'The question of sustainability of development raises many fundamentally new issues about the nature and process of development.' Explain it with examples.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:55 · grounding rag
Model Answer
The question of sustainability raises new issues because current development patterns may harm future generations.
Examples:
- Groundwater (Renewable Resource): In India, about 300 districts have reported a water level decline of over 4 metres in 20 years. Nearly one-third of the country is already overusing groundwater. If this continues, 60% of India will face the same crisis in 25 years. This shows development cannot ignore resource limits.
- Crude Oil (Non-Renewable Resource): Global crude oil reserves will last only about 47 years at the current rate of extraction. Countries like India, which import oil, face serious economic burden if prices rise. Once exhausted, it cannot be replenished.
These examples show development must balance present needs with the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Source: Chapter 1 — Sustainability of Development
---
Explanation
- Examiners expect two distinct examples (one renewable, one non-renewable) with brief explanation of why they raise "new issues."
- The key phrase to address is "fundamentally new issues" — meaning sustainability was not a traditional concern in development thinking.
- Do not write only definitions; link the example directly to the sustainability problem.
- The quote "We have borrowed the world from our children" can be used optionally to introduce the answer.