Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial 23 February 2026 | English Notes for SSC by Bhragu Sir

Preparing for SSC exams needs daily effort. English is one of the most important sections in SSC exams. Many students lose marks in this section. This happens not because they do not understand the topic, but because they lack practice in vocabulary and comprehension.

The session conducted by SSC Wallah focuses on building strong English basics for SSC aspirants. It includes vocabulary practice, idioms, grammar rules, and editorial-based comprehension from The Hindu. The main aim of this session is to improve daily reading habits and word understanding. Over time, this habit boosts confidence in attempting English sections of SSC GD, SSC CGL, CHSL, RRB Group D, NTPC, ALP, and other competitive government exams.

Daily "The Hindu" Vocab & Editorial 23 February 2026

Daily editorial-based vocabulary sessions are very important for SSC aspirants. These sessions help students improve their reading ability and understanding of exam-level language.

In SSC exams, comprehension passages are often based on formal English. Students who do not read such content regularly may find it difficult to understand the passage. This can lead to wrong answers even when they know basic grammar rules.

The Daily The Hindu Vocabulary and Editorial session helps students become familiar with commonly used words and sentence patterns. It also helps them understand how words are used in real contexts.

1. Words with Pictures

This section explains important vocabulary with simple meanings. These words are commonly asked in SSC exams.

• Stint: A period of time spent doing a particular job or activity.

• Correct Answer: Tenure

• Cut Out: Describing a task that is particularly difficult or challenging.

• Correct Answer: Challenging Task

• Acute: Very serious, severe, or intense.

• Correct Answer: Severe

• Healing Touch: An approach or action that improves a situation or makes someone feel better.

• Correct Answer: Soothing Effect

• Juncture: A particular or critical point in time. (Memory Tip: Illustrated by the Hindi proverb "जब जागो तब सवेरा," signifying the moment one decides to act is the right time.)

• Correct Answer: Right Moment

• Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

• Correct Answer: Sympathy

• Bruised: To be hurt, damaged, or injured.

• Correct Answer: Injured

• Installed: Placed or fixed in a particular position.

• Correct Answer: Positioned

• Buffer Zone: An area designed to provide protection or security.

• Correct Answer: Protected Area

• Erupted: To burst out suddenly and violently.

• Correct Answer: Exploded

2. Top Vocabulary Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

This section focuses on words and phrases that have appeared in previous SSC exams. Practicing PYQs increases accuracy.

• Word: Vie

• Meaning: To compete with someone in order to achieve something.

• Correct Answer: Contend

• Note: The gerund form, vying, is commonly used.

• Idiom: To give the slip

• Meaning: To escape from someone.

• Correct Answer: To escape

• One-Word Substitution: Property inherited from one's father

• Correct Answer: Patrimony (Heritage refers to a broader cultural legacy).

• Incorrectly Spelt Word: Discussion

• Correct Spelling: Discussion (Dysentery is an infection of the intestines).

3. Idioms

Idioms are important for sentence improvement and meaning-based questions. Learning them improves understanding.

• A Sisyphean Task

• Meaning: A task that is endless and cannot be completed, making the effort futile.

• Correct Answer: A futile effort

• To throw one's hat in the ring

• Meaning: To announce one's intention to enter a competition or contest boldly.

• Correct Answer: To enter a competition boldly

• To know which way the wind is blowing

• Meaning: To understand the current situation or trends and anticipate likely outcomes, especially in political or social contexts.

• Correct Answer: To foresee a political or social shift

4. One-Word Substitution

One-word substitution helps in saving time during exams. It tests vocabulary depth.

• One who criticizes everything and finds faults excessively.

• Answer: Carper

• Related Terms: Quibbler (raises petty objections); Censorious (severely critical); Pedant (overly concerned with minor details and rules).

• One who is extremely frugal and avoids all forms of luxury.

• Answer: Spartan

• Related Terms: Miser/Parsimonious (unwilling to spend); Stoic (endures hardship without showing feelings); Frugal (sparing with money; Spartan is an extreme form).

• A place given to soldiers to live in.

• Answer: Barracks

5. Grammar Rules from the Paragraph

This section focuses on common grammar mistakes. Grammar accuracy is important for SSC English.

1. Spotting Error 1

• Sentence: "The President claimed that he had the authority to unilaterally imposing tariffs of unlimited scope."

• Error: imposing

• Rule: The infinitive form "to" must be followed by the base form of the verb (V1).

• Correction: "to unilaterally impose".

2. Spotting Error 2

• Sentence: "The court observed that the Act contains no reference to tariffs or duties…"

• Error: contain

• Rule: Subject-verb agreement: The singular subject "the Act" requires a singular verb.

• Correction: "the Act contains".

