02 September 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Date: 02-Sep-2026

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All words from today’s editorials, in one place.

EDITORIAL 1: DEADLY SPAN: ON VULTURE SAFETY IN INDIA, THREAT OF ELECTROCUTION

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Supersede	To take the place of, especially as being more important	Supplant	Retain
Simple Example: The threat of electrocution may supersede diclofenac as vultures’ biggest killer.
Nosediving	Falling sharply or rapidly	Plummeting	Soaring
Simple Example: Vulture numbers went nosediving by 99.5% between the 1980s and 2007.
Wrecks	Severely damages or destroys	Destroys	Restores
Simple Example: Diclofenac wrecks vulture kidneys, causing fatal renal failure.
Proliferation	A rapid increase in the number or amount of something	Surge	Decline
Simple Example: The proliferation of unsafe power infrastructure has heightened electrocution risk.
Congregate	To gather together in a crowd or group	Assemble	Disperse
Simple Example: Vultures congregate where the availability of food is predictable.
Elevated	Raised to a higher position	Raised	Lowered
Simple Example: Vultures have a habit of perching on elevated structures such as pylons.
Culprit	A person or thing responsible for causing a problem	Perpetrator	Innocent party
Simple Example: The culprit behind the 1990s vulture crash was identified as diclofenac.
Mitigate	To make something less severe, serious or painful	Alleviate	Aggravate
Simple Example: Additional bans in 2023 aimed to mitigate threats posed by other NSAIDs.
Fragility	The condition of being fragile or vulnerable	Vulnerability	Robustness
Simple Example: The fragility of the vulture population warrants urgent preventive action.
Trivial	Of little value or importance	Insignificant	Significant
Simple Example: It is no trivial detail that vultures’ wide wingspans can bridge two conductors at once.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

EDITORIAL 2: STEP UP REGULATION: ON AYUSH MEDICAL EDUCATION

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Expansion	The process of becoming larger in size, number or scope	Growth	Contraction
Simple Example: The private sector is leading the AYUSH medical education infrastructure’s rapid expansion.
Allocation	An amount of something given for a particular purpose	Grant	Withdrawal
Simple Example: The Centre’s AYURGYAN allocation for AYUSH education increased nearly sixfold.
Notable	Worthy of attention; remarkable	Noteworthy	Unremarkable
Simple Example: It is notable that quality issues in India’s AYUSH system long predate the current boom.
Predate	To exist or occur at a date earlier than something else	Precede	Postdate
Simple Example: Quality issues in India’s AYUSH system long predate the current boom.
Shortfall	A deficit; a failure to reach a required amount	Deficit	Surplus
Simple Example: Many institutions had a shortfall exceeding 50% in the teaching staff required by standards.
Withheld	Kept back and not given	Retained	Granted
Simple Example: The regulator has often withheld or denied permission to institutions after inspections.
Compliance	The act of conforming to a rule, standard or request	Conformity	Defiance
Simple Example: Several colleges were denied permission for non-compliance with the inspection process.
Incentives	Things that motivate or encourage a particular course of action	Inducements	Deterrents
Simple Example: The expansion is accompanied by incentives for institutions to maximise student intake.
Maximise	To increase something to the greatest possible amount	Optimise	Minimise
Simple Example: Institutions have an incentive to maximise student intake while maintaining faculty size.
Premature	Happening or done before the usual or proper time	Untimely	Timely
Simple Example: It would be premature to infer that the rapid expansion will have amplified these problems.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

EDITORIAL 3: HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU, SOORYAVANSHI

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Inevitable	Certain to happen; unavoidable	Unavoidable	Avoidable
Simple Example: At 15, with the attention surrounding him growing with every innings, that was inevitable.
Deceived	Misled or tricked	Misled	Enlightened
Simple Example: He was deceived in flight on 40, only for Yash Rathod to drop a sitter.
Reprieve	A temporary escape from a difficulty or punishment	Respite	Punishment
Simple Example: The left-hander did not go into his shell despite the reprieve.
Uncluttered	Free from mess or unnecessary complexity	Simple	Cluttered
Simple Example: He also has an uncluttered mind, unburdened by the fear of failure.
Unburdened	Free from a heavy load or worry	Relieved	Burdened
Simple Example: He has an uncluttered mind, unburdened by the fear of failure.
Induced	Brought about or gave rise to	Provoked	Prevented
Simple Example: Yash Thakur induced an outside edge that fell short of the wicketkeeper.
Curb	To restrain or keep something in check	Restrain	Unleash
Simple Example: Sooryavanshi did not curb his attacking instinct when the off-spinner came on.
Launched	Propelled forcefully	Propelled	Restrained
Simple Example: He launched Jain over long-on to reach 50 from 42 balls.
Dismissal	The act of being got out (in cricket)	Ouster	Retention
Simple Example: His dismissal for 92 showed why comparisons with Sehwag remain too early.
Premature	Happening or done before the usual or proper time	Untimely	Timely
Simple Example: It is far too early for comparisons, and his dismissal showed why.

Idioms

Idiom	Actual Meaning	Simple Meaning
Flying start	A fast, highly encouraging start to an endeavour	A very good beginning
Go into one’s shell	To become quiet, withdrawn or defensive, especially after a setback	To become shy or withdrawn

EDITORIAL 4: IN US VS IRAN, ALL ROADS LEAD BACK TO HORMUZ

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Spotlight	The focus of public attention	Limelight	Obscurity
Simple Example: The exchange has brought the spotlight back on the military dimension of the conflict.
Intertwined	Closely connected or linked together	Interwoven	Separate
Simple Example: The conflict’s economic and military fronts remain closely intertwined.
Resolve	Firm determination to do something	Determination	Hesitation
Simple Example: Washington’s resolve is evident in Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s threat.
Unleash	To release something suddenly and forcefully	Trigger	Restrain
Simple Example: Bessent has threatened to unleash an economic D-Day to force Iran back to the table.
Adapted	Adjusted to new conditions or circumstances	Adjusted	Resisted
Simple Example: Iran has periodically adapted to withstand multiple layers of sanctions.
Withstand	To endure or successfully resist something	Endure	Succumb
Simple Example: Iran has periodically adapted to withstand years of sanctions.
Leverage	Power to influence people or situations	Influence	Weakness
Simple Example: China has significant leverage of its own over critical minerals and manufacturing.
Antagonising	Provoking hostility or anger in someone	Provoking	Placating
Simple Example: Washington is unlikely to risk antagonising Beijing over secondary sanctions.
Hardline	Uncompromising, strict in adherence to a policy	Uncompromising	Flexible
Simple Example: How far Pezeshkian can go depends on the hardline IRGC, which opposes major concessions.
Durable	Able to last a long time without failing; long-lasting	Lasting	Fleeting
Simple Example: Until there is a durable agreement on how to manage the waterway, attacks will recur.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

EDITORIAL 5: A STRONG QUARTER QUICKENS PACE, BUT RISKS REMAIN

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

Vocabs	Simple Meaning	Synonym	Antonym
Robust	Strong and healthy; vigorous	Vigorous	Weak
Simple Example: The Indian economy grew at a robust 7.8% in the first quarter.
Fallout	The adverse after-effects of a situation	Repercussions	Benefit
Simple Example: Growth held up despite the adverse fallout from the West Asia conflict.
Momentum	The force gained by continued growth or movement	Impetus	Stagnation
Simple Example: There are expectations of the growth momentum softening over the coming quarters.
Pegged	Fixed or set at a particular level	Fixed	Unfixed
Simple Example: The central bank had pegged the economy to grow at 7 per cent.
Buoyant	Lively, cheerful, and here, strongly rising	Thriving	Sluggish
Simple Example: Buoyant sales of passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and tractors reflect healthy demand.
Staggering	Astonishing, especially because of great size or degree	Astonishing	Unremarkable
Simple Example: Services have grown by a staggering 10 per cent.
Clip	A fast pace or rate	Pace	Standstill
Simple Example: Both industry and services were growing at a fairly healthy clip.
Capex	Capital expenditure; spending on fixed assets	Capital spending	Operating expenditure
Simple Example: The Centre’s capex grew by roughly 24 per cent during the quarter.
Softening	Becoming weaker or less intense	Weakening	Strengthening
Simple Example: There are expectations of the growth momentum softening over the coming quarters.
Sowing	The act of planting seeds	Planting	Harvesting
Simple Example: The recovery in the monsoon has aided kharif sowing.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

Test Yourself — 5 Questions

Answer all before you scroll down — then comment your score below!

Q1. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Supersede   (B) Superceed   (C) Superseed   (D) Supercede   (E) Superseede

Answer: A

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Supersede’, meaning to take the place of, especially as being more important. Logic: standard English spelling — the word ends in ‘-sede’, not ‘-ceed’ or ‘-cede’. Elimination: the remaining options misspell the ending.

Q2. It would be PREMATURE to infer that the rapid expansion will have amplified these problems, the editorial cautions. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Untimely   (B) Early   (C) Timely   (D) Hasty   (E) Rash

Answer: C

Meaning: Premature means happening or done before the usual or proper time. Logic: ‘Timely’ is its closest antonym. Elimination: Untimely, Early, Hasty and Rash are all near-synonyms of premature, not opposite.

Q3. At 15, with the attention surrounding him growing with every innings, that was INEVITABLE, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Avoidable   (B) Preventable   (C) Unavoidable   (D) Optional   (E) Uncertain

Answer: C

Meaning: Inevitable means certain to happen; unavoidable. Logic: ‘Unavoidable’ is its closest synonym. Elimination: Avoidable, Preventable, Optional and Uncertain all suggest something that may not happen, the opposite sense.

Q4. Sooryavanshi did not CURB his attacking instinct when the off-spinner came on, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Restrain   (B) Unleash   (C) Suppress   (D) Restrict   (E) Limit

Answer: B

Meaning: Curb means to restrain or keep something in check. Logic: ‘Unleash’ is its closest antonym. Elimination: Restrain, Suppress, Restrict and Limit are all near-synonyms of curb, not opposite.

Q5. (A) India’s power infrastructure, encompassing thousands of kilometres of high-tension lines, is emerging as a major threat to the country’s vultures, / (B) a population that suffered one of the world’s worst crashes in the 1990s due to the veterinary drug diclofenac, / (C) which wrecks vulture kidneys and led to a decline of nearly 99.5% by 2007 from a 1980s population of about four crore, / (D) prompting bans on the drug as well as related NSAIDs such as aceclofenac and ketoprofen in subsequent years. Identify the segment containing the grammatical error.

(A) (A)   (B) (B)   (C) (C)   (D) (D)   (E) No error

Answer: E

Meaning: all four segments are grammatically correct as written. Logic: subject-verb agreement and tense are consistent throughout. Elimination: segments A, B, C and D contain no grammatical fault, so the correct answer is ‘No error’.

How many did you get right? Comment your score below — we read every one!

Quick Recap — Today’s Words

Supersede (Supplant) | Nosediving (Plummeting) | Wrecks (Destroys) | Proliferation (Surge) | Congregate (Assemble) | Elevated (Raised) | Culprit (Perpetrator) | Mitigate (Alleviate) | Fragility (Vulnerability) | Trivial (Insignificant) | Expansion (Growth) | Allocation (Grant) | Notable (Noteworthy) | Predate (Precede) | Shortfall (Deficit) | Withheld (Retained) | Compliance (Conformity) | Incentives (Inducements) | Maximise (Optimise) | Premature (Untimely) | Inevitable (Unavoidable) | Deceived (Misled) | Reprieve (Respite) | Uncluttered (Simple) | Unburdened (Relieved) | Induced (Provoked) | Curb (Restrain) | Launched (Propelled) | Dismissal (Ouster) | Premature (Untimely) | Spotlight (Limelight) | Intertwined (Interwoven) | Resolve (Determination) | Unleash (Trigger) | Adapted (Adjusted) | Withstand (Endure) | Leverage (Influence) | Antagonising (Provoking) | Hardline (Uncompromising) | Durable (Lasting) | Robust (Vigorous) | Fallout (Repercussions) | Momentum (Impetus) | Pegged (Fixed) | Buoyant (Thriving) | Staggering (Astonishing) | Clip (Pace) | Capex (Capital spending) | Softening (Weakening) | Sowing (Planting)

Idioms: Flying start, Go into one’s shell

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