CHAPTER-1

Resources and Development

1. What is a resource? Explain the interdependent relationship that involves in creating a

resource.
Ans: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs,
provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable
can be termed as "Resource".
The process of transformation of things available in our environment between nature,
technology and institutions creates a resource.
Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions for the
development of a resource.

2. Classify the resources on the basis of origin. Give any two examples of each.
Or
What are biotic and abiotic resources. Give some examples.
Ans: On the Basis of Origin
a. Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human
beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.
b. Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are
called abiotic resources. For example, rocks and metals.

3. Explain the types of resources on the basis of exhaustibility with the help of examples.
Or
Explain the differences between the renewable and non renewable resources.
Ans: On the Basis of Exhaustibility
a. Renewable Resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by
physical, chemical or mechanical processes are known as renewable or replenishable
resources. For example, solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc. The
renewable resource may further be divided into continuous or flow
 b. Non-Renewable Resources: These occur over a very long geological time. Minerals
and fossil fuels are examples of such resources. 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.

4. How many types of resources our country has on the basis of ownership? Give at least
one example for each type.
Or
Provide suitable classification for resources on the basis of ownership. Mention main
features of any three types of such resources.
Or
Define resources classified on the basis of Ownership of Resources.
Ans:
On the Basis of Ownership

a. Individual Resources: These are also owned privately by individuals. Many farmers
own land which is allotted to them by government against the payment of revenue.
In villages there are people with land ownership but there are many who are
landless. Urban people own plots, houses and other property. Plantation, pasture
lands, ponds, water in wells etc. are some of the examples of resources ownership
by individuals.

b. Community Owned Resources: There are resources which are accessible to all the
members of the community. Village commons (grazing grounds, burial grounds,
villageponds, etc.) public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds in urban areas are de facto
accessible to all the people living there.
c. National Resources: Technically, all the resources belong to the nation. The country
has legal powers to acquire even private property for public good. You might have
seen roads, canals, railways being constructed on fields owned by some individuals.
Urban Development Authorities get empowered by the government to acquire land.
 All the minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the political
boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast
termed as territorial water and resources therein belong to the nation.
d. International Resources: There are international institutions which regulate some
resources. The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive
Economic Zone belong to open ocean and no individual country can utilise these
without the concurrence of international institutions.

5. Write few points highlighting Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.

(a) In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the
first International Earth Summit.
(b) The Summit was organized for addressing urgent problems of environmental
protection and socio-economic development.
(c) The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and
Biological Diversity.
(d) The Rio Convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for
achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.

6. What do you mean by resource planning? What are its different stages?
Ans: Resource planning is the judicious use of resources. Following are the three
different stages for the resource planning:
(a) Identification of resources across the country.
(b) Proper planning structure with appropriate technology, skill and institutions.
(c) Matching the resource development plans with overall development plans.
7. What is resource planning? Why is it essential? Explain any two reasons.
Or
“Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources in a country
like India.” Justify this statement with two relevant points and an example.
Ans: Resource planning is the judicious use of resources.
a. In India, resources are unevenly distributed and thus resource planning becomes
very essential
b. In India, many states are rich in mineral and deficient in other resources, such as
Jharkhand is rich in minerals, but there is problem of drinking water and other
facilities.
c. Rajasthan has abundance of solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources
while the cold desert of Ladakh is deficient in infrastructure and isolated from
the rest of the country.
d. Accumulation of resources in only few hands leaves others unsatisfied.
e. Unsystematic use of resources is creating many problems around the world, such
as global warming, ecological crisis, disturbance in ozone layer, etc.
f. These types of discriminations can be reduced or completely eradicated with a
balanced resource planning at all levels.

