Manufacturing Industries – CBSE Board Examinations Previous Years Question Bank
CBSE Class 10 – Social Science (Geography)
Contemporary India – II
Chapter 6: Manufacturing Industries
Importance of Manufacturing | Industrial Location | Agro-based & Mineral-based Industries | Industrial Pollution | Control of Environmental Degradation
Topic 1 – Importance of Manufacturing
Q1. What is manufacturing? How does it differ from primary activities?
Manufacturing is the process of converting raw materials into finished goods on a large scale with the help of labour, machines and power. It differs from primary activities because primary activities like agriculture, mining and fishing involve extraction of natural resources, whereas manufacturing belongs to the secondary sector and involves processing and value addition.
Q2. “Manufacturing industries are the backbone of economic development.” Justify the statement with any three points.
Manufacturing industries are called the backbone of economic development because:
- Value addition: They convert low-value raw materials into high-value finished goods, raising national income.
- Employment generation: They provide large-scale jobs in factories, transport, trade and services, reducing unemployment and poverty.
- Multiplier effect: They support agriculture by supplying tools and fertilisers and stimulate the service sector (banking, insurance, transport).
Q3. How does manufacturing help in reducing regional imbalances in India?
- When industries are set up in backward regions, they create new employment opportunities and raise income levels.
- Industrial growth brings infrastructure such as roads, power, water supply and communication to the area.
- It attracts ancillary units and services which further accelerate development, thereby reducing regional disparities between developed and backward states.
Q4. Explain the relationship between manufacturing and agriculture in India.
- Manufacturing industries like fertiliser, farm machinery and irrigation equipment supply modern inputs to agriculture, helping to raise productivity.
- Agro-based industries such as sugar, cotton textiles and jute provide a ready market for agricultural produce and give better prices to farmers.
- Higher agricultural income increases demand for industrial goods, while industrial development improves rural infrastructure, showing a mutually supportive relationship.
Q5. How does manufacturing contribute to India’s foreign exchange earnings?
Manufacturing industries export value-added products such as textiles, garments, engineering goods, chemicals and processed foods. These exports fetch higher prices in the world market than raw materials and thus help India earn substantial foreign exchange, improving the balance of trade.
Topic 2 – Industrial Location
Q6. Define industrial location. State any four factors that influence the location of industries.
Industrial location refers to the specific place or area where an industry is set up. Important factors influencing industrial location are:
- Availability of raw materials – reduces transport cost and ensures regular supply.
- Power – continuous and cheap electricity or fuel is needed to run machines.
- Labour – skilled and unskilled workers must be available at reasonable wages.
- Transport and market – good connectivity and proximity to markets help in distribution of finished goods.
Q7. Why are most of the sugar mills located in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states? Give any three reasons.
- Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states have fertile alluvial soil and favourable climate for sugarcane cultivation.
- The region has a large supply of cheap labour for cultivation and processing.
- There is a dense network of transport and a huge local market for sugar and by-products.
Q8. Explain why the iron and steel industry is mainly located in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau region.
The Chhota Nagpur Plateau region is ideal for iron and steel industry because:
- It has rich deposits of iron ore in Odisha and Jharkhand and coking coal in Jharia and Raniganj.
- It has easy availability of limestone and other flux minerals.
- There is a good supply of water and power from rivers and the Damodar Valley Corporation.
- A dense rail and road network provides transport to markets and ports.
Q9. “Transport and market play an important role in industrial location.” Explain with examples.
- Industries need reliable transport to bring raw materials and to send finished goods to markets; therefore, they prefer locations near railways, roads or ports.
- Industries producing perishable or light goods, like bakery or electronics, often locate near big urban markets to reduce delivery time and cost.
- Port cities like Mumbai and Chennai attract industries because they provide access to both domestic and international markets.
Q10. What is an industrial region? State any two characteristics of an industrial region.
An industrial region is an area where a large number of industries are concentrated and are closely linked with one another.
Two characteristics are:
- Presence of many large, medium and small industries within a limited area.
- Well-developed urban centres and infrastructure such as roads, railways, power and markets.
Topic 3 – Agro-based Industries
Q11. What are agro-based industries? Give two examples.
Agro-based industries are those industries which use agricultural products as their main raw materials. Examples: cotton textile industry (uses raw cotton) and sugar industry (uses sugarcane).
Q12. Explain the importance of the cotton textile industry for India’s economy.
- It is one of the oldest and largest industries in India in terms of employment and number of units.
- It provides jobs to millions of people in farming, ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing and garment making.
- It contributes significantly to industrial production and export earnings, making it crucial for India’s economy.
Q13. Why is the jute industry mainly concentrated in West Bengal? Give any three reasons.
- West Bengal lies close to the jute-growing areas of the Ganga–Brahmaputra delta.
- Abundant water from the Hooghly river is available for retting and processing jute.
- There is availability of cheap labour and good transport along with the Kolkata port for export of jute goods.
Q14. Mention any three major problems faced by the jute industry in India.
- Strong competition from synthetic substitutes such as plastic and polypropylene bags.
- Loss of traditional international markets and fluctuation in global demand.
- Many jute mills suffer from old machinery, low productivity and labour problems, leading to higher costs.
Q15. Why is the sugar industry shifting from north India to south India?
- In south India, sugarcane has higher sucrose content due to favourable climatic conditions.
- Better irrigation facilities in the south ensure a longer crushing season for sugar mills.
- Modern and larger co-operative sugar mills in states like Maharashtra have higher efficiency than many mills in north India.
Topic 4 – Mineral-based Industries
Q16. Distinguish between agro-based and mineral-based industries with one example of each.
- Agro-based industries use agricultural products as raw materials. Example: sugar industry uses sugarcane.
- Mineral-based industries use minerals and ores as raw materials. Example: iron and steel industry uses iron ore and coal.
- Thus, the main difference lies in the source of raw material – farm produce vs. minerals.
Q17. Why is the iron and steel industry called a basic and heavy industry?
- It is called a basic industry because its products, like pig iron and steel, are used as raw materials in many other industries such as engineering, construction and automobile manufacturing.
- It is called a heavy industry because it uses bulky raw materials like iron ore, coal and limestone, and produces heavy finished products.
Q18. Explain any three problems faced by the iron and steel industry in India.
- High cost and limited availability of coking coal needed for smelting iron ore.
- Obsolete technology and low productivity in some plants leading to high cost of production.
- Irregular power supply and infrastructural bottlenecks like poor transport in certain regions.
Q19. Why is aluminium considered a “metal of the future” in India?
- Aluminium is a light, strong and corrosion-resistant metal, which makes it ideal for transport, aircraft and construction industries.
- It is a good conductor of heat and electricity and is used in power transmission and electrical equipment.
- It is highly recyclable and India has large reserves of bauxite, making aluminium a promising metal for the future.
Q20. State any three advantages of the cement industry in India’s development.
- Cement is an essential input for building infrastructure such as houses, dams, roads, bridges and factories.
- The industry provides employment in both rural and urban areas in mining, manufacturing and construction.
- India exports cement to neighbouring countries, thereby earning foreign exchange and strengthening trade.
Topic 5 – Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation
Q21. What is industrial pollution? Name the four main types of pollution caused by industries.
Industrial pollution refers to the degradation of the environment due to the discharge of waste and harmful emissions from industrial activities. The four main types are:
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Land (soil) pollution
- Noise pollution
Q22. How do industries cause air pollution? Mention any three air pollutants released by industries.
Industries cause air pollution by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil, and by releasing gases and smoke from chimneys.
Major air pollutants include:
- Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ)
- Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Suspended particulate matter (SPM) such as dust, ash and smoke particles
Q23. What is thermal pollution? How does it affect aquatic life?
Thermal pollution is the heating of water bodies due to the discharge of hot water from industries and power plants.
Its effects on aquatic life are:
- Rise in water temperature reduces dissolved oxygen levels.
- Fish and other aquatic organisms face stress or death due to sudden temperature changes.
- It disturbs breeding and migration patterns of various aquatic species.
Q24. Explain any three ways in which industrial solid waste leads to land and soil pollution.
- Dumping of fly ash, slag and chemical residues on open land causes accumulation of toxic substances in the soil.
- Hazardous waste may seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater, making it unfit for drinking and irrigation.
- Loss of soil fertility occurs when chemicals damage soil structure and reduce its productivity for agriculture.
Q25. “Industries are responsible for environmental degradation at every stage of production.” Support the statement with examples.
Industries cause environmental degradation at different stages:
- Extraction of raw materials: Mining of minerals and cutting of forests for timber lead to deforestation, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity.
- Processing of raw materials: Smelting of ores and chemical processing release toxic gases and effluents into air and water bodies.
- Manufacturing: Use of fossil fuels and chemicals generates smoke, hazardous gases, waste water and solid waste.
- Transport of inputs and outputs: Heavy vehicles and ships used for transport add to air and noise pollution.
- Waste disposal: Improper disposal of industrial waste contaminates land and water, causing long-term environmental damage.
Topic 6 – Control of Environmental Degradation
Q26. Suggest any three measures to control water pollution caused by industries.
- Install Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) to treat industrial waste water before discharging it into rivers or lakes.
- Promote recycling and reuse of treated water for cooling and processing within the factory.
- Use cleaner production techniques that generate less toxic effluents and encourage regular monitoring of water quality.
Q27. How can air pollution from industries be controlled? Mention any three measures.
- Use cleaner fuels like CNG and low-sulphur diesel instead of coal with high sulphur content.
- Install electrostatic precipitators, filters and scrubbers to trap particulate matter and harmful gases from flue emissions.
- Ensure regular maintenance of machinery and adopt energy-efficient technologies to reduce emissions.
Q28. Explain the role of afforestation and green belts around industrial areas in controlling pollution.
- Trees in green belts act as natural filters, absorbing pollutants like carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide.
- They help to trap dust particles and reduce noise levels, improving local environmental quality.
- Afforestation helps in stabilising soil, conserving water and enhancing biodiversity and aesthetic value around industrial zones.
Q29. What role can the government play in ensuring sustainable industrial development?
- Frame and strictly enforce environmental laws and standards related to emissions and effluents.
- Provide incentives such as tax concessions and subsidies for industries adopting clean technologies and waste recycling.
- Encourage environmental impact assessments (EIA) before setting up new industries and promote public awareness about sustainable development.
Q30. What is meant by sustainable industrial development? How can it be achieved?
Sustainable industrial development means industrial growth that meets the needs of the present without harming the environment or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
It can be achieved by:
- Using resources efficiently and reducing wastage of raw materials, energy and water.
- Adopting clean and energy-efficient technologies that emit fewer pollutants.
- Practising reduce, reuse and recycle of industrial waste wherever possible.
- Ensuring proper treatment and safe disposal of hazardous waste.
- Involving local communities in decision-making and conducting regular environmental audits.