Development in Class 10 Economics explains why income alone cannot decide how well people or countries are progressing.
These NCERT Solutions help students answer Chapter 1 questions on goals, per capita income, HDI, public facilities and sustainability.
Chapter 1, Development, explains why progress cannot be judged only through money.
Students study the needs of landless labourers, farmers, girls and displaced tribal communities. Each example shows how development goals change with life situations.
The chapter then connects these examples with per capita income, average income and public facilities. It also explains Human Development Index and sustainable development through Indian textbook data.
These NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science Understanding Economic Development Chapter 1 answers support sharper 2026 CBSE responses. Students can revise Haryana, Kerala, Bihar, India’s neighbours, groundwater overuse and crude oil reserves.
Key Takeaways
- Development goals: People want different things because landless labourers, farmers, girls, urban youth and displaced groups live in different situations.
- Average income: Per capita income compares countries, but it hides inequality between rich and poor citizens.
- Human development: UNDP compares countries through income, life expectancy and schooling, not income alone.
- Sustainability: Groundwater overuse and crude oil exhaustion show why development must consider future generations.
NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science Understanding Economic Development Chapter 1 Structure 2026
| Exercise No. |
Topic |
Question Count |
| 1 to 3 |
Development indicators and average income |
3 |
| 4 to 8 |
World Bank, UNDP, averages, Kerala-Haryana and energy |
5 |
| 9 to 13 |
Sustainability, environment, resources and BMI data |
5 |
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Economics Chapter 1 Development Exercise
The NCERT exercise has 13 questions on income, development indicators, public facilities, sustainability and nutrition. These Class 10 Economics Chapter 1 questions and answers use direct points from the 2026-27 NCERT textbook.
Q1. Development of a country can generally be determined by
(i) its per capita income
(ii) its average literacy level
(iii) health status of its people
(iv) all the above
Answer: The correct option is (iv) all the above.
Development is measured through income, education and health together.
Per capita income shows average earning. Literacy shows educational progress. Health status shows whether people can live longer and better lives.
Q2. Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India?
(i) Bangladesh
(ii) Sri Lanka
(iii) Nepal
(iv) Pakistan
Answer: The correct option is (ii) Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka performs better than India in Human Development Index indicators.
In the NCERT table, Sri Lanka has higher life expectancy, higher mean years of schooling and a better HDI rank than India.
Q3. Assume there are four families in a country. The average per capita income of these families is Rs 5000. If the income of three families is Rs 4000, Rs 7000 and Rs 3000 respectively, what is the income of the fourth family?
(i) Rs 7500
(ii) Rs 3000
(iii) Rs 2000
(iv) Rs 6000
Answer: The correct option is (iv) Rs 6000.
Average income × Number of families = Total income
5000 × 4 = 20000
Income of three families = 4000 + 7000 + 3000
Income of three families = 14000
Income of fourth family = 20000 - 14000
Income of fourth family = Rs 6000
Q4. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?
Answer: The World Bank uses per capita income as the main criterion for classifying countries.
Per capita income means the average income of a person in a country.
Per capita income = Total income of a country / Total population
According to the 2026-27 NCERT textbook, countries with per capita income of US$ 66,500 per annum and above in 2024 are called high-income countries. Countries with per capita income of about US$ 2,300 or less are called low-income countries.
Limitations of this criterion:
- It does not show how income is distributed.
- It hides the gap between rich and poor people.
- It ignores literacy, health and life expectancy.
- It does not measure public facilities.
- It ignores freedom, respect, security and equality.
- It does not include environmental sustainability.
So, per capita income class 10 answers should mention that income is useful, but incomplete.
Q5. In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?
Answer: UNDP measures development through health, education and income, while the World Bank mainly uses per capita income.
The World Bank classifies countries by average income. This method focuses on economic capacity.
UNDP uses the Human Development Index class 10 students study in this chapter. It includes life expectancy, mean years of schooling and Gross National Income per capita.
The UNDP method is broader because it studies what is happening to people. It asks whether citizens are educated, healthy and able to live a better life.
Q6. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.
Answer: We use averages because they help compare countries, states or groups with different population sizes.
Average income is useful because total income alone cannot show what an average person may earn.
Average income = Total income / Total population
Limitations of averages:
- Averages hide inequalities.
- Averages do not show income distribution.
- Averages cannot show who is very poor.
- Averages ignore health, education and public facilities.
- Averages may make unequal societies look similar.
Example:
Country A has five people with similar incomes. Country B has four poor people and one very rich person. Both countries may have the same average income, but Country A has better equality.
Q7. Kerala, with lower per capita income, has a better human development ranking than Haryana. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and should not be used to compare states. Do you agree? Discuss.
Answer: I do not fully agree because per capita income is useful, but it should be used with other indicators.
Haryana has higher per capita income than Kerala. The NCERT textbook gives Haryana’s per capita income for 2023-24 as Rs 3,25,759 and Kerala’s as Rs 2,81,001.
Kerala still performs better in literacy, school attendance and Infant Mortality Rate. This means people in Kerala have better access to health and education facilities.
Per capita income helps compare economic output. It cannot alone show quality of life.
So, Class 10 Economics Development NCERT Solutions should use income with health, education and public facilities.
Q8. Find out the present sources of energy that are used by the people in India. What could be the other possibilities fifty years from now?
Answer: People in India currently use coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, biomass and nuclear energy.
Coal and petroleum are widely used in transport, electricity and industries. These are non-renewable sources and cause pollution.
Other possibilities fifty years from now:
- Solar power may become more common in homes and industries.
- Wind energy may expand in coastal and open regions.
- Green hydrogen may support transport and factories.
- Electric vehicles may reduce petrol and diesel use.
- Nuclear energy may support large-scale electricity needs.
