Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 1 Solutions (NCERT 2026–27) – Natural Resources and Their Use

These Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 1 solutions cover Natural Resources and Their Use from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part I), the new NCF-2023 textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter belongs to the theme India and the World: Land and the People and explains when Nature becomes a resource, how natural resources are categorised, why their uneven distribution shapes settlements and conflicts, and why the responsible, sustainable use of renewable and non-renewable resources matters. Below you get step-by-step answers to all Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 8 Subject: Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter: 1 Theme: India and the World: Land and the People Session: 2026–27
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Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 1 – Overview

Chapter 1, Natural Resources and Their Use, explains that an element of Nature becomes a resource only when humans use it — and only if it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable to extract. Natural resources can be categorised by use (resources essential for life, for materials and for energy) or by whether they are renewable (sunlight, wind, flowing water, forests) or non-renewable (coal, petroleum, metals). The chapter shows how Nature works in cycles of restoration and regeneration, how the uneven distribution of resources shapes settlements, trade and even conflicts (Kaveri water sharing, the ‘resource curse’), and how overexploitation — the Punjab groundwater crisis, polluting cement production — harms the future. It ends with the idea of stewardship: using Nature’s gifts wisely so they last for coming generations.

Key Concepts & Terms

Natural resources: materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans — from obvious ones like water, air and soil to coal, petroleum, metal ores and timber.

When Nature becomes a resource: an element of Nature becomes a resource only when it is technologically accessible, its exploitation is economically feasible and it is culturally acceptable to use. (Here ‘exploitation’ simply means the extraction, utilisation and consumption of natural resources.)

Categories by use: resources essential for life (air, water, food/soil), resources for materials (wood, marble, gold), and resources for energy (coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, wind).

Renewable resources: resources that Nature can replenish over time if used sustainably — sunlight, wind, flowing water, and timber from forests — provided the natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration is not disturbed.

Non-renewable resources: resources created over very long periods that cannot be replenished at the rate we use them — fossil fuels (coal, petroleum) and minerals/metals like iron, copper and gold.

Restoration and regeneration: restoration returns something degraded to its healthy state (a cut heals, a forest recovers after a wildfire); regeneration goes further, creating new life and the conditions for thriving.

Ecosystem functions & services: Nature’s inherent ways of working (a forest filters water, prevents soil erosion, gives habitat) are ecosystem functions; when humans benefit from them (clean water, protected farmland, pollinated crops) they are ecosystem services.

Natural resource curse (paradox of plenty): having abundant natural resources does not guarantee prosperity; regions may grow slowly if they cannot develop industries to convert resources into higher-value products.

Stewardship: respecting Nature and using resources so renewables can regenerate and non-renewables last, acting for the wellbeing of all — the idea the Bhagavad Gītā calls lokasangraha.

Other key terms: Biodiversity loss (the decline in the variety of life on Earth), over-exploited (drawing a resource much faster than it can be restored, as with 80% of Punjab’s groundwater area), and the International Solar Alliance (launched by India and France in 2015 to harness solar power).

“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions and activities section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. What can make what is today a renewable resource non-renewable tomorrow? Describe some actions that can prevent this from happening.

ANSWER A renewable resource stays renewable only as long as the natural rhythm of restoration and regeneration is not disturbed. If we use it faster than Nature can replenish it, the resource gets depleted and effectively becomes non-renewable. For example, if we harvest timber faster than a forest can grow new trees, the forest is destroyed; if groundwater is pumped out faster than rain can recharge it (as in much of Punjab), the water table falls beyond reach; and over-fishing during the spawning season collapses fish populations. Actions that can prevent this: harvest timber only in limited quantities and replant native trees; practise water harvesting, rejuvenate ponds and tanks, and reuse water; refrain from fishing during the spawning season; shift to renewable energy and reduce the cutting of forests so that glaciers and rivers are not disturbed. In short, use renewables within their natural rate of regeneration.

2. Name five ecosystem functions that serve humans.

ANSWER Ecosystem functions are Nature’s natural processes; when we benefit from them they become ecosystem services. Five such functions that serve humans are: 1. Trees and plants produce oxygen for us to breathe (a mature tree gives about 275 litres a day). 2. Forests filter and purify water, giving us clean water to drink. 3. Tree roots and vegetation prevent soil erosion and protect farmland. 4. Insects and birds pollinate crops, helping food to grow. 5. Forests and other ecosystems provide habitat for animals, birds and other creatures, keeping life in balance.

3. What are renewable resources? How are they different from non-renewable ones? What can people do to ensure that renewable resources continue to be available for our use and that of future generations? Give two examples.

ANSWER Renewable resources are natural resources that Nature can replenish or regenerate over time — such as solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water, and timber from forests — as long as we use them sustainably. How they differ from non-renewable resources: non-renewable resources (fossil fuels like coal and petroleum, and metals like iron, copper and gold) are formed over millions of years and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them; once used up, they are gone. Renewable resources keep coming back through natural cycles, while non-renewable ones are finite. What people can do: use renewables only within their rate of regeneration, plant trees, harvest and reuse water, switch to clean energy, and avoid disturbing Nature’s cycles. Two examples: (i) taking timber from a forest only in limited quantities and replanting trees so the forest regenerates; (ii) harvesting rainwater and rejuvenating ponds and tanks so that rivers and groundwater are recharged for future generations.

4. Identify cultural practices in your home and neighbourhood that point to mindfulness in the use of natural resources.

ANSWER This is an observation activity, so answers will vary; write about practices you actually see. A model answer: many Indian households reflect a deep respect for Nature that encourages careful use of resources. Examples include: storing rainwater and reusing water from washing for plants; switching off lights, fans and taps when not in use; composting kitchen and garden waste instead of throwing it away; reusing cloth bags, glass jars and old containers; performing Tulasī puja and treating certain trees, rivers and groves as sacred; offering arghyam (water) to the sun in gratitude; and avoiding the cutting of trees in sacred groves. Such practices show mindfulness and reduce waste. (Your own examples from home and neighbourhood are accepted.)

5. What are some considerations to keep in mind in the production of goods for our current use?

ANSWER When we produce goods, we should keep in mind that production uses natural resources and often creates waste and pollution, so it must be done responsibly. Important considerations are: Sustainability: use renewable resources within their rate of regeneration and use non-renewables judiciously so they last until better alternatives are found. Pollution and waste: avoid discharging untreated industrial waste into rivers; follow pollution-control guidelines (as the Central Pollution Control Board has set for the highly polluting cement industry); and prefer cleaner, alternative materials such as stone, mud, plant-based and recycled materials. Future generations and fairness: think of the long-term effects on soil, water and air; use less-polluting, locally suited methods that also provide local employment; and ensure that access to basic resources like water and clean air remains fair to all sections of society. In short, we must act as stewards of Nature.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. When does an element of Nature become a ‘resource’?

ANSWERAn element of Nature becomes a resource when humans use it for their sustenance or to make things, and only if it is technologically accessible, economically feasible to extract and culturally acceptable to use. For example, a tree becomes a resource when we cut it and turn its wood into furniture.

Q2. State the three conditions necessary for an entity to be called a resource.

ANSWERFor an entity to be called a resource it should be (i) technologically accessible, (ii) economically feasible to exploit, and (iii) culturally acceptable to use. If any one is missing — like petroleum too deep to reach, or trees in a sacred grove — it is not treated as a resource.

Q3. What is meant by the ‘natural resource curse’?

ANSWERThe ‘natural resource curse’ or ‘paradox of plenty’ is when a region rich in natural resources still has slow economic growth, often because it cannot develop industries to convert those resources into higher-value products. India has largely avoided it by investing in technology and skills.

Q4. Why is coal use a matter of concern in India?

ANSWERCoal is a non-renewable fossil fuel formed over very long periods. India has large coal reserves and mines coal for its growing energy needs, but these reserves are estimated to last only about another 50 years. So coal must be used judiciously until sustainable alternatives become widely available.

Q5. How does the uneven distribution of natural resources affect human life?

ANSWERBecause natural resources are not evenly spread, their distribution shapes where people settle, patterns of trade, international relations and even conflicts. Industries grow near resources, creating jobs and townships, but can also displace people from their homes and threaten sacred places, leading to tensions over sharing (such as Kaveri water).

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain, with an example, how natural resources are categorised on the basis of their use.

ANSWEROne way to categorise natural resources is by the uses we put them to. Resources essential for life are the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat — taken from the atmosphere, rivers and ponds, and cultivated soil; we cannot make these ourselves. Resources for materials are Nature’s gifts that humans turn into useful or beautiful objects — a piece of wood becomes a chair or a carved statuette, and India’s geographical diversity provides wood, marble, coal and gold. Resources for energy power modern living — electricity for buildings, transport and production comes from coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight and wind. Categorising resources in this way helps us understand their role and discuss their management more easily.

Q2. Describe the Punjab groundwater crisis and the lessons it teaches about resource use.

ANSWERPunjab was the home of the Green Revolution and helped make India self-sufficient in food. From the 1960s, farmers shifted to high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy that needed much more water, so they extracted large amounts of groundwater. Free electricity led to over-pumping, and heavy use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides followed. As a result, groundwater in a large part of Punjab has become inaccessible up to depths of about 30 metres, and chemicals have dissolved into the water causing health hazards; almost 80% of the state’s area is now classified as ‘over-exploited’. The lesson is that a renewable resource becomes non-renewable if drawn faster than it can be restored; food security was ensured in the short term, but the long-term damage will take great time and effort to heal. We must use water judiciously, harvest rainwater and rejuvenate ponds and tanks.

Q3. What is meant by stewardship of natural resources, and why is it important?

ANSWERStewardship means respecting Nature and using natural resources responsibly — allowing renewable resources to restore and regenerate, and using non-renewable resources judiciously so they last long enough for humanity to find sustainable alternatives. It is important because the careless treatment of resources has caused pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change, all increasing rapidly in recent years. Stewardship includes replenishing soil through natural fertilisers and multi-cropping (as in Sikkim’s shift to 100% organic farming), reducing pollution from industries like cement, switching to renewable energy such as solar power (the International Solar Alliance and Bhadla Solar Park), and ensuring that access to basic resources like water and clean air is fair to all. The Bhagavad Gītā calls this spirit lokasangraha — acting for the wellbeing of all rather than personal desire — so that future generations also inherit a healthy Earth.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. An element of Nature becomes a ‘resource’ when:

(a) it exists in the environment    (b) humans use it and it is accessible, feasible and acceptable to use    (c) it is rare    (d) it is found underground

2. Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?

(a) Sunlight    (b) Wind    (c) Petroleum    (d) Flowing water

3. Which of these is a renewable resource as long as it is used sustainably?

(a) Coal    (b) Iron ore    (c) Gold    (d) Timber from forests

4. The process of returning something degraded to its original healthy state is called:

(a) regeneration    (b) restoration    (c) exploitation    (d) distribution

5. Clean water, protected farmland and pollinated crops that humans receive from a forest are examples of:

(a) ecosystem services    (b) non-renewable resources    (c) the resource curse    (d) biodiversity loss

6. The sharing of which river’s water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry is given as an example of resource-related tension?

(a) Ganga    (b) Brahmaputra    (c) Kaveri    (d) Yamuna

7. When a region rich in natural resources still grows slowly, economists call it the:

(a) demographic dividend    (b) natural resource curse    (c) Green Revolution    (d) water tower effect

8. About what percentage of Punjab’s area has been classified as ‘over-exploited’ for groundwater?

(a) 20%    (b) 50%    (c) 80%    (d) 100%

9. The International Solar Alliance was launched by India along with which country in 2015?

(a) Japan    (b) France    (c) Germany    (d) the USA

10. In 2016, which Indian state became a 100 per cent organic state?

(a) Punjab    (b) Kerala    (c) Sikkim    (d) Rajasthan

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(d), 4-(b), 5-(a), 6-(c), 7-(b), 8-(c), 9-(b), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: A renewable resource can become non-renewable in practice.

Reason: If we use a renewable resource faster than Nature can replenish it, the resource gets depleted.

A-R 2. Assertion: Coal is a renewable resource.

Reason: Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years and cannot be replenished at the rate we use it.

A-R 3. Assertion: Having abundant natural resources always guarantees that a country becomes rich.

Reason: Economies sometimes fail to develop industries that convert resources into higher-value products.

A-R 4. Assertion: The uneven distribution of natural resources can lead to conflicts.

Reason: Nature does not pay attention to political boundaries, so sharing resources across states and countries creates tensions.

A-R 5. Assertion: We should use natural resources as stewards.

Reason: Irresponsible use of natural resources has led to pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(D), 4-(A), 5-(A).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Learn the three conditions for an entity to be a resource (technologically accessible, economically feasible, culturally acceptable) and both ways of categorising resources (by use, and renewable vs non-renewable). For comparison questions, give a clear two-sided structure with an example each. Always link overuse to the idea that a renewable resource becomes non-renewable if used faster than it regenerates. Use the textbook’s own examples — Kaveri water sharing, the Punjab groundwater caselet, Sikkim organic farming, the cement industry, the International Solar Alliance and Bhadla Solar Park — to show you have studied the chapter.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Calling renewable resources “unlimited” — they renew only if used within their rate of regeneration.
  • Confusing renewable (sunlight, wind, water, timber) with non-renewable (coal, petroleum, metals).
  • Mixing up restoration (returning to a healthy state) with regeneration (creating new life).
  • Confusing ecosystem functions (Nature’s processes) with ecosystem services (the benefits humans receive).
  • Thinking abundant resources automatically make a country rich — this ignores the ‘resource curse’.
  • Leaving observation/activity questions (Q4) blank — write your own examples from home and neighbourhood.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 1 of Class 8 Social Science Exploring Society about?

Chapter 1, Natural Resources and Their Use, explains when Nature becomes a resource, how resources are categorised (by use, and as renewable or non-renewable), how their uneven distribution affects settlements and conflicts, and why responsible, sustainable use and stewardship of resources matter for future generations.

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?

Renewable resources such as sunlight, wind, flowing water and forest timber can be replenished by Nature over time if used sustainably. Non-renewable resources such as coal, petroleum and metals form over millions of years and cannot be replenished at the rate we use them, so they are finite.

What is the exercise heading for Chapter 1 of Exploring Society?

The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 1 is headed Questions and activities and contains 5 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.

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