Resources and Development

1. Overview & Learning Objectives

Resources are essential for human life and economic activities. But resources are limited, unevenly distributed and often degraded through careless use. This chapter explains how India can plan and conserve resources while pursuing development.

Learning Objectives

• Define resources and explain why their value can change over time.
• Classify resources on the basis of origin, exhaustibility, ownership and status of development.
• Explain the need for resource planning in India.
• Understand the relationship between development and conservation.
• Describe land resources and land-use patterns in India.
• Explain land degradation and measures to control it.
• Identify major soil types of India and their characteristics.
• Explain causes of soil erosion and methods of soil conservation.

2. What is a Resource?

A resource is a substance, object, service or feature of the environment that can satisfy human needs when people have the necessary technology, skills and institutions to use it.

Three Important Conditions

• Utility: It should be capable of satisfying a human need.
• Technology: People should have the knowledge and technology required to use it.
• Economic and social value: Its use should be recognised as valuable within a particular society and time.

Resources Are Not Free Gifts Without Limits

• Resources are unevenly distributed.
• Some resources take very long periods to form.
• Some resources can be exhausted through excessive use.
• Technology can make previously unusable materials useful.
• Human decisions can transform natural materials into economic resources.

3. Classification of Resources

A. On the Basis of Origin

B. On the Basis of Exhaustibility

C. On the Basis of Ownership

• Individual resources: owned privately by individuals, such as plots, houses and wells.
• Community-owned resources: accessible to members of a community, such as village grazing grounds, public parks and playgrounds.
• National resources: resources within political boundaries and territorial waters over which the nation has legal control.
• International resources: resources beyond national jurisdiction that are regulated through international institutions or agreements.

D. On the Basis of Status of Development

• Potential resources: resources found in a region that have the potential for development but are not yet fully utilised.
• Developed resources: resources whose quantity and quality have been determined and whose use has been planned according to available technology.
• Stock: materials with the potential to satisfy human needs but for which suitable technology may not yet be available.
• Reserves: resources that can be used to meet current needs but are kept for future use through planned use.

4. Resource Development and Sustainable Development

Why Can Resource Development Become a Problem?

• Resources are unevenly distributed.
• Overuse can cause depletion.
• Technological development can increase the speed of extraction and consumption.
• Unplanned use can cause pollution, land degradation, soil erosion and ecological imbalance.
• Benefits of resource use may not be distributed equally.

Resource Development Has Two Sides

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development means using resources carefully so that present needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

5. Resource Planning in India

India has enormous diversity in resource availability. Some regions are rich in certain resources while lacking others. Therefore, resource planning is essential.

Why Resource Planning is Necessary

• Resources are unevenly distributed across India.
• Some resources are concentrated in particular regions.
• Overexploitation can cause serious environmental problems.
• Planning helps use resources judiciously.
• Planning can support balanced regional development.

Three Steps of Resource Planning

1. Identification and inventory: survey, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation of resources.
2. Planning structure: develop appropriate technology, skills and institutional arrangements for resource development.
3. Implementation: coordinate resource development plans with overall national and regional development plans.

Resource Planning in India

• India began systematic resource planning after independence.
• The chapter connects resource planning with the preparation of development plans and the creation of institutional arrangements.
• Planning seeks to balance resource use with environmental and social needs.

6. Conservation of Resources

• Resources are vital for survival and development.
• Careless exploitation creates depletion and environmental problems.
• Conservation does not mean stopping all use; it means rational and judicious use.
• Future generations should also have access to resources.

Need for Conservation

• To prevent depletion.
• To maintain ecological balance.
• To protect future generations.
• To reduce environmental degradation.
• To support long-term economic development.

7. Land Resources

Land is a natural resource of great importance because nearly all economic activities take place on it. It supports natural vegetation, wildlife, agriculture, transport, industries and settlements.

Land as a Resource

• Land supports agriculture and food production.
• It provides space for houses, roads, industries and institutions.
• It supports forests and wildlife.
• Land has ecological functions such as supporting soil, water and vegetation systems.

Land Use in India

Land utilisation is influenced by physical factors such as topography, soil, climate and minerals, as well as human factors such as population density, technology and culture.

8. Land Utilisation Pattern

Why Land Use Varies

• Physical factors: relief, climate, soil and water availability.
• Population pressure and density.
• Level of technology.
• Urbanisation and industrialisation.
• Economic development and government policies.

9. Land Degradation and Conservation

Land degradation means deterioration in the quality or productive capacity of land due to natural processes or human activities.

Main Causes

• Deforestation
• Overgrazing
• Mining
• Over-irrigation in some areas, which can contribute to waterlogging and salinity/alkalinity.
• Industrial wastes and effluents.
• Excessive and inappropriate agricultural practices.

