THE HINDU EDITORIAL : JANUARY 1, 2019

THE HINDU EDITORIAL : JANUARY 1, 2019

Dear Banking Aspirants,

THE HINDU EDITORIAL – January 1, 2018, is one of the must-read section for the competitive exams like  IBPS Clerk 2018 Mains Exam, 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.

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A) Hasina’s triumph: on Bangladesh election results

After the Awami League landslide, she must repair Bangladesh’s bitter political divisions

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party was always going to win Sunday’s parliamentary election. She remains immensely popular, her government sought a fresh mandate with a formidable record of economic growth and social progress and her party, the Awami League, set the agenda for the election and dominated the campaign. Still, the scale of the victory would have taken even her supporters by surprise. The party’s Grand Alliance won 288 of the 299 seats contested, more than the 234 seats it won in 2014 when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the poll. This time, the Opposition coalition Jatiya Oikya Front, led by the BNP, secured only seven seats. But there are conflicting claims about the way the election was conducted. As soon as the results were known, Kamal Hossain, the leader of the Opposition coalition, called it a farcical election and demanded that the Election Commission call a fresh poll. More than 40 Opposition candidates pulled out of the race after voting began on Sunday, alleging rigging. However, the Election Monitoring Forum and the SAARC Human Rights Foundation, which includes both local and international observers, said in its preliminary evaluation that the election was “much freer and fairer” than previous ones. In the past, Bangladesh had seen governments declining to hold elections, one being cancelled and called again, and others being delayed amid violence. This time the election was called on time. Participation was higher, with the turnout at 66%, compared to 51% in 2014.

The challenge before Ms. Hasina is daunting. To begin with, she has to heal a country rattled by political divisions and violence. The government and the Election Commission could have held the election without being open to charges that it was manipulated.

There was a crackdown on the Opposition in the run-up to polling day. Pro-Opposition websites were taken down, thousands of activists were jailed, and political violence was unleashed to target BNP members. The situation was so grave that even one of the election commissioners said there was no level playing field. The Election Commission should conduct a fair investigation into allegations of rigging to restore faith in the poll process. Ms. Hasina should reach out to the Opposition. Her otherwise impressive record has been marred by her government’s authoritarian character. The victory is a chance for Ms. Hasina to mend her ways, to be more inclusive and run a government that respects the rule of law, the basic rights of citizens and institutional freedom. For India, Ms. Hasina’s victory is good news. New Delhi and Dhaka have deepened economic, security and strategic ties under her leadership. This should continue, no matter what the general election outcome in India in 2019.

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B) A liberal move: on Rajasthan govt scrapping educational criteria for local polls

Rajasthan strikes a blow for democracy by removing educational criteria for local polls

Among the first decisions taken by Ashok Gehlot’s government after assuming power in Rajasthan was to scrap minimum educational requirements for candidates contesting local body elections. This is a progressive move and will restore the right to contest, at least in theory, to a large section of the population in the State, where the literacy rate, according to the 2011 Census, was 52% for women and 79% for men. The previous government headed by Vasundhara Raje had stipulated, first through an ordinance in December 2014 and then through the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act passed in 2015, educational prerequisites to stand for local polls. It was made mandatory for candidates contesting for the post of sarpanch to have cleared Class 8, and for those in the fray in zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections to have passed Class 10. The move was ill-considered from the very beginning. At the time, the amendment was seen as a bid by the then BJP government to lower the average age of those in the fray based on the assumption that its voters tended to be younger. It was, however, an act of paternalism that militated against the basic assumptions of a liberal democracy. It penalised the people for failure to meet certain social indicators, when in fact it is the state’s responsibility to provide the infrastructure and incentives for school and adult education. And it defeated the very purpose of the panchayati raj institutions, to include citizens in multi-tier local governance from all sections of society. These requirements had the effect of excluding the marginalised.

The Rajasthan government’s decision should also force a rethink in Haryana, where the newly sworn-in BJP government had, also in 2015, legislated a series of eligibility requirements for panchayat elections, including education levels and a functional toilet in the candidate’s home. The Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015 was upheld that year by the Supreme Court in Rajbala v. State of Haryana. And the temptation to expand educational eligibility requirements remains. Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, for instance, has previously spoken of persuading other Chief Ministers to take the cue from Rajasthan and Haryana, as an incentive for women to study. The decision of the new Congress government in Rajasthan should force a recasting of the debate on finding ways and means by which elected bodies are made more representative. In a liberal democracy, governments must desist from putting bars on who may contest, except in exceptional circumstances, such as when a candidate is in breach of particular laws. To mandate paternalistically what makes a person a ‘good’ candidate goes against the spirit of the attempt to deepen democracy by taking self-government to the grassroots.

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VOCABULARY

1) immensely

Meaning : to a great extent; extremely.(adv)

Tamil Meaning : மிகவும்

Synonyms : endless

Antonyms : bounded

Example : “the president was immensely popular”

2) sought

Meaning : attempt to find (something).(v)

Tamil Meaning : முயன்று

Synonyms : desired

Example : “they came here to seek shelter from biting winter winds”

3) mandate

Meaning : an official order or commission to do something.

Tamil Meaning : ஆணை

Synonyms : command

Antonyms : breach

Example : “a mandate to seek the release of political prisoners”

4) formidable

Meaning : inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.(adj)

Tamil Meaning : வல்லமைமிக்க

Synonyms : dangerous

Antonyms : calm

Example : “a formidable opponent”

5) boycotted

Meaning : withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.

Tamil Meaning : புறக்கணித்தனர்

Synonyms : avoid

Antonyms : accept

Example : “we will boycott all banks which take part in the loans scheme”

6) coalition

Meaning : a temporary alliance for combined action, especially of political parties forming a government.(n)

Tamil Meaning : கூட்டணி

Synonyms : affiliation

Antonyms : detachment

Example : “a coalition between Liberals and Conservatives”

7) conflicting

Meaning : incompatible or at variance; contradictory.(adj)

Tamil Meaning : முரண்பட்ட

Synonyms : adverse

Antonyms : consonant

Example : “there are conflicting accounts of what occurred”

8) claims

Meaning : state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.

Tamil Meaning : கூற்றுக்கள்

Synonyms : allegation

Antonyms : answer

Example : “the Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt”

9) farcical

Meaning : relating to or resembling farce, especially because of absurd or ridiculous aspects.

Synonyms : amusing

Antonyms : grave

Example : “he considered the whole idea farcical”

10) alleging

Meaning : claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof.(v)

Tamil Meaning : குற்றம்சாட்டி

Synonyms : charge

Antonyms : deny

Example : “he alleged that he had been assaulted”

11) evaluation

Meaning : the making of a judgement about the amount, number, or value of something; assessment.(n)

Tamil Meaning : மதிப்பீடு

Synonyms : assessment

Example : “the evaluation of each method”

12) declining

Meaning : (typically of something regarded as good) become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease(v).

Tamil Meaning : குறைந்து

Synonyms : deny

Antonyms : accept

Example : “the birth rate continued to decline”

13) amid

Meaning : surrounded by; in the middle of.

Tamil Meaning : மத்தியில்

Synonyms : amidst

Antonyms : beyond

Example : “our dream home, set amid magnificent rolling countryside”

14) daunting

Meaning : seeming difficult to deal with in prospect; intimidating.(adj)

Tamil Meaning : அச்சுறுத்தலும்

Synonyms : baffle

Antonyms : assist

Example : “a daunting task”

15) heal

Meaning : cause (a wound, injury, or person) to become sound or healthy again(v).

Tamil Meaning : குணமடைய

Synonyms : fix

Antonyms : break

Example : “his concern is to heal sick people”

16) rattled

Meaning : make or cause to make a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds.

Tamil Meaning : பயமுறுத்தியிருத்தது

Synonyms : bounce

Antonyms : appease

Example : “the roof rattled with little gusts of wind”

17) manipulated

Meaning : handle or control (a tool, mechanism, information, etc.) in a skilful manner.

Tamil Meaning : மோசடியாக

Synonyms : employ

Antonyms : destroy

Example : “he manipulated the dials of the set”

18) unleashed

Meaning : release (a dog) from a leash.(v )

Tamil Meaning : ஏவி

Synonyms : discharge

Antonyms : hold

Example : “they dig up badger setts and unleash terriers into them”

19) grave

Meaning : a hole dug in the ground to receive a coffin or dead body, typically marked by a stone or mound.(n)

Synonyms : dignified

Antonyms : agitated

Example : “the coffin was lowered into the grave”

20) rigging

Meaning : the system of ropes or chains employed to support a ship’s masts ( standing rigging ) and to control or set the yards and sails ( running rigging ).

Tamil Meaning : மோசடி

Synonyms : apparatus

Example : “I’m listening to the wind in the rigging”

21) persuading

Meaning : induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument.(v)

Tamil Meaning : இணங்க

Synonyms : advise

Antonyms : discourage

Example : “it wasn’t easy, but I persuaded him to do the right thing”

22) marred

Meaning : impair the quality or appearance of; spoil.(v)

Tamil Meaning : அழிவு

Synonyms : bruise

Antonyms : aid

Example : “violence marred a number of New Year celebrations”

23) inclusive

Meaning : including all the services or items normally expected or required.(adj)

Tamil Meaning : உள்ளடக்கிய

Synonyms : broad

Antonyms : exclusive

Example : “menus stating fully inclusive prices”

24) strategic

Meaning : relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.(adj)

Tamil Meaning : மூலோபாய

Synonyms : critical

Antonyms : inessential

Example : “strategic planning for the organization is the responsibility of top management”

25) contesting

Meaning : engage in competition to attain (a position of power).(v)

Tamil Meaning : போட்டி

Synonyms : litigate

Antonyms : agree

Example : “she declared her intention to contest the presidency”

26) progressive

Meaning : happening or developing gradually or in stages.(adj)

Tamil Meaning : முற்போக்கான

Synonyms : continuous

Antonyms : intermittent

Example : “a progressive decline in popularity”

27) restore

Meaning : bring back or re-establish (a previous right, practice, or situation).

Tamil Meaning : மீட்க

Synonyms : improve

Antonyms : damage

Example : “the government restored confidence in the housing market”

28) contest

Meaning : engage in competition to attain (a position of power).(v)

Tamil Meaning : போட்டியில்

Synonyms : discussion

Antonyms : agreement

Example : “she declared her intention to contest the presidency”

29) stipulated

Meaning : demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of an agreement.(v)

Synonyms : designate

Antonyms : break

Example : “he stipulated certain conditions before their marriage”

30) prerequisites

Meaning : a thing that is required as a prior condition for something else to happen or exist.(n)

Tamil Meaning : முன்நிபந்தனை

Synonyms : essential

Antonyms : nonessential

Example : “sponsorship is not a prerequisite for any of our courses”

31) legislated

Meaning : make or enact laws.

Synonyms : enact

Antonyms : deny

Example : “they legislated against discrimination in the workplace”

32) fray

Meaning : (of a fabric, rope, or cord) unravel or become worn at the edge, typically through constant rubbing.

Synonyms : combat

Antonyms : peace

Example : “cheap fabric soon frays”

33) bid

Meaning : offer (a certain price) for something, especially at an auction.(v)

Tamil Meaning : முயற்சி

Synonyms : advance

Antonyms : withdrawal

Example : “a consortium of dealers bid a world record price for a snuff box”

34) tended

Meaning : regularly or frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic.(v)

Synonyms : contribute

Antonyms : dislike

Example : “written language tends to be formal”

35) militated

Meaning : (of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing.

Synonyms : count

Antonyms : ignore

Example : “these fundamental differences will militate against the two communities coming together”

36) penalised

Meaning : subject to a penalty or punishment.

Tamil Meaning : தண்டிக்கப்பட

Synonyms : assented

Antonyms : unpunished

Example : “high-spending councils will be penalized”

37) incentives

Meaning : a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something.

Tamil Meaning : சலுகை

Synonyms : enticement

Antonyms : hindrance

Example : “give farmers an incentive to improve their land

38) excluding

Meaning : not taking someone or something into account; except.

Tamil Meaning : தவிர

Synonyms : ban

Antonyms : accept

Example : “the holiday cost £180, excluding accommodation”

39) upheld

Meaning : confirm or support (something which has been questioned).

Tamil Meaning : உறுதி

Synonyms : backed

Antonyms : unsupported

Example : “the court upheld his claim for damages”

40) cue

Meaning : a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.(n)

Tamil Meaning : கோல்

Synonyms : clue

Example : “she had not yet been given her cue to come out on to the dais”

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