Q.1 “Efficient means of transport and communication has converted the world into a large village”.
Explain this statement with the help of examples.
OR
Explain why the means of transport and communication are called lifelines of our national economy?
OR
Explain why a dense and efficient network of transport and communication is a pre-requisite for local, national and global trade of today.
Ans.
a. Through transport and communication we are well-linked with the rest of the world
b. India is united despite its vast size, diversity and linguistic and socio-cultural plurality.
c. Railways, airways, water ways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet, etc. have been contributing to India’s socio-economic progress in many ways.
d. The trades from local to international levels have added to the strength of our economy.
e. It has enriched our life and added amenities and facilities for the comforts of life.
OR
a. They help in increasing cooperation and assistance between countries by easy movement of goods and material between countries.
b. They help in trade and commerce within country.
c. They have reduced distances thus bringing the world closer.
d. They help in both production and distribution of goods and movement of large number of people and over long distance.
e. They provide important links between producers and consumers of goods.
f. They bring people very close to one another by promoting interdependence among people.
Q.2 Why the importance of road transport vis-à-vis rail transport is growing in India?
Ans. In India, roadways have preceded railways. The growing importance of road transport is due to the following reasons –
i. Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines,
ii. Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography, R
iii. Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas,
iv. Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances,
v. It also provides door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower,
vi. Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports.
Q.3 Name Six classes of roads in India according to their capacity.
Ans. The six classifications of roads in India are:
i. Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways
ii. National Highways
iii. State Highways
iv. District Roads
v. Other Roads
vi. Border Roads
Q.4 What are super highways? Name 3 major super highway projects.
Ans. Super highways are six lane highways connecting major cities and ports of the country for speedy movement of goods and passengers. They are developed by NHAI for reducing time and distance. 3 super highways are:
1) Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: It links Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai- Mumbai and Delhi by six-lane Super Highways.
2) The North-South corridors linking Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) and Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu)
3) East-West Corridor connecting Silcher (Assam) and Porbander (Gujarat)
Q.5 What are national highways?
Ans. National highways link all major cities of extreme parts of the country. These are the primary road systems. They are maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
Q.6 What are state highways?
Ans. Roads linking a state capital with different district headquarters are known as State Highways. These roads are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in State and Union Territories.
Q.7 What are district roads?
Ans. Roads which connects the district headquarters with other places of the district are called district roads. These roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.
Q.8 What are rural roads?
Ans. Roads which link rural areas and villages with towns are classified as rural roads. Under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana scheme special provisions are made so that every village in the country is linked to a major town in the country by an all season motorable road.
Q.9 What are border roads? Mention its two importances.
Ans. Strategically important roads in the bordering areas of the country are called border roads. These roads are in the northern and northeastern border areas. Importance of Border roads: -
1) Border roads have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain.
2) They have helped in the economic development of border areas.
3) Used to supply military equipments to the borders of our country.
Q.10 State any four problems of Road transport in the country.
Ans. Major problems are:
i. Road transportation in India is inadequate keeping in view the volume of traffic and passengers.
ii. About half of the roads are un-mettal and this limits their usage during the rainy season.
iii. The National Highways are inadequate too.
iv. Moreover, the roadways are highly congested in cities
v. Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
Q.11 Describe the importance of Railways in India.
Ans. Indian Railways has been
i. The principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.
ii. Suitable for long distance travel.
iii. Conduct of multiple activities like business, sightseeing, and pilgrimage along with transportation of goods.
iv. Plays an important role of national integration.
v. Bind the economic life of the country as well as accelerate the development of the industry and agriculture.
vi. The largest public sector undertaking in the country.
Q.12 Describe the factors which influence the distribution pattern of Railway network in India.
Ans. The distribution pattern of the Railway network in the country has been largely influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors.
i. The density railway network is high in the northern plains because they are vast level land, have high population density and rich agricultural resources. But, a large number of rivers create obstacles because it requires construction of bridges across their wide beds.
ii. In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracts are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels therefore it difficult to construct railway lines.
iii. The Himalayan mountainous regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
iv. It is difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
v. Sinking of track in some areas and land slides makes it difficult for railways.
Q.13 Mention some of the problems faced by the Indian Railways.
Ans. Rail transport in our country suffer from certain problems such as -
i. Many passengers travel without tickets.
ii. Thefts and damaging of railway property has not yet stopped completely.
iii. People stop the trains, pull the chain unnecessarily and this causes heavy damage to the railway.
Q.14 Describe the importance of Pipelines in India.
Ans. Pipelines are important for -
i. They are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil fields and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants.
ii. Solids can also be transported through a pipeline when converted into slurry.
iii. Because of pipelines, refineries at Barauni, Mathura, Panipat and gas based fertilizer plants, could be located in the interiors of India.
iv. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal.
v. Pipelines rules out trans-shipment (during transportation) losses or delays.
Q.15 Name three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country.
Ans. The 3 important network of pipelines are -
i. Pipeline from oil field in upper Assam to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh).
ii. Pipeline from Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab,
iii. Pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Q.16 Mention the importance of water transport.
Ans. Water transport is important for -
i. Waterways are the cheapest means of transport.
ii. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.
iii. It is a fuel-efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
Q.17 Name three National Waterways of our country.
Ans. The 3 National waterways are -
i. The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km)-N.W. No.1
ii. The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km)-N.W. No.2
iii. The West-Coast Canal in Kerala (Kottapurma-Komman, Udyogamandal and Champakkara canals-205 km) – N.W. No.3
Q.18 Mention the importance of airways.
Ans. The importance of airways is -
i. It is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.
ii. It can cover very difficult terrains like high mountains, dreary deserts, and dense forests.
iii. It can also cover long oceanic stretches with great ease.
iv. Airways have made access easier in the north-eastern part of the country which has big rivers, dissected relief, dense forests and frequent floods and international frontiers.
Q.19 Name six mail channels introduced by Indian postal network.
Ans. Six mail channels for quick delivery of mails in large towns and cities:
i. Rajdhani Channel,
ii. Metro Channel,
iii. Green Channel,
iv. Business Channel,
v. Bulk Mail Channel
vi. Periodical Channel.
Q.20 Mention the importance of mass communication.
Ans. The importances of mass communications are -
i. Mass communication provides entertainment.
ii. They create awareness among people about various national programmes and policies.
iii. They provide variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages for various categories of people, spread over different parts of the country.
iv. They strengthen democracy in the country by providing news and information to the masses.
v. They help in rural development which is suffering from illiteracy and superstitious social practices.
vi. It helps in agriculture sector by helping farmers by providing them information about new agricultural practices.
Q.21 Define international trade. Why it is considered as economic barometer of a country?
Ans. International trade is defined as the exchange of goods and services between two or more countries.
It is also considered as economic barometer because
a. Advancement in international trade of a country leads to economic prosperity.
b. Income earned from international trade constitutes a major part in the net national income.
c. Large international trade leads to revival of domestic economy.
Q.22 Define balance of trade. Distinguish between favourable balance of trade and unfavourable
balance of trade.
Ans. The difference between export and import is known as balance of trade. Difference between favourable and unfavourable balance of trade:
a. If the value of exports is more than the value of imports, it is called favourable balance of trade. And if the value of imports is greater than the value of exports it is known as unfavourable balance of trade.
b. Favourable balance of trade is regarded good for the economic development where as unfavourable balance of trade is seen harmful for the domestic economy.
Q.23 Name major commodities which India import and export.
Ans.
i. Major Exports:
a. Gems and jewellery.
b. Agriculture and allied products.
c. Petroleum products.
d. Ores and Minerals
e. Chemical products.
f. Engineering goods.
ii. Major Imports:
a. Petroleum and petroleum products such as crude oil, natural gas, synthetic
raw materials.
b. Pearls and precious stone
c. Inorganic chemicals
d. coal, coke and briquettes
e. Machinery
Q.24 Mention the importance of tourism as a trade.
Ans. The importance is -
i. Our country earns foreign exchange through Tourism.
ii. More than 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
iii. Tourism also promotes national integration,
iv. It provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
v. It also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.
vi. Heritage tourism, eco tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism and business tourism promotes development of all sectors of economy.