The Hindu Editorial (​​​​Arbitrary and opaque) – Mar 13, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (​​Arbitrary and opaque) – Mar 13, 2026:

1. arbitrary (adjective) – based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system; irrational, capricious, discretionary, illogical.
2. opaque (adjective) – lacking transparency; unclear, non-transparent, obscure, cryptic, unfathomable, mysterious, doubtful.
3. Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 2026 (noun) – a newly approved pension scheme by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) under the Code on Social Security, 2020, intended to replace the EPS 1995 scheme and administer pension benefits for employees in the organized sector.
4. Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995 (noun) – a statutory social security scheme launched by the Government of India under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, administered by the EPFO to provide post-retirement, disability, and family pension benefits to organized sector workers.
5. Difference between EPS 1995 and EPS 2026 (phrase) – while EPS 1995 was governed by the EPF & MP Act, 1952, and established the foundational structure for organized sector pensions (including specific option clauses for higher pensions), EPS 2026 aligns with the modernized Code on Social Security, 2020. EPS 2026 replaces the 1995 scheme to streamline administration but has faced criticism for removing older provisions deemed “obsolete,” thereby restricting employee options in an apparent bid to reduce the government’s long-term pension funding burden.
6. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) (noun) – a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, responsible for the regulation and management of provident funds, pension schemes, and insurance schemes for the organized sector workforce in India.
7. tweak (verb) – modify, adjust, amend, alter.
8. wide (adjective) – comprehensive, extensive, broad, far-reaching.
9. consultation (noun) – the action or process of formally consulting or discussing; discussion, deliberation, dialogue, engagement.
10. Central Board of Trustees (CBT) (noun) – a statutory body constituted by the Central Government under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, to administer the EPF, EPS, and EDLI schemes and oversee their funds, operations, and investments.
11. raise concerns (phrase) – to express anxiety, worry, or objections about a particular issue; express apprehension, voice doubts, highlight worries, provoke fears.
12. transparency (noun) – openness, clarity, straightforwardness, accountability.
13. Employees’ Provident Fund (noun) – a government-mandated retirement savings scheme under the EPF Act, 1952, where both employees and employers contribute a portion of the employee’s salary to build a retirement corpus managed by the EPFO.
14. Employees’ Deposit-Linked Insurance Scheme (noun) – an insurance scheme operated by the EPFO that provides life insurance coverage to private sector employees who are members of the Employees’ Provident Fund, ensuring financial protection for their beneficiaries.
15. design (verb) – plan, formulate, devise, create.
16. corollary (noun) – outcome, consequence, result, repercussion.
17. Code on Social Security, 2020 (noun) – a legislative act by the Government of India that amalgamates, simplifies, and rationalizes existing central labor laws relating to social security to extend coverage to all employees and workers in both organized and unorganized sectors.
18. abruptly (adverb) – suddenly, unexpectedly, hastily, precipitously.
19. Labour Ministry (noun) – the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, a central government ministry responsible for protecting and safeguarding the interests of workers, promoting their welfare, providing social security, and formulating labor policies.
20. until now (phrase) – up to the present time; hitherto, previously, so far, to date.
21. hint (noun) – a slight or indirect indication or suggestion; indication, clue, suggestion, intimation.
22. stakeholder (noun) – a person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business or policy; interested party, participant, investor, associate.
23. authorities (noun) – officials, administration, bureaucrats, regulators, policymakers.
24. decade (noun) – a period of ten years; a ten-year period.
25. due to (phrase) – because of, owing to, on account of, as a result of.
26. litigation (noun) – legal proceedings, lawsuit, legal action, court case.
27. feature (noun) – a distinctive attribute or aspect of something; characteristic, attribute, aspect, trait.
28. detriment (noun) – harm, damage, injury, disadvantage.
29. for instance (phrase) – as an example; for example.
30. coverage (noun) – the extent of protection or financial benefits provided to an individual by an insurance policy or social security scheme against specific risks; protection, inclusion, scope, indemnity.
31. limit (verb) – restrict, constrain, confine, bound.
32. up to (phrase) – as far as a certain limit or point; up to the maximum of, reaching, equaling, no more than.
33. universal coverage (noun) – the inclusion of all individuals in a particular scheme or policy, without discrimination or exclusion; comprehensive inclusion, total coverage.
34. intended (adjective) – planned, meant, proposed, designed.
35. substantially (adverb) – to a great extent; significantly, considerably, greatly, largely.
36. unrestricted (adjective) – not limited or restricted; unlimited, unconstrained.
37. exercise (verb) – utilize, employ, apply, use.
38. come into force (phrase) – (of a law, rule, or system) to begin to apply or be valid; become effective, take effect, become operative, be implemented.
39. intervention (noun) – involvement, intercession, interference, mediation.
40. retiree (noun) – pensioner, retired person, senior citizen, former employee.
41. case (noun) – an instance of a particular situation, or a legal action; instance, situation, occurrence, context.
42. leave in the lurch (phrase) – to abandon or leave someone in a difficult situation without assistance; abandon, desert, let down, forsake.
43. unrealistic (adjective) – impractical, unreasonable, unfeasible, illogical.
44. condition (noun) – a requirement or stipulation that must be fulfilled; requirement, stipulation, prerequisite, criterion.
45. set (verb) – establish, impose, define, formulate.
46. PF body (noun) – (referring to) the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which manages provident funds for employees.
47. make most of (phrase) – to cause the majority or the largest part of a group to be in a certain state; render the majority, cause the bulk of, turn the greater part of, affect nearly all.
48. provision (noun) – a condition or requirement in a legal document or scheme; clause, stipulation, condition, requirement.
49. option provision (noun) – a specific legal clause within a pension scheme that allows employees and employers to jointly choose to contribute to the pension fund based on actual salaries rather than the restricted statutory wage ceiling.
50. obsolete (adjective) – no longer used, or out of date; outdated, outmoded, antiquated, archaic.
51. reflect (verb) – indicate, reveal, demonstrate, show, manifest.
52. narrow (adjective) – limited in extent, amount, or scope; restricted, limited, constrained, confined.
53. legal interpretation (noun) – the process of determining the meaning of laws or legal documents; judicial construction, legal analysis, statutory interpretation, judicial understanding.
54. moreover (adverb) – besides, furthermore, in addition, additionally.
55. upward revision (noun) – the act of changing something (like a financial limit or estimate) to a higher figure; increase, raise, enhancement, augmentation.
56. ceiling (noun) – an upper limit, typically one set on prices, wages, or expenditure; upper limit, maximum, cap, limit.
57. disappoint (verb) – let down, dishearten, sadden, dismay.
58. so far (phrase) – up to this time; until now, to date, thus far, up to the present.
59. wage ceiling (noun) – the maximum limit of salary up to which mandatory contributions to schemes like EPF are calculated; salary cap, maximum wage limit, income threshold, pay limit.
60. burden (noun) – a heavy load or a severe responsibility or difficulty; responsibility, obligation, liability.
61. pension commitment (noun) – the financial obligation or responsibility of an organization to pay pensions to its retirees; retirement obligation, pension liability.
62. commitment (noun) – a pledge, promise, or financial obligation; obligation, responsibility, pledge, duty.
63. government funding (noun) – financial assistance or capital provided by the state or central government; public subsidization, government financial backing.
64. contribution (noun) – a payment made to a common fund or collection, such as a provident fund; payment, input.
65. willing (adjective) – ready, eager, or prepared to do something; agreeable, ready, prepared, disposed.
66. meet (verb) – fulfill, satisfy, answer, address.
67. challenges (noun) – difficulties, hurdles, obstacles.
68. along with (phrase) – in addition to someone or something else; together with, accompanied by, besides, alongside.
69. empathy (noun) – the ability to understand and share the feelings of another; compassion, sympathy, understanding, sensitivity.
70. mere (adjective) – just, only, bare, simple.
71. regulation (noun) –rule, directive, guideline, mandate.

Note:

1. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are our personal work. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context. 

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

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