CBSE Class 10 Social Science – Geography

Textbook: Contemporary India – II

Chapter 1: Resources and Development

Designed for: CBSE Board Examinations – Class 10

1. Class: 10
2. Subject: Social Science – Geography
3. Book: Contemporary India – II
4. Chapter: 1 – Resources and Development
5. Question Type: Short Answer Type Questions (SA)

Note: These Short Answer Questions with Answers are strictly based on the NCERT syllabus and are ideal for CBSE Class 10 Board Exam preparation.

Q1. Define the term ‘resource’. Explain two conditions that make something a resource.

Ans. A resource is anything that can satisfy human needs and is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable.
Two conditions are:
• People must have the technology and knowledge to use it.
• Its use must be economically profitable and socially acceptable in that society.

Q2. Differentiate between biotic and abiotic resources with one example each.

Ans.
• Biotic resources are obtained from the biosphere and have life.   Example: Plants, animals, human beings.
• Abiotic resources are non-living resources of nature.   Example: Minerals, water, air, metals.

Q3. Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources with suitable examples.

Ans.
• Renewable resources can be replenished or reproduced by physical, chemical or biological processes within a short time.   Example: Solar energy, wind energy, forests.
• Non-renewable resources take millions of years to form and once exhausted cannot be quickly replaced.   Example: Coal, petroleum, natural gas.

Q4. Explain the terms ‘individual resources’ and ‘community-owned resources’ with examples.

Ans.
• Individual resources are owned privately by individuals or families.   Example: A farmer’s field, a house, a private well.
• Community-owned resources are accessible to all members of the community.   Example: Public parks, village ponds, playgrounds.

Q5. What are ‘stock’ and ‘reserves’? Give one example of each.

Ans.
• Stock refers to resources whose quantity is known but we lack the technology to use them fully.   Example: Hydrogen and oxygen in water as a future energy source.
• Reserves are a part of stock which can be used with existing technology but are kept for future use.   Example: Forests and river water identified for future consumption.

Q6. How are resources classified on the basis of origin, exhaustibility, ownership and status of development?

Ans. • Origin: Biotic, Abiotic • Exhaustibility: Renewable, Non-renewable • Ownership: Individual, Community, National, International • Status of development: Potential, Developed, Stock, Reserves

Q7. What is meant by ‘development of resources’? Why is it necessary?

Ans. Development of resources means using resources for satisfying human needs and improving the quality of life through economic growth. It is necessary to: • Provide food, shelter, clothing and infrastructure. • Promote industrial and agricultural growth. • Improve living standards of people.

Q8. Mention any three problems created by the indiscriminate use of resources.

Ans. Indiscriminate use of resources leads to: • Depletion of resources for future generations. • Concentration of resources in a few hands, causing inequality. • Environmental problems such as land degradation, pollution and global warming.

Q9. Define sustainable development. Why is it important in the context of resource use?

Ans. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Its importance lies in: • Ensuring resources are not overexploited. • Protecting the environment. • Maintaining intergenerational equity in resource use.

Q10. Explain any three main features of sustainable development in brief.

Ans. Features of sustainable development: • Judicious use of resources to prevent depletion. • Environmental protection while pursuing economic growth. • Social equity, ensuring benefits of development reach all sections of society.

Q11. How does the statement of Mahatma Gandhi on resource use relate to sustainable development?

Ans. Gandhi said, “There is enough for everybody’s need but not for anybody’s greed.” • It warns against greedy and wasteful use of resources. • It supports the idea that resources should be used carefully and fairly. • This is the basic philosophy behind sustainable development.

Q12. What was the significance of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit (1992) for resource and environmental management?

Ans. The Rio Earth Summit (1992): • Brought together many countries to discuss global environmental issues. • Emphasised sustainable development and responsible use of resources. • Led to the adoption of Agenda 21 for environmental protection and economic growth.

Q13. Explain how indiscriminate resource use can create social and economic problems in a country like India.

Ans. Indiscriminate resource use: • Leads to overexploitation and scarcity of essential resources. • Causes regional imbalance: some areas prosper, others remain backward. • Increases economic inequality, as a few people or regions control most resources.

Q14. Why is it said that “sustainable resource use is the need of the hour”?

Ans. Because: • Natural resources are limited and some are rapidly depleting. • Environmental degradation is causing climate change and pollution. • Future generations also have a right to use these resources, so they must be conserved and used wisely.

Q15. What is resource planning? Write any two objectives of resource planning in India.

Ans. Resource planning is the judicious and planned use of resources to meet present and future needs. Objectives in India: • To reduce regional imbalance in resource availability and use. • To ensure sustainable and equitable utilisation of resources.

Q16. Why is resource planning essential in a country like India? Give three reasons.

Ans. Resource planning is essential because: • Resources are unevenly distributed across regions. • Some regions are rich in resources but economically backward. • To avoid overutilisation in some areas and underutilisation in others, and to support sustainable development.

Q17. Explain the first stage of the resource planning process in India with one example.

