Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial 14 February 2026 | English Notes for SSC

Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial for 14 February 2026 provides essential English notes for SSC aspirants, covering key vocabulary words, idioms, one-word substitutions, and important grammar rules like subject-verb agreement and fixed prepositions. The editorial analysis focuses on the updated Consumer Price Index (CPI), highlighting its new base year (2024), reduced food weightage, and improved data granularity. These notes strengthen both linguistic and analytical skills, helping candidates understand complex economic trends while enhancing verbal ability for SSC GD, SSC CGL, CHSL, RRB Group D, NTPC, ALP, and competitive exams.

Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial for 14 February 2026

Below is the Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial for 14 February 2026, providing SSC aspirants with essential English preparation material. It covers key vocabulary words, idioms, one-word substitutions, antonyms, phrasal verbs, and important grammar rules such as subject-verb agreement and fixed prepositions. The editorial section analyzes the new Consumer Price Index (CPI 2024), highlighting its updated base year, reduced food weightage, and improved data granularity. These notes help strengthen both linguistic and analytical skills, making them a valuable resource for competitive exam preparation.

Words With Pictures (Vocabulary Warm-Up)

The Words With Pictures (Vocabulary Warm-Up) section introduces key English vocabulary with clear definitions and visual cues to aid memory. Words like Synthetic (artificial), Mandate (official order), and Evolving (developing) are explained alongside practical examples. Action-oriented terms such as Prescribing, idiomatic phrases like Pass Off, and expressions including Iron Out Flaws and Proactive help learners grasp both literal and contextual meanings. This approach strengthens comprehension, making it easier for SSC aspirants to remember new words, use them accurately, and improve their verbal ability through engaging, picture-supported learning. 

1. Synthetic: Artificial, man-made.

2. Mandate: An official order or command. Synonyms: decree, edict.

3. Evolving: Developing, progressing.

4. Warning: An alert or warning given in advance. 'For' means before.

5. Prescribing: Directing or stipulating a course of action.

6. Pass Off: To misrepresent something or someone.

7. Draft: A preliminary version or framework of writing; an initial sketch.

8. Labeling: The act of tagging for identification.

9. Prominently: Easily seen or noticed; noticeably, remarkably. Synonym: apparently.

10. Iron Out Flaws: To remove defects or resolve problems.

11. Proactive: Acting in anticipation of future problems; being preventive by taking initiative.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) section focuses on testing practical understanding of vocabulary, idioms, and one-word substitutions. Questions range from identifying meanings, like “wink at” meaning to pretend not to notice something, to selecting correct alternatives for words such as “pusillanimous” (timid). It also includes one-word substitution challenges, for example, naming an insect with many legs as a centipede, and spelling accuracy exercises like choosing the correctly spelled word persuasive. 

1. Idiom: Wink At

• Question: What is the meaning of "wink at"?

• Answer: To pretend not to have noticed something.

2. Vocabulary: Pusillanimous

• Question: What is an alternative for "pusillanimous"?

• Answer: Timid.

• Explanation: Pusillanimous means cowardly. Brave, heroic, and legendary are antonyms.

3. One-Word Substitution: An Insect with Many Legs

• Question: An insect with many legs is called a(n) _________.

• Answer: Centipede.

• Explanation of other options: Vertebrate (animal with backbone), Herbivorous (plant-eating animal), Swarm (large group of insects).

4. Correct Spelling

• Question: Identify the correctly spelled word.

• Answer: Persuasive.

• Corrections for other options: Superfluous, Continuous, Credential.

Also Read:

• SSC Monthly Current Affairs
• SSC Weekly Current Affairs

Idioms & Phrases

Idioms & Phrases section helps SSC aspirants understand commonly used English expressions and their contextual meanings. Idioms like “To Turn One's Coat” (to change sides or opinion), “Tied to the Apron Strings Of” (to be under someone’s control), and “To Stick One's Neck Out” (to take a risk) are explained with simple examples and memory tips. Learning these idioms strengthens both comprehension and usage skills, allowing candidates to interpret figurative language effectively in reading passages, writing, and verbal ability questions.

1. To Turn One's Coat: To change from one opinion or party to an opposing one.

2. Tied to the Apron Strings Of: To be under someone's control or influence (frequently repeated in exams).

3. To Stick One's Neck Out: To take a risk (Memory Tip: Imagine someone exposing themselves to danger, like a student leaning out of a bus window despite warnings).

One-Word Substitution

One-Word Substitution section focuses on condensing phrases or descriptions into a single, precise word, helping SSC aspirants improve vocabulary efficiency. Examples include Flicker (to shine with a brief or irregular light), Crusade (a fight for a cause), and Arcane (requiring secret or mysterious knowledge). By practicing these substitutions, candidates can enhance their verbal ability, write concisely, and answer exam questions quickly and accurately, making this section an essential part of competitive English preparation. 

