Chapter 1 : Resources and Development

Q1. What is a resource? Describe the process of resource planning in India.

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'.

Resource planning is a technique or skill of proper utilisation of resources. It consists of three stages

 Identification and inventory of resources. ’

 Evolving a planning structure with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set-up for implementing
resource development plans.

 Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans

Resource planning is very important for a country like India because it has enormous diversity in the availability of
resources

Q2. What is the result of indiscriminate use of resources?

Three issues arise as a result of indiscriminate usage of natural resources are:

Human indiscriminate exploitation of resources has resulted in economic, societal, and environmental issues. The
following are the key issues that have evolved as a result of over-exploitation, irrational consumption, and
indiscriminate resource use:

1. Resources are being depleted to satisfy the greed of a few selfish individuals.

2. The concentration of wealth in a few hands has resulted in societal segregation into affluent and poor. Society
is divided into two groups: those who have and those who have not.

3. Environmental concerns such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, pollution, and land degradation have
resulted from indiscriminate and unrestrained resource extraction with no regard for the future.

Q3)Our country is rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources. Support your answer with
examples

Yes there are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but are deficient in some other resources.

i Jharkhand Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.

ii Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural development.

iii Rajasthan is endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.

iv Ladakh has rich cultural heritage but lacks in water resources and infrastructure.

Q4. Arid soils are not fit for cultivation. Give Reasons.

1. Primarily, the soil is brown and red in color and sandy in texture.

2. The bottom horizon of the soil is occupied by Kankar because of the high content of calcium. This
prevents the infiltration of water via the soil.

3. The soil lacks moisture and humus, and due to the presence of high temperature and dry climate, the
process of evaporation takes place briskly.

4. The soil comprises a significant concentration of soluble salts.

 5. Due to the absence of vegetation and dry climate, it comprises a small percentage of organic matter.

6. The soil is alkaline due to less or no rainfall, the soluble salts do not get washed out.

7. The arid soils usually comprise high concentrations of gypsum, calcium carbonates, and sodium.

8. The soil is generally not suitable for the majority of crop production due to accumulated salts and
partial moisture content, however, if properly irrigated and managed, it can turn productive.

Q5. Describe any three main features of the black soil.

Major characteristics of Black soil are:

(i) Black soil is fine textured and clayey in nature. It is suitable for growing cotton.
(ii) Black soil has high amount of lime, iron, magnesium and generally low quantities of Phosphorus, Nitrogen
and organic matter.
(iii) It is formed from weathered lava rocks, thus is black in colour.
(iv) It has a high clay content and therefore is highly retentive of water. It is extremely fertile in most of the
places where it is found.

Q6. What are the causes of land degradation in India? Suggest some ways to address this problem.

Causes of Land Degradation: There are various causes of land degradation. The following are some of the
significant causes:

1. Deforestation Deforestation is the process of clearing trees from land. It is one of the most significant causes
of land degradation. Trees are essential in preventing soil erosion, and their removal can lead to soil erosion,
which leads to land degradation.

2. Overgrazing Overgrazing refers to the excessive use of land by animals, usually domesticated animals such
as cattle, sheep, and goats. Overgrazing can lead to soil erosion, which in turn leads to land degradation.

3. Soil Erosion Soil erosion is the process of wearing away of soil by water or wind. Soil erosion can result from
deforestation, overgrazing, and other activities that disturb the soil. Soil erosion leads to land degradation.

4. Agricultural Activities Agricultural activities such as monoculture, intensive farming, and the use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides can lead to soil degradation, which in turn leads to land degradation.

5. Mining Activities Mining activities involve the extraction of minerals from the ground. Mining can lead to
the removal of vegetation, soil erosion, and contamination of soil and water. These activities can lead to land
degradation.

6. Urbanization Urbanization involves the growth of cities and towns. Urbanization can lead to the destruction
of natural habitats, soil erosion, and soil contamination. These activities can lead to land degradation.

Q7 Give some steps to overcome land degradation

1. Afforestation
2. Proper management of grazing to control over grazing.
3.Planting of shelter belts of plants. Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
4. Control of mining activities.
5. Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.
6. Proper management of waste-lands.

Q8. What did Gandhiji mean when he said,” There is enough resources for everyone's need but not for anyone’s
greed”.

This statement is said by Gandhiji -he wanted to tell about the importance of resources in our life.
This statement illustrates us that the nature provide a lot of resource which can fulfill our needs but people of their
greedy nature are trying to keep a lot more than what is required for themselves creating socio-economic disparities.

Or Gandhiji placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern technology as the root cause
for resource depletion at the global level.

