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Maturing approach: On the India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade

Agreement
India needs to use market access in the U.K. to raise its market share

The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) reflects New Delhi’s more
mature approach to free trade negotiations. Unlike its 2009 free trade agreement (FTA) with ASEAN,
which tilted the trade balance against India, New Delhi has approached the U.K. pact by attempting to
balance liberalisation with domestic sensitivities amid an increasingly fragmented global trading
system. A similar shift was evident in the New Zealand FTA, where India succeeded in protecting its
sensitive dairy sector despite dairy products being one of New Zealand’s biggest exports. While the
India-U.K. CETA is expected to strengthen India’s export competitiveness, its benefits are likely to be
uneven across sectors and could place competitive pressure on already cost-disadvantaged MSMEs.
The pact, an attempt to secure long-term market access and integrate India further into global value
chains, offers zero-duty access on 99% of India’s exports, covering almost the entire value of bilateral
trade. However, smaller firms often lack the documentation and compliance capacity needed to claim
these benefits. Despite the deal including some agreements on non-tariff aspects, MSMEs may find it
difficult to comply with the U.K.’s stringent sanitary, phytosanitary, technical and sustainability
standards, which could prove a bigger hurdle than tariffs. Globally, such agreements have accelerated
export diversification, attracted investment and facilitated technology transfer, but only when
supported by robust industrial ecosystems and competitive firms.

India has historically underutilised several trade agreements because of low awareness, cumbersome
administration and high compliance costs. The trade deficit with ASEAN widened from about $10
billion in 2017 to nearly $44 billion in 2023. Similarly, the U.K. agreement’s benefits may remain below
expectations unless India strengthens regulatory administration, intellectual property protection and
dispute resolution. Although the U.K. accounts for only about 3% of India’s merchandise exports and
around 1% of its imports, the U.K. pact expands India’s access to a hig h-income market where it
enjoys a merchandise trade surplus. However, this advantage could narrow if imports of the U.K.’s
relatively price-inelastic exports, such as luxury vehicles, grow faster than India’s largely labour-
intensive, price-sensitive exports. The Double Contribution Convention benefits Indian IT and
professional services firms, but its economy-wide benefits may remain modest. The pact also faced a
hurdle over the U.K.’s steel safeguard quotas before implementation, underlining how non-tariff
measures can dilute market access. India’s carbon-intensive exports could face challenges as climate-
related trade regulations become more stringent. Ultimately, CETA’s success lies in turning market
access into market share. [Practice Exercise]

 Red/blue coloring of words in the sentence indicates subject verb relationship; where ‘red’
denotes ‘subject’ and ‘blue’ denotes ‘verb’.

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Vocabulary
1. Reflect (verb) - show, indicate, 13. Competitiveness (noun) - rivalry, capability
demonstrate, reveal, mirror. to compete, market strength,
2. Mature (adjective) - developed, contestability.
experienced, seasoned, advanced, adult. 14. Likely (adjective) - probable, expected,
plausible, prospective, liable.
3. Negotiation (noun) - discussion, dialogue, 15. Uneven (adjective) - unequal, irregular,
talk, bargaining, consultation. patchy, asymmetrical, unbalanced.
4. Unlike (preposition) - dissimilar to, 16. Place (verb) - exert, impose, put, apply, lay.
different from, counter to, contrasting
with. 17. Cost-disadvantaged (adjective) -
5. Approach (verb) - undertake, tackle, economically strained, burdened by high
address, confront, move toward. costs, uncompetitive in cost.
/
6. Pact (noun) - agreement, treaty, accord, 18. Integrate (verb) - incorporate, combine,
deal, alliance. assimilate, merge, blend.
7. Liberalisation (noun) - deregulation, 19. Zero-duty (adjective) - tariff-free, tax-free,
opening up, relaxation, easing, freedom. duty-free, exempt from tariffs. -
20. Bilateral (adjective) - two-sided, mutual,
8. Sensitivities (noun) - vulnerabilities, reciprocal, joint, two-party.
susceptibilities, tender points, areas of
21. Compliance (noun) - observance,
concern. adherence, conformity, obedience,
9. Fragmented (adjective) - divided, fulfillment.
fractured, splintered, broken, partitioned.
22. Aspect (noun) - feature, facet,
characteristic, detail, element.
10. Evident (adjective) - apparent, obvious, 23. Comply (with) (verb) - abide, adhere, obey,
clear, manifest, visible.
conform, observe.
11. Succeed (in) (verb) - to achieve success.
24. Stringent (adjective) - strict, rigorous,
फ severe, demanding, firm.
12. Strengthen (verb) - reinforce, fortify,
25. Sustainability (noun) - viability, ecological
bolster, stabilize, enhance. balance, greenness, enduring capacity.

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26. Accelerate (verb) - speed up, quicken, 37. Account for (phrasal verb) - to explain the
hasten, rush, advance. reason for something or to make up a part
27. Diversification (noun) - variety, variation, of something. /
expansion, broadening, branching out. 38. Narrow (verb) - reduce, diminish, shrink,
contract, taper. /
28. Facilitate (verb) - ease, aid, assist, help, 39. Price-inelastic exports (noun) - exports
promote. whose demand does not change
significantly when their price changes.
29. Robust (adjective) - strong, sturdy,
-
vigorous, solid, powerful.
40. Labour-intensive (adjective) - involving a
30. Ecosystem (noun) - a network of living
high proportion of human labor rather
organisms and their environment
than capital equipment. -
interacting with one another.
41. Double Contribution Convention (noun) -
an international agreement preventing
31. Historically (adverb) - traditionally, in the dual social security contributions for cross-
past, retrospectively, of old. border workers.
42. Modest (adjective) - moderate, small,
32. Cumbersome (adjective) - unwieldy, slight, limited, humble.
burdensome, awkward, heavy, 43. Quota (noun) - limit, allowance, share,
complicated. / restriction, allocation. /
33. The trade deficit (noun) - the amount by 44. Underline (verb) - emphasize, highlight,
which the cost of a country's imports
stress, underscore, point out.
exceeds the value of its exports.

45. Non-tariff (adjective) - barriers or

34. Widen (verb) - broaden, expand, enlarge, measures other than import duties
extend, stretch. / restricting trade. -
35. Intellectual property protection (noun) - 46. Dilute (verb) - weaken, diminish, reduce,
legal measures to safeguard creations of
attenuate, water down.
the mind and inventions.
47. Carbon-intensive (adjective) - producing
high levels of carbon dioxide emissions
36. Resolution (noun) - settlement, solution, during production.
conclusion, determination, clearing. 48. Lie in (phrasal verb) - to exist in, consist of,
or depend on something.

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Summary of the Editorial

1. The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) reflects India's more
balanced and mature approach to negotiating free trade agreements.
2. Unlike the 2009 India-ASEAN FTA, which led to a widening trade deficit, CETA seeks to balance
trade liberalisation with protection of sensitive domestic sectors.
3. India's recent trade negotiations, including the New Zealand FTA, show a strategy of
safeguarding vulnerable industries, such as the dairy sector.
4. The agreement is expected to improve India's export competitiveness and strengthen its
integration into global value chains.
5. CETA grants zero-duty access to 99% of India's exports to the U.K., covering nearly the entire
value of bilateral trade.
6. However, the benefits are likely to be uneven across industries, with MSMEs facing greater
challenges than large firms.
7. Many MSMEs lack the documentation, technical expertise, and compliance capacity needed
to fully utilise the agreement's tariff benefits.
8. The U.K.'s strict sanitary, phytosanitary, technical, and sustainability stan dards may become
a greater obstacle than tariffs for Indian exporters.
9. International experience shows that FTAs generate significant benefits only when supported
by strong industrial ecosystems, competitive firms, investment, and technology transfer .
10. India has historically underutilised several FTAs because of low awareness, bureaucratic
procedures, and high compliance costs.
11. The widening **trade deficit with ASEAN—from about $10 billion in 2017 to nearly $44 billion
in 2023—**illustrates the risks of poorly utilised trade agreements.
12. To maximise CETA's benefits, India must strengthen regulatory administration, intellectual
property protection, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
13. Although the U.K. accounts for only about 3% of India's merchandise exports and around 1%
of imports, it is a high-income market where India currently enjoys a trade surplus.
14. India's advantage could weaken if imports of high-value U.K. goods, such as luxury vehicles,
grow faster than India's labour-intensive, price-sensitive exports. Climate-related regulations
and non-tariff barriers, such as steel safeguard quotas, could also restrict exports.
15. The editorial concludes that CETA's real success will depend not merely on securing market
access but on converting that access into greater market share, which requires stronger
domestic competitiveness and better implementation.

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Practice Exercise: SSC Pattern Based

1. Which of the following best captures the meaning of “turning market access into market
share”, as it is used by the author? [Editorial page]
A. Converting formal zero-duty tariff concessions into actual, sustained competitive gains for
domestic exporters.
B. The expansion of government-backed credit lines to offset high compliance costs faced by
small businesses.
C. Establishing domestic regulatory bodies to limit the import of high-value price-inelastic
goods.
D. An economic requirement that prioritizes service sector agreements over merchandise
trade balance deficits.
2. Why does the passage state that the U.K.’s non-tariff standards "could prove a bigger hurdle
than tariffs" for Indian MSMEs, even though CETA offers zero-duty access on 99% of India's
exports?
A. Because small exporters face severe administrative and technical hurdles in meeting strict
quality benchmarks
B. Because the agreement restricts smaller enterprises from accessing official government
dispute resolution platforms
C. Because non-tariff barriers impose heavy import duties on raw materials needed for
domestic manufacturing
D. Because small business owners are required to lower their domestic product prices to
match high-income markets
3. Identify the degree of comparison used in the phrase "more mature approach" in the first
sentence of the passage.
A. Positive degree
B. Comparative degree
C. Superlative degree
D. Absolute degree
4. In what way does the India-U.K. CETA require India to reform its domestic trade architecture
to ensure the agreement reaches its potential?
A. It eliminates the need for domestic manufacturing, shifting the economy completely toward
professional service exports.
B. It demands regulatory upgrades, simplified administration, and institutional support to help
local firms navigate non-tariff compliance.
C. It strengthens traditional trade protectionism, preventing small enterprises from engaging
with high-income global supply chains.
D. It preserves old administrative processes and avoids structural reforms in domestic dispute
resolution and intellectual property.
5. Identify the type of sentence used in the opening line of the passage: "The India-U.K.
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) reflects New Delhi’s more mature
approach to free trade negotiations."
A. Exclamatory
B. Interrogative
C. Declarative

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D. Imperative
6. Change the following from active to passive:
Do the experts regard this compound as hazardous?
A. Has this compound been regarded as hazardous by the experts?
B. Is this compound being regarded as hazardous by the experts?
C. Was this compound regarded as hazardous by the experts?
D. Is this compound regarded as hazardous by the experts?
7. Select the option that expresses the given sentence in direct voice.
He said to her that the film they had watched the previous night was not as good as he had
expected it to be.
A. He said to her, "The film we watched last night was not as good as I expected it to be."
B. He said to her, "The film we watched last night was not as good as I had expected it to be."
C. He said to her, "The film we watched the previous night was not as good as I expected it to
be."
D. He said to her, "The film we had watched last night was not as good as I expected it to be."
8. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the word “Rescind.”
A. Indict
B. Malign
C. Enact
D. Relish
9. Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
The government must ______ the illicit flow of capital to prevent the destabilization of the
national currency during the global economic crisis.
A. Curt
B. Curd
C. Cusp
D. Curb
10. Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:
She told to me the news
A. told me
B. told for me
C. said to me
D. has told to me
11. Direction: Rearrange the following sentences (A, B, C, D) to form a meaningful, logical, and
coherent passage.
A. The government has listed five new Bills for the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
B. Home Minister Amit Shah is set to move the Prevention of Insults to National Honour
(Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Rajya Sabha.
C. This legislation seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
D. The proposed amendment seeks to extend similar protection to Vande Mataram.
A. B-C-A-D
B. A-C-B-D
C. A-B-C-D
D. C-D-A-B

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12. Select the most appropriate SYNONYM of the word “Prestigious.”

A. Chronic
B. Distinguished
C. Monetisable
D. Bilateral
13. Select the meaning of the given idiom.
Hang one’s head
A. To be ashamed
B. To be proud
C. To punish
D. To be greedy
14. Select the correct alternative to fill in the blank with the correct preposition in the following
sentence.
The student was admitted ________ tenth standard after his father's transfer from Jaipur.
A. to
B. for
C. after
D. before
15. Select the option that can be used as a one-word substitute for the given group of words.
A state of perfect balance
A. Equilibrium
B. Extempore
C. Medieval
D. Irrelevant
16. Fill in the blank with the correctly spelt word.
The philosopher elaborated on _____ tendencies in human behavior.
A. anthropomorphus
B. anthropomorhous
C. anthropamorphous
D. anthropomorphous
17. Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Come to light
A. To be obscure
B. To be well lit-up
C. To pry a secret
D. To be known publicly
18. Select the most appropriate SYNONYM of the word “Affluent.”
A. Democratic
B. Looming
C. Reliant
D. Prosperous
19. Direction: Rearrange the following sentences (1, 2, 3, 4) to form a meaningful, logical, and
coherent passage.
1. Internships, projects, and continuous upskilling further enhance career opportunities.

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2. Some of the highly demanded jobs are Verification Engineers, Physical Design Engineers,
Embedded Systems Developers, 5G Applications Engineers, and Automation Engineers.
3. As one of the most versatile engineering branches, ECE offers diverse opportunities within
core electronics roles as well as interdisciplinary and emerging technology domains.
4. Students who build strong fundamentals, gain hands-on experience, and develop industry-
relevant skills will progress quickly.
A. 3-2-4-1
B. 3-4-2-1
C. 2-3-1-4
D. 4-1-3-2
20. Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of the word “Sporadic.”
A. Abstruse
B. Diatribe
C. Constant
D. Sagacity
Read the cloze passage and answer the following questions:
The legacy a celebrated, high-profile achiever leaves behind isn’t defined merely by awards
and accomplishments, no matter how staggeringly impressive they might be, but equally — if
not more — by how many people they have touched, how many lives they have impacted,
how much joy they have provided.
The unchecked outpouring of grief at his passing, followed almost immediately by tales of his
kindness and generosity, _____(1) testament to the standing Sir Garfield Sobers enjoys in the
cricketing ecosystem, of which he was the unquestioned _____(2) for the longest of times, and
beyond. Sobers was ‘the greatest’ long before _____(3) took root and even the commonplace
was labelled ‘great’. He was cricket’s Muhammad Ali. Scratch that. Ali was boxing’s Sobers, if
that makes sense, given that the Sobers aura had pervaded the sporting world long before
Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali, and floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.
In the three days since Sobers shuffled off the Shakespearan mortal coil, the tributes have
come _____(4), from those who played with and against him, from those who were fortunate
enough to be the recipients of his wisdom and goodness, and from those who have heard of
his exploits from others and have had to _____(5) to watching his genius on YouTube. That he
was universally adored was obvious long before he left us for what is certain to be a better
world merely because he is inhabiting it. His demise has rekindled old memories and
enveloped his peers and juniors in a sea of nostalgia, which remains the overwhelming theme
that has accompanied any mention of Sir Garry since Friday night (IST).
21. Select the most appropriate option for (1):
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. were
22. Select the most appropriate option for (2):
A. rule
B. monarch
C. emperor

