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Ch 8 Comparative Development Experiences of India and Its Neighbours

Written by

Sri

in

, ,
Class 11 • Indian Economic Development

NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 8 Questions (MCQ, One-Word or Descriptive)

This page provides complete NCERT Class 11 Indian Economic Development Chapter 8 questions, including MCQs, one-word and descriptive questions. All questions are extracted line-by-line from NCERT for full syllabus coverage and exam preparation.

This chapter, Comparative Development Experiences of India and Its Neighbours, examines the developmental paths of India, China, and Pakistan : three countries that started their journey around the same time (India and Pakistan in 1947, China in 1949) with similar growth rates and per capita incomes until the 1980s.

All three adopted Five Year Plans in the 1950s and mixed economy models. However, their political systems diverged significantly: India as the world’s largest democracy, Pakistan with a militarist political structure, and China as a command economy under one-party rule.

China’s Great Leap Forward (1958) and Cultural Revolution (1966-76) were followed by major reforms in 1978 (on its own initiative), including decollectivisation of agriculture (communes replaced by individual household plots), dual pricing, township and village enterprises, and Special Economic Zones.

Pakistan followed import substitution (1950s-60s), nationalisation (1970s), then denationalisation and reforms in 1988. India introduced reforms in 1991 under pressure from World Bank and IMF.

Demographically, China’s one-child norm (late 1970s) drastically reduced population growth, though it led to a skewed sex ratio and ageing population : now relaxed to two children. India’s population in 2021-23 is 1428 million, China 1411 million, Pakistan 240 million. Fertility rates are 2.0 (India), 1.2 (China), and 3.4 (Pakistan).

Urbanisation is highest in China (65%), followed by Pakistan (38%) and India (36%). In terms of GDP growth, China achieved near double-digit growth in the 1980s (10.3% annually) but slowed to 5.0% in 2024; India grew at 6.5% and Pakistan at 3.1% in 2024.

China’s growth is driven by manufacturing (38% of GVA) and services, while India’s growth is led by services (54% of GVA) with a direct shift from agriculture to services, bypassing the classical manufacturing-led development path.

Human Development Indicators show China far ahead (HDI 0.797, rank 78) compared to India (0.685, rank 130) and Pakistan (0.544, rank 168). China has near-zero poverty, infant mortality of 4.8 per 1000 (India 25.5, Pakistan 51), maternal mortality of 23 per lakh (India 103, Pakistan 154), and life expectancy of 78 years (India 72, Pakistan 67.6).

Scholars attribute China’s HDI success not to reforms but to pre-reform investments in health, education, land reforms, and decentralised planning. Pakistan’s economy has suffered from political instability, over-dependence on remittances and foreign aid, and volatile agricultural performance.

The chapter concludes that while China successfully used the market system without losing political commitment, India and Pakistan face challenges of poverty, high mortality rates, and the need for liberty indicators (democratic participation, judicial independence, rule of law) to complement human development measures.

Topics Covered:

Section A: Descriptive Questions

  1. Why are regional and economic groupings formed? Page 135
  2. What are the similarities in the developmental strategies of India, China and Pakistan? Page 135-136
  3. What was the Great Leap Forward (GLF) campaign in China? Page 136
  4. What was the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China? Page 136
  5. What reforms were introduced in China in 1978? Page 136-137
  6. What is dual pricing as introduced in China? Page 137
  7. What developmental path did Pakistan follow? Page 137-138
  8. According to Table 8.1, what are the estimated populations of India, China and Pakistan (2021-23)? Page 138
  9. What is the sex ratio in India, China and Pakistan according to Table 8.1? Page 138
  10. What is the fertility rate in India, China and Pakistan according to Table 8.1? Page 138
  11. What is the urbanisation percentage in India, China and Pakistan according to Table 8.1? Page 138
  12. According to Table 8.2, what were the GDP growth rates for India, China and Pakistan during 1980-90? Page 139
  13. What were the GDP growth rates for India, China and Pakistan in 2024 according to Table 8.2? Page 139
  14. According to Table 8.3, what is the contribution of agriculture to GVA in India, China and Pakistan (2022)? Page 141
  15. According to Table 8.3, what percentage of workforce is engaged in agriculture in India, China and Pakistan (2022)? Page 141
  16. According to Table 8.3, what is the contribution of industry to GVA in India, China and Pakistan (2022)? Page 141
  17. According to Table 8.5, what are the Human Development Index (HDI) values for India, China and Pakistan (2017-2023)? Page 142
  18. What are the HDI ranks of India, China and Pakistan according to Table 8.5? Page 142
  19. According to Table 8.5, what is the Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000 live births) in India, China and Pakistan? Page 142
  20. According to Table 8.5, what is the Maternal Mortality Rate (per 1 lakh births) in India, China and Pakistan? Page 142
  21. According to Table 8.5, what is the percentage of people living below poverty line in India, China and Pakistan? Page 142
  22. What is the one-child norm in China and what were its implications? Page 138
  23. What are liberty indicators? Give examples. Page 143
  24. Why did China introduce structural reforms in 1978? Page 143-144
  25. What are the reasons for slowdown of growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan according to scholars? Page 144-146
  26. What was the impact of reform process in Pakistan? Page 144
  27. What was the commune system in China? Page 136
  28. According to Table 8.4, what were the sectoral growth rates for India, China and Pakistan in industry during 2014-18? Page 142
  29. According to Table 8.4, what were the sectoral growth rates for services in India, China and Pakistan during 2014-18? Page 142

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Section B1: Objective MCQs

Page 136

When did India announce its first Five Year Plan?

A) 1947B) 1951-56C) 1953D) 1956
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1951-56
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

When did Pakistan announce its first Five Year Plan (Medium Term Development Plan)?

A) 1947B) 1951C) 1953D) 1956
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1956
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

When did China announce its First Five Year Plan?

A) 1949B) 1951C) 1953D) 1956
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1953
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

The Great Leap Forward campaign was initiated in China in which year?

A) 1949B) 1958C) 1965D) 1978
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1958
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China lasted from which years?

A) 1958-62B) 1965-70C) 1966-76D) 1970-78
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1966-76
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

In which year did China introduce economic reforms?

A) 1965B) 1978C) 1988D) 1991
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1978
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 138

In which year did Pakistan initiate reforms?

A) 1978B) 1985C) 1988D) 1991
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1988
Reference: NCERT Page 138
Page 143

In which year did India introduce economic reforms?

A) 1978B) 1985C) 1988D) 1991
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1991
Reference: NCERT Page 143
Page 138

According to Table 8.1, what is the annual growth of population in China (2021-23)?

A) -0.10%B) 0.50%C) 1.00%D) 1.96%
View Answer
Correct Answer: -0.10%
Reference: NCERT Page 138
Page 138

According to Table 8.1, what is the density of population in Pakistan (per sq km)?

A) 148B) 150C) 300D) 481
View Answer
Correct Answer: 300
Reference: NCERT Page 138
Page 139

China has the second largest GDP (PPP) in the world at how many trillion dollars?

A) $15 trillionB) $25 trillionC) $35 trillionD) $45 trillion
View Answer
Correct Answer: $35 trillion
Reference: NCERT Page 139
Page 139

India’s GDP (PPP) is approximately what percentage of China’s GDP?

A) 25%B) 42%C) 50%D) 60%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 42%
Reference: NCERT Page 139
Page 141

According to Table 8.3, what percentage of China’s workforce is engaged in industry?

A) 26%B) 28%C) 32%D) 38%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 32%
Reference: NCERT Page 141
Page 141

What percentage of India’s workforce is engaged in the service sector according to Table 8.3?

A) 31%B) 38%C) 45%D) 54%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 54%
Reference: NCERT Page 141
Page 142

According to Table 8.5, what is the Life Expectancy at Birth in China?

A) 67.6 yearsB) 72.0 yearsC) 78.0 yearsD) 80.0 years
View Answer
Correct Answer: 78.0 years
Reference: NCERT Page 142
Page 142

According to Table 8.5, what is the GNI per capita (PPP US $) for India?

A) $5,501B) $9,047C) $12,000D) $22,029
View Answer
Correct Answer: $9,047
Reference: NCERT Page 142
Page 142

According to Table 8.5, what is the GNI per capita (PPP US $) for China?

A) $9,047B) $22,029C) $15,000D) $25,000
View Answer
Correct Answer: $22,029
Reference: NCERT Page 142
Page 142

According to Table 8.5, what is the Prevalence of undernourishment (% of population) in Pakistan?

A) 3%B) 7%C) 17%D) 19%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 19%
Reference: NCERT Page 142
Page 142

According to Table 8.5, what percentage of people use at least basic sanitation in China?

A) 67%B) 78%C) 89%D) 96%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 96%
Reference: NCERT Page 142
Page 146

In 2017-18, Pakistan’s GDP registered a growth of how much?

A) 3.10%B) 4.50%C) 5.50%D) 6.50%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 5.50%
Reference: NCERT Page 146
Page 146

In 2017-18, Pakistan’s industrial sector grew at what rate?

A) 3.50%B) 4.90%C) 5.50%D) 6.20%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 4.90%
Reference: NCERT Page 146
Page 136

The severe drought during the Great Leap Forward campaign in China killed approximately how many people?

A) 10 millionB) 20 millionC) 30 millionD) 40 million
View Answer
Correct Answer: 30 million
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

In 1958, how many communes covered almost all farm population in China?

A) 5,000B) 10,000C) 20,000D) 26,000
View Answer
Correct Answer: 26,000
Reference: NCERT Page 136
Page 136

Which country withdrew its professionals from China during conflicts, impacting industrialisation?

A) USAB) Russia (Soviet Union)C) JapanD) UK
View Answer
Correct Answer: Russia (Soviet Union)
Reference: NCERT Page 136

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Section B2: Factual One-Liners

What is the full form of SAARC? Page 135

Reveal Answer
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Page 135)

What is the full form of ASEAN? Page 135

Reveal Answer
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Page 135)

What is the full form of BRICS? Page 135

Reveal Answer
Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (Page 135)

What is the full form of SOE (in Chinese context)? Page 137

Reveal Answer
State Owned Enterprise (Page 137)

What is the full form of GLF? Page 136

Reveal Answer
Great Leap Forward (Page 136)

What is the full form of HDI? Page 142

Reveal Answer
Human Development Index (Page 142)

What is the full form of PPP? Page 139

Reveal Answer
Purchasing Power Parity (Page 139)

What is the full form of GVA? Page 140

Reveal Answer
Gross Value Added (Page 140)

Name the border used for trade between India and Pakistan (Fig. 8.1). Page 137

Reveal Answer
Wagah Border (Page 137)

In which year was the People’s Republic of China established? Page 135

Reveal Answer
1949 (Page 135)

According to Table 8.1, which country has the highest urbanisation percentage? Page 138

Reveal Answer
China (65%) (Page 138)

According to Table 8.1, which country has the highest fertility rate? Page 138

Reveal Answer
Pakistan (3.4) (Page 138)

According to Table 8.5, which country has the highest HDI rank? Page 142

Reveal Answer
China (78th) (Page 142)

According to Table 8.5, which country has the lowest Infant Mortality Rate? Page 142

Reveal Answer
China (4.8) (Page 142)

According to Table 8.5, which country has the highest Maternal Mortality Rate? Page 142

Reveal Answer
Pakistan (154) (Page 142)

According to Table 8.5, which country has zero per cent poverty (national poverty line)? Page 142

Reveal Answer
China (Page 142)

What percentage of cultivable area in China accounts for cultivable area in India? Page 140

Reveal Answer
40% (Page 140)

Which country has the highest proportion of workforce in agriculture according to Table 8.3? Page 141

Reveal Answer
India (43%) (Page 141)

What was the compound rate of growth of imports from China to India during 2004-2025 (from Work These Out table)? Page 145

Reveal Answer
18.50% (Page 145)

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