some difficult words from editorials , which is important and very helpful for IBPS PO/CLERK/LIC AAO/RRB & SSC CGL EXAM and other exams !!!
The Hindu: Gem of a scam: On PNB fraud
A regulatory filing to the stock exchanges by Punjab National Bank has blown the lid off a ₹11,500-crore fraud. Perhaps the largest such scam in India, it was perpetrated by a maverick diamond merchant in collusion with bank officials at a single branch in South Mumbai. For India’s second largest bank to be defrauded in the manner suggested is astounding, especially since there has been heightened scrutiny of public sector banks’ operations in the last few years. The bank’s audit committees and boards, as well as the central bank, which conducts routine financial inspections of banks’ books, have been ostensibly keeping a close watch on the loans that have turned substandard or are on the verge of default. The government, which has often blamed the pile of bad loans on crony capitalism during the UPA regime, just last month unveiled a plan to infuse about ₹1 lakh crore into 21 capital-starved public sector banks this fiscal. Of this, ₹5,473 crore is to be injected into PNB. So even if the actual loss the bank ends up incurring on account of this fraud is half the stated amount, its capital adequacy ratio will be back to the same level before the recapitalisation was announced. Its market capitalisation has tanked ₹8,077 crore over the past two days, with the share price falling over 20% since the news broke.
The bank’s top brass has said it has acted promptly, suspending around 10 officials. The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked one retired and one serving PNB employee so far. It is also difficult to believe that a handful of junior employees could orchestrate such a massive fraud. The bank’s managing director has claimed that supervisory lapses are being probed, and the Enforcement Directorate has initiated a money laundering case against the main accused, billionaire-jeweller Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi and close associates and relatives. The firms run by him had seen a meteoric rise and an IPO was in the offing after buyouts of global players and a ramp-up of retail presence in India and abroad. It appears that the bank employees who assisted in the fraud routed large transactions for the borrowers by circumventing the core banking solution. This flies in the face of the government’s push for a digital payment economy. PNB has sought to blame overseas branches of other banks for not undertaking due diligence before accepting such transactions, but that may be too simplistic an explanation. An inquiry by the RBI must get to the bottom of the systemic lapses in this affair and fix accountability across the chain of command. The banker-borrower nexus has been blamed for problems in the banking system for years. This episode will set off fears of a nexus deeper than imagined. The RBI and investigating agencies should act speedily to restore trust in the banking system.
1. Perpetrated(verb) : बढ़ावा
Meaning : carry out or commit (a harmful, illegal, or immoral action).
Synonyms : commit, carry out, perform, execute, do, effect, bring about, be guilty of, be to blame for, be responsible for, accomplish, inflict, wreak; informalpull off, pull; rareeffectuate.
Antonyms : abstain.
Usage : a crime has been perpetrated against a sovereign state.
2. Maverick (noun) : आवारा
Meaning : an unorthodox or independent-minded person.
Synonyms : individualist, nonconformist, free spirit, unorthodox person, unconventional person, original, trendsetter, bohemian, eccentric, outsider; rebel, dissenter, dissident.
Antonyms : normal, standard.
Usage : he was too much of a maverick to fit into any formal organization.
3.Collusion(noun) : मिलीभगत
Meaning – secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy in order to deceive others
.
Synonyms – conspiracy, connivance, complicity, intrigue, plotting, secret understanding, collaboration, scheming.
Antonyms – antagonism, discord, disunion, divorce, estrangement, hostility, rebellion, separation, war.
Usage – there has been collusion between the security forces and paramilitary groups.
4.Astounding(adjective) : अद्भुत
Meaning : surprisingly impressive or notable.
Synonyms : amazing, astonishing, staggering, shocking, surprising, breathtaking, striking, impressive, bewildering, stunning, stupefying; unnerving, unsettling, disturbing, disquieting; awe-inspiring, remarkable, notable, noteworthy, extraordinary, outstanding, incredible, unbelievable, phenomenal.
Antonyms : comforting, encouraging, reassuring, satisfying.
Usage : his speed and fitness were astounding.
5.Verge(noun) : कगार
Meaning : an edge or border.
Synonyms : edge, border, margin, side, brink, rim, lip, limit, boundary, outskirts, perimeter, periphery, borderline, frontier; end, extremity, termination; fringes, bounds, limits, confines; literarybourn, marge, skirt.
Antonyms : middle.
Usage : they came down to the verge of the lake.
6.Promptly(adverb) : तुरंत
Meaning : with little or no delay; immediately.
Synonyms : before long.
Antonyms : late, negligent, slow, tardy.
Usage – I expect the matter to be dealt with promptly.
7.Orchestrate(verb) : गुप्त रूप से आयोजित करना
Meaning : arrange or score (music) for orchestral performance.
Synonyms : arrange, blend, compose, concert, coordinate, harmonize, integrate, manage, present, put together, score, set up, symphonize, synthesize, unify.
Antonyms : disorganize, ignore.
Usage : the song cycle was stunningly arranged and orchestrated.
8.Probed(verb) : जांच की
Meaning : explore or examine (something), especially with the hands or an instrument.
Synonyms : examine, feel, feel around, explore, prod, poke, check.
Antonyms : disregard, look away, scorn.
Usage : hands probed his body from top to bottom.
9.Ramp-up(Phrasal Varb) : बढ़ाना
Meaning : To increase. A noun or pronoun can be used between “ramp” and “up.
Synonyms : increase.
Usage : Ever since that break-in, they’ve really ramped up security at the office.
10.Nexus(Noun) : बंधन
Meaning :a connection or series of connections linking two or more things.
Synonyms : center, connection, core, link, network, tie, union.
Antonyms : interruption.
Usage : the nexus between industry and political power.
