Chapter 1: Development

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (20)

1. Q1Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   33. (a) How is income an important factor in assessing the development of a country ? Mention the classification done by the World Bank. OR (b) How has the overuse of underground water created a serious crisis in many parts of India ? Explain with examples in the context of sustainable development.

   

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   Model answer · Per capita income, World Bank classification

   1. 1.Income is an important factor in assessing development because a country with a higher income is seen as more developed. Its people can buy more of the goods and services they need. Total income, however, is not a useful measure for comparing countries. Countries have different populations, so total income does not tell us what an average person is likely to earn. So we compare the average income, which is the total income of the country divided by its total population. The average income is also called per capita income. In World Development Reports, brought out by the World Bank, this criterion is used in classifying countries. Countries with a per capita income of US$ 66,500 per annum and above in 2024 are called high income or rich countries. Countries with a per capita income of about US$ 2,300 or less are called low-income countries. India comes in the category of low middle income countries because its per capita income in 2024 was just about US$ 11,000 per annum. The rich countries, excluding countries of the Middle East and certain other small countries, are generally called developed countries.5 marks

   • Write that average income is "the total income of the country divided by its total population" and that it "is also called per capita income".
   • Name "World Development Reports, brought out by the World Bank" and give both limits: US$ 66,500 per annum and above for high income or rich countries, and about US$ 2,300 or less for low-income countries.
   • Write that India comes in the category of low middle income countries.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   33. (a) Analyse the social and economic goals of development. OR (b) Why is the question of sustainability of development becoming challenging in the present times ? Analyse the appropriate reasons.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · social and economic goals of development

   1. 1.(a) Different people have different development goals: a landless rural labourer wants more days of work and better wages. OR (b) Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.1 mark
   2. 2.Besides more income (an economic goal), people also want equal treatment, freedom, security and respect from others — social goals that money cannot buy. OR In India groundwater is overused, so the water table keeps falling, which threatens sustainability.1 mark
   3. 3.The goals of people in the same society may conflict: industries want more water while farmers need it for irrigation. OR If groundwater is used at the present rate, the water crisis will deepen and future development will suffer.1 mark
   4. 4.People weigh goals against each other: a secure job with lower pay may be preferred to a risky job with higher income. OR In states like Punjab, overuse of irrigation is reducing soil fertility, threatening the sustainability of agriculture.1 mark
   5. 5.So a country's development is judged not by average income alone but also by equal distribution of income, employment and social indicators such as education and health. OR Hence resources must be used judiciously, so that development goes along with environmental balance and remains sustainable.1 mark

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not CBSE’s official scheme

3. Q3Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   33. (a) "Recent evidence suggests that overuse of groundwater is becoming a serious threat in many parts of the country." Evaluate the statement in the context of sustainability of development. OR (b) "The development goals of different categories of people may differ." Evaluate the statement.

   

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   Model answer · Groundwater overuse, sustainability

   1. 1.The statement is true, because groundwater is being used faster than nature can refill it. Groundwater is an example of renewable resources, which are replenished by nature, here by rain. Even a renewable resource can be overused: if we use more groundwater than what is being replenished by rain, we are overusing it.1 mark
   2. 2.Recent evidence shows how serious this threat is. About 300 districts have reported a water level decline of over 4 metres during the past 20 years. Nearly one-third of the country is overusing its groundwater reserves. If the present way of using this resource continues, 60 per cent of the country would be doing the same in another 25 years.1 mark
   3. 3.Groundwater overuse is found mainly in the agriculturally prosperous regions of Punjab and Western U.P., the hard rock plateau areas of central and south India, some coastal areas and the rapidly growing urban settlements. So the threat covers many parts of the country, not just one area.1 mark
   4. 4.Development is sustainable only when its level can go up further, or at least be maintained, for future generations. If groundwater keeps falling, future generations will not have enough water for farming and daily life. Scientists warn that the present type and levels of development are not sustainable. As the saying goes, "We have not inherited the world from our forefathers — we have borrowed it from our children."1 mark
   5. 5.Hence the statement is justified. To make development sustainable, we must use groundwater carefully and take out no more than what rain puts back, so that this renewable resource lasts for our children too.1 mark

   • Define overuse in exact terms: "if we use more groundwater than what is being replenished by rain".
   • Give the evidence with numbers: "300 districts", "over 4 metres during the past 20 years", "one-third of the country", "60 per cent" in "another 25 years".
   • Link the problem to "future generations", then end with "Hence the statement is justified" and a way to use groundwater carefully.

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not CBSE’s official scheme

4. Q4Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   (a) How can development for one be destructive for another ? Explain. OR (b) Why is the income considered most important for comparing countries ? Explain.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Development for one can be destructive for another because different people have different notions of development. What is development for one person may not be development for another.

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5. Q5Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   (a) "The consequences of environmental degradation do not respect national and state boundaries." Examine the statement in context of sustainability of development. OR (b) "The question of sustainability of development becoming more complex day by day." Examine the statement in context of use of underground water in India.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Since the second half of the twentieth century, a number of scientists have been warning that resources are being used indiscriminately and that the present type, and levels, of development are not sustainable. The…

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6. Q6Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   (a) "The goals of development may also be contradictory." Examine the statement through examples. OR (b) Explain the significance and limitations of average income for comparing different countries with examples.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (a) Development goals differ from person to person, and what is development for one may even be destructive for another. OR (b) Average (per capita) income is the total income of the country divided by its population;…

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7. Q7Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   (a) Evaluate the importance of public facilities for development. OR (b) By which institution is the Human Development Report published ? Explain the criteria used for comparing countries in this report.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (b) The Human Development Report is published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It compares countries on three criteria.

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8. Q8Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

   Define the term ‘Body Mass Index’. Explain the method of its calculation.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a scientific method to measure the nutritional level of a person.

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9. Q9Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

   "Different persons can have different developmental goals." Explain the statement with examples.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Different persons can have different developmental goals because each individual has different life situations and seeks different things that can fulfil their aspirations or desires. What is development for one may not…

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10. Q10Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    How is the issue of sustainability important for development ? Explain.

    How the model answer begins

    1. The issue of sustainability is important for development because the present level of development should be maintained for future generations, as 'we have not inherited the world from our forefathers — we have borrowed…

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11. Q11Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

    Why is sustainable development essential ? Explain with examples.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Sustainable development is essential because it means fulfilling present needs in such a way that the ability of future generations to meet their own needs is not compromised. The level of development reached today…

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12. Q12Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

    Analyse the issues that make sustainability of development essential for the future.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Sustainability of development is essential because the present model of development has damaged the ecosystem and polluted natural resources like air, water, land and soil. The consequences of environmental degradation…

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13. Q13Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

    Examine the role of government policies in promoting economic growth in India.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Government policies promote economic growth in India in three main ways. Through the liberalisation policy, the government removes unnecessary controls and the licence system on the private sector. Businesses can then…

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14. Q14Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    Why could different persons have different notions of a country's development ? Explain with examples.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Different persons could have different notions of a country's development because each person sees development from his or her own point of view. These ideas can be different as well as conflicting, so one person's idea…

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15. Q15Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    “It is not necessary that money in your pocket can buy all the goods and services that you may need to live better.” Justify the statement with examples.

    How the model answer begins

    1. The statement is true because money can increase only individual income. It cannot buy collective necessities like education, health, a clean environment and safety, which are essential for a better life. Such goods and…

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16. Q16Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    Why has the issue of sustainability become essential for development in present times ? Explain with example.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Sustainability has become essential because resources are limited, and development that depends on overusing them cannot last. Scientists have been warning that the present type, and levels, of development are not…

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17. Q17Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    Analyse the development of Punjab, Kerala and Bihar states on the basis of literacy.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Kerala has the highest literacy rate of the three states, at 94%. However, its per capita income of Rs 2,81,001 is lower than Punjab's. This shows that high literacy does not automatically ensure high income.

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18. Q18Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

    'The question of sustainability of development raises many fundamentally new issues about the nature and process of development.' Explain it with examples.

19. Q19Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

    Why is the issue of sustainability important for development ? Explain with examples.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Sustainability is important because development meets the needs of the present generation by overusing natural resources. This can use the resources up before future generations get them. Sustainable development uses…

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20. Q20Very short answer2 marksAsked: 2025

    Explain the role of public facilities for quality of life.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Public facilities matter because money in your pocket cannot buy all the goods and services that you may need to live well, such as security, schooling or unadulterated medicines. For many important things, the best…

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5 more questions of this chapter, each with its model answer, in the Ask Medha app.