8. Why is it essential to conserve resources? Explain the reasons.

Ans:
a. Resources are very important for any developmental activity. It is our responsibility
to leave enough resources for future generations.

b. Irrational consumption and over-utilization of resources have lead to socio-economic

and environmental problems. Such as global warming, ecological crisis, disturbance
in ozone layer, etc.
9. What are the five major factors responsible for the formation of Soil?
Ans: Following are the five major factors responsible for the formation of Soil:
(a) Relief: Altitude and slope determines the accumulation of soil.
(b) Parent Rock: It determines, colour, texture, chemical properties, mineral contents,
etc.
(c) Climate: Rainfall and temperature influence rate of humus and weathering.
(d) Time: It determines thickness of soil profile.
(e) Vegetation & Other Forms of Life: Microorganisms & vegetation affect the rate of
humus formation.

10. What are the main advantages of India’s land under a variety of relief features?
Ans: Land is one of the most important natural resources.India comprises of many types
of land forms (I.e Mountains, plateau, plains and islands).
a. Plain: About 43% of land area in India is in the form of plains. Plains provide facilities for
agriculture, building of industries and houses, etc.
b. Mountains: About 30% of land area in India is in the form of mountain. Mountain
supports the perennial flow of rivers, which carry fertile soils, facilitate irrigation and
provide drinking water.
c. Plateau: About 27% of land in India is in the form of plateau which provides many types
of minerals, fossil fuels and forest.

11. Explain the purposes for which land resources are used.
Ans: LandUtilization:
Land Resources are used for following purposes:
1. Forests
2. Land not available for cultivation:
(a) Barren and waste land.
(b) Lands used for buildings, roads, factories, etc. (i.e. for non-agricultural purpose).
3. Other Uncultivated Land (excluding fallow land):
 (a) Permanent pastures and grazing land.
(b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in net sown area).
(c) Cultruable waste land (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years).
4. Fallow Lands:
(a) Current fallow-(left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year).
(b) Other than current fallow-(left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years).
5. Net Sown Area: Area which is sown at least once in a year is called net sown area.
6. Gross Cropped Area: Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown
area is known as gross cropped area.

12. What is Land Degradation? Explainhow humanactivities cause land degradation?

Ans: Land Degradation: It is the decline in the productive capacity of land for some time
or permanently.

a. Mining: In the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh

along with mining, deforestation in these states has degraded the land very fast.
b. Over grazing: In the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
overgrazing is the major cause of land degradation.
c. Urbanization: increase in population and the amount of industrialization of a
settlement.
d. Industrialization: Industrialization normally causes air, water and soil pollution
due to the waste products it produces. Industrialisation demands for wood and
other forest products which cause deforestation.
e. Excessive use of Fertilizers: Uncontrolled application of pesticides can
contaminate soil and may kill other non-target organisms

13. What are the physical causes of land degradation? Explain its effects.
Ans: 1.Salinity and alkalinity: In the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, over
irrigation causes water shortage and increase in salinity and alkalinity due to water
logging.
 2. Floods:In Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, land is degraded because of flood.
Outcome:The degradation of land creates many problems, such as flood, decrease in
yield, etc. which leads to decrease in GDP and country has to face economic problems.

14. Name the different types of soils found in India. Give three main features of alluvial
soil.
Ans:
a. Soils are classified on the basis of colour, texture, fertility, mineral content, etc.
b. Broadly, soil is classified into six types: Alluvial Soil, Black Soil, Red & Yellow Soil, Laterite
Soil, Arid Soil and Forest Soil.
c. Alluvial soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast and in the northern plains.
Three main features of alluvial soil are:
(i) It consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay and is the most fertile soil.
(ii) It has adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which is ideal for the
growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat, etc.
(iii) According to their age, alluvial soil can be classified into two: Old alluvial (Bangar)
and new alluvial (Khadar).

