Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 8 Geography Chapter 11 Human Resources in India

Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks

Question 1: A ........ is something that helps us to meet our needs and create wealth.
Answer: resource
A resource is basically anything in our environment that has a specific use or value to us. In economic terms, it serves as the building block for generating income and improving our standard of living.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a resource as a "helper" that turns raw materials into useful things.
Exam Tip: Whenever you define a resource, always mention its role in "creating wealth" to get full marks.

Question 2: The working population of a country includes both ........ and unskilled human resources.
Answer: skilled
The working population is the group of people who are physically and mentally capable of doing jobs. It is important to have both types because a country needs both expert knowledge and manual labor to function.
Teacher's Tip: Remember that "Working" means anyone from a doctor to a daily wage laborer.
Exam Tip: Do not confuse the total population with the working population; only those who can work are included here.

Question 3: Scientists and doctors are example of ........ human resources.
Answer: skilled
These professionals go through years of intense training and education to master their specific fields. Their specialized knowledge makes them very valuable and much harder to replace than general workers.
Teacher's Tip: If a job requires a college degree or special license, it is always "Skilled."
Exam Tip: Use the term "specialized training" when explaining why doctors are skilled resources.

Question 4: Unskilled human resources include people with little ........
Answer: education.
Unskilled workers usually perform tasks that do not require specific academic knowledge or technical certificates. They often learn their work through simple observation or by doing it repeatedly on the job.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Unskilled" as work that anyone can learn to do very quickly.
Exam Tip: Note that "little education" refers to formal schooling, not a person's intelligence.

Question 5: Good education changes the attitude and ........ of people.
Answer: behaviour
Education helps people understand the world better and treat others with more respect and logic. It turns a large population from a burden into a productive group of citizens who follow rules and help others.
Teacher's Tip: Education is the "polishing" tool that makes the human resource shine.
Exam Tip: If a question asks how to improve human resources, "education and health" are always the top answers.

B. Write true or false

Question 1: A skilled person can easily be replaced.
Answer: False. A skilled person cannot easily be replaced.
Because skilled work requires special education and years of practice, you cannot find a replacement for an expert overnight. Training a new person to that same level takes a lot of time and money.
Teacher's Tip: Skill is like a secret recipe; you can't just cook it without the right ingredients and time.
Exam Tip: In True/False questions, if the statement is false, always write the correct version below it.

Question 2: IT professionals are unskilled resources.
Answer: False. IT professionals are skilled resources.
Information Technology experts spend a long time learning complex computer languages and software systems. Their work is highly technical and essential for the modern digital economy.
Teacher's Tip: Computer work is "Brain work," and brain work is almost always "Skilled."
Exam Tip: Use IT professionals as a prime example of "Skilled Human Resources" in your long answers.

Question 3: Unskilled workers have a high income.
Answer: False. Unskilled workers have a low income.
Since many people can do unskilled work, the competition is high, which keeps the wages relatively low. High income is usually reserved for those who have rare or specialized skills that few others possess.
Teacher's Tip: Skill Level is usually equal to Pay Level; higher skill means higher pay.
Exam Tip: Remember that "income" refers to the money a person earns for their work.

Question 4: Education improves the understanding of people.
Answer: True.
When we study, we learn about science, history, and social rules, which helps us make better choices in life. It allows us to process information and solve problems more effectively than those who haven't been to school.
Teacher's Tip: Education is like a pair of glasses that helps you see the world clearly.
Exam Tip: Link education to "mental efficiency" to explain why it's a positive factor.

Question 5: India has 16.9 per cent of the world’s land area.
Answer: False. India has 16.9 per cent of the world’s population.
India is actually quite small in terms of land, having only about 2.4% of the world's total land area. The 16.9% figure shows just how many people are crowded into our country compared to the rest of the planet.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: India has "Little Land" but "Lots of People."
Exam Tip: Memorize the specific percentage 16.9% as it is a key statistic for Indian demography.

C. Match the columns

Question 1: Match the following items in Column A with Column B.

Column A
1. Doctor
2. Domestic helps
3. North-eastern states
4. Northern plains
5. Rural people
Column B
a. Thin population
b. Skilled human resources
c. Un-skilled human resources
d. Agriculture
e. Thick population
Answer:
1. Doctor - b. Skilled human resources
2. Domestic helps - c. Un-skilled human resources
3. North-eastern states - a. Thin population
4. Northern plains - e. Thick population
5. Rural people - d. Agriculture
This exercise helps connect people's jobs and locations to the geographical concepts we are studying. For instance, the flat land of the Northern Plains allows for easy living, which leads to a thick population.
Teacher's Tip: Match "Plains" with "Thick" and "Mountains (North-east)" with "Thin."
Exam Tip: When matching columns, rewrite the pairs side-by-side instead of drawing messy crossing lines.

D. Answer these questions briefly

Question 1: What do you understand by the term human resources ?
Answer: People are considered a resource as they have the skill and ability to exploit other natural resources and help a country in its growth. Thus, people are considered and called as human resource.
Humans are the only resource that can think and create new technologies to use things like coal or solar energy. Without human intelligence, all other natural materials would remain useless in the ground.
Teacher's Tip: Humans are the "Master Resource" because they manage all the others.
Exam Tip: Use the word "exploit" correctly here to mean "making use of resources for development."

Question 2: What are the differences between skilled and unskilled human resources ?
Answer:
Skilled human resources :
1. These people have specialised training to perform their work.
2. These people have different levels of formal education.
3. These people do jobs that require knowledge and skill and they cannot be easily replaced.
4. They generally earn high income.
5. Examples - doctors, engineers, scientist, lawyer, teacher, etc.
Unskilled human resources :
1. These people have very limited skills.
2. The people have very little formal education.
3. Their jobs do not require any specialized skills and they can be easily replaced.
4. They generally earn low wage.
5. Examples : workers at construction sites, domestic help, sanitation workers, etc.
The main difference lies in the level of training and how easy it is to find someone else to do that specific task. A country needs a good mix of both, but having more skilled resources usually leads to a richer nation.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: Skilled = High Training/High Pay; Unskilled = Low Training/Low Pay.
Exam Tip: Give at least two examples for each type to show the examiner you understand the categories.

Question 3: Which areas in India are thickly populated ?
Answer: The vast northern plains like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and coastal plains are thickly populated areas in India.
These areas are crowded because the land is flat, making it very easy to build houses, roads, and large cities. Also, the soil is fertile and there is plenty of water, which is perfect for farming and supporting large families.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Flat Land" and "Water" as the two magnets that attract people.
Exam Tip: Be sure to name the specific states like "Uttar Pradesh" and "Bihar" for a complete answer.

Question 4: Define sex ratio.
Answer: Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males.
This number helps us understand if there is a healthy balance between men and women in a society. A very low sex ratio often points to social problems or discrimination against female children.
Teacher's Tip: It is a ratio compared against a base of 1,000 men.
Exam Tip: Never forget to mention "per thousand" when defining sex ratio; it's the most important part!

Question 5: Why is the sex ratio low in Punjab and Haryana ?
Answer: The sex ratio is low in Punjab (893) and Haryana (877) because of :
- Greater mortality rates of female babies
- Girl child being killed by abortion.
In these states, there has historically been a strong preference for boys over girls, leading to many girls not being allowed to be born or survive infancy. This has created a serious imbalance in the population of these two states.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the numbers: Punjab is around 890 and Haryana is around 870.
Exam Tip: Use the term "female foeticide" if you want to use a more advanced word for the second point.

E. Answer these questions in one or two paragraphs

Question 1: Why is human resource important for a country ?
Answer: Human resource is important for a country as they can help a country meet its needs and help in its economic growth. Human beings are the most important resource of a country because they can use their intelligence and ability to exploit other resources such as land, minerals and water in the best possible way.
Without people, a country's minerals and forests are just sitting there with no purpose. Humans are the "active" resource that uses technology to turn those "passive" natural materials into buildings, food, and energy.
Teacher's Tip: Humans are the "Brain" of the country's resource system.
Exam Tip: Focus on the word "intelligence" to explain why humans are superior to other resources.

Question 2: Explain briefly the impact of skilled human resource on the socio-economic development of the country.
Answer: Human resources play an important role in the overall development of a country. Human resources are required for the proper utilization of a country’s natural resources like mineral, water, forest, etc. because the optimal utilization of these resources is necessary for the economic development of the country. Skilled and the knowledgeable human resources make a rational use of all resources at their disposal and increase the volume of output and income for a country. They are well versed in using modern technology and thus help to bring development in a country. They help to increase production by producing a variety of goods and services of high quality. The development of human resource works as a tool for economic change. It can make people knowledgeable, skilled and physically healthy. This can lead to a change in the attitudes of the people, develop their thought process and improve the quality of their life. Such changes encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship and motivate people to work hard, take risks, do research and explore their innovative capacity.
Skilled workers are the engine of a nation's growth because they can handle complicated machines and create new inventions. When people are trained and healthy, they work more efficiently, which makes the whole country wealthier and more advanced.
Teacher's Tip: Skilled people turn "Quantity" into "Quality" for a nation.
Exam Tip: Mention "entrepreneurship" and "innovative capacity" to show how skills lead to new businesses.

Question 3: Discuss the role of health and education in developing human resources.
Answer: Health and education play a very important role in the development of human resource. Health people can work well and do things quickly. They are able to utilize other resources in a better way. Unhealthy people are unable to perform well and spend money on their treatment which could otherwise be used to acquire other valuable resources or enhance their skills. Education also plays an important role in the development of human resource. When a person receives good education, it improves his or her level of understanding increases their capacity and mental efficiency to produce more and changes the attitude and behaviour of people as they gain more confidence in themselves. A country with high proportion of well educated people can achieve rapid economic growth.
Think of health as the "power" and education as the "software" that runs a person. A healthy person has the energy to work, while an educated person knows exactly what to do and how to do it better.
Teacher's Tip: Health = Ability to work; Education = Efficiency of work.
Exam Tip: Discuss both health and education separately to provide a balanced and detailed answer.

Question 4: What do you know about the rural-urban population composition in India ?
Answer: Population of India may be classified into rural and urban population depending on where the people live. Rural population - They live in villages. They generally earn their livelihood from agriculture, livestock rearing and other primary activities. In India, more people live in rural areas (about 69 per cent). In recent years, a large number of people have migrated from rural to urban areas in search of job, good education and better living conditions. Urban population - They live in cities and towns. They earn their livelihood from jobs in offices, factories, trade, transport and services. In India, about 31 per cent people live in urban areas. Migration from rural to urban areas have had an impact on the population of urban areas.
In India, the majority of people still live in the countryside and work in farms. However, every year millions move to cities (urban areas) because they want better hospitals, bigger schools, and higher-paying office jobs.
Teacher's Tip: Rural = 69%; Urban = 31%. Just remember "Roughly 70-30 split."
Exam Tip: Use the word "migration" to explain how the urban population is growing so fast.

Question 5: Give an account of the distribution of population in India.
Answer: India is the second most populous country in the world after China. We have just 2.4 per cent of the land area of the world but have about 16.9 per cent of the world’s population. The last census conducted in 2011 recorded the Indian population at 1, 210, 193, 422. Out of these about 69% live in rural areas and 31% in urban areas. Northern plains have highest concentration of population which includes states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The coastal plains are also thickly populated. The population is thin in the north-eastern states and in the desert region of the west. The Deccan plateau has a moderate population concentration. In India, the sex ratio is 940, which means on an average, we have 940 females to every 1000 males.
Population is not spread out evenly; some places are very crowded while others are very empty. Factors like the climate, flatness of the land, and availability of water decide where most people choose to settle down.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the population distribution as a map where the colors are darkest in the North and on the coasts.
Exam Tip: Be sure to mention that North-eastern and desert states have "thin" population compared to the plains.

Question 6: Write a note on sex ratio in India.
Answer: Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males. In India, on an average, there are more males than females - 940 females for every 1000 males. In some states, the sex ratio is low like only 877 females to every 1000 males in Haryana and 893 females to every 1000 males in Punjab. There are a number of reasons. Greater mortality rates of female babies and the girl child being killed at birth are two important reasons for poor sex ratio in these states. Kerala and Puducherry have the highest sex ratio with 1084 females to 1000 males in Kerala and 1038 females to every 1000 males in Puducherry. High literacy rate is the reason for this. The fewer number of females per 1000 males in India is a major concern. Which can raise many social issue.
Kerala stands out as a positive example because its people are well-educated and value female children equally. Improving literacy and awareness is the best way to fix the low sex ratio in the rest of the country.
Teacher's Tip: Kerala is the only state where women "outnumber" the men!
Exam Tip: Memorize 940 as the national average for the sex ratio based on the 2011 Census.

