Question 1

Q1: Development of a country can generally be determined by (i) its per capita income (ii) its average literacy level (iii) health status of its people (i...

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (iv) all the above. As discussed in the chapter, development is a comprehensive concept that cannot be measured by a single indicator. While per capita income is an important measure of economic development, it is inadequate on its own. A true measure of development must also i...

Question 2

Q10: "The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person". How is this statement relevant to th...

Accepted Answer

This statement, often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, is highly relevant to the discussion of development, particularly the concept of sustainability and equity. Relevance to Development: 1.  Distinction between 'Need' and 'Greed': The statement makes a crucial distinction between human 'needs' and 'g...

Question 3

Q11: List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.

Accepted Answer

Here are a few examples of environmental degradation that can be commonly observed: 1.  Water Pollution: The dumping of untreated sewage and industrial chemical waste into nearby rivers, lakes, or canals, making the water unfit for use and harming aquatic life. 2.  Air Pollution: Visible smoke and f...

Question 4

Q12: For each of the items given in Table 1.6, find out which country is at the top and which is at the bottom.

Accepted Answer

Based on the data in Table 1.6 for the year 2022, here is the country at the top and bottom for each indicator: 1.  Gross National Income (GNI) per capita (2017 PPP $):        Top: Sri Lanka ($11,899)        Bottom: Nepal ($4,026) 2.  Life Expectancy at birth:        Top: Sri Lanka (76.6 years)...

Question 5

Q13: The following table shows the proportion of adults (aged 15-49 years) whose BMI is below normal (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) in India. It is based on a survey o...

Accepted Answer

(i) Comparison of nutritional levels in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh: Based on the table, the nutritional level of people in Kerala is significantly better than that in Madhya Pradesh. In Kerala, only 8.5% of males and 10% of females are undernourished. In sharp contrast, Madhya Pradesh has a much high...

Question 6

Q2: Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India? (i) Bangladesh (ii) Sri Lanka (iii) Nep...

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (ii) Sri Lanka. According to Table 1.6 in the chapter, which presents data from the Human Development Report 2023-24, Sri Lanka performs better than India in every respect. It has a higher Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, a greater Life Expectancy at birth, more Mean Yea...

Question 7

Q3: Assume there are four families in a country. The average per capita income of these families is Rs 5000. If the income of three families is Rs 4000, R...

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (iv) Rs 6000. Calculation: 1.  Total number of families: 4 2.  Average per capita income: Rs 5000 3.  Total income of the four families: Average Income × Number of families = Rs 5000 × 4 = Rs 20,000 4.  Sum of the income of the first three families: Rs 4000 + Rs 7000 + Rs 3000...

Question 8

Q4: What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?

Accepted Answer

The main criterion used by the World Bank in its World Development Reports for classifying different countries is Per Capita Income, also known as average income. Limitations of this criterion: 1.  Hides Disparities: Per capita income is an average and does not show the actual distribution of income...

Question 9

Q5: In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?

Accepted Answer

The criterion used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is significantly different from the one used by the World Bank because it takes a much broader and more holistic view of development.    World Bank's Criterion: The World Bank primarily uses a single economic indicator: Per Capita...

Question 10

Q6: Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.

Accepted Answer

Why we use averages: Averages are used to simplify complex data and make comparisons easier. For development, we use averages like per capita income to compare the economic status of different countries or states. Since countries have different populations, comparing their total income would not be...

Question 11

Q7: Kerala, with lower per capita income has a better human development ranking than Haryana. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all an...

Accepted Answer

I do not fully agree with the statement that per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used. While the case of Kerala and Haryana demonstrates the limitations of per capita income as the sole measure of development, it does not render it completely useless. Points of Agree...

Question 12

Q8: Find out the present sources of energy that are used by the people in India. What could be the other possibilities fifty years from now?

Accepted Answer

Present sources of energy in India: The primary sources of energy currently used in India are predominantly non-renewable fossil fuels. These include:    Coal: The largest source, used mainly for electricity generation and in industries.    Petroleum (Crude Oil) and its products (Petrol, Diesel): Us...

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

The issue of sustainability is important for development because it ensures that the process of development does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It links development in the present with the well-being of the future. Here are the key reasons for its importanc...

State	Male (%)	Female (%)
Kerala	8.5	10
Karnataka	17	21
Madhya Pradesh	28	28
All States	20	23

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