This revision has been prepared for students who have already studied the full chapter or watched the detailed lecture and now want a quick, simple, and complete recap. The chapter Resources and Development explains the meaning of resources, their classification, the importance of sustainable development, the need for resource planning in India, and global efforts toward conservation. It also covers land resources, patterns of land use, soil types and distribution, causes of soil erosion, and various conservation methods. This revision presents all important concepts in an easy and exam-friendly manner so students can recall everything without confusion.

What is a resource?

A resource is anything available in the environment that can be used to satisfy human needs, provided three conditions are met.

• It must be technologically accessible
• It must be economically feasible (affordable)
• It must be culturally acceptable (beneficial to society)

So, a resource is anything available in the environment that can be utilized to satisfy human needs under these three conditions.

Classification of Resources

Resources can be classified in many ways.

1. On the basis of origin

Biotic: Have life (vegetation, wildlife)
Abiotic: Do not have life (solar energy, wind energy)

2. On the basis of exhaustibility

Renewable: Can be renewed or replenished (water, wind energy)
Non-renewable: Once exhausted, cannot be renewed easily (fossil fuels like coal and petroleum)

3. On the basis of ownership

Individual: Privately owned resources such as a house or vehicle
Community: Accessible to all members of a community such as parks or burial grounds
National: Resources belonging to the nation
International: Resources that no single nation owns; permission from international institutions is required to use them

4. On the basis of development

Potential: Resources that exist but are not yet fully utilized (wind and solar energy in Rajasthan and Gujarat)
Developed: Quantities and qualities are known and currently used
Reserves: Can be used with existing technology but are saved for the future (hydropower)
Stock: Resources available in nature but cannot be used due to lack of technology

Development of Resources

Proper development of resources is crucial because human survival and quality of life depend on them. Problems arise when resources are treated as “free gifts of nature” and overused. This leads to:

• Social division between rich and poor
• Global warming
• Ecological crises
• Ozone depletion
• Climate change

The solution lies in proper resource planning and sustainable development.

What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present without harming the environment or compromising the needs of future generations.

In 1992, the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro focused on:

• Sustainable development
• Agenda 21

Agenda 21 was a global declaration where more than 100 world leaders agreed to work together to reduce poverty, environmental damage, diseases, and promote cooperation. Each member country was expected to prepare its own Agenda 21.

Resource Planning in India

India has uneven distribution of resources.

Arunachal Pradesh: Plenty of water but lack of infrastructure
Ladakh: Rich culture but poor agricultural resources
Rajasthan: Strong wind and solar energy but water scarcity
Central India: Rich in minerals but lacks several other resources

Thus, resource planning is essential.

India’s resource planning has three components.

• Identification and mapping of resources
• Developing appropriate technology, skilled population and institutional setup
• Ensuring that resource development contributes to national development

Overuse of resources has created many problems, increasing the need for sustainable development and proper planning.

Resource Conservation

Gandhiji famously said,
“There is enough for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s greed.”

Meaning: Resources are enough for basic needs, but not for greedy consumption.

International efforts towards conservation include:
Club of Rome (1968): The first group to raise global concerns about resource depletion
Schumacher’s book Small is Beautiful (1974): Highlighted Gandhian philosophy
Brundtland Commission Report (1987): Emphasised sustainable development
Earth Summit (1992): Major step toward global sustainability

Gandhi also believed modern technology caused overexploitation of resources. He felt that using human labour would generate employment and reduce misuse.

Even colonizers came to India because the country had rich resources. They had modern technology, so they exploited Indian resources easily.

For proper resource development in India, the country needs:

• Availability of resources
• Technology
• Skilled population
• Historical knowledge

Land and Soil Resources

Land is finite and fixed. It is required for everything.

• Natural vegetation
• Wildlife
• Human life
• Agriculture
• Economic activities

Distribution of land in India

• 43% Plains suitable for agriculture and industry
• 30% Mountains that support rivers, forests and tourism
• 27% Plateaus rich in minerals

Land use patterns

Land is used in several ways.

• Forest land
• Barren and wasteland
• Land for non-agricultural uses such as buildings, roads, offices and schools
• Permanent pastures used as grazing grounds
• Land under tree crops and groves