Class 10 NCERT Economics ‘Development’ Chapter Question and Answers

Question and Answers of the chapter “Development” CBSE Class 10 NCERT Economics Textbook. Click here for more resources.

Development Chapter Q&A

Questions and their Answers given in the chapter end exercises of the chapter “Development”.

Q.1. Development of a country can generally be determined by
(i) its per capita income
(ii) its average literacy level
(iii) health status of its people
(iv) all the above

Answer: (iv) all the above
Explanation: Development is assessed by considering multiple indicators such as per capita income, literacy level, and health status.

Q.2. Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India?

Answer: (ii) Sri Lanka
Explanation: According to the Human Development Index (HDI), Sri Lanka ranks higher than India in education, health, and income metrics.

Q.3. Assume there are four families in a country. The average per capita income of these families is Rs 5000. If the income of three families is Rs 4000, Rs 7000 and Rs 3000 respectively, what is the income of the fourth family?
(i) Rs 7500
(ii) Rs 3000
(iii) Rs 2000
(iv) Rs 6000

Solution: Income of the fourth family:

Q.4. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?

Answer: Main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying countries and its limitations:

Criterion: Per capita income.

Limitations:

• It does not account for income distribution, leading to inequity being overlooked.
• It excludes non-economic factors like health, education, and environmental conditions that are crucial for overall development.

Differences between UNDP and World Bank criteria for measuring development:

World Bank: Focuses primarily on per capita income.

UNDP: Uses Human Development Index (HDI), which combines:

• Health (life expectancy)
• Education (mean years of schooling)
• Income (GNI per capita).
• UNDP provides a more comprehensive measure of human well-being.

Q.5. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.

Answer:

Why use averages: They simplify comparisons by providing a single representative value (e.g., average income for comparing countries).

Limitations:

• Averages mask disparities. For example, two countries with the same average income may differ significantly in income distribution.
• Example: In a country with an average income of Rs 5000, some may earn Rs 1000 while others earn Rs 9000, highlighting inequality.

Q.7. Kerala, with lower per capita income has a better human development ranking than Haryana. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to compare states. Do you agree? Discuss

Answer: Discussion on per capita income as a criterion:

Agree/Disagree: Disagree that it is not useful at all.

Reason: While per capita income is a useful measure of economic activity, it is insufficient alone. For instance, Kerala’s better HDI ranking than Haryana shows the importance of health and education indicators in assessing development comprehensively.

Q.8. Find out the present sources of energy that are used by the people in India. What
could be the other possibilities fifty years from now?

Present sources of energy and future possibilities:

Present sources:

• Non-renewable: Coal, oil, natural gas.
• Renewable: Solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass energy.

Future possibilities (50 years):

• Widespread use of solar and wind energy.
• Advancements in nuclear fusion.
• Development of hydrogen fuel cells.
• Enhanced energy storage technologies like advanced batteries.

Q.9. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

Answer: Importance of sustainability for development:

• Unsustainable practices (e.g., overuse of groundwater or fossil fuels) can deplete resources, harming future generations.
• Sustainability ensures long-term economic, social, and environmental health.
• Example: Transitioning to renewable energy can reduce dependency on limited resources like crude oil.

Q.10. “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person”. How is this statement relevant to the discussion of development? Discuss.

Answer: This statement highlights the importance of sustainable development.

• Resources are finite and should be used responsibly to ensure equitable access for everyone.
• Examples of relevance to development:

Greed-driven exploitation: Overuse of groundwater for intensive agriculture in Punjab has led to declining water tables.

Equitable needs vs. greed: Large-scale deforestation for commercial purposes displaces indigenous communities while benefiting only a few.

Sustainable alternatives: Encouraging renewable energy sources like solar and wind reduces the strain on non-renewable resources like coal and oil.

Conclusion: Development must prioritize meeting basic needs without compromising resources for future generations.

Q.11. List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.

Answer: List a few examples of environmental degradation:

• Air pollution: Rising levels of vehicle emissions and industrial smoke causing health issues.
• Deforestation: Urban expansion and infrastructure projects leading to loss of forests.
• Water pollution: Untreated sewage and industrial waste contaminating rivers and lakes.
• Overuse of groundwater: Excessive extraction in agricultural areas causing water scarcity.
• Plastic pollution: Non-biodegradable waste accumulating in landfills and oceans.

Q.12. For each of the items given in Table 1.6, find out which country is at the top and which is at the bottom.

Answer: Based on Table 1.6 (2021 Human Development Report data):

Q.13. The following table shows the proportion of adults (aged 15-49 years) whose BMI is below normal (BMI <18.5 kg/m2) in India. It is based on a survey of various states for the year 2019-21. Look at the table and answer the following questions.

(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Can you guess why around one-fifth of people in the country are undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country? Describe in your own words

Answer:

(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.

• Kerala:
  • Male BMI below normal: 8.5%
  • Female BMI below normal: 10%
  • Indicates better nutritional levels and lower prevalence of undernutrition.
• Madhya Pradesh:
  • Male BMI below normal: 28%
  • Female BMI below normal: 28%
  • Reflects significantly poorer nutritional levels and a higher prevalence of undernutrition.

Comparison:

• Kerala has much better nutritional outcomes compared to Madhya Pradesh. This can be attributed to Kerala’s better healthcare, literacy rates, and public distribution systems, which ensure adequate food and health services.
• Madhya Pradesh exhibits higher undernutrition due to issues like poverty, insufficient access to healthcare, and weaker food distribution systems.

(ii) Can you guess why around one-fifth of people in the country are undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country?

• Distributional Issues:
  • Inefficient Public Distribution System (PDS) in some states.
  • Inequitable access to food, with poor sections often left out.
• Economic Inequality:
  • Despite sufficient food production, poverty limits people’s ability to buy nutritious food.
• Lack of Awareness:
  • Poor dietary knowledge and cultural practices may lead to unbalanced diets.
• Healthcare Deficiencies:
  • Poor access to healthcare prevents timely detection and treatment of malnutrition.
• Gender Disparities:
  • Women, especially in rural areas, often eat less or after men in the family, exacerbating malnutrition.

Conclusion:
The issue is not food availability but rather inequitable distribution, poverty, and systemic inefficiencies that prevent food security for all.