Understanding Economic Development · NCERT 2026–27
3 / 5Learning sections
Previous Year Questions (2014–2026)
Topic-wise CBSE Past Year Questions with year tags and detailed solutions.
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
2023-24
Q1. Which of the following are developmental goals of a prosperous farmer?
I. Better wages II. Higher support prices for crops III. Assured high family income IV. More days of work
Answer: (C) Only II and III Explanation: Prosperous farmers seek higher support prices for crops and an assured high family income. They do not seek "more days of work" or "better wages" as they are employers, not labourers.
CFQ / CBSE Official
Q2. Which group of people is likely to have the MOST conflicting developmental goals?
Answer: (B) Tribals and industrialists Explanation: Industrialists may want large dams to generate electricity, which submerge the land and disrupt the lives of tribals who prefer small check dams or tanks.
OEB
Q3. Identify the incorrect statement:
Answer: (B) If women are engaged in paid work, their dignity in the household and society decreases. Explanation: If women are engaged in paid work, their dignity in the household and society increases. Therefore, statement B is incorrect.
OEB
Q4. Match the incorrect option from Column A and B:
Column A
Column B
(i) Landless rural labourers
(a) More days of work and better wages
(ii) Prosperous farmers from Punjab
(b) Availability of other sources of irrigation
(iii) Farmers who depend on rain
(c) Assured higher support prices
(iv) Urban unemployed youth
(d) Regular job and high wages
Answer: (B) (ii)–(b) Explanation: Prosperous farmers from Punjab already have access to irrigation; this is not their primary developmental goal. Their developmental goals include assured high family income through higher support prices and cheap labour.
Assertion (A): Different people have different development goals.
Reason (R): People want freedom, equality, security, and respect along with income.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Explanation: Since people's life circumstances differ, they value different non-material aspects (freedom, equality, etc.) alongside income, leading to different goals.
OEB
AR-5.
Assertion (A): Money is the sole parameter to measure development.
Reason (R): Money is an important parameter of development.
Answer: (D) A is false, and R is true. Explanation: Money is an important parameter, but it is not the sole parameter because non-material factors like health, education, freedom, and equality are also critical.
OEB / Practice
AR-11.
Assertion (A): The developmental goals that people have are not only about better income but also about other important things in life.
Reason (R): A safe and secure environment may allow more women to take up a variety of jobs or run a business.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A. Explanation: Both statements are true. However, R is just one specific example of a non-income goal and not the direct explanation of the general assertion A.
Competency Focused Questions (2–3 Marks)
CBSE Official CFQ
CFQ-2. "People only need a good income to have a good standard of living, as income can buy everything needed for a good life." Is this correct? Give reason.
Answer: No, this is incorrect. Reasons:
Money cannot buy a pollution-free environment or ensure unadulterated medicines.
Non-material goals like freedom, equality, security, and respect are equally essential and cannot be bought with money.
Welfare depends on public goods and collective facilities (like sanitation, security, and public health) which individual income alone cannot purchase.
Very Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
2023-24, 2016-17
VSA-1. "Different persons can have different developmental goals." Support with an example.
Answer: People live in different situations and have different needs. For example, a landless rural labourer seeks more days of work and better wages, whereas a girl from a rich urban family seeks equal freedom and opportunities as her brother to study or work.
2019
VSA-6. What may be a developmental goal of a rich farmer?
Answer: A rich farmer's goals may include higher support prices for crops, cheap and hard-working farm labourers, an assured high family income, and opportunities to settle their children abroad.
2019
VSA-7. What may be a developmental goal of a girl from a rich urban family?
Answer: She wants as much freedom as her brother and to be able to decide what she wants to do in life. She may also want to pursue her higher studies abroad.
2019
VSA-8. What may be a developmental goal of farmers who depend only on rain?
Answer: Their goals would be the availability of canal irrigation or tube-wells, cheap crop insurance, timely availability of low-interest bank credit, and fair support prices for their crops.
Delhi 2019
VSA-9. What may be a goal of landless rural labourers regarding income?
Answer: They seek more days of work, better daily wages, and a regular flow of income to meet their family's basic needs.
Delhi 2019
VSA-10. What may be a goal of prosperous farmers in Punjab?
Answer: Higher support prices for crops (MSP), cheap agricultural inputs (fertilizers, electricity), availability of cheap migratory labor, and sending their children abroad.
