Q.1 Today the world has become a “global village”. Justify this statement.
Answer:
Today the world has become a “large village” because of:
- efficient and fast means of transport and
- development of telecommunication and satellite communication systems.
These two functions, i.e. various means of transport and communication have reduced time and distance, have brought the world closer and the physical distances have become meaningless. For example, now trading from local levels has been extended to the international level and even financial transactions can take place round the world in no time. All this has been made possible because of efficient and quick means of transport and communication.
Q.2 Modern means of transport and communication serve as lifelines of our nation.” Justify this statement by giving supportive arguments.
Or
“Efficient means of transport are prerequisites for the fast development of the country.” Express your views in favour of this statement. (2016 D, 2014 OD)
Answer:
India is well linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size and diversities because of efficient means of transport and communication. They are rightly called the lifelines or arteries of a nation because:
- Economic development of a country depends on the well developed and efficient means of transport and communication.
- They are indispensable for movement of people, goods and services from one place to another.
- They have contributed to socio-economic progress in many ways by connecting far flung areas of the country.
- They have enriched all aspects of our lives — social, cultural, individual and economic.
- They promote trade, tourism and business thus adding value to the economy.
- Transport and communication have made possible international trade which is essential for every economy as no country is self-sufficient in all resources.
- They link areas of production with consumption, i.e. agricultural farms are linked to the markets and industries.
Q.3 Why do the movement of goods and services form one place to another require fast and efficient means of transport? Explain with examples.
Answer:
Transport plays an important role in the economy. Because of transport raw materials reach the factory and finished products reach to the consumer. The pace of development of a country depends upon the production of goods and services as well as their movement over space. Today the world has converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport:
- Good transport helps in quick carrying of raw materials from remote areas to the production centre and allows distribution of goods efficiently.
- Transport helps in the development of communication. Various means of communication help us in interacting with other people in all the parts of the world. It has brought the world closer.
- Transport like railways helps us in conducting various activities like business, sight seeing, pilgrimages, etc.
Q.4 How are means of transport and communication complementary to each other? Explain with three examples. (2013 OD)
Answer:
- Transport and communication establish links between producing centres and consuming centres. Trade or the exchange of such commodities relies on transportation and communication. Transport provides the network of links and carriers through which trade takes place.
- Dense network of roads, railways and airways connect the remote areas of the country hence help in production and distribution of goods and services.
- Advancement in communication system has accelerated trade by carrying information all over the world quickly.
Q.5 Why is road transport more useful than rail transport in India. Give reasons. (2016 OD, 2013 D)
Or, “Roadways still have an edge over railways in India”. Give reasons.
Answer:
Roadways score over railways:
- Construction of roads is easier and cheaper as compared to railways.
- Roads provide door to door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower as compared to railways which generally leave the people and goods at the destined railway stations.
- Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slope and, as such, can traverse through mountainous terrain. But railways cannot negotiate steep gradients.
- Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances.
- Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport. They provide links between railway stations, airports and sea ports.
- They link agricultural farms with markets and industries, thus linking rural and urban areas.
Q.6 Analyse the physiographic and economic factors that have influenced the distribution pattern of the railway network in our country. (2015 D)
Or, ‘The distribution pattern of Indian Railway network is influenced by the physiographic factors. Examine the statement. (2013 OD)
Answer:
Factors that affect the distribution pattern of railway network in India:
(i) Physiographic factors. The Northern plains with vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provide most favourable conditions for railway network. The nature of terrain and the number of rivers running through the region determine the density of railway network in that region. Mountains, marshy, sandy and forested areas have sparse network whereas plain areas have dense network of the railways. It was difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plains of Western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat and forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Economic factors. Regions which have rich resources and are economically more developed have denser network of railways in comparison to the regions with low economic development.
(iii) Administrative factors. The administrative and political decisions also affect the distribution of railway network in a region.
Q.7 List four factors which favoured the development of dense network of railways in the northern plains. (2012 OD)
Answer:
Four reasons for dense network of railways in northern plains are:
- The vast level land provided the most favourable conditions for their growth. It is cheaper and easier to construct railway tracks here.
- The agricultural and industrial development in this region necessitated the development of railway lines.
- High population density in this region further required the development of railway lines.
- Resources such as iron and steel, fuels, etc., required for the development of railways are available in abundance in the northern plains.
Q.8 Write four merits of air travel. Also mention any two demerits of air transport. (2012 OD, 2011 D)
Answer:
Merits of air travel.
- Air travel is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.
- India is a vast country with wide variation in relief. Air transport can cover difficult terrains like high mountains of the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, dreary deserts of Rajasthan, dense forests and long coastlines with great ease.
- Air travel has made access easier in the north-eastern part of the country, which is marked with the presence of big rivers like Brahmaputra, dissected relief, dense forests, frequent floods and international frontiers.
- At the time of natural calamities, relief measure and relief operations can be carried out quickly with the help of air transport.
- High value perishable goods can easily be exported or imported by airways.
Demerits of air transport.
- Air travel is very expensive and not within the reach of the common people. Air travel is very luxurious.
- It is adversely affected by bad weather conditions.
Q.9 Why is ‘tourism’ considered as a trade and industry in India? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2015 OD, 2014 D)
Answer:
- With increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting India, we earned foreign exchange worth Rs. 21,828 crore in 2004 which is further increasing year by year making tourism an important trade.
- Over 2.6 million foreign tourists visit India every year for appreciating our heritage, our culture for medical purposes or for business purposes, etc.
- Over 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
- Tourism promotes national integration, provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
- Tourism also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.
- Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir and temple towns of south India are the most popular tourist destinations. These states earn huge sums of money from tourism trade.
Q.10 Give reasons for which foreign tourists visit India. (2014 D)
Answer:
Foreigners visit India for various purposes. These are:
- Heritage tourism
- Eco-tourism
- Adventure tourism
- Cultural tourism
- Medical tourism
- Business tourism
- Broadened cultural awareness of each others tradition.
- It is economically viable. India is a great value destination as tourists can travel cheaply and lavishly.
- Indian hospitality is famous worldwide — ‘Atithi devo bhava’.
- India is an avenue to explore spirituality through yoga, meditation.
- Indian cuisine predominantly, North Indian is world famous.
- India has several historical and architectural attractions. Regional handicrafts and ethnic designs of traditional products attract tourists.
Table of Contents
Important Link
Quick Revision Notes : Life Lines of National Economy
NCERT Solution :Life Lines of National Economy
MCQs: Life Lines of National Economy
Click here for Free Video Lectures