People as a Resource class 9 MCQ & SAQ

People as a Resource class 9 NCERT SOLUTION:

Q.1: What do you understand by ‘people as a resource’? 

Solution: ‘People as a Resource’ is a way of referring to a country’s working capital in terms of their existing productive skills and abilities. Like various other resources, people or population is a resource commonly termed as - ‘Human Resource’.

There are some people who regard population as a liability rather than an asset. But it is not true; people can be turned into productive assets if we make investments in them in the form of education, training and medical care. For example, Japan did not have any natural resources. They made investments in their people, especially in the fields of education and health. Ultimately, these people after efficient use of their resources made their country rich and developed.

 

 

Q.2: How is human resource different from other resources like land and physical capital?  

Solution: Human resources are superior to other resources like land and physical capital because human resources can make use of land and capital. Land and physical capital can not become useful on their own.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q.3: What is the role of education in human capital formation?

Solution: Education has a vital role to play in human capital formation or in human resource development. It helps an individual to make better use of economic opportunities available before him. Education and skill are the major determinants of the earning of an individual in the market. Apart from these, education has many other benefits such as, -

·         It helps a man to make all around development and opens the avenue of prosperity. 

·         It uplifts his abilities as a skilled worker and enables him to earn better. 

·         Education enables a man to get rid of bad habits. 

·         It helps a man to acquire good habits and become an ideal citizen for his country. 

·         Literate parents are aware of the benefits of education for their children. They are also conscious of proper nutrition and hygiene.  

 

 

Q.4: What is the role of health in human capital formation?

Solution: Health does not mean survival only. This term includes something much more. It involves not only the physical fitness of the individual but also his mental, economic and social well-being.

The role of health in human capital formation or in an individual's working life is quite important. Health involves the physical, mental, economic and social well-being of an individual. It not only improves the quality of life of an individual but also adds to the human resource development on which the various sectors of the national economy depend. Health covers a wide range of activities including family welfare, population control, drug control, immunization and prevention of food adulteration etc. Only a healthy person can do full justice to his job. Thus it plays a vital role in an individual's working life. An unhealthy person is a liability for his family, organization and country. No organization will employ such a person who can not work efficiently because of ill-health.    

 

Q.5: What part does health play in an individual's working life?

Solution: Refer to answer of Q.No.4 above.

 

 

Q.6: What are the various activities undertaken in the primary sector, secondary sector and tertiary sectors? 

Solution: Activities can be classified under the following three sectors on the basis of the nature of their products or materials used:

 

Primary Sector - Activities concerned with gathering or making available materials provided by nature are included in the Primary Sector like agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, poultry farming, fishing, mining etc.

Secondary Sector - Such activities which transform raw materials or primary products into commodities more useful to man are included under the Secondary Sector. Some such activities are like manufacturing, quarrying.

Tertiary Sector - This sector includes those activities which are a must for running modern industries or support the activities of the above two sectors. For example banking, transport, trade, education, insurance etc. 

 

Q.8: Why are women employed in low paid work?

Solution: There is no gainsaying that women are generally employed in low paid work as compared to men. The reasons for the same are as follows:

·         Education is one of the major determinants of the earning of an individual in the market. As majority of the women have meager education so they are paid less than men. 

·         Along with education, skill is also an important determinant which affects the pay of an individual. Women are generally unskilled so they are employed in low paid work. 

·         It is also a fact that women can not do as much physical work as men can do. So naturally they are paid less than men. 

·         Women have generally an additional responsibility of bringing up their family and children and so they can not be as regular as men in their duties. Hence, they are employed in low paid work and paid less as compared to men.   

 

 

Q.9: How will you explain the term ‘unemployment’?

Solution: A situation in which a section of the people, who are able and willing to work, but do not find gainful work is referred to as ‘unemployment’. Such a situation is often found in developing countries as compared to developed countries. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q.10: What is the difference between disguised unemployment and seasonal unemployment?

Solution: Disguised unemployment - In disguised unemployment, people appear to be employed while actually they are not adding to the productivity. This can be explained by the following example:

Farmers in India use primitive methods of production in agriculture due to poverty. Lack of ownership right present in the existing land tenure system e.g. if we use modern methods of cultivation, a situation can be created when only two persons of a family can complete the work on a farm instead of three. But the lack of modern methods and poverty create a situation where three persons work when the same work can be performed by two persons. So, one person is disguisedly employed.

