WB 10th SST 

WBBSE 10th Class Social Science Solutions Geography & Environment Chapter 6 India – Economic Environment

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WBBSE 10th Class Social Science Solutions Geography & Environment Chapter 6 India – Economic Environment

West Bengal Board 10th Class Social Science Solutions Geography & Environment Chapter 6 India – Economic Environment

WBBSE 10th Class Geography & Environment Solutions

TOPIC – 1

Agriculture in India

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Briefly discuss the important characteristics of Indian agriculture.
Ans. The important characteristics of Indian agriculture are discussed below-
  1. Subsistence farming: India being a highly populated country, most of the food grains grown here are mainly consumed by the farmers and their families. Not much agricultural produce is left for the purpose of export and sale.
  2. Importance of food crops: In India, priority is given to cultivation of food crops rather than cash crops to meet the needs of the growing population. More than 75% of cultivated land in India is used for growing food crops. About 52% of the total income from agricultural products comes only from food crops.
  3. Use of animals: Indian agriculture is not yet developed to an extent that use of modern machineries such as tractors and harvesters would be popular everywhere. Till date, in many regions farmers are dependent on animals like bullocks and buffaloes for ploughing agricultural plots.
  4. Dependence on monsoon winds: Agricultural activities in most places of India are carried out once a year depending on the arrival of monsoons. However, advent of monsoon winds may also lead to certain natural calamities such as floods, drought and excessive heavy rainfall which adversely affect agricultural activities.
  5. Irrigation: Most agricultural plots in India have been brought under the scope of irrigation. In these plots, two to three crops are grown per year.
  6. Small land holdings: Most agricultural plots in India are small and fragmented mainly due to different laws of succession. Such small land holdings are not suitable for using modern agricultural equipments. Hence, crop yield per hectare remains low.
  7. Uncontrolled use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides: Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to increase crop production has led to soil and water pollution.
  8. Lack of fodder crops: Although Indian agriculture mainly focuses on the cultivation of food crops, no importance as such has been given to the cultivation of fodder crops.
  9. Variety of crops: Different types of crops are extensively cultivated in India such as food crops (rice, wheat, millets, corn), oilseeds (mustard, sunflower, groundnut), cash crops (tea, coffee, jute, rubber), pulses, spices etc.
2. Mention the problems of Indian agriculture along with its remedial measures. 
Ans. There are numerous problems pertaining to agriculture in India. Those problem along with their probable remedial measures are discussed below-
  1. Low yield per hectare: Yield of crops per hectare is quite low in India. This is due to lack of-use of HYV seeds; good quality chemical fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides; proper irrigation facilities and modern machineries.
    Solution: Post independence, many policies have been adopted in the Five-Year Plans in order to improve the agriculture sector in India. This has increased crop yield per hectare to some extent.
  2. Low per capita land ownership: Per capita land ownership in India is only 0.3 hectare which is quite less than other developed countries (where it is 11 hectare per capita). Also, fragmented and small land holdings are not suitable for using modern farming equipments and techniques.
    Solution: Small land holdings should be consolidated so that co-operative farming. can be practiced to increase crop yield.
  3. Soil erosion: Unscientific agricultural methods, uncontrolled grazing by animals and indiscriminately cutting down trees have led to soil erosion and loss of soil fertility.
    Solution: Terrace cultivation, contour ploughing, use of scientific methods of farming are being encouraged to minimise soil erosion. Also, organic fertilisers and vermicompost are used to maintain soil fertility. Crop rotation is also practiced to maintain the fertility of soil. The Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation is also taking an active part in preventing soil erosion and conserving soil fertility.
  4. Lack of knowledge about agriculture and poverty: Farmers do not have adequate knowledge about modern methods of farming and agricultural equipments. Uncontrolled use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides without assessing the extent of requirement or the nature of soil lead to both soil and water pollution. Apart from these, poor economic condition of farmers prevent them from investing in agriculture. All these have led to low crop production.
    Solution: Proper education regarding agricultural techniques and machineries should be imparted to the farmers. Simultaneously, co-operative farming methods need to be popularised and agricultural loans must be sanctioned as per need to the farmers.
  5. Faulty land distribution system in India: Faulty land distribution by the government has created many marginal or landless farmers in India.
    Solution: Laws have been passed to rectify the land distribution system so that the economic conditions of marginal and landless farmers can improve.
  6. Investment based on moneylenders: Most farmers in India are poor and so they often have to take loans from moneylenders. In order to repay the loans, the farmers are forced to sell off their crops at very low prices.
    Solution: The government has instructed several nationalised banks and rural banks to sanction agricultural loans at low interests for poor farmers. Also, necessary arrangements have been made so that farmers can sell their produce directly at reasonable prices. In these ways, the farmers can achieve a good profit.
3. Discuss the suitable geographical conditions required for cultivating rice.
Or, Discuss the suitable geographical conditions for growing rice in the northern plains or the Gangetic plains of India.
Ans. The suitable geographical conditions required for cultivating rice are discussed below-
1. Physical conditions
  1. Climate: Rice grows best in hot and humid tropical monsoon climate. An average temperature of 20-30°C and annual rainfall of 100-200 cm favour rice cultivation. During the growing phase, approximately 12.5 cm more of monthly rainfall is desirable. Dry sunny weather is best during maturation and harvesting of the crop.
  2. Soil: Fertile loamy soil and alluvial soil found in river valleys are best suited for rice cultivation. Presence of a layer of non- porous clayey soil beneath the alluvial soil helps in water retention, which in turn, is favourable for rice cultivation.
  3. Topography: Rice grows best on land flooded with water. Hence, flat river valleys and deltaic plains are preferred for growing rice.
  4. Elevation of land: Generally rice grows on lands which are at sea level or only a few metres above sea level. However, there are certain exceptions to this fact. In Kerala, rice grows below sea level in Alappuzha district. In Dehradun, rice grows at an altitude of 435 m, in Mussourie at an altitude of 2006 m while in Kashmir valley region, it grows at an altitude of 1850 m.
2. Economic conditions
  1. Labour: Cheap and skilled labour is required for ploughing land, weeding, sowing saplings, threshing grains and other activities.
  2. Others: High yielding variety seeds, chemical and organic fertilisers, irrigation facilities and modern farming equipments are required for rice cultivation. All these things require huge capital investment. Also, market demand plays an important role in rice production.
4. Discuss the reasons for prosperity of agriculture in Punjab and Haryana.
Ans. Punjab and Haryana are two states in India which have flourished due to agriculture. The reasons for agricultural prosperity of these two states are discussed below-
  1. Soil: The region comprises of rich alluvial soil deposited by the Indus river and its five famous tributaries. Although in some places the soil is a little sandy, but the mineral content of the soil makes it very fertile and highly suitable for agriculture.
  2. Irrigation: The largest multi-purpose river valley project, i.e. the Bhakra-Nangal project provides irrigation water to all the agricultural fields of both the states. Due to such ready availability of water, three to four crops are grown every year.
  3. HYV seeds: High Yielding Variety seeds were first used in this region in India during the Green Revolution. Use of such seeds in case of rice, wheat, cotton and other crops have increased crop yield to a large extent.
  4. Use of machineries: In Punjab and Haryana, there are many large agricultural tracts. So, different modern agricultural machineries like tractors, harvesters, etc. can be easily used. This helps in higher crop production.
  5. Use of chemical fertilisers and insecticides: In India, the maximum amount of chemical fertilisers and insecticides are used in the states of Punjab and Haryana. This results in high crop yield.
  6. Agricultural education: Education regarding different aspects of agriculture such as modern farming techniques, types of fertilisers to be used depending on nature of soils, irrigation techniques etc., are imparted to farmers by several governmental and non-governmental organisations. Research works are conducted on regular basis in different universities for further betterment of agriculture.
  7. Others: Facilities like power supply, market, transport, godowns etc. has helped in improving agriculture in Punjab and Haryana. Also, the government has taken initiative to fix the price of the crops so that the farmers gain profits.
5. Discuss suitable geographical conditions for cultivation of tea.
OR, Discuss the physical factors favourable for growth of tea plantation in India.
Ans. Tea is the main beverage crop of India. India occupies the second position in global tea production. The suitable geographical conditions required for tea cultivation are discussed below-
1. Physical conditions
  1. Climate: Tea grows best in warm and wet, tropical monsoon climate. [i] Temperature: An average temperature ranging from 16-30°C is suitable for tea cultivation. Although tea can tolerate moderately high and low temperatures, hailstorms in summer and snowfall in winter are harmful for tea. [ii] Rainfall: An average annual rainfall of 150-250 cm is favourable for tea cultivation. [iii] Others: Sultry weather with low rainfall, dense fog, frost and scorching sunlight adversely affect growth of tea.
  2. Soil: Fertile loamy soil rich in iron is suitable for tea plants. Chernozem soil found in the grassland of hill slopes is also favourable for the cultivation of tea as it is rich in humus.
  3. Sloping land: Tea plants cannot tolerate water stagnation near their roots. So hill slopes and rolling plateaus are preferred for cultivating tea.
  4. Elevation: High mountain slopes where the climate is cool and have no chances of snowfall are highly preferable for tea cultivation. In India, tea gardens are seen at an altitude varying from 90m in the Terai region to about 1980 m in Darjeeling.
2. Economic conditions
  1. Labour: Tea being a labour-intensive crop require huge number of skilled labourers. Especially women labourers are employed for plucking tea leaves as they are quick and nimble. They also look after the tea plants and tend to the tea gardens.
  2. Others: Tea is a plantation crop. Modern machineries, fertilisers, insecticides as well as adequate capital investment, good transport network, national and international demand, are some factors on which tea cultivation depends.
6. Discuss the suitable geographical conditions required for cultivation of coffee.
Ans. Coffee is the second most important beverage crop of India right after tea. The suitable geographical conditions required for the cultivation of coffee are discussed below-
1. Physical conditions
  1. Climate: Coffee grows best in hot and humid tropical climate. Especially equatorial climate is favourable for coffee cultivation. [i] Temperature: An average temperature ranging from 20-25°C is ideal for coffee. [ii] Rainfall: An annual average rainfall of 150-250 cm is required for growing coffee. [iii] Shade trees: Coffee plants are sensitive to direct sunlight. So trees with broad canopy are planted in between coffee plants so that they can provide shade.
  2. Soil: Fertile laterite soil of volcanic origin and red loamy soil are best suited for coffee cultivation.
  3. Type of land: Sloping highlands, especially foothills of mountains are ideal for coffee cultivation. Large quantities of coffee are grown in the southern region of Karnataka, mountainous region of Andhra Pradesh, hilly regions of north Kerala and northern part of Tamil Nadu.
2. Economic conditions
  1. Labour: Coffee being a plantation crop require abundant cheap labour for transplanting, plucking coffee berries, drying the coffee beans etc.
  2. Others: Coffee is a plantation crop. The plantations need to have proper infrastructure so that all processes involved in preparing coffee can be carried out in the plantation itself. This includes transplantation of seedlings to processing the beans and finally packing the coffee powder. For this, adequate capital investment is necessary. Apart from these, transportation of coffee from the coffee plantations to nearby ports (for exporting) require a well-built transport network.
7. Discuss the suitable geographical conditions required for cultivation of cotton.
Ans. Cotton is the most important fibre crop of India. The geographical conditions required for growing cotton are discussed below-
1. Physical conditions
  1. Climate: Cotton is a crop native to the tropical and sub-tropical regions. [i] Temperature: An average temperature of 20-26°C is ideal for cultivating cotton. [ii] Rainfall: An average annual rainfall of 60-100 cm is required for growing cotton. However, in north-west and south India, cotton is also cultivated in areas receiving less than 60cm rainfall with the help of irrigation. [iii] Sea winds: Saline winds from the seas are good for cotton cultivation.
  2. Soil: Fertile loamy soil rich in lime is good for cotton. Chernozem soil and black soil (regur) of volcanic origin found in the Deccan Plateau region are favourable for cotton cultivation.
  3. Type of land: Plain lands or gently rolling plains with proper drainage pattern are suitable for growing cotton as cotton cannot withstand water logging.
2. Economic conditions
  1. Labour: Abundant skilled labourers are required for sowing the seeds, picking the cotton bolls, pressing the cotton into bales which are then sent to factories for making threads.
  2. Fertilisers: Cotton being a soil-exhausting crop require suitable quantities of chemical and organic fertilizers.
  3. Insecticides: Cotton plants are susceptible to pests like boll weevil, pink bollworm and spotted bollworm. Thus, large quantities of insecticides are required during cultivation of cotton crop.
  4. Others: HYV seeds, proper irrigation facilities, modern agricultural equipments and huge capital are some factors on which cotton cultivation depends. Apart from these, market demand for cotton and well-connected transport system also influence cotton production.
8. Discuss the suitable geographical conditions required for cultivation of sugarcane. Write a short note on the trade of sugarcane in India.
Ans. Sugarcane is a very important cash crop of India, as it is the main source for producing sugar. The suitable geographical conditions required for cultivation of sugarcane are discussed below-
1. Physical conditions
  1. Climate: Sugarcane is a kharif crop and is grown in tropical regions. [i] Temperature: An average temperature of 20-27°C is suitable for growing sugarcane. Higher temperature may damage the crop. [ii] Rainfall: An average annual rainfall of 75-150 cm is required for cultivation of sugarcane. However, it can also be grown in areas receiving low rainfall with the help of irrigation. [iii] Coastal climate: This type of climate with saline environment influence the sweetness of the sugarcane juice as well as the overall growth of the plants. So sugarcane is widely cultivated in the western region of India. [iv] Fog: Sugarcane is highly susceptible to fog, smog and frost.
  2. Soil: Fertile loamy soil rich in lime and black soil are best for growing sugarcane.
  3. Type of land: Gently rolling plains with proper drainage facility are most suitable for growing sugarcane as there is less possibility of water stagnation.
2. Economic conditions
  1. Labour: Abundant cheap and skilled labourers are required for sowing the seeds and harvesting the crop. So, sugarcane is usually cultivated in densely populated regions.
  2. Transport: A well-connected transport system is extremely essential for sugarcane cultivation as the juice needs to be extracted within 24 hours of cutting the plants and transported to the sugar factories. If it is not done, both the quantity and sugar content of the juice get affected. For this reason, most sugar factories are established in the vicinity of the sugarcane plantations.
  3. Capital: Sugarcane is a soil-exhausting crop. Hence, a substantial amount of fertilisers is required. Also, insecticides, irrigation facilities, labour supplies needed for cultivating the crop require a huge amount of capital.
  4. Market demand: Sugarcane is a crop which cannot be stored in godowns or cold storages. It has to be processed instantly. Hence, market demand of sugar is a great controlling factor of sugarcane cultivation. In recent times, sugarcane cultivation is expanding keeping in mind the huge population of India.

