Resources and development

1. How is the issue of sustainability important for development? Explain. (2024,

2023)
Answer:
i. Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.
ii. The issue of sustainability is important for development because if the
natural resources are not used carefully, they may not be available for future
generations.
iii. The depleting resources of a country may ultimately result in a lack of
development of the country.

2. “The question of sustainability of development raises many fundamentally

new issues about the nature and process of development.” Explain it with
examples. (2023)

3. List the problems which resulted due to indiscriminate use of resources by

man.
OR
Why development of resources is necessary? Answer:
i. It has resulted in depletion of many resources.
ii. Accumulation of resources in few hands which, in turn, divided the society
in two segments, i.e., haves and have-nots or rich and poor.
iii. It has led to the global ecological crisis, e.g., global warming, ozone layer
depletion, environmental pollution, land degradation, etc.

4. “India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources.” Name four

varied regions to justify this statement.
OR
“Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources in a
country like India”. Justify this statement with two relevant points and an
example. (2013)
Answer:
There are regions which are rich or self-sufficient in certain types of resources
and there are areas that are deficient or have acute shortage of some vital
resources.
For example:
i. The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in
minerals and coal deposits.
ii. Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in
infrastructural development.
 iii. Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in
water resources.
iv. The cold desert area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage. It is
deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.
Such cases call for balanced resource planning at different levels.
5. Explain three stages of ‘resource planning.’ (2015)
Answer:
Three stages of resource planning:
i. Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of
the country. This involves surveying, mapping and the 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.
iii. Matching the resource development plans with overall national
development

6. Write the major features of Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.

Answer:
i. In 1992,100 heads of States met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first
‘International Earth Summit’.
ii. The summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of:
environmental protection and
iii. Socio-economic development at global level.
iv. The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic
Change and the Biological Diversity.
v. The Rio convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted
‘Agenda 21’ for achieving sustainable development in the 21 st century.
It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty and
diseases through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs
and shared responsibilities.
7. Why is ‘Resource Planning’ necessary? Give reasons.
Answer:
Planning is necessary for proper and judicious utilization of resources. Reasons
for resource planning:
i. Resource availability is not the same in all parts of the country.
ii. Resources, especially non-renewable resources, need extra care as
they cannot be renewed.
iii. There is acute shortage or deficiency of some resources.
iv. Resource planning helps in proper utilization of resources by reducing
wastage. It takes care of future needs and may sustain the environment.
8. Write any three human activities which are responsible for land degradation in
India.
Ans. Three human activities responsible for land degradation in India are:
  Mining: Expansion of mining and quarrying have contributed significantly to land
degradation. In Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa
deforestation due to mining have caused severe land degradation.
 Over-grazing: In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra
overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation
 Over-irrigation: In the states of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, over-
irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging leading to an
increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
 Mineral processing like the grinding of limestone for the cement industry and
calcite and soapstone for the ceramic industry generates huge quantities of dust in
the atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it
settles down on the land.

9. Suggest and explain ways to protect the land from degradation in various states of
India.
Or,
Describe any three measures of controlling land degradation.
Ans. Measures to control land degradation:
 Afforestation and proper management of grazing should be done.
 Planting of shelter belts of plants and control over grazing should be done.
 Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
 Control of mining activities and proper management of waste lands should be
done.
 Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.

10. a. Why maximum share of land is under Net Sown Area in India? Give two reasons.
b. State why 33 % of the geographical area should be under forest as mentioned in the
National Forest Policy of 1952. Give two reasons.

Ans: a. Maximum share of land is under the net sown area in India because:

 The growing food demand to feed the growing population of India is responsible
for the maximum share of land under the net sown area.
 To achieve food security the share of land under the net sown area is more.
b. The reasons are:

 33 % of the geographical area should be under forest as it is essential for

maintaining ecological balance.
 It provides a livelihood to millions of people who live on the fringes of these
forests and depend upon it.

11. What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give four main
features of this type of soil.
Ans. Alluvial soil is found in the entire northern plain. It is the most widely spread soil in
India.
The main features of alluvial soil are:
 It is formed by the sediments deposited by river water.
 It consists of various proportions of sand, silt, and clay.
  It is very fertile. It contains an adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid,
and lime.
 It is ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat, and other cereals.
 Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and
densely populated.

12. Classify alluvial soil on the basis of age and differentiate between them.
Or,
Distinguish between Khadar and Bangar soil.
Ans. According to age, alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar) and new
alluvial (Khadar).
Khadar Bangar

i. It is a new alluvial soil. i. It is an old alluvial soil.

ii. Lower concentration of kankar nodules. ii. Higher concentration of kankar nodules.

iii. It has more fine particles. iii. It has less fine particles.

iv. It is more fertile. iv. It is less fertile.

13. Write the features of ‘regur’ soil.

Ans. The following are the characteristics of regur soil (also known as black soil):
 It is made up of extremely fine clayey material. They are well-known for their
capacity to hold moisture.
 It is rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime.
 These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
 They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration
of the soil.
 It is ideal for growing cotton, so it is also known as ‘black cotton soil’.

14. Distinguish between red and laterite soils.

Ans.
Red soil Laterite soil

i. Formed due to the weathering of igneous and

i. Formed by the leaching process.
metamorphic rocks.

ii. Develop in areas of low rainfall. ii. Develop in areas of high rainfall.

iii. Red in color due to little clay and much

iii. Red in color due to the presence of iron in them.
gravel of red sandstones

iv. These are less crystalline. iv. These are crystalline.

v. These are highly porous and less fertile, but where these v. These are less fertile, only grass grows in
are deep, these are fertile. abundance.

15. Define soil erosion. Explain the two types of soil erosion mostly observed in India.
What are the causes of soil erosion in India?
Ans. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, caused by various agents
such as water, wind, and human activities. This can lead to loss of fertile land, reduced
crop yields, and increased risk of landslides and flooding.
Types of soil erosion:
 Gullies: The running water cuts through the clayey soil and makes deep
channels/gullies. The unfit land caused by gullies is called bad land or ravines.
 Sheet erosion: Water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope. The topsoil is
washed away. This process is known as sheet erosion.
Causes of soil erosion:
 Human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction, mining, etc. are
responsible for soil erosion.
 Natural forces like wind, glaciers, and water also lead to soil erosion. Running
water cuts through the clayey soil and makes deep channels known as gullies,
which makes the land unfit for cultivation. The wind blows loose soil off flat or
sloping land known as wind erosion.
 Soil erosion is also caused due to defective methods of farming. Ploughing in the
wrong way i.e., up and down the slope forms channels for the quick flow of water
leading to soil erosion.

16. What are the factors that have contributed to the development of various types of soils
in India? Suggest any three methods through which soil erosion can be prevented.
Or,
Suggest any three methods of soil conservation suitable to Indian conditions.
Or,
What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas?
Ans. India has varied relief features, landforms, climatic reals, and vegetation types
which have contributed to the development of various types of soils.
Measures to prevent soil erosion:

 Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decrease the speed of
water flow down the slopes and soil erosion can be prevented.
 Terrace cultivation: Step or terrace cultivation on slopes restricts erosion. Western
and Central Himalayas have well-developed terrace farming.
 Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips and strips of grass are left to
grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind and prevents soil
erosion.
 Shelter belts: Rows of trees called shelter belts have led to the stabilization of
sand dunes in the desert in western India.