Class 10 Social Science Chapter 19 Development (Economics) PYQ

Class: X Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Book: Economics Type: PYQ (Board Exam) Board: CBSE Chapter 1 : Development

SECTION A : Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)

Q1. Which of the following is the most appropriate measure of development of a country? [CBSE 2023] [1]
(a) Total income
(b) Per capita income
(c) Population growth
(d) Area of the country Ans:
(b) Per capita income. It is the average income of a person, calculated by dividing total national income by total population. World Bank uses it to classify countries. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q2. In which state of India is the infant mortality rate the lowest? [CBSE 2022] [1]
(a) Bihar
(b) Jharkhand
(c) Kerala
(d) Punjab Ans:
(c) Kerala. Kerala has the lowest infant mortality rate due to high literacy, better healthcare facilities, and greater awareness about nutrition. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q3. Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India? [CBSE 2021] [1]
(a) Bangladesh
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) Nepal
(d) Pakistan Ans:
(b) Sri Lanka. It has higher HDI than India due to better education and health indicators despite lower per capita income. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q4. The Human Development Index (HDI) is published by: [CBSE 2020] [1]
(a) World Bank
(b) NITI Aayog
(c) UNDP
(d) IMF Ans:
(c) UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). HDI ranks countries based on per capita income, education, and health status. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q5. Assertion
(a) : Per capita income is not a useful measure of development. Reason (R): It hides inequalities in distribution of income. [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) Both true and (R) correctly explains
(a)
(b) Both true but (R) does not explain
(a)
(c)
(a) is true but (R) is false
(d)
(a) is false but (R) is true Ans:
(d)
(a) is false but (R) is true. Per capita income IS a useful measure but it has limitations - it hides inequalities. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6. What is the full form of BMI? [CBSE 2022] [1]
(a) Body Mass Index
(b) Basic Monetary Income
(c) Balanced Market Indicator
(d) None Ans:
(a) Body Mass Index. It is calculated by dividing weight (kg) by the square of height (m). Used to assess nutritional status of adults. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q7. Which country is considered a "developed country" by the World Bank (2019)? [CBSE 2021] [1]
(a) India
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) USA
(d) Myanmar Ans:
(c) USA. Countries with per capita income of Rs. 4,53,000 (US $12,056) or more per annum are called rich/developed countries. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q8. Which of the following is NOT a criterion for measuring HDI? [CBSE 2023] [1]
(a) Per capita income
(b) Literacy rate
(c) Net attendance ratio
(d) Industrial output Ans:
(d) Industrial output. HDI is measured using per capita income, education (literacy + enrolment), and health (life expectancy at birth). ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q9. What does sustainable development mean? [CBSE 2020] [1]
(a) Rapid industrial growth
(b) Development without damaging the environment for future generations
(c) Development of only urban areas
(d) Maximum use of natural resources Ans:
(b) Development without damaging the environment for future generations. It means using resources wisely so they last for coming generations. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Kerala has a low infant mortality rate. What is the most important reason for this? [CBSE 2024] [1]
(a) High per capita income
(b) Adequate healthcare and education facilities
(c) Large industrial base
(d) High urbanisation Ans:
(b) Adequate healthcare and education facilities. Kerala invested heavily in health and education leading to better human development indicators. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SECTION B : Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)

Q11. "Development of a country can generally be determined by its per capita income." Explain with limitations. [CBSE 2023] [3] • Measure: Per capita income = total national income divided by total population. World Bank uses it to classify countries as rich or low-income. • Limitation 1: It is an average - it hides the unequal distribution of income. A country may have high average income but most people could still be poor. • Limitation 2: It ignores non-material aspects like education, health, freedom, security, and respect which are equally important for development.

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Q12. Why do different people have different developmental goals? Explain with examples. [CBSE 2022] [3] • Different Needs: A landless labourer desires more wages and land, while a prosperous farmer wants higher crop prices and irrigation facilities. • Conflicting Goals: A girl student seeks equal opportunity in education, while an industrialist may want cheap labour. Goals of one group may clash with another. • Beyond Income: People seek freedom, security, respect, and equal treatment besides material things. Development means different things to different people.