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D. dictator
23. Select the most appropriate option for (3):
A. exaggerate
B. hyperbole
C. magnification
D. rhetoric
24. Select the most appropriate option for (4):
A. fast and furious
B. leaps and bounds
C. far and wide
D. thick and fast
25. Select the most appropriate option for (5):
A. settle
B. submit
C. reconcile
D. resign

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Answers
1. A 2. A 3. B 4. B 5. C 6. D 7. A 8. C 9. D 10. A 11. C 12. B
13. A 14. A 15. A 16. D 17. D 18 D 19. A 20. C 21. A 22. C 23. B 24. D
25. C [Practice Exercise]
Explanations
1. A) Converting formal zero-duty tariff concessions into actual, sustained competitive gains for
domestic exporters.
In the context of this passage, "market access" is the legal opportunity (the zero-duty tariff
concessions), while "market share" is the actual competitive success (the ability to successfully
sell goods in the U.K. despite those "stringent standards"). The author argues that the former
does not automatically lead to the latter; success requires overcoming "cumbersome
administration" and "high compliance costs" to convert the theoretical opportunity into
tangible sales.
Option B is incorrect: While high compliance costs for MSMEs are highlighted as a hurdle, the
passage nowhere suggests that "turning market access into market share" refers to extending
government credit lines or financial loans to small businesses.
Option C is incorrect: Restricting imports or establishing protectionist regulatory bodies to curb
price-inelastic goods (like luxury vehicles) is not what the phrase means; "market share" refers
to India expanding its export presence abroad, not limiting foreign imports at home.
Option D is incorrect: the phrase specifically relates to the transition from having permission to
trade to successfully executing trade at scale.
2. A) Because small exporters face severe administrative and technical hurdles in meeting strict
quality benchmarks
Line from the passage: "However, smaller firms often lack the documentation and compliance
capacity needed to claim these benefits. The author argues that for smaller firms, the
operational inability to meet and document adherence to the U.K.'s "stringent... standards"
acts as an absolute barrier to entry. Because they lack the technical and administrative
resources ("compliance capacity") to prove their products meet these specific benchmarks,
they remain blocked from the market regardless of the tariff-free status.
Option (b) is incorrect: The passage mentions a general need to strengthen dispute resolution
in India, but it never states that small enterprises are barred from using these platforms under
the agreement.
Option (c) is incorrect: Non-tariff standards involve regulatory rules, health checks, and
technical certifications, not the imposition of import duties or border taxes on raw materials.
Option (d) is incorrect: The passage discusses price sensitivity regarding exports and price
elasticity regarding luxury imports, but it nowhere asserts that small firms must lower
domestic prices to sell abroad.
3. B) Comparative degree
In grammar, the comparative degree is used to compare two things, showing that one
possesses a quality to a greater or lesser extent than another. It is formed by adding -er or
using the modifier "more" before two-syllable or multi-syllable adjectives.
In the passage, the author uses "more mature approach" to compare New Delhi's present
strategy in trade negotiations against its previous strategy (such as the 2009 ASEAN FTA).

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4. B) It demands regulatory upgrades, simplified administration, and institutional support to help

local firms navigate non-tariff compliance.
Line from the passage "...the U.K. agreement’s benefits may remain below expectations unless
India strengthens regulatory administration, intellectual property protection and dispute
resolution." Additionally, the author highlights the need to overcome the "cumbersome
administration" and "high compliance costs" that have historically caused India to underutilize
trade agreements. By upgrading these areas, India can help its MSMEs build the "compliance
capacity" required to meet the U.K.’s stringent standards, thereby transforming market access
into actual sales.
(a): The passage never suggests eliminating domestic manufacturing; it focuses on how to
make those manufacturing sectors (especially MSMEs) more competitive.
(c): The passage describes a shift away from the failures of past protectionist models toward a
"more mature approach" that encourages integration into global value chains.
(d): This contradicts the passage, which identifies "cumbersome administration" as a weakness
that needs to be reformed rather than preserved.
5. C) Declarative
A declarative sentence is one that makes a statement, provides a fact, or expresses an opinion.
It ends with a period. The sentence "The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade
Agreement (CETA) reflects New Delhi’s more mature approach to free trade negotiations" is
providing an assessment/statement of fact about the agreement.
Option (a) is incorrect: An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion or surprise and
ends with an exclamation mark (e.g., "What a massive trade agreement this is!").
Option (b) is incorrect: An interrogative sentence asks a direct question and ends with a
question mark (e.g., "Will CETA benefit Indian MSMEs?").
Option (d) is incorrect: An imperative sentence gives a command, instruction, or request (e.g.,
"Strengthen regulatory administration to ensure trade success.").
6. D) Is this compound regarded as hazardous by the experts?
Active Passive Voice , Active Object Passive Subject
औ Verb Passive Active helping verb
Do , Simple Present Tense Active "the experts" Subject
, "regard" Verb औ "this compound" Object Passive Object "This compound" Subject
औ Verb Simple Present Passive is regarded "by the
experts" Passive
In English
To convert from active to passive:
The object of the active sentence (this compound) becomes the subject of the passive
sentence.
The verb tense remains the same: Simple Present (regard → is regarded).
Question form is retained by placing the auxiliary verb before the subject.
Other Option Analysis:
 Option 1 → Changes tense to Present Perfect.
 Option 2 → Changes tense to Present Continuous.

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 Option 3 → Changes tense to Simple Past.

7. A) He said to her, "The film we watched last night was not as good as I expected it to be."
Option 1 indirect speech direct speech tense,
pronoun औ time-reference changes Indirect sentence “they”
speaker औ listener refer , direct speech “we”
“The previous night” reported-speech , direct speech “last
night” Verb “had watched” (past perfect) indirect speech reporting verb
, direct speech simple past “watched” , “had
expected” direct speech “expected” , speaker original thought
Option 1 meaning , natural औ direct speech
grammatical rules follow , accurate answer
 Option 1 is the correct expression in direct speech because it accurately reverses all the
tense, pronoun, and time-reference changes required when converting from indirect to
direct voice. In the indirect sentence, “they” refers to the speaker and the listener
together, so in direct speech it correctly becomes “we.” The phrase “the previous
night” is a reported-speech time expression and must change back to “last night” in
direct narration. The verb “had watched” (past perfect) is used in indirect speech after
a past reporting verb, but in direct speech it naturally returns to “watched” (simple
past). Similarly, “had expected” correctly changes back to “expected,” restoring the
original thought of the speaker. Option 1 preserves the original meaning, sounds
natural, and follows all grammatical rules of direct speech, making it the most accurate
answer.
8. C) Rescind (verb) – cancel, revoke, repeal, annul, void. ( )
Antonym: Enact (verb) – Make a bill or other proposal law; put into structural practice. (
/ )
 Indict (verb): Formally accuse of or charge someone with a serious crime. ( )
 Malign (verb): Speak about someone in a spitefully critical or injurious manner. (
)
 Relish (verb): Enjoy greatly; take great pleasure or structural satisfaction in. (
)
9. D) Curb (verb) – Restrain, check, control, repress, inhibit. ( / )
The blank fits "Curb" because the sentence discusses the mandatory requirement to control or
restrain an unwanted and harmful financial activity.
[Subject: Government] + [Modal: Must] + [Verb: Curb] + [Object: Flow of capital].
 Curt (adjective): Rudely brief or abrupt in speech. ( )
 Curd (noun): A soft, white substance formed when milk sours. ( )

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 Cusp (noun): A point of transition between two different states or stages. ( )

10. A) 'told to me' 'told me' verb 'tell' direct object (person)
औ 'to' preposition ; — She told me the truth.
In English
 After the verb “tell”, the indirect object (the person being informed) does not require a
preposition.
 Correct usage: tell + someone + something → “She told me the news.”
 Other options analysis:
 told for me → incorrect; “for” is unnecessary here.
 said to me → “say” requires “to,” but “tell” does not.
 has told to me → Present Perfect tense is not needed, and “to” is incorrect with “tell.”
11. C) A-B-C-D
Sentence A paragraph missing reference dangling
pronoun "Monsoon Session five new Bills" (broad context)
independently introduce
Sentence B Sentence A ,
"Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill",
expand
Sentence C Sentence B phrase "This legislation"
direct grammatical link , Sentence B (Bill) ओ

Sentence D Sentence C paragraph conclusion

phrase "The proposed amendment" Sentence C
(Amendment Act) ,औ Vande Mataram

 Sentence A starts the passage because it provides the foundational context,

independently introducing the broad topic of the five new Bills listed for the Monsoon
Session of Parliament without any missing references.
 Sentence B follows Sentence A because it acts as a logical progression, narrowing the
focus from the general list of bills to introduce one specific item: the "Prevention of
Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill."
 Sentence C follows Sentence B because the demonstrative phrase "This legislation"
serves as a direct grammatical link, pointing specifically back to the exact bill
introduced in Sentence B to explain its background.
 Sentence D concludes the passage as the thematic synthesis. The phrase "The
proposed amendment" links directly to the amendment mechanism established in
Sentence C, finishing the thought by explaining exactly what new protection (to Vande
Mataram) is being sought.

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12. B) Prestigious (adjective) – elite, distinguished, respected, high-status, honorable.

( / )
Synonym: Distinguished (adjective) – successful, authoritative, and commanding great
respect. ( / )
 Chronic (adjective): (of a physical condition or illness) persisting for a long time or
constantly recurring. ( )
 Monetisable (adjective): able to be converted into or used as currency; profitable.
( )
 Bilateral (adjective): having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides. ( )
13. A) Hang one's head (idiom) – To be ashamed
14. A) ‘to’ English “admitted” preposition “to” ,
class, school institution phrase “admitted to a
class/standard.” , "to"
• ‘to’ should be used because the correct usage is “admitted to” when referring to entry
into a class or institution. Hence, “to” is the most appropriate preposition in this
sentence.
15. A) Equilibrium (noun) - A state of perfect balance
 Extempore (adjective) – spoken or done without preparation.

 Medieval (adjective) – relating to the Middle Ages.

 Irrelevant (adjective) – not connected with or relevant to something.
16. D) The correctly spelt word is “anthropomorphous”, which means having human
characteristics or attributing human qualities to non-human entities - /

17. D) Come to light (idiom) – To be known publicly

18. D) Affluent (adjective) – wealthy, rich, prosperous, well-off, opulent. ( / )
Synonym: Prosperous (adjective) – successful in material terms; flourishing financially.
( / )
 Democratic (adjective): Relating to or supporting democracy or its principles.
( )
 Looming (adjective): (of an event regarded as threatening) about to happen soon.
( )
 Reliant (adjective): Dependent on someone or something. ( )
19. A) 3-2-4-1

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Sentence 3 paragraph missing reference ECE

(Electronics and Communication Engineering) versatility औ career opportunities
independently introduce
Sentence 2 Sentence 3 Sentence 3 mention ई "diverse
opportunities" expand औ roles specific examples (Verification Engineers,
Physical Design Engineers, )
Sentence 4 Sentence 2 logical connection Sentence 2
highly demanded jobs औ progress students
(build strong fundamentals)
Sentence 1 Sentence 4 paragraph conclusion
word "further" Sentence 4 progress , औ conclude
internships औ upskilling career opportunities औ

