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Resources and Development

NCERT Class 10 · Social Science Based on NCERT Class 10 Social Science textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter introduces the concept of resources, their classification, and the importance of resource planning for sustainable development. It emphasizes that resources are not free gifts of nature but are a function of human activities, technology, and institutions. The chapter also covers land resources, land use pattern in India, land degradation and conservation measures, and a detailed classification of soils. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that judicious use of resources through planning and conservation is essential for sustainable development and the well-being of future generations.
Key Concepts (32)
Resource
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable.
e.g. Water from a river used for irrigation after building a canal (technology) and with community consent (cultural acceptability).
Biotic Resources
Resources obtained from the biosphere and having life, such as human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, and livestock.
e.g. Fish from the sea, timber from forests.
Abiotic Resources
Resources composed of non-living things, such as rocks, metals, and minerals.
e.g. Iron ore, coal, water.
Renewable Resources
Resources that can be renewed or replenished by natural processes over a period of time, such as solar energy, wind energy, and water.
e.g. Solar energy used in solar panels.
Non-Renewable Resources
Resources that take millions of years to form and are limited in quantity, such as fossil fuels and minerals.
e.g. Petroleum, coal, natural gas.
Individual Resources
Resources owned privately by individuals, such as land, house, and car.
e.g. A farmer's agricultural land.
Community Resources
Resources accessible to all members of a community, such as public parks, playgrounds, and grazing grounds.
e.g. A village pond used by all villagers for washing and cattle.
National Resources
Resources belonging to the nation, such as forests, minerals, and water within the political boundaries of a country.
e.g. All mineral deposits within India's territory.
International Resources
Resources owned and regulated by international institutions, such as oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone.
e.g. Resources of the deep seabed under the jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority.
Potential Resources
Resources that are found in a region but have not yet been fully developed or utilized.
e.g. Solar and wind energy in Rajasthan, which has high potential but is not fully harnessed.
Developed Resources
Resources that have been surveyed, quantified, and are currently being used for development.
e.g. Coal mines in Jharkhand that are actively mined.
Stock
Materials in the environment that have the potential to satisfy human needs but are not yet accessible due to a lack of appropriate technology.
e.g. Hydrogen as a source of energy is a stock because we do not have the technology to use it widely.
Reserves
A subset of stock that can be put into use with existing technology but has not been used yet, often kept for future use.
e.g. Water in dams is a reserve; it is stored for future use.
Sustainable Development
Development that takes place without damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of future generations.
e.g. Using solar energy instead of coal to reduce carbon emissions.
Agenda 21
A declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aiming at achieving global sustainable development.
e.g. Local governments drawing their own local Agenda 21 to combat environmental damage.
Resource Planning
A widely accepted strategy for the judicious use of resources, involving identification, inventory, and matching of resource development plans with national plans.
e.g. India's Five Year Plans that include resource allocation for different sectors.
Land Degradation
The decline in the quality of land due to human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and over-irrigation, making it less productive.
e.g. Waterlogging in Punjab due to over-irrigation leading to increased salinity and alkalinity.
Soil Erosion
The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down, caused by natural forces like wind and water, and human activities like deforestation and overgrazing.
e.g. Gully erosion in the Chambal basin forming ravines.
Alluvial Soil
The most widely spread and important soil in India, deposited by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems, found in northern plains and eastern coastal deltas.
e.g. Soil in the delta of the Mahanadi river.
Black Soil
Also known as regur soil or black cotton soil, ideal for growing cotton, formed from lava flows, found in the Deccan trap region.
e.g. Soil in Maharashtra used for cotton cultivation.
Laterite Soil
Soil that develops under tropical and subtropical climates with alternate wet and dry seasons, resulting from intense leaching, often acidic and poor in nutrients.
e.g. Soil in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra used for tea and coffee after conservation techniques.
Arid Soil
Soil ranging from red to brown, sandy in texture, saline in nature, found in dry regions like Rajasthan, lacking humus and moisture.
e.g. Soil in western Rajasthan where common salt is obtained by evaporation.
Forest Soil
Soil found in hilly and mountainous areas with sufficient rain forests, varying in texture from loamy in valleys to coarse on slopes.
e.g. Soil in the lower valleys of the Himalayas on river terraces.
Bangar
Old alluvial soil with a higher concentration of kanker nodules, less fertile than Khadar.
e.g. Soil found in the upper reaches of river valleys.
Khadar
New alluvial soil with more fine particles, more fertile than Bangar, deposited by floods.
e.g. Soil in the floodplains of the Ganga river.
Contour Ploughing
Ploughing along the contour lines to decelerate the flow of water down the slopes and prevent soil erosion.
e.g. Farmers in hilly areas of Uttarakhand using contour ploughing.
Terrace Cultivation
Cutting steps on slopes to restrict soil erosion, commonly practiced in the Western and Central Himalayas.
e.g. Rice terraces in the Himalayan region.
Strip Cropping
Dividing large fields into strips and leaving strips of grass between crops to break the force of the wind.
e.g. Growing wheat in strips with grass strips in between in arid regions.
Shelter Belts
Rows of trees planted to create shelter, stabilizing sand dunes and deserts, as in western India.
e.g. Planting rows of trees along the Thar Desert to prevent wind erosion.
Net Sown Area
The physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested in a given year.
e.g. In Punjab, net sown area is over 80% of the total area.
Gross Cropped Area
The total area sown once or more in an agricultural year, calculated as net sown area plus area sown more than once.
e.g. If net sown area is 100 hectares and 20 hectares are sown twice, gross cropped area is 120 hectares.
Ravines
Deep channels formed by running water cutting through clayey soils, making land unfit for cultivation, also called bad land.
e.g. The Chambal basin ravines.
How It Works
Transformation of Things into Resources
  1. Step 1: Human beings identify a need (e.g., food, energy).
  2. Step 2: They interact with nature using technology (e.g., tools, machines).
  3. Step 3: They create institutions (e.g., government policies, markets) to facilitate the process.
  4. Step 4: The material available in the environment is transformed into a resource that is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable.
💡 Resources are not free gifts of nature; they are a function of human activities. Without technology and institutions, a material remains just a material, not a resource.
Resource Planning in India
  1. Step 1: Identification and inventory of resources across regions through surveying, mapping, and qualitative/quantitative estimation.
  2. Step 2: Evolving a planning structure with appropriate technology, skill, and institutional set-up for implementing resource development plans.
  3. Step 3: Matching resource development plans with overall national development plans (e.g., Five Year Plans).
💡 Resource planning is essential because India has enormous diversity in resource availability — some regions are rich in certain resources but deficient in others.
Soil Formation
  1. Step 1: Parent rock or bed rock is weathered by natural forces (temperature changes, running water, wind, glaciers).
  2. Step 2: Decomposers break down organic matter, adding humus.
  3. Step 3: Chemical and organic changes occur over time.
  4. Step 4: Relief, climate, vegetation, and time influence the final soil type.
💡 Soil takes millions of years to form just a few cm in depth. It is a living system consisting of organic (humus) and inorganic materials.
Land Degradation Process
  1. Step 1: Human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and over-irrigation disturb the natural balance.
  2. Step 2: In mining, deep scars and over-burdening are left; in over-irrigation, waterlogging increases salinity and alkalinity.
  3. Step 3: Industrial effluents and dust from mineral processing settle on land, reducing water infiltration.
  4. Step 4: The land becomes less productive or unfit for cultivation.
💡 Land degradation is caused by both natural forces and human activities. Over-irrigation in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh is a specific cause of salinity and alkalinity.
Soil Erosion by Water
  1. Step 1: Running water cuts through clayey soils, forming deep channels called gullies.
  2. Step 2: The land becomes unfit for cultivation and is called bad land (ravines in the Chambal basin).
  3. Step 3: Water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope, washing away the topsoil (sheet erosion).
💡 Gully erosion creates ravines; sheet erosion removes the topsoil uniformly. Both are forms of water erosion.
Soil Conservation Methods
  1. Step 1: Contour ploughing — ploughing along contour lines to slow water flow.
  2. Step 2: Terrace cultivation — cutting steps on slopes to restrict erosion.
  3. Step 3: Strip cropping — dividing fields into strips with grass strips to break wind force.
  4. Step 4: Shelter belts — planting rows of trees to stabilize sand dunes and deserts.
💡 Contour ploughing and terrace cultivation are for hilly areas; strip cropping and shelter belts are for arid/windy areas.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing 'Stock' and 'Reserves'
✗ Stock and reserves are the same thing — both are unused resources.
→ Stock refers to materials that cannot be used due to lack of technology (e.g., hydrogen as fuel), while reserves are a subset of stock that can be used with existing technology but are kept for future use (e.g., water in dams).
✓ Stock: materials with potential but no technology to use them. Reserves: materials that can be used with current technology but are not yet utilized.
⚠ Mixing Up 'Bangar' and 'Khadar'
✗ Bangar is newer and more fertile than Khadar.
→ Bangar is old alluvial soil with kanker nodules and is less fertile. Khadar is new alluvial soil deposited by floods, with more fine particles, and is more fertile.
✓ Khadar is new alluvial soil, more fertile than Bangar. Bangar is old alluvial soil with kanker nodules.
⚠ Confusing 'Laterite Soil' with 'Red Soil'
✗ Laterite soil is red because of iron content, so it is the same as red soil.
→ Laterite soil develops under tropical climates with alternate wet and dry seasons due to intense leaching, while red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in low rainfall areas. Laterite is brick-like and acidic; red soil gets its colour from iron diffusion.
✓ Laterite soil: formed by leaching in wet/dry climates, brick-like, acidic. Red soil: formed on crystalline igneous rocks in low rainfall, reddish due to iron diffusion.
⚠ Misidentifying the Cause of Land Degradation in Punjab
✗ Deforestation is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab.
→ The chapter explicitly states that in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, over-irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging leading to salinity and alkalinity. Deforestation is a cause in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha.
✓ In Punjab, over-irrigation is the main cause of land degradation, leading to waterlogging, salinity, and alkalinity.
⚠ Thinking 'Sustainable Development' Only Means Environmental Protection
✗ Sustainable development means only protecting the environment.
→ Sustainable development includes both environmental protection and economic development. The definition states: 'development should take place without damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of future generations.'
✓ Sustainable development balances economic growth with environmental protection, ensuring that present needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Compare & Contrast
Origin
Biotic Resources
Abiotic Resources
Biotic resources are obtained from the biosphere and have life (e.g., forests, fish), while abiotic resources are composed of non-living things (e.g., rocks, minerals).
Exhaustibility
Renewable Resources
Non-Renewable Resources
Renewable resources can be replenished by natural processes over time (e.g., solar energy), while non-renewable resources have a limited stock and take millions of years to form (e.g., coal, petroleum).
Status of Development
Potential Resources
Developed Resources
Potential resources are found in a region but not yet fully developed (e.g., solar energy in Rajasthan), while developed resources have been surveyed, quantified, and are currently being used (e.g., coal mines in Jharkhand).
Age and Fertility
Bangar (Old Alluvial)
Khadar (New Alluvial)
Bangar is older, has kanker nodules, and is less fertile; Khadar is newer, deposited by floods, has more fine particles, and is more fertile.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer (3 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks). Total approximately 10 marks.
Most asked: Classification of resources (origin, exhaustibility, ownership, status of development) · Sustainable development and Agenda 21 · Land degradation causes and conservation measures · Soil types — Alluvial, Black, Laterite, Arid, Forest — their features and distribution · Soil erosion and conservation methods (contour ploughing, terrace cultivation, strip cropping, shelter belts)
Don't skip: Explain the classification of resources with examples (5 marks); Describe the types of soils found in India and their characteristics (5 marks); What is land degradation? Explain its causes and conservation measures (3 or 5 marks); What is sustainable development? Explain the role of Agenda 21 (3 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. A resource is anything in the environment that is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable to satisfy human needs.
  2. Resources are not free gifts of nature; they are a function of human activities, technology, and institutions.
  3. Resources are classified on the basis of origin (biotic/abiotic), exhaustibility (renewable/non-renewable), ownership (individual/community/national/international), and status of development (potential/developed/stock/reserves).
  4. Sustainable development means development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  5. Agenda 21 was adopted at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to achieve global sustainable development through cooperation.
  6. Resource planning in India involves identification, inventory, and matching development plans with national goals.
  7. Land degradation is caused by deforestation, overgrazing, mining, over-irrigation, and industrial effluents.
  8. Over-irrigation in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh leads to waterlogging, salinity, and alkalinity.
  9. Alluvial soil is the most widespread soil in India, found in the northern plains and eastern coastal deltas.
  10. Black soil, also called regur or black cotton soil, is ideal for cotton and found in the Deccan trap region.
  11. Laterite soil develops under tropical climates with intense leaching and is acidic and poor in nutrients.
  12. Arid soil is sandy, saline, and found in dry regions like Rajasthan; it lacks humus and moisture.
  13. Soil erosion by water creates gullies (ravines) and sheet erosion; by wind, it blows away loose soil.
  14. Contour ploughing, terrace cultivation, strip cropping, and shelter belts are methods to control soil erosion.
  15. Net sown area is the land where crops are sown and harvested; gross cropped area includes multiple sowings.
  16. Bangar is old alluvial soil with kanker nodules; Khadar is new alluvial soil that is more fertile.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. A solar panel manufacturer in Rajasthan plans to expand production to meet national electricity demand. According to the resource planning concept in the chapter, which factor is MOST critical for this expansion to succeed beyond mere availability of solar energy?

