NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 1 Natural Resources and Their Use

Elements of Nature are considered ‘resources’ when they are used by humans for their sustenance or to create new items for consumption. For instance, trees exist independently in the environment, but they are seen as a resource once their wood is cut and converted into furniture.
This value and utility to humans is what transforms a natural entity into a resource.

For an entity to be classified as a resource, it must meet three specific criteria.
Firstly, it must be technologically accessible, meaning the technology to access it exists.
Secondly, its exploitation must be economically feasible, so the cost of extraction is not too high6.
Finally, its use has to be culturally acceptable, such as avoiding the destruction of sacred places like groves.

One way to categorize natural resources is based on how they are used. This classification includes resources essential for life, such as air and water. It also includes resources for materials, like wood and marble , and resources for energy, such as coal and sunlight. The origin of the resource is not listed as a category under this specific classification system.

Renewable resources are defined by their ability to be restored and regenerated. Nature itself functions in a restorative and regenerative way, healing and renewing over time. Resources like sunshine, forests, and river water exhibit these qualities, allowing them to be replenished as long as their natural cycles are not overly disturbed.

Vrikshayurveda is an ancient Indian botanical science that centers on the comprehensive study and care of plants and trees. The term originates from Sanskrit, where vriksha means tree and ayurveda means the science of life. This traditional knowledge system provides detailed guidance on sustainable agricultural practices, including seed preservation, irrigation techniques, and natural pest management.

For resources to remain renewable, it is crucial that “the natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration must not be disturbed”. Using the example of timber, if it is harvested faster than the forest can grow new trees, the forest will eventually be depleted. This turns what was a renewable resource into a non-renewable one, highlighting the importance of sustainable management.

Non-renewable resources are those created over very long periods, and they cannot be replenished at the rate humans use them. Specific examples of these resources include fossil fuels like coal and petroleum. Minerals and metals such as iron, copper, and gold are also classified as non-renewable resources.

The ‘natural resource curse,’ also known as the ‘paradox of plenty,’ is a phenomenon where some regions with abundant natural resources paradoxically experience slower economic growth and development. This often happens because these economies fail to develop industries that can process raw materials into higher-value products. Consequently, having plentiful natural resources does not automatically guarantee that a country will be rich.

Irresponsible human actions have disturbed many of Nature’s cycles. A combination of factors, including fossil fuel-driven industrialization and the cutting down of forests, has led to rising global temperatures. This warming causes glaciers in locations like the Himalayas to melt at a rate faster than they can be replaced by precipitation, which has serious implications for water security for populations living in the plains.

While cement is essential for modern construction, its production is listed as one of the most polluting industries. The primary issue is that the manufacturing process releases fine dust into the atmosphere. This dust is harmful because it can damage the lungs of humans and animals, settle on plant leaves thereby decreasing their yields, and cause both soil and water pollution.

A distinction is made between ecosystem functions and ecosystem services. Ecosystem functions are the inherent processes of nature, such as a forest naturally filtering water or preventing soil erosion. When humans derive a benefit from these natural processes—for example, getting clean water to drink or having crops pollinated because of that forest—these benefits are called ‘ecosystem services’.

The groundwater crisis in Punjab is linked to the Green Revolution of the 1960s, when farmers shifted to growing high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy. These new crops required significantly more water than traditional seeds, which led farmers to begin extracting large amounts of groundwater to meet this need. This over-extraction was further worsened by the provision of free power for pumping.

The caselet on Pema’s farm describes Sikkim’s journey towards sustainable agriculture, which led to a major achievement in 2016. In that year, Sikkim became a “100 per cent organic state with all of its farmland certified organic”. This successful transition resulted in flourishing local biodiversity, an increase in tourism, and a 20 percent average growth in farmers’ incomes.

India and France launched the International Solar Alliance (IASE) in 2015. The main goal of this coalition is to bring together sunshine-rich countries to promote the use of solar power. The alliance focuses on nations blessed with abundant sunlight and works to channel funds into solar projects, share technical expertise, and create affordable financing options for developing nations.

‘Stewardship’ refers to the responsible and wise use of the Earth’s natural resources. This concept requires respecting Nature and utilizing its gifts in a way that allows for the restoration and regeneration of renewable resources. For non-renewable resources, it involves judicious use to ensure their longevity, promoting overall sustainability.

Ecosystem functions are the inherent ways nature works, regardless of any human benefit. Specific examples provided include a forest’s natural ability to filter water, prevent soil erosion, and provide a habitat for animals. These processes are distinct from ecosystem services, which are the benefits humans receive from these functions.

Natural resources are not spread evenly across the planet or even within individual countries51. This uneven distribution is highly significant because it directly influences many aspects of human society. It plays a key role in determining the location of human settlements, establishing trade patterns, shaping international relations, and can even be a cause of conflict and war.

The caselet on Punjab’s groundwater issues identifies a key contributing factor to the problem. In addition to the shift to water-intensive crops, the “supply of free power led to the over-pumping of groundwater”. This policy created a situation, still prevalent in much of India, where a major cost was removed, thus encouraging the excessive extraction of groundwater without regard for its replenishment rate.

Vrikshayurveda is presented as a system promoting sustainable agriculture. To preserve and maintain soil health, it recommends practices such as crop rotation and mixed cropping. It also offers advice on proper ploughing methods that help retain soil moisture and facilitate the growth of beneficial organisms in the soil like fungi, bacteria, and earthworms.

While the Green Revolution addressed short-term food security, it brought severe long-term consequences to Punjab. The combined effect of extracting excessive groundwater and the widespread use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers has been damaging. As a result, the groundwater level has dropped to depths of about 30 meters in large parts of the state, and the remaining water has been contaminated by these chemicals, creating health hazards.

In response to the pollution from cement manufacturing, there is a growing movement toward creating sustainable alternatives. These alternatives include the use of traditional materials like stone and mud. They also encompass new plant-based materials and recycled materials derived from waste plastic. The Jaisalmer fort and a modern building in Auroville are shown as examples.

The word ‘exploitation’ typically carries a negative connotation, but its meaning here is specific and neutral. Within this chapter’s context, ‘exploitation’ is defined simply as the “extraction, utilisation and consumption of Natural resources”. This definition is used to describe the entire process by which humans take elements from nature and make them useful.

Tensions and conflicts over sharing resources often arise because “Nature does not pay attention to political boundaries”. A river, for example, may flow through multiple states or even countries, leading to disputes over its use. The sharing of the Kaveri River water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry is used as a prime example of such a conflict that requires careful negotiation and deft management to resolve.

The shift to organic farming for Pema’s family in Sikkim was not immediately easy or successful. It is clearly mentioned that “initially the yields dropped as the soil was recovering from years of chemical use”. The farm only began to thrive after a recovery period of about five years, during which the family used natural methods like compost and natural pest repellents.

When discussing non-renewable resources, a specific estimate is provided for India’s coal reserves. It has been estimated that these reserves may last for “another 50 years”. This figure is presented to highlight the importance of using this finite resource judiciously, especially as the demand for electricity continues to increase with population expansion and development.

An example of traditional wisdom in resource management relates to fishing practices. Traditionally, communities had systems for “regulating (or refraining from) fishing during the spawning season”. This practice was a conscious effort to allow fish to reproduce, which in turn helped to maintain the fish population for the long term, a balance that was later disrupted by the commercialization of fishing.

The chapter touches upon the issue of social fairness in how resources are distributed and accessed. It points out that this access is often unfair to some sections of society. A specific example is given for cities, where “many areas do not receive adequate and regular supply of drinking water,” demonstrating a significant inequity in the availability of a basic resource.

In its final thoughts on stewardship, the chapter introduces a philosophical concept from the Bhagavad Gītā called lokasangraha. This is defined as “the idea that everyone must transcend personal desires and act for the wellbeing of all”. This concept encourages a shift from personal interest to collective responsibility, urging people to consider actions that benefit the entire community and world.

The ‘natural resource curse’ often arises when economies cannot process their own raw materials8686. It is mentioned that “India has generally avoided this curse by investing in the development of such industries to meet our growing needs”. This suggests that the key strategy to ensure resources lead to prosperity is to build the industrial capacity to transform them into more valuable finished products.

The discharge of industrial waste into water bodies has a severe environmental impact. This waste often cannot decay naturally and become food for other life forms. Instead, it disturbs the river’s natural cycle of restoration and regeneration, leading to a situation where the “river becomes poisonous and cannot support life”. An image of industrial discharge illustrates this point.