2019
VSA-11. What may be a developmental goal of urban unemployed youth?
Answer: Secure and regular employment opportunities with decent salaries, fair working hours, and social security benefits.
2014
VSA-21. State any two goals of development other than income.
Answer:
Freedom and social equality.
Personal security and respect from others.
2015
VSA-22. What is the development goal of rural people of India as per your viewpoint?
Answer: Primary goals for rural people include reliable local health centres, quality primary and secondary schools for their children, local employment opportunities during dry seasons, and the removal of caste-based social discrimination.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
2023-24, 2016-17
SA-2. "People have conflicting developmental goals." Support with suitable examples.
Answer: What may be development for one may not be development for another; it may even be destructive.
Examples:
Industrialists vs Tribals: Industrialists want large dams to generate electricity, but this submerges the land and disrupts the lives of local tribals who prefer check dams.
Brother vs Sister: A girl expects as much freedom and opportunity as her brother and wants him to share housework. The brother, however, may not like this.
2017, 2015
SA-5. What is the meaning of development? Explain its two aspects.
Answer: Development is a comprehensive term that includes improvements in real per capita income, standard of living, reduction in poverty, illiteracy, and crime, alongside expansion of freedom and choices.
Two aspects:
Different people have different goals: Since life circumstances vary, goals and aspirations also differ.
Conflicting goals: What is development for one may be harmful or destructive for another.
2015, 2014
SA-12. State three factors other than income that are important in life.
Answer:
Security: Safety in the workplace and in society, especially for women.
Freedom: The liberty to express opinions, practice beliefs, and make career choices.
Respect and Dignity: Being treated equally without discrimination based on caste, class, or gender.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
2021C, 2020C, 2015
LA-1. What is development? Why do different people have different development goals? Explain with four examples.
Answer: Development refers to improvement in quality of life, expansion of capabilities, and economic well-being. Different people have different goals because their life situations and immediate needs are different.
Examples:
Landless rural laborer: Seeks more days of work and better wages because their immediate challenge is daily survival and lack of assets.
Prosperous farmer from Punjab: Seeks higher support prices and cheap labor to maximize profit, as they already possess land and assets.
An urban unemployed youth: Prioritizes getting a regular and stable job to achieve financial independence in a competitive urban environment.
A girl from a rich urban family: Seeks freedom and opportunities equal to her brother to study and work, as she is already economically secure.
2016
LA-4. What is national development? What aspects does it cover?
Answer: National development is a comprehensive concept that refers to the capability of a nation to improve the lives of its citizens.
Aspects covered:
Economic aspect: Increase in national income and per capita income, and equitable distribution.
Social aspect: Improvement in health, literacy, gender equality, and access to basic amenities.
Infrastructure aspect: Development of roads, transport, schools, hospitals, and power grids.
Fair and Just Paths: Resolving conflicting interests between different groups so that development benefits the majority rather than a select few.
Environmental Sustainability: Planning development so that it does not deplete resources or degrade the environment.
2014
LA-5. Explain with examples that there are other important development goals besides income.
Answer: Although income is a vital material goal, non-material goals are equally crucial for a high-quality life.
Examples:
Dignity and Work Culture: A job with a very high salary but no job security and no respect may not be preferred over a job with moderate pay but high security, regular hours, and respect.
Dignity of Women: If women are engaged in paid work, their dignity increases, which requires greater sharing of housework and safety in public spaces.
Pollution-Free Environment: A rich family living in a highly polluted city cannot buy clean air or safety from infectious diseases with money alone.
Freedom of Choice: An individual's quality of life depends on the freedom to practice their own religion, speak their language, and associate freely.
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
2023, 2022, 2021, 2020
Q6. Which organisation publishes the Human Development Report?
Answer: (D) UNDP Explanation: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) publishes the Human Development Report annually.
2023 (Delhi)
Q7. Which organisation publishes the World Development Report?
Answer: (A) World Bank Explanation: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly known as the World Bank) publishes the World Development Reports.
Delhi 2023
Q9. Read the following statements about Human Development and choose the correct option:
I. It is the composite Index prepared by UNDP.
II. Parameters to measure it are Longevity, Literacy and Per Capita Income.
III. Countries are ranked according to Developed and Low Developing countries.
IV. World Bank also prepares HDI report on the basis of Quality of Life.
Answer: (A) I and II Explanation: Statements I and II are correct. Statement III is incorrect because countries are ranked on HDI score from 0 to 1, and Statement IV is incorrect because World Bank does not prepare the HDI report.
