Answer: Regional imbalance means unequal levels of development among different regions; in India it is caused by physical, historical, economic and social factors.
- Physical factors: difficult relief (hilly, forested, desert areas), uncertain rainfall and lack of natural resources keep some areas backward.
- Historical factors: during British rule, development was concentrated around ports and administrative centres such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
- Concentration of industries and investment: industries and private investment prefer already developed areas with infrastructure, markets and skilled labour.
- Infrastructure: unequal development of transport, power, irrigation and communication.
- Social factors: illiteracy, poverty, poor health and rapid population growth in some states.
- Political and administrative factors: poor governance, law and order problems and uneven implementation of plans.
For example, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are more developed than Bihar or Odisha, and within Maharashtra, the Mumbai–Pune region is more developed than Vidarbha and Marathwada.
