CBSE Class 10 Social Science Life Lines of National Economy Assignment

Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Lifelines of National Economy

Question :“Roadways still have an edge over railways in India.” Support the statement with examples.
Answer :  Roadways still have an edge over the railways. This is evident for the following reasons:
(a) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines and construction time is also comparatively less.
(b) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography which is a limitation in case of railways.
(c) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains like the Himalayas, whereas the mountainous regions are unfavorable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief. Similarly it is difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plains in the deserts, swampy or forested tracks.
(d) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances, whereas railways are suitable for transportation of large number of people and goods in bulk, especially over long distances.
(e) Roadways provide the “last mile connectivity” forming the door to door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower.
(f ) Road transport is the idea to feeder mode of transport to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and seaports.

Question : Explain the importance of railways as the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.
Answer :  (a) It facilitates regular and efficient long distance travel and transportation of bulky goods which are not easily transported through motor vehicles.
(b) It helps in the industrialization process of a country by easy transportation of coal and raw- materials efficiently and at a cheaper rate.
(c) It helps in the quick movement of goods from one place to another at the time of emergencies like famines and scarcity.
(d) It encourages mobility of labor and thereby provides a great scope for employment.
(e) Railway is the safest form of transport. The chances of accidents and breakdown of railways are minimum as compared to other modes of transport. Moreover, the traffic can be protected from the exposure to sun, rain snow, etc.
(f) The carrying capacity of the railways is extremely large. Moreover, its capacity is elastic which can easily be increased by adding more wagons.
(g) It is the largest public sector undertaking in the country. Railways perform many public utility services. Their charges are based on charge what the traffic can bear principles which helps the poor. 

Question : “Advancement of international trade of a country is an index to its prosperity.” Support the statement with suitable examples.
Answer : (a) No country in the world is self-sufficient in all its needs. Goods produced by one country are required by the other country and vice- versa. Hence, difference in resources, needs and development among nation creates conditions for international trade between them.
(b) It helps in exchange of surplus goods with those of deficit countries through foreign trade.
(c) Foreign trade has helped India’s economic growth, raising income levels of people thus, increasing the foreign exchange reserves.
(d) International trade helps to import advanced technology of other countries to improve its own production.
(e) Thus, prosperity of a country depends on the advancement of the international trade and hence, it is called the ‘economic barometer’ of a nation.

Question : Describe the significance of tourism as a trade in India.
Answer :  Significance of tourism as a trade in India.
(a) Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades.
(b) Foreign tourists arrival has witnessed an increase thus, contributing to foreign exchange.
(c) Over 41 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
(d) It provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
(e) Domestic tourism also promotes national integration.
(f) It helps in development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.
(g) Foreign tourists visit India for heritage tourism eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical and business tourism.

Question : “Roadways still have an edge over railways in India.” Support the statement with arguments.
Answer : Roadways v/s Railways:
(a) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines and construction time is also comparatively less.
(b) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography, which is a limitation in case of railways.
(c) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains like the Himalayas, whereas the mountainous regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities. Likewise, it is difficult to lay railway line on the sandy plains in the deserts, swampy or forested tracks.
(d) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distance, whereas railways are suitable for transportation of large number of people and goods in bulk, especially over long distances.
(e) Roadways provide door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower. Railways have not reached everywhere, there are places which are yet to be connected with the railways.
(f) Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport, such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and seaports. On the other hand, railways work as a lifeline for the economic growth of a country as they carry raw materials and produce goods from one part of the nation to another on a large scale. 

Question : Why is air travel more popular in the North- Eastern states of India? Explain.
Answer : Air transport is considered as an important means of transport in the North-Eastern part of our country because :
(a) Big rivers : Presence of big rivers like Brahmaputra make it difficult to construct roads and railways. Airways are suitable when rivers get flooded.
(b) Dissected relief : Uneven surface-not suitable for the construction of roadways and railway-are costly and can be travelled by airways.
(c) Dense forests : Dense forests hamper the construction of roadways and railways.
(d) International frontiers : International borders of Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, etc, can be easily travelled by airways without much hassles.

Question : “Roadways still have an edge over railways in India.” Support the statement with arguments.
Answer :  Roadways v/s Railways:
(a) Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines and construction time is also comparatively less.
(b) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography, which is a limitation in case of railways.
(c) Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains like the Himalayas, whereas the mountainous regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities. Likewise, it is difficult to lay railway line on the sandy plains in the deserts, swampy or forested tracks.
(d) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distance, whereas railways are suitable for transportation of large number of people and goods in bulk, especially over long distances.
(e) Roadways provide door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower. Railways have not reached everywhere, there are places which are yet to be connected with the railways.
(f) Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport, such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and seaports. On the other hand, railways work as a lifeline for the economic growth of a country as they carry raw materials and produce goods from one part of the nation to another on a large scale.

Question : Explain any five characteristics of Kandla Seaport. Communication
Answer :  Characteristics of Kandla sea port :
(a) It was the first port developed soon after India got independence.
(b) It reduced the volume of traffic of Mumbai port.
(c) It is a tidal port.
(d) Caters to exports and imports of highly productive granery and industrialised states.
(e) It ia a free trade zone.

