CBSE Class 10 Social Science Lifelines of the National Economy Important Questions Set C

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. ‘‘The pace of change in the communication sector has been rapid in modern times.’’ Support the statement with examples.
Answer: The pace of change in the communication sector has been rapid in modern times because of following reasons:
(i) As the pace of change has been rapid in modern times, long distance communication has become far easier without physical movement of the communicator or receiver. Personal communication has immensely improved. The Indian Postal Network, handles parcels as well as personal written communications. Cards, mails, book packets, registered newspapers and periodicals are all carried through various means of transport. Mail Channels such as Rajdhani Channel, Metro Channel etc. have introduced to facilitate quick delivery of mails in large towns and cities.
(ii) The Subscriber Trunk Dialing (STD) telephone facility has marked as evolution in strengthening telecom networks in India by integrating the development in space technology with communication technology.
(iii) Mass Communication, a means of entertainment as well as a medium of creating awareness covers a wide range including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books, and films. Example : All India Radio (Akashvani), Doordarshan.

Question. ‘‘Roadways have an edge over Railways.’’ Support the statement with examples.
Answer: Roadways have an edge over Railways because of following reason:
(i) Road transport operating cost is cheaper than rail transport.
(ii) Road transport is easy to access in hilly areas whereas in rail transport it’s difficult to reach such places.
(iii) Door to door transportation can only be provided by roadways.
(iv) Construction and maintenance cost is less in road transport whereas it’s more in rail transport.
(v) Road transport is better than rail transport to transport goods for short distance.

Question. “The distribution pattern of the railway network in India has been mainly influenced by physiographic and economic factors,” Support the statement with suitable examples. OR Explain with example the condition responsible for in even distribution pattern of the following network in India.
Answer: The distribution pattern of the railway network in the country is largely influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors :
(i) The northern plains, with their vast stretch of level land, high density of population and rich agricultural resources, provide favourable conditions for the development of railway network. Construction of bridges over wide river beds sometimes is a hurdle.
(ii) In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracks are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels. However, the entire peninsular region, and Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are mineral belts of India. This encourages the development of railway tracks for transport of minerals to the industries and also commutation of labourers.
(iii) The laying of railway tracks over the Himalayan belt is difficult because of the high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
(iv) In sandy plains of Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat and forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand also it is difficult to lay down railway tracks.
(v) The railway tracks can pass only through gaps or passes in the Sahyadri.
(vi) The Konkan railway facilitates transport of passengers and goods in the most important economic region of India.

Question. Explain any three major problems faced by road transport in India.
Answer: Road transportation in India faces a lot of problems:
(i) The road transport network is inadequate when compared to the volume of traffic and passengers. The roadways are highly congested in cities and most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
(ii) About half of the roads are unmetalled limiting their usage during the rainy season.
(iii) The distribution of road is not uniform in the country. The national highways too are inadequate.

Question. What is the significance of the title ‘Lifelines of National economy’ ? OR Why are the means of transportation and communication known as the lifeline of a nation and its economy ?
Answer: The pace of development of any country depends upon the production of goods and services as well as their movement over space. Movement of these goods and service can be over three domains of earth i.e., land, water and air. Therefore, efficient means of transport are pre-requisites for fast development. They connect one part of the country to the other part and help the industries to get the raw materials as well as the finished products. It also develops a nexus among different cultures and religions. Agriculture also depends on transportation. Thus, they are known as the lifeline of an economy.

Question. What problems are faced by the railways ?
Answer: Today, the railways have become more important in our national economy than all other means of transport put together. However, railway transport suffers from certain problems as well.
(i) Many passengers travel without tickets.
(ii) Thefts and damaging of railway property has not yet stopped completely.
(iii) People stop the trains by pulling chains unnecessarily and this causes heavy damage to railways.

Question. Mention the three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country.
Answer: There are three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country.
(i) From oil field in upper Assam to Kanpur, via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad. It has branches from Barauni to Haldia, via Rajbandh, Rajbandh to Maurigram and Guwahati to Siliguri.
(ii) From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab, via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat. It has branches to connect Koyali, Ckakshu and other places.
(iii) Gas pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat connects Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh, via Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh. It has branches to Kota in Rajasthan, Shahjahanpur, Babrala and other places in Uttar Pradesh.

Question. Why waterways are important ?
Answer: India has been one of the sea facing countries. Its importance can be judged based on the following reasons :
(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 and environment friendly mode of transport.
(iv) India’s trade with foreign countries is carried out through the ports located along the coast.
(v) 95% of the country’s trade is moved by sea.

Question. What is communication ? What are the two major means of communication ?
Answer: Communication is a process of exchanging information, ideas, thoughts, feelings and emotions through speech, signals, writing, or behaviour. The two major means of communication are :
(i) Personal communication including letter, e-mail, telephone, etc.
(ii) Mass communication including television, radio, press, films, etc.

Question. Why are transport, trade and communication complementary to each other ?
Answer: (i) For a long time, trade and transport were restricted to a limited space.
(ii) With the development of science and technology, the area of influence of trade and transport expanded far and wide.
(iii) Today, the world has been converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport.
(iv) With the help of an advanced communication system, transport has become even faster in the recent time.

