Indian Geography questions are the most common part of the previous year papers of IAS Prelims Exam. It is said that there is a big regional imbalance in the part of industrialisation in India which an UPSC IAS aspirant must have to study critically. UPSC IAS aspirants are required to understand the requirement of Civil Services Prelims Examination in order to qualify the IAS Prelim Exam. It requires a special focus on the IAS Exam Preparation and endless practice of the Subject Questions and Model Test Papers.
Geography is one of the important components of the IAS Syllabus which covers the major share of the IAS Prelims Questions. The General Studies Paper I of UPSC IAS Prelims Exam consist of Geography Questions ranges from 15 to 25 every year. So, the Civil Services aspirants have to do Preparation of GS Geography in a manner so, that they can score better in IAS Prelims Exam.
1. Which of the following country is the largest producer of sugar in the world?
a. Brazil
b. India
c. Pakistan
d. China
Answer: b
Explanation:
The production of sugar depends upon the production of sugarcane and it fluctuates with the fluctuations in the production of sugarcane. The total sugar production in 1950-51 was 11.3 lakh tonnes. It increased to 201.32 lakh tonnes in 2002-2003.In 2003-04, it fell down to 138 lakh tonnes.
2. Consider the following reasons of shifting of sugar industry from North India to Peninsular India:
I. The production of sugarcane per hectare is higher is Peninsular India. In fact, sugarcane crop grows well in the tropical climate of south India.
II. The sucrose content is higher in the tropical variety of sugarcane grown in the south.
III. Most of the mills in Peninsular India are in cooperative sector, where profit maximization is not the sole objective.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
The production of sugarcane per hectare is higher is Peninsular India. In fact, sugarcane crop grows well in the tropical climate of south India. The sucrose content is higher in the tropical variety of sugarcane grown in the south.
The crushing season in south India is longer than in north India. In south India most of the mills have modern machinery. Most of the mills in Peninsular India are in cooperative sector, where profit maximization is not the sole objective.
UPSC IAS Prelims Exam: Physical Geography NIOS Questions: Industrial Development
3. Which of the following places the steel plant was established just after independence of India?
a. Bhilai
b. Raurkela
c. Durgapur
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
The iron and steel industry made rapid progress after independence. The production capacity has increased in all the existing units. Three new integrated steel plants were established at Rourkela, Bhilai and Durgapur. Bokaro steel plant was established under public sector in 1964.
Bokaro and Bhilai plants were set up with the collaboration of the former Soviet Union. Durgapur steel plant was set up in Collaboration with United Kingdom while Rourkela plant was established with the help of Germany. Vishakhapattnam and Salem plants were set up afterwards.
4. Consider the following statements regarding the impact of Economic liberalisation industrialisation in India:
I. The process of industrialization in India can be divided into two parts – before and after 1992.
II. In August 1992, Government of India took a bold step by changing its economic policies from state control to market forces.
III. The immediate cause of these changes in economic policy was to tide over balance of payment crises but having wide social, economic, political and geographical implications.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
The process of industrialization in India can be divided into two parts – before and after 1992. During first forty years after independence the Indian economy had diversified and expanded very fast. But this growth was characterized by rigid controls and regulations. In August 1992, Government of India took a bold step by changing its economic policies from state control to market forces.
A need was felt to give more responsibility to private capital and enterprise, both domestic as well as foreign. In response to this, the new industrial policy of liberalization, privatisation and globalization was adopted in August 1992. The immediate cause of these changes in economic policy was to tide over balance of payment crises but having wide social, economic, political and geographical implications.
5. Consider the following statements regarding the distribution of cotton textile industry in India:
I. These mills are located in more than 88 centres in different parts of the country.
II. Majority of cotton textile mills are still located in the cotton growing areas of the Great Plains and peninsular India.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. Neither I nor II
Answer: c
Explanation:
Cotton textile industry is one of the most widely distributed industries in our country. These mills are located in more than 88 centres in different parts of the country But majority of cotton textile mills are still located in the cotton growing areas of the Great Plains and peninsular India.
Maharashtra is the leading producer of cotton textile in the country. Mumbai is the major centre of textile mills. About a half of the Cotton textile mills are located in Mumbai alone. It is, therefore, rightly called as ‘Cottonpolis’ of India. Sholapur, Kohlapur, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad and Jalgaon are other important centres in Maharashtra.
6. Which of the following state is the second largest producer of cotton in India after Maharashtra?
a. Gujarat
b. Tamil Nadu
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. Andhra Pradesh
Answer: a
Explanation:
Gujarat, which ranks second in the production of cotton textiles, Ahamedabad is the major centre of the state. Surat, Bharauch, Vadodara, Bhavnagar and Rajkot are other centres in the state.
Tamil Nadu has emerged as an important producer of cotton textiles in sourthern states. Coimbatore is an important centre in the state. Tirunelveli, Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Salem and Thanjavour are other important centres here.
7. Which of the following industry is the second largest agro-based industry of India?
a. Steel and iron
b. Sugar
c. Cotton textile
d. Petro Chemical
Answer: b
Explanation:
Sugar industry is the second largest agro-based industry of India. If we take Gur, Khandsari and Sugar together, then India becomes the largest producer of sugar product in the world. In 2003, there were about 453 sugar mills in the country. This industry employs about 2.5 lakh people.
8. Consider the following statements regarding the factors responsible for localisation of sugar industry in India:
I. Sugar mills can be set up only in the sugarcane producing areas.
II. It can neither be stored nor kept for long period of time.
III. The production of sugarcane per hectare is higher is Peninsular India.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
The following are the factors for the localization of sugar industry:
1) Sugarcane is the main raw material for making sugar. Sugar mills can be set up only in the sugarcane producing areas. Sugarcane gets dry soon after harvesting. It can neither be stored nor kept for long period of time. Sugarcane should be taken immediately to the sugar mills after harvesting.
2) Transportation cost of sugarcane is high. Generally sugarcane is transported through bullock carts which can carry it upto 20-25 kilometers. Recently tractor trolleys and trucks have been used to carry sugarcane to the sugar mills.
Beside these factors, capital, market, labour and power also play significant role in localization of this industry.
9. Consider the following facts about Agro-based industries in India:
I. Agro-based industries use agricultural products as their raw material.
II. Cotton textile industry is the largest industry of organised sector in India.
III. Large number of sugar mills is located in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
Agro-based industries use agricultural products as their raw material. Cotton textile industry is the largest industry of organised sector in India.
Cotton textile industry is widely distributed in India. Large numbers of sugar mills are located in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar.
10. Kulti is known for the iron and steel works located in which of the following states of India?
a. Jharkand
b. Bihar
c. West Bengal
d. Chhattisgarh
Answer: c
Explanation:
Iron and steel industry is a basic industry and its products serve as a raw material for a number of other industries. Although iron and steel manufacturing activity in India is very old, modern iron and steel industry started with the establishment of ‘Bengal Iron and Steel Works’ at Kulti in West Bengal in 1817.
Tata Iron and Steel Company was established at Jamshedpur in 1907. This was followed by ‘Indian Iron and Steel plant’ at Burnpur in 1919. All the three plants were established in the private sector. The first public sector iron and steel plant, which is now known as ‘Visvesvarayya Iron and Steel works’, was established at Bhadrawati in 1923.
Strategically GS Geography is very important for UPSC IAS Prelims Exam because of the numbers of questions asked in General Studies Paper I of UPSC IAS Prelims Exam. India witnesses the Industrial Development just after getting its independence in 1947. So, it is very important for the UPSC IAS aspirants to study the Industrial Developments in India after independence in a chronological order.
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