English Group "Only Achievers"

2021-11-01 18:09:23 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 1st NOVEMBER

The big push: On Joe Biden’s social security and climate change plan

In what appears to be a rush to the finish line but is in fact the intention to fulfil long-standing policy promises of the Democratic Party, U.S. President Joe Biden sought to push through Congress an omnibus mega-bill seeking $1.85 trillion for social security and climate change. While the initiative seemed to be thrust forward on a shorter timeline so that Mr. Biden could speak of his domestic agenda achievements at the G20 meeting in Rome and COP26 in Scotland, the once-in-a-generation bill speaks to issues such as providing universal pre-kindergarten, extending an expanded tax credit for parents, further reducing health-care premiums for those covered under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, reducing a waiting list for in-home care, building a million units of low-income housing, and worker training and higher education. To balance the implied considerable hike in federal public expenditure, the bill proposes to raise revenue via a 15% minimum tax on the reported profits of large corporations, clamping down on profit-shifting by multinationals, tighter enforcement for large corporations and ultra-high net worth individuals, a 1% tax on corporate tax buybacks, an additional 5% tax on incomes exceeding $10 million a year and another 3% tax on incomes above $25 million, and policies to limit business losses for the very wealthy and a 3.8% Medicare tax on people earning more than $400,000 a year who did not previously pay that tax.

Although Democrats have 50 Senators in the Upper House of Congress and Vice-President Kamala Harris could cast a tie breaking vote should the need arise, the passage of this bill which will be remembered as a major component of Mr. Biden’s legacy, hangs on the razor’s edge. This is in part because at least two Senators, from Arizona and West Virginia, are potential holdouts. The conundrum that Mr. Biden is facing is a paradox of omnibus bills — different constituents view only some parts of the bill as desirable. For example, House Democrats appear unwilling to pass a version of the bill that the Senate has already cleared, sanctioning a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package. Lawmakers such as Pramila Jayapal have opined that the Congressional Progressive Caucus would only support the broader vision of the Build Back Better Act, which includes the ambitious climate change programme, federal paid leave for families, a substantial expansion of Medicare policy and two free years of community college. To succeed, Mr. Biden will have to negotiate with all stakeholders to find a compromise formula. At stake is the U.S.’s prospect of climbing out of the recessionary economic trough it was pushed into by the pandemic, not only by directly spurring commercial activity through public expenditure but also by investing in education and social security to keep America’s workforce competitive.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Push Through (Phrasal Verb)- get a proposed measure completed or accepted quickly. अपना रास्ता साफ़ करना, शीघ्र आगे बढ़ाना

2. Omnibus (Adj)- covering everything or all important points.

3. Thrust (V)- to push suddenly and strongly.

4. Pre-Kindergarten (N)- a school for children who are generally less than five years old.

5. Clamp Down (Phrasal Verb)- suppress or prevent something in an oppressive or harsh manner. शिकंजा कसना

6. Buybacks (N)- a form of borrowing in which shares or bonds are sold with an agreement to repurchase them at a later date. पुनर्खरीद

7. Razor’s Edge (N)- a critical or precarious situation.

8. Conundrum (N)- a problem that is difficult to deal with.

9. Opined (V)- hold and state as one's opinion.

10. Recessionary (Adj)- relating to a period of decreased economic activity. मंदी संबंधी

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2021-10-30 06:26:55 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 30th OCTOBER

Silly point: On linking cricket to patriotism

People who allegedly celebrated the victory of Pakistan against India in a T20 cricket World Cup match on October 24 are facing the brunt of the state. All of them are Muslims. In Rajasthan, a young schoolteacher has been terminated by a private school and the police have charged her under IPC Section 153B for ‘imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration’. In Jammu and Kashmir, the police have registered two cases against unknown persons under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other sections. In Uttar Pradesh, three students from J&K have been charged under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 505 (creating or publishing content to promote enmity) and, later, Section 124A, sedition. The wisdom, propriety or acceptability of celebrating Pakistan’s victory is beside the point. From moral, tactical, and practical perspectives, this sweeping policing is unwise. No democracy, least of all a country of India’s size and diversity, can demand unyielding uniformity and conformity from its population, on all questions and at all times. It is unlikely that any of these charges will stand judicial scrutiny, but that only makes this spectacle a ridiculous distraction for the stretched law enforcement system. Far from enforcing national integration as the purported aim of this heavy-handed police action is, it will only brew more resentment and social disharmony apart from derailing young lives.

An unremitting loyalty test of citizens can be a self-defeating pursuit for a country like India that has global ambitions. People of Indian origin live around the world, with split loyalties. There are U.S. citizens who chant victory for India at gatherings in their home countries addressed by the Indian Prime Minister, and there are British and Australian citizens who boo their own country in favour of India during sporting events. Sports teams around the world have members of foreign origin. Infusion of toxic hyper-nationalism in sports is bad in such a world; more so for India. While the BJP has been championing this link between cricket and nationalism, other parties are not far behind as the incident in Rajasthan, a Congress-ruled State, shows. AAP in Delhi was one step ahead and questioning the Narendra Modi government for allowing the cricket match with Pakistan. Had all this been on account of an unspoken link between cheering for the national cricket team and support for a united India, the police would have also charged those who mercilessly trolled Mohammed Shami, a Muslim in the Indian cricket team. True, it would have been wonderful for the Indian cricket team to enjoy the unqualified support of the entire nation, but, surely, there is no reason to charge those who support another team with sedition. The Indian state looks silly now, and the whole episode bodes ill for cricket, and the country.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. The Brunt Of (Idiom)- the main force or effect of something harmful or dangerous. आघात

2. Imputation (N)- a charge or claim that someone has done something undesirable; an accusation. आरोप

3. Sedition (N)- conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch. राज-द्रोह, विद्रोहात्मक आचरण

4. Sweeping (Adj)- wide in range or effect.

5. Purported (Adj)- claimed but not proved to be true. कथित

6. Heavy-Handed (Adj)- using too much force in dealing with someone.

7. Resentment (N)- bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly. नाराज़गी

8. Bode (V)- to be a sign of something good or bad for the future. 

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2021-10-29 08:17:21 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 29th OCTOBER

A clear signal: On China’s new border law

China passing a new border law amid a continuing stalemate in negotiations with India sends a clear signal to New Delhi that Beijing is in no mood to quickly end the 18-month-long crisis along the LAC. The law, which will take effect on January 1, designates the responsibilities of various agencies in China, from the military to local authorities, in guarding the frontiers. It “stipulates that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China are sacred and inviolable”. Calling on the military to “guard against and combat any act that undermines territorial sovereignty and land boundaries”, the law says the Chinese military “shall carry out border duties” to “resolutely prevent, stop and combat invasion, encroachment, provocation and other acts”. India has reacted sharply, telling China that it must not use legislation as a “pretext” to formalise the PLA’s actions since last year to unilaterally alter the LAC. While the law says Beijing will negotiate with its neighbours to settle its borders, India reminded China that the legislation will have little bearing on the India-China boundary as both sides are yet to resolve the boundary question. Responding to India’s concerns, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the law would not affect the implementation of existing agreements. The legislation also has implications for the only other country China has unresolved land borders with — Bhutan — calling for continuing efforts to develop border areas. Among those efforts is the on-going construction of frontier villages, including in disputed areas.

The Chinese side may justify the law as an “internal” matter akin to India’s abrogation of Article 370 and the creation of a Union Territory in Ladakh, which China strongly opposed because it included Aksai Chin, but there is one crucial difference. The new Chinese legislation, first proposed in March, came almost a year into the LAC crisis. It followed the PLA’s amassing of two divisions of troops in forward areas in the summer of 2020, in contravention of the four past border agreements, and essentially gives a stamp of approval to those moves. If both New Delhi and Beijing at least appear to be in agreement that the legislation will not affect past agreements, the fact is those understandings are already in tatters. The last round of LAC talks, held on October 10, ended with both sides trading accusations, Beijing blaming India for making “unrealistic” demands and New Delhi countering that the other side offered no real proposals for a solution. Indeed, the new law underlines that China increasingly sees little space for compromise as far as its frontiers are concerned. Even as India and China continue negotiations, the law is the latest signal that the current state of affairs along the border, marked by continuing deployments by both sides in forward areas and a build-up of infrastructure, is likely to continue over the longer term.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Stalemate (N)- a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible. गतिरोध