OEB
Q10. Match the following definitions correctly:
Column A (Definition)
Column B (Term)
(i) Total children attending school as % of children of school age
(c) Net Attendance Ratio
(ii) % of population aged 7+ who can read and write
(d) Literacy Rate
(iii) Total National Income divided by total population
(a) Per Capita Income
(iv) Number of years a newborn is expected to live
(b) Life Expectancy at Birth
Answer: (C) i-c, ii-d, iii-a, iv-b
Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark)
SQP 2020-21
AR-1.
Assertion (A): Human Development mentions how much socio-economic development has happened in a country.
Reason (R): Comparison of national income of two countries explains Human Development Index.
Answer: (C) A is true, but R is false. Explanation: HDI uses longevity (health), literacy (education), and per capita income together; comparison of national income alone does not explain or represent HDI.
OEB
AR-4.
Assertion (A): Human Development Report is published by UNDP.
Reason (R): UNDP stands for United Nations Development Press.
Answer: (C) A is true, but R is false. Explanation: UNDP stands for United Nations Development Programme, not "Press."
Case-Based Questions (1x3 Marks)
CFQ
CBQ 6 — Human Development Report Quote
"The human development approach, developed by Mahbub ul Haq, is often framed in terms of whether people are able to 'be' and 'do' desirable things in life. The freedom of choice is central — someone choosing to be hungry (as during a religious fast) is quite different from someone who is hungry because they cannot afford food."
Q1. Give an example (other than the one given) to demonstrate freedom of choice in the human development approach.
Answer: A person choosing to pursue a lower-paying job out of passion (e.g. art) vs. a person forced to work in an hazardous environment because they have no other means of survival.
Q2. How does the Human Development Report give a holistic view of development?
Answer: It does not rely solely on income. It combines economic indicators (GNI per capita) with social health indicators (life expectancy) and educational indicators (mean/expected years of schooling) to evaluate overall human well-being.
Q3. Sex ratio of Odisha = 972 (females per 1000 males); MP = 919. How does this affect their HDI comparison?
Answer: It has no direct effect on their HDI comparison, because the sex ratio is not a parameter used in the calculation of the Human Development Index. HDI only utilizes GNI per capita, life expectancy, and education indicators.
Very Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
2020
VSA-2. Fill in the blank: HDI level in India can be improved through ______.
Answer: Increased public spending on health and education services, and implementing policies to reduce gender gaps and regional disparities.
2015
VSA-14. In what respect is the criterion used by UNDP different from the one used by the World Bank?
Answer: The World Bank uses per capita income exclusively as a threshold to classify countries into wealth categories. In contrast, UNDP uses a multi-dimensional Human Development Index (HDI) combining per capita income, life expectancy, and literacy levels.
2015
VSA-15. What is the full form of HDI?
Answer: Human Development Index.
2014
VSA-17. What term is used for the report published by UNDP that compares countries based on education, health, and per capita income?
Answer: Human Development Report (HDR).
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
2017, 2016
SA-6. On the basis of which three HDI indicators does Sri Lanka rank better than India?
Answer: Sri Lanka ranks better than India due to:
Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita: Sri Lanka has a higher GNI per capita compared to India.
Life Expectancy at Birth: Sri Lankan life expectancy is around 77.5 years, higher than India's 72.0 years.
Mean Years of Schooling: Sri Lanka's mean years of schooling is 10.8 years, whereas India's is 6.9 years.
2016, 2014
SA-7. Explain the three components of Human Development Index.
Answer:
Longevity / Health (Life Expectancy at Birth): Measures structural health quality and survival probability of a newborn.
Knowledge / Education (Mean & Expected Years of Schooling): Measures literacy and access to formal school education.
Standard of Living (GNI per Capita in PPP $): Measures actual purchasing power and command over resources.
2016
SA-8. Which three efforts should a country make to improve its HDI?
Answer:
Improve Healthcare: Provide affordable public health infrastructure to reduce child mortality and boost life expectancy.
Raise Educational Access: Ensure high-quality elementary education, vocational training, and increase net attendance ratios.
Economic Equality: Generate employment and support higher support prices to increase real per capita income of low-income groups.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
2017, 2016
LA-3. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying countries? Describe its limitations.
Answer: The World Bank uses Per Capita Income (Average Income) as the sole criterion for classifying countries into high-income, middle-income, and low-income categories.
Limitations:
Hides Inequalities: A country may have a high per capita income because a few individuals are extremely wealthy, even if the majority of citizens are poor. It fails to show the actual distribution of income.
Ignores Non-Material Aspects: It ignores key parameters like literacy, school attendance, life expectancy, health status, and safety.
Narrow Scope: Economic growth is only a subset of development. The World Bank approach treats income as the sole end rather than a means to a better life.
Purchasing Disparities: Unless strictly measured in PPP dollars, nominal per capita income does not accurately reflect the cost-of-living differences.
2021C, 2017
LA-6. In what respect is the criterion used by UNDP different from World Bank? What are the limitations of the World Bank's criterion?
Answer:
UNDP Criterion (Human Development Index): UNDP uses a composite index combining (i) health (life expectancy), (ii) education (literacy and mean/expected years of schooling), and (iii) income (GNI per capita). This presents a comprehensive view of human capabilities.
World Bank Criterion (Per Capita Income): The World Bank compares countries based strictly on their average per capita income.
Limitations of World Bank's criterion:
It fails to reveal disparities in how income is distributed among the population.
It completely excludes quality of life parameters such as healthcare access, education availability, safety, and gender equality.
It equates economic growth directly with human development, which is incorrect since money alone cannot buy all the elements of a good life.
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
2023-24
Q8. Which index does the World Bank prioritise for measuring development?
Answer: (D) Per Capita Income Explanation: The World Bank uses Per Capita Income (average income) to classify countries into different development categories.
2023-24
Q11. Monthly incomes — Mother: ₹50,000 / Father: ₹40,000 / Son: ₹20,000 / Daughter: ₹20,000. What is the average income of the family?
Answer: (C) ₹32,500 Calculation: Total income = 50,000 + 40,000 + 20,000 + 20,000 = ₹1,30,000. Average = 1,30,000 ÷ 4 = ₹32,500.
2023
Q12. Four families earn ₹10,000 / ₹20,000 / ₹30,000 / ₹40,000. What is the average income?
Answer: (A) ₹25,000 Calculation: Total income = 10,000 + 20,000 + 30,000 + 40,000 = ₹1,00,000. Average = 1,00,000 ÷ 4 = ₹25,000.
2021
Q13. Average per capita income of 4 families = ₹10,000. Three families earn ₹6,000, ₹8,000, ₹14,000. What is the 4th family's income?
Answer: (C) ₹12,000 Calculation: Total income of 4 families = 4 × 10,000 = ₹40,000. 4th family income = 40,000 − (6,000 + 8,000 + 14,000) = ₹12,000.
CFQ
Q14. Despite having a higher total GDP than Germany, Japan has a lower per capita income. Why?
Country
Total GDP
Per Capita Income
Japan
$4,872 billion
$38,214
Germany
$3,693 billion
$44,680
Answer: (D) Japan has a bigger population than Germany. Explanation: Per Capita Income = Total GDP ÷ Total Population. Since Japan's population is significantly larger than Germany's, its total GDP gets divided by a larger denominator, resulting in a lower per capita income.
SQP 2020-21
Q15. Which country has the most equitable distribution of income?
Answer: (A) Country A Explanation: In Country A, the incomes of all citizens are closely clustered around ₹10,500–₹11,200, which indicates a highly equitable distribution of income. Other countries show extreme inequality.
Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark)
OEB / Practice
AR-12.
Assertion (A): We compare the average income which is total income of the country divided by its total population.
Reason (R): The average income is also called per capita income.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation/elaborates on A.
Data-Based Questions (1x3 Marks)
CFQ
CBQ 3 — Japan vs Germany GDP Comparison
Country
Total GDP
Per Capita Income
Japan
$4,872 billion
$38,214
Germany
$3,693 billion
$44,680
Q1. Despite higher total GDP, Japan has lower per capita income than Germany. Why?
Answer: Japan has a larger population than Germany, which divides its total GDP by a larger number.
Q2. What is the limitation of using per capita income as a development indicator?
Answer: It ignores the size of the population and the distribution of income among individuals. It does not show whether the income is concentrated in the hands of a few or shared equitably.
