MCQs with answers on “India’s Urbanization Challenges: Infrastructure, Housing and Pollution” 

1. What is the primary challenge faced by Indian cities in terms of urban infrastructure?

a) Lack of skilled workforce
b) Overcrowding and inadequate facilities
c) Lack of public transportation
d) Insufficient natural resources

Answer: b) Overcrowding and inadequate facilities

2. Which of the following is a direct consequence of rapid urbanization in India?

a) Decreased urban population
b) Expansion of rural areas
c) Increased pressure on urban infrastructure
d) Increased rural-urban migration

Answer: c) Increased pressure on urban infrastructure

3. The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) primarily aims at improving which aspect of Indian cities?

a) Rural-urban connectivity
b) Public transport and mobility
c) Energy efficiency
d) Urban housing policies

Answer: b) Public transport and mobility

4. Which of the following is one of the major sources of air pollution in Indian cities?

a) Construction activities
b) Agriculture
c) Industrial emissions
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

5. The Smart Cities Mission was launched by the Government of India in which year?

a) 2013
b) 2014
c) 2015
d) 2016

Answer: b) 2015

6. Which of the following policies focuses on improving housing for the urban poor in India?

a) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
b) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
c) Make in India
d) Digital India

Answer: a) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

7. What is the most significant environmental challenge posed by unplanned urbanization?

a) Soil erosion
b) Increased deforestation
c) Water scarcity and pollution
d) Decreased agricultural productivity

Answer: c) Water scarcity and pollution

8. Which of the following is the main aim of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)?

a) Provide clean drinking water to rural areas
b) Build infrastructure in small towns
c) Improve basic urban infrastructure in cities
d) Support urban agriculture

Answer: c) Improve basic urban infrastructure in cities

9. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) focuses on addressing which of the following urban challenges?

a) Water conservation
b) Urban heat islands
c) Climate resilience in cities
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

10. Which of the following is a major contributor to the housing crisis in India’s urban areas?

a) Inadequate urban planning
b) High population growth
c) Economic disparity
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

11. The ‘Make in India’ initiative is aimed at improving which urban sector?

a) Infrastructure development
b) Manufacturing and job creation
c) Housing and urban planning
d) Transport and mobility

Answer: b) Manufacturing and job creation

12. Which of the following sectors is most affected by poor urban planning in India?

a) Education
b) Housing and real estate
c) Tourism
d) Health

Answer: b) Housing and real estate

13. Which urban phenomenon has contributed significantly to the growth of informal settlements in Indian cities?

a) Industrial growth
b) Rapid migration from rural areas
c) Declining agricultural productivity
d) Strict urban planning regulations

Answer: b) Rapid migration from rural areas

14. The air quality index (AQI) in major Indian cities is a measure of what?

a) Water pollution
b) Urban traffic congestion
c) Air pollution
d) Noise pollution

Answer: c) Air pollution

15. Which government initiative addresses water supply and sewage treatment in urban areas?

a) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
b) Smart Cities Mission
c) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
d) National Rural Health Mission

Answer: c) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

16. What is the primary aim of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ in urban areas?

a) Building roads and highways
b) Promoting digital literacy
c) Ensuring cleanliness and sanitation
d) Providing housing for all

Answer: c) Ensuring cleanliness and sanitation

17. Which of the following is a key challenge faced by India’s urban transport systems?

a) Congestion and traffic jams
b) Insufficient public transit options
c) Poor road conditions
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

18. Which sector’s expansion is crucial for providing affordable housing in urban areas?

a) Public-private partnership in real estate
b) Solar power generation
c) Agricultural infrastructure
d) Retail and service industries

Answer: a) Public-private partnership in real estate

19. The term ‘urban heat island effect’ refers to:

a) The spread of urban pollution to rural areas
b) The rise in temperature in cities compared to surrounding areas
c) The excessive use of air conditioning in urban areas
d) The increase in green cover in cities

Answer: b) The rise in temperature in cities compared to surrounding areas

20. Which of the following initiatives has been taken by the government to improve urban air quality?

a) Introduction of electric vehicles
b) Building of expressways
c) Decrease in industrial activity
d) Incentivizing rural migration

Answer: a) Introduction of electric vehicles

21. Which of the following cities is part of the Smart Cities Mission in India?

a) Chennai
b) Mumbai
c) Ahmedabad
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

22. What is the ‘housing for all’ scheme primarily designed to address?

a) Rural-urban migration
b) Urban housing shortage
c) Slum rehabilitation
d) All of the above

Answer: b) Urban housing shortage

23. Which is the major cause of water pollution in urban areas of India?

a) Lack of sewage treatment plants
b) Industrial effluents
c) Solid waste dumping
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

24. Which of the following is the largest contributor to the increase in urban population in India?

a) High birth rate in cities
b) Influx of rural migrants
c) Economic growth in urban sectors
d) Political instability in rural areas

Answer: b) Influx of rural migrants

25. Which urban issue is directly linked to the health problems in Indian cities?

a) Traffic accidents
b) Air pollution and water contamination
c) Overcrowded housing
d) Lack of recreational spaces

Answer: b) Air pollution and water contamination

26. Which of the following is a part of the Smart Cities Mission’s vision?

a) Promote technological advancements
b) Increase population density in cities
c) Encourage informal settlements
d) Decrease industrial growth in cities

Answer: a) Promote technological advancements

27. What is the impact of poor urban sanitation on public health in Indian cities?

a) Increased waterborne diseases
b) Improved health outcomes
c) Decreased healthcare costs
d) None of the above

Answer: a) Increased waterborne diseases

28. Which of the following strategies has been suggested for reducing urban pollution in India?

a) Promoting electric vehicles
b) Introducing congestion pricing
c) Increasing green spaces
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

29. Which is one of the primary reasons for the increase in urban slums in India?

a) Unavailability of land for development
b) Lack of affordable housing options
c) High urban income inequality
d) Both b and c

Answer: d) Both b and c

30. Which of the following is a government initiative focused on urban waste management?

a) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
b) Digital India
c) Make in India
d) PMGDISHA

Answer: a) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan