Geography of India & the World – Economic Geography of India
Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)
Preliminary Examination – General Studies Paper I (Objective, 200 Marks)
Topic: Geography of India & the World
Sub Topic: Economic Geography of India
Economic Geography of India – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Explanations
Q1. Economic geography of India mainly deals with:
A. Political boundaries
B. Distribution of population
C. Distribution of economic activities
D. Climatic regions
Answer: C
Explanation: Economic geography studies the spatial distribution of agriculture, industries, resources, transport, and trade.
Q2. Which sector contributes the largest share to India’s GDP?
A. Primary sector
B. Secondary sector
C. Tertiary sector
D. Quaternary sector
Answer: C
Explanation: The service (tertiary) sector contributes the highest share to India’s GDP.
Q3. India is the largest producer of which crop in the world?
A. Wheat
B. Rice
C. Tea
D. Coffee
Answer: C
Explanation: India is the largest producer of tea, especially from Assam and West Bengal.
Q4. Which soil is most suitable for cotton cultivation?
A. Alluvial soil
B. Red soil
C. Black soil
D. Laterite soil
Answer: C
Explanation: Black soil (regur) retains moisture and is ideal for cotton.
Q5. The Green Revolution in India mainly increased the production of:
A. Pulses
B. Oilseeds
C. Wheat and rice
D. Millets
Answer: C
Explanation: Green Revolution focused on high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice.
Q6. Which state is the largest producer of rice in India?
A. Punjab
B. West Bengal
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B
Q7. The main sugarcane producing region in India is:
A. Deccan Plateau
B. Indo-Gangetic Plain
C. Coastal Plains
D. North-Eastern Hills
Answer: B
Explanation: Fertile alluvial soil and irrigation favor sugarcane in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Q8. Which crop is known as a plantation crop?
A. Wheat
B. Rice
C. Tea
D. Gram
Answer: C
Q9. India’s largest coalfield is:
A. Jharia
B. Raniganj
C. Bokaro
D. Talcher
Answer: A
Explanation: Jharia coalfield is the largest and richest in India.
Q10. Which mineral is known as the “backbone of industrial development”?
A. Bauxite
B. Iron ore
C. Copper
D. Mica
Answer: B
Q11. The largest iron ore producing state in India is:
A. Jharkhand
B. Odisha
C. Chhattisgarh
D. Karnataka
Answer: B
Q12. The Bokaro Steel Plant is located in:
A. Odisha
B. Jharkhand
C. West Bengal
D. Chhattisgarh
Answer: B
Q13. Which industry is called the “basic industry”?
A. Textile industry
B. Cement industry
C. Iron and steel industry
D. Automobile industry
Answer: C
Explanation: Iron and steel provide raw material for many other industries.
Q14. The Mumbai High oilfield is located in:
A. Bay of Bengal
B. Arabian Sea
C. Krishna-Godavari Basin
D. Assam Basin
Answer: B
Q15. Which state is the leading producer of crude oil in India?
A. Gujarat
B. Rajasthan
C. Assam
D. Maharashtra
Answer: C
Q16. The IT industry in India is mainly concentrated in:
A. Mumbai
B. Kolkata
C. Bengaluru
D. Chennai
Answer: C
Q17. Which factor is most important for the location of heavy industries?
A. Climate
B. Market
C. Raw materials and power
D. Population
Answer: C
Q18. The Golden Quadrilateral project relates to:
A. Rail transport
B. Water transport
C. Road transport
D. Air transport
Answer: C
Q19. Which port is the largest major port in India?
A. Mumbai
B. Chennai
C. Visakhapatnam
D. Deendayal (Kandla)
Answer: D
Q20. Inland water transport in India is most developed in:
A. Peninsular rivers
B. Himalayan rivers
C. Desert regions
D. Plateau regions
Answer: B
Q21. Which National Waterway is the longest in India?
A. NW-1
B. NW-2
C. NW-3
D. NW-4
Answer: A
Explanation: NW-1 (Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly) is the longest.
Q22. India’s major export item is:
A. Food grains
B. Petroleum products
C. Cotton textiles
D. Tea
Answer: B
Q23. The major trading partner of India is:
A. Russia
B. Japan
C. USA
D. Australia
Answer: C
Q24. Which region is known as the “Cotton Textile Belt” of India?
A. Eastern India
B. Northern Plains
C. Western India
D. North-Eastern India
Answer: C
Q25. Which industry provides the highest employment after agriculture?
A. Iron and steel
B. Textile industry
C. IT industry
D. Cement industry
Answer: B
Q26. The main reason for industrial concentration in Mumbai is:
A. Cheap labour only
B. Proximity to raw materials only
C. Port, capital, and market
D. Pleasant climate
Answer: C
Q27. Which economic activity belongs to the primary sector?
A. Banking
B. Manufacturing
C. Mining
D. Trade
Answer: C
Q28. Which crop is an important raw material for sugar industry?
A. Sugar beet
B. Sugarcane
C. Jute
D. Cotton
Answer: B
Q29. The most important mode of transport for long-distance trade in India is:
A. Roadways
B. Railways
C. Airways
D. Pipelines
Answer: B
Q30. Economic geography of India helps in understanding:
A. Cultural diversity
B. Political history
C. Regional economic development
D. Administrative divisions
Answer: C
Explanation: It explains regional disparities, resource use, and development patterns.
✅ APSC Prelims Value
✔ Strong focus on agriculture, minerals, industries, transport & trade
✔ Concept-based explanations for elimination technique
✔ Ideal for static economic geography questions
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APSC Economic Geography MCQs
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Indian agriculture and industry MCQs
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Minerals industries transport India MCQs
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APSC GS Paper I economic geography questions
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Indian economic geography prelims MCQs