Class 8 Social Science Notes Chapter 6 (Human Resources) – Resource and Development (Geography) Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 6, 'Human Resources', from your Class 8 Geography book. This chapter is fundamental because it talks about the most important resource of all – people! For your government exam preparation, understanding these concepts thoroughly is crucial. Pay close attention to the definitions and factors involved.

Chapter 6: Human Resources - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Introduction: People as a Resource

• Core Concept: Human beings are a nation's greatest resource. It is people, with their skills, knowledge, abilities, and demands, who turn natural substances into valuable 'resources'.
• Significance: Healthy, educated, and motivated people develop resources as per their requirements. Therefore, human resources are the ultimate resource.
• Distribution: Like other resources, human resources are not equally distributed over the world. They differ in their age, sex, literacy levels, health conditions, occupations, and income levels.

2. Distribution of Population

• Definition: The way in which people are spread across the Earth's surface is known as the pattern of population distribution.
• Uneven Distribution:
  • More than 90% of the world's population lives in about 30% of the land surface.
  • Distribution is extremely uneven.
  • Some areas are very crowded (e.g., South and Southeast Asia, Europe, Northeastern North America), while some are sparsely populated (e.g., high latitude areas, tropical deserts, high mountains, equatorial forests).
  • Many more people live north of the Equator than south of it.
  • Almost three-quarters of the world's people live on two continents: Asia and Africa.

3. Density of Population

• Definition: Population density is the number of people living in a unit area of the Earth's surface.
• Measurement: Usually expressed as per square kilometre (persons/sq km).
• Global Average: The average density of population in the whole world is about 51 persons per sq km (Note: This figure can vary slightly depending on the year/source, but the concept is key).
• High Density Areas: South Central Asia has the highest density, followed by East and Southeast Asia.

4. Factors Affecting Distribution of Population

These factors explain why population distribution is uneven.

• A. Geographical Factors:

  • Topography: People prefer living on plains rather than mountains and plateaus because plains are suitable for farming, manufacturing, and service activities (e.g., densely populated Ganga plains vs. sparsely populated Andes, Alps, Himalayas).
  • Climate: People usually avoid extreme climates (very hot like Sahara desert, very cold like polar regions of Russia, Canada, Antarctica). Moderate climates attract more people.
  • Soil: Fertile soils provide suitable land for agriculture. Fertile plains (e.g., Ganga-Brahmaputra in India, Hwang-He/Chang Jiang in China, Nile in Egypt) are densely populated.
  • Water: People prefer to live in areas where freshwater is easily available. River valleys are densely populated; deserts are sparsely populated.
  • Minerals: Areas with mineral deposits attract industries and mining activities, leading to population concentration (e.g., Diamond mines of South Africa, oil discovery in the Middle East).

• B. Social, Cultural, and Economic Factors:

  • Social: Areas with better housing, education, and health facilities are more densely populated (e.g., Pune).
  • Cultural: Places with religious or cultural significance attract people (e.g., Varanasi, Jerusalem, Vatican City).
  • Economic: Industrial areas provide employment opportunities, attracting large numbers of people (e.g., Osaka in Japan, Mumbai in India). Urban areas generally offer better economic prospects.

5. Population Change

• Definition: Population change refers to the change in the number of people during a specific time.
• Causes: Primarily due to changes in the number of births and deaths.
  • Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1,000 people in a year.
  • Death Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.
• Natural Growth Rate: The difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a country.
  • If Birth Rate > Death Rate = Population Increase
  • If Death Rate > Birth Rate = Population Decrease
  • If Birth Rate = Death Rate = Population Stable
• Population Explosion: Rapid increase in population occurs when the death rate falls due to better food supplies and medicine, while the birth rate remains high.
• Migration: The movement of people in and out of an area.
  • Immigration: When people arrive in a country.
  • Emigration: When people leave a country.
  • Migration is another factor influencing population size (alongside births and deaths). People migrate for better employment opportunities, education, living conditions, or to escape conflict/disasters (Push and Pull factors).

6. Patterns of Population Change

• Rates of population growth vary across the world.
• Some countries (like Kenya) have high population growth rates (high birth rates, falling death rates).
• Some countries (like the UK) have slowing population growth (low birth and death rates).

7. Population Composition

• Definition: Refers to the structure of the population – characteristics like age, sex, literacy level, health condition, occupation, and income level.
• Importance: Understanding population composition helps in planning and resource allocation.
• Key Components:
  • Age Structure:
    • Grouping the population into age groups (e.g., 0-14 years: Children/Dependents; 15-59/64 years: Working Age/Economically Active; 60/65+ years: Elderly/Dependents).
    • The proportion of these groups affects the dependency ratio (ratio of dependents to the working-age population).
  • Sex Ratio:
    • The number of females per 1,000 males in the population.
    • An important social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females. Unfavourable ratios often indicate gender discrimination.
  • Literacy:
    • Proportion of the population above a certain age (usually 7 years) who can read and write with understanding.
    • Crucial indicator of socio-economic development.
  • Occupational Structure:
    • Distribution of the working population across different occupations:
      • Primary Activities: Agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining.
      • Secondary Activities: Manufacturing, processing, construction.
      • Tertiary Activities: Transport, trade, banking, communication, services.
    • Developed nations have a higher proportion in secondary and tertiary sectors; developing nations often have a higher proportion in the primary sector.

8. Population Pyramids (Age-Sex Pyramids)

• Definition: A graphical way to show the population composition (age groups and percentage of males and females in each group).
• Interpretation:
  • The shape tells the story of the people living in that country.
  • Broad Base, Rapidly Tapering Top: Indicates high birth rates and high death rates (typical of less developed countries like Kenya). Many children born, but a large percentage die young. Suggests high dependency ratio (many young dependents).
  • Broad Base in Younger Age Groups, Tapering Gradually: Indicates high birth rates, but decreasing death rates (typical of developing countries like India). More infants survive to adulthood. Suggests a large young workforce emerging.
  • Narrow Base, Tapered Top: Indicates low birth rates and low death rates (typical of developed countries like Japan). Fewer children born, most people live to old age. Suggests potential workforce shortage and high elderly dependency ratio.

Conclusion:
The quality of a nation's human resource (health, education, skills, motivation) is vital for its overall development. Governments focus on improving these aspects through various schemes and policies (e.g., Skill India Mission) to empower their population and drive progress.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Practice:

1. What is considered the 'ultimate resource' for a nation?
   (a) Mineral deposits
   (b) Fertile land
   (c) Human beings
   (d) Water bodies

2. The number of people living per unit area of the Earth's surface is called:
   (a) Birth Rate
   (b) Population Distribution
   (c) Population Density
   (d) Growth Rate

3. Which of the following is a geographical factor influencing population distribution?
   (a) Availability of jobs
   (b) Religious significance
   (c) Climate
   (d) Educational facilities

4. The natural growth rate of a population is the difference between:
   (a) Immigration and Emigration
   (b) Birth Rate and Death Rate
   (c) Total Population and Land Area
   (d) Literate and Illiterate population

5. The movement of people out of a country is known as:
   (a) Immigration
   (b) Urbanization
   (c) Emigration
   (d) Population Growth

6. A population pyramid with a very broad base and a rapidly tapering top typically indicates:
   (a) Low birth rate and low death rate
   (b) High birth rate and high death rate
   (c) Low birth rate and high death rate
   (d) High birth rate and low death rate

7. Which continent has the highest population density among the major regions mentioned in the textbook?
   (a) Europe
   (b) Africa
   (c) South Central Asia
   (d) North America

8. Which factor is NOT primarily a 'pull' factor for migration?
   (a) Better job opportunities
   (b) Political instability or conflict in the home country
   (c) Better living conditions
   (d) Availability of good education

9. The number of females per 1000 males in a population is referred to as:
   (a) Literacy Rate
   (b) Dependency Ratio
   (c) Sex Ratio
   (d) Age Structure

10. Activities like agriculture, fishing, and mining fall under which category of occupations?
    (a) Primary Activities
    (b) Secondary Activities
    (c) Tertiary Activities
    (d) Quaternary Activities

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (c)
2. (c)
3. (c)
4. (b)
5. (c)
6. (b) (Note: While high birth rate and falling death rate leads to expansion, the classic pyramid shape described often reflects historically high death rates too, especially infant/child mortality in the least developed scenarios). Let's refine this. A broad base definitely means high birth rates. A rapidly tapering top means high death rates across age groups or specifically high infant/child mortality leading to fewer reaching older ages. So (b) or (d) are plausible interpretations depending on context. Given the textbook examples (like Kenya), high birth rate and decreasing death rate (leading to population explosion) is often associated with this shape, making (d) a strong contender too. However, the rapid tapering itself often implies significant mortality. Let's stick with the most direct interpretation of shape: Broad Base = High Births, Rapid Taper = High Deaths = (b). Self-correction: Re-reading NCERT explanation for Kenya's pyramid emphasizes high birth rates and death rates, although death rates are falling. The shape reflects the outcome. Let's keep (b) as the intended answer based on typical interpretations, but acknowledge the nuance.
7. (c)
8. (b) (Political instability is a 'push' factor)
9. (c)
10. (a)

Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understand the 'why' behind each concept, especially the factors affecting population distribution and the interpretation of population pyramids. Good luck with your preparation!