CBSE Class 10 Important Questions Geography for Board Exam

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April 10, 2025

Important Questions of Geography Class 10:- The CBSE Class 10 Geography exam is set for Monday, 24th February 2025, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Geography is an important part of Social Science, covering topics that are both practical and easy to relate to. With the exam almost near, it’s essential to focus on key chapters like Resources and Development, Agriculture, and Minerals and Energy Resources, as these are often the basis for many questions in the Geography question paper Class 10. Make sure you finish your NCERT textbook, practise map work regularly, and go over Geography important questions Class 10 from past papers and sample tests to build your confidence and ensure a strong performance on the day. Check out the geography class 10 important questions and proper study tips for CBSE Class 10 Geography from the below article.

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CBSE Class 10 Important Questions Geography for Board Exam

Question 1. What do you understand by a ‘Resource’? Give examples. (2015)

Answer: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, is called a resource. It should be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable. Only then, it can be termed as a ‘Resource’. Examples are: minerals, forests, fossil fuels etc..

Question 2.“Resources are a function of human activities.” Justify this statement.

Answer: Mere presence of resources, as free gifts of nature, does not make them resources. Human beings are essential components of resources because they transform material available in our environment into resources. The utility of resources depends on the stage of cultural development of man and the tools and technology used by him.

Question 3. Write the classification of resources on four different bases. (2015)

Answer: Resources can be classified in the following four ways:

(a) On the basis of Origin:

Biotic

Abiotic

(b) On the basis of exhaustibility:

Renewable

Non-renewable

Individual (Personal)

Community

National

International

(d) On the basis of status and development:

Potential

Developed

Reserve

Stock

Question 4. Explain the classification of resources on the basis of origin and give one example of each.

Answer: On the basis of origin, resources can be classified as Biotic and Abiotic. Biotic Resources are obtained from the biosphere. They have life or are living resources, e.g., human beings, fisheries, forests, etc.

Abiotic Resources include all non-living things, e.g., rocks and minerals.

Question 5. Classify the resources on the basis of exhaustibility and give two examples of each.

Answer: On the basis of exhaustibility, resources can be classified as: Renewable and Non-renewable.

Renewable Resources. The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical and mechanical processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources, e.g., water, wildlife, forests, solar energy, wind energy etc.

Non-renewable Resources. The resources which once get exhausted, cannot be remade. They take a long geological period of time, i.e., millions of years in their formation, e.g., minerals, fossil fuels etc.

Check out: CBSE Class 10 Social Science Sample Question Papers

Question 6. Why do we need to conserve our biodiversity?

Answer: Conservation of biodiversity is necessary because it:

Preserves the ecological diversity.
Preserves our life support systems, i.e., water, air and soil.
Preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth and breeding of species.
Fisheries too are heavily dependent on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.

Question 7. List various provisions made by “The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972” for protecting habitats.

Answer: An All India list of protected species was published.

The thrust was on protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by-

banning hunting;

giving legal protection to their habitats and

restricting trade in wildlife.

Question 8. Write four steps taken by the Government for conservation of wildlife.

Answer: Five steps that have been taken to protect the wildlife in India:

Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, an All India list of protected species was published. The thrust was on protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by –
banning hunting,
giving legal protection to their habitats and
restricting trade in wildlife.
Many wildlife sanctuaries have been developed and National Parks have been set up.
Many projects have been started for protecting specific animals which were gravely threatened, eg. Project Tiger, One-horned Rhino, the Kashmir Stag (hangul), three types of crocodiles —the fresh water, salt-water and Gharials, the Asiatic Lion, etc.
Most recently, some animals have been given full or partial legal protection against hunting and trading throughout India, eg., Indian elephant, black buck, great Indian bustard and the snow leopard, etc.
Setting up of biosphere reserves for conserving flora and fauna in their natural surroundings and protection of wetland ecosystems is another step taken in this direction.

Question 9. Which agency manages forests in India? Name three broad categories in which the forests are classified.

Answer: The forests in India are owned and managed by the Government through the Forest Department. They are classified under the following categories:

Reserved Forests
Protected Forests
Unclassed Forests

Question 10. What are ‘Permanent Forest Estates’ and why? Which state has maximum forest cover falling under this category? Write its percentage share in the total forest area of this state.

Answer: Reserved and protected forests are referred to as the Permanent Forest Estates maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce.

Madhya Pradesh has the largest area under permanent forests, constituting 75% of its total forest area.

Question 11. Give some facts and figures about the water resources in the world.

Answer:

96.5 per cent of the total volume of world’s water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent exists as fresh water.
70 per cent of the fresh water occurs as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland and the mountainous regions of the world. Less than 30% is stored as groundwater in the world’s acquifiers.

Question 12. Explain how water becomes a renewable resource?

Answer:

Fresh water is mainly obtained from surface run off and ground water. This is continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle.
All the water moves within the hydrological cycle making water a renewable resource.

Question 13. What percentage of global precipitation does India receive?

Answer: India receives nearly 4 per cent of the global precipitation.

Question 14. Where is India ranked in terms of water availability per person per annum? By what year will India join countries having absolute water scarcity?

Answer: India ranks 133 in the world in terms of water availability per person per annum. By 2025, large parts of India will join countries having absolute water scarcity.

Question 15. Give an estimate of India’s renewable water resources.

Answer: The total renewable water resources of India are estimated at 1897 sq km per annum.

Check out: CBSE Class 10 Real Feel Sample Papers

Question 16. Write four points to stress the importance of agriculture in India. (2013)

Or, Why is India called an agriculturally important country? Write four supportive arguments.

Or, ‘Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian Economy’ Explain the statement by giving reason. (2017 D)

Answer: India is an agricultural country because of the following reasons:

Two-third of its population is engaged in agricultural activities which provide livelihood.
Agriculture is a primary activity and produces most of the food and foodgrains that we consume.
It produces raw materials for our various industries, e.g., cotton textile and sugar industry.
Some agricultural products, like tea, coffee and spices, are exported and earn foreign exchange.
The share of agriculture in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be as high as 63% in 2001.

Question 17. Why do farming practices vary in different regions? Give three major reasons.

Answer: Three major reasons are:

Physical environment, i.e., relief, soil and climate.
Technological know-how.
Socio-cultural practices.

Question 18. Name some industries based on agricultural raw material.

Answer: Cotton Textile Industry and Sugar Industry.

Question 19. What factors does primitive subsistence farming depend on?

Answer: Factors:

Monsoons
Natural fertility of the soil
Suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.

Question 20. Write main characteristics of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.

Or, Write main characteristics of Primitive Subsistence Farming.

Answer:

This type of farming is practised in few pockets of India on small patches of land using primitive tools and family/community labour.
Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their families.
When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes.
Land productivity is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modem inputs.

Question 21. Define the term ‘mineral’.

Answer: Geologists define mineral as a “homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure.” They have physical and chemical properties by which they can be identified.

Question 22. Define the term ‘rock’.

Answer: Rocks are combinations or aggregates of minerals in varying proportions. Some rocks consist of a single mineral, e.g., limestone while most rocks consist of several minerals.

Question 23. Define the term ‘ore’.

Answer: The term ‘ore’ is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with other elements.

Question 24. Name the finest quality of iron ore.(2011 D)

Answer: Magnetite is the finest quality of iron ore.

Question 25. Orissa is the leading producer of which mineral?(2011 OD)

Answer: Manganese ore.

Check out: CBSE Class 10 Competency Based Question Bank

Question 26. What is manufacturing? To which sector of economy does it belong?

“The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing industries”. Support the statement with arguments. (2016 D)

Answer: Manufacturing. Production of goods in large quantities after processing from raw materials to more valuable products is called manufacturing.

Manufacturing belongs to secondary sector in which the primary materials are processed and converted into finished goods. The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of manufacturing industries.

Question 27. Write the importance of ‘manufacturing sector’ for our nation.

Or, “Manufacturing industry is considered the backbone of economic development of India.” Give reasons. (2015 OD, 2011 D)

Answer: Importance of manufacturing industries for India:

It helps in modernizing agriculture, which is the base of our economy.
It reduces heavy dependence on agricultural income by providing jobs in non-agricultural sectors.
Industrial development is necessary for eradication of poverty and unemployment because people get jobs and generate more income.
Export of manufactured goods expands trade and brings in much needed foreign exchange.
Industries bring riches faster to a nation because manufacturing changes raw materials into finished goods of a higher value, so industrial development brings prosperity to the country.

Question 28. “Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other, but move hand in hand.” Give arguments in favour of this statement. (2013 D)

Or, Explain with examples how industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture. (2015 D, 2012 OD)

Answer: Agriculture and industry in India are inseparable or interdependent on each other:

Agro-industries in India have boosted agriculture by raising its productivity.
Industries depend on agriculture for their raw materials, e.g. cotton textile industry.
Industries provide many agricultural inputs like irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, PVC pipes, machines and tools etc. to the farmers.
Manufacturing industries have assisted agriculturists to increase their production and also made the production processes very efficient.
Development of different modes of transport by industrial sector has not only helped farmers to obtain agricultural inputs but has also helped them trade their products.

Question 29. Write the contribution and present growth rate of manufacturing sector in national economy. Suggest measures to increase the industrial growth rate. (2011 OD)

Answer: The share of manufacturing sector has stagnated at 17% of GDP. The trend of growth rate over the last decade has been around 7% per annum. Since 2003, it has shown an increased growth rate of 9-10% per annum. The desired growth rate over the next decade is 12%. To attain this target, following steps can be taken:

Appropriate policy interventions by the government.
Renewed efforts by the industries to improve productivity.

Question 30. List the major factors which affect the location of an industry at a place. What is the key to the decision of ‘factory location’? (2011 D, 2011 OD, 2015 D)

Answer:

Raw material. Cheap and abundant availability of raw material. Industries which use heavy and perishable raw material have to be located close to the source of raw material.
Labour. Availability of cheap labour is necessary for keeping the cost of production low.
Power. Cheap and continuous supply of power is extremely necessary for continuity in the production process.
Capital. It is necessary for developing infrastructure, for the entire manufacturing process and for meeting manufacturing expenditure.
Banking and insurance facilities, favourable government policies are other factors which affect location of an industry.
The ‘key’ to the decision of a factory location is least cost so that the venture is profitable.

Question 31. Why is transportation necessary?

Answer: Transportation is necessary:

for the movement of goods and services from their supply location to demand location, i.e. to link production centres with consumption centres.
for the movement of people from one region to the other.
for carrying out trade at all levels.
to supply goods, resources, etc. from the surplus regions to deficient regions.
for supplying relief measures to the regions where some natural calamities strike.
for transporting raw materials from mining regions and farms to the industries, etc.
Efficient means of transport are the prerequisites for economic development of a nation.
Financial news subscriptions

Question 32. What do you understand by means of transport? Write three important domains of the earth which are covered by them.

Answer: Means of transport include all kinds of vehicles, trains, aeroplanes and ships. Means of transport are used for the movement of people, goods and services from one place to another. These are developed on three important domains of the earth, i.e., land, water and air. Based on these, transport can also be classified into land, water and air transport.

Question 33. Today the world has become a “global village”. Justify this statement.

Answer: Today the world has become a “large village” because of:

efficient and fast means of transport and
development of telecommunication and satellite communication systems.
These two functions, i.e. various means of transport and communication have reduced time and distance, have brought the world closer and the physical distances have become meaningless.
For example, now trading from local levels has been extended to the international level and even financial transactions can take place round the world in no time. All this has been made possible because of efficient and quick means of transport and communication.

Question 34. “Modern means of transport and communication serve as lifelines of our nation.” Justify this statement by giving supportive arguments.

“Efficient means of transport are prerequisites for the fast development of the country.” Express your views in favour of this statement. (2016 D, 2014 OD)

Answer: India is well linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size and diversities because of efficient means of transport and communication. They are rightly called the lifelines or arteries of a nation because:

Economic development of a country depends on the well developed and efficient means of transport and communication.
They are indispensable for movement of people, goods and services from one place to another.
They have contributed to socio-economic progress in many ways by connecting far flung areas of the country.
They have enriched all aspects of our lives — social, cultural, individual and economic.
They promote trade, tourism and business thus adding value to the economy.
Transport and communication have made possible international trade which is essential for every economy as no country is self-sufficient in all resources.
They link areas of production with consumption, i.e. agricultural farms are linked to the markets and industries.
They help in the balanced regional development of a country.
They play a very important role at the time of natural calamities, i.e., for providing relief measures.
Deficient areas can obtain resources from the regions of surplus, thereby making the interdependence among the regions possible.
They have added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comforts of life.

Question 35. Why do the movement of goods and services form one place to another require fast and efficient means of transport? Explain with examples.

Answer: Transport plays an important role in the economy. Because of transport raw materials reach the factory and finished products reach to the consumer. The pace of development of a country depends upon the production of goods and services as well as their movement over space. Today the world has converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport:

Good transport helps in quick carrying of raw materials from remote areas to the production centre and allows distribution of goods efficiently.
Transport helps in the development of communication. Various means of communication help us in interacting with other people in all the parts of the world. It has brought the world closer.
Transport like railways helps us in conducting various activities like business, sight seeing, pilgrimages, etc.
Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.
Water provides the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade.
Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport.
Thus, it is clear that there are many advantages of transportation and communication. These means help in the development of the country. So they are rightly called the lifelines of a nation and its economy.

Study Tips for CBSE Class 10 Geography

Scoring well in Class 10 Geography is achievable with proper preparation and consistent effort. Follow these simple and effective tips to get the good results:

1. Start with Your NCERT Textbook

The NCERT book is your most important resource for the exam. Read each chapter thoroughly and make sure you understand the key topics. Most questions in the Geography question paper Class 10 come directly from the NCERT. Focus on these important topics:

Resources and Development: Different types of resources, soil conservation techniques, and causes of land degradation.
Agriculture: Conditions for growing crops like rice, wheat, and sugarcane.
Minerals and Energy Resources: Key minerals found in India and the difference between conventional and non-conventional energy resources.
Lifelines of National Economy: Importance of transport, trade, and communication systems.

2. Focus on Important Questions of Geography Class 10

Some topics are repeated in exams and are essential for scoring well. These include:

Map-Based Questions: Locations of crops (like wheat and rice), major dams (such as Bhakra Nangal and Hirakud), and industries.
Definitions and Key Terms: Concepts like sustainable development, biodiversity, and soil erosion.
Case Studies: Conservation projects like rainwater harvesting and examples of multipurpose river valley projects.

To prepare better, practice using sample papers and the previous year’s Class 10 Geography question papers.

3. Practice Map Work Every Day

Map-based questions are an easy way to score marks, but they require regular practice. Focus on:

Major rivers, dams, and water bodies.
Crop-producing regions in India.
Soil types like black soil, alluvial soil, and red soil.
Use the maps in your NCERT book and mark the locations repeatedly until you remember them.

4. Make Notes for Quick Revision

While studying, write short notes on key points, definitions, and examples. These notes will be very useful during revision. For example:

Agriculture:

Rice: Requires high rainfall and warm temperatures.
Wheat: Grows well in cool climates with moderate rainfall.

Minerals and Energy Resources:

Coal is the main source of energy in India.
Solar and wind energy are important non-conventional resources.

5. Solve Sample Papers and Important Questions

Practising Geography important questions Class 10 from sample papers and previous years' is essential. It helps you understand the exam pattern and improves your confidence. Pay attention to:

Short answer questions that ask for definitions or examples.
Long answer questions requiring detailed explanations, like describing soil conservation methods or explaining the importance of transport systems.

6. Use Simple Diagrams and Flowcharts

Illustrate your answers with neat diagrams or flowcharts where needed. For example, draw diagrams to explain:

Water harvesting methods.
The stages of soil erosion or conservation. This improves your presentation and makes it easier for the examiner to understand your points.

7. Revise Regularly

Allocate time every week to revise what you’ve already studied. Start with the most important chapters and focus on topics that you find challenging. Revise map work daily so you don’t forget the locations.

8. Attempt Mock Tests

Once you’ve completed the syllabus, take timed mock tests to assess your preparation. Solving these tests will help you identify which topics need more focus.

9. Write Clear and Focused Answers

Write answers in points to keep them organised.
Highlight important terms and keywords.
Use maps or diagrams wherever relevant to support your answer.

10. Prepare for Exam Day

Start with map-based questions as they are easier to answer.
Manage your time wisely, and don’t spend too much time on any single question.
Review your answers before submitting the paper to ensure you haven’t missed anything important.

CBSE Class 10 Geography Important Questions FAQs

1. What is the date and time of the CBSE Class 10 Geography exam in 2025?

The Geography exam is scheduled for Monday, 24th February 2025, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

2. What are the most important chapters in Geography for Class 10?

Key chapters include:

Resources and Development
Agriculture
Minerals and Energy Resources
Lifelines of National Economy

3. How can I prepare for map-based questions in Geography?

Practise locating major rivers, crops, dams, soil types, and industries regularly. Use the maps in the NCERT book and attempt past years’ map-based questions.

4. Where can I find the latest CBSE Class 10 Geography syllabus?

The syllabus can be downloaded from the official CBSE website or from trusted educational platforms.

5. What are some common questions in the Geography exam?

Some common Geography important questions Class 10 include:

Describe the causes of soil erosion.
Explain the significance of water conservation.
What are the differences between conventional and non-conventional energy resources?

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