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CBSEClass 8Social Studies★ 10-12 marks · CBSE Class 8 Social Studies (Exploring Society Chapter 1)

Natural Resources and Their Use

'Natural Resources and Their Use' opens the new NCERT 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond' textbook (Theme A — India and the World: Land and the People). Explores Earth's natural resources, their types, distribution, India's wealth in resources, sustainable use, and conservation. CBSE Class 8 Social Studies (Exploring Society) Chapter 1.

⏱ 22 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned
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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

  • 1Define and classify natural resources
  • 2Identify India's major natural resources by state
  • 3Distinguish renewable vs non-renewable
  • 4Apply conservation principles
  • 5Understand sustainability and climate change
💡
Why this chapter matters
Opens the new NEP 2020 integrated Social Studies textbook. Foundation for understanding India's geography, economy, and environmental policy.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 7 Geography/Civics
Foundation

Natural Resources and Their Use — Class 8 Social Studies (Exploring Society)

"The Earth has enough resources for our need, but not for our greed." — Mahatma Gandhi

1. About the Chapter

This is the opening chapter of the new NCERT Class 8 Social Studies textbook 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond' (2025-26 onwards). Aligned with NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023, it integrates History, Geography, Civics, and Economics into ONE subject.

Themes Covered

  • What are natural resources
  • Types and distribution
  • India's resource wealth
  • Sustainable use
  • Conservation challenges

2. What Are Natural Resources?

Definition

Natural resources = substances/conditions occurring naturally that humans use to meet needs and produce goods.

Examples

  • Air, water, soil (basic)
  • Plants, animals (biotic)
  • Minerals, fossil fuels (geological)
  • Sunlight, wind, geothermal (energy)
  • Forests, fisheries, biodiversity

3. Classification of Natural Resources

By Origin

Biotic (from living): forests, wildlife, fisheries, fossil fuels (formed from dead organisms) Abiotic (non-living): minerals, water, air, sunlight

By Renewability

Renewable:

  • Replenished naturally within human lifetimes
  • Examples: solar, wind, water, forests, biodiversity
  • (if used sustainably)

Non-renewable:

  • Take millions of years to form
  • Cannot be replaced in human timeframe
  • Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas, most minerals

By Distribution

Ubiquitous (everywhere): air, sunlight Localised (specific regions): coal in Jharkhand, oil in Mumbai High, diamonds in Panna

4. India's Natural Resource Wealth

Land

  • 3.28 million sq km
  • 7th largest country
  • Diverse landforms: Himalayas, plains, deserts, plateaus, coasts
  • Fertile soil for agriculture

Water

  • Rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Indus, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada
  • Coastline: 7,517 km
  • Groundwater: huge but rapidly depleting

Forests

  • ~24.62% of land area is forest cover (2021)
  • Major: Western Ghats, Northeast, Sundarbans, Himalayas

Minerals

  • Coal: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal
  • Iron ore: Karnataka, Odisha, Goa
  • Bauxite: Odisha, Gujarat
  • Petroleum: Mumbai High, Assam, Gujarat
  • Mica: Jharkhand
  • Diamond: Panna, MP
  • Limestone, dolomite, manganese, copper

Energy Resources

  • Coal (75% of electricity)
  • Petroleum and natural gas
  • Hydroelectric: Bhakra Nangal, Sardar Sarovar, etc.
  • Nuclear: 7 power plants
  • Solar: rapidly growing (Rajasthan, Gujarat)
  • Wind: TN, Gujarat, Maharashtra
  • Biomass, geothermal, ocean

Biodiversity

  • 1 of 17 mega-biodiverse countries
  • 100,000+ animal species
  • 50,000+ plant species
  • Hotspots: Western Ghats, NE, Sundarbans

5. Use of Natural Resources

Daily Life

  • Water for drinking, bathing, cooking
  • Soil for growing food
  • Wood for construction, furniture, fuel
  • Cotton for clothing
  • Metals for tools, vehicles, buildings

Industry

  • Coal for thermal power
  • Iron for steel
  • Petroleum for fuel, plastics, chemicals
  • Minerals for electronics

Agriculture

  • Soil + water + sunlight + seeds = food
  • Fertilisers (from minerals)
  • Irrigation infrastructure

Energy

  • Electricity from coal, hydro, solar, wind
  • Fuel from petroleum
  • Cooking from gas (LPG)

6. Sustainable Use and Conservation

Why Conservation Matters

  • Resources are FINITE
  • Future generations need them too
  • Environmental balance must be maintained
  • Climate change threatens supply

Conservation Principles

  1. Reduce — use less
  2. Reuse — use again
  3. Recycle — convert waste to resource

Conservation Methods

  • Forests: Van Mahotsav, social forestry, joint forest management
  • Water: rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, watershed management
  • Soil: contour ploughing, terracing, crop rotation, organic farming
  • Minerals: recycling, finding substitutes, efficient extraction
  • Wildlife: protected areas (national parks), Project Tiger, etc.

Indian Government Initiatives

  • National Solar Mission: 500 GW renewable by 2030
  • Swachh Bharat: cleanliness drive
  • Namami Gange: river cleaning
  • Project Tiger (1973): wildlife protection
  • Compensatory afforestation

7. Resource Distribution Problem

Uneven Distribution

  • Some regions resource-rich (Jharkhand, Odisha)
  • Some resource-poor
  • Creates inequality

India's Challenges

  • Water stress in 21 major cities
  • Soil degradation in many states
  • Air pollution in cities (Delhi worst)
  • Plastic waste crisis
  • Deforestation in some areas

Global Inequality

  • Developed countries use MORE resources per person
  • Developing countries (India) using more as they develop
  • Tension between development and environment

8. Climate Change and Resources

Impact

  • Glaciers melting (Himalayan water sources at risk)
  • Monsoons becoming erratic
  • Rising sea levels (coastal areas)
  • More extreme weather

Solutions

  • Shift to renewable energy
  • Improve efficiency
  • Restore forests
  • Reduce waste
  • International cooperation (Paris Agreement)

9. India's Path Forward

Renewable Energy Push

  • 500 GW renewable by 2030
  • Bhadla Solar Park (Rajasthan) — world's largest
  • 60+ GW solar already installed

Net-Zero Target

  • India committed to NET-ZERO BY 2070 (COP26)
  • Massive transition needed
  • Will require lifestyle changes too

Mission LiFE (2022)

  • Lifestyle for Environment
  • Each individual's choices matter
  • Promote sustainable living

10. Worked Examples

Example 1: Renewable vs Non-renewable

Classify: coal, solar, water, petroleum, wood, iron ore.

  • Renewable: solar, water, wood (if replanted)
  • Non-renewable: coal, petroleum, iron ore

Example 2: Indian states

Which Indian states are coal-rich?

  • Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal — accounting for most of India's coal reserves.

Example 3: Conservation

How can a student conserve water?

  • Take shorter showers
  • Don't leave tap running while brushing
  • Repair leaks
  • Use bucket instead of running tap
  • Harvest rainwater

11. Common Mistakes

  1. All natural resources are renewable

    • WRONG. Coal, petroleum, most minerals are NON-renewable.

  2. Resources are unlimited

    • WRONG. All are finite. Even renewables (water, forests) can be over-used.

  3. Only government's job to conserve

    • WRONG. EVERY individual must conserve. Multiplied effects.

  4. India has unlimited water

    • WRONG. India has 17% of world population but only 4% of freshwater.

  5. Only rural matter for nature

    • Urban consumers also impact nature heavily.

12. Indian Heritage of Conservation

Ancient Traditions

  • 'Bhumi Mata' (Mother Earth) in Vedas
  • Sacred groves preserved by communities
  • 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (guest is god) — applies to nature too
  • Vegetarian diet (low resource footprint)

Modern Heroes

  • Sundarlal Bahuguna — Chipko Movement
  • Vandana Shiva — environmental activist
  • Saalumarada Thimmakka — planted 8,000+ trees
  • Jadav Payeng — Forest Man of India

13. Conclusion

Natural resources are the FOUNDATION of all human life and progress. India is blessed with rich resources — land, water, minerals, biodiversity. But we are also a billion-plus population needing more.

The challenge of our generation:

  • Use resources to develop
  • Without destroying them for the future
  • Through innovation, efficiency, and conservation

This chapter sets the stage for Class 8 Social Studies — exploring India's geography, history, civics, and economics together.

Remember Gandhi's words: 'The Earth has enough for our need, but not for our greed.' Live by them.

Be a conserver. Be a creator. India needs both.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Renewable resources
Solar, wind, water, forests, biodiversity
Replenish naturally
Non-renewable
Coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals
Millions of years to form
India coal states
Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal
Most reserves
India forest cover
24.62% of land (2021)
Indian renewable target
500 GW by 2030; Net-zero by 2070
COP26 commitment
India biodiversity
Mega-biodiverse country (1 of 17)
7% of species in 2.4% land
⚠️

Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT
✗ All resources are renewable
✓ Coal, oil, minerals are NON-RENEWABLE. Take millions of years to form. Cannot be replaced in human timescale.
WATCH OUT
✗ India has unlimited water
✓ India has 17% of world population but only 4% of freshwater. Severe water stress in many cities.
WATCH OUT
✗ Conservation is government's job
✓ EVERYONE'S responsibility. Individual choices (water, electricity, plastic) add up massively.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Activities
Activities
Map work, identification
5
Questions
Ex
Exercise
Comprehension, application
12
Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Classification
Classify these as renewable or non-renewable: solar, coal, water, iron ore.
▶ Show solution
✦ Answer: RENEWABLE: solar, water (if used sustainably). NON-RENEWABLE: coal, iron ore. Note: even water can be locally depleted; even forests if cut faster than regrown.
Q2EASY· Indian resources
Name three Indian states rich in coal.
▶ Show solution
✦ Answer: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh. (Also: West Bengal, MP.)
Q3MEDIUM· Conservation
Suggest three ways students can conserve water at home.
▶ Show solution
Step 1 — Use less water. • Take shorter showers (5 min instead of 15) • Use buckets instead of running tap for washing • Don't leave tap running while brushing teeth • Wash full loads of clothes/dishes only Step 2 — Reuse water. • Use water from washing vegetables to water plants • Re-use bath water for cleaning Step 3 — Repair and harvest. • Fix all leaks immediately (small leaks waste lots) • Install rainwater harvesting • Use water-efficient fixtures Step 4 — Educate. • Teach family and friends • Lead by example ✦ Answer: Three ways students conserve water: (1) USE LESS (short showers, no running taps), (2) REUSE (vegetable water for plants), (3) REPAIR AND HARVEST (fix leaks, rainwater harvesting). Multiplied across billions of Indians, this can transform water security.
Q4HARD· Application
Discuss India's renewable energy push — targets, achievements, challenges.
▶ Show solution
Step 1 — Targets. India committed at COP26 (2021): • 500 GW non-fossil energy by 2030 • Half of electricity from renewables by 2030 • Reduce emissions intensity 45% by 2030 • Net-zero by 2070 Step 2 — Major projects. • Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan: ~2,245 MW (world's largest single solar park) • Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka: 2,050 MW • Wind farms in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat • Massive offshore wind plans • Floating solar on reservoirs Step 3 — Achievements. • Solar capacity: ~75 GW (2024) — ranked 4th globally • Wind capacity: ~46 GW • Total renewable: ~200 GW (target 500 by 2030) • Fastest growth among major economies Step 4 — Challenges. • Storage technology (batteries needed for solar/wind variability) • Land acquisition for large projects • Initial investment costs • Grid integration of renewable supply • Coal industry employment transition (~1 million workers) • Climate change itself (affects hydro, agriculture) Step 5 — Innovation. • Green hydrogen mission (2023) • Electric vehicles (Tata, Mahindra, Ola, Hero EVs) • Smart grids and decentralised solar • International Solar Alliance (India + 121 nations) Step 6 — Indian advantages. • Abundant sunlight (300+ sunny days) • Long coastline (offshore wind) • Young engineering workforce • Falling costs of solar (~90% drop in 10 years) • Strong policy support Step 7 — Mission LiFE (2022). Lifestyle for Environment — encouraging individuals to adopt sustainable practices. Indian initiative now global. Step 8 — Lessons for students. • Reduce personal energy use • Choose efficient appliances (BEE star ratings) • Consider rooftop solar (homes, schools) • Promote EVs in your area • Support renewable policies ✦ Answer: India's renewable target: 500 GW non-fossil by 2030, net-zero by 2070. Achievements: Bhadla (world's largest solar park), 75 GW solar already installed (4th globally), 200 GW total renewables. Challenges: storage, land, transition, grid integration. Innovation: green hydrogen, EVs, ISA. India is now a global renewable leader — students must support this transition through personal choices and supporting policies.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

  • •Natural resources: biotic (living origin) + abiotic (non-living)
  • •Renewable: solar, wind, water, forests, biodiversity
  • •Non-renewable: coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals
  • •India: 1 of 17 mega-biodiverse countries
  • •Forest cover: 24.62% (2021)
  • •Coal states: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, WB
  • •Iron ore: Karnataka, Odisha, Goa
  • •Petroleum: Mumbai High, Assam, Gujarat
  • •Renewable target: 500 GW by 2030
  • •Net-zero: 2070
  • •Bhadla Solar Park (Rajasthan): world's largest
  • •Indian heroes: Sundarlal Bahuguna, Saalumarada Thimmakka, Jadav Payeng
  • •3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • •Indian initiatives: Mission LiFE, Project Tiger, Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 10-12 marks per chapter

Question typeMarks eachTypical countWhat it tests
MCQ / Very Short13Classification, key facts
Short Answer32Indian resources, conservation methods
Long Answer51Sustainable development, renewable energy
Prep strategy
  • Memorise renewable vs non-renewable
  • Know India's resource-rich states
  • Memorise renewable targets (500 GW 2030, net-zero 2070)
  • Practice conservation examples
  • Connect to climate change

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Bhadla Solar Park

World's largest single solar park (~2,245 MW). Rajasthan. Symbol of India's solar ambition.

International Solar Alliance

121 member countries; headquarters in Gurugram. India's gift to global renewable cooperation.

Project Tiger

Started 1973. Tiger population: 1,400 (2008) → 3,167 (2022). World-leading conservation.

Mission LiFE

Lifestyle for Environment. PM Modi's COP27 initiative. Promotes sustainable individual choices.

Namami Gange

₹20,000+ crore river cleaning programme. Improving Ganga water quality.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

  1. Memorise renewable vs non-renewable distinction
  2. Know India's resource-rich states
  3. Quote renewable targets (500 GW, 2070)
  4. Use Indian examples (Bhadla, Project Tiger, ISA)
  5. Apply 3R's principle to questions

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

  • Read latest India Energy Outlook (IEA)
  • Study Indian forest cover trends
  • Learn about Indian endangered species
  • Climate change UN reports (IPCC)
  • Indian wildlife laws

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 8 School ExamVery High
Geography OlympiadVery High
NTSE Social ScienceVery High
Class 9 Geography (continued)Very High
UPSC EnvironmentVery High

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

India is the world's third-largest coal consumer (after China, USA). 75% of electricity comes from coal. Reasons: (1) Vast domestic reserves, (2) Cheap and reliable baseload power, (3) Large existing infrastructure, (4) ~1 million workers depend on coal. India is transitioning gradually — increasing renewables while phasing down coal. Cannot suddenly stop coal without affecting energy security and employment.

ISA is an inter-governmental organisation founded in 2015 by India and France. Initially for solar-rich countries (between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn). Now 121 member countries. Headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. India's gift to global renewable energy cooperation. Promotes solar deployment worldwide.

Difficult but possible. Path requires: (1) Massive renewable energy expansion (500 GW by 2030, more after), (2) Electric vehicles dominance, (3) Industrial efficiency improvements, (4) Carbon capture and storage, (5) Lifestyle changes (Mission LiFE), (6) International support. India has shown commitment but execution will require sustained effort across decades. Younger generation will play key role.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

CBSE Class 8 mock tests
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Last reviewed on 20 May 2026. Written and reviewed by subject-matter experts — read about our process.
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