The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary 14th October 2024

The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary 14th October 2024 is an effective tool for regularly learning new words and their contextual meanings. Candidates can utilize this free resource daily to improve their vocabulary knowledge, especially those preparing for government exams like the IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, SSC, and Others.

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Take the gauntlet: On safety and the Indian Railways

-‘Kavach’ implementation is a priority but will not be a silver bullet

On October 11, a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train fast enough for 13 bogies to overturn and one to catch fire, in Kavaraipettai near Chennai. No casualties were reported although several people were injured. No deaths and swift post-event action would have rendered this incident less significant if not for the recent spate (series) of railway accidents across zones, spotlighting the oft-precarious (unstable or risky) conditions of trains, the infrastructure they need to operate, and the people and goods they transport. In the Kavaraipettai incident, officials said the passenger train received a green signal to enter the main line but it passed into the loop line, rear-ending the goods train. ‘Kavach’, the Indian Railways’ train protection system of choice, is designed to avoid such incidents, and the government can install it across its entire network in a decade with as little as 2% of its annual capex (capital expenditure, money spent on assets). Of course, the effects of its implementation will become clear in a similar span of time, not in a few months as some in the political class are demanding. This said, if the seemingly straightforward causes — due to which a naive (innocent or inexperienced) decision to reroute a train can turn into the reason for a major accident — are a sign of the precarity (uncertainty or instability) of the railway infrastructure, ‘Kavach’ coverage plus overhauling (thoroughly repairing or improving) existing signalling systems should be a national priority but cannot be considered a silver bullet (a simple solution to a complex problem).

The long-standing delay in improving safety could be symptomatic (indicative or a sign) of shortfalls (deficiencies or lacks) in multiple areas. For example, the staff of the Railways matter for safety, too. Recent media reports have revealed deplorable (shameful or terrible) working conditions for East Coast, Western, and Central Railways locomotive pilots, including 12-hour shifts, unhygienic (unhealthy or dirty) resting facilities, and absence of toilets on engines. Even with ‘Kavach’, rail safety will require constant vigilance yet vigil (watchfulness or alertness) is threatened by access to basic amenities competing for pilots’ attention. Overall, the Railways’ revenue growth has slowed while its dependence on budgetary allocation for capex has increased; its freight basket is dominated by coal (and thus vulnerable to the pressure on multiple sectors to decarbonise (reduce carbon emissions); both high-density routes and high-utilisation routes often report more than 100% network utilisation; and there are signs it has still to recover market share it lost during the COVID-19 pandemic to other passenger services. The Railways cannot improve safety in a vacuum but must address all these stressors (pressures or strains) in consonance (agreement or harmony). Finally, the government’s response to recent accidents has included counter-terrorism investigators as well. While this is due diligence (careful attention or effort), their presence and involvement should neither distract India from the Railways’ needs nor allow the government to hide behind a veil of secrecy.

Hindu Vocab Wordlist 14th October 2024

Upskill yourself and enhance your vocabulary knowledge. Candidates should begin learning new words daily with Hindu Editorial Vocabulary on 14th October 2024.

1. Spate: A large number of things, usually unpleasant, happening suddenly within a short period of time.
2. Precarious: Not safe or certain; dangerous.
3. Capex: Money that a company spends on buildings, equipment, etc.
4. Naive: Lacking experience of life, knowledge, or good judgment; willing to believe that people always tell the truth.
5. Precarity: The state of being uncertain or unstable.
6. Overhauling: To examine and repair a machine or system thoroughly.
7. Deplorable: Very bad and deserving strong disapproval.
8. Vigilance: Great care taken to notice any signs of danger or trouble.
9. Consonance: Agreement or harmony between people or things.
10. Decarbonise: To reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) released from something.

Hindu Vocab Master 14th October 2024 with Synonyms & Antonyms

Here are the synonyms and antonyms of all the difficult words in Hindu Vocab Master for 14th October 2024:

Word	Synonyms	Antonyms
Spate	Surge, Flood, Rush, Outpouring	Drought, Dribble, Scarcity, Trickle
Precarious	Unstable, Insecure, Risky, Hazardous	Safe, Secure, Stable, Firm
Capex	Investment, Expenditure, Spending, Outlay	Revenue, Income, Profit, Earnings
Naive	Innocent, Gullible, Unworldly, Unsophisticated	Experienced, Skeptical, Shrewd, Wise
Precarity	Instability, Uncertainty, Insecurity, Vulnerability	Stability, Security, Certainty, Safety
Overhauling	Repair, Rebuild, Revamp, Renovate	Neglect, Ignore, Worsen, Abandon
Deplorable	Disgraceful, Shameful, Appalling, Wretched	Admirable, Praiseworthy, Commendable, Decent
Vigilance	Watchfulness, Alertness, Caution, Carefulness	Negligence, Inattention, Carelessness, Ignorance
Consonance	Agreement, Harmony, Accord, Unity	Dissonance, Discord, Conflict, Disagreement
Decarbonise	Reduce emissions, Cleanse, Purify, Detoxify	Pollute, Contaminate, Carbonise, Emission-increase