The Hindu Lead Article (NCERT book ban, a chapter on judicial transparency) – Mar 19, 2026

Editorial Words

3 months ago

The Hindu Lead Article (NCERT book ban, a chapter on judicial transparency) – Mar 19, 2026

During the past month, Indian policy towards West Asia has stirred domestic controversy. As substantive Indian interests are at stake, a professional assessment, based on two trends, is offered without wading into the domestic political blame game… For further reading, visit “The Hindu”. Below is today’s advanced word list-1 for The Hindu Lead Article (NCERT book ban, a chapter on judicial transparency) – Mar 19, 2026.

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Today’s Advanced Word List 1 for The Hindu Lead Article (NCERT book ban, a chapter on judicial transparency) – Mar 19, 2026:

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) (noun) – an autonomous organization set up in 1961 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Education to assist and advise the Central and State Governments on policies and programs for qualitative improvement in school education, primarily by developing educational frameworks and publishing model textbooks.
expose (verb) – reveal, uncover, disclose, lay bare.
public trust (noun) – the confidence, belief, and reliance that citizens have in the integrity, fairness, and reliability of government institutions, including the judiciary; public confidence.
author (verb) – write, compose, pen.
seminal (adjective) – influential, formative, groundbreaking, pioneering.
judiciary (noun) – the judicial authorities of a country, encompassing judges collectively; judicial system.
Out of Order: Arrogance, Corruption, and Incompetence on the Bench (proper noun) – a 1997 book by Max Boot that critically examines the American legal system, arguing that judges have amassed excessive power and often issue rulings based on personal ideologies rather than strict constitutional interpretation.
Solicitor General (noun) – the second-highest law officer in India, subordinate to the Attorney General, responsible for advising the government and appearing on its behalf in the Supreme Court and High Courts; top legal representative, senior law officer, state counsel, government advocate.
foreword (noun) – a short introduction to a book, typically written by a person other than the author; preface, introduction, prologue, preamble.
striking (adjective) – noticeable, remarkable, conspicuous, impressive.
to the degree (phrase) – to the extent, to the point, insofar as.
exert (verb) – apply, wield, exercise, utilize.
structural (adjective) – systemic, organizational, foundational, fundamental.
intellectual (adjective) – relating to the intellect or the capacity for rational thought and knowledge; cerebral, academic, cognitive, mental.
sum up (phrasal verb) – summarize, encapsulate, conclude.
in distress (phrase) – in trouble, in danger, suffering, in peril.
underscore (verb) – highlight, emphasize, underline, stress.
play a role (phrase) – contribute to, participate in, be a factor in, have an effect on.
judicial institution (noun) – an organized body, such as a court or tribunal, established to administer justice, interpret laws, and resolve legal disputes; court of law, legal tribunal, justice system.
democracy (noun) – a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives; representative government.
fault (verb) – criticize, blame, condemn.
selective (adjective) – discriminatory, choosy, specific, careful.
reference (noun) – mention, allusion, citation, remark.
blanket (adjective) – comprehensive, sweeping, overall, all-inclusive.
three-judge Bench (noun) – a panel of three judges in a court of law convened to hear and decide on a specific legal case or issue.
the Bench (noun) – the judge or magistrates in a court of law; judiciary, judges, court, tribunal.
Division Bench (noun) – a bench of a High Court or the Supreme Court consisting of two judges who hear appeals and decide on important cases; two-judge panel.
Constitutional Bench (noun) – a bench of the Supreme Court of India consisting of five or more judges, constituted to decide matters involving a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution.
preside over (phrasal verb) – be in charge of, head, manage, direct.
allude to (phrasal verb) – refer to, suggest, hint at, mention indirectly.
underlying (adjective) – fundamental, basic; concealed, undisclosed, hidden.
undermine (verb) – subvert, weaken, sabotage, compromise.
institutional authority (noun) – the recognized power, legitimacy, and right of an organization or body to make decisions, enforce rules, and command respect; official jurisdiction.
demean (verb) – degrade, humiliate, lower, belittle.
passage (noun) – a brief section or excerpt from a written work or speech; excerpt, section, extract, paragraph.
disassociate (verb) – separate, detach, disconnect, distance.
due process (noun) – fair trial, legal justice, procedural fairness, legal equity.
cite (verb) – quote, refer to, adduce, mention.
Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (proper noun) – a set of core values adopted in 2002 by a group of Chief Justices to establish international standards for the ethical conduct of judges, emphasizing independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, and competence.
prescribe (verb) – stipulate, lay down, dictate, mandate.
constitutional mechanism (noun) – legal framework, systemic process, institutional procedure, statutory apparatus.
errant (adjective) – offending, guilty, culpable, misbehaving.
egregious (adjective) – outstandingly bad; shocking, appalling, horrific, terrible.
censorship (noun) – the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, or materials that are considered politically unacceptable or a threat to security; suppression, gagging, silencing.
right to freedom of speech (noun) – the fundamental human right to express one’s opinions and ideas without fear of government retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.
Article 19 of the constitution of India (proper noun) – a fundamental right in the Indian Constitution that guarantees citizens six fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession; fundamental rights.
