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Income and Other Criteria of Development Class 10

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Development

Income and Other Criteria of Development Class 10: IMR, Literacy and HDI

Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Income alone is an inadequate measure of development. Haryana has a higher per capita income than Kerala, yet Kerala has a much lower infant mortality rate and higher literacy and attendance, because of better public health and education facilities. So health and education indicators are used with income; UNDP's Human Development Index combines education, health and per capita income.

Haryana earns more per person, yet Kerala does far better on infant deaths (6 vs 28) and literacy, so income alone cannot measure development.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Income and Other Criteria of Development

Beyond income. Just as individuals seek security, respect, equal treatment and freedom besides income, a nation or region has other equally important attributes besides average income.

Comparing three States (NCERT Tables 1.3 and 1.4).

  • Per capita income, 2023-24: Haryana Rs 3,25,759, Kerala Rs 2,81,001, Bihar Rs 60,337.
  • Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births, 2020): Haryana 28, Kerala 6, Bihar 27.
  • Literacy rate (%, 2017-18): Haryana 82, Kerala 94, Bihar 62.
  • Net Attendance Ratio, secondary stage, age 15-17 (per 100, 2017-18): Haryana 73, Kerala 94, Bihar 69.

Key terms.

  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): the number of children who die before the age of one year as a proportion of 1,000 live children born in that year.
  • Literacy Rate: the proportion of the literate population in the 7-and-above age group.
  • Net Attendance Ratio: the number of children aged 15-17 attending school as a percentage of all children in that age group.

What the data show. In Kerala, 6 of every 1,000 children die before their first birthday; in Haryana, 28, more than four times as many, even though Haryana's per capita income is higher. In Bihar, about one-third of children aged 15-17 are not attending secondary school. So income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of the goods and services citizens can use.

Why money is not enough. Money in your pocket cannot buy everything needed to live well: normally it cannot buy a pollution-free environment, guarantee unadulterated medicines, or protect you from infectious diseases unless the whole community takes preventive steps. For many important things, the best and cheapest way is collective provision: collective security for a locality is cheaper than private guards for each house, and you can study because the government opens schools for all. Kerala has a low IMR because it has adequate provision of basic health and educational facilities; similarly, where the Public Distribution System (PDS) works well, health and nutrition are likely to be better.

Human Development Index (HDI). Since income is important but inadequate, we need a small number of the most important other criteria. Health and education indicators are now widely used with income. The Human Development Report by UNDP compares countries on educational levels, health status and per capita income. NCERT's Table 1.6 (Human Development Report 2025, data for 2023):

  • Sri Lanka: GNI per capita 12,616 (2021 PPP dollars); life expectancy 77.5; mean years of schooling 10.8; HDI rank 89.
  • India: 9,047; 72; 6.9; rank 130.
  • Bangladesh: 8,498; 74.7; 6.8; rank 130.
  • Nepal: 4,726; 70.4; 4.5; rank 145. Myanmar: 4,919; 66.9; 6.4; rank 150. Pakistan: 5,501; 67.6; 4.3; rank 168.

(Ranks are out of 193 countries. Life expectancy at birth is the average expected length of life at birth. Per capita income is calculated in dollars adjusted so that each dollar buys the same goods in every country.)
The small neighbour Sri Lanka is ahead of India on every indicator. Bangladesh, with a lower per capita income than India, has a higher life expectancy. By prefixing 'Human' to 'Development', the report stresses that what matters is people: their health and well-being.

Income and Other Criteria of Development: key facts

Infant Mortality Rate
Children dying before age one per 1,000 live births in a year
Kerala 6, Haryana 28, Bihar 27 (2020).
Literacy rate
Proportion of literate people aged 7 and above
Kerala 94, Haryana 82, Bihar 62 (2017-18).
Net Attendance Ratio
Children aged 15-17 attending school / all children aged 15-17 x 100
Kerala 94, Haryana 73, Bihar 69.
Why Kerala does better
Adequate basic health and education facilities; collective provision is cheapest; working PDS improves nutrition
HDI
UNDP Human Development Report compares educational levels, health status and per capita income
India rank 130 of 193 (HDR 2025).
Table 1.6 highlights
Sri Lankaahead of India on all indicators (rank 89)
Bangladesh incomelower than India
Bangladesh life expectancyhigher, 74.7 vs 72

How to answer Income and Other Criteria of Development questions

Economics questions here are MCQs on terms and data, 3-mark explanations (why Kerala does better, why income is inadequate) and 5-mark answers on HDI or other criteria, often using Tables 1.4 and 1.6.

  1. 1Define the indicator before using it (IMR, literacy rate, attendance ratio).
  2. 2Read tables carefully: compare income with IMR and literacy to show the mismatch.
  3. 3Explain the mismatch with public facilities and collective provision.
  4. 4For HDI, name the three components and give India's rank.
  5. 5Conclude that development must be measured by people's health and education as well as income.

Income and Other Criteria of Development in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Collective provision is cheaper

Suppose ten families on a street each consider hiring a private security guard, while a neighbour suggests they jointly hire two guards for the whole street.

Use NCERT's reasoning to explain why the neighbour's idea is better, and link it to health and education.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Ten private guards cost far more than two shared guards.
  2. Collective provision is often the best and cheapest way.
  3. Health and schooling also work best when provided for everyone.
  4. Kerala's low IMR comes from adequate public health and education facilities.

Answer: Jointly hiring two guards protects the whole street at much lower cost than ten private guards. NCERT argues the same about many important things: the cheapest and best way to provide them is collectively. Schools, health care and disease prevention work when provided for everyone, which is why Kerala, with adequate public health and education facilities, has a lower infant mortality rate than richer Haryana.

Memory hook: Some goods are cheapest when shared.

Tricks to remember Income and Other Criteria of Development

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Kerala 6, Haryana 28

    Kerala 6, Haryana 28: the richer state loses more infants.

    Use it when: IMR comparison.

  • HDI = E-H-I

    Education, Health, Income.

    Use it when: HDI components.

  • 130 for India

    India's HDI rank is 130 of 193, tied with Bangladesh; Sri Lanka 89.

    Use it when: Table 1.6 MCQs.

Income and Other Criteria of Development: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Define IMR · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Infant Mortality Rate indicates:
(a) the number of children who die before the age of five per 100 births
(b) the number of children who die before the age of one year as a proportion of 1,000 live births
(c) the number of mothers who die in childbirth
(d) the number of children not attending school

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. NCERT's definition: deaths before age one per 1,000 live births in that year (1 mark).

Answer: (b) the number of children who die before the age of one year as a proportion of 1,000 live births

Example 2: Kerala vs Haryana (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Haryana has a higher per capita income than Kerala, yet Kerala has a much lower infant mortality rate. Explain why. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Data: Kerala's IMR is 6 against Haryana's 28, though Haryana's per capita income is higher (1 mark).
  2. Money cannot buy everything: a pollution-free environment, unadulterated medicines or protection from infectious diseases depend on the community (1 mark).
  3. Kerala has adequate provision of basic health and educational facilities, provided collectively (1 mark).

Answer: Kerala's IMR is 6 per 1,000 live births against Haryana's 28, although Haryana earns more per person. Money in people's pockets cannot buy everything, such as clean surroundings, safe medicines or protection from infectious disease, which depend on collective action. Kerala has adequate basic health and educational facilities provided for all, so its children survive better.

Example 3: Assertion-reason: income adequacy · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator of the goods and services citizens are able to use.
Reason (R): Money cannot normally buy a pollution-free environment or protection from infectious diseases.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. NCERT uses R to explain A (1 mark).

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Example 4: Data: Table 1.6 (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Use NCERT's Table 1.6 (HDR 2025): Sri Lanka GNI per capita 12,616, life expectancy 77.5, HDI rank 89; India 9,047, 72, rank 130; Bangladesh 8,498, 74.7, rank 130. (a) Which country ranks highest in HDI? (b) How does Bangladesh compare with India on income and life expectancy? (c) What does this show about measuring development? (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) Sri Lanka, rank 89 (1 mark).
  2. (b) Bangladesh has lower per capita income (8,498 vs 9,047) but higher life expectancy (74.7 vs 72) and the same HDI rank (1 mark).
  3. (c) Income alone does not decide well-being; health and education must be measured too, as HDI does (1 mark).

Answer: (a) Sri Lanka (rank 89). (b) Bangladesh has a lower per capita income than India (8,498 against 9,047) but a higher life expectancy (74.7 against 72), and the same HDI rank of 130. (c) Higher income does not automatically mean better health; development must be measured by health and education too, as the HDI does.

Example 5: Income and other criteria (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

'Though the level of income is important, it is an inadequate measure of the level of development.' Examine the statement using NCERT's data and the Human Development Index. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Income matters: more income means more of the things people need; per capita income is used to compare (1 mark).
  2. But Haryana, with higher income than Kerala, has an IMR of 28 against Kerala's 6, and lower literacy (82 vs 94) and attendance (73 vs 94) (1 mark).
  3. Money cannot buy everything: clean environment, safe medicines, disease protection; collective provision of health and education is cheapest; Kerala has adequate facilities (1 mark).
  4. UNDP's HDI compares countries on education, health and per capita income (1 mark).
  5. Table 1.6: Sri Lanka ahead of India on all indicators; India ranks 130 of 193; development is about people's health and well-being (1 mark).

Answer: Income matters because more income means more of what people need, and per capita income lets us compare regions. But it is inadequate. Haryana's per capita income is higher than Kerala's, yet its infant mortality rate is 28 against Kerala's 6, and its literacy (82 against 94) and secondary attendance (73 against 94) are lower. Money cannot buy a clean environment, safe medicines or protection from disease; these need collective provision, which Kerala's adequate health and education facilities supply. So UNDP's Human Development Index combines education, health and per capita income. In it, Sri Lanka is ahead of India on every indicator, and India ranks 130 of 193, showing development is about people's well-being.

Example 6: Literacy and attendance (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Define literacy rate and net attendance ratio, and explain what Bihar's attendance figure in Table 1.4 tells us. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Literacy rate: proportion of literate population aged 7 and above (1 mark).
  2. Net attendance ratio: children aged 15-17 attending school as a percentage of all children in that age group (1 mark).
  3. Bihar's ratio of 69 means about one-third of 15-17-year-olds are not in secondary school, missing education and future opportunities (1 mark).

Answer: Literacy rate is the proportion of literate people aged 7 and above. Net attendance ratio is the percentage of children aged 15-17 who attend school. Bihar's ratio of 69 means about one-third of its 15-17-year-olds are not in secondary school, so nearly a third of a class would be missing.

Where students lose marks in Income and Other Criteria of Development

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Wrong definition of IMR

    Age limit or base confused.

    Wrong working

    IMR is deaths of children under five per 100 births.

    Right working

    Deaths before age one per 1,000 live births.

    Do this: One year, 1,000 births.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Saying Kerala is richer

    Better indicators assumed to mean higher income.

    Wrong working

    Kerala has the highest per capita income, so its IMR is low.

    Right working

    Haryana earns more; Kerala does better because of public facilities.

    Do this: Read Table 1.3 and 1.4 together.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Missing HDI components

    Only income mentioned.

    Wrong working

    HDI measures income of countries.

    Right working

    Education, health and per capita income.

    Do this: E-H-I.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Misreading Table 1.6

    Many columns.

    Wrong working

    India ranks above Bangladesh in HDI.

    Right working

    Both are ranked 130; Bangladesh has higher life expectancy.

    Do this: Read row by row.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Learn Kerala's and Haryana's IMR, literacy and attendance figures; they are the core evidence.
  • Define every indicator you use in a 3-mark answer.
  • For HDI questions, give the three components and India's rank of 130.
  • Economics in 2026-27 has 1-, 3- and 5-mark questions.

Practice questions on Income and Other Criteria of Development

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The Human Development Report is published by:
    (a) the World Bank
    (b) UNDP
    (c) the Reserve Bank of India
    (d) the Election Commission

    Hint

    A United Nations body.

    Answer

    (b) UNDP

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

    Which three criteria does the Human Development Report use to compare countries? (3 marks)

    Hint

    E-H-I.

    Answer

    The educational levels of the people (such as mean years of schooling), their health status (such as life expectancy at birth) and per capita income. Combining these gives a fuller picture of development than income alone, focusing on people's well-being.

  3. Q3 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

    Assertion (A): Kerala has a low infant mortality rate.
    Reason (R): Kerala has the highest per capita income among Haryana, Kerala and Bihar.
    (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true, but R is false.
    (d) A is false, but R is true.

    Hint

    Check Table 1.3.

    Answer

    (c) A is true, but R is false. Haryana has the highest per capita income; Kerala's low IMR is due to adequate health and education facilities.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    Suppose two villages have similar average incomes, but one has a working ration shop, a primary health centre and a school, and the other has none. Predict which will have better development indicators and justify using NCERT. (3 marks)

    Hint

    Public facilities; PDS; Kerala example.

    Answer

    The village with the facilities will likely have a lower infant mortality rate, higher literacy and better nutrition. NCERT explains that money cannot buy everything and that health and education are best provided collectively; Kerala's low IMR comes from adequate basic health and educational facilities, and where the PDS works well, health and nutrition are better.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    In a study cited by NCERT, 90 per cent of rural people in Tamil Nadu used a ration shop, against 35 per cent in West Bengal. Where are people likely to be better off and why? (3 marks)

    Hint

    PDS and nutrition.

    Answer

    In Tamil Nadu, because a ration shop used by most rural people suggests a well-functioning Public Distribution System. NCERT notes that where the PDS functions well, people's health and nutritional status are likely to be better, since they get food at fair prices regardless of income.

  6. Q6 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Evaluate the claim: 'Sri Lanka, a small country, is more developed than India.' Use NCERT's Table 1.6. (5 marks)

    Hint

    Compare all four indicators and the HDI rank; then discuss what 'development' means.

    Answer

    On NCERT's Table 1.6 (Human Development Report 2025), Sri Lanka leads India on every indicator: per capita income of 12,616 against 9,047 (2021 PPP dollars), life expectancy of 77.5 against 72 years, mean years of schooling of 10.8 against 6.9, and an HDI rank of 89 against India's 130 out of 193. So, in terms of human development, which looks at education, health and income, Sri Lanka is more developed despite being small. The claim is supported if development means people's health and well-being, as the HDI insists. But development can also be judged by other goals, so a fuller judgement would add sustainability and equality.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.What was Kerala's IMR (2020)?Show answer

    6 per 1,000 live births.

  2. 2.What age group does the literacy rate cover?Show answer

    7 years and above.

  3. 3.What is India's HDI rank in NCERT's Table 1.6?Show answer

    130 out of 193.

  4. 4.What is life expectancy at birth?Show answer

    The average expected length of life of a person at the time of birth.

  5. 5.Why does Kerala have a low IMR?Show answer

    Adequate provision of basic health and educational facilities.

Income and Other Criteria of Development: frequently asked questions

Why is income not enough to measure development?

Because money cannot buy everything, such as a clean environment or protection from disease; health and education indicators show well-being better.

What is the Human Development Index?

A measure in UNDP's Human Development Report that compares countries on education, health and per capita income.

Why is Kerala ahead of Haryana in IMR despite lower income?

Kerala has adequate basic health and educational facilities provided collectively.

What is the infant mortality rate?

The number of children who die before the age of one per 1,000 live births in a year.