6. Vocabulary Check

Quick revision helps in retention. This section checks understanding of meanings and opposites.

1. Antonym for Salutary (Meaning: Healthful, promoting health.)

• Antonym: Toxic (harmful).

2. Phrasal Verb: Pulling through

• Sentence Context: "The patient is pulling through after the surgery."

• Meaning: Recovering from a serious illness or injury.

3. Phrasal Verb: Made off with

• Sentence Context: "The thieves made off with the valuables."

• Meaning: Escaped with stolen items.

Also Read:

• SSC Monthly Current Affairs
• SSC Weekly Current Affairs

Reading Comprehension: "Tariffs in Trouble"

In a major blow to a central pillar of U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the country’s Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has ruled by a 6-3 margin that his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on numerous countries is not in accordance with law and must be struck down.

With Chief Justice John Roberts and two other conservative justices appointed by Mr. Trump siding with the three liberal justices on the subject, the Court ruled that Mr. Trump’s assertion of “extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope” is contravened by the absence of “clear congressional authorization” to exercise it.

It also observed that the IEEPA contained no reference to tariffs or duties and that the executive had not identified any statute that used the word “regulate” to authorise taxation.

Arguing that until now no President has read IEEPA to confer such power, the SCOTUS concluded that all the evidence available and its reading of the statutes implied that the Court believed that “[IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.]”

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Trump reacted angrily on social media, posting that he would be raising his global tariff rate to 15%, after initially suggesting that it would be imposed at 10%, under the authority conferred to the White House for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Tariffs imposed under laws other than the IEEPA, including those on aluminium and steel under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, are unaffected by this ruling although Mr. Trump would face challenges in bringing fresh tariff rounds under the IEEPA.

Today's Editorial Vocabulary

This section explains key words from the editorial passage. These words are useful for comprehension and error spotting.

1. Circumscribe (Verb)

• Meaning: To limit or restrict something within defined boundaries. (Memory Tip: "Circum-" relates to "circle," implying a boundary, like the "Laxman Rekha" for restriction.)

• Synonyms: Restrict, limit, confine.

• Antonyms: Expand, extend, liberate.

• Example: The court's decision circumscribed executive powers.

2. Major Blow (Noun Phrase)

• Meaning: A serious setback, shock, or defeat.

• Synonyms: Setback, shock, defeat.

• Antonyms: Victory, success, triumph.

• Example: The ruling was a major blow to the policy.

3. Unilaterally (Adverb)

• Meaning: Done by one person, group, or country without the agreement of others involved.

• Comparison: Unilateral (one side); Bilateral (two sides).

• Synonyms: Independently, solely.

• Antonyms: Jointly, bilaterally.

• Example: He cannot unilaterally change trade rules.

4. Contravened (Verb)

• Meaning: To violate or go against a rule, law, or agreement.

• Synonyms: Violated, breached, defied.

• Antonyms: Obeyed, complied, upheld.

• Example: The decision contravened constitutional provisions.

5. Pillar (Noun)

• Meaning: A fundamental principle or a major supporting factor.

• Synonyms: Foundation, backbone, support.

• Antonyms: Weakness, liability.

• Example: The trade policy was a pillar of her foreign strategy.

6. Assertion (Noun)

• Meaning: A confident and forceful statement or claim.

• Synonyms: Claim, declaration, statement.

• Antonyms: Denial, retraction.

• Example: The court rejected his assertion of power.

7. Imply (Verb)

• Meaning: To suggest something indirectly rather than stating it explicitly; to hint.

• Synonyms: Suggest, indicate, hint.

• Antonyms: State, declare openly.

• Example: The ruling implied limits on executive power.

8. Under the umbrella (Idiom)

• Meaning: Within the protection, authority, or scope of a larger entity or concept.

• Synonyms: Within, covered by, included in.

• Antonyms: Outside, excluded from.

• Example: Fresh tariffs under this umbrella may face challenges.

9. Key Legal & Action-oriented Terms

• Strike down (Phrasal Verb): To declare something (especially a law) as legally invalid; to nullify.

• Side with (Phrasal Verb): To support one person or group against another in a disagreement.

• Confer (Verb): To grant or bestow a title, authority, or right. (Bestow is a key synonym).

• Statute (Noun): A written law passed by a legislative body. (Synonyms: Act, regulation).

Q1: What was SCOTUS's ruling on IEEPA use?

Answer: It struck down the President's use for tariffs.

Q:2 By what margin was the verdict delivered?

Answer: 6-3.

Q:3 The court objected to the President's claim of…?

Answer: Extraordinary unilateral power.

Q:4 IEEPA contained no reference to…?

Answer: Tariffs or duties.

Q:5 Tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 could be imposed for…?

Answer: 150 days.