Learning Today…… Leading Tomorrow Self-Learning

Material : 2024-25
APOLLO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Grade : 10
Social Science
LESSON NO. 1 RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT
(Geography)

Resources
Everything in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs and is technologically
accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable is termed as ‘Resource’. Human
beings themselves are essential components of resources. They transform material available
in the environment into resources and use them.
Classification of Resources
Resources can be classified in the following ways:
(a) On the basis of origin – biotic and abiotic
(b) On the basis of exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable
(c) On the basis of ownership – individual, community, national and international
(d) On the basis of the status of development – potential, developed stock and reserves

(a) On the Basis of Origin – Biotic and Abiotic

Biotic Resources are obtained from the biosphere and have life.
Eg: Human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.
Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called
abiotic resources.
Eg: rocks and metals.

(b) On the Basis of Exhaustibility – Renewable and Non-Renewable

The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical
processes are known as Renewable or Replenishable Resources. The renewable resource
may further be divided into continuous or flow.
Eg: Solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc.
Non-Renewable Resources occur over a very long geological time. These resources take
millions of years in their formation. Some of the resources like metals are recyclable and
some like fossil fuels cannot be recycled and get exhausted with their use.
Eg: Minerals and fossil fuels.

(c) On the Basis of Ownership – Individual, Community, National and International

Individual Resources are owned privately by individuals. In villages people own lands
whereas in urban areas people own plots, houses and other properties.
Eg: Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in wells etc.
Community Owned Resources are accessible to all the members of the community.
Eg: Grazing grounds, burial grounds, public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds etc.
National Resources are owned by a nation or country. All the minerals, water resources,
forests, wildlife, land within the political boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles
(22.2 km) from the coast termed as territorial water and resources therein belong to the
nation.
Eg: Roads, canals, railways etc.
International Resources are regulated by international institutions. The oceanic resources
beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to open ocean and no
individual country can utilise these without the concurrence of international institutions.

(d) On the Basis of the Status of Development – Potential, Developed Stock and Reserves
Potential Resources are the resources which are found in a region but have not been
utilised.
Eg: Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar
energy, but so far these have not been developed properly.
Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have
been determined for utilisation. The development of resources depends on technology and
level of their feasibility.
Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but human
beings do not have the appropriate technology to access these, are called Stock.
Eg: Hydrogen can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have advanced
technology to use it.
Reserves are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing
technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. These can be used for meeting
future requirements.
Eg: Water in the dams, forests etc. is a reserve which can be used in the future.

Development of Resources
Human beings have excessively exploited resources which have led to the following
problems:
● Depletion of resources for satisfying the greedy of a few individuals.

● Accumulation of resources in few hands which has created two class of people, i.e. haves
and have nots or rich and poor.
● Indiscriminate exploitation of resources that led to the global ecological crises such as,
global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation

Sustainable Development
● Development that takes place without over-exploiting the nature is termed as sustainable
development.
● It focuses on the idea that ‘the development in the present should not compromise with
the needs of the future generations.’
● Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, held in June 1992 was a global submit where more than
100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first International Earth
Summit.
● The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection
and socio-economic development at the global level.
● A declaration was signed by the global leaders on Global Climatic Change and
Biological Diversity.
● The Rio Convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted the Agenda 21
for achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.
● It aimed at achieving global sustainable development.
● It is an agenda that aims at combating environmental damage, poverty, disease through
global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.
● One major objective of the Agenda 21 includes every local government should draw its
own local Agenda 21.

Resource Planning in India

● Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources as there are
certain areas that have sufficient resources while others don't have enough.
● For example, the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh that are rich in
minerals and coal deposits. Arunachal Pradesh has an abundance of water resources but
lacks in infrastructural development.
● The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but there is lack
in water resources.
● The cold desert of Ladakh is isolated from the rest of the country. As it has an
extraordinarily rich cultural heritage but it is deficient in water, infrastructure, and some
vital minerals.

Resource Planning is a Complex Process That 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) Evolve a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional
set up for implementing resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans along with overall national development
plans.
Land Resources
They form a major share of resources that mankind has.

Land Utilization
Land resources are used for the following purposes:
1. Forests
2. Land not available for cultivation
(a) Barren and waste land
(b) Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories, etc.
3. Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow land)
(a) Permanent pastures and grazing land,
(b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves (that are not included in the net sown
area),
(c) Culturable waste land (That are left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural
years).
4. Fallow lands
(a) Current fallow-(they are left without cultivation for one or less than one
agricultural year),
(b) Other than current fallow-(they are left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural
years).
5. Net sown area:
Area that is sowed more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known
as gross cropped area.
Land Use Pattern in India
● The use of land is determined by using both physical factors such as topography,
climate, soil types as well as human factors such as population density, technological
capability and culture and traditions
● The land under permanent pasture has also decreased.
● The pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another. It is over 80 per
cent of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10 per cent in Arunachal
Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
● Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33 per cent of geographical area,
which was stated in the National Forest Policy (1952).
● 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. Land put to other non-agricultural
uses includes settlements, roads, railways, industry etc.

Land Degradation and Conservation Patterns

● Human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, mining and quarrying, excessively for
a very long period of time over an area can lead to land degradation.
● Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete and that leaves deep
scars and traces of over-burdening.
● In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha deforestation
happens due to mining and has caused severe land degradation.
● In other states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing is
a major contributor to land degradation.
● In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is responsible
for land degradation which occurs due to water logging that lead to an increase in
salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
● 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.
Conservation
● Afforestation or planting of more trees and proper management of grazing can help to
control land degradation.
● Planting of shelterbelts of plants, stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes
are some of the methods to check land degradation in arid areas.
● Proper management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and
disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water
degradation in industrial and suburban areas.
Types of Soil
1. Alluvial Soils
● Himalayan river system- the Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganga carry sediments with them
and form the regions of alluvial deposits. The entire northern plains are made of
alluvial soil.
● These soils also extend in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow
corridor.
● Alluvial soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the
Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
● This type of soil has various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
● According to their age alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar) and new
alluvial (Khadar).
● The bangar soil has higher concentration of kanker nodules and has more fine particles
and is more fertile than the bangar.
● Alluvial soil is highly fertile and has adequate proportions of potash, phosphoric acid
and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal
and pulse crops.
0. Black Soil
● It is black in colour and is also known as regur soil.
● Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil and is
made up of lava flows.
● This type of soil is found in the Deccan trap (Basalt) region and it is spread over the
northwest Deccan plateau.
● They mostly 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.
● They are made up of clayey material. They retain moisture and also rich in soil
nutrients, such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime
● They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which promotes aeration of the soil but
do get sticky when wet and difficult to work on.
0. Red and Yellow Soils
● Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern
and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
● Yellow and red soils are also found in some parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern
parts of the middle Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
0. Laterite Soil
● The laterite soil develops under the tropical and subtropical climates with an alternate
wet and dry season.
● Lateritic soils are acidic (pH<6.0), and deficient in plant nutrients.
● They occur in southern states, Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, some
parts of West Bengal and North-east regions

0. Arid Soils
● Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.
● Are sandy in texture and saline in nature.
● The soil lacks humus and moisture.
● The lower horizons of the soil are occupied by Kankar because of the increasing
calcium content downwards and it restricts infiltration.
0. Forest Soils
● The soil texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed.
● They are loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.

Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

● The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil
erosion.
● Soil formation and soil erosion go hand in hand but if it goes beyond control then can
lead to disastrous outcomes.
● Activities like deforestation, overgrazing, construction and mining etc., and natural
forces like wind, glaciers and water lead to soil erosion causing a lot of soil erosion.
● The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels as gullies and
makes land unfit for cultivation and is known as bad land.
● In the Chambal basin, such lands are called ravines.
● Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large areas down the slope. In such cases, the
topsoil is washed away. This is known as sheet erosion.
● Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes.
This is known as contour ploughing.
● Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts erosion.
In this steps are cut down to create terraces which help to retain water.
● 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.
● Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of such trees
are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the
stabilisation of sand dunes and in stabilising the desert in western India.

Multiple choice questions.

1. Resources which are surveyed and their quantity and quality have been determined for
utilisation is known as ____________.
(a) Potential resources (b) Stock
(c) Developed resources (d) Reserves
2. Which one of the following soil is ideal for growing cotton?
(a) Regur soil (b) Laterite soil
(c) Desert soil (d) Mountainous soil
3. In which of the following states is overgrazing responsible for land degradation?
(a) Jharkhand and Orissa (b) Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
(c) Punjab and Haryana (d) Kerala and Tamil Nadu
4. Which one of the following statements is true about the term resources?
(a) Resources are free gifts of nature.
(b) They are the functions of human activities.
(c) All those things which are found in nature.
(d) Things which cannot be used to fulfill our needs.
5. Which one of the following types of the resource is iron ore?
(a) Renewable (b) Biotic
(c) Flow (d) Non-renewable
6. Under which of the following types of resource the tidal energy can be put?
(a) Replenishable (b) Human-made
(c) Abiotic (d) Non-recyclable
7. Soil formed by intense leaching is____________.
(a) Alluvial soil (b) Red soil
(c) Laterite soil (d) Desert
8. Fallow land refers to____________.
(a) land not under cultivation.
(b) land with many gullies.
(c) a fertile land.
(d) cultivable land not cultivated for a season to regain its fertility.
9. Method of growing long strips of grass between the crops refers to___________
(a) Contour ploughing (b) Terrace farming
(c) Strip cropping (d) Crop rotation
10. Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised.
(a) Renewable (b) Developed
(c) National (d) Potential
11. Which of the following factors involves the transformation of things into a resource ?
(i) Physical environment (ii) Technology
(iii) Human beings (iv) Institutions
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (iv) (d) All of above
12. Renewable resources are those ______________
(a) which cannot be renewed
(b) which are accessible
(c) which are developed
(d) which are renewed by physical, chemical or mechanical processes.
13. Which one of the following is not a community resource?
(a) Public parks (b) A library
(c) A car (d) A community hall
14. Territorial waters of India extends to ____________.
(a) 10 Nautical miles (b) 15 Nautical miles
(c) 12 Nautical miles (d) 1900 kilometres
15. Find out which one of the following is a stock?
(a) Biofuels (b) Coal
(c) Solar energy (d) Hydro-electricity
16. The first International Earth Summit was held in _________.
(a) Geneva (b) New York
(c) Japan (d) Rio de Janeiro
17. “There is enough for everybody’s need but not for anybody’s greed”. Who said this ?
(a) Jawahar Lai Nehru (b) AtalBihariVajpai
(c) M. K. Gandhi (d) Sunder Lai Bhauguna
18. The area brought under cultivation in a year is called ___________
(a) Fallow land (b) Cultivable
(c) Net sown area (d) Gross sown area
19. I am the most widespread soil, covering the Northern Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains-
who am I ?
(a) Black soil (b) Forest soil
(c) Red soil (d) Alluvial soil
20. Resources which are non-renewable but can be recycled are called ____________
(a) Renewable resources (b) Non-renewable resources
(c) Recyclable resources (d) Biotic resources
21. The most widespread relief feature of India is ____________
(a) Mountains (b) Forests
(c) Plains (d) Plateaus
22. The current net sown area of India in 2002-03 is ____________
(a) 45 percent (b) 43.4 percent (c) 50 percent (d) 48 percent
23. The state having maximum net sown area in India is ____________
(a) Jammu and Kashmir (b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Tamil Nadu (d) Punjab
24. Land left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year is called________
(a) Culturable waste land (b) Current fallow land
(c) Waste land (d) None of the above
25. The present per cent of area under forests is (2002 – 03) ____________
(a) 18 percent (b) 22.57 percent (c) 19 percent (d) 11 percent
26. The factor responsible for maximum land degradation is ____________
(a) Human activities (b) Wind
(c) Salinity (d) Soil erosion
27. Which agent is responsible for maximum land degradation ?
(a) Wind (b) Water
(c) Glaciers (d) Overgrazing
28. Soil is formed by the process of ____________
(a) Denudation (b) Gradation
(c) Weathering (d) Erosion
29. Supply a technical term for the dead and decomposed material found on the top soil.
(a) Bedrock (b) Fossils
(c) Humidity (d) Humus
30. The old alluvial soil is known as ____________
(a) Bangar (b) Bhabar
(c) Khadar (d) Regur
31. Which of the following statement(s) is true for black soil ?
(i) It has a larger proportion of clay.
(ii) It can retain moisture for a long time.
(iii) It develops cracks during summer which helps in aeration.
(iv) Cotton grows best in this soil.
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (iii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iv) (d) All of the above
32. Red colour of soil is due to ____________
(a) it is rich in humus. (b) it is rich in iron compounds.
(c) it is derived from volcanic origin. (d) it is rich in potash.
33. The denudation of the soil cover and washing down of soil by various agents are known
as ____________
(a) Weathering (b) Gradation
(c) Soil erosion (d) Soil conservation
34. The land consisting of many gullies and ravines are called ____________
(a) Gully erosion (b) Bedrock
(c) V shaped valleys (d) Bad land
35. Terrace cultivation can be used to control soil erosion in ____________
(a) Desert regions (b) Hill slopes
(c) Valleys (d) Plains
36.Strip cropping refers to ____________
(a) growing of crops in long strips.
(b) growing of trees in long rows.
(c) growing of strips of grass in between the crops.
(d) ploughing along the contour lines.
37. Erosion of the top soil when water flows as a sheet over large areas down the slope is
called ____________
(a) Gully erosion (b) Badlands
(c) Soil erosion (d) Sheet erosion
38. Which one of the following statements is correct as regards to international resources ?
(a) Resources which are regulated by international institutions.
(b) Resources which lie beyond the territorial waters.
(c) Resources which are found along the international frontier.
(d) Resources which are not yet developed.
39. Which one of the following methods is ideal for controlling land degradation in coastal
areas and in deserts ?
(a) Strip cropping (b) Contour ploughing
(c) Planting of shelterbelts (d) Plugging of gullies
40. Which type of soil is suitable for the growth of cashew nuts ?
(a) Alluvial soil (b) Black soil
(c) Red soil (d) Red laterite soil
41. Arid soils are less fertile as ____________
(i) it lacks humus and moisture (ii) it has high salt content
(iii) it is sandy in nature (iv) it is rich in Iron
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (iii) and (iv) (d) (i) and (iii)
42. Ploughing along the contour lines can ____________
(a) accelerate the flow of water. (b) decelerate the flow of water.
(c) accelerate the force of winds. (d) decelerate the force of winds.
43. Badlands or ravines are found in ____________
(a) Chenab basin (b) Chambal basin
(c) Ganga basin (d) Godavari basin
ANSWERS

● Answer the following questions in about 20 words.

1) What do you mean by Resource?

Answer: Everything available in our environment which can be used for our needs. It should
be technically accessible, culturally acceptable and economically feasible .
2) Through which human beings interact with nature ?
Answer: Technology.
3) On the grounds of origin , Resources can be classified into which categories ?
Answer: Biotic and Abiotic resources.
4) On the grounds of exhaustibilty, Resources can be classified into which categories?
Answer: Renewable and Non Renewable Resources.
5) On the grounds of ownership, resources can be classified into which categories?
Answer: Individual (single person), Community (society), National and International
Resources.
6) On the grounds of status of Development, resources can be classified into?
Answer: Potential, Developed, Stock and Reserves.
7) One Nautical mile is equal to how many Kms?
Answer: 1.8 kilometres.
8) What are Biotic resources?
Answer: These are obtained from the Biosphere and have life in them.
9) What are Renewable Resources?
Answer: Resources which can be replenished by Physical, chemical, mechanical processes.
Example: Solar energy.
10) What are Non Renewable Resources?
Answer: They take millions of years in their formation. They are one time usable and once
used they get exhausted.
11) On the basis of Ownership, Resources are classified into?
Answer: Individual Resources ,Community owned resources ,National resources and
International Resources.
12) Which resources are included in international Resources?
Answer: Resources ahead 200 Nautical miles of exclusive economic zone.
13) What are Stock Resources ?
Answer: Resources which can be used, but human beings do not have proper technology to
access these resources.
14) What are Developed Resources?
Answer: Resources which are identified. Their quality and quantity have been also
determined for utilisation.
15) What are Reserved Resources?
Answer: Resources which can be used with the help of Technology, but their use has been
not started.Theyare reserved for future.
16) What is sustainable development?
Answer: Development should occur without damaging the environment. It should not deal
with the needs of future generations.
17) When and where was first international Earth summit ?
Answer: In June 1992 in Brazil.
18) Name one special feature of Agenda 21?
Answer: local government should draw its local agendas.
19) Name the regions which are rich in mineral deposits but lacks in tidal energy.
Answer: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh.
20) Which region is rich in cultural heritage but lacks in water and infrastructure ?
Answer: Cold Desert of Ladakh.
21) When was Brundtland Commission reported?
Answer: In 1987.
22) “There is abundance for everybody's needs and not for anybody Avarice and selfish
people”. Who said these words?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
23) Who advocated the Resources Conservation For the first time at International
Level?
Answer: Club of Rome in 1968.
24) What is Strip Cropping ?
Answer: When large fields can be divided into strips. strips of grass are sinister to grow
between the crops. This breaks up the force of wind. This process is called strip cropping.
25) Which state is mostly laterite soil ?
Answer: Karnataka.
26) State one disadvantage of the Red soil .
Answer: The soil lacks nitrogen,is organic and is less fertile.
27) Classify resources on the basis of exhaustibility.
Answer: Renewable and non-renewable resources.
28) Which part of India is made of alluvial soil ?
Answer: The entire Northern Plains are made of alluvial soil.
29) Who was the writer of book “Small is Beautiful”?
Answer: Schumacher.
30) In which book ,Gandhian Philosophy was once again presented?
Answer: In 1974 , Book – Small is Beautiful.
31) In which book ,Brundtland Commission report (1987) was published.
Answer: Our Common Future.
32) How much land area in India is plain?
Answer : 43% of total Land Area.
33) How much land area in India is mountainous?
Answer: 30% of Land Area in India.
34) How much area in India is covered with plateau?
Answer: 27% of Total land Area.
35) What is Net Sown Area ?
Answer: Area sown once in Agricultural year.
36) Define Gross Cropped Area?
Answer: Area sown more than once in agricultural year plus net sown area is called Gross
cropped area.
37) Give any two physical components which decide land use pattern.
Answer: Topography and Climate.
38) Give any two human components which decide land use pattern.
Answer: Population Density ,Cultural Tradition and Technological Capabilities.

39) Name any two States where net planted territory (Net sown Area) is high.
Answer: Punjab and Haryana.
40) Name one State where net sown area is low?
Answer: Arunachal Pradesh.
41) How much geographical area for forests is outlined by National forest policy(1952)?
Answer : 33% of Geographical area.
42) Name one conservative measure in deserts to prevent land Degradation.
Answer: Growing of thorny Bushes.
43) Name one Conservative measure to prevent over Irrigation?
Answer: Drip Irrigation .
44) In 2000, how many hectares are of degraded Land?
Answer: 130 Million of Hectares.
45) How over Irrigation is responsible for land degradation?
Answer: Water logging leads to increase in salinity and alkalinity of soil.
46) Name two states where overgrazing is main cause of Land degradation.
Answer: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
47) Name two states where over irrigation is main cause of land degradation.
Answer: Punjab and Haryana.
48) How mineral processing industries is responsible for land degradation?
Answer: It retards the process of Infiltration of water.
49) Which soil is most comprehensive soil in India?
Answer: Alluvial Soil.
50) Name three important river systems which play a key role in formation of alluvial
soil.
Answer: Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra .
51) Which soil extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor?
Answer: Alluvial Soil.
52) Which soil is found in deltas of Mahanadi ,Godavari and Krishna rivers?
Answer: Alluvial Soil.
53) Which soil is also known as regur soil?
Answer: Black Soil.
54) Which crop is ideal for growing in Black Soil?
Answer: Cotton.
55) Which soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks?
Answer: Red Soil.
56) Which soil is found in piedmont region of Western Ghats ?
Answer: Red and Yellow Soil.
57) Why Red soil is reddish in colour?
Answer: Due to circulation of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
58) Why Yellow soil is yellowish in colour?
Answer : When red soil looks in hydrated form.Itscolour changes from Red to yellow.
59) What do you mean by Leaching?
Answer: When nutrients of topsoil are washed away due to heavy rains.
60) Which soil range from red to brown in colour?
Answer: Arid Soil.
61) Why Arid soil lacks humus Content and moisture?
Answer: Arid soil is found in dry areas.Due to high temperature,evaporation is faster and
decomposers are destroyed.
One word Questions and Answers of Chapter Resources and Development
62) Which soil restricts Infiltration of water?
Answer: Arid soil .
63) Why lower perspective of Arid soil is enclosed by kanker Nodules?
Answer : Because of increasing calcium content downwards.
64) Which soil is saline in nature and sandy in texture?
Answer: Arid soil.
65) Which soil is found in hilly areas where sufficient rainforests are available?
Answer: Forest soil.
66) What is the another name of of old alluvial?
Answer: Banger.
67) Which soil is loamy and silty in valley sides?
Answer: Forest soil.
68) What is another name of new Alluvial?
Answer: Khadar.
69) Which soil is coarse grained in the upper slopes of mountains?
Answer: Forest soil.
70) Which soil is more alkaline in drier sides?
Answer: Alluvial Soil.
71) Which soil is acidic with low humus content and experience denudation?
Answer: Forest soil.
72) Name any two special features of Banger?
Answer: It contains less fine particles and has a high concentration of kanker nodules.
Chapter Resources and Development One Word Questions and Answers
73) Name the facters which determine the formation of black soil.
Answer: Climate conditions along with parent rock material.
74) Which soil is build up of Lava flows ?
Answer: Black Soil.
75) Which soil is found in basalt Region?
Answer: Black Soil.
76) Which State is having most laterite soil?
Answer: Karnataka.
77) Which soil is well known for their holding ability of humidity ?
Answer: Regur Soil or black soil.
78) In which content, black soil is poor?
Answer: Phosphoric contents.
79) What does “Later ” word means?
Answer: Brick .
80) Which soil develops in areas of high rainfall and high temperature?
Answer: Laterite soil.
81) Why humus content of laterite soil is low?
Answer: Because decomposers like bacteria get destroyed due to high temperature.
82) Which soil is useful for growth of Cashew nut?
Answer: Laterite soil.
83) Which soil develops the deep cracks during hot weather which help in proper
aeration of soil?
Answer : Black Soil.
84) Why black Soil is tilled immediately after Frequent showers?
Answer: Black soil is tacky when wet and problematic to work.
85) What is Gully Erosion?
Answer : When running water flows through clayey soils and make huge channels.This
Phenomenon is called gully erosion.
86) What do you mean by Bad land?
Answer: land unfit for cultivation.
87) In which basin ,Bad land is called Ravines?
Answer: Chambal Basin.
88) What is Sheet Erosion?
Answer: When water flows as a sheet over large area down the slope and topsoil is washed
away. This phenomenon is called sheet erosion.
89) What is contour ploughing?
Answer: Plouging along contour lines is called contour Ploughing.
90) What are shelter belts ?
Answer: Plantation of rows of trees to create shelter is called shelter belts.

● Answer the following questions in 20 words.

1)What do you understand about Resource ?

Answer: 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’.

2)What was the main reason for the colonial countries to exploit resources of countries under
their control ?
Answer: High level of technological development.

3) Classify resources on the basis of development.

Answer: Potential, developed stock and reserves.

4) Give an example of Biotic resources.

Answer: Human beings, flora and fauna are examples of biotic resources.

5)What types of resources are solar and wind energy?

Answer:Solar and wind energy are renewable resources.

6) Which soil is suitable for production of Cashew Nut and where?

Answer:Red laterite soil in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala is suitable for the crop
of cashew nuts.

7) What is soil erosion ?

Answer:The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil
erosion.
8) Which are two causes for soil erosion ?
Answer:Deforestation, overgrazing and mining activities.

9) What are ravines ?

Answer:The land that becomes unfit for cultivation is known as bad land. In the Chambal
basin such lands are called ravines.

10) What is the significance of the shelter belts in the desert in western India ?
Answer:The shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes
and in stabilising the desert in western India.

11) What is the use of contour ploughing ?

Answer:Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes.

12) What is use of shelter belts ?

Answer:Shelter belts contribute significantly to the stabilisation of sand dunes and in
stabilising the desert in western India.

13) What are developed resources ?

