The Hindu Editorial Digest with Vocabulary (19 Jan 2026)

 

Article-1

​Bullying tactics: on Trump targeting Europe

Trump’s weaponisation of tariffs over Greenland could undermine NATO

The Trump administration has vowed to slap a raft of European countries with a 10% tariff on “any and all goods” beginning on February 1 which is then set to increase to 25% on June 1, until an agreement is reached on the U.S. demand to purchase or otherwise acquire the Denmark-administered Arctic territory of Greenland. The latest round of tariffs will add to existing 15% U.S.-imposed trade duties on the countries targeted by the White House, which include Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. While French President Emmanuel Macron described the U.S. action as “unacceptable”, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move was “completely wrong”. The targeted nations have sent a small number of troops to Greenland for what they have called a reconnaissance mission, essentially for military exercises that signal and reinforce Europe’s collective commitment to defending the autonomous Arctic territory. Such emphasis by the European Union (EU) clearly reflects concern stemming from the fact that American troops recently entered Venezuela and kidnapped and transported its President Nicolás Maduro to the U.S., and Mr. Trump has since gone on record effectively warning that he might consider intervention — for different purposes and in different circumstances — in Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Iran next.

Leaving aside the neo-imperialist impulse that is implicit in the Trump administration’s plans to control non-allied nations’ territories based on the threat of military action, or to bully allies by weaponising tariffs against them, such actions are tantamount to a violation of international law, and in the case of the EU, risk degrading years of progress made on transatlantic trade agreements. First, there is a serious issue of no legislative backing by the U.S. Congress and legal basis for the unilateral action taken by the Trump administration in targeting Denmark and other European countries. Second, the Trump administration is likely to face, this week, a judicial ruling against its use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs across the board. Third, European nations may bring into force what is known as the “anti-coercion instrument”, a counter-tariff facility that would limit the trade of major U.S. tech firms and related service providers that conduct significant business in the EU. Whatever the denouement of this Trump-made conflict, it will likely take years, if not decades to heal the worsening transatlantic rift that has beset the region. Meanwhile a weakened NATO will stand less able to assist Ukraine in facing off against the depredations of an aggressive Russia on the eastern front. The need of the hour is enlightened leadership, a far cry from what is presently on offer in Washington.

Vocabulary — Article 1

 

• 1.        Weaponisation — हथियार के रूप में प्रयोग — militarisation, exploitation
• 2.       Raft — बड़ी संख्या/ढेर — multitude, large number
• 3.       Impose — थोपना/लगाना — levy, enforce
• 4.      Acquire — हासिल करना — obtain, procure
• 5.       Reconnaissance — टोह/जासूसी सर्वेक्षण — surveillance, scouting
• 6.       Autonomous — स्वायत्त — self-governing, independent
• 7.       Implicit — अंतर्निहित — implied, unspoken
• 8.      Weaponising — हथियार की तरह इस्तेमाल करना — exploiting, instrumentalising
• 9.       Tantamount — समान/बराबर — equivalent, identical
• 10.    Unilateral — एकतरफा — one-sided, solo
• 11.      Denouement — निष्कर्ष/अंतिम परिणाम — outcome, resolution
• 12.    Depredations — लूटपाट/विनाशकारी हमला — ravages, devastation

 

Article-2

Crisis in education: On the Supreme Court, higher education and student well-being

Higher education institutions need systemic reforms

 

In an ongoing case relating to student suicides, the Supreme Court of India has issued nine directions to Central and State governments. Recognising the massification of higher education front-ended by privatisation without a commensurate boost in quality, the Court has taken note of student distress covering financial, social, social injustice and academic issues. The Court has invoked Article 142 of the Constitution and seven of the nine directions relate to record-keeping, reporting, and tracking suicides in higher education institutions (HEI) separately. Two directives order the filling of the posts of Registrars and Vice-Chancellors as well as all vacant faculty positions. Evidently, the Court sees these steps as critical to student well-being.

Across India, ground reportage shows that many public HEIs, especially universities, report 50% vacancies. The University of Madras is a case study as it is the premier State-administered HEI in Tamil Nadu — a State which leads the nation in enrolment in higher education and with a stellar record in women’s education. With such a storied legacy, the university was known for quality research besides awarding degrees in affiliated colleges through examinations. Teaching became an important component in the late 1970s, but in the last decade, its decline has been pronounced. No new faculty appointments have been made and the teaching strength is half of the sanctioned strength. The university’s research component is just about functional. It boasts of centres for advanced studies such as in philosophy, botany and mathematics, but these are a shadow of their original selves. Today, the humanities, science-based and social science research focused on Tamil Nadu, that the government can leverage from its public universities, has been given short shrift. Vice-Chancellor appointments have been stalled by a recalcitrant Governor. The ambiguity thrown in by the Court on the Presidential reference on a Governor’s powers may need to be resolved before Vice-Chancellor vacancies can be quickly filled. Filling faculty positions would have to follow UGC process that takes at least six months and a budgetary commitment that may be helped with Union government support. Availability of qualified faculty can be a hurdle. Corruption and political-ideological appointments have affected quality and need to be addressed. Although the four-month schedule prescribed by the Court might seem daunting, the order is a call to action to fulfil the basic requirements of a robust public higher education system before goals such as Viksit Bharat can be seriously aspired for.

Vocabulary — Article 2

 

1.       Massification — व्यापक विस्तार/जनसुलभीकरण — expansion, democratisation
2.       Commensurate — अनुपातिक/समानुपाती — proportionate, corresponding
3.       Invoked — आह्वान किया/लागू किया — cited, called upon
4.      Directives — निर्देश/आदेश — orders, instructions
5.       Vacancy — रिक्ति — empty post, opening
6.       Premier — अग्रणी/प्रमुख — leading, foremost
7.       Stellar — उत्कृष्ट/उत्कृष्टतम — outstanding, remarkable
8.      Legacy — विरासत — heritage, tradition
9.       Pronounced — स्पष्ट/प्रमुख — marked, noticeable
10.    Sanctioned — स्वीकृत/मंजूर — approved, authorised
11.      Leveraged — उपयोग में लाना/फायदा उठाना — utilised, exploited
12.    Short shrift — उपेक्षा/कम महत्व देना — neglect, disregard
13.    Recalcitrant — अड़ियल/हठी — stubborn, defiant
14.    Ambiguity — अस्पष्टता — uncertainty, vagueness
15.    Daunting — डरावना/कठिन — intimidating, challenging
16.    Robust — मजबूत/सुदृढ़ — strong, resilient