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Human Settlements

NCERT Class 12 · Geography Based on NCERT Class 12 Geography textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explores the concept of human settlements, their types, evolution, and functional classification in India. It exists in the syllabus to help students understand the spatial organization of human habitation, the differences between rural and urban settlements, and the factors influencing their patterns. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that settlements are dynamic, multifunctional entities shaped by physical, cultural, and historical factors, and that urban and rural settlements are functionally interdependent.
Key Concepts (13)
Human Settlement
A cluster of dwellings of any type or size where human beings live, involving grouping of people and apportioning of territory as their resource base.
e.g. A village in the Ganga plains or a metropolitan city like Delhi.
Rural Settlement
Settlements that derive their life support from land-based primary economic activities, such as agriculture, and are typically small and sparsely spaced.
e.g. A village in Rajasthan where people practice farming.
Urban Settlement
Larger, compact settlements specializing in secondary and tertiary activities, such as manufacturing and services, and acting as nodes of economic growth.
e.g. Mumbai, which is a hub of trade and industry.
Clustered Settlement
A compact or closely built-up area of houses, with a distinct living area separated from surrounding farms, often with a geometric shape like rectangular or radial.
e.g. Villages in the fertile alluvial plains of northern India.
Semi-clustered Settlement
A fragmented settlement resulting from clustering in a restricted area of a dispersed settlement, or from segregation of a large compact village, where one or more sections live away from the main cluster.
e.g. Settlements in the Gujarat plain where lower strata live on the outer flanks.
Hamleted Settlement
A settlement fragmented into several physically separated units bearing a common name, often motivated by social and ethnic factors.
e.g. Villages in the middle and lower Ganga plain with units called panna, para, or dhani.
Dispersed Settlement
An isolated settlement pattern appearing as isolated huts or hamlets in remote jungles, on hills, or with farms on slopes, caused by fragmented terrain.
e.g. Settlements in Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, or Kerala.
Ancient Towns
Towns with historical background spanning over 2000 years, developed as religious and cultural centres.
e.g. Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Madurai.
Medieval Towns
Towns with roots in the medieval period, developed as headquarters of principalities and kingdoms, often fort towns on ruins of ancient towns.
e.g. Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra, Nagpur.
Modern Towns
Towns developed by the British and other Europeans, including trading ports, administrative centres, hill stations, and industrial towns after 1850.
e.g. Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Chandigarh.
Urbanisation
The level of urbanisation is measured in terms of percentage of urban population to total population; in India in 2011 it was 31.16 per cent.
e.g. India's urban population increased eleven-fold during the twentieth century.
Functional Classification of Towns
Classification of towns based on their dominant or specialised functions, such as administrative, industrial, transport, commercial, mining, garrison, educational, religious, or tourist towns.
e.g. Chandigarh is an administrative town; Jamshedpur is an industrial town.
Smart Cities Mission
A mission to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of life, applying smart solutions to infrastructure and services.
e.g. Making areas less vulnerable to disasters and using fewer resources.
How It Works
Evolution of Towns in India
  1. Step 1: Towns flourished since prehistoric times, e.g., Harappa and Mohenjodaro during the Indus Valley civilisation.
  2. Step 2: Ancient towns developed as religious and cultural centres, e.g., Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Madurai.
  3. Step 3: Medieval towns emerged as headquarters of principalities and kingdoms, often fort towns, e.g., Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur.
  4. Step 4: Modern towns were developed by the British and Europeans, starting with coastal trading ports like Surat, Daman, Goa, Pondicherry.
  5. Step 5: The British consolidated around Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, adding administrative centres, hill towns, and civil/military areas.
  6. Step 6: After 1850, modern industrial towns evolved, e.g., Jamshedpur.
  7. Step 7: After independence, new towns developed as administrative headquarters (e.g., Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar) and industrial centres (e.g., Durgapur, Bhilai).
  8. Step 8: Some old towns developed as satellite towns around metropolitan cities, e.g., Ghaziabad, Gurugram around Delhi.
💡 Students often confuse the chronological order of ancient, medieval, and modern towns; remember that ancient towns are over 2000 years old, medieval towns are about 100 in number, and modern towns are post-18th century.
Census Definition of Urban Settlements (1991)
  1. Step 1: The place must have a municipality, corporation, cantonment board, or notified town area committee.
  2. Step 2: It must have a minimum population of 5,000 persons.
  3. Step 3: At least 75 per cent of male workers must be engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
  4. Step 4: The density of population must be at least 400 persons per square kilometre.
💡 Students often forget the 75% male worker condition or the density criterion; all three conditions (population size, non-agricultural workforce, density) plus the administrative status are required.
Trends of Urbanisation in India (1901-2011)
  1. Step 1: The number of towns/UAs increased from 1,827 in 1901 to 6,171 in 2011.
  2. Step 2: Urban population grew from 25.85 million in 1901 to 377 million in 2011.
  3. Step 3: The percentage of total population living in urban areas rose from 10.84% in 1901 to 31.16% in 2011.
  4. Step 4: Decennial growth rates fluctuated, with peaks in 1951 (41.42%) and 1981 (46.14%), and a slowdown in recent decades (31.08% in 2011).
💡 The growth rate of urbanisation has slowed down during the last two decades; students often miss this key trend.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing rural and urban economic base
✗ Rural settlements depend on secondary activities, while urban settlements depend on primary activities.
→ This reverses the actual relationship: rural settlements derive life support from land-based primary activities (agriculture), while urban settlements depend on secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) activities.
✓ Rural settlements derive their life support from land-based primary economic activities, whereas urban settlements depend on processing of raw materials and manufacturing of finished goods, and a variety of services.
⚠ Mixing up clustered and dispersed settlement locations
✗ Clustered settlements are found in forests and hills, while dispersed settlements are found in alluvial plains.
→ The chapter states that clustered settlements are generally found in fertile alluvial plains and northeastern states, while dispersed settlements appear in remote jungles, hills, or on slopes, e.g., Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala.
✓ Clustered settlements are found in fertile alluvial plains and northeastern states; dispersed settlements are found in remote jungles, hills, and areas with fragmented terrain like Meghalaya and Uttarakhand.
⚠ Omitting the 75% male worker condition in urban definition
✗ Urban settlements are places with a municipality, population over 5,000, and density over 400 persons per sq km.
→ The definition also requires that at least 75% of male workers are engaged in non-agricultural pursuits; omitting this condition makes the answer incomplete.
✓ Urban settlements are places with a municipality/corporation/cantonment board, minimum population of 5,000, at least 75% of male workers in non-agriculture, and density of at least 400 persons per sq km.
⚠ Confusing ancient and medieval towns
✗ Delhi and Hyderabad are examples of ancient towns.
→ Delhi and Hyderabad are medieval towns developed as headquarters of principalities, not ancient towns. Ancient towns like Varanasi and Madurai have a history spanning over 2000 years.
✓ Ancient towns include Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, and Madurai; medieval towns include Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra, and Nagpur.
⚠ Thinking cities are static in function
✗ A town classified as industrial will always remain industrial.
→ The chapter explicitly states that cities are not static in their function; as they grow into metropolises, they become multifunctional, with industry, business, administration, transport, etc., becoming important and intertwined.
✓ Cities are dynamic; even specialised cities become multifunctional as they grow, and functions get so intertwined that the city cannot be categorised in a particular functional class.
Compare & Contrast
Economic base
Rural Settlements
Urban Settlements
Rural settlements derive life support from land-based primary activities (agriculture); urban settlements depend on secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) activities.
Pattern and location
Clustered Settlements
Dispersed Settlements
Clustered settlements are compact, closely built-up, found in fertile alluvial plains and northeastern states; dispersed settlements are isolated huts or hamlets, found in remote jungles, hills, or areas with fragmented terrain like Meghalaya and Uttarakhand.
Historical period and origin
Ancient Towns
Medieval Towns
Ancient towns have a history spanning over 2000 years and developed as religious and cultural centres (e.g., Varanasi); medieval towns have roots in the medieval period and developed as headquarters of principalities and kingdoms (e.g., Delhi).
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each) on definitions or examples, 1 Short Answer (3 marks) on types of settlements or functional classification, 1 Long Answer (5 marks) on factors affecting rural settlement patterns or evolution of towns.
Most asked: Types of rural settlements (clustered, semi-clustered, hamleted, dispersed) and their characteristics · Functional classification of towns (administrative, industrial, transport, etc.) · Census definition of urban settlements · Evolution of towns in India (ancient, medieval, modern) · Trends of urbanisation in India (1901-2011)
Don't skip: Discuss the features of different types of rural settlements and the factors responsible for settlement patterns in different physical environments (5 marks).; Explain the functional classification of towns with examples (5 marks).; Describe the trends of urbanisation in India from 1901 to 2011 (5 marks).
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Human settlement means a cluster of dwellings where human beings live, involving grouping of people and apportioning of territory as their resource base.
  2. Rural settlements derive life support from land-based primary activities; urban settlements depend on secondary and tertiary activities.
  3. Clustered settlements are compact and found in fertile alluvial plains; dispersed settlements are isolated huts in remote jungles or hills.
  4. Semi-clustered settlements result from segregation of a large compact village, common in Gujarat plain and parts of Rajasthan.
  5. Hamleted settlements are fragmented into units called panna, para, palli, nagla, dhani, found in middle and lower Ganga plain.
  6. Ancient towns like Varanasi and Madurai have history over 2000 years; medieval towns like Delhi and Jaipur were fort towns.
  7. Modern towns were developed by the British, including ports like Mumbai and administrative centres like Chandigarh.
  8. Census 1991 defines urban settlements as places with municipality, population over 5,000, 75% male workers in non-agriculture, and density over 400 per sq km.
  9. Urbanisation level in India in 2011 was 31.16%, with total urban population increasing eleven-fold during the 20th century.
  10. Functional classification includes administrative, industrial, transport, commercial, mining, garrison, educational, religious, and tourist towns.
  11. Cities are not static; they become multifunctional as they grow into metropolises.
  12. Smart Cities Mission aims to provide core infrastructure, clean environment, and smart solutions for sustainable development.
  13. The growth rate of urbanisation has slowed down during the last two decades.
  14. Factors for rural settlement types include physical features, cultural/ethnic factors, and security factors.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Which of the following best defines a human settlement?

  • A. A cluster of dwellings where people live and control territory as their economic support base ✓
  • B. Any place with a population of 5000 or more persons
  • C. An area where agricultural activities are the primary occupation
  • D. A town with a municipality and modern infrastructure

Answer: A — A human settlement is fundamentally a grouping of people with dwellings and control over resources for survival; options B, C, D describe specific types or characteristics, not the core definition.

Q2. Clustered settlements are most commonly found in India in:

  • A. Mountain terrains with scattered habitation
  • B. Fertile alluvial plains and northeastern states ✓
  • C. Dense jungles and remote hill areas
  • D. Coastal trading zones exclusively

Answer: B — Clustered settlements thrive in fertile plains where water is available and defence is possible; northeastern states also show this pattern due to water availability.

Q3. What social factor typically causes semi-clustered settlement patterns?

  • A. Religious diversity requiring separate temples
  • B. Caste hierarchy with dominant communities in centre and lower castes on outer flanks ✓
  • C. Ethnic groups choosing to live in isolated hamlets
  • D. Seasonal migration patterns of pastoral communities

Answer: B — Semi-clustered settlements explicitly result from social segregation based on caste, with land-owning/dominant groups centralised and menial workers on periphery.

Q4. Dispersed settlements with isolated huts are typically found in regions with:

  • A. Fertile plains and abundant water resources
  • B. Fragmented terrain such as hills, jungles, and uneven topography ✓
  • C. High population density and commercial activity
  • D. Organised irrigation systems and road networks

Answer: B — Dispersed settlements occur where terrain is extremely fragmented and habitable areas are limited and scattered, as in Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, and Kerala.

Q5. Which statement about hamleted settlements is correct? Assertion (A): Hamleted settlements are segmented into units like panna, para, and dhani. Reason (R): This segmentation is motivated by availability of water sources in different areas.

  • A. Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A
  • B. Both A and R are correct, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is correct, but R is incorrect ✓
  • D. A is incorrect, but R is correct

Answer: C — The assertion is correct — hamleted settlements do fragment into named units; however, the reason is wrong — segmentation is caused by social and ethnic factors, not water availability.

Q6. According to the 1991 Census definition, which criterion is NOT required to classify a settlement as urban?

  • A. Minimum population of 5000 persons
  • B. At least 75% of male workers engaged in non-agricultural pursuits
  • C. Population density of at least 400 per square kilometre
  • D. Presence of hospitals, schools, and modern amenities ✓

Answer: D — The Census definition specifies three criteria (population, occupational structure, density) and municipal status; modern amenities are not a defining legal criterion.

Q7. Which ancient town in India developed primarily as a religious and cultural centre?

  • A. Delhi
  • B. Varanasi ✓
  • C. Mumbai
  • D. Bangalore

Answer: B — Varanasi (and Prayagraj, Patna, Madurai) are examples of ancient towns spanning 2000+ years that developed as religious and cultural centres.

Q8. Medieval towns in India such as Delhi, Jaipur, and Lucknow developed primarily as:

  • A. Religious pilgrimage centres
  • B. Headquarters of principalities, kingdoms, and fort towns ✓
  • C. Trading ports for international commerce
  • D. Administrative centres for British colonial rule

Answer: B — Medieval towns emerged as administrative headquarters and fort towns during kingdom rule; they differ from ancient (religious) and modern (colonial trading) towns.

Q9. The three principal nodes around which the British consolidated their control in India were: I. Mumbai (Bombay) II. Chennai (Madras) III. Kolkata (Calcutta) IV. Varanasi

  • A. I, II, III only ✓
  • B. I, II, IV only
  • C. II, III, IV only
  • D. I, III, IV only

Answer: A — The British built their colonial empire around three principal trading and administrative centres: Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata; Varanasi was an ancient religious town, not a British node.

Q10. What is the key functional relationship between urban and rural settlements in India? Assertion (A): Cities export processed goods and services to rural hinterlands, while villages supply food and raw materials to cities. Reason (R): This exchange occurs because urban areas specialise in secondary and tertiary activities, while rural areas depend on primary activities.

  • A. Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are correct, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is correct, but R is incorrect
  • D. Both A and R are incorrect

Answer: A — The assertion correctly describes urban-rural exchange; the reason correctly explains why this relationship exists (occupational specialisation), making R the true causal explanation of A.

Flashcards

What is a human settlement?

A cluster of dwellings of any type or size where people live, erect houses, and command a territory as their economic support base.

Define clustered or nucleated settlement with one example.

A compact, closely built-up village with houses arranged in recognisable patterns (rectangular, radial, linear), common in fertile alluvial plains and Rajasthan due to water scarcity.

What are hamleted settlements and what causes them?

Settlements fragmented into units (panna, para, dhani) bearing a common name, caused by social and ethnic factors, found in Ganga plains and Chhattisgarh.

Where and why do dispersed settlements occur in India?

Dispersed settlements occur in remote jungles and hills of Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Kerala due to extremely fragmented terrain and limited habitable land.

State three basic differences between rural and urban settlements.

Rural settlements depend on primary activities (agriculture); urban settlements depend on manufacturing and services; cities are economic nodes; social relations differ (intimate in rural, formal in urban).

What is the functional relationship between urban and rural settlements?

Cities provide processed goods and services to rural areas; villages return food and raw materials to cities; connection happens through transport and communication networks.

Name three ancient towns in India and state their characteristic.

Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, and Madurai developed as religious and cultural centres over 2000 years ago.

What are medieval towns? Give two examples.

Towns with roots in medieval period that developed as kingdom headquarters or fort towns on ruins of ancient towns; examples: Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow.

Which three modern colonial port cities form the principal nodes of British control?

Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), and Kolkata (Calcutta) were the three principal colonial trading and administrative centres developed by the British.

What are the four criteria for a settlement to be classified as urban according to 1991 Census?

Minimum 5000 population, at least 75% male workers in non-agricultural pursuits, density of 400+ per sq km, and municipality/corporation/cantonment board status.

Important Board Questions

Define a human settlement and state two ways in which rural and urban settlements differ. [2 marks]

Define settlement as cluster of dwellings controlling territory for economic support. State two from: economic base (primary vs secondary/tertiary), social relations (intimate vs formal), or functional role (production vs exchange node).

Explain the four types of rural settlements in India with reference to the physical and social factors that cause them. Provide one example location for each type. [5 marks]

Describe clustered (plains, water scarcity), semi-clustered (caste segregation), hamleted (ethnic division), and dispersed (fragmented terrain) with causes. Include specific locations: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ganga plains, Meghalaya/Uttarakhand; map required showing distribution.

Analyse the evolution of towns in India from ancient to modern times. How did the functional role and location of towns change under British colonial rule? Explain with specific examples why Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai became the principal nodes of British control. [6 marks]

Trace three phases: Ancient (religious centres: Varanasi, Patna), Medieval (fort/admin towns: Delhi, Jaipur), Modern (coastal trading ports: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai). Explain British chose ports for maritime trade and coastal access; three cities became administrative and economic hubs replacing inland power centres. Include map showing these three colonial nodes and their coastal locations.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Human Settlements

Q1. Assertion (A):

Rural settlements derive their economic support from land-based primary activities, whereas urban settlements depend on processing of raw materials and manufacturing of finished goods along with various services.

Reason (R):

The functional difference between rural and urban settlements is determined by their proximity to agricultural land and industrial centers.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. Assertion accurately describes the economic basis of each settlement type as stated in the text. However, the reason, while true, does not correctly explain the assertion. The functional difference stems from the nature of economic activities themselves (primary vs. secondary/tertiary), not from proximity to land or industrial centers.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Clustered settlements in Rajasthan developed as a response to scarcity of water resources in the region.

Reason (R):

Compact settlement patterns allow maximum utilization of limited water resources through concentrated community access.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The text explicitly states that 'in Rajasthan, scarcity of water has necessitated compact settlement.' The reason correctly explains the mechanism—clustering enables efficient resource management. This is a direct cause-and-effect relationship supported by the chapter.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Dispersed or isolated settlements are predominantly found in mountainous regions such as Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala.

Reason (R):

Dispersed settlements occur because flat terrain with abundant water resources prevents clustering of population centers.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true—the text explicitly mentions these hill regions as having dispersed settlements. However, the reason is false. The text states that dispersed settlements result from 'extremely fragmented nature of terrain,' which is characteristic of mountainous regions, not flat terrain. Flat terrain with water actually promotes clustered settlements, not dispersed ones.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Human Settlements

Case Study:

A geographical study of settlement patterns in three regions of India reveals distinct differences: Region A in Punjab plains shows compact villages with 200-300 houses clustered together in rectangular patterns with clear boundaries separating residential areas from agricultural fields. Region B in Meghalaya hills exhibits scattered single-family dwellings and small hamlets spread across slopes with minimal road connectivity. Region C in Gujarat plains displays villages with houses grouped in two or three separate clusters within a 2-3 km radius, with social research indicating that the central cluster houses the land-owning dominant caste families, while outer clusters contain lower-caste communities and agricultural laborers.

Q1. Which settlement classification best describes Region A and what primary factor explains its pattern?

  • A. Dispersed settlement caused by fragmented terrain
  • B. Clustered settlement developed due to fertile plains and social cohesion ✓
  • C. Hamleted settlement resulting from administrative boundaries
  • D. Semi-clustered settlement due to caste segregation

Answer: B

Q2. The dispersed pattern observed in Region B is primarily caused by:

  • A. High population density requiring spread-out housing
  • B. Preference for isolation due to cultural factors
  • C. Extremely fragmented terrain and limited habitable areas ✓
  • D. Scarcity of agricultural land necessitating pastoralism

Answer: C

Q3. Region C's settlement structure with separated clusters based on social hierarchy exemplifies:

  • A. Semi-clustered or fragmented settlement pattern resulting from social segregation ✓
  • B. Hamleted settlement with administrative sub-divisions
  • C. Ancient towns with medieval administrative structure
  • D. Modern urban planning with residential zoning

Answer: A

Q4. Which factor is NOT directly responsible for the different settlement patterns observed across these three regions?

  • A. Physical terrain characteristics (plains vs. hills)
  • B. Social structure and caste-based organization
  • C. Availability of water and agricultural potential
  • D. Proximity to international trade routes and ports ✓

Answer: D

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Human Settlements

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/1 · 3 marks

Explain the main characteristics of urban settlements in India.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/2 · 1 mark

India – Trends of Urbanisation 1961-2011: Year 1961, Number of Towns/UAs: 2,365, Urban Population (in Thousands): 78,936.6, % of Total population: 17.97, Decennial Growth: –; Year 1971, Number of Towns/UAs: 2,590, Urban Population: 1,09,114, % of Total population: 19.91, Decennial Growth: 38.23; Year 1981, Number of Towns/UAs: 3,378, Urban Population: 1,59,463, % of Total population: 23.34, Decennial Growth: 46.14; Year 1991, Number of Towns/UAs: 4,689, Urban Population: 2,17,611, % of Total population: 25.71, Decennial Growth: 36.47; Year 2001, Number of Towns/UAs: 5,161, Urban Population: 2,85,355, % of Total population: 27.78, Decennial Growth: 31.13; Year 2011, Number of Towns/UAs: 6,171, Urban Population: 3,77,000, % of Total population: 31.16, Decennial Growth: 31.08

During which decade, the net increase in number of towns/UAs is the lowest?

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/3 · 3 marks

Study the given table carefully on India – Trends of Urbanisation 1961-2011 and answer: 21.1 During which decade, the net increase in number of towns/UAs is the lowest? 21.2 Mention the net increase in number of towns/UAs during 1981-91. 21.3 Explain the decennial growth rate of urban population.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/1 · 3 marks

Explain the characteristics of clustered rural settlements in India.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/2 · 3 marks

"Many of the towns in India are multifunctional." Analyse the statement.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/2/1 · 1 mark

Study the given table carefully and answer the questions that follow: India – Trends of Urbanisation 1961-2011. Year: 1961, Number of Towns/UAs: 2,365, Urban Population (in Thousands): 78,936.6, % of Total population: 17.97, Decennial Growth (%): –. Year: 1971, Number of Towns/UAs: 2,590, Urban Population (in Thousands): 1,09,114, % of Total population: 19.91, Decennial Growth (%): 38.23. Year: 1981, Number of Towns/UAs: 3,378, Urban Population (in Thousands): 1,59,463, % of Total population: 23.34, Decennial Growth (%): 46.14. Year: 1991, Number of Towns/UAs: 4,689, Urban Population (in Thousands): 2,17,611, % of Total population: 25.71, Decennial Growth (%): 36.47. Year: 2001, Number of Towns/UAs: 5,161, Urban Population (in Thousands): 2,85,355, % of Total population: 27.78, Decennial Growth (%): 31.13. Year: 2011, Number of Towns/UAs: 6,171, Urban Population (in Thousands): 3,77,000, % of Total population: 31.16, Decennial Growth (%): 31.08.

22.1 During which decade, the net increase in number of towns/UAs is the lowest?

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/2 · 3 marks

Explain the main characteristics of hamleted rural settlements in India.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/3 · 3 marks

Explain the characteristics of dispersed rural settlements in India.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/1 · 1 mark

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option. Assertion (A): In recent decades, the urban population of India has grown rapidly. Reason (R): In India, the workforce is shifting from farm-based to non-farm-based occupations.

  • Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  • (A) is true, but (R) is false.
  • (A) is false, but (R) is true.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/1 · 3 marks

Explain the difference between hamleted and dispersed rural settlements in India with examples.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/2 · 3 marks

Explain the objectives of 'Smart Cities Mission' in India.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/3 · 3 marks

Explain the evolution of towns in India with examples.

See all 67 board PYQs for this chapter — open PYQ tab →

Class 12 Geography Previous Year Questions, Chapter-wise

All 759 CBSE board questions from 2022–2026, sorted by chapter and question type. Free PDF download.

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