Class 10 Social Science Notes Chapter 1 (Resources and development) – Contempory India Book

Alright class, let's begin our detailed study of Chapter 1: Resources and Development from your 'Contemporary India - II' textbook. This chapter is fundamental not just for your board exams but also forms a base for many competitive government exams. Pay close attention.

Chapter 1: Resources and Development - Detailed Notes

1. What are Resources?

• Definition: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as ‘Resource’.
• Interdependent Relationship: Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate their economic development. Resources are a function of human activities. Humans themselves are essential components of resources.

2. Classification of Resources

Resources can be classified in various ways:

• (a) On the basis of Origin:

  • Biotic Resources: Obtained from the biosphere and have life. Examples: Human beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock.
  • Abiotic Resources: Composed of non-living things. Examples: Rocks, metals, minerals, water, sunlight.

• (b) On the basis of Exhaustibility:

  • Renewable Resources: Resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical processes. Examples: Solar and wind energy, water, forests, wildlife. These may further be divided into continuous or flow (e.g., wind, water).
  • Non-Renewable Resources: These occur over a very long geological time. They take millions of years in their formation and get exhausted with their use. Examples: Minerals (coal, petroleum, natural gas), fossil fuels. Metals like iron, copper are recyclable, but fossil fuels cannot be recycled.

• (c) On the basis of Ownership:

  • Individual Resources: Owned privately by individuals. Examples: Plots, houses, plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in wells.
  • Community Owned Resources: Accessible to all the members of the community. Examples: Grazing grounds, burial grounds, village ponds, public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds.
  • National Resources: Technically, all resources belong to the nation. The country has legal powers to acquire even private property for public good (e.g., roads, canals, railways). All minerals, water resources, forests, wildlife, land within the political boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the coast termed as territorial water and resources therein belong to the nation.
  • International Resources: Regulated by international institutions. The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) belong to the open ocean and no individual country can utilise these without the concurrence of international institutions. (India has the right to mine manganese nodules from the bed of the Indian Ocean from that area which lies beyond the EEZ).

• (d) On the basis of the Status of Development:

  • Potential Resources: Resources found in a region but have not been utilised. Example: Wind and solar energy potential in Gujarat and Rajasthan haven't been fully developed.
  • Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed, their quality and quantity determined for utilisation. Their development depends on technology and level of feasibility. Example: Coal, petroleum reserves which are being actively used.
  • Stock: Materials in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but humans lack the appropriate technology to access them. Example: Hydrogen and Oxygen in water (H2O) can be a rich source of energy, but we don't have the advanced technology for large-scale use.
  • Reserves: Subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing technical 'know-how' but their use has not been started. They are kept for future requirements. Example: River water can be used for generating hydroelectric power but presently, it is being utilised only to a limited extent.

3. Development of Resources & Associated Problems

• Resources are vital for human survival and maintaining the quality of life. However, indiscriminate use has led to major problems:
  • Depletion of resources: Satisfying the greed of a few individuals.
  • Accumulation of resources: In few hands, dividing society into 'haves' (rich) and 'have nots' (poor).
  • Indiscriminate exploitation: Leading to global ecological crises like global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution, and land degradation.

4. Sustainable Development

• Definition: Sustainable economic development means development should take place without damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of the future generations.
• Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992:
  • Held in Brazil, attended by more than 100 heads of states.
  • Addressed urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development at the global level.
  • Adopted the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity.
  • Endorsed the global Forest Principles.
  • Adopted Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.
• Agenda 21:
  • A declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
  • Aims at achieving global sustainable development.
  • An agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty, disease through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.
  • One major objective is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.

5. Resource Planning

• Need: Essential for the judicious use of resources, especially in a country like India with enormous diversity in resource availability (some regions are rich in certain resources but deficient in others). Example: Arunachal Pradesh has abundant water but lacks infrastructure; Rajasthan has solar/wind energy but lacks water.
• Resource Planning in India: A complex process involving:
  • (i) Identification and inventory: Surveying, mapping, qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of resources across regions.
  • (ii) Evolving a planning structure: Endowed with appropriate technology, skill, and institutional set up for implementing resource development plans.
  • (iii) Matching resource development plans: With overall national development plans.
• Availability of resources is necessary but not sufficient for development; technology, quality of human resources, and historical experiences are also crucial.

