THE HINDU EDITORIAL : DECEMBER 15, 2018

Dear Banking Aspirants,

THE HINDU EDITORIAL – December 14, 2018, is one of the must-read section for the competitive exams like  IBPS Clerk 2018, Canara Bank PO – PGDBF 2018 and IBPS SO 2018. These topics are widely expected to be asked in the reading comprehension, Cloze Test or Error Detection in the forthcoming exams. So gear up your Exam preparation and learn new words daily.


A) End Sri Lanka’s crisis

Rajapaksa’s resignation is the first step, but the President must reinstate Wickremesinghe

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to resign as Prime Minister, an office to which he was controversially installed by President Maithripala Sirisena, is the first sign that the dragging constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka is heading slowly towards a resolution. He had also played a part in the unfolding of the crisis set off by Mr. Sirisena, who made ill-advised moves by invoking his executive powers repeatedly for political and partisan ends. The two leaders had come together against common rival Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was removed as Prime Minister unceremoniously on October 26 to make way for Mr. Rajapaksa. However, they saw little success either in Parliament or before the courts. Despite Mr. Rajapaksa failing to prove his majority in several motions in the House, he had steadfastly remained in office, seeking fresh elections instead of stepping down. Sri Lanka’s politics and economy have been caught in a downward spiral due to a constitutional crisis since Mr. Sirisena appointed Mr. Rajapaksa as Prime Minister. However, Mr. Rajapaksa was unable, or unwilling, to demonstrate the extent of his support in Parliament. At one point the President prorogued Parliament, and later dissolved it. However, the Supreme Court restored the legislature in an interim order. Thereafter, in a series of votes, a majority of the 225-strong House has been voting against Mr. Rajapaksa.

Mr. Rajapaksa’s resignation offer has come at a time when several parliamentarians moved the country’s Court of Appeal seeking a writ of quo warranto for Mr. Rajapaksa’s removal. In an interim order, the court restrained him from functioning as Prime Minister. The absence of clarity on whether there was a legitimate government in office placed other countries and multilateral financial institutions in a quandary as to who they should deal with. Mr. Rajapaksa’s resignation may pave the way for the installation of a government that enjoys a majority in Parliament. Meanwhile, the President’s credibility has taken yet another beating after the Supreme Court ruled categorically that his dissolution of Parliament on November 9 was illegal and void. The court has rejected his claim that he had an unfettered right to dissolve Parliament at any time, notwithstanding provisions in the Constitution that barred such action for the first four and a half years of the legislature’s term. The court dismissed his camp’s attempt to stretch and twist the meaning of some constitutional provisions in order to justify his bizarre actions. Although Mr. Sirisena has been obstinately sticking to his position that he will not appoint Mr. Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister “even if all 225 members” were with him, there are indications he may be forced to alter his stand. Nothing short of respecting the current composition of Parliament and reinstating Mr. Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister will solve the current imbroglio.


B) Negative signals: on falling inflation rates

Falling food prices will intensify rural distress; the solution is meaningful agricultural reform

The days when inflation could topple governments appear to be gone. It is now time for the government to worry about falling prices, especially of food. Retail inflation dropped to a 17-month low of 2.33% in November, as compared to 3.31% in October, primarily due to the fall in the prices of various essential food items. Food prices fell by a huge 6.96 percentage points compared to a year ago and, at minus 2.61%, are now in deflationary territory for the second successive month. The fall in inflation is obviously good news for consumers, particularly those in urban India who are happy to pay less for their purchases; also for the Reserve Bank of India, which will now have more room for manoeuvre in the matter of interest rates. But it is bad news for the producers of basic food items who are located in the distress-affected rural parts of the country, with falling farm incomes also impacting landless labour and rural demand. At the heart of this problem is the unpredictability of farm prices, which are known to exhibit extreme levels of volatility owing to various supply-side issues that plague the agricultural sector. Though farmer producer companies have stepped in with help and guidance to farmers to use hedging tools to minimise price risks, they are too few and far between to make a difference. And even when their produce finally commanded impressive prices in the retail market, the cartelised agricultural marketing system has made sure that farmers received little to nothing.

