Previous Years Question Of Resources and Development//Part 1

 1. How is the issue of sustainability important for development? Explain with examples. 

Ans. Importance of Sustainable Development: (i) Sustainable development aims at fulfilling the needs of today without compromising the needs of the future generation.

(ii) Sustainability is the capability to use the resources judiciously and maintain the ecological balance. 

(iii) It lays emphasis on environmental protection and check environmental degradation.

iv) To stop over exploitation and over use of resources.

Q. 2. What is Agenda 21? List its two principles. 

Ans. (i) Agenda 21 is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(ii) The two principles of Agenda 21 are as follows: 

(a) To combat environmental damage, poverty and disease through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.

(b) Every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.

Q.3. Why is it essential to have resource planning? Explain any three reasons.

Ans. (i) If the present trend of resource depletion by few individuals continues, the future of our planet is in danger. 

(ii) Planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Resource planning becomes extremely important in a country like India, which has enormous diversity in the availability of resources

. (iii) Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises.

 Q. 4. "In India, some regions are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources". Do you agree with the statement? Support your answer with any three examples.

Ans. Yes, there are regions which are rich in certain types of resources, but are deficient in some other resources.

(i) Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.

(ii) Arunachal Pradesh has an abundance of water resources, but lacks in infrastructural development.

(iii) Rajasthan is endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.

 Q. 5. "Indiscriminate use of resources has led to numerous problems." Justify this statement.

Ans. Resources are vital for human survival. However, it was believed that resources are a free gift of nature. This has led to indiscriminate use of resources which in turn has led to the following problems:

(1) To satisfy the greed of a few individuals, the depletion of resources has been continuing from the poor

(ii) Accumulation of Resources in a few hands has divided the society in to two segment i.e rich and poor.

 (iii) Indiscriminate use of resources has led to ecological crises, e.g., ozone layer depletion, land degradation, global warming and environmental pollution.

  Q. 6. What is meant by the term "resource"? List the types of resources classified on the basis of its ownership.

Ans. Resource: Everything available in our environment, which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable, is known as a resource.

Types of resources on the basis of ownership are: (i) Individual resources (ii) Community resources (iii) National and international resources.

 Q.7. Differentiate between stock and reserve stating two points of difference. 

 Ans. Stock: Materials, which have the potential to satisfy human beings, but humans do not have the appropriate technology to access these, are termed as stock. We do not have the required technical knowledge to use these resources for a specific purpose. For example, water, which is a compound of two inflammable gases-hydrogen and oxygen. Both these gases can be a rich source of energy. But, we do not know how to use them.

Reserves: These are a subset of the stock. Theycan be put into use with existing knowledge, but  their use has not been started. For example, river water is used as a source of hydroelectricity, but to a limited extent. Thus, the water in the dams, forests, etc., is a reserve which can be used in the future. 

Q. 8. Distinguish between stock and potential resources. Give one example of each.

Ans. (i) Stock: 

(a) Materials in the environment, which have the potential to satisfy human needs.

(b) They are not accessed due to the lack of technology

(c) Example: Water is a compound of two inflammable gases-hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have the required technical knowledge about how to use them for this purpose. Hence, it is stock.

(ii) Potential Resources:

 (a) They are found in a region.

(b) They have not been utilised or developed. (c) Example: Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but they are yet to be developed for various reasons.

Q. 9. Distinguish between the renewable and non- renewable resources.

Explain the types of resources on the basis of exhaustibility with the help of examples.

Ans. (i) Renewable resources: Resources which can be renewed or reproduced by mechanical, physical or chemical processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources, e.g., solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc.

(ii) Non-renewable resources: These occur over very long geological times. Minerals and fossil fuels are examples of such resources. These resources take millions of years in their formation. Some of the resources like metals are recyclable and some of them such as fossil fuels cannot be recycled and get exhausted with their use.

Q. 10. What are the three stages of resource planning in India?

Ans. Following are the three main stages of resource planning in India:

(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. 

(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.

Q. 11. Describe any three main features of Alluvial Soil found in India.

Ans. (1) Alluvial soil is widely spread over the northern plains by the three Himalayan river systems- The Indus, The Ganga and The Brahmaputra.

(ii) Most fertile soil among all soil types.

(iii) Alluvial soil classified as Bangar and Khadar

(iv) It contains potash, phosphoric acid and lime.

(v) Any other relevant point.

Q.12. Describe any three features of 'Black Soil ' found in India.

Ans. (i) Black soil is black in colour and also known as regur soil. 

(ii) Black soil is well known for its capacity to hold moisture.

(iii) It is rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.

(iv) It is ideal for growing cotton.

(v) This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap

region spread over northwest Deccan plateau.

(vi) It is made up of lava flows.