Ans. The first stage is identification and inventory of resources. • It includes surveying, mapping and quantifying resources using technologies like remote sensing and GIS. • Example: Preparing mineral maps or land use maps of a state.

Q18. Describe the second and third stages of resource planning in India briefly.

Ans. • Second stage: Developing a planning structure for resource development which matches the technology and national priorities.
• Third stage: Matching the resource development plan with overall national development plans and implementing it through administrative machinery.

Q19. Give one example each of a region that is rich in resources but economically backward and a region with poor resource base but developed economy.

Ans.
• Regions rich in minerals like parts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha are resource-rich but economically backward.
• Japan and many Western European countries have poor resource base but are economically developed due to good planning and technology.

Q20. How is resource planning linked with national development and environmental protection?

Ans. Resource planning ensures that: • Resources are used in a planned manner to support industry, agriculture and infrastructure. • Development is balanced regionally, reducing disparities. • The environment is protected by controlling overuse and promoting conservation measures.

Q21. What is meant by resource conservation? State any two ways in which individuals can help conserve resources in daily life.

Ans. Resource conservation means using resources carefully and wisely to preserve them for future generations. Individuals can help by: • Reducing wastage of electricity, water and food. • Recycling and reusing materials like paper, plastic and metals.

Q22. Suggest any three measures which can be adopted at the national level for resource conservation.

Ans. At the national level, resource conservation can be promoted by: • Enforcing strict laws against overexploitation and pollution. • Promoting renewable sources of energy like solar and wind. • Encouraging afforestation and protection of forests, soil and water resources.

Q23. What was the main message of the ‘Chipko Movement’? How did it contribute to resource conservation?

Ans. The Chipko Movement in the Himalayas involved villagers hugging trees to prevent their cutting. • Its main message was that forests are essential for the survival of local communities. • It created awareness about forest conservation and influenced the government to make stricter forest protection policies.

Q24. Why should we promote the use of non-conventional or renewable sources of energy in India?

Ans. We should promote renewable energy because: • Conventional sources like coal and petroleum are exhaustible. • Renewable sources such as solar and wind are clean and non-polluting. • They reduce import dependence and support sustainable development.

Q25. How can awareness and education help in the conservation of resources? Give any three points.

Ans. Awareness and education: • Teach people the importance of resources and the dangers of overuse. • Encourage environment-friendly habits like saving electricity and water. • Motivate participation in conservation movements and programmes.

Q26. Why is land considered an important natural resource? Give any three reasons specific to India.

Ans. Land is important because: • It supports agriculture, which is the main occupation in India. • It provides space for settlements, industries and transport. • It supports natural vegetation and wildlife, which are crucial for ecological balance.

Q27. Name the two main types of land use categories shown in the land use pattern of India. Why is it important to know this pattern?

Ans. Two key land use categories are: • Forest area • Net sown area Knowing the pattern is important to: • Assess the pressure on land. • Plan for agriculture, forestry and conservation effectively.

Q28. How do physical factors influence the land use pattern in India? Explain with examples.

Ans. Physical factors like topography, climate and soil affect land use. • Fertile, flat plains (Indo-Gangetic) have high net sown area. • Hilly regions (Himalayas) are mainly under forests and grazing land. • Arid regions (Rajasthan) have barren and unculturable land.

Q29. Mention any three human factors that affect the land use pattern in India.

Ans. Important human factors are: • Population density and pressure on land. • Level of technology and irrigation facilities. • Cultural and economic practices such as type of farming and industrialisation.

Q30. What is meant by ‘net sown area’ and ‘gross cropped area’? How do they differ?

Ans.
• Net sown area is the total area actually sown with crops in a year.
• Gross cropped area is the total area sown once plus the area sown more than once in a year. Thus, gross cropped area is always greater than or equal to net sown area.

Q31. What is ‘fallow land’? Differentiate between current fallow and other than current fallow land.

Ans. Fallow land is agricultural land left uncultivated to regain its fertility. • Current fallow: Left uncultivated for less than one agricultural year. • Other than current fallow: Left uncultivated for 1–5 years.

Q32. Why has the area under forest not increased much in India since independence, despite many plans and programmes?

Ans. The forest area has not grown much because: • Forest land has been diverted for agriculture, industries and infrastructure. • There is encroachment by human settlements. • Afforestation programmes have not fully compensated for deforestation.

Q33. Give reasons for the high net sown area in the plains and low net sown area in hilly and desert regions of India.

Ans. • Plains have fertile soil, flat relief and good irrigation, making them suitable for intensive agriculture, so net sown area is high. • Hilly regions have steep slopes and desert regions have poor soil and low rainfall, which limit cultivation, so net sown area is low.

Q34. Why is land under non-agricultural use increasing in India? Mention any three causes.

Ans. Land under non-agricultural use is increasing due to: • Expansion of urban settlements and housing. • Growth of industries, roads, railways and other infrastructure. • Development of educational and commercial institutions.

Q35. What are permanent pastures and grazing lands? Why are they important in India?

Ans. Permanent pastures and grazing lands are areas devoted to grazing animals and not normally brought under regular cultivation. They are important because: • They support livestock rearing, a major occupation in many regions. • Provide fodder and help maintain the rural economy.

Q36. Explain how careful land use planning can help achieve sustainable development in India.

Ans. Careful land use planning: • Matches land use with its capability (e.g., agriculture in fertile plains, forests on slopes). • Prevents overuse and land degradation. • Balances demands of agriculture, industry, housing and environment, thus supporting sustainable development.

Q37. Define land degradation. Mention any three human activities responsible for land degradation in India.

Ans. Land degradation is the decline in the quality and productivity of land. Human activities responsible are: • Deforestation and removal of vegetation cover. • Overgrazing in arid and semi-arid regions. • Over-irrigation leading to waterlogging and salinisation, and unscientific mining.

Q38. How does over-irrigation cause land degradation? Name any two states where this problem is serious.

Ans. Over-irrigation causes waterlogging and salinisation of soil. • Excess water raises the water table and brings salts to the surface, making soil infertile. • This problem is serious in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

Q39. Explain how mining and industrial activities lead to land degradation in India.

Ans. • Mining (especially open-cast) leaves deep pits, heaps of waste and destroys vegetation, causing erosion. • Industries dump solid and liquid wastes on land, which pollute and degrade the soil. • Together, they reduce the productive capacity of land.

Q40. Suggest any three measures to control land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions of India.

Ans. Measures are: • Afforestation and planting of shelter belts. • Controlled grazing of animals. • Stabilising sand dunes by growing grasses and shrubs.

Q41. How can land degradation caused by mining be controlled? Give any three steps.

Ans. Land degradation due to mining can be controlled by: • Proper management of mining wastes and filling of pits. • Reclamation of mined land by levelling and afforestation. • Strict enforcement of environmental regulations on mining companies.

Q42. What is soil? Why is it considered a living system and a renewable resource?

Ans. Soil is the uppermost, loose layer of the earth’s crust which supports plant growth. • It is called a living system because it contains air, water, minerals and countless living organisms. • It is renewable as it forms again, but very slowly, through natural processes of weathering and decomposition.

Q43. Mention any four factors responsible for soil formation. How do they influence the nature of soil?

Ans. Four factors are: • Parent rock: Determines soil texture and mineral content. • Climate: Temperature and rainfall affect weathering and humus content. • Relief: Slope and drainage influence depth of soil. • Flora, fauna and time: Decomposition of plants/animals adds humus; soil formation takes long time.

Q44. Why is careful management of soil resource essential in India? Give any three reasons.

Ans. It is essential because: • Soil supports agriculture, the main livelihood of a large population. • Soil formation is a slow process, while erosion and degradation are rapid. • Food security and sustainable development depend on healthy, fertile soils.

Q45. Describe any three characteristics of alluvial soil. In which regions of India is it mainly found?

Ans. Characteristics: • Formed by deposition of alluvium brought by rivers. • Generally fertile, rich in potash and lime. • Suitable for crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane. It is mainly found in the northern plains, river valleys and coastal plains.

Q46. What is black soil? Mention any three features and name two crops grown in it.

Ans. Black soil (regur) is formed from weathered basalt in the Deccan plateau. Features: • High clay content and fine texture. • Excellent moisture retention capacity. • Becomes sticky when wet and develops cracks when dry. It is ideal for cotton and also suitable for soyabean, wheat and sugarcane.

Q47. Describe the formation, distribution and cropping pattern of laterite soil in India.

Ans. Laterite soil: • Formed in regions of high temperature and heavy rainfall, where intense leaching removes silica and leaves iron and aluminium. • Found in parts of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and hilly areas of Odisha and Assam. • Poor in humus but with proper manuring supports crops like tea, coffee and cashew.

Q48. Write short notes on red and yellow soils and arid soils with reference to their colour, regions and crops grown.

Ans.
• Red and yellow soils:   – Red colour due to iron; appear yellow when hydrated.   – Found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, etc.   – Suitable for millets, pulses, oilseeds with proper inputs.
• Arid soils:   – Sandy, low in humus and moisture, often saline.   – Found in Rajasthan, Gujarat and desert regions.   – With irrigation, support crops like wheat, cotton and pulses.

Q49. What is soil erosion? Describe any three main causes of soil erosion in India.

Ans. Soil erosion is the removal of the top fertile layer of soil by agents like wind and water. Causes: • Deforestation and removal of vegetation. • Overgrazing by animals. • Unscientific farming practices such as ploughing up and down the slope.

Q50. Explain any four methods of soil conservation commonly practised in India with one-line descriptions each.

Ans. • Contour ploughing: Ploughing along contour lines to reduce speed of water flow.
• Terrace farming: Making terraces on slopes to reduce run-off and soil loss.
• Strip cropping: Growing crops in alternate strips to break the force of wind and water.
• Afforestation and shelter belts: Planting trees to bind soil and reduce wind speed.