CHAPTER 1:RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION
1. Define Resources.
Ans Everything 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.
2. Explain the role of humans in resource development.
Ans The process of transformation of things into resource involves an inter-dependent
relationship between nature, technology and institutions.Human beings interact with
nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate economic
development.Human beings are the essential components of resources as they transform
materials available in our environment into resources by using technology and use them.

3. CHART SHOWING CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES:

ORIGIN EXHAUSTIBILITY OWNERSHIP STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT

Biotic Renewable Individual Potential
Abiotic Non-renewable Community Developed
National Stock
International Reserves

Distinguish between :

 Biotic and Abiotic Resources.

SrNo BIOTIC RESOURCES ABIOTIC RESOURCES

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

 Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources.

SrNo RENEWABLE RESOURCES NON RENEWABLE RESOURCES

(b)
1 The resources which can be These occur over a very long geological
renewed or reproduced by time. Some of the resources like metals
physical, chemical or mechanical are recyclable and some like fossil fuels
processes are known as cannot be recycled and get exhausted
renewable or replenishable with their use.
resources.
2 For example: solar and wind
energy, water, forests and For e.g.: Minerals and fossil fuels.
wildlife, etc. The renewable
resource may further be divided
into continuous or flow
(C)  Individual and Community-owned Resources.

SrNo INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES COMMUNITY OWNED RESOURCES

1 These are also owned privately by There are resources which are accessible
individuals. to all the members of the community.

2 For e.g. Urban people own plots, For e.g. Village commons (grazing
houses and other property. grounds, burial grounds, village ponds,
Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, etc.) public parks, picnic spots,
water in wells etc. playgrounds in urban areas.

 National and International Resources.

(d)
SrNo NATIONAL RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

1 All the resources belong to the There are international institutions which
nation. The country has legal regulate some resources.
powers to acquire even private
property for public good.
2 All the minerals, water resources, The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of
forests, wildlife, land within the the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to
political boundaries and oceanic open ocean and no individual country can
area up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 utilise these without the concurrence of
km) from the coast termed as international institutions.
territorial water and resources
therein belong to the nation.

 Potential and Developed Resources.

(e)
SrNo POTENTIAL RESOURCES DEVELOPED RESOURCES
1 Resources which are found in a Resources which are surveyed and their
region, but have not been utilised. quality and quantity have been
determined for utilisation. The
development of resources depends on
technology and level of their feasibility.
2 For example, the western parts of For e.g. Iron-ore deposits in India.
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.

(f)  Stock and Reserve.

SrNo STOCK RESERVE
1 Materials in the environment Reserves are the subset of the stock,
which have the potential to satisfy which can be put into use with the help of
human needs but human beings existing technical ‘know-how’ but their
do not have the appropriate use has not been started. These can be
technology to access these used for meeting future requirements.
resources.
2 For e.g. water is a compound of For e.g.River water can be used for
two inflammable gases; hydrogen generating hydroelectric power but
 and oxygen, which can be used as presently, it is being utilised only to a
a rich source of energy. But we do limited extent.
not have the required technical
‘know-how’ to use them for this
purpose.
4 Indiscrimate use of resources has led to major problems. Justify

Ans Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life.But
* indiscriminate use of resources has led to many problems like;
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.

5. What is Sustainable development? How is it related to resource planning? (HOT)

ANS 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.’
An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of life
and global peace. If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and
countries continues, the future of our planet is in danger. Therefore, resource planning is
essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Sustainable existence is a
component of sustainable development.

6A What is resource planning?

Ans i) Resource planning is a technique or skill of proper utilization of resources.

6B Why is resource planning essential?

Ans i) Resources are limited in nature.
ii) Resources are unevenly distributed.

6C Explain any three reasons responsible for making resource planning in India.
Or
In a country like India which has enormous diversity in the availability of resources, why
resource planning is required?
Ans 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.
a) The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal
deposits.
b) Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural
developments.
c) Rajasthan has a lot of solar and wind energy potential but lacks in water resources
d) The cold area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage but is deficient in water,
infrastructure and minerals.

Explain the stages of resource planning.

6D i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country: This involves
Ans 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.