F. Picture study

Question 1: In these pictures (i) and (ii) identify the two types of human resources in terms of skills.
Answer:
- A worker at a construction site unskilled person.
- An IT Professional skilled person.
The first image represents manual labor that requires physical strength but not much technical schooling. The second image shows a professional working with technology, which requires high-level mental training.
Teacher's Tip: Picture 1 = Physical Work (Unskilled); Picture 2 = Mental Work (Skilled).
Exam Tip: When identifying from a picture, always name the occupation first and then its category.

Question 2: Mention a characteristics of each type.
Answer:
1. Unskilled human resource include people with little formal education and very limited skills. Workers at construction sites, sanitation workers, domestic helps, etc. are examples of unskilled human resource. Their jobs do not require any specialized skill and these people can easily be replaced. They generally earn a low wage.
2. A skilled person is someone who has specialized training to perform their work. These people have different levels of formal education. Scientists, lawyers, etc. are examples of skilled human resource. These people perform tasks that require knowledge and skill, and they cannot be easily replaced. They generally earn a high income.
Unskilled workers are often easy to replace because the tasks they do can be learned by almost anyone very quickly. Skilled workers, however, have "intellectual property" in their brains that took years of studying to build up.
Teacher's Tip: Skill = Time to Learn + Difficulty to Replace.
Exam Tip: Mention "income" as a characteristic because it is a direct result of the worker's skill level.

Extra Questions

Question 1: What do you mean by mortality rate ?
Answer: The number of deaths per 1000 live births is called mortality rate. It is also called as death rate.
This statistic helps doctors and the government understand how healthy the people in a certain area are. A high mortality rate usually means that a place needs better hospitals and cleaner water.
Teacher's Tip: "Mort" means death (like in mortal or morgue).
Exam Tip: Remember that mortality rate is usually calculated "per thousand" just like the sex ratio.

Question 2: Name the two categories of working population (human resource).
Answer: The working population of a country is divided into :
- Skilled human resource
- Unskilled human resource
This division helps economists plan how to improve the workforce and what kind of training is needed most. Every economy needs a balance of both to build everything from houses to computer programs.
Teacher's Tip: Just think "Specialized vs. General" workers.
Exam Tip: Be sure to write the full term "human resource" for each category to be formal.

Question 3: What is the impact of skilled human resource on the socio-economic development of India ?
Answer: Education is essential for the socio-economic development of a country and plays a key role in the development of skilled human resources. The Indian government has invested heavily in human resource development because it promotes economic growth in country. Education and skill training is necessary for achieving the growth targets. In India, skill training needs attention except for limited professions like engineers, doctors and computer professionals. The government has started the ‘Skill India Mission’ for the youth in order to meet the demands skilled workers and for the economic growth of the nation. Through this mission the unemployed, school dropouts, women, ordinary graduates, etc. are given training based on their knowledge and ability which will prepare them for jobs. Training is also to be given to carpenters, masons, black smiths, cobblers, welders, tailors, weavers, etc.
By teaching people traditional skills like weaving and modern skills like welding, the country creates more jobs and reduces poverty. This mission helps people who didn't finish school to find a way to earn a good living and help the nation grow.
Teacher's Tip: "Skill India" is like a giant workshop for the whole country.
Exam Tip: Mentioning the "Skill India Mission" specifically will show the examiner you know current events.

Question 4: What is HDI ?
Answer: The Human Development Index (HDI), devised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), measures the level of development in a country. This index is calculated on the basis of per capita income, education, literacy and life expectancy of the population. India ranked 130 among 188 countries in the Human Development Report 2015.
HDI is a "scorecard" for countries that doesn't just look at money, but also at how long people live and how much they learn. A higher score means that the average person in that country has a much better and easier life.
Teacher's Tip: HDI = Wealth + Health + Wisdom (Education).
Exam Tip: Learn the full form of HDI and which organization (UNDP) creates it.

Question 5: What is census ?
Answer: The counting of the country’s population conducted every 10 years in India is called Census.
During a census, government workers go from door to door to count every single person and record their age, job, and education. This massive database helps the government plan exactly how many new schools or hospitals are needed for the next decade.
Teacher's Tip: Census is the "Giant Headcount" of the nation.
Exam Tip: Remember the interval: it happens "every 10 years."

