Q21. Which historical distinction belongs to the Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) at Jamshedpur?
Iron and Steel, Textile and Sugar Industries: RAS Prelims MCQs
75 RAS Prelims MCQs on the iron and steel, textile and sugar industries of India test the location, raw material and history of each industry. Tata Steel at Jamshedpur, Bhilai, Durgapur and Salem, mini steel plants, cotton and synthetic fibres, and the shift of the sugar industry are asked as facts and pairs.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 21–30 of 75 questions
Q22. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Public Sector Steel Plant | Foreign Collaborator |
|---|---|
| A. Bhilai | i. United Kingdom |
| B. Durgapur | ii. West Germany |
| C. Rourkela | iii. Soviet Union (First Phase) |
| D. Bokaro | iv. Soviet Union (Later Phase) |
Explanation
India’s major public sector steel plants were established through international collaborations during the mid-twentieth century. The Bhilai plant was built with Soviet assistance, while Durgapur received help from the United Kingdom. Rourkela was developed with German technology. Later, the Bokaro Steel Plant was also established with Soviet collaboration, marking a different phase of industrial development focused on indigenous technological growth and capacity.
Q23. What was the primary cause for the initial establishment and rapid growth of the cotton textile industry in Mumbai during the 19th century?
Explanation
The rapid growth of the cotton textile industry in nineteenth-century Mumbai was driven by several favorable factors. Its proximity to the cotton-producing black soil regions of Maharashtra provided easy access to raw materials. The humid coastal climate was ideal for spinning yarn without frequent breakage.
Q24. Consider the following statements regarding South Indian and coastal steel plants:
I. The Vizag Steel Plant lacks a coastal location advantage.
II. The Salem steel plant relies primarily on imported iron ore from Brazil.
III. The Bhadravati steel plant is situated on the banks of the river Bhadra.
IV. The Vizag plant was built with Japanese collaboration.
V. Salem is widely known for producing high-grade stainless steel.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The Vizag Steel Plant lacks a coastal location advantage.
II. The Salem steel plant relies primarily on imported iron ore from Brazil.
III. The Bhadravati steel plant is situated on the banks of the river Bhadra.
IV. The Vizag plant was built with Japanese collaboration.
V. Salem is widely known for producing high-grade stainless steel.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Vizag Steel Plant is famous for its coastal location, which provides logistical advantages for international trade. The Salem plant in Tamil Nadu uses local ore and is known for high-grade stainless steel. Bhadravati is located on the river Bhadra. Since the Vizag plant has coastal benefits, Salem doesn’t primarily use Brazilian ore, and Vizag had Soviet collaboration, statements I, II, and IV are incorrect.
Q25. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the concentration of industries.
Explanation
The concentration of major industries in India follows specific geographical patterns based on raw material availability and historical development. Jute is concentrated in West Bengal, and cooperative sugar mills are highly successful in Maharashtra. Cotton textiles originated in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. However, the silk industry is traditionally associated with states like Karnataka, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir, rather than having its origin in Rajasthan.
Q26. Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of the establishment of these major steel plants in India?
Explanation
The development of India’s iron and steel industry followed a specific chronological timeline. TISCO was established in 1907 as the first integrated plant. Post-independence, the Bhilai Steel Plant was set up during the 1950s. The Bokaro Steel Plant followed in the 1960s with Soviet help. Finally, the Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Steel Plant was established later as India’s first shore-based integrated steel manufacturing facility.
Q27. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of mini steel plants in India?
Explanation
Mini steel plants are smaller, decentralized units that differ significantly from integrated steel plants. They typically utilize electric arc furnaces to process steel scrap or sponge iron, which requires far less land and capital. Unlike integrated plants, they do not perform the primary smelting of iron ore in large blast furnaces. Therefore, the requirement for massive land and integrated smelting is not a characteristic feature.
Q28. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Textile Centre | Common Description |
|---|---|
| A. Mumbai | i. Manchester of India |
| B. Ahmedabad | ii. Cottonopolis of India |
| C. Coimbatore | iii. Manchester of North India |
| D. Kanpur | iv. Manchester of South India |
Explanation
Several Indian cities have earned nicknames reflecting their historical importance in the cotton textile industry. Mumbai is known as the "Cottonopolis of India" due to its massive concentration of mills. Ahmedabad is often called the "Manchester of India." In the south, Coimbatore is referred to as the "Manchester of South India," while Kanpur holds the title of "Manchester of North India" for the region.
Q29. The Bhilai Steel Plant, a public sector giant, was set up in which modern-day Indian state?
Explanation
The Bhilai Steel Plant is a major integrated steel manufacturing unit established during the Second Five Year Plan with Soviet collaboration. It is located in the Durg district of modern-day Chhattisgarh. The plant was strategically positioned to utilize the rich iron ore deposits from the Dalli-Rajhara mines and coal from the nearby Korba and Kargali regions, boosting industrial growth in central India.
Q30. Consider the following statements regarding the silk industry in India:
I. Karnataka is a major producer of mulberry silk.
II. West Bengal is traditionally known for its silk weaving centers.
III. Jammu & Kashmir produces high-quality silk due to its conducive climate for sericulture.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Karnataka is a major producer of mulberry silk.
II. West Bengal is traditionally known for its silk weaving centers.
III. Jammu & Kashmir produces high-quality silk due to its conducive climate for sericulture.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Indian silk industry is diverse, with several states contributing to its production. Karnataka is the country’s leading producer of mulberry silk. West Bengal has a long tradition of silk weaving, particularly in centers like Murshidabad. Jammu and Kashmir produces high-quality silk, benefitting from a temperate climate suitable for specific silkworm varieties. Together, these states represent the major hubs of silk production and sericulture.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | (a) It was the first integrated steel plant in India. |
| 22 | (c) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv |
| 23 | (a) Proximity to black soil regions, humid climate, and port facilities for importing machinery. |
| 24 | (d) I, II and IV only |
| 25 | (b) Silk Industry origin - Rajasthan |
| 26 | (a) TISCO Jamshedpur, Bhilai Steel Plant, Bokaro Steel Plant, Vizag Steel Plant |
| 27 | (d) They require massive land areas and fully integrate iron ore smelting in blast furnaces. |
| 28 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 29 | (b) Chhattisgarh |
| 30 | (b) I, II and III |
Key facts from Iron and Steel, Textile and Sugar Industries
- TISCO at Jamshedpur was the first integrated steel plant in India.
- The Bhilai Steel Plant is in Chhattisgarh and gets iron ore from Dalli-Rajhara; Durgapur Steel Plant is in West Bengal.
- The Salem steel plant in Tamil Nadu specialises in stainless and special steel.
- Mini steel plants use the electric arc furnace.
- Polyester is made from coal, air, water and petroleum products.
- Textile and sugar industries are linked to State patterns; the sugar industry has moved from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar towards Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Iron and Steel, Textile and Sugar Industries?
This page has 75 practice MCQs on Iron and Steel, Textile and Sugar Industries (Indian Geography). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which was the first integrated steel plant in India?
The Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) at Jamshedpur, in what is now Jharkhand. It began production in the early twentieth century and made Jamshedpur the first planned industrial city of India.
Where does the Bhilai Steel Plant get its iron ore?
From Dalli-Rajhara, in Chhattisgarh. The plant is in the Durg district, a public sector giant set up with Soviet help, and the Dalli-Rajhara mines are linked to it by rail.
What technology do mini steel plants use?
The electric arc furnace, which melts scrap or sponge iron using electricity. Mini plants need less capital and can be set up closer to markets than integrated plants.