AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Electricity has such a wide range of applications in today's world that its per capita consumption is considered an index of development. Unlike coal or oil, which are used only for specific purposes (heating, fuel), electricity powers every sector — agriculture, industry, transport, and domestic use. It can also be generated from multiple sources (hydel, thermal, nuclear, solar), making it a more comprehensive and universal measure of development.
Source: Conventional Sources of Energy — Electricity, Chapter 5
The textbook directly states: "Electricity has such a wide range of applications in today's world that its per capita consumption is considered as an index of development." Your answer must include this reason. The key contrast with coal/oil is that electricity is universally applicable across all sectors and can be produced from both renewable and non-renewable sources — making it a better overall indicator. Examiners expect: (1) wide range of applications, and (2) contrast with limited use of coal/oil.