Q1. Which country has the most equitable distribution of income?
Answer: Country A.
Q2. Why is per capita income an incomplete indicator of development?
Answer: It fails to show income distribution. For instance, in Country B, five out of six citizens earn only ₹600 while one citizen earns ₹5,000, masking real poverty with a higher average.
CFQ / CBSE Official
CBQ 5 — Two-Country Per Capita Calculation
Citizen
Country A
Country B
I
₹500
₹100
II
₹3,500
₹40,000
III
₹2,000
₹200
IV
₹3,500
₹800
Q1 (a). Calculate the per capita income of both countries.
Answer:
Country A = (500 + 3,500 + 2,000 + 3,500) ÷ 4 = ₹9,500 ÷ 4 = ₹2,375
Country B = (100 + 40,000 + 200 + 800) ÷ 4 = ₹41,100 ÷ 4 = ₹10,275
Q1 (b). Which country has a higher per capita income?
Answer: Country B (₹10,275) has a higher per capita income than Country A (₹2,375).
Q1 (c). Which country has more equitable distribution of income?
Answer: Country A has a more equitable distribution because the citizens' incomes are closer to each other, whereas Country B has one citizen earning 97% of the total income.
Q1 (d). Is the answer to (b) and (c) the same? Give reasons.
Answer: No, they are different. Country B has a higher per capita income but extreme inequality, showing that average income is not a sufficient indicator of development and welfare.
Very Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
2020
VSA-3. Define the term per capita income.
Answer: Per Capita Income is the average income of a country's citizens, calculated by dividing the total national income by the total population.
2020C
VSA-5. "Average income is not increasing but national income records show a rise." What does this signify?
Answer: This signifies that the population of the country is growing at a rate equal to or faster than the growth rate of national income, keeping the average (per capita) income stagnant.
2017
VSA-12. Why is average income considered an important criterion for development?
Answer: It provides a single measurable value representing the material standard of living of an average citizen, allowing quick comparison of economic capabilities across nations.
2014
VSA-18. What is the most common indicator for measuring economic development of a country?
Answer: Per Capita Income (or average income).
2014
VSA-19. If 4 families have per capita income of ₹15,000 and three families earn ₹10,000, ₹20,000, and ₹12,000 — what is the 4th family's income?
Answer: Total family income = 4 × 15,000 = ₹60,000. 4th family income = 60,000 − (10,000 + 20,000 + 12,000) = ₹18,000.
2014
VSA-20. What is the advantage of knowing per capita income?
Answer: It helps in classifying countries into categories (like rich, low-middle-income) and measuring general economic prosperity of populations.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
2014
SA-13. Why do we use averages? Are there limitations to their use?
Answer: We use averages because total national incomes cannot be compared directly due to population differences. Averages (per capita income) make comparisons meaningful.
Limitations:
Hides inequality: They do not show how income is actually distributed.
Ignores non-income aspects: Averages do not account for health, education, and freedom.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
2017
LA-2. What is average income? What is its importance? Mention its limitations.
Answer: Average Income (Per Capita Income) is calculated by dividing the total national income by the total population.
Importance:
It allows comparison of economic status among countries.
It serves as the base classification metric for the World Bank.
It provides a simple snapshot of overall national productivity.
Limitations:
It conceals disparities: One rich individual can make a poor community look wealthy on paper.
It does not indicate the standard of public facilities (sanitation, education, healthcare).
It does not reflect non-material parameters (equality, safety, freedom).
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
SQP 2022-23
Q17. Which state has children with the maximum elementary school education?
State
Per Capita Income
IMR
Literacy Rate
Net Attendance Ratio
Haryana
₹2,36,147
30
82%
61%
Kerala
₹2,04,105
7
94%
83%
Bihar
₹40,982
32
62%
43%
Answer: (D) Kerala Explanation: Kerala has the highest Net Attendance Ratio (83%) and Literacy Rate (94%) among the three states.
OEB
Q18. Life expectancy in India is approximately:
Answer: (A) Between 60 to 70 years Explanation: According to human development data, India's life expectancy at birth is around 67.2 to 72 years, which falls in the range of 60 to 70 years.
OEB
Q19. Which of the following is an important health indicator?
Answer: (C) BMI Explanation: BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is an important health indicator used to determine whether an individual is undernourished, normal, or overweight.
Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark)
CBSE Term-1 2021
AR-6.
Assertion (A): Kerala has a low Infant Mortality Rate.
Reason (R): Kerala has adequate provision of basic health and education facilities.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Explanation: Public health and literacy are high in Kerala, leading directly to lower infant mortality.
OEB
AR-8.
Assertion (A): BMI stands for Body Movement Index.
Reason (R): A healthy BMI can be maintained by taking healthy and nutritional food.
Answer: (D) A is false, and R is true. Explanation: BMI stands for Body Mass Index, not "Movement" Index.
Data-Based Questions (1x4 Marks)
2020, SQP 2022-23
CBQ 1 — State Comparison Table
State
Per Capita Income (₹)
IMR (per 1000)
Literacy Rate (%)
Net Attendance Ratio (%)
Haryana
2,36,147
30
82
61
Kerala
2,04,105
7
94
83
Bihar
40,982
32
62
43
Q1. In comparison to Kerala, which state has the highest infant mortality rate?
Answer: (C) Bihar. (Bihar has 32, Haryana has 30, Kerala has 7).
Q2. Which state has children with the best elementary school attendance?
Answer: (D) Kerala (83%).
Q3. Despite having lower per capita income than Haryana, Kerala has better human development. What does this tell us?
Answer: It shows that income alone does not define development. Well-being requires access to education, healthcare, and public infrastructure.
Q4. Which state needs the most urgent intervention for human development? Justify with data.
Answer: Bihar. It has the lowest per capita income (₹40,982), highest IMR (32), and lowest literacy (62%) and school attendance (43%).
SQP 2022-23, 2020
CBQ 2 — Rural Education Data Table
Category
Male (%)
Female (%)
Literacy rate — rural population
76
54
Literacy rate — rural children (10–14 yrs)
90
87
Rural children (10–14) attending school
85
82
Q1. What percentage of female children (10–14) are NOT attending school?
Q2. If 100 rural children aged 10–14 are considered, how many female children are attending school?
Answer: (C) 82.
Q3. What does the gap between male and female literacy in rural areas indicate?
Answer: It indicates prevailing gender inequality and bias in education where rural families tend to prioritize boys' education over girls'.
Very Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
2020
VSA-4. Define the term literacy rate.
Answer: Literacy Rate is the percentage of the population aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in at least one language.
2017, 2016, 2015
VSA-13. Why does Kerala have a low infant mortality rate?
Answer: Kerala has a low IMR because of its strong public healthcare system, universal primary education, higher female literacy, and effective Public Distribution System (PDS).
2015, 2014
VSA-16. Explain the term Net Attendance Ratio.
Answer: Net Attendance Ratio is the total number of children in the 14–15 (or 15-17) age group attending school, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children in the same age group.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
2014
SA-14. Explain the role of education and health in the overall development of a country.
Answer:
Education: Increases skills, broadens horizons, and raises labour productivity, driving economic growth.
Health: A healthy population means a highly productive workforce with lower absenteeism and lower healthcare costs.
Together, they enhance the capabilities of individuals, raising a country's Human Development Index.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
2017, 2016
LA-7. How is it that Punjab has more income than Kerala but lags behind in many other crucial areas?
Answer: Punjab has a higher per capita income than Kerala due to advanced agriculture and agribusiness. However, Kerala has far better human development outcomes.
Reasons:
Public Facility Investment: Kerala's governments invested heavily in public healthcare centers and schools.
Literacy and Education: Kerala has a 94% literacy rate compared to Punjab's lower rate. Higher female literacy leads to better health decisions.
Infant Health: Kerala's IMR is very low (7) compared to Punjab (30+), showing that high income in Punjab does not guarantee child survival.
PDS Effectiveness: Kerala has an efficient Public Distribution System ensuring subsidized food and nutrition, which directly affects health indicators.
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
OEB
Q20. Which statement best defines sustainable development?
Answer: (B) Present generation fulfils its needs while considering the needs of the future generation. Explanation: Sustainable development means economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources and addresses present needs without compromising future generations' needs.
CFQ
Q21. "We have not inherited the world from our forefathers — we have borrowed it from our children." — Lester Brown. Which action BEST reflects this?
Answer: (C) Moving to alternative fuels to conserve world oil reserves. Explanation: Conserving non-renewable resources like crude oil and shifting to renewable alternatives ensures that the resources are preserved for future generations.
Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark)
OEB
AR-7.
Assertion (A): Introduction of organic farming is a part of sustainable development.
Reason (R): Organic farming does not use chemical fertilizers.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the complete explanation of A. Explanation: Organic farming supports sustainable soil health, but avoiding chemicals is just one technique, not the sole reason it is sustainable.
OEB
AR-9.
Assertion (A): Groundwater is an example of a renewable resource.
Reason (R): If we use more than what is being replenished by rain, we would be overusing this resource.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A. Explanation: Groundwater is renewable because it is replenished by rain. Statement R describes "overuse", not the reason why it is classified as renewable.
OEB
AR-10.
Assertion (A): Sustainable development is essential for the economic growth of countries.
Reason (R): Sustainable development ensures that environment-hostile measures are adopted for mining processes.
Answer: (C) A is true, but R is false. Explanation: Sustainable development opposes environment-hostile measures; it aims to minimize environmental impact.
Competency Focused Questions (2–3 Marks)
CBSE Official CFQ
CFQ-1. "Our development is the earth's destruction." Do you agree? Give 2 reasons to support your answer.
Answer:If you agree:
Present industrial growth consumes non-renewable resources (crude oil, coal) at an irreversible rate.
Industrial waste and high carbon emissions lead to pollution and global warming, destroying ecosystems.
If you disagree:
Development can be planned sustainably using green technologies, solar and wind energy.
A circular economy and strict environmental laws allow growth without ecological destruction.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
2023-24
SA-1. How is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Answer:
Protects Future Generations: It ensures that resources do not get exhausted today, leaving nothing for our children.
Prevents Overuse of Resources: It checks excessive extraction of renewable resources like groundwater before they deplete.
Reduces Environmental Degradation: It helps combat climate change, air pollution, and soil erosion.
2023
SA-3. "The question of sustainability of development raises many fundamentally new issues." Explain.
Answer: Traditional development focused solely on industrialization and GDP. Sustainability raises new dimensions:
Limits to Growth: Acknowledging that Earth has a fixed stock of non-renewable resources.
Intergenerational Equity: Shifting the ethical question to what we owe future generations.
Global Commons: Issues like carbon footprints and global warming respect no state boundaries, requiring international cooperation.
2016, 2015
SA-10. What is sustainable development? Why is it important?
Answer: Sustainable development means economic development that is conducted without depletion of natural resources.
Importance: It maintains ecological balance, preserves resources for the future, and prevents climate disasters that can halt human progress.
2015
SA-11. Suggest any three measures for sustainable development.
Answer:
Increase the share of solar, wind, and tidal energy.
Implement rainwater harvesting to replenish groundwater.
Shift to organic farming and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.
2014
SA-15. "Sustainability of development is a new area of knowledge." Do you agree? Justify.
Answer: Yes, it is a new area because it integrates ecology, economics, ethics, and social sciences. Historically, economics treated nature as a free, infinite resource. Today, sustainability links physical resource limits with economic policy.
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
2016, 2014
LA-8. Explain the importance of sustainable development using the example of groundwater.
Answer: Groundwater is a classic example of a renewable resource that is under severe threat.
Key points:
Replenishment vs Extraction: Groundwater is replenished by rain. However, if extraction exceeds replenishment, we overuse it.
Extensive Overuse: In agriculturally prosperous regions like Punjab and western UP, water tables have fallen by over 4 meters.
Threat to Future: Overuse threatens long-term food security and drinking water access.
Need for Sustainability: It shows that "renewable" does not mean "unlimited." We must implement drip irrigation, water recycling, and crop diversification to ensure future availability.
2019, 2016
LA-9. "Consequences of environmental degradation do not respect national or state boundaries." Support with examples.
Answer: Environmental degradation is a transboundary crisis.
Examples:
Climate Change: High carbon emissions from industrialized nations cause global warming, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels that drown low-lying coastal nations like Bangladesh.
Air Pollution: Crop burning in Punjab/Haryana or industrial emissions from neighbouring countries leads to smog in Delhi and surrounding states.
Water Contamination: Polluting a river in an upstream state (e.g. Ganga) ruins the water source for downstream states.
Resource Depletion: Depleting crude oil reserves affects global fuel prices, harming the balance of payments of importing nations like India.
2014
LA-10. "The earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person." Relevance to development?
Answer: This famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi highlights the core tenet of resource conservation.
Relevance:
Need vs Greed: Natural resources can easily fulfill basic human survival, but greedy consumerism leads to hoarding and wastage.
Resource Depletion: Over-exploitation of fossil fuels and forests for luxury and excessive growth depletes resources rapidly.
Environmental Degradation: Unchecked greed leads to high pollution, habitat destruction, and global climate shifts.
Sustainable Path: Development must prioritize equitable distribution and resource efficiency rather than endless material accumulation.
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
CFQ / CBSE Official
Q22. Which of the following is the best example of a public good?
Answer: (D) Law and order Explanation: Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous. Law and order is provided collectively to all citizens and one person's consumption does not reduce its availability to others.
CFQ
Q23. A slum is being cleared for a businessman's mall project. Protests filed and a PIL is in court. What should the local government do?
Answer: (D) Wait for the court's judgment. Explanation: Under a democratic framework, when conflicts of national/local development arise, legal channels like Public Interest Litigations (PIL) are resolved by the judiciary, and the executive must wait for the court's decree to balance public interest.
CFQ
Q24. Which improvement does NOT align with welfare economics?
Answer: (D) Opening a park only for people who can pay membership fees. Explanation: Welfare economics focuses on public utility and community well-being. Restricting access to a park only to paying members turns it into a club good, excluding poorer sections of society.
Assertion-Reason Questions (1 Mark)
OEB
AR-3.
Assertion (A): Money in your pocket cannot buy a pollution-free environment or ensure unadulterated medicines.
Reason (R): Money may also not be able to protect you from infectious diseases unless the whole community takes preventive steps.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A. Explanation: Both are independent limitations of individual wealth, but R is not the cause of A.
Competency Focused Questions (2–3 Marks)
CBSE Official CFQ
CFQ-3. Welfare economics evaluates policies by their effect on community well-being. Which of these would NOT align with this view, and why?
"Opening a park only for people who can pay a membership fee."
Answer: Opening a park only for paying members does not align with welfare economics because it converts a public utility space into an exclusive private/club good. It excludes low-income groups, decreasing collective community well-being.
Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)
2021C, 2020, 2016
SA-4. "Money cannot buy all the goods and services that a person may need to live well." Explain.
Answer: Money represents individual purchasing power, but real quality of life requires public infrastructure and collective goods.
Reasons:
Environmental health: Money cannot buy a pollution-free environment.
Social safety: Wealth cannot guarantee freedom from discrimination or equal respect.
Public health: Protection from infectious diseases requires community-wide sanitization and vaccination, not personal wealth.
2016, 2015
SA-9. Explain the factors on which quality of life depends.
Answer: Quality of life depends on a mix of factors:
Material factors: Decent income, secure job, housing, and food.
Non-material factors: Freedom, equality, security, respect, and a clean environment.
Access to Public Facilities: Public transport, schools, hospitals, and water networks.
📋 2026 Board Paper — Ch.1 Development | March 7, 2026 · Set 1 · Code 32/5/1
Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)
2026 · Q29 [Data-Based MCQ]
Q29. Study the Comparative Data of States and answer:
State
IMR (2020)
Literacy Rate (2017–18)
Net Attendance Rate (Class 1–5)
State A
28
82%
73%
State B
6
94%
94%
State C
27
62%
69%
By how many points does State B's literacy rate exceed State A in 2017–18?
Answer: (A) 12 Explanation: State B's literacy rate = 94%, State A's literacy rate = 82%. Difference = 94 − 82 = 12 points. State B has significantly better human development indicators across all three parameters shown.
2026 · Q33 [MCQ]
Q33. Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
Answer: (D) Ground Water Explanation: Groundwater is a renewable resource because it is naturally replenished by rainfall through the hydrological cycle. However, it can be over-exploited — which directly connects to the sustainability theme in Ch. 1. Natural gas, crude oil, and coal are non-renewable fossil fuels.
2026 · Q34 [Fill-in-blank MCQ]
Q34. Infant Mortality Rate indicates the number of children that die before the age of ___ year(s) per 1000 live births in that particular year.
Answer: (A) One Explanation: IMR = number of children who die before completing 1 year of age per 1000 live births in a given year. It is a key indicator of a nation's health infrastructure and is used in computing the Human Development Index. A low IMR (e.g., State B = 6) indicates better healthcare.