Previous Year Question

Population distribution is influenced by both physical and socio-economic factors. According to NCERT, physical factors affecting population distribution in India include climate, terrain and availability of water, whereas socio-economic and historical factors include agricultural development, patterns of human settlement, transport networks, industrialisation and urbanisation.

The availability of mineral and energy resources can also attract population, because mining, industries, transport and employment opportunities develop around such resources. NCERT gives the example of Jharkhand, where the availability of mineral and energy resources has contributed to moderate to high population concentration in areas that were previously thinly populated. Similarly, industrial development and urbanisation attract population to areas such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad and Chennai.

In contrast, depth of water is not an economic factor. Conditions related to water essentially fall under physical/geographical factors. NCERT specifically places the availability of water among the physical factors determining population distribution. Therefore, among the
given options, industrialisation, urbanisation and mineral resources are connected with socio-economic activity, whereas depth of water is not an economic factor.