Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Side-stepping irritants: On India-U.K. ties

Side-stepping irritants: On India-U.K. ties

India and the U.K. chose to keep the big picture (broad overview; wide perspective) in mind and work on long-term goals

After two last-minute cancellations due to waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (वैश्विक महामारी) in early 2021, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in Delhi last week, committing to more cooperation with India on trade, defence, combating (सामना करना, खड़ा होना, विरोध करना) climate change (जलवायु परिवर्तन) and cyber security (साइबर सुरक्षा). But it was a visit surprisingly short on actual agreements. While an early harvest agreement (जल्दी फसल समझौता) on trade had to be shelved (postpone, put off, delay, defer, reschedule) — the plan was to announce it by Easter (April) this year — Mr. Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they have pushed a deadline to complete the full FTA by October-end or Deepavali, with a view to doubling (दोहरा, दुगना वृद्धि) bilateral (द्विपक्षीय, दुतरफा) trade by 2030. It is not clear whether the respective trade delegations (व्यापार प्रतिनिधिमंडल) are on track (on course, on schedule, on target) for the final agreement, but Mr. Johnson sounded (appear, look, seem) optimistic (आशावादी, अनुकूल, उत्साहजनक), with India fast-tracking (increase or step up the progress of a project) its FTAs with the UAE and Australia. Of concern (चिंता का) to the U.K. is the lifting (उठाना, हटाना, रद्द करना) of Indian tariffs on Scotch whisky, which might make some headway, as India has accepted lower tariffs on Australian wine and the U.K. seems more flexible (लचीला, मिलनसार, अनुकूलनीय) in increasing visas to Indian professionals. Both Prime Ministers discussed strengthening defence ties (संबंध, बंधन) and cooperating strategically (in a way that is designed/planned to serve a particular purpose) in the Indo-Pacific (the Indo-Pacific region refers to the confluence (convergence) of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which interconnect in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and more)). The two leaders also discussed green technology (it is also known as clean technology/sustainable technology; it is the application of one or more of environmental technologies to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement) transfers and international climate finance (it refers to local, national or transnational financing-drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing-that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change), although India has yet to commit in writing to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change) that Mr. Modi had described at COP26 in Glasgow.

Mr. Johnson did tread (proceed; go, walk) lightly (softly, gently, delicately) on issues that the Modi government is sensitive about, such as Ukraine and human rights violations. He referred to India’s long-standing (persistent, continuing (for a long time); permanent, long-lasting, enduring, long-term) relationship with Russia, expressing understanding of India’s position, in stark (sheer, utter, complete, absolute, total, outright) contrast to the visit of his Foreign Minister two weeks ago. He brushed aside (disregard, ignore, dismiss, shrug off, pass over, put aside) a question on human rights concerns in India, despite facing criticism over posing with a bulldozer while inaugurating a factory on the same day the Supreme Court of India was deliberating (think about, think over, ponder, consider, contemplate, reflect on, meditate on, ruminate on, mull over, chew over, turn over in one’s mind, give thought to,) over the Government’s controversial new policy of using bulldozers to demolish shops and homes. A sub-group is to be set up (establish, create, start, begin, initiate, institute) to study “extremism (radicalism, fanaticism, dogmatism)” inside India and the U.K., which Mr. Johnson suggested would be used to monitor Khalistani (people who are related/connected to the Khalistan movement (a Sikh separatist movement) seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, called Khālistān (‘Land of the Khalsa’), in the Punjab region) groups (as New Delhi desires), but has a broader mandate (authority, approval, acceptance, ratification, endorsement; instruction, directive, direction, decree, command, order) to counter all groups and individuals “seeking (try, attempt, aim) to incite (provoke, agitate, instigate) violent extremism and terrorism”. In return, New Delhi chose not to press the point too hard on why economic fugitives (a person who has escaped from being confined or imprisoned) (Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi) have still not been extradited (to surrender a fugitive (a person who has escaped from being confined/accused of crime) from one (country’s) jurisdiction to another by mutual agreements between the two countries; hand over, deport, banish/expel). However, while side-stepping (avoid, circumvent, find a way round, bypass, evade, dodge (something problematic)) irritants (something that causes irritation; source of irritation, source of vexation, source of annoyance)  in the relationship can increase the prospects (chances, possibilities, expectations, outlook, future) for agreements, it cannot replace the actual work and elbow-grease (hard work, work, labour, toil, exertion, effort) needed to give ties some momentum after years of stasis (inactivity, sluggishness, idleness/dullness). Both New Delhi and London must ensure more concerted (involving a lot of people coming together & doing something with great effort; strenuous, vigorous, energetic, determined, active, intense; coordinated, collaborative, collective, combined, joint) efforts to bring those agreements to a finale (the last part of something (an event)) in the near future (soon, shortly), to reach their ambitious (formidable, difficult, challenging, demanding) goals under “Roadmap (plan/strategy to do something successfully) 2030” agreed to at the last summit (meeting, conference, conclave) in 2021.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.ties (noun)

Hindi Meaning - संबंध, बंधन
English Meaning - association, relationship, bond, connection.

2.pandemic (noun)

Hindi Meaning - वैश्विक महामारी
English Meaning - the worldwide spread of a new disease; The illness spreads around the world and typically affects a large number of people across a wide area.

3.combat (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सामना करना, खड़ा होना, विरोध करना
English Meaning - tackle, withstand, stand up to, confront, counter.

4.climate change (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जलवायु परिवर्तन
English Meaning - a long-term change in the Earth’s climate, or of a region on Earth (Courtesy: NASA).

5.cybersecurity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - साइबर सुरक्षा
English Meaning - the protection of internet-connected systems, including hardware, software, and data from cyber attacks.

6.early harvest agreement (EHA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - जल्दी फसल समझौता
English Meaning - An interim or early harvest trade agreement is used to liberalise tariffs on the trade of certain goods between two countries or trading blocs before a comprehensive FTA (Free Trade Agreement) is concluded (or) Early harvest agreements are used to open up bilateral trade between two countries on a restricted list of goods and services, primarily as a frontrunner to clinching a more comprehensive FTA.

7.free trade agreement (FTA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निःशुल्क व्यापार समझौता, मुक्त व्यापार समझौते
English Meaning - an agreement between two or more countries designed to reduce or eliminate certain barriers to trade and investment, and to facilitate stronger trade and commercial ties between participating countries.

8.double (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दोहरा, दुगना वृद्धि
English Meaning - increase twofold.

9.bilateral (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - द्विपक्षीय, दुतरफा
English Meaning - involving two groups or countries.

10.delegation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिनिधि मंडल
English Meaning - a group of officials/representatives.

11.trade delegation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - व्यापार प्रतिनिधिमंडल
English Meaning - a group of government officials and company executives from a particular country that visits another country to meet similar people in order to discuss about trade & other related things.

12.optimistic (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - आशावादी, अनुकूल, उत्साहजनक
English Meaning - reassuring, favourable, encouraging, promising, hopeful.

13.of concern (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - चिंता का
English Meaning - If something is of concern to someone, they find it upsetting/worrying & unsatisfactory.

14.lifting (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उठाना, हटाना, रद्द करना
English Meaning - removal, cancellation.

15.flexible (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - लचीला, मिलनसार, अनुकूलनीय
English Meaning - accommodating, adaptable, amenable, willing to compromise, cooperative, tolerant.

16.strategically (adverb)

English Meaning - in a way that is designed/planned to serve a particular purpose.

17.side-step (verb)

English Meaning - avoid, circumvent, find a way round, bypass, evade, dodge (something problematic).

18.irritant (noun)

English Meaning - something that causes irritation; source of irritation, source of vexation, source of annoyance.

19.bear/keep something in mind (phrase)

English Meaning - take into account, remember, consider, heed, take into consideration.

20.big picture (noun)

English Meaning - broad overview; wide perspective.

21.short on something (phrase)

English Meaning - to have less of something than you should have.

22.shelve (verb)

English Meaning - postpone, put off, delay, defer, reschedule.

23.on track (phrase)

English Meaning - on course, on schedule, on target.

24.sound (verb)

English Meaning - appear, look, seem.

25.fast-track (verb)

English Meaning - increase or step up the progress of a project.

26.make headway (phrase)

English Meaning - make progress, gain ground, progress, advance.

27.The Indo-Pacific (region) (noun)

English Meaning - the Indo-Pacific region refers to the confluence (convergence) of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which interconnect in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and more).

28.green technology (noun)

English Meaning - it is also known as clean technology/sustainable technology; it is the application of one or more of environmental technologies to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement.

29.technology transfer (TT) (noun)

English Meaning - transfer of technology (ToT) or teach transfer; a process in which technology or knowledge developed at one organization is transferred to another, typically for the purpose of commercialization. Technology transfer can be accomplished through a variety of methods including licenses to use protected intellectual property, and may also include exchange of know-how and materials.

30.climate finance (noun)

English Meaning - it refers to local, national or transnational financing-drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing-that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.

31.Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) (noun)

English Meaning - NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

32.26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) (noun)

English Meaning - The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is expected to take place from 01-12 November 2021, in Glasgow, UK. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

33.tread (verb)

English Meaning - proceed; go, walk.

34.lightly (adverb)

English Meaning - softly, gently, delicately.

35.tread lightly (phrase)

English Meaning - proceed delicately/carefully.

36.long-standing (adjective)

English Meaning - persistent, continuing (for a long time); permanent, long-lasting, enduring, long-term.

37.stark (adjective)

English Meaning - sheer, utter, complete, absolute, total, outright.

38.brush aside (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - disregard, ignore, dismiss, shrug off, pass over, put aside.

39.deliberate (verb)

English Meaning - think about, think over, ponder, consider, contemplate, reflect on, meditate on, ruminate on, mull over, chew over, turn over in one’s mind, give thought to,

40.set up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - establish, create, start, begin, initiate, institute.

41.extremism (noun)

English Meaning - radicalism, fanaticism, dogmatism.

42.Khalistanis (noun)

English Meaning - people who are related/connected to the Khalistan movement (a Sikh separatist movement) seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign state, called Khālistān (‘Land of the Khalsa’), in the Punjab region.

43.mandate (noun)

English Meaning - authority, approval, acceptance, ratification, endorsement; instruction, directive, direction, decree, command, order.

44.seek (verb)

English Meaning - try, attempt, aim.

45.incite (verb)

English Meaning - provoke, agitate, instigate.

46.press on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to continue doing something.

47.fugitive (noun)

English Meaning - a person who has escaped from being confined or imprisoned.

48.extradite (verb)

English Meaning - to surrender a fugitive (a person who has escaped from being confined/accused of crime) from one (country’s) jurisdiction to another by mutual agreements between the two countries; hand over, deport, banish/expel.

49.prospects (noun)

English Meaning - chances, possibilities, expectations, outlook, future.

50.elbow-grease (noun)

English Meaning - hard work, work, labour, toil, exertion, effort.

51.stasis (noun)

English Meaning - inactivity, sluggishness, idleness/dullness.

52.concerted (adjective)

English Meaning - involving a lot of people coming together & doing something with great effort; strenuous, vigorous, energetic, determined, active, intense; coordinated, collaborative, collective, combined, joint.

53.finale (noun)

English Meaning - the last part of something (an event).

54.in the near future (phrase)

English Meaning - soon, shortly.

55.ambitious (adjective)

English Meaning - formidable, difficult, challenging, demanding.

56.roadmap (noun)

English Meaning - plan/strategy to do something successfully.

57.summit (noun)

English Meaning - meeting, conference, conclave.