
aimed to stop the activities of people who use violence to achieve political
aims
o Dislodge - to force someone out of a position of power
o Large-scale - involving a large number of people or things
o Armoured - an armoured vehicle, such as a tank or a car, is covered
with layers of hard metal to protect it from attack
o Complication - something that makes a process or activity more difficult
to do, deal with, or understand
someone
o Transgression - to do something that is not allowed by a law, custom,
or religion
o Sovereignty - the right of a country to rule itself
other dangerous event


o Humanitarian - relating to efforts to help people who are living in very
bad conditions and are suffering because of a war, flood, earthquake etc
o Reconstruction- the process of putting a country back into a good
condition after a war
OCT 21/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Shifting the GST goalpost"
The outcomes of the latest meeting of the Council tasked with steering the Goods and Services Tax regime are worrying.
For one, it leaves the Centre hard-pressed to meet its intended deadline for the new indirect tax regime, April 1, 2017.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had set a November 22 target to resolve all operational issues with State representatives
in the Council so that the rates and implementation modalities could be codified into law and passed by Parliament in the
winter session. When it met for the first time in late September, things appeared to be on track, with the Council agreeing
almost unanimously on technicalities such as the turnover thresholds for firms to be covered under the GST and the
division of administrative control over tax assessees between the Centre and the States. A time-bound road map to
finalise remaining details, such as the tax rates, compensation for States in case of revenue loss under the new system,
as well as the legislative actions required in Parliament and the State Assemblies, was also agreed upon.
As the winter session approaches, that spirit of cooperation has evaporated: the Council has agreed on precious little,
including the tax rates proposed by the Centre. Worse, the pact reached earlier on administrative control of manufacturing
sector assessees has unravelled with States raising fresh concerns. The proposal to subsume in the GST all cess levies,
several of them introduced by the present NDA government, has been discarded. This was a critical part of the official
GST pitch and was backed by the Council in September. But now the Finance Ministry is keen on an additional cess on
ultra-luxury and sin goods to fund compensation for States losing revenue. It has suggested a cess may be better than
the 40 per cent slab for demerit goods, mooted by a committee led by Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian along
with two other slabs of 12 per cent and 17-18 per cent. With a four-tier GST rate structure, a 4 per cent tax on gold (in
line with the CEAs advice), in addition to some exemptions that would be granted as tax refunds, topped with the new
cess to compensate States, the new regime could well just be old wine in a new bottle, from the taxpayers perspective.
Mr. Jaitley has explained that the rate proposals are meant to prevent a spurt in retail inflation. But to bring about
convergence with States at the Councils next meetings in November and bring its showcase reform item back on track,
the government needs to return to the drawing board.
o Shift / Change the Goalpost - to change the rules while someone is

trying to do something in order to make it more difficult for them
o Outcome - a result or effect of an action, situation
o Hard-pressed - a person or organization that is hard-pressed does not
have enough money for the things that they need

o Intended - aimed
o Codify - to make something part of an organized system, especially an
official system of laws
o On track - doing or saying things that are likely to be successful or
correct
o Unanimously - a unanimous decision, vote, agreement etc is one that
everyone agrees with and supports
o Technicality - a detail about a particular subject that is understood only
by an expert
o Threshold - a limit at which an arrangement changes
o Assessee - a person or group that is being assessed (judged), especially
in order to decide how much tax they must pay
o Timebound - attached to a certain moment or era in time
to do something
o Compensation - money that is paid to someone in exchange for
something that has been lost or damaged or for some problem
o Legislative - relating to laws or the making of laws
o Evaporate - suddenly disappears
o Unravel - to understand something complicated by thinking about it for
a long time
o Levy - an amount of money that you have to pay, for example as a tax
o Discarded - to get rid of something that you no longer want or need
o Pitch - a level of development
o Demerit - a fault or other bad quality
o Moot - to suggest something for discussion
o Old wine in a new bottle - an existing concept or institution offered as
though it were a new one
o Perspective - a way of thinking about something
o Spurt - a sudden increase in something, for example speed or
development
o Convergence - a situation in which people or things gradually become
the same or very similar
o Showcase - a situation or event that makes it possible for the best
features of something to be seen
o Reform - to make an improvement, especially by changing a person's
behaviour or the structure of something
o Return to the drawing board - to start planning something again
because the first plan failed
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Debating to the bitter end"


What began last month with a handshake and visible warmth between two very different U.S. presidential candidates
degenerated into disrespectful interruptions, unashamed baiting, and abrasive name-calling as the third and final debate
between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump came to a frosty end. With less than three weeks to go
before the election, the campaigns saw explosive revelations about both candidates. This included disturbing evidence
of Mr. Trump boasting about groping women without their consent, allegations of such behaviour and sexual assault by
at least nine women, and an avalanche of confidential emails of Ms. Clintons campaign released by WikiLeaks that
underscored her proximity to deep-pocketed Wall Street donors. Yet, even as these damning facts have tumbled into the
public domain and the degree of hostility has soared, they have probably done little to swing the election dramatically in
either direction. Ms. Clinton was leading by a little over two percentage points across an average of major head-to-head
polls around the time of the first debate. Her margin grew to over 6.5 per cent after the Access Hollywood tapes of Mr.
Trumps offensive remarks. Most poll simulation models predict she is well-positioned to capture the minimum of 270
electoral college votes that are necessary to secure the presidency, principally owing to her likely success in the swing
States.
However, the electorate is plagued by intractable, bitter polarisation that is beginning to rot the core ideals of a tolerant,
pluralistic democracy. Even a resounding Clinton victory in terms of electoral college votes would beg the question
whether she will be able to bring on board her stoutly Democratic agenda, given the vast number of middle class and
poor Americans, many of them white, who may not have voted for her. To achieve her goals will she not be compelled to
mend fences with the discredited mainstream Republican Party leadership that will be busy trying to rehabilitate itself
after Hurricane Donald passes? Ms. Clinton, if she finds herself in the White House, will have to strike a multitude of
bargains across the policy positions that Americans disagree most stridently on: the economy, job-creation and the role
of the government, national debt and tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security, immigration and border control, womens
reproductive rights, race relations, and a range of foreign policy issues. In the vitiated atmosphere of the third debate, the
candidates touched upon all of these issues, yet neither enunciated a new approach or even hinted at a desire to build
bridges to make America whole again.
o Debating - argue about something

o To the bitter end - until something is finished (even though it is difficult
or unpleasant)
o Warmth - a kind and friendly quality in someone or something
o Disrespectful - showing a lack of respect or courtesy (impolite)
o Interruption - something that someone says or does that stops
someone else when they are speaking or concentrating on something
o Unashamed - not ashamed (without hiding behaviour or opinions that
other people might consider unacceptable)
o Baiting - to deliberately try to make someone angry
o Abrasive - behaving in way that seems rude to other people
o Name-calling - the act of insulting someone by calling them rude names
o Frosty - unfriendly
o Campaigns - a series of actions intended to produce political or social
change

o Revelation - the act of making something known that was secret
o Boasting - to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done or
what you own
o Groping - to touch someone sexually in a rough way
o Consent - permission to do something
o Avalanche - a large quantity of similar things that happen within a short
time
o Confidential - secret
o Underscored - to emphasize / highlight something
o Proximity - the state of being near in space or time
o Deep-pocketed - a deep-pocketed person or organization has a lot of
money to spend
o Donor - someone who gives things such as money or goods to an
organization
o Damning - showing that something is wrong or bad, or that someone
has done something wrong or bad
o Tumbled - fell quickly and without control
o Soared - to quickly increase to a high level
o Dramatically - suddenly and surprisingly
o Head-to-head - involving a direct competition between two people or
teams
o Margin - the amount by which one thing is different from another
o Offensive - unpleasant or insulting
o Simulation - a model of a set of problems or events that can be used to
teach someone how to do something
o Predict - to say what you think will happen in the future
o Plague - to cause a lot of problems for someone or something for a long
period of time
o Intractable - very difficult or impossible to deal with
o Polarisation - to form two very different groups, opinions, or situations
o Rot - make fun of
o Tolerant - willing to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different from
your own, although you might not agree with or approve of them
o Pluralistic - related to the idea that people can and should live together
without fighting
o Stoutly - in a strong and determined way
o Compelled - to force someone to do something
o Mend fences - to try to become friends again with someone who you
have argued with
o Mainstream - considered ordinary or normal and accepted or used by
most people


o Rehabilitate - to try to make people respect someone or something
again
o Multitude - a large number of people or things
do something
o Stridently - expressing in forceful language that does not try to avoid
upsetting other people
o Medicare - a system in the US in which the government pays part of the
cost of medical treatment for people who are over 65 years old
o Reproductive - relating to the process of having babies
o Vitiated - destroyed or damaged
o Atmosphere - the mood or feeling that exists in a place and affects the
people who are there
o Touched upon something - to mention a subject quickly when
speaking or writing about another subject
o Enunciated - to express an idea clearly and in detail.
OCT 22/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Reorganisation in Uttar Pradesh"
Given how little the Congress stands to lose in the elections to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the defection of its former
State unit chief, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, to the Bharatiya Janata Party should not have caused a flutter. She had already
been ignored by the partys new team in leading the election campaign in the State. Even in her glory days, she had
drawn her power from little more than her proximity to the Gandhi family. What she brings to the BJP, besides
embarrassing the Congress, is therefore uncertain. In fact, the Congress will be watched less for the organisational loss
her switch may cause and more for the manner in which it responds to her betrayal. In diverse ways, all four political
parties in the fray are being compelled to clarify the organising principles that set them apart. For the Congress, as it picks
up the gauntlet with little expectation of electoral success but an overriding ambition to use the stage to demonstrate its
capacity to influence the electoral debate, Ms. Joshis flight poses the questions: What weight do Gandhi family loyalists
carry in party affairs? What is the Congress willing to do to show that it can democratise itself and loosen the hold of the
high command?
Family loyalty has taken on a particularly contentious turn in the ruling Samajwadi Party, with readings of the shift in the
fortunes of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his many uncles changing by the week. The extent to which the SP
patriarch, Mulayam Singh Yadav, can cohesively accommodate the jostling ambitions of his sons, brothers and others is
uncertain, in the midst of rumours that Akhilesh Yadav may branch out and launch his own party. The BJP, for its part,
appears to be unequal to the opportunity of deepening the development narrative that helped it sweep U.P. in the 2014
Lok Sabha election; it seems to be falling back on Hindutva polarisation to rally its cadres. In what is perceived as a
political signal, Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has announced a Ramayana museum near the disputed site in
Ayodhya, while western U.P. continues to simmer with communal tension. The Bahujan Samaj Party may be abandoning


the grand social coalition that won it the control of the State Assembly in 2007 for a more focussed pitch to minorities
and Dalits, a return to its founding agenda. The rethink is perhaps forced by its performance in 2014, when the party failed
to win a single Lok Sabha seat despite polling nearly 20 per cent of the total vote in U.P. Clearly for all four parties, 2017
is a whole new battlefield.
o Reorganisation - a change in the way that something is organized, in

order to improve it
o Defection - to leave a country, political party, or organization and go to
another one
o Flutter - a quick up-and-down movement
change
o Glory - a good quality that makes you admire someone or something
o Proximity - nearness in space, time, or relationship
o Embarrassing - to cause someone to feel nervous, worried, or
uncomfortable
o Therefore - for that reason
o Switch - to change from one thing to another, or to make something do
this
o Betrayal - to not be loyal to your country or a person
o Compelled - to force someone to do something
o Set something / someone apart - to make someone or something
separate
o Picks up - to increase or improve
o Picks up the gauntlet - to agree to fight or compete with someone
o Overriding - more important than anything else
o Debate - a formal discussion that ends with a decision made by voting
o Flight - the act of running away or of trying to escape from someone or
something
o Poses - to present a difficult or dangerous situation
o Loyalists - a group that strongly supports the government or ruler in
power
o Democratise - to change the way of running a government or
organization so that the people in it are more equal and can share in
making decisions
o Loosen the hold - if you loosen your grip/hold on a situation, you decide
to control it less
o Loyalty - support that you always give to someone or something
o Particularly - especially
o Cohesively - united and working together effectively
o Jostling - struggling or competing forcefully for something


o Uncertain - not known or fixed
o Branch out - to start to do something different from what you usually
do, especially in your job
o Falling back - to become smaller or lower in amount, level, value etc
o Perceived - to come to an opinion about something (to understand)
o Disputed site - a disputed site / area is one that different groups claim
belongs to them, so that there is a disagreement or war between them
o Simmer - if a disagreement or negative emotion simmers, it grows
slowly stronger over a period of time and could become more serious at
any moment
o Abandon - to suddenly leave someone / something
o Battlefield - a place where groups of people violently oppose each other
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Chinas tightrope walk"
The latest GDP data from China show the worlds second-largest economy seemingly in good health. Third-quarter
growth was 6.7 per cent, reflecting the governments continued pump priming by way of increased spending, and a robust
property market. That the headline number came in exactly at the same reading as the previous two quarters also signals
a level of almost unnatural stability in the economys performance as expansion has hovered around 7 per cent or very
close to it for the last nine quarters, ensuring that there has been no hard landing as the key global growth engine slows.
Earlier this decade the Chinese government began a rebalancing of the economy by shifting the focus away from a
production and export-led model to an increasingly domestic consumption and services reliant one; it has had some
success in this with consumption contributing 71 per cent of GDP growth in the first three quarters of 2016. Still, the high
level of government spending and the mounting debt core debt as a percentage of GDP exceeded 250 per cent in the
first quarter according to data compiled by the Bank for International Settlements are causes for concern. With the
state leading investment in infrastructure as a means to stabilise growth, public spending climbed 12.5 per cent in the
nine-month period, widening the nations fiscal deficit. But it is the pace and size of the overall credit expansion that have
set alarm bells ringing, including at the International Monetary Fund.
In a working paper titled Resolving Chinas Corporate Debt Problem, the IMF has cited international experiences with
similar-sized credit booms to caution that China increasingly risks facing slower growth or a disruptive adjustment unless
it acts quickly. With both scenarios fraught with danger, Chinese planners will be cognisant of the social costs a sudden,
sharper slowdown can extract. Japans economic doldrums since its lost decade at the end of the last century is a primer
of what could ensue from such an economic slowing. That leaves Beijing with the unenviable choice of determining the
contours of the adjustment that would need to be implemented post-haste to address the precipitous debt overhang. The


authors of the IMF paper advocate a comprehensive strategy and note: Risks appear high but manageable if the problem
is addressed promptly, but the window is closing quickly. Their prescription includes the political will to identify companies
in financial distress, unmindful of whether they are state-owned or private, and standards to get lenders to acknowledge
the true levels of bad loans. Steering a large ship through a course-changing turn with precision is never easy, and
ensuring that the $10-trillion economy stays on its feet while rebalancing could prove a challenge.
o Tightrope walk - to deal with a difficult situation (especially one

involving making a decision between two opposing plans of action)
o Seemingly - in a way that appears to have a particular quality, even
though this is probably not true
o Pump priming - the stimulation of economic activity by investment
o Expansion - the process of making a business, organization, or activity
grow by including more people, moving into new areas, selling more
products etc
o Hovered - to move to a particular level
o Hard landing - a sudden, big decrease in economic activity and in the
money available for loans following a period of economic growth
o Rebalancing - to change the amount or level of one or more things in
order to improve a particular situation
o Mounting - increasing, especially in a way that makes a situation worse
o Compiled - to make something such as a list by bringing together
information from many different places
o Stabilise - to reach a state where there are no longer any major changes
or problems
expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates, excluding money
from borrowings
o Set alarm bells ringing - to make someone feel worried about
something
o Including - used for mentioning that someone or something is part of a
particular group or amount
o Boom - a sudden major increase in trade, profits etc in a particular
country or region
o Caution - careful thought and lack of hurry in order to try to avoid risks
or danger
continuing as usual
o Cognisant - understanding or realizing something:
o Slowdown - a period when there is less activity
o Doldrums - unsuccessful or showing no activity or development

o Ensue - to happen after something else, often as a result of it
o Unenviable - difficult and not at all enjoyable
o Determining - controlling your decision to do something
o Contour - a way in which something varies
o Post-haste - as fast as possible
o Precipitous - happening more quickly than expected
o Overhang - a quantity of securities or commodities large enough to
make prices fall if offered for sale.
o Advocate - to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way
of doing something
o Promptly - immediately
o Prescription - a recommendation that is authoritatively put forward.
o Financial distress - a condition where a company cannot meet, or has
difficulty paying off, its financial obligations to its creditors
something
o Steering - to take someone or something in the direction in which you
want
o Precision - the quality of being very accurate and exact
o Ensuring - to make something sure to happen
o Rebalancing - to change the amount or level of one or more things in
OCT 24/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Making cities inclusive"
The challenges of a rapidly urbanising world and of providing people with equal opportunities in cities were the central
themes at the just-concluded UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, Habitat III, in Quito,
Ecuador. As a once-in-a-generation event, the Habitat conference sets a guiding compass for member-countries for the
next 20 years, and attracts wide governmental and civil society participation. Yet, the process has to be strengthened to
evaluate how countries have fared since the two previous conferences on issues such as reducing urban inequality,
improving access to housing and sanitation, mobility, and securing the rights of women, children, older adults and people
with disability. Moreover, as services come to occupy a dominant place in the urban economy, the divide between highly
paid professionals and low-wage workers, the majority, has become pronounced. All these trends are relevant to India,
where 31 per cent of the population and 26 per cent of the workforce was urban according to Census 2011, with more
people moving to cities and towns each year. Urban governance policies, although mainly in the domain of the States,
must be aligned with national commitments on reduction of carbon emissions under the Paris Agreement, and to achieve
Sustainable Development Goal 11.
Indias ambition to harness science and data for orderly urbanisation is articulated in a set of policy initiatives, chiefly the
Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. There is little evidence so far that


these could achieve the scale needed to address the contradictions of building 21st century cities for 20th century
industrial technologies. Today, these conflicts are reflected in the lack of adequate parks and public spaces, suitable land
for informal workers who offer services in a city, egalitarian and non-polluting mobility options and new approaches to
low-cost housing. In the national report prepared for the Quito conference, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation identified subsidised redevelopment of slums (which represented 17 per cent of urban households in 2011)
involving private agencies, and low-cost, disaster-resistant, prefabricated constructions as key to the Housing for All
policy. This important programme should be pursued with a vigorous annual review that ranks States on the basis of
performance. The Centre should also take its own National Urban Transport Policy on developing cities around mobility
networks seriously, and liberate cities from the tyranny of traffic. UN Habitat plans to review country-level progress on its
New Urban Agenda in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. Indias performance on improving the quality of life in its cities will be
watched.
o Rapidly - happening, moving, or acting quickly

o Urbanising - to build houses, offices, etc. in an area of countryside so
that it becomes a town
o Theme - the main subject of something such as a book, speech, art
exhibition, or discussion
o Habitat - the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually
lives
o Once-in-a-generation - extremely rare
o Compass - a limit or range
o Evaluate - to think carefully about something before making a judgment
about its value, importance, or quality
o Fared - used for saying how well or how badly someone does something
o Inequality - a situation in which people are not equal because some
groups have more opportunities, power, money etc than others
o Mobility - the ability to move freely
o People with disability - someone who has a permanent injury, illness,
or other problem that makes them unable to use their body or mind
normally
o Low-wage - used to describe jobs for which or places in which workers
are paid little
o Pronounced - very noticeable
country, etc
o Align - to give your support publicly to a group, political party, or country


o Ambition - something that you very much want to do, usually something
that is difficult to achieve
o Harness - to control something
o Orderly - well arranged or organized
o Chiefly - mainly
o Rejuvenation - to make something such as an organization, system, or
place good or effective again
something else or very different from something else
o Informal - not official
o Egalitarian - supporting a social system in which everyone has equal
status and the same money and opportunities
o Prefabricated - a prefabricated building is built in sections that can be
moved and put together quickly
o Pursue - if you pursue a plan, activity, or situation, you try to do it or
achieve it, usually over a long period of time
o Vigorous - full of energy, enthusiasm, or determination
o Liberate - to help someone or something to be free
o Tyranny - cruel and unfair treatment
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Kingdom of bonds"
Last weeks sale of $ 17.5 billion worth of sovereign bonds by Saudi Arabia, a record for an emerging market, was no ordinary
affair. The sale is part of a series of measures the country is taking to extricate itself from a sticky situation a deeply entrenched
structural dependence on oil in a world of persistently low oil prices, which went from over $110 a barrel in 2012 to below $30 at the
start of 2016. This has, not surprisingly, had consequences for the kingdom, most of whose revenues come from oil. It posted a record
$98-billion budget deficit, or 16 per cent of GDP, in 2015, and is expected to grow at rates less than half of last years, according to
the International Monetary Fund. Riyadh is only too aware of its precarious position. It has moved away from a pump at will policy
at OPEC, one designed to keep U.S. shale oil in check but that ended up hurting its own economy by pushing down oil prices.
Consequently, at next months OPEC meeting Saudi Arabia is likely to accept output cuts, even though these cuts may not apply to
its arch-rival Iran. It has also decreased government spending, cut public wages and bonuses, and plans an IPO of Saudi Aramco, the
state oil producer, as part of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030 reform plan. For now, the bond sale will
help close its budget gap and take pressure off its approximately $550 billion foreign exchange reserves.
The success of the debt issue, oversubscribed with orders totalling $67 billion, is due to three main factors. First, despite the high
price of the bonds and the long-term economic and geopolitical risks associated with Saudi Arabia, the yields looked attractive in the
context of low interest rates in developed economies. Second, oil prices have increased since the beginning of the year and are in the
region of $50 a barrel. Third, the kingdoms salesmen are reported to have made a solid pitch on the bond roadshow, addressing

investors concerns over the undiversified economy and reiterating Saudi Arabias commitment to peg the riyal to the dollar. Longer-
term risks remain for the kingdom, notwithstanding the markets response to its bonds. A movement towards cleaner fuels and the
countrys involvement in wars in Syria and Yemen pose serious risks to its stability. As the era of oil starts drawing to a close, Saudi
Arabia, which has so far ignored the moral case for a gentler, more gender-equitable and open society, may now be forced to be drawn
closer to the rest of the world.
o Sovereign bonds - bonds issued by governments

o Extricate - to get someone / something out of a difficult or unpleasant
situation
o Sticky situation - difficult or dangerous situation
o Entrenched - so fixed that they cannot be changed
o Persistent - lasting for a long time or difficult to get rid of
o Barrel - in the oil industry, a barrel of oil is equal to 159 litres
o Consequences - a result of a particular action or situation, often one
that is bad or not convenient
received
o Precarious - likely to change or become dangerous without warning
o Pushing down something - to make something lower in level or
amount
o Likely - if something is likely, it will probably happen or is expected
o Arch-rival - the main person, company etc that you compete with in
sport, business etc
o Wage - an amount of money that you earn for working
o Deputy - someone whose job is the second most important in a
department or organization
o Reform - a change that is intended to correct a situation that is wrong
or unfair, or make a system work more effectively
o Oversubscribed - if something is oversubscribed, people still want to
buy things, especially shares or tickets, although all of them are already
sold
o Yield - to produce something useful such as information or evidence
o Context - the general situation in which something happens, which helps
to explain it
o Reiterating - say something again or a number of times, typically for
emphasis or clarity
o Peg - an arrangement that keeps a price, amount etc at the same level
in relation to something else
o Riyal - the standard unit of money used in Saudi Arabia and Qatar
o Pose - to present a difficult or dangerous situation


o Drawing to a close - to end
way
OCT 25/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The perils of plastic"
The data breach at 19 Indian banks that has led to more than 32 lakh debit cards being blocked or recalled is a wake-up
call for the banking industry. While the actual number of complaints received so far, 641, and the sum of money that
appears to have been fraudulently withdrawn, Rs.1.3 crore, are both small relative to the scale of the potential data theft,
it is disconcerting that it has taken almost six months for the system to officially acknowledge the incidents and initiate
steps to address them. It is all the more galling since the Reserve Bank of India and its top officials have been urging
bankers for quite some time to accord urgent priority to cyber security. A private bank appears to have been a point of
entry for the data criminals who, according to reports, may have infiltrated using malware at ATMs operated by a third-
party payment services vendor. The National Payments Corporation of India has been coordinating investigations into
the incident, and a forensic audit is expected to reveal preliminary findings soon. For the government and the banking
regulator, much is at stake as the two have sought to move in concert to harness the digital revolution to advance socio-
economic policy objectives. These include increasing financial inclusion, better targeting of subsidies through the direct
benefit payments model, improving economic efficiency by lowering transaction costs, and moving toward a cashless
economy so as to reduce the circulation of black money and curb tax evasion.
In this context, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajans comment at a recent banking technology conference is
instructive: Payment systems are the plumbing of the financial system; so long as there is no leakage or clogging, we
are unaware of their functioning. But when they do back up, the situation becomes catastrophic quickly. With banks in
India having embraced technological change, the onus is on them to integrate inter-generational legacy systems across
branches, ATMs and online banking networks into one seamless and secure whole. The Carbanak cyber gangs
coordinated and widespread attack, which is estimated to have cost about 100 financial institutions worldwide $1 billion,
revealed that todays criminals are using more and more sophisticated tools to access computer systems at banks. As
these may gestate for several months before manifesting themselves, banks can ill-afford to be complacent and approach
incidents such as the latest debit card data breach with band-aid solutions. Top managements at lenders should
reappraise their cyber culture, heed warnings and alerts promptly, and address shortcomings.
o The perils of something - danger or problems connected with a

particular thing / activity
o Breach - an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement, or relationship


o Wake-up call - a bad experience that warns someone to change
something, usually the way that they behave
o Fraudulently - dishonestly and illegally
o Disconcerting - making you feel worried, confused, or surprised
o Acknowledge - to accept or admit that something exists, is true, or is
real
o Initiate - to make something start
o Address - to give attention to or deal with a matter or problem
o Galling - annoying
o Urging - to advise someone very strongly about what action they should
take
o Accord - to treat someone specially
o Infiltrate - to secretly join an organization or go into a place in order to
find out information about it or damage it
o Malware - software such as a virus that is designed to damage or
destroy information on a computer
o Third-party - a third person or organization less directly involved in a
matter than the main people or organizations that are involved
o Vendor - a company or person that sells a particular product or service
o Coordinating - to make many different things work effectively as a
whole
o Forensic - relating to the use of scientific methods to solve crimes and
to find out who committed them
o Audit - an official examination of the financial records of a company,
organization, or person to see that they are accurate
o Regulator - a person or organization whose job is to be certain that
companies, systems etc act fairly and follow rules
o In concert - together
o Financial inclusion - the delivery of FINANCIAL services at affordable
costs to the sections of disadvantaged and low income groups
o Subsidy - an amount of money that the government or another
o Evasion - the practice of avoiding doing something that you should do
o Instructive - giving useful information about something
o Clogging - to slow down progress or an activity
o Unaware - not realizing that something exists or is happening
o Catastrophic - causing a lot of damage, or making a lot of people suffer
o Embraced - to accept and include something
o The onus is on someone to do something - if the onus is on someone
to do something, it is their responsibility or duty to do it
o Integrate - to connect or combine two or more things so that together
they form an effective unit or system
o Inter-generational - relating to more than one generation
o Legacy - something such as a tradition or problem that exists as a result
o Seamless - changing or continuing very smoothly and without stopping


o Coordinated - to organize the different parts of a job or plan so that the
people involved work together effectively
o Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among
many people
o Reveal - make (previously unknown or secret information) known to
others.
o Sophisticated - complicated and advanced
o Gestate - develop over a long period.
o Manifest - to show something clearly, through signs or actions
o Can ill-afford something - used for saying that someone should
definitely not do something because it will cause problems
o Complacent - too confident and relaxed because you think you can deal
with something easily, even though this may not be true
o Band-aid - a temporary way of dealing with a problem that will not really
solve it
o Reappraise - to examine and judge something or someone again
suggest
o Shortcoming - a fault or problem that makes someone or something
less effective
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Bird flu and what we must do"
Several subtypes and strains of avian influenza viruses are now found around the world, some of them capable of causing
death among humans and others inflicting serious losses on poultry farmers. The latest bird flu scare in New Delhi and
elsewhere has been triggered by the death of some free living birds in the citys A.N. Jha Deer Park, and 15 painted
storks in the Gwalior zoo. Worrying as it is, early detection and identification of the virus subtypes helps in launching
containment measures. As a major agricultural nation with a large poultry industry, India has implemented an action plan
formulated by the Centres Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries to deal with avian influenza. It
incorporates a clear protocol for preventive checks and testing, for reporting an outbreak, removing farmed birds from an
affected area and compensating farmers. The outbreaks in Kerala and Karnataka over the past two years have tested
the efficacy of the intervention strategy. It came as a relief when on September 5 India declared itself free of the H5N1
virus, identified by the World Health Organisation as the animal influenza virus of greatest concern for human health.
Considering that the virus is endemic in parts of Asia and mutates quickly, the need for vigilant monitoring against its
reintroduction and spread cannot be overstated.
The Delhi governments finding that the virus associated with the bird deaths in the capital is the H5N8 type hints at the
possible role of migratory water fowl, which are known to carry this virus to wintering grounds. Zoos across the country
are at risk, since they often have waterbodies within or nearby, attracting winter visitors. A more recent cause for concern
has been the virus strain H7N9 that caused serious illness in people mostly in China, but not in birds. On the positive
side, the national plan to combat avian influenza relies on a broad-based periodic testing system for farmed birds and


wet markets, and upgrading of apex scientific institutions such as the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases,
Bhopal. The efficacy of the measures naturally depends on the alacrity with which the animal husbandry apparatus at the
State level collects samples and sounds the alarm when a disease outbreak is imminent. There is a case to tighten the
functioning of this machinery, given the impact on people and agriculture, and for a national-level report to be published
each year. Border regions that trade in live poultry have a particularly important responsibility to look out for sick birds.
Public health messaging, with advice on poultry consumption during a suspected outbreak, is essential to quell any
rumours.
o Flu - an infectious disease that makes you hot and cold, tired and weak
o Bird flu - a type of flu that affects chickens and some other birds and
animals and can also infect humans
o Strain - pressure caused by a difficult situation
o Avian - relating to birds
o Influenza - flu
o Capable - able to do something
o Inflicting - to cause something unpleasant to happen
o Poultry - birds such as chickens that are used for meat or eggs
o Scare - to feel frightened
o Elsewhere - other places
o Triggered - started (something bad)
o Painted stork - a type of bird
o Containment - the process of controlling a situation that could become
harmful or dangerous
o Formulate - to develop a plan, system, or proposal carefully, thinking
about all of its details
o Husbandry - the activity of farming and caring for animals
o Dairying - he business of producing, storing, and distributing milk and
its products.
o Fisheries - a place where fish are reared for commercial purposes
occasions
o Preventive - done so that something does not become worse or turn
into a problem
o Outbreak - the sudden start of war, disease, violence etc
o Compensating - to pay someone money because they have suffered an
injury or loss
o Efficacy - effectiveness in producing the result that you intended
o Endemic - (a disease or a condition) regularly found and very common
among a particular group or in a particular area
o Mutate - to change from one thing or type of thing into another
o Vigilant - watching a person or situation very carefully so that you will
notice any problems or signs of danger immediately
o Monitoring - to regularly check something in order to find out what is
happening

o Overstate - to describe or explain something in a way that makes it
seem more important or serious than it really is
o Migratory - having the characteristic of moving regularly to another
place
o Waterfowl - a bird that lives or swims on water
o Waterbody - a body of water forming a physiographical feature (sea or
a reservoir)
o Combat - fight
o Apex - the most important or successful
o Alacrity - quickly and with enthusiasm
o Apparatus - a set of equipment or tools or a machine that is used for a
particular purpose
o Sound the alarm - to tell people about something dangerous that is
happening
o Imminent - coming or likely to happen very soon
o Quell - to stop something, especially by using force
OCT 26/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The Samajwadi meltdown"

Peacemaking may well have been the intent behind Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadavs summons to his
warring son and brother at a party meet in Lucknow on Monday. But the gathering soon lapsed into a tawdry spectacle
of blame-calling and weepy confessional, with all three airing their grievances petulantly in full view of the assembled
party faithful. Since September 13, when Mr. Yadav replaced son Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,
with his brother Shivpal Yadav as the SPs State unit chief, the party has been hurtling inexorably towards a split, in a
blaze of sackings and accusations. The occasional restoration of one or the other of the dramatis personae to a lost post
has failed to check the feud. Mondays developments have all but foreclosed the possibility of any resolution that could
put the SP back together again in time for the Assembly elections in a dangerously polarised landscape. Ever since he
became Chief Minister in 2012, Akhilesh Yadav has functioned in the shadow of his father and uncles relatives and
party stalwarts. This has cut both ways for the young Chief Minister. He has had to field questions about his authority with
charges that U.P. in effect had four and a half CMs but it also allowed him to separate himself from the SPs worst
instincts. Their overbearing presence allowed his government an alibi for failing to maintain law and order. Their
continuance served as a reminder of the generational shift he effected, from their traditional resistance to English
education and computers, and their boys will be boys excuse-making for the politics of patronage and rent-seeking.
Till the meltdown over the last couple of months, it seemed that all that the SP was headed towards was a final transition
from the old guard towards a more aspirational politics. A convincing transition is now all but impossible, and the timing
of Akhilesh Yadavs next steps could determine his future in public life. It is ironic that Mulayam Singh Yadav, a most
pragmatic politician who left no bridge unbuilt across the ideological spectrum, is presiding over nothing more than a
power grab among his family and friends. Mr. Yadavs legacy includes the deepening of the Mandal politics of social
justice, being a guarantor of the safety of minorities and getting a grip on the agrarian economy in the State. It is

unfortunate to see him publicly value a fellow-traveller primarily for keeping him out of prison, and not make any effort to
transform a feud into a constructive contest of ideas. At a time when he has decided to openly take stock of his inner
circles loyalty, he has let himself down the most.
o Meltdown - a sudden and complete failure of a company, organization,

or system
o Peacemaking - to stop people from arguing or fighting
o Patriarch - the oldest man in a family or organization, who is respected
because of this
o Summons - an order to do something
o Warring - arguing or fighting with each other
o Lapsed - no longer involved in an activity or organization
o Tawdry - cheap and of bad quality
o Spectacle - an unusual or unexpected event or situation
o Blame-calling - the act of saying insulting things about someone
o Weepy - if you feel weepy, you want to cry
o Confessional - an acknowledgement that one has done something
shameful or embarrassing
o Airing - an occasion when people discuss a subject or idea
o Grievances - complaints about being treated in an unfair way
o Petulantly - easily annoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child
o Faithful - continuing to support someone or be their friend, even in a
difficult situation
o Hurtling - to move very quickly, especially in an uncontrolled way
o Inexorably - impossible to stop
o Split - to divide into smaller groups
o Blaze - a large fire that causes a lot of damage
o Sackings - an act of forcing someone to leave their job
morally wrong, illegal, or unkind
o Restoration - the act or process of returning something to its earlier
good condition or position
o Dramatis personae - all the characters in a play
o Feud - an angry disagreement between two people or groups that
continues for a long time
o Foreclosed - to prevent something
o Resolution - a formal proposal that is considered by an organization and
is usually voted on at a meeting
o Polarise - to form two very different groups, opinions, or situations that
are completely opposite to each other
o In the shadow of - in the influence of someone or something powerful
or famous
o Stalwarts - supporters
o Instinct - a natural tendency to behave in a particular way
o Overbearing - an overbearing person always tries to control other
peoples behaviour and ignores their opinions and feelings

o Alibi - proof that someone who is thought to have committed a crime
could not have done it
o Continuance - the process of continuing
o Resistance - the act of refusing to accept something
to another
o Aspirational - wanting to be successful
o All but - almost
o Determine - to control what something will be
o Ironic - the opposite of what you would expect
that really exist now, rather than following fixed theories, ideas, or rules
o Left no bridge unbuilt - tried all possible ways to joine something
o Presiding - to be in charge of an official meeting, ceremony, or other
event
o Grab - to take hold of something in a rough or rude way
an earlier time
o Guarantor - a person who makes sure that something happens or that
something is protected
o Fellow-traveller - someone who supports a political party, but is not a
member of it
o Constructive - intended to be useful or helpful
o Take stock of something - to spend some time thinking about the
situation that you are in before you decide what to do next
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Dealing with the Maoists"

The death of 28 members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in an operation by the security forces on the Odisha-
Andhra Pradesh border is a big blow to the outlawed group. The joint operation was led by anti-Naxalite units of the
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha police at Panasput village in Malkangiri district in Odisha. In September 2013, 13 Maoists
were killed by the Odisha police in the same district, and the latest operation indicates the strength of the special forces
deployed to counter insurgency in these States. The security forces had suffered significant losses when the Maoists
killed 38 anti-Naxal Greyhound commandos in a boat attack in the Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri in June 2008. The
military setbacks apart, the Maoists are today diminished politically as well. The desertion of one of their top tribal leaders,
Sabyasachi Panda, in 2012 and the surrender of tribal cadres in Narayanpatna in Koraput district have set the Maoists
on the back foot in southern Odisha. It is believed that the attacked cadres at Malkangiri district this week were at a
plenary organised to examine ways of getting out of the current organisational and political morass. The Maoists have
been unable to expand as a political force in the plains areas; and as a guerrilla force they have been limited to the remote
and hilly tribal belt of central India. It is, however, not clear whether these setbacks will compel the Maoists to disavow


their insurgent goals and instead join the political mainstream to pursue their avowed ambition of guarding the interests
of the tribal poor.
Not too long ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had identified the Maoist movement as the biggest internal security
threat. Buoyed by the unification of various Naxalite outfits into one party in 2004, they had consolidated themselves in
some districts, taking advantage of the weak presence of the welfare and administrative agencies. But by subordinating
political activism to militarism they have done little for tribal empowerment; instead, they settled for a war of attrition
against the state. The state on its part has faltered, over a decade, in its dual strategy of containing the military threat of
the Maoists and expanding its developmental footprint in these districts. After driving the Maoists away from undivided
Andhra Pradesh into parts of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha, this strategy has been implemented unevenly and
with mixed results. A state of civil war along with tribal repression, persists in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region. In other parts,
the implementation of development and welfare programmes has been slow. Greater political will is needed to address
these shortcomings.
o Outlawed group - a group of people who has broken the law and who
lives separately from the other parts of society because they want to
escape legal punishment
o Deploy - if a government or army deploys soldiers or weapons, it uses
them
o Counter - an action that you take in order to oppose or stop something
or reduce its negative effect
o Insurgency - an attempt by a group of people to take control of their
country by force
o Significant - very large or noticeable
o Greyhound - a special commando force of Andhra Pradesh
from developing
o Diminished - reduced in amount, size, or importance
o Desertion - the act of leaving the armed forces without permission
o On the back foot - in a worse situation than other people or groups
o Cadre - a small group of people within a larger organization such as a
political party or an army
o Plenary - a meeting at which all the members of a group or organization
are present, especially at a conference
o Examine - to look at something carefully in order to discover something
about it
o Morass - a complicated and confusing situation that is difficult to deal
with
o Remote - far away from other cities, towns, or people
o Disavow - to say strongly that you have no connection with someone or
something or no responsibility for them
o Insurgent - someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take
control of their country by force


most people
o Pursue - to try to achieve something
o Avowed - publicly claimed or promised
o Ambition - something that you very much want to do
o Guarding - protecting
o Buoyed - encouraged
o Unification - the forming of a single group by bringing together separate
groups
o Outfit - an organization, especially a small one
o Consolidate - to make the power, position, or achievements you already
have stronger or more effective so that they are likely to continue
o Subordinate - to put someone or something into a less important
position
o Militarism - the belief that a country needs strong armed forces if it
wants to have political power or influence
o Attrition - the process of making an enemy physically and mentally
weaker by continuously attacking them
o Faltered - to stop being effective or making progress
long period of time
o Unevenly - not the same in size or length
o Repression - the use of force or violence to control people
o Shortcoming - a fault or problem that makes someone or something
less effective
OCT 27/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Running to stand still"
As proof of its commitment to economic renewal, the Narendra Modi government had set itself the target of breaking into
the top 50 in the >World Banks annual ranking of countries on ease of starting and operating a for-profit enterprise. That
the Bank in its Doing Business 2017 report now ranks India 130 among 190 countries, just one notch higher than last
year, is therefore likely to be taken as a signal of the snails pace of economic reform. This too when competition is hotting
up. Seventy-five per cent of the 283 reforms reported this year were carried out by the developing economies, and the
worlds ten best improvers include Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Kenya and Indonesia. The report notes that the BJP-
led government was elected in 2014 on a platform of increasing job creation, mostly through encouraging investment in
the manufacturing sector. While it has left out labour regulations from this years index, the Bank acknowledges Indias
gains in simplifying tax payments, trade procedures and contract enforcement (though it still ranks a low 172 on this front).
Most heartening is that India is now the 26th easiest place to get an electricity connection, up 25 places from last year.
The average time taken to get a connection has come down from 138 days in 2013-14 to 45 days in 2015-16. Besides,


transformative changes such as the proposed Goods and Services Tax and insolvency and bankruptcy norms, if
implemented by June next year, could propel India higher in the Banks next report.
For its part, the government has argued that the Bank only focusses on two big cities while reforms are happening across
States. But that, in fact, frames a larger problem because with an eye on the index officials had focussed on simpler
procedures in Mumbai and Delhi. By May this year, an e-biz platform allowed investors to apply for 20 Central government
services online, along with two services in Delhi and 14 each in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra, a $5-billion
investment announced by Foxconn remains on paper. Other BJP-run States had, in fact, not signed up. Certainly,
investment (and job creation) are not driven by rankings alone. In his first year in office, the Prime Minister had assured
investors that the government had no business being in business, retrospective taxes would be relegated to history and
land acquisition norms simplified. There is little movement on the first, and the third has become history. Old retrospective
tax demands linger, while new instances (pertaining to bonus payments and mining royalties) are being battled in the
courts. Losing its credibility with global capital should be a far bigger worry for the government than a World Bank
endorsement.
o Renewal - an arrangement for something to continue for a longer period

of time
o Annual - calculated or considered over a period of one year
o Ease - the ability to do something easily
o For-profit enterprise - used to describe an organization or service that
exists to make a profit
o Notch - an imaginary point or position in a system of comparing values,
where a higher position is better and a lower position is worse
o Therefore - for that reason
o Likely - probably going to happen / probably true
o Snails pace - very slowly
o Hotting up - to become more exciting and more things start to happen
o Developing economies - countries that are poor and do not have much
industrial development
o Improver - someone who is becoming better
o Manufacturing - the business of making goods in large quantities in a
factory
o Heartening - making you feel happier and more positive
o Insolvency - the situation in which you dont have enough money to pay
what you owe
o Bankruptcy - a situation in which a person has officially admitted that
they have no money and cannot pay what they owe
o Norm - an average standard or level

o Propel - to move or push someone or something forward
o Investors - people who puts money into something in order to make a
profit or get an advantage
o Retrospective - relating to or considering things that happened in the
past
o Relegate - to move someone or something to a less important position
o Linger - to last or continue for a long time
o Pertain to something - to relate to or have a connection with
something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Terror returns to Quetta"
The >attack on a police academy in Quetta, the capital of Pakistans restive Balochistan province, is the second major
terrorist strike in the city in recent months. In August, >73 people were killed in a suicide attack at a hospital. This time,
the attack was carried out in a more sophisticated manner. At least three militants entered the academy and started firing
indiscriminately before two of them blew themselves up. These recurring attacks, particularly in the west and north-west,
threaten to pull Pakistan back to another cycle of violence after a brief lull. After the 2014 Peshawar school massacre in
which 148 people, mostly children, were killed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, the army had launched a
large-scale operation against the militant groups operating in the north-west. After the months-long military and financial
crackdown, there was a sharp fall in the number of attacks last year. But as the attacks in Quetta and Lahore this year
would suggest, the post-Peshawar operation never defeated the militant groups. They may have retreated in the wake of
the military campaign and are now regrouping themselves.
This resurgence of terror has new security dimensions. First, the site of the violence this time is Quetta. In recent years,
Balochistan has been the focus of Pakistans counter-terror operations as the province is expected to play a major role in
the $46- billion economic corridor China is building, connecting Gwadar to Xinjiang. Second, if the only major terror group
the Pakistan army had been fighting till a few years ago was the TTP, an increasing number of groups and offshoots have
made the fight more complex. This weeks Quetta attack, for instance, has been claimed by three groups a faction of
the TTP; Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a sectarian militant group, and the Islamic State. The Lashkar claims it cooperated with the
IS to carry out the assault. If true, this opens the possibility for the IS to operate in Pakistan, where it does not have a
strong organisational presence, through coordination with other terror groups. Responsibility for the August attack in
Quetta was claimed by the Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a breakaway Taliban faction, and the IS. This means that the Pakistan
establishment has to fight a many-headed monster if it wants to return order and security to its cities. Unfortunately, the
country has a record of hobnobbing with terrorists for geopolitical leverage, providing cover to some terrorists to bleed


India and gain influence in Afghanistan. In the absence of a full-fledged fight against all terrorists, violent groups looking
for recruits will find easy pickings in parts of Pakistan.

o Province - part of a country that are not the capital city
o Strike - to make a sudden violent or illegal attack on someone or
something
o Carried out - to do or complete something
o Sophisticated - complicated and advanced in design
o Indiscriminately - not showing careful thought or planning
o Recurring - happening again, especially several times
o Threaten - to tell someone that you might or you will cause them harm,
especially in order to make them do something
o Lull - a quiet period during a very active or violent situation
o Massacre - he action of killing of a lot of people
o Retreated - moved away from a position because of danger or defeat
it
change
o Regroup - to prepare to make a new attempt to achieve something after
having failed or been stopped
o Resurgence - the start of something again that quickly increases in
influence, effect etc
o Counter-terror - the actions and methods of a country that are intended
to stop the activities of people who use violence to achieve political aim
o Offshoot - a company, group, or organization that has developed from
a larger one
o Faction - a small group within a larger group, consisting of people with
religious groups
o Assault - a physical attack on someone
o Coordination - the process of organizing people or things in order to
make them work together effectively
o Breakaway - consisting of people who have decided to separate from a
larger group
o Monster - an imaginary creature that is large and frightening
o Hobnobbing - to spend time being friendly with someone who is
important or famous
o Leverage - the power to make someone do what you want
o Full-fledged - completely developed or trained
o Easy pickings - money that you get without working hard (dishonestly)
OCT 28/2016


Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The comeback man"
The political rehabilitation of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa of the Bharatiya Janata Party happened
long before his legal exoneration by a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation this week in the mining
operations corruption case. After having forced him to resign as Chief Minister in 2011, on his indictment by the Lokayukta,
the BJP made him its State unit president and has even been projecting him as the chief ministerial candidate following
his return to the party after a failed experiment of going it alone in the 2013 Assembly polls. Mr. Yeddyurappa and the
BJP seemed supremely confident that he would get past the legal hurdles and be ready to lead the party to fight the
Assembly election of 2018. But despite the acquittal, there remain several unanswered questions brought up in the
Lokayukta report on illegal mining in Bellary: these include the nexus between those in the government and the mining
barons sustained through a web of intricate transactions involving charitable trusts run by family members of politicians
and the use of corporate social responsibility initiatives by business houses as a cover for illegal gratification of politicians
and their kin. While the payments made by affiliates of JSW Steel to the trusts managed by his sons are not in dispute,
the court held that Mr. Yeddyurappas order to ban export of iron ore was a collective decision of the government and that
there was no evidence of corruption.
Unless the order is challenged in the higher courts, the path is clear for Mr. Yeddyurappa to lead the BJPs campaign in
Karnataka, shutting out rivals within the party. For the BJP too, which publicly swears by clean governance, the verdict
removes all doubts about making him its political mascot for 2018. Karnataka is the only State in the south where it has
a reasonable chance to form a government, and the party would not like to make a mess of its political options ahead of
the Assembly election. With the possible exception of Ananth Kumar, the party has no leader capable of matching Mr.
Yeddyurappa in stature in Karnataka. He can deliver a chunk of the Lingayat vote bank to the BJP. If the other principal
party, the Janata Dal (Secular), can keep a substantial part of the Vokkaliga vote bank, the ruling Congress will certainly
find the going tough in 2018. The court verdict allows Mr. Yeddyurappa and the BJP to look ahead, rather than be
defensive about their past record. They must also be hoping that public memory does not go back beyond the last five
years.
o Comeback - an attempt to become famous, powerful, or important again

after a period of being much less famous, etc
o Rehabilitation - to return something to a good condition
o Exoneration - to officially state or prove that someone is not to be
blamed for something
o Mining - the process of getting coal or metal from under the ground
o Corruption - dishonest or illegal behaviour by officials or people in
positions of power, especially when they accept money in exchange for
doing things for someone
progress


o Acquittal - an official judgment in a court of law that someone is not
guilty of the crime
o Nexus - an important connection between the parts of a system or a
group of things
o Intricate - very complicated and difficult to understand or learn
problem
o Gratification - pleasure
o Kin - all the people in your family
o Affiliates - an organization that is connected with or controlled by
another, usually larger, organization
o Dispute - a serious disagreement, especially one between groups of
people that lasts for a long time
o Collective - involving all the members of a group
o Evidence - one or more reasons for believing that something is or is not
true
o Shutting out - to not allow someone to do something
o Swear - to use words that are deliberately offensive, for example
because you are angry with someone
o Mascot - a person, animal, or object that represents an organization
o Stature - the amount of public respect or popularity that someone has
o Chunk - a part of something, especially a large part
o Substantial - large in amount or degree
o Defensive - used to protect someone or something against attack
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Maduro faces rough weather"
Venezuela has once again been rocked by opposition-led protests after the process to requisition a recall referendum to
oust President Nicolas Maduro was obstructed last week. Local courts in four states issued injunctions to halt the
oppositions collection of signatures from 20 per cent of the registered voters, the second phase of the constitutionally
mandated recall process, after allegations that there were irregularities in signatures collected in the first phase. The
Supreme Court upheld these injunctions, which means the referendum process in the four states will have to be restarted.
The timing of the referendum is important. If the outcome were to go against Mr. Maduro before January 10, 2017, mid-
term presidential elections will have to be held. If the referendum is held later, a setback would only mean his replacement
by the vice- president till the scheduled elections in 2018. The besieged government has sought talks with the opposition
to be mediated by the Vatican, but Mr. Maduro has poor approval ratings and his government has been unable to arrest
a slide towards further economic chaos. The opposition has more popular support than it did during Hugo Chavezs reign
and, importantly, it controls the National Assembly.


Mr. Maduro does not wield the kind of charismatic sway that Chavez, his mentor, did, but the problem goes deeper than
this. The continued fall in global petroleum prices under Mr. Maduros watch has put the countrys social welfare model
under severe strain. In Chavezs heyday, the government leveraged the countrys immense petroleum reserves to fuel a
welfare economy and spend heavily on subsidies. This model resulted in several structural flaws in the economy
corruption in state enterprises, heavy dependence on imported consumer goods due to meagre incentives for production
in a highly subsidised economy, and artificial price and exchange controls that resulted in a black market for foreign
currency and persisting inflation. When oil prices were high and export revenues booming, these flaws did not hurt the
economy much. In fact, there was a reduction in poverty levels, increase in literacy and better health indices over the last
decade. But falling oil prices exacerbated Venezuelas economic problems, forcing the government to print money to
cover expenses in the face of rising debt, which created a hyperinflationary cycle. Reforms that would stabilise the
currency, reduce subsidies and remove artificial price controls will be in order. But it will be difficult for his regime to carry
out these reforms without a political compromise of some kind.

opposition
o Requisition - to officially request or take something
o Obstructed - to try to stop something from happening or developing
o Injunction - an order from a court that prevents someone from doing
something
o Halt - to stop
o Constitutionally - according to the rules in a constitution
o Mandate - the authority given to an elected group of people, such as a
government, to perform an action or govern a country
o Irregularity - a situation in which the rules, laws, or usual ways of doing
things have not been followed
o Upheld - if a court of law upholds something such as a claim, it says that
it is correct
o Injunction - an order from a court that prevents someone from doing
something
o Mid-term - happening in the middle part of a governments time in
power, or in the middle part of a university or school term
situation worse
o Besiege - to make many requests or complaints about something
o Mediate - to try to end a disagreement between two people or groups
o Wield - to have and be able to use power or influence
o Charismatic - a special power that some people have naturally that
makes them able to influence other people and attract their attention and
admiration

o Mentor - an experienced person who helps someone who has less
experience, especially in their job
o Severe - very serious and worrying
o Heyday - the period of time when a person, idea, or object is most
successful or popular
o Leverage - using power to influence people and get the results you want
o Flaw - a mistake or fault in something that makes it useless or less
effective
o Meagre - smaller or less than you want or need
o Incentive - something that makes you want to do something or to work
harder, because you know that you will benefit by doing this
o Subsidise - to pay some of the cost of goods or services so that they
can be sold to other people at a lower price
o Persisting - to continue to exist
o Booming - if a country, region, or industry is booming, it is experiencing
a period of economic success, with a lot of trade and business activity
o Hyperinflationary - related to a condition where the price of everything
in a national economy goes out of control and increases very quickly
o Stabilise - to reach a state where there are no longer any major changes
or problems
o Carry out - to do or complete something
OCT 29/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A bracing week for Nawaz Sharif"
Even by the standards of Pakistans unpredictable polity, the week ahead for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could be
tempestuous, as all his troubles threaten to come to a head together. Opposition leader Imran Khan has announced that
on Monday he will go to court seeking clearance to stage a shutdown protest in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He has also
said that regardless of the outcome of the hearing, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will go ahead with the protests starting
Wednesday to force Mr. Sharifs resignation over corruption allegations. Mr. Khan will be joined by several political groups
and flanked by religious extremists of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council that include Hafiz Saeed, and the cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri,
with their combined followers estimated in the hundreds of thousands. The allegations of corruption pertain to the Panama
Papers that contained details of offshore companies and undeclared assets allegedly owned by Mr. Sharifs family. On
Tuesday, petitioners calling for Mr. Sharif to be disqualified from office are scheduled to be heard by a special bench of
Pakistans Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, who heads that panel, has already passed several strictures against the
government, and rejected its request for a commission to investigate the Panama disclosures instead. Meanwhile,
Pakistan is in mourning for more than 60 people, most of them young police cadets, who were killed in a terrorist strike in


Quetta, and a massive security operation is under way as Mr. Sharif attempts to refute criticism of his governments
National Action Plan after the attack.
These troubles come at a time when Mr. Sharif is expected to announce who Pakistans new army chief will be. While
the possibility of General Raheel Sharif receiving an extension is not being ruled out, Mr. Sharif is reported to be
considering other options too. His decision on what is effectively the most powerful office in the land will have a bearing
on Pakistans strained civil-military relations. The rift between the government and the military is not new, but it seems to
have been widening since the Uri attack and Indias announcement of surgical strikes in retaliation. Since then, crossfire
at the LoC and the international border and an escalating diplomatic stand-off between the two countries have added to
Mr. Sharifs sense of siege. It hasnt helped that he has done little to mend ties with the opposition. To the military, he has
offered no resistance as it has steadily encroached on his power. Part of the reason is that the Panama Papers have
rendered him vulnerable. But given the storm gathering around him, isolating himself may not be a viable option.
o Bracing - making you feel that you have more energy

o Unpredictable - changing often, in a way that is impossible to prepare
for
o Tempestuous - full of strong emotion
o Threaten - warn
o Come to a head - if something comes to a head, a situation reaches a
point where something must be done about it
o Shutdown - an occasion when a machine or factory stops working
temporarily
opposition:
o Regardless - without being affected or influenced by someone or
something
o Outcome - a result or effect of an action, situation, etc
o Hearing - a meeting of a court of law or official organization to find out
the facts about something
o Allegations - statements, made without giving proof, that someone has
done something wrong or illegal:
o Flanked - attacked from sides
something
o Offshore - in the sea, not on the land. This word is used especially for
talking about the oil industry
o Asset - something valuable belonging to a person or organization that
can be used for the payment of debts
o Petitioner - a person who is asking for action from a law court
o Strictures - a statement of serious criticism or disapproval

o Disclosure - the act of making something known
o Mourning - to feel or express great sadness, especially because of
someone's death
o Cadet - a student in the armed forces or the police
o Refute - to say that a statement is not true or accurate without giving
proof
o Ruled out something - to prevent something from happening
o Strained - if a relationship is strained, problems are spoiling it
o Rift - a serious disagreement that separates two people who have been
friends and stops their friendship continuing
o Retaliation - to hurt someone or do something harmful to someone
because they have done or said something harmful to you
o Crossfire - bullets fired towards you from different directions
o Escalating - to become much worse or more serious
o Stand-off - a situation in which agreement in an argument does not
seem possible
o Mend - to repair something that is broken or damaged
o Encroached - to gradually take something such as power or authority
from someone else
o Rendered - to make someone or something be or become something
o Storm - a very angry reaction from a lot of people
o Isolating - to keep a person separate from others
o Viable - able to be done, or worth doing
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Extending food security"
The Centres coercive method has worked. Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the two States that were holding out against pressure
from New Delhi to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA), have also fallen in line. By threatening to raise the
price at which it was allocating foodgrains if they did not implement the law, the Centre has managed to get these two
States to agree to the implementation of the Act from November 1. If they had not done so, they would have had to pay
Rs.22.54 a kg for rice for their monthly allocations under the above poverty line (APL) category, as against the Rs.8.30
a kg they are paying now. For Tamil Nadu, it would have meant an additional expenditure of Rs.2,730 crore, over and
above the Rs.2,393 crore it is spending on its universal public distribution system (PDS). The State says it will implement
the Act and also continue its universal PDS coverage. In the bargain, it will have to maintain a uniform supply of 5 kg of
rice per person as stipulated in the NFSA, and protect the existing entitlements of PDS beneficiaries. The resultant
increase in offtake would result in additional expenditure of Rs.1,193 crore for Tamil Nadu. Kerala maintains an APL-BPL
distinction in its PDS. However, its concerns over the implementation of the Act related to the possibility that many
beneficiaries may be left out under the Centres categorisation of PDS consumers into priority households and others.


Over the last year or so, Kerala and Tamil Nadu had been warming to the idea of joining the NFSA, but sought time to do
so. They wanted to complete end-to-end computerisation of their PDS and the process of seeding Aadhaar numbers with
family cards. One clear advantage of joining the national food security system now is that the computerisation and
Aadhaar seeding process may result in the elimination of bogus cards and beneficiaries. Tamil Nadus case for such a
clean-up is glaring as the number of people covered by its family cards is about 7.81 crore while the States population is
7.21 crore. There are lessons for both the Centre and the States in this conflict involving a zealous Central government
seeking to force its idea of food security on States that believe they are already addressing the issue with the same, if not
greater, level of seriousness. A national food security law may hold good for States with weak food security systems
but for the rest, it would perhaps be better if States implemented their own schemes. On the other hand, the States need
to temper their zeal for more than universal coverage with a realistic assessment and identification of beneficiaries.
o Coercive - using force to make someone do something

o Hold out - to continue to defend yourself against an enemy or attack
without being defeated
o Fallen in line - if a person in an organization falls in/into line, he, she,
or it starts to follow the rules and behave according to expected standards
of behaviour
o Threatening - saying that someone is likely to do something that will
harm you
spends
o In the bargain - in addition to other facts previously mentioned
o Uniform - the same; not changing or different in any way
o Stipulate - to say exactly how something must be or must be done
o Entitlement - something that you have a right to do or have
o Beneficiary - a person or group who receives money, advantages, etc.
as a result of something else
o Resultant - happening as a result of something that has just been
mentioned
o Distinction - a difference between two similar things
o Warming to something - to begin to like or enjoy someone or
something
o End-to-end - including all the stages of a process
o Bogus - false, not real, or not legal
o Glaring - used to say that something bad is very obvious
o Zealous - full of great energy, effort, and enthusiasm
o Addressing - trying to deal with a problem
o Perhaps - used for saying that you are not sure about something, or
mentioned
o Temper - to make something less strong, extreme, etc

o Zeal - great energy, effort, and enthusiasm
o Assessment - the process of making a judgment or forming an opinion,
after considering something or someone carefully
OCT 31/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Get serious about fighting TB"
Pushed to a corner owing to lack of political will on the part of countries with a high burden of tuberculosis, the >World
Health Organisation has called for the first United Nations General Assembly session on the disease. The fight against
TB cannot be won as long as the high-burden countries, particularly India which has the highest TB burden in the world,
do not galvanise their government machinery effectively. While the number of deaths caused by TB and the incidence
rate had been consistently dropping from the historical highs globally, there has been a recent uptick that is much larger
than previously estimated. The primary reason is the sharp increase in the >incidence estimate from India from 2.2
million cases in 2014 to 2.8 million in 2015. Ironically, the revised disease burden estimate for India is an interim one;
the actual burden, which could be much higher, will be known only when the national TB prevalence survey that is
scheduled to begin next year is completed. The number of estimated deaths caused by TB more than doubled from
220,000 in 2014 to 483,000 in 2015. As in the case of incidence, the revised estimate for deaths could also be an
underestimation.
The increase in incidence owes to a 34 per cent rise in case notifications by health-care providers in the private sector
between 2013 and 2015. Yet, in 2015 notifications by doctors in the private sector comprised only 16 per cent of the total.
Though notification was made mandatory in 2012, only 1.7 million incident TB cases in the public and private sectors
were notified in 2015. Thus the fate of 1.1 million patients is simply not known: they have fallen off the radar. For an
effective fight against TB, the control programme needs to be aware of every single patient diagnosed, and offer treatment
to all. If there are only about 50 per cent of the patients approaching the private sector who successfully complete
treatment, a recent study has shown that in 2013 only about 65 per cent of the 1.9 million who approached the public
sector completed the treatment regime. The crisis has been aggravated with the disease becoming more expensive and
difficult to treat and the number of people with drug-resistant forms increasing. The national TB control programme is
behind schedule with respect to critical programmes including the expansion of the GeneXpert pilot programme, scaling
up of drug sensitivity testing, and the introduction of a child-friendly paediatric TB drug. Only sustained action on several
fronts can help bring TB under check. The global war will not be successful till India wins the battle within its own
boundaries first.
o Lack of something - the fact that something is not available or that
there is not enough of it
o Tuberculosis - a serious infectious disease affecting your lungs
o Galvanise - to cause someone to suddenly take action, especially by
shocking or exciting them in some way
o Incidence - an event, or the rate at which something happens

o Consistently - not changing in behaviour, attitudes, or qualities
o Historical - connected with history or with the past
o Uptick - a small increase
would expect
o Underestimation - to think that someone has less power or ability than
they really have
o Mandatory - something that is mandatory must be done, or is
demanded by law
o Fallen off the radar - forgotten or ignored
o Diagnosed - identify the nature of (an illness or other problem) by
examination of the symptoms
o Expensive - costing a lot of money
o Behind schedule - later than planned or expected
to be
o Paediatric - relating to the medical care of children
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The rise and rise of Xi Jinping"
With the new >title of core leader, President Xi Jinping has further cemented his authority within the Communist Party
of China and the government. Already the party chief, the head of state, the commander-in-chief of the military and the
one in charge of the group overseeing the change in the economy, he is now on a par with >Mao Zedong and Deng
Xiaoping. This concentration of power in Mr. Xis hands stands in sharp contrast with the collective responsibility dictum
the party propagated during the Hu Jintao regime. Mr. Hu was not called a core leader. From the beginning, Mr. Xi had
signalled he would be a leader different from his immediate predecessor. He gradually emerged as the most influential
leader at least since Deng, and demonstrated his authority by launching a massive clean-up in the name of fighting
corruption, that felled top leaders of the party and the military. Corruption is a major problem in todays China. The high
economic growth that followed the reforms initiated by Deng spawned massive, institutionalised corruption, stoking public
anger against the establishment. Mr. Xi built his war on corrupt officials against the backdrop of such a mood of anger,
and his efforts have been generally well-received despite criticism that he is using the campaign to amass powers to
himself. The party plenum, by appointing Mr. Xi as the core leader, has sent a clear message to the public that it stands
by him and his policies.
The timing of the appointment is significant. The plenum kicks off year-long preparations for the party congress next year,
which could shake up the leadership. Five of the seven current members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the inner


sanctum of power in China, and a third of the Politburos 18 members are due to retire next year. Being the core leader,
Mr. Xi will be in a stronger position to influence the outcome of the congress. As in the case of his predecessors, Mr. Xi
would certainly prefer to have the Standing Committee filled with his allies. But this doesnt mean that Mr. Xi is guaranteed
a second term free of challenges and of unchecked power. If the Hu Jintao era, despite some allegations of corruption,
is regarded as one of prosperous and peaceful rise for China, Mr. Xis term has been marked by slowing economic growth
and geopolitical tensions. Even if Mr. Xi gathers unprecedented powers in the party and the state, his tenure will be judged
by how he addresses fundamental problems that China faces, including systemic inequities and foreign policy challenges,
while managing the economic rebalance process.
o Rise and rise of - keep on rising and never declining

o Cemented - to make something stronger
o Authority - the ability to control
o Oversee - to watch or organize a job or an activity to make sure that it
is being done correctly
o On a par with - equal in importance or quality to
o Concentration - the process of giving all your attention to something
o Contrast - a noticeable difference between people or things
o Dictum - a short statement, especially one expressing advice or a
general truth
o Propagated - to spread opinions, lies, or beliefs among a lot of people
someone else
o Gradually - slowly and in small stages or amounts
o Emerged - to come out of something or out from behind something
o Influential - able to influence the way other people think or behave
o Felled - to knock someone down
o Spawned - to cause something new, or many new things, to grow or
start suddenly
o Institutionalised - happening often or considered normal within an
organization or within society. This word describes things that are bad or
harmful
o Stoking - to make a feeling stronger
o Against the backdrop of something - the conditions within which
something happens
o Despite - without taking any notice of or being influenced by; not
prevented by
o Amass - to get a large amount of something, especially money or
information, by collecting it over a long period

o Plenum - a meeting for all members of a particular group
o Kicks off - to begin, or to begin something
o Shake up - a large change in the way something is organized
o Politburo - the main government group in a Communist country, which
makes all the important decisions
o Sanctum - a private place or room where someone is never interrupted
o Prosperous - to be or become successful, especially financially
o Inequities - the fact that a situation is not fair, or something that is not
fair in a situation
o Rebalance - to change the amount or level of one or more things in
NOV 1/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Caught in the crossfire"
Exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani forces on the Line of Control and the International Boundary has rendered
the 2003 ceasefire ever more fragile. On October 29, the Army said it had destroyed > four Pakistani posts in Keran
sector along the LoC and inflicted heavy casualties. This came a day after >Sepoy Mandeep Singh was killed in the
Machhal sector and his body mutilated by a terrorist who fled across the LoC thereafter. In a social media post, the Armys
Northern Command had warned that the atrocity would invite an appropriate response, and the reprisal followed. This
represents a major escalation in the ongoing exchange of fire. > Ceasefire violations have become a daily occurrence
since the terrorist attack on the Army camp in Uri in September and the subsequent surgical strikes by the Army. The
use of 82 and 120 mm mortars in addition to small arms and light machine guns has become routine, a significant scale-
up during peacetime. The firing has also spread to the IB, especially a 192-km stretch in Jammu that Pakistan refers to
as the working boundary. In 2014, about 430 incidents of ceasefire violation were reported along the IB; in 2015 this
dropped to 253. In contrast, till mid-October only four incidents had been reported along the IB but that calm has been
broken since the Uri attack. After the surgical strikes, there have been 60 ceasefire violations.
The brunt of these exchanges is borne by the civilian population in the border villages. Hundreds have been shifted to
shelters and bunkers for safety. The density of civilian settlement is much higher on the Indian side in comparison to
Pakistans. As a result, the increased firing across the border creates more pressure on India. In fact, after the two
countries agreed to a ceasefire in 2003, the resultant calm had won the confidence of local residents. Villagers began


farming right up to the fence, tourism picked up, and even informal border trade increased. The current spiral of violence
threatens this peace dividend. After the surgical strikes, the security forces retain a free hand in responding to infiltrations
and instances of firing. No senior government functionary has publicly addressed the issue. Pakistan too is playing the
incidents in large part on domestic considerations. However, the latest incident underscores the need for an urgent
political initiative to prevent the cycle of brutality and reprisal from acquiring its own momentum, as happened in the early
2010s. It is time the government gathered the reins to address the issue politically and have peace restored on the border.
o Crossfire - gunfire from two or more directions passing through the

same area.
o Fragile - easy to break or damage
o Destroyed - to damage something so severely that it no longer exists or
can never return to its normal state
o Inflicted - to cause something unpleasant to happen
o Casualties - people who re injured or killed in an accident or military
action
o Mutilated - to damage someones body permanently by cutting it or
removing part of it
o Fled - escaped
o Thereafter - after a particular time that has been mentioned
o Atrocity - a cruel and violent act, often in a war
o Escalation - to become much worse or more serious
etc
o Subsequent - happening or coming after something else
o Surgical strikes - a military attack, especially by air, that is designed to
o Scale-up - to make something larger in size, amount etc than it used to
be
o Peacetime - the time when a country is not involved in a war
o Brunt - the main force of something unpleasant
o Density - the amount of something in a place
o Resultant - happening as a result of something that has just been
mentioned
o Farming - the activity or business of a being a farmer
o Threatens - warns
o Infiltration - the process of secretly becoming part of a group in order
to get information or to influence the way that a group thinks or behaves
o Instance - a particular situation, event, or fact, especially an example
of something that happens generally
o Functionary - a person who has official duties, especially in a
government or political party
o Domestic - local


o Underscores - to give particular importance or attention to something
o Initiative - an important action that is intended to solve a problem
o Brutality - extreme violence, especially when it is deliberately cruel
o Reprisal - something unpleasant that is done to punish an enemy or
opponent because of something bad that they have done to you
o To address - to deal with a problem
o Restore - to return to earlier good condition
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Reign in Spain"
Rajoy is the only creature that advances without moving, noted a former socialist premier caustically, just ahead of the
return on Saturday of the conservative leader as Prime Minister after an unprecedented 10-month political impasse in
Spain. > Mariano Rajoy not only endured the uncertainties and frustrations of his inability to put together a coalition after
his conservative Peoples Party polled the largest number of seats in the two inconclusive elections since December
2015, but patiently watched his opponents prospects fade away. But despite his instinct for political survival, he heads a
government that nobody really wants. As Prime Minister, Mr. Rajoy enjoyed an absolute majority during his first term
(2011-15). The clear mandate enabled him to push through a round of painful economic reforms after the countrys
housing and credit bubble went bust by the end of the last decade. He now leads a minority government in alliance with
the centrist Ciudadanos, facing a difficult but definite prospect of continued gridlock over every legislative initiative. His
biggest test will be to win parliamentary backing to meet the fiscal deficit targets that Madrid has agreed with Brussels. A
threat to call fresh elections is the only real trump card in his pocket. Mr. Rajoys rivals are too weak to be able to fully
capitalise on his woes. Recently the principal opposition party, the > Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), was forced to eat
humble pie when it decided, not without internal differences, to abstain in a parliamentary vote on Mr. Rajoys candidacy,
only to breathe life into the minority government of its ideological opponent.
Had the PSOE adopted such a course after the elections in June, it might have salvaged its image somewhat by being
seen as acting in the national interest. The option the party pursued instead, that of a coalition with the extreme left
Podemos party, only prolonged the gridlock. Podemos once rode the wave of popular anger against economic austerity.
For now, it must rest content with the accomplishment of breaking Spains two-party dominance. The partys hopes lie in
a consolidation of its base as the platform of the genuine left, as distinct from the centrist PSOE. The scenario is
reminiscent of another imbroglio, that of Belgium going without a government for more than 18 months a few years ago
on the question of regional autonomy between Flanders and Wallonia. Political fragmentation is an inescapable fact in
the evolution of democratic governance. Peaceful reconciliation of competing interests is the art and imperative of political
practice, as Mr. Rajoy is now finding out.
o Reign - the period of time when a king or queen rules a country

o Caustically - hurtfully, critically, or intentionally unkind


change
o Impasse - a situation in which progress is impossible, especially because
the people involved cannot agree
o Endured - suffered something difficult, unpleasant, or painful
o Inability - the fact of not being able to do something
o Put together - to produce or organize something using many different
things
o Inconclusive - not producing a definite result or complete proof of
something
o Prospects - something that you expect to happen in the future
o Fade away - to disappear slowly
o Instinct - a natural tendency to behave in a particular way
o Survival - something that has continued to exist from a previous time
o Absolute - very great, or complete
o Reforms - changes to correct a situation that is wrong or unfair
o Bust - a complete failure / loses so much money that it is forced to close
down
o Minority - a smaller number or part
same thing
o Centrist - having moderate political views or policies
o Gridlock - a situation in which no progress can be made
o Backing - support
expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates, excluding money
from borrowings
o Trump card - an advantage that makes you more likely to succeed than
other people
o Woes - big problems or troubles
o Eat humble pie - to admit that you were wrong about something
o Abstain - to not do something that is likely to cause serious problems
o Candidacy - the fact of being a candidate in an election
o Breathe life into something - to provide something with new ideas,
new energy etc, so that it improves and is more likely to be successful
again
o Salvage - to try to make a bad situation better
o Pursued - followed something
o Austerity - an economic policy by which a government reduces the
amount of money it spends by a large amount


o Consolidation - to make the something more stronger
o Reminiscent - similar to something else
o Imbroglio - a difficult, complicated, or embarrassing situation
o Autonomy - a situation in which a state, region, or organization is
independent and has the power to govern itself
o Fragmentation - the process of breaking into many pieces or separate
parts
o Inescapable - impossible to avoid or ignore
NOV 02/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Questions about an encounter"
The > killing of eight prisoners belonging to an outlawed group hours after their escape from the high-security Central
Prison in Bhopal has set off a controversy that is unlikely to die down soon. The eight undertrials, belonging to the
Students Islamic Movement of India, had been charged with serious offences and were alleged to have been involved in
the murder of policemen and in armed robberies. While escaping, they killed a police guard who had tried to stop them.
The murder of their colleague may have goaded the police to pursue the suspects and zero in on them within hours on
the citys outskirts with the help of the public. However, the dramatic events that took place subsequently are clouded in
doubt as the > official narrative does not quite hang together. The State government and the police have failed to provide
a cogent explanation for the events of the day. The circulation of footage purportedly recording some moments before
and after the encounter has invited charges that the encounter was fake. Doubts have been raised whether the eight
men were carrying any weapons or posed an imminent danger to the police party that closed in on them. Were they about
to surrender, having run out of options, when they were killed? One police officers claim that they had firearms and had
attacked the police contradicts another officers version that >they had no weapons.
The Madhya Pradesh government is understandably keen on an inquiry into the jailbreak to find out crucial details
such as who masterminded the escape, and whether there was any support from others in the prison or outside. Further,
it should be investigated how CCTV cameras, watchtowers and searchlights all mysteriously failed while the undertrials
were scaling two high walls one after another. There can be no justification, however, for the >governments stand that
the encounter itself does not require an investigation any deeper than a routine magisterial inquiry. The Supreme Court
has laid down that every police encounter has to be probed by the Criminal Investigation Department or any other
independent police team. In this context, the condemnation by members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of all those
who doubt the official version is troubling. Such doubt cannot be interpreted as support for either the ideology or the
violence perpetrated by those who escaped from prison. Instead of expecting unquestioning acceptance from all quarters


when issues of human rights and the rule of law are involved, the State government would do well to institute a thorough
probe into the episode to quell all doubts and suspicions.
o Prisoner - someone who is in jail as punishment for a crime

o Outlaw - to make something illegal / to break law
o Set off - to cause a situation to happen
o Offence - a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment
o Alleged - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong
o Armed - using weapons
o Robbery - the crime of taking money or property illegally, often by using
threats or violence
as you
o Goaded - to deliberately make someone feel very angry or upset so that
they react
o Pursue - to chase someone or something in order to catch them
o Suspect - a person believed to have committed a crime or done
something wrong
o Zero in on - to aim at someone or something with a gun or camera
o Outskirts - the areas that form the edge of a town or city
o Subsequently - after something else happened
o Clouded - to make something more complicated or confusing
o Narrative - a description of a series of events
o Hang together - well organized or seem to be true or correct
o Cogent - clearly expressed and makes people to believe it
o Footage - a piece of film especially one showing an event
o Purportedly - said by some people to be real or true, but not proved to
be real or true
o Imminent - likely to happen very soon
o Surrender - to stop fighting and admit defeat
o Run out of - to use all of something and not have any left
o Firearm - a gun that can be carried easily
o Contradict - to say the opposite of what someone else has said
o Weapon - any object used in fighting or war, such as a gun, bomb, knife,
etc
o Understandably - if you say that someone is understandably feeling a
particular emotion, you mean that most people would feel the same way
in that situation
o Keen - very interested, eager, or wanting to do something very much

that has happened
o Jailbreak - an escape from jail
o Mastermind - to plan and organize a difficult or complicated actvity,
especially a crime
o Justification - a good reason or explanation for something
o Magisterial - having or seeming to have complete authority
o Probe - to try to find out the truth about something
to explain it
someone or something severely
o Troubling - making you feel worried or uncomfortable
o Interpreted - to understand an action, situation etc in a particular way
o Ideology - a system of ideas and principles on which a political or
economic theory is based
o Perpetrated - to commit a crime or a violent or harmful act
o Unquestioning - never doubting or criticizing
o Acceptance - general agreement that something is true, reasonable, or
cannot be changed
o Thorough - including everything that is possible or necessary
o Quell - to get rid of unpleasant thoughts or feelings, or to prevent them
from becoming stronger
o Suspicion - a feeling that someone has done something wrong
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Schools out in Kashmir"
It is almost four months since the > unrest in Kashmir began following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander
Burhan Wani. Protests, intermittent violence and > long stretches of curfew have continued to put normal life on hold.
Delegations of civil society representatives as well as politicians have attempted to reach out to separatists and find a
way to bring calm to the streets, but to little avail. In fact, the opposite is happening with increasing mindless arson attacks
on schools over the past two months. By one count, 27 > schools, most of them government-run, have been set afire so
far in the Valley over this period. No one has yet claimed responsibility for these attacks. The government has blamed
the separatists for encouraging the arson. In turn, the separatists charge the administration of failing to protect the schools.
Amidst all this blame-shifting, it is disturbing that separatist leaders such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani have not condemned
the acts of violence outright. Their equivocation must be called out, even as the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has
directed the government to reopen all the schools despite the separatists shutdown call.
It is against this backdrop, of life thrown out of gear and specific targeting of school buildings, that students have been
rattled by the governments plan to conduct State Board examinations in the second half of November. The government
needs to assure them of adequate security to address their anxieties. The situation is reminiscent of the early 1990s.


Hundreds of schools had been targeted then. Disrupting the school calendar is one of the oldest tricks in the insurgents
playbook. It sends out the signal that the administration is not in full control. And it heightens anxiety among the local
population that their childrens life chances are doubtful, thereby reinforcing popular disaffection and alienation. However,
the occasional occupation of school buildings by the security forces also makes them a symbol of the state, and a soft
target for militants. The government must abandon the practice of using schools to solve logistical problems. Moreover,
while the State government focusses on getting students back to school, to be successful this effort must be embedded
in a purposeful, urgent plan to return normalcy to the State, especially south Kashmir that has been the epicentre of the
protests and violence. The disruption in the academic calendar in the Valley is an outcome of the prevailing unrest.
Resumption of the rhythms of normal life is essential to end this disruption. Something has to give. The people of Kashmir
need a break from this long and tragic season of protests, shutdowns and curfew.

o Intermittent - happening sometimes but not regularly or often
o Violence - behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage,
or kill someone or something
times (especially during a war or a period of political trouble)
o Delegation - a group of people who represent a country, government,
or organization
o Reach out to somebody - to try to communicate with a person or a
group of people
o Separatist - someone who is a member of a particular race, religion, or
other group within a country and who believes that this group should be
independent and have their own government or in some way live apart
from other people
o Avail - to make use of something
o Arson - the crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or
destroy something, especially a building
o Afire - on fire
o Claimed responsibility - to say that you did something wrong
o Blame - to say that someone did something wrong
o Amidst - in the middle of or surrounded by
o Blame-shifting - the act of transferring responsibility for an error or
problem to another
o Condemned - to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for
moral reasons
o Equivocation - to avoid making a clear statement by saying something
that has more than one possible meaning
o Rattled - to make someone feel nervous or angry

o Reminiscent - similar to something else
o Disrupting - to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by
creating a problem
o Insurgents - a group of people fighting to take control of their country
by force
o Reinforcing - to make a situation, process, or type of behaviour stronger
and more likely to continue
o Disaffection - the state of no longer feeling loyal towards a group or
organization
o Alienation - the feeling that you do not belong in a particular society,
place, or group
o Abandon - to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever
o Logistical - relating to the process of planning and organizing to make
sure that resources are in the places where they are needed, so that an
activity or process happens effectively
o Purposeful - determined to achieve an aim
o Normalcy - a situation in which everything is normal
o Epicentre - the central point of something
o Resumption - the start of something again after it has stopped
NOV 03/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Tight race in a divided country"
A few weeks ago, many Americans would have guffawed at any suggestion that there could be a nail-biting finish to the
November 8 presidential election. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton had a comfortable lead in the polls, around 12
percentage points in some surveys. The campaign of Republican nominee Donald Trump had been dealt multiple blows
stemming from the Access Hollywood tapes, where he was caught boasting about groping women without their consent.
His popularity plummeted further after at least nine women alleged he had sexually assaulted them years ago. However,
with less than a week to voting day, the race has tightened. For the first time since May, Mr. T >rump is leading in one
major poll. The game changer is FBI Director James Comeys announcement that his agency was reopening inquiries
into Ms. Clintons email record after discovering correspondence relating to her in the computer of Anthony Weiner,
estranged husband of her aide Huma Abedin. There are multiple undercurrents to this vicious election battle that need to
be parsed.
In the blue corner, Ms. >Clinton still enjoys an overwhelming statistical probability of winning the 270 electoral college
votes required to secure the presidency. She maintained a statesmanlike poise throughout the presidential debates, and
in Email-gate the FBI has failed to unearth any evidence of criminality against her so far. Yet her problem lies in the
perception of untrustworthiness created by her use of a private server while she was Secretary of State, her proximity to
deep-pocketed donors on Wall Street and her hard line on a fiscally expansive welfare agenda for the middle class. In
the red corner, Mr. Trump has refused to tone down his abrasive rhetoric against women, Latinos, Muslims, African-

Americans and the differently abled despite the expected backlash from these demographics and growing alienation from
mainstream Republican Party leaders. He has similarly hurled defiance in the teeth of those demanding that he release
his tax returns. His brazen invitation to Russian hackers to go hunting for Ms. >Clintons emails, and allegations about his
shadowy financial connections to associates of Vladimir Putin raise troubling questions. That 21 months of feverish
campaigning have ended not with a bang but a collective groan of disappointment in two such untrusted and uninspiring
candidates says a lot about how bitterly polarised the electorate is. No matter who wins this ugly election, Americas
leaders will have to initiate an honest national conversation about reconciling its social mores. Else, the worlds only
superpower will find itself diminished.
o Guffawed - laughed very loudly

o Nail-biting - a nail-biting situation makes you very excited or worried
change
o Nominee - someone who has been nominated for something (job or
prize)
o Stemming from something - to be caused by something
o Boasting - to proudly tell other people about what you have done or can
do
o Groping - to touch someone sexually in a rough way, especially someone
who does not want to be touched
o Consent - permission to do something
o Plummeted - fell straight down very quickly from a high position
o Assault - to attack someone violently
o Game changer - someone or something that completely changes the
way that something is done
o Correspondence - the process of writing and receiving mails
o Estranged husband - an estranged husband or wife is no longer living
with their partner
o Aide - a person whose job is to help someone important, such as a
member of a government or a military officer of high rank
o Undercurrent - an emotion, belief, or characteristic of a situation that
is hidden and usually negative or dangerous but that has some effect
o Vicious - extremely violent
o In the blue corner - in favour of
o Parsed - examined / resolved
o Statesman - an experienced politician, especially one who is respected
for making good judgments
situations
about a subject
o Unearth - to discover something that was not known before


true
o Criminality - the criminal quality of someone or something
something
o Untrustworthiness - the quality of not being able to be trusted
o Deep-pocketed - a deep-pocketed person or organization has a lot of
money to spend
o Hard line - to deal with someone or something in a very strong or strict
way and refuse to change your opinion or decision
o Fiscal - financially
o Expansive - friendly
o In the red corner - against of
o Tone down - to make something less severe, shocking, or offensive
o Abrasive - behaving in way that seems rude to other people, because
you say what you think even if it is not nice
people
o Latino - a citizen of the US whose family was originally from Mexico,
Central America, or South America
o Backlash - a strong, negative, and often angry reaction to something
that has happened
o Demographics - relating to the study of populations and the different
groups that make them up
o Alienation - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting
most people
o Hurled - to shout at someone in a very angry way
o In the teeth of something - despite something such as problems or
difficulties
o Brazen - behaving in a way that is not moral or socially acceptable
o Shadowy - mysterious and secret
o Feverish - extremely excited
o Campaigning - to try to win an election
o With a bang - in a very exciting or successful way
o Groan - to speak about something in a way that shows you are unhappy
o Bitterly - in a way that shows that you are extremely angry, upset, or
disappointed about something
o Polarised - to form two very different groups, opinions, or situations
that are completely opposite to each other, or to cause this to happen


o Reconciling - to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are
opposed to each other can agree and exist together
o Mores - the traditional practices and moral values of a particular society
or group of people
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Green farms and clean air"
The >massive pollution cloud enveloping northern India every year is a good example of the disconnect between official
policy and ground realities. It has been known for long that burning of agricultural waste in the northern States significantly
contributes to the poor air quality in large parts of the Indo-Gangetic Basin, with local and cascading impacts felt from
Punjab all the way to West Bengal. Harmful fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 mm in diameter (PM2.5) is among the
pollutants released. Punjab responded to the issue with a prohibition on the burning of paddy straw, and the launch of
initiatives aimed at better utilisation of biomass, including as a fuel to produce power. Yet, there is no mission mode
approach to the annual crisis. The efforts do not match the scale of agricultural residues produced, for one, and fail to
address farmers anxiety to remove the surplus from the fields quickly to make way for the next crop. The national
production of crop waste is of the order of 500 million tonnes a year, with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal topping
the list. Again, 80 per cent of straw from paddy is burnt in some States, impacting air quality and depriving croplands of
nutrients.
It is an irony that the >national capital and several other cities suffer crippling pollution in the post-monsoon and winter
months partly due to biomass burning, when demand for fodder is rising and the surplus material could be used
productively. Pilot projects to produce power using biomass demonstrated in Rajasthan, and mechanised composting
and biogas production units of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute could be scaled up, and farmers given liberal
support to deploy such solutions. Given the twin benefits of pollution abatement and better productivity, conservation
agriculture needs to be popularised. This would encourage farmers to use newer low-till seeding technologies that allow
much of the crop residues to remain on site, and curb the release of a variety of pollutants. Burning residues add
greenhouse gases that cause global warming, besides pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, nitrous oxide and
sulphur dioxide that severely affect human health. Sustained work is called for, given that higher agricultural productivity
to meet food needs is inevitable, with a cascading increase in biomass volumes. The challenge is to identify measures to
utilise it. By one estimate, if India can reach its own air quality standards for fine particulate matter from all sources, annual
premature deaths can be cut by almost 10 per cent. A programme to cut pollution from waste-burning would be a good
start.

o Enveloping - to surround someone or something completely
o Disconnect - a situation in which two or more things are not connected
in the way that they should be

o Contribute - to be a part of a group or an activity and help it to be
successful
o Pollutant - a substance that is harmful to the environment
o Paddy straw - the dried, yellow stems of crops such as rice
problem
o Residue - the part of something that remains after the rest has gone or
ended
o Surplus - more of something than is necessary
o Straw - the yellow stems of dried crops such as wheat
o Depriving - if you deprive someone of something, you take it away from
them or prevent them from having it
o Cropland - land used for growing crops (plants grown for food)
o Nutrient - a substance in food that plants, animals, and people need to
live and grow
o Irony - a situation in which something which was intended to have a
particular result has the opposite or a very different result
o Several - some
o Crippling - causing serious damage or problems
countries
o Partly - to some degree, but not completely
o Fodder - food that is given to cows, horses, and other farm animals
o Productively - in a way that produces positive results or a larger
quantity of something
o Pilot projects - new projects
o Mechanise - to use a machine to do something that used to be done by
hand
o Composting - to add decaying plant material to soil to improve its
quality
o Scaled up - to make something larger in size, amount etc than it used
to be
o Liberal - willing to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from
one's own; open to new ideas
o Deploy - to use something in an effective way
o Abatement - a reduction in something harmful or unpleasant
o Conservation - the management of land and water in ways that prevent
it from being damaged or destroyed
o Low-till - an agricultural planting practice
o Residue - the part that is left after the main part has gone or been taken
away


Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Getting real on OROP"
The >suicide of Subedar Ram Kishen Grewal, allegedly over delay in receiving arrears under the One Rank, One Pension
scheme, has set off a political storm. In a related move, the ex-servicemen groups >demanding unconditional OROP have
resumed their protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar; it had been called off six months ago after assurances from Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar. Amidst all this, the real issues in the implementation of OROP have been lost sight of. The
veterans are demanding OROP in its rightful form, which going by the accepted definition implies uniform pension to
armed forces personnel retiring with the same rank and length of service regardless of the date of retirement. Among the
major concerns highlighted by the veterans are: annual equalisation as against the approved five years; exclusion of
those who opt for premature retirement (PMR) from the ambit of OROP; implementation from April 2014; and adoption of
the highest pay scale of 2013 for revising pension. The governments predicament is obvious. Except for PMR, all these
are financial issues and have budgetary implications. >Annual pension revision for over 20 lakh people would also be an
administrative challenge.
The big issue is PMR, as it has consequences for the armed forces that go beyond extra pension money. The Centres
OROP notification said personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request will not be entitled to its
benefits. This made a distinction between those who opted for PMR in the past and those who may do so in future. There
is still no clarity on the criteria of PMR, which has created confusion in the rank and file, particularly among those who are
looking to leave the service after completing the pensionable service or have been superseded and have no further
chances of promotion. It is debatable whether officers opting to leave the service on their own for better prospects and
drawing regular pension should be given the additional benefit of OROP. However, there needs to be clarity to the PMR
criteria, else it could push back efforts to build a younger Army and improve promotion opportunities. As for the
implementation status, about Rs.5,500 crore had been disbursed; of the roughly 20.6 lakh pensioners, only one lakh are
still to get the money. That the protests in Delhi have dwindled reflects the larger mood among the veterans. It is a
welcome step that OROP has been granted after 40 years of demands, but the Centre must quickly iron out the remaining
wrinkles.
o Getting real - to understand the true facts of a situation

o Suicide - the act of killing yourself intentionally
o Arrears - money that is owed and should already have been paid
o Storm - a situation in which many people are upset or excited
o Unconditional - without limits or conditions
o Called off something - to decide that a planned event, will not happen
/ to end an activity

o Amidst - in the middle of
o Lost sight of - to not consider something, esp. because you have
forgotten about it
o Veterans - someone who has been in the armed forces during a war
o Rightful - officially or legally accepted as right or correct
o Implies - if one thing implies another thing, the other thing is likely to
exist or be true
o Uniform - the same
o Armed forces - a country's military forces, usually an army, navy, and
air force
something
o Veterans - someone who was in the armed forces, especially during a
war
o Equalisation - the process making things or people equal
o Opt - to make a choice
o Premature - happening or done too soon, especially before the natural
or suitable time
o Revising - to improve something by changing it
o Predicament - an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of
o Budgetary - relating to a budget
o Administrative - relating to the management of an organization
o Consequence - a result of a particular action or situation, often one that
is bad or not convenient
o Go beyond something -to refer to, deal with, or include more things
than something
o Henceforth - starting from this time
o Entitle - to give someone the right to do or have something
o Superseded - to replace something
o Debatable - not clear or certain because different people may have
different opinions
future
o Criteria - a standard that is used for making a decision about something
o Push back something - to delay something so that it happens later
than planned
o Dwindle - to become smaller in size or amount, or fewer in number
o Iron out - to deal successfully with a disagreement or problem,
especially by removing the last remaining difficulties
o Wrinkle - a small problem
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "How to balance our gigs"


An employment tribunal ruling in London last week that >Uber drivers are workers and not self-employed, and
therefore entitled to a minimum wage and paid leave, could have implications not only for Britains 40,000 Uber drivers
but for others associated with the gig economy in Britain and beyond. >Ubers business model is predicated on calling
itself a platform that connects those who want transportation services to those who provide them. The ruling held that
Uber sells rides, not software, despite its legal and corporate structure and licensing agreements attempting to suggest
otherwise. The gig economy is driven by algorithms and technology. It extends beyond ride-sharing applications to food
delivery, car rental and hosting services. Earning money as an independent contractor that is, through a gig is not
new. But the changing nature and growth of such business models and their inextricable linkages to technology, often via
a smartphone app, is making it hard for regulators to keep up. From the consumers perspective, app-based transportation
services have been beneficial: increased clarity on pricing, speedy redress of complaints, decreased waiting times via
efficient driver-passenger match algorithms, and so on. The business model has brought more drivers into the workforce
by offering flexible hours and gigs to anyone who meets certain criteria. From the service providers perspective, the
ability to work flexible hours can be a way to earn supplementary income. The British ruling, where the complainants were
Uber drivers, focusses on the producer. It has ruled that clever use of legal and technological instruments cannot
circumvent basic work-related rights. Thus it has begun the overdue process of determining the producers obligations.
In India, with its vast unorganised labour force and patchy social protection, piecemeal work, such as that offered through
apps in the for-hire transport market, holds the possibility of earning a livelihood that is above the minimum wage. The
issues in India, for now, are likely to be different from those in the U.K., such as ensuring that algorithms do not incentivise
drivers to work beyond the permitted maximum number of hours. There are, however, broader themes shared across
borders and the range of offerings in the gig economy including the need for companies to be transparent about their
policies and practices so that regulation can be crafted in the first place. Such regulation should be streamlined,
responsive to changing ground realities, and easily understandable by users. Any successful way forward will nurture
innovation while protecting the rights of all stakeholders.
o Gig - a vehicle with two wheels pulled by a horse, used in olden days
o Entitled - to give someone the right to do or have something
o Gig economy - a way of working that is based on people having
temporary jobs or doing separate pieces of work, each paid separately,
rather than working for an employer
o Predicated - to base an action or decision on the existence or truth of
something else
o Transportation - the activity of moving people or things from one place
to another
o Inextricable - impossible to separate

o Regulator - an official who makes sure that the companies who operate
a system, work effectively and fairly
o Keep up - to continue to do something
o Redress - to correct a mistake / to give payment for a wrong that has
been done
o Workforce - the total number of people who work in a particular
company, industry, or area
o Circumvent - to avoid something, especially cleverly or illegally
o Overdue - not done or happening when expected or when needed; late
o Determining - to control or influence something directly, or to decide
what will happen
o Unorganised - without any particular plan, structure, or order
o Patchy - happening or existing in some places but not in other places
o Piecemeal - made or done in separate stages rather than being planned
and done as a whole
o Hire - if you hire something, such as a car, room, or piece of equipment,
you pay the owner so that you can use it, especially for a short time
(rent)
o Livelihood - something such as your work that provides the money that
you need to live
o Ensuring - to make sure that something happens or is done
o Incentivise - to make someone want to do something
o Crafted - to make or produce something skilfully
o Streamlined - to improve a business, organization, process etc by
making it more modern or simple
o Nurture - to help someone or something to develop
o Stakeholder - a person or group of people who own a share in a business
NOV 05/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Still unwieldy but just in time"
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has managed to break the stalemate with > States at the Goods and Services Tax Councils
fourth round of deliberations over the contentious issue of tax rates for the new tax regime. He did this by retaining the
standard rates of 12 per cent and 18 per cent proposed at the Councils last meeting, but tweaking the highest and lowest
tax slabs from 26 per cent to 28 per cent and 6 per cent to 5 per cent, respectively. Concerns of States that levy Value
Added Tax at 5 per cent on items of mass consumption were met by lowering the threshold GST rate. Foodgrains and
other items considered essential, that together constitute roughly half the consumer price inflation index, have been
exempted from GST. Since inflation is a tax on the poor and indirect taxes are regressive, this would help check worries
about inflationary repercussions. But raising the highest tax slab to 28 per cent to balance the fiscal books is a surprise,
especially since it would be levied on items such as consumer durables and cars that are now taxed at 30-31 per cent.
Even if producers do pass on this rate differential to customers, this is hardly likely to spur the kind of consumption that
could drive more manufacturing investment, create jobs and bolster economic growth.


The > cess on top of GST to be levied on luxury and sin goods is neither desirable nor efficient. Unless its levy is restricted
to end-use products at the point of sale, it would further distort the efficiency gains from GST as input credit for cess paid
on intermediary goods is unlikely. The government has argued that the cess will help compensate States for five years
and that the Council can take a call on doing away with it thereafter. Similar visibility should be provided on dovetailing
the multiple tax rates into two or three in the coming years, if not the international norm of a single GST rate. Multiple
rates will not just pose an administrative challenge but also spur ugly corporate lobbying of the kind that the Finance
Minister wanted to nix by phasing out exemptions in direct taxes. Days before he became Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman,
Arvind Panagariya had flagged the cost of focussing too much on one reform, which spills over into other reforms being
delayed. That the recently constituted GST Council has covered much ground with unanimous consensus augurs well for
the GST deadline, including refining the model GST law and ensuring industry and the tax department are ready to make
the GST switch by April 1, 2017. But the proposed rate structure is still too complicated to meet the objective of radically
simplifying tax compliance.
o Unwieldy - too big or complicated to work well

o Stalemate - a situation in which progress is impossible because the
people or groups involved cannot agree
o Deliberations - discussions in which a subject is considered carefully
o Contentious - causing or likely to cause disagreement
o Retain - to keep or continue to have something
to consider
o Tweaking - to change something slightly, especially in order to make it
more correct, effective, or suitable
o Respectively - (of two or more items) with each relating to something
previously mentioned, in the same order as first mentioned
o Threshold - a level at which something happens
o Foodgrains - any of a variety of grains that are grown for human
consumption, such as wheat, oats, etc
o Constitute - to be or be considered as something
o Exempted - to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc
o Regressive - (of tax) lower on large amounts of money, so that the rich
are less affected
o Repercussions - the effect that an action, event, or decision has on
o Levied - to impose (a tax, fee, or fine)
o Durables - products such as cars, furniture, and electrical equipment
that are expected to last for a long time
o Producer - a country or region that produces a lot of something

o Spur - something that encourages someone to do something
o Drive - to force someone into a bad situation or state
o Manufacturing - the business of making goods in large quantities in a
factory
o Bolster - to make something stronger or more effective
o Cess - a tax
o Sin goods - goods harmful to society (alcohol and tobacco etc)
o Desirable - something that is desirable has qualities that make you want
it
o End-use - the ultimate specific use to which a manufactured product
(such as paper) is put or restricted
o Point of sale - the place at which a retail transaction is carried out
o Distort - to change something such as information so that it is no longer
true or accurate
o Compensate - to change or remove the bad result of something
o Doing away with - to get rid of something
o Thereafter - after a particular time that has been mentioned
o Visibility - a situation in which someone or something can be clearly
seen or noticed
o Dovetail - to fit together, or to work together well
o Lobbying - to make someone agree to do something by convincing them
o Nix - to refuse or say no to something
o Spills over - to spread to other areas
o Constituted - to combine (to form a group)
o Unanimous - a unanimous decision, vote, agreement etc is one that
o Augur - to be a sign of what may happen in the future
o Refining - to make small changes to something in order to improve it
o Ensuring - to make something certain to happen
o Radically - completely or in a way that is very noticeable
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Ominous curb on media freedom"
The order of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, directing that >Hindi television channel NDTV India be taken off
air for 24 hours on November 9, is a serious violation of media freedom. Coming as it does from a regime that seems to
disapprove of any difference in opinion on issues concerning national security, the suspension smacks of a disturbing
inclination to impose restrictions on journalistic content. The decision arises from the telecast of developments relating to
the >terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in January. The news channel is accused of airing sensitive
information that compromised the safety of military personnel and civilians even as operations were on to neutralise the
attack. According to the inter-ministerial committee that inquired into the charge, the disclosure of details relating to the
location of the ammunitions depot, the range of weapons and military assets available there and the presence of civilian
residences in the vicinity could have been used by terrorists to their advantage. The broadcasters defence was that


nothing was disclosed that was not published or aired by other media outlets, that its reportage was largely based on
official briefings and that it was done in a responsible manner.
Ever since media coverage of the terror attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 created a controversy, it has been accepted
that there is a need for restrained and responsible coverage of anti-terrorism operations and potential hostage situations.
The News Broadcasting Standards Authority, set up by the News Broadcasters Association, came up with a set of rules.
The Ministry could have either approached the authority, which is headed by a former Supreme Court judge, or formed
an independent panel to adjudicate the question. Instead, it has invoked a rule introduced in June 2015 that imposes a
blanket ban on all live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation until it ends. It has cited statutory provisions that empower
the government to regulate or prohibit the transmission of TV programmes. There is no mention of any provision for
appeal. None can reasonably argue that irresponsible live coverage of an ongoing operation should attract no penalty. A
problem arises when the penalty is decided by a government panel. Taking a channel off air for however brief a period is
a serious decision that could be read as a signal to other newsrooms to self-censor. A committee of officials is not the
ideal body to make an independent assessment of what constitutes information that poses an imminent danger to military
personnel or civilians. That is the job of an independent forum.
o Ominous - making you think that something bad will happen

o Curb - to control or limit something
o Directing - to give someone instructions to do something
etc
o Concerning - about a particular subject
o Suspension - the act of officially stopping something for a period of time
o Smacks - to hit something hard and noisily
o Inclination - a feeling that you want to do something
o Accused - to say that someone has done something wrong
o Sensitive - needing to be kept secret
o Compromised - to risk harming or losing something important
o Neutralise - to stop something from having any effect
o Disclosure - the process of giving information to people, especially
information that was secret
o Ammunitions - bullets, bombs etc that can be fired from a weapon
o Vicinity - the area near a particular place
o Reportage - the methods and type of language that journalists use when
they are reporting news
o Briefing - a meeting or document in which people receive information or
instructions
o Restrained - controlled


o Adjudicate - to make an official decision about a problem or
disagreement
o Blanket ban - complete ban of something
o Statutory - controlled by a law
o Assessment - the process of making a judgment
NOV 07/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Looking for a humane solution"
The agreement between India and Sri Lanka on establishing a >Joint Working Group on fisheries is a small step forward
in resolving the dispute between fishermen of both countries. In fact, such a mechanism had been in place until a few
years ago to address problems that arose whenever fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by Sri Lanka. The points
agreed on are important: a hotline between the Coast Guards of both countries, a meeting of the JWG once in three
months, and a meeting of the fisheries ministers every six months. Welcome too is the commitment that there would be
no violence or loss of life of fishermen. These measures are useful in getting Indian fishermen or their boats released
from custody, but they are unlikely to have any immediate impact on the livelihood crisis facing the fishermen of northern
Sri Lanka. Such a crisis may grip Tamil Nadu fishermen too one day, after the fishery resources in the Palk Bay are
exhausted. The real issue is how long trawlers from Tamil Nadu will continue to fish in Sri Lankan territorial waters, and
how soon bottom trawling is ended. The official statement after the talks between the foreign ministers refers to expediting
the transition towards ending the practice of bottom trawling at the earliest. An agreement on this is crucial, but in the
absence of a time frame there remains a question mark over a solution emerging.
Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen are firm on an immediate end to all incursions and are against seized Indian boats being
released without legal process, even though they agree that the arrested fishermen should be released. In talks between
representatives of fishermen held a few days earlier, Tamil Nadu fishermen had asked for a three-year phase-out period
for their trawlers, and a deal under which they would fish for 85 days a year until then. This was rejected outright by the
Sri Lankan side, which holds that the Indian vessels cause serious economic and ecological damage. One way of
preventing boundary transgression is to find a livelihood alternative for Tamil Nadu fishermen. Equipping them for deep
sea fishing is an option. For now, Tamil Nadu should show greater understanding of the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamil
fishermen, who are economically weaker and yet to fully recover from a devastating war, and agree to a more reasonable
phase-out period. Sri Lanka, then, can look at a licensing system under which fishermen from both sides can fish on
specified days using sustainable methods and permissible equipment. It is important that all sides recognise that there is
a humanitarian dimension to the issue.



o Establishing - to start a company or organization that will continue for
a long time
o Fishery - a place where fish are bred
o Hotline - a special direct phone connection for emergencies
o Coast - the land next to or close to the sea
o Violence - behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage,
or kill someone or something
o Custody - a situation in which someone is kept in prison until they go to
court for trial
o Livelihood - something such as your work that provides the money that
you need to live
o Exhausted - empty or finished, because a supply of something has all
been used
o Trawler - a boat used for fishing by pulling a large net through the water
o Territorial - relating to the land of a particular country
o Expediting - to make something happen quickly or easily
o Incursion - a situation in which someone or something enters an area
where they do not belong
o Phase-out - to gradually stop using something
o Vessel - a large boat or a ship
o Ecological - relating to the environment and the way that plants,
animals, and humans live together and affect each other
o Transgression - to do something that is not allowed by a law
o Equipping - to provide a person, object, or place with the things that
they need for a particular purpose
o Plight - a sad, serious, or difficult situation
o Devastating - causing a lot of harm or damage
o Sustainable methods - methods that do not harm the environment
o Permissible - allowed to be done by a law or rule
o Humanitarian - involved in or connected with improving people's lives
and reducing suffering
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Back from the brink in Lebanon"
The election of >Michel Aoun, the 81-year-old former general, as Lebanons President ends a two-and-a-half-year
political stalemate. It signals hope that the countrys fractious political class will come together to form a government
invested in addressing the many challenges it faces, from basic civil issues to threats coming from neighbouring, civil
war-stricken Syria. The length of time it took to elect a President in itself shows the complex nature of the political system.
Under a long-standing arrangement, the President has to be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni, and the
Speaker of Parliament a Shia. The major political parties represent these sects, and reaching a consensus on key issues


is tricky. What makes matters worse is external intervention. Hezbollah, which represents the Shia community, has Irans
backing, while the Sunni political faction led by Saad Hariri is supported by Saudi Arabia and the West. President Aoun,
a Maronite politician, is a Hezbollah ally. His election is the result of an agreement among the Shia, Sunni, and Christian
factions. Mr. Hariri backed Mr. Aouns election in Parliament, while the President, in return, named Mr. Hariri as Prime
Minister. The Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah, has declared that he wont oppose Mr. Hariris appointment.
However, Mr. Hariri may find it difficult to form a truly representative government that can survive in Lebanons
confessional system. His acceptance of Mr. Aoun as President could be a tactical move given the Sunnis diminishing
political clout in the country. He may also face pressure and resistance on foreign policy from Hezbollah, which runs a
militia that is stronger than the national army. Hezbollah fighters are arrayed alongside the regime of President Bashar
al-Assad in Syria, while Mr. Hariris regional patron, Saudi Arabia, backs the anti-Assad rebels. The animosity between
Mr. Hariri and Mr. Nasrallah has a personal side as well. Mr. Hariri accuses the Hezbollah of assassinating his father, the
former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. But despite these fault-lines, there are many areas of cooperation. The country saw
deadly bombings, claimed by the Islamic State, over the past two years, reviving memories of the 1980s civil war atrocities.
Fighting between Sunni armed groups and Hezbollah is common in certain pockets. Lebanon also faces a huge refugee
crisis a million Syrians have crossed the border since 2011. Unless these issues are addressed quickly, Lebanon could
also plunge into civil strife. The leading political groups need to set aside differences and expand the scope of the
understanding they have now reached.
o Brink - the point where a new or different situation is about to begin

o Stalemate - a situation in which progress is impossible because the
people or groups involved cannot agree
o Threats - a situation or an activity that could cause harm or danger
same country
o Stricken - affected by serious problems
o Maronite - a member of a Christian group of Syrian origin
o Sunni - a member of the largest Islamic religious group, which follows
the teachings only of Mohammed, not those of any of the religious
leaders who came after him
o Shia - a member of the second largest religious movement in Islam,
based on the belief that Ali, a member of Mohammed's family, and the
teachers who came after him were the true religious leaders
o Sect - a religious group
o Tricky - difficult to do
o Backing - support


o Ally - someone who is ready to help you, especially against someone
else who is causing problems for you
o Survive - to continue to exist, especially in a difficult or dangerous
situation
o Tactical move - a tactical move is one that you do as part of a plan for
achieving what you want
o Diminishing - becoming less
o Clout - the authority to make decisions, or the power to influence events
o Resistance - the ability not to be affected or harmed by something
in an emergency
o Arrayed - ready to oppose or fight
o Alongside - working with someone
o Regime - a system or form of government
o Patron - supporters
o Backs - supports
o Rebels - people who tries to remove a government or leader using force
o Animosity - a strong feeling of disliking someone or something
a crime
o Assassinating - to kill a famous or important person
o Fault-lines - difference of opinion that is likely to have serious
consequences
o Reviving - to become conscious or alive again
o Set aside - to not let a particular feeling, opinion, or belief influence you,
in order to achieve something more important
NOV 08/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Chasing a grand alliance"
Ever since the Mahagathbandhan, or grand alliance, successfully stared down a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party in the
Bihar elections last November, speculation about a possible replication in Uttar Pradesh has been rife. The buzz has
grown over the past week, after Congress election strategist >Prashant Kishors meeting with Samajwadi Party chief
Mulayam Singh Yadav. Even more recently, at the >SPs silver jubilee festivities in Lucknow, the air rang with calls for
unity of socialist parties from assembled fellow-travellers from the Janata Dal days including Rashtriya Janata Dal
chief Lalu Prasad; former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, now of the Janata Dal (Secular); Sharad Yadav of the Janata
Dal (United); and Ajit Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, which has a significant support base in western U.P. Through all


this, Mr. Mulayam Yadav has been enigmatically tight-lipped, as have been Congress leaders. The other two big forces
in the State, the BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party, have been uninhibited in talking down the threat such a Congress-
SP-Lohiaite alliance would pose. This is not surprising as there are big challenges such a grand alliance would face in
U.P. as compared to Bihar.
A pattern had taken shape in U.P. over the past many Assembly elections, that of the four main parties in the fray fighting
from their corners, with smaller, more fungible parties including the RLD going with the best pre-poll deal they could get.
In the four-cornered contest, each political party essentially aimed to maximise its outreach to its traditional vote base,
and hoped to strike the best deal in government-formation in the event of a hung Assembly. The previous two elections,
in 2007 and 2012, broke this pattern with voters giving one party a clear majority, first the BSP and then the SP. In fact,
the Congress and the BJP remained hopeless also-rans in this scenario in 2012 they won just 28 and 47 seats
respectively in the 403-member legislature. In the 2014 general election, the BJP did better than even its most optimistic
projections by getting over 42 per cent of the vote compared to 15 per cent in 2012. In Bihar, after the BJP effected a
similar sweep in 2014, its two main opponents, the RJD and the JD(U), buried their differences and put up a united secular
front, pulling the Congress too in their embrace. In U.P., the BSP and the SP show no signs of striking any working
understanding and in its absence it is unclear how formidable an SP-led alliance can be, especially while the Yadav
family feud keeps up the surround sound.
o Alliance - a group of countries, political parties, or people who have

agreed to work together because of shared interests or aims
o Stared down - to pressure someone
o Resurgent - increasing again, or becoming popular again
o Replication - doing something again in exactly the same way
o Rife - if something unpleasant is rife, it is very common or happens a lot
o Buzz - the feeling of excitement
o Strategist - someone with a lot of skill and experience in planning
o Festivity - a happy feeling that people get when they celebrate a special
event
o Assembled - to bring together for a particular purpose
o Fellow-traveller - someone who supports a political party, but is not a
member of it
o Secular - not religious, or not connected with religion
o Enigmatic - mysterious and difficult to understand
o Tight-lipped - refusing to comment on something
o Uninhibited - free and natural, without embarrassment or too much
control
o Fungible - easy to exchange or trade for something else of the same
type and value
o Essentially - necessarily (needed)
o Strike the best deal - to reach an agreement
o Also-ran - someone who is not successful, especially someone who loses
an election or competition

o Optimistic - based on beliefs that are too confident
o Projection - a calculation or guess about the future based on
information that you have
o Opponents - people who are competing against you
o Buried - to stop yourself from having a feeling or memory by not
allowing yourself to think about it
o Embrace - to include something, often as one of a number of things
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Solutions after the smog"
If >Delhis crippling pollution crisis is to end, at least in the coming years, the Centre and the States concerned need to
adopt a two-pronged approach: make policy changes to help > farmers stop burning crop waste and tackle problems
created by urbanisation. Every measure to curb the release of pollutants is important since the weather pattern in the
post-monsoon months causes smog to persist. The capital experiences the inversion effect of air pressure retarding the
dispersal of the foul cloud. There has to be strong political will to implement a time-bound programme that will stop the
burning of crop residues by one estimate about 90 million tonnes is burnt on-farm and put them to commercial use.
As the eminent agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan has pointed out, farmers are not at fault for trying to remove the
waste from the land, and they need help. In the northwestern States, they resort to burning straw to prepare for a wheat
crop weeks after harvesting rice. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute published a guidance report four years ago
on ways to use the residue, with an emphasis on converting paddy straw into livestock feed, compost, raw material for
power generation, biofuel production and as substrate for mushroom farming. State support is vital for straw to be used
as fodder, and farmers should be assisted with supplemental stocks of urea and molasses, green fodder and legume
waste.
The air quality in Delhi and other northern cities is under severe stress also owing to factors linked to urbanisation. Smoke-
generating brick kilns around the national capital need to be cleaned up through a state-guided modernisation programme,
since they become active during the period when the weather is unhelpful. It is also important to pave all roads well to
curb dust, and show zero tolerance to civic agencies leaving exposed mud after executing projects. A more diffused
problem is the burning of waste and other materials by the poor who do not have access to cleaner forms of heating in
the winter months. If that is unavoidable in the short term, it is certainly possible to clean up the transport sector. Delhis
bus fleet should be augmented, preferably doubled, with modern high-capacity zero emission electric vehicles of the kind
being introduced in Europe. Higher parking fees for private vehicles can pay for this. The capital indeed, all Indian
cities can achieve better efficiencies if transport data are opened up to build smartphone apps giving users real-time
service information. The Delhi government has responded to the crisis by shutting schools and banning waste burning. It
now needs a sustained pollution control strategy to keep life normal throughout the year.


o Smog - a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals, especially in cities,
that makes the atmosphere difficult to breathe and harmful for health
o Crippling - causing serious damage or problems
o Adopt - to accept or start to use something new
o Two-pronged - two sided
o Crop - plants grown for food, usually on a farm
o Urbanisation - the process by which towns and cities grow bigger and
more and more people go to live in them
o Pollutants - a particular type of liquid, solid, or gas that is harmful to
the environment
o Post-monsoon - before the period of heavy rain in India
o Persist - if an unpleasant feeling or situation persists, it continues to
exist
o Inversion - a situation in which something is changed so that it is the
opposite of what it was before
o Retarding - to slow down or delay the development or progress of
something
o Dispersal - to spread acros a large area
o Foul - extremely unpleasant
away
o Straw - the dried, yellow stems of crops such as wheat
o Harvesting - the process of collecting crop from fields
o Emphasis - special importance or attention that is given to one thing in
particular
o Paddy - a field of rice growing in water
o Livestock - animals such as cows, sheep, and pigs that are kept on
farms
o Compost - decaying plant material that is added to soil to improve its
quality
o Biofuel - a fuel that is made from living things or their waste
o Substrate - the material that a plant or an animal that does not move
much feeds on or uses as support
o Vital - very important, necessary, or essential
o Molasses - a thick, dark brown liquid that is produced during the process
of making sugar, used in cooking
o Legume - a seed such as a pea or bean that grows in a pod
o Kiln - a type of oven used for baking clay, bricks etc to make them hard
o Zero tolerance - a policy of punishing people for even very minor
offences by using the law in a very strict way
o Civic - relating to a town or city, especially to its government and public
activities
o Diffused - to spread in many directions


o Unavoidable - impossible to stop from happening
o Fleet - a number of buses, aircraft, etc. under the control of one
organization
o Augment - to increase the size or value of something by adding
something to it
o Efficiency - the ability to work well and produce good results by using
the available time, money, supplies etc in the most effective way
NOV 09/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Waiting for Rahul"
With Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, it is difficult to say who needs the other more. Indeed, it is not clear whether the
party is shielding him from the risk of electoral failure or whether it is looking to him for political leadership and guidance.
In any case the seemingly never-ending wait for his ascension as the president of the party was not doing either him or
the Congress any good. If the decision of the Congress Working Committee to ask Mr. Gandhi to take up the top post
was a surprise, it was only in its timing. Ever since the Lok Sabha election of 2014, Mr. Gandhi was being prepared for
this very job; also, his mother and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had not been keeping good health. But two factors
stood in the way. Members of the partys old guard were unsure of his leadership skills, or were apprehensive of being
left out if the order changed. More important, Mr. Gandhi himself wanted time. He wanted to make sure he did not appear
to be hankering after power and position, and he did not get blamed for electoral defeats that were, by any reckoning,
inevitable. But just as the seniors in the party reconciled themselves to the changing times, Mr. Gandhi too seems to have
become more responsive to the requirements of an organisation such as the Congress: that he would have to deal with
the party as it is, and that he would not be able to readily mould it to the form he would like it to take.
Quite possibly, Mr. Gandhi would not have had a shot at becoming the party president were it not for his lineage. But the
nature of the faction-ridden Congress is such that it needs a leader whose right to lead is not questioned at every step.
Mr. Gandhi meets this requirement. While the fractious nature of the party grants him greater legitimacy as a leader, it
also makes his task more difficult. At the CWC meeting, he expressed his willingness to take on the assigned role of party
president to fight for the preservation of the idea of India. This is a phrase that the Congress believes captures its
engagement with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress does have its place in Indias political landscape, but it cannot
afford to define itself solely as the antithesis of the BJP. Mr. Gandhi will have to take the plunge wholeheartedly, with a
readiness to carry on the struggle for political change and economic development over the long term. He will have to be
ready to get his hands dirty in the everyday politics of bringing about positive change, incremental or otherwise, whenever
and wherever possible. There are no shortcuts. Taking blame and sharing credit are synonymous with assuming
responsibility.


o Indeed - used to express that something is correct
o Shielding - protecting
o Electoral - relating to an election
o Seemingly - appearing to be something, especially when this is not true
o Ascension - the process of moving to a higher level or position
o Apprehensive - feeling worried about something
o Hankering - a strong feeling of wanting something
o Blame - to say or think that someone or something is responsible for an
accident, problem, or bad situation
o Reckoning - a calculation or measurement
o Reconciled - to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are
o Responsive - making a positive and quick reaction to something or
someone
o Lineage - the people in your family who lived in the past, especially when
you come from a rich or important family
o Fractious - easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining
o Legitimacy - ability to be defended with logic or justification
o Willingness - readiness (the quality or state of being prepared to do
something)
o Assign - to give someone a job / work to do
o Preservation - the act of keeping something the same or of preventing
it from being damaged
o Antithesis - the exact opposite of something
o Plunge - to fall quickly from a high position
o Wholeheartedly - enthusiastically and completely
o Get hands dirty - to do physical work
o Taking blame - to take the responsibility for something that happens
(especially something bad)
o Synonymous - having the same meaning / closely connected with each
other
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The long battle for Raqqa"
The operation to > recapture Raqqa in Syria launched by a U.S.-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters is bound
to increase the military pressure on the Islamic State, which is already under attack in Mosul, its power centre in Iraq. The
Raqqa offensive has long been on the cards. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) finally moved their troops to the citys
defence lines after getting weapons and the clearance from the U.S. As in the case of the battle for Mosul where the U.S.
provides air cover to the Iraqi forces and Shia militias, in Raqqa it will provide assistance to the SDF. The U.S. strategy
is to choke the IS from both sides, and its partners on the ground seem ready to take the high risk of attacking the groups
strongest bases. Over the past year the Kurdish fighters have been consistently effective in ground battles against the
IS. Most of the major territorial losses of the IS in Syria be it Kobane, Tal Abyad or Manbij were at the hands of the
Kurds. The jihadist group, which once had direct access to the Turkish border, has now retreated to its core in Syria,


stretching from Raqqa to Deir Ezzour. Against this background, the SDF clearly has an upper hand. The IS will also find
it challenging to defend two of its most important cities at the same time. But that doesnt mean that the SDF will have an
easy walk into Raqqa.
The SDF is certain to face strong resistance. Raqqa is one of the first cities the IS captured; it has in place a ferocious,
ideologically charged and battle-ready team to build a strong defence. As the ongoing Mosul battle shows, breaching the
IS defence lines will take time and also lives. Raqqa has a population of about 2.2 lakh. Major air-borne campaigns to
help the SDF advance on the ground will be risky and could result in large civilian casualties. The IS also uses human
shields to stop ground advances of enemies. But the most pressing challenge the SDF faces is the response from Turkey.
Raqqa is a Sunni-populated town. Turkey is opposed to the SDF taking over Raqqa as a major constituent of the coalition
is the Kurdish militia, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG). Turkey sees the YPG as the Syrian unit of the Kurdistan
Workers Party, which it calls a terrorist force. The dilemma that the U.S. faces is one of bringing both the YPG and Turkey
on the same side of the battle for Raqqa. Turkey had in the past played dubious games with the IS. If it decides to do that
again now, the war on the IS could be derailed.
o Recapture - to use force to take control of an area again

o Offensive - used for attacking
etc
o Battle - a fight between two armies in a war
long period of time
o Choke - to stop someone or something from developing or being
successful
o Consistently - continuing steadily in the same way
o Retreat - to avoid a dangerous, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation,
especially by moving away from it
o Upper hand - control or an advantage over a person or situation (if you
have the upper hand, you have more power than anyone else and so
have control)
o Certain - having no doubts that something is true
o Ferocious - frightening and violent
o Ideologically - related to a set of political, cultural, or religious beliefs
o Ongoing - happening at the present moment
o Breaching - the act of breaking a law, rule, or agreement
o Air-borne - in the air, or carried by air or wind or by an aircraft

change
o Civilian - someone who does not belong to the armed forces or the police
o Casualty - someone who is injured or killed in an accident or military
action
o Pressing - urgent or needing to be dealt with immediately
o Militia - a military force whose members are trained soldiers but who
often have other jobs
o Dilemma - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between
two different things
o Dubious - not completely good, safe, or honest
o Derail - to prevent something from continuing in the way that it was
planned
NOV 10/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Understanding Trumpocalypse"
>Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. These words will echo in the hearts of 324 million
Americans today, some shell-shocked and downcast, others delirious with joy. The sheer divergence of emotions over
the surprise result is a poignant signal of how deeply divided the nation is, after a polarising two-year election campaign.
Bigotry, patriarchy and racist rancour, which reared their ugly heads throughout this season of incivility, may find no
welcome catharsis with the apotheosis of Mr. Trump. According to the exit polls, 58 per cent of whites and 21 per cent of
non-whites voted for Mr. Trump, whereas 37 per cent of whites and 74 per cent of non-whites voted for his Democratic
opponent Hillary Clinton. He also scored higher with men than women, and with those voters who did not have a college
degree. In other words, blue-collared white men and women thronged to Mr. Trump in droves, angry about their perceived
impoverishment and disenfranchisement inflicted by the countrys political and financial elites. It had left them with only
one option: to throw a metaphorical grenade at these power centres.
At the heart of the shock result is the shock itself, which stemmed from what most analysts have been calling the vote of
the silent majority. Why did the U.S. media and pollsters fail to see which way the wind was blowing? They apparently
did not suspect, when poll results suggested that Ms. Clinton was the more acceptable candidate, that some of the
respondents to these polls may have been unwilling to admit to being supporters of Mr. Trump. It is likely for instance that
women, 42 per cent of whom voted for Mr. Trump, were reluctant to reveal their preference after Mr. Trump was exposed
for boasting about sexual assault and faced allegations of the same. What was not taken proper note of was that in almost
every swing State, there were between 11 and 18 per cent undecided voters in late October a significant number of
people that tilted the election in favour of Mr. Trump. Insofar as this election reflected expressions of frustration that went
against the grain of political correctness, the Trump victory resembles Brexit. However, in his victory speech Mr. Trump
has appeared to quickly move past campaign recrimination, the conciliatory tone of which may go a little way in calming
nerves at home as well as of anxious world leaders watching the election from afar. If indeed he presents a softer, more


collaborative face at home and abroad, the Divided States of America may yet hold firm and lend strength to the global
order, as it has done in the past.
o Apocalypse - a time when the whole world will be destroyed

o Echo - if a noise echoes, it is repeated because the sound hits a surface
and returns
o Shell-shocked - extremely tired and nervous or frightened, especially
after an unpleasant and unexpected event, or extremely surprised
o Downcast - sad and without hope
o Delirious - extremely happy or excited
o Poignant - causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness
o Polarising - to form two very different groups, opinions, or situations
o Campaign - a series of things that a politician or political party does to
try to win an election
o Bigotry - intolerance towards those who hold different opinions from
oneself
o Patriarchy - a society controlled by men in which they use their power
to their own advantage
o Racist - someone who believes that other races are not as good as their
own and therefore treats them unfairly
o Rancour - a feeling of hate or anger that lasts a long time
o Incivility - rudeness
o Catharsis - the process of expressing strong feelings that have been
affecting you so that they do not upset you any longer
o Apotheosis - the best or most extreme example of something
o Exit poll - the activity of asking people about how they voted as they
leave a polling station (place at which people vote), to try to discover
who will win the election
o Opponent - a person who disagrees with something and speaks against
it or tries to change it
o Blue-collared - people who do work using physical strength or skill with
their hands rather than working in an office
o Thronged - if people throng somewhere, a lot of them go there
o Droves - large numbers
o Perceived - to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief
about something
o Impoverishment - the state of being extremely poor
o Disenfranchisement - taking away power or opportunities from a
person or group
o Elite - the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group
in a society
o Metaphorical - intended to represent or emphasize particular aspects of
something else
o Pollster - a person who does opinion polls


certain is true
o Suspect - to think or believe something to be true or probable
o Respondent - a person who answers a request for information
o Boasting - to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done
or what you own
o Tilted - to influence a situation in a particular way
o Insofar as - used for talking about the degree to which something
happens, or the situation in which something happens
o Go against the grain - if something goes against the grain, you would
not usually do it because it would be unusual
o Recrimination - arguments between people who are blaming each other
o Conciliatory - intended to show that you care about the feelings or
opinions of someone who is angry or upset with you
o Afar - from or at a great distance
o Collaborative - involving people or groups working together to produce
something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A method in the shock therapy"
Prime Minister Narendra Modis move to curb unaccounted cash, or black money, circulating in the Indian economy
by >withdrawing the highest-value currency notes of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 as legal tender within three-odd hours of the
announcement, is a bold one. He invoked provocative imagery to explain the measure of corrupt officials stashing kilos
of ill-gained cash under their mattresses, and such illicit black money fuelling inflation as well as terrorism. He pointed out
how difficult it is for honest taxpayers to buy a house as the real estate sector seldom operates without a cash component,
some of which finds its way to political funding. The increase in the circulation of these notes in the past five years has
been disproportionate to the economys growth. The introduction of new Rs.500 and Rs.2,000 notes, the government
argues, would not only check counterfeit currency, a problem that has assumed serious dimensions, but also purge Indias
economy of the black wealth amassed in the form of high-value notes. Any decision like this needs to be sudden, and it
is not surprising that it has caused hardship as people scramble to get notes of smaller denomination for daily expenditure.
The only defence for this is that the larger public purpose outweighs the immediate difficulties.
Having promised during the 2014 election campaign to bring back black money worth lakhs of crores supposedly stashed
abroad, the NDA government has been under pressure to do something dramatic. The two amnesty schemes it launched
over the past year, including one for foreign assets, didnt yield anything near the 23.2 per cent of GDP that the World
Bank had estimated Indias shadow economy to be in 2007. Today that would be nearly $479 billion in unaccounted
wealth, according to rating agency Crisil. While there will be pain and confusion in the short term for common people and


the economy, a disruptive measure was perhaps the only way to shake up the system to a new compliance normal. But
the Centre must ensure that no poor person is saddled with old, useless notes due to the lack of official identity documents
or a bank account, and avoid putting to disadvantage older citizens unable to visit a bank repeatedly to exchange high-
value notes. It should find ways to check black money parked in benami properties (possibly through a digital land and
realty inventory) and gold. There must also be administrative and electoral reforms to advance digital payments and
eliminate the prospect of the new currency regime spawning the ghost economy afresh.

o Unaccounted - missing / unpaid
o Legal tender - the money that can be officially used in a country
o Provocative - intended to start arguments between people
o Imagery - the use of words or pictures in books, films, paintings, etc. to
describe ideas or situations
o Stashing - storing or hiding something, especially a large amount
o Ill-gained - to get something in an illegal way
o Fuelling - to increase something
o Seldom - not often (almost never)
o Disproportionate - too large or too small in comparison to something
else, or not deserving its importance or influence
o Counterfeit - counterfeit bank notes, products, tickets etc are illegal
copies made in order to cheak people
o Purge - to remove a bad or unpleasant condition or feeling from
o Amassed - to get a large amount of something, especially money or
information, by collecting it over a long period
o Hardship - (something that causes) difficult or unpleasant conditions of
life
o Scramble - to compete with other people for something there is very
little of
spends
o Outweigh - to be greater or more important than something else
o Stash - to store or hide something, especially a large amount
o Amnesty - a fixed period of time during which people are not punished
for committing a particular crime
o Yield - to produce something useful
continuing as usual
o Saddled - burdened


o Spawning - to cause something new, or many new things, to grow or
start suddenly
NOV 11/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Theresa Mays underwhelming visit"
India and the U.K. have many reasons to have close relations. They are two pillars of the Commonwealth, sharing
democratic values and a world view on many political issues including terrorism. The Indian community that has settled
in Britain has helped deepen ties. Today India is the third largest investor in the U.K., and the U.K. is the largest G20
investor in India. It stands to reason that for her first foreign visit outside Europe after taking over as Prime
Minister, >Theresa May chose India. As long as British courts dont stand in her way, she will work to engineer the U.K.s
exit from the European Union in early 2017, and her visit to India was seen as a way of exploring a trade path outside of
the EU, with preliminary talk expected on reviving negotiations for a free trade agreement that were first started in 2007.
For the past few months, British ministers, including key advisers to Ms. May, have emphasised that the Brexit movement
would benefit India-U.K. ties. Given this backdrop, it remains a mystery why, in the event, Ms. Mays visit turned out to be
devoid of any substantial measures that would put India-U.K ties on a new trajectory.
The >two MoUs signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ms. May, on improving the ease of doing
business and on intellectual property rights, did little to add any shine to the lacklustre visit. Worse, Ms. May seemed
more comfortable with her previous role as U.K. Home Secretary when she had announced strictures on immigration and
student visas that have led to a 50 per cent drop in Indian students enrolling in British universities. Just three days before
her visit to India, London announced new restrictions on overseas students, including two-tier visa rules based on the
quality of courses, and a crackdown on work visas to control migration. Quite oblivious of the impact of these measures
on her hosts, Ms. May chose to announce during her first day in Delhi that not only could she not consider Indias demands
for relaxation, but that the U.K. could not do so unless India did more to assist in the return of Indians with no right to
remain in the U.K. The irony is that London has refused to budge on facilitating the return of the likes of Vijay Mallya
and Lalit Modi. It was odd that the Modi government chose to rejoice that Ms. May offered visas on a short notice scheme
only for the extremely wealthy Indian as part of a Grand Club, which even British newspapers have criticised as a racist,
colonialist and elitist measure.
o Underwhelming - disappointing (fail to impress)

o Commonwealth - a group of countries with the same political or
economic aims
o Democratic - based on the principles of democracy:
o Deepen - becomes stronger


o Investor - a person or organization that puts money into something in
order to make a profit or get an advantage
o Stand in the way of somebody - to try to stop or prevent something
or someone
o Engineer - to arrange cleverly and often secretly for something to
happen, especially something that is to your advantage
o Exploring - to search and discover (about something)
o Preliminary - coming before a more important action or event,
especially introducing or preparing for it
o Reviving - to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or
use
order to reach an agreement with them, or the discussions themselves
attention to
o Brexit - an exit (act of leaving) by the United Kingdom from the
European Union (short for "British exit")
o Backdrop - the general situation in which particular events happen
o Devoid - to lack or be without something that is necessary or usual
o Substantial - large in size, value, or importance
of time
o Intellectual property - someone's idea, invention, creation, etc., that
can be protected by law from being copied by someone else
o Strictures - a statement of serious criticism or disapproval
illegal behaviour in a more severe way
o Migration- the process of travelling from one part to another part of the
world for living
o Oblivious - not conscious of something, especially what is happening
around you
o Budge on - to force someone to do something by repeated arguments
or threats
o Rejoice - to feel or show great happiness about something
o Criticise - to express disapproval of someone or something
o Colonialist - supporting the system of one country controlling another
o Elitist - supporting a system in which a small group of people have a lot
of advantages and keep the most power and influence
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Making climate rules at Marrakech"


The United Nations conference on climate change now under way in Marrakech, Morocco, has the ambitious task of
drawing up the first steps on enhanced finance and technology transfer, which is vital to advance the Paris Agreement
that entered into force on November 4. Indias negotiating positions at the ongoing >Conference of the Parties 22 (CoP
22) must ensure that on both these aspects, the basic principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities
laid down by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are upheld. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions is
central to the effort to contain the rise of the global average temperature in the current century to well below 2 Celsius
since pre-industrial levels. But that goal is considered impossible even if sincere action is taken on all pledges made so
far, necessitating a higher ambition. Moreover, the Paris Agreement does not have a carbon budget system that gives
weightage to the emerging economies taking their historical handicap into account. The imperative therefore is to demand
suitably high financial flows to both mitigate emissions and prepare communities to adapt to climate change. Such a
mandate should be seen as an opportunity, since CoP 22 will discuss ways and means for countries to integrate their
national commitments submitted for the Paris deal into actual policies and investment plans. In Indias case, new
developments in sectors such as construction, transport, energy production, waste and water management, as well as
agriculture, can benefit from fresh funding and technology.
Adopting green technologies in power generation, which has a lock-in effect lasting decades, and other areas like
transport with immediate impacts such as reduced air pollution has a twin advantage. The local environment is cleaned
up, improving the quality of life, and carbon emissions are cut. It is imperative therefore that the national position raises
pressure on rich countries for technological and funding assistance under the Paris Agreement. In parallel, India would
have to update its preparedness to meet the new regime of transparency that is to be launched under the climate pact.
The preparatory decisions to write the rules and modalities for such a framework, and assist developing countries with
capability building will be taken at Marrakech. There is some apprehension that the U.S. could exit the climate consensus
since the President-elect, Donald Trump, has vowed to cancel the Paris Agreement. Yet, business and industry today
see a strong case to take a new path, as energy costs favour renewable sources over fossil fuels. States and cities are
also charting their own course to curb emissions. These are encouraging trends.
o Climate - the type of weather that a country or region has

o Under way - if something is underway, it is happening now
o Ambitious - having a strong wish to be successful, powerful, or rich
o Entered into force - the process by which legislation, regulations,
treaties and other legal instruments come to have legal effect
o Ensure - to make something certain to happen
o Differentiated - o see or show a difference between things
o Upheld - if a court of law upholds something such as a claim, it says that
it is correct

o Necessitating - to cause something to be needed, or to make something
necessary
o Weightage - the value or importance of something when compared with
another thing
o Handicap - something that makes it difficult for you to do something
o Emissions - the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc
o Mandate - to give official permission / order for something to happen
o Adopting - to accept or start to use something new
o Lock-in - a length of time during which you are not allowed to end or
change a financial arrangement
o Impact - a powerful effect that something, especially something new,
has on a situation or person
o Preparedness - the state of being ready for something
o Transparency - an honest way of doing things that allows other people
to know exactly what you are doing
o Preparatory - done as preparation for something else
people
o President-elect - the person who has been voted to be president
o vowed - promised
NOV 12/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Punjabs legislative adventurism"
There was never any doubt that Punjabs legislative adventurism in enacting a law in 2004 to terminate all previous
agreements on sharing the waters of the Ravi and the Beas with its neighbours would not survive judicial scrutiny.
Answering a Presidential reference on the validity of Punjabs action, the Supreme Court has >declared the States law
illegal . It has ruled that Punjab reneged on its solemn promises by terminating its 1981 agreement with Haryana and
Rajasthan to discharge itself of the obligation to construct the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal. Its objective was to
overcome the 2004 decree passed by the Supreme Court directing it to complete the canal work expeditiously. The courts
reasoning draws from previous verdicts relating to the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar disputes, reiterating the principle that a
State cannot, through legislation, do an act in conflict with the judgment of the highest court which has attained finality.
It is another matter if legislation takes the form of a validating Act to cure specific illegalities or one that removes the basis
for a particular verdict. The verdict by a five-member Bench is a timely reminder that it would be destructive of the rule of
law and federalism if a State were to be allowed to usurp judicial powers by nullifying a verdict that has rendered findings
on both fact and law.


