Class 10 Economics — Chapter 1: Development | 2026-27

CBSE CLASS 10 — ECONOMICS

Chapter 1: DEVELOPMENT
Complete Study Package — Session 2026–27
Notes • Glossary • Formulae • NCERT Q&A • Competency-Based Questions
MCQs • Assertion-Reason • Case Studies • VSA/SA/LA • HOTS
Suitable for: Periodic Tests (PT) | Pre-Boards | Final Board Examination

How to use this document

● Section A: Full explanatory notes — read this first for concept clarity.
● Section B: Glossary + Formulae — for quick last-minute revision.
● Section C: NCERT in-text & end-of-chapter questions with model answers.
● Section D: Competency-Based / Case-Based Questions (new CBSE pattern).
● Section E: MCQs and Assertion–Reason questions (objective-type, PT/Pre-Board pattern).
● Section F: VSA (1 mark), SA (3 marks), LA (5 marks) and HOTS questions — final board pattern.
● Section G: Rapid-fire revision worksheet (fill in the blanks / true-false) for the last day before the exam.

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SECTION A — DETAILED CHAPTER NOTES

1. Development Means Different Things to Different People

Development does not mean the same thing to all people. Different persons/groups can have different, and
sometimes conflicting, notions of what constitutes development.
● A landless rural labourer wants more days of work and better wages, local school for children, no social
discrimination, and freedom from indebtedness.
● A prosperous farmer wants a good price/high MSP for produce, cheap labour, own business/agro-based
factories, and irrigation facilities.
● An industrialist wants cheap raw material and labour, favourable government policies.
Key idea: What is development for one may not be development for the other — and can even be destructive
for the other (e.g., a factory owner's demand for cheap labour is against the interest of the labourer).
People look for a mix of goals — not just more income/money but also equality, freedom, security, and respect
from others.

2. Individual and National Development

Individuals compare with others and aspire for what others have — different persons have different
developmental goals. At the same time, some notions of development that are important for one may not even
be important/desirable for others (e.g. non-smokers want tobacco factories closed; workers there want it to
expand).
For an entire nation, developmental goals of different persons/groups are often conflicting; hence, development
necessarily involves some tension and conflicting interests. Different persons can have different, even
contradictory, notions of a country's development.

3. How to Compare Different Countries or States?

(a) Average / Per Capita Income
For comparing countries or states, their income is considered one of the most important attributes.
Countries with higher income are considered more developed than others with less income.
Formula: Average (Per Capita) Income = Total Income of the Country ÷ Total Population of the Country
Average income is also called per capita income. It is used by the World Bank to classify countries.

World Bank Classification (as illustrated in the NCERT textbook, 2017 data)
● Rich / Developed countries: per capita income of US$ 12,056 or more (2017).
● Poor / Low-income countries: per capita income of US$ 996 or less (2017).
● India (2017): per capita income of about US$ 1,820 — placed in the 'low middle income' category.
Note: The exact dollar figures are revised by the World Bank every year; boards generally accept the concept and the
NCERT-quoted figures. Focus on the concept and classification logic rather than memorising the exact number.

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(b) Limitations of Using Average/Per Capita Income

● Average income is only an average; it hides inequalities — it does not tell us how income is distributed
among the population.
● Two countries/states with the same per capita income can have very different levels of distribution of
income among people.
● Average income does not capture other important aspects of life such as health, education, safety, or
the environment.

4. Beyond Income — Other Criteria of Development

Since income alone cannot adequately reflect the level of development of a country/state, other criteria are also
used:

(a) Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

IMR indicates the number of children that die before reaching one year of age as a proportion of 1,000 live
children born in that particular year.

(b) Literacy Rate

Literacy rate denotes the proportion of the population aged 7 years and above who can read and write with
understanding.

(c) Net Attendance Ratio

This is the total number of children of a particular age group (e.g. 14–15 years) attending school as a percentage
of the total number of children in that same age group.

(d) Other Indicators

● Access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities.
● Body Mass Index (BMI) — a measure of nutritional level.
● Life expectancy at birth.

Comparison Example (as per NCERT): Three Indian States

Indicator Kerala Maharashtra Bihar
Per Capita Income (₹, illustrative Lower than Higher / one of the Lowest among the
NCERT figures) Maharashtra & highest three
Punjab
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000 live Lowest (best) Moderate Highest (poorest)
births)
Literacy Rate Highest Above average Lowest
Overall development status High human High income, Low income and
development despite moderate social low social
modest income indicators indicators

Conclusion: Kerala, despite a lower per capita income than Maharashtra or Punjab, has a much better IMR and
literacy rate. This proves that a high level of income alone need not ensure a high level of human development
— money income is not the only useful indicator.

