Class 10 Geography Chapter 1 Question Answers - Contemporary India - II

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: ‘‘Manufacturing sector is considered as the backbone of economic development of a country.’’ Support the statement with examples. [CBSE (F) 2017]
Ans: Manufacturing sector:
(i) It helps in modernizing agriculture.
(ii) Helps in providing jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.
(iii) Reduces unemployment and poverty.
(iv) It brings down the regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and backward areas.
(v) Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce.
(vi) It brings in much needed foreign exchange.
(vii) Example- Cotton textile, Iron and Steel industry, etc.

Q2: How can agriculture and industry go hand in hand?
Ans: The agro industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its production. It produces equipments like tractors, harvesters, threshers, etc.
On the other hand, industries are run on agricultural products like cotton, sugarcane, jute, edible oils, etc.

Q3: “Industrialization and urbanisation go hand in hand.” Validate the statement. [CBSE Sample Paper 2016]
Ans: After an industrial activity starts in a town, urbanisation follows. Industry provides employment to the people of the area. Population migrates from rural hinterlands to seek jobs, Housing and transport facilities are developed to accommodate these people. Other infrastructural developments take place leading to growth and development of the town into a city.
Sometimes, industries are located in or near the cities. Cities provide markets and services such as banking, insurance, transport, labour, consultants and financial advice, etc. to the industry. Thus, industrialisation and urbanisation go hand in hand.

Q4: Analyse the role of the manufacturing sector in the economic development of India. [CBSE (AI) 2017]
Ans: The Role of manufacturing sector in the economic development of India:
(i) Manufacturing industries not only help in modernizing agriculture but also reduces the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income.
(ii) Eradication of Unemployment and poverty.
(iii) Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce and brings in much needed foreign exchange.
(iv) Countries that transform their raw material into a wide variety of furnished goods of higher value are prosperous.

Q5: Classify industries on the basis of their main role. How are they different from each other? [CBSE (F) 2016]
Ans: (i) Basic or key industries: These industries supply their product or raw materials to manufacture other goods; e.g., iron and steel, copper smelting and aluminium smelting.
(ii) Consumer industries: These are the industries that produce goods for direct use by consumers; e.g., sugar, toothpaste, paper, sewing machines, fans, etc.

Q6: Which factors were responsible for the concentration of cotton textile industries in Maharashtra and Gujarat?
Ans:

• Raw cotton is easily available in and around that area because of the black cotton soil.
• Transport including accessible port facilities for export of cotton goods.
• Cheap and skilled labour is available around that area.
• Favourable moist climate contribute towards its localisation.

Q7: What problems are faced by the cotton textile industry?
Ans:

• Power supply remains erratic, thereby, affecting its production.
• Machinery needs to be upgraded in the weaving and processing sectors particularly.
• There is lower output of labour, since they are not skilled in their jobs.
• There is a stiff competition with the synthetic fibre industry.

Q8: What efforts were made by the government to stimulate demands of jute in the market?
Ans:

• In 2005, the National Jute Policy was formulated with the objective of increasing production.
• Efforts would be made to improve production and introduce some new products of jute-like fabric.
• Government can ensure good prices to the jute farmers, enhancing the yield per hectare.

Q9: Why do you feel that there are plans to shift sugar mills to South India?
Ans: Reasons to shift sugar mills:
(i) Sugarcane produced in these states have higher sugar content.
(ii) The cooler climate also ensures a longer crushing season.
(iii) The cooperatives are more successful in these states.
(iv) If sugarcane is transported from South to North India, due to delays in trains, sugarcane loses its sugar content as it is a perishable good.

Q10: “Agriculture and industry are complimentary to each other.” Support the statement with three examples. [CBSE (Comptt.) 2017]
Ans: Agriculture and industry both depend on each other
(i) Agriculture supplies raw material for the manufacturing industries. Shortage of these raw materials can spell doom for the industry.
(ii) Agriculture gets its basic inputs form the manufacturing industries.
(iii) In this way agriculture offers a big market for industrial products, fertilizers, water pumps, tractors, farm equipment etc.
(iv) In short, agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other they move hand in hand.

Long Answer Type Questions
Q11: What factors are required to set up an industry in a region?
Ans: Factors required to set up an industry:
(i) Availability of raw materials: Raw materials should be easily available from nearby areas only.
(ii) Labour: Labour should be skilled and easily available from the neighbouring areas only.
(iii) Power supply: Without power supply, an industry cannot run, so it should also be available as per the requirements.
(iv) Market: If it is a heavy material and a perishable good, market for the sale of the goods should also be available in a nearby area only.

