Industrial Classification MCQs Quiz | Class 10
This quiz is designed for Class X students, covering Geography, Unit: Manufacturing Industries. It specifically focuses on the Industrial Classification, including agro-based and mineral-based industries. Test your knowledge on how industries are classified based on their raw materials. Submit your answers to see your score and download a detailed answer PDF for revision.
Understanding Industrial Classification
Industries are crucial for a nation’s economic development, converting raw materials into finished goods. They can be classified in various ways, such as based on ownership (public, private, joint, cooperative), size (small scale, large scale), and most importantly for this topic, based on the source of raw materials used.
Classification Based on Raw Materials
This classification helps us understand the fundamental input an industry relies upon. The two main categories are agro-based and mineral-based industries.
1. Agro-based Industries
These industries draw their raw materials from agriculture. They are closely linked to the agricultural sector, and their prosperity often depends on the availability and quality of agricultural produce. Examples include cotton, jute, silk, woollen textiles, sugar, and edible oil, etc.
- Characteristics: Often seasonal due to crop cycles, raw materials can be perishable, and they support farmers by purchasing their produce.
- Cotton Textile Industry: India has a rich tradition in cotton textiles. Raw cotton is processed into yarn, which is then woven into fabric. This industry is decentralized, with many mills initially concentrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat due to the availability of raw cotton, market, transport, port facilities, labour, and moist climate. Today, power looms are widespread.
- Sugar Industry: India is the second-largest producer of sugar. The raw material, sugarcane, is bulky and its sucrose content reduces during transit and delay. This often influences the location of sugar mills close to sugarcane producing areas. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana are major producers.
2. Mineral-based Industries
These industries use minerals and metals as raw materials. They form the backbone of industrial development, providing essential materials for infrastructure, machinery, and various other sectors.
- Characteristics: Raw materials are often heavy, bulky, and require significant energy for processing. These industries tend to be located near sources of raw materials or power.
- Iron and Steel Industry: This is a basic industry as all other heavy, medium, and light industries depend on it for their machinery. Iron ore, coking coal, and limestone are required in a ratio of approximately 4:2:1. Manganese is also used. The Chota Nagpur Plateau region has the maximum concentration of iron and steel industries due to low cost of iron ore, high grade raw materials in proximity, cheap labour, and vast growth potential in the home market.
- Aluminum Smelting: Aluminum smelting is the second most important metallurgical industry in India. It is a light metal, resistant to corrosion, a good conductor of heat, malleable and becomes strong when mixed with other metals. It is used to manufacture aircraft, utensils, and wires. Bauxite, a very bulky, dark reddish-brown rock, is the raw material.
- Cement Industry: Essential for construction activities, like building houses, factories, bridges, roads, airports, dams and for other commercial establishments. Raw materials used are limestone, silica, alumina, and gypsum. Location near raw materials or markets is preferred.
Comparative Analysis: Agro-based vs. Mineral-based Industries
| Feature | Agro-based Industries | Mineral-based Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Material Source | Agricultural produce (e.g., cotton, sugarcane) | Minerals and metals (e.g., iron ore, bauxite) |
| Nature of Raw Material | Often perishable, seasonal | Often heavy, bulky, non-perishable |
| Typical Products | Textiles, sugar, edible oils, food products | Steel, cement, aluminum, machinery |
| Impact on Rural Economy | Directly supports farmers, generates rural employment | Indirectly supports mining sector, industrial development |
| Location Factors | Proximity to agricultural fields, market | Proximity to mineral deposits, power, market |
Quick Revision Points
- Industries are classified based on raw materials into agro-based and mineral-based.
- Agro-based industries like textiles and sugar depend on agricultural products.
- Cotton textiles were initially concentrated in Maharashtra-Gujarat due to favourable conditions.
- Sugar industry faces challenges due to the bulky and perishable nature of sugarcane.
- Mineral-based industries like iron & steel, cement, and aluminum use minerals.
- Iron & Steel is a basic industry, vital for other industries, concentrated in Chota Nagpur Plateau.
- Aluminum smelting uses bauxite as its primary raw material.
- Cement industry uses limestone, silica, alumina, and gypsum.
Practice Questions
- Name two important agro-based industries in India.
Answer: Cotton Textile Industry and Sugar Industry. - What are the primary raw materials for the Iron and Steel Industry?
Answer: Iron ore, coking coal, and limestone. - Why is the sugar industry ideally located near sugarcane producing areas?
Answer: Sugarcane is bulky, and its sucrose content decreases during transit and delay, making proximity to fields essential. - Which mineral is used as raw material for aluminum smelting?
Answer: Bauxite. - Mention one key characteristic of mineral-based industries.
Answer: They use heavy and bulky raw materials, often requiring high energy consumption.
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