24 September 2026 | FREE Editorial PDF

Today’s Highlight: Today’s standout word is Sacrosanct — it describes a right too important to be touched, and it fits neatly into Banking and SSC passages on law and governance. The Supreme Court ruling on Article 22(1) is also worth a close read for Banking Awareness aspirants.

Editorial 1: Freezing Democracy: On the ECI and West Bengal

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Substantive
Synonym: Significant | Antonym: Trivial
Example: The panel wanted a substantive answer, not a formal reply.

2. Rival
Synonym: Competitor | Antonym: Ally
Example: The two rival groups both claimed the party’s name.

3. Allotted
Synonym: Assigned | Antonym: Withheld
Example: Each group was allotted a new election symbol.

4. Organic
Synonym: Natural | Antonym: Artificial
Example: The movement grew in an organic way from local support.

5. Vibrant
Synonym: Lively | Antonym: Dull
Example: A vibrant opposition keeps a democracy healthy.

6. Dissolution
Synonym: Disbandment | Antonym: Formation
Example: The court refused to order the dissolution of the society.

7. Wither
Synonym: Decline | Antonym: Flourish
Example: Without new members, a party will slowly wither.

8. Bedrock
Synonym: Foundation | Antonym: Superstructure
Example: Trust is the bedrock of any public institution.

9. Dismantled
Synonym: Demolished | Antonym: Assembled
Example: The old committee was dismantled last year.

10. Absolve
Synonym: Exonerate | Antonym: Blame
Example: The report did not absolve the officials of responsibility.

Idioms

1. In tandem with
Meaning: Together with

Editorial 2: Water Wealth: On Groundwater Exploitation in Punjab

Source: The Hindu

Vocabulary

1. Disincentivises
Synonym: Discourages | Antonym: Encourages
Example: Falling water tables disincentivises small farmers from growing paddy.

2. Procurement
Synonym: Acquisition | Antonym: Sale
Example: Assured procurement keeps farmers growing wheat and rice.

3. Reluctance
Synonym: Hesitancy | Antonym: Eagerness
Example: Farmers showed reluctance to switch to pulses.

4. Marginal
Synonym: Small | Antonym: Large
Example: Marginal farmers often cannot afford deep tube wells.

5. Requisite
Synonym: Necessary | Antonym: Optional
Example: He lacked the requisite funds to drill a new well.

6. Unregulated
Synonym: Uncontrolled | Antonym: Regulated
Example: Unregulated water sales create unfair dependencies.

7. Depletion
Synonym: Exhaustion | Antonym: Replenishment
Example: Groundwater depletion threatens the region’s food security.

8. Privileges
Synonym: Favours | Antonym: Disadvantages
Example: The policy privileges farmers with easy access to credit.

9. Endeavour
Synonym: Strive | Antonym: Neglect
Example: The State must endeavour to protect small farmers’ incomes.

10. Prohibitive
Synonym: Exorbitant | Antonym: Affordable
Example: The prohibitive cost of borewells hurts small farmers.

Idioms

1. In the same vein
Meaning: In a similar way

Editorial 3: In IIT, Student Death and a Reckoning

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Storied
Synonym: Renowned | Antonym: Obscure
Example: The storied institute has produced many leading scientists.

2. Sobering
Synonym: Grave | Antonym: Cheering
Example: The report was a sobering reminder of the risks.

3. Ascent
Synonym: Rise | Antonym: Descent
Example: Her ascent to the top post surprised many.

4. Agitation
Synonym: Protest | Antonym: Calm
Example: Student agitation forced the administration to act.

5. Resilience
Synonym: Toughness | Antonym: Fragility
Example: Resilience helps students cope with academic pressure.

6. Endurance
Synonym: Stamina | Antonym: Weakness
Example: Clearing tough exams demands great endurance.

7. Stigma
Synonym: Disgrace | Antonym: Honour
Example: Stigma often stops students from seeking help.

8. Scapegoat
Synonym: Blame | Antonym: Exonerate
Example: Officials should not scapegoat teachers who followed the rules.

9. Aftermath
Synonym: Consequence | Antonym: Prelude
Example: Tempers ran high in the aftermath of the incident.

10. Insurmountable
Synonym: Overwhelming | Antonym: Surmountable
Example: No setback should feel insurmountable to a young student.

Idioms

1. Sound and fury
Meaning: Noisy reaction with little effect

Editorial 4: The Difference Between a Job and a Vocation Is Love

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Vocation
Synonym: Calling | Antonym: Drudgery
Example: Teaching was not just a job but a vocation for her.

2. Pinnacle
Synonym: Peak | Antonym: Nadir
Example: She reached the pinnacle of her career at thirty.

3. Reminiscence
Synonym: Recollection | Antonym: Forgetfulness
Example: His speech was a fond reminiscence of his school days.

4. Starkest
Synonym: Plainest | Antonym: Subtlest
Example: The flood offered the starkest proof of poor planning.

5. Erodes
Synonym: Weakens | Antonym: Strengthens
Example: Constant criticism erodes public trust.

6. Devotion
Synonym: Dedication | Antonym: Indifference
Example: His devotion to the local community never faded.

7. Pamphlets
Synonym: Leaflets | Antonym: Tomes
Example: Volunteers handed out pamphlets outside the station.

8. Trappings
Synonym: Paraphernalia | Antonym: Essence
Example: The trappings of power never impressed him.

9. Obscure
Synonym: Conceal | Antonym: Reveal
Example: Success can obscure the reasons behind it.

10. Discord
Synonym: Conflict | Antonym: Harmony
Example: Discord within the band delayed the new album.

Idioms

1. Rat race
Meaning: Endless struggle to get ahead

2. Glory days
Meaning: Best days of one’s past

Editorial 5: SC’s Message: An Illegal Arrest Cannot Be Papered Over

Source: The Indian Express

Vocabulary

1. Invoked
Synonym: Cited | Antonym: Ignored
Example: The lawyer invoked the right to a fair trial.

2. Reiterated
Synonym: Repeated | Antonym: Retracted
Example: The minister reiterated his support for the scheme.

3. Gravamen
Synonym: Crux | Antonym: Periphery
Example: The gravamen of the charge was misuse of funds.

4. Trite
Synonym: Hackneyed | Antonym: Original
Example: His trite advice did not help the students.

5. Sacrosanct
Synonym: Inviolable | Antonym: Violable
Example: The right to a fair hearing is sacrosanct.

6. Adumbrated
Synonym: Outlined | Antonym: Obscured
Example: The plan adumbrated in the report needs more detail.

7. Curtailed
Synonym: Restricted | Antonym: Expanded
Example: Liberty cannot be curtailed without due process.

8. Encroach
Synonym: Intrude | Antonym: Withdraw
Example: No law should encroach upon basic freedoms.

9. Vitiate
Synonym: Invalidate | Antonym: Validate
Example: A single lapse can vitiate the entire process.

10. Revoked
Synonym: Cancelled | Antonym: Granted
Example: The licence was revoked after the inspection.

Idioms

1. Kept in the dark
Meaning: Not told the facts

2. Second nature
Meaning: An automatic habit

3. Paper over
Meaning: Hide a problem without fixing it

Test Yourself – 5 Questions

Q1. (A) The Election Commission of India have frozen the name and symbol of the party, / (B) saying that two rival groups are now claiming to be the real organisation, / (C) and that the matter requires a substantive determination before any decision, / (D) so neither group can use the old name or symbol for now, the editorial notes. Identify the segment containing the grammatical error.

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

Answer: A

Meaning: subject-verb agreement error.
Logic: the singular subject ‘The Election Commission of India’ requires ‘has frozen’, not ‘have frozen’.
Elimination: segments B, C and D are grammatically correct.

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

(A) Procurment
(B) Procurement
(C) Procuremant
(D) Procuremennt
(E) Prokurement

Answer: B

Meaning: The correctly spelt word is ‘Procurement’, meaning the buying of goods, especially by the government.
Logic: standard English spelling.
Elimination: the remaining options drop, substitute or double letters.

Q3. Two deaths within a month at premier institutes are a SOBERING moment for the nation, the editorial says. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Grave
(B) Serious
(C) Cheering
(D) Solemn
(E) Chastening

Answer: C

Meaning: Sobering means making one serious and thoughtful.
Logic: ‘Cheering’ is its closest antonym.
Elimination: Grave, Serious, Solemn and Chastening are all near-synonyms of sobering, not opposite.

Q4. Political parties keep a democracy VIBRANT and alive, the editorial argues. Select the option that is the closest synonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Lively
(B) Dull
(C) Stagnant
(D) Listless
(E) Weak

Answer: A

Meaning: Vibrant means full of energy and life.
Logic: ‘Lively’ is its closest synonym.
Elimination: Dull, Stagnant, Listless and Weak all denote a lack of energy, the opposite sense.

Q5. The RELUCTANCE of Punjab’s farmers to pursue other crops has gone largely unaddressed, the editorial notes. Select the option that is the closest antonym of the word given in capitals as used in the passage.

(A) Hesitancy
(B) Eagerness
(C) Unwillingness
(D) Aversion
(E) Doubt

Answer: B

Meaning: Reluctance means unwillingness or hesitation to do something.
Logic: ‘Eagerness’ is its closest antonym.
Elimination: Hesitancy, Unwillingness, Aversion and Doubt are all near-synonyms of reluctance, not opposite.

Quick Recap – Today’s Words

Substantive (Significant) | Rival (Competitor) | Allotted (Assigned) | Organic (Natural) | Vibrant (Lively) | Dissolution (Disbandment) | Wither (Decline) | Bedrock (Foundation) | Dismantled (Demolished) | Absolve (Exonerate) | Disincentivises (Discourages) | Procurement (Acquisition) | Reluctance (Hesitancy) | Marginal (Small) | Requisite (Necessary) | Unregulated (Uncontrolled) | Depletion (Exhaustion) | Privileges (Favours) | Endeavour (Strive) | Prohibitive (Exorbitant) | Storied (Renowned) | Sobering (Grave) | Ascent (Rise) | Agitation (Protest) | Resilience (Toughness) | Endurance (Stamina) | Stigma (Disgrace) | Scapegoat (Blame) | Aftermath (Consequence) | Insurmountable (Overwhelming) | Vocation (Calling) | Pinnacle (Peak) | Reminiscence (Recollection) | Starkest (Plainest) | Erodes (Weakens) | Devotion (Dedication) | Pamphlets (Leaflets) | Trappings (Paraphernalia) | Obscure (Conceal) | Discord (Conflict) | Invoked (Cited) | Reiterated (Repeated) | Gravamen (Crux) | Trite (Hackneyed) | Sacrosanct (Inviolable) | Adumbrated (Outlined) | Curtailed (Restricted) | Encroach (Intrude) | Vitiate (Invalidate) | Revoked (Cancelled)

Idioms: In tandem with, In the same vein, Sound and fury, Rat race, Glory days, Kept in the dark, Second nature, Paper over

=== 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.