The Hindu Editorial (​​End of chapter) – Mar 09, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (End of chapter) – Mar 09, 2026:

1. reshuffle (noun) – a reorganization of positions within a government or group; rearrangement, restructuring, shake-up, reorganization.
2. aid (verb) – help, assist, support, facilitate.
3. perception (noun) – impression, understanding, notion, belief.
4. interference (noun) – intervention, intrusion, meddling, involvement.
5. inglorious (adjective) – causing shame or a loss of honor; shameful, dishonourable, ignominious, discreditable.
6. unedifying (adjective) – distasteful or unpleasant to observe; unseemly, undignified, distasteful, degrading.
7. constitutional (adjective) – relating to an established set of principles governing a state; legal, lawful, legitimate, statutory.
8. statecraft (noun) – the skillful management of state affairs and governance; statesmanship, diplomacy, governance, public administration.
9. following (preposition) – coming after or as a result of an event; after, subsequent to, consequent to, succeeding.
10. inexplicable (adjective) – unable to be logically explained or accounted for; unaccountable, incomprehensible, unfathomable, baffling.
11. incumbent (adjective) – currently holding a specific office or position; current, existing, present, sitting.
12. gubernatorial (adjective) – relating to the office or authority of a state governor.
13. change of guard (phrase) – a situation in which there is a transition of power or leadership in an organization; transition, handover, succession, replacement.
14. poll-bound (adjective) – preparing for or heading towards an upcoming election; election-bound, going to the polls, election-facing, pre-election.
15. come alongside (phrasal verb) – emerge simultaneously, coincide, happen together, occur concurrently.
16. hold (verb) – occupy, maintain, keep, retain.
17. charge (noun) – a formal responsibility, duty, control, administration.
18. administer (verb) – inflict, give, provide, deliver, dispense.
19. pinprick (noun) – a minor annoyance or irritation; nuisance, irritation, annoyance, bother.
20. allowance (noun) – the act of taking mitigating circumstances into consideration; consideration, tolerance, concession, acknowledgment.
21. dispensation (noun) – government, regime, administration, system.
22. walk out (phrasal verb) – depart, leave, exit.
23. the Assembly (noun) – a legislative body composed of elected representatives; legislature, legislative council, parliament, lower house.
24. manufacture (verb) – fabricate, invent, create, contrive.
25. mandate (noun) – authority, approval, authorization, endorsement; instruction, directive, direction, decree. 
26. Special Address (noun) – a formal, constitutionally mandated speech delivered by a head of state or governor; formal speech, official declaration, keynote, presidential address.
27. the House (noun) – a legislative or parliamentary assembly; parliament, legislative body, assembly, council.
28. Article 176 of the Indian Constitution (noun) – a provision in the Indian Constitution mandating the Governor to address the state legislative assembly at the commencement of the first session of each year.
29. Lok Bhavan (noun) – the official residence or office of the Governor; governor’s residence.
30. Fort St. George (noun) – the administrative headquarters and legislative assembly complex of the Tamil Nadu government; secretariat, legislative building.
31. strained (adjective) – tense, uneasy, awkward, difficult.
32. Bill (noun) – a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion; draft law, proposed legislation, legislative proposal.
33. reserve (verb) – set aside, retain, withhold, keep back.
34. seek (verb) – request, ask for, appeal for.
35. exemption (noun) – immunity, exception, exclusion.
36. readopt (verb) – re-enact, re-approve, re-accept, re-establish.
37. re-send (verb) – return, forward again, re-dispatch, re-transmitt.
38. legislative (adjective) – having the power or relating to the process of making laws; law-making, parliamentary, governmental, policy-making.
39. paralysis (noun) – a state of being completely unable to function or act; standstill, stagnation, gridlock, breakdown.
40. indefinitely (adverb) – for an unlimited or unspecified period of time; endlessly, forever, continually, continuously.
41. abuse (verb) – misuse, misapply, exploit, mishandle.
42. Article 200 of the Indian Constitution (noun) – a constitutional provision in India dealing with the Governor’s power to grant or withhold assent to a Bill.
43. withhold (verb) – refuse, hold back, deny, retain.
44. assent (noun) – the expression of official approval or agreement; agreement, approval, consent, endorsement.
45. position (noun) – point of view, stance, viewpoint, perspective, attitude.
46. the Punjab case (2023) (noun) –  a landmark Supreme Court judgment (State of Punjab vs Principal Secretary to the Governor) which ruled that a Governor cannot indefinitely withhold assent to Bills under Article 200 of the Constitution and must mandatorily return them to the State Assembly for reconsideration, thereby preventing unelected gubernatorial heads from paralyzing the legislative process of a democratically elected government.
47. nullify (verb) – invalidate, annul, void, cancel.
48. inaction (noun) – lack of action; inactivity, passivity, inertia, idleness.
49. deemed (adjective) – considered, judged, regarded, perceived.
50. perhaps (adverb) – maybe, possibly, conceivably, arguably.
51. immune (adjective) – protected or exempt, especially from an obligation; exempt, protected, safe, free.
52. backtrack (verb) – reverse, retract, backpedal, withdraw.
53. unilaterally (adverb) – in a way that involves doing something without the agreement of others; independently, singly, alone, autonomously.
54. dismiss (verb) – sack, fire, remove, oust.
55. occasion (noun) – a particular time or instance of an event; instance, time, moment, occurrence.
56. rap (verb) – reprimand, rebuke, censure, criticize.
57. administer an oath (phrase) – to formally preside over and direct the swearing of a solemn promise or pledge, particularly when inducting an individual into a public office; swear in, induct, instate, install.
58. oath (noun) – a solemn promise; pledge, vow, sworn statement.
59. conviction (noun) – a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense; judgment, guilty verdict, sentence, condemnation.
60. suspend (verb) – halt, delay, defer, pause.
61. judiciary (noun) – the judicial authorities of a country; judges, judicial system, court system, bench.
62. beyond (preposition) – apart from or in addition to; besides, apart from, other than, additionally.
63. misadventure (noun) – a piece of bad luck or an unfortunate incident; misfortune, mishap, setback, disaster.
64. fight shy of (phrase) – avoid, evade, shy away from, recoil from.
65. endorse (verb) – support, back, approve, champion.
66. right-leaning (adjective) – having political views that are conservative or capitalistic; conservative, right-wing, traditionalist, conservative-leaning.
67. ideology (noun) – beliefs, principles, doctrines, philosophy.
68. opponent (noun) – rival, adversary, antagonist.
69. dub (verb) – call, name, label, term.
70. Dravidian model (noun) – a governance and socio-economic framework in Tamil Nadu focused on inclusive growth and social justice; socio-political ideology.
71. slogan (noun) – catchphrase, motto, rallying cry, catchword.
72. characterise (verb) – describe, portray, depict, identify.
73. sectarian (adjective) – factional, partisan, divisive, separatist.
74. posture (noun) – stance, attitude, approach, position.
75. further (verb) – promote, advance, forward, develop.
76. campaign (noun) – an organized course of action to achieve a political or social goal; crusade, movement, drive, operation.
77. accuse (verb) – blame, charge, indict, allege.
78. undermine (verb) – subvert, weaken, sabotage, compromise.
79. popular will (noun) – the desire, interest, and consensus of the majority of the people; public opinion, mandate, people’s choice, democratic consensus.
80. deprive (verb) – strip, divest, dispossess, rob.
81. weapon (noun) – a means of gaining an advantage or defending oneself in a conflict; tool, instrument.
82. comfort (verb) – soothe, console, reassure, ease.
83. tenure (noun) – the period of holding an office; term, incumbency, period in office.
84. emulation (noun) – effort or desire to equal or excel others, often by imitation; imitation, mimicking, mirroring, copying.
85. conduct (noun) – behavior, performance, demeanor.

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 (​​End of chapter) – Mar 09, 2026: