06 October 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Today’s Highlight: Today’s standout word is Atavistic – it means relating to old, primitive instincts, and it is a favourite in Banking and SSC reading passages. The editorial on the three-language policy is a must-read for education and polity, and the bond-yield editorial explains why global capital is no longer cheap.

Editorial 1: Two or Three?: On the Court, Students, Three-Language Policy

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Intervened
Synonym: Interceded | Antonym: Abstained
Example: The teacher intervened to stop the fight.

2. Lessen
Synonym: Reduce | Antonym: Increase
Example: Regular exercise can lessen stress.

3. Stubbornly
Synonym: Obstinately | Antonym: Flexibly
Example: He stubbornly refused to admit his mistake.

4. Disruptive
Synonym: Disturbing | Antonym: Orderly
Example: The loud phone call was disruptive in class.

5. Mooted
Synonym: Proposed | Antonym: Withdrawn
Example: A new metro line was mooted at the meeting.

6. Indigenous
Synonym: Native | Antonym: Foreign
Example: Neem is an indigenous tree of India.

7. Purported
Synonym: Alleged | Antonym: Confirmed
Example: The purported letter turned out to be fake.

8. Strenuous
Synonym: Arduous | Antonym: Effortless
Example: Climbing the hill was a strenuous task.

9. Atavistic
Synonym: Primitive | Antonym: Modern
Example: The crowd showed an atavistic fear of strangers.

10. Cater
Synonym: Serve | Antonym: Neglect
Example: The new cafe caters to college students.

Idioms

1. Soften the rough edges
Meaning: Make it less harsh

2. Think through
Meaning: Consider carefully

3. Unique selling point
Meaning: Special advantage

Editorial 2: Outbound Force: On the U.S. Leaving Iraq

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Weariness
Synonym: Fatigue | Antonym: Vigour
Example: Years of war left the soldiers in weariness.

2. Harboured
Synonym: Sheltered | Antonym: Expelled
Example: The village harboured the lost travellers overnight.

3. Swathes
Synonym: Stretches | Antonym: Patches
Example: Floods covered huge swathes of farmland.

4. Outright
Synonym: Downright | Antonym: Partial
Example: His story was an outright lie.

5. Cleavages
Synonym: Divisions | Antonym: Unity
Example: The election deepened caste cleavages in the region.

6. Abrupt
Synonym: Sudden | Antonym: Gradual
Example: The bus came to an abrupt stop.

7. Toppled
Synonym: Overthrown | Antonym: Installed
Example: The protests toppled the corrupt mayor.

8. Destabilised
Synonym: Unsettled | Antonym: Stabilised
Example: The rumours destabilised the stock market.

9. Resurgent
Synonym: Reviving | Antonym: Declining
Example: A resurgent team won the next three matches.

10. Wherewithal
Synonym: Means | Antonym: Lack
Example: The club lacks the wherewithal to build a stadium.

Idioms

1. State within a state
Meaning: Parallel power centre

2. In the midst of
Meaning: In the middle of

Editorial 3: A Late Surge at Nagoya and a Long Way to Los Angeles

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Despair
Synonym: Hopelessness | Antonym: Hope
Example: After failing twice, he was filled with despair.

2. Haul
Synonym: Tally | Antonym: Shortfall
Example: The swimmer returned with a haul of five medals.

3. Spectacular
Synonym: Stunning | Antonym: Ordinary
Example: The fireworks made a spectacular show.

4. Humbled
Synonym: Defeated | Antonym: Exalted
Example: The small club humbled the champions 3-0.

5. Standout
Synonym: Outstanding | Antonym: Mediocre
Example: Her speech was the standout of the evening.

6. Dominance
Synonym: Supremacy | Antonym: Subservience
Example: The team’s dominance in cricket lasted a decade.

7. Infighting
Synonym: Feuding | Antonym: Harmony
Example: Infighting weakened the party before the polls.

8. Morale
Synonym: Spirit | Antonym: Dejection
Example: A win lifted the team’s morale.

9. Penultimate
Synonym: Second-last | Antonym: Final
Example: The penultimate chapter is the most exciting.

10. Aspire
Synonym: Aim | Antonym: Settle
Example: She aspires to become a doctor.

Idioms

1. Shot in the arm
Meaning: A boost

2. Make a mark
Meaning: Become successful

3. Bounce back
Meaning: Recover quickly

4. A long way to go
Meaning: Much still to do

Editorial 4: Global Capital Is No Longer Cheap, That’s the Challenge

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Tradable
Synonym: Marketable | Antonym: Non-transferable
Example: Shares are tradable on the stock exchange.

2. Sovereign
Synonym: National | Antonym: Dependent
Example: The bank bought sovereign bonds for safety.

3. Differentiating
Synonym: Distinguishing | Antonym: Equating
Example: The test checks skill in differentiating colours.

