SOCIAL SCIENCE WITH ALOK SIR

SUB- GEOGRAPHY
CLASS- 10
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (1 Mark)
1. How is cement industry responsible for land degradation?
Ans. The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry generate
hugequantity of dust that settles down on the land and retards the process of infiltration of water
into the soil.
2.Classify resources on the basis of origin.
Ans. On the basis of origin resources are classified as biotic and abiotic resources.
3. What are the methods of checking soil erosion?
Ans. Strip cropping, terrace farming and contour ploughing.
4. Name the land with deep channels that is unfit for cultivation.
Ans. Bad land.
5. Which state has the largest area under black soil?
Ans. Maharashtra.
6. In which states overgrazing is responsible for land degradation?
Ans : Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan. Gujarat and Maharashtra.
7. In which states laterite soil is found?
Ans. Karnataka, Kerala. Tamil Nadu, M.P, and hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.
8. What is the percentage share of plains in the total land area?
Ans. 43%.
9.What is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
Ans. Over irrigation.
10. Classify resources into two groups on the basis of their exhaustibility.
Ans. On the basis of exhaustibility, resources can be classified as renewable and
non-renewable.
Forest and wildlife Resources
1. Which state has the largest area permanent forests?
Ans. Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests.
2.What is biodiversity?
Ans: It is the sum total of all the varieties of species of plants, animals and micro-organisms
living on the earth.
3.What is IUCN?
Answer: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
4.What are normal species?
Answer: Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival are
classified as normal species.
5.Name the Tiger Reserve which is seriously threatened by dolomite mining activity.
Ans: The Bauxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal.
6.Mention any wildlife protection programme?
Ans: The Indian Wildlife Act 1972
7.Mention any one step which was undertaken under Indian Wildlife Act to protect the wildlife.
Ans. Trade in wildlife was declared illegal.
8.Name the place of state where people have fought against mining by citing the Wildlife
Protection Act.
Answer:Sariska Tiger Reserve– Rajasthan
9.What is Chipko Movement?
Ans: It was a movement launched by the people of the Himalayas against deforest.
10.Name any four movements which were launched by local communities for the protection of
forests or wildlife.
Ans:
(a) Chipko Movement
(b) Beej Bachao Andolan
(c) Narmada Bachao Andolan
(d) Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri
11.What is JFM?
Ans: JFM (Joint Forest Management) was a movement launched to manage and restore
degraded forests by involving the local communities.
Note- JFM resolution passed by the odisha (first state)
12.Name any two states which’ have large percentage of reserved forests of its forest area.
Ans:Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh.
13.Name any two states which have bulk of its forests area under protected forests.
Answer: Punjab and Haryana.
14.Name any two states which have bulk of its forests area under unclassed forests.
Ans. Assam and Tripura.

WATER RESOURCES
1. How has Shillong solved the problem of acute shortage of water?
Ans. Shillong has solved the problem of acute shortage of water by practicing roof top rainwater
harvesting.
2. How has Tamil Nadu solved the problem of acute shortage of water?
Ans. Tamil Nadu has solved the problem of acute shortage of water by making roof top
rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state and also
has legal provisions to punish the defaulters.
3. Describe any three traditional methods of rainwater harvesting adopted in different
parts of India.
OR
Describe any three different rainwater harvesting systems practised in India.
OR
“Rainwater harvesting system is viable alternative both socially, economically and
environmentally". Support the statement with three examples.
Ans.
A.In hilly and mountainous regions, people build diversion channels like 4
gul‟ or 'kill' in Western Himalaya for agriculture.
B. Roof-top rainwater harvesting was commonly practised to store drinking water
particularly in Rajasthan.
C. In West Bengal, people develop inundation channels to irrigate their fields.
D. In semi-arid regions agricultural fields are converted into rainfed storage
structures that allowed the water to stand and moist the soil.
4. Why do some people oppose dams?
Ans. Some people oppose dams because this may submerge the land for cultivation anddisrupt
the lives of the displaced people.
5. Name two social movements which were against the multipurpose projects.
Ans. Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Dam Andolan.
6. On which river has the Hirakud Dam been constructed?
Ans. River Mahanadi.
7. What are the causes of water scarcity?
Ans. Rapid growth of population, uneven distribution of water resources and increase in
demand of water.
8. What percentage of the total volume of world‟s water is estimated to exist as
oceans?
Ans. 96.5 percent.
9.What is the need of rainwater harvesting ?
Ans. Rainwater harvesting is needed to provide it for agriculture, collect drinking water, irrigate
the fields and to moisten the soil.
10. Write the major source of freshwater in India?
Ans. Groundwater.
11.What is the contribution of hydroelectricity in the total generation of electricity.
Ans. 22%
12.Define the term Tankas?
Ans.Tankas are the underground tanks for storing drinking water.
13.Name two techniques of roof top rain water harvesting.
Ans:
(i) Recharge through hand pump.
(ii) Recharge through abandoned dug well
14.How people harvest water in the semi- arid and arid regions of Rajasthan
Ans: By building underground tanks.
15.What was considered as a viable alternative to the multipurpose projects and why?
Ans: The. disadvantages and rising resistance against the multipurpose projects, has lead us to
conclude that water harvesting system is a viable alternative, both socio-economically and
environmentally.
16.Why were the multipurpose river projects considered as temples of modem India by
Jawaharlal Nehru
Ans: These would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid
industrialisation and growth of the urban economy.
17. “The availability of water resources varies over space and time”. Give reasons.
Ans: Water resources varies over space and time due to the variation in seasonal and annual
precipitation.
18.What is water scarcity.
Answer: Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demand.
19.How is freshwater obtained
Ans. The freshwater is obtained from precipitation, surface run off and groundwater that is
continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle.
20.What is the importance of hydrological cycle?
Ans: The freshwater is mainly obtained from surface run off and groundwater that is continually
being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. All water moves within the
hydrological cycle ensuring that water is renewable resource.
AGRICULTURE
1. Which country is the first largest producer of rice?
Ans. China.
2. Which is the leading coffee producer state in India?
Ans. Karnataka.
3. In which type of soil does maize grow well?
Ans. Old alluvial.
4. Name some rabi crops.
Ans.Wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.
5. India is the largest producer as well as consumer of which agricultural product in the world?
Ans. Pulses.
6. Name the state which is the largest producer of ragi.
Ans. Karnataka is the largest producer of ragi.
7. In which country the ‗slash and burn' agriculture is known as ‗Roca‘?
Ans. Brazil.
8. Name the crops for which India is the largest producer in the world.
Ans. Fruits and vegetables, oilseeds and pulses
9. Mention the sowing period of kharif crops.
Ans. Kharif crops are sown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country.
10. Mention the sowing period of rabi crops.
Ans. Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December.
11.What is primitive subsistence farming.
Ans: It is a type of agriculture / farming which is practised on small patches of land with the help
of primitive tools like hoe, doa, digging sticks and family / community labour.
12.Mention any four plantation crops produced in India.
Ans: Tea, coffee, rubber and sugarcane
13.Name any two states where commercial farming is practised.
Ans: Punjab and Haryana
14.Mention any two factors which play an important role in the development of plantations.
Ans:(i) Developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas.
(ii) Developed market.
15.Name the cropping seasons of India with examples.
Ans.
(i) Rabi – wheat
(ii) Kharif – paddy
(iii) Zaid – watermelon
16.Mention any two important factors responsible for the success of rabi crops?
Ans.
(i) Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate cyclone.
(ii) The success of Green Revolution in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh.
17.Why should the production of pulses be increased Give two reasons.
Ans:
(i) These are the major sources of protein for most of the people.
(ii) These plants help in restoring the fertility of the soil.
18.Why pulses are grown as rotation crop? Give two reasons.
Ans:
(i) Pulses are grown as a rotation crop because these have the capacity to fix atmospheric
nitrogen in the soil into nitrogenous compound. These help to maintain or restore soil fertility.
(ii) These need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions
19.What is sericulture.
Answer: Rearing of silkworms for the production of silk fibre is known as sericulture.
20.How has climate made our land more valuable from the agricultural point of view Give two
points.
Ans:A Due to wide climatic variations,
B. all kinds of crops can be grown.

MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES

1. Name the best variety of iron-ore found in India.
Ans. The best variety of iron-ore found in India is Magnetite.
2. Why are there a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density
found in minerals?
Ans. The ranges found in minerals are due to physical and chemical conditions.
3. Name the minerals formed in beds and layers.
Ans. Coal, and some forms of iron ore.
4. What is hematite?
Ans. Hematite ore is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of the quantity used.
5. Why should the use of cattle cake as fuel be discouraged?
Ans. The use of cattle cake as fuel should be discouraged because it creates pollution. It
consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture.
6. How power resources are classified?
Ans. Power resources may be broadly categorised into conventional and non-conventional
resources.
7. Which is the oldest oil producing state of India?
Ans. Assam.
8. Which state of India is the largest producer of Bauxite?
Ans. Odisha is the largest producer of Bauxite in India.
9. Name the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India.
Ans. Coal is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India.
10. What is biogas energy?
Ans. Bio gas is produced from shrubs, farm waste, animal and human wastes.
11.What are ‘placer deposits’?
Ans. When minerals occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills,
then deposits are called ‘placer deposits’.
Ex..Gold, silver,tin, platinum
12.In which places of Odisha-Jharkhand belt is iron ore found?
Ans: High grade Hematite iron ore is found in Badampahar mines in Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar
district and in Singhbhum District of Jharkhand, iron-ore is mined in Gua and Noamundi.
13.Name the two types of iron-ore found in India.
Ans. Magnetite and Haematite
14.What are the uses of Manganese?
Ans: Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloy. It is
also used in manufacturing of bleaching powder, insecticides and paints
15.Name the mica deposits regions of India.
Ans:
(i) Chotanagpur Plateau, Koderma, Gaya-Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand.
(ii) Ajmer in Rajasthan.
(iii) Nellore in Andhra Pradesh
16.What is the impact of mining on the health of miners?
OR
How does mining affect the health of miners?
Ans.(i) The dust and various fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary
diseases.
(ii) The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to
miners.
17.How can we conserve minerals?
Ans:
(i) Use of minerals in a planned and sustainable manner.
(ii) Improved technology can allow to use low grade ores at low costs.
(iii) Recycling of metals.
18. Why do we need energy?
OR
Why is energy needed? Write one reason.
Ans:
(i) It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat.
(ii) To propel vehicles.
(iii) To drive machinery in industries.
19.Why are there a wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, lustre and density found in
minerals?
Ans: The ranges found in minerals are due to: Physical and Chemical conditions.
20.How do minerals occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks?
Ans. Occurrence of minerals: In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals may occur in cracks,
crevices, faults and joints.
Note- Also read these occurrences and sedimentary rock briefly..

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
1. Why is the „least cost‟ known as decision making factor for ideal location of an industry?
Ans. Least cost is the key factor that determines the location of an industry because industry
tends to be located at a place where factors of production are either available or can be
arranged at low cost.
2. Why has the „National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council‟ been set up?
Ans. National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) has been set up with the
objective of appropriate policy intervention, by the Government and renewed efforts,
by the industry to improve productivity and achieve its target over the next decade.
3. Which two prime factors are important for the location of „Aluminium Smelting‟
industry?
Ans. The two prime factors for the location of aluminium smelting industry are:
(a) Regular and cheap supply of electricity.
(b) Assured supply of raw material at minimum cost.
4. What is manufacturing?
Ans. Production of goods in large quantities after processing from raw material to more valuable
products is called as manufacturing.
5. Name the industry which uses limestone as its main raw material.
Ans. Cement and Iron and Steel industry uses limestone as its main raw material.
6. What is agglomeration economies?
Ans. Many industries that tend to come together to make use of the advantages offered by the
urban centers like markets and services arc known as agglomeration economies.
7. Name the river-basin where jute industries are concentrated in India.
Ans. The river-basin where jute industries are concentrated in India is Hugli river-basin.
8. Name the region which has maximum concentration of iron and steel industries.
Ans. Chotanagpur plateau region in Jharkhand has maximum concentration of iron and steel
industries..
9.Why has aluminium metal great importance?
Ans. Aluminium metal has great importance because it combines the strength of metals such as
Iron with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great malleability.
10. How is iron-ore transported from Kudremukh mines to a port near Mangaluru?
Ans: Iron-ore is transported as slurry through pipelines.
11. How did the ‘Bailadila’ Iron ore field get its name?
Ans: The Bailadila hills look like the hump of an ox, hence ‘Bialadila’ name given to the iron-ore
field.
12.Name the mineral which is used to harden steel during manufacturing.
Ans. Manganese.
13.Name the important raw materials used in the manufacturing of cement.
Ans.Important raw materials used in the manufacture of cement are the following:
A.Limestone B.Silica C.Alumina D.Gypsum

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

(3 Marks)
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
1. “Resource planning is a complex process.” Justify the statement with
arguments.
Ans. Resource planning is a complex process which involves:
(a) Identification of resources across the country through surveying, mapping and
preparation of inventory of resources through their quantitative and qualitative
estimation and measurement.
(b) Develop a planning structure for resource development taking into account
technology, skill and infrastructure available for implementing the plans.
(c) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development
plans. This involves systematic planning of exploitation of resources.
2. Why is it essential to have resource planning? Explain any three reasons.
Ans.
a. If the present trend of resource depletion by few individuals continues, the future of our planet
is in danger.
b. Planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life.
c. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises.
3. Examine the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization of natural
resources.
Ans. The following are the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization
of natural resources.
(a) Depletion of resources at a faster rate.
(b) Accumulation of resources in the hands of few creating a wide gap between the
haves (rich) and have nots (poor).
(c) Increase in global crises like ozone layer depletion, global warming, pollution and land
degradation.
4. Describe any three measures of controlling land degradation.
OR
Explain any three steps taken to solve the problem of land degradation in India.
Ans.
a. Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent .
b. Planting of shelter belts, control on over-grazing, stabilisation of sand dune by
growing thorny bushes.
c. Proper management of wastelands, control of mixing activities, proper discharge and disposal
of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in
industrial and sub-urban areas are some of the methods to check land degradation.
5. Indiscriminate use of resources had led to numerous problems.‟ Justify this
statement.
Ans. Resources are vital for human survival and it was believed that resources are free gift of
nature. The indiscriminate use of resources led to the following problems:
A. To satisfy the greed of few individuals, depletion of resources has continued.
B. Due to the accumulation of resources in few hands, the society gets divided into
two segments,
e.g., rich and poor.
C. Indiscriminate use of resources has „ led to ecological crises, e.g., ozone layer
depletion, land degradation, global warming and environmental pollution.
6. “33 per cent area should be under forests.” Justify the statement highlighting the
environmental values of forests.
Ans. According to the international norms, the forest cover in a country should be 33 percent of
the total geographical area. However the forest cover in India is estimated at 637,293 sq. km,
which is 19.39 per cent of the total geographical area.
(a) The following points sum up of the environmental values of forests.
If a country does not have 33 per cent geographical area under forest it may lead
to poor quality of support system — water, air and soil.
(b) Forests preserve the genetic diversity of plants and animals.
(c) The forest ecosystem is the storehouse of valuable forest products, minerals and
other resources.
7. What is meant by the term “resource"? List the types of resources classified on the basis of
its ownership.
Ans. Resource:
Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is
technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable is known as a
resource.
-Types of resources on the basis of ownership are:
Individual, community, national and international.
8.What is the role of humans in resource development ?
Or
Explain the role of humans in resource development.
Ans:
(i) Resources are function of human activities.
(ii) Human beings interact with-nature through technology, and create institutions to accelerate
their economic development.
(iii) Human beings transfer materials available in our environment into resource, and use them.
(iv) For example, river is a natural endowment and it becomes resource when its water is used
for irrigation or power production.
9. “Planning of resources is very important for a country like India”. Justify by giving three
reasons.
Ans.
(i) India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources. There are many regions which
are rich in certain type of resources but are deficient in some other resources.
(ii) The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal
deposits but lacks in infrastructural development.
(iii) The states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are rich in soil but lacks minerals.
10. ‘India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources.’ Explain.
Or
“India is rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources.” Support your
answer with examples.
Ans:
(i) The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in mineral resources but
lack industrialisation.
(ii) Arunachal Pradesh has an abundance of water resources, but lacks in infrastructural
development. The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks
in water resources. The cold desert area of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the
country due to lack of means of transportation and communication.
(iii) Most of North-Eastern states are rich in natural vegetation but lacks in fertile soil.
11.Study the following data carefully and answer the questions that follow:
LAND FEATURES OF INDIA
Land Features Area Covered (in percentage)
(i) Plains 43%
(ii) Mountains 30%
(iii) Plateaus 27%
Total =100%
(i) Name the land feature which occupies the highest surface area of India.
(ii) Give two advantages of the above land feature.
Ans.
(i) The plains (43%) occupy the highest surface area of India.
(ii) (a) The plains provide opportunity for crop farming.
(b) The plains have good climatic conditions for human habitation.
11.How over-irrigation and mining lead to land degradation?
Or
How is over-irrigation responsible for land degradation? Which states of India face this problem?

Ans: Over-irrigation and mining lead to land degradation as :

(i) Over-irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging which leads to
increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. Water logging is a major issue in Punjab, Haryana,
(ii) The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry calcite and soapstone
for ceramic industry generate huge quantities of dust in the atmosphere. It retards the process
of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles down on the land.
12.Mention the criteria on the basis of which Indian soils can be classified.
Ans. (i) Factors responsible for soil formation.
(ii) Colour
(iii) Thickness
(iv) Texture
(v) Age
(vi) Chemical and Physical properties.
13. (i) ‘The arid soil lacks humus and moisture.’ Explain.
(ii) Name any two states where this soil is formed.
Ans:
(i) The arid soil is found in dry climatic conditions. Due to dry climate and high temperature,
evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture.
(ii) Rajasthan and Gujarat
FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
1. In which year was the 'Indian Wildlife Protection Act‟ implemented in India? Describe the
main thrust area of this programme.
Ans. • In the 1960s and 1970s, the conservationists demanded some rules to protect the
wildlife. Conceding to their demand, the government enacted the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act
1972. Under this act, an all-India list of protected species was published.
• Hunting was banned to protect the remaining population of some endangered
species.
• Trade in wildlife was restricted and the habitats of wildlife were given legal
protection. Many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries were established by
various state governments and the central government.
• Several projects were announced for protecting specific animals, e.g., Project
Tiger. Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect tigers from becoming extinct.
2. Describe the steps taken by the government to protect the species from becoming0extinct.
Ans. The following are the steps taken by the government to protect the species from
being extinct.
(a) Implementation of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972. According to it a list of protected
species in India was published to protect the endangered species.
(b) Hunting and trade in wildlife has been banned to give legal protection to their
habitat.
(c) Various national parks and wildlife sanctuaries have been established to give
natural habitat to the species facing extinction.
3. Describe the Project Tiger launched by the Indian government.
Ans. The Project Tiger Conservation programme was initiated in 1973 in Corbett National Park
of Uttarakhand for the purpose of saving the tiger population from extinction in India.
The objective of this project was to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger
population of India. This is one of the success stories of wildlife conservation in the whole world.
An estimate of the tiger population in India at that turn of the century places the figure up to
40,000. Subsequently, the first ever all India-Tiger census was conducted in 1972 which
revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers.
The project of conservations of tiger population was launched by the government of India with
the help of international agencies like World Wildlife Fund etc. Nine Tiger Reserves in nine state
with the total area of 13,017 km2 were set aside with a tiger population of about 300.
The main achievements of this project are excellent recovery of the habitat and
consequent areas from a mere 268 in 9 reserves in 1972 to 2,226 in 27 reserves in
2015. Out of the total area an area of 4,936 km2 was set apart as a core zone free from all
human interference. Cattle grazing in this area has been stopped and many villages have been
moved out.
4. 'Forests and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment‟. Justify the
statement by giving three reasons.
Ans. Forests and wildlife are vital to the quality of life and environment. This is because
destruction of forests and wildlife leads to
(i) Loss of cultural diversity - In addition to the loss of flora and fauna in the forest;
the communities that depend on various forest produce suffer a lot.
(ii) Impact on women - In almost all rural societies women bear the responsibility to
collect fire wood, fodder and water. Depletion of these resources makes them
work much harder and the tasks become more time taking. This often leads to
various health problems in them.
(iii) Poverty - When the poor tribal population fail to get their supplies of basic items, they have
to buy those by spending money which is in short supply.
Thus, greater economic pressure is created on them.
5. How has the destruction of forests and wildlife resulted into the loss of cultural
diversity? Explain.
Ans. The destruction of forests and wildlife resulted into the loss of cultural diversity in the
following ways.
(a) The destruction of forests and wildlife has affected the livelihood of many
communities, who are dependent on forests.
(b) In some areas women are involved in fuel collection, fodder for their animals and
water for their domestic needs. Due to deforestation these products are not
available to them. It adversely affects the lives of such people.
(c) The destruction of forests has resulted in severe droughts and floods, which has
affected forest-dependent communities. People live in extreme poverty. The
conservation of forests and wildlife is essential to provide a better quality of life.
6. When was the Indian Wildlife Protection Act implemented? Describe its main
objectives.
Ans. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972 for protecting habitats.
An all-India list of protected animals was also published.
Its main objectives are as follows.
(a) To protect the remaining population of certain endangered species by banning
hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats and stopping trade in wildlife.
(b) The central and state governments established national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries.
(c) The central government also announced various projects like Project Tiger and
Project Rhino for protecting specific animals, which were gravely threatened.
7. What are extinct species? Describe any two factors that caused fearful depletion
of biodiversity of India.
Ans. Extinction of a particular animal or plant species occurs when there are no more individuals
of that species alive anywhere in the world - the species has died out.
This is a natural part of evolution. But sometimes extinctions happen at a much faster rate than
usual.
Depletion of biodiversity happens because of (a) Cutting of forests for developing agriculture.
This leads to decline of habitat as well as prey for the wild animals.
(b) River water development projects submerging large forest areas.
(c) Development of roads and railway network.
(d) Hunting/Poaching of wild animals.
(e) Commercial plantation of certain trees at the expense of other varieties.
(f) Pollution of water bodies and land areas.
8. Nature worship is an old-age belief. Explain how it has helped in the conservation of forest
and wildlife.
Ans. Nature worship has helped in the conservation of forest and wildlife in the following ways.
(a) The tribals believe in nature worship, which is based on the fact that all creations of nature
have to be protected. Such beliefs have protected several forests from decay, cutting and felling
of trees. They are called Sacred Groves. Sacred qualities are also ascribed to mountains,
springs and plants
(b) Certain communities revere a particular tree like Mundas and Santhal of Chota
Nagpur region worship mahua and kadamba trees respectively.
(c) The tribals of Bihar and Odisha worship the tamarind and mango trees respectively during
weddings.
9. Evaluate the role of large-scale development projects in accelerating the loss of forests in
India.
Ans. Large-scale developmental projects have contributed significantly to the loss of
forests.
(a) Since 1951, over 5,000 sq km of forests were cleared for river valley projects.
(b) Clearing of forests is still continuing because of new projects like the Narmada
Sagar Project in Madhya Pradesh.
(c) Mining activities are also disturbing the national habitats of major species, who
live in forests.
10. Distinguish between rare species and vulnerable species of animals with examples.
Ans. Rare species: Rare species have a small population and can move into endangered or
vulnerable category, if the negative factors affecting them continue to exist.
For example, Asiatic buffalo.
Vulnerable species: Vulnerable Species are the species whose population has
declined so much that they may move into the category of endangered species in the
near future, if the negative factors continue to operate, for example, blue sheep.
11. Explain the two famous programmes which have resisted deforestation and
involved local communities.
Ans. (i) The Chipko Movement:
• This movement is a good example of community participation in conservation
program. The Chipko movement was a forest conservation movement where
people embraced the trees to prevent them from being cut.
• The first movements date back to 1730 AD when in Khejarli village of Rajasthan,
363 Bishnois sacrificed their lives to save khejri trees.
• In modern India, it began in 1973 in Uttarakhand (then in Uttar Pradesh) and
went on to become a rallying point for many Forests and Wildlife 133 future
environmental movements all over the world.
(ii) The Beej Bachao Andolan or BBA:
• This movement was started in Jardhargaon in Tehri Garhwal to conserve and promote
indigenous seeds and agricultural practices. It has its roots in the Chipko Movement.
• Vijay Jardhari a farmer and social activist realized that modern agriculture was
destroying traditional farming. He formed the BBA. He decided to discontinue the
cultivation of chemical dependent seeds. He and his colleagues found out about
traditional varieties of seeds. They got to know about a distinctive variety of red
rice called chardhan. Thapchini, jhumkiya, rikhwa and lal basmati were other indigenous
varieties.
• They organized food marches, get-togethers and meetings to create awareness about the
importance of protecting traditional seeds. BBA actively promotes the use of traditional farming
methods like baranaja.
12. Analyse the involvement of different traditional communities to conserve their own natural
habitats in India.
Ans. Conservation strategies are not new to India. Local communities have been
struggling to conserve their natural habitat. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan,
villagers have fought against mining by citing Wildlife Protection Act. They
themselves protect their habitats. Villagers in Alwar district of Rajasthan have
declared 1,200 hectare of forest as Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri and do not allow hunting. The
famous Chipko Movement in Himalayas is the result of community participation in protecting
their habitat.
13. Enumerate the features of Joint Forest Management Programme.
Ans. The following are the features of Joint Forest Management Programme, which came into
existence in 1988.
(a) Formation of local or village institutions, that undertake activities on degraded
forest land, managed by the forest department.
(b) Local communities involved in the management and restoration of degraded
forests.
(c) Intermediary benefits like non-timber forest produce and the share in the timber
harvested given to the members of the communities in return.
14. Describe the methods of forest conservation.
Ans. The forests can be conserved by the following ways.
• The cutting of trees in the forests must be stopped.
• Afforestation or special programmes like Vana Mahotsava should be launched on
grand scale.
• Forest conservation Act 1980 should be strictly implemented to check
deforestation
15. Write a brief note on „Project Tiger‟.
Ans. „Project Tiger was one of the well-publicised wildlife campaigns in the world, launched in
1973. Tiger conservation has been viewed not only as an effort to save an endangered species
but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude. Corbett
National Park, (Uttarakhand), Sunderbans 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 tiger reserves in India.
16. Analyse any four reasons for the depletion of forest resources in India.
Ans. The following are the four reasons for the depletion of forest resources in India.
(a) Large-scale development projects have contributed to the loss of forest. Since
1951, 5000 sq km of forest was cleared for river valley projects.
(b) Agricultural expansion has been one of the major causes of depletion of forest
resources. According to the Forest Survey of India, between 1951 and 1980, over
26,200 sq km of forest area was converted into agricultural land.
(c) A large part of the tribal belts in north-eastern and central India have been
deforested or degraded because of shifting cultivation, a type of slash and burn
agriculture.
(d) Rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to clearing of forests.
17.(i) Which factor is often cited as the cause of environmental degradation in the third world
countries?
(ii) Mention any four factors which have led to the decline of India’s biodiversity.
Ans: (i) Overpopulation.
(ii) (a) Habitat destruction
(b) Hunting
(c) Poaching
(d) Overexploitation
(e) Environmental pollution
(f) Forest fires.
18.“Grazing and fuel-wood collection are not responsible for deforestation in India.” Support the
statement with suitable reasons.
Ans: (i) Overgrazing destroys the saplings and plants are tom out by the roots by animals.
(ii) Overgrazing also leads to soil erosion. Soil erosion is one of the important factor for
deforestation.
(iii) While collecting fuel wood the locals also destroy the trees, which leads to deforestation.
19.“Nature-worship is an old age belief”. Explain how has it helped in the conservation of forests
and wildlife.
Ans. (i) Nature-worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of
nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form
called Sacred Groves (the forests of God and Goddesses). These patches of forest or parts,of
large forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is
banned.
(ii) The Mundas and the Santhal of Chota Nagpur region worship mahua (Bassia latifolia) and
kadamba (Anthocaphalus cadamba) trees, and the tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship the
tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and mango (Mangifera indica) trees during weddings.
(iii) Peepal and banyan trees are also considered sacred and worshipped in most parts of India.
(iv) Sacred qualities are often ascribed to springs, mountain peaks, plants and animals which
are closely protected.
(v) In and around Bishnoi villages in Rajasthan, herds of blackbuck, (chinkara), nilgai and
peacocks can be seen as an integral part of the community and nobody harms them.
20.What is Himalayan Yew? Why is it under great threat at present?
Ans: The Himalayan Yew is a medicinal plant which is found in various parts of Himachal
Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
(i) It is under great threat due to over-exploitation.
(ii) A chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is extracted from the bark, needles, twigs and roots of
this tree.
(iii) So, it is now biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.
 WATER RESOURCES
1. Analyse the impact of „water scarcity‟.
Ans. Following are the impacts of water scarcity.
(a) it causes ecological crisis that have profound impact on our lives.
(b) it also affects farming and leads to food shortage.
(c) it also leads to inadequate sanitation.
(d) Beside lack of drinking water, hunger is one of the biggest effects of water scarcity.
(e) It also drags down the economic productivity.
2. How has the ever increasing number of industries in India made worse position by
exerting pressure on existing fresh water resources? Explain.
Ans. The ever increasing number of industries in India made worse position by exerting
pressure on existing fresh water resources in the following ways:
(a) Rise of industrial units lead to their growing need and use of water. This further leads to
water scarcity.
(b) Discharge of industrial effluents and dumping of industrial wastes and chemicals have turned
big rivers into toxic streams unfit and hazardous for human use.
Pollution of the freshwater resources has lead to water scarcity.
(c) Industries, apart from being heavy users of water, also require power to run them.Much of
this energy comes from hydroelectric power.
3. Mention any four main objectives of multi –purpose river valley projects. Name any two
Multipurpose Projects of India.
OR
What is a multipurpose river valley project? Mention any four objectives
of it.
Ans. A project where many uses of the impounded water are integrated with one another is
known as multipurpose project. It is built for irrigation, power generation, water supply, flood
control, recreation, etc.
4. Explain the working of underground tanks as a part of roof top rainwater harvesting system
practised in Rajasthan.
OR
How were the underground tanks beneficial to the people of Rajasthan?
Explain.
OR
Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi arid regions of Rajasthan is carried
out.
Ans. a. In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan almost all the houses traditionally had
underground tanks for storing drinking water.
b. They are extremely reliable source of drinking water when other sources are
dried up. This is considered the purest form of natural water.
c. The tanks can be as large as big rooms.
d. The tanks were part of the well- developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system.
e. The tanks were built inside the main house or the courtyard giving cooling effect
to the rooms in the summer.
f. Those tanks were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.
g. Rain falling on these rooftops would travel down the pipe and stored in these
underground tanks.
h. Usually first: rain water is not collected to clean the rooftop and the pipe. (Any
three)
5. List any three advantages and three disadvantages of multipurpose river
project.
OR
What are the advantages and disadvantages of multipurpose river
project.
Ans. Advantages:
a. These are the main source of power generation.
b. They provide us neat, pollution free and cheapest energy which is the backbone
of industry and agriculture.
c. These projects control the floods because water can be stored in them. These projects have
converted many, „rivers of sorrows‟ into „rivers of boon‟.
d. These projects are the main source of irrigation and also help in conserving soil.
Disadvantages:
a. Due to the construction of dams, there are no adequate floods in the river.
Because of this, the soil of the downstream region does not get nutrient rich silt.
b. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate for
spawning, i.e., to produce eggs.
c. It resulted in displacement of local communities. The local people often have to give up their
land and livelihood and their meagre access and control over
resources for the greater need of the nation.
6. “Water is a very important and critical resource in India.” Support the statement
by explaining any three points.
Ans. Water is a very important and critical resource in India. The following points support this
statement.
(a) Water resources are a significant part of the ecological cycle, which enable the
existence of all living beings on the earth.
(b) Water resources help to carry out several agricultural and agriculture-related
activities, thus playing a major role in the development of agricultural production.
(c) Water also contributes significantly to the development of industry as it supplies
water to various water-based and power-based industries.
7. Why is groundwater a highly overused resource?
Ans. Groundwater is a highly overused resource because of the following reasons:
a. Due to large and growing population and consequent greater demands for water and unequal
access to it.
b. To facilitate higher food grain production for large population, water resources are
being over exploited to expand irrigated areas and dry season agriculture.
c. In the housing societies or colonies in the cities, there is an arrangement of own
ground water pumping devices to meet water needs.
8.What is importance of water.
Or
“Water is a very important and critical resource in India.” Support the statement by explaining
any three points.
Ans:
(i) Water is vital for human survival.
(ii) Water is used for transportation.
(iii) In industries water is used as a coolant.
(iv) Water is also used for power production.
(v) Water is a basic input for agriculture.
9.Distinguish between a dam and a multipurpose project.
Ans.
Dam
1. A dam is barrier across the flowing water that obstructs, dissects or retards the flow, often
creating a reservoir, lake or an impoundment
2. It is a traditional concept.
Multipurpose project.
1. A multipurpose project is that which fulfils a variety of purposes at the same time, for example
– irrigation, generation of electricity, flood control, fish breeding, soil conservation, etc.
2. It is a modern concept.
10.What is hydrological cycle? What is its importance.
Ans: The continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of earth is known as
hydrological cycle. The freshwater is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water that
is continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. All water moves
within the hydrological cycle ensuring that water is a renewable resource.
AGRICULTURE
1. Describe any three main features of Rabi crop season.‘
Ans .
(a) Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in
summer from April to June.
(b) Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.
(c) Northern and northwestern states such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh are important for the
production of rabi crops.
(d) Success of rabi crops depend on the availability of precipitation during winter
months due to the western temperate cyclones.
2.Dense and efficient network of transport is a pre-requisite for local and national
development‖. Analyse the statement.
Ans.
A. The pace of development of country depends upon the production of goods and
services as well as their movement over space. Therefore efficient means of
transport are pre-requisite for national development.
B. Today, the world has been converted into a large village with the help of efficient
an d fast moving transport system.
C. The trades from local to international levels have added to the vitality of our
economy with the help of dense and efficient network of transport in the country.
It has enriched our life and added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the
comforts of life.
3. Which crop is known as the ‘golden fibre‘? Explain any two geographical conditions essential
for the cultivation of this crop. Mention its any four uses.
Ans.
A. Jute is called the golden fibre.
B. Geographical conditions:
C. Grows well in drained fertile soil of the flood plains where the soil is renewed
every year.
D. High temperature is required during the time of growth.
Uses: Can be used to manufacture gunny bags, mats, ropes, yam, carpets and other
artefacts.
4. Mention any two geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in India.
Describe any three factors which have contributed to increase in maize production.
Ans. Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in India:
A. It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C.
B. It grows well in alluvial soil.
Use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilisers and irrigation have contributed
to the increasing production of maize.
5. Why has the agriculture sector in India got a major setback in spite of increase in the GDP
growth rate?
Ans.
A. More and more land is used for construction of factories, warehouses and
shelters which reduced the land under cultivation.
B. Soil gets degraded by the use of pesticides, fertilizers, over irrigation, etc., which leads to
water logging and salinity.
C. Today Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.
D. Our government is reducing the public investment in agriculture, subsidy on
fertilizers have decreased.
e. Reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved detrimental to agriculture in
the country.
6. What are the climatic conditions required for the growth of rice?
Ans. Climatic conditions required for the growth of rice:
A. It is a Kharif crop which requires high temperature (above 25°C).
B. High humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
C.In the areas of less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation.
D. It is grown in the plains of north and north-easten India, coastal areas and the
deltaic regions.
E. Development of dense network of canal irrigation and tubewells have made it
possible to grow* rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab and Haryana.
7. Suggest any five measures to enhance the agricultural production in India.
OR
Explain any five institutional and technical reforms brought by the government to
improve the condition of Indian Agriculture.
OR
Describe any five steps taken by the government of India to increase the productivity of
agriculture in India.
Ans.
1. Land reforms: Collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and
abolition of zamindari.
2. Agricultural reforms: Green revolution and White revolution.
3. Land development programmes: Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone,
etc, establishment of Grameen banks, Cooperative societies and banks for providing loans.
4. Issuing of Kissan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, etc.
5. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers on radio and TV.
6. Government announces Minimum Support Price (MSP) and remunerative and procurement
prices to check exploitation.
7. The government provides HYV seeds and fertilisers.
8. Government provides technical assistance and training for farmers.
9. Soil testing facilities, cold storage and transportation facilities are provided by
government for farmers.
8.With reference to kharif crop, answer the following questions :
(i) When are kharif crops sown
(ii) Name any four states which are the main producers of kharif crops.
(iii) Name some kharif crops.
Ans:
(i) These are sown with the onset of monsoon.
(ii) (a) Assam
(b) West Bengal
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Tamil Nadu
(iii) Rice, millet, maize, groundnut, jute and cotton.
9.Explain any two geographical conditions required for the cultivation of pulses. Name any two
important pulses producing states.
Ans. Geographical conditions required for the cultivation of pulses :
(i) Pulses need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.
(ii) Temperature is required from 25°C to 30°C.
(iii) Pulses grow well in the areas of 50-75 cm rainfall.
(iv) These can be grown on all types of soil but dry light soil is the best suited.
(v) Pulses are leguminous crops which help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the
air. Thus, pulses are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
Major pulses producing states are : Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan Maharashtra Karnataka.
10.Write two differences between intensive and extensive farming?
MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES
1.Minerals are unevenly distributed in India.Support the statement with examples.
Ans. Following are the examples to support the statement that mineral resources in India are
unevenly distributed.
(a) Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many
other non-metallic minerals.
(b) Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula in Gujarat
and Assam have most of the petroleum deposits.
(c) The vast alluvial plains of North India are almost devoid of minerals. These
variations exist largely due to differences in the geological structure processes
and time involved in the formation of minerals.
(d) Rajasthan, with the rock systems of the peninsula, has reserves of many non-
ferrous minerals. (any three)
2. 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.
Ans. The following are the measures to solve this burning problem.
(a) We should use public transport instead of personal vehicles as much as possible.
(b) We should switch off electricity when not in use.
(c) We should switch to power-saving devices.
(d) We should keep our power equipment well maintained.
(e) Above all. use of non-conventional sources of energy would be of great help in overcoming
the problem. (any three)
3. How is the mining activity injurious to the health of the miners and environment?
Explain.
Ans. Mining activity is injurious to the health of miners due to the following reasons.
(a) Inhalation of poisonous gases and dust make them vulnerable to pulmonary
diseases.
(b) The risk of collapse of mine roofs may risk the life of miners.
(c) Inundation and fires in coalmines are a constant threat to the miners.
The following points show how mining affects the environment.
(a) It results in contamination of water.
(b) Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land and soil.
(c) It results in air and water pollution.
4. Differentiate between metallic and non-metallic minerals with examples.
Ans. The difference between metallic and non-metallic minerals are:
Metallic minerals
(a) Minerals from which metals are
extracted are called metallic minerals.
(b) These minerals are malleable and
ductile.
(c) These minerals are associated with
igneous and mctamorphic rocks.
(d) They arc usually hard and have
shine or luster of their own.
For example, iron, copper, bauxite,
tin, manganese etc
Non-metallic minerals
(a) Minerals consisting of non-metals are
called non-metallic minerals.
(b) These minerals are neither malleable
nor ductile.
(c) Non-metallic minerals are associated
with sedimentary rocks.
(d) They are not so hard and have no
shine or luster of their own.
For example, coal, salt, clay etc.
5. Mention any three major iron-ore belts in India. Write any three characteristics of the
southermost iron-ore belt.
Ans. The three major iron-ore belts in India are:
(а) Orissa-Jharkhand belt.
(b) Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt
(c)Ballari-Chitradurga-Chikkamagaluru-
Tumakuru belt
(d) Maharashtra-Goa belt
The three characteristics of the southern-most belt, Ballari-Chitradurga-
Chikkamagaluru-Tumakuru belt, are as follows.
(a) It has large reserves of iron ore.
(b) The Khudremukh mines, located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, are a
hundred per cent export unit.
(c) Khudremukh deposits are one of the largest mines in the world.
6. We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy
resources.‘ Support the statement with three examples.
Ans. We have to adopt a cautious approach for the judicious use of our limited energy resources
because of the following reasons.
(a) They are non-renewable, once consumed we will not be able to get them
back.
(b) Energy is required for all our activities—to cook, to provide light and heat, to drive vehicles
and machinery, so, it should be used judiciously.
(c) Keeping in mind the needs of our future generation, we have to adopt the policy
of sustainable development.
7. How is energy an indispensible requirement of our modern life? Explain with three examples.
Ans. Energy is an indispensible requirement of our modern life. The following points explain the
statement.
(a) Energy isneededforall activities like to provide heat and light, to drive machinery
and to cook.
(b) Every sector of the national economy like agriculture, industry, transport,
communication, etc. requires energy to operate.
(c) All the developmental plans require energy to remain operational. With the time,
consumption of energy has been on steady rise, which again makes it a
necessary requirement for our day-to-day life.
8.Give a brief description of the HVJ pipeline.
Ans: (i) The 1,700-km long Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur cross country gas pipeline links Mumbai
High and Bassien with fertilizer, power and industrial complexes in Western and Northern India.
(ii) This artery has provided an impetus to India’s gas production.
(iii) The power and fertilizer industries are the key users of natural gas.
9.What are the chief characteristics of bauxite?
Ans: Though several ores contain aluminium, it is from bauxite that a clay-like substance
alumina and later aluminium are obtained. Bauxite deposits are formed by the decomposition of
a wide variety of rocks rich in aluminium silicates. Aluminium is an important metal because it
combines the strength of metals such as iron with extreme lightness and also with good
conductivity and great malleability.
10.How is mining activity injurious to the health of the miners and environment? Explain.
OR
What are the hazards of mining?
Ans: (i) The dust and various fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to pulmonary
diseases.
(ii) The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coal mines are a constant threat to
miners.
(iii) The water resources in the regions get contaminated due to mining.
(iv) Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil and increase in stream and
river pollution.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
1. How has the ever increasing number of industries in India made worse position by
exerting pressure on existing fresh water resources? Explain.
Ans. a. Industries apart from being heavy users of water also require power to run them.
b. Today large industrial houses are as common place as the industrial units of
many MNCs are exerting pressure on freshwater sources.
c. Industrialisation followed by the urbanization multiplying the problems of water scarcity and
exerting pressure on water sources causing their depletion.
2. Analyse the role of the manufacturing sector in the economic development of
India.
Ans. Manufacturing sector, like Cotton textile. Iron and Steel industry, etc. is considered as the
backbone of economic development of a country because of the following reasons:
(а) It helps in modernizing agriculture.
(b) Industries help in providing jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.
(c) It reduces the burden of employment on agriculture and thus reduces poverty.
(d) It brings down the regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and
backward areas.
(e) Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce which leads to
bringing in the much needed foreign exchange.
3. Why do we have maximum concentration of iron and steel industry in Chota Nagpur Plateau
region? Give any three regions.
OR
Why has the Chota Nagpur Region maximum concentration of iron and steel
industries? Explain any three.
Ans. Factors responsible for concentration of iron and steel industries in Chhota Nagpur
Plateau:
a. Low cost of iron-ore
b. High grade raw material in proximity.
c. Cheap labour.
d. Vast growth potential in the home market.
e. Good transport connectivity.
f. Availability of water resources.
4. Why was the cotton textile industry concentrated in the cotton growing belt in the early years?
Explain.
Ans. Cotton textile industry was concentrated in the cotton growing belt in the early years
because:
a. Availability of raw cotton e.g. belt of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
b. Nearness to market.
c. Transport
d. Port facilities
e. Cheap labour
f. Moist climate.
5. „Environmental degradation has been everywhere.‟ Explain any three values that can help to
prevent environmental degradation.
Ans. Following values can be adopted to prevent environmental degradation.
(a) Proper water management: Stress on recycling and reuse of water and proper
treatment of discharged water.
(b) Control air pollution: Spread awareness to install electrostatic precipitators,
fabric filters in factories. Encourage use of oil and gas instead of coal.
(c) Educate people for proper management of solid waste. Separate biodegradable and
non-biodegradable waste and dispose accordingly. Non-biodegradable waste can be recycled
and reused.
6. Classify industries on the basis of bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods into two
categories. Mention any two features of each category.
Ans. On the basis of bulk and weight of raw materials and finished goods, industries can be
classified into:
(a) Heavy industry such as iron and steel.
(b) Light industries that use light raw-materials and produce light goods such as electrical
industries.
The two features of heavy industries are:
(a) They produce those goods which are used by other industries.
(b) They satisfy our wants indirectly.
The two features of light industries are:
(a) They produce consumer goods like electrical bulbs, sewings machines etc.
(b) They produce goods which satisfy our wants indirectly, e.g. fuse wires.
7. “The iron and steel industry is the basic as well as heavy industry.” Support the
statement with three points.
OR
Why is iron and steel industry called a basic industry? Explain.
Ans. Iron and steel industry is the basic industry as:
a. All the other industries depend on it for their machinery.
b. Steel is needed to manufacture a variety of engineering goods.
c. It provides variety of consumer goods.
d. Construction material, defence, medical, telephonic, scientific equipments, are
the gift of iron and steel industry.
8.Mention any two factors that have contributed to a healthy growth of the automobile
industry in India, Name two centres where this industry is located.
Ans. a. The introduction of new and contemporary models stimulated the demand for vehicles in
the market.
b. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) brought in new technology and aligned the
industry, with global developments. The two centres 1 of automobile industry are
Jamshedpur and Gurgaon.
9. How are integrated steel plants different from mini steel plants?
Ans. Integrated Steel Plant
(a) These are larger steel plants.
(b) These plants use basic raw material
for making steel
(c) These plants use blast furnaces.
(d) They are usually concentrated near
the sources of raw materials and
market and also cater domestic and
international demands.
Mini Steel Plant
(a) These are smaller steel plants.
(b) These plants use steel scrap and
sponge iron for making steel.
(c) Mini steel plants have electric and
induction furnaces.
(d) They are dccentralised secondary
units scattered across the country
to meet local demands.
10.. “Agriculture and industry are complimentary to each other.” Support the statement with
three examples.
Ans: Agriculture and industry both depend on each other
(i) Agriculture supplies raw material for the manufacturing industries. Shortage of these raw
materials can spell doom for the industry.
(ii) Agriculture gets its basic inputs form the manufacturing industries.
(iii) In this way agriculture offers a big market for industrial products, fertilizers, water pumps,
tractors, farm equipment etc.
(iv) In short, agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other they move hand in hand.
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
 LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
(5 Marks)
1.Explain resource planning. What are the steps involved in resource planning?
OR
Why is resource planning essential in India?
OR
What is resource planning? Why is resource planning essential? Explain it with three reasons.
Ans. Resource planning is a procedure of proper utilization of resources. Resource
planning is important because :
A. Resources in India are not evenly distributed. Some parts of the county are rich in one
resource but deficient in other important resources which are essential. For example, Rajasthan
is rich in solar and wind energy but lacks water resource.
Jharkhand is rich in minerals and coal deposits but lack in industrialisation. This
is the reason why resource planning is essential.
An effective resource planning
will help in effective use of the resources available in the environment.
(B) Secondly, most of the resources present in our environment are limited.
Therefore, if these resources are not preserved or not used rationally we will be
in great trouble.