2. Frontier (N)- a line or border separating two countries. सीमाओं

3. Sovereignty (N)- the authority of a state to govern itself or another state. संप्रभुता

4. Resolutely (Adv)- in an admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering manner. सख्ती

5. Encroachment (N)- intrusion on a person's territory, rights, etc. अतिक्रमण

6. Bear On (Phrasal Verb)- to be relevant to.

7. Abrogation (N)- the act of formally ending a law, agreement, or custom. रद्दीकरण

8. Contravention (N)- an action which offends against a law, treaty, or other ruling. उल्लंघन

9. In Tatter (Phrase)- (of an argument, plan, etc.) completely destroyed.

10. Negotiation (N)- discussion aimed at reaching an agreement. वार्ता

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2021-10-28 07:34:21 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 28th OCTOBER

A world minus ads: On social media outrage and brand campaigns

In a land of matchless diversity, where 138 crore people live, it is perhaps not surprising that social conflicts run along several lines including caste, class, gender, language and religion. Deepening fault lines touch every part of life, and advertising, which at a basic level nudges a consumer to make a purchasing decision but also does social messaging, is learning it the hard way. With the start of the festival season, at least two companies, Fabindia and Dabur, have had to pull out ads days after the launch for “offending sentiments” and huge social media outrage. In the case of Fabindia, people protested against the use of the words “Jashn-e-riwaaz” for a new collection of clothes ahead of Deepavali. The brand later clarified that all its products in “Jashn-e-riwaaz” are “a celebration of Indian traditions” and that its Deepavali collection was yet to be launched. Yet it chose to withdraw the ad. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya led the campaign against Fabindia calling for an economic boycott; a hashtag #NoBindiNoBusiness also did the rounds, in protest against the models in the ad without bindis. Dabur’s Fem brand had to pull out a Karwa Chauth ad which showed a same-sex couple observing the rituals. A Ceat ad featuring Aamir Khan asking people not to burst crackers on the roads too upset the right wing which said it should have also addressed the “problem of blocking roads” for namaz.

While advertisements which do not stick to the script can be a breath of fresh air, there are some which miss the mark completely with the messaging. So, if Shah Rukh Khan’s latest Cadbury ad urging people to buy from small kirana shops this Deepavali is making the right noises, Kent RO’s atta and bread maker ad last year and its tone-deaf portrayal of house-helps was decried. Tanishq, a jewellery brand co-owned by the Tatas, had to withdraw an ad last year that showed a Muslim family organising Hindu baby shower rituals for their Hindu daughter-in-law. It got vitriolic comments with some accusing the Tatas of promoting “Love Jihad”. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and others were aghast that a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity could irk a section of people. They cried foul that nuance was getting lost in the cacophony of perceived hurt sentiments. If advertising is about selling a product, no company will willingly put out a campaign that may hurt its brand. The messaging must be sensitive, and that comes when a marketing team has its ear to the ground. It is nothing unusual for some ad campaigns to fail. But, worryingly, many brands have had to withdraw their campaign material after manufactured social media outrage that was fed by intolerance of progressive values and religious bigotry of the worst order.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. diversity : विविधता: the state of being diverse; variety.

2. Nudges(N) : a light touch or push.

3. Outrage(N) : an extremely strong reaction of anger, shock, or indignation.

4. vitriolic(adj) : filled with bitter criticism or malice.व्यंग्यपुर्ण

5. aghast(adj) : filled with horror or shock. भयाक्रांत

6. irk(v) : irritate; annoy.

7. cacophony( N) :  clamor, noise   discord;  कोलाहल

8. Bigotry(N) :  कट्टरता : the fact of having and expressing strong, unreasonable beliefs and disliking other people who have different beliefs or a different way of life.

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2021-10-27 07:52:10 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 27th OCTOBER

Safety first: On Mullaperiyar dispute

The Supreme Court’s direction on Monday to the supervisory committee for the Mullaperiyar dam on the issue of the maximum water level has revived the controversy surrounding the dam. Located in Kerala, the water body is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu to meet the water requirements of five of its southern districts. The order was issued while hearing a petition raising apprehensions about the supervision of water levels of the reservoir, especially during the rainy season; Kerala has also been experiencing unusually heavy spells of rain. During October 18-25, the dam too received a substantial inflow. Despite the Court’s nod in 2014 to store water up to 142 ft, Tamil Nadu has been careful in drawing as much water as possible so that the level does not reach the permissible level ordinarily. A few days ago, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart, M.K. Stalin, referring to the heavy rainfall in the catchment and emphasising the “urgent need for the gradual release of water”. His letter should be viewed more as a note of caution than anything else. During a debate in the Assembly on Monday, Mr. Vijayan categorically stated that there was no threat to the dam and was also appreciative of the Tamil Nadu authorities, who, he noted, were “highly empathetic” to Kerala’s demands.

With camaraderie prevailing between the two States, Mr. Stalin and Mr. Vijayan would do well to send out a strong message that there is no room for passion and chauvinism on a technical and complex subject such as the operation and maintenance of Mullaperiyar. As the issue of dam safety is a recurrent one, it would be in the interests of all stakeholders that the remaining works to strengthen the dam are done at the earliest, for which the approval of the Kerala and Central governments is required. Some sections in Kerala may argue that the completion of the works will only make the case of Tamil Nadu stronger in the context of its long-standing demand of raising the water level to the original 152 ft. But, what needs to be kept in mind is that the works are meant to strengthen the dam. It has been suggested that Kerala give its permission — a pre-requisite for Tamil Nadu to get the Centre’s clearances — while stating that this will not be prejudicial to its position on the issue. Tamil Nadu too should ensure that all the instruments for monitoring the safety and health of the dam are installed and are functioning properly. As there are sufficient scientific and technological tools to respond effectively to any legitimate and genuine concern, every player should adopt a rational approach while deciding on the storage levels and safety aspects of the dam.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Revive(v) : strengthen, renew, freshen,  energize

2. Apprehensions(N) :  fear or anxiety about something. संशय, भय, चिंता

3. Catchment(N) : the action of collecting water, especially the collection of rainfall over a natural drainage area.जलग्रह

4. Empathetic(Adj) : showing an ability to understand and share the feelings of another. सहानुभूति

5. Chauvinism(N) : exaggerated or aggressive patriotism.  अंधराष्ट्रीयता

6. Pre-requisite:  something that is necessary for something else to happen or exist

7. Legitimate(adj)  :  allowed by law
विधिसंगत, क़ानून से मान्‍य; वैद्य

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2021-10-26 07:01:23 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 26th OCTOBER

Mixed messaging: On Amit Shah's three-day visit to J&K

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s first visit to Jammu & Kashmir after August 5, 2019 when Parliament diluted Article 370 of the Constitution that granted it a “special status” and downgraded and bifurcated the State into two Union Territories, took place against the grim background of the killings of 11 civilians by terrorists in one month. J&K has been under central rule since June 2018 and the political and parliamentary subterfuge in reorganising the erstwhile State still rankles as a discordant chapter of India’s experiments in federalism. Mr. Shah used the three-day visit to underscore the progress J&K has made since its reorganisation — the uptick in tourist inflow and the string of development and welfare projects. As for the stringent curbs that the people have had to endure meanwhile, Mr. Shah said those were bitter pills that helped save lives. Through a series of public engagements and official functions in Jammu and the Valley, the Home Minister’s single-minded focus was on reiterating the Bharatiya Janata Party’s political narrative on Kashmir. He said “three families” had held J&K to ransom until the party came to its rescue. Whether or not politics in J&K has been any more or less corrupt than other parts of the country is anyone’s guess, but it is a matter of fact that the former State had a poverty rate of 10.35% against the national average of of 21.92%.

The Centre has been successful in removing the question of independence or even autonomy from the conversation on Kashmir. But to pretend that there is no political question in Kashmir to be discussed or resolved is reckless. Besides trying to systematically delegitimise the mainstream parties, the BJP policy also sought to build an entirely new political apparatus in the Union Territory. Mr. Shah ruled out any talks with Pakistan, but said he was willing to talk to the youth of Kashmir. That promise can be meaningful only with immediate action. Now that the Centre has made the restoration of statehood as the endgame of an unclear political process, it must establish a mechanism for dialogue with the people. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met political leaders from J&K in Delhi but there has been no follow up to that since then. On the contrary, Mr. Shah’s messaging over three days emphasised the divisions between the people of the Valley and Jammu, and berated political leaders. True, he made the right gestures in terms of visiting victims of recent violence and interactions with locals but that is far from enough. More than 700 people had to be detained ahead of his visit, which is instructive of the continuing volatility in the Valley. Mr. Shah’s trip is the latest in a series of visits by Union Ministers in recent weeks. While the Centre’s outreach is indeed a welcome step, it needs to be more honest and open to be effective.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Downgrade (V)- reduce to a lower grade, rank, or level of importance.

