Preparedness

noun (uncountable)

/prɪˈpeədnəs/

The knowledge, capacities, and institutional arrangements developed by governments, professional response organisations, communities, and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely, imminent, or current hazardous events or conditions. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Section 2(b)), preparedness is one of the four statutory objectives of disaster management in India alongside prevention, mitigation, and response. Effective preparedness includes mock drills, early-warning dissemination, stockpiling of relief material, and community-based disaster management planning.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP), funded by the World Bank, has substantially enhanced coastal preparedness in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha by constructing multipurpose cyclone shelters and equipping community volunteers with standardised rescue kits.

Synonyms

readinessstate of alertnessanticipatory capacityemergency readinessdisaster readinesspre-event capacity

Antonyms

unpreparednessneglectcomplacencyinactionimprovisation

🌱 Word Family

prepare (verb), prepared (adjective), preparation (noun), preparatory (adjective), unprepared (adjective), ill-prepared (adjective)

🔡 Root

Latin praeparare = to make ready beforehand (prae- = before + parare = to make ready); English suffix -ness = state of being

📜 Etymology

Formed from 'prepared' (past participle of 'prepare') plus the suffix '-ness', which denotes a state or condition in Old English. 'Prepare' itself traces to Latin praeparare, combining prae- (before, in advance) with parare (to make ready, furnish), cognate with English 'pare' and 'repair'. The abstract noun 'preparedness' gained its modern institutional significance in 20th-century civil defence and emergency management discourse, particularly after World War II and formalised through the United Nations system after 1971.

🧠 Memory Hook

PRE (before) + PARE (to make ready) + NESS: preparedness is literally the STATE of being made ready BEFORE the event. Think of a surgeon who 'prepares' instruments before an operation — they are never caught off-guard because they built readiness in advance.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2023 — Disaster Management
Prelims 2022 — Disaster Management
Mains 2023 · GS1 · 15 marks — Geography
Mains 2019 · GS3 · 15 marks — Disaster Management
Mains 2017 · GS3 · 15 marks — Disaster Management
Mains 2016 · GS3 · 12.5 marks — Disaster Management / Environment

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Preparedness” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚠️ Disaster Management 📖 Seen in: Disaster Management — Framework, Prepa...

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