For example : Petrol is a limited resource and it cannot be renewed. Exhaustion of petrol will
create huge chaos in the country as we are extensively dependent on the petrol.
(c) Thirdly, resource planning is important because it minimises the wastage or over
utilization of resources. The very first step of resource planning is to make a list of
resources available in the environment. This helps us to assess which resources
should be used and how much it should be used to prevent over utilisation and
minimize wastage.
2. Mention three physical factors as well as three human factors which determine the use of
land in India.
Ans. Three physical factors determining the use of land in India are the following.
(a) topography (b) climate (c) soil type
Three human factors determining the land use in India are:
(a) population density. (b) technological capability.
(c) culture and traditions.
3. What are the reasons for land degradation? Describe briefly any four measures to conserve
land from degradation.
Ans. At present there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India. It has
mainly been due to the following reasons.
(a) Human activities like deforestation, mining, quarrying, overgrazing are mainly
responsible for land degradation.
(b) In states like Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha deforestation due to
mining has caused severe degradation. In Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat
and Maharashtra, overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation.
(c) Industrial effluents have become a major source of land and water degradation in many parts
of the country.
(d) Over-irrigation in the states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, has
led to waterlogging and increased alkalinity and salinity in the soil.(any two)
The following are the four measures to conserve land from degradation.
(a) Afforestation and management of grazing can solve the problem to some extent.
(b) Planting of shelter belts of trees and growing of thorny bushes can stabilize sand dunes and
check land degradation.
(c) Control over mining activities can also contribute to it.
(d) Proper discharge of industrial effluents can be done by grinding, sedimentation
and flocculation.
4.Do you think that resources are free gifts of nature as is assumed by many? Justify your
answer with any three suitable arguments.
Ans. They are not free gifts of nature as :
(i) Resources are a function of human activities,
(ii) Human beings themselves are essential components of resources.
(iii) They transform material available in our environment into resources and use them.
For example river is a natural resource but river become a resource when its water is used for
irrigation or power production
5.“India has land under a variety of relief features.” Justify.
Or
What are the main advantages of India’s land under a variety of relief features?
Ans. India has land under a variety of relief features, namely: mountains, plateaus, plains and
islands.
(i) About 43 per cent of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and
industry.
(ii) Mountains account for 30 per cent of the total surface area. They ensure perennial flow of
some rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.
(iii) About 27 per cent of the land area is plateau. It possesses reserves of minerals, fossil fuels
and forests.
6.Discuss the problems which have been caused due to over-utilisation of resources. Suggest
any two ways to save the resources.
Or
“Indiscriminate use of resources has led to numerous problems”. Justify the statement in three
points.

Ans: (I) Depletion of resources : Over-utilisation has led to the depletion of the resources for
meeting the greed of a few individuals. For example, over-utilisation of petroleum products has
led to a situation where most of the countries of the world are facing energy crisis.
(ii) Concentration of resources: This has divided the society into ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ or the
rich and the poor.
(iii) Global ecological crisis : Over utilisation of resources has led to the global ecological crisis
such as global warming, depletion of ozone layer, pollution and land degradation.
Suggestions :
(i) Minimising wastage.
(ii) Use of renewable resources
7.Why is there a need to conserve resources? What was Gandhiji’s opinion regarding the
conservation of resources?
Or
Explain the importance of conservation of resources.
Or
Why is it essential to have resource planning? Give three reasons.
Ans: (i) Limited supply : Most of the resources have limited supply as compared to their demand
for example supply of fossil fuels is limited.
(ii) Pollution and global warming :
Overutilisation of natural resources may lead to environmental pollution for example over use of
fossil fuel is a major factor responsible for global warming.
(iii) Socio economic problem : The destruction of forests and wildlife is not just
a biological issue. The biological loss is strongly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity.
Such losses have increasingly marginalised and impoverished many indigenous and other
forest-dependent communities, who directly depend on various components of the forest and
wildlife for food, drink, medicine, culture, spirituality, etc. Within the poor, women are affected
more than men. In many societies, women bear the major responsibility of collection of fuel,
fodder, water and other basic subsistence needs. As these resources are depleted, the
drudgery of women increases and sometimes they have to walk for more than 10 km to collect
these resources. This causes serious health problems for women and negligence of home and
children because of the increased hours of work, which often has serious social implications.
Gandhiji was very apt in voicing his concern about resource conservation. He said, “There is
enough for everybody’s need, and not for anybody’s greed. ” According to him, they were the
greedy and selfish individuals who were responsible for depletion of resources. He was in
favour of producing for the masses than mass production.
8.Explain any four proper fanning techniques which can be used for soil conservation.
Or
Suggest any three measures of soil conservation.
Or
What is soil conservation? Explain any three methods of soil conservation suitable to Indian
conditions.

Ans. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion
or degradation.
(i) Crop rotation : If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after year, this consumes
certain nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check this type of erosion.
(ii) Settled agriculture : Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by persuading the tribal
people to switch over to settled agriculture.
(iii) Terracing and contour bunding :
Terracing and contour bunding across the hill slopes is a very effective, and one of the oldest
methods of soil conservation. Hill slope is cut into a number of terraces having horizontal top
and steep slopes on the back and front. Contour bunding involves the construction of bank
along the contour.
(iv) Strip cropping : Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow
between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip
cropping.
(v) Shelter Belt : Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of
such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the
stabilisation of sand dunes and in establishing the desert in western India.
9.Give reasons :
(i) Alluvial soil can hold moisture, and is very fertile.
(ii) Black soil needs to be tilled after the first rain.
(iii) Red soil is ideal for dry farming.
(iv) The percentage of organic matter in desert soil is very low.
(v) Red soil is less fertile.
Ans: (i) Because the alluvial soil is made up of fine particles. The soil is very fertile because it is
rich in mineral nutrients like potash and lime.
(ii) The soil is sticky, and difficult to work unless tilled immediately after the first rain.
(iii) Because it does not require much moisture.
(iv) Because of the dry climate and absence of vegetation.
(v) Because it is deficient in phosphorus, nitrogen, lime and humus.
10.What is soil erosion? Explain the major types of soil erosions prevailing in India.
Ans.: “Soil erosion is the removal of soil by the forces of nature like wind and water, more rapidly
than the various soil forming processes can replace it.” Generally, there is a balance between
the soil forming process and the erosional process. The balance can be disturbed by natural or
human factors.
Types of Soil Erosion :
(a) Water Erosion : Water is a powerful agent of soil erosion. Following are the major types of
erosion caused by water.
(i) Sheet Erosion : When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area by the running
water, it is called as sheet erosion.
(ii) Rill Erosion : This is the second stage of sheet erosion. If erosion continues unchecked for a
sufficient time, (rills) or small finger-shaped grooves which are a few centimetres in depth, may
develop on the landscape. Over a period of time, the fine rills increase in number and also
become deeper and wider, and resemble the twigs, branches and trunk of a tree. This is called
as rill erosion.
(iii) Gully Erosion : This is the third stage of sheet erosion. With further erosion of the soil, the
rills may deepen and become enlarged, and are ultimately turned into gullies. The main cause
of gully erosion is the removal of vegetation, particularly of trees with their widespread binding
roots. Gullies cut up agricultural land and the entire area may be turned into a bad land
topography. Gully erosion is also responsible for the formation of ravines.
(b) Wind erosion : Wind is a powerful agent of erosion in arid and semi-arid lands with little
rainfall. Wind can lift the valuable top soil from one area and deposits in another area. The wind
erosion is very dangerous type of erosion because due to wind most of the deserts of the world
are expanding.
FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
1.Describe the steps taken to conserve the flora and fauna of the country.
Ans. The various steps taken to conserve the flora and fauna of the country include:
(a) Implementation of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
(b) Desired control on deforestation and implementing afforestation programs.
(c) Providing legal protection to animals by bringing and implanting laws such as
banning of hunting and poaching.
(d) Spreading the awareness about the values of forests and its flora and fauna
among the public.
(e) Setting up of biosphere reserves - 18 Biosphere Reserves have been set up in
India. Providing financial and technical assistance to many botanical gardens.
(f) Implementation of specific focused projects such as - Project Tiger, project Rhino,project
Great Indian Bustard and many other eco developmental projects. 103 national parks, 530
Wildlife sanctuaries and zoological gardens (Government of India, July 2015) are setup to take
care of natural heritage.
2. How have communities conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India?
Explain.
Ans. Type l
(i) Conservation of forests has been a part oflndian culture and folklore and it has
been prevalent among the village communities since ancient times.
(ii) Many tribal communities and other government officials have raised their voice towards
protection of forests and wildlife in the name of certain beliefs.
(iii) For example, the inhabitants of five villages in Alwar district in Rajasthan have
announced 1200 hectares of land as the Bhairodev Dakav „Sonchuri‟ as
protection of wildlife from hunting by anyone.
(iv) Some trees and animals were considered sacred by certain communities which helped in
the species preservation of forests and wildlife. For example, The
Mundas and Santhals of Chhota Nagpur worship mahua and kadamba trees. The
tribals of Odisha and Bihar worship tamarind, and mango trees during weddings.
(v) Other trees like tulsi, neem and peepal are also considered sacred. Certain
animals like macaques and langurs are found in some temples.
(vi) The Bishnoi tribes of Rajasthan played an important role towards preservation of
black buck, nilgai and peacocks. Thus, conservation was considered as an
essential part of the community and any damage caused to the trees and animals
had serious repercussions.
Type 2
Role of communities in the conservation of forest and wildlife can be explained as
follows:
(i) 'Sariska Tiger Reserve‟ is situated in Rajasthan, here the people of nearby
villages have fought against mining activities and protecting the natural habitat of wildlife.
