Chapter 1: Development
1.1 Key Concepts
Q. What is Development?
Development = Progress, growth, or improvement in living
standards.
Different people, different goals: What may be development for one,
may not be for another.
o Ex: Industrialist = profits, Worker = better wages,
Environmentalist = sustainability.
Q. Income and Other Goals
Income is a major but not the only factor.
People seek non-material things too (respect, freedom, security,
equality).
Example: A job with less pay but no exploitation might be preferred
over a high-paying abusive one.
Q. National Development
National development = Improvement of a nation’s living standards.
Includes:
o Average income (per capita income)
o Health, education, equality
Different people may prioritize different aspects.
1.2 Comparing Countries or States
Q. How to Compare?
Most common method = Average income (Total income ÷
Population)
o Also called Per Capita Income
Q. World Bank Classification (2022–23 updated numbers can vary)
Rich Countries: Per capita income > $13,205
Middle Income: Between $1,085 and $13,205
Low-Income Countries: Per capita income < $1,085
Note: CBSE expects the concept, not exact numbers.
!! Limitations of Average Income !!
Doesn't show inequality.
Two countries can have same average income, but different
distribution.
Other Indicators of Development
Literacy rate
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy
Net attendance ratio
Public facilities (healthcare, sanitation, etc.)
Q. Human Development Index (HDI) includes:
1. Per capita income
2. Life expectancy
3. Literacy rate & mean years of schooling
Q. Sustainable Development
Development that meets present needs without compromising future
generations.
Focuses on:
o Environmental protection
o Renewable resources
o Long-term planning
Example: Overusing groundwater may lead to scarcity in the future.
Important Terms to Know
Term Definition
A process of improving the quality of life and
Development
economic well-being of people.
The average income earned per person in a
Per Capita Income
given area in a specified year.
National Growth and improvement in the economy and
Development living standards of a country.
Development that meets present needs without
Sustainable
harming the ability of future generations to
Development
meet their needs.
A composite index measuring average
HDI (Human
achievement in key dimensions: income,
Development Index)
education, and health.
Services provided by the government to ensure
Public Facilities
welfare—like schools, roads, hospitals.
Total income of a country divided by its total
Average Income
population.
Aspirations like dignity, security, equality—
Non-Material Goals
things that can’t be measured in rupees.
Economic Growth Increase in the output of goods and services in a
Term Definition
country over time.
Percentage of people aged 7+ who can read and
Literacy Rate
write.
- Remember These for 3/5 Markers:
Q: Why is income not the only indicator of development?
Q: Why is per capita income not a perfect measure?
Q: Define sustainable development with an example.
Q: How does the World Bank classify countries?
- Mnemonic for Indicators of Development : LIP-NP
L – Literacy Rate
I – Infant Mortality
P – Per Capita Income
N – Net Attendance Ratio
P – Public Facilities
Mini Case Study: Development & Its Contradictions
"The Tale of Palampur and Kheda" (A contrast case study)
OPTIONAL!!!
Palampur is a village in Uttar Pradesh with:
Access to clean drinking water
A primary school and a government hospital
Most people employed in small farming or local industries
Women’s literacy rate = 82%
Kheda, a village in a drought-prone area of Maharashtra:
Limited water supply and no public transport
Primary school exists, but irregular teacher attendance
High unemployment among youth
Women’s literacy rate = 48%
Comparison Questions:
Who is more “developed” and why?
Which village reflects more sustainable development?
How do non-income goals (like education and access to
healthcare) change our idea of what development means?
