Land, Soil and Vegetation Resources in India

The nation’s strength, be it social, economic or political depends mostly on the available resources and their proper utilisation. But what is a resource? In simpler terms, resource is the matter or substance which satisfies human wants at a given time and space. Before any element can be designated as resource three basic pre-conditions must be satisfied. They are the knowledge, technical skills and demand for the material or services produced. If one of these conditions is not satisfied the particular substance remains unutilised. Let us explain it through one example. From time immemorial, water is present on the earth. But it becomes a source of energy when people gained the knowledge and technical skills for hydel power generation. It is therefore human ability and need which create resource value and not their sheer physical presence. So the basic concept of resource is also related to human well-being.