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Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

NCERT Class 12 · Geography Based on NCERT Class 12 Geography textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explains the evolution of planning in India from centralised to decentralised multi-level planning, the shift from the Planning Commission to NITI Aayog, and the introduction of target area and target group approaches to reduce regional imbalances. It covers specific area development programmes like Drought Prone Area Programme, Hill Area Development Programme, and the Integrated Tribal Development Project in Bharmaur. The chapter also introduces the concept of sustainable development through the Brundtland Report and presents a case study of the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area to illustrate both the benefits and environmental challenges of development. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that planning must be spatially sensitive and ecologically sustainable to ensure balanced regional development and intergenerational equity.
Key Concepts (14)
Sectoral planning
Formulation and implementation of sets of schemes or programmes aimed at development of various sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, power, construction, transport, communication, social infrastructure and services.
e.g. A separate five-year plan for the agriculture sector focusing on irrigation and fertiliser subsidies.
Regional planning
Planning with a spatial perspective to reduce regional imbalance in development, recognising that economic development is not uniform over space.
e.g. Special development packages for the northeastern states to bridge the gap with more developed regions.
NITI Aayog
A policy think tank formed on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission, with the objective of involving states in economic policy making and providing strategic and technical advice to the Central and State governments.
e.g. NITI Aayog formulates the Vision Documents and monitors the Sustainable Development Goals in India.
Target area planning
An approach to planning that focuses on specific economically backward areas to arrest the accentuation of regional and social disparities.
e.g. Command Area Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Development Programme, Desert Development Programme, Hill Area Development Programme.
Target group programme
A planning approach directed towards specific groups of people, such as small and marginal farmers, to address social disparities.
e.g. Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA) and Marginal Farmers Development Agency (MFDA).
Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP)
A programme initiated during the Fourth Five Year Plan with objectives of providing employment in drought-prone areas and creating productive assets, later emphasising irrigation projects, land development, afforestation, grassland development and rural infrastructure.
e.g. Construction of check dams and watershed development in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.
Hill Area Development Programme (HADP)
Programmes initiated during the Fifth Five Year Plan covering 15 hilly districts, aimed at harnessing indigenous resources through horticulture, plantation, agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, forestry and small-scale and village industry.
e.g. Development of apple orchards in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand under HADP.
Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP)
A project introduced under the Fifth Five Year Plan tribal sub-plan in 1974, aimed at improving the quality of life of tribal communities and narrowing the development gap with other areas.
e.g. The Bharmaur ITDP in Himachal Pradesh focused on transport, communications, agriculture, and social services for the Gaddi community.
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as defined by the Brundtland Report (1987) of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED).
e.g. Using solar energy instead of coal to generate electricity so that future generations also have access to fossil fuels.
Brundtland Report
The 1987 report titled 'Our Common Future' by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, which formally defined sustainable development.
e.g. The report is the foundational document for global environmental policy and sustainable development goals.
Indira Gandhi Canal (Nahar)
One of the largest canal systems in India, previously known as the Rajasthan Canal, conceived by Kanwar Sain in 1948 and launched on 31 March 1958, originating at Harike barrage in Punjab and running parallel to the Pakistan border in the Thar Desert.
e.g. The canal irrigates parts of Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur and Churu districts.
Warabandi system
Equal distribution of canal water in the command area of an outlet, implemented to reduce conveyance loss of water.
