Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 NCERT Textbook Questions Solved

Question 1.(i) Regional planning relates to:

Answer: (b) Area specific approach of development

Question 1.(ii) ITDP refers to which one of the following?

Answer: (c) Integrated Tribal Development Programme

Question 1.(iii) Which one of the following is the most crucial factor for sustainable development in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?

Answer: (b) Eco-development

Question 2.(i) What are the social benefits of ITDP in the Bharmaur tribal region?

Answer: The ITDP brought significant progress in Bharmaur, raising literacy rates, reducing gender gaps, and curbing child marriages. It improved infrastructure like schools, health services, roads, and electricity, enhancing overall living standards.

Question 2.(ii) Define the concept of sustainable development.

Answer: Sustainable development means fulfilling current needs without harming future generations’ ability to meet theirs. It promotes a balance between economic growth, environmental preservation, and social welfare for long-term well-being.

Question 2.(iii) What are the positive impacts of irrigation on Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?

Answer: Irrigation has transformed the arid region, enhancing soil fertility, increasing crop yields, and expanding cultivated areas. It has supported afforestation, reduced desertification, and encouraged modern agricultural practices.

Question 3.(i) Write short notes on drought-prone area programme. How does this programme help in the development of dryland agriculture in India?

Answer: The Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP), launched during the Fourth Five Year Plan, aimed to reduce the adverse effects of drought by creating employment and developing rural assets. Initially focusing on manual labour-based projects, it later included irrigation development, afforestation, soil conservation, and rural infrastructure enhancement.

To promote dryland agriculture, DPAP adopted integrated watershed management and encouraged the use of sustainable farming techniques. It enabled resource conservation and improved water use, helping increase crop productivity in dry areas. These measures not only reduced dependency on monsoons but also provided alternative livelihoods. The programme covered drought-prone regions of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and others. By supporting ecological stability and better land use practices, DPAP played a crucial role in the revival and development of dryland farming, improving both agricultural outcomes and the socio-economic status of people in arid and semi-arid regions.

Question 3.(ii) Suggest the measures of promotion of sustainability in Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area.

Answer: Ensuring sustainability in the Indira Gandhi Canal region requires integrated ecological, economic, and social measures. Strict implementation of water management is crucial to avoid over-irrigation and water wastage. Crops grown should require minimal water, and farmers should be encouraged to plant drought-resistant or plantation crops.

Programs like lining of canals, land leveling, and warabandi help conserve water. Reclamation of waterlogged and saline land is necessary to prevent degradation. Ecological balance can be restored by afforestation, shelterbelts, and developing pastures in fragile zones.

On the social front, economically weaker farmers need financial aid and institutional support to utilize land effectively. Economic sustainability also demands diversification—promoting non-farm employment and agro-based industries. Functional links among rural settlements, service centers, and markets should be developed to broaden economic opportunities. These measures will help in maintaining ecological health, social equity, and economic growth in the region.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 NCERT Extra Questions

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What is meant by planning?

Answer: Planning refers to the process of systematically thinking, designing, and implementing schemes or programmes with the aim of achieving overall economic development and improving the quality of life in the country.

Question 2. Who is responsible for planning in India?

Answer: In India, the responsibility for planning initially rested with the Planning Commission, a non-constitutional body headed by the Prime Minister. It has now been replaced by NITI Aayog, which leads the policy and planning process.

Question 3. What are the two approaches to planning in India?

Answer: The two major approaches to planning in India are:
• Sectoral Planning
• Regional Planning

Question 4. What do you mean by Rolling Plans?

Answer: Rolling Plans refer to a series of annual plans introduced during the plan holiday between 1966 and 1969, following droughts and the Indo-Pak war. These flexible plans allowed adjustments based on the changing economic scenario.

Question 5. What do you mean by sectoral planning?

Answer: Sectoral planning involves the development and execution of specific schemes for individual sectors like agriculture, power, industry, transport, education, and health to boost overall economic progress.

Question 6. What do you mean by regional planning?

Answer: Regional planning focuses on promoting development in economically and socially backward regions of the country, aiming to reduce regional disparities and ensure balanced spatial development.

Question 7. Give examples of programmes directed towards the development of target area in the country.

Answer: Some key programmes targeting specific regions in India include:
• Command Area Development Programme
• Drought-Prone Area Programme
• Desert Development Programme
• Hill Area Development Programme
• Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA)
• Marginal Farmers Development Agency (MFDA)

Question 8. Name the tribal community included in ‘Scheduled Tribes’ in 1970’s.

Answer: The Gaddis, residing in the Bharmaur region of Himachal Pradesh, were recognized as a Scheduled Tribe during the 1970s.

Question 9. When was the tribal subplan introduced?

Answer: The Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) was launched in 1974 as part of the Fifth Five-Year Plan to promote integrated development in tribal areas.

Question 10. Name the four physiographic Bharmaur Region.

Answer: The four physiographic regions of Bharmaur are:
• Kugti Area
• Tundah Area
• Khani Area
• Holi Area

Question 11. What are the two phases incorporated in the definition of development?

Answer: The two core phases of development are:
• Redistribution with growth
• Growth with equity

Question 12. Mention the issues included in the concept of development.

Answer: Development includes improving living standards, access to education and healthcare, ensuring equal opportunities, and safeguarding civil and political rights for all citizens.

Question 13. Name the two publications associated with sustainable development.

Answer: The two influential publications related to sustainable development are:
• “The Population Bomb” by Paul Ehrlich (1968)
• “The Limits to Growth” by the Club of Rome (1972)

Question 14. Why is WECD established? Who headed it?

Answer: The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was established by the United Nations to address growing environmental concerns. It was chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway.

