Class 10 Geography Chapter 1: Resources and Development

🌍 Resources and Development

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1. What are Resources?

Anything that can satisfy human needs and has utility is called a resource.

• Example: Water (for drinking, irrigation, electricity), Forests (wood, oxygen, biodiversity), Minerals (iron, coal, gold).

• Even technology, human skill, and knowledge are resources because they help in using natural things properly.

👉 So, resources are not just natural objects — they become resources only when humans recognize their use.

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2. Classification of Resources

We divide resources into groups so that we can understand, plan, and manage them properly.

(A) Based on Origin

• Biotic (Living) → forests, animals, fish, humans.

• Abiotic (Non-living) → minerals, water, air, sunlight.

(B) Based on Exhaustibility

• Renewable → Can regenerate (e.g., solar, wind, forests, water).

• Non-renewable → Limited, once finished cannot be renewed in human lifetime (e.g., coal, petroleum, minerals).

(C) Based on Ownership

• Individual → Owned privately (farmland, houses).

• Community → Used by all people (parks, village ponds).

• National → Belong to the government (forests, railways, rivers).

• International → Belong to all humankind, not one nation (oceans beyond EEZ, Antarctica).

(D) Based on Development

• Potential → Available but not used (wind in Rajasthan, solar in Gujarat).

• Developed → Already explored and used (coal, petroleum).

• Stock → Exists, but no technology to use yet (hydrogen from water).

• Reserves → A part of stock that can be used in future (groundwater, forests).

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3. Development of Resources & Need for Sustainable Development

• In the past, humans overused resources for economic growth.

• This caused problems like →

  1. Depletion (groundwater, coal)

  2. Pollution (soil, air, water)

  3. Inequality (some areas rich, some poor)

👉 To solve this, the world adopted the idea of Sustainable Development:

Development that meets the needs of present generations without harming the future generations.

Examples: afforestation, solar energy, rainwater harvesting.

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4. Resource Planning in India

India has a huge variety of resources, but they are unevenly distributed:

• Rajasthan → desert, but rich in wind and solar.

• Jharkhand, Odisha → rich in minerals, but poor in development.

• Punjab, Haryana → fertile land, good for agriculture.

Steps of Planning:

1. Identify and map resources.

2. Develop technology, institutions, and skills to use them.

3. Implement conservation strategies.

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5. Land Resources and Utilization

Land Use Pattern in India

• Forest → ~21%

• Agriculture → ~50–55%

• Non-agriculture (roads, industries, towns) → ~5%

• Barren land / wasteland → deserts, rocky land

Land Degradation (damage to land) – Causes

• Deforestation

• Overgrazing

• Mining

• Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides

Conservation Measures

• Afforestation

• Controlled grazing

• Scientific mining

• Proper farming techniques

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6. Soil as a Resource

Soil is the most important renewable resource. Different soils are found in different parts of India:

• Alluvial Soil → Northern plains, very fertile.

• Black Soil → Deccan Plateau, retains moisture, best for cotton.

• Red & Yellow Soil → South & east India, less fertile.

• Laterite Soil → High rainfall areas, good for tea/coffee plantations.

• Arid Soil → Desert regions, sandy, low moisture.

• Forest Soil → Mountainous areas, good for forests.

Soil Erosion → Washing away of topsoil by wind or water.

• Causes → Deforestation, overgrazing, floods, improper farming.

• Prevention → Contour ploughing, terrace farming, shelter belts, crop rotation.

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7. Conservation of Resources

To ensure future survival, resources must be conserved:

• Use resources judiciously (avoid wastage).

• Afforestation & reforestation.

• Water conservation (rainwater harvesting, watershed management).

• Energy conservation (shift to renewable energy).

• Waste management (reduce, reuse, recycle).

Case Studies (India)

• Chipko Movement → villagers hugged trees to stop deforestation.

• Narmada Bachao Andolan → protest against large dams.

• Rajasthan Johads → traditional rainwater harvesting ponds.