employment,infrastructure,sustainable resources and comparative study

1. Employment-Growth, Informalization and
Related Issues
NCERT TEXTUAL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Question 1.Who is a worker?
Answer.A worker is an individual who is doing some productive employment to earn a living.
Question 2.Define worker-population ratio.
Answer.Workforce Participation Rate (or ratio)
Participation ratio is defined as the percentage of total population which is actually participating in productive
activity. It is also called workers-population ratio. It indicates the employment situation of the country. A high
ratio means that more proportion of population is actively contributing to the production of goods and
services of a country.
Question 3. Are the following workers — a beggar, a thief, a smuggler, a gambler? Why?
Answer: No, they are not workers because they, are not doing any productive activity.
Question 4.Find the odd man out (i) owner of a saloon with more than 10 employees (ii) a cobbler
(iii) a cashier in Mother Dairy (iv) a tuition master (v) transport operator (vi) construction worker.
Answer.Owner of a saloon.
Question 5.The newly emerging jobs are found mostly in the sector (service/manufacturing).
Answer.Service.
Question 6.An establishment with four hired workers is known as (formal/informal) sector establishment.
Answer.Informal.
Question 7.Raj is going to school. When he is not in school, you will find him working in his farm. Can you
consider him as a worker? Why?
Answer.Raj is disguisedly unemployed.
Question 8.Compared to urban women, mSre rural women are found working. Why?
Answer.Participation rate for women is higher in rural areas compared with urban areas. It is because in rural
areas, poverty forces women to seek employment. Without education, women in rural areas find only less
productive jobs and get low wages.
In urban areas, men are able to earn high incomes. So they discourage female members from taking up jobs.
Question 9.Meena is a housewife. Besides taking care of household chores, she works in the cloth shop
which is owned and operated by her husband. Can she be considered as a worker? Why?
Answer.Meena is a self-employed worker. She is working in her husband’s cloth shop. She will not get salary.

2. Question 10.Find the odd man out (i) rickshaw puller who works under a rickshaw owner (ii) mason (iii)
mechanic shop worker (iv) shoeshine boy.
Answer.Shoeshine boy.
Question 11.The following table shows distribution of workforce in India for the year 1972-73. Analyse it
and give reasons for the nature of workforce distribution. You will notice that the data is pertaining to the
situation in India 30 years ago.
Place of Residence Workforce(in millions)
Male Female Total
Rural 125 70 195
Urban 32 7 39
Answer. In 1972-73, out of total workforce of 234 million, 195 million was in rural areas and 39 million in
urban areas. It shows 83% workforce lived in rural areas. Gender differences were also observed. In rural
areas, males accounted for 125 million workforce and women 70 million of workforce. In urban areas, 32
million males formed the workforce whereas women workforce was only 7 million. In the country only 77
million female workers were there as compared to 157 million male workers. In other words, 32% of female
workers were there and 68% male workers were there in the country in 1972-73. The data shows:
(a) pre dominance of agriculture.
(b) more male workers both in urban and rural areas.
(c) less female workers in both rural and urban areas. Also, female workers were much lesser in urban areas.
Question 12. The following table shows the population and worker population ratio for India in 1999-2000.
Can you estimate the workforce (urban and total) for India?
Region
Estimation of
Population
( in crores)
Workers Population
Estimated
Workers
(in crores)

3. Rural 71.88 41.99
(71.88/100)x41.9
= 30.12
Urban 28.52 33.7 ?
Total 100.40 39.5 ?
Answer. Estimated number of workers (in crores) for urban =28.52100 x 33.7 = 9.61 crores
Total workforce = 30.12 + 9.61 = 39.73 crores
Question 13. Why are regular salaried employees more in urban areas than in rural areas?
Answer. In urban areas, a considerable section is able to study in various educational institutions. Urban
people have a variety of employment opportunities. They are able to look for an appropriate job to suit their
qualifications and skills.J3ut in rural areas, people cannot stay at home as they are economically poor.
Question 14. Why are less women found in regular salaried employment?
Answer. Female workers give preference to self-employment than to hired employment. It is because women,
both in rural and urban areas, are less mobile and thus, prefer to engage themselves in self-employment.
Question 15. Analyse the recent trends in sectoral distribution of workforce in India.
Answer. l.The data in occupational structure is as follows (for the year 1999-2000):
(a) Industry wise the distribution is:
(i) 37.1% of workforce is engaged in primary sector.
(ii) 18.7% of workforce is engaged in secondary sector.
(iii) 44.2% of workforce is engaged in tertiary sector.
(b) Area wise the data is:
(i) In rural areas:
77% of workforce is in primary sector.
11% of workforce is in secondary sector.
12% of workforce is in tertiary sector.
(ii) In urban areas:
10% of workforce is in primary sector.
31% of workforce is in secondary sector.
59% of workforce is in tertiary sector.
2. The data reveals that:
(a) Economic backwardness in the country as 60% of workforce is engaged in agricultural activities. A large
proportion of population depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
(b) In urban area, tertiary sector account for 59% of workforce. It shows development and growth in the
tertiary sector and the fact that this sector is able to generate sustainable employment and provide livelihood
to 59% of the workforce.

4. 3. It can be concluded that in the urban areas, tertiary sector is the main source of livelihood for majority of
workforce.
Question 16. Compared to the 1970s, ’there has hardly been any change in the distribution of workforce
across various industries. Comment.
Answer. It is true that no much change is observed in the distribution of workforce across various industries. It
is because the plans did not emphasise the need for development of:
(a) non-agricultural rural employment industries.
(b) small scale, village and cottage industries.
Question 17. Do you think that in the last 50 years, employment generated in the country is commensurate
with the growth of GDP in India? How?
Answer. Jobless growth is defined as a situation in which there is an overall acceleration in the growth rate of
GDP in the economy which is not accompanied by a commensurate expansion in employment
opportunities.This means that in an economy, without generating additional employment we have been able
to produce more goods and services. Since the starting of economic reforms in 1991, our economy is
experiencing a gap between GDP growth rate and employment growth rate that is, jobless growth.
Question 18. Is it necessary to generate employment in the formal sector rather than in the informal sector?
Why?
Answer. With economic reforms in 1991, there has been significant rise in informalisation of workers. Since
informal workers face uncertainties of making of living, it is surprising that such a high percentage of total
workforce prefer to be employed in the informal sector. All necessary steps should be taken to generate
employment in the formal sector, which is only 7% at present.
Question 19. Victor is able to get work only for two hours in a day. Rest of the day, he is looking for work. Is
hie unemployed? Why? What kind of jobs could persons like Victor be doing?
Answer. No. he is employed because Victor has work for 2 hours daily for which he gets paid. He is a casual
worker.
Question 20. You are residing in a village. If you are asked to advice the village panchayat, what kinds of
activities would you suggest for the improvement of your village which would also generate employment.
Answer. Digging of wells, fencing, building roads and houses, etc.
Question 21. Who is a casual wage labourer?
Answer. Those people who are not hired by their employers on a regular/permanent basis and do not get
social security benefits are said to be casual workers. Example: construction workers.
Question 22. How will you know whether a worker is working in the informal sector?
Answer. Informal Sector:
(a) It is an unorganised sector of an economy which includes all those private sector enterprises which employ
less than 10 workers. Example: agriculture labourers, farmers, owners of small enterprises, etc.
(b) The workers of this sector are called informal workers.
(c) The workers are not entitled to social security benefits.
(d) The workers cannot form trade union and are not protected by labour laws.

5. Infrastructure
NCERT TEXTUAL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Question 1. Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
Answer. Infrastructure refers to the basic supporting structure which is built to provide different kinds of
services in an economy. Infrastructural installations do not directly produce goods but help in promoting
production activities in an economy. Examples of infrastructure are: transport, communication, banking,
power etc.
Question 2. Explain the two categories into which infrastructure is divided. How are both interdependent?
Answer. There are two types of infrastructure: (a) economic infrastructure, (b) social infrastructure.
Economic infrastructure directly supports the economic system from inside. Examples are energy, transport
and communication. Social infrastructure indirectly supports the economic system from outside. Examples are
health, education and housing.
Economic and social infrastructure are complementary to each other. Economic infrastructure improves the
qualityof economic resources and raises the production, but it cannot be possible until population is literate to
use them efficiently. Thus, both of them are needed for the growth and development of the country.
Question 3. How do infrastructure facilities boost production?
Answer. The prosperity of a country depends directly upon the development of agricultural and industrial
production. Agricultural production requires power, credit, transport facilities, etc.; the deficiency of which
leads to fall in productivity. Industrial production requires machinery and equipment, energy, banking and
insurance facilities, marketing facilities, transport services which include railways, roads and shipping and
communication facilities etc. All these facilities help in raising agricultural and industrial productivity.
Question 4. Infrastructure contributes to the economic development of a country. Do you agree? Explain.
Answer. Infrastructure contributes to the economic development of a country and it is an important
determinant of its growth and development. It raises productivity, induces investment in different areas of
economic activity, raises size of the market, facilitates outsourcing and employment. Thus, it is an essential
support system for the economic development of the country.
Question 5. What is the state of rural infrastructure in India?
Answer. A majority of people live in rural areas. The state of rural infrastructure in India is as follows:
1. Rural women are still using bio-fuels such as crop residues, dung and fuel wood to meet their energy
requirement.
2. They walk long distances to fetch fuel, water and other basic needs.
3. The census 2001 shows that in rural India only 56 per cent households have an electricity connection and 43 per
cent still use kerosene. About 90 per cent of the rural households use bio-fuels for cooking.
4. Tap water availability is limited to only 24 per cent of rural households. About 76 per cent of the population
drinks water from open sources such as wells, tanks, ponds, lakes, rivers, canals, etc.
5. Another study conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation noted that by 1996, access to improved
sanitation in rural areas was only 6 per cent.

6. Question 6. What is the significance of ‘energy’? Differentiate between commercial and non-commercial
sources of energy.
Answer. Energy is a critical aspect of development process of a nation. It is essential for industries, agriculture
and related areas like transportation of finished goods. It is also used for domestic purposes like cooking,
lighting, heating, etc.
Difference between Commercial and Non-commercial Sources of Energy
Question 7. What are the three basic sources of generating power?
Answer. Sources of generating power are:
1. water—it gives hydroelectricity.
2. oil, gas, coal—they give thermal electricity.
3. radioactive elements like uranium, plutonium—they give atomic power or nuclear power.
Question 8. What do you mean by transmission and distribution losses? How can they be reduced?
Answer. Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses refer to theft of power which has not been controlled.
Nation’s average loss is 23%.
T&D losses can be reduced by having:
1. Appropriate size of conductors
2. Proper load management
3. Meter supply
4. Privatisation of distribution work
5. Introduction of energy audits. Some steps have already been initiated in this direction.
Question 9. What are the various non-commercial sources of energy?
Answer. Vegetable wastes, firewood and dried dung.
Question 10. Justify that energy crisis can be overcome with the use of renewable sources of energy.
Answer. There is energy crises in the country. The demand for all commercial fuels is more than its supply.
Government is encouraging the use of hydel and wind energy.
Bio-gas generation programmes have been boosted up. For a tropical country like India, where sun is an
abundant source, solar energy should be given highest priority.
Question 11. How has the consumption pattern of energy changed over the years?
Answer. Pattern of energy consumption in India is as follows:
1. In India, different sources of energy are converted into a common unit ‘million tonne of oil equivalent’ (MTOE).
2. At present, commercial energy consumption is 65 per cent of total energy consumed in India.
3. Goal has the largest share of 55 per cent, followed by oil at 31 per cent, natural gas at 11 per cent and hydro
energy at 3 per cent.
4. Non-commercial energy sources account for over 30 per cent of the total energy consumption.
5. There is import dependence on crude and petroleum products, which is likely to grow to more than 100 per cent
in the near future.
6. Atomic energy is an important source of electric power. At present nuclear/atomic energy accounts for only 2.4
per cent of total primary energy consumption.

7. Question 12. How are the rates of consumption of energy and economic growth connected?
Answer. Energy is a critical aspect of development process of a nation. It is essential for industries, agriculture
and related areas like transportation of finished goods. It is also used for domestic purposes like cooking,
lighting, heating, etc. With economic growth, consumption of energy will rise.
Question 13. What problems are being faced by the power sector in India?
Answer. Emerging Challenges in the Power Sector:
1. Insufficient Installed Capacity
2. Underutilisation of Capacity
3. Losses Incurred by SEBs
4. Uncertain Role of Private Players
5. Public Unrest
6. Shortage of Raw Materials
7. Unable to Cover up the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Losses
8. Operational Inefficiency
9. Incomplete Electrification
10. Need to Conserve Energy.
Question 14. Discuss the reforms which have been initiated recently to meet the energy crisis in India.
Answer. The reforms to meet energy crisis in India:
1. Improved Plant Load Factor. The Ministry of Power has launched the ‘Partnership in Excellence’ programme. In
this 26 thermal stations (with PLF less than 60%) have Been taken up for improving the efficiency.
2. Encourage Private Sector Participation. In order to overcome the problems of power sector, the government
announced a policy in 1991 which allowed private sector participation in power generation and distribution
schemes. It is important to resolve the problems arid difficulties and frame policies which can ensure effective
participation of private sector in this sector.
3. Promote the Use of CFLs to Conserve Energy. A new and advanced lighting technology called the Compact
Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) is a more efficient alternative to domestic energy consumption. According to the Bureau
of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) consume 80 per cent less power as compared to
ordinary bulbs.
Question 15. What are the main characteristics of health of the people of our country?
Answer. The main characteristics of health of people of our country:
1. Decline in death rate to 8 per thousand in 2001.
2. Reduction in infant mortality rate to 7 per thousand in 2001.
3. Rise in life expectancy to 64 years in 2001.
4. Control over deadly diseases like cholera, smallpox, malaria, polio and leprosy.
5. Fall in child mortality rate to 23 per thousand in 2001.
Question 16. What is a ‘global burden of disease’?
Answer. Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) is an indicator used by experts to gauge the number of people dying
prematurely, due to particular diseases as well as the number of years spent by them in a state of disability
owing to the disease.
Question 17. Discuss the main drawbacks of our health care system.
Answer. Emerging Challenges in the Health:

8. 1. High GBD
2. Poor State of Primary Health Centres
3. Regional Bias—Urban-Rural Divide
4. Income Bias—Poor-Rich Divide
5. Gender Bias—Poor Health of Women.
6. Communicable diseases
7. Poor Provision
8. Privatisation
Question 18. How has women’s health become a matter of great concern?
Answer. Gender Bias—Poor Health of Women:
1. There is growing incidence of female foeticide in the country. Close to 3,00,000 girls under the age of 15 are not
only married but have already borne children at least once.
2. More than 50 per cent of married women between the age group of 15 and 49 suffer from anaemia caused by
iron deficiency. It has contributed to 19 per cent of maternal deaths.
Question 19. Describe the meaning of public health. Discuss the major public health measures undertaken
by the state in recent years to control diseases.
Answer. Public health refers to the health status of all the people of the country.
Some measures undertaken by the state in recent years to control diseases are:
1. Success in the long-term battle against diseases depends on education and efficient health infrastructure. It is,
therefore, critical to create awareness on health and hygiene systems.
2. The role of telecom and IT sectors cannot be neglected in this process.
3. The effectiveness of health care programmes also rests on primary centres. Efforts should be made to make PHCs
more efficient.
4. Encouragement should be given to private-public partnership. They can effectively ensure reliability, quality and
affordability of both drugs and medical care.
Question 20. List out the six systems of Indian medicine.
Answer. AYUSH means:
A : Ayurveda
Y : Yoga and Naturopathy
U : Unani
S : Siddha H : Homoeopathy.
Question 21. How can we increase the effectiveness of health care programmes?
Answer. Health is a vital public good and a basic human right. All citizens can get better health facilities if
public health services are decentralised. Some measures that should be taken are:
1. Success in the long-term battle against diseases depends on education and efficient health infra-structure. It is,
therefore, critical to create awareness on health and hygiene systems.
2. The role of telecom and IT sectors cannot be neglected in this process.
3. The effectiveness of health care programmes also rests on primary centres. Efforts should be tnade to make PHCs
more efficient.
4. Encouragement should be given to private-public partnership. They can effectively ensure
reliability, quality and affordability of both drugs and medical care. .

9. Environment Sustainable Development
NCERT TEXTUAL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Question 1. What is meant by environment?
Answer. Environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources. It includes
all the biotic and abiotic factors that influence each other. Biotic elements are all living elements — the birds,
ainimals and plants, forests, fisheries, etc. Abiotic elements are like air, water, land, rocks, sunlight, etc.
Question 2. What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
Answer. Environment includes sun, soil, water and air which are essential ingredients for the sustenance of
human life. The carrying capacity of the environment implies that the resource extraction is not above the rate
of regeneration of the resources and the waste generated are within the assimilating capacity of the
environment. Carrying capacity of the environment helps to sustain life. Absence of carryingjcapacity of
environment means absence of life.
Question 3. Classify the following into renewable and non-renewable resources (i) trees (ii) fish
(iii) petroleum (iv) coal (v) iron-ore (vi) water.
Answer. Trees and fish are renewable resources.
Petroleum, coal, iron-ore and water are non-renewable resources.
Question 4.Two major environmental issues facing the world today are and .
Answer.Global warming and Ozone depletion.
Question 5.How do the following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India? What problem do
they pose for the government?
1. Rising population
2. Air pollution
3. Water contamination
4. Affluent consumption standards.
5. Illiteracy
6. Industrialisation
7. Urbanisation
8. Reduction of forest coverage
9. Poaching
10. Global warming.
Answer.
1. The high rate of growth of population adversely affects the environment. It certainly leads to soil and
water pollution.
2. India is one of the ten most industrialised nations of the world. It has led to unplanned
urbanisation, pollution and the risk of accidents. The CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) has
identified 17 categories of industries which are significant pollutors.

10. 3. Many states in India are on the edge of famine. Whatever water is available, it is polluted or
contaminated. It causes diseases like diarrhoea and hepatitis.
4. With affluent consumption standards, people Use more air conditioners. CFCs are used as cooling
agents in air condition which leads to ozone depletion.
5. Illiteracy and ignorance about the use of non-renewable resources, alternative energy sources, lead to
environmental crisis.
6. With rise in national income or economic activity, there is rise in industrialisation and urbanisation. This
raises pollution of air, water and noise. There are accidents, shortage of water, housing problems, etc. In
other words, with rise in national income there is ecological degradation which reduces welfare of the
people.
7. Whenever there is large migration of population from rural to urban areas, it leads to fast growth of
slum areas. There is excess of load on the existing infrastructural facilities. It causes environmental
degradation and ill health.
8. The per capita forestland in the country is only 0.08 hectare. There is an excess felling of about 15
million cubic metre forests over the permissible limit. Indiscriminate felling of trees has led to
destruction of forest cover.
Once forests haye been cut down, essential nutrients are washed out of the soil all-together. This leads
to soil erosion. It leads to disastrous flooding since there is no soil to soak up the rain.
9. Poaching leads to extinction of wildlife.
The long-term results of global warming are:
(a) Melting of polar ice caps with a resulting rise in the sea level and coastal flooding.
(b) Disruption of drinking water supplies as snow melts.
(c) Extinction of species.
(d) Frequent tropical storms and tropical diseases.
Question 6. What are the functions of the environment?
Answer. The environment performs^four vital functions:
1. Environment Supplies Resources. Resources include both renewable and non-renewable re¬sources.
Renewable resources are those which can be used without the possibility of the resource becoming
depleted or exhausted. In other words, a continuous supply of the resource remains available. Examples
of renewable resources are trees in the forest and fish in the ocean. Non-renew¬able resources are
those which get exhausted with extraction and use. Example, fossil fuels.
2. Environment Sustains Life. Environment includes sun, soil, water and air which are essential ingredients
for the sustenance of human life. The carrying capacity of the environment implies that the resource
extraction is not above the rate of regeneration of the resources and the waste generated are within the
assimilating capacity of the environment. Carrying capacity of the environment helps to sustain life.
Absence of carrying capacity of environments means absence of life.
3. Environment Assimilates Waste. Production and consumption activities generate waste. This occur
mostly in the form of garbage. Environment absorbs garbage.
4. Environment Enhances Quality of Life. Environment includes oceans, mountains, deserts, etc. Man
enjoys these surroundings, adding to the quality of life.
Question 7. Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Answer. Some of the factors responsible for land degradation are:
1. Loss of vegetation occuring due to deforestation
2. Unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction .

11. 3. Shifting cultivation
4. Encroachment into forest lands
5. Forest fires and over grazing
6. Non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures.
Question 8. Explain how the opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high.
Answer. Opportunity cost is the cost of alternative opportunity given up. The country has to pay huge amount
for damages done to human health. The health cost due to degraded environmental quality have resulted in
diseases like asthma, cholera, etc. Huge expenditure is incurred in treat¬ing the diseases.
Question 9. Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Answer. Steps and Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development in India:
1. Use of Non-Conventional Sources of Energy
2. LPG, Gobar Gas in Rural Areas
3. CNG in Urban Areas
4. Wind Power
5. Solar Power through Photovoltaic Cells
6. Mini-Hydel Plants
7. Traditional Knowledge and Practices
8. Biocomposting
Question 10. India has abundant natural r&ources—substantiate the statement.
Answer. India has rich quality of natural resources in plenty. It is clear from the following points:
1. India has rich quality of soil, hundreds of rivers and tributaries, lush green forests, abundant mineral
deposits under the land surface, vast stretch of the Indian Ocean, mountain ranges, etc.
2. The black soil of the Deccan Plateau is particularly suitable for cultivation of cotton. It has lead to
concentration of textile industries in this region.
3. The Indo-Gangetic plains — spread from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal — are one of the most
fertile, intensively cultivated and densely populated regions in the world.
4. India’s forests provide green cover for a majority of its population and natural cover for its
wildlife.
5. Large deposits of iron-ore, coal and natural gas are found in the country. India alone accounts for nearly
20 per cent of the world’s total iron-ore reserves.
6. Bauxite, copper, chromate, diamonds, gold, lead, lignite, manganese, zinc, uranium, etc. are also
available in different parts of the country.
Question 11. Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?
Answer. Yes, because India is suffering from population explosion. .
1. India has approximately 20 per cent of livestock population on a mere 2.5 per cent of the world’s
geographical area. The high density of population and livestock and the competing
uses of land for forestry, agriculture, pastures, human settlements and industries exert an enormous
pressure on the country’s finite land resources.
2. The per capita forestland in the country is only 0.08 hectare. There is an excess felling of about 15
million cubic metre forests over the permissible limit. Indiscriminate felling of trees has led to
destruction of forest cover.

12. Question 12. Give two instances of:
(a) Overuse of environmental resources
(b) Misuse of environmental resources.
Answer.
1. There is massive overuse and misuse of environmental resources. Examples of overuse of environmental
resources are deforestation and land degradation.
2. Example of misuse of environmental resources are ozone depletion and global warming.
Question 13. (a) State any four pressing environmental concerns of India.
(b) Correction for environmental damages involves opportunity costs — explain.
Answer. (a) Pressing environmental concerns of India:
1. Global Warming. Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of the earth’s lower
atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases due to industrialisation in recent times.
2. Ozone Depletion. The depletion of ozone layer has been caused by high levels of chlorine and bromine
compounds in the stratosphere. It causes skin cancer, and lowers the production of acquatic organisms.
3. Environmental Crisis. The rising population of the developing countries and the affluent • ,
consumption and production standards of the developed world have put a great stress on the
environment in terms of its functions of supplying resources and assimilating waste.
4. Massive Overuse and Misuse of Environmental Resources. There is massive overuse and misuse of
environmental resources which results in deforestation, land degradation, ozone depletion and global
warming. .
(b) The correction of environmental damages involve huge opportunity cost. It is the cost of alternative
opportunity given up. The country has to pay huge amount for damages done to human health. The helath
cost due to degraded environmental quality have resulted in diseases like asthma, cholera, etc. Huge
expenditure is incurred on treating the diseases.
Question 14. Explain the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources.
Answer. Supply Demand Reversal of Environmental Resources: –
The demand for resources for both production and consumption has gone beyond the rate of regeneration of
the resources increasing the pressure on the absorptive capacity of the environment. This reversal of the
supply-demand relationship with demand for resources exceeding the supply has led to degeneration of the
environment.
Question 15. Account for the current environmental crisis.
Answer.
1. Land Degradation
2. Biodiversity Loss
3. Air Pollution
4. Management of Fresh Water and Solid Waste.
Question 16. (a) Highlight any two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India.
(b) India’s environmental problems pose a dichotomy — they are poverty induced and, at the same time,

13. due to affluence in living standards—is this true?
Answer. (a)
1. Biodiversity Loss
(i) India has approximately 20 per cent of livestock population on a mere 2.5 per cent of the world’s
geographical area. The high density of population and livestock and the competing uses of land for
forestry, agriculture, pastures, human settlements and industries exert an enormous pressure on the
country’s finite land resources.
(ii) The per capita forestland in the country is only 0.08 hectare. There is an excess felling of about 15
million cubic metre forests over the permissible limit. Indiscriminate felling of trees has led to
destruction of forest cover.
2. Air Pollution
(i) In India, air pollution is widespread in urban areas where vehicles are the major contributors.
Vehicular emissions are of particular concern since these are ground level sources and, thus, have the
maximum impact on the general population. The number of motor vehicles has increased from about 3
lakh in 1951 to 67 crores in 2003.
(ii) India is one of the ten most industrialised nations of the world. It has led to unplanned urbanisation,
pollution and the risk of accidents.
(b) Dichotomy of the Threat to India’s Environment
The developmental activities in India have resulted in pressure on its finite natural resources, besides .creating
impacts on human health and well-being. The threat to India’s environment poses a dichotomy—threat of
poverty-induced environmental degradation and, at the same time, threat of pollution from affluence and a
rapidly growing industrial sector. Air pollution, water contamination, soil erosion, deforestation and wildlife
extinction are some of the most pressing environmental concerns of India.
Question 17. What is sustainable development?
Answer. Sustainable Development implies meeting the basic needs of everyone and extending to all the
opportunity to satisfy their aspirations for better life, without compromising on the needs of future.
Question 18. Keeping in view your locality, describe any four strategies of sustainable development.
Answer. Four strategies of sustainable development in my locality can be:
1. Solar energy should be put up.
2. People should use less air conditioners.
3. People should use herbal cosmetics.
4. People should not use polythene bags, instead they must use bags made of paper.
Question 19. Explain the relevance of intergenerational equity in the definition of sustainable development.
Answer. The Brundtland Commission emphasises on protecting the future generations. This is in line with the
argument of the environmentalists who emphasise that we have a moral obligation to hand over the planet
earth in good order to the future generations, i.e., the present generation should give better environment to
the future generations, no less than what we have inherited.
According to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) sustained
development is, “Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.”

14. Comparative Development Experience of India
with its Neighbors
NCERT TEXTUAL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Question 1. Mention some examples of regional and economic groupings.
Answer. Every country aims to strengthen its own domestic territory. The nations are forming regional and
global economic groupings such as:
1. SAARC. It has 8 countries of South Asia.
2. EU has 25 independent states based on European Communities.
3. ASEAN. It has 5 countries of South East Asia.
4. G-8 (Group of Eight). It has 8 countries.
5. G-20 (Group of Twenty). It consists of 19 world’s largest economies.
Question 2. What are the various means by which countries are trying to strengthen their own domestic
economies?
Answer. Countries are trying to strengthen their own domestic economies by:
1. forming regional apd global economic groupings like SAARC, EU, ASEAN, G-8, G-20, etc.
2. By having economic reforms.
Question 3. What similar development strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective
developmental paths?
Answer. Similar developmental strategies of India and Pakistan are:
1. India has the largest democracy of the world. Pakistan has authoritarian militarist political power
structure.
2. Both India and Pakistan followed a mixed economy approach. Both countries created a large public
sector and planned to raise public expenditure on social development.
Question 4. Explain the Great Leap Forward campaign of China as initiated in 1958.
Answer. Communist China or the People’s Republic of China, as it is formally known, came into being in 1949.
There is only one party, i.e., the Communist Party of China that holds the power there. All the sectors of
economy including various enterprises and all land owned by individuals was brought under governmental
control. A programme called ‘The Great Leap Forward’ was launched in 1958. Its aim was to industrialise the
country on a large scale and in as short a time as possible. For this, people were eyeji encouraged to set up
industries in their backyards. In villages, village Communes or cooperatives were set up. Communes means
collective cultivation of land. Around 26000 communes covered almost all the farm population in 1958.
The Great Leap Forward programme faced many problems. These were:
1. In the earlier phase, a severe drought occurred in China and it killed some 3 crore people.
2. Soviet Russia was a comrade to communist China, but they had border dispute. As a result, Russia
withdrew its professionals who had been helping China in its industrialisation bid.