 Sentence 3 starts the passage because it provides the foundational context,

independently introducing the overarching topic of ECE's versatility and diverse
opportunities without relying on any prior references.
 Sentence 2 follows Sentence 3 because it acts as a logical progression, directly
expanding on the broad "diverse opportunities" mentioned in Sentence 3 by listing
specific highly demanded job titles.
 Sentence 4 follows Sentence 2 because it connects the specific jobs back to the
students, explaining the necessary criteria (strong fundamentals, hands -on experience)
required to progress quickly in those exact roles.
 Sentence 1 concludes the passage as the thematic synthesis. The transition word
"further" serves as a direct logical link, building upon the career progression in
Sentence 4 to conclude how continuous upskilling and internships maximize those
opportunities.
20. C) Sporadic (adjective) – occasional, irregular, intermittent, patchy, infrequent. ( )
Antonym: Constant (adjective) – Occurring continuously over a period of time; regular. (
/ )
 Abstruse (adjective): Extremely difficult to understand; obscure or profound. ( )
 Diatribe (noun): A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something. (
)
 Sagacity (noun): The quality of being sagacious; having keen mental discernment.
( )
21. A) The real subject of the sentence is "The unchecked outpouring", which is a singular noun.
The phrase "followed almost immediately by tales of his kindness and generosity" is a
modifying phrase (an aside). In English grammar, phrases added to a singular subject by

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expressions like "followed by," "along with," or "as well as" do not make the subject plural.
Therefore, the verb must agree with the singular subject "outpouring," making the singular
present tense verb "is" the correct choice.
In Hindi:
Is use Sentence main subject "outpouring" , singular ( )
"followed almost immediately by tales..." फ extra information Grammar strict
rule , singular subject "followed by", "along with" "as well as"
, subject plural औ verb singular "is"

22. C) Emperor is used because it signifies a supreme leader of a vast and complex domain (like an
ecosystem), which perfectly captures the unmatched, grand status of Sir Garfield Sobers in the
entire cricket world. Rule means the act of governing ( ), not the person who governs.
Monarch implies a king by birth, not by personal achievement. Dictator has a negative
meaning of ruling by force, which is completely wrong for someone who is universally adored.
In Hindi:
Emperor use meaning ecosystem supreme
leader , status Rule
meaning , Monarch use
Dictator meaning , negative word औ

23. B) Hyperbole is used because it is a noun meaning extreme exaggeration, and the sentence
requires a noun to act as the subject for the verb "took root" (long before what took root?).
Exaggerate is a verb (action word), so it is grammatically incorrect in this blank. Magnification
is used for making physical sizes look bigger (like with a lens). Rhetoric means persuasive
speech, not necessarily exaggeration.
In Hindi:
Hyperbole use noun meaning
- (extreme exaggeration) , औ sentence "took root" verb
noun subject Exaggerate verb ( ) , grammar
Magnification use physical size Rhetoric meaning persuasive
speech
24. D) Thick and fast is used because it forms the exact standard English idiom meaning arriving
rapidly and in very large numbers, which perfectly describes how the tributes came. Fast and
furious means full of action and energy, not arriving in large quantities. Leaps and bounds
means making rapid growth or progress. Far and wide means over a large area, but it does not
pair well with the verb "come" to show high volume and speed.
In Hindi:

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Thick and fast use exact idiom meaning

औ ( tributes ) Fast and furious meaning action औ
energy Leaps and bounds meaning rapid growth ( ) Far
and wide meaning area , "come" verb
25. C) Reconcile is used because "reconcile to" means to accept a less -than-ideal situation and
make peace with it (like accepting that you can only watch his videos on YouTube because you
couldn't see him live). Settle is grammatically wrong because it requires the preposition "for"
(settle for watching), not "to". Resign requires a reflexive pronoun in grammar (resign
themselves to), which is missing in the sentence. Submit means to surrender to an authority or
force, which makes no logical sense here.
In Hindi:
Reconcile use "reconcile to" meaning situation
perfect ( live औ YouTube
) Settle grammar "for" (settle for), "to"
Resign grammar reflexive pronoun (themselves) , sentence
Submit meaning authority , logically

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