(ii) In Alwar, Rajasthan, the people of five villages have declared 1200 hectare of
forest as the “Bhairodev Dakav Sanctuary”. They set their own rules and
regulations which do not allow hunting etc.
(iii) Chipko movement by locals in Himalayas successfully resisted the deforestation.
3. How is biological loss of forest and wildlife correlated with loss of cultural
diversity?
Ans. Biological loss of forest and wildlife correlated with loss of cultural diversity in the following
ways.
(a) Destruction of forests and wildlife has affected the livelihood of many communities which are
directly dependent on forests.
(b) They depend on forests for their food, medicine, water, livelihood and cultural
traits.
(c) In certain societies, women are involved in fuel collection, fodder for animals and water for
their basic needs. Due to large-scale deforestation these forest products are not available to
them and the life of these people, especially women, is largely affected.
(d) Women have to go in search of food, water and fuel over long distances leaving
their family for a long time resulting in social tensions.
(e) It has resulted in severe droughts and floods which has affected these communities
adversely. These people live in extreme poverty, which is the direct
result of the environmental degradation. Conservation of forests and wildlife is
essential to provide better quality of life and environment.
WATER RESOURCES
1.Explain any three reasons due to which large dams have come under great
opposition in recent years.
Ans. In recent times the dams have come under great opposition because of the following
reasons.
(a) The construction of dams resulted in problems like excessive sedimentation,
waterlogging, soil erosion, sudden floods, large-scale deforestation, extinction of
species, displacement of communities and loss of livelihood of tribal communities. Dams also
fragment rivers, making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate especially for spawing.
(b) Dams that were built to control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation
in the reservoir. Big dams have been unsuccessful in controlling floods at the
time of excessive rainfall. The release of water from the dams during heavy rainfall, worsens the
situation.
(c) Multi-purpose projects cause earthquakes, water-borne diseases and pollution due to the
excessive use of water.
2. Why is rooftop rainwater harvesting important in Rajasthan? Explain.
Ans. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is important in Rajasthan because of the following reasons.
(a) The rainwater stored in tankas is an extremely reliable source of drinking water
when all other sources are dried up.
(b) Rainwater is considered the purest form of natural water.
(c) Many houses have constructed underground rooms adjoining the tankas to beat the summer
heat as it would keep the room cool.
(d) There is a lack of perennial rivers in Rajasthan.
(e) The rainfall is not reliable in this region.
3. Explain any three reasons responsible for water scarcity in India.
OR
Water is available in abundance in India. Even then scarcity of water is experienced
in major parts of the country. Explain it with four examples.
Ans. A. The availability of water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the
variations in seasonal and annual precipitation.
B. Over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different
social groups.
C. Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population and
consequent greater demands for water. A large population means more water to
produce more food. Hence, to facilitate higher food-grain production, water
resources are being over exploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season
agriculture.
D. Most farmers have their own wells and tube wells in their farms for irrigation to
increase their production. But it may lead to falling groundwater levels, adversely
affecting water availability and food security of the people. Thus, inspite of
abundant water there is water scarcity.
4.Why is there an urgent need to conserve and manage our water resources Mention three
reasons.
Or
Why is it necessary to conserve water resources in India Explain.
Or
Why is it essential to conserve, and manage our water resources Explain any three reasons.
Or
Why we should conserve our water resources Explain any three reasons.
Ans. (i) Precondition for life : Water is necessary for life on earth. It is believed that life originated
in water before it invaded land. Water is in fact a precondition of life.
(ii) Water essential for crops: Cultivation of crops depends on the availability of water. Water
dissolves minerals and other nutrients in the ground. The roots of the plants draw this nutritious
water for the soil. India is an agricultural country so availability of water is a must.
(iii) Water and industries : Industries need water as coolant, solvent, raw material,etc.
(iv) Water for daily life : Water is also used for drinking and domestic consumption. The growing
urbanisation with its modern lifestyle has been demanding greater share of water day by day.
(v) Water an important component of ecosystem : Conservation of water is also important to
prevent degradation of our natural ecosystems.
(vi) Water scarcity : It is essential to conserve and manage water because its overuse and
misuse has lead to water scarcity.
5.“In recent years, the multipurpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny.”
Give reasons.
Or
Mention any four disadvantages of multi purpose projects.
Or .
How may the multipurpose river valley projects become harmful for the country Explain with four
examples.
Or
Why are multipurpose projects facing resistance Explain with three reasons.
 (i) Adverse effect on the fertility of the soil Due to the construction of dams, there are no annual
floods in the river. And because of this, the soil of the downstream region does not get nutrient
rich “silt”. This decreases the fertility of the soil.
(ii) Adverse impact on aquatic life: Due to the construction of dams on the rivers, the fish in the
downstream area do not get sufficient nutrient material. Regulating and damming of rivers affect
the natural flow of water causing poor sediment flow downward, and excessive sedimentation at
the bottom of reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the rivers
aquatic life. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate for
spawning i.e., to produce eggs.
(iii) Displacement of local communities : The building of large dams results in displacement of
local communities. The local people often have to give up their land and livelihood and their
meagre access and control over resources for the greater food of the nation.
(iv) Change in the cropping pattern : The multipurpose projects are responsible for providing
assured means of irrigation to farmers. Due to this, most of the farmers have changed the
cropping pattern shifting to water intensive and commercial crops. This has led to salinisation of
soil leading to ecological imbalance.
AGRICULTURE
1.Name the two major beverage crops grown in India. Describe their growing
areas.
Ans. The two major beverage crops grown in India are—tea and coffee.
Their growing areas:
Tea: It grows well in areas having tropical and sub-tropical conditions, with deep and
fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. Major tea-producing states
are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Coffee: Its cultivation was introduced on the Baba Budan Hills and even today its
cultivation is confined to the Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
2. Name the two most important staple food crops in India. Mention the geographical conditions
required for their growth.
Ans. The two most important staple food crops in India are rice and wheat.
(i) The geographical conditions required for the growth of rice are as follows.
(a) It requires high temperature – above 25°C.
(b) It requires high humidity for its growth.
(c) It requires annual rainfall above 100cm.
(ii) The geographical conditions required for the growth of wheat are as follows.
(a) It is a rabi crop and needs cool growing season.
(b) It requires bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
(c) It also requires 50 to 70 cm of annual rainfall, well distributed over the
growing season.
3. Mention the geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton along with any four
cotton-producing states.
Ans. Cotton is a kharif crop. India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plants.
The geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton are as follows.
(a) Cotton grows in the drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau.
(b) Cotton needs high temperature, light rainfall, 210 forest-free days and bright
sunshine for its growth.
(c) It requires 6 to 8 months to grow.
(d) Major cotton-producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
4.What is primitive (subsistence) farming Write any four features of subsistence farming.
Or
Why is subsistence agriculture still practised in certain parts of the country Give four reasons.
Ans. A farming in which the main production is consumed by the farmer’s household is known
as subsistence farming.
Features :
(i) Old technology and traditional implements are used.
(ii) Agricultural fields are small and farmers possess scattered land holdings.
(iii) Most of the farmers are poor, and do not use fertilisers and HYV seeds.
(iv) The overall productivity is very low.
5.Describe the temperature and climatic conditions required for the cultivation of sugarcane.
Name two leading producers.
Or
What geographical conditions are required for the cultivation of sugarcane Name two largest
producing states of sugarcane.
Ans: (i) Temperature : Sugarcane needs hot and humid climate with temperature ranging
between 21°C to 27°C. Very high temperature is harmful for its growth, while low temperature
slows its growth. It cannot withstand frost. Cool temperature is needed at the time of ripening.
(ii) Rainfall : It grows best in areas receiving 75 cm to 100 cm of rainfall. Too heavy rainfall
results in low sugar content.
(iii) Soil : Sugarcane grows on well-drained fertile soil. It can grow on a variety of soils including
black, alluvial, loamy and reddish loam.
Sugarcane :
But the best soil is the alluvial soil of the Ganga Plain and the black soil of southern India.
Sugarcane exhausts the fertility of the soil. Hence, the use of manure is essential to ensure high
yields.
Areas of Production :
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane. The other states in the Ganga-Plain are
Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

6.Name the most important beverage crop of India. Describe the suitable climatic conditions
required for its growth. Also mention the major states producing that crop.
Or
Describe any three geographical conditions required for tea cultivation. Name any two
producing states of tea.
Or
Name the important beverage crop introduced by the British in India. Explain the geographical
conditions needed for its cultivation. Write any two important states where it is grown.
Or
Describe any four ‘ geographical conditions required for the growth of tea. Mention the two
major tea producing states of South India.
Ans: Tea is the most important beverage crop of India.
Climatic conditions :
(i) Temperature : The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub tropical climate. Tea bushes
require warm and moist, frost-free climate all through the year. Tea bushes need temperature of
more than 25°C.
(ii) Rainfall : Tea plant needs heavy rainfall ranging between 150 cm to 250 cm. The rainfall
should be well distributed throughout the year.
(iii) Soil : The plant requires a light loamy soil. The soil should be rich in humus and iron content.
Tea is a soil exhausting crop, so frequent use of chemical fertilisers and manure is essential.
Producers :
Major tea-producing states are Assam, West Bengal, (Hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri
Districts), Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea producing states in the country.

MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES

1.Why is it necessary to conserve mineral resources? Explain any four ways to
conserve mineral resources.
Ans. Minerals are required in all spheres of our life in agriculture, industries and for
domestic purposes. We are rapidly consuming the mineral resources that requiredmillions of
years to be formed and concentrated. The geological processes of mineral formation are so
slow that the rates of replenishment are infinitely small in comparison to the present rates of
consumption. They are finite resources that are non-renewable, yet are getting exhausted due
to rapid exploitation. Continued extraction brings down their quality as well as increases costs of
extraction. To save these valuable resources from exhaustion and to preserve them for future
generations we should conserve our mineral resources.