Short Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. Classify the crops of India according to their sowing season.
Ans. According to their sowing season, crops of India can be classified into three categories which have been tabulated below-
Crop Sowing Season Examples
Kharif crops Crops are sown just before the arrival of the monsoons, i.e., in the month of June and harvested after the autumn season, i.e., in the month of November. Aman rice, jute, cotton, sugarcane, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize.
Rabi crops Crops are sown just before the arrival of the winter season, i.e., in the month of December and harvested before the arrival of the summer season, i.e., in the month of March. Wheat, barley, oat, mustard, lentils.
Zaid crops Crops are sown before the arrival of the summer season, i.e., in the month of March and harvested before the arrival of the monsoons, i.e., in the month of June. Watermelon, tomato, brinjal, cucumber, muskmelon.
2. How can you classify rice?
Ans. Rice can be classified into three categories according to the season in which it is grown. These are—
Type of rice Growing season
Aaus This variety of rice is sown during the summer season (April-May) and harvested during the monsoons (August-September). The meaning of the word ‘aus’ is early. This crop matures rapidly.
Aman This variety of rice is sown during the monsoons (June) and harvested during the winter season (December-January). This crop is also known as ‘Aghrani rice’ in West Bengal.
Boro This variety of rice is sown during the winter season (November-December) and harvested during the summer season (April-May).
3. Classify the crops of India according to their nature of uses.
Ans. Crops grown in India can be broadly classified into two types according to their nature of uses-1. Food crops and 2. Cash crops.
  1. Food crops can be further classified into three categories- (1) Grain crops: Rice, wheat. (2) Beverage crops: Tea, coffee. (3) Other food crops: Sugarcane, spices, lentils, fruits.
  2. Cash crops can be also further classified into three categories- (1) Oilseeds: Mustard, sesame, groundnut. (2) Fibre crops: Cotton, jute. (3) Other crops: Rubber,
4. How can you classify wheat?
Ans. Wheat can be classified into two types according to the season in which it is grown. These are-
Type of wheat Growing season
Winter wheat This type of wheat is sown in the autumn season and harvested before the onset of the summer season.
Spring wheat This type of wheat is sown during the spring season and harvested at the end of the summer season.
In India, mostly winter wheat is cultivated. However, spring wheat is also cultivated in some scattered regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
5. Why does wheat dominate in the agriculture of north India?
Ans. The reasons behind the predominance of wheat in the agriculture of north India are discussed below-
  1. Temperature in the Punjab plains as well as in the upper and middle Gangetic plains remain around 14°-20°C during winter, which is ideal for wheat cultivation.
  2. Rainfall caused by western disturbances in the wheat producing regions of north India during winter season is highly favourable for wheat cultivation. Also, improved irrigation facilities provide the necessary water required for growing wheat.
  3. The fertile heavy loamy soils and clayey alluvial soils of north India are highly suitable for wheat cultivation.
  4. The gently rolling plains of north India favour wheat cultivation.
  5. Majority of the population in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh is engaged in agriculture. This huge workforce positively helps in wheat cultivation.
6. Name the important plantation crops of India and mention the regions where they are cultivated.
Ans. Important plantation crops of India: The two most important plantation crops grown in India are-tea and coffee.
Regions of tea and coffee cultivation:
  1. Tea: Approximately 80% of the total tea production in India comes from the states of Assam and West Bengal. The southern states of India namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka account for the remaining 20%. The sloping plains of the Brahmaputra Valley and the Terai region in Assam which includes the districts of Darrang, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur and Cachar are well known for tea cultivation. Apart from this, tea is also grown in the mountainous and Terai region of West Bengal which includes the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur.
  2. Coffee: Karnataka (70%) , Kerala (21%) and Tamil Nadu (6%) are the leading coffee producing states of India.
    Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Hassan, Shimoga and Mysore districts of Karnataka; Palakkad, Wayanad, Idukki and Kollam districts of and Kerala; Madurai, Salem and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu are well known for coffee cultivation.
7. Why is coffee cultivation predominant in south India?
OR, Mention any two reasons for the growth of coffee cultivation in south India.
Ans. The hilly regions of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are famous for coffee cultivation in India. The reasons behind the predominance of coffee cultivation in these states of south India are as follows-1. The weather in this region is favourable for coffee cultivation since the average temperature ranges between 20-30°C and the annual rainfall is approximately 150-250 cm. 2. Fertile laterite soil of volcanic origin is found here which is highly suitable for coffee cultivation. 3. The hill slopes of this region (elevation ranging from 800-1600 m) are ideal for the growth of coffee as they help in avoiding water stagnation. 4. Since cultivation of tea as a beverage crop has not gained popularity in south India, coffee as an alternative beverage crop has taken its place.
8. What do you mean by Green Revolution?
Ans. In post-Independent India, during the late ’60s, several measures were adopted to increase agricultural produce by implementing modern methods. Using high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, applying chemical fertilisers and insecticides, using modern farming equipments (such as tractors and harvesters) and implementing irrigation facilities and improved agricultural techniques were some of the highlights of this revolution. This led to a sharp increase in crop production. From 1968 to 1978, there was a rapid increase in wheat production mostly in the states of Punjab and Haryana which was famously called the ‘Green Revolution’. In 1960-61, total wheat production in India was 1 crore 10 lakh ton which tripled to an amount of 3 crore 63 lakh ton in 1980-81.
9. Why is wheat cultivated in north-west India in spite of being a crop of the temperate region?
OR, Why wheat is cultivated during winter in India?
Ans. Wheat is the second most important food crop of India. In spite of being a crop of the temperate region, wheat is grown in large areas in north-west India during winter because of the following reasons-
  1. Climate: As north-west India lie in the sub-tropical and temperate zones, the climate prevalent here is ideal for wheat cultivation during the winters.
  2. Temperature: An average temperature ranging between 14-20°C is favourable for wheat cultivation. Such temperature condition is found in north-west India during winter.
  3. Availability of water: Generally, an average annual rainfall of 50-100 cm is best suited for wheat cultivation. The north- western parts of India receive rainfall during winter caused by western disturbances. However, this rainfall is not sufficient enough for growing wheat. So, the need of extra water is fulfilled by improved irrigation facilities.
  4. Sunny and cool weather: In case of wheat cultivation, moist moist and cool climatic conditions are necessary while sowing the seeds, dry and warm climate when the panicle comes out, light rainfall when the grains mature and sunny and cool climate while harvesting. Such kind of climatic conditions prevail in north-west India.
  5. Frost-free days: Wheat cultivation requires 110 frost-free days. Although the states of north-west India experience extreme cold weather in winter, there is no occurrence of snowfall in most of these regions. This provides a condition suitable enough for wheat cultivation.
Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, extensive plainlands and fertile alluvial soil of north-west India are highly favourable for wheat cultivation.
10. Mention three important characteristics of Indian agriculture.
Ans. Three important characteristics of Indian agriculture are as follows-
  1. Subsistence farming: India being a highly populated country, most of the food grains grown are mainly consumed by the farmers and their families. Not much agricultural produce is left for the purpose of export and sale.
  2. Importance of food crops: In India, priority is given to cultivation of food crops rather than cash crops to meet the needs of the growing population. More than 75% of cultivated land in India is used for growing food crops. About 52% of the total income from agricultural products comes only from food crops.
  3. Use of animals: Indian agriculture is not yet developed to an extent that the use of modern machineries such as tractors and harvesters would be popular everywhere. Till date, in many regions farmers are dependent on animals like bullocks and buffaloes for ploughing agricultural plots.
11. Discuss any three problems of Indian agriculture.
Ans. Three problems of Indian agriculture are discussed below-
  1. Low yield per hectare: In India, yield per hectare of crops is quite low. In the year 2016-17, yield of rice was only about 2550 kg per hectare. The causes behind such low yield of crops per hectare are- (1) limited irrigation facilities, (2) less use of fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides, (3) limited use of modern machineries and (4) poor knowledge of farmers regarding modern and improved agricultural practices.
  2. Ownership of agricultural lands: Most Indian farmers are either marginal farmers or landless farmers. This is because large tracts of land are owned by few rich farmers. The landless peasants lose interest in cultivating crops as they earn no substantial benefit from it.
  3. Dependence on monsoon: Agriculture in India is heavily dependent on the monsoons. Irregularity in the onset and retreat of monsoon along with occurrence of floods and drought adversely affect crop production in the country.
12. What are the reasons behind the low yield of crops per hectare in India?
Ans. The different reasons behind the low yield of crops per hectare in India are as follows-
  1. Small land holdings: Most of the agricultural plots in India are quite small in size. This restricts the use of modern machineries and implementation of improved farming techniques. As a result, crop yield per hectare becomes low.
  2. Limited use of HYV seeds: In India, high yielding variety seeds of different crops are still not used extensively. Thus, yield of crops per hectare remains low.
  3. Less use of fertilisers and insecticides: Fertilisers and insecticides are less used while cultivating crops in India. This leads to low crop yield per hectare.
  4. Lack of irrigation facilities: Not all agricultural plots in India are benefited by irrigation facilities. So, in that case, cultivation of crops becomes dependent on rainfall only. This too, causes low yield of crops per hectare.
  5. Subsistence farming: Most farmers in India produce crops that are sufficient for their own consumption only. There is insufficient surplus left for sale or export. This leads to low yield of crops per hectare.
13. Why is Assam Assam famous for tea cultivation?
Ans. The reasons for which Assam is famous for tea cultivation are as follows-
  1. Favourable climate: Tea is a tropical plant. An average temperature of 20-30°C and annual rainfall of 200 cm are favourable for tea cultivation. Such weather conditions prevail in this state. Almost in every month, rainfall occurs to some extent here.
  2. Sloping land: The undulating and sloping landscape of this state is ideal for tea cultivation.
  3. Soil: Tea thrives well in the slightly acidic friable loamy soil found here.
  4. Other reasons: Investors have invested large sums of money in tea estates of Assam. Apart from this, Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, proximity to the Kolkata port and modern infrastructure have facilitated tea cultivation in Assam.
14. Mention the solutions for the problems of Indian agriculture.
Ans. The solutions for the problems of Indian agriculture are as follows-
  1. Use of HYV seeds: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has taken initiative to popularise the use of high yielding variety seeds among farmers to increase crop yield. The National Seeds Corporation Limited (NSCL), State Farms Corporation of India Limited (SFCI) and numerous other non-governmental organisations are working to increase the use of HYV seeds all over India. About 500 HYV seeds of rice and 250 HYV seeds of wheat are being currently used in Indian agriculture.
  2. Use of chemical fertilisers: Use of chemical fertilisers such nitrogenous fertilisers, phosphate-based fertilisers and potash has been encouraged to increase crop yield. Many government organisations have set up units which manufacture different chemical fertilisers. However, the produce is not sufficient enough to meet the demand of fertilisers in India. Hence, huge amounts of fertilisers are imported. Application of fertilisers have led to an increase in crop yield in recent times.
  3. Soil conservation: Several steps have been adopted for conservation of soil in India which includes terrace cultivation, contour farming and different modern methods of farming. The Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC) has been established to look after matters pertaining to soil conservation. Apart from these, the state governments too have taken initiatives to bring about soil conservation.
15. What is the importance of agriculture in India?
Ans. The importance of agriculture in India is discussed below-
  1. Employment: Agriculture is one of the most important means of employment in India. A majority of the population is either directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture.
  2. Source of food: Agriculture caters to the food requirement of the Indian population.
  3. Source of National Income: In India, agriculture is one of the main source of National Income.
  4. Source of raw materials: Different raw materials required for agro-based industries such as, tea, coffee, cotton textile, jute textile, sugar, edible oil and food processing are provided by agriculture.
  5. Source of foreign currency: Agricultural products like jute, tea, coffee, sugar, cashew nuts, tobacco and spices are exported to foreign countries. Thus, agriculture is a chief source of foreign currency.
  6. Expansion of transport and business: Agriculture has helped in the expansion of trade and commerce as well as transport and communication in India. Agricultural products are transported to markets and agro-based raw materials are transported to industries across the country through roadways and railways.
  7. Market: Different markets and trading centres have come up in different regions of India for the purpose of trading agricultural products. Thus, agriculture in India has a great economic importance.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you mean by the term ‘agriculture’?
Ans. Agriculture was the very first step towards a settled human civilisation and has been a primary economic activity of man. The word ‘agriculture’ originates from two Latin words-‘ager meaning field or land and ‘culture’ meaning growing or cultivation. So, agriculture literally means cultivation of land. However, in recent times, agriculture is not only limited to growing crops but it also includes animal rearing, pisciculture, planting trees and other related activities. These are done with a motive to sustain and enhance human life.
2. Name some high yielding variety (HYV) seeds of rice. What is the characteristic feature of these seeds?
Ans. Some of the commonly used high yielding variety seeds of rice in India are-IR-8, IR-20, TN-1, Taichung-65, Jaya, Ratna, Vijaya, Pankaj, Bahadur, Ranjit and Biplab. Cultivation of HYV seeds leads to greater crop yield in less time and these seeds require adequate amount of water, fertilisers and insecticides.
3. Name the major wheat producing states of India.
Ans. The major wheat producing states of India are-Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
4. Name some HYV seeds of wheat.
Ans. Some HYV seeds of wheat commonly used in India are-Sonalika, Kalyan Sona, Sona 227, Safed Larma and Choti Larma.
5. Name the countries to which India exports tea.
Ans. India exports tea to countries like United Kingdom, Russia, Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Germany.
6. Name the countries to which India exports coffee.
Ans. India exports coffee to countries like Italy, Russia, Germany, Turkey and Belgium.
7. Name the countries to which India exports cotton.
Ans. India exports cotton to countries like China, Sri Lanka, British Isles, Germany, Taiwan and Bangladesh.
8. Write short note on plantation agriculture.
Ans. The concept of plantation agriculture was introduced in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Asia, Africa and America by the different colonial powers of Europe. In India, plantation agriculture was introduced by the British during the 19th century. Various cash crops such as rubber, tea and coffee are grown on plantation farms across many states of India like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam. The main objective of plantation agriculture is to grow crops meant for sale using modern machinery, fertilisers and specialised labour. This results in greater yield of crops. Monoculture is seen in this form of agriculture.
9. Name some HYV seeds of cotton.
Ans. Some HYV seeds of cotton commonly used are-Sujata, Bharati, MCU-4, MCU-5.
10. What do you mean by cash crops?
Ans. The crops which are cultivated by farmers for sale and to earn profit are called cash crops. For example, sugarcane, cotton and jute are cultivated as cash crops in India.
11. What is crop rotation?
Ans. Crop rotation is the practice of successive cultivation of different crops in a particular sequence over a definite period of time on the same agricultural tract. For example, if wheat is grown in the first year on a piece of land, then in the next successive years potato, barley and pulses are grown on that piece of land. In the fifth year, wheat is again grown there. In this way, crop rotation is successively carried out.
12. What are the objectives of crop rotation?
Ans. The different objectives of crop rotation are-1. Maintaining soil fertility, 2. Protecting crops against pests, 3. Surplus crop production and 4. Preserving crop diversity.
13. How can you classify cotton?
Ans. According to the length of the fibre, cotton can be classified into four categories- 1. Very long staple cotton (equal to or more than 35 mm), 2. Long staple cotton (30-35 mm), 3. Medium staple cotton (25-30mm), 4. Short staple cotton (less than 25 mm). In India, the production of medium staple cotton is more.
14. Name two important coffee producing states of India.
Ans. Two important coffee producing states of India are-Karnataka and Kerala.
15. Name some of the leading rice producing states of India.
Ans. Some of the leading rice producing states of India are-West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Assam and Haryana.
16. Name two high yielding variety seeds of each rice and wheat which have been developed by hybridisation?
Ans. Two HYV seeds of rice-IR-8 and Jaya.
Two HYV seeds of wheat-Sonalika and Kalyan Sona.
17. Name the top three tea producing states of India.
Ans. The top three tea producing states of India are-Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
18. Where are the main rice and wheat research institutes of India located?
Ans. The main rice research institute of India is located in Cuttack and the main wheat research institute of India is located in Pusa near Delhi.
19. Write a short note on fibre crops.
Ans. Crops which are grown for their fibres are called fibre crops. The fibres are used to make paper, cloth and rope. Fibre crops can be of three types-
  1. Bast fibres: These type of fibres are collected from the bark, such as, jute.
  2. Seed fibres: These type of fibres are collected from the seeds, such as, cotton.
  3. Leaf fibres: These type of fibres are collected from the leaves, such as, sisal.
20. What do you mean by beverage crops? Give two examples.
Ans. Beverage crops are those crops which yield drinks suitable for human consumption. The two most common beverage crops that are grown in India are tea and coffee.
21. What are kharif crops?
Ans. In India, crops which are sown with the onset of the south-west monsoons are called kharif crops. These are rainfed crops and are sown in mid-June and harvested in mid-October. Aman rice, cotton and sugarcane are some examples of kharif crops.
22. What are rabi crops?
Ans. In India, crops which are grown during the winter season with the arrival of the north-east monsoon winds are called rabi crops. These crops are sown in October-November and are harvested in March-April. Wheat, barley and mustard are some examples of rabi crops.
23. What are zaid crops?
Ans. In India, crops which are grown during the short cropping season between rabi and kharif seasons are called zaid crops.These crops are sown during the spring season (March) and harvested before the arrival of monsoons (June). Watermelon, muskmelon, brinjal, cucumber and tomato are some examples of zaid crops.
24. What do you mean by winter wheat and spring wheat?
Ans. Winter wheat is the wheat which is grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions during the winter season under cool climatic conditions. Spring wheat is the wheat which is grown during the spring season on lands which were covered by snow in the winter season but is now moist due to melting of the snow. In India, winter wheat is cultivated in most of the places. However, in some remote areas in the Himalayas, spring wheat is also cultivated in small scale.
25. What are Aman rice and Boro rice?
Ans. The variety of rice which is cultivated during the monsoon season and is dependent on the amount of rainfall is called Aman rice. The variety of rice which is cultivated during the winter season and is dependent on irrigation is called Boro rice.
26. Why is it better to cultivate tea on hill slopes?
Ans. Standing water adversely affects tea cultivation as it causes the roots of the plants to rot. So hill slopes are preferable for tea cultivation as there is no chance of rainwater to accumulate.
27. What is boll weevil?
Ans. Boll weevil is a pest which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. It is a beetle which infests the cotton crop and poses great threat to cotton cultivation. Thus, a substantial amount of insecticide is required for cotton cultivation.
28. Write down the uses of tea.
Ans. The uses of tea are-1. It is a popular beverage consumed by many across the world. 2. It is used for cleaning wooden furniture and floors. 3. Tannin obtained from tea is used in dyeing in the textile industry and is also used for tanning leather. 4. Tea oil is used as cooking oil.
29. Mention any two problems of Indian agriculture.
Ans. Two problems of Indian agriculture are-
  1. Small land holdings: The average size of agricultural plots in India is only 1.2 hectares. Such small lands are not suitable for using advanced and modern equipments of farming.
  2. Outdated farming methods: In most regions of India, HYV seeds, insecticides, pesticides, modern farming machineries are not used effectively. Instead, outdated farming methods are practiced in different parts of India leading to low crop yield.
30. What do you mean by subsistence agriculture?
Ans. The farming practice in which crops are grown with the sole purpose that the agricultural produce will be consumed by the farmers and their family members only is called subsistence agriculture. This type of agriculture is seen in some parts of Africa and south-east Asia.
31. State the importance of terrace cultivation.
Ans. The steep slope of land in hilly regions increases the speed of soil erosion. In terrace cultivation, the slope is cut into steps or stairs (resembling a terrace). Thus, the general slope of the land is reduced and flat stretches of land are created along the hills. This helps to reduce the speed of running water, thus reducing soil erosion. Terrace cultivation is commonly practiced for the cultivation of rice, wheat, soybean etc. Hence, terrace cultivation is of immense importance in reducing soil erosion and helping in soil conservation in the mountainous areas.

Multiple Choice Type Questions [MCQ type]

Write the correct answer from the given alternatives

1. Rabi crops are cultivated in-
A. Summer
B. Monsoon
C. Winter
D. Autumn
Ans. C
2. The Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research is located in-
A. Cuttack
B. Lucknow
C. Pusa
D. Jorhat
Ans. B
3. Boro rice is harvested in-
A. Winter
B. Monsoon
C. Summer
D. Spring
Ans. C
4. ‘Sujata’ is a high yielding variety seed of-
A. Rice
B. Wheat
C. Cotton
D. Sugarcane
Ans. C
5. Which state in India occupies the leading position in coffee production?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Karnataka
D. Maharashtra
Ans. C
6. Which of the following is a kharif crop?
A. Wheat
B. Cotton
C. Mustard
D. Barley
Ans. B
7. Which of the following is a rabi crop?
A. Rice
B. Wheat
C. Jute
D. Cotton
Ans. B
8. The minimum number of frost-free days required for the cultivation of wheat is-
A. 50 days
B. 60 days
C. 100 days
D. 110 days
Ans. D
9. How much rainfall is required for the cultivation of rice?
A. 50-100 cm
B. 100-200 cm
C. 300-400 cm
D. 400-500 cm
Ans. B
10. Which state in India is the leading producer of tea?
A. West Bengal
B. Assam
C. Kerala
D. Tamil Nadu
Ans. B
11. Which states in India have been marked as the ‘wheat growing zone’ by ICAR?
A. Haryana-Uttar Pradesh
B. Uttar Pradesh-Bihar
C. Punjab-Haryana
D. Bihar-West Bengal
Ans. C
12. Which is the largest tea producing state in India in terms of per hectare yield?
A. West Bengal
B. Assam
C. Kerala
D. Karnataka
Ans. D
13. Which of the following is a plantation crop?
A. Rice
B. Jute
C. Tea
D. Sugarcane
Ans. C
14. The hilly region of Karnataka is famous for the cultivation of which crop?
A. Coffee
B. Wheat
C. Tea
D. Rice
Ans. A
15. Find the odd one out from the following-
A. Jowar
B. Bajra
C. Ragi
D. Rice
Ans. D
16. Which state in India occupies the top position in rice production?
A. Andhra Pradesh
B. West Bengal
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Punjab
Ans. B
17. Which Indian state is the leading producer of rice in terms of per hectare yield?
A. West Bengal
B. Bihar
C. Punjab
D. Haryana
Ans. C
18. Which state in India is the largest producer of bajra?
A. Rajasthan
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Gujarat
D. Haryana
Ans. D
19. Which district in Karnataka is the leading producer of coffee?
A. Mysore
B. Mandya
C. Kodagu
D. Hassan
Ans. C
20. The soil which is best suited for cotton cultivation is-
A. Laterite soil
B. Red soil
C. Black soil
D. Sandy soil
Ans. C
21. Wheat is a-
A. Rabi crop
B. Kharif crop
C. Zaid crop
D. Beverage crop
Ans. A
22. The farming system in which the total agricultural produce is consumed by farmers and their family members is known as-
A. Subsistence farming
B. Commercial farming
C. Orchard farming
D. Mixed farming
Ans. A
23. The state which ranks first in jowar production in India is-
A. Maharashtra
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Bihar
D. West Bengal
Ans. A
24. ‘Kalyan Sona’ is a high yielding variety seed of-
A. Rice
B. Wheat
C. Tea
D. Cotton
Ans. B
25. The National Seeds Corporation was established in the year-
A. 1963
B. 1965
C. 1977
D. 1980
Ans. A
26. One of the popular high-yielding variety seed of rice in India is-
A. Sonalika
B. Kalyan Sona
C. IR-8
D. Safed Larma
Ans. C
27. Aman rice is sown in the months of- 
A. April-May
B. August-September
C. June-July
D. November-December
Ans. C
28. The Tea Research Institute in India is located in-
A. Chikmagalur, Karnataka
B. Darjeeling, West Bengal
C. Jorhat, Assam
D. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Ans. C
29. The leading producer of sugarcane in India is-
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Maharashtra
C. Karnataka
D. Punjab
Ans. A
30. Shifting cultivation in India is known as-
A. Tamrai
B. Ladang
C. Jhum
D. Roka
Ans. C
31. The term ‘Green Revolution’ was first used by-
A. Dr. Norman Borlaug
B. William Gaud
C. Samuel Salmon
D. Surajit Datta
Ans. A

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Fill in the blanks with suitable words

1. The main food crop of India is …………
Ans. Rice
2. The main wheat research institute in India is located in ………. near Delhi.
Ans. Pusa
3. Tea grows best on ………..
Ans. Hill slopes
4. The state which is the leading producer of cotton in India is ……….
Ans. Maharastra
5. The black soil region of the Deccan Trap is famous for the cultivation of ……….
Ans. Cotton
6. In Andhra Pradesh, large quantity of rice is cultivated in the ……… river valley and its deltaic region.
Ans. Godavari
7. West Bengal is famous for the cultivation of ………..
Ans. Rice
8. The most important rabi crop of India is ………..
Ans. Wheat
9. The leading producer of ragi in India is …………
Ans. Karnataka
10. ……… soil is most suitable for the cultivation of ragi.
Ans. Laterite
11. In India, the ……….. crops are also called ‘monsoon crops’.
Ans. Kharif
12. The state of ……….. ranks first in production of wheat in India. 
Ans. Uttar Pradesh
13. ………. is called the ‘Orange City’.
Ans. Nagpur
14. A country which imports coffee from India is …………
Ans. Italy
15. The second leading producer of tea in India is ………..
Ans. West Bengal
16. Tea is an important ……….. crop.
Ans. Plantation
17. Coffee grows best in ……….. climatic conditions.
Ans. Hot and humid
18. ………. ranks first in the production of jowar in India.
Ans. Maharashtra
19. The Green Revolution is also called the ………. revolution by many in India.
Ans. Wheat
20. ……….. is an example of a beverage crop.
Ans. Tea
21. The ………. soil region of Punjab and Haryana is favourable for extensive agricultural activities.
Ans. Alluvial
22. In India, ………. seeds have been introduced to increase crop production.
Ans. High-yielding variety
23. ………. is a millet crop which is cultivated in the sandy soils of India.
Ans. Bajra
24. ……….. crops are grown in the short duration between kharif and rabi crop seasons.
Ans. Zaid
25. ……….. is harmful for the cultivation of sugarcane.
Ans. Frost

Answer in one or two words

1. Name two kharif crops grown in India.
Ans. Rice and jute.
2. Name two rabi crops grown in India.
Ans. Mustard and wheat.
3. Mention any one method of increasing agricultural yield in India.
Ans. Using high yielding variety (HYV) seeds.
4. Name two beverage crops produced in India.
Ans. Tea and coffee.
5. Which is the main fibre crop grown in India?
Ans. Cotton.
6. Which is the most important beverage crop of India?
Ans. Tea.
7. Which state in India is the leading producer of rice?
Ans. West Bengal.
8. What is India’s position in global rice production?
Ans. Second.
9. Which crops are collectively called millets?
Ans. Jowar, bajra and ragi.
10. What is India’s position in global sugarcane production?
Ans. Second.
11. Name two cash crops of India.
Ans. Sugarcane and cotton.
12. Which crop is attacked by the pest boll weevil?
Ans. Cotton.
13. Name two HYV seeds of rice popular in India.
Ans. Ratna and Jaya.
14. Name two HYV seeds of wheat commonly used in India.
Ans. Sonalika and Kalyan Sona.
15. Which state of India occupies the top position in ragi production?
Ans. Karnataka.
16. Which soil of India is ideal for cotton cultivation?
Ans. Black soil.
17. Name two HYV seeds of cotton commonly used in India.
Ans. Sujata and Bharati.
18. Which type of land is ideal for tea cultivation?
Ans. Slope land.
19. Which type of crops are commonly used as fodder?
Ans. Millets (jowar, bajra and ragi).
20. Which variety of coffee is mainly grown in India?
Ans. Robusta.
21. Which type of crop is Aaus rice?
Ans. Zaid crop.
22. Which type of wheat is mostly grown in India?
Ans. Winter wheat.
23. According to the length of fibre (staple), which variety of cotton is mostly grown in India?
Ans. Short to medium staple cotton.
24. Give an example of a zaid crop.
Ans. Pumpkin.
25. Which type of crops are grown on the basis of the onset of south-west monsoon winds in India?
Ans. Kharif crops.
26. Which type of soil is best suited for tea cultivation?
Ans. Iron-rich fertile alluvial soil.
27. Name any one tea-producing state of south India.
Ans. Tamil Nadu.
28. What is boll weevil?
Ans. Pest of cotton.
29. Where is the main rice research institute located in West Bengal?
Ans. Chinsurah.
30. Write any two problems pertaining to Indian agriculture.
Ans. Low yield per hectare and small land holdings.
31. Mention any two solutions for the problems associated with Indian agriculture.
Ans. Use of advanced machineries and easy availability of agricultural loans.

