MCQs with Answers on Regional Disparities in India’s Economic Development

 

1. Which of the following states in India has historically had the highest per capita income?
   a) Uttar Pradesh
   b) Bihar
   c) Punjab
   d) MaharashtraAnswer: d) Maharashtra

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2. What is the major cause of regional disparities in India?
   a) Uneven distribution of natural resources
   b) Cultural differences
   c) Population growth
   d) Political instabilityAnswer: a) Uneven distribution of natural resources

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3. Which region of India is often termed the “BIMARU” states due to its economic backwardness?
   a) Southern India
   b) Western India
   c) North-Eastern India
   d) Central IndiaAnswer: d) Central India

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4. Which of the following sectors has the greatest impact on reducing regional disparities in India?
   a) Agriculture
   b) Information Technology
   c) Manufacturing
   d) TourismAnswer: b) Information Technology

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5. Which of the following is a key policy initiative to reduce regional disparities in India?
   a) Make in India
   b) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
   c) Green Revolution
   d) SAMPADA schemeAnswer: b) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

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6. Which state in India leads in terms of industrial output but faces significant regional disparity?
   a) Gujarat
   b) West Bengal
   c) Tamil Nadu
   d) MaharashtraAnswer: d) Maharashtra

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7. Which region of India remains significantly less industrialized compared to other parts?
   a) North-West India
   b) North-East India
   c) South India
   d) Western IndiaAnswer: b) North-East India

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8. What percentage of India’s population lives in rural areas where regional disparities are most evident?
   a) 60%
   b) 50%
   c) 70%
   d) 80%Answer: c) 70%

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9. Which commission was set up in 1950 to address the issue of regional disparities in India?
   a) Planning Commission
   b) Sarkaria Commission
   c) Finance Commission
   d) States Reorganisation CommissionAnswer: d) States Reorganisation Commission

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10. Which of the following industries has contributed significantly to regional economic development in South India?
    a) Steel
    b) Textiles
    c) IT and Software
    d) MiningAnswer: c) IT and Software

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11. Which Indian state has benefited most from the Green Revolution, further increasing regional disparities?
    a) Bihar
    b) Punjab
    c) West Bengal
    d) AssamAnswer: b) Punjab

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12. Which program focuses on developing infrastructure and bridging the regional gap in backward districts of India?
    a) Smart Cities Mission
    b) PM-KISAN
    c) Aspirational Districts Programme
    d) Atal Innovation MissionAnswer: c) Aspirational Districts Programme

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13. Which of the following states has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in India?
    a) Kerala
    b) Maharashtra
    c) Karnataka
    d) Tamil NaduAnswer: a) Kerala

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14. Which term refers to areas with low levels of industrial development and economic stagnation in India?
    a) Regional Clusters
    b) Lagging Regions
    c) Greenfield Zones
    d) Rural PocketsAnswer: b) Lagging Regions

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15. Which organization in India works towards ensuring equitable growth across all regions?
    a) NABARD
    b) NITI Aayog
    c) RBI
    d) SEBIAnswer: b) NITI Aayog

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16. Which Indian state’s economy is primarily dependent on agriculture but suffers from low industrial growth, leading to disparities?
    a) Gujarat
    b) Bihar
    c) Tamil Nadu
    d) GoaAnswer: b) Bihar

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17. What role does migration play in regional disparities in India?
    a) Reduces disparities
    b) Increases disparities
    c) Has no effect on disparities
    d) Increases employment uniformlyAnswer: b) Increases disparities

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18. The western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra are more developed due to which of the following?
    a) Agricultural productivity
    b) Industrialization and coastal advantages
    c) Political leadership
    d) Natural resourcesAnswer: b) Industrialization and coastal advantages

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19. What is the main reason for underdevelopment in the North-East region of India?
    a) Frequent floods
    b) Lack of infrastructure
    c) Inadequate political representation
    d) OverpopulationAnswer: b) Lack of infrastructure

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20. Which of the following sectors holds the key to reducing regional disparity by offering widespread employment?
    a) IT Sector
    b) Agriculture
    c) Manufacturing
    d) Service SectorAnswer: c) Manufacturing

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21. What is the primary goal of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)?
    a) To reduce poverty
    b) To reduce unemployment
    c) To promote rural development
    d) To reduce regional disparitiesAnswer: c) To promote rural development

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22. Which of the following states is often noted for its relatively balanced regional development due to its strong social sector?
    a) Punjab
    b) Gujarat
    c) Kerala
    d) KarnatakaAnswer: c) Kerala

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23. Which of the following is an indirect measure to reduce regional disparities by providing targeted subsidies to backward regions?
    a) Direct Cash Transfers
    b) Special Economic Zones (SEZs)
    c) Tax Holidays for Industries
    d) Universal Basic IncomeAnswer: c) Tax Holidays for Industries

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24. What impact does the development of infrastructure have on regional disparities?
    a) Reduces disparities
    b) Increases disparities
    c) No impact
    d) Only affects urban regionsAnswer: a) Reduces disparities

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25. Which of the following policies was introduced to promote balanced regional development through industrial investment?
    a) National Industrial Policy
    b) Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF)
    c) Green Revolution
    d) Skill India MissionAnswer: b) Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF)

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26. The poor performance of which sector in the eastern region has contributed to regional disparities?
    a) IT Sector
    b) Agriculture
    c) Mining
    d) ManufacturingAnswer: d) Manufacturing

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27. Which Indian state’s successful IT sector has contributed to reducing regional economic disparities?
    a) Kerala
    b) Maharashtra
    c) Karnataka
    d) RajasthanAnswer: c) Karnataka

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28. Which institution measures the Human Development Index (HDI) to evaluate regional disparities?
    a) NITI Aayog
    b) Ministry of Finance
    c) UNDP
    d) Ministry of Rural DevelopmentAnswer: c) UNDP

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29. Which of the following is a major challenge to reducing regional disparities in India?
    a) Urbanization
    b) Digital divide
    c) Literacy rates
    d) Political decentralizationAnswer: b) Digital divide

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30. In which sector are the southern states of India better developed than the northern states, contributing to regional disparities?
    a) Manufacturing
    b) IT and Services
    c) Mining
    d) AgricultureAnswer: b) IT and Services

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These MCQs address the complexities and nuances of regional disparities in India, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the topic.