The Hindu Editorial (​on a wing) – Mar 30, 2026

To read this article, click  “The Hindu”.

This preview is provided here with permission.

Courtesy: The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial (​​​on a wing) – Mar 30, 2026:

1. on a wing (phrase) – operating in a precarious condition or with minimal resources, often hoping for success without adequate backing; precariously, uncertainly, riskily, tenuously.
2. UDAN scheme (noun) – Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik; a flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) of the Government of India launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to develop smaller regional airports and make air travel affordable for common citizens.
3. subsidy (noun) – financial support provided by the government to keep the price of a service or commodity low; financial assistance, grant, subvention, aid.
4. In a bid to (phrase) – in an attempt to, with the aim of, in order to.
5. revive (verb) – to restore to life or operational capability; revitalize, resuscitate, rejuvenate, renew.
6. aviation (noun) – the flying or operating of aircraft, specifically commercial air transport in this context; aeronautics, air transport.
7. sign off (phrasal verb) – to formally approve or authorize something; endorse, ratify, green-light, consent to.
8. sixfold (adjective) – six times as great or as numerous.
9. outlay (noun) – an amount of money spent on something; expenditure, spending, disbursement, expense.
10. launch (verb) – to introduce or start a new initiative or programme; initiate, roll out, commence, inaugurate.
11. expand (verb) – to increase, enlarge, broaden, extend, widen.
12. interior area (noun) – the inland regions of a country situated away from the coast or borders; hinterland, remote region, deep country, inner land.
13. scheduled commuter airline (noun) – a specific class of commercial airline recognized by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India that operates smaller aircraft (usually under 100 seats) on regular schedules to connect smaller towns and provide regional connectivity.
14. even then (phrase) – despite that, in spite of that, nevertheless, nonetheless.
15. viable (adjective) – feasible, practical, workable, sustainable.
16. business case (noun) – a justification for a proposed project or undertaking based on its expected commercial or economic benefit; economic rationale, financial logic, commercial viability.
17. due to (phrase) – because of, owing to, on account of.
18. lack (noun) – absence, deficiency, shortage, dearth.
19. infrastructure (noun) – the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of an enterprise or society; framework, groundwork, foundational facilities.
20. unpredictable (adjective) – uncertain, unreliable, volatile, erratic.
21. insufficient (adjective) – deficient, lacking, wanting, inadequate.
22. coverage (noun) – scope, range, span, reach.
23. tier-II (adjective) – referring to mid-sized, developing cities in India that rank just below the major metropolitan centers in terms of population and commercial activity; secondary city, mid-tier city.
24. tier-III (adjective) – referring to smaller towns and rapidly urbanizing areas in India that fall below tier-II cities in commercial development; tertiary town, small-tier town.
25. carrier (noun) – a company that transports passengers or goods, particularly an airline; airline, operator, transporter, aviation company.
26. sought past tense of seek (verb) – attempt to find, ask for, request.
27. COVID-19 (noun) – an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for a major global pandemic.
28. pandemic (noun) – an outbreak of a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world; global epidemic, widespread contagion, international outbreak.
29. hit (verb) – to have a negative or damaging impact on; strike, affect adversely, devastate, batter.
30. exchequer (noun) – the national treasury or the funds of a government; state treasury, public purse, government coffers, national finances.
31. rather than (phrase) – instead of, as opposed to.
32. levy (verb) – to impose a tax, fee, or fine; charge, exact, impose, collect.
33. charge (noun) – a fee or amount demanded as a price for a service; cost, fee, tariff, price.
34. set aside (phrasal verb) – to reserve or allocate something for a specific purpose; earmark, allocate, reserve, dedicate.
35. decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
36. to this end (phrase) – for this reason, with this goal in mind, aiming for this.
37. redevelop (verb) – modernize, overhaul, revamp, reconstruct.
38. unused (adjective) – idle, dormant, inactive, vacant.
39. airstrip (noun) – a designated strip of ground for the takeoff and landing of aircraft; runway, landing strip, airfield, flight strip.
40. helipad (noun) – a designated landing and takeoff area for helicopters; heliport, helicopter landing pad.
41. last-mile connectivity (noun) – the final leg of a transport journey that connects a passenger from a transit hub to their ultimate destination; final-stage connection, localized transit.
