NCERT LIFELINES OF INDIAN ECONOMY

N C E R T    LIFE LINES OF 
NATIONAL ECONOMY
Class X 
Geography 
Chapter 07

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS

Q.1. Mention four merits of road transportation with reference to India.

Ans. Roadways are the most important means of transportation in India. India has one of the largest

Networks of roadways in the world, aggregating to about 2.3 million km at present. Road

Transport has preceded railways and still have an edge over it in view of the ease with which

it can be built and maintained. Other means of transport like pipelines have limited application

And waterways are localised in rivers and water bodies while airways are costly and out of

Reach of common people.

Road transport is more useful than railways on account of its following merits:

(a) Construction and maintenance cost of roads is much lower than that of railways.

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

Negotiate higher gradients of slopes and can traverse mountainous regions such as the

Himalayas. They can reach remote villages and hilly regions where railway tracks cannot

be constructed.

(c) Roads provided door to door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower.

(d) Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport, for example, they

Provide a link between railway stations, airports and ports. They link the village, towns

and cities to the railway stations. They provide linkage between ports and markets and

Trading centres.

Q.2. Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation? What

Changes or qualitative improvements have taken place in the Indian railways since

Independence? Mention two problems faced by the railways.

Ans. (i) Railways can transport larger number of goods and passengers over long distances at

Economical cost. Hence, Railways are the most convenient means of transport in the vast

Northern Plains of India. The flat terrain, dense population, rich agricultural resources and

Greater industrial activity have favoured the development of railways in this region. The

Northern Plains, therefore, have the densest road networks. 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 market.

(ii) Since independence the following qualitative improvements have made railways more

Efficient and popular.

(a) The metre gauge and other railways gauges are gradually being converted into broad

      Gauge to provide ungauged operations in the country. It would provide convenience to

      Public and reduce transportation costs as the capacity and speeds of the trains are

      Higher in broad gauge system.

(b) Steam engines have been replaced by diesel and electric engines.

(c) Fast inter-city trains have been introduced.

(d) Computerised ticket counters and better amenities in trains and stations have been

      Provided.

Two problems faced by railways are :

1)      Many passengers travel without tickets, causing loss to the railways.

2)      Thefts and damaging of railway property may lead to severe accidents.

Q.3. What is meant by Trade? What is the difference between international and local trade?

In this regard explain the terms ‘Export’, ‘Import’ and ‘Balance of Trade.’

Ans. Exchange of goods, commodities or services between people, states or countries is termed as

Trade. Trade means the exchange of products between regions of surplus and regions of

Deficiency.

The exchange of commodities between two or more countries is termed as international trade.

It may take place through sea, air or land routes.

While local trade is carried on within cities, towns or villages. Exchange of the items take place

in local markets where items of local needs are catered to. Local trade mainly takes place

Through roads, railway or inland waterways.

Export and import are the components of international trade. When goods are traded out from

a country to other countries, it is termed as export. When goods are traded and brought into

a country from other countries, it is termed as import.

Export means earning of foreign exchange by the country while imports involve use of foreign

Exchange.

The difference between Export and Import of a country is termed as its Balance of trade.

When the value of exports exceeds the value of imports, it is called favourable balance of

trade. If the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is termed as unfavourable balance

of trade.

Q.4. which are the three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country? What

is the significance of developing pipeline transportation in India?

Ans. The three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country are :

(a) From oil fields in upper Assam to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, via Guwahati, Barauni and

Allahabad. It has branches from Barauni to Haldia, via Rajbandh, Rajbandh to Maurigram

and Guwahati to Siliguri.

(b) From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat.

It has branches to connect Koyali in Gujarat, Chakshu and other places.

(c) Gas pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh. via Bijapur in Madhya

Pradesh. It has branches to Kota in Rajasthan, Shahajahanpur, Babrala and other places

in Uttar Pradesh.

The pipelines have played a significant role in the development of refineries like Barauni,

Mathura, Panipat at far inland locations, away from producing areas to cater to the demand of

the inland markets. The development of gas-based fertiliser plants in agricultural regions away

from petroleum-producing areas have also been possible due to pipeline transport.

