Resources and Development – Previous years Questions with Answers CBSE Board Examinations
CBSE Board Examinations – Previous Years Question Bank
Class 10 Social Science (Geography)
Chapter 1: Resources and Development
Exam Focus:
Previous Years & Board-style Questions
1, 2, 3 & 5 Marks
CBSE Class 10 Geography – Resources and Development
This page provides a systematic, topic-wise collection of 30 exam-style questions with answers from Chapter 1 – Resources and Development, based on previous years CBSE Board Examinations and CBSE-style question trends.
Use these questions for revision, practice and answer-writing in board format. Years and marks are indicated wherever they are commonly associated with past papers.
A. Concept of Resources
Meaning, classification and basic ideas related to resources.
What do you understand by a ‘resource’? Explain the definition and give any two examples.
Answer:
A resource is anything available in our environment that can be used to satisfy human needs, provided it is:
- Technologically accessible,
- Economically feasible, and
- Culturally acceptable.
Classify resources on the basis of origin.
Answer:
On the basis of origin, resources are classified as:
- Biotic resources – obtained from the biosphere and having life (e.g. plants, animals, human beings).
- Abiotic resources – all non-living resources (e.g. water, air, minerals like iron, copper).
“Resources are a function of human activities.” Justify this statement with any three arguments.
Answer:
- Materials in nature become resources only when humans recognise their utility and use them, e.g. bauxite becomes a resource when we learn to extract aluminium.
- The level of technology decides which things can be used as resources (e.g. solar panels, wind turbines).
- As culture and needs change, the value of resources also changes (e.g. uranium, rare earth metals have become more valuable in recent times).
Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources with the help of any three points and one example of each.
Answer:
- Renewable resources
- Can be replenished naturally.
- Are available for a long time if used carefully.
- Examples: solar energy, wind energy, water, forests.
- Non-renewable resources
- Form over very long geological periods.
- Get exhausted after use and cannot be quickly replaced.
- Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals like iron ore.
Name the land with deep channels that is unfit for cultivation.
Answer:
Such land is called bad land, usually formed due to severe gully erosion.
B. Development of Resources & Sustainable Development
Need for planned and sustainable use of resources.
What is sustainable development? Explain any three main features of sustainable development.
Answer:
Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Its features are:
- Long-term perspective – focuses on both present and future needs.
- Environmental protection – avoids overuse of natural resources and limits pollution.
- Equitable distribution – benefits of development are shared fairly among all sections of society and regions.
“Indiscriminate use of resources has led to global ecological crisis.” Explain this statement with any three examples.
Answer:
- Global warming: Excessive burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, raising global temperatures.
- Ozone layer depletion: Overuse of chemicals like CFCs has created holes in the ozone layer, increasing harmful UV radiation.
- Loss of biodiversity: Over-exploitation of forests, soil and water has led to extinction of species and loss of habitats.
Mention any two negative impacts of over-exploitation of natural resources on the environment.
Answer:
- Land degradation and soil erosion due to deforestation, mining, overgrazing and intensive agriculture.
- Water pollution and scarcity due to industrial effluents, over-irrigation and overuse of groundwater.
“Planning of resources is essential for sustainable national development.” Give any three reasons in favour of this statement.
Answer:
- India has an unequal distribution of resources, so planning helps reduce regional imbalances.
- Resources are limited and exhaustible; planning checks their overuse and wastage.
- Scientific planning promotes balanced development of agriculture, industry, infrastructure and environment.
C. Resource Planning in India & Conservation of Resources
Stages of planning, role of humans and conservation measures.
What is the role of humans in resource development?
Answer:
Humans are the most important component of resources because:
- They identify substances in nature and recognise their utility.
- They develop technology to transform natural materials into usable forms (e.g. crude oil into petrol).
- They decide how resources are distributed and conserved through laws and planning.
Explain the three stages of resource planning in India.
Answer:
The three stages of resource planning are:
- Identification and inventory of resources – surveying, mapping and measuring the quantity and quality of resources.
- Planning structure – developing appropriate technology, institutions and skills to use resources.
- Matching resource development plans with national development plans – implementing strategies so that resource use supports overall economic and social goals.
Describe the process of resource planning in India and explain why it is necessary.
Answer:
Process:
- Resource survey: Systematic collection of data about the type, quantity, quality and location of resources.
- Mapping and inventory: Preparing maps and lists of resources at national, state and local levels.
- Planning framework: Developing policies, strategies and technologies to exploit, conserve and share resources.
- Implementation and monitoring: Putting plans into practice and checking whether objectives are achieved.
- To tackle regional imbalances in resource distribution.
- To avoid overuse and degradation of resources.
- To ensure sustainable and equitable development for present and future generations.
State any three problems which make resource planning in India difficult.
Answer:
- Uneven distribution of resources – some regions are rich (e.g. minerals in Jharkhand) while others are poor.
- Lack of appropriate technology and capital in some regions, making it hard to use resources.
- Environmental constraints – overuse leads to land degradation, deforestation and pollution, limiting future planning.
Suggest any three measures to conserve resources for future generations at individual and national levels.
Answer:
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Avoid wastage, reuse products and recycle materials like paper, metal and plastic.
- Adopt eco-friendly technologies: Use renewable energy sources such as solar and wind; promote public transport.
- Enforce conservation laws: Government should implement strict laws for forest protection, mining regulation and pollution control.
Which type of resource is iron ore? Give reason.
Answer:
Iron ore is a non-renewable, abiotic resource because it is a mineral formed over geological time and cannot be replenished in a human life span.
