Different Types of Resources Around Us
Every country has its own resources on which the entire population relies. These resources are either natural or manmade. The definition of resources is quite huge and broad. To narrow it down, you will find out that these two broad sections are being properly discussed in this section. You will clearly understand the types of resources India has and how they are utilized. This is a crucial part of geography that you will have to study elaborately. Read this article to understand the types of resources in geography easily.
Resources: What Do We Mean By it?
Resources are myriads of things that make our lives easier and better. The word covers a broad segment of utilities, things, animals, etc that help us to add convenience to our daily life. In fact, some of the resources are mandatory for our lifestyle. There are different types of resources we use every day to make our day easier. The value of a resource depends on its availability, use, and importance in our lives.
If you consider a few examples, you will understand how the value of these resources is generally determined. Metals are important for industries to manufacture different kinds of products. Hence, the value of different metals is determined by the industry, their availability, and the price of the utilities we make. On the other hand, there are some resources that we cannot put a price on. The economic value of these types of resources cannot be determined by their importance can be understood. For instance, the importance of rivers, glaciers, mountains, forests, wildlife, sea, etc can only be felt but not calculated.
In this section, we will learn two different segments of resources, natural and manmade. We will also understand how technology and time can convert something into a useful resource for the sustenance of civilizations and human life. If you consider the important historical inventions and discoveries, you will be able to explain the types of resources and how they emerged in our civilization. The uses developed for such resources over the years fixing the value we pay. If you consider an example here, fossil fuels are extracted from the deepest mines. These are nothing but the hydrocarbon remnants of the organisms embedded for millions of years and waiting to be discovered.
Natural Resources: A Brief Explanation
Everything you witness around you on this planet is natural and can be considered a natural resource. Let us explain the types of resources we see with proper examples.
1. Abiotic and Biotic Resources
Any life existing on earth no matter in what form is called an abiotic resource. It includes plants, animals, microbes, or anything that has life in it.
Abiotic resources are just the opposite. Every other thing present on this planet that does not have life is called an abiotic resource. Rocks, metal, water, etc are abiotic resources.
2. Renewable Resources and Non-Renewable Resources
The term ‘renewable’ means something that can be renewed or regained even if it is used. It means that this resource will not deplete on use. These resources and its types are called renewable resources. For example, wind, water, sunlight, forests, etc are renewable resources.
On the contrary, a resource that can only be used once and cannot be regained later is called non-renewable resources. This is one of the two types of resources that cannot be renewed after use. Hence, the meticulous use of these resources becomes mandatory. The examples you can consider here are fossil fuels, minerals, etc.
3. Developed, Stock, and Potential Resources
This is an excellent way to see the resources we use. The developed resources are something that we have found developed over a course of time and are being used now for the benefit of human civilization. This group of resources includes minerals, forests, fossil fuels, animals, plants, etc.
Stock resources are different types of resources in geography that are stored or stocked in nature and have immense potential. In this group, oxygen, hydrogen, and various other gases can be considered as stock resources. In a simpler way, the resources that we do not know of their potential are called stock resources.
4. Potential Resources
Wind energy and solar energy are called potential resources. The real use of these energy resources is yet to be harnessed.
Manmade Resources: A Concise Explanation
In this segment, the different types of resources humans have developed over the years are called manmade resources. These resources do not exist naturally rather can be considered as the output of technology and scientific development. The products developed using natural resources can be considered man-made such as solar cells, buildings, machinery, roads, bridges, weapons, equipment, medicines, etc. These resources can be built, rebuilt, remodelled, or made better. We also have human resources that can be identified as intelligence, skills, and knowledge.
Resource Conservation: A Prime Concern
Now that you can name 5 types of resources, you can easily understand their importance in our lives. It is also necessary to conserve these resources and judicially use them so that our future generations can also use them for convenience. Resource depletion is a prime concern. Moreover, the man-made problems are also wrecking the only home we have as Planet Earth. We need to understand the importance of resources and their impact.
FAQs on Types of Resources
1. What is a resource and what are its main types in Geography as per the NCERT syllabus for the academic year 2025-26?
Anything that satisfies human needs and has value is considered a resource. In Geography, resources are broadly classified into three main types:
- Natural Resources: These are obtained from nature and used without much modification, such as air, water, soil, and minerals.
- Human-Made Resources: These are created by human beings by transforming natural resources. Examples include buildings, roads, machinery, and vehicles.
- Human Resources: People themselves are a vital resource, possessing the knowledge, skills, and technology to create more resources from the natural world.
2. How are natural resources classified based on their origin and stock?
Natural resources are further classified based on different criteria to understand their characteristics and usage:
- Based on Origin:
- Biotic Resources: These are obtained from the biosphere and have life. Examples include plants, animals, fisheries, and forests.
- Abiotic Resources: These are composed of all non-living things, such as rocks, sunlight, wind, and metals. - Based on Stock (Exhaustibility):
- Renewable Resources: Resources that can be replenished or renewed relatively quickly. Solar energy, wind, and water are prime examples.
- Non-Renewable Resources: These resources have a limited stock and take millions of years to form. Once exhausted, they cannot be easily replaced. Examples are coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
3. How does a simple substance become a valuable resource?
A substance becomes a resource only when it has utility (it can be used to satisfy a need) and value. Time and technology are the two most important factors that can transform a substance into a resource. For instance, a waterfall is just a natural feature, but when humans develop the technology to harness its energy to generate electricity, it becomes a valuable resource. Its utility to power homes and industries gives it economic value.
4. What is the key difference between potential and developed resources?
The main difference between potential and developed resources lies in their current state of use and technological assessment:
- Potential Resources are those found in a region but are not yet being utilised to their full extent. This might be due to a lack of technology or financial viability. For example, the vast reserves of wind energy in Rajasthan and Gujarat are a potential resource.
- Developed Resources are those that have been surveyed, their quality and quantity have been determined, and they are currently being used. The coal mines in Jharkhand and the oil fields in Assam are examples of developed resources.
5. Why is it important to understand resource conservation and sustainable development?
Understanding these concepts is crucial for a secure future. Resource conservation is the practice of using resources carefully and giving them time to be renewed, as many, like fossil fuels, are non-renewable and finite. Sustainable development takes this a step further; it means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This involves a balance between resource use, environmental protection, and economic development to ensure long-term well-being.
6. How does the study of 'resources' in Geography differ from the perspective in Economics?
While both subjects analyse resources, their focus is distinct:
- In Geography, the focus is on the distribution, origin, and physical characteristics of resources. It explores where resources are located, how they are formed (e.g., soil formation, mineral deposits), and their impact on the environment.
- In Economics, the primary focus is on the scarcity and allocation of resources. It studies how limited resources (often defined as land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship) are used to produce goods and services to satisfy unlimited human wants.
7. What are the types of resources as per the Class 8 Geography syllabus?
According to the CBSE Class 8 Geography syllabus for the year 2025-26, resources are primarily categorised into three main types: Natural Resources (drawn from nature, like air and water), Human-Made Resources (created by people, like roads and bridges), and Human Resources (people with their skills and abilities). The chapter further explains classifications such as renewable vs. non-renewable and biotic vs. abiotic resources.
