Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial 17 February 2026 | English Notes for SSC by Bhragu Sir

The Daily The Hindu Vocabulary and Editorial session of 17 February 2026 is specially designed for SSC aspirants. The class aims to build strong fundamentals in English. It combines motivation, vocabulary learning, grammar practice, and editorial reading. The session follows a clear and simple structure. The language used is easy to understand. The purpose is to help students score better in SSC GD, SSC CGL, CHSL, RRB Group D, NTPC, ALP, and competitive exams. 

Bhragu Sir begins the class with motivation. He reminds students that success starts with regular effort. He says that early preparation gives better results. He divides students into three groups: beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced learners. Each group is given a clear target. This helps students understand their level and improve step by step.

Daily The Hindu Vocab & Editorial 17 February 2026

This session followed a proper format. First, motivation was given. Then vocabulary words were discussed. After that, idioms and grammar rules were explained. Finally, a current affairs-based editorial paragraph was analyzed.

SSC exams test vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension in every tier. Many students lose marks because they do not understand words in context. Daily editorial practice solves this problem. It increases reading speed. It improves understanding of tone and opinion. It also helps in error detection and cloze tests.

Regular vocabulary practice strengthens memory. When students learn meanings with examples, they remember them longer. This approach improves confidence during exams.

Key Vocabulary with Meanings

Here are the important words discussed in today’s session. These words are useful for SSC exams.

Each word was explained with examples. Synonyms and antonyms were also discussed. This helps students solve multiple-choice questions quickly.

Vocabulary

Practicing Vocabulary daily reduces mistakes.

• Idiom: I jumped out of my skin when the explosion happened.

• Meaning: To be extremely startled or frightened.

• Answer: Panicked. Panic is a more intense and fitting response to an explosion than nervousness.

• Word: Forfeit (Antonym/Synonym)

• Meaning: To lose or be deprived of property or a right as a penalty.

• Answer: To lose something (e.g., abandon is a close option).

• One Word Substitution: A statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based.

• Answer: Axiom. An axiom is a self-evident truth serving as a premise for further reasoning.

• Other Terms: Fiction (imagination), Hypothesis (proposed explanation), Conjecture (a guess).

• Correct Spelling: Perseverance

• Meaning: Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success; firmness or determination.

• Correct Spelling: Perseverance.

Idioms & Phrases

Idioms improve scores in objective sections.

• Dance Attendance Upon: To do everything possible to please or obey someone's every wish.

• To Call In The Old Adam: To revert to one's primal or sinful nature; to give in to base instincts.

• Send Owls To Athens: To do something pointless or superfluous.

Also Read:

• SSC Monthly Current Affairs
• SSC Weekly Current Affairs

Root Word Analysis: B E N / B E N I

The root words Ben and Beni mean good, well, or auspicious.

• Benefit: An advantage or profit gained from something (a good outcome).

• Beneficial: Favorable or advantageous; resulting in good.

• Beneficiary: A person who derives advantage from something, such as a trust, will, or insurance policy. In online banking, this is the recipient of funds.

• Benevolent: Kind and generous.

• Benign: Gentle and not harmful.

• Benediction: The utterance of a blessing. (Memory Tip: This word combines two roots: Ben (good) + Dict (to speak). Literally, "to speak good things.")

• Benedictory: Expressing good wishes.

• Benefaction: A donation or gift given for a good cause, referring to the act of charity.

• Benefactor: A person who gives money or other help to a person or cause. This is the individual performing the act of benefaction.

The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary

Transatlantic (adj.)

• Definition: Relating to or situated on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, especially concerning relations between Europe and the United States.

Strain (n.)

• Definition: A state of tension or pressure in a relationship between people or groups.

• Synonyms: Tension, stress, friction.

• Antonyms: Harmony, peace.

• Example: There is visible strain in Europe-US relations.

Receding (adj./v.)

• Definition: Gradually moving back or decreasing in value, amount, or intensity.

• Synonyms: Withdrawing, fading, diminishing.

• Antonyms: Advancing, increasing.

• Example: US commitments appear to be receding.

Advocate (v.)

• Definition: To publicly support or recommend a particular cause or policy.

