NCERT Textbook: Resources | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

 Page 1


Mona and Raju were helping Amma to clean their house. 
“Look at all these things…. clothes, utensils, foodgrains, 
combs, this bottle of honey, books…..Each of these has a 
use,” said Mona. “That is why they are important,” said 
Amma. “These are resources…..”. “What is a resource?” 
was Raju’s question to Amma. “Anything that can be used 
to satisfy a need is a resource”, replied amma. “Look around 
you and observe, you will be able to identify many types of 
resources. The water you drink when you are thirsty, the 
electricity you use in your house, the rickshaw you use to 
get home from school, the textbook you use to study are all 
resources. Your father has prepared a tasty snack for you. 
The fresh vegetables he has used are also a resource”.
Water, electricity, rickshaw, vegetable and textbook 
have something in common. They have all been used by 
you, so they have utility. Utility or usability is what makes 
an object or substance a resource.
“How does something become a resource?” Raju now 
wanted to know. Amma told the children that things become 
resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives 
it a value. All resources have some value.” said Amma.      
Value means worth. Some resources have economic 
value, some do not. For example, metals may have an 
economic value, a beautiful landscape may not. But both 
are important and satisfy human needs.
Some resources can become economically valuable 
with time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no 
commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by 
a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically 
valuable.
Resources
Glossary
Patent: It means 
the exclusive right 
over any idea or 
invention.
Let’s do
List out five 
resources you use 
in your home and 
five you use in 
your classroom.
Chapter-1.indd   1 8/17/2022   11:34:40 AM
2024-25
Page 2


Mona and Raju were helping Amma to clean their house. 
“Look at all these things…. clothes, utensils, foodgrains, 
combs, this bottle of honey, books…..Each of these has a 
use,” said Mona. “That is why they are important,” said 
Amma. “These are resources…..”. “What is a resource?” 
was Raju’s question to Amma. “Anything that can be used 
to satisfy a need is a resource”, replied amma. “Look around 
you and observe, you will be able to identify many types of 
resources. The water you drink when you are thirsty, the 
electricity you use in your house, the rickshaw you use to 
get home from school, the textbook you use to study are all 
resources. Your father has prepared a tasty snack for you. 
The fresh vegetables he has used are also a resource”.
Water, electricity, rickshaw, vegetable and textbook 
have something in common. They have all been used by 
you, so they have utility. Utility or usability is what makes 
an object or substance a resource.
“How does something become a resource?” Raju now 
wanted to know. Amma told the children that things become 
resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives 
it a value. All resources have some value.” said Amma.      
Value means worth. Some resources have economic 
value, some do not. For example, metals may have an 
economic value, a beautiful landscape may not. But both 
are important and satisfy human needs.
Some resources can become economically valuable 
with time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no 
commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by 
a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically 
valuable.
Resources
Glossary
Patent: It means 
the exclusive right 
over any idea or 
invention.
Let’s do
List out five 
resources you use 
in your home and 
five you use in 
your classroom.
Chapter-1.indd   1 8/17/2022   11:34:40 AM
2024-25
2 Resou Rces and d evelopment Time and technology are two important factors that 
can change substances into resources. Both are related 
to the needs of the people. People themselves are the 
most important resource. It is their ideas, knowledge, 
inventions and discoveries that lead to the creation of 
more resources. Each discovery or invention leads to many 
others. The discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking 
and other processes while the invention of the wheel 
ultimately resulted in development of 
newer modes of transport. The technology 
to create hydroelectricity 
has turned energy in fast 
flowing water into an 
important resource.
Types of Resou Rces   
Resources are generally classified into 
natural, human made and human.
Natural Resources
Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without 
much modification are called natural resources. The 
air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the 
soils, minerals are all natural resources. Many of these 
resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly. 
In some cases tools and technology may be needed to 
use a natural resource in the best possible way.
Natural resources can be broadly categorised into 
renewable and non-renewable resources.
Renewable resources are those which get renewed 
or replenished quickly. Some of these are unlimited 
and are not affected by human activities, such as solar 
and wind energy. Yet careless use of certain renewable 
resources like water, soil and forest can affect their 
stock. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable 
resource. But shortage and drying up of natural 
water sources is a major problem in many parts of the  
world today.
Non-renewable resources are those which have a 
limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted it may 
take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. 
Since this period is much more than human life spans, 
  “So I am a 
  resource too!”
“A very 
valuable one!”
Amma’s List
Cotton cloth
Iron ore
Intelligence
Medicinal plants
Medical knowledge
Coal deposits
Agricultural land
Clean environment
Old folk songs
Good weather
Resourcefulness
A good singing voice
Grandmother’s
home remedies
Affection from
friends and family
Beautiful scenery
Activity 
Circle those 
resources from 
Amma’s list that 
are regarded 
as having no 
commercial value.
Glossary
Technology: It is 
the application of 
latest knowledge 
and skill in doing 
or making things.
Chapter-1.indd   2 8/17/2022   11:34:41 AM
2024-25
Page 3


Mona and Raju were helping Amma to clean their house. 
“Look at all these things…. clothes, utensils, foodgrains, 
combs, this bottle of honey, books…..Each of these has a 
use,” said Mona. “That is why they are important,” said 
Amma. “These are resources…..”. “What is a resource?” 
was Raju’s question to Amma. “Anything that can be used 
to satisfy a need is a resource”, replied amma. “Look around 
you and observe, you will be able to identify many types of 
resources. The water you drink when you are thirsty, the 
electricity you use in your house, the rickshaw you use to 
get home from school, the textbook you use to study are all 
resources. Your father has prepared a tasty snack for you. 
The fresh vegetables he has used are also a resource”.
Water, electricity, rickshaw, vegetable and textbook 
have something in common. They have all been used by 
you, so they have utility. Utility or usability is what makes 
an object or substance a resource.
“How does something become a resource?” Raju now 
wanted to know. Amma told the children that things become 
resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives 
it a value. All resources have some value.” said Amma.      
Value means worth. Some resources have economic 
value, some do not. For example, metals may have an 
economic value, a beautiful landscape may not. But both 
are important and satisfy human needs.
Some resources can become economically valuable 
with time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no 
commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by 
a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically 
valuable.
Resources
Glossary
Patent: It means 
the exclusive right 
over any idea or 
invention.
Let’s do
List out five 
resources you use 
in your home and 
five you use in 
your classroom.
Chapter-1.indd   1 8/17/2022   11:34:40 AM
2024-25
2 Resou Rces and d evelopment Time and technology are two important factors that 
can change substances into resources. Both are related 
to the needs of the people. People themselves are the 
most important resource. It is their ideas, knowledge, 
inventions and discoveries that lead to the creation of 
more resources. Each discovery or invention leads to many 
others. The discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking 
and other processes while the invention of the wheel 
ultimately resulted in development of 
newer modes of transport. The technology 
to create hydroelectricity 
has turned energy in fast 
flowing water into an 
important resource.
Types of Resou Rces   
Resources are generally classified into 
natural, human made and human.
Natural Resources
Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without 
much modification are called natural resources. The 
air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the 
soils, minerals are all natural resources. Many of these 
resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly. 
In some cases tools and technology may be needed to 
use a natural resource in the best possible way.
Natural resources can be broadly categorised into 
renewable and non-renewable resources.
Renewable resources are those which get renewed 
or replenished quickly. Some of these are unlimited 
and are not affected by human activities, such as solar 
and wind energy. Yet careless use of certain renewable 
resources like water, soil and forest can affect their 
stock. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable 
resource. But shortage and drying up of natural 
water sources is a major problem in many parts of the  
world today.
Non-renewable resources are those which have a 
limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted it may 
take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. 
Since this period is much more than human life spans, 
  “So I am a 
  resource too!”
“A very 
valuable one!”
Amma’s List
Cotton cloth
Iron ore
Intelligence
Medicinal plants
Medical knowledge
Coal deposits
Agricultural land
Clean environment
Old folk songs
Good weather
Resourcefulness
A good singing voice
Grandmother’s
home remedies
Affection from
friends and family
Beautiful scenery
Activity 
Circle those 
resources from 
Amma’s list that 
are regarded 
as having no 
commercial value.
Glossary
Technology: It is 
the application of 
latest knowledge 
and skill in doing 
or making things.
Chapter-1.indd   2 8/17/2022   11:34:41 AM
2024-25
Resou Rces     3
such resources are considered non-renewable. Coal, 
petroleum and natural gas are some examples.
The distribution of natural resources depends 
upon number of physical factors like terrain, climate 
and altitude. The distribution of resources is unequal 
because these factors differ so much over the earth.
Human Made Resources 
Sometimes, natural substances become resources only 
when their original form has been changed. Iron ore 
was not a resource until people learnt to extract iron 
from it. People use natural resources to make buildings, 
bridges, roads, machinery and vehicles, which are 
known as human made resources. Technology is also 
a human made resource.
“So people like us use natural resources to make human 
made resources,” said Mona nodding in understanding. 
“Yes,” said Raju.
Human Resources
People can make the best use of nature to create more 
resources when they have the knowledge, skill and the 
Glossary
Stock of Resource 
It is the amount of 
resources available 
for use.
Let’s do
Think of a few 
renewable resources 
and mention how 
their stock may get 
affected by overuse.
“…its all thanks 
to the knowledge, 
education and 
skill… we could find 
a solution… 
that’s it!
“Crops ruined
due to 
drought”.
“Can I find
a solution?”. 
Read and Ponder: Humans are interdependent on 
each other. Farmers provide food grains for every one. 
Scientists suggest various means to combat problems 
related to agriculture and improve farm production. 
Let’s do
Make a list of 
five human made 
resources that you 
can observe around 
you.
Do you know? 
Human Resource 
refers to the 
number (quantity) 
and abilities 
(mental and 
physical) of the 
people. Though, 
there are differing 
views regarding 
treatment of 
humans as a 
resource, one 
cannot deny the 
fact that it is the 
skills of human that 
help in transfering 
the physical 
material into a 
valuable resource.
Chapter-1.indd   3 8/17/2022   11:34:42 AM
2024-25
Page 4


Mona and Raju were helping Amma to clean their house. 
“Look at all these things…. clothes, utensils, foodgrains, 
combs, this bottle of honey, books…..Each of these has a 
use,” said Mona. “That is why they are important,” said 
Amma. “These are resources…..”. “What is a resource?” 
was Raju’s question to Amma. “Anything that can be used 
to satisfy a need is a resource”, replied amma. “Look around 
you and observe, you will be able to identify many types of 
resources. The water you drink when you are thirsty, the 
electricity you use in your house, the rickshaw you use to 
get home from school, the textbook you use to study are all 
resources. Your father has prepared a tasty snack for you. 
The fresh vegetables he has used are also a resource”.
Water, electricity, rickshaw, vegetable and textbook 
have something in common. They have all been used by 
you, so they have utility. Utility or usability is what makes 
an object or substance a resource.
“How does something become a resource?” Raju now 
wanted to know. Amma told the children that things become 
resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives 
it a value. All resources have some value.” said Amma.      
Value means worth. Some resources have economic 
value, some do not. For example, metals may have an 
economic value, a beautiful landscape may not. But both 
are important and satisfy human needs.
Some resources can become economically valuable 
with time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no 
commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by 
a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically 
valuable.
Resources
Glossary
Patent: It means 
the exclusive right 
over any idea or 
invention.
Let’s do
List out five 
resources you use 
in your home and 
five you use in 
your classroom.
Chapter-1.indd   1 8/17/2022   11:34:40 AM
2024-25
2 Resou Rces and d evelopment Time and technology are two important factors that 
can change substances into resources. Both are related 
to the needs of the people. People themselves are the 
most important resource. It is their ideas, knowledge, 
inventions and discoveries that lead to the creation of 
more resources. Each discovery or invention leads to many 
others. The discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking 
and other processes while the invention of the wheel 
ultimately resulted in development of 
newer modes of transport. The technology 
to create hydroelectricity 
has turned energy in fast 
flowing water into an 
important resource.
Types of Resou Rces   
Resources are generally classified into 
natural, human made and human.
Natural Resources
Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without 
much modification are called natural resources. The 
air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the 
soils, minerals are all natural resources. Many of these 
resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly. 
In some cases tools and technology may be needed to 
use a natural resource in the best possible way.
Natural resources can be broadly categorised into 
renewable and non-renewable resources.
Renewable resources are those which get renewed 
or replenished quickly. Some of these are unlimited 
and are not affected by human activities, such as solar 
and wind energy. Yet careless use of certain renewable 
resources like water, soil and forest can affect their 
stock. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable 
resource. But shortage and drying up of natural 
water sources is a major problem in many parts of the  
world today.
Non-renewable resources are those which have a 
limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted it may 
take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. 
Since this period is much more than human life spans, 
  “So I am a 
  resource too!”
“A very 
valuable one!”
Amma’s List
Cotton cloth
Iron ore
Intelligence
Medicinal plants
Medical knowledge
Coal deposits
Agricultural land
Clean environment
Old folk songs
Good weather
Resourcefulness
A good singing voice
Grandmother’s
home remedies
Affection from
friends and family
Beautiful scenery
Activity 
Circle those 
resources from 
Amma’s list that 
are regarded 
as having no 
commercial value.
Glossary
Technology: It is 
the application of 
latest knowledge 
and skill in doing 
or making things.
Chapter-1.indd   2 8/17/2022   11:34:41 AM
2024-25
Resou Rces     3
such resources are considered non-renewable. Coal, 
petroleum and natural gas are some examples.
The distribution of natural resources depends 
upon number of physical factors like terrain, climate 
and altitude. The distribution of resources is unequal 
because these factors differ so much over the earth.
Human Made Resources 
Sometimes, natural substances become resources only 
when their original form has been changed. Iron ore 
was not a resource until people learnt to extract iron 
from it. People use natural resources to make buildings, 
bridges, roads, machinery and vehicles, which are 
known as human made resources. Technology is also 
a human made resource.
“So people like us use natural resources to make human 
made resources,” said Mona nodding in understanding. 
“Yes,” said Raju.
Human Resources
People can make the best use of nature to create more 
resources when they have the knowledge, skill and the 
Glossary
Stock of Resource 
It is the amount of 
resources available 
for use.
Let’s do
Think of a few 
renewable resources 
and mention how 
their stock may get 
affected by overuse.
“…its all thanks 
to the knowledge, 
education and 
skill… we could find 
a solution… 
that’s it!
“Crops ruined
due to 
drought”.
“Can I find
a solution?”. 
Read and Ponder: Humans are interdependent on 
each other. Farmers provide food grains for every one. 
Scientists suggest various means to combat problems 
related to agriculture and improve farm production. 
Let’s do
Make a list of 
five human made 
resources that you 
can observe around 
you.
Do you know? 
Human Resource 
refers to the 
number (quantity) 
and abilities 
(mental and 
physical) of the 
people. Though, 
there are differing 
views regarding 
treatment of 
humans as a 
resource, one 
cannot deny the 
fact that it is the 
skills of human that 
help in transfering 
the physical 
material into a 
valuable resource.
Chapter-1.indd   3 8/17/2022   11:34:42 AM
2024-25
4 Resou Rces and d evelopment technology to do so. That is why human 
beings are a special resource. People 
are human resources. Education and 
health help in making people a valuable 
resource. Improving the quality of 
people’s skills so that they are able 
to create more resources is known as 
human resource development.
c onse Rving Resou Rces Mona had a nightmare. She dreamt that all 
the water on the earth had dried up and all the 
trees cut down. There was no shade and nothing to 
eat or drink. People were suffering and roaming around 
desperately looking for food and shade. 
She told her mother about the dream. “Amma can this 
really happen?” she asked.
“Yes,” Amma replied. “If we are not careful then even 
renewable resources can become very scarce and the 
non-renewable ones can definitely get exhausted”. “What 
can we do about it,” Raju asked. “Lots,” replied Amma. 
Using resources carefully and giving them time to get 
renewed is called resource conservation. Balancing 
the need to use resources and also conserve them for 
the future is called sustainable development. There 
are many ways of conserving resources. Each person 
can contribute by reducing consumption, recycling and 
reusing thing. Ultimately it makes a difference because 
all our lives are linked. 
That evening the children and their friends 
made packets and shopping bags out of old 
newspapers, discarded clothes and baskets 
from bamboo sticks. “We will give a few to every 
family we know,” said Mona. “After all it is for 
a very good cause,” said Mustafa, “To save our 
resources and to keep our earth alive”. 
“I am going to be very careful not to waste 
paper,” said Jessy. “Many trees are cut down to 
make paper,” she explained.
“I will see that electricity is not wasted in 
my house,” shouted Mustafa. “Electricity comes 
from water and coal.”
Glossary
Sustainable 
Development 
Carefully utilising 
resources so that 
besides meeting 
the requirements 
of the present, also 
takes care of future 
generations.
Chapter-1.indd   4 8/17/2022   11:34:44 AM
2024-25
Page 5


Mona and Raju were helping Amma to clean their house. 
“Look at all these things…. clothes, utensils, foodgrains, 
combs, this bottle of honey, books…..Each of these has a 
use,” said Mona. “That is why they are important,” said 
Amma. “These are resources…..”. “What is a resource?” 
was Raju’s question to Amma. “Anything that can be used 
to satisfy a need is a resource”, replied amma. “Look around 
you and observe, you will be able to identify many types of 
resources. The water you drink when you are thirsty, the 
electricity you use in your house, the rickshaw you use to 
get home from school, the textbook you use to study are all 
resources. Your father has prepared a tasty snack for you. 
The fresh vegetables he has used are also a resource”.
Water, electricity, rickshaw, vegetable and textbook 
have something in common. They have all been used by 
you, so they have utility. Utility or usability is what makes 
an object or substance a resource.
“How does something become a resource?” Raju now 
wanted to know. Amma told the children that things become 
resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives 
it a value. All resources have some value.” said Amma.      
Value means worth. Some resources have economic 
value, some do not. For example, metals may have an 
economic value, a beautiful landscape may not. But both 
are important and satisfy human needs.
Some resources can become economically valuable 
with time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no 
commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by 
a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically 
valuable.
Resources
Glossary
Patent: It means 
the exclusive right 
over any idea or 
invention.
Let’s do
List out five 
resources you use 
in your home and 
five you use in 
your classroom.
Chapter-1.indd   1 8/17/2022   11:34:40 AM
2024-25
2 Resou Rces and d evelopment Time and technology are two important factors that 
can change substances into resources. Both are related 
to the needs of the people. People themselves are the 
most important resource. It is their ideas, knowledge, 
inventions and discoveries that lead to the creation of 
more resources. Each discovery or invention leads to many 
others. The discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking 
and other processes while the invention of the wheel 
ultimately resulted in development of 
newer modes of transport. The technology 
to create hydroelectricity 
has turned energy in fast 
flowing water into an 
important resource.
Types of Resou Rces   
Resources are generally classified into 
natural, human made and human.
Natural Resources
Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without 
much modification are called natural resources. The 
air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the 
soils, minerals are all natural resources. Many of these 
resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly. 
In some cases tools and technology may be needed to 
use a natural resource in the best possible way.
Natural resources can be broadly categorised into 
renewable and non-renewable resources.
Renewable resources are those which get renewed 
or replenished quickly. Some of these are unlimited 
and are not affected by human activities, such as solar 
and wind energy. Yet careless use of certain renewable 
resources like water, soil and forest can affect their 
stock. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable 
resource. But shortage and drying up of natural 
water sources is a major problem in many parts of the  
world today.
Non-renewable resources are those which have a 
limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted it may 
take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. 
Since this period is much more than human life spans, 
  “So I am a 
  resource too!”
“A very 
valuable one!”
Amma’s List
Cotton cloth
Iron ore
Intelligence
Medicinal plants
Medical knowledge
Coal deposits
Agricultural land
Clean environment
Old folk songs
Good weather
Resourcefulness
A good singing voice
Grandmother’s
home remedies
Affection from
friends and family
Beautiful scenery
Activity 
Circle those 
resources from 
Amma’s list that 
are regarded 
as having no 
commercial value.
Glossary
Technology: It is 
the application of 
latest knowledge 
and skill in doing 
or making things.
Chapter-1.indd   2 8/17/2022   11:34:41 AM
2024-25
Resou Rces     3
such resources are considered non-renewable. Coal, 
petroleum and natural gas are some examples.
The distribution of natural resources depends 
upon number of physical factors like terrain, climate 
and altitude. The distribution of resources is unequal 
because these factors differ so much over the earth.
Human Made Resources 
Sometimes, natural substances become resources only 
when their original form has been changed. Iron ore 
was not a resource until people learnt to extract iron 
from it. People use natural resources to make buildings, 
bridges, roads, machinery and vehicles, which are 
known as human made resources. Technology is also 
a human made resource.
“So people like us use natural resources to make human 
made resources,” said Mona nodding in understanding. 
“Yes,” said Raju.
Human Resources
People can make the best use of nature to create more 
resources when they have the knowledge, skill and the 
Glossary
Stock of Resource 
It is the amount of 
resources available 
for use.
Let’s do
Think of a few 
renewable resources 
and mention how 
their stock may get 
affected by overuse.
“…its all thanks 
to the knowledge, 
education and 
skill… we could find 
a solution… 
that’s it!
“Crops ruined
due to 
drought”.
“Can I find
a solution?”. 
Read and Ponder: Humans are interdependent on 
each other. Farmers provide food grains for every one. 
Scientists suggest various means to combat problems 
related to agriculture and improve farm production. 
Let’s do
Make a list of 
five human made 
resources that you 
can observe around 
you.
Do you know? 
Human Resource 
refers to the 
number (quantity) 
and abilities 
(mental and 
physical) of the 
people. Though, 
there are differing 
views regarding 
treatment of 
humans as a 
resource, one 
cannot deny the 
fact that it is the 
skills of human that 
help in transfering 
the physical 
material into a 
valuable resource.
Chapter-1.indd   3 8/17/2022   11:34:42 AM
2024-25
4 Resou Rces and d evelopment technology to do so. That is why human 
beings are a special resource. People 
are human resources. Education and 
health help in making people a valuable 
resource. Improving the quality of 
people’s skills so that they are able 
to create more resources is known as 
human resource development.
c onse Rving Resou Rces Mona had a nightmare. She dreamt that all 
the water on the earth had dried up and all the 
trees cut down. There was no shade and nothing to 
eat or drink. People were suffering and roaming around 
desperately looking for food and shade. 
She told her mother about the dream. “Amma can this 
really happen?” she asked.
“Yes,” Amma replied. “If we are not careful then even 
renewable resources can become very scarce and the 
non-renewable ones can definitely get exhausted”. “What 
can we do about it,” Raju asked. “Lots,” replied Amma. 
Using resources carefully and giving them time to get 
renewed is called resource conservation. Balancing 
the need to use resources and also conserve them for 
the future is called sustainable development. There 
are many ways of conserving resources. Each person 
can contribute by reducing consumption, recycling and 
reusing thing. Ultimately it makes a difference because 
all our lives are linked. 
That evening the children and their friends 
made packets and shopping bags out of old 
newspapers, discarded clothes and baskets 
from bamboo sticks. “We will give a few to every 
family we know,” said Mona. “After all it is for 
a very good cause,” said Mustafa, “To save our 
resources and to keep our earth alive”. 
“I am going to be very careful not to waste 
paper,” said Jessy. “Many trees are cut down to 
make paper,” she explained.
“I will see that electricity is not wasted in 
my house,” shouted Mustafa. “Electricity comes 
from water and coal.”
Glossary
Sustainable 
Development 
Carefully utilising 
resources so that 
besides meeting 
the requirements 
of the present, also 
takes care of future 
generations.
Chapter-1.indd   4 8/17/2022   11:34:44 AM
2024-25
Resou Rces     5
“I will make sure that water is not wasted at home,”  
said Asha. “Every drop of water is precious”  
“Together we can make a difference!” chorused the 
children.
These are some of the things Mona, Raju and their 
friends did. What about you? How are you going to help 
in conserving resources?
The future of our planet and its people is linked with 
our ability to maintain and preserve the life support 
system that nature provides. Therefore it is our duty to 
ensure that :
	 • all uses of renewable resources are sustainable 
	 • the diversity of life on the earth is conserved
	• the damage to natural environmental system is 
minimised.
Some Principles of 
Sustainable Development
Respect and care for all 
forms of life
Improve the quality of 
human life
Conserve the earth’s 
vitality and diversity
Minimise the depletion 
of natural resources
Change personal 
attitude and practices 
towards the environment 
Enable communities 
to care for their own 
environment.
Exercises
1. Answer the following questions.
 (i) Why are resources distributed unequally over the earth?
 (ii) What is resource conservation?
 (iii) Why are human resources important? 
 (iv) What is sustainable development?  
2. Tick the correct answer.
 (i) Which one of the following does NOT make substance a resource?
  (a) utility (b) value (c) quantity
 (ii)  Which one of the following is a human made resource?
  (a)  medicines to treat cancer
  (b) spring water
  (c)  tropical forests
(iii) Complete the statement.
  Non-renewable resources are
  (a) those which have limited stock
  (b) made by human beings
   (c) derived from non-living things
3. Activity
“Rahiman paani raakhiye, 
Bin paani sab soon.
Chapter-1.indd   5 8/17/2022   11:34:44 AM
2024-25