Home · Schooling · CBSE · Class 10 · Social Science · Development · End-of-chapter exercises

NCERT Class 10 Social Science Development: Exercise Solutions

Point-by-point answers for every question of End-of-chapter exercises in NCERT's Class 10 Social Science book, chapter “Development”, written by Shishya. Each question is in our own short words; open the NCERT chapter for the exact wording and figures.

1. Exercises Q1

   MCQ: a country's development can generally be judged by (i) its per capita income (ii) its average literacy level (iii) the health status of its people (iv) all of these

   1. Development is not judged by a single factor but by a combination of indicators.
   2. Per capita income reflects the average economic status of the population.
   3. Average literacy level and health status are equally important measures of human development.
   4. Therefore, all these factors together determine the overall development of a country.

   Answer: (iv) all the above

   Report an error in this solution

2. Exercises Q2

   MCQ: which neighbouring country does better than India on human development? (i) Bangladesh (ii) Sri Lanka (iii) Nepal (iv) Pakistan

   1. Sri Lanka is a small country in our neighbourhood that is much ahead of India in every respect.
   2. The text states that Sri Lanka has better performance in terms of human development than India.
   3. India has a low rank in the world compared to this neighbouring country.

   Answer: (ii) Sri Lanka

   Report an error in this solution

3. Exercises Q3

   MCQ: four families have an average per capita income of Rs 5000. Three of them earn Rs 4000, Rs 7000 and Rs 3000. What does the fourth family earn? (i) Rs 7500 (ii) Rs 3000 (iii) Rs 2000 (iv) Rs 6000

   1. The average per capita income of the four families is Rs 5000.
   2. The total income of the four families is Rs 20000.
   3. The combined income of the first three families is Rs 14000.
   4. The income of the fourth family is Rs 6000.

   Answer: (iv) Rs 6000

   Report an error in this solution

4. Exercises Q4

   What main criterion does the World Bank use to classify countries? What are its limitations?

   1. The World Bank classifies countries based on their per capita income, which is the total income divided by the total population.
   2. This criterion has a major limitation because averages hide the disparities in how income is distributed among people.
   3. Two countries can have the same average income, but one may have a more equitable distribution where people are neither very rich nor extremely poor.
   4. Therefore, per capita income alone does not tell us how the income is shared or if the country is truly developed for all its citizens.

   Answer: The main criterion is per capita income, but it is limited because it hides income distribution disparities and does not reflect equitable development.

   Report an error in this solution

5. Exercises Q5

   How is the UNDP's criterion for measuring development different from the World Bank's?

   1. The World Bank compares countries only by per capita income: the country's total income divided by its population.
   2. The UNDP's Human Development Report compares countries on the educational level of their people and their health status, as well as per capita income.
   3. So the UNDP looks at how people actually live (health, education), while the World Bank looks only at average income.

   Answer: The World Bank uses per capita income alone; the UNDP's Human Development Report adds people's education and health to per capita income.

   Report an error in this solution

6. Exercises Q6

   Why do we use averages? Do they have limits? Illustrate with your own development examples.

   1. Averages are used to summarize large amounts of data into a single value for easy comparison between different groups or regions.
   2. The main limitation is that averages hide the actual distribution of resources or income among individuals within that group.
   3. For example, a high average income in a state might mask the fact that a large number of people are still poor or undernourished.

   Answer: Averages simplify data but limit understanding by concealing inequality and the specific conditions of individuals within the group.

   Report an error in this solution

7. Exercises Q7

   Kerala has a lower per capita income but a better human development ranking than Haryana, so per capita income is useless for comparing states. Do you agree? Discuss.

   1. I do not agree that per capita income is completely useless for comparing states.
   2. Per capita income is a useful indicator because it measures the average economic output and income level of a state.
   3. However, it has limitations because it does not capture other important aspects of development like health and education.
   4. Kerala has a better human development ranking than Haryana despite lower income, showing that quality of life matters.
   5. Therefore, we should use per capita income along with other indicators like literacy and life expectancy for a complete picture.

   Answer: No, per capita income is still a useful criterion, but it should be used alongside other human development indicators for a comprehensive comparison.

   Report an error in this solution

8. Exercises Q8

   What sources of energy do people in India use today? What other possibilities could there be fifty years from now?

