Class-X

Geography
RESOURCES & ITS DEVELOPMENT

1. What is resource? Explain in detail.

Ans: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs; provided it is
technologically accessible. Economically feasible and culturally acceptable, can be termed as
‘resource’. Ex- Land, Soil, Air, Human being etc.

2. What is sustainable development? Why is it needed?

Ans: Sustainable development means judicious use of resources in such a way that it should not
damage the environment and development of present should not compromise with the needs of the
future generation.
There is a need of sustainable development, because:
• Some resources are present in limited quantity. Once exhausted, it can not be
replenished. For ex- Fossil fuels
• Some resources are present in unlimited quantity but its quality may deteriorate due to
pollution. For ex- Air, water etc
• Resources are the base for the development of any nation.

3. What do you mean by development of resources?

Ans: Development of resources is the efficient and optimum utilization of resources that are used
by us to satisfy our needs and contribute to economic development.

4. Why there is a need of development of resources?

Ans: There is a need of development of resources because:
• Resources are limited and are unevenly distributed.
• Resources are the basic needs of human beings. In order to prevent their wastage,
development of resources is necessary.
• In the case of renewable resources, contamination or pollution of resources is a cause of
concern for development.
• For its optimum or maximum utilization.

5. What is resource planning? Why it is needed in India?

Ans: Resource planning referrers to the strategy for planned and judicious utilization of resources.
Resource planning is needed because:
• Rajasthan has vast potential for the development of solar and wind energy but is
deficient in water resources.
• The cold desert of Ladakh has rich cultural heritage, but is deficient in water and some
strategic minerals.
• Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water but lack in infrastructure.
In order to reduce such disparities, resource planning is needed.

6. What are the steps of resource planning?

Ans: Resource Planning, in general, has following steps:
• Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country
• Making a planning structure equipped with appropriate technology, skill and
institutional set-up for implementing resource development plans.
• Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

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7. What are the causes of land degradation? Give some examples of it with reference to
India. How it can be conserved?
Ans: The causes of land degradation can be divided into two parts:
• Natural Causes: It includes action of wind, water etc.
• Man-made Causes: It includes deforestation, over grazing, mining, quarrying,
construction work etc.
Some examples of land degradation in different states of India are as follows:
a. In states like Jharkhand, CG and Odisha deforestation due to mining have caused
severe land degradation.
b. In states like Gujrat, Rajasthan, MP and Maharashtra over- grazing is one of the
main causes of land degradation.
c. In states like Punjab, Haryana and UP over irrigation is responsible for land
degradation due to water logging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the
soil.
It can be conserved by:
• Afforestation and proper management of grazing.
• Planting of shelter belts to check the extension of deserts, control on over-grazing
etc.
• Making habit for proper waste disposal, composing and restoring biodiversity.
• Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
• Checking over irrigation to prevent the salinization of land.
• Encouraging the use of renewable sources of energy as much as possible.

8. Write a short note on land utilization in India.

Ans: Land resource is used for following purposes:
a. Forests
b. Land available for cultivation:
• Barren and waste land
• Land put to non- agricultural uses like buildings, factories, roads etc.
c. Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)
• Permanent pastures or grazing lands
• Land under miscellaneous tree crops
d. Fallow Land:
• Current Fallow- Left without cultivation for one or less than one
agricultural year.
• Other than current fallow- Left uncultivated for past one to five
agricultural year.
e. Net Sown Area: Area which is actually under agriculture.
f. Gross sown area: Total area sown in one agricultural year (total of once or more than
once.)

9. What are the factors responsible for soil formation?

Ans: The factors responsible for the soil formation are:
• Parent Rocks: The colour, texture etc. of the soil depends on the parent rocks. For
example- Black soil is generally found in the area of igneous lava rocks.
• Relief: Relief or physical features of any place decides the soil formation of that area.
For example- Mountain slopes have thin soil whereas plains have thick layer of soil.
• Climate: Temperature and rainfall of a place is also responsible for soil formation. For
example- In the desert region, due to high diurnal range of temperature, the rocks get
weaker at the joints and break easily. These soils are also very porous. Similarly high

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 temperature and high rainfall at a place leads to leaching process and thus laterite soil is
formed.
• Plants and Animals: Plant roots lead to breaking of rocks. Borrowing animals like rat,
rabbit etc. also leads to loosen the rocks and soil formation. Some other animals also
help in breaking of rocks by their horns and hoofs. Dead animals and plants add humus
to soil.
• Time: Time adds maturity to soil. In due course of time, rock pieces gradually break
into finer particles and other factors like humidity etc. add fertility to soil.

10. What is soil erosion? Explain the different types of soil erosion.
Ans: Washing away of entire top fertile layer of soil due to human activities or natural forces is
called soil erosion.
Soil erosion broadly can be divided into two types:
a. Sheet Erosion: The washing away of entire top thin layer of soil due to wind or water is
known as sheet erosion.
b. Gully Erosion: The running water cuts through the clayey soil and scoops out it to make
deep channels such as gullies. Thus, the land becomes unfit for cultivation and is known as
bad land. In Chambal basin, such lands are called ravines.

11. Explain the different causes of soil erosion.

Ans: The causes of soil erosion are:
a. Natural Causes: Actions of nature like running water, wind and glaciers are responsible
for soil erosion:
• Running water: Running water erodes the top layer of soil. Sometimes, continuous
flow of water also causes deep channels like gullies.
• Wind: Uninterrupted flow of wind is very common in the desert areas and thus, it
leads to soil erosion in this area.
• Glaciers: In the mountainous regions, down flowing glaciers also erode the soil
from the area.
b. Man- Made causes: Different human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, faulty
methods of agriculture etc. are the main causes of soil erosion.
• Deforestation: Roots of the big trees bind soil particles. So, when trees are cut
down, it leads to soil erosion.
• Over-grazing- Cattles uproot the grasses while grazing. Similarly, their hoofs also
destroy the grasses and cause soil erosion.
• Faulty Practices of Agriculture: Agriculture along the slope of the mountains is
responsible for the soil erosion in mountainous area.
• Unscientific Mining: Forests are cut down for the mining. At the same time,
mining leads to the soil erosion.
• Construction: The construction of roads and buildings exposes the soil to erosion.
The forests and grasslands are cleared for construction purposes, which exposes the
soil making it vulnerable to erosion.

12. Mention the methods to suggest the soil conservation.

Ans: Some of the methods of soil conservation are:
• Afforestation
• Contour ploughing on mountains
• Strip farming
• Crop Rotation
• Fallowing the land
• Shelter belts, which check the extension of deserts.

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Note: Points needed to be explained.

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