Class 9 Social Studies (Economics)

Chapter 1 – The Story of Village Palampur

1. Every village in India is surveyed once in ten years during the Census and some
of the details are presented in the following format. Fill up the following based on
information on Palampur.

a. LOCATION:

b. TOTAL AREA OF THE VILLAGE:

c. LAND USE (in hectares):

Cultivated Land Land not available for cultivation (Area

covering dwellings, roads,

Irrigated Unirrigated
ponds, grazing ground)

26 hectares

d) FACILITIES:

Educational

Medical

Market

Electricity Supply

Communication

Nearest Town

Answer:
 a. LOCATION: Bulandshahr District, Western Uttar Pradesh

b. TOTAL AREA OF THE VILLAGE: 226 hectares

c. LAND USE (in hectares):

Cultivated Land Land not available for cultivation (Area

covering dwellings, roads,

Irrigated Unirrigated
ponds, grazing ground)

200 hectares — 26 hectares

1. FACILITIES:

Educational 1 high school, 2 primary schools

Medical 1 private dispensary, 1 primary health care centre run by the Government

Market 2 markets: Raiganj and Shahpur

Electricity Most of the houses have electricity connections. Electricity powers all the tubewells in
Supply the fields and is used for various small business.

Communication Well-connected neighbouring villages, with Raiganj located within 3 kms. Proper
transportation including bullock carts, tongas and bogeys carrying jaggery. Also,
motor vehicles like motorcycles, jeeps, tractors and trucks are available for easy
transportation.

Nearest Town Shahpur

2. Modern farming methods require more inputs which are manufactured in industries. Do
you agree?
 Answer:

Yes, it is correct to say that modern farming methods require more inputs which are
manufactured in industries. It is because modern farming methods use high-yielding varieties of
seeds. These seeds require both chemical fertilisers and pesticides, agricultural implementations
like tractors and proper irrigation facilities like electric tube wells, and all these elements are
manufactured in industries. However, on the other hand, traditional farming methods use a
relatively low-yielding variety of seeds and use cow dung and other natural manures as fertiliser,
which is why they are less dependent on industrial outputs.

3. How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?

Answer:

The spread of electricity helped the farmers of Palampur as it aided in the transformation of the
irrigation system of the village. The farmers earlier used Persian wheels to draw water from
wells and irrigate small fields. But after the spread of electricity, electric tube wells replaced
these Persian wheels. The first tube well was installed by the Government, but later, private tube
wells were also set up by the farmers, resulting in the cultivation of the entire 200 hectares of
irrigated land by the 1970s.

4. Is it important to increase the area under irrigation? Why?

Answer:

It is important to increase the land under irrigation because farming is the main source of income
for the maximum part of the population in India and only less than 40 per cent of the land is
cultivable in the country. Farmers are dependent on the erratic monsoon season, and if the
rainfall is less, farmers are bound to suffer a major loss. So if the water is provided for irrigation
to the farmers for a larger portion of land, it would give better output and make more land
cultivable in India and also encourage farmers to take up newer farming methods without the
fear of suffering loss.

5. Construct a table on the distribution of land among the 450 families of Palampur.

Answer:
The distribution of land among the 450 families of Palampur is as given below:

Area of land Cultivated Number of Families

0 150

Less than 2 hectares 240

More than 2 hectares 60

6. Why are the wages for farm labourers in Palampur less than minimum wages?

Answer:

There are many landless farm labourers who are paid less than the minimum wages in Palampur.
The Government-declared wage for a farm labourer is Rs 300 per day, but the competition for
work among the farm labourers is very high, which is why people agree to work for lower
wages.

7. In your region, talk to two labourers. Choose either farm labourers or labourers
working at construction sites. What wages do they get? Are they paid in cash or kind? Do
they get work regularly? Are they in debt?

Answer:

Students must do this activity themselves and answer the question based on their survey.

