GEOGRAPHY

CHAPTER: RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Questions Answers
Q1: Define resource. Explain the relationship between nature, technology and
utilisation.
A: RESOURCE: 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 ‘Resources’.
RELATIONSHIP
1. The process of transformation of things available in our environment involves
an inter-dependent relationship between matter, technology and instructions.
2. Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions
to accelerate their economic development.

Q2: What are biotic and abiotic resources? Give examples.

A: BIOTIC RESOURCES: These are obtained from biosphere and have life.
Example: Human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.

Q3: Distinguish between

A:
RENEWABLE RESOURCES NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES
1. These can be renewed or 1. These take millions of years in
reproduced by physical, chemical or their formation.
mechanical processes.
2. Example: Solar and wind energy, 2. Example: Minerals and fossil fuels.
water etc.
3. These are classified into 3. These are classified into recyclable
continuous or flow and biological and non-recyclable resources.
resources.
4. These are present in abundance. 4. They are limited on earth’s surface.
5. They do not cause pollution. 5. They cause pollution.
6. Use of renewable resources is 6. Use of these resources is expensive
cheaper in long run. in long run.

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Q4: Explain the classification of resources on the basis of ownership.
A: INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES: These are owned privately by individuals.
Example: plots, houses, plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in wells etc.
COMMUNITY OWNED RESOURCES: These are accessible to all the
members of the community.
Example: Village commons, public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds etc.
NATIONAL RESOURCES: All the resources controlled and regulated by the
national government are called national resources. Technically, all the resources
belong to the nation. The country has powers to acquire even private property
for public good.
Example: All the minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the
political boundaries and oceanic area up to 18 nautical miles (22.2 KM) from
the coast termed as territorial water and resources therein.
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES: These are owned and regulated by the
international institutions.
Example: The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of Exclusive
Economic Zone belong to open ocean and no individual country can utilise
these without the concurrence of international institutions.

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Q5: Differentiate between national and international resources.
A:
NATIONAL RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
Technically all the resources The resources which are regulated by
belonging to the nation are called inter nation institutes are called
national resources. international resources.
2. All the minerals, water resources, 2. The oceanic resources beyond 200
forest, wildlife, land within the nautical miles of the exclusive
political boundaries and oceanic areas economic zone belonging to open
up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 KM) ocean and which no individual
from the coast termed as territorial country can utilise without the
water are national resources. permission of international
institutions.
3. They are under the control of 3. They are under the control of
national government. The country has international institutions. Hence, no
legal power to acquire even the country can utilise these resources
private property for public good. without the permission of
Example: For making roads, dams, international institutes.
canals etc. Example: India has got the right to
mine manganese nodules from the
bed of Indian ocean from that area
which lies beyond the exclusive
economic zone.

Q6: Explain the problems caused by indiscriminate use of resources.

A: 1. Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
2. Accumulation of resources in few hands, which in turn, divided the society
into two segments, that is, haves and have nots or rich and poor.
3. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises
such as, global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and
land degradation.

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Q7: What is resource planning? Why is it essential?
A: Planning is the strategy for judicious use of resources by discouraging
wastage and over-utilisation of resources. It is essential because:
1. Resources are limited on earth’s surface.
2. Resources are unevenly distributed.
3. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global warming, ozone
layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
4. For sustainable existence of all life forms.
5. For global peace.

Q8: Explain the stages of resource planning.

A: 1. Identification and inventory of resources. This involves surveying,
mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of
resources.
2. Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and
institutional resource development plans.
3. Matching the resource development plans with overall national development
plans.

Q9: Land use pattern in India

A:
S. No. Category 1960-1961 2008-2009
1. Forest 18.11% 22.78%
2. Barren and unculturable waste land 12.01% 8.61%
3. Area under non-agricultural uses 4.95% 5.57%
4. Permanent pastures and grazing land 4.71% 3.38%
5. Area under misc. tree corps and groves 1.50% 1.11%
6. Culturable waste land 6.23% 4.17%
7. Fallow other than current fallow 3.50% 3.37%
8. Current fallow 3.73% 4.76%
9. Net sown area 45.26% 46.24%

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Q10: Explain land use pattern in India.
A: Land use data is available only for 93% of the total geographical 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.
1. Net sown area has increases marginally from 45.26% in 1960-61 to 46.24%
in 2008-09.
2. The land under permanent pasture has decreased.
3. Most of the other than the current fallow lands are either of poor quality or
the cost of cultivation of the such land is very high.
4. The pattern of net sown area varies from one state to another. It is over 80%
of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10% in Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman Nicobar area.
5. Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical
area.
6. A part of the land is termed as waste land and land put to other non-
agricultural uses. Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert areas and land put
to other non-agricultural uses includes settlements, roads, railways etc.

Q11: Discuss the importance of land under the variety of relief.

A: India has land under a variety of relief feature, namely, mountains, plateaus,
plains and islands.
1. About 43% of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture
and industry.
2. Mountains account for 30% of the total surface area of the country and ensure
perennial flow of the same rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological
aspects.
3. About 27% of the area of the country is the plateau region. It possesses rich
reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.

