LIFELINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

 LIFELINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

QUESTION/ANSWERS

 

2      MARK QUESTIONS

 

1. What is the major objective to develop Super Highways?

Answer:

The main objective to developing Super Highways is to reduce the time and distance

between the four megacities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata with the development of fast and uninterrupted traffic along six lanes between these cities.

 

2. What is the significance of the border roads?

Answer:

Border roads are strategically important as they improve access to areas like the northern and north-eastern border areas which have difficult terrain. Border roads are constructed and maintained by Border Roads Organization (BRO). The Government of India undertakes, constructs and maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country. It improves security because the army and arms can be mobilized easily through these roads.

 

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

Answer:

Trade is the movement of goods and services between regions for economic gain. Trade between two or more countries is termed international trade. It may take place through sea, air or land routes. Trade occurring in a region within the same country is called local trade. Local trade is carried in cities, towns and villages.

 

*3 MARK QUESTIONS

4. State any three merits of roadways.

Answer:

The growing importance of road transport is rooted in the following reasons:

 

-The construction cost of roadways is much lower than that of the railways.

-Its maintenance is also cheap and easy.

-Roads can be built in mountainous areas. -The roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography.

-Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.

-Road transport is economical in the transportation of a few persons and a relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances.

-It provides door-to-door service, which results in a lower cost of loading and unloading.

-It is used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air, and seaports.

-Road transport connects fields with markets and factories.

-Road transport is useful for the transport of perishable commodities.

 

5. Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation?

Answer:

 

-Railways can transport a larger number of goods and passengers over long distances at an 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 railway network.

-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 markets.

-However, in spite of the fact that railways are the most convenient means of transportation in northern plains, a large number of rivers requiring construction of bridges across their wide beds posed some obstacles.

 

6. Write a note on the changing nature of international trade in the last fifteen years.

Answer:

-The changing nature of the international trade for India, in the last fifteen years, has been impressive.

-Exchange of information and knowledge has surpassed the exchange of goods and commodities. Through its advanced software knowledge and excellence in the field of information technology, India has emerged as a viable contender at the international level and is earning huge amounts of foreign exchange through the same.

-Tourism has added to India’s upgraded position in international trade. In 2004, there was a 23.5% increase in foreign tourist arrivals as against the number in 2003.

-Thus, international trade for India has undergone a cognisable change in the past fifteen years.

 

 

 

 

Long Answer Type Questions [5 Marks]

 

7. Classify communication services into two categories. Explain the main features of each.

Answer:

-Communication services can be classified into two categories—personal communication and mass communication.

Main features of personal communication:

 

-It is the communication between person to person. In this communication, only personal messages are exchanged.

 -Personal communication is done through mobile phones, letters, e-mails, postcards, etc.

Main features of mass communication:

-It is the communication among the masses. It provides entertainment as well as awareness about various national programmes.

-Mass communication is done through radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books, films, etc.

 

8. Explain with examples the conditions responsible for the uneven distribution pattern of the railway network in India.

Answer:

-The distribution of railway networks depends upon physiographic, economic and administrative factors. The following are the conditions responsible for the uneven distribution pattern of the railway network in India.

 

-The northern plains have a dense network of railways due to the extensive level of land, agriculturally and industrially productive region and support a high density of population which is favourable for the development of railways. However, the presence of a large number of rivers requires the construction of bridges across the rivers which poses some difficulties.

 -In the hilly regions of the north and the peninsular plateau regions, railways are constructed through narrow gaps or tunnels.

 -The Himalayas region has less network of railways due to rugged terrain, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.

 -In the sandy plains of western Rajasthan, swampy regions of Gujarat, thickly forested regions of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, construction of railways is difficult and expensive.

 -Recently, the development of the Konkan railway along the western coast has contributed to the movement of goods and passengers through the passes and gaps along the Western Ghats to link the most economic region of India

 

9. Why is a dense and efficient network of transport and communication a Prerequisite for the development of local, national and global trade of today? Give your opinion.

Answer:

-Dense and efficient network of transport and communication is a prerequisite for the development of local, national and global trade of today because of the following reasons.

 

-We use different materials and services in our daily life. Some of these are available in our immediate surroundings while other requirements are met by bringing things from other places. The movement of these goods and services can be over three domains of the earth.

-Today the world has converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast-moving transport.

 -Transport has been able to achieve this with the help of an equally developed communication system.

 -Therefore transport, communication and trade are complementary to each other.

Today, India is well-linked with the rest of the world despite its vast size diversity, linguistic and socio-cultural plurality.