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DEVELOPMENT

The idea of development or progress has always been a part of human society. People have aspirations
and desires about how they want to live and what they want to achieve.

Development: This process is complex, interdisciplinary subject and requires careful thought and effort.
These issues are not limited to economics—they also appear in history and political science. The way
we live today is shaped by our past experiences and history. To bring about change, we must be aware
of our past.A democratic political process is essential to turn these hopes and goals into real-life
achievements.

WHAT DEVELOPMENT PROMISES — DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT GOALS

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 Not everyone has the same idea of development or progress. They seek things that are
most important for them, i.e., that which can fulfil their aspirations or desires.
 In fact, at times, two persons or groups of persons may seek things which are conflicting.
 A girl expects as much freedom and opportunity as her brother, and that he also
shares in the household work. Her brother may not like this.
 Similarly, to get more electricity, industrialists may want more dams. But this may
submerge the land and disrupt the lives of people who are displaced – such as
tribals. They might resent this and may prefer small check dams or tanks to irrigate
their land. For example: A demonstration
meeting against raising the height of Sardar
Sarovar Dam(Gujrat) on Narmada River
 So, two things are quite clear:
 one, different persons can have different
developmental goals and
 two, what may be development for one may
not be development for the other.
 It may even be destructive for the other. (elucidate)

Conclusion: In Development, people have different needs and priorities. What benefits one person
may harm another. Notion of development is different for different people. For example, building
a dam may provide electricity and water for farmers but displace villagers. Thus, development is
relative and depends on individual goals, making it different for different people.

INCOME AND OTHER GOALS

Hence, the developmental goals that people have are not only about better income but also about
other important things in life.

A common desire among people is for (from fig 1.1): People also desire non-material aspects such as:

 Regular work  Equal treatment

 Better wages  Freedom
 Fair prices for their crops or products  Security
 In short, they seek more income  Respect from others
 Absence of discrimination

Quality of our life depends on: Material + Non-material Things

 They resent discrimination.

 All these are important goals.
 In fact, in some cases, these may be more important than more income or more
consumption because material goods are not all that you need to live.
 Money and material things are important factors in life.
 But the quality of life also depends on non-material things.
 Non-material things include:
 Friendship
 Respect
 Security

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 Freedom
 Equality
 These things cannot be easily measured, but are very meaningful in our lives.
 Such aspects are often ignored, even though they play a big role in our happiness and well-being.

For example: If it is not obvious to you, then just think of the role of your friends in your life. You
may desire their friendship.

Similarly, there are many things that are not easily measured but they mean a lot to our lives.
These are often ignored.

However, it will be wrong to conclude that what cannot be measured is not important.

Another Example:

 Before accepting a job in a far-off place, people consider various factors, not just income.
 Important factors include:
 Facilities for the family
 Working atmosphere
 Opportunity to learn and grow
 A job with less pay but regular employment increases the sense of security.
 A job with high pay but no job security and no time for family reduces:
 Security
 Freedom
 Work-life balance
 Therefore, people value a mix of material and non-material aspects in employment.

Similarly, for development, people look at a mix of goals. (elucidate)

 Paid work increases the dignity of women in the household and society.
 Respect for women leads to:
 More sharing of household work
 Greater acceptance of women working outside the home
 A safe and secure environment enables:
 Women to take up different kinds of jobs
 Women to start and run businesses
 Overall development is supported when women are respected, safe, and given
opportunities.

Hence, the developmental goals that people have are not only about better income but also about
other important things in life. They look at mix of goals.

1. Why do different persons have different notions of development?

Which of the following explanations is more important and why?

(a) Because people are different.

(b) Because life situations of persons are different.

✅ Answer:
Both (a) and (b) are valid, but (b) is more important.

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Reason:
People may have different backgrounds, jobs, incomes, and social situations. These life situations
shape what each person needs or wants.

 For example, a rich businessman may want better roads and electricity for his factory.
 A farmer may want good irrigation and fair prices for his crops.
So, it’s their life circumstances that mainly influence their development goals.

2. Do the following two statements mean the same? Justify your answer.

(a) People have different developmental goals.