e.g. Farmers in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area receive water on a rotational basis according to a fixed schedule.
Transhumance
The practice of moving livestock from one grazing ground to another in a seasonal cycle, as practised by the Gaddi community of Bharmaur.
e.g. Gaddi shepherds move to higher pastures in summer and return to lower valleys in winter.
Command Area Development Programme (CAD)
A programme aimed at improving the efficiency of irrigation water use through lining of water courses, land development and levelling, and warabandi system.
e.g. CAD in the Indira Gandhi Canal area includes afforestation and pasture development to reduce wind erosion.
How It Works
Evolution of Planning in India
  1. India adopted centralised planning after Independence.
  2. Gradually, it graduated into decentralised multi-level planning.
  3. The Planning Commission at the Centre, State and district levels was responsible for plan formulation.
  4. On 1 January 2015, the Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog.
  5. NITI Aayog involves states in economic policy making and provides strategic and technical advice to Central and State governments.
💡 Students often confuse the year of replacement — it is 2015, not 2014 or 2016. Also, NITI Aayog is not a replacement for all planning functions; it is a policy think tank, not a commission that allocates funds.
Target Area and Target Group Approaches
  1. After about one-and-a-half decades of planning, it was realised that regional imbalances were getting accentuated.
  2. To arrest this, the Planning Commission introduced 'target area' and 'target group' approaches.
  3. Target area programmes focus on specific backward areas (e.g., DPAP, HADP, Desert Development Programme).
  4. Target group programmes focus on specific groups (e.g., SFDA, MFDA).
  5. In the 8th Five Year Plan, special area programmes were designed for hill areas, north-eastern states, tribal areas and backward areas.
💡 Students often mix up target area and target group — remember: area = place, group = people. SFDA and MFDA are target group programmes, not target area programmes.
Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) Implementation
  1. Initiated during the Fourth Five Year Plan.
  2. Initially focused on construction of labour-intensive civil works to provide employment.
  3. Later shifted emphasis to irrigation projects, land development, afforestation, grassland development, and creation of basic rural infrastructure (electricity, roads, market, credit, services).
  4. The National Committee on Development of Backward Areas reviewed its performance.
  5. Observed that the programme is largely confined to agriculture and allied sectors with focus on restoration of ecological balance.
  6. Recommended adoption of integrated watershed development approach at micro-level.
  7. Restoration of ecological balance between water, soil, plants, and human and animal population is a basic consideration.
💡 Students forget that DPAP was initially about employment through civil works, and only later shifted to irrigation and ecological restoration. The shift is a key exam point.
Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) in Bharmaur
  1. Bharmaur tribal area (Bharmaur and Holi tehsils of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh) was notified as a tribal area on 21 November 1975.
  2. Under the Fifth Five Year Plan, the tribal sub-plan was introduced in 1974.
  3. Bharmaur was designated as one of the five ITDPs in Himachal Pradesh.
  4. The plan laid highest priority on development of transport and communications, agriculture and allied activities, and social and community services.
  5. Infrastructure development included schools, healthcare facilities, potable water, roads, communications and electricity.
  6. Social benefits included tremendous increase in literacy rate (female literacy from 1.88% in 1971 to 65% in 2011), improvement in sex ratio, and decline in child marriage.
  7. Economic shift from subsistence agricultural-cum-pastoral economy to cultivation of pulses and cash crops, though traditional technology persists.
  8. Declining importance of pastoralism — only about one-tenth of households practise transhumance now.
💡 The female literacy rate jump from 1.88% to 65% is a frequently asked data point. Also, remember that villages along the river Ravi in Holi and Khani areas are the main beneficiaries, while Tundah and Kugti areas still lack sufficient infrastructure.
Indira Gandhi Canal Irrigation and Its Impacts
  1. Canal originates at Harike barrage in Punjab, runs parallel to Pakistan border in Thar Desert.
  2. Total planned length: 9,060 km; total culturable command area: 19.63 lakh hectares.
  3. About 70% irrigated by flow system, rest by lift system.
  4. Stage-I (Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, northern Bikaner): irrigation introduced in early 1960s; culturable command area 5.53 lakh ha.
  5. Stage-II (Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Churu): irrigation began in mid-1980s; culturable command area 14.10 lakh ha.
  6. Positive impacts: greening of land, reduction in wind erosion and siltation, increase in cultivated area and cropping intensity, shift from traditional crops (gram, bajra, jowar) to wheat, cotton, groundnut, rice.
  7. Negative impacts: waterlogging and soil salinity due to intensive irrigation and excessive water use.
💡 Students often forget the distinction between Stage-I and Stage-II — Stage-I is older (1960s), smaller area, gently undulating; Stage-II is newer (1980s), larger area, desert with shifting sand dunes. Also, lift canals are on the left bank, flow channels on the right bank.
Measures for Promotion of Sustainable Development in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area
  1. Strict implementation of water management policy — protective irrigation in Stage-I, extensive irrigation in Stage-II.
  2. Cropping pattern shall not include water-intensive crops; encourage plantation crops like citrus fruits.
  3. Effective implementation of CAD programmes: lining of water courses, land development and levelling, warabandi system.
  4. Reclamation of areas affected by waterlogging and soil salinity.
  5. Eco-development through afforestation, shelterbelt plantation, and pasture development, especially in Stage-II.
  6. Provide financial and institutional support to land allottees with poor economic background for social sustainability.
  7. Diversification of economic base beyond agriculture and animal husbandry — establish functional linkages between basic villages, agro-service centres and market centres.
💡 There are seven measures listed in the text. Students often miss the last two (social and economic sustainability measures). The first five are about ecological sustainability, which is the major thrust.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing Sectoral and Regional Planning
✗ Sectoral planning is about developing specific regions, and regional planning is about developing specific sectors.
→ This is the exact opposite of the correct definitions. Sectoral planning focuses on sectors of the economy (agriculture, manufacturing, etc.), while regional planning focuses on spatial areas to reduce regional imbalance.
✓ Sectoral planning means formulation of schemes for development of various sectors of the economy such as agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, etc. Regional planning means drawing plans with a spatial perspective to reduce regional imbalance in development.
⚠ Mistaking NITI Aayog as a Direct Replacement for All Planning Commission Functions
✗ NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission and performs all the same functions.
→ NITI Aayog is a policy think tank that provides strategic and technical advice, but it does not have the same fund allocation powers as the Planning Commission. The shift was from centralised planning to decentralised multi-level planning.
✓ On 1 January 2015, the Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog, which was set up with the objective of involving states in economic policy making and providing strategic and technical advice to the Central and State governments.
⚠ Confusing Target Area and Target Group Programmes
✗ SFDA and MFDA are target area programmes.
→ SFDA (Small Farmers Development Agency) and MFDA (Marginal Farmers Development Agency) are target group programmes, not target area programmes. Target area programmes focus on specific geographical areas (e.g., DPAP, HADP), while target group programmes focus on specific categories of people.
✓ SFDA and MFDA are examples of target group programmes, whereas Command Area Development Programme and Drought Prone Area Programme are examples of target area programmes.
⚠ Forgetting the Year and Source of the Sustainable Development Definition
✗ Sustainable development was defined in 1992 at the Rio Summit.
→ The Brundtland Report ('Our Common Future') was published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland. The Rio Summit was in 1992, which is a different event.
✓ The concept of sustainable development was defined in the Brundtland Report (1987) as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.'
⚠ Mixing Up Stage-I and Stage-II of Indira Gandhi Canal
✗ Stage-II of the Indira Gandhi Canal was introduced in the early 1960s.
→ Stage-I was introduced in the early 1960s, while Stage-II began receiving irrigation in the mid-1980s. Stage-I covers Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and northern Bikaner; Stage-II covers Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur and Churu.
✓ Irrigation in Stage-I command area was introduced in early 1960s, whereas the command area of Stage-II began receiving irrigation in mid-1980s.
⚠ Omitting the Negative Impacts of Indira Gandhi Canal
✗ The Indira Gandhi Canal has only positive impacts like greening the land and increasing agricultural productivity.
→ While there are positive impacts, intensive irrigation and excessive use of water have led to twin environmental problems of waterlogging and soil salinity, which hamper the sustainability of agriculture in the long run.
✓ The Indira Gandhi Canal has positively transformed agriculture and greened the land, but it has also caused waterlogging and soil salinity due to intensive irrigation, threatening long-term sustainability.
Compare & Contrast
Focus of planning
Sectoral planning
Regional planning
Sectoral planning focuses on development of specific sectors of the economy (agriculture, manufacturing, etc.), while regional planning focuses on spatial areas to reduce regional imbalance in development.
Target of the programme
Target area programme
Target group programme
Target area programmes focus on specific backward geographical areas (e.g., DPAP, HADP), while target group programmes focus on specific categories of people (e.g., SFDA for small farmers, MFDA for marginal farmers).
Time of introduction and area
Stage-I of Indira Gandhi Canal
Stage-II of Indira Gandhi Canal
Stage-I was introduced in early 1960s covering Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and northern Bikaner (5.53 lakh ha), while Stage-II began in mid-1980s covering Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur and Churu (14.10 lakh ha) in a more desert-like environment with shifting sand dunes.
Role and structure
Planning Commission
NITI Aayog
The Planning Commission was a centralised body responsible for plan formulation and fund allocation, while NITI Aayog (formed 1 Jan 2015) is a policy think tank that involves states in economic policy making and provides strategic and technical advice without the same fund allocation powers.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: This chapter typically appears with 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer question of 3 marks, and 1 Long Answer question of 5 marks, totalling approximately 10 marks in the board exam.
Most asked: Definition and difference between sectoral and regional planning · NITI Aayog and its formation (2015 replacement of Planning Commission) · Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) — objectives, shift in focus, districts identified · Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) in Bharmaur — social benefits, literacy data · Sustainable development — Brundtland Report definition (1987) · Indira Gandhi Canal — positive and negative impacts, measures for sustainability · Target area vs target group programmes
Don't skip: Long answer question on Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area — positive impacts, negative impacts, and measures for sustainable development (5 marks); Short answer on ITDP in Bharmaur — social benefits and literacy data (3 marks); Definition and explanation of sustainable development with Brundtland Report reference (3 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Sectoral planning focuses on developing sectors of the economy, while regional planning focuses on reducing spatial imbalances.
  2. NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission on 1 January 2015 to involve states in economic policy making.
  3. Target area programmes include Command Area Development, Drought Prone Area, Desert Development, and Hill Area Development Programmes.
  4. Target group programmes include Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA) and Marginal Farmers Development Agency (MFDA).
  5. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was initiated during the Fourth Five Year Plan and later shifted from civil works to irrigation and ecological restoration.
  6. The Irrigation Commission (1972) introduced the criterion of 30 per cent irrigated area to demarcate drought-prone areas.
  7. Hill Area Development Programmes were initiated during the Fifth Five Year Plan covering 15 districts with height above 600 m.
  8. Bharmaur ITDP in Himachal Pradesh increased female literacy from 1.88% in 1971 to 65% in 2011.
  9. Sustainable development, defined by the Brundtland Report (1987), meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
  10. Indira Gandhi Canal originates at Harike barrage in Punjab and has a total planned length of 9,060 km.
  11. Stage-I of Indira Gandhi Canal was introduced in early 1960s; Stage-II began in mid-1980s.
  12. Intensive irrigation in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area has caused waterlogging and soil salinity.
  13. Seven measures for sustainable development in Indira Gandhi Canal area include water management, cropping pattern restrictions, CAD programmes, reclamation, afforestation, financial support, and economic diversification.
  14. The Gaddi community of Bharmaur practises transhumance, but only about one-tenth of households still do so.
  15. Warabandi system means equal distribution of canal water in the command area of an outlet.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Which of the following best describes sectoral planning?

  • A. Development of specific economic sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, power, and transport ✓
  • B. Planning aimed at reducing regional imbalances in development
  • C. Planning focused on tribal area development
  • D. Planning restricted to drought-prone regions only

Answer: A — Sectoral planning involves formulation and implementation of schemes for various sectors of the economy, not regional equity or specific area targeting.

Q2. NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission on:

  • A. 1 January 2010
  • B. 1 January 2014
  • C. 1 January 2015 ✓
  • D. 1 January 2016

Answer: C — NITI Aayog was formally established on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission and involve states in economic policy-making.

Q3. Which is NOT a primary objective of the Drought Prone Area Programme?

  • A. Providing employment through labour-intensive works
  • B. Creating irrigation projects and land development
  • C. Establishing large-scale manufacturing industries ✓
  • D. Building rural infrastructure like roads and electricity

Answer: C — The Drought Prone Area Programme focuses on agriculture, irrigation, afforestation, and rural infrastructure, not industrial manufacturing.

Q4. According to the Irrigation Commission (1972), drought-prone areas are demarcated using the criterion of:

  • A. Less than 20 per cent irrigated area
  • B. 30 per cent irrigated area ✓
  • C. 50 per cent irrigated area
  • D. 70 per cent irrigated area

Answer: B — The Irrigation Commission (1972) introduced 30 per cent irrigated area as the criterion to identify and demarcate drought-prone regions.

Q5. Which state/region among the following is NOT identified as drought-prone in India?

  • A. Rajasthan semi-arid tract
  • B. Punjab plains ✓
  • C. Marathwada region of Maharashtra
  • D. Karnataka plateau

Answer: B — Punjab plains are largely protected from drought due to spread of irrigation; drought-prone areas are in semi-arid and arid regions like Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Q6. Hill Area Development Programmes target areas with altitude above:

  • A. 400 metres
  • B. 600 metres ✓
  • C. 800 metres
  • D. 1,000 metres

Answer: B — The National Committee on Development of Backward Areas (1981) recommended that all hill areas with height above 600 m be treated as backward hill areas.

Q7. Which tribal community inhabits the Bharmaur region of Himachal Pradesh and practises transhumance?

  • A. Khasi
  • B. Gaddi ✓
  • C. Nagaland
  • D. Munda

Answer: B — The Gaddi tribe of Bharmaur has maintained distinct identity through transhumance (seasonal livestock migration) and use of Gaddiali dialect.

Q8. Assertion: Integrated Tribal Development Projects aim to improve the quality of life of tribal communities. Reason: Tribal areas have resources but lack technology and investment for economic development.

  • A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is correct explanation of Assertion ✓
  • B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is NOT correct explanation
  • C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
  • D. Assertion is incorrect but Reason is correct

Answer: A — ITPDs specifically aim to improve tribal quality of life, and the reason correctly explains why such targeted planning is necessary — resources alone are insufficient without technology and investment.

Q9. According to the text, why do some resource-rich regions remain economically backward?

  • A. Because resources alone are insufficient; technology and investment are also required ✓
  • B. Because of lack of human resources
  • C. Because government policies intentionally restrict development
  • D. Because natural disasters prevent utilisation of resources

Answer: A — The text explicitly states that economic development requires technology and investment besides resources; resource presence alone does not guarantee development.

Q10. Which combination correctly matches a Target Area Programme with its primary focus?

  • A. Drought Prone Area Programme — Hill area horticulture development
  • B. Hill Area Development Programme — Irrigation in semi-arid regions
  • C. Drought Prone Area Programme — Watershed management and ecological restoration ✓
  • D. Desert Development Programme — Large-scale industrial manufacturing

Answer: C — Drought Prone Area Programmes emphasise integrated watershed development approach focusing on ecological balance between water, soil, plants, and human/animal populations.

Flashcards

What is sectoral planning?

Formulation and implementation of schemes aimed at developing various economy sectors like agriculture, irrigation, manufacturing, power, transport, and social infrastructure.

Define regional planning.

Planning with spatial perspective to reduce regional imbalances in economic development across different areas of a country.

When was NITI Aayog formed and why?

NITI Aayog was formed on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission and involve states in economic policy-making by providing strategic and technical advice.

Name one Drought Prone Area Programme objective.

