Q1. [3] deep thorough-understanding
A multinational company proposes to set up a large dam in a forested tribal region, promising to generate electricity that will power factories and raise the country's per capita income. Using the idea of national development, explain why this proposal cannot be judged simply by whether it increases the country's average income.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:21 · grounding rag
Model Answer
National development cannot be judged solely by average (per capita) income because:
- Different groups have conflicting goals. As the textbook notes, a large dam may benefit industrialists needing electricity, but it would submerge the land and disrupt the lives of tribal communities — "what may be development for one may not be development for the other."
- Averages hide inequality. A rise in average income may mask that only a small group gains while the displaced tribals lose their livelihoods, homes, and cultural identity.
- Development must benefit a large number of people. A fair and just path requires asking: would this benefit a large number, or only a small group? True national development means considering security, dignity, and equal treatment — not just income figures.
Source: What Development Promises / National Development, Chapter 1
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Explanation
The examiner expects three distinct points linked to the chapter's core ideas: (i) conflicting notions of development, (ii) limitation of averages, and (iii) the need for a fair/just path. The dam–tribal example is directly from the textbook (Narmada context), so using it shows textbook grounding. Avoid writing a general essay — keep each point crisp and tied to the concept.