Answer:Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined
for utilisation. The development of resources depends on technology and level of their
feasibility.

14) What is sustainable development ?

Answer: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’.

15) What was the object of Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992?
Answer:The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental
protection and socio-economic development at the global level.

16) Which states in India are rich in minerals and coal deposits?
Answer:Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

17) How did Gandhiji voice his concern about resource conservation ?
Answer:Gandhiji said, “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody's greed.”

18) How much land in India is plain and what is its importance ?
Answer:About 43 % of the land area is plain. It provides facilities for agriculture and
industry.

19) What is the use of mountains ?

Answer:Mountains ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide facilities for tourism and
ecological aspects.
20) What is the gross cropped area ?
Answer:Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area is known as
gross cropped area.

21) How much degraded land is in India ?

Answer:At present there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India.

22) Which are the factors that determine the use of land ?
Answer:The factors are topography, climate, soil types, population, density, technological
capability and culture and traditions.

23) State factors responsible for land degradation.

Answer:Overgrazing, mining, quarrying and deforestation.

24) Which are the ways to solve the problems of land degradation ?
Answer:Afforestation, proper management of grazing, control of mining activities etc.

25) How is mining responsible for the degradation of land ?

Answer:Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars
and traces of overburdening.

26) How are alluvial soils classified on the basis of their age ?
Answer:According to their age alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial soil — Bangar
and new alluvial – Khadar.

● Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.
Ans. The three states are :
1) Maharashtra
2) Gujarat
3) Madhya Pradesh
The crop grown 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.
Ans.The type of soil found in river deltas is Alluvial Soil.
● It is very fertile and, therefore, good for the cultivation of crops
● It consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay
● Alluvial soil has a good quantity of potash, lime and phosphoric acid, which is good for
the growth of paddy and sugarcane.

(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas?
Ans.The main techniques that can be used are given below.
● Contour ploughing
● Terrace farming
● Strips of grass are allowed to grow between the crops. This method is known as strip
cropping.

(iv) What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples.
Ans. Biotic resource:
● These are resources that are obtained from the biosphere.
● These resources have life.
● Examples are plants, animals, fish, human beings, livestock etc.
Abiotic resource:
● These resources are composed of non-living things
● Examples are water, minerals, metals, wind, solar energy etc.

(v) Features/Characteristics of black soil.

Ans.The Black soils is black in colour.
● These are also known as regur soil.
● This soil is typical of the Deccan trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest Deccan
Plateau.
● They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, and
Chhattisgarh and extend in a south-east direction along the Godavari and the Krishna
valleys.
● Black soil is ideal for growing cotton.

(vi) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
Ans.The soil erosion in the hilly areas can be controlled by taking steps as mentioned are:
● Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water
down the slopes. This is called contour ploughing.
● Terrace cultivation: Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace
cultivation restricts erosion.
● 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 is strip cropping.

(vii)What is Agenda 21 ?
Ans.It is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nation’s Conference
on Environment and Development which took place at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).It aims at
achieving global sustainable development. It is an agenda to combat environmental damage,
poverty, disease through global cooperation on common interests, mutual needs and shared
responsibilities.

(viii) How is mining responsible for the degradation of land ?

Ans. Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars and
traces of overburdening.

(ix) Mention the states where overgrazing and over-irrigation are responsible for
degradation.
Ans.
 1. Overgrazing – Gujarat, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
2. Over-irrigation – Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh.

(x) Where are red and yellow soils found ?

Ans. Red and yellow soils are found in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau,
in parts of Orissa, Chattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and along the
piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.

(xi) What is the significance of the shelter belts in the desert in western India ?
Ans.The shelter belts have contributed significantly to the stabilization of sand dunes and in
stabilising the desert in western India.

(xii)Are resources free gifts of nature ?

Ans. No. Resources are not free gifts of nature. 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.

(xiii) Explain the three stages of Resource Planning in India.

Ans. Three stages of Resource Planning in India are as given below :
1. Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. 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 set up for implementing resource development plans.
3. Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

● Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Explain the land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not
increased much since 1960-61.
Ans.The use of land is determined both by physical factors, such as topography, climate, and
soil types, as well as by human factors, such as population density, technological capability,
culture, traditions etc.
● The pattern of the net sown area varies greatly from one state to another.
● It is over 80 per cent of the total area in Punjab and Haryana and less than 10 per cent in
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman Nicobar Islands.
● Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33 per cent of the geographical
area, as it was outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952).
● It was considered essential for the maintenance of the ecological balance.
● A part of the land is termed a wasteland, and it is put to other non-agricultural uses like
settlements, roads, railways, industry etc.
● It includes rocky, arid and desert areas. Continuous use of land over a long period of time
without taking appropriate measures to conserve and manage it has resulted in land
degradation.
(ii) How has technical and economic development led to more consumption of
resources?
Ans.There are various reasons for this.
● Large-scale production led to over utilisation of resources.
● Technological advancement led to greater exploitation of resources.
● Improved medical and health resources led to huge consumption of resources.

(iii)Highlight any three problems associated with the indiscriminate use of resources by
the human beings.
Ans.
The indiscriminate use of resources by the human beings has resulted in the following :

1. Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.

2. Accumulation of resources in few hands which has divided the society into rich and
poor or have and have nots.
3. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as
global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
Thus, an equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality
of life and global peace. If the present trend of resource depletion by some individuals
and countries continues, the future of our planet is in danger.

(iv) Why is it essential to have resource planning ? Explain with reasons.

Ans.

Development of resources or resource development implies not only exploitation, but also
preservation and reuse. In case of natural resources, at the time of using them, their nature,
type and the size of their reserve should be considered. These should not be used
indiscriminately. Therefore, an equitable distribution of resources is necessary for a sustained
quality of life and global peace. The resources must not be put to wrong use. This may lead
to their depletion.

1. Some resources like coal and petroleum are available in limited quantities. If they are
continued to be used at the present rate, they would not be left for the future
generations.
2. Accumulation of resources in a few hands has also restricted equitable access to the
resources.
Thus, in view of the above factors resource planning is necessary.

(v) How did Gandhiji voice his concern about resource conservation ? Explain.
OR
What is conservation ? Why is conservation of resources necessary ? What are the
views of Gandhiji about resource conservation ?
Ans.
(1) Conservation is defined as the management of resources by human beings in a judicious
and planned way without disturbing environment.
(2) It is necessary due to the following reasons :
1. We have a limited quantity of resources.
2. Irrational consumption and over-utilisation of resources may lead to socio-economic and
environmental problems.
3. It is also required for sustainable development.

(3) Gandhiji said, ‘There is enough for everybody’s need and not for any body’s greed’. He
stated that the root cause for resource depletion at the global level was the greedy and selfish
individuals and exploitative nature of modern technology. He was against mass production
and was in favour of the production by the masses.

(vi)Write a note on the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit 1992.

Ans.
(1) Place : In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for
the first International Earth Summit.
(2) Objective : The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental
protection and socio-economic development at the global level.
(3) Achievements :
1. The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and
Biological Diversity,
2. The Rio convention endorsed the Global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for
achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.

(vii)Explain causes for land degradation.

OR
Explain any four human activities which are mainly responsible for land degradation in
India.
Ans.
(1) At present there is about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India as
mentioned below :

1. Forest degraded area — 28%

2. Water eroded area — 56%
3. Wind eroded area — 10%
4. Saline and Alkaline land — 6%

(2) Following factors/human factors are responsible for land degradation in India :

1. Mining : Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep
scars and traces of over burdening.
2. Deforestation : In states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa
deforestation due to mining have caused severe land degradation.
3. Overgrazing : In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
overgrazing is the main reason for land degradation.
4. Over-irrigation : 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.
 5. The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry generates dust in
the atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration of water into soil after it settles
down on the land. Thus industrial effluents as waste have become a major source of
land and water pollution in many parts of the country.

(vii)What are the ways to solve the problem of land degradation?

Ans.
There are many ways to solve the problem of land degradation. These are as given
below :

1. Afforestation – Plantation of trees should be encouraged.

2. Proper management of grazing – Separate sites should be fixed for grazing.
3. Planting of shelterbelts of plants.
4. Control on overgrazing – Rules for grazing should be framed.
5. Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes to stop land degradation.
6. Proper management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and
disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment in industrial and suburban
areas.

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