MCQ
- Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.
(i) Regional planning relates:
• (a) Development of various sectors of economy
• (b) Area specific approach of development
• (c) Area differences in transportation network
• (d) Development of rural areas
Ans. (b) Area specific approach of development
Explanation: Regional planning focuses on the development of specific regions by considering their resources, needs, and challenges. It differs from sectoral planning, which is economy-wide.
(ii) ITDP refers to which one of the following?
• (a) Integrated Tourism Development Programme
• (b) Integrated Travel Development Programme
• (c) Integrated Tribal Development Programme
• (d) Integrated Transport Development Programme
Ans. (c) Integrated Tribal Development Programme
Explanation: ITDP was introduced to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities by providing better education, healthcare, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities.
(iii) Which one of the following is the most crucial factor for sustainable development in Indira Gandhi Command Area?
• (a) Eco-development
• (b) Agricultural Development
• (c) Transport development
• (d) Colonisation of land
Ans. (a) Eco-development
Explanation: In the fragile desert ecosystem, eco-development through afforestation, pasture development, and water management ensures sustainability while preventing land degradation and ecological imbalance.
Short Answer Type
- Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) What are the social benefits of ITDP in the Bharmaur tribal region?
Ans: ITDP improved literacy, raised the sex ratio, reduced child marriage, enhanced gender equality, diversified agriculture with cash crops, and reduced dependence on pastoralism, thus modernizing tribal life.
(ii) Define the concept of sustainable development.
Ans: Sustainable development is growth that meets present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs. It integrates ecological, social, and economic concerns for balanced progress.
(iii) What are the positive impacts of irrigation on Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area?
Ans: The canal transformed the Thar Desert by improving soil moisture, increasing crop yields, reducing wind erosion, expanding cultivated area, enhancing livestock productivity, and promoting afforestation.
Long Answer Type
- Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i) Write short notes on drought-prone area programme. How does this programme help in the development of dryland agriculture in India?
Ans:
The Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was launched in the Fourth Five Year Plan to combat drought and support affected regions. Its main objectives were to provide employment, create durable assets, and restore ecological balance.
Key features include:
- Promotion of watershed management at the micro level.
- Land development, soil conservation, and afforestation to prevent erosion.
- Expansion of irrigation through tanks, check-dams, and groundwater recharge.
- Grassland development to sustain livestock.
- Infrastructure creation such as roads, markets, and electricity.
Impact on dryland agriculture:
• Enhanced soil and water conservation boosted productivity.
• Shift from subsistence to diversified cropping patterns.
• Reduced vulnerability of farmers to droughts.
• Balanced ecology between soil, plants, water, and livestock.
Thus, DPAP contributed both to immediate relief and to the long-term sustainability of dryland farming.
(ii) Suggest the measures of promotion of sustainability in Indira Gandhi canal command area.
Ans:
To ensure sustainability in the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area, the following measures are essential:
- Efficient Water Use: Strict implementation of water management policies and adoption of the warabandi system (equal water distribution).
- Crop Diversification: Promote less water-intensive crops like pulses, oilseeds, and citrus fruits instead of rice and wheat.
- Land Reclamation: Treat areas affected by waterlogging and salinity through proper drainage.
- Eco-development: Encourage afforestation, shelterbelts, and pasture development, particularly in Stage-II areas.
- Infrastructure Measures: Line canals and field channels to reduce water loss.
- Social Support: Provide financial aid and institutional backing for small farmers and land allottees.
- Diversification of Economy: Encourage allied activities such as animal husbandry, small-scale industries, and services to reduce overdependence on farming.
These measures balance ecological preservation with socio-economic development, making the project sustainable in the long term.