(b) People have conflicting developmental goals.

Answer: No, they do not mean the same.

 (a) means different people want different things based on their needs — like jobs,
education, healthcare, etc.
 (b) means that the goals of some people may clash or harm others.

For example:

 An industrialist may want to build a dam for electricity.

 But that dam may flood a village, causing tribals to lose their homes.

So, these goals conflict — one group’s development causes problems for another.

[Link] some examples where factors other than income are important aspects of our
lives.

Answer:

 Freedom to express opinions and make life choices

 Equality and no discrimination (e.g., gender, caste)
 Security — personal safety, job security
 Respect in society and family
 Good working conditions
 Healthy environment (clean air, water, surroundings)
 Friendship and social connections

4. Explain some of the important ideas of the above section in your own words.

Answer:

 Development means more than just earning money.

 People also want respect, equality, security, and a good quality of life.
 Different people have different development goals depending on their needs and situations.
 Sometimes, one person’s development goal can be harmful to another.

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 For true development, we must consider both material needs (like income) and non-
material needs (like respect and safety).
 Women’s development also depends on dignity, safety, and support in both work and home.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

It is very important to keep in mind that different persons could have different as well as
conflicting notions of a country’s development.

1. Look at the picture on the right. What should be the developmental goals for such an area?

Answer:

 Clean and safe living conditions

 Proper waste disposal and garbage
management
 Access to clean drinking water and
sanitation
 Affordable housing for all
 Better healthcare and education facilities
 Employment opportunities
 Electricity and basic services
 Green spaces and clean environment

2. Read the newspaper report and answer the

following questions:

(i) Who are the people who benefited and who

did not?

Answer:

 Benefited:
o The multinational company that got rid of its toxic waste cheaply
o The local company in Ivory Coast that took the contract
 Did not benefit (suffered):
o The people of Abidjan, especially poor citizens living near dumping areas
o Those who fell sick, lost their lives, or had long-term health issues
o The environment, which was severely polluted

(ii) What should be the developmental goal for this country?

Answer:

 Strong environmental laws and waste management policies

 Protection of public health
 Strict action against harmful multinational practices

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 Transparency and public awareness in government decisions

 Creation of clean, safe jobs for citizens
 Focus on sustainable development that does not harm people or nature

3. What can be some of the developmental goals for your village, town or locality?

Answer (Examples):

 Better roads and transport

 Clean drinking water for all
 Quality education and schools
 Health centres with affordable care
 Waste disposal systems
 More jobs and skill training
 Safety for women and children
 Electricity, internet, and modern facilities
 Protection of local environment (trees, rivers, etc.)

HOW TO COMPARE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OR STATES?

Usually we take one or more important

characteristics of persons and compare them based
on these characteristics.

For comparing countries (weather it is developed/rich

or not developed/poor), their income is considered to
be one of the most important attributes. -elucidate

Comparison of Countries Based on Income

Income as an Indicator

 Countries with higher income are more developed than others with less income. This is based
on the understanding that more income means more of all things that human beings need.
 So, greater income itself is considered to be one important goal
 The assumption is: more income → better ability to meet needs and wants.

What is a Country’s Income?

 Intuitively, the income of the country is the income of all the residents of the country. This
gives us the total income of the country.
 However, for comparison between countries, total income is not such a useful measure.
Since, countries have different populations, comparing total income will not tell us what
an average person is likely to earn.

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Use of Average Income (Per Capita Income)

 Hence, to compare the average income which is

the total income of the country divided by its
total population.
 The average income is also called per capita
income.

World Bank Classification (2023 Data)

 In World Development Reports, brought out by the World Bank, this criterion is used in
classifying countries.
 Countries with per capita income of US$ 63,400 per annum and above in 2023, are
called high income or rich countries.
 Countries with per capita income of US$ 2400 or less in 2023 are called low-income
countries.

India comes in the category of low middle income countries because its per capita income
in 2023 was just about US$ 10030 per annum.

The rich countries, excluding countries of Middle East and certain other small countries,
are generally called developed countries.

