The process of transformation of things

Can you identify and name the various items

available in our environment involves an
used in making life comfortable in our villages
and towns. List the items and name the interactive relationship between nature,
material used in their making. technology and institutions. Human beings
interact with nature through technology and
create institutions to accelerate their
Everything available in our environment economic development.
which can be used to satisfy our needs, Do you think that resources are free
provided, it is technologically accessible, gifts of nature as is assumed by many?
What can e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e a n d c u l t u r a l l y They are not. Resources are a function of
be termed acceptable can be termed as ‘Resource’. human activities. Human beings themselves
as Resource? are essential components of resources. They
transform material available in our
environment into resources and use them.
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
Fig. 1.1: Interdependent relationship between (d) On the basis of status of development –
nature, technology and institutions potential, developed stock and reserves.

Fig. 1.2: Classification of resources

2021-22
 ponds, etc.) public parks, picnic spots,
Identify at least two resources from each playgrounds in urban areas are de facto
category. accessible to all the people living there.
National Resources: Technically, all the
resources belong to the nation. The country
TYPES OF RESOURCES
has legal powers to acquire even private
2 (iv) On the Basis of Origin property for public good. You might have seen
Biotic Resources: These are obtained from roads, canals, railways being constructed on
biosphere and have life such as human fields owned by some individuals. Urban
beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock Development Authorities get empowered by the
etc. government to acquire land. All the minerals,
water resources, forests, wildlife, land within
Abiotic Resources: All those things which are the political boundaries and oceanic area
composed of non-living things are called abiotic up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) from the
resources. For example, rocks and metals. coast termed as territorial water and resources
Briefly describe therein belong to the nation.
the classificationOn the Basis of Exhaustibility
International Resources: There are
of resources Renewable Resources: The resources
international institutions which regulate some
on the basis which can be renewed or reproduced by
of exhaustibilty physical, chemical or mechanical processes resources. The oceanic resources beyond 200
nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone
are known as renewable or replenishable belong to open ocean and no individual
resources. For example, solar and wind country can utilise these without the
energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc. The concurrence of international institutions.
renewable resource may further be divided
into continuous or flow (Fig.1.2).
Non-Renewable Resources: These occur Do you know that India has got the right to
over a very long geological time. Minerals and mine manganese nodules from the bed of the
fossil fuels are examples of such resources. Indian Ocean from that area which lies
These resources take millions of years in their beyond the exclusive economic zone. Identify
formation. Some of the resources like metals some other resources which are international
are recyclable and some like fossil fuels cannot in nature.
Classify
be recycled and get exhausted with their use.
On the Basis of the Status of Development the
On the Basis of Ownership resources
Potential Resources: Resources which are on the
Individual Resources: These are also owned found in a region, but have not been utilised. basis of
privately by individuals. Many farmers own For example, the western parts of India the
Explain the particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have
classification land which is allotted to them by government status of
against the payment of revenue. In villages enormous potential for the development of develop-
of resources
there are people with land ownership but wind and solar energy, but so far these have ment.
on the
not been developed properly.
basis of there are many who are landless. Urban
ownership. people own plots, houses and other property. Developed Resources: Resources which are
Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in surveyed and their quality and quantity have
wells etc. are some of the examples of been determined for utilisation. The
resources ownership by individuals. Make a development of resources depends on
list of resources owned by your household. technology and level of their feasibility.
Community Owned Resources: There are Stock: Materials in the environment which
resources which are accessible to all the have the potential to satisfy human needs
members of the community. Village commons but human beings do not have the
(grazing grounds, burial grounds, village appropriate technology to access these, are
2 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II