As Punjab heads for the Assembly election, this issue has already led to posturing by all major parties on which among
them is the best protector of the States interests. This attitude leads to a disturbing tendency among States to be judges
in their own cause, especially when it comes to water disputes. Political parties in power increasingly resort to legislation
or Assembly resolutions rather than negotiation. The Opposition parties collaborate in this with equal zeal, lest they be
seen to be wanting in passion for the cause. Punjab may well have had legitimate grievances, historically, in the sharing
of waters. This was, in fact, the reason the Rajiv-Longowal accord of 1985 contained clauses relating to river-water
sharing too. Earlier, differences were first settled by a notification by the Centre in 1976. When the matter led to litigation,
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brokered an agreement in 1981. In effect, the present arrangements, which Punjab seeks
to wriggle out of, are backed by three agreements. The Supreme Court ruled against Punjab in 2002 as well as in 2004.
The States obligation to allow the completion of the SYL Link Canal, so that Haryana can utilise the share of water
allocated to it, cannot be frustrated any more. If Punjab feels aggrieved, there may be scope for negotiation and
conciliation even now, but it cannot take action unilaterally.

results
o Enacting - to make a proposal into a law
o Terminate - to end or stop
o Survive - to continue to exist, especially in a difficult or dangerous
situation
o Scrutiny - careful examination of someone or something
o Reneged - to decide not to do something that you promised to do
o Solemn - involving serious behaviour or serious attitudes
o Decree - an official decision or order made by a leader or government
o Expeditiously - quickly and effectively
o Reiterating - to repeat something in order to emphasize it or make it
very clear to people
o Finality - the fact or feeling that something has ended and has no
possible future
o Validate - to officially prove that something is true or correct
o Illegalities - behaviour or actions that are illegal
o Usurp - to take a job or position that belongs to someone else without
having the right to do this
o Nullifying - to make something lose its legal effect
o Posturing - to do things only because you want people to notice you,
admire you, or be afraid of you

way
o Negotiation - formal discussions in which people or groups try to reach
o Zeal - great enthusiasm or eagerness
o Grievance - a complaint about being treated in an unfair way
o Brokered - to arrange the details of a deal, plan etc so that everyone
can agree to it
o Wriggle out of something - to avoid doing something by making
excuses
o Aggrieved - feeling angry and unhappy because you think you have
been treated in an unfair way
o Conciliation - a process that is intended to end an argument between
two groups of people
o Unilaterally - done or decided by one country, group, or person, often
without considering what other grous etc think or want
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The Tower of Song"
I was born like this, I had no choice. I was born with the gift of a golden voice, wrote Leonard Cohen in Tower of Song,
suggesting he was sentenced to a life of imprisonment in music. It was a life in which he fused pain and passion, blended
the sacred with the profane. Among the greatest of the singer-songwriters to emerge from the sixties, Cohen spoke of
extreme passions in liturgical phrases and with biblical references. The Canadian troubadour, who found inspiration in
Greece and fame in the U.S., was a successful novelist and a poet before turning to lyrics to slash your wrists by,
rendered almost conversationally in a brooding and arrestingly sensual bass. Unlike other musicians, he didnt fade away
as he grew older, or when he ached in the places where he used to play. His last two albums were suffused with witty,
self-deprecatory humour and intimations of his own mortality. Cohen also remained a spiritual seeker in his verses all his
life, his songs often deviating from the narrative to ask questions about the divine, as he wandered from Zen Buddhism
to Advaita Vedanta while staying Jewish by faith.
Along with Bob Dylan, who called him No.1 to his Zero, Cohen blurred the line between poetry and lyric in the sixties
and seventies. They spoke the language of the time using words of rebellion and spirituality. The words of Suzanne and
Closing Time dive into religion and morality, cutting just as deep without the music. Bird on the Wire was where he hit
peak, the simplicity of the rhyme serving to ram home the complexity of the emotion. He retained his edge even in his
last album, speaking with the same voice and shifting only in theme to death and leave-taking. Cohen used chords
sparsely, not allowing the music to drown the words. However, his music was no lesser a feat. The rises and falls of
Hallelujah draw listeners to emotions of accomplishment and dejection in the gap of a few notes; the soft sensuality of
Dance Me to the End of Love is rendered with a tinge of sadness that befitted the link in his mind between the song and


the Holocaust. So Long Marianne, ode to his muse and lover, is an overture that steps beyond the words and the music
into a higher emotional realm. Cohens death is a loss to all who look for reason in the rhyme and rhythm. Always a
perfectionist, he often described his masterpieces as incomplete. >Cohen may be no more but he will, for many years
from now, be speaking to us softly from his window in the tower of song.
o Sentence - a punishment given by a judge in court to a person or

organization after they have been found guilty of doing something wrong
o Imprisonment - the punishment of being put into prison (jail)
o Fused - joined together
o Blended - mixed
o Sacred - connected with religion
o Profane - showing a lack of respect for God or religious objects, places,
or beliefs
o Liturgical - involving or used in religious ceremonies
o Reference - used to describe books or places where you can find
information
o Troubadour - a male poet and singer
o Render - to cause someone or something to be in a particular state
o Conversational - a conversational style of writing or speaking is
informal, like a private conversation
o Brooding - making you feel as if something bad or dangerous is about
to happen
o Arrestingly - attracting your attention
o Sensual - expressing or suggesting physical, especially sexual, pleasure
or satisfaction
o Fade away - to disappear slowly
o Suffused - to spread over or through something
o Witty - clever and funny
o Self-deprecatory - showing that you think you are not very good or
important
o Intimation - a suggestion or sign that something is likely to happen
o Mortality - death
o Verses - a group of words or sentences that form one section of a poem
or song
o Deviating - to start doing something different from what is expected or
agreed
o Divine - like a god, or relating to a god
o Wandered - to travel from place to place, especially on foot, without a
particular direction or purpose
o Blurred - to (make something or someone) become difficult to see /
understand clearly
o Rebellion - a refusal to obey your leader, especially in politics
o Morality - principles of right or wrong behaviour
o Leave-taking - a situation in which you say goodbye to someone
o Chords - musical notes
o Sparsely - small in numbers or amount
o Dejection - the feeling of unhappy, disappointed, or without hope

o Tinge - small amount of
o Befitted - to be suitable for someone or something
o Holocaust - a war in which very many ordinary people are killed
o Muse - to say something in a way that shows that you have been thinking
carefully about it
o Overture - a suggestion or offer that you make to someone
o Realm - a particular area of knowledge, experience, interest etc
o Perfectionist - someone who always wants things to be done perfectly
NOV 14/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The big deal with Japan"
When India conducted its nuclear tests in 1998, Japan was the country that took it the hardest: it put all political
exchanges with India on hold, froze aid and announced economic sanctions within hours. A thaw in ties didnt come until
2001, when sanctions were lifted. And then, in 2009, the two countries began an annual strategic dialogue. This has now
come to fruition with the signing of the nuclear cooperation agreement in Tokyo > during Prime Minister Narendra Modis
visit. The deal is critical to Indias renewable energy plans. Japanese companies that produce cutting-edge reactor
technology were previously not allowed to supply parts to India. In addition, Japanese companies have significant holdings
in their U.S. and French partners negotiating for nuclear reactors now, and that would have held up the deals. This is
Japans first nuclear deal with a non-signatory to the Non Proliferation Treaty, and it recognises Indias exemplary record
in nuclear prudence. It is indeed a much-needed moral boost as New Delhi strives for membership in the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG). The move will boost the meagre, and dipping, bilateral trade of $15 billion, and lift the strategic
military and defence relationship.
There are several riders to this rosy prognosis, however. First, the nuclear deal has to be approved by Japans Parliament.
This will not be aided by unhelpful references such as those made recently by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, about
revisiting Indias no-first-use nuclear weapons policy. In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may face criticism that he
extracted too few assurances from India on a nuclear test ban. In India, Mr. Modi may be criticised for giving in too much,
as a note slipped into the agreement now accepts an emergency suspension of the deal if India tests a weapon. The
clock is ticking, and Mr. Abe must bring the deal to Parliament in early 2017 to ensure that the commercial agreement for
Westinghouses six reactors in Andhra Pradesh that is due in June 2017 comes through. This will also coincide with the
next plenary of the NSG. Both New Delhi and Tokyo must also be wary of the impact on Beijing of this new stage in their
ties. China has been hedging against deeper Japan-India ties in Asia by investing in its relationship with Russia and
Pakistan. As the two Asian rivals to China, India and Japan might need the partnership even more in the days to come,
as the U.S. President-elect has indicated a lower level of interest in playing policeman in the region.
o Big deal - something that is very important

o Froze - to pause / stop something


o Thaw - to become more friendly
o Dialogue - formal talks between opposing countries, political groups, etc
o Fruition - an occasion when a plan or an idea begins to happen, exist,
or be successful
o Renewable energy - energy, that can be produced as quickly as it is
used
o Cutting-edge - the most modern stage of development in a particular
type of work or activity
o Signatory - a person or organization that has signed an official
agreement
o Proliferation - a sudden increase in number or amount
o Exemplary - very good and suitable to be copied by other people
o Prudence - the state of being careful in the way you make decisions or
spend money so that you avoid unnecessary risks
o Strives - to try very hard to do something or to make something happen
o Meagre - very small or not enough
o Rosy - if a situation is described as rosy, it gives hope of success or
happiness
o Prognosis - a statement about what is likely to happen in a particular
situation
o Assurances - promises
o The clock is ticking - used for saying that someone must do something
quickly because there will soon be no more time left
o Coincide - to happen at or near the same time
o Plenary - a plenary meeting is one at which all the members of a group
or organization are present
o Wary - careful or nervous about someone or something because you
think they might cause a problem
o Ties - relations
o Rivals - people / organization who compete with another
o President-elect - someone who has been elected president but has not
officially started the position yet
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Punjabs politics of defiance"
With the Supreme Court responding to the presidential reference and >terming illegal the Punjab Termination of

Agreements Act, 2004, politics in the State has predictably acquired a defiant edge. Amarinder Singh, who was Chief
Minister when the legislation was passed more than a decade ago in order to deny the neighbouring States their
determined share of river waters, lost no time in announcing his resignation as a member of the Lok Sabha and that of
all Congress MLAs from the Punjab Assembly. As an act of protest it has an absurd edge, but with Assembly elections
due in early 2017, the party obviously wants to raise the stakes by identifying itself with the emotive water issue. In fact,
it allows Mr. Singh the ideal launch pad to take on not just the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government, but also the Congress
campaign strategist, Prashant Kishor, with whom he has been at odds. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had upped
the ante earlier this year by shepherding a law in the Assembly to return to the original owners land acquired decades
ago for the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal meant to enable sharing of river waters. Even as the State Governor refrained from
giving consent to the legislation, bulldozers were employed to fill part of the canal with uprooted trees and soil to mark
the Punjab governments defiance. In response to the Supreme Courts advisory on the 2004 law, Mr. Badal has called a
session of the presumably Congress-less Assembly.
If there is a case for recalculating what may be a fair sharing of river waters given the changes in water availability, then
Punjabs government and politicians are unwilling to even consider this. It is an all-or-nothing game in an election season
in which the established political coordinates have been scrambled. Over the past couple of decades, Punjab politics had
settled into a two-party/alliance dynamic, the Congress versus SAD-BJP. The 2014 Lok Sabha election changed that,
with the Aam Aadmi Party taking four of the 13 seats. The implication of the AAP record for the Assembly elections is not
clear, whether it was a one-off that put the older parties on notice, or whether it signalled a search for a party that would
break the States fossilised, often vengeful, politics that has eschewed attention to grassroots issues of agrarian distress,
drug addiction, corruption, and discrimination. It is unclear whether the SADs or the Congresss high defiance on water
agreements will help them electorally in this landscape. But it would amount to further undermining the larger national
profile that both Mr. Badal and Mr. Singh have built over the decades if they rallied passions so irresponsibly.

o Termination - the end of an agreement, job, or situation
o Predictably - happening in a way that you would expect
o Defiant - refusing to obey a person or rule
o Deny - to refuse
o Determined - not willing to let anything prevent you from doing what
you have decided to do
opposition
o Absurd - stupid and unreasonable
o Obviously - in a way that is clear for almost anyone to see or understand
change
o Strategist - someone who develops and carries out a plan, especially a
business, military, or political plan

o At odds - disagreeing with someone
o Upped the ante - if you up the ante, you increase your demands or the
risks in a situation in order to achieve a better result
o Shepherd - guide or direct in a particular direction
o Refrained - to avoid doing or stop yourself from doing something
o Uproot - to pull a plant / tree including its roots out of the ground
o Advisory - for the purpose of giving advice
o Presumably - used for saying that you think something is true based on
what you know, although you are not really certain
o All-or-nothing - involving either the whole of something or none of it
o Scrambled - mixed
o Versus - used to say that one team or person is competing against
another
o Implication - an occasion when you seem to suggest something without
saying it directly
o One-off - something that happens or is made or done only once
o Fossilised - old-fashioned and never changing
o Vengeful - expressing a strong wish to punish someone who has harmed
you or your family or friends
o Eschewed - to avoid something intentionally, or to give something up
o Grassroots - the ordinary people in a society or an organization,
differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat
other people, because of their skin colour, sex, caste etc
o Undermine - to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less
likely to succeed, or to make something weaker
o Rallied - improved
o Irresponsibly - not thinking enough or not worrying about the possible
results of what you do
NOV 15/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Demonetisation and after"
The long, anxious, and frustrating wait by people outside banks and ATMs across the country over the last five days is
an inevitable consequence of the >decision to demonetise notes of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000. When 86 per cent of the value
of notes in circulation turns suddenly invalid, as it did with Prime Minister Modis surgical strike last week, a certain
degree of disruption and pain is unavoidable. But the question is whether this chaos could have >been anticipated and
managed better than it has been. Replacement of the demonetised notes is a time-consuming exercise that requires
planning of the highest order. The experience of the last few days shows that preparation was lacking and the transition
could have been handled much better. ATMs are running out of cash quickly while banks are dispensing more of the


Rs.2,000 notes than those of lower denominations. What use is a high-value note if there is not enough smaller currency
to make an exchange? Of course, it was never an easy task for the Reserve Bank of India and the Centre to strike the
right balance between secrecy and storing adequate quantity of notes for quick distribution. All the same, there are at
least a couple of issues that could have been addressed differently.
The new Rs.500 notes that hit the market on Monday could have been released immediately after the announcement last
week. Putting out new Rs.500 notes along the Rs.2,000 notes would have placed much less strain on those of the Rs.100
denomination, which are anyway in short supply. Second, it appears that officials woke up a little late to the issue of
recalibrating ATMs. At least a day, if not more, was lost as banks realised the ATMs would not be able to dispense the
new notes. The communication with the public, who were in a state of panic, could have been better, too. Thankfully, the
Centre has woken up to ease the pressure on the system by increasing withdrawal limits, allowing for petroleum outlets
and hospitals to accept the old series of notes until November 24 and pushing more cash through post offices. The worst-
affected are people in rural areas and villages where cash is king and the banking systems penetration is poor. The
decision to relax cash-holding limits for banking correspondents, the crucial link between banks and villages, to Rs.50,000
and allowing them to replenish multiple times a day should help in faster distribution. This ought to have been done much
earlier. The cash crunch of the last few days is certain to have an adverse impact on consumption spending, especially
in the rural areas, with the resultant effect on the economy in the third quarter.
o Demonetisation -to officially stop using particular notes or coins, or a

particular currency
o Anxious - worried and nervous
o Frustrating - making you feel annoyed and impatient because you are
prevented from achieving something
o Inevitable - something that is sure to happen and cannot be prevented
o Invalid - not legally or officially acceptable
o Surgical strike - a military attack, that is designed to destroy something
specific and to avoid wider damage
o Disruption - a situation in which something cannot continue because of
a problem
o Unavoidable - impossible to stop from happening
o Lacking - if something important or useful is lacking, it does not exist or
is not available
to another
o Running out of something - to finish something, so that there is none
left
o Dispensing - to distribute or provide something to a number of people
o Denominations - a unit of value, especially of money


o Secrecy - a situation in which you keep something secret, or the process
of keeping something secret
o Woke up - to start to understand that a situation or problem exists
o Recalibrating - to make small changes
o Panic - a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable thought
and action
o Outlet - a point from which goods are sold or distributed
o Rural - countryside
o Penetration - to reach or affect something
o Replenish - to fill something up again
o Resultant - caused by the event or situation that you have just
mentioned
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Hope floats in Colombia"
The >fresh peace deal announced by Bogota and the rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) may
look no less fragile than the previous accord that Colombians rejected in a referendum in October. But signs that the
gathering economic momentum depends on lasting reconciliation could trump other outstanding concerns. The current
endeavour to secure peace has been four years and more in the making. It involved political heavyweights in Latin
America and beyond, whose influence should make a reversal of recent gains especially difficult. >The Nobel Peace
Prize, awarded days after the referendum reversal, has enhanced the stature of President Juan Manuel Santos as a
relentless crusader for peace in the midst of formidable if not insurmountable hurdles. But it is not inconceivable that
having had the earlier accord rejected in a vote, the risks of a repeat referendum, or alternatively the moral and political
deficit likely to arise from dispensing with one in this instance, will cast a shadow over the current effort. Foremost is the
question whether the leaders of the FARC should be allowed to participate in the political process. President Santos has
defended the retention of the provision in the revised deal, arguing that the promise of a legitimate route to politics for
rebel groups has been the hallmark of any peace process the world over. Those opposed to the deal contend that
according political eligibility to criminals who have not been brought to justice amounts to a violation of the rule of law.
In fact, the popular perception that the government was seeking to reward top FARC leaders with public office had
decisively tilted voter sentiment against the deal in the October vote. The mere provision to obtain an inventory of the
assets of rebels, with a view to compensate victims, or to elicit disclosures on the drug mafia, may not be enough to
placate the people. Former President Alvaro Uribe, who spearheaded the No campaign, has yet to pronounce on the new
agreement. But Mr. Santos and Mr. Uribe, erstwhile allies, must be acutely sensitive to the economic implications of
continued political instability, in their search for a reasonable compromise. The commodities downturn has hit Colombias
economy hard, and the government has already scaled down expectations of a boost to the tourism and agriculture
sectors from the peace accord. Yet, the Presidents proactive engagement with the international community to attract


investment, and Washingtons backing for the peace accord, hold out the promise of a return to prosperity. A peace deal
would help win over investors.
o Rebels - people who re opposed to the political system in their country

and try to change it using force
o Fragile - easily damaged, broken, or harmed
question
o Reconciliation - a situation in which two people or groups of people
become friendly again after they have argued
o Endeavour - to try to do something
o Heavyweights - a person or thing that is important or serious and that
other people notice
o Stature - the amount of public respect or popularity that someone or
something has
o Relentless - continuing in a severe or extreme way
o Crusader - someone who works hard for a long time to achieve
something that they strongly believe is morally right
o Insurmountable - (especially of a problem or a difficulty) so great that
it cannot be dealt with successfully
o Deficit - a lack of a quality, skill, or ability that you should have
o Cast a shadow over something - to spoil a good situation with
o Defended - to protect someone or something against attack or criticism
o Retention - the continued use, existence, or possession of something
o Hallmark - a typical characteristic or feature of a person or thing
o Violation - an action that breaks or acts against something, especially a
law, agreement, principle
o Compensate - to pay someone money in exchange for something that
o Elicit - to get or produce something, especially information or a reaction
o Mafia - a secret criminal organization involved in illegal activities
o Pronounce - to say something officially
o Allies - friends
o Acutely - very strongly
o Implications - an occasion when you seem to suggest something
without saying it directly

o Instability - a situation that keeps changing, so that you are worried
about what might happen
o Downturn - a reduction in the amount or success of something, such as
a country's economic activity
o Scaled down - reduced in size or extent
o Proactive - taking action by causing change and not only reacting to
change when it happens
NOV 16/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Back to the collegium"
There has been, in recent times, an unusually public conflict between the judiciary and the executive over the shortage
of judges in various high courts. Amidst the perception that the situation has reached crisis proportions and is threatening
to cripple judicial functioning, it is somewhat disconcerting that as many as 43 names out of a list of 77 recommended for
appointment have not found favour with the Centre. It has informed the Supreme Court that these names require
reconsideration by the collegium. The Centre contends that it has cleared 34 appointments, and that there is no file
pending with it. It appears to have taken the cue from the remarks of the Chief Justice of India, T.S. Thakur, that it is
better to send back the names it is not happy with rather than keep the entire list pending. The collegium is now obliged
to return to its recommendations and examine the governments specific objections about the suitability of each candidate.
This may further delay the filling up of vacancies, which have been well above the 400-mark at the high court level for
some time now. The executive, of course, is bound to make the appointments if the collegium reiterates the
recommendations, but it is quite unusual that such a large number of names should be returned. It raises the question
whether larger differences between the judiciary and the executive are playing out in this form.
Chief Justice Thakur has been quite vocal and unsparing in his criticism of the delay on the part of the executive in filling
up vacancies. In open court as well as in public forums, he has highlighted the grim situation as the judicial branch is
grappling with an enormous work burden, on the one hand, and an exploding docket on the other. The executive feels it
is being blamed for delays that are not entirely of its making, and contends that high courts have contributed to this
situation by letting vacancies lie unattended. Another possible undercurrent is that the Centre is unhappy over the
Supreme Court collegium delaying its nod to the revised Memorandum of Procedure for judicial appointments sent on
August 3. Despite the obvious difficulties in the task, the judiciary and the government should attempt to forge a quick
consensus on the revised procedure and avert the crisis reaching a flashpoint. The Centre should not be seen as delaying
appointments or seeking to dilute judicial primacy, while the judiciary should not be seen as stalling improvements in the
appointment process. An agreement is vital to institutional reform.


o Collegium - a system under which appointments and transfers of judges
are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-
most judges of the Supreme Court
o Judiciary - the part of a country's government that is responsible for its
legal system
on how things seem
o Cripple - to cause serious damage to someone or something
o Reconsideration - to think again about a decision or opinion and decide
if you want to change it
o Take cue from - to be strongly influenced by something or someone
o Remark - something that you say, giving your opinion about something
o Obliged - to force someone to do something
o Reiterate - to repeat something in order to emphasize it or make it very
clear to people
o Unsparing - showing no kindness and no wish to hide the unpleasant
truth
o Grappling - to fight, especially in order to win something
o On the one hand ... on the other hand - used when you are comparing
two different facts or two opposite ways of thinking about a situation
o Docket - a list of cases to be dealt with in a law court
o Unattended - not being watched or taken care of
o Undercurrent - an emotion, belief, or characteristic of a situation that
is hidden and usually negative or dangerous but that has some effect
o Memorandum - an informal legal agreement
people
o Flashpoint - a situation in which serious problems are likely to develop
o Dilute - to make something less strong or effective
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Gathering Team Trump"

Even as >protests continue to swirl across the U.S., the President-elect, Donald Trump, has embarked on the first and
arguably most important project of transitioning to a new government: >picking the White House team that will carry out
his policy agenda. The exercise acquires added significance given the earthquake-like impact of his election victory on a
variety of constituencies, including different segments of the American people, and the U.S. Congress. In an ideal world,


the team that he picks to run the White House would have to be capable of helping him balance the deep anxieties of
liberal America with the irresistible demand from his conservative backers and independent supporters that he deliver on
the promises made during the campaign. His task is more straightforward with regard to Capitol Hill as both the Senate
and the House of Representatives are now controlled by the Republican Party. However, Mr. Trumps messy rise through
the primaries divided the partys leadership over their acceptance of him as their nominee, and thus this relationship is
also in need of healing.
Mr. Trumps initial stab at West Wing appointments is off to a start that could be characterised as astute yet polarising. In
picking Reince Priebus as his Chief of Staff, Mr. Trump has signalled to House Speaker Paul Ryan his desire to put the
nastiness of the campaign behind them. Mr. Priebus and Mr. Ryan are Wisconsin politicians who go back two decades.
As the longstanding head of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Priebus walked a tightrope over the fraying ties
between Mr. Trump and party heavyweights during the darkest days of the campaign. Having thus proved his
organisational acumen and loyalty to Mr. Trump, it is fitting that Mr. Priebus will soon be tasked with negotiating with
Congress, executive branch agencies, and external political groups to implement Mr. Trumps agenda. The other high-
profile choice will be harder to swallow for many: Steve Bannon, the CEO of the Trump campaign and the former CEO of
the alt-right media house Breitbart News, as his Chief Strategist and Senior Counsellor. Under Mr. Bannon, Breitbart
was accused of being racist, anti-Semitic, misogynist and prone to conspiracy theorising. Yet Mr. Trump has indicated
Mr. Bannon and Mr. Priebus will be equal partners to transform the federal government, a possible hint of a plan to
create a multipolar power structure within the White House. Mr. Bannons appointment, a likely nod to the far-right
constituencies that were so strongly with him, has been balanced by a more practical-minded and mainstream-focussed
Mr. Priebus. Other key appointments will provide a clue to which way this balance may tilt.

o Swirl - to move quickly
o Embarked - to begin a journey
o Arguably - used for stating your opinion or belief, especially when you
think other people may disagree
o Transitioning - changing
o Constituency - division of a country that elects a representative to a
parliament
o Segments - parts
o Anxiety -a worried feeling you have because you think something bad
might happen
o Irresistible - strong or powerful and impossible to control or defeat
o Backers - supporters
change
o Messy - complicated, difficult, and unpleasant to deal with

o Primary - an election in which people in a particular state in the US
choose their candidate for president
o Nominee - someone who has been officially suggested for a job or a
prize
o Healing - the process of becoming well again, or recovering from an
unhappy experience\
o Stab - an action or remark that attacks someone's reputation
o Astute - able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take
advantage of it
o Desire - strong feeling of wanting to have or to do something
o Nastiness - unpleasant or upsetting
o Longstanding - having existed for a long time
o Walk a tightrope - if you walk/tread a tightrope, you have to deal with
a difficult situation, especially one involving making a decision between
two opposing plans of action
o Fraying - to slowly become upset or annoyed
o Heavyweight - a person or thing that is important or serious and that
other people notice
o Acumen - the ability to make good quick decisions and judgments
o Harder to swallow - difficult to believe
o Alt-right - a group of people with racist opinions who are active
especially online
o Strategist - someone who develops and carries out a plan, especially a
business, military, or political plan
o Counsellor - someone whose job is to give advice and help to people
with problems
a crime
o Racist - someone who does not like or respect people who belong to
races that are different from their own and who believes their race is
better than others
o Anti-Semitic - to show a feeling of hate towards Jewish people
o Misogynist - a person who hates or strongly dislikes women, or who
thinks they are generally less able than men
o Prone - likely to do something or be affected by something, especially
something bad
o Conspiracy - a secret plan by a group of people to do something bad or
illegal, especially in politics
o Theorising - to develop ideas to explain something
most people
o Tilt - to move something so that one side is lower than the other


NOV 17/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Against the odds"
A day after > Class 12 students turned up in large numbers for their school-leaving examinations in the Kashmir Valley,
attendance for the Class 10 tests too crossed the 95 per cent mark. Successful conduct of these tests is crucial not just
as a signal that >normalcy could be returning to Jammu and Kashmir after the months-long unrest, but equally importantly,
to secure the school year for students. In the event, given that classes had been disrupted since the July 8 killing of Hizbul
Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the syllabus had been reduced by half for students opting to appear for the
examinations now. But their successful start, amid demands that they be summarily postponed, should also allay fears
caused by a series of arson attacks on school buildings across the Valley. More than 30 schools have been attacked in
recent months in fact, on Monday teachers managed to prevent serious damage when a school in Baramulla district
was set ablaze. The attacks are a clear signal of the determined plan by miscreants, their identity yet to be established,
to hold classes hostage. It is critical that, going forward, the State government rally teachers and parents sufficiently to
build a constituency to firewall the school calendar from disruptions imposed on the Valley.
After a long summer when too many children were caught in the crossfire, with some killed or blinded due to the security
forces unconscionable persistence with pellet guns, a curtailed syllabus for examinations must serve as a reminder of
the risks to the aspirations of yet another generation. To bring back calm, more needs to be done to use the tenuous calm
on the street to normalise the daily transactions among local communities. If anger spilled over on to the streets in
unexpected and disturbing ways after Wanis death, as the weeks and months passed it led to maximalist rhetoric on the
part of the separatists, expectedly, and the government, unnecessarily. It is bewildering, for instance, why Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar would choose to commend the demonetisation measure by linking it to a decline in protests in
Kashmir. A larger-hearted acknowledgement by New Delhi of the distress in the Valley is essential. Getting past the
protests and shutdowns of 2016 will require far more than was done in 2010. In this fractious Parliament session, the
government needs to foster an all-party initiative to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking careful note
of their inordinate hardships this year would be a good beginning.
o Against the odds - if you do or achieve something against (all) the

odds/against all odds, you do or achieve it although there were a lot of
problems and you were not likely to succeed
o Turn up - to happen in unexpected way
o Normalcy - the state of being normal
o Disrupt - to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by
creating a problem
o Opting - to make a choice or decision from a range of possibilities


o Summarily - immediately, and without following the usual official
methods or processes
o Postponed - to delay an event and plan or decide that it should happen
at a later date or time
o Arson - the illegal use of fire to destroy a house, building, or property
o Ablaze - burning very strongly
o Miscreants - someone who behaves badly or does not obey rules
o Hostage - someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to
force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants
o Constituency - a group of people who support a particular person,
product, suggestion, etc
o Firewall - a wall built to stop a fire from spreading from one area of a
building to another area (here : protection)
o Disruptions - a situation in which something cannot continue because
of a problem
o Imposed - to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc
o Unconscionable - morally unacceptable
o Persistence - the attitude or behaviour of someone who continues to
do, or try to do, something in a determined way
o Pellet - a small round piece of steel or lead that is fired from a gun
o Curtailed - to reduce or limit something
o Tenuous - weak and likely to change
o Normalise - to make something normal, or to become normal
o Spilled over - to spread to other areas
people
o Separatists - a group of people who want to be independent of a
national, religious, or other group to which they belong
o Bewildering - confusing and difficult to understand
o Demonetisation - to officially stop using particular notes or coins, or a
particular currency
o Acknowledgement - something that you say or do in order to show
that you accept that something exists or is true
o Shutdown - an occasion when a machine or factory stops working
temporarily
o Foster - to help something to develop over a period of time
o Inordinate - much more than you would usually expect
o Hardship - a situation in which life is very difficult
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A challenge and an opportunity"
A year and a half after China and Pakistan >announced plans for an Economic Corridor, the CPEC, to connect Kashgar

to Gwadar, the two countries operationalised the trade route this week, with the first shipment moving to Gwadar port
and on to the Gulf and Africa. Many of the infrastructure and energy projects that are part of CPEC, worth an estimated
$46 billion, are already under way. Of this, $35-38 billion is committed in the energy sector, in gas, coal and solar energy
across Pakistan, with the combined expected capacity crossing 10,000 MW. This is roughly double the current shortfall
the country experiences. In addition, the 3,000-km rail and roadway project is expected to generate 700,000 jobs by 2030.
While Pakistan sees CPEC as a game changer, there are many challenges. There are some misgivings domestically,
with critics questioning the projects viability, and some accusing China of launching a second East India Company.
There are the security challenges too, especially in the western areas near the key Gwadar port, where militants ranging
from Baloch nationalists to the Taliban and the Islamic State have carried out attacks. Systemic challenges include project
delays in the CPECs first year, which the World Bank warns could prove to be an impediment to Pakistans overall growth.
Pakistan-India tensions, unless contained, too could endanger sectors of the project where Pakistani troops are engaged
in providing security. Finally, the economic slowdown in China and the political instability in Pakistan could impact the
projects future as well.
However, >these internal considerations for Pakistan shouldnt blur the bigger picture for India: CPEC is now a reality. In
the past Indias reaction to the project, announced a few weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to China in
2015, had turned from dismissal and disdain to disapproval and then to outright opposition. India even raised concerns
over projects in disputed Gilgit-Baltistan at the UN General Assembly. Not only has the project gone ahead despite the
objections, but China now sees CPEC as a physical link between its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project and the Maritime
Silk Route (MSR). India has refused to be a part of either. That Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are all on board
the OBOR and the MSR should give India pause. It is important for Delhi to also take a closer look at the security
implications of the China-Pakistan clinch that is fast drawing in Russia in the north, all the way to the Arabian Sea, while
China plans a floating naval base off Gwadar.
o Operationalised - put into operation or use

o Shipment - a large amount of goods sent together to a place, or the act
of sending them
needed
o Game changer - something such as a product or event that affects a
situation or area of business very much
o Misgivings - a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event
o Domestically - in a way that relates to the home, house, or family
o Critic - someone who says that they do not approve of someone or
something
o Accusing - suggesting that you think someone has done something bad
o Impediment - something that makes progress, movement, or achieving
something difficult or impossible
o Contained - to control or hide


o Endanger - to put someone or something at risk or in danger of being
harmed, damaged, or destroyed
o Dismissal - a refusal to accept that something might be true or
important
o Disdain - the feeling that someone or something is not important and
does not deserve any respect
o Outright - complete
o Disputed - a disputed area is one that different countries claim belongs
to them, so that there is a disagreement or war between them
o On board - involved in a project or organization, or working for a
company
o Implications - a possible effect or result
o Clinch - if two people clinch, they hold each other tightly, usually in a
fight
o Naval base - an area where warships (navy ships kept when they have
no mission at sea
NOV 18/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "After the storm"
When 86 per cent of currency notes in a country of 1.3 billion people are rendered illegal tender in a matter of hours, it
is bound to create a short-term disruption in daily lives. Particularly so, since much of Indias economic activity still takes
place in the informal sector with no cheque payments, resulting not just in widespread direct and indirect tax evasion but
also an inability to assess the true state of the economy. For instance, while farmers income is not taxed, most of them
now have a Kisan Credit Card, first launched in 1998, and no-frills bank accounts whose creation has been scaled up by
the present government. But the agricultural economy is still controlled by middlemen and traders who only make cash
payments to farmers while reaping a profit from the difference in prices from farm-gate to fork. The introduction of the
Goods and Services Tax will make it tougher for such intermediaries to remain below the tax radar, though foodgrains
will be zero-rated under the tax regime. Just as paying taxes on their profits is uncharted territory for such traders, the
government too is navigating uncharted waters with the demonetisation drive, necessitating adjustments on the go.
Rural Indians, like their urban peers, may be in a tizzy for now over the currency swoop and face challenges in
transactions, but there doesnt seem to be a threat to the rabi crop as the Opposition has sought to suggest. By last
Friday, the total area sown was significantly higher than at the same time last year, except for coarse cereals. The latest
relaxation, allowing farmers to withdraw Rs.25,000 a week, should assuage any concerns on this front. However, the


Reserve Bank of India and the Central government were clearly not prepared for the cash crunch in bank vaults and post
offices, that has become evident a week after the demonetisation. So, even soiled Rs.100 notes have been brought back
into circulation to tide over the scarcity. Given our abysmal public health infrastructure, a thought should also have been
spared for peoples healthcare costs. Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet had cleared measures to push non-cash payments
in February, but little has been implemented using credit cards still involves high transaction charges, for example.
Tweaking the exchange limit for old notes from Rs.4,000 to Rs.4,500 and then down to Rs.2,000 has created confusion,
often leading to ugly scenes at banks. Afterthoughts may be inevitable in emergency situations, but the government also
needs to address popular anxieties by constantly, and publicly, updating its road map.
o Storm - an occasion when a lot of rain falls very quickly, often with very
strong winds or thunder and lightning
a problem
o Informal - not formal (friendly)
o Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among many
people
o Evasion - the act of avoiding something or someone
o Inability - not being able to do something
o No-frills - basic (no extra or unnecessary details)
o Scaled up - incresed
o Middlemen - a person who buys goods from the company that has
produced them and makes a profit by selling them to a shop or a user
o Traders - people who buy and sell things
o Reaping - to get something as a result of something that you do
o Farm-gate to fork - the stages involved in the growing, processing, and
consumption of food
o Intermediary - a person who acts as a link between people in order to
try and bring about an agreement; a mediator
o Below the radar - ignored or not noticed
o Foodgrain - any of a variety of grains that are grown for human
consumption, such as wheat, oats, etc
o Uncharted - completely new and therefore has never been described
before
o Navigating - directing
particular currency
o Necessitating - to make something necessary
o Peer - someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as
another person
o Tizzy - feeling very nervous or confused
o Swoop - to make a sudden move
o Sown - to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow

o Coarse - rough and hard
o Cereals - a plant that is grown to produce grain
o Assuage - to make unpleasant feelings less strong
o Crunch - a difficult situation
o Vault - a room in a bank, with thick walls and a strong door, used to
store money or valuable things in safe conditions
particular currency
o Soiled - dirty
o Tide over - support through a difficult period
o Scarcity - a situation in which something is not easy to find or get
o Abysmal - extremely bad or low in quality
affect how well it operates
o Spare a thought for - to think about someone who is in a difficult
situation
o Meanwhile - until something expected happens, or while something else
is happening
o Tweaking - to make small changes in order to improve something
o Afterthought - something that you think of and say after you have
finished speaking
o Emergency - something dangerous or serious, such as an accident, that
happens suddenly or unexpectedly and needs fast action in order to avoid
harmful results
might happen
to do something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A chance to recalibrate ties"
The 2003 ceasefire on the Line of Control has clearly now ceased to hold, with daily exchange of fire between Indian
and Pakistani soldiers. The DGMO channel has failed to quell exchanges that include artillery and mortar fire. There are
no bilateral talks today at any level, and the only contact between the governments in Islamabad and New Delhi is when
one countrys foreign ministry summons the others High Commissioner to issue a demarche about the growing casualties
along the International Boundary and the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. The two countries have even dispensed with
routine niceties: Pakistan is yet to condemn the Uri attack in which 19 soldiers were killed, and India has not put out a
statement on the spate of terror attacks in Balochistan. Meanwhile, fears about the LoC firing spiralling out of control have
grown. In Pakistan, that worry has increased because of the impending decision on who will be the next army chief, and
owing to tensions between Army Headquarters and the Nawaz Sharif government. India, having announced its surgical
strikes as a new red-line of response post-Uri, is concerned about a terrorist build-up across the LoC, with 18 infiltration
attempts reported in the past week.


It is against this backdrop, with confidence-building measures dismantled and dialogue dead, that Sartaj Aziz, Foreign
Affairs Advisor to the Pakistan Prime Minister, has indicated that he will visit India for the Heart of Asia donor conference
on Afghanistan in early December. A year ago, when External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the Heart of Asia
meet in Islamabad, she had announced the resumption of bilateral talks, called a comprehensive dialogue. This year no
such announcement appears to be even remotely on the cards during Mr. Azizs trip to Amritsar. It is, however, a window
of opportunity to take the current tensions firmly in hand, and assure regional leaders gathered at the conference who
will include Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and ministers from China and Russia
that India and Pakistan can in fact sort out the concerns bilaterally. The Heart of Asia conference will no doubt reinforce
Indias message to Pakistan on terrorism on the need to dismantle all groups including those that target its neighbours
such as India, Afghanistan and Iran. However, in discussing the protracted violence in Afghanistan, leaders at the
conference may also drive home the point that the current levels of tension and violence between India and Pakistan will
benefit no one, but only worry the region at large.
o Recalibrate - to make small changes

o Ceasefire - an agreement, usually between two armies, to stop fighting
in order to allow discussions about peace
o Line of Control (LOC) - the military control line between the Indian and
Jammu
o Ceased - stopped
o Quell - to cause a violent situation to end
o Artillery - large powerful guns that are used by an army and are moved
on wheels or fixed in one place
o Mortar - a large short gun that is used for firing bombs and shells over
short distances
o Bilateral - a bilateral agreement or activity is one that involves two
groups or countries
o Summons - an official document that orders someone to appear in a
court of law
o Demarche - a political step or initiative
o Casualties - people who are injured or killed in an accident or military
action
o Nicety - a way of behaving that people consider to be correct
o Condemn - to say publicly that you think someone or something is bad
or wrong
o Spate - a large number of things of the same type, usually bad things,
that suddenly happen in a very short period of time
o Spiralling out of control - to continuously become worse, more, or less
o Impending - an impending event or situation, especially an unpleasant
one, is one that will happen very soon
o Owing - because of


o Red-line - a limit beyond which someone's behaviour is no longer
acceptable
o Infiltration - to secretly join an organization or go into a place in order
to find out information about it or damage it
o Measure - a method for dealing with a situation
o Dismantled - to get rid of a system or organization, usually over a
period of time
o Dialogue - a process in which two people or groups have discussions in
order to solve problems
o Remotely - from a distance
o Sort out - to make arrangements for something to happen, or to decide
how it will happen
o Reinforce - to make an idea, belief, or feeling stronger
o Drive home something - to tell people about something in a way that
makes them understand and accept it, especially by repeating it many
time
NOV 19/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Saying no to jallikattu, again"
It is no surprise that the >Supreme Court has declined to review its 2014 judgment banning jallikattu, the popular bull-
taming sport held alongside annual harvest festivities in rural Tamil Nadu. The original judgment had drawn on sound
legal principles to conclude that the need to prevent cruelty to animals overrides the consideration that conducting the
sport was necessary to preserve culture and tradition. More particularly, the court had found that a 2009 State law that
sought to regulate jallikattu was repugnant to the 1960 central legislation to prevent cruelty towards animals. The former
Act did contain stringent provisions, but animal rights activists contended that the element of cruelty could not be
eliminated altogether. Despite evidence that the game caused distress and pain to the animals, and even led to injuries
and occasional fatalities, political leaders in the State and sections of the public often make the claim that jallikattu has
cultural and religious significance for the Tamil community. Jallikattu is construed as a macho sport in which intrepid
young men demonstrate their valour by pouncing on fleeing bulls. It is also associated in the popular imagination with
cultural pride. Over the years, the tradition was kept alive in many villages under the belief that not conducting jallikattu
would invite divine wrath. As a result, the bull-baiting sport was invested with religious significance too.
It was unlikely that the court would have entertained a review merely on a claim that popular sentiment favoured the
conduct of jallikattu and that its purported religious and cultural significance would provide constitutional protection to it.
The Bench has rejected attempts to invoke the right of religious freedom guaranteed in Article 25 of the Constitution. It
was unfathomable that there could be a connection between jallikattu and religious freedom, the court said. And it was
held mainly for human entertainment at the expense of the animal. Apart from the State governments review plea, the


Centre had embarked on a misadventure in January by issuing a notification aimed at permitting jallikattu. The action was
stayed immediately and a verdict on its validity is expected to come separately. However, given that the court is sticking
to the stand that it would not allow any cruelty in the name of holding a rural sport, it is unlikely to survive judicial scrutiny.
The Tamil Nadu government and like-minded sections at the Centre would do well to accept this ruling as final and stop
espousing the cause. If there is one takeaway here, it is the futility of pursuing measures to preserve feudal traditions in
the teeth of reasoned judicial opinion.
o Declined - to become less or worse

o Bull-taming - to bring a bull under control
o Alongside - next to, or together with
o Harvest - the time of year when crops are cut and collected from the
fields
o Rural - relating to the countryside
o Drawn on something - to use information or your knowledge of
something to help you do something
o Sound - complete
o Conclude - to complete an official agreement or task, or arrange a
business deal
o Cruelty - behaviour that deliberately causes pain to other people or
animals, or that makes them unhappy or upset
o Overrides - to be much more important than something else
o Particularly - especially, or more than usual
o Regulate - to control something, especially by making it work in a
particular way
o Repugnant - if behaviour or beliefs, etc. are repugnant, they are very
unpleasant, causing a feeling of disgust
o Legislation - a law or set of laws suggested by a government and made
official by a parliament
o Stringent - having a very serious effect, or being extremely limiting
o Provisions - a statement within an agreement or a law that a particular
o Contended - to say that something is true or is a fact
or upset
o Fatality - a death caused by an accident or by violence
o Claim - to say that something is true or is a fact
o Significance - important or noticeable
o Construed - to understand the meaning, especially of other people's
actions and statements, in a particular way
o Macho - behaving forcefully or showing no emotion in a way traditionally
thought to be typical of a man
o Intrepid - extremely brave and showing no fear of dangerous situations


o Valour - great courage
o Pouncing - to jump or move quickly in order to catch or take hold of
something
o Fleeing - running to escape
o Divine - connected with a god
o Baiting - to intentionally make somebody angry by doing things to annoy
them
be real or true
o Unfathomable - impossible to understand
o Apart from - except for or not considering
o Plea - an urgent and emotional request
o Embarked on - to start something new or important
o Misadventure - an accident
o Sticking to something - to limit yourself to doing or using one
particular thing and not change to anything else
o Like-minded - people who are described as like-minded share the same
opinions, ideas, or interests
o Espousing - to give your support to an idea, principle, or belief
o Takeaway - an important piece of information to remember from a
meeting, presentation etc
o Futility - a lack of purpose, importance, or effectiveness
o Pursuing - to try to achive something
o Feudal tradition - a tradition in which people work fight for leaders who
gave them protection and the use of land in return
o In the teeth of something - if something happens or is done in the
teeth of difficulties, the difficulties cause problems but do not stop it
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Justice beyond borders"
Russias move to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the outcome of the political undercurrents that have of
l >ate strained its relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). More ominous could be the ramifications
of the exit, the fourth within the last two months, from the established world arbiter. The collective vision of that global
pact was to bring the impunities of political leaders to justice before a transnational body when all domestic remedies
were exhausted. Russias announcement was predictable as a reaction to the courts report on Tuesday, stating that the
2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine amounted to an occupation. Moscow has denied any role by its military,
maintaining that Crimeas accession was authorised in a popular referendum. NATOs continued eastward expansion
explains at least some of President Vladimir Putins belligerent rhetoric. >Not only has the western military alliance
extended into the countries of the former Eastern bloc, it has also brought some member states of the erstwhile Soviet

Union within its fold. Moscows approach to the world court is far from ideal. But the constraints of initiating punitive action
against the U.S. and its allies for the war crimes committed during the Iraq war would have further eroded Russias
diminishing faith in the liberal world order.
South Africas decision to walk out of the Hague court in October symbolises its abdication of a regional leadership role.
Africa still remains hostage to the machinations of traditional tribal warlords, who systematically subvert democratic
institutions and squander the rich natural wealth in league with big corporations. South Africas regressive step came at
a time when politicians in neighbouring countries, faced with legal proceedings for perpetrating heinous crimes, have
successfully projected the impression that the ICC was biased against the whole continent. The current stance of Pretoria
is a far cry from that over a decade ago when the country incorporated crimes of genocide from the ICC statute into its
domestic laws. When Washington refused at the turn of the century to be bound by the jurisdiction of the Hague court,
there were concerns that the nascent body would be left sorely wanting in legitimacy and authority. Those anxieties have,
if anything, been amplified by the unprecedented war crimes being perpetrated in the Syrian conflict and the humanitarian
catastrophe being witnessed there. To enforce justice beyond the barriers imposed by domestic borders is a noble aim.
But its realisation is that much harder when nationalism is resurgent.

o Undercurrents - a feeling that exists and affects how people behave,
but is not obvious or stated directly
o Ominous - suggesting that something unpleasant is likely to happen
o Ramifications - the possible results of an action
o Arbiter - a person or organization that has official power to settle
disagreements
o Pact - an agreement between two or more people or organizations in
which they promise to do something
o Transnational - involving several nations
o Remedy - a solution to a particular problem
o Exhausted - extremely tired and without enough energy to do anything
else
o Predictable - if something is predictable, it happens in the way that you
would expect
o Annexation - to take control of a country or region by force
o Denied - to say that you did not do something that someone has accused
you of doing
o Maintaining - to continue to say that something is true, even if other
people do not believe you
o Accession - the occasion on which someone formally takes a position of
authority, especially as a king, queen, or president
o Belligerent - wishing to fight or argue


people
o Constraint - something that limits your freedom to do what you want
o Initiating - to make something start
will work together to help each other, especially in a war
o Diminishing - to be reduced in size or importance
o Symbolises - to be considered as a typical or perfect example of
something
o Abdication - to stop accepting a particular responsibility or obligation
that you have
o Machinations - secret, complicated, and clever plans and actions
intended to achieve an aim
o Warlord - a military leader
politics etc
o Squander - if you squander something such as money, time, or an
opportunity, you do not use it in a sensible way
o Regressive - (of tax) lower on large amounts of money, so that the rich
are less affected
o Proceedings - a series of events that happen in a planned and controlled
way
o Perpetrating - to do something that is harmful, illegal, or dishonest
o Heinous crime - a heinous act or crime is extremely evil
o Far cry from - to be very different from someone or something
o Genocide - the murder of large numbers of people belonging to a
particular race
o Statute - a law passed by a government and formally written down
o Concern - a feeling of worry about something, especially one that a lot
of people have about an important issue
o Nascent - beginning or formed recently
o Sorely - extremely; very much
o Legitimacy - allowed by law
o Anxiety- a worried feeling you have because you think something bad
might happen
o Amplified - to explain something more thoroughly or give it more
emphasis
o Perpetrated - to commit a crime or a violent or harmful act
people suffer


o Enforce - to make sure that a law or rule is obeyed by people
o Noble - behaving in an honest and brave way that other people admire
o Resurgent - quickly becoming popular, important, or successful again
NOV 21/2016.
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Getting real on climate"
The UN conference on climate change held in Marrakech, with an emphasis on raising the commitment of all countries
to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is particularly significant as it provided an opportunity to communicate
concerns about the future climate policy of the U.S. It would be untenable for the U.S., with a quarter of all cumulative
fossil fuel emissions, to renege on its promise to assist vulnerable and developing nations with climate funding, technology
transfer and capacity-building under Donald Trumps presidency. As the Marrakech Action Proclamation issued at the
close of the conference emphasises, the world needs all countries to work together to close the gap between their
intended reduction of carbon emissions and what needs to be done to keep the rise of the global average temperature
well below 2C in this century. The Paris Agreement on climate change was forged on the consensus that man-made
climate change does have a scientific basis, that the developed countries are responsible for accumulated emissions,
and that future action should focus on shifting all nations to a clean energy path. Not much progress was made at
Marrakech on raising the $100 billion a year that is intended to help the poorer nations. Political commitment and resource
mobilisation will be crucial to meet targets for mitigation of emissions and adaptation.
India is in a particularly difficult situation as it has the twin challenges of growing its economy to meet the development
aspirations of a large population, and cutting emissions. National GHG levels are small per capita, but when added up
they put India in the third place, going by data from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center in the U.S. As a
signatory to the Paris Agreement, which has provisions to monitor emissions and raise targets based on a review,
pressure on India to effect big cuts is bound to increase. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will hear
from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2018 on what impact an additional warming of 1.5C could have
on the planet and what can be done to ensure it is pegged at this level. The pledges made so far are well short of this
target, and even if they are all implemented, a minimum rise of 2.9C is forecast by the UN Environment Programme.
India has no historical responsibility for accumulated GHGs, but smaller, more vulnerable countries such as island states
and Bangladesh are demanding action to cut emissions. A strategy that involves all State governments will strengthen
the case for international funding, and spur domestic action.
o Getting real - to understand the true facts of a situation and not hope
for what is impossible
something
o Greenhouse gas - a gas that causes the greenhouse effect, especially
carbon dioxide


o Emission - an amount of gas, heat, light, etc. that is sent out
o Untenable - impossible to continue because of serious problems,
opposition, or criticism
o Cumulative - developing or increasing gradually as a result of more and
more additions
o Renege - to decide not to do something that you promised to do
o Presidency - the job of being president, or the period of time that
someone has this job
o Proclamation - an official announcement, especially about something
important, or something that affects everyone
o Intended - an intended target, victim etc is the one that an action is
aimed at or trying to reach
o Forge - to work hard to achieve something
o Accumulated - to get more and more of something over a period of time
o Mobilisation- act of assembling and putting into readiness for war or
other emergency
o Adaptation - the process of changing something so that it can be used
for a different purpose
o Aspiration - something that you want to achieve
o Per capita - based on calculations that show the average amount for
each person affected
o Signatory - a person or organization that has signed an official
agreement
o Provisions - plans or preparation for future needs
o Monitor - to regularly check something to find out what is happening
o Intergovernmental - involving governments of different countries
o Pegged - to keep the amount of something at a particular level
o Pledge - a serious or formal promise
o Accumulate - to increase in quantity over a period of time
o Domestic - relating to the country being talked about (local)
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Rising dollar, falling rupee"
Donald Trumps surprise win in the U.S. presidential elections has lent the dollar new wings. It has soared against most
currencies, including the rupee, on the expectation that his economic policies will spur growth and inflation in the worlds


largest economy. The prospect of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates provided an updraught that helped the dollar
extend a record appreciating streak against the euro last week and pushed the rupee past 68 to a dollar. In Congressional
testimony last week, Fed Chair Janet Yellen signalled that the central bank was close to a decision to raise rates again.
Some economists predict U.S. GDP growth could see appreciable acceleration in 2017 with one projection positing
even a doubling of the pace by the fourth quarter if the new administration delivers on some of its promises, including
tax cuts, deregulation and infrastructure spending. In fact, with a Republican majority in both the House of Representatives
and the Senate, Mr. Trump could benefit from smoother Congressional backing for policy initiatives to boost economic
activity. U.S. stocks and bonds have also reflected the optimism over the outlook for U.S. growth and prospects that
increased fiscal spending will help reflate the economy, with the S&P 500 Index adding gains for the second straight week
and benchmark bond yields climbing in anticipation of faster inflation.
For the rupee, which has slumped 2.3 per cent from its 66.62 a dollar close on November 8, the flight of capital from
emerging market assets has inflicted significant pressure that has been exacerbated by the Centres decision to withdraw
higher denomination currencies. Foreign institutional investors have sold more than $2.5 billion of Indian equity and debt
holdings so far this month, compared with the about $1.5 billion they offloaded through October. With the demonetisation
move infusing a surge of liquidity into the banking system, domestic interest rates are expected to decline, making the
rupee less attractive to investors seeking to benefit from an interest rate arbitrage. And with consumption and broader
economic activity predicted to take a hit on account of the shortage of cash in the wake of the currency move, GDP growth
may slow sharply. That in turn could weaken overseas investor appetite for rupee assets. The task before policymakers,
and the monetary policy committee that is set to meet on December 7, a week before the Federal Open Market
Committees rate decision, will be to reassure markets and investors that Indias economy remains robust.
o Soared - to rise very quickly to a high level

o Spur - to encourage an activity or development
o Prospect - the idea of something that will or might happen in the future
o Updraught - an upward movement
o Streak - to move somewhere extremely quickly, usually in a straight line
o Congressional - relating to the US Congress
o Testimony - evidence that something is true
o Appreciable - if an amount or change is appreciable, it is large or
noticeable enough to have an important effect
o Acceleration - the increase in the speed at which something happens
o Deregulation - to remove national or local government controls or rules
from a business or other activity
o Backing - support
o Initiatives - a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a
problem
o Optimism - the quality of being full of hope


o Reflate - to improve the economy of a country by increasing the amount
of money that people are earning and spending in the country
o Benchmark- an amount, level, standard etc that you can use for judging
how good or bad other things are
o Anticipation - a feeling of excitement about something enjoyable that
is going to happen soon
o Slump - sudden fall in price
o Exacerbated - to make something that is already bad even worse
o Denomination - a unit of value, especially of money
o Investor - a person who puts money into something in order to make a
o Equity - the value of a company, divided into many equal parts owned
by the shareholders
o Offload - to get rid of something that you do not want by giving it to
someone else
o Demonetisation - the process to officially stop using particular notes or
coins, or a particular currency
o Infusing - to give someone or something a particular quality
o Surge - a sudden increase in something such as price, value, or interest
o Liquidity - a situation in which a business has money or property that it
can sell in order to pay money that it owes
o Arbitrage - the method on the stock exchange of buying something in
one place and selling it in another place at the same time, in order to
make a profit from the difference in price in the two places
o Policymaker - a member of a government department, legislature, or
other organization who is responsible for making new rules, laws, etc
NOV 22/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Lessons from a disaster"
A railway network that caters to about seven billion passenger trips a year poses extraordinary management challenges,
the most important of which is to ensure that all journeys end safely. The derailment of the Indore-Patna Express in
Kanpur Dehat, with the death toll at least 146, is a stark reminder that Indias strained railway system can be unpredictably
risky. The distress of the families of passengers who died and those left injured can never be fully compensated by the
announcement of ex-gratia compensation by the Railway Ministry, the Prime Ministers Office and State governments; at
the same time, confidence in the system has suffered a severe blow. The Ministry, which has recorded an average of 50


derailments a year over the past four years and a peak of 63, needs to engage in a sustained effort to win back public
confidence. There are several elements to safety, of which the integrity of the tracks, signalling, engines and coaches
need to be rigorously audited. Internal investigations by the Commissioners of Railway Safety have found human error to
be responsible for 70 per cent of serious rail accidents, which underscores the importance of training and adherence to
strict operational discipline. In the Patna Express accident, the focus is on whether there were flaws in the track, the
speed at which the late-running train was being driven, and the role played by coach design in leading to high fatalities.
Millions of people board a train in India every day. They need an assurance from the Ministry that it is learning from its
mistakes. Specialist committees headed by Anil Kakodkar on safety and Bibek Debroy on restructuring have
recommended major reforms, such as the creation of a statutory safety authority, speedy replacement of ageing coaches
with modern LHB design, and revamped management that keeps its focus on core train operations. In his budget this
year, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu promised that all zonal railways would have ultrasound flaw detection machines by
March 2017 to test track quality. It is important to know whether such a test was done on the Indore-Kanpur-Patna route.
After an accident it is the quality of medical facilities that determines a victims chances of survival. Many terrible mishaps
occur in rural areas that have no hospital facilities worth the name, no trauma specialists or intensive care. Upgrading
district hospitals should be a priority. More immediately, the Railway Ministry should ensure that bureaucratic procedures
do not come in the way of victims getting the best treatment and aid.
o Caters - to provide
o Poses - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty
o Challenge - something that needs a lot of skill, energy, and
determination to deal with or achieve
o Derailment - to cause a train come off its railway tracks
o Stark - complete / extreme
o Strained - spoiled with problems
o Unpredictably - changing often, in a way that is impossible to prepare
for
o Ex-gratia - an ex gratia payment is not necessary, especially legally, but
is made to show good intentions
o Severe - serious
o Blow - damage
o Win back something - to get something that you had before but lost
temporarily
o Integrity - the quality of behaving according to the rules and standards
of your job or profession

o Rigorously - carefully (to look at or consider every part of something to
make certain it is correct or safe)
o Audit - to examine something carefully, especially to decide on its
effectiveness
o Adherence - the action of continuing to obey a rule, law, agreement etc
effective
o Fatalities - deaths caused by an accident
o Restructuring - to organize something such as a company in a different
way so that it will operate better
o Ageing - too old and no longer useful
o Revamp - to change or arrange something again, in order to improve it
o Core - the basic and most important part of something
will happen
o Victim - someone who has been affected by a bad situation such as an
accident or an illness
o Survival - the fact of a person, organization, etc. continuing to live or
exist
o Mishap - bad luck, or an unlucky event or accident
o Trauma - a bad experience that makes you feel very upset, afraid, or
shocked
processes
o Aid - help with doing something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "DRS clears the test"
India has a fascinating history with the Decision Review System. It was involved in its conception, was one of the first
two countries to put it to trial, and then became the only nation to refuse to use it in bilateral engagements. The DRS was
a result of the Sydney Test of 2008, in which consistently poor umpiring created a fractious atmosphere, leading to some
of the ugliest scenes cricket has seen. The administrators realised that the umpire, the person with the greatest
responsibility on the field, was the least empowered. Television had begun to provide access to information the umpire
would have benefited from, but did not; yet he was judged on it. India and Sri Lanka were the first to audition it in a three-
Test series in 2008. But it was this very experience that shaped much of Indias opposition: the argument was that the
technology wasnt faultless and it allowed room for unskilled human intervention. While the rest of world cricket embraced
the DRS, with a vast majority of players and virtually every umpire taking the view that it improved the game beyond
measure, India held out for perfection. This it was able to do because of the influence it wielded in the sports
administration. But a change in the power equation at the top and the generational turnover of cricketers saw the position
soften.


The agreement to trial the DRS during the series against England was viewed by many as a welcome end to
intransigence. But to make so sweeping an assessment is to be dismissive of Indias reservations. Two significant
developments altered matters. The technology grew more sophisticated: the frame rates of the cameras improved
manifold, from 75 frames a second in 2011 to 340 now, providing more data for the path of the ball to be predicted; a
sound-based edge detection system, allied to slow-motion cameras, helped establish the first point of impact on the pad,
greatly reducing human intervention. These were direct answers to Indias questions. The clincher was an independent
audit of the system by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It helped to a great extent that Anil Kumble was involved
in a lot of this. He was Indias captain in Australia and Sri Lanka in 2008, the head of the ICCs cricket committee when
the process of evaluating the DRS began, and later the national coach. An intelligent, open-minded man with a degree in
engineering, Kumbles voice carried great weight. It remains to be seen if India continues to use the system after the
England series. But the signals are that it has accepted it. There is no doubt that the DRS needs even more refinement
and greater standardisation. But with India now on board, the chances are better of the evolution of an even more robust
system that protects cricket from umpiring errors.
o Fascinating - making you very interested or attracted

o Conception - the time when someone creates a new idea or thing
o Trial- a test, usually over a limited period of time, to discover how
effective or suitable something or someone is
o Consistently - in a way that does not change
o Umpiring - to make sure that players obey the rules in some sports
o Fractious - causing problems and difficult to control
o Empower - to give someone official authority or the freedom to do
something
o Audition - to give a short performance in order to show that you are
suitable for a particular job
o Embrace - to completely accept something such as a new belief, idea
o Wielded - to have a lot of influence or power over other people
o Turnover - the rate at which people leave a place and new people arrive
o Intransigence - an unreasonable refusal to change your ideas or
behaviour
o Sophisticated - complicated and advanced
o Allied - combined
o Clincher - something that settles an argument, makes someone take a
particular decision, or helps someone achieve something
o To a great extent - mainly
o Evaluating - to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or
value of something
o Open-minded - willing to consider ideas and opinions that are new or
different to your own
o Refinement - a small change that improves something

o Standardisation - to make all the things of a particular type have the
same features or level of quality
NOV 23/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Pitching reform at the BCCI"
It is disconcerting that the administrative affairs of Indian cricket should continue to be embroiled in controversy in the
midst of a packed and interesting home season. Not many can complain about the manner in which cricketing matters
are being managed, but the intransigence shown by the office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in not
constructively accepting the reforms recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed R.M. Lodha Committee is getting to
be tiresome. These recommendations, including those barring ministers, bureaucrats and anyone above the age of 70
from holding office in crickets administrative body, are now binding on the BCCI after the Supreme Court accepted the
report. The Justice Lodha Committee has been grappling with a set of reluctant office-bearers who claim they cannot
force the State units affiliated to the BCCI to accept all the norms. Some associations are said to be unwilling to accept
the age ceiling and the one-State, one-vote norm. In its latest report, the Committee has asked for the removal of all those
who fall foul of its bar on various grounds. In addition, it has asked for an observer to be appointed to guide the Chief
Executive Officer in running the BCCI, particularly with regard to contracts, transparency norms and the audit of domestic,
international and IPL matches.
The question arises whether the Lodha Committee should have named G.K. Pillai, a former Union Home Secretary, as
the observer. As it is up to the Supreme Court to decide whether an observer is needed, the recommendation of a specific
name was both unnecessary and puzzling. While the time may have come to enforce the norms accepted by the Supreme
Court, any suggestion that the Committee favours drastic action rather than appealing to reason should be avoided. It is
apparent that some unsavoury developments have upset the panel. These include the BCCI taking decisions out of sync
with the panels recommendations at its Annual General Meeting in September, interpreting a directive to stop the
disbursal of funds to State associations as the demand for a total freeze on its bank accounts, and allegedly trying to
goad the International Cricket Council into raising the question whether there was governmental interference in the BCCIs
functioning, a situation that may come with the threat of derecognition. Yet, the situation is not beyond rescue. The Boards
president and secretary have until December 3 to report compliance with the Committees norms. While the BCCI
leadership will have to shed its seeming reluctance, the Supreme Court has to find a way to bring in transparency and
reform without resorting to heavy-handed action against a body that must function with a measure of autonomy.
o Pitching - sudden
o Reform - a change that is expected to correct a situation that is wrong
or unfair / make a system work more effectively
o Embroiled - involved in a difficult situation

o Controversy - a lot of disagreement or argument about something,
o In the midst of something - while something else is happening
o Complain - to say that you are not satisfied with something
o Manner - the way that you do something, or the way that something
happens
behaviour
o Constructively - in a manner which is intended to be useful or helpful
o Tiresome - making you feel annoyed or bored
o Barring - unless the thing mentioned happens or exists
o Bureaucrat - someone who is employed to help run an office or
government department
o Binding - (especially of an agreement) that cannot be legally avoided or
stopped
o Grappling - fighting (especially in order to win something)
o Affiliated - used to describe an organization that is officially connected
with or controlled by another, usually larger, organization
o Norms - standards of behaviour that are accepted in a particular society
/ organization
o Unwilling - if you are unwilling to do something, you do not want to do
it or you refuse to do it
o Ceiling - an upper limit set on the number or amount of something
o Fall foul of - to get into trouble with someone or something
o Audit - a careful examination of something
o Domestic - within a country (local)
o Drastic action - a drastic action or change has a very big effect
o Apparent - easy to see or understand
o Unsavoury - involving unpleasant, dishonest, or immoral things that you
do not want to think or talk about
o Interpreting - to understand / explain an action
o Directive - an official order
o Disbursal - to pay out money, usually from an amount that has been
collected for a particular purpose
o Freeze - to fix at a particular level and not allow any increases
o Goad - to deliberately make someone feel very angry or upset so that
they react
o Interference - involvement


o Beyond - outside the range
o Rescue - to prevent a business, project etc from failing
o Shed - to get rid of something that is not wanted or is no longer
necessary
o Reluctance - an unwillingness to do something
o Resorting - to do something extreme or unpleasant in order to solve a
problem
o Heavy-handed - using too much force, or not considering peoples
feelings enough when dealing with a situation
o Autonomy - the power to make your own decisions
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "No complacency on Zika"
The World Health Organisation has declared that the Zika virus no longer constitutes a public health emergency of
international concern. This brings to an end the heightened global focus on the virus that has caused about 2,300
confirmed cases of microcephaly (a birth defect manifesting in a smaller head size) since May 2015. The WHO had
declared the Zika virus a public health emergency on February 1, considering the high number of neurological disorders
reported in Brazil and a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014. Among the reasons cited were the unknown causal
link between the virus and microcephaly and neurological complications, the possibility of its global spread, lack of
vaccines and diagnostic tools, and the lack of immunity to the virus in newly affected countries. The link between Zika
and microcephaly was established in May, the hunt for a potent vaccine and reliable diagnostic tool has begun, and
scientists have been able to find the routes of transmission. However, the global risk assessment has not changed. The
spread of Zika to 67 countries and territories is a grim reminder of the lack of immunity against the virus and the abundance
of mosquito vectors. A dozen countries have reported local transmission.
Despite the link between the Zika virus infection and microcephaly being well established, the entire spectrum of
challenges posed by the disease is not known. The WHO Emergency Committee has called for sustained research and
dedicated resources to address the long-term challenges posed by babies born with microcephaly, but signalling the end
of the global emergency may lead to lowering of the global alert. There should be no setback to funding, the global search
for effective vaccines and diagnostic tests, and creating awareness about the risk of sexual transmission. For instance, it
is not clear why more babies were born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil compared to the rest of the country or why
the country had a higher caseload than others. This information is crucial to understanding the link between Zika infection
and microcephaly, and thereby to containing incidence where the mosquito vector is predominant. Medical journals should
continue to provide free and immediate access to papers on the Zika virus, which played a crucial role in information-
sharing. The WHO has said it is not downgrading the importance of Zika and that its response is here to stay. It now
needs to ensure that vigilance remains high despite the decline in incidence.


o Complacency - a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or
situation that prevents you from trying harder
o Zika - a virus carried by mosquitoes that may be connected with birth
defects such as having an abnormally small head, if a pregnant woman
is infected
o Constitutes - to be considered as something
o Emergency - an unexpected situation in which immediate action is
necessary to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse
o Heightened - to increase or make something increase, especially an
emotion or effect
o Neurological - relating to your nervous system or to the diseases that
affect it
o Disorders - an illness
o Cluster - group
o Cited - to mention something as an example, explanation, or proof of
something else
o Diagnostic - used for finding out what physical or mental problem
someone has
o Immunity - the protection that someones body gives them against a
particular disease
o Reliable - trusted or believed
o Transmission - a process by which a disease spreads from one person
to another
o Grim - unpleasant
o Vector - an insect or other small animal that carries diseases between
larger animals and humans, but is not itself harmed by the disease
o To address - to give attention to or deal with a matter or problem
o Posed - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty
situation worse
o Caseload - all the cases that someone is responsible for dealing with at
the same time, especially a doctor, lawyer, or social worker
o Predominant - most important or powerful
o Downgrading - to treat something in a way that shows that you think it
is now less important than it was
o Incidence - the number of cases of an illness or a medical condition in
a particular place, group, or situation


NOV 24/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Restore the ceasefire"
As the most powerful and cohesive power in the region, India needs to chart a road map to restore the ceasefire on the
Line of Control. The brutal killing of three Indian soldiers, one of them beheaded, in the Machhil sector in Jammu and
Kashmir must alert both India and Pakistan to the danger of the retaliatory cycle spinning out of control. After decades of
hostilities, the formal ceasefire of November 2003 had come as a big boost to peace at a time when India was grappling
with militancy, state-sponsored terrorism and political disaffection. Starting that winter, the guns fell silent along the
International Boundary and the LoC, thousands of residents of border villages on both sides returned to their farms, and
India was able to complete its fence along the LoC. Militancy in J&K declined significantly, and normalcy gradually
returned to the Valley. It is a matter of debate if the ceasefire was a contributing factor in the reduction in militancy in
Kashmir, but cover fire provided by Pakistani military posts along the border had been regularly used by militants to sneak
into India. This is reportedly how the terrorists who killed Indian soldiers on Tuesday managed to get across the LoC.
It is clear now that the ongoing, almost daily, exchange of fire has rendered the ceasefire meaningless. Ever since the
terrorist attack on an Army camp in Uri in September, tensions have bubbled over. Ceasefire violations have become
routine, and thousands of villagers have shifted to safer locations. Small arms, light machine guns, various kinds of
mortars and artillery are being used by both sides. In the fog of hostilities, it is not easy to distinguish who is the guilty,
and who started the firing. What is clear is that this race to the bottom could get out of hand. Contributing to the uncertainty
is the power struggle in Pakistan, with the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif trying to hold its own vis--vis the army.
The expected exit of Army chief Raheel Sharif may add to the confusion, as the new chief settles in. However, in New
Delhi, the picture is far clearer. Given Indias regional status and Prime Minister Narendra Modis unchallenged hold over
political power, it is incumbent on him to initiate steps to restore the ceasefire that worked well for over a decade. It is not
only that peace is an absolute requisite for his governments grand economic plans, including demonetisation, to work;
India and Pakistan must guard against adventurism in an increasingly unpredictable world.
o Restore - to cause a particular situation to exist again, especially a

positive one
o Cohesive - combining well to form a strong well-organized unit
o Line of Control - the military control line between the Indian and
Jammu
o Behead - to cut off someones head, especially as a punishment
o Retaliatory - a retaliatory action is one that is harmful to someone who
has done something to harm you

o Hostility - opposition to something (unfriendly)
o Grappling - fighting
o Disaffection - the state of no longer supporting or being satisfied with
an organization
o Fence - a structure that divides two areas of land, similar to a wall but
made of wood or wire
o Normalcy -the state of being normal
o Gradually - slowly and in small stages or amounts
o Valley - a low area of land between mountains or hills
about a subject
o Sneak into - to enter a place quietly and in secret, without permission
o Rendered - to cause something to be in a particular state
o Bubbled over - to be very excited and enthusiastic
o Arms - weapons and equipment used to kill and injure people (guns /
bombs)
o Mortar - a large gun with a short, wide barrel, that fires bombs or other
explosives very high into the air
o Artillery - very large guns that are moved on wheels or metal tracks
o Fog - a confused or uncertain state
o Guilty - ashamed and sorry because you have done something wrong
things might happen
o Vis--vis - compared to or relating to someone or something
o Incumbent - someone who has an official position
particular currency
results
o Unpredictable - changing often, in a way that is impossible to prepare
for
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "His voice carried across barriers"
In the demise of Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna on Tuesday, the world of Carnatic classical music has lost a
multifaceted artist whose work defied neat definitions, as his popular appeal transcended barriers of geography and
language. Through her captivating and meditative performances across the country and overseas, it was M.S.
Subbulakshmi who had represented the southern tradition for the better part of the last century. But it was
Balamuralikrishna, the child prodigy from Andhra Pradesh, who emerged as the national face of this genre over the past
half century. A combination of a richly gifted voice, sheer individual brilliance and an incessant penchant for eclectic
experimentation saw the maestro cut through the conventional limits of compositional form and style of presentation at a


rather early age. The distinctive identity he carved out would define his formidable reputation over the subsequent
decades. When such innovations sometimes did not find particular favour with the cognoscenti, the composer-vocalist
began to revel in the controversy they occasioned and the popular appeal that resulted from his performances. But despite
all the maverick-like qualities, Balamuralikrishna remains, to date, among the few musicians to have been conferred the
highest honour of The Music Academy, Madras, the Sangeetha Kalanidhi, at a relatively young age. By the time he was
awarded the nations second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan, in 1991, Balamuralikrishnas acclaim as a
playback singer and music director had been reinforced.
Arguably, the great masters imprint on the pan-Indian stage was put irreversibly through the national integration track
Mile sur mera tumhara on Doordarshan in the mid-1980s. The explicit purpose behind this joint production with, among
others, the doyen of the Kirana gharana, the redoubtable Bhimsen Joshi, was to foster a sense of unity and harmony in
those troubled times. But the venture, perhaps unwittingly, also heralded a new era in classical duet singing, hitherto
largely a characteristic of instrumental ensembles. The vocal jugalbandis between Joshi and Balamuralikrishna brought
home to the lay public the fundamental commonalities inherent to the southern and northern ragas, as much as they
emphasised the distinctive styles in rendition across the country. This exposure was no mean feat considering that
classical music remained, and maybe still is, a pursuit of the privileged in society. The void that Balamuralikrishna leaves
at the all-India level may be felt more, therefore, in sustaining interest in this larger musical canvas. But the tremendous
mobility of recent years among artists, and a degree of cross-cultural appreciation, promise the continuity of this legacy.
o Barrier - something that separates one thing from another

o Demise - the death of a person
o Multifaceted - having many different parts
o Defied - to refuse to obey something
o Transcended - to go further, rise above, or be more important or better
than something, especially a limit
o Captivating - to hold the attention of someone by being extremely
interesting, exciting, pleasant, or attractive
o Meditative - involving deep careful thought
o Overseas - related to other countries
o Child prodigy - a young child who has very great ability in something:
o Genre - a style, especially in the arts, that involves a particular set of
characteristics
o Incessant - never stopping
o Penchant - a feeling of liking something very much or a tendency to do
something a lot
o Experimentation - the process of testing various ideas, methods, or
activities to see what effect they have
o Maestro - a musician who people admire and respect a lot

o Distinctive - easy to recognize because of being different from other
o Formidable - very impressive in size, power, or skill and therefore
deserving respect and often difficult to deal with
o Innovation - a new idea / method
o Cognoscenti - people who are experts in a particular subject
o Revel - to celebrate or enjoy yourself in a lively and noisy way, especially
by singing, dancing, and drinking alcohol
o Controversy -a lot of disagreement or argument about something,
o Maverick - an independent person who has ideas and behaviour that are
o Relatively - in comparison with someone or something similar
o Imprint - a strong permanent influence on someone or something
o Pan-Indian - relating to the whole of India
o Irreversibly - impossible to change or bring back a previous condition
or situation
o Doyen - the oldest, most experienced, and often most respected person
of all the people involved in a particular type of work
o Redoubtable - very strong, especially in character; producing respect
and a little fear in others
o Foster - to encourage the development or growth of ideas or feelings
o Harmony - a situation in which people live and work well with other
people, or in a way that does not damage things around them
o Venture - a new activity
o Unwittingly - without knowing or planning
o Herald - to be a sign that something important, and often good, is
starting to happen, or to make something publicly known, especially by
celebrating or praising it
o Hitherto - until the present time
o Ensembles - a group of musicians, dancers, or actors who perform
together
o Vocal - relating to the voice
o Jugalbandi - in Indian music, a duet involving two musicians
o Distinctive - easy to recognize because of being different from other
o Rendition - a particular way of performing a song, poem, piece of music
etc


o Privileged - having advantages and opportunities that other people do
not have
o Void - a situation in which something important that is usually present
is no longer there
o Tremendous - sed for emphasizing that something such as an amount,
achievement, or feeling is extremely great, important, or strong
o Legacy - something that someone has achieved that continues to exist
after they stop working or die
NOV 25/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "By-elections as pointers"
Ruling parties enjoy an inherent advantage in by-elections, especially in States where Assembly elections were held only
months earlier. Voters see little point in antagonising their rulers when there is no immediate prospect of a change in
government. West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry had all gone to the polls in April-May this year, and the
by-elections of last week were not expected to deviate from the general election trend. Even so, the huge victories of the
Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, the BJP in Assam, the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, and the Congress in Puducherry
speak to renewed levels of enthusiasm for the ruling establishment. That ruling party legislators are better equipped to
deal with constituency-level issues would not have been lost on the voters in the Assembly by-elections. In the by-
elections to the Lok Sabha, the BJP won one each in Madhya Pradesh and Assam, but lost to the Trinamool in West
Bengal. But even here, the BJP increased its vote share considerably, finishing ahead of the Left Front in Cooch Behar.
While there is no doubt that the people have reposed their faith in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, there was no logical
basis to her explanation of the electoral outcome as a peoples revolt against the demonetisation move of the BJP-led
government at the Centre. Regional factors related to the performance of State governments seem to have influenced
the results, rather than any overarching theme. The results are no endorsement of the demonetisation decision either, as
the BJP would like people to believe.
Besides the byelection in Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu had polls in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, where elections had
been deferred by the Election Commission following widespread distribution of cash for votes. Whether due to the
demonetisation or the lower stakes in the deferred elections, there was reportedly a reduced flow of currency notes, and
a less intense campaign. In Puducherry, the election was more important for the Congress than for any other party, as
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy was in the fray. A loss would have forced him to resign, and caused acute
embarrassment to the party. In Tripura, which is under the rule of the Left Front, the CPI(M) had no difficulty in picking up
Barjala and Khowai, wresting the former from the Congress. Amid the gloom induced by the results in neighbouring West
Bengal, this provided some solace to the Left. But if there is one lesson to be drawn from this round of polling, it is that
by-elections are not pointers to how an Assembly or Lok Sabha election will turn out, but the latter are usually good
pointers to how by-elections will turn out.


o By-election - an election that happens at a different time from a main
election, to choose a Member of Parliament to replace one who has died
or left his or her job
o Pointer - something that shows you an existing situation
o Antagonising - to make someone feel angry with you, so that they start
to dislike you or have a negative attitude towards you
o Deviate - to start doing something different from what is expected or
agreed
o Huge - extremely large in size or amount
o Legislators - a group of people who together have the power to make
laws
o Equipped - having the skills needed to do something
o Considerably - a lot
o Reposed - if you repose something such as trust or confidence in
someone, you have trust or confidence in them
o Electoral - relating to an election
o Revolt - to say that you will not accept someones authority or leadership
particular currency
o Overarching - affecting or including everything, and therefore very
important
o Widespread - happening or existing in many places, or affecting many
people
o Intense - very great and strong
o Acute - very serious
o Gloom - feelings of great unhappiness and loss of hope
o Induced - to cause something to happen
o Solace - something that makes you feel better when you are sad or upset
o Turn out - to happen in a particular way or to have a particular result,
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "No country for the Rohingyas"
new humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Myanmar after the military crackdown on Islamist jihadists in the Rakhine State,
home to more than one million Rohingya Muslims. The military claims it began the counter-terror operation after three
border security posts came under attack on October 9. But since then more than 130 people have been killed in the State
and 30,000 displaced, triggering a new wave of migration of Rohingyas to neighbouring countries. The army denies
targeting civilians, but satellite images taken after the start of the crackdown indicate that hundreds of buildings were

burnt down; reports suggest that even those who tried to flee the country were shot dead. The migrants are not welcome
in Myanmars neighbourhood either. The violence itself is not surprising given the record of persecution of the Rohingyas
in Myanmar. Many in the Buddhist-majority country call them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh though they have been
living in Rakhine for generations. Myanmars military started a systematic persecution of the Rohingyas in the 1970s when
thousands were deported to Bangladesh. The rest were stripped of citizenship by the junta, which often used the Rohingya
problem to drum up support for itself among the Buddhist majority.
What is surprising this time is the silence of the government led by Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy.
Ms. Suu Kyi, the countrys de facto ruler, has not said much about the military operation in Rakhine, or spoken for the
Rohingya cause. When her party took power in April, ending decades of military rule, many had hoped that it would signal
the dawn of a new era of peace and democracy in Myanmar. But the government has been largely ineffective in tackling
internal security and humanitarian issues. The operation in Rakhine shows the change of guard in government hasnt
brought any meaningful difference to Myanmars most disadvantaged sections. True, the army still remains a powerful
institution. It controls the security, defence and border ministries besides wielding considerable economic power. It is also
possible that the generals are escalating the conflict on their own. Even so, the government cannot remain in denial about
the atrocities. Ms. Suu Kyi bears responsibility for what is happening in Rakhine now because her party rules, not the
junta. For decades, Myanmar persecuted the Rohingya people while the world ignored their plight. By all accounts, that
situation has not changed.
o Rohingyas - Muslim Indo-Aryan peoples from the Rakhine State,

Myanmar
bad conditions and are suffering
o Crisis - an extremely difficult or dangerous point in a situation:
o Unfolding - to happen, or to develop
o Claims - to say that something is true or is a fact, although you cannot
somewhere else
o Triggering - to make something happen
o Migration - to go to another place or country in order to find work
o Burn something down - to destroy something, especially a building, by
fire, or to be destroyed by fire
o Flee - to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear
o Persecution - extremely bad treatment of someone, especially because
of their race, religion, or political beliefs
o Immigrants - people who come to live in a country from another country
o Deport - to send someone out of a country, usually because they do not
have a legal right to be there
o Stripped - removed

o Junta - a government, especially a military one, that has taken power in
a country by force and not by election
o Drum up - to try to make people support you
o De facto - actual, even though not official
o Era - a historical period with a particular character or feature
o Democracy - a system of government in which people vote in elections
to choose the people who will govern them
o Ineffective - something that is ineffective does not work correctly or
does not do what you want it to do
advantages as other people, for example because they do not have much
money
o Wielding - to have a lot of influence or power over other people
o Considerable - large or of noticeable importance
o Escalating - to make something much worse or more serious
o Denial - a statement that something is not true or did not happen
o Atrocity- a cruel and violent act, often in a war
o Persecute - to treat someone extremely badly, or to refuse them equal
rights, especially because of their race, religion, or political beliefs
o Plight - a sad, serious, or difficult situation
NOV 26/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Appointing a Lokpal"
By admonishing the Union government for delaying the appointment of a Lokpal, the Supreme Court has sent across a
timely message that efforts to cleanse the economy must be matched by equally strong measures to cleanse public life
too. There can really be no excuse for the failure to establish an institution even three years after passing the relevant
law. The only reason for the delay in the appointment of the Lokpal is that a minor amendment to the Lokpal and
Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to enable the leader of the largest party in the opposition in the Lok Sabha to join the five-member
selection committee, is yet to be passed. A parliamentary committee has endorsed the amendment, which is on the same
lines as the mechanism for the selection panels for the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Chief Information
Commissioner. The court has indicated that it will not allow the institution to remain inoperative indefinitely, evoking
apprehension on the Centres part that a judicial direction may be given to get the amendment passed or an ordinance
promulgated. The Centre needs to re-examine its own options on implementing the Lokpal Act. The law now provides for
a five-member panel to select the anti-corruption ombudsman, comprising the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker,
the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist. The hitch is that there is no recognised LoP
in the lower House. The question now is whether the Centre is right in claiming the Congress floor leader cannot hold that
post because its bench strength is well short of the required 55.
The rule that the Speaker can recognise as LoP only the leader of the principal opposition party that has 10 per cent of
the total number of Lok Sabha seats is based on precedent. It was a ruling by Speaker G.V. Mavalankar, cited in the


Directions for the Functioning of the Lok Sabha, with respect to recognising a group as a parliamentary party. The only
legal provision defining the Leader of the Opposition is a 1977 law concerning the office-holders salary. The definition
says the LoP shall be the leader of the party in opposition with the greatest numerical strength and recognised as such
by the Speaker. Therefore, there is nothing in law that prevents the Speaker from recognising the present Congress
Parliamentary Party leader as the LoP. Instead of waiting for the amendment, the Speaker can adopt the solution of
recognising the CPP leader and expedite the Lokpals formation. It just needs political will and some magnanimity.
o Lokpal - (caretaker of people in Sanskrit) He is an anti-corruption

authority who represents the public interest
o Admonishing - to tell someone that they have done something wrong
o Cleanse - to make something completely clean
o Minor - very small / having little importance
o Enable - to make something possible
o Endorsed - to make a public statement of your approval or support for
something or someone
o Inoperative - not having effect or power,
o Indefinitely - for a period of time with no fixed end
o Evoking - to make someone remember something or feel an emotion
o Apprehension - a feeling of worry or fear that something bad might
happen
being discussed
o Promulgated - to spread beliefs or ideas among a lot of people
o Re-examine - to look at something in detail again
o Panel - a small group of people chosen to give advice, make a decision,
or publicly discuss their opinions as entertainment
o Ombudsman - someone who works for a government or large
organization and deals with the complaints made against it
o Comprising - to form something
o Hitch - a temporary difficulty that causes a short delay
o Concerning - about
o Office-holder - someone who has an important official position in an
organization or in the government
o Magnanimity - to forgive people / willing to be kind and fair
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The gathering crisis in Seoul"


undreds of thousands of angry citizens have been taking to the streets every weekend in South Korea, against the
continuation in office of President Park Geun-hye. The crisis of confidence in Ms. Parks leadership exploded after her
aide Choi Soon-sil was arrested over allegations that Ms. Choi covertly exercised illegal authority over critical government
decisions. She has also allegedly extorted $69 million from the giant industrial conglomerates, or chaebols, in the form of
donations to two charitable foundations. Ms. Park has stood her ground and clung on to the presidency, even as she
sacked at least eight of her aides in an unsuccessful attempt to regain public trust. Yet, pressure is mounting as the
opposition parties are circling the wagons over impeaching her for breach of the Constitution. An impeachment motion
would require two-thirds support in the 300-seat National Assembly. Opposition parties enjoy a combined majority there,
and say they have secured the backing of more than 29 lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri party, the minimum number
required to push this through. If they succeed, this would be the first time in 12 years that South Koreas National Assembly
has impeached a president.
History also matters in the broader context of the unravelling relationship between the South Korean government and the
chaebols. What began as a storied macroeconomic strategy of picking winners from amongst competing industrial
groups, a paradigm that produced the Samsungs and Hyundais of today, is under a cloud. On November 8, prosecutors
raided the Samsung offices over allegations it had transferred $3.1 million to a company owned by Ms. Choi in Germany.
The hard-fought democracy that South Koreans won in 1987, driven by people power protests similar to the ones seen
in Seoul this month, is in need of revitalisation. The pressure to establish a more sustainable model of governance is
immense, not least because South Korea finds itself at a strategic crossroads on the global stage. Whoever succeeds
Ms. Park as President and it might well be soon-to-retire UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would have to address
sky-high tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea, and manage an economy that is at risk of slowing. Ties are cooling
with China, South Koreas largest trading partner, and Beijing is hostile to the prospect of deploying the U.S.-made
antiballistic missile system THAAD in the peninsula. Further, the rhetoric of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on
economic protectionism and reviewing relationships with treaty allies does not help the South Korean cause. One way or
another, the ball is in Ms. Parks court, and she has the opportunity to bring the turmoil to a quick end.

o Taking to the streets - when people take to the streets, they express
their opposition to something in public and often violently
o Exploded - to break up into pieces violently
o Covertly - secretly, or in a hidden way
o Extorted - to illegally get money or information from someone by using
force
o Conglomerates - a large business organization formed when several
different businesses join together

o Chaebols - one of the several large, powerful groups of companies in
South Korea that are involved in various different types of business
o Charitable - intended to help people who are poor or ill
o Stood her ground - to continue in her beliefs in an argument
o Clung on to something - to try very hard to keep something
o Presidency - the job of being president, or the period when someone is
a president
o Sacked - to remove someone from their job
o Regain - to get something again that you lost
o Impeaching - to make a formal statement saying that a public official is
guilty of a serious offence in connection with their job
o Backing - support
o Unravelling - destroying
o Macroeconomic - the study of financial systems at a national level
o Paradigm - a model of something, or a very clear and typical example
of something
o Under a cloud - not be trusted or popular because people think you have
done something bad
o Hard-fought - achieved after a lot of difficulty or fighting
o Revitalisation - the process of making something grow, develop, or
become successful again
o Immense - extremely large in size or degree
o Hostile - unfriendly and not liking something
future
o Deploying - to move soldiers or equipment to a place where they can
be used when they are needed
o Rhetoric - clever language that sounds good but is not sincere or has no
real meaning
o Ally - a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to
another one, especially during a war
NOV 28/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Demonetisation and its discontents"
emonetisation seems to have made friends of foes, and foes of friends in the political firmament. If Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar differed from his allies while heaping praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for embarking on
demonetisation, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was critical of his partys senior partner in government for bringing


tears in the eyes of the people who had voted it to power. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress
showed a readiness to join hands with arch-rival Left Front to fight the demonetisation drive. While the withdrawal of high-
denomination notes can hardly be expected to trigger a political realignment anywhere, political parties seem to be rising
above mundane political calculations while reacting to the demonetisation. A cynical view might be that Mr. Kumar is
keeping his political options open by building bridges with the BJP, and keeping his politically junior but numerically
stronger ally, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, in check. Arguably, he could be trying to recover his assiduously cultivated anti-
corruption image, which took a beating following his electoral pact with Lalu Prasad of the RJD. But a simpler explanation
cannot be ruled out: that Mr. Kumar saw some merit in the demonetisation drive, even as he recognised the difficulties in
implementation. Similarly, the Sena cannot afford to break with the BJP at this juncture. Quite likely, Mr. Thackeray was
prompted not by the possibilities of political realignment (of which there is practically none), but by the realities on the
ground, in distancing himself and his party from the demonetisation decision. In West Bengal, an alliance between the
Trinamool and the Left Front is inconceivable, but that did not stop Ms. Banerjee from reaching out to the CPI(M) in her
fight.
If political parties have thus reacted unpredictably, it could just be on account of the mixed results seen on the ground.
None can afford to be seen as directly opposing measures to clean up black money and weed out counterfeits. However,
stories of cashless banks and shuttered ATMs seem to have given some life to opposition parties looking for an issue to
pin the government down on. Reports of the BJP having made huge cash deposits in banks in West Bengal, and land
deals in Bihar days before the demonetisation, have provided some ammunition to opposition parties that were initially
reluctant to criticise the move for fear of being labelled supporters of black money hoarders and counterfeiters.
Demonetisation might not have changed political equations, but it has shaken up the political scene. What they cannot
oppose in principle, parties have opposed in practice.

particular currency
o Discontent - the unhappy feeling that you have when you are not
satisfied with something
o Foes - enemies
o Firmament - the most famous or important people in an area of activity
o Heaping - large
o Embarking - to begin (a course of action)
o Join hands - to get involved in an activity
sport, business etc
o High-denomination - high value (especially money)
o Realignment - to change the position of something
o Mundane - very ordinary and therefore not interesting
o Cynical - believing that people are only interested in themselves and
are not sincere

o Building bridges - to improve relationships between people who are
very different or do not like each other
o Assiduously - very carefully
o Cultivated - developed
o Took a beating - to be damaged because of performing badly or being
criticized
o Pact - a formal agreement between two people or groups of people
o Rule something out - to prevent something from happening
o Merit - an advantage
o Prompted - encouraged
o Realignment - to change the way in which something such as a system
or institution is organized
o On the ground - among the general public
o Distance yourself from something - to become or seem less involved or
connected with something
same thing
o Unpredictably - changing often, in a way that is impossible to prepare
for
o Weed out something - to get rid of unwanted things or people from a
group
o Counterfeit - to make an illegal copy of a bank note, product, ticket etc
o Shuttered - closed (not operating)
o Pin somebody down - to force someone to make a decision about
something
o Ammunition - facts that can be used to support an argument
o Labelled - to use a word or phrase to describe someone or something,
especially one that is not completely fair or true
o Hoarder - a person or organization that collects a lot of money or
objects, sometimes secretly
o Shaken up something - to cause large changes in something such as
an organization, usually in order to make improvements
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Cuba after Fidel"
The life of Fidel Castro, Latin Americas last revolutionary leader and towering and charismatic anti-imperialist torch-
bearer, came to signify the high point of Cold War ideological hostilities of the 20th century. At home, his policies to
promote affordable and accessible health care, housing and education, as well as his standing up to global hegemony,
endeared him to the majority, even as his record on human rights came in for serious scrutiny. But these domestic issues
played out in the larger shadow of his defiance of American power, which has outlasted that of the Soviet Union. When
Castro captured power in 1959, there were few signs that the Marxist radical would emerge a global champion of Third

World countries in his nearly fifty-year rule. But the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, by Cuban exiles trained by the U.S.,
to overthrow his regime began a pragmatic partnership between Castro and the Soviet Union, bringing the Cold War into
the western hemisphere. This was the context to Russian preparations to house nuclear missiles in Cuba to threaten the
U.S., which took the world to near-catastrophe in 1962. The U.S. misperception of the threat posed by Castro led to CIA
plots to assassinate him. As it turned out, he lived long enough to see the rollback of Washingtons decades-long sanctions
that crippled the Cuban economy.
The clearest example of Castros global standing was the clout he commanded in the Non-Aligned Movement. In more
recent times, his slogan of socialism or death inspired the nationalisation of natural wealth by governments across Latin
America as a counter to the appropriation of oil and mineral resources by corporations. Changes in the global economic
climate may have exposed the deficiencies of an economic model reliant on riding the commodity cycle. But the process
of resumption of diplomatic ties between Havana and Washington under the stewardship of his designated successor
and brother, Ral, is still fragile. U.S. President Barack Obama, who undertook a historic visit to the Caribbean nation
earlier this year, sought to build the new rapprochement between Washington and Havana based on the relative distance
of current generations in both countries from the painful memories of the past. Clearly, this is the path for President-elect
Donald Trump to pursue, assuming that his pre-poll rhetoric would make way for a more reasoned approach once in
office. Meanwhile, with incumbent Ral Castro having announced his intention to step down by 2018, it will be a long
transition in Havana.
o Revolutionary - relating to or supporting a political revolution (change)

o Towering - very great
o Charismatic - a charismatic person has a strong personal quality that
makes other people like them and be attracted to them
o Imperialist - wanting to take control of other countries
o Torch-bearer - somebody who attracts people to do something (leader)
o Signify - to show
o Ideological - based on a system of ideas and principles on which a
political or economic theory is based
o Hostilities - fighting between enemies in a war
o Affordable - not expensive (able to be bought by people who do not
earn a lot of money)
o Hegemony - political control or influence, especially by one country over
other countries
o Endeared - to cause someone to be liked by another person
o Majority - most of the people or things in a group
o Domestic - relating to the country being talked about
o Played out - tired and no longer having power or effectiveness
o Outlasted - to continue to be successful for longer, than someone or
something else
o Radical - believing or expressing the belief that there should be great or
extreme social or political change

o Exile - a person who is sent or kept away from their own country
o Overthrow - to defeat or remove someone from power, using force
that really exist now, rather than obeying fixed theories, ideas, or rules
o Cold War - a state of extreme unfriendliness existing between countries
o Hemisphere- one half of the Earth
o Threaten - to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them or cause
problems if they do not do what you want
o Catastrophe - a sudden event that causes very great trouble or
destruction
o Misperception - a belief or opinion about something that is wrong or
not accurate
o Turned out - happened in a particular way (especially an unexpected
one)
o Rollback - an occasion when the influence of particular laws, rules, etc.
is reduced
o Crippled - caused serious damage to someone or something
o Non-Aligned - if a country is non-aligned, it does not support or depend
on any powerful country or group of countries
o Socialism - a political system that aims to create a society in which
everyone has equal opportunities and in which the most important
industries are owned or controlled by the whole community
o Nationalisation - if a government nationalizes a large company or
industry, it takes control of it and owns it
o Appropriation - the act of taking something for your own use, usually
without permission
o Corporation - a large company or group of companies that is controlled
together as a single organization
o Deficiency- a state of not having, or not having enough, of something
that is needed
o Commodity - something that can be bought and sold, especially a basic
food product or fuel
o Resumption - the start of something again after a temporary stop
o Stewardship - the way in which someone organizes and looks after
something
o Designate - to choose someone officially to do a particular job
o Successor - someone who has an important position after someone else
o Fragile - not very strong
o Undertook - to do or begin something
o Pursue - to follow someone or something
o Rhetoric - speech (to be effective and influence people)
o Meanwhile - at the same time


o Intention - a plan in your mind to do something
o Step down - to leave an official position or job, especially so that
someone else can take your place
NOV 29/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Two-pronged war in Iraq"
The blast in Hilla that killed over 100 people, mostly Iranian pilgrims, reinforces the fear that the Islamic State remains a potent
force in Iraq despite recent military setbacks. By attacking a town located between Najaf and Karbala, two of Shia Islams holiest
places, at a time when Shia Muslims around the world travel to Karbala to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the IS has
left no doubt about who it is targeting. Besides, the attack came nearly six weeks after Iraqi government troops, aided by Iran and the
U.S., started a massive operation to retake Mosul, which has been under IS control since June 2014. It is not difficult to understand
the ISs strategy. In the past, when its bases came under attack, the group had used terror to strike faraway civilian centres. Needless
to say, this is a major security failure for the Iraqi government. When the pilgrimage season began, many had warned that the IS
would make an attempt to attack around Karbala. What is more worrisome for the government troops is the battlefield flexibility the
IS is demonstrating. It is fighting a conventional war against the government troops in Mosul while unleashing guerrilla attacks
elsewhere.
More than a month after the battle for Mosul began, government troops are yet to make any substantial territorial gains. On the other
side, civilian casualties are relatively high. According to the UN, around 20 per cent of the injured in Mosul are civilians, compared
to the average 5 per cent in other recent anti-IS operations. Once Iraqi troops, largely Shia, enter the city that is home to a million
people who are mostly Sunni, casualties could be higher. The IS, given its history of exploiting Shia-Sunni sectarian tensions to its
advantage, may be waiting just for that. Against this background, the Iraqi government faces huge challenges. First, it has to make
real battleground advances in Mosul with minimum civilian casualties to raise the pressure on the IS while boosting its capability to
fight potential terror strikes. In the last two major terror strikes alone, the IS has killed over 400 people in Iraq. If it continues to
terrorise civilians, the already feeble Iraqi government would suffer a further loss of credibility among the public. Second, the
government has to guard against falling into the sectarian trap that the IS has set. In previous anti-IS battles, Iraqi troops were accused
of targeting Sunni civilians. If Baghdad doesnt win over the Sunnis living in its war-ravaged north and north-west, it will not get a
grip on the cycle of terror.
o Two-pronged - two sided

o Pilgrims - people who make a journey, to a special place for religious
reasons
o Potent - very powerful, forceful, or effective


from developing
o Holiest place - very religious place
o Commemorate - to remember officially and give respect to a great
person or event
o Martyrdom - an occasion when someone suffers or is killed because of
their religious or political beliefs
o Aided - helped or supported
war, politics, business, industry, or sport, or the skill of planning for such
situations
o Faraway - a long way away
o Needless to say - used for saying that something is already known or
understood
o Pilgrimage - a journey that a religious person makes to a holy place
o Worrisome - causing you to feel worried
o Battlefield - a place where groups of people violently oppose each other
o Unleashing - to suddenly release a violent force that cannot be
controlled
o Guerrilla - a member of an unofficial military group that is trying to
change the government by making sudden, unexpected attacks on the
official army forces
o Elsewhere - in or to another place or other places
o Territorial - (an area of) land, that is considered as belonging to or
connected with a particular country
o Casualties - people injured or killed in a serious accident or war
o Exploiting - to use something in a way that helps you
o Feeble - weak and without energy, strength, or power
trust them
a crime
o Civilians - people who are not a member of the police or the armed
forces
o War-ravaged - seriously damaged by a long war, especially between
different groups from the same country
o Get a grip on something - to begin to understand a difficult situation
and start to find a way of dealing with it
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Lessons from another jailbreak"
he daring escape of six prisoners, including the self-styled commander of a Khalistani militant group, from the Nabha Jail

in Punjab is another wake-up call for the security establishment. This is the second major jailbreakin the country in the
space of weeks involving high-profile prisoners jailed on terrorism charges. Both were well planned and executed. While
the jailbreak by members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) from the Bhopal Central Prison last month
was planned inside and executed largely by the prisoners on their own, the incident in Nabha was aided by a group of
armed men from outside wearing police uniforms. Shortly after the Bhopal jailbreak, all those who had escaped were
gunned down in an alleged encounter. And a day after the Punjab incident, Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder
Mintoo was nabbed in Delhi, while the alleged mastermind, Parminder Singh, was arrested in Shamli district in western
Uttar Pradesh. Apart from Mintoo, the five others who escaped are still at large. They are identified as Kashmira Singh,
an alleged terrorist, and Vicky Gaundar, Amandeep Dhotian, Gurpreet Sekhon and Nita Deol, all described as dreaded
gangsters. It is not clear if the plan was to release the militants or the gangsters, or all of them. Whatever the aim, it is
evident that the so-called high security prisons are hardly fool-proof. Those incarcerated have enough scope to hatch a
conspiracy, keep in touch with accomplices outside and finalise escape plans in meticulous detail.
What is also troubling is that even before the jailbreak has been thoroughly investigated and as the hunt for the escaped
men is still on, the incident has taken on political overtones. With Punjab due for an Assembly election early next year,
the suspicion that these men were breaking out of jail to disturb the peace in the run-up to the polls will naturally arise.
However, while voicing this suspicion, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has alleged a Pakistani hand.
State Director-General of Police Suresh Arora has voiced suspicion of official connivance, noting that retaliatory firing by
the police at the armed men was completely ineffective. Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Amarinder Singh has
called the incident a sign of breakdown of law and order and alleged official complicity at the highest level. While a high-
level probe is necessary to unravel the entire plot and establish any laxity or connivance on the part of the authorities, the
real issue is that there are too many shortcomings in the security arrangements in our jails. Introducing a new security
regimen that will plug all loopholes ought to be a national priority.
o Jailbreak - an escape from prison

o Daring - brave and taking risks
o Self-styled - given a name or title by yourself without any official reason
for it
o Wake-up call - if something that happens is a wake-up call, it should
make you realize that you need to take action to change a situation
o Prisoner - a person who is kept in jail as a punishment
and newspapers, television, etc
o Executed - to do or perform something, especially in a planned way
o Aided - helped / supported
o Gunned down - to shoot someone and kill or seriously injure them
o Alleged - said or thought by some people to be the stated bad or illegal
thing, although you have no proof
o Nabbed - to catch or arrest a criminal
o Mastermind - someone who plans a difficult or complicated operation,
especially a crime

o Dreaded - frightening or worrying
o Fool-proof - a foolproof method, plan, or system is so well designed that
it cannot go wrong or is certain to succeed
o Incarcerated - to put or keep someone in prison
o Conspiracy - the activity of secretly planning with other people to do
something bad or illegal
o Accomplices - a person who helps someone else to commit a crime or
to do something morally wrong
o Meticulous - very careful and with great attention to every detail
o Connivance - to plan secretly, especially to do something that is illegal
or immoral
o Retaliatory - intended to do something harmful or unpleasant to
someone because they have done something harmful or unpleasant to
you
o Ineffective - not producing the effects or results that are wanted
o Breakdown - a failure to work or be successful
o Probe - to try to discover information that other people do not want you
to know, by asking questions carefully and not directly
o Unravel - to make something known or understood
o Laxity - not serious or strong enough
o Shortcoming - a fault or a failure to reach a particular standard
o Regimen - set of rules
NOV 30/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A last chance for amnesty"
The amendments to the Income Tax law passed by the Lok Sabha now offer those with unaccounted cash a last shot at
amnesty. They can pay half their cash as tax and deposit a quarter into a new Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.
Those who fail to do this voluntarily for bank deposits made since November 8 would end up retaining about 15 per cent
of the total amount if they cannot establish a legitimate source for the funds. There is a Robinhood-esque edge to the
PMGKY approach, directly linking the war on black money to welfare of the poor. Essentially an extension of the recent
Income Disclosure Scheme that cleaned up about Rs.65,000 crore of undeclared income by levying 45 per cent tax, the
December 30 deadline for bank deposits in demonetised notes gives a more purposeful push to the effort to clean out all
the cash in the grey economy. The scheme for disclosing foreign assets last year had yielded just about Rs.2,400 crore
in taxes, so a tougher approach was perhaps necessary to instil real fear among habitual tax evaders. Since the


demonetisation of currency notes worth an estimated Rs.14.18 lakh crore, nearly Rs.8.45 lakh crore has been brought
back into the system. If the proportion of notes deposited or exchanged is in line with their circulation prior to November
8, about Rs.2.56 lakh crore in Rs.1,000 notes and Rs.3.17 lakh crore worth of Rs.500 notes (that can be spent on
exempted categories till December 15) is still out there.
Many clever ploys have been attempted to subvert this drive and convert black money into white: hiring people to
exchange currency; tapping cash-in-hand entries of firms to launder illicit cash; pumping funds into bank accounts for the
poor; purchasing goods in bulk where old notes are still allowed; even tipping off the taxman to conduct search-and-
seizure operations on ones own premises to avail of a provision that allows individuals to pay a mere 10 per cent penalty
on such income if they admit to it. The government is trying to close the door on such ingenuity, and the latest tax law
changes should be seen in this context. By early January, it will be clear how much money has been mopped up by the
demonetisation operation. There is, however, no doubt that this tax manoeuvre is a neater way of gaining fiscal headroom
than extinguishing the Reserve Bank of Indias liabilities to the extent of unreturned old Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes, and
turning that into a special dividend to the exchequer.
o Amnesty - a situation in which a government agrees not to punish, or

to no longer punish, people who have committed a particular crime
o Unaccounted - unpaid, without explanation
o Voluntarily - done willingly, without being forced or paid to do it
o Retaining - to keep or continue to have something
o Establish - to prove that something is true
o -esque - like or in the style of someone or their work
o Disclosure - a piece of information that was previously secret
o Deadline - a time or day by which something must be done
o Demonetise - to officially stop using particular notes or coins, or a
particular currency
o Purposeful - intended to achieve something useful
o Clean out - to use all of someones money
o Yield - to produce something
o Instil - to make someone have a particular feeling or belief
o Habitual - usually or often done by someone
o Evaders - people who escape or avoid doing something
o Proportion - the number or amount of a group or part of something
when compared to the whole
o In line with - similar to something

o Prior - existing or happening before something else, or before a
particular time
o Exempt - to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc
o Ploy - something that is done or said in order to get an advantage, often
dishonestly
o Subvert - to make someone less loyal or less moral
o Hiring - to pay someone to work for you, especially for a short time
o Launder - to move money that has been obtained illegally through banks
and other businesses to make it seem to have been obtained legally
o Tipping - the act of giving an amount of money to someone who has
provided a service
o Ingenuity - someone's ability to think of clever new ways of doing
something
o Mopped up - to finish dealing with something
o Headroom - the amount of space
o Extinguishing - o stop or get rid of an idea or feeling
o Liability - the amount of money that a company owes
o Dividend - (a part of) the profit of a company that is paid to the people
who own shares in it
o Exchequer - the government department responsible for a countrys
financial matters
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Finally, a step towards change"
With the CPN(Maoist-Centre)-led government in Nepal approving amendments to the Constitution that will be tabled in
Parliament, a first step towards positive change has been made in addressing federal concerns. The amendments include
federal redrawing of boundaries that will allow for at least two Madhesi-dominated Terai provinces, substantial recognition
of rights of naturalised citizens, especially women, and some degree of proportional representation in the Upper House.
All these were major demands raised by Madhesi and other groups in agitations that lasted months and disrupted life.
But with the opposition Communist Party of Nepal (Unified-Marxist Leninist) refusing to countenance any change, the
Nepali Congress not providing adequate support to the government and the Madhesi parties refusing to budge from
maximalist positions in the run-up to the move, it remains to be seen whether these amendments will pass. A failure would
mean the political battle to honour the commitments made in the interim Constitution in 2007, which followed a series of
agitations seeking a federal democratic character to Naya Nepal, is lost to the status quoists.
Last week marked the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between mainstream political parties
and the Nepali Maoists. It formally ended the decade-long civil war and paved the way for a constitutional republic. The
initial achievements, painstakingly won, secured the peace process and mainstreamed the Maoists to bring a measure
of stability to a country emerging not only from civil war but also a disastrous spell of rule by the palace. However, these
last ten years have not quite seen the substantive change people had hoped for, with political parties abandoning the


bipartisan approach to the CPA. Far from rising to the responsibilities of the new compact, the polity reverted to its default
position of the 1990s, with short-termist power grabs and spells of political instability. This abdication resulted in a failure
to forge consensus on the contentious issues of state restructuring and amendments to the Constitution to address the
concerns of the Madhesis and other ethnic groups. The naysayers have cynically used the nationalist line to resist the
amendments, suggesting that these are directed by a foreign hand (read India). This ploy has been frequently used to
resist democratic change. Unlike what the nationalists claim, a truly federal Nepal is not a recipe for instability. Provinces
sharing the power that is currently concentrated in Kathmandu would stabilise Nepali politics and empower marginalised
communities. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda took office promising momentum to the political process.
Months later, he has taken the first step.
o Amendments - a change made to a law or agreement

o Constitution - a set of basic laws or principles for a country that
describe the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in which it is
governed
o Table - to suggest formally in a meeting something that you would like
everyone to discuss
o Addressing - to try to deal with a problem
o Federal - a federal system of government consists of a group of regions
that are controlled by a central government
o Redrawing - to change something, especially the borders between
countries or regions
o Naturalised - to make someone a legal citizen of a country that they
were not born in
o Upper House - one of the two parts that some parliaments are divided
into
o Agitations - the situation in which people protest or argue, especially in
o Disrupted - to prevent something, especially a system, process, or
event, from continuing as usual or as expected
o Countenance - to approve of or give support to something
o Budge - to change your opinion or to make someone change their
opinion
o Accord - agreement
o Mainstream - considered normal


o Disastrous Spell - to cause something extremely bad to happen in the
future
o Abandoning - to leave something
o Bipartisan - supported by or consisting of two political parties
o Compact - a formal agreement between two or more people,
organizations, or countries
o Reverted to something - to return to doing, using, being, or referring to
something, usually something bad or less satisfactory
o Instability - uncertainty caused by the possibility of a sudden change in
the present situation
o Abdication - if a king or queen abdicates, he or she makes a formal
statement that he or she no longer wants to be king or queen
people
o Contentious - causing or likely to cause disagreement
o Ethnic groups - relating to a group of people who have the same culture
and tradition
o Naysayers - someone who says something is not possible, is not good,
or will fail
are not sincere
dishonestly
o Resist - to refuse to accept or be changed by something
DEC 01/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Provocation at Nagrota"
The death of seven soldiers in the terrorist attack on an Army base in Nagrota provides graphic evidence of the high cost
being borne by the armed forces amidst escalating violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack comes just two months
after militants stormed an Army camp in Uri, resulting in the death of 19 soldiers. Early on Tuesday morning, three
terrorists entered the camp in Nagrota, near Jammu city and not very far from the headquarters of 16 Corps, one of the
largest and most important corps of the Indian Army. It is important to investigate how heavily armed terrorists reached
the 166 Medium Regiment premises in a securitised area, despite several road blocks on the road to Nagrota. Wearing
police uniforms, the terrorists reportedly scaled a wall and stormed the base, where many military families were staying.
Seven soldiers, including two Majors, were killed as they fought to prevent a hostage situation. At least four unarmed
officers, the wives of two officers and two children were among those who were at risk of being taken hostage. According
to Army officers, the two women also showed exemplary presence of mind, and blocked their doors with household items.


