Wordcraft, 28 September 2026

Glossary from the edition

15 words, each quoted in the sentence where it appeared in the 28 September 2026 edition. Meaning first, then the sentence, then where it came from.

The seven lessons

One entry of each type, every day: a system, not a word list.

Worksheet

Every exercise from the session, on paper. Answers are folded under each one; the online session marks them for you and keeps your score.

Word roots · stare, status (to stand)

1. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

   Rules made under an Act are valid only within the limits of the parent ___.

   1. stature
   2. statue
   3. status
   4. statute
   Answer

   statute. A statute is a written law; statue, stature and status are its look-alikes.

2. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

   Which of these is a statutory body rather than a constitutional one?

   1. the Union Public Service Commission
   2. the Election Commission of India
   3. the Central Information Commission
   4. the Comptroller and Auditor General
   Answer

   the Central Information Commission. The Central Information Commission is created by the RTI Act, 2005; the other three are created by Articles 324, 148 and 315 of the Constitution.

3. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

   Find the word that misclassifies the body.

   The Information Commission is a constitutional body under the RTI Act.

   Answer

   constitutional → statutory. A body set up under an Act is statutory; constitutional bodies are set up by the Constitution itself.

4. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

   Match each word to its sense in an answer.

   1. statute
   2. substantive
   3. obstacle
   4. establish

   1. to set up something meant to last
   2. a law passed by a legislature
   3. dealing with the real matter, not procedure
   4. something that stands in the way
   Answer

   • statute: a law passed by a legislature
   • substantive: dealing with the real matter, not procedure
   • obstacle: something that stands in the way
   • establish: to set up something meant to last

   Each sense grows from standing: set up, stand under, stand in the way, make firm.

5. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

   Which word literally means 'what stands in the way'?

   1. obstacle
   2. circumstance
   3. statute
   4. substance
   Answer

   obstacle. Obstacle is from Latin obstaculum, from obsto: ob-, in the way + sto, to stand.

6. Put in order Number the lines 1 upward in the correct order.

   Arrange the life of a rule under an Act in order.

   • Parliament passes the statute
   • the rules are laid before Parliament
   • the executive frames and notifies the rules
   • the statute delegates rule-making power
   Answer

   1. Parliament passes the statute
   2. the statute delegates rule-making power
   3. the executive frames and notifies the rules
   4. the rules are laid before Parliament

   Delegated legislation needs a parent Act first; the executive then frames rules, which are laid before the legislature for scrutiny.

Look-alike words · waiver / waver

7. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

   Which sentence is correct?

   1. The President may grant India a wavering.
   2. The President may grant India a waiver.
   3. The President may grant India a waver.
   4. The President may grant India a waive.
   Answer

   The President may grant India a waiver.. The noun for setting aside a rule or right is waiver.

8. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

   Public support for the reform began to ___ as prices rose.

   1. waive
   2. waiver
   3. waver
   4. wave
   Answer

   waver. To waver is to become weak or unsteady (Oxford).

9. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

   Match each word to its meaning.

   1. waiver
   2. waive
   3. waver
   4. wave

   1. choose not to demand something
   2. giving up a right or claim
   3. hesitate or become unsteady
   4. move your hand in greeting
   Answer

   • waiver: giving up a right or claim
   • waive: choose not to demand something
   • waver: hesitate or become unsteady
   • wave: move your hand in greeting

   Two words set rights aside; the others describe unsteadiness and a gesture.

10. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

    Find the word that is misspelt for its meaning.

    India's commitment to strategic autonomy has never waivered.

    Answer

    waivered. → wavered.. A commitment that does not weaken has never wavered; waiver is a noun, not a verb.

11. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

    The tribunal agreed to ___ the late fee because the delay was not the applicant’s fault.

    1. waive
    2. wave
    3. waiver
    4. waver
    Answer

    waive. To waive is to choose not to demand something you have a right to.

12. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Under the SRIA, what must the President do before waiving tariffs for a country?

    1. Wait for the five-year sunset to pass
    2. Obtain a two-thirds vote in the Senate
    3. Certify to Congress that the waiver is in the US national interest
    4. Get the approval of the UN Security Council
    Answer

    Certify to Congress that the waiver is in the US national interest. The Act lets the President waive duties or sanctions after certifying to Congress, with a report, that the waiver is in the national interests of the United States.

Word partners · the verbs of a nomination: deliver, scrutinise, reject, withdraw, contest

13. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

    The Returning Officer ___ her nomination for non-disclosure in the affidavit.

    1. declined
    2. refused
    3. rejected
    4. denied
    Answer

    rejected. Section 36 of the RP Act says the returning officer may reject any nomination; refuse takes a request and deny takes a claim.

14. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Which verb does the RP Act use for a candidate giving up candidature before the poll?