15. Question 5. China’s rapid industrial growth can be traced back to its reforms in 1978. Do you agree?
Elucidate.
Answer. Starting 1978, several reforms were introduced in phases in China. First, agriculture, foreign trade
and investment sectors were taken up. Commune lands were divided into small plots. These were allotted to
individual households for cultivation.
The reforms were expanded to industrial sector. Private firms were allowed to set up manufacturing units.
Also, local collectives or cooperatives could produce goods. This meant competition between the newly
sanctioned private sector and the old state-owned enterprises.
This kind of reform in China brought in the necessity of dual pricing. This meant the farmers and industrial
units were to buy and sell fixed quantities of raw material and products on the basis of prices fixed by the
government. As production increased, the material transacted through the open market also rose in quantity.
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were set up in China to attract foreign investors.
Question 6. Describe the path of developmental initiatives taken by Pakistan for its economic development.
Answer. The developmental initiatives taken by Pakistan were:
1. In the late 1950s and 1960s, Pakistan introduced a variety of regulated policy framework (for import
substitution industrialisation). The policy combined tariff protection for manufacturing of consumer
goods together with direct import controls on competing imports.
2. The introduction of Green Revolutioned led to mechanisation of agriculture. It finally led to a rise in the
production of foodgrains. This changed the agrarian structure dramatically.
3. In the 1970s, nationalisation of capital good industries took place.
4. In 1988, structural reforms were introduced. The thrust areas were denationalisation and
en¬couragement to private sector.
5. Pakistan received financial support from western nations and remittances from emigrants to the Middle
East. It helped in raising economic growth of the country.
Question 7. What is the important implication of ‘one child norm’ in China?
Answer. One-child norm introduced in China in the late 1970s is the major reason for low population growth.
It is stated that this measure led to a decline in the sex ratio, that is, the proportion of females per 1000 males.
Question 8. Mention the salient demographic indicators of China, Pakistan and India.
Answer. We shall compare some demographic indicators of India, China and Pakistan.
1. The population of Pakistan is very small and accounts for roughly about one-tenth of China or India.
2. Though China is the largest nation geographically among the three, its density is the lowest.
3. The population growth is highest in Pakistan followed by India and China. One-child norm introduced in
China in the late 1970s is the major reason for low population growth. They also state that this measure
led to a decline in the sex ratio, that is, the proportion of females per 1000 males.
4. The sex ratio is low and biased against females in all the three countries. There is strong son-
preference prevailing in 11 these countries.
5. The fertility rate is low in China and very high in Pakistan.
6. Urbanisation is high in both Pakistan and China with India having 28 per cent of its people living in urban
areas.

16. Question 9. Compare and contrast India and China’s sectoral contribution towards GDP. What does it
in¬dicate?
Answer. Sectoral Distribution of Output and Employment:
1. Agriculture Sector. China has more proportion of urban people than India. In China in the year 2009,
with 54 per cent of its workforce engaged in agriculture, its contribution to GDP is 10 per cent. In India’s
contribution of agriculture to GDP is at 17 per cent.
2. Industry and Service Sectors. In both India and China, the industry and service sectors have less
proportion of workforce but contribute more in terms of output. In China, manufacturing contributes
the highest to GDP at 46 per cent whereas in India it is the service sector which contributes the highest.
Thus, China’s growth is mainly contributed by the manufacturing sector and India’s growth by service
sector.
Question 10. Mention the various indicators of human development.
Answer. Parameters of human development are:
1. HDI— (a) Value—higher the better.
(b) Rank—lower the better.
2. Life expectancy—higher the better.
3. Adult literacy rate—higher the better.
4. GDP per capita (PPP US $)—higher the better –
5. Percentage of population below poverty line (on $1 a day)—lower the better.
6. Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births)—lower the better.
7. Maternal mortality rate (per 100,000 live births)—lower the better.
8. Percentage of population having access to improved sanitation—higher the better.
9. Percentage of population having access to improved water source—higher the better.
10. Percentage of population which is undernourished (% of total) – lower the better.
Question 11. Define the liberty indicator. Give some examples of liberty indicators.
Answer. Liberty indicator has actually been added as a measure of ‘the extent of democratic participation
in social and political decision-making’ but it has not been given any extra weight. Some of the
examples of liberty indicators are : literacy rate, women participation in politics, etc.
Question 12. Evaluate the various factors that led to the rapid growth in economic development in China.
Answer. Reforms were initiated jn China in 1978. China did not have any compulsion to introduce reforms.
1. Pre-Reform Period : Failures
(a) There was slow pace of growth and lack of modernisation in the Chinese economy under the Maoist rule.
(b) It was felt that Maoist vision of economic development which was based on decentralisation, self-
sufficiency and shunning of foreign technology, goods and capital, had failed.
(c) Despite extensive land reforms, collectivisation, the Great Leap Forward and other initiatives, the per
capita grain output in 1978 was the same as it was in the mid-1950s.
Pre-Reform Period: Success
(a) There was existence of infrastructure in the areas of education and health.
(b) There were land reform.
(c) There was decentralised planning and existence of small enterprises.

