Human SettlementsClass 12 India - People And Economy NCERT Solutions
3 Solutions
Generated by KedovoAI
Solution 1 of 3
Q1EXERCISES
Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.
(i)
Which one of the following towns is NOT located on a river bank?
(a)
Agra
(b)
Bhopal
(c)
Patna
(d)
Kolkata
(ii)
Which one of the following is NOT the part of the definition of a town as per the census of India?
(a)
Population density of 400 persons per sq km.
(b)
Presence of municipality, corporation, etc.
(c)
More than 75 % of the population engaged in primary sector.
(d)
Population size of more than 5,000 persons.
(iii)
In which one of the following environments does one expect the presence of dispersed rural settlements?
(a)
Alluvial plains of Ganga
(b)
Arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan
(c)
Lower valleys of Himalayas
(d)
Forests and hills in north-east
Solution
(i) (b) Bhopal
Agra is located on the bank of the Yamuna river, Patna on the Ganga river, and Kolkata on the Hugli river. Bhopal, known for its lakes, is not located on a major river bank.
(ii) (c) More than 75 % of the population engaged in primary sector.
According to the Census of India, a key criterion for a settlement to be defined as urban is that "at least 75 per cent of male workers are engaged in non-agriculture pursuits". The primary sector is predominantly agricultural. Therefore, a high engagement in the primary sector is a characteristic of rural settlements, not urban ones.
(iii) (d) Forests and hills in north-east
Dispersed settlements consist of isolated huts or hamlets located in remote areas. This pattern is often caused by a fragmented terrain and land resource base. The text states that this type of settlement is found in areas like Meghalaya, which is in the north-east, characterized by forests and hills.
Q2EXERCISES
Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i)
What are garrisson towns? What is their function?
(ii)
What are the main factors for the location of villages in desert regions?
Solution
(i) What are garrisson towns? What is their function?
Garrison towns, also known as cantonment towns, are settlements that emerged primarily for military purposes. Their main function is to house military troops, serve as defense centers, and support administrative and strategic military operations. Examples from the text include Ambala, Jalandhar, and Udhampur.
(ii) What are the main factors for the location of villages in desert regions?
The primary factor for the location of villages in desert regions like Rajasthan is the availability of water. Due to the scarcity of water, settlements tend to be compact and clustered around the few available water sources like oases, wells, or tanks. This allows for the maximum utilization of this essential resource.
Q3EXERCISES
Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i)
Discuss the features of different types of rural settlements. What are the factors responsible for the settlement patterns in different physical environments?
(ii)
Can one imagine the presence of only one-function town? Why do the cities become multi-functional?
Solution
(i) Discuss the features of different types of rural settlements. What are the factors responsible for the settlement patterns in different physical environments?
Rural settlements in India are broadly classified into four types based on the extent of the built-up area and inter-house distance.
- Clustered Settlements: These are compact or closely built-up areas where the living area is distinct from the surrounding farms and pastures. They are generally found in fertile alluvial plains, northeastern states, and also in areas where security (Bundelkhand) or water scarcity (Rajasthan) necessitates living close together.
- Semi-Clustered Settlements: This pattern results from the fragmentation of a large compact village or the tendency to cluster in a restricted area. Often, a dominant community occupies the central part, while people of lower strata settle on the outer flanks. These are common in the Gujarat plain and parts of Rajasthan.
- Hamleted Settlements: These settlements are fragmented into several physically separate units bearing a common name (e.g., panna, para, palli). This segmentation is often motivated by social and ethnic factors. They are frequently found in the middle and lower Ganga plain and the lower valleys of the Himalayas.
- Dispersed Settlements: This pattern appears as isolated huts or hamlets in remote jungles or on small hills. It is caused by an extremely fragmented terrain and land resource base, as seen in parts of Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, and Kerala.
The factors responsible for these varied settlement patterns are:
- Physical Factors: Terrain, altitude, climate, and especially the availability of water.
- Cultural and Ethnic Factors: Social structure, caste, and religion often influence the layout and segregation within settlements.
- Security Factors: The need for defense against thefts and robberies can lead to the formation of compact, nucleated villages.
(ii) Can one imagine the presence of only one-function town? Why do the cities become multi-functional?
It is difficult to imagine a town that performs only a single function in the long run, although many towns may originate with a single, dominant function. For example, a town might start as a mining center (Raniganj), a religious center (Varanasi), or an educational hub (Roorki).
However, as these specialized towns grow, they inevitably become multi-functional. This transformation occurs because a growing population requires a wide range of services and economic activities to support it. A mining town, for instance, will need markets for goods (commercial function), schools and colleges for children (educational function), hospitals, banks, and administrative offices. It will also require a robust transport network to connect it with other areas.
Cities become multi-functional due to their dynamic nature. Growth in population and economic activities leads to diversification. As a city expands into a metropolis, functions such as industry, business, administration, transport, and services become increasingly important and intertwined. This complexity is a natural part of urban development, as a large, thriving city cannot sustain itself on a single economic base. The functions become so integrated that the city can no longer be categorized into a single functional class.