    1. retract
    2. resign
    3. renounce
    4. withdraw
    Answer

    withdraw. Section 37: a candidate may withdraw his candidature by a notice in writing.

15. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

    Match each step to its section of the RP Act, 1951.

    1. delivering the nomination paper
    2. scrutiny of nominations
    3. withdrawal of candidature
    4. grounds for a void election

    1. Section 37
    2. Section 36
    3. Section 100
    4. Section 33
    Answer

    • delivering the nomination paper: Section 33
    • scrutiny of nominations: Section 36
    • withdrawal of candidature: Section 37
    • grounds for a void election: Section 100

    Each stage of a nomination has its own section.

16. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

    Find the verb the law would not use.

    She resigned her candidature a day before the deadline.

    Answer

    resigned → withdrew. Candidature is withdrawn (Section 37); one resigns an office already held.

17. Put in order Number the lines 1 upward in the correct order.

    Arrange the stages of a nomination in order.

    • the last date for withdrawal of candidature passes
    • the returning officer scrutinises the nominations
    • the list of contesting candidates is published
    • the candidate delivers the nomination paper
    Answer

    1. the candidate delivers the nomination paper
    2. the returning officer scrutinises the nominations
    3. the last date for withdrawal of candidature passes
    4. the list of contesting candidates is published

    Sections 33, 36, 37 and 38 of the RP Act follow this order.

18. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    When may a rejected candidate challenge the rejection, according to the Ponnuswami rule?

    1. At once, by appeal to the Election Commission
    2. Before the poll, in a writ under Article 226
    3. After the result, through an election petition
    4. Never, because rejection is final
    Answer

    After the result, through an election petition. Article 329(b), as read in Ponnuswami (1952), leaves an election petition after the result as the remedy; improper rejection is a ground under Section 100.

Today's key term · secondary tariffs

19. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Under a secondary tariff, whose goods face higher duties?

    1. the sanctioning country’s own exporters
    2. the sanctioned country itself
    3. only the firms named on a sanctions list
    4. a third country that trades with the target
    Answer

    a third country that trades with the target. A secondary tariff raises duties on all imports from a third country because it trades with the target.

20. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

    The SRIA ___ tariffs of up to 100 per cent; it does not impose them on India automatically.

    1. mandates on India
    2. suspends
    3. abolishes
    4. authorises
    Answer

    authorises. The law creates a mechanism, a ceiling and a deadline, and leaves the decision and any waiver to the President.

21. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

    Match each tool to the party it penalises.

    1. primary sanctions
    2. secondary sanctions
    3. secondary tariffs
    4. UN Security Council sanctions

    1. third-country firms dealing with the target
    2. binding on all UN members
    3. the sanctioning country’s own firms
    4. a third country’s exports as a whole
    Answer

    • primary sanctions: the sanctioning country’s own firms
    • secondary sanctions: third-country firms dealing with the target
    • secondary tariffs: a third country’s exports as a whole
    • UN Security Council sanctions: binding on all UN members

    The adjective secondary always points to a third party.

22. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

    Find the word that names the wrong tool.

    Duties on all imports from countries that buy Russian oil are primary tariffs.

    Answer

    primary → secondary. Duties aimed at third countries because they trade with the target are secondary tariffs; primary measures bind the sanctioning country’s own firms.

23. Put in order Number the lines 1 upward in the correct order.

    Arrange the SRIA’s passage in order.

    • the Senate passes it, 86-11
    • tariff decisions fall due within 30 days
    • the House passes it, 262-159
    • the President signs it into law
    Answer

    1. the Senate passes it, 86-11
    2. the House passes it, 262-159
    3. the President signs it into law
    4. tariff decisions fall due within 30 days

    Senate on 7 August, House on 16 September, signature on 18 September 2026, then the 30-day deadline.

24. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Why do secondary tariffs test India’s stated principle on sanctions?

    1. India is a permanent member of the Council
    2. India imports no oil from Russia
    3. India follows only UN sanctions, not unilateral ones
    4. India has no trade with the United States
    Answer

    India follows only UN sanctions, not unilateral ones. A unilateral secondary tariff penalises India’s lawful trade under a rule India does not recognise as binding.

Cut the padding · legalese in an answer: the said, aforesaid, hereby, duly

25. Say it shorter Rewrite the sentence below within the word limit.

    Cut the legalese in six words or fewer.

    The said Government duly revoked the aforesaid notification forthwith.

    Word limit 6

    Model

    The Government revoked the notification immediately. The said and aforesaid add nothing, duly adds nothing, and forthwith is immediately.

26. Say it shorter Rewrite the sentence below within the word limit.

    Cut the legalese in fourteen words or fewer.

    It is hereby submitted that the aforesaid Section 24(4) of the said Act permits a State to exempt only organisations duly established by it.

