Class 10 Social Science Notes Chapter 1 (Development) – Understanding Econimic Development Book

Alright class, let's begin our focused preparation for Chapter 1, 'Development', from your Economics textbook. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding economic progress, and its concepts frequently appear in various government examinations. Pay close attention to the definitions, comparisons, and limitations discussed.

Chapter 1: Development - Detailed Notes for Government Exam Preparation

1. What is Development?

• Core Idea: Development signifies progress, improvement, growth, and the fulfillment of aspirations or desires. It's about becoming better than before.
• Subjectivity: The concept of 'development' is not uniform. It varies significantly from person to person, community to community, and nation to nation.
• Different People, Different Goals: What constitutes development depends on an individual's or group's specific circumstances, needs, and life situation.
  • Example: For a landless rural labourer, development might mean more days of work, better wages, a local school for their children, and no social discrimination.
  • Example: For a prosperous farmer from Punjab, development goals could include higher family income through better support prices for crops, cheap labour, and the ability to send children abroad.
  • Example: For an urban unemployed youth, development means getting a job.
  • Example: For an Adivasi displaced by a mining project, development might mean rehabilitation, fair compensation, and job opportunities, or perhaps stopping the project altogether.
• Key Takeaway: Development involves thinking about individual aspirations and the ways to fulfill them to lead a better life.

2. Conflicting Development Goals:

• It's crucial to understand that what one person considers development might not be development for another.
• Sometimes, development goals can be contradictory or even destructive for others.
  • Example: An industrialist may want more dams built to generate electricity for their factories. However, this may lead to the displacement of tribal communities or farmers who live in that area, submerging their lands and livelihoods. For these communities, the dam represents destruction, not development.

3. Income and Other Goals:

• Common Goal: Seeking more income or material wealth is a common development goal for most people, as it allows them to buy goods and services they need or desire.
• Beyond Income (Non-Material Goals): People also seek non-material things which are equally or sometimes more important than income. These include:
  • Equal treatment
  • Freedom
  • Security (physical, job)
  • Respect from others
  • Non-discrimination
  • A clean environment
  • Good working conditions
  • Opportunities for learning and personal growth
• Mix of Goals: Development for individuals and nations involves achieving a mix of both material (income) and non-material goals. The quality of life depends significantly on non-material aspects.
  • Example: When considering a job offer, one looks at the salary (income) but also factors like job security, working hours, atmosphere, opportunities for promotion, and facilities for the family.

4. National Development:

• Meaning: Refers to the ability of a country to improve the social welfare, economic status, and overall well-being of its citizens.
• Varied Notions: Just like individual goals, different people can have different and sometimes conflicting ideas about what constitutes national development. Should the focus be on industrial growth, agricultural improvement, environmental protection, better health and education, or military strength?
• Decision Making: National development involves deciding which path is fair and just for the maximum number of people, often involving balancing competing interests.

5. How to Compare Different Countries or States?

• Need for Comparison: Comparison helps understand levels of development, identify strengths and weaknesses, and learn from others.
• Income as a Criterion: Income is considered one of the most important attributes for comparison. Countries with higher income are generally considered more developed.
• Total Income Limitation: Comparing total income is not useful because countries have different populations. A large country with low individual incomes might have a higher total income than a small country with high individual incomes.
• Average Income (Per Capita Income): This is the most widely used criterion for comparing countries.
  • Calculation: Per Capita Income = Total Income of the Country / Total Population of the Country.
  • World Bank Classification: The World Bank uses per capita income in its World Development Reports to classify countries. (Note: Specific income thresholds for classifying countries as rich/high-income, middle-income (upper & lower), and low-income change over time. Check latest World Bank data for current figures). India is typically classified as a lower-middle-income country.
• Limitations of Average Income:
  • Hides Disparities: Average income does not tell us how income is distributed among the population. Two countries might have the same average income, but one could have relatively equitable distribution while the other has vast inequalities (a few very rich people and many poor people).
  • Example: Consider two hypothetical countries, A and B, both with an average income of ₹10,000. In Country A, most citizens earn around ₹9,000-₹11,000. In Country B, four citizens earn ₹1,000 each, while one citizen earns ₹46,000. While the average is the same, Country A offers a better standard of living for the majority.

6. Income and Other Criteria:

• Inadequacy of Income Alone: While income is important, it's an inadequate measure of the overall level of development or well-being. Other factors are crucial for quality of life.
• Key Non-Income Criteria (Examples using Indian States like Kerala, Maharashtra/Punjab, Bihar):
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): The number of children who die before the age of one year per 1000 live births in that particular year. Lower IMR indicates better healthcare and nutrition. (Kerala generally has a much lower IMR than states like Bihar or even richer states like Punjab/Maharashtra).
  • Literacy Rate: Measures the proportion of the literate population in the 7-and-above age group. Higher literacy rate indicates better educational facilities and awareness. (Kerala consistently has one of the highest literacy rates in India).
  • Net Attendance Ratio (NAR): The total number of children of age group 14 and 15 years attending school as a percentage of the total number of children in the same age group. Higher NAR indicates greater access to and participation in secondary education. (Again, Kerala often performs well here).
• Conclusion: States like Kerala, despite having a lower per capita income compared to states like Maharashtra or Punjab, often rank higher on crucial health and education indicators, suggesting a better overall quality of life for the average citizen.

7. Public Facilities:

• Definition: Services and facilities provided by the government or collective entities for the use of the general public. Examples include schools, hospitals, public transport, electricity, sanitation, ration shops (Public Distribution System - PDS), parks, law and order.
• Importance:
  • Money cannot buy everything needed for a good life (e.g., a pollution-free environment, protection from infectious diseases). Collective action and government provision are essential.
  • Public facilities are often the most efficient and affordable way to provide essential services to everyone. It's cheaper to have collective security or community sanitation than for individuals to arrange these separately.
  • Access to good public facilities (like healthcare and education) significantly impacts quality of life indicators (like IMR and Literacy Rate). Kerala's better performance is often attributed to better functioning public health and education systems, including PDS.
• Human Development Index (HDI): Prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), HDI is a composite index that compares countries based on health status (Life Expectancy at birth), education levels (Mean years of schooling and Expected years of schooling), and standard of living (Gross National Income per capita). It provides a broader perspective on development than just per capita income.

8. Sustainability of Development:

• Definition: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It means ensuring that development efforts today do not deplete resources or damage the environment in ways that harm the future.
• Importance: Current levels and methods of development may not be sustainable in the long run.
• Concerns:
  • Resource Depletion: Overuse of non-renewable resources (like crude oil, coal) means they will eventually run out, impacting future development. Over-extraction of renewable resources (like groundwater) faster than they can replenish is also unsustainable.
  • Environmental Degradation: Industrial development, transportation, and consumption patterns often lead to pollution (air, water, soil) and climate change, which have severe long-term consequences for health, agriculture, and ecosystems.
• Focus: Sustainability emphasizes responsible use of resources, shifting towards renewable energy, controlling pollution, and preserving environmental quality for future generations. Development must be environmentally conscious.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which of the following is the most appropriate meaning of 'Development' according to the chapter?
   (a) Increase in total national income only.
   (b) Improvement in quality of life, fulfillment of aspirations, and progress.
   (c) Expansion of industries and infrastructure only.
   (d) Increase in agricultural output per hectare.

2. Different persons could have different as well as conflicting notions of a country's development. A plausible example of conflicting development goals is:
   (a) A farmer wanting higher support prices and a consumer wanting lower food prices.
   (b) An industrialist wanting more dams and tribal communities opposing displacement due to dams.
   (c) A student wanting better education facilities and a teacher wanting better salary.
   (d) Both (a) and (b).

3. Besides seeking more income, one of the non-material goals people seek for development is:
   (a) More consumer goods.
   (b) Freedom and respect.
   (c) Larger houses.
   (d) Access to loans.

4. Which organization uses Per Capita Income as the main criterion for classifying countries in its World Development Reports?
   (a) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
   (b) World Health Organization (WHO)
   (c) World Bank
   (d) International Monetary Fund (IMF)

5. What is the major limitation of using Average Income (Per Capita Income) for comparing development between countries?
   (a) It is difficult to calculate.
   (b) It does not account for population size.
   (c) It hides disparities in income distribution.
   (d) It only considers agricultural income.

6. IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) indicates the number of children that die before the age of _______ year(s) as a proportion of 1000 live births in that particular year.
   (a) Five
   (b) Two
   (c) One
   (d) Three

7. Kerala has a lower Per Capita Income than Punjab but a better human development ranking. This is primarily because:
   (a) Kerala has higher industrial output.
   (b) Kerala has better provisions for health and education facilities.
   (c) Punjab has a very high population density.
   (d) Punjab lacks natural resources compared to Kerala.

8. Facilities like schools, hospitals, and public transport, which are provided collectively by the government or society, are known as:
   (a) Private Amenities
   (b) Personal Assets
   (c) Public Facilities
   (d) Corporate Resources

9. Sustainability of development emphasizes:
   (a) Maximizing resource use for rapid present growth.
   (b) Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
   (c) Focusing solely on economic growth regardless of environmental impact.
   (d) Prioritizing industrial development over agricultural development.

10. Which of the following is an example of the consequences of non-sustainable development?
    (a) Increased literacy rates.
    (b) Depletion of groundwater levels due to overuse.
    (c) Well-functioning Public Distribution System (PDS).
    (d) Lower Infant Mortality Rate (IMR).

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (b)
2. (d)
3. (b)
4. (c)
5. (c)
6. (c)
7. (b)
8. (c)
9. (b)
10. (b)

Study these notes thoroughly. Remember that understanding the 'why' behind concepts like the limitations of average income or the importance of public facilities is crucial for answering application-based questions in exams. Good luck!