india case study gcse geography

Case Study of the Development of an Emerging Country ( Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0) )

Revision note.

Geography Lead

Location & Significance

Site and situation.

• Located to the north of the equator
• Most of India is a peninsula with water on three sides
• It has a diverse landscape with mountains, deserts and plains
• India is located in Asia between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
• It has borders with six countries - Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, China and Bhutan 

Significance

• India is the seventh largest country in the world
• It is a rapidly developing nation
• Predictions suggest it will be the second largest economy in the world by 2050

Political, Social, Cultural & Environmental Context

India's Political, Social, Cultural and Environmental Context

Key Economic Trends

Gross domestic product (gdp).

• In 2021 GDP was US$3.176 trillion
• GDP per capita was US$2,256
• Since 1990 there has been a 500% increase in GDP

India's GDP per capita

• Annual growth of the Indian economy is approximately 8.7%

Gross National Income (GNI)

• India has the seventh highest GNI in the world
• The GNI per capita was US$2,320 in 2022

Economic sectors

• The contribution of economic sectors to GDP has changed from being dominated by agriculture to being dominated by service activities

Contribution of the economic sectors to GDP

• By 2019 decreased to 43%

Economic sectors - employment %

• Imports (2019) US$478 billion
• Exports (2022) US$323billion
• Petroleum products, jewellery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, clothes
• Petroleum, gold/silver, electronic goods, pearls and precious stones
• China, USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq
• USA, UAE, China, Hong Kong and Singapore

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has rapidly increased since 1990
• In 2021 India's total FDI inflows were $45 billion
• Investments in the automobile industry, electrical machinery and textiles have increased significantly
• Singapore (27%)
• Mauritius (16%)
• Netherlands (8%)
• In 2022 Google announced a US$1 billion investment in Bharti Airtel an Indian telecommunications company
• In 2020 Facebook invested $5.7 billion in Reliance Bio an Indian telecommunications company
• India firms also invested in other countries $17.24 billion
• Mastek has invested £79 million to create 1600 jobs in the UK
• TVS Motors have invested £100 million in Norton Motorcycle

The Role of Globalisation

• Globalisation has led to increasing investment by other countries in India (FDI)

Infrastructure

• India has 24 International Airports and 13 major ports (212 non-major)
• India has the second largest telecommunications network in the world (telephone users) and internet users

Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

• Skilled, low cost 
• Mainly English speaking
• Well educated

Government policy 

• Since 1991 the government has taken less control over what industries produce -  economic liberalisation
• They have reduced import tariffs to encourage imports
• Special Economic Zones have been set up to reduce taxes for TNCs
• In 2017 India received US$4,240.34 million with more than 50% of being donated by Japan
• Aid is focussed on poorest states in India such as Madhya Pradesh
• A new policy announced in 2003 stated that they would no longer accept tied aid except from certain countries including UK, USA and Germany
• India is now a donor of aid as well as a recipient
• In 2009 primary education became free
• In 2020 a National Education Policy was launched to improve equality and overall education
• Education gives the population more skills increasing their employability
• Encourages the positive multiplier effect

Multiplier effect

• Improves trade links with other countries
• Increases investment in education/healthcare/infrastructure

Worked example

Explain one way in which outsourcing affects economic development in an emerging country..

• Capital investment by TNCs for infrastructure (electricity / rail / telephone) (1) , encourages multiplier effects as other companies co-locate (1)  creating further job opportunities (1)
• Increased manufacturing / production (1) could grow bilateral trade links with surrounding countries (1) providing income for government spending (health / education etc) (1)
• Training and education upskills the labour force making them more employable (1) over time demand higher wages  (1)  which might in turn raise consumer spending power (1)

Rapid Economic Growth & Demographic Change

• Rapid economic growth has led to significant change in the demographic characteristics of India
• Death rates and infant mortality rates have fallen

Population pyramid for India 2022

• Diets have improved
• Healthcare is more available and has improved
• Water quality and access has improved
• Women are more educated
• More women work
• Greater access to contraception
• Education about family planning

