Development

1. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different
countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?
Ans: World Bank uses the per capita income of the country as the principal criterion for
classifying the countries as rich or poor. Per capita income is the average income of the people
of a country in a given year. This criterion of classification has number of limitations. They
are
i. World Bank does not give equal importance to other factors such as literacy rates and general
health standards of the people which plays an important role in defining the quality of life.
ii. The per capita income does not reflect information about the unequal distribution of income
among the people
iii. Classification by income does not necessarily display the development status because
economies in one group do not experience similar level of development.

2. In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different
from the one used by the World Bank?
a. The criterion used by World Bank is different from UNDP. It is because the World Bank
measures the development based only on per capita income.
b. while the UNDP’s Human Development Report measures the development in terms of per
capita income, literacy rates and general health standards of the people.
3. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own
examples related to development.
a. To classify the countries only based on their total income would not be appropriate as different
countries have different populations. Hence, we use averages.
b. However, calculations based on average income have its own limitation because it does not tell
us whether there is equal or unequal distribution of income in a country.
c. For example, there are two countries X and Y with four citizens each. Following table tells us
about the income of these citizens.

Country Citizen A Citizen B Citizen C Citizen D Average

(Monthly (Monthly (Monthly (Monthly Income
income in Rs) income in Rs) income in Rs) income in Rs)
X 1,000 500 500 8000 Rs. 2500
Y 2600 3,000 2000 2400 Rs. 2500

In the above example, the average income of country X and Y is Rs 2500/- respectively. But we
can see that there is more disparity of income in country X than in country Y.
4. How does the human development report give a holistic view of development?
Ans: The Human Development Report (HDR) provides a holistic view of development by
considering a wide range of factors that contribute to a country's overall well -being. The
HDR is a publication by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The HDR
provide a holistic view of development in following ways:
1. Considers multiple factors:
The HDR considers a variety of factors, including health, education, income, and life
expectancy.
2. Emphasizes well-being:
The HDR focuses on the quality of life and well-being of individuals, rather than just
economic growth.
3. Compares countries:
The HDR allows countries to be compared over time, which helps identify areas for
improvement.
4. Helps with policy development:
The HDR helps governments and organizations create policies that promote
comprehensive development.
5. How does World Bank classify countries?
Ans: World Bank uses per capita income as basic criterion to compare countries.
a. Countries with per capita income of US$ 63,400 per annum and above in 2023, are called
rich countries.
b. Those countries with per capita income of US$ 2400 or less are called low-income
countries.
c. The countries with per capita income between US$ 2400 and US$ 63,400 per annum are
middle income countries.
d. India comes in the category of low middle income countries because its per capita income
in 2023 was just US$ 10,030 per annum.
6. What are public facilities? Give examples.
Ans: a. Public facilities are the provisions aimed for welfare of masses. Every individual
has equal access to such facilities.
b. These facilities cannot be owned or maintained by one individual, nor can an
individual use them alone for his or her personal interest.
c. These facilities are required for an overall development of the citizens of a country.

(Extra Questions)

1. What is National Develoment?

Ans: National development is the change in growth and development, which includes
social, cultural and economic change. It is the ability of a country to improve the social
welfare of the people.
 2. What is Development? Why is the meaning of development different for different
people?
Ans: Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the addition of
physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components.
a. Different people have different development goals. Since every individual is different from
the other, the notion of development also varies.
b. The difference in social and economic positions of the people generally results in different
goals of development.
• For example, Development goals of landless rural labour: he may seek to earn more wages.
• Development goals of farmers who depend on rain for growing crops: he may expect more rain
to grow crops well for his livelihood.
• Development goals of children pursuing for higher education abroad: Children may work hard
to score good marks and to go abroad for higher education.

3. Kerala, with lower per capita income has a better human development ranking than
Haryana. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to
compare states. Do you agree? Discuss.
a. Yes, I agree that per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to
compare states. We can understand this fact with the help of the statistics of two states, Kerala and
Haryana.
b. The per capita income of Haryana (Rs 2,64,729) is higher than Kerala (Rs 2,34,405). However,
the infant mortality rate (28) and literacy rate (82%) in Haryana are much lower than Kerala (infant
mortality rate-6 and literacy rate-94%) acc. To 2023-24 NSSO Report.
c. The above data clearly shows that per capita income alone cannot be used for measuring the
development of a nation or a state.

4. Find out the present sources of energy that are used by the people in India. What could be
the other possibilities fifty years from now?
a. While firewood is the main source of energy in rural India, coal, petroleum and natural gas are
used extensively for the production of energy. These sources are non-renewable resources i.e. they
are exhaustible.
In about fifty years of time, we can hope to see various new renewable resources of energy being
used on a much larger scale than they are used now. Solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy,
tidal energy and bio-gas made from the cow dung can be used extensively in future. Besides being
renewable resources (non exhaustible), these are also environment friendly. a nation or a state.

5. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

a. Sustainable development means the judicious use of natural resources in such a way that they
not only fulfill the needs of the present generation but also of the future generations. Sustainable
development is required for the future growth and development of the countries.
b. Development in an uncontrolled manner will not only lead to fast depletion of resources but will
also result in stagnation of economies of the world.
c. Sustainable development ensures stable and regular development of a country’s economy.
6. “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the
greed of even one person”. How is this statement relevant to the disscusion of development?
Discuss.
a. This famous quote of Mahatma Gandhi tells us that Earth has plenty of resources to satisfy the
needs and basic requirements of the people but it does not have resources to meet the greed of even
one person.
b. While the basic necessities of human race can be fulfilled by nature, the unlimited exploitation
of resources on the pretext of rapid development and the satisfaction of unlimited wants will lead
to the destruction of resources.
c. Sustainable development is the key to the stable growth of economy. It will not only lead to the
development of the present economy but will also lead to its development in the future.

7. List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around
you.
Various kinds of environmental degradations are taking place today. Air pollution caused
because of vehicles and industries, water pollution caused because of industrial effluents and
human activities and land degradation because of mining, deforestation, and building of residential
apartments, highways and for making furnitures have collectively led to environmental
degradation. Life expectancy at birth. Pakistan occupies the lowest position in the gross enrolment
for all the three categories.

8. Write a paragraph on your notion of what should India do, or achieve, to become a
developed country.
Ans: a. India is one of the most developing nations presently in the world but when we look at
the figures related to Human Development Index, India is still very far from developed nations'
list on several parameters. India has shown great improvement on the life expectancy, infant
mortality, and literacy rate in the 2011 census.
b. There are several factors in which we have to work on, some of these are: Lack of proper
healthcare, drinking water, sanitation and nutrition especially in rural areas.
c. India needs to develop facilities to improve on these parameters so that it can become a
developed nation.
9. Give some examples where factors other than income are important aspects of our lives.
Ans: Though income is one of the most important aspects of our lives, there are other
important things, such as
(a) People also seek things like equal treatment, freedom, security, health and respect.
(b) Women need safe and secure environment to take up a variety of Jobs or run a
business.
(c) People also need political rights.
(d) People seek a pollution-free environment.