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 Resources and Development
Resources:
A resource is anything available in the environment that is
useful to human beings, and is economically feasible,
technologically accessible, and culturally acceptable.
Types of Resources:
Resources are classified into the following categories:
● On the basis of origin
a) Biotic resources: Resources obtained from the
biosphere and living organisms like human beings, plants,
and animals, etc.
b) Abiotic resources: Resources obtained from
inanimate objects. Examples include rocks, metals etc.
● On the basis of ownership
a) Individual resources: Resources that have private
individual ownership. Examples: houses, plots, etc.
b) Community owned resources: Resources that are
shared by all the members within a community. Examples
include public parks, playgrounds, etc.
c) National resources: Resources that belong to the
nation. National resources include railways, forests, land
within political boundaries and oceanic areas up to 12
nautical miles from the coast.

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 d) International resources: Resources that are
regulated by international bodies are termed as
international resources. Example: Oceanic area beyond
200 nautical miles of the exclusive economic zone.
● On the basis of exhaustibility
a) Renewable resources: Resources that have the
capability to be regenerated by any physical, chemical, or
mechanical process. Examples include solar and wind
energy, water etc.
b) Non-renewable resources: Resources that are
exhaustible and cannot be regenerated. Examples are
fossil fuels, minerals etc.
● On the basis of status of development
a) Potential resources: Resources that are available in a
region but have not been put to use yet. For examples,
the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat have great potential
for harnessing wind and solar energy, but these have not
been developed yet.
b) Developed resources: Resources whose potential has
been properly analyzed based on their technological
accessibility and economic feasibility, and quantity for
utilization has been determined.
c) Stock: These are the resources that are present in
abundance in our surroundings but have not been
utilized yet due to the lack of adequate technology.

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 d) Reserves: These resources are considered a subset
of stock. The technology required to utilize these
resources is available, but their utilization has not begun
yet. They have been reserved for future necessities.

Development of Resources:
The irresponsible use of resources has led to many obstacles:
● Division of society into rich and poor.
● Exhaustion of resources.
● Global crises like global warming, ozone depletion etc.
Therefore, there is a need for sustainable economic
development which means that development without damaging
the environment. It also means that development that is being
done for the present generation should not compromise the
development of future generations.
Resource Planning
Resource planning is the practice that is employed for the
sensible use of resources which involves the following steps:
● Identifying and making an inventory of resources.
● Creating a proper planning structure, including all the
technology and skills required.

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 ● Matching the resource development plan with overall
national development plans.
Land Resources
Land is a very important resource as it supports natural
vegetation, wildlife, and various economic activities.
Distribution of land in India:
● 43%- Plain area for agriculture and industrial use.
● 30%- Mountain area for tourism and ecology.
● 27%- Plateau region which is rich in minerals and fossil
fuels.
Land Use Pattern in India
Determinants of use of land in India:
● Physical factors: climate, topography, and soil types
● Human Factors: population density, technological
capability, traditions etc.
Land Degradation and Conservation Measures
Deforestation, mining, and quarrying contribute significantly to
land degradation.
Following these practices can help curb the problem of land
degradation:

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 ● Afforestation
● Control over grazing
● Control over mining
● Management of waste lands
Soil as A Resource
Soil is the most important renewable resource as it supports
plant growth and survival of living organisms.
Classification of Soil
On the basis of various chemical and physical properties soil is
classified as:
a) Alluvial soil
The alluvial soils are found all around the northern plains
and are formed by the deposits of three Himalayan rivers
namely, the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra.
Consisting of different proportions of sand, silt, and clay
these soils are very fertile as they contain equal
proportions of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime. They are
ideal for growing sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal
and pulse crops. These soils extend to the states of
Rajasthan and Gujarat and can also be found in the eastern
coastal plains- in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Krishna,
the Godavari, and the Kaveri.
b) Black soil

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Also known as black cotton soil, this soil is made up of lava
flows and is spread around the Deccan Plateau. Black
cotton soil is ideal for growing cotton. Climatic conditions
and parent rock material are the two main factors that are
involved in the formation of black soil. They have a rich
content of calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, and
lime. They can hold moisture which makes them suitable
for growing cotton. The states where black soil can be
found are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and
Maharashtra.
c) Red and yellow soils
These soils are developed on crystalline igneous rocks and
are mainly found in the low rainfall areas of eastern and
southern parts of the deccan plateau. They are also found
in areas of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, southern parts of the
middle ganga plains and along the piedmont zone of the
Western Ghats. The red color of these soil is due to
diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. The
soil appears yellow in color when it occurs in a hydrated
form.
d) Laterite soil
These soils are formed mainly due to leaching and are
deficient in plant nutrients. They are found in Western
Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, some part of West
Bengal and north-eastern states. These soils are very useful

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 for growing tea and coffee in the states of Karnataka,
Kerala, and Tamil Nadu where soil conservation techniques
are employed to prevent erosion and leaching of the soil.
The states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh
cultivate cashew nuts in their red laterite soil.
e) Arid soil
These soils are found in areas with dry climate, high
temperature and moisture. They have very high salt
content and lack humus and moisture. The lower layer of
soil consists of Kankar due to increasing calcium content.
This Kankar layer restricts the movement of water deeper
into the soil. These soils have been made suitable for
cultivation after undergoing proper irrigation in Western
Rajasthan.
f) Forest soil
As the name suggests, these soils are found in the forest
regions or mountainous regions. They are of different types
according to the region they are found in like loamy and
silty in valleys which is very fertile and coarse grained in
upper slopes. The soil that is found in snowy regions
undergo degradation, are acidic in nature and have very
low content of humus.
Soil Erosion and Soil Degradation

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The displacement and washing down of the top layer of soil is
called soil erosion.
It is of two types:
a) Gully erosion
The formation of gullies or deep channels by running water
that cuts through the clayey soil that results in the
formation of badlands is called gully erosion.
b) Sheet erosion
In sheet erosion, large quantities of water flow in the form
of sheets causing the removal of topsoil or soil erosion.
Contributing factors to soil erosion:
● Human activities- Deforestation, excessive grazing,
mining
● Natural forces- Wind, glacier, and water flow.
Measures to control soil erosion:
● Contour ploughing
Contour ploughing is a technique in modern farming that
involves ploughing of soil along the contour lines. Ploughing
around the contour lines provides many advantages. It
prevents the water from running down the slope. Also,
when the soil is ploughed along the contour lines the

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 furrows that are created follow the lines that link points of
the same height. This helps in stopping the downward flow
of water and prevents erosion.
● Strip cropping
In order to conserve the soil, large fields can be divided into
strips in plain areas. Under this, strips of grass are allowed
to grow in between the row of crops. This strip of grass is
effective in reducing the force of the wind and prevents
wind erosion.
● Planting shelterbelts
The planting of trees in rows creates a shelter. The rows of
trees that are planted in order to stop wind erosion are
called shelterbelts. Planting of shelterbelts acts as a barrier
between the wind and the soil and prevents wind erosion.
They help in stabilizing sand dunes and spreading of desert
soil.
Important Questions and Answers
1. Define resources. Give examples of any two renewable
resources.
A resource is anything available in the environment that is
useful to human beings and is economically feasible,
technologically accessible, and culturally acceptable.
Example of renewable resources: Solar energy, Water

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2. Give the classification of resources.
The various types of resources are classified as follows:
1) On the basis of origin
a) Biotic resources
b) Abiotic resources
2) On the basis of exhaustibility
a) Renewable resources
b) Non-renewable resources
3) On the basis of ownership
a) Individual resources
b) Community owned resources
c) National resources
d) International resources
4) On the basis of status and development
a) Potential resources
b) Developed resources
c) Stock
d) Reserves

3. Explain the classification of resources on the basis of

ownership with examples of each.
a) Individual resources: These are the resources that
are owned privately by individuals. Examples: houses,
plots, plantations.
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 b) Community-owned resources: The resources that
are shared between all the community members are
known as community-owned resources. Examples include
public parks, playgrounds, ponds.
c) National resources: These are the resources that
are owned by the nation. Examples include railways,
forests, land within political boundaries and oceanic
areas up to 12 nautical miles from the coast.
d) International resources: Resources that are
regulated by international bodies are termed as
international resources. Example: Oceanic areas beyond
200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zones belong to
the open ocean and are not accessible to any country
without prior consultations of international institutions.

4. What is meant by the term ‘Sustainable economic

development’?
The term “sustainable economic development” means that
development should take place without damaging the
environment. It also implies that the development that is
taking place in the present should not compromise the
needs of the future generation.

5. Explain briefly about the ‘Agenda 21.’

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 Agenda 21 is referred to as the declaration that was signed
by more than 100 heads of state at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
held in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main aim of
‘Agenda 21’ was to achieve sustainable development and
combat various issues like environmental damage, poverty,
and disease through global co-operation on common
interests, mutual needs, and shared responsibilities.

6. Write a note on black soil. Give examples of three states

that have black soil.
As the name suggests, black soils are black. They are also
known as regur soil and black cotton soil as it is ideal for
growing cotton. Climatic conditions and parent rock
material are the two main factors that are involved in the
formation of black soil. They have a rich content of calcium
carbonate, magnesium, potash, and lime. They can hold
moisture which makes them suitable for growing cotton.
Three states where black soil can be found are Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

7. What are the different types of soil erosion?

Mainly three types of soil erosion are seen in India:

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 a) Gully erosion: Formation of deep channels or
gullies by cutting water through clayey soils resulting in
the formation of ‘Badlands’ is called gully erosion.
b) Sheet erosion: When water flows as a sheet over
large areas down a slope, it results in the washing away
of the top layer of soil. This is called sheet erosion.
c) Wind erosion: The blowing away of loose and dry
soil from flat and sloping lands due to strong winds is
called wind erosion.

8. Mention the factors that determine land use in India.

There are two types of factors that determine land use in
India:
Physical factors
a) Topography
b) Climate
c) Soil type
Chemical factors
a) Technological capabilities
b) Population density
c) Culture and traditions

9. “Resource planning is essential for sustainable

development.” Elaborate.

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 For the judicious utilization of resources, it is essential to
practice sustainable development. Sustainable
development aims at development without inflicting any
damage to the environment. Sustainable development
practices ensure that the development in the present does
not compromise with the necessities of the future
generation. Hence, resource planning is essential for
equitable distribution and proper utilization of resources.

10. What are the different types of soils that are found in
India? Write three characteristics of alluvial soil.
There are six different types of soil that are found in India
namely:
a) Alluvial soil
b) Black soil
c) Laterite soil
d) Red and yellow soil
e) Arid soil
f) Forest and mountainous soil
The three major characteristics of alluvial soil are:

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a) Alluvial soils are the most widely spread soil in
India, and they are very fertile. They are mainly
composed of sand, silt, and clay.
b) They contain proper proportions of potash, lime,
and phosphoric acid, which makes them ideal for
growing sugarcane, wheat, and paddy.
c) The areas with alluvial soil are densely populated
and highly cultivated due to the high fertility of the soil.

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