Case for consensus: On delimitation

Case for consensus: On delimitation

The government needs to build a consensus (सर्वसम्मति) on delimitation (परिसीमन, सीमा-निर्धारण)

The monsoon session (मानसून सत्र) of Parliament is in its last week without any substantive (महत्वपूर्ण, सार्थक) deliberations (विचार-विमर्श) or legislative (विधायी, कानून बनाने संबंधी) outcomes (परिणाम, नतीजा). There may be several reasons for the stalemate (गतिरोध), but at its core (fundamentally, essentially, basically, intrinsically) are the controversial (विवादास्पद, विवादित) FCRA amendments and the opacity (अपारदर्शिता, अस्पष्टता) around the government’s delimitation proposals (परिसीमन प्रस्ताव). Overall, it is as if (मानो, जैसे कि) the government views Parliament as an obstacle (बाधा, अड़चन) to be circumvented (दरकिनार करना) rather than (के बजाय, की अपेक्षा) a forum (assembly, gathering, meeting place, platform) for deliberation and consensus-building (the process of working toward achieving general agreement within a group; agreement-seeking, mediation, peacemaking, conciliation) on national issues. That is the attitude (viewpoint, mindset, perspective, stance) that offers no resolution (solution, settlement, conclusion, remedy) to any question, while it may create winners and losers on some. But in the absence of (without or lacking a particular thing; without, lacking, missing, minus) good-faith (honest, sincere, genuine, truthful) conversations (discussion, dialogue, talk) and consensus, what may appear (to seem or give the impression of being a certain way; seem, look) to be a victory for the government or the Opposition at one moment (at a particular point in time; briefly, momentarily, temporarily, passingly) could turn out (transpire, emerge, result, conclude) to be a net (overall, final, total, ultimate) loss for parliamentary democracy (a system of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislative parliament to make the necessary laws and decisions for the country; representative government, elected government) and the nation. A parliamentary majority is a necessary technicality, but democracy (a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state; self-government, representative government, republic, popular rule) is not limited to that. The effort must always be to expand consensus and reduce conflict (dispute, quarrel, squabble, disagreement) across the spectrum (a wide range of different positions, opinions, or things; range, scale, gamut, sweep) of opinion on any given (specified or stated; specified, stated, particular, specific) issue. India, being as diverse (varied, different, distinct, assorted) as it is, naturally has multiple views, not only between the government and the Opposition but also within each side. Unfortunately (unluckily, sadly, regrettably, alas), expressing and reconciling (to restore friendly relations between or find a mutually acceptable solution; harmonize, settle, resolve, square) those opinions is given far less (much smaller in amount or degree; lesser, fewer, diminished, reduced) priority than marshalling (to arrange or assemble a group of people, especially in order to achieve a particular objective; gather, assemble, collect, muster) the numbers to support any given move.

The impact of the forthcoming (expected to happen, appear, or be available soon; upcoming, impending, approaching, imminent) delimitation is going to be far-reaching; (having important and widely applicable effects or implications; extensive, widespread, sweeping, consequential) it must be preceded (to come before something in time, order, or position; go before, preface, herald, anticipate) by as wide (broad, extensive, expansive, comprehensive) a consensus as possible. The country’s representative system (a political system in which citizens elect individuals to represent their interests; representative democracy, parliamentary system) is on the cusp of (at the point when something is about to change to something else; on the verge of, on the brink of, on the edge of, close to) a revision, but the government that is anxious (eager, keen, impatient, desirous) to modify its timeline (schedule, timetable, program, agenda) and terms (conditions, stipulations, provisions, parameters) also wants to be extremely secretive (uncommunicative, tight-lipped, reticent, covert) about it. Passing legislation (laws considered collectively or the process of making laws; lawmaking, statutes, laws, acts) with very little (minimal, slight, nominal, negligible) prior (previous, earlier, preceding, advance) deliberation or parliamentary debate (formal discussion in a legislative body; legislative discussion, parliamentary discussion, house debate) has become routine in recent years. Delimitation is a topic about which there is a great deal (a large amount or quantity; abundance, multitude, plethora, plenty) of misunderstanding (misconception, misinterpretation, misapprehension, confusion) and serious concern (worry, anxiety, apprehension, unease). A large segment (a portion or part of something; part, section, portion, fraction) of even the political class (the group of people actively involved in politics, typically as a profession; politicians, political leaders) may be oblivious (unaware, ignorant, blind, unmindful) to its scope (extent, range, breadth, reach) and implications (consequence, ramification, repercussion, effect). Rather than trying to change the laws regarding (in respect of or concerning; concerning, about, respecting, as regards) delimitation and the size of the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament, officially known as the House of the People, where members are elected by adult universal suffrage; House of the People, lower house) by somehow aggregating (to form or group into a class or cluster; collect, gather, amass, accumulate) the required number of votes behind it, the government should circulate (distribute, pass around, disseminate, spread) its proposals and receive feedback from all stakeholders (a person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business or policy; invested party, interested party, participant, contributor). An all-party meeting, as demanded by the Opposition, can be a good start to the deliberations that should take place in the polity (a form or process of civil government or constitution; society, state, nation, community) at large (as a whole or in general; broadly, generally, comprehensively, universally) and inside Parliament. Anything that is technically legitimised (to make something acceptable, legal, or regular; validate, authorize, sanction, permit) through subterfuge (deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal; trickery, deception, deceit, evasion) will be seen by the public as such (strictly, exactly, essentially, inherently). It must be recalled (remember, recollect, call to mind, reminisce) that in 1976 and in 2001, under a Congress government and a BJP government, respectively, decisions with regard to (as concerns or in respect of; concerning, regarding, respecting, considering) delimitation were taken unanimously (without opposition or with the agreement of all people involved; collectively, universally, cooperatively, harmoniously). The government and the BJP should once again take the initiative ((first) step, action, move, lead) to build a consensus on delimitation for the sake of (in the interest of, to the advantage of, for the benefit of, for the good of) the nation’s unity and progress.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.outcome (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिणाम, नतीजा
English Meaning - result, consequence, conclusion, aftermath.

