Q1. What do you mean by the age-sex pyramid?
Ans: Age-sex pyramid is a graphical representation of the age, sex composition of the population. It is also known as the Population Pyramid.

Q2. Define Census.
Ans: The official collection of population data by all means is known as Census. This is conducted once in ten years. Currently, we are following 2011 census. In 1872, first population census of India was conducted. The Census of India 2011 is the fifteenth census starting from1872 and the seventh since independence.

Q3. Define the following:        (a) Birth Rate        (b) Death Rate        (c) Natural Growth Rate
(d) Density of Population        (e) Migrations
Ans: (a) Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1000 persons is called birth rate.
(b) Death Rate: The number of deaths per 1000 persons is called death rate.
(c) Natural Growth Rate: Births and deaths are the natural causes of population change. The difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a country is called the natural growth rate.
(d) Density of Population: Population density is the number of people living in a unit area of the earth's surface. It is normally expressed as per square km. The average density of population in the whole world is 51 persons per square km.
(e) Migrations: Movement of people from one place to another; in search of livelihood is called migration. Migration can be classified into two:
     (i) Emigrants are people who leave a country.
     (ii) Immigrants are those who arrive in a country.

Q4. List out the factors responsible for the rapid growth of world population.
Ans: Factors responsible for the rapid growth of world population are:
(a) Geographical Factors: Relief, Climate, Natural Resources, Soil, Water, Minerals.
(b) Social Factors.
(c) Cultural Factors.
(d) Economic Factors.

Q5. What is age structure or age composition?
Ans: Number of people in different age groups in country is called age structure or age composition of the population. Population of a nation is generally grouped into three broad categories:
(a) Children (Below 15 years of age): Economically unproductive and needs to be provided with the necessities of life (food, cloth, education, etc.)
(b) Working age (15 – 59 years): Economically and biologically productive
(c) Aged (Above 59 years of age): They can be economically productive even after retirement.

Q6. What are the three major aspects of population study?
Ans: The three major questions to be answered when we study about population are:
(a) Population Size and Distribution.
(b) Population Growth and Process of Population Change.
(c) Characteristics or qualities of the population.

Q7. Discuss the importance of human resource.
Ans: Human resource or people are a nation's greatest resource; they are an asset to a nation. People are important to develop the economy and society. It is people with their demands and abilities that turn a thing into 'resources'. Human beings use their knowledge and skill to convert natural resource into more valuable goods. Hence, human resource is the ultimate resource. Healthy, educated and motivated people develop resources as per their requirements. Human resources like other resources are not equally distributed over the world.

Q8. How would you distinguish between productive and dependent population?
Ans:

Q9. Compare the population pyramid of India and Japan. Draw your inferences.
Ans:

Q10. Some regions in India experiencing a steep decline in the sex-ratio. It is unhealthy for the society. Find out reasons and suggest ways to check it.
Ans: Number of female per 1000 male population is called sex ratio. The sex ratio in 2001 was 933 and in 2011 in were 940. Kerala has the best sex ratio (1084); while Sex ration in Gujarat is 919, Haryana (879) and Delhi (868) have the worst sex ratios.
Steep decline in the sex-ratio is a serious threat to the nation. Following are some of the reasons of decline in the sex-ratio:
(a) Girls in India are taken as a liability, one day she will get married and leave the house; Parents have to pay a huge dowry.
(b) Safety and security is a great concern for family.
(c) India is a male dominated country.
(d) Female Feticide, girl child are killed before her birth.
(e) Females often face Malnutrition, leading to ill health.

Steps that can be taken to improve the sex-ratio in India:
(a) People should be educated. Every Indian should change their mindset. Girls are not burden but they are the blessings of the almighty.
(b) Equal rights to male and females.
(c) Female Feticide should be completely banned.
(d) Education for girls.
(e) Nutritious food to be provided.
(f) Every male should respect females in all aspects.
(g) Government of India should take serious steps for the overall development of females.

 

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Objectives and Goals:

1. Define Natural Vegetation (Virgin Vegetation).
2. Define Flora & Fauna.
3. Factors which affect the diversity of flora and fauna.
4. Define Ecosystem.
5. Biomes.
6. Types of Vegetations found in India. (Tropical Evergreen Forests, Tropical Deciduous Forests, Tropical Thorn Forests & Scrubs, Montane Forests and Mangrove Forests) .
7. Importance of Medicinal Plants.
8. Wildlife of India.
9. Threat to the Flora and Fauna.
10. Why conservation of Flora and Fauna is must?
11. Steps taken to protect the Flora and Fauna.

 

Natural Vegetation:
The naturally growing plant cover; without human aid; is called natural vegetation. The vegetation which has been left undisturbed by humans for a long time is called virgin vegetation.
The virgin vegetation, which are purely Indian are known as endemic or indigenous species but those which have come from outside India are termed as exotic plants.

Flora:
Plant species of a particular region or period are called flora.

Fauna:
The animal species of a particular region or period are called fauna.

 

Factors which Affect the Diversity of Flora and Fauna:

Relief:
1. Land: Land directly and indirectly affects the natural vegetation. Nature of land influences the type of vegetation. If the land is level and fertile, it is mainly used for farming. If the land is uneven then grassland and woodlands develop over it.

2. Soil: Different types of soil are fit for different types of vegetation. For example; sandy soil is fit for cactus and thorny bushes, while wet and marshy soil is fit for mangrove vegetation.

Climate:
1. Temperature and Humidity: Temperature and humidity are the main factors which determine the character and extent of vegetation. An area with high temperature and high humidity supports evergreen forest, while an area with high temperature and low humidity supports thorny bushes.

2. Photoperiod (Sunlight): The duration of sunlight is called photoperiod. Photoperiod depends on latitude, altitude, season and duration of the day. Trees grow faster in summer because of longer photoperiod.

3. Precipitation: If an area gets heavy rainfall, it is suitable for the growth of dense vegetation. On the other hand, an area with scanty rainfall is suitable for thorny bushes.

 

ECOSYSTEM:
(a) All the plants and animals in an area are interdependent on each other.
(b) The plants and animals; along with their physical environment make the ecosystem. Interrelation between plants and animals in the natural environment is called Ecosystem.
(c) A very large ecosystem is called a biome. Biomes are identified on the basis of plants.

 

TYPE OF VEGETATIONS

 

Tropical Rain Forests
(a) The tropical rainforests are confined to areas of heavy rainfall.
(b) Such areas are in the Western Ghats, upper parts of Assam, Tamil Nadu coast and the island groups of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar.
(c) Areas which receive more 200 cm of rainfall and have a short dry season are the best area for tropical rainforest.
(d) Almost all kinds of vegetation; like trees, shrubs and creepers; are found in such a forest.
(e) The forest has a multilayered structure.
(f) Ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber and cinchona are some of the commercially important trees of tropical rainforests.
(g) Elephants, monkey, lemur and deer are the common animals in these forests.
(h) Apart from them, a large number of birds, bats, sloth, scorpions and snails are also found in tropical rainforests.

 

Tropical Deciduous Forests
(a) Tropical deciduous forests are the most widespread forests of India.
(b) Spread in regions which get rainfall between 200 cm and 70 cm.
(c) They are also called the monsoon forests.
(d) The trees of tropical deciduous rainforests shed their leaves during summer.
(e) These forests can be divided into two types on the basis of availability of water:
      1. Moist Deciduous Forest:
          (i) The moist deciduous forests are found in areas which receive rainfall between 200 cm and 100 cm.
          (ii) Such forests are found mainly in the eastern part of India; like northeastern states, along the foothills of                 the Himalayas, Jharkhand, West  Orissa and Chattisgarh.
          (iii) They are also found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.

      2. Dry Deciduous Forest:
          (i) The dry deciduous forests are found in those regions which receive rainfall between 100 cm and 70 cm.
          (ii) Such forests are found in the rainier parts of the peninsular plateau and the plains of Bihar and Uttar                      Pradesh.
(f) Teak, Bamboo, Sal, Shisham, Sandalwood, Khair, Kusum, Arjun, Mulberry are some of the commercially important trees in these forests.
(g) Lion, Tiger, Pig, Deer and Elephant are the common animals in these forests.
(h) Additionally, a large variety of Birds, Lizards, Snakes and Tortoises are found in these forests.