   1. Today people in India use coal, petroleum (crude oil) and natural gas, electricity, and firewood and cow dung cakes in many villages, along with some solar and wind power.
   2. India does not have enough crude oil of its own and depends on importing it, so a rise in oil prices becomes a burden for everyone.
   3. The chapter's Table 1.7 shows the world's crude oil reserves would last only about 50 more years at the present rate of extraction.
   4. So in fifty years India may have to depend much more on renewable sources such as solar, wind and biogas, and use energy more carefully.

   Answer: Today: coal, petroleum, natural gas, electricity, firewood and dung cakes, with some solar and wind; in fifty years, as oil runs short, renewable sources such as solar, wind and biogas could take a much bigger share.

   Report an error in this solution

9. Exercises Q9

   Why is sustainability important for development?

   1. Scientists have warned that current development levels are not sustainable.
   2. Sustainability ensures that development benefits can be maintained for future generations.
   3. It prevents the depletion of resources needed for long-term progress.

   Answer: Sustainability is important because it ensures that development can continue and be maintained for future generations without exhausting resources.

   Report an error in this solution

10. Exercises Q10

    How is the saying that the Earth has enough for everyone's need but not for one person's greed relevant to the discussion of development?

    1. The statement highlights that current development levels are not sustainable for future generations.
    2. It warns that excessive consumption and greed deplete resources faster than they can be replenished.
    3. This connects to the need for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability and quality of life.

    Answer: The saying is relevant because it emphasizes that development must be sustainable, ensuring resources are preserved for future generations rather than being exhausted by excessive greed.

    Report an error in this solution

11. Exercises Q11

    List a few examples of environmental degradation you may have seen around you.

    1. Ground water being drawn out faster than rain can refill it, so wells and hand pumps dry up.
    2. Smoke and dust from vehicles and factories that make the air unhealthy to breathe.
    3. Garbage and waste water dumped into rivers, ponds and open land.
    4. Trees cut down for roads and buildings, and soil washed away from bare land.

    Answer: Examples: overuse of ground water, air pollution from vehicles and factories, garbage and waste water in rivers and ponds, and cutting of trees leading to soil erosion.

    Report an error in this solution

12. Exercises Q12

    From Table 1.6 in the chapter, which country is at the top and which at the bottom for each item?

    Uses a figure printed in the NCERT book — open the chapter above to see it.

    1. Gross National Income per capita: Sri Lanka is at the top (12,616 dollars) and Nepal at the bottom (4,726 dollars).
    2. Life expectancy at birth: Sri Lanka is at the top (77.5 years) and Myanmar at the bottom (66.9 years).
    3. Mean years of schooling of people aged 25 and above: Sri Lanka is at the top (10.8 years) and Pakistan at the bottom (4.3 years).
    4. HDI rank in the world: Sri Lanka ranks best (89) and Pakistan worst (168) among these countries.

    Answer: Sri Lanka is at the top on every item; at the bottom are Nepal for income per head, Myanmar for life expectancy, and Pakistan for years of schooling and HDI rank.

    Report an error in this solution

13. Exercises Q13(i)

    Using the chapter's table of adults (15-49 years) with below-normal BMI by state (NFHS-5, 2019-21), compare the nutrition levels of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.

    Uses a figure printed in the NCERT book — open the chapter above to see it.

    1. In Kerala, 8.5 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women aged 15-49 have a below-normal BMI.
    2. In Madhya Pradesh, 28 per cent of men and 28 per cent of women have a below-normal BMI.
    3. So in Madhya Pradesh about three times as many men, and nearly three times as many women, are undernourished as in Kerala.

    Answer: People in Kerala are far better nourished: only 8.5% of men and 10% of women are undernourished there, against 28% of both men and women in Madhya Pradesh.

    Report an error in this solution

14. Exercises Q13(ii)

    Why might around one-fifth of people in India be undernourished even though there is said to be enough food in the country?

    1. Averages hide disparities, meaning total food production does not ensure equal distribution among all citizens.
    2. Income levels are uneven, with many people being poor while a few are rich, limiting access to food for the underprivileged.
    3. Health and education indicators vary significantly across regions, affecting how people utilize available food resources.

    Answer: Undernourishment persists because averages mask unequal distribution of income and resources, leaving many without adequate access to food despite overall surplus.

    Report an error in this solution

← Development: notes, practice and all exercises