THE HINDU

EDITORIAL Presents

13th September 2023

PREPARE FOR BANK (PO/ CLERK), SSC,UPSC,

State PSC, CAT,CTET,RAILWAY EXAMS,CDS,
TET, NDA/AIRFORCE, NET and all Govt. Exams
 VOCABULARY

1. Contestation: the act of arguing or disagreeing about something.

प्रितवाद
Synonyms: dispute, dissension
Antonyms: consensus, harmony
Example: The contestation over the ownership of the land led to a
lengthy legal battle.
2. Sifting: examining something very carefully in order to decide
what is important or useful or to find something important. छान-बीन
करना
Synonyms: probing, investigating
Antonyms: ignoring, neglecting
Example: The detective was busy sifting through the evidence to
solve the mysterious case.
 VOCABULARY

3. Malfeasance: an example of dishonest and illegal behaviour,

especially by a person in authority. दुराचार
Synonyms: wrongdoing, misconduct
Antonyms: fairness, virtue
Example: Ethical leaders strive to prevent malfeasance within their
organisations.
4. Knotty: complicated and difficult to solve. जिटल
Synonyms: convoluted, problematic
Antonyms: facile, straightforward
Example: Their relationship faced its share of knotty challenges, but
they always worked through them.
 VOCABULARY

5. Transcended: went beyond or rose above a limit, or was greater

than something ordinary. आगे जाना
Synonyms: surpassed, eclipsed
Antonyms: subceeded, trailed
Example: His music had the power to transcend language and touch
people's hearts.
6. Grave: very serious and important; giving you a reason to feel
worried. गंभीर
Synonyms: critical, pressing
Antonyms: trivial, minor
Example: The situation became grave when they realised they were
lost in the dense forest.
 VOCABULARY

7. Allegedly: used when something illegal or wrong is said to have

been done, but has not been proved. किथत तौर पर
Synonyms: ostensibly, purportedly
Antonyms: certainly, definitely
Example: The suspect allegedly stole the wallet from the store.
8. Onus: the responsibility or duty to do something. दाियत्व
Synonyms: obligation, incumbency
Antonyms: exemption, exclusion
Example: The onus of cleaning the kitchen falls on me tonight.
 VOCABULARY

9. Cynicism: the belief that people are only interested in themselves

and are not sincere. िनराशावाद
Synonyms: scepticism, incredulity
Antonyms: confidence, faith
Example: Despite his cynicism, Tom was pleasantly surprised by the
kindness of strangers.
10. Frivolous: having no useful or serious purpose. तुच्छ
Synonyms: trifling, paltry
Antonyms: consequential, monumental
Example: Their argument over such a frivolous matter seemed
unnecessary.
 VOCABULARY

Words of foreign origin

11. Prima facie: based on what at first seems to be true, although it
may be proved false later.
12. Bona fide: real or true.

Phrasal verbs
13. Roped in: persuaded somebody to join in an activity or to help to
do something, even when they did not want to.
14. Struck down: decided that a law or rule was illegal and should be
ignored.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for reading

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 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Sifting through allegations of corruption and malfeasance

against politicians, especially those in the Opposition, after
cases are filed by a successor-government in Indian States is a
knotty exercise. In States such as Andhra Pradesh, relations
between the ruling regime and the Opposition have transcended
political and ideological contestation and have veered deep into
outright hostility and vendetta as seen in the ongoing rivalry
between the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party and
the Telugu Desam Party. Prima facie, the allegations by the
Andhra Pradesh CID (AP-CID) about malfeasance in the Andhra
Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation’s functioning in
2014, are grave.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The predecessor government (TDP) is accused of releasing

funds for a skill development scheme for unemployed youth
in the State, and allegedly diverting a major portion to shell
companies, based on fake invoices, even as private partner
entities which were roped in to invest in the scheme had not
put in their requisite share. The AP-CID has claimed that there
were other rule violations in the implementation of the
scheme, even as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched
a separate inquiry based on the FIR filed by the AP-CID in
December 2021 leading to arrests of individuals who had
purportedly benefited from the transfer of money from the
government.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The AP-CID has now named the former Chief Minister, N.

Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), as the prime accused, leading to
his arrest, with its Economic Offences Wing seeking to
establish the link between him and other private beneficiaries
of the government’s release of money for the scheme. A look
at the evolution of the case, with Mr. Naidu being named the
prime accused only recently, raises the suspicion of whether
political vendetta is also guiding the investigations.
Irrespective of the merits of the case, his incarceration will be
seen in the light of the zealousness of agencies such as the
ED to use arrests, especially those involving the political
Opposition, as a political weapon in various cases. Rather
than relying on documentary evidence in its investigations,
the ED’s recourse to high-profile arrests is now being
replicated by State agencies as well.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The onus is now on the AP-CID to establish a clear link

between Mr. Naidu and the alleged irregularities in the
scheme. Dealing with malfeasance and corruption cases is no
easy task for State agencies. But if they are to tackle the
problem of corruption in governance, such agencies must not
be seen to be doing the bidding of the party in power. Else,
such actions only result in the cynicism of the electorate
about corruption and erode their trust in institutions.
Summary:

The passage discusses allegations of corruption in Indian politics, particularly

in Andhra Pradesh, where political rivalry between the ruling party (YSRCP) and
the opposition (TDP) has escalated into hostility and vendetta. The Andhra
Pradesh CID has accused the former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, of
diverting funds from a youth skill development scheme to shell companies,
leading to his recent arrest. The author raises concerns about the potential for
political vendetta in such cases and the trend of using high-profile arrests as a
political weapon. They emphasize the importance of state agencies maintaining
impartiality to combat corruption without eroding public trust in institutions.

The tone of the passage appears to be critical and sceptical.

 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for skimming

No filter
Prior approval requirement
for initiating corruption
probes is not desirable
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has ruled that its 2014
verdict, invalidating Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, the law that governs the CBI, will have
retrospective effect from the day the provision was introduced in
2003. Section 6A provided that any investigation into corruption
charges against officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above,
can begin only after the Central government’s approval. It was
introduced to restore the Centre’s ‘Single Directive’, a set of
instructions to the CBI on the modalities of holding an inquiry. In
the landmark case of Vineet Narain (1997), the apex court had
struck down the directive on the ground that a statutory
investigation cannot be impeded by administrative instructions.
Six years later, Section 6A was introduced to restore the prior
approval requirement.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

However, in 2014, the Court struck down this section too,

holding that it violated the norm of equality by extending its
protection only to a class of public servants and not
everyone. The latest judgment rejects arguments by some
who are facing investigation that they should be given the
protection of Section 6A as they were charged with offences
that date back to the time before the 2014 judgment, when the
provision was in force. The Court has reiterated the position
that post-Constitution laws cannot be inconsistent with the
Constitution and when they are so declared by a court, the
invalidation is with effect from their inception. The judgment
is of limited applicability now, as it will impact only
allegations that date back to the period between 2003 and
2014.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The law as it stands now is quite different. In 2018, when the

Prevention of Corruption Act was amended, Section 17A was
introduced to make the government’s previous approval a
mandatory requirement before any probe can be begun into
decisions or recommendations made by a public servant.
This initial stage filter has been created even while sanction
is necessary for prosecuting any public servant at the stage
of the trial court taking cognisance of the charge sheet. A
prior approval requirement for initiating an anti-corruption
probe is not inherently desirable. In its 2014 judgment, the
Court had observed that such provisions are destructive of
the objective of the anti-corruption laws, block the truth from
surfacing and sometimes result in a forewarning to those
officials involved as soon as allegations arise against them.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

It may be necessary to have safeguards to filter out frivolous

inquiries into the conduct of public servants making crucial
and bona fide decisions, but it is equally in the interest of the
public that these provisions do not become a shield for the
unscrupulous.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Today's Descriptive Question

Write an essay of 200 words highlighting the

importance of having a young demography for the
development of a nation.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

A young demography is a vital asset for the development of

a nation. This demographic composition, characterized by a
higher proportion of young people, has several advantages
that contribute to a nation's progress.

First, a young population means a larger workforce. This

workforce can be harnessed for economic growth and
innovation. Young individuals are typically more adaptable
and open to new ideas, making them valuable contributors
to various sectors such as technology, entrepreneurship, and
industry.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Second, a youthful demographic can lead to a demographic

dividend. As the young population enters the workforce,
there is a potential boost in productivity and economic
output. This dividend can be maximised through investments
in education and skill development, ensuring that young
people are equipped to take on the challenges of the modern
job market.

Furthermore, a youthful population often fosters a culture of

ambition and aspiration, encouraging individuals to strive
for higher education and career achievements. This drive can
result in a more dynamic and competitive society.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

In conclusion, a young demography provides a nation with a

demographic advantage that, when properly nurtured and
invested in, can significantly contribute to its overall
development and prosperity. It is essential for governments
and societies to recognize and harness the potential of their
youth to ensure long-term growth and progress.
Please write a letter to the manager of a bank, thanking him or her for the
speedy issuance of your new ATM card.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
[Date]
Date
[Bank Name]
[branch Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
Subject: A letter of gratitude for the swift issuance of my new ATM card
Dear Sir/ Ma’am
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the swift
issuance of my new ATM card.

I was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of your bank's services. Within just a few days of
my request, I received the card, allowing me to access my funds conveniently. This level of
service is truly commendable and reaffirms my confidence in your bank.

Thank you for your prompt and excellent assistance. I appreciate your dedication to customer
satisfaction.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Match the words with their meanings.

Column A Column B

Consensus impossible to forget or remove

Crystallised secret and mysterious and therefore difficult to

understand

Indelible a generally accepted opinion; wide agreement

Staid not fun or interesting; boring and old-fashioned

Arcane made or became definite and clear

 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

VOCABULARY FOR ALL

1. Contestation:
2. Sifting:
3. Malfeasance:
4. Knotty:
5. Transcended:
6. Grave:
7. Allegedly:
8. Onus:
9. Cynicism:
10. Frivolous:
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CONTENT - NIMISHA
BANSAL