Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science Geography with Answers

One of the best resources to prepare for the exams is to solve these CBSE Class 10 Geography Important Questions we have compiled here. Students will find it easier to revise the subject with the help of these questions. These CBSE Class 10 important questions of Geography cover all the essential topics from the chapters of the NCERT books, based on which the exam papers are formulated.

Students can find and download the chapter-wise CBSE Important Questions of Geography from the respective links provided in the table below:

  1. Resources and Development Class 10 Important Questions
  2. Forest and Wildlife Resources Class 10 Important Questions
  3. Water Resources Class 10 Important Questions
  4. Agriculture Class 10 Important Questions
  5. Minerals and Energy Resources Class 10 Important Questions
  6. Manufacturing Industries Class 10 Important Questions
  7. Lifelines of National Economy Class 10 Important Questions

Resources and Development Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
What do you understand by a ‘Resource’? Give examples. (2015)
Answer:
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, is called a resource. It should be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable. Only then, it can be termed as a ‘Resource’. Examples are: minerals, forests, fossil fuels etc..

Question 2.
“Resources are a function of human activities.” Justify this statement.
Answer:
Mere presence of resources, as free gifts of nature, does not make them resources. Human beings are essential components of resources because they transform material available in our environment into resources. The utility of resources depends on the stage of cultural development of man and the tools and technology used by him.

Question 3.
Write the classification of resources on four different bases. (2015)
Answer:
Resources can be classified in the following four ways:
(a) On the basis of Origin:

  • Biotic
  • Abiotic

(b) On the basis of exhaustibility:

  • Renewable
  • Non-renewable

(c) On the basis of ownership:

  • Individual (Personal)
  • Community
  • National
  • International

(d) On the basis of status and development:

  • Potential
  • Developed
  • Reserve
  • Stock

Question 4.
Explain the classification of resources on the basis of origin and give one example of each.
Answer:
On the basis of origin, resources can be classified as Biotic and Abiotic.
Biotic Resources are obtained from the biosphere. They have life or are living resources, e.g., human beings, fisheries, forests, etc.
Abiotic Resources include all non-living things, e.g., rocks and minerals.

Question 5.
Classify the resources on the basis of exhaustibility and give two examples of each.
Answer:
On the basis of exhaustibility, resources can be classified as: Renewable and Non-renewable.

Renewable Resources. The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical and mechanical processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources, e.g., water, wildlife, forests, solar energy, wind energy etc.

Non-renewable Resources. The resources which once get exhausted, cannot be remade. They take a long geological period of time, i.e., millions of years in their formation, e.g., minerals, fossil fuels etc.

Question 6.
Write two types of renewable resources and give one example of each type.
Answer:
Two types of renewable resources are as follows:

  1. Continuous or Flow Resources, e.g., wind and water resources.
  2. Biological Resources, e.g., natural vegetation (forests) and wildlife.

Question 7.
Write two characteristics of non-renewable resources and write their two broad categories with examples.
Answer:
Two characteristics of non-renewable resources:

  1. They cannot be recycled and get exhausted with their use.
  2. They take millions of years in their formation.

Two broad categories of non-renewable resources:

  1. Recyclable resources, e.g., metals.
  2. Non-recyclable resources, e.g., fossil fuels.

Question 8.
Give any two examples of non-renewable resources. (2015)
Answer:
Non-renewable resources are resources which once get exhausted, cannot be remade. They take a long geological period of time, i.e., millions of years, in their formation, e.g., minerals, fossil fuels, etc.

Question 9.
Explain four types of resources based on ownership and give one example of each type. (2014)
Answer:
On the basis of ownership, there are four types of resources:

  1. Individual Resources. Resources, which are owned privately by individuals, e.g., farmers own
    pieces of land or houses. Plantation, pasture lands, water in wells are some resources owned by individuals.
  2. Community Owned Resources. These resources are accessible to all the members of the community, e.g., village ponds, public parks, playgrounds in urban areas are accessible to all the residents of that area.
  3. National Resources. All the resources within the political boundary of a nation including the territorial water (oceanic area upto 12 nautical miles from the coast) extending into the ocean and resources therein belong to the nation, e.g., all minerals, forests, wildlife, water resources, land etc.
  4. International Resources. There are international institutions which own and regulate some resources, e.g., The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to the open ocean and no individual country can utilise these without the concurrence of international institutions.

Question 10.
Distinguish between the following:
1. Potential and Developed Resources;
2. Stock and Reserves.
Answer:
1. Potential Resources. Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised, e.g.r Gujarat and Rajasthan have a lot of potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far they have not been developed fully.
Developed Resources. Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation. The development of resources depends on technology and level of their feasibility, e.g., water resources used for hydel power generation or irrigation purposes.

2. Stock. Materials in the environment, which have the potential to satisfy human needs but man does not have the appropriate technology to access them are included among stock, e.g. water is a compound of two inflammable gases: hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used as a rich Source of energy. But we do not have the required technical know-how to use them for this purpose. Reserves. Reserves are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing technical ‘know-how’ but their full use has been postponed for meeting the future needs, e.g., forest reserves, iron-ore reserves, water in the dams etc.

Question 11.
Name the categories under which natural resources can be grouped on the basis of state of development.
Answer:

  1. Potential Resources
  2. Developed Resources
  3. Stock
  4. Reserves.

Question 12.
How are natural resources important for man? Give five points.
Answer:
Importance of resources for man:

  1. Resources are vital for human survival.
  2. They are important for maintaining the quality of life as man has been using the bio-physical environment to satisfy his needs.
  3. Natural resources form the backbone of the economy of a nation.
  4. These are the bases for economic strength and prosperity of the people.
  5. They provide material, energy and favourable conditions for development.

Question 13.
List the problems which resulted due to indiscriminate use of resources by man.
Answer:

  1. It has resulted in depletion of many resources.
  2. Accumulation of resources in few hands which, in turn, divided the society in two segments, i.e., haves and have-nots or rich and poor.
  3. It has led to the global ecological crisis, e.g., global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution, land degradation, etc.

Question 14.
“Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence.” Discuss.
Answer:
Sustainable existence is a component of sustainable development which aims at development without damaging the environment and at the same time conserving for future generation. Therefore, resource planning is necessary for judicious, rational and equitable distribution and proper utilisation of resources. It has become essential for a sustained quality of life and global peace.

Question 15.
What do you understand by ‘sustainable economic development’?
Answer:
Sustainable economic development means that ‘development should take place without damaging the environment and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of future generation.’

Question 16.
Why is ‘Resource Planning’ necessary? Give reasons.
Answer:
Planning is necessary for proper and judicious utilisation of resources.
Reasons for resource planning:

  1. Resource availability is not the same in all parts of the country.
  2. Resources, especially non-renewable resources, need extra care as they Cannot be renewed.
  3. There is acute shortage or deficiency of some resources.
  4. Resource planning helps in proper utilisation of resources by reducing wastage. It takes care of future needs and may sustain the environment.

Question 17.
“India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources.” Name four varied regions to justify this statement.
Answer:
There are regions which are rich or self-sufficient in certain types of resources and there are areas that are deficient or have acute shortage of some vital resources.
For example:

  1. The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.
  2. Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural development.
  3. Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.
  4. The cold desert area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage. It is deficient in water, infrastructure and some vital minerals.
    Such cases call for balanced resource planning at different levels.

Question 18.
Explain three stages of ‘resource planning.’ (2015)
Answer:
Three stages of resource planning:

  1. Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying, mapping and the qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.
  2. Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for implementing resource development plAnswer:
  3. Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plAnswer:

Question 19.
“Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources in a country like India”. Justify this statement with two relevant points and an example. (2013)
Answer:
India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources. Through planning, regions which have shortage of vital resources and those having adequate quantities, receive equal attention.

  1. There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but are deficient in some other resources.
    For example: Arunachal has abundance of water but lacks in infrastructural development.
  2. There are some regions which can be considered self sufficient in terms of availability of resources. For example: The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.
  3. There are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
    For example: The state of Rajasthan is well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.

Question 20.
Write four factors which determine resource development in a region.
Answer:
Four factors involved in the development of resources are:

  1. Availability of resources
  2. Level of technology
  3. Quality of human resources
  4. Historical experiences of the people

Question 21.
What do you understand by ‘conservation of resources’? Why is it necessary to conserve our resources? Give three reasons.
Answer:
Conservation is judicious and planned use of natural resources for sustainable benefit to the present generation. It also maintains a potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.
Three reasons for conservation:

  1. Our resources are limited in nature, therefore they have to be frugally used.
  2. Many of the resources are non-renewable in nature, therefore extra care has to be taken.
  3. Their conservation is necessary for our own sustenance and for the ongoing economic developmental processes.

Question 22.
Explain the concept of resource conservation as voiced by Gandhiji. (2012)
Or
Whom did Gandhiji make responsible for the depletion of resources at the global level?
Answer:
Gandhiji voiced his concern about resource conservation in these Words: “There is enough far everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.” He placed the greedy and selfish individuals as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level. He was against ‘mass production’ and wanted to replace it with ‘production by the masses’.

  1. Indiscriminate use of resources by human beings has led to the depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
  2. Irrational consumption and over-utilization of resources leads to socio-economic and environmental problems.

Question 23.
Write four institutional efforts made at global level for ‘resource conservation’.
Answer:

  1. At the international level, the Club of Rome advocated resource conservation for the first time in a more systematic way in 1968.
  2. In 1974, the Gandhian Philosophy was presented once again by Schumacher in his book “Small is Beautiful”.
  3. Brundtland Commission Report in 1987, introduced the concept of ‘sustainable development’ and advocated it as a means for resource conservation. This was subsequently published in a book entitled “Our Common Future”.
  4. In June 1992, the first ‘International Earth Summit’ was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, in which 100 heads of States met for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development at the global level.

Question 24.
Write the major features of Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.
Answer:

  1. In 1992,100 heads of States met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first ‘International Earth Summit’.
  2. The summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of:
    • environmental protection and
    • socio-economic development at global level.
  3. The assembled leaders signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and the Biological Diversity.
  4. The Rio convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted ‘Agenda 21’ for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty and diseases through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.

Question 25.
“The future generation may not have sufficient resources as compared to the present generation”. Justify the statement by giving suitable examples. (2012)
Or
Why is the issue of sustainability relevant for development?
Answer:
Present sources of energy in India are coal, petroleum, natural gas, solar energy, wind energy, hydel power, electricity, wood for fire, cow dung etc. Most of these are non-renewable sources of energy which may get exhausted after some time. These are available in limited quantities. The present rate of consumption is higher than the rate at which these resources are being replenished and should be preserved for our future generations.

In fifty years’ time, India may depend largely on non-conventional sources of energy which are available in abundance such as solar energy, hydel energy, wind energy etc. The total hydel power potential in India is estimated at 1,50,000 MW of which only one-sixth has been developed so far.

  1. Development of a country needs to be continuous. Every country would like to have the level of development go up further.
  2. Many scientists have warned that the present levels of development cannot be sustained for the future as the present rate of consumption of both renewable and non-renewable resources is very high. Rapid industrialisation has led to environment degradation.
  3. Sustainability development aims at development without damaging the environment and at the same time conserving for the future.
  4. Sustainability of development is essential not only for the present generation but also for future generations to ensure a good life.

Land Resources

Question 26.
Why is land as a resource important for us? Write four points.
Answer:

  1. 95% of our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter are derived from land.
  2. We live on land and use it in different ways, e.g. for agriculture, for transport and communication systems, etc.
  3. We perform our economic activities on land.
  4. It supports natural vegetation, wildlife and human life.

Question 27.
Why land-use should be done in a planned manner? Write two points.
Answer:

  1. Land is a fixed asset.
  2. As land is used for varied purposes and activities and for human sustenance, therefore it is important to use the available land for various purposes with careful planning.

Question 28.
Look at the picture and name three major relief features of India and their respective share in the total area.
Answer:
Three major relief features:
1. Plains — 43%
2. Mountains — 30%
3. Plateaus — 27%
Social Science Class 10 Important Questions Geography Chapter 1 Resources and Development 1

Question 29.
Name the relief feature occupying the largest area, along with its percentage share in the total area.
Answer:
Plains occupy the largest area having 43% share in the total area.

Question 30.
Name three main relief features of India and write the importance of each.
Answer:

Relief Features Their Importance /Uses
1. Plains (i) provide facilities for agriculture.(ii) provide facilities for industrial development.

(iii) because of their level, nature and ease of construction, plains support huge population of the country.

2. Mountains (i) ensure perennial flow of some rivers and many rivers rise from them.(ii)     provide facilities for tourism.

(iii)    are important from ecological point of view, e.g. have lot of forest wealth and wildlife.

3. Plateaus (i)     possess rich reserves of minerals.(ii)     contain lot of fossil fuels, especially coal.

(iii)    possess rich forest cover.

Question 31.
Look at the picture and explain the land-use pattern in India. Why has land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?
Social Science Class 10 Important Questions Geography Chapter 1 Resources and Development 2
Answer:
The major land-use categories and their percentage share is:

  1. Net sown area, where regular agriculture is done — 43.41%.
  2. Forests, 22.57% of the total land is covered by forests.
  3. Barren and waste land — 6.29%.
  4. Area under non-agricultural use — 7.92%.
  5. Permanent pastures and grazing land — 3.45%.
  6. Area under miscellaneous tree crops and groves — 1.1%.
  7. Culturable waste land — 4.41 %
  8. Fallows other than current fallows — 3.82%
  9. Current fallow – 7.03%

The land under forests has increased marginally by about 4.46%. From 18.11% in 1960-61, it is still only 22.57% which is far lower than the desired 33% as outlined by the National Forest Policy (1952).
Reasons for marginal increase in forest area:

  1. increasing population
  2. technological developments
  3. expansion of agriculture
  4. development of transport and communication facilities
  5. overgrazing
  6. felling of trees

All these exert great pressure on land thus causing further depletion of forests.

Question 32.
Distinguish between each of the following:
(a) Current fallow and other than current fallow land
(b) Waste-land and culturable waste-land
(c) Net sown area and gross cropped area.
Answer:
(a) Current fallow land. Land left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year.
Other than current fallow land. Land left uncultivated for the past one to five agricultural years.
(b) Waste land. It includes rocky, arid and desert areas which are lying waste at the moment. Culturable waste land. Arable land which is left uncultivated for more than five agricultural years.
(c) Net Sown Area. It is the total area under cultivation.
Gross Cropped Area. Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net sown area.

Question 33.
What do you understand by ‘reported area’? What is the reported area of India and why? Give two major reasons.
Answer:
The percentage of total area for which land-use statistics (data) are available, is termed as ‘reported area’. India’s reported area is 93%.
Reasons:

  • Because the land-use reporting for most of the north-eastern states, except Assam, has not been done.
  • Some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have not been surveyed.

Question 34.
Write three physical and three human factors which determine the use of land.
Answer:
Physical Factors:

  • Topography
  • Climate
  • Soil types

Human Factors:

  • Population density
  • Technological capability
  • Culture and traditions

Question 35.
Why are the other than current fallow-lands cultivated once or twice in about two to three years? Give two reasons.
Answer:
Two reasons are:

  1. These lands may be of poor quality.
  2. The cost of cultivation of such lands is very high.

Question 36.
“The pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another.”
Or
Name two states having high net sown area and two states having low net sown area. Give two reasons for each.
Answer:
Punjab and Haryana are two states, which have more than 80% of their total area as N.S.A. (Net Sown Area) because:

  1. They are agriculturally rich States because of favourable climatic conditions for the growth of crops and levelled fertile nature of land.
  2. Irrigation facilities are well-developed here.

States with low N.S.A. i.e., less than 10% are Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram because:

  1. The nature of land is hilly and forested, therefore availability of arable land is less.
  2. Economic backwardness and climatic conditions also do not encourage large scale agricultural activities.

Question 37.
According to National Forest Policy, how much of the country’s area should be under forest cover and why? Give two considerations for this norm. Have we been able to meet this norm?
Answer:
According to National Forest Policy, 33% of the country’s total area should be under forest cover.
Reasons:

  1. It is considered essential for the maintenance of ecological balance.
  2. The livelihood of millions of people who live on the fringe of these forests depends on these forests.

We have 22.57% area under forests which is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as outlined by National Forest Policy.

Question 38.
What is land degradation? What is the area of degraded land in India? Name four types of waste-lands and their percentage share respectively.
Answer:
Damage to the land, bringing down its quality is called land degradation.
Continuous use of land over a long period of time without taking appropriate measures to conserve and manage it, results in land degradation. India has 130 million hectares of degraded land.
Four categories of waste-lands:

  1. Water eroded area .. 56%
  2. Forest degraded area .. 28%
  3. Wind eroded area .. 10%
  4. Saline and Alkaline land .. 6%

Question 39.
Write six human activities which have caused land degradation.
Answer:

  1. Deforestation
  2. Overgrazing
  3. Mining activities — mining sites are abandoned after excavation leaving deep scars and traces of over-burdening.
  4. Mineral processing produces large quantities of dust in the atmosphere, which on settling down on land, retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil.
  5. Over-irrigation leads to waterlogging which increases salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
  6. Industrial effluents — such wastes cause land and water pollution.

Question 40.
Which factor is mainly responsible for maximum land degradation in India? (2015)
Answer:
Over-grazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation. States where over-grazing has resulted in land degradation are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Question 41.
Distinguish between biotic and abiotic resources by stating four points.
Answer:
Difference between biotic and abiotic resources

Biotic resources Abiotic resources
(i) The resources which are obtained from biosphere are biotic resources. (i) All those things which are composed of non­living things are called abitoic resources.
(ii) They have life. (ii) They do not have life.
(iii) These include flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock, human beings, etc. (iii) These incoude rocks, metals, land, air, mountains, rivers, etc.
(iv) Minerals such as coal and petroleum are included in this category because they were formed from decayed organic matter. (iv) Minerals such as gold, iron, copper, silver, etc. come in this category.

Question 42.
Name three states each in which land degradation is caused due to

  1. over-irrigation
  2. over-grazing
  3. deforestation due to mining activities

Answer:

  1. Three states where over-irrigation has resulted in land degradation are Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh.
  2. Due to over-grazing. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
  3. Deforestation due to mining activities has led to land degradation in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh.

Question 43.
Write some measures/ways to solve problems of land degradation. (2014)
Answer:
Measures to conserve land:

  1. Afforestation.
  2. Proper management of grazing to control over-grazing.
  3. Planting of shelter belts of plants.
  4. Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
  5. Control of mining activities.
  6. Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment.
  7. Proper management of waste-lands
  8. Avoid over-irrigation, especially in dry areas.
  9. Avoid overuse of fertilisers and pesticides.

Soil As A Resouce

Question 44.
What is soil? How is it an important resource for us?
Answer:
Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust which is loose, fragmented and fine. It is rich in both organic (humus) and inorganic materials and supports plant growth.
Soil is a living system. It takes millions of years to form soil upto a few cm in depth.
It is an important resource because:

  • It is the medium of plant growth.
  • It supports different types of living organisms on earth.

Question 45.
Write the main factors responsible for soil formation.
Answer:
Soil is a living system. It takes millions of years to form soil up to a few centimeters in depth.
Factors responsible for soil formation are:

  1. Parent rock or bed rock on which the soils are formed, disintegrate and decompose under the process of weathering and erosion.
  2. Climate: It determines the rate of weathering.
  3. Relief, vegetation, other forms of life and time are other important factors in the formation of soils.
  4. Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, actions of running water, wind and glaciers, activities of decomposers etc. also contribute to the formation of soil.
  5. Chemical and organic changes which take place in soil, also play a role in its formation.

Question 46.
Write four factors which are responsible for varied types of soils in India.
Answer:
Factors:

  1. Varied relief features
  2. Varied land forms
  3. Varied climatic realms
  4. Varied vegetation types.

Question 47.
On what basis are soils classified into different types?
Answer:
Basis of classification of soils:

  1. Colour
  2. Thickness
  3.  Texture
  4. Age
  5. Chemical and physical properties
  6. Factors responsible for soil formation.

Question 48.
Name six types of soils found in India. Which is the most widely spread soil? Name one major region where it is found.
Answer:

  1. Alluvial soil
  2. Red and yellow soil
  3. Black soil
  4. Laterite soil
  5. Arid soil
  6. Forest and mountainous soils

Alluvial soil is the most widely spread soil.
The entire northern plains are made of alluvial soil.

Question 49.
Write three regional/local names of areas where you find coarse alluvial soil and name one deltaic area which has fine alluvial soil.
Answer:
Coarse alluvial soil is more common in piedmont plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai.
Fine alluvial soil is found in the eastern coastal plains in the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rivers.

Question 50.
Classify alluvial soils on the basis of their age. Write two characteristics of each.
Answer:
According to their age, alluvial soils are of two types: Bangar and Khadar.

Bangar Khadar
(i) It is old alluvial soil. (i) It is new alluvial soil.
(ii) It has higher concentration of ‘kankar’ nodules. (ii) It has more fine particles.
(iii) It is coarser and is found in the old river terraces. (iii) It is more fertile than ‘Bangar’ and is found in flood plains.

Question 51.
Write the main characteristics of alluvial soils.
Answer:

  1. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. They consist of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
  2. They contain adequate proportion of potash, lime and phosphoric acid. They are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
  3. Due to its high fertility, regions of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and are densely populated.
  4. Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment and irrigation.

Question 52.
Give the distribution of alluvial soils in brief.
Answer:
The entire northern plains are made up of alluvial soils.

  • These have been deposited by three important Himalayan river systems
  • the Indus. Ganga and Brahmaputra.
  • These soils also extend into Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor.
  • These are also found in the eastern coastal plains in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rivers.

Question 53.
Write two factors which are responsible for the formation of black soils. Name four States where they are found. Name the crop mainly grown in it.
Answer:
Two factors are:

  1. The climatic conditions
  2. The parent rock material.

Four states in which black soils are found are: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton and is also called black cotton soil.

Question 54.
Write six characteristics of regur soils (black soils). (2015)
Answer:

  1. They are made up of extremely fine, i.e. clayey material.
  2. They have capacity to hold moisture that makes them ideal for growing cotton.
  3. They are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
  4. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
  5. They develop deep cracks during dry hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of soil.
  6. These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after the first shower.

Question 55.
Give the distribution of black/regur Soil. (2015)
Answer:
This soil is typical of the Deccan Trap region.

  • It is spread over north west Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
  • This soil covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh and extends along the Godavari and Krishna Valleys.

Question 56.
In what broad category do the soils of Maharashtra fall? (2014)
Answer:
Black soil region also known as regur soils.

Question 57.
What is regur soil? Write its two features. Mention any two regions where regur soil is found.
Answer:
Regur soil is soil which is made up of extremely fine, i.e., clayey material.
Features:

  1. They have capacity to hold moisture that makes them ideal for growing cotton.
  2. They are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime.
  3. These soils are generally poor in phosphoric contents.
  4. They develop deep cracks during dry hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration of soil.
  5. These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after the first shower.

Regions where regur soil is found:

  1. This soil is typical of the Deccan Trap region.
  2. It is spread over north west Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
  3. This soil covers the plateaus of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and extends along the Godavari and Krishna Valleys.

Question 58.
Write the distribution of red and yellow soils. Give reasons for their colour.
Or
How does red soil develop and in which part of India? What makes it look red and yellow?
Answer:
In Eastern and Southern parts of Deccan plateau, red soils have developed on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall. They are also found in parts of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Southern parts of the middle Ganga Plains and along the piedmont zone of Western Ghats.

These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.

Question 59.
Write four characteristics of laterite soils. Why are they called laterite?
Answer:

  1. They are highly leached soils.
  2. They develop in areas of heavy rainfall and high temperature.
  3. They have low ‘humus’ content, because most of the micro-organisms particularly decomposers like bacteria get destroyed due to high temperature.
  4. These soils can be cultivated with adequate doses of manure and fertilisers.
    The word laterite has been derived from the Latin word ‘late/ which means brick. Since their colour is red and resembles brick colour, these soils are called laterite soils.

Question 60.
Write six states which have laterite soils and name the important crops which grow well in these soils.
Answer:
Six states in which laterite soils are found: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and the hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
Crops which grow well in these soils are: tea, coffee and cashew-nuts.

Question 61.
Write the main characteristics of arid soils. (2014)
Answer:

  1. Arid soils range from red to brown in colour.
  2. They have a sandy texture.
  3. They are saline in nature. In areas where salt content in high, common salt is obtained by evaporation.
  4. Arid soil lacks humus and is moisture deficient.
  5. The lower horizons of the soil have kankars because of high calcium content which restrict infiltration of water.
  6. Proper irrigation helps make these soils cultivable, e.g., Western Rajasthan.

Question 62.
Write the main features of forest soils. What are the different types of soils found in the hilly forested areas?
Answer:
Forest soils are mainly found in the hilly and mountainous areas where sufficient rain forests are available. The soil texture varies according to the mountain environment where they are formed. At least four types of soils can be seen in the hilly forested areas:

  1. They are loamy and silty in valley sides.
  2. They are coarse grained in upper slopes.
  3. They are highly denuded, acidic with low humus content in the snow covered areas.
  4. They are very fine and fertile in lower parts of the valley and on river terraces.

Question 63.
What is soil erosion? Write the main causes of soil erosion.
Answer:
The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil erosion.

The process of soil formation and erosion goes on simultaneously and generally there is a balance between the two. This balance is sometimes disturbed, leading to soil erosion. The main activities like deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining and also natural agents like wind, running water and glacier are the main causes of soil erosion.

Question 64.
Explain three types of soil erosion mostly observed in India. Mention human activities that are responsible for soil erosion. (2012)
Answer:

  1. Gully erosion
    The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels,
    called gullies. They make the land unfit for cultivation. Such lands are called ‘Badlands’.
  2. Sheet erosion
    Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope. In this case top layer of the soil is washed away.
  3. Wind erosion
    Wind blows off loose and dry soil from flat and sloping land causing erosion.

Question 65.
Write the land area degraded by gully erosion and name five states where gully erosion is very pronounced.
Answer:
Approximately 40 lakh hectares of land area has degraded due to gully erosion.
Five states where gully erosion is quite pronounced are: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Question 66.
Write four methods of soil conservation.
Answer:
Methods of soil conservation:

  1. Contour ploughing By ploughing along the contour lines, water will not run down the slopes.
  2. Terrace cultivation Steps can be cut on the slopes to make terraces. This restricts erosion.
  3. Strip cropping Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks the force of the wind.
  4. Planting of shelter belts The planting of trees in rows to create shelter also breaks the force of the wind and restricts soil erosion.
    Shelter belts have helped in the stabilisation of sand dunes and deserts.

Forest and Wildlife Resources Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
Name four animals and two species of flora which are on the verge of extinction.
Answer:
Animals and plants on the verge of extinction:
Four animals: Cheetah, pink-headed duck, mountain quail, forest spotted owlet.
Two plants:

  1. Wild mahua (madhuca insignis)
  2. hubbardia heptaneuron (a species of grass).

Question 2.
Name six groups of flora and fauna under which they are classified by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Answer:

  1. Normal species
    Species, whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival.
  2. Endangered species
    Species, which are in danger of extinction because their population is declining. For example, Black buck, Indian rhino, lion-tailed macaque and Indian wild ass.
  3. Vulnerable resources
    These are the species whose population has declined so much that they are likely to move into endangered category in the near future, if negative factors continue to operate. For example, Blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, Gangetic dolphin.
  4. Rare species
    Species with small population. If care is not taken they may also become endangered species. For example, Himalayan Brown bear, desert fox, wild Asiatic buffalo, hornbill.
  5. Endemic species
    Species which are only found in particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. For example, Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig.
  6. Extinct species
    These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur, i.e., the species which were existing earlier, but are not seen today.

Question 4.
Name any four resources which are obtained from our biodiversity.
Answer:
The resources are: wood, rubber, medicines and dyes.

Question 5
Write four major reasons for the depletion of forest cover.
Answer:

  1. Deforestation for agricultural purposes.
  2. Shifting cultivation which is still practised in substantial parts of tribal belts.
  3. Large-scale development of river valley projects.
  4. Mining activities have also resulted in deforestation. For example, the tiger reserve in West Bengal is seriously threatened by the ongoing dolomite mining.
  5. Environmental pollution and forest fires have also led to depletion of forests.

Question 6.
Write three adverse impacts of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve on the ecosystem.
Answer:
Adverse effects of dolomite mining in the Buxar Tiger Reserve:

  1. It has caused ecological damage.
  2. It has blocked the migration route of several species.
  3. It has disturbed the natural habitat of many species.

Question 7.
List six factors which have led to the decline in India’s biodiversity.
Answer:

  1. Habitat destruction
  2. Over-exploitation
  3. Environmental pollution
  4. Forest fires
  5. Hunting and Poaching
  6. Poisoning

Question 8.
Write four most important causes of environmental destruction/degradation.
Answer:

  1. Unequal access to resources.
  2. Inequitable consumption of resources.
  3. Differential sharing of responsibility for environmental well being.
  4. Over-population.

Question 9.
“The destruction of biodiversity is highly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity.” Give four facts to support this statement.
Answer:
Such losses have:

  1. Increasingly marginalised and impoverished many forest dependent communities.
  2. Among the poor, women are affected more than men, for women bear the major responsibility of basic subsistence needs. With the depletion of these resources, the drudgery of women increased for they had to walk for more than 10 km to collect these resources which, in turn, affected their health and negligence of home and children.
  3. The indirect impact of degradation, eg. drought or floods etc. also hits the poor the hardest.
  4. Poverty is a direct outcome of environmental destruction.

Question 10.
Why do we need to conserve our biodiversity?
Answer:
Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it:

  1. Preserves the ecological diversity.
  2. Preserves our life support systems, i.e., water, air and soil.
  3. Preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding of species.
  4. Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.

Question 11.
List various provisions made by “The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972” for protecting habitats.
Answer:

  1. An All India list of protected species was published.
  2. The thrust was on protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by-
    • banning hunting;
    • giving legal protection to their habitats and
    • restricting trade in wildlife.

Question 12.
Write four steps taken by the Government for conservation of wildlife.
Answer:
Five steps that have been taken to protect the wildlife in India:

  1. Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, an All India list of protected species was published. The thrust was on protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by –
    • banning hunting,
    • giving legal protection to their habitats and
    • restricting trade in wildlife.
  2. Many wildlife sanctuaries have been developed and National Parks have been set up.
  3. Many projects have been started for protecting specific animals which were gravely threatened, eg. Project Tiger, One-horned Rhino, the Kashmir Stag (hangul), three types of crocodiles —the fresh water, salt-water and Gharials, the Asiatic Lion, etc.
  4. Most recently, some animals have been given full or partial legal protection against hunting and trading throughout India, eg., Indian elephant, black buck, great Indian bustard and the snow leopard, etc.
  5. Setting up of biosphere reserves for conserving flora and fauna in their natural surroundings and protection of wetland ecosystems is another step taken in this direction.

Question 13.
Which agency manages forests in India? Name three broad categories in which the forests are classified.
Answer:
The forests in India are owned and managed by the Government through the Forest Department.
They are classified under the following categories:

  1. Reserved Forests
  2. Protected Forests
  3. Unclassed Forests

Question 14.
What are ‘Permanent Forest Estates’ and why? Which state has maximum forest cover falling under this category? Write its percentage share in the total forest area of this state.
Answer:
Reserved and protected forests are referred to as the Permanent Forest Estates maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce.
Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75% of its total forest area.

Question 15.
Write the major differences between reserved and protected forests.
Answer:
Difference between Reserved and Protected forests

Reserved forests Protected forests
1. They cover more than half of the total forest area. 1. Almost V3 of the total forest area is protected forest.
2. They are most valuable from the point of view of forest and wildlife conservation. 2. These forest lands are protected from any further depletion.

Question 16.
Name five states which have large reserved and protected forests respectively.

Answer:
Five states having large percentages of reserved forests are: Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra.
Protected Forests: Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan.

Question 17.
What are unclassed forests? Name two areas which have high percentages of their forests as unclassed forests.
Answer:
Unclassed forests are the other forests and waste lands belonging to both Government and private individuals as well as local communities.
Two areas with high percentage of unclassed forests are: North-Eastern states and parts of Gujarat.

Question 18.
Write three examples of conservation of biodiversity at community level. (2025)
Answer:
Three examples of community participation:

  1. In ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’, Rajasthan, villagers have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife Protection Act. In many areas, villagers themselves, are protecting habitats and explicitly rejecting Government involvement.
  2. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar District of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of forest as the ‘Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri’, declaring their own set of rules and regulations, which do not allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside encroachments.
  3. The famous Chipko Movement in the Himalayas has successfully resisted deforestation and has also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can be a great success.

Question 19.
Explain the ‘Beej Bachao Andolan’ and ‘Navdanya’ concept.
Answer:
Farmers and Citizens’ groups like the Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.

Question 20.
Write two characteristics of Joint Forest Management Programme and its two benefits for the community. Which Indian state started this programme first of all and when?
Answer:
Joint Forest Management Programme involves local communities in the management and restoration of degraded forests. It was first started in Orissa in 1988.
Two characteristics: It depends on—

  1. the formation of local (village) institutions that undertake protection activities mostly on degraded forest land managed by the Forest Department and
  2. the local communities also work towards restoration of such degraded forests.

Two benefits:

  1. The members of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non-timber forest products.
  2. They are also entitled to share in the timber harvested by ‘successful protection’.

Question 21.
What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives? Give three points.
Answer:
Biodiversity denotes variety of living beings, including all types of organisms, plants and wildlife, diverse in form and functions but closely integrated in a system through multiple network of interdependencies. Its importance: We humans along with all living organisms form a complex web of ecological systems in which we are only a part and are dependent on this system for our own existence. For example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms recreate—

  • the quality of the air we breathe,
  • the water we drink and
  • the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive. Forests play a key role in the ecological system as these are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend not only for food but indirectly for many other forest produces which are used for varied purposes. So this biodiversity maintains an ecological balance and our life support systems (air, water and soil).

Question 22.
Write a brief note on ‘Project Tiger’.
Answer:
‘Project Tiger’ was one of the well-published wildlife campaigns in the world, launched in 1973. Initially it had shown an increase in tiger population till 1989 but in 1993 the tiger population dropped. There are 27 tiger reserves in India covering an area of 37,761 sq km.

Tiger conservation has been viewed not only as an effort to save the endangered species but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Corbett National Park, (Uttarakhand), Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan) Manas Tiger Reserve (Assam) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) are some of the reserves in India.

Question 23.
Give an account of the forest cover in India.
Answer:
The dimensions of deforestation in India are staggering. The forest and tree cover in the country is estimated at 79.42 million hectare, which is 24.16% of the total geographical area (dense forest 12.2%; open forest 9.14%; and mangrove 0.14%). According to the State of Forest Report (2015), the dense forest cover has increased by 3,775 sq km since 2013. However, this apparent increase in the forest cover is due to conservation measures, management interventions and plantation, etc., by different agencies.

Question 24.
Give an account of the Himalayan Yew highlighting its importance.
Answer:
The Himalayan Yew is in trouble. The Himalayan Yew (Taxuswallachiana) is a medicinal plant found in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. A chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs and roots of this tree, and it has been successfully used to treat some cancers-the drug is now the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.

The species is under great threat due to over-exploitation. In the last one decade, thousands of yew trees have dried up in various parts of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Question 25.
Give the main characteristics of the Asiatic Cheetah. Where has it gone?
Answer:
The world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah (Acinonyxjubantus), is a unique and specialised member of the cat family and can move at the speed of 112 km./hr. The cheetah is often mistaken for a leopard. Its distinguishing marks are the long teardrop shaped lines on each side of the nose from the comer of its eyes to its mouth. Prior to the 20th century, cheetahs were widely distributed throughout Africa and Asia. Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct due to a decline of available habitat and prey. The species was declared extinct in India long back in 1952.

Question 26.
‘33% of area should be under forests’. Justify the statement highlighting the environmental values of forests.
Answer:
Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33% of geographical area, as outlined in the National Forest Policy (1952). Forests are considered essential for maintenance of the ecological balance. The livelihood of millions of people who live on the fringes of these forests depend upon it.

Forests play a key role in the ecological system as these are also the primary producers on which all other living beings depend. The forest preserves the ecological diversity and our life support systems—water, air and soil. It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding. The destruction of forests have marginalised and impoverished many indigenous forest dependent communities. The indirect impact of degradation is severe drought or induced floods. Poverty is a direct outcome of environmental destruction.

Question 27.
Assess the need for the conservation of forests and wildlife in India.
Answer:
There is a need to conserve the forests and wildlife in India:

  • Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it preserves the ecological diversity.
  • Forests and wildlife preserve our life support systems, i.e., water, air and soil. For example, the plants, animals and micro-organisms recreate the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that produces our food without which we cannot survive.
  • It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding of species. For example, in agriculture we are still dependent on traditional crop varieties.
  • Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.
  • Forests are primary producers on which all other living beings depend not only for food but indirectly for many other forest produces which are used for varied purposes.