solemn promise (noun) – a formal, sincere, and deeply serious commitment or vow to do something; pledge, vow, oath, firm commitment.
the Constitution (noun) – the supreme law of a country that establishes the framework of government, fundamental rights, and the duties of citizens.
the state (noun) – the nation, the country, the government, the republic.
ground (noun) – reason, basis, cause, rationale.
expressly (adverb) – explicitly, clearly, directly, categorically.
Article 19(2) of the constitution of India (proper noun) – a constitutional provision that empowers the State to impose “reasonable restrictions” on the freedom of speech and expression in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, public order, decency, or morality.
sovereignty (noun) – the supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself; autonomy, independence, self-government, self-rule.
integrity (noun) – unity, wholeness, cohesion, solidarity.
public order (noun) – the normal and secure state of society where laws are obeyed and citizens can go about their lives safely and without disruption.
contempt of court (noun) – the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful towards a court of law and its officers in the form of behavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice, and dignity of the court; disrespect, defiance, disobedience.
defamation (noun) – the action of damaging the good reputation of someone; slander, libel, character assassination, vilification.
incitement (noun) – provocation, instigation, encouragement, agitation.
offence (noun) – a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act; crime, misdemeanor, violation, transgression.
in question (phrase) – under discussion, under consideration, at issue, being talked about.
come under (phrasal verb) – be classified as, fall within, belong to, be categorized under.
realm (noun) – a field or domain of activity or interest; domain, sphere, area, field.
context (noun) – circumstances, conditions, surroundings, situation.
Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar vs State of Maharashtra, 1966 (proper noun) – a landmark Supreme Court of India judgment which held that judicial orders passed by courts do not violate Fundamental Rights under Part III of the Constitution and cannot be challenged under Article 32.
Part III of the Constitution (proper noun) – the specific section of the Indian Constitution, encompassing Articles 12 to 35, which lays down the framework for Fundamental Rights to safeguard individual liberties and limit the power of the State.
Article 32 of the Constitution of India (proper noun) – a fundamental right that empowers individuals to directly approach the Supreme Court of India for the enforcement of their Fundamental Rights through the issuance of orders, directions, or writs like habeas corpus and mandamus.
habeas corpus (noun) – a legal writ or court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought before a judge to determine whether their detention is lawful, serving as a vital constitutional safeguard against arbitrary and illegal imprisonment.
mandamus (noun) – an extraordinary judicial writ issued by a superior court commanding a lower court, tribunal, or public authority to perform a specific legal or official duty that they are obligated to execute.
amount to (phrasal verb) – constitute, add up to, become, equal.
material (noun) – data, information, matter, facts.
scandalise (verb) – shock, appal, outrage, horrify.
authority of the court (noun) – judicial power, legal jurisdiction, court supremacy, judicial legitimacy.
prejudice (verb) – harm, damage, impair, undermine.
judicial proceeding (noun) – legal action, court case, legal process, litigation.
administration of justice (noun) – delivery of justice, legal enforcement, judicial process, law enforcement.
Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (proper noun) – a legal provision that defines “criminal contempt” as the publication of any matter or the doing of any act which scandalizes the court, prejudices any judicial proceeding, or interferes with the administration of justice.
Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (proper noun) – an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to define and limit the powers of certain courts in punishing contempts of courts and to regulate their procedure in relation thereto.
case backlog (noun) – the accumulation of pending or unresolved lawsuits and legal matters in a court system; pending cases, legal bottleneck, unresolved litigation.
threshold (noun) – the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested; limit, upper limit; brink, verge.
criminal contempt (noun) – any act or publication that scandalizes the court, prejudices a judicial proceeding, or interferes with the administration of justice, punishable under the law; judicial disrespect, court defiance.
deliberation (noun) – long and careful consideration or discussion; thought, consideration, reflection, contemplation.
malicious (adjective) – spiteful, malevolent, hostile, vindictive.
go by (phrasal verb) – rely on, be guided by, follow, judge from.
put to (phrasal verb) – submit to, subject to, present to, introduce to.
constitutional scrutiny (noun) – the rigorous examination and evaluation of a law, action, or policy by a court to determine if it complies with the principles and provisions of the constitution; judicial review, constitutional check, legal evaluation, statutory assessment.
Fundamental Rights (noun) – the basic human rights and civil liberties guaranteed to all citizens of India under Part III of the Constitution to protect them from arbitrary state action and ensure equality, liberty, and justice.
take on (phrasal verb) – assume, undertake, acquire, adopt.
remedy (noun) – a means of legal reparation; cure, solution, relief, redress.
constitutional court (noun) – the supreme/high court that primarily deals with constitutional law, specifically deciding whether laws or government actions align with the constitution; apex court, supreme tribunal.
last resort (noun) – a final course of action; final option, ultimate solution, fallback, desperate measure.
