UPSC Mains 2020 GS1 Q7 — Industrial Location Factors
Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples. (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Account for
- Scope keywords
- present locationiron and steel industriesaway from the source of raw materialgiving examples
- Implicit sub-parts
- The traditional 'Weberian' model (weight-losing nature of raw materials) and why it is being superseded.
- Technological shifts such as Electric Arc Furnaces and the use of scrap metal as input.
- The role of market-based location and port-based (coastal) development in the globalized era.
- Case studies of specific industrial hubs that are distant from coal or iron ore mines.
- Common pitfalls
- Spending too much time describing the history of the iron and steel industry rather than the 'present' shift.
- Focusing only on India; the question is global in scope and needs international examples like Japan or coastal China.
- Failing to mention specific modern drivers like transport cost reduction, mini-steel plants, and the 'Market proximity' factor.
- Neglecting the role of government policy and strategic coastal locations (Import-Export orientation).
- Dimensions required
- Geographical (spatial distribution)Technological (manufacturing processes)Economic (transportation and logistics cost)Environmental (recycling and scrap usage)Global Trade (port-led industrialization)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 30 words on the transition from 'raw material' to 'market/coastal' orientation. Dedicate 90 words to 4-5 specific reasons (technology, scrap, transport, markets) with integrated examples like Tokyo-Yokohama or Vizag. Use the final 30 words to conclude on the future of decentralised 'mini-steel plants' near urban consumption centers.
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