THE HINDU

EDITORIAL Presents

20th October 2023

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 VOCABULARY

1. Ferocity: violence; aggressive behaviour. उग्रता

Synonyms: barbarity, ruthlessness
Antonyms: benevolence, humanity
Example: His ferocity in the boxing ring made him a formidable
opponent.
2. Condemned: criticised something or someone strongly, usually
for moral reasons. नंदा करना
Synonyms: censured, denounced
Antonyms: applauded, exalted
Example: The community condemned the act of vandalism in
their neighborhood.
 VOCABULARY

3. Indiscriminate: done without thought about what the result may

be, especially when it causes people to be harmed. अंधाधुंध
Synonyms: thoughtless, haphazard
Antonyms: methodical, judicious
Example: The indiscriminate use of pesticides harmed the local
ecosystem.
4. Prominence: the state of being important, well known or easy to
notice. प्रख्या त
Synonyms: eminence, fame
Antonyms: obscurity, oblivion
Example: Her achievements in the field of science brought her great
prominence.
 VOCABULARY

5. Exhibit: to show clearly that you have or feel a particular quality,

ability, feeling or symptom. दखाना
Synonyms: manifest, evince
Antonyms: conceal, veil
Example: Sarah exhibits a great deal of patience when teaching her
students.
6. Thrive: to grow, develop, or be successful. फलना-फूलना
Synonyms: flourish, prosper
Antonyms: deteriorate, wither
Example: Many plants thrive in the rich, fertile soil of the garden.
 VOCABULARY

7. Earmark: to keep or intend something for a particular purpose.

अलग रखना
Synonyms: reserve, appropriate
Antonyms: utilise, consume
Example: She decided to earmark a portion of her salary for savings.

Jargon
8. War of attrition: a war that is fought over a long period and
only ends when one side has neither the soldiers and equipment
nor the determination left to continue fighting.
 VOCABULARY

Phrasal verbs
9. Stepping up: making something more effective, or increasing the
size or speed of something.
10. Calling for: publicly asking for something to happen.
11. Scale up: to increase something in size, amount, or production.
Idioms
12. A drop in the ocean: a very small amount compared with what is
needed or expected.
13. Picking up the slack: doing the work that someone else has
stopped doing but still needs to be done.
14. No mean feat: a great achievement.
15 A level playing field: a situation that is fair because everyone has
the same chance of succeeding.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for reading

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 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Thirteen days after Hamas carried out a brutal attack on Israel,

killing some 1,400 people, Israel’s air strikes on the besieged,
defenceless Gaza continue with disproportionate ferocity, killing
3,785 Palestinians, including hundreds of children. As Israel is
amassing troops and tanks on its border with Gaza in
preparation for a ground invasion, after ordering some one
million people to evacuate from the northern half of the land
strip, U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi
Sunak travelled to Israel to declare their support for the Jewish
nation’s “right to defend itself”. Mr. Biden’s visit came hours
after an attack on a hospital in Gaza left at least 500 dead. The
Palestinians say the hospital, which was sheltering thousands,
was hit by Israeli jets, while Israel claimed that a rocket fired by
Palestinian militants caused the explosion.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

While truth is the first casualty of war, a vengeful Israel’s

mindless bombing of a tiny, blockaded enclave is pushing its
2.3 million people into an unimaginable struggle of life and
death, even as the powerful nations are either looking away or
busy backing Israel’s campaign. Mr. Biden announced that
Israel has allowed to let some 20 trucks of humanitarian aid
into Gaza from Egypt. While any aid is welcome, 20 trucks of
aid for two million people is, as the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies put it, “a drop in the
ocean”. The October 7 Sabbath attack that Hamas carried out
in Israel should be condemned without any hesitation. At the
same time, collectively punishing Gaza in the name of fighting
Hamas and carrying out indiscriminate bombing that is killing
hundreds a day do not make Israel any better than Hamas.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Moreover, this approach of the Israeli state towards the

Palestinians has neither improved Israel’s security nor helped
the stakeholders find a solution to the crisis. Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on whose watch the country’s
biggest security crisis unfolded, says he will “crush” Hamas.
But Israel does not have easy options. Reoccupying Gaza
would lead to a prolonged urban war of attrition. Hamas rose
to prominence using the vacuum left by the failures of Fatah
and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. If Israel manages
to diminish Hamas’s influence in Gaza, nobody knows what
comes next as the Palestine question, which is the ongoing
Israeli occupation, remains unaddressed.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

In an ideal world, the U.S., the most powerful country which is

ruled by a President who has stated his commitment to “a
foreign policy centred on human rights”, should be enraged
by what its ally is doing and apply pressure on Tel Aviv to
stop the bombing and start talking, involving regional powers.
But as that is a non-possibility as of now, Israel is set to
continue the attacks with impunity, multiplying the woes of
millions of Palestinians.
Summary:

The passage discusses the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
It criticizes Israel’s airstrikes, which have caused a significant number of
Palestinian casualties, including children, and questions the response of the
U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who expressed
support for Israel’s right to defend itself. The author calls for a condemnation of
the attacks by Hamas but also condemns Israel’s approach, stating that it
doesn’t improve security and doesn’t address the broader Palestinian issue. The
passage highlights the challenges and complexities of the situation, as well as
the need for a more balanced and humanitarian approach to the conflict.

The tone of the passage appears to be critical and condemning of Israel's

actions in the conflict with Gaza.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Article for skimming

An opportunity to
recast India’s food
system
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Earlier this week, we celebrated World Food Day (October 16), but
we rarely look at food as a system. No country can better
understand the challenges of a food system than India, which
feeds the largest population in the world. While the primary goal of
a food system is to ensure nutrition security for all, it can only be
achieved sustainably if the producers producing the food make
reasonable economic returns that are resilient over time. This
resilience, in turn, is intricately linked with the resilience of our
natural ecosystem because the largest inputs to agriculture —
soil, water and climatic conditions — are all but natural resources.
Appreciating this interconnectedness of nutrition security with
livelihood and environmental security is essential to making our
food system truly sustainable.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

On the nutrition front, India faces a double burden of

malnutrition. At one end, despite making great progress over
the years, a sizable proportion of Indians exhibit nutrient
deficiencies. As in the National Family Health Survey, 2019-21,
35% of children are stunted, and 57% of women and 25% of
men are anaemic. At the other end, due to imbalanced diets
and sedentary lifestyles, 24% of adult women and 23% of
adult men are now obese. India has been stepping up efforts
to reduce malnutrition, which has included even the Prime
Minister calling for a mass movement to eradicate it. On the
production side, farm incomes are insufficient to meet the
ends of marginal and small farmers. According to a report by
the Transforming Rural India Foundation, more than 68% of
marginal farmers supplement their incomes with non-farm
activities.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee

Act (MGNREGA) and other forms of casual labour are picking
up the slack, indicating a lack of skills or opportunities for
income diversification. Further, depleting natural resources
and changing climate are making India’s food production
highly vulnerable. As in the 2023 soil health survey, almost
half the cultivable land in India has become deficient in
organic carbon, which is an essential indicator of soil health.
Groundwater, the largest source of irrigation, is rapidly
declining. In States such as Punjab, more than 75% of the
groundwater assessment locations are over-exploited,
threatening the resilience of farm incomes. To solve these
interconnected challenges, we need a triad approach that
engages all three sides of the food system: consumers,
producers, and middlemen.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

First, consumer demand needs to be shifted towards healthy

and sustainable diets. We need to shift to a food plate that is
healthier for people and the planet. The private sector drives
the aspirational consumption patterns for India’s billion-plus
population. What corporations have done to mainstream
imported oats or quinoa in India, can be done for
locally-grown millets. Civil society and the health community
could partner with social media influencers who can shape
healthier and sustainable consumption for millions.
Alongside, the public sector, through its innumerable touch
points such as the Public Distribution System, mid-day meals,
railways catering, urban canteens, and public and
institutional procurement, can help improve what at least 70%
of Indians are consuming. Even religious institutions can
shape food choices.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