4. Surged
Synonym: Soared | Antonym: Slumped
Example: Ticket sales surged after the trailer release.

5. Entitlement
Synonym: Right | Antonym: Obligation
Example: Free rations are an entitlement for poor families.

6. Surpassed
Synonym: Exceeded | Antonym: Trailed
Example: Her score surpassed the previous record.

7. Mounting
Synonym: Growing | Antonym: Diminishing
Example: Mounting bills forced him to sell his car.

8. Projected
Synonym: Forecast | Antonym: Actual
Example: Sales are projected to double next year.

9. Reconcile
Synonym: Accept | Antonym: Resist
Example: He had to reconcile himself to a smaller flat.

10. Discipline
Synonym: Restraint | Antonym: Indulgence
Example: Saving money needs discipline.

Idioms

1. Simply put
Meaning: In simple words

2. Safe haven
Meaning: A safe place

3. Crowd out
Meaning: Push out others

Test Yourself – 5 Questions

Q1. The Court is seeking to ______ the load on the students, at least until schools are fully prepared. Select the option that best fits the blank in the sentence.

(A) increase
(B) double
(C) ignore
(D) lessen
(E) test

Answer: D

Meaning: Lessen means to make something smaller or less.
Logic: ‘until schools are fully prepared’ shows the Court wants to ease the burden.
Elimination: increase and double add to the load, while ignore and test do not reduce it.

Q2. The U.S. is leaving Iraq in WEARINESS, if not defeat. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Vigour
(B) Triumph
(C) Fatigue
(D) Anger
(E) Eagerness

Answer: C

Meaning: Weariness means extreme tiredness or loss of interest.
Logic: ‘Fatigue’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Vigour and Eagerness are opposite in sense, and Triumph and Anger do not mean tiredness.

Q3. The CBSE has STUBBORNLY resisted compromise at various stages in the hearing. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Obstinately
(B) Gently
(C) Willingly
(D) Quickly
(E) Openly

Answer: A

Meaning: Stubbornly means in a way that refuses to change.
Logic: ‘Obstinately’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Gently and Willingly suggest flexibility, while Quickly and Openly do not convey refusal to change.

Q4. The U.S. claimed that Saddam Hussein’s regime HARBOURED terrorist groups. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Expelled
(B) Defeated
(C) Reported
(D) Sheltered
(E) Ignored

Answer: D

Meaning: Harboured means gave shelter or protection to.
Logic: ‘Sheltered’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Expelled and Defeated are opposite in sense, while Reported and Ignored do not mean protecting.

Q5. Suddenly learning a new language in Class 9 would be too DISRUPTIVE for students. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Disturbing
(B) Unsettling
(C) Troublesome
(D) Upsetting
(E) Orderly

Answer: E

Meaning: Disruptive means causing trouble and breaking a normal pattern.
Logic: ‘Orderly’ is its closest antonym.
Elimination: Disturbing, Unsettling, Troublesome and Upsetting are all near-synonyms, not opposite.

Quick Recap – Today’s Words

Intervened (Interceded) | Lessen (Reduce) | Stubbornly (Obstinately) | Disruptive (Disturbing) | Mooted (Proposed) | Indigenous (Native) | Purported (Alleged) | Strenuous (Arduous) | Atavistic (Primitive) | Cater (Serve) | Weariness (Fatigue) | Harboured (Sheltered) | Swathes (Stretches) | Outright (Downright) | Cleavages (Divisions) | Abrupt (Sudden) | Toppled (Overthrown) | Destabilised (Unsettled) | Resurgent (Reviving) | Wherewithal (Means) | Despair (Hopelessness) | Haul (Tally) | Spectacular (Stunning) | Humbled (Defeated) | Standout (Outstanding) | Dominance (Supremacy) | Infighting (Feuding) | Morale (Spirit) | Penultimate (Second-last) | Aspire (Aim) | Tradable (Marketable) | Sovereign (National) | Differentiating (Distinguishing) | Surged (Soared) | Entitlement (Right) | Surpassed (Exceeded) | Mounting (Growing) | Projected (Forecast) | Reconcile (Accept) | Discipline (Restraint)

Idioms: Soften the rough edges, Think through, Unique selling point, State within a state, In the midst of, Shot in the arm, Make a mark, Bounce back, A long way to go, Simply put, Safe haven, Crowd out

=== FAQ === Q1. What is the Editorial and Vocabulary course on MockToOfficer? A1. It is a daily course that teaches vocabulary from real newspaper editorials. Each day you get new words with synonyms, antonyms and example sentences, plus key idioms, a 5-question quiz and a downloadable PDF. Q2. Which exams is this Vocabs course useful for? A2. It helps with the English sections of banking and other competitive exams, such as IBPS, SBI, RRB and SSC. The words come from the editorials these exams draw on, so you learn them in context. Q3. How should I use the daily post and PDF to remember the words? A3. Read the words in the post, attempt the 5-question quiz without looking at the answers, then check the explanations. Download the PDF and revise it once a day. Regular daily practice works better than long, occasional sessions.