St.AndrewsScotsSr.Sec.

School
9thAvenue,I.P.Extension,Patparganj,
Delhi–110092
Session:2024-2025

Class:X Subject:SocialScience Economics:Development

CH-1 Development

NCERT QUESTIONS
Q1. 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

Q2. Which of the following neighboring countries has better

performance in terms of human development than India?
(i) Bangladesh
(ii) Sri Lanka
(iii) Nepal
(iv) Pakistan

Q3. 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
Q4. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying
different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if
any?
In World Bank Report, 2006 the World Bank has used the criterion of
average income or per capita income in classifying different countries. The
average income or per capita income is the total income of the country
divided by its population. According to the World Bank, rich countries have
a per capita income of at least US$ 12,616 per year. Low-income countries
have a per capita income of $1,035 or less. Only developed countries and
certain Middle Eastern countries are rich countries worldwide. Rich nations
have a per capita income of US$ 12616 per annum and more as of 2012.
The limitations of this criterion are that while average income is useful for
comparison, it does not tell us how this income is distributed among
people. A country may have a more equitable distribution. People may be
neither very rich nor extremely poor. But in another country with the same
average income, one person may be extremely rich while others may be
very poor. So, the method of average income does not give the correct
picture of a country. This system hides disparities among people.

Q5. In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring
development different from the one used by the World Bank?
The criterion used by World Bank: The average income, i.e. per capita
income is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different
countries.
According to the World Bank, rich countries have a per capita income of at
least US$ 12,616 per year. Low-income countries have a per capita income
of $1,035 or less. Only developed countries and certain Middle Eastern
countries are rich countries worldwide. Rich nations have a per capita
income of US$ 12616 per annum and more as of 2012.
The UNDP compares countries based on HDI e., on the educational levels
of the people, their health status and per capita income or average income.
Human Development Index used by UNDP is better because it is a wider
indicator in which besides per capita income, health and education are also
included.
Q6. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use?
Illustrate with your own examples related to the development.
(1)We use averages for comparison between two countries, two persons
or any two or more things.
(2)There are the following limitations to the use of averages :

● Averages do not tell us about similarities or differences between two

countries or persons or things.
● By averages only one aspect income, size etc. in case of country,
marks or participation in sports activities etc. in case of student, can
be compared. All aspects or achievements are not compared.
● As only one aspect is compared, it does not give a true picture of
different countries, persons or things. For example, students differ in
height, health, talents and interests. The healthiest student may not
be the most intelligent or topper in studies. Similar is the case in
respect of countries or states. A country may be ahead than the other
country in one field but may lag behind in the other field. So averages
do not give the correct picture.

Q7. Kerala, with lower per capita income, has a better human
development ranking than Punjab. Hence, per capita income is not
a useful criterion at all and should not be used to compare states.
Do you agree? Discuss.
It is correct to say that per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and
should not be used to compare states due to reasons as mentioned below :
● Money cannot buy all the goods and services that you need to live
well. Income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of
material goods and services that citizens are able to use.
● There cannot be a pollution-free environment in a colony of rich
people unless the whole community takes preventive steps.
● Sometimes, it is better to have collective services like security for the
whole locality than to have individual security for one’s own house.
Again a school may be opened for the children of the whole
community rather than for one or two children of a rich person.
● Kerala has a better human development ranking than Punjab.
 ● In Kerala, Infant Mortality Rate is 11 in comparison to 49 in Punjab,
where the per capita income is much more than Kerala. It is ? 26000
whereas in Kerala it is ? 22800. It is because Kerala has adequate
basic health and educational facilities.
● Similarly in some states, the Public Distribution System (PDS)
functions well and people get ration regularly whereas in some states
ration shops do not function properly. At such places, people face a
shortage of grains that affect their health. Thus it is clear that the
states should not be compared on the basis of per capita income –
alone.

Q8. 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?
The present sources of energy that are used by the people of India are
electricity, coal, crude oil, cow dung and solar energy. Other possibilities
fifty years from now, could include ethanol, bio-diesel, nuclear energy and
better utilization of wind energy, especially with the imminent danger of oil
resources running out.

Q9. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

Sustainable development means that development should meet the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs. However, since the second half of the twentieth century,
a number of scientists have been warning that the present type and levels
of development are not sustainable. The issue of sustainable development
has emerged from rapid industrialization of the world in the past century. It
is felt that economic growth and industrialization have led to the reckless
exploitation of natural resources. On the other hand, the stock of natural
resources are limited. So, the growth of all countries in the future is likely to
be endangered if the limited resources are completely exhausted.

Under these circumstances, the issue of sustainability has become

important for development. A number of resources are being overused. For
example, groundwater is under serious threat of overuse in many parts of
the country i.e., Punjab, Haryana and western U.P. The water level has
declined over 4 meters. As a result of it if we go on overusing there will be
a water crisis in future. Similarly, if non-renewable resources are used
recklessly these will also be exhausted.