TOPIC – 2

Industries in India

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Discuss the factors which influence the location of industries.
OR, Which factors should be considered before choosing a location for setting up an industry?
Ans. Industries cannot be established anywhere and everywhere on the earth. The factors which must be considered before setting up an industry are discussed below-
  1. Raw materials: Location of an industry primarily depends upon the type of raw materials that are being used in that particular industry. Raw materials are of two types-
    1. Pure raw materials: The raw materials which do not lose weight during their processing into finished products are called pure raw materials. Example-Cotton, jute. One tonne of cotton or jute will produce one tonne of cotton fabric or jute goods. Thus, industries dependent on pure raw materials can be established anywhere in between the source of raw materials and the market as the transportation cost remains same.
    2. Impure raw materials: The raw materials which lose weight during their processing into finished products are called impure raw materials. Example- Sugar manufactured from sugarcane have less weight than that of the raw material. So to reduce transportation cost, industries dependent on impure raw materials are established in the vicinity of the source of the raw material.
  2. Water: Availability of water is essential for all industries for the industrial processes as well as for the workers. So industries are usually set up near waterbodies like rivers and lakes. Example-The iron and steel plant at Durgapur has been established near the Damodar river in West Bengal.
  3. Power: Power is extremely important for the proper functioning of an industry especially thermal and hydroelectric power resources. For this reason, many industries in Europe and America have grown up centring the coalfields. In India also, there are many industries which have been built close to thermal and hydel power plants.
  4. Transport: A well-connected transport system is required for sourcing the raw materials, taking the finished products to the nearby market or port (for importing and exporting purpose) and movement of ·labourers and other people associated with the industry. It is best to set up an industry at a location where cost of transportation is minimum..
  5. Availability of labour: Establishment of an industry requires abundant supply of skilled and cheap labour. Availability of labour is such an important factor that Bangladesh has progressed in the cotton textile industry only due to the presence of abundant labour although adequate amount of cotton is not grown in this country.
  6. Market: An industry develops depending on the market demand of a certain product. Wherever there is a demand for a particular product, industries based on that product are generally set up. Example-Although cotton is not cultivated in West Bengal, the cotton textile industry has flourished in the Hooghly region because of the large population that led to high demand for cotton clothes.
  7. Capital: Huge capital investments are essential for setting up an industry. Adequate amount of capital is required to buy the plot, to set up the industry, to buy equipments and raw materials, to establish factory shade, to pay the wages of labourers and to provide continuous power supply. Example-Cotton textile industry has flourished to a great extent in western India due to huge capital investment by Gujarati and Parsi businessmen.
2. Explain in brief the factors responsible for development of cotton textile industry in Western India.
OR, Discuss the causes of concentration of cotton textile industries in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad region.
OR, Justify the concentration of cotton textile industry in the black soil region of Western India.
Ans. At present, there are many cotton textile mills concentrated in the western region of India (in the black soil region of western India) mainly in Maharashtra including the districts of Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Sholapur, Akola and Jalgaon and Gujarat including the districts of Ahmedabad, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara and Rajkot. The causes behind the concentration of cotton textile industries in Western India are discussed below-
  1. Best cotton-producing region: The black soil region of Maharashtra and Gujarat is extremely suitable for cotton cultivation. Hence, the raw materials (i.e., cotton) for cotton textile industry is readily available in this region.
  2. Humid climate: Hot and humid climate of this region due to proximity to the Arabian Sea is favourable for cutting the yarn.
  3. Power resources: Hydroelectric power plants in Ukai, Kadana (Gujarat) and Bhivpuri, Khopoli, Koyna (Maharashtra); thermal power plants in Trombay and Nasik (Maharashtra) provide the necessary power to the cotton textile mills.
  4. Nearness to ports: Three important ports of India-Mumbai, Kandla and Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru port) and other smaller ports namely Surat and Porbander are located in this region. These ports help in the export of cotton fabric and import of raw materials and necessary equipments.
  5. Well-connected transportation system: The Western, Central and Konkan railways as well as the National Highways 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 pass over this region thereby forming a well-connected transportation system. This transport network helps in acquiring raw materials and sending the finished products to different parts of the country.
  6. Capital: Wealthy Gujarati, Parsi and Bhatia businessmen have invested huge capitals in the cotton textile industry. Apart from this, Mumbai being the ‘financial capital’ of India is advantageous in terms of acquiring capital for the cotton textile industry.
  7. Easy availability of labour: Abundant supply of skilled and cheap labour is found in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad region as this region is densely populated.
  8. Infrastructure: Suitable infrastructure required for the development of cotton textile industry is available here which has helped the industry flourish.
  9. High demand: There is a huge demand for cotton clothes in our country because of the large population. Also, high demand of cotton fabric in foreign markets has helped this industry grow.
3. Discuss the problems of cotton textile industry in India and their remedial solutions.
Ans. The problems of cotton textile industry are discussed below-
  1. Lack of raw materials: Long staple cotton (suitable for making best quality cotton fabric) is not available in adequate quantities in India.
  2. High cost of production: Long staple cotton is imported from different countries which has led to an increase in the production cost.
  3. Old machineries: Most of the cotton textile. industries have old and outdated machineries which produce low quality fabric. This has ultimately led to high cost of production.
  4. Stiff competition in the global market: Sale of cotton fabrics from India is limited in the European countries. India also faces stiff competition from other countries in selling cotton fabric to the global market.
  5. Competition with synthetic fibres: Synthetic fibres such as rayon, nylon, polyester, acrylic are popularly used nowadays to make different fabrics. This has, to some extent, decreased the demand of cotton fabric.
  6. Irregular power supply: Sometimes inadequate power supply to the cotton textile mills hampers the production.
The remedial solutions of the problems faced by cotton textile industry in India are as follows-
  1. Modernisation of the industry: The Government of India has set up the Textile Modernisation Fund which will help in replacing the old and outdated machineries with the advanced ones and implement modern technologies in the production process.
  2. Cultivation of long staple cotton: To reduce the import of long staple cotton from other countries, it is being cultivated in the north-western region of India with the help of irrigation.
  3. Reduction in excise duty: As per the recommendation of the Joshi Committee, the government has reduced the excise duty on cotton-based commodities.
  4. Use of automated power looms: Fully automated power looms are being used nowadays in order to increase the rate of production and reduce the price of the finished product.
  5. Establishment of the Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council: The Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council has been established in order to facilitate the export of cotton-based commodities.
  6. Establishment of research institutes: of Many research institutes like Ahmedabad Textile Research Association, Mumbai Textile Research Association and South India Textile Research Association have been set up to focus on the betterment of the cotton fabrics.
  7. Establishment of the National Textile Corporation: The National Textile Corporation (NTC) has been established to revive the sick cotton industries by introducing new machineries and advanced technology.
4. Briefly discuss the causes that have influenced the development of cotton textile industry in India.
Ans. The cotton textile industry in India is a flourishing industry and there are at present, many cotton textile mills distributed all over the country. Cotton textile industries in India can be divided into four categories on the basis of their location- 1. Western region, 2. Southern region, 3. Northern region and 4. Eastern region. The causes that have influenced the development of cotton textile industries in these regions are discussed below-
  1. Availability of raw materials: Adequate amount of cotton is grown in the black soil region of India which is used as the raw material in the cotton textile industry. Apart from this, the southern states of India have taken initiative to start the cultivation of long and very long staple cotton.
  2. Humid climate: Hot and humid climate prevail in the states of peninsular India, especially the southern states which is highly favourable for cotton cultivation. This type of climate also helps in cutting the yarns. Nowadays, humid atmosphere is artificially created in the factories using humidifiers.
  3. Easy power supply: A number of thermal power plants and hydel power plants have been established in this region in post- independent India. These power plants supply the requisite power to the cotton textile industries. Example-Ukai, Koyna in western India; Hirakud, Talcher, Bandel in eastern India; Bhakra-Nangal, Rihand, Bhatinda in northern India; Mettur, Sivasamudram, Nagarjunasagar in southern India.
  4. Proximity to ports: The raw materials are imported and the finished products are exported through the various ports situated close to the cotton textile mills. Example-Mumbai, Kandla (west coast of India); New Mangalore, Kochi, Chennai (south coast of India); Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Haldia (east coast of India).
  5. Well-connected transport system: Numerous railway lines, national highways and other important roads have been linked in such a way that a well-connected transport system has developed in India. Thus, it has become easy to collect the raw materials from different parts of the country and distribute the finished products all over the country.
  6. Capital: Wealthy businessmen from the Parsi, Bhatia and Gujarati communities as well as several government and non-governmental organisations have invested huge capital in the cotton textile industries of India.
  7. Cheap labour: India is a highly populated country. Thus availability of cheap and skilled labour is a favourable factor that promotes the development of cotton textile industries in India.
  8. High demand: There is a huge demand for cotton fabrics in both national and international markets. This has helped in the development of the cotton textile industry in India.
5. Discuss the locational advantages of any two large-scale iron and steel plants of India.
Ans. Two large-scale iron and steel plants of India are Indian Iron and Steel Company (Kulti-Burnpur) and Durgapur Steel Plant (Durgapur). The locational advantages of these two large-scale iron and steel plants of India are discussed below-
1. Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO), Kulti-Burnpur
Location: This iron and steel plant is located on the banks of the river Damodar in Paschim Bardhaman district of West Bengal and is connected by the Eastern Railway. The steel plant partially lies in both Kulti and Burnpur.
Establishment: The iron and steel plant at Kulti was established in 1870 and that at Burnpur was established in 1919 under private enterprise. In 1973, these two plants were brought under the control of government of India.
Locational advantages behind the establishment of IISCO
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Raniganj (West Bengal) and Jharia (Jharkhand).
    Iron ore Gua, Noamundi (Jharkhand); Bolani, Gorumahisani, Badampahar (Odisha).
    Limestone Gangpur and Birmitrapur (Odisha).
    Dolomite Gangpur (Odisha).
    Manganese Gangpur (Odisha).
  2. Availability of water: The nearby rivers, Damodar and Barakar meet the demand of water required for this iron and steel plant.
  3. Refractory bricks: Refractory bricks sourced from coal mines at Raniganj are used in this plant.
  4. Location of power plants: Power supply from the nearby thermal power plants at Durgapur, Dishergarh and Mejia provide the necessary power to the iron and steel plant.
  5. Cheap labour: Cheap and skilled labourers from the nearby densely populated regions of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal meet the demand of labourers required for this plant.
  6. Well-connected transport system: National Highway 2 and the Eastern Railway help in transporting raw materials and the finished products.
  7. Proximity to ports: The ports at Haldia and Kolkata are within 230 km of this plant. This helps in export and import of goods necessary for this plant.
  8. Demand: The rise in the demand for iron and steel in India as well as in other countries has created a good market for iron and steel-based products both in national and international markets.
2. Durgapur Steel Plant, Durgapur:
Location: This iron and steel plant is located in the eastern side of the Raniganj coal mines, beside the Eastern railway track on the banks of the Damodar river.
Establishment: Established by government enterprise in 1956, but production started in 1962.
Locational advantages behind the establishment of Durgapur Steel Plant:
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Raniganj (West Bengal) and Jharia (Jharkhand).
    Iron ore Gua, Noamundi (Jharkhand); Gorumahisani, Badampahar (Odisha).
    Limestone Gangpur and Birmitrapur (Odisha).
    Manganese Gangpur (Odisha).
  2. Availability of water: The Damodar river provides the water required for this plant.
  3. Location of power plants: Durgapur thermal power plant provides the power necessary for the functioning of the plant.
  4. Cheap labour: Cheap and skilled labourers from Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal meet the demand of labour required for this plant.
  5. Well-connected transport system: National Highway 2 and the Eastern Railway help in transporting raw materials and the finished products
  6. Proximity to ports: Nearness of this plant to the Kolkata port (160 km away) and the Haldia port (250 km away) provide opportunities for imort and export of goods.
  7. Demand: Establishment of heavy engineering industries in the eastern region of India as well as high demand of iron and steel all over the world have created a good market for the finished products.
6. Discuss the locational advantages of two iron and steel plants in India-one under public sector and the other under private sector.
Ans. Two iron and steel plants in India, one under public sector and the other under private sector are-Bhilai Steel Plant at Bhilai and Tata Iron and Steel Company at Jamshedpur.
1. An iron and steel plant under the public sector-Bhilai Steel Plant
Location: The Bhilai Steel Plant is the largest iron and steel plant of India and is located at Bhilai in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh.
Establishment: This iron and steel plant was a government of India initiative and had a collaboration with erstwhile soviet Russia. It was established in the year 1956. However, the plant became fully operational in 1959.
Locational advantages behind the establishment of Bhilai Steel Plant:
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Korba (Chhattisgarh); Jharia (Jharkhand).
    Iron Ore Dalli-Rajhara (Chhattisgarh).
    Limestone Nandini and Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh).
    Dolomite Hirri, Baradwar (Chhattisgarh).
    Manganese Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh); Bhandara (Maharashtra).
  2. Availability of water: The Tendula reservoir situated close by supplies water to this plant.
  3. Power resources: Bhilai Power Plant and Korba Thermal Power Station supply power to this plant.
  4. Cheap labour: Cheap and skilled labourers from the nearby region is easily available. This is because the industry provides employment as there is minimum scope of employment in the agricultural sector.
  5. Well-connected transport system: The South-Eastern railway connects the steel plant to Mumbai and Kolkata whereas National Highway 6 connects the plant to other parts of the country.
  6. Proximity to the port: The Visakhapatnam port is only 570 km away from this plant. This facilitates the import of raw materials and export of finished products.
  7. Demand: High demand for iron and steel in central and western India, specially for the development of heavy engineering industries in western India has helped in the growth of this iron and steel plant.
2. An iron and steel plant under the private sector-Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO)
Location: The Tata Iron and Steel Company is located at Jamshedpur in the East Singbhum district of Jharkhand at the confluence of the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers. This is the largest of all the iron and steel plants under the private sector in India.
Establishment: TISCO was founded by pioneer industrialist Jamsetji Tata in the year 1907 at Jamshedpur.
Locational advantages behind the establishment of Tata Iron and Steel Company:
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Jharia (Jharkhand), Raniganj (West Bengal).
    Iron ore Noamundi, Gua (Jharkhand); Bonai, Gorumahisani, Badampahar (Odisha).
    Limestone Birmitrapur, Gangpur (Odisha).
    Dolomite Sundargarh, Birmitrapur (Odisha).
    Manganese Gangpur (Odisha).
  2. Availability of water: Ample supply of water is available from the river Subarnarekha and its tributary Kharkai.
  3. Power resources: This steel plant has its own thermal power station which provides the necessary power resource.
  4. Cheap labour: The highly populated regions of Jharkhand and Odisha are a source of cheap and skilled labour. As agricultural practices are not prevalent here, many people look for employment in the iron and steel industry.
  5. Well-connected transport system: The industry is well connected to the rest of the country by the South-Eastern Railway, and the National Highways 2, 23, 31, 33.
  6. Proximity to port: The Kolkata port which is about 280 km away from this plant helps in the import of raw materials and export of finished products.
  7. Demand: The development of heavy engineering industries in Jamshedpur, Ranchi and adjacent areas has resulted in a good market for iron and steel.
7. Discuss the geographical factors that have influenced the development of the Bokaro Steel Plant.
Ans. Location: The Bokaro Steel Plant is located near the Bokaro coal mines in the Bokaro district of Jharkhand.
Establishment: The Bokaro Steel Plant was a government of India initiative and had a collaboration with erstwhile soviet Russia. The plant was established in the year 1964 but it became fully operational in 1972.
The geographical factors that have influenced the development of the Bokaro Steel Plant are discussed below-
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Bokaro, Jharia (Jharkhand).
    Iron Ore Chiria, Gua, Meghahatuburu, Kiriburu (Jharkhand).
    Limestone Bhawanathpur, Daltonganj (Jharkhand); Birmitrapur (Odisha).
    Dolomite Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh).
    Manganese Gangpur (Odisha).
  2. Availability of water: Adequate amount of water is collected from the Tenughat reservoir constructed over the Damodar river.
  3. Power resources: The power required for this plant is sourced from the Bokaro and Patratu thermal power stations.
  4. Cheap labour: Cheap and skilled labourers from Jharkhand form the majority of the workforce in this plant. As agricultural practices are not prevalent here, many people look for employment in the iron and steel industry.
  5. Well-connected transport system: This iron and steel plant is connected to the rest of the country by the South-Eastern Railways and National Highways 2, 23, 31, 33.
  6. Proximity to port: The Kolkata port, located 320 km away from this plant facilitates the import of raw materials and export of finished products.
  7. Demand: The establishment of heavy engineering industries in Jamshedpur, Ranchi and adjacent areas have created a huge demand for the finished goods of this plant.
8. Discuss the factors behind the development of iron and steel plants at Rourkela and Visakhapatnam.
Ans. Rourkela Steel Plant
Location: The Rourkela Steel Plant is located on the banks of the Brahmani river in the Sundargarh district of Odisha, along the South-Eastern Railway track.
Establishment: The Rourkela Steel Plant was established in the year 1956. It was a government of India initiative in collaboration with the German company Krupps and Demag. The steel plant became fully functional in the year 1959.
The factors that have influenced the development of iron and steel plant at Rourkela are discussed below-
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Jharia, Bokaro (Jharkhand); Raniganj (West Bengal).
    Iron ore Bolani, Barsua (Odisha); Gua, Meghahatuburu, Kiriburu (Jharkhand).
    Limestone Gangpur, Birmitrapur (Odisha); Purnapani (Chhattisgarh).
    Dolomite Sambalpur (Odisha); Baradwar (Chhattisgarh).
    Manganese Gangpur, Kalahandi (Odisha).
  2. Availability of water: Adequate amount of water for the steel plant is available from Brahmani and Sankha rivers as well as from the reservoirs of south Koyel and Mandira.
  3. Power resources: The power required for this plant is sourced from the Hirakud hydel power station.
  4. Cheap labour: Cheap and skilled labourers from the nearby region is easily available because there is very less scope of employment in the agricultural sector.
  5. Well-connected transport system: The South-Eastern Railways, East Coast Railways and several National Highways connect this steel plant to metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Mumbai and other parts of the county.
  6. Proximity to port: The Paradeep port located 400 km away and the Kolkata port located 510 km away help in the import of raw materials and export of finished products.
  7. Demand: Development of heavy engineering industries in eastern India has created a high demand for iron and steel industry.
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
Location: This steel plant is located on the eastern coast of India in Visakhapatnam in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Establishment: The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant was established in 1982 and became fully functional in 1990. This is the largest iron and steel plant in the southern region of India.
The factors that have influenced the development of iron and steel plant at Visakhapatnam are discussed below-
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Coal Singareni (Telangana); Talcher (Odisha).
    Iron ore Kadappa, Nellore, Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh); Bailadila (Chhattisgarh).
    Limestone Jaggayyapeta (Andhra Pradesh); Badnapur, Katni (Madhya Pradesh).
    Dolomite Madharam (Andhra Pradesh) Birmitrapur (Odisha); Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh).
    Manganese Cheepurupalli, Kothavalasa (Andhra Pradesh).
  2. Availability of water: Ample supply of water is available from the reservoir situated over river Yeleru in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
  3. Power resources: The power required for this plant is sourced from the Ramagundam thermal power station.
  4. Cheap labour: Cheap and skilled labour is easily available from the nearby areas.
  5. Well-connected transport system: The East-Coast Railways and different roadways connect this steel plant with the rest of the country.
  6. Proximity to port: The Visakhapatnam port is situated very close to this steel plant and even the Paradeep port is just 550 km away from here. This helps in the import of raw materials and export of the finished products.
  7. Demand: The development of heavy engineering industries in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have created a good market for the finished products of this industry.
9. Discuss the locational advantages of the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited (Bhadravati Iron and Steel Plant).
Ans. Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited (Bhadravati Iron and Steel Plant)
Location: The Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant is located in Bhadravati on the banks of river Bhadra in northern Karnataka.
Establishment: This plant was established in the year 1918, but it became fully operational in 1923. In 1962, the Government of India and the state government of Karnataka took charge of this plant and, thus, it was renamed as Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited.
Locational advantages behind the establishment of Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited:
  1. Raw materials: The raw materials needed for this iron and steel plant and the places from where they are acquired are given in the following table-
    Raw material Place
    Iron ore Kemmanugundi, Bababudan hills (Karnataka).
    Dolomite Bhundiguda (Karnataka).
    Limestone Bhundiguda (Karnataka).
    Manganese Shimoga, Chitradurga (Karnataka).
  2. Availability of water: The river Bhadra is the main source of water for this plant.
  3. Power resources: The Mahatma Gandhi and Sharavati Valley hydroelectric power plants over the Jog waterfalls supply the required power to this plant.
  4. Cheap labour: Skilled and cheap labour is easily available from the nearby densely populated regions of Karnataka.
  5. Proximity to port: The New Mangalore port (210 km away) and the Mormugao port (400 km away) help in the import of raw materials and export of finished products.
  6. Well-connected transport system: The Southern and South-Central Railway and well-developed roadways help this plant to connect with the rest of the country.
  7. Demand: Development of heavy engineering industries in western southern India has led to a high demand for the finished products of this industry.
10. Discuss the problems faced by the iron and steel industry in India.
Ans. The problems faced by the iron and steel industry in India are as follows-
  1. Lack of high quality coking coal: Although India has good reserves of iron ore, there is a lack of high quality coking coal, which is the one of the most important raw materials required for the iron and steel industries.
  2. Lack of capital: There is a serious lack of capital investment which is required for setting up new iron and steel plants and modernising as expanding the existing ones.
  3. Problem of acquiring land: There is a dearth of land required for constructing new steel plants. There are also various problems relating to acquisition of land.
  4. Lack of advanced machineries: New and improved machineries have not been implemented yet in the existing iron and steel plants. This has led to an increase in the cost of production.
  5. Lack of skilled labourers: Although cheap labourers are available, skilled labourers are not abundantly available. So production rate per labourer is quite low
  6. Problems of transportation: Lack of roads at par with international standards have posed problems in transporting the raw materials and finished products.
  7. Reduced demand in national market: Demand of iron and steel is not always high in the national market. Hence, the iron and steel industries have to depend on the international market.
  8. Dumping of iron and steel products: Many foreign countries dump iron and steel goods manufactured by them in India at cheap rates. Thus, the companies in India are forced to sell their products at low rates, thereby incurring severe loss. This ultimately creates a financial loss.
  9. Lack of refractory bricks: Availability of refractory bricks is not so easy and this has led to problems in establishing and maintaining furnaces and walls of the production units.
11. What are the causes behind the development of information and technology (IT) industry in India?
Ans. The industry which is involved in the collection, recovery, modification, improvement, analysis and storage of data for commercial purposes with the help of computer and telecommunication service is called the information and technology or the IT industry. Gradual advancement of the IT industry commenced from the 1970s and, continued till the middle of the 1980s. However, the rate of advancement of this industry picked up speed in the 1990s in India.
The causes behind the development of the IT industry in India are as follows-
  1. Skilled and talented workers: Indians are quite advanced where science and technology is concerned. There are several institutes for imparting technological education in India including computer training centres. Students from these institutions are easily hired by the IT companies.
  2. Global market: Countries in Europe and United States of America outsource people from the IT. Apart from this, information technology is nowadays widely used in the spheres of banking, railway and air ticket booking, telecommunication and many other sectors. Thus, demand of the IT industry is increasing by leaps and bounds all over the world.
  3. No land problem: Like other industries, the IT industry does not need large plots of land to develop. A number of IT companies can operate from different storeys of the same building.
  4. Infrastructure: The IT industry is an urban industry. Efficient transport system, ample supply of electricity, availability of internet and WiFi services and other facilities help in the rapid development of the industry in the metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.
  5. Government initiative: The state governments of India have provided extensive support to the IT industry by helping in setting up IT complexes, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) offering tax subsidies and providing financial benefits.
  6. Capital investments: Multinational companies like TCS, INFOSYS, IBM, WIPRO, have made huge investments for the development of the IT industry in India.
12. Why no heavy engineering industries have developed in the Himalayan region?
Ans. The reasons for which no heavy engineering industries have developed in the Himalayan region are discussed below-
  1. Topography: The rugged and hilly terrain of the Himalayan region is not suitable for the construction of factory sheds. Hence, development of heavy engineering industry is difficult.
  2. Lack of raw materials: The heavy engineering industries require huge amounts of coal and mineral-based raw materials. Lack of mineral resources in the Himalayan region hinder the growth of such industries.
  3. Lack of water and power resources: The Himalayan region lacks sufficient amount of water and power resources required for the development of heavy engineering industries.
  4. Lack of skilled labourers: The Himalayan region is sparsely populated and most of the people in this region do not have adequate technical knowledge. Hence, there is a lack of skilled and technically sound labourers.
  5. Inefficient transport system: The rugged terrain prevents development of roadways and railways in the Himalayan region. Frequent occurrence of landslides often block the roads and isolate this region from the rest of the country.
  6. Less demand: As the Himalayan region is sparsely populated, there is less demand for the finished goods of this type of industry in this region.
  7. Lack of capital: The geographical conditions are not favourable for the development of industries in this region. Hence, entrepreneurs show little interest in investing in industries of this region.
  8. Political disturbances and terrorism: Political disturbances in the hilly regions of north-east India and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir have created a politically unstable environment unfavourable for setting up industries.
13. Discuss the locational advantages behind the development of the petrochemical industry at Haldia.
Ans. The petrochemical industry at Haldia is one of the most important petrochemical complexes in West Bengal as well as in eastern India. It is located in East Midnapore district of West Bengal at the confluence of the Hooghly and Haldi rivers. The locational advantages behind the development of the petrochemical industry at Haldia are discussed below-
  1. Close proximity to the oil refinery: The petrochemical complex at Haldia acquires its raw materials from the nearby Haldia oil refinery.
  2. Nearness to the Haldia port: The Haldia port plays a vital role in importing raw materials, crude oil and machineries and exporting the finished products.
  3. Capital investment: The petrochemical industry at a particular location favours the development of ancillary industries in its surrounding region. Thus, capital is easily available from government and non-government organisations.
  4. Cheap labour: The densely populated regions of West Bengal and its neighbouring states supply abundant cheap labour required in this industry.
  5. Advanced technology: Highly advanced and modern technologies have been implemented in the production process. This has led to the production of high quality goods which are of high demand in the market.
  6. Other factors: Availability of land at cheap rates, adequate power supply, high demand for the finished products and a huge market both within the country and in foreign countries have helped in the development of the petrochemical industry at Haldia.
14. Discuss the problems and prospects of the petrochemical industry in India.
Ans. The problems of the petrochemical industry in India are discussed below-
  1. The initial cost of setting up this industry is quite high for which large capital investments are essential. This hinders the growth and expansion of the petrochemical industry.
  2. The industry requires continuous implementation of advanced and modern technologies. In most cases, these technologies are bought from other countries which is quite expensive.
  3. The customs duty on petrochemical products are higher in India compared to other countries.
  4. Sharp rise in the price of crude oil in the global market has increased the cost of production of petrochemical products.
  5. The petrochemical products are not biodegradable. Hence, wastes generated by this industry are causing environmental pollution.
The prospects of the petrochemical industry in India are discussed below-
  1. About 600 different products are manufactured in the petrochemical industry, which are of high commercial value in the Indian market. Thus, there is a huge scope of selling these products.
  2. The problem of huge capital is being solved by collaborating with NRI investors and foreign organisations.
  3. The petrochemical industry leads to the growth of many ancillary industries, which in turn, have created job opportunities for a large section of the India population.

