Q31. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the reason for the concentration of the jute textile industry in West Bengal?
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 31–40 of 75 questions
Q32. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The cotton textile industry in India has undergone significant decentralisation post-independence.
Reason (R): The expansion of the railway network, the availability of electricity in diverse regions, and a market-driven approach reduced the industry’s strict dependence on raw cotton growing areas.
Select the correct answer using the options given below:
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The cotton textile industry in India has undergone significant decentralisation post-independence.
Reason (R): The expansion of the railway network, the availability of electricity in diverse regions, and a market-driven approach reduced the industry’s strict dependence on raw cotton growing areas.
Select the correct answer using the options given below:
Explanation
Since independence, the cotton textile industry in India has moved beyond its traditional centers in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Q33. Consider the following statements regarding the Bokaro Steel Plant:
Statement I: It was established with technical and financial collaboration from the United Kingdom.
Statement II: It was established primarily as a coastal steel plant to boost exports.
Statement I: It was established with technical and financial collaboration from the United Kingdom.
Statement II: It was established primarily as a coastal steel plant to boost exports.
Explanation
The Bokaro Steel Plant, located in Jharkhand, was established with technical and financial assistance from the Soviet Union, not the United Kingdom. Furthermore, it is an inland integrated steel plant rather than a coastal one. Its primary objective was to expand India’s domestic steel production capacity by utilizing local raw materials. Therefore, both statements regarding its collaboration and geographical nature are factually incorrect.
Q34. Consider the following statements regarding the distribution of the sugar industry:
I. Uttar Pradesh is a prominent state in the traditional northern sugarcane belt.
II. Maharashtra leads the southern sugarcane belt due to a highly successful cooperative model.
III. The sugar industry is completely independent of the seasonal harvesting of sugarcane.
IV. Sugarcane cultivated in Maharashtra typically has lower sucrose content than that in Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. Uttar Pradesh is a prominent state in the traditional northern sugarcane belt.
II. Maharashtra leads the southern sugarcane belt due to a highly successful cooperative model.
III. The sugar industry is completely independent of the seasonal harvesting of sugarcane.
IV. Sugarcane cultivated in Maharashtra typically has lower sucrose content than that in Uttar Pradesh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The sugar industry is inherently seasonal because it depends on the harvesting of sugarcane, which must be crushed quickly to prevent sucrose loss. Furthermore, sugarcane grown in tropical Maharashtra typically has a higher sucrose content than the varieties grown in subtropical Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, statements claiming the industry is independent of seasons or that Maharashtra has lower sucrose content than Uttar Pradesh are incorrect.
Q35. Find the odd one out concerning the inputs and raw materials required for traditional integrated iron and steel plants.
Explanation
Integrated iron and steel plants require specific mineral inputs for the production of steel. Coking coal serves as fuel, limestone acts as a flux to remove impurities, and manganese ore is added to increase the strength of the final product. Sugarcane bagasse, however, is a fibrous byproduct of the sugar industry and has no role in the traditional smelting or refining of iron.
Q36. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Industry | Major Challenge/Feature |
|---|---|
| A. Sugar Industry | i. Heavy reliance on electric power and scrap metal |
| B. Jute Industry | ii. Faces intense competition from synthetic packaging materials |
| C. Mini Steel Plants | iii. Decentralized shift from raw material sources to market areas |
| D. Cotton Textile | iv. Highly seasonal nature of operations and perishable raw material |
Explanation
Different Indian industries face unique logistical and economic characteristics. The sugar industry is highly seasonal and relies on perishable raw materials. The jute industry struggles with competition from synthetic packaging. Mini steel plants are characterized by their use of scrap metal and electric power. Meanwhile, the cotton textile industry has seen a decentralized shift from its original raw material sources toward regional consumer markets.
Q37. Which is the most appropriate reason for the coastal location advantage of the Vizag Steel Plant?
Explanation
The Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Steel Plant is strategically located on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. This shore-based location offers significant logistical advantages, particularly in international trade. It allows for the direct and cost-effective import of high-quality coking coal required for the furnaces. Simultaneously, it facilitates the easy export of finished steel products to global markets, bypassing the need for expensive inland transportation for those specific goods.
Q38. Arrange the following integrated steel plants from North to South based on their geographical location in India:
I. Bokaro Steel Plant
II. Bhilai Steel Plant
III. Salem Steel Plant
Select the correct order from the options given below:
I. Bokaro Steel Plant
II. Bhilai Steel Plant
III. Salem Steel Plant
Select the correct order from the options given below:
Explanation
India’s integrated steel plants are distributed across various latitudes. The Bokaro Steel Plant is located in the northern state of Jharkhand. Further south is the Bhilai Steel Plant, situated in the central state of Chhattisgarh. The Salem Steel Plant is located even further south in the state of Tamil Nadu. This sequence correctly reflects their geographical positions from the north to the south of the country.
Q39. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the Bhadravati steel plant.
Explanation
The Bhadravati steel plant in Karnataka was originally known as the Mysore Iron and Steel Works. Since there are no local coking coal deposits in the region, the plant historically used charcoal from nearby forests for smelting. Later, it shifted to using hydroelectric power and some imported coal. The claim that it relies on local coking coal deposits within the Bhadravati region is factually incorrect.
Q40. Consider the following statements regarding the historical development of the cotton textile industry:
I. The first successful modern cotton textile mill was established in Mumbai in 1854.
II. Ahmedabad emerged as a major centre due to its proximity to cotton-growing areas.
III. Post-independence, the industry remained completely centralized in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
IV. The powerloom sector eventually overtook the mill sector in terms of total cloth production.
V. The development of synthetic fibres created competition for the traditional cotton industry.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The first successful modern cotton textile mill was established in Mumbai in 1854.
II. Ahmedabad emerged as a major centre due to its proximity to cotton-growing areas.
III. Post-independence, the industry remained completely centralized in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
IV. The powerloom sector eventually overtook the mill sector in terms of total cloth production.
V. The development of synthetic fibres created competition for the traditional cotton industry.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The cotton textile industry has evolved since the first modern mill was established in Mumbai in 1854. Ahmedabad became a hub due to raw material proximity, and powerlooms eventually dominated cloth production. While synthetic fibers provided competition, the industry did not remain completely centralized in Maharashtra and Gujarat post-independence. Instead, it decentralized across various states due to improved transport and power infrastructure nationwide.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) The Hooghly basin provides abundant fresh water required for retting the jute fibre. |
| 32 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 33 | (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect |
| 34 | (c) III and IV only |
| 35 | (b) Sugarcane bagasse |
| 36 | (d) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii |
| 37 | (a) It minimizes costs for exporting steel and importing high-grade coking coal from abroad. |
| 38 | (a) I, II, III |
| 39 | (a) It relies on high-grade coking coal deposits located within the local Bhadravati region. |
| 40 | (d) I, II, IV and V only |
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.