2.consensus (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सर्वसम्मति
English Meaning - a general agreement among a group of people; agreement, harmony, accord, unanimity.

3.delimitation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिसीमन, सीमा-निर्धारण
English Meaning - the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country; boundary-setting, demarcation.

4.monsoon session (noun)

Hindi Meaning - मानसून सत्र
English Meaning - the regular sitting of the Indian legislature held between July and September to deliberate on national issues and pass legislation; monsoon sitting.

5.substantive (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - महत्वपूर्ण, सार्थक
English Meaning - significant, substantial, meaningful, essential.

6.deliberation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विचार-विमर्श
English Meaning - long and careful consideration or discussion; discussion, consideration, thought, reflection.

7.legislative (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विधायी, कानून बनाने संबंधी
English Meaning - having the power to make laws; law-making, parliamentary, policy-making.

8.rather than (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - के बजाय, की अपेक्षा
English Meaning - instead of, as an alternative to; as opposed to, unlike, in place of.

9.stalemate (noun)

Hindi Meaning - गतिरोध
English Meaning - deadlock, impasse, standstill, dead end.

10.controversial (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विवादास्पद, विवादित
English Meaning - contentious, disputed, debatable, hot-button.

11.opacity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अपारदर्शिता, अस्पष्टता
English Meaning - non-transparency, obscurity, unclarity, ambiguity.

12.delimitation proposal (noun)

Hindi Meaning - परिसीमन प्रस्ताव
English Meaning - a suggested plan for redrawing the boundaries of legislative constituencies.

13.as if (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - मानो, जैसे कि
English Meaning - as would be the case if; as though, like, supposedly, ostensibly.

14.obstacle (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बाधा, अड़चन
English Meaning - hurdle, barrier, hindrance, impediment.

15.circumvent (verb)

Hindi Meaning - दरकिनार करना
English Meaning - bypass, evade, dodge, sidestep.

16.at its core (phrase)

English Meaning - fundamentally, essentially, basically, intrinsically.

17.case (noun)

English Meaning - argument, justification, rationale, defense.

18.FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026 (noun)

English Meaning - the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026; newly notified regulatory guidelines by the Union government that introduce stricter compliance frameworks, separate fee structures, mandatory social media disclosures, and specific geographical and operational boundaries for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) utilizing foreign funds in India.

19.forum (noun)

English Meaning - assembly, gathering, meeting place, platform.

20.consensus-building (noun)

English Meaning - the process of working toward achieving general agreement within a group; agreement-seeking, mediation, peacemaking, conciliation.

21.attitude (noun)

English Meaning - viewpoint, mindset, perspective, stance.

22.resolution (noun)

English Meaning - solution, settlement, conclusion, remedy.

23.in the absence of (phrase)

English Meaning - without or lacking a particular thing; without, lacking, missing, minus.

24.good-faith (adjective)

English Meaning - honest, sincere, genuine, truthful.

25.conversation (noun)

English Meaning - discussion, dialogue, talk.

26.appear (verb)

English Meaning - to seem or give the impression of being a certain way; seem, look.

27.at one moment (phrase)

English Meaning - at a particular point in time; briefly, momentarily, temporarily, passingly.

28.turn out (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - transpire, emerge, result, conclude.

29.net (adjective)

English Meaning - overall, final, total, ultimate.

30.parliamentary democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislative parliament to make the necessary laws and decisions for the country; representative government, elected government.

