Unit 2: Contemporary India - II 

Themes

Learning Objectives

1. Resources and Development:

• Types of Resources
• Development of Resources
• Resource Planning in India
• Land Resources
• Land Utilization
• Land Use Pattern in India
• Land Degradation and Conservation Measures
• Soil as a Resource
• Classification of Soils
• Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation

2. Forest and Wildlife

• Biodiversity or Biological Diversity
• Flora and Fauna in India
• Vanishing Forests
• Asiatic Cheetah: Where did they go?
• The Himalayan Yew in trouble
• Conservation of forest and wildlife in India
• Project Tiger
• Types and distribution of forests and wildlife resources
• Community and Conservation

Note: The chapter ‘Forest and Wildlife’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in Board Examination.

3. Water Resources:

• Water Scarcity and The Need for Water Conservation and Management
• Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management
• Rainwater Harvesting

Note: The chapter ‘Water Resources’ to be assessed in the Periodic Tests only and will not be evaluated in the Board Examination.

4. Agriculture:

• Types of farming
• Cropping Pattern
• Major Crops
• Technological and Institutional Reforms
• Impact of Globalization on Agriculture

 5. Minerals and Energy Resources:

• What is a mineral?
• Mode of occurrence of Minerals
• Ferrons and Non-Ferrons Minerals
• Non-Metallic Minerals
• Rock Minerals
• Conservation of Minerals
• Energy Resources

6. Manufacturing Industries:

• Importance of manufacturing
• Contribution of Industry to National Economy
• Industrial Location
• Classification of Industries
• Spatial distribution
• Industrial pollution and environmental degradation
• Control of Environmental Degradation

7. Life Lines of National Economy:

• Transport – Roadways, Railways, Pipelines, Waterways, Airways
• Communication
• International Trade
• Tourism as a Trade

• Understand the importance of forests and wildlife in one environment as well as develop concepts towards the depletion of resources.

• Comprehend the importance of water as a resource as well as develop awareness towards its judicious use and conservation.

• Explain the importance of agriculture in the national economy.
• Identify various types of farming and discuss the various farming methods; describe the spatial distribution of major crops as well as understand the relationship between rainfall regimes and cropping patterns.
• Explain various government policies for institutional as well as technological reforms since independence.

• Identify different types of minerals and energy resources and places of their availability
• Feel the need for their judicious utilization

• Bring out the importance of industries in the national economy as well as understand the regional disparities which resulted due to the concentration of industries in some areas.

• Discuss the need for planned industrial development and debate over the role of government towards sustainable development.

• Explain the importance of transport and communication in the ever-shrinking world.
• Understand the role of trade and tourism in the economic develop