Q1. [4] § Introduction § DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES § RESOURCE PLANNING
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) shows the way
NTPC is a major power providing corporation in India. It has ISO certification for EMS (Environment Management System) 14001. The corporation has a proactive approach for preserving the natural environment and resources like water, oil, gas and fuels in places where it is setting up power plants.
This has been possible through:
(a) Optimum utilisation of equipment adopting latest techniques and upgrading existing equipment.
(b) Minimising waste generation by maximising ash utilisation.
(c) Providing green belts for nurturing ecological balance and addressing the question of special purpose vehicles for afforestation.
(d) Reducing environmental pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling system and liquid waste management.
(e) Ecological monitoring, reviews and online database management for all its power stations.
Read the case given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
- (12.1) Define sustainable development. [1]
- (12.2) What is the idea behind ISO certification? [1]
- (12.3) Examine the proactive approach of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2022 32/3/1 Q12
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:03 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(12.1) Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
(12.2) ISO certification ensures that an organisation follows internationally recognised standards for quality, safety, and environmental management, assuring stakeholders of responsible and systematic practices.
(12.3) NTPC's proactive approach involves:
- Optimum utilisation of equipment using latest techniques.
- Minimising waste by maximising ash utilisation.
- Providing green belts for ecological balance and afforestation.
- Reducing pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling, and liquid waste management.
- Ecological monitoring and online database management for all power stations.
Thus, NTPC actively preserves natural resources like water, oil, gas, and fuel while setting up power plants.
Source: Business Studies, Chapter – Social Responsibility of Business and Business Ethics
---
Explanation
- (12.1) This is a standard 1-mark definition; write exactly one line. The Brundtland Commission definition is what examiners expect.
- (12.2) ISO certification is about adherence to international standards — focus on its purpose, not technical details.
- (12.3) For 2 marks, list at least 3–4 points directly from the passage. Do not add information outside the extract. Examiners award marks for points sourced from the case study.
If a question refers to an image, map, graph or diagram that is not shown here, find the actual CBSE question paper on the CBSE website:
cbse.gov.in.