the hindu vocabulary by kani - prepadda.comprepadda.com/wp-content/uploads/english/the hindu...

THE HINDU VOCABULARY VBY_KANI

WWW.GR8AMBITIONZ.COM COMPILED BY MANISH

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.



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 Agreeme

the hindu vocabulary by kani - prepadda.comprepadda.com/wp-content/uploads/english/the hindu...

Documents