Chapter 4: Human Development

Very Short Answer Questions
1. Explain the concept of human development introduced by Dr. Mahbub Ul Haq. 
Concept of human development introduced by Dr. Mahbub Ul Haq 
 i. Human development is development that enlarges peoples choices. 
 ii. It improves people’s lives. 
 iii. People are central to all development under this concept. 
2. Explain the welfare approach of human development. 
Welfare approach of human development 
 i. Approach looks at human beings as beneficiaries. 
 ii. The approach argues for higher government expenditure, on education health, social, secondary and amenities. 
 iii. People are not participants in development but only passive recipients. 
 Short Answer Questions 
1. Explain any three causes for the low level of human development in some countries of the world. 
Causes for the Low level of human development: 
 i. Political turmoil in the country. 
 ii. Social instability and civil war-like conditions. 
 iii. Famines or high incidence of diseases. 
2. Explain any three causes for the high level of human development in some countries of the world. 
Causes for the high level of human development: 
 i. Development in education. 
 ii. Better health facilities. 
 iii. Political stability in the country. 
 iv. Higher investment on people and good governance. 
3 .How is the ‘Human Development Index’ measured? Explain key areas of human development.
Measures of Human Development Index:
Human development index (HDI) ranks the countries based on their performance in the key areas of health, education and access to resources. These ranking are based on a score between 0 to 1. The closer score is to one the greater is the level of human development.
Key Areas:- 
 (i) Health:- The indicator chosen to assess health is the life expectancy at birth. 
 (ii) Access to knowledge: The adult literacy rate and the gross enrollment ratio represent access to knowledge. 
 (iii) Access to resources: It is measured in terms of purchasing power (US $).

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Questions with Real-Life Situations

Q. The ways to measure human development are constantly being refined. Support the statement with suitable arguments. 
 The ways to measure human development are- 
 (i) The HDI ranks the countries based on their performance in the key areas of health, education and access to resources. 
 (ii) Newer ways of capturing different elements of human development are being researched. 
 (iii) Researchers have found links between the level of corruption or political freedom in a particular region. 
 2. “Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody. Support the statement with suitable arguments. 
 Arguments to support equity for making equal access to opportunities available to everybody- 
 (i) The opportunities available to people must be equal irrespective of other gender, race, income and in the Indian case-caste. 
 (ii) Yet this is very often not the case and happens in almost every society. 
 (iii) In any country, it is interesting to see which group the most of the school dropouts belong to. This should then lead to an understanding of the reasons for such behavior. 

 Higher Order Thinking Questions (HOTs) 

 1.Misuse of any resources will lead to fewer opportunities for future generations” Explain the statement with examples in the context of sustainable development. 
 i. Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. 
 ii. To have sustainable human development, each generation must have the same opportunities 
 iii. All environmental, financial and human resources must be used keeping in mind the future. 
 iv. For example, If a community does not stress the importance of sending its girl children to school many opportunities will be lost to these young women when they grow up. 
 2. Welfare approach of human development emphasizes on the actions for development of human beings.” Explain the statement with examples. 
 i. This approach looks at human beings as beneficiaries or targets of all development activities. 
 ii. The approach argues for higher government expenditure on education, health etc. 
 iii. People are not participants in development but only passive recipients 
 iv. The govt. is responsible for increasing levels of human development by maximizing expenditure on welfare. 
 v. For example, High level HDI group of countries like Norway, Sweden do a lot of investment on social welfare activities / schemes.. 
 3."Development is a qualitative change, which is always value positive."Support this statement. 
Answer: i. Development means a qualitative change which is always value positive. 
 ii. This means that development cannot take place unless there is an increment or addition to the existing conditions. 
 iii. Development occurs when positive growth takes place. 
 iv. Yet, positive growth does not always lead to development. Development occurs when there is a positive change in quality. 
 v. For example, if the population of a city grows from one lakh to two lakhs over a period of time, we say the city has grown. 
 vi. However, if facilities like housing, provision of basic services and other characteristics remain the same, then this growth has not been accompanied by development.        

3 marks questions:

Q11. Differentiate between growth and development.

Ans:

GrowthDevelopment
Quantitative aspect – like height, weight.Qualitative aspect – like behaviour, efficiency, knowledge.
Time limit process.Lifelong process.
Part of development.Development may be possible through proper growth.

Q12. “The basic goal of development is to create conditions where the people can live meaningful life” – What do you mean by meaningful life?

