The Hindu Editorial (​​​Policy missteps) – Mar 12, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (​Policy missteps) – Mar 12, 2026:

1. misstep (noun) – a blunder or mistake, especially one made due to poor judgment; error, fault, blunder, faux pas.
2. handling (noun) – the administration or management of a particular situation or crisis; management, administration, control, conduct.
3. fuel crisis (noun) – a severe shortage or disruption in the supply of energy resources, leading to widespread economic concern; energy shortage, fuel scarcity, oil emergency, energy deficit.
4. panic (noun) – sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety that spreads quickly; alarm, fear, fright, apprehension.
5. unfold (verb) – develop, evolve, happen, transpire.
6. shine a spotlight (phrase) – direct public attention or focus toward a specific issue or problem; highlight, emphasize, underscore, illuminate.
7. energy security (noun) – the reliable and uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price; power security, fuel independence, energy stability.
8. policy preparedness (noun) – the state of being structurally and administratively ready to handle potential crises through robust planning; strategic readiness, administrative foresight.
9. communication strategy (noun) – a systematic plan for delivering critical messages to stakeholders during a specific situation; public relations plan, messaging strategy.
10. in times of (crisis) (phrase) – during (a specific period or set of circumstances, particularly difficult ones); during (crises)
11. need (noun) – requirement, demand, necessity, requisite.
12. disruption (noun) – disturbance, interruption, stoppage, obstruction.
13. supply chain (noun) – the entire sequence of processes and networks involved in producing and distributing a commodity; logistics network, distribution channel, supply network.
14. hit hard (phrase) – to affect severely or negatively, causing significant damage or distress; impact heavily, strike severely, affect badly, devastate.
15. Strait of Hormuz (noun) – a strategically vital and narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, crucial for global oil transport.
16. to someone’s credit (phrase) – used to indicate that someone deserves praise or acknowledgment for a particular positive action; in one’s favor, to one’s praise, to one’s merit, commendable for.
17. credit (noun) – praise, approval, commendation, acknowledgment.
18. dependence (noun) – reliance.
19. push (noun) – drive, initiative, effort, campaign.
20. ethanol (noun) – a renewable, plant-based biofuel primarily used as an eco-friendly blending agent with gasoline.
21. biofuel (noun) – an alternative energy source derived directly from renewable biological matter; renewable energy, green fuel, biomass fuel.
22. a step in this direction (phrase) – a progressive action taken toward achieving a specific, long-term objective; progressive measure, positive move, constructive step.
23. smoothen (verb) – ease, facilitate, mitigate, streamline.
24. adoption (noun) – the formal process of accepting and implementing a new policy or technology; integration embracing, acceptance, implementation.
25. in the near term (phrase) – occurring in the immediate future; shortly, soon, presently, imminently.
26. that said (phrase) – nevertheless, nonetheless, even so, however.
27. growing (adjective) – increasing, expanding, rising, developing.
28. measure (noun) – action, step, procedure, initiative.
29. likely (adjective) – having a high chance/probability of occurring; probable, possible, expected, anticipated.
30. marginal (adjective) – minimal in significance, having little impact on the overall situation; slight, small, insignificant, negligible.
31. strategic (adjective) – relating to calculated, long-term planning designed to achieve a major goal; calculated, deliberate, tactical, planned.
32. significance (noun) – importance, consequence, relevance.
33. of strategic significance (phrase) – possessing great geopolitical or economic importance for long-term national planning; strategically important, crucial for planning, vital for strategy, of long-term importance.
34. long-term (adjective) – enduring, lasting, permanent, prolonged.
35. oriented (adjective) – aligned or directed toward a specific purpose, policy, or overarching goal; directed, focused, aligned, inclined.
36. robust (adjective) – strong, sturdy, vigorous, resilient, enduring.
37. in the face (phrase) – when confronted with a difficult situation or opposing force; despite, in spite of, confronted with, facing.
38. external pressure (noun) – outside influence, foreign coercion, geopolitical pressure, external force.
39. at a time (phrase) – during a specific, often critical, period or set of circumstances; simultaneously, concurrently, at once, during a period.
40. cut (verb) – reduce, decrease, slash, lower.
41. due to (phrase) – because of, owing to, on account of, as a result of.
42. give in (phrasal verb) – capitulate, surrender, yield, submit.
