27 October 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Today’s Highlight: Today’s standout word is Trepidation – it means fear or anxiety about what may happen, and it often appears in Banking and SSC reading passages. The India-Poland editorial is a handy read on trade and defence ties, the northeast monsoon editorial is key for geography and disaster management, and the two Indian Express editorials cover West Asia politics and the finances of the southern states.

Editorial 1: Old Values, New Avenues: On India-Poland Ties

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Fitting
Synonym: Appropriate | Antonym: Unsuitable
Example: It was fitting that the winner received the final trophy.

2. Trilateral
Synonym: Tripartite | Antonym: Bilateral
Example: The three nations signed a trilateral pact on water sharing.

3. Strictures
Synonym: Censure | Antonym: Praise
Example: The minister ignored the strictures of the committee’s report.

4. Acceptable
Synonym: Satisfactory | Antonym: Unacceptable
Example: The bank offered an acceptable rate on the education loan.

5. Engagement
Synonym: Involvement | Antonym: Detachment
Example: The company’s engagement with local farmers improved the harvest.

6. Indicated
Synonym: Signalled | Antonym: Concealed
Example: The survey indicated a rise in demand for housing loans.

7. Ongoing
Synonym: Continuing | Antonym: Completed
Example: Repairs on the main road are ongoing this month.

8. Unlikely
Synonym: Improbable | Antonym: Probable
Example: Rain is unlikely before the weekend this year.

9. Desire
Synonym: Longing | Antonym: Aversion
Example: Her desire to serve the public led her to the civil services.

10. Essential
Synonym: Vital | Antonym: Optional
Example: Regular practice is essential for clearing the banking exam.

Idioms

1. In turn
Meaning: As the next result

2. Draw up
Meaning: Prepare in writing

Editorial 2: Wicked Surprise: On the Northeast Monsoon

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Trepidation
Synonym: Apprehension | Antonym: Confidence
Example: Students waited with trepidation as the results were announced.

2. Desiccating
Synonym: Parching | Antonym: Moistening
Example: The desiccating wind left the fields cracked and bare.

3. Vigorous
Synonym: Robust | Antonym: Feeble
Example: A vigorous walk every morning keeps her healthy.

4. Yoked
Synonym: Bound | Antonym: Detached
Example: The two schemes were yoked together under one ministry.

5. Torrents
Synonym: Downpours | Antonym: Trickles
Example: Torrents of rain flooded the low-lying streets overnight.

6. Nasty
Synonym: Unpleasant | Antonym: Pleasant
Example: A nasty fall kept the cricketer out of the series.

7. Impacted
Synonym: Affected | Antonym: Unaffected
Example: Higher fuel prices impacted the cost of every commodity.

8. Surprises
Synonym: Shocks | Antonym: Certainties
Example: The match held many surprises for the cheering crowd.

9. Shelters
Synonym: Refuges | Antonym: Exposures
Example: Relief shelters opened in the villages before the cyclone.

10. Associated
Synonym: Connected | Antonym: Unconnected
Example: Heavy rain is often associated with a strong El Niño.

Idioms

No idioms found in the editorial.

Editorial 3: In Israel, Stakes Are High, Change Has Constraints

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Referendum
Synonym: Plebiscite | Antonym: Decree
Example: The election became a referendum on the government’s price policy.

2. Pivotal
Synonym: Crucial | Antonym: Trivial
Example: Her pivotal role in the project ensured its timely completion.

3. Cobble
Synonym: Assemble | Antonym: Dismantle
Example: Rival parties tried to cobble together a workable alliance.

4. Pledging
Synonym: Vowing | Antonym: Reneging
Example: The bank is pledging free training for rural youth.

5. Alter
Synonym: Modify | Antonym: Preserve
Example: Tight deadlines may alter the plan for the event.

6. Gravest
Synonym: Direst | Antonym: Mildest
Example: Floods posed the gravest threat to the coastal towns.

7. Secure
Synonym: Obtain | Antonym: Forfeit
Example: Students must secure at least half the marks to qualify.

8. Unfit
Synonym: Unsuitable | Antonym: Suitable
Example: The old bridge was declared unfit for heavy trucks.

9. Seeking
Synonym: Pursuing | Antonym: Shunning
Example: Many graduates are seeking jobs in the banking sector.

10. Outcome
Synonym: Result | Antonym: Cause
Example: The outcome of the match surprised every fan.

Idioms

1. In any case
Meaning: Whatever happens

2. Take the reins
Meaning: Take over control

Editorial 4: A Southern Alliance and an Elephant in the Room

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Forge
Synonym: Establish | Antonym: Dismantle
Example: The two firms hope to forge a lasting partnership.