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5. Public Facilities
Money income alone cannot buy all the goods and services required to live well. For a healthy and secure life,
we need many things that money cannot buy or that are available only as a shared public resource:
● A pollution-free environment.
● Unadulterated medicines and safe food.
● Peace, harmony, and protection from crime.
Individuals acting alone often cannot secure these; they require the collective effort of the community and
government through public facilities such as public health services, sanitation systems, public transport, and
effective law and order.
Example: Kerala has a low IMR partly because of good public health facilities and spread of education —
including for girls — which are almost universally accessible, even though the state's average income is not the
highest.

6. Human Development Report and HDI

Since 1990, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been publishing the Human Development
Report every year, which ranks countries based on the Human Development Index (HDI).
HDI compares countries on the basis of the educational levels of the people, their health status (life expectancy),
and per capita income. It presents a wider picture of development than income alone.
● Interestingly, countries that are not rich in income terms can perform better in HDI ranking if they invest
in health and education adequately.

7. Sustainability of Development
Development must be sustainable, i.e., the present generation should meet its needs without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Example: Groundwater Depletion (Punjab)

Punjab used a large part of its groundwater for tubewell irrigation to grow water-intensive wheat and rice. As a
result, groundwater levels dropped sharply, and further extraction using normal methods became difficult and
costly, threatening the sustainability of this resource for future generations.

Renewable vs Non-Renewable Resources

Renewable Resources Non-Renewable Resources
Resources that are not exhausted with use / Resources present in a limited (fixed) stock that get
naturally replenished, e.g. groundwater, forests, exhausted with continued extraction/use, e.g. coal,
solar and wind energy petroleum, natural gas
Can be used carefully to ensure long-term Once used up, cannot be replaced; overuse
availability endangers future availability

Global Concern: If a resource such as groundwater or crude oil is overused by one country/region/generation,
there will be less left for the future. Similarly, overuse of natural resources across the world (leading to problems
like global warming, ozone depletion, degradation of forests) threatens the very survival of humanity, making
sustainable development a global — not just national — concern.

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Strategies for Sustainable Development

● Judicious/careful use of resources rather than reckless exploitation.
● Rainwater harvesting and watershed development.
● Promoting the use of renewable energy sources (solar, wind) over non-renewable fossil fuels.
● Organic farming to preserve soil fertility for future use.
● Conservation of forests and biodiversity.

8. Key Terms / Glossary

Term Meaning
Development A process that leads to improvement in the standard of living, income,
health, education and overall well-being of people.
Per Capita/Average Income Total income of a country divided by its total population.
National Income Total income earned by all the residents/citizens of a country in a year.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) Number of children who die before age one, per 1,000 live births in a year.
Literacy Rate Percentage of population aged 7 years and above who can read and write
with understanding.
Net Attendance Ratio Percentage of children of a given age group actually attending school out of
the total children of that age group.
Public Facilities Goods and services provided collectively (by government/community) that
money alone cannot easily buy, e.g. clean environment, public health, law
and order.
Human Development Index An index by UNDP comparing countries on health, education, and per capita
(HDI) income to measure overall development.
Sustainable Development Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
Renewable Resources Resources that can be replenished naturally and are not exhausted with
use, e.g. groundwater, forests.
Non-Renewable Resources Resources with a fixed stock that get depleted with continued use, e.g. coal,
petroleum.
BMI (Body Mass Index) A measure used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight
relative to height, used as a nutrition indicator.

9. Important Formulae (Quick Recall)

● Average/Per Capita Income = Total Income of Country ÷ Total Population
● Infant Mortality Rate = (Number of infant deaths before age 1 in a year ÷ Number of live births in that
year) × 1,000
● Literacy Rate = (Number of literate persons aged 7+ ÷ Total population aged 7+) × 100
● Net Attendance Ratio = (Children of age group X attending school ÷ Total children in age group X) × 100

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10. One-Page Mind Map (Text Form) for Last-Minute Revision

● Development → means different things to different people/groups → conflicting notions possible.
● Comparing development → Average Income (World Bank criterion) → limitation: hides inequality &
ignores other aspects.
● Other criteria → IMR, Literacy Rate, Net Attendance Ratio → Kerala vs Maharashtra vs Bihar example.
● Public facilities → things money alone can't buy → need collective/govt action.
● HDI (UNDP) → income + health + education → wider measure of development.
● Sustainability → present needs without harming future generations → Punjab groundwater example.
● Resources → Renewable (groundwater, forests) vs Non-Renewable (coal, petroleum) → global concern
(climate change).

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SECTION B — NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

In-Text Questions (from within the chapter)

Q: Why do different persons have different developmental goals? Discuss.
Ans: Because each person/group is placed differently in society and has different needs and priorities — for
example, a landless labourer prioritises more days of work and fair wages, a farmer wants better prices and
irrigation, while an industrialist wants cheap labour and favourable policy. Since resources are limited, meeting
one group's goal can conflict with another's, so developmental goals differ and can even clash.
Q: Can you think of examples where a developmental goal is important for one group and is in conflict with
another group?
Ans: Yes — non-smokers may want a tobacco factory to be closed for health/environmental reasons, whereas
the workers employed there and its owners want it to expand for jobs and profit. Similarly, an industrialist's
need for cheap labour conflicts with a labourer's need for higher wages.
Q: List a few examples of the kind of comparisons that would help us to classify states/countries as developed
or less developed.
Ans: Per capita/average income, infant mortality rate, literacy rate, net attendance ratio in schools, access to
safe drinking water and sanitation, life expectancy, and the Human Development Index (HDI).
Q: What are the limitations of per capita income as a measure of development?
Ans: Per capita income is only an average and hides disparities — it does not show how income is distributed
among the population; it also ignores non-income aspects like health, education, environment, and public
facilities available to people.

End-of-Chapter Exercise Questions (NCERT)

Q: Development of a country can generally be determined by
Ans: (iv) Its per capita income — this is the option normally used by international agencies like the World Bank
to classify countries, although it has limitations, as it is only an average and ignores distribution and other
aspects of life.
Q: Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of Human Development
Indicators than India: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan?
Ans: Sri Lanka has better performance in terms of Human Development Indicators (life expectancy, literacy, per
capita income) compared to India among its neighbours.
Q: Assess the usefulness of the criteria used by the World Bank in classifying countries.
Ans: The World Bank uses per capita/average income as the main criterion to classify countries into rich and
poor. It is useful because income is easy to measure and broadly reflects a country's economic strength and its
residents' purchasing power. However, it is limited because it is only an average that hides how income is
distributed among the population, and it ignores important non-monetary aspects such as health, education,
environment, and public facilities that also determine the quality of life.
Q: In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for classifying countries different from the one used by
the World Bank?

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Ans: The World Bank uses only average/per capita income to classify countries as rich or poor. The UNDP, on the
other hand, uses the Human Development Index (HDI), which considers per capita income along with health
status (e.g. life expectancy) and educational levels (literacy rate, school enrolment) of the people. Hence, the
UNDP criterion gives a more comprehensive picture of development than income alone.
Q: Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with an example.
Ans: Averages are used because they provide a single summary figure that makes comparison between two
states/countries/groups simple and quick. Limitation: an average conceals variations/inequalities within the
group. Example: if in a locality of 5 families, four families earn ₹3,000 each and one earns ₹500 per month, the
average income is ₹2,500, which does not reveal that one family is much poorer than the rest.
Q: Kerala, with a lower per capita income, has a better human development ranking than Maharashtra.
Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to compare states and
countries. Do you agree? Discuss.
Ans: Partially agree. The Kerala–Maharashtra comparison shows that a higher per capita income does not
automatically guarantee higher human development, since Kerala's better public health and education facilities
give it a lower IMR and higher literacy despite a lower income than Maharashtra. However, this does not mean
per capita income is useless — income remains an important indicator of the resources available to a
state/country and is easy to calculate and compare. The correct conclusion is that per capita income should be
used along with other indicators (health, education, sustainability), not in isolation.
Q: Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Ans: Sustainability is important because if the present generation uses up resources recklessly (e.g. depleting
groundwater or fossil fuels), future generations will not have enough resources to meet their own needs.
Development that harms the environment or exhausts resources cannot continue indefinitely, so long-term
human progress depends on protecting resources for tomorrow while meeting today's needs.
Q: 'The distinction between renewable and non-renewable resources is vital for the very sustainability of
development.' Explain.
Ans: Renewable resources (like groundwater, forests, solar/wind energy) can regenerate naturally and, if used
carefully, will remain available for future use. Non-renewable resources (like coal and petroleum) exist in a fixed,
limited stock; once consumed, they cannot be replaced. If development depends heavily on non-renewable
resources without finding alternatives, growth cannot be sustained once these resources are exhausted.
Therefore, recognising this distinction and shifting towards renewable resources and their careful use is vital for
sustainable development.
Q: 'Freedom from indebtedness for the tenant farmers means very high wages for them.' Do you agree with
this statement made by the money lender? Give reason for your view.
Ans: No. Freedom from indebtedness means being free from the burden of debt/loans taken from
moneylenders (often at very high interest rates), so that farmers/labourers are not trapped in a cycle of
borrowing and repaying. It does not necessarily mean unreasonably high wages — it means fair wages,
reasonable credit access, and conditions that do not force them into debt. The moneylender's framing is self-
serving, since it is in his interest to project any move away from dependence on him as an unreasonable
demand.
Q: 'The health of a person is not just dependent on medical facilities but on a host of other factors.' Justify the
statement giving three other factors which determine health status of a person.
Ans: This is true because health depends on overall living conditions, not only on medical treatment. Three other
factors: (i) access to a clean and pollution-free environment; (ii) availability of safe drinking water and proper
sanitation; (iii) proper nutrition/food security (adequate and balanced diet).

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Q: For each of the two variables that is Gross Enrolment Ratio in Education and Adult Literacy Rate, find out
which country is at the top and which is at the bottom, among the three countries given in Table 1.5 (Sri
Lanka, India, Pakistan).
Ans: As per NCERT Table 1.5, Sri Lanka is generally at the top and Pakistan at the bottom for both Adult Literacy
Rate and Gross Enrolment Ratio in Education, with India placed in between the two. (Students should refer to
the exact current NCERT table figures given in their textbook for precise numbers.)

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SECTION C — COMPETENCY-BASED / CASE-BASED QUESTIONS

(As per the latest CBSE competency-focused pattern — source-based passages followed by objective and short-
answer questions.)

Case Study 1: Comparing Two Villages

Village A has a large number of factories and a high average income per household. However, most of the
income is concentrated among a few landlord families, while the majority of workers earn very little and lack
access to clean drinking water and a primary health centre. Village B has a lower average income, but almost
every family has access to safe drinking water, a functioning primary school, and a health sub-centre; income is
also more evenly distributed among households.
Q: 1. Which village would rank higher on average/per capita income, and why might this be misleading?
Ans: Village A would rank higher on per capita income because of the concentration of wealth among a few
landlord families. This is misleading because the average hides the fact that most workers actually earn very
little — the income is unevenly distributed.
Q: 2. Identify two indicators, other than income, that should be used to assess which village is more
'developed'.
Ans: Access to safe drinking water/sanitation, and availability of health and education facilities (literacy rate,
IMR, school attendance) — both of which favour Village B.
Q: 3. Which of the following best explains why Village B may have better human development despite lower
income? (a) Higher industrial output (b) More equal distribution of income and better public facilities (c)
Larger population (d) More landlord families
Ans: (b) More equal distribution of income and better public facilities.

Case Study 2: The Groundwater Crisis

Punjab is one of India's most agriculturally productive states, largely due to extensive irrigation using
groundwater through tubewells for water-intensive crops like paddy and wheat. Over decades of continuous
extraction, the groundwater table in many blocks of Punjab has fallen dramatically, making it increasingly costly
to pump water using ordinary methods, and threatening the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the region.
Q: 1. Classify groundwater as a renewable or non-renewable resource, and explain your answer using the
case.
Ans: Groundwater is naturally a renewable resource because it can be replenished through rainfall and natural
recharge. However, the case shows that when extraction far exceeds the rate of natural recharge, it behaves like
a depleting resource in practice, showing that even renewable resources need careful/sustainable use.
Q: 2. What term is used to describe development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?
Ans: Sustainable development.
Q: 3. Suggest two strategies Punjab could adopt to make its water use more sustainable.