7. Explain the importance of conversation of resources.

(or)
What is need for conservation of resources?
Ans. Resources are essential for all kinds of development al activities. But irrational
consumption and over-utilisation of resources may lead to socio-economic and
environmental problems. To overcome these problems, resource conservation at various
levels is important.
For eg: Gandhiji rightly said, “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for any body’s
greed. “For the first time conservation of resources has been advocated by the club of
Rome at the International level in a more systematic way in 1968.Another significant
contribution was made at the Earth Summit at Riode Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.

8. Explain any three measures of conservation of resources.

Ans 1) Judicious and careful utilisation of resources.
2) Preventing wastage of resources and misuse of resources.
3) Use of alternatives or substitutes in the case of non-renewable resources.

LAND RESOURCES:
9 Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much
since 1960-61?
Ans The present land use pattern in India for the year 2014-15 as follows:
Land use categories 2014-15
i)(a)Forests 23.3%
(b)Area under non-agricultural use 8.7%
(c )Barren and waste land 5.5%
(d)Permanent pastures and grazing lands 3.3%
(e)Area under miscellaneous tree crop 1%
(f)Culturable waste land 4.0%
(g)Fallow other than current fallow3.6%
(h)Current fallow 4.9%
(i)Net sown Area 45.5%
ii) Forest area has increased marginally from 18%in 1960-61to 23.3%in 2014-15.
iii) This is mainly due to increasing pressure of population on land.
iv) Land is a fixed asset. The ever increasing population has resulted in increased demand
for land for various purposes like agriculture and other non-agricultural purposes.
(v)Hence it has increased marginally by 5% only.

10 CAUSES OF LAND DEGRADATION

ANS HUMAN NATURAL

 Deforestation  Water eroded area
 over grazing,  Forest eroded area
 mining and quarrying  Saline and alkaline
 Wind eroded area
11 Which factor is responsible for land degradation? What makes the land use planning
essential?
Ans. 1) Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures
to conserve and manage it has resulted in land degradation.
2) This, in turn, has serious repercussions on society and the environment.
3) We have shared our land with the past generations and will have to do so with the
future generations too.
4) Ninety five percent of our basic needs are fulfilled from land.
5)Today the human activities have not only brought about degradation of land but have
also aggravated the pace of natural forces to cause damage to land.Hence,it is necessary
to have proper measures for land use planning to derive optimum benefits.

Causes of Land degradation in different states of India.

Mining Overgrazing Over irrigation

Deforestation Water logging

e.g Increase in salinity and

e.g. Gujarat, Rajasthan, alkalinity
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. e.g
Orissa. Punjab, Haryana, western
Uttar Pradesh.

12. What is land degradation?

How does land degradation takes place through human activities in different states of
India?
OR
What are the causes of land degradation in various states of India?
Ans Land degradation refers to the processes both natural and man-made activities which
make the land unfit for use.
Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars and
traces of over-burdening.
1. In stateslike Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa deforestation
due to mining have caused severe land degradation.
2. In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazingis
one of the main reasons for land degradation.
3. In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is
responsible for land degradation due to water logging leading to increase in
salinity and alkalinity in the soil.

13 Describe any four measures of controlling land degradation.

Ans  Afforestation
 Proper management of grazing can help to some extent.
 Planting of shelter belts of plants.
 Control on over grazing.
 Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
 Proper management of waste lands.
 Control of mining activities.
  Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment
can reduce land and water degradation in industrial and suburban areas.

14 What are fallow lands? Outline the steps to decrease the percentage of fallow lands.
Ans Land which is left uncultivated for 2-3 years so that the soil regains its fertility naturally is
called fallow land. It includes:
(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).
It can be reduced
 Regularised use of chemical fertilizers.
 Scientific methods for conservation of soil moisture.
15. What are forest lands? What measures have been taken to increase the area under forest
lands?
Ans Forest lands are lands which are covered by natural vegetation.
 Its percentage has increased from 18% to 23%due to afforestation programs like
Chipko Movement and Van Mahotsav.
 Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33 per cent of geographical
area, as it was outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952).

16. How are we able to feed cattle despite of decrease in permanent pasture and grazing
land?
Ans 1. Pastures land is land meant for grazing of cattle.
2. Pasture land has been reduced from 5% to 3%.
3. Despite poor pasture land India supports a huge cattle population by feeding them
on farm waste and oil cakes and by growing fodder crops.

