Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Most workers in Indian factories in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries came from the rural districts surrounding the industrial centres. Peasants and artisans who could not find work in villages migrated to cities in search of employment.

Two regions from which workers migrated:

1. Ratnagiri – Over 50% of workers in Bombay's cotton mills in 1911 came from this neighbouring district.
2. United Provinces – Workers from here travelled to textile mills in Bombay and jute mills in Calcutta.

Workers often maintained ties with their villages, returning home during harvests and festivals.

Source: Chapter 4, Section 4.2 — Where Did the Workers Come From?

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The examiner expects: (1) the general answer — workers came from nearby rural districts/villages (1 mark), and (2) two named regions with brief context (1 mark each). Ratnagiri and United Provinces are directly named in the textbook, so use these exact names. Kanpur's surrounding villages can also be cited as an alternative. Avoid vague answers like "villages" without naming specific regions, as that will lose marks. The detail about seasonal migration back to villages adds quality but is not mandatory for full marks.