The Hindu Editorial (Series of gaps) – Jun 15, 2026
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The Hindu Editorial (Series of gaps) – Jun 15, 2026:
- distrust (noun) – mistrust, doubt, suspicion, lack of faith.
- lead to (verb) – to cause something to happen; result in, bring about, give rise to, produce.
- underreporting (noun) – the failure to report something, such as a crime or an incident, to the relevant authorities; non-reporting, hiding, concealing, suppression.
- child sexual abuse (noun) – the exploitation or victimization of a child for sexual purposes by an adult or an older adolescent; child molestation, statutory rape, child exploitation.
- abuse (noun) – mistreatment, ill treatment, molestation, sexual assault, exploitation.
- remain (verb) – continue to exist; stay, endure, persist, continue.
- persistently (adverb) – continuously, constantly, relentlessly, incessantly.
- under-reported (adjective) – reported to be less than is actually the case; understated, downplayed, minimized, unacknowledged.
- the state (noun) – the government, the administration, the regime, the ruling authority.
- show up (phrasal verb) – to expose, reveal, exhibit, or unveil shortcomings and flaws.
- trenchant (adjective) – vigorous, incisive, razor-sharp, acute, pointed, penetrating, severe, clear-cut, stinging.
- systemic (adjective) – structural, comprehensive, institutional, fundamental.
- inefficiency (noun) – incapability, inability, failure, carelessness, disorganization.
- Sulur case (noun) – refers to a specific legal case in Sulur, Coimbatore involving child sexual abuse that highlighted systemic inefficiencies and societal challenges in reporting and prosecuting such crimes.
- in which (phrase) – where, wherein, during which, under which.
- charge sheet (noun) – a formal document of accusation prepared by law-enforcement agencies in India detailing the charge against a person; formal accusation, police report.
- threat (noun) – danger, peril, hazard, menace.
- trusted circle (noun) – a group of reliable, dependable, and well-known individuals close to someone; inner circle, confidants, safe network.
- public imagination (noun) – the collective thoughts, beliefs, and perceptions held by the general population regarding a specific issue; collective consciousness, popular perception, societal mindset.
- fixate on (verb) – to be obsessed with, preoccupied by, or single-minded about something; focus intensely on, obsess over.
- predatory (adjective) – seeking to exploit, victimize, or prey on others; exploitative, opportunistic, rapacious.
- stranger (noun) – an unknown person, outsider, newcomer, unfamiliar person.
- conducive (adjective) – making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible; favorable, beneficial, advantageous, helpful.
- in time (phrase) – early enough to prevent something bad from happening; promptly, punctually, before it is too late.
- migrant (adjective) – relating to a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living condition.
- working-class (adjective) – relating to the social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work; blue-collar, labouring, lower-middle-class.
- at risk (phrase) – vulnerable to harm or danger; in jeopardy, imperilled, unprotected.
- less integrated (adjective) – not well assimilated or connected into the local community or social structure; isolated, disconnected, unassimilated, segregated, marginalized.
- protective (adjective) – intended to protect someone or something; shielding, defensive, safeguarding, sheltering.
- abandoned (adjective) – deserted, forsaken, cast aside, neglected.
- poorly (adverb) – very badly, awfully, woefully, hopelessly, inadequately.
- crime scene (noun) – the place where an offense has been committed and forensic evidence may be gathered; location of the crime, site of the offense.
- despite (preposition) – in spite of, regardless of, notwithstanding, undeterred by.
- Safe City project (noun) – an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, funded under the Nirbhaya Fund in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), aimed at creating a secure, safe, and empowering environment for women and girls in public spaces using technology and enforcement ecosystems.
- child-friendly (adjective) – suitable for or designed to protect and support the well-being and needs of children; safe for children, accommodating to minors.
- paradigm (noun) – a typical example, model, or pattern of something; framework, standard, archetype.
- urban redesign (noun) – the process of altering and improving the physical layout, infrastructure, and functionality of city spaces; city planning, urban renewal, municipal restructuring.
- focus on (verb) – revolve around, concentrate on, centre around, zero in on.
- social safety (noun) – the protection and security provided to individuals within a community against violence, exploitation, and vulnerability; community protection, public security.
- urban wetland restoration (noun) – the ecological process of returning a degraded or destroyed wetland in a city environment to its natural, healthy state; ecological renewal.
- Noyyal river (noun) – a river in Western Tamil Nadu that flows through Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, and Karur districts, which has faced severe pollution and ecological degradation requiring targeted restoration efforts.
- overlook (verb) – ignore, neglect, miss, disregard.
- as well (phrase) – in addition, too, also, additionally.
- POCSO trial (noun) – a judicial proceeding conducted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act to prosecute cases of child sexual abuse.
- special court (noun) – a type of court with limited subject-matter jurisdiction concerning a particular field of law, set up for speedy disposal of cases like those under the POCSO Act.
- take cognisance (verb) – take official notice, attend to, take into account, give attention to.
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act (noun) – a special law enacted by the Government of India in 2012 to deal with child sexual abuse cases and protect children from offenses of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography, ensuring a child-friendly approach in the adjudication of matters.
- face (verb) – confront or deal with a difficult situation; tackle, encounter, brave.
- pendency (noun) – the condition or period of waiting for settlement; dependency, something pending, undecided state.