Ahead of the general election next year, State governments across the country are likely to resort to short-term relief measures such as farm loan waivers to temporarily relieve farmers of their deep distress. Further, with the issue of rural distress now expected to significantly affect the general election verdict, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are already engaged in a competitive battle to offer the highest extent of loan waiver to farmers. There will also be pressure to announce higher minimum support prices for various agricultural goods. It is another matter that no government has ever had the wherewithal to deliver on such lofty promises. In fact, the poor implementation of MSPs is one of the reasons for farmers taking to the streets in protest. The Centre may prod the new RBI Governor to adopt a more dovish monetary policy stance in the run-up to the election citing falling inflation figures. But none of these measures will help farmers, who have increasingly taken the protest route of late to make their demands heard, in any meaningful manner in the long run. Real agricultural reform is crucial to enable farmers to freely make their own business decisions without the grabbing hand of the government.


VOCABULARY

1) controversially

Meaning : in a way that gives rise to controversy or public disagreement.

Tamil Meaning : சர்ச்சைக்குரிய

Synonyms : disputed

Antonyms : certain

Example : “the horse was controversially disqualified from first place”

2) invoking

Meaning : cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.

Synonyms : conjure

Antonyms : answer

Example : “the antiquated defence of insanity is rarely invoked in England”

3) executive

Meaning : relating to or having the power to put plans or actions into effect.

Tamil Meaning : நிர்வாகி

Synonyms : director

Antonyms : attendant

Example : “an executive chairman”

4) rival

Meaning : a person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity.

Tamil Meaning : போட்டி

Synonyms : competing

Antonyms : assisting

Example : “he has no serious rival for the job”

5) Despite

Meaning : contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage.

Tamil Meaning : இருந்தபோதிலும்

Synonyms : against

Example : “the despite done by him to the holy relics”

6) demonstrate

Meaning : clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence.

Tamil Meaning : இருந்தபோதிலும்

Synonyms : determine

Antonyms : conceal

Example : “their shameful silence demonstrates their ineptitude”

7) prorogued

Meaning : discontinue a session of (a parliament or other legislative assembly) without dissolving it.

Tamil Meaning : ஒத்திவைத்தார்

Synonyms : delayed

Example : “James prorogued this Parliament, never to call another one”

8) dissolved

Meaning : (with reference to a solid) become or cause to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution.

Tamil Meaning : கலைக்கப்பட்டு

Synonyms : soften

Antonyms : appear

Example : “glucose dissolves easily in water”

9) interim

Meaning : the intervening time.

Tamil Meaning : இடைக்கால

Synonyms : provisional

Antonyms : finished

Example : “in the interim I’ll just keep my fingers crossed”

10) restrained

Meaning : characterized by reserve or moderation; unemotional or dispassionate.

Tamil Meaning : கட்டுப்படுத்தும்

Synonyms : discreet

Antonyms : communicative

Example : “his restrained, gentlemanly voice”

11) pave

Meaning : cover (a piece of ground) with flat stones or bricks; lay paving over.

Tamil Meaning : வகுக்கும்

Synonyms : cobblestone

Antonyms : strip

Example : “the yard at the front was paved with flagstones”

12) dissolution

Meaning : the action of formally ending or dismissing an assembly, partnership, or official body.

Tamil Meaning : கலைப்பு

Synonyms : divorce

Antonyms : connection

Example : “the dissolution of their marriage”

13) unfettered

Meaning : not confined or restricted.

Synonyms : divorce

Antonyms : connection

Example : “his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic”

14) stretch

Meaning : (of something soft or elastic) be made or be capable of being made longer or wider without tearing or breaking.

Synonyms : extend

Antonyms : contract

Example : “my jumper stretched in the wash”

15) obstinately

Meaning : stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

Tamil Meaning : பிடிவாதமாக

Synonyms : adamant

Antonyms : amenable

Example : “her obstinate determination to pursue a career in radio”

16) indications

Meaning : a sign or piece of information that indicates something.

Tamil Meaning : அறிகுறிகள்

Synonyms : expression

Antonyms : misinformation

Example : “the visit was an indication of the improvement in relations between the countries”

17) reinstating

Meaning : restore (someone or something) to their former position or state.

Synonyms : renew

Antonyms : destroy

Example : “the union threatened strike action if Owen was not reinstated”

18) topple

Meaning : overbalance or cause to overbalance and fall.

Tamil Meaning : கவிழ்க்க

Synonyms : collapse

Antonyms : hold

Example : “she toppled over when I touched her”

19) distress

Meaning : extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

Tamil Meaning : துயரத்தில்

Synonyms :affliction

Antonyms : aid

Example : “to his distress he saw that she was trembling”

20) impacting

Meaning : come into forcible contact with another object.

Tamil Meaning : பாதிக்கிறது

Synonyms : clash

Antonyms : compliment

Example : “the shell impacted twenty yards away”

21) exhibit

Meaning : publicly display (a work of art or item of interest) in an art gallery or museum or at a trade fair.

Tamil Meaning : கண்காட்சியின்

Synonyms : display

Antonyms : hiding

Example : “only one sculpture was exhibited in the artist’s lifetime”

22) unpredictability

Meaning : inability to be predicted; changeability.

Tamil Meaning : கணிக்க முடியாத

Synonyms : anxiety

Antonyms : calm

Example : “the unpredictability of the British weather”

23) owing

Meaning : (of money) yet to be paid.

Synonyms : due

Antonyms : green

Example : “no rent was owing”

24) hedging

Meaning : the planting or trimming of hedges.

Tamil Meaning :

Synonyms : sidestep

Antonyms : meet

Example : “contract work for hedging and ditching”

25) cartelised

Meaning : (of manufacturers or suppliers) form a cartel in (an industry or trade).

Synonyms : assemble

Antonyms : divide

Example : “the domestic industry retains the benefits of its expanded productivity by cartelizing the market”

26) resort

Meaning : turn to and adopt (a course of action, especially an extreme or undesirable one) so as to resolve a difficult situation.

Synonyms : retreat

Example : “the duke was prepared to resort to force if negotiation failed”

27) waivers

Meaning :an act or instance of waiving a right or claim.

Tamil Meaning : சலுகை

Synonyms : remission

Antonyms : approval

Example : “their acquiescence could amount to a waiver”

28) relieve

Meaning : cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious.

Tamil Meaning : விடுவிப்பதற்காக

Synonyms : alleviate

Antonyms : distress

Example : “the drug was used to promote sleep and to relieve pain”

29) verdict

Meaning : a decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.

Tamil Meaning : தீர்ப்பு

Synonyms : decision

Antonyms : accusation

Example : “the jury returned a verdict of not guilty”

30) implementation

Meaning : the process of putting a decision or plan into effect; execution.

Tamil Meaning : செயல்படுத்த

Synonyms : application

Antonyms : failure

Example : “she was responsible for the implementation of the plan”

31) adopt

Meaning : legally take (another’s child) and bring it up as one’s own.

Synonyms : accept

Antonyms : disagree

Example : “there are many people eager to adopt a baby”

32) prod

Meaning : poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object.

Synonyms : nudge

Antonyms : discourage

Example : “he prodded her in the ribs”

33) stance

Meaning : the way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted (as in cricket, golf, and other sports); a person’s posture.

Tamil Meaning : நிலைப்பாடு

Synonyms : posture

Example : “she altered her stance, resting all her weight on one leg”

34) protest

Meaning : a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.

Tamil Meaning : எதிர்ப்பு

Synonyms : riot

Antonyms : calm

Example : “the British team lodged an official protest”

35) crucial

Meaning : decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.

Tamil Meaning : முக்கியமான

Synonyms : decisive

Antonyms : optional

Example : “negotiations were at a crucial stage”

36) grabbing

Meaning : grasp or seize suddenly and roughly.

Synonyms : capture

Antonyms : give

Example : “she grabbed him by the shirt collar”

37) enable

Meaning : give (someone) the authority or means to do something; make it possible for.

Tamil Meaning : செயல்படுத்த

Synonyms : empower

Antonyms : delay

Example : “the evidence would enable us to arrive at firm conclusions”

38) protest

Meaning : a statement or action expressing disapproval of or objection to something.

Tamil Meaning : எதிர்ப்பு

Synonyms : challenge

Antonyms : answer

Example : “the British team lodged an official protest”

39) lofty

Meaning : of imposing height.
Tamil Meaning : உயரமான

Synonyms : soaring

Antonyms : beneath

Example : “the elegant square was shaded by lofty palms”

40) citing

Meaning : refer to (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, especially in a scholarly work.

Tamil Meaning : மேற்கோள்காட்டி

Synonyms : allege

Antonyms : conceal

Example : “authors who are highly regarded by their peers tend to be cited”


Aspirants can check the Whole planner of IBPS CLERK Prelims Exam 2018 from the below given link. 


IBPS CLERK prelims Exam 2018 – Planner 


THE HINDU EDITORIAL : DECEMBER 10, 2018




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THE HINDU EDITORIAL –  JUNE


THE HINDU EDITORIAL – JULY