Short Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. Classify industries according to the source of raw materials used.
Ans. According to the source of raw materials used, industries can be classified into four categories which are as follows-
  1. Agro-based industries: These industries use agricultural products as raw materials. Example-Cotton textile industry which uses cotton as the raw material, jute textile industry which uses jute as the raw material and sugar industry which uses sugarcane as the raw material.
  2. Animal-based industries: These industries use animal products as raw materials. Example-Dairy industry, leather industry, meat and fish processing industries and fur industry.
  3. Forest-based industries: These industries use products obtained from forests as raw materials. Example-Paper industry, furniture industry and silk industry.
  4. Mineral-based industries: These industries use minerals as raw materials. Example-iron and steel industry, cement industry, aluminium industry.
2. Mention briefly three problems associated with cotton textile industry of India.
Ans. The three problems associated with cotton textile industry of India are as discussed below-
  1. Lack of long staple cotton: India does not grow adequate amount of long staple cotton, which is required for making the best quality cotton cloth. Hence, long staple cotton is imported from other countries, which increases the overall cost of production.
  2. Old and outdated machineries: The machineries used in most cotton textile industries in India are old and outdated. Thus, both quality and quantity of fabric manufactured are low, which in turn, increases the cost of production.
  3. Faulty management and labour disputes: Faulty management rules and labour disputes often lead to lockouts and strikes in the cotton textile mills. This hampers the process of production.
3. What are the prospects of cotton textile industry in India?
Ans. The cotton textile industry has a very bright prospect in India. The prospects are as follows-
  1. India is a highly populated country located in the hot tropical region. So the demand for cotton clothes will always be high.
  2. The neighbouring countries of India do not excel in cotton textile industry. Thus, they import cotton from India.
  3. The use of modern machineries and improved technology will help in producing better quality cotton fibre in a short span of time. This may ultimately help in reducing the cost of production and finally the price of the finished goods.
4. Why is Mumbai called the ‘Cottonopolis of India’?
Ans. The cotton textile industry was initiated in India in the year 1851, by the establishment of the Bombay Spinning and Weaving Company Limited. Raw cotton cultivated in the black soil of the Deccan trap region, export-import of cotton through the Mumbai port, the Mumbai-Thane. railway line providing good transport network, high global demand of cotton, cheap skilled labourers are some important factors which have facilitated the growth of cotton textile mills in and around Mumbai. About 92 cotton textile mills were established by 1914. Presently, there are 57 running cotton textile mills in Mumbai. 30% of the total handlooms and 20% of the total spindles of the country are found here. So for all the above-mentioned reasons Mumbai is called the ‘Cottonopolis of India’.
5. Why is the iron and steel industry important for India’s economy?
Ans. The iron and steel industry is known as the ‘backbone of all industries’. It is important for India’s economy due to the following reasons-
  1. India being a highly populated country, there is a great demand for iron and steel for construction of houses, railway tracks, bridges, motor vehicles, agricultural equipments, household goods and machineries for other industries. This huge demand for iron and steel makes it very important for India’s economy.
  2. Being a large-scale industry, the iron and steel industry provide direct as well as indirect employment to a huge section of the population.
  3. The finished products of the iron and steel industry help in earning a substantial amount of foreign currency which in turn, is beneficial for the country’s economy.
6. Mention the favourable conditions required for the development of iron and steel industry.
Ans. The favourable conditions required for the development of iron and steel industry are as follows-1. Availability of raw materials like iron ore, coal and minerals such as limestone, dolomite, manganese etc. So iron and steel plants usually grow in the vicinity of mineral mines. 2. Availability of huge amount of water. A site located near a water body which is also close to a mine is ideal for an iron and steel plant. 3. Continuous supply of power from a nearby power station is favourable for iron and steel plants. 4. Availability of abundant cheap and skilled labourers from local region is also required. 5. Well-built transport system for easy import and export of goods also help in the development of iron and steel industry.
7. Why is Durgapur called the ‘Ruhr of India’?
Ans. Ruhr is a small tributary of the famous Rhine river in Germany. The Ruhr river valley has a huge coal reserve which was led to the development of large-scale iron and steel industry, heavy engineering industry and chemical industry in this region. This region is called the Ruhr industrial region.
Similarly, in India, the Damodar river valley has huge deposits of coal which has led to the development of iron and steel industries, heavy engineering industries, chemical fertilizer industries centering around the coal mines in Durgapur, Raniganj and Andal. Thus, Durgapur is called the ‘Ruhr of India’.
8. What are the factors responsible for the growth of heavy engineering industries?
Ans. The factors responsible for the growth of heavy engineering industries are as follows- 1. Iron and steel is an important raw material required for most heavy engineering industries. Thus, these industries grow near the iron and steel plants. 2. Heavy engineering industries can also grow in regions with cheap and efficient transport systems. This facilitates acquisition of raw materials and distribution of the finished products to different parts of the country. 3. These type of industries grow in regions where power resources are easily available. 4. The heavy engineering industries also grow in regions where advanced technologies can be easily implemented. 5. Growth of heavy engineering industries also depend on the presence of suitable market for the finished goods.
9. What do you mean by the petrochemical industry?
Ans. The type of industry which uses the by- products obtained obtained during refining crude petroleum and natural gas to manufacture different compounds is called the petrochemical industry. The important raw materials of this industry are-naphtha, propane, butane, ethane, methane, hexane, pentane, benzol, butadiene, ethanol, propylene etc. The finished products of this industry are-synthetic fibres (polyester, nylon), plastics, paints, synthetic rubber, pesticides, gums, medicines, perfumes etc. Several subsidiary or downstream industries have developed depending on the products and by-products of the petrochemical industry. Thus, the petrochemical industry nowadays is also called the ‘giant industry of the modern world’.
10. Explain briefly about three reasons for the development of petrochemical industry in western India.
Ans. Three reasons behind the development of petrochemical industries in India are as follows-
  1. Availability of raw materials: Crude oil is extracted from oilfields at Mumbai High in Maharashtra and Cambay-Ahmedabad region in Gujarat. This crude oil is then sent to the refineries located at Trombay, Koyali and Jamnagar. The primary and secondary by-products obtained during the refining process form the major raw materials of the petrochemical industry.
  2. Proximity to ports: Presence of large ports with modern amenities (like Mumbai port, Kandla port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port) in this region help in importing raw materials and machineries required for this industry and also exporting the finished products.
  3. High demand: Many ancillary industries have sprung up in this region which has led to high demand for the finished goods of the petrochemical industry.
11. Briefly discuss the role of transport in the development of an industry?
Ans. Transport is an important factor behind the development of an industry. Cheap and efficient transport system is essential for bringing in raw materials, machineries, instruments, power resources and labourers. Well-connected transport is also needed for the distribution and sale of the finished products throughout the country. A well developed transport system helps the industries to grow at locations that results in minimum cost of production such as near the source of raw materials, near the market or at a location intermediate between the source of raw materials and market.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you mean by ‘industry’?
Ans. ‘Industry’ is the collective term for the activities involved in the conversion of forest-based, agro-based and mineral-based raw materials into consumable commodities. For example-Cotton textile industry manufactures cotton fabric from raw cotton, iron and steel industry produces iron and steel goods from iron ore.
2. What are pure raw materials?
Ans. The raw materials which do not lose weight during their processing into finished products are called pure raw materials. Example-1 metric tonne of raw cotton produces 1 metric tonne of cotton thread, which in turn, produces 1 metric tonne of fabric.
3. What are impure raw materials?
Ans. The raw materials which lose weight during their processing into finished products are called impure raw materials. Iron ore, bauxite, copper ore, sugarcane are some examples of impure raw materials. Example-In order to produce 1 tonne of pig iron, the amount of materials required are, 1.7 tonnes of iron ore, 1 tonne of coal, 0.5 tonne of limestone and dolomite and other materials totalling to an amount of 5 tonnes of raw materials.
4. What do you mean by basic industry?
Ans. The industries on which the development of other industries depend or those industries whose output is used by other industries are called basic industries. Example-Finished products from the iron and steel industries. are used in engineering industries. So iron and steel industry is an example of basic industry.
5. What are ancillary industries? 
Ans. When the finished product of one industry is used as a raw material for some other industries, the first one is known as the basic industry and the industries dependent on the basic industry are called ancillary industries. Example-The petrochemical industry at Haldia is a basic industry and the industries which are dependent on this petrochemical industry for the raw materials are the ancillary industries.
6. Why is cotton textile industry known as a ‘footloose industry’?
Ans. The main raw material of cotton textile industry is raw cotton which is a pure raw material. It means that equal amount of (1 tonne) raw cotton produces equal amount of (1 tonne) cotton thread which in turn, produces equal amount of (1 tonne) cotton fabric. Thus, cotton textile industries can be established either close to the source of the of raw material, or near to the market or in any intermediate region. It means that cotton textile industries do not show any particular affinity for growing up in a certain location. Thus, the cotton textile industry is called a ‘footloose industry’.
7. State any two cotton textile industrial centres of West Bengal.
Ans. Two cotton textile industrial centres of West Bengal are-1. Serampore and 2. Shyamnagar.
8. Name two agro-based and two mineral-based industries of India.
Ans. Agro-based industries: Sugar industry and cotton textile industry.
Mineral-based industries: Iron-steel industry and cement industry.
9. Name the raw materials which are required in the iron and steel industry.
Ans. The important raw materials required in the iron and steel industry are iron ore, scrap iron, sponge iron, coal, oxygen and limestone. Apart from these, dolomite, manganese, chromium, nickel, tungsten and virvanadium are also needed along with ample supply of clean water.
10. Why is manganese required as a raw material in the iron and steel industry?
Ans. Manganese is required as a raw material in the iron and steel industry to produce better quality steel called ferro-manganese. This type of steel is very hard, durable and resistant towards rusting and corrosion. Ferro-manganese steel can also withstand very high temperature.
11. Name two large-scale iron and steel plants of India.
Ans. Two large-scale iron and steel plants of India are-1. Bhilai Steel Plant in Chhattisgarh and 2. Bokaro Steel Plant, Jharkhand.
12. In which places of India did iron and steel plants develop under the Five-Year Plan?
Ans. The iron and steel plants which have grown in India under the Five-Year Plan are- 1. Durgapur, West Bengal; 2. Rourkela, Odisha; 3. Bhilai, Chhattisgarh; 4. Bokaro, Jharkhand; 5. Vijaynagar, Karnataka; 6. Salem, Tamil Nadu; 7. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
13. Name four important iron and steel plants of India.
Ans. The four important iron and steel plants of India are-1. Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, 2. Bokaro, Jharkhand, 3. Durgapur, West Bengal and 4. Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
14. Write a short note on TISCO. 
Ans. TISCO stands for Tata Iron and Steel Company. It was founded by eminent industrialist Jamsetji Tata in the year 1907. This iron and steel plant is located in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand at the confluence of two rivers-Subarnarekha and Kharkai. This is the largest private iron and steel plant in India.
15. Why is the iron and steel industry called the ‘backbone of all industries’?
Ans. Almost all the industries are either directly or indirectly dependent on iron and steel plants. Iron and steel are required to manufacture instruments, equipments and machineries which are used in other industries. It is also required to set up the basic framework of different industries. So progress in the iron and steel industry will have a positive impact on other industries as well. Thus, iron and steel industry is called the ‘backbone of all industries’.
16. Name two iron and steel plants, one of which has developed centering a coal mine and the other near a sea port.
Ans. An iron and steel plant which has developed centering around a coal mine is Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO), Burnpur. An iron and steel industry which has developed near a sea port is Rastriya Ispat Nigam Limited or Vizag Steel, Visakhapatnam.
17. Write a short note on alloy steel industry.
Ans. The industry which is involved in the manufacture of different types of steel by forming iron alloys using one or more than one kind of metal is called alloy steel industry. Steel produced in such a way is strong, hard, durable, resistant towards rust and corrosion and can withstand high temperature and pressure. There are three large-scale alloy steel plants in India- 1. Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant, Karnataka. 2. Durgapur Alloy Steel Plant, West Bengal, 3. Salem Iron and Steel Plant, Tamil Nadu.
18. Name two iron and steel industrial centres of India-one under public sector and one under private sector. 
Ans. An iron and steel industrial centre of India under public sector is the Bhilai Steel Plant in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh under the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). An iron and steel industrial centre of India under private sector is Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
19. What is SAIL?
Ans. SAIL stands for Steel Authority of India Limited. It is a government enterprise that coordinates and controls the different iron and steel plants established by the initiative of the Indian government. The large-scale iron and steel plants under this organisation are-Bhilai, Durgapur, Burnpur-Kulti, Rourkela and Bokaro. The alloy steel plants under this organisation are-Durgapur, Bhadravati and Salem. The headquarters of SAIL is in New Delhi.
20. What do you mean by an industrial region?
Ans. An industrial region is such a geographical region where several industries have developed simultaneously due to favourable physical, economic and cultural factors. Availability of raw materials, market, demand, cheap labour supply are some factors due to which there is aggregation of industries in a particular location. Agricultural activities are seldom observed in such regions. Example- Hooghly industrial region in West Bengal.
21. What do you mean by mini steel plants?
Ans. Steel plants are usually of two types-integrated steel plants and mini steel plants. The steel plants that have a manufacturing capacity of less than 10 lakh tonness annually and manufacture steel from scrap and sponge iron with the help of electric are furnace are known as mini steel plants. Presently, there are about 650 mini steel plants in India. Some of them are- 1. National Iron and Steel Company, West Bengal; 2. Andhra Steel Corporation Limited, Andhra Pradesh and 3. Mukand Limited, Maharashtra.
22. Name two railway engine and one automobile manufacturing industries in India.
Ans. Railway engine manufacturing industry in India is at Chittaranjan in West Bengal and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Automobile manufacturing industry in India is at Gurgaon in Haryana.
23. What are the major manufactured products of petrochemical industry? 
Ans. The major manufactured products of petrochemical industry are-synthetic fibres (such as polyester, nylon), plastic, artificial rubber, gum, paints, pesticides and perfumes.
24. Name one petrochemical industry each in eastern and western India.
Ans. One petrochemical industry in eastern India is at Haldia, West Bengal (Haldia Petrochemicals Limited) and one in western India is at Vadodara, Gujarat (Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited).
25. Write a short note on light engineering industry.
Ans. The engineering industries which manufacture small machine parts for other industries and also manufacture small electronic devices are called light engineering industries. Camera, radio, television, watch, typewriter, calculator, fan are the finished products of this type of industry.
26. Name one petrochemical industry each in northern and southern India.
Ans. One petrochemical industry in northern India is at Panipat, Haryana (Panipat Petrochemical Plant) and one in southern India is at Mangalore, Karnataka (Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited).
27. Name one automobile industry each in northern and southern India.
Ans. One automobile industry in northern India is at Gurgaon, Haryana (Maruti Suzuki India Limited) and one in southern India is at Chennai, Tamil Nadu (Ford India Private Limited).
28. Write a short note on petrochemical industrial complex.
Ans. During the process of refining petroleum, a number of by-products are obtained such as, propane, butane, ethane, methane, benzol, ethanol, propylene, butadiene etc. Many industries therefore grow in the vicinity of the petroleum refinery which use these by-products as their raw materials. Thus this conglomerate of industries collectively form the petrochemical industrial complex.
29. Why is the petrochemical industry regarded as the ‘giant industry of the modern world’?
Ans. A number of by-products are obtained when crude petroleum is refined. This has led to the development of many ancillary industries near these refineries that are dependent on the by-products. These ancillary industries use these by-products as raw materials. So the petrochemical industry is responsible for the functioning of many other allied industries. Thus, it is regarded as the ‘giant industry of the modern world’.
30. What do you mean by the information and technology industry?
Ans. The industry which is involved in the collection, recovery, modification, improvement, analysis and storage of data for commercial purposes with the help of computer and telecommunication service is called the information and technology industry. This industry deals with the exchange of data digitally through electronic media. Proper infrastructure and production units are required for this type of industry such as, computer hardware, software, semiconductor, internet, telecommunication devices, e-commerce etc.
31. Write a short note on heavy engineering industry.
Ans. The industries which manufacture heavy machineries, bulky instruments and equipments needed for agriculture, mining, dredging, lifting etc. and automobiles, locomotive coaches and such other large appliances are called heavy engineering industries. Example- Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, West Bengal.
32. Why do most of the petrochemical industrial centres grow in proximity to ports in India?
Ans. India is not fully capable of extracting crude oil in such a quantity that it meets the demand of huge population of India. Every year, about 83% of the total amount of petroleum required is imported from other countries. The petrochemical industrial centres including the refineries have grown in proximity to the ports in order to save the cost in transporting crude petroleum to the refineries (from oil tankers that bring petroleum to our country from foreign lands) and sending the finished products to the port for exporting.
33. What is meant by engineering industry?
Ans. The industries which mainly use different metals as raw materials, specially iron and steel to manufacture various instruments, machineries and appliances are called engineering industries. Engineering industries can be of two types-1. Heavy engineering industries (like automobile industry) and 2. Light engineering industries (like wrist watch industry).
34. Why is the petrochemical industry known as the ‘sunrise industry’?
Ans. The importance of petrochemical industry is growing day-by-day as both the refined petroleum (the major finished product) and other by-products of this industry have immense use in our lives. The by-products are extensively used as raw materials in other industries. So, the petrochemical industry helps in the development of several other industries and itself is emerging as a fast-progressing industry. Thus, it is known as the ‘sunrise industry’.

Multiple Choice Type Questions [MCQ type]

Write the correct answer from the given alternatives

1. The largest cotton textile industry in south India is located in-
A. Madurai
B. Chennai
C. Coimbatore
D. Bengaluru
Ans. C
2. Which of the following cities is famous for its cotton textile industries?
A. Jamshedpur
B. Visakhapatnam
C. Ahmedabad
D. Kolkata
Ans. C
3. The first cotton mill of India was established at-
A. Maharashtra
B. West Bengal
C.  Gujarat
D. Tamil Nadu
Ans. B
4. The first cotton mill of West Bengal was established at-
A. Serampore
B. Dumdum
C.  Ghusuri
D. Chandannagar
Ans. C
5. In which region of India do we find the maximum number of cotton textile industries?
A. Northern region
B. Southern region
C. Eastern region
D. Western region
Ans. D
6. Which of the following cities in India is known as the ‘Manchester of India’?
A. Mumbai
B. Bhavnagar
C. Ahmedabad
D. Pune
Ans. C
7. The city which is known as the ‘Manchester of South India’ is-
A. Chennai
B. Bengaluru
C. Coimbatore
D. Kochi
Ans. C
8. Which of the following is an alloy?
A. Iron
B. Manganese
C. Steel
D. Aluminium
Ans. C
9. A large-scale iron and steel plant is located at-
A. Ranchi
B. Bhilai
C. Bastar
D. Mysore
Ans. B
10. An important raw material of the iron and steel industry is-
A. Hematite
B. Limonite
C. Bauxite
D. Chalcopyrite
Ans. A
11. Which steel plant was established after India attained independence?
A. Durgapur
B. Jamshedpur
C. Bhadravati
D. Burnpur
Ans. A
12. The iron and steel plant of Jamshedpur was established in the year-
A. 1905
B. 1907
C. 1912
D. 1915
Ans. B
13. The government sponsored sponge iron plant is located at-
A. Kothagudem, Telangana
B. Durgapur, West Bengal
C. Bokaro, Jharkhand
D. Daitari, Odisha
Ans. A
14. TISCO is located at-
A. Bhilai
B. Rourkela
C. Burnpur
D. Jamshedpur
Ans. D
15. In which of the following places has the iron and steel plant developed near a coal mine?
A. Rourkela
B. Bhilai
C. Durgapur
D. Bhadravati
Ans. C
16. In India, the maximum amount of iron and steel is manufactured in-
A. Jamshedpur
B. Bhilai
C. Rourkela
D. Visakhapatnam
Ans. B
17. Which of the following is called the ‘Ruhr of India’?
A. Durgapur
B. Jamshedpur
C. Raniganj
D. Bokaro
Ans. A
18. SAIL is an important-
A. Coal mine
B. Petroleum refinery
C. Iron and steel plant
D. Cotton textile mill
Ans. C
19. Asia’s third largest steel plant is located at-
A. Jamshedpur
B. Durgapur
C. Bhilai
D. Rourkela
Ans. C
20. The first iron and steel plant which was founded in the coastal region of India is located at-
A. Paradeep
B. Visakhapatnam
C. Chennai
D. Kochi
Ans. B

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Fill in the blanks with suitable words

1. Cotton is best cultivated in ……… climate.
Ans. Humid
2. ……….. is a leading state in case of cotton textile industry in India.
Ans. Gujarat
3. ………. is known as the ‘Manchester of North India’.
Ans. Kanpur
4. ………. is an example of pure raw material.
Ans. Cotton
5. Dairy industry is an ………. industry.
Ans. Animal-based
6. Paper industry and furniture industry are examples of ……….. industry.
Ans. Forest-based
7. A steel plant is located at ……….. in Tamil Nadu.
Ans. Salem
8. Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant is located at ……….
Ans. Bhadravati
9. An iron and steel plant of Odisha is located at …………
Ans. Rourkela
10. ………… is used to make steel more hard.
Ans. Manganese
11. Dolomite for the iron and steel plants in the Burnpur-Kulti region is sourced from ……….
Ans. Gangpur
12. The iron and steel plant of Jamshedpur is located at the confluence of the rivers Subarnarekha and ………..
Ans. Kharkai
13. The largest concentration of iron and steel plants is seen in the ……….. region of India.
Ans. Eastern
14. The steel plant in Rourkela lies on the banks of the river ………..
Ans. Brahmani
15. The iron and steel plant at ………. was built in collaboration with erstwhile Soviet Russia.
Ans. Bokaro
16. An important raw material of the petrochemical industry is ……….
Ans. Naphtha
17. Maruti Suzuki India Limited is an automobile manufacturing company located at ……… in India.
Ans. Gurgaon

Answer in one or two words

1. Give an example of a pure raw material.
Ans. Cotton.
2. Write the names of some important cotton textiles mills of India.
Ans. Ahmedabad, Surat (Gujarat); Mumbai, Nagpur (Maharashtra).
3. From which reservoir does the steel plant at Bhilai draw its water?
Ans. Tandula.
4. Which industry is known as the ‘backbone of all industries’?
Ans. Iron and steel industry.
5. What is the full form of SEZ?
Ans. Special Economic Zone.
6. From where is the iron ore sourced for the iron and steel plant at Bhadravati?
Ans. Bababudan Hills in Karnataka.
7. Where is the headquarters of SAIL located?
Ans. New Delhi.
8. Name the oldest iron and steel plant of India.
Ans. Kulti in Burdwan, West Bengal.
9. Give an example of an impure raw material.
Ans. Iron ore.
10. Name some of the raw materials of the petrochemical industry.
Ans. Naphtha, propane, ethane.
11. Name a petrochemical plant located in western India.
Ans. Vadodara.
12. Where has petrochemical industry grown in Haryana?
Ans. Panipat.
13. Where is the real Silicon Valley located?
Ans. Santa Clara Valley in the United States of America.
14. Name two cities of India where information and technology industry has thrived.
Ans. Bengaluru and Chennai.
15. Name some heavy engineering industries of India.
Ans. Automobiles, railway engines, large machineries, generators.
16. Name some light engineering industries of India.
Ans. Wrist watch, sewing machine, home appliances manufacturing industry.
17. Name some important raw materials of the automobile manufacturing industry.
Ans. Steel, glass, paints, plastic.
18. Name some electrical engineering industries.
Ans. Refrigerator, fan, air conditioner.
19. Where has the major IT industrial park been set up in West Bengal?
Ans. Bidhan Nagar (Salt Lake) in Kolkata.

TOPIC – 3

Population of India

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Why distribution of population density not equal all over India?
OR, Discuss the reasons of uneven distribution of population of different regions in India. 
OR, Discuss the geographical causes of unequal distribution of population density in India.
Ans. The distribution of population density is not equal throughout the India. In some regions there is a very high concentration of people while in some regions it is sparse. The main causes of this uneven distribution of population density in India are-
1. Physical causes
  1. Topography: The mountainous regions of India in the north, north-east and in the southern states have very rugged and rough topography. These areas have less population. On the other hand, the Northern Plains and the Coastal Plains have gentle topography that support agriculture, industrial development, and other economic activities. These areas have high density of population.
  2. Climate: India broadly enjoys tropical monsoon climate. Climatic conditions over the Northern Plains, coastal regions and the Peninsular Plateau is moderate and suitable for living. These areas have high population densities. On the other hand, dry and harsh climate in the Kutch region of Gujarat, desert region of Rajasthan and the severe cold climate in the Himalayan mountainous region repel population concentration.
  3. Rivers: High concentrations of population are found in the river valleys of the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra in the north and the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, etc., in the south. This is because the rivers provide water for drinking, irrigation, navigation, pisciculture, hydroelectric power generation, etc. They also help to spread fertile alluvial soil for agriculture.
  4. Soil: The regions having rich fertile soils densely populatd than the infertile regions. E.g. Alluvial soil of the river valleys and the rich black soil of the Deccan plateau region attract huge concentrations of population for agriculture.
  5. Forests: Presence of dense forests in the foothills of the Himalayas and the western slope of the Western Ghats lead to a low density of population in these regions.
  6. Mineral resources: Presence of mineral resources lead to the development of industries and provide employment to a huge population. Hence, the presence of huge reserves of mineral resources in the Chota Nagpur region and other adjoining regions have a huge density of population.
2. Economic causes
  1. Transport and communication: The plains of northern India are suitable for the construction of roadways, railways and other means of transport. Thus, these regions are highly populated. Transport system has a remarkable impact upon population movement and distribution.
  2. Industries: Development of industries provide employment to a huge number of people. Hence, the industrial areas like Durgapur, Asansol, Jamshedpur, etc., are densely populated.
3. Others: Population may concentrate in some regions for certain special reasons. E.g.
  1. Tourism: Darjeeling, Srinagar
  2. Medical treatment: Vellore, Chennai
  3. Historical places: Lucknow, Agra, Delhi, Mahabalipuram
  4. Education: Shantiniketan, Nalanda, Aligarh
  5. Religious centres: Ajmer, Varanasi, Puri
  6. Military bases: Gwalior
  7. Administrative centres: Delhi, Kolkata
  8. Temporary Migration: Kolkata, Delhi, Joshimath
  9. Communication centres: Nagpur
2. Describe the different regions of India according to the distribution ofpopulation.
Ans. The distribution of population in India is influenced by topography, rivers, soil, climate, etc. of the different parts of the country. According to the distribution of population, India can be classified into four regions-
  1. The riverine plains of north India: The Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains of north India is the most populated region of India. The causes of high concentrations of population in this region are-gentle topography, rich fertile alluvial soil, perennial rivers, sufficient rainfall, moderate tempera- ture, etc. These help in the development of agriculture, industries, and cause urbanisation. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal lie in this region.
  2. The eastern and western coastal plains: The coastal plains along the eastern and western margins of the Indian peninsula is the second most highly populated region of India. This is due to the presence of fertile soil, agricultural and industrial development, trade and commerce, development of transport facilities, etc. The Eastern Coastal Plains are gentler and wider than the Western Coastal Plains. Density of population is higher in the Eastern Coastal Plains than the Western Coastal Plains. Many ports like Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi have been built in this region.
  3. Deccan plateau region: This region is mainly rich in mineral resources. But some ports are highly suitable for agriculture as well due to presence of fertile black soil. Medium density of population is found in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
  4. Mountainous, desert and forest regions: The Himalayan mountainous region, the eastern mountainous region, Meghalaya plateau, Marusthali of Rajasthan, forest regions of Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Odisha have very less density of population. Rugged terrain, infertile soil, very less rainfall, presence of forest, absence of vegetation in these regions make them less densely populated. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and the states of north- east India fall under this category.
3. Discuss the various favourable conditions that lead to the gradual development of towns and cities.
Or, Discuss the causes of Urbanisation in India.
Ans. The favourable conditions that gradually lead to the formation of towns and cities are-
  1. Administrative centres: If a place is found suitable for administrative works, several educational, business and trade and other service centres develop around it. This leads to development of roads, buildings and concentration of population. Thus a town is formed, which may grow into a big city. E.g. Chandigarh, Bhopal, Gandhinagar, etc.
  2. Mineral resources: Availability of mineral resources in certain regions attract population due to provision of employment in the mines and industries and related sectors. These centres gradually grow into large towns and cities. E.g. Asansol, Dhanbad, etc.
  3. Industrial centres: The regions where industries have developed, attract population due to availability of employment. E.g. Jamshedpur, Bhilai, etc.
  4. Business centres: The places where consumer goods are accumulated for business and trade, develop as business centres. The buyers and sellers gather in the same place leading to huge concentration of population. E.g. Hisar in Haryana, Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, etc.
  5. Communication centres: The places where the different modes of transport and communication are available, which help to develop big towns and cities as there is a large accumulation of population. E.g. Siliguri, Kharagpur, etc.
  6. Pilgrimage centres: Pilgrimage centres like Haridwar, Varanasi, Gaya, Mathura and Brindavan have gradually developed into large towns and cities.
  7. Educational and cultural centres: Places like Shantiniketan, Aligarh, Varanasi have emerged as educational and cultural centres and have grown into big cities.
  8. Historical places: Concentration of high population in the historical places lead to the development of towns and cities in those regions. E.g. Agra, Murshidabad, etc.
  9. Tourist spots: The scenic beauty and marvellous landscapes of some regions lead them to develop into attractive tourist spots. Thus they grow into towns and cities. E.g. Darjeeling, Digha, etc.
  10. Military centres: Some military centres have grown into towns and cities. E.g. Meerut, Barrackpore, etc.
  11. Ports: Towns and cities have developed around important ports. E.g. Paradweep, Haldia, etc.
  12. Junction of mountainous and plain lands: Places like Haridwar has developed as a town due to its physical location at the junction of the mountainous and plain lands.
    In a nutshell, it can be said that in the long run a combination of numerous factors lead to the formation of a town or a city.
4. What are the problems of  urbanisation in India?
Ans. Urbanisation is the process of conversion of rural regions into urban regions like towns and cities. The various problems of urbanisation in India are-
  1. Unplanned urbanisation: The rapid increase in the population of India has led to rapid and unplanned urbanisation. Agricultural fields, forest lands and fallow lands have been quickly converted into urban regions. Unplanned growth of towns lead to construction of narrow streets, poor drainage systems, scarcity of drinking water and unhealthy conditions of living.
  2. Preference of people to move from rural to urban centres: The smooth and luxurious lifestyle of towns and cities attract a huge population from rural areas to come and settle in urban areas. A huge number of rural people flow towards urban centres due to attraction of employment, high standards of living and a fascinating lifestyle. Thus towns and cities develop.
  3. Lack of space: Inflow of population in urban centres result in lack of space for proper accommodation. Thus slums develop adjacent to railway lines, canal sides and along busy roads. E.g. Problems of slums are predominant in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata.
  4. Traffic problems: Unplanned growth of towns lead to formation of narrow streets and shortage of footpaths. This leads to traffic congestions and frequent jams on the roads of towns and cities.
  5. Degradation of the environment: Development of towns and cities lead to industrialisation and excessive use of motor vehicles. This leads to high levels of pollution and spread of diseases due to disposal of wastes in canals, fields and in street corners.
  6. Lack of proper education medical and other facilities: Due to urbanisation there is an overcrowding occurring in the educational institution and hospitals, which affects the quality of education and health together.
  7. Power supply: Unplanned development of towns lead to unplanned use of power resources, which lead to a disbalance between production and demand for power supply in a town or city.
  8. Drainage problems: Unplanned urbanisation leads to drainage problems in towns and cities. Disposal of wastes and plastics in drainage canals lead to blockages and water logging in towns and cities even after a little rain. Also, the rapid growth of insects and pests in the drainage lines result in occurrence of diseases and health hazards.

