Class 12 - Chapter 4 : Human Development

List of Questions and Answers

1. Which one of the following best describes development?
a) an increase in size
b) a constant in size
c) a positive change in quality
d) a simple change in the quality

Ans: c) a positive change in quality

2. Which one of the following scholars introduced the concept of Human Development?
a) Prof. Amartya Sen
b) Ellen C. Semple
c) Dr Mahabub-ul-Haq
d) Ratzel

Ans: c) Dr Mahabub-ul-Haq

3. What are the three basic areas of human development?

Ans:
The key areas in human development are access to resources, health and education.

4. Explain concept of human development as per Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq.
OR
What do you understand by the term human development?

Ans:
The concept of human development was introduced by Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq. Dr Haq has described human development as development that enlarges people’s choices and improves their lives. People are central to all development under this concept. These choices are not fixed but keep on changing. The basic goal of development is to create conditions where people can live meaningful lives. A meaningful life is not just a long one. It must be a life with some purpose. This means that people must be healthy, be able to develop their talents, participate in society and be free to achieve their goals.

5. Name the four main components of human development?

Ans:
The main components of human development are : equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment.

6. What do equity and sustainability refer to within the concept of human development?

Ans:
Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody. The opportunities available to people must be equal irrespective of their gender, race, income and in the Indian case, caste. Yet this is very often not the case and happens in almost every society.
For example, 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 behaviour. In India, a large number of women and persons belonging to socially and economically backward groups drop out of school. This shows how the choices of these groups get limited by not having access to knowledge.

Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. To have sustainable human development, each generation must have the same opportunities. All environmental, financial and human resources must be used keeping in mind the future. Misuse of any of these resources will lead to fewer opportunities for future generations.
A good example is about the importance of sending girls to school. 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. Their career choices will be severely curtailed and this would affect other aspects of their lives. So each generation must ensure the availability of choices and opportunities to its future generations.

7. What is the meaning of 'development' ? Explain how equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment are the four pillars of human development.

Ans:
Development means a qualitative change which is always value positive. This means that development cannot take place unless there is an increment or addition to the existing conditions.

Equity refers to making equal access to opportunities available to everybody. The opportunities available to people must be equal irrespective of their gender, race, income and in the Indian case, caste. Yet this is very often not the case and happens in almost every society.

Sustainability means continuity in the availability of opportunities. To have sustainable human development, each generation must have the same opportunities. All environmental, financial and human resources must be used keeping in mind the future. Misuse of any of these resources will lead to fewer opportunities for future generations.

Productivity here means human labour productivity or productivity in terms of human work. Such productivity must be constantly enriched by building capabilities in people. Ultimately, it is people who are the real wealth of nations. Therefore, efforts to increase their knowledge, or provide better health facilities ultimately leads to better work efficiency.

Empowerment means to have the power to make choices. Such power comes from increasing freedom and capability. Good governance and people-oriented policies are required to empower people. The empowerment of socially and economically disadvantaged groups is of special importance.

8."The size of a territory and per capita income are not directly related to human development." Support the statement with examples.

Ans:
Size of the territory and per capita income are not directly related to human development. Often smaller countries have done better than larger ones in human development. Similarly, relatively poorer nations have been ranked higher than richer neighbours in terms of human development.

For example, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago have a higher rank than India in the human development index despite having smaller economies. Similarly, within India, Kerala performs much better than Punjab and Gujarat in human development despite having lower per capita income.

9. What do you mean by Human Development Index?

Ans:
The human development index measures attainments in human development. It reflects what has been achieved in the key areas of human development. Yet it is not the most reliable measure. This is because it does not say anything about the distribution.

10. Human development index depends on _______.
a) Access to resources
b) Health
c) Education
d) All

Ans: d) All

11. Explain Income Approach to Human Development?

Ans:
This is one of the oldest approaches to human development. Human development is seen as being linked to income. The idea is that the level of income reflects the level of freedom an individual enjoys. Higher the level of income, the higher is the level of human development.

12. Explain Welfare Approach to Human Development?

Ans:
This approach looks at human beings as beneficiaries or targets of all development activities. The approach argues for higher government expenditure on education, health, social secondary and amenities. People are not participants in development but only passive recipients. The government is responsible for increasing levels of human development by maximising expenditure on welfare.

13. Explain Basic Needs Approach to Human Development?

Ans:
This approach was initially proposed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Six basic needs i.e.: health, education, food, water supply, sanitation, and housing were identified. The question of human choices is ignored and the emphasis is on the provision of basic needs of defined sections.

14. Explain Capability Approach to Human Development?

Ans:
This approach is associated with Prof. Amartya Sen. Building human capabilities in the areas of health, education and access to resources is the key to increasing human development.

15. Who among the following developed the concept of 'human developement' ?
a) Ellen C Semple
b) Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq
c) Kanwar Sen
d) Griffith Tailor

Ans: b) Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq

16.Pakistani economist Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq created the Human Development Index in _______
a) 2000
b) 1990
c) 1980
d) 1995

Ans: b) 1990

17.Which of the following approaches to human development consider the provision of health, education, food, water, supply, sanitation and housing?
a) income
b) welfare
c) capability
d) basic needs

Ans: d) basic needs

18.Difference between growth and development.

Ans:

Growth Devlopment
Growth is quantitative change. Development means a qualitative change.
Incase of growth the change may be either positive (showing an increase) or negative (indicating a decrease). Development is always positive change. This means that development cannot take place unless there is an increment or addition to the existing conditions.

19.Which of the following best describes Development ?

a) A simple change in quality
b) An increase is size
c) A constant in size
d) A positive change in quality

Ans: d) A positive change in quality