17. What is wasteland?

Ans Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert areas and land put to other non-agricultural
uses includes settlements.

18. List the importance of land resources

Ans 1. Land is a natural resource of utmost importance.
2. It supports natural vegetation, wild life.
3. It supports human life, economic activities, and transport and communication
systems.

19. Define land utilisation. What are the physical and human factor determining land use
patterns?
Ans Land utilisation denotes the different uses that land is put to such as cultivation of crops,
grazing of animals, mining, constructing roads, houses and other buildings, setting of
industries and so on.
PHYSICAL FACTOR:Topography, climate, soil types.

HUMAN FACTOR:Population density, technological capability, culture and traditions.

20 India has land under a variety of relief features, comment.

Ans
 Plain (43%) Mountain (30%) Plateau (27%)
 Agriculture and  Perennial rivers  Rich reserves of
industry  Promote tourism minerals ,fossil
 Ecological aspects. fuels and forest.

21 Why is land use pattern not available for the entire country?
Ans Land use data is available only for 93 per cent of the total area because the land use
reporting for most of the north-east states except Assam has not been done fully.
Moreover, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also
not been surveyed.

22 How do industries cause land degradation?

Ans 1. The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite
and soapstone for ceramic industry generate huge quantity of dust in the
atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it
settles down on the land.
2. Industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water
pollution in many parts of the country.
3. The dirty and poisonous effluents of factories which go on collecting in the
surrounding areas completely degrade lands and render them unfit for cultivation.
4. Industries require a lot of raw material especially different types of minerals.
Surface mining leads to degradation of land.

23. Distinguish between Net sown area and gross cropped area.
Ans Net sown area – It is the total area sown Gross cropped area-It is the area
with crops in a country. Area sown more sown more than once in an agricultural
than once is counted once only. year plus net sown area.

24. The pattern of net sown areas varies from one state to another, explain.
Ans  Dense forests.
 Rainfall.
 Topography and soil type.
 Climate.

SOIL RESOURCES:
25. Define Soil.
Ans Loose and fragmented uppermost layer of the earth consisting of organic and inorganic
materials.

26. What is the importance of soil?

Ans It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms onthe
earth.

27. Describe any three factors responsible for soil formation.

Ans 1. Soil forming factors are Relief, parent rock or bed rock, climate, vegetation and
other forms of life and time.
2. Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, actions of running water,
wind and glaciers, activities of decomposers etc. contribute to the formation of
soil.
 3. Chemical and organic changes which take place in the soil are equally important.
Soil also consists of organic (humus) and inorganic materials.

28. Define soil erosion.

Ans The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil
erosion.

29. What are the factors responsible for soil erosion?

Ans Human activities Natural forces

 Deforestation  wind
 over-grazing  glacier
 construction and mining etc.  water

30. Distinguish between Sheet erosion and gully erosion.

Ans Sheet Erosion Gully Erosion
Sometimes water flows as a sheet over The running water cuts through the clayey
large areas down a slope. In such cases the soils and makes deep channels as gullies.
top soil is washed away. This is known as The land becomes unfit for cultivation and
sheet erosion. is known as bad land. In the Chambal basin
such lands are called ravines.

31. What are the various measures to conserve soil?

Ans 1. Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of
water down the slopes.
2. Terrace farming: Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace
cultivation restricts erosion. Western and central Himalayas have well developed
terrace farming.
3. Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to
grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind.
4. Shelter belts: Shrubs and trees are planted along fields to control the force of
wind. Planting lines of trees to create shelter have contributed significantly to the
stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising the desert in western India.

32. How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
Ans 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.
iii) Economic development increases the standard of living of the people. It helps them to
enjoy a number of facilities and use more resources.

33. Explain the factors responsible for resources development in India.

Ans India’s vast natural resources have enormous potential for economic development. After
Independence India’s concerted efforts for planned development of resources through
First Five Year Plan.
1. The availability of resources is a necessary condition for the development of any
 region, but mere availability of resources in the absence of corresponding changes
in technology and institutions may hinder development.
2. The history of colonisation reveals that rich resources in colonies were the main
attractions for the foreign invaders.
3. It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonising
countries that helped them to exploit resources of other regions and establish
their supremacy over the colonies.
4. Therefore, resources can contribute to development only when they are
accompanied by appropriate technological development and institutional
changes.
5. Therefore, in India, development, in general, and resource development in
particular does not only involve the availability of resources, but also the
technology, quality of human resources and the historical experiences of the
people.