15. Which soil is called regur soil? Mention any four characteristics of the soil.
Or
How is black soil formed? Name three states having black soil and the crop which is
mainly grown in it.
Or
Which geographical factors are responsible for the evolution of black soil? Why is it
considered most suitable for growing cotton?
Ans: Black Soil:
a. The black soil is also called the Regur Soil or the Black Cotton Soil.
b. Black soil is formed from the weathering of the igneous rocks.
c. Cotton grows best in this soil.
 d. Black soil has high concentration of fine particles and thus can hold moisture for long
time.
e. It contains calcium carbonate, potassium, magnesium and lime.
f. This soil is poor in phosphoric contents.
g. The black soil is mostly found in the Deccan Trap, covering large areas of
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
h. It is also found in some parts of Godavari and Krishna river valleys, covering parts of
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

16. How is red soil formed? Mention three characteristics.

or
How red soil develops? What makes it look like red and yellow?
Ans: Red & Yellow Soil:
a. Red soil is derived from the weathering of the igneous and metamorphic rocks.
b. It is found in the areas of low rainfall.
c. The red colour is due to the high percentage of iron contents.
d. Red & Yellow soils are found in the parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh Ganga plain
and Western Ghats.
e. It is also found in the southern and eastern parts of the peninsular plateau.
f. These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and
metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form
17. Explain the formation and important features of laterite soils.
Ans: Laterite Soil:
a. Laterite has been derived from the Latin word‘later’ which means brick.
b. The laterite soil develops under tropical and subtropical climate with alternate
wet and dry season.
c. This soil is the result of intense leaching due to heavy rain. Laterite soils are
mostly deepto very deep, acidic (pH<6.0), generally deficient in plant nutrients.
 d. They occur mostlyin southern states, Western Ghats region of Maharashtra,
Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and North-east regions.
e. This soil is mainly found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and
in hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
f. Due to intensive leaching, the laterite soil generally lacks fertility and is of low
value for crop production. But when manured and timely irrigated, the soil is
suitable for producing plantation crops like tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, etc.

18. What is soil erosion? Explain major types of soil erosion prevailing in India.
Ans: The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil
erosion.
Gully erosion:The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels
as gullies.
Sheet Erosion:Sometimes water flows as a sheet over largeareas down a slope. In such
cases the top soil is washed away. This is known as sheet erosion.
Wind erosion: Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as wind erosion.
Defective methods of farming such as ploughing up and down the slope forms channels
allowing water quickly flow down leading to soil erosion.

19. Mention at least five steps that can be taken to control soil erosion.
Ans:
(a) Mulching: Bare ground between plants is covered with a layer of organic matter like
straw. It helps to retain soil moisture.
(b) Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along contours can decrease the flow of water down
the slopes.
(c) Terrace Farming: Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terrace. Terrace farming
restricts erosion.
(d) Shelter Belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter which will break the force of
the wind.
 (e) Strip Cropping: Strips of grass are grown between the crops. This breaks the force of
wind.
(f) Rock Dam: Rocks are piled to slow the speed of wind.
(g) Afforestation: Crop Rotation, Control over Deforestation and Overgrazing, etc.

20. Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased
much since 1960-61?
Ans:
a. India has total 3.28 million square kilometers of area. According to the land used data
records, only for about 93% of land of total geographical area. Of the total about 46% of
land is used as net sown area, 22% of is forest cover, 5% cultivable land, 8% fallow land,
4% is covered by pastures and 1% is covered by tree crops.
b. The pattern of net sown area varies from state to state. As per National Forest Policy
(1952), the forest should be 33% of total geographical area, which is essential to
maintain ecological balance but in India the forest cover is only 22%.
d. Large scale of development, industrialization and urbanization as well as agricultural
expansion has widely reduced the forest cover in various parts of the country.
c. Though afforestation and other government policies have lead to a marginal increase in
the forest cover area in the country.

21. How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of
resources?
Ans: Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to
accelerate their economic development. Technical and economic development always
leads to more consumption of all types of resources (i.e. natural and man-made)
because of the following reasons:
(a) Technological progress makes available the knowledge to bring resources under use.
(b) With economic progress, more industries will be setup. Growth in industrialization
will lead to increasing demand for all the types of resources (i.e. land, labour, capital,
etc.).
(c) With technological and economic development income level of the people will
increase due to which demands will increase, which will lead to more services and more
consumption of resources.

Map pointing:
Chapter 1: Resources and Development (Identification only)
a.Major soil Types