DYAL SINGH PUBLIC SCHOOL, PANIPAT

GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER -1
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT (PART-1)
Que. Define the term resource.
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, it is
technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as
‘Resource’.

Que. Define the interdependent relationship between nature, technology and institutions.
The process of transformation of things available in our environment involves an interactive
relationship between nature, technology and institutions. Human beings interact with
nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate their economic
development.

Que. Resources are a function of human activities. Justify.

 Resources are not free gifts of nature. They are a function of human activities.
 Human beings themselves are essential components of resources.
 They transform material available in our environment into resources and use them.

Que. Classify the resources on the basis of origin.

Biotic Resources Abiotic Resources
These are obtained from biosphere and All those things which are composed of
have life such as human beings, flora and non-living things are called abiotic
fauna, fisheries, livestock etc. resources. For example, rocks and metals.

Que. Classify the resources on the basis of exhaustibility.

Renewable Resources Non-Renewable Resources
The resources which can be renewed or The resources which cannot be renewed or
reproduced by physical, chemical or reproduced by physical, chemical or
mechanical processes are known as mechanical processes are known as
renewable or replenishable resources. renewable or replenishable resources.
These occur over a very long geological
time.
For example, solar and wind energy, water, Minerals and fossil fuels are examples of
forests and wildlife, etc. such resources.
The renewable resource may further be The non-renewable resource may further be
divided into continuous and biological. divided into recyclable and non-recyclable.
Que. Classify the resources on the basis of ownership.
 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.
 Community Owned Resources:
There are resources which are accessible to all the members of the community. Village
commons (grazing grounds, burial grounds, village ponds, etc.) public parks, picnic spots,
playgrounds in urban areas are de facto accessible to all the people living there.
 National Resources:
Technically, all the resources belong to the nation. The country has legal powers to acquire
even private property for public good. 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.
 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 utilize these without the concurrence of international institutions.

Que. Classify the resources on the basis of status of development.

 Potential Resources:
Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilized. For example, the western
parts of India particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the
development of wind and solar energy, but so far these have not been developed properly.
 Developed Resources:
Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for
utilization. The development of resources depends on technology and level of their
feasibility.
 Stock:
Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but human
beings do not have the appropriate technology to access these, are included among stock.
For example, water is a compound of two gases; hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can be
used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have advanced technical ‘know-how’ to use it
for this purpose. Hence, it can be considered as stock.
 Reserves:
Reserves are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing
technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. These can be used for meeting
future requirements. River water can be used for generating hydroelectric power but
presently, it is being utilized only to a limited extent. Thus, the water in the dams, forests
etc. is a reserve which can be used in the future.
Que. Why the future of earth planet is in danger? OR
An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of life
and global peace. Explain.
Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life. It was
believed that resources are free gifts of nature. As a result, human beings used them
indiscriminately and this has led to the following major problems.
• Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of a few individuals.
• Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two
segments i.e. haves and have nots or rich and poor.
• Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global
warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
 Due to above mentioned facts; the future of earth planet is in danger.

Que. What is sustainable development?

Sustainable economic development means ‘development should take place without
damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with
the needs of the future generations.

Que. What were the issues rose in ‘Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992’?
In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first
International Earth Summit.
Issues Rose:
 Urgent problems of environmental protection.
 Socioeconomic development at the global level.
 Declaration on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity.
 Endorsed the global Forest Principles.
 Adopted Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.

Que. What is Agenda 21? Mention its aims.

It is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Aims:
 To achieve global sustainable development.
 To combat environmental damage.
 To remove poverty, disease through globe.
 To create co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared
responsibilities.
 Every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.
Que. What is resource planning? Why it has importance in a country like India?
Resource planning is the strategy for prearranged and cautious utilization of resources.
Importance/need in India:
 The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and
coal deposits.
 Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural
development.
 The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in
water resources.
 The cold desert of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the country. It has very
rich cultural heritage but it is deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital
minerals.

Que. Why resource planning is a complex process?

Resource planning is a complex process due to these reasons:
 Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This
involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and
measurement of the resources.
 Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and
institutional set up for implementing resource development plans.
 Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

Que. Why do we need to conserve the resources?

Resources are vital for any developmental activity. We need to conserve resources due to
these reasons:
 Irrational consumption:
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.
 To meet ecological crisis:
Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global
warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation. To
overcome these problems, conservation of resources is essential.
 Long geological formation:
Many resources are non-renewable and exhaustible. These occur over a very long geological
time. They have limited supply as compared to their demand e.g. fossil fuels. If we conserve
them we can use them for a longer period of time.
 Socio economic problem:
Loss of resources has an adverse impact on forest dependent communities who directly
depend on various components of the forest and wildlife for food, drink, medicine, culture,
spirituality etc.
  For sustainable development:
It means balanced development with the need of present and future because we need the
various resources for a sustained quality of life and global peace.
 IDEAS OF GANDHIJI ABOUT THE CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES:
1) “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for any body’s greed.”
2) The greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern technology
as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
3) He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production
by the masses.

SUNIL KUMAR RANA

SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER
DYAL SINGH PUBLIC SCHOOL, PANIPAT
CONTACT: 9896406044