For instance, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, which

serves nearly 70,000 people daily, has started procuring
naturally-farmed produce. Second, to ensure resilient
incomes, we must support farmers’ transition towards
remunerative and regenerative agricultural practices. The
National Mission on Natural Farming is a step in this
direction, but the overall funding for sustainable agriculture is
less than 1% of the agricultural budget. We need to broaden
and scale up such initiatives to various agro-ecological
practices such as agroforestry, conservation agriculture,
precision farming, and much more. Further, agriculture
support should move from input subsidies to direct cash
support to farmers per hectare of cultivation. It would
promote efficient use of inputs, while enabling a level playing
field for agroecological practices to thrive.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Agricultural research and extension services should also

earmark a proportion of their respective budgets to focus on
sustainable agricultural practices. Third, shift farm-to-fork
value chains towards more sustainable and inclusive ones. A
critical approach to enhance rural (farm) incomes is to enable
more value addition of agricultural produce in rural areas.
Middlemen, such as corporations supplying raw and
processed food to consumers, should prioritise direct
procurement from farmers, incentivise procurement of
sustainably harvested produce, and implement
well-established approaches such as fair trade. Various
young agri-tech enterprises such as DeHaat and Ninjacart are
enabling such farm-to-buyer linkages.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Moreover, since all farmer families in a farmer producer

organisation (FPO) are consumers of other farming goods,
enabling trading of produce between FPOs is another way to
ensure a greater value share for farmers, as showcased by a
few FPOs in Odisha. Shifting an entire food system, however,
is no mean feat. But the scale of the challenge must not deter
our ambitions. If we act fast, India has a unique opportunity to
showcase to the rest of the world how to get its food system
right.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Today's Descriptive Question

Write an essay of 200 words describing measures to

bolster food security in a country.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Bolstering food security in a country is crucial for ensuring

the well-being of its citizens. Several measures can be
implemented to achieve this goal.

Firstly, investing in agricultural infrastructure and

technology is vital. Modernizing farming practices, providing
farmers with better equipment, and improving irrigation
systems can enhance agricultural productivity. Additionally,
promoting sustainable farming methods can help preserve
natural resources for future generations.

Secondly, ensuring access to affordable and nutritious food is

essential. Implementing social safety nets, such as food
assistance programs for vulnerable populations, can mitigate
hunger and malnutrition.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

These programs should also focus on supporting small-scale

farmers, creating a fair and inclusive food distribution
system.

Thirdly, reducing food waste is critical. Implementing policies

and initiatives to minimize food loss during production,
transportation, and consumption can help optimize
resources.

Lastly, promoting research and development in agriculture

can lead to the development of resilient crop varieties and
innovative farming techniques that can withstand climate
change challenges.
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

By taking these measures, a country can significantly bolster

its food security and improve the overall quality of life for its
citizens.
Please write a letter to the manager of a bank, thanking him or her for the
prompt issuance of a new ATM card.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
[Date]
Date
[Bank Name]
[branch Address]
[City, State, PIN Code]
Subject: Appreciation for the prompt issuance of ATM card
Dear Sir/ Ma’am
I hope this letter finds you well. I wish to extend my sincere gratitude for the
swift issuance of my new ATM card. Your team's efficiency and professionalism
were truly commendable. The seamless process ensured that I faced no
inconvenience, and I deeply appreciate your bank's dedication to customer
satisfaction.
Your service has reaffirmed my trust in the bank, and I look forward to continued
association. Thank you for your exceptional service.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

Match the words with their meanings.

Column A Column B

Tempered made something happen faster or sooner

Spurred the support that a person gives a shop, restaurant,

etc. by spending money there

Erratic happening without any sudden changes,

interruption, or difficulty

Patronage made something less severe by adding something

that has the opposite effect

Seamless not happening at regular times; not following any

plan or regular pattern; that you cannot rely on
 THE HINDU EDITORIAL LIVE DAILY @ 7 AM

VOCABULARY FOR ALL

1. Ferocity:
2. Condemned:
3. Indiscriminate:
4. Prominence:
5. Exhibit:
6. Thrive:
7. Earmark:
8. Calling for:
9. Picking up the slack:
10. No mean feat:
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