Chapter 1: Development — Question Bank
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Which of the following best describes development?
A. Increase in income only
B. Increase in production only
C. Improvement in people’s overall quality of life
D. Increase in population
Answer: C
2. Why can different people have different developmental goals?
A. They have different textbooks
B. Their life situations and aspirations differ
C. Their incomes are always different
D. They live in different countries
Answer: B
3. Which of the following is a non-material goal of development?
A. Higher wages
B. More expensive goods
C. Freedom and respect
D. Higher production
Answer: C
4. Which statement is correct?
A. All people have identical developmental goals.
B. Development always benefits everyone equally.
C. Developmental goals can differ and sometimes conflict.
D. Income has no role in development.
Answer: C
5. A large dam may benefit industrialists but adversely affect:
A. Only consumers
B. Displaced communities
C. Foreign countries only
D. Bank employees
Answer: B
6. Which of the following is NOT necessarily a developmental goal?
A. Security
B. Equal treatment
C. Freedom
D. Social discrimination
Answer: D
7. The average income of a country is also called:
A. National income
B. Per capita income
C. Disposable income
D. Personal income
Answer: B
8. Per capita income is calculated by:
A. Population ÷ total income
B. Total income × population
C. Total income ÷ total population
D. Total population ÷ number of workers
Answer: C
9. Why is total income not sufficient for comparing countries?
A. Countries have different currencies.
B. Countries have different populations.
C. Countries have different climates.
D. Countries have different governments.
Answer: B
10. What is one major limitation of average income?
A. It cannot be calculated.
B. It ignores population size.
C. It does not show income distribution.
D. It only applies to villages.
Answer: C
11. If two countries have the same average income, they:
A. Must have the same standard of living.
B. Must have equal income distribution.
C. May still have very different levels of inequality.
D. Must have identical development levels.
Answer: C
12. Which organisation uses per capita income as an important criterion for classifying countries?
A. UNDP
B. World Bank
C. WHO
D. RBI
Answer: B
13. Which organisation publishes the Human Development Report?
A. World Bank
B. UNDP
C. IMF
D. RBI
Answer: B
14. Which combination is most closely associated with human development?
A. Income, health and education
B. Population, area and climate
C. Exports, imports and taxes
D. Roads, railways and airports only
Answer: A
15. HDI stands for:
A. Human Development Index
B. Human Distribution Indicator
C. Health Development Indicator
D. Human Development Income
Answer: A
16. Infant Mortality Rate measures the number of children who die:
A. Before completing 5 years
B. Before completing 10 years
C. Before completing 1 year
D. During childbirth only
Answer: C
17. Infant Mortality Rate is expressed per:
A. 100 live births
B. 500 live births
C. 1,000 live births
D. 10,000 live births
Answer: C
18. Literacy rate in the chapter refers to the proportion of literate people aged:
A. 5 years and above
B. 7 years and above
C. 10 years and above
D. 15 years and above
Answer: B
19. Net Attendance Ratio in the chapter refers to children aged:
A. 6–10 years
B. 10–14 years
C. 15–17 years
D. 18–21 years
Answer: C
20. Which of the following is an example of a public facility?
A. Private jewellery
B. Public healthcare
C. Personal mobile phone
D. Luxury car
Answer: B
21. Why are public facilities important?
A. They benefit only rich people.
B. They can provide essential services collectively.
C. They eliminate the need for income.
D. They increase inequality.
Answer: B
22. Which state has the highest per capita income among Haryana, Kerala and Bihar in the chapter’s 2023–24 data?
A. Bihar
B. Kerala
C. Haryana
D. All are equal
Answer: C
23. Which state has the lowest per capita income among the three?
A. Haryana
B. Kerala
C. Bihar
D. None
Answer: C
24. Which state has the lowest infant mortality rate among Haryana, Kerala and Bihar in the given data?
A. Haryana
B. Kerala
C. Bihar
D. All are equal
Answer: B
25. The comparison of Haryana and Kerala demonstrates that:
A. Income is completely useless.
B. Income alone is insufficient to measure development.
C. Kerala has the highest income.
D. Health is unrelated to development.
Answer: B
26. Which resource is described as renewable in the chapter?
A. Crude oil
B. Groundwater
C. Coal
D. Petroleum
Answer: B
27. A renewable resource can still become scarce when:
A. It is used below its replenishment rate.
B. It is used faster than nature can replenish it.
C. It is never used.
D. Its price decreases.
Answer: B
28. Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?
A. Groundwater
B. Crops
C. Crude oil
D. Plants
Answer: C
29. Sustainable development is concerned mainly with:
A. Maximum resource use today
B. Present and future well-being
C. Increasing consumption without limits
D. Using only non-renewable resources
Answer: B
30. Which statement best expresses the idea of sustainable development?
A. Use all resources as quickly as possible.
B. Development should protect the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
C. Economic growth is always harmful.
D. Natural resources have no economic value.
Answer: B
B. Fill in the Blanks
1. Development involves thinking about people’s ______ and aspirations.
Answer: goals
2. People can have different and even ______ developmental goals.
Answer: conflicting
3. Money is important, but quality of life also depends on ______ factors.
Answer: non-material
4. Average income is also called ______ income.
Answer: per capita
5. Per capita income = total income divided by total ______.
Answer: population
6. Average income does not show how income is ______ among people.
Answer: distributed
7. The World Bank uses ______ income as an important criterion for comparing countries.
Answer: per capita
8. IMR stands for ______.
Answer: Infant Mortality Rate
9. Literacy rate measures the proportion of the ______ population.
Answer: literate
10. HDI stands for ______.
Answer: Human Development Index
11. The Human Development Report is published by the ______.
Answer: UNDP
12. Life expectancy refers to the average expected ______ of life.
Answer: length
13. Groundwater is an example of a ______ resource.
Answer: renewable
14. Crude oil is a ______ resource.
Answer: non-renewable
15. Development that protects resources for future generations is called ______ development.
Answer: sustainable
C. True or False
1. All people have the same developmental goals.
False
2. Developmental goals can sometimes conflict with each other.
True
3. Income is the only factor that determines quality of life.
False
4. Per capita income is total income divided by total population.
True
5. Average income shows how equally income is distributed.
False
6. A country with higher average income must always have better health facilities.
False
7. Public facilities can contribute significantly to human well-being.
True
8. Kerala’s example shows that income alone cannot adequately measure development.
True
9. Groundwater can never be exhausted because it is renewable.
False
10. Crude oil is a renewable resource.
False
11. Sustainable development considers future generations.
True
12. HDI considers broader aspects of development than income alone.
True
D. Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Per capita income | A. Human Development Index |
| 2. IMR | B. UNDP |
| 3. HDI | C. Average income |
| 4. Human Development Report | D. Deaths of infants per 1,000 live births |
| 5. Crude oil | E. Non-renewable resource |
Answers:
1–C, 2–D, 3–A, 4–B, 5–E
E. Assertion–Reason Questions
1.
Assertion (A): Per capita income is used to compare countries.
Reason (R): Countries have different population sizes, so total income alone may not give a meaningful comparison.
A. Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is false but R is true.
Answer: A
2.
Assertion: Average income is not a complete measure of development.
Reason: It does not show how income is distributed among people.
Answer: A
3.
Assertion: Higher income automatically guarantees a better quality of life.
Reason: Money can purchase every important service needed for human well-being.
Answer: D
4.
Assertion: Public facilities are important for development.
Reason: Many essential services are more effectively provided collectively.
Answer: A
5.
Assertion: Renewable resources cannot be overused.
Reason: Renewable resources are replenished naturally.
Answer: D
6.
Assertion: Sustainable development is necessary.
Reason: Excessive use of resources can reduce their availability for the future.
Answer: A
F. Very Short Answer Questions
1. What is development?
Development is progress towards better living conditions and overall well-being.
2. Why do people have different developmental goals?
Because their life situations, needs and aspirations differ.
3. Give two non-income goals of development.
Freedom and security.
4. What is per capita income?
Average income calculated by dividing total income by total population.
5. Why is per capita income preferred over total income for comparison?
Because countries have different population sizes.
6. State one limitation of per capita income.
It does not show how income is distributed.
7. What does IMR measure?
Infant deaths before one year of age per 1,000 live births.
8. What is literacy rate?
The proportion of literate people aged 7 years and above.
9. What is HDI?
Human Development Index, a broader measure of human development.
10. Name the organisation that publishes the Human Development Report.
UNDP.
11. What is a public facility?
An essential service provided collectively for people, such as healthcare or education.
12. What is a renewable resource?
A resource that can be replenished naturally.
13. Give one example of a renewable resource from the chapter.
Groundwater.
14. Give one example of a non-renewable resource.
Crude oil.
15. What is sustainable development?
Development that meets present needs while protecting resources and opportunities for the future.
G. Short Answer Questions
1. Why is income important for development?
Income allows people to obtain goods and services and satisfy many material needs. It can improve living conditions, but it is only one part of development.
2. Why is income not sufficient to measure development?
Income cannot by itself ensure good healthcare, education, a clean environment, equality, security or dignity. Therefore, development must also consider social and human indicators.
3. Explain why developmental goals may conflict.
Different groups may benefit from different forms of development. For example, a dam may provide electricity and irrigation but may also displace people living in the affected area.
4. Why is average income useful?
It allows comparison between countries or states with different population sizes by showing the average income available per person.
5. What is the major limitation of average income?
It hides income inequalities. Two societies can have the same average income while having very different distributions of wealth.
6. Why are public facilities important?
Essential services such as education, healthcare and sanitation often need to be provided collectively. Their availability can improve people’s quality of life regardless of individual income.
7. What does the comparison of Haryana and Kerala teach us?
It demonstrates that a state with higher per capita income does not necessarily perform better in health and education. Therefore, income alone is not an adequate measure of development.
8. Why is sustainability important?
Natural resources are limited or can be depleted through excessive use. Development must therefore consider the needs of future generations.
H. Long Answer Questions
1. Explain the different aspects of development.
Development includes higher income as well as non-income goals such as equality, freedom, security, dignity, health and education. Different people may value different goals depending on their circumstances. Development should therefore be judged by its overall effect on people’s well-being.
