02 Novemebr 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Today’s Highlight: Today’s standout word is Guise – it means a false outward appearance that hides the real purpose, and it is a handy word for Banking and SSC reading passages. The first editorial covers the challenge to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and its effect on press freedom, the second is a light read on restaurants that ban smartphones at the table, and the third explains why capping trade margins alone cannot make cancer drugs affordable.

Editorial 1: Open to Investigation: On the Challenge to the DPDP Act, 2023

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Misconduct
Synonym: Wrongdoing | Antonym: Propriety
Example: The clerk was suspended after an inquiry into his misconduct.

2. Fiduciary
Synonym: Trustee | Antonym: Beneficiary
Example: As a fiduciary, the trustee must manage the fund honestly.

3. Undertaken
Synonym: Conducted | Antonym: Abandoned
Example: The survey was undertaken by a team of college students.

4. Determination
Synonym: Decision | Antonym: Indecision
Example: The court’s determination of the dispute took nearly two years.

5. Absolute
Synonym: Total | Antonym: Limited
Example: The manager’s authority is not absolute and can be questioned.

6. Reproducing
Synonym: Duplicating | Antonym: Originating
Example: The magazine was accused of reproducing old reports without any fresh reporting.

7. Legalistic
Synonym: Rigid | Antonym: Flexible
Example: A legalistic reading of the rule ignored the needs of the villagers.

8. Functionaries
Synonym: Officials | Antonym: Civilians
Example: Senior functionaries of the department attended the review meeting.

9. Guise
Synonym: Pretence | Antonym: Reality
Example: He collected money under the guise of helping flood victims.

10. Notify
Synonym: Inform | Antonym: Conceal
Example: Schools must notify parents before changing the exam dates.

Idioms

1. Chilling effect
Meaning: Fear that stops action

2. Under the guise of
Meaning: Pretending to be

3. In the public interest
Meaning: For the public good

4. A welcome step
Meaning: A good move

Editorial 2: Put Your Phone Away and Tuck in

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Courtier
Synonym: Attendant | Antonym: Commoner
Example: The courtier bowed low before presenting the king’s message.

2. Manners
Synonym: Etiquette | Antonym: Rudeness
Example: Good manners cost nothing but win many friends.

3. Diners
Synonym: Patrons | Antonym: Hosts
Example: Diners waited patiently for a free table on Sunday evening.

4. Ban
Synonym: Prohibit | Antonym: Permit
Example: The school decided to ban mobile phones inside classrooms.

5. Discovery
Synonym: Finding | Antonym: Concealment
Example: The discovery of a hidden cave excited the young explorers.

6. Similar
Synonym: Alike | Antonym: Different
Example: The twins wore similar shirts to the school function.

7. Interactions
Synonym: Exchanges | Antonym: Seclusion
Example: Short daily interactions with neighbours made the old man feel better.

8. Loneliness
Synonym: Isolation | Antonym: Companionship
Example: Loneliness can affect the health of elderly people living alone.

9. Crisis
Synonym: Emergency | Antonym: Stability
Example: The government set up a team to tackle the water crisis.

10. Losing
Synonym: Failing | Antonym: Winning
Example: Fighting rising pollution without new rules is a losing struggle.

Idioms

1. Losing battle
Meaning: Hopeless fight

2. Once more unto the breach
Meaning: Try again

3. Show the way
Meaning: Lead by example

Editorial 3: Affordable Cancer Care Needs More Than Price Caps

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Unaffordable
Synonym: Costly | Antonym: Cheap
Example: Unaffordable school fees forced many families to change schools.

2. Delaying
Synonym: Postponing | Antonym: Hastening
Example: Delaying a small repair often leads to a bigger bill later.

3. Steep
Synonym: Sharp | Antonym: Gradual
Example: The steep rise in onion prices upset many households.

4. Artificial
Synonym: Fake | Antonym: Natural
Example: Artificial shortages push up prices before every festival.

5. Patented
Synonym: Proprietary | Antonym: Generic
Example: The company sold the patented medicine at a high price.

6. Limitations
Synonym: Restrictions | Antonym: Strengths
Example: The study has several limitations that readers should keep in mind.

7. Handling
Synonym: Management | Antonym: Mishandling
Example: Careful handling of vaccines keeps them safe during transport.

8. Manufacturers
Synonym: Producers | Antonym: Consumers
Example: Manufacturers promised to cut prices before the festival season.

9. Actual
Synonym: Real | Antonym: Imaginary
Example: The actual cost of the project was double the estimate.

10. Fears
Synonym: Worries | Antonym: Hopes
Example: Fears of job losses led workers to join the protest.

Idioms

1. In concert with
Meaning: Together with

2. Come into force
Meaning: Start to apply

3. Pass on costs
Meaning: Shift the cost

Test Yourself – 5 Questions

Q1. The clerk was suspended after an inquiry into his MISCONDUCT. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Wrongdoing
(B) Propriety
(C) Honesty
(D) Discipline
(E) Courtesy

Answer: A

Meaning: Misconduct means improper or unacceptable behaviour, especially by someone in authority.
Logic: ‘Wrongdoing’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Propriety, Honesty, Discipline and Courtesy are opposite in sense.

Q2. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Courtior
(B) Courtier
(C) Courtire
(D) Cortier
(E) Courtyer

Answer: B

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Courtier’, meaning an attendant at a royal court.
Logic: ‘court’ plus ‘ier’.
Elimination: the remaining options change, drop or swap letters.

Q3. As a ______, the trustee must manage the fund honestly. Select the option that best fits the blank in the sentence.

(A) umbrella
(B) lantern
(C) cushion
(D) fiduciary
(E) sandal

Answer: D

Meaning: fiduciary means a person or body that holds and manages something in trust for others.
Logic: a person who manages funds in trust for others is a fiduciary.
Elimination: umbrella, lantern, cushion and sandal do not fit the sentence.

Q4. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Maners
(B) Mannors
(C) Manners
(D) Manneers
(E) Manrers

Answer: C

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Manners’, meaning polite and socially accepted ways of behaving.
Logic: ‘manner’ plus ‘s’ with a double n.
Elimination: the remaining options change, drop or swap letters.

Q5. The survey was UNDERTAKEN by a team of college students. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Abandoned
(B) Conducted
(C) Refused
(D) Ignored
(E) Cancelled

Answer: B

Meaning: Undertaken means taken up and carried out as a task.
Logic: ‘Conducted’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Abandoned, Refused, Ignored and Cancelled are opposite in sense.

Quick Recap – Today’s Words

Misconduct (Wrongdoing) | Fiduciary (Trustee) | Undertaken (Conducted) | Determination (Decision) | Absolute (Total) | Reproducing (Duplicating) | Legalistic (Rigid) | Functionaries (Officials) | Guise (Pretence) | Notify (Inform) | Courtier (Attendant) | Manners (Etiquette) | Diners (Patrons) | Ban (Prohibit) | Discovery (Finding) | Similar (Alike) | Interactions (Exchanges) | Loneliness (Isolation) | Crisis (Emergency) | Losing (Failing) | Unaffordable (Costly) | Delaying (Postponing) | Steep (Sharp) | Artificial (Fake) | Patented (Proprietary) | Limitations (Restrictions) | Handling (Management) | Manufacturers (Producers) | Actual (Real) | Fears (Worries)

Idioms: Chilling effect, Under the guise of, In the public interest, A welcome step, Losing battle, Once more unto the breach, Show the way, In concert with, Come into force, Pass on costs