1. Shine with a bright but brief or irregular light.

• Answer: Flicker.

• Other options: Wimper (cry softly), Cower (crouch in fear), Mutter (speak in low voice).

2. A fight for something that you believe to be good, or against something that you believe to be bad.

• Answer: Crusade.

• Other options: Combat (general fight), Subaltern (officer below captain), Bellicose / Belligerent (warlike nature).

3. Requiring secret or mysterious knowledge.

• Answer: Arcane.

• Other options: Majestic (grand), Clandestine (secretive), Voodoo (witchcraft).

Editorial Words: Analysis of The New CPI

This section analyzes vocabulary from an editorial regarding the updated Consumer Price Index (CPI), specifically its overdue base year change from 2012 to 2024.

1. Overdue (Adjective): Not done at the required time; delayed.

• Synonyms: Pending, outstanding. Antonyms: Timely, punctual.

• Example: CPI reform was long overdue.

2. Aid (Verb/Noun): To help or support.

• Synonyms: Assist, facilitate. Antonyms: Hinder, obstruct.

• Example: New data will aid policy makers.

3. Shortcomings (Noun): Weaknesses or deficiencies.

• Synonyms: Defects, flaws. Antonyms: Strengths, merits.

• Example: New series corrects old CPI's shortcomings.

4. Pegged (Verb): To fix or link to something.

• Synonyms: Linked, fixed. Antonyms: Detached, unlinked.

• Example: Index is pegged to new consumption data.

5. Composition (Noun): Structure or makeup.

• Synonyms: Structure, configuration. Antonyms: Disintegration, disorder.

• Example: Household expenditure composition evolved.

6. Granularity (Noun): Level of detail in data. (Memory Tip: Connect to detail, like fine grains making up a precise image).

• Synonyms: Detail, precision. Antonyms: Generality, ambiguity.

• Example: New index increases granularity.

7. Commendably (Adverb): In a way that deserves praise.

• Synonyms: Admirably, praiseworthily. Antonyms: Criticizably.

• Example: Government commendably revised the index.

8. Bolster (Verb): To strengthen or support.

• Synonyms: Strengthen, reinforce. Antonyms: Weaken, undermine.

• Example: Reform will bolster data stability.

9. Outsized (Adjective): Disproportionately large.

• Synonyms: Excessive, disproportionate. Antonyms: Moderate, reasonable.

• Example: Food inflation had an outsized impact.

10. Shrinking (Adjective/Verb): Becoming smaller in size or amount.

• Synonyms: Decreasing, declining. Antonyms: Expanding, growing.

• Example: Food forms a shrinking share of expenses.

Antonyms & Phrasal Verbs

Antonyms & Phrasal Verbs section strengthens SSC aspirants’ understanding of word relationships and functional language. Antonyms like Insouciance (carelessness) paired with Anxiety (worry) help in recognizing contrasting meanings, while phrasal verbs such as Rounded Off (ended or concluded) and Tore Into (criticized severely) teach practical usage in sentences. Mastery of these elements improves comprehension, writing, and verbal reasoning, enabling candidates to tackle both vocabulary-based questions and reading passages with confidence.

Antonym

• Word: Insouciance (carelessness).

• Antonym: Anxiety (worry).

• Other options: Rebellion, Prudence, Lethargy.

Phrasal Verbs

1. Rounded Off:

• Sentence: "Amrita rounded off her presentation with a quote."

• Meaning: Ended or concluded.

2. Tore Into:

• Sentence: "He tore into the proposal without mercy."

• Meaning: Criticized severely.

Reading Comprehension: "Overdue Upgrade"

This section discusses the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series, which addresses many shortcomings of the previous one. It updates the base year from 2012 to 2024, pegged to 2023-24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey patterns. This reflects significant changes in India's economy and consumer behavior, including reduced food spending and the rise of new services. The new series reduces the weightage of food and beverages from 45.86% to 36.75%, crucial as food inflation previously had an outsized influence despite food forming a shrinking part of household expenses. The index also covers more items, increasing its granularity and representation as India's service economy grows.

Comprehension Questions & Answers

1. Primary purpose of the new CPI series?

• Answer: To address the shortcomings of the previous series.

2. Base year for the new CPI series?

• Answer: 2024.

3. The new CPI series is pegged to consumption patterns from…?

• Answer: The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24.

4. Why did food inflation have an outsized influence on the CPI earlier?

• Answer: Because it had a higher weightage in the index.

5. Why is the reduction in food weightage significant?

• Answer: Because food now forms a shrinking part of household expenditures.