2021-22
 included among stock. For example, water is • Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has
a compound of two gases; hydrogen and led to global ecological crises such as, global
oxygen. Hydrogen can be used as a rich warming, ozone layer depletion,
source of energy. But we do not have environmental pollution and land
advanced technical ‘know-how’ to use it for degradation.
this purpose. Hence, it can be considered as An equitable distribution of resources has Why is
stock. become essential for a sustained quality of life sustainable
Reserves are the subset of the stock, and global peace. If the present trend of resource existance
which can be put into use with the help of depletion by a few individuals and countries essential?
existing technical ‘know-how’ but their use continues, the future of our planet is in danger.
has not been started. These can be used for Therefore, resource planning is essential
meeting future requirements. River water can for sustainable existence of all forms of life.
be used for generating hydroelectric power Sustainable existence is a component of
but presently, it is being utilised only to a sustainable development.
limited extent. Thus, the water in the dams,
forests etc. is a reserve which can be used in Sustainable development
Sustainable economic development means What is
the future.
‘development should take place without sustainable
development?
damaging the environment, and development
Prepare a list of stock and reserve, resources in the present should not compromise with the
that you are familiar with from your local area. needs of the future generations.’

D EVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992

Resources are vital for human survival as well In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states
as for maintaining the quality of life. It was met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first
believed that resources are free gifts of nature. International Earth Summit. The Summit was
A s a result, human beings used them convened for addressing urgent problems of
indiscriminately and this has led to the environmental protection and socio-
What are following major problems. economic development at the global level.
the • Depletion of resources for satisfying the The assembled leaders signed the
problems greed of a few individuals. Declaration on Global Climatic Change and
of Biological Diversity. The Rio Convention
• Accumulation of resources in few hands,
the endorsed the global Forest Principles and
which, in turn, divided the society into two
indiscriminative adopted Agenda 21 for achieving
use of segments i.e. haves and have nots or rich
Sustainable Development in the 21st century.
resources? and poor.
Agenda 21
It is the declaration signed by world leaders
1. Imagine, if the oil supply gets exhausted Briefly explain
in 1992 at the United Nations Conference
one day, how would this affect our life style? Agenda 21
on Environment and Development (UNCED),
2. Plan a survey in your colony/village to
which took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It
investigate people’s attitude towards
aims at achieving global sustainable
recycling of the domestic/agricultural
development. It is an agenda to combat
wastes. Ask questions about :
environmental damage, poverty, disease
(a) What do they think about resources
through global co-operation on common
they use?
interests, mutual needs and shared
(b) What is their opinion about the
responsibilities. One major objective of the
wastes, and its utilisation?
Agenda 21 is that every local government
(c) Collage your results.
should draw its own local Agenda 21.

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 3

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 How are resources found unequally in India?

RESOURCE PLANNING
What resources are being developed in your
Planning is the widely accepted strategy for
surroundings by the community/village
judicious use of resources. It has importance
panchayats/ward level communities with the
in a country like India, which has enormous
help of community participation?
diversity in the availability of resources. There
are regions which are rich in certain types of
resources but are deficient in some other The availability of resources is a necessary
resources. There are some regions which can condition for the development of any region,
be considered self sufficient in terms of the but mere availability of resources in the
availability of resources and there are some absence of corresponding changes in
regions which have acute shortage of some technology and institutions may hinder
vital resources. For example, the states of development. There are many regions in our
J harkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya country that are rich in resources but these
Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits. are included in economically backward regions.
Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water On the contrary there are some regions which
resources but lacks in infrastructural have a poor resource base but they are
development. The state of Rajasthan is very economically developed.
well endowed with solar and wind energy but Can you name some resource rich but
lacks in water resources. The cold desert of economically backward regions and some
Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of resource poor but economically developed
the country. It has very rich cultural heritage regions? Give reasons for such a situation.
but it is deficient in water, infrastructure and The history of colonisation reveals that 3 (ii)
some vital minerals. This calls for balanced rich resources in colonies were the main
resource planning at the national, state, attractions for the foreign invaders. It was
regional and local levels. primarily the higher level of technological
development of the colonising countries that
helped them to exploit resources of other
Prepare a list of resources found in your state regions and establish their supremacy over
and also identify the resources that are the colonies. Therefore, resources can
important but deficit in your state. contribute to development only when they are
accompanied by appropriate technological
development and institutional changes. India
Resource Planning in India has experienced all this in different phases of
Explain the steps colonisation. Therefore, in India, development,
of the complex Resource planning is a complex process which in general, and resource development in
process of involves : (i) identification and inventory of
resources across the regions of the country. particular does not only involve the availability
resource
of resources, but also the technology, quality
planning. This involves surveying, mapping and
of human resources and the historical
qualitative and quantitative estimation and
experiences of the people.
measurement of the resources. (ii) Evolving a
planning structure endowed with appropriate Conservation of Resources: Resources are
technology, skill and institutional set up for vital for any developmental activity. But
implementing resource development plans. (iii) irrational consumption and over-utilisation
Matching the resource development plans with of resources may lead to socio-economic and
overall national development plans. environmental problems. To overcome these
India has made concerted efforts for problems, resource conservation at various
achieving the goals of resource planning right levels is important. This had been the main
from the First Five Year Plan launched after concern of the leaders and thinkers in the
Independence. past. For example, Gandhiji was very apt in

4 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II "There is enough for everybody's need and not for
anybody's greed" Analyse this statement

2021-22
voicing his concern about resource magnitude, therefore, it is important to use
conservation in these words: “There is the available land for various purposes with
enough for everybody’s need and not for any careful planning.
body’s greed.” He placed the greedy and India has land under a variety of relief
selfish individuals and exploitative nature of features, namely; mountains, plateaus, plains
modern technology as the root cause for and islands. About 43 per cent of the land
resource depletion at the global level. He was area is plain, which provides facilities for
against mass production and wanted to agriculture and industry. Mountains account
replace it with the production by the masses. for 30 per cent of the total surface area of the
country and ensure perennial flow of some
rivers, provide facilities for tourism and
At the international level, the Club of Rome ecological aspects. About 27 per cent of the
advocated resource conservation for the first area of the country is the plateau region. It
time in a more systematic way in 1968. possesses rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels
Subsequently, in 1974, Gandhian philosophy and forests.
was once again presented by Schumacher Explain how land resources are used for
in his book Small is Beautiful. The seminal LAND UTILISATION different purposes?
contribution with respect to resource
conservation at the global level was made Land resources are used for the following
by the Brundtland Commission Report, 1987. purposes:
This report introduced the concept of 1. Forests
‘Sustainable Development’ and advocated 2. Land not available for cultivation
it as a means for resource conservation, (a) Barren and waste land
which was subsequently published in a book (b) Land put to non-agricultural uses, e.g.
entitled Our Common Future. Another buildings, roads, factories, etc.
significant contribution was made at the Earth
3. Other uncultivated land (excluding
Summit at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.
fallow land)
(a) Permanent pastures and grazing land,
LAND RESOURCES (b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops
We live on land, we perform our economic groves (not included in net sown area),
activities on land and we use it in different (c) Cultruable waste land (left
ways. Thus, land is a natural resource of uncultivated for more than 5
utmost importance. It supports natural agricultural years).
vegetation, wild life, human life, economic 4. Fallow lands
activities, transport and communication (a) Current fallow-(left without cultivation
systems. However, land is an asset of a finite for one or less than one agricultural year),
(b) Other than current fallow-(left
uncultivated for the past 1 to 5
agricultural years).
5. Net sown area
A rea sown more than once in an
agricultural year plus net sown area is
known as gross cropped area.

LAND USE PATTERN IN INDIA

The use of land is determined both by physical

factors such as topography, climate, soil types
as well as human factors such as population
Fig 1.3: India : Land under important Relief density, technological capability and culture
Features
and traditions etc.
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 5

2021-22
 Reporting Area: 100 Per cent

Source : Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, 2017

Fig. 1.4

3 (i) Total geographical area of India is 3.28 of such land is very high. Hence, these lands
million sq km. Land use data, however, is are cultivated once or twice in about two to
available only for 93 per cent of the total three years and if these are included in the
geographical area because the land use net sown area then the percentage of NSA in 3 (i)
reporting for most of the north-east states India comes to about 54 per cent of the total
except A ssam has not been done fully. reporting area.
Moreover, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir The pattern of net sown area varies greatly
occupied by Pakistan and China have also from one state to another. It is over 80 per
not been surveyed. cent of the total area in Punjab and Haryana
and less than 10 per cent in A runachal
Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman
Try to do a comparison between the two pie
Nicobar Islands.
charts (Fig. 1.4 ) given for land use and find
out why the net sown area and the land
under forests have changed from 1960-61 Find out reasons for the low proportion of
to 2014-15 very marginally. net sown area in these states.

3 (i) The land under permanent pasture has Forest area in the country is far lower than
also decreased. How are we able to feed our the desired 33 per cent of geographical area,
huge cattle population on this pasture land as it was outlined in the National Forest Policy
and what are the consequences of it? Most of (1952). It was considered essential for
the other than the current fallow lands are maintenance of the ecological balance. The
either of poor quality or the cost of cultivation livelihood of millions of people who live on
6 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II

2021-22
3. (i) Agricultural development,
industrialisation and urbanisation have affected
the growth of forest since1960. Suggest some ways to solve the problems of land
degradation
the fringes of these forests depends upon it. There are many ways to solve the problems
3 (i) A part of the land is termed as waste land of land degradation. Afforestation and proper
and land put to other non-agricultural uses. management of grazing can help to some
Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert extent. Planting of shelter belts of plants,
areas and land put to other non-agricultural control on over grazing, stabilisation of sand
uses includes settlements, roads, railways, dunes by growing thorny bushes are some of
industry etc. Continuous use of land over a the methods to check land degradation in arid
long period of time without taking appropriate areas. Proper management of waste lands,
measures to conserve and manage it, has control of mining activities, proper discharge
resulted in land degradation. This, in turn, and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes
has serious repercussions on society and the after treatment can reduce land and water
environment. degradation in industrial and suburban areas.

L AND D EGRADATION AND CONSERVATION S OIL AS A RESOURCE

MEASURES Soil is the most important renewable natural
We have shared our land with the past resource. It is the medium of plant growth
generations and will have to do so with the and supports different types of living organisms
future generations too. Ninety-five per cent of on the earth. The soil is a living system. It
takes millions of years to form soil upto a few
our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing
cm in depth. Relief, parent rock or bed rock,
are obtained from land. Human activities have
climate, vegetation and other forms of life and What are
not only brought about degradation of land time are important factors in the formation of the
but have also aggravated the pace of natural soil. Various forces of nature such as change important
forces to cause damage to land. in temperature, actions of running water, wind factors for
Some human activities such as and glaciers, activities of decomposers etc. the
deforestation, over grazing, mining and contribute to the formation of soil. Chemical formation of
quarrying too have contributed significantly and organic changes which take place in the soil?
in land degradation.
Mining sites are abandoned after Top soil
excavation work is complete leaving deep scars the upper soil layer
and traces of over-burdening. In states like
Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh Subsoil weathered
rocks sand and
and Odisha deforestation due to mining have
silt clay
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 Substratum
Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over weathered parent
irrigation is responsible for land degradation rock material
due to water logging leading to increase in
salinity and alkalinity in the soil. The mineral
processing like grinding of limestone for
cement industry and calcite and soapstone
for ceramic industry generate huge quantity
of dust in the atmosphere. It retards the
process of infiltration of water into the soil Unweathered
after it settles down on the land. In recent parent bed rock
years, industrial effluents as waste have
become a major source of land and water
pollution in many parts of the country. Fig. 1.5: Soil Profile

Evaluate the intensity of land degradation in India. RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 7

2021-22
 soil are equally important. Soil also consists kanker nodules than the Khadar. It has more
of organic (humus) and inorganic materials fine particles and is more fertile than the
(Fig. 1.5). bangar.
On the basis of the factors responsible for Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile.
soil formation, colour, thickness, texture, age, Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion
chemical and physical properties, the soils of of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which
India are classified in different types. are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy,
wheat and other cereal and pulse crops. Due
Classification of Soils to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are
India has varied relief features, landforms, intensively cultivated and densely populated.
climatic realms and vegetation types. These Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and
have contributed in the development of various can be productive after proper treatment and
types of soils. irrigation.
Explain Alluvial Soils Black Soil Explain
This is the most widely spread and important These soils are black in colour and are also
soil. In fact, the entire northern plains are known as regur soils. Black soil is ideal for
made of alluvial soil. These have been growing cotton and is also known as black
deposited by three important Himalayan river cotton soil. It is believed that climatic condition
systems – the Indus, the Ganga and the along with the parent rock material are the
Brahmaputra. These soils also extend in important factors for the formation of black
Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow soil. This type of soil is typical of the Deccan
corridor. Alluvial soil is also found in the trap (Basalt) region spread over northwest
eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna They cover the plateaus of Maharashtra,
and the Kaveri rivers. Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh and extend in the south east
direction along the Godavari and the Krishna
valleys.

