Department Of Social Science
CHAPTER
07
GEOGRAPHY(X)
LIFE LINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY
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, vast 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),(2015- 8.03 Million Tourists) Foreign tourists
visit India for heritage tourism, Cultural tourism, ecotourism, and 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 4.5 % during the year 2015 as against year 2014,
Thus contributing
Rs. 1, 35,193 Crores of foreign exchange in 2015.
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.
