Q4. 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 as the main criterion.
Limitations:
It does not show how income is distributed among people.
It ignores non-income aspects like health, education, and equality.
It cannot measure the quality of life.
Q5. In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?
Answer:
World Bank → Uses per capita income.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) → Uses Human Development Index (HDI).
HDI includes:
Income
Life expectancy (health)
Literacy rate and education level
UNDP gives a better picture of development.
Q6. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.
Answer:
We use averages to compare between countries or states.
They give a general idea.
Limitations:
Averages hide inequalities.
Example: If one person earns ₹50,000 and another earns ₹500, average is ₹25,250.
But the second person is still very poor.
So, averages do not tell the real situation of all people.
Q7. 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 alone is not enough.
Kerala has better health, education, and public facilities than Haryana.
So, HDI is more useful than only income.
But per capita income still gives some basic idea of standard of living.
So, we should use both income and other indicators together.
Q8. 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:
Present sources:
Coal
Oil and natural gas
Hydroelectric power
Biomass (wood, dung cakes)
Solar and wind (growing use)
Future possibilities (50 years from now):
More solar and wind energy
Hydrogen fuel
Nuclear energy
New eco-friendly technologies
Q9. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Answer:
If we overuse natural resources, they will finish one day.
Without resources, future generations will suffer.
Sustainable development means using resources carefully so that they last.
Example: Overuse of groundwater → future shortage.
Q10. “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:
Needs are limited, but greed is unlimited.
If people use resources only for needs, all can live well.
But if a few people use too much for luxury, others will suffer.
Example: Excess use of water, cutting forests for profit.
True development should focus on needs of all, not greed of few.
Q11. List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.