31.democracy (noun)

English Meaning - a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state; self-government, representative government, republic, popular rule.

32.conflict (noun)

English Meaning - dispute, quarrel, squabble, disagreement.

33.spectrum (noun)

English Meaning - a wide range of different positions, opinions, or things; range, scale, gamut, sweep.

34.given (adjective)

English Meaning - specified or stated; specified, stated, particular, specific.

35.diverse (adjective)

English Meaning - varied, different, distinct, assorted.

36.unfortunately (adverb)

English Meaning - unluckily, sadly, regrettably, alas.

37.reconcile (verb)

English Meaning - to restore friendly relations between or find a mutually acceptable solution; harmonize, settle, resolve, square.

38.far less (phrase)

English Meaning - much smaller in amount or degree; lesser, fewer, diminished, reduced.

39.marshal (verb)

English Meaning - to arrange or assemble a group of people, especially in order to achieve a particular objective; gather, assemble, collect, muster.

40.forthcoming (adjective)

English Meaning - expected to happen, appear, or be available soon; upcoming, impending, approaching, imminent.

41.far-reaching (adjective)

English Meaning - having important and widely applicable effects or implications; extensive, widespread, sweeping, consequential.

42.precede (verb)

English Meaning - to come before something in time, order, or position; go before, preface, herald, anticipate.

43.wide (adjective)

English Meaning - broad, extensive, expansive, comprehensive.

44.representative system (noun)

English Meaning - a political system in which citizens elect individuals to represent their interests; representative democracy, parliamentary system.

45.on the cusp of (phrase)

English Meaning - at the point when something is about to change to something else; on the verge of, on the brink of, on the edge of, close to.

46.anxious (adjective)

English Meaning - eager, keen, impatient, desirous.

47.timeline (noun)

English Meaning - schedule, timetable, program, agenda.

48.terms (noun)

English Meaning - conditions, stipulations, provisions, parameters.

49.secretive (adjective)

English Meaning - uncommunicative, tight-lipped, reticent, covert.

50.legislation (noun)

English Meaning - laws considered collectively or the process of making laws; lawmaking, statutes, laws, acts.

51.very little (phrase)

English Meaning - minimal, slight, nominal, negligible.

52.prior (adjective)

English Meaning - previous, earlier, preceding, advance.

53.parliamentary debate (noun)

English Meaning - formal discussion in a legislative body; legislative discussion, parliamentary discussion, house debate.

54.great deal (phrase)

English Meaning - a large amount or quantity; abundance, multitude, plethora, plenty.

55.misunderstanding (noun)

English Meaning - misconception, misinterpretation, misapprehension, confusion.

56.concern (noun)

English Meaning - worry, anxiety, apprehension, unease.

57.segment (noun)

English Meaning - a portion or part of something; part, section, portion, fraction.

58.political class (noun)

English Meaning - the group of people actively involved in politics, typically as a profession; politicians, political leaders.

59.oblivious (adjective)

English Meaning - unaware, ignorant, blind, unmindful.

60.scope (noun)

English Meaning - extent, range, breadth, reach.

61.implication (noun)

English Meaning - consequence, ramification, repercussion, effect.

62.regarding (preposition)

English Meaning - in respect of or concerning; concerning, about, respecting, as regards.

63.Lok Sabha (noun)

English Meaning - the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament, officially known as the House of the People, where members are elected by adult universal suffrage; House of the People, lower house.

64.aggregate (verb)

English Meaning - to form or group into a class or cluster; collect, gather, amass, accumulate.

65.circulate (verb)

English Meaning - distribute, pass around, disseminate, spread.

66.stakeholder (noun)

English Meaning - a person with an interest or concern in something, especially a business or policy; invested party, interested party, participant, contributor.

67.polity (noun)

English Meaning - a form or process of civil government or constitution; society, state, nation, community.

68.at large (phrase)

English Meaning - as a whole or in general; broadly, generally, comprehensively, universally.

69.legitimise (verb)

English Meaning - to make something acceptable, legal, or regular; validate, authorize, sanction, permit.

70.subterfuge (noun)

English Meaning - deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal; trickery, deception, deceit, evasion.

71.as such (phrase)

English Meaning - strictly, exactly, essentially, inherently.

72.recall (verb)

English Meaning - remember, recollect, call to mind, reminisce.

73.with regard to (phrase)

English Meaning - as concerns or in respect of; concerning, regarding, respecting, considering.

74.unanimously (adverb)

English Meaning - without opposition or with the agreement of all people involved; collectively, universally, cooperatively, harmoniously.

75.initiative (noun)

English Meaning - (first) step, action, move, lead.

76.for the sake of (phrase)

English Meaning - in the interest of, to the advantage of, for the benefit of, for the good of.