Class XII – Secondary Activities – PYQs

Ans. Footloose industries are those industries that can be located at a wide variety of places and are not dependent on any specific raw material. The characteristics of these type of industries are

(i) These industries require a smaller plant in size as compared to heavy and small industries.

(ii) It needs skilled workers as the industrial process is advanced. The labour force is small and production is in small quantities.

(iii) These are environment-friendly industries and do not create any pollution.

(iv) These industries produce goods that are high in value but smaller in size, so, transport cost is negligible and products are transported by road networks.

(v) They do not require specialised raw materials. The raw material of these industries can be obtained at any place.

Ans. The characteristics of modern large scale manufacturing industries are

(i) Modern large scale industrial processes consist of multiple complex activities to run the industries.

(ii) The specialised and skilled labour is required in the modern manufacturing industries. Thus, skilled manpower is employed.

(iii) These industries widely use huge power to run the heavy machines in the production process.

(iv) For the quality control, special measures are taken in these type of industries.

(v) Products of large-scale industries are sold in local as well as international markets.

Ans. The differences between agro-based industries and mineral-based industries are

Ans. The characteristics of high-tech industries are

(i) There is production of advanced scientific and engineering products with the use of intensive Research and Development (R and D).

(ii) The workforce in these industries consists of highly skilled specialist workforce. These are professional workers (white collar workers).

(iii) These industries use robotics, computer aided designs, and other highly advanced technologies.

(iv) These industries are self-sustained and highly specialised.

(v) Sometimes, these industries concentrate regionally to form technopolis e.g. Silicon Valley.

Ans. The five factors influencing the industrial location in the world are

(i) Access to Market: Market is a place where people, who have demand for goods and the ability to purchase, buy from the sellers, selling their goods at that place. Market affects the location of an industry. A manufacturing unit is established near the market area. Areas having more population are big markets for manufactured goods, as compared to areas having less population. Apart from it, areas having population with more purchasing power from big markets.

(ii) Access to Raw Material: Industries that use heavy, bulky and weight-losing raw material are established near the source of raw material. For example, in sugar industries, sugarcane is a perishable and weight-losing raw material. To reduce the transport cost, industries are located near the source of raw material.

(iii) Access to Sources of Energy: Industries using more power and energy are established near the source of energy. For example, aluminium industry.

(iv) Access to Transportation and Communication: Industries are located in areas that have efficient transport network to get raw material from various regions and supply manufactured goods to market. Communication network is also needed to communicate ideas. Thus, transport and communication are important factors that affect the location of an industry.

(v) Government Policies: Favourable government policies that promote industrialisation is also important in deciding the location of an industry.

Ans. Differences between small scale and large scale manufacturing industries are