Simplified Laws Guide to Taxation and Legal Concern - Modi, BJP hold out olive branch for budget session -This is what the media wrote when the BJP-led government reached out to the opposition parties on the eve of the budget session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the way in seeking their support and soothing frayed nerves, So, what is an olive branch?
Olive branch refers to doing or saying something in order to show that you want to end a disagreement with someone.A branch of an olive tree is regarded as an emblem of peace from ancient Rome and Greece times. So, in the above context, it meant seeking the support of opposition and looking for a fresh start.
- Lamp Posts – A top Trinamool Congress leader on Tuesday made a faux pas by saying that there was only `one post` in the party, that of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the rest were `lamp posts`
Lamp posts isa taunting word. Lamp post is something most people don’t care about but is always around! Maybe the symbol of ‘ignored by all’ or in the above context, it’s only one person matters in the party and all others are ‘just there’ and ‘their words are not considered for making decisions’
- Ethics: Docs’ revelations open can of worms – This was the caption of an article about unethical medical practices in India. The article was talking about unethical practices in the hospitals like keeping patients in the hospital longer than necessary, and doing unnecessary investigations and procedures (including angioplasty) since there was pressure from the management of the hospital.
So, what is can of worms in this context?
Can of Worms is an idiom referring to a slew of subsequent problems and dilemmas arising from a decision or action or a source of many unpredictable or unexpected problems or a complicated situation. It’s like a pandora’s box, a thing best not opened. If you open it up, many problems will emerge.
- Verbatim – Despite protests building up against the land acquisition Bill, it is likely to include the land ordinance’s provisions ‘verbatim’…mentioned in an article published in the newspaper.
Verbatim means in exactly the same words as were used originally. In the above context, it means the government won’t make any changes to the original script.
- Crisis of adolescence – Mr.Ashutosh, spokesperson of AamAdmi Party (AAP) while referring to the crisis (PrashanthBushan and Yogendra Yadav episode) in AAP mentioned that ‘It’s a crisis of adolescence”. He further explained the meaning of ‘crisis of adolescence also! “I see this as a “growing up problem”. It is similar to a young kid transitioning from boyhood to adulthood. This is the most vulnerable age for a man or woman. He or she has to graduate to another level, has to leave behind childhood and the transition is still not complete – a kid and also an adult” —- Ashutosh
- Leading question – In one of the TV interview’s Congress spokesperson mentioned when they were repeatedly asked about Vadra Land deals, that it is a ‘leading question’. What does it mean? A leading question is one that prompts or encourages the answer wanted. In other words, a question phrased in a manner that tends to suggest the desired answer, such as ‘What do you think of the horribleeffects of air pollution?’
- Loaded question – Times of India (TOI) interviewed Mr.ArvindPanagariya. Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog. During the interview one of the questions was “Do you think the government shouldn’t be too obsessed with the fiscal deficit figure and relax the target to boost growth?”
And the answer of Mr. Arvind was “That’s a loaded question…”
So, what do you mean by loaded question? It means a complex question, not based on sound arguments. It may even refer to asking questions with the full expectation that the respondent will predictably deny it. It may even refer to a question which contains controversial or unjustified assumptions.
Thought for the day
Remain curious and keep learning
