CHAPTER- 1 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

(Please Note-Classification of resources topic is not required to study in detail)

1. What are resources? What are its characteristics?
Every thing available in our environment, which can be used to satisfy our needs if it
is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable, is
termed as resource. [Or Resources are the means available for the development of a
country. These are the natural or human made materials, which help to create goods
or provide services].
Its characteristics are the following:
a) It has utility: Resources can be used to make a variety of goods and services.
It satisfies human wants.
b) They are normally available in limited quantity: Most of the resources are scarce.
They are exhaustible. We have to use it wisely.
c) Can’t be used as it is: Most of the resources are in crude form. We have to put
effort on it to get utility or maximum satisfaction.
d) It should be technologically accessible.

2. Examine the interdependent relationship among nature ,technology and

institutions in the economic development. [ in the resource transformation]
a) Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to
accelerate economic development.
b) They transform material available in our environment in to resources by using
technology and use them.

3. Name the essential component of resources. What is its role in the resource
transformation?
Human beings are the essential components of resources. Human beings interact
with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate economic
development. They transform materials available in our environment into resources
by using technology and use them.
4. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic resources.
a) Biotic resources have or had living characteristics whereas abiotic resources are
composed of non living things.
b) Biotic resources are normally obtained from the biosphere where as abiotic
resources obtained from the lithosphere.
c) Examples of biotic resources are human beings, flora, fauna, fisheries and livestock
d) Examples of abiotic resources are rocks, metals, minerals etc.
5. Distinguish between renewable and non renewable resources.
a) Renewable resources are those resources, which can be regenerated in a given
period of time whereas non renewable resources cannot be re generated.
b) Renewable resources are abundant and replenishable where as non renewable
resources are scarce and non replenishable.
c) Renewable resources are non exhaustible whereas non renewable resources are
exhaustible.
d) Solar and wind energy, water, forest and wild life are examples of renewable
resource and minerals and fossil fuels are examples of non renewable resources.

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6. How are resources classified on the basis of origin?
a) Biotic resources b) Abiotic resources ( Explain points)

7. How are resources classified on the basis of exhaustibility?

a) Renewable resources b) Non renewable resources ( Explain points)

8. How are resources classified on the basis of ownership?

a) Individual resources: These are privately owned resources. Village people own land
and cattle whereas urban people own plots, flats or other property. Plantation,
pasture lands, ponds, water in the wells are individual resources.
b) Community owned resources:
These are resources accessible to all the members of the community. Grazing
grounds, burial grounds, village ponds, public parks, play grounds, picnic spots etc
are community owned resources.
c) National Resources:
All the minerals, water resources, forests, wild life, all the resources with in the
political boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles from the coast belong
to national resources. Roads canals, railways and properties of public character
belong to national resources.
d) International resources:
The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone
belong to international resources. No individual or country can claim it. There are
international institutions to regulate these resources.

9. How are resources classified based on the status of development?

a) Potential resources:
Resources, which are found in a region, but have not been utilized, are potential
resources. These resources will be widely used shortly. Wind and solar energy
potential in Rajasthan and Gujarat have not been developed and exploited properly
so far.
b) Developed resources:
These are the resources surveyed; quality and quantity have been measured and have
been determined for utilization.
c) Stock Resources:
Resources in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but do
not have the appropriate technology to have an access come under this category. We
haven’t so far developed the technology to make inflammable gases like hydrogen
and oxygen on a large scale from water . So it is considered a stock.
d) Reserve resources:
These are the subdivision of stock resources and can be put into use by applying the
existing technology but their use has not yet been started. These can be used to meet
our future requirements.

10. What is meant by Exclusive Economic Zone?

a) The UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, 1982, allowed coastal nations to claim a
territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles.

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 b) It also allowed jurisdiction over resources, control over fishing right, scientific
research, and environmental protection in a zone up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km)
offshore. It is known as Exclusive Economic Zone. Beyond this zone, seabed mineral
development will be regulated by an international body.

11. What are the major problems developed out of exploiting resources
indiscriminately? ( State any to effects of indiscriminate exploitation of resources.)

a) Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.

b) Accumulation of resources in few hands, which in turn divided the society in to rich
and poor.
c) It has led to ecological crisis such as global warming, ozone layer depletion,
environmental pollution and land degradation.

12. What is sustainable development?

The development that takes care the needs of the present generation with out
compromising the needs of future generations is termed as sustainable development. It
emphasizes on prevention of pollution and avoidance of wastages. The development
that takes place with out damaging the environment is termed as sustainable
development.

13. What is resource planning? Why is it essential? ( Explain any three reasons
responsible for making resource planning in India. )
i) Resource planning is a technique or skill of proper utilization of resources.
ii) An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of
life and global peace.
iii) If the present trend of resources depletion by a few individuals and countries
continues, the future of the planet is in danger. There fore resource planning is
essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Or
Since the resources are limited and unevenly distributed, effective and efficient
planning is necessary.
Resource planning includes conservation of resources too. We have to exploit
resources in such a way that future generation will not suffer.
Resource planning is essential to prevent environmental pollution and to avoid
wastages in the exploitation of resources.

14. Examine the diversity in the availability of resources in India. Give examples. Or
Why is a balanced resource planning essential in India? ( Why is it necessary for
a balanced resource planning at the national ,state, regional and local levels?)
a) There are regions in India which are rich in certain type of resources but are deficient
in some other resources. There are some regions in India which can be considered
self sufficient in terms of availability of resources and there are some other regions
which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
b) The states of Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and
coal deposits.

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 c) Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural
developments.
d) Rajasthan has a lot of solar and wind energy potential but lacks in water resources.
e) The cold area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage but is deficient in water,
infrastructure and minerals.

15. What are the processes ( stages) involved in the resource planning?
i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country: This
involves surveying, mapping, qualitative and quantitative estimation, and
measurement of resources.
ii) Evolving a planning structure with appropriate technology, skill and institutional
setup for implementing resource development plans.
iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

16. ‘Mere availability of resources will not bring economic development’. Give
reasons.
i) Along with the availability of resources corresponding changes in technology and
institutions are required for economic development.
ii) There are many regions in India that are rich in resources but are economically
backward. Some other areas have poor resources but they are economically
developed.
iii) It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonizing
countries that helped them to exploit resources of other regions and establish their
supremacy over the colonies.

17. What was Gandhiji’s opinion about conservation (or over exploitation) of
resources?
i) Gandhiji said, ‘There is enough resources in India for every body’s need and not for
any body’s greed’.
ii) He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern
technology as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
iii) He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by
the masses.

18. Why is it important to use the available land with careful planning?
i) We live on land , perform all economic activities on land and use it for variety of
purposes.
ii) Land is a natural resource of utmost importance. It supports natural vegetation,
wild life, human life, transport and communication systems.
iii) 95% of our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land
iv) Land available is limited in quantity compared to the size of the population and
hence it requires careful planning.

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 19. Assess the land in India under important relief features.
[Link]: About 43 % of the land is plain which provides facilities for agriculture and
industry.
[Link]: It accounts for 30 % of the land and ensure perennial flow of some
rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.
[Link]: About 27 % of the land is plateau. It possesses rich reserves of minerals
fossil fuels and forests.

20. Give two reasons why we are not able to utilize the total geographical area of India.
i) The land use reporting for most of the north- eastern states except Assam has not
been done fully.
ii) Some areas of Jammu & Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have not been
surveyed.

21. What is the land utilization pattern in India?

Total area of land in India is 3.28 million [Link]., but only 93 % is available for use.
i)The Net sown area in India is 45.5% in 2014-15.
ii) The Forest share in the land use pattern is 23.3% in 2014-15
iii) Area under non agricultural use is 8.7 % in 2014-15
iv) Permanent pastures and grazing land is 3.3% only.
v) Culturable Waste land is 4% in 2014-15
vi) Fallow Land : The share of the current fallow land is 4.9 % in 2014-15. Fallow
other than current fallow is 3.6%.

22. What are the most satisfying features of the land use pattern in India?
a) About 54 % of the total land area is under cultivation in India. It is the highest
percentage in the world.
b) Land under the forests has increased from 18.11% in 1960-61 to 23.3% in
2014-15 (Any One)
c) Culturable Waste land has reduced from 6.23% in 1960-61 to 4 % in 2014-15.

23. What is land degradation? Explain any three causes for land degradation.
Land degradation is the process of losing the fertility and productivity of land and
turning it unfit for proper use. It is otherwise lowering the quality of land.
Deforestation, careless management of forests, overgrazing by animals, soil erosion,
surface mining and industrial effluents cause land degradation.
At present there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India .28 % of it
belongs to forest degraded area, 56 % water eroded area, 10 % wind eroded area and
the rest 6% is affected by saline and alkaline deposits.

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24. State two natural and human activities that lead to land degradation.
a. Natural : Soil erosion, land slides, torrential rain
b. Human : Mining and industry. (Explain all)

25. How does surface mining and industry lead to land degradation?
a. The mining sites are abandoned after excavation is completed.
b. Processed soil or waste materials are dumped unscientifically causing the land
used and the land nearby unfit for any use.
c. The mineral processing, like grinding of limestone for cement industry and
calcite and soapstone for ceramic industry generates heavy amount of dust and
releases in the atmosphere. It settles down in the surrounding areas, affecting
infiltration of water and crop cultivation.
d. The industrial effluents released to the air causes acid rain and air and water get
polluted.

