Resource and Development
1 . Multiple choice questions.
(i) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Over irrigation
(d) Overgrazing
Answer: (c) Over irrigation
(ii) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?
(a) Punjab
(b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttarakhand
Answer: (d) Uttarakhand
(iii) In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Jharkhand
Answer: (b) Maharashtra
2 . Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.
Answer: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have black soil. It is also known as regur or cotton soil and is ideal for growing cotton.
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this type of soil.
Answer: Alluvial soil is found in the eastern coastal deltas. It is very fertile, contains potash, phosphoric acid and lime, and is ideal for paddy, wheat, sugarcane and pulses.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
Answer: Soil erosion in hilly areas can be controlled by contour ploughing, terrace farming, planting shelter belts, and adopting strip cropping to reduce water and wind erosion.
3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.
(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?
Answer: India has varied land use due to physical and human factors. About 43% of land is plain, suitable for agriculture and industries. 30% is mountainous, ensuring river flow, forests and tourism, while 27% is plateau, rich in minerals, fossil fuels and forests. The net sown area is about 54% of reporting area, but it varies between states. Forest cover in India is still less than the desired 33%, as per National Forest Policy (1952). Since 1960–61, the land under forest has not increased much because land is needed for agriculture, industries, habitation, and infrastructure. Continuous pressure of population and economic development has restricted forest expansion.
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
Answer: Earlier, resources were considered free gifts of nature and used indiscriminately. With technical and economic development, exploitation of resources increased. Advanced technology enabled large-scale mining, deforestation, industrialisation and over-irrigation. This caused depletion of resources, accumulation in a few hands, and ecological crises like global warming, ozone depletion, pollution and land degradation. Colonisation history also shows how technologically advanced nations exploited resource-rich regions. Thus, while development improved living standards, it also raised consumption levels. Without proper planning, this leads to inequality, waste and environmental damage. Hence, resource planning and sustainable development are necessary to balance present needs with those of future generations.
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