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UPSC Prelims 2000 · Indian Geography · People and Settlements
Consider the following statements about the megacities of India: Which of these statements are correct?
- Population of each megacity is more than 5 million.
- All the megacities are important sea-ports.
- Megacities are either national or state capitals.
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 1 and 2
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) 1 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) 1 and 3
Statements 1 and 3 are right.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT All the megacities of the time had more than 5 million people.
2. ✗ WRONG Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are not sea-ports.
3. ✓ CORRECT Delhi (national) and Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad (State capitals).
The idea
City size, port function and capital status are separate characteristics. A large inland city can be a major economic centre without a seaport. Read the size category in its historical exam setting, because the cutoff used for “megacity” can differ between classifications.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Delhi is not a port.
(b) Delhi is not a port.
(c) Delhi is not a port.
The trap
The three oldest megacities are ports, which makes “all” feel right.
Elimination technique
Delhi provides a clear counterexample to “all are sea-ports”. Rejecting statement 2 removes (a), (b) and (c), leaving (d); the remaining statements should be read in the question’s historical classification.
Also know
The UN commonly uses ten million residents for a megacity; a million-plus city is a smaller category. Port location reflects coastal or navigable-river access, while capital location reflects administration. Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata illustrate port cities, but Delhi illustrates a large inland capital.
🔒 Megacity (UN) = 10 million+. India: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata (2011).
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