BharatNotes Planning
noun (also gerund of the verb "plan"); functions attributively in compounds such as "planning commission"Usage in a UPSC answer
India's adoption of centralised economic planning after 1950 sought to channel scarce capital towards heavy industry, yet the post-1991 reforms revealed that indicative planning, rather than rigid command-and-control targets, was better suited to a liberalising economy.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
plan (n/v), planner (n), planned (adj), unplanned (adj), replan (v)
Root
French plan = ground plan/map; Latin plānum = flat surface/level ground; economic sense 20th c.
Etymology
From "plan," from French plan ("ground plan, map"), from Latin plānum ("flat surface, level ground"); the economic planning sense developed in the 20th century, influenced by Soviet and Keynesian models.
Memory Hook
A "plan" is drawn on a flat "plane" — both from Latin planus "flat surface"; picture an architect spreading a blueprint flat on a table before any wall is built, i.e. thinking-out-the-flat-layout in advance.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Prelims 2015 — Five Year Plans & NITI Aayog
- Prelims 2012 — Governance & Inclusive Development
- Prelims 2011 — Local Government
- Prelims 2011 — Governance & Local Self-Government
- Mains 2019 · GS2 · 15 marks — Governance
- Mains 2018 · GS3 · 15 marks — Economy
- Mains 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks — Environment / Disaster Management
- Mains 2014 · GS1 · 10 marks — Indian Heritage & Culture
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Planning” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
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