Q.5. what are the advantages of waterways as a means of transport? Mention the names of

Three National Waterways in India.

Ans. Waterways are the cheapest mode of transport. Neither construction cost, nor maintenance cost

is required for the waterways as they use the rivers, lakes, seas and oceans as highways. They

are suited for the transport of bulky and heavy raw materials.

Waterways is a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transportation. The boats and

Steamers, even if mechanised, consume much lesser fuel and do not pollute the surrounding.

The following waterways have been declared as the National Waterways by the

Government :

(a) The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km) – National Waterway No. 1.

(b) The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km) – National Waterway No. 2.

(c) The West-Coast Canal in Kerala (Kottapuram – Komman, Udyogamandal and

Champakkara canals - 205 km) – National Waterway No. 3.

Q.6. What is the significance of Airways as a mode of Transport? Mention two merits and one

Demerit of airways.

Ans. Airways are the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport in recent times.

They can easily cross over geographical boundaries and vast stretches of seas and oceans. They

can negotiate over difficult terrain like high mountains, dissected terrain, dreary desert, dense

Forests with great ease, within short period of time. Fast international travel between different

Countries of the world have been possible because of the development of airways. Airways play

a vital role during natural and man-made calamities like floods, famines, earthquake, epidemics

and war. They help in rescue operations and providing relief to the people in affected areas

Within short time.

Two merits of airways are :

(a) It is the fastest mode of transportation. Thousands of kilometres are covered within a few

      hours.

(b) It is the most comfortable mode of transportation.

A demerit of airways is :

It is the costliest mode of transportation and is out of the reach of common people.

Q.7. Why are metalled roads better than Unmetalled roads? What is the role of border roads

And national highways in transportation?

Ans. Metalled roads are made of either cement, concrete or even bitumen of coal therefore durable

Over Unmetalled road. Unmetalled roads go out of use in rainy season.

Border roads plays in important role in connecting strategically important difficult areas and

Helps in the economic development of the area. National Highways are the primary road system

Which links extreme parts of the country.

Q.8. What is the difference between Personal Communication And Mass Communication? State

any two points of importance of Mass Communication.

Ans. Personal Communication means a communication between two persons either through oral,

Letter or through telephone etc, while mass communication includes the use of Radio,

Television, press, films etc, for wider public audience. The two points of importance of mass

Communication are (i) provides entertainment and (ii) creates awareness among people about

Various national programmes and policies.

Q.9. Why are the means of transportation and communication called the lifelines of national

Economy? Give any four reasons to support your answer.

Ans. The means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of National economy

Because (i) it linked the world with transport network (ii) Railways, roadways newspaper,

Television, cinema and internet have been contributing to socio-economic progress. (iii) The

Trades from local to international levels have added to the vitality of its economy. (iv) It has

Enriched our life and added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comforts

of life.

Q.10. Discuss the importance of tourism in India.

Ans. Tourism has great importance in the economy and cultural development of India. It promotes

National integration. It makes us aware of the beauty and rich cultural heritage of our nation.

It promote inter-regional relationship.

Tourism encourages cultural pursuits and provides support to local handicrafts. It helps in

Development of international understanding.

Tourism is considered to be an invincible trade. India’s natural beauty, diversity and glorious

Past attracts innumerable visitors to India every year. Overseas holidayers and travellers have

Awarded India the fourth rank among the best holiday destinations of the world. Over 2.6

Million foreign tourists visit India every year.(2010-5.78 Million Tourists) Foreign tourists visit India for heritage tourism,Cultural tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, medical tourism and business tourism.

Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades. Foreign tourist’s arrivals

in the country witnessed an increase of 11.8% during the year 2010 as against year 2009,

Thus contributing Rs. 64,889 Crores of foreign exchange. The trend is towards increase of

Foreign tourism and, hence, more foreign exchange earnings for the country.

Tourism also plays a major role in employment generation. More than 15 million people are

Directly engaged in the tourism industry and many more are indirectly connected to it.

There is a bright future of the upcoming tourism industry in India.