 

The Thorn Forests and Scrubs
(a) Thorn forests grow in those regions which receive less than 70 cm of rainfall.
(b) This type of vegetation is found in the north-western part of India, e.g. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
(c) The main plant species in such a forest are Acacia, Palms, Euphorbias and Cactus.
(d) The trees are scattered and they have long roots which go very deep in the ground.
(e) The stems are succulent to conserve water.
(f) Leaves are usually modified into thorns to prevent evaporation.
(g) Camel, Rats, Mice, Rabbits, Fox, Wolf, Tiger, Lion, Wild Ass, Horse, etc. are the common animals in thorny forests.

 

Montane Forests
The forests in the mountainous areas are called Montane forest.
Different types of vegetation are found at different altitudes in the mountains:
(a) The wet temperate type of forest is found between a height of 1000 and 2000 meter. Evergreen broad-leaf trees such as Oak and Chestnut abound in such forests.
(b) Temperate forests are found between the heights of 1500 and 3000 meters. Coniferous trees; like Pine, Deodar, Silver Fir, Spruce and Cedar abound in such forests.
(c) Alpine vegetation (temperate forest and grasslands) are found at a height of more than 3600 meters. Silver fir, Junipers, Pines and Birches are the common trees found here.
(d) Above alpine vegetations found are the shrubs and scrubs used for grazing of animals by the nomadic tribes (i.e. Gujjars and Bakarwals).
(e) At the higher altitude Tundra vegetations are found. Mosses and lichens are found here.
Kashmir Stag, Spotted Deer, Wild Sheep, Jack Rabbit, Tibetan Antelope, Yak, Snow Leopard, Squirrels, Shaggy Horn, Wild Ibex, Bear, Rare Red Panda, Sheep And Goats are the common animals in these forests.

 

Mangrove Forests
Mangrove forests are found in the deltas of the Ganga, the Mahanadi, the Krishna, the Godavari and the Kaveri.
(a) Roots of the mangrove plants are submerged under water.
(b) Hollow roots grow out vertically above water so that roots can breathe.
(c) Sundari tree is the most common tree in such forests; especially in the Sunderban Delta.
(d) Royal Bengal Tiger is the most famous animal of these forests.
(e) Additionally, Turtles, Crocodiles, Gharials and Snakes are found in these forests.

 

 

WILD LIFE
(a) There are more than 89,000 animal species in India.
(b) There are more than 1200 species of birds in India.
(c) Elephants are found in the hot wet forests of Assam, Karnataka and Kerala.
(d) One-horned rhinos are found in the swampy and marshy lands of Assam and West Bengal.
(e) Wild ass and camels are found in the Rann of Kachchh and Thar Desert.
(f) Indian Bison, Nilgai, Chousingha, Gazel and many other species of deer and some other animals are found in India.
(g) India is the only country in the world which has both tigers and lions.
(h) There are fourteen biosphere reserves in India.
(i) Four out of these, the SUNDERBANS IN THE WEST BENGAL, NANDA DEVI IN UTTARANCHAL, the GULF OF MANNAR IN TAMIL NADU and the NILGIRIS (KERALA, KARNATAKA AND TAMIL NADU) have been included in the world network of Biosphese reserves.
(j) The fourteen biosphere reserves are: Sunderbans, Gulf of Mannar, the Nilgiris, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Great Nicobar, Manas, Simlipal, Dihang-Dibang, Dibru Saikhowa, Agasthyamalai, Kanchenjunga, Pachmari, Achanakmar-Amarkantak..
(k) Project Tiger, Project Rhino, Project Great Indian Bustard and many other eco-developmental projects have been introduced.
(l) 89 National Parks, 49 Wildlife sanctuaries and Zoological gardens are set up to take care of Natural heritage.
(m) Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

 

 

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Q1. Define the term: (a) Manufacturing     (b) Industry.
Ans: (a) Manufacturing: Production of goods in large quantities after processing from raw material to more valuable products is called "Manufacturing".

(b) Industry: Industry refers to an economic activity that is concerned with the production of goods, extraction of minerals or the provision of services.

Q2. Which Indian city is known as "The Manchester of India"?
Ans: Ahmedabad city is known as "The Manchester of India"

Q3. List out the physical and human factors of industrial location.
Ans: Physical Factors: Land, water, power, raw material, etc.
Human Factors: Capital, labour, policies, market, technology, transportation, communication, etc.

Q4. What do you mean by information technology?
Ans: The information technology industry deals in the storage, processing and distribution of information through Radio, Television, Telephones, Cellular Phones, Computers, Laptops, etc.

Q5. Manufacturing industries are important for the economic development of the country, discuss.
Ans: Following are importance of manufacturing industries for the economic development of the country:
(a) Industrial growth helps in modernizing the agricultural activities by providing machinery, chemicals, irrigation facilities, insecticides, pesticides, etc.
(b) Industrial growth helps in reducing the unemployment and poverty.
(c) Industrial growth can earn foreign exchange by exporting the finished goods and thus, can expand its trade and commerce.
(d) Industrial growth helps in improving the standard of living of the people.

Q6. Enlist the four mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of industrial accidents.
Ans: Following are the mitigation strategies to reduce the impact of industrial accidents:
(a) Densely populated residential areas should be separated far away from the industrial areas.
(b) People staying in the surrounding area of industries should be aware of the storage of toxins or hazardous substances and their possible effects in case if any accident occurs.
(c) Fire warning and fighting system should be improved.
(d) Storage capacity of toxic substances should be limited.
(e) Pollution dispersion qualities in the industries should be improved.

Q7. Explain the factors favourable for the development of the IT industry in Bangaluru.
Ans: Following are the factors favourable for the development of the IT industry in Bangaluru:
(a) Bangalore is located on the Deccan Plateau from where it gets the name 'Silicon Plateau'.
(b) The city is known for its mild climate throughout the year. Pleasant weather, low cost of living, makes it an ideal place for living.
(c) Good transport facility, availability of skilled and experienced professionals.
(d) The city has many leading educational institutes.
(e) More than 100 multinational and software companies have established their business.
(f) The government of Karnataka was the first to sanction the establishment of IT industry.

Q8. Discuss the locational advantages for the development of the cotton textile industry in Ahmedabad.
Ans: Following are the locational advantages for the development of cotton textile industry in Ahmedabad:
(a) Located in Gujarat on the banks of the Sabarmati River.
(b) Situated very close to cotton growing area. Raw material is easy availability.
(c) The climate is ideal for spinning and weaving.
(d) The flat terrain and easy availability of land is suitable for the establishment of the mills.
(e) The densely populated states of Gujarat and Maharashtra provide both skilled and semi-skilled labour.
(f) Well developed road and railway network permits easy transportation of textiles to different parts of the country, thus providing easy access to the market.
(g) Mumbai and Kandla ports nearby facilitates import of machinery and export of cotton textiles.

Q9. Compare and contrast the development of the iron and steel industry in Pittsburgh and in Jamshedpur.
Ans: Iron and Steel Industry in Pittsburgh:
(a) Pittsburgh is an important steel city of the United States of America. City is also known as "Iron City"
(b) In mid 19th century processing of Iron began in Pittsburgh.
(c) Some of the raw material such as coal is available locally, while the iron ore comes from the iron mines at Minnesota, about 1500 km from Pittsburgh. Between these mines and Pittsburgh is one of the world's best routes for shipping ore cheaply – the famous Great Lakes waterway. Trains carry the ore from the Great Lakes to the Pittsburgh area.
(d) The Ohio, the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers provide adequate water supply.
(e) Pittsburgh has a favourable topography, temperate climate, skilled labour and market, which make this place favourable for the development of Iron & Steel industry.

Iron and Steel Industry in Jamshedpur:
(a) Before 1947, there was only one iron and steel plant in the country – Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO).
(b) TISCO was started in 1907 by Jamshedji N. Tata at Sakchi in the Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, but the production started in 1910. Later on Sakchi was renamed as Jamshedpur.
(c) Sakchi was only 32 km away from Kalimati station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line. It was close to the iron ore, coal and manganese deposits as well as to Kolkata, which provided a large market. TISCO gets coal from Jharia coalfields, and iron ore, limestone, dolomite and manganese from Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
(d) The Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers ensured sufficient water supply.
(e) Government initiatives lead to rapid industrial growth in India.

Q10. Draw a flow chart to explain the classification of industries.
Ans:

 

 

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