---
title: "Short note: Society and development"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:society-and-development"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-and-development
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Society and development

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 1: History of Engineering Practices

- Asked in: 2073 Bhadra, 2 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-and-development
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-1

## Question

Write a short note on Society and development.

## Short answer

Society provides resources and culture, while development improves conditions through infrastructure and services. Social factors like education enable development; unplanned development causes harm. Engineers play a key role in achieving sustainable, inclusive development.

## Answer

Society and development are closely linked. Development is the process of improving the economic, social, cultural and political condition of people. It takes place in society and its aim is the welfare of society.

- Society provides human resources, culture, institutions and demand; development without social participation is not sustainable.
- Development brings infrastructure (roads, water, energy, communication), education, health and income, which change society and raise living standard.
- Social factors such as education, culture, gender equality, stability and good governance speed up or hinder development.
- Poor or unplanned development can harm society through displacement, inequality and environmental damage.
- Engineers play the key role by planning and building facilities, so sustainable and inclusive development should be their goal.

Therefore society is both the source and the beneficiary of development.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is development, as defined in the answer?
   A. Increase in population
   B. Improving the economic, social, cultural and political condition of people
   C. Only building roads
   D. Only increase in imports
   Answer: B. Development is the process of improving the economic, social, cultural and political condition of people. (Key point: Development meaning)

2. Why is development without social participation not sustainable?
   A. Because society provides human resources, culture, institutions and demand
   B. Because engineers refuse to work
   C. Because it is always expensive
   D. Because it removes society
   Answer: A. Society provides human resources, culture, institutions and demand needed to sustain development. (Key point: Social participation)

3. How can poor or unplanned development harm society?
   A. By raising literacy
   B. By displacement, inequality and environmental damage
   C. By improving health
   D. By creating transport
   Answer: B. Unplanned development can cause displacement, inequality and environmental damage. (Key point: Harm from poor development)

## Related in other subjects

- [Role of transportation in society](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Arole-of-transport) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Participatory development approach](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aparticipatory-development-approach) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Appropriate technology and sustainable development elements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aappropriate-technology-sustainable-elements) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1
- [Impact of technology, sustainable development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Atechnology-impact-society-sustainable) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 1