CBSE Class 10 Geography • Chapter 6
Manufacturing Industries Class 10 Important Questions with Answers
Important 2-Mark, 3-Mark, 5-Mark, Case-Based & Map Questions
Focused revision questions for CBSE Class 10 Geography, aligned with the current chapter scope.
How to use this page: Revise the chapter concepts first, then practise these high-priority questions. For detailed chapter notes and objective practice, use the Manufacturing Industries Hub, Questions and Answers and MCQs with Answers.
2-MARK
2-Mark Important Questions 10 Questions
What is meant by manufacturing?
Answer: Manufacturing is the processing of raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods, increasing their utility and often their value.
Why is manufacturing important for economic development?
Answer: It creates employment, adds value to raw materials, supports trade and strengthens links with agriculture, mining, transport and services.
State two factors that influence the location of industries.
Answer: Availability of raw materials and power are two important factors. Transport, labour, capital, water and markets may also influence location.
Why are agro-based industries often located near agricultural regions?
Answer: Many agricultural raw materials are bulky, perishable or costly to transport, so locating processing units near producing areas can reduce transport costs.
Why is iron and steel called a basic industry?
Answer: It supplies materials used by many other industries, including engineering, construction, transport and machinery industries.
What are agglomeration economies?
Answer: They are the advantages industries gain by clustering together, such as shared infrastructure, specialised labour, suppliers, services and markets.
What is industrial pollution?
Answer: Industrial pollution is environmental degradation caused by industrial emissions, effluents, solid waste, heat, noise and other production-related wastes.
Name two measures to control industrial water pollution.
Answer: Treat industrial effluents before discharge and recycle or reuse water wherever feasible.
Why is transport important for industries?
Answer: Transport carries raw materials to factories and finished goods to markets, influencing production and distribution costs.
What is an agro-based industry? Give one example.
Answer: An agro-based industry uses agricultural products as its main raw material; cotton textiles are an example.
3-MARK
3-Mark Important Questions 10 Questions
Explain three factors affecting industrial location.
Answer: Raw materials influence location when they are bulky or costly to transport. Reliable power is needed for machinery and production. Markets provide demand for finished goods. Transport, labour, capital, water and government policies may also matter.
Explain three ways manufacturing supports other sectors.
Answer: Manufacturing creates demand for agricultural and mineral raw materials. It supplies machinery and other inputs to agriculture and industry. It also creates transport, trade and service linkages.
Why is the cotton textile industry important?
Answer: It provides employment, has strong links with cotton cultivation and supports related activities such as processing, transport and trade. It also contributes to domestic production and exports.
Why is the jute industry concentrated along the Hooghly?
Answer: The region has access to raw jute, water, transport, labour and markets. An established industrial base also supports concentration along the Hooghly.
Why are sugar mills generally located close to sugarcane-producing areas?
Answer: Sugarcane is bulky and can lose weight during processing. Shorter transport distances therefore reduce the cost of carrying the raw material and support efficient processing.
Explain three environmental impacts of manufacturing.
Answer: Industrial emissions can pollute air. Untreated effluents can contaminate water bodies. Solid waste and improper disposal can degrade land; industrial machinery can also create noise pollution.
How can industries reduce pollution?
Answer: Industries can treat effluents, recycle and reuse water, reduce waste, use cleaner fuels, improve energy efficiency and install suitable pollution-control equipment.
Why has the automobile industry developed around major industrial and urban centres?
Answer: These centres provide markets, skilled labour, infrastructure, capital, transport and networks of component suppliers and supporting industries.
How does manufacturing strengthen agriculture?
Answer: Agro-processing creates demand for farm products, while manufacturing supplies machinery, equipment and other inputs required by agriculture.
Why do established industrial regions attract new industries?
Answer: Existing clusters offer infrastructure, skilled labour, suppliers, services and market connections, creating agglomeration advantages.
5-MARK
5-Mark Important Questions 6 Questions
Explain the major factors affecting the location of manufacturing industries.
Answer: Industrial location is influenced by raw materials, power, labour, capital, transport, water and markets. Bulky raw materials can encourage industries to locate near their sources. Reliable power is essential for production. Labour and capital provide human and financial resources. Transport connects factories with suppliers and markets. Government policies, infrastructure and services can also influence location. The relative importance of these factors varies from one industry to another.
Explain the role of manufacturing industries in India's economic development.