42. last-mile (adjective) – relating to the final stage in a process, especially the delivery of passengers or goods to their ultimate destination; final-stage, end-point, concluding-leg.
43. match (verb) – to correspond or align with; harmonize, coordinate, suit, fit.
44. mode of transport (noun) – a specific method or vehicle used for transportation; means of travel, conveyance, transit method.
45. geography (noun) – the physical features, terrain, and layout of an area; topography, landscape, terrain.
46. pay for (phrasal verb) – to bear the cost of or provide financial backing for; fund, finance, underwrite, sponsor.
47. staffing (noun) – the process of hiring, deploying, and managing personnel within an organization; workforce provisioning, personnel management, human resourcing, manning.
48. fragile (adjective) – weak, delicate, shaky, precarious.
49. unlikely (adjective) – not expected to happen; improbable, doubtful, dubious, questionable.
50. widely (adverb) – extensively, broadly, comprehensively, largely.
51. self-sustaining (adjective) – capable of maintaining itself independently without external financial support or subsidy; financially independent, self-sufficient, self-supporting, commercially viable.
52. unyieldingly (adverb) – stubbornly, inflexibly, resolutely, steadfastly.
53. price sensitivity (noun) – the degree to which consumer demand or purchasing behavior changes in response to the cost of a product or service; demand elasticity, cost responsiveness, price awareness.
54. inefficiency (noun) – wastefulness, unproductiveness, incompetence, ineffectiveness.
55. address (verb) – tackle, confront, handle, attend to.
56. carry over (phrasal verb) – to transfer or persist into a new context, time, or situation; transfer, continue, persist, extend.
57. failing (noun) – a weakness, defect, or shortcoming in a system or character; flaw, deficiency, fault, weakness.
58. the foremost one (phrase) – the most prominent, important, or primary one among a group; the primary one, the principal one, the leading one.
59. underlying (adjective) – fundamental, basic, primary, root.
60. even as (phrase) – at the exact same time as; while, precisely when, at the time that.
61. leisure (noun) – recreation, relaxation, downtime.
62. occasional (adjective) – infrequent, sporadic, rare, periodic.
63. sustain (verb) – maintain, continue, preserve, uphold.
64. even if (phrase) – despite the possibility that; whether or not, although, in spite of the fact that.
65. ease (verb) – alleviate, relieve, mitigate, lessen.
66. keep alive (phrasal verb) – to maintain the existence or operation of something; preserve, sustain, maintain, prolong.
67. of itself (phrase) – intrinsically or automatically without external influence; inherently, automatically, on its own, intrinsically.
68. In this sense (phrase) – from this perspective or viewpoint; in this context, in this way, from this angle.
69. reluctance (noun) – unwillingness or hesitation to do something; unwillingness, hesitation, disinclination, resistance.
70. revisit (verb) – reconsider, re-examine, reassess, review.
71. nurture (verb) – foster, cultivate, encourage, promote.
72. substitute (verb) – replace, exchange, swap, stand in for.
73. low-density region (noun) – a geographical area characterized by a small population relative to its size, leading to lower passenger demand; sparsely populated area, thinly populated zone, uncrowded region.
74. seem (verb) – appear, look, sound.
75. inexplicable (adjective) – unable to be explained or accounted for; incomprehensible, baffling, puzzling, unaccountable.
76. emphasis (noun) – special importance, value, or prominence given to something; stress, focus, priority, weight.
77. Civil Aviation (noun) – the category of aviation that represents all non-military and non-state flying; governed in India by the Ministry of Civil Aviation which forms national policies for the orderly growth, regulation, and development of commercial air transport.
78. integrated (adjective) – unified, interconnected, consolidated, combined.
79. among others (phrase) – including other people or things not specifically mentioned; inter alia, along with others, in addition to others.
80. sustained (adjective) – continuous, unceasing, prolonged, persistent.
81. cultivate (verb) – foster, develop, encourage, nurture.
82. stand on one’s own (phrase) – to be independent and self-sufficient without requiring external help or subsidies; be independent, be self-supporting, survive independently, rely on oneself.
83. lead to (phrasal verb) – result in, cause, bring about, give rise to.
84. lasting (adjective) – permanent, enduring, durable, long-term.
85. broader (adjective) – wider, more extensive, expansive, comprehensive.
86. in practice (phrase) – in reality, practically, actually, in actual usage.

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.

To download daily word list PDFs, click HERE