Editorial #022

THE HINDU EDITORIAL 

India’s most populous State finally goes to the polls today, beginning a seven-phase process that starts from the western fringe of Uttar Pradesh. In this first phase, 73 Assembly constituencies in 15 districts of western Uttar Pradesh will elect their legislators in what is clearly the most diversely contested region of the State, the only one in which all four parties/fronts, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party-Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, fancy their chances. That they all see themselves to be firmly in the hunt indicates the change in western U.P. since the 2014 general election when the BJP registered its biggest margins of leads in Assembly segments. Then, riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in 2013 had resulted in communal polarisation in the BJP’s favour, supplementing the Narendra Modi wave in the State: the BJP alliance netted 73 of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats. But two years is a long time in politics, and issues such as the demonetisation, the performance of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, and BSP leader Mayawati’s reliance on a new samikaran (caste-religion arithmetic) have all changed the nature of the campaign.This time, reports suggest that many in the landed peasantry among Jats are looking again at the RLD, which till not long ago had been staring at a political decline, as a viable choice. Despite a relatively favourable monsoon and a better agrarian harvest, farmers are now less well-disposed towards the BJP following the demonetisation. The BSP has struck a chord with its traditional support base among Dalits and has fielded a large number of Muslim candidates to consolidate support among the minorities. The SP-Congress alliance seeks to ride a wave of positive support for Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav after his combat with party elders. The BJP has its task cut out to retain its support here, with the effects of the demonetisation hurting traders too. But Mr. Modi’s appeal is still strong, especially among the younger voters. The party has tried to use dog-whistle politics — talking of an “anti-Romeo campaign”, for example, as a softer version of its earlier “love jihad” mobilisation — as a polarising tactic, but it is not clear if that will pay off. A more sound strategy has been its reliance on the non-Yadav Other Backward Classes to take on the identity politics of the BSP and the SP. All said, the political landscape in western U.P. remains dynamic, making predictions risky. However, as in the past, the very specific issues of western U.P. may well influence the rest of the State.

VOCABULARY 

1. Fringe :- An ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists, used to edge clothing or material.
2. Constituencies :- A group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
3. legislators :- A person who makes laws; a member of a legislative body.
4. Diversely :- Showing a great deal of variety; very different.
5. Contested :- An event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport or other activity, or in a quality.
6. Firmly :- With little possibility of movement; securely.
7. Riots :- A violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.
8. Polarisation :- Division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.
9. Reliance :- Dependence on or trust in someone or something.
10. Staring :- Look fixedly or vacantly at someone or something with one's eyes wide open.
11. Agrarian :- Relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.
12. Chord :- A group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony.
13. Combat :- Non-violent conflict or opposition.
14. Dog-whistle :- A subtly aimed political message which is intended for, and can only be understood by, a particular demographic group.
15. Mobilization :- The action of a country or its government preparing and organizing troops for active service.
16. Tactic:- An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.
17. Influence :- The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Editorial #021

THE HINDU EDITORIAL

It is a measured gambit  by Tamil Nadu. The State has taken the legislative route to grant itself exemption from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a uniform examination that will decide admission to medical courses all over the country. The two Bills passed by the State Assembly seek to retain its present admission system for under-graduate and post-graduate medical courses based on marks obtained by students in their higher secondary school examination. The Bills are likely to displease the Supreme Court, which insists that NEET marks be the sole basis for admission. The Bills will also require the President’s assent; else they would be repugnant to the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act and the Dentists Act that prescribe the entrance test. Tamil Nadu, which abolished entrance examinations to professional courses in 2006, argues that NEET would be traumatic for both parents and children, as it would be based on a syllabus different from the one taught in schools under the board for higher secondary education. The fear is that NEET would be insurmountable for students from rural areas and under-privileged backgrounds and those who cannot afford coaching centers. Its concern that urban students, especially those from streams such as the CBSE, would dominate admissions under NEET cannot be dismissed easily.

Regulations introducing NEET were struck down by a three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court in 2013 by a two-one majority. Last year, a five-judge Bench recalled the verdict and NEET was back in place. Students all over the country were gripped by anxiety and tension following the sudden change in the admission method. The Centre promulgated an ordinance to grant relief for under-graduate medical admissions in 2016, but no such protection is available this year. There is now an inevitable conflict between the need for a fair and transparent admission system to curb rampant commercialization of medical education and the socio-economic goals of the State, which is worried about producing enough committed doctors ready to serve in rural areas. Both objectives are indeed laudable. However, a moot question is whether uniformity should be thrust on a country that has wide regional, economic and linguistic disparities. Normally it is the political leadership, and not the courts, that should harmonies such differences and evolve a viable admission policy. At the same time, States cannot remain forever insulated from the need to upgrade educational standards. It may be easy to advise the courts to keep out of the policy domain, but a more difficult task is for institutions in the government and the private sector to maintain standards and pass the court’s triple test of fairness, transparency and freedom from exploitation.

VOCABULARY 

1. Gambit - An act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation
2. Legislative - Having the power to make laws
3. Exemption -The action of freeing or state of being free from an obligation or liability imposed on others:
4. Uniform -  Remaining the same in all cases and at all times; unchanging in form or character
5. Seek -  Attempt to find (something)
6. Retain - Continue to have (something); keep possession of
7. Displease - Make (someone) feel annoyed or upset
8. Sole - One and only
9. Insists - Demand something forcefully, not accepting refusal
10. Assent -The expression of approval or agreement
11. Repugnant - Extremely distasteful; unacceptable
12. Provisions  - The action of providing or supplying something for use
13. Abolished - Formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution)
14. Traumatic - Deeply disturbing or distressing
15. Insurmountable - Too great to be overcome
16. Privileged  - Having special rights, advantages, or immunities
17. Concern  - Relate to; be about
18. Dominate  - Have power and influence over
19. Struck - Hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand or a weapon or other implement
20. Recalled - Bring (a fact, event, or situation) back into one's mind; remember
21. Verdict  -A decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest
22. Anxiety - A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome
23. Promulgated - Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause)
24. Inevitable - Certain to happen; unavoidable
25. Rampant - (especially of something unwelcome) flourishing or spreading unchecked
26. Uniformity - The quality or state of being uniform
27. Disparities - A great difference
28. Harmonies - The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce a pleasing effect
29. Viable - Capable of working successfully; feasible
30. Exploitation - The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work