Q.(a) What are the causes for increasing public debt ?

(a) Public debt rises because of growing public expenditure, budget deficits/deficit financing, wars and defence needs, development and welfare programmes, calamities and inadequate tax revenue. (b) Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air; caused mainly by burning fossil fuels, vehicle and factory emissions, deforestation and waste burning.

(a) Causes for Increasing Public Debt

1. Rising public expenditure — modern welfare states spend heavily on many services, exceeding their revenue.
2. Budget deficits / deficit financing — when expenditure exceeds revenue, the government borrows to fill the gap.
3. War and defence — huge spending on defence and during wars is met by borrowing.
4. Economic development — funds for infrastructure, industry and development projects are raised through loans.
5. Welfare programmes — subsidies, poverty-alleviation and social-security schemes increase expenditure.
6. Natural calamities — floods, droughts and epidemics force extra emergency spending.
7. Low tax revenue / tax evasion — inadequate revenue collection widens the gap and increases borrowing.
8. Population growth — a growing population raises the demand for public services and spending.

(b) Air Pollution — Definition and Causes

Definition: Air pollution is the contamination of the atmosphere by harmful or excessive quantities of substances — gases (like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides), smoke, dust and particulate matter — that are injurious to human health, plants, animals and the environment.

Causes of Air Pollution:

1. Burning of fossil fuels — coal, petrol and diesel in industries and power plants release harmful gases.
2. Vehicular emissions — exhaust from motor vehicles emits carbon monoxide and other pollutants. …