Ch 1 Resources and

Development
Topics in the Chapter

• Resources
• Classification of Resources
→ On the basis of origin
→ On the Basis of Exhaustibility
→ On the Basis of Ownership
→ On the Basis of the Status of Development
• Development of Resources
• Resource Planning
• Land Resources
→ Land Resources in India
• Land Use Pattern in India
• Land Degradation and Conservation measures
• Soil as a Resource
• Classification of Soils
→ Alluvial Soils
→ Black Soil
→ Red and Yellow Soils
→ Laterite Soils
→ Arid Soils
→ Forest Soils
• Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

1. Define Resources

• 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’. Eg, air, water, minerals, forests etc.

2. Classify the Resources on the basis of origin, exhaustibility, ownership

and status of development

• The resources can be classified as:

→ On the basis of origin – biotic and abiotic
→ On the basis of exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable
→ On the basis of ownership – individual, community, national and international
→ On the basis of status of development – potential, developed stock and reserves.
On the Basis of Origin

• Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human
beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.

• Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called
abiotic resources. For example, rocks and metals.

On the Basis of Exhaustibility

• Renewable Resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by

physical, chemical or mechanical processes are known as renewable resources. For
example, solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc.

• Non-Renewable Resources: The resources once consumed cannot be replaced are

known as non-renewable resources. These resources take millions of years in their
formation. example: Oil, Coal etc.

On the Basis of Ownership

• Individual Resources: The resources owned privately by individuals are called

Individual resources. For example: Plot, houses etc. owned by a person.

• Community Owned Resources: The resources which are accessible to all the members
of the community. For example: Public parks, picnic spots owned by a community.

• National Resources: The resources which come under nation are known as National
Resources. Technically, all the resources belong to the nation.

• International Resources: The resources lying beyond 200 kms of Exclusive Economic
Zone in the oceans are called International Resources. No one can use these resources
without the permission of international institutions.

On the Basis of the Status of Development

• Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region but have not been
utilised. For example: the regions Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for
the development of wind and solar energy but are not utilized optimally.

• Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity
have been determined for utilisation.

• Stock: The resources that have been surveyed but cannot be used due a lack of
technology. For example: water is a compound of two inflammable gases; hydrogen and
oxygen, which can be used as a rich source of energy but we don't have technical know-
how to use them.

• Reserves: The resources that have been surveyed and we can use them with present
technology but their use has not been started are known as Reserves. For example: the
water in the dams, forests etc.
3. Explain the major problems caused due to overuse of resources
Ans. Resources are vital for human survival.
• It was believed that resources are free gifts of nature so, human beings used them
indiscriminately and this has led to the following major problems:
→ Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
→ Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as,
global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
→ Accumulation of resources in few hands which divides the society into rich and poor
and widens the gap between rich and poor.

• For a sustained quality of life and global peace, an equitable distribution of resources
has become essential.

• For using resources judiciously, we need to adopt sustainable economic development.

4. Define Sustainable economic development

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.

5. Expalin how resource planning is done in India

Ans. Resource planning is a complex process which involves:
(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This
involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and
measurement of the resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and
institutional set up for implementing resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

6. How is the Land Resources distributed in India

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

• Land is present in limited size so we must use them effectively.

Land Resources in India

• About 43 percent of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and
industry.

• About 30 percent of the total surface area of the country are mountains which ensure
perennial flow of some rivers and provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.

• About 27 per cent of the area of the country is the plateau region that possesses rich
reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests. (Draw the Pie Chart)

7. Explain the Land Use Pattern in India

Ans.The use of land is determined by:
→ Physical factors such as topography, climate, soil types
→ Human factors such as population density, technological capability and culture and
traditions etc.

• Land use data, however, is available only for 93 per cent of the total geographical area
because the land use reporting for most of the north-east states except Assam has not
been done fully.
→ Also, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also
not been surveyed.

8. What are the factors that contribute Land Degradation and what are the
measures to control land degradation
Ans
• Human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, mining and quarrying
contributed in land degradation.

• Measures to control land degradation:

→ Afforestation
→ 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

9. Why is Soil considered as important Resource?

Ans.• Soil is the most important renewable natural resource.

• It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms on the
earth.

10. Classify the Soils of India as per IACR

Ans.On the basis of the factors responsible for soil formation, colour, thickness, texture,
age, chemical and physical properties, the soils of India can be classified in different
types:

• Alluvial Soils:
→ Entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
→ Also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the
Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
→ Fertile soil therefore, fit for agriculture purpose.
→ Regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated.
→ Rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane,
paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.

• Black Soil:
→ Black in colour and are also known as regur soils.
→ Ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
→ Found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh also along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.
→ Made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material.
→ Well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.
→ Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
• Red and Yellow Soils:
→ Found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan
plateau.
→ Also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain
and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
→ Develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.

• Laterite Soils:
→ Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
→ Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of
Odisha and Assam.
→ Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers.
→ Low Humus content because decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high
temperature.

• Arid Soils:
→ Found in the western parts of Rajasthan.
→ After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable.
→ Lacks humus and moisture because dry climate, high temperature make evaporation
faster.
→ Salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.

• Forest Soils:
→ Found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are available.
→ Feature differs based on location.
→ Loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
→ Silt in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial fans
are fertile.

11. What are causes of soil erosion and how it can be conserved
Ans.Natural ways of Soil erosion: Wind, glacier and water lead to soil erosion.

• Human activities: Deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining etc., contributes

in soil erosion.

• Measures to control Soil erosion:

→ Strip cropping
→ Planting shelter belts
→ In the hilly areas, using contour ploughing and terrace farming.

12. On a political map of India, mark the different types of soil

EXTRA QUESTIONS:

1. What is exclusive economic zone?

2. Give an account on the first Earth summit
3. What is Agenda 21
4. Why is resource planning important in India?
5. What are uses of plateaus, plains and mountains?
6. Distinguish between black soil and alluvial soil
7. How is laterite soil different from alluvial soil in terms of fertility?
8. What is rat hole mining? And where is it practiced?
9. How is India able to tap the manganese nodules available in the Indian ocean?
10. Describe the percentage of degraded land using the pie chart given in your
textbook.