RESOURCE & DEVELOPMENT
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’.
CLASSIFICATION OF RESOURCES
On the Basis of Origin
• Biotic Resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human beings, flora and
fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.
• Abiotic Resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic
resources. For example, rocks and metals.
On the Basis of Exhaustibility
• Renewable Resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical
or mechanical processes are known as renewable resources. For example, solar and wind energy,
water, forests and wildlife, etc.
• Non-Renewable Resources: The resources once consumed cannot be replaced are known as non-
renewable resources. These resources take millions of years in their formation. For example: Oil, Coal
etc.
On the Basis of Ownership
• Individual Resources: The resources owned privately by individuals are called Individual resources.
For example: Plot, houses etc. owned by a person.
• Community Owned Resources: The resources which are accessible to all the members of the
community. For example: Public parks, picnic spots owned by a community.
• National Resources: The resources which come under nation are known as National Resources.
Technically, all the resources belong to the nation.
• International Resources: The resources lying beyond 200 kms of Exclusive Economic Zone in the
oceans are called International Resources. No one can use these resources without the permission
of international institutions.
On the Basis of the Status of Development
• Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised. For
example: the regions Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind
and solar energy.
• Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been
determined for utilisation.
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• Stock: The resources that have been surveyed, but cannot be used due a lack of technology. For
example: water is a compound of two inflammable gases; hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used
as a rich source of energy but we don't have technical know-how to use them.
• Reserves: The resources that have been surveyed and we can use them with present technology
but their use has not been started are known as Reserves. For example: the water in the dams,
forests etc.
Development of Resources
• Resources are vital for human survival.
• It was believed that resources are free gifts of nature so, human beings used them indiscriminately
and this has led to the following major problems:
→ Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
→ Accumulation of resources in few hands which divides the society into rich and poor.
→ Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global warming,
ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
• For a sustained quality of life and global peace, an equitable distribution of resources has
become essential.
• For using resources judiciously, we need to adopt sustainable economic development.
• Sustainable economic development means development should take place without damaging the
environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of the future
generations.
Resource Planning
• Resource planning is a complex process which involves :
(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying,
mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up
for implementing resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.
Land Resources
• Land is a natural resource of utmost importance.
→ It supports natural vegetation, wild life, human life, economic activities, transport and
communication systems.
• Land is present in limited size so we must use them effectively.
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Land Resources in India
• About 43 percent of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and industry.
• About 30 percent of the total surface area of the country are mountains which ensure perennial
flow of some rivers and provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.
• About 27 per cent of the area of the country is the plateau region that possesses rich reserves
of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.
Land Use Pattern in India
• The use of land is determined by:
→ Physical factors such as topography, climate, soil types
→ Human factors such as population density, technological capability and culture and traditions etc.
• Land use data, however, is available only for 93 per cent of the total geographical area because the
land use reporting for most of the north-east states except Assam has not been done fully.
→ Also, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also not been
surveyed.
Land Degradation and Conservation measures
• Human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, mining and quarrying contributed in land
degradation.
• Measures to control land degradation:
→ Afforestation
→ Planting of shelter belts of plants
→ control on over grazing
→ stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes
→ Proper management of waste lands
→ control of mining activities
Soil as a Resource
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• Soil is the most important renewable natural resource.
• It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms on the earth.
Classification of Soils
On the basis of the factors responsible for soil formation, colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical and
physical properties, the soils of India can be classified in different types:
• Alluvial Soils:
→ Entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
→ Also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari,
the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
→ Fertile soil therefore, fit for agriculture purpose.
→ Regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated.
→ Rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy,
wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
• Black Soil:
→ Black in colour and are also known as regur soils.
→ Ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
→ Found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also
along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.
→ Made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material.
→ Well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.
→ Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
• Red and Yellow Soils:
→ Found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
→ Also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga plain and along
the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
→ Develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• Laterite Soils:
→ Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
→ Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and
Assam.
→ Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers.
→ Low Humus content because decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to high temperature.
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• Arid Soils:
→ Found in the western parts of Rajasthan.
→ After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable.
→ Lacks humus and moisture because dry climate, high temperature make evaporation faster.
→ Salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
• Forest Soils:
→ Found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are available.
→ Feature differs based on location.
→ Loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
→ Silt in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial fans are fertile.
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
• Natural ways of Soil erosion: Wind, glacier and water lead to soil erosion.
• Human activities: Deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining etc., contributes in soil
erosion.
→ Strip cropping
→ Planting shelter belts
→ In the hilly areas, using contour ploughing and terrace farming.
QUESTIONS
1.“Resources are a function of human activities.” Justify this statement.
2.How are natural resources important for man? Give five points.
3.“Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence.” Discuss.
Answer:
Sustainable existence is a component of sustainable development which aims at
development without damaging the environment and at the same time conserving
for future generation. Therefore, resource planning is necessary for judicious,
rational and equitable distribution and proper utilisation of resources. It has
become essential for a sustained quality of life and global peace.
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4.Why is ‘Resource Planning’ necessary? Give reasons.
Answer:
Planning is necessary for proper and judicious utilisation of resources.
Reasons for resource planning:
1. Resource availability is not the same in all parts of the country.
2. Resources, especially non-renewable resources, need extra care as they
Cannot be renewed.
3. There is acute shortage or deficiency of some resources.
4. Resource planning helps in proper utilisation of resources by reducing
wastage. It takes care of future needs and may sustain the environment.
5.“India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources.” Name four varied
regions to justify this statement.
Answer:
There are regions which are rich or self-sufficient in certain types of resources
and there are areas that are deficient or have acute shortage of some vital
resources.
For example:
1. The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in
minerals and coal deposits.
2. Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in
infrastructural development.
3. Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in
water resources.
4. The cold desert area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage. It is
deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.
Such cases call for balanced resource planning at different levels.
6.“Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources in a
country like India”. Justify this statement with two relevant points and an example.
(2013)
Answer:
India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources. Through planning,
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regions which have shortage of vital resources and those having adequate
quantities, receive equal attention.
1. There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but are
deficient in some other resources.
For example: Arunachal has abundance of water but lacks in infrastructural
development.
2. There are some regions which can be considered self sufficient in terms of
availability of resources. For example: The states of Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.
3. There are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
For example: The state of Rajasthan is well endowed with solar and wind
energy but lacks in water resources.
7.Explain the concept of resource conservation as voiced by Gandhiji. (2012)
Or
Whom did Gandhiji make responsible for the depletion of resources at the
global level?
Answer:
Gandhiji voiced his concern about resource conservation in these Words:
“There is enough far everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.” He
placed the greedy and selfish individuals as the root cause for resource
depletion at the global level. He was against ‘mass production’ and wanted
to replace it with ‘production by the masses’.
1. Indiscriminate use of resources by human beings has led to the depletion of
resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
2. Irrational consumption and over-utilization of resources leads to socio-
economic and environmental problems.
8.Write the major features of Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.
Answer:
1. In 1992,100 heads of States met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first
‘International Earth Summit’.
2. The summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of:
• environmental protection and
• socio-economic development at global level.
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3. The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change
and the Biological Diversity.
4. The Rio convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted
‘Agenda 21’ for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. It is an
agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty and diseases through
global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared
responsibilities.
9.“The future generation may not have sufficient resources as compared to the
present generation”. Justify the statement by giving suitable examples. (2012)
Or
Why is the issue of sustainability relevant for development?
Answer:
Present sources of energy in India are coal, petroleum, natural gas, solar
energy, wind energy, hydel power, electricity, wood for fire, cow dung etc. Most
of these are non-renewable sources of energy which may get exhausted after
some time. These are available in limited quantities. The present rate of
consumption is higher than the rate at which these resources are being
replenished and should be preserved for our future generations.
In fifty years’ time, India may depend largely on non-conventional sources of
energy which are available in abundance such as solar energy, hydel energy,
wind energy etc. The total hydel power potential in India is estimated at 1,50,000
MW of which only one-sixth has been developed so far.
1. Development of a country needs to be continuous. Every country would like
to have the level of development go up further.
2. Many scientists have warned that the present levels of development cannot
be sustained for the future as the present rate of consumption of both
renewable and non-renewable resources is very high. Rapid
industrialisation has led to environment degradation.
3. Sustainability development aims at development without damaging the
environment and at the same time conserving for the future.
4. Sustainability of development is essential not only for the present
generation but also for future generations to ensure a good life.
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