2. Grim (Adj)- very serious or gloomy. भयंकर, विकट

3. Subterfuge (N)- an action taken to hide something from someone.

4. Discordant (Adj)- disagreeing or incongruous. असंगत, प्रतिकूल

5. Underscore (V)- to emphasize the importance something.

6. Bitter Pill (N)- something unpleasant to be endured.

7. Reckless (Adj)- heedless of danger or the consequences of one's actions. असावधान, लापरवाह

8. Delegitimise (V)- to make something seem not valid or not acceptable. अवैध बनाना

9. Rule Out (Phrasal Verb)- to dismiss from consideration. बरख़ास्त करना

10. Berate (V)- scold or criticize (someone) angrily. निंदा करना, फटकारना

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2021-10-25 11:57:00 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 25th OCTOBER

No change: On Pakistan and terror financing

In a repetition of its decisions over the past three years, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said that members of the 39-member grouping voted to retain Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. The FATF, which evaluates countries on efforts to check terror financing and money laundering, also placed Turkey on the grey list and cleared Mauritius from it. The FATF found that Pakistan had cleared 30 of a total of 34 tasks assigned in two batches, and would face another review in February 2022. In particular, the FATF President, Marcus Pleyer, said that Pakistan had failed to resolve the single task that remains from the first batch, of demonstrating that effective investigations and prosecutions are being pursued against the senior leadership of United Nations-designated terror groups. From New Delhi’s perspective, the most significant of these are Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim and other command and control chiefs of terror groups that target India, that have yet to be brought to justice for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008, the IC-814 hijacking in 1999 and several major attacks and bombings in Jammu and Kashmir. It is indeed disappointing that the increased monitoring by the FATF of Pakistan — from 2008-2009, 2012-2015, and 2018-2021 — has failed to ensure that while some of these leaders have been tried and convicted for terror financing charges in Pakistani courts, none of them has been effectively prosecuted for violence in India. These much-delayed outcomes speak as much to Pakistan’s lack of credibility on terrorism as to the FATF’s own lack of effectiveness.

Despite Pakistan’s failure to fulfill its task list, the FATF President has made it clear that they are not considering placing Pakistan on the ‘black list’, as they say it “continues to cooperate”. On the other hand, the FATF has also said that it will not remove Pakistan from the grey list, despite the country completing 26/27 of the original tasks it was assigned. The actions open the world body to accusations of ‘politicising’ the process, both from those who would like to see tough action for non-compliance by Pakistan, and from Pakistan itself, which has accused India of turning the technical process into a political one by “targeting” Pakistan. As a result, the FATF must stop kicking the proverbial can down the road. It must ensure that the investigation of Pakistan is not an open-ended process, and is brought to a credible and effective conclusion at the earliest. In light of the developments in Afghanistan, and concerns over the growth of transnational terror groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIL, as well as JeM and LeT taking advantage of the Taliban takeover to build new safe havens and financing networks, it is particularly important that the FATF keep its commitment from 2001 (when it added terror financing to its mandate) to prevent all terror groups from accessing these funding networks.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Prosecutions (N)- the institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge. मुकदमों

2. Perspective (N)- a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view. दृष्टिकोण

3. Credibility (N)- the quality of being trusted and believed in. विश्वसनीयता

4. Kicking The Proverbial Can Down The Road (Phrase)- to avoid or delay dealing with a problem.

5. Open-Ended (Adj)- having no predetermined limit or boundary.

6. In Light Of (Phrase)- taking (something) into consideration.

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2021-10-23 09:48:09 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 23rd OCTOBER