Question. “Dense and efficient network of transport is a prerequisite for local and national development.” Analyse the statement.
Answer: (a) Dense and efficient network of transport aids trade and commerce by increasing the ease with which they can be taken from one place to another (products and raw materials).
(b) They increase accessibility to markets and site of production. Save time and labour. Act as an integrating force. As resources are space bound no country can sustain without trade (International/National) which is superceded by transport and communication.
(c) Increased technology in transport has linked the countries, made a global village, binded the economic life, aided in development of agriculture and rural areas along with industries and urban development.
(d) It has increase foreign investment and foreign trade by globalization.

Question. ‘‘The advancement of international trade of a country is an index of its economic development.’’ Justify the statement.
Answer: Advancement of international trade of a country is an index of economic development :
(i) As no country is self sufficient in all resources, it cannot survive without international trade.
(ii) If the balance of international trade is favourable, a country will be able to earn more foreign exchange.
(iii) International trade encourages a country to develop secondary and tertiary sectors for exporting good which can fetch more foreign exchange.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Mention any two inland waterways of India. Write three characteristic of each.
Answer: Two inland waterways of India are : (i) The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri. (ii) The West-Coast canal in Kerala.
Characteristics of Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri are as follows :
(i) The waterway is 891 km long on river Brahmaputra.
(ii) Long cruise tourist vessels make voyages between Sivsagar and Dibrugarh continuously. Thus, making it a commercially beneficial inland waterway.
(iii) Border security force deployed on this inland waterway is proving to be important base for defense of the country.
Characteristics of West-Coast canal in India are as follows :
(i) The waterway is 205 km long on the canals of Kerala.
(ii) The backwaters of Kerala prove to be cheap means of transport attracting tourists.

Question. Why is air travel more popular in the North-Eastern states of India ? Explain.
Answer: Air travel is more popular in the North-Eastern states of India due to following reasons:
(i) It can cover very difficult terrains like high mountains, lifeless deserts, dense forests and also long oceanic stretches with great ease.
(ii) North-eastern part of the country is marked with the presence of big rivers, dissected relief, dense forests and frequent floods, etc. In the absence of air transport, living in this part of India is difficult.
(iii) There are international frontiers in this part of India which requires regular surveillance. So, a developed air transport is essential.
(iv) Air travel is not within the reach of the common people. It is only in the north-eastern states that special provisions are made to extend the services to the common people.

Question. Define the term ‘tourism’ known as a trade ? Explain.
Answer: Tourism is defined as a visit to various places by people for cultural, recreational or commercial reasons. Tourism may be domestic or international. Due to the following reasons tourism known as trade:
(i) Tourism plays an important role in the growth of national income. Only foreign tourists contribute 21828 crore rupees of foreign exchange.
(ii) Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades. More than 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
(iii) Tourism also promotes national integration, provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
(iv) Tourism also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage. Foreign tourists visit India for heritage tourism, eco tourism

Question. “Roadways have an edge over the railways in India.” Support the statement with example.
Answer: The roadways have an edge over the railways in India because of the ease with which they can be built and maintained.
(i) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography. Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas. Construction of railway lines in the Himalayan mountainous regions is unfavourable because of high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
(ii) Roadways provide door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower. This facility is not possible in railways.
(iii) Construction cost of roadways is much lower than that of railway lines. Construction of railway lines over mountain belts, rivers, plateaus is difficult and becomes costly.
(iv) Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances. Railways are suitable for mass transportation of goods and people.
(v) Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport, like it may provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports.

Question. On what basis roads are classified in India ?
Answer: In India, roads are classified into the following six classes according to their capacity.
(i) Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways : The government has launched a major road development project linking Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-Mumbai and Delhi by six lane Super Highways.
(ii) National Highways : National Highways link extreme parts of the country. These are the primary road systems and are laid and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The historical Sher Shah Suri Marg is called National Highway No.1, between Delhi and Amritsar.
(iii) State Highways : Roads linking a state capital with different district headquarters are known as State Highways. These roads are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in state and Union territories.
(iv) District Roads : District Roads connect the district headquarters with other places of the district. These roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.
(v) Other Roads : Rural roads, which link rural areas and villages with towns, are classified under this category.
(vi) Border Roads : Border Roads Organization, a Government of India undertaking constructs and maintains border roads.

Question. Describe the significance of pipelines in India.
Answer: The significance of pipelines in India are stated as follows :
(i) They are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from oil fields and natural gas fields to refineries, fertiliser factories and big thermal power plants.
(ii) Solids can also be transported through a pipeline when converted into slurry.
(iii) Because of pipelines, refineries at Barauni, Mathura, Panipat and gas based fertiliser plants, could be located in the interiors of India.
(iv) Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal.
(v) Pipelines rules out transshipment (during transportation) losses or delays.

Question. Explain the importance of Railways as a means of transport.
Answer: (i) Railways are the principal mode of transport for passengers and goods and.
(ii) They make it possible to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing and pilgrimage.
(iii) They are best suited for the transport of heavy and bulky goods over large terrestrial distance.
(iv) Indian Railways have been an integrating force since the last hundred years.
(v) The railway system bind the economic life of people and accelerate the development of industries and agriculture.
(vi) This promote national unity.

Question. Give a detailed study of Mass Communication.
Answer: Mass communication provides entertainment and creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies. It is the means through which one can communicate with several people at the same time.
(i) It includes radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books and films.
(ii) All India Radio (Akash Vani or Voice from the Sky) broadcasts a variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages for various categories of people spread over different parts of the country.
(iii) Doordarshan, the national television channel of India, is one of the largest terrestrial networks in the world.
(iv) Doordarshan broadcasts a variety of programmes from entertainment, educational to sports, etc., for people of different age groups.

Question. “Efficient means of transport and communication has converted the world into a large village”. Explain this statement with the help of examples.
Answer: Efficient means of transport and communication has coverted the world into a larger village which can be understood through following points.
(i) Through transport and communication, we are well-linked with the rest of the world.
(ii) India is united despite its vast size, diversity and linguistic, and socio-cultural plurality.
(iii) Railways, airways, waterways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet, etc., lead to India’s socio-economic progress in many ways.
(iv) The trades from local to international levels have added to the strength of our economy.
(v) It has enriched our life and molded the socio-economic life of the nation.

Source/Extract Based Questions

Railways are the principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India. Railways also make it possible for people to conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with transportation of goods over longer distances. Apart from an important means of transport the Indian Railways have been a great integrating force for more than 150 years. Railways in India bind the economic life of the country as well as accelerate the development of the industry and agriculture. The distribution pattern of the Railway network in the country has been largely influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors. The northern plains with their vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provided the most favourable condition for their growth. However, a large number of rivers requiring construction of bridges across their wide beds posed some obstacles. In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracts are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels. The Himalayan mountainous regions too are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities. Likewise, it was difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand.

Question. How many zones the Indian Railway is organized?
Answer: The Indian Railway is reorganized in 16 zones.

Question. Discuss the problems suffered by rail transport?
Answer: (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. Why it is difficult to lay railway tracts in hilly areas ?
Answer: The hilly regions are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.

For a long time, trade and transport were restricted to a limited space. With the development in science and technology, the area of influence of trade and transport expanded far and wide. Today, the world has been 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 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 and linguistic and socio cultural plurality. Railways, airways, waterways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet, etc. have been contributing to its socio-economic progress in many ways. The trades from local to international levels have added to the vitality of its economy. It has enriched our life and added substantially to growing amenities and facilities for the comforts of life.

Question. The world is shrinking because of advancement in ________ and ________
(a) Science and Technology
(b) Art and Culture
(c) Dance and Music
(d) All of the above
Answer: (a)

Question. Different types of transportation help in socio-economic development of a nation. Identify which domain of the earth the following features of transportation belong to: a. National Highways, b. Shipping Ports, c. Airports.
(a) a-2, b-3, c-1
(b) a-3, b-1, c-2
(c) a-2, b-1, c-3
(d) a-1, b-3, c-2
Answer: (a)

Question. Which one of the followings is not an India's challenge to connect the world?
(a) Complex land features
(b) Cultural and linguistic diversity
(c) Access to sea
(d) Vast area
Answer: (c)

Question. In order to expand its global trade, India needs to:
(a) Invest more in infrastructure
(b) Develop advance transport and communication network
(c) Liberalise trade policies
(d) Restrict import of foreign products.
Answer: (d)

As the resources are space bound, no country can survive without international trade. Export and import are the components of trade. The balance of trade of a country is the difference between its export and import. When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, it is called a favourable balance of trade. On the contrary, if the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is termed as unfavourable balance of trade.India has trade relations with all the major trading blocks and all geographical regions of the world. The commodities exported from India to other countries include gems and jewellery, chemicals and related products, agriculture and allied products, etc. The commodities imported to India include petroleum crude and products, gems and jewellery, chemicals and related products, base metals, electronic items, machinery, agriculture and allied products. India has emerged as a software giant at the international level and it is earning large foreign exchange through the export of information technology.

Question. ________ distribution of resources leads to more dependency of countries on each other.
Answer: Unequal.

Question. Find out the correct sequence of the following trade conditions: a. More export less import, b. Difference between its export and import, c. More imports less exports.
(a) a-3, b-2, c-1
(b) a-2, b-1, c-3
(c) a-1, b-3, c-2
(d) a-3, b-1, c-2
Answer: (a)

Question. Which one of the following statement is not true in context to India?
(a) India maintains good trade relations with all the major countries.
(b) India's balance of trade is unfavourable.
(c) India leads the world in I.T. sector.
(d) India's trade policies are not export friendly.
Answer: (d)

Question. In order to make favourable balance of trade, the government should:
(a) Priorities local products
(b) Impose taxes on local producers
(c) Excel in the areas of production
(d) Impose traded barriers
Answer: (b)