Planning is essential for the judicious use of resources because India has enormous diversity in resource availability. Some regions are resource-rich (e.g., Jharkhand — minerals; Arunachal Pradesh — water), while others face acute shortages (e.g., Rajasthan lacks water; Ladakh lacks infrastructure). This regional imbalance calls for balanced resource planning at national, state, regional and local levels.
Source: Resources and Development, Resource Planning in India
The examiner expects two things: (1) state why planning is needed — uneven/diverse distribution of resources across India, and (2) support with examples from the text (Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Ladakh, etc.). Don't write a general definition of planning; focus on the "judicious use" angle tied to regional imbalance. Two well-chosen examples earn full marks.