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Economic development has improved living standards, but at a severe cost of environmental degradation. This chapter examines the vital role of the environment in sustaining life and growth, the current state of India’s environment under stress from population and industrialisation, and the urgent need for sustainable development. These notes summarise key concepts from Chapter 7 of the NCERT textbook Indian Economic Development for effective revision. You can also download the free PDF for quick reference.
Contents
Explore Notes of Class 11: Indian Economic Development
Introduction
In the earlier chapters, we have discussed the main economic issues faced by the Indian economy. The economic development that we have achieved so far has come at a very heavy price, at the cost of environmental quality. As we step into an era of globalisation that promises higher economic growth, we have to bear in mind the adverse consequences of the past developmental path on our environment and consciously choose a path of sustainable development. To understand the unsustainable path of development that we have taken and the challenges of sustainable development, we have to first understand the significance and contribution of the environment to economic development. With this in mind, this chapter is divided into three sections. The first part deals with the functions and role of the environment. The second section discusses the state of India’s environment, and the third section deals with steps and strategies to achieve sustainable development.
Environment: Definition and Functions
Environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources, including biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors that interact with each other. It supplies resources, assimilates waste, sustains life through biodiversity, and provides aesthetic services. These functions remain sustainable only if demand stays within the environment’s carrying capacity; exceeding it leads to a crisis.
- The environment includes all biotic elements (birds, animals, plants, forests, fisheries) and abiotic elements (air, water, land, rocks, sunlight).
- Four vital functions: (i) supplies resources (renewable like trees, fish; non-renewable like fossil fuels); (ii) assimilates waste; (iii) sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity; (iv) provides aesthetic services like scenery.
- Carrying capacity: Resource extraction should not exceed the regeneration rate; wastes generated should be within the assimilating capacity.
- Absorptive capacity: Ability of the environment to absorb degradation.
- Environmental crisis arises when demand exceeds carrying capacity, leading to resource extinction, pollution beyond absorption, health costs (e.g., 70% of India’s water is polluted, rising respiratory and water-borne diseases), and global issues like warming and ozone depletion.
- Historical context: Pre-industrialisation and low population kept demand below supply; no environmental problems. Post population explosion and industrial revolution, demand exceeded regeneration and absorptive capacity, reversing the supply-demand relationship.
Also Read: NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 Political Science
State of India’s Environment
India is endowed with rich natural resources like fertile soils, rivers, forests, minerals, and ocean stretches, supporting agriculture, industry, and population. However, developmental activities have exerted pressure, causing degradation and health impacts. Key concerns include land degradation, biodiversity loss, air pollution, water management, and solid waste.
- Abundant resources: Black soil in Deccan for cotton; the Indo-Gangetic plains are fertile and densely populated; forests provide green cover; minerals like iron ore (8% of world reserves), coal, natural gas, bauxite, copper, etc.
- Dichotomy: Poverty-induced degradation and pollution from affluence/industrialisation.
- Priority issues: (i) land degradation; (ii) biodiversity loss; (iii) air pollution (especially vehicular in cities); (iv) fresh water management; (v) solid waste management.
- Land degradation factors: (i) deforestation; (ii) unsustainable fuelwood/fodder extraction; (iii) shifting cultivation; (iv) forest encroachment; (v) forest fires/overgrazing; (vi) non-adoption of soil conservation; (vii) improper crop rotation; (viii) indiscriminate agro-chemicals; (ix) improper irrigation planning; (x) excess groundwater extraction.
- Per capita forest land: 0.06 hectare (vs. required 0.47 hectare); excess felling of 15 million cubic metres.
- Soil erosion: 5.3 billion tonnes/year; nutrient loss: 0.8 million tonnes nitrogen, 1.8 million phosphorus, 26.3 million potassium annually (total 5.8-8.4 million tonnes).
- Air pollution: Widespread in urban areas; vehicles are major contributors (from 3 lakh in 1951 to 35 crores in 2022; two-wheelers/cars ~85%).
- Industrialisation consequences: Unplanned urbanisation, pollution, and accident risks.
- Challenges require a shift to sustainable development for future generations.
Sustainable Development
The environment and economy are interdependent; ignoring environmental repercussions destroys the base for life. Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs, focusing on the needs of the poor and resource redistribution.
- Definition (UNCED): Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.
- Key phrases: ‘Need’ (linked to resource distribution, basic needs of all); ‘future generations’ (moral obligation to bequeath a better environment).
- Our Common Future: Meeting basic needs of all; extending opportunity for a better life.