2. Explain the advantages and limitations of per capita income as a measure of development.
Per capita income is useful because it gives average income and allows comparisons between countries or states with different population sizes. However, it does not reveal income distribution and says little about health, education, public facilities or environmental quality. Thus, it is useful but cannot be treated as a complete measure of development.
3. Explain the importance of public facilities in development.
Public facilities such as schools, healthcare, sanitation and other essential services improve people’s quality of life. Some services are more efficiently and fairly provided collectively than individually. Therefore, government provision of public facilities is an important part of development.
4. Distinguish between the World Bank and UNDP approaches to development.
The World Bank places strong emphasis on per capita income when comparing and classifying countries. The UNDP takes a broader approach through human development, considering income, health and education. Thus, the UNDP approach recognises that development is about human well-being, not income alone.
5. Explain sustainable development with examples.
Sustainable development means pursuing progress without destroying the resources and environmental conditions needed in the future. Groundwater can be overused when extraction exceeds natural replenishment. Crude oil is non-renewable and can eventually be exhausted. These examples show why present development must be balanced with long-term resource conservation.
I. Case-Based Questions
Case 1: Income and Quality of Life
Two states have different per capita incomes. State A has a higher income, but State B has better health and education outcomes.
Questions:
- Can State A automatically be called more developed?
- Which additional indicators should be considered?
- What does this situation tell us about per capita income?
Answers:
- No.
- Health, education and other quality-of-life indicators.
- Per capita income is useful but insufficient as the sole measure of development.
Case 2: Unequal Distribution
Country X and Country Y have the same average income. In Country X, incomes are relatively similar. In Country Y, most people are poor while a small group earns extremely high incomes.
Questions:
- Which country has a more equitable income distribution?
- Why can average income be misleading here?
- What additional aspect of income should be considered?
Answers:
- Country X.
- The same average can hide large differences between rich and poor.
- Distribution of income.
Case 3: Resource Use
A farming region extracts groundwater faster than rainfall can replenish it.
Questions:
- Is groundwater renewable?
- Why can it still become scarce?
- Which principle of development is being threatened?
Answers:
- Yes.
- Because it is being used faster than its natural replenishment rate.
- Sustainable development.
J. Data-Based Questions
1. Consider these per capita incomes:
| State | Income |
|---|---|
| Haryana | ₹3,25,759 |
| Kerala | ₹2,81,001 |
| Bihar | ₹60,337 |
Questions:
a. Which state has the highest per capita income?
b. Which has the lowest?
c. If income alone were used, which would appear most developed?
d. Why should other indicators also be considered?
Answers:
a. Haryana
b. Bihar
c. Haryana
d. Because development also depends on health, education and other aspects of well-being.
2. A family has four members with incomes ₹4,000, ₹7,000, ₹3,000 and ₹6,000.
Question: What is their average income?
Answer:
₹5,000.
Formula:
Average income = Total income ÷ Number of people
K. Questions
1. A country becomes richer, but its pollution increases sharply. Can we say development has occurred? Explain.
2. If two countries have equal per capita income, can their people have very different living standards? Why?
3. Why might a person choose a lower-paying job over a higher-paying job?
4. Why can a government-provided school be important even for families that can afford private education?
5. If a resource is renewable, why should we still conserve it?
6. Can economic development and environmental protection go together? Give reasons.
7. Why should the benefits and costs of development be considered together?
8. Why is development ultimately a question about people rather than simply money?
L. Numerical / Application Questions
1.
A country’s total income is ₹80 lakh and its population is 10,000.
Find its per capita income.
Answer: ₹800 per person.
2.
The average income of four families is ₹5,000. Three families earn ₹4,000, ₹7,000 and ₹3,000.
Find the income of the fourth family.
Answer: ₹6,000
3.
Two countries have total incomes of ₹10 lakh each. Country A has 10,000 people and Country B has 20,000 people.
Which country has the higher per capita income?
Answer: Country A.
4.
Two countries have identical per capita income, but one has extreme inequality while the other has relatively equal incomes.
Which additional factor should be examined?
Answer: Income distribution.
M. “One-Line Concept Check” Questions
- Development ≠ income alone.
- Different people → different goals.
- Developmental goals can conflict.
- Per capita income = average income.
- Average income can hide inequality.
- Health + education + income → broader human development.
- Public facilities improve collective well-being.
- Renewable does not mean unlimited.
- Crude oil is non-renewable.
- Sustainability connects present development with future needs.
Important Questions
If a student has limited revision time, these are the highest-priority questions:
- Why do different people have different developmental goals?
- Explain why developmental goals can be conflicting.
- Why is income important but not sufficient for development?
- What is per capita income? Why is it used?
- Explain the limitations of average income.
- How does income distribution affect development?
- Explain the importance of public facilities.
- Compare the World Bank and UNDP approaches to development.
- What is HDI? What dimensions does it consider?
- Explain the significance of the Haryana–Kerala comparison.
- Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources.
- Why can renewable resources also be depleted?
- What is sustainable development and why is it important?
- Explain how present development can affect future generations.
- Solve numerical questions based on average/per capita income.