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Q12: What are causes of land degradation?
A: 1. MINING: Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete
leaving deep scars and traces of over-burdening. In states like Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orrisa deforestation due to mining have
caused severe land degradation.
2. OVER-GRAZING: IN Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharashtra, over grazing is one of the main reasons for land
degradation.
3. WATER LOGGING: In 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.
4. MINERAL PROCESSING: 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.
5. INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS: In recent years, industrial effluents, as
waste have become a major source of land and water pollution in many
parts of the country.

Q13: Why is the area under forest in India still very low?
A: This is because:
1. Forests are cleared for agriculture.
2. Large scale deforestation is done to provide raw material to the industries.
3. Shifting cultivation also leads to clearing up of forested land.
4. Land degradation due to mining and other human activities.

Q14: The land under permanent pastures is low. What are its
impacts/consequences?
A: 1. This has led to a greater pressure of livestock on agricultural land. Cattle
are mainly fed on farm based, a few fodder crops or grain chaffs.
2. This has led to deterioration in the health and quality of animal products like
milk, meat, eggs etc.

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Q15: Why has the land under culturable land decreased?
A: 1. This land is used for expansion of industrialisation and urbanisation.
2. This land is also used for agriculture by using chemicals and irrigation
facilities.

Q16: Why the net sown area in the country has increased only marginally?
A: 1. Expansion of towns, cities and industries so as to support the growing
population.
2. Development of projects like dams, roads, railways, bridges etc.
3. Loss in the fertility of soil due to over-utilisation of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides.

Q17: What steps can be taken to control land degradation?

A: The following steps can be taken to control land degradation:
1. Afforestation and proper management of pastures.
2. Planting of shelter belts of plants.
3. Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
4. Proper management of waste lands.
5. Control of mining activities.
6. Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after
treatment.

Q18: Distinguish:
A:
BANGAR KHADAR
1. They are uplands formed by the 1. They are lowlands formed by the
older alluvial in the northern plains. new alluvial in the northern plains.
2. It is less fertile comparatively. 2. It is fertile and more suitable for
cultivation.
3. It is free from floods. 3. It is replenished by floods almost
4. It is composed of high every year.
concentration of kankar. 4. It is composed of fine particles.

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Q19: What are the factors affecting the formation of soil?
A: FORMATION OF SOIL
1. Relief, parent rock or bed rock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life
and time are important factors in the formation of soil.
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.

Q20: Define soil erosion. Explain major types of soil erosion prevailing in
India.
A: The degradation of soil cover and subsequent washing down due to human
activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining etc and
natural forces like wind, glacier and water is called soil erosion.
Types of soil erosion prevailing in India are:
1. Gully erosion: The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes
deep channels as gullies. The land becomes unfit for cultivation. It is called bad
land. In Chambal basin such land are called ravines.
2. Sheet erosion: Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large areas down a
slope. In such cases, the top soil is washed away. This is known as sheet
erosion.
3. Wind erosion: Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as wind
erosion.
4. Soil erosion is also caused due to defective methods of farming. Ploughing in
a wrong way, that is, up and down the slope form channels for the quick flow of
water leading to soil erosion.

Q21: Describe the different ways of soil conservation.

A: 1. Mulching: Mulching is done by putting dead leaves and shredded wood on
soil. It protects the soil from becoming acidic and increases the fertility of soil.
It reduces the impact of excessive rainfall.
2. Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow
of water down the slopes. This is called contour ploughing.
3. Terrace cultivation: Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces.
Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. Example: In western and central Himalayas

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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. This method is
known as strip cropping.
5. Shelter belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter are called shelter trees.
These shelter trees have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand
dunes and in stabilising the desert in Western India.
6. Large scale plantation of trees should be done.
7. Management of pastures and overgrazing by animals should be checked.
8. Dams should be constructed to prevent floods.

Q22: What were Gandhi Ji’s view about conservation of resources?

A: 1. There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.
2. He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of
modern technology as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
3. He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with production by
the masses.

Q23: How have technical and economical development led to more

consumption of resources?
A: 1. Commercialization of agriculture has resulted in over-utilisation of soil
and clearing of forest cover.
2. Advancement of transport, communication and trade has led to consumption
of energy resources.
3. Technological and economic development have caused expansion of
industries which have put greater pressure on natural resources like minerals,
forests etc. for regular supply of raw material.
4. Development of projects like dams, roads, bridges, airports etc. has acquired
forests land.
5. Urbanisation and moderation has increased the use of energy and water
resources for industrial, agricultural and domestic purposes.

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Q24: Give main features of alluvial soil.
A: 1. It consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
2. These soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime.
3. These are ideal for growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and
pulse crops. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively
cultivated and densely populated.
4. On the basis of age, this soil can be divided into- Bangar and Khadar.

Q25: What are the areas having black soil and crop which is grown mainly in it?
A: This soil is typical of the Deccan Trap region spread over northwest Deccan
plateau. They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extend along the Godavari and the Krishna
valleys. Cotton and sugarcane mainly grow in black soil.

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