〜方針を固めた (~hōshin o katameta) — has decided on a plan to ~ (almost final)

News that a government, company or city has all but finally decided on a plan to do ~.

Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)

V辞書形／Vない + 方針を固めた

Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)

When to use it

Visa and work news brings headlines like 「政府は、特定技能の対象分野を広げる方針を固めた」— 'the government has decided to widen the fields covered by the Specified Skilled Worker visa'.
News of changes to rules, taxes or visas starts right here, so pay attention when you see it.

Meaning

「方針」= the course or policy, 「固める」= to harden, to make firm; so 'a soft idea has now set hard — it is all but decided'.
The news grades how sure a plan is like this: 「〜の方向で検討に入った」(only started considering) < 「〜方針を固めた」(almost decided) < 「最終調整に入った」(only small details left).

How to attach

Attach it straight to a verb's dictionary or ない form (広げる方針・値上げしない方針).
For a policy that is already settled, the news simply says 「〜方針だ」.

Versus what you know

The previous point's 「構えだ」is only a stance and readiness; 「方針を固めた」means the decision has been made inside the organisation but not yet formally announced — so it is often a scoop learned 'from people involved'.
N3「〜つもりだ」is one person's intention and the N4 「予定だ」a schedule; 「方針」is an organisation's policy.

Watch out

The key rule: the subject is an organisation — a government, company, party or university; use it for a small personal decision like going to bed early and it sounds like a joke.

Examples (उदाहरणहरू)

政府は、特定技能の対象となる分野をさらに広げる方針を固めた。

せいふは、とくていぎのうのたいしょうとなるぶんやをさらにひろげるほうしんをかためた。

The government has firmed up plans to further widen the fields covered by the Specified Skilled Worker visa.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 政府 = the government (subject: an organization) → 広げる = to widen, expand (dictionary form) → 「方針を固めた」= that policy is almost final → the official announcement is still to come.

同社は、来年度から在宅勤務の制度を正式に導入する方針を固めました。

どうしゃは、らいねんどからざいたくきんむのせいどをせいしきにどうにゅうするほうしんをかためました。

The company has firmed up plans to formally introduce a work-from-home system from next fiscal year.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 同社 = the company → 導入する = to introduce → 「方針を固めました」= the decision inside the company is almost final → です・ます form on TV news.

大学は、来年度の授業料を値上げしない方針を固めた。

だいがくは、らいねんどのじゅぎょうりょうをねあげしないほうしんをかためた。

The university has settled on a policy of not raising tuition fees next year.

How it is built (कसरी बन्यो) 値上げする = to raise the price → ない form: 値上げしない → attach 「方針を固めた」 directly = the "no increase" policy is settled.

Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)

Question: 1/3

「政府は、在留カードの手続きをオンラインで＿＿方針を固めた。」— fill the blank.

💡 Hint: Something still to be done — dictionary form.