Question 6: Mention various factors that affect the distribution of population in our country.
Answer: The factors that affect the distribution of population in our country are physical features, climate, availability of natural resources and the level of industrialization.
People naturally prefer to live where the weather is nice, the ground is flat for building, and there are many factories or offices providing jobs. Harsh places like high mountains or hot deserts stay empty because life there is a constant struggle.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: "Job, Joy (Climate), and Joint (Landform)."
Exam Tip: If asked to list factors, use these four as your main headings for a clear answer.

Question 7: Why are northern plains thickly populated ?
Answer: Northern plains have fertile land which is best suited for agriculture. Transport and communication facilities are well developed and employment opportunities are also good.
Because the land is flat, it is very cheap and easy to lay down railway tracks and roads, which connects people and helps businesses grow. The presence of perennial rivers also ensures that farmers have water all year round for their crops.
Teacher's Tip: Thickly Populated = Many people in a small space.
Exam Tip: Mention "agriculture" and "transport" as the two main reasons for the high population in the plains.

8. Fill in the blanks

Question 1: ........ human resource cannot be easily replaced while ........ human resource can be easily replaced.
Answer: Skilled, unskilled
Skilled professionals have unique knowledge that takes years to acquire, making them precious assets. Unskilled labor is much more common, so finding a new worker for those roles is usually very fast and easy.
Teacher's Tip: "Precious" is Skilled; "Plentiful" is Unskilled.
Exam Tip: This comparison is very common; practice identifying skilled vs unskilled jobs.

Question 2: A country with a high proportion of well-educated people can achieve ........ economic growth.
Answer: rapid
Educated people come up with new ideas and work much faster using modern technology. This efficiency helps the entire country's economy zoom ahead of nations where most people haven't been to school.
Teacher's Tip: Education is the "Turbo-boost" for a country's wealth.
Exam Tip: Use the word "rapid" to describe growth led by human resources.

Question 3: India’s population is more than the population of North America, South America and ........ put together.
Answer: Australia
This comparison shows the unbelievable size of India's population. It is incredible to think that one single country has more people than three entire continents combined!
Teacher's Tip: Visualize India as having three whole continents worth of people inside its borders.
Exam Tip: Be sure to spell "Australia" correctly in this context.

Question 4: India has ........ % of the land area of the world but about ........% of the world’s population.
Answer: 2.4, 16.9
These numbers highlight the huge pressure on India's resources and space. We have a very "small slice of the pie" in terms of land, but we have to feed "a huge portion of the world" in terms of people.
Teacher's Tip: 2.4 vs16.9—almost 7 times more people than land share!
Exam Tip: Use LaTeX formatting for percentages to keep your work neat (2.4% and 16.9%).

Question 5: In India sex ratio is ........ females for every 1000 males.
Answer: 940
This 2011 figure tells us that for every 1,000 boys, there are 60 fewer girls. The government is working to bring this number closer to 1,000 through awareness and better laws.
Teacher's Tip: Remember 940—it's 60 short of a perfect match.
Exam Tip: The base for sex ratio is always 1,000 males; don't use 100 or percentages here.

Question 6: ........ are the most important resource of a country as they can exploit other resources.
Answer: Human beings
Natural resources are just "stuff" until human beings find a way to use them. Our creativity and tools are what turn rocks into steel and sunlight into power.
Teacher's Tip: Humans are the "Creators" of all other resources.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "most important resource" specifically to refer to human beings.

Question 7: Health and ........ play an important role in developing human resources.
Answer: education
A person needs both a strong body and a smart mind to be a productive member of society. These two factors together are the foundation of a successful human resource strategy.
Teacher's Tip: Health + Education = Human Capital.
Exam Tip: Always mention both if asked for the "main factors" of human development.

Question 8: The ........ are thickly populated in India while north eastern states and desert in the west are ........ populated.
Answer: Northern plains, thinly
This contrast is due to the geography of the different regions. The easy living in the flat plains attracts people, while the steep mountains and hot sands drive them away.
Teacher's Tip: Thickly = High Density; Thinly = Low Density.
Exam Tip: Contrast these two regions in your mind: The Ganga Basin vs. The Thar Desert.

Question 9: ........ is the number of females per thousand males.
Answer: Sex ratio
This term is the standard way to measure gender balance in any population. It is a vital statistic for understanding social health and gender equality.
Teacher's Tip: Ratio means a comparison of two numbers.
Exam Tip: Use "per thousand males" every single time you define this term.