CLASS-10 GEOGRAPHY NOTES (2018-19)

CHAPTER-7 LIFELINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

Q1. ‘Efficient means of transport are pre-requisites for fast development’, why?
ANS 1. Goods and services do not move from supply locales to demand locales on their own.
The movement of these goods and services from their supply locations to demand
locations necessitates the need for transport.
2. Some people are engaged in facilitating these movements. These are known to be
traders who make the products come to the consumers by transportation.
3. Thus, the pace of development of a country depends upon the production of goods and
services as well as their movement over space.
4. Transport has been able to achieve this with the help of equally developed
communication system. Therefore, transport, communication and trade are
complementary to each other.

Q2. “Roadways have an edge over railways”. How?

ANS Roadways have an edge over railways due to following reasons:-
(a) The construction cost of roadway is much lower than that of the railways. Its
maintenance is also cheap and easy.
(b) Roads can be built in mountainous areas. The roads can traverse comparatively more
dissected and undulating topography. Roads can negotiable higher gradients of slopes and
as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.
(c) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller
amount of goods over short distances.
(d) It provides door to door services, which results in lower cost of loading and
unloading.
(e) It is used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between
railway stations, air and sea ports.
(f) Road transport connects fields with markets and factories.
(g) Road transport is useful for transport of perishable commodities.

Q3. What are expressways (Superhighways)?

Or
Describe Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways with special reference to its objects
and the North-South and East-West corridors

Ans Super highways are six-lane highways connecting major cities and ports of the country
for speedy movement of goods and passengers.
(i) Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways is a major road development project linking
Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai- Mumbai and Delhi by six lane Super Highways.
(ii) The object of these Super Highways is to meet the requirements of fast movement of
traffic in the country and to reduce the time and distance between the mega cities of
India.
(iii) North-South corridor connects Srinagar to Kanniyakumari.
(iv) East-West Corridor connects Silchar to Porbandar.
(v) These highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of
India (NHAI).

Q4. Give a brief description of National Highways in India.

Ans (i) National Highways link extreme parts of the country including one state with another.
 (ii) These are primary road systems of national importance. Therefore, these are
constructed and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) of the
central government.
(iii) A number of major National Highways run in North-South and East West directions.
(iv) The historical Sher Shah SuriMarg, between Delhi and Amritsar is called National
Highway No.1
(v) National Highway-7 is the longest and Traversers 2,369 km between Varanasi and
Kanniyakumari via Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Madurai.
(vi) National Highway-8 connects Delhi and Mumbai and National Highway15 covers
most of Rajasthan.

Q5. Q.7 Give a brief description of the following:

(i) STATE HIGHWAYS
(ii) DISTRICT ROADS
(iii) RURAL ROADS

Ans (i) STATE HIGHWAYS: These roads link a state capital with different district
headquarters. These roads are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works
Department in State and Union Territories.
(ii) DISTRICT ROADS: These roads connect the district headquarters with other
places of the district. These roads are maintained by the ZilaParishad.
(iii) RURAL ROADS:`1. Rural roads or village roads link rural areas and villages with
towns.
2. Under PradhanMantriGrameenSadakYojana provision have been made to link every
village in the country to a major town by an all season motorable road.
Thus, it is hoped that the condition of rural roads will improve in future.

Q6. What is the significance of border roads?

Ans Significance of Border roads: Border Roads are very significant for the security of the
country. These roads are constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organization
which is a Government of India undertaking. The reasons for its significance are as given
below:
(a) Its helps in the security of the country because in case of necessity, army can be
deployed in the sensitive border areas easily and quickly e.g., northern and north-eastern
border areas of strategic importance.
(b) It has provided access in the areas of difficult terrain.
(c) It helps in the economic development of the area.

Q7. Describe the problems that are being faced in road transportation in India.
Ans The problems that are being faced in road transportation in Indian are as given below:
(i) Inadequate network in view of the volume of traffic and passengers.
(ii) Half of the roads are unmetalled that cannot be used using rainy season.
(iii) National Highways are inadequate to meet the rush of traffic.
(iv) Roads in the cities are highly congested.
(v) Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
(vi) Roadside amenities like emergency health services, police protection on the
highways are not adequate.
The above problems need immediate attention of the government to make road transport
more popular and useful in the country.

Q8. What do you understand by the term road density?

Ans: The length of road per 100 sq.km of area is known as the density of roads.

Q9. “Railways are the principal mode of transportation in India” Explain.

