Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Manufacturing industries are considered the backbone of economic development because:

1. Modernises agriculture — Industries supply farmers with irrigation pumps, fertilisers, pesticides, and machines, raising agricultural productivity.
2. Reduces unemployment and poverty — Industrial development generates jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors, reducing dependence on agriculture.
3. Removes regional disparities — Setting up industries in tribal and backward areas helps balanced regional development.
4. Earns foreign exchange — Export of manufactured goods expands trade and brings in much-needed foreign exchange.
5. Increases national prosperity — Countries that transform raw materials into finished goods of higher value become prosperous.

Source: Importance of Manufacturing, Chapter 6

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Examiners expect 3 distinct, well-labelled points for 3 marks. Each point should be brief but complete — one sentence is enough per point. Avoid copying long sentences from the textbook; paraphrase crisply. The key terms (foreign exchange, regional disparities, modernising agriculture) must appear as they are standard CBSE keywords that fetch marks.