Chapter 9 of the Class 12 NCERT Geography textbook India: People and Economy is one of the most practical and thought-provoking chapters. Titled “Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems”, it explores real-life problems like urban waste, land degradation, pollution, rural-urban migration, and disaster vulnerability. It discusses each of these issues from a geographical point of view, which means it looks at the spatial distribution, reasons behind the problems, and possible solutions based on location and environment. This chapter is not theory-heavy like others; instead, it connects with things we face every day.
I picked this topic because students often ignore the practical chapters while preparing for exams. But this one is important—not just for the CBSE board but also for competitive exams like UPSC, where they ask questions on environment, migration, and urban issues. Also, these are topics we all must understand as citizens. Whether it’s dealing with plastic waste in cities or why people are forced to migrate from rural to urban areas, this chapter explains it clearly with maps, data, and case studies. So, in this article, I’ll give a full breakdown of the chapter, and also provide a direct link to download the official NCERT PDF.
Key Topics Covered in Chapter 9
This chapter is divided into various issues that are common across India. Each topic is explained with examples, reasons, and maps. Here’s a breakdown of the main topics:
1. Population Growth and Migration
- Uncontrolled population growth is one of India’s biggest challenges.
- Migration from rural to urban areas leads to overcrowding in cities.
- Push and pull factors: people move due to lack of jobs in villages (push) and better opportunities in cities (pull).
- Seasonal migration is common in states like Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
2. Rural-Urban Migration Problems
- Increase in slums
- Pressure on housing, water, transport, and jobs
- Rise in informal economy
- Example: Mumbai and Delhi are major cities affected by such migration
3. Urban Waste Disposal
- Cities generate huge amounts of solid waste
- Lack of proper segregation and disposal leads to pollution
- Example: Delhi produces around 10,000 metric tonnes of waste per day
- Landfills and open dumping are harmful to environment and health
4. Land Degradation
- Caused by deforestation, overgrazing, mining, and overuse of chemicals
- Nearly 30% of India’s land is affected by degradation
- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are severely affected
- Leads to reduced agricultural productivity and desertification
5. Pollution
- Air Pollution: Vehicle emissions, industries, and construction dust
- Water Pollution: Discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste
- Noise Pollution: Urban traffic, loudspeakers, and construction
- Example: Ganga and Yamuna rivers are heavily polluted due to untreated sewage
- AQI (Air Quality Index) is used to monitor air pollution levels
6. Floods and Droughts
- Natural disasters like floods and droughts have both natural and human causes
- Example: Kerala floods due to heavy rainfall and mismanagement of dams
- Droughts occur due to low rainfall and poor water conservation
- Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Karnataka face frequent droughts
7. Disaster Management
- India is vulnerable to earthquakes, cyclones, and landslides
- Importance of early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and public awareness
- NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) plays a key role
Download PDF: NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 9 – Geographical Perspective
You can get the full chapter in PDF format. It is available in English:
