The Hindu Editorial (​Distressing regularity) – Feb 07, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (​Distressing regularity) – Feb 07, 2026:

1. distressing (adjective)– annoying, disconcerting, troubling, disturbing, perplexing, unsettling.
2. regularity (noun) – routine, constancy, continuousness, sameness, consistency;  the state or quality of occurring frequently and habitually.
3. Rat-hole mining (noun) – a method of extracting coal from narrow, horizontal seams (layers/deposits), prevalent in Meghalaya. The term “rat hole” refers to the narrow pits dug into the ground, typically just large enough for one person to go down and extract coal.
4. Rat-hole mining (noun) – Rat-hole mining, of two types, is so named as it involves digging tunnels 3-4 feet deep, barely allowing workers to crawl in and out. They have to squat while extracting coal with pickaxes. The side-cutting type of mining is usually done on hill slopes by following a coal seam — dark brown or black-banded coal deposited within layers of rock— visible from the outside. The second type called box-cutting entails digging a circular or squarish pit at least 5 sq. metre in width up to a depth of 400 feet. Miners who drop down in makeshift cranes or using rope-and-bamboo ladders dig horizontally after finding the coal seam. The tunnels are dug in every direction from the edge of the pit, resembling the tentacles of an octopus.
5. prohibitive (adjective) – unreasonable, costly, excessively high, exorbitant, excessive, sky-high, unreasonably high.
6. explosion (noun) – blast, detonation, discharge, eruption, ignition, bowing up.
7. grim (adjective) – distressing, upsetting, worrying, unpleasant, dismal/awful.
8. supervision (noun) – control, observation, oversight, surveillance, inspection, overseeing, handling.
9. substitute (verb) – replace.
10. governance (noun) – the process of governing the control of something.
11. long-running (adjective) – long-standing, enduring, persistent, prevailing, perennial, long-term, lasting, long-lasting, continuing.
12. belt (noun) – region, area, territory, zone, tract.
13. distinct (adjective) – different, separate, individual, specific, discrete.
14. ecosystem (noun) – complex situation/environment; system where different parts interact and depend on each other.
15. landholding (noun) – possession of land.
16. seam (noun) – underground layer, deposit.
17. enforcement (noun) – execution, application, implementation, imposition.
18. supply chain (noun) – a dynamic network when a company purchases or uses goods or services from others. It involves people, information, processes, and resources involved in the production, handling, and distribution of materials and finished products or providing a service to the customer.
19. launder (verb) – move illegally acquired funds secretly into legal bank accounts or investments.
20. intermediary (noun) – mediator, middleman, moderator, negotiator; representative, spokesperson, agent.
21. norm (noun) – standard, pattern, criterion, basis.
22. prone to (adjective) – susceptible to, vulnerable to, liable to, subject to, vulnerable to, at/in risk of.
23. lack (verb) – be without, be in need of, be short of, go without.
24. National Green Tribunal (NGT) (noun) – it has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
25. cessation (noun) – end, termination, stoppage, discontinuation, conclusion, closure.
26. due to (phrase) – because of, as a result of, thanks to, on account of, owing to.
27. dependence (noun) – reliance, need, support. 
28. fragmented (adjective) – split, divided, separated, broken.
29. accountability (noun) – responsibility, liability, answerability.
30. patronage (noun) – support, assistance, encouragement, endorsement, backing, approval, advocacy.
31. underreport (verb) – fail to report completely.
32. keep off (phrasal verb) – avoid, steer clear of, keep away from, snub, evade, eschew, shy away from, brush off.
33. hit (verb) – reach, arrive at, get to.
34. degraded (adjective) – deteriorated, impaired in quality or character.
35. legacy (noun) – inheritance, tradition; something handed down from the past.
36. extraction (noun) – removal, taking out, withdrawal, obtaining (something using force).
37. resource extraction (noun) – the process of removing or obtaining valuable materials from the Earth, often involving the extraction of minerals, fossil fuels, or other natural resources.
38. go up (phrasal verb) – increase, rise, soar, surge.
39. framework (noun) – structure, system, pattern, outline.
40. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) (noun) – it is the central Indian legislation regulating mining operations and mineral development. It was extensively amended in 2025 to promote critical mineral mining, permit private sector involvement in atomic mineral exploration, and allow one-time lease area extensions for deep-seated minerals.
41. Mines and Minerals Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957) (noun) – An Act to provide for the development and regulation of mines and minerals under the control of the Union.
42. GPS tracking (noun) – the system of monitoring the location of an object (e.g., car, person, animal, equipment, etc.) by attaching a GPS tracking device to it.
43. carrier (noun) – a ship (vessel) or vehicle for transporting goods (coal) in bulk.
44. invalidate (verb) – cancel, annul, quash, repeal, nullify, revoke.
45. consignment (noun) – load, truckload, containerload, shipment.
46. deviate (verb) – differ, vary, change, depart.
47. drone (noun) – unmanned aircraft/missile; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
48. patrol (noun) – vigil, guard, watch, monitoring.
49. patrolling (noun) – watching/guarding an area (over a period of time).
50. perhaps (adverb) – possibly, feasibly, may be, it may/could be, very likely.
51. community monitoring (noun) – a collaborative process where local communities actively participate in monitoring and managing their own environment and resources.
52. incentivise (verb) – provide incentive/encourage, motivate, boost.
53. conversely (adverb) – inversely, the other way round, oppositely/reciprocally; on the contrary, In contrast, on the flip side, in opposition, contradictorily alternatively.
54.  seizure (noun) – capture, occupation, takeover, overrunning, annexation, invasion, appropriation.
55. prosecution (noun) – the act of conducting legal proceedings against someone; the institution and carrying on of legal action; legal action, legal proceeding, legal case..
56. sans (preposition) – without, lacking, devoid of.
57. horticulture (noun) – the branch of agriculture that deals with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.
58. refitting (adjective) – replacing.
59. dismantle (verb) – destroy, demolish, break up, knock down, fell.
60. informal employment/sector (noun) – informal economy, grey economy is the part of an economy that is neither taxed, nor monitored by any form of government.
61. formal employment/sector (noun) – formal economy; it is the part of an economy that is taxed, and monitored by any form of government.
62. to this end (phrase) – in order to achieve this goal/aim.
63. testify (verb) – serve as evidence or proof; declare, certify.
64. in exchange for (phrase) – in return for, in consideration of, in response to.
65. amnesty (noun) – official pardon, pardoning, reprieve.
66. pursue (verb) – engage in, conduct, take part in (an activity).
67. errant (adjective) – offending, guilty, culpable, misbehaving, lawless, lawbreaking, transgressing, erring.
68. subvert (verb) – undermine, weaken, sabotage, damage, demolish, disrupt.
69. administrative tolerance (noun) –  the mercy (latitude or leniency) shown by authorities/administrators in enforcing rules or regulations – i.e., how strictly (or loosely) rules are applied. The practice where government agencies or officials knowingly permit, overlook, or choose not to punish certain, often minor, violations of regulations, despite having the legal authority to act.
70. tolerance (noun) – forbearance, toleration, liberality, open-mindedness, lack of prejudice, broad-mindedness, liberalism.
71. hotspot (noun) – a place of significant activity.
72. underground (adjective) – hidden, concealed, confidential, secret.

Note :

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (Distressing regularity) – Feb 07, 2026: