Here are 20 Important Questions and Answers from CBSE Class 12 Geography (India: People and Economy)
Chapter 6 – Planning and Sustainable Development, written as per the 2026–27 syllabus level (NCERT-based, exam-oriented answer style).
1. What is planning in India?
Planning in India refers to the systematic process of formulating strategies and programmes to achieve economic, social, and environmental development goals. It was adopted after independence to ensure balanced growth through Five-Year Plans. The Planning Commission earlier coordinated national development, focusing on poverty reduction, industrial growth, and regional balance. Planning includes allocation of resources, setting priorities, and monitoring progress. It helps in reducing inequalities between regions and sectors. In recent years, NITI Aayog has replaced the Planning Commission to promote cooperative federalism and decentralized planning.
2. What are the main approaches of planning in India?
The two main approaches are sectoral planning and regional planning. Sectoral planning focuses on development of specific sectors like agriculture, industry, transport, and education. Each sector is planned separately to improve productivity. Regional planning focuses on reducing regional inequalities by developing backward or less-developed areas. It ensures balanced development across states and regions. Both approaches are complementary and are used together to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development in India.
3. What is sectoral planning?
Sectoral planning is an approach in which development strategies are designed for different economic sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, irrigation, transport, and communication. Each sector is given specific targets and policies to improve efficiency and output. For example, agricultural planning focuses on irrigation and crop production, while industrial planning focuses on production and employment generation. This approach ensures specialized attention to each sector, but it may sometimes lead to regional imbalance if not properly coordinated with regional planning.
4. What is regional planning?
Regional planning is a development strategy that focuses on reducing regional disparities by promoting balanced growth across different geographical areas. It identifies backward regions and provides targeted development programmes such as infrastructure development, employment generation, and resource management. In India, programmes like DPAP and ITDP are examples. Regional planning ensures that underdeveloped areas also receive equal opportunities for growth, thereby promoting national integration and sustainable development.
5. What is target area planning?
Target area planning is a special form of regional planning that focuses on specific problem areas such as drought-prone, desert, hill, and tribal regions. These areas face unique geographical and socio-economic challenges. Government programmes like the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP), and Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) aim to improve living conditions. The main objective is to reduce disparities and promote sustainable resource use in vulnerable regions.
6. What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection. It focuses on conserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and ensuring long-term ecological balance. The concept became globally important after the Brundtland Report. In India, sustainable development is promoted through eco-friendly agriculture, afforestation, and efficient water management practices.
7. Why is sustainable development important?
Sustainable development is important because natural resources are limited and overuse can lead to environmental degradation. It ensures that economic development does not harm ecological balance. It also helps in reducing poverty, improving quality of life, and maintaining biodiversity. Without sustainable practices, future generations may face resource scarcity, pollution, and climate change impacts. Therefore, it promotes a balance between development and environmental conservation.
8. What is the role of NITI Aayog in planning?
NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015. It acts as a policy think tank of the Government of India. Its main role is to promote cooperative federalism by involving states in planning and decision-making. It focuses on bottom-up planning, innovation, and sustainable development. Unlike the Planning Commission, it does not allocate funds but provides strategic guidance and policy support to improve governance and development outcomes.
9. What is the importance of Five-Year Plans in India?
Five-Year Plans were introduced after independence to guide India’s economic development. Their main objectives were growth, modernization, self-reliance, and social justice. They helped in industrialization, agricultural development, and infrastructure growth. Planning helped reduce regional imbalances and improve living standards. Although Five-Year Plans have now been replaced by NITI Aayog’s approach, they played a crucial role in shaping India’s early economic development.
10. What are the objectives of regional planning?
The main objectives of regional planning are reducing regional disparities, promoting balanced development, improving infrastructure in backward areas, and ensuring equitable distribution of resources. It also aims at employment generation and improving living standards in underdeveloped regions. By focusing on local needs, regional planning ensures sustainable and inclusive development across the country.
11. What is DPAP (Drought Prone Area Programme)?
DPAP is a government programme started to develop drought-prone regions in India. Its main aim is to reduce the impact of drought by improving water conservation, irrigation, afforestation, and soil conservation. It also focuses on generating employment and creating sustainable livelihoods. The programme helps in improving agricultural productivity and reducing rural poverty in dry regions.
12. What is Desert Development Programme (DDP)?
DDP focuses on developing arid and semi-arid regions of India. These areas face extreme climate conditions and water scarcity. The programme aims at controlling desertification, improving water availability, promoting afforestation, and supporting agriculture. It also encourages livestock development and sustainable land use practices to improve the economic conditions of people living in desert regions.
13. What is Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP)?
ITDP is designed for the development of tribal areas in India. It aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities through education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure development. It also focuses on preserving tribal culture while integrating them into mainstream development. ITDP ensures inclusive growth in geographically isolated and backward tribal regions.
14. What is the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?
The Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area is one of India’s largest irrigation projects located in Rajasthan. It transformed arid desert regions into productive agricultural land. The canal provides irrigation water, promoting agriculture and settlement in previously barren areas. However, it also created environmental issues like waterlogging and soil salinity, requiring sustainable management practices.
15. What are the problems of Indira Gandhi Canal region?
The main problems include waterlogging, soil salinity, and excessive irrigation. These issues arise due to improper water management and overuse of canal water. It has also led to environmental imbalance in some areas. To solve these problems, sustainable practices like drip irrigation, proper drainage, and afforestation are required.
16. What is the concept of balanced regional development?
Balanced regional development means reducing economic and social disparities between different regions of a country. It ensures equal distribution of resources, infrastructure, and development opportunities. In India, regional planning and target area programmes are used to achieve this goal. It promotes national integration and reduces migration from backward areas.
17. How does planning reduce regional inequality?
Planning reduces regional inequality by identifying backward regions and implementing special development programmes. It provides infrastructure, employment opportunities, and investment in underdeveloped areas. Target area planning like DPAP and ITDP helps uplift weaker regions. This ensures balanced economic growth across the country.
18. What are the challenges of planning in India?
Challenges include population pressure, regional imbalance, resource limitations, corruption, and implementation delays. Diverse geographical conditions also make planning difficult. Rapid urbanization and environmental degradation further complicate development. Effective coordination between central and state governments is required to overcome these challenges.
19. How is sustainable development linked with economic development?
Sustainable development ensures that economic growth does not harm the environment. It promotes resource efficiency, renewable energy use, and pollution control. Economic development provides growth, while sustainability ensures long-term survival of resources. Both must work together for balanced progress.
20. What measures promote sustainable development in India?
Measures include afforestation, water conservation, soil management, use of renewable energy, and pollution control. Government policies promote eco-friendly agriculture and efficient irrigation techniques. Public awareness and community participation also play a key role in sustainable development.