No Soil type Formation Characteristic Features Regions Crops

grown
1 Alluvial soil Depositio 1. Most widely spread and Northern plains,extend Sugarcan
n of sand important soil. in Rajasthan and e, paddy,
and silt 2.Consists of sand, silt and clay, Gujarat through a wheat
very fertile. Contain Potash, narrow corridor, found and
Phosphoric acid and lime. in the eastern coastal other
3.Coarse soil in the upper river plains cereal
valley are deltas of the Mahanadi, and
Common in piedmont plains such the Godavari, the pulse
as Duars, Chos, Terai. Krishna and the Kaveri crops.
4. on the basis of their age, old rivers.
alluvial (Bangar) and new alluvial
(Khadar). The bangar soil has higher
concentration of kanker nodules
than the Khadar. It has more fine
particles and is more fertile than
the bangar.
5.Soils in the drier areas are more
alkaline and can be productive after
proper treatment and irrigation.
6.Deficient in organic and
nitrogenous materials.
2 Black Weatheri 1.The black soils are made up of Deccan trap (Basalt) Cotton
Soil(regur ng of extremely fine i.e. region ,spread over Sugar
soils) volcanic 2. Clayey material, well-known for northwest Deccan cane
rocks their capacity to hold moisture. plateau. They cover the
They are rich in soil nutrients, plateaus of
calcium carbonate, magnesium, Maharashtra,
potash and lime. SaurashtraMalwa,
3. Poor in phosphoric content Madhya Pradesh and
develop deep cracks during hot Chhattisgarh and
weather; helps in the proper extend in the south east
aeration of the soil are sticky when direction along the
wet and difficult to work on unless Godavari and the
tilled immediately after the pre- Krishna valleys.
 monsoon period.
3 Red and Weatheri 1. These soils develop a reddish in areas of low rainfall Oilseeds
Yellow Soils ng of colour due to diffusion of iron in in the eastern and &millets.
crystalline crystalline and metamorphic rocks. southern parts of the
igneous It looks yellow when it occurs in a Deccan plateau, Orissa,
rocks hydrated form. Chhattisgarh, southern
parts of the middle
Ganga plain and along
the piedmont zone of
the Western Ghats.
4 Laterite Soil intense 1.It develops in areas with high Karnataka, Kerala, Tea and
leaching temperature and heavy rainfall. Tamil Nadu, Madhya coffee,
process 2. Humus content ofthe soil is low Pradesh, and the hilly cashew
that because most of the micro- areas of Orissa and nut.
removes organisms, particularly the Assam.
humus decomposers, like bacteria, get
destroyed due to high temperature.
3. suitable for cultivation with
adequate doses of manures and
fertilizers.

5 Arid Soils Depositio 1. Itrange from red to brown in Western Rajasthan Jowar
n of sand colour. 2. Coarse, sandy and saline &bajra
in arid in nature. In some areas the salt
regions. content is very high and common
salt is obtained by evaporating the
water.
3. Due to the dry climate, high
temperature, evaporation is faster
and the soil lacks humus and
moisture.
4. The lower horizons of the soil are
occupied by Kankar because of the
increasing calcium content
downwards.
5. The Kankar layer formations in
the bottom horizons restrict the
infiltration of water.
6. After proper irrigation these soils
become cultivable.
6 Forest Soils Depositio 1. soils texture varies found in the hilly and Fruits,te
n of according to the mountain mountainous areas a,coffee,
organic environment. &Spices
matter. 2. Loamy and silty in valley sides,
coarse grained in the upper slopes.
3. In the snow covered areas of
Himalayas, these soils experience
denudation and are acidic with low
humus content.
4 The soils in the lower parts of
valleys on the river terraces and
alluvial fans are fertile.
34. Differentiate between alluvial and black soil.
35. What are the features of black soil?
36. Give the features of red and yellow soil.
37. Give the features of laterite soil.
38. Give the features of arid soil.
39. How are alluvial soils formed? How is Bangar alluvium different from Khadar.
40. Name two nutrients in which alluvial soil is deficient.
41. Which is the most widely spread and important soil of India? State any four characteristics
of the type of soil.

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