VOCABULARY — Choose the best synonym (same meaning) of the highlighted word, based on the sentence. Sentence: “The ABERRATION in the Indian economy can be attributed to the short-sightedness of its political masters.”

Introduction / Context:
In economics and statistics, “aberration” refers to a departure from what is normal, expected, or typical. The sentence attributes an unusual or off-trend occurrence in the economy to leadership decisions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• “Aberration” is about patterns and norms rather than time delay, social status, or moral qualities.
• We need a term expressing departure from the norm.
• The subject is macroeconomic behavior, which often uses terms like deviation or variance.

Concept / Approach:
“Deviation” best matches the sense of an outlier or divergence from an expected path. “Procrastination” is delay; “privilege” is advantage by status; “steadfastness” is firmness and the opposite of change, not a departure.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify semantic field: statistics/economics of trends.2) Choose “deviation” as the closest synonym.3) Validate by substitution: “The deviation in the Indian economy …”

Verification / Alternative check:
Policy and market analyses frequently describe unexpected downturns or spikes as deviations or aberrations from trend.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A) “procrastination” — delay in action; not pattern change.B) “privilege” — social advantage; unrelated.D) “steadfastness” — constancy; the opposite of deviating.

Common Pitfalls:
Choosing a negative-sounding word without checking the technical nuance of “departure from the norm.”

Final Answer:
deviation