Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Vote of trust: On Trump’s appreciation, clean electoral rolls in India

​Vote of trust: On Trump’s appreciation, clean electoral rolls in India

Clean (स्वच्छ, त्रुटिरहित) electoral rolls (मतदाता सूची, निर्वाचन सूची) are a must, but must (अनिवार्यता) not be weaponised by state

President Donald Trump’s appreciation (सराहना, प्रशंसा) of India’s election mechanism has put the spotlight on a highly divisive (विभाजनकारी) debate (बहस, चर्चा) over election integrity (चुनावी निष्पक्षता) in the two democracies (लोकतंत्र, जनतंत्र). Mr. Trump is pushing for (जोर देना, मांग करना) an SIR-like exercise (an activity resembling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a large-scale voter verification and electoral roll revision process undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI)) in the U.S., but its highly federalised (relating to a system in which power and decision-making are distributed among constituent regional units rather than being centrally controlled; decentralised, distributed, regionalised, divided) electoral process is governed by fragmented (खंडित, बंटा हुआ) rules and politics that resist the idea. His curious social media post citing India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, as having wondered how the U.S. could conduct elections without a valid photo identity, has renewed concerns (चिंता, आशंका) over election integrity (ईमानदारी, निष्पक्षता) in both the U.S. and India. While no one can disagree (differ, dissent, oppose, dispute, argue, clash, conflict) that the process should be fair (निष्पक्ष, न्यायसंगत) and transparent (accountable, straightforward, clear, open), the agreement (consensus, accord, harmony, unanimity) ends there. Partisan politics in both countries have fostered political mistrust, leading election losers to repeatedly (over and over again; consistently, frequently, continuously, persistently) question electoral integrity. The liberal (progressive in political and social views, often favouring social reform and individual liberties; progressive, broad-minded, reformist, forward-looking) and progressive (favouring or implementing new ideas, social reform, or modern methods; modern, reform-minded, radical, avant-garde) strands, and the conservative (averse to sudden change or innovation, typically holding traditional values and supporting established institutions; traditionalist, right-wing, orthodox, conventional) and nativist (relating to the political policy or ideology of promoting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants; protectionist, isolationist, xenophobic, nationalist) strands (faction, element, section; tendency, school of thought, or component) in both countries, want to purify (cleanse, refine, sanitise, purge) and streamline (simplify, rationalise, optimise, reorganise) the electoral rolls and the processes, but in different and often (regularly, frequently, repeatedly, habitually) contradictory (conflicting, opposed, incompatible, contrasting) ways. India and the U.S. could lead a shared democratic agenda on election rules, but only after restoring (re-establish, bring back, reinstate, repair) trust and integrity in their electoral processes.

India’s nationalised (centralised, federalised, state-run, government-owned; state-owned, government-controlled, publicly owned, national) election administration (the process or activity of running an organisation, system, or election; management, governance, direction, operation) system has largely (to a great extent; on the whole; mostly, mainly, chiefly, predominantly) worked well, though (despite the fact that; although, even though, notwithstanding that, albeit) it now faces (to confront or deal with a difficult situation or crisis; encounter, experience, confront, tackle) a crisis of legitimacy (validity, credibility, authority, acceptability). The U.S.’s decentralised (having power, authority, or administration distributed away from a central authority to local entities; distributed, devolved, regionalised, delegated) system leaves (result in, generate, produce, cause) too many loopholes (an ambiguity, gap, or inadequacy; flaw, gap, vulnerability, inconsistency) in the process of enrolment and voting, and it could benefit from a more robust national framework like the ECI’s. The expanded Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act was passed in February and is pending in the Senate (the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which, along with the House of Representatives, comprises the federal legislative branch of the U.S. government). The Constitution (the fundamental law of the United States, establishing the framework of the federal government and outlining the relationship between the federal government, states, and citizens) grants (to officially or legally give a right, power, or authority; bestow, confer, accord, provide) each State its own methods: “...but Congress (the bicameral national legislature of the federal government of the United States, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives) may at any time (whenever, anytime, unrestrictedly, freely) by law make or alter such regulations (rule, law, directive, mandate)”, unlike (different from or not similar to; in contrast to, as opposed to, differing from, distinct from) the Indian Constitution (the supreme law of India, adopted on 26 November 1949 and effective from 26 January 1950, which establishes the foundational framework for political principles, procedures, rights, and duties in the country), which establishes (create, form, institute, found) the ECI as a constitutional body (an institution or commission created directly by the Constitution of a country, deriving its powers and mandate independently from the constitutional text rather than statutory legislation). Though there is no ambiguity (inexactness, vagueness, obscurity, uncertainty) in existing (current, present, prevailing, standing) law either in the U.S. or in India that only citizens may register and vote, the process of ensuring this has become hugely controversial (contentious, disputed, debatable, polemical) in both countries. The proposed federal law (legislation created by the national government, applying across all states or territories within a federation; national legislation, central law, federal statute, federal act) would require proof of citizenship (legal documentation or evidence that verifies a person is a recognised citizen of a country; evidence of nationality, citizenship document, citizenship verification) for voter registration and photo ID for voting. In India, the SIR is trying to sneak in (to introduce or insert something secretly, quietly, or without drawing attention; slip in, smuggle in, insert stealthily, introduce secretly) this requirement (condition, prerequisite, stipulation, demand) without transparency (openness, clarity, accountability, straightforwardness), adequate (sufficient, enough, ample, requisite) consultation (discussion, dialogue, deliberation, conferring) or sufficient time. The very fact that SIR is meant to be conducted only once in 20 years means it should be carried out carefully and inclusively. While ruling dispensations in both countries think that the election process is too permissive (lenient, liberal, tolerant, lax) and allows foreigners to obtain voting rights, their opponents (rival, adversary, antagonist, challenger) point to (indicate, suggest, denote, signal) systematic (methodical, structured, organised, orderly) and premeditated (thought out, planned, or decided beforehand; calculated, deliberate, intentional, planned) efforts to target social groups (to deliberately direct actions, pressure, or scrutiny towards particular sections of society (particularly minorities); single out, focus on, target, discriminate against) in the name of (on behalf of, for the sake of, under the guise of, under the pretext of) election integrity. What is needed is an acceptance (acknowledgment, recognition, admission, concession) that clean electoral rolls of citizens, and voting with photo ID, are elementary (fundamental, basic, essential, primary) requirements of a fair process. In both countries, the state must not selectively (in a way that involves choosing certain people or things while excluding others; discriminately, preferentially, partially) weaponise these requirements against those not in power (holding political control, office, or administrative authority; ruling, commanding, governing, in office).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.must (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अनिवार्यता
English Meaning - necessity, essential, requirement, prerequisite.