He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by the masses.

Q9.What type of soil is found in northern plains and in the Rive Deltas of the eastern coast of India? Identify the soil
and write four features of it .

The type of soil which is found in the river deltas of the Eastern Coast are Alluvial Soil.

 Alluvial soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Kaveri river, Krishna
river, Mahanadi river, and the Godavari river.

 Alluvial soil is deposited by 3 important Himalayan river systems – Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus river.

 The complete Northern plains of India is constituted with Alluvial soil

 Alluvial soil is the most important and widely spread soil.

Features of Alluvial Soil:

 Alluvial soils in the drier areas can be productive after irrigation and proper treatment as they are more
alkaline.

 The alluvial soil is very fertile.

 Due to the high fertility of Alluvial soil many crops are cultivated in this soil.

 The crops which are grown in alluvial soil are pulse crops, cereals, wheat, paddy, and sugarcane.

 The alluvial soil contains adequate proportions of lime, phosphoric acid and potash.

 The alluvial soil is coarse in the upper reaches of the river valley.

 Such soils are more common in piedmont plains such as Terai, Chos, and Duars.

 Soil particles look bigger in size, as we move inlands towards the river valleys.

 Alluvial soil has various proportions of clay, silt and sand.

 Alluvial soil is also described on the basis of age apart from components and size of the grains in the soil.

 On the basis of age, alluvial soil is classified into Khadar (new alluvial soil) and Bangar (old alluvial soil).

 Khadar soil is more fertile than bangar and Khadar type of alluvial soil has more fine particles.

 kanker nodules are found in higher concentration in Khadar soil than in Bangar type of Alluvial soil

Q10. What Soil erosion is the term used to describe the destruction of the soil cover. Both the processes of soil
formation and wind- and water-induced erosion take place simultaneously. Fundamentally, it is made worse by bad
habits.

In many areas of India, overgrazing and relocating agriculture have harmed the natural cover of the land and caused
significant erosion. The method to prevent soil erosion in hilly areas are:

 Rock dam: To block the flow of water, rocks are piled high. This stops gullies and additional soil loss.
  Contour barriers: Barriers along contours are constructed using soil, grass, and stones. To collect water,
trenches are made in front of the barriers.

 Intercropping: To prevent the soil from being washed away by rain, different crops are sown at various times
and grown in alternate rows.

 Contour Ploughing: Ploughing parallel to a hill slope’s contours creates a natural barrier that prevents water
from flowing down the slope. This practice is known as contour ploughing.

Q11.Answer the questions based on laterite soil :

a)From which word the term laterite is derived?

b)In which region this soil develops?

C)in which states of India this soil is found?

d) which crops are grown in red laterite soil?

Ans ----The term "laterite" comes from the Latin word later, which means "brick".

Here are some answers to other questions about laterite soil:

 Region

Laterite soils develop in areas with low temperatures and low rainfall. They are primarily tropical soils with high
temperatures and seasonal rainfall.

 States

Laterite soils are found in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

 Crops

Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are more suitable for tree crops like cashew nuts.

Laterite soils are reddish to yellow in color with a lower content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, lime, and
magnesia. They are high in nitrogen content and are acidic.
 CH 2 FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES

1.How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain

Several human activities have affected the depletion of flora and fauna and have led to declining in India’s
biodiversity. The main factors responsible for this damage are:

1. Habitat destruction, mainly due to overpopulation leading to expansion of agriculture, mining,

industrialization, and urbanization and consequent wiping out of large forest areas.

2. Hunting and poaching and illegal trade of animal skin, tusks, bones, teeth, horns, etc have led many species to
the verge of extinction.

3. Environmental pollution, poisoning of water bodies due to the discharge of industrial effluents, chemicals,
wastes, etc. leading to animal deaths.

4. Forest fires are often induced by shifting cultivation wiping out valuable forests and wildlife.

5. Large-scale development projects and destruction of forests.

6. Grazing and fuel wood collection. Over-exploitation of forest products

7. The activities of human such as housing plans, factories infrastructure, and mining is mainly responsible for
the depletion of flora and fauna. The construction of the dam has also led to a massive decline in forest cover
and also migration of species from their habitats.

2. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?

Communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India as the Bishnois of Rajasthan have a
strong fervour for protecting peacocks and black buck chinkara.

A local conservation endeavor is the Chipko Movement. Since 1988, Orissa has used joint forest management,
which has been successful in promoting conservation

Some indigenous communities in India live in forests. Local people are working hard to preserve their habitats to
guarantee their long-term survival. Villagers in Sariska Tiger Reserve have fought against mining using the Wildlife
Protection Act. Using the famous Chipko movement, native saplings were planted in the Himalayas. In some areas,
the community was able to stop deforestation.

The residents of five villages in the state of Rajasthan (Alwar) have designated 1200 hectares of forest as Bhairodev
Dakav “Sonchuri.” With their laws and regulations, they defend wildlife from any outside intrusions. They prohibit
hunting animals. Farmers and citizen organizations like Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya were able
to produce a variety of crops without the use of synthetic chemicals. Degraded woods have been restored and
managed under the Joint Forest Management (JFM) Program with the help of the local people.

Odisha approved the first law establishing shared forest management. This program has been running since 1988.
According to JFM, institutions at the local (village) level are established to carry out protection measures
overseen by the forest department in the damaged forests. Members of these communities receive intermediary
benefits such a share as in the timber harvested by successful protection, as well as non-timber forest output, in
exchange for their protection efforts.

3. Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife.

Due to rapid reduction in the forests and wildlife population, Conservation of forests and wildlife has become very
important.

 Our life support systems – soil, air, water and ecological diversity is preserved through conservation.

 For better growth of breeding and species, conservation preserves the genetic diversity of animals and plants.
  A demand for a national wildlife protection programme was made by the conservationists in the 1960s and
1970s.

 In 1972 the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented with different provisions for protection of
wildlife.

 An all India list of protected species was also published.

 The thrust of the programme was towards restricting trade in wildlife, giving legal protection to their habitats,
by banning hunting, protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species.

 Subsequently, state and central governments established many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks were
established by the state and central governments.

 Some animals like snow leopard, the great Indian bustard (godawan), black buck (chinkara), the Indian
elephant have been given partial or full legal protection from trade and hunting throughout India.

4. Why is biodiversity important for human lives?

 Biodiversity maintains the ecological balance.

 It helps in the healthy existence of humans and other species in the ecosystem.
 It helps in high productivity and human wellness.
 Biodiversity provides humans with valuable genetic diversity.

CH 3 WATER RESOURCES

1. What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water scarcity
Water scarcity is nothing but shortage of water to meet the needs of the humans.

 Water scarcity is caused by unequal access to water, excessive use of water among different social
groups and in most cases it is caused by over-exploitation of water.

 Due to variations in annual precipitation and seasons, the availability of water varies over time and
space.

 Due to rapidly increasing population, there is more demand for food, which in turn leads to more
demand for water for personal use and for increasing food grain production as well which leads to over
exploitation of water resources during dry season months and to expand irrigated areas.

 Hence one can also say that the growing population and unequal access to water is one of the important
causes for water scarcity.

 More pressure is exerted on existing freshwater resources due to the constant increase in the number of
industries.

 Apart from being heavy users of water, industries also meet the majority of their power requirements
through hydroelectric power.

 The water scarcity problem has been further aggravated due to urban lifestyles, dense and large
populations in urban centres.

 In urban areas there are many large colonies or housing societies which make use of their own
groundwater pumping devices to meet water requirements. This has led to massive depletion of
groundwater resources as there is not much scope for replenishing itself.

 Another major problem behind water scarcity is pollution of water resources due to fertilisers,
pesticides, chemicals, domestic and industrial wastes, thus making the water unusable even if there is
ample water.

2. How intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have posed a great pressure on existing fresh water resources in
India?

Intensive industrilisation and urbanization have caused great pressure on the existing freshwater resources in the
following ways :

i Water is used in industries in many ways. It is used as a coolant for machines.

ii Water is required to generate hydroelectricity to run industries as well as homes.

iii As a result of the rapid increase in population and urbanization the per capita consumption of water has also
increased. Water is therefore critically short of supply.

3. What is the need for conservation of water resources?

Water is the basic need of the people .It is a natural resource needed by every living being on the globe.It is limited
and necessary to conserve it.Reasons to conserve water can be explained as follows:
(i)Water resources in India are limited and our population is increasing day by day so the water requirment is also
increasing day bu day.
(ii)Availbility of water in our country is uneven,so it is necessary to make it available to all.
(iii)Water resources are being polluted day by day,especially in the urban areas and are not suitable for drinking
purpose.
(iv)It is necessary to conserve water to make it available to all for the continuation of our livelihood and to save our
ecosystem as well as human beings. Measures to Conserve water Resources:
(i)Save water,avoid water wastage in domestic as well at all other levels.
(ii)Recharge groud water by using rain water harvesting etc.
(iii)Use drip irrgation and sprinklers methods to irrigate the fields.

4. What is a dam? Describe the functioning of dams?

Dam is a barrier flowing water that obstructs or retard the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake, or impoundment.”
dams refer to the reservoir rather than the structure. for example, water in a single reservoir can be used for fishing, to
generate hydroelectric power, and to support an irrigation system.
Functions
(i) Most dams have a section called spillway or weir over which or through which, water will flow intermittently or
continuously.
(ii) It is used The second to raise the level of the water upstream to enable water to be diverted into a canal or to
increase ’hydraulic head’.

5. Why are multipurpose river valley projects called ‘The Temples of Modern India’? Who first made this statement?

Jawharlal Nehru proclaimed that multipurpose projcts (dams) are The Temples of Moderr India because they were
thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to development and progress. He believed that these projects with
their integiated water resource management approach would mtegrate development of agriculture and the village
economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy. Dams or multipurpose river valley projects
have the follwing advantages :
(i) They bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity and also provide water for irrigation.
(ii) These projects generate electricity for industries and our homes.
(iii) They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.
(iv) These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.

6. ‘Construction of dams on rivers has caused environmental degradation.’ Give reasons to support this statement.

Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow.
(a) Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
(b) Lack of sediments results in
(i) The rockier stream beds
(ii) Poorer habitat for the river’s aquatic life.
(c) Dams also fragment rivers, making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
(d) The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil, leading to its decomposition over time.
(e) Flood plains are deprived of silt and khadar, affecting the fertility levels of the soil.
(f) The construction of dams also faces resistance because of the large-scale displacement of local communities.

7. Multipurpose projects and dams have been the cause of many new social movements. Name two such social
movements and write the underlying causes for these movements.

(i) Multi purpose projects and large dams have been the cause of many new social movements like the Naramada
Bacho Andolan and the Tehri Dam Andolan, etc.
(ii) Regulating and damming of rivers has affected theit natural flow causing poor sediment flow. This has resulted in
rockier stream beds.
(iii) Resistance to these projects has primarily been due to the large scale displacement of local communities.
(iv) Local people often have had to live up their land, livelihood and their meager access Local PS P and control over
resources for the greater good of the nation
(v) Many settlements and agricultural lands are submerged under water.
(vi) The social landscape has been transformed. It has increased the gap between rich landowners and landless poor.
(vii)Dams have created conflicts between people wanting different used and benefits from the same water resuources.
(viii) In Gujrat, the sabarmati basin farmers were agaitated.
(ix) Inter-state water disputes are also becoming common withe regard to the sharing of costs and benefits of these
multipurpose projects.

8. Describe the traditional method of rainwater harvesting adopted in different parts of India.
Methods of rainwater harvesting used in India are:

i Guls and Kuls : People built guls and kuls in hilly and mountainous regions to divert water. These are simple
channels. They are mainly used in the Western Himalayas.

ii Rooftop rainwater harvesting: Commonly practised to store drinking water in Rajasthan.

iii Inundation Channels: These channels developed in the floodplains of Bengal to irrigate fields.

iv Khadins and Johads: In arid and semi-arid regions some agricultural fields were converted into rainfed storage
structures. These structures are found in Rajasthan.

v Tankas: The tanks were built inside the main house or the courtyard. They were connected to the sloping roofs of the
houses through a pipe. Rain falling on the rooftops would travel down the pipe and was stored in these underground
tankas. The first spell of rain was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs and the pipes. The rainwater from
the subsequent showers was then collected.The rainwater can be stored in the tankas.

9. Explain how rooftop rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out.

 In Rajasthan, to store drinking water, ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practised.

 Rain fed storage structures were created in agricultural fields. It allowed water to stand thereby moistening the
soil – Johads in different parts of Rajasthan, and Khadins in Jaisalmer.

 For storing drinking water, all the houses had tankas or underground tanks in Balmer, Phalodi, Bikaner
regions of Rajasthan.

 The size of tankas would be as large as a big room.

 The Rooftop rainwater harvesting system had tankas which were built inside the courtyard or main house.

 Through a pipe they were connected to the sloping roofs of the house.

 These underground tankas are used to store rainwater, which falls on the roof and flows down through pipes.

 Due to the perennial Rajasthan Canal, rooftop rainwater harvesting is on decline.

10. Write some measures adopted for conservation of water resources

Water is the basic need of the people .It is a natural resource needed by every living being on the globe.It is limited
and necessary to conserve it.Reasons to conserve water can be explained as follows:
(i)Water resources in India are limited and our population is increasing day by day so the water requirment is also
increasing day bu day.
(ii)Availbility of water in our country is uneven,so it is necessary to make it available to all.
(iii)Water resources are being polluted day by day,especially in the urban areas and are not suitable for drinking
purpose.
(iv)It is necessary to conserve water to make it available to all for the continuation of our livelihood and to save our
ecosystem as well as human beings. Measures to Conserve water Resources:
(i)Save water,avoid water wastage in domestic as well at all other levels.
(ii)Recharge groud water by using rain water harvesting etc.
(iii)Use drip irrgation and sprinklers methods to irrigate the fields.

CHAPTER -4 (GEOGRAPHY) AGRICULTURE

Q1. Establish the difference between Commercial farming and Subsistence farming with the help of a suitable
example..
A. Commercial Farming

i. Use of higher doses of modern inputs like HYV seeds fertilizers etc.

ii. Commercialization of agriculture varies from region to another

iii. Plantation is also a type of commercial farming

iv. Use of well-developed network of transport and communication

v. High productivity for commercial purpose

B. Subsistence Farming i. Is practiced on small patches of land

ii. Labour intensive farming

iii. Use of primitive tools

iv. Dependent on Monsoons

v. Called as ‘Slash and burn’ agriculture.

vi. Low productivity

Q2.Mr. Palani is from Tamil Nādu, and wishes to cultivate either Tea or Wheat. Which one of the crops out of the two
can he cultivate in his state? Substantiate your answer with any two reasons.

Mr. Palani must cultivate Tea in Tamilnadu as the soil and climatic conditions in Tamil Nādu are suitable to grow Tea.
● The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates endowed with deep and fertile well-drained laterite
soil, rich in humus and organic matter. Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year

. ● Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.

Q3. Name the four major fiber crops grown in India. Out of these which fibre is not obtained directly from the crops?
Write the name of its production method.

The four major fiber crops grown in India are cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk. Out of these, natural silk is not
obtained directly from the crops. It is obtained from the cocoons of silkworms fed on green leaves, especially
mulberry. The process of rearing silkworms for the production of silk fiber is known as sericulture.

Cotton is mainly grown in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and
Madhya Pradesh. Jute is mainly grown in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and Orissa. Hemp is grown in the
states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Natural silk is produced in the states of Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The fiber crops are grown for the fibers to make ropes, cloth, bags, etc. for commercial purposes. The fibers are
obtained from the stems, leaves, or fruits of the plants. The fibers are then processed to make yarn, which is then used
to make cloth, ropes, and other products.

Q4. Why do we need technical and institutional reforms in agriculture? Technical and institutional reforms are needed
in agriculture because:

 Agriculture has been practiced in India for thousands of years.

 Sustained uses of land without compatible techno-institutional changes have hindered the pace of agricultural
development.

 In spite of development of sources of irrigation most of the farmers in large parts of the country still depend
upon monsoon and natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture.
  For a growing population, this poses a serious challenge.

 Agriculture which provides livelihood for more than 60 percent of its population, needs some serious
technical and institutional reforms.

Technical reforms can help to improve the efficiency of agricultural production, while institutional reforms can help to
create a more supportive environment for farmers.

Q5. Why Bhoodan and Gramdan are called bloodless revolutions?

The Bhoodan Gramdan Movement was a voluntary land reform movement in India that was started by Acharya
Vinoba Bhave.In this movement land owners chose to provide some part of their land to the poor farmers due to the
fear of land ceiling act.There were no fights or blood shed so the movement was called blood-less revolution.

Q6. What is the importance of agriculture in Indian economy?

(a) India is an agricultural country. Two-third of its population is engaged in agricultural activities.
(b) Agriculture provides employment to millions of people directly and indirectly.
(c) Most of the food that we consumed is produced by millions of farmers of our country.
(d) Our animal wealth also depends, for its food, on agriculture.
(e) Agriculture also produces raw material for various industries such as cotton textiles, woollen textiles, jute textiles,
sugar mills, paper industry, etc.
(f) We export so many agricultural products like tea, coffee, spices, fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish, mutton, leather, etc.
By exporting these articles, a goods, we earn huge foreign exchange

Q7. Why has Indian agriculture been transformed from subsistence to commercial farming.

 Population growth: India's population is growing rapidly, so there is less need for food.

 Crop production: India's production of wheat, rice, sugarcane, millets, spices, cotton, jute, and tea has
increased.

 Cash crops: India can grow a variety of crops, including cash crops, which can be sold in international
markets.

Q8. . Explain slash-and-burn agriculture. How it is known in different parts of India

Slash and burn agriculture, commonly called as Jhum cultivation in the north-eastern states of India, has contributed to
deforestation. In slash and burn agriculture, the farmers cut down the trees of the forest and burn the plant remains and
the land is used for farming.