NCERT Textbook: Natural Resources and Their Use | Social Science Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

 Page 1


1
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Natural Resources 
and Their Use
CHAPTER
1
Concerned social scientists are clear on what we need to do: we 
must move toward a regenerative economy, an economy that 
operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, 
minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources. 
We must return to the innate wisdom of nature herself, the 
ultimate regenerator and recycler of all resources.
    ? Christiana Figueres and 
Tom Rivett-Carnac in ‘The Future We Choose’  
1. How do we categorise natural 
resources?
2. What is the connection between 
the distribution of natural 
resources and different aspects 
of life?
3. What are the implications 
of unsustainable use / over 
exploitation of natural resources? 
The Big
Questions
Fig. 1.1. Dudhsagar waterfall and the railway 
bridge, Goa, India 
Chapter 1.indd   1 05-07-2025   16:47:35
Page 2


1
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Natural Resources 
and Their Use
CHAPTER
1
Concerned social scientists are clear on what we need to do: we 
must move toward a regenerative economy, an economy that 
operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, 
minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources. 
We must return to the innate wisdom of nature herself, the 
ultimate regenerator and recycler of all resources.
    ? Christiana Figueres and 
Tom Rivett-Carnac in ‘The Future We Choose’  
1. How do we categorise natural 
resources?
2. What is the connection between 
the distribution of natural 
resources and different aspects 
of life?
3. What are the implications 
of unsustainable use / over 
exploitation of natural resources? 
The Big
Questions
Fig. 1.1. Dudhsagar waterfall and the railway 
bridge, Goa, India 
Chapter 1.indd   1 05-07-2025   16:47:35
2
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1
When does Nature become a Resource?
One of the meanings of the word ‘Nature’ is the totality of life 
and non-life forms that are part of our environment but have 
not been created by humans. When humans use these for their 
sustenance, or create new things from them for consumption, 
these elements of Nature become ‘resources’. For example, trees 
are part of the environment; they exist independently of humans. 
When we cut them and convert their wood into furniture, we 
see the trees as a resource.
Often these entities are not easily accessible. For example, there 
may be petroleum in places deep under the ocean that we do 
not have the technology to access, or the extraction cost may 
be too high; or it may be culturally unacceptable like cutting 
trees in sacred groves. So, for an entity to be called a resource, it 
should be technologically accessible, and its exploitation should 
be economically feasible and culturally acceptable. (Usually, the 
word ‘exploitation’ has a negative connotation; in the context 
we use it here, it means ‘extraction, utilisation and consumption 
of Natural resources’.)   
The Earth has treasures, many of which have formed over 
millions of years, and which humans have taken and learnt to 
use. These include the most obvious ones like water , air and soil, 
and also the not-so-obvious ones like coal, petroleum, precious 
stones, metal ores, timber, etc.
Fig. 1.2. A microhydel plant in 
Himachal Pradesh—the power of flowing 
water converted into electricity
Fig. 1.3. An offshore oil rig extracts 
petroleum from below the seabed
Chapter 1.indd   2 05-07-2025   16:47:36
Page 3


1
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Natural Resources 
and Their Use
CHAPTER
1
Concerned social scientists are clear on what we need to do: we 
must move toward a regenerative economy, an economy that 
operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, 
minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources. 
We must return to the innate wisdom of nature herself, the 
ultimate regenerator and recycler of all resources.
    ? Christiana Figueres and 
Tom Rivett-Carnac in ‘The Future We Choose’  
1. How do we categorise natural 
resources?
2. What is the connection between 
the distribution of natural 
resources and different aspects 
of life?
3. What are the implications 
of unsustainable use / over 
exploitation of natural resources? 
The Big
Questions
Fig. 1.1. Dudhsagar waterfall and the railway 
bridge, Goa, India 
Chapter 1.indd   1 05-07-2025   16:47:35
2
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1
When does Nature become a Resource?
One of the meanings of the word ‘Nature’ is the totality of life 
and non-life forms that are part of our environment but have 
not been created by humans. When humans use these for their 
sustenance, or create new things from them for consumption, 
these elements of Nature become ‘resources’. For example, trees 
are part of the environment; they exist independently of humans. 
When we cut them and convert their wood into furniture, we 
see the trees as a resource.
Often these entities are not easily accessible. For example, there 
may be petroleum in places deep under the ocean that we do 
not have the technology to access, or the extraction cost may 
be too high; or it may be culturally unacceptable like cutting 
trees in sacred groves. So, for an entity to be called a resource, it 
should be technologically accessible, and its exploitation should 
be economically feasible and culturally acceptable. (Usually, the 
word ‘exploitation’ has a negative connotation; in the context 
we use it here, it means ‘extraction, utilisation and consumption 
of Natural resources’.)   
The Earth has treasures, many of which have formed over 
millions of years, and which humans have taken and learnt to 
use. These include the most obvious ones like water , air and soil, 
and also the not-so-obvious ones like coal, petroleum, precious 
stones, metal ores, timber, etc.
Fig. 1.2. A microhydel plant in 
Himachal Pradesh—the power of flowing 
water converted into electricity
Fig. 1.3. An offshore oil rig extracts 
petroleum from below the seabed
Chapter 1.indd   2 05-07-2025   16:47:36
3
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
DON’T MISS OUT
Æ In many indigenous traditions of the 
world, Nature is considered sacred. You 
have read about this. In such traditions, 
Nature is a nurturer and nourisher. 
Æ Do you know of practices that reflect this? 
 THINK ABOUT IT
Take a pause. Look at yourself and the things around you. What 
is the origin of each of them? At some point they all lead to 
Nature; even the plastic button on your shirt. 
In short, we apply the term ‘natural resources’ to materials and 
substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans. 
Categories of Natural Resources
In Science, we learn the usefulness of categorisation and naming 
— we use some shared characteristics (or criteria) when we 
categorise ideas or things; we name the categories so that we can 
refer to them with just one word or a short phrase. When these 
names and meanings are shared across groups of people,  it helps 
Fig. 1.6. Tulasi¯ puja for wellbeing 
Fig. 1.5. Honey from a beehive Fig. 1.4. Gentle ploughing causes minimal 
disturbance to the underground ecosystem 
and retains soil moisture. 
Chapter 1.indd   3 05-07-2025   16:47:39
Page 4


1
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Natural Resources 
and Their Use
CHAPTER
1
Concerned social scientists are clear on what we need to do: we 
must move toward a regenerative economy, an economy that 
operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, 
minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources. 
We must return to the innate wisdom of nature herself, the 
ultimate regenerator and recycler of all resources.
    ? Christiana Figueres and 
Tom Rivett-Carnac in ‘The Future We Choose’  
1. How do we categorise natural 
resources?
2. What is the connection between 
the distribution of natural 
resources and different aspects 
of life?
3. What are the implications 
of unsustainable use / over 
exploitation of natural resources? 
The Big
Questions
Fig. 1.1. Dudhsagar waterfall and the railway 
bridge, Goa, India 
Chapter 1.indd   1 05-07-2025   16:47:35
2
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1
When does Nature become a Resource?
One of the meanings of the word ‘Nature’ is the totality of life 
and non-life forms that are part of our environment but have 
not been created by humans. When humans use these for their 
sustenance, or create new things from them for consumption, 
these elements of Nature become ‘resources’. For example, trees 
are part of the environment; they exist independently of humans. 
When we cut them and convert their wood into furniture, we 
see the trees as a resource.
Often these entities are not easily accessible. For example, there 
may be petroleum in places deep under the ocean that we do 
not have the technology to access, or the extraction cost may 
be too high; or it may be culturally unacceptable like cutting 
trees in sacred groves. So, for an entity to be called a resource, it 
should be technologically accessible, and its exploitation should 
be economically feasible and culturally acceptable. (Usually, the 
word ‘exploitation’ has a negative connotation; in the context 
we use it here, it means ‘extraction, utilisation and consumption 
of Natural resources’.)   
The Earth has treasures, many of which have formed over 
millions of years, and which humans have taken and learnt to 
use. These include the most obvious ones like water , air and soil, 
and also the not-so-obvious ones like coal, petroleum, precious 
stones, metal ores, timber, etc.
Fig. 1.2. A microhydel plant in 
Himachal Pradesh—the power of flowing 
water converted into electricity
Fig. 1.3. An offshore oil rig extracts 
petroleum from below the seabed
Chapter 1.indd   2 05-07-2025   16:47:36
3
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
DON’T MISS OUT
Æ In many indigenous traditions of the 
world, Nature is considered sacred. You 
have read about this. In such traditions, 
Nature is a nurturer and nourisher. 
Æ Do you know of practices that reflect this? 
 THINK ABOUT IT
Take a pause. Look at yourself and the things around you. What 
is the origin of each of them? At some point they all lead to 
Nature; even the plastic button on your shirt. 
In short, we apply the term ‘natural resources’ to materials and 
substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans. 
Categories of Natural Resources
In Science, we learn the usefulness of categorisation and naming 
— we use some shared characteristics (or criteria) when we 
categorise ideas or things; we name the categories so that we can 
refer to them with just one word or a short phrase. When these 
names and meanings are shared across groups of people,  it helps 
Fig. 1.6. Tulasi¯ puja for wellbeing 
Fig. 1.5. Honey from a beehive Fig. 1.4. Gentle ploughing causes minimal 
disturbance to the underground ecosystem 
and retains soil moisture. 
Chapter 1.indd   3 05-07-2025   16:47:39
4
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1
us discuss a set of ideas or things without needing to describe 
them every time. We can communicate more effectively, too. In 
earlier classes, you learnt about living and non-living things. As 
soon as we use these words, you know what they mean. This is a 
simple example of categories. 
We do the same with natural resources. 
THINK ABOUT IT
What might be the different criteria we can use to categorise 
natural resources?
One of the ways we could categorise natural resources is based 
on the uses we put them to — essential for our life, source for 
materials and sources for energy. 
Resources essential for life
Life could not exist on Earth without the air we breathe, the 
water we drink and the food we eat. We take these from the 
atmosphere, the rivers and ponds, and through the cultivation 
of soil or other living things. We cannot make the air we breathe, 
the water we drink, or the soil which gives us food. 
Resources for materials
Human beings create physical objects out of Nature’s gifts. We 
make them for our utility or to create things of beauty that 
enrich our lives and those of others ? a piece of wood can be 
transformed into a chair and also carved into a statuette. India’s 
geographical diversity provides us with a wide variety of natural 
resources, from wood to marble, and coal to gold.
Resources for energy
Energy is a cornerstone of modern living — electricity for our 
buildings, transportation, and all types of production processes. 
This energy can come from diverse natural sources: coal, water, 
petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, wind, etc. 
Chapter 1.indd   4 05-07-2025   16:47:39
Page 5


1
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Natural Resources 
and Their Use
CHAPTER
1
Concerned social scientists are clear on what we need to do: we 
must move toward a regenerative economy, an economy that 
operates in harmony with nature, repurposing used resources, 
minimizing waste, and replenishing depleted resources. 
We must return to the innate wisdom of nature herself, the 
ultimate regenerator and recycler of all resources.
    ? Christiana Figueres and 
Tom Rivett-Carnac in ‘The Future We Choose’  
1. How do we categorise natural 
resources?
2. What is the connection between 
the distribution of natural 
resources and different aspects 
of life?
3. What are the implications 
of unsustainable use / over 
exploitation of natural resources? 
The Big
Questions
Fig. 1.1. Dudhsagar waterfall and the railway 
bridge, Goa, India 
Chapter 1.indd   1 05-07-2025   16:47:35
2
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1
When does Nature become a Resource?
One of the meanings of the word ‘Nature’ is the totality of life 
and non-life forms that are part of our environment but have 
not been created by humans. When humans use these for their 
sustenance, or create new things from them for consumption, 
these elements of Nature become ‘resources’. For example, trees 
are part of the environment; they exist independently of humans. 
When we cut them and convert their wood into furniture, we 
see the trees as a resource.
Often these entities are not easily accessible. For example, there 
may be petroleum in places deep under the ocean that we do 
not have the technology to access, or the extraction cost may 
be too high; or it may be culturally unacceptable like cutting 
trees in sacred groves. So, for an entity to be called a resource, it 
should be technologically accessible, and its exploitation should 
be economically feasible and culturally acceptable. (Usually, the 
word ‘exploitation’ has a negative connotation; in the context 
we use it here, it means ‘extraction, utilisation and consumption 
of Natural resources’.)   
The Earth has treasures, many of which have formed over 
millions of years, and which humans have taken and learnt to 
use. These include the most obvious ones like water , air and soil, 
and also the not-so-obvious ones like coal, petroleum, precious 
stones, metal ores, timber, etc.
Fig. 1.2. A microhydel plant in 
Himachal Pradesh—the power of flowing 
water converted into electricity
Fig. 1.3. An offshore oil rig extracts 
petroleum from below the seabed
Chapter 1.indd   2 05-07-2025   16:47:36
3
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
DON’T MISS OUT
Æ In many indigenous traditions of the 
world, Nature is considered sacred. You 
have read about this. In such traditions, 
Nature is a nurturer and nourisher. 
Æ Do you know of practices that reflect this? 
 THINK ABOUT IT
Take a pause. Look at yourself and the things around you. What 
is the origin of each of them? At some point they all lead to 
Nature; even the plastic button on your shirt. 
In short, we apply the term ‘natural resources’ to materials and 
substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans. 
Categories of Natural Resources
In Science, we learn the usefulness of categorisation and naming 
— we use some shared characteristics (or criteria) when we 
categorise ideas or things; we name the categories so that we can 
refer to them with just one word or a short phrase. When these 
names and meanings are shared across groups of people,  it helps 
Fig. 1.6. Tulasi¯ puja for wellbeing 
Fig. 1.5. Honey from a beehive Fig. 1.4. Gentle ploughing causes minimal 
disturbance to the underground ecosystem 
and retains soil moisture. 
Chapter 1.indd   3 05-07-2025   16:47:39
4
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1
us discuss a set of ideas or things without needing to describe 
them every time. We can communicate more effectively, too. In 
earlier classes, you learnt about living and non-living things. As 
soon as we use these words, you know what they mean. This is a 
simple example of categories. 
We do the same with natural resources. 
THINK ABOUT IT
What might be the different criteria we can use to categorise 
natural resources?
One of the ways we could categorise natural resources is based 
on the uses we put them to — essential for our life, source for 
materials and sources for energy. 
Resources essential for life
Life could not exist on Earth without the air we breathe, the 
water we drink and the food we eat. We take these from the 
atmosphere, the rivers and ponds, and through the cultivation 
of soil or other living things. We cannot make the air we breathe, 
the water we drink, or the soil which gives us food. 
Resources for materials
Human beings create physical objects out of Nature’s gifts. We 
make them for our utility or to create things of beauty that 
enrich our lives and those of others ? a piece of wood can be 
transformed into a chair and also carved into a statuette. India’s 
geographical diversity provides us with a wide variety of natural 
resources, from wood to marble, and coal to gold.
Resources for energy
Energy is a cornerstone of modern living — electricity for our 
buildings, transportation, and all types of production processes. 
This energy can come from diverse natural sources: coal, water, 
petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, wind, etc. 
Chapter 1.indd   4 05-07-2025   16:47:39
5
India and the World: Land and the People
1 – Natural Resources and Their Use
Renewable and non-renewable resources
A second way of categorising natural resources could be based on 
whether they are renewable or not. 
A general principle of Nature is that it functions in a restorative and 
regenerative way. Restoration is the process of returning something 
to its original healthy state if it has been degraded or damaged. Nature 
heals, renews and maintains herself over time. A cut on your skin 
will normally heal; a forest recovers after a wildfire. Regeneration 
goes beyond restoration. It is about Nature’s ability to create new life 
and the conditions for thriving. 
We plant trees in areas that may have lost them on account of human 
interventions like clearing forests for housing. Planting the types 
of trees that were originally growing there restores the ecosystem 
— the trees provide food and shelter for birds, squirrels and other 
creatures, enabling life to return. 
Nature works in cycles where there is no waste. Take a forest. Let’s 
say a tree falls in the forest. It decomposes with the bacteria, fungi 
and insects feeding on it. The tree becomes part of the soil enriching 
it. New trees and plants grow from seeds … eventually some will fall 
and the cycle starts again. 
These are examples of Nature’s principle of restoration and 
regeneration in practice.
Renewable resources
Renewable resources exhibit these characteristics over time. Most 
of India has abundant sunshine. In the natural course, rivers are 
Fig. 1.7. River water , a renewable 
resource as long as glaciers and 
forests exist
Fig. 1.8. We can take timber from the 
forest, in limited quantities, for a long 
time if we allow it to regenerate.
Chapter 1.indd   5 05-07-2025   16:47:40