The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary 5th June 2025

Reading Comprehension passages are an integral part of the English section of government exams. However, for beginners, such passages can seem difficult. The Hindu Editorial is an excellent tool to improve the reading and understanding of passages. The language is very similar to the passages that generally appear in the English section of government exams, and each paragraph is filled with exam-relevant vocabulary and real-world topics. First, go through the vocabulary section and read the meanings of the words, their Hindi translations, synonyms, and antonyms. Once you know the meanings of the words, read the passage carefully, and you will feel that it is much easier to understand the main idea and tone of the passage. This method not only improves the understanding of reading comprehension passages but also builds a strong vocabulary base for cloze tests and sentence fillers in the exam. Doing this every day will boost your confidence in the English section and help improve your scores in sections such as Reading Comprehension, Cloze Tests, and Sentence Fillers.

Falling short: on India’s EV journey
India must ensure technology transfer in the EV segment

On June 2, India took a turn for the better in its transport electrification journey by offering a concessional import duty of 15% on completely built-up units. This is contingent on the EV manufacturer investing a minimum of about ₹4,150 crore over three years to localise manufacturing in India, with a base domestic value add of 25% in three years, going up to 50% in another two years. The notification, under the Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SPMEPCI) announced in March 2024, allows for a maximum import of 8,000 completely built units annually for each manufacturer for five years. The SPMEPCI adds to the bouquet of policies that attempts to boost EV adoption and manufacturing. However, these policies put together fall short of addressing a pressing issue in India’s journey to decarbonise and transform mobility — technology transfer. India began this journey in 2015, about five years later than most large economies. An outlay of ₹895 crore for the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme, for five years, expanded to ₹10,000 crore in 2019. China announced its ambitious New Energy Vehicle subsidy programme in 2009, which, coupled with mandatory joint venture manufacturing of EVs until 2022, enabled technology transfer. In addition, a reduced import duty on EVs (25% in 2010 to 15% in 2018), and cumulative incentives of about $230 billion in the past 15 years — the most by any country — enabled China to achieve the highest global EV adoption rate. This also supported rapid charging infrastructure deployment, making China the largest producer and consumer of EVs.

The U.S. began this journey in 2010 with an initial outlay of $25 billion for its Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loans Program. This was greatly expanded under the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. But its EV adoption rate is much lower than China’s. In 2024, out of 17 million global EV car sales, China alone accounted for 11.3 million, followed by Europe with 3.2 million, the U.S. with another 1.5 million, and the rest of the world accounting for the remainder. China’s vertical integration of battery manufacturing, from mining, processing to assembling, has aided economies of scale with competitive pricing of EVs against conventional ICE vehicles. For now, the 25% DVA that India could aim for under the just announced scheme would be repurposing locally made auto components meant for ICE vehicles to EVs and layering it with Software-as-a-service. But to obtain the crucial technology for the heart of the EV — its battery — India must replicate its approach to localising ICE manufacturing, which is to mandate joint ventures with local ICE or EV makers, and gradually allow for a complete open market.

1. Pressing: needing to be dealt with immediately
Synonyms: urgent, critical
Antonyms: trivial, inconsequential

2. Cumulative: including all the amounts that have been added previously
Synonyms: aggregate, collated
Antonyms: single, solo

3. Aided: helped someone or something to do something, especially by making it easier
Synonyms: supported, assisted
Antonyms: impeded, hindered

4. Conventional: traditional and ordinary
Synonyms: standard, typical
Antonyms: imaginative, innovative

5. Crucial: extremely important, because it will affect other things
Synonyms: key, vital
Antonyms: minor, trifling

6. Replicate: to make or do something again in exactly the same way
Synonyms: duplicate, mirror
Antonyms: contradict, contrast

Phrasal verbs

7. Contingent on: depending on something else in the future in order to happen

8. Coupled with: joined or combined one thing with another

9. Accounting for: being a particular amount or part of something

Idioms & Phrases

10. Took a turn for the better: improved quickly or suddenly

11. Fall short of: to fail to meet or reach something, usually a goal, standard, or requirement

Jargon

12. Economies of scale: cost benefits that come from efficient, increased production; when businesses produce more, their costs per unit go down

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