NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography - International Trade

Q1: Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.
(i) Trade between two countries is termed as
(a) Internal trade
(b) External trade
(c) International trade
(d) Local trade
Ans: (c)

(ii) Which one of the following is a land locked harbour?
(a) Vishakhapatnam
(b) Mumbai
(c) Ennor
(d) Haldia
Ans: (a)

(iii) Most of India’s foreign trade is carried through
(a) Land and sea
(b) Land and air
(c) Sea and air
(d) Sea
Ans: (c)

Q2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Mention the characteristics of India’s foreign trade.
Ans: The nature of India’s foreign trade has changed over the years. Though there has been an increase in the total volume of import and export, the value of import continued to be higher than that of exports. The share of agriculture and allied products has declined, whereas, shares of petroleum and crude products and other commodities have increased. In import, there is a steep rise in petroleum products.

(ii) Distinguish between port and harbour.
Ans:

(iii) Explain the meaning of hinterland.
Ans: Hinterland is an area which is connected with the port that serves both for imports and for exports. It is a region lying inland from a coast or river.

(iv) Name important items which India imports from different countries.
Ans: Petroleum and petroleum products are the major imports of India. Capital goods are also important items which includes non-electrical machinery, transport equipment, manufacturers of metals and machine tools which India imports from different countries.

(v) Name the ports of India located on the east coast.
Ans: Kolkata, Haldia, Paradip, Vishakhapatnam, Ennore, Chennai, Tuticorin are the major ports on the east coast of India.

Q3: Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i) Describe the composition of export and import trade of India.
Ans:

• In export, the share of agriculture and allied products has declined, whereas, shares of petroleum and crude products and other commodities have increased. The shares of ore minerals and manufactured goods have largely remained constant over the years from 2009-10 to 2010-11and 2015-16 to 2016-17. The decline in traditional items is largely due to the tough international competition. Manufacturing sector alone accounted for 73.6 per cent of India’s total value of export in 2016-17.
• In import, there is a steep rise in petroleum products. It is used not only as a fuel but also as an industrial raw material. It indicates the tempo of rising industrialisation and better standard of living. Import of capital goods maintained a steady increase due to rising demand in the export-oriented industrial and domestic sectors. Non-electrical machinery, transport equipment, manufacturers of metals and machine tools were the main items of capital goods. Import of food and allied products declined with a fall in imports of edible oils.

(ii) Write a note on the changing nature of the international trade of India.
Ans: The composition of commodities in India’s international trade has been undergoing change over years.

• The share of agriculture and allied products have declined whereas shares of petroleum and crude products and other commodities have increased.
• The shares of ore minerals and manufactured goods have largely remained constant
• The imports of Petroleum products is increasing.
• There is a decline in the export of traditional items, such as coffee, cashew, etc., though an increase has been registered in floricultural products, fresh fruits, marine products and sugar, etc.
• The share of manufactured goods has increased in exports.
• The export of engineering goods has increased.
• Share of Gems pearls and ornaments in exports has increased.