Short Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. What are the causes of increase in population of India?
OR, Discuss the causes leading to rapid increase of population in India.
Ans. The population of India has increased rapidly over the last few decades. The causes for this increase of population are-
  1. High birth rate: Birth rate in India is very high. In 2011, birth rate in India was 21.8 people per 1000 persons. Lack of education and consciousness, poverty, superstitions, religious beliefs, child marriage, etc., are responsible for this.
  2. Low death rate: In the last few decades, death rates have minimised considerably due to major development in medical facilities and general health of people. Also, development of transport and communication systems played a crucial role in this context. These facilitates in reaching the places affected by flood, drought or natural disasters as well as helped in providing relief and rescue the casualties. In 2011, death rate in India was only 7.1 persons per 1000 persons.In
  3. Immigration: The rapid migration of refuges from the neighbouring countries, especially after the partition of the country, has increased the total population of India rapidly all of a sudden.
  4. Economic development: The increase in the production of agricultural and industrial goods over the last few decades helped to improve the economic conditions of the people. Thus total population has increased considerably.
  5. Science and technology: Advancement in science and technology has made an overall improvement in the conditions of living. Moreover, forecast of disasters and climatic hazards before hand has made it possible to become alert and take necessary steps to save life and property. These also contribute to increase the total population.
2. Why does Himachal Pradesh lie in the category of low population density zone?
Ans. Himachal Pradesh is a state in India with a low population density. According to the 2011 Census, the total population of the state was only 68,56,509 people and population density was only 123 persons per sq.km. The causes for low density of population in this state are listed below-
  1. Rugged topography: The topography or landform of Himachal Pradesh is mostly rugged and hilly. This indicates a lack of availability of agricultural land and also difficulty for people to build houses in the region.
  2. Infertile soil: The land being rugged and hilly, the soil is immature and not so fertile. This soil is not suitable for good agriculture.
  3. Climate: The climate of Himachal Pradesh is generally cold, with chilling and harsh winters. This is not a suitable climate for settlement of a large population.
  4. Lack of raw materials for industries: Lack of mineral resources as raw materials for industries have left the place with very low growth of industries.
  5. Lack of power resources: Lack of power resources has hindered the growth of mineral as well as agro-based industries.
  6. Poor transport and communication system: Poor transport and communication system also keep the state devoid of high population concentrations.
3. Discuss the trend in increase of population in India.
Ans. India is the second most populated country of the world. Rate of increase in population of India was quite low in the pre- independence period, but it started rising rapidly in the post-independence period. The total population increased from 23.84 crore in 1901 to about 36.11 crore in 1951. That means, the total increase in population of India in the first half of the 20th century was 12.27 crore. The rate of increase in population or the growth rate of population was quite low during this time, the lowest being -0.31% (1911-1921) and the highest being 14.22% (1931-1941). In the second half of the 20th century, population increased from 36.11 crore in 1951 to 102.9 crore in 2001. The total increase in population was 66.79 crore. The growth rate of population was also very high during this period, the lowest being 21.64% (1951-1961) and the highest being 24.79% (1961-1971). Between 2001-2011, the population of India increased by 18.15 crore and counted to 121.02 crore in total. The rate of increase in population was 17.64%. As a matter of fact, the increase in population of India between 1991 and 2001, is higher than the total population of the neighbouring country of Pakistan (world’s 7th largest populated country). This shows very clearly that the total population of India is increasing very rapidly decade by decade.
4. What are the causes of high density of population in India?
Ans. India is the second most populated country of the world (after China). According to the census of 2011, the total population of India is about 121 crore 2 lakh. Population density is 382 people per sq.km. The causes of high density of population in India are-
  1. Presence of plain lands: The northern plains and coastal plains of India are suitable for agriculture, transport, industrialisation, etc. Hence, these areas encourage high density of population as compared to mountain region.
  2. Climate: Most of the regions of India are influenced by tropical monsoon climate. The hot and humid weather over the plains is suitable for agriculture, industrialisation and other economic activities. Hence, high density of population are seen here.
  3. Fertile soil: The plain lands of India are mostly formed by deposition of fertile alluvial soil brought down by numerous rivers. It helps in development of agriculture and supports higher population density.
  4. Availability of water: The rivers of India supply water for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, pisciculture, water transport, etc. Hence, the river valleys are densely populated.
  5. Economic causes: The regions which are rich in mineral resources promote the growth of industries and provide employment to a huge number of people. Hence, these areas also are highly populated.
5. Discuss the main characteristics of population distribution in India according to the Census of 2011.
Ans. The main characteristics of population distribution in India according to the 2011 Census are-
  1. Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state of the country. (19 crore 96 lakh people)
  2. Sikkim is the least populated state of the country. (6 lakh 8 thousand people)
  3. Population of the national capital of Delhi is 1 crore 68 lakh and that of the Union Territory of Puducherry is 12 lakh 44 thousand.
  4. West Bengal is the fourth most populated state. (9 crore 13 lakh people)
  5. About 1/3rd of the Indian population lived in the fertile Northern Plains or the Gangetic Plains. This area is about 1/9th of the total area of the country.
  6. The desert region of Rajasthan and the mountainous regions of the Himalayas are the regions of very scanty population.
  7. 31.2% of the total population of India reside in urban areas while about 68.8% reside in rural areas.
6. Discuss the main characteristics of the density of population of India according to the census of 2011.
Ans. The main characteristics of the density of population of India according to the Census of 2011 are-
  1. Population density of India in the year 2011 was 382 people per sq.km.
  2. Bihar is the most densely populated state of India (1,102 persons per sq.km).
  3. Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest density of population (17 person per sq.km)
  4. Amongst the Union Territories, the highest density of population is noticed in Delhi (11,297 persons per sq.km). Chandigarh has a population density of 9,252 persons per sq.km. The lowest density of population is noticed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (46 persons per sq.km).
7. Why does Arunachal Pradesh have the lowest density of population in India?
Ans. Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest density of population amongst all the states and Union Territories of India. The reasons for this low density of population in this region are-
  1. Topography: The general topography of Arunachal Pradesh is rugged and mountainous. It is difficult to carry out any economic activity over here.
  2. Infertile soil: The mountainous and sloping land has immature and less fertile soil, which is not suitable for agriculture.
  3. Climate: Climate here is both cold in the higher altitudes and humid in the lower altitudes with very cold winters. Such conditions are not suitable for economic activities and living.
  4. Dense forests: The hill slopes of this region are covered with dense forests, which are filled with wild animals. This is not suitable condition for dense population.
  5. Raw materials for industries: Industries have not developed here due to lack of both minerals and agricultural raw materials. Few small scale and cottage industries can be seen here.
  6. Power resources: Non-availability of power resources have also hindered the growth of large industries in this region.
  7. Transport and communication: Transport and communication system is not developed in this region due to the rugged terrain. Hence, development of economic activities is hindered, which in turn fails to attract a large population.
8. ‘The Himalayan mountainous region of India is sparsely populated’-State the geographical reasons for this.
Ans. The Himalayan mountainous region has very low or sparse population. Here the average density of population is around 100 people per sq.km. The causes of such sparse population in the region are-
  1. Rugged topography: The whole region is mountainous and have rugged topography. It is difficult to carry out any economic activity over here.
  2. Infertile soil: The region has mountain soil which is less fertile and not quite suitable for agriculture.
  3. Harsh climate: The Himalayan region experiences cold weather all through the year and very harsh winters. Such climate is not suitable for the settlement of population.
  4. Dense forests: About 90% of the Himalayan region, especially the sloping lands are covered with dense forests, which have influenced the population densities in these areas.
  5. Transport and communication systems: The rugged terrain and harsh cold climate prevented the development of good transport and communication system. Most of the forest regions are inaccessible. Hence, density of population has remained low.
  6. Lack of raw materials: The Himalayan region lacks mineral resources that can be used as raw materials in industries. Whatever minerals are found here, is difficult to be excavated due to rugged terrain. Lack of agriculture results in lack of agro-based industries. The forest-based raw materials are also difficult to be utilised. Hence, there is a lack of industrial development in this region.
  7. Lack of power resources: Lack of power resources also hinder the development of industries. All these together hinder the settlement of huge population in this region.
9. Why is the Gangetic Plains of India highly populated?
Ans. The Gangetic Plains or the Northern Plains of India is the highest populated region of the country. Average population density here is more than 500 people per sq.km. The causes for the high concentration of population in this region are-
  1. Plain land: The topography of the region is a plain land with almost no ruggedness. This is suitable for agriculture, industrialisation, development of transport and communication and other economic activities.
  2. Climate: The moderate temperature and rainfall of the Gangetic Plains are highly suitable for agriculture in the region. This also provides suitable conditions of living.
  3. Soil: The Northern Plains is covered with rich fertile alluvial soil brought down by the Ganga and its tributaries. This soil is highly suitable for cultivation of crops, especially rice, wheat, jute, sugarcane and oilseeds.
  4. Transport and communication: The plain nature of the land helps in development of roadways, railways and other means of transport and communication. This results in high population density in the region.
  5. Power resources: A number of thermal power and hydel power stations have been established here which provide the necessary power supply for industrialisation, agriculture as well as livelihood.
All these factors together help to result in a high concentration of population in the Gangetic Plains.
10. ‘Social and political stability of a region influence population density’.-Explain.
Ans. Social and political stability of a region are two important factors that influence the population density of a region.
  1. Social conditions: The social conditions can be categorically viewed as religious and cultural conditions. Religious causes may lead to in-migration or out-migration of population that influences the population density of the region. Cultural developments like spread of education, vocational trainings, scientific outlook and technological development help to discover new resources and hence attract population.
  2. Political conditions: People prefer to settle in the places where there is political stability. E.g. during 1947, after India’s independence and partition of Bengal, a severe political disturbance was seen in the eastern part of Bengal, which later came to be known as Bangladesh. On the other hand, political conditions were better in the western part of Bengal. Hence, huge influx of refuges resulted in Bengal, Tripura and the nearby states. This resulted in high density of population in the region.
11. What are the causes of reduction of death rates in India in the post-independence period?
Ans. The average death rate in India in the pre-independence period was about 30 per 1000 persons, which reduced to about 7.1 per 1000 persons in 2011. The causes of reduction of death rates are-
  1. Medical facilities: Development of medical facilities in the post-independence period led to improve health conditions of people. Thus it influenced to reduce the death rates.
  2. Standard of living: Availability of nutritious food and proper medical treatments helped to reduce death rates.
  3. Education and health consciousness: Increase in education of the people increased consciousness about health, which helped to control diseases and the rate of death.
  4. Superstitions: Previously people used to take diseased people to witch doctors and other places for treatment due to superstitions and lack of knowledge. But nowadays, they became aware of latest medical facilities and take the diseased people to doctors and hospitals.
12. Discuss the influence of rivers on the disparity in distribution of population in India.
Ans. Water is a basic requirement of living. It is noticed that all major civilisations of the world came up along the banks of large rivers. In India, large population are seen in the valleys of the major rivers like Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. The causes of high density of population in the river valleys are-
  1. Rivers provide the water necessary for drinking, bathing, washing, cooking, etc.
  2. Rivers provide water for irrigation.
  3. Rivers carry and spread alluvial soil on the adjacent lands and make them fertile and highly suitable for agriculture.
  4. Rivers are used for water transport.
  5. Rivers help in production of hydroelectric power.
  6. Fish cultivation or pisciculture can be done in rivers.
  7. Rivers design the drainage system of an area and ensure availability of water for various purposes.
13. What are the causes of high birth rate in India?
Ans. The birth rate in India is quite high compared to the other countries of the world. In 2011, the birth rate was high as 21.8 persons per 1000 persons. The causes of high birth rate in India are-
  1. Low literacy rate: In India, about 26% of the population is still illiterate. They have not understood the pros and cons of the increasing population of the country.
  2. Child marriage: Early marriage is one of the major cause for the high birth rate.This generally leads to larger number of children being born. Thus, results in high birth rate.
  3. Religious causes: Religious beliefs and superstitions stop the people from using preventive measures of birth control. Also many people believe that more number of children means more blessings of the God.
  4. Social status of women: In a country like India, where patriarchy prevails, women have a low social status. Often they cannot even voice their wish of birth control due to pressures from family and society.
  5. Lack of social awareness: There is a lack of consciousness and awareness among the people of India regarding the consequences of the huge increase in population and the need of birth control.
  6. Lack of government policies: The government has not yet taken up enough initiatives to spread the consequences of rapidly increasing population. Whatever policies have been taken up till date have not given satisfactory results due to lack of execution.
  7. High death rates: In some cases, high death rates in some regions of the country indirectly initiate high birth rates.
  8. Demand for a male child: Even in the 21st century, a male child in the family is seen as a boon.
14. Is India a highly populated country?
OR, Why is India designated as a highly populated country?
Ans. India ranks second in the world with respect to the total population of the country (after China). By the census of 2011, the total population of India was 121 crore 1 lakh 93 thousand 422 people. About 17.5% of the total population of the world reside in India. That means, there is an Indian in very 6 people in the world. But India occupies only 2.42% of the total land surface of the world. This indicates that there is a high pressure of population on land in India. It can be mentioned that, although the population of China in 2011 was about 134 crore, i.e., 13 crore people more than that of India, it does not suffer from tremendous population pressure like India as total area of China is about three times that of India.
Not only the total population, but the rate of increase in population in India per year is also very high. The rate of increase in population in India in 2011 was 17.64%, whereas in case of China was only 5.6%. During 2001-2011, population of India increased by more than 18 crore, i.e., more than 1.80 crore per year. All these facts help to prove that India is definitely a highly populated country with tremendous pressure of population on land.
15. What are the problems of the rapidly increasing population in India?
Ans. The problems caused by the rapidly increasing population in India are-
  1. High price of food crops: The rate of increase in population in India is much higher than the rate of increase of food crop production. Hence, due to excessive demand of food crops, the price of food crops goes up at a high rate.
  2. Problems of settlement: The rate of increase in population in India giving rise to space problems. There is huge demand of space available for the construction of building, houses ,etc. Infact, accommodations in large towns and cities have become too much costly.
  3. Unemployment: Increase in population leads to increase in number of unskilled and uneducated people. This further leads to problems of unemployment.
  4. Medical facilities: Medical facilities are inadequate for this rapidly increasing population. Many people die due to lack of hospitals and health centres, lack of doctors and medicines.
16. What is the relation of sustainable development with increase in population?
Ans. Sustainable development refers to that kind of development where the basic needs of the population can be met and their welfare can be continued in the long run by the judicious use of available resources. The major factors of sustainable development are-1. Social welfare, 2. Economic upliftment, 3. Cultural prosperity, 4. Ecological balance, 5. Improvement of geographical conditions. In a country like India, where the population is increasing in leaps and bounds, a persistant condition of poverty and distress will follow, if sustainable development is not given enough importance.
Rapid growth of population exerts pressure on sustainable development. For example, increase in population influences the quality and quantity of components like water, air, power resources, ecosystem, food crops, nutrition levels, mineral resources, etc. The levels of pollution and wastes are also high. Infact, it is estimated that if the population goes on increasing at this alarming rate, the mass of the whole population of the world will be equal to the mass of the earth itself by the next 5000 years.
In 1951, the population of India was about 36.11 crores. At that time production of rice was about 3.46 crore tonnes, production of wheat was about 0.64 crore tonnes, amount of irrigated land was 2.7 crore hectares. According to census 2011, the population of India was 121.02 crore. At that time, production of rice rose to 15 crore tonnes, production of wheat rose to 8.68 crore tonnes, and amount of irrigated land rose to 10.4 crore hectares. Thus, we see that a remarkable growth in the production of food grains is seen through the decades with the rapid rise in population. This is an example of sustainable development.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you mean by Census?
Ans. Official Counting of population and systematic data collection of various attributes of the population and its compiling and analysing is known as Census. In India, census are conducted every 10 years. The first census survey in India was conducted in 1872. After that, from 1881, regular surveys have been organised after 10 years interval. The last survey was conducted in 2011, and the next one will be held in 2021.
2. Name the four most populated states of India?
Ans. The four most populated states of India according to 2011 census are-
1st Uttar Pradesh (19 crore 96 lakh)
2nd Maharashtra (11 crore 24 lakh)
3rd Bihar (10 crore 38 lakh)
4th West Bengal (9 crore 13 lakh)
3. Name the four most densely populated states of India.
Ans. The four most densely populated states of India according to 2011 census are-
1st Bihar (1,102 people per sq.km)
2nd-West Bengal (1,029 people per sq.km)
3rd -Kerala (859 people per sq. km)
4th – Uttar Pradesh (828 people per sq.km)
4. Mention the reasons of population explosion in India.
Ans. The phenomenon of sudden increase of population in leaps and bounds within a short period of time is known as population explosion. In India, the various causes of population explosion are-
  1. High birth rate due to lack of education, poverty, superstitions, religious beliefs, child marriage, etc.
  2. Lowered death rates due to improvement in medical facilities, transport and communication system, etc.
  3. In-migration from the neighbouring countries in huge numbers.
  4. Increase in food production and industrial development due to advancement of science and technology.
  5. Control of hazards and natural calamities.
  6. Improved conditions of life and improved standards of living.
5. According to the latest Census, which state of India has the least density of population and why?
Ans. According to the census of 2011, amongst all the states of India, Arunachal Pradesh has the least density of population (only 17 people per sq.km). The reasons for this low density of population are-1. Highly mountainous and rough terrain. 2. Harsh climatic conditions. 3. Dense forests on the hill slopes and foothills. 4. Poor transport and communication systems. 5. Lack of economic development, etc.
6. After how many years census is carried out? What is the population density of India according to the 2011 census?
Ans. Census are conducted every 10 years. According to the 2011 census, population density of India is 382 people per sq.km.
7. What do you mean by population growth?
Ans. The positive rate of change in population of a place over a span of time is known as population growth. E.g. Total population of India according to the 2011 Census shows a remarkable increase of population over the population reported in the 2001 census.
8. What do you mean by sustainable development?
Or, What is sustainable development?
Ans. The concept of betterment and development of the increasing population, management of resources to meet their demands and conservation of resources for next generations, together is known as sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development is related to the betterment and development of the human resource all over the world over a long period of time. The main idea is to make the present resources adequately and abundantly available to the whole population and future generations.
9. How does an urban centre develop as an ‘administrative centre’?
Ans. Some urban centres may be found to be at such a location that they help in carrying out administrative works. These centres grow into administrative centres by the virtue of their location. These centres gradually attract people and grow into small towns. These small towns grow into large towns and then into big cities gradually. E.g. Delhi and Kolkata have grown as administrative centres for their locations.
10. How does transport and communication help in developing an urban centre?
Ans. The places with well developed transport and communication systems are easily accessible and hence people are attracted to work and live there. Thus large urban centres may develop. E.g. Siliguri has grown as a big town due to the good network of roadways and railways. It is the doorway to the north-eastern states of India as well as to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
11. How does growth of industries help in the development of towns?
Ans. Development of industries provide employment to a huge population. This leads to the dense collection of a population in the surrounding areas. This helps in the development of large towns in the industrial areas. E.g. Jamshedpur, Durgapur, Ahmedabad, etc.
12. Mention two problems of urbanisation in India.
Ans. Two problems of urbanisation in India are-
  1. Health hazards: The pollution caused by industries, motor vehicles, etc., create unhealthy conditions in the urban areas which may cause health hazards in the long-run.
  2. Traffic jams: The huge number of vehicles plying in the cities, the encroaching of footpaths by shops and stalls, etc., altogether lead to very slow traffic movement. This creates frequent traffic jams.
13. What do you mean by rapid increase of population?
Ans. The positive increase of population in leaps and bounds over a small period of time is known as rapid increase in population. This is also known as ‘Population explosion’. In India, a huge increase in the size of population was noticed between 1951 and 1981 (2.16% to 2.47% every year). This rapid increase led to the condition of population explosion. Development of education, medical facilities, agriculture, industries and standard of living, etc., are responsible for this condition.
14. What do you mean by the ‘stagnation or stationary phase of population growth’?
Ans. When the population of a region does not change but remain constant over a period of time, it is known as ‘stagnation of population growth’. This may happen when the positive increase of population is balanced by the negative increase of population. E.g.
Stagnation of population= Birth rate + In- migration = Death rate + Out-migration.
Stagnation of population can be seen in Sweden and Switzerland.

Multiple Choice Type Questions [MCQ type]

Write the correct answer from the given alternatives

1. Population density in India is highest in the state of-
A. Bihar
B. West Bengal
C. Kerala
D. Tamil Nadu
Ans. A
2. Highest population in India lies in the state of-
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Maharashtra
C. West Bengal
D. Bihar
Ans. A
3. Population Survey or ‘Census’ in India is done every-
A. 9 years
B. 10 years
C. 11 years
D. 12 years
Ans. B
4. Which Union Territory of India is having the lowest total population?
A. Delhi
B. Lakshadweep
C. Andaman and Nicobar islands
D. Puducherry
Ans. B
5. Population density of West Bengal per sq.km is-
A. 1010 people
B. 1025 people
C. 1029 people
D. 1050 people
Ans. C
6. Rank of Kerala according to population density is-
A. 1st
B. 2nd
C. 3rd
D. 4th
Ans. C
7. Rank of Rajasthan according to total population is-
A. 6th
B. 7th
C. 8th
D. 9th
Ans. C
8. The last census in India was done in the year-
A. 2005
B. 2010
C. 2011
D. 2014
Ans. C
9. The next census of India will be held in-
A. 2010
B. 2011
C. 2021
D. 2024
Ans. C
10. The most populated Union Territory of India is-
A. Delhi
B. Andaman and Nicobar islands
C. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
D. Puducherry
Ans. A
11. According to the latest census, the most populous state of India is- 
A. Maharashtra
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Puducherry
Ans. C
12. The Union Territory of India with highest population density is-
A. Delhi
B. Lakshadweep
C. Andaman and Nicobar island
D. Puducherry
Ans. A
13. The index of geographical distribution of population is-
A. Birth rate
B. Population density
D. Death rate
C. Total population
Ans. B
14. What percentage of world population resides in India?
A. 16%
B. 17.5%
C. 18%
D. 20.5%
Ans. B
15. Population density of India per sq.km is-
A. 312 persons
B. 324 persons
C. 382 persons
D. 390 persons
Ans. C
16. Total male population of India is-
A. 62.37 crore
B. 60 crore
C. 65 crore
D. 70.25 crore
Ans. A
17. Total female population of India is-
A. 62.37 crore
B. 60 crore
C. 58.65 crore
D. 55.55 crore
Ans. C
18. The state of India with least population is-
A. Sikkim
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Goa
D. Mizoram
Ans. A
19. Number of females per 1000 males in India is-
A. 900
B. 930
C. 940
D. 950
Ans. C
20. The highest number of females per 1000 males in India is found in the state of-
A. West Bengal
B. Haryana
C. Kerala
D. Uttar Pradesh
Ans. C
21. The highest number of females per 1000 males in the Union Territories is found in-
A. Daman and Diu
B. Delhi
C. Lakshadweep
D. Puducherry
Ans. D
22. What is the rate of increase in population per year in India?
A. 1.70%
B. 1.76%
C. 1.80%
D. 1.85%
Ans. B
23. The child (0-14 years) population of India is-
A. 35.10 crore
B. 40.22 crore
C. 40.15 crore
D. 41.25 crore
Ans. A
24. The working (15-64 years) population of India is-
A. 6.20 crore
B. 36.04 crore
C. 83.87 crore
D. 55.88 crore
Ans. C
25. The highest literacy rate in the Union Territories of India can be seen in-
A. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
B. Lakshadweep
C. Andaman and Nicobar
D. Daman and Diu
Ans. B

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Fill in the blanks with suitable words

1. Population density of Arunachal Pradesh is ……… people per sq.km.
Ans. 17
2. India ranks ……….. on the basis of total population of the countries in the world.
Ans. 2nd
3. Out of the world population around ………… % is Indian.
Ans. 17.5
4. One of the reasons for rapid increase in population of India is ……….
Ans. High birth rate
5. The second highest populated state of India is ………..
Ans. Maharashtra
6. The lowest population density amongst the states and Union Territories of India is in ………
Ans. Arunachal Pradesh
7. Enumeration of population and its attributes after a regular interval of time is called ……..
Ans. Census
8. The highest rate of increase in population amongst the states of India is noticed in ……… 
Ans. Meghalaya
9. About ……….. % of India’s population is child population.
Ans. 29.04
10. The average literacy rate of India is ………
Ans. 74.04%
11. The literacy rate of West Bengal is ……….. 
Ans. 77.08%
12. The average life expectancy in India is ……… years.
Ans. 68.4
13. The average infant mortality rate in India is ………… per 1000 live births.
Ans. 44
14. The highest rate of increase in population in India occured during the period ………. in the post independence period.
Ans. 1951-81
15. At the end of 2015, the population of India was estimated about …………
Ans. 131 crore
16. By the year ……….. India will be the most populated country of the world.
Ans. 2050
17. India ranks ……….. in development of human resources in the world.
Ans. 131
18. The development policy taken up for judicious use of resources by the current population is known as the ………
Ans. Sustainable development
19. The towns like Bodh Gaya, Puri and Varanasi developed as …….. centres.
Ans. Religious
20. According to the 2011 Census, the number of metropolitan cities in India is …………
Ans. 53
21. Slums develop due to ……….. urbanisation.
Ans. Unplanned
22. The lowest population density in the world is in ……….
Ans. Australia
23. According to 2011 census, the percentage of literacy rate in India is ………..
Ans. 74.04

Answer in one or two words

1. What is the position of India in the world in terms of population?
Ans. Second.
2. What is the interval of census survey in India?
Ans. 10 years.
3. When was the 1st census conducted in India?
Ans. 1872.
4. What is the present population density of India?
Ans. 382 people per sq. km.
5. What is the population of India according to the last census?
Ans. 1,21,01,93,422 persons.
6. What is the rate of yearly increase of population in India?
Ans. 1.76%.
7. Which is the most populated state of India?
Ans. Uttar Pradesh. (19,95,81,477 people)
8. Which is the least populated state ofIndia?
Ans. Sikkim. (6,07,688 people)
9. Which is the most densely populated state of India?
Ans. Bihar. (1,102 people per sq.km)
10. Which is the least densely populated state of India?
Ans. Arunachal Pradesh. (17 people per sq.km)
11. Which is the most densely populated Union Territory of India?
Ans. Delhi. (11,297 people per sq.km)
12. Which Union Territory of India has the lowest density of population?
Ans. Andaman and Nicobar islands. (46 people per sq.km)
13. Which Union Territory has the highest population?
Ans. Delhi. (1.68 crore)
14. Which Union Territory has the least population?
Ans. Lakshadweep. (64,429 people)
15. On what does the population distribution map of India mostly depend?
Ans. Rainfall distribution map of India.
16. What percentage of the Indian populationpresently lives in urban areas?
Ans. 31.16%.
17. What population of India presently lives in urban areas?
Ans. 37.71 crore persons.
18. Name a megacity in West Bengal.
Ans. Kolkata.
19. What is the main reason for the settlement of people in Haldia?
Ans. The Haldia port.
20. What is the cause of dense population settlements in Puri and Varanasi?
Ans. Both the cities are religious centres.

TOPIC – 4

Transport and Communication System in India

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Discuss the importance of transportation system.
Ans. Transportation system is very important for the socio-economic and political development of the country.
1. Economic importance
  1. Exchange of goods: Transportation system helps in exchange of goods between countries. Example-India exports tea, jute, spices and several other items to the world market and imports necessary goods from different countries.
  2. Decentralisation of industries: Transportation system helps in the decentralisation of industries. Raw materials and finished products can be transported to the factory and market respectively and the industries can be located at locations that incur minimum costs.
  3. Hazard management: Transportation system helps in the rescue of victims and distribution of relief and medical aid in times of hazards like floods, droughts, earthquakes or tsunamis.
  4. Development of agriculture: Transportation system helps to transport necessary seeds, fertilisers and agricultural equipments from towns to rural areas. It also helps to transport agricultural products to the markets and the agro-based industries in the urban areas.
  5. Collection of natural resources: Collection of forest resources, mineral resources and animal resources largely depend upon the transportation system. E.g.-Dense forest of the Amazon basin and northern Canada have yet remained unexplored due to lack of development of transportation system.
  6. Balance in price of goods and commodities: The transportation system helps to carry various commodities to the markets all over India. Hence, availability of the commodity can be ensured and the price can be kept at par all over the country.
2. Social importance
  1. Development of towns and cities: Development of transportation system leads to the growth of industries and trade. This again, leads to developement of rural centres into small towns and the towns into cities.
  2. Development of education and culture: Transport helps people to travel from one place to another. Thus, exchange of culture, skills and technologies occur. This fosters the development of education and culture.
3. Political importance
  1. Defence: Transportation system enables reaching out to the soldiers, carrying their ration and war equipments to the different remote and rugged regions. Thus, it helps in the defence of the country.
  2. National integration: Transport helps to unite the people of different castes, creeds, colours, cultures, languages and religions living all over the country. Thus, it helps in developing a sense of national integration.
2. Discuss the role of the railways in the economic development of India.
OR, What is the role of railways in the internal transportation system of India?
Ans. Railways is a very important mode of transport in India. It plays a vital role in the economic development of the country.
  1. Transportation of goods and passengers: The railways transport a huge quantity of goods and passengers at a high speed and at a low cost. It is the most popular mode for transporting bulk goods and passengers throughout the country.
  2. Development of agriculture: The agricultural development of India is also a result of development of transport system, especially the railways. The seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and agricultural equipments can be transported to the fields easily from any corner of the country. The crops produced can also be transported to the markets all over the country.
  3. Industrial development: Railways help to transport minerals, power resources and equipments to industrial regions and transport the finished products to the markets. Thus industrial development owes much to the railways.
  4. Thermal power generation: Railways help to transport coal from the mining regions to the thermal power stations in huge bulks. Thus, they help in generation of thermal power indirectly.
  5. Development of international trade: Railways help to collect various agricultural and industrial products from all corners of the country and transfer them to the ports for exporting. The imported items are also distributed throughout the country with the help of railways. Thus, railways help in fostering of foreign trade.
  6. Defence of the country: Railways help in defence of the country by transporting soldiers, ration and war equipments to the necessary places.
  7. Others: Railways help to connect different cultural, educational and trade centres. They help to transport relief to flood or drought stricken areas. A huge number of labourers and workers commute daily by the railways. Thus, railways play a very important role in the economic development of our country.
3. What do you mean by communication system? Discuss the concepts of modern communication system.
Ans. Communication is the exchange of ideas, information, messages and feelings between people, without any physical movement of people concerned and the system that enables this is called communication system. It can be divided into three parts-1. Collection of information and messages to be communicated (input). 2. Medium through which the messages will be communicated (through-put). 3. Communicating or enabling the messages to reach successfully (output). Various media of modern communication system are-
  1. Postal system: Postal system is an ancient mode of communication which started in 900 B.C. in China. The postal system was started in India in 1766. Presently highly developed and advanced systems like speed post, satellite post, express post, business and media post are in use.
  2. Telephone: The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1875. It is a device connected through wires, which helps people to talk to each other even when there is a large physical distance between them.
  3. Mobile phone: Mobile phone is a wireless device that helps in building communication among people placed anywhere in the world. It can be used for calling, sending SMS and MMS. Presently, mobile phone is the most popular medium of communication all over the world.
  4. Internet: Internet is a global network, consisting of interconnected networks, that can be accessed through computers, laptops, mobile phones etc. Through this system, messages, ideas, news, information and letters can be exchanged very fast.
  5. E-mail: E-mail is a mail or letter sent through electronic medium. It incurs a nominal cost and can be used to send mails all over the world in few seconds.
  6. Others: The other media of communication are telex, telefax, video conferencing, radio, newspaper, etc. The present day communication system mostly depends on artificial satellites.