17. (d) There was extension of basic health services in rural areas.
(e) Through the commune system, there was more equitable distribution of foodgrains.
2. Post-Reform Period (after 1978): Success
(a) In agriculture, by handing over plots of land to individuals for cultivation, it brought prosperity to a vast
number of poor people.
(b) It created conditions for the subsequent phenomenal growth in rural industries and built up a strong
support base for more reforms.
(c) More reforms included the gradual liberalisation of prices, fiscal decentralisation, increased autonomy for
state owned enterprises (SOEs), the introduction of a diversified banking system, the development of stock
markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment.
(d) The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than ten-fold
increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis, China in 2005 stood as the
second largest economy in the world after the US.
(e) China’s economic growth as measured in terms of GDP on an average is 10.9% per year. In economic size,
China is surpassed today only by the US, Japan, Germany and France.
(f) If its present growth trend continues, China is likely to be the world’s largest economic power by any
measure by the year 2025.
Comparative Development Experience of India with its Neighbours 11 .IS
(g) China had success when it enforced one-child norm in 1979. The low population growth of China can be
attributed to this one factor.
Thus, China’s structural reforms introduced in 1978 in a phased manner offer various lessons from its success
story.
Question 13. Group the following features pertaining to the economies of India, China and Pakistan under
three heads.
1. One-child norm
2. Low fertility rate
3. High degree of urbanisation
4. Mixed economy
5. Very high fertility rate
6. Large population
7. High density of population
8. Growth due to inanufacturing sector
9. Growth due to service sector
Answer.
1. China
2. China
3. Pakistan and China
4. India and Pakistan
5. Pakistan
6. India and China
7. India
8. China
9. India.

18. Question 14. Give reasons for the slow growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan.
Answer. Reforms were initiated in Pakistan in 1988.
1. Pre-Reform Period : Failure
(a) The proportion of poor in 1960s was more than 40 per cent.
(b) The economy started to stagnate, suffering from the drop in remittances from the Middle East.
(c) A growth rate of over 5% in the 1980s could not be sustained and the budget deficit increased steadily.
(d) At times foreign exchange reserves were as low as 2 weeks of imports.
2. Post-Reform Period (after 1988): Failure
The reform process led to worsening of all the economic indicators.
(a) The growth rate of GDP and its sectoral constituents have fallen in the 1990s.
(b) The proportion of poor declined to 25 per cent in 1980s and started rising again in 1990s. The reasons for
the slow-down of growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan’s economy are:
(i) Agricultural growth and food supply situation were based not on an institutionalised process of technical
change but on good harvest. When there was a good harvest, the economy was in a good condition; when it
was not, the economic indicators showed stagnation or negative trends.
(ii) Fall in foreign exchange earnings coming from remittances from Pakistani workers in the Middle East and
the exports of highly volatile agricultural products.
(iii) There was also growing dependence on foreign loans on the one hand and increasing difficulty in paying
back the loans on the other.
Question 15. Compare and contrast the development of India, China and Pakistan with respect to some
salient human development indicators.
Answer. It is clear that:
1. China is moving ahead of India .and Pakistan. This is true for many indicators—income indicator such as
GDP per capita, or proportion of population below poverty line or health indicators such as mortality
rates, access to sanitation, literacy, life expectancy or malnourishment.
2. Pakistan is ahead of India in reducing proportion of people below the poverty line and also its
performance in education, sanitation and access to water is better than that of India. Both China and
Pakistan are in similar position with respect to the proportion of people below the international poverty
rate of $1 a day, whereas the proportion is almost two times higher for India.
3. In China, for one lakh births, only 38 women die whereas in India it is 230 and in Pakistan it is 260.
4. India and Pakistan are ahead of China in providing improved water sources.
Question 16. Comment on the growth rate trends witnessed in China and India in the last two decades.
Answer. Growth of Gross Domestic Product (%), 1980-2009 In 1980s, China had remarkable growth rate of
10.3% when India was finding it difficult to maintain a growth rate of even 5%. After two decades, there was a
marginal improvement in India’s and China’s growth rate.
Question 17. Fill in the blanks:
1. First Five Year Plan of commenced in the year 1956. (Pakistan/China)
2. Maternal mortality rate is high iri (China/Pakistan)
3. Proportion of people below poverty line is more in (India/Pakistan)
4. Reforms in were introduced in 1978. (China/Pakistan).
Answer. (1) Pakistan, (2) Pakistan, (3) India, (4) China.