Resources and Development
Long Answer Questions and Answers
1. Explain how nature, technology, and institutions are interdependent in resource development. Use agriculture as an example.
Answer:
- Nature gives the base: land, soil, water, and climate.
- Technology turns this base into output through seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, and machines.
- Institutions guide use through policies, subsidies, research, and credit.
- If rainfall is low, technology like drip irrigation helps. Institutions can support it with subsidies.
- If technology is misused, soil gets degraded. Institutions must regulate pesticides and groundwater.
- When all three work in balance, farming becomes productive and sustainable.
2. Why is classifying resources important for sustainable development and planning? Explain with examples.
Answer:
- Classification helps us know what is available and what is scarce.
- It guides policy and priorities, like saving non-renewables.
- Renewables (like water, forests) need conservation and recharge.
- Non-renewables (like coal, petroleum) need efficient use and alternatives.
- Ownership helps manage access: community ponds vs. private wells vs. national forests.
- Development status (potential, stock, reserves) guides investment and research.
3. Differentiate between biotic and abiotic resources. How does this help in resource planning?
Answer:
- Biotic resources are from living things: forests, animals, fisheries, humans.
- Abiotic resources are from non-living things: air, water, minerals, rocks.
- Biotic use must focus on renewal, biodiversity, and sustainable yield.
- Abiotic use must focus on efficiency, recycling, and pollution control.
- In planning, biotic areas need protection and community roles.
- Abiotic extraction needs regulation, technology upgradation, and land restoration.
4. Explain renewable and non-renewable resources. Why does misuse of either harm sustainability?
Answer:
- Renewable resources can be replenished: solar, wind, water, forests.
- Non-renewable resources are limited: coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals.
- Misusing renewables causes depletion and degradation (e.g., deforestation).
- Overusing non-renewables speeds up exhaustion and raises emissions.
- Wise use means conservation, recycling, and alternative energy.
- Sustainability needs balanced use, carrying capacity respect, and long-term planning.
5. What are individual, community, national, and international resources? How does ownership affect access and equity?
Answer:
- Individual: privately owned land, houses, farms, plantations.
- Community: shared by locals, like village ponds, grazing lands, parks.
- National: owned by the nation, like forests, rivers, wildlife, minerals, EEZ up to 200 nautical miles.
- International: beyond national control, like high seas beyond 200 nm; regulated by international laws.
- Ownership defines rights, duties, and limits.
- Good governance ensures fair access, prevents overuse, and reduces conflicts.
6. Explain potential, developed resources, stock, and reserves with Indian examples. Why does this classification matter?
Answer:
- Potential: present but not fully used, like solar/wind in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- Developed: surveyed and used, like coal in Jharkhand, hydel power.
- Stock: available but not usable due to lack of technology, like hydrogen fuel at scale.
- Reserves: usable with present tech but kept for future, like water in dams, reserved forests.
- The classification helps plan investment, research, and conservation.
- It balances current needs with future security.
High Complexity – Analysis & Scenario-based
7. A drought-prone district faces falling groundwater and low farm yields. Formulate a plan using nature, technology, and institutions.
Answer:
- Use nature-based solutions: watershed development, check dams, afforestation.
- Adopt technology: drip/sprinkler irrigation, soil moisture sensors, mulching.
- Shift to drought-resistant crops and millets; promote crop diversification.
- Institutions should regulate borewell drilling and enforce water budgeting.
- Provide subsidies for micro-irrigation and training through extension services.
- Create water user associations for collective management and monitoring.
8. A coastal state plans offshore wind farms 30 km from shore. Discuss ownership, environmental checks, and institutional roles.
Answer:
- The site is within the EEZ (≤ 200 nm), so it is a national resource.
- The Union government and state bodies must coordinate on leases and permits.
- Conduct EIA to study impacts on fisheries, birds, and marine life.
- Use technology like careful site mapping and cable routing to avoid sensitive zones.
- Ensure stakeholder consultations with fisherfolk and local communities.
- Set monitoring, decommissioning plans, and compensation for any losses.
9. A mineral-rich tribal region faces pressure for new mining. Analyse the trade-offs and propose a sustainable pathway.
Answer:
- Nature risk: deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, biodiversity loss.
- Technology can reduce harm: dust control, closed-loop water, progressive reclamation.
- Institutions must ensure FPIC (free, prior, informed consent) and fair rehabilitation.
- Use District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds for health, education, livelihoods.
- Limit mining to carrying capacity, with no-go zones for ecologically sensitive areas.
- Plan mine closure from day one; promote value addition and local jobs.
10. How does a mismatch among nature, technology, and institutions lead to depletion and inequality? Suggest safeguards with examples.
Answer:
- Overuse of groundwater with electric pumps and free power causes depletion.
- Weak institutions allow illegal mining, leading to environmental damage and loss of revenue.
- Poor technology choices (excess fertilizers) degrade soil and water.
- Safeguards: pricing that discourages waste, permits, and strict monitoring.
- Promote clean technologies, rainwater harvesting, and recycling.
- Ensure equity through community rights, transparent data, and public participation.