7. Lifelines of National Economy

NCERT questions:

1. Multiple choice questions:

(i) Which two of the following extreme locations connected by the east west corridor?

a) Mumbai and Nagpur

b) Silcher and Porbander

c) Mumbai and Kolkatta

d) Nagpur and Siliguri

Ans. b) Silcher and Porbander

(ii) Which mode of transport reduces trans-shipment losses and delays?

a) Railways

b) Roadways

c) Pipeline

d) Waterways

Ans. c) Pipelines

(iii) Which one of the following states is not connected with the HVJ pipeline?

a) Madhya Pradesh

b) Maharashtra

c) Gujarat

d) Uttar Pradesh

Ans. b) Maharashtra

(iv) Which one of the following ports is the deepest landlocked and well protected port along the east coast?

a) Chennai

b) Paradwip

c) Tuticorin

d) Vishakhapatnam

Ans. d) Vishakhapatnam

(v) Which one of the following are the most important modes of transportation in India?

a) Pipelines

b) Railways

c) Roadways

d) Airways

Ans. b) Railways

(vi) Which one of the following term is used to describe trade between two or more countries?

a) Internal trade

b) International trade

c) External trade

d) Local trade

Ans. b) International Trade

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words:

(i) State the merits of roadways.

 Ans. The growing importance of road transport is rooted in the following reasons:

a) The construction cost of roadways is much lower than that of the railways.

b) Its maintenance is also cheap and easy.

c) Roads can be built in mountainous areas. The roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and relating topography.

d) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.

e) Road transport is economical in the transportation of a few persons under relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances.

f) It provides door to door service that result in a lower cost of loading and unloading.

g) It is used as a feeder to other modes of transport, such as they provide a link between railway station, air and seaports.

h) Road transport connects fields with markets and factories.

i) Road transport is useful for the transport of perishable commodities.

 (ii) Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation?

Ans.

a) Railways can transport larger number of goods and passenger over long distances at an economical cost.

b) Hence, railways are the most convenient means of transport in the vast northern plains of India.

c) The flat terrain dense population, rich agricultural resources and greater industrial activity have favoured the development of railways in this region.

d) The northern plains therefore have the densest railway network.

e) Railways have accelerated the development of industry and agriculture in this region. By providing quick availability of raw materials and distributing the finished products to the markets.

f) However, in spite of the fact that railways is the most convenient means of transportation in northern plains, a large number of rivers requiring construction of bridges across their wide beds have posed some obstacles.

(iii) What is the significance of border roads?

Ans. The significance of border roads is as mentioned below

a) The border roads are vital road link along the frontiers of our country.

b) These roads are of strategic importance.

c) These roads have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain, mainly in the northern and north-eastern border areas.

d) They have played a major role in the economic development of these areas.

e) These roads are constructed and maintained by the Border Roads organization, a Government of India undertaking which was established in 1960.

(iv) What is meant by trade? What is the difference between international and local trade?

Ans. The exchange of goods among people, states and countries is known as a trade.

3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words

(i) Why means of transport and communication is called the lifelines of a nation and its economy.

Ans.

a) Today we are living in the age of communication using the telephone, television, films and the internet.

b) Even books, magazines and newspapers are important means of communication.

c) Various means of transport and communication have reduced distances, bringing the world closer.

d) Modern life is so complex that one has to depend on others. The same is true of the countries as well.

e) No country today can prosper without the cooperation and assistance of others.

f) This requires the movement of goods and materials between countries. Trade provides us with our necessities and also adds to the amenities and comfort to our life.

g) We may also notice that they are rightly called the lifelines of our national economy.

(ii)  Write a note on the changing nature of international trade in the last 15 years.

Ans.

a) The nature of international trade in the last 15 years has changed due to globalization. Earlier, bilateral agreements were made to conduct trade between two countries.

b) But through globalization and effort has been made to integrate national economies with the world economy.

c) Now producers from outside countries can sell their goods and services in other countries.

d) Globalization includes the movement of capital as well as workers from one country to another country.

e) The restrictions on the import of goods have been removed under World Trade.

f) The organization efforts are being made to have multilateral agreements for international trade.

g) WTO is regulating the international trade of goods as well as services.

h) Thus international trade has undergone sea change.

i) The export of agriculture and allied products, ores, minerals, gems, jewellery, chemicals and allied products, engineering goods and petroleum products have increased.

j) On the other hand, import of petroleum and petroleum products, pearls and precious stones, inorganic chemicals, coal, coke, have increased too.

k) The exchange of commodities and goods has been superseded by the exchange of information and knowledge.

l) India has emerged as a software giant at the international level. It is earning large foreign exchange through the export of information technology because of its fast growing business process outsourcing sector, BPO, etc.

CBSE Questions:

(From the previous year board papers)

1. Which two cities are connected by the east-west corridor?

Ans. Porbandar in Gujarat and Silchar in Assam are connected by the East West corridor.

2. ‘Transport and communication are complementary to each other’. Support the statement.

Or

Why are efficient means of transport and communication pre-requisites for the development of the country?

Or

‘Dense and efficient network of transport is a pre-requisites for local and national development’. Analyse the statement.

Ans.

a) The movement of goods and services from their supply locations to demand locations necessities the need for transport.

b) The pace of development of a country works upon the production of goods and services as well as their movement over space.

c) Therefore, efficient means of transport are prerequisite for fast development.

d) Today, India is well linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size, diversity and linguistic, and socio cultural plurality.

e) Railways, Airways, waterways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema, Internet etc. have been contributing to its socio economic progress in many ways.

f) The traders from local to international levels have added to the vitality of its economy.

g) It has enriched our life and added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comfort of life.

3. Explain the importance of railways as the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.

Ans.

a) Railways are principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.

b) Railways also make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, site seeing pilgrimage along with transportation of goods over longer distances.

c) Apart from an important means of transport, the Indian Railways have been a great integrating force for more than 150 years.

d) Railways in India bind the economic life of country as well as accelerate the development of industry and agriculture.

e) Other than this the trains like Vande Bharat and other fast moving trains. Have also accelerated the economic growth of India.

f) Today railway is divided into 18 zones for the efficient services.

4. ‘Roadways have an edge over railways’. Justify the statement.

Ans. In India, roadways have preceded railways. They still have an edge over railways in view of the ease with which they can be built and maintain. The growing importance of road transport in which rail transport is routed is in the following reasons:

a) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines.

b) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography.

c) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.

d) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances.

e) It also provides door to door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower.

f) Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport, such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and seaports.

5. Describe the different types of roads in India.

Ans. In India the roads are classified in six different groups according to their capacity.

Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways:

a) The government has launched a major road development project linking Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi by 6 lane super highways.

b) The North South corridor linking Srinagar, (Jammu and Kashmir) and Kanyakumari, (Tamil Nadu) And East West corridor connecting Silchar ( Assam) and Porbandar, (Gujarat) are part of this project.

c) The major objective of these superhighways is to reduce the time and distance between the mega cities of India.

d) These highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India, (NHAI).

National Highways:

a) National highways link extreme parts of the country.

b) These are the primary roads systems and are laid and maintained by the Central Public Works Department, (CPWD).

c) The historical Shershah Suri Marg is called National Highway No. 1 between Delhi and Amritsar.

State Highways:

1. a) Roads linking state capital with different districts headquarters are known as state highways. These roads are constructed and maintained by State Public Works Department, (PWD) in State and Union Territories.

District roads:

1. a) These roads connect the district headquarters with other places of the district. These roads are maintained by Zilla Parishad.

Other roads:

1. a) Rural roads which link rural areas and villages with towns are classified under this category.
2. b) These roads receive special status under the Pradhanmantri Grameen Sadak Yojana.
3. c) These are all season motor able road.

Border roads:

1. a) Border Roads Organization Government of India undertaking constructs and maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country.
2. b) Since 1960 these roads have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain and have help in the economic development of these areas.

6. Write about Kandla and Vishakhapatnam as important sea ports.

Ans.

1. a) Kandla: is a tidal port. It caters the convenient handling of exports and imports of highly productive greenery and industrial belt stretching across the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
2. b) Visakhapatnam: Is the deepest landlocked and well protected port. This port was originally conceived as an outlet for iron ore exports.

7. Describe some features of waterways in India.

Ans. Since time immemorial India was one of the seafaring countries. Its sea men sailed far and near, thus carrying and spreading Indian commerce and culture.

Waterways being the cheapest means of transport are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods. It is a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transport. India has inland navigation waterways as well as overseas.

The important inland waterways of India are:

1. a) The Ganga River between Prayagraj and Haldia NW No. 1
2. b) The Brahmaputra River between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km) NW No. 2
3. c) The West Coast Canal in Kerala (Kottapurum-Komman, Udyogamandal and Champakaran canals 205 km)

8. Why was the Haldia seaport setup?

Ans. Haldia Port was developed as a subsidiary board in order to relieve growing pressure on the Kolkata port.

9. How has information technology affected electronic industry? Explain.

Ans.

1. a) Ever since humans appeared on the Earth, they have used different means of communication.
2. b) In order to strengthen the flow of information from the grass root to the higher level, the government has made special provisions to extend 24 hours facility to every corner of the country.
3. c) Today, the Internet is playing an important role enriching the different parts of the country.
4. d) Every corner of the country is connected through Internet.
5. e) People are connected with the different types of broadcast. It may be doordarshan or the national television channel, or the number of other channels.
6. f) They are helping in the largest terrestrial network in the world. They broadcast a variety of programs from entertainment educational to sports etc. for people of different age groups.

10. Explain the difference between first class mail and the second class mails.

Ans.

a) The Indian postal network is the largest in the world. It handles parcels as well as personal return communications cards and envelopes are considered first class male and are airlifted between stations covering both land and air.

b) The second class Mail, includes book packets registered newspapers and periodicals.

c) They are carried by surface mail covering land and water transport.

d) To facilitate with delivery of mails in large towns and cities 6 male channels have been introduced named as Rajdhani channel, Metro channel, Green channel and business channel and bulk mail channel and periodical channel.

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