To provide employment to people in drought-prone areas and create productive assets through irrigation, land development, afforestation, and rural infrastructure.

Which states/regions are identified as drought-prone in India?

Semi-arid and arid tracts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Western Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada of Maharashtra, Rayalseema and Telangana plateaus of Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka plateau.

What is Target Area Planning?

Planning approach that gives special care to economically backward areas through programmes like Command Area Development, Drought Prone Area Development, and Desert Development Programmes.

Name the tribal community of Bharmaur and their traditional practice.

The Gaddi tribe of Bharmaur practises transhumance (seasonal migration of livestock) and speaks the Gaddiali dialect.

What is an Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP)?

Area development plan introduced in the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974) to improve quality of life of tribal communities through resource development and infrastructure.

State one criterion used to identify drought-prone areas.

The Irrigation Commission (1972) demarcated drought-prone areas using 30 per cent irrigated area as the criterion.

Why do resource-rich regions sometimes remain backward?

Because economic development requires not only resources but also technology and investment, which may be lacking in such regions.

Important Board Questions

Define sectoral planning and regional planning. Give one example of each approach used in India. [3 marks]

Sectoral = economy sectors (e.g., agriculture, power, manufacturing development); Regional = spatial approach to reduce imbalance (e.g., Drought Prone Area Programme targeting Rajasthan-Gujarat). Show both target different scales.

Explain why NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015. What was the key objective of this institutional change, and how does it differ from the earlier centralised planning approach? [5 marks]

NITI Aayog formed 1 January 2015 to involve states in policy-making (decentralised multi-level planning); earlier Planning Commission had central control; new system = strategic advice to Centre and States; shift from top-down to collaborative federalism. Show institutional evolution.

Describe the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) in Bharmaur with reference to the Gaddi tribe. What development challenges did the region face, and what strategies were adopted to improve the quality of life of tribal communities? [6 marks]

Bharmaur: Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh; Gaddi tribe (transhumance, Gaddiali dialect); challenges = isolation, low resource base, fragile environment, socio-economic deprivation (21/sq km, agriculture-based); strategies = ITDP (Fifth Five Year Plan 1974), resource development, infrastructure, preservation of traditional practices alongside modernisation. Use case study to explain target area planning principle.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

Q1. Assertion (A):

NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015 to involve states more actively in economic policy making.

Reason (R):

Centralized planning at the national level was ineffective in addressing regional disparities and local development needs.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. NITI Aayog was indeed formed to involve states in economic policy making. However, the reason does not correctly explain why this change was made — the actual reason was to improve coordination and provide better strategic advice to multiple governance levels, not because centralized planning was ineffective.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The Drought Prone Area Programme initially emphasized labour-intensive civil works but evolved to focus on watershed management and ecological restoration.

Reason (R):

The National Committee on Development of Backward Areas observed that growing population pressure and ecological degradation required alternative strategies beyond civil works.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the programme evolved. The shift from civil works to watershed management was indeed driven by the recognition that ecological balance restoration and alternative employment creation were necessary to address population pressure and environmental degradation.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Bharmaur region was notified as a tribal area in 1975 after the Gaddi community was recognized as a scheduled tribe.

Reason (R):

Tribal areas require special development programmes to address geographical isolation and socio-economic deprivation experienced by tribal communities.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true — Bharmaur was notified as a tribal area on 21 November 1975. However, the reason is misleading regarding causation. The reason explains why ITDP was later introduced (in 1974-1975 context), but the notification itself was based on administrative classification of the Gaddis as scheduled tribes, not on deprivation assessment.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

Case Study:

The National Committee on Development of Backward Areas in 1981 assessed the Bharmaur region of Himachal Pradesh and found that despite its geographical wealth (mountains, forests, water resources), it remained economically backward. The region had a population density of only 21 persons per sq km (2011 census), primarily Gaddi tribals engaged in transhumance and small-scale agriculture. With an altitude range of 1,500 to 3,700 metres, poor road connectivity, and limited market access, the region exemplified how resource availability alone could not guarantee development without proper infrastructure and targeted investment.

