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This research work proposes a planning strategy pertaining to the techno-economic operation of Indian power systems. The proposed strategy focused on the reactive power (VAr) planning (RPP) subject to the system operating cost minimization ensuring system security. To mitigate the RPP issue, unique meta-heuristic hybridized techniques are adopted to size the optimal parameter settings such as alternator's reactive power, tap settings of transformers etc. instigated by power flow analysis satisfying all equality and inequality constraints. The controlling variables are optimally determined to solve this non-linear RPP problem. The bottleneck for the installation of static VAr compensators at weak buses is also wiped out by different analytical techniques viz. loss sensitivity, power flow and modal analysis. Two different inter-regional transmission networks prevailing in India are considered to measure the adaptability, efficacy and efficiency of the proposed approach. The results obtained by applying the proposed approach have confirmed that network loss-minimization procedures produce an acceptable solution and reduce the operating cost which is especially important in RPP. The responses of bench mark functions and statistical analysis of the outcomes from both systems allow us to assess the overall efficiency and efficacy of the proposed techno-economic planning approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]