1. Give three examples where an average is used for comparing situations.

 Cricket: The batting average of players is used to compare their

performance.
 School: Average marks of students are compared to assess
performance.
 Weather: Average temperature is used to compare climate
conditions of different places.

2. Why do you think average income is an important criterion for development? Explain.

 Average income indicates how much, on average, a person earns in a country.

 It helps in comparing the economic status of different countries or regions.
 It reflects the overall economic health and the standard of living of people.
 While it does not show the full picture, it gives a useful first impression of development.

3. Besides size of per capita income, what other property of income is important in
comparing two or more societies?

 Income distribution is very important.

 It shows how income is shared among people.
 A country may have high average income but if most of the wealth is with a few people, it is
not considered equally developed.
 Equality and access to basic needs also matter.

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4. Suppose records show that the average income in a country has been increasing over a
period of time. From this, can we conclude that all sections of the economy have become
better? Illustrate your answer with an example.

 No, we cannot conclude that all sections have become better.

 For example, if only a small section of the population becomes richer, the average income
may rise even if others stay poor.
 Example: In a village of 5 people, if one person earns ₹90,000 and four others earn ₹2,000
each, the average income is high (₹19,600), but most people are still poor.

5. From the text, find out the per capita income level of about 10-15 low-income countries
as per World Development Reports.

 As per the text, low-income countries have a per capita income of about US$ 2,400 or less.

6. Write a paragraph on your notion of what should India do, or achieve, to become a
developed country.

Answer: To become a developed country, India should focus on improving education, healthcare, and
employment opportunities for all. It should reduce inequality and ensure that the benefits of growth
reach everyone, especially the poor and rural population. Strengthening infrastructure, encouraging
innovation, and promoting sustainable development are also important. Corruption must be reduced,
and law and order maintained. Most importantly, India must invest in human capital so that people
are skilled, healthy, and empowered to contribute to the economy.

INCOME AND OTHER CRITERIA

Understanding Development Beyond Income

 When people think about development, they consider more than just income.
 Aspirations and goals also include:
o Security
o Respect from others
o Equal treatment
o Freedom
o Dignity
 Similarly, when assessing the development of a state or nation, we should consider
other important attributes in addition to income.

Example of Three Indian States (2021–22 Data):

 Per Capita Income (Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices):

o Haryana: ₹2,64,729 (highest among the three)
o Kerala: 2,34,405
o Bihar: ₹47,500 (lowest among the three)
 Conclusion if we only use income as the measure:
o Haryana appears to be the most developed.
o Bihar appears to be the least developed.
 However, this approach ignores other important aspects of development such as:

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o Health
o Education
o Public facilities
o Equality and justice

Beyond Income: Understanding True

Development

 Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is an

important indicator of
development.
o In Kerala, only 6 out of 1000 children die before completing one year of age.
o In Haryana, 28 out of 1000 children die before turning one — almost three times
more than Kerala.
o Despite this, Haryana has a higher per capita income than Kerala.
o This shows that higher income does not always mean better quality of life.
 The emotional aspect:
o Losing a child before their first birthday is extremely painful for parents and
families.
o It highlights that development should also focus on health, not just income.
 Year of data:
o The data mentioned is from the year 2018 – 70 years after independence.
o It shows that even in modern times, serious issues like child mortality still exist.

Educational Status in Bihar (Table 1.4 Reference)

 In Bihar, about one-third of children aged 15–17 are not attending secondary school.
o This implies many children are missing from school classrooms.
o If you were studying in Bihar, around one-third of your classmates would not be
there.
o Education is a key factor in development, and its lack indicates backwardness.

Conclusion

 Per capita income alone is not a reliable indicator of

development.
 Factors like healthcare, education, and child welfare are
equally or even more important.
 A truly developed state or country ensures:
o Low infant mortality
o High school attendance
o Access to health and education for all

PUBLIC FACILITIES

Why Income Alone Is Not Enough to Measure Development

1. Income ≠ Complete Well-being

o An average person in Haryana earns more than one in Kerala, but still lags in crucial
aspects like health and education.