Question : Explain with examples the condition responsible for uneven distribution pattern of the railways network in India.
Answer :  The distribution pattern of the Railway network :
(a) The northern plains with their vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provided the most favourable condition for then growth of railways.
(b) In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracks are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels.
(c) The Himalayan mountainous regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
(d) It was difficult to lay railway line on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand.
(e) The stretch of Sahyadri mountains could be crossed only though gaps or passes (Ghats). Development of railways in these areas have been difficult and so it in sparse.
(f) The development of the Konkan railway along passengers and goods.

Question : "Road transport and Rail transport in India are not competitive but complementary to each other." Justify the statement.
Answer :  Road Transport and Rail Transport : The statement 'Road transport' and 'Rail transport' in India are not competitive but complementary to each other is justified in the following ways:
(a) Road transport is more suitable for short distances whereas rail transport is more suitable for long distance travel.
(b) Road transport is economical in transportation of few people and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances, whereas rail transport is more suitable for large number of people and heavy goods.
(c) It is beneficial for perishable goods to be carried by road in short period of time, whereas non-perishable and bulky goods are transported by railways for a longer distances.
(d) Road transport increases the efficiency of railways.
(e) Road transport links the rural areas with railway stations.
(f) The deficiency of railways is compensated by road transport and vice versa.

Question : Analyse the physiographic and economic factors that have influenced the distribution pattern of the railway network in our country.
Answer :  The distribution pattern of the Railway network :
(a) The northern plains with their vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provided the most favourable condition for then growth of railways.
(b) In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracks are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels.
(c) The Himalayan mountainous regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
(d) It was difficult to lay railway line on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand.
(e) The stretch of Sahyadri mountains could be crossed only though gaps or passes (Ghats). Development of railways in these areas have been difficult and so it in sparse.
(f) The development of the Konkan railway along passengers and goods.

Question : "Indian Railways binds the economic life of the country as well as accelerates the development of industry and agriculture." Justify the statement.
Answer :  Railways are the most important mode of transport in India due to the following reasons:
(a) Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India, as they link different parts of the country.
(b) They carry huge loads and bulky goods to long distances.
(c) Railways make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with goods transportation over longer distance.
(e) Railways have been a great integrating force for the nation for more than 150 years.
(f) They have accelerated the development of the industry and agriculture.

Question : Explain with example of the changing nature of international trade of India in the last fifteen years.
Answer : There has been a change in the nature of our international trade :
(a) Since 2004-2008, the share of agriculture and allied products, ores and minerals, chemical engineering goods has been increasing in international trade.
(b) Exchange of commodities and goods have been superseded by the exchange of information and knowledge.
(c) India has emerged as a software giant at international level.
(d) India is earning large foreign exchange through the use of information technology.
(e) Imports : Commodities imports include petroleum and petroleum products and high quality coal.

Question : Describe any five major problems faced by road transport in India.
Answer : Five problems faced by road transport in India are given below :
(a) Volume of traffic and passengers is very large.
(b) Road network is inadequate.
(c) Half the roads are unmetalled, which limits their usage in rainy seasons.
(d) National highways too are inadequate and congested.
(e) Roadways are highly congested in cities and most bridges and culverts are old and narrow.

Question : Name the longest National Waterway of India. Write any three points of importance of waterways.
Answer : The longest National Waterway of India in the Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia. Importance of waterways:
(a) It is most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.
(b) It is a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
(c) More than 95% of the country’s trade volume is moved by the sea.
(d) It is the cheapest means of transport.
(e) They are the natural routes, which do not involve cost of construction.

Question : How do modern means of transport serve as lifelines of our nation? Explain.
Answer :  Transport is the basic arterles of nation’s economy because :
(a) Economic development of a region or a country very largely depends upon the dense network of transport and communication.
(b) They link areas of production with consumption, agriculture with industry and village with towns and cities.
(c) They help the industry by transporting raw materials and distribution of finished good.

Question : Classify communication services into two categories. Explain main features of each.
Answer :  Communication services can be classified in two categories :

(a) Personal communication :
(a) Communication between two or more persons at personal level is personal communication.
(b) The India postal network handles parcels as well as personal written communication.
(c) Cards and envelops, posts and telegraph and email are examples.
(d) Telephone services like STD, ISD provide easy and comfortable network to a large number of people that facilitates personal communication.

(b) Mass communication :
(a) It is the communication through, which one can communicate with several people at the same time.
(b) It provides the entertainment (movies) and creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies very quickly.
(c) It includes print media like newpapers, magazines, book, etc. and electronic media like radio, television, Etc. 

Question : Explain any four advantages of pipeline transportation.
Answer : Pipeline transport network is the new mode of transport these days. In the past, pipelines were used to transport water to cities and industries. Now, these are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal power plants. Solids can also be transported as slurry.
Merits :
(a) Useful in transporting gas, liquids and solid slurry from far away location.
(b) Subsequent running costs after laying down the network are minimal.
(c) It rules out trans-shipment losses or delays.
Demerits :
(a) Initial cost of laying pipelines is high.
(b) Pipelines can burst or can have leakage leading to wastage of valuable resource like water mineral oil, etc.