Fig. 1.6: Alluvial Soil

The alluvial soil consists of various

proportions of sand, silt and clay. As we move
inlands towards the river valleys, soil particles
appear some what bigger in size. In the upper
reaches of the river valley i.e. near the place
of the break of slope, the soils are coarse.
Such soils are more common in piedmont
plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai. Fig. 1.7: Black Soil
Apart from the size of their grains or
components, soils are also described on the The black soils are made up of extremely
basis of their age. According to their age fine i.e. clayey material. They are well-known
alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial for their capacity to hold moisture. In
(Bangar) and new alluvial (Khadar). The addition, they are rich in soil nutrients, such
bangar soil has higher concentration of as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and

8 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II Describe the classification of

alluvial soil on the basis of their age.

2021-22
India: Major Soil Types

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 9

2021-22
 lime. These soils are generally poor in vegetation and in semi-arid environment, it is
phosphoric contents. They develop deep generally humus poor. They are prone to
cracks during hot weather, which helps in erosion and degradation due to their position
the proper aeration of the soil. These soils on the landscape. After adopting appropriate
are sticky when wet and difficult to work on soil conservation techniques particularly in
unless tilled immediately after the first shower the hilly areas of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil
or during the pre-monsoon period. Nadu, this soil is very useful for growing tea
and coffee. Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu,
Explain Red and Yellow Soils
Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are more suitable
Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks for crops like cashew nut.
in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and
southern parts of the Deccan plateau. Yelllow Arid Soils Explain
and red soils are also found in parts of Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern parts of the They are generally sandy in texture and saline
middle Ganga plain and along the piedmont in nature. In some areas the salt content is
zone of the Western Ghats. These soils develop
very high and common salt is obtained by
a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in
evaporating the water. Due to the dry climate,
crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks
high temperature, evaporation is faster and
yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
the soil lacks humus and moisture. The lower
Explain Laterite Soil horizons of the soil are occupied by Kankar
Laterite has been derived from the Latin word because of the increasing calcium content
‘later’ which means brick. The laterite soil downwards. The Kankar layer formations in
develops under tropical and subtropical the bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of
climate with alternate wet and dry season. water. After proper irrigation these soils
This soil is the result of intense leaching due become cultivable as has been in the case of
to heavy rain. Lateritic soils are mostly deep western Rajasthan.
to very deep, acidic (pH<6.0), generally
deficient in plant nutrients and occur mostly
in southern states, Western Ghats region of
Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West
Bengal and North-east regions. Where these
soils support deciduous and evergreen
forests, it is humus rich, but under sparse

Fig. 1.9: Arid Soil

Forest Soils Explain

These soils are found in the hilly and
mountainous areas where sufficient rain
forests are available. The soils texture varies
according to the mountain environment
where they are formed. They are loamy and
silty in valley sides and coarse grained in
Fig. 1.8: Laterite Soil the upper slopes. In the snow covered areas