- conviction (noun) – declaration or pronouncement of guilt in a court of law; sentence, judgement, verdict.
- historically (adverb) – regularly in the past; traditionally, characteristically, habitually, generally.
- undermine (verb) – weaken, subvert, sabotage, damage.
- judiciary (noun) – the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state; judicial system, the bench, courts of law.
- prompt (verb) – cause, trigger, spark, elicit, induce.
- promise (noun) – assurance, commitment, guarantee, word.
- swift (adjective) – prompt, brisk, rapid, quick.
- reform (noun) – improvement, overhaul, restructuring, reorganization.
- vulnerable (adjective) – weak, unsafe, unprotected, susceptible, at risk.
- elusive (adjective) – difficult to find, achieve, or capture; evasive, slippery, intangible, unachievable.
- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) (noun) – an Indian government agency headquartered in New Delhi and part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code and Special and Local Laws.
- record (verb) – log, document, register, note.
- victim (noun) – sufferer, casualty, injured party, prey.
- public distrust (noun) – a widespread feeling among the general population of doubt, suspicion, or lack of confidence in institutions or authorities; societal suspicion, collective skepticism.
- discourage (verb) – deter, prevent, divert, dissuade, stop.
- suspicion (noun) – doubt, speculation, scepticism, misgiving.
- fear (verb) – be afraid of, dread, worry about, be anxious about.
- apathy (noun) – disregard, lack of interest, indifference, unconcern.
- search for (verb) – try to find, look for, hunt for, seek.
- potentially (adverb) – possibly, conceivably, maybe, arguably.
- perpetrator (noun) – someone who does immoral, harmful, and illegal activity; offender, criminal, wrongdoer, culprit.
- flee (verb) – escape, abscond, run away, take flight.
- ultimately (adverb) – eventually, in the end, finally, fundamentally.
- fail (verb) – be unsuccessful, fall through, fall short, founder.
- due (adjective) – proper, correct, appropriate, rightful, suitable.
- punishment (noun) – penalty, penalization, retribution, discipline.
- perceive (verb) – consider, view, regard, judge, deem, interpret.
- bureaucratic (adjective) – institutional, procedural, official, governmental.
- hurdle (noun) – obstacle, difficulty, problem, barrier, impediment, obstruction, hindrance.
- repeatedly (adverb) – frequently, continuously, again and again, time and again.
- strengthen (verb) – fortify, support, reinforce, buttress.
- penalty (noun) – punishment, sanction, retribution, discipline.
- merely (adverb) – just, only, simply, purely.
- suppress (verb) – conceal, restrain, stifle, silence.
- offender (noun) – criminal, wrongdoer, lawbreaker, culprit.
- 2018 and 2019 amendments (noun) – statutory modifications made to the POCSO Act to introduce more stringent punishments, including the death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, and to address emerging forms of abuse.
- outrage (noun) – anger, fury, wrath, indignation, rage.
- rather than (phrase) – instead of, as opposed to, and not, in place of.
- harsh (adjective) – severe, strict, stringent, punitive.
- comprehensive (adjective) – all-inclusive, broad-based, complete, thorough.
- longitudinal (adjective) – relating to a study or research that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time; long-term, over time, extended.
- recidivism (noun) – the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend or relapse into criminal behavior; relapse, reoffending, backsliding, habitual offending.
- effective (adjective) – successful, productive, constructive, potent.
- deterrent (noun) – disincentive, discouragement, dissuasion, curb.
- scarce (adjective) – insufficient, inadequate, short, poor, scant.
- Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) (noun) – the apex body of the Government of India responsible for formulating plans, policies, and programs aimed at the holistic development and empowerment of women and children.
- qualitative (adjective) – relating to the quality of something rather than its quantity; subjective, descriptive, non-numerical, value-based.
- acquittal (noun) – declaration of innocence, clearing, discharge, release, vindication, exoneration.
- rarely (adverb) – not often, seldom, infrequently, hardly ever.
- policy change (noun) – a modification, alteration, or shift in the established plans, rules, or actions adopted by a government or organization; reform, strategic shift, regulatory amendment.
- survivor (noun) – a person who has overcome or endured a traumatic experience such as abuse; victim, sufferer.
- victimisation (noun) – an act of exploiting or victimizing someone; exploitation, oppression, persecution.
- administrative (adjective) – organizational, managerial, operational, bureaucratic, governmental.
- together with (phrase) – along with, accompanied by, besides, coupled with.
- lack (noun) – absence, deficiency, shortage, dearth.
- policing (noun) – the enforcement of rules and regulations; overseeing, monitoring, inspection.
- trauma (noun) – severe emotional or physical distress; suffering, agony, anguish, torment.
- stigma (noun) – shame, disgrace, dishonour, discredit.
- evade (verb) – avoid, dodge, elude, escape.
- cycle (noun) – a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order; sequence, pattern, round, loop.
- unreported (adjective) – undisclosed, unpublished, secret, unrevealed.
- unpunished (adjective) – getting off scot-free, escaping justice, avoiding penalty, without consequence.
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Child sexual abuse in India remains persistently under-reported and the state response to it has shown up trenchant systemic inefficiencies. In over 90% of cases, including the recent Sulur case in Coimbatore in which… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s word list-1 for The Hindu Editorial (Series of gaps) – Jun 15, 2026.