THE HINDU

EDITORIAL Presents

19th January 2024

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

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

1. Lag: a delay between two things happening.

अंतराल
Synonyms: latency, interruption
Antonyms: expedition, alacrity
Example: The economic recovery showed a lag,
taking longer than expected to bounce back from
the recession.
2. Ails: to cause difficulty and problems for
someone or something. सताना
Synonyms: afflicts, plagues
Antonyms: aids, relieves
Example: The economic downturn continued to ail
the small businesses in the community.
 VOCABULARY

3. Cope: to deal successfully with a difficult

situation. मुक़ाबला करना
Synonyms: grapple, weather
Antonyms: flounder, collapse
Example: Finding new ways to cope with stress is
essential for maintaining mental well-being.
4. Redress: to correct something that is unfair or
wrong. सुधारना
Synonyms: amend, rectify
Antonyms: exacerbate, impair
Example: The court ordered the landlord to redress
the tenant's grievances and make necessary repairs.
 VOCABULARY

5. Cementing: making a relationship, an agreement,

etc. stronger. मज़बूत करना
Synonyms: reinforcing, bolstering
Antonyms: undermining, compromising
Example: The friendship between Sarah and Emma
helped to cement their bond over the years.
 VOCABULARY

6. Anecdotal: possibly not true or accurate because

it is based on personal accounts rather than facts or
research. उपाख्यानात्मक
Synonyms: circumstantial, qualitative
Antonyms: experimental, scientific
Example: The scientist cautioned that the evidence
supporting the new drug's effectiveness was largely
anecdotal.
 VOCABULARY

7. Nettlesome: annoying, and causing problems or

difficulties. कष्टप्रद
Synonyms: vexatious, irksome
Antonyms: pleasant, opportune
Example: The nettlesome issue of conflicting
schedules led to a heated discussion.
8. Cloud: to make something less pleasant. खराब
करना
Synonyms: spoil, blight
Antonyms: enhance, further
Example: His unclear explanation seemed to cloud
the entire discussion.
 VOCABULARY

9. Forging: making or producing something,

especially with some difficulty. बनाना
Synonyms: devising, concocting
Antonyms: dismantling, ruining
Example: The detective worked tirelessly to forge a
link between the seemingly unrelated clues.
Jargon
10. Littoral: near the coast; connected with the
coast.
Phrasal verb
11. Catch up: to reach the same quality or standard
as someone or something else.
 VOCABULARY

Idioms
12. Come to light: to become known or to be
discovered.
13. Give an inkling: to give someone a basic, vague,
or rudimentary knowledge or understanding about
something.
14. Steal a march on: gain an advantage over
someone by acting before they do.
Phrase
15. Run-up to: the period of time before a certain
event.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for reading

Smaller citizens

Despite rising enrolment,

gaps in India’s education
system are not closing
quickly
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The pandemic was difficult for India’s youngest citizens,

the children, but the true import of its impact is coming to
light now. The Annual Status of Education Report, titled
“ASER 2023: Beyond Basics” and released on
Wednesday, a survey by the civil society organisation
Pratham among rural students aged 14 to 18, reveals that
more than half struggled with basic mathematics, a skill
they should have mastered in Classes 3 and 4. The
household survey, the first field-based one in four years,
was conducted in 28 districts across 26 States and
assessed the foundational reading and arithmetic abilities
of 34,745 students. In other findings, about 25% of this
age group cannot read a Class 2 level text in their mother
tongue; boys are, however, better in arithmetic and
English reading skills than girls.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Overall, 86.8% in the 14-18 year age group are enrolled

in an educational institution, but there are gaps as they
grow older — while 3.9% of 14-year-olds are not in
school, the figure climbs to 32.6% for 18-year-olds. Also,
for Class 11 and higher, most students opt for
Humanities; while girls are less likely to be enrolled in
the science stream (28.1%) compared with boys (36.3%),
only 5.6% have opted for vocational training or other
related courses. The proportion of children opting for
private tuition nationwide went up from 25% in 2018 to
30% in 2022. Close to 90% of the youngsters surveyed
have a smartphone and know how to use it, though
many are unaware of online safety settings.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The trends, especially the lag in reading and solving

simple arithmetic, give an inkling of what ails the
education system, and the corrective measures
required. The National Education Policy 2020 says
the top priority is to “achieve universal foundational
literacy and numeracy in primary school by 2025”.
The report says all States have made a major push
in foundational literacy and numeracy under the
NIPUN Bharat Mission, but the numbers show that
in a diverse and vast country such as India, there is
a lot of catching up to do.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

While rising enrolment is a good thing, what awaits

the students after they finish the compulsory school
cycle (Class 8) is not all that rosy, sometimes
because they are simply not able to cope with the
ambitious curriculum set for the higher secondary
level. The Right to Education Act, 2009 may have
ensured universal access to education, but there is
many a gap to fill before it touches every child in the
true spirit of the legislation.
Summary:

The ASER 2023 report highlights challenges in India's education system,

revealing that over 50% of rural students aged 14-18 struggle with basic math.
About 25% can't read a Class 2 level text in their mother tongue, with gender
disparities in arithmetic and English skills. Despite 86.8% enrollment in the 14-18
age group, gaps emerge as they age, reaching 32.6% for 18-year-olds.
Humanities dominate higher education choices, with fewer girls opting for
science. The report underscores the need for corrective measures, especially to
achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025, as outlined in the
National Education Policy 2020.

The tone of the passage is informative and concerned.

 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for Skimming

Crafting a new phase in

India-U.K. defence ties
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to the United

Kingdom (U.K.) came after a hiatus of 22 years. Opportunities have
grown significantly in the past few years as opposed to two
decades ago. The growth of Chinese military power and in
particular, its expansion into the Indian Ocean which threatens
India and also Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs), on which
the U.K. depends, have given the British an opportunity to reorient
their strategic priorities. The Indian Navy has several
capability-related needs to make up for the shortfalls the service
faces vis-à-vis the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Securing key technologies has been an integral part of Mr. Singh’s
visit to the U.K. The U.K. is in a position to help redress the Indian
Navy’s technological gaps against the Chinese.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

One key area where London and New Delhi are cementing
cooperation is in electrical propulsion to power aircraft
carriers. The Indian Navy’s carriers, at present, are not
powered by electric propulsion technology. The Queen
Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy (RN) use
electric propulsion and the RN has mastered this technology.
In the run-up to Mr. Singh’s visit, there were already
preliminary engagements between the Indian and U.K.
governments regarding the Indian Navy securing electric
propulsion technology. Though the PLAN for its part
struggled to overcome the technical challenges associated
with electric propulsion, there is increasing yet anecdotal
evidence emerging that it is in the process of integrating
electric propulsion into its warships such as the Type 054B
frigates.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The Indian Navy cannot sit idly and allow the Chinese navy to
steal a march on a key piece of maritime technology for its
advanced surface combatants in the future. The advantage of
using electric propulsion is that warships integrated with this
capability produce a low acoustic signature by removing the
link between the principal mover and propulsion. There is
also the added advantage of enhanced electrical power
generation for subsystems in major warships of the Indian
Navy’s surface fleet. The establishment of a joint working
group dubbed the “India-UK electric propulsion capability
partnership” first met in February 2023 and thereafter a
delegation-level discussion was held on the Royal Navy
frigate HMS Lancaster, which made a port visit to Kochi in
March last year.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Extensive discussion took place the following month on the

transfer of technical know-how and the Royal Navy’s
experience in maritime electric propulsion for the Indian
Navy’s major surface combatants in the future. In November
2023, the India-U.K. electric propulsion capability partnership
again met to discuss the possibility of the Indian Navy’s
future warships to be integrated with electric propulsion
technology. The British have agreed to train, equip and help
establish the infrastructure necessary to develop an electric
propulsion system. Initially, the technology is expected to be
tested on landing platforms docks and thereafter on surface
vessels such as guided missile destroyers belonging to the
next generation with a displacement of over 6,000 tonnes.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

While there are considerable opportunities in the India-U.K.

defence relationship, challenges remain. A key challenge
relates to legacy issues, especially in London’s effort to
balance its ties between India and Pakistan. Successive U.K.
governments have simultaneously supplied India and
Pakistan with weapons or curbed weapons exports, leaving
many in India frustrated with British motives and objectives in
the Subcontinent. Nettlesome issues surrounding Khalistan
and Sikh separatism will cloud the relationship. But today
strategic realities have shifted with the emergence of the
Peoples Republic of China (PRC) as a major naval power
whose deployments in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) are
expanding rapidly, creating a very strong rationale for forging
closer defence ties between the U.K. and India.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Several joint military exercises have already taken place

between the two countries with deeper defence industrial
cooperation on the anvil and during Mr. Singh’s visit, the
British officially declared that they will be deploying a littoral
response group, a specialised amphibious warfare group in
2024 and carrier strike group in 2025 to train and increase
interoperability with the Indian Navy. With Mr. Singh’s visit to
the U.K., London is both rediscovering and bolstering its
military involvement and presence East of Suez, which it had
considerably until the late 1960s.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Today's Descriptive Question

Write an essay of 200 words highlighting the

importance of education penetration in rural areas
and discussing ways to promote education in rural
areas.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Education penetration in rural areas is crucial for fostering

societal development and addressing disparities. Access to
quality education empowers individuals, enhances
employability, and stimulates economic growth.
To promote education in rural areas, initiatives must focus on
infrastructure development, teacher training, and technology
integration. Building well-equipped schools, ensuring a robust
curriculum, and providing access to educational resources are
pivotal. Additionally, investing in teacher training programs
enhances the effectiveness of classroom instruction. Leveraging
technology, such as online learning platforms and interactive
educational tools, can bridge gaps and overcome geographical
challenges. Government policies and community involvement
play pivotal roles in promoting education, ensuring
sustainability.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Ultimately, a holistic approach that considers infrastructure,

curriculum, teacher quality, and community engagement is
essential to elevate education penetration in rural areas,
unlocking their potential and contributing to overall societal
progress.
Please write a letter to the manager of a bank, suggesting the option of an
additional ATM in your area to ease overcrowding.

[Your Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
Date
The Manager
[Bank Name]
[branch Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
Subject: Request for Additional ATM in Our Area
Dear Sir/ Ma’am
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to suggest the installation of an
additional ATM in our area. The current ATM experiences frequent
overcrowding, causing inconvenience for residents.
With the growing population, an extra ATM would alleviate the congestion and
enhance customer experience. It would also reduce wait times and contribute to
a more efficient banking service. I believe this improvement would be greatly
appreciated by the community and contribute to the overall satisfaction of your
customers.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Match the words with their meanings.

Column A Column B

Turmoil prevented or discouraged someone from doing

something

Bedrock a strong base for something, especially the facts or

the principles on which it is based

Deterred to damage somebody’s confidence, reputation

Inherent a state of confusion, uncertainty, or disorder

Dent existing as a natural and permanent quality of

something or someone
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

VOCABULARY FOR ALL

1. Lag
2. Ails:
3. Cope:
4. Redress:
5. Cementing:
6. Anecdotal:
7. Nettlesome:
8. Cloud:
9. Forging:
10. Steal a march on:
JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL

CONTENT - NIMISHA
BANSAL