Or
What is the importance of railways?
Ans The railways are the main artery of inland transport in India. It is the lifeline of the
country as mentioned below:
(i) Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers.
(ii) The Indian Railways have a network of 7,133 stations, 9,213 locomotives, 53,220
passenger service vehicles, 6,493other coach vehicles and 2,29381 wagons as on March,
2011.
(iii) The total length of railways is 64,460 km.
(iv) Railways are useful in conducting business, sightseeing, and pilgrimage along with
transportation of goods over longer distances.
(v) It is the largest public undertaking in the country.
Thus, it is clear that the railways are playing an important role in our economy than all
other means of transport put together.

Q10 “Physical and economic factors influenced the distribution pattern of the Indian
. Railways Network” How? Explains with examples.
Ans Physical and economic factors have influenced the distribution pattern of the
Indian Railways network in the following ways:
(I) Northern Plain: Level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources has
favoured development of railways in these plains. However, a large number of river
requiring construction of bridges across their wide river beds posed some obstacles.
(ii) Peninsular region and the Himalayan region: it is a hilly terrain. The railway tracks
are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels. So, it is very difficult to lay the railway lines.
The Himalayan mountainous regions too are not favourable for the construction of
railway line due to high relief, sparse population a lack of economic opportunities.
(iii) Desert of Rajasthan: on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan too, it is very difficult
to lay railway lines which has hindered the development of railways.
(iv) Swamps of Gujarat, forested tracts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and
Jharkhand; these are also not suitable for the development of railways.
(v) The contiguous stretch of Sahyadri could be crossed only through gaps or passes
(ghats) although the Konkan railway along the west coast has been developed but it has
also faced a number of problems such as sinking of track in some stretches and
landslides.

Q11 What are the problems being faced by the Indian railways.
.
Ans The following problems are being faced by the railways:
(i) TRAVELLING WITHOUT TICKET: Many people travel without ticket that leads to
financial loss.

(ii) THEFTS AND DAMAGING RAILWAY PROPERTY: People steal different

fittings of the wagons, passenger coaches etc. some people cause damage to railway
property.

(iii) STOPPING OF TRAINS WITHOUT ANY EMERGENCY OR NECESSITY: Just

to catch the train or for some other minor reason, people pull the chain unnecessarily.
 Such actions delay the train in reaching its destination in time.
Q12
. Road and railway transport in India are not competitive but complementary to each
other. Justify the statement.
Ans: Though rail transport heavy goods from one place to another, they only follow a fixed
track. The goods are further transported by road to their destination. Though the railways
run through flat terrain, roads can be constructed in hilly areas, where trains cannot go.
Therefore both rail and road transport are complementary to each other.

Q13 Write a short note on the pipeline transport and its network in India.
Ans (i) Uses: Earlier pipelines were used to transport water to cities and industries. Now,
pipelines are being used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas
from oil and natural gas fields to oil refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power
plants.

(ii) Advantages:
(a) Crude oil and other petroleum products can be transported to far away inland
locations like Baruani and Panipat.
(b) Pipelines have proved beneficial for gas based fertiliser plants.
(c) Solids can also be transported through a pipeline when converted into slurry.
(d) Running cost of pipelines in minimal.
(e) There are no transhipment losses or delays.

(iii) Networks of pipelines: There are three networks of pipeline transportation as given
below:
(a) From oil fields in upper Assam to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), via Guwahati, Barauni and
Allahabad.
(b) From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab, via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and
Sonipat.
(c) Gas pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh, via VijaipurIn
Madhya Pradesh.

Q13 Explain the inland navigation water ways in India. Also mention its advantages.
OR
Describe any three features of waterways in India.

Ans: India has inland navigation waterway of 14,500 km in length. Out of these only 5685 km
are navigable by mechanized boats.

(1) The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia (1,620km) – N.W. No. 1

(2) The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km)- N.W. No. 2.

(3) The West-Coast Canal in Kerala (Kottapuma-Komman, Udyognmandal and Champak

Kara canals -205 km)-N.W. No. 3.

(4) Specified stretches of Godavari and Krishna rivers along with Kakinada Puducherry
stretch of canals(1078 km)-N.W.No 4

(5)Specified stretches of river Brahmani along with Matai river, delta channels of
Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers and East Coast Canal (588km)-N.W.No.5
 Advantages/Features:
(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 transport.
(iv) It is environment friendly mode of transport.

