Resources and Development Quiz

Resources and Development

• Resources are crucial for human survival and maintaining the quality of life.
• Exploitation of resources has led to:
  • Resource depletion
  • Accumulation of resources in the hands of a few
  • Division of society into "haves" and "have nots"
  • Global ecological crises (global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution, and land degradation)
• Equitable distribution of resources is essential for sustainable quality of life and global peace.
• Sustainable economic development aims to develop without damaging the environment and ensure future generations' needs are met.

Resource Planning

• Planning is essential for the judicious use of resources, especially in countries like India with diverse resource availability.
• Gandhiji highlighted the importance of resource conservation, advocating for meeting everyone's needs and not fuelling greed. He critiqued the exploitation of resources by mass production and advocated for production by masses.

Important Global Movements

• The Club of Rome (1968) advocated for systematic resource conservation, followed by Schumacher's "Small is Beautiful" (1974) which further emphasized Gandhian philosophies.
• The Brundtland Commission Report (1987) introduced the concept of "Sustainable Development" and advocated it as a means for resource conservation.

Land Use Pattern in India

• India's land use pattern is determined by physical factors (topography, climate, soil types) and human factors (population density, technology, culture).
• India's total geographical area is 3.28 million sq km, but land use data is only available for 93% due to incomplete reporting in northeast states and areas occupied by Pakistan and China.
• Land Use in India includes:
  • Forests: Area under forests has changed marginally from 1960-61 to 2014-15 despite the need for its preservation.
  • Land not available for cultivation: Consists of barren and waste land, and land used for non-agricultural purposes.
  • Net Sown Area: The pattern varies significantly across Indian states, indicating differences in agricultural practices and land availability.
  • Permanent Pasture: Area under permanent pasture has decreased marginally from 1960-61 to 2014-15, reflecting changes in land use practices.

Classification of Soils in India

• Alluvial Soil:
  • The most widespread and important soil in India.
  • Formed by deposits of three major Himalayan river systems – Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
  • Also found in eastern coastal plains, particularly in river deltas.
  • Characterized by different proportions of sand, silt, and clay, with variations in particle size based on location within river valleys.
  • Fertile and ideal for growing sugarcane, paddy, wheat, and other cereal and pulse crops.
  • Known for its high fertility, leading to intensive cultivation and dense population in these regions.
• Black Soil:
  • Black in color and known as regur soil.
  • Ideal for growing cotton and referred to as black cotton soil.
  • Formed by a combination of climatic conditions and parent rock material (lava flows of Deccan Trap region).
  • Extends across the Deccan Plateau, covering regions like Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and along the Godavari and Krishna river valleys.

Land Resources

• India has land under various relief features:
  • Plains: About 43% of the country, providing facilities for agriculture and industry.
  • Mountains: About 30% of the country, ensuring perennial flow of rivers, tourism, and ecological value.
  • Plateaus: About 27% of the country, possessing rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels, and forests.

Potential and Challenges

• Although India has a diverse range of land resources, sustainable development requires careful planning to ensure equitable distribution and prevent further depletion.
• Further research is needed to understand the reasons for the marginal changes in net sown area and forest area, particularly in the context of the challenges of sustainable agriculture, deforestation, and climate change.