2. Bloc
Synonym: Alliance | Antonym: Individual
Example: The trading bloc agreed to reduce tariffs next year.

3. Striking
Synonym: Remarkable | Antonym: Ordinary
Example: The report showed a striking rise in digital payments.

4. Profusion
Synonym: Abundance | Antonym: Scarcity
Example: A profusion of flowers covered the hillside after the rains.

5. Resemble
Synonym: Mirror | Antonym: Differ
Example: The twins resemble their mother in many ways.

6. Outstanding
Synonym: Unpaid | Antonym: Settled
Example: The borrower cleared all outstanding dues before the deadline.

7. Informal
Synonym: Casual | Antonym: Formal
Example: The informal meeting ended without a written agreement.

8. Exceed
Synonym: Surpass | Antonym: Fall short
Example: Expenses must not exceed the approved budget.

9. Broken
Synonym: Damaged | Antonym: Intact
Example: The broken signal caused long traffic jams.

10. Median
Synonym: Middle | Antonym: Extreme
Example: The median age of the group was thirty years.

Idioms

1. As against
Meaning: Compared with

2. Account for
Meaning: Make up a share

Test Yourself – 5 Questions

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

(A) Trilateral
(B) Trilatteral
(C) Trilaterel
(D) Trillateral
(E) Tryilateral

Answer: A

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Trilateral’, meaning involving three countries or parties.
Logic: ‘tri’ plus ‘lateral’.
Elimination: the remaining options change, drop or swap letters.

Q2. Students waited with TREPIDATION as the results were announced. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Confidence
(B) Apprehension
(C) Calmness
(D) Delight
(E) Boldness

Answer: B

Meaning: Trepidation means fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
Logic: ‘Apprehension’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Confidence, Calmness, Delight and Boldness are opposite in sense.

Q3. The minister ignored the STRICTURES of the committee’s report. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Censure
(B) Praise
(C) Applause
(D) Approval
(E) Tribute

Answer: A

Meaning: Strictures means strong criticism or strict restrictions.
Logic: ‘Censure’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Praise, Applause, Approval and Tribute are opposite in sense.

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

(A) Dessicating
(B) Desicating
(C) Desiccating
(D) Desiccatting
(E) Dessiccating

Answer: C

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Desiccating’, meaning drying something out completely.
Logic: ‘desiccate’ loses ‘e’ and adds ‘ing’.
Elimination: the remaining options change, drop or swap letters.

Q5. Identify the correctly spelt word among the options below.

(A) Acceptible
(B) Acceptable
(C) Acceptabel
(D) Acepptable
(E) Accepptable

Answer: B

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Acceptable’, meaning good enough to be agreed to.
Logic: ‘accept’ plus ‘able’.
Elimination: the remaining options change, drop or swap letters.

Quick Recap – Today’s Words

Fitting (Appropriate) | Trilateral (Tripartite) | Strictures (Censure) | Acceptable (Satisfactory) | Engagement (Involvement) | Indicated (Signalled) | Ongoing (Continuing) | Unlikely (Improbable) | Desire (Longing) | Essential (Vital) | Trepidation (Apprehension) | Desiccating (Parching) | Vigorous (Robust) | Yoked (Bound) | Torrents (Downpours) | Nasty (Unpleasant) | Impacted (Affected) | Surprises (Shocks) | Shelters (Refuges) | Associated (Connected) | Referendum (Plebiscite) | Pivotal (Crucial) | Cobble (Assemble) | Pledging (Vowing) | Alter (Modify) | Gravest (Direst) | Secure (Obtain) | Unfit (Unsuitable) | Seeking (Pursuing) | Outcome (Result) | Forge (Establish) | Bloc (Alliance) | Striking (Remarkable) | Profusion (Abundance) | Resemble (Mirror) | Outstanding (Unpaid) | Informal (Casual) | Exceed (Surpass) | Broken (Damaged) | Median (Middle)

Idioms: In turn, Draw up, In any case, Take the reins, As against, Account for