26. How is man responsible for degradation of land?

a) Cutting of trees (deforestation).
b) Unscientific disposal of industrial wastes.
c) Unscientific industrial processing.
d) Construction of houses and buildings. (Explain any one)

27. What measures can be adopted for preventing land degradation?

a. Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes, preparation of shelterbelts
for plants and control over grazing of animals are some methods of controlling
land degradation in arid areas.
b. Moisture conservation and weed control in agricultural lands, regularization of
grazing and proper management of wasteland and control of mining activities are
the methods for semi arid areas.
c. Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment
can reduce land and water degradation in industrial and suburban areas.

28. What are soils? How are they formed? Or ( Describe the factors that contribute
to the formation and fertility to the soil.)
[Link] and fragmented uppermost layer of the earth’s crust, which is useful for
plants, is called soil. It is the basic resources of agriculture.
[Link] consists of both organic and inorganic substances.
[Link] factors that contribute the formation and fertility of soil are rocks, climate,
plants and animals, local topography, chemical and organic changes which takes
place in the soil and long period of time.
[Link] are formed by the disintegration and decomposition of rocks under the process
of weathering and erosion. Climate determines the rate of weathering and the type
of vegetation. Time provide maturity to soils.

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29. Describe the characteristics of alluvial soil. (What type of soil is found in the river
deltas of the eastern coasts? Give three main features of this type of soil. Or Which
is the most widely spread and important soil in India? )
a) Alluvial soil is confined to northern plain, coastal strips, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
It is the most widely spread and important soil in India.
b) It consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
c) As we move inlands to wards the valley soil particles appear some what bigger
in size. In the upper reaches of the river valley the soil are coarse. Such soils are
common in piedmont plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai.
d) Alluvial soil as a whole are very fertile Mostly these soil contain adequate proportion
of potash , phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane,
paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
e) Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment
and irrigation.
f) Alluvial soil is divided into Bhangar and Khadar according to their age. ( Continue..)

30. Differentiate between Bhangar and Khadar.

i)The Bangar soil has higher concentration of kanker nodules than the Khadar.
[Link] is older alluvium and is found away from rivers and Khadar is new
alluvium found closer to the rivers.
[Link] is clayey and dark while Khadar is sandy and light in colour.
[Link] is less fertile compared to Khadar. Khadar is renewed frequently in the
flood plain.

31. What are the characteristics of Black soil? ( Regur soil )

a) It is good for cultivation of cotton and also known as cotton soil.
c) It is rich in potash, calcium carbonate, magnesium and lime and poor in
phosphoric content.
d) It has the ability to retain moisture.
e) On drying these soil develops large and deep cracks and becomes sticky when wet.
f) Climatic condition along with the parent rock material is the important factors for
the formation of black soil.
g) This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap spread over northwest Deccan plateau
and is made up of lava flows.

32. Describe the major features of Red soil. Where is it found?

a. Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the
eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
b. It is red in colour due to the diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic
rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
c. Red soils are highly porous and fertile and they are fine grained and deep.
d. It is deficient in phosphoric acid, organic matter and nitrogen and rich in potash.
e. They occur in parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand.

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33. What are Laterite soils? What are its features?
a. Laterite soils are intensely leached soils of the monsoon climate.
b. The humus content of this soil is low because most of the micro organisms
particularly the decomposers like bacteria get destroyed due to high temperature.
It has low value for crop production.
c. They are red in colour with high content of iron oxide. It is poor in nitrogen and
lime and has high contents of acidity.
d. It doesn’t have the ability to retain moisture. It is composed of little clay and
much gravel of red sand stones.
e. These soils develop in areas of high temperature and heavy rainfall. They occur
in Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and part of Assam and Meghalaya.
(Why are laterite soil less fertile? Ans points a b c d above)

34. Describe the characteristics of forest (mountain) soil.

a. These are the soils found in the mountainous region of India like Meghalaya,
Arunachel Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
b. These soils are characterized by deposition of organic materials derived from
vegetative cover.
c. These are heterogeneous in nature and vary from place to place.
d. They are loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
e. In the snow covered areas of Himalayas these soils experience denudation and
are acidic with low humus content.

35. What are arid (desert) soils?

a. These are the soils found in the arid areas of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.
b. These sands are partly of local origin and partly have been blown from the Indus
Valley. In some areas, the soil contains high percentage of soluble salt.
c. It is sandy, coarse and porous and poor in organic matter.
d. These soils can be used for cultivation with irrigation facilities.

36. What is meant by soil erosion? How is it caused?

Removal of soil from one place to another by some natural agent is called soil erosion.
It is the process of taking away or washing away of soil cover by wind or water flow.
Soil erosion is caused by deforestation, heavy rains and running water, overgrazing,
winds and slope of the land.

