Question 211 markMCQSection B

Choose the correct option related to the factors that determined the land use pattern in India :

Resources and Development
Land Use Pattern in India

Options

(A)Political and Religious factors
(B)Cultural and Geological factors
(C)Economical and Historical factors
(D)Physical and Human factors

Official answer

Option D: Physical and Human factors — topography, climate and soil type, together with population density, technology and government policy, jointly determine India's land use pattern.

Answer keywords:land use patternphysical factorshuman factorstopographynet sown areafallow landresources and development

Marking scheme

  1. 1.1 mark for selecting Option D: Physical and Human factors; no partial marks for MCQ.

Hint

NCERT states land use pattern changes are a function of both physical factors (topography, climate, soil) and human factors (population, technology).

Quick oral answer

Land use pattern in India is determined jointly by physical factors like topography, climate and soil, and human factors like population density and technology — so the answer is Physical and Human factors.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Choosing 'Economical and Historical factors' because it sounds academically sophisticated, without recalling the NCERT's exact wording of 'physical and human factors'.
  2. 2.Overlooking that land use is a dynamic, time-bound process influenced by both natural conditions and human activity.

Analysis and explanation

Identifies the two categories of factors that shape India's land use pattern.


Concept

  • NCERT states land use change is 'a function of' physical and human factors together.

Key points

  • Physical factors: topography, climate, soil type.
  • Human factors: population density, technology, land tenure/ownership, government policy.
  • Land use includes forests, non-cultivable land, fallow land, and net sown area.

Common mistakes

  • Picking a partial option (only political/religious, or only economic/historical) — the textbook's precise phrase is 'physical AND human factors', not any single dimension.

Interesting facts

Out of India's total reporting area, less than half is actually net sown area, showing how much land use is constrained by both physical terrain and human decisions.

Land under permanent pasture and other grazing land has been steadily declining in India due to increasing human and cattle population pressure on land.

Question details

Q21 of 57 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
Social Science
Year
2026
Section
Section B
Marks
1
Type
MCQ
Chapter
Resources and Development
Topic
Land Use Pattern in India
Bloom's level
remember
Syllabus topic
Unit 2: Contemporary India II — Resources and Development: Land Resources and Land Use Pattern
Author
CBSE
Reviewed by
Padhantu Academic Team

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Frequently asked questions

What are physical factors affecting land use?

Topography (relief), climate, and soil type are the main physical factors affecting how land can be used.

What are human factors affecting land use?

Population density, available technology, and land tenure/ownership systems are key human factors affecting land use patterns.