Given below are two statements:
Assertion (A): Planning is a mental exercise.
Reason (R): Planning determines the action to be taken, so it is an intellectual activity of thinking rather than doing.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): Planning is a mental exercise. — True. Planning needs application of the mind: foresight, intelligent imagination and sound judgement.
Reason (R): Planning determines the action to be taken, so it is an intellectual activity of thinking rather than doing. — True. Planning decides the action before anyone acts.
Why R explains A?
R says that planning decides the action that will be taken later. Deciding an action needs thinking, not doing, because the work has not started yet. So planning is an activity of the mind, and that is what makes it a mental exercise.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(vii) Planning is a mental exercise: Planning requires application of the mind involving foresight, intelligent imagination and sound judgement. It is basically an intellectual activity of thinking rather than doing, because planning determines the action to be taken. However, planning requires logical and systematic thinking rather than guess work or wishful thinking. In other words, thinking for planning must be orderly and based on the analysis of facts and forecasts.” |