Among the following criteria which one is the basis to measure the development of a country according to the World Bank?

• Per Capita Income

   

• Literacy Rate

   

• Gross Enrolment Ratio

   

• Life expectancy

What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion, if any?

In what respects is the criterion used by the UNDP for measuring development different from the one used by the World Bank?

Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations to their use? Illustrate with your own examples related to development.

Kerala, with lower per capita income has a better human development ranking
than Maharashtra. Hence, per capita income is not a useful criterion at all and
should not be used to compare states. Do you agree? Discuss.

Find out present sources of energy used by people in India. What could be possibilities fifty years from now?

Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?

“The earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed to even one person.” How is this statement relevant to the discussion of development? Discuss.

List a few examples of environmental degradation that you may have observed around you.

For each of the items given in Table 1.6, find out which country is at the top and which is at the bottom.

The following table shows the proportion of undernourished adults in India. It is based on a survey of various states in the country for the year 2001. Look at the table and answer the following questions:

(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.

(ii) Can you guess why around 40 per cent of people in the country are under-nourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country? Describe in your our own words.