8. What are the different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land? Use
examples to explain.

Answer:

To grow more than one crop on a piece of land during the year is known as multiple cropping. It
is the most common way of increasing production on a given piece of land. The best example of
this is the cultivation in Palampur. In Palampur, jowar and bajra grow during the rainy season,
followed by potato between October and December, and during the winter season, wheat is sown
in the fields. The main reason for this is the well-developed system of irrigation.

9. Describe the work of a farmer with 1 hectare of land.

Answer:
A farmer with 1 hectare of land will be called a small farmer. Since the area for cultivation is
small, the outcome may also not be high. So, in order to be able to get the best possible yield, the
farmer needs money. This money is borrowed from a moneylender at a high interest rate and at
times may also have to work as a farm labourer for the moneylender. Once the farm is cultivated,
the produce has to be divided for personal use and for selling in the market. Whatever profit is
earned, the farmer has to usually give it away to the moneylender, and little money is left for the
use of the farmer himself. The only help a small farmer gets is that of his family members.

10. How do the medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming? How is it different
from the small farmers?

Answer:

Large and medium farmers sell surplus farm products from a part of their produce. A part of the
earnings is saved and kept for buying capital for the next season. A few of them give away the
savings to small farmers and loans at high interest rates and get back the amount by the next
season. Thus, they are able to arrange for the capital for farming from their own savings. Some
farmers might also use the savings to buy cattle, trucks, or to set up shops.

11. On what terms did Savita get a loan from Tejpal Singh? Would Savita’s condition be
different if she could get a loan from the bank at a low rate of interest?

Answer:

Savita got a loan from Tejpal Singh at the rate of interest of 24 per cent for four months and also
had to work for Tejpal Singh as a farm labourer at the wage of Rs 100 per day during the harvest
season.

The case would have been different if Savita had taken the loan from a bank. The rate of interest
would have been lesser than what was asked by Tejpal Singh and also she would have been able
to pay complete attention to her own field during the time of harvest.

12. Talk to some old residents in your region and write a short report on the changes in
irrigation and changes in production methods during the last 30 years.

Answer: Students must do this activity and write an answer based on their own observation.

13. What are the non-farm production activities taking place in your region? Make a short
list.

Answer:
The non-farm production activities taking place in our region are as follow:

1. Dairy

2. Transportation

3. General Stores

4. Fishing

5. Mining

14. What can be done so that more non-farm production activities can be started in
villages?

Answer:

To promote more non-farm production activities in villages, the following steps can be taken:

1. Loans must be available for people at lower interest rates so that they can start the non-
farm production activities.

2. Proper markets should be set up so that the produced goods can be sold.

3. The concerned authorities must set up better transportation between cities and villages so
that the produced goods can be transported to cities and more money can be earned
through the non-farming activities.

Class 9 Social Studies (Economics)

 Chapter 2 – People as Resource
1. What do you understand by ‘people as a resource’?

Answer:

‘People as a resource’ is a term that means how the population can be an asset and not a liability.
It a way of referring to the working class of society in terms of their existing productive skills
and abilities. The population becomes human capital when an investment is made in the form of
education and training. Education and health also help human beings to be an asset to the
economy. Thus, people as a resource refers to the working population that results in the
development of society.

2. How is human resource different from other resources like land and physical Capital?

Answer:

Human resources are different from other resources like land and physical capital because human
beings can use other resources to give out productive output. However, resources like land and
physical capital are dependent on human resource for their use and cannot give any productive
output all by themselves.

3. What is the role of education in human capital formation?

Answer:

Education plays a very important role in human capital formation for the following reasons:

1. An educated human can be considered an asset for the economy and not a liability.

2. Education can help an individual make better use of economic opportunities. It helps in
enhancing the national income, cultural richness and increases the efficiency of the
Government.

3. It enhances individual productivity in terms of quality and quantity.

4. Because being educated can help the economic status of an individual, it also develops
the consciousness towards society.

5. An educated person is also aware of health and hygiene, and it will ultimately result in
better health for the people of a country.

4. What is the role of health in human capital formation?

Answer:

Health plays a very important role in human capital formation in the following ways:
 1. If an individual is healthy, they may have better immunity to fight illness.

2. Being healthy will also increase the overall outcome of an individual.

3. The health of an individual is directly proportional to the work he does. Thus better
health will increase efficiency.

The above-mentioned points prove that if better healthcare measures are taken up, and an
individual in a country becomes more healthy, the human capital and productivity will also
increase.

5. What part does health play in the individual’s working life?

Answer:

If an individual is healthy, then they may be able to give a better outcome in terms of their work
lives. The efficiency of a healthy person is higher than that of an unhealthy person. A healthy
person can spend more time working in comparison to an unhealthy person. Hence, health plays
a very important role in an individual’s working life.

6. What are the various activities undertaken in the primary, secondary and tertiary
sectors?

Answer:

The various activities that come under the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors are as follows:

Primary Sector Secondary Tertiary Sector

Sector

Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, Manufacturing Trade, transport, communication, banking,

fishing, poultry, farming, mining and education, health, tourism and insurance
quarrying

7. What is the difference between economic activities and non-economic activities?

Answer:
The activities that add value to the national income are called economic activities. They can be
divided into two types: market activities and non-market activities. Market activities involve the
activities performed for pay or profit, and non-market activities include the production done for
self-consumption.

The activities that add no value to the national income are called non-economic activities.
Domestic chore is an example of non-economic activities.

8. Why are women employed in low paid work?

Answer:

The wage distribution among men and women has been a major concern for society. Women are
mostly paid less than men, and one major reason for this is the meagre education qualification of
women. They are employed in sectors which do not provide them with proper maternity leaves,
childcare benefits and other provisions and are also responsible for managing the household
work. Hence, they are paid less than men. Skill is another reason why wages for women are less
than for men. Men are considered more skilful in comparison to women, despite equal physical
work. Due to these reasons, women are employed in low paid work.

9. How will you explain the term unemployment?

Answer:

A situation in which skilled and abled people do not get gainful work at a decent wage is called
unemployment. Both rural and urban areas have unemployment. In the case of the rural
population, there is seasonal unemployment, and in urban areas, there is educated
unemployment.

10. What is the difference between disguised unemployment and seasonal unemployment?

Answer:

Rural areas have cases of both seasonal and disguised unemployment. Seasonal unemployment is
when a person is unable to find a job during a few months of the year. This mostly happens for
farmers who are unemployed for a part of the year when no crops are grown.

Disguised unemployment is when people appear to be employed. When the number of people
working on agricultural land is higher than the number of people actually required to work, this
is considered an example of disguised unemployment. If a piece of land requires only three
people to work on it, but rather five are working on it, the two extra people are an example of
disguised unemployment.

11. Why is educated unemployed a peculiar problem of India?

Answer:
Educated unemployment has become a common phenomenon in India. Youths with
matriculation, graduation and post-graduation degrees are unable to get jobs in India. This is
because the education system in India labels anyone above the age of 18 years as eligible to
work. This leaves the youth unskilled and ultimately unemployed. It is important that an
individual who does not only have a degree but must also be skilled enough to get a job.

12. In which field do you think India can build the maximum employment opportunity?

Answer:

There are three types of activities into which the employment sector is divided: the primary
sector, secondary sector and tertiary sector. The largest part of India’s population is dependent on
agriculture for their livelihood, yet there is a massive scope of disguised unemployment in the
agricultural sector. Hence the manufacturing sector, a secondary activity, is the one where the
maximum part of the population can be given employment due to the increase in the number of
industries.

13. Can you suggest some measures in the education system to mitigate the problem of the
educated unemployed?

Answer:

Some measures that can be taken in the education system to mitigate the problem of educated
unemployed are as follows:

1. Make secondary level education more career-oriented. This practice will not just help
individuals get an education but also enhance their skills and get better employment
opportunities.

2. An individual should be able to choose the subjects that suit his or her abilities.

3. New subjects and fields of study should be introduced at the school level, which can be
opted for a career in the future. This will open an opportunity for students to plan their
future options at the school level itself.

14. Can you imagine some village which initially had no job opportunities but later came
up with many?

Answer:
Students must answer this question based on their own experience.

15. Which capital would you consider the best — land, labour, physical capital or human
capital? Why?

Answer:

Human capital can be considered to be the best out of the land, labour, physical and human
capital. This is because the other resources cannot be used all by themselves, and only humans
can use other resources and get productive outcomes from them.

Class 9 Social Science (Economics)

Chapter 3 – Poverty as a Challenge
1. Describe how the poverty line is estimated in India.

Answer:

A person is considered poor if their income or consumption level falls below a given “minimum
level” necessary to fulfil basic needs. This minimum level is called the poverty line. In India, the
poverty line is estimated by multiplying the prices of physical quantities like food, clothing,
footwear, fuel, light, education, etc., in rupees. The numbers involved in determining the poverty
line vary for different years. Also, the poverty line for rural areas is different from that of urban
areas because the work, lifestyle and expenses are different for rural and urban areas.

2. Do you think that the present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?

Answer:

No, the present-day methodology of poverty estimation does not seem to be completely
appropriate. This is because the only factor taken into consideration is economic status, and
moreover, it considers a minimum subsistence of living instead of a reasonable status of living.
Poverty today is a larger concept than only the economic status of the people. With
advancements and development, the definition of poverty has also changed. People might be able
to feed themselves and their families, but education, shelter, health, job security and dignity
remain far from their reach. To overcome poverty entirely, all the above-mentioned factors also
need to be kept in consideration. To completely remove poverty from the country, the
methodology to estimate poverty should also be changed.

3. Describe poverty trends in India since 1973.

Answer:

The Economic Survey of 2017-18 showed that although poverty has declined in the country, the
number of poor still remains very high. The poverty ratio of 1993-94 for both rural and urban
areas together was at 45%, and the ratio for the year 2011-12 has declined to 22%. However, the
topic of concern still remains that there has not been any massive decline in the number of poor
living in the country. While 404 million poor population was accounted for in both rural and
urban areas in 1993-94, the poor population in 2011-12 was 270 million. The survey clearly tells
that the concerned authorities must take some serious steps in order to make India a country free
of poverty.

4. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.

Answer:
The major reasons for poverty in the country are

1. The low level of economic development under British colonial rule. The policies of the
colonial government ruined traditional handicrafts and discouraged the development of
industries like textiles.

2. The spread of the Green Revolution created many job opportunities for the people of the
country, yet they were not sufficient in comparison to the number of job seekers.

3. The unequal distribution of land and resources is another important factor for poverty in
India.

4. In order to fulfil social obligations and religious ceremonies, the poor end up spending a
lot, which results in poverty.

5. Inequality in the income of the people is also a major reason for poverty.

5. Identify the social and economic groups which are most vulnerable to poverty in India.

Answer:

The social groups which are most vulnerable to poverty in India are

1. Scheduled Caste Households

2. Scheduled Tribe Households

The economic groups which are most vulnerable to poverty in India are

1. Rural Agricultural Labour Households

2. Urban Casual Labour Households

6. Give an account of interstate disparities of poverty in India.

Answer:

Poverty in India differs for different states. The success rate of reducing poverty varies from state
to state, causing inter-state disparities in the poverty level. Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are
the three poorest states in India, with their people living below the poverty line 47, 42 and 37 per
cent, respectively. Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are the three better-off
states in India as far as poverty is concerned. There are various factors that are responsible for
these interstate disparities of poverty in India.

7. Describe global poverty trends.

Answer:
The success rate of reducing poverty varies from state to state, causing inter-state disparities in
the poverty level. Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are the three poorest states in India, with
their people living below the poverty line 47, 42 and 37 per cent, respectively. Jammu and
Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are the three better-off states in India as far as poverty is
concerned. There has been a substantial reduction in global poverty. Poverty declined in China
and South-East Asian countries as a result of rapid economic growth and huge investments in the
development of human resources. In Latin America, the ratio of poverty remained almost the
same. In sub-Saharan Africa, poverty saw an upward trend rather than a downward trend. It rose
from 41% in 1981 to 46% in 2001. Poverty has surfaced in some of the former socialist
countries, like Russia, where formerly it was non-existent.

8. Describe the current government strategy of poverty alleviation.

Answer:

Removal of poverty has been one of the major objectives of the Indian developmental strategy.
The current anti-poverty strategy of the government is based broadly on two planks: promotion
of economic growth and targeted anti-poverty programmes. Awareness is being spread across the
nation specifying the importance of education, which has resulted in an increase in the literacy
level. Various schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005,
Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY)
and Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) have been introduced by the government with an
aim to abolish poverty from the country.

9. Answer the following questions briefly.

(i) What do you understand by human poverty?

Answer:

Human poverty is a term that means that poverty is not just limited to the economic status of the
people but rather spreads in various other sectors, which include lack of education, negligence of
the health care system, discrimination and disparity. Abolishing poverty should not be the only
aim of the authorities, but abolishing human poverty must be the aim.

(ii) Who are the poorest of the poor?

Answer:

Women, female infants and the elderly are considered the poorest of the poor. This is because, in
a poor household, these people suffer the most and are deprived of the maximum necessities in
life.

(iii) What are the main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005?

Answer:
The main features of the National Rural Employment Act 2005 are as follows:

1. To provide 100 days of wage employment to every household to ensure livelihood

security in rural areas.

2. Sustainable development to address the cause of drought, deforestation and soil erosion.

3. One-third of the proposed jobs under this scheme have been reserved for women.
 Class 9 Social Studies (Economics)
Chapter 4 – Food Security in India
1. How is food security ensured in India?

Answer:

To ensure the availability of food to all sections of society, the Indian government carefully
designed a food security system, which is composed of two components: (a) buffer stock and (b)
public distribution system. Food security is ensured in India in the following ways:

1. Availability of Food – food produced in the country and the previous years’ stocks saved
by the Government

2. Accessibility of Food – food reaches every citizen of the country

3. Affordability of Food – every individual should have the money to afford food which is
safe and nutritious

2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?

Answer:

The people living below the poverty line might be food insecure all the time, while better-off
people might also turn food insecure due to calamity or disaster. The social composition, along
with the inability to buy food, also plays a role in food insecurity. The SCs, STs, and some
sections of the OBCs (lower castes among them) who have either poor land-based or very low
land productivity are prone to food insecurity. Other than these sections, people hit by a natural
disaster are also likely to be food insecure.

3. Which states are more food insecure in India?

Answer:

Eastern and south-eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal,
Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are the largest food-insecure states in
India.

4. Do you believe that green revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How?

Answer:
Post-independence, India adopted a new strategy in the agricultural field which led to the Green
Revolution, especially for the production of wheat and rice. Ever since, India has avoided famine
even in adverse weather conditions, and varieties of crops have been grown all across the
country. This availability of food grains, even in adverse conditions at the country level, ensured
the Government had a proper food security system. Hence, it can be said that the green
revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains.

5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain?

Answer:

A section of people in India is still without food despite a large increase in the food grain
production in the country. This is because of the increased price of commodities and people not
being able to afford food to feed themselves and their families. Unemployment can also be a
cause of this chronic hunger that poor people suffer in rural areas.

6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or calamity?

Answer:

When there is a disaster or calamity, the production and cultivation of food grains are highly
affected. The production decreases, and this causes a shortage of food grains and, ultimately the
hiked prices of food grains. The region affected by calamity might also turn into a food-insecure
state if the calamity lasts for a longer period of time.

7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger?

Answer:

Hunger is one of the most important aspects indicating food security. Hunger results in poverty,
and there are two dimensions of hunger – one is seasonal hunger and the other is chronic hunger.

The type of hunger that exists when a person is unable to get work for the entire year is called
seasonal hunger. Seasonal hunger is related to cycles of food growing and harvesting. This is
prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities and in urban areas
because of casual labourers.

Chronic hunger is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate in terms of quantity and/or

quality. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of their very low income and, in turn,
inability to buy food even for survival.

8. What has our government done to provide food security to the poor? Discuss any two
schemes launched by the government?

Answer:
The government has launched various schemes for the welfare of the people and to provide food
security to the poor. Two such schemes are Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna
Scheme (APS).

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) – Launched in the year 2000, under this scheme, one crore of
the poorest among the below-poverty-line families covered under the targeted public distribution
system were identified, and 25 kg of food grains were provided to each eligible family at a
highly subsidised rate of Rs. 2 per kg wheat and Rs. 3 per kg of rice. The scheme was further
expanded in the year 2003, and close to 50 lakh families below the poverty line were provided
with food grains.

Annapurna Scheme (APS) – Launched in the year 2000, the scheme aims to provide food to the
senior citizens who have remained uncovered under the National Old Age Pension Scheme. The
eligibility for an applicant is that they should be 65 years or above in age.

9. Why buffer stock is created by the government?

Answer:

A buffer stock of food grains is created by the government so that it can be distributed in the
food deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price much lower than the market
price. A buffer stock also helps to resolve the problem of food shortage during adverse weather
conditions, disasters or calamities. Thus, maintaining buffer stock is a step taken by the
government in order to ensure food security.

10. Write notes on:

(a) Minimum support price – The Food Corporation of India purchases wheat and rice from the
farmers in states where there is surplus production. The farmers are paid a pre-announced price
for their crops. This price is called Minimum Support Price. Before the sowing season every
year, the government announces the MSP, and the purchased food grains are stored in granaries.

(b) Buffer stock – Buffer stock is the stock of food grains, mainly wheat and rice, procured by
the Government through the Food Corporation of India. This buffer stock is used by the
government in case of any calamity or disaster or for the poorer section of society.

(c) Issue price – Food is kept in stocks in the form of buffer stock to distribute food grains in the
deficit areas and among the poorer strata of the society at a price lower than the market. This
price is also known as the Issue Price.

(d) Fair price shops – Ration shops, also known as Fair Price Shops, keep stock of food grains,
sugar, and kerosene for cooking. These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market
price. Any family with a ration card can buy a stipulated amount of these items every month
from the nearby ration shop.
11. What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?

Answer:

Ration shops, also known as Fair Price Shops, keep stock of food grains, sugar, and kerosene for
cooking. These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price. However, there
are problems with the functioning of the ration shops:

1. The quality of food provided to poor people is less than the expected quality of food
grains.

2. The ration shop deals indulge in malpractices and do not provide the poor people with the
entire quantity they deserve.

3. Some ration shops are not opened regularly, and this causes discomfort to the poor.

4. The ration shopkeepers even update wrong entries in the name of the poor people.

12. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.

Answer:

Along with the government, cooperatives also play an important role in ensuring food security in
India, especially in the southern and western parts of the country. The cooperative societies set
up shops to sell low-priced goods to the poor. Out of all fair-price shops running in Tamil Nadu,
around 94 per cent are being run by cooperatives. Mother Dairy, in Delhi, is involved in
providing milk and vegetables at controlled rates decided by the government. Amul, responsible
for the White Revolution in India, is a cooperative involved in providing milk and milk products.
The Academy of Development Science (ADS) in Maharashtra has been involved in the setting
up of Grain Banks in different regions. It organises training and capacity-building programmes
on food security for NGOs. Its efforts are also directed towards influencing the government’s
policy on food security. Thus, through these examples, it can be seen that cooperatives are
playing an active role in the distribution of food and related items.