1. Development of a country can generally be determined by
(iv) all the above
(Per capita income, literacy level, and health status are all indicators of development.)
2. Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India?
(ii) Sri Lanka
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?
Let income of fourth family = x
(4000 + 7000 + 3000 + x)/4 = 5000
(14000 + x)/4 = 5000
14000 + x = 20000
x = 6000
(iv) Rs 6000
4. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?
The World Bank uses per capita income as the main criterion.
Limitations: It ignores inequalities, health, education, and other aspects of human well-being.
5. In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?
UNDP’s Human Development Index (HDI) considers income, health (life expectancy), and education (literacy/enrolment rates), providing a more comprehensive view than just per capita income.
6. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.
Averages simplify data and provide a general understanding.
Limitations: They hide disparities; e.g., if three people earn Rs 250, 250, and 10,000, average = Rs 3,500 but this does not reflect the actual distribution or inequality.
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.
Per capita income is useful but insufficient alone—other factors like education and health matter. Kerala’s better HDI despite lower per capita income shows the importance of non-income indicators.
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?
Present sources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear, solar, wind, and biomass.
Fifty years from now: Greater reliance on solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, and advanced biofuels—cleaner, renewable sources are likely.
9. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Sustainability ensures resources are available for future generations; environmental degradation harms everyone, regardless of region. Our actions affect global well-being.
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.
It means sustainable development requires limiting consumption to needs, not greed—overuse exhausts resources and causes inequality and environmental harm.
11. List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.
- Pollution of lakes/rivers
- Air pollution from vehicles and industry
- Deforestation in nearby areas
- Garbage dumps and plastic waste
- Loss of green spaces and biodiversity
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.
(Reference needed for Table 1.6—typically, Norway or Switzerland ranks at the top for HDI, Sierra Leone or Niger at the bottom.)
13. The following table shows the proportion of adults (aged 15-49 years) whose BMI is below normal in India (year 2019-21):
| State | Male (%) | Female (%) |
| Kerala | 8.5 | 10 |
| Karnataka | 17 | 21 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 28 | 28 |
| All States | 20 | 23 |
(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
- Kerala: Lower proportion of undernourished adults (8.5% men, 10% women).
- Madhya Pradesh: Much higher undernourishment (28% men and women).
(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? Describe in your own words.
Distribution is unequal, many cannot afford food, and problems like poverty, lack of access, low education, and insufficient healthcare lead to undernourishment despite adequate food production in the country.