Measures for Conservation

• Afforestation and proper management of grazing.
• Planting shelter belts and stabilising sand dunes.
• Control of mining activities.
• Proper management of wastelands.
• Regulation of industrial effluents and wastes.
• Adoption of appropriate irrigation and agricultural practices.

10. Soil as a Resource

Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. It supports plant growth and is a living system containing organic matter, minerals, air, water and organisms.

Importance of Soil

• Supports agriculture and natural vegetation.
• Provides nutrients and water to plants.
• Supports microorganisms and soil organisms.
• Influences agricultural productivity.
• Forms the base of many terrestrial ecosystems.

Soil Profile

A vertical section through the soil showing different layers or horizons is called a soil profile.

11. Factors of Soil Formation

Soil formation is a long process influenced by several factors.

12. Major Soil Types of India

13. Alluvial Soil

• Alluvial soil is widespread in the northern plains and river valleys.
• It is formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers.
• It is also found in coastal plains and river deltas.
• It is generally very fertile and supports intensive agriculture.
• It is rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime, but generally deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus.

Bhangar and Khadar

14. Black Soil

• Also known as regur soil.
• Found mainly in the Deccan Plateau and associated with basaltic rocks.
• It is clayey and has high moisture-retaining capacity.
• It becomes sticky when wet.
• It develops wide cracks when dry, which helps in aeration.
• It is especially suitable for growing cotton.
• It is generally rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime but poor in phosphoric content.

15. Red and Yellow Soil

• Develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in eastern and southern parts of the Deccan Plateau.
• It also occurs in parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and along the Western Ghats.
• Its red colour is caused by diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks.
• It appears yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.

16. Laterite Soil

• Develops in regions with high temperature and heavy rainfall.
• Heavy rainfall causes intense leaching of soil.
• It is generally low in humus because bacteria decompose organic matter rapidly under high temperature.
• With appropriate manuring and fertilisation, it can support plantation crops.
• It is useful for crops such as tea and coffee in suitable regions.
• It is also used for making bricks in some areas.

17. Arid Soil

• Found mainly in western Rajasthan and adjoining dry regions.
• Characteristically sandy and sometimes saline.
• In some places, the lower horizons contain kankar layers that restrict infiltration of water.
• With irrigation and appropriate management, some arid soils can support cultivation.

18. Forest and Mountain Soil

• Found mainly in hilly and mountainous areas.
• Soil characteristics vary according to altitude and environment.
• On upper slopes, soils may be coarse because of erosion.
• In valleys and river terraces, soils can be fertile.
• In snow-covered Himalayan areas, soil formation is limited by cold conditions.
• Forest soils in lower valleys are often suitable for agriculture where slope and moisture conditions permit.

19. Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is the removal of the top fertile layer of soil by agents such as running water and wind.

Major Causes

• Deforestation.
• Overgrazing.
• Construction and development activities.
• Improper agricultural practices.
• Wind action in dry regions.
• Running water on sloping land.

Types / Forms Mentioned in the Chapter

• Gully erosion: running water cuts deep channels or gullies in the soil.
• Sheet erosion: water flows as a sheet over large areas and removes the topsoil.
• In the Chambal basin, extensive gullies have developed and form badland landscapes.

20. Soil Conservation

Contour Ploughing

Ploughing parallel to the contours of a slope slows down the flow of water and reduces soil erosion.

Terrace Farming

Steps or terraces are made on steep slopes to reduce the speed of water and create level surfaces for cultivation.

Strip Cropping

Large fields are divided into strips and different crops are grown in alternate strips to interrupt the flow of wind and water.

Planting Shelter Belts

Rows of trees and shrubs planted to create wind barriers help reduce wind erosion, especially in dry regions.

21. Important Definitions

22. Quick Revision & Exam Focus

Resource Classification at a Glance

Soil Types — Memory Table

Common Mistakes

• ❌ “All renewable resources are unlimited.” ✓ Renewable resources can also be degraded or depleted through overuse.
• ❌ “Resource planning means only identifying resources.” ✓ It includes identification, planning structures/technology and implementation with development plans.
• ❌ “Black soil is called black because it is always wet.” ✓ Its characteristics include clayey texture and high moisture-retention capacity; it is associated with basaltic regions.
• ❌ “Soil erosion means only wind erosion.” ✓ Water and wind are both important agents.
• ❌ “Khadar is older alluvium.” ✓ Khadar is newer alluvium; Bhangar is older alluvium.

23. Interactive NCERT-Based Quiz

30 questions covering resource classification, planning, land degradation, soil types and conservation.