2.appreciation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सराहना, प्रशंसा
English Meaning - acknowledgment, recognition, admiration, praise.

3.clean (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्वच्छ, त्रुटिरहित
English Meaning - free from irregularities, errors, or corrupt practices; accurate, flawless, unblemished, pure.

4.electoral roll (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मतदाता सूची, निर्वाचन सूची
English Meaning - voter list, voting register, electorate list, poll book.

5.fair (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - निष्पक्ष, न्यायसंगत
English Meaning - just, equitable, impartial, unbiased.

6.divisive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विभाजनकारी
English Meaning - alienating, polarising, controversial, discordant.

7.debate (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बहस, चर्चा
English Meaning - argument, discussion, dispute, deliberation.

8.integrity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - ईमानदारी, निष्पक्षता
English Meaning - honesty, probity, fairness, reliability.

9.election integrity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चुनावी निष्पक्षता
English Meaning - the principle and practice of ensuring that elections are free, fair, transparent, and accurately reflect the will of the voters; electoral fairness, poll fairness, voting legitimacy, ballot security.

10.democracy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लोकतंत्र, जनतंत्र
English Meaning - a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives; self-government, republic, popular government.

11.push for (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - जोर देना, मांग करना
English Meaning - demand, advocate, campaign for, insist on.

12.Special Intensive Revision (SIR) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विशेष गहन पुनरीक्षण
English Meaning - a comprehensive exercise of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to verify and update electoral rolls, with the objective that no eligible citizen is left out and no ineligible person is included.

13.fragmented (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - खंडित, बंटा हुआ
English Meaning - divided, disjointed, fractured, disconnected.

14.concern (noun)

Hindi Meaning - चिंता, आशंका
English Meaning - worry, anxiety, apprehension, unease.

15.disagree (verb)

Hindi Meaning - असहमत होना, मतभेद रखना
English Meaning - differ, dissent, oppose, dispute, argue, clash, conflict.

16.vote of trust (phrase)

English Meaning - an expression of confidence, backing, or approval given to a person, system, or institution; endorsement, approval, validation, backing.

17.federalised (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a system in which power and decision-making are distributed among constituent regional units rather than being centrally controlled; decentralised, distributed, regionalised, divided.

18.SIR-like exercise (noun)

English Meaning - an activity resembling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a large-scale voter verification and electoral roll revision process undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

19.transparent (adjective)

English Meaning - accountable, straightforward, clear, open.

20.agreement (noun)

English Meaning - consensus, accord, harmony, unanimity.

21.repeatedly (adverb)

English Meaning - over and over again; consistently, frequently, continuously, persistently.

22.liberal (adjective)

English Meaning - progressive in political and social views, often favouring social reform and individual liberties; progressive, broad-minded, reformist, forward-looking.

23.progressive (adjective)

English Meaning - favouring or implementing new ideas, social reform, or modern methods; modern, reform-minded, radical, avant-garde.

24.strand (noun)

English Meaning - faction, element, section; tendency, school of thought, or component.

25.conservative (adjective)

English Meaning - averse to sudden change or innovation, typically holding traditional values and supporting established institutions; traditionalist, right-wing, orthodox, conventional.

26.nativist (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the political policy or ideology of promoting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants; protectionist, isolationist, xenophobic, nationalist.

27.purify (verb)

English Meaning - cleanse, refine, sanitise, purge.

28.streamline (verb)

English Meaning - simplify, rationalise, optimise, reorganise.

29.often (adverb)

English Meaning - regularly, frequently, repeatedly, habitually.

30.contradictory (adjective)

English Meaning - conflicting, opposed, incompatible, contrasting.

31.restore (verb)

English Meaning - re-establish, bring back, reinstate, repair.

32.nationalised (adjective)

English Meaning - centralised, federalised, state-run, government-owned; state-owned, government-controlled, publicly owned, national.

33.administration (noun)

English Meaning - the process or activity of running an organisation, system, or election; management, governance, direction, operation.

34.largely (adverb)

English Meaning - to a great extent; on the whole; mostly, mainly, chiefly, predominantly.

35.though (conjunction)

English Meaning - despite the fact that; although, even though, notwithstanding that, albeit.

36.face (verb)

English Meaning - to confront or deal with a difficult situation or crisis; encounter, experience, confront, tackle.

37.legitimacy (noun)

English Meaning - validity, credibility, authority, acceptability.

38.decentralised (adjective)

English Meaning - having power, authority, or administration distributed away from a central authority to local entities; distributed, devolved, regionalised, delegated.

39.leave (verb)

English Meaning - result in, generate, produce, cause.

40.loophole (noun)

English Meaning - an ambiguity, gap, or inadequacy; flaw, gap, vulnerability, inconsistency.

41.Senate (noun)

English Meaning - the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which, along with the House of Representatives, comprises the federal legislative branch of the U.S. government.

42.Constitution (noun)

English Meaning - the fundamental law of the United States, establishing the framework of the federal government and outlining the relationship between the federal government, states, and citizens.

43.grant (verb)

English Meaning - to officially or legally give a right, power, or authority; bestow, confer, accord, provide.

44.Congress (noun)

English Meaning - the bicameral national legislature of the federal government of the United States, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

45.at any time (phrase)

English Meaning - whenever, anytime, unrestrictedly, freely.

46.regulation (noun)

English Meaning - rule, law, directive, mandate.

47.unlike (preposition)

English Meaning - different from or not similar to; in contrast to, as opposed to, differing from, distinct from.

48.Indian Constitution (noun)

English Meaning - the supreme law of India, adopted on 26 November 1949 and effective from 26 January 1950, which establishes the foundational framework for political principles, procedures, rights, and duties in the country.

49.establish (verb)

English Meaning - create, form, institute, found.

50.constitutional body (noun)

English Meaning - an institution or commission created directly by the Constitution of a country, deriving its powers and mandate independently from the constitutional text rather than statutory legislation.

51.ambiguity (noun)

English Meaning - inexactness, vagueness, obscurity, uncertainty.

52.existing (adjective)

English Meaning - current, present, prevailing, standing.

53.controversial (adjective)

English Meaning - contentious, disputed, debatable, polemical.

54.federal law (noun)

English Meaning - legislation created by the national government, applying across all states or territories within a federation; national legislation, central law, federal statute, federal act.

55.proof of citizenship (noun)

English Meaning - legal documentation or evidence that verifies a person is a recognised citizen of a country; evidence of nationality, citizenship document, citizenship verification.

56.sneak in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to introduce or insert something secretly, quietly, or without drawing attention; slip in, smuggle in, insert stealthily, introduce secretly.

57.requirement (noun)

English Meaning - condition, prerequisite, stipulation, demand.

58.transparency (noun)

English Meaning - openness, clarity, accountability, straightforwardness.

59.adequate (adjective)

English Meaning - sufficient, enough, ample, requisite.

60.consultation (noun)

English Meaning - discussion, dialogue, deliberation, conferring.

61.permissive (adjective)

English Meaning - lenient, liberal, tolerant, lax.

62.opponent (noun)

English Meaning - rival, adversary, antagonist, challenger.

63.point to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - indicate, suggest, denote, signal.

64.systematic (adjective)

English Meaning - methodical, structured, organised, orderly.

65.premeditated (adjective)

English Meaning - thought out, planned, or decided beforehand; calculated, deliberate, intentional, planned.

66.target social groups (verb phrase)

English Meaning - to deliberately direct actions, pressure, or scrutiny towards particular sections of society (particularly minorities); single out, focus on, target, discriminate against.

67.in the name of (phrase)

English Meaning - on behalf of, for the sake of, under the guise of, under the pretext of.

68.acceptance (noun)

English Meaning - acknowledgment, recognition, admission, concession.

69.elementary (adjective)

English Meaning - fundamental, basic, essential, primary.

70.selectively (adverb)

English Meaning - in a way that involves choosing certain people or things while excluding others; discriminately, preferentially, partially.

71.in power (phrase)

English Meaning - holding political control, office, or administrative authority; ruling, commanding, governing, in office.