The Hindu Editorial (Checkbox caste) – Jul 09, 2026

The Hindu Editorial (Checkbox caste) – Jul 09, 2026

To read this article, click “The Hindu”.

This preview is provided here with permission.

Courtesy: The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial (Checkbox caste) – Jul 09, 2026:

Checkbox (noun) – a small box on a form or computer screen into which a tick or cross is entered as the answer to a question; check box, tick box.
open-ended (adjective) – not having fixed limits; without any date/tenure fixed in advance; unrestricted, unbound, unlimited.
counting (noun) – calculation, tallying, numbering.
yield (verb) – produce, generate, provide, deliver.
rehearsal (noun) – trial run, test, drill.
Census 2027 (proper noun) – the upcoming decennial census in India.
underway (adjective) – in progress, going on, happening, occurring.
carry (verb) – contain, bear, include, have.
feature (noun) – characteristic, attribute, aspect, trait.
open column (noun) – a space in a form or survey where a respondent can write any answer rather than choosing from predefined options; open field, free-text box.
respondent (noun) – a person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a questionnaire; replier, answerer.
state (verb) – give out, express, say, declare.
enumerator (noun) – a person employed in taking a census of the population; census taker, pollster.
unlike (preposition) – different from, dissimilar to, in contrast to.
2011 Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) (proper noun) – a study of the socio-economic status of rural and urban households in India that allows ranking of households based on predefined parameters.
Census (proper noun) – an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals.
statutory (adjective) – legitimate, permissible, allowable, legal.
backing (noun) – support, endorsement, help, assistance.
pre-test (noun) – trial, preliminary test.
finding (noun) – conclusion, result, discovery, outcome.
corroborate (verb) – confirm, verify, endorse, ratify.
unwieldy (adjective) – unmanageable, cumbersome, bulky, awkward.
as seen (phrase) – as observed, as noticed, as witnessed.
eventually (adverb) – in the end, finally, ultimately.
unusable (adjective) – unfit for use, impractical, invalid, unworkable.
the last (phrase) – the most recent, latest, preceding.
tabulate (verb) – arrange, organize, structure, order.
surname (noun) – family name, last name.
clan (noun) – family, group, faction, tribe.
as if (phrase) – as though.
interchangeable (adjective) – identical, alike, indistinguishable, similar.
inflate (verb) – increase, boost, escalate, blow up.
incoherence (noun) – confusion, unclarity, unintelligibility, disjointedness.
figure (noun) – number, statistic, digit, data.
error-ridden (adjective) – full of errors, faulty, incorrect, flawed.
rely upon (phrasal verb) – depend on, count on, bank on, trust.
reservation (noun) – a system of affirmative action in India that provides historically disadvantaged groups representation in education, employment, and politics; quota, representation.
instead (adverb) – as an alternative, alternately.
point to (phrasal verb) – indicate, suggest, denote, show.
hand-held (adjective) – portable, mobile.
pre-loaded (adjective) – loaded in advance, pre-installed.
curated (adjective) – selected, organized, carefully chosen, gathered.
mismatch (noun) – discrepancy, inconsistency, difference, imbalance.
reveal (verb) – disclose, show, display, expose.
return (verb) – produce, yield, output, generate.
identity (noun) – character, individuality, uniqueness.
linguistic (adjective) – relating to language.
gender (noun) – sex.
abstract (adjective) – theoretical, conceptual, non-concrete, intangible.
irrational (adjective) – illogical, unreasonable, baseless, unfounded.
designate (verb) – classify, specify, label, identify.
biological (adjective) – physical, genetic, organic.
professed (adjective) – claimed, declared, stated, alleged.
attribute (noun) – feature, characteristic, quality, trait.
perceived (adjective) – observed, regarded, considered, seen.
primordial (adjective) – ancient, primitive, primeval, deep-rooted.
conferred (adjective) – granted, bestowed, presented, given.
hierarchy (noun) – ranking, grading, class system, pecking order.
self-evident (adjective) – obvious, clear, plain, undeniable.
perception (noun) – understanding, view, impression, observation.
contradict (verb) – deny, dispute, challenge, oppose.
the Constitution (noun) – the supreme law of India; fundamental law, rule book, charter.
committed to (adjective) – dedicated, devoted, loyal, faithful.
social justice (noun) – the fair and proper administration of laws conforming to the natural law that all persons, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race, religion, etc., are to be treated equally and without prejudice; equality, fairness, equal opportunity.
set itself against (phrase) – strongly oppose, resist, object to.
abolish (verb) – eliminate, put an end to, eradicate, scrap.
untouchability (noun) – the practice of ostracizing a group of people by keeping them at a distance; social exclusion.
forbid (verb) – prohibit, ban, outlaw, proscribe.
caste-based (adjective) – related to or based on the caste system.
discrimination (noun) – prejudice, bias, unfairness, inequality.
hold out (phrasal verb) – offer, present, provide, give.
promise (noun) – assurance, pledge, vow, guarantee.
republic (noun) – a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives; democratic state, constitutional nation.
standing (noun) – status, position, reputation, rank.
very act (phrase) – the exact action, the mere action, the simple action itself.
enumeration (noun) – counting, numbering, listing, calculation.
ossify (verb) – harden, rigidify, solidify, fossilize.
reify (verb) – materialize, concretize, make real, substantiate.
rationale (noun) – reason, reasoning, basis, logic.
self-perceived (adjective) – viewed or understood by oneself; self-identified.
impose (verb) – force, inflict, thrust, urge.
social inequity (noun) – social injustice, unfairness, inequality, bias.
welfare (noun) – social security, public assistance, well-being, benefit.
measure (noun) – step, action, procedure, move.
address (verb) – tackle, deal with, handle, attend to.
injustice (noun) – unfairness, inequality, inequity, wrong.
over time (phrase) – gradually, eventually, slowly.
delegitimise (verb) – invalidate, undermine, discredit, weaken.
casteism (noun) – prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of caste.
rather than (phrase) – instead of, as opposed to.
entrench (verb) – establish, settle, root, embed.
sharper (adjective) – more precise, more focused, clearer.
targeting (noun) – the process of selecting and directing actions towards a specific group; focusing, aiming, directing.
affirmative action (noun) – positive discrimination; policy of favoring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against previously.
affirmative action (noun) – it means positive steps taken to increase the representation of (women and) minorities in areas of employment, education, and culture from which they have been historically excluded.
empirical (adjective) – observed, factual, actual, practical.
creamy layer (noun) – relatively wealthier and better-educated members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who are not eligible for government-sponsored educational and professional benefit programs.
creamy layer (noun) – income ceiling for Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation under which children of persons having a gross annual income of Rs. 8 lakh or above for a period of three consecutive years would fall under the creamy layer category and would not be entitled to the benefit of reservation available to Other Backward Classes (OBC).
sub-categorisation (noun) – the process of dividing a category into smaller subcategories; subdivision, further classification.
indispensable (adjective) – essential, crucial, necessary, vital.
way (noun) – method, process, procedure, technique.
register (verb) – record, note, enter, log.
serve (verb) – fulfill, achieve, accomplish, perform.
intended (adjective) – deliberate, planned, desired, meant.