BharatNotes Salient
adjective; also noun (chiefly military/geometry)Usage in a UPSC answer
In evaluating the new agricultural policy, the committee chose to foreground the most salient concern — farmer indebtedness — rather than dissipate its attention across peripheral procedural details.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
salience (n), saliency (n), saliently (adv), salientian (adj)
Root
Latin saliens = leaping, springing, present participle of salire = to leap; "salient point" calqued from Latin punctum saliens
Etymology
From Latin salientem (nominative saliens), present participle of salire "to leap, spring." The "prominent/pertinent" sense derives from the phrase "salient point," a calque of Latin punctum saliens.
Memory Hook
Root "salire" = to leap (think "sally forth"). A salient point literally "leaps out" at you, demanding notice.
How This Word Works in UPSC Writing
Most noticeable or important, standing out from the rest. It is heavily used in UPSC question stems themselves, as in the salient features of a system, so recognising it as an instruction to prioritise rather than list exhaustively is worth marks. An answer to a salient-features question should select and justify, not enumerate everything available.
Don’t Confuse It With
Salient stands out as most noticeable or important. Significant has consequence but need not be conspicuous. Prominent is widely noticed or well known. Cardinal means fundamental and foundational, a stronger claim than merely standing out.
Hindi Meaning
प्रमुख (pramukh) or मुख्य (mukhya).
Common Questions
- What does salient mean?
- Most noticeable, prominent or important among a set of features.
- What does a question asking for salient features expect?
- A selection of the most important features with justification, rather than an exhaustive list of everything that could be mentioned.
Seen in UPSC Question Papers
- Mains 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks — Science and Technology
- Mains 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks — Disaster Management
- Mains 2021 · GS3 · 15 marks — Agriculture
- Mains 2020 · GS3 · 10 marks — Environment and Ecology
Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Salient” — proof this word earns its place on your list.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
