BharatNotes Rehabilitation
nounUsage in a UPSC answer
A penal policy oriented towards the rehabilitation of offenders, rather than mere retribution, is more likely to lower recidivism and reintegrate prisoners as productive members of society.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
rehabilitate (v), rehabilitated (adj), rehabilitative (adj), rehabilitant (n), rehab (n, informal)
Root
Medieval Latin rehabilitātiōnem; re- = again + habilitāre = to make fit, from habilis = able, fit
Etymology
From French réhabilitation, from Medieval Latin rehabilitātiōnem, from re- ("again") + habilitāre ("to make fit"), from habilis ("able, fit"); entered English in the 16th century.
Memory Hook
Re- (again) + habilit- (from Latin habilis, "able/fit," as in "ability") = making someone ABLE again. Picture a "rehab" centre that restores a broken person to full ability.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
The restoration of services, livelihoods and community functioning after a disaster, occupying the ground between immediate relief and long-term reconstruction. The point most answers miss is that restoring physical assets without restoring income leaves people housed and destitute, so livelihood support belongs in this phase rather than being deferred. Psychosocial care and the restoration of schooling belong here too, since both determine whether a community recovers or merely survives.
Don’t Confuse It With
Rehabilitation restores services, livelihoods and functioning. Relief meets immediate survival needs in the first days. Reconstruction rebuilds physical assets over the longer term. Recovery is the umbrella term covering all post-disaster phases.
Hindi Meaning
पुनर्वास (punarvās).
Common Questions
- What is rehabilitation after a disaster?
- The restoration of basic services, livelihoods and community functioning, bridging immediate relief and long-term reconstruction.
- Why must livelihood support be part of rehabilitation?
- Because restoring buildings without restoring income leaves people housed but without means, so recovery stalls even where reconstruction appears to succeed.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Prelims 2022 — Disaster Management
- Mains 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks — Environment / Disaster Management
- Mains 2016 · GS4 · 12 marks — Development Ethics / Displacement / Tribal Rights
- Mains 2014 · GS3 · 12.5 marks — Agriculture / Economy
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Rehabilitation” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
