What is the state of rural infrastructure in India?
During colonial rule,the British aimed at developing infrastructure to facilitate their trade affairs. At the time of independence, Indian government found a lack of sound infrastructure to realise their dream of economic development and growth. Most of the infrastructural development concentrated in the urban areas. The infrastructural development in the rural areas is still very meager as compared to the size of the rural population. The women in the rural areas are still making use of biofuels like cow-dung and fuel wood to meet their energy needs. The census of 2001 states that only 56% of households have electricity connection, whereas 43% still use kerosene. About 90% of the rural households use biofuels for cooking. Tap water is used by only 24% of the rural households and improved sanitation is available to only 20%. As the infrastructure is an essential element of economic growth, so, it becomes a need of the hour to address the problem of infrastructure. The government of India invested only a small proportion of GDP on infrastructure i.e. only 5% that is lesser than that of China and Indonesia. The economists see India as the third biggest economy in the world. For that to happen, India will have to boost its infrastructure, especially rural infrastructure. This will not only promote economic development of our country but also enhance economic welfare.
Infrastructure contributes to the economic development of a country. Do you agree? Explain.
Discuss the main drawbacks of our health care system.
What are the various non-commercial sources of energy?
What is the significance of ‘energy’? Differentiate between commercial and non-commercial sources of energy.
How do infrastructure facilities boost production?
What is a ‘global burden of disease’?
Describe the meaning of public health. Discuss the major public health measures undertaken by the state in recent years to control diseases.
How has women’s health become a matter of great concern?
Explain the two categories into which infrastructure is divided. How are both interdependent?
How are the rates of consumption of energy and economic growth connected?
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?
What is meant by environment?
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?
Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
Identify six factors contributing to land degradation in India.
Analyse the recent trends in sectoral distribution of workforce in India.
Why are employment generation programmes important in poverty alleviation in India?
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
What were the main causes of India’s agricultural stagnation during the colonial period?
Why was it necessary for a developing country like India to follow self-reliance as a planning objective?
Give two instances of
(a) Overuse of environmental resources
(b) Misuse of environmental resources.
Why did India opt for planning?