CBSE Class 10 Social Science Geography Life Lines of National Economy Assignment

INTRODUCTION

“The means of transport and communication are called the lifelines of a country and its economy”
Lifelines of a human being are his veins which carry blood to all parts of the body and provide them energy. Same way means of transport and communication bring all the regions of a country closer and develop them equally. A country can make tremendous progress only on the basis of its developed means of transport and communication. In this chapter, we shall read about the different means of transport and communication and achievements made by India in the field of trade and commerce.

“Various means of transport and communication have reduced distances, bringing the world closer”.
Earlier people used to move on foot, the means of transportation were not at all developed, going from one place to another was considered as a burden, but now a days no place in the world is far away. With the present means of transportation, one can reach to any part of the world within hours. Earlier the means of communication also were not developed. It took a long time to send message from one place to another. In the present world with the means like telephone, television and most importantly internet, none of the countries or any part of world is far away.

12.1 ROAD TRANSPORT

(i) India has one of the largest road networks in the world aggregating to about 2.3 million km.
(ii) Since ancient times a number of good roads were built, such as the Grand Trunk road from Kolkatta to Peshawar.

(a) Importance of road transport vis-a-vis rail transport :
(i) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railways lines.
(ii) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography.
(iii) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.
(iv) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distance
(v) It also provides door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower.
(vi) Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports.

(b) Types of roads :
For the purpose of administration roads can be divided into.
Express Way National Highway.
(i) Golden Quadrilateral linking Delhi-Kolkatta-Chennai-Mumbai and Delhi by six lane Super Highways, length 5846 km.
(ii) North-south and East-west corridors from Srinagar to Kanyakumari and Silchar to Porbandar, length 7300 km.
(iii) Roads connecting 10 major ports with Golden Quadrilateral and corridors, length 363 km.
(iv) These are implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Objective : To reduce the time and distance between the mega cities of India.

National highways :
(i) These are the primary road systems and are laid and maintained by the Central Public works Department.
(ii) Connects one state with another and are of national importance.

State highways :
(i) Join state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns.
(ii) Constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department in State and Union Territories.

District roads :
Connects the district headquarters with other places of the district, are maintained by the Zila Parishad.

Village roads :
Connects the village with the neighbouring towns and cities. These roads received special impetus under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana.

Border roads :
Border Road Organisation a Government of India undertaking constructs and maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country. This organisation was established in 1960 for the development of roads of strategic importance in the northern and north-eastern border areas. These roads have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain and have helped in the economic development of these areas.

The another classification can be done on the basis of type of material used for building roads.

(c) Road Density :
Distribution of road is not uniform in the country. Density of all roads varies from only 12.14 km in Jammu and Kashmir to 517.77 km in U.P with the national average of 142.68 km (31 March 2011).

Name the two corridors which connect the North-South and the East-West parts of the country. 
Name the terminal cities of both these corridors.
Name the Super Highway which connects the four mega cities of India. Write the name of these four mega cities.

(d) Problems of Road Transport :
(i) The road network is inadequate.
(ii) Half of the roads are unsurfaced which become muddy during the rainy season.
(iii) National highways are inadequate, highly congested in cities, their bridges and culverts are narrow.
(iv) Road side amenities like telephone booths, books, emergency with services and police protection are poor, needs improvement.

12.2 RAILWAYS

(a) Importance :
(i) Principle mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.
(ii) Railways also make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with transportation of goods over long distances.
(iii) Have been a great integrating force for more than 150 years.
(iv) Bind the economic life of the country as well as accelerate the development of the industry and agriculture.
(v) Have a network of 7137 stations spread over a route length of 66,687 km. with a fleet of 11,122 locomotives, 54,506 passenger service vehicles, 6899 other coach vehicles and 2,51,256 wagons as on March 2016.

(b) Factors affecting the distribution pattern of the railway network in the country:
Distribution pattern of the railway network gets influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors. Level land of the great plains of India with high density of population and rich agriculture and greater industrial activity have favoured railway network in these areas. On the other hand, flood plains of Bihar and Assam, rugged topography of the Himalayan region, deserts of Rajasthan and hilly tracts of Sahayadri are unfavourable for the development of railways.

(c) Problems from which rail transport suffers :
(i) Many passengers travel without tickets.
(ii) Passengers pull chain unnecessarily causing heavy losses to the railway.
(iii) Thefts and damaging of railway property have not yet stopped completely.

12.3 PIPELINES

(a) Importance :
(i) A convenient mode of transport for mineral oil and natural gas.
(ii) Can be constructed over land as well as in water.
(iii) Initial cost of laying pipelines is more but subsequent running cost are minimum.
(iv) Pipeline transport rules out transshipment losses or delays.
(v) The transportation cost is also very low.

(b) Important networks of pipeline transportation :
(i) From oil fields in upper Assam to Kanpur via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad.
(ii) From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandher in Punjab via Virangam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat.
(iii) Gas pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in U.P. via Vijaipur in M.P.
(iv) Pipelines between Mumbai high and Mumbai, Mumbai and Pune.

12.4 INLAND WATERWAYS

(a) Importance :
(i) Cheapest mean as well as near about pollution free form of transport.
(ii) Most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods. Inland navigable waterways 14500 km, of
which 5685 km are navigable by mechanised boats.

(b) National Waterways (N.W.) :
(i) Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km). Is N.W. No. 1
(ii) Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km). Is N.W. No. 2
(iii) West coast canal between Kollam and Kottapurma- Udyog mandal canal & Champakkara canal - 205 km). (Kerala) Is N.W. No. 3
(iv) Specified stretches of Godawari and Krishna rivers along with kakinada Puducherry stretches of Canals(1078 Km) - n.w. nO 4
(v) Specified stretches of river Brahamani along with Matai river, delta channels of Mahanadi and Brahamani rivers & East coast canal(588 Km) N.W. No. 5

12.5 AIRWAYS

(a) Advantages :
(i) Fastest mode of transport.
(ii) Best mean of transport for remote, inaccessible and hostile areas.
(iii) Plays a vital role during calamities.

(b) Companies operating Airways :
(i) Air India provides international air services.
(ii) Indian airlines, Alliance air and private scheduled airlines provide domestic air services in India.
(iii) Pawanhans Helicopters ltd. and Air taxi operators provide services to remote areas of India.

12.6 SEA PORTS

About 7516.6 km long coast line having 12 major and 187 medium and minor sea ports, handles 95% of India’s foreign trade.
On the eastern coast:- Kolkata (an inland riverine tidal port, requires constant dredging of Hoogly), Haldia (developed as a subsidiary port, in order to relieve growing pressure on the Kolkata port), Paradip (specialises in the export of iron ore), Vishakapatanam (deepest landlocked and wellprotected port), Tuticorin (a natural harbour and rich hinterland) and Chennai (one of the oldest artificial ports of the country, is ranked next to Mumbai in terms of the volume of trade and cargo).

On the western coast:- Kandla (first port to be developed soon after independence to ease the volume of trade on the Mumbai port, is a tidal port, caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports across the states of northern and north-western India), Mumbai (biggest port with a spacious natural and well-sheltered harbour), Jawaharlal Nehru port ( to decongest the Mumbai port and serve as a hub port), Mormagao (premier iron ore exporting port, accounts for about 50% of India’s iron ore export), New Mangalore (caters to the export of iron ore export or iron ore concentrates from Kudremukh mines) and Kochi( located at the entrance of a lagoon with a natural harbour).

12.7 COMMUNICATION

Can be divided into 2 parts : Personal communication and Mass communication.

(a) Personal communication :
Indian Postal Network :
(i) Largest in the world.
(ii) 1.5 lakh post offices (89% in rural areas 11% in urban areas)
(iii) Carries 2 types of mails.

First class mail :
(i) It is air lifted between stations, mail covering both land and connected by air.
(ii) Includes cards and envelopes.

Second class mail :
(i) Carried by surface mail covering land and water transport.
(ii) Includes registered newspapers, periodicals and book packets.

Telecom network :
(i) Largest telecom network in Asia, about 3200 telephone exchanges.
(ii) Besides urban places covers over 2/3rd of the villages of India.
(iii) Private companies have also entered, resulting in availability of better facilities to the consumers.

(b) Mass communication :
Plays a vital role in creating awareness, provides healthy entertainment as well.

(i) All India Radio : 200 radio stations, 320 transmitters broadcast a variety of programmes in National and Regional languages.
(ii) Doordarshan : One of the largest terrestrial network, serves over 87% of the country. Its programmes range from entertainment to education and sports.
(iii) Printing media : A large number of newspapers and periodicals, about 50000 published in about 100 languages and dialects.
(iv) Largest producer of feature films, other films produced are short films, video feature films and video short films.

12.8 INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Importance of Trade :
Modern life is so complex that one has to depend on others. No country today can prosper without the cooperation and assistance of others. In the present world, Trade has become a necessity as 
(i) No country is self reliant, each country lacks in one resource or the other. On the other hand some resources are in excess. Requirements can be fulfilled only through trade.
(ii) In times of calamities, trade relations are very useful as help can be received through the friendly countries.
(iii) Trade relations are a guarantee of peace. It is generally believed that the trading countries are not going to fight with each other as they are interdependent.

Balance of trade :
The difference between exports & imports is known as the balance of trade. If value of exports is more than the value of imports it is called favorable balance of trade and if value of import is more than the value of export it is called unfavorable balance of trade. India has trade relations with all the trading blocks of the world, most of the commodities exported from India consist of both raw material and manufactured goods which fetches less income. Commodities imported are mostly petroleum, gold, chemicals etc. which are more costly. Thus the overall balance of trade is unfavorable. 
International trade has undergone a sea change in the last fifteen years. Exchange of commodities and goods have been superseded by the exchange of information and knowledge. India has emerged as a software giant at the international level and it is earning large foreign exchange through the export of information technology.

