Identify the characteristics of rural settlements in India.
A. These settlements act as nodes of economic growth
B. People are less mobile in villages
C. Settlements are specialized in agriculture or other primary activities
D. Life is complex and fast and social relations are formal
E. Social relations among people are intimate
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → B, C and E Only
Rural and urban settlements differ in size, work and way of life. Villages are small and sparsely spaced, and they depend on land. Towns and cities are larger, and they depend on secondary and tertiary activities.
(A) These settlements act as nodes of economic growth — Incorrect. This is a feature of cities, not villages. Cities provide goods and services to the people of the rural settlements in their hinterlands and get food and raw materials in return.
(B) People are less mobile in villages — Correct. Rural people are less mobile; they move little from place to place.
(C) Settlements are specialized in agriculture or other primary activities — Correct. Villages get their basic needs from land-based primary activities such as agriculture.
(D) Life is complex and fast and social relations are formal — Incorrect. This describes the urban way of life. In villages, social relations are intimate, not formal.
(E) Social relations among people are intimate — Correct. This follows from (B). Because rural people are less mobile, social relations among them are intimate (close and personal).
NCERT (2026-27): “Settlements vary in size and type. They range from a hamlet to metropolitan cities. … Settlements could be small and sparsely spaced; they may also be large and closely spaced. The sparsely located small settlements are called villages, specialising in agriculture or other primary activities. On the other hand, there are fewer but larger settlements which are termed as urban settlements specialising in secondary and tertiary activities.” “• Cities act as nodes of economic growth, provide goods and services not only to urban dwellers but also to the people of the rural settlements in their hinterlands in return for food and raw materials. This functional relationship between the urban and rural settlements takes place through transport and communication network.” “• Rural and urban settlements differ in terms of social relationship, attitude and outlook. Rural people are less mobile and therefore, social relations among them are intimate. In urban areas, on the other hand, way of life is complex and fast, and social relations are formal.” |