Previous Year Question
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Sustainable development is important for well being of human society.
Reason (R): Sustainable development is a kind of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(A) is true but (R) is false
(A) is false but (R) is true
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
Assertion (A) is correct. Sustainable development is important for the long-term well-being of human society because it seeks to balance economic development, social well-being and environmental protection.
Reason (R) is also correct. According to the well-known definition of Sustainable Development, it is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
This definition is associated with the 1987 Brundtland Report — Our Common Future.
The three major and interconnected dimensions of Sustainable Development are—
Economic Growth → Economic development
Social Inclusion → Social inclusion
Environmental Protection → Environmental protection
If present development excessively depletes natural resources, seriously damages the environment or reduces the availability of resources for future generations, it cannot sustain long-term human welfare.