These are the NCERT questions and answers from Chapter 1 – Development, created to help you understand what development really means and how it affects different people in different ways. This chapter is all about thinking beyond just income — it teaches you to look at development from many angles like health, education, and equality. The NCERT questions included here will not only guide you in writing clear and smart exam answers but also help you think deeply about real-world issues. Practicing them will give you the confidence to tackle complex ideas and improve your answer-writing skills. Before moving on to tricky or advanced questions, it’s best to grasp these basics strongly — they are the building blocks of your understanding.
Exercise Questions:-
Q1. Development of a country can generally be determined by
i) its per capita income
(ii) its average literacy level
(iii) health status of its people
(iv) all the above
Answer:- (iv) all the above
Q.2 Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India?
(i) Bangladesh
(ii) Sri Lanka
(iii) Nepal
(iv) Pakistan
Answer:- (ii) Sri Lanka
Q.3 Assume there are four families in a country. The average per capita income of these families is Rs 5000. If the income of three families is Rs 4000, Rs 7000 and Rs 3000 respectively, what is the income of the fourth family?
(i) Rs 7500
(ii) Rs 3000
(iii) Rs 2000
(iv) Rs 6000
Answer:- (iv) Rs 6000
Q.4 What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?
Answer:- The World Bank uses per capita income to classify countries. Those with low per capita income are called poor And other countries with high per capita income are called rich.
There are some limitations as well in this criterion.
- It only looks at income and not other important factors like health, education, or inequality.
- It does not show how income is distributed among people.
- A country may have high income, but many people may still be poor or unhealthy.
Q.5 In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?
Answer:-The World Bank measures development mainly by per capita income. It ranks countries as rich or poor based on average income.
On the other hand, the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) uses the Human Development Index (HDI). It includes:
- Income (per capita income)
- Health (life expectancy)
- Education (literacy rate and years of schooling)
So, UNDP uses a wider approach that looks at both income and quality of life, while the World Bank focuses only on income.
Q.6 Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.
Answer:- We use averages in economics to compare income levels between different countries or regions. Averages help in comparing quantities by giving a single value that represents the whole group.
However, this feature also show some limitations to their use.
For example:- Averages do not reflect income distribution. And they ignore inequality among people.
Q.7 Kerala, with lower per capita income has a better human development ranking than Haryana. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to compare states. Do you agree? Discuss.
Answer:- Per capita income is useful, but it is not enough to compare development between states.
Kerala has better health and education services than Haryana, even though its per capita income is lower.
This means other factors like literacy, life expectancy, and healthcare are also important.
So, I do not fully agree with the statement.
We should not ignore per capita income, but we must also look at human development indicators to get a complete picture.
Q.8 Find out the present sources of energy that are used by the people in India. What could be the other possibilities fifty years from now?
Answer:- Presently, people in India mostly use conventional sources of energy such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Although India is now shifting towards non-conventional sources like solar and wind energy, these are still not widely used in daily life.
In the next fifty years, we may fully switch to alternative and eco-friendly sources of energy.
These sources will help the country grow economically and protect the environment at the same time.
Q.9 Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Answer:- Sustainability means using resources carefully so they are available for future generations.
It is important for development because:
- If we use up all natural resources now, future growth will stop.
- Development should protect the environment while meeting people’s needs.
- Sustainable use helps in long-term progress and better quality of life.
So, true development is not just about growth today but also about saving resources for tomorrow.
Q.10 “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person”. How is this statement relevant to the discussion of development? Discuss.
Answer:- Even though our Mother Earth has enough to meet our basic needs, many resources are still limited. People can use these resources wisely to make them last longer.
However, the greed to grow more and the overuse of resources have led to environmental degradation.
Thus, we can conclude that the Earth has enough to satisfy everyone’s needs, but not enough to satisfy anyone’s greed.
Q.11 List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.
Answer:- Environmental degradation can be seen in many ways around us. We see air pollution caused by vehicles and factories releasing smoke. Water pollution is common where people throw garbage and chemicals into rivers and ponds. Deforestation or cutting down trees for buildings and roads is another serious issue. Soil erosion happens due to overgrazing and lack of vegetation. We also see plastic waste and garbage littered in public places. Noise pollution from loudspeakers, vehicles, and construction work adds to the problem. All these actions damage the environment and affect both nature and human life.
Q.12 For each of the items given in Table 1.6, find out which country is at the top and which is at the bottom.
Answer:-
| Item | Top Country | Bottom Country |
|---|---|---|
| Gross National Income (GNI) per capita | Sri Lanka (11,899) | Nepal (4,026) |
| Life Expectancy at Birth | Sri Lanka (76.6 years) | Pakistan (66.4 years) |
| Mean Years of Schooling (25+ age) | Sri Lanka (11.2 years) | Pakistan (4.4 years) |
| HDI Rank in the World (2021-22) | Sri Lanka (Rank 78) | Pakistan (Rank 164) |
Q.13 The data shows the percentage of people with below-average BMI. Look at it carefully.
| State | Male (%) |
|---|---|
| Kerala | 8.5 |
| Karnataka | 17 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 28 |
| All States | 20 |
(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
Answer:- In Kerala, only 8.5% of males and 10% of females have a BMI below normal, which is much lower than Madhya Pradesh, where 28% of both males and females are undernourished.
This shows that people in Kerala have better nutrition and health compared to those in Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Can you guess why around one-fifth of people in the country are undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country?
Answer:- Even though there is enough food in the country, many people are still undernourished because:
- They cannot afford to buy nutritious food.
- There is unequal distribution of food and income.
- Some people may not have proper awareness of balanced diets.
- Lack of education and healthcare also affects their nutrition.
So, the problem is not just food supply, but also poverty, inequality, and poor access to resources.
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