Development — Class 10 Social Science NCERT Solutions (Free)
Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 10 Social Science chapter "Development" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.
TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 10 Social Science chapter "Development" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam…
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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science — Development. Step-by-step answers to all 6 textbook questions from this chapter, written for CBSE board preparation and free to use.
Development — All 6 Questions Solved
Q1. What is development and what measures are used to assess it?
Development refers to improvement in living standards, economic growth, and social progress. Traditional measure: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. However, GDP alone is inadequate. Better measures include: (1) Human Development Index (HDI) combining income, health, and education, (2) Poverty indicators measuring access to basic needs, (3) Quality of life indicators including health and literacy, (4) Gender Development Index measuring gender equality.
Q2. Why is per capita income alone insufficient for measuring development?
Per capita income does not show distribution of wealth among people. A country may have high per capita income but severe inequality where few are rich while most are poor. It ignores important dimensions like health, education, environmental quality, and social welfare. Countries with similar per capita income can have vastly different living standards. HDI provides a more comprehensive picture.
Q3. What is the difference between development in developed and developing countries?
Developed countries have high per capita income, advanced technology, good infrastructure, and high HDI. Development goals include quality of life improvements. Developing countries struggle with poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and lower HDI. Their primary development goals are poverty reduction, basic education, and healthcare. Development challenges and priorities differ significantly.
Q4. What role does education play in development?
Education is crucial for development. It improves productivity, earning capacity, and quality of life. Educated populations make informed decisions about health, environment, and governance. Education promotes gender equality and social mobility. Countries investing in education experience better economic growth and social development. Education is both a goal and a means of development.
Q5. How does healthcare contribute to overall development?
Good healthcare is essential for development. Healthy populations are more productive and contribute more to economy. Reduced infant and maternal mortality improve family planning and economic decisions. Disease prevention reduces economic burden of treating preventable illnesses. Access to healthcare improves quality of life and life expectancy. Healthcare investment accelerates overall human development.
Q6. What is sustainable development and why is it important?
Sustainable development balances economic growth with environmental protection and social equity. It ensures current development does not compromise future generations' ability to develop. Important because: (1) Resources are limited, (2) Environmental degradation harms all, (3) True development must include all sections of society. Sustainable development is the only viable long-term development model.
Development — Practice MCQs with Answers
Attempt these 20 multiple-choice questions after working through the solutions above. Each carries the correct option and the reasoning behind it, so a wrong answer tells you which idea to revisit.
MCQ 1. Which of the following statements about development goals is true?
- A. All people have the same development goals.
- B. Development goals for one may be destructive for another.
- C. People only seek material benefits as development goals.
- D. National development is the sum of individual development goals.
Answer: B. Development goals for one may be destructive for another. — Development goals are often diverse and can even be conflicting; what may be development for one person, like building a dam, could lead to displacement and destruction for another.
MCQ 2. Besides income, what other factors do people consider for development?
- A. Security
- B. Respect for others
- C. Freedom
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above — Beyond material gain (income), people also desire non-material aspects of development such as security, respect, freedom, equal treatment, and a pollution-free environment.
MCQ 3. Which criterion is primarily used by the World Bank to classify countries as rich or low-income?
- A. Human Development Index (HDI)
- B. Per Capita Income
- C. Infant Mortality Rate
- D. Literacy Rate
Answer: B. Per Capita Income — The World Bank uses Per Capita Income (calculated as Gross National Income divided by the total population) as its main criterion for classifying countries.
MCQ 4. If a country has a total population of 500 million and its Gross National Income (GNI) is $2,500 billion, what is its approximate Per Capita Income?
- A. $500
- B. $5,000
- C. $50,000
- D. $5,000,000
Answer: B. $5,000 — Per Capita Income is calculated by dividing the total national income by the total population. ($2,500 billion / 500 million = $5,000).
MCQ 5. Which organization publishes the Human Development Report (HDR)?
- A. World Bank
- B. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- C. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- D. World Trade Organization (WTO)
Answer: C. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is responsible for publishing the Human Development Report (HDR), which includes the Human Development Index (HDI).
MCQ 6. Which of the following is NOT a component used to calculate the Human Development Index (HDI)?
- A. Life expectancy at birth
- B. Literacy rate
- C. Per capita income
- D. Industrial growth rate
Answer: D. Industrial growth rate — The Human Development Index (HDI) considers three main dimensions: health (life expectancy), education (literacy rate, schooling years), and standard of living (per capita income). Industrial growth rate is not a direct component.
MCQ 7. Which Indian state has consistently demonstrated a lower Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) compared to many other states, despite not having the highest per capita income?
- A. Bihar
- B. Kerala
- C. Uttar Pradesh
- D. Odisha
Answer: B. Kerala — Kerala has a significantly lower Infant Mortality Rate primarily due to its high literacy rate, robust public health and education facilities, and effective public distribution system.
MCQ 8. Why is money in your pocket not able to buy all the goods and services you need to live well?
- A. Prices are too high for basic necessities.
- B. Pollution-free environment or protection from infectious diseases cannot be individually bought.
- C. Goods and services are not always available in the market.
- D. Money has no inherent value without government backing.
Answer: B. Pollution-free environment or protection from infectious diseases cannot be individually bought. — Many essential things, like a pollution-free environment, collective security, or a healthy society, require collective action and public facilities, which individual money cannot secure on its own.
MCQ 9. Which of the following is an example of a non-renewable resource?
- A. Sunlight
- B. Wind energy
- C. Groundwater
- D. Crude oil
Answer: D. Crude oil — Crude oil is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and exists in limited quantities; once consumed, it cannot be replenished within a human timescale, making it a non-renewable resource.
MCQ 10. The concept of sustainable development emphasizes:
- A. Development without any environmental cost.
- B. Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- C. Rapid industrialization for maximum economic growth.
- D. Prioritizing economic growth over environmental protection.
Answer: B. Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. — Sustainable development aims for a balance between economic progress, social equity, and environmental protection, ensuring that current needs are met without harming future generations' ability to meet their own needs.
MCQ 11. Average income is useful for comparison between countries, but it hides:
- A. Total population
- B. Income distribution disparities
- C. National income
- D. Literacy rates
Answer: B. Income distribution disparities — While average income provides a general measure, it doesn't reveal how income is distributed among the population; a high average can mask significant inequalities where some are very rich and many are very poor.
MCQ 12. What is the most common indicator of a country's economic development globally?
- A. Literacy Rate
- B. Per Capita Income
- C. Infant Mortality Rate
- D. Net Attendance Ratio
Answer: B. Per Capita Income — Per Capita Income (PCI) is the most widely and commonly used economic indicator to measure and compare the economic development of countries worldwide, despite its limitations.
MCQ 13. A development goal for a landless rural labourer would most likely be:
- A. To build a large dam for irrigation.
- B. To have more days of work and better wages.
- C. To set up a successful large-scale business.
- D. To become an urban resident with a high-paying job.
Answer: B. To have more days of work and better wages. — For a landless rural labourer, immediate and practical development goals would focus on improving their current livelihood, such as securing more consistent work and better pay.
MCQ 14. What is a major consequence of overusing natural resources like groundwater for agricultural purposes in many parts of India?
- A. Increase in biodiversity.
- B. Improved soil fertility.
- C. Depletion of the water table.
- D. Decrease in agricultural productivity over time.
Answer: C. Depletion of the water table. — Excessive pumping of groundwater for irrigation leads to a significant drop in the water table, making it harder and more expensive to access water and threatening long-term sustainability.
MCQ 15. Public facilities are essential because:
- A. Individuals can easily provide them on their own.
- B. The cost is always too high for private companies to provide.
- C. They are crucial for the overall well-being and development of the society, often requiring collective provision.
- D. They generate high profits for the government, boosting national income.
Answer: C. They are crucial for the overall well-being and development of the society, often requiring collective provision. — Public facilities like healthcare, education, and sanitation are vital for societal well-being and often have 'public good' characteristics, meaning they are best provided collectively rather than by individuals.
MCQ 16. Why does Kerala have a lower Infant Mortality Rate compared to Punjab, despite Punjab having a higher per capita income?
- A. Kerala has a naturally better climate conducive to child health.
- B. Kerala has a more educated population, better public health, and nutritional facilities.
- C. Punjab has a larger industrial sector, leading to more pollution.
- D. Kerala has a smaller population density, reducing disease spread.
Answer: B. Kerala has a more educated population, better public health, and nutritional facilities. — Kerala's lower Infant Mortality Rate is primarily attributed to its high literacy levels (especially female literacy), robust public healthcare system, and effective public distribution of essential services and nutrition.
MCQ 17. Net Attendance Ratio measures the proportion of children in the age group 6-10 attending school as a percentage of total children in the same age group. What is its significance in understanding development?
- A. It indicates the economic prosperity of a region.
- B. It reflects the educational attainment and access to education for children.
- C. It primarily measures healthcare facilities in a region.
- D. It is a direct indicator of adult literacy rates.
Answer: B. It reflects the educational attainment and access to education for children. — The Net Attendance Ratio directly measures the actual participation of children in schooling, providing insight into the educational development and access to learning opportunities within a region.
MCQ 18. How can the government ensure the availability of public facilities like education and healthcare for all?
- A. By allowing private companies to set up schools and hospitals exclusively.
- B. By providing these services at subsidized rates or free of cost.
- C. By reducing taxes on individuals and letting them purchase services privately.
- D. By focusing solely on military spending and national security.
Answer: B. By providing these services at subsidized rates or free of cost. — Governments play a crucial role in providing public facilities by funding and organizing their provision, often at subsidized rates or free, to ensure equitable access and societal well-being, as individuals cannot access these collectively vital services on their own.
MCQ 19. The idea of development includes:
- A. Economic growth only.
- B. Social progress only.
- C. Both economic growth and social progress.
- D. Political stability only.
Answer: C. Both economic growth and social progress. — Modern understanding of development is holistic, encompassing not just economic growth (higher income) but also social progress, environmental sustainability, and other non-material aspects like freedom and security.
MCQ 20. If current patterns of resource consumption and industrialization continue without significant changes, what is the most likely long-term outcome for global development?
- A. Universal prosperity and eradication of poverty due to technological advancements.
- B. Continued availability of all natural resources indefinitely.
- C. Severe environmental degradation, resource depletion, and increased inequality.
- D. Automatic shift to sustainable practices as resources become scarce.
Answer: C. Severe environmental degradation, resource depletion, and increased inequality. — Unchecked resource consumption and industrialization lead to environmental damage, depletion of finite resources, and potentially exacerbate inequalities, making sustainable development crucial for long-term well-being.
How to Use These Solutions
Attempt each question yourself first and only then compare with the worked answer. Marks in the CBSE board exam are awarded for the METHOD as much as the final result, so reproduce the steps rather than memorising the last line. Where a solution states a law, a formula or a definition, learn that wording — examiners look for it.
Related practice for this chapter: chapter MCQs, previous-year questions, revision notes and sample papers.