  • A. Technological expertise, skilled workforce, and institutional support for manufacturing and grid integration ✓
  • B. Abundance of sunlight throughout the year in Rajasthan
  • C. Low cost of land in the state
  • D. Proximity to international markets for export

Answer: A — The chapter explicitly states that resources contribute to development only when accompanied by appropriate technology and institutional changes; availability of solar energy alone is insufficient, making option B a common student misconception.

Q2. Assertion (A): Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are economically developed states because they are rich in mineral and coal deposits. Reason (R): Resource abundance directly guarantees economic development without the need for technological or institutional framework. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false ✓
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: C — The chapter demonstrates that resource-rich regions may remain economically backward without proper technology and institutions; the chapter explicitly states many mineral-rich areas are still underdeveloped, disproving reason R.

Q3. A village in Ladakh has reserves of rare minerals and water sources but remains isolated. Based on the chapter's framework, what is the PRIMARY barrier to transforming these into usable resources?

  • A. Lack of technological accessibility and institutional infrastructure despite resource availability ✓
  • B. Insufficient population to extract and use the resources
  • C. The resources do not actually exist in sufficient quantities
  • D. International restrictions on mining in border regions

Answer: A — The chapter defines a resource as requiring technological accessibility and institutional feasibility; Ladakh's isolation prevents these conditions, illustrating that reserves without accessibility remain potential resources, not developed ones.

Q4. During colonisation, European powers successfully exploited colonies' rich mineral and agricultural resources. According to the chapter, the PRIMARY reason for their success was: A) The colonies willingly shared their resources B) Higher technological development enabled them to extract and utilise resources efficiently C) Colonies had no concept of resource conservation D) European climate was superior for processing raw materials

  • A. The colonies willingly shared their resources
  • B. Higher technological development enabled them to extract and utilise resources efficiently ✓
  • C. Colonies had no concept of resource conservation
  • D. European climate was superior for processing raw materials

Answer: B — The chapter explicitly states 'the higher level of technological development of the colonising countries helped them exploit resources and establish supremacy,' directly supporting this answer over the other misconceptions.

Q5. The Rio Earth Summit 1992 adopted Agenda 21 with the principle that 'development in the present should not compromise the needs of future generations.' Which of the following scenarios BEST violates this principle based on the chapter?

  • A. A state develops solar and wind energy while protecting forest cover for future timber needs
  • B. Industries extract non-renewable coal reserves at a rate that depletes them within 50 years without investing in renewable alternatives ✓
  • C. A community implements recycling programs for agricultural waste
  • D. A region establishes water conservation practices during droughts

Answer: B — Unsustainable depletion of non-renewable resources without investment in alternatives directly contradicts the sustainable development principle quoted in the chapter; option A balances present and future needs.

Q6. Assertion (A): A resource-poor region can be more economically developed than a resource-rich region. Reason (R): Economic development depends on the combination of resources, technology, institutions, and historical experiences rather than resource availability alone. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: A — The chapter explicitly states 'some regions are resource-poor but economically developed' and explains this through the interactive relationship of resources, technology, and institutions, making both statements true with R explaining A.

Q7. Extract: 'There is enough for every man's need, but not enough for every man's greed' — Gandhi on resource conservation. Based on this statement and the chapter's discussion of resource depletion, Gandhi's concern primarily addressed:

  • A. The technical difficulty of extracting all available resources
  • B. Inequitable distribution and overconsumption by a few, leading to resource scarcity for many ✓
  • C. The high cost of transporting resources across regions
  • D. The need for international trade agreements on resources

Answer: B — Gandhi's statement directly critiques greed-driven overconsumption by individuals, which the chapter links to resource depletion and accumulation in few hands, creating 'haves and have-nots.'

Q8. A state government notices that despite abundant water resources, its agricultural sector remains underdeveloped compared to neighbouring states with similar water availability. What does this scenario illustrate about resource planning?

  • A. Water resources alone are insufficient; modern irrigation technology, institutional frameworks, and skilled workforce are equally necessary ✓
  • B. The neighbouring states must have stolen the water resources
  • C. Water resources are not actually important for agriculture
  • D. The state should abandon agriculture and focus on other industries

Answer: A — This directly applies the chapter's framework that resources require technological accessibility and institutional development; water availability without these supporting factors remains an underutilised potential resource.

Q9. Assertion (A): India's resource development requires consideration of its colonial history and past exploitation patterns. Reason (R): Colonial powers used advanced technology to extract India's resources, and this historical experience shaped modern resource management policies. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: A — The chapter states 'India has experienced colonisation in different phases' and that 'resource development involves historical experiences of the people,' making R the correct explanation for why A is true.

Q10. Extract from a development report: 'Region X has vast mineral deposits but 40% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water, education infrastructure is minimal, and industries cannot obtain skilled workers.' Based on the chapter's definition of resources, why are these minerals classified as 'potential resources' rather than 'developed resources'?

  • A. The minerals have not yet been discovered in sufficient quantities
  • B. They are culturally unacceptable to local communities
  • C. The region lacks the technological infrastructure, institutions, and human capital needed for viable extraction and utilisation ✓
  • D. Minerals in underdeveloped regions cannot be considered resources

Answer: C — The chapter defines resources as requiring technological accessibility, economic feasibility, and institutional support; the scenario's lack of education, infrastructure, and skilled workforce prevents these minerals from meeting the full resource definition, keeping them 'potential.'

Flashcards

What is a resource in geography?

Anything in the environment that can satisfy human needs if it is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable.

Why are resources NOT free gifts of nature?

Resources are a function of human activities; humans must transform raw materials through technology and institutions to create usable resources.

Name the four main ways to classify resources.

Origin (biotic/abiotic), exhaustibility (renewable/non-renewable), ownership (individual/community/national/international), and development status (potential/developed/stock/reserves).

What is sustainable development?

Development that does not damage the environment and does not compromise the needs of future generations.

What was the Rio Earth Summit 1992?

An international conference where over 100 heads of state signed agreements on global climatic change, biological diversity, and adopted Agenda 21 for sustainable development.

Define Agenda 21.

A 1992 declaration by world leaders to achieve global sustainable development by combating environmental damage, poverty, and disease through global cooperation.

What are the three steps in resource planning?

Identification and inventory of resources, evolving a planning structure with technology and institutions, and matching resource development plans with national development plans.

Why is resource planning essential in India?

India has enormous diversity in resource availability; some regions are resource-rich but others lack vital resources, requiring balanced planning at all levels.

Can a resource-rich region be economically backward?

Yes; regions like Chhattisgarh are mineral-rich but economically backward due to lack of appropriate technology, institutions, and historical development factors.

What did Gandhiji believe about resource conservation?

He advocated that resources must be conserved through limited consumption, emphasizing that there is enough in nature for human need but not for greed.

Important Board Questions

Define 'resource' and explain why resources are not free gifts of nature. [2 marks]

State the definition with three conditions (technological, economic, cultural). Explain that resources are a function of human activities requiring transformation of raw materials through technology and institutions.

Explain how a region rich in resources can still remain economically backward. Give an example from India. [3 marks]

Resources alone cannot ensure development without appropriate technology, institutions, and governance. Example: Chhattisgarh/Jharkhand have minerals but lack infrastructure; colonial history shows technological superiority enabled exploitation.

What is sustainable development? Explain the role of the Rio Earth Summit 1992 and Agenda 21 in promoting sustainable development globally. How can India implement sustainable resource planning considering its regional diversity? [5 marks]

Define sustainable development as growth without environmental damage or compromising future needs. Explain Rio Summit's global cooperation agreements and Agenda 21's local implementation approach. For India: address unequal resource distribution (Jharkhand minerals vs Rajasthan water scarcity), need balanced planning at all levels, integration of technology and institutions, and conservation principles like Gandhiji's philosophy.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Resources and Development

Q1. Assertion (A):

Sustainable development means development should take place without damaging the environment and should not compromise the needs of future generations.

Reason (R):

This definition was established at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The text provides the exact definition of sustainable development from the Rio Earth Summit. The reason correctly explains why we should accept this definition as authoritative - it comes from the major international summit on environment and development. This is a clear Case A answer.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Agenda 21 focuses only on industrial development and economic growth.

Reason (R):

It was adopted at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit to combat environmental damage, poverty, and disease through global cooperation.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false because Agenda 21 is not focused only on industrial development; it addresses multiple issues including environmental protection and poverty. The reason is also misleading in the opposite direction - while it mentions fighting environmental damage and poverty, this reason actually contradicts the assertion rather than supporting it. Both statements have issues, making this Case D (both false/problematic).