Urbanisation

• This amounts to 475 million people
• Urbanisation is increasing by approximately 2% a year
• Approximately 20 million people migrate from rural to urban areas each year in India

Regional differences

• There are stark regional differences in India

Table Showing Differences Between Delhi and Bihar

• Delhi has a much higher population density
• People move to Delhi for work (pull factor) from rural areas
• Bihar suffers recurring floods which hampers development (push factor)
• Many people from Bihar migrated to other areas reducing the working population in Bihar
• Poor infrastructure in Bihar makes it difficult to attract investment

For a named emerging country, explain two socio-economic differences between regions

• There are a number of socio-economic differences which can be identified the maximum you will get for identifying these is 2 marks
• The second set of 2 marks is awarded for explaining the differences
• Possible socio-economic differences - Population density and rates of growth, average income levels, ethnic differences, migration history and trends, levels of economic growth and structure, health and education provision (2 marks)
• Reasons given to explain the differences – geographic location/isolation and the ease of historical trade, differences in land fertility and topography, the development of industry and the cycle of growth idea, a flow of skilled labour to the core, government policies (2 marks)
• In India, Maharashtra has a higher population density than Bihar (1) Mumbai is in Maharashtra which attracts migrants from rural areas for work (1)
• Shanghai has a higher population density than Gansu (1) Shanghai’s coastal location has seen it grow as an important port attracting workers (1)

Social Impacts of Economic Development

Positive impacts.

• Access to education and increased literacy rates - though still lower than males
• Improved family planning and access to contraception
• Increased work/career opportunities
• Health has improved in all age groups
• Average incomes have increased

India's per capita income

Negative impacts

• Children in rural areas are more likely to work
• Migration of younger people leaves older population in rural areas
• Investment in rural areas is much lower
• Lack clean water supply
• Increased spread of disease
• Poor quality housing

Environmental Impacts of Development

Air pollution - causes.

• In 2019 21 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world were in India
• Increased car ownership - New Delhi has over 10 million vehicles
• Fossil fuel power stations - increased burning of fuels due to increased energy demands
• Factories - there are between 3-4,000 factories in New Delhi
• Burning of stubble
• Construction dust
• Cooking fuel - over 100 million people rely on biomass for cooking
• It is estimated that life expectancy is on average 5 years lower due to air pollution
• In 2019 over 1.5 million people died due to air pollution
• Increased levels of asthma, lung diseases and cardiac problems
• Contributes greenhouse gases leading to global climate change

India's CO 2  emissions

Water pollution - causes

• Only 30% of all sewage in India is treated
• Of the remaining rivers in India 33% are moderately or severely polluted
• The use of pesticides in agriculture is common with chemicals, such as DDT, which are banned in many countries, still being used in India
• Waste water from industry contains many toxic metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic which are found in both surface and groundwater
• Approximately 70% of surface water is unfit for human consumption
• Damaging to aquatic life 
• Increases in liver and kidney disease, gastric cancers and birth defects
• Decreases crop yields and quality

Land pollution - causes

• Increasing population leads to more waste
• There are more than 3,000 landfills across India
• Ghazipur is the largest in Delhi at 65 meters high
• An average of 2.01 billion tonnes of waste is generated each year
• About 90% of waste goes to landfill
• Increased methane emissions
• Leaching of toxins into ground and surface water
• Fires - in March 2022 Ghazipur caught fire increasing air pollution 

Explain two negative impacts of the rapid economic development of an emerging country on different age groups

• Air pollution (1) leads to breathing problems amongst the elderly / young people  (1)
• Often there are not enough jobs leading to unemployment for young people (1) as a consequence of rapid rural to urban migration  (1)
• Rapid rural to urban migration  (1) leads to an ageing population in rural areas who have no-one to look after them (1)
• TNCs in emerging countries are known to employ young children resulting in them not attending school  (1) and their education suffering as a consequence  (1)
• Rural to urban migration (1) leads to an inactive ageing population in rural areas who are often economically inactive (1)

Geopolitical Influence

• India's geopolitical influence has increased over the last 40 years
• It has increasing influence in the  Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and Singapore)
• G20 - intergovernmental forum which addresses issues related to the global economy
• UN Security council
• According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) India is responsible for 15% of global growth

Relationship with EU and USA

• The EU is India's third largest trading partner
• In 1994 EU-India Cooperation Agreement was signed
• Imports and exports to the EU are balanced (exports €46.2bn, imports €41.9bn)
• India exports more (US$49.7bn) to the USA than they import from the USA (US$26.6bn)

Other political issues

• In 1947 the partitioning of India and Pakistan led to social unrest, one million deaths and the displacement of 15 million people
• There remain tensions between India and Pakistan
• It impacted on development and still affects trade with other countries such as China

Costs & Benefits of Changing International Relations

Costs and Benefits of Changing International Relations

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Author: Bridgette

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

Impacts of Development in India

Demographics.

India’s population has grown significantly since the 1950s, surpassing Germany The U.S. and Japan in its growth. The projected population is set to increase to 1.5 billion by the mid point of the next century due to a high birth rate and decreasing death rate, mainly due to improvements in health and reductions in poverty.

India’s population structure or demographic characteristics have changed at the same time at its economy. India’s total fertility rate was 5.2 in 1971. it is now 2.1.

In 1952, India was the first developing country to introduce a Government family planning programme to reduce the fertility rate and help development. The birth rate fall from 45 per 1000 people in 1951-1961 to 21 per 1000 today.

Life expectancy has improved from 50 years in 1970-1975 to 68 years today.

Rural to Urban Migration

Rural to urban migration is the movement of people from the countryside into cities.

In India, the perception of a better life and more jobs is the main reason that people will make this move.

Core vs Periphery

Demographic Change

Birth Rate and Death Rate

Different People

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GCSE GEOG - Top down project - India case study.

Subject: Geography

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

1 March 2023

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This GCSE lesson is within the topic Development Dynamics. The lesson focuses on top down projects and water scarcity - India case study.

This lesson is following the British Geography Curriculum. Within the 1 hour lesson (which can easily be adapted to be longer) caters for differing learning styles with a range of differing activities to target specific skills.

All students seemed to enjoy the lesson and the activities within. The lesson is created with differing students in mind to allow all students to succeed and develop their geographical and wider knowledge.

Lesson is easy to follow even for non-specialist teachers and can easily be adapted to increase challenge or to suit a nurture curriculum. All hand-outs are attached or within the PowerPoint.

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DEVELOPMENT DYNAMIC WHOLE TOPIC GCSE GEOGRAPHY EDEXCEL 9-1 - 12 LESSONS

Development Dynamics GCSE Geography Edexcel 9-1. 12 Lessons. Lessons: 1. How can we measure a country's development? 2. How does population change as a country develops? 3. Explain how HDI varies between countries? 4. What holds a country back from developing? 5. How does Rostow's model and Franks dependency model explain how a country develops? 6. What is globalisation? 7. India - How is India developing? 8. India - How does globalisation affect India? 9. India - How does development vary within a country? 10. India - Top down project. 11. India - Bottom up project. 12. India - What is next for India with increasing international relations and globalisation? All students seemed to enjoy the lessons/unit and the activities within. The lesson is created with differing students in mind to allow all students to succeed and develop their geographical and wider knowledge. Within each lesson the title is a GCSE exam question which students must answer at the end of the lesson or throughout. The unit and lesson’s are easy to follow even for non-specialist teachers and can easily be adapted to increase challenge or to suit a nurture curriculum. All hand-outs are attached or within the PowerPoint. Enjoy.

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Case Study of Development

India Case Study of Development

Use the images below to explore development in India.

How and why is development across India in uneven?

How have changes to economic sectors had positive and negative effects in India?

International trade and aid in India

How are public and private investment in India changing?

Population Increase in India

How is inequality increasing in India?

How do geopolitical relationships affect India’s development?

How has technology and connectivity increased developed in India?

What are the positive and negative impacts of rapid development in India?

How is the Indian government trying to improve people’s quality of life?

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