People As Resource — Class 9 Social Science NCERT Solutions (Free)
Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 9 Social Science chapter "People As Resource" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.
TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 9 Social Science chapter "People As Resource" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board…
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NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Social Science — People As Resource. Step-by-step answers to all 6 textbook questions from this chapter, written for CBSE board preparation and free to use.
People As Resource — All 6 Questions Solved
Q1. What is meant by 'people as resource' and how is it different from other resources?
People as resource emphasizes human population and labor as valuable economic assets. Unlike other resources, people: (1) Contribute through productive work and skills, (2) Can develop and improve through education and training, (3) Drive innovation and entrepreneurship, (4) Require investment in health and education, (5) Provide both physical and intellectual labor. This perspective shifts focus from seeing people as burden to seeing them as wealth creators.
Q2. What is human capital and how is it developed?
Human capital refers to knowledge, skills, and abilities of the population. It is developed through: (1) Education—formal schooling improving literacy and competence, (2) Training—skill development for specific occupations, (3) Healthcare—ensuring healthy workforce, (4) Experience—on-the-job learning and expertise, (5) Research and development—advancing knowledge. Investing in human capital increases productivity and economic growth. Education and health are crucial for human capital development.
Q3. Why is investment in education important for human resource development?
Education is crucial because: (1) It improves literacy and numerical skills essential for modern employment, (2) It develops critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, (3) It provides technical and vocational skills for specific jobs, (4) It increases earning capacity and improves quality of life, (5) It reduces unemployment through better employability, (6) It contributes to social development and democratic participation, (7) It enables adoption of new technology and innovation.
Q4. How does healthcare contribute to human resource development?
Healthcare contributes by: (1) Maintaining health and reducing disease burden, (2) Enabling people to work productively without illness, (3) Reducing infant and maternal mortality improving family health, (4) Preventing communicable diseases through vaccination and sanitation, (5) Treating injuries and disabilities enabling participation, (6) Improving life expectancy and healthy years of living, (7) Reducing healthcare costs that otherwise drain resources. Good health is prerequisite for productivity.
Q5. What is the unemployment problem and how can it be addressed?
Unemployment occurs when people willing to work cannot find jobs. It: (1) Wastes human potential and skills, (2) Causes psychological and social problems, (3) Reduces economic productivity, (4) Increases crime and social unrest. Solutions include: (1) Creating job opportunities through economic growth, (2) Skill development matching job requirements, (3) Entrepreneurship support through capital and training, (4) Labor-intensive industries and agriculture, (5) Government employment schemes, (6) Flexible labor policies. Addressing unemployment requires multi-pronged approach.
Q6. What is the relationship between population growth and human resource development?
Relationship is complex: (1) Large population provides human resources for economic activity, (2) Rapid population growth strains infrastructure and services, (3) High fertility distracts resources from education and health, (4) Well-managed population with quality human capital drives development, (5) Family planning and education reduce fertility while developing human capital. India's demographic dividend—large young population—can be asset if invested in education and health, or burden if neglected.
People As Resource — Practice MCQs with Answers
Attempt these 15 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. What does the concept 'People as Resource' primarily refer to in the context of a nation's economy?
- A. A country's physical capital like buildings and machinery.
- B. The existing skilled and productive workforce of a nation.
- C. Natural resources found in abundance within a country.
- D. The total population count of a country, regardless of skills.
Answer: B. The existing skilled and productive workforce of a nation. — 'People as Resource' highlights that a nation's working population is a valuable asset due to their productive capabilities and skills, contributing to the economy.
MCQ 2. Which of the following is considered an investment in human capital?
- A. Buying a new factory machine.
- B. Providing vocational training to youth.
- C. Importing advanced technology for industries.
- D. Constructing new roads and bridges.
Answer: B. Providing vocational training to youth. — Investment in human capital involves expenses on education, training, and health to enhance the productivity and capabilities of the population.
MCQ 3. A fisherman selling his catch directly to consumers in the market is engaged in activities belonging to which economic sector(s)?
- A. Primary sector only
- B. Secondary sector only
- C. Tertiary sector only
- D. Both Primary and Tertiary sectors
Answer: D. Both Primary and Tertiary sectors — Fishing is a primary activity as it involves extracting natural resources. Selling the catch directly to consumers involves trade and distribution, which are tertiary (service) sector activities.
MCQ 4. Which of the following is an example of a non-market activity?
- A. A teacher teaching in a government school for a salary.
- B. A farmer selling his surplus produce in the mandi.
- C. A homemaker doing household chores for her family.
- D. An artist selling her paintings in an exhibition.
Answer: C. A homemaker doing household chores for her family. — Non-market activities are performed for self-consumption or for the benefit of the family, without remuneration or a profit motive.
MCQ 5. Education improves the quality of life primarily by:
- A. Increasing income levels only.
- B. Providing new skills and values, leading to better opportunities.
- C. Reducing the need for healthcare services.
