Outline the steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India.
Sustainable development refers to the achievement of economic development by careful and judicial utilisation of the natural resources so that the present generations' needs are fulfilled without compromising that of the future generations'. It becomes our moral responsibility to hand over earth in good order to the future generation. Aligned with the view of a leading environmental economist, Herman Daly, India has taken the following steps to achieve the aim of sustainable development:
i. Population Control Measures
India has promoted various measures to arrest population explosion. The various population control measures include spread of awareness and knowledge of birth control measures and literacy.
ii. Use of Environment Supportive Fuel
As the fuels such as petrol and diesel emit huge amounts of carbon dioxide that leads to global warming, the Indian government has promoted the use of CNG and LPG. These are clean, eco-friendly fuels that emit lesser smoke.
iii. Use of Solar and Wind Energy
India being a moderate country is enriched with sunlight and wind power. These are two free gifts of nature that are non-exhaustible. It solves the problem of economic growth with due focus on sustainable development.
iv. Recycling and Ban on Plastic Bags
The industrial and household wastes are accumulated on a daily basis. There is a need to develop the habit of recycling of waste products in order to sustain the environment. Household waste can be used as manure for organic farming. A very recent step taken by the Indian government is banning the use of plastic bags. This is a very good step as plastic bags do not get decomposed easily and leads to pollution while recycling.
v. Pollution Tax and Fines
Indian government has taken many steps to control pollution. Some of the measures are regular vehicle checkups, levying pollution tax on the industries emitting smoke. These measures are coupled with huge fines and even imprisonment for the law breakers.
vi. Use of the Input Efficient Technology
The input efficient methods have been devised that not only increases the production and productivity but also efficiency with which the inputs are used. The efficient use of input, on one hand, leads to lesser exploitation of the natural resources and, on the other hand, enhances the future economic growth prospects of India.
What are the functions of the environment?
Highlight any two serious adverse environmental consequences of development in India. India’s environmental problems pose a dichotomy — they are poverty induced and, at the same time, due to affluence in living standards — is this true?
Explain the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources.
What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
India has abundant natural resources —substantiate the statement.
Give two instances of
(a) Overuse of environmental resources
(b) Misuse of environmental resources.
Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?
Explain the relevance of intergenerational equity in the definition of sustainable development.
Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Two major environmental issues facing the world today are ____________ and _____________.
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Define a plan?
Who is a worker?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
What problems are being faced by the power sector in India?
Mention the various indicators of human development.
Enlist some problems faced by farmers during the initial years of organic farming.
Differentiate the six systems of Indian medicine.
What is the important implication of the ‘one child norm’ in China?
Give a quantitative appraisal of India’s demographic profile during the colonial period.
Do you think various measures taken by the government to improve agricultural marketing are sufficient? Discuss.
Discuss economic reforms in India in the light of social justice and welfare.
What do you understand by devaluation of rupee?
Do you think outsourcing is good for India? Why are developed countries opposing it?