Ans) Anything or material is called a resource only when it fulfils the needs of humans. For example-water is a resource because it quenches thirst, irrigates fields, and is used for cleanliness, cooking food, etc. Likewise, all those things that help to meet the needs of humans are called resources.

Importance – Resources make human life easy and happy. In the ancient period, humans were fully dependent on nature. Gradually, humans by their intelligence skills, important resources that make human life easy and happy. In the ancient period, people used natural things maximum to meet their needs. Today, those countries are considered more prosperous which have more resources. Today, the availability of resources becomes an indication of progress. Therefore, resources have great importance in our lives.

Ans) Yes, I do agree with the statement-

1. Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural development.
2. Rajasthan is well endowed with wind and solar energy, but lacks in water resources.
3. The cold desert of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the country. It has very rich cultural heritage but lacks in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.

Ans) The vertical section of the soil, which shows a series of horizontal layers, configuration, and their position s is called a soil profile. Thus, the arrangement of soil layers is called soil profile. (1) The top layer is topsoil, (2) the second layer is subsoil, (3) the third layer is parent material, and (4) the fourth layer is bedrock. The upper layer of topsoil is the actual soil. Its most important characteristic is that it is rich in humus and organic matter. The second subsoil consists of rock fragments, sand and silt, the third layer consists of decomposed parent rock material and the fourth layer consists of parent rock.

Ans) Resources are essential for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life. Resources are gifts of nature. As a result, human beings used them indiscriminately. Technology and economic development led to more consumption of resources. We can understand this by the following facts:-

1. Technological development has led to industrialisation and urbanisation which increased the use of natural resources.
2. Economic development has brought modernisation which demands more resources.
3. With the advent of information technology, people’s lifestyles have changed. Now human beings are tempted by the Western line of consumption.
4. Technology improved the process of mining, resulting in excessive use of natural resources.

Ans) Differences between Alluvial and Black soil:-

Ans) The following are the differences between Bangar and Khadar:-

Bangar	Khadar
The high upland formed by the alluvial deposits is called bangar.	Low land formed by the new alluvial soil through flood is called khadar.
Due to height, flood water has no access here.	Its entire part is flood plain.
It has a higher concentration of kankar, which decreases its moisture and hence, it is less fertile.	Khadar has fertile alluvial soil.
It spreads over Punjab and Uttar.	It spreads over eastern Uttar Pradesh, Pradesh. Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Ans) Differences between Red and Laterite soil Red Soil are:-

Red soil	Laterite soil
This soil is formed by the weathering of igneous and metamorphic rocks in the tropical and subtropical climate.	This soil is formed in the tropical and subtropical climate with alternate wet and dry seasons. It is formed by weathering of laterite rocks.
It is red, yellow, and brown in colour. It is rich in iron, aluminium, and lime. This soil is extremely porous.	This soil is found on high lands. It supports sparse vegetation. A deep laterite soil consists of iron, oxide and potash in large quantity.
This soil is found from the Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh to southern islands. It is found in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.	It is found in upper and lower areas of Tamil Nadu. Coorg (kodagu) district of Karnataka, coastal areas of Kerala, Ratnagiri of Maharashtra, between Besait and Granite rocks of West Bengal and plateau regions of Odisha.
This soil is most suitable for growing millets but dark red soil is suitable for growing cotton, wheat, pulses and coarse grains.	This soil is suitable for growing rice, wheat, cotton, pulses, coarse grains, cinchona, tea, coffee etc. crops.

Ans) Sustainable resources – Sustainable resources are natural resources that are renewable and can be replenished at the same or faster rate than they are consumed, ensuring they remain available for future generations.

Developed resources – Developed resources are natural resources whose quality and quantity have been determined for use, and which are being actively used at present, such as active coal mines or agricultural land.

Ans)

Ans) Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat are the three states where black soil is found. The main crop grown on black soil in these states is cotton, although other crops such as sugarcane and wheat can also be grown here. Details are as follows:-

1. Maharashtra – This state has extensive black soil, particularly on the Deccan Plateau, which is ideal for cotton cultivation. 
2. Madhya Pradesh – The Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh also has a significant amount of black soil, supporting cotton and other crops. 
3. Gujrat – The Saurashtra region in Gujarat has large areas covered by black soil, which is very suitable for growing cotton. 

Ans) The soil found in the river deltas of the East Coast is alluvial. Alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt, and clay. According to their age, alluvial soil can be classified as old alluvial(Bangar) and new alluvial soil(Khadar). Three main features of this type of soil are:-

1. High Fertility and Mineral Content – This soil is very fertile and rich in essential nutrients such as potash, lime, and phosphoric acid, which are crucial for crop growth. 
2. Varying Texture – It consists of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay in different proportions, giving it a loamy texture. 
3. Good Water Retention – Alluvial soil possesses a good water-holding capacity, which is beneficial for the sustained growth of crops such as sugarcane, rice, wheat, other cereals, and pulse crops. 

Ans) Agenda 21– It is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which was held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Principles:-

1. It aims at achieving global sustainable development.
2. It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty, and disease through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs, and shared responsibilities.
3. A major objective of Agenda-21 is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda-21.

Ans) We live on land, perform various economic activities on it, and use it in different ways. Therefore, land is a natural resource of utmost importance. Natural vegetation, wildlife, human life, economic activities, transport, and communication systems are based on land. But land is an asset of a finite magnitude. Therefore, the available land should be used for various purposes with careful planning.