Topic 2 - Development Dynamics

Question 1

What is development?

Answer 1

The progress of a country in economic growth, technology, and quality of life.

Question 2

What is GDP?

Answer 2

Gross Domestic Product — the total value of goods and services produced in a country per year.

Question 3

What is GNI per capita?

Answer 3

Gross National Income divided by population; a measure of average wealth.

Question 4

What is the Human Development Index (HDI)?

Answer 4

A composite measure using life expectancy, education, and GNI per capita.

Question 5

What is the difference between economic and social development?

Answer 5

Economic = wealth, income, jobs.
Social = health, education, equality, housing.

Question 6

What does the term “development gap” mean?

Answer 6

The difference in development levels between the richest and poorest countries.

Question 7

What are top-down development strategies?

Answer 7

Large-scale projects run by governments or big companies; expensive and high impact.

Question 8

What are bottom-up development strategies?

Answer 8

Small-scale, community-run projects that focus on local needs.

Question 9

Give an example of a bottom-up project.

Answer 9

Microloans, rainwater harvesting, small irrigation schemes, community health projects.

Question 10

What is globalisation?

Answer 10

The increasing interconnection of countries through trade, transport, communication, and culture.

Question 11

What is FDI?

Answer 11

Foreign Direct Investment — money invested by foreign companies into another country.

Question 12

What is the role of TNCs?

Answer 12

Transnational corporations invest, create jobs, expand markets, and link countries into global trade.

Question 13

What is a demographic indicator of development?

Answer 13

Birth rate, death rate, fertility rate, infant mortality, life expectancy.

Question 14

What is a political barrier to development?

Answer 14

Corruption, conflict, unstable government.

Question 15

What is a social barrier to development?

Answer 15

Poor education, poor healthcare, gender inequality.

Question 16

What is a physical barrier to development?

Answer 16

Natural disasters, climate, poor soil, lack of natural resources, landlocked location.

Question 17

What are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?

Answer 17

Eight global goals set by the UN to tackle poverty, health, and education (2000–2015).

Question 18

What replaced the MDGs?

Answer 18

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 17 targets for global development.

Question 19

What is economic restructuring?

Answer 19

When a country shifts from primary industries to secondary/tertiary sectors.

Question 20

What is meant by inequality?

Answer 20

Unequal distribution of wealth, opportunities, or services within a country.

Question 21

Where is India located?

Answer 21

South Asia, bordering Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

Question 22

What is India’s level of development?

Answer 22

An emerging country

Question 23

What sectors dominate India’s economy today?

Answer 23

Services (IT, call centres, finance) and manufacturing.

Question 24

What has driven India’s rapid economic growth?

Answer 24

FDI from TNCs, globalisation, rising education levels, technological investment.

Question 25

What is the digital divide?

Answer 25

Unequal access to technology (urban vs rural, rich vs poor).

Question 26

What political changes helped India’s development?

Answer 26

Economic liberalisation / opening to foreign investment since the 1990s.

Question 27

How has globalisation affected India?

Answer 27

Increased trade, more jobs, rapid urbanisation, but also inequality and environmental impacts.

Question 28

What are the main challenges facing India?

Answer 28

Urban poverty, pollution, inequality, water shortages, overcrowding.

Question 29

What environmental impacts has development had?

Answer 29

Air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, increased carbon emissions.

Question 30

Give an example of a top-down project in India.

Answer 30

The Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River.

Question 31

Give an example of a bottom-up project in India.

Answer 31

Biogas generators in rural villages.

Question 32

What are the benefits of bottom-up projects in India?

Answer 32

Affordable, sustainable, community-led, improve quality of life.

Question 33

What are the disadvantages of top-down projects?

Answer 33

Expensive, may cause displacement, may not meet local needs.

Question 34

Why is India important globally?

Answer 34

Large population, fast-growing economy, major exporter of services, regional political power.

Question 35

What is urbanisation and why is it happening in India?

Answer 35

People move to cities for better jobs, services, and opportunities.

Question 36

What is the Rostow Model?

Answer 36

A theory that countries develop through 5 stages from traditional society → mass consumption.

Question 37

What stage of the Rostow Model is India in?

Answer 37

Stage 3–4: Take-off / Drive to maturity (emerging economy).

Question 38

What is the Dependency Theory?

Answer 38

The idea that rich countries exploit poorer ones, trapping them in underdevelopment.

Question 39

What is neo-colonialism?

Answer 39

Indirect control over poorer countries through trade, debt, and political pressure.

Question 40

What is debt relief?

Answer 40

When rich countries or organisations cancel or reduce poorer countries’ debt.

Question 41

What is tied aid?

Answer 41

Aid that must be spent on the donor country’s goods/services.

Question 42

What is short-term emergency aid?

Answer 42

Aid given after disasters (food, water, shelter).

Question 43

What is long-term development aid?

Answer 43

Aid that supports sustainable improvements (education, infrastructure).

Question 44

Why can aid sometimes be ineffective?

Answer 44

Dependency, corruption, inappropriate technology, tied conditions.

Question 45

What is appropriate technology?

Answer 45

Technology that is affordable, easy to maintain, and suited to local conditions.

Question 46

What is economic liberalisation?

Answer 46

Removing trade barriers and allowing foreign companies to invest.

Question 47

How has liberalisation helped India?

Answer 47

Increased FDI, growth of IT and service sectors, more exports, rapid GDP growth.

Question 48

What are India’s core regions?

Answer 48

Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka — areas of fastest growth and investment.

Question 49

What are India’s peripheral regions?

Answer 49

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh — slower development, higher poverty.

Question 50

Why is there uneven development in India?

Answer 50

Differences in education, infrastructure, investment, and natural resources.

Question 51

What is economic inequality?

Answer 51

Uneven distribution of income or wealth within a country.

Question 52

How has economic growth changed India’s society?

Answer 52

Growing middle class, better education, greater urbanisation, but also widening inequality.

Question 53

What role does the IT industry play in India’s development?

Answer 53

Major source of exports, job creation in cities, attracts FDI.

Question 54

What is a mega city?

Answer 54

A city with over 10 million people.

Question 55

Name a mega city in India.

Answer 55

Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore (rapidly growing).

Question 56

What challenges does rapid urbanisation create?

Answer 56

Slums, congestion, pollution, pressure on services, inequality.

Question 57

What is a demographic dividend?

Answer 57

Economic benefit from a large working-age population.

Question 58

How can India benefit from a demographic dividend?

Answer 58

More workers, higher productivity, increased spending and economic growth

Question 59

How has poverty changed in India?

Answer 59

Large reduction since 1990s, but still high in rural and northern states.

Question 60

What is a primary industry?

Answer 60

Extracting natural resources — farming, mining, fishing.

Question 61

What is a secondary industry?

Answer 61

Manufacturing and factories.

Question 62

What is a tertiary industry?

Answer 62

Services — health, education, IT, banking.

Question 63

What is a quaternary industry?

Answer 63

Knowledge and research industries — e.g., software development, biotech.

Question 64

Why do TNCs invest in India?

Answer 64

Large workforce, English speaking population, cheap labour, growing market.

Question 65

What are the costs of TNCs for India?

Answer 65

Low wages, pollution, profits sent abroad, job insecurity.

Question 66

What are the benefits of TNCs for India?

Answer 66

Jobs, training, new technology, increased exports.

Question 67

What is a trade bloc?

Answer 67

A group of countries with free trade between them.

Question 68

How does trade affect development?

Answer 68

Exports = more income, investment, infrastructure growth.

Question 69

What is sustainability in development?

Answer 69

Meeting needs now without damaging resources for the future.