Q41. The dominance of the powerloom sector in modern Indian textile production is primarily a conceptual application of which economic dynamic?
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 41–50 of 75 questions
Q42. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The cooperative sugar mill model has been remarkably successful in Maharashtra.
Reason (R): The farmers in Maharashtra are integrated as stakeholders in the mills, ensuring a steady supply of cane, timely harvesting, and equitable profit sharing.
Select the correct answer using the options given below:
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The cooperative sugar mill model has been remarkably successful in Maharashtra.
Reason (R): The farmers in Maharashtra are integrated as stakeholders in the mills, ensuring a steady supply of cane, timely harvesting, and equitable profit sharing.
Select the correct answer using the options given below:
Explanation
The cooperative sugar mill model has been highly successful in Maharashtra because it integrates the interests of the farmers and the processors. By making local farmers shareholders in the mills, the system ensures a steady and reliable supply of sugarcane. This collective ownership also facilitates timely harvesting and the equitable sharing of profits, fostering rural development and sustaining the industry’s long-term growth.
Q43. Which of the following is a primary feature of the synthetic and man-made fibre industry?
Explanation
Unlike the cotton and jute industries which depend on agricultural crops, the synthetic and man-made fiber industry is based on chemical processes. Its primary raw materials include wood pulp for fibers like rayon and petrochemical derivatives for fibers like polyester and nylon. This makes the industry less dependent on seasonal agricultural cycles and more linked to the availability of chemicals and oil-based products.
Q44. Consider the following statements regarding the Rourkela Steel Plant:
I. It is located in the state of Odisha.
II. It was established with technical collaboration from West Germany.
III. It is a mini steel plant utilizing electric arc furnace technology.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is located in the state of Odisha.
II. It was established with technical collaboration from West Germany.
III. It is a mini steel plant utilizing electric arc furnace technology.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Rourkela Steel Plant is an integrated steel manufacturing unit located in the Sundargarh district of Odisha. It was established in the 1950s as a public sector project with technical collaboration from West Germany. Unlike mini steel plants that use electric arc furnaces, Rourkela is a large-scale integrated facility utilizing blast furnace technology to produce steel from primary iron ore and other raw materials.
Q45. Identify the correct pair representing the foundational technology used in modern mini steel plants.
Explanation
Mini steel plants represent a decentralized and modern segment of the iron and steel industry. The foundational technology used in these units is the electric arc furnace, which melts steel scrap or sponge iron to produce steel. This technology differs from the massive blast furnaces used in integrated steel plants, allowing mini steel plants to be smaller, more flexible, and located closer to markets.
Q46. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Initiative/Sector | Associated Objective/Feature |
|---|---|
| A. Textile Parks | i. Integrated infrastructure for global competitiveness |
| B. Sugar Clusters | ii. Pooling resources for better recovery and by-product utilization |
| C. Powerloom Sector | iii. Dominates decentralized cloth production |
| D. Jute Industry | iv. Concentrated along the banks of the Hooghly river |
Explanation
Various government and industrial initiatives address specific needs across sectors. Textile parks provide integrated infrastructure for global competitiveness. Sugar clusters aim to pool resources for better by-product utilization. The powerloom sector has become the dominant producer in the decentralized textile industry. Furthermore, the jute industry remains heavily concentrated along the banks of the Hooghly river in West Bengal due to historical and geographical factors.
Q47. Consider the following statements regarding the seasonal nature of the sugar industry:
Statement I: Sugar mills operate throughout the year at full capacity without interruption.
Statement II: The industry is seasonal because sugarcane must be crushed soon after harvest to prevent a drop in sucrose content, restricting crushing to harvest months.
Statement I: Sugar mills operate throughout the year at full capacity without interruption.
Statement II: The industry is seasonal because sugarcane must be crushed soon after harvest to prevent a drop in sucrose content, restricting crushing to harvest months.
Explanation
The sugar industry is inherently seasonal rather than a year-round operation. Sugarcane is a perishable crop that begins to lose its sucrose content almost immediately after being harvested. To ensure maximum sugar recovery, the cane must be crushed within a very short timeframe. This technical constraint restricts the operation of sugar mills only to the months when the sugarcane harvest is active.
Q48. The Durgapur Steel Plant, known for its significant contribution to the public sector, is located in which state?
Explanation
The Durgapur Steel Plant is a major integrated steel facility established during the Second Five Year Plan with assistance from the United Kingdom. It is located in the state of West Bengal.
Q49. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Region/State | Prominent Industry |
|---|---|
| A. Jammu & Kashmir | i. Cooperative Sugar Mills |
| B. West Bengal | ii. Bhilai Steel Plant |
| C. Maharashtra | iii. Jute Textile concentration |
| D. Chhattisgarh | iv. Silk Industry |
Explanation
Industrial activities in India are often specialized by region. Jammu and Kashmir is known for its high-quality silk production. West Bengal has the highest concentration of jute textile mills along the Hooghly river. Maharashtra is famous for its successful model of cooperative sugar mills. Chhattisgarh is the home of the Bhilai Steel Plant, a major public sector integrated steel manufacturing unit established during the mid-twentieth century.
Q50. What is a major cause for the historical concentration of the cotton textile industry in Ahmedabad?
Explanation
Ahmedabad emerged as a premier center for the cotton textile industry, earning the title "Manchester of India," primarily due to its strategic location. It is situated in the heart of a major cotton-growing region in Gujarat, which ensured a steady and cost-effective supply of raw cotton. This proximity, combined with good transport links and entrepreneurial history, fueled the city’s rapid industrial growth and dominance.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (b) Cost benefits from decentralisation, lower overheads, and flexibility in the unorganised sector. |
| 42 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 43 | (d) Its raw materials are fundamentally derived from petrochemicals and wood pulp. |
| 44 | (a) I and II only |
| 45 | (b) Mini Steel Plant - Electric Arc Furnace |
| 46 | (b) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv |
| 47 | (d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct |
| 48 | (d) West Bengal |
| 49 | (c) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii |
| 50 | (b) Its location in a major cotton-growing region provided easy access to raw materials. |
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.