Q14 Describe the major sea ports on the western coast of India.
Ans India has long coastline of 7,516.6 km there are 12 major and 187 medium and minor
ports. These major parts handle 95% of India’s foreign trade.

(i) Kandla in Kuchchh (Gujarat) It was the first part developed soon after Independence
to ease the volume of trade on the Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to
Pakistan after partition. It is a tidal port. It caters to the needs of handling of exports and
imports of highly productive granary and industrial belt stretching across the states of
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

(ii) Mumbai (Maharashtra) It is the biggest port with a spacious natural and well-
sheltered harbour.

(iii) JawaharlalNehru Port (Maharashtra) It was planned with a view to decongest the
Mumbai port and serve as a hub port of this region.

(iv) Marmagao Port (Goa) It is the premier iron-or exporting port of the country. This
port accounts for about fifty percent of India’s iron –ore export.

(v) New Mangalore Port (Karnataka) It exports iron-ore from Kudremukh mines.

(vi) Kochi Port (Kerala) – it is the extreme south western port, located at the entrance of
lagoon with a natural harbour.

Q15 Describe the major sea ports on the eastern coast of India.
Ans (i)Tuticorin Port (Tamilnadu) it is the extreme south-eastern port. It has a natural harbour
and rich hinterland. It handles cargoes to Srilanka and Maldives too.

(ii) Chennai Port (Tamilnadu) It is one of the oldest artificial ports of India. It is ranked
next to Mumbai in terms of the volume of trade and cargo.

(iii) Vishakhapatnam Port (Andhra Pradesh) It is deepest land locked and well protected
port. It was originally conceived as an outlet for iron is exports.

(iv) Paradip port (Orissa) It specializes in the export of iron ore.

(v) Kolkata Port (W. Bengal) it is an inland riverine port. It serves a very large and rich
hinterland of Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.It is a tidal port and requires constant dredging of
Hooghly.

(vi) Haldia Port (West Bengal) It was developed as a subsidiary port, in order to relieve
growing pressure on the Kolkata port.
Q16 Explain the important features of air transport of India. Also mention the
advantages of airways.
Ans (i) In India, air transport was nationalized in 1953.

(ii) Domestic air services: These services are provided by Indian Airlines, Alliance Air,
private scheduled airlines and non-scheduled air operators.

(iii) International air services: These are provided by Air India.

(iv) Helicopter services: These services are provided by Pawanhans Helicopters Ltd. to
Oil and Natural Gas commission in its off-shore operations to inaccessible areas and
difficult areas like north-eater states and the interior parts of Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

(v) Neighbouring countries: Indian Airlines provides services to the neighbouring

countries of south and South east Asia and Middle east.

Advantages:
(i) It is the fastest and most comfortable mode of transport. One can reach his destination
at faraway places within a short period.
(ii) It can cover very difficult areas like high mountains, dreary deserts, dense forests and
long oceanic and earthquakes.

Q17 Explain why is air transport preferred in north-eastern states of India?

Ans  The north eastern states are full of big river, dissected relief, dense forests, and
frequent floods.
 It has international frontiers with Myanmar, Bangladesh and China. Under these
conditions, air transport is preferred in these hilly areas of north-eastern states
because air transport can cover very difficult areas like high mountains and dense
forests.
 It is also useful in hostile areas and natural and human made calamities like
floods.
 It is only in the north eastern states that special provisions are made to extend the
air services to the common people. As such air travel is within their reach and
preferred.

Q18 Which two modes of transport are widely used within the north-eastern States of
. India? Why?
Inland waterways and airways are the two modes of transport which are widely used in
Ans: the north-eastern states of India. The north-eastern part of India is marked by the
presence of hilly terrain, dissected relief, dense forests, large number of rivers, heavy
rainfall as well as international frontiers. As a result, roadways and railways cannot
develop properly and are lacking in this region. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are
therefore used by the local people for inland navigation as it is cheap and convenient to
use.
Air travel is another preferred mode of travel in these areas as airways can cross over
geographical obstacles of the region with great ease. During heavy rainfall and frequent
 floods airways become the only mode of transport. Air transport is also subsidized in the
north-eastern states and special provisions are made to extend the services to the common
people.

Q19 Describe the main features of the Indian postal network.

Ans: Main features of the Indian postal network are as given below:
(i) The Indian Postal network is the largest network in the world.
(ii) Type of mail: These are two types of mail.
(a) First Class Mail: cards and envelops fall in this category.
(b) Second class Mail: It includes book packets, registered newspaper and periodicals.
(iii) Mail Channels: For quick delivery of mails, six channels have been introduced.
These are-Rajdhani Channel, Metro Channel, Green Channel, Bulk Mail Channel and
Periodical Channel.

Q20 Mention the importance of mass communication.

. The following are the points to highlight the importance of mass communication in India.
Ans: (a)Mass communication provides entertainment
(b)It creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies.
(c)It provides a variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages for
various categories of people, spread over different parts of the country.
(d)It strengthens democracy in the country by providing news and information to the
masses.
(e) It helps in rural development which is suffering from illiteracy and superstitious social
practices.
(f)It helps in agriculture sector by providing farmers information about new agricultural
practices.

Q21 Which are the main means of mass communications? Explain the importance of
‘Radio’ and ‘Television’ as an effective means of mass communication in India.
Ans Radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books and films are the main means of mass
communications. The importance of ‘Radio’ and ‘Television’ as an effective means of
communication in India is due to the factors as mentioned below:
(i) Radio and television entertain to the people.
(ii) These create awareness among people about various national programmes and
policies as debates are conducted on television and radio.
(iii) Programmes are broadcast in different languages for all types of people.
(iv) Doordarshan, the national television channel of India are one of the largest terrestrial
networks in the world, broadcasts various types of programmes from entertainment,
educational to sports.

Q22 Why International trade is considered the economic barometer for a country?
Ans 1. The progress in international trade leads to economic prosperity.
2. If the value of exports exceeds the value of imports, the country is considered to have
made advancement in international trade. It is called favourable balance of trade.
Developed countries come in this category.
3. On the other hand, if the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is termed as
unfavourable balance of trade.
Thus, advancement of international trade is an index to its economic prosperity and
considered the economic barometer for a country.
Q23 Write difference between international and local trade?
Ans
(a) Difference between international and local trade is as given below:

International Trade Local Trade

(i) Trade between two countries is
called international trade.
ii) It takes place through sea, air or
land routes.
iii) Advancement of international trade
of a country is an index to its
economic prosperity. It is therefore,
considered the economic barometer for
a country.
iv) The international trade leads to
earning of foreign exchange and
benefits for the traders and exporters
in the country.
(i) Local trade is carried in cities,
towns and villages.
(ii) It takes place in the local markets.
(iii) Advancement of local trade is a
sign of economic prosperity of the
local people.
iv) It does not earn foreign exchange
but helps in the fulfilment of needs of
the people.

Q24 Explain the changing nature of international trade in the last fifteen years.
Ans 1. The nature of the international trade in the last fifteen years has changed due to
globalization. Earlier bilateral agreements were made to conduct trade
between two countries.
2. But through globalization, an effort has been made to integrate national economy. Now
producers from outside country can sell their goods and services in other counties. 3.
Globalization includes movement of capital as well as workers from one country to other
country.
4. The restrictions on the import of goods have been removed. Under World Trade
Organization, efforts are being made to have multi-lateral agreements for international
trade.
5. WTO is regulating the international trade of goods as well as services.
Thus, the nature of the international trade has changed and it is hoped that in future all the
barriers and restrictions on trade among countries will go and it will flourish in the world.
What social values are promoted by tourism?
Q25 Tourism is not only helpful in developing the economy of a region, but it also promotes
. social values like support to local handicrafts, cultural pursuits and national integration. It
Ans: generates care and concern about the environment, culture and heritage. Tourism also
develops love and concern for the fellow countrymen and international and
understanding.

Q26 How tourism as a trade has flourished in India? Explain?

Ans The Tourism as a trade has flourished in India as mentioned below:
(i) There has been increase of 11.8 percent during the year 2010 as against the year 2009
and contributed Rs.64, 889 crore of foreign exchange in 2010.
(ii) Over 5.78 Million foreign tourists visit India every year.
(iii) Over 15 million people are directly employed in the tourism industry in the country.
(iv) It promotes national integration because people from India also go from one place to
another place.
(v) It helps in the development of international understanding. Foreign tourists are
attracted by Indian culture and traditions.
(vi) It supports local handicrafts and cultural pursuits because tourists purchase many
products during their visits.
(vii) Foreign tourist visit India for visiting places of heritage or to have adventures in
hilly region or to have business with India.
(viii) Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and temple town of south India have attracted
many tourists from all over the world.
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