What is meant by the ‘reversal of supply-demand relationship for environmental quality’?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Earlier, demand for environmental resources was less than their supply; now demand exceeds the limited supply
In the early days, the demand for environmental resources was much less than their supply. Today demand has risen, while supply is limited due to overuse and misuse. The position has turned round, which is why it is called a reversal.
NCERT (2026-27): “7.2 Environment — Definition and Functions … In the early days when civilisation just began, or before this phenomenal increase in population, and before countries took to industrialisation, the demand for environmental resources and services was much less than their supply. …” “But with population explosion and with the advent of industrial revolution to meet the growing needs of the expanding population, things changed. The result was that the demand for resources for both production and consumption went beyond the rate of regeneration of the resources; the pressure on the absorptive capacity of the environment increased tremendously — this trend continues even today. Thus what has happened is a reversal of supply-demand relationship for environmental quality — we are now faced with increased demand for environmental resources and services but their supply is limited due to overuse and misuse. …” |