Chapter: 16. Building A New State
Practice Paper: Building a New State
A. Answer the following questions in 20-30 words each.
Dr. Kalam’s primary reason for travelling to Jharkhand in September 2001 was to work out a developmental programme for the state in the area of herbs, forest products, and other natural resources. Dr. Kalam described the people of the hill region as hardworking, with faces lit up with pure happiness, but whose bodies looked tired from excessive work for a bare livelihood. The specific goal for manufacturing herbal drugs within Jharkhand was to provide increased income to the state from value addition and also to boost industry there. Dr. Kalam considered his arrival at the village complex “ordained” because he felt a clear sense of destiny, seeing all the components for development—fertile land, rich vegetation, and hardworking people—were already present. Immediately after the helicopter crash, Dr. Kalam simply got out, held the pilots’ hands, thanked them, and told them that such incidents happen with flying machines and pilots must face them with courage. B. Answer the following questions in 40-50 words each with reference to the context.
“This was a new experiment for the state, and for us, but it offered tremendous scope.”
a. The “experiment” being referred to here is the plan for developing a herbal drugs industry within Jharkhand, where drugs would be manufactured inside the state itself.
b. It was considered “new” because it aimed to add value locally to raw materials, boosting income and industry directly within the state, which was a novel approach for both Jharkhand and Dr. Kalam’s team.
c. It offered “tremendous scope” because this local manufacturing and value addition had the potential for significant economic growth and development for the state. “I see in the future, villages that will be provided with urban facilities and which are self-contained in respect of education, health and occupation.”
a. The speaker of these lines is Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
b. This vision was being shared during his speech to the students at Chinmaya Vidyalaya in Bokaro, after the helicopter crash.
c. “Self-contained” implies that these future villages would be self-sufficient, meaning they would have adequate facilities and opportunities for education, healthcare, and employment within their own local boundaries, reducing reliance on larger cities. C. Think and Answer.
Dr. Kalam uses “compartmentalized thinking” and “fragmented governance” to describe a mindset and system where different departments or agencies operate in isolation, failing to coordinate their efforts for a common goal. Example from text: His disappointment at the Bokaro Steel Plant, where massive steel production occurred, but no industrial estates were set up nearby to utilize this steel for manufacturing, because setting up such estates came under a different “state purview.” Why they hinder development: He believes this approach hinders national development because it prevents holistic and integrated growth. Instead of a unified strategy that leverages all resources efficiently, isolated actions lead to missed opportunities, inefficiencies, and an inability to realize a region’s full potential, as seen with the steel plant not fostering secondary industries. The concept of “value addition,” if fully implemented, could transform India’s economic standing by shifting it from a primary exporter of raw materials to a producer of finished goods. This would significantly increase national income, create numerous jobs, foster technological advancement, and reduce dependence on other countries. Transformation: Instead of earning minimal revenue from raw exports (like a few dollars a tonne for iron ore), India could earn exponentially more (10x to 100x) by processing these materials into higher-value products. This would boost manufacturing, generate more tax revenue, and lead to overall economic prosperity. Cotton: Instead of exporting raw cotton, India could process it into textiles, ready-made garments, and specialized fabrics, which are much more valuable products and create jobs in weaving, dyeing, and garment manufacturing industries. Agricultural Produce (e.g., Mangoes): Instead of just exporting fresh mangoes, India could invest in processing them into mango pulp, juices, jams, or dried fruit. This extends shelf-life, adds significant value, and supports food processing industries, benefiting farmers and the economy.
Answer key