RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

What is meant by the term ‘Resource’?

(i) 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.
(ii) Resources are a function of human activities. Human beings themselves are essential components of resources. They
transform material available in our environment into resources and use them.
How are resources classified?
Resources can be classified in the following ways –
(i) On the basis of their origin
(a) Biotic
(b) Abiotic
(ii) On the basis of their exhaustibility
(a) Renewable
(b) Non-renewable
(iii) On the basis of their ownership
(a) Individual
(b) Community
(c) National
(d) International
(iv) On the basis of their status of development
(a) Potential
(b) Developed
(c) Stock
(d) Reserve
(i) On the basis of Origin
(a) Biotic Resources: Resources which are obtained from biosphere and have life, are called biotic resources.
For example, human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock, trees, animals, insects, etc.
(b) Abiotic Resources: All the non-living things present in our environment are termed as abiotic resources. For
example – land, air, water, minerals, metals, rocks, etc.
(ii) On the basis of Exhaustibility:
(a) Renewable Resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or
mechanical processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources. For example, solar and wind
energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc. The renewable resource may further be divided into –
A. Continuous or flow – e.g. wind and water
B. Biological – natural vegetation, wildlife
(b) Non-renewable Resources: Non-Renewable Resources occur over a very long geological time, e.g. minerals
and fossil fuels. These resources take millions of years in their formation. They are further classified as –
A. Recyclable – e.g. metals
B. Non-recyclable – e.g. fossil fuels
(iii) On the Basis of ownership:
(a) Individual: Resources owned privately by individuals are called Individual Resources. For example – land
owned by farmers, house, plots, and other property.
(b) Community: Resources owned by community or society, accessible to all members of the community, are
called Community Owned Resources. For example – Graveyard, grazing land, ponds, burial grounds, public
parks, picnic spots, village pond, playgrounds, etc.
(c) National Resources: All the minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the political boundaries and
oceanic area upto 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast termed as territorial water and resources therein
belong to the nation. However, technically, all the resources belong to the nation. The country has legal
powers to acquire even private property for public good. If there are roads, canals, railways required to be
constructed on fields owned by some individuals, the Urban Development Authorities get empowered by the
government to acquire that land.
(d) International Resources: Resources regulated by International bodies are called International Resources. E.g.
Oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone are called open sea or ocean. No
individual country can utilize these resources without the permission of International bodies. India has got the
 right to mine manganese nodules from the bed of the Indian Ocean from that area which lies beyond the
exclusive economic zone.
(iv) On the basis of Status of Development:
a. Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a particular region, but not yet utilised properly. E.g.
Rajasthan and Gujarat have plenty of solar and wind energy, with clear sky and high temperatures, but use of
these resources so far has not been developed properly.
b. Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined
for utilisation. Technology and capital help in the development of resources.
c. Stock: Resources that are available, but human beings do not have the appropriate technology to use them,
are called Stock. 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 do not have the required technical ‘know-how’ to use them for
this purpose.
d. Reserves: Reserve is those parts of Stock Resources, which can be utilized using existing technology, but
their use has not been started. These can be used for meeting future requirements. Thus, the water in the
dams, forests, etc. are reserves which can be used in the future.
Discuss some major problems that have surfaced due to indiscriminate use of resources.
(i) Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life.
(ii) It was believed that resources are free gifts of nature. As a result, human beings used them indiscriminately and this
has led to the following major problems –
(a) Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
(b) Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two segments i.e. haves and
have-nots or rich and poor.
(c) Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global warming, ozone
layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
What is Resource Planning?
Resource Planning is a method to use the available resources in an optimum and judicious way, so that maximum benefit
reaches the largest number of people, without their wastage, misuse and overuse.
Why is resource planning essential?
(i) An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of life and global peace.
(ii) If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the future of our planet is in
danger.
(iii) Therefore, resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Sustainable existence is a
component of sustainable development.
What is meant by sustainable development?
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.’
Write a note on Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.
In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first International Earth Summit.
(i) The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic
development at the global level.
(ii) The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity.
(iii) The Rio Convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable
Development in the 21st century.
Write a note on Agenda 21.
(i) It 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) It aims at achieving global sustainable development.
(iii) It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty, disease through global co-operation on common interests,
mutual needs and shared responsibilities.
(iv) One major objective of the Agenda 21 is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.
Why there is a need for balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional and local levels?
(i) Most of the resources are limited in supply. Many of them are non-renewable
(ii) Most of the resources are unevenly distributed over the country. There are regions which are rich in certain types of
resources but are deficient in some other resources. There are some regions which can be considered self sufficient in
terms of the availability of resources and there are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
This calls for balanced resource planning at the national, state, regional and local levels.
(iii) For example –
(a) The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits while
Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural development.
(b) The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.
(c) The cold desert of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the country. It has very rich cultural heritage but
it is deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.
Explain the process of resource planning.
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.
What is the role of humans in resource development?
Human beings interact with nature through technology, and create institutions to accelerate their economic development.
Human beings also transfer materials available in our environment into resource, and use them.
Why is it important to conserve resources?
Resources are vital for any developmental activity. But their irrational consumption and over-utilisation may lead to socio-
economic and environmental problems. To overcome these problems, resource conservation at various levels is important.
What were Gandhi ji’s views on Resource Conservation?
(i) “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for any body’s greed.” He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and
exploitative nature of modern technology as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
(ii) He was against ‘mass production’ and wanted to replace it with ‘production by the masses’.
What are the methods of conservation of resources?
(i) Avoid wastage, misuse and overuse of resources
(ii) Use more of renewable resources, e.g. solar energy, wind, water, etc.
(iii) Replace older technology with newer, modern and efficient technology
(iv) Create awareness among people for pollution
(v) Pass strict laws for establishment and location of industries
(vi) Recycle, reduce, reuse
Why is land considered as a resource? Why is it important to conserve land?
(i) We live on land, we perform our economic activities on land and we use it in different ways. Thus, land is a
natural resource of utmost importance.
(ii) It supports natural vegetation, wild life, human life, economic activities, and transport and communication
systems.
(iii) However, land is an asset of a finite magnitude, therefore, it is important to use the available land for various
purposes with careful planning.
Write a note on the land resources in India.
India has land under a variety of relief features, namely; mountains, plateaus, plains and islands.
(i) About 43% of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and industry.
(ii) Mountains account for 30% of the total surface area of the country and ensure –
(a) perennial flow of some rivers
(b) provide facilities for tourism, and
(c) ecological aspects
 (iii) About 27% of the area of the country is the plateau region. It possesses rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and
forests.
What are the factors that affect Land Use?
The use of land is determined both by physical factors as well as human factors –
(i) Physical factors
(a) Topography
(b) Climate
(c) Soil types
(ii) Human Factors
(a) population density
(b) technological capability
(c) culture and traditions
Why do we not have the complete data for land use in India?
The total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq km. Land use data, however, 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.
Write a note on land utilization in India.
Land resources are used for the following purposes –
(i) Forests – Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as it was outlined in the
National Forest Policy (1952). It was considered essential for maintenance of the ecological balance. The livelihood of
millions of people who live on the fringes of these forests depends upon it.
(ii) Land not available for cultivation
(d) Barren and waste land – includes rocky, arid and desert areas
(e) Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories, etc.
(iii) Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)
(a) Permanent pastures and grazing land – The land under permanent pasture has decreased, leading to
shortages for the huge cattle population.
(b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (not included in net sown area),
(c) Cultivable waste land (left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years).
(iv) Fallow lands – (which are left uncultivated by the farmer to help it regain its fertility, or due to low rainfall, lack of capital,
seeds, etc.). This includes –
(a) Current fallow – (left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year),
(b) Other than current fallow – (left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years). These are either of poor
quality or the cost of their cultivation is very high. So, they are cultivated once or twice in 2 – 3 years.
(v) Net sown area – This is the actual land on which agriculture is done. Some parts of the net sown area are used more
than once in a single season. When this land is added with net sown area, it is known as gross cropped area. The
pattern of net sown area varies greatly 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 Islands.
What is Land Degradation?
(i) Lowering the quality of land to such an extent that it becomes unfit for any use is called land degradation.
(ii) It is a result of continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures to conserve and
manage it. This, in turn, has serious repercussions on society and the environment.
(iii) 95% of our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land. Human activities have not only brought
about degradation of land but have also aggravated the pace of natural forces to cause damage to land.
(iv) About 130 million hectare of land is degraded in India –
(a) 28% of it is forest degraded area
(b) 56% of it is water eroded area
(c) The rest is affected by saline and alkaline deposits
Give reasons for land degradation in India.
(i) Some human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, mining and quarrying have contributed significantly in land
degradation.
(ii) Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars and traces of over-burdening.
(iii) In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa deforestation due to mining have caused severe
land degradation.
(iv) In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land
degradation.
(v) In the states of 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.
(vi) The 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.
(vii) In recent years, industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of land and water pollution in many parts of
the country.
Discuss some of the ways to solve the problem of land degradation.
We have shared our land with the past generations and will have to do so with the future generations too. There are many ways
to solve the problems of land degradation.
(i) Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent.
(ii) In arid areas the following measures can be taken –
(a) Planting of shelter belts of plants
(b) Controls on over grazing
(c) Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
(iii) In industrial and suburban areas the following methods can reduce land degradation –
(a) Proper management of waste lands
(b) Control of mining activities
(c) Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.
Soil is a resource. Explain.
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.
How is soil formed?
(i) The soil is a living system. It takes millions of years to form soil upto a few cm in depth.
(ii) The important factors in the formation of soil are –
(a) Relief – on higher slopes thin layer of soil is found, while in the lower valley thick deposition of alluvium is found.
(b) Parent rock or bed rock – determine the colour, texture and mineral contents in soil.
(c) Climate
(d) Vegetation and other forms of life – add the organic matter to the soil, and
(e) Time
(iii) 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.