Seasonal unemployment - Seasonal unemployment happens when people are not able to find jobs during some months of the year. Agriculture in India is not a whole time occupation. It is seasonal. The cultivators generally grow only one crop in a year. As such in the rural sector and in the lean season, the cultivators and the hired agriculture workers find no work to do. The seasonal character of Agriculture in India leads to seasonal unemployment.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q.11: Why is educated unemployment a peculiar problem in India? 

Solution: Unemployment has become a common problem not only in rural areas but also in urban areas. Educated unemployment has become a common phenomenon in urban areas in our country. The reasons for the same are the following:

1. Defects in the Educational System

Our educational system has failed to see the ground realities. After spending so many years in schools and colleges, our young generation, both men and women, come out in large numbers without any practical training whatsoever. They add to the number of already educated unemployed thus, making the problem all the more complex. In this way our educational system failed to deliver the goals as was expected.

2. Growth in the Industrial and Service Sectors is not Adequate

The Growth in the Industrial and Service Sectors is not so satisfactory. No doubt that these two sectors have shown some improvement in creating employment opportunities over the years. But this improvement is not adequate to absorb the educated unemployed persons. The continuous migration of unskilled labor to urban areas has further added to the problem of the educated unemployed. 

3. Visa Restrictions imposed by the Developed Countries

Some of our educated unemployed are prepared to seek jobs in foreign countries like USA, Britain, Germany etc but Visa Restrictions imposed by most of the developed countries have further worsened the employment opportunities for the educated people.

 

 

Q.12: In which fields do you think India can build the maximum employment opportunities? 

Solution: Economic activities are divided into three sectors - primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary sector, especially agriculture, employs two-thirds of the population of India. The secondary sector, especially the manufacturing industry, absorbs about 10% of the total working population while the tertiary sector employs about 25% of our population.

In the case of agriculture, there is no scope for further employment. As a result of disguised unemployment, many members of the farming families are unable to get full time work. As a result, much emphasis will now have to be put on manufacturing activities which belong to the secondary sector. This sector now absorbs only 10% of the working population. There is much scope in this sector so new manufacturing units can be set up and maximum employment opportunities created.

Some people can be absorbed in the tertiary sector as well by expanding the scope of activities like - transport communication, banking, education, health, tourism and other such services. 

People as a Resource class 9 MCQ: 

Question. Which of the following sectors is related to agriculture, forestry and dairy?

(a) Primary Sector

(b) Tertiary Sector

(c) Secondary Sector

(d) None of the above

Answer :   A

Question. Which state has the highest literacy rate as per 2001?

(a) Kerala

(b) Madhya Pradesh

(c) Bihar

(d) Orissa

Answer :   A

Question. The excess population is considered as a burden for an economy but they can become human capital if there is an investment made in the form of:

(a) Education and health

(b) Hospitals and schools

(c) Education, training and medical care

(d) None of the above

Answer :   C

 

 

Question. Disguised unemployment occurs when the number of persons working on a farm is

(a) only what is required

(b) more than required

(c) less than required

(d) None of the above

Answer :   B

Question. The two determinants of earning by an individual in the market are:

(a) Health and education

(b) Education and skill

(c) Age and education

(d) Skill and age

Answer :   B

 

 

Question. Increase in longevity of life is an indicator of

(a) good quality of life

(b) improvement in the health sector

(c) better HDI (Human Development Index)

(d) all the above

Answer :   A

Question.____ can turn population into a productive asset.

(a) Quantity

(b) Education

(c) Industry

(d) Raw material 

Answer :   B

Question. Infant mortality rate refers to the death of a child under the age of

(a) 1 year

(b) 2 years

(c) 3 years

(d) 4 years

Answer :   A

Question. Which of the following is an economic activity?

(a) A teacher teaching his son

(b) Recitation among friends

(c) Teacher teaching in the classroom

(d) All of the above

Answer :   C

Question. On which of the following points, does the quality of population not depend?

(a) Literacy rate

(b) Health of person

(c) Skill formation

(d) Birth of a person

Answer :   D

Question. What is India’s position in scientifically and technically manpower in the world?

(a) first

(b) second

(c) third

(d) fourth

Answer :  C

Question. Why is the literacy rate so low for females?

