Which of the following reasons has necessitated compact settlements in Rajasthan?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Water Scarcity
A compact or clustered settlement is a village whose houses stand close together in one built-up area. The type of rural settlement in India depends on physical features (terrain, altitude, climate and availability of water), on cultural and ethnic factors (social structure, caste and religion) and on security (defence against thefts and robberies).
Option (1) Trade — Incorrect. Trade is not one of the factors that decide the type of a rural settlement.
Option (2) Ethnicity — Incorrect. Social and ethnic factors often split a large village into separate units with a common name, such as panna, para, palli, nagla and dhani. This gives hamleted settlements, not compact ones.
Option (3) Water Scarcity — Correct. Water is scarce in Rajasthan. When houses stand close together in one compact village, people can make the maximum use of the water that is available.
Option (4) Security — Incorrect. Security also makes people live in compact villages, but in other regions: in the Bundelkhand region of central India and in Nagaland.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 21-05-2026 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2026-27): “Clustered Settlements The clustered rural settlement is a compact or closely built up area of houses. … Sometimes, people live in compact village for security or defence reasons, such as in the Bundelkhand region of central India and in Nagaland. In Rajasthan, scarcity of water has necessitated compact settlement for maximum utilisation of available water resources.” |