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Ans: Rainwater harvesting and watershed development to recharge groundwater; and crop diversification away
from highly water-intensive crops like paddy towards less water-intensive alternatives, along with efficient
irrigation techniques (e.g. drip irrigation).
Q: 4. Assertion: If the current generation overuses groundwater, it violates the principle of sustainability. Is
this assertion correct? Justify.
Ans: Yes, correct. Sustainability requires that resource use today should not compromise availability for future
generations; overusing groundwater beyond its recharge capacity reduces its availability for the future, violating
this principle.

Case Study 3: Human Development Report

Every year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) publishes the Human Development Report,
ranking countries based on the educational levels of the people, their health status, and per capita income.
Interestingly, some countries with relatively lower per capita income than others perform much better on this
index because of strong investment in health and education.
Q: 1. Name the index used by the UNDP to rank countries.
Ans: The Human Development Index (HDI).
Q: 2. List the three components used to calculate the HDI.
Ans: Educational levels of the people (literacy/enrolment), health status (life expectancy), and per capita
income.
Q: 3. Why might a country with lower per capita income rank higher on HDI than a richer country?
Ans: Because HDI also weighs health and education outcomes; a country that invests well in public health and
schooling can achieve better literacy and life expectancy even with a comparatively lower income, raising its
overall HDI ranking.

SECTION D — MCQs AND ASSERTION–REASON QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

1. Development of a nation is generally assessed by:
(a) Cultural heritage
(b) Per capita income
(c) Land area
(d) Population size
Answer: (b) Per capita income
2. Which organisation uses average income to classify countries as rich or poor?
(a) UNDP
(b) WHO
(c) World Bank
(d) WTO
Answer: (c) World Bank
3. Per capita income is also known as:
(a) National income
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(b) Average income

(c) Gross income
(d) Disposable income
Answer: (b) Average income
4. Infant Mortality Rate indicates deaths of children before the age of:
(a) 5 years
(b) 1 year
(c) 10 years
(d) 15 years
Answer: (b) 1 year
5. Which state, as per NCERT, has a low per capita income but a high literacy rate and low IMR?
(a) Punjab
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Kerala
(d) Bihar
Answer: (c) Kerala
6. The Human Development Index is published by:
(a) World Bank
(b) UNDP
(c) IMF
(d) WTO
Answer: (b) UNDP
7. Which of the following is a renewable resource?
(a) Coal
(b) Petroleum
(c) Groundwater
(d) Natural gas
Answer: (c) Groundwater
8. Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?
(a) Forests
(b) Solar energy
(c) Coal
(d) Groundwater
Answer: (c) Coal
9. Development that does not compromise the needs of future generations is called:
(a) Economic growth
(b) Sustainable development
(c) National income
(d) Human development
Answer: (b) Sustainable development
10. Net Attendance Ratio is related to:
(a) Health
(b) School attendance
(c) Income

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(d) Sanitation
Answer: (b) School attendance
11. The main limitation of per capita income as a measure of development is that it:
(a) Is difficult to calculate
(b) Hides income inequality
(c) Is only used in India
(d) Ignores population
Answer: (b) Hides income inequality
12. Which of these is an example of a 'public facility'?
(a) Private car
(b) Public health centre
(c) Personal savings
(d) Private tuition
Answer: (b) Public health centre
13. As per the World Bank's 2017 criterion (NCERT), India was classified as a:
(a) Rich country
(b) Low middle income country
(c) Least developed country
(d) High income country
Answer: (b) Low middle income country
14. Groundwater depletion in Punjab is mainly due to excessive irrigation for:
(a) Cotton and sugarcane
(b) Wheat and rice
(c) Pulses
(d) Oilseeds
Answer: (b) Wheat and rice
15. Which of the following is NOT a criterion generally used to compare development?
(a) Literacy rate
(b) Per capita income
(c) National flag design
(d) Infant mortality rate
Answer: (c) National flag design

Assertion–Reason Questions
Directions: Each question has an Assertion (A) and a Reason (R). Choose the correct option:
● (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
● (b) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
● (c) A is true, but R is false.
● (d) A is false, but R is true.

1. Assertion (A): Per capita income alone is not sufficient to judge the development of a country. Reason (R): It
does not indicate how income is distributed among the population.
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Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Kerala has a higher level of human development than Maharashtra despite having a lower per
capita income. Reason (R): Kerala has better public health and educational facilities.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
3. Assertion (A): Coal and petroleum are non-renewable resources. Reason (R): They exist in a limited stock and
cannot be replenished quickly once used up.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
4. Assertion (A): Sustainable development requires careful use of natural resources. Reason (R): Resources like
groundwater can get depleted if used recklessly.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
5. Assertion (A): The Human Development Index considers only the income of a country. Reason (R): HDI is
published by the UNDP and considers health, education, and income.
Answer: (d) A is false, but R is true.