37. What are ravines? Where is it found?

Ravines are bad land, turned unsuitable for cultivation by soil erosion. If the outer
cover of the soil is removed by wind or water, bad Lands are formed. In the Chambal
basin such lands are called ravines.
38. What is sheet erosion and contour ploughing?
a) When water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope, top soil is washed away. It
is known as sheet erosion.
b) Ploughing along the contour lines is known as contour ploughing. It is a method of
controlling soil erosion.

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39. Suggest a few measures of controlling soil erosion.
a) Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines is known as contour
Ploughing, which reduces the flow of water. (hilly areas)
b) Terrace farming: It restricts soil erosion in hilly areas.
c) Strip Cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to
grow between the crops.
d) Shelter belts and planting thorny bushes: : Planting lines of trees reduce wind
force and stream flow. Planting of thorny bushes help stabilize sand dunes
in the desert areas.

40. Explain the six major land use categories of our country along with the changes
that have occurred recently.
Total area of land in India is 3.28 million [Link]., but only 93 % is available for use.
i) Net sown area : In 1960-61 its share was 45.26% which has increased to 45.5% in
2014-15.
ii) Forest : Its share was 18.11% in 1960-61 and it has increased to 23.3 % in 2014-15 It
has increased due to massive afforestation and government policies.
iii) Area under non agricultural use: Its share in 1960-61 was 4.95% and it has increased
to 8.7% in 2014-15.
iv) Permanent pastures and grazing land: Its share in 1960-61 was 4.71% and it is reduced
to 3.3 % in 2014-15. This shows tremendous pressure of livestock population on
agricultural land.
v) Culturable Waste: Its share was 6.23% in 1960-61 which has reduced to 4% in 2014-15
The reduction in this category is mainly due to its conversion into net sown area.
vi) Fallow Land : The share of the current fallow land was 3.73% in 1960-61, which has
been increased to 4.9 % in 2014-15. Fallow other than current fallow has increased
from 3.50 to 3.6.

41. How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
i) It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonizing
countries that helped them to exploit resources of other regions and establish their
supremacy over the colonies.
ii) Technical development led to mechanization and over exploitation of resources.
Economic development led to invention of modern machineries which accelerated
over exploitation of resources.
ii) Economic development increases the standard of living of the people. It helps them
to enjoy a number of facilities and use more resources.

42. Prove by giving examples that the pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one
state to another.
Net sown area in Punjab and Haryana is over 80 % and in Arunachal Pradesh,
Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands it is less than 10 %

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43. What is the importance of resources? Why is it necessary to conserve them?
Resources are vital for any developmental activity. Economic development of a country
is depended on the availability of resources.
Resources are in limited quantity. Most of them are non renewable. Irrational
consumption and over-utilization of resources may lead to socio-economic and
environmental problems. To overcome these problems, resource conservation at various
levels is important. It helps in the sustainable development. It helps to conserve the
resource for the future generation. It also helps in avoiding wastages and preventing
pollution.
Additional Questions:
01. Draw a neat diagram showing the soil profile.02. On what grounds are soils classified?
i. Soils are classified based on colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical and physical
properties.
03. What is the main purpose of resources? ( to satisfy basic needs of mankind)
04. Which mineral is mined in the Indian Ocean? (Manganese nodules)
05. What is the ill effect of accumulation of resources in few hands?
(The society will be divided in to rich and poor)
06. What was the aim of Rio de Janeiro Summit?(Achieve global sustainable development)
07. Name four ecological crisis: global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental
pollution and land degradation.
08. What were the two aims of first earth summit?
(Environmental protection and economic development)
09. Name two river valleys in South India where black soil is found.
( Godavari valley and Krishna valley)
10. What do you mean by Deccan trap? It is the plateau formed by deposition of Basalt lava.
11. Why are yellow soils yellow in colour? (Due to the presence of iron in hydrated form)
12. Despite enormous potential solar power is not developed in Rajasthan and
Gujarat. Why ? ( Due to lack of technology and demand)
13. When and where was the first international earth submit held?
It was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992
14. What is meant by Agenda 21?
i) It was the declaration signed by the world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, which took place at Rio de Janeiro in
Brazil in 1992.
ii) It was an agenda to combat environmental damage , poverty, diseases through global
cooperation on common interests mutual needs and shared responsibilities in the 21st C.
iii) One major objective of the Agenda 21 is that every local government should draw its
own local Agenda 21.
15. Name any two books that advocate resource conservation.
‘Small is beautiful’ written by Schumacher and ‘Our Common future’
16. Name a ny two types of piedmont plains where alluvial soil is found.
Duars, Chos and Terai. ( any two)
17. Whom did Gandhiji make responsible for depletion of resources at the global level?
Explain any two reasons.
18. Consequences of environmental degradation do not respect national or state
boundaries. Justify the statement.

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