Q12: What are the major drawbacks for the cotton textile industry?
Ans: Major drawbacks:

• India has a large share in the world trade of cotton yarn but its trade in readymade garments is only 4 per cent of the world’s total.
• India’s spinning mills are competitive at the global level and capable of using all the fibres produced.
• But the weaving, knitting and processing units cannot use much of the high quality yarn that is produced in the country.
• There are some large and modern factories in these segments, but most of the productions are in fragmented small units, which cater to the local market.
• This mismatch is a major drawback for the industry. As a result, many Indian spinners export cotton yarn while garment manufacturers have to import fabric.

Q13: Why are jute mills concentrated along the Hoogly River? Explain giving reasons.
OR
“Jute industry is concentrated in the Hugli basin”. Validate the statement with three suitable reasons. [CBSE Sample Paper 2017]
Ans: Reasons for concentration of jute mills along the Hoogly River:

• West Bengal is the storehouse of jute. It produces the highest quantity of jute.
• The industry requires a lot of water which is easily available from the Hoogly River.
• Cheap labour is easily available because of migrating labour from neighbouring states of Bihar and Odisha.
• Inexpensive water transport in the river Hoogly is available.
• A large urban sector in Kolkata provides banking, insurance and loan facilities.
• Kolkata is a good harbour which can provide facilities for the export of jute products in various parts of the world.

Q14: What is the contribution of manufacturing industry to the national economy?
Ans:

• Over the last two decades, the share of manufacturing sector has stagnated to 17 per cent of the GDP, which is required to be increased.
• The trend of growth rate in manufacturing over the last decade is around 7 per cent per annum, whereas the desired growth rate is 12 per cent.
• Since 2003, manufacturing is once again growing at the rate of 9 to 10 per cent per annum.
• With proper policies of the government and efforts by the industry to improve productivity, economists predict that manufacturing can achieve its target over the next decade.
• The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) has been set up with this objective.

Q15: Classify industries on the basis of ownership.
Ans: On the basis of ownership, industries can be classified as:
(i) Public Sector: These industries are owned and operated by the government agencies.
(ii) Private Sector: These industries are owned and operated by private entrepreneurs, e.g., TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Reliance Industries, Dabur Industries, etc.
(iii) Joint Sector: These industries are jointly run by the state and individual or a group of individuals. Oil India Ltd. (OIL) is jointly owned by public and private sectors.
(iv) Cooperative Sector: These industries are owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw materials, workers or both. They pool in the resources and share the profits or losses proportionately such as the sugar industry in Maharashtra, the coir industry in Kerala.

Q16: What is the status of India in jute production?
Ans: India is the largest producer of raw jute and jute goods and stands at second place as an exporter after Bangladesh. There are about 70 jute mills in India. Most of these are located in West Bengal, mainly along the banks of the Hugli River, in a narrow belt. The first jute mill was set up near Kolkata in 1859 at Rishra. After partition in 1947, the jute mills remained in India but three fourths of the jute producing areas became part of Bangladesh.

Q17: Explain any two main challenges faced by the jute industry in India. Explain any three objectives of National Jute Policy.
Ans: Challenges faced by the jute industry:
(i) Stiff competition in the international market from synthetic substitutes.
(ii) To stimulate the demand of the products need to be diversified.
(iii) Stiff competition from the other competitors like Bangladesh, Brazil etc.
Objective of National Jute policy:
(i) Increasing productivity
(ii) Improving quality.
(iii) Ensuring good prices to the jute farmers.
(iv) Enhancing the yield per hectare.

Q18: What is India’s status in chemicals production?
Ans: The chemical industry in India is growing fast and diversifying. It contributes approximately three per cent of the GDP. It is the third largest in Asia and occupies the twelfth place in the world in terms of its size. It comprises both large-scale and small-scale manufacturing units. Rapid growth has been recorded in both inorganic and organic sectors.

Q19: What is the status of cement industry in India?
Ans: The first cement plant was set up in Chennai in 1904. After Independence, the industry expanded. Decontrol of price and distribution since 1989 and other policy reforms led the cement industry to make rapid strides in capacity, process, technology and production. There are 128 large plants and 332 mini cement plants in the country. India produces a variety of cement, which is needed for domestic as well as international market.

Q20: What is the current position of automobile industry in India?
Ans: Automobile industry provides vehicle for quick transport of goods and passengers. Trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers and multi-utility vehicles are manufactured in India at various centres. After the liberalisation, the coming in of new and contemporary models stimulated the demand for vehicles in the market, which led to the healthy growth of the industry including passenger cars, two and three-wheelers. The industry had experienced a quantum jump in less than 15 years. Foreign Direct Investment brought in new technology and aligned the industry with global developments.