Population and Settlement Geography: Geography Optional Topic-wise Questions

Population and Settlement Geography Questions [Geography Optional] : 1986-2025

1. Write short note on Demographic transition. (1986)
2. Define the urban sphere of influences and discuss different methods of determining the spheres of influence of cities. (1986)
3. Give an account of the existing distributional pattern of population in the world and give your assessment regarding the importance of geographical factors for such a pattern. (1987)
4. Write short note: Classification of cities. (1989)
5. Examine the causes of the international migrations of the last 50 years or so and the socio- economic and political problems generated by them. (1990)
6. Enumerate the different models of the internal structure of cities. Choose one of them and discuss it in its application to a particular city. (1990)
7. Trace and account for the various trends of population growth in the world during the present century. (1991)
8. Citing suitable examples from India, explain the role of site and other physical factors in determining the types and patterns of rural settlements. (1992)
9. Discuss the major international streams of migration in the world in recent times and account for the relationship that exists between population pressure areas and migration prospects. (1993)
10. Define Umland and discuss, with specific examples, the criteria for its delimitation. (1993)
11. Write short note: Slums and squatter settlements. (1994)
12. Examine the theories about population control and explain the relative merits of these theories in limiting population growth. (1995)
13. Write short note: Growth of population and food resources of the world. (1996)
14. Write short note: Rural- urban fringe. (1997)
15. “Water is a scarce resource in plenty. “Comment and discuss its importance in the balanced habitat development. Support your answer with examples from Asia. (1997)
16. Write short note: Primate city. (1999)
17. Bring out the contrast between the internal structure of the pre-industrial and industrial cities. (1999)
18. Short note: Rank- Size Rule. (2000)
19. Discuss the causes and consequences of population migration in the world. (2000)
20. Write short note: Concept of optimum population. (2001)
21. Examine the concept of sphere of urban influence and discuss the qualitative and quantitative methods used in its delimitation. (2003)
22. Write short note: Concept of primate city. (2005)
23. In urban geography, what are the concepts of primate city and Rank Size Rule? Discuss in detail. (2006)
24. Write short note: Delineation of Urban Fringe. (2007)
25. Give an account of the functional bases of central place hierarchy. (2007)
26. Write a note on the parameters used to describe the demographic transitions in the developing countries like India. (2007)
27. Write short note on primate cities. (2008)
28. Discuss the social and economic theories of population growth. (2008)
29. Elaborate the concept of Megalopolis and discuss the characteristics and problems related to two such regions selecting one each from North America and Europe. (2009)
30. Write short explanatory note on Optimum population. (2010)
31. “Huge populations of developing countries are not a curse. These may be and also are an asset’ if situations are properly managed.” Elaborate on this assertion. (2010)
32. Write short explanatory note on Secondary cities in the context of urbanization in developing world. (2011)
33. Write short note on Relevance of distance decay principle in Indian cities. (2012)
34. Write short note on Impact of migration on urban demography. (2012)
35. Write short note on Similarities in the population distribution of southern continents and reasons for the same. (2012)
36. Write short note on Status of infant mortality rate in the world. (2012)
37. “Though 70% of Indian population is rural, urban planning is crucial to the development of India “Discuss. (2012)
38. Answer the following: Impact of changing fertility ratio on world population distribution. (2012)
39. Answer the following: “Colonial forces resulted in the most Southeast Asian count- tries.” Discuss. (2012)
40. Answer the following: Regional shifts in the world urbanization after 1950 and the varied characteristics of urban process. (2012)
41. Write short note: Mishra’s theoretical stages of Rural-Urban process. (2013)
42. What are Geriatrics? What are the problems associated with Geriatric population? (2013)
43. “Urban Geography is nothing but city “in” area and city “as” area.” Elaborate. (2013)
44. Discuss the factors responsible for counter- urbanisation. (2014)
45. Discuss Nelson’s method of functional classification of towns. (2015)
46. Cortication examine the theories on population migration. (2015)
47. Discuss the role of site in determining the types and patterns of rural settlements. (2016)
48. Describe the regional pattern of Life Expectancy in the world and bring out the challenges faced by developing countries due to increasing life expectancy. (2016)
49. Examine the causes and consequences of forced migration of population in the present context. (2017)
50. “There are considerable demographic similarities between West European nations and Japan.” Explain. (2017)
51. Define the quality of life and explain its parameters with adequate examples. (2017)
52. Explain the concept of social capital in relation to India. (2017)
53. Explain the concepts of “megalopolis” and “exopolis” with regard to the growth of cities indicating whether the two can and do overlap. (2018)
54. Citing examples from Asia and Europe, comment upon the contexts within which pro natalist population policies are advanced what could be the implications of these policies on women’s workforce participation. (2018)
55. Comment upon the contributions of D.M Smith in outlining „welfare as a key focus in the geographies of social well-being. (2018)
56. Explain the relationship between net reproductive rate (NRR) and true replacement level of population. (2019)
57. What do you mean by ‘climate migrants’? Suggest appropriate policies and programmes for their resettlement. (2019)
58. Assess the challenges for countries with the largest shares of aged populations. (2019)
59. Distinguish between mobility and migration. What are the causes and consequences of rural to urban migration in India? (2020)
60. “Where economic growth is sustained over long time periods, its incidence works towards a progressive integration of the space economy.” Elucidate. (2020)
61. Write an essay on gender equity and equality in India in the context of balanced human development. (2020)
62. Provide an account of world population transition in the context of fertility decline and socio-economic development. (2020)
63. Examine the relevance of the Central Place Theory of Christaller in the present context. (2021)
64. Small number of mega-cities are playing a key role in organization of global economics and culture. Explain. (2021)
65. Examine the morphological factors that influence the origin and growth of town. (2022)
66. Over crowding leads to chronic problem of shortage of housing in Indian cities” Explain citing relevant examples. (2022)
67. How migration is affected by push and pull factors? Explain how these factors play/ a role in understanding new settlement patterns. (2022)
68. Human migration is a reflection of the balance between push and pull factors. Elaborate with reference to the most recent diaspora. (2023)
69. Explain the problems and prospects of urban expansion in the context of urban fringe in developed and developing nations. (2023)
70. What is the relation between gender equity and human development? Provide a list of commonly used gender related indices. (2023)
71. “Rural settlements are expressions of the basic relationships between human beings and their physical and social environment.” (2023)
72. Central Business Districts (CBDs) are in decline as the economic core of metropolitan cities. Critically examine. (2024)
73. The urbanisation process is particularly pronounced in Asia and Africa, where too many urban residents grapple with extreme poverty, exclusion, vulnerability and marginalisation. Discuss. (2024)
74. What is Transnationalism? Why has the scale and scope of transnational linkages of diaspora multiplied in recent times? (2024)
75. “In developed countries, migration rather than fertility will be the main driver of population dynamics over the next few decades.” Examine the statement. (2024)
76. Factors in internal migration are often based on perceptions rather than reality. Explain. (2025)
77. Critically evaluate the role of primate cities in dominating the urban spheres of influence in developing countries. (2025)
78. “The global demographic landscape is evolving with rapid population growth in some places and rapid ageing in others.” Elucidate with examples. (2025)
79. Analyze the role of demographic transition theory in explaining variations in fertility and mortality rates globally. (2025)