- D. Promoting physical strength and endurance.
Answer: B. Providing new skills and values, leading to better opportunities. — Education not only enhances earning potential but also instills values, develops personality, and opens up new avenues for personal and societal growth, leading to overall better opportunities and quality of life.
MCQ 6. A healthy person is more likely to be an asset to the economy because:
- A. They require less food and resources.
- B. They are more productive and efficient at work.
- C. They typically live longer, thus reducing pension liabilities.
- D. They don't need education to contribute effectively.
Answer: B. They are more productive and efficient at work. — Good health allows individuals to work consistently, apply their skills effectively, and contribute more to economic activities without frequent interruptions, thereby increasing their productivity and efficiency.
MCQ 7. Which of the following is NOT a direct indicator of the 'quality of population' as discussed in the chapter 'People as Resource'?
- A. Literacy Rate
- B. Life Expectancy
- C. Birth Rate
- D. Infant Mortality Rate
Answer: C. Birth Rate — Literacy rate, life expectancy, and infant mortality rate are direct measures reflecting the education and health standards of a population, which define its quality. Birth rate indicates population growth dynamics but doesn't directly measure quality.
MCQ 8. In a family farm, all five members work in a field that only needs three people to achieve the current output. This situation is an example of:
- A. Seasonal unemployment
- B. Educated unemployment
- C. Disguised unemployment
- D. Structural unemployment
Answer: C. Disguised unemployment — Disguised unemployment occurs when more people are employed in an activity than are actually required, such that removing some workers would not reduce the total output.
MCQ 9. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is a significant step towards providing elementary education to children in the age group of:
- A. 0-6 years
- B. 6-14 years
- C. 14-18 years
- D. 18-25 years
Answer: B. 6-14 years — Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a flagship programme launched by the Government of India aimed at providing universal elementary education for all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years.
MCQ 10. Which two types of unemployment are more commonly observed in rural areas, especially in the agricultural sector?
- A. Educated unemployment and industrial unemployment.
- B. Seasonal unemployment and disguised unemployment.
- C. Structural unemployment and technological unemployment.
- D. Cyclical unemployment and open unemployment.
Answer: B. Seasonal unemployment and disguised unemployment. — Rural areas, particularly the agricultural sector, frequently experience seasonal unemployment due to the nature of crop cycles and disguised unemployment where more family members are employed than necessary.
MCQ 11. How does the education of parents, especially mothers, contribute to a 'virtuous cycle' in human capital formation?
- A. It guarantees high-paying jobs for their children in urban areas.
- B. It ensures their children will migrate to urban areas for better opportunities.
- C. It leads to better health and education for their children, strengthening future human capital.
- D. It primarily reduces the overall population growth rate immediately.
Answer: C. It leads to better health and education for their children, strengthening future human capital. — Educated parents, particularly mothers, tend to be more aware of health and hygiene, invest more in their children's nutrition and education, thereby fostering a positive feedback loop for human capital development across generations.
MCQ 12. Which of the following activities belongs to the Tertiary sector of the economy?
- A. Manufacturing steel from iron ore.
- B. Mining coal from underground reserves.
- C. Providing banking services to customers.
- D. Farming wheat on agricultural land.
Answer: C. Providing banking services to customers. — The tertiary sector encompasses all service-related activities that facilitate primary and secondary sector operations or cater directly to consumer needs, and banking is a prime example of a service.
MCQ 13. Investing in health infrastructure and services by the government primarily aims to:
- A. Increase the number of doctors and nurses only.
- B. Ensure a healthy and productive workforce for the nation.
- C. Reduce the national budget on welfare programs.
- D. Promote private healthcare providers over public ones.
Answer: B. Ensure a healthy and productive workforce for the nation. — Government investment in health aims to improve public well-being, reduce disease burden, and ensure that the population remains healthy enough to be productive contributors to the economy and society.
MCQ 14. Unlike physical capital, human capital:
- A. Can be easily bought and sold in the market as a standalone entity.
- B. Is always mobile across countries without any restrictions.
- C. Is inseparable from its owner and embodied within the individual.
- D. Does not require any significant investment to improve or maintain its value.
Answer: C. Is inseparable from its owner and embodied within the individual. — Human capital (skills, knowledge, abilities) is intrinsic to an individual and cannot be separated from them, unlike physical capital (machines, buildings) which can be owned and traded separately.
MCQ 15. What was a primary objective of the National Policy on Education (NPE) introduced in India in 1986 and subsequent revisions?
- A. To privatize all educational institutions in the country.
- B. To focus exclusively on higher education, neglecting primary levels.
- C. To promote vocational education and universalize elementary education.
- D. To significantly reduce government spending on education at all levels.
Answer: C. To promote vocational education and universalize elementary education. — The National Policy on Education (NPE) in India has consistently aimed at providing universal access to education, promoting vocational training to link education with employment, and improving the quality of education at all levels.
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.