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Home » Class 12 Geography Notes in English » Human Settlements (Ch-2) Notes in English || Class 12 Geography Book 2 Chapter 2 in English ||

Human Settlements (Ch-2) Notes in English || Class 12 Geography Book 2 Chapter 2 in English ||

Posted on 28/02/2025 by Anshul Gupta

Chapter – 2

Human Settlements

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Geography Book 2 Chapter 2 (Human Settlements) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

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BoardCBSE Board, UP Board, JAC Board, Bihar Board, HBSE Board, UBSE Board, PSEB Board, RBSE Board
TextbookNCERT
ClassClass 12
SubjectGeography Book 2
Chapter no.Chapter 2
Chapter Name(Human Settlements)
CategoryClass 12 Geography Book 2 Notes in English
MediumEnglish

Class 12 Geography Book 2 Chapter 2 Human Settlements in English
Explore the topics
  • Chapter – 2
  • Human Settlements
  • Chapter 2: Human Settlements
    • What is a Human Settlement?
    • Types of Settlements
    • Differences between Rural and Urban Settlements
    • Types of Rural Settlements in India
    • Factors affecting Rural Settlement Patterns
    • Urban Settlements
    • Definition of Urban Settlement (Census of India 1991)
    • Evolution of Towns in India
    • Urbanization in India
    • Functional Classification of Towns
    • Smart Cities Mission
  • More Important Links

Chapter 2: Human Settlements

What is a Human Settlement?

  • A human settlement is any place where people live and interact with each other and their environment.  
  • Settlements can be temporary or permanent, ranging from a small camp of nomads to a megacity with millions of residents.  
  • The process of settlement involves people establishing a place to live and utilizing the surrounding area for resources and economic activities.  

Types of Settlements

  • Rural Settlements:
    • Typically, smaller and less densely populated than urban settlements.  
    • The majority of the population is engaged in primary activities, such as agriculture, fishing, forestry, or mining.  
    • Often characterized by strong community ties and a close relationship with the natural environment.  
  • Urban Settlements:
    • Larger and more densely populated than rural settlements.  
    • The economy is based on secondary activities (manufacturing, processing) and tertiary activities (services, trade, administration).  
    • Offer a wider range of amenities and services, such as education, healthcare, and cultural institutions.  
    • Social interactions are often more formal and less personal than in rural areas.  

Differences between Rural and Urban Settlements

Feature

Rural Settlements

Urban Settlements

Economic Base

Primary activities (agriculture, mining)

Secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services) activities

Population Density

Low

High

Social Relations

Intimate and close-knit

Formal and less personal

Way of Life

Simple and slow-paced

Complex and fast-paced

Environment

Closely connected to nature

More built-up and artificial

Infrastructure

Limited access to amenities and services

Well-developed infrastructure and services

 

Types of Rural Settlements in India

  • Clustered: Houses are close together, often in a recognizable pattern (rectangular, radial, linear). Common in fertile plains and northeastern states.  
  • Semi-clustered: Settlement is fragmented, often due to social or ethnic factors. One or more sections of society live away from the main cluster. Common in Gujarat and Rajasthan.  
  • Hamleted: Several units physically separated but sharing a common name. Often motivated by social and ethnic factors. Common in the middle and lower Ganga plain, Chhattisgarh, and lower valleys of the Himalayas.  
  • Dispersed: Isolated huts or hamlets in remote areas. Caused by fragmented terrain and limited habitable areas. Common in Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala.  

Factors affecting Rural Settlement Patterns

  • Physical: Terrain, altitude, climate, water availability  
  • Cultural/Ethnic: Social structure, caste, religion  
  • Security: Defence against theft and robbery  
  • Economic: Availability of resources and livelihood opportunities  

Urban Settlements

  • Compact and larger than rural settlements.  
  • Non-agricultural activities: Manufacturing, services, administration.  
  • Linked to surrounding rural areas: Exchange of goods and services.  
  • Urban centres provide:
    • Employment opportunities
    • Education and healthcare facilities
    • Cultural and recreational activities
    • Administrative and governance functions

Definition of Urban Settlement (Census of India 1991)

  • Minimum population of 5,000.  
  • 75% of male workers in non-agricultural activities.  
  • Population density of at least 400 people per square kilometer.  

Evolution of Towns in India

  • Ancient Towns: Developed as religious and cultural centres (e.g., Varanasi, Prayag).  
  • Medieval Towns: Headquarters of kingdoms and fort towns (e.g., Delhi, Hyderabad).  
  • Modern Towns: Developed by Europeans as trading ports and administrative centres (e.g., Mumbai, Chennai).  

Urbanization in India

  • Level of urbanization: Percentage of the urban population to the total population.  
  • India’s urbanization level in 2011: 31.16% (low compared to developed countries).  
  • Urban population growth: Increased eleven-fold during the 20th century.  
  • Recent growth rate: Slowed down in the last two decades.  
  • Factors contributing to urbanization:
    • Industrialization
    • Economic development
    • Migration from rural to urban areas
    • Improved transportation and communication

Functional Classification of Towns

  • Administrative Towns:
    • These towns primarily serve as administrative centers for larger regions.  
    • They house government offices, headquarters of various departments, and seats of political power.  
    • Examples include Chandigarh, New Delhi, and Bhopal, which are the capital cities of their respective states/territories.  
  • Industrial Towns:
    • These towns have a strong industrial base and are known for manufacturing and production activities.  
    • They attract industries due to factors like access to raw materials, labor, and transportation networks.  
    • Examples include Mumbai, Jamshedpur (known for steel production), and Bhilai (known for iron and steel production).  
  • Transport Towns:
    • These towns play a crucial role in transportation networks, facilitating the movement of goods and people.  
    • They may be port cities involved in import and export activities, like Kandla and Kochi.  
    • They can also be inland transport hubs, like Agra, which connects various parts of northern India.  
  • Commercial Towns:
    • These towns specialize in trade and commerce, serving as centers for buying and selling goods.  
    • They often have well-developed marketplaces, financial institutions, and business infrastructure.  
    • Kolkata, a major trading hub in eastern India, is an example of a commercial town.  
  • Mining Towns:
    • These towns develop in mineral-rich areas and are associated with the extraction and processing of minerals.  
    • Raniganj and Jharia, known for coal mining, are examples of mining towns.  
  • Garrison/Cantonment Towns:
    • These towns are established as military bases or centers for defense purposes.  
    • They house military personnel, barracks, and training facilities.  
    • Ambala and Jalandhar, with their significant military presence, are examples of garrison/cantonment towns.  
  • Educational Towns:
    • These towns are known for their educational institutions, attracting students and scholars.  
    • They often have a concentration of universities, colleges, and research centers.  
    • Roorkee, home to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), and Varanasi, with its renowned Banaras Hindu University (BHU), are examples of educational towns.  
  • Religious/Cultural Towns:
    • These towns hold religious or cultural significance and attract pilgrims and tourists.  
    • They may have famous temples, shrines, historical sites, or cultural events.  
    • Varanasi, Mathura, and Amritsar, with their important religious sites, are examples of religious/cultural towns.  
  • Tourist Towns:
    • These towns are popular tourist destinations, offering scenic beauty, historical attractions, or recreational activities.  
    • Nainital and Mussoorie, known for their hill stations, and Shimla, a popular tourist spot in the Himalayas, are examples of tourist towns.

Smart Cities Mission

  • Objective: Promote sustainable and inclusive development with core infrastructure and a clean environment.  
  • Focus: Compact areas with replicable models.  
  • Key features:
    • Smart solutions for infrastructure and services
    • Disaster resilience
    • Efficient use of resources
    • Affordable services

We hope that class 12 Geography Book 2 Chapter 2 Human Settlements notes in English helped you. If you have any query about class 12 Geography Book 2 Chapter 2 Human Settlements notes in English or about any other notes of class 12 Geography Book 2 in English, so you can comment below. We will reach you as soon as possible…

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