Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?
Yes, the environmental crisis is a very recent phenomenon; the sparks of such a crisis were never visible in the past. In the early centuries before industrialisation, the population growth was on a tight rein. The demand for environmental resources was much lower than its supply. Environment supported the world's population in the past as the rate of usage of the resources was lesser. Also, the rate of regeneration of resources exceeded the rate with which the resources were exploited. In other words, the threat of an environmental crisis was never felt in the past as the exploitation of natural resources was within the carrying capacity of the environment. But, today, due to heavy industrialisation, urbanisation, man has started exploiting nature to its maximum. Nuclear and industrial wastes being dumped into the water bodies, pollution of land and air has affected the environment in a three-fold manner. Now, the rate of exploitation of natural resources is lagging behind the rate of regeneration of the natural resources. Consequently, the mounting pressure on the carrying capacity of the environment is paving the way for environmental crises.
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.
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 _____________.
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
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?
Compared to urban women, more rural women are found working. Why?
An establishment with four hired workers is known as (formal/informal) sector establishment.
Does modernisation as a planning objective create contradiction in the light of employment generation? Explain.
Do you think outsourcing is good for India? Why are developed countries opposing it?
What is the Green Revolution? Why was it implemented and how did Does it benefit the farmers? Explain in brief.
Meena is a housewife. Besides taking care of household chores, she works in the cloth shop which is owned and operated by her husband. Can she be considered as a worker? Why?
Enlist some problems faced by farmers during the initial years of organic farming.
How do infrastructure facilities boost production?
Explain the role of micro-credit in meeting credit requirements of the poor.
Why was it necessary for a developing country like India to follow self-reliance as a planning objective?