The Hindu Editorial (​​​​​A cut in time) – Apr 10, 2025

To read this article, click  “The Hindu”.

This preview is provided here with permission.

Courtesy: The Hindu

The Hindu Editorial (A cut in time) – Apr 10, 2025:

1. cut (noun) –  reduction, decrease, lessening.
2. in time (phrase) – on time, not too late, in good time; before a deadline; early enough; eventually.
3. repo rate (noun) – it is the rate at which the central bank of a country (RBI in case of India) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds.
4. rate cut (noun) – a decision by a central bank (like RBI in India) to reduce its main interest rate to the banks (like SBI, ICICI & etc in India) when these commercial banks get money from the central bank. Once this rate goes down, the banks are in a position to give loans at lower interest rates to individuals and the industry.
5. build on/upon (phrasal verb) – develop, enhance, expand on; use something as a basis/base for; be based on, rely on, turn to, trust in.
6. trade barrier (noun) – government-induced restrictions on international trade. (or) taxes established by each country to restrict foreign trade.​
7. monetary policy (noun) – monetary policy refers to the use of monetary instruments under the control of the central bank to regulate magnitudes such as interest rates, money supply, and availability of credit with a view to achieving the ultimate objective of economic policy mentioned in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
8. the monetary policy committee (MPC) (noun) – it is a six-member panel that is expected to bring “value and transparency” to rate-setting decisions. It will feature three members from the RBI — the Governor, a Deputy Governor and another official — and three independent members to be selected by the Government. The MPC will meet four times a year to decide on monetary policy by a majority vote.
9. unanimous (adjective) – agreed, united, in agreement, of one mind.
10. basis point (BPS) (noun) – a unit of measure used in finance to describe the percentage change in the value or rate of a financial instrument. One basis point is equivalent to 0.01% (1/100th of a percent). Used for measuring change in interest rate/yield.
11. timely (adjective) – prompt, well-timed, at the right time, opportune, appropriate.
12. reprieve (noun) – cancellation, suspension, postponement (of a punishment or something undesirable event); stay of execution.
13. implore (verb) – urge, beg, request earnestly (sincerely) & desperately.​
14. hasten (verb) – speed up, quicken, accelerate, expedite.
15. bilateral (adjective) – involving two groups or countries.
16. negotiation (noun) – discussion, discourse, debate, dialogue, deliberation, talks, parley.​
17. shield (verb) – protect, guard, safeguard, provide protection for, defend, cover, insulate.​
18. reciprocal tax (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on imports from another country in response to similar tariffs. The tariffs aim to match or offset tariffs and other trade barriers imposed on US goods by foreign nations.
19. tariff (noun) – a tax imposed by one country on the goods and services imported from another country.
20. counter-tariff (or) retaliatory tariff (noun) – punitive tariff; an extra tariff/tax that a country charges on import goods from another country to punish the another country for charging tax on its own export goods.
21. universal (adjective) – general, common, conventional, traditional.
22. pause (noun) – temporary stoppage, break, interval.
23. stand-off (noun) – deadlock, stalemate, impasse (in a dispute/conflict).
24. suggest (verb) – indicate, denote, point to, signify.
25. strategy (noun) – plan of action (in order to achieve a more expansive set of political, economic, and security interests).
26. pivot (noun) – focus/focal point, foundation, cornerstone.
27. stem (verb) – stop, halt, check, hold back, restrain, restrict, control, contain, curb.
28. sell-off (noun) – selling of something (commodity/share) which causes fall in price.
29. treasury bond (noun) – a long-term debt security issued by the U.S. government with a fixed interest rate and maturity of 20 or 30 years (or) a government debt security issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury with a fixed interest rate and a maturity of 20 or 30 years.
30. ​gut (verb) – consume, wipe out, lay waste to, ruin.
31. stock valuation (noun) – it determines the intrinsic value of a company’s stock, represents the worth of company’s shares based on financial and economic factors.
32. slowdown (noun) – recession, slump, decline, downturn.
33. sentiment (noun) – point of view, way of thinking, feeling, attitude, thought, opinion, belief. ​
34. stance (noun) – viewpoint, standpoint, position, opinion.
35. neutral (adjective) – ordinary, safe, uncommitted, non-participating.
36. accommodative (adjective) – aimed to encourage economic activity by reducing interest rates. ​
37. likely (adjective) – to be expected, anticipated, predictable, foreseeable, on the cards, in the wind.
38. likely (adjective) –probable, possible, plausible.
39. reflect (verb) – indicate, show, display, reveal.
40. pass on (phrasal verb) – to transfer, transmit, or hand over something to someone else.
41. central bank (noun) – the banking regulator of a county’s banking system. (e.g. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India).
42. liquidity (noun) – the availability of liquid assets; liquidity means liquid assets; cash; (liquid asset is an asset which can be easily sold/converted into cash without losing its value); a measure of activity (i.e. the ability to buy or sell easily) in a market. 
43. liquidity (noun) – (in the banking system) it refers to readily available cash that banks need to meet short-term business and financial needs.
44. uncertainty (noun) – unpredictability, unreliability, riskiness/precariousness.
45. diversify (verb) – vary, bring variety to; modify, alter/change, transform, expand, enlarge. ​
46. ominous (adjective) – threatening, menacing, unfavourable, unpromising, gloomy.
47. Gross domestic product (GDP) (noun) – a measure of economic activity in a country. It is the total value of a country’s annual output of goods and service.
48. fiscal (year) (noun) – financial year.
49. stimulus (noun) – impetus, boost, incentive, fillip.
50. retail or consumer price index (CPI) inflation (noun) – The change in the price index of the basket of consumer goods and services over a period of time is referred to as CPI-based inflation or retail inflation.
51. wholesale or wholesale price Index (WPI) inflation (noun) – The change in the price index of the basket of wholesale goods (and no services) over a period of time is referred to as WPI-based inflation or wholesale inflation.
52. inflation (noun) – simply meaning “cost of living”; increase of price level of goods & services and vice versa decrease of currency value.
53. steep (adjective) – sudden, sharp, rapid.
54. staple (noun) – main item; important element (of something).
55. food staple (noun) – a food that makes up the dominant part of a population’s diet. Food staples are eaten regularly—even daily—and supply a major proportion of a person’s energy and nutritional needs.
56. contraction (noun) – decline, decrease, reduction.
57. due to (phrase) – because of, as a result of, thanks to, on account of, owing to.
58. climate (noun) – atmosphere, mood/temper, situation.
59. framework (noun) – structure, system, organization.
60. policy framework (noun) – a set of principles and long-term goals that form the basis of making rules and guidelines for achieving particular objectives.
61. foster (verb) – encourage, promote, support.
62. exaggeration (noun) – overstatement, overemphasis, magnification, amplification.
63. turn on its head (phrase) – to cause something to be the opposite of what it was before; to completely change the way that something is done or thought about.
64. retaliatory tariff (noun) – a tariff imposed by one country in response to a similar tariff imposed by another country; a trade penalty used as a countermeasure in a trade dispute.
65. full-blown (adjective) – fully developed, full-scale, full-blooded, fully-fledged, complete, thorough.
66. trade war (noun) – a condition in which a country increases tariffs on foreign goods and imposes quota restrictions to restrict other countries’ trade. ​
67. likes of (noun) – people or things similar to; such as; for example.
68.  Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (noun) – it officially known as the Tariff Act of 1930, was a U.S. protectionist trade policy enacted during the early stages of the Great Depression. Signed into law on June 17, 1930 by President Herbert Hoover, the act aimed to shield American farmers and industries from foreign competition by significantly raising tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods.
69. usher in (phrasal verb) – to signal the beginning of something new; to make something new begin; start, initiate, introduce.
70. nationalism (noun) – the identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations.
71. inter-war (adjective) – between two wars, especially between World War I and World War II.
72. Great Depression (noun) – a worldwide economic depression that started in 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s (almost for 10 years until about 1939). Although it originated in the United States, the Great Depression caused drastic declines in output, severe unemployment, and acute deflation in almost every country of the world.
73. perhaps (adverb) – maybe, possibly. ​
74. so long as (conjunction) – provided that, only if, on condition that.
75. double down (phrasal verb) – to be more firm and resolute on something (decided) even if that might be a risky choice; to double or increase a risk involved in doing something.

Note : 

1. Click each onpivot (noun) – focus/focal point, foundation, cornerstone.e of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (​​​​​​​​​A cut in time) – Apr 10, 2025: