India: Resources - Class 10 Bihar Board Geography

Resources and Their Utilization in India

Meaning and Definition of Resources

A resource is anything that satisfies human needs and is useful for fulfilling requirements. Not every object is a resource; it must be economically viable, technologically accessible, and culturally acceptable. Human beings are considered the ultimate resource because they transform natural materials into useful resources through knowledge and technology.

• Resource: Anything that fulfills human needs and is useful.
• Ultimate Resource: Human beings, due to their ability to utilize knowledge and technology.
• Complete Definition: A resource must be economically viable, technologically accessible, and culturally acceptable.…

Resources and Their Utilization in India

Meaning and Definition of Resources

A resource is anything that satisfies human needs and is useful for fulfilling requirements. Not every object is a resource; it must be economically viable, technologically accessible, and culturally acceptable. Human beings are considered the ultimate resource because they transform natural materials into useful resources through knowledge and technology.

• Resource: Anything that fulfills human needs and is useful.
• Ultimate Resource: Human beings, due to their ability to utilize knowledge and technology.
• Complete Definition: A resource must be economically viable, technologically accessible, and culturally acceptable.

Components and Types of Resources

Resources are found in both physical (non-living) and biological (living) forms. Physical materials include land, soil, water, and minerals, while biological materials include vegetation, wildlife, aquatic life, and humans.

• Physical Materials: Land, soil, water, minerals.
• Biological Materials: Vegetation, wildlife, aquatic life, humans.

Evolution of Resource Utilization

Primitive humans coexisted with resources like coal and petroleum but could not utilize them due to lack of knowledge and technology. Only with cultural development, understanding of nature’s laws, and technological advancement did humans learn to convert natural materials into useful resources.

• Primitive Era: Resources existed but were not utilized.
• Technological Advancement: Enabled conversion of materials (e.g., iron ore to steel, bauxite to aluminum, crude oil to petrol/diesel).
• Key Point: Without technology, resources remain unused.

Criteria for Resource Classification

A material is considered a resource only if it meets three criteria: economic viability, technological accessibility, and cultural acceptance.

• Economically Viable: Must provide economic benefit; otherwise, it is not a resource.
• Technologically Accessible: Must be usable with available technology.
• Culturally Acceptable: Society must accept its use.

Relationship: Humans, Environment, Technology, and Institutions

Humans interact with the environment, develop technology, and establish institutions to manage and distribute resources. Institutions (government, industries, decision-makers) play a key role in systematic distribution and decision-making regarding resources.

• Humans: Central to resource utilization.
• Environment: Source of materials.
• Technology: Means to convert materials into resources.
• Institutions: Manage distribution and policy.

Classification of Resources

Resources are classified based on origin, utility, ownership, and status of development.

On the Basis of Origin

Resources are divided into biotic and abiotic types.

• Biotic Resources: Living resources (vegetation, animals, humans).
• Abiotic Resources: Non-living resources (minerals, land, water).

On the Basis of Utility

Resources are classified as renewable or non-renewable.

• Renewable Resources: Can be regenerated or renewed (solar energy, wind energy, water electricity).
• Non-renewable Resources: Cannot be regenerated once exhausted (coal, petroleum, metallic and non-metallic minerals).

On the Basis of Ownership

Ownership divides resources into individual, community, national, and international.

• Individual Resources: Owned by individuals or groups (private property, farmland).
• Community Resources: Used by a community (community pools, cremation grounds, temples).
• National Resources: Owned by the nation/government (government hospitals, bus stands, railway stations).
• International Resources: Beyond national jurisdiction, mainly in oceanic regions beyond 200 nautical miles (exclusive economic zone).

On the Basis of Status of Development

Resources are categorized as potential, developed, stock, and reserve.

• Potential Resources: Present in a region but not fully utilized (solar energy in Rajasthan, resources in the Himalayas).
• Developed Resources: Fully surveyed and utilized with known quantity and quality (solar plants in Gujarat).
• Stock Resources: Present in the environment, have potential, but lack technology for use (hydrogen fuel before technology was available).
• Reserve Resources: Subset of stock resources, technology is available, but utilization is held for future use (hydroelectric potential not fully exploited to avoid environmental damage).

Resource Planning

Resource planning involves systematic steps to ensure judicious use and equitable distribution of resources for national development. It is essential due to uneven distribution of resources across regions.

• Step 1: Survey and listing of resources in different regions.
• Step 2: Mapping resources to identify their location, quantity, and quality.
• Step 3: Execution—ensuring technology, skilled/unskilled labor, and institutional planning are in place.
• Step 4: Coordination between resource development and national development plans.

Uneven Distribution and Need for Planning

Resources are unevenly distributed in India. Some regions have abundant resources (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, South India), while others lack them (North India, Rajasthan lacks water, Ladakh faces water scarcity). Planning ensures collective development and prevents regional disparities.

• Examples: Rajasthan has solar and wind energy but lacks water; Jharkhand has coal but not all resources.
• Goal: Inclusive development—“Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.”

Resource Conservation and Gandhian Philosophy

Resource conservation is necessary due to over-exploitation and depletion. Gandhian philosophy emphasizes that resources are sufficient for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s greed. Gandhi advocated production by masses (not machines) to provide employment and prevent rapid depletion.

• Key Movements:

  • Narmada Bachao Andolan: Protest against displacement and environmental damage due to dam projects.
  • Chipko Movement: Women-led protest in Uttarakhand (Chamoli district) against tree felling.
  • Rainwater Harvesting: Promoted by Sandeep Pandey for water conservation.

• Exploitative Tendency: Known as “Robber’s Economy.”

International Efforts and Summits on Resource Conservation

Global concern for resource conservation led to international summits and reports.

• Club of Rome (1968): First international discussion on resource conservation.
• Stockholm Conference (1972): First world summit on environment, held in Stockholm, Sweden; 5th June is celebrated as World Environment Day.
• Brundtland Commission (1983-1987): Chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, produced the “Our Common Future” report, introducing the concept of sustainable development.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development means using resources to meet present needs without compromising future generations. Over-centralization of resources among a few leads to social inequality and environmental crises (global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain).

• Key Principle: Use resources judiciously, limit exploitation, and ensure intergenerational equity.
• Problems: Resource centralization, pollution, depletion, and increased gap between rich and poor.

Major International Summits and Agreements

Several international summits have addressed sustainable development and environmental protection.

• Earth Summit 1992 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): 178 countries participated; adopted Agenda 21 for sustainable development in the 21st century; established World Environmental Fund for mutual support.
• Second Earth Summit 1997 (New York): Evaluated progress since the first summit.
• Kyoto Summit 1997 (Japan): 159 nations agreed to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, N2O, SF6, sulfur dioxide, hexachloride); set reduction targets for Europe (8%), USA (7%), Japan (6%).
• Montreal Protocol (1987): Extended agreement on reducing harmful emissions.
• Third Earth Summit 2002 (Johannesburg): 2000 representatives, 150 articles on environment; limited success in implementation.

Exam-Focused Facts and MCQ

• Coal: Non-renewable resource; takes millions of years to form and cannot be renewed once exhausted.

• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): 200 nautical miles from the coastline; beyond this, resources are under international jurisdiction.

• Key Personalities: Medha Patkar (Narmada Bachao Andolan), Sunderlal Bahuguna (Chipko Movement), Sandeep Pandey (Rainwater Harvesting), Gro Harlem Brundtland (Brundtland Commission).

• Important Reports: “Our Common Future” (Brundtland Report), “Small is Beautiful” by Schumacher.

• World Environment Day: 5th June, commemorating the Stockholm Conference.

• MCQ Example: Coal is a non-renewable resource (Option A is correct).