Q10. “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.
This statement is relevant to the discussion of development since both
resources and development go hand in hand. As the statement claims, our
earth has enough resources – renewable and non-renewable to satisfy
everyone’s need if we use them in an economic manner. For the
sustainability of development, the consumption and maintenance of
resources is also crucial. We have to use the resources keeping our
environment protected and clear so that there is a balance between the
development and use of our resources. As otherwise after a certain point of
time in future the development will stagnate.

Q11. List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may

have observed around you.
Some of the examples of environmental degradation in the area are as
follows :
● Air pollution has increased due to the emission of smoke from
factories and vehicles.
● There is an increase in water pollution due to shops and small
factories in residential areas.
● There is noise pollution due to the use of loudspeakers at night and
blowing of horns unnecessarily on the roads by different vehicles.
● People throw garbage wherever they want. Perhaps there is no
provision for dustbins in the streets or roadsides.
● Sometimes people urinate in the open on the roadside due to a lack
of public conveniences.
EXTRA QUESTIONS

Q1. What is average income?

Average income – It is the total income of the country divided by its total
population. The average income is also called per capita income.

Q2. What is the infant mortality rate? (IMR)

Infant mortality rate – In a year the number of children that die before the
age of one year per 1000 children born alive.

Q3. What is the literacy rate?

The proportion of the literate population in the 7 and above age group.

Q4. What is life expectancy at birth?

Average expected length of life of a person at the time of birth.

Q5. What is HDI?

HDI stands for HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX. It is indicative of the
levels of human development and not the complete measurement of
development. HDI ranks in the world are for 177 countries in all.

Q6. Explain Net Attendance ratio.

It is the total number of children of age group 6 – 10 attending school as a
percentage of total number of children in the same age group.

Q7. Explain Gross Enrolment Ratio.

Gross Enrolment Ratio for three levels means enrolment ratio for primary
school, secondary school and higher education beyond secondary school.

Q8. What is National Income?

Total value of all goods and services produced within a country plus income
coming from abroad.

Q9. What is BMI?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is calculated as the weight of a person
in kg and the height is taken in meters. It is one way to find out if adults are
undernourished.
BMI = WEIGHT/(HEIGHT)2
If BMI<18.5 then the person is undernourished.
If BMI>25 then the person is overweight.
But this criterion is not applicable for growing children.

Q10. Why do different people have different notions of development?

Different people have different notions of development because people are
different and life situations are different.

Q11. What factors other than income are important aspects of life?
Non-material aspects such as respect for others, equal treatment,freedom,
security etc.

Q12. What is the most common method of measuring the economic

development of a country?
Income.

Q13. Give any one indicator of human development.

Health or educational attainment.

Q14. Why isn’t total income a useful measure for comparing

countries?
Because countries have different populations, comparing total income will
not tell us what an average person is earning.

Q15. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying
different countries?
Per capita income.

Q16. What are the limitations of comparing countries on the basis of

average income?
It does not tell us how income is distributed, does not give a correct picture
of the country and hides disparities among people.

Q17. Which countries according to WDR are rich and poor countries?
Countries with per capita income of Rs. 4,53,000 per annum and above in
2004 are called rich countries and those with per capita income of Rs.
37,000 or less are called low income countries.

Q18. Why does Kerala have a low infant mortality rate?

Because of adequate provision for basic health and educational facilities.

Q19. Besides per capita income, what other property of income is

important in comparing two or more societies?
Equal distribution of income.

Q20. Who published the HDR?

UNDP

Q21. What are the three indicators of HDR to compare countries?

Per capita income, education level, health status.

Q22. Why do we use averages?

We use averages for comparisons between two countries, total income is
not such a useful measure because countries have different populations.

Q23. What is per capita income?

Per capita income is calculated in dollars for all countries so that it can be
compared. It is also done away so that every dollar would buy the same
amount of goods and services in any country.

Q24. What do you mean by public facilities? Why are they important?
Name two public facilities available in India.
Public facilities are those facilities and services required for society or for
the public to live a better life, generally provided by the government.
They are important because money cannot buy all services for a better
quality of life, it is the cheapest way and the best way to provide goods and
facilities to the people. Public facilities available in India are transportation,
hospitals, police etc.

Q25. Why is groundwater overused?

The groundwater is overused because -
● Due to uncertainties of monsoon and scarcity of water in the plateau
region of Central and South India.
● Agriculturally rich regions of Punjab, Western UP grow water
intensive crops.
● Rapidly growing urban settlement.

Q26. Where is groundwater overuse found in particular?

Groundwater overuse is particularly found in the agriculturally prosperous
regions of Punjab and Western UP, hard rock plateau areas of central and
southern India.

Q27. What is the difference between economic development and

human development?
Economic development -
It is a narrow aspect as it includes only the monetary aspect.
Includes only quantitative growth.
It is a means to achieve human development.
Human development -
broader aspect of development as it includes monetary as well as
non-monetary factors.
process of both quantitative development.
Human development is the final or end goal of all development.