Short Explanatory Answer Type Questions

1. List the advantages of road transport.
Ans. The advantages of road transport are-
  1. Speed: Light and less bulky commodities can be easily transported via roadways and at greater speed.
  2. Anytime transportation: Road transport does not have to depend on a fixed schedule as rail and air transport. They can be availed at any time of the day as per need.
  3. Security: Roadways are used to provide security in border regions of the country. They are also used for transporting food, medical aids, war equipments, etc., to the border areas.
  4. Variety of vehicles: A number of vehicles can ply over the same roadway. E.g.- Buses, trucks, cycles, auto rickshaws, etc., can use the same road and carry different types of commodities and varied volumes of passengers.
  5. Easiest transport: Roadways provide the easiest mode of transport for movement of raw materials to production areas and carry the finished products to markets.
  6. Door to door transport: Roadways help in the door to door transportation of goods and passengers.
2. What are the disadvantages of road transport?
Ans. The disadvantages of road transport are-
  1. Cost of construction: Cost of construction of roads is quite high and the process is also time consuming. Roadways cannot be developed properly unless the country has a stable and developed economic condition.
  2. High maintenance cost: Roadways are prone to damage due to rainfall, flood, snowfall and even due to plying of heavy loaded vehicles on a regular basis. Hence, they require regular monitoring and maintenance. This incurs high costs.
  3. Lack of bridges hamper roadways: India is a land of numerous rivers spreading like a network all over the land. Lack of bridges over these rivers hamper the spread of roadways in these regions.
  4. High cost of transportation: Transportation of goods as well as passengers by road is comparatively costlier than transportation by rail and waterways. The high cost of transportation through roadways creates an impediment for sure.
  5. Lack of comfort: Journey by road over long distances is tedious and less comfortable than journey by rail. Hence, passengers tend to avoid road for long distance journeys.
3. Write a short note on the Golden Quadrilateral, the East-West and North-South Corridors.
Ans. Golden Quadrilateral: The Golden Quadrilateral is a National Highway project taken up with the aim of connecting the four metropolitan cities of India, namely, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. This is the largest national highway project of India and the fifth largest of the world. Under this project, 5846 km of roadways have been built by the National Highway Development Project (NHDP). The length of roads between the metropolitan cities are-1. Delhi to Kolkata-1453 km, 2. Chennai to Mumbai-1290 km, 3. Kolkata to Chennai-1684 km, 4. Mumbai to Delhi-1419 km (Source: NHAI) These highways are of 4-6 lanes and form the backbone of the transportation system of India. The project has been executed with the help of modern technology and advanced equipments imported from Malaysia.
North-South and East-West Corridors: The North-South Corridor of India extends from Srinagar of Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari of Tamil Nadu in the south. This is an important highway spreading for 4000 km, that connects the extreme northern and southern regions of the country. The East-West corridor extends from Silchar of Assam in the east to Porbander of Gujarat in the west. This 3300 km long highway connects the extreme eastern and western regions of India. Presently, these corridors are the largest among the running roadway projects in India. These are managed by the National Highways Authority of India.
4. Discuss the importance of road transport in the economic development of India.
Ans. Road transportation system plays a very important role in the economy of a developing country like India. The importance of roadways in the economic development of India are-
  1. Development of rural areas: About 69% of the population of India live in rural areas. Roads help in the transportation of agricultural products from rural to urban areas and promote intra-regional trade and commerce. Roads also help in transporting fertilisers, insecticides and modern agricultural equipments from towns and cities to rural areas for the development of agriculture.
  2. Raw materials: Roadways help in acquiring raw materials, both agro-based and mineral-based from different regions for development of industries. E.g.-Coal from Raniganj and Asansol regions is transported to the Hooghly industrial region through the National Highway NH-19.
  3. Development of hilly areas: The hilly regions of northern India, north-eastern India and the Deccan plateau regions are not fit for the construction of railways. Hence, roadways are very important for the development of these regions. Also, beacuse of the rugged terrain and the absence of proper railway network in this region, roadways help to establish communication between different parts of this region.
  4. Low cost of construction: Construction of roads incur lower cost than construction of railways. Hence, development of roadways put less pressure on the economy of the country.
  5. Border security: The border areas of India have rugged terrain and harsh climatic conditions. Construction of railways is impossible in those regions. Hence, roadways are very important in these regions as they help to maintain and establish an environment of safety and security in the border regions of India.
  6. Connection with small industrial centres: The large industrial regions of India are connected to the raw material regions as well as to the markets mostly through railways. But there are numerous small industrial centres in India which are dependent only on roadways for the supply of their raw materials and for their business and trade.
5. Name the different means of transport in India.
Ans. The different means of transport in India are-1. Surface transport or land transport, 2. Waterways, 3. Airways, 4. Pipelines 5. Ropeways.
Surface transport is further sub-divided into-
(1) Roadways and (2) Railways.
Waterways is further sub-divided into-
(1) Inland waterways, (2) Coastal waterways and (3) International waterways.
Airways is further sub-divided into-
(1) Domestic airways and (2) International airways.
6. What is the importance of National Highways?
Ans. National Highways are very important for transportation of goods across the lengths and breadths of India. Presently, the length of National Highways in India is about 96261 km. They spread through all the states like a network, providing road connectivity throughout the country. National Highways form only 2.91% of the total length of roadways in India. They help to transport about 40% of the total transport plying through roadways in the country. They are maintained by the central government of India. E.g.-1. Delhi and Kolkata are connected via the National Highway NH-19. 2. Kolkata and Mumbai are connected via the National Highway NH-6. 3. The longest National Highway of India is NH-44, that connects Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.
7. Write a short note on the State Highways of India.
Ans. The State Highways are spread within particular states and help to connect with the National Highways. They are constructed and maintained by the state government. These roads generally connect the capitals of the states to the adjacent National Highways. They play an important role in transportation of goods and commodities, trade and commerce within the state. The total length of state highways in India is about 131899 km. E.g.-B.T. Road is a state highway in West Bengal.
8. What are border roads?
Ans. In the post-independence period, the ‘Border Roads Organisation’ was formed in 1960 for the construction of roads in the border regions of the country in order to provide security. These roads are known as ‘Border roads’. Presently, the length of border roads in India is 32885 km. One of the biggest successes of the Border Road Organisation (BRO) is the construction of the highest border road of the world from Leh to Tibet border. The border road constructed from Mohali (Himachal Pradesh) to Leh (Ladakh) is the second highest border road of the world.
9. What are ‘International Roadways’? Discuss their importance.
Ans. The roadways that spread over two or more countries are known as ‘International Roadways’. In India, there are six international roadways which are known as Asian Highways or Great Asian Highways. They are-
1. AH-42 between Lanzhou of China and Barhi of India.
2. AH-43 between Agra of India and Matara of Sri Lanka.
3. AH-48, between Phuentsholing of Bhutan and Changrabandha of India.
Importance:
The importance of ‘International Roadways’ is listed below-
  1. The international roadways help in maintaining cordial relations between the countries through which they pass.
  2. These roads help in exchange of culture and thoughts between the countries.
  3. These roads help in the transportation of goods and commodities between the countries and help in development of trade and commerce. They play an important role in increasing national income of the country.
  4. These roads may lead to overall industrial development and rise in the standard of living of the countries thus connected.
10. Classify the railways gauges in India.
Ans. Railways in India can be classified on the basis of distance between the two parallel rails of the railway line.
  1. Broad gauge: The distance between the two rails is 1.68 m in the broad gauge railway. Most of the railway traffic in India run through the broad gauge railway. Presently, about 56000 km of railway lines in India come under broad gauge.
  2. Metre gauge: The distance between the two rails is 1m in the metre gauge railway. Presently, about 4000 km of railway lines in India come under metre gauge. The length of metre gauge lines is reducing day by day, as efforts are being taken to convert themed into broad gauge lines.
  3. Narrow gauge: The distance between the two rails in a narrow gauge line is either 0.76m or 0.61m. Presently, about 5000 km of railway lines in India come under the narrow gauge.
11. List the different divisions of railways in India based on the regions they are spread over.
Ans. The railways in India have been divided into 17 sections for providing the best service. They are listed as follows (with headquarters)— 1. Eastern Railway (Kolkata), 2. South-Eastern Railway (Kolkata), 3. North-Eastern Railway (Gorakhpur), 4. North-East Frontier Railway (Guwahati), 5. Western Railway (Mumbai), 6. Northern Railway (New Delhi), 7. Southern Railway (Chennai), 8. Central Railway (Mumbai), 9. South-Central Railway (Secunderabad), 10. East-Central Railway (Hajipur), 11. East Coast Railway (Bhubaneshwar), 12. North- Central Railway (Allahabad), 13. North-Western Railway (Jaipur), 14. South-East-Central Railway (Bilaspur), 15. South-Western Railway (Hubli), 16. West-Central Railway (Jabalpur) and 17. Metro Railway (Kolkata).
12. What are the problems of railways in India?
Ans. Although the railways help in the economic development of India to a great extent, they have various problems-
  1. Time consuming: Railways in India ply in different gauges in different regions. Loading and unloading of goods and boarding and unboarding of passengers into different train coaches consume too much time and become costly.
  2. Lack of modern technology: Indian railways lack the use of modern and advanced technology in signalling systems and train coordinations, so that all kinds of signalling problems and accidents due to head-on collisions can be controlled and avoided.
  3. Lack of railway wagons: Lack of the required numbers of wagons for aboo transporting goods and commodities hamper trade and commerce activities. In many cases, people tend to depend more on road transportation than railways.
  4. Journey without ticket: A huge number of people have a tendency of travelling in trains without ticket or paying less fare. Thus, the income of the railways from passengers is lowered and the railways incur huge loss due to this. Also, several malpractices are seen in transporting goods and commodities, which significantly reduce the income of the railways.
  5. Lack of security of life and property: Train robberies, thefts and accidents show that there is lack of security of life and property in train journeys.
  6. Lack of railway employees: Railways have been the organisation employing the highest number of employeess in India. But recently, this organisation is facing a dearth in number of employees due to irregular recruitments. Hence, the present employees are forced to work for longer hours. This increases the work pressure, mental stress and reduces the quality of work, especially for drivers, technicians, signal operators and other people who hold responsible posts.
13. What is the importance of waterways in India?
Ans. Waterways are an important mode of transport in India because of the following reasons.
  1. Low cost: Water transport incurs very low cost as compared to railway or roadway transportation. Practically, there is no cost of construction and maintenance of waterways, except for constructing the ports, ferry ghats and water vessels like boats, launches, ships, etc.
  2. Transportation of goods and passengers: Like roadways and railways, waterways carry a huge amount of goods and passengers. This is also a very important means of transport in India.
  3. Security: India has a coastline as long as 7516 km. Waterways are very important to provide security to the country along the coast. Thus, the coastal waterways help to foster security of the country.
  4. National income: Transportation of goods, resources, commodities and passengers through waterways generate high levels of income and employment. This helps to increase the overall national income.
  5. Distribution of relief: Waterways serve as an important means of transport in distribution of relief in times of natural disasters. E.g.-Relief was distributed to the cyclone struck (Aila) areas of Sundarban through waterways (2007).
14. Classify the waterways in India.
Ans. Waterways in India can be classified into two categories-
  1. Inland waterways: India is a country with numerous rivers. Hence, water transportation through these rivers and canals is a common sight. In India, inland waterways is spread over 14500 km, of which, 5200 km is through rivers and 4000 km is through canals. Different types of big and small boats and launches ply through these waterways. Some of these waterways are declared National Waterways and they come under the purview of central government. In India, inland waterways can be of two types-(1) Riverways and (2) Navigable canals.
    1. Riverways: Rivers of India play an important role in inland water transport. [i] Ganga: The Ganga is the most important river of India. It is navigable from its mouth upto Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Steamers may run from its mouth upto Patna. [ii] Brahmaputra: This is an important river providing water transport in Assam. [iii] Others: The lower courses of the rivers Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Tungabhadra, etc., are navigable. They serve as important riverways in the Deccan plateau region. The rivers Juari and Mandvi of Goa are also important riverways.
    2. Navigable canals: The Ganga canal between Haridwar and Kanpur, the Buckingham canal between rivers Krishna and Kaveri, the coastal canals of Odisha and Kerala and the eastern and circular canals of Sundarbans are important canalways of India.
  2. International or Oceanic waterways: The coastal water routes and the oceanic water routes between India and other countries fall under this category. They are important mostly for security of the coastal regions and development of foreign trade and commerce.
15. Briefly write about the National waterways of India.
Ans. India being a country of numerous rivers, there are a number of National Waterways.
  1. National Waterway-1: The riverway through the rivers Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hoogly is designated as the National Waterway-1, the most important inland waterway of India. It extends from Allahabad to Haldia. Length of this route is about 1620 km.
  2. National Waterway-2: It is the Sadiya- Dhubri stretch of the Brahmaputra river. The waterway is shared between India and Bangladesh. Length of this route is about 891 km.
  3. National Waterway-3: This waterway extends from Kottapuram to Kollam in Kerala for about 205 km. In 2015, the waterway was extended till Kozhikode, stretching upto a length of 365 km.
  4. National Waterway-4: This waterway spreads for about 1095 km from Kakinada to Puducherry.
  5. National Waterway-5: This waterway extends for about 623 km through the rivers Brahmani East Coast Canal, Matai and Mahanadi.
  6. National Waterway-6: This waterway extends from Lakhimpur to Bhanga of Assam through the river Barak. Its length is 121 km.
16. Name some important canal routes of India.
Ans. The important canal routes of India are-
  1. Buckingham canal of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
  2. The Kurnool-Cuddapah canal of Andhra Pradesh.
  3. The Medinipur canal of West Bengal.
  4. The Triveni canal of the Damodar Valley.
  5. The Sone canal of Bihar.
  6. The Ganga canal in the Doab region between the Ganga and Yamuna.
  7. The Eastern and Circular canals of Sundarban.
  8. The Kayals and natural canals of the Malabar coast. E.g.-Steamers regularly ply through the Vembanad Kayal between Kochi and Alappuzha (Alleppey).
17. Mention the oceanic waterways of India.
Ans. The oceanic waterways of India can be divided into two parts-1. The coastal waterways, 2. The international waterways.
  1. The coastal waterways: The coastline of India is 7516 km long along the peninsular region in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Steamers, ships and boats ply through this long coastal waterway connecting the eastern and western coastal regions. This is used for security services of the coastal regions and for trade and business. E.g.- Ships and steamers carry passengers from Mumbai to Goa, salt comes to West Bengal from the Kachchh region of Gujarat and coal from Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha goes to the southern states of India through the coastal routes.
  2. The international waterways: India is surrounded by ocean and bays on three sides. Hence, trade is conducted with various countries of Africa, Europe and Western Asia through the oceanic routes since ancient times. Presently, these international waterways help to carry out maximum of the international trade of India. There are 13 major and 200 medium to small ports in India, which help in international trade. About 90% of India’s export trade occurs through the 13 major ports in a year. About 16000 cargo ships ply through these ports in a year. In 2013-14 the total amount of cargo handled in the 13 major ports was about 55.54 crore tonnes.
18. Write the advantages of waterways.
Ans. The advantages of waterways are-
  1. Low cost and easy transport: Waterways do not incur any cost of construction except for building ports and ferry ghats and constructing boats, steamers, ships, etc. Hence, they have low transportation cost and are preferred all over the world.
  2. Easy movement through oceans: The ships can move freely and easily in oceans except for some coastal regions.
  3. Cheapest mode of transport: Waterways are the cheapest mode of transport compared to roadways and railways. Hence, people prefer using waterways wherever applicable.
  4. International trade: International trade is possible between India and any other country lying by the coast through the international waterways or the oceanic trade routes.
  5. Heavy and bulk goods: Heavy and bulk goods are generally traded through waterways, as per-unit transportation cost is the lowest through waterways. E.g.-Iron and steel, cement, mineral resources, etc., are transported through waterways.
19. Write the disadvantages of waterways.
Ans. The disadvantages of waterways are-
  1. Slow speed: Ships, steamers and other water vessels move at very slow speed. Hence, waterways cannot be used in case of emergencies or for goods which need to be transported fast.
  2. Rough weather: Heavy rainfall, storms and cyclones cause difficulties in movement of water vessels on waterbodies. Ships and steamers may get wrecked which may cause huge loss of both life and property.
  3. Navigability: The rivers like Ganga and Brahmaputra become unnavigable in some parts of their lower course due to heavy siltation. Big ships and steamers cannot sail through them as the rivers lose depth.
  4. Security: The ships often sail in the oceans all alone. They are often prone to pirate attacks. Hence, they lack security.
20. What is the importance of airways in India?
Ans. The importance of airways in India are-
  1. Fastest transport: Airways are the fastest mode of transport. A huge number of passengers fly from one place to another through airways everyday.
  2. Goods transport: The light and valuable commodities are usually transported through airways. But heavy and bulk goods are not transported by airways.
  3. Foreign trade: Airways are very important for export and import of light and valuable goods and perishable goods like meat, milk and milk products, flowers, vegetables, fruits, etc. Thus, they play an important role in foreign trade. Also, airways help in travelling from one country to another.
  4. Distribution of relief: Airways are the most dependable modes in case of distribution of relief and medical aids during natural calamities in rugged regions. They are also useful in rescue operations, land surveys etc.
  5. Defence: Airways help to monitor the long borders of India. They help to transport ration and soldiers to borders and other remote locations in times of wars and other emergencies. Hence, they play an important role in ensuring defence of the country.
21. What are the disadvantages of air transport?
Ans. The disadvantages of air transport are-
  1. High cost of transportation: Transportation by airways is very costly. It cannot be afforded by all people.
  2. Difficulty in transportation of heavy and bulk goods: Heavy and bulk goods or goods in large quantities cannot be transported by airways. It is only suitable for light and less bulky goods.
  3. High risk: Transportation by airways is more prone to risks due to mechanical faults of aircrafts, rough weather conditions like heavy rainfall, cyclonic winds, clouds or fog, compared to other modes of transport.
  4. Dependence on weather conditions: Transportation by airways is highly dependent on weather conditions. Flights may get delayed due to cyclonic winds, heavy rainfall, dense fog, or clouds. Even, ash sprays from volcanoes may reduce visibility to such an extent, that flights may not ply through those routes for a number of days.
22. Discuss about airways transport in India.
Ans. Airways are the fastest and most comfortable means of transport. In India, airway transportation was first started in 1911. Two types of airways system is operational in India- 1. Domestic airways and 2. International airways. Presently there are about 450 small and big airports in India, out of which, 28 are international airports. All the domestic as well as the international flights plying in India are under the aegis of the Airport Authority of India. In 2016-17 (April-March) 265 million passengers were transported by the airways in India.
23. Write about international airways in India.
Ans. India is connected to more than 100 countries through international airways. Regular flights ply between countries like Saudi Arabia, France, Netherlands, Canada, Brazil, USA, Germany, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, etc. Numerous types of aircrafts carry passengers to and from India from different countries. Some of the airway companies whose flights fly in India are Biman Bangladesh, Druk Air, Japan Airlines, British Airways, Air France etc.
24. Write about domestic airways in India.
Ans. The domestic airways in India help to connect different parts of the country as well as some neighbouring countries. Airway companies like Air India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Indigo, Go Air, Blue Dart Aviation help to transport goods and passengers in India and its neighbouring countries. The organisation called ‘Pavan Hans’ renders helicopter services to different parts of the country.
25. Write about the importance of ropeways in India.
Ans. The importance of ropeways in India are-
  1. Ropeways help to connect hilly regions and regions of rugged terrain.
  2. Coal is transported to factories directly from the mining regions through ropeways.
  3. Ropeways help to connect places and transport goods and passengers in regions where there are no roadways or railways.
  4. Ropeways in hilly regions are of great attraction to tourists.
  5. Ropeways help to transport relief and aids to hilly regions in case of natural calamities or disasters.
  6. Ropeways are used regularly to transport food, medicines, utility goods and other commodities to remote and isolated places in rugged hilly regions.
26. Name some major ropeways in India.
Ans. There are more than 100 ropeways running across India. Some of them are-
  1. One of the fastest ropeways of the world lie in the Jharia coal mine region of Jharkhand. This is about 30 km long.
  2. The ropeway in Darjeeling was constructed in 1968 to carry both goods and passengers. This is about 8 km long.
  3. Ropeway running between Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is a famous tourist attraction.
  4. Recently, a ropeway about 1.2 km long, has been started in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
  5. Ropeways are also present in Rajgir, Mussourie, Shimla, Nainital, Anaimalai of south India, Amárkantak of Madhya Pradesh and so on.
27. Write a short note on transportation by pipelines in India.
Ans. Transportation by pipelines is mainly applicable for liquid commodities like gas, oil or milk. Once installed, the cost of maintenance of pipelines is very low compared to other means of transport. In India, the first pipeline was started in 1956 from Digboi to Tinsukia, running for about 28 km. The other important pipelines that are being actively used in India are-
  1. Naharkatiya-Nunmati-Barauni: pipeline: This 1167 km long pipeline is used to transport crude mineral oil from Naharkatiya to Barauni in Bihar. This was the first pipeline of India which became operative in 1962. Presently, it has been extended to Kanpur and Haldia.
  2. Bombay High-Mumbai-Ankleswar- Koyali pipeline: This pipeline is used to transport crude mineral oil from Bombay High to Mumbai and then from there to oil refineries at Ankleswar and Koyali.
  3. Salaya-Koyali-Mathura pipeline: This 1256 km long pipeline is used to transport mineral oil from Salaya in Gujarat to Mathura in Utrar Pradesh. It supplies oil to refineries at Koyali and Mathura.
  4. Hajira-Bijapur-Jagdishpur gas pipeline: This 1750 km long pipeline has been constructed by GAIL to transport gas to three power houses and six fertiliser plants everyday.
  5. Jamnagar-Loni LPG pipeline: This 1269 km long pipeline is used by GAIL to transport and distribute liquified petroleum gas.
28. State the importance of metro railway.
Ans. The railway that runs mostly through the underground is known as the metro railway. It is a very important mode of transport in the metro cities of India.
  1. No traffic jams: The metro railway plies mostly on its own underground track, which is not disturbed by other railway tracks or roadways. Hence, there are no chances of traffic jams.
  2. No pollution: Metro rails run on electricity. Hence, the level of pollution caused is almost negligible.
  3. Less encroachment of land: Metro rails run through the underground. Land use on the surface is usually not disturbed. Hence, there is very little need of encroachment of land.
  4. Scheduled running of trains: Metro rails run at small intervals. Unlike roadways and surface railways there are usually no delays and the train service is very frequent. This helps to maintain the work culture in the metropolitan cities.
  5. Comfortable journey: Metro trains run very fast and usually most of the trains are airconditioned. Hence, journey by metro railway is very comfortable.
29. Mention some metro railways running in India.
Ans. Some of the metro railways running in India are-
  1. Kolkata Metro Rail: The first stretch of metro rail in India was completed in 1984 in Kolkata. Initially the service was started between few stations. Presently it runs between Noapara and Kavi Subhas (near Garia) covering 27 km and 24 stations. The Kolkata Metro rail transports about 6 lakh passengers daily.
  2. Delhi Metro Rail: This metro rail service was started on 25 December 2002 when the first train ran between the stations Shahdara and Tis Hazari. It runs for 218.17 km, covering 164 stations. In 2014, on 8th September, the Delhi Metro rail transported a record 28.87 lakh passengers.
  3. Bengaluru Metro Rail: This metro service is locally known as ‘Namma’. It was started in 2011 on 20 October. It stretches for about 42.30 km. It carries about 50,000 passengers daily on an average.
Metro railways have also been started in Jaipur, Gurgaon, Chennai and Mumbai also.
30. Discuss the importance of mobile phone as a modern medium of communication.
Ans. Mobile phone is a very popular medium of communication in the modern world because-
  1. It is a wireless device and hence can be carried to any place easily.
  2. It helps in communication between any regions of the world and at any time of the day.
  3. Apart from communication, a mobile phone can be used for internet banking, booking railway and flight tickets, purchasing goods online, etc.
  4. Internet can be easily accessed through a mobile phone.
  5. The GPS system in a mobile phone helps in finding location of a place and tracking routes.
  6. It helps in maintaining relations with friends and relatives through various social networking applications like Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter.
31. What is internet? What are its uses?
Ans. Internet is a global network, consisting of interconnected networks, that can be accessed through computers, laptops or mobile phones. The internet is the backbone of the modern communication system. The various uses of internet are-
  1. Internet helps in the exchange of data throughout the world in few seconds.
  2. It helps in netbanking, sending e-mail, chatting, collecting data, searching for information, etc.
  3. Internet is very useful for distance education, long distance video conferencing, conducting surgical treatments from distance and telemedicine.
  4. Social networking applications like Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram and Twitter help to connect people all over the world through internet.
    In India, although a huge number of people use mobile phones, the number of people using the internet is less. In 2015, above 30 crore internet connections have been found to be in use. Attempts are being made to increase this number by greater margins. For this purpose, highly developed fibre cables and Wi-Fi run by solar energy are being put to use.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you understand by transportation?
Ans. The movement of goods or people or both from one place to another by means of a vehicle is called transportation.The development of a country is related to large scale development of transport system.
2. What are National Highways?
Ans. The metalled roads built by the NHAI to connect the important cities in the different states all over the country, are called National Highways. These roads are long and comprise 2-6 lanes. They are of good quality and are well maintained to ensure greater flow of traffic.
3. What are State Highways?
Ans. The metalled roads built and maintained by the state governments in the respective states of India are called State Highways. These roads help to connect different National Highways and the important cities of the states.
4. What is the Golden Quadrilateral?
Ans. The Golden Quadrilateral is project taken up by the NHAI to build National Highways connecting the four metropolitan cities of India, namely, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai by 6 lane highways. They serve as an important base in the construction of other National and State highways and other types of roads that spread like a net over the country. It is the largest highway project in India.
5. What do you mean by ‘Shipping lanes’?
Ans. The regular routes that ships follow on the oceans while travelling from one place to another, are called shipping lanes.
6. What do you mean by ‘Shipping lines’?
Ans. The various companies who sail their ships in the oceans for transporting goods and passengers, are called shipping lines.
7. What do you mean by waterways?
Ans. The routes through which water transportion vehicles like ships, vessels and boats ply through rivers, lakes and oceans, are known as waterways. It is the cheapest mode of transport.
8. What do you mean by surface transport?
Ans. The modes of transport that ply on the surface of land, are called surface transport. Railways and roadways are the two forms of surface transport.
9. What do you mean by airways?
Ans. The recognised routes in the sky through which the air transport vehicles move, are called airways. As such, there is no cost of construction of airways, but the aircrafts, helicopters that move through the airways are the costliest means of transport.
10. Write two advantages of road transport.
Ans. 1. Roads can be constructed everywhere on the land surface, thus even the remote and rugged regions can be connected. 2. Cost of construction of roads is comparatively lower and hence road transport is cheap.
11. Write two disadvantages of road transport.
Ans. 1. Frequent maintenance is required for roads which incur a huge cost in the long run. 2. Traffic jams may cause a delay in road transportation. This creates great problems in case of perishable goods or emergency situations.
12. Write two advantages of railways as a means of transport.
Ans. 1. Railways as a medium of transport are suitable for quick transportation of heavy and bulk goods. 2. Cost of transporting goods by the railways is much lower compared to the other means of transport.
13. Write two disadvantages of railways as means of transport.
Ans. 1. Railways cannot be constructed on all kinds of land surfaces, E.g. mountainous terrain, deserts or regions highly dissected by rivers. 2. Railways can run only on specific tracks and cannot change routes if necessary.
14. Write two advantages of air transportion system.
Ans. 1. Air transportion system helps in fast movement of passengers and goods, especially of perishable goods. 2. Air transportion system helps in distribution of relief and medical aids during times of emergencies like floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.
15. Write two disadvantages of airways as a means of transport.
Ans. 1. Air transportion system is very costly and beyond the reach of poor people. 2. Air transportion system is not suitable for travelling over very small distances.
16. What is the proposed National Highway Grid?
Ans. The proposed National Highway Grid is a plan taken up to build a four-laned highway grid, connecting 12 major ports, 45 major cities and 26 state capitals of India.
17. Name the different types of surface transport.
Ans. Surface transport can be broadly divided into two types-1. Roadways and 2. Railways. Railways can be further sub- divided into- (1) Surface railways and (2) Sub-surface or Metro railways.
18. Classify waterways.
Ans. Waterways can be broadly classified into two types-1. International waterways and 2. Inland waterways. Inland waterways can be further classified into- (1) Riverways and (2) Canalways.
19. What are pipelines?
Ans. Pipelines is a modern mode of transportation used for transporting liquid or fluid commodities like mineral oil, natural gas or water from one place to another. This reduces the cost of transportation and helps to prevent wastage to a large extent.
20. What is cable transport?
Ans. The mode of transport constructed with the help of cables to connect different places is called cable transport. They are of great importance in hilly areas and in mining regions. They can be used for transporting people, mineral resources, food, water, etc. Cable transport is a wider term related to ropeways. Cable transports may be passive or they may be driven and passangers or items can be moved by pulling, sliding, sailing or by drivers operating the vehicles along the cableways. Using pulleys and balancing loads moving up and down the cableways are common elements associated with cable transportation.
21. What is an ‘entrepot’?
Ans. The ports which basically import, store or trade goods mostly as part of re-exporting activities without any additional processing or repackaging charges are called entrepot. At the entreport, goods do not face any import or export duties upon shipment from the port. E.g.-Kollam port of Kerala.
22. What is the difference between transport and communication?
Ans. Transport refers to the movement of people or goods from one place to the other by means of a vehicle. Communication refers to contact and exchange of information between people or between places. It may or may not include physical displacement of goods or people.
23. How does road transport influence industrial growth?
Ans. Road transport helps to carry raw materials to factories and finished products to the markets for industries which do not need long distance movement of goods. Road transport is cheaper and profitable for regional transportation. They influence growth of industries in a region to a great extent.
24. How does water transport influence industrial growth?
Ans. Water transport is cheap and profitable and plays a very important role in international trade. Many industries tend to grow near port areas, so that they can easily trade with foreign countries by exporting their goods through the waterways. Hence, presence of ports and waterways promote industrial growth of a country to a great extent.
25. What are rural roads?
Ans. The roads spread over in the rural areas are called rural roads. Generally, they are unmetalled or semi-metalled, narrow and run in undefined zigzag patterns. They are mainly constructed to enable to and fro movement of people and resources. They may be owned by the government or by private parties.
26. Why are waterways also known as ‘life-lines of development’?
Ans. Waterways are also known as ‘lifelines of development’, as they are the chief means of transport used for trade and commerce. 1. External trade or export-import trade mostly depends on waterways. 2. Cost of transportation is the cheapest through waterways. 3. The trade and commerce of countries surrounded by oceans mostly depend on waterways.
27. What is an Ocean Liner?
Ans. The ships that move through specific waterways and transport goods and passengers are called Ocean Liners. Cargo vessels are at times called Ocean liners. But, these exclude short distance trading vessels or cruise ships. These move at a comparatively high speed and through specific routes. Transportation by Ocean Liners is a little costlier than those by other water vessels.
28. What is a ‘Tramp’?
Ans. A ‘Tramp’ is a ship or water vessel that does not have a fixed schedule of journey or fixed ports to visit. They are slow moving ships that trade on spot markets.as and when necessary. Usually, the commodities traded on Tramp ships are- coal, timber, bulky minerals, raw materials for industrial use, etc.
29. What are cargo ships?
Ans. Cargo ships are those that transport goods to specific countries through specific routes within a specific period of time. Commodities mostly traded with the help of cargo ships are mineral oil, iron and steel, valuable timber, etc.
30. What is ‘Vayudoot’?
Ans. The domestic air transport provided by a joint venture between Indian Airlines and Air India is known as ‘Vayudoot’. The aircrafts that are used in Vayudoot are usually small, have lesser number of seats and ply over short distances.
31. What is ‘Pavan Hans’?
Ans. The helicopter service provided by the central government is known as ‘Pavan Hans’. This service is generally provided in regions having off-shore mineral oil mines. This is also available in some hilly regions for transportation over short distances.
32. What do you known about the ‘Circular Rail’ in Kolkata?
Ans. The ‘Circular Rail’ service has been arranged encircling the entire city of Kolkata for easy and comfortable transportation of passengers and vendors. It runs on a circular rail route that starts from and terminates at Dumdum junction and connects numerous stations like Baghbazar, Princep Ghat, Patipukur, Kidderpore, etc. It is operated by the Eastern Railway Zone of the Indian Railways.
33. What is the role of railways in the development of agriculture in India?
Ans. Railways play a very important role in the development of agriculture in India. Railways help in transporting seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, agricultural equipment, etc., to the farmers in bulk amounts and also carry the agricultural produce to the markets all over the country.
34. What do you mean by communication?
Ans. The process of exchange of information, news and feelings between two persons or between a group of persons is known as communication. Communication can occur with physical displacement of the people or from a distance. Telephone, fax and internet are modern means communication.
35. Mention two uses of mobile phones.
Ans. 1. Mobile phones help in communication between people from anywhere in the world. 2. Mobile phones are also used for taking photographs, sending SMS and MMS and access the internet.
36. What is the function of internet?
Ans. Internet enables access to data and information about any topic from anywhere in the world. It is also used to send ho messages, e-mails, information, download cinemas, songs and many other important information.
37. What do you mean by teledensity?
Ans. The number of people using telephone connection in an area per 100 individuals is called teledensity. Teledensity is an indicator of the usage of advanced communication systems. This was first introduced in the British Isles.
38. What do you mean by modern communication system.
Ans. The exchange of information, data, messages or knowledge with the help of computers and mobile phones through satellites is known as modern communication system. Information can be transmitted or conveyed at a lightening fast speed.
39. What do you mean by an e-mail?
Ans. An e-mail or an electronic mail is a letter, information, data, photograph or message sent by one person to another via the internet within a few minutes from anywhere in the world.
40. What is a cell phone?
Ans. A small device that is portable and handy, used for telecommunication through satellite networks, is called a cell phone or a mobile phone.

