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Concept of sustainable growth and development UPSC |Contemporary Issues | Geography of India

Evolution of the concept of sustainable development:

  • Development is a multidimensional concept and the concept of development evolved in post world war-II; that time development and growth were the same and which is measured by GDP and GNP.
  • Countries having high economic growth experienced a speedy rise in poverty because of the unequal distribution of income.
  • In the 1970s, the concept of development redefined and it was found that the concept of development does not rely on the economic sphere alone, it includes ;
    • Improving well being and living standards of peoples
    • Availing of health, education, and equality of opportunity
    • Ensuring the political and economic right
  • The notion of sustainable development emerged after the 1960s after concern raised about the undesirable effect of industrial development on the environment.
  • In 1968, the " Population Bomb" was published by Ehrlich.
  • "limit of growth theory " was published in 1972.
  • set of scenario emerged new model of development of the new phrase " sustainable development"
  • United Nations established a World Commission on environment and development(WCED) headed by Norwegian Prime Minister "Gro Harlero Brundtland. Commission gave a report is called "our common future" or Brundtland report". 
  • Our common future report in 1987, report define sustainable development as " development that meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs".
Sustainable development takes care of the ecological, social, and economical aspects of the development of the present generation's needs as well as future generations' needs.

 As per Herman Daly, the environment economist, the following are a way for sustainable development:

  • Limit the human population to a level within the carrying capacity of the environment.
  • Renewable resources such as water, soil, forest should be extracted on a sustainable basis; it should not exceed the rate of regeneration.
  • For non-renewable resources, the rate of depletion should not exceed the rate of creation of renewable substitutes.
  • Pollution that arises from inefficiency should be corrected.

Strategies for Sustainable development in India:

Use of Non-conventional Sources of Energy:

  • India is highly dependent on thermal and hydro energy for energy needs. Thermal power plants emit co2 and fly ash. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that causes air pollution and global warming. Fly ash causes air, water, and soil pollutions.
  • Hydroelectric generation causes forest submergence which causes methane gas emission and it is against the natural free flow of rivers.
  • We should focus more on solar and wind energy for energy needs.

LPG, Gobar gas in Rural areas:

  • Rural areas depended on wood and dung cake for their energy needs that lead to deforestation and air pollution.
  • LPG and Gobar gas plant can be substitutes

CNG in Urban Areas:

  • Usage of CNG in urban areas for automobiles will reduce air pollution. 


  • Wind energy in coastal areas and valley
  • Solar power through photovoltaic cell
  • Mini Hydel Plants
  • Traditional knowledge and practices
  • Bio-composting
  • Bio pest control


For a detailed explanation, watch the below video:





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