Development

(a) Groundwater is overused mainly for Agriculture and domestic purposes. Due to growing urbanisation more and more population is attracted to towns. This is creating huge demand of water which in turn causes over-exploitation of ground water

(b) Overuse may seem beneficial in the short term but it is harmful for us in the long run. Development without overuse is possible if the process is sustainable and judicious. There can be alternate ways to save resources and develop simultaneously.

(a) Crude oil plays a pivotal role in a country’s development process. Crude oil is a primary energy source for industries, transportation, and power generation. It fuels economic activities and drives growth. Many industries rely on oil-derived products (plastics, chemicals, fertilizers). Without crude oil, industrial production would suffer.

(b) India's dependence on crude oil imports presents several challenges and potential problems. Some of them are listed below:

1. Importing oil requires foreign currency. Therefore, it will impact India’s foreign reserve.
2. Fluctuations in global oil prices can significantly impact India's economy. It can lead to higher inflation increasing costs for goods and services.
3. Depending on a limited number of countries for oil supplies can make India vulnerable to diplomatic and political pressures.
4. Increased spending on oil imports can limit the government's ability to invest in infrastructure and social programs.

all the above

Sri Lanka

Rs 6000

Solution: Per capita income is the total income of the country/state divided by the number of people in that country/state.

There are total four families.

Let the income of fourth family be x

The average per capita income is

(4000 + 7000 + 3000 + x) / 4 = 5000

⇒ (14000 + x) / 4 = 5000

⇒ 14000 + x = 5000 x 4

⇒ 14000 + x = 20000

⇒ x = 20000 - 14000

⇒ x = 6000

∴ Income of fourth family is Rs. 6,000.

"Per capita income" is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries. The main limitation of this criteria is that it reflects the average income of a person but does not depicts the distribution of the wealth in the country. A high per capita income of a country may be due to a high earning section while there may be a section of population which is poor.

Human Development Report published by UNDP compares countries based on the educational levels of the people, their health status and per capita income while World Bank uses only per capita income to measure development.

Averages serve as useful tools for summarizing data and making comparisons. However, they come with limitations. While averages provide a quick snapshot, they shouldn’t be the sole metric for decision-making. Exploring full data distributions reveals the complete scenario. There limitations are:

1. Averages don’t reveal how data is distributed among individuals.
2. Extreme values (high or low) disproportionately impact averages.

For example, high per capita income of a state can be due to a few rich people while the majority of population can be deprived and poor. Therefore, an average value cannot always give an exact picture of the situation.

Kerala has a lower per capita income but it is known for its high literacy rate, lower infant mortality rate, and robust healthcare facilities. These are the indicators of human development. Despite a higher per capita income, Haryana faces challenges related to education, healthcare, and social well-being. Per capita income is a common metric for comparing wealth and living standards across countries or states. It overlooks income disparities within the population and other facilities, infrastructures etc. Per capita income alone doesn’t reflect overall quality of life or well-being. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment considers multiple dimensions and not just per capita income.

Present sources of energy in India include:

1. Coal and oil
2. Renewable sources (such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass)
3. Natural gas
4. Nuclear power

Looking ahead fifty years, India could increasingly rely on:

1. Expanded renewable energy, including advanced solar and wind technologies.
2. Growth in electric vehicles and using hydrogen as fuel
3. Advancements in nuclear power

Sustainability is important for development because it ensures that economic progress is achieved in harmony with environmental protection, social equity, and ethical considerations. It seeks to create a future where human societies can thrive within the ecological limits of the planet. Sustainable development ensures that natural resources are used in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development aims to minimize environmental degradation and pollution.

The Earth possesses abundant natural resources—water, land, minerals, energy, and more. These resources can theoretically meet the basic needs of everyone on the planet: food, water, shelter, healthcare, education, and a decent standard of living. However, the problem lies in greed that drives overconsumption, hoarding, and unequal distribution of resources. Development aims to improve human well-being, but it must be sustainable. Sustainable development balances economic, social, and environmental aspects. If development caters only to the greedy, it perpetuates inequality, environmental degradation, and social unrest.

Following are the examples of environmental degradation that I have observed around me:

1. Deforestation
2. Air Pollution
3. Water Pollution
4. Noise Pollution
5. Soil Erosion
6. Waste Accumulation
7. Climate change effects like heatwave and floods.
8. Loss of Biodiversity.

(i) Kerala have less malnourished or under-weight people than Madhya pradesh.

(ii) Although, India is self sufficient in food grains yet around one-fifth of people in the country are undernourished because :

1. A section of people are very poor. Poverty restricts food choices and affordability.
2. Public distribution system is not working efficiently in all villages.
3. Changes in climate patterns affect agricultural seasons and food security.
4. Mere sufficiency will not solve the problem, providing nutrition is very important.

Different persons have different requirements and needs according to their present situation. Their idea of development varies according to their requirement. For example, a business man may consider ease of doing business, a development while for a farmer, availability of agricultural inputs and easy marketing can be called as development. Therefore, according to me second explanation is more important.

The given statements are not entirely the same. Different people may have different developmental goals according to their needs but they may not always be conflicting. Conflicting goals mean that development goals of a particular person or group is harmful for others. For example, a businessman and a student have different but non-conflicting developmental goals but developmental goals of a government like building a dam, can be harmful to displaced villagers.

There are factors like equality, respect and freedom that are important aspects of our lives other than income. Money, or material things that one can buy with it, is one factor on which our life depends. But the quality of our life also depends on non-material things. For example, other than a high paying job, a women also needs security, freedom and equality.

Quality of life depends upon many factors like money, health, happiness, etc. Money alone cannot buy happiness and satisfaction. Physical and mental well-being significantly impacts quality of life. Feeling safe in one’s environment, both physically and emotionally, contributes to a higher quality of life. The ability to make choices, express oneself, and live according to personal values enhances quality of life.

The picture shows a slum area beside an apartment. Such an area have a different set of developmental goals that may include following:

1. Building pacca houses for the people living in slums.
2. Providing services like electricity, water and healthcare.
3. Providing job opportunities.
4. Proper sanitation.
5. Proper education opportunities for the children living in slums.

(i) People who benefited were the people of the local company that disposed the toxic waste. The local people of the Ivory Coast suffered because of the effect of toxic waste on their health.

(ii) The developmental goals for this country would include:

1. Strong administrative mechanism to avoid such incidents.
2. Strict rules to punish such offenders.
3. Making people aware regarding pollution and prevention of pollution.

The following can be developmental goals for my village:

1. Education — Ensuring access to quality education for all residents. This includes establishing and maintaining local schools.
2. Healthcare — Providing adequate health facilities through local hospitals or clinics. Access to healthcare services, preventive measures, and health awareness programs are crucial.
3. Infrastructure — Developing and maintaining essential infrastructure, such as good roadways, railways, electricity, irrigation facilities etc.
4. Economic Opportunities — Fostering economic growth by supporting local businesses and creating employment opportunities.
5. Sanitation and Garbage Management — Proper sewage system and door to door garbage collection with waste segregation at source to ensure sanitation and hygiene.

1. Per capita income
2. Population density
3. Average height

Average income provides insights into both individual well-being and societal development, making it a valuable criterion for assessing progress. Money is the main requisite for development. Therefore, a higher average income means higher chances of development and ensure its faster pace. If the average income is lower, the rate of development is slower.

Besides size of per capita income, the other property of income that is important in comparing two or more societies is its distribution. The prosperity of a country depends not only on its total national income but also on how that income is distributed among its population. If the number of people sharing the income is large, the average income tends to be lower.

An increase in a country’s average income over time doesn’t necessarily guarantee improvement across all sections of the economy. For example, the average income can rise due to increase of salary in a particular sector but other sectors can continue to earn less. Therefore, we cannot conclude that all sections of the economy have become better.

As per the World Development Reports following countries have been classified in low income group:

1. Madagascar
2. Mozambique
3. Democratic Republic of Congo
4. Somalia
5. Ethiopia
6. Afghanistan
7. Chad
8. Sudan

To achieve the status of a developed country India needs sustained economic growth and stability. We should prioritize education, healthcare and skill development. We need to improve literacy rates, education access and health care in order to improve quality of life. All this will help in proper distribution of income to all sections of society. Also, stable governance ensures long-term planning and policy continuity. Transparent institutions and effective governance are critical for development of the nation.

Kerala is ahead of Haryana in literacy rate but per capita income of Haryana is more than Kerala.

Some examples where collective provision of goods and services is cheaper than individual provision are:

1. Public Transportation — Operating buses, trains, and metros on a collective basis reduces the costs per passenger compared to everyone using individual cars.
2. Utilities — Services like water supply, sewage treatment, electricity is cheaper when handled collectively through municipal or regional systems.
3. Public Parks & Recreation Facilities — Publicly funded parks, sports fields, and recreational facilities provide spaces for leisure and exercise at a fraction of the cost it would take for each individual to have similar amenities privately.
4. Libraries — Public libraries offer access to books, digital resources, and other educational materials to the community at a lower cost than if each person had to purchase these items individually.
5. Internet & Telecommunications — Internet service providers and telecommunications companies provide network infrastructure that supports many users, reducing the cost compared to each user setting up their own network.

The availability of good health and educational facilities extends beyond government spending. People need to be educated enough and aware to understand the importance of health and education. Also, the government needs to monitor the working mechanism of the facilities provided by it. It is important to check corruption and make sure that needy person is getting benefitted and facilities are not exploited.

The people of Tamil Nadu would be better off as 90 percent of the people living in rural areas use a ration shop and able to get food grains, sugar, kerosene oil etc. from the ration shop at a price lower than the market price. Ration shops play an effective role in stabilizing the prices and making necessary goods available to poor consumers at affordable price.