Class 10 Social Science (Economics) –
Chapter 1: Development Notes
1. What is Development?
● Development means improvement in the quality of life of people.
● Different people have different ideas about development.
● What is development for one person may not be development for another person.
Examples of Development Goals
● Better income and employment
● Equality and freedom
● Security and respect
● Good education and healthcare
● Clean environment
2. Different People, Different Goals
People's goals depend on their life situations.
Person Development Goal
Landless labourer More work and higher wages
Farmer Better crop prices
Student Good education and job opportunities
Businessperson Higher profits
Development goals may be different and sometimes conflicting.
Conflicting Goals
● Development for one may cause harm to another.
Example:
○ Industrialists want more electricity → need more dams.
○ But dams submerge tribal land → displacement and loss of livelihood.
3. Income and Other Goals
Income is important because it helps people buy goods and services.
However, income alone is not enough. People also want:
● Equal treatment
● Freedom
● Security
● Respect
● Healthy environment
Therefore, development includes both material and non-material goals.
Material vs Non-Material Goals
Material Goals Non-Material Goals
More income Equality
Better wages Freedom
Better house, car, food Respect and dignity
Economic security Political and social rights
● Development is a mix of material and non-material goals.
● Non-material goals are often more important for long-term happiness.
4. National Development
National development refers to the overall progress of a country.
Features of National Development
1. Inclusive Growth: Benefits of development must reach every section of society.
2. Equitable Distribution: No one should remain extremely poor or extremely rich.
3. Sustainability: Development should not harm the environment or future generations.
4. Freedom and Participation: Every citizen should have a voice in decision-making.
5. Human Development: Focus on education, health, and skill development along with
income.
5. Comparing Different Countries or States
Per Capita Income (Average Income)
Per Capita Income=Total Income of Country/Total Population
● It is used to compare countries and states.
● Higher per capita income generally indicates a higher level of development.
Limitations of Per Capita Income / Average Income
1. Hides Inequality:
○ It does not show how income is distributed among people.
○ A few rich people can raise the average even if most are poor.
2. Ignores Non-Material Aspects:
○ Equality, security, respect, freedom, and happiness cannot be measured in
money.
3. Does Not Reflect Quality of Life:
○ A country with high income but poor healthcare, education, or pollution control
cannot be called truly developed.
6. Income and Other Criteria
Besides income, the following factors are also important:
Health
● Life expectancy
● Availability of healthcare
Education
● Literacy rate
● Years of schooling
Living Conditions
● Safe drinking water
● Sanitation
● Housing
Development should improve all these aspects.
Comparison Among Indian States
Per Capita Income
State Per Capita Income (₹)
Haryana 2,64,729
Kerala 2,34,405
Bihar 47,498
● Haryana has the highest income, Bihar the lowest.
● If income were the only criterion, Haryana would be most developed.
Other Development Indicators
State Infant Mortality Rate Literacy Rate (%) Net Attendance
(per 1,000 live (2017–18) Ratio at Secondary
births) Stage (aged 15–17)
Haryana 28 82 73
Kerala 6 94 94
Bihar 27 62 69
Analysis of the Data
● Though Kerala’s per capita income is lower than Haryana’s,
its social indicators are much better.
● Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is lowest in Kerala, showing good health and medical
facilities.
● Literacy Rate and Net Attendance Ratio are highest in Kerala, indicating good
education.
● Bihar lags behind in all indicators.
Conclusion:
Income alone cannot measure development.
A state with moderate income but high education and health levels is more developed than a
richer but unequal state.
Key Development Indicators Explained
Indicator Meaning Interpretation
Per Capita Income (PCI) Average income of a person Higher PCI → better
in a state/country economic status
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) Number of children dying Lower IMR → better
before 1 year of age per healthcare and nutrition
1,000 live births
Literacy Rate Percentage of literate people Higher literacy → better
aged 7 and above education and awareness
Net Attendance Ratio (NAR) Percentage of children Higher NAR → better access
(15–17 years) attending to schooling and equality
school
7. Public Facilities
Public facilities are services provided by the government for everyone.
Examples
● Schools
● Hospitals
● Roads
● Electricity
● Drinking water
Why public facilities matter:
● Money alone cannot buy all essential services (e.g., clean air, safe water).
● People depend on collective provision — when the community as a whole benefits.
● Example: It’s cheaper to have a public school or hospital than each person having
private ones.
● These facilities improve the quality of life and are important indicators of development.
8. Human Development Report (HDR)
Published by: United Nations Development Programme
HDR measures development using:
1. Health
2. Education
3. Income
This gives a more complete picture of development than income alone.
Dimension Indicator Used What It Shows
1️⃣ Long and Healthy Life Life Expectancy at Birth Health status of people
2️⃣ Knowledge Mean Years of Schooling Educational achievement
(25 yrs & above) and
Expected Years of
Schooling (for children)
3️⃣ Decent Standard of Living Gross National Income Economic well-being
(GNI) per capita at
Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP)
9. Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body Mass Index (BMI) helps determine whether a person is undernourished, normal, or
overweight.
Formula:
BMI = Weight (in kg) /Height (in metres)
Steps:
1. Measure your weight (in kilograms).
2. Measure your height (in metres).
3. Divide weight by the square of height.
BMI Range Interpretation
Below 18.5 Underweight / Undernourished
18.5 – 24.9 Normal
25 – 29.9 Overweight
30 and above Obese
10. Sustainable Development
Sustainable development means meeting present needs without harming the ability of future
generations to meet their needs.
Why Sustainability Is Important
1. Unlimited wants, limited resources: Natural resources (like water, forests, and
minerals) are limited.
2. Overuse and depletion: Excessive use can lead to exhaustion and environmental
damage.
3. Future generations’ rights: We must leave behind enough resources for them.
4. Environmental degradation: Pollution, deforestation, and global warming threaten
long-term survival
Examples
● Afforestation
● Rainwater harvesting
● Use of renewable energy
● Reducing pollution