The Hindu Editorial (Credible and creditable) – Feb 02, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (Credible and creditable) – Feb 02, 2026:

1. credible (adjective) – convincing, trustworthy, reliable, feasible, reasonable.
2. creditable (adjective) – commendable, praiseworthy, laudable, applaudable, admirable, outstanding, excellent. 
3. prudence (noun) – cautiousness, carefulness, wariness, circumspection; good judgement/management.
4. adventurism (noun) – the inclination/readiness to take risks in business or politics.
5. multi-pronged (adjective) – having different aspects/elements.
6. measure (noun) – course of action, action, procedure, step.
7. big bang (noun as a modifier) – relating to the introduction major changes in something.
8. slab (noun) – range, bracket, tier, segment; category.
9. slab relaxation (noun) – it refers to the government modifying the income tax brackets (slabs) or increasing the basic exemption limit, resulting in a lower tax liability for individuals.
10. do away with (phrasal verb) – remove, abolish, quash, eliminate, discontinue, cancel, abandon, drop, stop, scrap, get rid of
11. scattershot approach (noun) – another term for scattergun approach, randomized/unfocused approach.
12. propel (verb) – drive, spur, impel, get moving, force, catapult, motivate.
13. given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
14. geo-economic (adjective) – relating to the use of economic interests to promote and defend national interests, and to produce beneficial geopolitical results; relating to the use of economics as an instrument/tool of state power.
15. geopolitical (adjective) – relating to the study of the geographical factors (a country’s position on the earth, size, climate, and natural resources & etc.) in world politics and inter-state relations.
16. uncertainty (noun) – unpredictability, unreliability, riskiness/precariousness.
17. diffused (adjective) – scattered, dispersed, not concentrated, spread out.
18. provision / proviso (noun) – condition, stipulation, provision, clause, requirement.
19. labour-intensive (adjective) – relating to the process where a larger portion of total costs is due to labour as compared with the portion for costs incurred in purchase, maintenance, and depreciation of capital equipment.
20. in terms of (phrase) – with regard to; concerning, regarding; in connection with.
21. well thought-out (adjective) – carefully considered and planned.
22. rare earth elements (REEs) (noun) – a group of 17 elements including 15 silvery-white metals called lanthanides, or lanthanoids, plus scandium and yttrium. They are used in a wide range of products including consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), aircraft engines, medical equipment, oil refining, and military applications such as missiles and radar systems. China accounts for about 60% of global mine production and 90% of processed and permanent magnet output.
23. capital goods (noun) – the fixed or tangible assets, which are purchased by a business, used in the productive process in order to produce a finished ‘consumer’ goods.
24. Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme (noun) – As the name suggests, the scheme provides incentives to companies for enhancing their domestic manufacturing apart from focusing on reducing import bills and improving the cost competitiveness of local goods. PLI scheme offers incentives on incremental sales for products manufactured in India.
25. India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 (noun) – the launch of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 is aiming to boost the country’s semiconductor ecosystem. ISM 2.0 is launched to produce equipment and materials, develop full-stack Indian IP, and strengthen supply chains. We will also focus on industry-led research and training centers to develop technology and a skilled workforce.
26. Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) (noun) – This is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the country’s electronics manufacturing sector. The scheme aims to create world-class infrastructure for electronics manufacturing by funding dedicated clusters with common facilities. This scheme seeks to attract substantial investments from both domestic and international markets, thereby fostering a robust electronics ecosystem in India.
27. Biopharma SHAKTI scheme (noun) – It  is aimed at making India a global biopharma manufacturing hub with an allocation of ₹10,000 crore over the next five years.
28. hub (noun) – Centre of activity / focal point / core.
29. allocation (noun) – allotment, granting, distribution, doling out, budgeting, earmarking, setting aside (especially of money, that is given to a particular person or used for a particular purpose).
30. pharmaceutical (adjective) – relating to the aspects like preparation, dispensing, and effective utilization of medicinal drugs.
31. tariff (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country.
32. hit (verb) – affect badly; damage, ruin.
33. National Export Promotion Mission (noun) – A government initiative aimed at boosting a country’s exports by improving competitiveness, supporting exporters, reducing trade barriers, and providing policy, financial, and infrastructural assistance to increase overseas sales.
34. Champion MSME (noun) – a government digital platform set up by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to provide grievance redressal, hand-holding support, advisory services, and scheme-related assistance to MSMEs.
35. equity (noun) – value, net worth; owned capital. shares/stocks (with no fixed interest).
36. liquidity (noun) – the availability of liquid assets; liquidity means liquid assets; cash; (liquid asset is an asset which can be easily sold/converted into cash without losing its value); a measure of activity (i.e. the ability to buy or sell easily) in a market.
37. account for (phrasal verb) – constitute, comprise, form, compose, make up, represent.
38. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (noun) – an agreement between two or more countries designed to reduce or eliminate certain barriers to trade and investment, and to facilitate stronger trade and commercial ties between participating countries.
39. kick in (phrasal verb) – come into effect; come into operation.
40. offset (verb) – even up, counterbalance, equalize, neutralize; make amends for, compensate for.
41. stand to (verb) –  in a position/place to.
42. House committees (noun) – The parliamentary (standing & select) committees; They do close examination and investigation of government policies, actions and spending.
43. Parliamentary Standing Committee/Parliamentary panel (noun) – it is a committee (consisting of Members of Parliament) constituted usually on an annual basis to enable detailed consideration/discussion on all bills (all proposed laws).
44. Parliamentary select committee (noun) – ‘parliamentary select committee’ can be formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill. Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist.
45. get off the ground (phrase) – begin, start, initiate, launch, get under way, get going (something successfully).
46. In keeping with (phrase) – consistent with, in accordance with, in agreement with, in line with, compatible with.
47. cater to (phrasal verb) – present someone with what is needed; try to satisfy/fulfil a need of; please, satisfy, gratify.
48. election-bound/poll-bound (adjective) – guaranteed to have election (which is imminent/approaching).
49. corridor (noun) – a strip/swathe of land linking two areas (particularly by a road).
50. Economic Corridor (noun) – Economic corridors connect economic agents along a defined geography and region. They are integrated networks of infrastructure within a geographical area designed to stimulate economic development. They may be developed within a country or between countries.
51. Coconut Promotion Scheme (noun) – It is aimed at enhancing coconut production and productivity across the country. The scheme seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of the coconut sector through a range of targeted interventions, including the replacement of senile and non-productive coconut palms with quality planting material.
52. East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) (noun) – It is a major initiative to accelerate economic growth along India’s eastern coastline, spanning approximately 2, 500 kilometers from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to Kolkata in West Bengal. Passing through Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, the corridor connects key cities and ports, facilitating efficient logistics and linking India’s industries to Southeast and East Asian supply chains.
53. waterway (noun) – a river, canal, or other route for the purposes of inland water transport.
54. consolidated (adjective) – concentrated, integrated, merged, combined, united, centralized.
55. as for (phrase) – with regard to. concerning, regarding, with respect to.
56. expenditure enthusiasm (noun) – a high level of excitement, eagerness, or passion for spending money. 
57. sobriety (noun) – the state of being sober; seriousness, severity, self-control, self-restraint.
58. capital expenditure / CAPEX (noun) – the money spent on the acquisition of assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, as well as investment in shares.
59. infrastructure (noun) – the basic physical or organizational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.
60. perhaps (adverb) – maybe, possibly, conceivably, it is possible that.
61. in reaction to (phrase) – in response to.
62. realization (noun) – awareness, understanding, comprehension, recognition, discernment.
63. set to (phrasal verb) – to start/begin working.
64. amount to (verb) – be equal to, add up to, be tantamount to, be equivalent to, represent, be regarded as.
65. Gross domestic product (GDP) (noun) – a measure of economic activity in a country. It is the total value of a country’s annual output of goods and service.
66. freight (noun) – transportation, transport, carrying, delivery; goods, cargo, load, consignment.
67. Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) (noun) – This project involves the construction of six freight corridors traversing the entire country. The purpose of the project is to provide a safe and efficient freight transportation system. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is under the ownership of Indian Railways, with the responsibility to undertake planning, development, and mobilization of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the “Dedicated Freight Corridors” (DFC).
68. supplement (verb) – augment, increase, expand, make larger/bigger/greater.
69. Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme (noun) – a scheme aimed at incentivizing a modal shift of cargo from rail and road to waterways, strengthening sustainable and cost-effective logistics in the country.
70. incentivize (verb) – encourage, motivate, galvanize.
71.  substantial (adjective) – considerable, sizeable, significant, large.
72. fillip (noun) – stimulus, boost, encouragement, incentive, impetus.
73. front (noun) – a particular situation; a particular sphere of operation.
74. undue (adjective) – excessive, too much, unjustified, needless, unreasonable, disproportionate, inappropriate, unneeded, extreme, immoderate.
75. commitment (noun) – dedication, engagement, obligation, responsibility, onus, liability, accountability.
76. slew (noun) – a large number of, lot, range.
77. projection (noun) – forecast, prediction, calculation.
78. sober (adjective) – serious/sensible, serious-minded, self-controlled, restrained, unemotional.
79. in line with (phrase) – consistent with, in accordance with, in agreement with, in keeping with, compatible with.
80. Budget Estimates (BE) (noun) – Amount of money allocated in the Budget to any ministry or scheme for the coming financial year.
81. Revised Estimates (RE) (noun) – Revised Estimates are mid-year review of possible expenditure, taking into account the rest of expenditure, New Services and New instrument of Services etc.
82. project (verb) – estimate, calculate, expect, predict, forecast, reckon.
83. contract (verb) – decline, decrease, diminish, reduce.
84. reflection (noun) – indication, display, demonstration, expression, proof, evidence.
85. rationalisation (noun) – systematisation, formalisation, justification.
86. GST rate rationalisation (noun) – It refers to the government’s effort to simplify India’s complex five-tier GST rate structure (0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) into fewer slabs. The idea is to improve tax compliance, reduce classification disputes, and ease the burden on small businesses. As of Sep 2025 onwards, New Slab Structure: Primarily 5% (essentials) and 18% (standard rate), with a 40% rate for luxury/sin goods.
87. Cess (noun) – a form of tax charged/levied over and above the base tax liability of a taxpayer. A cess is usually imposed additionally when the state or the central government looks to raise funds for specific purposes.
88. GST Compensation (noun) – Under the GST law (In India), state governments are guaranteed full compensation for any revenue loss for the first five years after the introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) in July 2017. The compensation is a gap between actual revenue collected and projected revenue.
89. Compensation Cess (noun) – It is a cess that would be collected on the supply of select goods and or services or both till 1st July 2022. The cess would compensate the states for any revenue loss on account of implementation of GST.
90. fiscal deficit (noun) – the difference between total expenditure and total income of the government.
91. fiscal consolidation (noun) – it is a reduction in the underlying (basic) fiscal deficit and public debt.
92. Economic Survey (noun) – Economic Survey, presented in the Parliament ahead of the Union Budget, is the Ministry of Finance’s flagship document. The Economic Survey detailed information about the Indian economy over the past year. The Economic Survey also offers glimpses into the current state of the economy, and occasional insights into the economic outlook. Although the Constitution does not bind (impose a legal obligation on) the government to present the Economic Survey, over the years, it has become common practice for every government to present the Economic Survey before the Union Budget.
93. fiscal flexibility (noun) – it refers to the ability of a government to adjust its spending, taxation, borrowing, or fiscal policy according to changing economic conditions.
94. subsidy / subvention (noun) – a financial contribution granted to help an industry or business, mostly given by a government.  
95. nevertheless (adverb) – in spite of that/everything, nonetheless, even so, however, anyway, anyhow, at any rate.

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 (Credible and creditable) – Feb 02, 2026: