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- Introduction
- What You Will Learn
- Different People, Different Goals
- Income and Other Goals
- National Development
- Comparing Countries
- Per Capita Income
- Limitations of Averages
- Other Criteria for Development
- Public Facilities
- Human Development Index (HDI)
- Kerala vs Haryana
- Sustainability
- SDGs
- Definitions
- Common Mistakes
- Quick Revision
- Chapter Summary
- Quiz
Introduction
- Every person wants a better life — more money, good health, education, respect, and safety.
- This idea of "a better life" is called development.
- But here's the twist: development means different things to different people.
- What feels like progress to one person may be a problem for another.
- This chapter explains what development really means and how we measure it.
Development is not just about money. It also includes health, education, equality, and a clean environment — and it must last for future generations too.
What You Will Learn
- Why different people have different development goals.
- Material vs non-material goals.
- How to calculate per capita income.
- Why average income can be misleading.
- Other criteria: literacy, health, school attendance.
- What public facilities are and why they matter.
- What HDI measures.
- Why sustainability is important.
- What SDGs are and India's progress.
Different People, Different Goals
- Development goals are not the same for everyone.
- A landless labourer wants more work and better wages.
- A rich farmer wants higher crop prices and cheap labour.
- A girl from a rich family wants freedom to choose her career.
- A factory worker wants safer conditions and fair wages.
If a dam is built on a river, city people get electricity and jobs (development for them). But farmers whose land gets flooded lose their homes (NOT development for them). Same project, different feelings!
Development goals can even conflict with each other. What helps one person may hurt another.
Income and Other Goals
- Everyone wants more income — it's needed for basic life.
- But money alone is not enough.
- People also want respect, freedom, safety, and equal treatment.
Material vs Non-Material Goals
| Material Goals | Non-Material Goals |
|---|---|
| Can be bought with money | Cannot be easily bought |
| Food, house, phone, car | Respect, freedom, equality |
| Measured in ₹ or $ | Felt in daily life |
For development, people want a mix of goals — money plus respect, freedom, and security. Money is a means, not the end.
National Development
- National development = what is good for the whole country, not just one group.
- Different people have different ideas about what the country needs.
- We must ask: Does it benefit many people? Does it harm someone? Is it fair?
National development is not just income. It also includes health, education, equality, and a clean environment.
How to Compare Countries
- We usually compare countries by their income.
- But countries have different populations.
- So we use average income (per capita income) to compare fairly.
Family A: 4 people, ₹40,000 → ₹10,000 per person.
Family B: 10 people, ₹50,000 → ₹5,000 per person.
Family B earns more total, but Family A is better off per person!
Per Capita Income
Per Capita Income = Total Income ÷ Total Population
World Bank Classification
| Category | Per Capita Income (2017) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Countries | US$ 12,056 and above | USA, UK |
| Low-Income Countries | US$ 955 or less | India, Bangladesh |
World Bank uses per capita income. But it has limits — see next section.
Limitations of Averages
- Averages can hide inequality.
- Two countries can have the same average income but very different lives.
Example: Two Countries, Same Average
| Country | Person 1 | Person 2 | Person 3 | Person 4 | Person 5 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | ₹9,500 | ₹10,500 | ₹9,800 | ₹10,000 | ₹10,200 | ₹10,000 |
| B | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹500 | ₹48,000 | ₹10,000 |
- Country A: Everyone earns similar — fair distribution.
- Country B: One rich, four very poor — huge inequality.
- Same average, but very different lives!
Averages hide disparities. High average income doesn't mean everyone is well-off.
Other Criteria for Development
- Income alone doesn't tell the full story.
- We also look at health, education, and basic facilities.
Key Indicators
| Indicator | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate | % of people (7+) who can read and write |
| Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) | Child deaths before age 1 per 1,000 births |
| Net Attendance Ratio | % of children attending school |
| Life Expectancy | Average expected lifespan |
A state with lower income can still have better human development if it invests in health and education.
Public Facilities
- Public facilities = services provided for everyone, usually by the government.
- Individuals can't buy everything alone — some things need collective effort.
Examples
| Facility | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Government schools | Education for all children |
| Public hospitals | Healthcare for more people |
| Clean drinking water | Prevents disease |
| PDS (ration shops) | Food security |
| Roads and transport | Connect people to work |
| Sanitation | Health and hygiene |
| Public security | Safety for everyone |
Imagine if every person had to build their own road or dig their own well. Impossible! Some things work best when provided for everyone.
Human Development Index (HDI)
- HDI is a broader measure of development than income alone.
- It is published by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).
- It looks at three things: health, education, and income.
Figure 1: The three dimensions of HDI
World Bank uses only income. UNDP uses HDI (health + education + income). HDI gives a fuller picture.
Kerala vs Haryana — A Real Example
- Kerala has lower income than Haryana.
- But Kerala has better health and education.
- Result: Kerala has better human development.
Income alone is not enough. Investing in health and education can improve lives even without the highest income.
This does NOT mean income is useless. It means we should look at income along with other indicators.
Sustainability of Development
- Sustainable development = using resources so that they last for future generations too.
- We should not use up everything today and leave nothing for tomorrow.
Why It Matters
- Groundwater is being used faster than it is refilled.
- Coal, oil, and minerals are limited — once gone, they're gone.
- Pollution harms health and the environment.
- Burning fossil fuels causes climate change.
"We have not inherited the world from our forefathers — we have borrowed it from our children."
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- In 2015, all UN countries agreed on 17 goals to be achieved by 2030.
- These are called the SDGs or Global Goals.
- They cover poverty, hunger, health, education, equality, environment, and more.
- The 5 pillars: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership.
Figure 2: SDGs framework
India and SDGs
- India is a signatory to the 2030 Agenda (effective 1 January 2016).
- NITI Aayog monitors India's progress on SDGs.
- Progress is tracked through the SDG India Index.
- India has made progress on poverty, food security, education, and clean energy — but challenges remain (malnutrition, learning outcomes, inequality).
Important Definitions
Improving people's quality of life — economically, socially, environmentally.
Goals measured in money — food, house, phone.
Respect, freedom, security, equality.
Overall progress of a country in economic, social, and political areas.
Total income ÷ total population.
Proportion of literate people aged 7 and above.
Deaths per 1,000 live births before one year.
Goods/services provided collectively — schools, hospitals, roads.
Combines health, education, and income. Published by UNDP.
Meeting present needs without harming future generations.
Adopted by UN members in 2015 — end poverty, protect planet, ensure prosperity.
Common Mistakes
Quick Revision
Development Goals
- Different for different people
- Can conflict
- Material + non-material
Per Capita Income
- Total income ÷ population
- Used by World Bank
- Hides inequality
Other Indicators
- Literacy rate
- Infant mortality rate
- Net attendance ratio
- Life expectancy
HDI (UNDP)
- Health (life expectancy)
- Education (years of schooling)
- Income (per capita)
Public Facilities
- Schools, hospitals
- Water, sanitation
- PDS, roads, security
Sustainability & SDGs
- Use resources wisely
- 17 SDGs, 169 targets
- Target: 2030
- 5 Ps: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership
Chapter Summary
- Development means making life better — not just money.
- Different people have different goals. They can even conflict.
- Per capita income = total income ÷ population. Used by World Bank.
- Averages hide inequality. Same average ≠ same life.
- We also look at literacy, IMR, school attendance, life expectancy.
- Public facilities (schools, hospitals, water) are essential.
- HDI = health + education + income. Published by UNDP.
- Kerala has lower income but better human development than Haryana.
- Sustainable development = meet today's needs without harming the future.
- SDGs = 17 global goals for 2030. India is working toward them.
Interactive Quiz — Test Yourself!
20 questions. Don't worry about the score — it's just for practice.