Natural Resources and Their Use Social Studies - Natural Resources and Their Use

Which type of resource is replenished naturally over time?

Which category of resources is renewable?

What is an example of a resource that is difficult to access?

What is an example of a resource?

What is one major environmental problem caused by cement production?

Assertion (A): Natural resources are evenly distributed across countries.
Reason (R): All regions of the world have the same geographical and climatic features.
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Assertion (A): Punjab is facing a groundwater crisis.
Reason (R): Excessive extraction of groundwater and use of chemicals during the Green Revolution led to long-term depletion.
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Assertion (A): Solar energy is a nonrenewable resource.
Reason (R): Solar energy is available only during the daytime.
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Assertion (A): Coal is classified as a renewable resource.
Reason (R): It takes millions of years for coal to form naturally.
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Assertion (A): Trees become natural resources when humans use them to make furniture.
Reason (R): An element of Nature becomes a resource only when it is useful, accessible, and culturally acceptable to exploit.
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Fine dust released from cement factories can damage human and animal lungs.

The ‘natural resource curse’ is also known as the ‘paradox of plenty’.

Having natural resources guarantees a country’s wealth.

Reaching agreements on natural resource sharing between countries is easy.

Wootz steel is an example of combining resources with human skill.

The Central Pollution Control Board has issued guidelines to reduce pollution from ________.

India’s coal reserves may last for about ________ years.

Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are ________ resources.

Rivers are fed by rain and ________ in nature.

The term ________ ‘resources’ applies to materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to human

What are natural resources?

When does nature become a resource?

What can stop people from cutting down trees in some areas?

Which resources are used for energy?

What resources are used for materials?

How do ecosystems provide services to humans?

Why is cement production described as one of the most polluting industries?

How does categorisation help us understand natural resources?

How can resources be renewable or non-renewable?

What are ecosystem services?

What led to the groundwater crisis in Punjab, and what are its effects?

In what ways can modem education systems promote responsible and judicious use of natural resources?

How does the idea of lokasangraha’ from the Bhagavad-Gita relate to modem environmental responsibility?

What are some social and environmental costs of developing natural resources?

What is the concept of the “natural resource curse,” and how can it affect economic growth despite abundant resources? How can it be avoided?

What are the consequences of excessive groundwater extraction in India, and what measures are being taken to address this issue?

A crisis has unfolded in the fertile plains of Punjab where groundwater resources have been severely depleted. Punjab was home to the Green Revolution that fed a large proportion of our population, and contributed to India becoming self-sufficient in food. Today the same state faces issues of sustainability. Nature has been exploited beyond regeneration, at least in the short term.
In the 1960s farmers shifted to high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. These required more water than the traditional seeds, and farmers began to extract groundwater to meet this need. In addition, the supply of free power led to the over-pumping of groundwater. Modem farming techniques also required the use of pesticides and fertilisers.
The combined effect of these factors is that the groundwater level in a large part of Punjab (see map) has become inaccessible till depths of about 30 metres; and the chemicals from the pesticides and fertilisers have dissolved in the groundwater causing health hazards.
Almost 80% of the area of Punjab has been classified as ‘over-exploited’; in other words, we have drawn water at a rate much greater than at which restoration and rejuvenation of groundwater is possible. We can see that food security was ensured for the short term, but the long- term consequences will take time and effort to heal.
Q.1. What caused the depletion of groundwater in Punjab?
Q.2. What does ‘over-exploited’ mean in the context of Punjab’s groundwater, and how do the immediate and long-term effects of the Green Revolution differ?

Select any two natural resources. Gather information about their availability across different parts of India. Mark them on a map. What do you observe about their distribution? What are the types of economic actimties connected with them?

Column A	Column B
Q.1. Uneven Distribution of Resources	(i) Sources of energy for buildings and transport
Q.2. Employment Opportunities	(ii) Affects human settlements, trade, and conflicts
Q.3. Solar energy and wind	(iii) Essential for human survival
Q.4. Air, water, and food	(iv) Can regenerate naturally if managed properly
Q.5. Timber and forests	(v) Local industries lead to job creation and economic growth

(a) 1 - (ii), 2 - (v), 3 - (i), 4 - (iii), 5 - (iv)
(b) 1 - (iii), 2 - (iv), 3 - (ii), 4 - (i), 5 - (v)
(c) 1 - (iii), 2 - (v), 3 - (ii), 4 - (i), 5 - (iv)
(d) 1 - (iv), 2 - (v), 3 - (ii), 4 - (i), 5 - (iii)