The Hindu Editorial (Lists of folly) – Jul 22, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (Lists of folly) – Jul 22, 2026:

folly (noun) – lack of good sense; foolishness, stupidity, silliness, irresponsibility.
flawed (adjective) – defective, faulty, inaccurate, erroneous.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (noun) – an official administrative process conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly update, correct, and verify electoral rolls by deleting non-existent voters and adding new eligible citizens.
basis (noun) – foundation, rationale, reasoning, groundwork.
distribution (noun) – allocation, sharing, delivery, dispensing, handing out.
reiterate (verb) – to say something again or a number of times, typically for emphasis or clarity; repeat, restate, retell, iterate.
position (noun) – point of view, stance, standpoint, viewpoint, perspective.
exclusion (noun) – rejection, elimination, debarment, non-inclusion.
electoral roll (noun) – voter list, voting register, electorate list, poll book.
consequence (noun) – outcome, repercussion, ramification, result.
unrelated (adjective) – not related or linked; irrelevant, unconnected, independent, separate.
issue (verb) – to distribute something officially; release, publish, announce, put out.
welfare (noun) – statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need; social security, government assistance, public assistance.
ineligible (adjective) – unqualified, disqualified, unsuitable, unfit.
notification (noun) – official announcement, circular, order.
direct (verb) – to give an official order or command; instruct, order, command, mandate.
beneficiary (noun) – recipient, receiver, payee, inheritor.
Annapurna Yojana (noun) – a welfare scheme by the Government of India aimed at providing food security to senior citizens who, though eligible, remain uncovered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS).
unless (conjunction) – except if; if not, saving, but for, except on the condition that.
appeal (noun) – plea, request, entreaty, petition.
tribunal (noun) – a body established to settle certain types of dispute; court, board, panel, judiciary.
Public Distribution System (PDS) (noun) – a government-sponsored chain of shops entrusted with the work of distributing basic food and non-food commodities to the needy sections of the society at very cheap prices; ration system.
run contrary to (phrase) – to be in opposition to or to conflict with; conflict with, go against, clash with, be at odds with.
instruction (noun) – a direction or order; directive, order, command, mandate.
bar (verb) – to prohibit someone from doing something; forbid, prohibit, ban, prevent.
authority (noun) – official, the bureaucracy, governing body, the people in charge, administration.
other than (phrase) – apart from; except, besides, with the exception of, excluding.
voting rights (noun) – the legal entitlement of a citizen to participate in democratic elections by casting a vote; franchise, suffrage, electoral right, right to vote.
notice (noun) – formal communication; formal warning.
tiny (adjective) – very small; minute, minuscule, microscopic, negligible.
fraction (noun) – a small or tiny part, amount, or proportion of something; part, proportion, portion, segment.
dispose of (phrasal verb) – to deal with or settle a matter, such as an appeal or a case; settle, resolve, conclude, finish with.
leave (verb) – to cause someone or something to be in a particular state or condition; cause to be, make, let remain, result in.
precarious (adjective) – uncertain, insecure, unpredictable, risky.
uncertainty (noun) – unpredictability, unreliability, doubtfulness, instability.
unconscionable (adjective) – not right or reasonable; unethical, amoral, unreasonable, unacceptable.
paradox (noun) – contradiction, inconsistency, anomaly, absurdity.
mean (verb) – to intend to convey, indicate, or refer to; intend, purpose, design, aim.
enrolment (noun) – the action of officially registering as a participant or member; registration, listing, admission, entry.
by itself (phrase) – on its own; alone, independently, without external help, solely.
citizenship (noun) – the status of a person recognized under the custom or law as being a legal member of a sovereign state; nationality, civic status, national identity.
apart (adverb) – aside, notwithstanding, beside, excluding.
sound (adjective) – based on valid reason or good judgment; logical, rational, reasonable, valid.
commonsensical (adjective) – having or showing common sense; sensible, practical, realistic, reasonable.
assumption (noun) – a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof; premise, supposition, presumption, belief.
enrol (verb) – to officially register as a member of an institution or list; register, enlist, sign up, record.
enlist (verb) – to enroll or be enrolled; register, enter, sign up, enroll.
necessarily (adverb) – inevitably, certainly, unavoidably, naturally.
straightforward (adjective) – simple, uncomplicated, easy, clear.
proposition (noun) – a statement or assertion that expresses a judgment or opinion; statement, assertion, argument, theory.
absence (noun) – lack, non-existence, unavailability, omission.
civic (adjective) – relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area; community, local, municipal, public.
subsistence (noun) – the action or fact of maintaining or supporting oneself at a minimum level; survival, living, livelihood, sustenance.
illogical (adjective) – unreasonable, irrational, unfounded, unjustified.
cruel (adjective) – callous, harsh, ruthless, brutal.
state (verb) – declare, announce, assert, affirm.
notwithstanding (preposition) – in spite of; despite, regardless of, however, nevertheless.
at stake (phrase) – at risk, in jeopardy, on the line, endangered.
universal (adjective) – general, comprehensive, common, worldwide.
human rights (noun) – fundamental rights, civil liberties, legal rights, constitutional rights.
alike (adverb) – in a similar way; similarly, equally, identically, uniformly.
clean (adjective) – accurate, uncorrupted, valid, flawless.
targeted (adjective) – directed at a particular group or area; focused, specific, concentrated, tailored.
governance (noun) – administration, management, rule, control.
take leave of (phrase) – to act in a way that suggests one has lost a particular quality, such as logic or sense; part ways with, abandon, forsake, give up.
logic (noun) – reason, rationality, sense, deduction.
common sense (noun) – practicality, level-headedness, prudence, astuteness.