Development – Class 10 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

Chapter overview

Different people have different development goals, and what is development for one may harm another. Countries are compared by income, but income alone does not show quality of life. Health, education, equality and sustainability are also part of development.

Goals and national development

• Development goals include income as well as equal treatment, freedom, security and respect; goals can conflict, such as a dam that gives power but displaces people.
• National income is the income of all residents; average or per capita income is total income divided by population.
• The World Bank uses per capita income to classify countries; it hides how income is distributed.

Beyond income

• Public facilities such as health care, schools, clean water and the public distribution system decide quality of life.
• Kerala has a low infant mortality rate because of adequate basic health and educational facilities.
• The Human Development Index (UNDP) uses life expectancy, education and per capita income.

Sustainability

• Groundwater is being overused in many parts of India, and non-renewable resources such as crude oil will get exhausted.
• Sustainable development meets present needs without harming future generations.

Key terms

Per capita income

the total income of a country divided by its total population

Infant mortality rate

the number of children who die before the age of one year per 1,000 live births

Net attendance ratio

the share of children of a given age group attending school

Human Development Index

a measure of development using life expectancy, education and per capita income

Important questions with answers

Quick revision

• Development goals differ and may conflict.
• Per capita income = national income ÷ population.
• HDI = health + education + income.
• Sustainability = use resources without harming future generations.

Exam tips

• When comparing states, use the indicators named in the book: IMR, literacy rate and net attendance ratio.
• Always say why average income is not a complete measure: it hides inequality.

Practice MCQs

1. Per capita income is calculated by dividing national income by

   1. the area of the country
   2. number of workers
   3. total population
   4. number of states
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) total population. It gives average income.

2. The Human Development Report is published by

   1. the World Bank
   2. IMF
   3. UNDP
   4. WTO
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) UNDP. UNDP publishes it.

3. Infant mortality rate refers to deaths of children

   1. under 5 years
   2. under 1 year
   3. at birth only
   4. under 10 years
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) under 1 year. It is measured per 1,000 live births.

4. Kerala has a low infant mortality rate mainly because of

   1. adequate basic health and educational facilities
   2. high per capita income
   3. more factories
   4. low population
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) adequate basic health and educational facilities. Public facilities matter for well-being.

5. The World Bank's main criterion for classifying countries is

   1. literacy rate
   2. area
   3. life expectancy
   4. per capita income
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) per capita income. It groups countries as high, middle and low income.

6. Which is a limitation of using average income as a measure

   1. it hides the distribution of income among people
   2. it is hard to calculate
   3. it includes too many indicators
   4. it is not measured in money
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) it hides the distribution of income among people. Two countries with equal averages may have very different inequality.

7. Which of the following is not used in the Human Development Index

   1. life expectancy
   2. years of schooling
   3. per capita income
   4. area of forests
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) area of forests. HDI uses health, education and income.

8. A development goal for one group may be destructive for another. Which example shows this

   1. a dam that provides electricity but displaces local people
   2. free education for all
   3. clean drinking water
   4. better hospitals
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) a dam that provides electricity but displaces local people. Industrialists may want the dam while displaced tribals oppose it.