ECONOMIC APPLICATIONS (87)

Candidates offering Economics (Group II) are not eligible to offer Economic Applications (Group III).

Aims: 3. To provide students with hands-on-experience in

analyzing economic problems that they normally
1. To familiarize students with the basic concepts
come across.
of economics and economic phenomenon.
2. To develop their analytical skills.
CLASS IX

There will be one theory paper of two hours duration A basic understanding of the features of
of 100 marks and Internal Assessment of 100 marks. capitalistic, socialistic and mixed economies
THEORY – 100 Marks is required. Meaning and classification of
economies into developing and developed
1. Basic Concepts of Economics should be explained.

(i) Meaning and definition of Economics; 2. An Overview of Indian Economy

Economic entities: Consumer, Producer, The nature of Indian economy: the main sectors of
Households and Government. The importance Indian economy - Agriculture, Industry and
of these economic entities. The meaning of an Services. Role of these sectors in Indian economy
economy and role of the economic entities. and their interrelationship. The sectors according
A basic understanding of the concepts of to ownership- private and public; the sectors
economics. The definitions of economics with according to type of economy- rural and urban.
reference to allocation of resources and Role of agriculture in India and its problems.
scarcity of resources (Robbins, Samuelson).
Impact of Agricultural practices on the
Basic explanation of the role of consumer,
Ecosystem.
producer, government and households in an
economy. Construction of dams- loss of habitat species.
(ii) Three major problems of an economy: What Loss of top soil and desertification.
to produce? How to produce? For whom to Indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides.
produce? Efficient use of resources; basic Measures to check the ecosystem;
understanding of the terms: economic growth
and economic development Governmental initiatives: not building large dams
for generating hydroelectric power which leads to
A brief introduction to the basic problems of less land being submerged and less displacement
an economy - What to produce? How to of people.
produce? For whom to produce? Needs to be
Alternative cropping for checking loss of topsoil
emphasized irrespective of the type of an and desertification. Plantation and conservation
economy. Manner in which economics as a of grasslands to check soil erosion. Use of
subject helps us to allocate scarce resources manure, bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides green
in an efficient way needs to be explained. The manuring, compost. These are eco-friendly
concept of economic growth and economic alternatives to pesticides and fertilizers.
development should be explained.
Role of Industries in the Indian Economy.
(iii) The nature and the classification of an
economy: developed, underdeveloped and Impact of industrial practices on the ecosystem.
developing economy; Capitalistic, Socialistic, Mining, industries, energy generation,
Mixed economies- main features. automobiles, urbanisation leading to defacement
of land, deforestation, deterioration of
hydrological resources.
 Industrial waste: mining operations, cement 5. Globalization
factories, oil refineries, construction unit.
Meaning and factors enabling Globalization, WTO,
Spoilage of landscape, pollution, health hazards, impact of Globalization.
effect on terrestrial, aquatic (fresh water and
marine) life. Meaning of globalization. Factors enabling
globalization – technology and liberalization
Measures to check the ecosystem. (removal of trade barriers).
Improving efficiency of existing technologies and WTO (main objectives), favourable impacts of the
introducing new eco-friendly technologies. globalization – starting of MNC’s and benefits to
Methods of safe disposal of waste - segregation, Indian companies.
dumping, composting, drainage, treatment of
effluents before discharge. NOTE: It is suggested that case studies may be
discussed on the following topics:
Abatement of pollution. • Globalization
Air: setting standards and implementing them, • Consumer Awareness
using technical devices to reduce pollution. • Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Importance of Service Sector – National Income, • Chernobyl Disaster
Employment and Regional Development (in brief,
no statistical data required). Interdependence of INTERNAL ASSESSMENT – 100 Marks
all three sectors (Primary, Secondary and Candidates will be required to do a minimum of four
Tertiary). assignments during the year, as assigned by the
Meaning of Private and Public sector with teacher.
examples. Meaning of Rural and Urban sector
with examples. Suggested list of assignments:
1. Identify 100 consumers of major brands of edible
3. Infrastructure of the Indian Economy oils in a locality/ area where you live. Draw up the
Economic and social infrastructure of Indian pattern of their monthly expenditure on this
economy. Social infrastructure- education, health, product and compare it with the other household
family welfare and housing. expenditure. Make a presentation of your findings
A basic understanding of the economic and social in class.
infrastructure and its role in India’s economic 2. Identify the major brands of bathing soaps that are
development. The problems pertaining to lack of available in the market in your area. Select a
such infrastructure and their adverse impact on sample of 10 shops/ department stores that sell
the economy to be discussed. these brands and collect the sales of these brands
over a period of one week at these shops. Identify
4. Consumer Awareness the brands that sell the most and make a
Ways in which consumer is exploited. Reasons for presentation for your class.
exploitation of consumers; Growth of consumer 3. Make a presentation on the central problems an
awareness; consumer behaviour in the market;
economy faces. Explain these with reference to the
consumer rights. Legal measures available to
protect consumers from being exploited – Indian economy.
(COPRA, RTI). 4. Take a developed country such as the USA and a
developing country such as India. Analyze the
Understanding the importance of educating
main characteristics of these economies.
consumers of their rights - awareness of food
adulteration and its harmful effects. 5. Outline the main modes of transport in the
district/city you live. What problems do you and
other citizens face pertaining to the availability of
public transport? Analyse.
6. Take a table of food grain production in India from 8. Make a presentation of the major trading partners
any textbook on Indian economy or any other of India in the last 15 years. Specify the major
secondary source such as internet. Interpret the changes that have taken place in the last five years.
changes in the production over a given period of 9. What are the major items of export and imports
time. from India in the last five years? Use secondary
7. Given a table of population growth for period data sources and make out the changes that have
between 1971 and 2001 and table of contribution taken place in this context.
of agriculture, industry and services sector for the
same period, compare the two tables and present
your findings in the form of a presentation.