CBSE Class 8 · Natural Resources and Their Use

Distribution, Over-exploitation and Stewardship of Natural Resources: Class 8

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Natural resources are unevenly spread across the planet and within countries, which shapes settlements, trade and conflicts. Plenty alone does not bring prosperity (the paradox of plenty). Using renewables faster than they regenerate, as with Punjab's groundwater or soil damaged by chemicals, harms future needs, so we must act as stewards: restore renewables and use non-renewables with care.

Notice that overuse takes water out faster than it refills, while stewardship keeps refill and use balanced so the resource lasts.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources

Uneven distribution. Resources are not spread evenly over the Earth or even inside one country. NCERT's map of important minerals shows coal, oil, iron ore and bauxite concentrated in particular regions of India. This uneven spread shapes human settlements, trade patterns, international relations and sometimes conflicts.

Benefits and costs near resources. Industries near resources give jobs; townships grow and modern facilities arrive. But benefits are often accompanied by costs: people in resource-rich areas have been displaced, and their sacred places may be threatened. Trade depends on where resources lie; combined with human knowledge and skill they gave unique products such as Wootz steel.

Resources ignore boundaries. Nature does not follow political boundaries, so sharing causes tension. Example: the Kaveri river water shared among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry needed negotiation and careful management for fair sharing. Agreements between neighbouring countries are harder still (the Brahmaputra flows across borders).

The paradox of plenty. Economists call it the natural resource curse: a region rich in resources may still see slow growth because it fails to build industries that turn resources into higher-value products. NCERT says India has generally avoided it by investing in such industries. Human knowledge, good governance and planning decide whether resources become lasting benefits or a temporary windfall.

Pushing resources beyond regeneration.

Groundwater: in most states farmers draw water faster than the water table is refilled. The gap builds up, raising extraction cost and eventually making water unavailable. Remedies named: traditional water harvesting, reviving ponds and tanks, cutting wasteful use, treating and reusing water.
Soil: improper use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides degrades soil. Traditional practices (cow dung and other natural fertilisers, mulching, multi-cropping) managed soil as a whole and can be applied again.

Caselet: Punjab. Punjab was home to the Green Revolution, which made India self-sufficient in food. In the 1960s farmers moved to high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy that needed more water, so they extracted groundwater; free power encouraged over-pumping; modern farming also used chemical pesticides and fertilisers. Result: in a large part of Punjab groundwater is inaccessible to depths of about 30 metres, chemicals have dissolved in groundwater creating health hazards, and almost 80 per cent of Punjab's area is classed as 'over-exploited'. Food security was won in the short term; long-term costs will need time and effort to heal. The concern is not unique to Punjab.

The case of cement. Cement is vital for buildings, roads and bridges, yet its production is among the most polluting industries: fine dust damages lungs, settles on leaves reducing yields, and pollutes soil and water. The Central Pollution Control Board has guidelines for cement factories. Alternatives include stone, mud, plant-based materials and materials recycled from waste plastic, combining traditional methods with modern technology.

Vrikshayurveda. An ancient Indian science of plants and trees, formalised in texts such as Surapala's Vrikshayurveda around the 10th century CE. It advises plants for different soils, seed care, irrigation, natural pest control, crop rotation and mixed cropping, and ploughing that keeps moisture and soil life.

Caselet: Sikkim. A farming family faced falling yields and debts from costly chemical inputs. When the state promoted organic farming they switched to compost, neem-and-garlic repellents and multiple crops; yields dropped at first and recovered after about five years. In 2016 Sikkim became a 100 per cent organic state. Biodiversity returned, tourism increased and farmers' incomes grew by about 20 per cent on average.

Judicious use of non-renewables and fairness. Non-renewables should be stretched until sustainable alternatives exist, and energy sources switched to renewables where possible. NCERT cites a large solar park in Rajasthan and the International Solar Alliance launched by India and France in 2015. Access to clean water and air is often unfair to some sections of society. Stewardship means acting to restore and sustain; the Bhagavad Gita's idea of lokasangraha is acting for the wellbeing of all.

Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources: key facts

Effects of uneven distribution: Settlements
Trade patterns
International relations
Conflicts; Four areas shaped by where resources lie.
Paradox of plenty: Many natural resources
slow growth if no industries add value
also called natural resource curse; India has generally avoided it.
Punjab groundwater (NCERT figures): High-yielding wheat and paddy from the 1960s
free power
chemicals
water inaccessible to about 30 metres
nearly 80 per cent area over-exploited; Short-term food security, long-term harm.
Sikkim organic model: Organic state in 2016
all farmland certified organic
incomes up about 20 per cent on average; Yields fell first, recovered in about five years.
Stewardship actions: Restore renewables
Use non-renewables judiciously
Switch to renewable energy
Fair access for all; Closing argument for essays.

How to answer Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources questions

Questions ask for causes and effects of over-exploitation, a balanced comment on a caselet, or suggestions for sustainable use. Link each cause to its consequence and then to a remedy.

1Name the resource and the rate problem: use faster than regeneration.
2Give two or three causes drawn from the case (for example high-yielding seeds, free power, chemicals).
3State the consequence with the NCERT figure, quoted exactly.
4Offer remedies from the chapter (water harvesting, reviving ponds, organic farming, renewable energy).
5For 'paradox of plenty' questions, say resources help only when industries and good governance convert them into higher-value products.

Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources 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.

Shared river, shared responsibility

Suppose three neighbouring districts depend on one canal. The upstream district uses much more water in the dry months, leaving the other two with almost none.

Using the chapter's idea, explain why this causes tension and how it could be settled.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Water does not follow district boundaries.
Unequal use leaves some users deprived.
The Kaveri example shows negotiation and careful management can give fair sharing.

Answer: Tension arises because a resource that crosses boundaries is used unequally. As with the Kaveri water shared among several states, an agreed sharing arrangement reached by negotiation and managed carefully can keep peace and fairness.

Memory hook: Rivers carry water, not borders.

Short-term gain, long-term cost

Suppose a village pumps its borewell for long hours every day to grow a water-hungry crop. Each year the water level falls by a little, and the pump has to be lowered.

Explain what is wrong with this pattern and suggest two remedies.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Water is drawn faster than the water table is refilled.
The deficit grows, cost of extraction rises, and water may finally vanish.
Remedies: rainwater harvesting and reviving ponds and tanks; cut wasteful use.

Answer: The village is extracting groundwater faster than nature refills it, so costs rise and the source may run dry. It should harvest rainwater, revive ponds and tanks, and reduce wasteful use or reuse water.

Memory hook: Withdraw no faster than the refill.

Tricks to remember Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources

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

S-T-I-C
Settlements, Trade, International relations, Conflicts.
Use it when: What uneven distribution of resources shapes.
Punjab chain
HYV seeds -> more water -> free power -> over-pumping -> chemicals in water.
Use it when: Causal chain for the groundwater caselet.
Sikkim 16-20
2016 fully organic; 20 per cent higher incomes.
Use it when: Two numbers to quote.

Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources: solved examples

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

Example 1: Sikkim year · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

In which year did Sikkim become a 100 per cent organic state, as per NCERT?
(a) 2006
(b) 2010
(c) 2016
(d) 2020

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

NCERT states that Sikkim became fully organic in 2016 (1 mark).

Example 2: Paradox of plenty (3 marks) · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

What is meant by the 'paradox of plenty'? Why has India largely avoided it? (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Having abundant natural resources does not automatically make a country rich; also called the natural resource curse (1 mark).
Economies often cannot develop industries that convert resources into higher-value products (1 mark).
India has invested in developing such industries to meet its growing needs (1 mark).

Answer: The paradox of plenty means that regions with plenty of natural resources may still grow slowly, because they fail to build industries that turn the resources into products of higher value. India has generally avoided this by investing in the development of such industries.

Example 3: Punjab causes (5 marks) · 5 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain how the combination of factors led to the over-exploitation of groundwater in Punjab, and state its consequences. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

In the 1960s farmers shifted to high-yielding wheat and paddy needing more water (1 mark).
They extracted groundwater to meet the need (1 mark).
Free power encouraged over-pumping and modern farming used chemical pesticides and fertilisers (1 mark).
Groundwater is inaccessible to about 30 metres in a large part, and about 80 per cent of the area is over-exploited (1 mark).
Chemicals dissolved in water create health hazards; short-term food security, long-term damage (1 mark).

Answer: From the 1960s, farmers in Punjab adopted high-yielding varieties of wheat and paddy that need more water than traditional seeds, so they drew heavily on groundwater. Free power encouraged over-pumping, and modern methods added chemical pesticides and fertilisers. As a result, in a large part of Punjab the water level has fallen beyond about 30 metres, almost 80 per cent of the area is classified as over-exploited, and chemicals dissolved in the water create health hazards. Food security was ensured in the short term, but the long-term damage will take time and effort to heal.

Example 4: Assertion-reason: Kaveri · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): Sharing of the Kaveri water among several states required negotiation and careful management.
Reason (R): Natural resources do not respect political boundaries.
(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

Nature ignores state boundaries, so a river is shared among states and tension can result; R explains why negotiation was needed (1 mark).

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

Example 5: Case: two farms · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Read the case and answer.

NCERT compares two situations. In Punjab, food production rose sharply after farmers shifted to high-yielding seeds, but groundwater has fallen and chemicals have entered it. In Sikkim, a farming family that switched to compost, natural repellents and multi-cropping saw yields drop at first and then recover; the state became fully organic in 2016, biodiversity returned and incomes rose by about 20 per cent on average.

(i) Which case shows a short-term gain with long-term cost? (1)
(ii) Why did the Sikkim family's yield fall initially? (1)
(iii) Suggest two lessons a state facing falling groundwater could take from Sikkim. (2)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Punjab (1 mark).
(ii) The soil was still recovering from years of chemical use (1 mark).
(iii) Any two: a supportive state policy; patience through the transition; traditional, low-chemical methods like compost and multi-cropping; benefits for biodiversity and income (2 marks).

Answer: (i) Punjab. (ii) Because the soil was recovering after years of chemical inputs. (iii) A state can encourage a supportive policy and accept a transition period, and shift towards traditional practices such as compost, natural pest repellents and multi-cropping, which restore soil and brought ecological and economic gains in Sikkim.

Where students lose marks in Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources

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

Mistake: Writing that Punjab is the only affected state
Over-reading the caselet.
Wrong working
Only Punjab has groundwater problems.
Right working
NCERT says the concern affects many other states too.
Do this: Add 'a concern in many states'.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Quoting numbers loosely
Memory slips.
Wrong working
Sikkim became organic in 2010 and incomes doubled.
Right working
2016; incomes grew about 20 per cent on average.
Do this: Learn 2016 and 20 per cent.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Explaining the paradox of plenty as 'resources make a country poor'
Misreading 'paradox'.
Wrong working
Having resources makes a country poor.
Right working
Plenty does not guarantee prosperity unless industries add value.
Do this: Say 'does not automatically lead to'.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

Exam tips

In caselet questions, always give the cause, the NCERT figure and a remedy.
Say 'in the short term' and 'in the long term' when discussing Punjab's Green Revolution.
Use the word stewardship and mention restoration, regeneration and fair access in the closing line.
Do not blame any group; describe the combined effect of seeds, free power and chemicals.

Practice questions on Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources

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

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Which of these is an example of a resource shared across state boundaries in India, as discussed in the chapter?
(a) Wootz steel
(b) Kaveri river water
(c) Cement
(d) Mulching
Hint
Four neighbouring regions share it.
Answer
(b) Kaveri river water
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
State two problems of cement production and one alternative being tried. (2 marks)
Hint
Dust and pollution; traditional and new materials.
Answer
Cement production releases fine dust that damages lungs and settles on leaves reducing crop yield, and it pollutes soil and water. Alternatives include stone, mud, plant-based materials and materials recycled from waste plastic.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Describe how uneven distribution of natural resources affects human life. (3 marks)
Hint
Settlements, trade, international relations, conflicts, displacement.
Answer
Resources are unevenly spread, so industries and townships grow near them and offer jobs and facilities. Trade depends on where resources are found. It shapes relations between countries, and since nature ignores boundaries, sharing can lead to tension or conflict. People living in resource-rich areas may also be displaced and their sacred places threatened.
Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): Chemical fertilisers and pesticides used improperly degrade soil.
Reason (R): Traditional methods such as mulching and multi-cropping managed soil as a whole and helped sustain it.
(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
Do both statements hold, and does R explain the harm?
Answer
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. R describes a remedy; it does not explain why chemicals degrade soil.
Q5 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
'India's future water security depends on how we use groundwater and the Himalayan 'water tower' today.' Using the chapter, argue for this statement and suggest three actions. (5 marks)
Hint
Glaciers melting faster than replaced; groundwater drawn faster than refilled; remedies.
Answer
Rivers of the plains are fed by rain and melting glaciers, but NCERT notes that in places the glaciers are melting faster than precipitation can replace them, which threatens water security for people in the plains. At the same time, groundwater is drawn faster than it is refilled in most states, so extraction becomes costlier and may finally fail, as in much of Punjab. Both sources are renewable only if used within their rate of renewal. Three actions: harvest rainwater and revive ponds and tanks; cut wasteful use; treat and reuse water. Fair access matters too, since some sections of society, such as people in city areas without regular supply, already get inadequate water.

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.Which river's water is shared by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry?Show answer
The Kaveri.
2.What is the natural resource curse also called?Show answer
The paradox of plenty.
3.What share of Punjab's area is classed 'over-exploited' for groundwater?Show answer
Almost 80 per cent.
4.When did India and France launch the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?Show answer
2015.
5.Which Indian state became 100 per cent organic in 2016?Show answer
Sikkim.

Distribution, Overuse and Stewardship of Resources: frequently asked questions

What is the paradox of plenty in Class 8?

The idea that abundant natural resources do not automatically make a country rich; without industries that add value, growth can stay slow.

Why is groundwater over-exploited in Punjab?

High-yielding wheat and paddy needing more water, free power encouraging over-pumping, and chemical use led to water being drawn far faster than it is replenished.

What does stewardship of natural resources mean?

Acting as responsible caretakers: restoring and regenerating renewable resources and using non-renewable ones wisely so that future generations can also use them.