(a) lack of equal education opportunities

(b) lack of transport facilities

(c) lack of infrastructure

(d) lack of income

Answer :   A

Question.____ is considered the greatest asset of a nation.

(a) Wealth

(b) Land

(c) Industries

(d) Healthy and literate population

Answer :   D

Question. In which of the following fields is disguised unemployment found?

(a) Industries

(b) Agriculture

(c) Mining

(d) Fisheries

Answer :   B

Question. Secondary sector includes:

(a) Manufacturing

(b) Forestry

(c) Trade

(d) Quarrying

Answer :   A

Question. Infant mortality rate refers to the death of a child under the age of

(a) 1 year

(b) 2 years

(c) 3 years

(d) 4 years

Answer :   A

Question. What is India’s position in scientifically and technically manpower in the world?

(a) first

(b) second

(c) third

(d) fourth

Answer :   C

Question. The scheme for the establishment of residential schools to impart education to talented children from rural areas is

(a) Kendriya Vidyalayas

(b) Navodaya Vidyalayas

(c) Sarvodaya Vidyalayas

(d) None of the aboves

Answer : B  

 

Question. Why are rural women employed in low-paid jobs?

(a) They do not need to work in high-paid jobs

(b) They lack in education or the necessary skill

(c) They are not allowed by their families to do high paid jobs

(d) They are not aware of the wage structure

Answer :   B

Question.The quality of population depends on

(a) literacy rate

(b) health

(c) skill

(d) all the above

Answer :   D

Question.The persons who are not working by their own willing is covered under

(a) seasonal unemployment

(b) disguised unemployment

(c) educated unemployment

(d) none of the above

Answer :   D

Question. Forestry and dairy are related to which?

(a) Primary Sector

(b) Tertiary Sector

(c) Secondary Sector

(d) None of the above

Answer :   A

Question. Which one from the following is the most labor absorbing sector?

(a) Agriculture

(b) Fisheries

(c) Poultry farming

(d) Mining

Answer :   A

Question. Decrease in IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) of a country signifies:

(a) Increase in life expectancy

(b) Increase in GNP

(c) Economic development of a country

(d) Increase in number of colleges in a country

Answer :   A

Question. ____ is considered superior to other resources such as land, physical capital, etc.

(a) Human capital

(b) Education

(c) Resource management

(d) Industrialisation

Answer :   A

Question. ____ workers suffer the most from seasonal unemployment.

(a) Tribal

(b) Urban

(c) Fishing

(d) Rural

Answer :   D

Question. The ____ sector includes agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.

(a) Service

(b) Secondary

(c) Private

(d) Primary

Answer :   D

Question. The New Education Policy in India was announced in the year ____.

(a) 1986

(b) 1988

(c) 1987

(d) 1998

Answer :   A

1. Why is the literacy rate so low for females?

(a) lack of equal education opportunities

(b) lack of transport facilities

(c) lack of infrastructure

(d) lack of income

► (a) lack of equal education opportunities

 

2. Disguised unemployment could be traced in:

(a) mining activity    

(b) service sector

(c) agriculture    

(d) social forestry

► (c) agriculture    

 

 

3. What is India’s position in scientifically and technically manpower in the world?

(a) first

(b) second

(c) third

(d) fourth

► (c) third

 

4. Domestic work by a housewife is a _____ activity.           

(a) Economic           

(b) Noneconomic           

(c) Both of them      

(d) None of the above

► (b) Noneconomic           

 

5. The two determinants of earning by an individual in the market are:

(a) Health and education

(b) Education and skill

(c) Age and education

(d) Skill and age

► (b) Education and skill

 

6. The tertiary sector is also called:

(a) Primary sector    

(b) Service sector

(c) Manufacturing sector    

(d) All of the above

► (b) Service sector

 

7. Which of the following is a non-economic activity?

(a) Mother doing household work    

(b) Washerman washes doth of people

(c) Chef cooking food in the hotel 

(d) All of the above

► (a) Mother doing household work    

 

8. On which of the following points, does the quality of population not depend?

(a) Literacy rate    

(b) Health of person

(c) Skill formation   

(d) Birth of a person

► (d) Birth of a person

 

9. The excess population is considered as a burden for an economy but they can become human capital if there is an investment made in the form of:

(a) Education and health    

(b) Hospitals and schools

(c) Education, training and medical care

(d) None of the above

► (c) Education, training and medical care

10. What is the major aim of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan?

(a) To provide elementary education to women

(b) To provide elementary education to the rural poor

(c) To provide elementary education to all children in the age group 6-14 years

(d) To provide elementary education to the urban poor

► (c) To provide elementary education to all children in the age group 6-14 years

 

11. Resources are generally classified into:

(a) 2 Types

(b) 3 Types

(c) 4 Types

(d) 5 Types

► (b) 3 Types

 

12. Seasonal unemployment is found in

(a) urban areas

(b) rural areas

(c) in remote areas

(d) both in rural and urban areas

► (d) both in rural and urban areas

 

13. Infant mortality rate refers to the death of a child under the age of

(a) 1 year

(b) 2 years

(c) 3 years

(d) 4 years

► (a) 1 year

 

14. Secondary sector includes:

(a) Manufacturing    

(b) Forestry

(c) Trade    

(d) Quarrying

► (a) Manufacturing    

 

 

 

15. Which state has the highest literacy rate as per 2001?

(a) Kerala

(b) Madhya Pradesh

(c) Bihar

(d) Orissa

► (a) Kerala

 

16. Services of housewives are included in

(a) national income

(b) domestic income

(c) household income

(d) none of the above

► (d) none of the above

 

17. Which of the following is a significant step towards providing elementary education to all the children in the age group of 6-14 years?

(a) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan    

(b) Mid-day meal

(c) Navodaya Vidyalaya    

(d) Sainik School

► (a) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan    

 

18. Which of the following is an economic activity?

(a) A teacher teaching his son    

(b) Recitation among friends

(c) Teacher teaching in the classroom    

(d) All of the above

► (c) Teacher teaching in the classroom    

 

19. Which of the following is not done by women at home?

(a) Cooking food    

(b) Cleaning utensils

(c) Washing clothes    

(d) Doing tuition work by teaching students

► (d) Doing tuition work by teaching students

 

20. Disguised unemployment occurs when the number of persons working on a farm is

(a) only what is required

(b) more than required

(c) less than required

(d) None of the above

► (b) more than required

 

21. Bribe taking is an

(a) economic activity

(b) marketing activity

(c) non-economic activity

(d) none of the above

► (c) non-economic activity

 

22. Which one of the following is related to the tertiary sector?

(a) Agriculture

(b) Forestry

(c) Mining

(d) Communication

► (d) Communication

 

 

 

23. Why are rural women employed in low-paid jobs?

(a) They do not need to work in high-paid jobs

(b) They lack in education or the necessary skill

(c) They are not allowed by their families to do high paid jobs

(d) They are not aware of the wage structure

► (b) They lack in education or the necessary skill

 

24. Which of the following sectors is related to agriculture, forestry and dairy?

(a) Primary Sector

(b) Tertiary Sector

(c) Secondary Sector

(d) None of the above

► (a) Primary Sector

 

25. In which of the following fields is disguised unemployment found?

(a) Industries

(b) Agriculture

(c) Mining

(d) Fisheries

► (b) Agriculture

People as a Resource class 9 SAQ:

Q.1. Why is domestic services of house women not treated as economic activities?

Ans. Domestic Services by Women. In India, most women generally look after domestic affairs like cooking of food, washing of clothes, cleaning of utensils, looking after children, etc. They are not treated as economic / productive activities. This is mainly because of two reasons :

(i)            Such activities are performed out of love and affection and hence their valuation is not possible.

(ii)          They do not add to the flow of goods and services in the economy.

Q.2. Are the following activities economic or non-economic activities? Give reasons.

(a) Vilas sells fish in the village market.            (b) Vilas cooks food for his family.

(c) Sakal works in a private firm.                        (d) Sakal looks after his younger brother and sister.

Ans. (a) It is an economic activity, as it involves remuneration.

(b)         It is a non-economic activity, as it is a domestic service.

(c)          It is an economic activity, as it is done in expectation of monetary reward.

(d)         It is a non-economic activity, as it is done out of love and affection.

Q.3. Differentiate between Market Activities and Non-Market Activities. Ans. Difference between Market Activities and Non-Market Activities.

Economic activities can be classified into market activities and non-market activities.

1.             Market activities involve remuneration to anyone who performs the activity. These include production of goods and services for sale in the market.

2.             On the other hand, non-market activities are the production activities performed for self-consumption. These include consumption and processing of primary products and own account production of fixed assets.

Q.4. Differentiate between voluntary and involuntary unemployment. Give an example.

Ans. a) A person is said to be unemployed when he is able and willing to work at the prevailing wage rate but does not find work. This is involuntary unemployment.

b) If some persons are voluntarily unemployed (i.e., they prefer to remain out of work at prevailing wage rates) they will not be treated as unemployed. This is voluntary unemployment.

Q.5.      Discuss the factors responsible for the distribution of population in India.

Ans. Physical factors like shape and height of land, resources, climate etc. that affect distribution of population in India like;

Resources : Areas rich in resources (e.g., coal, oil, wood etc.) tend to be densely populated like western Europe.

Shape and height of land : Low land which is flat, e.g., Ganges valley in India.

Climate : Areas with moderate temperature climates tend to be densely populated as there is enough rain and heat to grow crops like the U.K.

Human factors : Political, social and economic factors also affect distribution of population in India like good job opportunities encourage high population densities, particularly in large cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad having dense population. Countries with stable governments tend to have high population density.

Q.6.      Why is human resource the most important resource? What steps can be taken to improve the quality of human resources? How does an improved quality of human resource help in establishing a virtuous cycle?

Ans. Existing 'human resource' is further developed by becoming more educated and healthy, which adds to the productive power of the country just like 'physical capital formation'. So human resource is the most important resource.

Steps to be taken to improve quality of human resource: Quality of human resource can be improved through better education, food and health facilities. The quality of population depends upon the literacy rate, health of a person indicated by life expectancy and skill formation acquired by the people of the country.

Role of improved quality of human resource in establishing a virtuous cycle:

Better contribution to productive power of country: Existing human resource with good educational background can acquire specific skills in a better way and can contribute to national productivity more efficiently.

Higher earnings and greater contributions to society: Improved quality of human resources can give higher rates of return in future in the form of higher earnings and greater contributions to society.

Q.7.      How does unemployment have a detrimental impact on the overall growth of an economy?

Ans. Wastage of manpower resource : In case of unemployment, manpower which is an asset for an economy turns into liability because utilization of manpower becomes nil.

Economic overload : Unemployment tends to increase economic overload because the dependence of the unemployed on the working population increases. So the quality of life is adversely affected.

Unemployment leads to social waste : Inability of educated people who are willing to work to find gainful employment implies a great social waste. Increase in employment is an indicator of a depressed economy.

Q.8.What is unemployment? Explain two types of rural unemployment?

Ans. Unemployment is said to exist when people who are willing to work at the prevailing wages rates cannot find jobs. Unemployment in rural areas :

(i)    Disguised unemployment : When more persons are working in a job than actually required, the situation is termed as disguised unemployment. For example, if in an agricultural activity eight people are engaged but this work activity actually requires the services of five people, then three persons are extra. If these three people out of eight are withdrawn, total production will remain unaffected.

(ii)  Seasonal Unemployment : Seasonal unemployment occurs when people are able to find jobs only during some months of the year. This kind of unemployment is generally found in the agricultural sector.

Q.9. What is the Infant Mortality Rate? Why is the infant mortality rate decreasing?

Ans. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is the total number of children dying under one year of age in a particular period of time. Infant Mortality Rate is decreasing due to the following reasons :

(i)            Increase in life expectancy due to improved medical facilities.

(ii)          Better protection of children from infection, ensuring nutrition along with mother and child care.

Q.10. Explain in detail the disadvantages of unemployment. Ans. Disadvantages of unemployment are :

(i)            It leads to wastage of manpower resources. It turns the population into a liability for the economy instead of an asset. It even fills the country's youth with the feeling of hopelessness and despair.

(ii)          It increases the economic load. The dependence of the unemployed on the working population increases. Due to unemployment which adversely affects the quality of life of an individual as well as society.

(iii)         It affects the overall growth of an economy. It indicates a depressed economy and wastage of resources which could have been gainfully employed.

Q.11. Give three measures taken by the government to improve literacy conditions in India.

Ans. (i) Opening of Navodaya Vidyalayas : Government has started to establish Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district vocational streams have been developed to equip a large number of high school students with occupations related to knowledge and skills.

(ii)          Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan : It is a significant step towards providing elementary education to all the children of the age group 6-14 years. It is an initiative of the central government in partnership with states, local government and the community for achieving the goal of universalisation of elementary education.

