Natural Resources and Their Use — Practice

Question 1

Classify these as renewable or non-renewable: solar, coal, water, iron ore.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: RENEWABLE: solar, water (if used sustainably). NON-RENEWABLE: coal, iron ore. Note: even water can be locally depleted; even forests if cut faster than regrown.

Question 2

Name three Indian states rich in coal.

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh. (Also: West Bengal, MP.)

Question 3

Suggest three ways students can conserve water at home.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Use less water.
  • Take shorter showers (5 min instead of 15)
  • Use buckets instead of running tap for washing
  • Don't leave tap running while brushing teeth
  • Wash full loads of clothes/dishes only

Step 2 — Reuse water.
  • Use water from washing vegetables to water plants
  • Re-use bath water for cleaning

Step 3 — Repair and harvest.
  • Fix all leaks immediately (small leaks waste lots)
  • Install rainwater harvesting
  • Use water-efficient fixtures

Step 4 — Educate.
  • Teach family and friends
  • Lead by example

✦ Answer: Three ways students conserve water: (1) USE LESS (short showers, no running taps), (2) REUSE (vegetable water for plants), (3) REPAIR AND HARVEST (fix leaks, rainwater harvesting). Multiplied across billions of Indians, this can transform water security.

Question 4

Discuss India's renewable energy push — targets, achievements, challenges.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Targets.
  India committed at COP26 (2021):
  • 500 GW non-fossil energy by 2030
  • Half of electricity from renewables by 2030
  • Reduce emissions intensity 45% by 2030
  • Net-zero by 2070

Step 2 — Major projects.
  • Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan: ~2,245 MW (world's largest single solar park)
  • Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka: 2,050 MW
  • Wind farms in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat
  • Massive offshore wind plans
  • Floating solar on reservoirs

Step 3 — Achievements.
  • Solar capacity: ~75 GW (2024) — ranked 4th globally
  • Wind capacity: ~46 GW
  • Total renewable: ~200 GW (target 500 by 2030)
  • Fastest growth among major economies

Step 4 — Challenges.
  • Storage technology (batteries needed for solar/wind variability)
  • Land acquisition for large projects
  • Initial investment costs
  • Grid integration of renewable supply
  • Coal industry employment transition (~1 million workers)
  • Climate change itself (affects hydro, agriculture)

Step 5 — Innovation.
  • Green hydrogen mission (2023)
  • Electric vehicles (Tata, Mahindra, Ola, Hero EVs)
  • Smart grids and decentralised solar
  • International Solar Alliance (India + 121 nations)

Step 6 — Indian advantages.
  • Abundant sunlight (300+ sunny days)
  • Long coastline (offshore wind)
  • Young engineering workforce
  • Falling costs of solar (~90% drop in 10 years)
  • Strong policy support

Step 7 — Mission LiFE (2022).
  Lifestyle for Environment — encouraging individuals to adopt sustainable practices. Indian initiative now global.

Step 8 — Lessons for students.
  • Reduce personal energy use
  • Choose efficient appliances (BEE star ratings)
  • Consider rooftop solar (homes, schools)
  • Promote EVs in your area
  • Support renewable policies

✦ Answer: India's renewable target: 500 GW non-fossil by 2030, net-zero by 2070. Achievements: Bhadla (world's largest solar park), 75 GW solar already installed (4th globally), 200 GW total renewables. Challenges: storage, land, transition, grid integration. Innovation: green hydrogen, EVs, ISA. India is now a global renewable leader — students must support this transition through personal choices and supporting policies.

Practice — Natural Resources and Their Use

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