Delphi Prep

Top officials in the government have confirmed that a WHITtLING down of the Planning Commission, if not a complete dismantling, is definitely on the cards. It is in keeping with the measures taken by the government to speed up decision making, including scrapping of the Empowered Group of Ministers and GoMs. ( Economic Times )

WHITTLING : To whittle is to pare or carve away. Wood carvers whittle pieces of wood, removing bit by bit until what's left is a sailor with a yellow raincoat or a lone wolf howling at the moon.

Whittle can also mean to reduce an amount or number of items. In this sense, it is commonly paired with the words away or down. A courtroom attorney might "whittle away" at a defendant's alibi until the truth emerges. You might "whittle down" a to-do list or "whittle away" at your student loan debt every month. But only a highly skilled wood carver can whittle a chunk of pine into that old salty dog with a yellow raincoat.

How Modi can make India's recalcitrant bureaucracy march to match his ambition. ( Times of India )

Recalcitrant : If someone is so pig-headed that he won't budge on an issue, call him recalcitrant. Not that it will make a difference...

Recalcitrant is from Latin calcitrare, meaning "to kick," so someone who is recalcitrant is kicking back against what's wanted of them. Synonyms are unruly, intractable, and refractory, all referring to what is difficult to manage or control. Writers are frequently referring to recalcitrant Democrats and Republicans, since many people are stubbornly loyal to their political parties and unwilling to change.