- Edward Barbier: Increases material standard for poor (income, education, health, sanitation, water); provides secure livelihoods, minimising depletion, degradation, disruption, instability.
- Aims: Employment, food, energy, water, housing for all, especially the poor; growth in agriculture, manufacturing, power, services.
- Brundtland Commission: Protect future generations; inherit at least equal ‘quality of life’ assets.
- Promotion: Enhance natural/built environment via (i) conservation of natural assets; (ii) preservation of regenerative capacity; (iii) avoid added costs/risks in the future.
- Herman Daly’s conditions: (i) Limit population to carrying capacity (‘plimsoll line’); (ii) input-efficient technology; (iii) renewable extraction ≤ regeneration; (iv) non-renewable depletion ≤ creation of renewable substitutes; (v) correct pollution inefficiencies.
Strategies for Sustainable Development
Strategies focus on cleaner energy alternatives, traditional practices, and eco-friendly methods to reduce environmental stress while meeting needs. These include non-conventional energy, cleaner fuels, biocomposting, biopest control, and reviving traditional knowledge
- Non-conventional energy: Shift from thermal (CO2, fly ash pollution) and hydro (forest inundation, flow interference) to wind/solar (details of local units to be discussed).
- LPG/Gobar gas in rural areas: Replace wood/dung cake (deforestation, pollution); LPG is clean, minimises wastage; gobar gas uses dung for fuel, slurry as fertiliser.
- CNG in urban areas: Delhi’s public transport lowered pollution; adopted in other cities.
- Wind power: High-speed areas; turbines generate electricity without adverse impact; high initial cost, but beneficial.
- Solar power via photovoltaic cells: Convert sunlight to electricity; useful for remote areas; pollution-free; India is increasing its generation, leading the International Solar Alliance.
- Mini-hydel plants: Use perennial streams in mountains; small turbines for local power; environment-friendly, no land use change, reduces transmission loss.
- Traditional knowledge/practices: Indian systems (agriculture, healthcare, housing, transport) are environment-friendly; revive Ayurveda/Unani (15,000 medicinal plants, 8,000 in use); herbal products are side-effect free.
- Biocomposting: Replace chemical fertilisers (land/water contamination); use organic wastes/dung; earthworms speed the process; benefits soil, reduces civic waste.
- Biopest control: Replace chemicals (food/soil/water contamination); use neem-based pesticides; mixed cropping/rotation; promote pest predators (snakes, owls, peacocks, lizards).
- Paradigm shift: Ensures lasting development, non-declining welfare.
Conclusion
Economic development increases production to meet rising population needs, but pressures the environment. Initially, demand < supply; now overuse/misuse limits supply. Sustainable development minimises problems, meets present needs without compromising the future.
- Pressure from development: Greater than the environment can sustain.
- Sustainable development: Promotes development that minimises environmental problems; meets present needs without compromising future.
Important Definitions in NCERT Notes Class 11 Indian Economic Development Chapter 7: Environment and Sustainable Development
This section lists key terms for clarity and revision:
- Environment: The total planetary inheritance and totality of all resources, including biotic and abiotic factors influencing each other.
- Carrying Capacity: The level at which resource extraction does not exceed regeneration, and wastes are within assimilating capacity.
- Absorptive Capacity: The ability of the environment to absorb degradation.
- Renewable Resources: Resources that can be used without depletion (e.g., trees, fish), with a continuous supply.
- Non-Renewable Resources: Resources exhausted with use (e.g., fossil fuels).
- Sustainable Development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 UN goals formulated in 2015 to be achieved by 2030.
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FAQs
The environment is the total planetary inheritance of all resources, biotic and abiotic. Functions: (i) supplies renewable/non-renewable resources; (ii) assimilates waste; (iii) sustains life via biodiversity; (iv) provides aesthetic services.
Land degradation (deforestation, overgrazing, agro-chemicals); biodiversity loss; air pollution (vehicular/industrial); fresh water management; solid waste. Per capita forest: 0.06 ha (vs. 0.47 required).
Development meeting presents needs without compromising future generations. Focus: Basic needs of all (especially poor), resource redistribution, moral obligation to the future, equal or better quality of life assets.
(i) Limit population to carrying capacity; (ii) input-efficient technology; (iii) renewable extraction ≤ regeneration; (iv) non-renewable depletion ≤ renewable substitutes; (v) correct pollution inefficiencies.
Non-conventional energy (wind, solar, mini-hydro); cleaner fuels (LPG, gobar gas, CNG); traditional practices (Ayurveda, herbal); biocomposting; biopest control (neem, predators like snakes/owls).
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