(iv) Chemical and organic changes which take place in the soil are equally important in determining its character.
(v) Soil also consists of organic (humus) and inorganic materials, which contribute to its fertility.
How are soils classified?
(i) The soils of India are classified in different types on the basis of –
(a) the factors responsible for soil formation
(b) colour
(c) thickness
(d) texture
(e) age
(f) chemical and physical properties
(ii) India has varied relief features, landforms, climatic realms and vegetation types. These have contributed in the
development of various types of soils –
(a) Alluvial Soils
(b) Black Soils
(c) Red and Yellow Soils
(d) Laterite Soil
(e) Arid Soils
 (f) Forest Soils

Write a short note on alluvial soil.

(i) This is the most widely spread and important soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
(ii) These soils are found in –
(a) The Northern Plains, from Punjab up to Assam, where they have been deposited by three important Himalayan
river systems – the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
(b) Extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor.
(c) Eastern coastal plains particularly in deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
(iii) The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. As we move inlands towards the river valleys, soil
particles appear somewhat bigger in size. In the upper reaches of the river valley i.e. near the place of the break of
slope, the soils are coarse. Such soils are more common in piedmont plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai.
(iv) Apart from the size of their grains or components, soils are also described on the basis of their age. According to their
age alluvial soils can be classified as –
(a) old alluvial (Bangar) – which has higher concentration of kanker nodules than the Khadar. 
(b) new alluvial (Khadar) – which has more fine particles and is more fertile than the bangar.
(v) Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and
lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
(vi) Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated.
(vii) Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment and irrigation.
Write a short note on Black soil.
(i) These soils are black in colour and are also known as regur soils.
(ii) Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
(iii) It is believed that climatic conditions along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of
black soil.
(iv) This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of
lava flows.
(v) They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extend in the
south east direction along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.
(vi) The black soils are made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known for their capacity to hold
moisture. In addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime. These
soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
(vii) They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of the soil.
(viii) These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately after the first shower or during the pre-
monsoon period.
Write a short note on red and yellow soils.
(i) Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan
plateau.
(ii) Yellow and red soils are also found in parts of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and along
the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
(iii) These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
(iv) It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
Write a short note on laterite soil.
(i) Laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘later’ which means brick.
(ii) The laterite soil develops under tropical and subtropical climate with alternate wet and dry season. This soil is the result of
intense leaching due to heavy rain.
(iii) Lateritic soils are mostly deep to very deep, acidic (pH<6.0), and generally deficient in plant nutrients, because most of
the micro organisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature.
(iv) They occur mostly in southern states, Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and
North-east regions.
(v) Where these soils support deciduous and evergreen forests, it is humus rich, but under sparse vegetation and in semi-
arid environment, it is generally humus poor.
(vi) They are prone to erosion and degradation due to their position on the landscape.
(vii) After adopting appropriate soil conservation techniques particularly in the hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil
Nadu, this soil is very useful for growing tea and coffee.
(viii) Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are more suitable for crops like cashew nut.
Write a short note on arid soil.
(i) Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.
(ii) They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature.
(iii) In some areas the salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
(iv) Due to the dry climate, high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture.
(v) The lower horizons of the soil are occupied by Kankar because of the increasing calcium content downwards.
(vi) The Kankar layer formations in the bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of water.
(vii) After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable as has been in the case of western Rajasthan.
Write a short note on forest soil.
(i) These soils are found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are available.
(ii) The soils texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed.
(a) They are loamy and silty in valley sides
(b) They are coarse-grained in the upper slopes
(c) In the snow covered areas of Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and are acidic with low humus content.
(d) The soils found in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.
Explain the process of soil erosion.
(i) The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil erosion.
(ii) The processes of soil formation and erosion go on simultaneously and generally there is a balance between the two.
(iii) Sometimes, this balance is disturbed due to –
(a) human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining etc., or
(b) natural forces like wind, glacier and water.
(iv) The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels as  gullies. The land becomes unfit for
cultivation and is known as bad land. In the Chambal basin such lands are called ravines.
(v) 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.
(vi) Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land known as wind erosion.
(vii) Soil erosion is also caused due to defective methods of farming.
(viii) Ploughing in a wrong way i.e. up and down the slope form channels for the quick flow of water leading to soil erosion.
What are the methods of soil conservation?
(i) Afforestation – Planting trees on degraded land
(ii) Plugging of gullies
(iii) Check on overgrazing by cattle
(iv) Shelter belts – Rows of trees are planted to create shelter. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the
stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising the desert in western India.
(v) Scientific agriculture –
(a) Contour Ploughing – Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes. This is
called contour ploughing.
(b) Terrace cultivation – Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. This restricts erosion. Western and
central Himalayas have well-developed terrace farming.
(c) 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.
Gulley Erosion – The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels as gullies. The land becomes unfit
for cultivation and is known as bad land. In the Chambal basin such lands are called ravines.
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.
Wind Erosion – Wind blows loose soil off flat or sloping land.