• Synonyms: Support, promote, champion.

• Antonyms: Oppose, condemn.

• Example: He advocated stronger alliances.

Conciliatory (adj.)

• Definition: Intended to reduce anger or conflict; peacemaking.

• Synonyms: Diplomatic, soothing.

• Antonyms: Aggressive, hostile.

• Example: His tone was conciliatory during the negotiation.

Erasure (n.)

• Definition: The act of removing or wiping out something completely.

• Synonyms: Elimination, deletion, removal.

• Antonyms: Preservation, retention.

• Example: Cultural erasure is a serious concern.

Trifecta (n.)

• Definition: A group or combination of three related elements, events, or challenges.

• Synonyms: Trio, triple.

• Antonyms: Single issue.

• Example: Europe faces a trifecta of crises.

Raging (adj.)

• Definition: Continuing with great force or intensity. Often used for conflicts, storms, or emotions.

• Synonyms: Intense, violent, fierce.

• Antonyms: Calm, mild.

• Example: The conflict has been raging for years.

Mounting (adj.)

• Definition: Increasing gradually in size, amount, or intensity.

• Synonyms: Growing, rising, escalating.

• Antonyms: Decreasing, declining.

• Example: Europe faces mounting challenges.

Slam (v.)

• Definition: To criticize someone or something harshly.

• Synonyms: Criticize, condemn, attack.
  Antonyms: Praise, commend.

• Example: The Vice President slammed Europe's policies.

Flank (n.)

• Definition: The side of a country's military formation or geographical territory; a border.

• Synonyms: Side, border, edge.

• Antonyms: Center, core.

• Example: Conflict continues on Europe's eastern flank.

Associated Phrasal Verbs:

• Push For: To strongly demand or advocate for something.

• Rooted In: To be based on or grounded in a particular idea, event, or principle.

Grammar & Phrasal Verb Drills

1. Grammar (Subject-Verb Agreement): "The international rules-based order no longer exist."

• Correction: The subject "order" is singular, so the verb must be singular: exists.

2. Grammar (Modal Verbs): "…the continent must became a stronger pillar within NATO."

• Correction: A modal verb ("must") is always followed by the base form of the verb: must become.

3. Antonym: Abate

• Meaning: To become less intense or widespread; to reduce or lessen.

• Antonym: Escalate (to increase rapidly).

4. Phrasal Verb: Worm Out Of

• Meaning: To avoid a duty or responsibility in a clever or dishonest way.

5. Phrasal Verb: Bogged Down

• Meaning: To be delayed or to make no progress due to problems or complexities.

Editorial Paragraph 17 February 2026

The international rules-based order “no longer exists,” Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at the annual Munich Security Conference.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for greater European “military autonomy.” He argued that the continent must become a stronger pillar within NATO.

These remarks reflected Europe’s growing anxiety over the United States’ receding security commitments. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised a path of cooperation.

He advocated a stronger alliance rooted in shared history and Christian cultural linkages rather than only shared strategic interests. The speeches by European and American officials highlighted both the strain in transatlantic ties and Europe’s mounting challenges.

Last year, at the same venue, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance slammed Europe’s democratic model and its refugee policies. Mr. Rubio, though conciliatory in tone, also echoed the American far-right’s central talking point of “civilizational erasure.”

The Trump administration wants Europe, at a moment of crisis, to join its culture wars and its push to reassert Western dominance. Today’s Europe faces a trifecta of challenges.

First, the largest land conflict since the end of the Second World War has been raging on its eastern flank for four years.

Europe’s principal response has been to arm Ukraine and hurt Russia through sanctions. However, this has not produced decisive results on the battlefield.

Second, Europe has relied on the United States for its security since the Second World War. This dependence deepened after the Cold War.

1. According to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the international rules-based order…

Answer: no longer exists.

2. French President Emmanuel Macron called for…

Answer: greater European military autonomy.

3. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks mainly emphasized…

Answer: cultural and historical linkages.

4. The phrase "civilizational erasure" refers to…

Answer: cultural and identity-based concerns.

5. Europe's principal response to the eastern conflict has been…

Answer: arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.