On the basis of origin , resources are classified into two main types: biotic resources and abiotic resources.

Quick Scoop: Core Answer

  • Biotic resources – come from living things or from materials that were once living.
  • Abiotic resources – come from non-living, physical and chemical components of nature.

This simple two-fold classification is what most Class 8–10 geography and environment textbooks use when they say “on the basis of origin.”

Biotic Resources

Biotic resources are linked to life and the biosphere.

  • They originate from plants, animals, and other living organisms, or from remains of once-living matter.
  • They are often renewable if used wisely (like forests or fish), but can become depleted if overused.

Examples:

  • Forests and timber.
  • Wildlife and livestock (cows, goats, poultry, fish).
  • Agricultural crops and fruits.

You can imagine walking through a village or city: anything that grows, breathes, or is produced by living things (like wood or wool) falls into this biotic bucket.

Abiotic Resources

Abiotic resources come from the non-living world around us.

  • They originate from rocks, minerals, air, water, and physical conditions like sunlight and climate.
  • Many abiotic resources, such as minerals and fossil fuels, are non-renewable on a human timescale.

Examples:

  • Rocks and minerals (iron ore, bauxite, gold).
  • Water and air.
  • Soil and sunlight.

Think of the solid earth under your feet, the water you drink, and the air you breathe—these are classic abiotic resources.

Neat Table: Origin-based Classification

Here is a clear HTML table as you requested:

html

<table border="1">
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Basis of Classification</th>
      <th>Type of Resource</th>
      <th>Meaning</th>
      <th>Common Examples</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Origin</td>
      <td>Biotic resources</td>
      <td>Resources obtained from living organisms or from matter that once had life.[web:1][web:3]</td>
      <td>Forests, wildlife, livestock, agricultural crops, fish.[web:1][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Origin</td>
      <td>Abiotic resources</td>
      <td>Resources obtained from non-living physical and chemical components of nature.[web:1][web:5]</td>
      <td>Rocks, minerals, water, air, soil, sunlight.[web:1][web:5][web:6]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Quick Exam-style Line (2–3 Marks)

If you need a crisp answer for tests:

On the basis of origin, resources are classified into biotic resources (derived from living organisms, e.g. forests, livestock) and abiotic resources (derived from non-living things, e.g. minerals, water, air, soil).

TL;DR:
On the basis of origin, all resources fit into just two categories: biotic (living/once living) and abiotic (non-living natural factors).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.