With the latest incident, at least 89 security personnel have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir so far in 2016. This is the
highest figure in almost a decade, or since the gains of the 2003 ceasefire on the India-Pakistan border began to be
consolidated. Since the surgical strikes of September 29 in response to the Uri attack, India has lost 27 security personnel.
In fact, the attrition rate among the security forces has been going up steadily vis--vis the terrorists. Decades of
experience in fighting insurgencies and the diverse tactics adopted to reduce security force casualties have in recent
months been challenged by the terrorists focus on security installations, aimed at causing maximum casualties among
the forces. The violence level within Jammu and Kashmir is a result of several factors: the unrest in the Valley, the state
of Indias relations with Pakistan, and the situation along the border, both the International Boundary and the Line of
Control. On all three fronts, much needs to be done. India-Pakistan bilateral relations have nosedived in recent months.
And while New Delhi does not have the luxury of choosing unilaterally between relative peace and a lingering state of
low-intensity conflict, there needs to be an appraisal of the costs that have come with the breakdown of the 2003 ceasefire
for instance, crossfire is routinely a cover for Pakistan in assisting terrorists to cross over to Indian territory. Creating
peace is a complex process. Drawing up a plan to minimise loss of life will be a good place to begin.

angry
o Graphic - very clear and powerful
true
air force
o Escalating - to become or make something become greater or more
serious
o Corps - a military unit trained to perform particular duties
o Armed - using or carrying weapons
o Regiment - a large group of soldiers
o Premises - the land and buildings owned by someone
o Reportedly - used for showing that you are not certain that something
you are reporting is true
o Scaled - to climb
o Hostage - someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to
force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants
o Unarmed - not having any weapons
o Exemplary - excellent
o Personnel - people who are employed in a company, organization, or
one of the armed forces
o Consolidated - to combine several things


o Surgical strike - a type of military attack that is made in an exact way
on a particular place
o Attrition - gradually making something weaker and destroying it,
especially the strength or confidence of an enemy by repeatedly attacking
it
o Insurgency - an occasion when a group of people attempt to take
o Casualty - a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war
o Installation - a place where there are buildings and equipment that
have a particular, especially military, purpose
o Nosedived -a fast and sudden fall
o Unilaterally - involving only one group or country
o Lingering - to take a long time to leave or disappear
o Intensity - strength
o Appraisal - to examine someone or something in order to judge their
qualities, success, or needs
o Breakdown - a failure to work or be successful
o Routinely - a regular series of movements
o Territory - an area of land, that is considered as belonging to or
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Indias missing girl children"
It is a cruel irony of a fast-growing India that there are fewer and fewer girls as a ratio of total births, as a result of complex
factors that include parental preference. New data from the Civil Registration System of the Registrar General of India
point to the hardening of the pattern, with a fall in sex ratio at birth from 898 girls to 1,000 boys in 2013, to 887 a year
later. This depressing trend is consistent with evidence from the Census figures of 2001 and 2011. What is shocking is
that the overall data mask the horror of particular districts and panchayats falling well below the national ratio, especially
in the zero-to-six years assessment category. The scourge has, in some cases, prompted the Supreme Court to take
note of the situation, and the National Human Rights Commission to ask for an explanation from State governments. In
the understanding of the Centre, which it has conveyed to Parliament, girls stand a poor chance at survival because there
is a socio-cultural mindset that prefers sons, girls are seen as a burden, and family size has begun to shrink. The BJP-
led government responded to the silent crisis with the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, which focusses on the
prevention of sex-selective abortions, creation of opportunities for education and protection of girl children. Now that the


scheme is set to enter its third year in January, there should be a speedy assessment of its working, particularly in districts
with a poor sex ratio where it has been intensively implemented.
A wider assessment needs to be made on why States such as Tamil Nadu with a strong social development foundation
have slipped on sex ratio at birth (834), going by the CRS data for 2014. The cradle baby scheme was started in 1992 in
Tamil Nadu to raise the survival chances of girl children by encouraging mothers to give them anonymously for adoption.
Yet, the latest numbers, together with the persistence of the programme after 24 years, and 260 babies being abandoned
in just one centre over a six-year period, make it clear that national policy has achieved little in real terms. Clearly, there
is a need to go beyond slogans and institute tangible schemes. Enforcement of the law that prohibits determination of the
sex of the foetus must go hand in hand with massive social investments to protect both immediate and long-term prospects
of girls in the form of cash incentives through registration of births, a continuum of health care, early educational
opportunities and social protection. Half-measures cannot produce a dramatic reversal of the shameful national record.

o Fewer and fewer - very less
o Parental - involving parents
o Evidence - one or more reasons for believing that something is true or
not true
o Census - a count for official purposes, especially one to count the
number of people living in a country and to collect information about
them
o Scourge - something that causes a lot of trouble or harm
o Prompted - to cause something to happen or be done
o Take note of something - to give attention to something, especially
because it is important
o Convey - to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood
by other people
exist
o Socio-cultural - related to the different groups of people in society and
their habits, traditions, and beliefs
o Mindset - a person's way of thinking and their opinions
o Burden - something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with or
worry about
o Shrink - to become smaller
o Campaign - a planned group of activities that are intended to achieve a
particular aim
o Prevention - to stop something from happening or someone from doing
something

o Intensively - involving a lot of effort or activity in a short period of time
o Cradle - a small bed for a baby that you can move gently from side to
side
o Anonymously - without revealing your name
o Adoption - the process of making a child legally part of your family
o Persistence - a situation in which something unpleasant continues to
exist
o Abandoned - left alone by someone who should stay with you and look
after you
o Beyond - outside
o Tangible - important and noticeable
o Prohibit - to officially refuse to allow something
o Determination - the process of controlling, influencing, or deciding
something
o Foetus - a developing baby human or animal, before it is born
o Investment - the process of spending money in order to improve
something or make it more successful
o Long-term - continuing to exist, be relevant, or have an effect for a long
time in the future
o Prospect - the possibility that something will happen,
o Continuum - a series of events, changes, features etc that all have a
particular quality to different degrees
o Half-measure - something that is done in a way that is not complete or
is only partly effective
o Dramatic - sudden and surprising or easy to notice
o Reversal - a change in something, so that it becomes the opposite of
what it was
o Shameful - so bad that you feel ashamed of it
DEC 02/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Patriotism by diktat"
Patriotism is a value that most people cherish without being required to demonstrate it in visible ways. Unfortunately, a
notion has emerged in the country that it ought to be articulated frequently, demonstrated publicly and enforced in such
a manner that it will be an object lesson to the odd dissenter. Given this, it is hard to understand the rationale for
the Supreme Courts order that every cinema hall should play the national anthem before the exhibition of a film. India
has given itself an anthem easily recognised as a lofty and moving rendering of the countrys oneness amidst diversity. It
hardly requires judicial promotion. The singing of the national anthem on special occasions, especially in schools and
colleges, is sufficient to help citizens identify the anthem with something larger than their daily concerns. There are clear
rules on when the anthem should be played. Any misuse of the anthem or any wilful insult to it is legally prohibited, and


those aggrieved by any such incident can take recourse to the law. Beyond this, in a mature democracy such as India,
there really is no need to make the playing or the singing of the anthem mandatory through a judicial order.
It is not clear why cinema halls were singled out for special treatment by the Supreme Court. The only possible explanation
is that they were required to play the national anthem some decades ago, a practice that has been largely given up. But
if the logic for playing the national anthem at places where a sizeable number of people congregate is taken to its logical
conclusion, they should be extended, for example, to dance and music recitals as well. To take this line of reasoning even
further, why not to every sitting of the legislature, or the court itself? Playing the national anthem in theatres at the end of
the film was given up some three decades ago in most parts of the country, largely as a result of the tendency of a section
of the audience to walk out. To reintroduce it now gives the impression that cinemas should forever be the main sites for
the demonstration of patriotism. Matters such as commercial exploitation and dramatisation of the anthem cannot be the
subject of blanket interim orders in a public interest petition. The appeal to a sense of constitutional patriotism is also
intriguing, as the only reasonable interpretation of the term is that of having allegiance to the values underlying the
Constitution. This is not something that can be enforced by judicial diktat, or by making cinema halls the playground for
a misplaced sense of patriotism.
o Patriotism - strong feelings of love, respect, and duty towards your

country
o Cherish - to keep hopes, memories, or ideas in your mind because they
are important to you and bring you pleasure
o Demonstrate - to express or show that you have a particular feeling,
quality, or ability
o Dissenter - someone who strongly disagrees with something
based on
o Lofty - high (deserve to be admired)
o Rendering - the way that something is performed, written, drawn, etc
o Oneness - a state of being joined as one thing, and no longer separate
o Amidst - surrounded by
o Diversity - the fact of many different types of things or people being
included in something
o Wilful - done deliberately in order to cause damage or harm
o Mandatory - ordered by a law or rule
o Given up - to stop doing something that you do regularly
o Sizeable - large
o Congregate - to come together in a large group

o Recital - a performance of music or poetry
way
it
o Blanket - including or affecting everything, everyone, or all cases, in a
large group or area
o Interpretation - an explanation or opinion of what something means
o Misplaced - a misplaced feeling or opinion is not suitable for a particular
situation
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "HIV: The self-test option"
With the World Health Organisation releasing guidelines on HIV self-testing, a major obstacle in improving access to
diagnosis has been cleared. Though much progress has been achieved in India in making HIV testing accessible and
free of cost, many infected persons remain unaware of their status. Across the world, nearly 40 per cent of people with
HIV are unaware of their infection and run the risk of unknowingly transmitting it. Besides going a long way in preventing
new infections, early diagnosis will help in a prompt start to treatment and enable the infected to live longer and healthier.
Though there has been a 66 per cent drop in incidence in 2015 in India compared with 2000, the number of new HIV
infections last year was 86,000; children below 15 years of age alone account for 12 per cent of this number. In 2015, the
total number of people with HIV in India was estimated to be 2.1 million. Of this, 1.5 million were detected and tested at
integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC) and about a million people are on treatment. This leaves about half a
million who are unaware of their HIV status. The government has approved in principle the proposal to take HIV testing
closer to those in need by starting community-based testing. This will soon become operational and will be in addition to
institutional testing. India is also weighing the option of self-testing.
The WHO-approved OraQuick HIV self-testing is based on HIV antibodies present in oral and blood samples. The test
can detect antibodies developed within three months of getting infected. It is a screening test, and a positive result should
be reconfirmed though a blood-based test. Despite greater awareness, people with HIV still face stigma and
discrimination. As a result, getting everyone at risk of HIV infection tested has been a challenge. The OraQuick self-
testing makes diagnosis easier and faster, besides ensuring privacy and confidentiality, thus encouraging more people
to get tested. But there are challenges in terms of counselling and sensitivity, with the accuracy of the tests pegged at
around 93 per cent. Counselling has to be done through innovative ways, such as over the telephone, as in the case of
the U.S. Unlike the conventional method of getting tested at ICTCs, people self-testing should be more aware about the
possibility of false negatives. But the risk of not getting tested far outweighs the limitations posed by self-testing. Twenty-


three countries have in place policies that support HIV self-testing. It is time India adopted it quickly to enable more people
to test themselves and help break the transmission cycle.
o Obstacle - a difficulty or problem that prevents you from achieving

something
o Diagnosis - a judgment about what a particular illness or problem is,
made after examining it
o Unaware - not understanding or realizing something
o Transmitting - to pass something from one person or place to another
o Integrated - to combine two or more things in order to become more
effective
problems, especially as your job
o Proposal - a plan or suggestion, especially a formal one that a group
has to consider
o Antibody - a protein produced in the blood that fights diseases by
attacking and killing harmful bacteria
o Oral - related to the mouth
o Stigma - a strong feeling of disapproval that most people in a society
have about something, especially when this is unfair
other people
o Confidentiality - a situation in which important information must be
kept secret
o Sensitivity - an ability to understand what other people need, and be
helpful and kind to them
o Accuracy - the fact of being exact or correct
o Pegged - to keep the amount of something at a particular level
o Innovative - using new methods or ideas
o Conventional - traditional and ordinary
o Outweighs - to be greater or more important than something else
o Posed - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty
DEC 3/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A dampening of economic activity ?"
Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to abruptly withdraw legal tender status for Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 notes to save
the country from the grip of corruption and black money has had one predictable side effect: a dampening of economic
activity. With cash availability significantly impaired as a result of the sudden withdrawal of the high-value banknotes that
constituted more than 86 per cent of the currency in circulation as of March 31, a palpable impact has been felt across


the entire economy. A snapshot of manufacturing from the Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index
released on December 1 revealed that demonetisation had slowed buying activity and production across the board, and
led to the weakest expansion in orders in four months. The survey indicated that producers of consumer goods are among
the worst hit, a signal that a key engine of Indias world-leading pace of economic growth private consumption demand
appears to be sputtering on account of the cash shortage. That the impact is likely to extend beyond the current quarter
appears certain, according to the downward revisions of growth projections announced by brokerages and credit rating
agencies. The median reduction in GDP growth estimate for the year by the 13 forecasters indicates that the pace of
growth will be slower by at least 50 basis points, with two of them dialling back the number by one percentage point or
more.
Data released by the government on November 30 put GDP growth in the July-September period at 7.3 per cent, as the
agriculture sectors performance was buoyed by an almost normal south-west monsoon. That this came after two
successive years of drought helped boost the area sown. Still, a moot question relates to gauging the impact the cash
shortage is likely to have had in rural areas both from a consumption perspective and in terms of the potential disruption
caused to farming operations. Given the less-than-adequate penetration of formal banking channels, economic activity in
small towns and villages is largely cash-based, and it remains to be seen how the agrarian economy will recover in the
short to medium term from this disruption. While the biggest contributor to gross value added, the services sector, is
expected to sustain a hit, small and micro enterprises that conduct a sizeable part of their business through cash
transactions are also bound to be impacted. And with the external environment yet to revive, the RBI and the government
have their task cut out to ensure that the economy doesnt slide into a protracted slowdown.
o Dampening - to make something less strong

o Abruptly - suddenly and unexpectedly
o Predictable - if something is predictable, it happens in the way that you
would expect
o Significantly - in a way that is easy to see
o Impaired - damaged or weakened
o Constituted - to be or be considered as something
o Palpable - so strong that you seem to feel it physically yourself
o Snapshot - a short description that tells you what a particular place or
situation is like at a particular time
particular currency
o Consumption - the act of using something
o Sputtering - to continue with difficulty and seems likely to stop
o Downward - moving towards a lower position
o Brokerage - an organization that buys and sells foreign money, shares
in companies, etc. for other people

o Credit rating agency - a company that calculates credit ratings and
provides them to financial organizations and other companies
o Forecasters - a person who tells you what particular conditions are
expected to be like
o Buoyed - to help a company, market, or economy to be more successful
o Successive - coming or happening one after another in a series
o Moot - no longer important
o Gauging - to make a judgment about something
o Perspective - a particular way of considering something (point of view)
a problem
o Farming - the activity or business of a being a farmer
o Contributor - someone or something that is one of the causes of a
situation, event etc
o Sizeable - large
o Transaction - the action or process of buying or selling something
o Impacted - effected
o Revive - to become active, successful, or popular again
or necessary
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Right vs far right in France"
French President Franois Hollandes decision to not make a bid for a second term in office is unsurprising. In the last
leg of a term marred by economic uncertainty, high unemployment rates, workers strikes, infighting within the ruling party
and personal scandal, Mr. Hollandes approval ratings are abysmally low as low as 4 per cent in some polls. Moreover,
several former cabinet colleagues have said they would run against him in the Socialist Party primaries. It would have
been humiliating for a sitting President to go through the primaries to win party nomination. Now, with Mr. Hollande
deciding to keep out, the Socialists have the opportunity to put up a united fight under another candidate, most likely
Prime Minister Manuel Valls, in the April presidential elections. Still, the left is likely to find it difficult to win back popularity
in a campaign in which the agenda is largely being set by the conservatives and the far right. Mr. Hollandes administration
must share some blame for this. In 2012 he campaigned as an aggressive socialist, aligning himself with the unions and
promising a left alternative to conservative Nicolas Sarkozys unpopular regime. But in office, he drifted to economic
liberalism, offering tax breaks to corporations and setting out to overhaul labour laws, which pitted him against his allies
on the left. His policies failed to revive the economy; he is also seen to have failed on the security front, with massive
terrorist attacks in several French cities over the past year.


Mr. Hollande could neither retain his support base nor win over the other side of the spectrum, shifting the political mood
in the country to the right. But the question is, who will cash in on this? Polls suggest Francois Fillon of the Republican
Party and Marine Le Pen of the National Front will emerge the leading candidates out of the first round of the election, to
face each other in the May 7 run-off. Mr. Fillon is a social conservative with a liberal economic agenda, and wants to
overhaul the public sector, rein in unions and sack civil servants. He has the backing of a large organisational machinery,
whereas Ms. Le Pen is an insurgent candidate. But so was Donald Trump. Over the past few years, Ms. Le Pen has
transformed the NF from a fringe far-right group to an almost mainstream party with some grass-roots support. It now
controls at least a dozen town halls and is consolidating support among the white working class, especially in the rust belt
of the north and east. Like Mr. Trump, she presents herself as an anti-establishment outsider with a protectionist economic
agenda. With the left in disarray and established conservatives divided, Ms. Le Pens chances cannot be ruled out.
o Bid - to compete for a job

o Unsurprising - not making you feel surprised
o Last leg - end of something (job)
o Marred - spoiled
o Uncertainty- a situation in which something is not known
o Infighting - disagreements over who has power or control among the
members of a group or organization
o Abysmally - extremely bad or low in quality
o Colleagues - people who work in the same organization or department
as you
o Primary - an election in which people in a particular state choose their
candidate for president
o Humiliating - making you feel very embarrassed and ashamed
o Socialist - a supporter of socialism (all people are equal) or member of
a socialist political party
o Likely - probably going to happen, or probably true
o Conservative - someone who is not willing to accept much change,
especially in the traditional values of society
o Blame - to say or think that someone or something did something wrong
or is responsible for something bad happening
o Aggressive - determined to win or succeed and using forceful action to
win or to achieve success
o Aligning yourself with somebody - if you align yourself with an
organization or person, you agree with and support their aims
o Drift - a general development or change in a situation
o Liberalism - accepting different opinions and ways of behaving
o Overhaul - to completely change a system in order to make it work more
effectively
o Allies - people who helps and supports you
o Revive - to make something become, active, successful, or popular
again

o Run-off - to suddenly leave a place or person
o Agenda - a plan or aim
o Rein in - to limit or control something that has developed too much or
has continued for too long
o Sack - to tell someone that they can no longer work at their job
o Backing - support
o Insurgent - someone who belongs to a group of people fighting to take
o Fringe - less important
most people
o Grass-roots - the ordinary people in a community, country, society, or
organization rather than its leaders
o Consolidating - to make the power, position, or achievements you
already have stronger or more effective so that they are likely to continue
o Rust belt - an area of a country where there is declining industry and a
falling population
o Protectionist - someone who supports helping a country's trade or
industry by putting taxes on goods bought from other countries or by
limiting the amount of goods that can be imported
o Disarray - the state of being confused
o Ruled out - to stop considering something as a possibility
DEC 5/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Due diligence, unsafe drugs"
Good intentions alone are not enough to secure the public interest. For governments, the manner in which it is protected
is equally vital. The Delhi High Court verdict quashing all notifications banning the manufacture and sale of 344 Fixed
Dose Combination (FDC) drugs is a lesson in how not to administer a regulatory law. The ban on combination drugs that
have little therapeutic value was undoubtedly done for bona fide reasons. However, the government could not convince
the court that the ban was valid despite statutory bodies such as the Drug Testing Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drugs
Consultative Committee (DCC) not being involved in the process. There is little doubt that a number of combination drugs
should be taken off the shelf. The government believes, as do many health activists, that some combinations are unsafe
and/or promote antibiotic resistance, while others lack particular therapeutic value, justification or advantage. Justice Rajiv
Sahai Endlaw has correctly refrained from going into the merits of the ban, and has chosen to subject to scrutiny the
process by which the decision was arrived at. While concluding that the ban was invalid because the power under the
Drugs and Cosmetics Act was exercised without consulting the DTAB and DCC, he has found that the government went
about the process in a haphazard manner.
Initially it was noted that in the case of FDC drugs for which manufacturing licences were granted by State licensing
authorities between September 1988 and October 2012, the process was done without any approval from the Drugs
Controller. When they applied afresh to the Centre, on being asked to do so, their applications were not considered by
the Drugs Controller; instead, the Centre formed 10 committees. When these panels failed to consider all the applications,

another one, the Kokate Committee, was formed. However, this panel went into the question whether these drugs posed
a risk to consumers or lacked therapeutic value and justification. Based on its report, the Centre issued notifications
banning these FDCs. In effect, the Centre seemed to have delegated its power to ban drugs to a non-statutory committee,
when the Act itself provided for expert bodies through which technical aspects of administering the law were to be
considered. The government ought to have been more mindful of the processes. It is possible that an appeal will be filed
on the legal aspects of the judgment, but the real lesson from the episode concerns governance, and not the law alone.
o Due diligence - the process of carefully examining something or

someone
o Quashing - to stop something from continuing
o Therapeutic - causing someone to feel happier and more relaxed or to
be more healthy
o Bona fide - real, not false
o Consultative - providing advice, information, or help on a particular
subject
o Off the shelf - available to buy without being ordered or designed for a
particular customer
o Antibiotic - a drug that cures illnesses and infections caused by bacteria
o Resistance - the ability not to be affected or harmed by something,
especially a disease or a drug
o Refrained - to stop yourself from doing something (this word is often
used in official announcements or signd)
o Merits - advantages
o Haphazard - done in a way that does not seem to be carefully planned
or organized
o Panel - a group of people who make decisions or judgments
o Delegated - to choose someone to do a job for you or to represent you
o Ought to have - used when you realize that someone did not do the
right thing in the past
o Mindful - careful about or conscious of something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Indonesias blasphemy protests"
Some 200,000 white-clad Indonesians took to the streets of Jakarta to call for the arrest of the citys governor, Basuki


Purnama. Mr. Purnama, who is a double minority for being ethnically Chinese and a Christian, riled the sentiments of
certain hardline sections in September when he said a Koranic verse had been used to trick voters into believing that
Muslims ought not be led by a non-Muslim. Since then, Indonesia has been convulsed by protests, including one near
the presidential palace in early November that turned violent. The embattled Mr. Purnama has been slapped with
blasphemy charges, and an investigation is ongoing. His political proximity to President Joko Widodo does not appear to
have slowed the momentum of the protests. Prior to winning the presidency in 2014, Mr. Widodo was the governor of
Jakarta, and Mr. Purnama, a frontrunner in the February 2017 governorship election, is on track to forge a pathway to
even higher political office. Mr. Widodo has been silent on the motives driving the latest protest, even as he appeared at
the scene to praise its relatively peaceful tenor. However, the recent arrest for treason of at least eight people, including
Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of Indonesias founding father Sukarno, suggests that other political factors may be
at play, including an attempt to whip up public sentiment against Mr. Purnama securing a second term as governor.
Given the Jakarta-centric locus of the protests, it is likely that anger over Mr. Purnama launching large-scale slum evictions
in the city has brought many from among the poorer sections to their feet. Yet the fact that the demonstration was
orchestrated by the right-wing Islamic Defenders Front Party, which also set up charity operations in the affected North
Jakarta neighbourhoods, indicates that support for Islamist ideology from local residents has been a critical factor. This
development, if it gains wider momentum across the countryside, could be a retrograde step for Indonesia, which has
until now, like neighbouring Malaysia, stood out as a regional bulwark against extremism, maintaining secular tolerance
of Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist minorities. Adventurism of this sort could endanger the accommodating fabric of
Indonesian society years after the post-Bali bombing purge of fundamentalists. This is especially a matter of concern in
the context of suspicion that hundreds of Indonesian youth recently travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State. While Mr.
Widodos encouraging remarks to the protesters are understandable, the onus is on him to take a stand against allowing
the latest turn of events from turning into a launching pad for a more intolerant national ethos.
o Blasphemy - something that is considered offensive to God or

someones religious beliefs
o Clad - dressed / covered
o Ethnically - relating to a particular race of people
o Riled - to make someone angry
o Hardline - strict or extreme in your beliefs or opinions, and not willing
to change them
o Koranic - related to the sacred text of Islam, considered by Muslims to
contain the revelations of God to Muhammad
o Verse - a group of words or sentences from a book
o Ought - used to say that it is necessary
o Convulsed - to shake violently with sudden uncontrolled movements
o Violent - used to describe a situation or event in which people are hurt
or killed


distance or time
o Frontrunner - the person or thing considered the most likely to win a
competition, game, election etc
o Tenor - the general meaning, character, or pattern of something
o Treason - the crime of helping your countrys enemies or of trying to
destroy your countrys government
o Founding father - someone who establishes an important organization
or idea
o Whip up - to encourage strong emotions or behaviour in people
o Locus - the particular place or situation in which something exists or
takes place
o Large-scale - involving a large number of people or things, or happening
over a large area
o Slum - a poor area of a town where the houses are in very bad condition
o Eviction - the process of forcing someone to leave the house they are
living in
secretly
o Defender - someone who supports something or who works to prevent
it from being lost or taken away
o Charity - money or food that is given to people who are poor or ill so
that they can live
o Neighbourhood - a particular area of a city or town
o Ideology - a system of ideas and principles on which a political or
economic theory is based
o Countryside - the area outside towns and cities, with farms, fields, and
trees
o Retrograde - returning to a condition or situation that is worse than the
present one
o Bulwark - something that protects you from dangerous or unpleasant
situations
o Extremism - the fact of someone having beliefs that most people think
are unreasonable and unacceptable
o Secular - not having any connection with religion
o Minority - any small group in society that is different from the rest
because of their race, religion, or political beliefs
results
o Endanger - to put someone or something into a situation where they
might be harmed or damaged
o Accommodating - helpful and easy to work with
o Fabric - the basic structure of a society or organization


o Fundamentalist - someone who believes that original religious and
political laws should be followed very strictly and should not be changed
o In the context of something - in the circumstances under which
something happens
o Onus is on him - if the onus is on someone to do something, it is their
responsibility or duty to do it
o Launching pad - something that helps a situation to initiate
o Intolerant - not willing to accept behaviour, beliefs, or opinions that are
different from your own
o Ethos - the set of beliefs, ideas, etc. about the social behaviour and
relationships of a person or group
DEC 06/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The politics of exaggeration"
At first look, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees theatrics on the night of December 1 smacked of the politics
of paranoia. Spying Army deployment at a toll plaza near the State Secretariat in Kolkata late that night, she drove herself
into a sleepless social media frenzy to guard our democracy. Where the Armys Eastern Command clarified that it was
conducting a routine exercise to test preparedness, Ms. Banerjee insinuated otherwise by resolving to maintain her vigil
at the Secretariat till the Army personnel were withdrawn from their task. Not given to being detained by facts, even after
the Army cleared the air by clarifying it had duly informed State authorities about the exercise, Ms. Banerjees Trinamool
Congress galvanised the Opposition in Parliament the next day. It kept up the high pitch from a previous uproar over
delay in landing a civil aircraft that had her on board. Ms. Banerjee is too sharp, and well-versed with the procedures of
administration, to not see through her own conspiracy theories. This is not paranoia speaking, it is a play-as-things-go
plan to amplify her voice in national politics. The Modi governments demonetisation drive has given her an opportunity
to nominate herself as a rallying force. Projecting random occurrences a queue for landing clearance at an
overburdened airport one day, an Army drill the next as instances of vendetta against her by the biggest powers that
be helps her distinguish herself from the rest of the opposition as the leader in direct combat with the Central government.
This has, of course, been the way with Ms. Banerjees politics. In the years of Left Front rule, this is how she separated
herself from older, established Congress colleagues. She, for instance, kept alive the memory of wounds sustained in a
police crackdown. Once she struck out and formed her own party, she switched allegiance freely in national coalitions in
the search for her big chance against the Left. It came in 2011, when Left rule ended in West Bengal; her pre-eminence
in State politics was sealed in Assembly elections this year when she stared down the combined challenge of the
Congress and the Left parties. Now, with the Congress still struggling to get a grip on the political narrative, and no other
party able to provide the glue for opposition unity, she has seized the opportunity. Her tactics of exaggeration, of
personalising the argument, are clearly aimed at securing herself as the face of the anti-BJP opposition, even as she
goes about seeking old friends and foes alike to rally behind her. Today it is demonetisation. Tomorrow it may be
something else. But the tenor of her politics is likely to hold.


o Exaggeration - a statement that represents something as better or
worse than it really is.
o Smacked - to hit something hard
o Paranoia - an extreme and unreasonable feeling that other people do
not like you or are going to harm or criticize you
o Deployment - to move soldiers or equipment to a place where they can
be used when they are needed
o Frenzy - an uncontrolled and excited behaviour or emotion that is
sometimes violent
o Preparedness - the state of being prepared for a particular situation
o Insinuated - to say something unpleasant in an indirect way
o Vigil - a quiet political protest held at night
o Cleared the air - to discuss a problem or difficult situation with someone
in order to make it better
o Duly - in the correct way or at the correct time
o Galvanise - to cause someone to suddenly take action, especially by
shocking or exciting them in some way
o Uproar - a situation in which a lot of people complain about something
angrily or make a lot of noise
o Well-versed - knowing a lot about something
o Conspiracy theory - a belief that an unpleasant event or situation is the
result of a secret plan made by powerful people
o Amplify - to make sounds louder
particular currency
o Rallying - the action or process of coming together to support a person
or cause
o Overburdened - having too much to carry, contain, or deal with
o Vendetta - a situation in which someone has angry and negative feelings
towards someone else and keeps trying to harm them or to cause
problems for them
o Distinguish - to notice or understand the difference between two things,
or to make one person or thing seem different from another
o Combat - fight
o Established - used for describing someone who is known for doing a job
well, because they have been doing it for a long time
as you
o Crackdown - strong action that someone in authority takes to stop a
particular activity


o Pre-eminence - more important or better than others
o Seized the opportunity - to act quickly in order to use an opportunity
that may not be available later
o Exaggeration - the fact of making something seem larger, more
important, better, or worse than it really is
o Personalising - to make something suitable for the needs of a particular
person
o Foes - enemies
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The heart of the problem"
here are good reasons why the Heart of Asia conference, part of a 14-nation process begun in 2011 to facilitate the
development and security of Afghanistan, is so named. The obvious one is geographical, as Afghanistan lies at the
junction of Central, South and East Asia, and also of the ancient trading routes from China and India to Europe. Today it
is also a focal point for the regions biggest challenge of terrorism; some of the far-reaching battles against al-Qaeda,
Islamic State, etc. will be decided on the battlegrounds of Afghanistan. For India, putting terror centre stage at the Heart
of Asia declaration in Amritsar was thus timely and necessary. In tandem, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime
Minister Narendra Modi focussed their concerns on cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan, something even
Pakistans traditional allies at the conference, including China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey, found difficult to
counter. The case Mr. Ghani made was clear: progress and development in Afghanistan are meaningless and
unsustainable without peace, and peace is contingent on Pakistan ending support to terror groups such the Haqqani
network and Lashkar-e-Taiba. He dared Pakistan to use its proposed development grant to Afghanistan to fight terror on
its own soil.
However, if every window for engagement with Pakistan is closed for India and Afghanistan, the two countries must
closely consider what their next step will be. A lack of engagement may, in the short term, yield some pressure on
Pakistans leadership to act, as it did briefly after the Pathankot attack. But in the long run it may deplete the two countries
of their limited leverage as Pakistans neighbours. It may, for all the affirmations of mutual ties, also succeed in driving
more obstacles to trade between India and Afghanistan. In the past year, the cornering of Pakistan by its South Asian
neighbours has only yielded deeper ties for Islamabad with Beijing and Moscow, pushed Kabul closer to Central Asia,
and moved New Delhi towards multilateral groupings to the east and south. As a result, the measures India and
Afghanistan have envisaged in order to avoid Pakistan, such as land trade from the Chabahar port and a dedicated air
corridor between Delhi and Kabul, may prove to be insufficient by the time they are put in place, even as Afghanistan is
connected more closely via a rail line from Chinas Yiwu and Tehran. The Heart of Asia process thus remains critical to
forging cooperation to realise Afghanistans potential to be a vibrant Asian hub.
o Facilitate - to make it possible or easier for something to happen


o Ancient - very old
o Focal point - the thing that everyone looks at or is interested in
o Far-reaching - something far-reaching has a great influence on many
people or things
o Battleground - a place where a battle is being fought
o Timely - happening at the best possible moment
o In tandem - at the same time
different countries
o Emanating - to come from a particular place3
o Allies - countries that have agreed officially to give help and support to
another country
o Unsustainable - not capable of continuing at the same rate or level
o Contingent - depending on something else in the future in order to
happen
o Dared - to ask someone to do something that involves risk
o Deplete - to reduce something in size or amount, especially supplies of
energy, money, etc
o Affirmation - to publicly show your support for an opinion or idea
o Obstacle - something that prevents action / progress
o Forging - to make or produce something, especially with some difficulty
DEC 07/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic : "Jayalalithaa, 1948-2016"
Adversity brought out the best in Jayalalithaa. As a Chief Minister fighting for the rights of her State, as a politician trying to
spring back from electoral defeats, as a woman standing up to sexist taunts in what is still very much a mans world, she was
courageous to the point of being adventurist. In her passing, India has lost a leader who played a vital role in the shaping of
Tamil Nadu during a crucial phase of the countrys economic development and social progress. It may be true that Jayalalithaa
owed her success in politics in no small measure to her film-world association with M.G. Ramachandran, the founder of the
AIADMK. Soon after she joined the party, her mentor, in 1983, made her its propaganda secretary. But all that MGR did was to
set her on a political career. He did not anoint her his successor, and after his death Jayalalithaa needed to win the battle for
his political legacy. This she did by reuniting the two factions of the party, retrieving its election symbol, reviving the alliance with
the Congress and, finally, becoming Chief Minister in 1991. She continued with MGRs policies, targeting the weaker sections,
the rural peasants and the unorganised workers through food subsidies and social welfare schemes, expanding the AIADMKs
reach. Unlike MGR, who lived under the constant shadow of the Centres power to dismiss a State government under Article
356, she had the luxury of doing business with a Congress government at the Centre led by P.V. Narasimha Rao, one dependent
on outside support from her party for survival. This allowed her to take a strong stand on issues such as Cauvery, forcing the
Centre to toe her line, or at least heed her views. However, towards the end of her first term as Chief Minister, her government
became enmeshed in a series of corruption scandals. Her association with V.N. Sasikala, who was perceived by some as
functioning as an extra-constitutional authority, alienated sections of her support base. Also, she drove away allies she had
struggled to win back following MGRs passing. ALSO READ Jayalalithaa - 1948-2016 Written off after receiving a drubbing
in the 1996 Assembly election, losing even her own seat, no one had forecast Jayalalithaa would reinvent her political career
so swiftly and effectively. The DMK government, which slapped a slew of corruption cases against her, had possibly thought it
was writing her political epitaph, but Jayalalithaa turned the tables by struggling to survive and remain relevant. The haughty
aloofness of the years in power was replaced by a refreshingly accommodative nature, enabling her to stitch together a brand
new alliance with smaller parties such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the
Bharatiya Janata Party for the 1998 Lok Sabha election. The sheer arithmetic of the alliance gave it a majority of the seats,
pitchforking Jayalalithaa back into a game that she seemed well out of. At the Central level, her comeback bore a resemblance
to the Narasimha Rao years: this time it was the BJP-led government that was wholly dependent on her support for survival.
However, Jayalalithaa squandered this opportunity by insisting that the Centre dismiss the DMK government in the State.

Evidently, she had not factored in the Bommai judgment of the Supreme Court that had made arbitrary use of Article 356 almost
impossible. The end result was the premature dissolution of the Lok Sabha in 1999, and the formation of an unlikely alliance
between her arch-rival, the DMK, and her closest ideological ally, the BJP, which eventually defeated the AIADMK-led alliance.
Once again, the hard-fought gains of the years in the opposition were frittered away. Without power in either New Delhi or
Chennai, Jayalalithaa went back to the old familiar way of building a new alliance in 2001. The Congress and its breakaway
group, the Tamil Maanila Congress, which owed its nascence to opposition within the Congress to an alliance with the AIADMK,
were now roped in, along with the Left parties, which were fighting the Congress in Kerala. Although the DMK did not suffer
majorly from any anti-incumbency sentiment, the AIADMK-led alliance won on the strength of electoral arithmetic. Jayalalithaas
propensity to drive away friends was more than matched by her ability to bring together foes. Her political successes were
challenged by legal setbacks. Jayalalithaa was unseated twice: in 2001 the Supreme Court ruled she could not continue as
Chief Minister when she stood disqualified from contesting in an election. But she got her conviction overturned and returned
as Chief Minister after winning a by-election. In 2014 she was convicted by a trial court in the disproportionate assets case. But
she was back as Chief Minister after winning an appeal in the Karnataka High Court. The case is now awaiting a judgment in
the Supreme Court following an appeal. Jayalalithaa took ill after one of her most remarkable wins in the 2016 Assembly election,
following up on her 2014 Lok Sabha win, both achieved without the benefit of allies, thanks to a divided opposition. Like MGR
before her, Jayalalithaa commanded the unflinching loyalty, even adulation, of her party supporters. From the time she was
admitted in hospital, tens of thousands had gathered outside praying for her. The AIADMK enjoys a comfortable majority in the
House, and the transition to a government headed by the new leader has been smooth. But Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam
now has the unenviable task of holding the party together. Without the political acumen and personal charisma of Jayalalithaa,
this will be a tough task.
o Adversity - a difficult or unpleasant situation

o Spring back - to recover quickly and completely after difficult situation
o Taunts - to intentionally annoy and upset someone by making unkind
remarks to them, laughing unkindly, etc
o Adventurist - a person who is willing to take risks in order to gain an
unfair advantage in business or politics
experience
o Propaganda - information, especially false information, that a
government or organization spreads in order to influence peoples
opinions and beliefs
o Anoint - to decide that someone should be given a particular important
job
o Reuniting - to bring together again
o Factions - a small group within a larger group, consisting of people with
o Retrieving - to get something back
o Reviving - to make something become, active, successful, or popular
again
o Rural - relating to the countryside
o Peasants - a person who owns or rents a small piece of land and grows
crops (especially one who has a low income, very little education, and a
low social position)
o Unorganised workers - unorganized workers do not belong to a trade
union
o Subsidies - an amount of money that the government or another


o Cauvery - kaveri river
o Toe her line - to do what she ordered or expected to do
o Term - the fixed period of time that something lasts for
o Enmeshed - to involve someone in something unpleasant or dangerous
from which it is difficult to escape:
o Scandal - a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest
or immoral way that shocks people
o Perceive - become aware or conscious of (something) / come to realize
or understand
o Alienate - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting and
agreeing with you
o Drove away - to make someone stop wanting something or stop wanting
to be with someone
o Drubbing - serious defeat
available information
o Reinvent - to change something that already exists and give it a
different form or purpose
o Swiftly - quickly or immediately
o Slew - a violent or uncontrollable sliding movement
o Eepitaph - a short piece of writing that is written on the grave of dead
person
o Turned the tables - to change from being in a weaker position in
relation to someone else to being in a stronger position
o Survive - to continue to live or exist, especially after difficult situation
o Haughty - proud and unfriendly
o Aloofness - not friendly or willing to take part in things
same thing
o Sheer - used for emphasizing the amount or degree of something
o Pitchforking - to put someone into a new and unpleasant situation when
they were not expecting it
o Resemblance - if there is a resemblance between two people or things,
they are similar
o Survival - continuing to live or exist
o Squandered - to waste opportunities by not using them to your
advantage
o Insisting - to say very strongly that something must happen or must be
done
o Evidently - easily seen or understood:
o Arbitrary - not based on any particular plan, or not done for any
particular reason
o Dissolution - the act or process of ending an official organization or legal
agreement
sport, business etc


o Eventually - happening or existing at a later time or at the end,
especially after a lot of effort, problems, etc
o Hard-fought - achieved after a lot of difficulty or fighting
o Frittered away something - to waste money, time, or an opportunity
o Nascence - the event of being born (began or formed recently)
o Roped in - to make someone to do something that they do not really
want to do
o Propensity - the fact that someone is likely to behave in a particular
way, especially a bad way
o Drive away - to make someone stop wanting to be with someone
o Foes - enemies
from developing
o Unseat - to remove someone from power, especially as a result of an
election
crime
o Overturned - to change a legal decision
o By-election - an election in one particular area to choose a new
representative in parliament or on a council, or to replace someone who
has died or left the job
o Disproportionate - if something is disproportionate, it is bigger or
o Remarkable - unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth
mentioning
o Thanks to - used for saying that someone or something is responsible
for something good that happened
o Unflinching - not changing or stopping
o Adulation - great praise or admiration, especially for someone who is
famous
o Acumen - the ability to make good quick decisions and judgments
o Charisma - a strong personal quality that makes other people like you
and be attracted to you
DEC 08/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The Reserve Bank of Indias big surprise"
The Reserve Bank of India has surprised markets by opting to keep benchmark interest rates unchanged and cutting the
outlook for full-year growth in the wake of last months decision to withdraw legal tender status to high denomination
currency notes. In the fifth bimonthly monetary policy statement, the RBI cited a backdrop of heightened uncertainty. It
listed global factors including the imminent tightening of U.S. monetary policy and the rise in oil prices, and disconcerting
domestic inflation trends that could potentially endanger its price stability goals. Expectations that the U.S. Federal
Reserve will resume its normalisation of policy by raising interest rates on December 14 have combined with a homeward-


bound flight of capital from emerging markets in the wake of Donald Trumps win in the presidential election to buy the
dollar at the expense of other currencies. The rupee has not been spared, forcing the RBI to intermittently intervene to
reduce volatility. Given that the exchange rate has the potential to exert upward inflationary pressure as a bulk of the
countrys commodity imports, including crude oil, are largely paid for in dollars, the RBI had little choice but to ensure that
at least interest rates dont end up being another alibi for capital outflows. On the domestic front, food prices other than
those of vegetables are showing sustained firmness. More worryingly, inflation excluding food and fuel has stubbornly
displayed a downward inflexibility that could, coupled with volatile energy costs and further financial market turbulence,
jeopardise the RBIs end-March retail inflation target of 5 per cent.
That the central bank has adopted a wait and watch approach in the wake of the liquidity shock to the banking system
sparked by the withdrawal from circulation of about 86 per cent of the bank notes, is instructive. Trimming its Gross Value
Added (GVA) growth projection for 2016-17 by 50 basis points to 7.1 per cent, the RBI cited an unexpected loss of
momentum in the second quarter, particularly in industrial activity, and the impact from the withdrawal of currency. The
RBI observed that the currency replacement exercise was likely to have the biggest impact on cash-intensive sectors.
The resultant disruptions could drag down growth in this fiscal and more data are needed before conclusions can be
drawn on the full impact and persistence of such an impact. It is understandable therefore that the RBI has opted for
caution. Observing that economic growth could rebound strongly if the impact is transient as widely expected, the central
bank has for now chosen to hedge its bets by reiterating an accommodative policy stance.
o Opting - to make a choice or decission

o Outlook - an idea about what a situation will be like in the future
o Legal tender - coins or banknotes that must be accepted if offered in
payment
o Denomination - a unit of value, especially of money
o Bimonthly - happening or appearing every two months
o Monetary policy - actions taken by a government to control the amount
of money in an economy and how easily available it is, for example by
changing the interest rate
o Heightened - to increase or make something increase, especially an
emotion or effect
o Endanger - to put someone or something into a situation where they
might be harmed or damaged
o Federal Reserve - the central bank of the US
o Homeward-bound - towards home (incoming)

o Buoy - to prevent someone or something from sinking
o Intermittently - not happening regularly or continuously; stopping and
starting repeatedly or with periods in between
o Intervene - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in
o Volatility - to suddenly change or become more dangerous
o Exert - to use influence, authority, or power in order to affect or achieve
something
o Crude oil - oil that is still in its natural state and has not yet been refined
for use by chemical processes
o Alibi - an excuse for something bad or for a failure
o Stubbornly - strongly (very difficult to change or to defeat)
o Downward - moving towards a lower position
o Inflexibility - not easily changed
o Jeopardise - to risk damaging or destroying something important
o Basis points - used in relation to interest rates to mean one-hundredth
of one percent
stronger
o Cash-intensive - involving a lot of cash
mentioned
a problem
o Drag down - to cause someones social position or standards of
behaviour to become worse
exist
o Rebound - to return to a better level or position
o Transient - lasting for only a short time (temporary)
very clear
o Stance - a way of thinking about something, especially expressed in a
publicly stated opinion
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Cho Ramaswamy, wit and analyst"
It was the eighteenth century satirist Joseph Addison who said his task was to enliven morality with wit, and to temper
wit with morality. For veteran journalist, satirist and playwright Cho Ramaswamy, the task may well have been to
enliven politics with wit, and to temper wit with political analysis. Cho was a lawyer, writer, dramatist, comedian, journalist
and commentator, but will chiefly be remembered as a playwright for his 1968 satire Muhammad bin Tughlaq, and as the
editor of Thuglak magazine for his refusal to be cowed down by the Emergency. Many looked up to him for political
analysis and even voting guidance. Often moving beyond the journalistic role, he utilised his numerous political friendships


to bring together parties and leaders and sought to influence major developments. Seen as an upstart when he
founded Thuglak in 1970, Cho managed to reflect the unspoken angst of the middle class, which held a dim view of
politics and politicians, especially because of the ease with which political loyalties would swing from one end to another.
His early years in journalism coincided with the authoritarian phase of the ruling Congress. Therefore it was no surprise
that his brand of journalism, somewhat unique at the time in south India, had an anti-establishment resonance for many
years.
It is easy to sum up Chos political views: he was a committed nationalist, a right-of-centre analyst, and a firm believer in
a strong Central government. He tended to be disdainful of regional parties and their aspirations. He was a fierce critic of
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the misuse of Article 356 of the Constitution for political ends. With a readership
that strongly echoed his own worldview, Thuglak shaped the thinking of the middle class for many years. However, with
the rise of other political forces to take on the dominant and unpopular ones, Chos appeal was later limited to the right-
wing middle and upper classes. Being a strong critic of the Emergency and a spirited lampooner of authority, he could
have been a liberal. However, there was a streak of conservatism in his political outlook, which influenced the manner in
which he addressed the issues before the country, both as an analyst and as a playwright. But ultimately, what will remain
in memory is his inimitable humour, withering sarcasm and vigorous espousal of democracy against authoritarian
intervention. His journalism was rooted in ethics, rarely allowing scope for gossip or baseless charges. His Tamil readers
will definitely miss his sharp analysis and their weekly fix of middle-class wisdom.
o Wit - the ability to use words in a clever and humorous way

o Analyst - someone whose job is to study or examine something in detail
o Satirist - a person who criticizes people or ideas in a humorous way
o Enliven - to make something more interesting
o Morality - a set of personal or social standards for good or bad behaviour
and character
o Temper - to make something less strong
o Veteran - a person who has had a lot of experience of a particular
activity
o Playwright - a person who writes plays / dramas
o Dramatist - a person who writes plays / dramas
o Commentator - someone whose job is to give a description of an event
or sports competition on television or radio as it happens
o Chiefly - mainly
o Cow - to make someone do what you want by frightening them
o Cow down - to bend before somebody and do whatever they wants you
to do because you have fear on them
o Numerous - many
o Upstart - a new competitor
o Angst - strong worry and unhappiness, especially about personal
problems
o Hold a dim view - to disapprove of something

o Coincided - to happen at the same time as something else
o Resonance - an emotional effect produced by something that reminds
you of something else
o Nationalist - a person who wants their country to be politically
independent
o Right-of-centre - slightly conservative in your political views (not
willing to accept much change, especially in the traditional values of
society)
o Disdainful - the feeling of not liking someone or something and thinking
that they do not deserve your interest or respect
o Critic - someone whose job is to give their opinion about something
o Dominant - more important, strong, or noticeable than anything else of
the same type
o Lampooner - a person who publicly criticize someone or something by
making jokes about them
behaviour
o Streak - an element of a specified kind in someone's character
o Conservatism - the quality of not usually liking or trusting change,
especially sudden change
o Outlook - a person's way of understanding and thinking about
something
o Ultimately - finally
o Inimitable - so good or unusual that no one else can do the same
o Withering - serious and extremely critical
o Sarcasm - the activity of saying or writing the opposite of what you
mean
o Vigorous - very forceful or energetic
o Espousal - support for an idea, principle, or belief
o Authoritarian - controlling everything and forcing people to obey strict
rules and laws
o Ethics - a set of principles that people use to decide what is right and
what is wrong
o Gossip - unimportant subjects, especially peoples private lives
o Baseless - not based on facts or evidence
o Middle-class - a social group that consists of well-educated people, such
as doctors, lawyers, and teachers, who have good jobs and are neither
very rich nor very poor
DEC 09/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A reform at risk"


Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is keeping his fingers crossed about sticking to the April 1, 2017 target to implement the Goods
and Services Tax regime. The GST Council he heads meets again on December 11-12 to try to reach a consensus on three
pieces of legislation that need to be cleared by Parliament in this session for a rollout in April. In its previous three meetings, the
Council failed to resolve an impasse between the States and the Centre on who would have administrative control over
taxpayers in the new tax regime. The Finance Ministry has proposed a dual control model where both vertically split the taxpayer
base for administrative purposes. But States including West Bengal, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh are keen to retain control over
all goods and services providers with an annual turnover of less than Rs.1.5 crore. At the last meeting, the States hardened
their position by flagging the loss of revenue on account of the demonetisation of high value currency notes. While the Council
is yet to discuss the legislation that deals with compensation for loss of revenue, it has gone over nine chapters each of the two
other proposed laws that Parliament needs to pass to ring in the GST, including the model GST law. For a rapprochement with
States on these bills, the Centre may have to be more generous in responding to their demands. It could also resort to a vote
for the first time in the Council instead of seeking to forge unanimous decisions. Parliament is expected to function for just three
days next week. Unless its schedule is extended, with the currency crisis stalling proceedings so far, the GSTs April timeline is
looking increasingly tricky. It is true that the government is likely to push the three GST bills as Money bills, so they only need a
Lok Sabha nod, and the GST regime can kick in as late as September 2017. But implementing such a big-ticket tax reform
without bringing all States on board or getting the new regime going in the middle of a financial year would inspire less confidence
than otherwise. It would also be a headache for industry as well as the taxman. Opposition-ruled States, on their part, must
resist the temptation to derail the tax reform, and work to ensure that the fine print actually boosts investor sentiment. For
instance, there is a proposal to set up an anti-profiteering authority that could penalise businesses if they are deemed to have
not transmitted GST benefits to consumers. Just as States should compete for investment, businesses should be allowed to
compete freely. Suggesting that the profit motive itself is evil would undo the fundamental intent of the GST, which is to remove
the space for discretion and rent-seeking.

o At risk - in a situation in which something unpleasant or dangerous could
happen to you
o Keping his fingers crossed - to hope strongly that something (good)
will happen
o Sticking to something - if you stick to a law, rule, or promise, you obey
it or do what it states
o Rollout - a rollout of proposals, laws, or information is the first time they
are made known to the public
o Vertically - involving different levels in an organization
o Keen - very interested, eager, or wanting (to do) something very much
o Turnover - the amount of business that a company does in a period of
time
o On account of - because of
o Compensation - something that changes or removes the bad result of
something
o Generous - willing to give money, help, kindness, etc., especially more
than is usual or expected
o Forge - to make or produce something
o Unanimous - a unanimous decision, vote, agreement etc is one that
o Crisis - an extremely difficult or dangerous situation

way
o Tricky - difficult to deal with
o Nod - approval
o Kick in - to start to have an effect or to happen
o Bring on board - to make people agree for an idea intended by the
leader
o Taxman - the government department that is responsible for collecting
taxes
o Resist - to stop yourself from doing something that you would very much
like to do
planned
o Profiteering - the activity of taking unfair advantage of a situation to
make a large profit, often by selling goods that are difficult to get at a
very high price
o Discretion - the right or ability to make a judgment or decision
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Europe walks a tightrope"
As 2016 draws to a close after Brexit in the U.K. and the election of Donald Trump in the U.S., it is tempting to label it the Year
of Resurgent Nationalism. Yet in its dying gasp the global season of elections has produced two surprise results, in Austria and
Italy, which give pause. Last weekend Austria rejected far-right candidate Norbert Hofer in its presidential election, instead
placing confidence in Alexander Van der Bellen, a former leader of the Green Party who has said he would be an open-minded,
liberal-minded and above all a pro-European president. In Italy a more mixed result was delivered, with voters resoundingly
defeating a referendum driven by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to change Italys constitution by reducing the numbers and power
of the Senate. While some in Italys political right have seized upon the result as a big victory for anti-establishment forces, the
vote defies the simplistic narrative of a populist revolt against globalisation and elites that has been applied elsewhere. It is
evident that the focus of the vote was Mr. Renzis own record in office and the relative merits of the constitutional reforms he
was proposing, which also explains why he resigned. The debates leading up to the vote, similarly, hardly touched upon burning
issues such as immigration writ large in Britain or America. Instead they thrashed out questions on the potential of the reforms
to be anti-democratic and capable of altering in-built constitutional checks and balances. Despite the election outcomes in
Europe being at odds with the broader global surge in pro-majoritarian national politics, there is one common thread that binds
the two: a hatefully bitter polarisation of the electorate of each country. In Italy, while the opposition to Mr. Renzis plans came
from mainstream political figures, including members of his Democratic Party, former prime ministers and academics and judges,
the far right Northern League and the Five Star Movement left an indelible mark on the No campaign. These groups and their
anti-immigrant rhetoric have thus received a boost. In Austria the flip side of Mr. Van der Bellens win was that Mr. Hofers
Freedom Party managed to pull in some 2.2 million votes despite standing stoutly against the Social Democrats, the Popular
Party and the Green Party, besides several among the establishment media. The fact that French far-right leader Marine Le
Pen assured Mr. Hofer that he would win the next legislative election is a signal of confidence in the power of the rising anti-
establishment mood. As the divide between elites and the forgotten man and woman widens, the need to rethink liberal
politics has become imperative.
o Walks a tightrope - to deal with a difficult situation

o Draws to a close - to slowly finish / come to an end
o Resurgent - quickly becoming popular, important, or successful again
o Give pause - to cause someone to stop and think about what they were
doing or intending to do
o Resoundingly - completely
question


o Seized upon something - to use, accept, or take advantage of
something quickly or enthusiastically
o Establishment - the important and powerful people who control a
country or an organization
o Defies - to refuse to obey someone or something
people
o Globalisation - the increase of trade around the world, especially by
large companies producing and trading goods in many different countries
in a society
o Touched upon something - to mention a subject quickly when
speaking or writing about another subject
o Burning issue - something that people have strong opinions about and
think is very important
o Immigration - the process in which people enter a country in order to
live there permanently
doing something
o Thrashed out - to discuss something until you find a solution or reach
an agreement
o Altering - to make something or someone different
prevented by
o Being at odds - to disagree
o Bitter - involving very angry feelings
o Indelible - permanent
people
o Flip side - the opposite, less good, or less popular side of something
o Stoutly - in a strong and determined way
DEC 10/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Cash need not be king"

The government has declared an incentive package to encourage non-cash payments for fuel, new insurance policies from
public sector firms, train tickets and highway toll, among other things. For credit and debit card transactions up to Rs.2,000, the
Reserve Bank of India has relaxed its stringent two-factor authentication requirement, and service tax stands waived. Taken
together, these moves to encourage cashless payments are significant not just because they can alleviate the cash crunch

following the demonetisation of high-value notes. They could spur a change in spending habits in an economy where cash has
served as the basis of around 95 per cent of all transactions. From those between traders and farmers to settling a restaurant
bill, the use of cash creates a window to escape the tax net. Shopkeepers routinely ask buyers if they would like a bill or not,
and those who opt for the latter to save some rupees are often left with little recourse if the goods prove to be substandard. By
contrast, cashless payments can be captured electronically through the settlement mechanisms, bringing more revenue to the
government and ensuring consumer rights. Given Indias abysmal tax base, this nudge to cashless payments could be a game-
changer, with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax. ALSO READ Centre pushing the buttons hard for a digital shift A
nudge to move people away from cash, especially in the rural economy, first came in Yashwant Sinhas 1998-99 Budget, with
the issue of Kisan credit cards to farmers. Around 15 years later, RuPay cards were introduced with an eye on lowering payments
to service providers such as Visa or Mastercard. By November this year, 29 crore such cards had been issued, 19 crore of them
linked to Jan Dhan accounts. The Narendra Modi Cabinet approved a two-year action plan to encourage digital and card
payments this February. If some of the proposed measures, such as rationalising the merchant discount rate on card
transactions, had been implemented before the demonetisation announcement, perhaps the current pain due to a tight supply
of cash could have been ameliorated somewhat. With new payments banks coming up, along with mobile wallets and banking
applications, Indias transaction ecosystem could see a paradigm shift provided the government puts in place effective
monitoring systems and ensures interoperability between these alternatives. An estimated Rs.18,000 crore is spent to maintain
ATMs, and if even a quarter of ATM withdrawals are cut by the switch to cashless payments, banks could use the savings to
reach the unbanked millions and still lower digital transaction costs.

o Credit - a method of paying for goods or services at a later time
o Debit - an amount of money taken from a bank account
o Stringent - stringent rules or conditions are strict and make you achieve
high standards
o Authentication - the act of proving or showing that something is real
and not false
o Waived - to choose to officially ignore a rule, right, or claim
o Taken together - as a whole
o Significant - important
o Alleviate - to make something less painful or serious
o Cash crunch - a situation in which a company, country, etc. does not
have enough money available to do the things it usually does
particular currency
o Opt - to make a choice or decision from a range of possibilities
o Substandard - below a satisfactory standard
o By contrast - used when you are comparing two things or people and
o Abysmal - very bad
o Nudge - push
o Game-changer - something that completely changes the way
something is done
o Action plan - a detailed set of instructions to follow in order to solve a
problem or achieve something
to consider
o Measure - a way of achieving something, or a method for dealing with a
situation
o Rationalising - to make an organization more effective, for example by
getting rid of something
o Merchant - a person whose job is to buy and sell products in large
amounts

o Ameliorated - to make a bad or unpleasant situation better
o Coming up - to become available
o Ecosystem - all the different activities, companies, systems etc that are
involved in a particular area of business, especially new technology
o Paradigm shift - a time when the usual and accepted way of doing or
thinking about something changes completely
o Provided - only if a particular thing happens or is done
o Monitoring - to regularly check something in order to find out what is
happening
o Ensures - to make certain that something happens or is done
o Interoperability - the degree to which two products, programs, etc. can
be used together, or the quality of being able to be used together
o Alternative - something that you can choose instead of something else
o Estimate - to guess or calculate the cost, size, value, etc. of something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "South Korea at a crossroads"
When Park Geun-hye assumed office as South Koreas first woman President in early 2013 on a wave of popularity, not many
could have foreseen her impeachment on corruption charges less than four years later. Such has been the impact of the scandal
that several lawmakers from her own Saenuri Party voted in favour of the impeachment resolution brought in by the opposition
in Parliament. The crisis was sparked by revelations two months ago that Ms. Park had abused her powers to help a confidante,
Choi Soon-sil, extort money from companies for her foundations. Since then, the Korean media have carried stories of Ms.
Chois access to the Presidents office and her influence in decision-making. The crisis was handled ineptly by Ms. Park and
her aides. She never bothered to explain her position directly to the public, and did not take her party into confidence. She
stayed away from the press and the opposition, perhaps hoping the crisis would blow over. But with a 4 per cent approval rating,
she soon became the most unpopular leader South Korea has had since its transition to a democracy in the late-1980s. And an
impeachment appeared certain in the wake of opposition protests that attracted over a million people to Seoul. ALSO READ
South Korean President says shell resign if parliament finds a plan for safe transfer of power South Korean Presidents are no
strangers to corruption scandals. But in Ms. Parks case, the allegation that the President was being controlled by a puppeteer
seemed to have aggravated the public anger. Moreover, Ms. Parks record in office was far from exemplary. The economy
continued to sputter under her rule with growth rate falling to 2.6 per cent in 2015, the slowest since 2012. Her decision to reach
an agreement with the United States to deploy an advanced missile system to counter threats from North Korea was not popular
domestically, and also increased tensions in the Korean Peninsula. Relations with China too steadily deteriorated under Ms.
Park. South Korea needs a clear-headed leadership both to reboot the economy and to take strategic decisions with a long-
term perspective. And given the bitterness and administrative paralysis of the past couple of months, it needs someone at the
helm who is free of scandal and has popular support. Unfortunately, the impeachment has pushed South Korea into a protracted
interregnum the Constitutional Court can take up to six months to decide if Ms. Park has to go or whether her powers can be
restored. Ms. Park could have avoided pushing the country into this period of uncertainty had she resigned before the
parliamentary vote. But she chose to cling on, leaving lawmakers with no option but to trigger the impeachment process.
o At a crossroads - to be at a stage when you have to make a very

important decision
o Assume - to officially start a new job or position
o On a wave of something - to get an advantage from something
o Foreseen - to know about something before it happens
o Impeachment - to make a formal statement saying that a public official
is guilty of a serious offence in connection with their job
o Charges - to make a formal statement saying that someone is accused
of a crime
o Impact - an effect
o Sparked - started


o Revelations - the process of letting people know or see something that
was previously hidden or secret
o Abused - to use something in a bad, dishonest, or harmful way
o Confidante - a woman who you trust and can discuss your secrets and
private feelings with
o Extort - to illegally get money or information from someone by using
force or threats
o Influence - the effect that a person or thing has on someones decisions,
opinions, or behaviour or on the way something happens
o Ineptly - very badly (without any skill)
o Aides - supporters
o Blow over - if a dangerous or embarrassing situation blows over, people
stop worrying about it and soon forget about it
to another
o No strangers to something - to be familiar with a particular experience
or activity
o Puppeteer - a person who controls somebody else
you mention
o Exemplary - excellent or done in a way that other people should try to
copy
o Sputter - to continue with difficulty and seems likely to stop
o Deploy - to use something
o Domestically - in a way that relates to a person's own country (locally)
o Deteriorated - to become worse
o Clear-headed - thinking in a clear and sensible way
o Strategic - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as
o Given - considering a particular thing
o Paralysis - a situation in which you are unable to take action
o At the helm - officially controlling an organization or company
o Protracted - continuing for a long time
o Interregnum - a period of time when there is temporarily no one in
charge of a country
o Uncertainty - the fact that something is not known or has not been
decided
o Cling on - to try very hard to keep something
o Trigger - to start something bad
DEC 12/2016

Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Arrest of a military chief"
The arrest of Indian Air Force former chief Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi on Friday by the Central Bureau of Investigation is a
sobering moment. This is the first instance of a serving or retired military chief being arrested on charges of corruption. The CBI
arrested ACM Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan in connection with the purchase order for VVIP
helicopters in 2010 for the IAF. In an official statement, the CBI said they were arrested for alleged irregularities in the
procurement of a dozen AW101 VVIP helicopters from U.K.-based AgustaWestland, part of the Italian consortium Finmeccanica.
The CBI claims that ACM Tyagi entered into criminal conspiracy with other accused persons and in 2005 to change the service
ceiling of VVIP helicopters from 6,000 m to 4,500 m, to make AgustaWestland eligible to participate in the tender. Twelve per
cent of the total deal of Rs.3,767 crore is alleged to have been the commission involved. After the allegations first emerged in
Italy, an embattled UPA government had moved swiftly to order an investigation in February 2013. The case was handed over
to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, which have relied substantially on evidence from Italian courts. The case in Italy
has witnessed several twists and turns, with a lower court in October 2014 acquitting ACM Tyagi, Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe
Orsi and others of corruption charges. On April 8, 2016, the Milan Court of Appeal overturned the order, and sentenced Mr. Orsi
to about four years in jail. This is not the first time that the name of a retired military chief has come up in a defence scandal. In
1987 the central investigation agencies had raided Admiral S.M. Nanda, accusing him of being a middleman in the sale of
German-made HDW submarines to India in the early 1980s. Two decades later the case was formally closed by the CBI, saying
no concrete evidence was available. In 2006 the CBI filed an FIR alleging kickbacks in the purchase of the Barak missile system
from Israel, naming among others Admiral Sushil Kumar. With extensive use of RTI, he contested the charge, and seven years
later the CBI told a Delhi court it couldnt find any evidence. This is not to suggest that defence deals are all clean. In this case,
the Indian hand in the deal has been corroborated by an Italian court. But a case is only as good as its conclusion. And defence
deal investigations have a habit of getting complicated by the difficulties in securing the kind of evidence that is required to
secure firm convictions. How this case, which has significant political ramifications, plays out, remains to be seen.
o Chief - leader of a group or organization (highest in authority, position,

or rank)
o Former - used for describing someone that had a particular job, title,
status etc in the past, but not now
o Bureau - a government organization
o Serving - employed at the present time in a particular organization,
especially the armed forces
o Charge - to make a formal statement saying that someone is accused of
a crime
o In connection with something - relating to something
o Irregularity - something that is not correct or acceptable
o Consortium - a group of companies or people with similar interests or
aims who have agreed to work together
o Conspiracy - the activity of secretly planning with other people to do
something bad or illegal
o Accused - someone, who has done something wrong or committed a
crime
o Swiftly - quickly
o Evidence - facts, statements, or objects that help to prove whether or
not someone has committed a crime

o Twists and turns - complicated dealings or circumstances
o Overturned - to change a legal decision
o Sentenced - gave a punishment (by a judge in court)
o Scandal - a situation in which important people behave in a dishonest
or immoral way that shocks people
o Middleman - someone who communicates or makes arrangements
between two people or groups
o Concrete - real / practical
o Kickback - an amount of money that is paid to someone illegally in
exchange for secret help or work
o Extensive - covering a large area; having a great range
o Corroborate - to support what someone says by giving information or
evidence that agrees with them
o Conviction - the fact of officially being found to be guilty of a particular
crime, or the act of officially finding someone guilty
o Ramification - a complicated or unexpected way in which a decision,
process, or event affects other things
o Plays out - to develop or end in a particular way
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A brutal victory in Aleppo"
The battle for Aleppo is almost over. Syrian government troops have captured almost 85 per cent of the eastern part of the city
which fell into rebel hands in 2012 in one of the early setbacks to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war. Given
the pace of the battlefield advances, its only a matter of weeks, if not days, before the Syrian army recaptures all of Aleppo, the
countrys largest city and commercial capital before the conflict broke out. The regime will now have direct control over all the
major cities and population centres in Syria, while for the army, which was on the brink of collapse a year ago before the Russian
intervention, the victory is certainly a morale booster. But Mr. Assad has had to pay a heavy price for Aleppo. This military
triumph is the result of a brutal strategy the regime and the Russians put in place earlier this year. Damascus knew that if Aleppo
were to be recaptured, it would shift the balance of the civil war decisively. Eastern Aleppo was the priciest catch of the rebels
where they built a parallel government. Their plan was to expand the revolution to other regime-held territories and they had
the backing of regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Syrian government, however, launched a relentless
bombing campaign in July, imposing a siege on the rebel-held parts of the city. After months of bombing by Russian and Syrian
jets broke the rebel supply lines, the army, backed by Hezbollah and Iran-trained militias, moved in to make quick gains. The
battle for Aleppo has been a humanitarian disaster. The rebels accuse the regime of indiscriminate bombing and killing civilians,
while the government says it had no option but to move in as the city was controlled by terrorists. Both are partially true. From
the beginning of the Aleppo operation, both the regime and Russia adopted scorched earth tactics. But government troops
frequently opened humanitarian corridors for the civilians to escape the war and the Russians had even negotiated a retreat
deal with the rebels under Turkish mediation recently. But the rebels, including Fateh al-Sham that was al-Nusra Front till August,
the al-Qaeda branch in Syria, refused to retreat; they also prevented residents from fleeing the city. Now that government troops
have captured most of the city, the question is, what will President Assad do next? Will he move troops to Idlib, another rebel-
held city, or kick off a long-awaited political process where he could negotiate from a position of strength? The latter option
would avert more bloodshed, while the militarys resources could be rechannelled to fight the Islamic State.
oBrutal - extremely violent

oTroops - soldiers on duty in a large group
oRebel - a person who is opposed to the political system in their country
from developing
unfair way
same country
o Battlefield - a place where a battle (war) is being fought or has been
fought in the past

o Recapture - to use force to take control of an area again
o Broke out - if something dangerous or unpleasant breaks out, it
suddenly starts
o Population centre - an area where a lot of people live
o On the brink of something - if something is on the brink of a bad
situation, it is likely that the situation will happen soon
o Collapse - to fall down suddenly
o Intervention - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult
situation
o Morale - the amount of confidence felt by a person or group of people,
especially when in a dangerous or difficult situation
o Pay a heavy price for something - to experience very bad result of
something you have done
o Triumph - a very great success, achievement
war, politics, business, industry, or sport etc
o Decisively - to make decisions quickly and confidently
o Priciest - expensive
o Revolution - a situation in which people completely change their
government or political system, usually by force
o Backing - support
o Relentless - something bad that is relentless never seems to stop or
improve
o Humanitarian - caring about someone who is in a very bad situation or
receiving unfair treatment
o Indiscriminate - not showing careful thought or planning, especially so
that harm results
o Scorched - slightly burned, or damaged by fire or heat
formal way, especially in a business or political situation
o Retreat - to go to a quiet safe place in order to avoid a difficult situation
o Fleeing - to escape by running away, especially because of danger or
fear
o Rechannell - to re-use something for a particular purpose
DEC 13/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Beyond the courts remit"
In its recent order banning liquor sale and consumption in three districts in the State, the
Uttarakhand High Court has drifted outside the confines of law and entered the domain of morals
and desired behaviour. The court has crossed its legal remit by extending a government policy of
prohibiting liquor outlets in the vicinity of places of worship, to cover Rudraprayag, Chamoli and
Uttarkashi from April 2017. It has also banned tobacco products within a five-km radius of three

gurdwaras. The court has assumed the power to make regulations on its own even after observing
that the State government has taken laudable measures to prohibit the sale of liquor in specified
areas. The petitioner had not sought any such ban. The court has used a petition challenging the
grant of a bar licence at a location near Haridwar as an opportunity to moralise on the evils of drink.
Ironically, the Division Bench has found no illegality in the grant of licence as the bar concerned is
situated outside the municipal limits where the prohibition operates. However, it has clothed itself
with the power to give sanctity to the government order that prohibits liquor in the vicinity of the
Char Dham (four holy shrines) by clamping judicial prohibition in the whole of the three districts. The
court has cited Article 47 of the Constitution, which says it is the duty of the state to raise the level
of nutrition and standard of living of the people and improve public health, and to prohibit the
consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs. In general, courts refrain from enforcing Directive
Principles, though some judicial decisions are based on combining their underlying goals with aspects
of Fundamental Rights. The Bench cites several judgments that hold that engaging in the liquor
business is not a Fundamental Right. However, these precedents invariably arise from challenges to
government policies regulating or prohibiting the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol. In
fact, earlier this year the Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition seeking a nation-wide ban on
alcohol, observing that this was a matter of policy into which it cannot venture. It is one thing to cite
constitutional goals to justify state action against liquor or drugs; it is quite another to cite them as a
justification for judicial directions. Earlier this year the Supreme Court cautioned judges against
assuming powers based on individual perceptions or notions. Howsoever noble an idea may be,
courts should be wary of making rules on their own, as it would amount to transgressing into the
policy domain.

o Remit - the area that a person or group of people in authority has
responsibility for
o Consumption - the act of using, eating, or drinking something
o Drifted - to move slowly
o Confines - the outer limits of something
o Domain - a particular area of activity
o Morals - standards for good or bad character and behavior
o Desired - wanted
o Prohibiting - to officially refuse to allow something
o Outlet - a shop or place where a particular product is sold
o Radius - a distance from a central point
o Laudable - deserving to be praised or admired
o Moralise - to express judgments about what is morally right and wrong
would expect
o Sanctity - the special importance that some things have, especially
traditional institutions
o Clamping - if you clamp something in a particular place, you hold it there
tightly
o Nutrition - food considered as something that keeps you healthy
o Standard of living - the type of life that a person or society has
according to the amount of money that they have
o Intoxicating drinks - alcoholic drinks


o Refrain from something - to avoid doing or stop yourself from doing
something
o Enforcing - to make people obey a law
o Precedent - a decision by a court on which future decisions are based
o Regulating - controlling
o Venture - undertake a risky or daring action
o Cautioned - warned
o Perceptions - a particular way of understanding or thinking about
something
o Howsoever - in whatever way
o Wary - not completely trusting or certain about something or someone
o Transgressing - to do something that is not allowed by a law, custom,
or religion
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Turkeys derailed war on terror"
Turkey is facing a multi-dimensional security crisis. Its forces are deployed on two battlefronts in the southeast, where most
of the countrys 15 million Kurds live, to fight the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK); and in Syria to face off threats from the Islamic
State (IS) as well as Kurdish rebels. But these operations have hardly helped the country secure its cities from terror attacks,
as seen in Saturdays blasts in Istanbul that killed 44 people, mostly police officers. The attack has been claimed by the Kurdistan
Freedom Falcons (TAK), a splinter group of the PKK, which said they were taking revenge for the ongoing military operation in
the southeast and the continuing imprisonment of Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK leader. The unrelenting terror attacks over the past
few years show that something is wrong with law enforcement and security arrangements in Turkey, a country otherwise known
for functional institutions and a tough security regime, or a deep state. Even at the height of the civil war with the PKK, violence
was largely confined to the southeast. So what went wrong for Ankara? Part of the problem was the reckless handling of foreign
policy and internal security by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The IS grew in strength under the watch of the Erdogan
government which, driven by its hostility towards the Syrian regime, looked away as its border was being used by the jihadists.
By the time Turkey started focussing on the IS, it was too late. It could still have launched a coordinated, focussed campaign
against the IS. Instead, the government abandoned a peace process initiated with the PKK and opened another front. Over the
past year, the Turkish security forces have turned several cities in the southeast such as Diyarbakir into battle zones. This
exposes Ankaras security dilemma: whatever it does to defeat the Kurdish militancy is deepening the crisis further. Even the
ties between the TAK and the PKK are in dispute. Though the TAK calls Mr. Ocalan its leader, it has severed organisational ties
with the PKK saying the latters passive struggle methods are not acceptable. But Ankara is going after every Kurdish
organisation whenever the TAK carries out an attack, mostly on security personnel. In recent months, many Kurdish politicians,
including Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the largest Kurdish political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, were arrested. There
is a dangerous pattern in Turkeys approach towards these security challenges. On the one side it is complacent in the fight
against the IS, perhaps because of its geopolitical calculations; on the other, it is using collective punishment tactics to deal with
the Kurdish militancy. The current security situation will vouch for this policys failure.
o Derailed - to prevent something from continuing in the way that it was

planned
o Terror - violence used for making people very frightened in order to
achieve political aims
o Crisis - an extremely difficult or dangerous situation
o Forces - the military organizations for air, land, and sea
o Deployed - to move soldiers or equipment to a place where they can be
used when they are needed
o Battlefront - a place where a battle is being fought
o Falcon - a bird that kills other birds and animals for food and can be
trained to hunt
o Imprisonment - the punishment of being put into prison
o Unrelenting - extremely determined; never becoming weaker or
admitting defeat

o Enforcement - the process of making sure that people obey a law or
rule
o Confined - to limit an activity, person, or problem in some way
o Reckless - doing something dangerous and not worrying about the risks
and the possible results
o Abandoned - left without care and protection
o Dilemma - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between
two different things you could do
o Militancy - the process of using extreme and sometimes violent methods
to achieve political or social change
o Ties - friendly relations
o Dispute - an argument or disagreement,
o Severed - to end something such as a friendship or a connection
completely and permanently
o Complacent - a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or
situation that prevents you from trying harder
o Vouch for something - to say that you know from experience that
something is true or good
DEC 14/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Through a storm, safely"
A year after the devastating deluge, Chennais resilience has been challenged by the severe cyclonic storm, Vardah. Equipped
with survival lessons from the December 2015 floods and helped by an efficient flow of disaster warning messages, the city and
neighbouring districts held together through several hours of fierce winds. Chennais trees bore the brunt, many uprooted or
torn down irredeemably. The storm hobbled the citys infrastructure by nightfall, downing power and communication cables,
blocking roads, disrupting rail and air transport, and spreading a carpet of darkness. It is to the Tamil Nadu governments credit
that basic mobility was restored overnight, and fallen trees were removed to allow some traffic to ply. Vardah also demonstrated
that in the time of social media and the Internet, speedy official and community messages can influence the outcome of a
catastrophe. While economic damage was inevitable, cautionary advice put out on social platforms urging people to stay safe
helped reduce the number of casualties. Remarkably, the community also responded with alacrity, creating online groups and
sharing messages offering help and advice. It is of course possible to learn even more by going back to citizens and harnessing
data on their experience using online tools. Tropical storms are an annual affair, with the more vulnerable eastern coast taking
a pummelling from 92 severe cyclones out of a total of 262 between 1891 and 1990, and several more in the years since. Such
weather events are a part of the climate system, and their impact in the form of economic losses could well be greater going
forward, as development creates more assets in coastal cities. It is vital, therefore, that the learnings from each event are shared
nationally, and the capacity of officials and communities to manage disasters built continuously. Such an approach helps coastal
regions in the United States prepare for and deal with storms better. Among the securities available to individuals in many
countries is insurance against property losses. Viable policies should be made available in India too, as this would bring scrutiny
on administrative measures and potentially improve outcomes. A citywide blackout also underscores the importance of rooftop
solar and battery storage systems as supplementary power sources for households and corporates. Planting trees with strong
root systems and pruning the canopy ahead of cyclone season could reduce uprooting. In the aftermath of Vardah, the Tamil
Nadu government should restore infrastructure and provide priority relief to the families of those who lost their lives, and the
worst-hit communities.
o Through - from the beginning to the end of a period of time

o Storm - an occasion when a lot of rain falls very quickly, often with very
strong winds or thunder and lightning
o Deluge - a very large amount of rain or water
o Resilience - ability to quickly return to a previous good condition
o Severe - causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc (very
serious)

o Equipped - having the skills / equipment needed to do something
exist
o Disaster - (an event that results in) great harm, damage, or death, or
serious difficulty
o Uproot - to pull a whole tree or plant from the ground, including all the
roots that grow in the soil
o Torn down - to destroy or remove a structure or part of a structure
o Irredeemably - impossible to correct, improve, or change
o Hobbled - to limit something or control the freedom of someone
power supplies, that a city or organization uses in order to work
effectively
o Nightfall - the time in the evening when it becomes dark
o Mobility- the ability to move freely
o Ply - to make journey regularly
destruction
o Inevitable - something that is certain to happen and cannot be
prevented
o Cautionary - warning someone that they should be careful
o Urging - advising someone very strongly about what action they should
take
o Casualties - someone who is injured or killed in an accident
o Alacrity - quickly
o Harnessing - to get control of something in order to use it for a
particular purpose
o Pummelling - to cause a lot of damage to a place
o Coastal - on land beside a sea
o Viable - able to work as expected or able to succeed
o Blackout - a short period when the electricity supply to a building or
district is stopped, especially at night
o Pruning - to remove parts of a tree or plant, to make it grow better
o Canopy - the branches and leaves that spread out at the top of a group
of trees forming a type of roof
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Free flow of wheat"


The Centres decision to waive import duty on wheat has predictably attracted flak. Opposition parties have questioned the
move, which comes days after the governments assertion that demonetisation of high-value currency notes did not impact the
sowing of the rabi crop, with a greater area being cultivated compared to the same time a year ago. Assembly polls are due
soon in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, both large wheat-producing States, making this a plausible rallying point for the Opposition.
Farmer unions have warned of dumping of wheat stock in India at a time when the minimum support price (Rs.1,625 a quintal)
is higher than international prices. This, they argue, could lead to distress sales when the current crop is harvested over March-
April. The government, on its part, has noted concerns about the warmer winter forecast, which could affect wheat output and
trigger inflation. This February, when prices of food articles that make up 46 per cent of the consumer price index were cooling
off, the government expected the trend to continue if the monsoon was normal after two years of drought. Now at year-end,
following a normal monsoon, inflation remains under control but wheat prices have been moving up swiftly. There is no doubt
that fiddling too often with wheat import duties from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, then back to 10 per cent and finally to zero,
all within 500 days sends mixed signals to farmers and traders, though the latter group will be pleased with the duty-free
regime. But equally, it is necessary to change ones mind when the situation so demands, which it currently does. A record
global harvest has lowered wheat prices internationally. With a higher MSP, and speculation about a less-than-adequate harvest
domestically, the government is obviously keen on avoiding a surge in inflation following the demonetisation process. With
imports remaining duty-free, it is now clear to traders that hoarding reserves and profiteering from the systemic stress wont pay
for long, even though it will take a couple of months or so for the first such shipments to arrive from overseas. Farmers busy
with the rabi sowing season may not rally to political provocations immediately. But by the time they harvest the crop four months
from now, the Centre would be well-advised to spruce up its procurement act, and raise awareness about the MSP mechanism.
A longer-term action plan is needed to increase Indias wheat yields, which in most States are lower than in China and
Bangladesh.
oWaive - to choose to officially ignore a rule

oImport - to buy or bring in products from another country
oPredictably - happening in the way you expected
oFlak - strong criticism or opposition:
oAssertion - a definite statement or claim that something is true
oDemonetisation - to officially stop using particular notes or coins, or a
particular currency
o Rabi - the grain crop that is cut and collected in spring season
o Crop - a plant such as a grain, fruit, or vegetable grown in large amounts
o Plausible - seeming likely to be true, or able to be believed
o Dumping - the act of getting rid of something that is not wanted
o Minimum support price - the minimum price for something, for
example for a food product, that is set by the government (if the real
price falls below this price, the government pays farmers, etc. the
difference between the two prices)
o Distress - a situation in which you are suffering or are in great danger
and therefore in urgent need of help
o Harvest - to pick and collect crops, to eat
o Cooling off - if sales, prices etc cool off, they become lower
o Monsoon - the season of heavy rain
o Swiftly - happening quickly or immediately
o Fiddling - to move or change something
o Speculation - ideas or discussion about why something has happened
or what might happen
particular currency
o Hoarding - to save / hid a large amount of something

o Profiteering - to take advantage of a situation in which other people are
suffering to make a profit, often by selling goods that are difficult to get
at a high price
o Shipment - a large amount of goods sent together to a place
o Overseas - from other countries
o Sowing - to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow
way
o Procurement - to get something (especially after an effort)
DEC 15/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Demonetisations deflationary shock ?"

That the Centres decision to withdraw high-denomination banknotes was going to impact economic activity in the short term
was never in doubt. But the specific contours of the effects were probably a lot less understood at the time of that announcement.
The deflationary shock has manifested itself in a deceleration in retail inflation, as demand for a range of goods and services
has been damped. That the headline Consumer Price Index-based gauge hit a two-year low of 3.63 per cent for November is
therefore no surprise, especially given the additional factor of a favourable base effect the reading was 5.41 per cent in
November 2015. The major contributor to the slowdown in price gains was the food and beverages group, where inflation eased
to 2.56 per cent largely on the back of a slump in the prices of vegetables, a highly perishable commodity. But a closer look at
the food group throws the spotlight on some trends that the Reserve Bank of India had flagged in its latest monetary policy
review as areas of concern. Specifically, the prices of sugar and confectionery accelerated by 22.4 per cent while meat and fish
and egg also reflected persistently elevated levels. The services sectors, including transport and communication and education,
also manifested stickiness, underscoring the rationale for the RBIs cautious approach in keeping benchmark interest rates
unchanged. Clearly, signals from the inflation data pose a conundrum before policymakers. With demand impulses taking a
wide-ranging knock from the shortage of cash in the hands of consumers, proponents of policy accommodation would argue
that the time is ripe for the RBI to cut borrowing costs to help impart some credit-fuelled economic momentum. But as the RBIs
Monetary Policy Committee itself articulated it on December 7, while discretionary spending on goods and services in the CPI
excluding food and fuel could have been affected by restricted access to cash, the prices of those items may weather the
transitory effects since they are normally revised according to preset cycles. More importantly, the MPC cautioned that food
inflation pressures could re-emerge as a consequence of disruptions in agricultural activity as a result of the currency withdrawal.
The spectre of upward price pressures from key components including food and fuel OPECs output cuts are already pushing
up crude oil combined with the fading away of a favourable base effect could leave the RBI with little wiggle room to support
growth. With the central banks March 2017 target for retail inflation of 5 per cent clearly in their sights, the monetary authorities
may be persuaded to keep the powder dry.

particular currency
o Deflationary - causing prices and the level of economic activity to
become lower or to stop increasing
o High-denomination - high value (especially money)
o Contours - an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of
something
o Probably - as far as one knows or can tell
o Manifested - to show something clearly
o Deceleration - to happen or make something happen more slowly
o Retail - relating to the sale of goods directly to the public for their own
use
o Damped - to beome less strong
o Gauge - to make a judgment about something


o Contributor - someone or something that is one of the causes of a
situation, event etc
o Slowdown - a reduction in speed, activity, or the rate
o Beverages - a drink of any type
o On the back of something - as a result of something
o Slump - (of prices, values, or sales) to fall suddenly
o Perishable - perishable food decays quickly (especially if it is not kept
cold)
o Monetary policy - actions taken by a government to control the amount
of money in an economy and how easily available it is, for example by
changing the interest rate
o Confectionery - sweet foods such as sweets and chocolates
o Persistently - lasting for a long time
o Stickiness - qualities that encourage people to spend a long time
o Underscoring - to emphasize something, or to show that it is important
based on
o Benchmark interest rate - minimum rate of return investors will accept
for buying non-government (non-treasury) securities
o Conundrum - a problem that is difficult to deal with
or plan of action
o Transitory - temporary
o Cautioned - warned
a problem
o Spectre - the possibility of something unpleasant that might happen in
the future
o Key - main / important
o Components - one of the different qualitis or features of something
o Crude oil - oil from rocks underground in a natural state that has not yet
been treated
o Wiggle room - the freedom or opportunity to do something, or to
change your mind and do something differently if that is what is needed
o Persuade - to make someone agree to do something by giving them
o Keep the powder dry - to be ready to do something if necessary
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Indias winning streak"

Indias emphatic innings-and-36-run victory over England at Mumbais Wankhede Stadium has effectively broken a jinx. Among
all its Test cricket rivals, discounting the hype around games against Australia or the history that permeates jousts involving


Pakistan, England had been a bugbear. Twice, India lost Test series in England in 2011 and 2014; it also suffered the ignominy
of losing at home in 2012. Redemption finally came in Mumbai as Virat Kohlis men secured an unassailable 3-0 lead with just
the fifth and final Test remaining to be played in Chennai, starting Friday. The cobwebs of the past have been shed and a new
order is in place. In its last 17 Tests, India remained undefeated, the highlight being 13 wins. This equals the purple patch from
1985 to 1987 that featured four victories, 12 draws and a tie across 17 games. India can do one better if it wins or at least draws
at Chennai. The current winning streak includes five consecutive Test series triumphs: Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies,
New Zealand and England have been vanquished. From shedding the pangs of transition to charting its own path, the present
squad has shown that it respects the aura of Tests and is fiercely motivated to win. It is a trait Kohli shares with coach Anil
Kumble. The squads twin arms, Kohli and R. Ashwin, have worked in pulsating tandem. As a batsman with a concurrent
average of 50-plus across all three formats, Kohli is poised to join the league of legends. He has led from the front. England
wilted under the weight of his bat that yielded 640 runs at an average of 128. He even played peacemaker when Ashwin and
James Anderson had a spat in Mumbai. Ashwin, meanwhile, has powered Indias remarkable growth, with both ball and bat. He
has bagged 27 wickets in this series, and the final contest at his home ground in Chennai may only enthuse him more. The
teams glory is not just restricted to Kohli and Ashwin, the rest have all put their hands up at various times. Be it Jayant Yadav,
an able understudy to Ashwin the off-spinner and an effective batsman; Parthiv Patel, called in as a replacement wicketkeeper;
seamer Mohammed Shami; or the reliable Murali Vijay, opening with assurance. The squads inherent strength hasnt waned
even when personnel are lost briefly due to injuries (Ajinkya Rahane or Rohit Sharma) or when form deserts (Shikhar Dhawan).
India still has a long road to traverse and overseas wins in Australia and England need to be secured. But for now Kohli and his
men are enjoying a stupendous home run.
o Winning streak - a period of time when you win a lot of games, races,
or competitions
o Emphatic - done in a strong way
o Jinx - bad luck
o Rivals - a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing
or in the same area
o Hype - a situation in which something is advertised and discussed in
newspapers, on television, etc. a lot in order to attract everyone's interest
o Permeates - if an attitude or feeling permeates something, you can feel
or see its influence clearly in every part of that thing
o Joust - to argue or compete
o Bugbear - a particular thing that annoys or upsets you
o Ignominy - public embarrassment
o Redemption - an occasion when someone is saved from suffering
o Unassailable - in such a strong position that you cannot be defeated
o Shed cobwebs - to make you feel more lively and think more clearly
o Triumph - a very great success, achievement, or victory
o Vanquish - to defeat an enemy or opponent
o Pang - a very strong, sudden, and unpleasant pain or emotion
o Squad - a sports team
o Aura - a feeling or character that a person or place seems to have
o Fiercely - extremely
o Trait - a particular quality in someones character
o Pulsating - very interesting and exciting
o Concurrent - happening or existing at the same time
o Wilted - to have less energy, confidence, or enthusiasm
o Spat - a short argument
o Enthuse - to express excitement about something or great interest in it
o Understudy - a person who learns another's role in order to be able to
act at short notice in their absence
o Stupendous - very impressive
o Home run - score


DEC 16/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A law for equality"
By passing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, the Rajya Sabha has adopted a radically transformative piece of
legislation that addresses the concerns of arguably the most marginalised section of Indian society. The Lok Sabha should lose
no time to approve this Bill in the winter session, bringing to fruition a process that started with Indias ratification of the relevant
UN Convention in 2007. A measure of the expansive reach of the Bill that the Upper House passed unanimously is that it is
covers as many as 19 conditions nearly three times the number of disabilities accorded legal protection under the 1995 law.
Included are a large number of individuals with multiple impairments, who are the most disadvantaged sections among the
disabled. Another welcome provision is the power to notify additional disabilities, a clear recognition of the need to factor in
conditions that may arise as a result of an ageing population, an inevitable part of the demographic transition. Relaxation of the
upper age limit to access primary and higher education is clear evidence of foresight, given the disproportionately low and
delayed enrolment of disabled children in formal schooling. In addition, the incorporation of penal stipulations, a major omission
in the predecessor Act, should go some way towards ensuring more effective law enforcement. The increase in the proportion
of reserved positions in public employment and incentives for the private sector to hire disabled candidates are other important
departures. The discretionary powers for authorities to determine appropriate avenues of occupation for the disabled would
have to be exercised with sensitivity and openness. Experience shows that new technology enables people with disability to
undertake tasks that may once have been outside their reach. In this regard, the decision to drop the proposal for the
establishment of statutory disabilities commissions at the national and State levels is a lost opportunity. To vest in an advisory
body the responsibility to monitor enforcement and violations of the law, as well as financial supervision, is not the most effective
approach to promote equal opportunities and combat discrimination. The number of the disabled in India is anywhere between
5 and 10 per cent of the population. Their integration into the mainstream is a developmental and economic imperative. The
Vision 2030 blueprint on sustainable development that is in the works is an opening for the Centre to spell out its priorities on
disabilities.
oRadically - completely or in a way that is very noticeable

oTransformative - causing great and positive change in someone or
something
o Fruition - an occasion when a plan or an idea begins to happen, exist,
or be successful
o Ratification - to make an agreement official by signing it or formally
accepting it
o Expansive - including many things or a large area
o Unanimously - a unanimous decision, vote, agreement etc is one that
o Accorded - to treat someone or something in a particular way, especially
by giving them power, respect, or status
o Impairments - the fact that a part of your body is unable to do
something fully
advantages as other people
o Demographic - relating to populations
o Foresight - the ability to judge correctly what is going to happen in the
future and plan your actions based on this knowledge
o Disproportionately - if something is disproportionate, it is bigger or

o Enrolment - to put someone onto the official list of members of a course,
college, or group
o Incorporation - to include something as part of something larger
o Stipulation - a rule that must be followed or something that must be
done
o Omission - someone or something that has not been included
o Predecessor - something that has been replaced by another thing
o Hire - to pay someone to work for you
o Discretionary - based on someones judgment of a particular situation
rather than on a set of rules
will happen
o Avenue - a method or way of doing something
o Exercise - to use your power or rights
o Sensitivity - the quality of understanding how someone feels and being
careful not to offend them
o Openness - an honest way of talking or behaving in which you do not
try to hide anything
o In this regard - used for relating something that you have just said to
something that you will be saying
o Vest in something - if power or authority is vested in someone or
something, or if someone or something is vested with power or authority,
it is officially given to him, her, or it
o Advisory - for the purpose of giving advice
etc
o Combat - to fight
o Integration - the process of becoming a full member of a group or
society, and becoming involved completely in its activities
most people
o Blueprint - a detailed plan for doing something new, or something that
is a model for how something should be done
o Spell out - to say or explain something very clearly because someone
has not understood something
o Priority - something that is very important and must be dealt with before
other things
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Well-oiled diplomacy"

In nominating Rex Tillerson, Chief Executive of the oil and gas conglomerate ExxonMobil, to the post of Secretary of State,
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has provided another glimpse into his world view and decision-making process. Similar to


Mr. Trump, Mr. Tillerson has no formal experience in political office, yet brings impressive heft in terms of deal-making across
52 countries over six continents. On his watch, the stock market value of ExxonMobil, the U.S.s largest oil company, soared to
over $360 billion. Yet the vast global reach of Mr. Tillersons work and the sheer complexities involved in drilling for oil, especially
the sometimes messy geopolitics at play, have meant he has often been at odds with the agenda of the U.S. State Department.
In Nigeria, for example, his company faced flak for lack of transparency in dealings with the government. Nowhere is the potential
divergence from the hallowed traditions of Foggy Bottoms diplomatic norms more visible than in Mr. Tillersons decade-plus
engagement with Russia to secure oil drilling rights. Under him, ExxonMobil since 2006 signed a plethora of drilling agreements
including through partnerships with the Russian oil behemoth Rosneft. Yet, as Mr. Tillersons star rose in the eyes of the Kremlin,
U.S. President Barack Obamas fell, especially since early 2014 when he authorised sanctions against certain Russian
individuals and entities for violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Thus, reactions to Mr. Tillersons nomination have been
divided between relief, among those who would welcome the likely thaw in Washington-Moscow diplomatic ties, and alarm, of
critics who fear that as in Mr. Trumps case, Mr. Tillerson may find it difficult to disentangle his personal and official interests. In
his confirmation hearing in the Senate he will be grilled, in all likelihood by John McCain and his peers, on his views on whether
Russian hackers had interfered in the presidential election, as the U.S. intelligence community suggests they did, and whether
these hackers could still launch cyberattacks on U.S. targets. His answers will provide clues about how he might carry out his
duties as Americas top diplomat. They will also supply clarity on his apparent belief, contra-Trump, that human activity does
cause climate change, necessitating mitigation and adaptation efforts. To India, the nomination of Mr. Tillerson, if successful,
may smooth military cooperation with Moscow as Obama-era hostility towards Russia softens. ExxonMobil also has extensive
oil business assets on Indian soil, so New Delhi may have reason to be sanguine about bilateral dtente, especially in trade and
investment terms.
o Well-oiled - a well-oiled system or company operates without problems.

o Diplomacy - the profession or skill of preserving or creating friendly
relationships between countries
o Conglomerate - a company that owns several smaller businesses whose
products or services are usually very different
o Glimpse - to see something or someone for a very short time or only
partly
o Heft - power or strength
o Soared - to quickly increase to a high level
o Sheer - used for emphasizing the amount or degree of something
o Messy - complicated, difficult, and unpleasant to deal with
o Geopolitics - the study of how a countrys position, economy, and
population influence its politics, especially in relation to other countries
o At play - the study of how a countrys position, economy, and population
influence its politics, especially in relation to other countries
o At odds with - disagreeing with someone
o Flak - criticism and argument
o Divergence - a difference in the way that two or more things develop
from the same thing
o Hallowed - considered very special and treated with great respect
o Plethora - a greater amount than you need or want
o Behemoth - someone or something that is very large, especially a
company
o In the eyes of - according to the law, what other countries believe is
right etc
o Entity - something that exists apart from other things, having its own
independent existence
o Violating - to do something that is in opposition to a law, agreement,
principle etc
o Integrity - the quality of always behaving according to the moral
principles that you believe in, so that people respect and trust you


o Thaw - to become more friendly
o Critic - someone who says that they do not approve of someone or
something
o Disentangle - to separate things that have become joined
o Grilled - to ask someone a lot of difficult questions for a long period of
time
o Likelihood - the chance that something might happen
o Peer - someone who belongs to the same social or professional group as
another person
o Carry out - to do a particular piece of work
o Diplomat - an official whose job is to represent their government in a
foreign country
o Contra - against or opposite
o Mitigation - things that are said in a court of law to explain why someone
committed a crime so that it seems less bad
o Extensive - very large in amount or degree
o Sanguine - confident and hopeful about what might happen, especially
in a difficult situation
o Dtente - a situation in which countries that have had an unfriendly
relationship become more friendly
DEC 17/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Diminishing options before BCCI"
Equivocation before the Supreme Court can be costly. Anurag Thakur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India,
may have learnt this bitter lesson after the Chief Justice of India found him prima facie guilty of contempt of court and perjury.
The boards predicament is not only due to its reluctance to accept the reforms suggested by the court-appointed Justice Lodha
Committee. It is also because of its presidents ham-handed attempt to explain away his move to get the International Cricket
Council to issue a letter to the effect that some judicial orders regarding the BCCI amounted to governmental interference. Mr.
Thakur allegedly approached ICC chairman Shashank Manohar in Dubai in August 2016 in connection with the courts July 18
order mandating that a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India should be on the BCCIs apex council. It is not
surprising that the court took a dim view of the BCCI initially denying that such an attempt had been made to get the ICC
involved. It was probably just as displeased with Mr. Thakur going on to file an affidavit that he had only wanted Mr. Manohar to
give his opinion on the issue as a former BCCI president. Mr. Thakur would have been better off admitting what happened,
given that Mr. Manohar has disclosed that the BCCI president had indeed asked him for such a letter. Mr. Thakur being rendered
liable for prosecution for perjury is not the only consequence; the current BCCI office-bearers may lose their control over the
board. The Bench headed by the Chief Justice is already in a mood to appoint some observers, based on a suggestion by the
Lodha Committee, to oversee the BCCIs affairs. The BCCI has allowed an impression to gain ground that its attitude towards
reforms is one of defiance and obstruction. So far the cricket body has been maintaining that it cannot force its State-level
affiliates to accept all the new norms. The BCCI could have avoided a direct confrontation by committing itself more plainly to
abide by the court verdict. The BCCIs reputation as a responsible sports administrator is under strain not because of any
shortcoming in its management of the cricketing aspects of the game, but its seeming intransigence in embracing reforms aimed
at bringing about transparency in its functioning. Any order convicting the BCCI president for perjury or holding its top
functionaries guilty of contempt of court would severely damage the institution. An apology from Mr. Thakur, and the BCCIs
wholehearted acceptance of the Lodha Committee reforms, seem the only way out.
o Diminishing - reducing / becoming less

o Equivocation - to speak in a way that is intentionally not clear and
confusing to other people, especially to hide the truth
o Bitter lesson - painful lesson


o Contempt - a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for
o Perjury - the crime of telling lies in court when you have promised to
tell the truth
o Predicament - an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of
o Ham-handed - doing things in an unskilled way
o Interference - the process of deliberately becoming involved in a
situation and trying to influence the way that it develops, although you
have no right to do this
o Mandating - to give an official order or make a law stating that
o Apex - the most important or successful part of something
o Take a dim view of something - to disapprove of something
o Displeased - annoyed or angry, usually because something is not very
good or someone has made a mistake
is true
o Disclosed - to give information to people, especially information that
was secret
o Oversee - to watch or organize a job or an activity to make certain that
o Gain ground - to become more successful, popular, or accepted
o Affiliate - to have a connection with or support a larger organization or
group
behaviour
o Embracing - to accept something enthusiastically
o Convicting - to decide officially in a law court that someone is guilty of
a crime
o Contempt - behaviour that is illegal because it does not obey or respect
the rules of a law court
o Wholehearted - showing complete sincerity and commitment
o Reforms - improvements / changes that are intended to correct a
situation that is wrong or unfair, or make a system work more effectively


Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Decoding the Feds signals"
The U.S. Federal Reserves widely anticipated decision to resume its course of normalisation of monetary policy by raising the
benchmark Federal Funds rate by one-quarter of a percentage point has unequivocally signalled that the worlds largest
economy is well and truly back on track. Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said the U.S. central bank now expects the economy to
continue to perform well. The median projection of real gross domestic product growth among the Federal Open Market
Committees participants is for the expansion to accelerate to 2.1 per cent in 2017, from 1.9 per cent this year. This bodes well
for the world economy as an improvement in demand for goods and services in one of the biggest markets will potentially spur
economic activity all over. That the improvement in momentum has been accompanied by solid job gains and moderate
increases in household spending is particularly heartening since personal consumption undergirds overall demand in the U.S.
The Fed has also stated that it expects future interest rate increases to be gradual. The median projection for the funds rate at
the end of 2017 is estimated at 1.4 per cent, indicating at most another 3 to 4 quarter point moves over the next 12 months.
Such a calibrated approach to policy normalisation will allow international markets time to reset investment weights and priorities,
while ensuring that the domestic momentum doesnt unravel. And with indications that Donald Trumps administration may
unveil policies to bolster domestic economic activity, the prospects for the U.S. economy appear sanguine as of now. From an
Indian perspective, however, there are attendant risks from the Feds policy normalisation. For one, the dollars strengthening
trend against most major currencies and the rupee have begun to push up Indias bill for imports a large share of which does
not lend itself to substitution and widen the trade deficit. Latest trade data show Indias import costs in rupee terms climbed
13 per cent in November while the value in dollar terms rose 10.4 per cent, in a clear reflection of the impact of the dollars
appreciation. Also, the very same improvement in U.S. economic outlook that could lend a glint of anticipation to Indian exporters
has already been a factor in spurring an exodus of portfolio investment capital from emerging markets, including India, and
inflows back into the home market. And with the U.S. President-elect resorting to protectionist rhetoric, Indian companies,
especially exporters of software services, are likely to remain on tenterhooks till clarity emerges on the administrations policy
road map. For the moment, all optimism stemming from the strengthening U.S. economy will need to be tempered with caution.
o Decoding - to discover the meaning of information given in a secret or

complicated way
o Aticipated - to imagine or expect that something will happen
o Resume - to start again after pause
o Normalisation - to make something normal, or to become normal
o Unequivocally - total, or expressed in a clear and certain way
o Back on track - working or happening normally again
o Bodes well - to be a sign that something good will happen
o Undergird - to secure underneath; to strengthen, support, hold
o Gradual - to happen slowly and by small amounts
o Median - average (the median value is the middle one in a set of values
arranged in order of size)
o Calibrated - accurate
o Unravel - begins to fail
o Prospects - the possibility of being successful
o Sanguine - positive and hoping for good things
o Perspective - a way of thinking about something (point of view)
received
o Glint - to shine with quick flashes of light


o Anticipation - a feeling of excitement about something that is going to
happen in the near future
o Spurring - encouraging
o Exodus - a situation in which a lot of people leave a place or activity at
the same time
o Portfolio - all the investments that a person or company has made
people
o Tenterhooks - worried or nervous about something that is going to
happen
o Stemming - to stop something from spreading or increasing
o Tempered - to make something less strong, extreme, etc
DEC 19/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Questions from a washout"

That the winter session would be washed out had been clear for a while. With the Opposition parties mustering all their
disruptive tactics to stall the functioning of both Houses, insisting on maximalist demands on just how the debate on
demonetisation should be structured, hopes for any substantive work had diminished. In the event, the session also left a
hysterical afterglow, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling a gathering in Gujarat that he had to speak his mind in a jan
sabha (peoples meet) as the Opposition wouldnt let him do so in Parliament; and Rahul Gandhi, vice-president of the Congress
party, complaining that he was not allowed to make earth-shattering disclosures on the floor of the House, but then keeping
them close to his chest outside. With theatrics such as these, both the Government and the Opposition have left a question
hanging in the politically charged air: what was the point? What did either side gain by bringing Indian parliamentary democracys
most deliberative process to a grinding halt? Just two bills were passed, one of them a money bill that did not need the Rajya
Sabhas nod. According to the think tank PRS Legislative Research, less than 1 per cent of the 330 questions listed for Question
Hour in the Rajya Sabha were answered orally. The Lok Sabha looked better only in comparison, with 11 per cent. Given what
was at stake in the session, the abandonment of the spirit of give-and-take that keeps the legislative schedule humming was
baffling. The government has staked much political capital on key financial reforms that need cooperation across the aisles. It
lost the chance to pass bills critical to the April 1, 2017, deadline for the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax. It also failed to
end the session on a note of federal cooperation to set up the shift to Budget day to February 1 from next year. The Opposition,
for its part, has clearly taken its cue from the BJPs playbook. By forcing adjournments while in opposition, it was successful in
reinforcing the impression of a policy paralysis in the second UPA government. But the Congress has a point to prove other
than what the BJP did then. To re-establish itself as a viable option for voters, the Congress needs to share its vision and road
map in the Rahul Gandhi era. The floor of the House, with a tempered debate and questioning as a constructive party of
opposition, is a key venue for that. Basic self-interest demands that government and opposition avert the possibility of the
Budget session meeting the same fate as this one.
o Washout - a complete failure

o Mustering - collect or assemble
continuing as usual
o Stall - to stop
o Insisting - to say very strongly that something must happen or must be
done
o Maximalist - a person who holds extreme views and is not prepared to
compromise
particular currency
o Substantive - important / serious
o Hysterical - extremely funny
o Afterglow - a pleasant feeling produced after an experience, event,
feeling, etc

o Earth-shattering - extremely surprising and important
o Deliberative - involving careful thought and discussion when making
decisions
o Grinding - extreme: used for emphasizing how bad a situation is
o Think tank - a group of experts brought together, usually by a
government, to develop ideas on a particular subject and to make
suggestions for action
o Orally - expressed in speech, not writing
o Abandonment - the action of leaving
o Give-and-take - willingness to accept suggestions from another person
and give up some of your own
o Baffling - to cause someone to be completely unable to understand or
explain something
o Aisles - political opponents
o Rollout - the act of making something, especially a product or service,
available for the first time
o Take your cue from somebody - to take notice of someone's words or
behaviour so that you know what you should do
o Playbook - a set of rules or suggestions that are considered to be
suitable for a particular activity, industry, or job
o Adjournment - the temporary ending of a meeting or trial, or the period
of time during which it is temporarily ended
o Reinforcing - to make something stronger
o Constructive - useful and intended to help or improve something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Bridging the learning deficit"
Almost five decades after India first formulated its National Education Policy, the Ministry for Human Resource Development
appears to be gearing up for another revision to this policy document, and not a moment too soon. The state of education,
particularly in the critical primary and pre-primary years, is far from satisfactory. Since the early 2000s, successive governments
kept up momentum on a sustained investment push into schools in a bid to resolve what was viewed as a supply-side problem.
As The Hindus recent series on primary education, Learning Deficit, highlighted, it was hoped that through this effort children
in elementary education would be provided with classrooms, uniforms, textbooks and other teaching materials, and a larger
contingent of teachers. Thus, this approach hoped to tackle low enrolment rates. Led by government schools, public investment
in education helped raise the gross enrolment ratio from 81.6 per cent of children in the 6-14 age group in 2000 to 96 per cent
or more since 2008. Yet it soon became evident that getting children into school was only the first step, especially when gaping
holes remained in the system. Among these, the barriers to high-quality, equitably-distributed primary education include: high
dropout rates, especially for girls; teacher absenteeism and low teaching quality; and outmoded pedagogies and insufficient
resources to implement contemporary teaching methods. The problem of poor learning outcomes is of particular concern, for it
is a structural issue pertaining to the design of curricula and ingrained rote learning methods. These have been the backbone
of Indias teaching tradition for over half a century. But will this help create the kind of workforce that India wishes to develop:
nimble, highly-skilled and ready for the digital age, the global economy and new pathways of occupational mobility? Or will the
sheer weight of an outdated, colonial-era education system make Indians too sluggish and skill-deprived to cope in a highly
competitive global arena? While efforts of the present and previous government to boost the quality of learning in higher and
vocational education must be appreciated, policymakers ought not to ignore early childhood education and primary schooling,
the phases during which the most important cognitive development milestones are attained. The tenth Annual Status of
Education Report found that in 2014 the proportion of Class 3 and Class 5 students in rural areas who could read a Class 2


textbook was 23.6 and 48.1 per cent, respectively. Until Activity-Based Learning and teaching at the right level, tools for real
learning and skill-absorption, become the norm, hopes of the country becoming a great power may well remain a dream.

o Formulated - to develop all the details of a plan for doing something
o Gearing up for something - to prepare for something that you have to
do, or to prepare someone else for something
o Far from - not at all
o Successive - happening one after the other without any break
o In a bid - in an attempt
o Elementary - basic
o Contingent - a group of people representing an organization
o Enrolment - to put yourself or someone else onto the official list of
members of a course, school, college
o Investment - the act of putting money, effort, time, etc. into something
o Gross - total
o Gaping hole - very large
o Equitably - treating everyone fairly and in the same way
o Dropout - a person who leaves school, college, or university before
completing a qualification
o Absenteeism - the habit of not being at school or work when you should
be, usually without a good reason
o Outmoded - no longer useful, suitable, or relevant
o Pedagogies - the methods and practices of teaching
o Pertaining to something - to be directly related to something
o Curricula - the subjects that students study at a particular school or
college
o Ingrained - an ingrained attitude, belief, or habit has existed for a long
time and cannot easily be changed
o Nimble - able to move quickly and easily
o Colonial-era - relating to the period in which one country rules another
o Sluggish - not performing or reacting as well as usual
o Skill-deprived - not having the skills that are required
o Vocational - providing skills and education that prepare you for a job
o Ought - used to say that it is necessary or desirable to perform the
expressed action
o Cognitive - connected with thinking or conscious mental processes
o Rural areas - countryside areas
o Absorption - complete interest in something
o Norm - an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that
most people agree with
DEC 20/2016

Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Grappling with water disputes"
A permanent tribunal to adjudicate river water disputes between States will undoubtedly be a vast improvement over the present
system of setting up ad hoc tribunals. The Union Cabinets proposal to have a permanent tribunal that will subsume existing
tribunals is expected to provide for speedier adjudication. But whether this will resolve the problem of protracted proceedings is
doubtful. Given the number of ongoing inter-State disputes and those likely to arise in future, it may be difficult for a single
institution with a former Supreme Court judge as its chairperson to give its ruling within three years. Secondly, its interlocutory
orders as well as final award are likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court. This month, in a landmark verdict, the Supreme
Court said it had unfettered power to hear an appeal arising from a river water dispute tribunal under Article 136 of the
Constitution. It has interpreted the ouster clause in the Inter-State Water Disputes Act as one that merely bars the court from
entertaining an original complaint or suit on its own, but not its power to hear appeals against a tribunals decisions. Thus, finality
and enforcement of a tribunals award may remain elusive. The idea of a Dispute Resolution Committee, an expert body that
will seek to resolve inter-State differences before a tribunal is approached, will prove to be another disincentive for needless
litigation. A positive feature of the proposed changes is that there will be an expert agency to collect data on rainfall, irrigation
and surface water flows. This acquires importance because party-States have a tendency to fiercely question data provided by
the other side. A permanent forum having reliable data in its hands sounds like an ideal mechanism to apportion water. However,
a confusing aspect is that benches of the permanent tribunal are going to be created to look into disputes as and when they
arise. It is not clear in what way these temporary benches would be different from the present tribunals. A larger and more
significant downside to any adjudicatory framework is the refusal or reluctance of parties to abide by judicial orders. Having an
institutional mechanism is one thing, but infusing a sense of responsibility in those helming State governments is quite another.
What is at stake is not merely a set of competing claims over riparian rights. Water disputes have humanitarian dimensions,
including agrarian problems worsened by drought and monsoon failures. Adjudication, by whatever mechanism, should not be
at the mercy of partisan leaders who turn claims into dangerously emotive issues. Institutional mechanisms should be backed
by the political will to make them work.
o Grappling with something - to try hard to understand a difficult idea

or to solve a difficult problem
o Adjudicate - to make an official decision about a problem or
disagreement
o Undoubtedly - used for saying that something is certainly true or is
o Vast - extremely large
o Ad hoc - made for a particular purpose or need
o Subsume - to include something in a larger group
o Adjudication - to make an official decision about a problem or
disagreement
or necessary
o Proceedings - the actions taken, usually in court, to settle a legal matter
o Interlocutory - relating to the period in a civil case between the official
start of the case and its end
o Unfettered - without limits or controls
o Interpret - to understand an action, situation etc in a particular way
o Resolution - the action of solving a problem or dealing with a
disagreement in a satisfactory way
o Disincentive - something that makes you not want to do something

way
o Fiercely - in a frightening, violent, or powerful way
o Apportion - to divide something between two or more people,
organizations etc
o Adjudicatory - related to the official decision about something,
especially about who is right in a disagreement
o Reluctance - not willing to do something
o Infusing - to give someone or something a particular quality
o Helming - handling / controlling
o At stake - likely to be lost or damaged if something fails
o Riparian - relating to the legal rights of the owner of land on a river
bank, such as fishing or irrigation
o Drought - a long period of time when there is little or no rain and crops
die
o At the mercy of - in a situation that is controlled by someone or
something with the power to harm you
o Partisan - showing strong and usually unfair support for one particular
person, group, or idea
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Risks of Trumps China policy"
The seizure of an American underwater drone in the international waters of the South China Sea by the Chinese Navy marks
the latest flashpoint in bilateral relations that have entered uncharted territory with the election of Donald Trump as U.S.
President. Though it is not clear if the capture of the drone, which China agreed to return later, was a junior-level act by sailors
or a strategic move directed by Beijing, Mr. Trump has seized the moment to step up his anti-China rhetoric. Interestingly, the
incident comes days after he broke diplomatic protocol and accepted a congratulatory call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-
wen, a move that invited an angry response from China, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. Despite repeated
assurances from the White House that the basic building blocks of U.S.-China ties have not been altered, Mr. Trump escalated
matters by questioning the One- China policy. Throughout the election campaign he had maintained that he would renegotiate
the terms of Americas engagement with China. He had also accused Beijing of currency manipulation. So the issue is, are his
attacks on China and questions over the One-China policy just a continuation of his campaign rhetoric, or part of a well-thought-
out policy to establish a new normal in ties? One theory, which the President-elect himself indicated in an interview, is that he
wants concessions from China over key issues such as trade, South China Sea disputes and the North Korea nuclear crisis,
and that by raising the sensitive Taiwan issue, he is trying to gain some bargaining leverage over China. Beijing certainly wont
take this lightly. It has reiterated that the One-China policy is non-negotiable, besides installing anti-aircraft weapons and other
arms on all seven artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, as reported by a U.S. think tank with satellite imagery.
China will find it politically difficult to ignore Mr. Trumps apparent effort to change the rules of the game. The geopolitical context
is possibly even more important. China is a caged naval power. It has access to both South and East China Seas, but its force
projection capability is limited by the existence of several islands on these seas, such as Taiwan, Japans Ryukyu Islands, and
the Babuyan Islands of the Philippines. One reason China is so sensitive about Taiwan is its geopolitical vulnerability. It doesnt
want other powers to dictate or change the rules of engagement on its seafront. And if Mr. Trump tries to do that in the manner
he handles foreign policy now, he could risk the progress the U.S. and China have painstakingly made in bilateral ties over four
decades.
o Seizure - the action of taking something or taking control of something,

especially using power or force
o Flashpoint - a place or stage at which violence might be expected to
begin
o Uncharted - not shown on any map
army

people
occasions
o Breakaway - consisting of people who have decided to separate from a
larger group
o Province - one of many areas into which some countries are divided
prevented by
o Altered - changed
o Escalated - to make something become more serious
o Renegotiate - to try again to reach an agreement by discussing
something in a formal way, especially in a business or political situation
illegal, or unkind
o Manipulation - controlling someone or something to your own
advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly
o Bargaining - an agreement between two or more people or groups as
to what each will do for the other
clear to people
o Negotiable - able to be discussed or changed in order to reach an
agreement
o Geopolitical - political activity as influenced by the physical features of
a country or area of the world
o Vulnerability - able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally
hurt, influenced, or attacked
o Seafront - the part of a town by the sea where there are houses, hotels
etc
o Painstakingly - done or doing something very carefully and slowly
DEC 21/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Demonetisation an unkind postscript"

In November, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Urjit Patel, said there was a confluence of thought in the government
and the central bank to deal with black money by removing existing Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes as legal tender. Now, just about
ten days before the deadline to deposit these bank notes into accounts, a similar confluence of ideas has led to a stunning
decision to make it harder for people to do so. The new caveats, announced on Monday, restricting deposits over Rs.5,000
(roughly $70) are not just difficult to fathom but also constitute an unfair change in the rules of the game. Those opting to disclose
unaccounted income under the new amnesty scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, face no restriction on depositing
old notes. But anyone depositing Rs.5,000 or more into a bank account will have to satisfactorily explain to two bank officials
why this was not done earlier. However, the Finance Minister has suggested that such explanations will not be required for
anyone making a deposit for the first time. Apart from the human tendency to act only when a deadline nears, there could be
genuine reasons for people not to have queued up at banks till now including their faith in the Prime Minister, as well as the
Finance Ministers statements that they had till December 30 to do so. Overstretched bankers may somehow cope with this
latest diktat. But implementation is likely to be arbitrary as each bank branch may come up with its own ground rules, just as
they are doing in the case of cash withdrawal limits. Nevertheless, tasking them to record and flag for audit purposes deposits
amounting to just 1.66 per cent of the personal income tax threshold is tantamount to outsourcing the taxmans job to the banker

for no ostensible revenue pay-off. Initially, the Centre said deposits up to Rs.2.5 lakh would not be questioned, but later held
that all deposits could be scrutinised even though the Income Tax Department will struggle to complete scrutiny of lakhs of
accounts within the legally stipulated two-year deadline. The Prime Minister had said exchange limits for old notes would be
enhanced from November 25; instead, the exchange facility was stopped altogether. By December 10, Rs.12.44 lakh crore, or
80 per cent of the old notes, was back in the system, and by December 30 most, if not all, could well return. Perhaps spooked
by that prospect, the Finance Ministry suggested that double counting may have skewed the numbers, but bankers have
dismissed that possibility. The latest flip-flop to make deposits difficult appears to suggest that the government is itself in panic
mode over its bold gambit.

particular currency
o Unkind - not treating someone very well; not considering someone's
feelings
o Postscript - information added to the end of a story, article, or report
o Confluence - a situation in which two or more things come together
o Legal tender - the money that can be officially used in a country
o Fathom - to understand someone or why someone acts as they do
o Opting - making a choice / chose
o Disclose - to give information to people, especially information that was
secret
o Unaccounted - unpaid
o Tendency - an aspect of your character that you show by behaving in a
particular way
o Queued up - to wait for something in a queue
o Overstretched - not having enough money, people, equipment, etc
o Arbitrary - based on chance rather than being planned or based on
reason
o Audit - an official examination of the financial records of a company,
organization, or person to see that they are accurate
o Tantamount - to have the same bad qualities or effect as something
else
o Outsourcing - a situation in which a company employs another
organization to do some of its work, rather than using its own employees
to do it
o Ostensible - appearing or claiming to be one thing when it is really
something else
o Scrutinised - to examine something very carefully
o Altogether - completely
o Spooked - to suddenly feel frightened or nervous
o Skewed - facts, information, or results that are skewed are not accurate
because they have been affected by something
o Flip-flop - to change a plan completely


o Panic - a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable thought
and action
advantage
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Angela Merkels challenge"
It is hard now to remember a time when German Chancellor Angela Merkel was not in the thick of a political storm in Europe.
However, Mondays suspected terror strike in Berlin that claimed at least 12 lives along with a spate of incidents in July, all with
a bearing on Germanys liberal immigration policies, present a qualitatively different challenge to Europes most powerful
politician. As she seeks election for a fourth term next September, Ms. Merkels political and diplomatic acumen could be put to
the toughest test yet in a world still coming to grips with the implications of Britains vote to leave the European Union (EU) and
the U.S. presidential election result. Her measured approach to the deepening debt crisis in the eurozone saw her being pilloried
by some of her conservative colleagues as indulgence of a profligate Greece, even as the German-backed multilateral mission
that negotiated the bailouts was greeted by angry Greek protesters carrying placards bearing the swastika. But the Chancellor,
seen hitherto as cautious if not indecisive, was spontaneous and firm in her response to the tragic drowning of many Syrians at
the height of the refugee crisis in 2015. Her open-hearted open-doors policy towards the hundreds of thousands who managed
to cross the choppy waters of the Mediterranean, describing Islam as integral to Germany, may have alienated even some of
her closest European allies. Paradoxically, Ms. Merkels continued leadership of the 28-nation EU seems ever more critical
given the rise of xenophobic and anti-immigrant forces across the continent. Matters are not helped by the fluid political scenario
in the other staunchly integrationist founder-member of the EU, France, which is headed for presidential election in 2017. The
prospects of Ms. Merkel rallying the forces of the political centre at home will depend on her capacity to counter the populist
Alternative for Germany party, anxious to cash in on tragedies such as the Berlin attack. As for the European and international
stage, there are clear signs of the Chancellors moderate political instincts to uphold the values of a pluralistic democracy
underpinned by the rule of law. In a letter she wrote to congratulate Donald Trump, Ms. Merkel remained unequivocal. Among
the values Germany and the U.S. shared, she wrote, were democracy, freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the
dignity of each and every person regardless of their origin, skin colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views. It is
hardly surprising that Ms. Merkels views resonate across the Atlantic alliance, and much beyond.
o Claim somebody's life - if a violent event, fighting, or a disease claims

someone's life, it kills that person
o Spate - a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant
ones, happening at about the same time
behaviour
o Immigration - the process of examining your passport and other
documents to make certain that you can be allowed to enter the country,
or the place where this is done
o Diplomatic - involving diplomats or the management of the relationships
between countries
o Acumen - skill in making correct decisions and judgments in a particular
subject, such as business or politics
o Implications - an occasion when you seem to suggest something
without saying it directly
o Measured - careful and controlled, or not fast
o Eurozone - the countries belonging to the European Union that use the
euro as their unit of money
o Pilloried - to severely criticize someone, especially in a public way
change
o Indulgence - an occasion when you allow or do not mind someone's
failure or bad behaviour
o Profligate - spending money in a way that wastes it and is not wise


o Bailout - the act of helping a person or organization that is in difficulty,
usually by giving or giving or lending money
o Protester - someone who shows that they disagree with something by
o Placard - a large piece of card, paper, etc. with a message written or
printed on it, often carried in public places by people who are complaining
about something
o Hitherto - until now or until a particular time
o Indecisive - unable to make decisions
o Tragic - causing or involving great sadness, because someone suffers or
dies
o Choppy - with a lot of small, rough waves caused by the wind
o Mediterranean - the sea surrounded by southern Europe, North Africa,
and Western Asia
o Integral - forming an essential part of something and needed to make
it complete
o Alienated - feeling that you do not belong in a particular society, place,
or group
o Allies - a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to
o Paradoxically - used for saying that something is strange because it is
the opposite of what you expect
o Xenophobic - a strong fear and dislike of people from other countries
and cultures
o Fluid - smooth and continuous
o Staunchly - strongly
o Rallying - to (cause to) come together in order to provide support
o Cash in - to use an opportunity to make a profit or gain an advantage
or suffering
o Instinct - the way people or animals naturally react or behave, without
having to think or learn about it
o Pluralistic - the belief that the existence of different types of people
within the same society is a good thing
o Underpin - to give support, strength, or a basic structure to something
o Unequivocal - clear, definite, and without doubt
o Sexual orientation - the fact of someone preferring to have sexual
relationships either with men, or with women, or with both
o Resonate - to continue to have a powerful effect or value
same thing


DEC 22/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A chance for peace in Syria"

The coming together of Russia, Turkey and Iran to discuss a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis is a welcome development.
That they decided to go ahead with Tuesdays Moscow summit despite the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey,
Andrei Karlov, the previous day, demonstrates their commitment to stay the course, something that was missing in previous
efforts. The summit also marks a shift in Russias approach, which initially involved negotiations with the United States about
possible diplomatic options for Syria. Washington has been kept out of both the deliberations on the Aleppo evacuations and
the Moscow conference. The last time Russia and the U.S. reached an agreement, in September 2016, there had been great
hope that they could mentor a sustainable ceasefire. But within days of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announcing the deal,
the American-led coalition killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. Though the U.S. later regretted the strike, the peace process had
been hit. The wider bilateral tensions between Moscow and Washington were also an impediment to finding a breakthrough in
Syria. ALSO READ A brief history of the Aleppo battle The current initiative appears to be more promising. Russia and Iran
have direct leverage over the regime in Syria, while Turkey still helps several militant groups. Besides money and arms, the
militants need Turkeys help for any communication with the other side. And there is a reason for Turkey coming forward for
talks. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have realised that his anti-regime Syria policy has backfired. Turkey faces
severe security challenges, from both Islamic State jihadists and Kurdish militants. If Syria remains at war and the instability
spawns more radical militia groups, it could worsen Turkeys security problems, while Kurds on the Syrian side could grow in
strength. Russia, on the other side, has pursued a war and talk approach since its intervention it will continue to defend the
regime militarily, while looking for avenues to deal with other stakeholders. The recent improvement in relations between Ankara
and Moscow, which had hit a low after Turkey shot down a Russian aircraft last year, has also helped get the peace process
going. But this convergence of interest for both sides in stabilising Syria doesnt mean that peace is within reach. Turkey is only
one of the countries backing the rebels. The others include Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, all allies of the U.S. The Saudis
were instrumental in ending the civil war in Lebanon in 1989. Like Lebanon, Syria too is a regional problem that needs a regional
solution. For this, Arab stakeholders may have to give up their Assad-must-go precondition and join the peace process, as
Turkey did.
o Coming together - to start working successfully with each other

o Assassination - the murder of a famous or important person, especially
for political reasons
o Ambassador - a senior official who lives in a foreign country and
represents his or her own country there
o Evacuation - the process of moving people from a dangerous place to
somewhere safe
o Mentor - advise or train
o Regretted - to feel sorry or sad that something has happened
o Impediment - something that makes progress, movement, or achieving
something difficult or impossible
o Breakthrough - an important discovery or event that helps to improve
a situation or provide an answer to a problem
problem

o Backfire - (of a plan) to have the opposite result from the one you
expected
o Severe - extreme or very difficult
o Radical group - a radical group believes that important political or social
changes are necessary
o Intervention - the act or fact of becoming involved intentionally in a
difficult situation
o Defend - to protect someone or something against attack or criticism;
to speak in favour of someone or something
o Stakeholder - someone who has an interest in the success of a plan,
system, or organization
o Stabilising - to reach a state where there are no longer any major
changes or problems
another one
o Instrumental - if someone or something is instrumental in a process,
plan, or system, that person or thing is one of the most important
influences in causing it to happen
o Precondition - something that must happen or be done before
something else can happen
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Ending the Manipur blockade"

The blockade of the national highways leading to the Manipur valley, called by the United Naga Council (UNC), has been in
place since November 1. This has severely affected life in the State, with shortages and escalating costs of essential supplies
such as fuel and food, even as demonetisation has exacerbated problems. Blockades like this are not new to Manipur. In 2011,
there was initially a hundred-day-plus blockade enforced by Kuki-led groups, and countered later by Naga groups, which
together had a debilitating effect on life in Manipur. This time the blockade is in place to oppose the creation of new districts by
the Okram Ibobi Singh government. On December 9 it issued a gazette notification for the creation of seven new districts by
bifurcating seven (of a total of nine) districts. This decision had as much to do with long-pending demands in particular, for a
new Kuki-majority district to be carved out of the larger Senapati hill district as with easing administrative access to far-flung
areas from the district headquarters. With State Assembly elections around the corner, the decision by the Congress-led
government was also a desperate measure to woo the hill residents. While residents and groups in the new districts have
welcomed the decision, the UNC has protested, alleging that areas with a Naga population have been divided and that the lack
of consultation is a violation of commitments made by both the Centre and the State in various memoranda of understanding.
Already, just as in 2011, counter-blockades have been called by other groups, this time in the Meitei-dominated valley, and
there has been violence both in the hills and in the valley. The State government last month sought the Centres assistance to
end the blockade, given that New Delhi has been in peace talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah)
group that supports the UNC. While the Centre has sent paramilitary forces to both Nagaland and Manipur, the inaction in
clearing the blockade of the national highways is puzzling. Efforts to impose a political solution through blockades that cut
arterial routes supplying essential goods to various areas of Manipur are a cynical ploy. Such action heightens ethnic polarisation
and threatens, once again, the fragile peace in the State. Ideally there should be a dialogue that involves all major stakeholders
the State government, groups that support redistricting, the UNC and the Centre. But first, there should be zero tolerance
towards all such blockades.

