Topic of the day:-“Journal publication”
The bone of contention is the basis on which the regulator identifies ‘recognised’ journals, publication in which alone earns credit for faculty. Having drawn up such a list a couple of years ago, the Commission appears to have now backtracked. Possibly stung by the claim that an astonishingly high percentage of the journals on its original list are of dubious distinction — the term for which is ‘predatory’ in that they either solicit articles to be published for a fee or follow no clear refereeing procedure — the UGC has suddenly trimmed the list. This has led to questions of the criterion that has been used.While predatory journals are not a uniquely Indian problem, the problem appears to be more grave here, and has possibly been aggravated by the UGC’s policy of soliciting recommendations for inclusion of journals in its approved list. The whole process has led to a severe diminishing of credibility for one of the most crucial regulators of the country.To believe that the problem of dubious journals on the UGC’s whitelist is the sole issue awaiting resolution in the university would be naive. This is actually quite recent and just another manifestation of the unaccountable regulation that has had a vandalising effect on the higher education space in the country. A small set of actionable points, not every one of them the responsibility of the UGC, would be as follows.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) Elite
Meaning: A select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society.
Example: “The elite of Britain’s armed forces”
Synonyms: Best, Pick
Antonyms: Dregs
2) Aflutter
Meaning: In a state of tremulous excitement.
Example: “He has the physique that could send a thousand female hearts aflutter”
3) Appetite
Meaning: A strong desire or liking for something.
Example: “Her appetite for life”
Synonyms: Craving, Longing
Antonyms: Aversion
4) Anthropological
Meaning: Relating to the study of humankind.
Example: “An anthropological expedition to Borneo”
5) Struck off
Meaning: To remove a doctor, lawyer, etc. from an official list so that they are no longer allowed to work in that job, usually because they have done something dishonest or illegal.
Example: “Be struck off Company directors can be struck off if they are caught employing illegal workers”
6) Swampy
Meaning: Characteristic of or resembling a swamp.
Example: “A swampy area”
Synonyms: Marshy, Boggy
Antonyms: Firm, Dry
7) Surmount
Meaning: Overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).
Example: “All manner of cultural differences were surmounted”
Synonyms: Overcome, Conquer
Antonyms: Be beaten by
8) Abetment
Meaning: The act of helping or encouraging someone to do something wrong or illegal.
Example: “Such acts will be treated as abetment to fraud”
9) Churn out
Meaning: To produce something automatically, without much thought, and in large amounts.
Example: “Hollywood studios have been churning out some very bad movies over the past several years”
10) Vitality
Meaning: The state of being strong and active; energy.
Example: “Changes that will give renewed vitality to our democracy”
Synonyms: Liveliness, Life
11) Laureate
Meaning: A person who is honoured with an award for outstanding creative or intellectual achievement.
Example: “A Nobel laureate”
12) Intended
Meaning: Planned or meant.
Example: “The intended victim escaped”
Synonyms: Deliberate, Calculated
Antonyms: Accidental
13) Sheer
Meaning: Used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a quality or feeling is; nothing except.
Example: “It was sheer coincidence that we met”
14) Resentment
Meaning: Bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.
Example: “His resentment at being demoted”
Synonyms: Bitterness, Indignation
Antonyms: Contentment, Happiness
15) Contention
Meaning: An assertion, especially one maintained in argument.
Example: “Freud’s contention that all dreams were wish fulfilment”
Synonyms: Argument, Calin
16) Drawn up
Meaning: To prepare something in writing, especially a plan or formal document.
Example: “First, draw up a business plan outlining what you’re going to do”
17) Backtracked
Meaning: Reverse one’s previous position or opinion.
Example: “The unions have had to backtrack on their demands”
18) Claim
Meaning: State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof.
Example: “The Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt”
Synonyms: Assert, Declare
19) Astonishingly
Meaning: Extremely surprisingly or impressively.
Example: “This recording is, if anything, even more astonishingly played”
20) Dubious
Meaning: Hesitating or doubting.
Example: “I was rather dubious about the whole idea”
Synonyms: Doubtful, Uncertain
Antonyms: Certain, Definite
