Question

While studying the table given below for their Social Science project, two classmates A and B, notice significant differences in the Literacy Rate and Infant Mortality Rate while comparing the development indicators of three states. Analyse how the development levels of these states differ and suggest the inferences A and B can draw. What areas should each state focus on to improve their overall development?

State	Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births) (2020)	Literacy Rate (%) (2017-18)	Net Attendance Ratio (Secondary Stage) (%) 2017-18
H	28	82	73
K	6	94	94
B	27	62	69

Table: Comparison of Development Indicators. Adapted from-Sources: Economic Survey 2023-24, National Sample Survey Organisation (Report No. 585), National Statistical Office, Government of India; National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21 IIPS, Mumbai.

Hint:

Compare the three states indicator by indicator (lower IMR is better, higher literacy and attendance are better). Then link literacy with health.

Answer 1

Step 1: Read the table:
The table shows three indicators for states H, K and B. The marking scheme reads these as Haryana (H), Kerala (K) and Bihar (B).
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): H 28, K 6, B 27 per 1,000 live births. A lower IMR is better.
Literacy Rate: H 82 percent, K 94 percent, B 62 percent. Net Attendance Ratio at secondary stage: H 73, K 94, B 69. Higher is better for both.

Step 2: Compare the development levels (1 mark):
State K (Kerala) does best on all three indicators. It has the highest literacy (94), the highest secondary attendance (94) and by far the lowest IMR (6).
State B (Bihar) is the weakest in education. Its literacy (62) and attendance (69) are the lowest, and its IMR (27) is more than four times that of Kerala.
State H (Haryana) lies in between with moderate literacy (82) and attendance (73), but its infant mortality rate (28) is still high.

Step 3: Inferences A and B can draw (any 2, 2 marks):
Inference 1: higher literacy goes with better health. Kerala's high literacy (94) comes with a very low IMR (6), while low literacy in Bihar (62) goes with a high IMR (27). This points to limited access to schools and health care.
Inference 2: long-term investment in education and public health pays off. Kerala's results show that consistent focus on both gives high literacy and very low infant mortality.
Inference 3: the wide gaps among the states show that development in India is uneven. States progress at different speeds depending on policies, quality of governance and use of resources.

Step 4: Areas each state should focus on (any 2, 2 marks):
Haryana should improve maternal and child health care, such as safe delivery and immunisation, to bring its high IMR down. It should also keep improving the quality of education.
Bihar should first expand literacy and school attendance, and also improve basic health facilities such as primary health centres.
Kerala should maintain and further strengthen its existing education and health care systems.

Final Answer:
Kerala has the highest development, Bihar the lowest in education, and Haryana is in between with a high IMR. Inferences: literacy and health are linked, long-term social investment pays off, and development is uneven. Each state must work on its weak indicator. \[ \boxed{\text{Kerala best, Haryana in between, Bihar weakest; focus areas: Haryana IMR, Bihar literacy and health, Kerala maintain}} \]