India : Urbanization (Part – I)

1. A city is different from a village: [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]

1. In terms of social values

2. In terms of household composition

3. In terms of way of living

4. In terms of economic activities

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Code:

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above

Solution:A city is different from a village in many terms such as in terms of social values, household composition, way of living and economic activities. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

2. Urban growth is indicative of: [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]

1. Rise in the total urban population

2. Rise in the number of urban centres

3. Rise in the total population of a country

4. Rise in the income from urban areas

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

Codes:

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above

Solution:Urban growth is indicative of all the given statements. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

3. Which one of the following is NOT an element of rural community? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) We-feeling
(b) Cultural diversity
(c) Territory
(d) Self-sufficiency

Correct Answer: (b) Cultural diversity

Solution:Among the given options, cultural diversity is not an element of rural community. It is an element of urban communities.

4. Which of the following is not a feature of urban life? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Competition
(b) Impersonal relationship
(c) Loss of humanistic value
(d) Informal ties

Correct Answer: (d) Informal ties

Solution:Among the given options, informal ties is not a feature of urban life. Competition, impersonal relationship, formality of relations, anonymity, loss of humanistic values, heterogeneity and market based economy are the main features of urban life.

5. T.K. Oommen distinguished urban families through: [U. P. R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2014]

(a) mode of earning and changing value pattern
(b) structure of authority
(c) urban social milieu and social ecology
(d) all of the above

Correct Answer: (d) all of the above

Solution:T.K. Oommen is a renowned Indian sociologist. He gave the following pattern to distinguish the urban families:

1. Sources of income and changing pattern of values.

2. Structure of authority.

3. Urban social milieu and social ecology.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

6. Consider the following in relation to causes of urbanization and select the correct answer from the codes given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2015]

1. High rate of migration from rural to urban areas.

2. Increasing number of educational institutions in cities.

3. High rate of industrialization.

4. High standard of living in rural areas.

Codes:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
(b) 2, 3 and 4 are correct
(c) 1, 2 and 4 are correct
(d) 1, 3 and 4 are correct

Correct Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct

Solution:Rural-urban relocation plays a major role in increasing urbanization. 'Pull' and 'Push' factors work in this regard. Under the 'Pull factor', the rural population is attracted to the cities, while under the 'Push factor', people move to the cities to get rid of the problems prevailing in the villages. Under the 'pull factor', the facilities of cities such as the existence of hospitals and schools, employment, development of roads and drinking water facilities are covered. India's towns and cities have expanded rapidly as increasing numbers migrate to towns and cities in search of economic opportunities. MNREGA has helped in raising the standard of living in rural areas, which has led to a decrease in rural-urban relocation. Thus, statement 4 is not among the reasons for urbanization.

7. Consider the following in relation to causes of urbanization? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

1. High rate of migration from rural to urban areas,

2. Increasing number of educational institutions in cities,

3. High standard of living in rural areas.

Which of the above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2

Solution:Rural-urban relocation plays a major role in increasing urbanization. 'Pull' and 'Push' factors work in this regard. Under the 'Pull factor', the rural population is attracted to the cities, while under the 'Push factor', people move to the cities to get rid of the problems prevailing in the villages. Under the 'pull factor', the facilities of cities such as the existence of hospitals and schools, employment, development of roads and drinking water facilities are covered. India's towns and cities have expanded rapidly as increasing numbers migrate to towns and cities in search of economic opportunities. MNREGA has helped in raising the standard of living in rural areas, which has led to a decrease in rural-urban relocation. Thus, statement 4 is not among the reasons for urbanization.

8. Which of the following segments of population is not included in the scheme of inclusive development? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Marginal farmers
(b) Landless agricultural labourers
(c) Schedule Castes/Schedule Tribes
(d) Persons living in semi-urban areas

Correct Answer: (d) Persons living in semi-urban areas

Solution:According to the Economic Survey 2015-16, inclusive development can be seen as a progress in 'Social Inclusion' and 'Financial Inclusion'. Despite decades of planned economic development, a large part of the population such as landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers and Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes are facing social and financial exclusion. Therefore, these marginal sections are at the centre of the programmes of inclusive development. Individuals living in semi-urban areas (excluding BPL & SC/ST families) are not included in these marginal classes as a segment of population.

9. At current rate of growth, the urban population of India by the year 2030 will reach: [U.P. R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]

(a) 575 million
(b) 675 million
(b) 675 million
(d) 900 million

Correct Answer: (a) 575 million

Solution:According to data provided by the then Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation in the question period (in Publication Division's 'India 2018'), at current rate of growth, urban population in India will reach a staggering total of 575 million by 2030. As per the UN-Habitat's World Cities Report 2022 (released in June, 2022), India's urban population is projected to be 675.5 million in 2035, growing from 483.1 million in 2020 to 542.7 million in 2025 and 607.3 million in 2030. (B)A

10. In terms of Urbanization India is a: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]

(a) Moderately-low urbanized country
(b) Very-low urbanized country
(c) Highly urbanized country
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (a) Moderately-low urbanized country

Solution:As per Census 2001, urbanization in India was 27.8 percent. In this context, India lags behind the countries like Singapore and Japan and is classified as a moderately-low urbanized country. According to the final data of Census 2011, about 31.1 percent of the total population in India lives in the cities.