Welcome to Gouthama Gurkul! In today's session, we dive deep into The Hindu's editorial for 13th Mar 2026. Enhance your English vocabulary, grammar, and reading skills with practical examples and detailed explanations. Perfect for competitive exam aspirants and anyone looking to improve their English proficiency. Website:- www.gouthamagurkul.com Whatsapp channel :- https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaxF... Telegram :- https://t.me/gouthamagurkul 📌 Topics Covered: Vocabulary Enhancement Grammar Tips & Tricks Reading Comprehension Skills 👉 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more educational content! #TheHinduEditorial #EnglishVocabulary #GrammarTips #competitiveexams #telugu #readingskills #education #grammartips

Q1. Which of the following best summarises the central argument of the passage? a) The Supreme Court was right to direct the removal of references to judicial corruption from NCERT textbooks as such content undermines public confidence in the judiciary b) The Supreme Court's selective intervention in the NCERT textbook issue while ignoring communal bias in history chapters raises serious concerns about judicial consistency and the perception of self-protection c) NCERT textbooks must be completely rewritten by independent domain experts under Supreme Court supervision to ensure accuracy and objectivity across all subjects d) The BJP's redrafting of NCERT textbooks has successfully corrected the Macaulay-an bias that dominated Indian education for decades e) The Supreme Court's directive on textbook writing is a welcome step toward ensuring that the next generation receives accurate knowledge about India's judicial system Answer: b Q2. According to the passage which example of religious content in NCERT textbooks is specifically mentioned? a) A chapter on water conservation referring to the ritual of bathing in the Ganga b) A geography chapter in a class seven textbook talking about a divine feminine presence pervading the Indian landmass c) A history chapter describing the construction of Hindu temples as acts of national resistance d) A science chapter on astronomy referring to ancient Vedic astronomical texts e) A class eight textbook chapter on mathematics referring to ancient Indian numerical systems Answer: b Q3. What can be inferred from the author's observation that the class eight textbook includes a disclaimer that today's generation is not to be blamed for the sins of the past? a) The disclaimer proves that the textbook authors were fully aware of their responsibility to promote communal harmony b) The disclaimer is legally sufficient to protect the textbook from any charges of promoting communal bias or bigotry c) The presence of a disclaimer does not neutralise the communal bias embedded in the narrative itself making the disclaimer largely cosmetic d) The disclaimer was inserted at the Supreme Court's direction to balance the one-sided portrayal of Muslim rulers e) The disclaimer proves that the textbook development team had reasonable and informed knowledge about India's history Answer: c Q4. Read the following sentence from the passage: *"Objectivity is given short shrift, leading to genuine fears that the narrative is to instigate bigotry."* Which of the following gives the correct meaning, one synonym, and one antonym of the word "bigotry"? a) Meaning — a strong and reasoned belief in the superiority of one's own culture; Synonym — patriotism; Antonym — treason b) Meaning — intolerance and prejudice toward those of different beliefs or backgrounds; Synonym — prejudice; Antonym — tolerance c) Meaning — a deliberate distortion of historical facts for political purposes; Synonym — propaganda; Antonym — accuracy d) Meaning — extreme religious devotion that excludes all other perspectives; Synonym — fanaticism; Antonym — secularism e) Meaning — a narrow academic approach that ignores diverse perspectives; Synonym — parochialism; Antonym — inclusivity Answer: b Q5. The author states that *"any selective targeting of chapters will only reinforce the perception that the judiciary is merely protecting itself."* Which of the following is the underlying assumption? a) The Supreme Court has already been proven to be corrupt and its intervention in the textbook issue is an attempt to cover this up b) A judiciary that applies different standards to different chapters based on its own interests will be seen as self-serving rather than impartial undermining its credibility as an institution of justice c) NCERT textbook development teams are inherently biased against the judiciary and must be replaced entirely d) The Supreme Court has no constitutional authority to intervene in the content of educational textbooks e) Selective intervention in textbook content is only problematic when it involves chapters on the judiciary Answer: b Q6. The author argues that the Supreme Court must apply the same yardsticks it used for judiciary chapters to history chapters as well. Which of the following if true would most strengthen this argument? a) The Supreme Court has already directed independent domain experts to review all NCERT history chapters for factual accuracy b) Independent educational experts have found that the history chapters in question contain factually inaccurate and communally biased portrayals that could promote prejudice among students c) The BJP has publicly defended the history chapters arguing that they correct decades of Macaulay-an bias in Indian education d) The Supreme Court's directive on judiciary chapters has already been successfully implemented with a senior judge approving the revised content e) NCERT has voluntarily agreed to revise the history chapters following public criticism from historians and educationists Answer: b Q7. The author argues that the Supreme Court's intervention in the NCERT textbook issue amounts to selective self-protection. Which of the following if true would most weaken this argument? a) The Supreme Court has also issued notices to NCERT regarding communally biased content in history chapters in the same proceedings b) The references to judicial corruption in the NCERT textbook were factually inaccurate and based on unverified claims c) Several former judges have publicly supported the Supreme Court's directive on the judiciary chapters d) The BJP introduced religious content into NCERT textbooks following its election victory in 2014 e) Textbook writing requires both subject matter expertise and the skill to promote fairness equality and harmony Answer: a Q8. Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage? a) Celebratory about the Supreme Court's intervention in ensuring textbook accuracy b) Sharply critical and deeply concerned about judicial inconsistency and communal bias in textbooks c) Neutral and balanced presenting both the Supreme Court's position and NCERT's defence equally d) Alarmist about the complete collapse of objectivity in India's educational system e) Sympathetic toward the BJP's effort to correct Macaulay-an bias in Indian textbooks Answer: b Q9. The phrase "given short shrift" as used in the passage means: a) Given excessive and unwarranted importance b) Dismissed or dealt with too quickly without adequate attention c) Carefully examined and verified by independent experts d) Deliberately distorted to serve a political agenda e) Replaced entirely by a more subjective narrative Answer: b Q10. According to the passage which subject's textbook refers to the ritual of "arghyam" — a Vedic salutation to the sun? a) History b) Geography c) Science — specifically a discussion on solar energy d) Social science e) Environmental studies Answer: c Q11. Read the following conclusions and choose the correct option: 1. The Supreme Court's directive banning the NCERT textbook team from future curriculum work is a proportionate and judiciously measured response 2. The portrayal of Muslim rulers as uniformly cruel while Hindu kingdoms are shown as benign reflects a communally biased historical narrative 3. The Supreme Court's failure to apply the same standards to history chapters as it did to judiciary chapters creates a perception of selective and self-serving intervention 4. Textbook writing requires both subject matter expertise and the genuine intent to promote fairness equality and harmony among students a) Only statements 1 and 2 are correct b) Only statements 2 and 3 are correct c) Only statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct d) Only statement 4 is correct e) All statements are correct Answer: c Q12. Read the following statements and choose the correct option: 1. The inclusion of religious content across subjects like geography and science suggests a deliberate blurring of the boundary between secular education and religious promotion 2. The Supreme Court's sweeping directive barring the textbook team from future work was a carefully calibrated and proportionate judicial response 3. The BJP's redrafting of textbooks was driven by a desire to correct what it perceived as Macaulay-an and westernised bias in Indian education 4. The disclaimer in the class eight textbook about not blaming today's generation effectively neutralises the communal bias in its historical narrative a) Only statements 1 and 3 are correct b) Only statements 2 and 4 are correct c) Only statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct d) Only statements 2 and 3 are correct e) All statements are correct Answer: a Q13. Which of the following best captures the central theme of the passage? a) The need for the Supreme Court to take a more active role in supervising the content of NCERT textbooks b) The dangers of communal bias in NCERT history textbooks and the BJP's politicisation of Indian education c) The Supreme Court's selective intervention in the NCERT textbook issue and the broader need for consistent and impartial standards in textbook writing d) The conflict between secular and religious approaches to education in India's school curriculum e) The importance of domain expertise in ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of NCERT textbooks Answer: c Q14. Which of the following best reflects the writer's overall point of view? a) The Supreme Court was fully justified in its directive as references to judicial corruption in school textbooks are deeply inappropriate and damaging b) The BJP's revisions to NCERT textbooks represent a necessary and long-overdue correction of decades of Macaulay-an bias in Indian education c) The Supreme Court's selective intervention — protecting itself while ignoring communal bias in history chapters — is inconsistent, potentially self-serving, and ultimately undermines the very conception of justice it is meant to uphold d) NCERT should be given complete independence from both judicial and political interference in the development of school textbooks e) The solution to biased textbooks lies in appointing independent domain experts for every subject rather than relying on government appointed committees Answer: c Q15. Which of the following sentences if inserted after *"that, ultimately, would undermine any conception of justice"* would most logically complete the author's argument? a) Therefore the Supreme Court must immediately withdraw its directive on the NCERT textbook team and apologise for overstepping its constitutional authority b) A judiciary that holds others to standards it does not apply to itself cannot credibly claim to be the guardian of fairness equality and the rule of law c) The NCERT must therefore immediately revise all history chapters to remove communal bias before the Supreme Court intervenes further d) India's students deserve textbooks that are free from both judicial interference and political manipulation regardless of which party is in power e) The BJP must therefore reverse its revisions to NCERT textbooks and restore the original secular content that was removed after 2014 Answer: b