Multiple Choice Type Questions [MCQ type]

Write the correct answer from the given alternatives

1. Position of India in the world with respect to length of metalled road is-
A. 2nd
B. 3rd
C. 4th
D. 5th
Ans. A
2. Which country in the world ranks 1st in transportation of goods and passengers through airways?
A. USA
B. India
C. China
D. Japan
Ans. A
3. The suitable mode of transport for a short distance is-
A. Roadways
B. Railways
C.  Airways
D. Waterways
Ans. A
4. The longest railway line of the world is-
A. Kolkata-Delhi railways
B. Trans-Siberian railways
C. Trans-Caucasian railways
D. Trans-Caspian railways
Ans. B
5. Position of India in the world with respect to transportation of goods and passengers through railways is-
A. 1st
B. 2nd
C. 3rd
D. 4th
Ans. C
6. The longest railway line of India is-
A. Northern Railway
B. Southern Railway
C. Eastern Railway
D. Western Railway
Ans. A
7. Position of India in Asia with respect to spread of railway network is-
A. 1st
B. 2nd
C. 3rd
D. 4th
Ans. B
8. Number of international airports in India is-
A. 10
B. 12
C. 20
D. 33
Ans. D
9. An advantage of goods transported through roadways is-
A. Low cost of transportation
B. Fast transportation
C. Transportation to remote places
D. Increased Security
Ans. C
10. The Golden Quadrilateral is associated with-
A. Airways
B. Waterways
C. Roadways
D. Railways
Ans. C
11. The mode of transport suitable for international trade is-
A. Airways
B. Roadways
C. Waterways
D. Railways
Ans. C
12. The mode of transport suitable for perishable and costly goods is-
A. Airways
B. Roadways
C. Waterways
D. Railways
Ans. A
13. Railways was first started in India in-
A. 1853
B. 1850
C. 1901
D. 1910
Ans. A
14. Distance between the two rail lines in a metre-gauge railway is-
A. 1.68m
B. 1m
C. 0.76m
D. 0.61m
Ans. B
15. Distance between the two rail lines in a broad gauge railway is-
A. 1.68m
B. 1m
C. 0.76m
D. 0.61m
Ans. A
16. The airway service was first started in India in-
A. 1991
B. 1911
C. 1921
D. 1901
Ans. B
17. The length of the first railway line in India was-
A. 30km
B. 33.6km
C. 50km
D. 55.3km
Ans. B
18. The headquarters of Eastern Railways is located in-
A. Kolkata
B. Patna
C. Bhubaneshwar
D. Delhi
Ans. A
19. In Germany, what are controlled-access highways known as?
A. Expressways
B. Motorways
C. Autobahn
D. NH
Ans. C
20. The longest National Highway of India is-
A. NH-2
B. NH-7
C. NH-34
D. NH-1
Ans. B
21. The Grand Trunk Road runs from Kolkata via-
A. Varanasi
B. Delhi
C. Chennai
D. Mumbai.
Ans. B
22. The most well equipped port of India is-
A. Kolkata
B. Kandla
C. Mumbai
D. Kochi
Ans. B
23. The deepest port of India is-
A. Mumbai
B. Kolkata
C. Kandla
D. Krishnapatnam
Ans. D
24. The maximum amount of iron ore in India is exported through the port of-
A. Paradweep
B. Kolkata
C. Mormugao
D. Navseva
Ans. C
25. The first metro railway of India was started in-
A. Delhi
B. Mumbai
C. Chennai
D. Kolkata
Ans. D
26. Transportation through pipelines was started in India in-
A. 1900
B. 1906
C. 1947
D. 1956
Ans. D
27. Length of National Highways among all types of roadways in India is-
A. 2%
B. 2.91%
C. 2.5%
D. 2.8%
Ans. B
28. The headquarters of metro railway is located at-
A. Mumbai
B. Delhi
C. Bengaluru
D. Kolkata
Ans. D
29. The technology used to find the location of any place on the earth is known as-
A. Remote sensing
B. GPS
C. Internet
D. Telephone
Ans. B
30. The type of message sent through a telegraph machine is called-
A. Remote sensing
B. E-mail
C. Telegram
D. Internet
Ans. C
31. In 1876, the telephone was invented by-
A. Meghnad Saha
B. Jagadish Chandra Bose
C. Alexander Graham Bell
D. Guglielmo Marconi
Ans. C
32. The first computer that was run with the help of electricity-
A. Eniac
B. Lenovo
C. HP
D. Sony
Ans. A
33. A modern means of communication is- 
A. Mobile phone
B. Airways
C. Railways
D. Telegram
Ans. A
34. The telecommunication issues are looked after by-
A. BSNL
B. VSNL
C. TRAI
D. WBTA
Ans. C

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Fill in the blanks with suitable words

1. The headquarters of Central Railway is located at ……..
Ans. Mumbai CST
2. Railways were first started in West Bengal in the year ……….
Ans. 1854
3. Asian Highway is an ……….. roadway.
Ans. International
4. The cheapest mode of transport is ………
Ans. Railways
5. The Sealdah-Bongaon section of railways fall under the ……….. railways.
Ans. Eastern
6. If the distance between two rail lines is 1.68m, it is called a ……… railway line.
Ans. Broad gauge
7. The headquarters of North-East Frontier Railways in located at …………
Ans. Guwahati
8. Rivers and canals are examples of ……….. waterways.
Ans. Inland
9. Movement of goods and passengers from one place to another by means of a vehicle is known as ………
Ans. Transport
10. The length of the first railway line in India was ……….
Ans. 33.6km
11. The busiest National Highway of India is ……….
Ans. NH-19
12. There are ………… types of roadways present in India.
Ans. 7
13. The length of State Highways in India is ……….. km.
Ans. 131899km
14. The number of lanes in the Golden Quadrilateral is ……….
Ans. 4-6
15. ………. transport does not require maintenance of the path.
Ans. Waterways
16. Goods transport by inland waterways is looked after by the ………..
Ans. Central Inland Water Transport Corporation
17. Visakhapatnam is a ……….. harbour.
Ans. Natural
18. The port of Mumbai is known as the ………… to India.
Ans. Gateway
19. The place where the ships rest near a port is called a ……….
Ans. Harbour
20. The mode of transport suitable in hilly and remote areas is ………...
Ans. Roadways
21. The satellite named ……….. is used for telecommunication in India.
Ans. INSAT-3E
22. The email was first started in ………….
Ans. 1972
23. The …………. helps in finding location of a place on the earth’s surface.
Ans. GPS
24. ………….. may or may not involve physical movement of people.
Ans. Communication

Answer in one or two words

1. What is the method of moving goods and people from one place to another called?
Ans. Transportation.
2. What is the political importance of transportation system?
Ans. National integration and security.
3. What are highways known as in England?
Ans. Motorways.
4. How many types of roadways are present in India?
Ans. 7 types.
5. Which is the best mode of transport on land?
Ans. Railways.
6. Name the 3rd largest railway of the world.
Ans. Indian Railways.
7. Name the international airport in West Bengal.
Ans. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Dumdum.
8. Name an airways company of India which runs both domestic and international flights.
Ans. Air India.
9. When was the ‘Pavan Hans Limited’ formed?
Ans. 1985.
10. To which category of economic activities does transport and communication system belong to?
Ans. Tertiary Sector.
11. Which factor is the most important one to maintain a balance between demand and supply of commodities in a market?
Ans. Transportation System.
12. Which is the most widespread mode of transport used in the whole world?
Ans. Roadways.
13. Why have the frontier roadways been built?
Ans. To ensure security in the border regions.
14. Between which two places does the NH-1 lie?
Ans. Leh and Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
15. Name the highest frontier roadway of the world. Also mention its height.
Ans. Leh to Tibetan border. Height is 5639m.
16. Name a tax-free port of India.
Ans. Kandla port of Gujarat.
17. What is the main medium mostly used in communication from a distance, in the present world?
Ans. Satellites.
18. Name the government organisation providing telecommunication service in India.
Ans. BSNL.
19. Name the organisation that helps in telecommunication between India and foreign countries.
Ans. VSNL.
20. Name the largest news agency in India.
Ans. PTI (Press Trust of India).
21. When and where was the first postal service of the world started?
Ans. China in 900 B.C.
22. Which country has the largest postal system in the world?
Ans. India.

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