Question 15. What was the name of Brundtland Report?

Answer: The Brundtland Report is officially titled “Our Common Future”, published in 1987 to highlight the importance of sustainable development.

Question 16. Explain the concept of sustainable development.

Answer: Sustainable development refers to growth that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It integrates economic, social, and environmental concerns to ensure responsible resource use.

Question 17. What are the features of Indira Gandhi Canal Command area?

Answer: Key features of the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area include:
• Originates from Harike Barrage in Punjab
• Runs parallel to the India-Pakistan border in the Thar Desert
• Total length of around 9,060 km
• Irrigates about 19.63 lakh hectares of culturable land
• Transformed arid land into fertile agricultural zones

Question 18. What is meant by target area?

Answer: Target area refers to specific underdeveloped or backward regions identified for focused development interventions through customized schemes to address regional imbalances in India’s growth.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. How did the concept of sustainable development originate?

Answer: The concept of sustainable development evolved as the understanding of development expanded over time:

Phase I – Development as Economic Growth:
Post-World War II, development was equated with economic growth, measured through Gross National Product (GNP), per capita income, and consumption.

Phase II – Growth with Equity:
By the 1970s, disparities within high-growth economies led to the inclusion of redistribution and equity, introducing terms like “growth with equity” and “redistribution with growth.”

Phase III – Social and Economic Development:
The idea of development was broadened to include health, education, equality, and political rights. By the 1980s, development became a multi-dimensional concept.

Environmental Concern and Sustainable Development:
Environmental degradation caused by industrialization led to the global realization that economic development should not harm the environment. The UN formed the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland. Its 1987 report “Our Common Future” defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Question 2. Which socio-economic benefits are being experienced by implementation of Integrated Tribal Development Project in Bharmaur?

Answer: The implementation of the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) in Bharmaur, a tribal region in Himachal Pradesh inhabited by the Gaddi community, has brought significant social and economic improvements.

Social Benefits:

• Major infrastructure development in education, healthcare, water supply, roads, and electricity.
• Female literacy rose from 1.9% in 1971 to around 65%.
• Improved sex ratio and reduced gender gap in literacy.
• Significant decline in child marriage practices.

Economic Benefits:

• Increased cultivation of pulses and cash crops.
• Pastoralism declined as only about 10% of households now practice transhumance.
• Shift towards more stable agricultural livelihoods and income sources.

These outcomes reflect inclusive growth and upliftment of the tribal population through targeted development.

Question 3. What measures for promotion of sustainable development have been taken under Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?

Answer: To promote sustainable development in the Indira Gandhi Canal region, several strategic measures have been adopted:

• Water Management: Strict adherence to water-use guidelines, with protective irrigation in Stage-I and extensive crop and pasture irrigation in Stage-II.
• Cropping Pattern: Discouraging water-intensive crops and promoting plantations like citrus fruits to conserve water.
• Command Area Development (CAD): Effective implementation of land leveling, lining of canals, and the warabandi system (equitable water distribution) to minimize water loss.
• Land Reclamation: Addressing issues of water logging and salinity by reclaiming degraded lands.
• Eco-Development: Afforestation, shelterbelt planting, and pasture development are emphasized, especially in ecologically fragile areas.
• Social Sustainability: Providing financial and institutional support to economically weaker landholders ensures inclusive participation in agriculture.
• Economic Diversification: Encouraging development beyond agriculture, including agro-service centers and rural markets, helps establish linkages for long-term growth.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Question 1. How did the notion of sustainable development emerge? Also, state some of its salient features.

Answer: The idea of sustainable development emerged due to growing environmental concerns, especially in the industrialized Western world. Publications like “The Population Bomb” and “The Limits to Growth” raised alarm about the impact of unchecked industrialization. These concerns led to the formation of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), which introduced the concept of sustainable development in its 1987 Brundtland Report.

Salient Features of Sustainable Development:

• It integrates ecological, economic, and social dimensions of development.
• It ensures present needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• It emphasizes inclusive human development while protecting the environment.
• It encourages the responsible use of natural resources and long-term planning for environmental conservation.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 Important Questions

Question 1. In which Five Year Plan of India were Hill Area Development Programmes initiated? (A.I. 2009)

Answer: The Hill Area Development Programmes were launched during the Fifth Five Year Plan to promote the integrated development of hilly and backward regions in India.

Question 2. What was the main objective to implement the Fourth Five Year Plan for the people in drought-prone areas? (Delhi 2009)

Answer: The primary objective of the Fourth Five Year Plan for drought-prone regions was to generate employment and create durable, productive assets to support livelihoods and combat environmental challenges.

Question 3. How has the Gaddi Tribal community of Bharmaur region maintained a distinct identity? (A.I. 2013)

Answer: The Gaddi tribal community of Bharmaur has preserved its unique identity by:

• Practicing transhumance, a seasonal migration between highlands and lowlands.
• Using the Gaddiali dialect, which reflects their linguistic and cultural heritage in the Himalayan region.

Question 4. Examine the twin environmental problems that have emerged in the “Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area”. (A.I. 2017)

Answer: The Indira Gandhi Canal region faces two major environmental challenges:

• Water Logging – due to excessive irrigation without proper drainage.
• Soil Salinity – resulting from stagnant water, which raises the water table and salts the soil.

These problems have arisen from over-irrigation and poor water management practices.

Question 5. Examine the concept of ‘regional planning’. (Delhi 2018)

Answer: Regional planning is the strategy of designing and implementing development programmes tailored to the specific needs of a region. Its goal is to promote balanced regional growth by reducing disparities between developed and underdeveloped areas.