Geography · Textbook solutions

Region and Regional Development

Every textbook question in book order, plus the board's past questions. · 41 questions

Chapter activities

28 q

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Practice · 28

Act p00 T7.1

Given below are some geographical areas. Complete the table thinking about similarities between them and their types. One has been done for you as an example. Table 7.1 Geographical areas Common factors / characteristics Type (political/physical) Ganga river basin, Amazon river basin, Mississippi river basin, Nile river basin River Physical The Himalayan region, The Alps, The Western Ghats, The Rockies, The Caucasus ......... ......... Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh, Konkan, Western Maharahstra ......... ......... The Thar desert, The Arabian desert, The Gobi desert, The Sahara desert ......... ......... Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur ......... ......... Pune, Bhopal, New York, Manchester, Munich, Shanghai ......... ......... Parbhani, Nagpur, Palghar, Kolhapur, Solapur ......... ......... Hindi-speaking belt, Bengali-speaking belt, Marathi-speaking belt, Kannada-speaking belt, Urdu-speaking belt ......... ......... Delhi University campus, Punjab University campus, Mumbai University campus, Vanasthali University campus ......... .........

Act p00 T7.1(3) $Is the common factor the only basis of differentiation between geographical areas?$
Act p00 T7.1(4) $Make a list of characteristics which can be the basis of differentiating one area from another.$
Can you tell what is the identifying characteristic in the following regions?
Act p01 UBP(1) $Pune Metropolitan Region$
Act p01 UBP(2) $Nagpur hub$
Act p01 UBP(3) $Dal Lake in Srinagar$
Act p01 UBP(4) $Alleppey tourism centre$
Act p02 Formal-Functional $Here is a list of regions. Classify them into Formal or Functional regions: Ujani Dam catchment area, area served by Pune Municipal Transport (PMT), area served by Citi Cable Service, Uttar Pradesh, District Kolhapur, Taluka Haveli, rice-producing region of Konkan, Black cotton soil region of India, areas served by Local trains of Mumbai, area served by a Primary Health Centre. Formal Regions Functional Regions ......... .........$

Geographical areas	Common factors / characteristics	Type (political/physical)
Ganga river basin, Amazon river basin, Mississippi river basin, Nile river basin	River	Physical
The Himalayan region, The Alps, The Western Ghats, The Rockies, The Caucasus	.........	.........
Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh, Konkan, Western Maharahstra	.........	.........
The Thar desert, The Arabian desert, The Gobi desert, The Sahara desert	.........	.........
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur	.........	.........
Pune, Bhopal, New York, Manchester, Munich, Shanghai	.........	.........
Parbhani, Nagpur, Palghar, Kolhapur, Solapur	.........	.........
Hindi-speaking belt, Bengali-speaking belt, Marathi-speaking belt, Kannada-speaking belt, Urdu-speaking belt	.........	.........
Delhi University campus, Punjab University campus, Mumbai University campus, Vanasthali University campus	.........	.........

Formal Regions	Functional Regions
.........	.........

Read the table 7.2 and answer the questions that follow : Table 7.2

Region	Per Capita Income (Rs.)	Population Below Poverty Line (%)	Urbanization (%)	Net irrigated area to Total sown area (%)	Per capita consumption of electricity per year (in units)
A	15466	14	45	64	557
B	10432	32	31	42	332
C	5000	48	16	28	145

Act p03 T7.2(1)

In which region do you think there are more resources available?

Act p03 T7.2(2) $In which region do you think people are richer?$
Act p03 T7.2(3) $In which region do you think people may be more happier? Why?$
Act p03 T7.2(4) $Do you think the given indicators or factors are enough to decide the standard of living of people in the region?$

Act p03 T7.3

In the following table, regions are given. At the same time, some geographical factors and effects are also given. Complete the table 7.3 accordingly, with the help of the solved example. Table 7.3 Region Geographical Factors Effects on the region Nile River basin ......... Agricultural Development, Development of Industries, Hydro-electricity project, Irrigation etc. ......... Coniferous forest area ......... Japan Island location, low mineral resources, narrow geographical extent ......... Indonesia, Malaysia ......... Agriculture Development, Trade, Tourism

Act p04 CYT(1) $Looking at the five stages of Demographic Transition Theory, countries in which stage do you think will be called developed?$
Act p04 CYT(3) $What can you comment upon the role of population in regional development?$

Region	Geographical Factors	Effects on the region
Nile River basin	.........	Agricultural Development, Development of Industries, Hydro-electricity project, Irrigation etc.
.........	Coniferous forest area	.........
Japan	Island location, low mineral resources, narrow geographical extent	.........
Indonesia, Malaysia	.........	Agriculture Development, Trade, Tourism

Act p05 T7.4

Draw a conclusion on the basis of the data given in table 7.4. Using Spearman's Rank Correlation, find the correlation between the two variables. What can you comment about the development in this region? Table 7.4 Region Percentage of malnourished children about to enter school (Year 2016) Government expenditure on education, % of total budget (Year 2016) A 29.3 4.70 B 19.2 4.17 C 3.4 7.10 D 12.8 5.40 E 31.7 4.09 F 27 4.45 G 3.1 3.82 H 5.9 5.95

Region	Percentage of malnourished children about to enter school (Year 2016)	Government expenditure on education, % of total budget (Year 2016)
A	29.3	4.70
B	19.2	4.17
C	3.4	7.10
D	12.8	5.40
E	31.7	4.09
F	27	4.45
G	3.1	3.82
H	5.9	5.95

Look at the land use of the following regions and answer the questions that follow : Table 7.5

Region	Arable land (%)	Land under permanent crops (%)	Land under permanent meadows and pastures (%)	Land under Forests (%)	Other land (%)	GDP in billion dollars (2017)
A	11.8	0.3	46.0	2.1	39.9	76.48
B	4.0	0.04	44.0	20.1	32.1	1364.83
C	52.0	16.0	4.1	9.7	17.9	837.58
D	27.4	0.8	15.3	22.4	32.6	567.48
E	6.5	1.0	16.7	57.0	19.2	3456.35
F	57.8	0.6	5.5	14.3	21.8	312.84
G	2.8	1.0	0.0	0.1	95.6	1391.25
H	33.6	1.8	16.8	31.0	16.4	3061.14
I	50.1	4.1	3.1	21.8	20.8	11325.66
J	13.7	13.0	5.7	48.5	19.0	3737.48
K	11.0	0.8	2.6	66.0	19.7	5747.49
L	2.5	0.5	37.5	37.7	21.8	206.22

Act p06 T7.5(1)

What does the table show?

Act p06 T7.5(2) $Which region has the highest land use under agriculture?$
Act p06 T7.5(3) $Which region has the highest GDP?$
Act p06 T7.5(4) $Which country has more land use under forests?$
Act p06 T7.5(5) $Which region has highest land use under the category 'other land'? What is its GDP?$
Act p06 T7.5(6) $Write your conclusion in few sentences.$

Look at the following data and answer the questions that follow : Table 7.6

Regions	Contribution of Primary Sector to GDP (%) 2018	Contribution of Secondary Sector to GDP (%) 2018	Contribution of Tertiary Sector to GDP (%) 2018	Human Development Index (HDI) 2018
A	1	34	65	0.93
B	2	32	66	0.85
C	2	37	61	0.71
D	6	33.2	60.8	0.81
E	14	30	56	0.65

Act p06 T7.6(1)

In which region is contribution of primary activities the least?

Act p06 T7.6(2) $In which region is contribution of primary activities the most?$
Act p06 T7.6(3) $In which region is contribution of tertiary activities the most?$
Act p06 T7.6(4) $Which region has the highest HDI?$
Act p06 T7.6(5) $Can you draw a conclusion on the basis of the answers from Q1 to Q4?$
Act p07 Fig7.2 $Go through the Regional Imbalance Reduction Strategy chart (fig. 7.2) and write two sentences on each factor. Tell how they will help in reducing regional imbalance.$

Exercise

13 q

Identify the correct group :
Ex Q1(1) $Identify the group in which all four members belong to the same type of region.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(2) $Identify the group in which all four members belong to the same category of geographical characteristic.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Differentiate between :
Ex Q2(1) $Functional region and formal region.$
Ex Q2(2) $Physical region and political region.$
Write short notes on :
Ex Q3(1) $Factors affecting regional development.$
Ex Q3(2) $Measures to reduce regional imbalance.$
Give geographical reasons :
Ex Q4(1) $Regional development is dependent on physical setting.$
Ex Q4(2) $Factors like illiteracy, poverty affect the regional development.$
Ex Q4(3) $Development is not seen in the Himalayan region.$
Answer in details :
Ex Q5(1) $What is a region?$
Ex Q5(2) $On what factors are the regions differentiated? Give examples.$
Ex Q5(3) $Per capita income is not the real indicator of regional development. Explain.$

Ex Q6

Find the correlation between land under permanent crops and GDP given in Table 7.5 using Spearman's Rank Correlation. Write the conclusion in your own words. Table 7.5 Region Arable land (%) Land under permanent crops (%) Land under permanent meadows and pastures (%) Land under Forests (%) Other land (%) GDP in billion dollars (2017) A 11.8 0.3 46.0 2.1 39.9 76.48 B 4.0 0.04 44.0 20.1 32.1 1364.83 C 52.0 16.0 4.1 9.7 17.9 837.58 D 27.4 0.8 15.3 22.4 32.6 567.48 E 6.5 1.0 16.7 57.0 19.2 3456.35 F 57.8 0.6 5.5 14.3 21.8 312.84 G 2.8 1.0 0.0 0.1 95.6 1391.25 H 33.6 1.8 16.8 31.0 16.4 3061.14 I 50.1 4.1 3.1 21.8 20.8 11325.66 J 13.7 13.0 5.7 48.5 19.0 3737.48 K 11.0 0.8 2.6 66.0 19.7 5747.49 L 2.5 0.5 37.5 37.7 21.8 206.22

What the board has asked from this chapter

Questions per paper · 3 papers · 2024 to 2026

June 2026

8 q

State whether the following statements are True or False :
Q1(D)(5) $Many policies have been implemented to reduce regional imbalance in India.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(6) $Physical factors are most important for regional development.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Read the following graph and answer the questions given below : The bar graph is titled 'Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line in Different Regions'. Percentage runs up the Y-axis from 0 to 50 and four regions are shown along the X-axis:
Region Percentage of population below poverty line
A 15
B 35
C 45
D 50
Q4(B)(1) $What has been shown in the given graph?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(2) $How many people are below poverty line in B-region?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(3) $In which region, highest percentage of population is below poverty line?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(4) $Which region has lowest percentage of population below poverty line?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(5) $Which region has 45% population below poverty line?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Strategies to reduce regional imbalance.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

Region	Percentage of population below poverty line
A	15
B	35
C	45
D	50

March 2026

5 q

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(4) $Functional region -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Regional development is dependent on physical setting.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(5) $Formal region and Functional region$
Types of Regions
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(2) $Factors affecting regional imbalance in India$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(2) $Provision of public goods / services to reduce regional imbalance$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

June 2025

4 q

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(4) $Regional development is dependent on physiography of a region.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(4) $Physical Region and Political Region$
Types of Regions
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Causes of regional imbalance in India.$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(3) $Provision of infrastructure and Stimulus to reduce regional imbalance.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

March 2025

6 q

Do as directed: Choose the correct option and write.
Q1(B)(4) $Choose one subregion in northern plain region of India.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Q1(B)(5) $Major physical factor which affects regional development.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Identify the correct co-relation in the given statements and write : A : Assertion R : Reasoning
Q1(C)(4) $A : Each formal regions have distinct boundaries which make them easy to identify. R : Region is bounded by economic activities.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(5) $Factors like illiteracy, poverty affects the regional development.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Physical region and Political region$
Types of Regions
Q3(4) $Regional development and Regional imbalance$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes

June 2024

7 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in column 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Consumer goods	(a) Physical geography	(h) Commercial area
(2)	Geography	(b) International	(i) Climatology
(3)	Migration	(c) Industrial area	(j) Pharmaceuticals
(4)	Formal region	(d) Distinct boundaries	(k) India to Australia
(5)	Urban land use	(e) Ready for direct consumption	(l) State
		(f) Current fallow	(m) Automobiles

Q1(A)(4)

Formal region

Types of Regions

Choose the correct option by identifying the correct co-relation between the assertion and reason : (A : Assertion R : Reason)
Q1(B)(4) $A : Population and regional development are closely interrelated. R : Population influences development of region.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Identify and write the incorrect factor :
Q1(C)(4) $Indicators of regional development _____. (a) Literacy (b) Language (c) Life expectancy (d) Quality of population$
Indicators of Regional Development
Identify whether the following statements are true or false :
Q1(D)(5) $Regions can be very small or very large.$
Concept of a Region
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(6) $Illiteracy and poverty affect the regional development.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Causes of regional imbalances in India.$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes
Draw neat and labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(1) $Provision of public goods and services to minimize regional imbalance.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

March 2024

4 q

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(C)(4) $Functional region :$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Identify incorrect factor :
Q1(D)(3) $Characteristics of region : (a) Location (b) Geographical extent (c) Political party (d) Boundaries$
Concept of a Region
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(5) $Physical region and Political region.$
Types of Regions
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Strategies to reduce regional imbalance in India$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

The 10 board questions to practise first

The questions and kinds of question the board asked most often come first. Each one says how often and when.

Question 1
This type asked 4 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2025, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 4 of this type
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(5) $Formal region and Functional region$
Question 2
Asked 3 times: Jun 2025, Mar 2026, Jun 2026 See all 3 times it was asked
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(6) $Physical factors are most important for regional development.$
Question 3
Asked 3 times: Jun 2024, Jun 2025, Mar 2026 See all 3 times it was asked
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(2) $Factors affecting regional imbalance in India$
Question 4
Asked 3 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2025 See all 3 times it was asked
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(4) $Physical Region and Political Region$
Question 5
This type asked 3 times: Jun 2024, Jun 2025, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 3 of this type
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(2) $Provision of public goods / services to reduce regional imbalance$
Question 6
Asked 2 times: Mar 2024, Jun 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Strategies to reduce regional imbalance.$
Question 7
Asked 2 times: Mar 2024*, Mar 2026 (* = numbers or wording changed that year) See all 2 times it was asked
Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(4) $Functional region -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Question 8
Asked 2 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2025 See all 2 times it was asked
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(5) $Factors like illiteracy, poverty affects the regional development.$
Question 9
Asked once: Jun 2025 (same type asked 3 times) See all 3 of this type
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(3) $Provision of infrastructure and Stimulus to reduce regional imbalance.$
Question 10 (case study, 5 parts)
Asked once: Jun 2026
Read the following graph and answer the questions given below : The bar graph is titled 'Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line in Different Regions'. Percentage runs up the Y-axis from 0 to 50 and four regions are shown along the X-axis:
Region Percentage of population below poverty line
A 15
B 35
C 45
D 50
Q4(B)(1) $What has been shown in the given graph?$
Q4(B)(2) $How many people are below poverty line in B-region?$
Q4(B)(3) $In which region, highest percentage of population is below poverty line?$
Q4(B)(4) $Which region has lowest percentage of population below poverty line?$
Q4(B)(5) $Which region has 45% population below poverty line?$

Region	Percentage of population below poverty line
A	15
B	35
C	45
D	50

Quick revision

7 most-asked questions · 12 key points · 9 derivations · 2 diagrams

Checked against Balbharati Geography Std XII (Maharashtra State Board), Chapter 7.

Most asked in board papers

1
What a region is: size, attributes, sub-regions, and physical versus political regions
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024
2
Strategies to reduce regional imbalance: public goods and services, infrastructure and stimulus
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
3
Formal and functional regions: difference and examples
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
4
Reading a graph of population below the poverty line by region
Asked in 2026
5
Give reasons: regional development depends on physical setting (physiography, natural resources)
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
6
Population and development: illiteracy and poverty, indicators of development
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024
7
Causes of regional imbalance in India; regional development and regional imbalance
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024

Must-know points

Region: A geographical area that distinguishes itself from another area is called a region. Regions can be very small or very large, and a boundary generally demarcates one from another. The area with common characteristics, homogeneous in nature, is a region; it is the basic unit of geographical study.
Basis of regions: Natural features: physiography, climate, vegetation, soil or wildlife (the Himalayan ranges and the Northern Plains differ in altitude and topography). Man-made: socio-cultural (language, ethnicity), political (administrative boundaries, as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) and economic (GDP).
Sub-regions: A region can have two or more sub-regions. The Northern Plains of India have the Indus and its tributaries, the Ganga-Yamuna plains and the Brahmaputra-Hooghly plains. A district has talukas; each taluka, city and village is a region in itself.
Attributes of a region: Location (in latitudes and longitudes), spatial extent (decided by homogeneity), boundary (beyond it lies another region) and hierarchical arrangement (orders or sub-regions, as the Northern Plains and its sub-regions).
Physical and political regions: By characteristics, a region is physical or political. River basins are physical regions; districts are political regions. Both are formal regions.
Formal region: An area inhabited by people who have one or more characteristics in common: a common language, an economic activity such as a particular crop, or a physical feature such as climate. Some formal regions have distinct boundaries (countries, states). Examples: Europe, Africa, USA and Canada, Assam, West Bengal.
Functional region: An area organized to function socially and economically as a single unit, bound by a function, not a formal characteristic, and centred on a focal point linked by transport, communication or economic activities. Examples: Pune Metropolitan Region, a city, TV signal area of a tower, Wi-Fi hotspot, pizza delivery area, milk centre.
Regional development: The development of all the regions simultaneously, raising their per capita income and living standards by exploiting their natural and human resources fully. Development of a region is a function of its resources and its population.
Indicators of development: Income, quality and quantity of population, education, life expectancy, poverty, literacy rate, enrolment or dropout ratio, sex ratio, crime against women and children, HDI. No one indicator can decide development; a holistic view takes physical, economic, social and environmental aspects.
Population and development: Population and development are closely interrelated: population influences development and is in turn influenced by it. Density, age, sex, literacy, life expectancy and occupational structure decide the pressure on resources and how efficiently they are used.
Economic activities and development: Regions are generally developed if they contribute more in the tertiary sector and depend less on primary activities; tertiary activities contribute more to income. Land use also changes with development: rural land is mostly agricultural, urban land residential, commercial, industrial.
Regional imbalance: Levels of development are not similar in all sub-regions (as in India). Balanced regional development is a policy, on economic, social and political grounds, to redress inequalities between regions and raise the standard of living at a uniform rate.

Derivations

Try each one first, then open its outline.

Give reasons: regional development is dependent on physical setting

Climate and relief affect development: fertile land, favourable climate and good rainfall promote it (Mediterranean region).
Less fertile land, scarce water and diseases keep regions less developed (tropical rainforests); hills and dense forests hold back Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the north-east.
Landlocked or high mountain regions, or those without navigable rivers, long coastlines or natural harbours, may not develop even with other resources.
Large resources may stay unused if climate is unfavourable or people are absent (Antarctica).

Give reasons: factors like illiteracy and poverty affect regional development

Quality and quantity of population are important for development; holistic development needs skilled human resources.
An illiterate population lacks skills, so resources are not used efficiently and productivity stays low.
Poverty means low per capita income, low living standards and poor health (malnourished children); capital goes to supporting people, not to development.

Population and regional development are closely interrelated. Explain.

All parameters of development are measured keeping the population in mind; population influences development and is influenced by it.
Later stages of demographic transition (low birth and death rates) mean greater development; a large working-age population brings higher living standards, a high dependency ratio consumes capital.
In-migration shows good jobs (pull factor) but adds pressure on resources. Higher population lowers per capita income; very low population lacks human capital.

Per capita income is not the real indicator of regional development. Explain.

Low per capita income may mean either high population or low total income, so it alone does not tell which.
Literacy, enrolment and dropout ratio, sex ratio, crime against women and children, life expectancy, poverty and HDI give a better picture.
Development has physical, economic, social, environmental aspects; no one indicator can decide it.

Causes of regional imbalance in India

Physical: location, relief, altitude, availability of resources and accessibility. Hilly, forested states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the north-east) lag behind resource-rich ones.
Regions with ports and airports, or near raw materials, gain locational advantages; adverse climate and floods or cyclones lower farm output and industrialisation.
Human: skilled labour, technology, transport, markets, communication, power, banking and insurance favour some regions. Private investment goes where infrastructure already exists.

Strategies (measures) to reduce regional imbalance

Identify the undeveloped regions and the physical, social or economic reasons behind them.
Allocate funds and make sector-wise investments: subsidies and investment in roads, schools, agriculture, irrigation, industries, housing, medical and health facilities.
Take special care of drought-prone, desert, hilly and tribal-dominated areas; decentralise industries.
Provide public goods and services (drinking water, education, electricity, all-weather roads, health, law and order) and infrastructure and stimulus (skills, special funds, governance).

Differentiate between formal region and functional region

Formal: people share one or more characteristics (language, crop, climate); often distinct boundaries; e.g. Europe, West Bengal, a river basin.
Functional: bound by a function round a focal point (transport, communication or economic links); may cover many physical and political regions; e.g. Pune Metropolitan Region, TV signal area.

Differentiate between physical region and political region

Physical: based on natural features such as physiography, climate, vegetation, soil; e.g. river basins, the Himalayas, the Thar desert.
Political: based on man-made administrative boundaries and governments; e.g. states such as Maharashtra (formed by language, 1956), districts such as Pune.

Differentiate between regional development and regional imbalance

Regional development: all regions develop together, raising per capita income and living standards by fully using natural and human resources.
Regional imbalance: levels of development differ among sub-regions, from locational advantages and disadvantages and unequal human factors.

Diagrams to practise

Difference between formal and functional region (Fig. 7.1): label boundaries of formal regions · boundaries of functional regions round a focal point · TV tower and Wi-Fi coverage · milk collection centre · pizza outlet delivery area
Regional imbalance reduction strategy (Fig. 7.2): label provision of public goods and services · drinking water, education, electricity to all · all-weather roads, medical and health, law and order · provision of infrastructure and stimulus · skill development, special funds, infrastructure projects · policy review and reforms, governance

Mistakes that cost marks

Calling a functional region formal

A TV signal area, Wi-Fi hotspot, Pune Metropolitan Region or the area of a milk centre is functional: bound by a function round a focal point. Europe, West Bengal and the Amazon basin are formal. Being bound by economic activities marks a functional region.

Saying physical factors alone decide development

Physical setting matters, but human factors (skilled labour, technology, transport, markets, capital) are equally important. Antarctica has resources but no development.

Mixing up characteristics and indicators

Location, extent, boundary and hierarchy are attributes of a region; a political party is not. Literacy, life expectancy and quality of population are indicators of development; language is not.

Using one indicator to judge development

Per capita income alone misleads: no one indicator can decide development. Name several (literacy, life expectancy, poverty, HDI).

Careless graph reading

Read the graph's title and axes first. Answer with the region's letter and its value with the unit (%), exactly as plotted.

Ebooks Tutor

Geography · Textbook solutions

Region and Regional Development

Every textbook question in book order, plus the board's past questions. · 41 questions

Chapter activities

28 q

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Practice · 28

Act p00 T7.1

Given below are some geographical areas. Complete the table thinking about similarities between them and their types. One has been done for you as an example. Table 7.1 Geographical areas Common factors / characteristics Type (political/physical) Ganga river basin, Amazon river basin, Mississippi river basin, Nile river basin River Physical The Himalayan region, The Alps, The Western Ghats, The Rockies, The Caucasus ......... ......... Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh, Konkan, Western Maharahstra ......... ......... The Thar desert, The Arabian desert, The Gobi desert, The Sahara desert ......... ......... Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur ......... ......... Pune, Bhopal, New York, Manchester, Munich, Shanghai ......... ......... Parbhani, Nagpur, Palghar, Kolhapur, Solapur ......... ......... Hindi-speaking belt, Bengali-speaking belt, Marathi-speaking belt, Kannada-speaking belt, Urdu-speaking belt ......... ......... Delhi University campus, Punjab University campus, Mumbai University campus, Vanasthali University campus ......... .........

Act p00 T7.1(3) $Is the common factor the only basis of differentiation between geographical areas?$
Act p00 T7.1(4) $Make a list of characteristics which can be the basis of differentiating one area from another.$
Can you tell what is the identifying characteristic in the following regions?
Act p01 UBP(1) $Pune Metropolitan Region$
Act p01 UBP(2) $Nagpur hub$
Act p01 UBP(3) $Dal Lake in Srinagar$
Act p01 UBP(4) $Alleppey tourism centre$
Act p02 Formal-Functional $Here is a list of regions. Classify them into Formal or Functional regions: Ujani Dam catchment area, area served by Pune Municipal Transport (PMT), area served by Citi Cable Service, Uttar Pradesh, District Kolhapur, Taluka Haveli, rice-producing region of Konkan, Black cotton soil region of India, areas served by Local trains of Mumbai, area served by a Primary Health Centre. Formal Regions Functional Regions ......... .........$

Geographical areas	Common factors / characteristics	Type (political/physical)
Ganga river basin, Amazon river basin, Mississippi river basin, Nile river basin	River	Physical
The Himalayan region, The Alps, The Western Ghats, The Rockies, The Caucasus	.........	.........
Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh, Konkan, Western Maharahstra	.........	.........
The Thar desert, The Arabian desert, The Gobi desert, The Sahara desert	.........	.........
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur	.........	.........
Pune, Bhopal, New York, Manchester, Munich, Shanghai	.........	.........
Parbhani, Nagpur, Palghar, Kolhapur, Solapur	.........	.........
Hindi-speaking belt, Bengali-speaking belt, Marathi-speaking belt, Kannada-speaking belt, Urdu-speaking belt	.........	.........
Delhi University campus, Punjab University campus, Mumbai University campus, Vanasthali University campus	.........	.........

Formal Regions	Functional Regions
.........	.........

Read the table 7.2 and answer the questions that follow : Table 7.2

Region	Per Capita Income (Rs.)	Population Below Poverty Line (%)	Urbanization (%)	Net irrigated area to Total sown area (%)	Per capita consumption of electricity per year (in units)
A	15466	14	45	64	557
B	10432	32	31	42	332
C	5000	48	16	28	145

Act p03 T7.2(1)

In which region do you think there are more resources available?

Act p03 T7.2(2) $In which region do you think people are richer?$
Act p03 T7.2(3) $In which region do you think people may be more happier? Why?$
Act p03 T7.2(4) $Do you think the given indicators or factors are enough to decide the standard of living of people in the region?$

Act p03 T7.3

In the following table, regions are given. At the same time, some geographical factors and effects are also given. Complete the table 7.3 accordingly, with the help of the solved example. Table 7.3 Region Geographical Factors Effects on the region Nile River basin ......... Agricultural Development, Development of Industries, Hydro-electricity project, Irrigation etc. ......... Coniferous forest area ......... Japan Island location, low mineral resources, narrow geographical extent ......... Indonesia, Malaysia ......... Agriculture Development, Trade, Tourism

Act p04 CYT(1) $Looking at the five stages of Demographic Transition Theory, countries in which stage do you think will be called developed?$
Act p04 CYT(3) $What can you comment upon the role of population in regional development?$

Region	Geographical Factors	Effects on the region
Nile River basin	.........	Agricultural Development, Development of Industries, Hydro-electricity project, Irrigation etc.
.........	Coniferous forest area	.........
Japan	Island location, low mineral resources, narrow geographical extent	.........
Indonesia, Malaysia	.........	Agriculture Development, Trade, Tourism

Act p05 T7.4

Draw a conclusion on the basis of the data given in table 7.4. Using Spearman's Rank Correlation, find the correlation between the two variables. What can you comment about the development in this region? Table 7.4 Region Percentage of malnourished children about to enter school (Year 2016) Government expenditure on education, % of total budget (Year 2016) A 29.3 4.70 B 19.2 4.17 C 3.4 7.10 D 12.8 5.40 E 31.7 4.09 F 27 4.45 G 3.1 3.82 H 5.9 5.95

Region	Percentage of malnourished children about to enter school (Year 2016)	Government expenditure on education, % of total budget (Year 2016)
A	29.3	4.70
B	19.2	4.17
C	3.4	7.10
D	12.8	5.40
E	31.7	4.09
F	27	4.45
G	3.1	3.82
H	5.9	5.95

Look at the land use of the following regions and answer the questions that follow : Table 7.5

Region	Arable land (%)	Land under permanent crops (%)	Land under permanent meadows and pastures (%)	Land under Forests (%)	Other land (%)	GDP in billion dollars (2017)
A	11.8	0.3	46.0	2.1	39.9	76.48
B	4.0	0.04	44.0	20.1	32.1	1364.83
C	52.0	16.0	4.1	9.7	17.9	837.58
D	27.4	0.8	15.3	22.4	32.6	567.48
E	6.5	1.0	16.7	57.0	19.2	3456.35
F	57.8	0.6	5.5	14.3	21.8	312.84
G	2.8	1.0	0.0	0.1	95.6	1391.25
H	33.6	1.8	16.8	31.0	16.4	3061.14
I	50.1	4.1	3.1	21.8	20.8	11325.66
J	13.7	13.0	5.7	48.5	19.0	3737.48
K	11.0	0.8	2.6	66.0	19.7	5747.49
L	2.5	0.5	37.5	37.7	21.8	206.22

Act p06 T7.5(1)

What does the table show?

Act p06 T7.5(2) $Which region has the highest land use under agriculture?$
Act p06 T7.5(3) $Which region has the highest GDP?$
Act p06 T7.5(4) $Which country has more land use under forests?$
Act p06 T7.5(5) $Which region has highest land use under the category 'other land'? What is its GDP?$
Act p06 T7.5(6) $Write your conclusion in few sentences.$

Look at the following data and answer the questions that follow : Table 7.6

Regions	Contribution of Primary Sector to GDP (%) 2018	Contribution of Secondary Sector to GDP (%) 2018	Contribution of Tertiary Sector to GDP (%) 2018	Human Development Index (HDI) 2018
A	1	34	65	0.93
B	2	32	66	0.85
C	2	37	61	0.71
D	6	33.2	60.8	0.81
E	14	30	56	0.65

Act p06 T7.6(1)

In which region is contribution of primary activities the least?

Act p06 T7.6(2) $In which region is contribution of primary activities the most?$
Act p06 T7.6(3) $In which region is contribution of tertiary activities the most?$
Act p06 T7.6(4) $Which region has the highest HDI?$
Act p06 T7.6(5) $Can you draw a conclusion on the basis of the answers from Q1 to Q4?$
Act p07 Fig7.2 $Go through the Regional Imbalance Reduction Strategy chart (fig. 7.2) and write two sentences on each factor. Tell how they will help in reducing regional imbalance.$

Exercise

13 q

Identify the correct group :
Ex Q1(1) $Identify the group in which all four members belong to the same type of region.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(2) $Identify the group in which all four members belong to the same category of geographical characteristic.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Differentiate between :
Ex Q2(1) $Functional region and formal region.$
Ex Q2(2) $Physical region and political region.$
Write short notes on :
Ex Q3(1) $Factors affecting regional development.$
Ex Q3(2) $Measures to reduce regional imbalance.$
Give geographical reasons :
Ex Q4(1) $Regional development is dependent on physical setting.$
Ex Q4(2) $Factors like illiteracy, poverty affect the regional development.$
Ex Q4(3) $Development is not seen in the Himalayan region.$
Answer in details :
Ex Q5(1) $What is a region?$
Ex Q5(2) $On what factors are the regions differentiated? Give examples.$
Ex Q5(3) $Per capita income is not the real indicator of regional development. Explain.$

Ex Q6

Find the correlation between land under permanent crops and GDP given in Table 7.5 using Spearman's Rank Correlation. Write the conclusion in your own words. Table 7.5 Region Arable land (%) Land under permanent crops (%) Land under permanent meadows and pastures (%) Land under Forests (%) Other land (%) GDP in billion dollars (2017) A 11.8 0.3 46.0 2.1 39.9 76.48 B 4.0 0.04 44.0 20.1 32.1 1364.83 C 52.0 16.0 4.1 9.7 17.9 837.58 D 27.4 0.8 15.3 22.4 32.6 567.48 E 6.5 1.0 16.7 57.0 19.2 3456.35 F 57.8 0.6 5.5 14.3 21.8 312.84 G 2.8 1.0 0.0 0.1 95.6 1391.25 H 33.6 1.8 16.8 31.0 16.4 3061.14 I 50.1 4.1 3.1 21.8 20.8 11325.66 J 13.7 13.0 5.7 48.5 19.0 3737.48 K 11.0 0.8 2.6 66.0 19.7 5747.49 L 2.5 0.5 37.5 37.7 21.8 206.22

What the board has asked from this chapter

Questions per paper · 3 papers · 2024 to 2026

June 2026

8 q

State whether the following statements are True or False :
Q1(D)(5) $Many policies have been implemented to reduce regional imbalance in India.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(6) $Physical factors are most important for regional development.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Read the following graph and answer the questions given below : The bar graph is titled 'Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line in Different Regions'. Percentage runs up the Y-axis from 0 to 50 and four regions are shown along the X-axis:
Region Percentage of population below poverty line
A 15
B 35
C 45
D 50
Q4(B)(1) $What has been shown in the given graph?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(2) $How many people are below poverty line in B-region?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(3) $In which region, highest percentage of population is below poverty line?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(4) $Which region has lowest percentage of population below poverty line?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Q4(B)(5) $Which region has 45% population below poverty line?$
Indicators of Regional Development
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Strategies to reduce regional imbalance.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

Region	Percentage of population below poverty line
A	15
B	35
C	45
D	50

March 2026

5 q

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(4) $Functional region -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Regional development is dependent on physical setting.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(5) $Formal region and Functional region$
Types of Regions
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(2) $Factors affecting regional imbalance in India$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(2) $Provision of public goods / services to reduce regional imbalance$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

June 2025

4 q

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(4) $Regional development is dependent on physiography of a region.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(4) $Physical Region and Political Region$
Types of Regions
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Causes of regional imbalance in India.$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(3) $Provision of infrastructure and Stimulus to reduce regional imbalance.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

March 2025

6 q

Do as directed: Choose the correct option and write.
Q1(B)(4) $Choose one subregion in northern plain region of India.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Q1(B)(5) $Major physical factor which affects regional development.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Identify the correct co-relation in the given statements and write : A : Assertion R : Reasoning
Q1(C)(4) $A : Each formal regions have distinct boundaries which make them easy to identify. R : Region is bounded by economic activities.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(5) $Factors like illiteracy, poverty affects the regional development.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Physical region and Political region$
Types of Regions
Q3(4) $Regional development and Regional imbalance$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes

June 2024

7 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in column 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Consumer goods	(a) Physical geography	(h) Commercial area
(2)	Geography	(b) International	(i) Climatology
(3)	Migration	(c) Industrial area	(j) Pharmaceuticals
(4)	Formal region	(d) Distinct boundaries	(k) India to Australia
(5)	Urban land use	(e) Ready for direct consumption	(l) State
		(f) Current fallow	(m) Automobiles

Q1(A)(4)

Formal region

Types of Regions

Choose the correct option by identifying the correct co-relation between the assertion and reason : (A : Assertion R : Reason)
Q1(B)(4) $A : Population and regional development are closely interrelated. R : Population influences development of region.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Identify and write the incorrect factor :
Q1(C)(4) $Indicators of regional development _____. (a) Literacy (b) Language (c) Life expectancy (d) Quality of population$
Indicators of Regional Development
Identify whether the following statements are true or false :
Q1(D)(5) $Regions can be very small or very large.$
Concept of a Region
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(6) $Illiteracy and poverty affect the regional development.$
Factors Affecting Regional Development
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Causes of regional imbalances in India.$
Regional Imbalance and Its Causes
Draw neat and labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(1) $Provision of public goods and services to minimize regional imbalance.$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

March 2024

4 q

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(C)(4) $Functional region :$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Types of Regions
Identify incorrect factor :
Q1(D)(3) $Characteristics of region : (a) Location (b) Geographical extent (c) Political party (d) Boundaries$
Concept of a Region
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(5) $Physical region and Political region.$
Types of Regions
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Strategies to reduce regional imbalance in India$
Strategies to Reduce Regional Imbalance

The 10 board questions to practise first

The questions and kinds of question the board asked most often come first. Each one says how often and when.

Question 1
This type asked 4 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2025, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 4 of this type
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(5) $Formal region and Functional region$
Question 2
Asked 3 times: Jun 2025, Mar 2026, Jun 2026 See all 3 times it was asked
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(6) $Physical factors are most important for regional development.$
Question 3
Asked 3 times: Jun 2024, Jun 2025, Mar 2026 See all 3 times it was asked
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(2) $Factors affecting regional imbalance in India$
Question 4
Asked 3 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2025 See all 3 times it was asked
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(4) $Physical Region and Political Region$
Question 5
This type asked 3 times: Jun 2024, Jun 2025, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 3 of this type
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(2) $Provision of public goods / services to reduce regional imbalance$
Question 6
Asked 2 times: Mar 2024, Jun 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(4) $Strategies to reduce regional imbalance.$
Question 7
Asked 2 times: Mar 2024*, Mar 2026 (* = numbers or wording changed that year) See all 2 times it was asked
Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(4) $Functional region -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Question 8
Asked 2 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2025 See all 2 times it was asked
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(5) $Factors like illiteracy, poverty affects the regional development.$
Question 9
Asked once: Jun 2025 (same type asked 3 times) See all 3 of this type
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(3) $Provision of infrastructure and Stimulus to reduce regional imbalance.$
Question 10 (case study, 5 parts)
Asked once: Jun 2026
Read the following graph and answer the questions given below : The bar graph is titled 'Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line in Different Regions'. Percentage runs up the Y-axis from 0 to 50 and four regions are shown along the X-axis:
Region Percentage of population below poverty line
A 15
B 35
C 45
D 50
Q4(B)(1) $What has been shown in the given graph?$
Q4(B)(2) $How many people are below poverty line in B-region?$
Q4(B)(3) $In which region, highest percentage of population is below poverty line?$
Q4(B)(4) $Which region has lowest percentage of population below poverty line?$
Q4(B)(5) $Which region has 45% population below poverty line?$

Region	Percentage of population below poverty line
A	15
B	35
C	45
D	50

Quick revision

7 most-asked questions · 12 key points · 9 derivations · 2 diagrams

Checked against Balbharati Geography Std XII (Maharashtra State Board), Chapter 7.

Most asked in board papers

1
What a region is: size, attributes, sub-regions, and physical versus political regions
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024
2
Strategies to reduce regional imbalance: public goods and services, infrastructure and stimulus
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
3
Formal and functional regions: difference and examples
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
4
Reading a graph of population below the poverty line by region
Asked in 2026
5
Give reasons: regional development depends on physical setting (physiography, natural resources)
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
6
Population and development: illiteracy and poverty, indicators of development
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024
7
Causes of regional imbalance in India; regional development and regional imbalance
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024

Must-know points

Region: A geographical area that distinguishes itself from another area is called a region. Regions can be very small or very large, and a boundary generally demarcates one from another. The area with common characteristics, homogeneous in nature, is a region; it is the basic unit of geographical study.
Basis of regions: Natural features: physiography, climate, vegetation, soil or wildlife (the Himalayan ranges and the Northern Plains differ in altitude and topography). Man-made: socio-cultural (language, ethnicity), political (administrative boundaries, as Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh) and economic (GDP).
Sub-regions: A region can have two or more sub-regions. The Northern Plains of India have the Indus and its tributaries, the Ganga-Yamuna plains and the Brahmaputra-Hooghly plains. A district has talukas; each taluka, city and village is a region in itself.
Attributes of a region: Location (in latitudes and longitudes), spatial extent (decided by homogeneity), boundary (beyond it lies another region) and hierarchical arrangement (orders or sub-regions, as the Northern Plains and its sub-regions).
Physical and political regions: By characteristics, a region is physical or political. River basins are physical regions; districts are political regions. Both are formal regions.
Formal region: An area inhabited by people who have one or more characteristics in common: a common language, an economic activity such as a particular crop, or a physical feature such as climate. Some formal regions have distinct boundaries (countries, states). Examples: Europe, Africa, USA and Canada, Assam, West Bengal.
Functional region: An area organized to function socially and economically as a single unit, bound by a function, not a formal characteristic, and centred on a focal point linked by transport, communication or economic activities. Examples: Pune Metropolitan Region, a city, TV signal area of a tower, Wi-Fi hotspot, pizza delivery area, milk centre.
Regional development: The development of all the regions simultaneously, raising their per capita income and living standards by exploiting their natural and human resources fully. Development of a region is a function of its resources and its population.
Indicators of development: Income, quality and quantity of population, education, life expectancy, poverty, literacy rate, enrolment or dropout ratio, sex ratio, crime against women and children, HDI. No one indicator can decide development; a holistic view takes physical, economic, social and environmental aspects.
Population and development: Population and development are closely interrelated: population influences development and is in turn influenced by it. Density, age, sex, literacy, life expectancy and occupational structure decide the pressure on resources and how efficiently they are used.
Economic activities and development: Regions are generally developed if they contribute more in the tertiary sector and depend less on primary activities; tertiary activities contribute more to income. Land use also changes with development: rural land is mostly agricultural, urban land residential, commercial, industrial.
Regional imbalance: Levels of development are not similar in all sub-regions (as in India). Balanced regional development is a policy, on economic, social and political grounds, to redress inequalities between regions and raise the standard of living at a uniform rate.

Derivations

Try each one first, then open its outline.

Give reasons: regional development is dependent on physical setting

Climate and relief affect development: fertile land, favourable climate and good rainfall promote it (Mediterranean region).
Less fertile land, scarce water and diseases keep regions less developed (tropical rainforests); hills and dense forests hold back Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the north-east.
Landlocked or high mountain regions, or those without navigable rivers, long coastlines or natural harbours, may not develop even with other resources.
Large resources may stay unused if climate is unfavourable or people are absent (Antarctica).

Give reasons: factors like illiteracy and poverty affect regional development

Quality and quantity of population are important for development; holistic development needs skilled human resources.
An illiterate population lacks skills, so resources are not used efficiently and productivity stays low.
Poverty means low per capita income, low living standards and poor health (malnourished children); capital goes to supporting people, not to development.

Population and regional development are closely interrelated. Explain.

All parameters of development are measured keeping the population in mind; population influences development and is influenced by it.
Later stages of demographic transition (low birth and death rates) mean greater development; a large working-age population brings higher living standards, a high dependency ratio consumes capital.
In-migration shows good jobs (pull factor) but adds pressure on resources. Higher population lowers per capita income; very low population lacks human capital.

Per capita income is not the real indicator of regional development. Explain.

Low per capita income may mean either high population or low total income, so it alone does not tell which.
Literacy, enrolment and dropout ratio, sex ratio, crime against women and children, life expectancy, poverty and HDI give a better picture.
Development has physical, economic, social, environmental aspects; no one indicator can decide it.

Causes of regional imbalance in India

Physical: location, relief, altitude, availability of resources and accessibility. Hilly, forested states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the north-east) lag behind resource-rich ones.
Regions with ports and airports, or near raw materials, gain locational advantages; adverse climate and floods or cyclones lower farm output and industrialisation.
Human: skilled labour, technology, transport, markets, communication, power, banking and insurance favour some regions. Private investment goes where infrastructure already exists.

Strategies (measures) to reduce regional imbalance

Identify the undeveloped regions and the physical, social or economic reasons behind them.
Allocate funds and make sector-wise investments: subsidies and investment in roads, schools, agriculture, irrigation, industries, housing, medical and health facilities.
Take special care of drought-prone, desert, hilly and tribal-dominated areas; decentralise industries.
Provide public goods and services (drinking water, education, electricity, all-weather roads, health, law and order) and infrastructure and stimulus (skills, special funds, governance).

Differentiate between formal region and functional region

Formal: people share one or more characteristics (language, crop, climate); often distinct boundaries; e.g. Europe, West Bengal, a river basin.
Functional: bound by a function round a focal point (transport, communication or economic links); may cover many physical and political regions; e.g. Pune Metropolitan Region, TV signal area.

Differentiate between physical region and political region

Physical: based on natural features such as physiography, climate, vegetation, soil; e.g. river basins, the Himalayas, the Thar desert.
Political: based on man-made administrative boundaries and governments; e.g. states such as Maharashtra (formed by language, 1956), districts such as Pune.

Differentiate between regional development and regional imbalance

Regional development: all regions develop together, raising per capita income and living standards by fully using natural and human resources.
Regional imbalance: levels of development differ among sub-regions, from locational advantages and disadvantages and unequal human factors.

Diagrams to practise

Difference between formal and functional region (Fig. 7.1): label boundaries of formal regions · boundaries of functional regions round a focal point · TV tower and Wi-Fi coverage · milk collection centre · pizza outlet delivery area
Regional imbalance reduction strategy (Fig. 7.2): label provision of public goods and services · drinking water, education, electricity to all · all-weather roads, medical and health, law and order · provision of infrastructure and stimulus · skill development, special funds, infrastructure projects · policy review and reforms, governance

Mistakes that cost marks

Calling a functional region formal

Saying physical factors alone decide development

Physical setting matters, but human factors (skilled labour, technology, transport, markets, capital) are equally important. Antarctica has resources but no development.

Mixing up characteristics and indicators

Using one indicator to judge development

Per capita income alone misleads: no one indicator can decide development. Name several (literacy, life expectancy, poverty, HDI).

Careless graph reading

Read the graph's title and axes first. Answer with the region's letter and its value with the unit (%), exactly as plotted.

Chapter activities

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Exercise

What the board has asked from this chapter

June 2026

March 2026

June 2025

March 2025

June 2024

March 2024

The 10 board questions to practise first

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10 (case study, 5 parts)

Most asked in board papers

Must-know points

Derivations

Diagrams to practise

Mistakes that cost marks

Chapter activities

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Exercise

What the board has asked from this chapter

June 2026

March 2026

June 2025

March 2025

June 2024

March 2024

The 10 board questions to practise first

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10 (case study, 5 parts)

Most asked in board papers

Must-know points

Derivations

Diagrams to practise

Mistakes that cost marks