D. Land Resources, Land Utilisation and Land Use Pattern in India
Nature of land resource and its utilisation in India.
Which state has the largest area under black soil in India?
Answer:
Maharashtra has the largest area under black (regur) soil in India.
Describe the present land use pattern in India. Why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960–61?
Answer:
Land use pattern:
- Net sown area (land under cultivation),
- Forest area,
- Permanent pastures and grazing land,
- Land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves,
- Fallow lands, and
- Culturable waste land.
- Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, industries and urbanisation.
- Encroachment and illegal cutting, despite afforestation efforts.
- Afforestation programmes have not fully compensated for the loss of natural forests.
Explain any three factors which determine the land use pattern of a region.
Answer:
- Physical factors: Topography, climate and soil type (e.g. plains are used for agriculture; hills for plantations or forests).
- Human factors: Population density, cultural traditions and human skills.
- Technological and economic factors: Level of technology, irrigation facilities, transport and market development.
Describe the main features of land utilisation in India.
Answer:
- High proportion of net sown area compared to many countries, as agriculture is the main occupation.
- Significant area is under forests, but still less than the required 33% of total geographical area.
- Presence of fallow land and culturable waste land, indicating under-utilisation of land in some regions.
Why is land considered an important resource in India? Give any two reasons.
Answer:
- Most people in India depend on agriculture, which is practised on land, for their livelihood.
- Land provides space and base for all human activities such as housing, industries, transport routes and recreational facilities.
E. Land Degradation and Conservation Measures
Causes of land degradation and methods to control it.
How is the cement industry responsible for land degradation?
Answer:
The cement industry causes land degradation because the grinding of limestone and other minerals generates a huge quantity of dust, which settles on the land and reduces the infiltration of water into the soil.
Suggest and explain any three ways to protect land from degradation in different states of India.
Answer:
- Afforestation and proper grazing (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand): Planting trees and controlling overgrazing help to bind the soil and prevent erosion on hill slopes.
- Check dams and contour bunding (Rajasthan, Gujarat): These structures reduce the speed of running water, prevent gully erosion and help recharge groundwater.
- Regulation of mining and industrial effluents (Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh): Scientific mining and treatment of industrial waste reduce land degradation in mining regions.
Explain any three human activities responsible for land degradation in India.
Answer:
- Deforestation: Cutting forests for agriculture, fuelwood and industries leaves the land bare and prone to erosion.
- Over-irrigation: Leads to waterlogging and salinisation of soil, especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
- Mining and quarrying: Mining leaves large scars and overburden dumps, making the land unfit for cultivation in states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Suggest suitable measures to control land degradation in the following regions:
(a) Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh
(b) Gujarat and Rajasthan
(c) Jharkhand and Odisha
Answer:
- (a) Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh: Avoid over-irrigation, improve drainage, adopt crop rotation and use sprinklers/drip irrigation to prevent salinity and waterlogging.
- (b) Gujarat and Rajasthan: Control overgrazing, stabilise sand dunes by planting grasses and trees, and build shelter belts and windbreaks.
- (c) Jharkhand and Odisha: Scientific mining, land reclamation by filling pits, proper disposal and treatment of industrial waste.
F. Soil as a Resource – Classification and Distribution of Soils
Different types of soils and their characteristics.
How can alluvial soil be classified according to age? Name both the types and write one feature of each.
Answer:
Alluvial soil is classified into:
- Bangar (old alluvium): Higher, older terraces of the flood plains; contains kankar (calcareous nodules) and is less fertile than khadar.
- Khadar (new alluvium): Younger, newer deposits found in the low-lying areas of flood plains; very fertile and renewed every year by floods.
Describe any three characteristics of black soil and mention two states where it is found.
Answer:
Characteristics:
- Black in colour, also called regur soil, and is very suitable for cotton cultivation.
- Has high clay content and good moisture-retaining capacity.
- Develops deep cracks in hot weather, which help in aeration of the soil.
Distinguish between red soil and laterite soil on any three points.
Answer:
- Colour: Red soil is red due to iron content; laterite soil is red to yellow due to extreme leaching.
- Formation: Red soil forms from crystalline and metamorphic rocks; laterite soil forms in areas of high temperature and heavy rainfall with intense leaching.
- Fertility and crops: Red soil is generally less fertile but can grow millets, pulses, groundnut with fertilisers; laterite soil is poor in humus but supports crops like tea, coffee and cashew with proper manuring.
Describe any three features of alluvial soil and mention two regions where it is widely found.
Answer:
Features:
- Made up of fine silt, sand and clay brought down by rivers.
- Very fertile, rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime; ideal for crops like paddy, wheat, sugarcane.
- Soil texture varies from coarse near the river source to fine in lower plains.
G. Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
Types of soil erosion and methods to conserve soil.
Name any two methods of checking soil erosion.
Answer:
Any two of the following:
- Strip cropping
- Terrace farming
- Contour ploughing
- Afforestation and shelter belts
Explain the following types of soil erosion and suggest one measure to control each:
(a) Gully erosion (b) Sheet erosion
Answer:
- (a) Gully erosion: Running water cuts deep channels into the soil, turning fertile land into bad land. Control measure: Construction of check dams, contour bunding, planting grasses and trees to hold the soil.
- (b) Sheet erosion: Fine topsoil is removed in thin layers by wind or water over a large area. Control measure: Strip cropping, contour ploughing and maintaining grass cover to reduce the speed of wind and water.