Water Resources Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
Give some facts and figures about the water resources in the world.
Answer:

  • 96.5 per cent of the total volume of world’s water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent exists as fresh water.
  • 70 per cent of the fresh water occurs as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and the mountainous regions of the world. Less than 30% is stored as groundwater in the world’s acquifiers.

Question 2.
Explain how water becomes a renewable resource?
Answer:

  • Fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water. This is continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle.
  • All the water moves within the hydrological cycle making water a renewable resource.

Question 3.
What percentage of global precipitation does India receive?
Answer:
India receives nearly 4 per cent of the global precipitation.

Question 4.
Where is India ranked in terms of water availability per person per annum? By what year will India join countries having absolute water scarcity?
Answer:
India ranks 133 in the world in terms of water availability per person per annum. By 2025, large parts of India will join countries having absolute water scarcity.

Question 5.
Give an estimate of India’s renewable water resources.
Answer:
The total renewable water resources of India are estimated at 1897 sq km per annum.

Question 6.
Write three sources of fresh water.
Answer:
Three sources are:

  1. Precipitation — from rainfall.
  2. Surface water — in rivers, lakes, etc.
  3. Ground water — water stored in underground acquifers which gets recharged by rainfall.

Question 7.
What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water scarcity. (2015)
Answer:
Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low rainfall or drought prone areas. There are many other reasons which lead to scarcity of water.
These are:

  1. Large growing population—means more water required for domestic use and also to produce more food.
  2. In the agricultural sector, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry-season agriculture.
  3. More water required for irrigation purposes to facilitate higher food production, i.e., for doing multiple cropping and for HYV seeds.
  4. There is greater demand for water with growing urbanisation and industrialisation.
  5. An unequal access to water among different social groups.
  6. The quality of water is deteriorating, i.e., getting polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in agriculture.
  7. Excessive use of water by industries which also require water to generate hydro-electric power to run them.
  8. Over exploitation of water in the urban areas. Housing societies and colonies have their own ground-water pumping devices. This causes depletion of fragile water resources in the cities.

Question 8.
How intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have posed a great pressure on existing fresh water resources in India? Explain with two examples for each. (2012)
Answer:
Intensive industrialisation and urbanisation have put greater pressure on existing fresh water resources. With the ever growing number of industries, the demand for water has grown tremendously:

  1. Industries are heavy users of fresh water as water is required for cooling the machines as well as for the processing of goods.
  2. Also the machines run on the power supplied by the hydel power plants.
  3. 22 percent of the total electricity is hydro-electric power.
  4. Rapid urbanisation has led to expansion of industries which increased the requirement of water.
  5. The untreated industrial effluents which are discharged into water bodies are polluting the water and making it hazardous for human consumption. This is responsible for creating water scarcity.

On the other hand, multiplying urban centres with:

  • Large urban populations and
  • urban lifestyles have not only added to water and energy requirements but have further aggravated the problem by over-drawing the groundwater by using their own groundwater pumping devices for meeting their water needs for domestic purposes such as cleaning, cooking, washing, etc.
    Thus, water resources are being over-exploited which has caused their depletion in several cities.

Question 9.
Write the adverse effects of over-exploitation of ground water resources.
Answer:

  1. Pumping out more water from under the ground may lead to falling ground water levels.
  2. It will adversely affect water availability.
  3. This, in turn, will affect our agriculture and food security of the people.
  4. Impoverishment of water resources may adversely affect the ecological cycle.

Question 10.
Write the main causes of water pollution.
Answer:
Water gets polluted by:

  1. Domestic wastes, especially urban sewers.
  2. Industrial wastes are disposed off in the water without proper treatment.
  3. Chemical effluents from industries and from agricultural sector.
  4. Pesticides and fertilisers used in agriculture may get washed into rivers by rain-water and may pollute the water by enriching it with minerals.
  5. Many human activities, e.g., religious rituals and immersing of idols, etc. in the water also pollute water.

Question 11.
What is the need for conservation of water resources? (2015)
Answer:

  1. Our water resources are limited and our requirements are increasing day by day. The water resources are unevenly distributed.
  2. Most of our resources especially in the cities and urban areas are polluted and unsuitable for drinking and other purposes.
  3. To safeguard ourselves from health hazards.
  4. We need to conserve water for the continuation of our livelihoods and to prevent degradation of our natural ecosystem. To ensure food security and for continuation of our livelihoods.
  5. For productive activities of the nation.
  6. To prevent degradation of our natural ecosystem.

Question 12.
Write some measures adopted for conservation of water resources. (2015)
Answer:
Measures for water conservation:

  1. Do not overdraw the ground water, recharge the ground water by techniques like rainwater harvesting.
  2. Avoid wastage of water at all levels.
  3. Do not pollute the water.
  4. Increasing the water resources by tapping the rainwater in reservoirs, watershed development programmes, etc.
  5. Adopting water conserving techniques of irrigation, e.g., drip irrigation and sprinklers etc., especially in dry areas. Sufficient water percolation facilities should be increased to help in raising the level of the water table.

Question 13.
What were the different types of hydraulic structures constructed in Ancient India? Give examples.
Answer:
The different types of hydraulic structures were:

  • Dams built of stone rubble e.g., during Chandragupta Maurya’s time, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built.
  • Reservoirs or lakes like the Bhopal lake of the 11th century which was one of the largest artificial lakes of its time.
  • Embankments and canals for irrigation. Sophisticated irrigation works have been found in Kalinga (Orissa), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Nagarjunakonda (Andhra Pradesh) etc.
  • Many tanks were built to store rainwater e.g., the tank in Huaz Khas in Delhi was built in 14th century to supply water to Siri Fort area.

Question 14.
How was water conserved in ancient India? Give any four examples in support of your answer. (2012)
Answer:
Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times India has been constructing sophisticated hydraulic structures like dams, reservoirs, embankments and canals for irrigation.

  1. For example, in the first century B.C., Allahabad had sophisticated water harvesting system channelling the flood water of the river Ganga.
  2. During the time of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built.
  3. Sophisticated irrigation works have been found in Kalinga in Odisha, Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh, Bennur in Karnataka and Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
  4. Bhopal lake, built in the 11th century, was one of the largest artificial lakes of its time.
  5. In the 14th century, Iltutmish constructed a tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi for supplying water in Siri Fort area.

Question 15.
What is a dam? Describe the functioning of dams? On what basis are dams classified into different types?
Answer:
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment.
A dam is the reservoir and not the whole structure.
Functioning:
Most dams have a section called spillway or weir over which or through which, water will flow intermittently or continuously.
Classification:
Dams are classified according to structure, intended purpose or height.

  • According to structure and materials used, they are classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry dams.
  • According to height, they are classified as large and major dams, low dams, medium height dams and high dams.

Question 16.
What is the main difference between traditional dams and modern dams?
Answer:
Traditionally dams were built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to irrigate the agricultural fields.

Today, dams are referred to as multipurpose projects where many uses of the impounded water are integrated with one another. The main purposes served by these projects are irrigation, electricity generation, flood control, water supply for domestic and industrial use, fish breeding and tourism.

Question 17.
Why are multipurpose river valley projects called ‘The Temples of Modern India’? Who first made this statement? (2014)
Or
Jawahar Lai Nehru proudly proclaimed the ‘dams as the temples of modern India’. Analyze this statement. (2013)
Answer:
Jawahar Lai Nehru proclaimed that multipurpose projects are ‘The Temples of Modern India’, because they were thought of as the vehicle that would lead the nation to development and progress. He believed that these projects with their integrated water resource management approach would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.

Dams or multipurpose river valley projects have the following advantages:

  1. They bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity and also provide water for irrigation.
  2. These projects generate electricity for industries and our homes.
  3. They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.
  4. These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.

Question 18.
‘Construction of dams on rivers has caused environmental degradation.’ Give reasons to support this statement. (2015)
Answer:

  1. Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow.
  2. Excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir.
  3. Lack of sediments results in
    • rockier stream bed and
    • poorer habitat for the river’s aquatic life.
  4. Dams also fragment rivers, making it difficult for acquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
  5. The reservoirs submerge the existing vegetation and soil, leading to its decomposition over time.
  6. Flood plains are deprived of silt and khadar, affecting the fertility levels of the soil.
  7. Construction of dams also faces resistance because of large scale displacement of local communities.

Question 19.
Multipurpose projects and dams have been the cause of many new social movements. Name two such social movements and write the underlying causes for these movements.
Answer:
Resistance to these projects came from social movements, e.g.,

  1. ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and
  2. ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’.
    Their major concerns were as follows:

    • Initially the environmental concerns were of utmost importance.
    • Dams have resulted in large-scale displacement of local communities.
  3. Local people have to give up their land and livelihood.
  4. Local people do not benefit from such projects as they are even deprived of the local sources on which they have little control.
  5. Many settlements and agricultural lands are submerged under water.
  6. Rehabilitation of the displaced persons is now the prime concern of these movements.

Question 20.
What are the social consequences of multipurpose projects?
Or
Multipurpose projects have transformed the social landscapes. Explain.
Answer:

  1. Local people, especially the landless people, did not gain from these projects.
  2. It led to displacement of people which deprived the people of their land and livelihood.
  3. It has increased the social gap between the richer landowners and the landless poor.
  4. Dams created conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water resources.
  5. Inter-state water disputes are also becoming common with regard to sharing the costs and benefits of the multipurpose projects.

Question 21.
Explain any three problems faced by local communities due to the construction of large dams. (2017, 2013)
Answer:
Problems faced by local communities due to the construction of large dams:

  1. Dams have resulted in large-scale displacement of local communities.
  2. Local people have to give up their land and livelihood.
  3. Local people do not benefit from such projects as they are even deprived of the local resources on which they have little control.
  4. Many settlements and agricultural lands are submerged under water.

Question 22.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river valley projects.
Answer:
Advantages:

  1. They bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity and also provide water for irrigation.
  2. These projects generate electricity for industries and our homes.
  3. They help in controlling floods by regulating the water flow.
  4. These projects can be used for recreation, inland navigation and fish breeding.

Disadvantages:

  1. They have failed to achieve the purpose for which they were built.
  2. The dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir.
  3. The big dams have mostly been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the time of excessive rainfall.
  4. These floods cause extensive soil erosion in addition to loss of life and property.
  5. Sedimentation deprives the flood plains of silt, a natural fertiliser.
  6. It was observed that these projects induced earthquakes.
  7. Floods cause water-borne diseases and pests.
  8. Results in pollution also.
  9. These river valley projects lead to large scale displacement of people and loss livelihoods.

Question 23.
What percentage of total electricity produced comes from hydro-electricity?
Answer:
22 per cent of the total electricity produced is from hydro-electric power.

Question 24.
Name two multipurpose projects and the rivers on which they are respectively situated.
Answer:

  1. Hirakud Project is situated on river Mahanadi in Orissa, and
  2. Bhakra Nangal Project is situated on river Sutlej.

Question 25.
Give an example of an inter-state water dispute.
Answer:
Krishna-Godavari dispute. The Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Governments objected to the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra government for a multipurpose project as this results in reduction of downstream flow to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh adversely affecting agriculture and industry in these States.

Question 26.
Describe the traditional method of rainwater harvesting adopted in different parts of India.
Answer:
In ancient India, people developed wide-ranging techniques to harvest rainwater.

  1. In mountainous areas ‘Guls’ and ‘Kuls’ the diversion channels were built for agriculture.
  2. ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practised to store drinking water, especially in Rajasthan.
  3. Inundation channels for irrigation were developed in the flood plains of West Bengal.
  4. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rainfed storage structures, eg. ‘Khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.
  5. In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, all the houses had underground tanks or ‘tankas’ built inside the house for storing drinking water. They were a part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

Question 27.
Explain how rooftop rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out. (2012)
Or
Write the features of the ’tankas’ built in the houses of Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer.
Answer:
‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practiced to store drinking water, especially in semi-arid and arid regions like Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer in Rajasthan.

  1. In semi-arid and arid regions, all the houses had underground tankas or ‘tankas’ for storing drinking water built inside the house. They were the part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
  2. The tankas could be as large as a big room. One household in Phalodi had a tank that was 6.1 metres deep, 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide.
  3. The tankas were built inside the main house or the courtyard.
  4. The tanks were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The falling rain would travel down the pipes and get stored in the underground ‘tankas’. The first spell of rain would not be collected as it cleaned the roof and pipes. The rainwater from subsequent showers was collected.
  5. Many houses constructed underground rooms adjoining the tanka to beat the summer heat as it would keep the room cool.

Question 28.
Write how modem adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store water.
Answer:

  1. In modem times, rainwater harvesting is done in both rural and urban areas to recharge the groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater by constructing structures, e.g., dugwells, percolation pits, digging trenches around fields, etc.
  2. Rooftop rainwater harvesting structures are a common practice in many cities. Rain-water is collected using a PVC pipe and is filtered using sand and bricks.
  3. This water can be stored to meet the household needs through storage in tanks. This water is readily available for immediate usage.
  4. Excess water or a pipe can be connected to an underground reservoir which may recharge the ground-water through hand-pump or through abandoned dugwell. Later, this water can be drawn for varied uses.
  5. Storage tanks/reservoirs are built to store rainwater which is later used for irrigation purposes.

Question 29.
Give a brief description of the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’.
Answer:
Narmada Bachao Andolan or Save Narmada Movement is an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) that mobilised tribal people, farmers, environmentalists and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada river in Gujarat.

  • The movement originally focussed on environmental issues related to submerging of trees under the dam water.
  • Recently its aim has been to enable the displaced poor people to get full rehabilitation facilities from the government.

Question 30.
Which village in Karnataka has earned the distinction of being rich in rainwater?
Answer:
In Gendathur in Mysore, Karnataka, nearly 200 households have installed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.

Question 31.
Name the state which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory.
Answer:
Tamil Nadu has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory for all houses across the state.

Question 32.
When does water stress occur according to Falken Mark, a Swedish expert?
Answer:
Water stress occurs when water availability is less than 1000 cubic metre per person per day.

Question 33.
Name the unique irrigation system prevalent in Meghalaya.
Answer:
Bamboo Drip Irrigation System.

Question 34.
Name two states where rooftop rainwater harvesting is common practice.
Answer:
Shillong, Meghalaya.

Question 35.
What is the present condition of Indian rivers?
Answer:
India’s rivers, especially the smaller ones have turned into toxic streams. Even the bigger ones like the Ganga and Yamuna are slowly getting polluted.

Question 36.
Mawsynram is the region of highest rainfall, yet it faces acute water shortage. Why?
Answer:
Mawsynram faces acute water shortage because the rainwater harvested is not sufficient to meet the needs of the people.

Agriculture Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
Write four points to stress the importance of agriculture in India. (2013)
Or, Why is India called an agriculturally important country? Write four supportive arguments.
Or, ‘Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian Economy’ Explain the statement by giving reason. (2017 D)
Answer:
India is an agricultural country because of the following reasons:

  1. Two-third of its population is engaged in agricultural activities which provide livelihood.
  2. Agriculture is a primary activity and produces most of the food and foodgrains that we consume.
  3. It produces raw materials for our various industries, e.g., cotton textile and sugar industry.
  4. Some agricultural products, like tea, coffee and spices, are exported and earn foreign exchange.
  5. The share of agriculture in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be as high as 63% in 2001.

Question 2.
Why do farming practices vary in different regions? Give three major reasons.
Answer:
Three major reasons are:

  1. Physical environment, i.e., relief, soil and climate.
  2. Technological know-how.
  3. Socio-cultural practices.

Question 3.
Name some industries based on agricultural raw material.
Answer:
Cotton Textile Industry and Sugar Industry.

Question 4.
What factors does primitive subsistence farming depend on?
Answer:
Factors:

  • Monsoons
  • Natural fertility of the soil
  • Suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.

Question 5.
Write main characteristics of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
Or, Write main characteristics of Primitive Subsistence Farming.
Answer:

  • This type of farming is practised in few pockets of India on small patches of land using primitive tools and family/community labour.
  • Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their families.
  • When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes.
  • Land productivity is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modem inputs.

Question 6.
Name some primitive tools used in ‘slash and bum’ agriculture.
Answer:
Tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks.

Question 7.
Compare ‘intensive subsistence farming’ with that of ‘commercial farming’ practiced in India.
Answer:

Intensive Subsistence Farming Commercial Farming
(i) In this type of farming, production is mainly for self consumption. (i) In this, crops are mainly grown for commercial purposes.
(ii) It is practised in areas of high population pressure on land. (ii) It is practiced on large pieces of land on scientific and commercial lines.
(iii) It is labour intensive farming. (iii) In this type of agriculture, machines and modem technology are used.
(iv) In this, high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production. (iv) There is higher use of modern agricultural inputs, for example, High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. are used to obtain higher yields and production.
(v) Farmers take maximum output from the limited land by raising 2-3 crops in a year from the same land, i.e., multiple cropping is practised. (v) The degree of commercialization varies from one region to another. Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab, while in Orissa it is subsistence crop. For example, Plantation agriculture.

Question 8.
Write the main characteristics of intensive subsistence farming.
Answer:

  1. It is practised in areas of high population pressure on land.
  2. It is labour intensive farming.
  3. Yield per hectare is high because high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used.
  4. The size of the land-holdings is small and uneconomical.
  5. Farmers take maximum output from the limited land by raising 2-3 crops in a year from the same land, i.e., multiple cropping is practised.

Question 9.
What are the major differences between primitive subsistence farming and commercial farming? (2013)
Answer:

Primitive Subsistence Farming Commercial Farming
1. In this mainly cereals and other food crops are grown by farmers to sustain themselves. 1. In this, crops are mainly grown for commercial purposes.
2. It is generally done on small land holdings which are economically not viable. 2. It is practiced on large pieces of land on scientific and commercial lines.
3. Primitive tools and animals are used for carrying out agricultural activities. 3. In this type of agriculture, machines and modern technology are used.
4. In this, modern agricultural inputs, e.g., fertilisers and irrigation are not widely used. 4. There is higher use of modern agricultural in­puts, e.g., HYV seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. are used to obtain higher yields and production.
5. Subsistence Agriculture is called Jhumming in Assam, Mizoram; Kuruwa in Jharkhand.E.g., Slash and Burn. 5. The degree of commercialization varies from one region to another. Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab, while in Orissa it is subsistence crop. E.g., Plantation agriculture.

Question 10.
What is the most important characteristic of commercial farming?
Answer:
The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g., high yielding varieties seeds (HYVs), chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase productivity.
The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another.

Question 11.
Give an example of a crop which is commercial in one region and provides subsistence in another. (2012)
Answer:
Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, while in Odisha it is a subsistence crop.

Question 12.
Name one type of agriculture which falls in the category of commercial agriculture. Write the main characteristics of this type of agriculture. (2012)
Or
Write six characteristics of plantation agriculture.
Answer:
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming.
Characteristics of plantation agriculture:

  1. A single type of crop is grown on a large area.
  2. Plantation is carried out on large estates using lot of capital intensive units.
  3. Lot of migrant labourers work on these estates.
  4. The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. All the produce is used as raw material in the respective industries.
  5. The production is mainly for the market, i.e., commercial agriculture.
  6. A well developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas, processing industries and markets plays an important role in the development of plantations.

Question 13.
Name one horticultural plantation crop and two beverage plantation crops and two States each which specialise in their production respectively.
Answer:
Horticultural plantation crop is apples, mainly grown in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Beverage crops:

  • Tea which is mainly a plantation crop in Assam and North-West Bengal.
  • Coffee which is grown in Karnataka.

Question 14.
Name some important plantation crops.
Answer:
Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and banana are examples of some important plantation crops.

Question 15.
Name three cropping seasons of India. Write their sowing and harvesting time and major crops of each season.
Answer:
Rabi, Kharif and Zaid are the three cropping seasons.

I. Rabi crops (Winter crops):
These are sown in winter from October to December.
Harvested in summer from April to June.
Important crops are wheat, barley, mustard, peas, gram etc.

II. Kharif crops (Crops of the rainy season):
These are sown with the onset of monsoon (June-July) and are harvested in September-October. Important crops are rice, maize, millets, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean.

III. Zaid season: It is a short cropping season during summer months (mainly between March-April and June-July in different parts of the country).
Important crops are watermelon, musk melon, cucumber and fodder crops, etc.

Question 16.
Where are rabi crops mainly grown? Describe the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Answer:
Rabi crops such as wheat and other crops are grown mainly in states from the north and north-western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh. Climatic conditions: Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western temperate cyclones help in successful growth.
The green revolution has also been an important factor in the growth of rabi crops.

Question 17.
Name some important rice growing regions of India.
Answer:
Assam, West Bengal, Coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra etc.

Question 18.
Name three states which raise three paddy crops in a year. Name these crops also.
Answer:
Assam, West Bengal and Orissa grow three crops in a year. The crops are Aus, Aman and Boro.

Question 19.
(a) Which is the most important food crop of India? What is its position in world production?
Or, Name the food crop of Kharif season. What is India’s position in the world with regard to its production?
(b) Write the rainfall and temperature requirements for the growth of this crop.
(c) Name four major regions of rice cultivation.
(d) Name four states which produce irrigated rice.
Answer:
(a) Rice is the most important food crop (Kharif crop) of India. India holds second position in rice production after China.

(b) For rice cultivation, high temperature of 25°C and above and high humidity with annual rainfall of 100 cms is required.

(c) Four major regions of rice cultivation are:

  • Plains of North India
  • Plains of North-Eastern India
  • Coastal areas
  • Deltaic regions.

(d) Irrigated rice is produced in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Development of dense network of canals and tubewells has made it possible to grow rice in these states which receive less rainfall.

Question 20.
(a) Which is the second most important cereal crop of India? Write the geographical conditions
required for its growth.
(b) Name two major zones of wheat growth and name six major states of wheat production.
Answer:
(a) Wheat is the second most important cereal crop of India. It is the main food crop.
Geographical conditions:

  1. Cool and moist growing season.
  2. Bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
  3. Rainfall: 50 to 75 cm evenly distributed over the growing season.
  4. Loamy soil is best for its growth.

(b) Two important wheat growing zones in India are:

  • The Ganga-Sutlej plains in the North-West and
  • Black soil region of the Deccan.

The major wheat producing states are: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 21.
Which is the third most important food crop of India? Name the cropping season in which it is grown. Name four leading states of its production.
Answer:
Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production. It is mainly the crop of Kharif season. It is a rainfed crop grown in moist areas.
Leading states of production are: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 22.
What are coarse grains? Why are they important in India? Name the crops which are included in this category and name three leading states producing each of these crops.
Answer:
Millets are called coarse grains. They are important because they have high nutritional value and make an important part of the diet for poor people.
Most important millets are as follows:

  1. Ragi —Leading producer is Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, Sikkim etc are other important regions.
  2. Jowar—Maharashtra is the leading producer followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.
  3. Bajra—It grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soils. Rajasthan is the largest producer followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

Question 23.
Write two geographical conditions required for the growth of Ragi and write its nutritional value.
Answer:
Geographical conditions:

  • Ragi grows well in dry regions.
  • It grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils.

Nutritional value: Ragi is rich in iron, calcium, other micro-nutrients and roughage.

Question 24.
Mention two geographical conditions required for the growth of Maize crop in India. Describe three factors which have contributed to increase maize production. Write four major maize producing states. (2012)
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in .India:

  1. It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21° C to 27° C. It requires moderate rainfall between 50-100 cm.
  2. It grows well in old alluvial soils.
    Maize is a crop which is used both as food and fodder. In some states like Bihar, maize is grown in rabi season also. Maize production in India has increased due to factors like:

    • use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds;
    • use of fertilisers; and
    • use of irrigation facilities.
    • major maize producing state: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 25.
(a) Name three pulses each of Rabi and Kharif season. Write their importance for human beings and for agriculture.
(b) What is India’s position in the world with regard to the production of pulses? Name five leading states producing pulses. (2015)
Answer:
(a) Pulses of Rabi season: Tur (arhar), urad, moong.
Pulses of Kharif season: Masur, peas, gram.
Importance of pulses:

  • For agriculture. Being leguminous crops, they help in restoring soil fertility by utilising nitrogen from the air (nitrogen fixation). Therefore, these are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
  • They need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.

(b) India is the largest producer of pulses in the world.
Major pulse producing states are: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Question 26.
(a) What is India’s position in the world regarding sugarcane production? Write the geographical conditions required for its growth.
(b) Write the major states that produce sugarcane.
(c) Name four products obtained from sugarcane.
Answer:
(a) India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil.
Geographical conditions: It is a tropical as well as subtropical crop.

  • It grows well in hot and humid climate.
  • Temperature: 21°C to 27°C.
  • Annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cms. Irrigation is required in the regions of low rainfall.
  • It can be grown on a variety of soils.
  • It needs manual labour from sowing to harvesting.

(b) Six major states producing sugarcane are: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

(c) Sugarcane is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses.

Question 27.
(a) What percentage of the total cropped area of India is under oilseed production? What is India’s position in the world with regard to oilseed production?
(b) Name six oilseeds produced in India. What are their main uses?
(c) Which oilseed constitutes 50% of the oilseeds produced in the country? Name three major states producing this oilseed.
(d) Name three oilseeds of Kharif season and three of Rabi season.
Answer:
(a) India is the largest producer of oilseeds in the world. 12% of the total cropped area is under oilseed production

(b) Six major oilseeds produced in India are: Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castor-seeds, linseed, sunflower and cotton-seeds.
Most of these oilseeds are edible and are used as cooking mediums.
Some are also used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.

(c) Groundnut is a Kharif crop and constitutes 50% share in the total oilseed production. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra are important producers of groundnut.

(d)

Oilseeds of Kharif season Oilseeds of Rabi season
Groundnut Mustard
Sesamum in North India Linseed
Castor-seed Sesamum in South India

Question 28.
Write the geographical and labour conditions required for the growth of tea.
Answer:
Geographical conditions:

  1. It grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.
  2. It requires deep, fertile, well drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
  3. It requires warm and moist frost free climate round the year.
  4. Frequent showers evenly distributed through the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
  5. Tea is a labour intensive industry. It requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour.
  6. It is processed within tea gardens to restore its freshness.

Question 29.
What is India’s position in the world regarding tea production? Name three states each which produce tea in:
(i) North-Eastern India
(ii) Himalayan states/parts of the states
(iii) Peninsular States.
Answer:
India is the leading producer and exporter of tea in the world.
Three states producing tea in each of the following:

North-Eastern States Himalayan Regions/States Peninsular States
1. Assam 1. Hills of West Bengal 1. Tamil Nadu
2. Meghalaya (Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri Districts) 2. Kerala
3. Tripura 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Andhra Pradesh
3. Uttaranchal

Question 30.
Which is the most important beverage crop of Southern India and what is its percentage share in the world? Where did its cultivation initially start in India? Name three major states of its production.
Answer:
Coffee is the most important beverage crop of Southern India. India produces about 4% of the world’s coffee production.
Three major states which produce coffee are: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, mainly in Nilgiri Hills. Initially its cultivation started in Baba Budan Hills.

Question 31.
Name a good variety of coffee which is produced in India and name the country from where it was initially brought. Why Indian coffee has great international demand?
Answer:
Arabica, the good variety of coffee was originally brought from Yemen.
Indian coffee is in great demand because this coffee is of a very good quality.

Question 32.
What is horticulture? (2012)
Answer:
Cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers is called horticulture.

Question 33.
What is India’s position in the world in the production of fruits and vegetables? Name the different Indian fruits which are in great demand world over and also name the states where each is produced.
Answer:
India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world.
Mangoes grow in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Bananas grow well in Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Oranges grow well in Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya).
Lichi and Guavas grow in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Grapes grow well in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Pineapple grows well in Meghalaya.
Apples, Pears, Apricots and Walnuts grow well in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Question 34.
Name four temperate fruits which are produced in India and name the states which grow them in abundance.
Answer:
Four temperate crops are: apples, pears, apricots and walnuts.
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are the leading producers of these temperate fruits.

Question 35.
Describe India’s position in vegetable production.
Answer:

  1. India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetables.
  2. It stands first in the production of peas and cauliflower.
  3. It stands second in the production of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and brinjal and stands fourth in the production of potatoes.

Question 36.
Name three non-food crops and write three major states of their production respectively.
Answer:
The three non-food crops are: rubber, cotton and jute.
Rubber is produced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya.
Cotton is mainly produced in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal, Bihar and Assam.

Question 37.
Write the geographical conditions required for the growth of rubber. Name the item which consumes maximum share of rubber for its manufacture.
Answer:
Conditions:

  1. It requires hot and humid climate.
  2. Rainfall – 200 cms.
  3. Temperature – above 25°C.

Maximum rubber is consumed in the manufacture of auto tyres and tubes and cycle tyres and tubes. They together consume about 57.8% of the total rubber production.

Question 38.
Name four major fibre crops grown in India. What is ‘sericulture’?
Answer:
Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India. The first three are derived directly from the crops grown in the soil, but silk is obtained from the cocoons of silk worms fed on mulberry leaves.
Sericulture: Rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fibre is known as sericulture.

Question 39.
Give an account of fibre crop which is mainly grown in Deccan Plateau region under the following heads:
(i) Its position in the world production
(ii) geographical conditions and
(iii) major states of production.
Answer:
Cotton is the fibre crop which is mainly grown in the black soil of the Deccan Plateau region.
(i) Position. India is the 3rd largest producer of cotton in the world.
(ii) Geographical conditions. Cotton requires:

  • high temperature.
  • light rainfall or irrigation.
  • 210 frost-free days.
  • bright sunshine for its growth.
  • black cotton soil which is very good for its growth.
  • It is a Kharif crop and requires 6-8 months to mature.

(iii) Major cotton producing states are. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Question 40.
Which fibre crop is called as the ‘Golden fibre’? Which is the most important region of its growth and why? Give one major reason why it is losing the market now.
Answer:
Jute is known as the golden fibre.
Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal, especially in the Hooghly Basin because there the geographical conditions favour its growth. These conditions are:

  • High temperature required during the time of growth.
  • Jute grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year. Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic fibres and other packing materials particularly to nylon.

Question 41.
Name the major jute producing states and list some items or products made out of jute.
Answer:
Jute producing states are: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya.
Jute products are: gunny bags, ropes, mats, carpets, yarns and other ornamental artefacts.

Technological And Institutional Reforms

Question 42.
Give the main reasons which have necessitated agricultural reforms.
Answer:
Reforms in agriculture are necessary because of the following reasons:

  1. Sustained uses of land without compatible techno-institutional changes have hindered the pace of agricultural development.
  2. Most of the farmers still depend on monsoons because large parts of the country still do not have irrigation facilities.
  3. Farmers still depend on natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture, i.e., they lack material resources, e.g., fertilizers, etc.
  4. Ours is an agricultural economy and about 63% of people depend on agriculture for employment and livelihood, therefore reforms have to be implemented.
  5. For raising the agricultural production and productivity levels to produce sufficient food for the growing population.
  6. To overcome environmental, economic and social constraints, agricultural reforms have to be seriously implemented.
  7. The declining share in GDP is a matter of serious concern because decline and stagnation in agriculture will lead to decline in other spheres of economy.

Question 43.
What are ‘Institutional Reforms’? Enlist various institutional reforms taken by the Indian Government to bring about improvements in agriculture. (2015)
Answer:
Institutional reforms:
Steps taken by the government to bring about improvements in agriculture are termed as ‘Institutional Reforms’.
Some steps are:

  1. Collectivisation and consolidation of land holdings to make them economically viable.
  2. The green revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution to increase milk production are important strategies which were initiated to improve agriculture.
  3. Cooperation with farmers and Abolition of Zamindari system.
  4. Provision of crop insurance to protect the farmers against losses caused by natural calamities, i.e. drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease.
  5. Establishment of ‘Grameen Banks’, Cooperative Societies and Banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest.
  6. Kissan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some other schemes introduced by the government for the benefit of farmers.
  7. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced on the Radio and TV.
  8. Announcement of minimum support price, remunerative and procurement prices for crops to check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen and removing the elements of uncertainty.

Question 44.
Describe some concerted efforts made by the government to modernise Indian agriculture and improve its share in the GDP.
Answer:
The following measures have been taken by the government to modernise agriculture and improve its share in the GDP:

  1. Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
  2. Setting up of Agricultural Universities.
  3. Development of advanced Veterinary Services and Animal Breeding Centres.
  4. Development of horticulture.
  5. Research and Development in the field of meteorology and weather forecasts, etc.
    Improving the rural infrastructure is essential for the same.

Question 45.
“The contribution of agriculture to national economy is on the decline.” Write five facts to support this statement.
Or, What is the contribution of agriculture to national economy, employment and output? Is it declining or encouraging?
Answer:
Contribution of agriculture is showing a declining trend:

  1. The share of agriculture in GDP has shown a declining trend since 1951.
  2. Yet its share in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be as high as 63% in 2001.
  3. Although GDP growth rate of the country is increasing, it is not generating sufficient employment opportunities in the country, especially in the field of agriculture.
  4. Farmers are dragging away their investment from agriculture because they have to face big challenges from international competition. This has resulted in further downfall in employment in agriculture.
  5. The growth rate in agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation.

Question 46.
What are the challenges being faced by Indian farmers? What has this resulted in?
Answer:
Challenges faced by Indian farmers:

  1. Reduction in public investment by government in the agricultural sector particularly in areas of irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation.
  2. Subsidy on fertilizers has decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
  3. Reduction in import duties on agricultural products has proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.
    All these factors have led to stiff international competition. Farmers are thus withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in agricultural employment.

Question 47.
Define each of the following:
(a) Green Revolution
(b) White Revolution
(c) Yellow Revolution
(d) Blue Revolution
(e) Gene Revolution.
Answer:
(a) Green Revolution. Agricultural Revolution which resulted in increased production of foodgrains because of the use of HYV (High Yielding Varieties) seeds, fertilizers, proper irrigation and other modem inputs.
(b) White Revolution. Revolutionary increase in the production of milk which was spearheaded by Operation Flood.
(c) Yellow Revolution. Increase in the output of oilseeds is termed as Yellow Revolution.
(d) Blue Revolution refers to increased output of fish and fish products.
(e) Gene Revolution refers to the development of genetically modified seeds for increasing the yield per hectare. These seeds are environmentally sustainable.

Question 48.
Write four drawbacks of green revolution.
Answer:

  1. Due to overuse of chemicals land degradation has taken place.
  2. Excessive irrigation caused drying of acquifers.
  3. It became a cause for vanishing biodiversity.
  4. It has widened the gap between poor and rich farmers because only agriculturally rich areas have benefitted from it and not the small farmers.

Question 49.
(a) Give four reasons why Indian farmers should switch over from cereals to high value crops’ cultivation.
(b) What will be the implication of this change? Name three countries which have successfully done this.
Answer:
(a) Indian farmers should switch from cereals to high value crops because of the following reasons:

  • It will improve their income.
  • It will reduce environmental degradation at the same time.
  • Fruits, medicinal herbs, bio-diesel crops, flowers and vegetables need much less irrigation than rice or sugarcane.
  • India’s wide variety of climates can be harnessed to grow a wide range of high value crops.

(b) Its implications are:

  • India has to import food.
  • If we import food while exporting high value crops, our economy will grow.
  • Three countries which have such successful economies are: Chile, Israel and Italy, which export farm products (fruits, wine, olives, speciality seeds) and import food.

Minerals and Energy Resources Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
Define the term ‘mineral’.
Answer:
Geologists define mineral as a “homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.” They have physical and chemical properties by which they can be identified.

Question 2.
Define the term ‘rock’.
Answer:
Rocks are combinations or aggregates of minerals in varying proportions. Some rocks consist of a single mineral, e.g., limestone while most rocks consist of several minerals.

Question 3.
Define the term ‘ore’.
Answer:
The term ‘ore’ is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements.

Question 4.
Name the finest quality of iron ore.(2011 D)
Answer:
Magnetite is the finest quality of iron ore.

Question 5.
Orissa is the leading producer of which mineral?(2011 OD)
Answer:
Manganese ore.

Question 6.
Name one fossil fuel which is considered environment friendly.(2012 D)
Answer:
Natural gas.

Question 7.
Which is the main source of energy in India?(2012 D)
Answer:
The main source of energy in India is fossil fuels especially coal.

Question 8.
In which non-conventional source of energy is India referred to as a super power?(2013 D)
Answer:
Wind Power.

Question 9.
Which mineral is formed by decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of weathered material ?
Answer:
Bauxite

Question 10.
Name the state where the largest wind farm cluster is located? (2014 D)
Answer:
Tamil Nadu.

Question 11.
In which State are the ‘Balaghat’ Copper mines located?(2014 D)
Answer:
Madhya Pradesh.

Question 12.
Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India? Name its four major forms.(2014 D)
Answer:
Coal;

  1. Anthracite
  2. Lignite
  3. bituminous
  4. peat

Question 13.
Which rock consists of a single mineral only? (2015 D)
Answer:
Limestone consists of a single mineral only.

Question 14.
How do minerals occur in sedimentary rocks ? (2015 OD)
Answer:
In sedimentary rocks a numbers of minerals occur in beds or layers. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata.
For example, coal, iron ore.

Question 15.
Why are there a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density found in minerals? (2016 D)
Answer:
A mineral that will be formed from a certain combination of elements depends upon the physical and chemical conditions under which the mineral forms. It is because of these physical and chemical conditions that minerals possess a wide range of colours, crystal forms, lustre and density.

Question 16.
How do minerals occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks? (2016 D)
Answer:
In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals may occur in cracks, crevices, faults and joints.

Question 17.
How do minerals occur in sedimentary rocks? (2016 D)
Answer:
In sedimentary rocks a number of minerals occur in beds or layers. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal stratas.

Question 18.
Why should the use of cattle cake as fuel be discouraged? (2016 OD)
Answer:
Using dung cake or cattle cake as fuel is being discouraged because it consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture.

Question 19.
How are ‘Gobar gas plants’ beneficial to the farmers? (2016 OD)
Answer:
“Gobar Gas Plants” are beneficial to the farmers in the form of energy and improved quality of manure.

Question 20.
Where is the largest solar plant located in India?(2009 OD)
Answer:
The largest solar plants located at Madhapur near Bhuj in Gujarat.

Question 21.
Name the industry which uses limestone as its main raw material.(2010 D)
Answer:
Cement industry.

Question 22.
How is energy an indispensable requirement of our modem life? Explain with three examples. (2011 D)
Answer:
Modern life is highly governed by technology and revolves around it. Modem technology is driven by energy and is highly automated. Every sector of National economy — agriculture, industry, transport and commerce need greater inputs of energy. In the domestic sector also, energy demands, in the form of electricity, are growing because of increasing use of electric gadgets and appliances. Energy is the basic requirement for economic development.

Question 23.
Mention any three characteristics of ferrous group of minerals found in India.(2011 D)
Answer:
Metallic minerals that have iron in them are called ferrous minerals. For example, iron ore, manganese, nickel, cobalt etc.
Three characteristics of ferrous group of minerals found in India are:

  1. Ferrous minerals account for about three fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals.
  2. They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.
  3. India exports substantial quantities of ferrous minerals to Japan and South Korea after meeting her internal demands.

Question 24.
Why is there a pressing need to use non-conventional sources of energy in India? Explain any three reasons. (2011 D)
Answer:

  1. The growing consumption of energy has resulted in India becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas which are found in limited quantity on the earth.
  2. Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages have raised uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future, which in turn has serious repercussions on the growth of the national economy.
  3. Increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental degradation like air pollution, water pollution etc.
    So there is an urgent need to use sustainable energy resources like solar, water, wind, tide biomass etc.

Question 25.
Make a distinction between hydroelectricity and thermal electricity stating three points of distinction.
Or
What are the two main ways of generating electricity? How are they different from each other. Explain. (2011 OD, 2014 OD)
Answer:
Electricity is generated mainly in two ways:

  1. By running water which drives hydro turbines to generate hydro electricity.
  2. By burning other fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas to drive turbines to produce thermal power.
Hydroelectricity Thermal electricity
(i) Hydroelectricity is generated by fast flowing water which drives turbines to generate electricity. (i) Thermal electricity is generated by using coal, petroleum and natural gas.
(ii) It is a renewable resource and is cheap. (ii) The thermal power stations use non­renewable fossil fuels.
(iii) India has a number of multipurpose projects like the Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Cor­poration etc. producing hydroelectric power. (iii) There are over 310 thermal power plants in India.

Question 26.
“Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives.” Comment. (2011 OD)
Answer:
Almost everything we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building or a ship, all are made from minerals. All means of transport are manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from the earth. Even the food that we eat contains minerals. Human beings have used minerals for their livelihood, decorations, festivities and in all stages of development.

Question 27.
Mention any three major iron-ore belts of India. Write any three characteristics of the southern most iron-ore belt. (2012 D)
Answer:
The three major iron-ore belts of India are as follows:

  1. Orissa-Jharkhand belt.
  2. Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
  3. Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt in Karnataka.
  4. Maharashtra-Goa belt.

Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt is the southern most iron-ore belt.

Characteristics:

  • This belt in Karnataka has large reserves of iron-ore.
  • Kudremukh mines in the Western Ghats are known to be one of the largest in the world.
  • Kudremukh is a 100 per cent export unit and the ore is transported as slurry through a pipeline to a port near Mangalore.

Question 28.
Classify energy resources into two categories. Give two examples of each. (2012 D)
Answer:
Energy resources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional sources.
Conventional sources include—firewood, cattle-dung cake, coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc. Non-conventional sources include—solar, wind, tidal, geothermal energy and biogas.

Question 29.
Differentiate between metallic and non-metallic minerals with examples. (2013 D)
Answer:

Metallic minerals Non-metallic minerals
(i) Metallic minerals generally occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Certain minerals may also occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floor and base of hills. (i) Non-metallic minerals occur in sedimentary rocks. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in the horizontal strata.
(ii) Metallic minerals comprise of ferrous minerals, non-ferrous minerals and precious metals. Ferrous minerals containing iron-ore, cobalt, account for strong development of metallurgical industries.Non-ferrous minerals, e.g., copper, bauxite and precious metals, e.g., gold, platinum and silver play a vital role in metallurgical engineering and electrical industries. (ii) Non-metallic minerals comprise of mica, salt, limestone, granite, etc. Limestone is used as raw material in cement industries. Mica, salt and granite are indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries.
(iii) Metallic minerals are found in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. (iii) Non-metallic minerals are found in Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.

Question 30.
Differentiate between ferrous and non-ferrous minerals with examples. (2013 D)
Answer:
Ferrous minerals:

  1. Ferrous minerals account for about three fourths of the total value of the production of metallic minerals.
  2. They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries.
  3. India exports substantial quantities of ferrous minerals to Japan and South Korea after meeting her internal demands.

Non-ferrous minerals:

  1. India’s reserves and production of non-ferrous minerals is not very satisfactory.
  2. Non-ferrous minerals include copper, bauxite, lead, zinc and gold.
  3. They provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries.
  4. Non-ferrous minerals like copper and bauxite are mainly found in Madhya Pradesh and Odisha respectively.

Question 31.
Explain the use of petroleum as an energy resource and as an industrial raw material. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The use of petroleum as a source of energy:

  1. It is used as a fuel for internal combustion engines in automobiles.
  2. It is used as a fuel for railways and aircrafts.
  3. It provides fuel for heat and lighting.

The use of petroleum as an industrial raw material:

  1. It is used as lubricant for machinery.
  2. It is used as raw material for a number of manufacturing industries, for example, chemical industry.
  3. Its numerous by-products are used in petrochemical industries such as fertilizer, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre, medicines, vaseline wax, soap, cosmetics etc.

Question 32.
Distinguish between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy. (2013 D)
Or
Classify energy resources into two categories. Give two examples of each. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Energy sources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional sources.

Conventional Sources Non-conventional Sources
(i) They have been in use since ages. (i) The technology for their large-scale development is relatively new.
(ii) Except hydel power they are exhaustible or non-renewable, e.g., coal, petroleum and natural gas. (ii) They are inexhaustible sources of energy, e.g., solar, wind and tidal energy.
(iii) These non-renewable resources create pollution. (iii) They are pollution-free, therefore are eco­friendly.
(iv) Except water, all other sources of energy are available in limited quantities. (iv) They are freely and abundantly available in nature.
(v) It is costly. (v) It is a cheaper source.
(vi) Because of their limited availability and exhaustible nature, we cannot depend on them for a long time. (vi) Because of their abundant availability, they are dependable sources. Therefore, they are called our future energy resources.

Question 33.
Explain any three steps to be taken to conserve the energy resources. (2011 OD)
Answer:

  1. We need to develop a sustainable path of energy development, i.e., increased use of renewable or non-conventional energy resources.
  2. We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources.
  3. As concerned citizens we can do our bit by using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles, switching off electricity when not in use, using power saving devices etc.

Question 34.
What is the use of manganese? Name the largest manganese-ore producing state of India. (2012 D)
Answer:
Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of the following items:

  1. Steel (nearly 10 kg of manganese is required to manufacture 1 tonne of steel).
  2. Ferro-manganese alloy
  3. Bleaching powder
  4. Insecticides and paints

Odisha (Orissa) is the largest producer of manganese-ore in India.

Question 35.
Why is energy required for all activities? How can energy be generated? Explain. (2014 D)
Answer:
Energy is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to propel vehicles and to drive machinery in industries. Energy is a basic requirement for economic development. Every sector of the national economy—agriculture, industry and transport—commercial and domestic needs inputs of energy.
Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium and from electricity. Conventional sources like firewood and cattledung cakes are most commonly used in rural India to generate energy.

Question 36.
‘Environmental degradation has been seen everywhere/ Explain any three values that can help to prevent environment degradation. (2014 D)
Answer:
Three values that can help to prevent Environmental Degradation:

  1. We must ensure sustainable and equitable use of resources without degrading the environment or risking health or safety.
  2. We must raise awareness and consciousness among people about the importance of judicious use of resources to prevent degradation of land, water, vegetation and air.
  3. The following measures must be adopted to prevent environmental degradation:
    • Minimising use of water for processing by reusing and recycling it.
    • Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.
    • Almost all machinery can be redesigned to increase energy efficiency and reduce noise.

Question 37.
Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India? Mention its different forms. (2015 OD, 2014 OD, 2008)
Answer:
The most abundantly available fossil fuel is Coal.
There are four types of coal:

  1. Anthracite. It is the highest quality hard coal. It contains more than 80% carbon content. It gives less smoke.
  2. Bituminous. It is the most popular coal in commercial use and has 60-80% carbon content. Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal and is of special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.
  3. Lignite. It is a low grade brown coal. It is soft with high moisture content.
  4. Peat. It has a low carbon and high moisture content. It has low heating capacity and gives lot of smoke on burning.

Question 38.
How is the mining activity injurious to the health of the miners and environment? Explain. (2015 D)
Answer:
Adverse effect on health: The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary diseases.
The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coal mines are a constant threat to miners.
Adverse effects on the environment:

The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.

Dumping of slurry and waste leads to degradation of land, soil and increase in stream and river pollution. Stricter safety regulations and implementation of environmental laws are essential to prevent mining from becoming a ‘killer industry’.

Question 39.
In the present day energy crisis what steps will you like to take for saving energy? (2015 D)
Or
Why is energy needed? How can we conserve energy resources? Explain. (2015 D)
Answer:
Energy is required for all activities. It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to propel vehicles and to drive machinery in industries.

  1. Energy is the basic requirement for economic development.
  2. Every sector of national economy — agriculture, industry, transport and commerce needs greater inputs of energy.
  3. In the domestic sector also, energy demands, in the form of electricity, are growing because of increasing use of electrical gadgets and appliances.

We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources. So conservation of energy should be done at all levels. Increased use of renewable energy resources, e.g., solar energy, hydel power, etc.
We, as concerned citizens can help conserve energy in the following ways:

  1. Using more of public transport system instead of individual vehicles.
  2. Switching off electrical devices when not in use.
  3. Using power saving devices.
  4. Using non-conventional sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy etc.
  5. Getting the power equipment regularly checked to detect damages and leakages.

Question 40.
How can solar energy solve the energy problem to some extent in India? Give your opinion. (2015 OD)
Or
Why does solar energy have a bright future in India?
Answer:
Reasons:

  1. India is a tropical country and gets abundant sunshine.
  2. It has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy.
  3. It is an inexhaustible source of energy which is freely available in nature.
  4. It is a cheaper source of energy and is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas.
  5. Photovaltic technology is available which converts sunlight directly into electricity.
  6. Because of its abundant and free availability in all parts of India in addition to its ecofriendly nature, solar energy is called the energy of future.

Also use of solar energy will minimise the dependence of rural households on firewood. It will contribute to environmental conservation and reduce pressure on conventional sources of energy.

Question 41.
‘Consumption of energy in all forms has been rising all over the country. There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development and energy saving/ Suggest and explain any three measures to solve this burning problem. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Every sector of the national economy—agriculture, industry, transport, (commercial and domestic), needs greater inputs of energy.

With increasing population and changing lifestyles energy consumption is increasing very fast. We are not self sufficient in energy according to demands. Therefore we have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited resources. Conservation of energy should be done at all levels.
Three measures to reduce consumption of energy in all forms:

  1. We can do our bit by using public transport systems instead of individual vehicles.
  2. Switching off electricity when not in use.
  3. Using power saving devices or using non-conventional sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy etc.
  4. Checking the power equipments regularly can help in saving of energy.

Question 42.
What are the main types of formations in which minerals occur?
Answer:
Minerals generally occur in the following forms:

  1. Veins and lodes. In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in the cracks, faults or joints by getting solidified in them. The smaller occurrences are called veins and the larger lodes, eg., metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are found in lodes and veins.
  2. In sedimentary rocks minerals occur in beds or layers. They are formed as a result of deposition, accumulation and concentration in horizontal strata. Some sedimentary minerals are formed as a result of evaporation, especially in arid regions eg., gypsum, potash and salt.
  3. Another mode of formation involves decomposition of surface rocks and the removal of soluble contents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing ores. Bauxite is formed this way.
  4. Placer deposits. Certain minerals occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills, eg., gold, silver, tin and platinum. These are called placer deposits and contain minerals which are not corroded by water.
  5. Ocean waters contain vast quantities of minerals, eg., common salt, magnesium and bromide are largely derived from the ocean waters. The ocean beds are rich in manganese nodules.

Question 43.
Why is there a pressing need to use renewable energy resources in India? Explain any five reasons. (2013 OD)
Answer:

  1. The growing consumption of energy has resulted in India becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas which are found in limited quantity on the earth. So there is an urgent need to use sustainable energy resources like solar, water, wind etc.
  2. Rising prices of oil and gas and their potential shortages have raised uncertainties about the security of energy supply in future, which in turn has serious repercussions on the growth of the national economy.
  3. Increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental degradation like air pollution, water pollution etc.
  4. Renewable sources of energy are pollution free and do not cause harm to ozone, therefore they are eco-friendly.
  5. They are a cheaper source and are freely and abundantly available in nature.

Question 44.
How is energy a basic requirement for the economic development of the country? Explain with examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Reasons:

  • Energy is the basic requirement for economic development.
  • Every sector of national economy—agriculture, industry, transport and commerce needs greater inputs of energy.
  • In the domestic sector also, energy demands, in the form of electricity, are growing because of increasing use of electric gadgets and appliances.
  • The economic development plans implemented since independence necessarily required increasing amounts of energy.
  • Because of all these, per capita consumption of energy is continuously increasing.

Question 45.
Why is it necessary to conserve mineral resources? Suggest any four ways to conserve mineral resources. (2013 OD, 2012 OD, 2017 OD)
Or
Explain the importance of conversation of minerals. Highlight any three measures to conserve them. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Conservation of minerals is necessary because of the following reasons:

  1. The formation of minerals takes a long geological period of millions of years.
  2. They are finite, i.e., limited in nature.
  3. Many of them are non-renewable and exhaustible.
  4. The rate of replenishment of minerals is infinitely small in comparison to rate of consumption.
  5. They have to be preserved for our future generations because they are very important for industrial development of the nation.

Ways to mineral conservation:

  1. We should use minerals in a planned and sustainable manner.
  2. Improved technologies need to be evolved to allow use of low grade ores at low cost.
  3. Recycling of metals should be done.
  4. Using scrap metals and other substitutes should be promoted.
  5. Wastages in mining, processing and distribution should be minimized.
  6. Controlled export of minerals should be undertaken.

Question 46.
“There is an urgent need to develop a sustainable path of energy development.” Give two broad measures for it. As concerned citizens, how can you help conserve energy? (2012 D, 2011 OD)
Answer:
Two broad measures to develop a sustainable path of energy development are:

  1. We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources. So conservation of energy should be done at all levels.
  2. Increased use of renewable energy resources, e.g., solar energy, hydel power, etc.
    Concerned citizens can help conserve energy in the following ways:

    • Using more of public transport system instead of individual vehicles.
    • Switching off electricity when not in use.
    • Using power saving devices.
    • Using non-conventional sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy etc.
    • Getting the power equipment regularly checked to detect damages and leakages.

Question 47.
Highlight the importance of petroleum. Explain the occurrence of petroleum in India. (2016 D)
Or
Which is the next major source of energy after coal in India? Describe any three advantages of it. (2017 OD, 2008)
Answer:
Importance of Petroleum in India:

  1. It is the second most important energy source of India after coal. It can be easily transported by pipelines and does not leave any residue. This property of petroleum gives it an added advantage in its use over other fuels.
  2. It provides fuel for heat and light.
  3. It provides lubricants for machinery.
  4. It provides raw material for a number of manufacturing industries.
  5. It is an important fuel used in transportation sector.
  6. Petroleum refineries act as a ‘nodal industry’ for synthetic textiles, fertilizers and many chemical industries.

Occurrence of Petroleum in India:

  1. Most of the petroleum occurrences in India are associated with anticlines and fault traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age.
  2. In regions of folding anticlines it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the upfold. The oil bearing layer is porous limestone or sandstone through which oil may flow.
  3. Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous and non-porous rocks.

Question 48.
‘Energy saved is energy produced.’ Assess the statement. (2017 D)
Answer:
Energy saved is energy produced. We cannot keep on producing non-renewable resources like petrol, diesel and electricity. So the need of the hour is the better utilization of existing resources. Energy depletion has become a global phenomenon at present time. The biggest problem that man has to face in near future is the energy crisis.

The demand of energy is growing manyfold in the form of coal, oil, gas or electricity but the energy sources are becoming scarce and costlier. Nearly 97% of the world’s consumed energy is coming from fossil fuels, coal, petroleum and natural gas. Among the various strategies for meeting energy demand, the efficient use of energy and its conservation is the best solution .
Following are some measures to conserve energy resources:

  1. We should try and use more and more public transport system instead of private vehicles.
  2. Electronic devices must be switched off when not in use.
  3. Reducing the consumption of non-renewable sources of energy.
  4. Solar Power should be used to the maximum to generate electricity.
  5. Recycling of goods and commodities can also help to conserve energy.

Manufacturing Industries Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
What is manufacturing? To which sector of economy does it belong?
Or
“The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing industries”. Support the statement with arguments. (2016 D)
Answer:
Manufacturing. Production of goods in large quantities after processing from raw materials to more valuable products is called manufacturing.
Manufacturing belongs to secondary sector in which the primary materials are processed and converted into finished goods. The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing industries.