12.9 TOURISM AS A TRADE
Foreign tourist’s arrivals in the country witnessed an increase of 4.5 percent during the year 2015 as against the year 2014, contributing Rs 1,35,193 crore of foreign exchange. Over 8.03 million foreign tourists visit India in 2015. More than 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
Tourism also promotes national integration, provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits. It also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage. Foreign tourists visit India for heritage tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism and business tourism. Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and temple towns of south India are important destinations of foreign tourists in India.

MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science Lifelines of National Economy 

Question : Which one is not an important destination of Foreign tourists in India?
(a) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Goa
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Jammu and Kashmir

Answer : A

Question : Delhi and Mumbai are connected by ____ .
(a) National Highway-15
(b) National Highway-1
(c) National Highway-7
(d) National Highway-8

Answer : D

Question : The extreme south-western port is ____ .
(a) Tuticorin port
(b) Kochchi port
(c) New Mangalore port
(d) None of the above

Answer : B

Very Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Lifelines of National Economy

Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Lifelines of National Economy

Question : "Dense and efficient network of transport is a prerequisite for trade." Examine the statement.

Answer :  i. The means of transportation help in the production and movement of goods and services.

ii. Transport like railways helps us in conducting various activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage and transportation of goods over longer distances.

iii. Pipelines are used for transporting crude oil and natural gas to refineries and factories.

iv. Water provides the cheapest means of transport and is useful for international trade.

v. Air transport provides the fastest, most comfortable mode of transport.

vi. Fast and efficiency moving transport are required for traded items to reach their destinations on time, otherwise, the business will suffer.

vii. Transport is required to carry raw materials to production centres and from manufacturing hubs to markets, particularly, for perishable goods.

 

Question : i. Two features A and B are marked in the given political map of India. Identify these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines marked on the map.

a. Biggest port of India

b. Oldest artificial Port

ii. Locate and Label International Airport Amritsar with appropriate symbols on the same map given for identification. 

 

 

Answer : 

 

Question : “Advancement of international trade of a country is an index of its economics prosperity”. Justify the statement.
Answer : When trade takes place between two countries it is known as international trade.
(i) It is very important for the development of a country. Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity.
(ii) As the resources are space bound, no country can survive without international trade.
(iii) It enables a country to earn foreign exchange which is needed to import essential goods. It is, therefore, considered the economic barometer for a country.

Question : Write any four characteristics of Kandla seaport.
Answer : (i) Kandla in Kuchchh was the first port developed soon after independence of India.
(ii) It was developed to ease the volume of trade on the Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to Pakistan after the partition.
(iii) Kandla is a tidal port.
(iv) It caters to the convenient handling of exports and imports of highly productive granary and industrial belt stretching across the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Question : Which is the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers? Mention any three problems of that means of transport.
Answer : The principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers is railways.
Problems faced by the Indian Railways
(i) Many passengers travel without tickets.
(ii) Thefts and damaging of railway property has not yet stopped completely.
(iii) People stop the trains, pull the chain unnecessarily and this causes heavy damage to the railway. 

Question. Write three advantage of waterways.
Answer : Cheapest means of transport,can carry heavy and bulky goods, do not cause air pollution.

Question. Why is air travel preferred in North-East?
Answer : Uneven and mountain terrain,Dense forests, Presence of big rivers,frequent floods, international frontiers.

Question. Name three National waterways .
Answer : • The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia
• Brahamaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri
• West Coast Canal in Kerala.

Long Questions for Class 10 Social Science Lifelines of National Economy

Question. What are the advantages of transport?
Answer : • Facilitates easy and free movement of people from one place to another.
• Helps to carry goods and materials from one place to another
• Helps in production and distribution of goods.
• Connect markets with the production centres.
• Promotes easy accessibility of goods and services.
• Helps in development of trade and commerce.
• Helps to increase the volume of the Trade.

Question. Why is transport and communication called lifelines of a country?
Answer : • Connects far lying areas of the country
• They benefit trade and commerce
• Help in the development of agriculture and industry.
• Helpful during calamities
• Promotes unity of the country

Question. What are the problems faced by Indian roadways?
Answer : • Road network is inadequate for increasing volume of traffic.
• About half of the roads are unmetalled.
• The National Highways are inadequate and are poorly maintained.
• The roadways are highly congested in cities and are lacking safety measures.
• Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
• Lack of proper security measures.

Question. What are the Problems Faced by Indian Railways?
Answer : • Requires huge investment at the time of installation.
• Maintenance and upkeep is very costly.
• Construction is difficult and costly in uneven and high hills and deserts.
• Not suitable for transportation of perishable goods.
• Ticket-less travellers.
• Thefts and damaging of railway property.
• Unnecessarily chain pulling to stop train.
• Gauge Conversions.
• Sinking and slipping of tracks in rains.
• Modernization and Electrification.