Objective questions with the board’s key (10)

1. 1. CBSE 2026

   Study the following table and arrange the States from lower to higher on the basis of ‘Life Expectancy at Birth’ and choose the correct option : | States | Life Expectancy at Birth (2018) | Enrolment in Higher Education (2017-18) | | --- | --- | --- | | Haryana | 69.7 | 23 | | Kerala | 75.2 | 37 | | Bihar | 68.9 | 13.6 | | Odisha | 68.4 | 22.1 |

   • (A) Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, Odisha
   • (B) Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Odisha
   • (C) Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Kerala ✓
   • (D) Odisha, Bihar, Kerala, Haryana

   Answer: (C)

2. 2. CBSE 2026

   Smt. Deepti is a resident of X country. Her country is a developed country. Which of the following would be a characteristic of her country ?

   • (A) High Infant Morality Rate
   • (B) High Per Capita Income ✓
   • (C) Low Literacy Rate
   • (D) Low Net Attendance Ratio

   Answer: (B)

3. 3. CBSE 2026

   Study the following table and arrange the states in ascending order on the basis of 'Life expectancy at birth' and choose the correct option : | State | Life expectancy at birth (2018) | Enrolment in higher education (2017-18) | | --- | --- | --- | | Haryana | 69.7 | 23 | | Kerala | 75.2 | 37 | | Bihar | 68.9 | 13.6 | | Odisha | 68.4 | 22.1 |

   • (A) Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, Odisha
   • (B) Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Odisha
   • (C) Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Kerala ✓
   • (D) Odisha, Bihar, Kerala, Haryana

   Answer: (C)

4. 4. CBSE 2026

   Study the table given below and answer the question given below it : | State | Infant Mortality Rate per 1000 live births (2018) | Literacy Rate % 2017-18 | Net Attendance Ratio (per 100 persons) Secondary Level (Age 14 and 15 years) 2017-18 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | P | 32 | 62 | 43 | | Q | 7 | 94 | 43 | | R | 30 | 82 | 61 | | S | 20 | 83 | 78 | Identify the state whose Infant Mortality Rate is approximately three times that of state 'Q'.

   • (A) Q
   • (B) P
   • (C) S ✓
   • (D) R

   Answer: (C)

5. 5. CBSE 2026

   The meaning of per capita income is :

   • (A) Total population of the country ÷ Total income of the country ✓
   • (B) Total population of the country ÷ Total wealth of the country
   • (C) Total population of the country × Total income of the country
   • (D) Total population of the country × Total wealth of the country

   Answer: (A)

6. 6. CBSE 2026

   The developmental goal for a prosperous farmer can be :

   • (A) Higher support price for crops ✓
   • (B) More days for work
   • (C) Prohibition of social discrimination
   • (D) Better wages

   Answer: (A)

7. 7. CBSE 2026

   Study the given data and answer the question given below it: | | Comparative data of some states | | | |---|---|---|---| | | Infant Mortality Rate (2020) | Literacy Rate (2017-18) | Net Attendance Ratio of Class 1 to 5 | | State A | 28 | 82 | 73 | | State B | 6 | 94 | 94 | | State C | 27 | 62 | 69 | In 2017-18, by how many points was the literacy rate of 'State B' higher than that of 'State A'?

   • (A) 12 ✓
   • (B) 10
   • (C) 16
   • (D) 14

   Answer: (A)

8. 8. CBSE 2026

   Choose the correct option to fill in the blank : Infant Mortality Rate indicates the number of children that die before the age of ____ year(s) per 1000 live births in that particular year.

   • (A) One ✓
   • (B) Two
   • (C) Three
   • (D) Four

   Answer: (A)

9. 9. CBSE 2026

   Study the given data and answer the question that follow : | | Comparative Data of few States | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | Infant Mortality Rate (2020) | Literacy Rate (2017-18) | Net Attendance Rate (Class 1 to 5) | | State A | 28 | 82 | 73 | | State B | 6 | 94 | 94 | | State C | 27 | 62 | 69 | By how many of the following points does State B's literacy rate exceeds from State A in 2017-18 ?

   • (A) 12 ✓
   • (B) 10
   • (C) 16
   • (D) 14

   Answer: (A)

10. 10. CBSE 2026

    Study the data of a State given below and answer the question that follow : Educational achievement of rural population of State Category | Males | Females I. Literacy rate of rural population | 76% | 54% II. Literacy rate of rural children in age group of 10-14 years | 90% | 87% III. Percentage of rural children aged 10-14 years attending school | 85% | 82% If rural children aged 10-14 years are considered, then how many female children are attending school ?

    • (A) 90
    • (B) 85
    • (C) 82 ✓
    • (D) 83

    Answer: (C)

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "Development" carry in CBSE Class 10 Social Science?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 5 marks and about 3 questions a year; by marks it ranks 6 in Social Science.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Development"?

The 20 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 25 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the Ask Medha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.