10 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II

2021-22
 of Himalayas, these soils experience
denudation and are acidic with low humus
content. The soils found in the lower parts
of the valleys particularly on the river terraces
and alluvial fans are fertile.
What is soil
Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation
erosion?
The denudation of the soil cover and
subsequent washing down is described as soil
erosion. The processes of soil formation and
erosion, go on simultaneously and generally
there is a balance between the two. Sometimes,
this balance is disturbed due to human
How is the activities like deforestation, over-grazing,
balance construction and mining etc., while natural Fig. 1.11: Gully Erosion
between
forces like wind, glacier and water lead to
soil formation soil is washed away. This is known as sheet
soil erosion. The running water cuts through
and soil erosion. Wind blows loose soil off flat or
erosion the clayey soils and makes deep channels as
sloping land known as wind erosion. Soil
disturbed? gullies. The land becomes unfit for cultivation erosion is also caused due to defective methods
and is known as bad land. In the Chambal
of farming. Ploughing in a wrong way i.e. up
basin such lands are called ravines.
and down the slope form channels for the
Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large
quick flow of water leading to soil erosion.
areas down a slope. In such cases the top
Ploughing along the contour lines can
What are sheet erosion 2 (iii)
and wind decelerate the flow of water down the slopes.
erosion? This is called contour ploughing. Steps can
be cut out on the slopes making terraces.
Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. Western
and central Himalayas have well developed
terrace farming. Large fields can be divided
into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow
between the crops. This breaks up the force
of the wind. This method is known as strip
cropping. Planting lines of trees to create
shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of
such trees are called shelter belts. These
shelter belts have contributed significantly to
the stabilisation of sand dunes and in
Fig. 1.10: Soil Erosion stabilising the desert in western India.

State of India’s Environment

• The village of Sukhomajri and the district of Jhabua have shown that it is possible to reverse land
degradation. Tree density in Sukhomajri increased from 13 per hectare in 1976 to 1,272 per
hectare in 1992;
• Regeneration of the environment leads to economic well-being, as a result of greater resource
availability, improved agriculture and animal care, and consequently, increased incomes.
Average annual household income in Sukhomajri ranged from Rs 10,000-15,000 between
1979 and 1984;

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 11

2021-22
 • People’s management is essential for ecological restoration. With people
being made the decision-makers by the Madhya Pradesh government, 2.9
million hectares or about 1 per cent of India’s land area, are being greened
across the state through watershed management.

Source: The Citizens’ Fifth Report,1999 Centre of Science and Environment (CSE),
New Delhi

EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES EXERCISES

1 . Multiple choice questions.

Read the chapter, find (i) Which one of the following type of resource is iron ore?
answers and tick in your
(a) Renewable (c) Flow
textbook itself.
(b) Biotic (d) Non-renewable
(ii) Under which of the following type of resource tidal energy cannot be put?
(a) Replenishable (c) Abiotic
(b) Human-made (d) Non-recyclable
(iii) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation (c) Over irrigation
(b) Deforestation (d) Overgrazing
(iv) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?
(a) Punjab (c) Haryana
(b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh (d) Uttarakhand
(v) In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir (c) Rajasthan
(b) Maharashtra (d) Jharkhand

12 CONTEMPORARY INDIA – II

2021-22
 1. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Cotton is mainly grown here.
2. Alluvial soil is found in the deltas of the eastern coast.
a. Formed as a result of sedimentation.
b. Highly fertile.
c. Consists sand, silt and clay.
2 . A nswer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it. Page 13
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three
main features of this type of soil. Page 13
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas? Page 11
(iv) What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples. Page 2

3. A nswer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not
increased much since 1960-61? Pages 6, 7
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of
resources? Page 4

PROJECT/ACTIVITY
1 . Make a project showing consumption and conservation of resources in your locality.
2. Have a discussion in the class – how to conserve various resources used in
your school.
Scrapbook Activity 3. Imagine if oil supplies get exhausted, how will this affect our life style?
4. Solve the puzzle by following your search horizontally and vertically to find the
hidden answers.
Do in your textbook

S F G S F O B R O M S U A P J

Q G A F F O R E S T A T I O N

P N R E C P R S L D M I L N F

S N A T Q X U O V A I O L A L

O D E I D R J U J L D B N B D

T G H M I N E R A L S A X M W

B V J K M E D C R U P F M H R

L A T E R I T E M V A Z T V L

A B Z O E N M F T I S D L R C

C G N N S Z I O P A X T Y J H

K J G K D T D C S L S E G E W

(i) Natural endowments in the form of land, water, vegetation and minerals.
(ii) A type of non-renewable resource.
(iii) Soil with high water retaining capacity.
(iv) Intensively leached soils of the monsoon climate.
(v) Plantation of trees on a large scale to check soil erosion.
(vi) The Great Plains of India are made up of these soils.

RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 13

2021-22