Q1. Based on the passage, which factor was identified as a constraint to development in Bharmaur despite its resource availability?

  • A. Excessive population pressure causing resource depletion
  • B. Lack of infrastructure and market access limiting economic opportunities ✓
  • C. Unsuitable climate preventing agriculture entirely
  • D. Absence of any natural resources in the region

Answer: B

Q2. The case of Bharmaur demonstrates that which approach to planning became necessary after the early phases of Indian development?

  • A. Sectoral planning focusing only on agriculture
  • B. Target area planning addressing specific backward regions ✓
  • C. Centralized planning without regional consideration
  • D. Urban industrial planning in metropolitan centres

Answer: B

Q3. The sparse population density of 21 persons per sq km in Bharmaur suggests that:

  • A. The region should receive minimal development investment due to low population
  • B. Infrastructure development would be cost-effective due to dispersed settlement patterns
  • C. High population was the reason for the region's economic backwardness
  • D. Traditional transhumance required low population densities for sustainability ✓

Answer: D

Q4. Which type of development intervention would be most appropriate for Bharmaur based on the passage information?

  • A. Large-scale urban industrial development without regard to traditional practices
  • B. Confining development to agricultural intensification in valleys only
  • C. Forced modernization eliminating transhumance pastoralism entirely
  • D. Integrated development improving road connectivity, horticulture, and forestry while respecting ecological conditions ✓

Answer: D

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

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

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/3 · 1 mark

During which one of the following decades, 'Gaddi' was included in the Scheduled Tribe list in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh?

  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/1 · 1 mark

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option: Assertion (A): The concept of 'sustainable development' emerged in 1990's. Reason (R): General awareness about environmental issues originated during 1960's in the western world.

  • Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • (A) is correct but (R) is incorrect.
  • (A) is incorrect but (R) is correct.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/2 · 1 mark

The main Indira Gandhi Canal terminates in which one of the following districts of Rajasthan?

  • Bikaner
  • Barmer
  • Ganganagar
  • Jaisalmer

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/1 · 5 marks

Explain the benefits of the Indira Gandhi Canal in its command area.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/1 · 1 mark

If you were asked to prepare a 'hill area development programme', which of the following must be kept in mind? Choose the correct option: I. Establishing heavy industry II. Ecosystem III. National Highway construction IV. Topography

  • I and III
  • I and IV
  • II and III
  • II and IV

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/2 · 1 mark

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option: Assertion (A): The economic development of a region depends upon its resource base. Reason (R): Sometimes resource rich region remain backward.

  • Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
  • Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
  • (A) is incorrect but (R) is correct
  • (A) is correct but (R) is incorrect

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/3 · 1 mark

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option: Assertion (A): The restoration of ecological balance is the main focus of drought prone area programme. Reason (R): Growing population pressure is forcing to utilize the marginal lands for agriculture.

  • Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
  • Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
  • (A) is incorrect but (R) is correct
  • (A) is correct but (R) is incorrect

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/1 · 1 mark

[Diagram/Map-based question — skipped]

(19.1) The shipping canal shown on the map connects which two seas ?

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/1 · 3 marks

[Diagram/Map-based question — skipped]

Study the map carefully and explain the given waterway on the following bases: (i) Location (ii) Terminal points (iii) Significance

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/1 · 5 marks

Suggest the measures to achieve ecological sustainability in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area.

CBSE 2025 · Set 64/7/2 · 1 mark

[Diagram/Map-based question — skipped]

  • Entire area to the right side of main canal
  • Entire area to the left side of main canal
  • Entire area south of Bikaner district
  • Entire area north of Jaisalmer district

CBSE 2025 · Set 64/4/2 · 3 marks

Rama has been given the responsibility of preparing a development programme for a hilly area. Explain any three points which should be kept in mind while preparing the programme.

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Class 12 Geography Previous Year Questions, Chapter-wise

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