o Escalating - increasing

particular currency
o Exacerbate - to make something that is already bad even worse
o Counter - to react to something with an opposing opinion or action, or
to defend yourself against something
o Gazette - a news paper
o Bifurcate - to divide into two parts
o Carve something out - to successfully create or get something
o Easing - the action or process of making something less severe or
difficult
o Far-flung - used to refer to places that are a great distance away
o Around the corner - a time or event that is just around the corner is
coming very soon
o Desperate - very great or extreme
o Woo - to try to convince someone to support you or to use your business
opposition
o Alleging - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong
o Consultation - discussion between people or groups before they make
a decision
etc
o Memoranda of understanding - a document that records the details of
an agreement between two companies or organizations, which has not
yet been legally approved
o Paramilitary - a paramilitary group is organized like an army but is not
official and often not legal
o Inaction - failure to do anything that might provide a solution to a
problem
o Arterial - part of a larger road or rail system
o Cynical - willing to let other people be harmed so that you can get an
advantage
o Ploy - a way of tricking or confusing someone in order to get an
advantage or to make them do what you want
o Threatens - to tell someone that you might or you will cause them
harm, especially in order to make them do something
o Fragile - used about a situation, that can easily be damaged or
destroyed
o Redistricting - the process of changing the boundaries of electoral
districts to take account of changes in population
o Zero tolerance - the act of punishing all criminal or unacceptable
behaviour severely, even if it is not very serious


DEC 23/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A little gain after more pain"

Income tax authorities on the trail of illegal acts of money exchange in commercial banks following the demonetisation are
netting bigger fish than they may have expected. Investigations into the hoarding of new currency notes in the denomination of
Rs. 2,000 have implicated not only mining barons and contractors, but also government officials and politicians. But with
Wednesdays searches in the residence and office premises of Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao (who has
since been replaced) leading to the seizure of loads of cash and gold, expectations are that more high-profile personalities will
come under the scanner of the enforcement agencies trying to grapple with diversion of currency notes by bank officials to those
in need of converting their stockpiles of ill-gotten high-value currency notes. It is now clear that in the first few days after the
demonetisation announcement, when government-imposed limits on withdrawals were in force, and people were queuing up
before banks, several unscrupulous officials of both public sector and private banks conspired to convert demonetised notes to
benefit black marketeers and corrupt public servants. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have accounted for most of the seizures,
running to more than a hundred crore rupees in new notes, but this is surely an all-India phenomenon. If other States have not
witnessed such seizures, it is more likely due to failure on the part of the investigators. Many of these cases would not have
come to light but for the illegal exchange of old notes that the black money hoarders were forced to undertake following the
demonetisation. Whatever the flaws in the implementation of the demonetisation process and there are indeed many the
fact remains that it was the demonetisation drive that enabled the law enforcement agencies to get to some of the money-
launderers. Although the seizures are huge, these are not much more than the tip of the proverbial black money iceberg. That
black marketeers and corrupt public servants have been able to quickly change so much of their under-the-radar wealth into
new currency notes easily explains how most of the notes out of the Rs.15.4 lakh crore that were in circulation before the
demonetisation have been returned to banks a week before the December 30 deadline. By all accounts, deposits in the Pradhan
Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for black money disclosure are not very significant. The Centre is therefore under pressure to prove
that the demonetisation drive has been effective in unearthing black money. Substantial seizures from the corrupt is a way of
signalling this, and it will be no surprise if the raids only intensify in the days to come.
o Gain - to get or achieve something, usually as a result of a lot of effort

particular currency
o Hoarding - to collect large amounts of something and keep it in a safe,
often secret, place
o Implicated - to show or suggest that someone is involved in something
illegal or morally wrong
o Baron - a powerful person in a particular type of business
o Premises - the land and buildings owned by someone
o Seizure - the action of taking something by force or with legal authority
o High-profile - often seen in public, mentioned in newspapers, or
appearing on television
o Enforcement - the process of making sure that people obey a law or
rule
o Grapple with - to try hard to understand a difficult idea or to solve a
difficult problem
o Stockpiles - to store a large supply of something for future use
o Ill-gotten - dishonestly obtained
o Unscrupulous - behaving in a way that is dishonest or unfair in order to
get what you want
o Conspired - to plan secretly with other people to do something bad,
illegal
o Black marketeer - someone involved in illegal trade in products that
are difficult or expensive to buy legally
o Come to light - if facts come to light, they become known publicly
o Flaw - a fault, mistake, or weakness, especially one that happens while
something is being planned or made, or that causes something not to be
perfect


o Money-launderers - people who move money that has been obtained
illegally through banks and other businesses to make it seem as if the
money has been obtained legally
o Proverbial - well known
o Under-the-radar (idiom) - doing something without other people
noticing
o Unearthing - to discover something or someone that was not known
before or that people had kept secret, especially by searching very
thoroughly
o Intensify - to become greater, more serious, or more extreme
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A gathering crisis in Poland"
The European Union on Wednesday gave Warsaw a dressing down over concerns about the erosion of the rule of law in
Poland. And with good reason. The conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS) headed by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, which runs the
government, has repeatedly tinkered with and undermined the institutions of democracy in the country, progressively tightening
its grip over them. The EUs patience is running out, and it could eventually strip Poland of voting rights in the European Council,
an unprecedented action. This is a reflection of grave concerns over the developments in Poland, especially the actions the PiS
has taken since it came to power in October 2015 to control the Constitutional Tribunal, Polands highest court. In July, the EU
made recommendations aimed at protecting the independence of the judiciary. These have been largely ignored. Examples of
PiS action that have impacted judicial functioning include publishing judgments selectively (without which they do not have legal
standing) and passing legislation to temporarily appoint the head of the Constitutional Tribunal. On Monday, Andrzej Rzeplinski,
the outgoing president of the court, alleged that the government was out to destroy the tribunal. While concerns are focussed
around judicial independence, they are by no means limited to this. Among the governments moves are the replacement of
heads of public bodies with its loyalists, a ban on abortions (which was rolled back following widespread protests), a campaign
to control NGOs, and curbs on media freedom. About 100 journalists from state media organisations have been fired, and the
government, until Tuesday, was proposing to ban most journalists from entering the lower house of Parliament in 2017. This
resulted in an opposition sit-in in the main hall of Parliament, while thousands protested outside, preventing the passage of the
2017 Budget. This led to the government passing the Budget in an anteroom, a move that has, understandably, not gone down
well with the opposition. The EU has given Poland two months for a course correction. PiS was elected on a populist platform
a little over a year ago, ousting the centre-right Civic Platform (PO). The party was aided by the relatively benign economic
conditions when it came to power, but the economy is slowing down even as chaos and unrest continue. The government, thus
far unmoved by the interests of civil society and democracy, may be forced to tread a bit more carefully.

o Dressing down - an act of speaking angrily to someone because they
have done something wrong
o Erosion - the fact of a good quality or situation being gradually lost or
destroyed
o Tinkered - to make small changes to something
o Undermined - to make something or someone become gradually less
to choose the people who will govern them (freedom and equality
between people)
o Progressively - developing or happening gradually
o Running out - getting over (completely finished)
things happen
o Strip - to remove something
o Grave - so serious that you feel worried


legal system, including all the judges in the country's courts
type
o Outgoing - leaving a job
ruler in power
o Abortion - a medical operation in which a developing baby is removed
from a womans body so that it is not born alive
o Rolled back - to stop or withdraw something
people
o Protest - to disagree strongly with something, often by making a formal
statement or taking action in public
o Preventing - to stop something from happening
o Anteroom - a small room, especially a waiting room, that leads into a
larger, more important room
o Populist - representing the interests and opinions of ordinary people
o Ousting - to force someone to leave a position of power, job, place, or
competition
o Aid - help or support
o Benign - pleasant and kind
o Unmoved - not feeling any emotion, especially feeling no sympathy or
sadness when other people would expect you to
o Tread carefully - to speak or behave carefully to avoid upsetting or
causing offence to anyone
DEC 24/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Back to Class X Board exams"

The excellence of a school education system must be assessed by the creative individuals it produces. That principle can be
the only meaningful guide for the Central Board of Secondary Education, as it once again tweaks its testing system to make the
Class X Board examination compulsory for all students from 2018. It is wrong to believe that students in the CBSE system are
not being assessed with sufficient rigour: the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) method that it follows is aimed
at identifying learning difficulties periodically and instituting remedial measures, rather than raising stress with a make-or-break
public examination at the secondary level. This philosophy helps students master various topics and discover their aptitude in
the course of a year, eliminating the chances of a single rote-learning test that could produce an aberrant result. The gains of
such a system should not be thrown away in the quest to bring about uniformity in the Class X education pattern across the
country. If anything, it is learning outcomes and creative brilliance assessed through non-ritualistic aptitude tests that should
rate the capacity of an educational board. Such an approach would also encourage teachers to innovate conceptually, rather
than drill students to face an examination. The argument in favour of a compulsory Class X Board examination made by Union
Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar is that its absence discriminates against candidates of State
boards. In fact, the Minister announced his intent of returning to a compulsory Board examination well before the CBSE
governing body formally announced it. The logic, however, is flawed. Uniformity militates against creative educational methods,
and a test that is no more than a straitjacket crushes the initiative of teacher and student. The CBSE would, therefore, do well
to avoid homogenisation, and retain sufficient scope for true learning. This can be done by giving the CCE system which the
Board calls a balance between incessant tests and a single annual assessment equal weightage, even if all students take a
Board examination for Class X. As the CBSE puts it, over-dependence on a single examination deprives the learner of motivation


and opportunities for reflection on his or her work. It also does not find favour with the National Curriculum Framework 2005 that
emphasised greater flexibility for teachers to decide on how to train students in concepts and help them learn at their own pace.
What India needs is a school-level assessment method to identify actual learning that would remove barriers to students freely
migrating across State boards.
o Assessed - to carefully consider a situation, person, or problem in order

to make a judgment
o Tweak - to change something slightly, especially in order to make it
more correct, effective, or suitable
o Rigour - the fact that people are made to follow rules in a very severe
way
o Periodically - in a way that is repeated after a particular period of time
o Instituting - to start something such as a system or an official process
o Remedial - intended to improve or correct something
o Make-or-break - A make-or-break situation will bring great success or
complete failure
o Rote-learning - learning something in order to be able to repeat it from
memory, rather than in order to understand it
o Aberrant - not normal or not what you would usually expect
o Quest - a long difficult search
o Uniformity - the state of being the same as each other or as everything
else
o Ritualistic - always happening or done in a particular way
o Innovate - to invent or begin using new ideas, methods, equipment etc
o Conceptually - based on ideas or principles
o Discriminate - to treat someone unfairly because of their religion, race,
or other personal features
o Flawed - not perfect, or containing mistakes
o Militates against something - to make something less likely to happen
or succeed
o Straitjacket - something that limits someones freedom to do something
problem
o Homogenisation - to change something so that all its parts or features
become the same or very similar
o Incessant - never stopping, especially in an annoying or unpleasant way
o Deprives - to take something, especially something necessary or
pleasant, away from someone
o Migrating - to move from one place to another
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Well spun by Ashwin"

R-Ashwin has never been one to hide his ambition. When his international career was still young, Ashwin said in an interview
that he wanted to dominate the game. There was no hint of braggadocio, just an unnerving earnestness. On Thursday, the
realisation of this dream was formally recognised. Ashwin became the first spinner to win crickets biggest individual prize, the
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, since the award was instituted 12 years ago. He is just the third bowler, after Dale Steyn and Mitchell
Johnson, to be named ICC Cricketer of the Year. He was also adjudged Test Cricketer of the Year, only the second Indian after
Rahul Dravid to sweep both awards. Indeed, the voting period September 14, 2015 to September 20, 2016 does not fully
describe his phenomenal ascent to the top. In that time, he took 48 wickets at 15.39 and made 336 runs at 42 from eight Tests.
He has added another 55 wickets (24.12) and 377 runs (37.70) in the eight Tests since. His influence was not limited to one
format; in the voting period, Ashwin had 27 T20I wickets in 19 games. By any measure, Ashwin stands alone, an extraordinary
comeback after being dropped for the Adelaide Test in early 2015. Ashwins success has been instrumental in India becoming
the premier Test side this year. There has been a perceptible change in culture and intent. Virat Kohli announced it when he
acknowledged that bowlers were the bosses in Test cricket. He has backed it up, leading the batting group in shaping contests

and empowering his bowlers to win them. There was a minor storm on social media when Kohli did not make the ICCs Test
Team of the Year. But his exclusion was easily explained: his magnificent run with the bat did not coincide completely with the
voting period. He certainly stepped up a level against England, lifting his career average from the mid-40s to the high-water
mark of 50. The context in which the runs came was more impressive than the volume: every time a game needed seizing or
settling, Kohli attended to it. Teams tend to form themselves in the image of their captains so, perhaps, it was not entirely
surprising that India found a hero equal to nearly any task. The experienced cricketers pulled their weight. Those of more recent
vintage K.L. Rahul, Jayant Yadav and Karun Nair appeared to make the transition without missing a beat. The side had
to deal with injuries, which did not permit a settled playing eleven. But the momentum was unaffected. India will face stiffer
challenges, especially overseas, as it seeks to build a legacy as a world-beater. For now, 2016 has been a good launch pad.

o Braggadocio - a proud way of talking about your achievements or
possessions that annoys other people
o Unnerving - to make someone nervous or frightened
o Earnestness - serious, determined, and meaning what you say
o Adjudged - to make an official judgment about someone or something
o Indeed - really or certainly, often used to emphasize something
o Phenomenal - extremely successful or special, especially in a surprising
way
o Ascent - the fact of starting to become successful
o Instrumental - involved in an important way in making something
happen
o Perceptible - that can be seen or noticed
o Backed up - to give support to someone by telling other people that you
agree with them
o Empowering - something that is empowering makes you more confident
and makes you feel that you are in control of your life
o Magnificent - very impressive and beautiful, good, or skilful
o Coincide - to happen at the same time as something else
o Certainly - used for emphasizing that something is definitely true or will
definitely happen
o Stepped up - to take action when there is a need or opportunity for it
o High-water mark - the most successful point of something
o Context - the situation within which something exists or happens, and
that can help explain it
o Volume - the number or amount of something in general
o Attended to something - to deal with something
o Perhaps- used for saying that you are not certain about something, or
o Pulled their weight - did their share of work
o Vintage - group of people who were active, during the same particular
period
o Transition - a change from one form or type to another, or the process
by which this happens
o Injuries - physical damage done to a person or a part of their body
o Unaffected - not changed or influenced by something
o Stiffer - harder
o Overseas - in, from, or to other countries
o World-beater - a person or thing that is better than any other of its type


DEC 26/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A goods and services tangle"

Soon after the seventh meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said only one
difficult issue remains pending to enable the implementation of the new indirect tax regime. The Centre is determined to
introduce the GST from April 1, 2017, and given the time constraints posed by that deadline, Mr. Jaitley expressed hope that
States would rise to the occasion and help resolve the issue. It can be safely assumed he was referring to the turf battle between
the Centre and States on sharing administrative powers over taxpayers in the new system, even if this is not the only hurdle left
to cross. This was the first time the Council met after the washed-out winter session of Parliament, with no movement on four
enabling GST legislations. Over two days last week, the Council managed to clear the current drafts of the Centre and State
GST Bills and agreed on a two-monthly compensation payout to States, instead of a quarterly one, for revenue losses they
might incur after the switch. The trickiest tangle of cross empowerment or dual administrative control will now be taken up in the
first week of 2017, along with the model integrated GST Bill and the legalese around compensation payments to States. Even
though an April 1 roll-out now looks increasingly unlikely, the Councils next meeting is critical to enable the GST laws to make
it to the Budget session of Parliament. States have mooted a July 1 start for the GST regime, and that date could be pushed as
far as September 16, 2017, following which all existing indirect taxes will lapse. Since it is a transaction tax, the GST can
technically be started any time of the year. Although that would be an accounting headache for firms, industry may be better off
with the extra time to prepare for the new order. Between now and then, the Centres self-imposed 50-day deadline for reducing
the pain caused by the demonetisation of high-value currency notes would have passed too. States may harden their stance on
GST negotiations if the remonetisation process hasnt picked up by December 30. The Centre has so far brushed aside demands
from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal for additional compensation to make good the revenue losses triggered by the slump in
demand in the ongoing currency crisis. But even BJP allies have begun to raise concerns. It is unlikely to be a coincidence that
soon after the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister spoke out about the implementation of the demonetisation exercise, his
representative in the GST Council said the State would not accept the levy of a cess by the Centre in order to reimburse States.
The Centre may need to rise to the occasion as much as States do to steer the GST regime forward.
o Tangle - a situation that is difficult to deal with because things are not
organized properly
advice on a particular subject, to represent a particular group of people,
or to run a particular organization
o Constraint - something that controls what you do by keeping you within
particular limits
o Deadline - a time or day by which something must be done
o Turf battle - a battle in which one party seeks to obtain increased rights
or influence
progress
o Washed-out - failed
o Incur - to experience something, usually something unpleasant, as a
result of actions you have taken
o Switch - a sudden or complete change
o Empowerment - the process of gaining freedom and power to do what
you want or to control what happens to you
o Integrated - combining things, people, or ideas of different types in one
effective unit, group, or system
o Legalese - formal language used by lawyers and in legal documents that
ordinary people find difficult to understand
o Roll-out - to make a new product, service, or system available for the
first time

o Although - but
o Self-imposed - decided by yourself, without being influenced or ordered
by other people
particular currency
o Brushed aside - to refuse to consider something seriously because you
feel that it is not important
o Slump - to be suddenly reduced to a much lower level
o Coincidence - an occasion when two or more similar things happen at
the same time, especially in a way that is unlikely and surprising
o Representative - someone who speaks or does something officially for
another person or group of people:
o Cess - tax
o Reimburse - to pay back money to someone who has spent it for you or
lost it because of you
o Steer - to control / influence the way that something happens
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Indictment by abstention"

In what is yet another diplomatic blow for the two-state principle, the UN Security Council, on Friday, passed a resolution with
a 14-0 majority urging Israel to halt its illegal settlements programme in the occupied Palestinian territories. The vote is notable
as Israels pre-eminent backer, the United States, chose to abstain. By doing so, the Barack Obama administration bucked its
earlier record of vetoing a similar resolution in 2011. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump was prompt in promising a different
response once his tenure commences on January 20. He had sought to work behind the back of Mr. Obama in trying to scuttle
this resolution by reaching out to Egypt, which originally drafted it but backed down from its nomination due to intense pressure.
But it will be difficult for the Trump administration to have this resolution overturned, passed as it was without a veto. That said,
the resolution, by way of its adoption under Chapter 6 of the UN Charter, is not binding and comes only with recommendations.
It therefore does not affect the status quo in the occupied territories. Even so, its unambiguous language stating that the
settlements constitute a violation of international law offers hope for the Palestinians who have filed a suit (that includes the
construction of settlements) against Israel in the International Criminal Court. Israels reaction has been predictable. It has
refused to comply with the terms of the resolution. It has repeatedly sought to create new facts on the ground by continuing to
build settlements, imposing a blockade on Gaza, forcing international censure to only keep apace with its latest violations. This
outrageous behaviour has been made possible by the unrelenting support provided by the U.S. in the past. While Mr. Obama
has had a testy relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his administration continued to fund and arm Israel
despite, for example, the atrocities in Gaza. The U.S. had also recently worked out a deal that provides $38 billion in military aid
over 10 years to Israel, cementing long-established strategic ties. Seen in this light, the administrations decision to abstain in
the most substantive resolution on Israeli settlements since 1980 is even more remarkable. It is also a possible parting shot by
the outgoing administration before the unambiguously partisan Trump team takes charge. Either way, it is up to the international
community to take the cue and find ways to check and censure Israels brazen rule-breaking, and forge a fair solution for the
Palestinians.

o Abstention - a decision not to vote in an election or meeting
they should take
o Halt - to (cause to) stop moving or doing something or happening:
o Pre-eminent - more important or better than others

o Backer - someone who gives financial support to something
o Abstain - to not do something
o Bucked - opposed or resisted
o Vetoing - to officially refuse to approve or allow something
o Commences - begins
o Scuttle - to make a plan, agreement, attempt etc fail or stop
o Drafted - to write down a document for the first time
o Backed down - to admit that you were wrong or that you have been
defeated
o Intense - extreme and forceful or very strong
o Unambiguous - expressed in a way that makes it completely clear what
is meant
o Predictable - something that is predictable happens in a way or at a
time that you know about before it happens
o Censure - strong criticism or disapproval
law, agreement, principle, or something that should be treated with
respect
o Outrageous - shocking and morally unacceptable
o Unrelenting - extremely determined; never becoming weaker or
admitting defeat
o Testy - easily annoyed and not patient
prevented by
o Cementing - to make something such as an agreement or friendship
stronger
o Substantive - important, serious, or related to real facts
o Parting shot - a remark that you make when you are leaving, so that it
has a stronger effect
o Unambiguously - expressed in a way that makes it completely clear
what is meant
o Partisan - strongly supporting a person, principle, or political party,
often without considering or judging the matter very carefully
o Either way - used for saying that it does not matter which of two things
happens or is true, because the result will be the same
o Take the cue - to use someone else's behavior or reactions as a guide
to one's own
o Censure - strong criticism or disapproval
o Brazen - behaving in a way that is not moral or socially acceptable, and
not caring if other people are shocked or offended


DEC 27/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Fire in the sky"

The successful test-firing of the long-range ballistic missile Agni-V for the fourth time is a significant step towards building a
credible nuclear deterrence. With this test and the recent commissioning of the indigenously built nuclear submarine INS Arihant,
India is inching towards creating a robust and world-class second-strike capability. For a nation sworn to no-first-use of nuclear
weapons, a reliable second-strike capability is an absolute necessity. In the worst-case scenario, the country should have the
ability to withstand an enemy nuclear strike on its key locations and launch a successful second strike. Agni-V rose up from a
canister mounted on a truck stationed at Dr. Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, and went up a few hundred kilometres before following
a ballistic trajectory and splashing down near Australian waters, some 20 minutes after the launch. This was the fourth test of
the Agni-V missile, but the second from a canister mounted on a road mobile launcher. With the four tests, Agni-V is now ready
for induction into the Strategic Forces Command, which already operates other Agni missiles with a target range from 700 km
to 4,000 km, besides Prithvi-II. However, despite the impressive strides made by the security establishment in developing
nuclear weapons and delivery platforms, there is still a long way to go before the nuclear triad is complete and competent. Just
a few days ago, the Nirbhay land attack cruise missile meant to carry nuclear warheads failed for the fourth time during a test.
On December 21, it veered off its designated flight path within a couple of minutes of launch, and it had to be destroyed mid-
air. There are several such gaps to be filled to ensure a foolproof nuclear triad. A credible second-strike capability should also
be complemented by a modern, powerful military. The Indian military is in crying need of modernisation across its three arms.
The Air Force has a huge shortage of fighters; the Navys submarine arm is far from meeting multiple challenges; and the Army
needs an array of new platforms. Most importantly, India also needs to consistently showcase itself as a responsible nuclear
power, and not just through a no-first-strike policy. India has a mature political and military leadership today. In a complex global
strategic environment, where nations issue nuclear threats based on fake news and global powers threaten to add to their
already bulky arsenal, it is important to be recognised as a responsible democracy.
o Ballistic missile - a type of missile that travels long distances and

cannot be controlled after it has been launched
o Deterrence - the idea that the possession of a particular weapon will
make other countries afraid to attack the country that owns it
o Indigenously - naturally existing in a place or country rather than
arriving from another place
o Inching towards - to move somewhere very slowly and gradually, or to
make something do this
o Robust - strong
o World-class - one of the best
o Sworn - to promise
o Worst-case scenario - the most unpleasant or serious thing that could
happen in a situation
o Withstand - to be strong enough not to be harmed or destroyed by
something
o Canister - a round metal container that is used to hold gases or chemical
substances under pressure
o Trajectory - the curved path that an object follows after it has been
thrown or shot into the air
o Splash down - when a space vehicle splashes down, it lands in the sea
after being in space
o Induction - the process or formal act of accepting someone into a group
or job

o Triad - three related things that form a group
o Cruise missile - a nuclear missile that is controlled by a computer and
can travel very long distances
o Warhead - the front part of a bomb or missile that contains explosives
o Veered off - changed direction
o Designated - given / assigned
o Foolproof - a foolproof method, plan, or system is so well designed that
it cannot go wrong or is certain to succeed
o Consistently - not changing in behaviour, attitudes, or qualities
o Bulky - too big and taking up too much space
o Arsenal - a collection of weapons
o Democracy - a country in which power is held by elected representatives
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Congos political battles"

The ongoing political crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a reminder of the countrys turbulent past. Since it became
independent in 1960, no head of state has left office peacefully after an election. By refusing to hold an election, which was due
in November, and clinging to power even after his term officially came to an end on December 19, Joseph Kabila, the President
of the DRC, risks repeating the mistakes of his predecessors. Congos Constitution, which Mr. Kabila himself helped write after
his 2006 election, bars the President from seeking a third term. But Mr. Kabila later changed his mind and sought to amend the
rules to stay on in power. After failing in such attempts, he simply refused to hold elections, citing logistical problems. A court
has allowed him to remain President until the next elections are held, which the ruling party says will only be in 2018. It is now
evident that the President wants to delay the process for as long as possible. But the going is not easy for Mr. Kabila, who was
seen in his early years in power as a young and energetic leader who could democratise the polity, offer stability and lift the
living standards of millions of its citizens. Not any longer. Mr. Kabilas decision to delay the elections has triggered massive
protests across the country, in particular turning Kinshasa, the capital, into a battleground between security personnel and
protesters. Dozens of opposition activists have been shot dead and hundreds arrested since September. The President is so
unpopular in the capital that the ruling partys headquarters in the city was burned down during Christmas week. As of now, the
army and the police stand behind the President and show no qualms in shooting down protesters. But the question now is how
long Mr. Kabila can stay on in power by suppressing mass protests. Significantly, the weeks-long violent repression has not
turned the protesters away from the streets. Besides, the opposition has rejected outright any bid by Mr. Kabila to stand for
another term. If this stalemate continues, Congo will plunge into a greater crisis, at a time it faces several other economic and
security challenges, including frequent cross-border attacks on civilians by Uganda-based rebels. Mr. Kabila should draw
lessons from the countrys past. After the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko was ousted in 1997, Congo was plunged into a deadly
civil war, leaving hundreds of thousands of people dead. Mr. Kabilas father, Laurent Kabila, who spearheaded the protests
against Mobutu, was assassinated. President Kabila should call early elections and hand over power peacefully, thereby setting
a precedent for his successors.
o Ongoing - still happening or being done

o Turbulent - a turbulent situation, place, or period is one in which there
is a lot of uncontrolled change
o Clinging - to stick onto or hold something or someone tightly, or to
refuse to stop holding it, him, or her
o Predecessors - someone who had a job or a position before someone
else
organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people
it governs
o Amend - to change the words of a text, especially a law or a legal
document
o Logistical - the practical arrangements that are necessary in order to
organize something successfully, especially something involving a lot of
people or equipment


o Democratise - to change the way of running a government or
making decisions
o Living standards - the amount of money and comfort people have in a
particular society
o Triggered - to cause something to start
o Battleground - a place where a battle is being fought or has been fought
in the past
o Activist - a person who believes strongly in political or social change and
takes part in activities such as public protests to try to make this happen
o Burn down - to destroy something, especially a building, by fire, or to
be destroyed by fire
o Qualm - an uncomfortable feeling when you doubt if you are doing the
right thing
o Suppressing - to stop opposition or protest using military force or strict
laws
o Significantly - in a way that is easy to see or by a large amount:
o Violent - used to describe a situation or event in which people are hurt
or killed
o Bid - an attempt to achieve or get something
o Term - a period of time during which a politician or other official holds
their job
o Stalemate - a situation in which neither group involved in an argument
can win or get an advantage and no action can be taken
o Plunge - to fall quickly from a high position
different countries
o Dictator - someone who uses force to take and keep power in a country
o Ousted - to force someone to leave a position of power, job, place, or
competition
country
o Spearhead - to lead something such as an attack or a course of action
o Assassinate - to kill someone famous or important
DEC 28/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Passport to reform"

The progressive changes introduced by the Centre to the rules governing grant of passports were long overdue. They simplify,
in great measure, the paperwork needed for an Indian citizen to get the document. In order to screen applications to prevent
impersonation, some of the earlier rules may have made sense at some point of time, but over the years the bureaucratic
impediments that the cumbersome requirements posed to genuine applicants were so severe that many had to knock on the


doors of high courts for remedy. Some rules were targeted at women. The most specious form of harassment of women passport
applicants related to those who were either separated or divorced. Even something as routine as renewing a passport without
any change of name or detail or getting a passport in the name of a child was a laborious process, as passport officials insisted
on either the fathers consent or demanded a divorce decree. Following the recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee
comprising officials of the Ministries of External Affairs and Women and Child Development, crucial changes have been
introduced. The application form now requires only the name of one parent, not both. This will enable single parents to apply for
passports for their children without the name of either the father or the mother being printed in the document. The stipulation
that marriage certifications and divorce decrees should be provided has been removed; the obsolete concept of getting
documents attested by notaries or magistrates has also been jettisoned, and self-declarations on plain paper would now be
accepted. A key reform is that a birth certificate is no more the main proof of date of birth, and other official documents, including
Aadhaar number and PAN card, which contain the date, can be utilised. In the case of orphaned children, actual proof for date
of birth has been dispensed with and a declaration from the head of a child care home or orphanage confirming the date is
enough. In keeping with the times, adopted and surrogate children can be issued passports even in the absence of the relevant
documents, based on a declaration on plain paper. Sadhus and sanyasins have been allowed to mention their gurus in lieu of
the names of their parents. The new rules address many irritants in the process of getting a passport, but also make one wonder
why these were not introduced long ago. Ultimately, a passport ought to be every citizens right. Simplifying the procedures in
obtaining one should be an ongoing exercise.
o Reform - a change that is intended to make a system work more

effectively
o Progressive - developing or happening gradually (slowly)
o Overdue - if something is overdue, it should have been done before now
o Impersonation - to attempt to cheat someone by pretending that you
are another person
processes
o Impediments - something that makes progress, movement, or
achieving something difficult or impossible
o Cumbersome - slow or complicated and therefore inefficient.
o Pose - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty
o Severe - causing very great pain, difficulty, worry, damage, etc
o Knock on the doors - to visit / to call for help
o Remedy - a solution to a particular problem
o Specious - seeming to be right or true, but really wrong or false
o Harassment - behaviour that annoys or upsets someone
o Renewing - to arrange for something to continue for a longer period of
time
o Laborious - needing a lot of time and effort
o Insist - to say strongly or demand forcefully, especially when others
disagree with or oppose what you say
o Consent - permission
o Decree - a judgment made by a court of law
o Comprising - to consists two or more things / people
o Obsolete - not in use any more
o Attested - to give proof or be evidence that something is true
o Notary - an official who has the legal authority to say that documents
are correctly signed or true
o Magistrate - a person who acts as a judge in a law court that deals with
crimes that are less serious
o Jettison - to get rid of something or someone that is not wanted or
needed
o Orphaned children - children whose parents are dead


o Orphanage - a home for children whose parents are dead or unable to
care for them
o Adopted - an adopted child has been legally taken by another family to
be taken care of as their own child
o Surrogate - a woman who has a baby for another person who is unable
to become pregnant or have a baby
o In lieu of - instead of
o Irritant - something that causes trouble or makes you annoyed
o Ultimately - finally
o Obtain - to get something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Behind Pakistans CPEC offer"

Days after a senior Pakistani General suggested that India should shun its enmity with Pakistan and join the $46 billion China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor project, the Chinese foreign ministry has called the offer a goodwill gesture, exhorting India to
take it up. At face value, the suggestion is odd. India has no dialogue with Pakistan at present, and has opposed the project,
bilaterally with China at the highest level as well as at the UN. Relations with China have deteriorated considerably since
President Xi Jinpings visit to Pakistan to announce the project in April 2015. Initially, New Delhi sought to play down its
significance, as it was made just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to China, and the government would
have hoped to dissuade Beijing from pushing the more objectionable projects that run through disputed territory. However, not
only has the corridor taken shape rapidly, China and Pakistan have been drawn into a closer embrace, with Pakistan investing
considerable resources in securing Chinese officials working on CPEC, and China redrawing its plans for the One Belt One
Road to Central Asia to incorporate Pakistans interests. China has defended Pakistan against Indias efforts to pin it down with
regard to support to terror groups, and to draw an obstructionist equivalence with Indias Nuclear Suppliers Group membership
application. Given all this, the Generals suggestion can only be understood to have been made rhetorically, especially as it was
accompanied by allegations of Indias anti-Pakistan activities and subversion in Balochistan. While there can be little
expectation of any room for India in CPEC at present, there is space for India to step back and see where China and Pakistan
want to go with it. The offer to India was made along with offers to other neighbouring countries. Already, Iran wants Gwadar
to be a sister port to Chabahar, and Turkmenistan and other Central Asian republics have shown interest in the warm-water
port that will be a nodal point for goods through Pakistan to the Chinese city of Kashgar. Further north, despite its problems on
terror from Pakistan, Afghanistan is becoming a nodal point for Chinas connectivity projects to Iran. The meeting among
Russian, Chinese and Pakistani officials on Afghanistan this week, and Russian engagement with the Taliban, indicate much
more is changing in the region than just the alignment of highways and tunnels. While India has done well to shore up relations
with others in the region, it cannot afford to be blindsided by their involvement with the OBOR project and Chinese plans. CPEC
is no longer a project in Pakistan, but one that runs through it, a project that will link 64 countries.
o Shun - to avoid something

o Enmity - a feeling of strong dislike or opposition between people
o Goodwill - friendly and helpful feelings
o Gesture - a movement that communicates a feeling
o Exhorting - to strongly encourage someone to do something
o At face value - for what something appears to be
o Bilaterally - involving two groups or countries
o Deteriorated - to become worse
o Considerably - a lot
o Dissuade - to make someone not to do something
o Objectionable - unpleasant and offensive
o Disputed territory - an area that different countries claim belongs to
them, so that there is a disagreement or war between them
o Rapidly - happening, moving, or acting quickly
o Embrace - to completely accept something such as a new belief, idea,
or way of life


o Obstructionist - actions or behaviour that is intended to slow down or
stop the progress of something
o Rhetorically - without expecting or needing an answer
o Subversion - the act of trying to destroy or damage an established
system or government
o Nodal - at a place where lines, systems, or paths meet
o Blindside - to give someone an unpleasant surprise by doing something
that they were not expecting
DEC 29/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Disunity in opposition"
Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party was voted to power with a majority of its own in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Opposition
parties have been trying to find an issue that would resonate with the people, identify a rallying point that would put the Narendra
Modi government at the Centre on the defensive. But when such an issue did crop up after Mr. Modi announced the
demonetisation of high-value notes on November 8, opponents of the BJP found themselves unprepared and unable to tap into
the public resentment at the seemingly unnecessary pain caused by the shortage of cash. The demonetisation exercise did far
more than divide the Opposition parties: it left them confused on the approach to be taken against the government. They were
unable to fault the stated aims of the move: to curb black money, flush out counterfeit notes from the economy, and thereby
curb terror funding. And when Mr. Modi sought 50 days to ease the cash flow, his opponents had no choice but to wait it out.
Other than making noises about long queues at banks and ATMs and the flip-flops in announcing new rules for withdrawals and
deposits and amending them in quick time, they had little to do. They could not attack the move in principle without being seen
as supporting the corrupt and the devious. And they could not attack the manner of implementation without giving Mr. Modi the
time he wanted to deal with what could not but have been a crisis in cash supply. It was probably inevitable that the Opposition
parties would speak in different voices on an issue like this, but it was inexplicable that the main Opposition party, the Congress,
did little to forge a united front in Parliament and outside. When Opposition parties were planning to petition President Pranab
Mukherjee on the demonetisation issue, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met Mr. Modi with a delegation of party leaders
to request a waiver of farm loans. Leaders of the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Left parties were unhappy
with the Congress approach. Not surprisingly, at a joint press conference of Opposition parties called by Mr. Gandhi, only
Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was at hand to attack Mr. Modi. The other
participants were mostly long-time allies of the Congress. The Janata Dal (United), whose leader Nitish Kumar had nice things
to say about demonetisation initially, did not participate in a maha dharna organised by the RJD against demonetisation. The
JD(U) stand was that it would rather wait for the 50 days before judging the move to be a failure or a mistake. Far from bringing
together Opposition parties, the demonetisation move appears to have driven apart parties already in alliance.
o Disunity - a situation in which people are not in agreement or are not

working together to achieve an aim
o Resonate - to produce an emotional effect on someone
o Rallying point - a place, event, or person that people are attracted to
as a symbol of a political group or ideal
o Defensive - used to protect someone or something against attack
particular currency
o Unprepared - not ready
o Tap into something - to manage to use something in a way that brings
good results

o Seemingly - appearing to be something, especially when this is not true
o Flush out something - to empty or clean something
o Counterfeit - counterfeit bank notes, products, tickets etc are illegal
copies made in order to trick people
o Flip-flop - to change a plan completely
o Amending - to change the words of a text, especially a law or a legal
document
o Devious - dishonest and clever
o Inevitable - certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented
o Inexplicable - unable to be explained or understood
or organization
o Ally- someone who is ready to help you, especially against someone else
o Driven apart - to become less friendly and
same thing
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Statesmanship at Pearl Harbour"

Conspicuous gestures of reconciliation between nations to heal the deep emotional wounds of wars will have connotations that
go beyond the symbolic. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, through his visit to Pearl Harbour this week, and U.S. President
Barack Obama, with his homage at the peace memorial at Hiroshima earlier in May, have undertaken this bold and difficult
journey on behalf of their peoples more than 70 years after atrocities were committed against each other during World War II.
That so much time should have been lost in both instances to put the painful past behind them only speaks to the powerful
presence of nationalist sensibilities that invariably distort the moral force of reconciliation. That this should have occurred only
now, despite the enduring economic engagement of several decades between Washington and Tokyo, merely underscores
their ticklish nature and the strong political overtones involved. In the case of Japan, the conservatives have long regarded any
attempt to own up the slaughter of hundreds of U.S. marines at Pearl Harbour in 1941 as nothing but a betrayal of the national
interest. In fact, in comparison, earlier visits to the naval base by Japanese leaders were relatively low-key affairs. As for
Washington, veterans of the war have seen little justification in the claim that the devastation caused by the twin nuclear
bombings had to be condoled. In their view, the horror in Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the war to a close sooner than it
might otherwise have been. They have also sought to repudiate the narrative that the dropping of the atom bomb was a
calculated demonstration of U.S. and western military superiority in a Cold War scenario. These competing nationalistic accounts
have possibly helped the current generation in the two countries to see such views with a healthy dose of scepticism. Messrs
Abe and Obama have displayed a statesmanlike readiness to rise above partisan accounts, emphasising instead the need to
bridge the gulf that neither history nor geography could have narrowed. President-elect Donald Trumps pre-election rhetoric
painted a picture of Japan as a nation that ought to be prepared to invest more in its own defence. The favourable public opinion
in both countries towards each other will possibly prove critical in consolidating upon the current strengths in the economic
partnership and weathering the uncertainties of the future. Prime Minister Abe and President Obama have shown how history
can be revisited in a realistic manner. It remains for countries grappling with their own complex pasts to draw the right lessons
from this.
o Statesmanship - the behaviour and actions of an experienced and

respected politician or member of a particular profession
o Conspicuous - very noticeable or easy to see, especially because of
being unusual or different
o Reconciliation - a situation in which two people or groups of people
become friendly again after they have argued
o Heal - to make or become well again


o Connotation - an additional idea or emotion that a word suggests to
you, in addition to its literal or main meaning
o Symbolic - representing something important
o Homage - something that someone does or says in order to show
respect or admiration
o Atrocity - a cruel and violent act, often in a war
o Sensibilities - feelings
o Distort - to change something from its usual, original, natural, or
intended meaning, condition, or shape
o Enduring - existing for a long time
o Underscore - to emphasize something, or to show that it is important
o Ticklish - something that needs to be dealt with carefully
o Overtone - a quality or feature that is noticeable but not obvious
o Conservatives - people who don't like or trust change
o Slaughter - the killing of many people cruelly and unfairly, especially in
a war
o Marines - a part of a country's military forces that takes part especially
in operations on land that begin from the sea
o Betrayal - to chat someone who believes you
o Low-key - without much activity or reaction
o Veteran - someone who has been in the armed forces during a war
o Devastation - the process of destroying a place or thing completely or
cause great damage
o Condole - to show sympathy and sadness for the family or friends of a
person who has recently died
o Horror - something that is very shocking or frightening
o Repudiate - to say formally that something is not true
o Cold War - unfriendly relations between countries who are not at war
with each other
o Scepticism - sdoubts that someone has about something that other
people think is true or right
o Emphasising - to show that something is very important or worth giving
attention to
o President-elect - someone who has been elected president but has not
officially started the position yet
people
o Painted a picture - to describe a situation in a particular way
o Consolidating - to become, or cause something to become, stronger,
and more certain
o Weathering - changing


o Grappling - fighting
DEC 30/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Sasikala rising"
That V.K. Sasikala was nominated general secretary of the AIADMK by its general council is no surprise. Her elevation from
party worker to party head has followed days of demands and entreaties from senior AIADMK leaders that she take up the job.
Two things counted in her favour. She was the closest friend of Jayalalithaa, something that means a lot in the personality cult-
based structure of the AIADMK. As importantly, any other choice would have divided the party into fractious factions. Chief
Minister O. Panneerselvam, the only other possible contender, himself backed Ms. Sasikala. As did most other party leaders,
including prominent ministers, who rely on their caste bases for popular support. However, it is doubtful whether the AIADMK
rank and file is really enthused by the choice a fact that will have a bearing on the future of the party. It is not surprising that
Ms. Sasikala lacks popular appeal. Over the last two decades, her influence over the party and State politics has been carefully
and almost wholly orchestrated from the backroom. Throughout her years at the helm, Jayalalithaa made sure there was no
credible second line of leadership in the party. Ms. Sasikala herself was not given a party post, but the fact that she lived at the
Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa gave her an imposing authority within the AIADMK. ALSO READ V.K. Sasikala: From
soul sister to party leader The partys problems do not end with Ms. Sasikalas elevation. A possible risk is that the authority of
Mr. Panneerselvam as Chief Minister could be undermined by the ascent of Ms. Sasikala. Already several ministers have, both
privately and publicly, urged her to take over as Chief Minister. The post is hers for the asking, given that she has the backing
of most MLAs; Mr. Panneerselvam himself is unlikely to offer any resistance. However, as an accused in the disproportionate
assets case against Jayalalithaa, Ms. Sasikala is awaiting a judgment in the Supreme Court in an appeal against her acquittal
by the Karnataka High Court after a conviction by the trial court. Following searches in the residential and office premises of
Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao by Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate authorities, questions have been raised
about the involvement of higher-ups in the AIADMK in corruption. This has been reinforced by the fact that some top leaders
have been close to mining baron Sekhar Reddy, who has been arrested for possession of huge amounts of cash in new currency
notes. In such circumstances, it would be both unwise and improper for Ms. Sasikala to take over the States administration. In
a twist of fate, she has emerged as the most powerful person in Tamil Nadu. But this has occurred in a fragile political
environment. Ms. Sasikala and the party need to act with patience and restraint, not self-serving haste.
o Nominated - to officially suggest that someone should be given a job

advice on a particular subject, to represent a particular group, or to run
a particular organization
o Elevation - the act of giving someone higher status or a more important
position
o Entreaties - a strong serious request that you make to someone about
something that is worrying you
o Cult - extreme admiration for someone or something
o Fractious - easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining
o Contender - someone who competes with other people to try to win
something
o Rely on - depend on
o Enthused - to express excitement about something or great interest in
it
o Lacks - to not have enough of something that is needed or wanted
secretly
o Backroom - used for describing work that is important but is done in a
private or secret way
o Helm - officially controlling an organization or company
o Imposing - large and impressive
o Undermined - to make something or someone become gradually less

o Ascent - the process of becoming more important or famous
o Urged - to strongly advise someone to do a particular thing
o Backing - support
o Resistance - refusal to accept something new such as a plan, idea, or
change
o Accused - the person who is on trial in a law court (for doing something
wrong / committing a crime)
guilty of a crime
crime
o Directorate - a part of a government department that deals with a
particular area of activity
o Possession - the fact that you have or own something
o Unwise - stupid and likely to cause problems
o Improper - dishonest and against a law or a rule
o Fragile - not very strong or healthy
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Peace on track in Colombia"
Colombias government now knows only too well that there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. In October, a referendum
to ratify a painstakingly negotiated peace deal it had signed with the long-time insurgent organisation, the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC), was narrowly defeated. A more piecemeal, less ambitious and sequenced process since then has
helped Bogota notch its first significant victory in effecting the peace deal with the rebels. Now, Colombias Congress has
unanimously approved an amnesty law granting immunity to FARC fighters from prosecution for committing minor crimes,
clearing a major hurdle in effecting the revised peace accord. Those accused of major crimes will be tried by a special tribunal.
The main difficulty in passing this measure was the intransigence of the leading opposition, the right-wing Centro Democratico
led by former President Alvaro Uribe, who had led a vigorous campaign first against talks between the government and the
rebels, later during the referendum and also when a revised accord was eventually signed and ratified by Congress on
December 1. The party abstained during voting both during the ratification and when the amnesty law was introduced. The law
helps overcome a key sticking point for those who voted No in the October referendum and who felt that the government was
being too lenient with those among the FARC commanders accused of severe crimes. The law will reassure the rebels, who
are moving to special demobilisation zones, marking a breakthrough in the five-decade-long civil war that has taken more than
2,20,000 lives. Without doubt, the Nobel Peace Prize given to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos gave him the
necessary ballast and international support to carry out these steps. But there are other laws to be passed, including those
addressing FARCs demands for agrarian reform and compensation to victims of the civil war. There is still some distance to go
before FARC converts itself into a political party to participate in the contested polity. Amendments to the peace accord include
requirements from FARC to share details about any involvement in drug production and declaration of assets. But there is a
clear commitment towards peace shown by both the government and FARC, especially after the initial accord was signed. If
things go as per the governments plan, the rebels should become civilians by May 2017, culminating in the end of a process
that began with negotiations four years ago.
o There's many a slip twixt cup and lip - said to emphasize that many
bad things might happen before something is finished


question
o Ratify - to make an agreement official
own country
o Piecemeal - not done according to a plan but done at different times in
different ways
o Unanimous - if a group of people are unanimous, they all agree about
one particular matter or vote the same way
o Immunity - a situation in which you are protected from legal action
o Prosecution - the act of saying someone did a crime and asking a court
of law to judge them
progress
o Accord - agreement
o Accuse - to say that someone has done something morally wrong,
illegal, or unkind
type
behaviour
o Vigorous - very forceful or energetic
things happen
o Abstained - to not do something
o Lenient - if a person or system is lenient, they punish someone less
seriously than they could
o Reassure - to make someone feel less worried about something
o Demobilisation - to send members of military forces home, especially
after a war has ended
o Ballast - support


of a crime
o Civilian - a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces
o Culminating - to happen or exist as the final result of a process or
situation
DEC 31/2016
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Managing risk in banks"

The Reserve Bank of Indias biannual Financial Stability Report has once again flagged the fact that risks to the banking sector
remain worryingly high. That the risks have stayed elevated due to continuous deterioration in asset quality, low profitability
and liquidity, in the central banks assessment, is cause for concern. Given the central role commercial lenders have in the
financial system serving to harness public savings and direct the flow of crucial credit to the most productive industrial and
infrastructure sectors any systemic risk to the banking industry has the potential to ripple across the entire economy. There
has been no perceptible improvement in the health of domestic banks, even six months after the RBIs previous report had
highlighted the sectors high vulnerability on account of the increase in capital requirement and worsening asset quality,
spotlighting the need for urgent policy interventions. Some measures have been initiated and others are in the pipeline, including
a draft Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill to address bankruptcy situations in banks and other financial entities.
Still, there is every reason to prioritise the restoration of the sectors health as some of the risks inherent in banks may already
be getting transferred to other segments of the financial markets, according to the RBIs report. A survey, of experts and market
participants, conducted by the RBI in October-November reveals that among institutional risks, credit growth and cyber risk
were seen as two key high risk factors. The appointment of Viral Acharya as Deputy Governor overseeing monetary policy at
the RBI, therefore, comes at a crucial juncture. A former member of the Advisory Committee of Financial Sector Legislative
Reforms Commission, he brings substantial expertise in both identifying and dealing with systemic risks in the banking sector.
Having authored a number of papers on the risks lenders could pose to the wider financial system and even the sovereigns
credit standing, he will have his task cut out. A proponent of sequestering and separately dealing with the stressed assets and
bad loans on a lenders books, Mr. Acharya had in an interview suggested that the unhealthy parts of the troubled banks could
be separated from the healthier assets and put into a bad bank to prevent systemic contagion. With the RBI pointing out that
banks saddled with bad loans were likely to remain risk-averse and find themselves lacking the capital needed to lend more
to meet credit demand in the economy, the regulator and the government will need to work in close concert to expeditiously
resolve this vital legacy issue.
o Biannual - occurring twice a year

o Flagged - mark (an item) for attention
o Elevated - high
o Deterioration - the process of becoming worse
o Profitability - the degree to which something is profitable (useful)
o Assessment - the act of judging or deciding the amount, value, quality,
or importance of something
o Productive - having positive results
effectively
o Systemic risk - basic risk, experienced by the whole of an organization
or a country and not just particular parts of it
o Potential - ability to develop
o Ripple - an emotion that spreads gradually through a person or a group
o Perceptible - easily seen or noticed
o Vulnerability - able to be easily influenced, or attacked
o Spotlighting - direct attention to (a problem or situation)


o Interventions - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult
situatio
o In the pipeline - being planned
o Resolution - a formal proposal that is considered by an organization and
is usually voted on at a meeting
o Bankruptcy - a situation in which a business or a person officially
announces that they are unable to pay the lonas
o Restoration - the act or process of returning something to its earlier
good condition or position
o Institutional - relating to an institution
o Overseeing - to watch or organize a job or an activity to make certain
that it is being done correctly
o Sovereign - an old unit of money in the form of a gold coin
o Proponent - someone who publicly supports an idea, policy, plan etc
o Sequestering - to take temporary possession of someone's property
until they have paid back the money that is owed or until they have
obeyed a court order
o Stressed assets - a loan account whose interest or principal is due to
be paid for more than 30 days
o Contagion - the situation in which problems spread from one place to
another
o Saddled - burdened with difficult responsibility or task
o Rrisk-averse - unwilling to take risks or wanting to avoid risks as much
as possible
o In close concert - to work together
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A new dawn for Syria ?"
The ceasefire reached between Syrias government and Opposition, with the mediation of Turkey, Russia and Iran, could be a
turning point in the countrys civil war. Unlike the two previous failed ceasefires this year which were negotiated between
Russia and the U.S. the latest one is sponsored by countries directly involved in the conflict. The positive reaction from both
the Syrian regime and rebel commanders to the announcement of the ceasefire by Russian President Vladimir Putin also
suggests that the warring parties are willing to give diplomacy a chance. For the Syrian government, this is an opportunity to
announce it is ready for a peaceful settlement. Though President Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly claimed that he would retake
the entire territory from the rebels, a military solution appears to be illusory. A prolonged conflict will exhaust the regime forces
further and multiply the humanitarian costs. On the other side, after the victory in Aleppo, the regime could now negotiate with
the rebels from a position of strength. For the rebels, the momentum is gone. Their support is limited to certain parts such as
Idlib, Daraa and the outskirts of Damascus. The question they face is whether they should continue fighting a never-ending war
of attrition or seek to gain leverage from whatever military influence they are left with. There is a convergence of interests for
Turkey and Russia in finding a peaceful solution. Having seen the U.S. interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Russia doesnt
want to get stuck in Syria. By promoting a negotiated deal, it could retain its core interests in Syria while at the same time
projecting itself as a power broker in West Asia. Turkey wants to limit the spillover effects of the war on its soil and stop Kurdish
rebels from capitalising on the chaos in Syria. This explains why Turkey and Russia have come together now despite their bitter
relations last year. But these objective conditions alone may not produce sustainable peace. It is still not clear which rebel
groups have agreed to the ceasefire. Turkey supports only some of the rebel groups, while several other groups get support
from Gulf monarchies. There are jihadist elements as well in the Opposition, such as Fateh al-Sham, that could play the spoiler
by carrying out attacks on government positions. Besides, the Kurdish question remains unaddressed. If Kurds are invited for
talks, Turkey might withdraw its support for the peace process. For now, however, if the ceasefire holds at least till next months
Astana summit of the related parties, it could be a new beginning for Syria.


o New dawn - new beginning
o Illusory - not real, but with an appearance of being real
o Prolonged - to make something last a longer time
o Exhaust - to use something completely
o Momentum - the force that keeps you moving
o Outskirts - the areas that form the edge of a town or city
o Leverage - advantage
o Spillover - the effects of an activity that have spread further than was
originally intended
o Monarchy - a type of government in which a country is ruled by a king
or queen
o Jihadist - a Muslim who is fighting for Islam, who believes in using
violence to achieve religious and political aims
o Unaddressed - not considered or dealt with
JAN 02/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Split wide open"
What began as a family feud is now a fight for the very soul of the Samajwadi Party. If power and position were all that mattered,
SP supremo Mulayam Singh might have been able to more evenly distribute the loaves of office and quickly end the crisis
engulfing his party. But his son Akhilesh Yadav has now taken the fight to another plane, debunking the old guard and projecting
his own actions as those taken in the interest of the larger public good. This time the Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers revolt is
directed at the very manner in which the SP is being run and, by implication, he is challenging what he perceives as the
subversion of the partys founding values. But if he is going to liberate the SP from the feudal old guard, he will need to do
much more. When Akhilesh Yadav objected to the party leaderships proposal for the merger with the SP of the Quami Ekta
Dal, led by the gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, he was not questioning the mobilisation of votes on communal lines but the
building of support blocks at the risk of being perceived as a party that is soft on crime. Similarly, his opposition to the re-entry
of Amar Singh into the party was not as it arguably should have been an attempt to delink the SP from the perils of
corporate funding, but an effort to distance it from seeming to be close to wheeler-dealers. On both occasions his interventions
seemed little more than a part of an image-building exercise. Akhilesh Yadav may have become the new, urbane face of the
party, at the head of a generation of technology-savvy youth that speaks the language of progress and development. But he
has so far not been able to change it in any substantive way. The Chief Minister knows he cannot do without the SPs
organisational structures in an Assembly election, just months away. But he also seems to have realised that he could not
possibly benefit from the brand of brash politics characterised by his father and uncle Shivpal Yadav without being tainted by it.
By striking out on his own, Akhilesh Yadav is now hoping he would gain acceptance beyond the traditional vote banks of the
SP. But the intra-party quarrels are unlikely to have inspired confidence among the public of the SPs ability to provide stability
and good governance. Yadav Jr will be judged not on how he distanced himself from the lathi-wielding criminal elements of the
SP, but on how he maintained law and order. Similarly, not on how he managed the SPs leadership, but on how he governed
for five years. After all, in the Assembly poll, he will be fighting against the BJPs Narendra Modi and the BSPs Mayawati, not
his father and uncle.



o Supremo - someone who is in charge of an organization or an activity
involving many people
o Evenly - in equal amounts
o Loaves - parts of bread
o Engulfing - to surround and cover something or someone completely
o Debunking - to show that something is less important, less good, or less
true than it has been made to appear
saying it directly
o Perceives - to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief
about something
o Subversion - the act of trying to destroy or damage an established
system or government
o Liberate - to help someone or something to be free
o Feudal - outdated or old-fashioned
form a bigger one
o Mobilisation - to encourage people to support an idea or plan
o Communal - relating to a particular community
about something
shown to be true
o Peril - great danger
difficult situation
o Urbane - behaving in a pleasant, relaxed, and correct way in social
situations
o Savvy - practical knowledge and ability
o Substantive - important, serious, or related to real facts
o Brash - showing too much confidence and too little respect
o Tainted - spoiled
o Striking out - to start doing something new, independently of other
people
o Lathi - a long, heavy stick, especially one used as a weapon by police
officers
o Wielding - to hold a weapon or tool and look as if you are going to use
it
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Obamas parting shot at Russia"

President Barack Obamas decision to slap more sanctions on Russia and sack 35 diplomats from the U.S. is the latest
flashpoint in the bilateral relations of the former Cold War foes. Though the immediate trigger for Mr. Obamas action are the
cyberattacks on Democratic Party systems, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe were carried out by Russians to influence
the results of the presidential election, the action must be seen against the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.
Ironically, Russia-U.S. relations have hit the lowest point since the collapse of the Soviet Union under a president who had
promised a reset of ties. At home Mr. Obama faces criticism for not acting decisively against Russian interventions that go
against American interests. The sanctions the U.S. and its European allies have imposed on Russia after it annexed Crimea
had little impact on Moscows foreign policy decisions. In Syria, Russia made a military intervention to boost the regime of
Bashar al-Assad against armed rebels who had U.S. support. Mr. Obama remained largely a spectator when Russia reshaped
the Syrian conflict, first through a brutal military campaign and then through multilateral diplomacy. Ties plunged to a new low
with the allegations of hacking into the Democratic Party systems. By taking the toughest actions yet against Russia in his final

weeks in office, Mr. Obama may be trying to mute criticism of his Russia policy. But Mr. Obamas policy will have long-term
implications for U.S.-Russia ties. The rising tensions have reignited fears of a new Cold War. Though todays Russia doesnt
have the economic resources of the Soviet Union, its actions in Syria and Ukraine show that Moscow is not afraid of upping the
ante in a unipolar world. Second, Mr. Obama is further complicating matters of foreign policy for his successor. Given that
President-elect Donald Trump had promised during the campaign to have better relations with Russia and closer coordination
in the fight against the Islamic State, Mr. Obamas last-minute intervention is being interpreted as an attempt to tie Mr. Trumps
hands. The Washington establishment is also happy with the Presidents decisions. For now, Mr. Putin has deftly avoided a tit-
for-tat response, saying that Moscow will assess the policies of the next administration. The question is, what will Mr. Trump
do? If he goes completely against the Obama administrations policies, he will upset the establishment, including leaders from
his own party. If he doesnt, he will fail on his promise of reshaping ties with Russia and potentially raise tensions further. Either
way, Russia is back as a top challenge on the U.S. foreign policy landscape.
o Parting shot - a remark that you make when you are leaving, so that it
has a stronger effect:
o Sack - to remove someone from job
o Diplomat - an official whose job is to represent one country in another
o Flashpoint - a place where violence is likely to develop
o Cold war - unfriendly relations between countries who are not at war
with each other
o Foes - enemies
o Trigger - an event or situation, etc. that causes something to start
o Cyberattack - an illegal attempt to harm someone's computer system
or the information on it, using the internet
would expect
o Decisively - able to make decisions quickly and confidently, or showing
this quality
another one
o Annexed - to take possession of an area of land or a country, usually by
force or without permission
o Spectator - a person who watches an activity, without taking part
o Plunged - to fall quickly from a high position
o Mute - silent
o Implication - the effect that an action or decision will have on something
else in the future
o Reignite - to make something such as a disagreement or worry that was
disappearing grow stronger

o Upping the ante - if you up the ante, you increase your demands or the
risks in a situation in order to achieve a better result
o Deftly - skillfully / cleverly / quickly
o Tit-for-tat - actions done intentionally to punish other people because
they have done something unpleasant to you
o Potentially - possibly true in the future, but not true now
o Landscape - the main features of a situation or activity
JAN 03/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The price of defiance"

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has only itself to blame for its present predicament. Its president and secretary have
been removed for defying the Supreme Courts order to accept reforms suggested by a court-appointed committee. And its
president, Anurag Thakur, now faces legal action for contempt of court as well as prosecution for perjury. None of this would
have happened had the BCCI shown some sense of responsibility and a vision for the future, and recognised the fact that the
highest court was only seeking to reform the manner in which cricket is administered in the country. In the courts view, the
appointment of the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee and adoption of its recommendations were part of a project to bring
transparency and accountability to the BCCI. While the court expected cooperation and compliance, the BCCI responded with
obstructionist tactics and defiance. It was therefore inevitable that the court would seek to send out a message that it will not
brook any wilful defiance. Despite the court making the Lodha panel reforms binding on the BCCI through its July 18 verdict,
the BCCI appeared to defy it. It cited as one reason difficulties in getting its affiliated State units to accept the reforms, but at
the same time made at its Annual General Meeting in September some decisions that were not in tune with the panels
recommendations. The price of such defiance is clear: the Supreme Court is now going to appoint a committee of administrators
to supervise the boards affairs. Mr. Thakurs position is especially unfortunate. As a young sports administrator, he was
presented with a great opportunity to lead cricket administration into a new era in which Indian crickets on-field achievements
would be matched by the Boards transparent and accountable functioning. If only he and other affiliated units had accepted the
reforms, influential individuals who had held sway for decades would have been replaced by fresh talent, and the seemingly
unending tenure of some would have been cut short. However, by defying the court in the name of protecting the sports
autonomy, Mr. Thakur has courted a double blow: the loss of power and authority as well as imminent punishment. His
equivocation on whether he invited the International Cricket Council to say there is governmental interference in the BCCIs
affairs has led to the court hardening its stance against him. It is not clear what course of action, if any, would now mollify the
Supreme Court and help them escape its wrath. A bitter lesson has indeed been taught, but it is uncertain if it has been learnt.

o Predicament - a difficult or unpleasant situation that is not easy to get
out of
o Defying - to refuse to obey someone or something
o Reforms - changes that are intended to make a system work more
effectively
o Prosecution - the process or act of accusing someone of a crime and
asking a court of law to judge them
o Perjury - the crime of telling lies in court when you have promised to
tell the truth
o Obstructionist - the act of intentionally stopping or slowing down an
official process
o Defy - to refuse to obey a person, decision, law, situation, etc

o Affiliated - used to describe an organization that is officially connected
with or controlled by another, usually larger, organization
o Held sway - have great power or influence over a particular person,
place, or organization
o Autonomy - the right of an organization, country, or region to be
independent and govern itself
o Equivocation - to speak in a way that is intentionally not clear and
confusing to other people, especially to hide the truth
o Interference - the process of deliberately becoming involved in a
situation and trying to influence the way that it develops, although you
have no right to do this
o Mollify - to make someone less angry or upset
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "New Years-eve tragedy in Turkey"

The New Years-eve attack on an Istanbul nightclub that killed at least 39 people, mostly foreigners including two Indians, is
yet another reminder of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Turkey. It comes days after the Russian ambassador to
Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was shot dead in Ankara by a lone gunman. In 2016, there were dozens of violent incidents, both by the
Islamic State and Kurdish rebels, which have raised questions about the governments ability to provide even basic public
security. The attacks have also badly hit the tourism economy, which makes a sizeable contribution to Turkeys GDP. The
Istanbul attacker, who the IS has called a heroic soldier of the Caliphate, has followed a similar pattern. He chose an upmarket
nightclub in the western part of Istanbul where foreign tourists had gathered to welcome the New Year. But why is Turkey being
repeatedly targeted? Or, how has the country, till a few years ago politically stable with a booming economy, descended into
instability and chaos? In part, it is a blowback for President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Syria policy, which turned out to be a
monumental failure. Like many of his Western allies, Mr. Erdogan also initially thought that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
was about to fall, and offered help to the anti-regime rebels. Ankara also inadvertently helped the rise of the IS by allowing
jihadists to cross into Syria via the Turkish border. By the time the government realised its folly and started attacking the IS, the
group had grown into a real terror machine. Mr. Erdogans decision to relaunch the war with Kurdish rebels was also linked to
his policy debacle in Syria. When the rebels started building an autonomous Kurdistan in Syria in the wake of the governments
withdrawal from the border region and emerged as battlefield allies of the U.S. against the IS, Mr. Erdogan saw it as a long-term
challenge to Turkey, given the long history of fighting between the Turkish state and the Kurdish militants. He abandoned a
ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers Party, kicking off a new phase of the civil war. Mr. Erdogan is now in a tight spot. The
country faces constant threats from the IS, a group that it once ignored. The civil war with Kurdish rebels, which Mr. Erdogan
might have hoped would curtail the nationalist ambitions of the Kurdish minority, is growing out of control. Besides, Mr. Erdogans
authoritarian tendencies and the crackdown on dissent and opposition parties are deeply polarising the country. It is this fragility
of the security architecture in Turkey that is frequently being exposed by the attackers.

or suffering
o Rapidly - suddenly / quickly
o Deteriorating - to become worse
o Ambassador - an important official who works in a foreign country
representing his or her own country there
o Lone - alone / single / only
o Sizeable - large
o Upmarket - upmarket services or goods are designed for people who
have a lot of money
o Gathered - when people or animals gather, they come together in a
group

o Booming - increasing
o Descended - to become lower
o Blowback - negative reactions or results that were not intended, such
as criticism, protest, or anger
o Monumental - very big
o Anti-regime - opposed to or against government
o Inadvertently - not intentional
o Folly - a way of thinking or behaving that is stupid and careless, and
likely to have bad results
o Debacle - a complete failure, especially because of bad planning and
organization
o Autonomous - an autonomous state, region, or organization is
o Abandoned - left
o Kicking off - starting
country
o In a tight spot - to be in a difficult situation
o Curtail - to stop something before it is finished, or to reduce or limit
something
o Minority - a small number of people or things that are part of a larger
group but different in some way from most of the group
o Tendency - an aspect of your character that you show by behaving in a
particular way
o Dissent - a strong difference of opinion on a particular subject, especially
about an official suggestion or plan or a popular belief
groups
o Fragility - easily damaged, broken, or harmed
JAN 4/2016


Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Secularising the election"
The Supreme Court has grappled with the question whether a provision in electoral law that makes it a corrupt practice to use
religion, race, caste or language as a ground for canvassing votes in an election is a bar limited to the groups to which candidates
or their rivals belong, or whether it is a general prohibition on sectarian appeals. Section 123(3) of the Representation of the
People Act, 1951, as amended in 1961, gave rise to this doubt. By a four-three majority, a seven-member Bench has ruled that
it is a general prohibition on the use of religion or any other communal or sectarian value in the electoral arena. The minority
favoured limiting the ambit of the sub-section to cover only candidates who sought votes on such grounds, or the rivals they
wanted the voters not to back on similar grounds. That secularism is the bedrock of our democracy is undisputed. That the
electoral process ought not to permit appeals to the electorate on these narrow grounds is equally beyond doubt. Against this
backdrop, it is only logical that the Supreme Court should decide that it is a corrupt practice for candidates to use any caste or
communal parameters to canvass for votes or to discredit a rival, regardless of whether the candidates themselves belong to
such religious, communal or linguistic groups. It is interesting that the dispute turned on a single pronoun, his, that was
introduced in the 1961 amendment. The majority opinion favours a purposive interpretation, holding that it covered the
candidates as well as the voter. It finds support in legislative history and our constitutional ethos. The purpose of the amendment
was to widen the scope of the particular corrupt practice. Given that secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution, it has been
interpreted in the light of Parliaments intention to prohibit any religious or sectarian appeal for votes. There is a justifiable worry
that a wider interpretation may lead to eliminating from the poll discourse political issues that turn on religion, caste or language.
After all, this is a country in which sections of society suffer deprivation and historical injustices based on religious or caste
identity. But the overall message is clear. It is left to the wisdom of judges dealing with election cases to draw the line between
what is permissible and what is not, and look at the context in which some statements are made before deciding whether they
constitute a corrupt practice. The majority verdict will find resonance with all those who swear by the primacy of secularism in
the public domain. The minority view nuances this with a reminder that legal issues need to be seen in their social context.
oSecularising - when something is secularized, religious influence,

power, or control is removed from it
o Grappled with - to try hard to understand a difficult idea or to solve a
difficult problem
o Canvassing - to try to get political support or votes, especially by visiting
all the houses in an area:
o Rival - a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing
or in the same area
o Prohibition - the act of officially not allowing something, or an order
that does this
o Amended - to make changes to a document, law, agreement etc,
especially in order to improve it
o Gave rise to - to cause something
o Arena - an activity that involves argument and discussion
o Bedrock - the main principles on which something is based
o Undisputed - if something is undisputed, everyone agrees about it
something
o Linguistic - relating to languages
o Purposive - having a purpose (done with the aim of achieving a
particular thing)
o Interpretation - an explanation or opinion of what something means
o In the light of something - because of a particular fact

o Prohibit - to officially refuse to allow something
o Justifiable - if something is justifiable, there is a good reason for it
o Deprivation - a situation in which you do not have things or conditions
that are usually considered necessary for a pleasant life
o Injustice - an unfair action or event (not treating someone fairly and
not respecting their rights)
o Permissible - allowed to be done by a law or rule
important
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A nudge to borrowers"
The State Bank of Indias decision to cut its marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) by 90 basis points is a timely
nudge to borrowers, especially given the sharp slowdown in credit growth in the current fiscal year. The timing of the cut is not
surprising, given that the countrys largest commercial lender is awash with funds held in current and savings account (CASA)
deposits following the Centres decision to withdraw high-value banknotes and impose withdrawal curbs on account-holders.
With demand across sectors having taken a knock in the wake of the resultant cash crunch, the SBIs decision to reduce
borrowing costs is likely to spur some credit-fuelled buying including in sectors such as automobiles. Latest data from the
Reserve Bank of India show that growth in bank credit decelerated to 1.2 per cent in the April 1-December 9, 2016 period,
compared with the 6.2 per cent pace witnessed in the comparable period in 2015. Deposit growth, on the other hand, almost
doubled in pace, accelerating from 7.1 per cent in the same period in 2015 to 13.6 per cent in 2016. Banks have thus found
themselves in an unenviable situation where their liabilities (the money they owe depositors) have jumped sharply, while their
assets (the loans they give) have instead almost stagnated. This has added to their woes at a time when mounting bad loans
have pushed most public sector banks to post record quarterly losses. The demonetisation decision has willy-nilly ended up
providing banks with the windfall of low-cost deposits that could potentially serve as the launch pad to a credit-backed demand
stimulus in the economy. Other banks have also cut lending rates, and lenders are now vying with each other to innovatively
structure credit products, including home loans, in a bid to capitalise on what they hope will be an enduring revival in the appetite
for borrowing. Still, the constraint of needing to fund the substantially higher interest commitments on deposits that have swelled
the banks liabilities have also forced the SBI to raise the spread it applies on home loans the additional markup interest it
charges over the benchmark one-year MCLR to a minimum of 50 basis points from 25 basis points earlier. The question is
whether this reduction in borrowing costs will be enough to restore consumer confidence. With the Union budget less than a
month away, the coming weeks could well serve to provide clear signals on the potential need for a fiscal stimulus to reinvigorate
flagging economic growth, especially if a revival in credit growth is going to be slower than anticipated.
oNudge - push / move

oBasis points - used in relation to interest rates to mean one-hundredth
of one percent
o Slowdown - a reduction in speed, activity, or the rate that things are
produced
o Fiscal year - financial year (an year for which a business, government,
etc. plans its management of money)
o Awash - containing a lot or too much of something
o Impose - to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or
received
o Curb - a limit on something that is not wanted
o Taken a knock - to be damaged because of a bad experience
mentioned
o Cash crunch - not having enough money to work successfully or in the
normal way

o Decelerated - to happen or make something happen more slowly
o Witnessed - observed
o Accelerating - to happen or make something happen sooner or faster
o Stagnated - to stay the same and not grow or develop
o Woes - big problems or troubles
particular currency
o Willy-nilly - if something happens willy-nilly, it happens even if the
people who are involved do not want it to happen
o Ended up - to finally be in a particular place or situation
o Windfall - an amount of money that you win or receive from someone
unexpectedly
o Launch pad - starting point of something
o Vying - to compete with other people to achieve or get something
o Innovatively - using new methods or ideas
o Capitalise - to supply money to a business so that it can develop or
operate as it should
particular limits
o Swelled - to become larger
o Liability - he amount of money that somebody owes
o Markup - the amount by which the price of something is increased before
it is sold again
o Fiscal stimulus - an attempt by a government to increase economic
activity by reducing taxes, increasing government spending, or both
o Reinvigorate - make something stronger, or more exciting or
successful again
o Anticipated - expected
JAN 05/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Stalin at the helm"
The elevation of M.K. Stalin as the working president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam achieves two objectives. It fills the
power vacuum at the top following the prolonged illness of party president M. Karunanidhi. It also provides an opportunity for
the DMK to take advantage of the fluid political situation in Tamil Nadu after the death of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and the
prevailing confusion within the ruling AIADMK on whether O. Panneerselvam should make way for V.K. Sasikala as Chief
Minister. For a long time now, Mr. Stalin has been the unofficially designated successor to his father, Mr. Karunanidhi. He was
made Deputy Chief Minister in 2009 during the DMKs previous term in office, though he continued to be ranked behind both
Mr. Karunanidhi and party general secretary K. Anbazhagan in the Cabinet and the party organisation. But so far, despite his


failing health, Mr. Karunanidhi has been reluctant to step down from the post of party president. Even during the run-up to the
Assembly election in early 2016, he refused to declare Mr. Stalin the chief ministerial candidate. While it is not very clear whether
the DMK patriarch wholeheartedly endorses his sons elevation now, there is little doubt that the second line of the party believes
this has been long overdue. As working president, Mr. Stalin enjoys the same powers as the party president, and in a situation
where Mr. Karunanidhi is unable to function actively, he should have little difficulty in giving the party the necessary direction in
a fast-changing political scenario. The AIADMK without Jayalalithaa faces a stern test. It helped that the party was in power
when she died; otherwise, the district-level leaders might have begun pulling in different directions whether or not Ms. Sasikala
became the general secretary. Mr. Stalin can afford to bide his time to see how the AIADMK holds in the post-Jayalalithaa phase
and if the visible signs of cadre disenchantment with Ms. Sasikala become accentuated. The DMK is currently in a politically
advantageous situation; it had lost the Assembly election narrowly, and its main rival now is in some disarray. As the main
Opposition party, it has a responsible role to play when the government is in danger of being directionless. And with Mr. Stalin
at the helm, it can play that role a lot more effectively. After close to three decades of seemingly never-ending political rivalry
between Mr. Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu is witness to a new phase of political contestation. The people can only
hope that the emerging political rivalry will not see political decency in short supply, as was the case with the previous generation
of leadership.
o At the helm - in charge or in the position of a leader

o Elevation - the act of giving someone higher status or a more important
position
o Achieve - to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim,
especially after a lot of work or effort
o Vacuum - a lack of something
o Fluid - smooth and continuous
o Prevailing - existing at a particular time or in a particular place
o Make way for somebody - to be replaced by someone or something
o Designated - to choose someone officially to do a particular job
o Reluctant - snot willing to do something
o Step down - to give up a job or position
because of this
o Endorse - to make a public statement of your approval or support for
o Overdue - if something is overdue, it should have been done before now
o Stern - difficult
o Bide your time - to wait calmly for a good opportunity to do something
o Disenchantment - disappointed and no longer enthusiastic about
o Accentuated - to emphasize a particular feature of something or to
make something more noticeable
or in the same area
o Disarray - a situation in which people are very confused or things are
not organized, especially because something unexpected has happened
o Rivalry - a situation in which people, businesses, etc. compete with each
other for the same thing
o Contestation - the act of arguing or disagreeing about something
o Decency - behaviour that is good, moral, and acceptable in society
o In short supply - not enough

Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Bengalurus night of horror"
It is being called a mass molestation. With all the creepiness and collective menace that the phrase conveys, the sketchy
facts of the events of New Years-eve in downtown Bengaluru once again hold a mirror up to Indian society. Thousands of
revellers had gathered in and around Mahatma Gandhi Road and Brigade Road to ring in 2017, as is something of a tradition
in the city. But, according to reports that subsequently emerged, a large number of women were sexually assaulted around
midnight. While no complaint had been filed, Bengaluru police have taken up an investigation based on the reports of women
being groped and physically attacked. Another incident, reportedly also of the early hours of January 1, has come graphically
into the public domain, with CCTV footage showing a woman being grabbed as she makes her way home in a residential street
before she pulls herself free and escapes. This is unconnected to the so-called mass molestation, but reinforces the horror of
the night in Bengaluru. In an aftermath that has echoed with Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwaras effort to blame the
violence on western culture, it is easy to understand why no women came forth, at least initially, to register an offence. All too
depressingly and predictably, the Minister has closed the loop to show how state and society fail to ensure the safety of women.
Mr. Parameshwaras insinuation that for women to wear western dress and be out and about having a good time is to invite
sexual harassment, ironically, explains the reluctance of women to register offences. For, to do so is to very often court an
accusatory glare, and be made to answer why they were out in a lonely street, after dark, in a place teeming with boys or
put simply, why they did not know better. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, passed after national outrage over the
Delhi gang rape of December 16, 2012, had sought to bring clarity to the continuum of sexual offences and to simplify procedures
for women to bring them to the attention of the police. To truly convince women that the state is on the same page, every crime
against a woman must be regarded as a horror. But without an administrative ethos that does not flip an accusation on a woman
and instead asserts a womans right to bodily integrity no matter where she is and what she is doing, no amount of law-making
can significantly change things. This is the challenge before the Bengaluru police as they look for women to come forward and
assist in the investigation.
oHorror - an extremely strong feeling of fear and shock

oMass - a large crowd of people
oMolestation - to hurt someone, by touching them in a sexual way or by
forcing them to do sexual acts
o Creepiness - strange or unnatural and making you feel frightened
o Menace - someone or something that is dangerous and likely to cause
harm
o Sketchy - not completely safe or not completely honest
o Downtown - in or to the central part of a city
o Reveller - someone who enjoys themselves at a lively and noisy party
or celebration by dancing, singing, and drinking alcohol
o Grope - to touch someone's body in order to get sexual pleasure, usually
when the person does not like it
o Came forth - came forward / came out
o Insinuation - to say something unpleasant in an indirect way
would expect
o Offence - an illegal act; a crime
o Accusatory - suggesting that you think someone has done something
bad
o Glare - angry look

o Continuum - a series of events, changes, features etc that all have a
particular quality to different degrees
o Accusation - a claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong
o Integrity - the quality of being honest and having strong moral
principles that you refuse to change
JAN 06/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A mid-term referendum"
Coming as it does barely a few months beyond the halfway mark of the BJP-led government at the Centre, the importance of
the round of Assembly elections notified this week cannot be overstated. With votes scheduled to be cast in phases starting
February 4 in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand, counting will take place on March 11. Since the process
of federalisation and regionalisation of the polity deepened in the 1990s, Assembly election results have been determined more
often by regional issues than by national political variables. But with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having emerged as the BJPs
principal vote-bagger, and with subjects such as demonetisation on the election agenda, this round will be influenced by national
issues. A sidelight of the election schedule is the Union budget, advanced to February 1 from the traditional February 28
presentation. The Election Commission is still to rule on the Opposition demand that the Budget be unveiled after the polling.
Early indications from U.P. point to a tripartite contest among the Samajwadi Party, the BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party. Both
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati are bracing themselves to check the Modi wave of the 2014
parliamentary elections. By leading an internal revolt against the old guard associated with the politics of identity and muscle
power in the SP, Akhilesh Yadav has sought to project himself as being committed to development above all, thereby seeking
to counter the BJPs rise since 2014 on the same appeal. Ms. Mayawati had lost a considerable chunk of her Dalit support base
in 2014, but has since re-framed her outreach by attempting to forge a Dalit-Muslim alliance. Her strategy will face a test, as the
earlier phases of the State elections are in western U.P. that saw stark communal polarisation in 2014 in the wake of the
Muzaffarnagar violence. In Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine will be in a keen fight in another tripartite contest,
against the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. The latter had thrown down the gauntlet in 2014 by clinching four Lok Sabha
seats out of the 13. In Uttarakhand, the Congress will be tested by the BJP after its State government was restored to power by
the courts in 2016 following a spell of Presidents Rule. In Manipur, its government has staked its chances on the decision to
create new districts that precipitated a renewed ethnic crisis. Goa, in the recent past, has had a volatile Assembly, and the
AAPs focus on the State has ignited the fray. Together, the results will have strong reverberations at the national level.
oMid-term - in the middle of the period when a government is in office

oReferendum - a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are
question
o Barely - used for saying that something almost does not happen or exist,
or is almost not possible
o Beyond - outside a particular area
o Halfway - in the middle of a period of time
o Overstate - to talk about something in a way that makes it seem more
important, impressive, or serious than it really is
o Federalisation - the state of being under central government's control
o Regionalisation - the way that an area of the world containing several
countries becomes more economically or politically important than the
particular countries within that area
o Bagger - winner
particular currency
o Sidelight - a less important issue connected with the main subject of
something such as a report or a discussion
o Tripartite - involving three people or organizations

o Bracing - preparing
o Revolt - to refuse to accept something such as a law or a decision
o Alliance - an agreement to work with someone else to try to achieve
the same thing
o Throw down the gauntlet - to make it clear that you want to argue or
fight with someone about something
o Clinching - to finally get or win something
o Staked - to risk losing or damaging something valuable in order to obtain
or achieve something
o Precipitated - to make something happen or begin to exist suddenly
and quickly, especially something bad
o Ethnic - relating to a group of people who have the same culture and
traditions
o Volatile - a volatile situation can suddenly change or become more
dangerous
o Ignited - to cause a dangerous, excited, or angry situation to begin
o Fray - to separate
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Being factual in the post-truth era"

Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, for all practical purposes, recently threatened Israel with a retaliatory
nuclear attack, in response to a fake news report that the Israelis had said they would use nuclear weapons against Pakistan if
it sent ground troops to Syria. Earlier, a man fired an assault rifle in a pizzeria in Washington, D.C. after reading online that it
was involved in a child trafficking ring linked to Hillary Clinton. In India, a fake story said there was a GPS tracking chip embedded
in the new Rs.2,000 note. Fake news the deliberate creation of factually incorrect content to mislead people for some gain
is becoming an increasingly serious problem. And tackling it is imperative in a perpetually wired and click-happy world.
Everyone with an Internet connection and a social media presence is now a content generator. Access to the web at all times
on mobile platforms has raised expectations for real-time news and constant entertainment, and competition among websites
and social media platforms has resulted in the proliferation of clickbait. With platforms such as Facebook, that have hundreds
of millions of users, news, fake or otherwise, spreads rapidly. While the news may be fake, its impact is real and potentially far-
reaching. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that approximately two-thirds of Americans felt fake news had
caused a great deal of confusion over current affairs. The abundance of fake stories during the U.S. presidential elections has
raised concerns about their impact on election results. This has set alarm bells ringing in Europe where several countries are
about to go to the polls. Germany is considering imposing a 500,000 fine on Facebook if it shares fake news, and an Italian
regulator has asked European countries to set up an agency to combat fake news. The danger is that instruments to identify
fake news could become muzzles on opinion and speech. Therefore, while such regulation is needed, it is vital that it comes
from within. Social media and news organisations can regulate themselves at different levels, most importantly through rigorous
internal editorial and advertising standards. Industry-wide measures, such as adherence to a charter of standards on fake news
and imposition of fines on organisations falling short of these, could be done. Meanwhile, the broad contours of what constitutes
fake news need to be defined. News and social media companies have a moral responsibility to ensure that they do not, directly
or otherwise, deliberately misrepresent the facts to their audiences and pass them off for news. If it is a post-truth world we
inhabit, this becomes especially important.

o Post-truth - relating to a situation or system in which facts are neglected
in favour of emotions and beliefs
o Threatened - warned

o Retaliatory - a retaliatory action is one that is harmful to someone who
has done something to harm you
o Pizzeria - a restaurant that sells pizza
o Trafficking - the business of buying and selling things such as drugs or
weapons illegally
o Deliberate - intentional or planned
o Perpetually - continuing for ever in the same way
o Clickbait - articles, photographs, etc. on the internet that are intended
to attract attention and encourage people to click on links to particular
websites
o Impact - a powerful effect that something has on a situation or person
o Combat - to try to stop something unpleasant or harmful from
happening or increasing
o Muzzle - to stop a person or organization from expressing independent
opinions
o Vital - necessary
o Regulate - to control something
o Rigorous - controlling behaviour in a serious way
o Adherence - the fact of someone behaving exactly according to rules,
beliefs, etc
o Charter - an official statement that makes rules for something
o Falling short - to fail to reach an amount or standard that was expected
or hoped for
o Meanwhile - at the same time
o Contours - limits
o Deliberately - intentionally
o Misrepresent - to describe falsely an idea, opinion, or situation, often in
order to get an advantage
o Inhabit - to live in a place
JAN 07/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Clamping down on ordinance raj"
Both superior courts and constitutional functionaries have routinely deprecated the propensity of governments to take the
ordinance route for mere political expediency. The temptation to use the power vested in the President and the Governors under
Articles 123 and 213 of the Constitution is generally a result of one of the following three reasons: reluctance to face the
legislature on particular issues, fear of defeat in the Upper House where the government may lack the required numbers, and
the need to overcome an impasse in the legislature caused by repeated and wilful disruption by a vociferous section of the
Opposition. The verdict of a seven-member Bench of the Supreme Court breaks new ground in highlighting the constitutional
limitations on the cavalier resort to ordinances. The Supreme Court had already declared in 1986, in D.C. Wadhwa, that repeated
re-promulgation of ordinances was unconstitutional. Now, in Krishna Kumar Singh v. State of Bihar, it goes deeper and
concludes that the failure to place an ordinance before the legislature constitutes abuse of power and a fraud on the Constitution.
It noted in this case that a 1989 ordinance by which the State government took over 429 Sanskrit schools in Bihar was
promulgated several times until 1992, but not once tabled in the State Assembly. The judgment widens the scope of judicial
review of ordinances. The court can go into whether the President or Governor had any material to arrive at the satisfaction that
an ordinance was necessary and to examine whether there was any oblique motive. The judgment will be welcomed by those
who believe in constitutional propriety, legislative control over lawmaking and the larger ethical basis for the exercise of power
in any circumstance. However, it is not always that the ordinance route can be neatly explained as a cynical move to privilege
political expediency over parliamentary accountability. While contending that ordinances should be issued only to meet certain


exigencies and under compelling circumstances, it is equally important to understand that disruption as a parliamentary tactic
plays a significant role. A dysfunctional House sometimes constitutes a compelling circumstance in itself. Generally, it is the
combination of Opposition obstructionism and government obstinacy in not making any concessions to those across the aisle
that derails legislative business and leads to ordinances. The courts can only define the boundaries between the use and abuse
of power, but it is up to parties in the legislature to observe the limits of constitutional propriety and show that they have both
the time and the will to enact laws.
o Clamp down on something - to take strong action to stop or limit a

harmful or unwanted activity
o Superior - higher in rank or social position than others
o Functionaries - officials who works for a government or a political party
o Routinely - as part of the usual way of doing something
o Deprecate - to not approve of something or say that you do not approve
of something
o Propensity - the fact that someone is likely to behave in a particular
way, especially a bad way
o Expediency - the use of methods that produce an immediate result or
solution to a problem, but may not be fair or honest
o Temptation - the wish to do or have something that you know you
should not do or have
o Vested in somebody - if property, shares, etc. vest in someone, they
legally become theirs
o Reluctance - not willing to do something
o Vociferous - someone who is vociferous expresses their opinion loudly
and with force
o Cavalier - not considering other people's feelings or safety
o Promulgation - to spread beliefs or ideas among a lot of people
o Abuse - to use something for the wrong purpose in a way that is harmful
or morally wrong
o Fraud - the crime of getting money by deceiving people
o Oblique - not expressing something directly
o Ethical - involving the principles used for deciding what is right and what
is wrong
are not sincere
o Privilege - an advantage that only one person or group of people has,
usually because of their position or because they are rich
that happen and can give a satisfactory reason for them:
o Contending - to compete in order to win something
o Exigency - the difficulties of a situation, especially one that causes
urgent demands


o Compelling - if a reason, argument, etc. is compelling, it makes you
believe it or accept it because it is so strong
o Dysfunctional - not working normally
official process
o Obstinacy - the quality of being unwilling to be reasonable and change
your behaviour, plans, or ideas
o Aisle - ideological differences between parties
o Derail - to prevent a plan or process from succeeding
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Dhoni: A remarkable captain"
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is regarded as one of the countrys most dashing cricketers, but his flamboyance is founded, almost
ironically, on an inexplicably cool and calculated head. There are no means of divining why he chose to relinquish Indias limited-
overs captaincy when he did; his natural reserve ensures that his cards are almost always played close to his chest. In the
context of where Indian cricket is at this juncture, it appears like an exceptionally clear-sighted decision, brave and selfless in
equal measure. He has effectively said he will earn a place as a wicketkeeper-batsman. He has given the team management
time to build to the next World Cup, in 2019; if he is not a part of that vision, he will not hold down a spot merely by virtue of
being skipper. Given Dhonis standing, he is probably the only one who could have made that call. It is unlikely that any selection
panel will have summoned the courage to drop him. While his glove-work has not dipped significantly he remains a predatory
presence behind the wicket his aura as a finisher has dimmed. Although he is no less capable with the bat, the almost eerie
certainty one had that he will get the job done has dissipated. With age Dhoni turns 36 this July the greats do not
necessarily lose their skill. But the consistency of execution suffers. The legacy Dhoni bequeaths Virat Kohli is a team secure
in its skin, certain it can win from any position. There was no better captain in the games shorter forms than Dhoni during his
time. He is the only skipper to have won all three major trophies the World Cup, the World Twenty20 and the Champions
Trophy. Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum had greater attacking verve. They were certainly superior Test captains. But in
the art of managing a finite innings, reading a contests rhythm and its tactical contours, Dhoni had no equal. He had an intuitive
feel for what could happen and the ability to get the best out of his resources, however bare. His greatest strength was his nerve.
Where others tried to finish things quickly to pre-empt panicking, he took games deep. He raised the stakes, knowing he would
not blink before his opponent. Remarkably, he managed to transmit this sense of composure to his team. He asked his bowlers
to relax and stick to the plan; the responsibility of the result was his to bear. Few cricketers have stayed in the present as
successfully as he has. Fortunately for Indian cricket, his successor is every bit as impressive. Kohli, moreover, will have access,
should he choose, to all of Dhonis considerable powers.
oRemarkable - unusual in a way that surprises or impresses you

oRegard - to consider or have an opinion about something or someone
oDashing - attractive in a confident, exciting, and stylish way
oFlamboyance - very confident in behaviour, and liking to be noticed by
other people
would expect
o Inexplicably - unable to be explained or understood
o Relinquish - to give up something such as a responsibility or job
o Play your cards close to your chest - to not tell people what you are
thinking or planning
o Exceptionally - much greater than usual, especially in skill, intelligence,
quality, etc
o Clear-sighted - having a good understanding of a particular subject and
the ability to make good judgments about it
morally good
o Summon - to increase your courage or strength, especially with an effort

o Predatory - treating other people badly for your own benefit
o Aura - a feeling or character that a person or place seems to have
o Eerie - strange in a frightening and mysterious way
o Dissipated - spending too much time and money on physical pleasures
that are not good for your health
o Consistency - the quality of always behaving or performing in a similar
way, or of always happening in a similar way
an earlier time
o Bequeaths - pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else
o Verve - great energy and enthusiasm
o Intuitive - based on your feelings rather than on facts or evidence
o Nerve - the courage or confidence necessary to do something difficult,
rude
o Pre-empt - to do or say something before someone so that you make
their words or actions unnecessary or not effective
o Panicking - a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable
thought and action
o Blink - to close your eyes for a very short time and quickly open them
again
o Composure - the feeling of being calm, confident, and in control
o Moreover - used for introducing an additional and important fact that
supports or emphasizes what you have just said
JAN 09/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The slowing economy"
That Indias economic momentum has slowed down is now beyond doubt. Advance GDP estimates
and gross value added (GVA) for the current fiscal year from the Central Statistics Office clearly reveal
the extent of the slowdown. While GDP growth is now pegged at 7.1 per cent, compared with a 7.6
per cent pace in 2015-16, GVA is forecast to expand at 7 per cent this year, easing from the 7.2 per
cent posted 12 months earlier. And as the Chief Statistician emphasised, these projections were
based solely on data from the first seven months through October and do not factor in the impact
from the withdrawal of high-value banknotes and the consequent cash crunch. A closer look at the
sectoral GVA projections throws into relief the areas of concern: Mining and quarrying is estimated
to shrink 1.8 per cent this year after expanding 7.4 per cent a year earlier, while electricity, gas, water
supply and other utility services collectively an indicator of broader economic activity is slowing
to 6.5 per cent from 6.6 per cent. More worryingly, the seven-month numbers establish that two key
engines of the economy, manufacturing and services, are losing momentum faster than was
anticipated, and this could spell trouble for the coming quarters. This is especially so when seen in
the backdrop of demonetisation and what the Reserve Bank of India referred to as the short-run
disruptions in economic activity in cash-intensive sectors such as retail trade, hotels & restaurants
and transportation, and in the unorganised sector and aggregate demand compression associated
with adverse wealth effects. ALSO READ Demonetisation will lead to bigger, cleaner GDP:
BJP There is a silver lining in the CSO data, though. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in April projected
that growth could accelerate this year to 8 per cent to 8.5 per cent subject to a normal monsoon.


The improvement in rainfall has manifested both in the CSOs projection for the agriculture, forestry
and fishing sector, which is estimated to expand 4.1 per cent this fiscal compared with the previous
periods 1.2 per cent, and in rabi sowing data from the Ministry of Agriculture. Preliminary reports
from the States show the total area sown under the rabi crop as on January 6 stood at 602.75 lakh
ha, up 6.5 per cent from last year. If farmers countrywide can tide over the acute cash shortage
resulting from demonetisation and ensure that the sowing translates to strong growth in output, we
could see rural consumption provide some cushioning from the slowdown. Nonetheless, in the Union
budget due next month, the Centre will have to work in a substantial fiscal fillip to help rekindle
economic momentum.
o Beyond doubt - having no doubts that something is true

o Fiscal year - a financial year
o Reveal - to make known or show something that is surprising or that
was previously secret
o Pegged - to keep prices, salaries, or the amount of something at a
particular level, often in relation to something else
the economy
o Emphasised - to make something more noticeable
o Solely - completely
o Cash crunch - a situation in which a company, country, etc. does not
have enough money available to do the things it usually does
o Sectoral - relating to a sector of the economy
o Mining - the industry or activity of removing substances such as coal or
metal from the ground by digging
o Quarrying - to dig stone out of the ground
o Utility service - a service that is used by the public, such as an
electricity or gas supply or a train service
o Collectively - together, as a group
o Anticipated - exopected that something will happen
particular currency
o Disruption - an interruption in the usual way that a system, process, or
event works
o Cash-intensive sector - a sector (business) that receives a significant
amount of receipts in cash
o Aggregate - something formed by adding together several amounts or
things
o Silver lining - good aspect of a bad situation
o Accelerate - to happen or make something happen at a faster rate
o Manifest - to show something clearly, through signs or actions
o Tide over - to supply someone for a short time with something that is
lacking
o Sowing - to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow


o Cushioning - something that makes the effects of a bad situation less
severe
o Nonetheless - despite what has just been said or done
o Rekindle - to make something start happening again
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Unclogging the cities"

The move to make New Delhis iconic Connaught Place a pedestrian zone from February, and keep out cars and other vehicles
from its middle and inner circle roads, during a three-month trial programme is an inspiring attempt to reconquer public space.
Urban design in India is the preserve of State governments and local bodies, which have failed spectacularly to provide a safe,
comfortable and accessible experience for walkers. The pilot project in the national capital represents a refreshing change,
taking a leaf out of the book of global cities that have pedestrianised their landmarks, often in the face of conservative opposition.
Prominent examples are Times Square in New York and the route along the Seine in Paris, and the curbs on cars in central
avenue in Madrid. Contrary to apprehensions that restrictions affect commercial activity, the experience around the world has
been quite the opposite: better walking and public transport infrastructure and availability of food plazas attract more people,
improving the local economy. In America, pedestrian injuries decreased after vehicles were removed from Times Square,
beginning seven years ago. Globally this has been the trend too when cities curb car use and clean up the air. Such examples
should convince the Ministry of Urban Development that it is moving in the right direction, and if anything, this needs to be
extended to other cities. ALSO READ The jam in Delhis traffic experiment Keeping powered vehicles out of core areas,
expanding pavements for pedestrians and facilitating the use of bicycles is today a high-priority goal for mayors and urban
governments the world over. In the intermediate phase, many cities find it rewarding to levy a stiff congestion charge on personal
vehicles entering designated areas. This is a mature idea and needs to be trialled in India, under its ongoing smart cities
programme. It should be mandated by law that all proceeds would go towards funding walking, bicycling and emissions-free
public transport infrastructure. The importance of such a levy is evident from a study by Transport for London in 2014-15, that
found the British capital losing 5.5 billion a year in financial costs arising from congestion. Measures to unclog cities are often
posed, wrongly, as detrimental to the economy and efficiency. While cars will continue to remain relevant for longer-distance
travel, dense urban areas need relief from excessive motorisation. Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu
has favoured people-centric ideas for Connaught Place, including aesthetic features such as water fountains and areas for
relaxation. These are not expensive to put in, and State governments must extend the template to all cities and towns,
acknowledging the wider social benefits.
o Unclogging - to clear something by removing something that is blocking

it
o Pedestrian - someone who is walking
o Reconquer - to conquer an area or a group of people again (to take
control or possession of it or them again by force)
o Preserve - to keep something as it is
o Spectacularly - extremely
o Pilot project - test project (if it works well, it will be implemented for
the public)
o Take a leaf out of somebody's book - to copy something that
someone else does because it will bring you advantages
o Pedestrianise - to make an area into one where vehicles are not allowed
to go
change
o Contrary - the opposite
o Intermediate - being between two other related things, levels, or points


o Stiff - formal and controlled in a way that is not friendly or relaxed
o Congestion - a situation in which a place is crowded with people or
vehicles, so that it is difficult to move around
o Designated - marked, separated, or given a name for a particular
purpose
o Mandate - give (someone) authority to act in a certain way
o Emission - something such as gas or radiation is the release of it into
the atmosphere
effectively
o Detrimental - harmful or damaging
o Aesthetic - relating to the enjoyment or study of beauty
o Template - something that is used as a pattern for producing other
similar things
o Acknowledging - to know or recognize that someone or something is
important
JAN 10/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Oiling cashless wheels"
The threat by petroleum retailers to stop accepting credit and debit card payments led to a late-night intervention on Sunday
by the Centre, with Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Petroleum, declaring that the protest action had been put off till January
13. Fuel dealers raised a red flag on the decision by certain banks to levy the merchant discount rate (MDR) of up to one per
cent on card payments. After the demonetisation exercise began, the government had waived the service tax on the MDR
surcharge from December 8 for card-based payments up to 2,000 and got banks to waive the MDR charges on debit cards till
December 31, 2016. By Monday, the Petroleum Minister said that neither the consumer nor the dealers, operating on thin
margins, would bear the MDR for fuel refills even after January 13. Stakeholders, he said, will absorb the cost, but it is still not
clear who will bear the cost of going cashless banks are not out of line in expecting some revenue in return for facilitating
transactions through point of sale (PoS) devices. Since November 8, public sector banks have been advised by the Centre to
charge a maximum of 100 a month as PoS device rentals from small merchants, and the move has benefited 6.5 lakh of the
15 lakh PoS devices. Public sector oil marketers were asked to offer a 0.75 per cent discount to customers using non-cash
means to tank up. The Railways, public sector insurers and others have been asked to offer discounts or charge lower rates for
cashless transactions; so more such spats could occur, although the Centre has promised to foot the bill for some of these
subventions. ALSO READ Petrol outlets will accept card payments after Jan. 13 too, says Pradhan Petroleum outlets are
particularly important for a cash-lite economy push as they handle nearly 2 lakh crore of cash a year. Queues at banks have
eased, but the weekly withdrawal limits havent been lifted. In a situation where people are cash-strapped and the government
is nudging them towards alternatives, the uncertainty of the sort created at fuel pumps should be avoided as it could lead to a
crisis of confidence. Last February the Cabinet had given the nod for rationalising MDR charges. An expert panel to recommend
legislative and other changes was constituted in August and it mooted greater transparency in fees for digital payments,
protection for private data of consumers, a mechanism to ensure they will not be liable to pay for unauthorised transactions or
system errors, and the creation of a new payments regulator. To build confidence in a less-cash economy, people nudged into
a new way of life need clarity and consistency in policy along with a visible road map to secure their confidence. Lucky draws
alone wont suffice.
o Oil the wheels - to make it easier for something to happen

o Threat - a suggestion that something unpleasant or violent will happen,
especially if a particular action or order is not followed
opposition

o Put something off - to decide or arrange to delay an event or activity
until a later time or date
o Raise a red flag - to oppose something
o Merchant - a person whose job is to buy and sell products in large
amounts
particular currency
o Waived - to choose to officially ignore a rule, right, or claim
o Surcharge - a charge in addition to the usual amount paid for
something, or the amount already paid
o Stakeholders - a person or group of people who own a share in a
business
o Out of line - behaving in a way that other people do not approve of
o Tank up - to fill a vehicle with petrol
o Subvention - an amount of money given as support by an organization
or government for a particular purpose
o Outlet - a pipe or hole through which gas or liquid flows out
o Ease - to become less serious, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc
o Cash-strapped - not having enough money
o Nudging - pushing someone gently
o Uncertainty - the situation in which you are not able to decide about
something
o Constituted - combined
o Mooted - to suggest something as a subject for discussion
o Liable - having (legal) responsibility for something or someone
way, or of always happening in a similar way
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A blow to reformists in Iran"

The death of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and powerful cleric who was
widely considered a leading moderate in Irans polity, is a major blow to the reformists in the country. He had a complex and
long tenure as a political leader, emerging as a revolutionary who participated in the overthrow of the Shah regime, heading
Parliament in post-Revolution Iran and later being elected twice as President. He rebuilt an economy devastated in the near-
decade-long war against Iraq. While in power, Rafsanjani promoted a liberal economic policy that moved Iran away from statism,
pursued a realist foreign policy that sought to protect Iranian geopolitical interests and minimise tensions with the West. He was
ruthless as an administrator, presiding over the suppression of dissent by arresting and executing several prominent liberals
and leftists. Out of power, Rafsanjani was seen as a powerful moderate cleric with an array of business interests; he enjoyed
the support of the bazaar, which acted as a buffer in the war of wits between the reformists and hardliners. In recent years
reformists have sought to establish the rule of law and better relations with the West, while hardliners have emphasised the
supremacy of theocracy and conservative values, flowing from the guardianship of the clerics who led the revolution. In this
milieu, Rafsanjani threw in his lot with the reformists in 2009 following allegations of widespread fraud in the presidential election
that was won by former president and hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Since then, Rafsanjani went through a difficult political
period, as he was seen to be at loggerheads with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who continues to support
hardliners. Thwarted from becoming a presidential candidate in 2013, he rose to prominence again as the centrist candidate
Hassan Rouhani he supported emerged victorious in the 2013 elections. Rafsanjani played a pivotal background role in the
signing of the landmark nuclear deal between the P-5+1 countries and Iran. Hardliners have shown little inclination to go back
on the deal that restricts any weaponising programme by Iran, but Rafsanjanis death and a more volatile world order with the
rise of Donald Trump in the U.S. suggest there could be challenges to the deal in the near future. Considering that reformists

face stiff challenges presented by the theocrats who control the publicly owned media, the judiciary and other clerical supervisory
bodies, they will certainly miss Rafsanjani. Even till the ripe age of 82, he managed to straddle various generations of pre-and
post-revolutionary Iran and was a difficult figure for hardliners to overcome politically.
o Reformists - people wanting to change and improve society or an

institution
o Moderate - a person whose opinions, especially their political ones, are
not extreme and are therefore acceptable to a large number of people
o Revolutionary - someone who tries to cause or take part in a revolution
o Overthrow - to defeat or remove someone from power, using force
o Regime - a particular government
o Devastated - completely destroyed
behaviour
o Statism - the principle that the government should own or control most
of a country's industry and economy
o Ruthless - not thinking or worrying about any pain caused to others;
cruel
o Preside over - to be in a position of power while important changes or
events are happening
o Suppression - to stop opposition or protest using military force or strict
laws
o Dissent - strong disagreement
o Reformist - wanting to change and improve society or an institution
o Hardliner - the fact of being very severe, for example in refusing to allow
something or to give people what they want:
o Supremacy - the leading or controlling position
o Theocracy - government by religious leaders
change
o Milieu - the particular people and society that surround you and
influence the way in which you behave
o Allegations - a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has
o Loggerheads - to strongly disagree (with someone)
o Thwarted - to stop something from happening or someone from doing
something
o Prominence - the state of being important or well known
o Centrist - supporting the centre of the range of political opinions
o Pivotal - extremely important and affecting how something develops
o Inclination - a feeling that you want to do a particular thing
o Weaponising - to turn bacteria, poisonous chemicals, etc. into weapons
that could kill or injure many people


o Volatile - likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly or suddenly
become violent or angry
o Reformist - someone who tries to improve a system or law by changing
it
o Stiff - severe and difficult
o Theocrat - a person who rules, governs as a representative of God
o Ripe age - an age at which someone is very old
o Straddle - to be on both sides of something
JAN 11/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Appointments as spoils of office"
The Supreme Courts observations on the quality of a round of appointments made to the Tamil Nadu Public Service
Commission last year expose the gross disrespect shown by the State government to the institutional integrity of the
constitutional body. Standing by the Madras High Court judgment quashing the appointment of 11 members, the court has
directed the State government to make a fresh selection of TNPSC members after a meaningful and deliberative process.
These observations foreground the arbitrary manner in which administrative power is used to pack recruitment institutions with
political favourites. In the case of the TNPSC, the high court had noted that absolutely no process had preceded the
appointments, including of a former district judge who had not been offered the two-year extension that is given on merit to
district judges on their reaching the age of 58. The government has been specifically told that the retired judge would not be
eligible in the fresh selection process. TNPSC vacancies were not filled for three years, but close to the Assembly election,
chosen persons were asked to submit their bio-data and appointed within a day. The high court could not even go into the
relevance of the material on the basis of which the Governor made the appointments, as there was no material bar candidates
resumes. The core issue, however, is not eligibility or non-eligibility. Some may be qualified by dint of their track record,
educational qualifications or administrative experience. What is disquieting is that the appointment process has become a spoils
system based on political patronage. The high court had noted that it was not even fair to comment on whether any candidate
met the criteria of integrity, calibre and qualification as the process itself was deeply flawed. It had noted at least three instances
of absence of process in selections to State public service commissions. The concept of such commissions was incorporated
in the Constitution with the idea that recruitment for public service would be truly independent and free from the pressure of the
political executive. Going by the recent round of appointments, the Tamil Nadu government does not have a process, leave
alone one that is free from arbitrariness. It needs to evolve a process for appointments to the TNPSC that will make integrity
and calibre the principal qualifications, while also drawing upon a wider pool of talent than what the ruling partys limited list of
favourites has to offer.
o Gross - gross actions are extremely bad and are considered immoral by
most people
o Disrespect - the attitude or behaviour of someone who does not respect
o Institutional - from or within a large organization
o Quashing - to say officially that something, especially an earlier official
decision, is no longer to be accepted
o Foreground - to give something more importance than something else
particular reason
o Preceded - to come before someone or something else in a series
o Former - used for describing someone or something that had a particular
job, title, status etc in the past, but not now
o Relevance - the quality of being directly connected with and important
to something else
o Bar - something that prevents a particular event or development from
happening
o By dint of something - as a result of something


o Disquieting - making you feel very worried or nervous
o Spoils system - the practice of a successful political party giving
government civil service jobs to its supporters
o Calibre - the level of someones ability, intelligence etc, or the standard
or quality of something, especially when it is high
o Absence - the fact of not being where you are usually expected to be
o Incorporate - include something as part of something larger
o Evolve - to gradually change and develop over a period of time
o Drawing upon - to use something that you have gradually gained or
saved
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The great American election hack"
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released a declassified report purportedly supplying the minutiae of
a conspiracy theory that has dogged the victory of Donald Trump in the November presidential election: Russias alleged
influence campaign that sought to tip the scales in favour of the property magnate. The report, which pulls together intelligence
gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, concludes
with high confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered such a campaign in 2016, which saw hacking
of email accounts of Democratic Party officials and other political figures. Further, personal information of the victims was passed
on to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks and broader media, which in turn disseminated large troves of data. These releases and
public propaganda by the Russian regime, the report suggests, undercut the campaign of the Democratic candidate, Hillary
Clinton. The report comes at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow could not be worse. President Barack
Obama himself cited the highest levels of the Russian government as the provenance of this malicious cyber activity. When
he announced sanctions against Russia and expelled 35 diplomats from U.S. soil in December, matters reached boiling point.
ALSO READ Putin directed campaign to discredit Clinton, aid Trump The hacking saga raises two sets of questions. First,
how consequential are the U.S. intelligence agencies claims in terms of the impact on the actual election outcome of the
concerted disinformation campaign? It is possible that a section of voters was swayed by this covert action; yet Mr. Trumps
win, as even the liberal-minded U.S. media concede, was the result of factors deeply rooted in domestic politics, including
economic woes and the anti-immigrant attitudes of an angry middle class in the Rust Belt States. On the flip side, conservative
Americans view of Ms. Clinton as an untrustworthy and over-connected Washington insider scarcely required corroboration
from an outside actor. There is, of course, some irony in the intelligence report given the unparalleled record of the U.S. in
interfering in the elections of other nations, including in almost all of South America and even in Russia, in 1996. The second
concern that the hacking episode throws up is that Mr. Trumps dismissive reaction of the intelligence report could send a
dangerous signal to Russia that it could carry out more such shadow campaigns with a sense of impunity. Information is ultimate
power in the digital universe of 21st century democracies. The rise of hacking and fake news thus is, justifiably, a source of
deep fear for liberal governments across Europe, poised on the brink of elections and facing the prospect of a Brexit-style sweep
in some cases.
o Hack - to get into someone else's computer system without permission

in order to find out information or do something illegal
o Declassified - declassified information is officially no longer secret
o Purportedly - said by some people to be real or true, but not proved to
be real or true
o The minutiae - small and often not important details
o Conspiracy theory - a belief that an unpleasant event or situation is the
result of a secret plan made by powerful people
o Dogged - very determined to do something, even if it is very difficult


o Tip the scales - to give someone or something enough of an advantage
to influence a result or decision
o Magnate - a person who is very rich and successful in business or
industry
o Pulls together - to combine different things so that they form a single
unit
o Conclude - to judge or decide something after thinking carefully about
it
o Victim - someone who has been affected by a bad situation
o Secrecy - a situation in which you keep something secret, or the process
of keeping something secret
o Disseminated - to make something such as information or knowledge
available to a lot of people
o Troves - a large supply of something such as information
o Undercut - to damage something or to make it fail
o Malicious - intended to harm or upset other people
o Expell - to force someone to leave an organization, or country
o Diplomats - an official whose job is to represent one country in another
o Boiling point - the point when a situation is about to get out of control
and become violent
o Saga - a long complicated series of related, usually negative, events
o Consequential - happening as an indirect result of something
o Concerted - planned or done together for a shared purpose
o Disinformation - false information spread in order to deceive people
o Covert - hidden or secret
o Concede - to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true
o Woe - big problems or troubles
o Immigrant - a person who has come to a different country in order to
o On the flip side - the opposite, less good, or less popular side of
something
o Untrustworthy - not able to be trusted
o Scarcely - almost not
o Corroboration - evidence or information that supports what someone
has said
o Unparalleled - having no equal; better or greater than any other


o Interfering - deliberately involving yourself in other peoples lives and
trying to influence the way that they behave, although you have no right
to do this
o Throws up - to produce new problems / ideas
o Dismissive - showing that you do not think something is worth
considering
o Justifiably - if something is justifiable, there is a good reason for it
o On the brink of something - in a situation in which something bad is
very likely to happen
future
o Sweep - to win all the parts of a competition, or to win very easily
JAN 12/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Kejriwal in Punjab"

That Delhi was meant only as a springboard for the Aam Aadmi Party was clear even before Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in as
Chief Minister in 2013. From the start, the AAP envisaged itself as a nationwide movement against corruption and for good
governance. Even as he was talking of Delhis problems with water, power and so on, Mr. Kejriwal saw himself as rivalling Rahul
Gandhi and Narendra Modi, fighting corruption and communalism. But those who thought the partys rout in the 2014 Lok Sabha
polls would dispirit its tenacious leader were wrong. True, scaling up from Delhi might not have happened the way he imagined;
but instead of setting his sights lower, Mr. Kejriwal merely decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator. The AAPs bid for
power in Punjab is more an extension of its plan of action in Delhi, and not akin to the flight of fancy Mr. Kejriwal indulged in
while contesting from Varanasi against Mr. Modi. A shot of realism was what the AAP needed, and it came in the form of the
results of the 2014 Lok Sabha election when it did poorly outside Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh. The party won all its four seats
from Punjab; the decision to focus on these core support areas, instead of spreading itself thin, thus made sense. ALSO READ
Can the Aam Aadmi Party win Punjab? Its proximity to Delhi was not the only reason the AAP found a resonance in Punjab.
The AAP could position itself as an alternative to both the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress; it took the focus away from
the identity politics of SAD, but spoke up for the Sikh victims of the 1984 riots in Delhi under Congress watch. The agrarian
crisis, the drug mafia, jobs and development issues are in the forefront of the AAPs campaign. But the party has been
handicapped by its failure to groom a regional leader in Punjab. Mr. Kejriwals autocratic style of functioning appears to have
put off many in his party, as it did Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former BJP MP who at one point seemed inclined to join forces with
the AAP. While Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asked voters at an election rally to vote as if Mr. Kejriwal were the
chief ministerial candidate, Mr. Kejriwal himself has been wary of projecting himself thus. The AAP would have liked to showcase
its two years in government in Delhi as a model, but the frequent run-ins with the Lt. Governor over powers and jurisdiction did
not present a pretty picture. And while Punjab might be important for the AAPs national goals, voters are unlikely to look beyond
their immediate life and livelihood concerns in making their choice. The AAP needs Punjab more than Punjab needs the AAP.
o Springboard - something that helps you to become successful

o Sworn in - when someone is sworn in, they make a formal promise to
be honest or loyal, when starting a new official job
o Rivalling - competing
o Dispirit - cause (someone) to lose enthusiasm or hope
o Tenacious - a tenacious person is very determined and is not willing to
stop when they are trying to achieve something
o Scaling up something - to increase the size, amount, or importance of
something, usually an organization or process
o Setting his sights lower - to accept that you will only be able to get
something less than you hoped for
o Merely - used for emphasizing that something is small or unimportant
o To take the stairs instead of elevator - to do something in a slow and
calm way instead of hurrying

o Bid - competition
o Akin to something - similar to something
o Indulged - to become involved in something that people do not approve
of
o Victim - ssomeone who has been harmed, injured, or killed as the result
of a crime
o Riots - a noisy, violent, and uncontrolled public meeting
o The forefront - the most noticeable or important position
o Groom - to prepare someone for a special job or activity
o Autocratic - ruling with complete power
o Inclined - feeling that you want to do something
o Run-in - if you have a run-in with someone, you have a serious
argument with them or you get into trouble with them
o Jurisdiction - the authority of a court or official organization to make
decisions and judgments
o Present a pretty picture - to make a situation or thing seem better
than it is, often through exaggeration or lies
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Farewell with a message"
With just days remaining before his stint in office draws to an end, U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the American
people one last time in a soaring speech that highlighted his administrations top achievements and warned his fellow citizens
about rising economic inequality, simmering racial divisions and regression into intractable partisanship. Although he will demit
office with one of the highest approval ratings in recent history, to get to the door he will have to step across the debris of the
Democratic Party, which suffered a debacle in the November general election. No wonder that the 44th President of the U.S.
used his final address to urge Americans to rebuild trust in democratic institutions by reducing the corrosive influence of money
in politics and breaking the logjams of congressional dysfunction through grass-roots activism. Mr. Obama knows that the
polarisation of the electorate turned even more bitter over his policy agenda. While there were a few areas where he faced
relatively less resistance from Capitol Hill, including his aggressive positions on drone warfare and domestic mass surveillance,
his most seminal policy achievement, the passage into law of the Affordable Care Act, was only by a sliver of a majority. And
he was rebuffed on agenda points closest to his heart, including common sense gun control reform. ALSO READ In farewell
message, Obama pitches for preservation of democracy Mr. Obama has built an impressive legacy spanning domestic and
foreign policy. Inheriting an economy buckling under a severe economic recession, he sprang into action early on in his first
term and passed numerous pieces of legislation to buoy the sinking assets of American enterprise. As he pointed out in his
speech, today the unemployment rate is near a ten-year low and the U.S. economy is growing again. In foreign policy Mr.
Obama was justified in claiming points for the Iran nuclear agreement; on his watch Cuba was finally brought in from the cold,
and the death of Osama bin Laden closed the page on a turbulent chapter of terror on U.S. soil. Mr. Obama, however, was less
effective in dtente with Russia and China, and his relatively soft approach imbued them with the impunity to challenge
Washington across multiple arenas. Yet it is not so much the score that Mr. Obama gets for his achievements and failures that
he will be remembered for as much as the man that he was. The U.S.s first African-American president will be remembered as
a thoughtful Commander-in-Chief, a leader who strived to provide a progressive template for being, and a man of the 21st
century who was as comfortable with social media and popular culture as he was sensitive to searing pain of victims of gun
crime or racial hate. He will be missed.
o Farewell - used for saying goodbye to someone when you do not expect
to see them again for a long time

o Stint - a fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or
activity
o Draws to an end - to end
o Addressed - to speak or write to someone
o Soaring - to quickly increase to a high level
o Inequality - the unfair situation in society when some people have more
opportunities, money, etc. than other people
o Simmering - something that is simmering is controlled but may burst
out at any time, often violently:
o Regression - a return to a previous or less developed state
o Demit - to give up a job or position by telling your employer that you
are leaving
o Debris - the broken pieces that are left when something large has been
destroyed, especially by an explosion, fire, or accident
o Debacle - a complete failure, especially because of bad planning and
organization
o Urge - to strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular
thing
o Corrosive - a corrosive substance contains chemicals that can cause
damage
o Logjam - a situation in which one problem is stopping anything else from
being done
o Congressional - relating to the US Congress
o Dysfunction - a problem or fault in a part of the body or an organization
o Grass-roots - the common or ordinary people
o Polarisation - to cause something, especially something that contains
groups
o Resistance - refusal to accept something new such as a plan, idea, or
change
o Aggressive - behaving in an angry or rude way that shows you want to
fight, attack, or argue with someone
o Surveillance - the process of carefully watching a person or place
o Seminal - new and different and influences others
o Sliver - very small
o Rebuffed - to refuse to talk to someone or do what they suggest
countries
o Inheriting - to have responsibility for a situation that someone has
started and left for you to deal with
o Buckling - to suddenly become weak and bend
o Recession - a period when the economy of a country is not successful
and conditions for business are bad
o Buoy - to support something and make it more successful


o Dtente - an improvement in the relationship between two countries
that in the past were not friendly and did not trust each other
o Imbued something with something - to fill someone or something
with a particular quality or emotion
o Thoughtful - carefully considering things
o Strived - to try very hard to do something or to make something happen
o Template - something that is used as a pattern or an example for
something else
o Searing - extreme
of a crime
JAN 13/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Surviving the drought"
Bilateral relations coast on diplomatic niceties and joint statements invariably use flowery language
to describe relationships in the best possible terms. Nevertheless, Indias decisions over the past two
decades to upgrade more than 30 of its bilateral relationships to strategic partnerships is excessive.
While there may be many ways to parse the term, its usage in international diplomacy is fairly clear:
it defines a bilateral relationship more important than others, but stops short of an actual alliance.
The term strategic further implies a future convergence of interests in areas that are vital: security,
defence and investment. If that is the case, Indias latest strategic partnership signed with the east
African country of Rwanda, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Rwandan President Paul
Kagame in Gandhinagar this week, warrants further study. Rwanda is a land-locked country with 90
per cent of its population engaged in subsistence agriculture. It is also still recovering from the mass
murder of large sections of its Hutu population in 1994, though the country has registered
remarkable progress and growth in the last few years. While it may therefore be an important
destination for Indias development assistance, it is difficult to see how it qualifies as a strategic
partner, particularly given that India is yet to set up a full diplomatic mission in the country; the last
time New Delhi even sent a delegation to Kigali was in 2012. Given all of this, it would seem that the
governments move was more about window-dressing the relationship than imbuing it with any
meaningful substance. ALSO READ Strategic partners are now dime a dozen Mr. Modis is not the
first government to use the term strategic partnership lightly. Since 1998, when India announced
its first strategic partnership with France, successive governments have signed such partnerships
with dozens of countries. While relations with each of these are important, they are not vital to
Indias interests. The nomenclature also begs a question: if all the countries on the list are
strategically important, what does this mean for countries on the UN Security Council such as the
U.S., the U.K., France, Russia and China, or others such as Japan, Australia, and some of the
neighbours who genuinely contribute to Indias security and economic interests and who have also
signed strategic-partnership agreements with New Delhi? Clearly, a more cogent policy with clear-
cut criteria for strategic partnerships must be considered by the Ministry of External Affairs, with the
focus on countries with which there is a long-term vision on securing Indias needs, coupled with a
convergence of strategic interests.
o Surviving - continuing to live or exist


would expect
fields, or the activity of cutting and collecting them, or the crops that are
cut and collected
o Sweeping - affecting many things or people; large
o Spate - a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant
ones, happening at about the same time
o Cauvery - kaveri river
o Postponement - to delay an event and plan or decide that it should
happen at a later date or time
o Infuse - to fill someone or something with an emotion or quality
o Reform - an improvement, especially in a person's behaviour or in the
structure of something
o Mitigation - a reduction in how harmful, unpleasant, or bad something
is
o Intensively - involving a lot of effort or activity in a short period of time
o Scarce - not easy to find or get
o Conservatively - not willing to accept much change, especially in the
o Cattle - cows and bulls that are kept for their milk
o Livestock - animals and birds that are kept on a farm, such as cows,
sheep, or chickens
o Irreparable - impossible to repair or make right again
o Cascading - to fall quickly and in large amounts
o Marginal - very small
o Overstate - to talk about something in a way that makes it seem more
important, impressive, or serious than it really is
o Vagaries - unexpected events or changes that cannot be controlled and
can influence a situation
o Obligation - something that you must do for legal or moral reasons
o Manual - a book that gives you practical instructions on how to do
something or how to use something
o Chiefly - mainly
o Deficit - lack of something
o Reliance - the state of depending on or trusting in something or
someone
o Cultivation - the process of growing crops or plants
o Millets - small seed of any of various annual cereal grasses


Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Strategic partnership. Really ?"
Tamil Nadus move to declare a drought, ironically on the eve of the harvest festival of Pongal, is an important step to address
the agrarian distress that is sweeping the State following poor rainfall during the northeast monsoon. Even with relatively better
governance structures, desperation among farmers has resulted in a spate of suicides, particularly in the Cauvery delta rice belt
that has received little water from Karnataka in recent times. An official declaration of drought brings relief: postponement of
loan recovery, waiver of land tax and alternative employment through schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme. The challenge now is to infuse confidence among farmers that the government is fully behind
them. As agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan has pointed out, there is a need to look ahead and institute reforms in drought
management for effective distress mitigation. These should be founded on a participatory approach, one that intensively
engages the farm community year-round. A monsoon management centre drawing upon the expertise of multiple departments
would, for instance, help use scarce resources conservatively during a drought, and maximise their potential in good times. It is
also crucial to preserve the health of cattle and other livestock, as they tend to suffer irreparable harm during drought, with
cascading effects on their future productivity. The Centre should provide all support to achieve this under the National Disaster
Response Fund and the Prime Ministers crop insurance scheme. ALSO READ Tamil Nadu to be declared drought-hit, says
Chief Minister The importance of welfare support for small and marginal farmers cannot be overstated, given the vagaries of
the monsoon. More than a decade ago, the National Commission on Farmers pointed out that successive droughts, illness, high
expenditure on social obligations and asset loss push farmers to the brink. Yet, not much has changed in the management of
drought from the low-budget practices of the colonial era, as the Swaraj Abhiyan case in the Supreme Court last year revealed.
No more time can be lost in making the administrative system for agriculture responsive to todays needs. The Centre has to
ensure that the Drought Management Manual is updated to reflect farmers concerns, chiefly, giving weightage to the amount
of rainfall deficit and declaring a drought without delay. In Tamil Nadu, excessive reliance on water-intensive rice cultivation,
and lower priority for hardy millets have raised the risk for many farmers. Active recharging of groundwater and harvesting of
surface water are vital to meet the challenges.

o Strategic partnership - an arrangement between two companies or
organizations to help each other or work together, to make it easier for
each of them to achieve the things they want to achieve
o Nicety - the fact that something is based on very slight differences
o Flowery - if a speech or writing style is flowery, it uses too many
complicated words or phrases in an attempt to sound skilful
o Parse - to examine and describe the grammar of a sentence or a
particular word in a sentence
o Imply - to communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly
o Land-locked - surrounded by the land of other countries and having no
coast
o Subsistence - the state of having what you need in order to stay alive,
but no more
o Mass murder - the act of killing a lot of people
or organization


o Window-dressing - things that are of no real importance and are said
or done in order to make an attractive effect
o Imbuing - to fill someone or something with a particular quality or
emotion
o Nomenclature - a system for naming things
o Neighbour - someone who lives near you
o Genuinely - honestly, or in a sincere way
o Cogent - reasonable and sensible
o Clear-cut - definite and easy to understand, recognize, or make a
decision about
JAN 14/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Pay heed to Urjit Patel"

Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patels emphasis on the vital importance of protecting domestic macroeconomic stability
could not have come at a more crucial juncture. With the Centre in the process of finalising the Union Budget, Dr. Patel has
stressed the need to ensure that it does not stray from the path of fiscal consolidation, at a time when the external environment
is already adverse and likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. That the clamour for a sizeable fiscal stimulus is
likely to grow louder as budget day nears is a certainty, given the signs that an incipient demand slowdown may have been
exacerbated by the cash crunch caused by the withdrawal of high-value banknotes. Within the government too, the temptation
to loosen the purse strings to assuage adverse reaction to the demonetisation decision is likely to be high. It is in this context
that the RBI chiefs reminder to the Centre that borrowing even more and pre-empting resources from future generations
cannot be a short cut to achieving durable long-term higher growth is significant. With the general government deficit among
the highest in the G-20 economies, Dr. Patel reiterated what several of his predecessors including Y.V. Reddy have harped on:
high levels of government borrowing tend to crowd out private investment and paper over the urgent need for more abiding
reforms. ALSO READ Challenges before Urjit Patel Specifically, the RBI chief has suggested that government expenditure be
ideally reoriented towards creating more public infrastructure such as expanded railway networks and urban mass transit
systems that would help boost productivity even as it leads to reductions in the oil import bill and provides the collateral benefit
of improved air quality. And in what could be seen as an expression of assertion of the RBIs independence of thought, Dr. Patel
spoke of the risks that policy interventions in the form of government guarantees and interest rate subventions pose. While not
directly alluding to Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcements last month, which included a doubling in credit guarantees
for micro, small and medium enterprises, the RBI chief said that large credit guarantees also impede optimal allocation of
financial resources and increase moral hazard. With such guarantees only adding to the governments liabilities and raising the
risk premium on its borrowing, the better solution, he suggested, would be to resolve constraints such as transaction costs
related to clearances and the taxation bureaucracy. As Dr. Patel said, it is easy and quick to fritter away gains regarding
macroeconomic stability. But, as he added, it would be hard and slow to regain them.
o Pay heed - to pay attention to; listen to and consider

something
o Macroeconomic - the study of financial systems at a national level
o Stray - to travel along a route that was not originally intended, or to
move outside a limited area
o Consolidation - the process of becoming or of making something
stronger or more successful
o Uncertain - not knowing what to do or believe, or not able to decide
about something


o Foreseeable future - the future that can easily be imagined or known
about before it happens
o Clamour - to make a loud complaint or demand
o Sizeable - large
o Incipient - just beginning
o Exacerbate - to make something that is already bad even worse
o Cash crunch - a situation when an organization / country does not have
enough money to operate successfully or in the normal way
o Loosen the purse strings - to become more liberal with one's
expenditures; to increase the availability of money for spending purposes
particular currency
o Context - the situation within which something exists or happens, and
that can help explain it
o Pre-empting - to prevent something from happening by taking action
first
received
o Reiterated - to say something again, once or several times
o Predecessor - someone who had a job or a position before someone
else
o Harped on - to talk or complain about something many times
o Crowd out somebody / something - to not allow a person or thing
any space or opportunity to grow or develop
o Abiding - an abiding feeling, interest, or belief is one that you have had
for a long time and that is not likely to change
o Oriented - mainly concerned with, or directed towards, a particular
group, activity, or situation
o Transit - the movement of goods or people from one place to another
o Collateral - property that you agree to give to a bank if you fail to pay
back money that you have borrowed
o Assertion - to do something to show that you have power
difficult situation
o Subvention - an amount of money given as support by an organization
o Allude to someone - to mention someone or something in a brief or
indirect way
o Impede - to make it more difficult for something to happen or more
difficult for someone to do something
o Optimal - best; most likely to bring success or advantage
o Liability - the fact that someone is legally responsible for something
particular limits


o Transaction - an occasion when someone buys or sells something, or
when money is exchanged or the activity of buying or selling something
o Bureaucracy - a system for controlling or managing a country,
company, or organization that is operated by a large number of officials
employed to follow rules carefull
o Fritter away - to waste money, time, or an opportunity
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Pakistans vanishing voices"

Over the past few days, five Pakistani activists including the poet Salman Haider have gone missing. The incidents have left
the rights groups, already under pressure from the military and extremist outfits, alarmed. Nobody has claimed responsibility,
and the family members havent got any ransom calls. The government says it will find them, but the investigation that started
after Haiders disappearance on January 6 seems to have reached nowhere; since then four more have gone missing. Although
the full facts are not available, the perception that the disappearances are somehow linked has gained credence. They were all
active social media-based campaigners for human rights and critical of the military and its support for militancy. They challenged
the extremist narrative propagated by the fundamentalist groups and promoted the idea of a modern, inclusive Pakistan, largely
through Facebook posts and blogs. Haider was known for his strong stand on rights violations in Balochistan. ALSO READ
Pakistans terror conundrum This is not the first time activists and writers critical of the military-terror complex have come under
attack in Pakistan. For years both the security apparatus and militant groups have used force to silence critics. Liberal activist
and author Raza Rumi, who had criticised state support for militants, was attacked by an extremist outfit in March 2014. A year
later, activist Sabeen Mahmud was shot dead in Karachi after she hosted a debate on Balochistan. This time the victims are
social media activists, and it is not hard to see the pattern. In Pakistan where television faces censorship and the print media is
under pressure, social media platforms are a thriving space where people express views without fear. Whoever is behind the
disappearances is targeting such free debates. This should be a wake-up call to the Pakistani state. Some commentators have
already implicated the state, citing the pattern in the disappearances and the militarys track record in dealing with dissent. The
Interior Minister has said the government is not in the business of disappearing people, but he has the responsibility to find
out what happened to the activists. For decades Pakistan tolerated a culture of violence within its society for political and
strategic benefits, but this has backfired. Liberal space is shrinking in the wake of challenges from the extremists that benefited
from the states tolerance of violence. The government has to take bold measures to check these groups and promote free and
fearless thinking if it wants the already vulnerable democratic dynamics to survive.
o Outfit - an organization, company, team, military unit, etc
o Alarmed - worried or frightened by something
o Ransom - the amount of money that someone wants to be paid before
they will let a person who they are keeping prisoner go free
on how things seem
o Credence - the belief that something is true
o Militancy - using extreme and sometimes violent methods to achieve
political or social change
o Propagated - to spread opinions, lies, or beliefs among a lot of people
respect
o Apparatus - an organization or system, especially a political one
o Critics - someone who says that they do not approve of someone or
something
o Criticised - to express disapproval of someone or something
of a crime

o Implicate - to show that someone is involved in a crime or partly
responsible for something bad that has happened
o Dissent - strong disagreement, especially with what people in authority
think or with what the majority of people think
o The Interior - in some countries, the government department that deals
with subjects and events that are important in the country itself instead
of events in other countries
o Tolerate - to deal with something unpleasant or annoying, or to continue
existing despite bad or difficult conditions
o Backfired - to have the opposite result from the one you intended
JAN 16/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Drowned by state failure"

The boat disaster in the Ganga on Makar Sankranti day that killed at least 24 people is another reminder that safety in public
transport remains a low priority for governments. As with road accidents, mishaps in the inland waterways and lakes take a
terrible toll of lives regularly, with no effective administrative response. In the Ganga Diara tragedy near Patna, a large number
of people had apparently crammed themselves into a small vessel for a free ride after witnessing a kite festival. The relief offered
to the kin of the dead and injured both by the Centre and the Bihar government should not, however, obscure the fact that the
loss of life was entirely the result of official failures. This was obviously the result of serious neglect of safety norms for which
accountability must be fixed. It is essential that a judicial commission be constituted to inquire into the incident, to determine
whether the laws on transport using inland waterways are being implemented and to issue directions for the future. The country
boat involved appears not to have used its engine at the time of the accident, but the absence of safety training for operators is
painfully evident. The Centre, which talks of a paradigm shift in freight and passenger transport using inland waterways, should
respond to the shameful national record on boat safety by firmly implementing existing laws and introducing new measures
along with the States. Just last year it expanded the National Waterways programme and notified several stretches of rivers and
canals for a new deal for inland water transport. Under the amendments to the colonial-era Inland Vessels Act made in 2007
which is to be further modernised it is incumbent on the States to apply some provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to
accidents, compensation and insurance against third-party risks for powered boats. Just as in the case of motor vehicles,
registration of inland vessels other than small personal non-powered craft must be made mandatory. This will help enforce
construction standards, subsidy for transport boats, passenger insurance and accident compensation. In the latest tragedy, the
problem also appears to have been inadequate supply, which forced people to pack themselves into the available boats. If this
is true, the Bihar government must own full responsibility and prevent a recurrence. The heart-rending spectacle of children and
their kin perishing on what should have been a day of celebration must stir the conscience of governments whose duty it is to
provide safe and adequate public transport, and one at which they fail badly.
o Drowned - to sink under water and die

o Reminder - something that reminds you of something that happened in
the past
o Mishap - an unlucky event or accident
o Inland - in the middle of a country, away from the sea
o Toll - suffering, deaths, or damage
or suffering
o Apparently - used to say you have read or been told something although
you are not certain it is true
o Crammed - completely filled with people or things
o Vessel - a large boat or ship
o Witnessing - to see something happen

o Kin - all the people in your family
o Obscure - not known to many people
o Constituted - to be or be considered as something
o Determine - to make a strong decision
o Paradigm - a model of something, or a very clear and typical example
of something
o Freight - the transport system that carries goods
o Incumbent - officially having the named position
o Provisions - supplies of food and other necessary things
o Recurrence - the fact of happening again
o Heart-rending - causing great sympathy or sadness
o Spectacle - an unusual or unexpected event or situation that attracts
attention, interest, or disapproval
o Conscience - the ideas and feelings you have that tell you whether
something you are doing is right or wrong
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The Gujarat cricket model"

Few would have picked Gujarat to win the Ranji Trophy when the domestic season began. It is not one of Indian crickets
traditional powerhouses, and underdog stories seldom sustain themselves over the course of a long, sapping tournament. When
Parthiv Patels side made the final, the popular perception was that it had gone as far as it could go. For, the title round, on
paper, appeared the most unequal of contests: in one corner, Mumbai, a 41-time champion, and in the other, Gujarat, here for
the first time since 1951. But Gujarat has paid history little heed over the last few seasons; indeed, there has been a concerted
effort since Parthiv took over, to break from the past. The results have followed. Gujarat won its maiden national title, the Syed
Mushtaq Ali Trophy (Twenty20), in 2012-13 and regained it in 2014-15. It then claimed its first domestic 50-over title, the Vijay
Hazare Trophy, last season. These breakthroughs helped fill the side with the belief that the Ranji Trophy, although significantly
more difficult to win, was not an unrealistic ambition. It is this conviction that proved the difference on a tense final day as Gujarat
pulled off the highest chase (313 for five) in a Ranji final, consigning Mumbai to only its fifth runner-up finish. Parthiv led by
example right through, saving his finest for the tournaments most important moment. His 143 in the fourth innings against
Mumbai was a remarkable exhibition of grace under fire. He has also played a significant role behind the scenes in Gujarats
revolution, establishing an honest, transparent culture within the team. The responsibility for the final decision still rests with the
management, but everyone is encouraged to speak up. Several domestic sides across India are plagued by cricketers looking
after their interests first and therefore pulling in different directions. Gujarat, by all accounts, has been successful in addressing
this problem. The team has also ensured that a talented generation which played junior cricket together was offered all the
support and patience it needed to make the transition to the next level. Opener Priyank Panchal provided the batting spine,
topping the Ranji table with 1310 runs, while fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm spinner Axar Patel changed the dynamic
of the side, adding a cutting edge to the bowling. Gujarat was also not wary of looking outside the State for solutions.
Experienced Uttar Pradesh left-armer R.P. Singh was signed to both fill in when Bumrah was away on national duty and mentor
the seam-attack. As Parthiv said after the final, Gujarat had a long-term plan and the structure to implement it. This was a
triumph born from a big dream, and kept alive by a painstaking attention to detail.
o Powerhouse - a person or thing of great energy, strength, or power

o Underdog - a person, team, or group that seems least likely to win a
game, competition, election etc
o Sustain - to provide the conditions in which something can happen or
exist


o Sap - to make someone feel weak
something
o Unequal - not giving the same treatment or opportunities to everyone,
and therefore unfair
o Concerted - involving a lot of people or organizations working together
in a determined way
o Unrealistic - having a wrong idea of what is likely to happen or of what
you can really do
o Pulled off - to succeed in doing something that is difficult
o Consigning - to put someone in an unpleasant situation that usually
lasts a long time
o Runner-up - a person who comes second in a race or competition
o Grace - a smooth and beautiful way of moving
o Under fire - to be criticized
o Plagued - to cause a lot of problems for someone or something for a
long period of time
o Ensured - to make certain that something happens or is done
to another
o Cutting edge - the most modern and advanced point in the development
of something
experience, especially in their job
o Painstaking - done or doing something very carefully and slowly
JAN 17/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Coming home for the first time"

Navjot Singh Sidhu might now describe himself as a born Congressman and his joining the Congress as homecoming, but
he is without doubt driven more by personal ambition than by ideological fervour. After quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party, a
constituent of the ruling combine in Punjab led by the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr. Sidhu explored virtually every political option
floating a new outfit and joining the Aam Aadmi Party before finally teaming up with the Congress, which was until recently
his main rival. He left the BJP and resigned as a Member of Parliament saying he was being asked to stay away from his home
State of Punjab by the party leadership. But it was not as if he has been spending a lot of his time since then in Punjab. The
cricketer-turned-politician is a television personality as well, and his professional commitments have taken him elsewhere for
much of the last few months. No matter how he tries to present his switch of political loyalties, Mr. Sidhu will have a credibility
issue tagging him right through his campaign in Punjab. He has been less than entirely honest about his reasons for leaving the
BJP, his brief interlude with the AAP, and his new-found love for the Congress. So, instead of harping on peeves such as the
treatment he received in the BJP, when he was asked to vacate his Amritsar Lok Sabha seat for Arun Jaitley, Mr. Sidhu may
opt to play to his strengths as a star campaigner than portray himself as an administrator-in-waiting. Mr. Sidhu has his uses as
a public speaker to the Congress, but he will be unwilling to limit his role to punchlines and throwaway insults. The AAP did not
want to promise to make him its chief ministerial candidate, and similarly the Congress seems reluctant to publicly commit on
giving him the post of deputy chief minister (the chief ministers post is non-negotiable given Captain Amarinder Singhs status
within the party). For a man of his ambitions, Mr. Sidhu could well find himself running too often into conflicts within the Congress,
which is never short of regional satraps and middle-rung leaders aspiring to climb to the top. What he brings to the table as a
campaigner will be a huge plus for the Congress, but it remains to be seen how big a bite he will want of the post-election pie.
But for Mr. Sidhu, as for the Congress, the first task is to get the better of the SAD-BJP combine by capitalising on the anti-


incumbency sentiment, and highlighting the agrarian crisis and the drug menace enveloping the State. The post-election fight
can wait.
o Homecoming - an occasion when someone returns to a place where

they used to live, work, or study
o Ideological - based on or relating to a particular set of ideas or beliefs
o Fervour - strong and sincere beliefs
o Constituent - a voter (= person who can vote) in a particular area of
the country
o Explored - to search and discover (about something)
o Virtually - used for emphasizing that a statement is almost completely
true
o Outfit - a set of clothes worn for a particular occasion or activity
or in the same area
o Loyalties - your feelings of support or duty towards someone or
something
trust them
o Interlude - a short period when a situation or activity is different from
what comes before and after it
o Harping on - to talk or complain about something many times
o Peeves - to annoy someone
o Vacate - to leave a job or position so that it is available for someone else
to do
o Opt - to make a choice, especially of one thing or possibility instead of
others
o Punchlines - the last few words of a joke, including the part that makes
the joke funny
o Throwaway - something that someone says without thinking carefully
and is not intended to be serious
o Negotiable - able to be discussed or changed in order to reach an
agreement
o Satrap - a governor of a province
o Bring something to the table - to provide something that will be a
benefit
o Capitalise - to supply money to a business so that it can develop or
operate as it should
o Incumbency - the period during which someone has a particular official
position


o Menace - someone or something that is dangerous and likely to cause
harm
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Vagaries of the job market"

The mismatch between the number of people who annually reach working age and the availability of jobs has been a matter of
constant concern globally during the better part of the period since the global financial crisis of the last decade. The International
Labour Organisations latest forecast that a few more millions are set to join the pool of the jobless during this year and the next,
is in line with its own previous estimates. In any case, with the growth in global gross domestic product registering a six-year
low in 2016, expectations of generation of new jobs were always going to be low. But a no-less-serious concern in the World
Employment and Social Outlook 2017 pertains to the stubborn challenge of reducing the extent of vulnerability that currently
affects about 42 per cent of the total working population. This concern refers to lack of access to contributory social protection
schemes among the self-employed and allied categories, unlike their counterparts in the wage-earning and salaried classes.
The former segment accounts for nearly 50 per cent of workers in the emerging economies and 80 per cent in developing
countries. The hardships faced by these 1.4 billion working people will become more apparent when seen in the backdrop of
either the absence of strong welfare legislation or its effective enforcement in a majority of these countries. It is no surprise that
besides Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia has been the most affected by such volatile conditions. To be sure, the overall share
of these vulnerable workers dropped from 46 per cent of total employment in 2015 to 42 per cent in 2016. But the latest report
projects only a mere 0.2 percentage point rate of reduction through 2017-18. In comparison, it says the proportion of the
population in jobs characterised by vulnerability declined by an average annual rate of 0.5 percentage points in the previous
decade. As a result of the relatively slow reversal rates in more recent years, these numbers are projected to increase globally
by 11 million a year. The other implication of an increase in the number of people facing vulnerable working conditions is the
real danger this poses of a slowdown in reducing the incidence of working poverty. It is this celebrated rise in income levels in
the lowest rungs of the population that lent the current phase of globalisation the social and political legitimacy, a phase that
has otherwise posed the risks of economic dislocation and unprecedented mass migration. The challenge for policymakers
worldwide is to ensure that incomes do not fall below the levels of basic subsistence as the world marches towards the poverty
reduction targets under the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
o Vagaries - unexpected events or changes that cannot be controlled and

can influence a situation
o Mismatch - to put together people or things that are unsuitable for each
other
o Annually - once every year
the economy
o Pool - a number of people or a quantity of a particular thing
o In line with - similar to someone or something
o No-less - used to show the importance of someone or something
something
o Stubborn - difficult to move, change, or deal with
o Vulnerability - able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally
hurt, influenced, or attacked
o Contributory - helping to cause something
o Allied - connected by a political or military agreement (combined)
o Hardship - (something that causes) difficult or unpleasant conditions of
life


o Apparent - able to be seen or understood
dangerous
o Declined - to gradually become less, worse, or lower
saying it directly
o Incidence - the number of cases of an illness or a medical condition in
a particular place, group, or situation
o Rungs - levels
o Dislocation - a negative effect on how something works
o Migration - movement from one region to another
o Subsistence - the state of having what you need in order to stay alive,
but no more
o Sustainable Development - economic development that is conducted
without depletion of natural resources
JAN 18/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "In the nick of time"
The Goods and Services Tax Council has made some breakthroughs on outstanding negotiables that were holding up the
introduction of the indirect tax regime. A compromise has been reached between the Centre and the States on the formula for
administrative control over taxpayers under the GST, which will subsume myriad existing State and Central levies on commercial
activity. By giving up on its formula to split such control by assuming the authority to levy GST on all services entities and
manufacturing firms with 1.5 crore or more annual turnover, the Centre has shown a willingness to meet the States more than
halfway. The new control-sharing system appears simpler to administer. Now, 90 per cent of all GST assessees with a turnover
of up to 1.5 crore will come under the watch of the States and 10 per cent under that of the Centre, with both getting to assess
half of the firms with a turnover over 1.5 crore. More important, it gives States, many of which had claimed at recent GST
Council meetings revenue losses following the demonetisation of currency notes, the leeway to claim that they have struck a
better deal with the Centre on a reform that is now inevitable. With the Centre finally laying to rest its hopes of an April 1, 2017
rollout and eyeing a more realistic July 1 date, it has some room to tinker with a few indirect taxes in the Budget to provide a
short-term pre-GST stimulus to the economy that is facing a flurry of growth downgrade projections. Since the trickiest issues
between the Centre and the States are now resolved and only legislative drafts remain to be approved when the Council meets
next on February 18, it is an opportune time to address some of the concerns raised by another key stakeholder industry.
Firms have indicated they would need about six months to gear up for the new tax regime once the laws, rules and all the
minutiae of implementation, including the rates for different products and services, are known. More clarity and finesse are also
needed on the harsh penal provisions, including the power to arrest, proposed in the draft GST law (that lists out 21 offences)
and the creation of an anti-profiteering authority that can act against firms that fail to pass on benefits of tax rate cuts to
consumers. While it is important to protect the consumer, a clear rule-based framework is necessary to ensure that one of the
biggest gains envisaged from GST an exponential change in ease of doing business isnt scuttled by fears of a return to
inspector raj. For a government committed to ending tax terrorism, taking a step back to meticulously review the possible gaps
between intent and implementation may be worthwhile even if it means delaying the launch by a few fortnights.
o In the nick of time - only just in time

advice on a particular subject
o Outstanding - clearly very much better than what is usual

o Negotiables - a proposal, agreement, or amount of money that is
negotiable can be changed through discussion by the people involved
before a final agreement is reached
o Regime - a particular way of operating or organizing a business, etc
o Turnover - the amount of business that a company does in a period of
time
o Rreform - to make an improvement, especially by changing a person's
o Laying to rest - to end something
o Eyeing - look at closely or with interest
o Flurry - a sudden, short period of activity, excitement, or interest
o Downgrade - to reduce something to a lower rank or position
o Tricky - difficult to do
o Concerns - a feeling of worry about something
owns part of it
o The minutiae - small and often not important details
o Finesse - great skill or style
o Penal - of or relating to punishment given by law
thing must happen or be done, especially before another can happen or
be done
o Profiteer - to make large profits by charging high prices for things that
people need and cannot get anywhere else
decide something
o Envisage - to imagine or expect that something is a likely or desirable
possibility in the future
o Exponential - increasing or growing very fast
o Scuttled - to make a plan, agreement, attempt etc fail or stop
o Raj - the period when Britain ruled India. It ended in 1947.
o Meticulously - very carefully and with great attention to every detail
o Worthwhile - useful, important, or good enough to be a suitable reward
for the money or time spent or the effort made
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A wake-up call"

flurry of videos has emerged in the social media in recent days showing jawans of both the paramilitary forces and the Army
complaining against a host of issues from diet to colonial-era practices. While these are disciplinary breaches, they are a good
reason to initiate a detailed study into the internal health of our security establishment. The present lot of videos began early


last week when BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav posted a series of them complaining about burnt parathas and watery lentil
curry served along the Line of Control. It was almost as if he was opening the floodgates. From the Army, Lance Naik Yagya
Pratap Singh of 42 Infantry Brigade expressed his grievances against the sahayak system. He alleged that professional soldiers
were being forced to wash clothes, polish boots and walk dogs for senior officers, and that he was being victimised with court
martial proceedings for complaining against the practice. Nursing Assistant Naik Ram Bhagat of the Army complained in another
video about their rations, that they were only getting about 40 per cent of the menu items allotted. He also complained about
the buddy system in the Army, in which soldiers are deputed to be with officers and end up doing their personal chores. Yet
another video of an Army jawan showed him singing about the difficulties they face and discrimination by officers. He spoke
about leave being denied for 10 months, poor food and other issues. The videos quickly grabbed national attention. From the
Prime Ministers Office to the Army chief, the senior leadership has been quick to respond. Both the PMO and Home Minister
Rajnath Singh sought an immediate report from the paramilitary forces, while Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat
ordered the provision of grievance and redress boxes. However, many of the responses, especially from the middle- and senior-
rung leadership of the Army and the paramilitary forces, spelt almost outright denial. Without doubt the videos are serious
disciplinary breaches, and they must be viewed keeping in mind the possibilities of such rampant access and use of social
media ending up assisting the enemy. The resort to social media to air grievances could compromise national security, especially
when the forces are in sensitive locations. But that should not take the attention away from the larger malaise reflected in them,
and it is in tackling them that the senior leadership, both in the executive and the security establishment, must spend time now.
The videos are a wake-up call.

o Flurry - a short period of activity or emotion
o A host of - a large number of something
o Diet - the food that a person or animal usually eats
o Colonial-era - relating to a system or period in which one country rules
another
o Disciplinary - connected with the punishment of people who do not obey
rules
o Breach - a failure to follow a law or rule
o Lentil - a round flat seed that you boil before you eat it. You normally
buy lentils in dried form
o Line of Control (LOC) - the military control line between the Indian and
Pakistani controlled parts of the former princely state of Jammu and
Kashmir
o Open the floodgates - to suddenly make it possible or easier for a lot
of things to happen
o Infantry - soldiers who fight on foot, not on horses or in tanks or other
vehicles
o Brigade - a large group of soldiers in an army
o Grievances - a complaint or a strong feeling that you have been treated
unfairly
o Victimised - to treat someone in a deliberately unfair way
o Court martial - a military court for trials of members of the armed forces
who have broken military laws
o Proceedings - the actions taken, usually in court, to settle a legal matter
o Buddy system - an arrangement in which two people look after each
other or help each other to do something
o Deputed - to give someone official authority to do something that you
are responsible for doing
o Chore - an ordinary job that must be done regularly

o Paramilitary - organized and operating like an army
o Breach - an act of breaking a law
o Rampant - (of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an
uncontrolled way
o Malaise - a general feeling of being worried, unhappy, or not satisfied
JAN 19/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "More than symbolic"

Mulayam Singh Yadav can certainly tell friends from foes. In the Samajwadi Party dispute that was before the Election
Commission of India, the important thing for him was to ensure that the party symbol, the bicycle, did not get frozen. That would
have helped neither him nor his son, Akhilesh Yadav, who is leading the split in the SP; worse, it would have paved the way for
his principal rival, the BJP, to return to power given the serious disadvantages of fighting an election with a symbol that is
unfamiliar to the electorate. By not battling hard for the bicycle symbol, and not submitting before the ECI any affidavit to show
his support among elected representatives and party office-bearers, he may be perceived as letting down his own faction in the
party. But his first priority was not winning the battle inside his extended family, but beating his political opponents in the larger
war. The surrender of the symbol would have effectively ended the SPs fight in the election. Both father and son knew this, and
carefully averted such an eventuality. Mr. Akhilesh Yadav responded to his fathers gesture by seeking his blessings, and Mr.
Mulayam Singh sent his son a list of his factions candidates who needed to be accommodated. The SP is not in self-destruct
mode. Both factions are playing their cards on the basis of cold calculations, not hot-headed impulse. The split, and the retention
of the election symbol, appear to have compensated in some measure for the partys failings on the governance front over the
last five years. Mr. Akhilesh Yadav is now able to seek a fresh mandate on his own terms; moreover, he can, with some degree
of credibility, blame the shortcomings on the partys old guard. Also, an alliance with the Congress is now very much within the
realm of possibility. Mr. Mulayam Singh was averse to a tie-up, but Mr. Akhilesh Yadav seems to enjoy a better rapport with the
Congress leadership. The SP only gained from the split, and it might have lost nothing at all in terms of organisational muscle.
After giving up the fight for the symbol, Mr. Mulayam Singh does not seem too eager to take the fight with his son to the polling
booths, so long as his loyalists got their share of seats. In a State known for strategic voting, where voter polarisation with the
BJP at one extreme is now a reality, the SP might have benefited by merely pushing itself ahead of the BSP as a principal
contender. That much Mr. Akhilesh Yadav appears to have done for himself and the party. But the question is whether he can
bank entirely on his promise for the future, and erase public memory of his past performance.
o Symbolic - representing something else

o Foes - enemies
o Principal - first in order of preference (main)
or in the same area
o Unfamiliar - not known to you
is true
o Perceive - to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about
something
o Letting somebody down - to disappoint someone by failing to do what
you agreed to do or were expected to do
o Eventuality - something unpleasant or unexpected that might happen
or exist in the future


o Gesture - an action that expresses your feelings or intentions, although
it might have little practical effect
o Accommodate - to give what is needed to someone
o Self-destruct - to do something to harm yourself or to make yourself
fail
o Playing their cards - to behave in a way that gives them an advantage
or allows them to succeed at something
o Hot-head - someone who does things or reacts to things quickly and
without thinking carefully first
o Impulse - a sudden strong wish to do something
o Retention - the continued use, existence, or possession of something or
someone
o Tie-up - a connection or agreement that joins two things or
organizations
o Rapport - a good understanding of someone and an ability to
communicate well with them
ruler in power
o Merely - used for emphasizing that something is small or unimportant
o Bank on somebody / something - to expect something or depend on
something happening
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The hard road to Brexit"
Prime Minister Theresa Mays speech on her governments plans for Britains exit from the EU was many things at once a
declaration of intent, a warning, a motivational talk and a balancing act with several contradictions. She painted the first stroke
on the negotiation canvas: Britain had chosen a hard Brexit. It would leave the single market and with it gain more control over
its borders and its laws, some of which are currently under the oversight of the European Courts of Justice. This, Ms. May said,
is what the people had chosen. At the same time, the U.K. would seek to negotiate a deal that would give it as much access to
the single market without being a part of it. It would seek a modified customs union membership to be able to negotiate its own
trade treaties with non-EU countries, and build what the Prime Minister called a truly global Britain. This vision had been built
up by Ms. May since the June 2016 referendum, and her speech reiterated it was the alternative, and better, future that awaited
Britain. The Prime Minister pushed and pulled at the EU, with praise and warning. Ms. May spoke of her countrys good intentions
for the continent and her optimism for a good deal with Europe, but said she would accept a no-deal over a bad one. She warned
that it would be calamitously harmful to Europe if it penalised the U.K. for leaving. She spoke of wanting to strike a trade deal
with the EU but hinted that if it did not get a good deal the U.K. had the rest of the world to trade with, and the option to offer tax
incentives to attract the best companies and the biggest investors. Ms. May, who was herself a Remainer, is trying to make
the most of the referendum results for the U.K., and this is her job. It is in this context that her speech must be seen. Neither the
British government nor those who supported the move to leave the EU should harbour any illusions that some of the goals
outlined in the speech will be difficult to achieve. The EU, which according to recent data accounts for approximately half the
U.K.s imports and exports, is likely to be overwhelmingly important to it after the exit. It is not just the EU that will experience
great harm from a bad deal. Trade deals with non-EU countries such as India are likely to involve greater movement of people
across borders and this is bound to raise difficult immigration issues again. The Scottish Parliament has now reiterated its
resolve to discuss with Downing Street Scotlands continuation in the single market, and a second referendum for Scottish
independence is now more likely. Nobody said it would be easy.


o Oversight - something that you do not notice or think of that causes
problems later
clear to people
o Optimism - a tendency to be hopeful and to expect that good things will
probably happen
o Calamitously - causing serious damage, or causing a lot of people to
suffer
o Incentives - something that makes you want to do something or to work
o Investor - a person / organization who puts money into something in
order to make a profit or get an advantage
o Make the most of something - to use or enjoy something as much as
possible
o Harbour - to think about or feel something, usually over a long period
o Illusion - an idea or belief that is not true
o Imports - goods bought by one country from another
o Exports - to send goods to another country for sale
o Overwhelmingly - very great or very large
JAN 20/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The limits to popular sentiment"

Tamil Nadu is caught in a near-spontaneous mass upsurge in support of jallikattu, the bull-taming spectacle held during the
time of the harvest festival of Pongal. Tens of thousands have gathered in public places, most notably on Chennais Marina
beach, on a day-and-night vigil, seeking the reversal of the Supreme Court-ordered ban on the conduct of the annual ritual. In
the name of cultural pride and custom and tradition, students and youth have risen up. The show of solidarity has been peaceful,
in sharp contrast to the aggression shown by some enthusiasts on social media in targeting certain celebrities for their earlier
support to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam felt compelled to respond to
this movement, and rushed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wrest an assurance on an ordinance to nullify the
Supreme Court ban. But whatever the views of the youth taking part in the demonstration, jallikattu in its present form is of
relatively recent origin, intended to make bulls run amok for the sake of spectacle. Instead of the traditional form of one man
against one animal, latter-day jallikattu is a mass-participant ritual of hundreds of men chasing a bull and trying to hold on to its
hump or stop it by pulling at or twisting its tail. Few other feudal traditions have survived in modern, progressive India in the
name of masculine valour and cultural pride. When the Supreme Court banned this spectacle that took a heavy toll on both the
animals and the human participants, it did so after attempts at its regulation and the orderly conduct of this sport were deemed
a failure. In 2013, under the watch of the Animal Welfare Board of India, the onus was on the State of Tamil Nadu to ensure that
jallikattu did not violate the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. But, the opportunity to ensure a jallikattu that
was free of cruelty to the animals and injuries to the participating youth was frittered away. Efforts that are now on to nullify the
effect of the Supreme Court judgment through the ordinance route thus carry a serious risk of judicial reproach. Last year, the
Centre did try to get around the court order by issuing an executive notification that granted exemption from restrictions on the
use of bulls as performing animals in traditional sports. The proper course for the Centre and the State government is to
persuade the Supreme Court that a jallikattu that does not involve, or at least almost eliminates, cruelty to animals and that
guarantees the safety of spectators and participants alike is indeed possible. It is all right if popular sentiment can influence
legislation, but it cannot undermine the rule of law.
o Popular sentiment - public acceptance of a course of action


o Spontaneous - happening in a natural way without being planned or
thought about
o Upsurge - a sudden and usually large increase in something
o Taming - to control a dangerous or powerful animal

fields
o Vigil - a period of time, especially at night, when you stay in a place to
wait for something or to give your support to someone
o Ritual - a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly,
especially as part of a ceremony
o Aggression - an angry feeling that makes you want to attack or defeat
someone else
o Enthusiast - a person who is very interested in and involved with a
particular subject or activity
o Compelled - having to do something, because you are forced to or feel
it is necessary
o Wrest - to get something with effort or difficulty
o Nullify - to make something lose its legal effect
o Amok - to be out of control and act in a wild or dangerous manner
o Hump - a round raised part on a person's or animal's back
o Pulling at something - to pull something quickly and usually repeatedly
o Feudal - the social system in which land belonged to powerful lords and
the people they allowed to live on the land had to work and fight for them
o Progressive - developing or happening gradually
o Masculine - having characteristics that are traditionally thought to be
typical of or suitable for men
o Valour - great courage
o Violate - to do something that is in opposition to a law, agreement,
principle etc
o Frittered away - to waste money, time, or an opportunity
o Reproach - to criticize someone, especially for not being successful or
not doing what is expected
o Exemption - the fact of not having to obey a rule or do something that
other people have to do
o Persuade - to make someone do or believe something by giving them a
good reason to do it or by talking to that person and making them believe
it
o Spectator - a person who watches an activity, especially a sports event,
without taking part


o Undermine - 1 to make something or someone become gradually less
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Rebooting disinvestment"

To gain some perspective on the Centres decision to divest 25% of its stake in five public sector general insurers, consider
these numbers. Last year, the gross premium income of four of these companies New India Assurance, United India
Insurance, Oriental Insurance and National Insurance increased by over 12%. But their profits after tax fell by more than half
from a year earlier, from 3,094 crore in 2014-15 to just 1,499 crore in 2015-16. A closer scrutiny reveals that high underwriting
losses, which increased 55% in the year, were largely responsible for profits falling at these firms even as revenues rose.
National Insurance took the sharpest hit, with a 148% rise in underwriting losses. Public shareholding in these firms will lead to
questions about such outliers in performance that havent been heard under the Centres present 100% ownership structure, at
least in the public domain. This, as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his Budget speech last year, would lead to greater
transparency and accountability. It will also allow the firms, including General Insurance Corporation of India, to raise more
capital from the markets instead of relying on taxpayer money alone. For instance, Indias 1,500-crore nuclear liability insurance
pool created by GIC with other insurers perhaps needs more muscle to create confidence among wary nuclear suppliers. That
it took 11 months for a Budget announcement to secure in-principle Cabinet approval is symptomatic of the lethargy in the
disinvestment programme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asserted early in his term during his maiden official visit to the
U.S. in 2014 that government had no business being in business. Yet, it took two more years for the Cabinet to sign off on
the first strategic sale (with transfer of ownership and control) under its watch, in the loss-making Bharat Pumps and
Compressors. In December, it approved the sale of land with four sick public sector pharma firms with a plan to close two, and
explore the option of strategic sale for Hindustan Antibiotics and Bengal Chemicals. This month, stock exchanges were
informed about a proposal to sell a 26% stake in heavy equipment-maker BEML to a strategic investor. The political economy
window for such divestment is not unlimited. Even the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime, which spearheaded the strategic sale of
public sector firms engaged in businesses ranging from bread to phosphates, raised 84% of such revenue during its third and
fourth years in office. Halfway through its term, it is time this governments disinvestment plans gather steam.
o Rebooting - to start something again or do something again, in a way

that is new and interesting
o Disinvestment - to sell your shares in a company or to stop taking part
in a business activity
o Divest - to sell something, especially a business or a part of a business
o Stake - a share or a financial involvement in something such as a
business
o Scrutiny - the careful and detailed examination of something in order
to get information about it
o Underwriting - the act of giving financial support for an activity, and for
paying any costs if it fails
o Outliers - a result that is very different from the other results in a set
o Liability - the fact that someone is legally responsible for something
o Perhaps - used to show that something is possible or that you are not
certain about something
o In-principle - used for saying that something is possible in theory,
although it has not yet been tried
o Symptomatic - if something bad is symptomatic of something else, it is
caused by the other thing and is proof that it exists
o Lethargy - having little energy; feeling unwilling and unable to do
anything
o Disinvestment - to sell your shares in a company or to stop taking part
in a business activity
o Maiden - being the first of its type


o Compressor - a (part of a) machine that presses gas or air into less
space
o Antibiotic - a medicine or chemical that can destroy harmful bacteria in
the body or limit their growth
o Regime - a particular government or a system or method of
government
o Spearheaded - to lead something such as an attack or a course of action
o Gather steam - to become more active, important, or full of energy
JAN 21/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Living in a hotter world"

The world has turned the page on 2016 with the worrying revelation that it was the warmest year on the instrumental record
since the late 19th century, and the hottest of three record-breaking years in a row. While the rise in global average surface
temperature by about 1.1 C last year over the pre-industrial era was aggravated by the El Nino phenomenon of 2015-16, the
trend is a warning to all countries that they cannot afford to rely on carbon-intensive growth any longer. Explaining the scientific
view, NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies points to the rise in temperature as being driven largely by increased carbon
dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere. The warming pattern must be seen in the context of declining
sea ice cover in the Arctic, compounding the loss of ice sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic. In the Arctic, which is witnessing
a decline in the extent of sea ice in the lowest month at the rate of about 13% every decade, melting creates a vicious circle of
more exposure of dark areas to sunlight, higher melting and more dark surface absorbing heat. Such phenomena accelerate
the rate of global warming, with consequences through climate change for coastal areas, access to water, farming and human
health. A warming globe with changes to the climate in the form of altered rainfall, drought, floods, lost biodiversity and reduced
crop yields would particularly affect millions in China and India. It is heartening that Chinese President Xi Jinping asserted the
importance of the Paris Agreement on climate change at the Davos meeting of the World Economic Forum, and virtually
cautioned incoming U.S. President Donald Trump against reneging on it. Indias own commitment to the climate accord must
be strengthened with clear and unambiguous actions. This should lead to a scaling up of renewable energy and measurable
decline in use of fossil fuels. Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has promised a steady increase in solar power capacity, going
beyond the target of 100 gigawatts by 2022, but such goals become more credible when there is action in individual States to
make the average citizen a partner in the effort. States should be ranked on their policies that help unlock investment in the
sector, including domestic rooftop installations, and the weak service infrastructure for solar should be upgraded without delay.
Indias water stress is heightened by extreme weather episodes, and this requires an enhanced policy response to protect
farmers, livestock and vulnerable communities.
oTurned the page - to leave an event or series of events behind and

continue (to make a fresh start)
o In a row - one after another, without anything different happening in
between
o Aggravate - to make a bad situation worse
o El Nino - a change in the currents of the Pacific Ocean off the South
American coast that can seriously affect the weather in the region, often
causing major problems such as floods
o Intensive - involving a lot of something
o Atmosphere - the mixture of gases around the earth
o Declining - becoming less or worse
o Compounding - to make a problem or difficult situation worse
o Accelerate - to happen or make something happen at a faster rate
o Coastal - on land beside a sea
o Altered - to become different

o Drought - a long period of time when there is little or no rain and crops
die
o Biodiversity - the variety of different types of plant and animal life in a
particular region
o Heartening - to make someone feel happier and more hopeful
o Virtually - used for emphasizing that a statement is almost completely
true
o Cautioned - to tell someone about a danger or problem that they need
to know about or avoid
o Reneging - to decide not to do something that you promised to do
o Unambiguous - clear and with only one possible meaning
to be
o Renewable energy - renewable energy and natural materials replace
themselves by natural processes, so that they are never completely used
up
o Measurable - large enough to be measured, noticed, or important
o Fossil - an animal or plant, or a part of one, that lived many thousands
of years ago and is preserved in rock or as a piece of rock
o Domestic - relating to peoples homes and family life
o Upgrade - to improve the quality of a service or product
o Enhanced - made better, especially by artificial methods
o Livestock - animals such as cows, sheep, and pigs that are kept on
farms
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "A deserved commutation"

Chelsea Manning, the American whistle-blower slapped with a 35-year sentence for leaking classified State Department
documents to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, has had her sentence commuted by the outgoing President, Barack Obama.
Earlier known as Bradley, she has gender dysphoria, is undergoing hormone therapy for gender reassignment, and has twice
attempted suicide while being held at a mens prison. She has served more than six years of her sentence and, assuming Mr.
Obamas commutation is implemented, could hope to be freed by May 2017. Even as White House officials underscored that
the 44th President had commuted the sentence, not pardoned her, and thus had not removed a federal crime from her record,
Mr. Obama insisted that justice has been served. Central to his argument was the fact that she had served time in jail after
pleading guilty to 10 of the 22 charges, relating to espionage, fraud and theft, for releasing 2,50,000 diplomatic cables, 5,00,000
military reports, military videos from Iraq and Afghanistan, and dossiers on prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay. When the cables
and reports were blasted across the Internet and select media outlets by WikiLeaks in 2010, Mr. Obama had to send the then
U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, to various world capitals and assuage Americas allies in the face of uncomplimentary
private comments by U.S. diplomats. Mr. Obamas decision to commute the sentence could not have come at a more fraught
juncture in U.S. politics. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, had promised to
allow himself to be extradited to the U.S. if Mr. Obama freed Ms. Manning. Now he says he will abide by that promise. However,
WikiLeaks also put itself at the centre of what has been a difficult American election resulting in the victory of Donald Trump,
when it published emails of the Democratic National Committee allegedly stolen by hackers with links to Russia. Those leaks,
along with other cyber-malfeasance associated with the highest levels of government in Moscow, are considered by many angry
Democrats to have derailed Ms. Clintons run at the White House. Has Mr. Obama done a good turn to a group that played a
role in the Democratic Partys debacle in November last year? Has he opened up his party to attacks by Republicans for sending
a troubling message to future leakers with information that could play into the hands of Americas enemies? Maybe. Yet what
he has done for sure is to mitigate, in small measure, the U.S.s reputation as a superpower that preaches about democratic
values such as the right to dissent and freedom of speech, yet at home has come down with an iron fist on whistle-blowers.
o Commutation - the action of changing a punishment to one that is less

severe


o Whistle-blower - a person who tells someone in authority about
something illegal that is happening, especially in a government
department or a company
o Classified - classified information is officially secret and allowed to be
known by only a few people connected with the government or armed
forces
o Gender dysphoria - a condition in which someone believes that he or
she was born with the wrong gender and would prefer to be the other
gender
o Undergoing - to experience something, especially something that is
unpleasant but necessary
o Gender reassignment - a medical operation or series of operations that
change a man into a woman or a woman into a man
o Sentence - a punishment given by a judge, usually involving a period of
time that a person must spend in prison
o Pardon - to officially forgive someone for committing a crime and free
them from prison
o Federal - relating to the central government
o Insist - to say very strongly that something must happen or must be
done
o Pleading guilty - if you plead guilty to a criminal offence (charge) it
means you accept that you committed the offence
o Espionage - attempts to discover your enemys political, military, or
industrial secrets using secret methods
o Fraud - the crime of getting money by deceiving people
o Diplomatic cable - a confidential text message exchanged between
countries
o Dossiers - a set of documents about a person or situation
will work together to help each other
o In the face of something - despite having to deal with a difficult
situation or problem
o Uncomplimentary - rudely criticizing
o Diplomats - an official whose job is to represent one country in another
o Embassy - the building where diplomats work
o Extradite - to send someone accused of a crime back to the country
where the crime was committed for a trial
o Abide - to continue
o Malfeasance - illegal actions
planned
o Debacle - a complete failure
o Mitigate - to make something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad


o Superpower - a country that has great military, economic, and political
power
o Preaches - to give people advice, or to tell them how to behave, in a
way that annoys them
o Democratic - based on the principle that all people are equal and should
be able to share in making decisions
o Come down with an iron fist - to control a group of people very firmly,
having complete power over everything they do
JAN 23/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "In fruitless pursuit of permanence"
The Tamil Nadu government may have had few political options but to go in for an ordinance to facilitate the conduct of jallikattu
once the surge in popular sentiment in favour of the traditional bull-taming sport gathered an enormous, unstoppable momentum.
The State amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, seeks to exempt jallikattu from the purview of the law.
With the implacable mass movement demanding a legal solution to overcome the judicial ban on jallikattu on the one side, and
related litigation pending in the Supreme Court on the other, there was little that the Union government could have done on its
own. For the Centre to bring in an amendment would have incurred the wrath of the Supreme Court, which stayed a January
2016 notification and will rule on its validity soon. Instead, the Centre granted its consent to the State Governor promulgating
the ordinance. However, just when a legal solution has been found, there is another twist. The protests are continuing, as its
spearheads demand a permanent solution. Chief Minister O. Panneerselvams plan to inaugurate the jallikattu event in
Alanganallur did not fructify. The protesters are obviously under the mistaken impression that an ordinance is temporary. They
remain unmoved even after the State government clarified that it intends to replace it with a Bill when the Assembly convenes
on January 23. But even a parliamentary Act is subject to judicial scrutiny. The ordinance has pleased neither side in the jallikattu
vs. animal rights debate. The Centres nod may have ensured that the ordinance will not be opposed as being repugnant to a
Central law, but other legal hurdles remain. The Supreme Court has declared that jallikattu is inherently cruel and contrary to
the objectives of the PCA. Unless it recognises culture and tradition as valid grounds to permit events involving bulls, the
exemption given to jallikattu may be invalidated. Meanwhile, the public uprising has gone beyond jallikattu, attained a critical
mass as an assertion of Tamil identity and culture and metamorphosed into a protest against mainstream political parties. It is
time the protesters took a step back and let the legislative and judicial institutions determine the future of jallikattu. It is also time
for them to reassess the cruelty and the risks to life posed by the sport, and link any demand to its reintroduction with the strictest
of regulations. Two people were tragically killed and over 120 injured in the jallikattu at Pudukottai on Sunday. A culture that
legitimises such mindless and unnecessary death is not Tamil culture. In fact, it is no culture at all.
oFruitless - failing to achieve the desired results (useless)

oPursuit - the process of trying to achieve something
oOrdinance - a law or rule made by a government or authority
oSurge - a sudden increase of an emotion
oTaming - to control something dangerous or powerful
oEnormous - extremely large
oMomentum - the force that keeps an event developing after it has
started
o Exempt - allowed to ignore something such as a rule, obligation, or
payment
o Purview - the limit of someone's responsibility, interest, or activity
o Implacable - used to describe (someone who has) strong opinions or
feelings that are impossible to change
o Incur - to experience something, usually something unpleasant, as a
result of actions you have taken

o Promulgating - to announce something publicly, especially a new law
opposition
o Spearhead - to lead something such as an attack or a course of action
o Fructify - to produce a good or useful result
o Convene - to bring together a group of people for a meeting, or to meet
for a meeting
o Scrutiny - the careful and detailed examination of something in order
to get information about it
o Repugnant - if behaviour or beliefs, etc. are repugnant, they are very
unpleasant, causing a feeling of disgust
o Inherently - in a permanent way
o Contrary - the opposite
o Invalidate - to make something such as a document, contract, or
process no longer legally effective
is happening
o Uprising - an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, by many
people in one area of a country against those who are in power
o Gone beyond something - to be more than something
o Attained - succeed in achieved something, especially after a lot of effort
o Assertion - a definite statement or claim that something is true
o Metamorphosed - to change into something very different
o Mainstream - considered normal, and having or using ideas, beliefs, etc.
that are accepted by most people
o Tragically - very badly
o Legitimise - to make something legal or acceptable
o Mindless - stupid and meaning nothing
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Americas era of anger"

Despite the belligerence and rhetoric of his campaign, some had hoped that Donald Trump, in his inaugural address, would
seek to heal the wounds created by a divisive campaign. But the 45th President of the U.S. trumped those expectations with a
speech that was resonant of campaign rhetoric rather than one that should have been a vision statement for a united future
under his leadership. Certain omissions in the speech were stark. The humility that American Presidents usually embrace in
their first address was missing. So was the historical emphasis on American values. No word of thanks for the work of his
predecessor, Barack Obama. Instead, Mr. Trump continued his attacks on the Washington establishment, vowing to end the
American carnage, put America First in all policy decisions and eradicate radical Islamic terror from the face of the earth.
These remarks, along with his first set of decisions in the White House, offer an indication of the priorities. Mr. Trump has already
issued an executive order to roll back certain aspects of Obamacare, a health-care programme which the former President
fought long and hard to get passed in Congress. Pages on LGBT rights, climate change and Obamacare are already removed
from the White House website. The administration is also planning a missile defence system that could trigger a nuclear arms
race. Put together, the Trump team is likely to pursue a hardline social conservative agenda buttressed by economic
protectionism and passionate nationalism. This poses a new set of challenges, for the U.S. and the rest of the world. First,
American liberalism faces a major crisis. The hundreds of thousands of women who thronged several cities in the U.S. on
Saturday to protest against him show how divided the country is. Second, if the worlds largest economy, the main pillar of the
global economic order, turns protectionist, it would have far-reaching impact on other major economies. This means the current
crisis in globalisation, which in a way helped Mr. Trumps rise, is likely to deepen. Third, Mr. Trumps foreign policy direction,
especially his disdain towards multilateralism and unfriendly approach towards China, is confrontational. He has repeatedly said
he is a deal-maker and will get the best deals for the U.S. But in international diplomacy, his business logic may not work.
Finally, how Mr. Trump is going to meet the tall promises he has made to rally supporters, largely the anxious, angered, anti-
establishment white working class. He has unleashed forces of extreme nationalism which many hoped belonged to a bygone

THE HINDU VOCABULARY

era.
VBY_KANI
o Belligerence - anger (in very unfriendly way)
people
o Inaugural address - a speech made by someone to celebrate the start
of an important new job
o Divisive - likely to cause arguments between people
o Trumped - to win or to succeed
o Omission - someone or something that has not been included, either
deliberately or because someone forgot
o Stark - used for describing an unpleasant fact or situation that is very
obvious or impossible to avoid
o Humility - a way of behaving that shows that you do not think that you
are better or more important than other people
o Embrace - to accept something enthusiastically
something
o Predecessor - someone who had a job or a position before you
o Vowing - promising
o Carnage - the violent killing of large numbers of people, especially in
war
o Eradicate - to get rid of something completely or destroy something bad
o Roll back - to remove something, or to reduce the influence of
something
o LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
o Put something together - to put the parts of something in the correct
places and join them to each other
o Buttress - to make support for an idea or argument stronger by
providing a good reason for it
o Protectionism - the actions of a government to help its country's trade
or industry by taxing goods bought from other countries
o Liberalism - to make laws, systems, or opinions less severe
o Thronged - to be or go somewhere in very large numbers
o Disdain - the feeling of not liking someone or something and thinking
that they do not deserve your interest or respect
o Multilateralism - a situation in which several different countries or
organizations work together to achieve something or deal with a problem
o Confrontational - causing or involving angry disagreement

o Bygone era - belonging to or happening in a past time
JAN 24/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "An alliance of its time"

In the end, the Congress party got itself a better seat-sharing deal from the Samajwadi Party that it could have realistically
hoped for; never mind that its vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, had sounded a war cry with a Deoria-to-Delhi trek through Uttar
Pradesh on the claim of the party forming the government on its own. On Sunday, after some tense moments with each party
affecting that it was ready to walk away if it did not get its maximalist demands, an alliance for the February-March U.P. Assembly
elections was announced. The SP will fight 298 seats, the Congress 105. With this, both parties have created for themselves
an opportunity that may be more than the sum of their individual chances, and for both it is perfectly timed. The SP is battling
not just anti-incumbency but also the shock of the 2014 Lok Sabha verdict, when it won just five seats. It has gone through a
nerve-wracking rite of passage as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav took on his father Mulayam Singh Yadavs perceived coterie,
for control of the party organisation, and then, at the Election Commissions door, for the party symbol of the cycle. In fact, this
was a necessary transition in the SP for any tie-up with the Congress to strike true. The Congresss relations with Mr. Mulayam
Singh have always lacked good faith to encourage vote transfer, and the history of dashed expectations would have made the
alliance difficult to pull off on his watch. For Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, the alliance completes his effort to rebrand himself, from being
no longer the young Chief Minister of the past years who was mocked for being witless in allowing his uncles (family members
and party seniors) to run the administration. As the unity among the uncles cracked in the past few months, the Chief Minister
came into his own. It helped cast him in the public eye as a leader capable of standing on his own terms, and he strategically
showcased the fight as being less about spoils and more about ideals. Now, by turning the election into a three-cornered contest,
he can use the SP-Congress alliance to attract voters, especially the minorities, looking to cast their ballot tactically to defeat
the BJP candidate. For, even at its historic nadir in the State in 2014, the Congress got almost 8% of the vote. In turn, for the
grand old party, to be even seen to be on a winning ballot in U.P. would be a transformational leap. The two parties are not
operating in a vacuum, and both the BJP and the BSP will put up formidable campaigns. But together they have made the
contest more keen than their individual challenges could have done.

o War cry - a phrase or word shouted by people as they start to fight,
intended to give them the strength and wish to fight harder
o Trek - to walk a long distance
o Maximalist - a person who holds extreme views and is not prepared to
compromise (especially in politics)
o Verdict - an official judgment
o Nerve-wracking - something that is difficult to do and causes a lot of
worry for the person involved in it
o Perceive - to understand or think about something in a particular way
o Coterie - a small group of people with shared interests, often one that
does not want other people to join them
o Rebrand - to change the way that an organization, company, or product
is seen by the public
o Mock - to laugh at someone, often by copying them in a funny but unkind
way
o Witless - stupid or showing no intelligence
o Cracked - damaged
o Strategically - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such
as war, politics, business, industry, or sport
o Showcase - to show the best qualities or parts of something
o Spoils - the benefits that someone gets when they win something

o Ideal - a perfect thing or situation
o Minorities - any small group in society that is different from the rest
o Ballot - secret voting
o Tactically - in a way that relates to actions carefully planned to gain a
specific end
o Nadir - the worst moment, or the moment of least hope and least
achievement
o Transformational - able to produce a big change or improvement in a
situation
o Leap - to move somewhere suddenly and quickly
o In a vacuum - existing separately, or considered separately, from other
people, events, or ideas, and not influenced by them
change
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Globalisations new spokesman"

President Xi Jinpings message to the World Economic Forum in Davos was timely and perhaps visionary as well, in this time
of extraordinary global uncertainty. It is no surprise if, as in the case of German Chancellor Angela Merkels potential leadership
of the Western alliance, questions have arisen at this juncture about Mr. Xis willingness to take up cudgels on behalf of broader
internationalism and against the rising tide of inward-looking nationalism. His address at the opening plenary before captains of
business and industry could not have been a more robust and reassuring defence of the current world economic order, perceived
to be at its most fragile in the post-War era with the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President. Foremost is Mr. Xis caution
against attempts to prevent the free flow of goods, services, capital and people as running counter to the historical trend. It is
tempting to interpret this remark as a pointed rebuke to growing calls for economic protectionism at a time when a slump in
world trade underpins slow economic growth. Not to be missed also is the categorical support he expressed for the swift
enforcement of the Paris accord on climate change. Mr. Xi reiterated the call for a reform of global economic governance
structures, to reflect the contribution of the emerging and developing countries. His plea for more inclusive representation is in
contrast to the unprecedented attacks mounted against post-War institutions in the same countries that crafted their original
architecture. Mr. Xi fundamentally rejected the stance that seeks to lay the blame for the current challenges at the doorstep of
globalisation. The tragic effects of mass migration, he said, have their roots in the recent wars and regional conflicts, rather than
in economic globalisation. His diagnosis of Europes challenges on this front could not entirely be faulted, even if it is largely
true that the developing countries have reaped most of the benefits of economic mobility, rather than having to deal with the
difficulties of immigration. There may be arguments over the modes and methods of managing the political fallout from
globalisation. But there is no denying the mounting and demonstrable evidence that the post-Cold War era of open economies
has brought unprecedented prosperity and income redistribution around the world. Mr. Xis case for globalisation is the most
forceful such statement by a Chinese leader yet. For long Beijing has been accused of not taking on the burdens of a leadership
role commensurate with its economic and strategic power. The changing world order may have left it with no option but to step
up to the podium. It also turns the mirror on Beijing, demanding of it a lot more action to back its own words.
o Globalisation - the increase of trade around the world, especially by

large companies producing and trading goods in many different countries
o Spokesman - someone who is chosen by a group or organization to
speak officially to the public for them
o Forum - a situation or meeting in which people can talk about a problem
or matter especially of public interest
o Timely - happening at the best possible moment
o Visionary - with clear ideas or hopes of how something should be done
or how things will be in the future
o Uncertainty - a situation in which something is not known, or something
that is not known or certain


o Chancellor - a person in a position of the highest or high rank, especially
in a government or university
succeed
o Take up the cudgels on behalf of something - to argue strongly in
support of something
o Rising tide of something - an increase in the amount or strength of
something, especially something that you must oppose
o Plenary - a plenary meeting is one at which all the members of a group
or organization are present, especially at a conference
o Robust - strong
o Reassuring - making you feel less worried
something
o Running counter to something - to be in opposition to something
o Rebuke - to speak angrily to someone because you disapprove of what
they have said or done
o Protectionism - the actions of a government to help its country's trade
or industry by taxing goods bought from other countries
o Slump - to fall suddenly
o Underpin - to give support, strength, or a basic structure to something
o Craft - to make or produce something skilfully
o Fundamentally - in a very important or basic way
o Migration - movement from one region to another and often back again,
esp. according to the season of the year
o Diagnosis - a judgment about what a particular illness or problem is,
made after examining it
o Mobility - the ability to move freely
o Fallout -the unpleasant effects of something that has happened
o Demonstrable - able to be proved
o Redistribution - to change the way that something is shared between
people, especially land or money


illegal, or unkind
o Commensurate - in a correct and suitable amount compared to
something else
o Step up to the podium - to take action when something needs to be
done, even though this is difficult
JAN 25/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The end of a protest"
Everybody loves a good protest an orderly, self-limiting protest at iconic landmarks organised with state sanction and police
protection. But what began as a peoples protest on Chennais Marina beach against the ban on jallikattu quickly descended
into chaos and confusion when the protesters stood their ground even after the government came up with a practical, legislative
solution to the judiciary-imposed prohibition of the annual bull-taming ritual. As the police resorted to force, violence broke out
in several parts of Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately, some in the police not only used excessive force but also tried to match the rioters
in lawlessness by attacking two-wheelers and setting fire to autorickshaws. Only later in the day did the authorities try to use
rational arguments by taking the help of a retired judge and a group of lawyers to persuade the protesters to vacate the Marina
where the Republic Day parade is scheduled to be held. Clearly, the government was slow to react, relying more on hope and
good fortune than on facts and ground reports. And when it did, it acted as if the agitation was a case of breakdown of law and
order. Many among those who had taken the lead in the protests gave a call for withdrawal of the agitation, but by this time the
movement had acquired a life of its own. No one thing would have pleased what had become a large, amorphous crowd of
several groups of people with very different agenda items: jallikattu was by now no more than a loose binding thread. For days
the Marina had been the haunt of people of all hues. Those owing allegiance to Hindutva saw the ban as an attack on cultural
rituals and seemed to make common cause with those from minority communities who felt threatened by the BJP-led
government at the Centre. Conservatives sensed a judicial overreach on civil issues and shouted the same slogans as left-
wingers who imagined the upsurge to be a peoples uprising against authoritarianism. AIADMK members who tried to showcase
the protest as a rebuff to a domineering Centre stood not too far from DMK loyalists who wanted to use the opportunity to paint
the State government as inept. Not surprisingly, many of these people wanted the protest to go on, no matter what. The
legislation addressed only the symptoms of their anger, not its underlying cause. The government and its police force must take
the blame for misreading the mood and mishandling a volatile situation and putting a whole State through an entire day of anger
and anguish.

o Orderly - well arranged or organized
o Iconic - very famous or popular
o Landmark - a building or place that is easily recognized
o Sanction - approval or permission
o Taming - to train an animal to stay calm when people are near it and to
make it used to being with them
o Excessive - much more than is reasonable or necessary
o Rioters - people who take part in a violent disturbance
o Persuade - to make someone agree to do something by giving them
o Vacate - to leave a place
o Agitation - a feeling of being worried or upset
o Breakdown - a situation in which something has failed or is beginning
to fail
o Amorphous - with no clear shape, design, or structure
o Haunt - to cause repeated suffering or anxiety
o Of all hues - representing a wide range of attitudes or qualities
o Allegiance - strong loyalty to a person, group, idea, or country


o Ritual - a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly,
especially as part of a ceremony
o Minority - a part of a population that is different in race, religion, or
culture from most of the population
o Threatened - to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them or cause
change
manage
o Left-winger - someone who supports the beliefs of the socialists (for
example that property, money, and power should be shared more
equally)
o Upsurge - a sudden and usually large increase in something
o Uprising - a political situation in which a large group of people opposes
and tries to defeat the government or a ruler
o Authoritarianism - the belief that people with power should control
what other people can do, or a situation in which this happens
o Showcase - to show the best qualities or parts of something
o Rebuff - to refuse to accept a helpful suggestion or offer from someone
o Domineering - trying to control other people without thinking about
their feelings
o Loyalists - a person or group that strongly supports the government or
ruler in power
o Inept - not skilled or effective
o Symptom - an indication of the existence of something
o Underlying - used to describe something on which something else is
based
o Take the blame - to admit responsibility for some bad result or outcome
o Misread - to judge a situation wrongly
o Mishandling - to deal with something without the necessary care or skill
o Volatile - likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly or suddenly
become violent or angry
o Anguish - a feeling of great physical or emotional pain
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Budgeting for the elections"

The suspense over the timing of the Union Budget for 2017-18 finally ended on Monday with the Election Commission and the
Supreme Court scotching calls, in the light of upcoming elections for five State Assemblies, to defer the February 1 date
proposed by the Centre. The NDA government has been keen to abandon the tradition of presenting the next financial years
Budget on the last working day of February, citing the potential benefits for the economy from faster spending of the approved
public expenditure. With a February-end Budget, transmission of funds, and thereby meaningful implementation, seldom starts
before June, by which time the monsoon sets in. This leaves just about two quarters to spend a whole years funding for projects
involving physical infrastructure capacity-creation, for instance. This is the argument in favour of advancing the Budget date.
The Opposition, for its part, has voiced concern that a Budget presentation this year so close to Assembly polls could influence
voters. In 2012, the last time these five States were headed for polls, the UPA government had voluntarily opted to defer the
Budget presentation. But as the Supreme Court has pointed out, the Central Budget cannot shake the minds of voters in a State.
Interestingly, the Election Commissions nod for a February 1 Budget comes with the caveat that it must not announce schemes
aimed at poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab and Goa, or even expound on any achievements of
development programmes in these States. The caution to the government to not use the Budget as a campaign tool is
understandable, and the government will have to be more nuanced in addressing the concerns of the entire country in the
Budget without making a regional pitch. For long, governments have voiced discomfort with the model code of conduct in Indias
perpetually ticking election cycle, arguing that it inhibits decision-making. Indeed, this anxiety to reduce the paralysis imposed
by the model code has been one of the main reasons cited for a proposal for simultaneous elections to Parliament and State
Assemblies. But simultaneous elections could pose their own complications. The departure from practice effected now is an
opportunity for the Centre not just to get on with the business of government, but also to do so in a confidence-building manner

that would make a case for relaxing further, or reforming, the parameters of the model code. The government must act in good
faith, and table a statement on the improvements recorded in outcomes on account of advancing this annual ritual when the
Union Finance Minister rises to present the Budget next week. Too-clever-by-half messaging to use the speech as a campaign
tool would only imperil this reform.
o Suspense - the feeling of excitement or nervousness that you have when

you are waiting for something to happen and are uncertain about what it
is going to be
o Scotch - to prevent something from being believed or being done
o In the light of something - taking something into consideration
o Abandon - to leave something
o Voluntarily - done, made, or given willingly, without being forced or paid
to do it
o Nod - approval
o Expound - to give a detailed explanation of something
o Nuanced - a very slight difference in appearance, meaning, sound, etc
o Perpetually - continuing all the time in the same way
o Inhibit - to prevent someone from doing something by making them feel
o Simultaneous - happening or being done at exactly the same time
o Reforming - to make an improvement
o Ritual - something that you do regularly and always in the same way
o Imperil - to put something or someone at risk or in danger of being
harmed or destroyed
JAN 26/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Donations and disclosures"

If you want to know how political parties raise funds in the country, you will only get a part of the answer. The known donors
and sources of contributions to national and regional parties account for less than a third of their total income. An analysis by
the Association for Democratic Reforms shows that 69% of funds and contributions received by political parties from 2004-05
to 2014-15 came from unknown sources. There cannot be a better case than this statistic for demanding greater transparency
in political funding. Going by income tax returns and statements submitted to the Election Commission, six national and 51
recognised regional parties together had an income of 11,367.34 crore during this period, but only 1,835.63 crore came from
named donors, while other declared sources such as sale of assets, bank interest, membership fee and sale of publications
accounted for 1,698.73 crore. This means a total income of 7,832.98 crore came from unknown sources. Details submitted
by the Congress held that 83% of its income came from unknown sources and the BJP said it raised 65% of its funds as
anonymous contributions. The reason for these startling numbers is that under the present income tax law, parties need not
disclose the names of those donating up to 20,000. To enjoy income tax exemption, they need to maintain records only of
those who donate sums above this. This provision effectively gives parties the required cover to pass off sizeable donations as
small contributions from anonymous donors. Political parties in the legislature make far-reaching decisions, and their donors
could have a bearing on policy. In 2013, the Central Information Commission ruled that political parties were covered under the
Right to Information Act. It was pointed out that they got tax exemptions, land allotments and free airtime on state-owned media,
in effect benefiting significantly from the exchequer. The order, however, is yet to be accepted by parties. Bringing them under
the ambit of the RTI Act is definitely a step in the right direction. It would mean the list of donors, regardless of size of contribution,

is open to public scrutiny. For this, parties would have to maintain records of small donors as well. State funding, perhaps partial,
of elections is another solution to reduce the dependency on contributions, though the financial implications of this needs careful
consideration. A more practical mechanism is to have a regulatory authority to receive authentic reports on political funding,
scrutinise them and put them in the public domain. Transparency in funding is essential to ensuring clean, democratic
governance.

o Statistic - a group of numbers that represent facts or that describe a
situation
o Donor - a person who gives money or goods to an organization
o Anonymous - if someone is anonymous, no one knows their name
o Startling - surprising, or very unusual
problem
o Sizeable - large
o Legislature - the part of government that makes and changes laws
public money
something
o Authentic - real, not false or copied
o Public domain - if something such as information is in the public
domain, people in general know about it because it is not secret
o Ensuring - to make certain that something happens or is done
o Democratic - based on the principle that all people are equal and should
be able to share in making decisions
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Towards clarity on Brexit"

The condition the U.K.s highest court has stipulated for London to trigger Article 50 of the European Union treaty removes any
shred of doubt about the legislature being bypassed in giving formal shape to the Brexit vote last June. The crux of the majority
opinion is that there needs to be parliamentary endorsement in the form of primary legislation, not merely a ministerial decision
or action, for the activation of the exit provision. In arriving at this position, the justices relied on the reasoning that Britains
domestic laws would be significantly and substantially altered as a consequence of the impending termination of its membership
of the EU. The stance of Prime Minister Theresa Mays Conservative government, which appealed an earlier ruling, was that
once the people had spoken their mind in the June vote on whether to remain in or leave the EU, the executive could exercise
the royal prerogative on matters of foreign policy. The opposition, on the other hand, had emphasised the propriety of a
parliamentary consultation process before taking the country out of the EU, in the same way that its entry to the European
Economic Community in 1973 was duly authorised by legislation. Ahead of the vote last year, the Leave campaign had alleged
a serious erosion of national sovereignty within the bloc on account of the process of law-making initiated in Brussels, unmindful
of scrutiny by a directly elected parliament across the bloc. It therefore seems only proper that members of Parliament are taken
into confidence while the government sets out to give effect to the popular verdict in what was, after all, a legally non-binding
referendum. In the U.K. there is little political appetite remaining to attempt a reversal of the June vote, evident from the


oppositions intent to press amendments rather than challenge the Brexit legislation that has now become imperative. Thus, as
Ms. May's March deadline to kick-start Article 50 approaches, there is more clarity over the shape of the U.K.s withdrawal from
the bloc. British and European businesses may see Londons move to leave the single market as unpalatable, but the near-term
future is far less uncertain. Ms. May, in her landmark speech last week, was quite explicit that national controls over immigration
from the EU and independence from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice were redlines for her government. It
remains to be seen how London and the EU strive to strike the best possible bargain in the months ahead to promote their
mutual interests. For, as Ms. May has emphasised time and again, the U.K. is leaving the European Union, not Europe.
o Brexit - an exit (act of leaving) by the United Kingdom from the

European Union (short for "British exit")
o Stipulated - to say exactly how something must be or must be done
o Shred - a very small amount of something
o Bypass - to ignore a rule or official authority
o Crux - the most important or serious part of a matter, problem, or
argument
o Endorsement - the act of saying that you approve of or support
o Merely - used to emphasize that you mean exactly what you are saying
and nothing more
o Substantially - very strongly
o Impending - an impending event or situation, especially an unpleasant
one, is one that will happen very soon
o Termination - the end of an agreement, job, or situation
change
o Speak your mind - to say honestly what you think, even if it upsets or
offends someone
o Prerogative - a right that a particular person or group has
attention to
o Consultation - a meeting to discuss something or to get advice
o Duly - in the correct way or at the correct time; as expected
o Erosion - the gradual reduction or destruction of something important
something


question
o Reversal - the act of changing or making something change to its
opposite
o Amendment - a change or changes made to the words of a text
o Kick-start - to make something improve or become more active after it
has stopped or slowed down
o Unpalatable - unpleasant to think about or accept
o Uncertain - not knowing what to do or believe, or not able to decide
about something
o Jurisdiction - the right or power to make legal decisions
o Redline - a limit beyond which someone's behaviour is no longer
acceptable
o Strive - to try very hard to do something or to make something happen,
especially for a long time or against difficulties
do something
o Mutual - of two or more people or groups
o Emphasise - to show that something is very important or worth giving
attention to
JAN 27/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Banking on good faith"

The arrests by the Central Bureau of Investigation of former IDBI officials are worth noting for timing, intent and implications.
The agency is investigating these officials, who had been at the helm of the public sector banks affairs eight years ago, on
charges of facilitating a 900-crore loan to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines without due diligence. Two days after the arrests,
a list that included former IDBI Chairman Yogesh Aggarwal, the Securities Exchange Board of India barred Kingfisher promoter
Vijay Mallya and senior officials of group firm United Spirits Ltd. from securities dealings, and restrained them from holding
directorial positions in listed companies. Mr. Mallya owes banks close to 9,000 crore and has been in exile in the U.K. for nearly
a year, even as his lenders have scrambled to recover their dues, with little success. Last week, after a three-year-long trial, the
Debt Recovery Tribunal allowed a consortium of 17 banks to recover from Mr. Mallya and his companies outstanding dues of
6,200-odd crore plus interest related to the airlines operations. For the Central government, Mr. Mallyas flight to London has
been a source of much embarrassment, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley terming the bad loans a legacy from the UPA days.
ALSO READ Charge sheet filed in IDBI loan case involving Mallya Amidst the rising pile of non-performing assets in
government-owned banks, wilful defaulters were said to be responsible for around 77,000 crore of bad debts by last July, but
the Kingfisher baron has emerged as the poster boy of the problem. Therefore the flurry of action on his bad loans, however
belated, could help counter perceptions of a passive approach towards the well-heeled. Breaking the banker-borrower nexus is
just as critical for safeguarding public money as is acting against corrupt administrators, but a timely and transparent system is
needed to ensure that bankers dont turn wary of extending credit at the slightest hint of risk. The fear of investigative agencies
and adverse audit reports was blamed for the so-called policy paralysis in the UPAs second term. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had, early in his term, urged officers to take bold decisions without fear of retribution and promised to stand by them for
decisions taken in good earnest. That promise requires making some necessary amendments to the Prevention of Corruption
Act, particularly the much-too-broad and subjective Section 13(1)(d) that has resulted in many an honest officer being
chargesheeted for the corruption of others. If there is malfeasance involved in the IDBI loan, action must be swift and exemplary
but to ensure circulation of credit, systems must also be put in place to reassure bankers against random witch-hunts.


o Banking on somebody / something - to depend on something
happening or on someone doing something
o Good faith - done in an honest and sincere way
o At the helm - in charge or in the position of a leader
o Facilitating - to make something possible or easier
o Defunct - no longer existing, living, or working correctly
o Due diligence - the process of carefully examining something or
someone
o Owe - if you owe someone money, you have to give them a particular
amount of money because you have bought something from them or
have borrowed money from them
o Exile - a situation in which you are forced to live in a foreign country
because you cannot live in your own country, usually for political reasons
o Scramble - to move quickly but with difficulty
o Trial - the process of examining a case in a court of law and deciding
whether someone is guilty or innocent
o Consortium - a group of companies or people with similar interests or
aims who have agreed to work together
an earlier time
o Defaulter - someone who does not pay interest or other money that
they owe
o Bad debt - money that someone owes but will never pay
o Poster boy - a famous person who is heavily associated with something
o Flurry - a short period of activity or emotion
o Belated - happening late
something
o Well-heeled - rich
group of things
o Safeguarding - to protect something or someone from being harmed or
having problems
o Urged - to say that something is important, good, or useful in a
particular situation


o Retribution - punishment that someone deserves because they have
o Earnest - serious, determined, and meaning what you say
o Subjective - influenced by or based on personal beliefs or feelings,
rather than based on facts
o Chargesheet - to make a formal statement telling someone that they
are accused of a crime
o Malfeasance - an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially
by a person in authority
o Swift - happening quickly or immediately
o Exemplary - excellent or done in a way that other people should try to
copy
o Random - chosen or happening without any particular method, pattern,
or purpose
o Witch-hunt - an attempt to find and punish people whose opinions are
unpopular and who are said to be a danger to society
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Setback to climate action plans"
That Donald Trumps scepticism about climate change will adversely impact policies to address global warming became
abundantly clear minutes after his swearing-in as U.S. President. The White House website quickly deleted all mention of climate
change. Turning its attention to other agencies, the Trump administration instructed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
to follow suit and scrub all mention of climate change from its website as well. But following a protest by scientists and others,
the administration softened its stand and indicated that the agencys website was only being reviewed and that it had no
immediate plans to remove the content on climate change. Mr. Trump has also resurrected the controversial Keystone XL, that
former President Barack Obama had blocked after a protracted battle with policymakers, and Dakota Access pipelines. The
Trump administration had issued a gag order to scientists at the EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to stop them from
speaking to the media; it subsequently changed its policy with respect to EPA but has mandated that even routine data and
studies be reviewed before being released to the public. In line with his thinking that global warming is an expensive hoax,
Mr. Trump plans to re-energise the fossil-fuel industry. The America First Energy Plan listed on the White House website aims
to increase fossil fuel extraction in the name of creating more jobs, and in the process eliminating, among other things, Mr.
Obamas climate action plan. ALSO READ India to ratify amended version of Kyoto Protocol Even more alarming is Mr.
Trumps intention to reverse Americas involvement in the historic Paris climate accord. Under the pact, 195 countries have
agreed to limit the increase in global temperature since pre-industrial time to less than 2C in the 21st century, and try to work
towards reaching a tougher target of 1.5C. In November 2014, Mr. Obama announced a new target to cut greenhouse gas
emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. Among other measures taken in 2015, the U.S. had finalised the clean power
plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector to 32% below 2005 levels by 2030. With the average global
temperature already reaching 0.8C above pre-industrial levels, there are fears that further delay will have long-term
repercussions that would be near impossible to mitigate. With the current and proposed policies by the U.S. already inadequate
to meet the Paris target, any negative deviation from the plan will have implications for the entire world.
oSetback - a problem that delays or that stops progress or makes a

situation worse
o Scepticism - doubts that someone has about something that other
people think is true or right
o Adversely - negative, unpleasant, or harmful
o Abundantly - in large quantities
o Swearing-in - an official ceremony in which someone starting a new
official job formally promises to be loyal and honest and to perform their
duties well
o Administration - the arrangements and tasks needed to control the
operation of a plan or organization
o Softened - to become more gentle or less strict

o Resurrected - to bring back something into use or existence that had
disappeared or ended
o Protracted - lasting for a long time or made to last longer than
necessary
o Gag - to officially prevent a person, newspaper etc from talking about or
publishing something
o In line with - similar/different to someone or something
o Hoax - a trick in which someone deliberately tells people that something
bad is going to happen or that something is true when it is not
o Fossil-fuel - fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil, that were formed
underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago
o Extraction - the process of removing something, especially by force
o Repercussion - the effect that an action, event, or decision has on
o Mitigate - to make something less harmful, unpleasant, or bad
o Deviation - a difference in the usual or expected way of doing something
JAN 28/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Mayawatis risky calculus"

After the shock of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when it got no seats in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party has sought to
forge a Dalit-Muslim alliance to revive its fortunes in the coming Assembly elections in the State. The party has fielded 98 Muslim
candidates, the highest number for any party or alliance in the fray, and a clear departure from the grand social alliance (sarvajan
hitay) with which it had swept the 2007 Assembly elections. The party would also be counting on its traditional pitch of ensuring
law and order compared to its rivals. This is why the induction into the BSP of Mukhtar Ansari, an eastern U.P. strongman who
faces serious criminal charges, along with his relatives, puts the spotlight on how the party chief, Ms. Mayawati, may be refining
her strategy and how her back-to-basics social alliance will square off against her partys record of being tough on the law
and order front. Mr. Ansari had been expelled from the BSP in 2010 for alleged criminal activities. His antecedents made news
recently when he merged his political party, the Quami Ekta Dal, with the Samajwadi Party in October 2016. This had Chief
Minister Akhilesh Yadav rise in protest against his uncle Shivpal Yadav and use the development to project himself as a clean
politician. For Ms. Mayawati, Mr. Ansaris return to the BSP could help consolidate support from Muslims on the basis of identity,
as she tries to secure her old vote banks. Dalits are 21% of the population in U.P. When it first came to power with a full majority
in the Assembly in 2007, the BSP adopted a sarva-samaj rhetoric, assured of support from its Dalit base. But since then, Dalits
have steadily moved away, notably to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the communally charged 2014 election, without any fresh
accrual of support from other communities. Ms. Mayawati has realised over time that she has to appeal to her core support base
among Dalits which she has done over the past year after attacks on the community in different parts of the country sharpened
the contradictions in the Sangh Parivars Dalit outreach. Reaching out to Muslims was the next logical step they constitute
18% of the population in the State, and a Dalit-Muslim alliance is the BSPs way of forging a winning strategy. Ms. Mayawatis
gamble of relying on narrow identity politics to counter her rivals is a risky one, and how the partys appeal compares to the SP-
Congress alliances is still an open question.
o Calculus - a particular method or system of calculation

o Sought - to try to get something
o Revive - to become, or to make something become, active, successful,
or popular again

or in the same area
o Induction - the process or formal act of accepting someone into a group
or job
o Strongman - a person who is very powerful and able to cause change,
especially of a political type
o Refining - to make small changes to something in order to improve it
situations
o Back-to-basics - to start paying more attention to the most important
aspects of something
o Expel - to officially force someone to leave a place or organization
because of their bad behaviour
o Antecedent - someone or something existing or happening before
o Merge - to combine or join together
opposition
o Consolidate - to combine several small things
o Vote banks - a large group of voters from a single community who
always support a particular party or candidate in elections
people
o Accrual - a gradual increase in something
o Gamble - to do something that involves risks but may result in benefits
if things happen as you hope they will
o Open question - if something is an open question, people are not sure
what will happen about it
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Getting ties with UAE on track"

Even though the interpreter was missing at their joint appearance in Delhis Hyderabad House, there was no mistaking the
rapport between the United Arab Emirates Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two leaders have met three times in the last 18 months, each meeting more full of warmth than the previous one. That the
UAE Crown Prince, who is also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Emirati armed forces, was invited as Chief Guest at
the Republic Day parade, even though he is not a head of government or state, indicates the importance India invests in him
and in ties with the Gulf country. Indias interest in the UAE rests on several pillars: trade ties of about $50 billion, energy and
oil supplies from the worlds fifth largest exporter, the welfare of 2.6 million Indians who remit billions of dollars home annually,
and defence and security. While bilateral ties have been robust for decades, the defence and security partnership is clearly the
new driver for ties between the two governments; the signing of the strategic partnership agreement was the highlight of the
UAE leaders visit. The contours of this partnership are now being set: joint military exercises, joint manufacturing and purchase
of equipment and spare parts from India, as well as cooperation on fighting terror. The joint statement also contained strong
words on state-sponsored terror, that the government believes is an indication that the UAE shares Indias frustration on cross-
border terrorism from Pakistan, especially in the wake of the bomb blast in Kandahar on January 10, in which five UAE officials
were among the victims. ALSO READ UAE signals a Look East policy Strong words are no substitute for action, however,
and the strategic partnership that India envisions with the UAE must be based on clarity and concrete measures. This should
include a crackdown on the shadowy businesses owned by Dawood Ibrahim as well as more steps to curb terror financing of
the Taliban and groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan; such money is often routed through expatriate remittances from the UAE.

Indias hopes of investment from the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, one of the worlds largest at $500 billion, will not be
realised until New Delhi steps up efficiency at its end. That it took more than a year for the government to fully set up the National
Investment and Infrastructure Fund mechanism for the UAE funds is a case in point. The delay resulted in the memorandum of
understanding for investment of a possible $75 billion over 10 years falling through. Personalised leader-to-leader bilateral
diplomacy is a great conversation-starter, but not sufficient to energise ties.
o On track - doing or saying things that are likely to be successful or

correct
o Interpreter - someone whose job is to change what someone else is
saying into another language
o Rapport - a good understanding of someone and an ability to
communicate well with them
o Warmth - a kind and friendly quality in someone or something
o Crown Prince - the man who will be king of a country when the ruling
king or queen dies
air force
o Ties - the friendly feelings that people have for other people
o Remit - to send money to someone
o Contour - an outline representing or bounding the shape or form of
something
o Terror - violence used for making people very frightened in order to
achieve political aims
o Sponsor - to support a person, organization, or activity by giving money,
encouragement, or other help
different countries
of a crime
o Substitute - to use something or someone instead of another thing or
person
o Envision - to imagine or expect that something is a likely or desirable
possibility in the future
o Concrete - based on facts and information
o Shadowy - mysterious and secret, or not understood
o Expatriate - to use force or law to remove someone from their own
country
o Remittance - an amount of money that you send to someone
o Sovereign - having the highest power or being completely independent
effectively
o Memorandum of understanding - a document that records the details
of an agreement between two companies or organizations, which has not
yet been legally approved

JAN 30/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Keeping safety on the rails"
The preliminary finding of the Commission of Railway Safety that the derailment of the Indore-Rajendranagar Express near
Kanpur in November 2016 that killed over 140 people was primarily caused by carriage and wagon defects should serve as a
reality check for the Railway Ministry. While sabotage is indeed a factor in some derailments, bad railway performance is
responsible for the majority. The CRS report merits serious consideration: it has specifically identified a variation in the wheel
gauges of two coaches, and found carriages being run beyond their useful life. This is not a rare instance where inquiries have
found the Railways seriously deficient. In fact, the annual report of the CRS Lucknow for 2012-13 cites failure of railway
equipment, derelict staff, rail fractures and, on some occasions, non-railway factors to be responsible for fatal accidents. The
collision of the Hubli-Bengaluru City Hampi Express with a goods train that left 25 people dead, for instance, was caused by
failure of staff. The Kakodkar committee on railway safety found that out of 441 derailments it analysed, only about 15% were
the result of sabotage, while the majority were caused by factors completely under the control of the railway administration.
Indias Railways serves the vital function of providing travel access to millions, and, as Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his article
Third Class in Indian Railways, have the responsibility of making it equitable and comfortable. It must also be safe. The Railway
Ministry is pursuing a major safety initiative, the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh, with a non-lapsable corpus of 1,19,183 crore.
Not only should such a fund be constituted, given the past contribution of dedicated safety funds to rail track renewal, it should
be governed by a transparent framework with public reporting requirements. The Finance Ministry says the Fund should rely
mainly on internal resources, but there is a strong case for higher gross budgetary support to raise safety in a government-run
transport network that has a universal service obligation. Replacing ageing and unsafe carriages with modern Linke Hofmann
Busch coaches is a five-year-old Kakodkar panel recommendation, but supply has not kept pace with requirement. Travel
demand has, meanwhile, continued to leap as economic growth both needs and encourages greater mobility. Raising the
performance of the Indian Railways needs a clear vision for both service and financing, with zero tolerance for accidents. Along
with technologies such as ultrasonic flaw detection to keep tracks safe, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and his team must look
at ways to carry more passengers safely.
o Keeping on the rails - to make something working or happening

normally again
o Derailment - the action of a train leaving its tracks accidentally
o Carriage - one of the vehicles that are joined together to make a train
o Wagon - a large open container that is pulled by a train and is used for
carrying goods
o Reality check - an occasion that causes you to consider the facts about
a situation and not your opinions, ideas, or beliefs
o Sabotage - deliberate damage that is done to the property
o Variation - a change in amount or level
o Gauges - the distance between the two metal rails (=tracks) of a
railway, or between the wheels of the train
o Inquiries - (the process of asking) a question
o Deficient - lacking the correct amount of something
o Derelict - shamefully negligent of one's duties (careless)
o Fatal - very serious and having an important bad effect in the future
o Collision - an accident in which a person or vehicle that is moving
crashes into something
way
o Comfortable - feeling physically relaxed, without any pain or other
unpleasant feelings
o Non-lapsable - without any errors

o Corpus - an amount of money that you collect, save, or invest
o Framework - a system of rules, laws, agreements etc that establish the
way that something operates in business, politics, or society
o Rely - to depend on something
o Ageing - too old and no longer useful
o Kept pace with - to develop or progress at the same rate as something
else
o Leap - to move / jump somewhere suddenly and quickly
o Zero tolerance - a policy of punishing people for even very minor
offences by using the law in a very strict way
o Ultrasonic - ultrasonic sounds are sounds that humans cannot hear
because they have very high frequencies
effective
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Simply the best"
In times to come, 2017 will be remembered by tennis fans as the year the Australian Open went retro. For, it featured the big-
stage revival of two of the sports most storied rivalries. Roger Federer was pushed to the limit by Rafael Nadals relentless,
shape-shifting style before the Swiss maestros sublime artistry prevailed in a classic his third win in nine Major finals over
the Spaniard, his 18th Grand Slam crown and his first since Wimbledon in 2012. And Serena Williams, playing sister Venus in
a Major final after nearly eight years, continued her dominance, capturing a professional-era record 23rd title. The warm
nostalgia these great champions evoked was accompanied by the thrill of the unexpected. Of the four, only Serenas presence
in the final was unsurprising. The resurgence of the old guard the first time in the Open Era that all four finalists were over
the age of 30 might have had something to do with the faster courts in Melbourne this year. Federer, among others, certainly
thought so. He said it kept points shorter than normal and made fewer demands of the body. He also felt that those who had
started out before 2005 had an edge they were more instinctively attuned to the quicker movement of the ball. It takes
singular skill and a certain ruthlessness, however, to make capital of the smallest advantages, and Federer and Serena, and to
a marginally lesser extent Nadal and Venus, did precisely that. Federer, who missed six months last year with an injury, knew
he could not allow Nadal time and space. With his opponent looking in excellent physical condition, Federer could not afford to
be drawn into long, bruising rallies; he had to dictate the tempo of play. This meant taking the ball uncomfortably early, with a
narrow margin for error, and it required all of Federers genius to pull it off. He also had to overcome the psychological scars of
past defeats to Nadal. Federers nerve in big matches against his greatest rival has been questioned before, but on Sunday he
displayed a calm resolve. Serena, too, had to master her emotions against Venus, who is both beloved sister and formidable
threat. While her explosive athleticism is the most apparent facet of her game, Serenas underrated tennis intelligence has
contributed significantly to her capturing a record 10 Grand Slam titles after turning 30. With their triumphs in Melbourne, Federer
and Serena, both 35, managed what only a few of the greats have. They quietened the voice of doubt that speaks in every
athletes ear a voice that grows more persistent with age and raged against the dying of the light.
oRetro - going backwards

oRevival - the process of becoming active, successful, or popular again
oStoried - famous, or well known
oRivalries - a situation in which people, teams, businesses etc compete
with one another
o Relentless - determined, and never stopping your attempts to achieve
something
o Maestro - someone very skilled who people admire and respect a lot
o Sublime - extremely good
o Artistry - great skill in a sport or profession
o Prevailed - to be the strongest influence or element in a situation
o Nostalgia - thoughts about happy times in your past, often mixed with
the wish to be back in the past
o Evoked - to bring a particular emotion, idea, or memory into your mind

o Thrill - to make someone feel very excited and pleased
o Resurgence - the start of something again that quickly increases in
influence, effect etc
o Instinctive - done without thinking, because of a natural tendency or
ability
o Attuned - familiar with something and able to deal with it in a sensitive
way
o Ruthlessness - willing to make other people suffer so that you can
achieve your aims
o Marginally - by only a very small amount
o Bruising - damage to someones reputation or confidence
o Rally - a public meeting that a lot of people go to in order to support
someone or something or to protest against someone or something
o Overcome - to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem
o Athleticism - physical strength and the ability to do sports and physical
exercises well
o Facet - an aspect of something such as a situation or someones
character
o Underrated - having more importance, value, skill, power, etc., than
people recognize
o Quietened - to make somebody calm
o Persistent - continuing to exist, especially for longer than you would like
JAN 31/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "As bigotry becomes policy"
American President Donald Trump implemented his campaign promise of extreme vetting on Friday when he announced that
his administration had banned, for 90 days via executive order, travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations: Iran, Iraq, Libya,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan were not on the list, perhaps owing to the close economic
and strategic ties that Washington, and indeed the Trump Organization, have with some of these nations although White
House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus indicated that Pakistan may be put on the list, going forward. Mr. Trump has placed on
hold indefinitely the U.S.s asylum programme for refugees from Syria, and suspended entry of all refugees to the U.S. for 120
days. While he may have enthused his core constituency of predominantly white, blue-collar workers, beset with economic and
racial insecurities, his order sent shock waves at home and abroad, and sparked fears that it could create a recruitment bonanza
for terrorists. Leading the liberal counterattack, the American Civil Liberties Union argued that Mr. Trumps order represented
constitutional and legal overreach. In response, a federal judge in New York ruled that sending back the travellers detained in
airports may cause them irreparable harm, and that the government was enjoined and restrained from, in any manner and by
any means, removing individuals with valid papers. Similar rulings came in Virginia, Massachusetts and Washington State. Mr.
Trumps shock therapy for controlling immigration begs the question whether the order is constitutional. In 1965, Congress had
deliberately circumscribed presidential power in this regard by stating that no one could be discriminated against in the issuance
of an immigrant visa because of the persons race, sex, nationality, place of birth... The order will probably have a wider fallout
in the economic sphere already Silicon Valley firms have scrambled to bring back their staff deployed in affected countries,
and CEOs including Googles Sundar Pichai, Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg and Microsofts Satya Nadella, have expressed
concern that the ban will affect their talent pools. More broadly, Mr. Trumps order has done irreparable damage to Americas
reputation as a melting pot of immigrants, a beacon for bright minds and a humane force against authoritarian excess abroad.
No major attack has taken place on U.S. soil in the past eight years. Ultimately, Mr. Trumps insistence on preferential treatment
for Christian refugees makes a bogeyman of Muslims, a retrograde action that will exacerbate anti-Americanism worldwide.


o Bigotry - the practice of having very strong and unreasonable opinions,
especially about politics, race, or religion, and refusing to consider other
peoples opinions
o Vetting - make a careful and critical examination of (something)
o Via - going through one place on the way to another place
o Asylum - protection or safety, especially that given by a government to
people who have been forced to leave their own countries for their safety
or because of war
o Enthused - to express excitement about something or great interest in
it
o Core constituency - the most important group or groups supporting an
ideology, political party, officeholder, or candidate, and whose continuing
support is crucial for survival and success
o Predominantly - mainly, or mostly
o Blue-collar workers - blue-collar workers do work needing strength or
physical skill rather than office work
o Racial - connected with someone's race (skin colour or other physical
features)
o Shock wave - a very strong reaction that spreads through a group of
people when something surprising or bad happens
o Abroad - in or to a foreign country
o Sparked - to cause the start of something
o Bonanza - a situation from which large profits are made
o Counterattack - an attack intended to stop or oppose an attack by an
enemy or competitor
manage
o Irreparable - impossible to repair or make right again
o Enjoin - to legally force someone to do something or stop doing
something
o Beg the question - if a statement or situation begs the question, it
causes you to ask a particular question
o Circumscribed - to limit something such as power, rights, or
opportunities
o Discriminate - to treat a person or particular group of people differently,
especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people,
because of their skin colour, sex, sexuality, etc


o Scrambled - to compete with other people for something there is very
little of
o Talent pool - the suitable, skilled people who are available to be chosen
to do a particular type of job
o Beacon - someone or something that encourages people and gives them
a good example to follow
o Insistence - a very firm statement that something must happen or that
something is true
o Preferential - giving one person or group an advantage over others
o Bogeyman - someone or something that people believe is bad and
causes problems
present one
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The enemy within"
Not ideological affinity, but prospects of power and pelf determine the making and unmaking of political alliances. The Shiv
Sena is the closest to the Bharatiya Janata Party in terms of ideology and policies, but a parting of ways of the two parties was
always just around the corner. Differences over seat-sharing for the polls to the urban local bodies in Maharashtra were
inevitable as each party was seeking to expand its influence at the expense of the other. Quite understandably, the Sena is yet
to reconcile itself to its situation as a junior partner of the BJP after the 2014 Assembly election, when it won fewer seats than
the BJP did after contesting alone following a similar breakdown in seat-sharing negotiations. Having headed the government
in 1995, the first time the alliance tasted power in the State, the Sena greatly resents the role of a minor partner of the BJP in
the government. If the party does not win back its support base, ceded mostly to the BJP, it will not be able to reverse the power
equation within the alliance. The results of the local body elections are significant in determining this equation. They will in all
probability lay the basis for seat negotiations for battles with higher stakes: the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2019. But
embarrassingly for the two parties, the campaign is at a pitch that cannot be brought down. Both have indulged in name-calling
and traded corruption charges, even while remaining partners in government. It is therefore difficult to imagine there will be no
long-term consequences for the alliance in the run-up to the 2019 general election. The Sena, which played down the strident
Marathi chauvinism of its early years in favour of Hindutva nationalism, knows its support base is vulnerable to poaching by the
BJP. In alliance or out of it, the Sena is always under the threat of being subsumed within the BJPs own political stream. Its
efforts to expand beyond the cities and major towns of the State had put the Sena more in direct competition with the BJP than
in conflict with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. Unsurprisingly, the Sena campaign for the civic bodies has
grown to include attacks on not only the failings of the Devendra Fadnavis government but also the record of the Narendra Modi
government at the Centre and its flip-flops on demonetisation. However, the real test for the Sena and the BJP will emerge after
the dust settles, when they will have to resume work as partners in government following weeks of this hostile campaign. And
also possibly, deal with a changed power equation within the alliance.
oIdeological - based on or relating to a particular set of ideas or beliefs

oAffinity - a natural understanding and sympathy between people
oProspect - the possibility that something good might happen in the
future
o Pelf - money, especially when gained in a dishonest or dishonourable
way
o A parting of ways - the point at which two people or organizations
separate
o Just around the corner - coming very soon

o Reconcile - to find a way to make ideas, beliefs, needs etc that are
opposed to each other capable of existing together
o Breakdown - a division of something into smaller parts
o Resent - to feel angry because you have been forced to accept someone
or something that you do not like
o Cede - to allow someone else to have or own something, especially
unwillingly or because you are forced to do so
o Significant - important
o Probability - the level of possibility of something happening or being
true
o Embarrassingly - making you feel nervous, ashamed, or stupid
o Indulge - to allow yourself or another person to have something
enjoyable, especially more than is good for you
o Name-calling - the act of insulting someone by calling them rude names
o Consequence - to accept responsibility for your actions, whatever
happens
o Played down - to try to make a problem or difficult situation seem less
o Strident - holding firm opinions or beliefs and tending to express them
frequently, in a way that offends some people
o Chauvinism - the strong and unreasonable belief that your own country
or race is the best or most important
o Poaching - to persuade someone to leave a group or organization and
become a member of yours, especially by using secret or dishonest
methods
o Under the threat - likely to be harmed or damaged
o Unsurprisingly - in a way that you expected
o Flip-flop - an occasion when someone completely changes a plan
particular currency
o Hostile - not agreeing with something
FEB 01/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Crickets new order"

The Supreme Court has named a four-member Committee of Administrators to run the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket
in India as part of a continuing judicial exercise to reform the way the body is administering the game. While few will sympathise
with the BCCI office-bearers who were removed for defying the courts well-intended reforms, there is no escaping the feeling
that it should have found a way of reforming the body without appointing its own administrators. Only one of the four appointees
has played representative cricket, and it is arguable whether a public auditor, a cricket chronicler or a financial sector executive
are the most suitable candidates to administer a body that oversees a competitive sport. In a country where there is no shortage
of cricket experts and where many have the experience of having put bat to ball at some point in their lives, it is a glib assumption
that a combination of eminence in some field and a passion for the game are sufficient to run a national sports body. The court
could have asked the Board to come up with suggestions to draw up a committee of interim administrators from among former
players and administrators with an established connect with the game. Also, by appointing a panel of its own, the court has

rendered itself vulnerable to the charge of massive judicial overreach. There is an undoubted element of public interest in the
manner in which the highest court has engaged itself with the games administration in recent years. The objectives were
laudable: cleansing the administration; bridging the credibility deficit built by reform-resistant administrators; and revamping a
system fraught with conflicts of interest and unchecked commercialisation. Last year, the court declared that running cricket in
India is a public function. Many felt the intervention was needed to keep the exploitation of crickets commercial potential honest,
and run the game in accordance with its tradition and values. Then came the panel headed by former Chief Justice of India
R.M. Lodha and its sweeping recommendations for reform. The Supreme Court accepted most of the recommendations and
made them binding on the BCCI. Thereafter, the reluctance shown by the BCCI to accept the Lodha panel reforms led to its
president Anurag Thakur being held prima facie guilty of contempt of court. The situation is ripe for a new set of administrators
and the next election, which will be overseen by the four-member committee, will throw them up. The big question, of course, is
whether this will amount to a mere replacement of one set of office-bearers with another, or bring about a real and systemic
change in the way cricket in this country is run.

o Sympathise - to support and agree with someone or something
o Well-intended - trying to help but often making things worse
o Appointee - someone who has been chosen officially for a job or
responsibility
o Arguable - if something is arguable, there could be some disagreement
about it
o Auditor - someone whose job is to officially examine the financial
records of a company, organization, or person to see that they are
accurate
o Chronicler - a writer of history, especially in the past
o Administer - to be responsible for managing a company, organization,
or institution
o Glib - speaking or spoken in a confident way, but without careful thought
or honesty
o Eminence - the state of being famous, respected, or important
o Passion - a strong enthusiasm or interest
o Come up with something - to suggest or think of an idea or plan
o Draw up something - to prepare something, usually something official
o Panel - a small group of people chosen to give advice, make a decision,
or publicly discuss their opinions
manage
o Cleansing - cleaning
o Credibility - able to be believed or trusted
o Deficit - a lack of a quality, skill, or ability that you should have
o Resistant - not wanting to accept something, especially changes or new
ideas


o Revamping - to change or arrange something again, in order to improve
it
o Fraught - full of problems, difficulties, or things that are confusing
it
o In accordance with - following or obeying a rule, law, wish, etc
o Sweeping - affecting many things or people (large)
o Contempt - a feeling that someone or something is unimportant and
deserves no respect
o Mere - only / just
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Demonetisations long shadow"

The Economic Survey presented on the eve of the Union Budget has been dominated by a singular action of the government.
As Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian stated, To deify or demonise demonetisation that is the difficult question the
world is asking, to which the survey tries to respond. Describing the November 8 decision to withdraw high-value currency
notes as a radical governance-cum-social engineering measure aimed at punitively raising the cost of illicit activities, Mr.
Subramanian and his team acknowledge the complexities in assessing its potential impact as well as the lack of historical
precedent to make reliable predictions. The Survey, however, emphatically asserts that while there have been short-term costs
to the economy, which would need to be expeditiously addressed, there will be long-term benefits. Real GDP growth in the
current fiscal, the Survey projects, will see a likely reduction by one quarter to half a percentage point relative to the baseline of
about 7% as a result of the demand shock triggered by demonetisation. The Survey argues that any comparison with last fiscals
7.6% pace would be inappropriate as among the other factors that influenced growth this year was that global oil prices stopped
declining, lessening the updraught that soft energy prices lend to the economy. It contends that the latest growth estimates of
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund the bank trimmed its forecast to 7% from 7.6% and the IMF by 1
percentage point to 6.6%, both citing demonetisation as reason reflect a higher baseline assumption and ought to be
compared only on the extent of change in estimate. Devoting a whole chapter to demonetisation, the Survey recommends fast,
demand-driven remonetisation, further tax reforms, including bringing land and real estate under the ambit of the Goods and
Services Tax, and reducing tax rates and stamp duties. It cautions against tax authorities turning overzealous. It flags the risks
that Brexit and the U.S. election result pose to the world economic order, and to Indias economy. The prospect of shifts in the
direction of isolationism and nativism could threaten the global market for goods, services and labour. The Survey
conservatively projects growth for the coming fiscal at 6.75%-7.5%, with a caveat that lingering effects from demonetisation, oil
prices and the possible rise of trade protectionism could jeopardise the forecast.

particular currency
o Economic Survey - a document which reviews the developments in the
Indian economy over the previous 12 months and summarizes the
performance on major development programs
o On the eve of something - on the day before an important event, or
during the period of time just before it
o Deify - to consider someone or something to be so important that they
are almost like a god
o Demonise - to try to make someone or a group of people seem as if
they are evil
o Punitively - relating to or causing punishment or great difficulty

o Illicit activity - an activity that people do not approve of
o Emphatically - very firmly and clearly
o Asserts - to state strongly that something is true
o Expeditiously - quickly and effectively
o Baseline - an imaginary line used as a starting point for making
comparisons
o Inappropriate - not suitable in a particular situation
o Contend - to claim that something is true
the economy
o Devoting - to use something for a particular purpose
o Overzealous - doing something so much that it causes problems
something good
o Isolationism - a countrys policy of not having political or economic
relationships with other countries
o Nativism - a policy of protecting the interests of native-born or
established inhabitants against those of immigrants
o Threaten - to be likely to harm or destroy something
o Conservatively - not usually liking or trusting change, especially sudden
change
o Lingering - lasting for a long time, especially when this is unpleasant or
not necessary
o Protectionism - a system in which a country helps its own industries by
putting taxes on foreign goods
o Jeopardise - to risk damaging or destroying something important
FEB 02/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic : "A fine balance"

Coming within three months of the Central governments purge of high-value currency notes that has dampened economic
activity, particularly in the informal sector, it was imperative that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley soothed frayed nerves with
Budget 2017-18. It was equally critical that he provided a glimpse of a larger plan to prevent regeneration of black money, the
original intent behind the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 notes. He has managed to do both to a fair degree, without
resorting to the easy options of blatant populism or spending his way out of trouble in a slowing economy. Apart from funding
the sops announced a month ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for vulnerable sections of society, the Finance Minister has
done his best to further ease the pain of people most impacted by the adverse effects of demonetisation. The tax rate for small
and medium enterprises with an annual turnover of up to 50 crore, which are the bulwark of job-creation but end up paying
higher taxes than large companies, has been slashed to 25%. For corporates, though, there is no road map on lower tax rates.
In addition, halving the personal income tax rate from 10% to 5% for those in the lowest tax slab of 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh not only
puts more money in the hands of this segment, but is also an effective nudge to bring more people into the formal tax net. All
other taxpayers have been given a benefit of 12,500 each. There is a redistributive element to such sops, with part of the
revenue loss from these income tax giveaways being funded by a 10% surcharge on the income tax of those in the 50 lakh to
1 crore bracket. Mr. Jaitley hinted as much, saying the demonetisation has helped transfer resources from tax-evaders to the
government. He disclosed that there has been a remarkable 34% rise in advance personal income tax collections in the first


three quarters of 2016-17, after recording single-digit growth in the previous two years. Perhaps the note ban has put the fear
of the law into many tax- dodgers. Some logical next steps have been taken, including a bar on cash transactions of more than
3 lakh, a nudge to businesses to make all payments over 10,000 digitally, and rationalising the costs of non-cash payments.
Granting infrastructure status to affordable housing, together with a few changes in the tax treatment to incentivise builders, and
the interest subventions already announced for low-ticket home loans, could spur construction activity, and thus job-creation.
There is higher allocation for MGNREGA, irrigation and infrastructure projects. With the Goods and Services Tax on the horizon,
Mr. Jaitley has refrained from tinkering too much with indirect taxes. Although a high-level panel that reviewed the Fiscal
Responsibility and Budget Management Act has recommended deviations from fiscal deficit targets after far-reaching structural
reforms such as the demonetisation, he has done well to refuse to deviate from the fiscal consolidation road map and alter
Indias strong macroeconomic fundamentals. There may be no big new schemes or dramatic reforms; the big bang in this
Budget is the shift from unfettered populism. On the flip side, the promise to confiscate assets of defaulters such as Vijay Mallya
who flee the country and, separately, clean up electoral funding the most potent root of corruption appear to be red herrings
at best. Provisions already exist to attach assets of defaulters to recover dues. And reducing the cash donation limit from any
one source to political parties from 20,000 to 2,000 is meaningless as long as there is no cap on the number of such people
who can make donations anonymously. More clarity is also needed on the electoral bonds proposed to be issued to protect
donors from any adverse effects of baring their political leanings. With the railway budget subsumed by the overall exercise for
the first time, and against the backdrop of a series of train accidents, there was expectation that a strong programme on rail
safety would be outlined. The 1 lakh crore to be devoted over five years for a safety fund, the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh,
will have to address the many imperatives identified by expert panels such as the Kakodkar Committee. The Railways have a
long list of tasks, starting with acquisition of advanced signalling for train control and, as the Budget notes, elimination of level
crossings for smooth operations. Replacement of carriages of old design with the better-engineered Linke-Hofmann Busch
coaches would cost at least 10,000 crore. On the commercial side, passenger tariffs are to be calculated taking into account
costs, social obligations and competition from other modes of transport. The objective of the countrys biggest organisation,
however, should be to use the higher capacities on identified travel corridors to provide safe, comfortable and affordable travel
for all. This can be done relying on a rise in revenues from integrated freight solutions that the Budget has spoken of. Apart from
the dovetailing of the railway budget, the abolition of the distinction between Plan and Non-Plan expenditure and its early
presentation, Union Budget 2017-18 marks another break from tradition. It is the first time Mr. Jaitley extensively turned to poetry
as he began his deftly crafted, workmanlike Budget by referring to a season of optimism. With just one more full-year Budget
likely before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Modi government must now put all its energy behind implementing the legislative
and administrative reforms it has promised, to translate that optimism into visible change on the ground.

o Informal - not official and has no fixed rules
o Soothed - to make someone feel calm or less worried
o Frayed - used to describe someone's mood when they are feeling
worried, upset, or annoyed
o Nerves - worry or anxiety
o Glimpse - an experience that gives you an idea of what something is like
o Regeneration - to grow again
particular currency
o Resorting to something - to do or use something because it is the only
thing available
o Blatant - very obvious and intentional, when this is a bad thing
o Populism - political ideas and activities that are intended to get the
support of ordinary people by giving them what they want
o Vulnerable - very weak
o Bulwark - something that protects you from dangerous or unpleasant
situations


o Nudge - to encourage someone in a gentle way to do something
o Redistributive - used to describe an action that is intended to share
money more fairly between rich and poor people
o Surcharge - a charge in addition to the usual amount paid for
something, or the amount already paid
o Tax-evaders - people who avoid or escape paying taxes
o Disclose - to make something known publicly, or to show something that
was hidden
o Remarkable - unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth
mentioning
o Dodger - someone who illegally avoids paying something such as a tax
or a rail or bus fare
o Rationalising - to try to find a reasonable explanation for behaviour that
does not seem reasonable or suitable
o Incentivise - to give someone a reason for wanting to work hard
o Subventions - an amount of money given as support by an organization
affect how well it operates, for example the telephone and transport
systems in a country
o Refrained - to stop yourself from doing something
o Tinkering - to make small changes to something in order to improve or
repair it
o Deviation - a difference in the usual or expected way of doing something
o Deficit - the difference between the amount of money or goods that a
country or business has and the amount that it has spent or that it owes
o Deviate - to start doing something different from what is expected or
agreed
o Consolidation - to cause something to become, stronger, and more
certain
o Alter - to make something or someone different
o Macroeconomic - relating to the economic system of a whole country
or large region
o Unfettered - without limits or controls
o Flip side - opposite side
o Confiscate - to officially remove someones possessions for legal
reasons or as a punishment
o Defaulter - someone who does not pay interest or other money that
they owe, or who fails to do something that they should do by law
o Flee - to escape from a dangerous situation or place very quickly


o Red herring - something that is not relevant that makes you confused
or takes your attention away from what you should be concentrating on
o Anonymously - made or done by someone whose name is not known or
not made public
o Electoral - relating to elections
o Donor - someone who gives things such as money or goods to an
organization
o Leaning - a particular set of beliefs, opinions, etc. that someone prefers
o Subsume - to include something in a larger group and cause it to lose
its own individual character
o Acquisition - something such as a building, another company, or a piece
of land that is bought by a company, or the act of buying it
o Level crossing - a place where a road crosses a railway and gates are
used to stop cars when a train is coming
o Tariff - a tax that a government charges on goods that enter or leave
their country
o Corridor - a long passage in a building or train, especially with rooms on
either side
o Affordable - cheap enough for ordinary people to afford (not expensive)
o Freight - goods that are carried by vehicles
o Apart from - in addition to someone or something
o Dovetail - to fit together, or to work together well
o Abolition - the official end to a law, system, practice etc
o Extensively - very large in amount or degree
o Deftly - quickly and with skill
o Workmanlike - done or made in a professional way
o Optimism - a tendency to be hopeful and to expect that good things will
probably happen
o Legislative - relating to laws or to the process of creating new laws
o On the ground - in the place being discussed, especially a place where
there is a war or another serious situation
FEB 03/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "H-1B visa in the spotlight"

There are disconcerting signals from the Trump White House and Capitol Hill of likely changes to the H-1B non-immigrant visa
programme in the U.S. for skilled workers in tech jobs. Indian IT firms have been among the top recipients of the 65,000 such
visas made available annually via a lottery system, in some years garnering well in excess of 80% of them. However, President
Donald Trump, driven by his campaign promise of Buy American, Hire American, now has this specialty occupation worker
visa in his crosshairs. Shares in Indian IT majors took a nosedive last week when an unconfirmed draft executive order leaked
to U.S. media houses appeared to call for reform of immigration rules for skilled foreign workers that would raise the salary
eligibility for such visas to $130,000, reverse the extensions granted by the Obama administration to the Optional Practical
Training programme for foreign graduates in the U.S., and institute a rigorous monitoring system for companies employing L-1
visa holders, intra-company transferees. Any hope that India Inc. may have of such executive orders not gaining the requisite
support in Congress is likely to come to naught: at least two bills with bipartisan backing were introduced in the House of
Representatives last month, both urging tightening of conditions for skilled-worker visas that are, in the governments view,
costing Americans jobs. Notwithstanding the shadow of protectionism that it would cast on the bilateral relationship with New
Delhi, this visa crackdown in the making raises troubling questions for the U.S. tech sector and the broader economy as well.
Any significant hike in the minimum salary levels for the specialised jobs held by H-1B visa recipients will hit not only Indian IT
firms but also the tech titans of Silicon Valley, including Microsoft, Google and Facebook. This will inflict pain on the U.S.
economy. Similarly, unless skill-based criteria are used in addition to wage-level restrictions, numerous U.S. firms will struggle
to fill mid-level jobs with qualified Americans. Indian firms have for years been the most rapidly growing investors in the U.S.
economy. If IT companies within this group are impacted by onerous new restrictions, they would likely prefer to entirely offshore


their operations to India. Ironically, that could lead to job losses for American workers. While Mr. Trump was elected into office
campaigning for economic revitalisation and job-creation for Americans, his administration would be wise to think through all
the possible outcomes that could result from ham-fisted policies in the immigration space.
oIn the spotlight - receiving a lot of public attention

oDisconcerting - to make someone feel suddenly uncertain and worried
oLikely - if something is likely, it will probably happen or is expected
oImmigrant - a person who has come to a different country in order to
o Garnering - to collect or obtain a large amount of something useful or
important
o Crosshairs - two thin wires crossing each other in a gun or other device,
which you use to help you aim at something
o Nosedive - a sudden fast fall in prices, value, etc
o Rigorous - careful to look at or consider every part of something to make
certain it is correct or safe
o Intra - within
o Transferee - a person to whom someone else sells property, shares, etc
o Come to nought - to be unsuccessful
o Bipartisan - involving two political parties with different ideas or policies
o Backing - support / help
they should take
particular activity
o Significant - very large or noticeable
o Titan - a person or organization that is very important or successful
o Silicon Valley - an area in California, US, where many computer
companies have their offices
o Inflict - to cause something unpleasant to happen
o Numerous - existing in large numbers
o Rapidly - very quickly; at a great rate.
o Impacted - strongly affected by something
o Onerous - difficult to do or needing a lot of effort
o Offshore - in the sea, not on the land (this word is used especially for
talking about the oil industry)
o Ironically - used for saying that a situation has developed in an
unexpected and sometimes humorous way
o Revitalisation - to make something that is failing or weak become
strong and successful again
o Ham-fisted - not careful or gentle enough

Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Neither transparent nor accountable"

In the public mind, political corruption is the source of most forms of corruption. No doubt, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was
seeking to address this concern about the lack of transparency and accountability in the funding of political parties when he
announced measures in the Union Budget to cleanse the process of making donations toward election expenses of parties. But
his proposals are doomed to fail, not because they do not go far enough but because they go in the wrong direction. The ceiling
of 2,000 on cash donation by any individual to a party, slashed from the existing 20,000, might inconvenience parties to some
extent but is unlikely to stop the disguising of huge, off-the-books cash donations from corporate houses and vested interests
as small contributions from ordinary party workers and sympathisers. All that the parties will now have to do is find more people
to lend their names to these donations, or better still, find more names of unsuspecting people to be listed as cash donors. The
proposal does not disrupt the flow of illicit political donations but only channels it differently, and will not reduce the proportion
of cash from unverifiable sources in the total donations received. If Mr. Jaitley was indeed intent on getting the political class to
truly account for their donations, he should have placed a cap on the amount a party may receive in cash as a donation. In any
case, the declared income is only a small part of their funding, much of which is spent during elections and mobilisation efforts
without coming under the radar of the Election Commission or the Income Tax Department. The proposal to allow donors to
purchase electoral bonds from banks against cheque and digital payments to be given to registered political parties for
redemption, meant to cater to donors need to remain anonymous to rival political parties, hardly contributes to transparency.
Indeed, donors should not enjoy any anonymity, before tax authorities or the general public. The absence of such anonymity,
of course, will bring down the level of contributions from corporate houses and other entities to parties, not such a bad thing.
Far from aiding transparency, the proposal only clouds the funding process. The Budget makes it mandatory for political parties
to file returns within a time limit, but in the absence of extreme penal provisions compliance is likely to be low. Mr. Jaitley, while
raising visions of a crackdown on illicit funding, seems to have left the issue untouched in real terms. Half-measures will not go
even halfway in achieving the purpose of bringing about transparency and accountability in political donations.
o Neither ... nor - used when you want to say that two or more things are
not true
o Transparent - a transparent process, activity, or organization does not
try to keep anything secret
for what they do and must be able to give a satisfactory reason for it
o Cleanse - to get rid of someone or something bad or unpleasant
o Doomed - certain to fail, die, or be destroyed
o Slashed - to reduce something by a large amount
o Disguising - to make something look, sound, or seem like something
else
o Off-the-books - used to describe a payment that is not officially
recorded, so that no tax is paid on it
o Vested interest - a special reason for wanting things to happen in a
particular way, because you will benefit from this
o Sympathisers - someone who approves of and supports someone or
something
o Unsuspecting - not knowing about something that is happening or will
happen
o Disrupt - to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by
creating a problem
o Illicit - not allowed by the law or rules (illegal)
o Intent on something - to be determined to do or achieve something
o Mobilisation - if you mobilize a group of people, they come together in
order to achieve something

o Redemption - the sale of shares that you own in a company
o Anonymous - made or done by someone whose name is not known or
not made public
or in the same area
o Anonymity - a situation in which the name of a person is not known or
is kept secret
o Aiding - helping or supporting
o Cloud - something unpleasant that spoils an activity, event, or situation
demanded by law
problem
particular activity
o Half-measure - something that is done in a way that is not complete or
is only partly effective
FEB 04/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The stakes in Punjab and Goa"

Punjab and Goa go to the polls today, heralding a multi-phase election schedule, with three other States set to vote over the
next month. Punjab and Goa, where a hectic campaign has been running for the past month, are united by a common strand
the contest is not limited to the two national parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, or alliances with them, as
has been the case for some years. In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party has sought to build on its strong debut performance in the
2014 Lok Sabha election when it won four out of 13 seats and had leads in 33 of the total of 117 Assembly segments. The
presence of the AAP has meant a three-way contest as the incumbent Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance seeks to defend its
record not just in the State but also at the Centre over the demonetisation policy and farmers issues. The AAP polled well in
rural and semi-urban areas in Punjab in 2014, taking up issues that had been inadequately addressed by the Congress and the
BJP, such as corruption, and drug consumption that has devastated so many lives in the countryside. For the Congress, the
stakes are high as it seeks to turn the tide after a string of losses in Assembly elections in major States since 2013. In former
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh the Congress has perhaps its most capable regional leader today, but it remains to be seen
how the anti-incumbency vote splits. Goa, on the other hand, is engaged in an electoral contest that is more dependent on local
issues and variables than national ones. But here too, the entry of the AAP has made election forecasting difficult. The BJP is
projecting its record of providing a stable government in a State prone to political volatility, but its task has become more difficult
with the loss of its alliance partner, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, to another right-wing front. The Congress has fielded
its share of former chief ministers. With compact and smaller constituencies some of them have only about 25,000 voters
close contests are expected, with even minor parties and independents having the potential to influence the final result. It is no
wonder that heavyweights such as Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar have been deployed for local-level campaigning;
the BJP wants to leave nothing to chance. The elections in Punjab and Goa go well beyond mundane identity politics. Securing
a clean environment with regulations over mining in Goa, and tackling agrarian problems and narcotics use in Punjab, give the
vote immediacy, promising an electoral contest that has some focus on civic issues and is not confined to patronage or identity.
o Stake - a share or a financial involvement in something

o Herald - to be a sign that something important, and often good, is
starting to happen, or to make something publicly known, especially by
celebrating or praising it
o Hectic - full of activity, or very busy and fast
o Debut - to perform or be introduced to the public for the first time
o Incumbent - officially having the named position

particular currency
o Inadequately - not good enough or too low in quality
o Devastated - completely destroyed
o Turn the tide - to change a situation, especially so that you begin to win
instead of losing
mentioned
o Variable - likely to change often
o Forecasting - the job or activity of judging what is likely to happen in
the future, based on the information you have now
o Stable - firmly fixed or not likely to move or change:
o Prone - likely to suffer from an illness or show a particular negative
characteristic
o Fielded - to have or produce a team of people to take part in an activity
or event
o Compact - consisting of parts that are positioned together closely or in
a tidy way, using very little space
o Minor - having little importance, influence, or effect, especially when
compared with other things of the same type
succeed
other people notice
o Deploy - to use something or someone, especially in an effective way
o Mundane - very ordinary and therefore not interesting
o Narcotic - an illegal drug such as heroin or cocaine
o Civic - of a town or city or the people who live in it
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Tarred by the oil spill"

The destruction caused to a significant part of the Chennai coastline from the oil spill that followed a collision between two ships
is both tragic and ironic. A large quantity of oil was released into the sea, affecting marine life and livelihoods of coastal
communities. What makes the collision ironic is that it comes at a time when there is steadily declining pollution due to such
incidents. Ship collisions are less common today because GPS-based navigation systems have made their operation much
safer. It is apparent that the first response to the Chennai collision involving an LPG tanker and the fuel carrier off the Kamarajar
Port was seriously deficient. The port initially denied any significant environmental damage from oil, but as the scale of the
disaster began to unfold, and a large number of dead turtles and fish were washed ashore, it became obvious that the spill had
not been quickly contained. Such failure calls into question the efficacy of the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan that
is updated periodically for all stakeholders, notably ports, under the leadership of the Coast Guard. That the removal of the
coastal sludge depended in large part on volunteers wielding buckets does not inspire much confidence in the protocol for
mitigation. ALSO READ Chennai oil spill An independent inquiry is vital to determine whether the training and acquisition of
equipment to handle such accidents for all agencies passed muster. Moreover, pollution response equipment for all major ports
and 26 non-major ports is funded to the extent of 50% by the Centre, casting a responsibility on ports to contribute the other
half and build the capabilities to handle disasters. Obfuscation of facts after an oil spill is counterproductive, since the impact is
prolonged; moreover, it could erode the confidence of the international community in the countrys ability to fulfil its commitments
within the UN system to protect marine life and biodiversity. Failure to safeguard marine turtle and bird habitats, for example, is
a clear violation of the provisions of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and its specific
memorandum on the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asian region to which India is a signatory. Considerable oil pollution is caused
not just by catastrophes but through the discharge of ballast, sludge and water used for the cleaning of tanks. On the other
hand, the efficacy of chemical dispersants to degrade oil at sea remains controversial. All this underscores the importance of


timely advice from agencies such as the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, which is mandated to forecast
the course of an oil spill.
o Tarred - covered with tar (a black substance)

o Oil spill - an accident in which oil has come out of a ship and caused
pollution
o Coastline - the land along a coast
o Collision - an accident that happens when two vehicles hit each other
with force
o Ironic - an ironic event or situation is interesting and sometimes
humorous, because it is the opposite of what you would expect
o Marine - related to the sea or sea transport
o Declining - to gradually become less, worse, or lower
o Navigation - to direct the way that a ship, aircraft, etc. will travel, or to
find a direction across, along, or over an area of water or land, often by
using a map
o Apparent - able to be seen or understood
o Deficient - not good enough
o Unfold - if a situation or story unfolds, it develops or becomes clear to
other people
o Washed ashore - (of the sea) to carry something or someone to or away
from a place
o Contain - to keep something harmful within limits and not allow it to
spread
o Efficacy - the ability of achieving something, to produce the intended
result
serious difficulty
o Contingency - something that might possibly happen in the future,
usually causing problems or making further arrangements necessary
o Stakeholders - a person such as an employee, customer, or citizen who
is involved with an organization, society, etc. and therefore has
responsibilities towards it and an interest in its success
o Sludge - a thick soft substance that remains when liquid has been
removed from something in an industrial process
o Volunteer - a person who does something, especially helping other
people, willingly and without being forced or paid to do it
o Wielding - to hold a weapon or tool and look as if you are going to use
it
o Protocol - the system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at official
ceremonies and occasions
o Mitigation - a reduction in how harmful, unpleasant, or bad something
is


o Agency - a government organization
o Muster - to produce or encourage something such as an emotion or
support
o Obfuscation - to deliberately make something confusing or difficult to
understand
o Counterproductive - having the opposite result to the one you intended
o Impact - the force or action of one object hitting another
o Biodiversity - the number and types of plants and animals that exist in
a particular area or in the world generally, or the problem of protecting
this
o Safeguard - to protect something from harm
o Habitat - the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually
lives
etc
thing must happen or be done, especially before another can happen or
be done
o Convention - a way of behaving that is generally accepted as being
normal and right
o Conservation - the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and
interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the
damaging effects of human activity
o Migratory - having the characteristic of moving regularly to another
place
o Memorandum - an informal legal agreement
o Signatory - a person, organization, or country that has signed an
agreement
destruction
o Ballast - a substance such as water, sand, or metal that is carried in
ships or large balloons to help them remain steady
o Dispersant - a chemical substance used to break up a liquid, especially
oil floating on the sea, into tiny pieces so that it spreads over a wide area
and causes less harm
o Underscore - to emphasize something, or to show that it is important
o Mandated - to give official permission for something to happen
FEB 06/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Targeting old scourges"

The reference in the Union Budget to new elimination targets for some major communicable diseases barely hints at the
enormous burden carried by millions in India with tuberculosis, kala-azar (leishmaniasis), filariasis, leprosy and measles. It would
appear incongruous that an emerging economy with no timetable for universal health coverage and a lack of political will to
loosen its purse strings for higher government expenditure has set ambitious deadlines to rid itself of deadly scourges. Last year
it was revealed that India has a higher burden of new patients with TB than estimated earlier 2.8 million in 2015 compared to
2.2 million in the previous year, a quarter of the worlds cases. Having set concrete goals, the Centre must now demonstrate its
seriousness by moving away from the flawed policies of the past. The promise of a well-funded five-year scheme to meet the

