Table of Contents

Development – Chapter 1 Class 10 Economics (NCERT)

Development is Chapter 1 of Class 10 Economics (Understanding Economic Development). It explains the meaning of development, showing that people have different goals based on their needs. The chapter highlights both income and non-income aspects such as equality, freedom, and security, and discusses how countries are compared using indicators like per capita income, literacy, life expectancy, and Human Development Index (HDI). It also emphasizes the importance of sustainable development for balancing present growth with future needs. Below are complete this chapter aligned with NCERT, RBSE and CBSE board exam patterns.

What is Development?

Development means a process of growth and progress in which people improve their living standards, quality of life, and opportunities. It does not only mean more income or economic growth, but also includes better heath, education, equality, security, freedom, and sustainability. Key points in Definiton:

Economic Aspect: Higher income, more employment, better infrastructure.
Social Aspect: Equality, repsect, freedom, no discrimination.
Sustainability: Using resources wisely so future generations can also benefit.

Definition: Development is the process by which people’s living conditions improve, not just through higher income, but also through better health, education, freedom, equality, and a secure environment.

At the personal level, it reflects our aspirations such as better job, higher income, respect in society, education, freedom.
At national level, it reflects collective goals such as equality, good living standards, opportunities, justice etc.
Development is not only economic, it is also in history and political science.
History shows us how past struggles and reforms shaped our lives today. We cannot ask for change without knowing our past.
Political Science explains that real development is possible only thorugh democracy. Without democracy, growth may happen, but it will not benefit everyone equally.

Question: Why is development not just studied in Economics, but also in History and Political Science?
Answer: Development is a broad concept that goes beyond Economics.
1. Economics studies income, employment and living standards.
2. History shows us how past struggles and reforms shaped our lives today. We cannot ask for change without knowing our past.
3. Political Science explains that real development is possible only thorugh democracy. Without democracy, growth may happen, but it will not benefit everyone equally.

What Developmetn Promises – Different People, Different Goals

People’s idea of development depends on their needs and situations. For example:
- Landless labour: Wants more work, better wages, education for children.
- Prosperous farmer of Punjab: Wants higher crop prices, cheap labour, children to settle abroad.
- Girl from rich urban family: Wants equal freedom and opportunity like her brother, chance to study abroad.
- Adivasi from Narmada Valley: Wants protection of land and livelihood, not displacement by big dams.
Development for one may harm another. Examples:
- A girl wants her brother to share household word but his brother may refuse.
- Industrialists want large dams for electricity but tribals lose land.

So, two things are quite clear. First, Different persons can have different developmental goals and Second, what may be development for one may not be development for the other. It may even be destructive for the other.

Income and Other Goals

There are two types of developmental goals: one is material goods such as income, and the other is non-material goals like respect, freedom, security, and equality. Money can buy more material things, but the quality of our life depends greatly on non-material aspects. For example, a high-paying job with no security and no family time may not give happiness, while a lower-paying but secure job may provide greater satisfaction.

For development, people look at a mix of goals. For example, women working in paid jobs gain respect, but true development also needs a safe environment, shared responsibilities at home, and acceptance of women working outside. Hence, development is not only about money but about overall quality of life.

National Development

Like a individual, notion of national development could have different as well as conflicting. There are some questions related to national development:

Can all developmental ideas be treated as equally important?
If there is a conflict between two ideas of development, how should we decide?
What is the fair and just path of development for everyone?
Is there a better way of doing things than the existing one?
Does the idea of development benefit a large number of people or only a small group?

All developmental ideas are not equally important. In case of conflict, the right choice is the one that is fair and just and benefits the majority. We must always look for better and alternative methods that are more sustainable and less harmful. True development should benefit the large majority of people.

National Development: National development means the growth and progress of a country in way that gives better income, equality, and justice. It means choosing fair and just paths of progress that benefit the majority of people, not just a samll group.

How To Compare Different Countries or States?

For comparing countries, their income is considered to be one of the most important attributes.
Countries with higher income are more developed than others with less income.
The income of all the residents of the country is called income of country.
Total income is not a good way to compare countries because populations are different. Instead, we should compare the average income per person.
The average income is also called per capita income.
Per capita income = Total income ÷ Total population.
According to the World Bank (World Development Report, 2023):
- Countries with per capita income ≥ 63,400$ (Rich countries).
- Countries with per capita income ≤ 2,400$ (Poor countries).
- India’s per capita income is 10,030$.
Rich countries (Excluding middle east and some small nations) are generally called developed countries.

Note: Middle Eastern countries and some small nations have high income mainly from oil or other special factors, not from balanced development of all sectors. They may still lack in education, healthcare, or equality, so they are not considered developed countries.

Income And Other Criteria

When we compare countries or states, income is considered one of the most important attributes. The logic is simple: More income = more goods and services and better quality of life. For this reason, world bank uses per capita income as criterion to classify countries into high income, low income and middle income countries. Other criteria beyond incomes are:

IMR: Infant Mortality Rate. Number of children dying before age of one per 1000 live births in a particular year.
Literacy Rate: The proportion of literate population in the 7 and above age group.
Net Attendance Ratio: The proportion of children in a particular age group (for example 15-17 years) attending school.
Life Expectancy: Average number of years a person is expected to live at birth.
Good Public Facilities: Pollution free environment, disease free society and equal education opportunity, Cheaper and good schools, healthcare and ration shops.

Development cannot be measured by income alone. Along with per capita income, indicators like IMR, literacy rate, life expectancy, and availability of public facilities must also be considered. These show the real quality of life and human development.

Public Facilities

Public facilities are services like schools, healthcare, drinking water, PDS, and security which are provided by the government for all people, because individuals cannot afford to provide them separately.

Why Public Facilities are Needed

Money cannot byuy everything. For example: You cannot buy a pollution free environment or pure medicines unless society as a whole ensures it.
Many important things in the life are best and chepest when povided collectively. Examples:
- Security: Cheaper and more effective if provided collectively for the whole locality rather than each family separately.
- Education: A child can study only if schools are available for everyone, not just for a few.
- Healthcare: Hospitals, vaccination, and preventive steps.
- PDS (Public Distribuiton System): Ensure food security and better nutrition.

Exmples of States With Good Public Facilities

Kerala has a low IMR because of adequate public health and educational facilities. This shows that collective facilities improve overall development even if income levels are lower compared to other states.
In some states, a well functioning PDS (Public Distribution Syste) has improved people’s nutrition and health.

Question: Why is Kerala more developed than Haryana despite lower income?
Answer: Because Kerala has better health, literacy, education and social equality.

Question: What is BMI? Write its Importance.
Answer: BMI Stands for Body Mass Index and can be calculated by following formula:

$\mathrm{BMI}=\dfrac{\mathrm{Weight\ (kg)}}{\mathrm{Height\ (m)}^{2}}$

It is a measure used to check wheather a person has a healthy body weight for their height. It helps to identify if a person is underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

Below 18.5 – Underweight
18.5 – 24.9 – Normal
25.0 – 29.9 – Overweight
30.0 and above – Obese

HDR

HDR (Human Development Report) is published every year by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It compares countries based on three main factors: Educational level, Health status and Per capita income.
HDI (Human Developemnt Index) is a rank of countries based on these indicators.
India is HDI rank is 134.

Sustainability of Development

Sustainability of development means using resources in such a way that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meeth their needs. Famous saying: “We have not inherited the world from our forefathers, we have borrowed it form our children”.

Example 1: Groundwater in India

The ground water is under serious threat of overuse in many parts of the country. 300 districts report water level decline of over 4 meters in the past 20 years. Nearly one-third of India is already overusing groundwater. In 25 years, 60% of India may face the same if the trend continues. Overuse is worst in Punjab, Western UP, plateau regions, some coastal area, and fast growing cities.

Why is groundwater overused?
Answer: Because of high demand for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use, especially in agriculture rich areas.
Can there be development without overuse?
Answer: Yes, Development is possible with efficient use of resources, water saving techniques, and alternative methods.

Groundwater is a renewable resource because it is recharged by rainfall. It becomes overused only when we extract more than what nature restored. If we use it sustainably, groundwater can meet our needs and remain available for the future.

Example 2: Exhaustion of Natural Resources (Crude Oil)

Crude oil is non-renewable resources. It is a fixed stock and cannot be restored. At current rate of use, crude oil reserves may last only about 43 years. India has very low reserves and depends heavily on imports. Rising oil prices become a burden for the economy and common people. Countries with low reserves (Like USA) try to secure oil through military or economic power.

Is crude oil essential for development?
Answer: Yes, Because it is vital for transport, industries, and energy generation.
What problems does India face due to oil imports?
Answer: High imports bills, rising prices, pressure on foreign exchange, and vulnerability to global supply disruptions.

Environmental issues are global and our future is interconnected. The overuse of groundwater and the limited reserves of crude oil clearly show why sustainable development is essential for meeting present needs without harming future generations.

Heredity

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