43. steady (verb) – stabilize.
44. global market (noun) – the interconnected international economic system where goods, like oil, are traded; international trade, world economy, international market, global economy.
45. tariff (noun) – a tax or duty imposed by a government on imported or exported goods.
46. hard to bear (phrase) – difficult to endure or tolerate due to significant economic or physical burden; oppressive, burdensome, intolerable, unbearable.
47. bear (verb) – tolerate, endure, withstand, sustain.
48. the U.S. Supreme Court (noun) – the highest federal judicial body in the United States, which has ultimate appellate jurisdiction; highest judicial body, apex court, top court, highest tribunal.
49. deliberate (verb) – consider, ponder, contemplate, reflect.
50. as things stand (phrase) – in the current geopolitical or economic situation; currently, at present, presently, now.
51. no longer (phrase) – not anymore, indicating a change from a previous state to the present; not at present, not anymore, nevermore, no more.
52. squander (verb) – waste, dissipate, misuse, throw away.
53. diminish (verb) – decrease, decline, lessen, wane.
54. trade deal (noun) – a formal economic agreement between nations regulating tariffs, trade, and investment; trade agreement, economic pact, trade treaty.
55. remain distant (phrase) – to continue to be unlikely to happen or far from being finalized; stay unlikely, continue to be remote, keep away, stay far-off.
56. official (noun) – officer, executive, bureaucrat, administrator.
57. anonymous (adjective) –  unnamed, unidentified, nameless, unknown.
58. in response to (phrase) – reacting to, answering to, as a result of, in reply to.
59. as much as (phrase) – to the same degree or extent; equally, practically, almost, just as.
60. a political necessity (noun) – an imperative action or policy driven primarily by the need to maintain public support or political survival; political imperative, governmental requirement.
61. necessity (noun) – an indispensable requirement or an unavoidable obligation; requirement, prerequisite, requisite, essential.
62. after all (phrase) – ultimately, essentially, fundamentally, basically.
63. cut (verb) – reduce, decrease, slash, lower.
64. over (preposition) – during, throughout, for the duration of, across.
65. comfortably (adverb) – easily, securely, adequately, effortlessly.
66. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) (noun) – a flagship Indian government welfare programme launched on May 1, 2016, aimed at providing deposit-free LPG connections to women of below-poverty-line (BPL) households to promote clean cooking fuel, empower women, and reduce health hazards associated with indoor air pollution.
67. LPG (noun) – Liquefied Petroleum Gas, a flammable hydrocarbon mixture used widely as a clean cooking fuel; cooking gas.
68. household (noun) – family, family unit, house, domestic unit.
69. lay bare (verb) – reveal, uncover, expose, disclose.
70. anticipate (verb) – foresee, predict, expect, forecast.
71. resultant (adjective) – resulting, subsequent, consequent, ensuing.
72. commensurate (adjective) – proportionate, equivalent, corresponding, equal.
73. reserve (noun) – an emergency supply or stockpile of a critical commodity, like oil, kept for future use; stock, store, supply, stockpile.
74. amid (preposition) – during, in the middle of, surrounded by, amidst.
75. shortage (noun) – scarcity, lack, deficit, shortfall.
76. so far (phrase) – up to now, hitherto, thus far, to date.
77. off-record (adjective) – unofficial, confidential, private, unpublished.
78. briefing (noun) – meeting, conference.
79. occasional (adjective) – happening or appearing sporadically rather than consistently; infrequent, rare, periodic, sporadic.
80. warranted (adjective) – fully justified, required, or necessitated by a specific set of circumstances; justified, necessary, appropriate, required.
81. inter- (prefix) – between, among, mutually, reciprocally.
82. inter-ministerial (adjective) – involving collaboration or coordination across multiple distinct ministries within a government; across ministries.
83. days late (phrase) – severely delayed or occurring behind the necessary schedule by several days; overdue, delayed, belated, behind schedule.
84. no questions are taken (phrase) – a restrictive communication scenario where journalists are explicitly banned from cross-examining officials; no press questions allowed, one-way communication, restricted press conference.
85. accountable (adjective) – responsible, answerable, liable, obligated.
86. crisis communication (noun) – the strategic messaging protocols deployed by an organization to manage public perception and disseminate information during an emergency; emergency public relations, disaster communication.

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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