Answer: Manufacturing adds value to raw materials and diversifies economic activity. It creates direct and indirect employment. It strengthens agriculture through agro-processing and by supplying farm inputs. Manufacturing also supports mining, transport, energy, construction and services. It can contribute to domestic trade and exports. Thus, manufacturing creates strong linkages across the economy.
Describe the importance of the iron and steel industry.
Answer: Iron and steel is a basic industry because many other industries depend on its products. It provides materials for machinery, construction, transport equipment and infrastructure. Steel production requires large quantities of raw materials, power, water and transport. Its location is therefore influenced by several major industrial-location factors. The industry supports the expansion of engineering and manufacturing activities.
Explain the importance and environmental challenges of manufacturing.
Answer: Manufacturing provides employment, value addition, trade and inter-sectoral linkages. However, industrial activity can produce smoke and gases, wastewater, solid waste and noise. These can affect air, water and land quality. Pollution can be reduced through effluent treatment, cleaner fuels, recycling, water reuse, waste reduction, energy efficiency and suitable pollution-control equipment.
Compare agro-based and mineral-based industries.
Answer: Agro-based industries use agricultural products as raw materials, such as cotton textiles, jute and sugar. Their location may depend on the availability, bulk and perishability of agricultural inputs. Mineral-based industries use minerals, such as iron and steel and cement. They generally require substantial raw materials, power and transport. Both types contribute to employment and value addition.
Explain the contribution of automobile and information technology industries to the modern economy.
Answer: The automobile industry creates employment and supports component suppliers, transport and other ancillary activities. It depends on skilled labour, infrastructure, capital and markets. Information technology is knowledge-intensive and relies on skilled human resources and communication networks. It supports software and related services, global connectivity and exports. Both illustrate the importance of specialised skills and strong economic linkages.
CASE-BASED AND COMPETENCY QUESTIONS
Case-Based and Competency Questions 6 Questions
A company has two possible locations. One is close to bulky raw materials but has weak transport; the other has good transport and a large market but is farther from raw materials. What should the company examine before choosing?
Answer: It should compare raw-material transport costs, power, water, labour, capital, transport infrastructure, market access and other relevant location factors. If the raw material is very bulky or costly to transport, proximity may carry greater weight. The decision should consider total production and distribution costs rather than one factor alone.
A group of industries has developed around a major city, sharing suppliers, skilled workers and services. Identify the concept and explain its benefit.
Answer: This is an example of agglomeration economies. Industrial clustering can provide shared infrastructure, specialised labour, supplier networks, services and market access, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
A factory discharges untreated wastewater into a river. Identify the problem and suggest three measures.
Answer: The problem is industrial water pollution. The factory should treat effluents before discharge, recycle or reuse water where possible, and regularly monitor wastewater and comply with pollution-control requirements.
A district has cotton farms, skilled workers, good roads and a large market. Which industry has strong location advantages there and why?
Answer: Cotton textiles have strong advantages because the district offers the agricultural raw material, labour, transport and market access required by the industry.
A steel plant is proposed in a region with mineral resources but unreliable power and poor transport. Why might the location still be unsuitable?
Answer: Iron and steel requires several major inputs and infrastructure. Unreliable power can disrupt production and poor transport can increase the cost of moving raw materials and finished goods. Location decisions therefore require consideration of multiple factors.
An industrial area has reduced wastewater pollution by treating and reusing water. Which principle of sustainable production does this demonstrate?
Answer: It demonstrates resource conservation and pollution reduction through treatment, recycling and reuse of water.
MAP-BASED
Map-Based Important Questions 6 Questions
Name the five cotton textile centres prescribed for Manufacturing Industries map work.
Answer: Mumbai, Indore, Surat, Kanpur and Coimbatore.
Name the six iron and steel plant locations prescribed for map work.
Answer: Durgapur, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Bhilai, Vijayanagar and Salem.
Name the eight Software Technology Park locations prescribed for map work.
Answer: Noida, Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.
Which prescribed map-work location belongs to the cotton textile category and is in Tamil Nadu?
Answer: Coimbatore.
Which prescribed iron and steel location is in Karnataka?
Answer: Vijayanagar.
Which prescribed Software Technology Park is in Kerala?
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram.
EXAM STRATEGY
How to Prepare Important Questions
2-mark answers: Give two precise points or a definition followed by a relevant explanation.
3-mark answers: Use three distinct, explained points rather than a single unstructured paragraph.
5-mark answers: Build a clear introduction and then present five relevant points with brief explanations and examples where useful.
Map work: Practise the prescribed locations repeatedly on an outline map of India. CBSE notes that locating/labelling items may also be asked for identification.