    Word limit 14

    Model

    Section 24(4) of the Act lets a State exempt only organisations it has established. Hereby submitted, aforesaid, said and duly carried no facts; the section, the State and the limit all remain.

27. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    In which document is 'hereby' doing real work?

    1. a letter saying 'I hereby resign'
    2. a Mains conclusion on federalism
    3. a news report on a court ruling
    4. an answer saying 'it is hereby argued'
    Answer

    a letter saying 'I hereby resign'. Oxford: hereby means as a result of this statement, in a way that makes something legal. A resignation letter does the act; an answer does not.

28. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

    Find the word to delete.

    The Bench was duly constituted under Article 145.

    Answer

    duly → (delete). Duly adds nothing unless the propriety of the procedure is the point.

29. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

    Match each piece of legalese to its plain form.

    1. the said Act
    2. forthwith
    3. the aforesaid order
    4. hereinafter referred to as the Act

    1. immediately
    2. the order
    3. the Act
    4. (the Act)
    Answer

    • the said Act: the Act
    • forthwith: immediately
    • the aforesaid order: the order
    • hereinafter referred to as the Act: (the Act)

    Each has a shorter equivalent that loses nothing.

30. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    When is it right to keep 'the said Act' in an answer?

    1. in every polity answer
    2. never, even inside a quotation
    3. whenever the Act was named before
    4. when quoting the order’s exact words
    Answer

    when quoting the order’s exact words. Legalese belongs inside quotation marks when the wording itself is the point; otherwise write the Act.

Correct usage · e.g. or i.e., and no etc. after such as

31. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

    The Second Schedule lists central intelligence and security bodies, ___ the IB and R&AW.

    1. etc.
    2. viz.
    3. i.e.
    4. e.g.
    Answer

    e.g.. The IB and R&AW are two examples out of many, so e.g.

32. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

    The CIC is a statutory body, ___ one created by an Act of Parliament.

    1. i.e.
    2. etc.
    3. e.g.
    4. such as
    Answer

    i.e.. The clause says exactly what statutory means, so i.e. (that is).

33. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

    Find the word to delete.

    States such as Bihar, Kerala and Punjab etc. have notified rules.

    Answer

    etc. → (delete). Such as already signals an incomplete list, so etc. repeats it.

34. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

    Match each abbreviation to its meaning.

    1. e.g.
    2. i.e.
    3. etc.

    1. and other similar things
    2. for example
    3. that is
    Answer

    • e.g.: for example
    • i.e.: that is
    • etc.: and other similar things

    Latin exempli gratia, id est and et cetera.

35. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Which sentence uses the abbreviations correctly?

    1. Some bodies are statutory, e.g. the CIC.
    2. Some bodies are statutory, i.e. the CIC, etc.
    3. Some bodies, e.g. the CIC etc., are statutory.
    4. Some bodies are statutory, i.e. the CIC.
    Answer

    Some bodies are statutory, e.g. the CIC.. The CIC is one example, so e.g.; etc. after e.g. is redundant.

36. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    What does i.e. do in a sentence?

    1. It adds one example among many
    2. It introduces a contrasting point
    3. It marks the end of a long list
    4. It explains exactly what came before
    Answer

    It explains exactly what came before. Oxford: i.e. is used to explain exactly what the previous thing you have mentioned means.

Idioms in answers · a bargaining chip

37. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    What does 'a bargaining chip' mean?

    1. a small concession given away at the start of talks
    2. something used to gain an advantage in a negotiation
    3. a penalty for breaking an agreement
    4. a legal document that ends a negotiation
    Answer

    something used to gain an advantage in a negotiation. Oxford: a fact or thing that a person or group can use to get an advantage when trying to reach an agreement.

38. Fill the blank Circle the letter that completes the sentence.

    India’s large market gives it ___ in technology talks with the United States.

    1. leverage
    2. a waiver
    3. a trade-off
    4. a quid pro quo
    Answer

    leverage. Leverage is the ability to influence what others do; a trade-off is a balance, a quid pro quo an exchange.

39. Match the pairs Write the letter from the right against each number on the left.

    Match each expression to its meaning.

    1. a bargaining chip
    2. quid pro quo
    3. trade-off
    4. leverage

    1. something used to gain an advantage in talks
    2. the ability to influence what others do
    3. a thing given in return for something else
    4. a balance between two opposed things
    Answer

    • a bargaining chip: something used to gain an advantage in talks
    • quid pro quo: a thing given in return for something else
    • trade-off: a balance between two opposed things
    • leverage: the ability to influence what others do

    Four ways to talk about give and take in a negotiation.

40. Find the error Circle it in the sentence below, then write the correction.

    Find the word that breaks the idiom.

    Water sharing should not become a bargain chip.

    Answer

    bargain → bargaining. The fixed phrase is a bargaining chip.

41. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Which sentence uses the idiom most effectively in an answer?

    1. Bargaining chips are common in all international relations everywhere.
    2. The waiver was a bargaining chip, as the idiom goes, in some way.
    3. The waiver makes India’s exports a bargaining chip in US tech talks.
    4. The waiver is a bargaining chip, a lever and a quid pro quo at once.
    Answer

    The waiver makes India’s exports a bargaining chip in US tech talks.. It names the chip (India’s exports), the holder’s use and the setting; the others stack idioms or say nothing.

42. Choose one Circle the letter of the correct option.

    Why does 'should not become a bargaining chip' carry a charge?

    1. It implies something non-negotiable is being traded
    2. It shows the chip has no value
    3. It means the talks have ended
    4. It praises skilful negotiation
    Answer

    It implies something non-negotiable is being traded. The idiom, used with not, says an issue that ought to be settled on principle is being used for advantage.

Reading in the CSAT shape

A passage quoted from The Paradox of De-Sinification: Factories Move Easily, Industrial Ecosystems Do Not, then inference questions on it.

De-Sinification is two-sided. Foreign firms trying to leave China find Chinese inputs embedded several tiers down. Chinese firms going abroad find their competitiveness depends on an ecosystem at home that they cannot pack in a container. Both learn that changing a location is easier than changing capabilities.

Ecosystems are relational. They consist of trust built through repeated dealing, quick responses to design changes, shared tooling and local know-how. This is why replacing one supplier does not remove dependence on the wider system.

India's test is depth, not headlines. Japanese component makers arriving in India are a good sign because components are where ecosystems thicken. The measure of success is whether investments "progressively deepen linkages with Indian firms".

1. Which of the following can be most validly inferred from the passage?

   1. A firm that moves its factory out of China may still depend on China
   2. Chinese firms have stopped investing outside their home country
   3. Formal contracts are the main source of an ecosystem’s strength
   4. India has already built a complete supplier ecosystem of its own
   Answer

   A firm that moves its factory out of China may still depend on China. The passage says firms leaving China find Chinese inputs several tiers down, and that replacing one supplier does not remove dependence on the wider system. The second option is not stated, the third contradicts the passage, and the fourth reverses its claim that trust and repeated dealing make ecosystems.

2. The author’s measure of success for India rests on which assumption?

   1. News about new factories is usually false and should be ignored
   2. Local supplier links build lasting capability better than assembly alone
   3. Japanese investment will always be larger than Chinese investment
   4. Components matter less to an ecosystem than final assembly does
   Answer

   Local supplier links build lasting capability better than assembly alone. Judging success by deeper linkages with Indian firms only makes sense if those links, not the factory alone, create lasting capability. The second and third options are extreme and out of scope; the fourth reverses the passage, which says components are where ecosystems thicken.

3. Which of the following best captures the crux of the passage?

   1. China will soon lose its place as the world’s manufacturing hub
   2. Production moves easily, but the ties behind it are hard to move
   3. Shared tooling is the only part of an ecosystem that really matters
   4. India should stop inviting foreign factories and build its own
   Answer

   Production moves easily, but the ties behind it are hard to move. Each paragraph returns to one idea: location changes more easily than the relationships and capabilities that make production efficient. The second is outside the passage, the third reverses its welcome for Japanese investment, and the fourth is too extreme.

4. Which policy would be most consistent with the passage?

   1. Leave the choice of suppliers entirely to foreign investors
   2. Reward firms only for the number of new plants they announce
   3. Tie incentives to the share of inputs bought from Indian suppliers
   4. Ban every imported component with immediate effect
   Answer

   Tie incentives to the share of inputs bought from Indian suppliers. If success is measured by deepening linkages with Indian firms, policy should reward local sourcing. Counting announcements is the headline measure the passage rejects; an immediate ban is extreme; and leaving it to investors ignores the test the author sets.

5. What is the main message the author wants India’s policymakers to take?

   1. Measure China-plus-one by supplier depth, not by factory headlines
   2. Depend on Japanese firms alone for components and assembly
   3. Stop all trade with China to force firms to relocate
   4. Copy China’s policies exactly in order to attract investment
   Answer

   Measure China-plus-one by supplier depth, not by factory headlines. The last paragraph says India’s test is depth, not headlines, and success is deeper linkages with Indian firms. The other options are not suggested, and the third and fourth are extreme.

Writing task · Should a form be able to cost a candidate the nomination?

In no more than 100 words, argue whether a nomination should be rejected for not disclosing a pending complaint in which no charge has been framed. Use at least one verb from today’s nomination lesson (deliver, scrutinise, reject, withdraw or contest) and no legalese: no the said, aforesaid, hereby, duly or forthwith.

Companion to Vocab Builder (what a word scores in a GS answer) and Key Terms. Wordcraft is the language itself.