Natural Resources

Overview

Natural resources form a foundational topic in Social Studies for JKTET Paper II, connecting physical geography with economic development and environmental concerns. This topic tests your understanding of how soil, water, forests, minerals and energy sources are distributed across India and specifically in Jammu & Kashmir, their classification, conservation methods and sustainable use.

For the exam, expect questions on types and classification of resources, their distribution in India and J&K, conservation measures and the relationship between resource use and development. The topic bridges geography with civics (government policies) and economics (resource-based industries), making it a high-yield area for integrated questions.

You must be able to distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources, identify major resource-producing regions, and explain why conservation matters—particularly in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem of J&K.

Key Concepts

• **Classification by exhaustibility**: Renewable resources (water, forests, solar energy) can be replenished naturally; non-renewable resources (coal, petroleum, minerals) take millions of years to form and are finite.

• **Classification by origin**: Biotic resources come from living organisms (forests, fisheries, livestock); abiotic resources are non-living (minerals, water, land).

• **Classification by development status**: Potential resources are known to exist but not yet utilised; developed resources are currently being exploited for economic use.

• **Carrying capacity**: Every ecosystem has a limit to how many people and activities it can sustainably support—overexploitation leads to degradation.

• **Sustainable development**: Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs—central to resource management policy.

• **Resource planning**: A three-stage process involving identification and inventory of resources, developing a planning structure, and matching resource development with national development plans.

• **J&K's unique resource position**: Rich in water resources (glaciers, rivers), forests and some minerals, but limited in fossil fuels; highly dependent on hydroelectric power.

Key Facts

### Soil Resources

• **Alluvial soil**: Most fertile; found in Jammu plains and river valleys; supports rice, wheat, maize cultivation.
• **Mountain soil**: Found in Kashmir Valley and hilly regions; rich in humus; suitable for orchards and saffron.