advanced democracies (noun) – developed democracies, progressive states, established democracies.
credibility (noun) – trustworthiness, reliability, dependability, integrity.
a matter of concern (phrase) – something that causes worry, anxiety, or requires serious attention; a cause for worry.
Transparency International (proper noun) – a global non-governmental organization founded in 1993, dedicated to combating corruption and preventing criminal activities arising from corruption, known for publishing the Corruption Perceptions Index.
prevailing (adjective) – current; current, existing, prevalent, widespread.
illustrative (adjective) – serving as an example or explanation; explanatory, descriptive, exemplary, indicative.
ombudsperson (noun) – an official appointed to investigate individuals’ complaints against maladministration, especially that of public authorities; investigator, mediator, public advocate, watchdog.
suppress (verb) – censor, stifle, silence, repress.
voice (noun) – the right to express an opinion; opinion, view, expression, representation.
menace (noun) – a threat or danger; threat, danger, peril, risk.
bad apple (noun) – a corrupt, bad, or problematic person in a group, whose behaviour is likely to have a negative influence on the rest; troublemaker, rogue, corrupt individual, toxic element.
in-house Procedure (noun) – an internal mechanism adopted by the Supreme Court of India in 1999 to investigate and take disciplinary action against judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court accused of misbehaviour or impropriety.
minuscule (adjective) – extremely small; tiny, minute, microscopic, insignificant.
breach (noun) – an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct; violation, contravention, infringement, breaking.
oath (noun) – a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior; vow, pledge, promise, swear.
K. Veeraswami vs Union Of India And Others (1991) (proper noun) – a landmark Supreme Court judgment which held that a judge of a High Court or the Supreme Court is a ‘public servant’ under the Prevention of Corruption Act, but mandated that prior written sanction from the Chief Justice of India is required before registering a criminal case against them.
categorically (adverb) – absolutely, unconditionally, unequivocally, explicitly.
held past tense of hold (verb) – rule, decide, decree, declare.
fall within (phrasal verb) – come under, belong to, be part of, be classified as.
prosecution (noun) – legal action, litigation, trial, indictment.
the Prevention of Corruption Act (proper noun) – an Act of the Parliament of India (1988) enacted to combat corruption in government agencies and public sector businesses by penalizing public servants involved in bribery and criminal misconduct.
provision (noun) – clause, condition, stipulation, term.
the executive (noun) – the branch of government responsible for putting decisions or laws into effect; government, administration, leadership, ruling authority.
exacting (adjective) – demanding, stringent, rigorous, strict.
absolute (adjective) – not qualified or diminished in any way; unrestricted, unlimited, unconstrained, unconditional.
impartiality (noun) – fairness, neutrality, objectivity, unbiasedness.
repose on (phrasal verb) – place on, invest in, rest on, entrust to.
legal relativity (noun) – the concept that legal principles, interpretations, or standards of justice can vary depending on context, societal norms, or changing times, rather than being absolute.
condone (verb) – disregard, overlook, accept, excuse.
betrayal (noun) – the action of betraying one’s country, a group, or a person; treachery, disloyalty, treason, breach of trust.
dishonour (noun) – a state of shame or disgrace; disgrace, shame, humiliation, discredit.
jeopardise (verb) – threaten, endanger, imperil, risk.
integrity (noun) – honesty, probity, rectitude, character.
introspection (noun) – the examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes; self-analysis, self-examination, soul-searching, brooding.
in the best interest of (phrase) – to the advantage, benefit, or well-being of someone or something; for the benefit of, to the advantage of, for the good of, on behalf of.
interim order (noun) – a temporary court order issued during the pendency of litigation to manage the situation until a final decision is made.
interim (adjective) – temporary, provisional, transitional, stopgap.
delve into (phrasal verb) – investigate, examine, explore, probe.
transformative (adjective) – life-changing, revolutionary, paradigm-shifting, radical.
pioneer (verb) – spearhead, initiate, introduce, develop.
overhaul (noun) – a thorough examination of machinery or a system, with repairs or changes made if necessary; restructuring, reorganization, revamp, modernization.
legal aid mechanism (noun) – legal support framework.
streamline (verb) – simplify, rationalize, systematize, make more efficient.
counterargument (noun) – rebuttal, opposing argument, contrary view, objection.
free speech (noun) – the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint; freedom of expression.
illusory (adjective) – deceptive, false, fallacious, imaginary.
deliberation (noun) – long and careful consideration or discussion; thought, reflection, consideration, contemplation.
organ (noun) – a department or organization that performs a specified function; body, agency, institution, branch.
open to (phrase) – accessible, available, subject to, vulnerable to.
dissent (noun) – disagreement, argument, dispute, opposition.
imperative (adjective) – of vital importance; crucial; vital, essential, necessary, indispensable.
curb (verb) – restrain, contain, control, suppress.
civil society (noun) – society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity, distinct from government and business.
institutional challenge (noun) – a significant structural or systemic problem, difficulty, or dispute faced by a public body, government department, or formal organization in executing its mandate; systemic hurdle, organizational obstacle, structural difficulty, foundational issue.
bedrock (noun) – the fundamental principles on which something is based; foundation, backbone, basis, core.