Cheatsheet: Life Lines of National Economy | Social Studies (SST) Class 10 PDF Download

Importance of Transport and Communication

• Essential for producing and moving goods and services across regions.
• Efficient transport and communication drive economic growth and global trade.
• Connects India globally, boosting trade and improving quality of life.

Types of Transport

• Land Transport: Roads, railways, pipelines.
• Water Transport: Inland waterways, sea ports.
• Air Transport: Domestic and international airways.

Expansion of Trade and Transport

• Early trade was local; science and technology made it global.
• Fast transport systems make the world a "global village."
• Transport and communication work together for smooth trade.

Roadways

India’s Road Network: Second largest globally.

Advantages Over Railways:

• Cheaper to build and maintain.
• Can navigate hilly, uneven terrains (e.g., Himalayas).
• Ideal for short distances and small loads.
• Door-to-door service; connects to railways, airports, and ports.

Classification of Roads

Challenges:

• Inadequate road network for traffic volume.
• Many roads are unmetalled, unusable in rainy seasons.
• Congested city roads; old, narrow bridges and culverts.

Railways

Significance:

• Principal mode for freight and passengers.
• Supports business, tourism, pilgrimage, and long-distance goods transport.
• Integrates India’s economy and boosts industry and agriculture.
• Network: 7,031 stations, 63,221 km route, 7,817 locomotives, 228,170 wagons (as of 31st March).
• Railway Zones: Organized into 16 zones for efficient management.

Factors Affecting Railway Distribution

Pipelines

Purpose: Transport crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, and slurried solids.

Advantages:

• High initial cost but low running costs.
• No trans-shipment losses or delays.

Major Pipeline Networks

Waterways

• Advantages: Cheapest, fuel-efficient, eco-friendly; ideal for heavy, bulky goods.
• Inland Waterways: 14,500 km total, only 3,700 km navigable by mechanized boats.

National Waterways

• Other Waterways: Mandavi, Zuari, Cumberjua, Sunderbans, Barak, Kerala backwaters.

Major Sea Ports

• India’s Coastline: 7,516.6 km; 12 major, 181 medium/minor ports.
• Role: Handle 95% of India’s foreign trade.

Airways

Significance:

• Fastest, most comfortable, prestigious mode.
• Covers difficult terrains (mountains, deserts, forests, oceans).
• Vital for northeastern India due to challenging geography.
• Nationalization: Air transport nationalized in 1953.
• Services: Indian Airlines, Alliance Air, private airlines, non-scheduled operators.
• Pawanhans Helicopters: Serves ONGC, northeastern states, and remote areas (J&K, HP, Uttarakhand).

Communication

Types:

• Personal: Postal services, telephones, mobile phones.
• Mass: Radio, TV, newspapers, films.

Indian Postal Network

Largest in the World:

• Handles parcels and written communication.
• First-Class Mail: Cards, envelopes (airlifted).
• Second-Class Mail: Book packets, newspapers (surface mail).
• Mail Channels: Rajdhani, Metro, Green, Business, Bulk, Periodical Channels for quick delivery.

Telephone and Mobile

• Telephone: One of Asia’s largest networks; 24-hour STD facility in every village.
• Mobile Phones: Fastest-growing network; empowers small businesses (e.g., vendors, plumbers).

Mass Communication

• All India Radio (Akashvani): Broadcasts in national, regional, local languages.
• Doordarshan: Largest terrestrial TV network; offers entertainment, education, sports.
• Newspapers: Published in ~100 languages; Hindi leads, followed by English, Urdu.
• Films: India is the largest producer of feature films; certified by Central Board of Film Certification.

International Trade

• Definition: Trade between countries via sea, air, or land.
• Economic Barometer: Reflects a country’s prosperity.

Key Terms