- Biogas may support clean rural energy.
India’s future energy choices should reduce dependence on imported crude oil.
Q9. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Answer: Sustainability is important because development should continue without harming future generations.
The NCERT chapter gives groundwater as an example. Groundwater is renewable, but it can be overused if people extract more water than rain can replenish.
Crude oil is a non-renewable resource. It cannot be replaced quickly after use.
Sustainable development class 10 answers should mention that resources, environment and future needs must be protected together.
Q10. “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person.” How is this statement relevant to the discussion of development? Discuss.
Answer: This statement means that resources are enough for basic human needs, but not for unlimited greed.
Development depends on land, water, forests, minerals, fuel and clean air. If these resources are used responsibly, many people can benefit.
If a few people overuse resources, others may face shortage, pollution and displacement.
For example, groundwater can support farming and drinking water needs. Overuse can lower the water table and harm future generations.
This statement supports fair and sustainable development.
Q11. List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.
Answer: Environmental degradation means damage to air, water, soil, forests or natural resources.
Examples include:
- Air pollution from vehicles.
- Smoke from factories.
- Plastic waste in drains.
- Garbage burning in open spaces.
- Water pollution in rivers and ponds.
- Cutting of trees for construction.
- Noise pollution from traffic.
- Overuse of groundwater through borewells.
These examples show that development can create damage when environmental care is ignored.
Q12. For each of the items given in Table 1.6, find out which country is at the top and which is at the bottom.
Answer: Table 1.6 compares India and its neighbours using GNI per capita, life expectancy, mean years of schooling and HDI rank.
- GNI per capita: Sri Lanka is at the top with 12,616. Nepal is at the bottom with 4,726.
- Life expectancy: Sri Lanka is at the top with 77.5 years. Myanmar is at the bottom with 66.9 years.
- Mean years of schooling: Sri Lanka is at the top with 10.8 years. Pakistan is at the bottom with 4.3 years.
- HDI rank: Sri Lanka has the best rank at 89. Pakistan has the lowest rank at 168.
Sri Lanka performs better than India on most human development indicators in this table.
Q13. The following table shows the proportion of adults whose BMI is below normal in India. Answer the questions.
State-wise BMI below normal:
Kerala: Male 8.5%, Female 10%
Karnataka: Male 17%, Female 21%
Madhya Pradesh: Male 28%, Female 28%
All States: Male 20%, Female 23%
(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
Answer: Kerala has a better nutritional level than Madhya Pradesh.
In Kerala, 8.5% males and 10% females have below-normal BMI. In Madhya Pradesh, 28% males and 28% females have below-normal BMI.
This means undernourishment is much higher in Madhya Pradesh than in Kerala.
(ii) Can you guess why around one-fifth of people in the country are undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country?
Answer: Around one-fifth of people may be undernourished because food availability does not guarantee equal access to food.
Reasons include:
- Poverty reduces the ability to buy nutritious food.
- Unequal income distribution affects access to food.
- Public Distribution System may not work well everywhere.
- Poor sanitation can affect health and nutrition.
- Unemployment reduces food security.
- Lack of awareness affects diet choices.
So, nutrition depends on income, public facilities, health and social equality.
Development Class 10 NCERT Solutions: Key Concepts
Development in Class 10 Economics is measured through income, equality, health, education and sustainability. These concepts help students explain why progress cannot be judged by money alone.
Different Developmental Goals
People have different developmental goals because their life situations differ.
A landless labourer may want more workdays. A girl may want freedom equal to her brother. A displaced tribal community may want protection from large dams.
Income and Non-Material Goals
Income helps people buy goods and services.
People also need respect, security, freedom and equal treatment. These non-material goals are central to Chapter 1, Development.
Per Capita Income
Per capita income is average income per person.
Per capita income = Total income / Total population
It helps compare countries and states, but it hides income inequality.
Public Facilities and HDI
Public facilities include schools, hospitals, ration shops, clean water and sanitation.
Kerala performs better than Haryana in health and education indicators. UNDP uses income, life expectancy and schooling to measure Human Development Index.
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development means using resources without harming future generations.
Groundwater overuse and crude oil exhaustion show why development must protect natural resources. Environmental damage affects people beyond one state or country.
Class 10 Social Science Economics Chapter 1 Important Data
The 2026-27 NCERT chapter uses updated income, health, education and resource data. These facts help students write stronger answers in school exams.
World Bank Income Classification
| Indicator |
NCERT 2026 Data |
Meaning |
| High-income countries |
US$ 66,500 and above per annum in 2024 |
Rich countries |
| Low-income countries |
About US$ 2,300 or less per annum |
Low-income countries |
| India |
About US$ 11,000 per annum in 2024 |
Low middle-income country |
Haryana, Kerala and Bihar Comparison
| State |
Per Capita Income 2023-24 |
Development Point |
| Haryana |
Rs 3,25,759 |
Higher income than Kerala |
| Kerala |
Rs 2,81,001 |
Better literacy, attendance and infant survival |
| Bihar |
Rs 60,337 |
Lowest income among the three states |
India and Its Neighbours in HDI Data
| Country |
Strong Indicator |
Chapter Link |
| Sri Lanka |
Life expectancy 77.5 years |
Better HDI performance than India |
| India |
GNI per capita 9,047 |
Higher income than some neighbours |
| Bangladesh |
Life expectancy 74.7 years |
Shows health can improve despite lower income |
Crude Oil and Groundwater Facts
| Resource |
Type |
Development Concern |
| Groundwater |
Renewable resource |
Overuse can lower water levels |
| Crude oil |
Non-renewable resource |
World reserves may last only limited years |
| Clean environment |
Shared resource |
Degradation affects people across boundaries |
Useful Links for NCERT Solutions Class 10 Social Science Understanding Economic Development