Question 1

What is meant by environment?

Accepted Answer

Environment is the sum total of all external conditions, factors and influences affecting the life, development and survival of organisms. For example, natural resources like air, water, soil, and forests form part of the environment. — Environment refers to all the external factors and conditions that surround living organisms and influence their life and development. It includes physical, chemical, and biological factors such as air, water, land, flora, and fauna that interact with each other.

Question 2

What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?

Accepted Answer

When the rate of resource extraction exceeds the rate of regeneration, it leads to depletion of resources and environmental degradation. For example, overfishing reduces fish populations faster than they can replenish, causing ecological imbalance. — If resources are extracted faster than their natural regeneration, it results in exhaustion of those resources. Renewable resources become scarce and non-renewable resources get depleted. This causes loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and long-term environmental damage.

Question 3

Classify the following into renewable and non-renewable resources: (i) trees (ii) fish (iii) petroleum (iv) coal (v) iron-ore (vi) water.

Accepted Answer

Renewable resources: trees, fish, water. Non-renewable resources: petroleum, coal, iron-ore. For example, trees can regrow naturally, while petroleum takes millions of years to form. — Renewable resources are those that can be replenished naturally within a short time, such as trees, fish, and water. Non-renewable resources are finite and take very long to form, like petroleum, coal, and iron-ore.

Question 4

Two major environmental issues facing the world today are ______ and ______.

Accepted Answer

population explosion / pollution — The two major environmental issues are population explosion, which increases demand for resources, and pollution, which degrades the environment. Both issues cause stress on natural systems and human health.

Question 5

How do the following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India? What problem do they pose for the government? (i) Rising population (ii) Air pollution (iii) Water contamination (iv) Affluent consumption standards (v) Illiteracy (vi) Industrialisation (vii) Urbanisation (viii) Reduction of forest coverage (ix) Poaching (x) Global warming.

Accepted Answer

(a) Rising population increases demand for resources, leading to overuse and environmental degradation.
(b) Air pollution causes health hazards and environmental damage.
(c) Water contamination affects human health and aquatic life.
(d) Affluent consumption increases waste and resource depletion.
(e) Illiteracy limits awareness about environmental protection.
(f) Industrialisation leads to pollution and resource exploitation.
(g) Urbanisation increases land use change and pollution.
(h) Reduction of forest coverage causes loss of biodiversity and climate imbalance.
(i) Poaching threatens wildlife and ecological balance.
(j) Global warming causes climate change and extreme weather.
These factors pose challenges for government policies and enforcement to protect environment and ensure sustainable development. — Each factor contributes to environmental degradation by increasing pressure on natural resources or causing pollution. The government faces problems in controlling these due to population size, economic growth needs, and social factors like illiteracy. Sustainable policies and public awareness are essential.

Question 6

What are the functions of the environment?

Accepted Answer

The environment performs four main functions: supplies resources, assimilates wastes, sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity, and provides aesthetic services. For example, forests supply timber and help maintain biodiversity. — Environment provides natural resources needed for survival, absorbs wastes generated by organisms, sustains life through biodiversity which ensures ecological balance, and offers aesthetic and recreational value to humans.

Question 7

Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.

Accepted Answer

Six factors contributing to land degradation in India are deforestation, overgrazing, mining, industrialisation, urbanisation, and unsustainable agricultural practices. For example, deforestation reduces soil cover leading to erosion. — Land degradation results from removal of vegetation, excessive grazing by livestock, extraction of minerals, pollution from industries, expansion of cities, and improper farming methods that reduce soil fertility and cause erosion.

Question 8

Explain how the opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high.

Accepted Answer

Opportunity costs of negative environmental impact are high because resources used to repair damage or lost due to pollution could have been used for productive activities. For example, money spent on cleaning polluted rivers cannot be used for education or health. — When environment is damaged, society has to spend resources to restore it, which means foregoing other beneficial uses of those resources. This leads to economic loss and reduced welfare, showing the high opportunity cost of environmental harm.

Question 9

Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.

Accepted Answer

Steps for sustainable development include limiting population growth within carrying capacity, promoting input-efficient technological progress, extracting renewable resources at sustainable rates, ensuring non-renewable resource depletion is balanced by renewable substitutes, and correcting pollution inefficiencies. For example, promoting solar energy reduces fossil fuel use. — Sustainable development requires balancing resource use and regeneration, adopting cleaner technologies, conserving resources, and reducing pollution to meet present needs without harming future generations.

Question 10

India has abundant natural resources—substantiate the statement.

Accepted Answer

India has abundant natural resources such as forests, minerals, water bodies, and biodiversity. For example, India is rich in medicinal plants with about 15,000 species having medicinal properties used in traditional healthcare. — The country’s diverse geography and climate provide a wide range of natural resources that support agriculture, industry, and healthcare. These resources form the basis for economic development and cultural heritage.

Question 11

Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?

Accepted Answer

Yes, environmental crisis is a recent phenomenon mainly due to rapid population growth, industrialisation, urbanisation, and increased consumption. For example, increased vehicle use has led to air pollution in cities like Delhi. — Earlier, resource use was within limits and environment could regenerate. But modern development has increased demand beyond supply, causing pollution, resource depletion, and ecological imbalance.

Question 12

Give two instances of (a) Overuse of environmental resources (b) Misuse of environmental resources.

Accepted Answer

(a) Overuse: Excessive groundwater extraction causing depletion; Overfishing reducing fish stocks.
(b) Misuse: Dumping industrial waste in rivers polluting water; Burning of fossil fuels causing air pollution. — Overuse means using resources beyond their regeneration capacity, while misuse refers to using resources in ways that harm environment or reduce their utility.

Question 13

State any four pressing environmental concerns of India.

Accepted Answer

Four pressing environmental concerns of India are air pollution, water contamination, deforestation, and land degradation. For example, air pollution in Delhi causes respiratory problems for residents. — These concerns affect human health, biodiversity, and sustainable development. They arise due to population pressure, industrial growth, and unsustainable resource use.

Question 14

Correction for environmental damages involves opportunity costs—explain.

Accepted Answer

Correction for environmental damages involves opportunity costs because resources spent on restoration cannot be used elsewhere. For example, funds used to clean polluted rivers could have been invested in education or healthcare. — Environmental damage reduces resource availability and requires expenditure to repair, which means sacrificing alternative beneficial uses of those resources, thus incurring opportunity costs.

Question 15

Explain how the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources accounts for the current environmental crisis.

Accepted Answer

Initially, supply of environmental resources exceeded demand, but now demand has surpassed supply due to population growth and consumption. For example, groundwater is being extracted faster than it is replenished, leading to scarcity. — This reversal causes resource depletion, pollution, and ecological imbalance, contributing to the environmental crisis faced globally and in India.

Environment and Sustainable Development

Environment and Sustainable Development — Study Notes

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

7.1 INTRODUCTION

7.2 ENVIRONMENT — DEFINITION AND FUNCTIONS

Practice Questions — Environment and Sustainable Development

All 8 Chapters in Indian Economic Development