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o This shows that money alone cannot

guarantee a good life.
2. Some Goods and Services Can’t Be Bought Easily
o Pollution-free environment, pure medicines,
and clean water are not always available,
even if one has money.
o You may need to move to a better area,
which is not possible for everyone.
3. Protection from Diseases Requires Collective Efforts
o Even if you’re rich, you can’t protect yourself from diseases unless your entire
community follows hygiene and prevention.
o This proves the need for public health infrastructure.
4. Importance of Collective Provision of Services
o It is cheaper and more effective to provide certain services like security, education,
and sanitation collectively.
o Example: It’s better to have one
security guard for a locality than one
for each home.
5. Access to Education Depends on Society’s
Support
o If you're able to study, it's not just
because of your family’s efforts—it's
also because:
 Many children want to study.
 Society supports government-run schools and public education systems.
o In many places, girls still can’t go to high school due to lack of facilities.

Why Kerala Has a Low Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

1. Kerala has a low IMR because:

o It provides adequate basic health facilities.
o It has good educational infrastructure, helping people make better health decisions.
2. In some states, the Public Distribution System (PDS) works efficiently:
o This ensures that essential food items reach the poor, improving nutrition.
3. As a result:
o Health and nutrition in such states is better than in states with poor public services.

1. Look at data in Tables 1.3 and 1.4. Is Haryana ahead of

Kerala in literacy rate etc., as it is in terms of per capita
income?

 No, Haryana is not ahead of Kerala in literacy rate

and health indicators.
 While Haryana has higher per capita income,
Kerala has better social indicators such as:
o Higher literacy rate
o Lower infant mortality rate
o Better access to education and healthcare

2. Think of other examples where collective provision of goods and services is cheaper than
individual provision.

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Some examples include:

 Public transport (cheaper than everyone buying personal vehicles)

 Public libraries (instead of everyone buying all books)
 Street lighting (better and cheaper than each home arranging its own lights)
 Public parks and playgrounds
 Garbage collection and sanitation services

3. Does availability of good health and educational facilities depend only on amount of money
spent by the government on these facilities? What other factors could be relevant?

 No, money is important but not the only factor.

 Other important factors include:
o Proper implementation of policies
o Trained and motivated staff (doctors, teachers, etc.)
o Good governance and transparency
o Awareness among people
o Equal access and social support systems

4. In a study, it was found that in Tamil Nadu, 90% of the people living in rural areas used a ration
shop, whereas in West Bengal only 35% of rural people did so. Where would people do better off
and why?

 People in Tamil Nadu would be better off because:

o Higher access to ration shops means more people get subsidized food grains.
o It helps in improving nutrition levels and reduces hunger among the poor.
o Shows that public distribution system is functioning better in Tamil Nadu compared
to West Bengal.

Educational Achievement of Rural Population of Uttar Pradesh:

(a)The literacy rate for all age groups, including young and old, is
76% for rural males and 54% for rural females. However, it is not
just that these many adults could not attend school but that
there are children who are currently not in school.

(b)It is clear from the table that 18% of rural girls and 15% of
rural boys are not attending school. Therefore, illiteracy among
children in the age group 10–14 is as high as 13% for rural
females and 10% for rural [Link]:
Illiteracy among children (10–14 years) = 100% - Literacy rate

 For females: 100% - 87% = 13%

 For males: 100% - 90% = 10%

(c)This high level of illiteracy among 10–14 years age group, even after more than 75 years of our
independence, is most disturbing. In many other states also we are nowhere near realisation of the
constitutional goal of free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14, which was
expected to be achieved by 1960.

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Development is not just about wealth or size, but about how

that wealth is used to improve people’s lives.

Why Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh sometimes perform

better than India:

 Sri Lanka may be small, but it has historically invested

heavily in education, healthcare, and basic public
services, leading to higher life expectancy and literacy.
 Nepal and Bangladesh, despite having lower per capita
income than India, show better life expectancy, which
means people are living longer, often due to better
healthcare access or lower infant mortality.

HDI – Human Development Index:

 HDI doesn’t just consider income. It also looks at:

o Life expectancy (health)
o Education levels (years of schooling)
o Per capita income
 So, countries that care for their people’s health and education can score better, even if they
are not as rich.