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Q13. Compare the development of Kerala and Bihar on various indicators. [CBSE 2021] [3] • Infant Mortality: Kerala has very low IMR (around 7) compared to Bihar (around 32) due to better healthcare facilities. • Literacy Rate: Kerala has near-universal literacy (94%) while Bihar has significantly lower literacy (around 64%). • Per Capita Income: Kerala's per capita income is higher. Bihar has low income despite abundant natural resources and fertile land. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q14. What is the importance of the Human Development Index (HDI)? [CBSE 2024] [3] • Holistic Measure: HDI combines per capita income, education (literacy + enrolment), and health (life expectancy) - giving a comprehensive view of development. • Beyond Income: Countries with high income but poor health/education get lower HDI rankings. It shows that money alone is not development. • Comparison Tool: Published by UNDP, it enables comparison of development levels across countries, helping identify areas needing improvement.

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Q15. Why is sustainable development essential? Explain with examples. [CBSE 2020] [3] • Finite Resources: Resources like crude oil, coal, and groundwater are limited. Overuse will exhaust them, leaving nothing for future generations. • Environmental Damage: Uncontrolled development causes pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Groundwater in many Indian states is overexploited. • Renewable Focus: We must use renewable resources (solar, wind) and conserve non-renewable ones. Development should meet present needs without compromising the future.

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SECTION C : Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)

Q16. "Money in the bank is as good as currency." Explain this statement in context of development. [CBSE 2024] [5] • Income Measurement: National income includes all money earned - wages, profits, rent, interest. Per capita income is total income divided by population. • Indicator of Development: Higher per capita income generally means better standard of living. World Bank classifies countries based on this criterion. • Beyond Money: Development also includes non-income indicators - literacy, life expectancy, infant mortality, access to clean water and sanitation.

• Public Facilities: Government spending on education, healthcare, and infrastructure creates development that money alone cannot buy. • Sustainability: True development must be sustainable - using resources wisely so future generations also benefit, not just maximising current income. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q17. "Average income is an important criterion for development but it has limitations." Elaborate. [CBSE 2023] [5] Ans: Average income (per capita income) as a development criterion: • Usefulness: It gives a quick comparison between countries. World Bank uses it to classify countries as rich (above Rs 4,53,000) or low-income. • Hides Inequality: Two countries may have same average income but different distribution. One may have huge gap between rich and poor. • Ignores Health: A country with high income but poor healthcare means citizens die younger. Life expectancy is not captured by income alone.

• Ignores Education: Income doesn't show literacy or school enrolment. An educated population is more productive and has better quality of life. • Ignores Public Facilities: Access to clean water, sanitation, electricity, and transport are crucial for well-being but not reflected in average income. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q18. "Different persons can have different developmental goals." Justify with suitable examples. [CBSE 2022] [5] Ans: Development goals vary based on people's circumstances: • Landless Labourer: Seeks more wages, better working conditions, and land ownership. Development for them means economic security and dignity of labour. • Prosperous Farmer: Wants higher support prices for crops, assured irrigation, and lower input costs. Development means agricultural prosperity. • Urban Professional: Desires better job opportunities, work-life balance, and pollution-free environment.

Development means career growth and quality of life. • Girl Student: Wants equal opportunity in education, freedom to choose career, and safety. Development means breaking gender barriers. • Adivasi Farmer: Needs guarantee of traditional land rights, protection of forests, and fair prices. Development means preserving livelihood and culture. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q19. How can we measure the development of a country? Explain various indicators used for comparison. [CBSE 2021] [5] Ans: Multiple indicators are used to measure development: • Per Capita Income: Total national income / total population. World Bank uses this as primary criterion. India is classified as a low middle-income country. • Life Expectancy: Average expected years a person will live. Higher life expectancy indicates better healthcare. Japan has highest (~84 years). • Literacy Rate: Percentage of literate population. Indicates access to education and awareness. Kerala (94%) vs Bihar (64%) shows huge gaps within India.

• Infant Mortality Rate: Number of deaths of children under 1 year per 1000 live births. Lower IMR means better maternal and child healthcare. • HDI (Human Development Index): Published by UNDP, combines income, education, and health into a single composite index for holistic comparison. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q20. What is the importance of groundwater? Why is it necessary to use resources judiciously? [CBSE 2020] [5] Ans: Groundwater and sustainable resource use: • Vital Resource: Groundwater is the main source of drinking water and irrigation in India. Over 50% of irrigated agriculture depends on it. • Overexploitation: In many states (Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu), groundwater levels have fallen drastically due to overuse for farming and industry. • Non-Renewable Nature: Though groundwater is renewable, its recharge rate is very slow. Excessive pumping makes it practically non-renewable.

• Environmental Impact: Falling water tables lead to dry wells, crop failure, and desertification. Fluoride and arsenic contamination increases. • Judicious Use: We must use drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and reduce waste. Sustainable development requires balancing current needs with future availability. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ --- End of Chapter 1 PYQ ---