6. Conservation of Resources

• Vital for development, but irrational consumption and over-utilisation lead to socio-economic and environmental problems.
• Gandhiji's view: "There is enough for everybody's need and not for any body's greed." He blamed greedy, selfish individuals and exploitative technology as the root cause for resource depletion. He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with 'production by the masses'.
• International Efforts:
  • Club of Rome (1968): Advocated resource conservation systematically.
  • Schumacher's book "Small Is Beautiful" (1974): Gandhian philosophy presented again.
  • Brundtland Commission Report (1987): Introduced the concept of 'Sustainable Development' and advocated it as a means for resource conservation. Published in the book "Our Common Future".

7. Land Resources

• Importance: Supports natural vegetation, wildlife, human life, economic activities, transport, and communication systems. It's a finite asset.
• Land Use Pattern in India:
  • Total geographical area: 3.28 million sq km. Land use data available for only 93%.
  • Factors determining land use:
    • Physical factors: Topography, climate, soil types.
    • Human factors: Population density, technological capability, culture and traditions.
  • Major Land Use Categories (approximate % for reference, varies slightly over time):
    • Forests: ~23-24% (Desired: 33% as per National Forest Policy 1952)
    • Land not available for cultivation: Barren/wasteland, land put to non-agricultural uses (buildings, roads).
    • Other uncultivated land (excluding fallow): Permanent pastures, land under misc. tree crops, culturable waste land (left uncultivated > 5 years).
    • Fallow Lands: Current fallow (left < 1 year), Other than current fallow (left 1-5 years).
    • Net Sown Area (NSA): Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus NSA is Gross Cropped Area (GCA). NSA in India is about 46%. Pattern varies greatly between states (e.g., >80% in Punjab/Haryana, <10% in Arunachal Pradesh/Mizoram).
• Land Degradation: Continuous use over long periods without proper conservation measures has led to degradation.
  • Causes: Deforestation, overgrazing, mining and quarrying (leave deep scars, overburden dumping), over-irrigation (leading to waterlogging, salinity, alkalinity), mineral processing (dust), industrial effluents.
  • Areas Affected: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, MP, Odisha (mining); Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra (overgrazing); Punjab, Haryana, Western UP (over-irrigation).
• Conservation Measures:
  • Afforestation and proper management of grazing.
  • Planting of shelter belts (rows of trees).
  • Control on overgrazing.
  • Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
  • Proper management of waste lands.
  • Control of mining activities.
  • Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.

8. Soil as a Resource

• Importance: Most important renewable natural resource. Medium of plant growth, supports different types of living organisms. Takes millions of years to form a few cm depth.
• Factors of Soil Formation: Relief, parent rock or bedrock, climate, vegetation, other forms of life, and time. Natural forces like temperature changes, running water, wind, glaciers, decomposers also contribute.
• Classification of Soils in India: Based on factors like colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical and physical properties.
  • (i) Alluvial Soils:
    • Distribution: Most widely spread, entire northern plains (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra river systems), eastern coastal plains (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri deltas), also in Rajasthan, Gujarat (narrow corridor).
    • Formation: Deposited by rivers.
    • Characteristics: Varying proportions of sand, silt, clay. Inland soils are coarser, deltaic soils finer. Very fertile. Contain potash, phosphoric acid, lime. Ideal for sugarcane, paddy, wheat, cereals, pulses.
    • Types (by age):
      • Bangar: Old alluvial, higher concentration of 'kankar' nodules, less fertile, found away from river beds.
      • Khadar: New alluvial, more fine particles, more fertile, found near river beds.
  • (ii) Black Soil (Regur Soil):
    • Distribution: Deccan trap (basalt) region - plateau of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, extending along Godavari & Krishna valleys.
    • Formation: Weathering of lava rocks.
    • Characteristics: Black colour. Ideal for cotton ("black cotton soil"). Clayey material, well-known for moisture holding capacity. Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, lime. Poor in phosphoric content. Develop deep cracks in hot weather (helps aeration), sticky when wet.
  • (iii) Red and Yellow Soils:
    • Distribution: Eastern and southern parts of Deccan plateau, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of middle Ganga plain, piedmont zone of Western Ghats.
    • Formation: Develop on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall.
    • Characteristics: Reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline/metamorphic rocks. Looks yellow when hydrated. Generally less fertile than alluvial or black soils.
  • (iv) Laterite Soil:
    • Distribution: Areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall (intense leaching). Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, MP, hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.
    • Formation: Result of intense leaching due to heavy rain.
    • Characteristics: Latin word 'later' means brick. Humus content is low (destroyed by high temp.). Often acidic (pH < 6.0). Deficient in plant nutrients. Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers. Useful for growing tea, coffee (Karnataka, Kerala, TN), cashew nuts (TN, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala).
  • (v) Arid Soils:
    • Distribution: Western Rajasthan.
    • Characteristics: Range from red to brown. Sandy texture, saline nature. High salt content (common salt obtained by evaporating water). Lack humus and moisture due to dry climate, high temperature, faster evaporation. Kankar layer formation in bottom horizons restricts water infiltration. Can be cultivable with proper irrigation.
  • (vi) Forest Soils:
    • Distribution: Hilly and mountainous areas with sufficient rain forests.
    • Characteristics: Texture varies with mountain environment. Loamy and silty in valley sides, coarse-grained in upper slopes. Acidic with low humus content in snow-covered areas. Fertile on lower parts of valleys, particularly on river terraces and alluvial fans.

9. Soil Erosion and Conservation

• Soil Erosion: Denudation (removal) of the soil cover and subsequent washing down. Processes of soil formation and erosion often go on simultaneously, but balance can be disturbed by human activities.
• Causes:
  • Human Activities: Deforestation, over-grazing, construction, mining, defective farming methods (e.g., ploughing in a wrong way).
  • Natural Forces: Wind, glacier, water.
• Types of Water Erosion:
  • Sheet Erosion: Water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope, washing away the topsoil.
  • Gully Erosion: Running water cuts through clayey soils making deep channels called gullies. Land becomes unfit for cultivation ('bad land'). Example: Chambal basin ravines.
• Soil Conservation Methods:
  • Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along contour lines decelerates water flow down slopes.
  • Terrace Cultivation: Steps cut out on slopes to create terraces; restricts erosion (common in Western/Central Himalayas).
  • Strip Cropping: Large fields divided into strips. Strips of grass left to grow between crops break the force of the wind.
  • Shelter Belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter, especially in coastal and dry regions, to check wind erosion. Stabilizes sand dunes in deserts.
  • Gully Plugging: To control gully erosion.
  • Afforestation: Planting trees.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which one of the following types of resource is iron ore?
   (a) Renewable
   (b) Biotic
   (c) Flow
   (d) Non-renewable

2. Under which of the following type of resource can tidal energy be put?
   (a) Replenishable (Renewable)
   (b) Human-made
   (c) Abiotic
   (d) Non-recyclable

3. Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
   (a) Intensive cultivation
   (b) Deforestation
   (c) Over irrigation
   (d) Overgrazing

4. In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?
   (a) Punjab
   (b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh
   (c) Haryana
   (d) Uttarakhand

5. In which of the following states is black soil predominantly found?
   (a) Jammu and Kashmir
   (b) Maharashtra
   (c) Rajasthan
   (d) Jharkhand

6. Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised are called:
   (a) Developed Resources
   (b) Stock
   (c) International Resources
   (d) Potential Resources

7. What percentage of India's land area is under plains, providing facilities for agriculture and industry?
   (a) 27%
   (b) 30%
   (c) 43%
   (d) 50%

8. The first International Earth Summit was held in:
   (a) Geneva
   (b) New York
   (c) Rio de Janeiro
   (d) Tokyo

9. 'Regur Soil' is another name for:
   (a) Alluvial Soil
   (b) Black Soil
   (c) Red Soil
   (d) Laterite Soil

10. The Brundtland Commission Report (1987) introduced the concept of:
    (a) Resource Planning
    (b) Sustainable Development
    (c) Agenda 21
    (d) Resource Conservation

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (d) Non-renewable
2. (a) Replenishable (Renewable)
3. (c) Over irrigation
4. (d) Uttarakhand
5. (b) Maharashtra
6. (d) Potential Resources
7. (c) 43%
8. (c) Rio de Janeiro
9. (b) Black Soil
10. (b) Sustainable Development

Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understand the classifications, the problems associated with resource use, the importance of planning and conservation, and the different types of land and soil resources found in India. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding many geographical and economic issues. Good luck with your preparation!