The Bigger Message:

 "Human" in Human Development reminds us that the well-being of citizens is the real
measure of a nation’s progress—not just GDP or wealth.
 A large economy doesn’t mean much if citizens lack clean water, schools, hospitals, or a
pollution-free environment.

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SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT

Desirability of Development:

 Developed countries aim to maintain or improve their level of development for future
generations.

Unsustainable Development Warning:

 Since the mid-20th century, scientists have warned that current development models are
not sustainable.

Renewable Resources:

 These include resources like groundwater, crops, and plants that nature replenishes.
 Overuse (e.g., using more groundwater than rain can replenish) can lead to depletion.

Non-renewable Resources:

 These have a fixed stock and will eventually get exhausted (e.g., fossil fuels).
 Discovery of new sources adds temporarily to the stock but doesn't prevent eventual
exhaustion.

Environmental Degradation:

 Its effects cross national and state boundaries, making it a global issue.

Interconnected Future:

 All nations share a common future, emphasizing the need for collective action.

Sustainability of Development:

 A relatively new field where multiple disciplines (science, economics, philosophy, etc.)
collaborate.

Ongoing Debate on Development:

 The discussion about progress and its direction is constant and necessary.
 Individuals and societies must continually reflect on goals and aspirations.

QUESTION AND ANSWERS

1) Why do people look at a mix of goals for development?

People look at a mix of goals. Which not only focus on seeking more income but also on non-material
aspects like equal treatment, dignity of labour, respect, safe and secure work environment and
pollution free surrounding.

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2) How can we ensure the sustainability of development in our country?

• By adopting measures that can reduce global warming and check the emission of carbon.

• Checking the use of chemical fertilizers and introduction of organic farming.

• By developing renewable resources of energy.

3) State any one reason for the overuse of resources.

The increasing population is one major reason for the overuse of resources. The increase in
population is multi-fold as compared to the increase in resources as they are limited. It leads to over
consumption of resources making them scarce.

4) What is BMI? How is it calculated?

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men
and women.

Body Mass Index calculated by dividing the weight by the square of the height.

5) Explain with reasons why Punjab with a high per capita income has a low HDI

• Punjab has higher per capita income than Kerala. Income by itself is not a completely adequate
indicator of material goods and services that citizens are able to use. Over the past decade health and
education indicators have come to be widely used along with income as a measure of development.

• However, the literacy rate is 75.84% while for Kerala it is 94%.

• Kerala even has a low infant mortality rate because it has adequate provision of basic health and
educational facilities.

• Kerala along with all southern states have a well-developed PDS system.

• . Education facilities are well developed in rural areas of Kerala as compared to Punjab and there is
no gender discrimination. Punjab has one of the lowest sex ratio in India. Thus, Kerala has a better
Human Development Ranking (HDI) than Punjab.

6) “Money cannot buy all goods and services that a person may need to live well “Explain with suitable
examples.

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Yes, we agree with the statement that money cannot buy all the goods and services that one needs to
live well because of the following reasons.

• Income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of material goods and services that citizens
are able to use.

• Money can buy things that can be one factor on which our life depends like food. But the quality of
non-material things like freedom, security and respect cannot be bought with money.

• We cannot buy pollution free environment, unadulterated medicines and peace with money.

• Money may not also be able to protect us from infectious diseases, unless preventive steps are
collectively taken up by the community.

• Schools, colleges, parks, hospitals, etc. are the facilities which cannot be run individually. There has
to be a collective effort of team work between the government or society in providing these to the
general public.

7) Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

Resources are to be used in such a way that they are not exploited and development should not harm
the environment.

Recent evidence suggests that the groundwater is under serious threat of overuse in many parts of
the country. About 300 districts have reported a water level decline of over 4 meters during the past
20 years. Nearly one-third of the country is overusing their groundwater reserves. In another 25 years,
60 per cent of the country would be doing the same if the present way of using this resource continues.

8) What is economic development? What are the ways of measuring it?

Most economists in the 20th century viewed development primarily in terms of economic growth,
Economic development means rate of growth of GDP is high and standard of living is high.