Question 2.
Write the importance of ‘manufacturing sector’ for our nation.
Or, “Manufacturing industry is considered the backbone of economic development of India.” Give reasons. (2015 OD, 2011 D)
Answer:
Importance of manufacturing industries for India:

  1. It helps in modernizing agriculture, which is the base of our economy.
  2. It reduces heavy dependence on agricultural income by providing jobs in non-agricultural sectors.
  3. Industrial development is necessary for eradication of poverty and unemployment because people get jobs and generate more income.
  4. Export of manufactured goods expands trade and brings in much needed foreign exchange.
  5. Industries bring riches faster to a nation because manufacturing changes raw materials into finished goods of a higher value, so industrial development brings prosperity to the country.

Question 3.
“Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other, but move hand in hand.” Give arguments in favour of this statement. (2013 D)
Or, Explain with examples how industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture. (2015 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
Agriculture and industry in India are inseparable or interdependent on each other:

  1. Agro-industries in India have boosted agriculture by raising its productivity.
  2. Industries depend on agriculture for their raw materials, e.g. cotton textile industry.
  3. Industries provide many agricultural inputs like irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, PVC pipes, machines and tools etc. to the farmers.
  4. Manufacturing industries have assisted agriculturists to increase their production and also made the production processes very efficient.
  5. Development of different modes of transport by industrial sector has not only helped farmers to obtain agricultural inputs but has also helped them trade their products.

Question 4.
Write the contribution and present growth rate of manufacturing sector in national economy. Suggest measures to increase the industrial growth rate. (2011 OD)
Answer:
The share of manufacturing sector has stagnated at 17% of GDP. The trend of growth rate over the last decade has been around 7% per annum. Since 2003, it has shown an increased growth rate of 9-10% per annum. The desired growth rate over the next decade is 12%. To attain this target, following steps can be taken:

  • Appropriate policy interventions by the government.
  • Renewed efforts by the industries to improve productivity.

Question 5.
List the major factors which affect the location of an industry at a place. What is the key to the decision of ‘factory location’? (2011 D, 2011 OD, 2015 D)
Answer:

  1. Raw material. Cheap and abundant availability of raw material. Industries which use heavy and perishable raw material have to be located close to the source of raw material.
  2. Labour. Availability of cheap labour is necessary for keeping the cost of production low.
  3. Power. Cheap and continuous supply of power is extremely necessary for continuity in the production process.
  4. Capital. It is necessary for developing infrastructure, for the entire manufacturing process and for meeting manufacturing expenditure.
  5. Banking and insurance facilities, favourable government policies are other factors which affect location of an industry.
    The ‘key’ to the decision of a factory location is least cost so that the venture is profitable.

Question 6.
“Industrialisation and urbanisation go hand in hand.” Explain.
Answer:
After an industrial activity starts, urbanisation follows. Some industries are located in and around the cities. Thus industrialisation and urbanisation go hand in hand. Cities provide markets, services such as banking, insurance, transport, labour, consultants and financial advice, etc. to industries.

Question 7.
What are ‘agglomeration economies’ in the industrial context?
Answer:
Many industries tend to come together to make use of the advantages offered by the urban centres known as ‘agglomeration economies’. Gradually, a large industrial agglomeration or clustering takes place around an urban centre.

Question 8.
State any five basis on which industries are classified.
Answer:

  1. On the basis of source of raw materials used — Agro-based and mineral-based.
  2. According to their main role — Basic and Consumer industries.
  3. On the basis of capital investment—Small-scale and large-scale industries.
  4. On the basis of ownership — Public Sector, Private Sector, Cooperative Sector, Joint Sector.
  5. Based on the bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods—Heavy industries, Light industries.

Question 9.
Classify industries on the basis of capital investment. How are they different from one another? Explain with examples. (2016 D)
Answer:
On the basis of capital investment industries can be classified as:

  • Small-scale industry
  • Large-scale industry

Difference:
If the investment is more than one crore rupees in any industry, it is considered as a large scale industry.
For example, Iron and Steel industry, Cement industry.
If the investment is less than one crore rupees in any industry, it is considered as a small scale industry.
For example, Plastic industry, Toy industry.

Question 10.
Classify industries on the basis of source of raw material. How are they different from each other? (2016 OD)
Answer:
On the basis of sources of raw material industries are classified as:
(i) Agro based industries;
(ii) Mineral based industries
Difference between Agro-based industries and Mineral-based industries

Agro-based industries Mineral-based industries
They obtain their raw materials from agricultural products.Example: Textiles —cotton, jute, silk and woolen. Rubber, Sugar, Coffee, Tea and Edible Oil, etc. They obtain their raw materials from minerals. Example: Iron and steel, cement, machine tools, petro-chemicals, etc.

Question 11.
Explain the types of industries on the basis of ownership and give one example of each.
Answer:
Four types of industries based on ownership are:

  1. Public Sector industries. They are owned and operated by government agencies, e.g. BHEL, SAIL, etc.
  2. Private Sector industries are owned and operated by an individual or a group of individuals, e.g. TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Dabur Industries.
  3. Joint Sector industries are jointly run by the Public (government) and Private Sector (individuals), e.g. Oil India Ltd.
  4. Cooperative Sector 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, e.g. sugar industry in Maharashtra and coir industry in Kerala.

Question 12.
Name four agro-based and four mineral-based industries.
Answer:
Four Agro-based industries are cotton textile, jute textile, sugar industry and edible oils industry.
Four Mineral-based industries are iron and steel industry, aluminium industry, copper smelting industry and cement industry.

Question 13.
Explain the role of agro-based industries in Indian economy.
Answer:
Role of agro-based industries in Indian economy:

  1. The agro-based industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its productivity as they obtain their raw material from agriculture.
  2. Development and competitiveness of industries has not only assisted agriculturists in increasing their production but also made the production processes very efficient.
  3. The farmers are heading for commercial farming to produce high value crops for industries. This may in turn help improve the economic status of the farmers.
  4. These agro-based industries, by creating demand, support the growth of many other industries e.g., packaging materials and engineering works etc.

Question 14.
Explain the significance of textile industry in India. (2011 D)
Or
The textile industry is the only industry which is self reliant and complete in the value-chain? Justify this statement? (2016 D)
Or
“Textile industry occupies a unique position in the Indian economy”. Support the statement with appropriate arguments. (2015 D)
The Textile industry occupies a unique position in the Indian Economy because:

  1. It contributes significantly to industrial production (14%).
  2. It employs largest number of people after agriculture, i.e. 35 million persons directly.
  3. Its share in the foreign exchange earnings is significant at about 24.6%.
  4. It contributes 4% towards GDP.
  5. It is the only industry in the country which is self-reliant and complete in the value chain, i.e., from raw material to the highest value added products.

Question 15.
Write the stages of the development of cotton textile industry in India from ancient to modern times.
Answer:
Stages of development of Cotton Textile Industry in India:

  1. In ancient India, cotton textiles were produced with hand spinning and handloom weaving techniques.
  2. After the 18th century, powerlooms came into use.
  3. Our traditional industries suffered a setback during the colonial period because they could not compete with the mill-made cloth from England.
  4. Today, there are nearly 1600 cotton and human-made fibre textile mills working at various levels and owned by varied sectors. It is a decentralised industry today.

Question 16.
List factors which favoured the location and concentration of cotton textile industry in Maharashtra
and Gujarat in early years. (2012 D, 2015 OD)
Answer:

  1. Availability of raw cotton was abundant and cheap because these are the traditional cotton growing States.
  2. Moist climate in these coastal States also helped in the development of cotton textile industry because humid conditions are required for weaving the cloth, else the yarn breaks.
  3. Well developed transportation system and accessible port facilities in Maharashtra and Gujarat led to their concentration there.
  4. Proximity to the market is yet another factor as cotton clothes are ideal and comfortable to wear in these warm and humid States.
  5. Cheap labour was abundantly available.

Question 17.
Write two major differences between the weaving and spinning sectors of cotton textile industry.
Answer:

Spinning Sector Weaving Sector
1. Spinning is a centralised activity mainly done in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. 1. Weaving is a highly decentralised activity. It provides scope for incorporating traditional skills with modernity. So weaving is done at various levels, example, handlooms, power- looms, etc.
2. India has world class production in spinning. 2. Weaving supplies low quality of fabric as it cannot use much of the high quality yam.

Question 18.
Name the main countries to which India exports its cotton yarn and cotton goods.
Answer:
The major countries are: Japan, USA, UK, Russia and France.

Question 19.
What are the problems faced by the cotton textile industry?
Answer:
Problems faced by the cotton textile industry:

  1. Power supply is erratic in our country.
  2. Machinery needs to be upgraded, especially in weaving and processing sectors.
  3. Low output of labour.
  4. We still need to import cotton in spite of the fact that the production of cotton in the country has increased.
  5. Stiff competition from the synthetic fibre industry.

Question 20.
Explain the main factors which are responsible for the concentration of jute mills along the banks of Hugli river. (2014 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
Factors responsible for the concentration of jute industry on the banks of Hugli:

  1. Proximity of the jute producing areas to the Hugli Basin.
  2. Inexpensive water transport provided by the Hugli river.
  3. It is well connected by a good network of railways, waterways and roadways to facilitate movement of raw materials to the mills.
  4. Abundant water for processing raw jute.
  5. Availability of cheap labour from West Bengal and the adjoining States of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
  6. Kolkata as a port and large urban centre, provides banking, insurance and port facilities for export of jute goods.

Question 21.
Write down the major problems/challenges faced by the jute industry.
Answer:
The major challenges faced by the jute industry:

  1. Stiff competition in the international market from synthetic substitutes.
  2. Stiff competition from other competitors like Bangladesh, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt and Thailand.
  3. The demand for jute products is declining both in international as well as domestic markets.
  4. The cost of production is high and many jute mills still have obsolete machinery.

Question 22.
What are the objectives of formulating National Jute Policy. In which year was this policy formulated?
Do you think that the demand for jute products will pick up at global level and why? (2013 OD)
Answer:
National Jute Policy was formulated in 2005 with the following objectives:

  1. For increasing productivity
  2. For improving quality
  3. For ensuring good prices to the jute farmers
  4. For enhancing the yield per hectare

Yes, the demand for jute products in the world market will grow. The growing global concern for environment friendly, biodegradable material, also led to the government policy of mandatory use of jute packing.

Question 23.
Name some countries which are the main buyers of Indian jute products.
Answer:
The main buyers of Indian jute products are:

  1. USA
  2. Canada
  3. Russia
  4. United Arab Republic
  5. UK
  6. Australia

Question 24.
Why are the sugar mills located close to the sugarcane fields?
Or
Why are sugar mills concentrated in sugarcane producing areas? (2016 D)
Answer:
Reasons for location of sugar mills close to the fields:

  • The raw material used, (i.e.,) sugarcane is bulky and perishable.
  • It cannot be transported to long distances because its sucrose content dries up fast, so it should be processed within 24 hours of its harvest.

Question 25.
Write the distribution of sugar industry in India.
Answer:
There are over 460 sugar mills in the country. Out of these, 60% mills are in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Rest of the mills are spread over Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab.

Question 26.
Why are sugar mills shifting and concentrating in southern and western State of India? Give reasons. (2012 D)
Answer:
Sugar Industry is shifting towards southern and western States, because:

  1. Cane produced here has higher sucrose content.
  2. The favourable climatic conditions (cooler climate) ensure a longer growing and crushing season.
  3. The Cooperatives are more successful in these States and sugar industry being seasonal in nature, is ideally suited to cooperative sector.
  4. Yield per hectare is higher in southern States.

Question 27.
What are the major challenges faced by sugar industry? (2016 D)
Answer:
Challenges faced by the sugar industry:

  1. Seasonal nature of the industry.
  2. Old and inefficient methods of production.
  3. Delays in transportation of cane to the factories.
  4. The need to maximise the use of baggase.

Question 28.
Why is iron and steel industry called the basic or key industry? Explain. (2012 OD)
Answer:

  1. Since all the other industries—heavy, medium and light, depend on it for their machinery.
  2. Steel is needed to manufacture a variety of engineering goods.
  3. Steel is needed for construction material, defence and medical equipments.
  4. Steel is needed for telephonic, scientific equipment and a variety of consumer goods.
  5. Production and consumption of steel is often regarded as the index of a country’s development.

Question 29.
(a) Why is iron and steel industry called a heavy industry? Give reasons. (2012 OD)
(b) Write four raw materials of iron and steel industry and the proportions in which they are required.
Answer:
(a) Iron and steel industry is a heavy industry because:

  1. All the raw materials used are heavy and bulky.
  2. The finished goods are also very heavy and bulky entailing heavy transportation costs.
  3. Iron-ore, coal, limestone are the major raw materials used in producing iron and steel and they are heavy.
  4. Transportation costs of raw materials and finished goods of iron and steel industry are heavy (costly).
  5. Efficient transport network is needed for its distribution.

(b) The raw materials of iron and steel industry are:

  1. Iron ore, coking coal and limestone are required in the ratio of 4 : 2 : 1.
  2. Manganese is required in some quantity to harden the steel.

Question 30.
Describe India’s position in the world regarding production of steel and its consumption.
Answer:

  1. India produces 32.8 million tonnes of steel.
  2. India ranks 9th among the world’s crude steel producers.
  3. It is the largest producer of sponge iron.
  4. However, its per capita consumption per annum is only 32 kg.

Question 31.
Name the marketing body through which all public sector undertakings market their steel.
Answer:
Steel Authority of India Limited. (SAIL)

Question 32.
What is the major difference between integrated steel plants and mini steel plants? (2011 D)
Answer:
An integrated steel plant is large and handles everything in one complex—from putting together raw materials in the blast furnace to steel making, rolling and shaping. An integrated steel plant uses a blast furnace and iron-ore as raw material.
Mini steel plants are smaller, have electric furnaces, use steel scrap and sponge iron. They have re-rollers that use steel ingots also. They produce mild and alloy steel of given specifications.

Question 33.
Why are most of the iron and steel industries concentrated in and around Chotanagpur Plateau Region? Give reasons. (2015 OD, 2014 D, 2012 OD)
Answer:
Reasons:

  1. Low cost of iron-ore which is mined here.
  2. High grade raw materials in close proximity.
  3. Availability of cheap labour.
  4. Vast growth potential in the home market.
  5. Efficient transport network for their distribution to the markets and consumers.
  6. Availability of power because this region has many thermal and hydel power plants.
  7. Liberalisation and FDI have also given boost to the industry with efforts of private entrepreneurs.

Question 34.
What problems does the iron and steel industry in India face? (2011 OD, 2013 OD)
Or, Why is India not able to perform to her full potential in iron and steel production? Explain.
Answer:
Inspite of being an important producer of iron and steel, India has not been able to exploit her complete potential, because of:

  1. High cost of production and limited availability of coking coal.
  2. Lower productivity of labour.
  3. Irregular supply of energy.
  4. Poor infrastructure.

Question 35.
What recent developments have led to a rise in the production capacity of the iron and steel industry?
Answer:

  1. In recent years, liberalisation policy of the government and increased Foreign Direct Investment in the industry combined with the efforts of private entrepreneurs and firms have increased production capacity.
  2. Greater allocation of funds and resources for research and development in the production of steel will provide a boost to the industry.

Question 36.
Write four characteristics and four major uses of aluminium.
Answer:
Four characteristics of aluminium:

  1. It is a light metal.
  2. It is resistant to corrosion.
  3. It is a good conductor of heat.
  4. It is malleable and becomes strong when mixed with other metals.

Four uses (importance) of aluminium.

  1. It is used for manufacturing aircrafts.
  2. It is used for making utensils and packing material.
  3. It is used for making wires.
  4. It has gained popularity as a substitute of steel, copper, zinc and lead in a number of industries.

Question 37.
How many aluminium smelting plants are set up in India? Write their distribution.
Answer:
There are eight aluminium smelting plants in the country. They are located in the states of Orissa (Nalco and Balco), West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Together they produced 600 metric tonnes of aluminium in 2004.

Question 38.
(a) Name the mineral used for obtaining aluminium. Write its one important characteristic by which it can be identified.
(b) List two prime factors required for the location of an aluminium smelting plant.
Answer:
(a) Bauxite is the raw material used in aluminium industry. It can be identified by its dark reddish colour and bulky nature.
(b) Two prime factors required for the location of aluminium melting plant are:

  • Regular and cheap supply of electricity.
  • An assured source of raw material at a minimum cost.

Question 39.
Give reasons to highlight the importance of chemical industry in Indian economy.
Answer:
Importance of chemical industry:

  1. It contributes approximately 3% of the GDP.
  2. It is the 3rd largest in Asia and occupies 12th position in the world in terms of its size.
  3. It comprises both large and small-scale manufacturing units producing a variety of items, ranging from plastic, rubber, soaps, chemical fertilizers to pharmaceuticals.
  4. The chemical industry is its own largest consumer. Basic chemicals undergo processing to further produce other chemicals that are used for industrial application, agriculture or directly for consumer markets.
  5. The chemical industry in India is fast growing and diversifying in both organic and inorganic chemicals, thereby generating lot of employment.

Question 40.
Name two groups into which the chemical industry is usually classified. What is the main difference in their locations over space and why?
Answer:
The two groups are:

  1. Inorganic chemical industry
  2. Organic chemical industry.

Inorganic chemical industries are widely spread over the country because they use inorganic chemicals like sulphuric acid, nitric acid, alkalies, soda ash and caustic soda which can be transported anywhere.
Organic chemical plants are located near oil refineries or petrochemical plants so these are located at specific locations.

Question 41.
List five products each of inorganic and organic chemical industry.
Answer:
Products of

Organic Chemical Industry Inorganic Chemical Industry
1. Synthetic fibres 1. Fertilisers
2. Synthetic rubber 2. Adhesives and paints
3. Plastics 3. Glass
4. Dye-stuffs 4. Soaps and detergents
5. Drugs and pharmaceuticals 5. Synthetic fibres and plastics

Question 42.
Name four major groups of fertilizers produced in India.
Answer:
Main groups of fertilizers produced in India are:

  1. Nitrogenous fertilizers (mainly urea).
  2. Phosphatic fertilizers.
  3. Ammonium phosphate (DAP).
  4. Complex fertilizers which have a combination of nitrogen, phosphate and potash.

Question 43.
Name the fertilizers which India needs to import and why?
Answer:
Potash is entirely imported as India does not have any reserves of commercially usable potash or potassium compounds in any form.

Question 44.
What is India’s position in the world with regard to the production of nitrogenous fertilizers?
Answer:
India is the 3rd largest producer of nitrogenous fertilizers, because:

  1. There are 57 fertilizer units manufacturing nitrogenous and complex nitrogenous fertilizers — 29 for urea and 9 for producing ammonium sulphate as a by-product.
  2. There are 68 other small units which produce single super-phosphate.
  3. At present there are 10 Public Sector undertakings.
  4. One unit is in the Cooperative Sector at Hazira in Gujarat under the Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCI).

Question 45.
What is the main reason for the fertilizer industry to expand in several parts of the country? Name the states which together produce about 50% of the country’s fertilizers.
Answer:
After the Green Revolution, the fertilizer industry expanded to several parts because natural gas could be transported by pipelines to any desired location.
States which produce about 50% of the fertilizers are:

  1. Gujarat
  2. Tamil Nadu
  3. Uttar Pradesh
  4. Punjab and
  5. Kerala.

Question 46.
Name the important raw materials used in the manufacturing of cement.
Answer:
Raw materials used in cement industry are:

  1. limestone
  2. silica
  3. alumina
  4. gypsum.

Question 47.
Write down the locational factors of cement industry.
Answer:
Factors which affect location of cement industry are:

  • Availability of raw materials which are heavy and bulky, e.g., limestone, silica, etc.
  • Availability of coal and electric power.
  • Rail transportation.

Question 48.
What factors led to the rapid expansion of cement industry in India?
Answer:
Factors that led to rapid expansion of cement industry are:

  • Decontrol of cement price since 1989.
  • Decontrol of distribution of cement since 1989.
  • Many other policy reforms led the cement industry to expand in capacity, process, technology and production. Today, there are 128 large plants and 332 mini cement plants in the country, producing variety of cement.

Question 49.
Why does Indian cement have a large demand in the international market and whom do we export to?
Answer:
Because of the good quality cement being produced in India, it has found a readily available market in South and East Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Question 50.
Why has the automobile industry of India witnessed fast growth? Give reasons.
Answer:
Reasons for fast growth in automobile industry:

  1. After liberalisation, the coming in of new and contemporary models stimulated the demand for vehicles in the market.
  2. This led to the healthy growth of the industry including passenger cars, two and three-wheelers.
  3. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) brought in new technology and aligned the industry with global developments.
  4. Trucks, buses, cars, motorcycles, scooters, three-wheelers and multi-utility vehicles and commercial vehicles are manufactured in India at various centres such as Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Jamshedpur etc.
    This industry has experienced a quantum jump in less than 15 years.

Question 51.
“Electronic industry has revolutionized the life of the masses and the country’s economy.” Justify the statement with suitable arguments.
Answer:
Electronic industry has revolutionized the life of the people and the country’s economy because:

  1. It produces a wide range of products from transistor sets to televisions and computers for the masses.
  2. It has helped us set up telephone exchanges, telephones, cellular telecom, radios and many other equipments which have application in space technology, aviation, defence, meteorological departments, etc.
  3. It has generated employment for a large number of people. It employed over one million people by March 2005, out of these 30% are women employees.
  4. This industry has been a major foreign exchange earner because of its fast growing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector.
  5. India is one of the leading countries in software development. We have 18 software technology parks which provide high data communication facility to software experts.

Question 52.
Write the distribution of the electronics industry.
Answer:
Bangalore has emerged as the electronic capital of India. Other important centres for electronic goods are the four mega cities of Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow and Coimbatore.

Question 53.
What is a software technology park? How many such parks do we have? Name the technology park which is closest to Delhi.
Answer:
Software technology parks provide single window service and high data communication facility to software experts.
We have 18 software technology parks. Noida Software Technology Park is the closest to Delhi.

Question 54.
Explain how do industries cause air pollution.
Answer:
Air pollution is caused by the industries in the following ways:

  1. The presence of high proportion of undesirable gases, such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide in the smoke emitted from the industries causes air pollution.
  2. Smoke is emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting plants, and burning of fossil fuels in factories that ignore pollution norms.
  3. Air-borne particulate materials contain both solid and liquid particles like dust, sprays, mist and smoke.
  4. Toxic gas leaks can be very hazardous with long-term effects, e.g., Bhopal gas leak tragedy.

Question 55.
Write down the adverse effects of air pollution.
Answer:
Air pollution adversely affects:

  1. human health,
  2. animals and plants,
  3. buildings and
  4. atmosphere as a whole resulting in climate change.

Question 56.
Suggest measures to control air pollution caused by industries.
Answer:
Measures to control air pollution:
(i) Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks to factories with fabric filters, electrostatic precipitators etc.
(ii) Equipments to control aerosol emissions can be used in industries, e.g., electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and inertial separators.
(iii) Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.(a) How are water bodies polluted by industries?

(b) Give examples of industries which cause a lot of water pollution. (2013 D)
(a)

  1. Water pollution is caused by organic and inorganic industrial wastes and affluents discharged
    into rivers.
  2. Major water pollutants are dyes, detergents, acids and salts.
  3. Heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides and fertilizers and synthetic chemicals with carbon, plastics and rubber etc. discharged in the water bodies without treatment pollute these water bodies.
  4. Solid wastes, e.g., fly ash, phospo-gypsum and iron and steel slags, etc. and wastes from nuclear power plants cause water pollution.
  5. Dumping of harmful chemicals and industrial effluents etc. on the land causes rain-water to percolate. As a result, these pollutants contaminate ground water.

(b) Major water polluting industries are:

  1. Paper and pulp industries
  2. Petroleum refineries
  3. Chemical industry
  4. Tanneries
  5. Textile and dyeing industries
  6. Electroplating industries.

Question 57.
Suggest measures to control water pollution caused by industries. (2013 D)
Answer:

  1. Minimising the use of water for processing by reusing and recycling it in two or more successive stages.
  2. Harvesting of rain-water to meet water requirements of industries and other domestic purposes.
  3. Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds in the following ways:
    • Primary treatment by mechanical means such as screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation.
    • Secondary treatment by biological process.
    • Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical processes. This involves recycling of waste water.

Question 58.
What is noise pollution? Write its effects on human health and suggest ways to reduce industrial noise pollution.
Answer:
Noise pollution: Unwanted loud noise is an irritant and a source of stress.
Effects of noise pollution on human health:

  1. Noise pollution results in irritation and anger.
  2. It can cause hearing impairment.
  3. It can increase heart rate.
  4. It can raise blood pressure.
  5. There can be physiological effects as well.

Ways to reduce industrial noise pollution:

  • Machinery and equipment can be fitted with silencers.
  • Almost all machinery can be redesigned to increase energy efficiency and reduce noise.
  • Noise absorbing material may be used apart from personal use of earplugs and earphones.

Question 59.
How do industries pollute environment? Explain with five examples. (2013 D)
Answer:
The five types of industrial pollution are:

  1. Air pollution. Smoke is emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting plants, and burning of fossil fuels in factories that ignore pollution norms. Air-borne particulate materials contain both solid and liquid particles like dust, sprays, mist and smoke.
  2. Water pollution. Major water pollutants are dyes, detergents, acids and salts. Heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides and fertilizers and synthetic chemicals with carbon, plastics and rubber etc. discharged in the water bodies without treatment pollute these water bodies.
  3. Noise pollution. The generators, compressors, machines, furnaces, looms, exhaust fans, etc. used by industries create a lot of noise. Noise can raise blood pressure and can have physiological effects as well.
  4. Land pollution. Land and water pollution are closely related. Dumping of industrial wastes especially glass, harmful chemicals, industrial effluents, packing, salts and garbage renders the soil useless.
  5. Thermal pollution. Wastes from nuclear power plants, nuclear and weapon production facilities cause cancer and birth defects.

Question 61.
Explain any five measures to control industrial pollution in India.
Answer:
Five measures to control industrial pollution:

  1. Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks to factories with fabric filters, electrostatic precipitators, etc.
  2. Equipments to control aerosol emissions can be used in industries, e.g., electrostatic precipitators, scrubbers and inertial separators. Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.
  3. Harvesting of rainwater to meet water requirements of industries and other domestic purposes.
  4. Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds.
  5. Machinery and equipment can be fitted with silencers.
  6. Noise absorbing material may be used apart from personal use of earplugs and earphones.

Question 62.
Explain the pro-active approach adopted by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for preserving the natural environment and resources? (2011 OD, 2015 OD)
Answer:
NTPC is taking the following measures in places where it is setting up power plants:

  1. Optimum utilisation of equipment by adopting latest techniques and upgrading existing equipment.
  2. Minimising waste generation by maximising ash utilisation.
  3. Providing green belts for nurturing ecological balance.
  4. Reducing environmental pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling system and liquid waste management.
  5. Ecological monitoring, reviews and online data base management for all its power stations.

Question 63.
Suggest any three steps to minimise the environmental degradation caused by the industrial development in India. (2016 OD)
Answer:
Steps to minimize the environmental degradation caused by industrial development in India are:

  1. Minimizing use of water for processing by reusing and recycling in two or more successive stages. Harvesting of rain water to meet water requirements of industries and other domestic purposes.
  2. Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds.
  3. Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke to factories with electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers and inertial separators. Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.
  4. Machinery and equipments can be fitted with silencers to prevent noise pollution.

Lifelines of National Economy Class 10 Important Questions

Question 1.
Why is transportation necessary?
Answer:
Transportation is necessary:

  1. for the movement of goods and services from their supply location to demand location, i.e. to link production centres with consumption centres.
  2. for the movement of people from one region to the other.
  3. for carrying out trade at all levels.
  4. to supply goods, resources, etc. from the surplus regions to deficient regions.
  5. for supplying relief measures to the regions where some natural calamities strike.
  6. for transporting raw materials from mining regions and farms to the industries, etc.
    Efficient means of transport are the prerequisites for economic development of a nation.

Question 2.
What do you understand by means of transport? Write three important domains of the earth which are covered by them.
Answer:
Means of transport include all kinds of vehicles, trains, aeroplanes and ships. Means of transport are used for the movement of people, goods and services from one place to another. These are developed on three important domains of the earth, i.e., land, water and air. Based on these, transport can also be classified into land, water and air transport.

Question 3.
Today the world has become a “global village”. Justify this statement.
Answer:
Today the world has become a “large village” because of:

  1. efficient and fast means of transport and
  2. development of telecommunication and satellite communication systems.

These two functions, i.e. various means of transport and communication have reduced time and distance, have brought the world closer and the physical distances have become meaningless. For example, now trading from local levels has been extended to the international level and even financial transactions can take place round the world in no time. All this has been made possible because of efficient and quick means of transport and communication.

Question 4.
“Modern means of transport and communication serve as lifelines of our nation.” Justify this statement by giving supportive arguments.
Or
“Efficient means of transport are prerequisites for the fast development of the country.” Express your views in favour of this statement. (2016 D, 2014 OD)
Answer:
India is well linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size and diversities because of efficient means of transport and communication. They are rightly called the lifelines or arteries of a nation because:

  1. Economic development of a country depends on the well developed and efficient means of transport and communication.
  2. They are indispensable for movement of people, goods and services from one place to another.
  3. They have contributed to socio-economic progress in many ways by connecting far flung areas of the country.
  4. They have enriched all aspects of our lives — social, cultural, individual and economic.
  5. They promote trade, tourism and business thus adding value to the economy.
  6. Transport and communication have made possible international trade which is essential for every economy as no country is self-sufficient in all resources.
  7. They link areas of production with consumption, i.e. agricultural farms are linked to the markets and industries.
  8. They help in the balanced regional development of a country.
  9. They play a very important role at the time of natural calamities, i.e., for providing relief measures.
  10. Deficient areas can obtain resources from the regions of surplus, thereby making the interdependence among the regions possible.
  11. They have added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comforts of life.

Question 5.
Why do the movement of goods and services form one place to another require fast and efficient means of transport? Explain with examples.
Answer:
Transport plays an important role in the economy. Because of transport raw materials reach the factory and finished products reach to the consumer. The pace of development of a country depends upon the production of goods and services as well as their movement over space. Today the world has converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport:

  1. Good transport helps in quick carrying of raw materials from remote areas to the production centre and allows distribution of goods efficiently.
  2. Transport helps in the development of communication. Various means of communication help us in interacting with other people in all the parts of the world. It has brought the world closer.
  3. Transport like railways helps us in conducting various activities like business, sight seeing, pilgrimages, etc.
  4. Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.
  5. Water provides the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade.
  6. Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport.
  7. Thus, it is clear that there are many advantages of transportation and communication. These means help in the development of the country. So they are rightly called the lifelines of a nation and its economy.

Question 6.
How are means of transport and communication complementary to each other? Explain with three examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:

  1. Transport and communication establish links between producing centres and consuming centres. Trade or the exchange of such commodities relies on transportation and communication. Transport provides the network of links and carriers through which trade takes place.
  2. Dense network of roads, railways and airways connect the remote areas of the country hence help in production and distribution of goods and services.
  3. Advancement in communication system has accelerated trade by carrying information all over the world quickly.
  4. Good transport helps in quick carrying of raw material from remote areas to the production centre and allows distribution of goods efficiently.
  5. With expansion of rail, ocean and air transport, better means of refrigeration and preservation, trade has experienced spatial expansion.

Question 7.
Examine with examples the role of means of transport and communication in making our life prosperous and comfortable.
Answer:
Transport and communication have a major role to play in making our lives prosperous and comfortable:

  1. Means of transport provide seamless movement of goods and people and thus facilitate various economic activities.
  2. Means of communication help in flow of information which is necessary for proper management of supply chain and financial transactions. Today, we are living in the age of communication, using telephone, television, films and Internet. Even books, magazines and newspapers are important means of communication.
  3. Various means of transport and communication have reduced distances, bringing the world closer. Modern life is so complex that one has to depend on others. The same is true of the countries as well. No country today can prosper without the co-operation and assistance of others. This requires movement of goods and materials between countries. Trade provides us with our necessities and also adds to the amenities and comfort of our life.
  4. Transport like railways help us in conducting various activities like business, sight seeing, pilgrimage and transportation of goods over longer distances.
  5. Water provide the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade. Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport. Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.
    Thus, means of transport and communication put life into a nation and its economy. Hence, they are called the lifelines of a nation and its economy.

Question 8.
Name three means of land transport and write one advantage of each.
Answer:
Three means of land transport:

  1. Roadways. They can be laid in any type of terrain and provide door to door service.
  2. Railways. They can carry huge loads to long distances, therefore they are of great significance in the national economy.
  3. Pipelines. These can be used for transporting liquid, gaseous and solid material to great distances at low cost.

Roadways

Question 9.
Why is road transport more useful than rail transport in India. Give reasons. (2016 OD, 2013 D)
Or, “Roadways still have an edge over railways in India”. Give reasons.
Answer:
Roadways score over railways:

  1. Construction of roads is easier and cheaper as compared to railways.
  2. Roads provide door to door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower as compared to railways which generally leave the people and goods at the destined railway stations.
  3. Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slope and, as such, can traverse through mountainous terrain. But railways cannot negotiate steep gradients.
  4. Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances.
  5. Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport. They provide links between railway stations, airports and sea ports.
  6. They link agricultural farms with markets and industries, thus linking rural and urban areas.

Question 10.
Name six types of roads according to their capacity.
Answer:
Six types of roads:

  1. Super Highways —Golden Quadrilateral, North-South Corridor and East-West Corridor.
  2. National Highways
  3. State Highways
  4. District Roads
  5. Other Rural Roads
  6. Border Roads.

Question 11.
Write the characteristics of Super Highways, National Highways and State Highways.
Answer:
Super Highways:

  1. These are 6-lane roads built by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under the Road Development Project launched by the government.
  2. The major objective of these roads is to reduce time and distance between the mega cities of India, especially the Golden Quadrilateral, which links Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai.
  3. Other important roads developed by NHAI are:
    • North-South Corridor linking Srinagar in the North and Kanyakumari in the South and
    • East-West Corridor linking Porbander in Gujarat to Silcher in Assam.

National Highways:

  1. These are the primary’ road systems which run in the North-South and East-West directions connecting all the states and link extreme parts of the country.
  2. These roads are laid and maintained by the Central Government, i.e., Central Public Works Department (CPWD) as they are of national importance.
  3. The historical Shershah Suri Marg, now called National Highway No. 1, links Delhi and Amritsar and the longest highway in the country is National Highway No. 7 which links Varanasi and Kanyakumari.

State Highways:

  1. Roads linking state capitals with different district headquarters are known as State Highways.
  2. These roads are constructed and maintained by State Public Works Department (PWD) in states and union territories.
  3. The expenditure or cost and maintenance of these roads is the responsibility of the respective state governments.

Question 12.
Differentiate between District Roads and Other Rural Roads?
Answer:
District Roads:

  • District Roads connect the district headquarters with other places of the district.
  • These roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.

Other Rural Roads:

  • Rural roads which link rural areas and villages with towns come under this category.
  • These roads received special impetus under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna’. Under this scheme, special provisions are made so that every village is linked to a major town in the country by an all season motorable road.

Question 13.
What are ‘Border Roads’? What is their significance?
Answer:

  1. Border roads run along the land frontiers of our country in the northern and north-eastern border areas.
  2. The Border Road Organisation (BRO) — a department of the Central Government was established in 1960 for the development of border roads.
  3. Their construction and maintenance is the responsibility of the Central Government.

Importance of Border Roads:

  1. These roads are of strategic importance.
  2. They have increased the accessibility in areas of difficult terrain and have helped in the economic development of these areas.
  3. They are the supply lines for our jawans (soldiers) who guard our land frontiers.

Question 14.
Classify roads on the basis of the type of material used for their construction.
Answer:
Roads can be classified into two categories on the basis of material used:
Metalled roads may be made of cement, concrete or bitumen. These are all-weather roads.
Unmetalled roads are dusty and muddy tracks which go out of use in the rainy season.

Question 15.
Define ‘road density’. What is the average road density in India? Name the states having the highest and lowest densities respectively. What is the main reason for this difference in their densities? (2013 D)
Answer:
Road density is defined as the length of road per 100 sq km, of area.
Average road density of India is 75 kms / 100 sq kms of area (1996-97).
Highest road density is in Kerala — It is 375 km / 100 sq kms.
Least road density is in Jammu & Kashmir—It is 10 km / 100 sq kms.
In Jammu & Kashmir, road density is less because of mountainous terrain, whereas Kerala has levelled nature of land coupled with agricultural development which supports a lot of population, therefore road density is higher.

Question 16.
What are the problems faced by road transportation in India? (2013 D)
Answer:
Problems faced by road transportation:

  1. The road network is inadequate in proportion to the volume of traffic and passengers.
  2. About half of the roads are unmetalled which makes them useless during rainy season.
  3. The National Highways are inadequate and lack roadside amenities.
  4. The roadways are highly congested in cities.
  5. Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.

Question 17.
Why is the distribution of roads not uniform in India? Explain with examples. (2014 OD)
Answer:

  1. Distribution of roads is not uniform in India due to different types of geographical features.
  2. Moreover, the volume of traffic as well as passengers also affects road networking in India. Roads are highly congested in cities. Most of the bridges and culverts have become narrow, old and broken.
  3. Some roads are metalled, that is well built with brick and cement and about half of the roads are unmetalled specially in rural areas which makes them unaccessible during rainy seasons.
  4. The regions with rugged terrain have steep roads with lots of hairpin bends.

Railways

Question 18.
Railways play an important role in Indian economy. Give supportive arguments.
Or
Explain the importance of railways as the principle mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India. (2015 OD)
Answer:

  1. Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India, as they link different parts of the country.
  2. They carry huge loads and bulky goods to long distances.
  3. Railways make it possible to conduct multiple activities like business, tourism, pilgrimage along with goods transportation over longer distances.
  4. Railways have been a great integrating force for the nation, for more than 150 years now.
  5. They have been helpful in binding the economic life of the country and also promoted cultural fusion.
  6. They have accelerated the development of the industry and agriculture.

Question 19.
Describe the distribution of railway network in India.
Answer:

  1. The Indian railways have a network of 7,031 stations spread over the country.
  2. The route length is 63,221 kms.
  3. It has a fleet of 7,817 locomotives.
  4. There are 5,321 passenger service vehicles.
  5. The number of coach vehicles is 4904.
  6. We have 2,28,170 wagons which run on the total rail track of 1,08,486 kms.

Question 21.
Which factors affect the distribution pattern of the railway network in the country?
Answer:
Factors that affect the distribution pattern of railway network in India:

  1. Physical factors: The nature of terrain and the number of rivers running through the region will determine the density of railway network in that region.
    For example, mountains, marshy, sandy and forested areas have sparse network whereas plain areas have dense network of the railways.
  2. Economic factors: Regions which have rich resources and are economically more developed have denser network of railways in comparison to the regions with low economic development.
  3. Administrative factors: The administrative and political decisions also affect the distribution of railway network in a region.

Question 22.
Analyse the physiographic and economic factors that have influenced the distribution pattern of the railway network in our country. (2015 D)
Or, ‘The distribution pattern of Indian Railway network is influenced by the physiographic factors. Examine the statement. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Factors that affect the distribution pattern of railway network in India:
(i) Physiographic factors. The Northern plains with vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provide most favourable conditions for railway network. The nature of terrain and the number of rivers running through the region determine the density of railway network in that region. Mountains, marshy, sandy and forested areas have sparse network whereas plain areas have dense network of the railways. It was difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plains of Western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat and forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh.

(ii) Economic factors. Regions which have rich resources and are economically more developed have denser network of railways in comparison to the regions with low economic development.

(iii) Administrative factors. The administrative and political decisions also affect the distribution of railway network in a region.

Question 23.
List four factors which favoured the development of dense network of railways in the northern plains. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Four reasons for dense network of railways in northern plains are:

  1. The vast level land provided the most favourable conditions for their growth. It is cheaper and easier to construct railway tracks here.
  2. The agricultural and industrial development in this region necessitated the development of railway lines.
  3. High population density in this region further required the development of railway lines.
  4. Resources such as iron and steel, fuels, etc., required for the development of railways are available in abundance in the northern plains.

Question 24.
State reasons for the sparse railway network in Himalayan region.
Answer:
Reasons for sparse railway network in Himalayas:

  1. High relief and rugged terrain pose difficulty in construction.
  2. Sparse population.
  3. Lack of economic opportunities because of low economic development.
  4. These are also thickly forested areas.

Question 25.
Where is Konkan Railway Line developed in India and what problems are faced by it?
Answer:
Konkan Railway Line is developed along the western coast of India through the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. This railway line has facilitated the movement of passengers and goods in this most important economic region of India.
Problems faced during its construction:

  • Sinking of track in some stretches.
  • Landslides were another hinderance.

Question 26.
What are the problems faced by Indian Railways?
Answer:
Problems faced by the Indian Railways:

  • Many passengers travel without tickets.
  • Thefts and damaging of railway property by miscreants.
  • People stop the trains and pull chains unnecessarily that causes heavy damage to the railways and also causes delays.

Question 27.
Explain the improvements made by the Indian Railways in its functioning. (2012 OD)
Answer:

  1. Railways make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sight-seeing, pilgrimage, transportation of goods and passengers.
  2. It accelerated the deployment of industrial and agricultural sector.
  3. Konkan Railways along the west coast has facilitated the movement of passengers and goods.
  4. Metro Rail, Mono Rail and Rapid metro systems are helping lakhs of people to commute everyday. These have helped in easing the traffic situation in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Gurgaon.
  5. The railways provide effective container service.

Pipelines

Question 28.
What are the advantages of pipeline transportation?
Answer:
Advantages of pipeline transportation:

  1. Pipelines can transport liquids, gases and solids (in slurry form) to any distance.
  2. Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants.
  3. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal.
  4. It reduces trans-shipment losses and delays.
  5. They can be laid in any terrain and even through the water-bodies.

Question 29.
What made the location of inland oil refineries possible? Name any two inland oil refineries.
Answer:
Location of inland oil refineries was made possible because of pipeline transportation which links them with oilfields.
Inland oil refineries are:

  1. Barauni
  2. Mathura
  3. Panipat.

Question 30.
Write about three most important networks of pipeline transportation.
Answer:
Important networks are:

  1. From oilfield in Upper Assam to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad.
  2. From Salaya (Gujarat) to Jalandhar (Punjab) via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonepat.
  3. Gas pipeline from Hazira (Gujarat) via Bijaipur (Madhya Pradesh) to Jagdishpur (Uttar Pradesh), called HBJ gas pipeline.

Waterways

Question 31.
Write four merits of waterways in India. (2014 D)
Answer:

  1. Waterways are the cheapest means of transport.
  2. Waterways are a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
  3. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.
  4. India’s trade with foreign countries is carried from the ports located along the coast, and more than 95% of the country’s trade volume is moved by the sea.

Question 32.
Mention any two inland waterways of India. Write three characteristics of each. (2017 D, 2011 OD)
Answer:
Two inland water ways are:
(A) The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia:
Characteristics:

  • The Inland Waterways Authority has declared this waterway as National Waterway No. 1.
  • Its total length is 1620 km.
  • It is one of the most important waterway of India which is navigable by mechanical boats upto Patna.

(B) The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri:
Characteristics:

  • The total length is 891 km.
  • It is declared as National Waterway No. 2.
  • It is navigable by steamers upto Dibrugarh.

Major Seaports

Question 33.
What are major seaports?
Answer:
Seaports which handle our foreign trade are called major seaports. These ports handle 95 per cent of India’s foreign trade.

Question 34.
Name the northernmost and southernmost ports of eastern and western coast respectively.
Answer:
The northernmost port: of eastern coast — Kolkata
of western coast — Kandla
The southernmost port: of eastern coast — Tuticorin
of western coast — Kochi

Question 35.
Give an account of the major sea ports of India and their importance. (2011 D)
Answer:

  1. Kandla port in Kuchchh.
    • It was developed after independence to reduce the load on the Mumbai port as the Karachi port had gone to Pakistan after partition.
    • It is a tidal port and caters to exports and imports of the granary and industrial belts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
    • Kandla port is located in Kuchchh in Gujarat.
    • It caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports for northern and western states of India.
  2. Mumbai port. It is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbour.
  3. Jawahar Lai Nehru port. Planned as a subordinate and hub-port of the Mumbai port.
  4. Marmagao port (Goa).
    • It is a premium iron ore exporting port.
    • It accounts for about fifty per cent of India’s iron ore exports.
  5. New Mangalore port (Karnataka). Caters to the export of iron-ore from Kudremukh mines.
  6. Kochchi. Extreme south-western port located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbour.
  7. Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu).
    • It has a natural harbour and rich hinterland.
    • It engages in flourishing trade with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives etc.
  8. Chennai port.
    • Oldest artificial port in the country.
    • It is second only to Mumbai in terms of volume of trade and cargo.
  9. Vishakhapatnam port. Deepest land locked and well protected port catering mainly to iron ore exports.
  10. Paradip (Orissa) specialises in iron ore export.
  11. Kolkata port.
    • It is an inland riverine port.
    • It serves as a large and rich hinterland of Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.
    • It is a tidal port which requires constant dredging of the Hugli river.
  12. Haldia port. It was developed to reduce pressure on Kolkata port.

Airways

Question 36.
Write four merits of air travel. Also mention any two demerits of air transport. (2012 OD, 2011 D)
Answer:
Merits of air travel.

  1. Air travel is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.
  2. India is a vast country with wide variation in relief. Air transport can cover difficult terrains like high mountains of the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, dreary deserts of Rajasthan, dense forests and long coastlines with great ease.
  3. Air travel has made access easier in the north-eastern part of the country, which is marked with the presence of big rivers like Brahmaputra, dissected relief, dense forests, frequent floods and international frontiers.
  4. At the time of natural calamities, relief measure and relief operations can be carried out quickly with the help of air transport.
  5. High value perishable goods can easily be exported or imported by airways.

Demerits of air transport.

  • Air travel is very expensive and not within the reach of the common people. Air travel is very luxurious.
  • It is adversely affected by bad weather conditions.

Question 37.
Why is air travel preferred in the north-eastern states? Give reasons. (2014 D, 2013 D)
Answer:
The north-eastern part of the country is marked with:

  1. Dissected relief,
  2. dense forests,
  3. Frequent floods
  4. Big rivers.

Under these difficult conditions, the road and rail transport is not well developed. Journey through land transport is very tiresome and time-consuming. So, for all these reasons, air travel is preferred in this part of the country, where special provisions are made to extend the services to common people at cheaper rates.

Question 38.
Name four airline services which cater to the domestic air traffic.
Answer:
Domestic air services are:

  • Indian Airlines which extends its services to neighbouring countries also.
  • Alliance Air (Subsidiary of Indian Airlines).
  • Private scheduled airlines, e.g., Jet, Sahara, Kingfisher, Indigo, Go Air etc.
  • Private non-scheduled operators provide air-taxi service.

Question 39.
What are ‘Pawan Hans’ services? Write two purposes for which these services are used.
Answer:
The Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd., a public sector undertaking, provides helicopter services to:

  1. Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) in its offshore operations.
  2. Inaccessible areas and difficult terrains like the north-eastern states, the interior parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand.
  3. They are also pressed into service at the time of emergencies and for providing relief measures at the time of natural calamities.

Question 40.
Which is the ‘International Airline’ of India?
Answer:
‘Air India’ handles our international traffic. It is a public sector undertaking. Jet and Kingfisher are examples of private airlines that fly to other countries as well.

Question 41.
Name four cities where international airports are located and name these airports.
Answer:
Cities where international airports are located:

  1. Delhi — Indira Gandhi International Airport
  2. Mumbai — Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport
  3. Chennai — Meenambakkam Airport
  4. Kolkata — Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport

Question 42.
Name the northernmost and southernmost international airport of India.
Answer:
Northern most international airport is Raja Sansi at Amritsar. Southern most international airport of India is situated in Tiruvanantapuram and is called Nedimbacherry Airport.

Communication

Question 43.
What is the main difference between means of transport and means of communication?
Answer:
Means of transport: These are used for the movement of people, goods and services from one place to another, e.g. roadways, airways, etc.
Means of communication: These are used for interchanging messages and ideas between people without physical movement of the communicator or receiver, e.g. letters, telephone, television, etc.

Question 44.
Write two types of means of communication and give two examples of each.
Answer:
Two types of means of communication are:
(i) Personal communication
(ii) Mass communication.
(i) Personal communication includes sending and receiving of messages between two individuals at a personal level. The important means in this category are telephone, post & telegraph services, fax, etc.
(ii) Mass communication means communicating with several people (masses) at the same time. These are of two types:

  • Print media. It includes printed material, e.g. newspapers and magazines.
  • Electronic media, e.g. Radio and T.V. This is an important media, especially for illiterate masses of the country.

Question 45.
What are the functions performed by means of mass communication?
Answer:
Functions performed by means of mass communication:

  1. It provides entertainment to masses.
  2. It creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies.
  3. We come to know the world happenings, weather bulletins and important international phenomena, developments and researches, etc. through the means of mass communication.
  4. They help in creating public opinion.

Question 46.
Explain the importance of ‘Radio’ and ‘Television’ as an effective means of mass communication in India.
Answer:
Because a large part of the population of our country is illiterate, the electronic media of mass communication i.e., Radio and T.V. play a very crucial role in:

  • providing entertainment
  • increasing awareness among people about various national programmes and policies.

Radio. It broadcasts —

  • a variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages.
  • varied programmes for various categories of people in rural, urban and remote areas through a number of radio

stations and transmitters.
T.V. It telecasts —

  • a variety of entertainment, educational and informative programmes.
  • T.V. is a better means of mass communication as it gives a visual report of world happenings; live telecast of sports and literacy programmes etc., which become more entertaining and meaningful.

Question 47.
Name the mail channels which were introduced by the Indian postal network to facilitate quick delivery of mails. What was the main purpose of this decision? (2014 D)
Answer:
Mail channels introduced by the Indian postal network are:

  1. Rajdhani Channel
  2. Business Channel
  3. Metro Channel
  4. Bulk Mail Channel
  5. Green Channel
  6. Periodical Channel

The main purpose is to facilitate quick delivery of mail to large towns and cities.

Question 48.
“India has one of the largest telecom networks in Asia.” Justify this statement.
Answer:

  1. Most of the urban centres are connected by STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) telephone facility.
  2. More than 2/3rd of the villages in India have already been covered with STD telephone facility, through many telephone exchanges.
  3. In order to strengthen the flow of information from the grass-root level to the higher level, the government has made special provision to extend 24 hours STD service facility to every village in the country.
  4. There have been uniform rates of STD facilities all over India. Even ISD services are available in most of the cities of the country.

All this has been made possible by integrating the developments in space technology with communication technology and development of computers and internet. Recently a number of private companies have also entered into telecommunication area.

Question 49.
Distinguish between first class mail and second class mail.
Answer:
Difference between Class mail and Second Class mail

Class mail Second Class mail
1. Cards and envelopes make first class mail. 1. This includes book packets, registered newspapers and periodicals.
2. They are airlifted between stations covering both land and air. 2. They are carried by surface mail, covering land and water transport.

Question 50.
Write in brief about A.I.R. and Doordarshan.
Answer:
All India Radio (A.I.R. or Akashwani):

  1. It broadcasts a variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages.
  2. It broadcasts programmes for various categories of people in rural, urban and remote areas.
  3. It is spread over different parts of the country through a number of radio stations and transmitters.

Doordarshan:

  1. It is the national television channel of India.
  2. It is one of the largest terrestrial networks in the world.
  3. It telecasts a variety of programmes ranging from educational, entertainment to sports, etc. for people of different age groups.

Question 51.
Approximately in how many languages are newspapers published in India?
Answer:
Newspapers are published in about 100 languages and dialects. Largest number of newspapers published in India are in Hindi followed by English and Urdu.

Question 52.
What is the status of feature film production in India?
Answer:

  1. India is the largest producer of feature films in the world.
  2. It produces short, video feature films and video short films.
  3. The Central Board of Film Certification is the authority to certify both Indian and foreign films.

International Trade

Question 53.
What is meant by trade? What is the difference between Local and State level trade? (2014 D)
Answer:
The exchange of goods and services among people, states and countries, through market channels, is referred to as trade.
Local trade is carried in cities, towns and villages.
State level trade is carried between two or more states.

Question 54.
What is ‘international trade’?
Answer:
Exchange of goods (buying and selling of goods) between two countries is called international trade. It may take place through sea, air or land routes.
Two components of international trade are — export and import.

Question 55.
Why is international trade considered as an ‘economic barometer’ for a country?
Or
“Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its prosperity.” Support the statement with suitable examples. (2014 OD)
Answer:
Exchange of goods (buying and selling of goods) between two countries is called international trade. It may take place through sea, air or land routes. It has two components—export and import.

  1. Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity.
  2. As no country is self-sufficient in all resources, it cannot survive without international trade.
  3. If the balance of international trade is favourable that is value of export is more than the value of import, a country will be able to earn more foreign exchange.
  4. International trade encourages a country to develop secondary and tertiary sectors for exporting goods which can fetch more foreign exchange. In this day and age of globalization exchange of goods and commodities has also been overtaken by the exchange of information and knowledge as well.
  5. A country’s economic prosperity can be gauged by the health of its international trade.

Question 56.
What is ‘balance of trade’? Explain its two types.
Answer:
The balance of trade of a country is the difference between its export and import value. Balance of trade is of two types:

  1. Favourable balance of trade. When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, it is called favourable balance of trade.
  2. Unfavourable balance of trade. If the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is called unfavourable balance of trade.

Question 57.
Write a note on the changing nature of international trade in India.
Answer:
International trade in India has undergone a substantial change in the last fifteen years. Liberalisation policies of government and lifting of barriers on trade has made it truly global in nature. India has trading relations with all major trading blocks and geographical regions of the world. In this day and age of globalisation, exchange of goods and commodities has been overtaken by the exchange of information and knowledge. India has proved to be a world leader in software technology and is earning large amounts of foreign exchange through the export of software technology.

Tourism As A Trade

Question 59.
Why is ‘tourism’ considered as a trade and industry in India? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2015 OD, 2014 D)
Answer:

  1. With increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting India, we earned foreign exchange worth Rs. 21,828 crore in 2004 which is further increasing year by year making tourism an important trade.
  2. Over 2.6 million foreign tourists visit India every year for appreciating our heritage, our culture for medical purposes or for business purposes, etc.
  3. Over 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
  4. Tourism promotes national integration, provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
  5. Tourism also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.
  6. Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir and temple towns of south India are the most popular tourist destinations. These states earn huge sums of money from tourism trade.

Question 60.
Give reasons for which foreign tourists visit India. (2014 D)
Answer:
Foreigners visit India for various purposes. These are:

  1. Heritage tourism
  2. Eco-tourism
  3. Adventure tourism
  4. Cultural tourism
  5. Medical tourism
  6. Business tourism
    • Broadened cultural awareness of each others tradition.
    • It is economically viable. India is a great value destination as tourists can travel cheaply and lavishly.
    • Indian hospitality is famous worldwide — ‘Atithi devo bhava’.
    • India is an avenue to explore spirituality through yoga, meditation.
    • Indian cuisine predominantly, North Indian is world famous.
    • India has several historical and architectural attractions. Regional handicrafts and ethnic designs of traditional products attract tourists.

The above mentioned are a few important questions for Class 10 Geography that are most probable to be repeated in the upcoming board exams. While preparing for the board exams, students can study accordingly by giving priority to the topics mentioned above.

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