The following are the ways of conserving mineral resources:
(а) Causing minimum wastage of minerals during the process of mining and
processing of minerals.
(b) Improved technologies to utilize low-grade ores at low cost.
(c) Using minerals in a planned manner by adopting the policy of recycle and reuse.
Recycling of metals, using scrap metals and other substitutes to reduce
exploitation of the present deposits.
(d) Looking for some other eco-friendly options for its replacement like CNG.
2. How is energy a basic requirement for the economic development of the country?
Explain with examples.
Ans. Energy is a basic requirement for the economic development of a country in the
following ways.
(a) Every sector of the national economy – agriculture, industry, transport, commercial and
domestic – needs inputs of energy.
(b) The economic development plans implemented since independence require
increasing amounts of energy to remain operational.
(c) Energy is used for all activities. To provide light and heat, to propel vehicles and drive
machinery in industries.
(d) For example, coal provides a large percentage of energy for country‘s economic needs,
supply energy to industries as well as for domestic use.
(e) Also, natural gas is an important clean energy resource found in association with
petroleum. It is used as a source of energy as an industrial raw material in petro-
chemical industry.
3.On the given outline map of India locate and label the following with appropriate
symbols.
(i) Ankaleshwar – Oil Fields
(ii) Digboi – Oil Fields
(iii)Kalpakkam – Nuclear power plant
(iv)Namrup –Thermal power plant
(v) Narora – Nuclear power plant
(vi)Kakrapara – Nuclear power plant
4.Differentiate between hydel power and thermal power.
Ans.
Hydel power:
(i) It is generated by fast flowing water.
(ii) It uses renewable resources.
(iii) Initially, its cost was high but later it became cheaper.
(iv) It does not cause any pollution.
Example: Bhakra Nangal project.
Thermal power:
(i) It is generated by using coal, petroleum and natural gas.
(ii) It uses all non-renewable resources.
(iii) Its cost is very high and its production is expensive.
(iv) It does cause pollution.
Example: Badarpur thermal plant of Delhi
5.India now ranks as a ‘wind superpower of the world.’ Is it true?
Ans:
India is one of the world’s wind superpowers at present.
The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagercoil to Madurai.
Apart from these, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra and Lakshadweep
have important wind farms.
Nagercoil and Jaisalmer are well known for effective use of wind energy in the country.
Since India has a long coastline, the coasts can easily be used for setting up effective windmills.
6.“India is fortunate to have fairly rich and varied mineral resources.” Elaborate the statement.
Ans. India is endowed with fairly abundant resources of Iron Ore. Iron ore from the mines of
DurgBastar-Chandrapur are exported to Japan and South Korea via Vishakhapatnam Port. Coal
is the most abundantly available fossil fuel. Bituminous coal which is most popular coal in
commercial use is abundantly available in India. By exporting these minerals, India is able to
earn foreign exchange.
Mica is also abundantly available in India. Due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power
loss factor, insulating properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is one of the most
indispensable minerals used in electric and electronic industries.
7.Why is Conservation of mineral resources essential? Explain any three methods to conserve
them.
OR
Why is it necessary to conserve mineral resources? Explain any four ways to conserve mineral
resources.
Ans: Need for conservation of Minerals:
(i) We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that require millions of years to be created and
concentrated.
(ii) The geological processes of mineral formation are so slow that the rates of replenishment
are infinitely small in comparison to its consumption.
(iii) Continued extraction of ores leads to increasing costs as minerals extraction comes from
greater depths along with decrease in quality.
(iv) Most of the minerals are unevenly distributed on the Earth’s surface. Mineral resources are
therefore finite and non-renewable.
Three methods to conserve Minerals:
(i) We must make use of minerals in a planned and sustainable manner.
(ii) Improved technologies need to be constantly evolved to allow the use of low grade ores at
low cost.
(iii) Recycling of metals.
(iv) Using scrap metals and other substitutes are steps in conserving ore mineral resources for
the future.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
1.How are industries responsible for environmental degradation in India? Explain with
examples.
Ans. Population is a negative effect of industrialization. It adversely affects the
environment and degrades it. Air pollution is caused by the presence of undesirable
gases in high proportion, such as sulphur dioxide and cabon monoxide, dust sprays,
mist and smoke in the atmosphere due to emission from industrial units. Smoke is
emitted from chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting plants,
burning of fossil fuels in big and small factories, etc. that ignore pollution norms.
These spread respiratory diseases among the people working or living in such areas.
Toxic gas leaks like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy can be hazardous with long-term ill effects. Water
pollution is caused by organic and inorganic industrial wastes and effluent discharged into
rivers.
The main culprits in this regard are paper, pulp, chemical, textile and dyeing,
petroleum refineries, tanneries and electroplating industries. These let out dyes, detergents,
acids, salts and heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides,
fertilizers, synthetic chemicals with carbon, plastics and rubber, etc., into water
bodies. They turn big and small rivers into toxic streams.
Iron and steel slags are dumped into water bodies, especially rivers, destroying
aquatic life and making the water unfit for use. The pollution of the Ganga and the
Yamuna are examples of water pollution caused by industries.
Thermal pollution of water occurs when hot water from factories and thermal plants
are drained into rivers or other water bodies.
2. What is the manufacturing sector? Why is it considered the backbone of development?
Interpret the reason.
Ans. Manufacturing sector refers to the secondary sector of the economy which deals with
production of goods in large quantities with the help of machines, where raw materials are
transformed into more valuable products. Manufacturing is considered as the backbone of
economic development because:
(a) Manufacturing has contributed to modernisation of agriculture and reduced the dependency
on agriculture by providing jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.
(b) It has helped in reducing the poverty and unemployment and aimed at reducing
the regional disparities by setting up of industries in rural, backward and tribal
areas.
(c) Export of industrial goods contributed to valuable foreign exchange earnings.
(d) It has added value to raw materials by converting them into finished goods.
(e) The prosperity of a nation depends upon the development and diversification of
manufacturing. Thus, it has not only made India self-sufficient but more
competitive in terms of international market.
(f) It brings down regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and
backward areas.
(g) Industry sector contributes substantially to GDP. (.any four)
3. On the given outline map of India locate and label the following with appropriate
symbols.
(i) Durgapur-Iron and Steel Plant
(ii) Bhilai-Iron and Steel Plant
(iii) Gandhinagar Software Technology Park
(iv) Coimbatore-Cotton textile centre
(v) Salem-Iron and Steel Plant
(vi) Bokaro-Iron and Steel Industry
(vii)Kanpur-Cotton Textile Industry
(viii) Noida-Software Technology Park
(ix) Vijaynagar-Iron and Steel Plant
(x) Hyderabad-Software Technology Park
4.Explain any two main challenges faced by the jute industry in India. Explain any three
objectives of National Jute Policy.
Ans: Challenges faced by the jute industry:
(i) Stiff competition in the international market from synthetic substitutes.
(ii) To stimulate the demand of the products need to be diversified.
(iii) Stiff competition from the other competitors like Bangladesh, Brazil etc.
Objective of National Jute policy:
(i) Increasing productivity
(ii) Improving quality.
(iii) Ensuring good prices to the jute farmers.
(iv) Enhancing the yield per hectare
5.How is manufacturing sector considered the backbone of economic development of the
country? Explain any three points in this regard.
Or
“The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing
industries.” Support the statement with arguments.
Ans.Manufacturing sector is considered as the backbone of economic development of our
country due to following reasons:
(i) Manufacturing Industries not only help in modernising agriculture, which forms the backbone
of our economy, they also reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income by
providing them jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.
(ii) Industrial development eradicates unemployment and poverty from our country. This was the
main philosophy behind public sector industries and joint sector ventures in India. It was also
aimed at bringing down regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and backward
areas.
(iii) Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce, and brings in much needed
foreign exchange.
(iv) Countries that transform their raw materials into a wide variety of finished goods of high
value are prosperous. India’s prosperity lies in increasing and diversifying its manufacturing
industries as quickly as possible.
6.“The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing
industries.” Give three arguments to support this statement.
Ans. (i) In the present day world of globalisation, our industry needs to be more efficient and
competitive, self-sufficiency alone is not enough.
(ii) Our manufactured goods must be at par in quality with those in the international market. Only
then we will be able to compete in the international market and earn foreign exchange.
(iii) Countries that transform their raw materials into a wide variety of furnished goods of higher
values are prosperous like Japan and US are industrialised. India’s prosperity lies in increasing
and diversifying its manufacturing industries as quickly as possible.
7.NTPC has set an example of a pollution-free industry. How is it possible? Explain.
Ans.
Optimum utilisation of equipments adopting latest techniques and upgrading existing
equipments.
-Minimising waste generation by maximising ash utilisation.
Providing green belts for nurturing ecological balance.
-Addressing the question of special purpose vehicles of afforestation.
-Reducing environmental pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling system
and liquid waste management.
-Ecological monitoring, reviews and online database management for all its power stations.
8.Examine the impact of liberalisation on automobile industry in India.
Ans: (i) Automobiles provide vehicles for quick transport of goods, services and passengers.
(ii) This Industry had experienced a quantum jump in less than 15 years.
(iii) Foreign direct investment brought in new technology and aligned the industry with global
developments.
(iv) Now you have any latest automobile vehicle launched in any part of the world
simultaneously it is launched in our country.
(v) After liberalisation, the coming in of new and contemporary models stimulated the demand
for vehicles in the market, which led to the healthy growth of the industry including passenger
cars, two and three wheelers.