Development

Detailed Solutions & Key Formulas

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Objective Questions

Question 1

Development of a country can generally be determined by:

(i) its per capita income
(ii) its average literacy level
(iii) health status of its people
(iv) all the above

Answer: (iv) all the above

Reasoning: Development is comprehensive. While the World Bank focuses on (i), the UNDP considers (ii) and (iii) as vital components of Human Development.

Question 2

Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India?

Answer: (ii) Sri Lanka

Note: Sri Lanka ranks higher in HDI (Human Development Index) due to better health and education indicators compared to India.

Question 3

Assume there are four families in a country. The average per capita income of these families is ₹5000. If the income of three families is ₹4000, ₹7000, and ₹3000 respectively, what is the income of the fourth family?

Given:
Average Income ($A$) = ₹5000
Total Families ($N$) = 4

Formula: $$ A = \frac{\text{Total Income}}{N} $$ $$ \text{Total Income} = A \times N = 5000 \times 4 = 20,000 $$

Calculation:
Sum of known incomes = $4000 + 7000 + 3000 = 14,000$
Income of 4th family ($x$) = $\text{Total Income} – \text{Sum}$ $$ x = 20,000 – 14,000 = 6,000 $$

Answer: (c) ₹6000

Long Answer Questions

Question 4

What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?

Main Criterion: Per Capita Income
The World Bank’s World Development Report classifies countries based on Per Capita Income:

Rich Countries: High per capita income.
Low Income Countries: Low per capita income.

Limitations:

Hides Disparities: It does not tell us how income is distributed. A country might have a high average income but huge inequality between the rich and the poor.
Ignores Quality of Life: It overlooks non-material factors like health, education, freedom, and pollution-free environment.

Question 5

In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?

The UNDP uses the Human Development Index (HDI), which is a broader measure than the World Bank’s income-based approach.

Aspect	World Bank	UNDP (HDI)
Criteria	Per Capita Income only.	Health status, Education, and Income.
Goal	Economic Growth.	Human Welfare & Development.

Question 6

Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Resource Depletion: Non-renewable resources (like oil and coal) are finite. Exhausting them rapidly threatens future availability.
Ecological Balance: Overuse of renewable resources (like groundwater) can lower the water table permanently.
Environmental Damage: Consequences of environmental damage (climate change, pollution) do not respect national boundaries. Sustainable development is essential for survival.

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Key Concepts & Formulas

Formula

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is used to determine if an adult is undernourished.

Formula: $$ \text{BMI} = \frac{\text{Weight (kg)}}{(\text{Height (m)})^2} $$

Interpretation:
• BMI < 18.5: Undernourished
• BMI > 25: Overweight
• 18.5 – 25: Normal

Concept

Comparison: Kerala vs. Punjab/Haryana

The chapter compares states to prove that income isn’t the only factor.

Income: Punjab/Haryana has a higher Per Capita Income than Kerala.
Development: However, Kerala has better Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Literacy Rate.
Reason: Kerala has an effective Public Distribution System (PDS), better healthcare, and educational facilities.