CBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 1 — Resources and Development: NCERT Notes and Important Questions 2027
Resources and Development is Chapter 1 of NCERT Class 10 Geography (Contemporary India II). This chapter is consistently asked in CBSE Class 10 board exams and forms the foundation for understanding environmental studies, sustainable development, and India’s land resources. This comprehensive guide covers all NCERT concepts — resource classification, resource planning, land use pattern, soil types, and conservation methods — with important board exam questions, a data table, and 10 practice MCQs for CBSE 2027.
What Are Resources?
A resource is anything that can be used to satisfy a need. Resources are not just natural objects — they become resources when they have utility and when technology allows their use. A substance found in nature is just material until human knowledge and technology transforms it into a resource.
Key concept: Resources have three essential attributes — Utility, Accessibility, and Functionality.
Classification of Resources
1. On the Basis of Origin
- Biotic Resources: Obtained from the biosphere (living things). Examples: plants, animals, fish, forests
- Abiotic Resources: Non-living or non-organic material. Examples: rocks, metals, minerals, soil, air, water
2. On the Basis of Exhaustibility
- Renewable Resources: Can be replenished naturally. Examples: solar energy, wind, water (with recharge), forests (if managed)
- Non-Renewable Resources: Take millions of years to form; essentially non-replenishable. Examples: fossil fuels (coal, petroleum), minerals
3. On the Basis of Ownership
- Individual Resources: Owned by individuals — land, ponds, wells
- Community Resources: Accessible to all members of a community — village panchayat lands, public parks, burial grounds
- National Resources: Belong to the nation — minerals, water, forests, air, wildlife. Roads, railways, canals also belong to the nation
- International Resources: Regulated by international institutions — ocean resources beyond 200 nautical miles of EEZ
4. On the Basis of Status of Development
- Potential Resources: Found in a region but not yet used (e.g., wind energy potential in Rajasthan and Gujarat — not fully utilized)
- Developed Resources: Resources surveyed for quality and quantity and being used
- Stock: Resources that have potential for use but lack technology to access them (e.g., hydrogen as fuel)
- Reserves: Subset of stock that can be used with existing technology (e.g., water in rivers)
Resource Planning in India
India has enormous diversity of resources, but they are unequally distributed. Some states are mineral-rich but lack industrial development; others have industry but few resources. Resource planning is essential for equitable and sustainable development.
Stages of Resource Planning
- Stage 1: Identification and inventory of resources across the nation (mapping, surveying)
- Stage 2: Evolution of planning structure with technology, skills, and institutional setup
- Stage 3: Integration of resource development plans with national development plans
Concept of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Brundtland Commission Report (1987) popularized this concept.
Key principle: Resources must be used to meet present needs, but we must conserve enough for future generations.
Land Resources and Land Use Pattern in India
| Land Use Category | Definition | Approx % (India) |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sown Area | Land where crops are grown at least once a year | ~46% |
| Forest Cover | Land under forests (legal; actual and reported) | ~22% |
| Land Not Available for Cultivation | Barren/wasteland, land under settlements, roads, industries | ~14% |
| Other Uncultivated Land (excluding fallow) | Permanent pastures, miscellaneous tree crops, culturable waste | ~12% |
| Fallow Land | Land left uncultivated temporarily — current fallow + other fallow | ~6% |
Land Degradation
Land degradation is deterioration of land quality — reduction of productivity. Causes vary by region:
| Region | Main Cause of Land Degradation |
|---|---|
| Punjab, Haryana, Western UP | Waterlogging due to over-irrigation |
| Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP | Overgrazing |
| Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, MP | Mining — deforestation + dust + waste dumps |
| Coastal Areas | Salinity due to seawater intrusion |
| Most States | Deforestation → soil erosion by wind and water |
Soil Types in India
| Soil Type | Colour | Regions | Suitable Crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alluvial Soil | Light grey to dark grey | Indo-Gangetic plain, coastal areas | Wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton |
| Black Soil (Regur) | Black | Deccan Plateau, Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP | Cotton (best soil for cotton) |
| Red and Yellow Soil | Red (iron oxide) | Eastern Deccan, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, southern states | Wheat, rice, millet |
| Laterite Soil | Red (laterite = brick-like) | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu hills, NE India | Tea, coffee, cashew |
| Arid Soil | Red to brown | Western Rajasthan | Drought-resistant crops after irrigation |
| Forest Soil | Variable | Hill and mountain areas | Tea, coffee, spices |
Soil Conservation Methods
- Contour Ploughing: Ploughing across the slope along contour lines — prevents water from running down slopes
- Terrace Farming: Step-like terraces on hillsides — reduces surface runoff and soil erosion
- Strip Cropping: Alternating strips of crops with grass/other crops — reduces wind/water erosion
- Shelter Belts: Planting rows of trees/shrubs along field edges — reduces wind erosion (used in arid Rajasthan)
- Afforestation: Planting trees on degraded land — rebuilds vegetation cover
10 Practice MCQs — Resources and Development
Quiz data missing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What is the difference between stock and reserves?
- Stock = resources known to exist but cannot be accessed due to lack of technology (e.g., hydrogen as fuel). Reserves = subset of stock accessible with existing technology but not fully utilized (e.g., river water). Reserves can be developed now; stock requires future technology.
- Q: Which soil type is best for cotton in India?
- Black soil (Regur) — found on Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, AP). High moisture retention, rich in calcium carbonate and lime. Called “black cotton soil” because cotton thrives in it.
- Q: What is sustainable development?
- Meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their needs — Brundtland Commission 1987. Agenda 21 (action plan) emerged from Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro 1992.
- Q: What causes land degradation in Punjab and Haryana?
- Waterlogging due to over-irrigation from canal irrigation for Green Revolution crops. Raises water table → soil salinization. Distinct from Rajasthan (overgrazing) and Jharkhand (mining).
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