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SECTION E — VSA, SA, LA AND HOTS QUESTIONS (BOARD PATTERN)

Very Short Answer Questions (1 mark each)

Q: Define development.
Ans: Development refers to the process of overall improvement in the standard of living, income, education,
health, and well-being of the people of a country.
Q: What is per capita income?
Ans: Per capita income is the total income of a country divided by its total population.
Q: Name the organisation that publishes the Human Development Report.
Ans: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Q: What is Infant Mortality Rate?
Ans: It is the number of children who die before the age of one, per 1,000 live births in a year.
Q: Give one example of a non-renewable resource.
Ans: Coal (or petroleum).
Q: Give one example of a renewable resource.
Ans: Groundwater (or forests).
Q: What is meant by 'literacy rate'?
Ans: The proportion of the population aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding.
Q: Name the index used by the World Bank to classify countries.
Ans: Average/per capita income.
Q: What is meant by sustainable development?
Ans: Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
Q: Which Indian state has the lowest Infant Mortality Rate, as per the NCERT example?
Ans: Kerala.

Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q: Explain any three limitations of using per capita income as the sole criterion for development.
Ans: (i) It is only an average and hides the inequality of income distribution among the population. (ii) It ignores
non-monetary aspects of well-being such as health, education, and environment. (iii) It does not indicate the
availability of public facilities like sanitation, clean water, or safety, which are important for a good quality of life.
Q: Explain the criteria used by the UNDP to construct the Human Development Index.
Ans: The UNDP constructs the HDI using three broad criteria: (i) Health status, measured through life expectancy
at birth; (ii) Educational levels, measured through literacy rate and enrolment ratios; (iii) Per capita income,
adjusted to reflect standard of living. Together these give a more holistic picture of development than income
alone.

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Q: Why do different people have different developmental goals? Explain with two examples.
Ans: Different people are placed differently in the economy and society, so their needs and priorities differ. For
example, a landless labourer seeks more days of work, fair wages, and freedom from indebtedness, while a
wealthy farmer seeks better irrigation and higher prices for produce. Since resources are limited, satisfying one
group's goal may conflict with another's — hence goals differ and can even clash.
Q: Explain the importance of public facilities in a country's development, with examples.
Ans: Public facilities matter because money income alone cannot buy everything necessary for a good life — for
example, a pollution-free environment, safe/unadulterated food and medicines, and peace and security depend
on collective provision rather than individual purchase. Governments and communities must therefore provide
facilities like public health centres, clean water supply, and law and order, which benefit everyone regardless of
income.
Q: Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources with examples.
Ans: Renewable resources are those that are naturally replenished and do not get exhausted with use if
managed carefully, e.g. groundwater, forests, solar and wind energy. Non-renewable resources exist in a limited,
fixed stock and get depleted permanently once used, e.g. coal, petroleum, and natural gas. This distinction is
important for planning sustainable development.

Long Answer Questions (5 marks each)

Q: Explain, with the help of a suitable example, why average/per capita income should not be the only
criterion used to compare the development of two states or countries.
Ans: Average/per capita income is a useful starting point because it is easy to calculate and gives a rough idea of
the economic resources available per person in a country. However, using it as the only criterion has serious
drawbacks. First, it is only an average and can conceal wide disparities — a state may have a high average
income even if this wealth is concentrated among a few people while most residents remain poor. Second,
average income ignores important non-income dimensions of well-being, such as access to healthcare,
education, sanitation, and a clean environment. This is well illustrated by comparing Kerala and Maharashtra in
India: although Maharashtra has a higher per capita income than Kerala, Kerala performs much better on the
Infant Mortality Rate and literacy rate because of its strong public investment in health and education over
decades. This shows that a state with lower income can still achieve a higher level of human development if it
invests wisely in public facilities and ensures more equal distribution of resources. Therefore, income should
always be considered together with other indicators — such as IMR, literacy rate, net attendance ratio, and
access to public facilities — and ideally combined into a composite measure like the Human Development Index,
to obtain a fair and complete picture of development.
Q: 'The distinction between renewable and non-renewable resources is crucial for the sustainability of
development.' Explain this statement with examples, and suggest measures for sustainable use of resources.
Ans: Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This depends critically on how resources are used.
Renewable resources, such as groundwater, forests, solar and wind energy, are naturally replenished and, if
used within their capacity for renewal, can remain available indefinitely. Non-renewable resources, such as coal,
petroleum, and natural gas, exist in a fixed and limited stock; once they are extracted and consumed, they
cannot be replaced, meaning that continued economic activity dependent on them cannot go on forever. The
case of groundwater depletion in Punjab shows that even a naturally renewable resource can behave like a non-
renewable one if extracted faster than it can be recharged — decades of tubewell irrigation for water-intensive
wheat and rice cultivation caused the groundwater table to fall dramatically, threatening the long-term
sustainability of agriculture in the state. To ensure sustainable development, several measures can be adopted:
promoting rainwater harvesting and watershed development to recharge groundwater; encouraging crop
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diversification away from water-intensive crops; shifting towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind
power instead of fossil fuels; practising organic farming to preserve soil fertility; and conserving forests and
biodiversity. Ultimately, since overuse of resources in one country or region can also have global consequences
(e.g. climate change), sustainability must be addressed through both individual responsibility and international
cooperation.

HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) / Value-Based Questions

Q: A country has a very high per capita income but a poor Human Development Index ranking. What could be
the possible reasons?
Ans: Despite high average income, the country may have poor health and education outcomes because its
wealth is unevenly distributed (concentrated among a small elite), or because the government/society under-
invests in public health, education, and basic amenities. High income alone does not guarantee good schools,
hospitals, or a clean environment for the majority of the population, so HDI (which factors in health and
education) can be poor even when per capita income is high.
Q: 'Development for one may be destructive for another.' Do you agree? Justify with an example beyond
those given in the textbook.
Ans: Yes, this is a valid and important idea. For example, building a large dam for irrigation and power
generation may be 'development' for farmers and industries downstream who get water and electricity, but it
can displace and destroy the homes, farmland, and livelihoods of people living in the area to be submerged —
representing loss and hardship, not development, for them. This shows that developmental goals of different
groups can genuinely conflict, and policy must try to balance these interests fairly.
Q: As a responsible citizen, suggest two steps you can personally take to support sustainable development.
Ans: (i) Practising responsible water use at home (e.g. avoiding wastage, rainwater harvesting where possible) to
help conserve groundwater for the future. (ii) Preferring public transport, cycling, or carpooling over private
vehicle use, and reducing use of non-renewable fuels, to lower dependence on exhaustible resources and
reduce pollution.

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SECTION F — RAPID REVISION WORKSHEET (LAST-DAY PRACTICE)

Fill in the Blanks

1. Average income is also known as ______ income.
2. The World Bank uses ______ as the main criterion to classify countries as rich or poor.
3. The UNDP publishes the ______ Report every year.
4. ______ is the number of children who die before the age of one per 1,000 live births.
5. Groundwater is generally considered a ______ resource, while coal is a ______ resource.
6. Development that safeguards the needs of future generations is called ______ development.
7. Kerala has a lower per capita income than Maharashtra but a better ______ and ______ rate.
Answers: 1. per capita 2. average/per capita income 3. Human Development 4. Infant Mortality Rate 5.
renewable, non-renewable 6. sustainable 7. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), literacy

True or False
1. Per capita income alone gives a complete picture of development.
Answer: False
2. Kerala has a lower Infant Mortality Rate than Bihar.
Answer: True
3. Coal is a renewable resource.
Answer: False
4. The Human Development Index is published by the World Bank.
Answer: False (published by UNDP)
5. Sustainable development considers the needs of future generations.
Answer: True
6. Public facilities can substitute for the need for income altogether.
Answer: False

Final Tips for the Board Exam

● Always define key terms (development, per capita income, IMR, HDI, sustainable development) precisely
— examiners award marks for correct definitions.
● For 3/5-mark answers, always support your points with the Kerala–Maharashtra or Punjab groundwater
examples from the NCERT text — examiners look for these standard illustrations.
● For competency-based/case questions, read the passage carefully and answer only what is asked —
don't write generic textbook answers unrelated to the case.
● Practice the MCQs and Assertion-Reason questions repeatedly, as these carry guaranteed weight in the
objective section of Pre-Boards and Finals.

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● Revise the Renewable vs Non-Renewable table and the Glossary the night before the exam for quick
recall.

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