EK DUM BASIC
TH_26_Apr_2022.pdf
The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 26th APRIL
Victory and challenge: On re-election of Emmanuel Macron
The re-election of Emmanuel Macron in Sunday’s presidential race is a relief not just for France’s political centrists but also for its allies in Europe and America. The election took place amid crises — high inflation; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that pushed France into a difficult choice of imposing sanctions on Moscow even at the cost of higher energy prices; and growing political disillusionment among the country’s youth. The first round had seen the far-right rising to its highest ever levels — Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour together gathered more than 30% of votes. Yet, Mr. Macron secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s run-off, with 58.5% vote share against Ms. Le Pen’s 41.5%, showing that the centre can still hold in France. The banker-turned politician, who emerged as the surprise champion of French Republican values against an upsurge of far-right populism five years ago, managed to rally the anti-populist base once more. He went to the voters with three broad themes: his administration’s economic performance, a defence of France’s Republican values and support for European sovereignty. While France’s quick return to growth and low unemployment rate helped him project a convincing macroeconomic picture, his attack on Ms. Le Pen as a threat to the French Republican values and the tough line he took on Ukraine allowed him to mobilise the liberal, centre-right and pro-European sections of voters.
Mr. Macron’s victory offers stability for both France and the EU. But a closer look at the two rounds of elections provides a more complicated picture. The French political landscape, historically dominated by the centre-right conservatives and centre-left socialists, has undergone a major transformation. Mr. Macron has emerged as the poster boy of the centrist bloc, the largely status-quoist voters. And his key challengers are from the far-right, which has anti-Semitic and Islamophobic roots. The third bloc is led by leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who finished third in the first round. The surge of the far-right and leftist candidates suggests that there is widespread voter anger towards the establishment. And the far-right populists, with their cocktail of anti-establishment welfarism and anti-immigrant rhetoric, seem to be better-equipped to tap this anger than the leftists. Ms. Le Pen may not be strong enough, as of now, to capture power, but she was strong enough to pose a credible challenge to Mr. Macron. In his victory speech, Mr. Macron admitted that there is growing anger among sections of the voters towards the political establishment and promised to tackle it. Going forward, his biggest challenge would be to reach out to the disaffected sections of society, address the growing anger in the underbelly of the working classes, and build credible alternatives to the far-right problem.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Disillusionment (N)- freeing from false belief or illusions.
2. Decisive (Adj)- settling an issue; producing a definite result. निर्णायक
3. Run-Off (N)- a further competition, election, race, etc., after a tie or inconclusive result.
4. Sovereignty (N)- supreme power or authority. संप्रभुता
5. Macroeconomic (Adj)- relating to the economic system of a whole country or large region.
6. Landscape (N)- a large area of land, especially in relation to its appearance.
7. Anti-Semitic (Adj)- hostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people. सामी विरोधी
8. Underbelly (N)- a hidden unpleasant or criminal part of society.
Victory and challenge: On re-election of Emmanuel Macron
The re-election of Emmanuel Macron in Sunday’s presidential race is a relief not just for France’s political centrists but also for its allies in Europe and America. The election took place amid crises — high inflation; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that pushed France into a difficult choice of imposing sanctions on Moscow even at the cost of higher energy prices; and growing political disillusionment among the country’s youth. The first round had seen the far-right rising to its highest ever levels — Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour together gathered more than 30% of votes. Yet, Mr. Macron secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s run-off, with 58.5% vote share against Ms. Le Pen’s 41.5%, showing that the centre can still hold in France. The banker-turned politician, who emerged as the surprise champion of French Republican values against an upsurge of far-right populism five years ago, managed to rally the anti-populist base once more. He went to the voters with three broad themes: his administration’s economic performance, a defence of France’s Republican values and support for European sovereignty. While France’s quick return to growth and low unemployment rate helped him project a convincing macroeconomic picture, his attack on Ms. Le Pen as a threat to the French Republican values and the tough line he took on Ukraine allowed him to mobilise the liberal, centre-right and pro-European sections of voters.
Mr. Macron’s victory offers stability for both France and the EU. But a closer look at the two rounds of elections provides a more complicated picture. The French political landscape, historically dominated by the centre-right conservatives and centre-left socialists, has undergone a major transformation. Mr. Macron has emerged as the poster boy of the centrist bloc, the largely status-quoist voters. And his key challengers are from the far-right, which has anti-Semitic and Islamophobic roots. The third bloc is led by leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who finished third in the first round. The surge of the far-right and leftist candidates suggests that there is widespread voter anger towards the establishment. And the far-right populists, with their cocktail of anti-establishment welfarism and anti-immigrant rhetoric, seem to be better-equipped to tap this anger than the leftists. Ms. Le Pen may not be strong enough, as of now, to capture power, but she was strong enough to pose a credible challenge to Mr. Macron. In his victory speech, Mr. Macron admitted that there is growing anger among sections of the voters towards the political establishment and promised to tackle it. Going forward, his biggest challenge would be to reach out to the disaffected sections of society, address the growing anger in the underbelly of the working classes, and build credible alternatives to the far-right problem.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Disillusionment (N)- freeing from false belief or illusions.
2. Decisive (Adj)- settling an issue; producing a definite result. निर्णायक
3. Run-Off (N)- a further competition, election, race, etc., after a tie or inconclusive result.
4. Sovereignty (N)- supreme power or authority. संप्रभुता
5. Macroeconomic (Adj)- relating to the economic system of a whole country or large region.
6. Landscape (N)- a large area of land, especially in relation to its appearance.
7. Anti-Semitic (Adj)- hostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people. सामी विरोधी
8. Underbelly (N)- a hidden unpleasant or criminal part of society.
27-04-2022_-_Hand_Written_Notes.pdf
11.1 MB
27-04-2022_-_Hand_Written_Notes.pdf
Which state will operationalize 15 ' Irrigation Projects ' by 2024 ?
Anonymous Quiz
45%
Gujarat
27%
Kerala
16%
Assam
12%
Odhisa
Choose the correctly spelt word(s) out of the given options
Anonymous Quiz
49%
Satellite
17%
Sattellite
22%
Satelite
12%
Sattelite
29-04-2022_-_Hand_Written_Notes.pdf
5.8 MB
29-04-2022_-_Hand_Written_Notes.pdf
The venue of ' Khelo India University Games 2021 ' being held in April May 2022 ?
Anonymous Quiz
45%
Haryana
24%
Gujarat
11%
Pune
20%
Bengaluru
EK DUM BASIC
TH-Delhi_30_Apr_2022.pdf
🔰The Hindu Vocabulary For All Competitive Exams | 30-04-2022
1.BANDY (ADJECTIVE): (झुका हुआ): bowed
Synonyms: curved, bent
Antonyms: straight
Example Sentence:
She had legs that were bent and slightly bandy.
2.SPLENDOUR (NOUN): (वैभव): magnificence
Synonyms: grandeur, opulence
Antonyms: modesty
Example Sentence:
The barren splendour of the Lake District looked stunning.
3.INDICT (VERB): (अभियोग लगाना): charge with
Synonyms: summon, cite
Antonyms: acquit
Example Sentence:
His former manager was indicted for fraud.
4.INSURGENT (NOUN): (विद्रोही): rebel
Synonyms: revolutionary, mutineer
Antonyms: loyalist
Example Sentence:
He signaled to the other insurgent, who obeyed and moved forward.
5.CONFER (VERB): (प्रदान करना): bestow on
Synonyms: present with/to, grant to
Antonyms: withhold
Example Sentence:
The Minister may have exceeded the powers conferred on him by Parliament.
6.CONSENSUS (NOUN): (आम सहमति): agreement
Synonyms: harmony concord
Antonyms: disagreement
Example Sentence:
There is a growing consensus that the current regime has failed.
7.BLIGHT (NOUN): (यातना): affliction
Synonyms: scourge, bane
Antonyms: blessing
Example Sentence:
The vacant properties are a blight on the neighbourhood.
8.DEFY (VERB): (अवज्ञा करना): disobey
Synonyms: go against, flout
Antonyms: obey
Example Sentence:
She is a woman who defies convention.
9.COLLISION (NOUN): (टकराव): clash
Synonyms: conflict, opposition
Antonyms: coalescence
Example Sentence:
When she married an NRI, collision of two diverse cultures took place.
10.DIRE (ADJECTIVE): (अत्यंत गंभीर): terrible
Synonyms: dreadful, appalling
Antonyms: excited
Example Sentence:
Misuse of drugs have dire consequences.
1.BANDY (ADJECTIVE): (झुका हुआ): bowed
Synonyms: curved, bent
Antonyms: straight
Example Sentence:
She had legs that were bent and slightly bandy.
2.SPLENDOUR (NOUN): (वैभव): magnificence
Synonyms: grandeur, opulence
Antonyms: modesty
Example Sentence:
The barren splendour of the Lake District looked stunning.
3.INDICT (VERB): (अभियोग लगाना): charge with
Synonyms: summon, cite
Antonyms: acquit
Example Sentence:
His former manager was indicted for fraud.
4.INSURGENT (NOUN): (विद्रोही): rebel
Synonyms: revolutionary, mutineer
Antonyms: loyalist
Example Sentence:
He signaled to the other insurgent, who obeyed and moved forward.
5.CONFER (VERB): (प्रदान करना): bestow on
Synonyms: present with/to, grant to
Antonyms: withhold
Example Sentence:
The Minister may have exceeded the powers conferred on him by Parliament.
6.CONSENSUS (NOUN): (आम सहमति): agreement
Synonyms: harmony concord
Antonyms: disagreement
Example Sentence:
There is a growing consensus that the current regime has failed.
7.BLIGHT (NOUN): (यातना): affliction
Synonyms: scourge, bane
Antonyms: blessing
Example Sentence:
The vacant properties are a blight on the neighbourhood.
8.DEFY (VERB): (अवज्ञा करना): disobey
Synonyms: go against, flout
Antonyms: obey
Example Sentence:
She is a woman who defies convention.
9.COLLISION (NOUN): (टकराव): clash
Synonyms: conflict, opposition
Antonyms: coalescence
Example Sentence:
When she married an NRI, collision of two diverse cultures took place.
10.DIRE (ADJECTIVE): (अत्यंत गंभीर): terrible
Synonyms: dreadful, appalling
Antonyms: excited
Example Sentence:
Misuse of drugs have dire consequences.
EK DUM BASIC
29-04-2022_-_Hand_Written_Notes.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 29th APRIL
In haste: On vaccinating children against COVID-19
The emergency use authorisation (EUA) granted on April 26 to two COVID-19 vaccines — Corbevax for children 5-11 years, and Covaxin for children 6-11 years — is one more instance where the Indian drug regulator has acted in haste. Even if the EUA granted to Covaxin in January 2021 despite no safety and efficacy data of the phase-3 trial is condoned as a desperate measure in ensuring greater vaccine availability, the regulator clearly has no fig leaf to defend the greenlighting of the vaccines for children at this stage. Evidence from across the world after the deadly Delta variant and the extremely transmissive Omicron variant has shown that unlike adults, children in general, and little children in particular, do not suffer from severe disease. The ICMR’s fourth seroprevalence survey (June-July 2021) soon after the second wave peaked nationally found that 57.2% of children (6-9 years) and 61.6% of children (10-17 years) were infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus; seroprevalence among adults was 66.7%. Since vaccination of adolescents began only in early January 2022, the antibodies detected in children in mid-2021 were only from infection by the virus. The extremely infectious Omicron variant would have infected an even larger percentage of children. Yet, the number of severe cases and deaths in children 5-11 years has been very low. True, with schools reopening, children could be at greater risk of contracting infection. But with natural infection found to offer protection across age groups, India could have waited for validation of the available evidence on the vaccines for children.
Unlike in January 2021 when approving vaccines for adults as soon as possible was the highest priority, and hence the EUA based on fewer cases and short follow-ups was seen as a necessity, the situation is not the same now, especially in the case of children as young as five. Hence, the regulator’s urgency to greenlight vaccines for children under the EUA route is highly questionable. Clinical trial data of Corbevax for children 5-12 years were posted as a preprint, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, on the day approval was granted; trial data of Covaxin for children 2-18 years were posted as a preprint in December 2021. The Health Ministry had already set a precedent last month by clearing Corbevax for children 12-14 years without first seeking the approval of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), which clears vaccines for the national immunisation programme. With NTAGI clearly against approving vaccines for children, there is every likelihood of the expert body being ignored again. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on April 27, a day after the EUA, that every eligible child should be vaccinated at the earliest might prompt the Health Ministry to sidestep the NTAGI once more, thus departing even more from evidence-based policy making.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Fig Leaf (N)- a thing intended to conceal a difficulty or embarrassment.
2. Seroprevalence (N)- the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum.
3. Contracting (Adj)- decrease in size, number, or range.
4. Follow-Ups (N)- a further examination or observation of a patient in order to monitor the success of earlier treatment. जांच करना
5. Peer-Review (N)- a process by which something proposed (as for research or publication) is evaluated by a group of experts in the appropriate field.
6. Precedent (N)- preceding in time, order, or importance.
In haste: On vaccinating children against COVID-19
The emergency use authorisation (EUA) granted on April 26 to two COVID-19 vaccines — Corbevax for children 5-11 years, and Covaxin for children 6-11 years — is one more instance where the Indian drug regulator has acted in haste. Even if the EUA granted to Covaxin in January 2021 despite no safety and efficacy data of the phase-3 trial is condoned as a desperate measure in ensuring greater vaccine availability, the regulator clearly has no fig leaf to defend the greenlighting of the vaccines for children at this stage. Evidence from across the world after the deadly Delta variant and the extremely transmissive Omicron variant has shown that unlike adults, children in general, and little children in particular, do not suffer from severe disease. The ICMR’s fourth seroprevalence survey (June-July 2021) soon after the second wave peaked nationally found that 57.2% of children (6-9 years) and 61.6% of children (10-17 years) were infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus; seroprevalence among adults was 66.7%. Since vaccination of adolescents began only in early January 2022, the antibodies detected in children in mid-2021 were only from infection by the virus. The extremely infectious Omicron variant would have infected an even larger percentage of children. Yet, the number of severe cases and deaths in children 5-11 years has been very low. True, with schools reopening, children could be at greater risk of contracting infection. But with natural infection found to offer protection across age groups, India could have waited for validation of the available evidence on the vaccines for children.
Unlike in January 2021 when approving vaccines for adults as soon as possible was the highest priority, and hence the EUA based on fewer cases and short follow-ups was seen as a necessity, the situation is not the same now, especially in the case of children as young as five. Hence, the regulator’s urgency to greenlight vaccines for children under the EUA route is highly questionable. Clinical trial data of Corbevax for children 5-12 years were posted as a preprint, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, on the day approval was granted; trial data of Covaxin for children 2-18 years were posted as a preprint in December 2021. The Health Ministry had already set a precedent last month by clearing Corbevax for children 12-14 years without first seeking the approval of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), which clears vaccines for the national immunisation programme. With NTAGI clearly against approving vaccines for children, there is every likelihood of the expert body being ignored again. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on April 27, a day after the EUA, that every eligible child should be vaccinated at the earliest might prompt the Health Ministry to sidestep the NTAGI once more, thus departing even more from evidence-based policy making.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Fig Leaf (N)- a thing intended to conceal a difficulty or embarrassment.
2. Seroprevalence (N)- the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum.
3. Contracting (Adj)- decrease in size, number, or range.
4. Follow-Ups (N)- a further examination or observation of a patient in order to monitor the success of earlier treatment. जांच करना
5. Peer-Review (N)- a process by which something proposed (as for research or publication) is evaluated by a group of experts in the appropriate field.
6. Precedent (N)- preceding in time, order, or importance.
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