SSC CHSL 2025 PYQ — Question 99

The correct answer is Option 3: Both I and II.
Explanation:

• The form and type of rural settlements in India depend on several factors. Primarily, they can be categorized into three groups:
• Statement I (Physical Features): These play the most significant role in determining the nature of rural settlements.
• Physiography: Settlements tend to be *clustered* in plain regions, whereas they are *dispersed* in hilly areas.
• Climate and Water Availability: In the arid regions of India (such as Rajasthan), settlements tend to concentrate near water sources.
• Altitude: Elevation and slope influence the structure of houses and their spatial distribution.
• Statement II (Social Structure): In a diverse country like India, social factors influence the internal layout of settlements.
• Caste and Religion: It is frequently observed that in villages, people belonging to different castes or communities reside in separate neighborhoods or clusters.
• Security: In earlier times, social groups would band together to establish defensive settlements in order to protect themselves from theft or external invasions.

Major Types of Rural Settlements in India (Quick Revision):

• Clustered Settlements: A compact cluster of houses, primarily found in fertile alluvial plains.
• Semi-clustered Settlements: Occurs when a specific section of a large village segregates itself to form a distinct, separate settlement.
• Hamleted Settlements: Occurs when a settlement fragments into several smaller units (known locally as *Para*, *Panna*, *Pali*, *Nangla*, or *Dhani*). This pattern is common in Rajasthan and the Middle Ganga Plains.
• Dispersed or Isolated Settlements: Houses situated far apart from one another, typically found in hilly regions, forests, or grasslands. Important Questions for Upcoming Examinations:

Question: In which Indian state is 'Dhani' primarily a type of rural settlement?
Answer: Rajasthan.
Question: What type of settlements are primarily found in the Gangetic Plains?
Answer: Clustered Settlements.
Question: In determining the types of rural settlements, to which category of factors does 'security' belong?
Answer: Cultural and Security Factors.