(iii)         Mid-day Meal Scheme : It is a programme aimed to encourage attendance and retention of children in schools and improve their nutritional status.

Q.12. Suggest any three ways to transform population load into an asset. Ans. The three ways to transform population load into an asset are :

(i)            To improve literacy rate : Education provides new aspirations and developed values of life. Education helps in enhancing the national income, cultural richness and increases the efficiency of governance.

(ii)          Health : The health of a person helps him to realize his potential and the ability to fight illness. Increase in longevity of life is an indicator of good quality of life marked by self-confidence. It involves protection of children from infection, ensuring nutrition and along with mother and child care.

(iii)         Formation of skills : Providing vocational and skilled based education helps the people to get employment and therefore they contribute to the national income later on.

What is the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan? What are its objectives?

Ans. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' is a significant step towards providing elementary education to all the children of the age group 6-14 years by the year 2010. It is a time bound initiative of the central government, in partnership with the states, the local government and the community for achieving the goal of universalisation of elementary education. They also took an initiative to increase the enrollment of students in elementary education by introducing schemes like mid-day meals.

Define human resource. When does a human resource become human capital?

Ans. The population of a country available for the production activities is called human resource. Human resource becomes human capital when there is investment made in the form of education, training and medical care. When the existing 'human resource' is further developed by becoming more educated and healthy, we call it 'human capital formation'. Human capital adds to the productive power of the country. It is the stock of skills and productive knowledge embodied in them.

 Distinguish between labor force and work force.

Ans. Labor force of a country includes all those persons in the age group of 15-60, who are actually working or willing to work. Workforce, on the other hand, consists of persons who are actually engaged in some kind of work and excludes those who are willing to work but do not find work. Thus, the difference between the two (i.e. labor force and workforce) is the number of persons unemployed

 

What is the nature of unemployment as found in India?

Ans. Nature of unemployment in India. In India, unemployment is widespread. Unemployment is found both in its rural and urban areas. There is seasonal and disguised unemployment in its rural areas. People here are dependent on agriculture. Certain months do not provide much work to the people depending upon agriculture. In urban areas, educated unemployment has become a serious problem. Many educated youths are not able to find jobs. Unemployment among graduates and postgraduates has increased faster than among the matriculates.

‘Unemployment is an economic as well as a social evil.’ Explain the statement. 

Ans. Unemployment — A Serious Problem

Today, unemployment is considered one of the most threatening problems facing the country. The society is deprived of the goods and services that the unemployed people could have produced. Unemployment among the educated persons is more serious. This is due to investments made in them. Unemployment is not only an economic evil, it is a social problem too. Unemployment spreads social unrest and tension as unemployed people are a frustrated class of the society.

What are the two types of economic activity? State two characteristics of each.

Ans. Economic activities are those activities which add value to the national income. Economic activities have two parts :

(i) Market activities.                 (ii) Non-market activities.

Market activities : (i) These are the activities performed for payment or profit. (ii) They include production of goods and services.

Non-market activities : (i) These involve production for self-consumption. (ii) It includes consumption of primary production and production of fixed assets.

People as a Resource class 9  long question:

Q.1. How can the investment in Human Capital be of immense importance for a society as a whole? State any four advantages.

Ans. Human Capital can be defined as the knowledge, ability, skill and physical capacity of the people which help them to produce more. Human beings can be turned into resources only if their qualitative aspects are developed. Education and health are the major human resource inputs of a country. Human capital is beneficial both individually as well as socially.

(i)  Human capital contributes to the social development of the country.

(ii) Human capital contributes to the economic development of the country.

(iii)         Human capital helps in proper utilization of resources available or imported in the country.

(iv)        Human capital also contributes in the race of development from an underdeveloped to a developed nation.

Q.2. Is it necessary to check population growth?

Ans. India has vast manpower. But she could not utilize this manpower for the country's economic development. Rather, population growth has posed a big threat for the country. It needs to be controlled without further delay. It has become a big hurdle in the way of the country's economic development in the following ways :

(i) Despite considerable growth in national income, per capita income could not increase much due to fast population growth.

(ii)Fast population growth is considered as one of the major causes of unemployment in India.

(iii) Heavy pressure of population has led to the problem of overcrowding in cities, unplanned urbanization, emergence of slums etc.

