CBSE Class 10 Economics: Chapter 1 Development - Part 1: MCQ

Top 25 MCQs with Answers | Latest CBSE Pattern

1. MCQ 2. VSA 3. SA 4. LA 5. Assertion-Reason 6. Case Study 7. Concepts 8. One-Shot Revision

Welcome to Part 1 of our new 8-part series on Economics Chapter 1: Development. This post contains the top 25 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) based entirely on Previous Year Questions (PYQs) to help you master the concepts of Development.

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Top 25 MCQs - Development

Question 1: Development Goals

CBSE PYQ 2020

Development of a country can generally be determined by:

• (a) its per capita income
• (b) its average literacy level
• (c) health status of its people
• (d) all the above

(d) all the above

Explanation: Development is a comprehensive term that includes income, health, and education status.

Question 2: Per Capita Income

CBSE PYQ 2023

Which of the following is the most common method used to measure the economic development of a country?

• (a) Income
• (b) Literacy Rate
• (c) Health Status
• (d) None of the above

(a) Income

Explanation: While other factors are important, 'Average Income' or 'Per Capita Income' is the most common attribute used by the World Bank to compare countries.

Question 3: World Bank Criterion

CBSE PYQ 2022

Which agency prepares the 'World Development Report'?

• (a) UNDP
• (b) World Bank
• (c) IMF
• (d) WHO

(b) World Bank

Explanation: The World Bank publishes the World Development Report, which classifies countries based on per capita income.

Question 4: Comparison of Countries

CBSE PYQ 2019

Which of the following neighbouring countries has better performance in terms of human development than India?

• (a) Bangladesh
• (b) Sri Lanka
• (c) Nepal
• (d) Pakistan

(b) Sri Lanka

Explanation: According to HDI data, Sri Lanka consistently ranks higher than India in terms of life expectancy, literacy, and per capita income.

Question 5: Sustainable Development

CBSE PYQ 2024

"We have not inherited the world from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children." This statement refers to:

• (a) Economic Growth
• (b) Sustainable Development
• (c) Human Development
• (d) National Development

(b) Sustainable Development

Explanation: Sustainable development implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 6: IMR Definition

CBSE PYQ 2016

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) indicates the number of children that die before the age of ____ year as a proportion of 1000 live children born in that particular year.

• (a) Two
• (b) One
• (c) Five
• (d) Three

(b) One

Explanation: IMR measures the death of children under one year of age per 1000 live births.

Question 7: Calculation of Average Income

CBSE PYQ 2020

Assume there are 4 families in a country. The average per capita income of these families is ₹5000. If the income of three families is ₹4000, ₹7000, and ₹3000 respectively, what is the income of the fourth family?

• (a) ₹ 7500
• (b) ₹ 3000
• (c) ₹ 2000
• (d) ₹ 6000

(d) ₹ 6000

Explanation: Average = Total Income / 4.
5000 = (4000 + 7000 + 3000 + x) / 4
20000 = 14000 + x
x = 6000.

Question 8: Kerala's Low IMR

CBSE Sample Paper 2023

Kerala has a low Infant Mortality Rate because:

• (a) It has a pleasant climate
• (b) It has adequate provision of basic health and educational facilities
• (c) It has sufficient infrastructure
• (d) It has high per capita income

(b) It has adequate provision of basic health and educational facilities

Explanation: Education (literacy) and health infrastructure are the key reasons for better health indicators like low IMR in Kerala.

Question 9: BMI

CBSE PYQ 2015

Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated by:

• (a) Weight (kg) / Height (m)
• (b) Height (m) / Weight (kg)
• (c) Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]²
• (d) [Weight (kg)]² / Height (m)

(c) Weight (kg) / [Height (m)]²

Explanation: BMI = Weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters.

Question 10: Net Attendance Ratio

CBSE PYQ 2025

Net Attendance Ratio is the total number of children of age group ______ attending school as a percentage of the total number of children in the same age group.

• (a) 6-10 years
• (b) 14-15 years
• (c) 10-14 years
• (d) 16-18 years

(b) 14-15 years

Explanation: This specific age group (14-15 years) defines the Net Attendance Ratio at the secondary level as per NCERT.

Question 11: HDI Publisher

CBSE PYQ 2018

Which organization publishes the Human Development Report?

• (a) WHO
• (b) UNDP
• (c) World Bank
• (d) IMF

(b) UNDP

Explanation: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) publishes the HDR.

Question 12: Non-Renewable Resource

CBSE PYQ 2023

Which of the following is an example of a non-renewable resource?

• (a) Groundwater
• (b) Wind energy
• (c) Crude oil
• (d) Solar energy

(c) Crude oil

Explanation: Crude oil is a fossil fuel that takes millions of years to form and gets exhausted with use, unlike wind or solar energy.

Question 13: Landless Labourers Goal

CBSE PYQ 2017

What would be the most appropriate development goal for a landless rural labourer?

• (a) More days of work and better wages
• (b) High support prices for crops
• (c) To settle their children abroad
• (d) Cheap labour

(a) More days of work and better wages

Explanation: Since they have no land, crop prices don't matter. Their primary need is regular work and fair wages to sustain their livelihood.

Question 14: Limitation of Averages

CBSE PYQ 2022

Why is 'average income' considered a limited measure of development?

• (a) It does not tell us how income is distributed
• (b) It ignores non-material goods
• (c) It is difficult to calculate
• (d) Both (a) and (b)

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Explanation: Averages hide disparities (the gap between rich and poor) and do not account for qualitative factors like freedom, health, or pollution-free environment.

Question 15: Literacy Rate

CBSE PYQ 2012

Literacy rate measures the proportion of literate population in the age group of:

• (a) 5 years and above
• (b) 7 years and above
• (c) 10 years and above
• (d) 14 years and above

(b) 7 years and above

Explanation: In India, a person aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is considered literate.

Question 16: Underemployment

CBSE PYQ 2024

Underemployment occurs when people:

• (a) Do not want to work
• (b) Are working less than what they are capable of doing
• (c) Are not paid for their work
• (d) Cannot find jobs

(b) Are working less than what they are capable of doing

Explanation: This is also called disguised unemployment. It happens when more people are engaged in a job than is necessary, so everyone is working but no one is fully employed.

Question 17: Public Facilities

CBSE PYQ 2020

Which of the following is a public facility?

• (a) Government Hospital
• (b) Own Car
• (c) Private School
• (d) Individual House

(a) Government Hospital

Explanation: Public facilities are services provided by the government for the collective use of the citizens (like sanitation, public transport, healthcare).

Question 18: Rich Farmer's Goal

CBSE PYQ 2013

Which of the following is a development goal for a rich farmer from Punjab?

• (a) Better wages
• (b) More days of work
• (c) Higher support prices for their crops
• (d) Education for their children in local government schools

(c) Higher support prices for their crops

Explanation: Rich farmers want higher income through higher prices for their produce and cheap labour.

Question 19: Meaning of Development

CBSE PYQ 2021

What does 'development' mean for a girl from a rich urban family?

• (a) To get married early
• (b) To help in household work
• (c) To get as much freedom as her brother
• (d) To work in a factory

(c) To get as much freedom as her brother

Explanation: Development goals vary by person. For a girl in this specific situation, social equality and freedom are primary goals.

Question 20: Life Expectancy

CBSE PYQ 2018

Life expectancy at birth means:

• (a) Average expected length of life of a person at the time of birth
• (b) Average expected length of life of a person at age 5
• (c) Number of live births per 1000 people
• (d) Number of deaths per 1000 people

(a) Average expected length of life of a person at the time of birth

Explanation: This statistic summarizes the mortality at all ages and indicates the overall health conditions of a country.

Question 21: PDS

CBSE PYQ 2025

PDS stands for:

• (a) Public Demand System
• (b) Public Distribution System
• (c) People Distribution System
• (d) Public Development System

(b) Public Distribution System

Explanation: PDS is a government-sponsored chain of shops (ration shops) entrusted with distributing basic food and non-food commodities to the needy sections of society at very cheap prices.

Question 22: Low BMI

CBSE PYQ 2016

If the BMI of a person is less than 18.5, then the person is considered:

• (a) Overweight
• (b) Undernourished
• (c) Normal weight
• (d) Obese

(b) Undernourished

Explanation:
< 18.5 : Undernourished
18.5 - 25 : Normal
> 25 : Overweight

Question 23: Comparison Attribute

CBSE PYQ 2014

Which one of the following is NOT a feature of a developed country?

• (a) High Per Capita Income
• (b) High Literacy Rate
• (c) High IMR (Infant Mortality Rate)
• (d) High Life Expectancy

(c) High IMR (Infant Mortality Rate)

Explanation: A developed country has good healthcare, meaning fewer infants die. Therefore, a *Low* IMR is a feature of development. High IMR indicates underdevelopment.

Question 24: Per Capita Calculation

CBSE PYQ 2023

If the total income of a country is 1,00,00,000 and its population is 2,000, what is the Per Capita Income?

• (a) 500
• (b) 5,000
• (c) 50,000
• (d) 20,000

(b) 5,000

Explanation: Per Capita Income = Total Income / Total Population.
1,00,00,000 / 2,000 = 10,000 / 2 = 5,000.

Question 25: Sustainable Resource

CBSE PYQ 2018

Groundwater is an example of:

• (a) Non-renewable resource
• (b) Renewable resource
• (c) Exhaustible resource
• (d) Human-made resource

(b) Renewable resource

Explanation: Groundwater is replenished by nature through rain. However, it can be overused if we pump out more than what is being replenished.