What is a Resource?
Anything 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 a ‘Resource’. The process of transformation of things available in our environment involves an interactive relationship between nature, technology and institutions. Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate their economic development.
Classification of Resources
Resources can be classified in the following ways:
- 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.
Development of Resources
Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life. It was believed that resources are free gifts of nature. As a result, human beings used them indiscriminately, leading to problems like:
- Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of a few individuals.
- Accumulation of resources in few hands, dividing society into haves and have nots.
- Indiscriminate exploitation has led to global ecological crises like global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution, and land degradation.
An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for sustained quality of life and global peace.
Sustainable Development and Earth Summit 1992
Sustainable economic development means development should take place without damaging the environment and development in the present should not compromise the needs of future generations. The 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit addressed urgent environmental protection and socio-economic issues, adopting Agenda 21 for global sustainable development.
Resource Planning
Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources. In India, diversity in the availability of resources calls for balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional, and local levels. The mere availability of resources is not enough; technological development and institutional changes are also essential. Conservation of resources is vital due to irrational consumption and over-utilization. Gandhiji emphasized that “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed”.
Land Resources
India has land under a variety of relief features: mountains, plateaus, plains, and islands. About 43% of land area is plain, 30% mountains, and 27% plateaus. Land resources are used for forests, non-agricultural purposes, pastures, tree crops, wasteland, fallow lands, and net sown area.
Land Use Pattern in India
Land use is determined by physical factors (topography, climate, soil) and human factors (population density, technological capability, culture). Net sown area varies greatly by state—the highest in Punjab and Haryana, lowest in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Forest area remains below the desired 33%.
Land Degradation and Conservation
Human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, mining, quarrying, and over-irrigation cause land degradation. Methods to control include afforestation, shelter belts, terracing, proper waste management, and controlled mining activities.
Soil as a Resource and Types of Soil
Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. Formation depends on relief, parent rock, climate, vegetation, and time. Indian soils include:
- Alluvial Soils: Northern plains, fertile, ideal for crops like sugarcane, paddy, wheat.
- Black Soil: Deccan plateau, ideal for cotton, high in moisture retention.
- Red and Yellow Soils: Eastern and southern Deccan, colored by iron content.
- Laterite Soil: Tropical areas, acidic, useful for tea and coffee after treatment.
- Arid Soil: Rajasthan and Gujarat, sandy and saline.
- Forest Soils: Hilly areas, variable texture and fertility.
Soil Erosion and Conservation
Soil erosion is caused by natural forces (water, wind, glacier) and human activities (deforestation, wrong farming methods). Soil conservation methods include contour ploughing, terrace farming, strip cropping, and shelter belts.
questions and their answers available in the PDF chapter “Resources and Development”, presented as per the book’s language and format:
Multiple Choice Questions for NCERT Class 10 Social Science
(i) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Over irrigation
(d) Overgrazing
Answer: (c) Over irrigation.
(ii) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?
(a) Punjab
(b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttarakhand
Answer: (d) Uttarakhand.
(iii) In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Jharkhand
Answer: (b) Maharashtra.
Short Answer Questions (about 30 words)
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown there.
Answer:
Three states having black soil are Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The main crop grown here is cotton.
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this type of soil.
Answer:
Alluvial soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast. Three main features are:
- It is very fertile.
- Contains adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime.
- Ideal for cultivation of cereal and pulse crops.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
Answer:
- Contour ploughing along the slopes
- Terrace farming
- Afforestation
- Strip cropping
- Planting shelter belts.
Long Answer Questions (about 120 words)
(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960–61?
Answer:
Land in India is used for various purposes, such as forests, land not available for cultivation (barren and waste land, land put to non-agricultural uses), other uncultivated land (permanent pastures and grazing land, land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves, culturable waste land), fallow lands, and net sown area. The pattern of land use is determined by both physical factors like topography, climate, and soil types and human factors like population density, technological capability, culture, and traditions. Land under forest has not increased much since 1960–61 because large areas of forests have been cleared for agriculture, industrial development, and construction activities. Despite various policy efforts, the process of afforestation has not kept pace with deforestation and other land use changes.
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
Answer:
Technical and economic development has led to more consumption of resources by increasing the capacity to exploit natural resources. Advanced technology enables large-scale extraction of resources like minerals, fossil fuels, and forests; economic development has increased demand for infrastructure, industries, and consumer goods, further accelerating resource consumption. The increase in transportation, communication, and urbanization also contributes to higher utilization of natural resources, often without consideration for conservation, resulting in depletion and environmental degradation.
Puzzle Fill-in / Concept Questions
(i) Natural endowments in the form of land, water, vegetation and minerals.
Answer: Resources.
(ii) A type of non-renewable resource.
Answer: Fossil fuels.
(iii) Soil with high water retaining capacity.
Answer: Black soil.
(iv) Intensively leached soils of the monsoon climate.
Answer: Laterite soil.
(v) Plantation of trees on a large scale to check soil erosion.
Answer: Afforestation.
(vi) The Great Plains of India are made up of these soils.
Answer: Alluvial soils.
Here are some additional MCQs and short answer questions based on the chapter “Resources and Development”:
Additional MCQs
1. What is the meaning of sustainable development as per the chapter?
(a) Development only for future generations
(b) Development without environmental damage and not compromising the needs of future generations
(c) Development for increasing industrial output
(d) Development focused only on resource extraction
Answer:
(b) Development without environmental damage and not compromising the needs of future generations.
2. Which region in India is rich in water resources but lacks infrastructural development?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Jharkhand
(c) Arunachal Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra
Answer:
(c) Arunachal Pradesh.
3. What is the main cause of land degradation in Gujarat and Rajasthan?
(a) Overgrazing
(b) Over-irrigation
(c) Deforestation
(d) Mining
Answer:
(a) Overgrazing.
4. Which soil is ideal for cotton cultivation?
(a) Alluvial soil
(b) Red soil
(c) Black soil
(d) Laterite soil
Answer:
(c) Black soil.
Additional Short Answer Questions
1. Define ‘Resource Planning’ and explain its necessity in India.
Answer:
Resource planning is a strategy for judicious use of resources, involving identification and inventory, appropriate planning structure, and integration with national development plans. It is necessary in India due to regional diversity in resource availability and to ensure balanced development and conservation.
2. List two human activities that aggravate land degradation, and suggest one measure to control it.
Answer:
Human activities such as mining and deforestation aggravate land degradation. One measure to control it is afforestation.
3. Mention any three types of soils found in India and their distinctive features.
Answer:
Alluvial soil – fertile, ideal for cereals and pulses; Black soil – high moisture retention, ideal for cotton; Laterite soil – acidic, formed due to heavy rainfall and leaching, suitable for tea and coffee after treatment.
4. Why is the area under net sown land very low in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram?
Answer:
The area under net sown land is low due to factors like mountainous terrain, dense forests, and high rainfall which limit agricultural activities.
5. Name a region in India that is resource-rich but economically backward, and give a reason for this situation.
Answer:
Jharkhand is resource-rich but economically backward due to lack of infrastructural development and other socio-economic factors.