Creation of wealth or income encourages better benefits and amenities to the people of the country.
We can also say National Development is a comprehensive term which includes improvement in living
standard of the people, increase in per capital income, providing social amenities like education,
medical care, social services, etc. to the citizens of the country.

It is measured by Per capita income, National Income.

9) ‘People have conflicting developmental goals. Explain.

• Different persons can have conflicting developmental goals, what may be development for one may
not be development for the other.

• Industrialists may want more dams to get electricity but this may submerge the land sand disrupt
the lives of the tribal people and hence may prefer check dams or tanks to irrigate their land.

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10) Discuss the criteria used by UNDP for measuring development?

United Nations Development Programme has used the criterion of Human Development Index for
measuring the development of countries.

It is a combination of factors like health, educational levels and per capita income of the country and
does not rely solely on Per capita income as taken by the World Bank. UNDP uses a multidimensional
measure.

o The indicator chosen to assess health is the life expectancy at birth and infant mortality rate.

o The literacy rate and the gross enrolment ratio represent access to knowledge.

o Access to resources is measured in terms of purchasing power (in U.S. dollars) and per capita income
GNI at PPP.

11) Define the following:

Infant Mortality Rate: The number of children that die before the age of one year as a proportion of
1000 live children born in that particular year.

Literacy Rate: The proportion of literate population in 7 and above age group.

Net Attendance Ratio: Total number of children in the age a particular group say 6—10 attending
school as a percentage of total number of children in the same age group.

12) How is the development report published by the World Bank and UNDP different?

The criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development is different from the criterion used by
the World Bank in the following ways.

The UNDP compares the development of the countries on the basis of literacy rate, gross enrolment
ratio and health status (life expectancy at birth) of the people along with income.

On the other hand, the World Bank compares the development of the countries on the basis of per
capita income or average income.

On the basis of the comparison done by the UNDP, the countries are ranked as first, second, third on
the Human Development Index.

Whereas, on the basis of the comparison done by the World Bank the countries are divided into three
categories:

• Rich or developed or high-income countries (per capita US $12056 and above)

• Middle-income or developing countries (per capita US $955 and below)

• Poor or underdeveloped or low-income countries (per capita US $955 and below)

The UNDP has a broader concept of development and the World Bank has a narrow concept of
development.

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13) What consequences would we face if non-renewable resources get exhausted in the world?

Non- renewable resources are recyclable and non- recyclable. These resources take millions of years
in their formation. Some of the resources like metals are recyclable and some like fossil fuels cannot
be recycled and get exhausted with their use. Development in the present should not compromise
with the needs of the future generations.

This would lead to mass scale socioeconomic and environmental problems like

• depletion of land resource would lead to scarcity of cultivable lands

• global warming,

• ozone layer depletion,

• Environmental pollution,

• land degradation,

14) Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

Sustainable economic development means that development should take place without damaging the
environment and exploitation of resources and development in the present should not compromise
with the needs of future generation.

1. It is important for the future generation requirement: We must use non-renewable sources
judiciously. They also need extra care as they can pot be renewed. Dependency on non-renewable
sources should be reduced.

2. Proper utilization and reducing wastage of resource: It takes care of future needs and may sustain
the environment.

3. There is acute shortage or deficiency of some resources: Investing in alternative sources of energy
may prove helpful.

Very short question (1 mark)

1. Mention any one development as goal of landless rural labourers. (2015)

[Link] do people look at a mix of goals for development? (2016)

[Link] National development

[Link] countries according to the World Bank report are called rich countries?

5. What is IMR?

Short question (3 marks)

1. How is the development report published by the World Bank and UNDP different? (2013,15,16)

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2. Explain with reasons why state of Punjab with a very high Per Capita income lags behind in many
crucial areas. (2015,16)

3. Why has Kerala a higher development index than Punjab, in spite of low average income? (2011,13)

4. “What may be development for one may not be development for the other” Explain (2012)

5. What is National Development? What are the aspects covered under National Development? (2010)

Long Question (5marks)

1. Define development and mention any three characteristics of development. (2014,15)

2. What is economic development? What are the two bases of measuring economic development?
(2016)

3. “People have conflicting developmental goals” Support the statement with suitable examples
(2015)

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