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SEBA Class 10 Geography Chapter 6 Regional Geography of India
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Regional Geography of India
| TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWER |
1. Give a brief introduction to India.
Ans: India is an important country situated in the northern hemisphere of the world. It is one of the largest democratic nations of the world falling within the continent of Asia. The country is full of diversities. Such diversities are apparent due to variations in its climate, physical environment and socio-economic conditions. As against the very cold climates found over the snow-covered Himalayas, there are also very hot climates in the dry sandy desert regions of Rajasthan. Floods occur in certain regions of the country due to heavy rainfall, whereas drought takes place in some other regions due to scanty rainfall. There are regions of tall trees with broad-leaf, while there are other regions covered with thorny bushes. The variations in climate and vegetation types found in the regions ranging from the high mountains to the low lying plains are noticeable. The landmass of the Indian sub-continent is full of diversities with varied landforms like mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, floodplains etc. Such physical diversities have also brought about social and economic diversities in the country. As against the backward tribal societies there are also some modern urban societies in certain areas. The country is the home of many human groups having their different languages, religions, customs and traditions, dress and food habits. Such diversities are the main characteristics of Indian society and culture. But it is important to note that in spite of such diversities our India is a united sovereign country. Unity and integration are the traditions of this country.
2. Discuss the characteristics relating to India’s location and size.
Ans: India is situated in the southern part of the world’s largest continent of Asia. In its north there are the Himalayas and China, in the south the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka, in the east the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar and in the west the Arabian sea and Pakistan. The Indian landmass extends in the north-South direction from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and in the east-west direction from Arunachal Pradesh to Saurashtra. The country stands between 8°4′28″ N and 37°17′53″ N lines of latitudes and 68°7′33″ E and 97°24′47″ E lines of longitudes. It is noteworthy that the 23°30′ N line of latitude or the Tropic of Cancer runs midway the country and this line divides the country into northern and southern halves.
The country has its maximum north-south extension of about 3,214 km and east-west extension of about 2,933 km. It has a total of about 6,100 km long coastal boundaries with the Bay of Bengal on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Indian ocean on the south. A good number of ports are located along the coast. The total land boundary of India with Pakistan on the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan on the north, China on the east and Myanmar and Bangladesh on the south-east is about 15,200 km. India is a vast country. In size it ranks seventh among the countries of the world. This country is 13 times larger than the United Kingdom and 4 times larger than Japan. Its total geographical area is 3,287,263 km². The country covers 2.2% of the total area of the world. India is also called a sub-continent.
3. Into how many physiographic divisions India can be divided? Discuss with diagrams.
Ans: India’s physiography is most diversified. In order to understand the characteristics of its physiography, there is the need to divide India into physiographic units. Based on the structure and characteristics of the physiographic units, India can be divided into four physiographic divisions, such as :
(i) The Northern Himalayas.
(ii) The Northern Plains.
(iii) The Deccan Plateau. and
(iv) The Coastal Region.
Besides these four regions, the Indian islands of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea may also be regarded as another physiographic unit of the country.
(i) The Northern Himalayas: The Himalayas are the highest mountains of the world. It has many branches. The Himalayas with its all branches are altogether known as the Himalayan mountain system. This mountain system extends over India, Nepal, Bhutan and China. Here, the Himalayan mountain system falling in India only will be discussed.
The Himalayan region of India lies in the northern part of the country. It extends from the Nanga Parbat of Kashmir to the easternmost border of Arunachal Pradesh in east-west direction. The mountainous region with a length of about 2,500 km and width ranging from about 240 km to 500 km covers a total area of about 5,00,000 km². Its height from the mean sea level is about 6,000 metres. The Himalayas are young fold mountains and still rising because they are located in a tectonically active zone.
(ii) The Northern Plains: To the south of the Himalayas lies the vast plain formed by the rivers Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. This extensive alluvial plain is called the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plain. It is one of the most fertile and densely populated regions of the world. The plain stretches from the Punjab plain in the west to the Assam valley in the east. Its average width is about 300 km. The plain is flat and level, with a very gentle slope towards the east and the south. The richness of soil and favourable climate make this plain the “granary of India”.
(iii) The Deccan Plateau: To the south of the northern plains lies the Deccan plateau. This plateau is triangular in shape, sloping from west to east. It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west and the Eastern Ghats on the east. The northern part of the plateau is known as the Central Highlands. The plateau is composed of hard old rocks. It has a rugged surface with hill ranges such as Aravallis, Vindhyas, Satpuras, Mahadeo, Maikal, Chota Nagpur plateau, Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. This region is rich in minerals like coal, iron, manganese and mica. The Deccan plateau is older than the Himalayas and is considered to be a stable landmass.
(iv) The Coastal Region: The coastal region of India lies between the Deccan plateau and the seas. On the west of the plateau lies the narrow western coastal plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is divided into Konkan coast in the north and Malabar coast in the south. On the east of the plateau lies the wide eastern coastal plain between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. It is divided into the northern Circars and the Coromandel coast. These coastal plains are very fertile, rich in deltas of rivers like Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri and Mahanadi.
(v) The Islands: Besides these four divisions, the islands of India are also important physiographic units. In the Bay of Bengal lie the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while in the Arabian Sea lie the Lakshadweep Islands. These islands are small in size but are of great strategic importance to India.
4. Describe the physiographic divisions of India.
Ans: On the basis of physical features, India can be divided into four major physiographic divisions:
(i) The Northern Himalayas: The Himalayan region of India lies in the extreme north and extends from Nanga Parbat in Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the east, covering about 2,500 km in length and a width ranging between 240 km and 500 km. The total area of the Himalayas is nearly 5,00,000 sq. km. On average, its peaks rise above 8,000 metres from sea level. The formation of the Himalayas began during the Tertiary period, around 7 million years ago, as a result of mountain-building activity. The Himalayas are divided into three parallel ranges running from east to west— the Great Himalayas (average height 6,000 m), the Lesser Himalayas (average height 4,000 m and 60–80 km wide), and the Outer Himalayas (average height about 1,000 m).
(ii) The Northern Plains: Situated between the Himalayas to the north and the Deccan Plateau to the south, the northern plains stretch from Assam in the east to the Indo-Pak border in the west, extending for 2,400 km, with a width between 240–320 km. This vast plain, formed by the Indus, the Ganga, the Brahmaputra and their many tributaries, is called the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain.
The plain can be further divided into:
(a) Western Plain.
(b) Punjab-Haryana Plain.
(c) Ganga Plain.
(d) North Bengal Plain.
(e) Brahmaputra Plain.
The Ganga, originating from the Gangotri glacier, is the most important river, while the Brahmaputra starts from the Chema- yu- Dung glacier in Tibet. Their tributaries like Yamuna, Ghagra, Gandak, Kosi, Subansiri, Manas, Kapili, etc., enrich the plain. The Indus system includes Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. A small part of this division also has the Thar Desert in the west. Being very fertile, these plains are the most populated and agriculturally important region of India.
(iii) The Deccan Plateau: Lying to the south of the northern plains, the Deccan Plateau is mainly made up of old hard rocks. The Vindhya, Satpura, Mahadeo and Mahakal ranges divide it into northern and southern sections. The northern section includes smaller plateaus like Malwa and Chotanagpur, while the southern section is larger, stretching from the Vindhya-Satpura ranges to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari). The plateau slopes eastward, causing most rivers like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar and Kaveri to flow into the Bay of Bengal. However, Narmada and Tapti rivers flow westwards and empty into the Gulf of Khambhat.
(iv) The Coastal Regions: India has two coastal strips – one on the west and another on the east. The Western Coastal Plain lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Its northern part is called the Konkan Coast and the southern part is known as the Malabar Coast. On the other side, the Eastern Coastal Plain lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. Its southern part is called the Coromandel Coast, and the northern part is known as the Northern Circars. Rivers such as Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri drain into the eastern coast, forming fertile deltas, though in general this region is less fertile compared to the western coastal plain.
5. Describe briefly the climatic characteristics of India.
Ans: India is a vast country. Its physiography is also diversified. Region-wise there are variations in the major climatic elements like temperature, wind, atmospheric pressure and humidity in the country. The climate of India varies and depends mainly on the factors like vastness of the country, distance from the equator (latitudes), varied physiography, differences in elevation, distance from the sea and impact of the monsoons.
We have already come to know that the latitudinal extension of India ranges from 8°4′28″ N line of latitude to 37°17′53″ N line of latitude. The climate varies due to temperature variations in different latitudes. The Tropic of Cancer running across the middle of the country has divided it into northern and southern parts. The northern part falls in the temperate climatic zone while the southern part falls in the tropical climatic zone. So, the southern part of India is relatively warmer than the northern part.
The Indian landmass is characterised by different types of physical features like hills and mountains, plateaus, deserts and plains. These physical features have their different elevations. Therefore, the places having same latitudes may enjoy different variations in temperature, pressure, rainfall, humidity and also the different types of climate. For example – Shillong and Darjeeling enjoy different types of climate because of variations in elevations, although they are located in the same latitudes. On the other hand, the high Himalayas protect India from the cold winds blowing from the north and so, the northern India has not experienced so much cold. Again, although the Deccan plateau falls in the tropical climatic zone, its climate is not so much hot because of its plateau character. The nearness to sea may also cause the climate of a place to be moderate. In places located near the sea, the variation in summer and winter temperature is not so high. Mumbai enjoys a pleasant climate because of its location near the sea.
6. Explain how the monsoons affect the climate of India.
Ans: The impact of monsoons on Indian climate is significant. Monsoons blow in different seasons of the year, especially during summer and winter. In summer the south-west monsoons blow and in winter the north-east monsoons blow. The south-west monsoons enter India after blowing over the Arabian sea. As this wind comes from the south-western side, it is called south-west monsoons. This wind carries enormous amount of moisture from the Arabian sea and hits the Western Ghats. Then it rises up and on getting cold rain occurs. In this way, the western coasts such as the Konkan and the Malabar coasts receive more than 300 cm of rainfall annually. This wind after crossing the Western Ghats flows over the Bay of Bengal. While flowing over the Bay of Bengal the wind again takes enormous amount of moisture and then advances towards Assam and North-East. It hits the Meghalaya plateau, and as a result high rainfall takes place on the southern slope of the plateau. The Cherrapunji area of the Meghalaya plateau receives about 1250 cm of rainfall annually. This wind then crosses the Meghalaya plateau and enters into Assam. It then moves further north and gets obstructed by the foothills of the Himalayas. In this way, Assam and the foothills of the Himalayas also receive heavy rainfall due to the south-west monsoons during summer.
The north-east monsoons, on the other hand, blow during winter. This cold wind flows from Central Asia and enters India from the north east direction. This is why it is called the north-east monsoon. The northern Himalayas mountains stand as a barrier to this cold wind and so northern India is not affected by severe coldness due to this wind. However, a portion of this wind comes across the Himalayas and enters into India. As it comes from the land areas of Central Asia, it is dry and it cannot produce rainfall. But, when this wind flows over the Bay of Bengal, it carries some amount of moisture. This moisture-carrying wind then gets obstructed with the Eastern Ghats and thus rainfall takes place on the east coast, especially along the Coromandal coast.
7. What are the major soil types found in India? Give a short description of each type of soil.
Ans: Although many types of soils occur in India the soils of the country can be broadly divided into six types, such as:
(i) Mountain soils.
(ii) Soils of the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains.
(iii) Desert soils.
(iv) Lava soils (black soils).
(v) Soils of the Deccan plateau. and
(vi) The coastal soils.
All of these points are explained briefly below:
(i) Mountain Soils: Mountain soils are characterised by the locations and elevations of hills and mountains. The glaciers of the mountains normally carry sediments which are deposited in regions below the snow line and then soils are formed. Such soils are called glacial soils. Coniferous forests grow on these soils. Leaves and seeds fallen from the trees get decomposed and mixed with soils, and soils become acidic. Then it is called podzol soil. This soil is not so fertile. Rocky soils are found in the foothills of the mountains. Vegetation can grow over the rock soils as they have thin layers of fertile top soils.
(ii) Soils of the Indo–Ganga–Brahmaputra Plains: This vast plain generally contains alluvial soils. However, sandy soils also occur in certain areas. The alluvial soils of the plain are of two types such as new alluvial soils and old alluvial soils.
The new alluvial soils are generally soft and fertile. Such soils are commonly found on the floodplains as well as river banks. The soils are free from salts and fertile due to humus content. Most of the soils of the river valleys belong to new alluvial types. These soils are suitable for agriculture and so, the river valleys have become favourable sites for agricultural activities and dense human settlements. The river valleys of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam contain such soils.
On the other hand, the old alluvial soils are relatively hard. After getting affected by long continued rainfall from time to time, the chemical materials of these soils get removed or dissolved. As a result soil fertility decreases. So, the use of chemical fertilisers becomes necessary to retain fertility of the soils. These soils are found in the plains of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
(iii) Desert Soils: Desert soils are found in the Thar desert region, Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Rann of Kutch. Desert soils are formed due to weathering processes occurring in arid regions. These soils are basically composed of mixtures of sand and rock materials and contents of nitrogen and organic matters are less in amount. So, these soils are not fertile. However, the salt free desert soils are used for cultivation of wheat, barley etc. with the help of irrigation.
(iv) Lava Soils (Black Soils): The soils formed out of lava deposits are known as lava soils. Lava soils are also called black soils. The black soils originate due to weathering of the lava deposits localised in Maharashtra, western parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and neighbouring areas of Andhra Pradesh. These black, clayey and sticky type of soils can retain moisture and hence are suitable for agriculture. Such soils are especially suitable for cotton cultivation and so, this type of soil is also known as cotton soil.
(v) Soils of the Deccan Plateau: Besides the black soils of the lava region, other types of soils are also found in the Deccan plateau. The soils formed as a result of weathering of the old Archaean and Cambrian rocks of the Deccan plateau are of residual type. Such soils develop due to long continued effects of weathering and rainfall. This type of soil is generally red loamy where sand content is more. As such soils are normally porous, they are unable to retain water. In this case, the soils are made suitable through irrigation.
Besides, a hard and reddish type of soil is found in regions along the hills and plateaus. These soils are called laterite. In such soils the content of iron and aluminium is more. Lateritic soils are found in the Malabar coast and the eastern parts of Chotanagpur plateau. On the other hand, lateritic soils with good humus content are available on the slopes of the Nilgiri hills and western Ghats, where tea and coffee cultivations are successfully done. These soils are therefore locally known as coffee soils.
(vi) Coastal Soils: Region wise differences in coastal soil formation are quite apparent. Generally riverine soils are found in the delta regions of the east coast of India. The sea waves normally deposit sandy-clay materials along the coastal regions and thus soils are formed. At places these soils become saline. Unlike the east coast, the soils of the west coast are not of riverine type. Some alluvial soils are found to occur in the Konkan coast. Coastal soils are generally sandy soils. But, red lateritic soils are found in the coastal regions of Kerala and Karnataka.
8. What are the different vegetation types found in India? Mention them in a map.
Ans: India has different types of vegetation because of variations in climate, rainfall, soil and altitude. The main vegetation types found in India are six Evergreen, Monsoonal, Dry thorny, Grassland, Mangrove and Mountain vegetation. Evergreen forests are found in areas of heavy rainfall like Western Ghats, Assam and Andaman. Monsoonal forests grow in most parts of India where rainfall is medium, like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Dry thorny vegetation is seen in Rajasthan and Punjab where rainfall is very low. Grasslands grow in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Deccan plateau regions. Mangroves are found in coastal deltas like Sundarbans, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. Mountain vegetation grows in the Himalayas, changing with height from monsoon type in lower areas to coniferous and alpine in higher altitudes.
9. Describe the types of vegetation of India.
Ans: Vegetation is another important element of the physical environment. If we observe carefully then we can see that there are various types of vegetation ranging from the big and tall trees to short grasses and algaes in our environment. But, these types of vegetation vary from place to place. What is the reason then? We know that there are different types of climate in different physiographic environments over the surface of the earth. Such differences in climate cause variations in soil types. Again different soil types support different types of vegetation. So, it can be said that the types of vegetation, their growth and distribution mainly depend on climate, physiography and soil.
Types of physiography, climate and soils differ from place to place in India. So also the types and distribution of vegetation vary within the country. The vegetation of the country can be broadly classified into six types. Evergreen vegetations, Monsoonal vegetations, Dry thorny vegetations, Grassland vegetations, Mangrove vegetations and Mountain vegetations. These vegetations have been briefly described below.
(i) Evergreen vegetation: The evergreen vegetations are found to grow in regions having average annual rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature between 25°C and 27°C. These vegetation generally include tall and big trees and they form thick forests. The trees are tall up to 45m. Besides tall trees, cane, bamboo, ferns and creepers of various kinds are also found as undergrowth on the ground. The trees do not shed their leaves in any season of the year and so, they are called evergreen forests. The valuable trees which grow in the evergreen forest are shisham, sandal, rubber etc. Evergreen vegetation is mainly found in the western slopes of the Western Ghats, Himalayan foothills of Arunachal Pradesh, Upper Assam and the hills of Manipur and Mizoram and also in the Andaman islands.
(ii) Monsoonal Vegetations: Monsoonal vegetation generally grows in most of the regions of India. These vegetation are found in the regions having average annual rainfall between 100 cm and 200 cm and temperature of about 27°C. Monsoonal vegetation is dependent on rainfall occurring during the monsoon season. As rainfall and temperature decrease in winter, the soils become dry and the trees shed their leaves during winter. The sal, teak, sisir, sisu, simal and varieties of bamboo are the major trees of Monsoonal forests. Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, some parts of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and the eastern parts of the Deccan plateau and the humid areas of the south Indian states are the regions where Monsoonal vegetations are found. These vegetation are also found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
(iii) Dry thorny vegetation: Dry thorny vegetation generally grows in the regions where average annual rainfall is less than 50 cm and temperature is usually high. The soil is sandy and the water content in the soil is less. So, the vegetations have their thorny leaves instead of broad-leaf to check evapotranspiration. This type of vegetation is found in the western part of the Thar desert of Rajasthan and south-western part of Punjab. Acacia, different varieties of cactus, date, palm etc. are the major trees of drylands and deserts.
(iv) Grassland vegetation: It is remarkable that extensive grasslands like Prairie of North America and Savanna of Africa are not found in India. But, some grassland vegetation are found to grow in the areas having average annual rainfall between 50 cm and 100 cm. The grassland vegetation includes short grasses and thorny bushes. Such vegetation is distributed in Punjab, eastern part of Rajasthan and plains of Uttar Pradesh in northern India and also in the central parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and some parts of Maharashtra of the Deccan plateau. Moreover, the wet and waterlogged environment of the Terai region of the Himalayan foothills also favour the growth of grassland vegetation like thatches, canes, reeds etc. Among these there also grow trees like khoir, simal etc.
(v) Mangrove vegetation: Mangrove vegetation is found in the coastal delta regions. In spite of salty sea water, the sediments carried and deposited by the tides and rivers support these peculiar kinds of vegetation in the coast. These vegetations grow mainly in the coastal areas of the gulf of Kutch, the delta region of the Ganga-Brahmaputra, i.e., the Sundarbans and also in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rivers. Among the mangrove vegetation, the sundari, date palm, coconut and bushy plants are the major trees.
(vi) Mountain vegetations: Altitude has its much impact on the types and distribution of vegetation. Because there are variations in rainfall, temperature and soil qualities depending on variations in altitudes and hill slopes. So, we find different kinds of vegetation at different altitudes of mountains and hills. There are also varieties of vegetation at different altitudes of the Himalayas. The Outer Himalayas including the Siwalik ranges attaining an average elevation of about 1000 m. are the low hills covered by the thick monsoonal forests. These forests include sal and other valuable trees. Bamboos are also abundantly found here. To the north of these monsoonal vegetations, forests of evergreen trees like oak and other coniferous trees are found in altitudes ranging between 1000 m and 2000 m. Coniferous forests are abundantly found in the North Eastern hill regions. Besides in the Himalayan mountain regions of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Darjeeling and Sikkim in the altitudes between 1600 m and 3000 m. The deodar and other varied species of coniferous trees are found. Above such height of mountainous regions only the Alpine types of forests grow.
10. Write a short note on the growth of population in India?
Ans: India is the second largest populous country in the world. In the case of population its position is next to China. The entire population of the country is composed of various human groups and societies, and so its population structure is notably important. Mainly the Austro Asiatic, Mongoloid, Aryan and Dravidian groups of people have been living in India since time immemorial.
It has been already said that India is the second largest populous country in the world. According to the census of 2001 the country’s population stands at 1,02,70,15,289. This population size accounts for about 16% of the world’s total population. Population is not static. It changes from time to time. Increase or decrease of population is called changes in population. India’s population is also changing. It has increased by several times since the beginning by the 20th century to the beginning of the present century, i.e. from 1901 to 2001. In the year 1901 India’s population was 23.84 crores and this population rapidly increased to 102.7 crores in 2001.
However, it is seen from the table-1 that the population of the country decreased slightly during the decade 1911-21 instead of its increase. The main causes of population increase or decrease are the rates of birth and death and migration. Population increases when birth rate exceeds death rate. Similarly, population also increases due to migration of population to the country concerned. Because of these two reasons, India’s population is increasing. Especially after the Independence, India’s population is growing fast and therefore, India has become the second largest populous country in the world.
The country’s economic development is getting affected as a result of rapid increase of population. The present day problems like food problem, agricultural land problem, housing problem, educational problem, employment problem and many other complex population problems are emerged in the country due to increasing population. It is now necessary for the welfare of the country to take up effective plans to check population growth. The developing country like India will be able to achieve economic development only when its high growth of population can be checked.
11. “Population distribution is not uniform in all places of India”-Explain.
Ans: According to the census of 2001, the average density of population per km² is 324, i.e. on an average 324 persons of India live in per km² of area. Population distribution in India is not uniform and hence population density also varies.
Generally, the regions which have adverse environmental conditions, or which are less developed in terms of economy and transportation are characterised by sparse settlements and low population density. For example, the dry desert region of Rajasthan in the western part of India has a very low population density due to its uncongenial situation for human settlements. Similarly, the snow-covered Himalayan region in the north and central and southern parts of the Western Ghats in south India support very low population density because of their harsh physical environment.
In contrast to this, the fertile plains having convenient transport and communication systems and good opportunities for agriculture support a high density of population. That is why, the river valleys of India including the fertile Ganga -Brahmaputra valley are very densely populated. In these river valleys, the people can easily reap the benefits offered especially by the fertile plains, easy transport system and the developed economic conditions. Because of these reasons, the fertile plains of the river valleys are densely settled and thereby population density has also increased.
12. Discuss how population density varies in India.
Ans: Population density in India is not the same everywhere. Some regions have a very high density, while others are very thinly populated. According to the Census of 2001, India’s average population density is 324 persons per square kilometre, but this number hides a lot of variation.
In areas where the climate and land are unfavourable, such as the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, the Himalayan mountains, and parts of the Western Ghats, very few people live. These regions have either extreme temperature, very little water, or steep slopes, which make agriculture and settlement difficult.
On the other hand, regions like the Ganga – Brahmaputra plains, the coastal areas, and big urban centres like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai have a very high population density. The reasons are fertile soil, abundant water, better transport and communication, and more job opportunities.
Thus, population density in India varies according to physical features, availability of natural resources, and economic development. Fertile and developed areas attract more people, while dry and mountainous areas remain sparsely populated.
13. Give a description of urban population of India and also present data on urban population growth in some major cities of the country.
Ans: India is the second largest populous country in the world, next only to China. According to the Census of 2001, the population of India was 1,02,70,15,289 (about 102.7 crores), which accounts for about 16% of the world’s total population. In 1901, India’s population was only 23.84 crores, but it has rapidly increased during the 20th century. The main reasons for this growth are high birth rate, declining death rate and migration. Especially after Independence, population growth has become very fast. This rapid increase has created problems such as shortage of food, pressure on agricultural land, housing, education and employment. Therefore, population growth needs to be controlled for India’s economic development.
The distribution of population in India is not uniform. Some regions have high density while others are sparsely populated. According to the Census of 2001, the average population density was 324 persons per km². The fertile river valleys like the Ganga – Brahmaputra are very densely populated because of fertile soil, easy transport and favourable conditions. On the other hand, the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, the snow-covered Himalayas and parts of the Western Ghats have low density due to harsh physical environments.
The urban population of India is also increasing steadily. According to the 1991 Census, 25.7% of the total population lived in towns and cities, while 74.3% lived in rural areas. The number of towns and cities increased from 3,245 in 1981 to 3,768 in 1991. Industrialization, trade, commerce and better transport facilities have attracted people to urban centres.
Among the major urban centres, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai are the most highly populated. In fact, by 1991 there were 23 cities with a population of more than one million.
The ten largest cities of India as per the 1991 Census were:
Mumbai (125.71 lakh).
Kolkata (109.16 lakh).
Delhi (83.75 lakh).
Chennai (53.61 lakh).
Hyderabad (42.80 lakh).
Bangalore (40.86 lakh).
Ahmedabad (32.97 lakh).
Pune (24.85 lakh).
Kanpur (21.11 lakh).
Nagpur (16.61 lakh).
India’s population has grown rapidly, making it the world’s second largest. While distribution is uneven due to physical and environmental conditions, urbanization is steadily increasing with large cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi emerging as major centres of population and economic activity.
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SEBA Class 10 Geography Textual [New Edition Updated]
| SL. No. | CONTENTS |
| Chapter – 1 | Physical Geography |
| Chapter – 2 | Environmental Geography |
| Chapter – 3 | Regional Geography |
| Chapter – 4 | Regional Geography of USA |
| Chapter – 5 | Regional Geography of Japan |
| Chapter – 6 | Regional Geography of India |
| Chapter – 7 | Practical Geography |
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