Which of the following is a characteristic of Footloose Industries?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Industries having no dependence on any specific raw material and can be located anywhere as per availability of space and transport facilities.
Option (1) Industries which use a large labour force. — Incorrect. Footloose industries produce in small quantity and employ a small labour force.
Option (2) Industries which use weight-losing raw material. — Incorrect. They are not tied to any specific raw material, weight losing or otherwise.
Option (3) Industries having no dependence on any specific raw material and can be located anywhere as per availability of space and transport facilities. — Correct. Footloose industries use component parts that can be obtained anywhere, so no raw material ties them to one place. Freed from that pull, they can be located in a wide variety of places, and what decides the site is accessibility by road network for bringing in parts and sending out goods.
Option (4) These industries depend on components, which are location or region specific. — Incorrect. They do depend on component parts, but parts which can be obtained anywhere, not ones tied to a place.
NCERT (2025-26): “Foot Loose Industries Foot loose industries can be located in a wide variety of places. They are not dependent on any specific raw material, weight losing or otherwise. They largely depend on component parts which can be obtained anywhere. They produce in small quantity and also employ a small labour force. These are generally not polluting industries. The important factor in their location is accessibility by road network.” |