Shorter and shorter: On Indian cricket’s transition phase

The Twenty20 format seems to be cricket’s overwhelming flavour at present. Close on the heels of the Indian Premier League, the ICC T20 World Cup commenced last Sunday. Both championships dropped anchor in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Originally, they were scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change in venue. The Board of Control for Cricket in India shifted the franchise-based league and the multi-nation event to the UAE and many players have seamlessly moved on from club to country. Nearly a week has lapsed since the latest T20 World Cup made its initial steps under the West Asian skies during which lesser placed teams tried to qualify for the Super 12 segment that formally starts today. This, in fact, is the real deal. And nothing can get bigger than the Super 12 Group 2 match that pits India against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. In ICC events, India holds the edge over its neighbour beyond the Radcliffe Line but for a vast generation of fans, cricketing skirmishes involving the two in the UAE often draw in a difficult memory. Not many can forget Javed Miandad clouting a last-ball six off Chetan Sharma and winning for Pakistan the Austral-Asia Cup in 1986. From then on, India was on the ascendant.

This trend was especially evident when M.S. Dhoni’s men won the inaugural ICC World T20, as the shortest format’s World Cup was then called, in South Africa in 2007. The vanquished opposition was Pakistan and those shards of history will lend an edge to the latest bout. But after winning the title in 2007, India has subsequently flattered to deceive. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli gets another chance to lay his hands on ICC silverware, which remains a missing link in his captaincy resume. That he is also giving up his T20 captaincy after the championship should push him further towards this goal. Dhoni’s presence in the dressing room as a mentor, while the coaching staff led by Ravi Shastri prepare to bow out after a few weeks, is indicative of the imminent leadership transition within the Indian ranks. With its players having featured in the previous IPL and the added confidence gleaned from the warm-up victories over England and Australia, India is in a good space. Defending champion West Indies, Australia, South Africa, England and New Zealand may fancy their chances but this tournament isn’t entirely about the established units. It is also about Scotland pushing its way in or Afghanistan turning up despite the turmoil back home. Hope floats and India yearns to finish on the winning side when the championship ends on November 14.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. On The Heels Of (Phrase)- following closely after.

2. Pit (V)- set someone or something in conflict or competition with.

3. Ascendant (Adj)- rising in power or influence. प्रभावी स्थिति में

4. Vanquish (Adj)- overcome or defeated in battle or in a conflict or contest.

5. Bout (N)- the act of competing. मुकाबला

6. Flatter To Deceive (Phrase)-appear promising but ultimately disappoint.

7. Silverware (N)-a large silver cup that is given as a prize in a sports competition.

8. Bow Out (Phrasal Verb)-withdraw or retire from an activity or role. अवकाश ले लेना

9. Turn Up (Phrasal Verb)-be found, especially by chance, after being lost.

10. Turmoil (N)-a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty. खलबली

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2021-10-21 07:36:07 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 21st OCTOBER

Plugging the leak: On the GM rice controversy

Since June, the export of about 500 tonnes of rice from India has triggered an uproar in several European countries on the grounds that it was genetically modified (GM) rice. This emerged during a check by the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed that was testing rice flour by the French company Westhove. In June, France had issued a notification for unauthorised GM rice flour, identifying India as the point of origin, and alerting Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. as the possible destination of products made with the flour. So in August, the American food products company Mars, fearing GM contamination, announced that it was recalling four of its product lines of ‘Crispy M&M’. GM-free rice that is tagged as ‘organic rice’ is among India’s high-value exports worth ₹63,000 crore annually. India does not permit the commercial cultivation of GM rice, but research groups are testing varieties of such rice in trial plots. So the suspicion is that rice from some of these test-plots may have “leaked” into the exported product. The Indian government has denied this possibility with a Commerce Ministry spokesperson alleging that the contamination may have happened in Europe “to cut costs”. However, India has indicated that it will commission an investigation involving its scientific bodies.

India’s history of crop modification using GM is one of test-plants finding their way to commercial cultivars before they were formally cleared. Thus, Bt-cotton was widely prevalent in farmer fields before being cleared. Though they have not been cleared, Bt-brinjal and herbicide-tolerant cotton varieties too have been detected in farmer fields. Though the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is the apex regulator of GM crops, it is mandated that trials of GM crops obtain permission from States. Because of the close connections between farmers and State agriculture universities, which are continuously testing new varieties of crops employing all kinds of scientific experiments ranging from introducing transgenes to other non-transgenic modification methods, and the challenges of ensuring that trial plots are strictly segregated from farms, there is a possibility that seeds may transfer within plots. Because many Indian farmers are dependent on European imports, the Centre must rush to assuage importers that India’s produce is compliant with trade demands. The fractious history of GM crops in India means that passions often rule over reason on questions of the safety of GM crops, and so India must also move to ensure that research into all approaches — GM or non GM — should not become a casualty in this matter of export-quality compliance.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Uproar (N)- a loud and impassioned noise or disturbance.

2. Genetically modified crops- (GM crops) are crops which have had their DNA altered in a way that does not occur naturally.

3. Contamination(N) : the process of making something dirty or poisonous.

4. Cultivars(N) : a particular variety of a plant whose characteristics have been controlled by people in the way it has been bred; किसी पौधे की विशेष प्रजाति जिसे विशिष्‍ट गुणों की दृष्टि से विकसित किया गया हो

5. Prevalent (adj) : most common in a particular place at a particular time
स्‍थान-विशेष में समय-विशेष पर सर्वाधिक प्रचलित

6. transgene(N): a gene which is artificially introduced into the genome of another organism.

7. Segregate(v) : separate, isolate, insulate

8. Assuage(v) : to make an unpleasant feeling less strong; प्रतिकूल भावना आदि की तीक्ष्‍णता को कम करना

9. Fractious(adj) : (of a group or organization) difficult to control; unruly. झगड़ालू

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2021-10-20 05:41:15 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 20th OCTOBER

Trouble in Bangladesh: On attacks against Hindus

The UN, the U.S. and India have condemned incidents of majoritarian violence against Bangladesh’s Hindu minority community during Durga Puja in the past few days. What is particularly worrying is that the attacks which have left at least six people dead and dozens injured, have followed, according to the Government, fake news reports shared over social media, indicating a conspiracy to instigate the violence. The mob violence appears to have begun in Comilla, in Chittagong district, where an image allegedly showing disrespect to the Koran was circulated, and resulted in several major mob attacks on Hindu temples and homes belonging to the minority community. The Narendra Modi government, which has sought to preserve good relations with Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina government, has also praised the authorities for moving quickly to take control of the situation. According to the police, more than 450 people have been arrested over the past week of violence and more than 70 cases filed in different parts of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Hasina has promised strict action and sought to reassure minorities during an address via videoconference to Hindu devotees at the Dhakeshwari national temple. In a message for New Delhi, she also said that Bangladesh’s big neighbour must be sensitive to the situation, and alluding to violence against minorities in India, asked that “nothing is done there [India] that affects our country [Bangladesh]”. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka, which was in touch with law and order officials at the Centre, also stepped in to meet with members of the Bangladeshi Hindu community, including representatives from the ISKCON group that was attacked. The ISKCON headquarters in West Bengal as well as BJP leaders also called on Mr. Modi to personally intervene.

Given the seriousness of the attacks and the fear that has gripped the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, the international and Indian concern is not surprising. However, New Delhi will have to act cautiously in light of all the various links between India and Bangladesh. While the Indian High Commission’s act of meeting local minorities comes from a sense of compassion, it could be read as an act of interference. The impact of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019 had a widespread effect in Bangladesh, and at least 12 people were killed in protests against Mr. Modi’s visit to Dhaka earlier this year. As a regional leader, India has every right to be concerned about the plight of communities in the subcontinent. However, it must ensure that its domestic drivers do not upset carefully built foreign relations. And any act that is seen as religiously partisan is bound to destabilise the otherwise close and productive relations between the two countries, which have a shared history of cooperation over much of the past 50 years.


CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Condemn (V)- to criticize something or someone strongly, usually for moral reasons.

2. Conspiracy (N)- a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful. षड्यंत्र

3. Instigate (V)- incite someone to do something, especially something bad. भड़काना

4. Allude To (Phrasal Verb)- to mention someone or something in a brief or indirect way.

5. Stepped In (Phrasal Verb)- become involved in a difficult situation, especially in order to help.

6. In Light Of (Phrase)- taking (something) into consideration.

7. Call on (Phrasal Verb)- to ask someone to do something

8. Compassion (N)- sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. दया भाव

9. Plight (N)- a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation. दुर्दशा

10. Destabilize (V)- upset the stability of (a region or system); cause unrest or instability in.

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