NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Economics Chapter 8 Comparative Development Experiences Of India And Its Neighbours - 2025-26

1. Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Ans: Regional and global groups like SAARC, EU, and ASEAN are made so countries can learn from each other and work together. They help members share development ideas, improve social and cultural growth, keep peace, and unite for common interests.

2. What are the various means by which countries are trying to strengthen their own domestic economies?
Ans:

• Countries join economic groups like SAARC and the EU to protect mutual interests.
• They study other countries' development methods to learn and adapt new strategies.
• Many governments are opening up their economies and reducing control, letting market forces play a bigger role.
• They also use globalisation to boost domestic businesses and increase worldwide trade.

3. What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
Ans: India and Pakistan both started development plans soon after independence, relied on the public sector, and followed a mixed economy using both government and private participation.

4. Explain the Great Leap Forward campaign of China as initiated in 1958.
Ans: The Great Leap Forward (GLF) was a campaign in China started in 1958 aiming at speeding up industrial and agricultural production through collective farming and large-scale rural projects.

5. China's rapid industrial growth can be traced back to its reforms in 1978. Do you agree? Elucidate.
Ans: China's fast industrial growth happened because of the economic reforms that started in 1978.

• At first, reforms were made in farming, foreign trade, and investment. The government introduced the Commune Method, dividing land among households.
• Households could keep leftover profits after taxes. Later, industry reforms and dual pricing let some goods sell at both set prices and market rates.
• Special Economic Zones were set up to invite foreign companies.
• All these changes together led to China's quick industrial progress.

6. Describe the path of developmental initiatives taken by Pakistan for its economic development.
Ans: Pakistan used a mix of private and government efforts to develop its economy.

• In the 1950s-60s, Pakistan used policies to replace imports with local products, protected its industries, and mechanised farming (Green Revolution).
• Industries were nationalised in the 1970s. During late 1970s-early 80s, some sectors were opened back to private businesses.
• All these steps made it easier to introduce economic reforms in 1988.

7. What is the important implication of the one child norm in China?
Ans: The one-child rule slowed down China's population growth. It also made the number of girls fewer compared to boys and led to more older people in the population, which may require stronger social security.

8. Mention the salient demographic indicators China, Pakistan and India.
Ans:

• China has the largest population, then India. Pakistan's is much smaller.
• China's population density is lowest, India's is the highest.
• China's one-child rule slowed its population growth.
• All three countries have more males than females.
• Pakistan’s fertility rate is the highest, China’s is the lowest.
• China is more urbanised than India and Pakistan.

9. Compare and contrast India and China's sectoral contribution towards GDP in 2003. What does it indicate?
Ans:

• Agriculture made up 15% of China’s GDP and 23% of India’s in 2003.
• China’s GDP is led by manufacturing (53%) while India’s is led by services (about 51%).
• Both countries have moved away from farming towards services and industry, showing improvement in their economies.
• India skipped straight from agriculture to services, but China followed the pattern of developed countries where industry grows first.

10. Mention the various indicators of human development.
Ans: Human development indicators are: life expectancy, adult literacy rate, infant mortality rate, percentage of people living in poverty, GDP per capita, access to improved sanitation, and access to improved water sources.

11. Define liberty indicator. Give some examples of liberty indicators.
Ans: Liberty indicators show how much people take part in making social and political decisions. Examples include protection of rights, an independent judiciary, and how well the law is followed.

12. Evaluate the various factors that led to the rapid growth in economic development in China.
Ans: China's economic growth increased quickly because it started reforms in 1978.

• First, farming and trade reforms gave households more control and income.
• Later, private businesses were encouraged in industry to compete with state businesses.
• Dual pricing allowed selling some goods at set prices and the rest at market rates.
• Special Economic Zones were made to attract global businesses.
• All these changes helped China’s industry and economy grow fast.

13. Group the following features pertaining to the economies of India, China and Pakistan under three heads
Ans:
One-child norm: China
Low fertility rate: China
High degree of urbanization: Pakistan and China
Mixed economy: India and Pakistan
Very high fertility rate: Pakistan
Large population: India and China
High density of population: India
Growth due to manufacturing sector: China
Growth due to service sector: India

14. Give reasons for the slow growth and re-emergence of poverty in Pakistan.
Ans: Pakistan’s growth has been slow and poverty increased for several reasons:

• Heavy dependence on public sector companies led to inefficiency and wasted resources.
• Traditional farming methods and climate problems kept agricultural productivity low.
• Remittances and volatile farm exports limited the need to develop manufacturing for exports.
• Pakistan borrowed a lot from abroad; paying back loans became hard, especially when farming failed.
• Political instability led to higher government spending to maintain order, draining resources.
• Poor investment from foreign countries due to instability and lack of good infrastructure.

15. Compare and contrast the development of India, China and Pakistan with respect to some salient human development indicators.
Ans: The Human Development Index (HDI) uses several key indicators:

• Life Expectancy
• Adult Literacy Rate
• Infant Mortality Rate
• Percentage of the population below the poverty line
• GDP per capita
• Access to sanitation and safe water

China ranked highest among the three (81st), then India (128th), and Pakistan (136th). China’s higher rank is mainly due to higher GDP per capita and its one-child policy, which helped its economy grow steadily.

16. Comment on the growth rate trends witnessed in China and India in the last two decades.
Ans: India’s economy grew steadily as it kept democratic policies, but agriculture is still a main income source and infrastructure is lacking in some regions. China used both government planning and market systems, especially in rural areas, for quick growth. China’s investment in social infrastructure before reforms improved its human development outcomes.


17. (a) First Five Year Plan commenced in 1956. (Pakistan/China) (b) Maternal mortality rate is high in. (China/Pakistan) (c) Proportion of people below the poverty line is more in. (India/Pakistan) (d) Reforms were introduced in 1978. (China/Pakistan)
Ans: (a) Pakistan
(b) Pakistan
(c) India
(d) China

One-child norm: China
Low fertility rate: China
High degree of urbanisation: Pakistan and China
Mixed economy: India and Pakistan
Very high fertility rate: Pakistan
Large population: India and China
High density of population: India
Growth due to manufacturing sector: China
Growth due to service sector: India

Country	Estimated population (in million)	Annual growth of population (2001-2010)	Density (per sq.km)	Sex (ratio)	Fertility Rate	Urbanisation
India	1252	1.24	421	934	2.6	32
China	1357	0.49	145	929	1.6	53
Pakistan	182	1.65	236	947	3.3	38

Sectors	Contribution to GDP in % (2003) India	Contribution to GDP in % (2003) China
Primary (agriculture)	23	15
Secondary (industry)	56	53
Tertiary (Service)	51	32

Important Points from Comparative Development Experiences Of India And Its Neighbours Class 11 NCERT Solutions

• India, China, and Pakistan took different approaches to economic growth after independence.
• Major reforms in China began in 1978, while India and Pakistan started earlier using planning.
• In the Class 11 Economics Chapter 8 question answer, sectoral shifts in GDP are clearly compared.
• Key human development indicators include life expectancy, literacy rate, and GDP per capita.
• NCERT solution Class 11 Economics Chapter 8 highlights why groupings and open policies matter for growth.