Result Origin

(Nurturing Potential Through Education)

Bihar Sharif (Nalanda).

Prepared By-Abhishek Kumar.

Social Science Faculty. (Result Origin)

AN IDEAL COACHING FOR CBSE STUDENTS UP TO XII

1. Resource: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our
needs, provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally
acceptable can be termed as ‘Resource’.

2. TYPES OF RESOURCES: These resources can be classified in the following ways: –

(a) On the basis of origin – biotic and abiotic

(b) On the basis of exhaustibility – renewable and non-renewable

(c) On the basis of ownership – individual, community, national and international

(d) On the basis of status of development – potential, developed stock and reserves.

 Biotic Resources obtained from biosphere and have life such as human beings, flora
and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.

 All those things which are composed of non-living things are called abiotic resources.
For example, rocks and metals.

 Renewable Resources can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or

mechanical processes for example, solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife,
etc.

 Non-Renewable Resources occur over a very long geological time. Minerals and fossil
fuels are examples of such resources. These resources take millions of years in their
formation.

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  Individual Resources are owned privately by individuals. Example: Many farmers own
land which is allotted to them by government against the payment of revenue.
 Community Owned Resources are resources which are accessible to all the
members of the community. Example: Village commons (grazing grounds, burial
grounds, village ponds, etc.) public parks, picnic spots, playgrounds in urban areas
etc.
 National Resources Technically, all the resources belong to the nation. The country
has legal powers to acquire even private property for public good.
 International Resources are international institutions which regulate some resources.
The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to
open ocean and no individual country can utilise these without the concurrence of
international institutions.
 Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region but have not been
utilised. For example, the western parts of India particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat
have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far
these have not been developed properly.
 Developed Resources: Resources which are surveyed, and their quality and quantity
have been determined for utilisation.

3. DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES

Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life. It was
believed that resources are free gifts of nature. Human beings used them indiscriminately
and this has led to the following major problems:

 Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.

 Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two
segments i.e. haves and have nots or rich and poor.
 Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as,
global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.

4. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable economic development means that ‘development should take place without
damaging the environment and development in the present should not compromise with the
needs of future generation’.

5. AGENDA 21

It is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It aims
at achieving global sustainable development.

6. RESOURCE PLANNING

It involves: identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This
involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of

AN IDEAL COACHING FOR CBSE STUDENTS UP TO XII

the resources. Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and
institutional set up for implementing resource development plans. Matching the resource
development plans with overall national development plans.

7. CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES

Father of the nation – Mahatma Gandhi – said that “There is enough for everybody’s need
and not for anybody’s greed”. We should conserve resources for following reasons.

a) Resources are not found everywhere. They are unevenly distributed.

b) Resources are limited. Many of the resources are non-renewable.
c) Resources should be conserved for reducing all kinds of pollution.
d) Resources are also conserved for ‘sustainable development’.
e) Conservation is needed to protect natural heritage
.
Methods or measurements for resource conservation are under:

a) Wastage, misuse and overuse of resources should be avoided.

b) Renewable resources should be used more e.g. solar energy, wind energy etc.
c) Older technology should be replaced with newer, modern and efficient technology.
d) Awareness should be created among the people.
e) Govt. should pass strict laws for establishment and location of industries.
f) Used items should be recycled using new technology.

8. LAND UTILISATION

Land is used for various purposes in a country. India has vast land resource. Total area of
our country is about 3.28 million sq. km. India ranks 7th in the world in term of size. But most
of parts are covered by either mountain or plateau. India has only 43% plain where
agriculture is possible. Mountains are good sources of biotic resources where varieties of
minerals are found in the plateau. There are 5 categories under land use.

1. Forest.
2. Land not available for cultivation.
3. Other uncultivated land.
4. Fallow land.
5. Net sown area.

: -Land not available for cultivation includes barren land, waste land and land which is used
for building, roads, parks, factories etc.

: - Fallow land is that land which is left uncultivated by the farmer. Farmer leaves some land
to give rest to the land. Lands are also left fallow due low rainfall, lack of capital or seeds etc.
Fallow land for one or less than one year is called Current Fallow. If land is left fallow for
more than one but less than five years it is called as Other Fallow land.

: -Net sown area is the actual land on which agriculture is done. Some parts of net sown
area are used more than one time in a single agricultural season. When this land is added
with net sown area, it is called gross sown area or gross cropped area.

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9. LAND USE PATTERN IN INDIA

 Total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq. km.

 Land use data however is available only for 93% of the total area because the
land use reporting far most of the North-East States except Assam has not been
done fully.

 Some area of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also
not been surveyed. The land under permanent pasture has also decreased.

 More net sown area in Punjab and Haryana.

 Less net sown area in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and A&N Islands.

 National Forest Policy in India in 1952.

 Waste land includes rocky, Arid and desert area and land put to other non-
agricultural uses includes settlements, roads, railways, industry etc.

 Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate
measures to conserve and manage it.

10. LAND DEGRADATION AND CONSERVATION MEASURES

 At present, there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India.

 Some human activities such as deforestation, over grazing, mining and quarrying
too have contributed significantly in land degradation.

 In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa deforestation

due to mining have caused severe land degradation.

 In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing

is one of the main reasons for land degradation.

 In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is

responsible for land degradation.

11. MEASURES TO CONTROL LAND DEGRADATION

→ Afforestation.

→ Planting of shelter belts of plants.

→ control on over grazing.

→ stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.

→ Proper management of waste lands.

→ control of mining activities.

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 12. SOIL AS A RESOURCE

Soil is the most important renewable natural resource.

It is the medium of plant growth and supports different types of living organisms on
•

the earth.
•

It is an important renewable resource.

It is upper part of the crust which is loose and fragmented.
•

It has air, water and minerals contents and it support growth of plants.
•

Bacteria and other small organisms are also found in the soil which makes it more
•

fertile.
•

13. FORMATION OF SOIL

Soil is formed by weathering and erosion of rocks. Temperature and rainfall break down the
rock into smaller parts. After mixing of water and minerals in these sediments, it acquires the
form of soil.

14. CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL

Based on the factors responsible for soil formation, colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical
and physical properties, the soils of India can be classified in different types:

• Alluvial Soils:
→ Entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.
→ Also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi,
the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
→ Fertile soil therefore, fit for agriculture purpose.
→ Regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely populated.
→ Rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of
sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.

• Black Soil:
→ Black in colour and are also known as regur soils.
→ Ideal for growing cotton and is also known as black cotton soil.
→ Found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh also along the Godavari and the Krishna valleys.
→ Made up of extremely fine i.e. clayey material.
→ Well-known for their capacity to hold moisture.
→ Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.

• Red and Yellow Soils:

→ Found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan
plateau.
→ Also found in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the middle Ganga
plain and along the piedmont zone of the Western Ghats.
→ Develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic
rocks.

• Laterite Soils:
→ Develops in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
→ Found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of
Odisha and Assam.
→ Suitable for cultivation with adequate doses of manures and fertilizers.

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 → Low Humus content because decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed due to
high temperature.

• Arid Soils:
→ Found in the western parts of Rajasthan.
→ After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable.
→ Lacks humus and moisture because dry climate, high temperature make
evaporation faster.
→ Salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water.
• Forest Soils:
→ Found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are
available.
→ Feature differs based on location.
→ Loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
→ Silt in the lower parts of the valleys particularly on the river terraces and alluvial
fans are fertile.

15. SOIL EROSION AND SOIL CONSERVATION

Soil Erosion: -
Removal of top and fertile layer of soil by the agents like rainwater and wind is called soil
erosion. Soil erosion is an acute problem in India. Chambal river basin is so badly eroded
that this entire area is called as ‘Bad Land or Ravines’. There are three types of erosion, i.e.
a) Sheet Erosion, b) Rill Erosion and c) Gully Erosion [Most Dangerous]. Followings are the
reasons for soil erosion.

Reason for Soil Erosion:

a) Deforestation – Cutting down of trees and forests.

b) Torrential [heavy] rainfall.
c) Overgrazing by cattle.
d) Unscientific agriculture [Ploughing land parallel to the slope]
e) Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation.

Measurement to Check Soil Erosion:

a) Afforestation – Planting trees on degraded land.

b) Plugging of gullies.
c) Check on overgrazing by cattle.
d) Scientific agriculture [Ploughing land at right angle of slope – Contour Ploughing].
e) Crop rotation.
f) Terrace farming.
g) Preparation of shelter belt.

Some Important question for Board Exam: -

1.Do you think that resources are free gifts of nature as is assumed by many? Justify
your answer with any three suitable arguments.
Ans-
(1) No, the resources are not the free gifts of nature.
(2) (i) These natural things are available on the earth surface abundantly unless and until humans
modify them into usable products.
(ii) Thus, with the value addition to these substances through human intelligence, skill and
technology resources are developed to satisfy human needs.

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(iii) Resources are a function of human activities. People transform material available in our
environment into resources and use them.
2.What is the importance of natural resource? Why is it necessary to conserve them?
Ans-
(1) Resources are important for the development of any country. For example, fossil fuels are
essential to generate energy, mineral resources are important for industrial development, etc.
(2) It is necessary to conserve resources because:
(i) Their irrational consumption and over utilization have led to socio-economic and environmental
problems.
(ii) It takes millions of years for the formation of natural resources.
(iii) Natural resources are available in fixed quantity and they are non-renewable.

3.What is Agenda 21? List its two principles.

Ans-
(1) It is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place at Rio she Janeiro, Brazil. It aims at
achieving global sustainable development.
(2) The principles are: -
(i) It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty and disease through global co-
operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.
(ii) Secondly, every local government should draw its own local Agenda.
4.Explain major problems caused by indiscriminate use of resources.
Ans-
(1) Resources have been depleted for satisfying the greed of a few individuals.
(2) The resources get accumulated in a few hands, which in turn, divide the society into two
segments, i.e., haves and have knots or rich and poor.
(3) Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as global
warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
(4) Human activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining have led to soil
erosion.
(5) Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars and traces
of over-burdening.
5. “In India, some regions are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other
resources.” Do you agree with the statement? Support your answer with any three
examples
Ans-
(1) I agree with the statement that India is rich in certain types of resources but e deficient in some
other resources.
(2) For example, (I) The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in
minerals and coal deposits.
(ii) Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural development.
(iii) The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water
resources.
(iv) The cold desert of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the country.
6. Explain the role of human in resource development.
Ans-
(1) Human beings should not use the resources indiscriminately. It has led to global ecological
crisis such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land
degradation.
(2) Resources should not be allowed to accumulate in a few hands. it dived into two segments, i.e.
haves and have notes or rich and poor.
(3) Conservation of resources should be given priority because they are vital for developmental
activity.

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