All these factors lead us to believe that the rapidly growing population has become a big challenge before the Indian economy. It is the biggest roadblock in the path of its economic development. Indian poverty is deeply rooted in population growth. It, therefore, becomes highly necessary to check population growth in India.

Q.3. Explain steps taken by the Government to solve the problem of unemployment in India.

Ans. (i) Opening schools in villages : Opening vocational and elementary schools in villages create employment opportunities for people living in these. Earlier people were involved in the primary sector only but now they have better employment opportunities in other sectors also.

(ii)Small scale manufacturing: Opening opportunities of self-employment in the form of small scale manufacturing units like basket weaving etc ads to the employment opportunities and removes disguised and seasonal unemployment away people.

(iii)         Introduction to modern farming methods: Use of modern farming methods gave the surplus members of family to get involved in other employment opportunities.

(iv)        Proper health facilities: Improvement in health facilities in urban and rural areas improves the quality of human resources which in turn work more efficiently and contributes to national income.

(v)          NREGA 2005: According to this Act the NREGA was launched in February 2006. The scheme guaranteed 100 days of wage employment in a year to every household in 200 districts.

Q.4. What are the strategies that the government has undertaken to reduce unemployment? Ans. Strategies undertaken by the government to reduce unemployment.

(i)            Rural Self-Employment Scheme : Our government has introduced various schemes for creating self- employment opportunities in rural areas. In April 1999, Swarna Jayanti Gram-Sewa Rozgar Yojana (SGSY) was introduced whose main aim was to improve opportunities of self-development in rural areas.

(ii)          Wage-employment Schemes : Main objective of this scheme was to provide opportunities for wage earning to rural people. On June 23, 1999, all these schemes were merged with Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY).

(iii)         Various schemes for providing employment to educated in urban areas : Various schemes (like Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana PMRY), Swarn Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) has been started by the government for providing employment to the educated youth in urban area.

Q.5. Describe in brief the role of human resources in economic development. 

Ans. Role of Human Resource.

(i)            Higher Productivity. Investment in human capital yields a return just like investment in physical capital. This can be seen directly in the form of higher incomes earned because of higher productivity of the more educated or the better trained persons as well as the higher productivity of healthier people. India’s Green Revolution and IT Revolution are good examples of human resources development.

(ii) Better Utilization of Resources. Countries like Japan have invested in human resources. They did not have any natural resources. They could become rich/developed because of investments in people specially in the fields of education and health. These people have made efficient use of other resources like land and capital. Efficient technologies developed by people have made these countries developed.

(iii)         Source of Demand. Human beings make demand for the output of goods and services produced in the country.

Expansion of the market for various types of foods and services further leads to increase in production.

Q.6. What factors compel the rural people to migrate to cities?

Ans. People have started moving from rural to urban areas because of the following factors :

(i)            Education facilities : Urban areas have more organized and better quality education facilities; opportunities for vocational education and education in specialized areas has increased in urban areas. In urban areas focus is on increasing access, quality, vocationalisation and networking on the use of information technology.

(ii)          Health facilities : Availability of better hospitals and medical facilities make people move from rural to urban areas. States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have poor health indices. Therefore, in search of proper medical assistance people often move from rural to urban sectors.

(iii)         Employment facilities : Disguised unemployment in primary sector and rise of employment opportunities in secondary and tertiary sector has given rise to migration of people from rural areas to urban areas. In order to increase the income of a family, people move from one occupation to another and one area to another.

(iv) Other facilities: Like availability of electricity, Transport facilities etc

Q.7. What is an economic activity? What are various activities undertaken in the primary sector, secondary sector and tertiary sector?

Ans. Economic activities : All such activities which give us some income are called economic activities. Pulling

cycle-rickshaw, cleaning houses, selling vegetables and working in schools, factories, banks etc. are economic activities.

Activities undertaken in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors :

(i)   Primary Sector : Activities concerned with collecting or making available material provided by nature are included in the primary sector like agriculture, poultry farming, mining, fishing etc.

(ii)   Secondary Sector : The activities which are associated with transforming raw material or primary products into commodities useful to man such as manufacturing etc.

(iii)  Tertiary Sector : The activities which are essential for running modern factories in a big way are termed as tertiary sector. Activities like trading, banking, health, education, insurance etc. are included in the tertiary sector.