Class 10 Economics Chapter 1: Development
- What do different people seek as their developmental goals? Different people seek things that are most important for them and capable of fulfilling their specific aspirations or desires.
- Give an example of a developmental goal that may be conflicting for two different groups. Industrialists may want more dams to generate electricity, but this can submerge land and disrupt the lives of displaced tribals.
- Besides higher income, name two non-material things people seek for a better quality of life. People also seek equal treatment, freedom, security, and respect from others.
- Why can’t money alone ensure a good life? Money cannot buy non-material things like a pollution-free environment, protection from infectious diseases, or genuine friendship.
- What is the common attribute used to compare the development of different countries? Income is considered one of the most important attributes for comparing the development levels of different countries.
- How is “Per Capita Income” calculated? It is calculated by dividing the total income of the country by its total population.
- By what other name is “Average Income” known? Average income is also known as Per Capita Income.
- Which organization publishes the World Development Reports to classify countries? The World Bank publishes the World Development Reports for country classification.
- What was India’s classification in 2024 according to the World Bank’s per capita income criteria? India was classified as a low middle income country in 2024.
- What is the major limitation of using “Average Income” for comparison? While useful for comparison, average income hides disparities and does not show how income is actually distributed among people.
- Define Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). IMR is the number of children that die before the age of one year per 1000 live children born in that specific year.
- How is “Literacy Rate” measured? It measures the proportion of the literate population in the 7-and-above age group.
- What does “Net Attendance Ratio” represent? It is the percentage of children in the 15-17 age group attending school out of the total children in that same age group.
- Why does Kerala have a lower Infant Mortality Rate than Haryana despite having a lower per capita income? Kerala has a lower IMR because it has adequate provision of basic health and educational facilities.
- What is the cheapest and best way to provide basic services like health and education? The best and cheapest way is to provide these goods and services collectively through the government.
- What does the acronym “PDS” stand for in the context of food security? PDS stands for Public Distribution System.
- Which organization publishes the Human Development Report (HDR)? The HDR is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- Name the three main indicators used by the UNDP to measure development. The UNDP uses per capita income, health status, and educational levels to measure development.
- What does “Life Expectancy at birth” denote? It denotes the average expected length of life of a person at the time of their birth.
- According to the 2025 HDR, which neighboring country of India has a better HDI rank? Sri Lanka, with a rank of 89, is much ahead of India, which is ranked 130.
- What is the purpose of calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI)? BMI is used to determine if an individual is properly nourished, underweight, or obese.
- How is the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated? BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kg by the square of their height in meters.
- What is “Sustainability of Development”? It is the idea that the current level of development should be maintained for future generations without exhausting resources.
- Give one example of a renewable resource that is currently being overused in India. Groundwater is a renewable resource being seriously overused in agriculturally prosperous regions like Punjab and Western U.P..
- Why are crude oil reserves considered a non-renewable resource? Crude oil has a fixed stock on earth that cannot be replenished once it is exhausted.
- What will happen if we continue to extract non-renewable resources at the current rate? These resources will get exhausted, with global crude oil reserves estimated to last only about 50 more years.
- Why do environmental degradation consequences not respect national or state boundaries? Environmental issues are no longer nation-specific because our future is linked together globally.
- What was the per capita income of India in 2024 according to the sources? India’s per capita income in 2024 was approximately US$ 11,000 per annum.
- Which state among Haryana, Kerala, and Bihar has the lowest literacy rate according to 2017-18 data? Bihar has the lowest literacy rate at 62%.
- What is the “perennial” question mentioned at the end of the chapter regarding development? The perennial question is asking where we want to go, what we wish to become, and what our goals are.