Q371. Which is the most appropriate reason for the coastal location advantage of the Vizag Steel Plant?
Indian Geography: RAS Prelims MCQs
462 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on Indian geography are on this page, in 9 chapters. They cover the physiographic divisions, rivers and lakes, climate, irrigation, agriculture, minerals, industrial regions, the iron and steel, textile and sugar industries, and petrochemical, IT and emerging industries. Each question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 371–380 of 462 questions
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Q372. 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.
Q373. 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.
Q374. 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.
Q375. The dominance of the powerloom sector in modern Indian textile production is primarily a conceptual application of which economic dynamic?
Explanation
The dominance of the powerloom sector in modern India is driven by the economic advantages of decentralization. Operating primarily in the unorganized sector, powerlooms benefit from lower overhead costs and greater operational flexibility compared to large, organized mills. This allows them to respond quickly to market changes and produce a significant portion of the country’s fabric more cost-effectively than traditional or large-scale alternatives.
Q376. 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.
Q377. 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.
Q378. 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.
Q379. 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.
Q380. 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.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 371 | (a) It minimizes costs for exporting steel and importing high-grade coking coal from abroad. |
| 372 | (a) I, II, III |
| 373 | (a) It relies on high-grade coking coal deposits located within the local Bhadravati region. |
| 374 | (d) I, II, IV and V only |
| 375 | (b) Cost benefits from decentralisation, lower overheads, and flexibility in the unorganised sector. |
| 376 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 377 | (d) Its raw materials are fundamentally derived from petrochemicals and wood pulp. |
| 378 | (a) I and II only |
| 379 | (b) Mini Steel Plant - Electric Arc Furnace |
| 380 | (b) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv |
Key facts from Indian Geography
- The RPSC syllabus lists Indian physiography, climate, rivers and lakes, irrigation, important crops, metallic and non-metallic minerals, and industrial regions and industries.
- Physiography and rivers are asked through locations: the highest peak of a range, the origin of a river, a lake and its state.
- Minerals and industries questions link a mineral or plant to its State, for example Khetri copper in Jhunjhunu or Bhilai steel in Chhattisgarh.
- Agriculture and irrigation questions test crops, their leading States and the major projects and disputes.
- The questions often include Rajasthan items, such as the Luni, Zawar and the Indira Gandhi Canal.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Indian Geography?
This page has 462 practice MCQs on Indian Geography. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the Indian geography set cover?
Nine chapters: physiographic divisions of India, major rivers and lakes, climate, irrigation, agriculture (food, commercial and plantation crops), minerals (metallic and non-metallic), major industrial regions, iron and steel, textile and sugar industries, and petrochemical, IT and emerging industries.
Is Indian geography in the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC lists the physiographic divisions, climate, rivers and lakes, irrigation, agriculture, minerals and industries of India in the Geography of World and India section of the syllabus.
How should I prepare Indian geography for RAS Prelims?
Keep a map of India and mark every place that comes up: peaks, rivers, lakes, mines and plants. Attempt each chapter, read the explanations and revise State-wise lists of crops, minerals and industries.