TB challenge beginning in 2017 is welcome, although steady progress towards the new elimination deadline of 2025 will also
depend on improved capabilities in the health system to meet the daily drugs requirement and a feeling of ownership at the
State level. The World Health Organisation has been pointing to the lack of integration of private practitioners with the national
mission on tuberculosis for guaranteed access to drugs, and lack of continuous monitoring of such patients. ALSO READ
Highlights of Union Budget 2017-18 Indias campaign on leprosy is in reality a post-elimination struggle resulting from
complacency, since it announced at the end of 2005 that it had eliminated it as a public health problem, based on a rate of less
than one person in 10,000 having it. Such self-congratulatory moments weakened both policy focus and funding in some pockets
in eastern India, where it exceeded the accepted prevalence rate. Health Minister J.P. Naddas admission in the Rajya Sabha
that there were 1,02,178 leprosy cases on record as of September 2016, and districts of high endemism, shows the battle was
never truly won. Detecting new cases early and preventing them from progressing to disability-inducing grade two level is crucial,
although complete removal by 2018 as envisaged in the Budget may prove difficult. Rehabilitation of patients is also a weak
spot. Kala-azar, though underreported and mainly confined to Bihar and Jharkhand, is a promising candidate for elimination in
the current year, since the few thousand cases are caused by a protozoal parasite with no animal reservoir; control of the vector,
the sand fly, holds the key. If good medical protocol is pursued, pockets of filariasis in many States can be removed.
Rehabilitation programmes for these diseases require more resources and policy support.
o Scourge - something that causes a lot of trouble or harm

o Communicable - able to be given from one person to another
o Tuberculosis - a serious infectious disease that can attack many parts
of a person's body, especially their lungs
o Leishmaniasis - a disease caused by a parasite (a small creature that
lives in the body of other creatures), which can affect the skin, mouth,
or organs inside the body
o Leprosy - an infectious disease that damages a person's nerves and skin
o Measles - an infectious disease that produces small, red spots all over
the body
o Incongruous - unusual or different from what is around or from what is
generally happening
o Purse strings - the spending of money by a family, company, or country
spends
o Burden - something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with or
worry about
o Concrete - based on facts and information
o Integration - the process of becoming a full member of a group or
society, and becoming involved completely in its activities
o Practitioner - someone involved in a skilled job or activity
change
o Complacency - a complacent attitude or way of behaving
o Self-congratulatory - showing you are very proud of what you have
done, in a way that annoys other people
o Endemism - very common, or strongly established in a place or situation
o Progressing - continuing to develop or moving forward
o Rehabilitation - the action of restoring someone to health or normal life
through training and therapy after imprisonment, addiction, or illness

o Weak spot - a weak part in something
o Underreport - to say that you have done, earned, sold, etc., less than
you really have
o Protozoal - a very small living thing made up of only one cell
o Reservoir - a large quantity of something that can be used
o Vector - an insect or animal that carries a disease from one animal or
plant to another
o Sand fly - a small fly that lives in warm regions of Asia, Africa, and
southern Europe. It can spread disease when it bites
o Holds the key - to have control of something
o Protocol - the system of rules and acceptable behaviour used at official
ceremonies and occasions
o Pursued - to follow a course of activity
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Road to the lyse Palace"

The presidential race in France may be gaining momentum, but clarity it is not. Centre-right Les Rpublicains candidate
Franois Fillon, until recently seen to be the most likely to win the race, is engulfed by allegations of payments made to his wife,
Penelope Fillon, and their children for official work they may not have done. What looked like a passing storm now looks like a
weather pattern that could linger. In a rival camp to the left, Benoit Hamons recent victory in the French Socialist Partys
presidential primaries indicates voters are disenchanted with the ideological drift and absence of acuity in the ruling partys
policies. His comfortable victory over the centre-left rival, former Prime Minister Manuel Valls, represents a shift leftward for the
Socialists, back to their ideological roots, stemming a drift towards the centre seen not just in their party but also in the
Republicans. With the business-friendly Mr. Valls out of the race, Mr. Hamon faces the prospect of losing his opponents
supporters to former Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old independent centrist who is a better ideological fit for
many centre-left Socialists than is Mr. Hamon. Following the election, rifts in the party have become more open, with some
senior leaders saying they cannot support Mr. Hamon and others asking him to adopt policies that would appeal to a broader
spectrum of voters. Among Mr. Hamons policies are a universal basic income of about 750 a month, further cuts in the 35-
hour work week, and a plan to legalise marijuana. Not all these are palatable to Socialists to Mr. Hamons right. A poll last week
placed nativist Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front in the lead for round one of the presidential race, with Mr. Fillon and
Mr. Macron neck-and-neck behind him. The Socialists were expected to come in fourth. This did not last, however. Growing
dissatisfaction with Mr. Fillons response to Penelopegate has altered the results significantly; one poll showed that over 60%
of respondents want Mr. Fillon to step down. The party is considering finding a replacement candidate. This has bolstered the
chances of Mr. Macron and Ms. Le Pen, a candidate who has benefited from the anti-European Union, anti-migrant, populist
wave washing over Europe and across the Atlantic. She is still unlikely to win the second round of the race since her opponent
will attract the mainstream vote. This is a good thing as the National Front coming to power would further unravel Europe and
be a destabilising force in a world much in need of tolerance and stability. For the moment the lyse Palace appears well within
sight for Mr. Macron.
o Road to something - a process or series of events that will achieve

something or have a particular result
stronger
o Engulfed - to surround and cover something or someone completely
o Linger - to take a long time to leave or disappear
or in the same area
o Disenchanted - no longer believing in the value of something, especially
having learned of the problems with it
o Ideological - based on a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on
which a political system, party, or organization is based
o Drift - to go from one state to another without realizing it
o Acuity - the ability to see or think very clearly and quickly


o Prospect - the possibility of being successful, especially at work
o Spectrum - range
o Palatable - acceptable
o Nativist - a person who believes that the people who were born in a
country are more important than immigrants (people who have come to
live in the country from somewhere else)
o Neck-and-neck - involved in a close race, competition etc
o Altered - changed
o Respondent - someone who answers questions, especially on a
questionnaire (a set of written questions) or for an opinion poll
o Migrant - a person that travels to a different country or place, often in
order to find work
people
o Opponent - someone who is competing against you
most people
o Unravel - to understand something complicated by thinking about it for
a long time
o Destabilising - to cause problems for a country, government, or person
in authority so that they become less effective
o Tolerance - the attitude of someone who is willing to accept someone
elses beliefs, way of life etc without criticizing them even if they disagree
with them
FEB 07/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Backroom to the front-stage"
Evidently, V.K. Sasikala couldnt bear to wait any longer. After the death of Jayalalithaa in December, Ms. Sasikala, known for
her backroom manoeuvres, first stage-managed her election as the AIADMK general secretary, and now as the Legislature
Party leader. Without ever having run for public office, she is at this point no more than a ceremonial step away from becoming
the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. An elaborate and orchestrated drama was enacted of party functionaries entreating her to
take on these responsibilities, a play in which the outgoing Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam was just another advancing pawn
set up for being moved off the board en passant. While her election as party general secretary in December was an internal
party affair meant to keep the different sections together, her election as the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party raises
issues of political propriety. Ms. Sasikala faces some cases, including the disproportionate assets case in which the Supreme
Court is expected to deliver its verdict next week after a long delay. For her to stake a claim to head the government at this
juncture is ill-advised and inappropriate. If anything, this appears to be a move undertaken in the mistaken hope that a sitting
Chief Minister might enjoy greater judicial leniency with the court than an ordinary citizen would. The issue is not about the
relative abilities of Mr. Panneerselvam or Ms. Sasikala. Although he did show signs of administrative efficiency in the last couple
of months, his previous record as head of government was below par. On the two occasions he stood in for Jayalalithaa, after
her disqualification in 2001 and her conviction in 2014, Mr. Panneerselvam slowed down the administration to almost a standstill.
It was as if he wanted to make his predecessors record as Chief Minister shine in comparison. Nevertheless, he is far more
acceptable as chief minister than Ms. Sasikala, who is not regarded as the natural successor to Jayalalithaa by a large section
of the public, and the AIADMK rank and file. Ms. Sasikala should have displayed the virtues of patience, and waited for the
courts to clear her before making this move. It would also have been better had she sought the peoples mandate in a by-
election before thinking of the chief ministerial chair. In doing what she did, Ms. Sasikala has lent the impression of overthrowing
Mr. Panneerselvam through a dash of court intrigue. It is no surprise that there are many who voted for the AIADMK and
Jayalalithaa less than a year ago who feel cheated by the turn of events. By awkwardly forcing her way to the top, Ms. Sasikala
risks weakening the party and inviting popular resistance.
o Backroom - used for describing work that is important but is done in a

private or secret way, or the people who do this work

o Evidently - easily seen or understood
o Ceremonial - used for formal public events
o Elaborate - containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts
secretly
o Functionary - a person who has official duties, especially in a
government or political party
o Entreating - to keep asking someone to do something in a way that
shows you are worried and serious
o Pawn - a person who does not have any real power but is used by others
to achieve something
o En passant - if you say something en passant, you mention it while you
are talking about something else
else
o Ill-advised - not wise, and likely to cause problems in the future
o Inappropriate - unsuitable
o Leniency - a punishment that is not as serious as it could be
o Efficiency - the good use of time and energy in a way that does not
waste any
o Below par - worse than usual, or below the expected standard
crime
o Standstill - a condition in which all movement or activity has stopped
else
o Virtue - a good moral quality in a person
election
o Overthrow - to force a leader or government out of their position of
power
o Intrigue - to plan secretly, especially in order to harm or cheat someone
o Awkwardly - in a worried or embarrassed way
o Resistance - the act of fighting against something that is attacking you,
or refusing to accept something


Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Perilous U-turn on Iran"
A set of new sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States over a missile test has taken ties between the two countries,
which saw incremental improvement over a couple of years, back to the pre-Obama era. Bilateral relations were particularly
hostile during the presidency of George W. Bush, who had threatened military action over Irans nuclear programme. Barack
Obama took a different line, moored in political realism. He reached out to the Iranians and finally clinched the nuclear deal last
year, a far-sighted diplomatic solution to a complex international crisis. The U.S. and other world powers took years to find a
common ground with Iran, which prevented the country from acquiring nuclear weapons in return for removal of international
sanctions. The deal, viscerally opposed by Israel, allowed Iran to mend ties with European countries, boost its oil production
and trade with other countries, thereby minimising the pain its people had suffered due to economic sanctions. The U.S. and
Iran cooperated on the battleground in Iraq against the Islamic State. And domestically, it strengthened the hands of Iranian
moderates. This progress stands threatened by President Donald Trumps hostility towards Iran. Mr. Trump may not repeal the
nuclear deal as it is a multilateral agreement. But by putting immigration curbs on Iranian citizens, imposing new sanctions on
Iran and branding the country the greatest state sponsor of terrorism, the Trump administration has clearly announced that
dtente is dead and the policy of containment back. If Mr. Obamas Iran policy was defined by pragmatism, Mr. Trump appears
determined to pursue the agenda of restoring the bipolar balance between Saudi Arabia and Israel, the U.S.s strongest allies
in West Asia. This could prove dangerous. Iran, unlike the Iraq of 2003, is a strong regional power whose influence runs from
Iraq and Syria to Lebanon and Yemen. Any meaningful effort to stabilise West Asia calls for Irans cooperation, not hostility.
Second, the primary reason for destabilisation in West Asia is the ongoing cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Targeting
Iran by siding with the Saudis would only prompt Tehran to step up its activities in other countries through the Shia corridor.
Finally, the world, including the U.S., needs Irans cooperation to fight the Islamic State, particularly in Iraq, where Iranian-
controlled Shia militias played a key role in liberating cities. If Mr. Trump ignores these realities, he runs the risk of making West
Asia even more chaotic than it is.
oPerilous - extremely dangerous

oU-turn - a complete change from one opinion or plan of action to an
opposite one
o Threaten - to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them or cause
o Moored - controlled
group of people, usually in order to help or involve them
o Far-sighted - having good judgment about what will be needed in the
future and making wise decisions based on this
o Visceral - based on deep feeling and emotional reactions rather than on
reason or thought
o Mend - to do something to end an argument or disagreement
o Domestically - in a way that relates to a person's own country
o Moderate - a person whose opinions, especially their political ones, are
not extreme and are therefore acceptable to a large number of people
o Hostility - opposition to something (unfriendly behaviour)
o Repeal - if a government repeals a law, it causes that law no longer to
have any legal force
o Curb - a limit on something that is not wanted
o Dtente - an improvement in the relationship between two countries
that in the past were not friendly and did not trust each other

o Containment - the act of controlling or limiting something or someone
harmful
o Pragmatism - a practical way of thinking or dealing with problems that
emphasizes results and solutions more than theories
o Pursue - to try to discover information about a subject
o Restoring - to return something or someone to an earlier good condition
or position
o Bipolar - involving two completely opposing parts or groups
another one
o Hostility - an occasion when someone is unfriendly or shows that they
do not like something
o Destabilisation - to make a government, area, or political group lose
power or control, or to make a political or economic situation less strong
or safe, by causing changes and problems
o Prompt - to make someone decide to say or do something
o Liberating - making you feel free and able to behave as you like
o Chaotic - happening in a confused way and without any order or
organization
FEB 08/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Rollback in Romania"
The protests that have convulsed Romania are the largest since the fall of communism in the country in 1989. Hundreds of
thousands of Romanians have taken to the streets against the governments attempt to decriminalise graft involving sums below
a certain threshold, ostensibly for practical reasons. The move has impressed neither the citizens of Romania, nor European
Union officials in Brussels. Even the countrys President has thrown his weight behind the protests. The popular outcry against
such a blatant move to relax the rules should have been anticipated by the government, especially as it had a direct bearing on
the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which heads the current coalition. Its leader could not assume charge as Prime Minister
only because an existing law bars convicted politicians from occupying the office. Similarly, judicial proceedings currently
involving a number of elected representatives and officials are a measure of the independent functioning of the body in charge
of fighting graft. It has been argued in some quarters that the agency has been overzealous in its endeavour to combat
corruption. Either way, by venturing to ease the extent of the penalties, the ruling coalition has run the risk of being perceived
as trying to protect the guilty. Faced with popular anger, the government has rescinded the decree to let off offenders in cases
where the financial harm is less than about $48,000. But it is still insistent on pursuing its controversial objective to pardon errant
officials through the normal parliamentary route, citing in its defence the overcrowding of prisons. When Romania joined the EU
in 2007, the precondition of membership strict enforcement of the rule of law sat uneasily with the realities on the ground.
The country ranked high on the graft and crime index, besides attracting criticism for the treatment of its sizeable Roma
minorities. Many of these concerns still remain. But they are being addressed systematically through the adoption of an
institutional framework. It is these mechanisms that the governments recent moves could potentially erode. Romanians have
drawn huge economic and cultural benefits in the last decade from the freedom to move and work in a largely borderless EU. It
may not be wide off the mark to suggest that their expectations of greater accountability from their rulers may reflect a sense of
dignity and propriety arising from this greater exposure. Bucharest should not fritter away these fruits of integration.
o Rollback - to remove something, or to reduce the influence of something

o Convulse - if you are convulsed with a strong emotion, it makes your
body move in an uncontrolled way
o Decriminalise - to stop something from being illegal
o Graft - dishonest or illegal activities in politics or business that involve
giving people money or advantages in exchange for their help or support
o Threshold - the level or point at which something starts to happen


o Ostensibly - used for saying that although someone pretends to have
one reason for something, there is in fact another reason
o Throw your weight behind someone/something - to use your power
to support a plan or a project
o Outcry - a strong expression of anger and disapproval about something,
made by a group of people or by the public
o Blatant - done in an obvious way that shows you are not embarrassed
or ashamed to be doing something bad or illegal
o Convicted - proved to be guilty of a crime by a court of law
o Overzealous - doing something so much that it causes problems
difficult
o Combat - fight
o Venturing - to do something that is a risk
o Rescind - to make a law, agreement, order, or decision no longer have
any (legal) power
o Decree - an official decision or order made by a leader or government
o Let off - to allow someone not to do something that they were expecting
to have to do
o Offender - someone who has committed a crime
o Insistent - saying very firmly that something must happen or that
something is true
o Pardon - to forgive someone
o Errant - behaving in a way that is bad or wrong
o Overcrowding - unpleasant conditions caused by too many people or
things being in the same place
o Precondition - something that must happen or be done before
something else can happen
o Sizeable - large
o Erode - to gradually reduce the strength or importance of something
o Fritter away - to waste money, time, or an opportunity
o Integration - the process of combining two or more things into one
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Testing times on NEET"
It is a measured gambit by Tamil Nadu. The State has taken the legislative route to grant itself exemption from the National
Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a uniform examination that will decide admission to medical courses all over the country.
The two Bills passed by the State Assembly seek to retain its present admission system for under-graduate and post-graduate
medical courses based on marks obtained by students in their higher secondary school examination. The Bills are likely to
displease the Supreme Court, which insists that NEET marks be the sole basis for admission. The Bills will also require the
Presidents assent; else they would be repugnant to the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act and the Dentists Act that


prescribe the entrance test. Tamil Nadu, which abolished entrance examinations to professional courses in 2006, argues that
NEET would be traumatic for both parents and children, as it would be based on a syllabus different from the one taught in
schools under the board for higher secondary education. The fear is that NEET would be insurmountable for students from rural
areas and under-privileged backgrounds and those who cannot afford coaching centres. Its concern that urban students,
especially those from streams such as the CBSE, would dominate admissions under NEET cannot be dismissed easily.
Regulations introducing NEET were struck down by a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in 2013 by a two-one majority.
Last year, a five-judge Bench recalled the verdict and NEET was back in place. Students all over the country were gripped by
anxiety and tension following the sudden change in the admission method. The Centre promulgated an ordinance to grant relief
for under-graduate medical admissions in 2016, but no such protection is available this year. There is now an inevitable conflict
between the need for a fair and transparent admission system to curb rampant commercialisation of medical education and the
socio-economic goals of the State, which is worried about producing enough committed doctors ready to serve in rural areas.
Both objectives are indeed laudable. However, a moot question is whether uniformity should be thrust on a country that has
wide regional, economic and linguistic disparities. Normally it is the political leadership, and not the courts, that should harmonise
such differences and evolve a viable admission policy. At the same time, States cannot remain forever insulated from the need
to upgrade educational standards. It may be easy to advise the courts to keep out of the policy domain, but a more difficult task
is for institutions in the government and the private sector to maintain standards and pass the courts triple test of fairness,
transparency and freedom from exploitation.
oGambit - something that you say or do in an attempt to gain an

advantage
o Uniform - the same; not changing or different in any way
o Displease - to annoy someone, or to make them angry, for example by
making a mistake
o Insist - to say very firmly that something must happen or must be done
o Repugnant - extremely unpleasant or offensive
o Abolish - to officially get rid of a law, system, practice etc
o Traumatic - a traumatic experience or event makes you feel very upset,
afraid, or shocked
o Insurmountable - impossible to deal with successfully
o Underprivileged - not having as many advantages or opportunities as
most other people
o Urban - relating to towns and cities
might happen
o Promulgate - to make an idea or belief known to as many people as
possible
o Curb - to control
o Rampant - existing, happening, or spreading in an uncontrolled way
o Commercialisation - to develop something so that you can sell it and
make a profit
o Uniformity - the state of being the same as each other or as everything
else
o Linguistic - relating to languages, words
o Disparity - a lack of equality or similarity, especially in a way that is not
fair
o Harmonise - to make laws or policies similar to those of a different
country, organization etc
o Viable - able to be done, or worth doing

o Insulate - to protect someone or something from harmful experiences
or influences
o Exploitation - unfair treatment of someone, or the use of a situation in
a way that is wrong, in order to get some benefit for yourself
FEB 09/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Growing insecurity in Afghanistan"
Tuesdays blast near the Supreme Court premises in Kabul that left at least 20 people dead, underscores the growing insecurity
in Afghanistan. The suicide attack once again reveals the capability of terrorist outfits in Afghanistan to target even the most
secure places in the national capital. In the past the Taliban have targeted the court and even the Parliament building. The
government of Ashraf Ghani has condemned the attack and vowed a tough response. But beyond the rhetoric, Kabuls anti-
terror strategy has hardly been effective, considering the inroads insurgents have made in the recent years. After most foreign
troops withdrew in 2014, the Taliban have steadily stepped up attacks, expanding the civil war into residential areas. According
to a UN report, 2016 was the bloodiest year for Afghan civilians since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2001. The Talibans
territorial control has grown in strength. Last year it had briefly overrun the northern city of Kunduz and threatened to attack
several other population centres. A report by Sigar, a U.S. Congressional watchdog, says around 28% of Afghans now live in
territories over which government troops and the Taliban have been fighting. The Ghani government had initially sought an
agreement with the Taliban and reached out to Pakistan, which has some influence over the group. But this yielded nothing.
Kabul failed to cash in on an internal power struggle within the Taliban after the 2015 disclosure about the death of its leader,
Mullah Omar. The Taliban survived the death of Omars successor, Mullah Mansoor, in a U.S. drone strike. The Taliban have
over time built resources and a strong insurgent army to fight a long war with the elected government. The question is whether
the government, facing factionalism and corruption allegations, is ready for it. For Kabul, the threat is multiplying. The Islamic
State has established some presence in the country and declared a province of the Caliphate in eastern Afghanistan
Wilayat Khorasan. To turn its fortunes around in the 15-year-old civil war, Afghanistan needs to strengthen the administration.
Mr. Ghani should initiate the administrative reforms he had promised and put up a stronger, united fight against terrorist groups.
Kabul should seek more help and a higher level of commitment from other countries, including the U.S., in combating terror. A
weakening of the civilian government and its capacity to ensure security is not in the interest of any global power.
o Insecurity - the state of being open to danger or threat (lack of

protection)
o Premises - the land and buildings owned by someone, especially by a
company or organization
o Underscores - to emphasize something, or to show that it is important
o Suicide - the act of killing yourself intentionally
o Capability - the number of weapons, soldiers etc that a country has for
fighting a war
o Outfit - an organization, especially a small firm
o Condemn - to criticize something or someone strongly
people
long period of time
o Inroads - direct and noticeable effects on something
own country
country
o Bloodiest - extremely violent and involving a lot of blood and injuries


o Overrun - to defeat an enemy in war and take the land that they control
o Threatened - to tell someone that you will kill or hurt them or cause
o Watchdog - a person or organization that works to stop people from
doing illegal things in a particular area of business or society
o Yielded - to produce something useful such as information or evidence
o Disclosure - the act of making something known or the fact that is made
known
o Drone - an aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled by
someone on the ground, used especially for dropping bombs
o Factionalism - arguments or fights between two or more small groups
from within a larger group
o Turn something around - to cause a situation or organization to
change in a positive direction
o Combating - fighting
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The revenge of the underdog"

Personal angst, public interest, and a sharp eye for a political opportunity have combined in different measures to prompt Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to do what he himself may have regarded as unthinkable: revolt against the AIADMK
leadership. A die-hard loyalist of Jayalalithaa, and by extension of his one-time benefactor Ms. Sasikala, Mr. Panneerselvam,
who was perceived as the archetypal feudal supplicant, chose his moment to strike back at the patricians in the party. After
years of bowing before Jayalalithaa, and doing as he was told unquestioningly, the three-time stand-in Chief Minister wanted,
entirely legitimately, more leeway under Ms. Sasikala. Clearly, he realised after Jayalalithaas death, that he would have to put
up with another round of slavish obeisance. But it was when he sensed the public mood turning against Ms. Sasikala that he
found the courage and the strength to protest. In invoking Jayalalithaas name to justify his revolt, Mr. Panneerselvam is trying
to project that it is he who is her chosen political heir. It is difficult to say how successful he will be in inheriting this mantle, but
the political damage he has done to Ms. Sasikala is considerable. Not many AIADMK MLAs may have joined his revolt, but it
has touched a chord with the rank and file, something she will have to contend with. On the defensive as she awaits a Supreme
Court judgment in the disproportionate assets case, the long-standing friend of Jayalalithaa appears vulnerable both legally and
politically. Clearly, the cloak of invincibility that Jayalalithaa seemed to have on her during even the most testing times was not
Ms. Sasikalas to wear. What Mr. Panneerselvam demonstrated to the AIADMK cadre was that there was nothing to recommend
Ms. Sasikala other than her proximity to Jayalalithaa; in this she was only marginally better placed than Deepa Jayakumar,
Jayalalithaas niece, who is also making a bid to inherit the political legacy without ever having any kind of association with
politics. Mr. Panneerselvams revolt, which took some time coming, did have a political repercussion, as a small clutch of party
leaders disenchanted with Ms. Sasikala gravitated towards him. It gave Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, and the Centre, some
breathing time. Mr. Rao, who is yet to come to Chennai after Mr. Panneerselvams resignation, is in no hurry to swear in Ms.
Sasikala as Chief Minister. To do so now would be a huge mistake in the event of a conviction in the judgment, expected in a
few days. No matter what else it does or does not, this revenge of the underdog is a success. It might not help Mr.
Panneerselvam much in the short term, but could have long-term implications for Ms. Sasikala. That is the nature of revenge.
o Underdog - a person or group of people with less power, money, etc.

than the rest of society
o Angst - strong worry and unhappiness, especially about personal
problems
o Regarded - to consider or have an opinion about something or someone
o Unthinkable - so shocking that it cannot be imagined as possible

o Die-hard - used for saying that it is difficult to change a way of behaving
that someone has had for many years
ruler in power
o Benefactor - someone who gives money to help an organization,
society, or person
about something
o Archetypal - very typical of a particular type of person or thing
o Feudal - outdated or old-fashioned.
o Supplicant - someone who requests something from someone powerful
or from God
o Patrician - belonging to or typical of the highest social class
o Bowing - to bend your head or body forward, especially as a way of
showing someone respect
o Unquestioningly - never doubting or criticizing
o Legitimately - allowed by law
o Put up - to raise something
o Slavish - obeying completely and having no original thoughts or ideas
o Obeisance - the fact of obeying or respecting someone, or something
you do that expresses this
o Turning against someone/something - to stop liking or supporting
someone or something and to start opposing them
opposition
o Justify - to show that there is a good reason for something, especially
something that other people think is wrong
o Heir - someone who will receive money, property, or a title when another
person dies
o Inherit - o receive property or money from someone who has died
o Mantle - the responsibilities of an important position or job, especially
as given from the person who had the job to the person who replaces
them
o Asset - something such as money or property that a person or company
owns
o Cloak - something that hides, covers, or keeps something else secret
o Invincibility - too strong to be defeated
distance or time
o Niece - a daughter of your brother or sister, or a daughter of your
husband's or wife's brother or sister


o Legacy - money or property that you receive from someone after they
die
o Clutch - o take or try to take hold of something tightly, usually in fear,
worry, or pain
o Gravitate - to be attracted to or move toward something
crime
o Revenge - something that you do to hurt or punish someone because
they have hurt you
saying it directly
FEB 10/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Prudence amid uncertainty"

For the first time in six meetings this fiscal, the Reserve Bank of India has shifted its policy poise, moving to neutral from an
accommodative stance. The central banks Monetary Policy Committee has opted to sit pat on rates and choose to give itself
time to assess how the transitory effects of demonetisation on inflation and the output gap play out. The decision came just a
day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament that the governments move to withdraw high-value currency notes had
been undergirded by the premise that the economy was doing well and thus our decision was taken at the right time. The
RBIs emphasis on caution suggests that not only has the economy suffered short-run disruptions as the central bank said
in December but that the long-term impact may be far more enduring and hard to predict than anticipated. The policy
statement issued by the six-member MPC also projected the second successive downward revision in economic growth as
measured by the Gross Value Added for the current year ending in March, with the pace of increase in GVA now forecast at
6.9%, from 7.1% in December and 7.6% prior to the November demonetisation. Separately, both the outlook for inflation and
international uncertainty are also causes for concern, according to the RBI. Viral Acharya, the recently inducted Deputy Governor
overseeing monetary policy, flagged the risks that global inflation and a strengthening U.S. dollar pose to domestic price gains.
Specifically, the central bank is worried about the unyielding nature of core retail inflation, which strips out food and fuel costs,
and has been stuck around 4.9% since September, mainly due to stickiness in price gains for housing, health, education,
personal care and household services. The MPC reckons that the persistence of inflation excluding food and fuel could set a
floor on further downward movements in headline inflation and trigger second-order effects that, when combined with hardening
international crude oil and base metal prices and exchange rate volatility. It could have the potential to threaten the RBIs
baseline inflation path of 4.5% to 5% in the second half of 2017-18. And ironically, were the effects of demonetisation to wear
off quickly, vegetable prices, that had softened on the back of distress sales of perishables, could potentially rebound, posing
another risk to the central banks inflation outlook. As Mr. Acharya summed it up at the post-policy briefing, the RBI has plumped
for prudence and flexibility.
o Prudence - careful, and using good judgment

o Uncertainty - a situation in which something is not known, or something
that is not known or certain
situations
o Neutral- not saying or doing anything that would encourage or help any
of the groups involved in an argument or war
o Accommodative - to consider and include something when you are
deciding what to do
o Monetary Policy - actions taken by a government to control the amount
of money in an economy

o Opted - to make a choice
o Sit pat - to refuse to make any changes
o Transitory - lasting for only a short time
particular currency
o Play out - to develop or end in a particular way
o Undergirded - to strengthen, support, hold
o Premise - an idea or theory on which a statement or action is based
o Thus - as a result of the fact that you have just mentioned
something
a problem
o Projected - planned for the future or calculated based on information
already known
o Outlook - the likely future situation
o Uncertainty - the fact that something is not known or has not been
decided
o Induct - to officially give someone a new job or position, especially in a
formal ceremony
o Unyielding - very strict and severe
o Strips out something - to ignore particular numbers or facts in a
situation in order to understand what is really important
o Stickiness - qualities that encourage people to spend a long time in a
shop, on a website, etc
o Reckon - to consider or have the opinion that something is as stated
exist
o Crude oil - oil from underground that has not yet been made into other
products
o Base metal - a common metal, such as lead, tin, or copper, that reacts
easily with other chemicals and is not a precious metal
o Threaten - to be likely to harm or destroy something


o Ironically - used for saying that a situation has developed in an
unexpected and sometimes humorous way
o Perishables - food products that decay quickly
o Briefing - information that is given to someone just before they do
something, or a meeting where this happens
o Plumped for something - to choose something, especially after taking
time for careful thought
o Prudence - cautiousness (being careful and avoiding risks)
o Flexibility - the quality of being able to change or be changed easily
according to the situation
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Bowing down to patriarchy"
One of the success stories of affirmative action in India has been the implementation of reservation of seats in local body
elections for women, to the order of 33% or more. The importance of democratising the public sphere by inclusive participation
of women in a largely male-dominated society cannot be stressed enough. In rural areas the quota has helped improve local
governance, enhancing outcomes in delivery of civic services related to drinking water supply, sanitation and irrigation, among
others. In urban local bodies, the visible impact has been more quantitative in terms of representation rather than qualitative,
with success being linked to emphasis on gender sensitisation by civil society and political parties. It is therefore unfortunate
that the Nagaland government, after initial steadfastness to hold the long-delayed urban local body polls on February 1, declared
the elections as null and void after some tribal bodies, opposed to reservations for women, sought to disrupt the process.
Rather than bowing to this pressure, the State government led by the Nagaland Peoples Front should have enforced the rule
of law. That a substantial number of towns participated in the elections despite a bandh called by the tribal bodies reflects public
support for affirmative action as mandated by the 74th Amendment to the Constitution. Article 371A of the Constitution secures
a special status for Nagaland. But as the civil society groups striving for reservation have argued, urban local bodies are not
part of traditional Naga society, and ULBs are constitutional bodies to which customary Naga laws cannot be applied. The
conduct of the long-delayed elections was achieved after a protracted legal struggle led by womens groups. Arguments against
womens reservation invoking Naga customs have been consistently quashed by the courts, ultimately paving the way for
elections to be announced for February 1. The State government later submitted to pressure exerted by the Naga Hoho, an
apex group of 16 tribal groups, which smelled blood and sought Chief Minister T.R. Zeliangs resignation. The State government
then wrote to the Centre seeking exemption for Nagaland from Part IXA of the Constitution which is clearly untenable. The
Centre, meanwhile, sees Nagaland merely through the lens of the still- pending peace accord with some insurgent groups. This
milieu has emboldened patriarchal forces to assert themselves and deny women their constitutionally guaranteed rights of
representation in local bodies. Civil society and womens groups now have their work cut out in realising their just demand for
electoral representation. Denial of womens rights cannot be a measure of the States autonomy.
o Bowing down - to show respect to someone who is more powerful than

you
o Patriarchy - a society, system, or organization in which men have all or
most of the power and influence
o Affirmative - a word or phrase that indicates agreement, support
o Democratising - to change the way of running a government or
making decisions
o Inclusive - deliberately aiming to involve all types of people
o Enhancing - to improve the quality, amount, or strength of something
o Civic - of a town or city or the people who live in it
o Irrigation - the supply of water to land or crops to help growth
o Quantitative - relating to numbers or amounts
o Qualitative - relating to how good or bad something is
something
o Sensitisation - to make someone notice or understand a situation or
problem

o Steadfastness - staying the same for a long time and not changing
quickly or unexpectedly
o Null and void - with no legal effect
prevented by
o Mandate - to give official permission for something to happen
being discussed
o Striving - to make a lot of effort to achieve something
o Customary - usual / traditional
o Protracted - lasting for a long time or made to last longer than
necessary
o Invoking - to use a law in order to achieve something
o Consistently - in a way that does not vary
o Quash - to say officially that something, especially an earlier official
decision, is no longer to be accepted
o Paving the way - if something paves the way for/to something else, it
o Smelled blood - to recognize an opportunity to take advantage of
someone who is in a difficult situation
o Exemption - the fact of not having to obey a rule or do something that
other people have to do
o Untenable - ann untenable situation cannot continue as it is
is happening
o Merely - just; only
own country
o Milieu - the particular people and society that surround you and
influence the way in which you behave
o Embolden - to make someone brave
o Patriarchal - a patriarchal society, system, organization etc is one in
which men have all or most of the power and influence
o Assert - to do something to show that you have power
o Constitutionally - according to the rules in a constitution:
o Representation - a sign, symbol, or picture of something
o Civil society - the part of society that consists of organizations and
institutions that help and look after people, their health, and their rights
o Autonomy - a situation in which a state, region, or organization is
FEB 11/2017

Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Israels continuing land grab"
The passage of legislation by Israel that would legalise nearly 4,000 Jewish settler homes on private Palestinian lands in the
West Bank flies in the face of international law and norms. That the vote comes weeks after the UN Security Council demanded
that Israel stop all settlement activity in the Occupied Territories, and an international conference attended by more than 70
countries urged both sides in the conflict to resume talks, shows Israels disregard for international opinion and institutions. The
legislation allows the Israeli government to expropriate private Palestinian land if the land-owners are unknown. If known, they
will be compensated in cash or kind. However, the legislation, which for the first time since the annexation of East Jerusalem
seeks to extend Israeli law to the West Bank, can be overturned by the judiciary. Israels Attorney-General has said he wouldnt
defend the bill in the high court as it is unconstitutional and violates international law. However, this is unlikely to stop the
ideology-driven settler movement and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from taking more Palestinian land.
Since Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem five decades ago, about 140 settlements have been built in Palestinian
territories that house more than 600,000 Jews. Despite frequent international criticism, successive governments have thrown
their weight behind the settlement lobby. Mr. Netanyahu, who is dependent on the right-wing coalition parties for his
governments survival, has played along. Last month, his government approved plans for 2,500 new settler homes in the West
Bank. Israel still says it is committed to the two-state solution. But how will the two-state solution stay relevant if it continues to
grab Palestinian land where an independent Palestinian state is supposed to come up? The Netanyahu government has shown
no particular interest in resuming negotiations, while its right-wing allies are boasting of expanding Israeli sovereignty to Judea
and Samaria, the biblical names for the West Bank. And now Israeli authorities feel emboldened by the election of Donald
Trump as U.S. President. He has promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a disputed city, slammed
the Obama administration for not using its veto powers in the UNSC over the settlement resolution in December 2016, and even
praised the controversial security wall Israel has built through Palestinian lands. Mr. Netanyahu, facing pressure from coalition
partners, may be hoping to continue the status quo of occupation, provided Mr. Trump offers the protection to Tel Aviv that he
promised during the campaign. That would make peace yet more distant in West Asia.
o Land grab - the act of taking an area of land by force, for military or
economic reasons
o Passage - the official approval of something, especially a new law
o Flies in the face of someone / something - to challenge someone or
something
o Occupied - an occupied place is being controlled by an army or group of
people that has moved into it
o Territory - (an area of) land, or sometimes sea, that is considered as
belonging to or connected with a particular country or person
o Urged - to strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular
thing
o Disregard - the fact of showing no care or respect for something
o Expropriate - to take away money or property especially for public use
without payment to the owner, or for personal use illegally
o Annexation - to take possession of an area of land or a country, usually
by force or without permission
o Attorney-General - the top legal officer in some countries, whose job is
to provide legal advice to the government and to represent the
government
o Unconstitutional - not allowed by the constitution (= set of rules for
government) of a country or organization


o Violate - to break or act against something, especially a law, agreement,
principle, or something that should be treated with respect
o Lobby - an action such as a protest or meeting which is intended to
influence politicians
a particular purpose, usually for a limited time, or a government that is
formed in this way
exist
o Played along - to do what someone asks you to do, for a limited period
of time
o Come up - to happen, usually unexpectedly
o Resuming - to start again after a pause
o Boasting - to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done or
what you own
o Biblical - in or relating to the Bible
o Emboldened - to make someone brave
o Embassy - the group of people who represent their country in a foreign
country
o Disputed - a disputed area is one that different countries claim belongs
to them, so that there is a disagreement or war between them
o Status quo - the present situation:
o Distant - far away from the place where you are
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "As unpredictable as it gets"

Indias most populous State finally goes to the polls today, beginning a seven-phase process that starts from the western fringe
of Uttar Pradesh. In this first phase, 73 Assembly constituencies in 15 districts of western Uttar Pradesh will elect their legislators
in what is clearly the most diversely contested region of the State, the only one in which all four parties/fronts, the Bharatiya
Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party-Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, fancy their chances. That
they all see themselves to be firmly in the hunt indicates the change in western U.P. since the 2014 general election when the
BJP registered its biggest margins of leads in Assembly segments. Then, riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in 2013
had resulted in communal polarisation in the BJPs favour, supplementing the Narendra Modi wave in the State: the BJP alliance
netted 73 of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats. But two years is a long time in politics, and issues such as the demonetisation, the
performance of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, and BSP leader Mayawatis reliance on a new samikaran (caste-religion
arithmetic) have all changed the nature of the campaign. The muddle in Middle Doab This time, reports suggest that many in
the landed peasantry among Jats are looking again at the RLD, which till not long ago had been staring at a political decline, as

a viable choice. Despite a relatively favourable monsoon and a better agrarian harvest, farmers are now less well-disposed
towards the BJP following the demonetisation. The BSP has struck a chord with its traditional support base among Dalits and
has fielded a large number of Muslim candidates to consolidate support among the minorities. The SP-Congress alliance seeks
to ride a wave of positive support for Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav after his combat with party elders. The BJP has its task cut
out to retain its support here, with the effects of the demonetisation hurting traders too. But Mr. Modis appeal is still strong,
especially among the younger voters. The party has tried to use dog-whistle politics talking of an anti-Romeo campaign, for
example, as a softer version of its earlier love jihad mobilisation as a polarising tactic, but it is not clear if that will pay off. A
more sound strategy has been its reliance on the non-Yadav Other Backward Classes to take on the identity politics of the BSP
and the SP. All said, the political landscape in western U.P. remains dynamic, making predictions risky. However, as in the past,
the very specific issues of western U.P. may well influence the rest of the State.
oUnpredictable - changing often, in a way that is impossible to prepare

for
o Populous - a populous country, area, or place has a lot of people living
in it
o Legislator - a member of a group of people who together have the power
to make laws
o Diverse - including many different types of people or things
o Fancy - to want to have or do something
o Riot - a noisy, violent, and uncontrolled public meeting
o Communal - belonging to or used by a group of people rather than one
single person
particular currency
o Reliance - the state of depending on or trusting in something or
someone
o Peasantry - peasants, considered as a social class
prevented by
o Favourable - showing that someone likes or approves of someone or
something
fields
o Well-disposed - friendly and helpful
o Struck a chord with something - to cause people approve / agree to
something
o Consolidate - to combine several small things
o Minorities - any small group in society that is different from the rest
because of their race, religion, or political beliefs, or a person who
belongs to such a group
o Combat - fight

o Trader - a person who buys and sells things
o Dog-whistle - used for referring to political messages that are aimed at
particular groups and will only be fully understood by them
o Romeo - a man who tries to have sexual relationships with many
different women
o Pay off - if something you have done pays off, it is successful
o Dynamic - having a lot of ideas and enthusiasm
o Prediction - a statement about what you think will happen in the future
FEB 13/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "One China check for Donald Trump"

President Donald Trumps stated commitment to honour the One China policy signals a softening of his administrations
approach towards Beijing. Earlier, Mr. Trump had given enough indications that he would pursue a radically different policy
towards Beijing by reviewing the One China policy, a cornerstone of Sino-U.S. relations. First, he accepted a congratulatory call
from the Taiwanese President, breaking 37 years of American practice and thereby infuriating Beijing. Later, in an interview, he
declined to endorse the One China policy unless he saw progress from Beijing in its trade and currency policies, triggering
speculation that he would improve ties with Taiwan and use the policy as a bargaining chip. Such speculation was effectively
killed last week when Mr. Trump took a 180-degree turn on China in his first telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi
Jinping. It is not clear what made Mr. Trump change his mind. Some reports suggest that ever since he accepted the call from
the Taiwanese leader, Beijing drew a One China red line for further cooperation on key issues between the two countries. It
took three weeks for the Trump-Xi conversation to take place after the former took office, a relatively long time given the
importance of bilateral ties between the worlds largest economies. Mr. Trump had talked to at least 30 world leaders before he
got Mr. Xi on the line. The administration had taken clear measures to ease tensions with Beijing, largely caused by Mr. Trumps
remarks. The White House first sent belated Chinese new year greetings to Mr. Xi and released the letter to the public. Only
then did both leaders speak. This could well be a reality check for Mr. Trump in his future engagement with China. For Beijing,
the One China policy is the bedrock of its engagement with the world. Picking a fight with China over an issue it deems most
sensitive in its security parlance in the initial days of his presidency shows bad diplomatic judgment on the part of Mr. Trump. It
would unnecessarily escalate tensions between the two countries. This doesnt mean the U.S. should accept Chinese terms on
all global issues. There are areas where both can cooperate, such as in dealing with global conflicts; areas where they compete,
such as in trade and investment; and areas where they disagree, such as the South China Sea dispute. The challenge before
Mr. Trump is to address these issues with Beijing without disrupting the existing equilibrium in Sino-U.S. ties.
o Softening - a lack of increase or a reduction in the level of something

o Pursue - to follow a course of activity
o Radically - completely
o Cornerstone - something of great importance that everything else
depends on
o Congratulatory - offering congratulations
o Infuriating - extremely annoying
o Declined - to refuse
o Endorse - o make a public statement of your approval or support for
o Triggering - causing someone to feel upset and frightened because they
are made to remember something bad that has happened in the past
o Bargaining - to try to make someone agree to give you something that
is better for you, such as a better price or better working conditions
o Conversation - a talk between two or more people


o Ever since - during the whole period of time since something happened
o Measure - a way of achieving something
o Ease - to make or become less severe, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc
o Belated - coming later than expected
o Reality check - an occasion that causes you to consider the facts about
o Bedrock - the main principles on which something is based
o Parlance - a group of words or style of speaking used by a particular
group of people
o Escalate - to make something become greater or more serious
o Dispute - an argument or disagreement, especially an official one
o Equilibrium - a state of balance
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Solar power breaks a price barrier"

In another barrier-breaking development, the auctioned price of solar photovoltaic (SPV) power per kilowatt hour has dropped
below 3 to 2.97 in Madhya Pradesh, providing a clear pointer to the future course of renewable energy. The levellised tariff
factoring in a small annual increase for a given period of time for the 750 MW Rewa project over a 25-year period is 3.29,
which is less than half the rate at which some State governments signed contracts in recent years. The progress of this clean
source of energy must be deepened with policy incentives, for several reasons. Arguably, the most important is the need to
connect millions of people without access to electricity. A rapid scaling-up of solar capacity is vital also to meet the national goal
of installing 100 gigawatts by 2022, a target that is being internationally monitored as part of the countrys pledges under the
Paris Agreement on climate change. It will also be transformational for the environment, since pollution from large new coal-
based power plants can be avoided. There is everything to gain by accelerating the pace of growth that essentially began in
2010, with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. Yet, performance has not matched intent and the target of installing 12
GW solar capacity in 2016-17 is far from attainable, since it fell short by almost 10 GW as of December. ALSO READ Sunny
days ahead for solar power A glaring lacuna in the national policy on renewables is the failure to tap the investment potential
of the middle class. While grid-connected large-scale installations have received maximum attention, there is slow progress on
rooftop solar. Clearly, adding capacity of the order of more than 10 GW annually over the next six years towards the 100 GW
target will require active participation and investment by the buildings sector, both residential and commercial. This process can
be kick-started using mass participation by citizens, with State electricity utilities being given mandatory time frames to introduce
net-metering systems with a feed-in tariff that is designed to encourage the average consumer to invest in PV modules, taking
grid electricity prices into account. The experience of Germany, where robust solar expansion has been taking place over the
years, illustrates the benefits of policy guarantees for rooftop installations and feed-in tariffs lasting 20 years. SPV costs are
expected to continue to fall, and tariffs paid both for large plants and smaller installations require periodic review. At some point,
significant subsidies may no longer be necessary. That scenario, however, is for the future. Currently, India needs a lot more
good quality power, which renewables provide. Solar power is an emissions-free driver of the economy, generating growth in
both direct and indirect employment. A lot of sunlight remains to be tapped.
o Barrier - anything that prevents progress or makes it difficult for

someone to achieve something
o Auction - a usually public sale of goods or property, where people make
higher and higher bids (= offers of money) for each thing, until the thing
is sold to the person who will pay most
o Renewable energy - renewable energy replace itself by natural
processes, so that it is never completely used up
o Factoring - the process by which a number or variable is written as a
product of two or more terms (= numbers or symbols)


shown to be true
o Scaling-up - to increase the size, amount, or importance of something,
usually an organization or process
o Vital - necessary for the success or continued existence of something;
extremely important
o Monitor - to watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time in
order to discover something about it
o Transformational - able to produce a big change or improvement in a
situation
o Accelerating - to happen or make something happen sooner or faster
o Far from - not at all
o Attainable - possible to achieve
o Fell short - to fail to reach an amount or standard that was expected or
hoped for, causing disappointment
o Lacuna - an empty space where something is missing
o Residential - relating to where you live or have lived
o Commercial - related to buying and selling things
demanded by law
o Periodic - happening repeatedly over a period of time
o Emission - he act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc
o Tap - to get or make use of something
FEB 14/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Rebel factor, minority choices"

Uttarakhand goes to the polls on Wednesday for its fourth Assembly elections since its formation after it was carved out from
Uttar Pradesh in 2000. The electoral fight here has always been between the Congress and the BJP, but this time around the
bipolar contest has been muddied with rebels from both parties expected to act as spoilers. By virtue of how the two national
parties have conducted their campaigns, the election is billed as a contest between Chief Minister Harish Rawat of the Congress
and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the BJP. The Congress has sought to make the polls a referendum on the performance
and image of Mr. Rawat. The Chief Minister lost his post temporarily last year with the imposition of Presidents Rule, before a
Supreme Court verdict returned him to power. The BJP has projected Mr. Modi as the face of its campaign, and focussed its
attack on Mr. Rawat. This personality-centric strategy has meant that issues such as flood and disaster relief and reconstruction,
protection of the environment and declining farm productivity in the hills have been pushed to the margins. Instead, the OROP
issue, demonetisation the effects of which are more pronounced in the plains than in the hills and abstract promises on
employment-centred development and promotion of tourism have found more air, as they were the calling cards of Mr. Modi
and Mr. Rawat during the campaign. The two parties have relied on contrasting strategies, with the BJP undertaking a door-to-
door, grassroots effort in the hills and the Congress fielding its campaign strategist Prashant Kishor to up its social media pitch.
As has all along been the case in Uttarakhand, the contest is expected to be close. ALSO READ In the hands of the rebels The
second phase of polling in U.P., in Rohilkhand, on Wednesday covers constituencies that have a relatively higher proportion of
Muslim voters. Expectedly, the Samajwadi Party-Congress combine and the Bahujan Samaj Party have sought to consolidate
minority support, which is reflected in the selection of candidates. However, reducing the contest in these seats in northwestern
U.P. to merely the question of which party is more secular would be a disservice to the voters, who make up 17% of the States
population and who live in a region with abysmal socio-economic indicators. While many of those engaged in the small-scale
and unorganised sector have been severely affected by demonetisation, better agricultural productivity in the last year has
helped farmers raise income levels. These developments are expected to have an impact on electoral choices, continuing the

THE HINDU VOCABULARY

trend of unpredictability in the U.P. elections this year.
VBY_KANI
o Carved out - to create / develop
o Bipolar - involving two completely opposing parts or groups
o Contest - competition
o Muddied - not clear or pure
o Spoiler - someone who spoils someone elses performance or success in
an election or competition
o By virtue of something - because of; as a result of
o Billed as something - to advertise or describe someone or something
in a particular way, especially in order to make them sound interesting
or important
question
o Disaster - an event that results in great harm, damage, or death, or
serious difficulty
o Reconstruction - the process of building or creating something again
that has been damaged or destroyed
o Declin - to gradually become less, worse, or lower
o Productivity - the rate at which goods are produced, especially in
relation to the time, money, and workers needed to produce them
o Margin - the profit made on a product or service
o Instead - in place of someone or something else
particular currency
o Pronounced - very noticeable or certain
o Abstract - existing as an idea
o Calling cards - evidence that someone or something has been to a place
o Contrasting - very different
situations
o Door-to-door - going to all the houses in a particular area, for example
in order to sell something or to ask for information or votes
o Constituency - the people who live and can vote in a particular area
o Merely - just; only
o Disservice - an action that harms something or someone


o Abysmal - very bad
o Socio-economic - related to the differences between groups of people
caused mainly by their financial situation
o Small-scale - smaller or less important than other things of the same
kind
o Unpredictability - the quality of being impossible to predict
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "North Korea lobs a missile challenge"

On the face of it, the launch of a medium-range ballistic missile by North Korea on Sunday is yet another reckless provocation
by its leader Kim Jong-un. Last year, the Kim regime tested at least a dozen missiles and even vowed to launch an
intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit the U.S. Each time the tests have triggered angry and anxious responses from
world leaders, particularly from Japan, South Korea and the U.S. The UN Security Council has already imposed a host of
sanctions on the country. But neither sanctions nor warnings issued by other powers have had any impact on North Koreas
bellicose behaviour. There is a method in Pyongyangs madness; a hidden pattern behind the aggressive posturing and frequent
violation of international law. The latest missile test, the first after Donald Trump became the U.S. President, comes at a time
when he was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This is not the first time North Korea is challenging a new U.S.
President with a weapons test. In 2009, a few months after Barack Obama took office, Pyongyang conducted an underground
nuclear blast. Mr. Obama saw it as a provocation and responded with the tightening of international sanctions on the country.
ALSO READ North Korea warns it has restarted all nuclear bomb fuel plants Mr. Obamas hardline approach, however, did
little to alter North Koreas aggressive weapons programme. Mr. Trump is now facing his Obama moment. North Korea was not
one of his top priority areas. But it has now stormed into the Presidents first set of foreign policy challenges. His immediate
reaction was marked by measured restraint, in sharp contrast to his response to the recent missile test by Iran, which has been
put on notice by his administration. That may be because Mr. Trump knows that the stakes are higher as North Korea is a
nuclear power. As in the case of his predecessors, he doesnt have many options to address the Pyongyang challenge.
Sanctions are already in place. The regime is already isolated. War is out of the question as North Korea could directly target
Americas allies in East Asia with nuclear weapons. One less explored and apparently feasible idea is to get China, which still
has some leverage over Pyongyang, on board and engage the Kim regime diplomatically, without removing the sanctions.
However erratic a regimes actions may seem, the first lesson in international diplomacy is to deal with nation states as rational
actors. Sanctions are effective only when they are used in carrot-and-stick mode. Responding to North Koreas provocative
posturing with counter-provocations will yield hardly any diplomatic dividend.
o Lob - to throw something so that it goes high into the air

o On the face of it - used when you are describing how a situation seems
on the surface
o Bballistic missile - a missile (= flying weapon) that has power in order
to direct it on its flight, but that continues and falls towards its target
without power
o Reckless - doing something dangerous and not worrying about the risks
and the possible results
angry
o Intercontinental - going between continents (=main divisions of the
world such as Europe or Asia)
o Impose - to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or
received
o A host of - a large number of something


o Neither ... nor - used when you want to say that two or more things are
not true
o Impact - a marked effect or influence.
o Bellicose - wishing to fight or start a war
o Aggressive - behaving in an angry and violent way towards another
person
o Posturing - behaviour or speech that is intended to attract attention and
interest, or to make people believe something that is not true
respect
o Hosting - to organize and be in charge of a meal or party for guests,
especially an official one
etc
o Hardline - very serious / strict
o Stormed into - to enter or leave a place in a way that shows that you
are angry
o Foreign policy - a government's policy on dealing with other countries,
for example in matters relating to trade or defence
o Measured - careful and controlled, or not fast
business
else
o Isolated - used about countries and organizations that others refuse to
deal with
o Out of the question - to be an event that cannot possibly happen
certain is true
o Feasible - possible or likely to succeed
o Diplomatically - in a sensitive way that does not upset or offend
anybody
o Erratic - changing often or not following a regular pattern, so that it is
difficult to know what will happen next
o Carrot-and-stick - a system in which you are rewarded for some actions
and threatened with punishment for others
o Provocative - intended to start arguments between people or to make
people angry or upset
o Yield - produce


o Dividend - profit
FEB 15/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The conviction and after"

Corruption in high places is a malaise that is easy to diagnose but difficult to cure. Even in the rare cases they are arraigned
before a court, top politicians often pay their way through legal battles, and spend little or no time in incarceration. The conviction
of AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case involving her close friend, former Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa, as the prime accused, is a significant marker in Indias legal and political history. The charges against Jayalalithaa
abated following her death last December, but Ms. Sasikala had to face the full wrath of the Supreme Court, which has upheld
the trial court order in toto, leaving her to spend four years in prison. As Justice Amitava Roy wrote in his concurring order,
corruption is a vice of insatiable avarice for self-aggrandisement by the unscrupulous, taking unfair advantage of their power
and authority. While there is no denying that the judgment has strengthened confidence in the justice delivery system, it is
mystifying that the ruling has come more than eight months after the two-member Bench concluded hearing arguments in the
case. All the more so, since the basic thrust of the judgment only endorsed the position taken by the trial court in Bengaluru,
which held all the accused in the case guilty. Given that the Supreme Court had pressed the Karnataka High Court to hear the
appeal expeditiously, there was no justification in such an inordinate delay. ALSO READ DA case verdict shows that the
corrupt cannot escape from law, says Acharya Politically, this could not have come at a worse time for Ms. Sasikala, who was
making a determined bid for power, staking claim to form the government after displacing one-time loyalist O. Panneerselvam.
Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao had held off inviting Ms. Sasikala to form the government despite her demonstrating the support
of a majority of the members of the legislature precisely because he anticipated such a situation. Now, however, the options
before him are a lot clearer. If the newly elected leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party, Edappadi Palaniswami, is able to show
the support of at least 117 MLAs, he will have to be sworn in as Chief Minister. Though there are allegations that the MLAs were
kept forcibly at a resort by the Sasikala camp, Mr. Panneerselvam is nowhere close to splitting the AIADMK legislature party
despite the support of the rank and file. Notwithstanding the legal setback, Ms. Sasikala may be able to trump Mr.
Panneerselvam politically. But her success in keeping the MLAs together may depend on the Governors next move; whatever
that is, Tamil Nadu is destined for more political churn.

crime
o Corruption - dishonest or illegal behaviour by officials or people in
positions of power, especially when they accept money in exchange for
doing things for someone
o Malaise - a general feeling of being worried, unhappy, or not satisfied
o Diagnose - to find out the problem
o Cure - to solve a problem
o Arraign - to formally accuse someone in a law court of a particular crime
and ask that person to say if they are guilty or not
o Incarceration - to put someone in prison
else
o Accused - the person who is on trial in a law court
o Charge - (of the police) to make a formal statement saying that someone
is accused of a crime:
o Abate - to become less strong
o Upheld - if a court of law uphelds something such as a claim, it says that
it is correct
o In toto - as a total or whole
o Concurring - to agree or have the same opinion
o Vice - a moral fault or weakness in someone's character
o Insatiable - always wanting more and never feeling satisfied


o Avarice - a strong feeling that you want to have a lot of money and
possessions and keep them for yourself
o Aggrandisement - an increase in power or importance that is not
deserved or reasonable
o Unscrupulous - behaving in a way that is dishonest or unfair in order
to get what you want
o Theres no denying - used for saying that something is clearly true
o Mystifying - to confuse someone by being or doing something very
strange or impossible to explain
o Thrust - the main idea, subject, or opinion that is discussed or written
about
o Endorsed - to make a public statement of your approval or support for
o The accused - the person who is on trial in a law court (for committing
a crime)
o Displacing - to force something or someone out of its usual or original
position
ruler in power
o Held off - to not do something immediately
o Forcibly - with physical power or violence
o Resort - a place where many people go for rest, sport, or another stated
purpose
from developing
o Destined - certain to happen in the future
o Churn - quick movement
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Early setback for Mr. Trump"
President Donald Trump suffered a big political blow on Monday, barely a month into office, when his National Security Adviser,
Michael Flynn, resigned over his Russia contacts. Mr. Flynn, a close aide of Mr. Trump, admitted that he had inadvertently
briefed Vice-President Mike Pence with incomplete information about his phone conversation with the Russian ambassador
in Washington, Sergey Kislyak. The allegation is that Mr. Flynn discussed American sanctions on Russia with Mr. Kislyak in the
waning days of the Obama presidency and told him that Russia should wait till Mr. Trumps inauguration. He later denied
speaking of the sanctions, and based on his brief, Mr. Pence publicly defended him. But after the media reported that they had
sources vouching that Mr. Flynn had discussed the sanctions with the envoy, it became impossible for the White House to
defend him. Technically, Mr. Flynns calls with the Russian ambassador before he became part of the government are a breach
of an 18th century law, the Logan Act, that makes it illegal for private individuals to conduct foreign policy. The context is grave

for the Trump administration. There are already allegations that Moscow interfered in the presidential elections in favour of Mr.
Trump and that the Russians have some compromising personal information about Mr. Trump. ALSO READ Kremlin, Russian
lawmakers downplay Michael Flynn's resignation The resignation, however, is unlikely to contain the scandal. It raises even
more questions about administration officials dealings with Russia and the way the government functions. Mr. Flynn, for
example, already faces allegations that he acted with the knowledge of others in Mr. Trumps transition team, and his past
Russian links are being probed. If the scandal widens, it could derail Mr. Trumps Russia reset plans. He could have avoided
this early embarrassment had he paid more heed to those who questioned his picks for top jobs in the administration. Mr. Flynn,
who was fired by President Barack Obama in 2014 as head of the Defence Intelligence Agency, was particularly unpopular in
Washington. Mr. Trumps other picks, be it Attorney General Jeff Sessions who faces allegations of racism, or Education
Secretary Betsy DeVos who needed the Vice-President to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate for confirmation, are other
cases in point. Such decisions cannot be unmade now. But Mr. Trump could learn some lessons from the Flynn episode. He
could use better judgment when he chooses his next NSA. He should set his house in order and formulate a cohesive approach
towards domestic and foreign policy issues, including stating clearly what his Russia policy is. If not, his administration could
well be trapped in crisis mode.

from developing
o Barely - used for emphasizing how small an amount is
o Inadvertently - not deliberately, and without realizing what you are
doing
o Briefed - to give someone information about a situation, especially
officially
o Conversation - a talk between two or more people, usually a private
and informal one
o Waning - to decline in power, importance
o Inauguration - the act of putting someone into an official position with
a ceremony, or an occasion when this happens
o Defended - to protect someone or something against attack or criticism;
o Vouching - to say that something is true, correct, or good based on your
own knowledge or experience
o Envoy - someone who is sent as a representative from one government
or organization to another
o Unlikely - probably not true
o Scandal - an action or event that causes a public feeling of shock and
strong moral disapproval
planned


o Heed - to pay attention to something, especially advice or a warning
o Fire - to remove someone from their job
o Attorney General - the top legal officer in some countries, whose job is
to provide legal advice to the government and to represent the
government
o Racism - a way of behaving or thinking that shows that you do not like
or respect people who belong to races that are different from your own
and that you believe your race is better than others
o Senate - the more important of the two groups of politicians who make
laws in some countries such as the US, Australia, and France
o Cohesive - united and working together effectively
FEB 16/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "ISRO sets the bar high"

The Indian Space Research Organisation boosted its reputation further when it successfully launched a record 104 satellites
in one mission from Sriharikota on Wednesday by relying on its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket. An earth
observation Cartosat-2 series satellite and two other nano satellites were the only Indian satellites launched: the remaining were
from the United States, Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Switzerland. Of the 101 foreign satellites launched,
96 were from the U.S. and one each from the other five countries. Till now Russia held the record of launching 37 satellites in a
single mission, in 2014, while the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the U.S. launched 29 satellites in one go in
2013. Last June, ISRO had come close to NASAs record by launching 20 satellites in one mission. But ISRO views the launch
not as a mission to set a world record but as an opportunity to make full use of the capacity of the launch vehicle. The launch is
particularly significant as ISRO now cements its position as a key player in the lucrative commercial space launch market by
providing a cheaper yet highly reliable alternative. At an orbital altitude of around 500 km, the vehicle takes about 90 minutes to
complete one orbit. Though ISRO had sufficient time to put the satellites into orbit, it accomplished the task in about 12 minutes.
With the focus on ensuring that no two satellites collided with each other, the satellites were injected in pairs in opposite
directions. Successive pairs of satellites were launched once the vehicle rotated by a few degrees, thereby changing the
separation angle and time of separation to prevent any collision. ISRO plans to launch more Cartosat-2 series satellites and
even an improved version. Besides setting the record for the most number of satellites launched in a single mission, the Indian
space agency has launched two nano satellites weighing less than 10 kg. It is a technology demonstrator for a new class of
satellites called ISRO nano satellites (INS). The main objective of the INS, which will be launched together with bigger satellites,
is to provide a platform on which payloads up to 5 kg from universities and R&D laboratories, and ISRO itself can be easily
integrated for carrying out scientific research activities. With many Indian universities already building and launching nano
satellites, the availability of a dedicated nano satellites platform is sure to boost space research in India.
o Sets the bar high - to raise / increase the standards of quality that are
expected of or required for something
o Boosted - improved / increased something
o Relying on someone/something - to depend on or trust someone or
something
o Workhorse - a machine that operates without failing for long periods,
although it might not be very interesting or exciting
o Nano - extremely small
o Cement - to make something stronger
o Key player - an important person, company, etc. in a particular area of
activity


o Lucrative - producing a lot of money (especially of a business, job, or
activity)
o Orbital - relating to the orbit (= curved path) of an object in space:
o Altitude - height above sea level
o Accomplished - to finish something successfully or to achieve
something
o Collide - (especially of moving objects) to hit something violently
o Payload - the amount of goods or people that a vehicle, such as a truck
or aircraft, can carry
o Integrate - combining things, people, or ideas of different types in one
effective unit, group, or system
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The foul air we breathe"
new international report has drawn attention to the deadly pollutants that pervade the air that people breathe in India, causing
terrible illness and premature death. The State of Global Air 2017 study, conducted jointly by the Health Effects Institute and
the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, quantifies further what has been reported for some time now: that the
concentration of the most significant inhalable pollutant, fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less
(PM2.5), has been growing in India. The rise in average annual population-weighted PM2.5 levels indicates that the Centres
initiatives to help States reduce the burning of agricultural biomass and coal in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and
Delhi have failed. The directions of the National Green Tribunal to Delhi, which were reviewed last year, could not end open
burning of garbage and straw, or curb the urban use of diesel-powered vehicles. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the
weighted national PM2.5 level estimated in the international report rose from 60 micrograms per cubic metre in 1990 (the
acceptable limit) to 74 in 2015, with a steady rise since 2011. Weak policy on pollution is leading to the premature death of an
estimated 1.1 million Indians annually, and the number is growing, in contrast to Chinas record of reducing such mortality.
ALSO READ Indias air pollution rivals Chinas as worlds deadliest Several studies show long-term evidence of a steady
deterioration in air quality in many countries, and South Asia, dominated by India, is today among the worst places to live.
Although the central role played by burning of crop residues in causing pollution is well-known, and the Indian Agricultural
Research Institute proposed steps to convert the waste into useful products such as enriched fodder, biogas, biofuel, compost
and so on, little progress has been made. Last year, helpless farmers in the northern States who wanted to quickly switch from
rice to wheat burnt the waste in the fields, in some cases defying local prohibitory orders. The government has no one to blame
but itself, since it has not been able to supply affordable seeder machinery in sufficient numbers to eliminate the need to remove
the straw. In a country producing about 500 million tonnes of crop residues annually, the issue needs to be addressed in mission
mode. Easy access to cheap solar cookers and biogas plants will also cut open burning, and help the rural economy. Yet, there
is no reliable distribution mechanism for these. On the health front, it is a matter of concern that in the most polluted cities, even
moderate physical activity could prove harmful, rather than be beneficial, as new research indicates. Indias clean-up priorities
need to shift gear urgently, covering both farm and city.
o Foul - very dirty, or smelling or tasting unpleasant

o Drawn attention - to attract someone's attention / highlighting
something
o Deadly - likely to cause death
o Pollutant - something that is harmful to the environment
o Pervade - to spread through something and present in every part of it
o Terrible - very unpleasant or serious or of low quality
or suitable time
o Inhalable - breathable
o Biomass - all the plant and animal life found in a particular area
o Straw - the yellow stems of dried crops such as wheat

o Mortality - the number of deaths within a particular area, group etc
o Deterioration - the process or fact of becoming worse
away
o Enrich - to improve the quality of something by adding something else
o Fodder - food that is given to cows, horses, and other farm animals
o Compost - a mixture of decaying plants and vegetables that is added to
soil to improve its quality
o Prohibitory - a law or rule that stops people from doing something
o Seeder - a machine for sowing seed mechanically.
o Addressed - to try to deal with a problem
o Reliable - something that you can trust and depend upon
o Moderate - neither small nor large in size, amount, degree, or strength
o Shift gear - to change the position of the gears to make a vehicle go
faster or more slowly
FEB 17/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The bumps ahead"

For an economy that relies on public investment and private consumption to revive private investment and growth, the last
round of official statistics on prices and industrial activity signal testing times ahead. First, industrial output plummeted by 0.4%
in December 2016, led by a 2% decline in manufacturing (just five of 22 industries registered positive growth) and a 6.8% decline
in consumer goods. Now, wholesale prices have risen at the fastest pace in two and a half years this January, at 5.25%. This
is particularly noteworthy since the pace of price rise at the consumer level slowed to 3.2% in the same month. By contrast,
consumer prices had risen fractionally faster (3.4%) than wholesale prices (3.39%) in December. This divergence in wholesale
prices and the prices consumers pay is unlikely to last long with the former expected to stay firm for a few months to come,
the latter will eventually catch up. The Reserve Bank of India may no longer track wholesale prices for monetary policy purposes,
and food prices are not a problem thanks to a normal monsoon, at least for now. But as RBI Governor Urjit Patel pointed out,
consumer prices of non-food articles and fuel have been hard to contain since September 2016. Such sticky core inflation is
driving the latest wholesale price surge with fuel and power rising a sharp 18.14%, manufactured products growing by almost
4% (thanks not to demand but upward commodity prices) and minerals by 1%. ALSO READ Retail inflation slows to 3.17% in
January A rise in oil prices beyond $65 a barrel would be a cause for concern, as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said in his
recent Budget, even if there is a belief that higher shale gas output will check a further spike. This poses a risk to the Centres
fiscal arithmetic as well as Indias growth hopes. Higher oil price-led inflation will bring back into focus the high excise duties on
petroleum products that have boosted the Centres tax kitty over the past couple of years. Those duties were raised when prices
were low to protect consumers from an upward price shock, the government had argued. Cutting those duties will upset revenue
calculations, but leaving them untouched will impose its own costs. The RBI has cited transitory effects of demonetisation on
inflation and output as the rationale to hold interest rates and shift from an accommodative monetary stance to neutral. It is
unlikely to ease its stance unless it sees executive action against inflation risks. Secondly, consumer sentiment that held up
during the November 8 to December 30 demonetisation period has been declining since January, as per CMIE data. If inflation
spikes in the coming months, it could further crimp consumer spending, with obvious consequences for the investment cycle
and job creation.

o Spiking - increasing suddenly
o Consumer - someone who buys and uses goods and services
o Relies - depends on something
o Investment - money used in a way that may earn you more money, for
example money used for buying property or shares in a company


or popular again
o Statistics - a group of numbers that represent facts or that describe a
situation
o Plummet - to fall very quickly and suddenly
o Noteworthy - worth giving special attention or praise to
o By contrast - used when you are comparing two things or people and
o Fractionally - by a very small amount (slightly)
o Wholesale - relating to the business of selling large quantities of goods,
especially to people who are going to sell them in a shop
o Divergence - a difference in the way that two or more things develop
from the same thing
things happen
o Catch up - to reach the same quality or standard as someone or
something else
o Thanks to - used for saying that someone or something is responsible
for something good that happened
o Upward - moving or turned towards a higher position
o Mineral - a natural substance in the earth, for example coal, salt, gold,
or diamonds
o Beyond - outside the range or limits of something
o Excise duty - a tax on some types of goods such as alcohol, cigarettes,
or petrol paid to a national or state government
o Kitty - an amount of money that is collected by a group to spend on a
particular thing
o Transitory - temporary
particular currency
based on
o Crimp - to prevent something from increasing or developing
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Change of guard"
In action as well as inaction, Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao stuck to the constitutional options available to him as he grappled
with the rapid twists and turns in the political developments in Tamil Nadu over the last two weeks. There may be some things


he could have done differently, but he called the big decisions right. Now, no one disputes that he did the right thing by waiting
for the Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate wealth case against V.K. Sasikala. He also didnt waste too much time
before swearing in Edappadi K. Palaniswami as Chief Minister once he was elected leader of the All India Anna Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam Legislature Party following the judgment. To have allowed Ms. Sasikala to become Chief Minister at a time
when the judgment was imminent or to have given outgoing Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam more time to muster support in
the State Assembly would have been serious lapses on the Governors part. He did well to ignore the curious advice of Attorney
General Mukul Rohatgi, who advocated a composite floor test. Leaving aside whether or not this suggestion reflected the desire
of the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership at the Centre, which seemed favourably disposed to Mr. Panneerselvam, it would have
resulted in splitting the AIADMK down the middle and plunging the State into political instability. There are precedents for a
composite floor test, but these were conducted in truly extraordinary circumstances and when specifically mandated by the
judiciary. The situation in Tamil Nadu did not warrant such a course. ALSO READ Panneerselvam has to find a reason to stay
relevant By backing Mr. Palaniswami, the Sasikala camp may have succeeded in preventing further erosion of support among
the public for the AIADMK, which seemed in danger of imploding at one time. The new Chief Minister belongs to the dominant
Gounder community and enjoys a support base independent of the Sasikala clan. Unlike Mr. Panneerselvam, who was
something of a diehard Sasikala loyalist before he switched sides, Mr. Palaniswami is known to keep his own counsel. But given
the peculiar situation he finds himself in, he will probably have no choice but to carry along the members of the Sasikala clan.
Particularly, he will have to work in close coordination with T.T.V. Dinakaran, Ms. Sasikalas nephew, who will now run the party
in her absence as the recently nominated deputy general secretary. It will be no surprise if Mr. Dinakaran, who was removed
from the AIADMK in 2011 by Jayalalithaa for interfering with government administration, attempts to influence the affairs of
the State government. Mr. Palaniswami will have to deal with such pressures, perhaps even rise above them, in the interests of
Tamil Nadu. Many in the AIADMK have been tainted by corruption charges, and the onus is on him to replace those memories
in the public mind with more immediate concerns of growth and development. He will have to save the AIADMK from itself.
o Free hand - the right or authority to do anything you consider necessary

problem
o Stuck to something - to continue to do or use one particular thing and
not change it or stop it for any period of time
o Grappled with something - to try hard to understand a difficult idea
or to solve a difficult problem
o Swearing in - to make a formal promise to be honest or loyal, when
starting a new official job
o Muster - to bring people together in one place, or to gather in one place
o Curious - unusual and interesting
o Composite - made up of separate parts
o Floor test - to prove some type of majority (usually by head-count) on
the floor of the Parliament
o Leaving aside - to not consider something because you want to consider
something else instead
o Desire - a strong feeling of wanting to have or to do something
o Favourably disposed - to like or approve of something or someone
o Plunging - dropping suddenly
o Precedent - an action or event in the past that is used as an example or
reason for a present action or event

o Judiciary - the part of government that consists of all the judges and
courts in a country
o Warrant - a document that gives someone official permission to do
something
o Imploding - if something such as an organization or an economic
system implodes, it is completely destroyed by things that are happening
within it
o Clan - a large group of families that are related to each other, especially
in Scotland
o Diehard - someone who refuses to accept change or new ideas
o Loyalist - someone who supports their government, especially during a
revolution
o Counsel - to give someone advice and help with their problems,
especially as your job
o Peculiar - strange, often in an unpleasant way
o Nephew - a son of your sister or brother, or a son of the sister or brother
of your husband or wife
to do this
o Rise above something - to deal well with a difficult or unpleasant
situation
o Onus is on someone - if the onus is on someone to do something, it is
their responsibility or duty to do it
FEB 18/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Massacre in Sehwan"
The horrific suicide attack at a Sufi shrine in Sehwan in Pakistans Sindh province that killed at least 80 people, underscores
fears about the Islamic State gaining strength in the country. A suicide bomber blew himself up at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz
Qalandar, among the most venerated of Sufi saints. People of all faiths in the subcontinent have flocked here over the centuries,
making it a prominent symbol of syncretism, and thereby a particularly potent target for the IS. The terrorist group, which had
announced its Pakistan branch more than two years ago, has claimed a string of attacks in recent months, mostly on minority
Muslim sects. Initially, Pakistani authorities had denied that the IS has any organisational presence in the country. However,
attacks such as this, which the IS promptly took responsibility for, suggest otherwise. In Iraq and Syria the IS has methodically
targeted Shias, Alawis, Kurds and Yazidis. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, Shias, Hazaras and Sufis are being attacked. Pakistan,
particularly, has a rich Sufi tradition, a mystical and generally moderate form of Islam that is loathed by fundamentalists. In 2010,
Lahores Data Darbar shrine had been brutally attacked. In June last year, the popular Sufi singer, Amjad Sabri, was shot dead
in Karachi. Three months ago, a Sufi shrine in Balochistan was bombed by the IS, killing 45 people. The attack at the shrine of
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar came when it was full of devotees, to cause maximum harm. ALSO READ The fight Pakistan must
wage within The IS is clearly following a strategy that was successful in mobilising fighters and gaining publicity in Iraq and
Syria. The highly planned, well-publicised attacks on Shias in these countries helped the IS whip up Sunni sectarian sentiment
and win recruits. There is still no evidence that the Pakistani branch of the group is directed by the IS core in Mosul or Raqqah.
But IS fighters in eastern Afghanistan, where the group has established a province of the Caliphate, and those in Pakistan
seem to have aligned themselves with local terror groups for organisational support. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a ferociously anti-Shia
group, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban, are two such groups that reportedly have a tactical
alliance with the IS. Most of the major recent suicide attacks in Pakistan were carried out by these three groups. This indicates

a dangerous trend. After the massacre in an army school in Peshawar in 2014 that left more than 140 dead, the security forces
had finally turned against the Pakistani Taliban and dismantled parts of their terror network. But such operations did little to
minimise the threat Pakistan faces from terrorism as such. If the Pakistan Taliban are on the back foot, others are coming
forward with a more vicious, sectarian worldview and firepower. Tragedies such as Thursdays are a reminder that Pakistan
needs a more comprehensive action plan against terrorism.

o Shrine - a place for worship that is holy because of a connection with a
holy person or object
o Composite - made up of several parts or elements
o Horrific - very bad and shocking
o Province - the parts of a country that are not the capital city
o Venerate - to honour or very much respect a person or thing
o Subcontinent - a large area of land that is part of a continent, often
referring to South Asia
o Flocked - a large group of people gathered in a place
o Prominent - important and well known
o Syncretism - the combining of different religions, cultures, or ideas; an
instance of this
o Thereby - because of, or by means of, what has just been mentioned
o Potent - very powerful, forceful, or effective
o A string of - a set of / number of
o Sect - a religious group that has separated from a larger religion and is
considered to have extreme or unusual beliefs or customs
o Methodically - in a careful and cautious way
o Mystical - relating to or involving mysterious religious or spiritual powers
o Moderate - neither very great nor very small in amount, size, strength,
or degree
o Loathe - to dislike someone or something very much
o Devotee - someone who follows a particular religion or religious leader
o Mobilising - to organize or prepare something, such as a group of
o Whip up something - to encourage or cause people to have strong
feelings about something
o Align yourself with something / somebody - if you align yourself
with an organization or person, you agree with and support their aims
o Ferocious - frightening and violent
o Breakaway - an act of separating from a group, especially because of
disagreement
o Tactical - a tactical action is one that you do as part of a plan for

o Turned against - to start not to like or agree with someone or
something
o Dismantle -to get rid of a system or organization, usually over a period
of time
o Coming forward - to offer to give help or information
or suffering
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Champions league"

Celebrated rivalries in cricket revolve, in the popular mind, around the Ashes or contests involving India and Pakistan. Both
duels have the weight of history and are replete with anecdotes. But as Steve Smiths men play and train under the Mumbai
sun in their build-up to the four-match Test series at Pune, Bengaluru, Ranchi and Dharamsala, it is time to acknowledge the
particular intensity that marks games involving India and Australia. It is a rivalry inferior to none, the folklore further amplified by
riveting contests, especially in India. Be it at Kolkatas Eden Gardens in 2001 when V.V.S. Laxmans 281 helped India stage
one of crickets most remarkable fight-backs, or at Chennais Chepauk back in 1986, when India and Australia played out only
the second tie in cricketing history since 1877, the contests have ticked all the boxes: mighty individual performances, oscillating
fortunes and a fifth-day cracker. When rival skippers Virat Kohli and Smith walk out for the toss at Punes Maharashtra Cricket
Association Stadium on February 23, they will take this legacy forward. Helmed by young men Kohli is 28, Smith 27 both
the Indian and Australian teams are emerging from the struggles of transition; this series is their big chance at asserting
greatness. India at home is a daunting opposition, the Final Frontier for Australia as Steve Waugh called it. The home team is
in fine form, with emphatic victories against visiting teams over the last year, South Africa, New Zealand, England and
Bangladesh. In its last 19 Tests, both home and away, India has remained undefeated, winning 15 of them. It is a validation of
the squads evolution underpinned by the consistency of its two leading players, Kohli and off-spinner R. Ashwin, and augmented
with others rising to the opportunity when its come as Karun Nair did with his unbeaten 303 in the Chennai Test against
England last December. A resolute captain and a calm coach, in Anil Kumble, have astutely guided the team. The odds favour
India, and so does history. When Australia last toured India in 2012-13, it lost all four Tests. This season too, on balance, India
appears to hold the aces. Australia may come in with a 3-0 triumph in home Tests against Pakistan, but before that while hosting
South Africa it emerged second-best, and lost three Tests in Sri Lanka. The last of these has evoked concern about the teams
adaptability to subcontinental conditions. Much will hinge on Smith, his aggressive opener David Warner and left-arm fast bowler
Mitchell Starc, while Nathan Lyon is expected to shepherd an under-cooked spin unit. In 1986, Allan Border arrived with a bunch
that was written off; yet they left with one tie and a drawn series. As history shows, surprise is the second skin of tussles involving
India and Australia.
o League - a group of teams playing a sport who take part in competitions

between each other
o Pick up the thread - to start again after an interruption
with one another
o Duel - a close competition between two people or teams
o Replete - well supplied
o Anecdote - a story that you tell people about something interesting or
funny that has happened to you
o Build-up - a gradual increase in the amount or level of something
o Intensity - the quality of being felt strongly or having a very strong
effect
o Inferior - not good, or not as good as someone or something else
o Folklore - the traditional stories and culture of a group of people

o Riveting - extremely interesting
o Played out - tired and no longer having power or effectiveness
o Ticked all the boxes - to satisfy all of the requirements for success
o Mighty - very large, powerful, or important
o Oscillating - to continuously change your feelings, opinions, or decisions
from one extreme position to the other
an earlier time
o Helmed - controlled
o Asserting - to do something to show that you have power
o Daunting - something that is daunting makes you worried because you
think that it will be very difficult or dangerous to do
o Frontier - a border between two countries
o Emphatic - done or said in a strong way and without any doubt
o Validation - to officially prove that something is true or correct
o Underpin - to be an important basic part of something, allowing it to
succeed or continue to exist
way
o Augmented - to increase the size or value of something by adding
something to it:
o Resolute - determined in character, action, or ideas
o Astute - able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take
advantage of it
o On balance - after thinking about all the different facts or opinions
o Triumph - a very great success, achievement
o Evoked - to make someone remember something or feel an emotion
o Adaptability - ability or willingness to change
person
o Under-cooked - to not cook something enough
o Written off - to decide that someone or something will not succeed and
so to stop giving them your attention and energy
o Tie - to finish at the same time or score the same number of points, etc.
in a competition as someone or something else
FEB 20/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Marred by violence"

Grace and poise in the face of imminent defeat is a rare political virtue. Even so, the behaviour of the MLAs of the Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam during the confidence vote moved by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the Tamil Nadu Assembly
marks an abysmal low. When it became clear that Mr. Palaniswami would carry the confidence vote, DMK members resorted
to violence to stall the proceedings citing one excuse or another. They tore up papers, broke furniture, smashed microphones
and took over the Speakers chair. After adjourning the House to see if he could restore a measure of calm, Speaker P. Dhanapal
ordered the eviction of the DMK members. Members of the Congress, an ally of the DMK, walked out in protest. Those left in
their seats were only the two factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, one led by Chief Minister Palaniswami
and the other by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. Admittedly, this is hardly the ideal situation in which to hold a trust

vote. However, the fact that Mr. Palaniswami won the vote 122 to 11, getting four votes more than what constitutes an absolute
majority in the 234-member legislature, has lent his victory the political legitimacy he sorely needed at this juncture. True, some
of the MLAs voted for the motion fearing disqualification, but this is no argument for the vote to have been conducted by secret
ballot. Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, after due consideration, had quite correctly not taken to the idea of a composite floor test,
a course which might have given protection to members from disqualification on ground of defection. Mr. Palaniswami was
sworn in on the basis of signed letters of support from AIADMK MLAs, and he did not lose time in convening the House for the
motion of confidence. If there were procedural irregularities during the trust vote, these were largely on account of the actions
of DMK members. The Leader of the Opposition, M.K. Stalin of the DMK, might have his reasons to feel aggrieved by the turn
of events, but the proper forum for him to approach is not the Raj Bhavan or the court, but the legislature. If he believes that the
AIADMK members, who were confined in a beach resort by the party leadership for the better part of two weeks, need more
time to make an informed choice in the confidence vote, he can move a no-confidence motion against the government after
giving due notice. But the suggestion that AIADMK members have statutory protection from disqualification under the Tenth
Schedule of the Constitution is irrational. Mr. Stalin cannot look for political short cuts by condoning violence in the Assembly
and questioning the legitimacy of a government enjoying, to the extent it can be institutionally ascertained, the support of a
majority of the elected members of the House. Mr. Stalins time may well come, but he needs to show more patience than he
did last Saturday.
o Marred - spoiled
o Scupper - to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail
o Inexcusable - too bad to be accepted
o Grace - the quality of being pleasantly polite, or a willingness to be fair
and honest
situations
morally good
o Abysmal - extremely bad or low in quality
o Confidence vote - a voting process in which people show support for a
person or group in power
o Resorted to something - to do or use something because it is the only
thing available
o Stall - to stop
way
o Citing - 1 to mention something as a reason
o Excuse - a reason that you give to explain why you did something wrong
o Tore up - to destroy something such as a piece of paper or cloth by
pulling it into pieces
o Adjourning - to temporarily end something such as a meeting
o Eviction - to force someone to leave a place
o Ally - someone who helps and supports someone else
opposition
o Admittedly - used when you are agreeing that something is true,
especially unwillingly
o Sorely - extremely; very much


another one
o Convening - to bring together a group of people for a meeting
o Irregularity - a situation in which the rules, laws, or usual ways of doing
things have not been followed
o Resort - a place where many people go for rest
o Statutory - a law that has been formally approved and written down
o Irrational - done or happening without clear or sensible reasons
o Condoning - accepting or allowing behaviour that is wrong
o Institutionally - within or outside of an organization or institution
o Acertained - to find out something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Smoke on the water"

The extraordinary sight of a lake in Bengaluru on fire, with a massive plume of smoke that could be seen from afar, is a warning
sign that urban environments are crashing under the weight of official indifference. If wetlands are the kidneys of the cities, as
scientists like to describe them, Karnatakas capital city has entered a phase of chronic failure. No longer the city of lakes and
famed gardens, it has lost an estimated 79% of water bodies and 80% of its tree cover from the baseline year of 1973.
Successive governments in the State have ignored the rampant encroachment of lake beds and catchment areas for commercial
exploitation, and the pollution caused by sewage, industrial effluents and garbage, which contributed to the blaze on Bellandur
lake. The neglect is deliberate, since some of the finest urban ecologists in the city have been warning that government inaction
is turning Bengaluru into an unliveable mess. It is time the State government took note of the several expert recommendations
that have been made, including those of the Centre for Ecological Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science. The priority,
clearly, is to end pollution outfalls into the water bodies, which will help revive them to an acceptable state of health. Identifying
all surviving wetlands and demarcating them using digital and physical mapping will help communities monitor encroachments,
while removal of land-grabbers and restoration of interconnecting channels is crucial to avoid future flooding events. ALSO
READ Officials suspect Bellandur fire was result of chemical reaction in sludge Loss of natural wetlands is an ongoing
catastrophe in India. A decade ago, when the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History released a conservation atlas
for all States using space applications, it reported the tragic fact that 38% of wetlands had already been lost nationally; and
shockingly, in some districts only 12% survived. The Centre has since issued rules for conservation and management, and
chosen 115 water bodies in 24 States for protection support, but this is obviously too little. Moreover, research studies show
that the concentration of heavy metals in such sites is leading to bioaccumulation, thus entering the plants and animals that
ultimately form part of peoples food. It should worry not just Bengalurus residents, for instance, that soil scientists have found
higher levels of cadmium in green vegetables grown using water from Bellandur. More broadly, the collapse of environmental
management because of multiple, disjointed agencies achieving little collectively and legal protections remaining
unimplemented pose a serious threat to public health. Every city needs a single lake protection authority. Indias worsening air
quality is now well documented, and most of its wetlands are severely polluted. Citizens must assert themselves to stop this
perilous course.
o Wetland - low land that is often covered with water from the lake, river,
or sea next to it
o A plume of smoke - a tall, thin mass of smoke
o Urban - of or in a city or town
o Indifference - lack of interest in someone or something
o Chronic - very bad
comparisons
o Encroachment - to take control or possession of something in a gradual
way and often without being noticed


o Catchment area - the area of land around a river or lake that it gets its
water from
it
o Sewage - waste matter such as water or human urine or solid waste
o Effluents - liquid waste that is sent out from factories or places where
sewage is dealt with, usually flowing into rivers, lakes, or the sea
o Blaze - a large fire that causes a lot of damage
o Deliberate - intentional or planned
o Ecologist - a person who studies the natural relationships between the
air, land, water, animals, plants, etc
problem
o Unliveable - not pleasant enough to live in
o Outfall - the place where water or liquid waste flows out of a pipe
o Revive - to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or
use
o Demarcating - to show the limits of something
o Land-grabbers - people who take land by force
o Flooding - a situation in which an area is covered with water, especially
from rain
destruction (a bad situation)
o Ornithology - the study of birds
o Conservation - the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and
interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the
damaging effects of human activity
o Survived - to continue to live or exist
o Accumulation - the process by which something increases in amount or
is collected together over time
o Pose - to cause a problem or difficulty
o Perilous - extremely dangerous
FEB 21/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Guilty until..."

Delhi courts acquittal of two persons accused of involvement in the 2005 serial blasts in the city, thereby bringing an end to
their long incarceration, brings to light another instance of unconscionable miscarriage of justice in this country. Additional
Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh acquitted the two men Mohammad Hussain Fazli and Mohammad Rafiq Shah of all
charges, while saying it found no evidence to link the third accused, Tariq Ahmed Dar, to the blasts, though it convicted him for
being a member of a terrorist organisation. At one level, the judgment is a reassuring affirmation of the independence at the
lower rungs of the Indian judiciary. But it must invite, visibly, a response from the state to inquire into and address the processes
that keep investigating agencies and prosecutors so determinedly on false trails. The frightening monotony with which Indian
agencies have been failing to professionally investigate terrorism cases, and are accused of framing innocents, should jolt the
system. The court said the prosecution had miserably failed to prove its case regarding who carried out the October 29, 2005
bomb blasts, that killed 67 and injured more than 200 people. It noted that the prosecution failed to establish a link between Dar
and the other two Kashmiris accused. The explosions, in a bazaar outside the New Delhi railway station, in a bus, and in the
Sarojini Nagar market, came just before Deepavali. This is not the first time that investigation into a terror case has fallen flat


in a court of law; nor is it the only instance of the Indian security agencies being accused of framing innocents. The judgment is
a telling commentary on Indias faulty counter-terror posture, one that demands a holistic overhaul. There is a long list of terror
attacks in which the security establishment failed to carry out a scientific probe and ended up framing innocent persons. The
Malegaon blast of 2006, the attack on Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad in 2007, the Samjhauta Express attack of 2007 have all seen
the investigating agencies flailing to find the guilty. Such incompetence has grave implications for Indias preparedness to avert
terrorist strikes. It is from credible clues gathered during investigations into an attack that agencies pick up the trail to active
terror groups, sleeper cells, and so on. Moreover, this incompetence often swallows the lives of innocent persons. In this case,
Mohammad Rafiq Shah was just another college student in Srinagar when he was detained in 2005, while Mohammad Hussain
Fazli was a struggling carpet-maker. It is difficult to imagine what could be done to compensate them for their long, unjust
incarceration. Or to begin to get to the bottom of the terror attack that took 67 lives. A reform of the investigation processes
should, however, frame the states response to the verdict.
o Guilty - responsible for a specified crime

o Wrongful - unfair, or illegal
thoughts, and ideas
guilty of the crime they were accused of
o Brings to light - to cause something to be known
o Unconscionable - more than a reasonable or acceptable level or amount
o Miscarriage - an unsuccessful outcome of something planned
o Acquitted - to decide officially in a law court that someone is not guilty
of a particular crime
true:
o Convict - proved to be guilty of a crime by a court of law
o Affirmation - a statement that something is true
o Lower Rungs - lower level
o Judiciary - the part of government that consists of all the judges and
courts in a country
o Determinedly - wanting to do something very much and not allowing
o Monotony - a bored feeling caused by the fact that nothing different
ever happens
a crime
o Miserably - feeling or showing unhappiness:
o Explosion - an occasion when something bursts with a lot of force and
a loud noise, often causing damage
o Fall flat - fail completely to produce the intended or expected effect
o Framing - to make someone seem guilty of a crime when they are not,
for example by lying to the police or by producing false evidence
o Posture - an attitude, or the way that someone behaves towards other
people
o Holistic - thinking about the whole of something, and not just dealing
with particular aspects
o Overhaul - to completely change a system in order to make it work more
effectively
o Probe - an attempt to find out the truth about an issue, problem


o End up - to be in a particular place or state after doing something or
because of doing it
o Flailing - to move energetically in an uncontrolled way
o Guilty - someone who has committed a crime
o Incompetence - lack of skill or ability to do something correctly or well
o Grave - used for emphasizing how serious something is
o Preparedness - the state of being ready for something
o Avert - to prevent something bad or harmful from happening
o Detained - to keep someone in a police station or prison and not allow
them to leave
o Struggling - experiencing difficulty, especially financial difficulty
o Compensate - to pay someone money because they have suffered an
injury or loss
o Unjust - an unjust decision, judgment, or action is not fair or reasonable,
or is not done according to accepted legal or moral standards
o Get to the bottom of something - to find out the true cause or
explanation of a bad situation
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Seoul-searching"

As the heir to the Samsung empire finds himself in the midst of a storm, South Koreans are bracing themselves for another
high-profile controversy, this time involving the countrys largest conglomerate. Fridays arrest of Lee Jae-yong is in connection
with the same influence-peddling controversy where Parliament voted overwhelmingly in December 2016 to impeach the
countrys first woman President, Park Geun-hye. The constitutional court has another few months to dispose of the impeachment
petition over a scandal that saw hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets towards the end of 2016. South Korea has
barely recovered from the blow from the recall of Samsungs fire-prone Galaxy Note 7. The company is one of the countrys
largest, and its fortunes have a direct bearing on the national economy. Prosecutors now accuse Mr. Lee of paying about $37
million to organisations run by the Presidents close confidante. In return, it is alleged, Samsung secured government support
to clinch a questionable merger of two affiliates in the conglomerate. Mr. Lees recent arrest follows new evidence presented on
the disputed contributions. Last month, a pre-trial warrant sought by the prosecution was rejected, as the court saw little ground
for his detention in the absence of sufficient evidence to substantiate the bribery charge. While Mr. Lee has admitted to making
the grants, he denies any accusations of bribery. The overall stakes in the prospects of Samsung could not be greater, given
that the entity is one of the countrys largest employers; its revenues amount to a substantial chunk of South Koreas gross
domestic product. The impact of the current development would also be of some concern given the global climate of uncertainty
from protectionism. At the same time, legal proceedings under way involving some of South Koreas electronics giants are
evidence of the unhealthy nexus between corporations and officialdom coming under systematic scrutiny. This is a reassuring
sign for the long-term image of any brand, as well as for South Korean politics and governance. The notion that giant firms that
contribute to economic growth and overall prosperity are too big to fail, or be prosecuted, is said to influence the large number
of pardons granted in South Korea. Several top captains of industry have been let off, at times even without serving jail terms.
The fallacy of carrying that logic to an extreme seems to be giving way to a recognition of the need for transparency and
democratic accountability in the governance culture of firms, something South Korea has struggled to achieve over the years.
In its absence, mitigating economic and social inequalities would merely remain empty objectives. Citizens of one of Asias
largest economies deserve a better deal, as they themselves made clear through recent rounds of protest. It is time for some
serious introspection in Seoul.
oHeir - someone who will receive money, property, or a title when another
person dies
o Sprawl - to cover a large area
o Bracing - shocking
o High-profile - often seen in public, mentioned in newspapers, or
appearing on television

o Conglomerate - a large business organization formed when several
o Overwhelmingly - to a very great degree or with a great majority
o Impeach - to formally accuse a public official of a serious crime relating
to their job
o Fortune - a very large amount of money
a crime
o Clinch - to manage to win or achieve something
o Questionable - probably not good, honest, or worth admiring
form a bigger one
o Affiliate - to be officially connected with a larger organization or group
o Disputed - a disputed fact, statement, or judgment is one that many
people argue about
o Substantiate - to provide evidence that proves something
o Bribery - the crime of giving money or presents to someone so that they
will help you by doing something dishonest or illegal
o Stake - the part of a business that you own because you have invested
money in it
something good
o Substantial - large in amount or degree
o Chunk - a large amount or part of something
o Gross domestic product - the total value of all goods and services
produced in a country in a year, except for income received from money
invested in other countries. It is often simply called GDP.
things might happen
o Nexus - a closely connected group of people or things, often forming the
central part of something
o Officialdom - government departments, or the people who work in
them. This word usually shows that you dislike these people, because
you think they are not helpful
o Pardon - to officially forgive someone for committing a crime and free
them from prison
o Let off - to give someone little or no punishment for something that they
did wrong


o Fallacy - an idea or belief that is false but that many people think is true
o Protest - a strong complaint or disagreement
thoughts, and ideas
FEB 22/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The Saeed test"
The flurry of actions by the Pakistan government on Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed gives the impression of movement on
an issue that has been a point of contention between India and Pakistan. For the past two weeks, Saeed, who is on the UN
Security Councils terror list, has been under preventive detention and house arrest, along with four other members of the
Jamaat-ud-Dawa, an avatar of the LeT. All five are on the export control list for travel. A few days ago the authorities put Saeed
on its Anti-Terrorism Act list as well, and on Tuesday followed that up by revoking weapon licences issued to Saeed and others.
Although details have not been shared, Pakistani officials said they have placed restrictions on the functioning and funding of
Saeeds JuD and its charity arm, the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation. In addition, Pakistans military gave Saeeds detention its
full backing by calling it a policy decision in the national interest, while Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told an
international audience at the Munich Security Conference that Saeed was a security threat to Pakistan. It would seem that
even the Indian government has given the action against Saeed a half thumbs-up, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling it
a logical first step. As observers of Pakistan know, the action against Saeed is not a new step or even the most serious
measure taken against him over the past two decades. Since 2001 he has been in and out of detention at least five times, and
released by the courts on a number of occasions. Besides, unlike in 2008 and 2009 when he was detained for the 26/11 Mumbai
attacks case, this time there has been no First Information Report registered, or any specific reason given. If Pakistan were
indeed serious about the UN list, these actions should have been carried out in 2008, when Saeed and the JuD were put on the
list. It is more than likely that Pakistans action is actually timed for the Financial Action Task Forces officials meeting in Paris
this week where a report on Pakistans terror funding record is being presented. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif may
even be attempting to show good faith to both U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the action,
even as he faces domestic pressure to act against terrorists in the wake of a slew of bombings recently in Pakistan, including
at the Sehwan shrine in Sindh. It is too early to fully assess what the action against Saeed means, and what signal Pakistan
may be sending to India. For New Delhi, steps towards a resumption of bilateral dialogue may be more purposeful than simply
gauging which way the wind is blowing.
o Flurry - a sudden, short period of activity

o Point of contention - the thing that people are arguing over
o Terror - something or someone that makes you very frightened
o Preventive detention - a situation in which someone is kept in prison
in order to prevent them from committing more crimes, rather than as a
punishment
o House arrest - to be officially prevented from leaving your home,
usually because you have been accused of a political crime
o Authority - a group of people with official responsibility for a particular
area of activity
o Revoking - to officially say that something is no longer legal, for
example a law or a document
etc
o Backing - support
o Thumbs-up - a reaction that shows you like something such as a plan
or idea, or that you will accept it

o Measure - an action that is intended to achieve or deal with something
o Besides - also / in addition to
o Indeed - used for emphasizing the meaning of very
o Good faith - done in an honest and sincere way
countries
o Purposeful - showing that you know what you want to do
o Gauging - to make a judgment or guess about a situation, action,
or person based on the information that you have
o Way the wind is blowing - if a person tries to discover which way the
wind blows/is blowing, they try to discover information about a situation,
especially other people's opinions, before they take action
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Necessary limit"

Capping the prices of medical stents, which are used to treat coronary artery disease, by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing
Authority (NPPA) is an extreme regulatory measure necessitated by the market failure that afflicts the overall delivery of health
care in India. Rising costs have led to impoverishment of families and litigation demanding regulation. Given the overall
dominance of private, commercial, for-profit health institutions, and the asymmetry confronting citizens, correctives to bring
about a balance are inevitable. Two important pointers to the need for cost regulation are available from research published in
The Lancet in December 2015: nearly two-thirds of the high out-of-pocket expenditure on health incurred by Indians went
towards drugs; even the meagre research data available showed that there was irrational use of medical technologies, including
cardiac stents and knee implants. Regulated prices can, therefore, be expected to make stents more accessible to patients who
really need them, helping them avoid using up the weak insurance cover available, while also reducing the incentive for unethical
hospitals to use them needlessly. It is worth recalling that there are over 60 million diagnosed diabetics in the country, and the
average age at which the first heart attack strikes Indians is 50, a decade earlier than people in developed nations. At appropriate
prices, and with a health system that pools the cost among all citizens, it would be possible to provide access to stents and
other treatments for all. Health-care providers often demand market-determined pricing of medical technologies on the ground
that newer ones will not be available under a regulated regime. In the case of cardiac stents, this argument does not hold water
since stakeholder consultations held by the NPPA in January revealed that there are huge unethical markups in the supply
chain. It would serve the cause of medical innovation if costing is transparent, and a system of risk pooling is introduced to help
patients get expensive treatment without high out-of-pocket spending. It was estimated five years ago by the Planning
Commissions expert group on universal health coverage that raising spending on public procurement of medicines to 0.5% of
GDP (from 0.1%) would provide all essential medicines to everyone. What is necessary, then, is for a two-pronged approach to
improve access to medicines and technology. The Centre should monitor expenditures jointly in partnership with the community,
use regulation where needed, and raise public spending on health. Several developing countries have moved ahead on this
path. Well-considered price control is a positive step, but more needs to be done. The latest measure provides an opportunity
to expand the availability of stents, and by extension angioplasty procedures, in the public health system. District hospitals
should offer cardiac treatments uniformly. This should be a priority programme to be completed in not more than five years.
o Cardiac - connected with your heart

o Stent - a long thin object put inside a tube in the body, for example a
blood vessel, so that its walls stay firm or so that body fluids can flow
easily through it
o Capping - to put a limit on the amount of money that can be charged
or spent in connection with a particular activity
o Coronary - relating to your heart
o Artery - one of the tubes in your body that carries blood from your heart
to the rest of your body
o Pharmaceutical - relating to the production or sale of medicines and
drugs used for treating medical conditions
o Necessitated - to make something necessary


o Afflict - if you are afflicted by an illness or serious problem, you suffer
from it
o Impoverishment - to make a person or country very poor
o Asymmetry - the quality of having parts on either side or half that do
not match or are not the same size or shape
o Confronting - to deal with a difficult situation
o Incurred - to experience something unpleasant as a result of something
that you have done
o Irrational - done or happening without clear or sensible reasons
o Implant - an object that doctors put into someones body during a
medical operation
o Unethical - morally wrong, or against accepted standards of behaviour,
especially in a particular profession
o Diagnosed - to find out what physical or mental problem someone has
by examining them
o Determined - not willing to let anything prevent you from doing what
you have decided to do
o Regulate - to control an activity, process, or industry officially by using
rules
owns part of it
o Consultations - a meeting in which people or groups have a discussion
before decisions are made
o Out-of-pocket - used about money that you have to spend yourself
rather than having it paid for you
o Angioplasty - a medical operation to repair an artery (tube carrying
blood around the body) that has become blocked or too narrow
o Uniformly - in a way that is the same in all cases and at all times
FEB 23/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A battle lost ?"
Going against the status quo to take a progressive decision is always a difficult endeavour in politics or in government. Such
decisions yield enthusiastic support from those in favour of change; at the same time, they invite strong responses from
reactionary sections. The right thing to do for any politician seeking to embark on change is to not give in to resistance after
making the decision. T.R. Zeliang, who recently stepped down as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, had taken the bold decision
to conduct long-pending urban local body elections on February 1 with 33% reservation for women in accordance with the 74th
Amendment to the Constitution. The move, predictably, resulted in strong opposition from tribal groups who sought to use the
issue of Naga autonomy as a ploy to resist it. Mr. Zeliang should have stuck to his governments order and sought more public
acceptance by rallying the many in favour in particular, Naga women who would have finally got their constitutionally
mandated stake in local governance. Instead, he chose to take a U-turn and termed the implementation of the decision as null

and void, emboldening tribal organisations to demand his resignation. Following a series of agitations by two tribal groups, the
Joint Coordination Committee and the Nagaland Tribes Action Committee, Mr. Zeliang finally resigned, but not before some
drama was played out in the ruling Naga Peoples Front. It was clear that Mr. Zeliang was being pressured to resign not just by
status quoists among tribal groups but also by his rivals in the NPF. Some legislators were seeking the return of the former
Chief Minister and MP, Neiphiu Rio, who had been suspended from the party last year on grounds of anti-party activities.
Immediately, in what is now becoming a routine act in Indian politics following any intra-ruling party intrigue, the legislators were
taken to a resort in Kaziranga and confined there to prevent defections. Fearing a split, Mr. Zeliang resigned, and the partys
senior leader and supremo Shurhozelie Liezietsu was nominated as the 11th Chief Minister of the State by 42 of the 49 NPF
legislators. Just before Mr. Liezietsu was sworn in on Wednesday the agitation was called off by the tribal organisations,
signalling an end to this round of turmoil. But the NPF-led coalition under the leadership of Mr. Liezietsu has its task cut out. It
has to clearly assert its authority as the ruling establishment in the State. It must also focus its energies on the Naga peace
process, which remains unresolved despite the reported signing of an accord between the Centre and insurgent groups in 2015.
o Scotch - to prevent something from being believed or being done

o Progressive - supporting social and political change that aims to make
a system fairer
o Endeavour - an attempt to do something
o Yield - to supply or produce something positive such as a profit, an
amount of food or information
o Eenthusiastic - very interested in something or excited by it
o Reactionary - strongly opposed to any social or political change
o Embark on something - to start something new or important
o Stepped down - to leave an official position or job
o Urban - of or in a city or town
o In accordance with - following or obeying a rule, law, wish, etc
being discussed
organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people
it governs
o Autonomy - the ability to make your own decisions without being
controlled by anyone else
dishonestly
o Constitutionally - according to the rules in a constitution
o U-turn - a complete change from one opinion or plan of action to an
opposite one
o Null and void - having no legal force
o Emboldening - to make someone brave
o Agitation - the situation in which people protest or argue, especially in
o Rival -a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing or
in the same area
o On grounds of - based on / because of
o Intrigue - to make someone very interested in knowing more about
something, especially something that seems mysterious


another one
o Supremo - the person in charge of an organization or who is considered
to have most skill and authority in a particular type of activity
a particular purpose
own country
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Ageing with dignity"
While Indias celebrated demographic dividend has for decades underpinned its rapid economic progress, a countervailing
force may offset some of the gains from having a relatively young population: rapid ageing at the top end of the scale. This is a
cause of deep concern for policymakers as India already has the worlds second largest population of the elderly, defined as
those above 60 years of age. As this 104-million-strong cohort continues to expand at an accelerating pace, it will generate
enormous socio-economic pressures as the demand for healthcare services and tailored accommodation spikes to historically
unprecedented levels. It is projected that approximately 20% of Indians will be elderly by 2050, marking a dramatic jump from
the current 8%. However, thus far, efforts to develop a regime of health and social care that is attuned to the shifting needs of
the population have been insufficient. While more mature economies have created multiple models for elder care, such as
universal or widely accessible health insurance, networks of nursing homes, and palliative care specialisations, it is hard to find
such systemic developments in India. Experts also caution that as the proportional size of the elderly population expands, there
is likely to be a shift in the disease patterns from communicable to non-communicable, which itself calls for re-gearing the health-
care system toward preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative aspects of health. Advocacy and information campaigns
may be necessary to redirect social attitudes toward ageing, which often do not help the elderly enjoy a life of stability and
dignity. As highlighted in Uncertain Twilight, a four-part series in The Hindu on the welfare of senior citizens, the ground realities
faced by the elderly include abandonment by their families, destitution and homelessness, inability to access quality health care,
low levels of institutional support, and the loneliness and depression associated with separation from their families. On the one
hand, the traditional arrangements for the elderly in an Indian family revolve around care provided by their children. According
to the National Sample Survey Organisations 2004 survey, nearly 3% of persons aged above 60 lived alone. The number of
elderly living with their spouses was only 9.3%, and those living with their children accounted for 35.6%. However, as many
among the younger generation within the workforce are left with less time, energy and willingness to care for their parents, or
simply emigrate abroad and are unable to do so, senior citizens are increasingly having to turn to other arrangements. In the
private sector, an estimated demand for 300,000 senior housing units, valued at over $1 billion, has led to a variety of retirement
communities emerging across the country, in addition to innovations in healthcare delivery for this group. Yet the poor among
the elderly still very much depend on the government to think creatively and come up with the resources and institutions to
support their needs.
oAgeing - used to describe a person or thing that is getting old:

oGear up - to prepare for an activity or event
oDemographic - relating to demography (the study of populations and
the different groups that make them up)
o Underpin - o give support, strength, or a basic structure to something
o Countervailing - having equal force but an opposite effect
o Offset - to balance the effect of something, with the result that there is
no advantage or disadvantage
o Elderly - old people
o Cohort - a friend or supporter, especially of someone you do not like

o Tailored - made or changed especially to be suitable for a particular
situation or purpose
o Dramatic - very sudden or noticeable
o Attuned - able to understand or recognize something
o Palliative - a drug or medical treatment that reduces pain without curing
the cause of the pain
o Communicable - able to be given from one person to another
o Preventive - intended to stop something before it happens
o Curative - used for curing an illness
o Rehabilitative - to help someone who has been ill to return to a healthy
life
o Advocacy - strong public support for something
o Dignity - the importance and value that a person has, that makes other
people respect them or makes them respect themselves
o Twilight - the final part of a period
o Abandonment - to leave someone when you should stay with them and
look after them
o Destitution - the state of having no money or possessions
o Homelessness - without a place to live
o Revolve around - to have something as the main or most important
interest or subject
country, etc
o Emigrate - to leave a country permanently and go to live in another one
o Abroad - in or to a foreign country or countries
FEB 24/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Life elsewhere"

The quest to find life outside the solar system got a big boost with the discovery of seven Earth-size extra-solar planets, or
exoplanets, orbiting a dwarf star about 40 light years away. Unlike earlier discoveries of exoplanets, all seven planets could
possibly have liquid water a key to life as we know it on Earth with three planets having the greatest chance. This is by far
the largest collection of Earth-like planets in the habitable Goldilocks zone of a star neither too close nor too far from a star,
which raises the possibility of liquid water being present on the surface. Only Earth has liquid water in the solar system. Less
than a year after scientists announced the discovery of three planets orbiting the dwarf star, the team found four more through
intense searches using several ground-based telescopes, including a 20-day continuous monitoring using the U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administrations Spitzer Space Telescope. Since the dwarf star is much cooler than the Sun, the
dimming of light each time a planet passes or transits before the star could be easily recorded from Earth unlike in cases when
planets transit a Sun-like bright star. Since the initial discovery of three planets was made using the Chile-based Transiting
Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope, the exoplanet system is called TRAPPIST-1. Unlike in the case of our solar system,
the planets have apparently formed far away from the star and gradually migrated towards it; they share a similar formation
history with the Galilean moons, which migrated towards Jupiter after formation. Another major difference in comparison with
the solar system is the tight packing of the seven planets around the star. The closest planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system takes
just 1.5 days to complete an orbit and the farthest one takes 20 days; the orbital period of the planets is also similar to the
Galilean moons. With a fair possibility of liquid water being present on at least three planets, the focus is now on deciphering
the climate and chemical composition of their atmosphere. As a first measure, scientists are keen to know if the planets are
Earth-like, by ruling out the presence of hydrogen gas enveloping them. Mass estimates already suggest that the inner six
planets might have a rocky composition, while the one with a low density may have a volatile composition due to the presence
of an ice layer or atmosphere. The composition of the atmosphere can be identified by measuring the wavelength characteristics


of light. Since the TRAPPIST-1 system is close by and the star is cool enough, it would be easier to decipher the various critical
features of the planets. If there is life on these planets, we would know this in about 10 years. The search for extraterrestrial life
has just become more focussed.

o Exoplanet - a planet of a star that is outside the solar system
o Extraterrestrial - relating to things that exist on planets other than
Earth
o Quest - a long search for something that is difficult to find
o Dwarf - very small
o Habitable - a place that is habitable can be lived in
o Goldilocks - used to describe a situation in which something is or has to
be exactly right
o Orbiting - to follow a curved path around a planet or star
o Intense - very great or extreme
o Monitoring - to watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time
in order to discover something about it
o Transit - the activity or process of moving someone or something from
one place to another
o Apparently - used to say that something seems to be true, although it
is not certain
o Gradually - happening or changing slowly over a long period of time or
distance
o Migrated - to move from one place to another
o Farthest - in or to a place that is most distant
o Deciphering - to understand something mysterious or confusing
dangerous
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Campus chill"

A very uneasy calm was restored to the Delhi Universitys North campus by Thursday, with anxiety still gripping colleges and
hostels after two days of violence. Trouble started on Tuesday when members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the
student organisation linked to the BJP, stormed Ramjas College to disrupt a seminar titled Cultures of Protest organised by its
English department and the literary society. They focussed attention on the participation of Umar Khalid, a student leader from
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who had been controversially booked for sedition last year in a particularly fraught ideological
stand-off between the establishment and the left-leaning JNU. They forced the cancellation of not just his session at Ramjas
College but also what remained of the two-day event. A day later, as a protest against the incident was organised on the DU
campus, ABVP members again arrived at the gates of Ramjas College to prevent students from participating in the march. In
no time, clashes erupted, with students of the college alleging violence by the ABVP members and a hands-off response from
the Delhi Police. Student politics in DU has often been edgy, but this weeks events mark a dark and worrying turn. Fearing
trouble, many students associated with the anti-ABVP protest who live around the campus left to stay elsewhere. Students are
mobilising to demand that the first information report make a distinction between those who disrupted the seminar and those
rallying in its defence. But the most grave consequence is the message that is being sent out about the possibility of free debate.
Umar Khalid was to have spoken in a session on Unveiling the state: Regions in conflict the war in Adivasi areas, reportedly
based on his research on Bastar. It was part of a programme cleared by the college authorities. If they are so quickly intimidated
into cancelling the seminar, if the police do not rally sufficiently to protect debate on the campus, the signal goes out that students
and faculty are on their own in defending the right to free debate. The Ramjas College incident also comes a year after the
events at JNU when the ABVP led the Sanghs charge against what they deemed to be anti-national. Then too an impression
was created that the police were too easily led to heed the ABVPs agenda; the reverberations of that episode are still being
felt. Universities are arenas for intellectual evolution, they are meant to be spaces where discussion and debate push
boundaries, where students learn not only the art of provocation but also the argumentative skills to defend and oppose such
provocation. Certainly, there are necessary curbs such as a bar on speech that incites violence and hate. But when a students
organisation uses violence to have a seminar cancelled, and when the authorities succumb so easily, Indian academia stands
diminished.

o Violence - extreme natural force, often causing great damage
o Uneasy - slightly worried or uncomfortable about a particular situation
o Anxiety - an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about
something that is happening or might happen in the future
o Gripping - holding / covering something completely
o Disrupt - to prevent something
o Protest - a strong complaint or disagreement
o Controversially - causing disagreement or discussion
o Sedition - language or behaviour that is intended to persuade other
people to oppose their government
seem possible
o Clash - fighting / argument
o Erupted - to start suddenly and violently
o Alleging - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong
o Hands-off - allowing other people to make their own decisions
o Edgy - in a bad mood because you are worried or nervous
o Mobilising - if you mobilize a group of people, or if they mobilize, they
o Consequence - a result of a particular action or situation, often one
that is bad or not convenient
o Debate - a serious discussion of a subject in which many people take
part
o Unveiling - the act of officially announcing something such as a plan or
a new product that was previously a secret
o Intimidated - feeling nervous or frightened of someone or something
o Faculty - the people who teach in a department in a college
o Defending - to protect someone or something against attack or
criticism; to speak in favour of someone or something
o Agenda - a plan or aim that is kept secret
o Episode - a single event or group of related events
o Intellectual - relating to your ability to think and understand things,
especially complicated ideas
o Evolution - a gradual process of change and development
angry
o Argumentative - someone who is argumentative often argues or
disagrees with people
o Incite - to encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or
violent


o Succumb - to lose the determination to oppose something; to accept
defeat
o Academia - the part of society, especially universities, that is connected
with studying and thinking, or the activity or job of studying
FEB 25/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A significant victory"
There could not have been a clearer mandate in the 2017 civic polls in Maharashtra. Except for Thane, where the Shiv Sena
managed a comfortable victory, and Mumbai, where it squeaked ahead of the BJP by two seats, the BJP won every city
corporation easily. Of the 1,268 municipal seats, the party won 628, more than tripling its 2012 tally. There could not be a better
affirmation of support for the party in power at the State as well as its Chief Minister, who staked his political reputation on the
polls. Besides fielding competitive candidates in places where the party had a strong base, the BJPs strategy to woo viable
contestants from other parties in places where it was weak yielded strong returns. The Congress and the Nationalist Congress
Party were reduced to minor players in most of the corporations. In Mumbai, the Shiv Sena has, for the first time since it came
to power nearly 25 years ago, seen a close competitor in the BJP; there is now a chance that the mayor could be elected from
outside the Sena. While the Marathi-dominated areas of the city helped the regionalist party consolidate support, its reduced
win ratio, of only 37% of the seats contested as opposed to over 50% in previous civic polls, suggests that it can no longer count
Mumbai as an undisputed stronghold. The politics of regional identity and patronage may have helped the Sena become the
single largest party in Indias richest municipal corporation. But its reduced win ratio is a reflection of its dismal performance in
ensuring civic works, with sanitation, infrastructure, public health and education in poor shape in the city. The BJP will be
content with its strong performance, which has followed civic poll victories in Chandigarh and Madhya Pradesh and in some
Legislative Council elections in Uttar Pradesh. This may not reflect a popular endorsement of the demonetisation move, as its
supporters argue, but at the very least it suggests that notebandi is highly unlikely to hurt the BJPs prospects in the ongoing
Assembly elections. It is impossible to not contrast the BJPs success with the performance of the Congress in the recent civic
polls. Clearly, the BJP has become the central pole of Indian politics, a position the Congress occupied for a long time. This is
not only due to the BJP-run Central governments record. The party has an able corps of regional leaders, Devendra Fadnavis
and Shivraj Singh Chouhan among them, which allows for it to compete effectively at the regional level. The Congress, on the
other hand, seems lacking not just in a strategy to regain national relevance but also in its ability to revive itself regionally due
to the absence of a cache of regional leaders.

o Facile - too simple to deal with the difficulties of a real situation
o Mandate - kjthe authority given to an elected group of people, such as
a government, to perform an action or govern a country
o Squeaked - succeed in achieving something by a very narrow margin
o Woo - to try to persuade people to support you, especially by saying and
doing nice things
o Contestant - someone who competes in a contest
o Regionalist party - a political party that supports the division of a
country into smaller areas that govern themselves
o Undisputed - if something is undisputed, everyone agrees about it
o Stronghold - a place where the majority of people have the same
political or religious belief
o Dismal - very bad


effectively
particular currency
o Corps - a group of people who are connected because they are involved
in a particular activity
o Lacking in something - to not have a quality
war, politics, business, industry, or sport etc
o Relevance - the quality of being directly connected with and important
to something else
or popular again
o Cache - a quantity of things that have been hidden
o Regional - local (relating to a particular area of a country or the world)
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Shining bright"

The clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for a plan to double the capacity of solar power installed in
dedicated solar parks to 40 gigawatts by 2020, with partial government fiscal assistance, is in line with the goal of creating a
base of 100 gigawatts by 2022. Expansion of solar power capacity is among the more efficient means to meet the commitment
to keep carbon emissions in check under the Paris Agreement on climate change, and it can provide the multiplier effect of
creating additional employment, with overall economic dividends. As the International Renewable Energy Agency notes in its
report titled REthinking Energy 2017: Accelerating the global energy transformation, globally, jobs in solar energy have
witnessed the fastest growth since 2011 among various renewable energy sectors. Asia has harnessed the potential the most,
providing 60% of all renewable energy employment, while China enjoys the bulk of this with a thriving solar photovoltaic and
thermal manufacturing industry, besides installations. Apart from measures to scale up generating capacity, India should take
a close look at competitive manufacturing of the full chain of photovoltaics and open training facilities to produce the human
resources the industry will need in the years ahead. Renewables and new energy storage technologies are on course to
overshadow traditional fossil fuel-based sources of power as the costs decline. Low-cost financing channels hold the key to
quick augmentation of solar generating capacity. The trend in some emerging economies, including India, has been a reduction
in public financing of renewable energy projects over the last five years. This has implications for equity in the long run, and
electricity regulators should fix tariffs taking into account the reduction in the levelised cost of electricity (the average break-even
price over a projects lifetime). Yet, recourse to other funding options, including regulated debt instruments such as green bonds,
would be necessary to achieve early, ambitious targets. Without realistic purchase prices, utilities could resort to curtailment of
renewable power sources on non-technical considerations, affecting investments. Tamil Nadu, a solar leader in the country,
resorted to curtailments last year, a phenomenon that has perhaps muted industry interest in its recent 500 MW tender. The
funding mix for renewables, therefore, should give climate financing an important role. At the Paris UN Climate Change
Conference, developed countries pledged to raise $100 billion a year by 2020 for mitigation, and more in later years, a promise
that needs to be vigorously pursued. Besides promoting phase two of the solar parks plan, and powering public facilities such
as railway stations and stadia using solar power, the Centre should put in place arrangements that make it easier for every
citizen and small business to adopt rooftop solar. This is crucial to achieving the overall goal of 100 GW from this plentiful source
of energy by 2022, and to raise the share of renewables in the total energy mix to 40 per cent in the next decade.
o Renewables - types of energy such as wind power and power from the
sun that can be replaced as quickly as they are used
o Partial - not complete
o Fiscal - relating to money and financial matters
o In line with something - similar to, or at the same level as something
o Expansion - the process of increasing in size and filling more space


o Efficient - working or operating quickly and effectively in an organized
way
o Emissions - an amount of gas, heat, light, etc. that is sent out
o Accelerating - to happen or make something happen at a faster rate
o Harnessed - to be closely involved with someone or something
succeed
o Overshadow - to be a negative feature or influence that spoils
something
o Fossil - an animal or plant, or a part of one, that lived many thousands
of years ago and is preserved in rock or as a piece of rock
o Augmentation - to increase the size or value of something by adding
something to it
o Implication - the effect that an action or decision will have on something
else in the future
o Break-even - if a person or business breaks even, they neither make a
profit nor lose money
o Ambitious _ having a strong wish to be successful, powerful, or rich
o Curtailment - to reduce or limit something
o Resorted to something - to do or use something because it is the only
thing available
o Developed country - a country with a lot of industrial activity and where
people generally have high incomes
o Vigorously - in a way that involves physical strength, effort, or energy
o Put in place - to set up, organize, or establish
o Plentiful - available in large quantities
FEB 27/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Hate bubbles over"

News of the killing of Indian national Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas has shocked India, and raised fears about the safety of
foreigners and immigrants in America. The term hate crime is writ large in the minds of the Indian diaspora in the U.S. and
their anxious families back home, even as law enforcement officials piece together the tragic events at a bar in Kansas City.
That prior to the attack the shooter, U.S. military veteran Adam Purinton, reportedly asked Kuchibhotla and his co-worker and
fellow Indian, Alok Madasani, whether they were residing in the U.S. illegally hints at the possible motivation for the violent
encounter. Eyewitness reports confirming that the killer yelled, Get out of my country, moments before unleashing a hail of
bullets on the two Indians, also injuring a white man who sought to intervene on their behalf, suggests a xenophobic racism.
While this may be an isolated instance of hate crime, given the political climate in the U.S., it cannot but shine a spotlight on
President Donald Trumps anti-immigrant actions. Especially after Mr. Trumps executive order banning entry into the U.S. of
travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries and refugees from Syria and indefinitely putting on hold the countrys refugee
asylum programme even if implementation of the order has been limited, so far. Fear-mongering about Americas weak
borders allowing the unconstrained entry of illegal aliens into the country has a much older provenance. Throughout the

bruising two-year election campaign that culminated in the November presidential election, Mr. Trumps provocative arguments
about building a wall along the Mexican border and banning Muslims from entering the U.S went largely unchallenged by the
Republican Party. Last week, around the same time as the attack in Kansas City, Mr. Trump tweeted about seven people shot
dead in Chicago, pointing an unsubtle finger at violence in inner cities associated with African-Americans in poverty. He did not
tweet on the Kansas attack. The White House was quick to dismiss as absurd any link between the Kansas City shooting and
the rhetoric on undocumented immigrants. That may well be, but the selective social media outrage of Mr. Trump on violent acts
across the U.S. is disturbing. Why, for instance, did his administration not condemn that act of violence more explicitly? Given
Republican obstructionism on enacting common-sense gun control reforms to curb the proliferation of deadly weapons, this
intensifying trend of racist xenophobia may make the U.S. a far more dangerous emigration destination than it has been so far.
Srinivas Kuchibhotlas career was the stuff of the American dream. Mr. Trumps politics risks alienating not just immigrants, but
also native-born Americans from that dream.
o Hate crime - a crime that is done by someone because they hate the
group that the victim (person who is attacked) belongs to
o Pose - to ask a question
o Writ large - if one thing is another thing writ large, it is similar to it but
larger or more obvious
o Diaspora - the spreading of people from one original country to other
countries
o Veteran - someone who has been in the armed forces during a war
o Eyewitness - a person who saw something happen, for example, a crime
or an accident
o Yelled - shouted
o Unleashing - to do or to cause something that has a very powerful or
harmful effect
o A hail of something - a lot of similar things, thrown at someone at the
same time
o Injure - to hurt or cause physical harm to a person or animal
o Intervene - to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in
o Xenophobic - a strong fear and dislike of people from other countries
and cultures
o Racism - a way of behaving or thinking that shows that you do not like
or respect people who belong to races that are different from your own
and that you believe your race is better than others
o Isolated - happening only once, or existing only in one place
o Shine a spotlight on something - to direct attention to someone or
something
o Refugee - a person who has escaped from their own country for
political, religious, or economic reasons or because of a war
or because of war

o Fear-mongering - the action of deliberately arousing public fear or
alarm about a particular issue
o Unconstrained - not restricted or limited.
o Culminated in something - if an event or series of events culminates
in something, it ends with it, having developed until it reaches this point
o Provocative - causing an angry reaction, usually intentionally
o Unsubtle - obvious
o Absurd - stupid and unreasonable, or silly in a humorous way
people
o Undocumented - not having any documents to prove that you are living
or working in a country legally
o Condemn - to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for moral
reasons
o Explicitly - straightforward and easy to understand
official process
o Enacting - to put something into action, especially to make something
law
o Intensifying - to become greater, more serious, or more extreme
o Emigration - to leave a country permanently and go to live in another
one
o Alienating - to make someone dislike you, or not want to help or support
you
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Ways of sharing"
Indias decision to allow its border roads in Mizoram and Tripura to be used by Bangladeshi forces as they construct border
outposts in the inhospitable terrain of the Chittagong Hill Tracts shows just how far the two countries have come to bridging their
trust deficit. The decision, conveyed last week in Dhaka during the meeting of Home Ministry and security officials working on
closer border management cooperation, came as Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar flew into Bangladesh to begin preparations
for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas visit to India in early April. If the visit goes as planned, it will be her first bilateral trip to India
since 2010, when the MoU for the Land Boundary Agreement was originally signed. The terms of that agreement have now
been fully implemented, and Ms. Hasinas visit will build on the boost that relations received from the historic agreement that
was signed in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Dhaka. Ms. Hasina has long made it clear that she would
only return the visit when there are substantive outcomes on the table, and the fact that officials are now speaking of a visit in
two months time indicates that several important announcements can be expected. There is speculation about a defence
partnership agreement, movement on the Teesta water-sharing agreement, the Ganga water barrage project, and other energy
and connectivity projects. Any of these would go a long way in cementing ties that are increasingly described as a win-win for
both neighbours. However, both New Delhi and Dhaka would be aware of the possible bumps in the road ahead. Some of
these involve the Centre and the affected Indian States. For instance, water-sharing is a highly emotive subject, and movement
on Teesta water-sharing has been held up largely because of West Bengals reservations. To address them, the Central
government needs to reach out to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Similarly Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has raked up


the Farakka Barrage project. For Ms. Hasina, the political worries are greater. She faces an election in 2018, and with the
opposition accusing her of being soft on India, she cannot be seen to be returning home empty-handed on the water question.
Also, while the border issue has been resolved, border firing has not ceased, an issue Ms. Hasinas rivals use to target her.
Meanwhile, she faces the task of addressing Indias mistrust over Chinese investment in Bangladesh, with $38 billion pledged
in infrastructure cooperation and joint ventures during President Xi Jinpings visit last year. Ms. Hasina has sought to address
this by arguing that India will also benefit from Bangladeshs enhanced prosperity if all these projects go through. Yet, Dhaka
may need to be more aware of Indias anxiety as Bangladesh and other neighbours become more heavily invested in Chinas
One Belt One Road project, that India has opted to stay out of for now.
o The time is ripe - it is the most suitable moment to do something or for

something to happen
o Outpost - a military camp that is far away from the army
o Inhospitable - an inhospitable place is unpleasant or difficult to visit or
live in
o Terrain - an area of land, when considering its natural features
by other people
o Substantive - important or serious, or referring to the most important
or serious issues
o On the table - if a plan or suggestion has been put/laid on the table, it
has been made available for people to hear, read, or discuss
o Cementing - to make something such as an agreement or friendship
stronger
o Win-win - a win-win situation or result is one that is good for everyone
who is involved
group of people, usually in order to help or involve them
o Empty-handed - without bringing or taking anything
o Ceased - stopped
o Meanwhile - until something expected happens, or while something
else is happening
o Mistrust - to have doubts about the honesty or abilities of someone
effectively
o Joint venture - a business or business activity that two or more people
or companies work on together


FEB 28/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The IS challenge"

The arrest of two suspected Islamic State associates on Sunday from Gujarat once again raises the question whether the
terrorist group is finding support in India. Coincidentally, the arrests happened the same day that Hafeezudin T.K., one of the
21 persons who went missing from Kerala last year and were believed to have joined the IS, was reported to have been killed
in a drone strike in Afghanistan. If these allegations and reports are correct, it would show that the IS is gaining some influence
at least among a handful of youth in India. In recent months, anti-terror officials have arrested young people from different parts
of the country in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Rajasthan. The IS thrives on support from foreign jihadists,
largely the young. Ever since the organisation declared a Caliphate in 2014, it has attracted tens of thousands of fighters from
around the world. It used two tactics urging sympathisers either to travel to Iraq or Syria, its strongholds, and join the war, or
carry out terror attacks in their own countries after declaring allegiance to the Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. India has remained
largely insulated from this trend. The number of Indians to have joined the ranks of the IS is very small. According to a December
2015 report by the intelligence company Soufan Group, the number of Indians who have joined the IS was 23, compared to 760
from the U.K. and 150 from the U.S. The ISs puritanical, one-size-fits-all brand of Islam hasnt found much resonance in India.
Given the syncretic nature of Indian Islam, it is extremely difficult for groups such as the IS to become popular among Muslims,
as it did in parts of Iraq and Syria. But lone- wolf attacks, inspired by the IS world view and tactics, could pose security risks.
The IS is not recruiting people through local communities as in the case of other terror organisations or, as in Pakistan and
Afghanistan, through madrasas. The ISs medium is the Internet. It reaches out through online propaganda. This is all the more
significant at a time when the IS is under attack in its core territories and is desperate to expand its reach beyond West Asia. Of
late it has carried out major terrorist attacks in Indias neighbourhood in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, including the
deadly bombing at the Sehwan Sufi shrine in Sindh. This outreach to South Asia should worry India. To prevent the group from
gaining a foothold on its territory, India needs high-level intelligence and counter-terror operations to continue. Equally important
is better coordination between the state and Muslim religious leaders in countering radicalisation and having in place specific
de-radicalisation programmes, as western governments do. It is important to not let these isolated arrests be blown out of
proportion to target the larger Muslim population, which right-wing elements often try to do. Bigotry cannot be checked with
bigotry.
o Striking roots - to become fixed or established / to increase and spread

o Suspected - a suspected criminal is one who the courts have not yet
proved guilty
o Coincidentally - used for saying that something happens by chance
o Drone strike - an occasion when a place is hit by a bomb dropped from
a drone (an aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled by
someone on the ground)
o Handful - a very small number of people or things
o Thrives - to become very successful
o Jihadist - a Muslim who is fighting for Islam, especially a radical (=
someone with extreme views) who believes in using violence to achieve
religious and political aims
they should take
o Sympathisers - someone who approves of and supports someone or
something
o Stronghold - a place where people fighting an enemy can defend or
organize themselves
o Caliph - a Muslim ruler
o Insulate - to protect someone from harmful experiences
o Puritanical - having strict moral and religious beliefs and not approving
of pleasure, for example in sexual activity, entertainment, or eating and
drinking


o One-size-fits-all - a one-size-fits-all system or solution is considered to
be suitable for a wide range of situations or problems
o Syncretic - combining different and often contradictory beliefs in
philosophy or religion
o Lone- wolf - a terrorist who prepares and commits violent acts alone
o Madrasa - a college where students are taught about Islam
o Propaganda- information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving
one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other
way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions
o Outreach - the extent or length of reaching out.
o Foothold - a position from which you can improve your status or become
more successful in an organization, profession, or market
o Countering - to reply to a criticism or statement that you disagree with
o Radicalisation - the process by which a person or group comes to hold
more extreme views
o Isolated - happening only once, or existing only in one place
o Blow something out of proportion - to treat a particular event or
problem far too seriously
o Bigotry - the practice of having very strong and unreasonable opinions,
especially about politics, race, or religion, and refusing to consider other
peoples opinions
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Moonlit reality"

An hour into the Oscar ceremony, there was a whiff of uncertainty in the air. La La Land was supposed to mop up every award
in sight, but the first sign that the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had other ideas came when
the winner for Best Costume Design was announced. Everyone expected Mary Zophres to win for her retro-revival Technicolor
clothes in La La Land the eventual winner, Colleen Atwood for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, seemed surprised
too. But as other awards began to slip away from the well-reviewed musical, a theme could be teased out. What is Fantastic
Beasts if not a plea for equal treatment of people, magical or otherwise? Then, Arrival, a film about the inherent benignity of
aliens (read immigrants) won for Best Sound Editing. Hacksaw Ridge, which is, in a way, an anti-guns movie, won in two
categories. Fences, about an African-American father who fears racial discrimination, took home the Oscar for Best Supporting
Actress. Earlier, Moonlight, featuring two minority communities (black and gay), won for Best Supporting Actor. This turned out
to be one of those years the Oscar voter was underestimated. As a majority of voters are actors, there was the tendency to think
theyd reward La La Land, a celebration of creation: the heroine wants to make movies, the hero wants to make jazz. It looked
like the year of The Artist all over again. If that 2011 Best Picture winner recreated the silent film era, La La Land looks back
at the Hollywood musical. More importantly, both films were a cocoon of comfort in the worst of times. After the tsunami that
devastated Japan, after the assassination of Osama bin Laden, after Arab Spring, after riots in London, and after an event that
proved far more tragic to disciples of design, the demise of Steve Jobs, The Artist was less film than balm. It was a world in
which the biggest catastrophe was the arrival of talking pictures. It stood to reason that Hollywood, this year, needed to retreat
into a similarly reassuring bubble, similarly distanced from reality, after Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. presidential elections.
The confusion over Best Picture summed it up perfectly. First, it was La La Land. Fantasy, it appeared, had won. Then, it was
announced that a mistake had been made. The winner was actually Moonlight. Reality, it turned out, could not be kept at bay,
not in a year an Iranian director boycotted the ceremony in protest. Asghar Farhadi, whose The Salesman won in the Best
Foreign Film category, sent a note where he said his absence was out of respect for the people of my country and those of six
other nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S. It was indeed a grim
reminder that the world under Mr. Trump is no La La Land.
o Aptly - suitably

o Reflect - to show, express, or be a sign of something
o Ceremony - a formal public event with special traditions, actions, or
words
o A whiff of something - a slight sign of something
things might happen
o Mop up - to win, or succeed in doing something
o Retro - similar to styles, fashions, etc. from the past
o Technicolor - having a lot of bright colours
o Eventual - happening or existing at the end of a process or period of
time
o Beast - an animal, especially a large or wild one
o Slip away - if something slips away, you stop having it
o Plea - an urgent or emotional request for something
o Inherent - an inherent quality is a basic or essential feature that gives
something its character
o Benignity - kindness or tolerance toward others
country
o Racial - happening between people of different races
o Racial discrimination - unfair treatment of someone because of their
race
o Gay - sexually attracted to people of the same sex and not to people of
the opposite sex
o Turned out - to have a particular result
o Underestimate - to think that someone has less power or ability than
they really have
way
o Recreate - to make something exist or happen again
o Cocoon - something that keeps you safe, but may stop you from learning
to deal with problems
o Devastated - feeling very shocked and upset
o Assassination - the murder of a famous or important person, especially
for political reasons
o Riot - a violent protest by a crowd of people
o Tragic - causing or involving great sadness, because someone suffers or
dies
o Disciple - someone who admires a famous person such as a political or
religious leader and is influenced by them
o Balm - something that makes you feel calm and relaxed
people suffer
o Fantasy - a pleasant, exciting, or unusual experience that you imagine
is happening to you
o Turned out - to be discovered to be something, have something etc
o Kept at bay - to prevent something serious, dangerous, or unpleasant
from affecting you


as a protest
o Disrespect - to treat someone without respect
o Inhumane - treating people or animals in a very cruel way
country
o Grim - grim news, situations, or events are unpleasant and make you
feel upset and worried
MAR 01/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Back on track ?"

Recent discussions between Indian and Chinese officials on the way forward in Afghanistan are a welcome sign that both
countries are attempting to put a very bad year in bilateral ties behind them, and seek common ground where possible. In
Afghanistan, where both China and India see potential for investment and share concerns over the rise of radicalism and
terrorism, there are many avenues for cooperation. The fact that Beijing initiated the special talks by inviting Indian officials who
deal with Afghanistan and proposed a joint development project encourages the conclusion that China is unwilling to have its
options cramped by Pakistans reservations about Indias role in Afghanistan. The Ministry of External Affairs says there was
broad agreement on trade and economic ties, with Chinese officials reportedly praising Indias measures to welcome investment
and facilitate visas for closer business ties. On the issues that dominated the India-China narrative in 2016, particularly Indias
bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group membership and to have Masood Azhar designated a global terrorist at the UN, there was little
movement. But a new conversation has started, and could yield results by the mid-year deadline. There is a lowering of rhetoric
as well. While China is no longer trotting out its old line on opposing Indias NSG membership as a non-signatory to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, India has stopped referring to China as the one country that is thwarting its ambitions. New Delhi
must prepare for the larger challenge this year that will inevitably come from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI, or One Belt,
One Road). Through the mega infrastructure and trade project, China has plans in place to reach out to each one of Indias land
and maritime neighbours, most of whom have signed up for it. In May, a conference hosted by President Xi Jinping will bring all
of Indias neighbourhood to Beijing, with the exception of India. India has decided to not join the B&RI and will not attend even
as an observer as the $51-billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, now an integral part of the B&RI initiative, runs through
areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This concerns Indias territorial integrity, and New Delhi needs to find ways to make China
more sensitive to its concerns. Both must build on their discussion on the global scenario, which included the need to play down
their differences in order to manage the global instability created by President Donald Trumps possible revision of ties with
Europe, Russia, and of alliances in the Pacific. His threat of abandoning the One China policy, and backing down on it after
talks with Mr. Xi, should indicate the dangers of depending on a consistent U.S. policy on other issues in the region for India as
well.
oBack on track - running according to schedule again / working or

happening normally again
o Bilateral - a bilateral agreement or activity is one that involves two
groups or countries
succeed
o Radicalism - a way of thinking or behaving that is based on the belief
that important political or social changes are necessary
o Cramped - not having enough space or time
o Reservation - a doubt or feeling of not being able to agree with or accept
something completely
o Designate - to choose someone officially to do a particular job
people
o Trotting out something - to provide an excuse, idea, opinion, or fact,
especially one that has been used often before or one that is silly

o Proliferation - a sudden increase in number or amount
o Thwarting - to stop something from happening or someone from doing
something
o Mega - very big
effectively
o Maritime - connected with human activity at sea
o Host - a place or organization that provides the space and other
necessary things for a special event
o Neighbourhood - the area of a town that surrounds someone's home,
or the people who live in this area
o Exception - someone or something that is not included in a rule, group,
or list or that does not behave in the expected way
o Observer - someone who is present at an event but takes no active part
o Integral - important
problem
o Concerns - to cause worry to someone
o Integrity - the quality of being complete or whole, without any missing
parts
same thing
o Abandoning - to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever
o Backing down - to admit that you were wrong
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Game of tones"
Consolidation in Indias overcrowded telecommunications industry was perhaps inevitable. What is interesting though is that
the current wave of mergers and acquisitions, which started in November 2015 with Reliance Communications agreement to
acquire Sistemas Indian wireless business, has gained considerable momentum over the last 15 months with several more
announcements of deals struck or confirmation of ongoing merger negotiations having been made. That the commercial
start of services from the latest entrant, Reliance Jio, has been coterminous with this latest round of consolidation is not a simple
coincidence. Given what some of its competitors have referred to as Jios predatory approach to pricing, the industry has found
itself buffeted on the one hand by a sharp decline in earnings, and on the other by the high cost of servicing the debt that had
helped incumbent operators bid for and acquire the much-needed wireless spectrum at the governments auction of airwaves.
It is this financial bind that the industry finds itself in that Sunil Mittal, Bharti Airtel founder and chairman, alluded to at the Mobile
World Congress in Barcelona this week when he said that the return on capital deployed had dipped to low single-digit levels,
making investment in the business unviable. Investors, he is reported to have quipped, would be better off putting their money
in a bank and playing golf. This is a far cry from the situation a little more than five years ago when as many as 12 private
players jostled cheek by jowl with the two state-run telephone operators, BSNL and MTNL, as they vied for a share of the


countrys 893.8 million wireless subscribers as of December 2011. And while the market had expanded to almost 1.13 billion
subscribers as of December 2016, the number of non-state mobile services providers had shrunk to 10, inclusive of Reliance
Jio. With seven of the nine either in the process of being acquired or merged, or in talks to negotiate a deal, the industry is now
finally poised to coalesce into four large private sector entities, a welcome development both from the industry and government
perspective. Still, size alone may not guarantee the enlarged companies good health, especially given the ongoing fierce battle
for market share. That the seriousness of the situation has not been lost on the Telecom Commission is best underscored by
the fact that it has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to ensure orderly growth in the sector. After all, a bruising
and protracted price war, while certainly good for the consumers, is bound to extract a heavy price on the service providers
financials, notwithstanding the deep pockets that the merged entities may command. That in turn risks further eroding the
revenue the Centre earns from licence fees and spectrum usage charges, a fact cited by the Telecom Commission in its latest
missive to TRAI. It is in no ones interest to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

form a bigger one
o Consolidation - to make the power, position, or achievements you
already have stronger or more effective so that they are likely to continue
o Overcrowded - containing too many people or things
o Telecommunications - the science and technology of sending
information by telephone, radio, or television
o Acquisition - something such as a building, another company, or a piece
of land that is bought by a company, or the act of buying it
o Acquire - to get something
o Considerable - large in size, amount, or degree
stronger
o Entrant - someone who enters a competition
o Coterminous - exactly the same as something else
o Consolidation - becoming better and stronger
o Coincidence - a situation in which separate things happen by chance at
the same time or in the same way
o Buffeted - to treat someone in a negative or unfair way
o Alluded - to mention someone or something in an indirect way
o Unviable - not able to work as intended; not able to succeed
o Quipped - to say something funny or clever
o Far cry - to be very different from someone or something
o Jostled - to compete for something
o Cheek by jowl - very close together
o Vied - to compete with other people for something that is difficult to get
o Subscriber - someone who pays money in order to receive something
regularly
o Shrunk - to become smaller in size
o Coalesce - to come together and form a group or a single unit
o Perspective - a way of thinking about something
o Enlarged - to make something bigger


o Fierce - involving very strong feelings such as determination, anger, or
hate
or necessary
o Consumer - someone who buys and uses goods and services
o Notwithstanding - despite the fact or thing mentioned
o Deep pockets - if an organization or person has deep pockets, they have
a lot of money
o Missive - an official, formal, or long letter
o Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs - to destroy something that
makes a lot of money for you
MAR 02/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Resilience reaffirmed"
The resilience of Indias economy has been reaffirmed by the latest data, with both the third-quarter and full-year growth
estimates belying widespread concerns that the November 8 decision to withdraw high-value currency notes would significantly
dampen momentum. While the Central Statistics Office stuck with its January advance estimate for gross domestic product in
the 12 months ending March 2017 to post a healthy 7.1% growth, it projected GDP to have expanded 7% in the fiscal third
quarter, reflecting only a marginal slowdown from the 7.3% registered in the preceding three-month period. Notably, this
expansion occurred in the October-December quarter, when about 86% of the currency in circulation in the form of 500 and
1,000 notes was abruptly sucked out of the system, potentially resulting in what the Economic Survey termed an aggregate
demand shock and the Reserve Bank of India referred to as demand compression associated with adverse wealth effects.
Undergirding this better-than-expected performance were the agriculture, mining and manufacturing sectors and, interestingly,
government expenditure. While the overall gross value added (GVA) in the third quarter is estimated to have increased by 6.6%,
agricultural GVA in the period is projected to have surged 6%, a sharp quickening from the second quarters 3.8% pace and in
stark contrast with the 2.2% contraction in the earlier year, as the near-normal monsoon in 2016 helped lift kharif crop output
substantially. Mining and manufacturing GVA too appear to have done far better than in the preceding quarter, bucking the so-
called demonetisation drag to post 7.5% and 8.3% growth, respectively. Public administration, defence and other services
clocked double-digit GVA growth: at 11.9%, a robust acceleration from the 7.5% in the third quarter of 2015-16. It is only the
financial, real estate and professional services segment, which is linked to consumption, that lagged, with the pace of expansion
more than halving from the July-September quarter to a modest 3.1% increase. Chief Statistician T.C.A. Anant has said the
government will continue to keep evaluating the numbers in relation to the impact of demonetisation, even as the CSO trimmed
its full-year GVA growth estimate to 6.7% from the 7% projected in January. This 30 basis points cut in the GVA growth estimate
is more in sync with the projection of one quarter of a percentage point to half a percentage point slowing in its baseline real
GDP growth assumption of 7% that the Economic Survey had posited. The Survey had also made a cautionary assertion that
recorded GDP growth would understate the overall impact of demonetisation as the most affected parts of the economy
informal and cash based are either not captured in the national income accounts or, to the extent they are, their measurement
is based on formal sector indicators. When dealing with statistics, it is safer to keep all the caveats in mind.
o Resilience - someones ability to become healthy, happy, or strong

again after an illness, disappointment, or other problem
o Reaffirmed - to formally and officially state something again strongly
particular currency
o Belying - to show something to be false, or to hide something such as
an emotion
people


o Statistics - a collection of numerical facts or measurements, as about
people, business conditions, or weather
o Gross domestic product - the total value of all goods and services
produced in a country in a year, except for income received from money
invested in other countries
o Preceding - existing or coming immediately before someone or
something else
o Notably - especially(used for introducing a good example of something)
o Abruptly - happening or done quickly, suddenly or immediately
o Aggregate - total
o Undergirding - provide support or a firm basis
o Surged - to move forwards very quickly
o Quickening - becoming faster
o Stark - completely
o Respectively - used for saying that something happens separately to
each of the people or things mentioned in the order in which they were
mentioned
o Clocked - attained / reached
o Robust - strong
o Acceleration - an increase in the rate at which something happens,
changes, or grows
o Lagged - to not be as successful or advanced
o Pace - the speed at which someone or something moves
o Expansion - the process of increasing in size and filling more space
o Evaluating - to think carefully about something before making a
judgment about its value, importance, or quality
o Basis point - used in relation to interest rates to mean one-hundredth
of one percent
o Baseline - a quantity, value, or fact used as a standard for measuring
other quantities, values, or facts
o Cautionary - warning someone that they should be careful
o Informal - not formal or official
o Statistics - a group of numbers that represent facts or that describe a
situation
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Withering highs"


The forecast from the India Meteorological Department of above-normal temperatures over much of India in the summer months
is bound to bring back memories of last years withering weeks. Global weather in recent times has come under pressure from
the El Nino warming that began in 2015 and exerted its influence into the first quarter of 2016. What is significant is that the
Australian international weather bureau says there is a 50% prospect of a similar phenomenon this year as well, making it a
significant alert on hotter temperatures, and possibly a debilitated monsoon and weaker agricultural prospects. The early IMD
forecast should help the official machinery to adequately prepare for public distress. A carefully planned school examination
schedule could spare students the worst of the torrid season, and this should be among the top priorities. As the temperature
edged past 40C last year, schools in some States decided to extend their summer vacations by a week or two, something that
may become necessary again. Urban water distress poses another challenge, because big cities in several States have not
received adequate rainfall to replenish their reservoirs and are using up groundwater at unsustainable rates. For farmers,
another harsh period would add to their difficulties, requiring a sensitive approach to their needs. Administrative decisions for
summer management will need to be refined on the basis of coming IMD updates, although the overall trend appears to be
clear. Temperatures in different parts of the world may have variations due to local weather phenomena, but as the U.S. space
agency NASA has pointed out, there has been a record three-year warming trend, with 2016 the hottest; 16 of 17 warmest years
based on globally-averaged temperatures occurred since 2001. The effect of El Nino on the global temperature average is only
a small part of the overall rise, indicating that the trend could be correlated with the rise in greenhouse gases. India, a major
emitter of GHGs, has classified 2016 as the centurys warmest year, with an increase of 0.91C over the long-term average;
NASAs corresponding global figure is 0.99C. These are clear signs that the world must shift away from further high-emission
pathways in the economy and adopt leapfrogging technologies. It is also a call for policy initiatives to build resilience by improving
water harvesting and expanding tree cover, including in cities. For rural India, building surface irrigation facilities such as ponds
through the employment guarantee scheme and climate funds would seem a natural choice, while urban water supply
augmentation needs more reservoirs to be built. If this years forecast comes true, though, there is no escape route. The only
hope would be an early date with the monsoon.
o Withering - a withering look, expression, or remark deliberately makes

you feel silly or embarrassed
o High - a period or situation in which something reaches its highest level
the economy
o Mitigate - to reduce the harmful effects of something
or upset
o Bound to something - to force someone to keep a promise
o Exert - to use influence, authority, or power in order to affect or achieve
something
o Bureau - an organization that provides information or services
o Possibly - likely to happen or be true, but not certain
o Debilitated - to make someone or something physically weak
o Adequately - satisfactory and good enough
or upset
o Torrid - full of strong emotions, especially sexual emotions
o Priority - the importance that you give to something that must be done
o Replenish - to make something full again, or to bring it back to its
previous level by replacing what has been used
o Unsustainable - not capable of continuing at the same rate or level
o Refined - to make small changes to something in order to improve it
o Variation - the existence of differences in amount, number, level, form
etc


o El Nino - an unusual ocean current that happens along the western coast
of South America every two to ten years, killing large numbers of sea
creatures and causing noticeable and often severe changes in weather
conditions in many areas of the world
o Correlated - if two or more things correlate or are correlated, they are
connected in a way that is not caused by chance
o Emitter - something that emits (= sends out) light, a noise, or a
substance, especially the gas carbon dioxide
o Corresponding - related to or connected with something
o Leapfrogging - to improve your position by going past other people
quickly or by missing out some stages
o Augmentation - to increase the size or value of something by adding
something to it
MAR 03/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The stakes in Manipur"
Manipur will vote in 38 of its 60 Assembly constituencies on Saturday in the first of two phases. This election is shaping up into
something new for Manipurs polity, a direct contest between two national parties, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Congress is seeking to defend its 15-year record in power, while the BJP fancies its chances in a State that has generally
voted favourably for the party ruling at the Centre. The four-month-long blockade by the United Naga Council of highways
leading up to the valley has dominated the discourse in the run-up to the elections. The Manipur elections are important for both
national parties. The Congress is seeking to retain its hold as the only party that has electoral support across various ethnic and
geographic regions in the State, while the BJP is keen to get power in another northeastern State, after its victory last year in
Assam. A contest between the Congress and the BJP in Manipur is welcome, as both parties do not represent any specific
ethnic groups, unlike other parties in the fray in previous elections. But the BJP lacks a grassroots base in Manipur and largely
comprises leaders who have defected from the Congress. This has resulted in a political campaign largely made up of
accusations and counter-accusations of corruption, besides the blame game on the ongoing blockade. The decision in early
December 2016 by the Okram Ibobi Singh government to notify the formation of seven new districts, creating 16 districts in the
State, was momentous. It allowed the Congress to seek support from the hill areas for this decision, as the new districts in the
hills made for better administrative access in areas far from the valley. However, it resulted in the intensification of the blockade
sponsored by the UNC, severely hitting normal life in Manipur. The persistence of the blockade has led to some degree of
disaffection owing to the inability of the Congress government to bring it to an end, even if the governments defence that any
punitive measures against the UNC would have led to violence cannot be summarily dismissed. The Congress blames the
Centre for not prevailing upon the UNC and other Naga groups to end the blockade, while the BJP blames the Congress for
precipitating the crisis. In a State where insurgent groups remain active and that is still dependent on Central transfer of
resources to shore up its economy, the electorate would have welcomed a genuine discourse on such issues in the run-up to
the elections. Sadly, this did not happen.
oBlockade - the situation in which a country or place is surrounded by

o Constituency - the voters in a division of a country who elect a
representative to parliament
o Shaping up - to develop
o Defend - to prevent something from failing, stopping, or being taken
away
o Fancies - to want to have or do something
o Discourse - a long and serious speech or piece of writing on a particular
subject
o Ethnic - relating to a group of people who have the same culture and
traditions
o Victory - an occasion when you win a game, competition, election, war,
etc

o Contest - a competition
o Defected - to leave a country, political party, etc., especially in order to
join an opposing one
morally wrong, illegal, or unkind, or the fact of accusing someone
o Blame game - a situation in which people try to blame each other for
something bad that has happened
o Momentous - very important because of effects on future events
o Intensification - the action of making something more serious, or more
extreme
o Persistence - the attitude or behaviour of someone who continues to
do, or try to do, something in a determined way
o Disaffection - the state of no longer feeling loyal towards a group or
organization
o Bring something to an end - to make something finish
o Summarily - immediately, and without following the usual official
methods or processes
o Precipitating - to make something happen suddenly or sooner than
expected
own country
Hindu Editorial Topic2 : "Conciliatory, sketchy"

President Donald Trumps address to the joint session of Congress was unusual insofar as he adopted a distinctly less
combative tone on certain issues, and refrained from his melodramatic oratorical strategy of painting America as a nation facing
a dark future in a dangerous world. Most striking in terms of the change in his tenor were his remarks on immigration. Through
most of his election campaign, he frequently promised to detain and deport illegal aliens and build a wall along the Mexican
border to keep rapists and drug dealers out. While the Department of Homeland Security has indeed carried out raids against
undocumented immigrants in a number of major American cities over the past few weeks, Mr. Trump on Tuesday expressed
his willingness to consider a merit-based system, rather than relying on lower-skilled immigrants, which could be achieved
through real and positive immigration reform. Yet Mr. Trump appeared to blunt the positive impact of this long-awaited softening
in his rhetoric on immigration when he announced a proposal to create an office to serve Victims of Immigration Crime
Engagement, apparently a special agency with a mandate to focus on tackling crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
As before, the fact that multiple studies of the demographics of crime suggest that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes
than native-born Americans has not deterred him from making such xenophobic proposals. Mr. Trump is also likely to have
been alluding to Indian fiscal policies when he spoke of a country that taxed U.S.-made Harley-Davidson motorcycles at a 100%
rate. Even though subsequent reports pointed out that the sales of the motorcycle company have grown at a brisk pace of 30%
over the past two years in India despite such taxation, it is Mr. Trumps penchant for flirting with the idea of introducing
protectionist measures in U.S. trade policy that is causing alarm in India and elsewhere. It is hard to distinguish how much of
Mr. Trumps attack on the global trade system, which he blames for taking away Americans jobs, is bluster, and how much
portends actual policy change. For example, among the multiple companies that he named in his speech as firms promising to
invest in production lines on U.S. soil since Novembers election, fact-checkers discovered that many had already made plans
to do so during his predecessors time in office. This apparent lack of interest in factual accuracy and specificity on details
seemed to echo through other parts of Mr. Trumps speech for example, in his glossing over precisely what historic tax
reform his administration would introduce to enable U.S. companies to be competitive the world over. While many Americans
may be willing to tolerate presidential strategies of purposeful equivocation, they are probably hoping that, at the very least, Mr.


Trumps speech may be an inflection point in his evolution toward a more conciliatory ethos.

o Sketchy - not completely safe or not completely honest
o Unusual - different from others of the same type in a way that is
surprising, interesting, or attractive
o Insofar as - used for talking about the degree to which something
happens, or the situation in which something happens
o Adopted - to accept or start to use something new
o Distinctly - in a clear or noticeable way
o Combative - ready to fight, argue with, or oppose someone
o Refrained - to avoid doing or stop yourself from doing something
o Melodramatic - showing much stronger emotions than are necessary or
usual for a situation
o Oratorical - relating to the art or practice of public speaking
o Striking - more attractive than usual
o Detain - to force someone officially to stay in a place
o Deport - to force someone to leave a country, especially someone who
has no legal right to be there or who has broken the law
o Undocumented - not having any documents to prove that you are living
or working in a country legally
o Blunt - to make a feeling less strong
o Impact - to have an influence on something
people
of a crime
o Apparently - used when the real situation is different from what you
thought it was:
o Demographics - the particular features of a population, for example
peoples age or race
o Deterred - to prevent someone from doing something
o Xenophobic - extreme dislike or fear of foreigners, their customs, their
religions, etc
o Alluding to someone / something - to mention someone or something
in a brief or indirect way
o Penchant - a liking for, an enjoyment of, or a habit of doing something,
especially something that other people might not like

o Flirting with something - to consider doing something, but not
seriously, or to be interested in something for a short time
o Protectionist - a system in which a country helps its own industries by
o Alarm - a warning of danger
o Distinguish - to notice or understand the difference between two things,
or to make one person or thing seem different from another
o Bluster - to speak in a loud, angry, or offended way, usually with little
effect
o Portend - to be a sign that something bad is likely to happen in the
future
o Fact-checker - someone whose job is to make sure that facts are
correct, especially in something that is published
someone else
o Apparent - an apparent quality, feeling, or situation seems to exist
although it may not be real
o Specificity - the quality of being specific (clear and exact)
o Glossing over something - to avoid considering something, such as an
embarrassing mistake, to make it seem not important, and to quickly
continue talking about something else
o Tolerate - to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different from your
own, although you might not agree with or approve of them
o Purposeful - showing that you know what you want to do
o Equivocation - to avoid making a clear statement by saying something
that has more than one possible meaning
o Inflection - the way that the sound of your voice goes up and down
when you speak
MAR 04/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Crossing a bridge"

Even in the fraught and volatile framework of India-Pakistan ties, the Permanent Indus Commission mandated to implement
the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has met like clockwork, 112 times in 56 years, annually in each country. The commission
has experts who look into issues and disputes on the ground over the utilisation of the waters of six rivers of the Indus system.
Under the treaty, India has full use of the three eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej), while Pakistan has control over the three
western rivers (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum), although India is given rights to use these partially as well for certain purposes. As a
result, there should be little to comment in the normal course when India accepts Pakistans invitation to the next round of talks,
as it has for the Permanent Indus Commission in Lahore later this month. The move is welcome, as it denotes Indias
commitment to the treaty that has stood the test of time and war, and also displays New Delhis sincerity on the issue of water-
sharing, given that the IWT is seen to be a model in dispute management. In September last year, doubts had been raised over
Indias commitment after the terrorist attack on an army camp in Uri, killing 19 soldiers. In the days that followed, senior officials
announced the suspension of talks until there was an atmosphere free of terror after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a
review meeting on the treaty to consider retaliatory measures against Pakistan for the attack, saying, blood and water cannot


go together. Mr. Modi repeated some of those angry sentiments at public rallies where he said India would not allow even a
drop of water to go waste into Pakistan. The atmosphere was also charged after the government announced surgical strikes
had been carried out along the Line of Control and subsequently pulled out from the SAARC summit in Pakistan, leading to
fears of a freeze in bilateral ties. In the event, the government has chosen wisely, with some encouragement from the World
Bank and persistence by Pakistan, to step back from much of that rhetoric, and allow IWT commissioners from both countries
to meet. The decision follows several other moves between India and Pakistan in the past few weeks indicating a softening of
positions on some other issues as well: from a marked reduction in LoC firing, the regular annual exchange of nuclear lists, the
release of prisoners by both countries, and India being part of the consensus to elect the Pakistani nominee as the SAARC
Secretary-General this week. It would be premature to expect that any of these events, some of which are routine, consolidate
a thaw in relations between the two countries. However, they reaffirm the high stakes that are woven into India-Pakistan
relations, and the need to keep certain issues such as water-sharing above the politics of the moment.

o Volatile - likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly
o Mandated - to give official permission for something to happen
o Implement - to start using a plan or system
o Like clockwork - very regularly, or at exactly the planned times
o Dispute - an argument or disagreement, especially an official one
o Certain - some
o Denote - to represent something
o Sincerity - an honest way of behaving that shows that you really mean
what you say or do
o Suspension - the act of stopping something happening
o Rally - a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters
of a particular opinion
people
people
o Nominee - a person who is officially chosen for a position or job
or suitable time
o Consolidate - to become, or cause something to become, stronger, and
more certain
o Thaw - to become friendlier or more relaxed
o Reaffirm - to formally and officially state something again
o High stakes - involving serious risks if there is no success
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Moscows shadow"

Less than three weeks after the resignation of Michael Flynn, U.S. President Donald Trumps National Security Adviser, over
failure to disclose contact with Russian officials, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is now staring down the barrel of similar
allegations, intensifying a storm that the White House was already struggling to cope with. This week Mr. Sessions faced three
distinct, serious questions regarding his conduct in this context. First, did he have an undisclosed meeting with the Russian
Ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, in September? Second, if he did make such contact with Russian officials, was there
not a conflict of interest in the Attorney General overseeing an investigation into Russias alleged attempts to influence the
November 8 presidential elections? Third, did he then perjure himself during his confirmation hearing in the Senate when he
appeared to fudge a direct question about contact with Russian officials? The first and second questions have already been
answered investigations by the Washington Post revealed that Mr. Sessions and two senior aides met with Mr. Kislyak in his

Senate office on September 8, about a month before the Obama administration accused the Russian government of interfering
with the U.S. election process and three months before it ejected 35 Russians diplomats from their U.S. posts and slapped
sanctions on Moscow. Under immense pressure from Democrats on Capitol Hill, on Thursday Mr. Sessions recused himself
from the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the election. They must now wait for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and
the Department of Justice, which Mr. Sessions heads, to get details on the nature of contact that Russian officials had with Mr.
Sessions, Mr. Flynn, and Mr. Trumps son-in-law, White House adviser Jared Kushner. The law enforcement machinery must
then determine whether U.S. national security was in any way compromised by those interactions. The third question regarding
whether Mr. Sessions lied under oath to Congress about his meetings, a potential felony under U.S. law, may make his
continuance in office uncertain. The combined weight of the conversations that he and other Trump team members had with
those officials makes Moscows fingerprint on American politics hard to ignore. This saga leaves a heavy question hanging over
the sovereignty of U.S. foreign policy in the days ahead. President Trump, whos come to office on an America First battle cry,
will struggle yet more to counter the allegations of Kremlins hand covertly influencing policy. The denouement matters
immensely to the outcomes in Syria, the future of the embattled European Union, and across an increasingly multipolar world.
o Administration - the process of being responsible for managing a

business, organization, institution or country
o Resignation - the act of leaving a job permanently
was hidden
o Staring down - to overcome by direct action
o Intensifying - if something intensifies, or if you intensify it, it becomes
greater, stronger, or more extreme
o Cope with - to successfully deal with a problem or difficulty
o Distinct - clearly noticeable; that certainly exists
o Undisclosed - if official information is undisclosed, it is secret
o Senate - the more senior part of a law-making institution that has two
parts
o Fudge - a plan or action that avoids making a clear decision or giving a
clear answer
o Reveal - to let something become known, for example a secret or
information that was previously not known
illegal, or unkind
to do this
o Eject - to force someone to leave a particular place
o Diplomat - an official whose job is to represent one country in another
o Sanctions - an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken
o Immense - extremely large in size or degree


o Democrat - in the US, a member or supporter of the Democratic Party
o Recuse - to withdraw oneself from acting as a judge or other official in
a court case because of possible conflicts of interest
that has happened
o Meddling - to become involved in a situation that you have no right to
be involved in, in a way that is annoying
o Felony - a serious crime
o Continuance - the process of continuing
o Saga - a long story about past events over a long period of time
o Covertly - secretly, or in a hidden way
o Multipolar - having or conceiving multiple centers of power or influence
MAR 06/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Saving the Ghats"
The hesitation shown by the Central government in deciding upon full legal protection for one of its most prized natural assets,
the Western Ghats in their totality, is a major disappointment. The idea that whatever is left of these fragile mountainous forests
should be protected from unsustainable exploitation in the interests of present and future generations, while presenting
sustainable ways of living to the communities that inhabit these landscapes, is being lost sight of. Quite unscientifically, the
issue is being framed as one of development-versus-conservation. Given the weak effort at forging a consensus, there is little
purpose in the Centre returning to the drawing board with another draft notification to identify ecologically sensitive areas. What
it needs is a framework under which scientific evidence and public concerns are debated democratically and the baseline for
ESAs arrived at. It is accepted, for instance, that the Ghats play an irreplaceable role in mediating the monsoon over the country
and the forests harbour a rich biodiversity that has not even been fully studied. New species continue to emerge each year in
an area that has endemic plants and animals, although, as the scientist Norman Myers wrote nearly two decades ago, only
6.8% of primary vegetation out of the original 182,500 sq km remains in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka taken together. The
ecologically sensitive nature of the forests stretching 1,600 km along the western coast as a global biodiversity hotspot was
emphasised by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel headed by Madhav Gadgil, while for conservation purposes, the
Kasturirangan Committee identified only a third of the total area. Both expert groups have encountered resistance from State
governments and industries, although they mutually differ in their recommendations. ALSO READ Protecting the Western
Ghats The question that needs speedy resolution is how much of the Western Ghats can be demarcated as ecologically
sensitive, going beyond the system of national parks and sanctuaries that already exist. As a corollary, are other areas free to
be exploited for industrial activity, including mining and deforestation, with no environmental consequences? A frequently cited
example of destruction is the loss of ecology in Goa due to rampant, illegal mining. More complicated is the assessment of
ecosystem services delivered by the forests, lakes, rivers and their biodiversity to communities. Mr. Gadgil, for instance, has
underscored the unique value of some locations, such as those with fish or medicinal plant diversity peculiar to a small area,
which should not get lost in the assessment process. All this points to the need for wider and more open consultation with people
at all levels, imbuing the process with scientific insights. The sooner this is done the better. Several options to spare sensitive
areas will emerge, such as community-led ecological tourism and agro-ecological farming. A national consultative process is
urgently called for.
oDetermine - to discover the facts or truth about something

oEcologically - relating to the environment and the way that plants,
animals, and humans live together and affect each other
o Sensitive - easily influenced, changed, or damaged
o Hesitation - a pause before doing something, or a feeling that you
should not do it
o Totality - the whole of something
o Mountainous - very big
o Unsustainable - causing damage to the environment by using more of
something than can be replaced naturally
o Exploitation - the act of using someone unfairly for your own advantage

o Sustainable - causing little or no damage to the environment and
therefore able to continue for a long time
o Inhabit - to live in a place
o Landscape - a large area of countryside, especially in relation to its
appearance
o Lost sight of - to not consider something, esp. because you have
forgotten about it
o Unscientifically - not considered, examined, or tested using methods
that scientists think are necessary
o Conservation - the protection of plants and animals, natural areas etc
people
comparisons
o Irreplaceable - valuable or rare and impossible to replace if used, lost,
or destroyed
o Mediating - to influence or cause a process or event
countries
o Biodiversity - the number and types of plants and animals that exist in
a particular area or in the world generally, or the problem of protecting
this
o Endemic - very common, or strongly established in a place or situation
o Vegetation - plants in general, or plants that are found in a particular
area
o Hotspot - a popular and exciting place
attention to
o Resistance - a force that acts to stop the progress of something or make
it slower
o Mutually - by, to, or for each of two or more people equally
o Demarcate - to decide the limits of something, especially the borders of
an area
o Sanctuaries - a place where birds or animals can live and be protected,
especially from being hunted or dangerous conditions
o Corollary - something that results from something else
o Exploit - to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage
o Deforestation - the cutting down of trees in a large area, or the
destruction of forests by people
o Rampant - (of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an
uncontrolled way
o Peculiar - belonging to, relating to, or found in only particular people or
things


o Imbuing - to fill someone or something with a particular quality or
emotion
o Insight - the ability to notice and understand a lot about people or
situations
o Consultative - a consultative group or document gives advice about
something
o Called for something - to make something necessary or suitable
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Elusive reconciliation"
A United Nations report released last week on the progress of reconciliation efforts by the Sri Lankan government should be a
wake-up call for President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Raising serious concerns about the
delay in addressing allegations of war crimes and in meeting other promises Colombo made when it co-sponsored a resolution
at the UN Human Rights Council in 2015, the report warns the government that the lack of accountability threatens the
momentum towards lasting peace. It also alleges that cases of excessive use of force, torture and arbitrary arrests still continue
in Sri Lanka, almost eight years after the countrys brutal civil war ended. Mr. Sirisena came to power on a promise that he
would restore the rule of law, end the country's international isolation and take steps towards reconciliation with the Tamil ethnic
minority. The political momentum was also in favour of the government as it had the support of the dominant sections of the two
largest parties in the country. In 2015, when Sri Lanka agreed to a host of measures at the UNHRC, including a judicial process
to look into the war crimes, hopes were high. Undeniably, the government has made some slow progress in addressing the
issue of reconciliation. Compared to the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sirisena administration has reached out to
Tamils and initiated constitutional and legal reforms. It has also passed enabling legislation to establish an Office of Missing
Persons to help find some of the 65,000 people reported missing during the war. But on key issues such as establishing a hybrid
judicial mechanism with domestic and foreign judges and returning the military-occupied lands to Tamil civilians in the north and
east, there has been no tangible progress. The latest UN report comes at a time when over a hundred displaced Tamil families
are protesting at administrative offices in the north and east asking for their lands to be returned. For its part, the government
may be wary of taking quick decisions for fear of giving some leeway to Sinhala nationalist factions at a time when Mr. Rajapaksa
is trying to revive his political fortunes. But this delay is alienating the governments allies, eroding the faith of the public,
especially war victims, and giving more time to the opposition to regroup itself. And issues such as continuing use of excessive
force and arbitrary arrests suggest that the government is either not serious in changing the way the police system works or is
incapable of doing so. The Sirisena-Wikremesinghe government should seize the moment and start addressing the core issues,
keeping reconciliation and the future of Sri Lanka in mind.

someone
o Lasting - continuing to exist for a long time or for ever
o Arbitrary - using unlimited personal power without considering other
people's wishes
country
o Isolation - to put a person, country, or organization in a situation where
they are seen as being separate
o Dominant - more important, strong, or noticeable

o Undeniably - true, definite and based on facts
o Hybrid - something that is a mixture of two very different things
o Displace - to force something or someone out of its usual or original
position
o Wary - not completely trusting or certain about something or someone
o Revive - to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or
use
o Alienating - to cause someone or a group of people to stop supporting
o Allies - people who help and support you
o Eroding - slowly reducing or destroying something
of a crime
o Seize the moment - to make use of an opportunity
MAR 7/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "GST Bill: Last mile concerns"
More than six months after the Constitution was amended to enable the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Centre and States
have managed to find considerable common ground on the long-debated indirect tax system, overcoming seemingly
irreconcilable differences that cropped up along the way. On Saturday, the GST Council approved final drafts of the Central and
Integrated GST Bills, which should be placed in the public domain as soon as possible. With the law to compensate States
already cleared, the only pending legislative negotiation left for the Council, which is expected to meet again on March 16,
involves the State and Union Territories GST bills. As these bills secure assent from State Assemblies and Parliament, and
swiftly, the operational rules for the GST must be readied. Industry would need at least three months after that to prepare for
the transition from the present system of myriad State, Central and local levies on goods and services. Moreover, switching to
a new indirect tax system in the middle of a financial year will bring its own subset of accounting complications. The Central
government should resist a pushback on the roll-out date, and expedite efforts to ensure everyone is ready to get on board the
new system with early clarity on what rates would apply to different goods and services. Clearer communication of intent is
equally essential. In industry circles, the introduction of a peak 40% tax rate in the GST Bills has set the cat among the pigeons.
What started out as a single tax, single market dream for industry has now degenerated into five tax rates, a cess on top, with
additional uncertainty about tax rates. Just as effective excise and customs duties are lower than legally specified rates, working
in a peak rate for the GST could well be justified. In the current rate structure, a cess has been proposed on luxury and sin
goods over and above the highest GST rate of 28%. The cess would finance compensation payouts to States for the first five
years. After that, it could be replaced with a higher GST rate to retain the same tax treatment on sin goods, without fresh
parliamentary approval. But this intent should be stated explicitly and rates must not be tinkered with in the GSTs first five years
at least. It is still not too late to settle another major worry for industry that strikes at the very heart of enterprise. The GSTs anti-
profiteering penal provisions are far too vague and draconian, and could discourage companies from making efficiency
improvements in supply chains if they are required to pass on the entire benefit to consumers. Lastly, the Chief Economic
Adviser has made an impassioned plea to bring real estate under the GST net, linking it to the war against black money. A road
map for eventually bringing such excluded sectors into the GST net could hasten the process.
o Last mile - the last stage in a process



o Common ground - something that people can agree about, especially
when they disagree about other things
to do something
o Constitution - a set of basic laws or principles for a country that
describe the rights and duties of its citizens and the way in which it is
governed
o Amend - to make changes to a document, law, agreement etc, especially
in order to improve it
o Considerable - large in size, amount, or degree
o Seemingly - according to what you know or how something appears
o Irreconcilable - impossible to find agreement between or with, or
impossible to deal with
o Cropped up - to happen suddenly or unexpectedly
o Public domain - if information is in the public domain, it is available for
everyone to see or know about
o Compensate - to pay someone money because they have suffered an
injury or loss
o Swiftly - quickly
to another
o Moreover - used for introducing an additional and important fact that
supports or emphasizes what you have just said
o Resist - to stop or oppose something
o Pushback - resistance to a change that has been introduced
o Roll-out - to introduce a new product or service
o Expedite - to make something happen quickly or easily
o Set the cat among the pigeons - to cause trouble by doing or saying
something
o Excise - a tax that a government charges on services used and goods
sold inside its country
o Customs - a government department that collects taxes on goods that
people bring into a country
o Explicitly - straightforward and easy to understand
o Tinker - to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt
to repair or improve it
o Profiteering - the activity of taking unfair advantage of a situation to
make a large profit, often by selling goods that are difficult to get at a
very high price
o Vague - not clearly or fully explained
o Draconian - extremely strict and severe
o Impassioned - expressing a lot of emotion


things happen
o Exclud - to intentionally not include something
o Hasten - to make something happen sooner or more quickly
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The Tawang test"
Chinas statement that it is gravely concerned over the governments decision to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal
Pradeshs Tawang monastery in early April, and that it would seriously damage bilateral ties, is unwarranted. It is also an
unacceptable escalation of rhetoric over an issue that India and China have engaged with each other on, including during the
visit by Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar to Beijing. The controversy over the Tawang area goes back to the Shimla meet of
1914, when the Chinese representatives just initialled, and didnt sign, a trilateral agreement with British India and Tibet. Later,
in 1959, when the current Dalai Lama fled Tibet, he came into India through Tawang. He has not visited Arunachal Pradesh
since 2009, when he retraced his 1959 journey. On that occasion too, his itinerary had evoked threats from Beijing, but eventually
bilateral concerns outweighed them. The Chinese government would do well to not allow tensions with India over the issue of
Arunachal Pradesh to spill into other spheres of engagement, and perhaps to also recall its own talks with representatives of
the Dalai Lama that broke down after nine rounds in 2010 when it seeks to castigate him and New Delhi for their engagement.
Beijings objections over access for the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader to a religious shrine obviously cannot be allowed to
intimidate India into restricting his free movement. ALSO READ From Tibet to Tawang, a legacy of suspicions At the same
time, New Delhi must calibrate its moves to avoid misperceptions that it is indulging in political power-play. Recent
developments, such as visits to Tawang by American diplomats including the U.S. Ambassador, and an official dinner at the
U.S. Embassy attended by a Minister and leader of the Tibetan government in exile based in Dharamshala, could be
interpreted as messages aimed at China, even if they did not signify any policy change. Beijing has been touchy about visiting
delegations from Taiwan and the grant of visas to those it perceives as dissident activists. Pinpricks cannot substitute for policy
and New Delhi should keep its focus on the major issues between the two countries. The bid for Nuclear Suppliers Group
membership and having Masood Azhar placed on the UN terrorists list have occupied much of the bilateral canvas, while the
larger issue of the boundary resolution hasnt been addressed adequately. Statements last week from former Chinese special
envoy Dai Bingguo, who suggested that flexibility from India over the eastern boundary in Arunachal Pradesh could yield
flexibility from China over other areas, that is, the western boundary in J&K, are significant. If the statements are an indication
that the 20th round of talks between the special representatives expected this year will see an opening for progress, then that
is a more worthwhile goal for New Delhi and Beijing to be preoccupied with.

o Gravely - seriously
o Monastery - a building where a group of monks (=a religious community
of men) lives and works
o Unwarranted - not fair or necessary
o Escalation - the process of becoming more serious
people
o Initialled - agreed to a contract by signing it
o Trilateral - involving three countries or organizations
o Retrace - to return along the same path or route that you have just
travelled along
o Itinerary - a plan of a journey that you are going to make, including
information about when and where you will travel
o Evoked - to make someone remember something or feel an emotion
things happen
o Outweighed - to be more important, useful, or valuable than something
else
o Sphere - a particular area of interest, activity, work etc


o Castigate - to criticize someone or something severely
o Spiritual - religious
o Shrine - a religious place built to remember a particular holy person or
event
o Intimidate - to deliberately make someone feel frightened, especially so
that they will do what you want
o Calibrate - adjust
o Misperception - a belief or opinion about something that is wrong or
not accurate
o Indulging - to allow someone to do what they want
o Diplomat - an official whose job is to represent their government in a
foreign country
o Ambassador - a senior official who lives in a foreign country and
represents his or her own country there
o Embassy - a group of officials who represent their government in a
foreign country
o Exile - a situation in which you are forced to live in a foreign country
because you cannot live in your own country, usually for political reasons
o Signify - to mean something
o Touchy - becoming angry or upset very easily
or organization
o Dissident - someone who disagrees publicly with a government,
especially in a country where this is not allowed
o Adequately - satisfactory and good enough
o Envoy - an official who represents their country in another country, with
a rank below an ambassador
o Flexibility - the ability to make changes or to deal with a situation that
is changing
o Worthwhile - useful, important
o Preoccupied - thinking about something so much or spending so much
time doing something that you do not notice other things or cannot think
about other things
MAR 08/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "State of significance"

With the seventh and last phase of voting for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, a potentially transformative election draws to a close.
Ever since voting started in the State on February 11, the three main political parties in the fray, the Bahujan Samaj Party, the
Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party, threw everything into their respective bids for power, with the constant
campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving the election a national resonance. India has rarely witnessed a campaign blitz
of the order witnessed in the last two phases of the poll, on March 4 and 8. Mr. Modi spent three days in and around Varanasi
alone, seeking to both retain the votes that accrued to him in his Lok Sabha constituency in 2014, and throw his voice longer in
the elections home stretch. Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, with their SP and Congress in an alliance that has reversed the
history of suspicion between the two parties, also focused on Varanasi, given its significance in eastern U.P. The BSPs
Mayawati, as always, was the least splashy, staying away from the battleground and choosing to monitor everything from her
base in Lucknow. The last constituency, in Ambedkar Nagar, will vote on March 9, in an election deferred on account of the
death of a candidate. But it is anybodys guess how the results will pan out on counting day on March 11. It has been a campaign
in which the Prime Minister has chosen to be the face of local aspirations, repeatedly pushing the envelope to take the battle to
regional leaders with provocative statements. The BSP has demonstrably gone back to its roots, abandoning its grand social
coalition of 2012 for a targeted pitch for the Muslim and Dalit vote. The new-look SP, in alliance with a Congress party jettisoning
its longstanding go-it-alone resolve, has sought to position itself as a softer version of its earlier self, while defending its record

with the slogan kaam bolta hai (work speaks for itself). For all three, it could be a defining moment: for the BJP to consolidate
itself as the primary pole in national politics, for the BSP to retain its electoral salience, and for the SP-Congress to demonstrate
the power of an unlikely alliance. Yet, there is an arithmetic that the results will be analysed against. Will the BJP manage to
make 2014 the new baseline, with its lead then in 328 Assembly segments (with a 40% vote share in more than 250 of them)?
Or will its opponents succeed in pulling back that baseline closer to the Assembly elections of the past? For instance, 2012,
when the BJP won just 47 seats and the SP took 224, eclipsing the BSP which had lost less than 5% of its vote share from its
victorious 2007 sweep. Either way, it would reset the equations not just in the State but also at the Centre.
oSignificance - importance
oPotentially - possibly true in the future, but not true now
oTransformative - causing great and positive change in someone or
something
o Draws to a close - to end
o Fray - to worry or feel nervous about something
o Blitz - a special effort to finish a job or to deal with a problem quickly
and thoroughly
o Retain - to keep someone or something
o Accrued - to increase in number or amount over a period of time
parliament
o Splashy - attracting a lot of attention
o Deferred - delayed until a later time
o Aspiration - something that you want to achieve, or the wish to achieve
something
o Pushing the envelope - to go to the limits of what you are allowed to
do
o Demonstrably - clearly
o Abandon - to leave someone / something
o Jettison - to get rid of something that is not useful or successful
o Longstanding - having existed for a long time
o Go-it-alone - to live, work, or make decisions on your own, without any
help from other people
o Defending - to protect someone or something from attack
o Slogan - a short phrase that is easy to remember and is used to
advertise something or to express the beliefs of a political party or other
group

o Salience - the fact of being important to or connected with what is
happening or being discussed
o Pulling back - to decide not to do something that will probably have bad
effects
comparisons
o Either way - used for saying that it does not matter which of two things
happens or is true, because the result will be the same
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Sparks in a tinderbox"

North Koreas provocative action of launching four missiles into the Sea of Japan a few hundred kilometres from the Japanese
coastline has triggered fears of renewed tension between nuclear-armed powers. The launch seems timed to test the strategic
fortitude and tactical capabilities of new relationships in the broader power balance that reins in Pyongyangs nuclear ambitions.
The first test would be of the strength of bilateral U.S.-Japan ties on the watch of U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un had already given these two leaders a wake-up call
when his regime fired a medium-range missile last month. Mr. Trump has assured both Mr. Abe and South Koreas acting
President, Hwang Kyo-Ahn, of his ironclad commitment to stand by them through this crisis. Yet it is likely that Mr. Kim was, in
fact, trying to get a measure of Mr. Trump, who had tweeted shortly before assuming office in January, it wont happen!, on
the North being close to testing an ICBM. Experts seem to concur that the missiles launched now did not appear to be of
intercontinental range. Yet, the prospect looms of the North miniaturising nuclear warheads to the point where even shorter-
range weapons could, if they were nuclear-tipped, pose unprecedented risk to South Korea, Japan and the U.S. military assets
in the vicinity. The continuous belligerence of North Korea is only one side of the story. The other is that the international
community, led by the U.S. and nations within striking distance of the Norths aggression, has hardly managed the conflict
consistently. The commendable effort of the Six Party Talks to invest diplomatic currency in bringing Pyongyang back to the
negotiating table got derailed early on in President Barack Obamas first term. The cycle of sanctions and international isolation
fuelling further bravado by the Kim regime then dominated the denouement, as indeed it has since 1992. This time the conflict
seems to be following a distinctly more unstable trajectory as Mr. Trump has authorised the deployment in South Korea of the
first elements of the U.S.s advanced anti-missile system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), disregarding the
possibility that it may be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the presumed retaliatory move of THAAD deployment glosses
over the fact that in the past week the U.S. and South Korea had conducted military drills in the region, war games that
Pyongyang views as overt hostility. On the other, Washington has clearly decided to ignore the justifiable fears of Beijing and
Moscow that THAADs nuclear umbrella threatens their interests in the region too, not North Koreas alone. Unless de-escalation
becomes a priority for all parties involved, the Korean Peninsula region will remain a flashpoint.
o Tinderbox - a dangerous and uncontrolled situation in which violence is

likely to happen
o De-escalation - to decrease the size, scope, or intensity of something
o Priority - something important that must be done first or needs more
attention than anything else
o Coastline - the land along a coast
o Triggered - to make something happen
o Renewed - happening again after a pause
o Fortitude - a brave and determined attitude
o Capability - the ability to do something
o Reins in - to limit or control something that has developed too much or
has continued for too long


o Ambition - something that you very much want to do, usually
something that is difficult to achieve
unfair way
o Assured - to tell someone confidently that something is true, especially
so that they do not worry
o Ironclad - very certain and unlikely to be changed
o Concur - to agree with someone or something
o Intercontinental - going between continents, or happening between
people who are in different continents
o Loom - if something unpleasant or difficult looms, it seems likely to
happen soon
o Warhead - the front part of a bomb or missile that explodes
o Belligerence - anger and annoyance
o Commendable - deserving praise or admiration
o The negotiating table - a situation or place in which people formally
discuss something in order to reach an agreement
o Derail - to make a train come off its rails
o Sanctions - an official order to stop communication, trade, etc with a
o Isolation - a situation in which a country or group is alone and without
support because other countries or groups stop dealing with it
o Fuelling - to make something increase or become worse, especially
o Bravado - a brave and confident way of behaving, especially when you
do not really feel like this
o Distinctly - in a clear or noticeable way
of time
o Double-edged sword - a situation or decision that has both positive
and negative aspects
o Presumed - to believe something to be true because it is very likely,
although you are not certain
o Retaliatory - intended to do something harmful or unpleasant to
someone because they have done something harmful or unpleasant to
you
o Glosses over - to ignore or avoid unpleasant facts
o Overt - not hidden or secret
o Justifiable - if something is justifiable, there is a good reason for it


MAR 09/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Dire straits"
There is no certainty about the circumstances that led to the killing of a Tamil Nadu fisherman somewhere between the Indian
and Sri Lankan coast on Monday night. There is no telling who pulled the trigger whether it was the Sri Lankan Navy or some
armed group. It is also not clear where the shooting took place, whether in Sri Lankan waters or elsewhere. Unmistakably
though, this was a tragedy waiting to happen, the direct fallout of the long-standing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan
Tamil fishermen over fishing rights in the Palk Bay. While the Sri Lankan Navy denies it had a hand in the killing, the shooting
exposes the lack of progress in the implementation of the agreement between the two countries on preventing loss of life while
managing the fishing dispute through official channels. Last year, the two countries agreed on establishing a Joint Working
Group (JWG) on fisheries to help resolve the dispute. A hotline between the Coast Guards of India and Sri Lanka, convening of
the JWG once in three months, and meetings of the fisheries ministers every half-year were the components of the mechanism
to be put in place. But short-term measures lose their efficacy in the absence of any forward movement toward long-term
solutions. Without arriving at a settlement on sustainable exploitation of the marine resources that would end the use of bottom
trawlers from Tamil Nadu, India and Sri Lanka will not be able to ensure incident-free fishing in the strait. ALSO READ We
need a win-win situation for fishermen on both sides: Samaraweera Although instances of Indian fishermen crossing into Sri
Lankan waters have always been commonplace, the consequences for such transgressions in recent years have been limited
to seizure of boats and prolonged detention. Unlike during the period of Sri Lankas war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam, when its Navy indiscriminately shot at boats and trawlers fearing smuggling of contraband by the Tamil rebels, the last
few years have seen few instances of firing at fishermen. But to view Mondays killing as an aberration is to underestimate the
political and economic contours of the problem. After he returned to power in 2015, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said
Indian fishermen who crossed the maritime boundary to fish in another countrys territorial waters would be fired upon. Indian
fishermen, who invoke traditional rights to justify their incursions, want a three-year phase-out period before they end trawling.
But unless they take to deep-sea fishing, and inland alternatives, Indias fishermen will be locked in a conflict with their Sri
Lankan counterparts as well as with a hostile Sri Lankan Navy.
o Dire Strait - very bad situation that is difficult to fix

o Marine - relating to the sea and creatures that live in it
o Certainty - something that will definitely happen or that you feel very
sure about
o Coast - an area of land beside a sea
o Pulled the trigger - to take decisive action with no certainty of the
outcome
o Unmistakably - very easy to recognize
o Tragedy - a very sad event that causes people to suffer or die
o Deny - to say that you did not do something that someone has accused
you of doing
o Expose - to allow something that is usually covered or hidden to be seen
o Fishery - an area of water where fish are caught so they can be sold
o Convene - to arrange a formal meeting, or to gather for a meeting
o Component - an individual quality or feature of something
o Exploitation - unfair treatment of someone, or the use of a situation in
a way that is wrong, in order to get some benefit for yourself
o Trawler - a boat used for fishing by pulling a large net through the water
o Strait - a narrow area of water that joins two larger areas of water
o Although - used for introducing a statement that makes your main
statement seem surprising

o Transgression - to do something that is not allowed by a law, custom,
or religion
o Seizure - the action of taking something, especially using power or force
o Detention - the state of being kept in a police station or prison and not
being allowed to leave
o Liberation - to help someone or something to be free
o Indiscriminately - not showing careful thought or good judgment
o Contraband - goods that are brought into or taken out of a country
illegally
o Aberration - something that is not normal or not what you would usually
expect
o Contour - a way in which something varies
o Fired upon - to shoot at someone or something with a weapon
o Invoke - to use a law or rule in order to achieve something
o Justify - to show that there is a good reason for something, especially
something that other people think is wrong
o Incursion - a sudden attack on an area controlled by other people
o Inland - in the middle of a country, away from the sea
organization
o Hostile - behaving in a very unfriendly or threatening way towards
someone
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Staying cool"
India has launched the second phase of the programme to eliminate the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) as part of its
commitment under the Montreal Protocol, which requires the complete removal of chemicals that result in ozone depletion and
aid global warming. These are used mainly in the air-conditioning, refrigeration, polyurethane foam manufacturing and cold
chain sectors, and must be replaced with better alternatives. All these sectors are in high growth mode as emerging economies
witness greater urbanisation and higher agricultural productivity. The data for refrigerant consumption during 2015 compiled by
the European Union show that in the developing world, split air-conditioning units, car ACs and commercial refrigeration record
the highest use of these chemicals. It is imperative the Central government ensures that its efforts to upgrade industries using
the $44.1 million in funding available under the Protocol are scaled up to meet the need fully. Modernising the technology used
by 400 industrial units, many of them small and medium enterprises, by 2023 has to be complemented by policy changes that
encourage adoption by consumers. Systemic change requires the active participation of State governments, which can enact
and enforce new building codes and purchase regulations that are envisaged in the current phase. Newer refrigerants with lower
global warming potential are available to industry, and there are some early adopters, while research on chemicals with greater
energy reduction and very low contribution to global warming has to continue. Credentialed training of service technicians in the
newer technologies is welcome as it will bring about change of refrigerants used in the repair and replacement market and
create additional employment. It is important to make consumers aware of green options among products in terms of the
underlying technologies, and incentivise adoption through tax structures. ALSO READ Cool the world The Environment
Ministrys proposal to prescribe energy-efficient temperature limits for air-conditioning units in public facilities is promising. A lot
of energy is wasted because of poor infrastructure and lack of understanding of efficiency metrics. Equally, the Centre should
conduct audit of public buildings to determine whether they are suitably designed, as climate control relies as much on passive
influences such as insulation, green roofing and the nature of materials used in construction. It is possible, for instance, to adopt
the Paris idea and ask all major buildings to incorporate solar panel roofing or suitable green cover. The continued success of
the Montreal Protocol in its goal to eliminate HCFCs by 2030 will depend on reducing the acquisition costs of cleaner
technologies. The greater affordability of solar photovoltaic power and its rapid adoption at various scales is a clear pointer.
More people will have access to air-conditioning and refrigeration in coming years, and the focus of government policy must be
to make them energy-efficient and eco-friendly.
Energy-efficient - using little electricity, gas, etc

o
Eliminate - to get rid of something that is not wanted or needed
o
Hydrochlorofluorocarbon - a type of gas used especially in aerosols (=
o
containers that force out liquids in very small drops)

o Protocol - a set of rules
o Depletion - reduction in the number or quantity of something
o Polyurethane - a type of plastic used for making things such as paint
and rubber
o Productivity - the rate at which goods are produced, especially in
relation to the time, money, and workers needed to produce them
o Refrigerant - a chemical substance that can be used to make or keep
things cold
o Scaled up - to make something larger in size, amount etc than it used
to be
o Enact - to make a proposal into a law
o Incentivise - to give someone a reason for wanting to work hard
o Prescribe - to state officially what should be done in a particular
situation
o Promising - likely to be successful or very good
o Metrics - a group of numbers giving information about a particular
feature of a piece of software or hardware
o Insulation - material used for preventing heat, cold, noise, or electricity
from passing through something
o Incorporate - to include something as a part or as a quality
o Acquisition - the process of buying something or obtaining it in some
other way
o Affordability - the state of being cheap enough for people to be able to
buy
o Eco-friendly - designed to cause as little harm as possible to the
environment
MAR 10/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Voting with our feet"

Voter turnout estimates are often revised for a final tally by the Election Commission, but by all accounts the current round of
Assembly elections has witnessed deepened participation. In the final, and seventh, phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections on
March 8, the turnout for the 40 seats was initially estimated to be 60.03%, an increase of more than 2% over 2012, and hovering
near the average for all the seven phases. In the second phase of Manipurs election the same day, for 22 of the total 60
constituencies, the turnout in three-quarters of the booths was reckoned to be more than 86%. In Punjab, which went to the
polls on February 4, the turnout was 77.4%, marginally less than the 78.2% registered in 2012. In Goa, which also voted on
February 4, it was about 83%, indicating a marginal increase since 2012. And in Uttarakhand, which voted on February 15, early
estimates put the turnout at 65.64%, against the 2012 turnout of 67.22%. We must await the final estimates, though it is clear
that none of these States has come close to matching Tripuras Assembly election turnout of 90-plus. Even so, the voter
participation in these elections has once again proved to be far-fetched the ever-hovering anxiety about voter fatigue, if not
cynicism. Indeed, in comparison to other mature democracies with their problem of low voting by the young, the so-called
millennials, in India voter enthusiasm cuts across class and age. And as the 2014 Lok Sabha election turnout indicated, it has
also bridged the gender gap, with the EC reckoning it has come down to 1.46 percentage points, from 4.42 in 2009. At first
glance, these figures are a repudiation of the worries about voter choice that keep afloat ideas such as deepening the None of
the Above (NOTA) option on voting machines to include the right to reject. In fact, ethnographic studies suggest that the Indian


voter perceives voting day to be a special one, with a celebratory camaraderie at the polling booth reflecting a determination to
make her vote count. And with turnouts generally rising as one goes from parliamentary to State to local polls, it is clear that
personally felt outcomes matter most to voters. Besides, as the higher turnout in the Malwa region compared to the rest of
Punjab this year indicates, where the party competition is keenest, voting is higher. Nonetheless, the old thumb rule about higher
turnout meaning an anti-incumbent vote is a thing of the past. Psephological data are rich with the reasons that motivate a vote,
and each verdict must be read separately. The decreasing gender gap is one to particularly celebrate. From the first election in
1951-52, when millions of women did not figure in the electoral rolls as they would not share their names, to the conversations
on the sidelines of these elections, with women asserting theyd vote differently from their husbands, India has come a long,
though not long enough, way.
o Voting with our feet - to express an opinion through your actions, for
example by not going to a place or by deciding not to spend money
o Robust - strong
o Turnout - the number of voters in an election
o Defy - to happen in a way that is different from what usually happens or
what you expect
o Anxiety - an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about
something that is happening or might happen in the future
o Alienation - the process of making someone dislike you, or not want to
help or support you
o Hovering - to stay somewhere
o Reckon - to calculate an amount
o Marginally - very small in amount or effect
o Far-fetched - difficult to believe
o Fatigue - extreme tiredness
o Cynicism - the belief that people care only about themselves and are
not sincere or honest
o Millennial - a person who was born around the time of the millennium,
that is around the year 2000
o Enthusiasm - a feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or
activity and an eagerness to be involved in it
o Turnout - the number of people who are present at an event, especially
the number who go to vote at an election
o Bridged - to make a change from one situation to another
o At first glance - when first looking
o Repudiation - opposition
o Ethnographic - relating to the scientific description of peoples and
cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences.
something
o Celebratory - celebrating an important event or a special occasion
o Camaraderie - a feeling of friendliness towards people that you work or
share an experience with
o Nonetheless - despite what has just been said or done
o Anti-incumbent vote - vote against elected officials currently in power
o Psephological - related to the scientific study of elections


o Verdict - an opinion that you have or a decision that you make
o On the sidelines - not taking part in an activity
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Open gates"
The ruling of the European Unions top court giving member-states the right to grant or deny asylum has come as welcome
news for populist hardliners hostile to the surge of refugees desperate to escape the humanitarian catastrophe in West Asia. In
a defining verdict this week on the immigration crisis, of a magnitude not seen since World War II, the final judgment of the
European Court of Justice of the 28-nation bloc overturned the opinion of its prosecutor, which is rather unusual for the institution.
Its prosecutor had said in February that governments should issue humanitarian visas to people at risk of torture and degrading
treatment, consistent with their obligations under the European charter on human rights. In overruling that stance, the common
judicial arbiter for the bloc held that member-states were not obliged to issue visas to people from third countries who had no
prior links in Europe. Under the Common European Asylum System, as with similar international mechanisms, countries are
expected to process asylum requests humanely once refugees arrive. A not inconceivable consequence of the verdict is that
the mass of migrants who embarked upon those dangerous journeys on the high seas may find no realistic alternative in their
attempt to flee conflict zones than continue to undertake those risky ventures. Tuesdays development is also a shot in the arm
for eurosceptic political parties that have remained steadfast in their opposition to the jurisdiction of the Luxembourg court over
national governments. ALSO READ Europe's refugee crisis This controversial case, concerning a Syrian family from Aleppo
seeking asylum in Belgium, also brought into sharp focus the politically divisive and hateful campaign witnessed since the
beginning of the migration crisis. While their plea was upheld by domestic courts on humanitarian grounds, the strength of right-
wing opposition led to a senior legislator being fined for defying the order, culminating in the challenge in the European Court of
Justice. Given the appeal of anti-immigration political parties in three of the founder-member states of the EU that go to general
elections this year, the Netherlands, France and Germany, the setback for a more orderly and legal immigration system could
not be greater. Mainstream liberal political forces across the bloc face the biggest challenge in decades to their conception of
an open and humane society. This is their moment to stand up for the so-called European values the continents leaders have
emphasised since Donald Trumps ascent to the White House. A perception that western nations are turning their back on the
rest of the world is the last thing mature democracies can afford at a juncture when the rules-based global order is under
increasing attack. Action on the commitment given at the UN last year to put in place legal pathways for migrants and refugees
would mark a beginning.

or because of war
o Deny - to not allow someone to have or do something
people
o Hardliners - people who are determined and ambitious
destruction
o Prosecutor - a legal official who accuses someone of committing a
crime, especially in a law court
o Degrading - causing people to feel that they have no value


positive, way
o Charter - an official document describing the aims, rights, or principles
of an organization
o Overruling - to decide against a decision that has already been made
o Stance - a way of thinking about something
o Arbiter - someone who makes a judgment, solves an argument, or
decides what will be done
o Embarked - to get on a ship in order to begin a journey
o Shot in the arm - something that has a sudden and positive effect on
something, providing encouragement and new activity
o Eurosceptic - a person, especially a politician, who opposes closer
connections between Britain and the European Union
o Steadfast - staying the same for a long time and not changing quickly
or unexpectedly
o Migration - movement from one region to another
o Plea - an urgent and emotional request
o Upheld - if a court of law upheld something such as a claim, it says that
it is correct
o Domestic - local
o Defying - to refuse to obey a law
o Culminating in something - to happen or exist as the final result of a
process or situation
from developing
o Immigration - the process of examining your passport and other
documents to make certain that you can be allowed to enter the country,
or the place where this is done
most people
o Conception - a belief about what something is like
attention to
o Ascent - the process of moving to a higher level or position
on how things seem
o Turning their back - refusing / rejecting
o Pathway - a way that you can follow
MAR 11/2017

Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Partial cover: More needs to be done on the
mother and child front"
The enhancement of paid maternity leave for women in the organised sector to 26 weeks from 12 is a progressive step, one
that should lead to closer scrutiny of the difficulties faced by unorganised workers who fall beyond the scope of any worthwhile
labour welfare measures. It is wholly welcome that such a benefit is being introduced with an amendment to the Maternity
Benefit Act, 1961, in line with several expert recommendations including that of the World Health Organisation, which
recommends exclusive breastfeeding of children for the first 24 weeks. Giving some benefits to adoptive mothers and women
who get children using embryo transfers as well signals India is in step with social changes. Positive though it is, the amended
law is expected to cover only 1.8 million women, a small subset of women in the workforce. For many poor millions in the
unorganised sector, the only support available is a small conditional cash benefit of 6,000 during pregnancy and lactation
offered under the Maternity Benefit Programme. The reported move to restrict even this meagre benefit to the first child for
budgetary reasons is retrograde and must be given up. If, as Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has said, the Centre is giving
organised sector women workers a humble gift, why has the damage done through the Budget not been reversed? Providing
benefits for women and children is a societal responsibility which can be funded in a large country through a combination of
general taxation and contributory payments from those who have the means. Health care should be treated as a right and
deliveries handled without cost to women; the income guarantees during the 26-week period can be ensured through a universal
social insurance system. Such a policy would harmonise the varying maternity benefit provisions found in different laws that
govern labour at present. There would also be no discrimination against women in recruitment by employers who currently have
to factor in benefit payments. Conversely, women would not suffer loss of income simply because they cannot remain in
employment after childbirth. Beneficiaries covered by the latest amendment must be protected from discrimination through clear
provisions. Mandating creche facilities to help women workers under the changed law is a forward-looking move, but it will work
well only with a good oversight mechanism. Womens empowerment can be achieved through universal initiatives, not by
imposing conditionalities to avail benefits. Access to welfare support has become even more critical as workers migrate
frequently due to economic changes. The twin imperatives are, therefore, to create more jobs for women in a diversified
economy, and to provide social opportunity through maternal and child welfare measures.
oMaternity leave - time before and after the birth of a baby when a
woman is allowed to be away from her job
o Unorganised sector - not officially recognized / not belong to a trade
union (daily labours etc)
o Enhancement - the process of improving something
o Progressive - developing
o Worthwhile - useful, important
o Welfare - care provided by the state or another organization for people
in need
o Adoptive mother - adoptive mother is the person who has adopted a
child (legally made a part of a family that is not your original family)
o Embryo - an animal or human before it is born, when it is beginning to
develop and grow
o Subset - a small group of people or things that is a part of a larger group
o Lactation - the natural process of making milk in the breasts in order to
feed a baby
present one
o Societal - relating to or involving society
o Contributory - partly responsible for a situation or event
o Harmonise - to make laws or policies similar to those of a different
country, organization etc

o Beneficiaries - people who receive money, advantages, etc. as a result
of something else
o Mandating - to give an official order or make a law stating that
o Creche - a place where babies and small children are looked after while
their parents are busy
o Oversight - the job of checking that a process or system is working well
o Empowerment - to give someone official authority or the freedom to do
something
o Universal - involving all the members of a group or society
o Initiative - the ability to decide in an independent way what to do and
when to do it
o Avail - to make use of something
o Migrate - to go to another place or country in order to find work
o Frequently - often
o Imperative - something that is very important and urgent
o Diversified - consisting of many different parts or people
o Maternal - relating to being a mother
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "After Mosul: Iraq must begin process to

erase sectarian wounds"
The loss of Mosul is perhaps the biggest military setback for the Islamic State. Iraqs second largest city, Mosul was the jewel
of the ISs military gains, a place where its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his Caliphate in June 2014. In less than three
years, the ISs territory has shrunk. It once controlled huge swathes in central and eastern Syria and north-western Iraq, but its
influence is now limited to some pockets, through sustained military operations in which several actors such as Kurdish and
Shia militias, Iraqi and Syrian armies and the U.S. and Russian air forces were involved. A few weeks ago, the IS lost the ancient
city of Palmyra to the Syrian army. And now, its been practically defeated in Mosul. Iraqi troops have already captured the
Mosul airport and major administrative buildings, and liberated population centres. What remains is isolated resistance by small
groups of jihadists. It was a prolonged campaign. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the Mosul offensive in October
2016, and the troops, backed by Kurdish Peshmerga and Shia militias on the ground and U.S. air power in the sky, moved inch
by inch. They first liberated eastern Mosul, the left bank of the Tigris that divides the city into two, and then moved to the west,
the ISs power centre. ALSO READ Inside Islamic State group's rule The defeat in Mosul does not mean that the threat from
the IS is over. The group still has presence in some pockets in Iraq and in at least two major cities in Syria, Raqqa and suburbs
of Deir ez-Zor. Even if the group loses its territories, it could transform itself into a state-less jihadist group like al-Qaeda and
continue to target civilians in the region and beyond. But still, the larger argument is that without territories, the IS couldnt claim
to be a Caliphate. It will be driven away from cities to deserts and mountains, wrecking its conventional military capabilities. In
the short run, the military operations to liberate territories from the IS in Syria and Iraq should continue; in the longer run, the
respective governments should adopt a more comprehensive approach to deal with the asymmetric threats the group will pose.
In Iraq, for example, the ISs eventual defeat depends on how the government addresses Shia-Sunni tensions. Prime Minister
al-Abadi appears to be clear on his preferences. Unlike his predecessor whose Shia sectarian policies drove the Sunni
population to revolt against Baghdad, a resentment which the IS exploited for popular support, Mr. al-Abadi tried to reach out to
the Sunnis and promised to heal the sectarian wounds. After the military victory in Mosul, he has to make sure that the Sunnis
are treated as equal citizens and share power equitably. This may not happen overnight given the deep sectarian divisions. But
Mr. al-Abadi should at least begin a process that would erase the suspicions among Sunnis about the government. Else, IS-like
outfits will continue to channelise support and regroup.

religious groups
o Wound - emotional damage caused by something bad that happens
situation worse
o Caliphate - an area ruled by a caliph (a Muslim man who was a religious
and political leader in the past)

army
o Swathe - a large area of land
o Pocket - a small area which has a particular quality that makes it
different from the areas around it
in an emergency
o Liberated - behaving in the way that you want and not accepting
traditional rules about behaviour
o Liberated - behaving in the way that you want and not accepting
traditional rules about behaviour
o Wrecking - to destroy or badly damage something
o Capability - the ability to do something
o In the long run - not immediately but at some time in the future
o Respective - belonging separately to each of two or more people or
things previously mentioned
time
someone else
o Exploit - to treat someone unfairly in order to get some benefit for
yourself
o Reach out to someone - to offer help to someone
o Equitably - treating everyone fairly and in the same way
o Overnight - in a very short time
o Outfit - an organization, especially a small firm
o Channelise - to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted
pathway
o Regroup - to organize something again in order to make a new effort,
especially after a defeat
MAR 13/2017


Hindu Editorial Topic : "2017 Assembly elections: First among
unequals"
Five Assembly elections in five different States cannot possibly have one running national theme.
But when one of them is in Uttar Pradesh, with the largest electorate in the country by far, the debate
inevitably moves to the possible pointers for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Even if the Bharatiya Janata
Partys victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand was expected, the more than three-fourths majority
was a surprise to supporters and detractors alike. Nearly three years after the Lok Sabha election,
nothing much seems to have changed on the electoral ground. The biggest takeaway is that Prime
Minister Narendra Modi remains the pan-Indian face of the BJP, and the combination of the promise
of economic development and the propagation of a muscular nationalism is hard to beat. Those who
thought that Mr. Modis popularity had peaked in 2014 were probably right, but instead of a sharp
decline from then on, his acceptance among voters seems to have reached a comfortable plateau In
both U.P. and Uttarakhand, the BJPs vote share dipped only marginally, from 43.6% (together with
smaller allies) in 2014 to 41.4% in the former, and from 55.9% to 46.5% in Uttarakhand. In the
absence of a united opposition, as in Bihar in 2015, the elections in both States were a stroll in the
park. Any gains the Samajwadi Party and the Congress made through an alliance were lost because
of the infighting in the SP, and owing to a slightly improved performance by the Bahujan Samaj Party,
which at 22.2% polled 2.4% more of the total votes in 2017 over 2014 despite finishing a poor third.
The SP leader and outgoing Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, did try to shed some of
the anti-incumbency baggage by distancing himself from the old guard in the party, but in the process
his party came across as a divided house. Voters quite rightly refused to buy into the narrative that
the failures on the law and order front and the shortcomings in governance were entirely on account
of an earlier generation of leaders. If he was attempting to appeal to the youth, projecting himself
and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as the face of the campaign, he did not quite succeed in
it. A grand alliance of the kind that saw the BJP lose in Bihar would have had to include the BSP,
unthinkable though it is given the caste dynamics at play. But BSP supremo Mayawati did herself no
favours by continuing to be averse to a pre-poll tie-up, while displaying an unseemly readiness to
align after the election without any ideological compunctions. The BSP, which has allied with the SP
and the BJP at different points, needs to reconsider this strategy if it wants to expand beyond its core
Dalit constituency. The party may not have held much appeal for minorities, despite fielding Muslims
in about one-fourth of the total seats. In the present political climate, in the absence of a Bihar-type
grand alliance it would appear that the BJPs rivals can do little but hope that Prime Minister Modi
squanders his goodwill over the next two years in a series of political missteps and administrative
failures in delivering on promises. ALSO READ We need to come out of Hindu-Muslim politics: Amit
Shah If Uttarakhand, as in the case of Uttar Pradesh, stuck to the 2014 script, Punjab voted very
differently. The BJP was only a junior partner in the alliance led by the Shiromani Akali Dal. Also, the
alliance suffered greatly from the anti-incumbency factor, having completed two terms in office.
Actually, Punjab was more important for the Congress than it was for the BJP. A loss to the emerging
Aam Aadmi Party would have been disastrous, with long-term implications across the country. But
the fact that the party held off the challenge from Arvind Kejriwals party is in no small measure
thanks to Captain Amarinder Singh, its chief ministerial candidate. In recent years, the Congress and
the BJP have reversed their roles. The Congress, which once boasted of strong national leaders and
little-known regional satraps, is now in a situation where it needs strong leaders at the State level to
make up for Rahul Gandhis relative lack of charismatic appeal at the national level. The Congress
cannot afford to be in the hands of a small and insular coterie. If it is to replicate elsewhere its success
in Punjab, the party needs to learn from Amarinder Singh, who was much more alive to the threat
from the AAP than the national leadership was. As the BJP concentrates power in the hands of one


person, a risky as well as undesirable approach to adopt for any party, the Congress needs to do
exactly the opposite. No matter what it believes of itself, the Congress is no longer the natural party
of government. It is the BJP that has emerged to occupy this space in the altered political
environment. Whether the party likes it or not, the Congress will have to build a credible opposition
to the BJP, little by little, State by State, instead of trying to pit Mr. Gandhi against the vastly more
experienced Mr. Modi in what is clearly an unequal battle For the Congress, there is little comfort to
be had in finishing as the single largest party in Manipur and Goa. Given that the BJP is in power at
the Centre, the smaller parties might be more inclined to back a non-Congress government in the
two States. Even if it does manage to form the government in one or both States, the Congress will
find it difficult to ensure political stability. That the BJP was able to substantially increase its presence
in Manipur is perhaps an indication of things to come in the rest of northeastern India. However,
while it can claim it did well in Manipur despite finishing behind the Congress, the BJP will be hard
put to explain its somewhat lacklustre performance in Goa, where it was in power and suffered a
steep fall in votes in comparison to 2014. But even if the Modi magic has its limits and cannot work
at the same level everywhere, 2017 showed that 2014 was no flash in the pan. The BJP is now the
natural party of government, and the performance of the Congress will depend on how well it is able
to combine with other Opposition parties.
o Among - in the middle of or surrounded by other things

o Possibly - used when something is not certain
o Debate - serious discussion of a subject in which many people take part
o Detractor - someone who criticizes something or someone, often
unfairly
o Takeaway - a main message or piece of information that you learn from
something
o Pan - all
o Propagation - the process of communication
o Muscular - powerful
o Peaked - rising to a point
o Probably -likely to be true or likely to happen
o Plateau - a period during which there are no large changes
o Dipped - to go down to a lower level
o Marginally - slightly
o Former - the first of two people, things, or groups previously mentioned
o Stroll in the park - something that is very easy to do
o Shed - to get rid of something that is not wanted or is no longer
necessary
o Baggage - problems that someones past experiences might cause in
new situations


o Distance yourself from something - to become or seem less involved or
connected with something
o Came across - to behave in a way that makes people believe that you
have a particular characteristic
o Buy into something - to completely believe in a set of ideas
o Unthinkable - so shocking that it cannot be imagined as possible
o Supremo - the person in charge of an organization or who is considered
to have most skill and authority in a particular type of activity
o Tie-up - a connection or agreement that joins two things or
organizations
o Unseemly - not seemly (= socially suitable and polite)
o Ideological - based on, or relating to, an ideology
o Compunction - a slight guilty feeling about something you have done or
might do
or in the same area
o Squander - to waste money or supplies, or to waste opportunities by not
using them to your advantage
o Misstep - mistake
o Disastrous - extremely bad or unsuccessful
o Implication - the effect that an action or decision will have on
something else in the future
o Thanks to somebody / something - because of someone or something
o Boasted - to have or own something to be proud of
o Charismatic - a charismatic person has a strong personal quality that
makes other people like them and be attracted to them
o Appeal - the quality in someone or something that makes him, her, or it
attractive or interesting
o Insular - interested only in your own country or group and not willing to
accept different or foreign ideas
o Coterie - a small group of people with shared interests, often one that
does not want other people to join them
o Replicate - to make or do something again in exactly the same way
o Elsewhere - at, in, from, or to another place or other places; anywhere
or somewhere else
o Undesirable - not wanted, approved of, or popular
o Altered - changed
o Pit somebody against somebody - to cause one person, group, or
thing to fight against or be in competition with another


o Inclined - feeling that you want to do something
o Back - to support
o Steep fall - sudden and straight fall
o Flash in the pan - something that happened only once or for a short
time and was not repeated
MAR 14/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Assembly election results: U.P. and away"
In the post-Mandal era, Uttar Pradesh, the countrys most populous State that is made up of diverse regions, has rarely
witnessed a landslide, leave alone of such dimensions, in an Assembly election. As the State went to the polls, there was a
clutch of arguments marshalled by sundry political commentators on why the BJP could not repeat its huge sweep in the 2014
Lok Sabha election the magnitude of which had surprised the party itself as much as its rivals. It was pointed out, for instance,
that this was a State election, the implication being that a totally different political dynamic would be at play. Other factors such
as the effect of demonetisation, the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance, and the fading appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
were thrown into the mix. As it turned out, none of this seemed to matter much as the results of the two elections were eerily
similar both in terms of the geographical spread of the victory and vote percentages. The BJP managed to effectively tap into
segments among the Other Backward Classes and Dalits, besides its upper-caste vote base. The popularity of Mr. Modi
contributed in no small measure to the election result, but the party succeeded by also feeding into the disgruntlement over the
narrow social alliances forged by the SP and the BSP. The SP and the BSP, following their 2014 debacle, chose to make two
tactical changes. By revolting against his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, incumbent Chief Minister Akhilesh
Yadav presented himself and his party as agents of development. But he was unable to convince the electorate that the party
had moved away from caste and, more specifically, Yadav-led patronage. Despite the alliance with a weak Congress party, the
SPs support remained limited to its core traditional vote. The BSP tried a newer tactic, an abstract Dalit-Muslim alliance, and
ran on the hope that fielding candidates based on identity would break the coalition of forces that had supported the BJP in
2014. But the expediency of this strategy based on caste and community failed, partly because of perceptions that BSP leader
Mayawati was ambivalent about who she would join hands with in the event of a hung Assembly. U.P. is a communally sensitive
State and the BJP which failed to field a single Muslim candidate must not interpret the scale of the victory as an
endorsement of majoritarianism or an excuse to raise the political pitch on divisive issues such as the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Going into the 2019 general election, Mr. Modi and his party will be closely monitored on how much they adhere to his promise
of taking everyone along. The last thing that a new India needs is an escalation of denominational politics that raises
unnecessary passions and subverts the developmental agenda.
o UP and away - up into the air

o Landslide - a situation in which a person or political party wins an
election by a very big majority
o Denominational - relating to a particular religious group
o Populous - a populous nation, city, area etc has many people living in it
o Witnessed - to see / experience something
o Clutch of - a small group of
o Marshalled - to bring people or things together and organize them so
that they can be used in an effective way
o Sundry - sundry things or people are all different from each other and
cannot be described as a group
o Sweep - to win something easily
o Magnitude - great size, importance, or effect

particular currency
o Turned out - to develop in a particular way, or to have a particular result
o Eerily - making you feel afraid
o Tap into something - to understand and express something such as
peoples beliefs or attitudes
o Disgruntlement - unhappy, annoyed, and disappointed about
something
o Forged - to develop a successful relationship, especially in business or
politics, with another country, organization, or person
o Debacle - something that fails completely in an embarrassing way
o Revolting - to say that you will not accept someones authority or
leadership
because of this
o Abstract - existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not as a material object
something
o Ambivalent - feeling two different things about someone or something
at the same time, for example that you like them and dislike them
o Majoritarianism - the fact that a majority (sometimes categorized by
religion, language, social class, or some other identifying factor) of the
population is being more powerful or important
o Divisive - likely to cause arguments between people
o Adhere to something - to continue to obey a rule or have a belief
o Escalation - the process of becoming greater or more serious, or a
particular situation when this happens
o Denominational - relating to a particular religious group
politics etc
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "End of a chapter"
The removal of a sitting President in South Korea brings to a close one phase in the months-long popular mobilisation to enforce
accountability among the high and mighty. This verdict by South Koreas highest court, upholding Parliaments vote to impeach
Park Geun-hye, could well herald a new era in a land where it has for long been unthinkable to get the powerful to face justice
even for serious crimes. Significantly, Parliaments move in December to unseat Ms. Park by an overwhelming vote had been
backed even by legislators from her conservative Saenuri party. Stripped of presidential immunity, Ms. Park could now face

criminal proceedings on allegations that she was complicit in nefarious activities involving her close confidante. The chief
accusation is that they solicited contributions to promote dodgy non-profit organisations in return for clearing questionable
corporate deals. The protests last year by hundreds of thousands who sought action in the influence-peddling scandal, as well
as violent clashes that followed Fridays judicial verdict, are an indication of how polarising a figure Ms. Park has been through
her tenure since 2013. Her autocratic and whimsical rule was marked by fierce attacks on labour unions, smear campaigns
against critics, and efforts to rewrite history textbooks. The most provocative foreign policy move was the deployment of the
Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, an American missile defence system, escalating regional tensions. China retaliated with
calls for the boycott of South Korean imports. The divisions among her followers and detractors are as much ideological as
they are intergenerational. A number of Ms. Parks party supporters continue to harbour sympathies for the daughter of South
Koreas moderniser, the military dictator Park Chung-hee. But younger generations see the severing of all links with this
authoritarian past as a necessary guarantee for the consolidation of democracy, three decades after return to civilian rule. The
chaebols South Koreas highly influential family-owned conglomerates may have had economic motivations to lean heavily
on political patronage during the countrys industrial ascendency and integration into the global market. But such cosy
arrangements are proving to be untenable when exceptions of the past are sought to be institutionalised. The task of public
cleansing in South Korea is far from over, as is evident from the ongoing criminal proceedings involving tycoons from its best-
known corporations. The recent assertion of the independence of the judiciary from political interference and the capacity of
legislators to uphold their authority are notable. It would be no surprise, therefore, if South Koreas example becomes a model
worthy of emulation elsewhere in the region. South Koreans are due to elect their next President by May and by all indications,
they are seeking to strengthen the countrys democratic institutions.
o Mobilisation - the action of a country or its government preparing and

organizing troops for active service
o High and mighty - talking or behaving as if you think you are better or
more important than other people
o Upholding - if a court of law upholds something such as a claim, it says
that it is correct
o Impeach - to formally accuse a public official of a serious crime relating
to their job
o Herald - a sign that something is going to happen soon
o Unthinkable - impossible to imagine
o Overwhelming - much larger, stronger, more important etc than
anything else in a situation
o Immunity - a situation in which someone is not affected by something
such as a law because they have a special job or position
o Proceeding - the actions taken, usually in court, to settle a legal matter
o Complicit - involved in or knowing about something bad that happens
o Nefarious - evil, or dishonest
o Solicit - to ask someone for something such as money or support
o Dodgy - dishonest, criminal, or not reliable
o Questionable - probably not good, honest, or worth admiring
o Protest - something such as a meeting or public statement by people
who strongly disagree with a policy, law etc
o Influence-peddling - the use of position or political influence on
someone's behalf in exchange for money or favours

o Autocratic - ruling with complete power
o Whimsical - made or done for fun, not seriously
o Fierce - involving very strong feelings such as determination, anger, or
hate
o Smear - to try to damage someones reputation by telling lies about
them
o Escalating - to make a worse situation more serious
o Retaliated - to do something harmful or unpleasant to someone because
they have done something harmful or unpleasant to you
as a protest
o Detractor - someone who publicly criticizes someone or something
o Intergenerational - relating to more than one generation (=group of
people who were born at about the same time)
o Moderniser - the person who makes something more modern
o Authoritarian - controlling everything and forcing people to obey strict
rules and laws
o Consolidation - to become, or cause something to become more
stronger
o Chaebol - one of the several large, powerful groups of companies in
South Korea that are involved in various different types of business
o Ascendency - a position of power, strength, or success
o Cosy - comfortable / making you feel relaxed
o Untenable - impossible to continue because of serious problems,
opposition, or criticism
o Institutionalised - to give something a formal or official structure
o Tycoon - a rich and powerful person who is involved in business or
industry
o Assertion - a definite statement or claim that something is true
o Emulation - to pretend to be someone else
MAR 15/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Fresh start in Punjab"
The Congresss victory in Punjab, bagging 77 of the 117 seats in the Assembly elections, comes as a salve for the beleaguered
party. This is its first victory in a big State since Karnataka 2013, and it took a particularly feisty campaign led by Amarinder

Singh. The party had to fend off not just the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance but also the challenge
posed by the Aam Aadmi Party, which had made a significant foray in the State in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The results
suggest a strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the SAD-BJP coalition. In its decade-long stint in power, it may have helped
build the States infrastructure. But during its second term, public distaste grew over the consolidation of power in the Badal
family, and there were reports of corruption and high-handedness. The Congress managed to convert this disenchantment into
support for itself, building a campaign around the leadership of Captain Singh and the promise of effective administration. The
AAP, with its focus on rural areas, especially in the south-central Malwa region following its surprise success in 2014, made a
play for the anti-Akali vote. But infighting and the absence of a grassroots presence or a clear State leader tested its organisation.
In the end, the AAP was unable to substantially increase the vote share of around 24% that it had gained in 2014: a great chunk
of the Akali-BJP vote went to the Congress. The challenges the Congress administration faces are formidable. It must address
the agrarian crisis as well as high unemployment in the State. Punjab leads the country in youth unemployment rate, and its
urban centres need renewal. The drug problem continues to ravage rural Punjab, devastating families and nourishing a
trafficking nexus. The high debt-to-GDP ratio (31.4% in 2015-16 against the national average of 22%) puts further constraints
on the State administration. The Congress has no option but to deliver, as its performance in Punjab is the key to its revival in
northern and western India where the BJP has won most Assembly elections over the past five years. Success here should also
nudge the party to groom regional leaders elsewhere instead of being dependent on its high command, and more specifically,
its vice-president, Rahul Gandhi. For the AAP, the presence of 20 members in the new legislature allows it an opportunity to
develop a grassroots presence. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has sought to move the party away from its early
volunteer-driven model towards a more centralised organisation, with power concentrated in his hands. Its inability to convert
the momentum generated in 2014 into a win in the Assembly election was partly a result of its failure in projecting a strong chief
ministerial candidate.
oLifeline - something, especially a way of getting help, that you depend

on to lead your life in a satisfactory way
something
o Regional - relating to or coming from a particular part of a country
(local)
o Bagging - to win something
o Beleaguered - having a lot of problems or difficulties
o Feisty - active, forceful, and full of determination
o Fend off somebody - to push or send away an attacker or other
unwanted person
o Pose - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty
o Foray - an attempt at doing something new or something that you do
not usually do
formed in this way
o Distaste - a dislike of something that you find unpleasant or
unacceptable
o Disenchantment - the feeling of being disappointed and no longer
enthusiastic about someone or something
o Made a play for something / somebody - to try to get something, or
start a relationship with someone, sometimes by using a plan

o Formidable - very impressive in size, power, or skill and therefore
deserving respect and often difficult to deal with
o Ravage - to cause great damage to something
o Nourishing - if you nourish a feeling, belief, or plan, you think about it
a lot and encourage it
o Trafficking - to buy and sell goods illegally
group of things
particular limits
o Groom - to prepare someone for a special job or activity
o Momentum - the force that keeps an object moving or keeps an event
developing after it has started
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "On the rocks"

The timing of the announcement by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotlands first minister, to seek a second referendum on independence
for Scotland may be no more than strategic. Her call on Monday coincided with the U.K. Parliaments adoption of a landmark
legislation to begin talks to exit the European Union. But Ms. Sturgeons move should remind Westminster that the thought of
separation from the British union has never fully been excised from the popular imagination in Scotland, despite the resounding
2014 vote to stay. Recent developments seem to have hardened public sentiment against continuing in the United Kingdom
among the Scots, who had voted overwhelmingly in June 2016 to remain in the EU. The popular mood in favour of independence
did surge briefly, as reflected in opinion polls soon after the Brexit vote. But the support receded in subsequent months. The
prospects for a separate Scotland once again revived after British Prime Minister Theresa Mays landmark speech in January,
in which she made clear her decision to quit the common market. It is futile to speculate on what better terms might have been
offered to assuage sentiment in the north, as Ms. May has prioritised immigration control as the red line in her negotiations with
her counterparts in the bloc. But Edinburgh has been growing more impatient of late with London over its demands. The greatest
political challenge for the Conservative government in London as it acts to take Britain out of the 28-country bloc, is to put
forward a coherent and convincing case for Scotland to remain in the U.K. The economic argument for Edinburgh to leave is
apparently at its weakest, given the recent slump in oil prices and a mounting fiscal deficit. The champions of access to the
common market also run up against the argument that a large share of Scotlands trade is within the U.K. However, such rational
arguments against independence may not cut much ice given that Londons steps to effect Brexit continue to be divisive nearly
a year after the vote. In fact, the advocates of independence are likely to argue that if London can rip apart a European
partnership of four decades so easily on grounds of restoring national sovereignty, it may well one day reconsider Scottish
devolution. But the proponents of Scottish separation would be most short-sighted to promise the moon to potential followers.
In fact, countries such as Spain that are fighting their own secessionist movements are unlikely to back the current bid by the
Scottish National Party. Edinburghs EU entry would have to be ratified by every single member state, a prospect that would
commit them to make similar concessions. Europes leaders, alive to the sensitivities of undermining the sovereignty of member
nations, have repeatedly cautioned against expectations of an automatic guarantee of admission in the event that Edinburgh
exits Britain.
oOn the rocks - likely to fail soon

oReferendum - a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are
question
o Coincided - to happen at or near the same time

o Excise - to remove something
prevented by
o Overwhelmingly - used for emphasizing the amount or strength of
something (very great or very large)
o Receded - to move back from a high point or level
o Speculate - to consider or discuss why something has happened or what
might happen
o Coherent - clear and carefully considered
certain is true
o Slump - (of prices, values, or sales) to fall suddenly
received
o Rip apart - to destroy something completely
o Devolution - the moving of power or responsibility from a main
organization to a lower level, or from a central government to a local
government
or plan of action
o Short-sighted - not thinking enough about how an action will affect the
future
o Sensitivity - an ability to understand what other people need, and be
helpful and kind to them
o Undermining - to make someone less confident, less powerful, or less
likely to succeed, or to make something weaker, often gradually


MAR 16/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Gauntlet at Sukma"

It would be tempting, but dangerous, to see the deadly ambush by Maoists in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Saturday as just
a desperate act of a fading insurgent group. It must, instead, serve as a wake-up call for the security forces to beef up their
standard operating procedures, especially intelligence-gathering capabilities, in the Maoist heartland in central India. Twelve
personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were killed in Sundays attack, and four others sustained injuries. A road-opening
party of the CRPFs 219 battalion was ambushed about 450 km from the State capital Raipur. The insurgents used improvised
explosive devices, country-made mortars and arrows mounted with explosive heads, and made off with some weapons and
radio sets of the force. Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that extremist groups were restless because of the
unprecedented success of the forces against them in 2016, especially in Chhattisgarh where there was a 15% drop in left-
wing extremist incidents. However, the precision and scale of the attack are an indication that the Maoists continue to hold
formidable sway in Sukma, their long-time stronghold. In 2013 they ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in Sukma district,
killing more than 25 persons, including former Union Minister V.C. Shukla. There have been periodic Maoist attacks in the
region. It is estimated that over the last two decades at least 15,000 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence. More
than 3,000 of them were security personnel. And while violence is down from its peak in 2009-10, in 2016 official estimates put
the toll at 213 civilians, 65 security force personnel and 89 Maoists. The government has over the past decade taken a patchy
approach to bringing the so-called red corridor under its writ. The only presence of the state consistently visible across the
region has been of the security forces, not of the civil administration. Counter-insurgency operations by the security forces have
often been undermined by poor intelligence, flagging alertness of the security forces and the absence of a multi-layered political
strategy. The Maoists do not survive merely on ideology; they have a well-oiled machinery providing protection to various interest
groups in the absence of a robust state responsive to the security and welfare needs of the civilian population. Ultimately, any
fight against non-state actors will be effective only when the state puts forward its combined might to exhibit what it can and
indeed must provide to the people.
o Gauntlet - a thick heavy glove that you wear to protect your hand and
lower arm
o Ambush - to suddenly attack someone after hiding and waiting for them
o Writ - the authority to rule or make laws
o Tempting - if something is tempting, you want to do or have it
o Desperate - very serious or bad
own country
o Beef up something - to make something stronger or more important
o Heartland - the part of a country that is most important for a particular
activity
o Sustained - to suffer or experience, especially damage or loss
o Battalion - a military unit consisting of three or more companies
o Mortar - a large gun with a short, wide barrel (= a part shaped like a
tube) that fires bombs or other explosives very high into the air, or an
explosive device shot from such a gun
o Mounted - fixed
o Precision - the qualities of being careful and accurate
o Sway - control or influence
o Stronghold - a place or area where a particular belief or activity is
common


o Convoy - a group of vehicles or ships that travel together, especially for
protection
o Toll - the total number of people who have been killed or hurt
o Civilians - people who do not belong to the armed forces or the police
o Personnel - the people who work for a company or organization, or who
are members of a military force
o Patchy - happening or existing in some places but not in other places
o Undermine - to make something or someone become gradually less
o Flagging - becoming weaker, more tired, or less enthusiastic
o Absence - a detailed plan for achieving success in situations such as war,
politics, business, industry, or sport, or the skill of planning for such
situations
and nothing more
o Well-oiled - working easily and effectively
o Machinery - the structure and systems of an organization or process
o Robust - strong
o Welfare - help given, especially by the state or an organization, to
people who need it, especially because they do not have enough money
o Ultimately - after a process or activity has ended
o Put something forward - to offer an idea, opinion, reason etc,
especially so that people can discuss it and make a decision
o Might - used to make a suggestion or suggest a possibility in a polite
way
o Exhibit - to show something publicly
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Its complicated"

Until Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan started a high-voltage campaign for next months referendum on constitutional
reforms that give him more powers, relations between Ankara and the European Union were relatively stable, though not without
glitches. Trouble started when Mr. Erdogans allies drew up plans to organise campaign rallies in European cities to mobilise
support among the tens of thousands of Turks living in Europe who are eligible to vote in the April 16 referendum. Several
European countries, including Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, and some German towns, banned such rallies, raising
security concerns as well as fear of domestic political repercussions. Mr. Erdogan, however, turned this into a Turkey versus
West spat. When German towns blocked the rallies, Mr. Erdogan accused the country of Nazi practices. When the Netherlands
refused landing rights to a plane carrying Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was on his way to address a
referendum rally, Mr. Erdogan called the country fascist and a Nazi remnant. Ties between the Netherlands and Turkey
deteriorated rapidly thereafter, with Ankara effectively removing the Dutch ambassador. The Turkish government has also hinted
that it would scrap an agreement reached with Europe last year to curb the passage of migrants through Turkey in return for
financial help from the EU. The referendum is crucial for Mr. Erdogans ambitious plans to overhaul Turkeys political system.
If he gets the reforms approved by a majority of voters, Turkey would move towards a presidential system. He would then
handpick his own cabinet and his Justice and Development Partys MPs and gain at least two five-year terms uncontested. It is
therefore unsurprising that Mr. Erdogan is turning the diplomatic crisis into a political battle to appeal to nationalist sections of
the electorate. But the crisis could have undesirable outcomes. European leaders fear that Mr. Erdogans outreach could help
the anti-Muslim far-right parties in the continent. In the Netherlands, which went to the polls on Wednesday, the far-right
candidate, Geert Wilders, has already questioned the loyalty of Dutch Muslims of Turkish origin and called for a tough response
to Ankara. Mr. Erdogan might win short-term political dividends from this ongoing spat, but in the longer run he is endangering
both Turkeys ties with Europe and the prospects of the hundreds of thousands of Turks living in the continent. European
countries could also have avoided extreme reactions, such as refusing to give landing rights to a plane carrying Turkeys Foreign


Minister. Such escalation is politically unwise, given the context in which Mr. Erdogan is running his campaign. Instead, the
Netherlands and other countries could have opted for direct engagement with Ankara to avoid a showdown. After all, Turkey
and Europe need each other. The EU is Turkeys largest trading partner. And Turkey is a NATO member. Both sides will be
tested on whether they can turn the focus to more positive aspects of this complicated relationship.

question
o Escalate - to become or make something become greater or more
serious
o High-voltage - very exciting and full of energy
o Stable - firmly fixed or not likely to move or change
o Glitch - a small problem or fault that prevents something from being
successful or working as well as it should
another one
o Drew up - to prepare something
o Rally - a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters
of a particular opinion
o Mobilise - if you mobilize a group of people, or if they mobilize, they
illegal, or unkind
o Address - to to someone
o Fascist - someone who supports a political system based on a very
powerful leader, state control, and being extremely proud of country and
race, and in which political opposition is not allowed
o Remnant - a small piece or amount of something that is left from a
larger original piece or amount
o Rapidly - quickly
o Thereafter - continuing on from a particular point in time, especially
after something else has stopped happening
o Effectively - in a way that is successful and achieves what you want
representing his or her own country there, and who is officially accepted
in this position by that country
o Scrap - to not continue with a system or plan or agreement
o Migrant - a person that travels to a different country or place, often in
order to find work


o Overhaul - to repair or improve something so that every part of it works
as it should
o Majority - the larger number or part of something
o Handpick - choose very carefully
o Uncontested - used to describe a decision or result which nobody
opposes or disagrees with
o Dividend - profit
o Endangering - to put someone or something at risk or in danger of being
harmed, damaged, or destroyed
o Prospect - the possibility that something might happen in the future
o Unwise - stupid and likely to cause problems
o Opted - to make a choice or decision
o Showdown - a big meeting, argument, or fight that finally settles a
disagreement between people or proves who is the best
MAR 17/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Going forward in Goa"
Fractured mandates and post-poll coalitions are not new to Goa, which has had a history of political instability. This time round,
after the counting of votes on March 11, the process became even more complex with the issue of government-formation being
taken to court. With only 13 legislators in the 40-member Assembly, it was clearly going to be difficult for the BJP to stake a
claim to power, but the single largest party, the Congress, was short of a majority too, winning 17 seats. Moreover, the Congress
failed to get its own legislature party in order after the elections and was unable to make haste in choosing a leader and finding
allies. Support was guaranteed to the BJP by the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which had been an ally in the outgoing
government. With the Goa Forward Party and two independents also hitching their bandwagon to the BJP, it was evident that
the party had the upper hand. In the absence of a pre-poll alliance, it is arguable that the Governor should have invited the
leader of the single largest party to try to form the government. But there was no likelihood of the Congress being able to
command a majority in the House without the endorsement of the MGP or the GFP and independents, something that,
notwithstanding its protestations, the party fully well realised. The Supreme Courts decision to not stay Governor Mridula Sinhas
invitation to the BJP to form the government may have, at least partially, blunted the criticism that she acted in a partisan
manner. With the BJP winning the vote of confidence in the Assembly, a certain post hoc legitimacy has been established, but
there is no escaping the fact that this happened in the shadow of a controversy While the party will be relieved to have returned
to power, the BJPs reduced tally in the Assembly elections is a reflection of a degree of dissatisfaction with its performance.
Past State governments in Goa have had a reputation for rent-seeking and paying little regard to violations of environmental
norms, especially by the construction, tourism and mining industries. The BJP, after coming to power in 2012, had promised to
take steps to eradicate corruption and graft at various levels of the States administration, but its efforts were found to be lacking.
Goas voters have this time clearly been looking for political alternatives, which is reflected in the success of smaller parties
such as the GFP. That the senior BJP leader and Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, had to be roped in to take over as
Chief Minister indicates that the party is aware of the challenges it faces in running a fresh government in Goa. Mr. Parrikar now
has a chance to deliver on the pledge he made during his previous tenure, of delivering a better administration.
formed in this way

to make laws
o Make haste - hurry up
o Outgoing - leaving a job or position
o Bandwagon - an idea or activity, especially in politics or business, that
suddenly becomes very popular or fashionable, so that a lot of people
want to be involved in it
o Upper hand - if you have the upper hand, you have more power than
anyone else and so have control
o Arguable - if something is arguable, there could be some disagreement
about it
o Endorsement - the act of saying that you approve of or support
o Protestation - an act of saying something forcefully or complaining
about something
o Blunted - to make something less strong, less effective, or less
important
o Post hoc - occurring or done after the event
o Legitimacy - reasonable and acceptable
o Tally - a record or count of a number of things
etc
o Eradicate - to get rid of something completely, especially something bad
o Roped in - to persuade someone to do something for you
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Return to normal"
The U.S. Federal Reserve has resumed normal monetary service by raising interest rates for the second time in three months.
The Feds decision on Wednesday reflects its confidence in the continuing expansion and signals that its efforts to reflate the
worlds largest economy are largely on track with overall inflation seen to be stabilising around its longer-run target of 2%
over the next couple of years. Significantly, Chair Janet Yellen stressed that policymakers expect the strengthening economy
would warrant gradual increases in the benchmark federal funds rate to ensure that the monetary policy stance remains
accommodative of growth, even as price stability is ensured. This emphasis on gradual provides a degree of policy predictability
that markets, for now, can broadly factor in two more rate increases of one quarter of a percentage point each for the rest of
2017 especially when coupled with a median projection for the signalling rate to reach 1.4% at the end of the year, from the
current 0.75%-1.0% range. The statement has allayed fears of an accelerated rate normalisation, that could have triggered a
sharp jump in outflows from emerging markets such as India. Investors worldwide are bound to feel more reassured that one of
the worlds key economic engines is in good shape and that should bode well for global demand. Indias exporters, including of
software services, are also likely to see a silver lining in the Fed chiefs reference to a distinct firming in business investment,
after having been soft in 2016, that has helped put business sentiment at favourable levels. Ms. Yellen also flagged caveats
to the Feds projections. Averring that policy is not on a pre-set course, she pointed to the potential impact that changes in
fiscal policy, among other factors, could have on the economic outlook. While acknowledging that it is still too early to anticipate
exactly how the Trump administrations fiscal policies may unfold, the central bank is intimating that it will be closely monitoring

the new dispensations broad budget plans and remains ready to change policy tack if it were to perceive any risks to its price
stability goals. There is also the matter of when the Fed may decide to initiate the process of normalising its balance sheet.
Given that the central banks holdings of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities reached record levels in the aftermath
of the 2008 financial crisis, any plan to begin unwinding these holdings will need to be very carefully calibrated and
communicated in advance to ensure that global markets dont witness a repeat of the taper tantrum of 2013. Ms. Yellen stressed
just that when she said the Fed as a matter of prudent planning had discussed issues related to an eventual change to its
reinvestment policy and, while no decisions were taken, would ensure that the process be gradual and predictable.
o Gradual - happening or changing slowly over a long period of time

o Reflect - to show the existence or nature of something
o Reflate - to improve the economy of a country by increasing the amount
of money that people are earning and spending in the country
o Stabilising - to reach a state where there are no longer any major
changes or problems
o Benchmark - an amount, level, standard etc that you can use for
judging how good or bad other things are
o Emphasis - special importance or attention that is given to one thing in
particular
o Predictability - the fact of always behaving or occurring in the way
expected
o Allayed - if you allay feelings such as fears, worries, or doubts, you make
someone feel less afraid, worried, or full of doubt
o Outflow - a movement of large amounts of money or large numbers of
people from one place to another
o Silver lining - used for saying that there is usually a good aspect of a
bad situation
o Favourable - showing that someone likes or approves of someone or
something
o Averring - to say that something is certainly true
o Anticipate - to think that something will probably happen
o Unfold - to happen, or to develop
o Treasury - the government department responsible for a countrys
financial matters


o Mortgage - a legal agreement in which you borrow money from a bank
in order to buy a house. You pay back your mortgage by making monthly
payments
o -backed - supported
o Aftermath - the effects and results of something bad or important
o Unwinding - to begin to relax after you have been working hard or
feeling nervous
o Calibrate - to check or change a piece of equipment used for measuring
things in order to make it accurate
o Prudent - careful, and using good judgment
time
o Predictable - happening or existing at the end of a process or period of
time
MAR 18/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "National health policy 2017: A road map for
health"
The National Health Policy 2017, which the Centre announced this week after a nudge from the Supreme Court last year, faces
the challenging task of ensuring affordable, quality medical care to every citizen. With a fifth of the worlds disease burden, a
growing incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, and poor financial arrangements to pay for care, India
brings up the rear among the BRICS countries in health sector performance. Against such a laggardly record, the policy now
offers an opportunity to systematically rectify well-known deficiencies through a stronger National Health Mission. Among the
most glaring lacunae is the lack of capacity to use higher levels of public funding for health. Rectifying this in partnership with
the States is crucial if the Central government is to make the best use of the targeted government spending of 2.5% of GDP by
2025, up from 1.15% now. Although a major capacity expansion to produce MBBS graduates took place between 2009 and
2015, and more initiatives were announced later, this is unlikely to meet policy goals since only 11.3% of registered allopathic
doctors were working in the public sector as of 2014, and even among these, the number in rural areas was abysmally low.
More health professionals need to be deployed for primary care in rural areas. Availability of trained doctors and nurses would
help meet the new infant mortality and maternal mortality goals, and build on the gains from higher institutional deliveries, which
exceeded 80% in recent years Contracting of health services from the private sector may be inevitable in the short term, given
that about 70% of all outpatient care and 60% of inpatient treatments are provided by it. But this requires accountability, both
on the quality and cost of care. No more time should be lost in forming regulatory and accreditation agencies for healthcare
providers at the national and State levels as suggested by the expert group on universal health coverage of the Planning
Commission more than five years ago. Without such oversight, unethical commercial entities would have easy backdoor access
to public funds in the form of state-backed insurance. It should also be mandatory for all health institutions to be accredited, and
to publish the approved cost of treatments, in order to remove the prevailing asymmetry of information. For the new policy to
start on a firm footing, the Centre has to get robust health data. Currently this is fragmented because inputs from multiple
sources and sample surveys are not reconciled, and the private sector is often not in the picture. To reduce high out-of-pocket
spending, early deadlines should be set for public institutions to offer essential medicines and diagnostic tests free to everyone.
This was estimated in 2011 to require a spending increase of only 0.4% of GDP, which is within the 2.5% that the Centre is
talking about.
o Road Map - a plan for how to achieve something

o Nudge - to make someone to do something
o Non-communicable - that cannot be passed from one person to
another
o Diabetes - a disease in which the body cannot control the level of sugar
in the blood
o Bring up the rear - to be the last in a group
o Laggardly - slow to do something or slow to make progress


o Deficiency - a state of not having, or not having enough, of something
that is needed
o Lacunae - an empty space where something is missing
problem
o Abysmal - bad or low quality
o Deploy - to move people (here doctors) to a place where they can be
used when they are needed
o Infant - a baby or a very young child
o Mortality - the number of deaths within a particular society and within
o Maternal - relating to being a mother
o Exceed - to be greater than a number or amount, or to go past an
allowed limit
o Outpatient - a person who goes to a hospital for treatment, but who
does not stay any nights there
o Inpatient - a person who goes into hospital to receive medical care, and
stays there one or more nights while they are being treated
o Accreditation - official approval, esp. in order to maintain satisfactory
standards
o Backdoor - relating to something that is done secretly or in a way that
is not direct or honest
demanded by law
o Accredited - officially recognized or approved
o Asymmetry - the quality of being different or strange
o Footing - the basic conditions in which something operates or develops
o Robust - strong
o Reconcile - to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are
o Out-of-pocket - used about money that you have to spend yourself
rather than having it paid for you, for example by your employer or
insurance company
o Diagnostic - used for finding out what physical or mental problem
someone has
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Netherlands elections: Beyond the vote"
Fears that the tide of populism would sweep relentlessly across Europe have been somewhat belied by the result of the election
in the Netherlands. Prime Minister Mark Ruttes centre-right Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) retained its


primacy by winning 33 seats, ahead of Geert Wilderss anti-European Union, anti-Islam and anti-migrant far-right Party for
Freedom (PVV). The proportional representation system, with 28 parties competing for 150 seats in the lower House of a
bicameral legislature, means that a coalition government is inevitable. Until a week or so before the elections, Mr. Wilders was
leading the opinion polls, slipping behind Mr. Rutte only in the very last stretch. The Prime Ministers pre-election gains have
now translated into an electoral victory. This is being attributed in part to his tough stand against the Turkish governments
attempts to campaign in the Netherlands for its President, Recep Tayyip Erdogans upcoming referendum to consolidate power.
The spectacle of clashes between the police and people of Turkish origin in Rotterdam, following bans on Turkish ministers
addressing crowds, could have also worked in favour of Mr. Wilders, who argues that migrants and Muslims do not fit into Dutch
society. Mr. Wilders, who wants to ban the Koran, de-Islamise the Netherlands, and pull out of the EU, has indicated the country
has not seen the last of him. His warning must be taken seriously: the PVV won 20 seats, five more than last time. The most
notable gains on Wednesday, however, were for pro-EU parties, the liberal D66 and the GreenLeft, led by 30-year-old Jesse
Klaver who is pro-refugee, opposes populism and speaks of tolerance and empathy. This may have cost the PvdA (Labour)
party, which suffered a precipitous decline in seats from 38 to nine, losing voters to other parties on the left. Overall, the election
results have, at least for now, stemmed the growth of populism and given the EU a much-needed shot in the arm. The first task
for Mr. Rutte will be to stitch together a coalition, which is likely to consist of other centrist parties. The government will then
have to navigate what is a turbulent period in Europe. This will involve protecting the rights of refugees and treating those
displaced with compassion and respect, while at the same time addressing the legitimate concerns and needs of those who
have been hit by austerity and are feeling left behind by globalisation. It will require having meaningful and fair conversations
about immigrant integration and Dutch values without giving in to Islamophobia and the scapegoating of minorities. In this, Mr.
Rutte and his partners will be assisted by the economy, which is growing at a respectable 2%, and by the fact that the far right
in France and Germany which go to the polls this year will not find it easy to capitalise on Dutch populism, thanks to how
people have voted.

people
or in the same area
o Sweep - to quickly spread through and influence an area
o Relentlessly - continuing in a severe or extreme way
o Belied - to show something to be false, or to hide something such as an
emotion
o Retained - to keep or continue to have something
find work
o Proportional - if two amounts are proportional, they change at the same
rate so that the relationship between them does not change
o Bicameral - a bicameral parliament consists of two separate groups of
people involved in making laws
formed in this way
question
o Consolidate - to become, or cause something to become, stronger, and
more certain
o Addressing - speaking to someone (group)
o Notable - important and deserving attention, because of being very
good or interesting

o Pro - supporting or approving of something
o Refugee - a person who has escaped from their own country for
political, religious, or economic reasons or because of a war
o Populism - politics that represents the interests and opinions of ordinary
people
o Empathy - the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by
imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation
o Precipitous - if a reduction or increase is precipitous, it is fast or great
o Stitch something together - to create or form something quickly or
roughly
o Navigate - to deal effectively with a complicated situation
o Austerity - a situation in which economic conditions are bad and
peoples living standards fall
o Islamophobia - unreasonable dislike or fear of Muslims or Islam
o Scapegoating - the act of blaming a person or group for something bad
that has happened or that someone else has done
o Respectable - a respectable amount or quality is large enough or of a
good enough standard to be acceptable
MAR 20/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Wag the dog: On Yogi Adityanath as UP CM"

When the tail wags the dog, the dog risks losing control of it altogether. The national leadership of the BJP may or may not
have been guided by the wishes of a vociferous section of its cadre base in nominating Hindutva firebrand Yogi Adityanath as
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. But in so doing it has ceded considerable power to a faction within its organisational structure
that is both fiercely autonomous and frequently defiant. After politically exploiting his divisive rhetoric, and allowing him to share
State-level campaign space with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP would have found it difficult to refuse Mr. Adityanath a
prominent role in post-election U.P. But to make him the Chief Minister is to risk the fringe taking hold of the centre. In doing so,
the BJP has willy nilly shifted the discourse from development, which Mr. Modi often projected in the election campaign. Indeed,
his choice is bound to signal in the public mind a front-staging of issues such as cow protection, love jihad, and forced religious
conversion, all of which assume a character of aggressive minority baiting. As the head of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, an organisation
implicated in several cases of rioting, the new Chief Minister does not exactly inspire confidence about law and order, an area
of major failing for the Samajwadi Party government that was voted out. Indeed, his assuming office sends all the wrong signals
to the law enforcement machinery of the State. When the BJP projected only Mr. Modi during the campaign and went into the
election without a chief ministerial candidate, it was taking care not to upset the different streams within its support base. But
the tact and sense that was evident at that stage seems to have been lost in the messy triumphalism after the victory. By opting
for two Deputy Chief Ministers, Keshav Prasad Maurya, the partys State president who is from the backward classes, and
Dinesh Sharma, the Mayor of Lucknow who is a Brahmin, the BJP is perhaps hoping to not only get the caste representation
right in the Cabinet but also rein in Mr. Adityanath. But going by experience, a person of Mr. Adityanaths standing and
persuasion is unlikely to let himself be outflanked in government. Mr. Modi, and his alter ego, the party president Amit Shah,
may believe they will be able to make Mr. Adityanath behave more responsibly now that he is no longer in opposition but at the
helm. But they could well be mistaken. If anything, it is Mr. Adityanath who has so far bent the party to his will by protecting the
identity and independence of the HYV and setting his own agenda. Despite his past association with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi
Parishad, Mr. Adityanath is not beholden to the Sangh Parivar for his popularity and clout in eastern U.P. As it turned out, it was
he who rode the Modi wave to serve his personal ambition and push his pet projects. To make the Hindutva hardliner mend his
ways is about as easy as straightening a dogs tail.