Ans: A meaningful life is not just a long life, it also includes –

  • Healthy life.
  • Purposeful life
  • Free to achieve their goal
  • Able to develop their talent.

Q13. Write about THREE key areas of human development.

Ans: Explain about –

  • Access to resources
  • Education and
  • Health

Q14. Explain any THREE points out of four pillars of human development.

Ans: Explanation about –

  • Equity
  • Sustainability
  • Productivity
  • Empowerment (any THREE points)

Q15. Briefly explain about sustainability as the pillar of human development.

Ans: Sustainability includes –

  • Continuity in availability of opportunity.
  • Development with environmental concern.
  • Stop misusing of resources
  • Preservation of resources for future generation.

Q16. Write a short note on GNH.

Ans: Bhutan is only one country in the world to proclaimed gross national happiness (GNH) as an indicator of human development.

  •  Happiness in cultural life
  • Happiness in spiritual life
  • Non-materialistic peace.

5 marks questions:

Q17. Discuss about the four pillars of human development.

Ans: Equity, sustainability, productivity, and empowerment

·       Equity:

  • Equal opportunity for all
  • No discrimination based on gender, caste, religion etc.

·       Sustainability:

  • Continuity in availability of opportunity.
  • Development with environmental concern.
  • Stop misusing of resources
  • Preservation of resources for future generation.

·       Productivity:

  • Increasing ability of the people to do work.
  • Making people as resources of the country.
  • Increasing efficiency

·       Empowerment:

  • power to make choices
  • increasing freedom
  • increasing capability

Q18. Explain several approaches to human development.

Ans:

  • Income approach: oldest approach – high income means high development.
  • Welfare approach: Government expenditure on welfare purposes – like health, education.
  • Basic need approach: this concept proposed by ILO (International Labour Organization) – human development indicates based on six basic needs (health, water, food, water supply, sanitation, and housing).
  • Capability approach: this approach associates with Prof. Amartya Sen – access to resources, education, and health facilities.

Q19. Distinguish between several countries based on HDI value with example.

Ans:

  • High HDI countries (above 0.8 HDI value): Explanation with name of Countries like - 1. Norway (HDI-0.96), 2. Switzerland (HDI- 0.95), 3. Ireland (0.95)
  • Medium HDI countries (0.5 to 0.799 HDI value): Explanation with name of countries
  • Low HDI countries (below 0.5 HDI value): includes 32 countries where civil war, famine, high incident of diseases is common in these countries.

Question Bank:

3 Marks Questions:

  • Q1. Differentiate between growth and development.
  • Q2. Explain the key areas of human development.
  • Q3. Briefly explain about the oldest approaches to human development.
  • Q4. Write a short note on GNH.
  • Q5. Classify several countries based on HDI values.

5 Marks Questions:

  • Q1. Discuss about the four pillars of human development.
  • Q2. How is ‘sustainability’ considered as important pillar of human development? – Explain with suitable example.
  • Q3. Discuss about several approaches to human development.

Previous Years Questions from this Chapter

3 marks questions:

Q1. Explain any three human values which are required to empower socially and economically disadvantaged people. (CBSE-All India, 2013, 3 marks)

Q2. Read the following source and answer the questions that follow: (CBSE-2022, Source Based Questions, 1+1+1=3 marks)

The concept of development is dynamic and has evolved during the second half of twentieth century. In the post-World War II era, the concept of development was synonymous to economic growth which is measured in terms of temporal increase in Gross National Product (GNP) and per capita income/ per capita consumption. But even the countries having high economic growth, experienced speedy rise in poverty because of its unequal distribution. So, in 1970s, the phrases such as redistribution with growth and growth and equity were incorporated in the definition of development. While dealing with the questions related to redistribution and equity, it was realised that the concept of development cannot be restricted to the economic sphere alone. It also includes the issues such as improving the well-being and living standard of people, availing of the health, education, and equality of opportunity, and ensuring political and civil rights. By 1980s, development emerged as a concept encapsulating wide-spread improvement in social as well as material well-being of all in a society.

  • 1 – Explain the meaning of development.
  • 2 – Explain the basic differences between ‘growth’ and ‘development’.
  • 3 – Define the term ‘sustainable development’.

5 marks questions:

Q1. Explain the concept of human development. Elaborate how the idea of human development is supported by concepts of equity, sustainability, productivity, and empowerment. (CBSE-All India, 2020, 1+4=5 marks)

Q2. What is human development? Analyse the four pillars of human development. (1+4=5) (CBSE – Delhi Set-I, 2017 and Delhi Set-III, 2014)