Q3. Assertion (A):

The history of colonization shows that colonizing countries used their superior technology to exploit resources of colonial regions.

Reason (R):

Resources automatically develop themselves when they are discovered by any nation.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true and supported by the text: 'It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonising countries that helped them to exploit resources.' However, the reason is false - resources don't develop automatically; they require human activity, technology, and institutions. This is Case C: assertion true, reason false.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Resources and Development

Case Study:

A survey was conducted in a village called Sundarpur where residents were asked about their resource consumption and waste management practices. The survey revealed that 60% of households throw away agricultural waste into open spaces, 25% use it as animal feed, and only 15% compost it. The villagers were unaware that composted agricultural waste could increase soil fertility and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers. After a community program was organized to educate people about sustainable resource use, 70% of households began composting their waste within six months, reducing their dependence on external inputs.

Q1. What was the main reason why most households in Sundarpur initially threw away agricultural waste?

  • A. They lacked the technology to process it
  • B. They were unaware of the benefits of composting and sustainable resource use ✓
  • C. Government regulations forced them to throw it away
  • D. Agricultural waste had no economic value

Answer: B

Q2. How did the community program demonstrate the concept of sustainable development?

  • A. By forcing residents to stop farming altogether
  • B. By promoting waste reuse without damaging the environment and ensuring future soil health ✓
  • C. By replacing traditional farming with only chemical fertilizers
  • D. By making farming illegal in the village

Answer: B

Q3. Which component of resource planning (identification, technology, or institution) was primarily lacking before the survey?

  • A. Institutional awareness and education ✓
  • B. Identification of resources
  • C. Advanced technology for farming
  • D. Government support

Answer: A

Q4. Based on the case, why is resource planning important at the local community level?

  • A. Local communities can identify and utilize their resources more efficiently through education and institutional changes ✓
  • B. It forces people to stop using resources
  • C. It makes resources more expensive
  • D. It prevents all economic development

Answer: A

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Resources and Development

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 1 mark

Read the given infographics carefully and choose the correct option that identifies the soil described. (1) Sandy in texture (2) Red to brown in colour (3) Soil lacks humus due to dry climate

  • Laterite soil
  • Forest soil
  • Arid soil
  • Black soil

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 1 mark

In which of the following categories of 'land-use' has India registered an increase?

  • Permanent pasture
  • Unsuitable for agriculture
  • Barren
  • Forest

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/2 · 1 mark

Read the given infographics carefully and choose the correct option that identifies the soil described: Sandy in texture, Red to brown in colour, Soil lacks humus due to dry climate

  • Laterite soil
  • Forest soil
  • Arid soil
  • Black soil

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/3 · 1 mark

Read the given infographics and choose the correct option that identifies the soil described: (1) Sandy in texture (2) Red to brown in colour (3) Soil lacks humus due to dry climate

  • Laterite soil
  • Forest soil
  • Arid soil
  • Black soil

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Identify the soil with the help of the following informations given in the box: It is made up of extremely fine material. It is rich in soil nutrients. It is ideal for growing cotton.

  • Alluvial Soil
  • Black Soil
  • Laterite Soil
  • Arid Soil

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Which of the following is an example of 'current fallow land'?

  • Land left without cultivation for five agricultural years.
  • Land left without cultivation for three agricultural years.
  • Land left without cultivation for two agricultural years.
  • Land left without cultivation for one agricultural year.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?

  • Natural Gas
  • Crude Oil
  • Coal
  • Ground Water

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/2 · 1 mark

Identify the soil with the help of the following informations given in the box and choose the correct option: It is made up of extremely fine material. It is rich in soil nutrients. It is ideal for growing cotton.

  • Alluvial Soil
  • Black Soil
  • Laterite Soil
  • Arid Soil

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 2 marks

Explain indiscriminate use of resources.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 3 marks

Explain the statement with suitable arguments.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 5 marks

(a) Justify the statement. OR (b) Justify the statement.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/2 · 2 marks

Explain any two measures to solve the problem of land degradation.

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Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions, Chapter-wise

All 805 CBSE board questions from 2022–2026, sorted by chapter and question type. Free PDF download.

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Class 10 Social Science Map Work

All 87 places on the CBSE 2026-27 map list, with where each is and what to remember, marked with the board years (2022–2026) each was asked. Free PDF download.

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