Resource and Development
Short Questions
Question: Define the term ‘Resource’.
Answer: Everything available in our environment which is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable is called a resource.
Question: Name two biotic resources.
Answer: Forests and wildlife.
Question: Give one example of a non-renewable resource.
Answer: Coal.
Question: What is the main objective of Agenda 21?
Answer: To achieve global sustainable development.
Question: State the meaning of sustainable development.
Answer: Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Question: Name any two states rich in minerals but economically backward.
Answer: Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Question: What is the total geographical area of India?
Answer: 3.28 million sq. km.
Question: Which type of soil is most suitable for cotton cultivation?
Answer: Black soil (Regur soil).
Question: Name two factors which determine the land use pattern in India.
Answer: Physical factors (like topography, climate) and human factors (like population density, technology).
Question: What percentage of land in India is plain?
Answer: About 43%.
Question: What is meant by ‘Net Sown Area’?
Answer: The total area on which crops are sown and harvested in a year.
Question: Name one method to check soil erosion on slopes.
Answer: Contour ploughing.
Question: In which state is terrace cultivation practised?
Answer: Uttarakhand.
Question: Name two crops grown in alluvial soil.
Answer: Wheat and sugarcane.
Question: What percentage of India’s land is covered by mountains?
Answer: About 30%.
Long Questions
Question: Explain why resources are not free gifts of nature.
Answer: Resources are a function of human activities. Human beings transform materials available in the environment into resources using technology and institutions, hence they are not free gifts of nature.
Question: What are the four types of classification of resources?
Answer: Based on (i) origin – biotic and abiotic, (ii) exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable, (iii) ownership – individual, community, national, international, (iv) status of development – potential, developed, stock, reserves.
Question: State any three major problems created due to indiscriminate use of resources.
Answer: Depletion of resources for a few individuals, accumulation of resources in few hands creating inequality, and global ecological crises like global warming and pollution.
Question: What is sustainable development? Why is it important?
Answer: Sustainable development means development without damaging the environment and without compromising future needs. It is important for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring long-term resource availability.
Question: Describe the objectives of Agenda 21.
Answer: Agenda 21, signed at the Rio Summit 1992, aims at achieving global sustainable development by combating environmental damage, poverty, and disease through global cooperation and shared responsibilities.
Question: Why is resource planning essential in India?
Answer: India has an uneven distribution of resources; some regions are rich while others are deficient. Resource planning ensures judicious use and balanced development at national, state and local levels.
Question: Explain the land use pattern in India.
Answer: About 43% of land is plain for agriculture and industry, 30% mountains ensuring river flow and tourism, and 27% plateaus with rich mineral and forest resources.
Question: What is land degradation? Name two human activities responsible for it.
Answer: Land degradation is the decline in the quality and productivity of land. It is mainly caused by deforestation, overgrazing, over-irrigation, and mining.
Question: How can soil erosion be prevented?
Answer: By contour ploughing on slopes, terrace farming, afforestation, strip cropping, and planting shelter belts to break wind force.
Question: Mention the major types of soils found in India and one characteristic of each.
Answer: Alluvial soil – very fertile; Black soil – holds moisture, ideal for cotton; Red and Yellow soil – develops on igneous rocks, rich in iron; Laterite soil – leached soil used for tea/coffee after conservation; Arid soil – sandy and saline; Forest soil – loamy in valleys, coarse in upper slopes.
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