5.2 Case Study of Development (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)

Bihar is a peripheral region where people still rely on agriculture. The state is landlocked and has limited connectivity with the rest of the country, and development remains slow.

As India has developed, its economic structure has changed from mainly primary to tertiary and quaternary.

India’s key exports are oil products, gems and jewellery.

Historically, India has received the most international aid, but this has declined rapidly as the country has developed. India now sends aid to other countries. In 2022, it gave $2.4 billion in foreign aid.

True.

India has agreed to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar power and plant more forests to absorb carbon emissions

Before 1991, private investment was difficult because companies needed a licence before they could build and begin producing goods.

After the government opened up its economy, large investors from the USA and Europe outsourced its manufacturing and IT services to India.

Many TNCs have set up offices and production plants in India. They have improved the infrastructure, provided training and contributed taxes to the government for further development.

Over the last 30 years, India's population structure has changed from the typical population structure of a developing country to an emerging one.

True.

People in India traditionally have a preference for male children. This is because sons are regarded as able to add wealth to the family, continue the family lineage and defend the family unit.

Overall, fertility rates have declined by nearly 50% to 2.13 births per woman (2023) from 4.04 births per woman in 1990.

Women have access to education, family planning programmes and improved female status.

Life expectancy has increased from 57 years in 1990 to 72 years in 2023.

The dependency ratio is the ratio of the non-working age population (aged 0–14 and 65+) to the working-age population (aged 15–64).

India's dependency ratio has decreased from 73% in 1990 to 53% in 2013 and now stands at close to 47.5 % in 2022.

The more working adults there are paying taxes, the easier it is for the government to fund health-care systems and pension schemes.

Improved education and investment in schools have increased literacy rates from 48% in 1990 to 76% in 2023.

Gender equality refers to equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for men and women in all areas of life.

Over the last 30 years, there has been a reduction in gender inequality, with greater opportunities for women to earn an income.

Geopolitics is the impact of a country's human and physical geography on its international politics and relations.

Foreign policy refers to a country's strategies and objectives in dealing with other nations.

A territorial dispute is a disagreement between countries over the ownership or control of a particular territory or region.

India is in dispute with China over dams, which limit each other’s water supply.

India has a long-standing dispute with Pakistan and China over Kashmir, where all countries claim the region is theirs.

False.

India has the world's third-largest military budget.

A military pact is a formal agreement between countries to cooperate on defence and military matters.

India’s technology has expanded rapidly with its own ICT industry and huge wireless network and is estimated to contribute US$240 billion to India's GDP.

The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to modern information and communications technology and those who do not.

True.

India is the second-largest manufacturer of mobile phones, with over 1.2 billion mobile phone users and 600 million smartphone users in India.

Mobile technology has improved development for different groups as they are now able to start businesses because of online digital payments rather than travelling to a bank.

A positive social impact is improved literacy levels due to government policies, leading to better jobs and income.

A negative social impact is rapid population growth through decreasing death rates and increasing life expectancy, which adds stress on housing provision (slums) and healthcare services.

A positive economic impact is a larger workforce, leading to a stronger economy.

A negative economic impact is increasing income inequality and disparities between rural and urban areas.

True.

Development has led to an increase in deforestation and desertification in India.

A positive environmental impact is the potential to invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar power.

A negative environmental impact is the over-extraction of natural resources, leading to pollution and damage to the environment.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees to convert non-forested land into a forested area.

The 'polluter pays' principle is the idea that the costs of pollution should be borne by those responsible for causing it.

E-waste recycling is the process of recovering and reusing materials from discarded electronic devices.

The Smart City Mission is an urban renewal and retrofitting program by the Indian government to develop sustainable and people-friendly cities across the country.

The National Green Tribunal was set up in India in 2010 to deal with issues of environmental protection and conservation.