o Wag the dog - this phrase is used to indicate that attention is purposely
being diverted from something of greater importance to something of
lesser importance
o Hardline - strict or extreme in your beliefs or opinions, and not willing
to change them
o Fringe - the outer or less important part of an area, group, or activity
o Tail wags the dog - a situation in which a large group has to do
something to satisfy a small group
o Altogether - completely / in total
o Vociferous - someone who is vociferous expresses their opinion loudly
and with force
o Firebrand - a person who causes political or social trouble by opposing
authority and encouraging others to do so
o Ceded - to allow someone to take something such as power or land away
from you
o Autonomous - an autonomous state, region, or organization is
o Defiant - proudly refusing to obey authority
o Exploiting - to use someone or something unfairly for your own
advantage
people
o Willy nilly - if something happens willy-nilly, it happens even if the
people who are involved do not want it to happen
o Discourse - serious spoken or written discussion of a particular subject
o Indeed - really or certainly, often used to emphasize something
o Conversion - a process in which someone changes to a new religion or
belief
person
o Baiting - to deliberately try to make someone angry
o Implicated - to show that someone is involved in a crime or partly
responsible for something bad that has happened
o Rioting - crimes involving violence or damage to property
o Enforcement - to make people obey a law, or to make a particular
situation happen or be accepted
o Tact - the ability to say or do the right thing without making anyone
unhappy or angry
o Triumphalism - an unpleasant show of pleasure and satisfaction
because you have won or done better than someone
o Opt - make a choice from a range of possibilities


o Persuasion - the process of making someone agree to do or believe
something
o Outflanked - to do better than an opponent by winning an advantage
over him or her
o Alter ego - a very close friend
o Beholden - feeling you have a duty to someone because they have done
something for you
o Hardliner - strict or extreme in your beliefs or opinions, and not willing
to change them
o Mend your ways - to begin to behave well, having until now behaved
badly
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Last gasp tasks: GST bills and rate fitment
process"
At its twelfth meeting last Friday, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council cleared all the requisite State and Central-level
legislative measures to implement the indirect tax regime. The State and Union Territories GST bills were approved along with
necessary corrections to the three other GST Bills the Council had cleared previously for Central GST, Integrated GST and
compensation to States through a cess. This paves the way for State Assemblies and Parliament to ratify these laws quickly in
order to meet the proposed July 1 rollout date for the system. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the Union Cabinet will soon
take up the four laws that the Centre has to steer through Parliament, while the respective State governments will take up the
State GST law. Separately, officers from the States and the Centre are expected to finalise, by this weekend, drafts for four
pending regulations out of a total of nine, that lay down the administrative procedures and processes to be followed by taxpayers
under the GST regime. The Council will meet again on March 31 to consider those drafts. This will give the Centre enough
buffer to make the transition to the new system. Though industry has indicated that it needs at least three months to prepare
for the GST once it sees the fine print, one major action will still be pending on April 1. That action the fitment of thousands
of commodities and services into the five GST rate slabs (zero, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%) could prove to be among the
trickiest for the Council. The rate fitment process, unlike legislative nuances, is more susceptible to lobbying not just from
different sections of industry, but also States that would like a favourable tax treatment for products and services they excel in.
For instance, the GST Council has now approved a ceiling on the cess that could be imposed over and above the highest GST
rate of 28% on pan masala, chewing tobacco and cigarettes, luxury cars and aerated drinks. For all such sin goods, the cess
ceiling has been set higher under the GST than the level necessary to maintain the present level of taxation. But beedis have
been kept out of the cess net altogether in order to avoid friction with States that could delay the broader reform. Despite such
pulls and pressures, in a best-case scenario the rate-setting process should take at least a fortnight and the Council could meet
some time in April to approve the rates. Giving lakhs of enterprises just about two months to switch to the GST regime, with all
its implications for supply chains, pricing strategies and accounting systems, could lead to a messy start. The Centre must keep
its mind open on pushing forward the rollout by a month or so, while industry should rise above heckling over rates and invest
more lobbying energy on bigger worries, such as the GSTs penal anti-profiteering clauses.
o Last gasp - the end of something

o Requisite - necessary for a particular purpose
o Ratify - (especially of governments or organizations) to make an
agreement official
o Respective - relating or belonging to each of the separate people or
things you have just mentioned


o Draft - something such as a plan, letter, or drawing that may have
changes made to it before it is finished
o Buffer - something or someone that helps protect from harm
o Trickiest - difficult to deal with
important
o Susceptible - easily influenced or harmed by something
o Lobbying - to try to influence politicians or people in authority on a
particular subject
o Excel - to be extremely good at something
o Ceiling - an upper limit, usually relating to money
o Aerate - to add a gas to liquid, especially a drink
o Sin goods - the products which are harmful to the society (alcohol and
tobacco, candies, drugs, soft drinks, fast foods, coffee, sugar, and
gambling etc)
o Friction - disagreement or unfriendliness caused by people having
different opinions
o Reform - improvement
o Heckling - criticism and disapproval
o Profiteering - making an excessive or unfair profit, especially illegally
MAR 21/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "In Uttarakhand, a mandate for renewal"
Heading into Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party had a clear edge after months of political turmoil
in the State, that included a spell of Presidents Rule and the Supreme Courts intervention. Chief Minister Harish Rawat had
sought to turn the elections into a referendum over the tribulations that his government was subjected to by both the BJP and
its government at the Centre. At the same time, his government had struggled to defend itself against allegations of graft. In the
event, the BJP managed to repeat its performance of the Lok Sabha election in 2014, when it won in all five parliamentary
constituencies and led in 63 out of 70 Assembly segments. By winning 57 seats in the Assembly elections, the BJP has for the
first time managed a decisive majority in a State that has traditionally returned close verdicts. By all indications, it reaped the
benefit of anti-incumbency due to issues such as migration from the hills to the plains and out of Uttarakhand as well, lack of
adequate employment opportunities and infrastructure, and persisting problems relating to the 2013 floods. In 2014, the BJPs
pitch on development received significant support and it has now promised to focus on the issue. Conversely, the Congresss
lament that it did not receive adequate Central support in both flood relief and reconstruction apart from developmental work in
the State clearly found few takers among the voters, who simply chose the party in power at the Centre. The Congress also
made the mistake of limiting the election campaign to a personality contest centred on Mr. Rawat. Stung by the defection of
many leaders to the BJP, especially from the Garhwal region, and faced with the formidable challenge of overcoming the
popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party came up short. The success of the BJP must also take into account the
fact that 11 of its 57 MLAs are defectors from the Congress. By appointing Trivendra Singh Rawat as the Chief Minister instead
of its hopeful former Chief Ministers, the BJP has sought to empower a loyal RSS hand who is close to party president Amit
Shah and Mr. Modi. Despite the overwhelming majority for the party which should allow the new Chief Minister to concentrate
on administrative tasks instead of constantly managing MLAs to defend narrow majorities in the House, he faces an uphill battle.
Since the separation from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand saw high economic growth till around 2012-13, justifying the bifurcation.
But the floods had a devastating impact on its economy, and the long-time decline of the agrarian economy in the hills and the
consequent migration of people to the plains have deepened the challenges facing the State. It will take a concerted effort to
overcome them.


o Renewal - the process of starting something again after a pause
in a determined way
o Edge - an advantage that makes someone or something more successful
than other people or things
difficult situation
question
o Tribulation - a problem or difficulty
o Defend - to protect someone or something against attack or criticism;
o Graft - dishonest or illegal activities in politics or business that involve
giving people money or advantages in exchange for their help or support
o Constituency - vone of the official areas of a country that elects
someone to represent it in a parliament or legislature
o Decisive - a decisive victory or defeat is one in which the winner does
much better than the loser
given
o Incumbency - the fact of having an official position
o Migration - movement from one region to another and often back again
o Plain - a large area of flat land
effectively
o Persisting - continues to exist
o Pitch - the things that you say to convince someone to support you
o Conversely - used for introducing a sentence, or part of a sentence,
which says something that is the opposite of the other part
o Lament - to express sadness and feeling sorry about something
o Take something into account - to consider or remember something
when judging a situation
o Defector - a person who leaves his or her own country or group to join
an opposing one


something
o Loyal - willing to support, work for, or be a friend to someone, even in
difficult times
o Uphill battle - difficult to do or to achieve
o Bifurcation - the fact that something is divided into two parts or the act
of dividing something into two parts
o Concerted effort - concerted effort or attempt is determined and
serious
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Pakistans headcount: a necessary exercise

despite resistance"
Pakistans decision to launch a national census, after much delay, is a welcome step that would allow it to formulate realistic
policies to address the challenges it faces. The data are critical as key federal decisions such as resource allocation for provinces
and delimitation of electoral constituencies are taken based on demographic numbers. This would be the first census in 19
years. The government is supposed to do it every 10 years, but Pakistani authorities, under pressure from political parties and
ethnic groups, have delayed the process. The Nawaz Sharif government actually moved into action after a Supreme Court order
set a March deadline to start the process. The army has provided 200,000 personnel for security for the 70-day campaign. It is
not difficult to see why traditional political parties and ethnic leaders oppose the data-gathering. Since the last census was
conducted in 1998 by the second Sharif government, Pakistan has undergone major changes. There has been a massive influx
of people into Sindh, while the population growth in Punjab is slowing down. But political parties in Sindh say many Sindhis in
rural Sindh may not be counted as they do not have national identity cards. Punjabis fear the current edge they have in Pakistans
politics on the strength of demographics may be diminished. In Balochistan, local political groups had demanded that the process
be delayed till hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees are returned to Afghanistan. The refugees have been excluded from
the process following a ruling by the Baloch High Court. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tribal groups have opposed the census citing
reverse migration of locals and influx of Afghan refugees. But such challenges will always be there, given the influence of ethnic
groups and provincial satraps in Pakistani politics. What is more important for Islamabad is to not give in to pressure to delay
critical administrative decisions. The census is not merely an exercise of counting heads. It provides information on key
indicators such as population density, gender ratio, literacy rate, financial conditions and employment numbers. As the 19-year-
old census data are obsolete, it is crucial for the government to obtain an updated picture of the countrys socio-economic
composition to make the right policy choices. The governments announcement that it will go ahead with the census, even if
under pressure from the court, also suggests an increasing sense of confidence in Islamabad. Pakistan is going through a
relatively stable phase, economically and politically. The Sharif government doesnt face any existential challenge and is set to
become the second elected government in Pakistans history to finish its full term next year. Economic growth has also picked
up. This allows Mr. Sharif to take some risks for long-term reforms. He should stay the course towards working out a realistic
reallocation of resources and parliamentary seats to the provinces based on the new census data.
o Headcount - the act of counting how many people are present in a place
o Resistance - the act of fighting against something, or refusing to accept
something
o Census - an occasion on which government officials count the people
who live in a country and record other information about them
o Formulate - to develop all the details of a plan for doing something
o Federal - relating to the central government
o Delimitation - the process of establishing the limits or boundaries


o Demographic - relating to the study of populations and the different
groups that make them up
o Undergo - to experience something that is unpleasant or something that
involves a change
o Influx - the fact of a large number of people or things arriving at the
same time
o Diminish - to reduce or be reduced in size or importance
o Provincial - in or from the parts of the country that are not the capital
city
and nothing more
o Obsolete - no longer used because of being replaced by something
newer and more effective
o Composition - the way that something is formed from separate parts or
people
worse
o Existential - an existential danger threatens the very existence of
something
o Realistic - accepting things as they are in fact and not making decisions
based on unlikely hopes for the future
MAR 22/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Growth by merger: On the Vodafone-Idea

deal"
The Vodafone Groups decision to merge its India unit with the Aditya Birla Group-controlled Idea Cellular is a classic case of
two companies recognising truth in the adage that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Of the two mobile operators,
Idea functioned in its early years as a three-way joint venture involving the Tata Group, U.S. telecommunications behemoth
AT&T, and the Aditya Birla Group. The proposed deal represents a welcome chance to resurrect its flagging fortunes. The last
three quarters proved a brutal testament to the ravages that heightened competition could wreak on a middle-of-the-pack firms
operational finances. In Vodafones case, the planned merger offers the global telecom major an opportunity to downsize its
engagement with a market in which promise has outweighed performance, without actually exiting it. To that extent, it is a win-
win for both parties. Set to vault the combined entity to the top of the heap in Indias 1.13-billion subscribers strong mobile phone
services market, the merger of equals, as the two companies described it, will enable Vodafone to straight away net about
3,900 crore on consummation of the deal by selling a 4.9% stake to the Aditya Birla Group, leaving its holding in the new
company at 45.1%. Ideas controlling shareholders will have an opportunity to increase the 26% stake they will have at the start
of the relationship by acquiring more shares from Vodafone over the next four years. The two firms expect to see substantial
cost savings as the projected synergies from capital and operational expenditure help focus on meeting the challenges of a fast-
evolving market amid a tariff war with the current leader Bharti Airtel and the ambitious recent entrant Reliance Jio.
Nevertheless, the merger, however grand the scale, could well end up being less than adequate to help staunch the flow of red
ink amid an industrywide slide in average revenue per user and the steadily escalating cost of bidding for fresh wireless
spectrum. With mobile number portability having made it easier for customers to switch networks on account of service quality
levels or pricing, Vodafone and Idea have their work cut out in the lead-up to the merger, which they expect to close in 2018.
For Vodafone, the prospect of having to meet a huge bill of about 21,000 crore, were it to lose its arbitral challenge to a tax
claim dating back to the transaction that paved its entry to the Indian market, must surely have been a significant consideration
in tipping its hand. As the companys Chairman Gerard Kleisterlee wrote in the 2016 annual report: While India represents an
excellent long-term investment opportunity, the present regulatory challenges are hampering economic development and this


is exacerbated by other ongoing regulatory and fiscal burdens. Time alone can tell whether this will end up as a truly successful
marriage.

form a bigger one
o Adage - a well-known phrase that says something about life and human
experience
o Joint venture - a business or business activity that two or more people
or companies work on together
o Behemoth - something that is extremely large and often extremely
powerful
o Resurrect - to bring back something into use or existence that had
disappeared or ended
o Brutal - extreme and unpleasant
o Testament - proof
o Ravage - to cause great damage to something
o Downsize - if you downsize a company or organization, you make it
smaller by reducing the number of people working for it
o Outweighed - to be greater or more important than something else
o Extent - the size and importance of a problem or situation
o Win-win - a win-win situation or result is one that is good for everyone
who is involved
o Vault - to suddenly put someone in a successful or important position
o Subscriber - someone who pays money in order to receive something
regularly
o Consummation - the act of making something complete or perfect
business
o Synergy - the combined power of a group of things when they are
working together that is greater than the total power achieved by each
working separately
o Evolving - developing
o Tariff - a list of the prices charged
o Staunch - to stop something happening
o Escalating - increasing
o Bidding - the act of offering to pay a particular amount of money for
something, by different people


o Arbitral - related to the official process of trying to settle a disagreement
between two people or groups by considering all the facts and opinions
o Dating back - to be made or begun at a particular time in the past
o Tip your hand - if you tip your hand, you say what you are going to do
or what you believe when you have been keeping it secret
o Hampering - to prevent someone doing something easily
o Exacerbated - to make a problem become worse
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Managing Manipur: On the importance of a

stable government"
In Manipur, a State troubled by ethnic strife and continuing insurgency, and dependent on Central financial transfers to run the
economy, the importance of a stable and cohesive government cannot be understated. A fractured verdict reducing the
Congress party, that had been in power for 15 years, to 28 seats and three short of a majority in the 60-member Assembly, has
resulted in a new coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party taking power. The BJP will be pleased with its best-ever electoral
performance in the State, winning 21 seats and leaving the Congress party second in terms of vote share. By winning the vote
of confidence, the BJP-led government, with N. Biren Singh as the Chief Minister, has secured a crucial victory. But the
circumstances leading to this victory and the manoeuvres that were undertaken to achieve this have dimmed the aura of the
feat. For instance, an independent MLA who had reportedly assured the Congress of his support went missing for a few days
after the election results. Governor Najma Heptulla then showed undue haste in inviting the BJP to form the government, despite
the Congress being the single largest party. The election of the Speaker and the trust vote were inexplicably conducted as voice
votes, even as a Congress legislator, Th Shyamkumar, who had switched sides just a day after the election results, reportedly
voted in favour of the ruling coalition. A division of votes would have ascertained how the votes went. The trust vote behind
him, Mr. Singh faces the difficult task of managing the contradictions within the coalition. Seven of the nine ministerial berths
announced so far have been given to the smaller parties, and other aspiring legislators are expected to be given roles as
parliamentary secretaries, a tactic that was also used by the outgoing Congress Chief Minister, Ibobi Singh, to ensure support.
That said, Mr. Singh has started his tenure on a positive note as the nearly five-month-long blockade of the valley imposed by
the United Naga Council was finally called off after the offer of tripartite talks among the Centre, the State and the UNC was
reiterated by the new government. While conducting negotiations with the UNC, the government should avoid taking a drastic
step to reverse its predecessors decision to bifurcate the Senapati district, a move that will be opposed by the Kuki community.
It should also stay true to Prime Minister Narendra Modis promise that there will be no compromise of Manipurs integrity in the
accord being negotiated between Naga insurgents and the Central government. Ethnic strife is a tricky issue to negotiate, but
the BJP-led coalition could make a fresh start by delivering a clean administration, a promise that won it new adherents, many
of whom were disenchanted with the previous Congress regime.

worse
o Strife - violent or angry disagreement
o Cohesive - the situation when the members of a group or society are
united
o Understated - not trying to attract attention or impress people
o Undertake - to do or begin to do something, especially something that
will take a long time or be difficult


o Undue - to a level that is more than is necessary, acceptable, or
reasonable
to make laws
o Ascertained - to make certain of something
something else or very different from something else, so that one of them
must be wrong
o So far - until now
o Aspiring - someone who is trying to become successful in specific field
(here politics)
o Called off - to decide that a planned event, will not happen, or to end
an activity because it is no longer useful or possible
o Tripartite - involving three people or organizations, or existing in three
parts
o Drastic - a drastic action or change has a very big effect
else
o Bifurcate - to divide into two parts
o Adherent - a person who strongly supports a particular person,
principle, or set of ideas
unfair way
MAR 23/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Superpower dreams: On how India must

respond to a low HDI rank"
Indias rank of 131 among 188 countries on the UNDPs Human Development Index for 2015 and its medium performance
pose the uncomfortable question: would not the score have been significantly better if the higher economic growth trajectory of
two and a half decades of liberalisation had been accompanied by a parallel investment in people? Few will argue that the rise
in incomes that came with a more open economy has not translated into a higher quality of life for many Indians and raised


overall life expectancy at birth by more than 10 years from the 1990 level, to reach 68.3 years. Progress has also been made
in raising awareness about issues affecting womens empowerment, such as public safety, acid attacks, discrimination in
inheritance rights and lack of equal employment opportunity. Policy reforms have been instituted in some of these areas as a
result. But as the HDI data show, significant inequalities persist, particularly between States and regions, which act as major
barriers to improvement. The percentage of women in the workforce is the lowest in India among the BRICS countries, and the
national record on the population that lives in severe multidimensional poverty is also the worst in the bloc. These are clear
pointers to the lost decades for India, when universalisation of education and health care could have pulled deprived sections
out of the poverty trap. A central focus on social indicators is necessary for India to break free from its position as an
underachiever. The fiscal space now available has been strengthened by steady economic growth, and more should be done
to eliminate subsidies for the richest quintile estimated by the UNDP to be $16 billion in 2014 in six consumption areas
including gold and aviation fuel. The rise in revenues from all sources should go towards making public education of high
standards accessible to all and delivering on the promised higher budgetary outlay for health care. Bolstered by a conscious
effort to help traditionally backward regions, such policies will help eliminate the losses produced by inequalities that lower
national human development indices. One crucial metric that gets insufficient attention in the measurement of development is
the state of democracy, reflected among other things in access to justice. It is relevant to point out that India has not ratified UN
conventions on torture, rights of migrant workers and their families, and protection against enforced disappearance. This is a
serious lacuna for a country that otherwise has a commitment to democracy and the rule of law. With the growing realisation
that development is a multidimensional achievement, the gains of economic reforms must help build capabilities and improve
the health of all sections. Sustaining and improving the quality of life will depend on policies crafted to handle major emerging
challenges such as urbanisation, the housing deficit, access to power, water, education and health care.
o HDI - Human Development Index

o Superpower - a very powerful and influential nation
o Outlay - an amount of money spent on something.
o Pose - to ask a question
of time
o Liberalisation -to make laws or rules less strict so that people have
more freedom
o Life expectancy - the length of time that someone is likely to live
o Empowerment - the process of gaining freedom and power to do what
you want or to control what happens to you
o Inheritance - money or objects that someone gives you when they die
o Reform - an improvement
o Instituted - to start or cause a system, rule, legal action, etc. to exist
o Persist - if an unpleasant feeling or situation persists, it continues to
exist
country, etc
o Severe - extreme or very difficult
o Multidimensional - having many different features
o Deprived - not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life,
such as enough money, food, or good living conditions
o Break free - to escape from an unpleasant person or situation that
controls your life
o Underachiever - someone who is less successful than they should be at
school or at work
o Fiscal - connected with (public) money


o Quintile - one of five equal measurements that a set of things can be
divided into
o Outlay - an amount of money spent for a particular purpose
o Indices - plural of index (a number that shows the price, value, or level
of something compared with something else)
o Convention - a formal agreement between governments of different
countries about how they should behave towards each other or towards
the people in their country
find work
o Lacuna - an empty space where something is missing
o Crafted - to make objects, in a skilled way
o Deficit - the total amount by which something is less than required
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Russian connection: not helping Trump's

credibility"
The first open hearing into the alleged links between the campaign of Donald Trump and unnamed parties associated with the
Russian government kicked off this week, even as the President put out a series of social media posts that seemed to
mischaracterise statements coming out of that hearing. Ground-shaking revelations have come from the grilling of FBI Director
James Comey and NSA Director Michael Rogers by the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. The first was from
Mr. Comey, who confirmed that the FBI was investigating Russias efforts to interfere in the presidential election, including links
between specific individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Last month Mr. Trumps
nominee for National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned from his post after it emerged that he had withheld information
about being in contact with Russias Ambassador in Washington prior to Mr. Trumps inauguration. This month, Attorney General
Jeff Sessions recused himself from the probe into alleged Russian meddling when it came to light that he had met the
Ambassador prior to the election. Yet he continues to head the institution charged with the inquiry. Mr. Comey revealed that the
FBI investigation began in July 2016, when evidence emerged that the Democratic National Committee had been hacked by
Russia-related entities and emails handed over to WikiLeaks. Even as the U.S. intelligence community scrambles to put
together the pieces of the Trump-Moscow puzzle, it has, ironically, found itself in the crosshairs of exposure. Earlier this month
WikiLeaks released a trove of confidential CIA documents , a series labelled Vault 7, which showed the Agencys penetration
of the security systems of household electronic devices that could then be used for covert surveillance. While such timed leaks
are meant to target his political opponents, Mr. Trumps own tweets are at odds with revelations in the House hearing. In early
March, he accused former President Barack Obama of ordering wiretaps on Trump Tower yet Mr. Comey said neither the
FBI nor the Department of Justice had any information to support that allegation. Mr. Rogers dismissed the White House
suggestion that Mr. Obama had asked British intelligence to spy on Mr. Trump, a claim the U.K. has denied. The last straw
came when the U.S. Presidents account tweeted, as the hearing proceeded, The NSA and FBI tell Congress that Russia did
not influence electoral process, only to have this statement debunked by Mr. Comey at the hearing, live on TV. Mr. Trumps
tendency to resort to unsubstantiated, even misleading, claims to stall a probe into alleged collaboration with a foreign power is
not helping his credibility, which is already low in the eyes of so many Americans.

o Hearing - an official meeting that is held to collect the facts about an
event or problem


o Kicked off - started
o Mischaracterise - to misrepresent what someone says or thinks
o Grilling - an occasion when someone is asked a lot of questions for a
long time
o Interfere - to involve yourself in a situation when your involvement is
not wanted or is not helpful
o Nominee - someone who has been officially suggested for a job or a
prize
o Withheld - to deliberately not give something to someone
representing his or her own country there, and who is officially accepted
in this position by that country
o Inauguration - sthe act of putting someone into an official position with
a ceremony
o Recused - to withdraw oneself from acting as a judge or other official in
a court case because of possible conflicts of interest
o Meddling - to become involved in a situation that you have no right to
be involved in, in a way that is annoying
o Came to light - if facts come to light, they become known publicly
o Hack - to get into someone else's computer system without permission
in order to find out information or do something illegal
o Scramble - to put things such as words or letters in the wrong order so
that they do not make sense
would expect
o In the cross hairs - in a position to be criticized or attacked
o Trove - a large supply of something such as art or information
o Confidential - secret, often in a formal, business, or military situation
o Vault - a room, especially in a bank, with thick walls and a strong door,
used to store money or valuable things in safe conditions
o Penetration - to succeed in becoming part of an organization, etc. and
working within it
o Covert - hidden or secret
o Surveillance - the careful watching of a person or place to find out
something
illegal, or unkind


o Wiretap - to secretly listen to people by connecting a listening device to
their telephone
o The last straw - the latest problem in a series of problems, that makes
a situation impossible to accept
o Debunk - to show that something is less important, less good, or less
true than it has been made to appear
o Unsubstantiated - an unsubstantiated argument, claim etc is one for
which you have no evidence
o Stall - to stop
o Collaboration - the situation of two or more people working together to
create or achieve the same thing
trust them
MAR 24/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Power of a symbol: EC had to freeze

AIADMKs Two Leaves"
In the face of competing claims from the two factions of the AIADMK, the Election Commission did the right thing in denying
both the use of the party name and the election symbol. While a majority of its members of Parliament and the Tamil Nadu
Assembly have stayed with the group headed by V.K. Sasikala, friend of former Chief Minister and former party general secretary
Jayalalithaa, the EC deferred a final decision on this issue, and passed an interim order freezing the Two Leaves symbol for
the purpose of the by-election in the R.K. Nagar constituency in Chennai. In a way, this is a significant victory for the faction led
by E. Madhusudhanan and O. Panneerselvam, who have been maintaining that the Sasikala faction does not enjoy the support
of party leaders and workers at different levels of the organisation. The decision, in effect, formalises the split in the party after
the death of Jayalalithaa, and provides a level playing field to both factions in the by-election. The order wrote itself: to favour
one faction over the other without examining in detail the veracity of the rival claims of support within the organisation across
the State would have been unfair. This way, both factions are equally disadvantaged. Strangely, the two parties have been
allowed similar names: the Sasikala faction opted for AIADMK (Amma), and the other faction AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma).
Ideally, to avoid confusion among voters, the names of the respective leaders should have been given to the factions. The by-
election is critical for the future of both factions; in the event they both lose, the one that gets more votes is likely to be legitimised
in the public eye as the true AIADMK. Both factions know that they will have to best the other before they can be ready to take
on the bigger enemy, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The Sasikala faction raised the stakes by fielding T.T.V. Dinakaran, a
nephew of Ms. Sasikala who was nominated the partys deputy general secretary. This high-risk strategy can make or break
the Sasikala familys hold on the party. A victory for Mr. Dinakaran would give him greater moral and political legitimacy within
the party, and, maybe, prepare the ground for a shot at the chief ministership. It is no secret that Ms. Sasikala nominated him
to lead the party in her absence so that her family could control both the party and the government led by Edappadi K.
Palaniswami. A victory for Mr. Dinakaran would be a setback not only to the Panneerselvam faction, but also to the authority of
Mr. Palaniswami in the government. The opposition DMK, which made an unseemly bid to thwart the confidence vote moved
by Mr. Palaniswami last month, is well-placed in this election despite having little to lose or gain from it. The focus will be on the
AIADMK factions locked in a fight for survival.
o Freeze - an act of holding something

o Rival - a person or thing competing with another for the same objective
or for superiority in the same field of activity
o In the face of - in a situation where you have to deal with something
unpleasant or difficult
o Denying - to not allow someone to have or do something

o Majority - the larger number or part of something
something permanent exists:
election
o Maintaining - to express strongly your belief that something is true
o Formalise - to make something official or decide to arrange it according
to a fixed structure
o Veracity - the quality of being true, honest, or accurate
o Unfair - not treating people in an equal way, or not morally right
o Ideally - in the best possible way
o Respective - relating or belonging to each of the separate people or
things you have just mentioned
o Critical - of the greatest importance to the way things might happen
o Legitimise - to make something legal or acceptable
o Raised the stakes - to make a situation more urgent or more difficult
to ignore
o Fielding - to use a person or group of people as your team,
representatives
o Nephew - a son of your sister or brother, or a son of the sister or brother
of your husband or wife
o Nominated - to officially suggest someone for an election, job, position,
or honour
o Deputy - a person who is given the power to do something instead of
another person, or the person whose rank is immediately below that of
the leader of an organization
situations
o Prepare the ground - if you prepare the ground for an activity or a
situation, you do something that will help it to happen
from developing
o Unseemly - unseemly behaviour is embarrassing or upsets people
because it is not suitable in a particular situation
something
exist
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Arc to West Asia: China's signal for

deepening ties with the region"
Boy hosting the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Israel, the two heavyweights in West Asia that do not have formal diplomatic
relations, in consecutive weeks, Beijing has sent yet another signal on its growing appetite to deepen ties with the region. During


the visit of King Salman last week, China and Saudi Arabia announced an investment cooperation deal worth $65 billion that
will boost partnerships in fields such as energy, finance and aerospace. Days later, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Beijing, where both leaders vowed to strengthen cooperation in the technology and
agriculture sectors. Over the years China has built strong economic ties with countries in West Asia, while staying clear of the
regions several crises and hostilities. It is one of the top buyers of oil from Saudi Arabia and a key trading partner of Israel. For
Iran, Beijing remained a trusted ally even during the time of sanctions. China was one of the few countries that continued to buy
oil from Iran when most others, including India, either halted trade or implemented massive cuts in imports under American
pressure. Chinas economic ties with West Asia assumed greater significance after Mr. Xi unveiled the One Belt, One Road
initiative. West Asia plays a major role in this Silk Road revival plan, which the Chinese believe will fortify their global standing.
Of late, China has shown a greater interest in expanding its engagement with the region beyond the economic sphere. Its
relationship with Iran has already acquired strategic dimensions. It is one of the supporters of the Bashar al-Assad regime in
civil war-stricken Syria. In the UN Security Council, China, along with Russia, has consistently vetoed U.S.-backed resolutions
on Syria, while at the same time offering to broker peace between rival factions. China has also recognised Palestine as a state
and offered support for the Palestinians. During his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Xi said peaceful coexistence between
Israel and Palestine would be good for both parties and the region. The Chinese have also urged Saudi Arabia and Israel to
work together to attain peace. All this indicates that China is ready to end its strategic reluctance in dealing with West Asia and
to adopt a gradualist proactive policy that suits its profile as a fast-rising global power. But there are risks as well. Unlike the
U.S. and Russia, China has traditionally played a risk-free global role, staying focussed on economic development. It lacks
experience in navigating the political, religious, sectarian and tribal tensions in West Asia, both among states and within
countries. The three major pillars of Chinas West Asia policy Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel are rival powers. The challenge
before Beijing, if it wants to enter the troubled political waters of West Asia, is to maintain a perfect balancing act.

other people notice
o Consecutive - consecutive events, numbers, etc. follow one after
another without an interruption
o Boost - to improve or increase something
o Aerospace - producing or operating aircraft or spacecraft
o Crises - plural of crisis (urgent, difficult, or dangerous situation)
o Hostility - an occasion when someone is unfriendly or shows that they
do not like something
o Halt - to (cause to) stop moving or doing something or happening
o Unveil - if you unveil something new, you show it or make it known for
the first time
o Fortify - to make something stronger, especially in order to protect it
o Sphere - a subject or area of knowledge, work, etc
country
o Broker - to arrange something such as a deal, agreement, etc. between
two or more groups or countries
o Coexistence - the fact of living or existing together at the same time or
in the same place
o Urged - to strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular
thing
o Reluctance - not willing to do something and therefore slow to do it


o Proactive - taking action by causing change and not only reacting to
change when it happens
o Balancing act - a situation in which a person tries to give care and
attention to two or more activities at the same time
MAR 25/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Cloak of invisibility"

Well before financial year 2017-18 begins, the Lok Sabha has signed off on the Budget with the passage of the Finance Bill of
2017. It includes multiple amendments proposed by the government that did not figure in Arun Jaitleys speech of February 1,
either in letter or in spirit. For instance, while the speech devoted 420 words to proposed measures to improve transparency in
electoral funding, amendments have been made to the Companies Act of 2013 that actually turn the clock back on existing
disclosure standards. Till now, companies could only contribute up to 7.5% of their average net profits in the past three financial
years to political parties. They were required to disclose in their profit and loss accounts the amount of contributions and the
names of political parties to which they were made. The ceiling has now been dropped, paving the way for a firm to deploy
unlimited capital into political coffers irrespective of its own financial and operational health. Companies would still have to reveal
the extent of their financing of parties, but no longer have to name their preferred parties. For the sake of argument, one could
say the 7.5% limit was arbitrary and restricted willing and able corporate donors ability to influence political activity. But doing
away with the limit makes firms susceptible to funding requests from local, regional or national political formations while taking
away excuses such as it being a loss-making unit, or breaching the funding cap. This would open up new opportunities in
crony capitalism. Pressure could be exerted on a company awaiting government clearances, or a loan restructuring from public
or cooperative sector financiers. Even a publicly listed company can set up subsidiaries just to fund parties. This removes any
pretence of transparency in the process as the donor will not have to disclose who he paid; the recipient has no such obligation
either. It is not surprising that India Inc. has remained stoically silent so far. This abandonment of the 7.5% requisite comes in
tandem with the proposal to float electoral bonds to give anonymity to political donors. The scheme for such bearer bonds is
still being worked out with the central bank, but how this will meet the objective of transparency isnt clear yet. The push for
cashless modes for political contributions sounds worthy, but reducing the 20,000 limit on cash donations to 2,000 does
nothing to guarantee that monetary muscle power will dissipate from electoral processes. Instead of, say, a lakh of such donors,
a party can now share 10 lakh random names to justify cash holdings. Transparency is not synonymous with anonymous
transactions, unlimited corporate donations, relaxed disclosure norms and the persistence of cash. The Budgets promise of
reform to bring about greater transparency and accountability in political funding, while preventing future generation of black
money, truly rings hollow.
o Cloak - something that covers or hides something else

o Regulation - an official rule or the act of controlling something
from developing
o Signed off - to officially approve of something or to officially agree that
something has been completed in a satisfactory way by signing your
name
o Passage - the official approval of something, especially a new law
o Include - to contain something as a part of something else, or to make
something part of something else
o Devote - to use a particular amount of time or space for dealing with
something
o Propose - to offer or suggest a possible plan or action for other people
to consider
o Measure - a way of achieving something, or a method for dealing with a
situation


o Turn the clock back - if you try to turn the clock back, you want things
to be the way they were in the past
o Disclosure - the act of making something known or the fact that is made
known
o Contribute - to give something, especially money, in order to provide or
achieve something together with other people
o Ceiling - an upper limit, usually relating to money
o Deploy - to use something or someone, especially in an effective way
o Extent - to a particular degree or stage
o For the sake of someone / something - in order to help or bring
advantage to someone / something
particular reason
o Doing away with something - to get rid of something or stop using
something
o Breaching - an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement, or
relationship
o Cap - a limit on the amount of money that can be charged or spent in
connection with a particular activity
o Crony - a friend or supporter, especially of someone powerful
o Capitalism - an economic system in which property, businesses, and
industry are owned by individual people and not by the government
o Restructuring - to organize a company, business, or system in a new
way to make it operate more effectively
o Publicly listed company - a company whose shares are traded on the
stock market
o Subsidiary - used to refer to something less important than something
else with which it is connected
o Pretence - a way of behaving that does not honestly express your real
feelings, thoughts, or intentions
was hidden
o Abandonment - to leave something quickly or suddenly
o Anonymity - the situation in which someone's name is not given or
known
o Dissipate - to (cause to) gradually disappear or waste
o Synonymous - if you say that one thing is synonymous with another,
you mean that the two things are so closely connected in most people's
minds that one suggests the other
o Norm - an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that
most people agree with


exist
o Rings hollow - if something someone says rings hollow, it does not
sound true or sincere
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Terror in London: the challenges posed by

'lone wolves'"
The attack in Londons Westminster that left five persons dead, including the assailant, was the type of terror strike that British
security officials have been expecting. For almost three years, the threat level from international terrorism in Britain has been
severe, meaning an attack is deemed highly likely. This incident was different from a conventional terror strike, but bore
similarity to attacks on European cities in recent years claimed by the Islamic State. As the Berlin and Nice assailants did last
year, the London attacker, Khalid Masood, turned a vehicle into a lethal weapon by mowing down pedestrians on Westminster
Bridge and later killed a police officer with a kitchen knife at the Parliament compound. Britain has one of the best counter-terror
police and intelligence agencies in Europe. Since the 2005 London bombings, the country has remained largely safe. In the last
four years, British officials have reportedly thwarted at least 13 terror plots. The country has one of the strictest gun control laws,
and its borders, unlike countries in the European Union, are not open. Still the Westminster attack shows how a lone wolf
without any conventional weapons could bring terror even to the most guarded zones. This is the security challenge the British
establishment, as other governments, face today. If terror plots are planned by networks that use modern communication
systems and amass weapons, the chances of detecting them are higher. But after the rise of the IS, its followers, mostly
radicalised youth, have used different tactics. They stay off the intelligence radar, wait, and use even commonly used public
goods as weapons to kill. It is still not clear if Masood had communicated with an international terrorist organisation. The IS,
that claimed responsibility for the incident, described him as a soldier of the Caliphate who responded to the call to attack
Western nations, but stopped short of saying it directed the attack. If such attackers do not have any contact with terrorist
groups, it makes it difficult for intelligence communities to detect them. To its advantage, the IS has created a narrative where
every believer has the responsibility to take up weapons against the crusaders and their allies. Given that the group also has
a dynamic online propaganda system, the challenges of radicalisation it poses remain. Britains immediate response has been
commendable. Both political and community leaders, barring the far-right fringe, sent out a message of unity. But the bigger
challenge is to prevent more such non-conventional attacks, for which security officials need to have better human intelligence
and community relations. Equally important is to deny the far right the opportunity to use such actions by a handful of individuals
and target the majority of British Muslims, exactly what the terrorists want.
oPose - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty

oLone wolves - peole who like to do things on their own without other
people
o Assailant - a person who attacks another person
o Severe - a severe problem is very serious and worrying
o Conventional - of the usual, traditional type, instead of being new and
different
o Strike - attack
o Assailant - a person who attacks another person
o Lethal - very dangerous and able to kill you
o Mowing down - to kill people, usually in large numbers, by shooting
them or driving a vehicle into them
o Pedestrian - a person who is walking, especially in an area where
vehicles go
o Compound - an area surrounded by fences or walls that contains a group
of buildings
o Counter - to react to something with an opposing opinion or action, or
to defend yourself against something
something

o Amass - to get a large amount of something
o Radicalise - to make someone become more radical (= extreme) in their
political or religious beliefs
o Radar - a system that uses radio waves to find the position of objects
that cannot be seen
o Crusaders - someone who makes a determined effort to achieve or stop
something because of their strong beliefs
o Barring - unless the thing mentioned happens or exists
o Fringe - the outer or less important part of an area, group, or activity
o Handful - a very small number of people or things
MAR 27/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A timely step: State-owned banks should

address their NPAs"
The Finance Ministrys unequivocal missive to 10 state-owned lenders to submit time-bound turnaround plans, or forsake any
further capital infusion from the government, is a small yet timely step in the right direction. As the Reserve Bank of India had
flagged in its last Financial Stability Report, risks to the banking sector remain worryingly high. The continuous deterioration
in asset quality, especially at the public sector banks (PSBs), has led to low profitability and substantial value erosion to the
principal shareholder the government. As the RBIs report pointed out, PSBs saw the proportion of their gross non-performing
assets to total advances almost double in the 12 months through September 2016 to 11.8%. That the Ministry has identified 10
of these PSBs to administer a dose of tough love suggests they are the ones most in need of urgent corrective action. In fact,
RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya told bankers in a speech last month that the problem of bad loans has come to such a pass
that, we simply dont as a society have any excuse or moral liberty to let the banking sector wounds fester and result in
amputation of healthier parts of the economy. This is because commercial lenders have a central role in the economy, by
serving to harness public savings and directing the flow of crucial credit to the most productive industrial and infrastructure
sectors. And when PSBs, with their revolving-door top managements, have little incentive or accountability to redress the
burgeoning imbalance in their balance sheets, it is time the largest shareholder delivers an ultimatum: shape up or be prepared
to face the consequences. That the Centre has chosen to include the employees unions in the proposed MoUs it intends to
enter into with the lenders is also indicative of the seriousness with which it is approaching the resolution this time around. Staff,
who have been a key element in the growth and development of the sector, have a vested interest in the health of PSBs; the
risk of continued failure is closure and job losses. To be sure, the Centre has to work simultaneously in close concert with the
banking regulator and the lenders themselves to structure appropriate mechanisms to enable the implementation of the
turnaround plans, including resolution of the stressed assets. Also, as Mr. Acharya pointed out, the PSB managements would
need to be empowered so that haircuts [writedowns on the value of debt] taken by banks under a feasible plan would be
required by government ruling as being acceptable by the vigilance authorities. The stipulation of a three-year time limit for the
implementation of the turnaround is also significant as Indian lenders have to meet Basel III capital regulations by March 31,
2019. There is therefore little time to lose, and the government and the banks have their work cut out if India is to avoid the
spectre of weak banks having little incentive to lend, and economic activity affected for want of credit.
oTimely - happening at the most suitable time

oAddress - to give attention to or deal with a matter or problem
oTurnaround - an important change in a situation that causes it to
improve
o Strive - to try very hard to do something or to make something happen,
especially for a long time or against difficulties
o Unequivocal - clear, definite, and without doubt

o Missive - an official, formal, or long letter
o Forsake - to stop doing or having something
better
o Deterioration - to become worse
o Profitability - the degree to which something is profitable, or the state
of being profitable
o Principal - main, or most important
o Fester - to become infected
o Amputation - to cut off a part of the body
effectively
o Revolving-door - a place or situation in which the people stay for a short
time only, with the result that people are often arriving and leaving
o Redress - something that you do for someone or money that you give
to them as a way of improving a bad situation that you are responsible
for
o Burgeoning - developing quickly
o Ultimatum - a statement that orders someone to do something and
threatens to punish or attack them if they do not
o MoU - Memorandum Of Understanding (a document that records the
details of an agreement between two companies or organizations, which
has not yet been legally approved)
o Vested - a special reason for wanting things to happen in a particular
way, because you will benefit from this
o Simultaneously - happening or being done at exactly the same time
o Regulator - an official who makes certain that the companies who
operate a system, work effectively and fairly
o Turnaround - an important change in a situation that causes it to
improve
o Empower - having the official authority or freedom to do something
o Haircut - a reduction in an amount of money, such as the price of a
share or bond
o Writedown - a reduction in the value of an asset in a company's
accounts, when it is calculated to be worth less than previously shown
o Feasible - possible or likely to succeed


o Vigilance - always being careful to notice things, especially possible
danger
o Spectre - the possibility of something unpleasant that might happen in
the future
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Defusing air rage: Airlines should take a

tough line against unruly VIP behaviour"
Its time airlines took a tough line against unruly VIP behaviour Air rage or sudden and violent behaviour by a passenger
affecting those who work on flights or associated people is a menace that has led to civil aviation authorities issuing strict
guidelines on deterrence and punishment for those responsible for such acts. In India, while the laws on unruly and disruptive
behaviour in an airliner are clear, they are difficult to enforce when the perpetrators take the cover of their positions of power.
The outrageous conduct of Ravindra Gaikwad, the Member of Parliament from Osmanabad who belongs to the Shiv Sena, with
Air India staff after seeking a business class seat in an all-economy flight from Pune to Delhi, required more than just a legal
response by the airline. The Air India cabin crew had its task cut out but handled the incident well as can be gleaned from raw
video images of what transpired on March 23. The consequent steps taken by the national carrier and members of the Federation
of Indian Airlines to put him on a no-fly list is a welcome one. While the Aircraft Rules of 1937 have outlined a course of actions
to be taken after such disruptive behaviour, the application of a no-fly list is a new development and is in line with similar
practices adopted in many countries. This practice should deter such outrageous actions by anyone, irrespective of whether the
malefactor is in a position of power or not. Such behaviour is, unfortunately, not uncommon among legislators. In 2015, a Jet
Airways woman cabin crew member complained about alleged misbehaviour by Bihar MLA Pappu Yadav during a Patna-Delhi
flight. In November 2015, a case was registered against YSR Congress Party MP P. Mithun Reddy and others for allegedly
assaulting an Air India station manager at Tirupati airport. These incidents are symptomatic of a culture of entitlement that
pervades many in power today and, sadly, gives credence to the flawed notion that political representatives are a law unto
themselves. Mr. Gaikwads actions were compounded by the fact that he brazenly justified his behaviour of hitting an airline
employee with his slippers after the latter said that he would complain to the Prime Minister. While the Shiv Sena has said it
does not condone his actions, its leader and MP, Sanjay Raut, has in bizarre fashion put the onus on Air India, asking it to think
over what would happen if the public decides to blacklist the airline. The Shiv Sena has a history of high-handedness and use
of political muscle. Party president Uddhav Thackeray had sought to move away from the rough-arm tactics of the past and to
align his party to a new form of provincial politics. Mr. Gaikwads behaviour suggests that the party is no closer to that goal.
oDefusing - to make a difficult or dangerous situation calmer by reducing

or removing its cause
o Rage - a very strong feeling of anger
o Unruly - unruly people are difficult to control and often do not obey rules
o Associated - connected
o Deterrence - the idea that people will decide not to do something if they
believe that something unpleasant could happen to them as a result
continuing as usual:
o Perpetrator- someone who has committed a crime or a violent or
harmful act
o Conduct - to behave in a particular way
o Crew - a group of people who work together, especially all those who
work on and operate a ship, aircraft, etc
o Glean - to collect information in small amounts and often with difficulty
o Transpired - to happen
continuing as usual

o Malefactor - a person who does bad or illegal things
to make laws
o Symptomatic - if something bad is symptomatic of something else, it is
caused by the other thing and is proof that it exists
o Entitlement - something that you have a right to do or have, or the right
to do or have something
o Pervade - to spread through the whole of something and become a very
obvious feature of it
o Credence - the belief that something is true
o Brazenly - behaving in a way that is not moral or socially acceptable,
and not caring if other people are shocked or offended
o Condone - to accept or allow behaviour that is wrong
o Bizarre - very strange and unusual
o Blacklist - to say that particular products should not be bought,
especially as part of a political protest
o Provincial - having opinions and ideas that are old-fashioned and simple
MAR 28/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Powered by a pause: delay in Indo-U.S.

nuclear deal"
Ever since it was announced in 2005, the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement has faced one obstacle after another. So this
weeks news that its operationalisation may be further delayed owing to Westinghouses financial difficulties and Japans
procedural issues in ratifying the deal with India should come as no surprise. This sets back work toward finalising the
contractual arrangements by June 2017 for six reactors to be built in Andhra Pradesh by Toshiba-owned Westinghouse and
the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL). But India has little control over both circumstances, and rather than seeing
them as a setback, the government and officials should use this as an opportunity to re-examine the countrys engagement with
nuclear energy for future needs. Westinghouses near-bankruptcy is part of a larger pattern of worldwide cost overruns and
delivery delays across the nuclear energy industry. Nuclear manufacturer Areva (in partnership with Mitsubishi) has a similarly
precarious position despite hopes of a bailout by the French government. Even Russian supplier Rosatoms Kudankulam units
1 and 2, in the only foreign collaboration now operational in India, were built in double the time budgeted, while units 3 and 4
could see delays. The cost of importing reactors, relative to those based on indigenous design, is another concern. Land
acquisition issues remain, along with the need for large water reservoirs for the reactors, which will only grow if the government
goes ahead with its plans for 55 reactors of 63,000 MW in total by 2032. In addition, given concerns about a possible tsunami
scenario along the Andhra coast, where many of these reactors are planned, the Department of Atomic Energy and NPCIL are
looking for options farther inland. The promise of nuclear power has thus far outweighed all of these concerns, and India has
reason to be proud of its technology and determination to look for non-fossil alternatives in its energy planning. However, with
rapid progress in technology in other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, the collapse of oil prices and
the expansion in gas projects as a viable and clean alternative, that promise has dimmed. These could also be more cost-
effective for a developing country such as India, as the energy can be made available in smaller units, and then built up, unlike
nuclear plants where nothing can be transmitted until the whole plant is complete and attains critical status. Above all, the risk
surrounding nuclear safety is yet to be fully mapped, post-Fukushima. A Japanese court ruling holding both the state regulator
and the operator responsible for the 2011 triple meltdown has sent sobering signals to the industry. This is the best time for
Indias energy planners and government to use the breathing space provided by the delays in the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal
and take a long, hard look at the cost-benefit analysis on the nuclear power balance sheet.
Obstacle - a difficulty or problem that prevents you from achieving

o
something

o Procedural - relating to a procedure, especially a legal one
o Ratifying - to make an agreement official by signing it or formally
accepting it
o Sets back - to delay the progress of someone or something
o Bankruptcy - a situation in which a person or business has officially
admitted that they have no money and cannot pay what they owe
o Overrun - to take more time, space, or money than was intended
o Precarious - in a dangerous state because of not being safe or not being
held in place firmly
o Bailout - the act of helping a person or organization that is in difficulty,
usually by giving or giving or lending money
o Collaboration - to work with someone else for a special purpose
o Indigenous - naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving
from another place
o Acquisition - to buy / get something
o Tsunami - a very large wave or series of waves caused when something
such as an earthquake moves a large quantity of water in the sea
o Outweighed - to be greater or more important than something else
o Fossil - old fashioned ideas
o Renewable energy - renewable energy and natural materials replace
themselves by natural processes, so that they are never completely used
up
o Collapse - to suddenly fall down
o Dimmed - not likely to succeed
o Cost-effective - giving the most profit or advantage in exchange for the
amount of money that is spent
o Meltdown - an extremely dangerous situation in a nuclear power station
in which the nuclear fuel becomes very hot and melts through its
container and escapes into the environment
o Breathing space - a period of rest in order to increase strength or give
you more time to think about what to do next
o Balance sheet - a statement that shows the value of a company's assets
(= things of positive value) and its debts
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Trust the EVMs: allegations by politicians

have no real basis"
The legitimacy of the election process is a key component of any democracy. When Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati and
Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the manipulation of electronic voting machines

helped the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh and the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine in Punjab, they were casting
doubts about the legitimacy of the results. While the BSP, through its leaders statements and submissions to the Election
Commission, was vague in its complaints, the AAP leader was more specific, suggesting that 20-25% of his partys votes were
transferred to the Akali Dal due to the EVMs. Complaints about the security of EVMs have been raised over a decade in courts,
and the EC has repeatedly demonstrated how the security of the machines cannot be compromised. Indian EVMs, unlike online
voting machines that were discontinued in some western countries, are standalone, independent electronic units. They record
and lock votes only after being trigger-enabled by presiding officers through a control unit. The EC has sought to assure sceptics
that the security of the machine is enabled through both technological and procedural means. The wiring-in of software in a one-
time programmable chip disallows external manipulation, time stamping of every key pressed allows for monitoring, production
testing is done for quality control, and so on. Checks of EVMs along with representatives of political parties, randomised
allocation and sealing make the machines tamper-proof before and after votes are cast. The EC has also sought to increase
the use of a voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) that helps in corroborating the results from the machine, and expects its
full implementation by the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The data tallied from VVPAT-enabled EVMs in U.P. in around 20
constituencies in the recent Assembly election corroborated the election results. Prima facie, there is nothing to suggest that
EVMs have been subject to manipulation. In fact, the use of EVMs has enhanced electoral democracy in tangible ways. Before
electronic voting became universal in State and parliamentary elections in 2004, paper ballot-based polling had seen a high
incidence of inadvertent invalid voting. A statistical study published in The Hindu last year showed that in about 14% of the
35,937 Assembly seats where elections were held between 1961 and 2003, invalid votes were greater than the margin between
the winner and the runner-up. In more than 300 constituencies, invalid votes were as high as the votes polled for an effective
candidate. The use of EVMs has cancelled out the effect of invalid votes, making the process robust besides keeping it simple
and effective. EVMs are here to stay and there is no need to be distracted by politicians who criticise them to explain away their
defeat.

o Manipulation - the process of skilfully handling, controlling, or using
something, often unfairly or dishonestly
o Charge - to make a formal statement saying that someone is accused of
a crime
to choose the people who will govern them
o Casting doubts - to make people feel less sure about or have less trust
in something or someone
o Vague - not clearly or fully explained
o Compromise - to risk having a harmful effect on something
o Stand- alone - a stand-alone computer or machine can operate on its
own without needing help from another similar thing
o Preside - to be in charge of an official meeting, ceremony, or other event
o Sceptic - someone who has doubts about things that other people think
are true or right
o Manipulation - controlling someone or something to your own
advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly
o Monitoring - to regularly test / check something
o Tamper-proof - impossible to change
o Audit - to make an official examination of the accounts of a business and
produce a report
o Corroborating - to support what someone says by giving information or
evidence that agrees with them
o Tallied - to match or agree with something else


o Subject to - to have or experience a particular thing, especially
o Enhance - to improve the quality, amount, or strength of something
o Tangible - real and not imaginary; able to be shown, touched, or
experienced
o Ballot - a system or occasion of secret voting
o Inadvertent - not intentional
o Statistical - relating to a group of numbers that represent facts or that
describe a situation
MAR 29/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Unique distinction: SC's clarification on

Aadhaar gives space for reforms"
he Supreme Courts oral observations on Monday regarding the use of Aadhaar numbers by the government are significant,
for they alter the narrative and potential scope of the ambitious unique identification programme. While reiterating its position
that no beneficiary of a welfare scheme shall be denied benefits due to her for want of an Aadhaar number, a Bench led by
Chief Justice J.S. Khehar said the government is free to press for Aadhaar for non-welfare transactions or activities. These
include filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts or getting a mobile phone connection. This assumes significance as
the government announced two such changes over the past week itself. First, it included amendments to the Finance Bill of
2017, now approved by the Lok Sabha, making Aadhaar mandatory for all applications for PAN (Permanent Account Number)
cards and filing of income tax returns. Earlier, following the surge in bank deposits after the demonetisation of high-value
currency notes, the Income Tax Department had already asked banks to ensure that all savings bank accounts are seeded with
PAN details by the end of February. The only exemptions to this norm are the no-frills savings accounts such as those opened
under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Effectively, this means that all other new savings bank accounts will require an
Aadhaar number. And last week the Department of Telecommunications directed all telecom service providers to re-verify the
credentials of their nearly 100 crore subscribers through an Aadhaar-based, electronically authenticated Know Your Customer
process within a year. While the Supreme Courts observations do not amount to a judicial order, they dispel some of the
ambiguity relating to the scope, even future, of Aadhaar. In its interim order in October 2015 the court made it clear that the
Aadhaar scheme cannot be made mandatory till the matter is finally decided one way or the other. But it has set the stage for
the 12-digit Unique Identification (UID) numbers being used as the basic identity proof for all residents. As Finance Minister
Arun Jaitley has pointed out, biometrics captured under the Aadhaar enrolment process will ensure no individual can hold more
than one PAN card to evade tax dues. Those concerned about privacy may be right about the need for an effective law to ensure
that private data arent misused. But tagging this concern solely to the UID programme is short-sighted. In an age where data
are stored in electronic form, it is possible to collate vast amounts of information from various databases ranging from
applications for passports, driving licences, ration cards, and more. The apex court is yet to decide on whether Aadhaar violates
the right to privacy. Meanwhile, savings from weeding out ghost beneficiaries have begun to pay off the investment on building
the now 111-crore strong Aadhaar database. But the Centre must not stretch the leeway granted by the court.

o Oral - spoken and not written
o Observation - a written or spoken comment about something that you
have seen, heard, or felt
o Scope - the opportunity or freedom that is needed to do or develop
something


very clear to people
o Welfare - help given, especially by the state or an organization, to
people who need it, especially because they do not have enough money
demanded by law
particular currency
o No-frills - including only the most basic features
o Credentials - documents that prove who you are or that show your
qualifications or status
o Authenticate - to prove that something is real, true, or what people say
it is
o Dispel - to remove fears, doubts, and false ideas, usually by proving
them wrong or unnecessary
o Ambiguity - something that is not clear because it has more than one
possible meaning
o Biometrics - the use of detailed information about someone's body, for
example the patterns of colour in their eyes, in order to prove who they
are
o Evade - to avoid or escape from someone or something
o Privacy - the freedom to do things without other people watching you or
knowing what you are doing
o Short-sighted - not thinking enough about how an action will affect the
future
o Collate -to bring together different pieces of written information so that
the similarities and differences can be seen
o Database - a large amount of information stored in a computer system
in such a way that it can be easily looked at or changed
o Apex - the top or highest part of something
o Violate - to do something that is in opposition to a law, agreement,
principle etc
is happening
o Weeding somebody out - to get rid of unwanted things or people from
a group
o Ghost - fake
o Beneficiaries - people who receives money, advantages, etc. as a result
of something else
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Passing the Tests: another win for team
India against Australia"


Dharamshalas Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, a picturesque sporting venue, witnessed a remarkable slice of
history as India defeated Australia by eight wickets to win the fourth and final Test and secure the series 2-1. It is our best
series win, said skipper Virat Kohli, who had missed the game owing to a shoulder injury. But as has been the tale through the
last seven months when his team-mates coped well with constant changes in the playing eleven, the captains absence was
never felt. Ajinkya Rahane stepped up with quiet aggression, led astutely, his rapid unbeaten 38 ensuring that there were no
needless alarms as India chased a meagre 106 in its second innings. It was a fine finish to a long home season of 13 Tests in
which New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia were all defeated. India won 10 Tests, drew two and lost just the one,
the 333-run loss to Australia in the first Test at Pune. Last September, the campaign commenced on a rousing note as India,
incidentally in its 500th Test, defeated New Zealand by 197 runs at Kanpur. Kohli and team then travelled across the country
before finding their acme in the rarefied heights of the Himalayas as an ever-competitive Australia, second-best in Tests
according to International Cricket Council rankings, fought hard before ebbing away. The series against Australia, always a
tough scrutiny of skill and temperament, never left the Indians bogged down. The Pune loss was seen, in hindsight at least, as
a reality-check before parity was restored at Bengaluru. Australia drew at Ranchi, and for the climax Dharamshala offered the
best pitch of the series. True to the nature of jousts between India and Australia, sledging and the mud-slinging through sections
of the media added a bitter side-show. But the cricket was riveting. By his own exalted standards, Kohli failed 46 runs from
five innings against Australia, while his counterpart Steve Smith flourished with 499 and three tons. Yet, India prevailed, and
that is a tribute to the squads resilience and the ability to find diverse heroes at different times. Be it Jayant Yadav, Karun Nair
or Kuldeep Yadav, the hosts have found key players on crucial occasions since September. The fulcrum may have initially
rested upon Kohli (1252 runs this season) and R. Ashwin (82 wickets), but there were others who came good too. The
Saurashtra duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja was consistent. The former amassed 1316 runs, the latter bagged
wickets and scored crucial runs. K.L. Rahul sparkled atop the batting pole and Umesh Yadav showed that speedsters can
prosper even on pitches with an inherent bias towards spin. The No. 1 Test side has proved its mettle, albeit at home. There
will be tougher battles overseas, but before that the players will split and dive into the glitzy Indian Premier League.
o Victory - an occasion when you win a game, competition, election, war,

etc
o Picturesque - a picturesque place or scene is attractive and interesting
o Sporting - relating to sport, or used in sport
o Witnessed - to see something happen
o Remarkable - unusual in a way that surprises or impresses you
o Skipper - someone who is in charge of a team (captain)
o Owing to - because of something
o Coped - to deal successfully with a difficult situation or job
o Stepped up - to take action when there is a need or opportunity for it
o Aggression - forceful playing in sport that is intended to win points
o Astutely - able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take
advantage of it
o Campaign - a series of actions by a team trying to win a sport
o Commenced - to begin
o Rousing - making people feel excited and proud or ready to take action
o Incidentally - in a way that is not planned
o Acme - the highest possible standard of something
o Rarefied - (of air) with little oxygen
o Ebbing away - to becomes less strong or disappear
o Temperament - the part of your character that affects your moods and
the way you behave
o Bogged down - to be/become so involved in something difficult or
complicated that you cannot do anything else
o Hindsight - the opportunity to judge or understand past events using
knowledge that you have gained since then
o Reality-check - an occasion that causes you to consider the facts about
o Parity - a situation in which different people or things are equal
o Joust - to argue or compete


o Sledging - in cricket, remarks or behaviour that is intended to make an
opponent feel less confident
o Mudslinging - the practice of saying things publicly that are intended to
harm someones reputation
o Riveting - extremely interesting or exciting
o Exalted - an exalted position is an important position in an organization
or in society
organization
o Flourish - to be very successful
o Prevail - to defeat someone in a game, competition, argument etc
o Fulcrum - the person or thing that everything else depends on
o Duo - two people
o Consistent - not changing in behaviour, attitudes, or qualities
o Former - the first of two people
o Amassed - to get a large amount of something
o Sparkled - if a person or performance sparkles, they are energetic,
interesting, and exciting
o Atop - at the top of something
o Prosper - to be successful
o Inherent - an inherent quality is a basic or essential feature that gives
something its character
o Bias - a special interest or ability in a particular thing
o Mettle - the determination and ability to deal with problems and difficult
situations
o Albeit - used for introducing a comment that slightly changes or reduces
the effect of what you said before it
o Overseas - in, from, or to other countries
o Glitzy - bright, exciting, and attractive but with no real value
MAR 30/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The modern way: mental health law can be
used to strengthen primary care"
The passage of the Mental Healthcare Bill in the Lok Sabha, putting it on course to become law and repealing the Mental Health
Act of 1987, will potentially help India catch up with the advances made in the field by other countries. India urgently needs to
make a transition from old-fashioned approaches to providing care for those suffering from mental illnesses, something that
China, for example, has achieved through state-led policy reform. Even the sketchy studies on the nature of care available to
Indians indicate that in terms of population coverage the new law faces a big challenge. The countrys grossly inadequate base
of professional resources is evident from its ratio of 0.3 psychiatrists for 100,000 people (with marginally higher numbers taking
independent private practitioners into account), compared to Chinas 1.7. Then there are massive deficiencies in the availability
of trained clinical psychologists and psychiatric social workers. Evidently, the National Mental Health Programme has not been
sufficiently funded within the health budget; neither has capability been built in most States to absorb the meagre allocation.
Delayed though it is, the new legislation can bring about change with its positive features. The important provisions relate to the
recognition of the right to medical treatment, decriminalisation of attempted suicide, explicit acceptance of agency of people with
mental illness and their freedom to choose treatments, prohibition of discrimination and regulation of establishments working in
the field Raising effective primary and district-level coverage of mental health services for the general population, without
requiring people to travel long distances to see a specialist and get medicines, should be a priority. Since the base of
psychiatrists is low in relation to the need, the use of trained general practitioners as the first line of contact assumes importance.
Some studies show many of them are not confident enough with their training to detect, diagnose and manage mental illnesses.
With a concerted effort, primary care physicians can be trained to help people with mild and severe problems, ranging from
anxiety disorders to depression, psychoses and conditions arising from alcohol and substance abuse. Being able to get


professional counselling will reduce the complications arising from extreme stress, often the trigger for suicide. Extending health
insurance cover is also a step forward, since out-of-pocket expenditure has risen along with the expansion of the private sector
in this sphere, just as for other ailments. The provision in the new legislation prohibiting seclusion of patients, something that is
frequently resorted to in asylums, and the general use of electro-convulsive therapy must be welcomed. Modern treatment
approaches rely more on family and community support. The new Central and State regulatory authorities should speedily weed
out shady non-governmental rehabilitation organisations in this field.
o Passage - the process by which a bill is discussed in a parliament and

becomes law
o Repealing - to state officially that a law no longer has legal authority
and has ended
o Catch up with - to begin to have an effect on someone / something
o Advance - progress
to another
o Sketchy - not detailed or complete
o Grossly - very, or extremely
o Inadequate - not enough, or not good enough for a particular purpose
o Psychiatrist - a doctor who treats people with mental illnesses
o Practitioner - someone who works in a particular profession, especially
medicine or law
o Massive - very large in amount or degree
o Deficiency - a fault in someone or something that makes them not good
enough
o Decriminalisation - to change the law so that something that was illegal
becomes legal
o Explicit - said or explained in an extremely clear and direct way
o Diagnose - to find out what physical or mental problem someone has by
examining them
in a determined way
o Mild - a mild illness or injury is one that is not serious
o Severe - a severe problem is very serious and worrying
might happen
o Disorder - an illness or medical condition
o Psychoses - a serious mental illness that affects your ability to know
what is real and changes your personality and behaviour
o Substance abuse - the practice of drinking too much alcohol or of taking
illegal drugs
problems, especially as your job
o Step forward - to offer help to someone who needs it


o Sphere - a particular area about which you are talking about
o Ailment - an illness, usually not a serious one
o Seclusion - a situation in which someone stays apart or is kept apart
from other people
o Resorted to - to do something extreme or unpleasant in order to solve
a problem
o Asylum - a mental hospital
o Electro-convulsive therapy - a medical treatment for serious mental
illness in which electricity is passed through your brain
o Weed out - to get rid of unwanted things or people from a group
o Shady - secret and probably dishonest or illegal
o Rehabilitation - to help someone to give up drugs or alcohol, so that
they can return to a healthy, independent, and useful life
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Back to square one: Egypts restive politics"

For most of those who hit Cairos Tahrir Square in 2011 demanding democracy and a freer society, President Hosni Mubarak
was a symbol of repression. After his ouster, the dictator was tried for corruption and causing the death of hundreds of protesters.
Still, his release last week, after six years of detention at Cairos military hospital, was received by Egyptians as just a routine
development. There were no major protests against his release, nor were there any rallies in support an indication of what
Egypts state and society have become six years after the Arab Spring. The release was long expected. Most of his associates
and family members, who also faced serious charges, were already released. His sons, Alaa and Gamal, accused of
embezzlement of public funds, were released in October 2015. Corruption charges against Mr. Mubarak were overturned in
January 2015. Earlier this month, he was acquitted by Egypts highest appeals court of conspiring to kill protesters, paving the
way for his release It may appear ironic that Mr. Mubarak, who ruled the country with an iron fist for almost 30 years and was
toppled by public protests in which hundreds were killed, is now a free man, while Mohamed Morsi, Egypts first democratically
elected President, is in prison. But this irony also symbolises Egypts complex contemporary politics. Though the government
of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi claims the legacy of the 2011 revolution, it took a lenient view of Mubarak-era crimes while cracking down
on Mr. Morsis Muslim Brotherhood. It is difficult to gauge the political mood in Egypt. Despite large-scale concentration of power
in the hands of the military, the Sisi regime doesnt face any existential threats. For ordinary Egyptians, who went through the
instability and chaos of the post-Mubarak months and the threats of Islamisation and economic miseries during the Muslim
Brotherhood rule, General Sisi at least provided stability and order. The belief is that compared to other countries that were hit
by popular protests in 2011 such as Libya, Yemen and Syria, Egypt is doing better, thanks to the armys intervention. Tunisia is
the only country that internally transformed itself into a democracy after protests. Gen. Sisi projects himself as a guarantor of
order and enjoys support among the minorities and secular sections. But the question is if the status quo is sustainable. Order
was restored at a brutal cost. Hundreds were killed when security personnel forcibly removed Islamist protesters from Cairo.
There is no substantive political opposition. Personal freedoms are being curbed again, while media groups and journalists are
targeted. In effect, what hundreds of protesters at Tahrir Square risked their lives for was never achieved. Gen. Sisi has taken
the country back to square one.

o Ouster - the removal of someone from an official position
o Protester - someone who publicly shows their opposition to something
such as a law or policy
o Detention - the state of being kept in a police station or prison and not
being allowed to leave
o Associate - someone who is closely connected to another person as a
companion, friend, or business partner
a crime
o Embezzlement - to secretly take money that is in your care or that
belongs to an organization or business you work for
o Overturned - to say officially that something such as a decision or law
is wrong and change it

o Acquitted - to state officially that someone is not guilty of the crime they
were accused of
o Conspiring - to secretly plan with someone to do something bad or
illegal
o Ironic - being very different from what you would usually expect
o Rule with iron fist - to control a group of people very firmly, having
complete power over everything they do
o Toppled - to make someone in authority lose their power
o Contemporary - modern, or relating to the present time
o Lenient - if a person or system is lenient, they punish someone less
severely than they could
o Cracking down - to start dealing with someone or something much
more strictly
o Gauge - to make a judgment about something
unfair way
o Existential - relating to existence
o Threat - warning / a situation or an activity that could cause harm or
danger
o Misery - the state of being extremely unhappy or uncomfortable
o Guarantor - someone who makes an official agreement to be
responsible for money that someone else owes, or for someone elses
behaviour
o Status quo - the present situation, or the way that things usually are
o Back to square one - to be forced to think of a new course of action
because your first course of action failed
MAR 31/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "A clean-up act: no compromise over air

quality"
The Supreme Courts direction to transport authorities to stop registering vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage-IV emission
standards from April 1 sends out the welcome message that short-term economic considerations cannot supersede public health
concerns. Some automobile companies, notably those manufacturing two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, have suffered a
blow as they must now deal with unsold inventories of the obsolete models. The 2017 deadline for a nationwide shift to BS-IV
had been repeatedly emphasised in various forums, and reiterated by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and
Natural Gas in its review of the Auto Fuel Policy nearly two years ago. But there was some confusion about whether April 1 was
the deadline for the manufacture of BS-III models or their sale. Significantly, some automobile manufacturers themselves called
for a decisive shift in favour of the higher emission standard, since they had invested in upgraded technologies over time. But it
would appear that two-wheeler and commercial vehicle manufacturers made a costly miscalculation when they hoped for a
repeat of the experience they had seven years ago, when the shift from BS-II to BS-III norms was carried out with a relaxation
of deadlines often stretching across months. The Centre must share some of the blame, because it assured industry of a
business-as-usual approach on a sensitive issue such as automotive emissions, even though producers were already equipped

and meeting the higher norms in the bigger cities. The courts order means that a little over eight lakh BS-III vehicles will have
to be either upgraded or sold abroad. As a total sum, this is a small fraction of the 19 crore vehicles on Indian roads today. It is
unlikely that the courts uncompromising approach will have a significant impact on reducing air pollution. But the message it
sends out on air pollution is unmistakable. Research reported three years ago estimated that 30% to 50% of total on-road
emissions came from vehicles older than 10 years, or about 17% of the fleet. The requirement for manufacturers to adjust to
the new reality should serve as a reminder that they, and the fuel companies, must prepare for the next big deadline: an upgrade
to the BS-VI standard by April 1, 2020, leapfrogging BS-V. More immediately, the Centre has to ensure that the objective of the
Supreme Courts order is met, and the one fuel, one country goal for BS-IV is fulfilled. This is crucial to ensure that the catalytic
converters of newer vehicles are not affected by lower-grade fuels. Liquidating obsolete inventory does pose a challenge for
manufacturers, but this can be met through exports, technology upgrades or reuse of dismantled parts. The imperative is to shift
to a clean fuel pathway.

o Supersede - to replace something
o Notably - used for introducing a good example of something (especially)
o Inventory - a list giving details of all the things in a place
o Obsolete - no longer used because of being replaced by something
newer and more effective
o Emphasise - to give particular importance or attention to something
clear to people
o Whether - used when someone does not know which of two possibilities
is true
o Significantly - in a way that is relevant or that has an important effect
on something
o Decisive - making the final result of a situation completely certain
o Miscalculation - to judge a situation badly
o Equipped - having the necessary tools, clothes, equipment, etc
o Fleet - a group of vehicles, planes, boats, or trains etc
o Leapfrogging - pass over (a stage or obstacle)
o Catalytic - causing a chemical reaction to happen more quickly
o Liquidating - to close a business and sell everything that it owns, usually
in order to pay money that is owed
o Dismantle - to separate the parts of something such as a machine so
that they no longer form a single unit
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Next steps on GST"
The Lok Sabha has duly given its assent to necessary Central legislation to operationalise the Goods and Services Tax, nearly
17 years after the government began discussions on the prospects for a unified indirect tax regime across the country. It is
eyeing a July 1 rollout for the GST, which will replace the multiple Central and State-level taxes and levies that make doing
business in India a compliance nightmare today. The long and winding road for this reform, punctuated by political about-turns,
has had a fairly straight trajectory in recent months, following the constitutional amendments last August. The GST Council has
managed to thrash out a consensus on several issues relating to the administration and the legislative provisions for the new
tax system within six months. The fact that apparently intractable positions held by the States as well as the Centre on the
sharing of administrative powers, for instance, have been reconciled without the Council resorting to a majority vote inspires
confidence. So does the alacrity with which the Centre has moved to secure Parliaments nod for four enabling pieces of
legislation within a fortnight of the Councils approval. State Assemblies should do the same to pass the State GST law by
holding special sessions if need be For Indian businesses that have been seeking the reform, it is now time to come to terms
with the fine print and embrace the tax system. The GST Council, meeting again on Friday to clear four pending sets of
regulations, must sign off on which of the five GST rates will apply to different products and services. Clarity on the applicable
rates will help industry alter their accounting systems, supply chains and pricing strategies. But some provisions in the GST


laws have the industry in a tizzy. While the highest GST rate has been pegged at 28%, the integrated GST law has set a ceiling
of 40%. Though an enabling provision, it gives the government too much leeway to alter the rate structure in coming years
without seeking Parliaments nod. Compare this to the cess ceiling of 15% on luxury cars, for instance, which are likely to see
a 12% cess to start with. On several other fronts, the final laws havent changed much from their draft versions, despite industry
red-flagging several provisions. These include the anti-profiteering clauses to curb unjust enrichment of firms, the requirement
for branch offices to register separately in each State, and treating all transactions between related parties (including head office
and branch offices) as taxable. For the services sector, in particular, compliance requirements could go up multi-fold. It is still
not too late for the GST Council to offer some exemptions or resist operationalising some of these provisions through the
subordinate rules and regulations in order to address genuine industry grievances.

o Assent - official agreement to or approval of an idea, plan, or request
something good
o Unified - treated as one group
o Eyeing - aiming / planning
o Nightmare - an extremely difficult or frightening situation
o Winding road - a winding road, river etc has a lot of bends in it
o Punctuated by something - to be frequently interrupted by something
o About-turn - a big change in your opinion or attitude to something, so
that it is almost the opposite of what it was before
of time
o Thrash out - to discuss something until you find a solution or reach an
agreement
certain is true
o Reconcile - to find a way to make ideas, beliefs, needs etc that are
opposed to each other capable of existing together
o Alacrity - speed and eagerness
o Nod - approval
o Come to terms with - to make an agreement, or to end an argument
with someone
o Embrace - to completely accept something such as a new belief, idea,
or way of life
long period of time
o In a tizzy - feeling very nervous or confused
o Pegged - to keep prices, salaries, or the amount of something at a
particular level, often in relation to something else


o Leeway - the amount of freedom that someone has to make their own
decisions or to take action
o Profiteering - to make large profits by charging high prices for things
that people need and cannot get anywhere else
o Unjust - an unjust decision, judgment, or action is not fair or reasonable,
or is not done according to accepted legal or moral standards
o Subordinate - less important than something else
o Grievance - a complaint about being treated in an unfair way
APR 01/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "The mobs bias: attack on Nigerian in Noida

reflects our racial prejudices"
he attack on a small group of Africans in Greater Noida, a suburb of the national capital located in Uttar Pradesh, has once
again thrown a spotlight on a disturbing trend in the country: mob violence, and specifically the targeting of persons of African
origin in many of these instances. What is particularly disturbing and shameful is that the attack took place in a busy shopping
mall without a single bystander, shopkeeper or security guard intervening. This has, understandably, touched an anxious chord
about their personal safety among the thousands of African nationals who live, work and study in and around Delhi. While the
police have made some initial arrests and opened cases against several hundred unnamed persons on charges of rioting in the
wake of video footage of the attack going viral, such incidents of racial violence need a stronger response from the administration
and civil society. That the attack was ostensibly triggered by accusations that some African students were linked to drug-dealing
and were somehow responsible for the death of a local student is no justification for taking the law into ones hands, leave alone
indulge in such violence. That the law enforcement machinery and the courts are the only places for seeking redress for any
breaches of law cannot be overemphasised. That a mere rumour can trigger such violence is truly alarming. It is difficult to see
this incident in isolation from other instances of discrimination against African nationals who have taken up residence in cities
around the country. Last year, the murder of a Congolese student in Delhi compelled African Heads of Mission to threaten a
boycott of Africa Day. The message was not lost on anyone that the envoys had been moved to consider such an extreme step
just months after New Delhi hosted the Third India-Africa Forum Summit, in October 2015, where they had announced their
resolve to enhance Africa-India relations... based on the principles of mutuality, complementarity and true sense of solidarity
as well as the promotion of people to people interactions. In the end, Africa Day went as planned, but the point had been made,
that even as India makes abundant effort to deepen ties with the 54 countries of the African Union, this cannot be achieved
without understanding and acting upon the aspirations of nationals of these countries. In modern diplomacy, the quality of
people-to-people contact is a factor in determining the overall strength of a bilateral relationship. But even as Indian diplomats
move to assure African students in Greater Noida about their safety, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj discussing
the matter with U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this issue is not about foreign affairs. It is a reminder of the latent racism in
India, of the terrible prejudices too many of us harbour, and of the need for a political and social effort to overcome it.
o Mob - a large, angry crowd, especially one that could easily become
violent
o Bias - an attitude that you have that makes you treat someone in a way
that is unfair or different from the way you treat other people
o Racial - happening between people of different races
o Chilling - frightening
o Suburb - an area on the edge of a large town or city where people who
work in the town or city often live
o Thrown a spotlight - to direct public attention to a situation

o Bystander - a person who is standing near and watching something that
is happening but is not taking part in it
o Intervening - to become involved in a situation in order to try to stop
or change it
o Understandably - if you say that someone is understandably feeling a
particular emotion, you mean that most people would feel the same way
in that situation
o Rioting - to protest violently about something
o Ostensibly - appearing or claiming to be one thing when it is really
something else
o Accusation - a statement saying that someone has done something
morally wrong, illegal, or unkind, or the fact of accusing someone
o Enforcement - to make people obey a law, or to make a particular
situation happen or be accepted
o Redress - to put right a wrong or give payment for a wrong that has
been done
o Overemphasise - to give something too much importance or attention
o Alarming - causing worry or fear
o Isolation - to separate something from other things with which it is
connected or mixed
other people, because of their skin colour, sex, sexuality, etc
o Compelled - having to do something, because you are forced to or feel
it is necessary
o Boycott - to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way
of expressing strong disapproval
o Envoy - someone who is sent as a representative from one government
or organization to another
o Extreme - very severe or bad
o Enhance - to improve the quality, amount, or strength of something
o Mutuality - the sharing of a feeling, action, or relationship between two
or more parties
o Complementarity - the state of working usefully together
o Abundant - more than enough
o Determining - to control or influence something directly, or to decide
what will happen
o Diplomat - an official whose job is to represent one country in another,
and who usually works in an embassy


o Latent - present but needing particular conditions to become active,
obvious, or completely developed
o Overcome - to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Connected by air: Udan to tap on Indias civil

aviation opportunities"
Six months from now, 43 cities will be mainstreamed on Indias flight connectivity grid, an outcome of the Udan scheme
launched to spur regional flights covering distances up to 800 km. These include a dozen airports where limited but irregular
flights operate, and as many as 31 destinations that are not connected at all despite the existence of airport facilities. The scale
of Indias untapped civil aviation opportunities can be gauged by the fact that these constitute less than 10% of Indias inactive
airports/airstrips 394 out of 450 are dormant currently. The Udan scheme is a critical component of the national civil aviation
policy unveiled last June. It offers viability gap funding to operators to fly smaller aircraft to such airports with a commitment to
price tickets for at least half of the seats at 2,500 for an hour-long flight. In the first round of bids, 11 new or existing airline
operators pitched for more than 200 routes. The Centre has approved 27 proposals from five players, adding 128 routes to
Indias aviation map. The estimate is that this will add 6.5 lakh new seats with a subsidy of 200 crore. The most heartening
aspect is that these include six proposals for 11 routes that dont seek any subsidy under the scheme, proving there is an
untapped economic potential. The benefits for tourist hotspots such as Agra, Shimla, Diu, Pathankot, Mysuru and Jaisalmer
that would now be just a short flight away, replacing cumbersome road or rail journeys are obvious. But the significant
multiplier effects of aviation activity, including new investments and employment creation for the local economies of other
destinations could be equally profound. Provided this model is sustainable and more regional flights come up under the scheme,
the availability of slots at larger airports that would emerge as hubs could become an issue particularly at capacity-constrained
airports such as Mumbai. The second airport at Navi Mumbai may help ease congestion, but that is still years away. In cities
where new airports have been developed, such as Bengaluru, abandoned old facilities could be revived as dedicated terminals
for low-cost and regional flights. Separately, new no-frills airports must be encouraged where traffic is expected to hit saturation
point in coming years. Recently, four new foreign investors and a few domestic players have expressed interest in managing
operations at state-run airports such as Jaipur and Ahmedabad. This marks a revival in investor interest after a long lull. It is
time to revisit provisions that offer existing private operators of large airports (burdened by debt) the right of first refusal on any
new airport proposed within 150 km. Most interested bidders for the Navi Mumbai airport stayed away over this clause. Last but
not the least, this development must start a rethink within the Indian Railways, as it could now lose traffic on some routes.

o Tapping - to get or make use of something
o Mainstream - to make ideas, methods, or people become accepted by
most people
o Untapped - not being used yet, but existing in large amounts that could
bring profits or benefits
o Gauge - to make a judgment or guess about a situation, action, or
person based on the information that you have
o Dormant - something that is dormant is not active or growing but has
the ability to be active at a later time
o Pitched for - to try to persuade someone to do something
o Hotspot - a popular and exciting place
o Cumbersome - awkward because of being large, heavy, or not effective

o Multiplier effect - the way that a change in input leads to a much bigger
change in output
o Profound - very great
o Ease - to make or become less severe, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc
o Congestion - a situation in which a place is crowded with people or
vehicles, so that it is difficult to move around
o Abandoned - left without care and protection / no longer used
o Revive - to make someone become conscious or alive again
o No-frills - a no-frills product or a service is basic and has no extra or
unnecessary details
o Domestic - local
o Player - someone who is very involved in an activity or organization
o Lull - a quiet period during a very active or violent situation
o Bidder - someone who offers to pay a particular amount of money for
something
APR 03/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Coping with summer"
Torrid summers, when the mercury soars 4C to 6C above the average and produces heatwaves in several States between
April and June, may become more frequent in coming years. Not only will there be more hot days, the spells of heat stress
sweeping across much of India are likely to grow longer. The scientific consensus is that heatwaves will grow stronger and
expand their geographical spread in the south, influenced by the sea surface temperature in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
With rising greenhouse gases, their impact can only intensify. Though the number of people dying due to heat stress last year
was half of the previous years toll of 2,040, the need to evolve detailed action plans at the level of States, districts and cities is
now critical. It is encouraging that the National Disaster Management Authority is guiding States, in partnership with the India
Meteorological Department, to evolve heat action plan protocols. The response to distress caused by excessive heat has to be
both speedy and professional. Europe upgraded its preparedness to handle a crisis after a crippling heatwave in 2003 killed
thousands of people, over 14,800 of them in France alone. In the Indian context, crop failures and disruption of electricity supply
due to sudden peak demand are common. People experience dehydration, heat cramps and deadly heatstroke. The elderly are
particularly at risk, since higher temperatures affect blood viscosity and raise the risk of thrombosis. Better meteorological
forecasting can provide an early warning about a coming hot spell during the summer window. This gives the NDMA and the
States sufficient opportunity to launch an action protocol: to inform the public as soon as the temperature crosses the threshold
fixed by the IMD, advise on precautionary measures, and aid those who are most vulnerable, such as older adults, farm workers
and those pursuing outdoor vocations. Ahmedabad, for instance, drew up a city-level action plan in the wake of its 46.8C
heatwave of 2010 with support from public health institutions. Preparing the health system to identify symptoms of heat stress
and providing treatment through urban health centres is one intervention it decided upon. Reviewing school timetables,
rescheduling work timings to cooler hours, making water widely available and reserving religious sites and libraries as cooling
centres were others. European and American policy responses, such as creating green and blue urban spaces to provide tree
shade and higher moisture, as well as housing design that cuts heat through the albedo effect of reflected solar energy, hold
universal appeal. Some of these passive defences are actually integral to vernacular practices and will serve everyone well. It
is essential to study the efficacy of heat action plans and share the results across States to achieve best practices.
o Coping - to deal successfully with a difficult situation

o Heatwave - a period of time such as a few weeks when the weather is
much hotter than usual
o Torrid - extremely hot
o Soar - to rise very quickly to a high level
people
o Intensify - to become greater, more serious, or more extreme

o Toll - the total number of people who have been killed or hurt
serious difficulty
o Meteorological - related to the scientific study of weather
o Distress - a situation in which you are suffering or are in great danger
and therefore in urgent need of help
o Crippling - to cause serious damage to someone or something
to explain it
a problem
o Dehydration - a drop below normal levels of water in the body
o Heat cramp - sudden severe pain in heart
o Elderly - old people
o Viscosity - the thick and sticky quality of a liquid
o Thrombosis - a serious medical condition in which your blood gets
thicker and forms a clot that stops the blood flowing normally
o Forecasting - the job or activity of judging what is likely to happen in
the future, based on the information you have now
o Protocol - the system of rules
o Precautionary - done or used for protection against possible harm or
trouble
o Vocation - a job that you do
difficult situation
o Rescheduling - the changing of the time at which something will happen
o Moisture - a liquid such as water in the form of very small drops, either
in the air, in a substance, or on a surface
o Albedo - the fraction of solar energy (shortwave radiation) reflected
from the Earth back into space
o Integral - necessary and important
o Vernacular - in architecture, a local style in which ordinary houses are
built
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Wine and whimper"
When courts clarify earlier orders, the understanding is that they would have considered more facts, applied better reasoning,
and foreseen later eventualities. But when the Supreme Court last week confirmed its December order on banning sale of liquor
near National and State highways, it not only reiterated many of the impractical aspects of the original judgment, but went on to
assert that the proscription would cover not just retail outlets but hotels and bars too. What distinguishes, or logically sets apart,
the sale of liquor along highways from that along interior roads? Apparently, the order is intended to prevent drunk driving, which

is without doubt a contributor to road accidents and fatalities. But if tougher laws can make up for weak enforcement, then
judicial officers can just as well replace law-enforcers. The courts clarification goes against the opinion Attorney-General Mukul
Rohatgi gave the Kerala government that the December order applied only to retail outlets and not to establishments such as
bar-attached hotels, and beer and wine parlours. What was a harsh order is now draconian in its sweep. Retail outlets can
perhaps move another 500 m with minimal expense and no great loss of clientele. But established hotels and clubs enjoy no
such luxury. All of a sudden, what was a great advantage of location is a major disadvantage. The order does not exempt outlets
in cities and towns, where most of the consumers are local residents, nor does it distinguish between hotel guests and passing
drivers. If drunk driving along the highways is the provocation for the order, there can be no reason to cover clubs that serve
only their members. It is one thing to order the closure of shops dotting the highways, and quite another to target establishments
in cities and towns, which cannot move, and which will lose their clientele to others. State governments face a huge loss in
revenue. Smaller administrative units such as Union Territories will be the worst-hit. Such quirky orders have inevitably led to
quirky responses. The UT of Chandigarh, for instance, has declared all city roads as urban roads. Puducherry, which includes
enclaves such as Mahe, will find relocation of many shops impossible. They are caught between the highway and the sea. Goa,
a small State that depends heavily on tourism, is in a similarly difficult situation. The relaxation of the liquor-free zone from 500
m to 220 m from the highways in the case of areas with a population of 20,000 or less might only partly address their concerns.
More than a third of the liquor sale and consumption points will be hit. Prohibition as a policy has had a history of failure. While
binge-drinking is undoubtedly a health hazard with serious social costs, bans of the sort adopted by courts and State
governments such as Bihar are counterproductive. Good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes.
o Whimper - to say something in a voice that expresses pain, fear, or

sadness
o Fully thought out - carefully planned
o Foreseen - to know about something before it happens
o Eventuality - something unpleasant or unexpected that might happen
or exist in the future
o Reiterate - to say something again
o Impractical - not likely to be effective or successful
o Assert - to say that something is certainly true
o Proscription - to not allow something
o Retail - the activity of selling goods to the public, usually in shops
o Outlet - a shop or place where a particular product is sold
or to make one thing seem different from another
o Set apart - to make someone or something different and special
o Interior - the inside part of something
o Apparently - used when the real situation is different from what you
thought it was
o Fatality - a death caused by an accident or by violence
o Draconian - draconian laws, government actions, etc. are extremely
severe, or go further than what is right or necessary
o Perhaps - used to show that something is possible or that you are not
certain about something
o Clientele - all the customers of a business when they are considered as
a group
o Luxury - great comfort
o Exempt - to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc
angry
o Quirky - slightly strange


o Enclave - an area of a country or city where a particular group of people
live
o Partly - to some degree, but not completely
o Address - to deal with a matter or problem
o Binge-drinking - the activity of drinking too much alcohol on one
occasion
o Counterproductive - having an effect that is opposite to the one
intended or wanted
APR 04/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Welcome assurance: On the executive

sharing judiciary's burden"
The importance of cooperation between the executive and the judiciary in dealing with the unacceptably high number of pending
cases in the country cannot be overemphasised. For over a year, there were indications of an impasse over judicial
appointments between the two branches of the state, mainly after the Supreme Court struck down legislation to establish a
National Judicial Appointments Commission. That phase appears to be coming to an end. Prime Minister Narendra Modis
assurance to the Chief Justice of India, J.S. Khehar, that his government would contribute its share in reducing the judiciarys
burden is a positive gesture that will be welcomed by the legal fraternity. Speaking at a function to mark the 150th anniversary
of the Allahabad High Court, Mr. Modi gave the assurance after observing the pain behind the words of Justice Khehar over the
increasing backlog of cases. Justice Khehars dil ki baat (talk from the heart) on the problem underscored an institutional
anguish that has gripped the judiciary over time. Successive Chief Justices have brought to the governments notice the state
of affairs with regard to both the alarming docket situation and the chronic shortage of judicial hands in the superior and
subordinate judiciary. The previous Chief Justice of India, T.S. Thakur, had highlighted the point in public functions as well as
during judicial hearings, once even wondering if the government wanted to bring the judiciary to a grinding halt by its reluctance
to fill up vacancies. If the Prime Ministers latest remarks represent a fresh resolve not to let such an impression gain ground, it
will surely represent a new beginning in the executive-judiciary relationship. Mr. Modi did not spell out whether his assurance
to contribute to the process meant his government would expedite the process of appointing judges, but there is no doubt that
this will be the most significant contribution as well as the governments responsibility. Official figures show there are as many
as 437 vacancies in the High Courts alone as of March 1, 2017. It is incontestable that any effort to liquidate the arrears of cases
would involve a significant increase in the speed at which judicial appointments are processed. Mr. Modi also spoke of the use
of technology and digitalisation in the judicial system, a point that is of undoubted relevance when one considers the magnitude
of the task of reducing the backlog. There is much that the use of technology can do in both liquidating arrears and expediting
processes such as filing of documents and serving of notices. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the government and the Supreme
Court Collegium may be close to agreeing on a new Memorandum of Procedure for judicial appointments. If differences that
caused a prolonged stand-off are eliminated and a new procedure agreed upon, there cannot be better tidings for the institution.
o Backlog - a large number of things that you should have done before
and must do now
o Radically - completely or in a way that is very noticeable
o Overemphasised - to give something too much importance or attention
o Impasse - a situation in which progress is impossible
o Burden - a serious or difficult responsibility that you have to deal with
o Fraternity - a group of people who have the same job or interest
o Underscored - to emphasize something, or to show that it is important
o Anguish - extreme unhappiness caused by physical or mental suffering


o With regard to - in connection with
o Alarming - a warning of danger
o Docket - a list of the cases that are waiting to be considered in a court
of law
o Chronic - very bad
o Superior - higher in rank or social position than others
o Subordinate - having a lower or less important position
o A grinding halt - a situation in which something gradually stops
operating completely
o Fill up - to make something full, or to become full
o Spell out - to explain something in a very clear way with details
o Incontestable - impossible to question because of being obviously true
o Liquidate - to cause a business to close, so that its assets can be sold
to pay its debts
o Arrears - money that is owed and should already have been paid
o Collegium - an organization for people who have similar interests or who
do similar work
o Prolong - to make something last a longer time
seem possible
o Tidings - news
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Climbdown in Caracas: On Venezuela's top

court reversing a legislature order"
The decision by Venezuelas highest court on Saturday to reverse its earlier move of nullifying the elected legislature, the
Congress, brings some respite from the relentless attack on democratic institutions under President Nicols Maduro. And the
fact that last week the judges initiated the process to strip the legislature of all law-making powers, indicating contempt for the
will of the people in pursuit of Mr. Maduros interests, also puts in sharp focus the severe erosion of the judiciarys independence.
The attempted takeover marked the nadir in the months-long confrontation between the legislature and the courts, which are
packed with loyalists of Mr. Maduro. A notable voice of dissent that seems to have forced the Supreme Court to rescind the
decision came from the attorney general, who characterised the initial move as a rupture in the constitutional order. The
information minister may have described the subsequent reversal on Saturday as the courts way of correcting a mistake, but
the battle between the government and opposition is far from settled. The opposition had won a two-thirds majority in the national
assembly in the 2015 elections. Such a large majority was always going to prove contentious, as it empowers Congress to
amend the constitution and to appoint judges. Soon after its inauguration, the new legislature had challenged the economic
emergency that Mr. Maduro enforced in January 2016, giving him overall control on expenditure. Meanwhile, the severe
shortages of rations of essential commodities have led to a grave humanitarian crisis. The social and political unrest that
accompanied the plummeting value of the Bolivar, resulting from triple-digit inflation, was met with more repression and the
arbitrary detention of leading opposition figures. The most notorious such incident was the torture and killing of innocent youth
at the militarys hands in the rural province of Barlovento last October, which drew strong condemnation even from government
investigators. However, the opposition seems to have exhausted all manoeuvres to exploit political and constitutional avenues
to challenge the government. Its effort to mobilise popular support for a recall referendum against the President, with a petition
endorsed by millions, was rejected by the electoral commission in October. It is obvious that the crisis engulfing the country can
hardly be addressed by an autocrat who refuses to be held to account. But the fact that the court was forced to reverse the
decision to nullify the legislature is a signal of hope that there are some limits to the Maduro regimes flagrant excesses.
International pressure is another check on the regime. Recently, Venezuela was declared ineligible to exercise its vote in the
UN General Assembly for failing to pay dues to the tune of millions of dollars. This kind of embarrassment is something that Mr.
Maduro can do without at this juncture.
oClimbdown - an occasion when you change your opinion or admit that

you were wrong
o Legislature - the group of people in a country or part of a country who
have the power to make and change laws

o Nullifying - to make a legal agreement or decision have no legal force
o Respite - a pause or rest from something difficult or unpleasant
o Relentless - something bad that is relentless never seems to stop or
improve
o Strip - to remove, pull, or tear the covering or outer layer from
something
o Takeover - an act of taking control of a country or organization by an
army, group etc, especially by force
o Confrontation - a situation in which people or groups are arguing
angrily or are fighting
o Loyalist - someone who supports their government, especially during a
revolution
o Rescind - to state officially that something such as a law or an
agreement has ended and no longer has legal authority
o Rupture - an end to a friendly relationship or to a peaceful situation
you mention
o Empower - to give a person or organization the legal authority to do
something
o Enforced - happening because of a situation that you cannot control or
prevent
is happening
o Commodity - something that is useful or necessary
o Unrest - angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting against
something
o Plummeting - to fall very quickly and suddenly
particular reason
o Notorious - famous for something bad
o Province - one of many areas into which some countries are divided


someone or something severely
o Exhausted - extremely tired and without enough energy to do anything
else
o Exploit - to treat someone unfairly in order to get some benefit for
yourself
o Endorse - to express support for someone or something, especially in
public
o Engulfing - to cover or surround something in a way that harms or
destroys it
o Autocrat - someone who has complete power in a country or
organization
o Nullify - to make something lose its legal effect
o Flagrant - done in an obvious way that shows you do not care if you
break rules or offend people
o To the tune of - used for emphasizing how large an amount is
o Embarrassment - a feeling of being nervous or ashamed
APR 05/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "Sting in the tale: Kerala minister's exit spurs
privacy debate"
The matter is now under a judicial inquiry, but the resignation recently of a minister in the Kerala government turns the spotlight
once again on the tricky journalistic terrain of the sting operation. A new Malayalam television channel, Mangalam TV, had
debuted on March 26 with a splash. It broadcast an audio recording allegedly of the then Transport Minister of Kerala, A.K.
Saseendran, purportedly seeking sexual favours from a woman who had come to him for assistance. Her end of the conversation
was not put out, and the channel reported that it had got the tape directly from the woman. Mr. Saseendran put up a defence
imputing that all was not what it appeared on the broadcast but in the ensuing storm, resigned. Four days later, on March 30,
the CEO of the channel went on air to render an apology, presumably for misrepresenting matters, though we must await the
inquiry report to get a final picture of what transpired. The CEO, significantly, admitted that a woman journalist with the channel
had conducted the sting, suggesting this was in reality a kind of honey trap. As things stand, the CEO and eight other Mangalam
employees have been booked under sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code. Mr. Saseendran,
who had been the lone minister from the Nationalist Congress Party in the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, must
wait out the inquiry process before making a bid to regain his portfolio. The ethics of sting operations is among the most fiercely
debated issues in journalism. And while different jurisdictions and media groups around the world have varying guidelines on
the subject, some things are generally agreed upon. Any such operation that uses false pretences, with its necessary violation
of the interviewees trust and privacy, must serve a larger public interest that far outweighs such violation. It also must be used
as a last resort, when there is no other means of acquiring the information sought, and must be the outcome of considerable
editorial deliberation. Stings were never intended to entrap or induce people into committing wrongdoing or, as seems likely in
this case, embarrassing themselves badly. Stings are an ethical minefield and it is imperative that publications and broadcasters
explain the vital public interest for conducting them. Journalists count on the readers indeed the publics goodwill to evade
the establishments potentially vindictive response to an expos. A sting cannot be an excuse to grab eyeballs with prurient (and
essentially private) content, or a shortcut to make a point merely by shocking the reader or viewer. Doing so risks eroding that
goodwill and leaving journalists facing harsh charges, often deservedly so.
o Sting in the tail - an unexpected, typically unpleasant or problematic

end to something


o Privacy - someone's right to keep their personal matters and
relationships secret
that has happened
o Turn the spotlight - to attract attention to something
o Terrain - area
o Sting operation - a deceptive operation designed to catch a person
committing a crime
o Debuted - to perform or be performed in public for the first time
o Splash - to do or say something that becomes very popular or is noticed
by a lot of people
o Purportedly - in a way that is stated to be true, although this may not
be the case
o Imputing - to say that someone is responsible for something that has
happened, especially something bad
o Ensuing - happening after something and because of it
o Render - to express, show, or perform something in a particular way
o Presumably - used for saying that you think something is true based on
what you know, although you are not really certain
o Misrepresenting - to give a false or incorrect account or description of
what someone or something is like in order to trick someone
o Transpired - happened
o Significantly - in a way that is easy to see
o Honey trap - the use of an attractive person to try to get information
from someone
o Lone - alone / only
government
o Ethics - a set of principles that people use to decide what is right and
what is wrong
o Pretence - a way of behaving that does not honestly express your real
feelings, thoughts, or intentions
respect
o Outweigh - to be greater or more important than something else
o Last resort - used for saying that you will do something only after trying
everything else to solve a problem
o Deliberation - long and careful thought or discussion
o Entrap - to cause someone to do something that they would not usually
do, by unfair methods
o Induce - to persuade someone to do something
o Embarrassing - to cause someone to feel nervous, worried, or
uncomfortable
o Minefield - a situation or subject that is very complicated and full of
hidden problems and dangers


o Evade - to avoid or escape from someone or something
o Vindictive - having or showing a wish to harm someone because you
think that they harmed you; unwilling to forgive
o Expos - to make public something bad or dishonest
o Grab eyeballs - to attract attention
o Prurient - too interested in the details of another person's sexual
behaviour
o Essentially - used for emphasizing what is the most important aspect of
something or fact about something
o Goodwill - the good reputation and good relationships that a company
has with its customers
o Deservedly - used for saying that what happens is right
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "The IPL at ten"
A week after India clinched the Test series against Australia at Dharamsala, the memory of both the fine victory and the bad
blood that marred those matches can be pushed to the sidelines. Such is the nature of frenetic cricket calendars that the Indian
Premier League has already rolled in, its tenth edition commencing with the match between the defending champion, Sunrisers
Hyderabad, and last years runner-up, Royal Challengers Bangalore, on April 5. Spread over 47 days and featuring 60 matches,
the IPL has over the years blended the instant gratification of the Twenty20 format with a sense of longevity, having prospered
since its inception in 2008. On the field, suspense and sixes, upsets and consistency, flair and acrobatic fielding have all
combined to energise the league. The inaugural event witnessed a classic reprise of David vs Goliath. Unheralded Rajasthan
Royals stunned the fancied Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and ironically both teams are currently serving a two-year suspension,
a just punishment following ghastly violations that negated the spirit of the game. If S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet
Chavans alleged forays into spot-fixing dented the Royals in 2013, further damage was caused to the league when CSKs
Gurunath Meiyappan was deemed guilty of betting. Even Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra fell in the same category, and
tragically for the IPL, the thrills on the ground were marred by the problems that shadowed its fringes. Ironically, the IPL has
actually held a mirror up to and drawn more scrutiny into the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) than have
the games longer, more traditional formats. The cosy-club atmosphere that sullied the richest cricket board, the nepotism and
an indifference to probity, all came into full public view, with the Supreme Court sitting up and taking notice. The repercussions
of the 2013 spot-fixing and betting controversy are even now felt as it sowed the seeds for the wide-ranging reforms suggested
by the Justice R.M. Lodha Panel, and now the Committee of Administrators appointed by the court has its hands full. A summer
sporting carnival, a domestic tournament with an international flavour, as Rahul Dravid described it, had inexplicably gone
beyond its pulsating cricket and virtually prised out the BCCIs heart. The IPL not only changed the way cricket was played,
increasing the tempo and adding big bucks to the players kitty, it also inadvertently ushered in a course-correction for the BCCI.
Surely, the league has come a long way since it started with a leg-bye when Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly
squared up to Royal Challengers Bangalores Praveen Kumar in the first match in 2008 in Bangalore. It was the lull before the
storm unleashed by Brendon McCullums savage unbeaten 158 off just 73 balls. There have been many other storms since and
as for what will happen this time around, no one can hazard a guess.
o Ionic - an ironic event or situation is interesting and sometimes

humorous, because it is the opposite of what you would expect
o Vivid - strong and bright
o Bad blood - feelings of hate between people because of arguments in
the past
o Marred - to spoil something
o Commence - to begin something
o Defending champion - someone who compete in a sports competition
that they won before and try to win it again
o Blended - mixed
o Gratification - to make someone feel pleased and satisfied


o Longevity - remaining popular or useful for a long time
o Prospered - to be or become successful, especially financially
o Inception - the beginning of an organization or official activity
o Consistency - the ability to remain the same in behaviour, attitudes, or
qualities
o Flair - natural ability to do something well
o Acrobatic - involving or able to perform difficult and attractive body
movements
o Energise - to make someone feel full of energy or enthusiasm
o Reprise - a repeat of something or part of something
o Unheralded - not previously noticed or praised much
o Fancied - expected or thought likely to succeed
would expect
o Ghastly - unpleasant and shocking
respect
o Negated - to cause something to have no effect
o Foray - an attempt at doing something new or something that you do
not usually do
o League - a group of teams playing a sport who take part in competitions
between each other
o Betting - the activity of trying to win money by placing a bet (=guessing
the result of a race, game etc)
o Tragically - very sadly
o Thrill - a feeling of extreme excitement, usually caused by something
pleasant
o Cosy - comfirtable
o Sullied - to damage or spoil something
o Nepotism - the act of using your power or influence to get good jobs or
unfair advantages for members of your own family
o Indifference - lack of interest in someone or something
o Probity - complete honesty
o Sow the seeds for something - to do something that will cause
something to happen in the future
o Wide-ranging - dealing with a large variety of subjects
o Have your hands full - to be so busy that you do not have time to do
anything else
o Carnival - (a special occasion or period of) public enjoyment and
entertainment
o Domestic - local


o Pulsating - very interesting and exciting
o Tempo - the speed at which an event happens
o Big bucks - big money
o Inadvertently - not deliberately, and without realizing what you are
doing
o Ushered - to show someone where they should go, or to make someone
go where you want them to go
o Have come a long way - to have advanced to an improved or more
developed state
o Skipper - the captain of a ship or boat, a sports team, or an aircraft
o The lull before the storm - a time that seems quiet but will very soon
be followed by something unpleasant happening
o Unleashed - to do or to cause something that has a very powerful or
harmful effect
o Savage - very large and severe
o Unbeaten - in sports, having won every game
APR 06/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "In largesse we trust"
Chairing his first cabinet meeting after taking over the reins in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved a write-
off on outstanding farmer loans of up to 1 lakh taken before March 31, 2016. The State cabinet also decided to waive loans
worth 6,000 crore extended to small and marginal farmers that had turned into non-performing assets. Together, this package,
aimed at fulfilling the Bharatiya Janata Partys election promise, will cost the exchequer about 36,000 crore. There was no
mention of a bigger plan to ramp up the farm sector, in which U.P. invested just 2.3% of total expenditure in 2016-17 one of
the lowest rates across major States. A little earlier, the Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to extend a
similar farm loan waiver scheme for small farmers (with land holdings of up to 5 acres) and marginal farmers (who own up to
2.5 acres) to all farmers. Officials have even been forbidden from trying to recover loans where repayments have slipped. The
State, which had already doled out 5,780 crore on this front, would need nearly 2,000 crore more to comply with the courts
order. This is a worrying trend for a country that wants to double agricultural incomes by 2022. Not only could it trigger a
countrywide clamour for similar debt relief packages, political parties would also be more inclined to make such grand promises
ahead of future polls. This is a slippery slope with multiple unintended outcomes likely in the years to come. The Madras High
Court has clearly reached into the the domain of the executive. The risk is that this overreach could be cited in other courts to
seek omnibus loan waivers. Opposition parties in U.P. have already criticised the cap of 1 lakh on farm loans that will attract
relief. The timing of these drastic interventions is unusual as India had a good monsoon in the 2016-17 crop season, after two
years of drought, and a bumper output is expected for all major crops barring sugarcane. Forgiving loan burdens is a powerful
political gesture that glosses over the fact that governments have had little patience to make agriculture a sustainable economic
activity with efficient linkages to formal markets, be it for credit or for supply chains from farm gate to fork. FDI of up to 100%
was allowed in food retail trading but investments are stuck over the reluctance to allow a small proportion of non-food sales.
Writing off loans as a blanket policy, without scrutiny and restructuring attempts creates a moral hazard for borrowers, who will
have no incentive to stick to credit discipline. Frequent write-offs will prod banks to invest in alternatives such as the Rural
Infrastructure Development Fund instead of reaching out to individual farmers to meet their agricultural lending targets. In which
case, usurious local moneylenders could have a field day.
o Largesse - willingness to give money, or money given to poor people by

rich people
o Domino effect - a situation in which one event causes a whole series of
other events to happen one after the other
o Chairing - to be the person in charge of a meeting
o Taking over - to take control of something
o Write-off - to say officially that someone does not have to pay an
amount of money

o Outstanding - not yet paid
o Waive - to choose to officially ignore a rule, right, or claim
o Non-performing asset - a loan or advance for which the principal or
interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days
public money
o Ramp up - a large increase in activity or in the level of something
o Forbidden - not allowed, especially by law
o Doled out something - to give money, food, or something else that can
be divided to several people
o Clamour - to make a loud complaint or demand
o Inclined - tending to behave in a particular way or to be interested in a
particular thing
o Ahead of - used when saying what will happen in the future
o Slippery slope - a bad situation or habit that, after it has started, is
likely to get very much worse
o Unintended - not deliberate or planned
o Overreach - to try to do more than your ability, authority, or money will
allow
o Cap - a limit on the amount of money that can be charged or spent in
connection with a particular activity
o Drastic - a drastic action or change has a very big effect
o Intervention - the act of becoming involved intentionally in a difficult
situation
o Bumper - larger in amount than usual
o Barring - except
o Glosses over something - to ignore or avoid unpleasant facts
o Restructuring - to organize something such as a company in a different
way so that it will operate better
o Prod - to encourage someone to take action
effectively
o Usurious - the activity of lending someone money with the agreement
that they will pay back a very much larger amount of money later


o Have a field day - to take advantage of an opportunity to do something
you enjoy
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Never-ending tragedy"
The barbarism of Syrias civil war was on display once again when at least 72 people were killed in a chemical attack in Idlib
province. The heartbreaking images of dead and injured children and desperate parents from Idlibs Khan Sheikhoun have
understandably triggered global outrage and calls for international action. Syrians have suffered a lot over the past six years.
There have been multiple chemical attacks for which both the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the jihadists were held to blame.
More than 400,000 people are believed to have been killed and millions displaced since the crisis broke out. With violence
continuing unabated and the Assad regime not showing any real interest in settling the crisis, even hopes for peace and normal
life look surreal. The needle of suspicion for the Idlib attack points towards the regime whose murderous nature has been
exposed several times in the past six years. Idlib is a rebel-held province where the regime is currently carrying out air strikes.
Activists in the province and Western governments have claimed the regime used chemical agents in Khan Sheikhoun. If they
are right, Damascus has not only committed a war crime but also violated a major international agreement. After the 2013 sarin
attack in Ghouta in a Damascus suburb that killed hundreds which was also blamed on the regime the U.S. and Russia
had agreed to remove Syrias chemical weapons stockpiles. As part of the deal, 1,300 tonnes of chemical agents were shipped
out of Syria and destroyed. The question is, where did the latest chemical weapons come from? Syria had either hidden some
of the stockpiles or clandestinely developed such weapons after the deal was reached both serious violations. This is a
regime that neither respects the fundamental human rights of its people nor cares about the international agreements it has
entered into. Irrespective of its role in Tuesdays attack, the Syrian regime is primarily responsible for the countrys humanitarian
catastrophe. For years, it justified whatever it did in the war saying it was fighting terrorism. But how long can Mr. Assad sustain
this argument, leaving millions of people vulnerable to bombers, snipers, chemical agents and tanks? The real crisis of Syria is
that its regime is acting with a sense of impunity, thanks to the blank security cheque the Russians have issued to Mr. Assad.
The international community could not hold Mr. Assad to account for his actions at any point of the Syrian war, which worsened
with the involvement of other regional powers. The latest attack should be a wake-up call for all these countries. Syria has to be
treated as an immediate priority, and in a way that transcends the narrow geopolitical interests of regional and global powers.
There must be a coordinated effort to bring the war to an end, and to hold the perpetrators of war crimes accountable for their
barbarism. Only then can Syria be rebuilt.

or suffering
o Barbarism - extremely cruel and unpleasant behaviour
country
o Heartbreaking - feelings of great sadness or disappointment
o Regime - a particular government
somewhere else
o Broke out - if something dangerous or unpleasant breaks out, it
suddenly starts
o Unabated - without becoming weaker in strength or force
o Surreal - strange; not seeming real; like a dream
o Violate - to break or act against something, especially a law, agreement,
principle, or something that should be treated with respect


o Suburb - an area on the edge of a large town or city where people who
work in the town or city often live
o Stockpile - a large amount of food, goods, or weapons that are kept
ready for future use
o Clandestinely - planned or done in secret, especially describing
something that is not officially allowed
destruction
o Sniper - someone who shoots at people from a place where they cannot
be seen
o Worsened - to become worse or to make something become worse
o Transcend - to go further, rise above, or be more important or better
than something, especially a limit
o Perpetrator - someone who has committed a crime or a violent or
harmful act
for what they do
APR 07/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "RBI monetary policy: Growth, with caveats"

The central bank was not expected to tinker with key policy rates in its first monetary policy review of 2017-18 unveiled on
Thursday, following its decision to shift from an accommodative to a neutral monetary policy stance in February. The Monetary
Policy Committee chaired by Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel has, in fact, decided to raise the rate at which the
central bank borrows funds from banks (the reverse repo rate) by 25 basis points, from 5.75% to 6%, while leaving other policy
rates untouched. This marginal change is aimed at sucking out from the system excess liquidity that remains a lingering concern,
despite coming off its peak in the aftermath of the demonetisation exercise. The RBI has also proposed a new liquidity
management tool that awaits government approval, making the draining of surplus liquidity a critical priority all through this year.
The efficacy of the RBIs liquidity management toolkit will impinge on another key concern: inflation, which is expected to climb
to 5% by the second half of this fiscal. The RBI says achieving the stated target of 4% inflation even next year could be
challenging, with no lucky disinflationary forces expected, such as benign commodity and oil prices. It has also pointed to a
one-time upside risk to inflation with the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. The RBI is quite optimistic about an
uptick in the economy this year, projecting 7.4% growth in Gross Value-Added, compared to 6.7% in 2016-17. Along with
improved prospects for the world economy a rebound in discretionary consumer spending at home is likely, in line with the pace
of remonetisation and investment demand on account of lowered interest rates. While the government may take heart from the
higher growth projection, it must pay equal heed to Mr. Patels plainspeak on four key issues. First, the need to urgently resolve
the surge of bad loans on bank books, for which the RBI will unveil a new Prompt Corrective Action framework by the middle of
this month. Without this, a virtuous cycle of healthy credit growth necessary for investment and job creation will remain elusive.
Second, the RBI has reminded the government there will be clearly more demand for capital in the coming days. The
governments allocation of Rs.10,000 crore to recapitalise public sector banks is obviously inadequate. Third, while banks have
reduced lending rates, the RBI has pointed out there is room for more cuts if rates on small savings schemes are corrected.
Though a formula-based rate was adopted to set these rates last April, small savings schemes still deliver 61-95 basis points
higher returns than what they should if the formula is followed, as per the RBI. Most important, the government must not ignore
Mr Patels categorical call to eschew loan waivers of the kind just announced in Uttar Pradesh. This, he warned, would crowd
out private investments and dent the nations balance sheet.


o Pay heed to - to pay attention to something, especially advice or a
warning
o Plainspeak - the act of saying clearly and honestly what you think
without trying to be polite
o Tinker - to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt
to repair or improve it
o Unveil - to announce something officially that was previously a secret
o Accommodative - willing to adjust to differences in order to obtain
agreement
o Neutral - not supporting a particular side in an argument or
disagreement
o Marginal - very small in amount or effect
o Lingering - lasting for a long time, especially when this is unpleasant or
not necessary
o Aftermath - the effects and results of something bad or important
particular currency
o Surplus - the amount of money you have left when you sell more than
you buy, or spend less than you own
o Impinge on something - to have an effect on something, often by
limiting it in some way
o Disinflation - a situation in which a country's prices go down, or do not
go up as quickly as before
o Optimistic - someone who is optimistic is hopeful about the future and
tends to expect that good things will happen
o Uptick - an increase in something
future
o Take heart from something - to feel happier or less worried because
of something
o Virtuous - having good moral qualities and behaviour
o Eschew - to avoid something intentionally, or to give something up
o Crowd out - to not allow a person or thing any space or opportunity to
grow or develop
o Dent - a reduction in amount or size


Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Barbarism unlimited: On 'cow protection'
and Alwar attack"
The death of a man from injuries at the hands of cow protection vigilantes in Rajasthans Alwar district rightly animated
Parliament. The details of the violence inflicted by a mob on Saturday are chilling and vividly caught on mobile phone video,
and demand an assurance from the government that justice will be done. It is unfortunate that as the opposition raised the issue,
the response from the treasury benches was anything but satisfactory. In fact, coupled with comments from spokespersons of
the BJP and even the Rajasthan Home Minister, the message from the authorities indicates that an outrageous equivalence is
being sought to be made between the lynch mobs actions and the victims alleged simply alleged actions. The facts are
these. Pehlu Khan, the deceased, and four others were on their way back to Haryana after buying cattle in Jaipur. A mob set
itself upon them in Behror on the Jaipur-Delhi National Highway. The violence was explained as an attempt to prevent the
illegal transportation of cattle. Instead of condemning the violence and stating that nobody has the right to attack individuals
no matter what they may and may not have been doing, all that has emanated from ministers at the Centre and in Rajasthan is
evasive prevarication. State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said no one had the right to take the law into his own hands,
but added it was all right that those illegally moving cattle were nabbed. In the Rajya Sabha, Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
implied that no incident of such cow vigilantism had occurred. Over the last three years, governments in different States, most
of them ruled by the BJP, have tightened existing laws against cow slaughter. It is no accident that the period has been attended
by an aggressive vigilantism. From the killing of a man in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh in 2015 on suspicion that he had beef in his
possession, to the flogging of a group of Dalit men who were skinning a dead cow in Una in Gujarat last year, cow vigilantes, in
the guise of being gau rakshaks, have created an atmosphere of fear. It is disturbing that legislative initiatives and mob violence
have been moving in step. It is also true that while distancing organisations of the Sangh Parivar from the incidents, individuals
affiliated to these organisations, including the BJP, have played down the instances of violence by focussing on how the alleged
crimes had offended believers. And in this constant din of pledging support to the larger effort to protect the cow, there is little
official deliberation on the actual implementation of anti-cow slaughter laws, let alone a recognition of the incentives these laws
create for the illegal movement of animals across jurisdictions. By failing to condemn lynch mobs for murder and bring vigilantes
to book, the government only diminishes Indian democracy.

o Vigilante - a person who tries in an unofficial way to prevent crime, or
to catch and punish someone who has committed a crime
o Brought to book - to punish someone
o Mob - a large, angry crowd, especially one that could easily become
violent
o Chilling - frightening
o Vivid - very clear, powerful, and detailed
o Spokesperson - a person who is chosen to speak officially for a group
or organization
o Equivalence - a situation in which two things have the same size, value,
importance, or meaning
o Lynch - to kill someone, even though they have not been proved guilty
of any crime
of a crime
o Deceased - a person who has recently died
o Cattle - cows and bulls that are kept for their milk or meat
reasons
o Emanated - to express a quality or feeling through the way that you look
and behave

o Evasive - done to avoid something bad happening
o Prevarication - to avoid telling the truth or saying exactly what you
think
o Nab - to catch or arrest someone who has done something wrong or
illegal
o Slaughter - the killing of many people cruelly and unfairly, especially in
a war
person
o Vigilantism - law enforcement undertaken without legal authority by a
self-appointed group of people
o In possession - if something is in someones possession, they have it
o Flogging - a punishment in which someone is hit many times with a stick
or whip
o Skinning - to remove the skin from an animal, fruit, or vegetable
o In the guise of - looking like someone or something else, or pretending
to be them
o Affiliated to something - to be officially connected with a larger
organization or group
o Played down - to make something seem less important or less bad than
it really is
o Jurisdiction - the authority of a court or official organization to make
decisions and judgments
reasons
o Diminish - to make something become less
APR 08/2017
Hindu Editorial Topic 1 : "His Mugabe moment? On the backlash to

President Jacob Zuma's power grab"
South African President Jacob Zuma may not have anticipated the strength of the backlash when he decided last week to
dismiss his much-respected Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, and various other colleagues in a ministerial shuffle. On Friday,
thousands of South Africans demonstrated peacefully across cities against Mr. Zumas action, which appears to have triggered
concerns about government corruption and a tottering economy. Even ailing Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu made an appearance
in support of the protesters, most of whom called for President Zuma to resign. Adding to the woes of the weakening South
African economy, the rand fell immediately by more than 2%. Yet the prospect of Mr. Zuma stepping down appears unlikely.
His cabinet clear-out is widely considered to be an attempt to control the selection of his successor in the African National
Congress, which swept to power in 1994 under Nelson Mandela. Far from those glory days, the ANC today is split over the
question of support for Mr. Zuma. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa described the move as totally, totally unacceptable, and
ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe said the ministerial shake-up made him jittery and uncomfortable. Although Mr.
Zumas government has been tainted by corruption scandals, he has granted himself more room for manoeuvre by moving
Malusi Gigaba from the Home Affairs Ministry to Finance, despite the latters limited financial experience. More troubling than
the immediate question of Mr. Zumas control over the presidency and the ANC, however, is the fact that he presides over what
seems to be a secular decline in the quality of governance and institutional integrity in South Africa. Last year the party suffered
key losses in municipal elections, and Mr. Zuma was forced, by a Constitutional Court ruling, to reimburse public monies in a
dispute over millions of dollars he allegedly spent on his private home. Since its early post-apartheid years, South Africa enjoyed
the benefits of a strong constitutional ethos and a vibrant civil society. Yet it may be nearing what some analysts consider its
Mugabe moment, a reference to neighbouring Zimbabwe, where a predatory state lines the pockets of the elites. The fact that
Mr. Zuma portrayed the sacking of Mr. Gordhan as promoting transformation has a familiar echo in the tendency of
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to use the race card and project rent-seeking moves as necessary reforms for the
deprived masses. If South Africans wish to place the country on a stable path to prosperity, they need to do more than seek the

ouster of Mr. Zuma, for he has already laid the foundations for his ex-wife to take the reins of power. They need a second
revolution aimed at discovering the kind of leadership that puts people first.
o Backlash - a strong, negative, and often angry reaction to something

that has happened, especially a political or social change
o Resistance - the act of refusing to accept something
o Various - many different
o Colleague - one of a group of people who work together
o Shuffle - an occasion when the positions of people or things within a
particular group are changed
o Tottering - to become weaker and less likely to carry on existing
o Ailing - experiencing difficulty and problems
o Laureate - a person who has been given a very high honour because of
their ability in a subject of study
o Protester - someone who shows that they disagree with something by
o Resign - to give up a job or position by telling your employer that you
are leaving
o Rand - the standard unit of money used in South Africa
future
o Stepping down - to leave an important job or position, especially to
allow someone else to take your place
o Successor - someone or something that comes after another person or
thing
o Glory - admiration and praise that you get because you have done
something impressive
o Split over something - to be unable to agree about something
o Shake-up - a large change in the way something is organized
o Jittery - feeling nervous and upset, and sometimes being unable to keep
still because of this
o Tainted - spoiled; damaged in quality, taste, or value
o Scandal - an action or event that causes a public feeling of shock and
strong moral disapproval
o Manoeuvre - a cleverly planned action that is intended to get an
advantage
o Key - very important and having a lot of influence on other people or
things
o Reimburse - to pay back money to someone who has spent it for you or
lost it because of you


o Monies - amounts of money
o Allegedly - to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong
o Apartheid - a political system in which people of different races are
separated
o Neighbouring - neighbouring places are next to or near each other
in a society
o Sacking - an act of removing someone from a job
o Echo - a detail that is similar to and makes you remember something
else
o Use the race card - to try to gain an advantage by drawing attention to
someone's race or to issues of race
o Deprived - not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life,
such as enough money, food, or good living conditions
o Masses - the ordinary people who form the largest group in a society
o Laid the foundations - to produce the basic ideas or structures from
which something much larger develops
o Take the reins - to take control of something, especially an organization
or a country
Hindu Editorial Topic 2 : "Track to efficiency: On creating a Rail

Development Authority"
Creating a Rail Development Authority for India is among the most significant reforms to an infrastructure system undertaken
by the government. The railways connect the countrys far corners and act as a driver of the economy. High rates of economic
growth have raised the demand for travel, but this remains largely unmet. The popular aspiration is for a modern system that
offers high-quality travel with low risk of accidents, while industry wants smooth freight transfer. An independent, empowered
regulator could be the paradigm shift that is needed. The proposed Authority would have to ensure that the resources of the
system are optimally utilised, overcoming existing inefficiencies that arise from the fact that policy, regulatory and management
functions of the railways are intertwined. As the National Transport Development Policy Committee noted in 2014, the
centralisation of all functions in the Railway Board has proved detrimental to the organisations growth, particularly at a time
when there is a need for massive investment in infrastructure for 7%-plus GDP growth. Conversely, robust economic expansion
further raises the demand for railway services. To reconcile this, the regulator has to identify sectors that can support higher
tariffs and also produce greater volumes of traffic. Such accurate interventions are critical if the trend of declining rates of growth
in railway freight revenues and volumes, which set in during 2011-12, is to be reversed. One of the big challenges before the
Centre is to facilitate higher non-budgetary investment in the railways. The Bibek Debroy Committee found the private sector is
discouraged from participating more effectively due to a monopolistic framework. Coming up with a system that de-risks private
investment and creates a level playing field are among the major challenges before the Rail Development Authority. In the area
of passenger services, this offers several possibilities; the railways cater to some 23 million passengers a day in a network of
about 8,000 stations. The experience of consumers in cities shows that use of information technology to deliver traditional
services can lead to higher levels of efficiency and lower costs, besides adding jobs. While regulation of tariffs matching the
quality of travel can help raise revenues, the system should be able to move both people and freight faster in order to grow.
Inducting faster, more comfortable trains on 500 km-plus inter-city routes would attract new traffic, and help operate cheaper
passenger trains to interior areas, as part of the governments social obligation. Technology upgrades are essential to raise
carrying capacity, service frequency and speeds. Rail reform is complex and what was undertaken in Europe during the 1990s,


separating infrastructure from operations, is an interesting model: sequential measures achieved sustainable results, rather than
a package of changes introduced at once.
o Paradigm shift - a time when the usual and accepted way of doing or
thinking about something changes completely
effectively
o Unmet - not satisfied, or achieved
o Freight - goods / the money paid for transporting goods
o Empowered - confident and in control of your life
o Regulator - an official who makes certain that the companies who
operate a system, such as the national electricity supply, work effectively
and fairly
o Optimally - in the best or most favourable way
o Overcoming - to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with
something
o Inefficiencies - a situation in which someone or something fails to use
resources such as time, materials, or labour in an effective way
o Intertwined - twisted together or closely connected so as to be difficult
to separate
o Detrimental - harmful or damaging
o Robust - strongly
o Expansion - the process of increasing in size
o Reconcile - to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are
o Declining - reducing
o Freight - the money paid for transporting goods
o Monopolistic - the situation in which an organization or group has
complete control of something
o De-risk - to make something safer by reducing the possibility that
something bad will happen and that money will be lost
o Inducting - to officially accept someone / something
o Interior - the inside part of something
o Sequential - following a particular order

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1: "Towards Peace in the Northeast"

1. Imminent - Likely to occur at any moment.

Topic 2 : " The Maldives Needs Democracy "

1. Brewing - Starting to develop.

Topic 1 : " BJP's Larger Stock-taking"

1. Churn - In a confused state.

THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 2 : " Politicising a divided legacy"

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : "Mr.Modi's London takeaway"

1. Delight - High degree of pleasure or enjoyment.

Topic 2 : 'Take Charge of OROP'

1. Boasts - Speak with excessive pride.

THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : "Road from Paris for G-20"

Topic 2 : "Narendra modi & Jawaharlal Nehru"

1. Mentor - A wise counselor / loyal advisor.

THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : "France's 'war' on terrorists"

Topic 2 : "The cause for the Rajya sabha"

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : " Stop this brinkmanship "

1. Brinkmanship - The technique of involving carefully in a dangerous situation in

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 2 : " Death at the school "

Topic 1 : " Prosecuting David Headley "

1. Arraignment - Act of bringing someone before a court.

THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 2 : " Planning for the next flood "

1. Woefully - Unhappy or very sad.

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : " Prosecuting David Headley "

1. Arraignment - Act of bringing someone before a court.

Topic 2 : " Planning for the next flood "

1. Woefully - Unhappy or very sad.

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : " Prosecuting David Headley "

1. Arraignment - Act of bringing someone before a court.

Topic 2 : " Planning for the next flood "

1. Woefully - Unhappy or very sad.

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic : "Pressing for free speech"

o Integrity - the state of being whole and undivided

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : "Crime and penalty in Bangladesh"

Topic 2 : "Not without our girls"

o Phenomenon - a remarkable development

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : "Aamir Khans right to speak"

o Reckoner - a handbook of tables used for easy calculations

Topic 2 : "The India Story, in word & deed"

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THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

Topic 1 : "Warning signals from the Valley"