Life Lines of National Economy Class 10 Social Science Notes and Questions

The Brahmaputra  river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km)

The Ganga  river  between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km)

Kerala

Pipeline transportation network. It transports gas, liquids and solids in slurry form.

The major objective behind developing super- highways is to reduce distance and time taken to travel between the large cities of India

JLN port was developed  with the aim to de- congest the Mumbai port and serve as a hub to this region.

Haldia  seaport  was set-up,  as a subsidiary port to reduce the load of Kolkata port.

(b) Allahabad and Haldia

(c ) Mumbai

(c ) Delhi-Chennai

We need various things to sustain our lives in the form of goods, services and support systems. The same applies to all occupational activities. Each of the requirements cannot be in the close vicinity of our place of living. 

We need to move the goods and services from the supply localities to the demand localities and this is done by the transportation system. We also need efficient transportation  for people to reach their places of work, play and learning efficiently. All these activities, which are integral in the economic growth of the local population and the country as a whole is greatly dependent on the transport sector. Thus a dense and efficient network of trans- portation  is a prerequisite for local and national development. Examples are –

(i)  fast and  efficiently moving transport  is required for traded items to reach their destinations on time, otherwise business will suffer.

(ii)  Transport is required to carry raw materials to production centers.

(iii) From   manufacturing   hubs   to   markets particularly for perishable goods.

(iv) Movement of people is also very important for trade and business.

We need various things to sustain our lives in the form of goods, services and support systems. The same applies to all occupational activities. Each of the requirements cannot be in the close vicinity of our place of living. 

We need to move the goods and services from the supply localities to the demand localities and this is done by the transportation system. We also need efficient transportation  for people to reach their places of work, play and learning efficiently. All these activities, which are integral in the economic growth of the local population and the country as a whole is greatly dependent on the transport sector. Thus a dense and efficient network of trans- portation  is a prerequisite for local and national development. Examples are –

(i)  fast and  efficiently moving transport  is required for traded items to reach their destinations on time, otherwise business will suffer.

(ii)  Transport is required to carry raw materials to production centers.

(iii) From   manufacturing   hubs   to   markets particularly for perishable goods.

(iv) Movement of people is also very important for trade and business.

(i) It facilitates regular and efficient long distance travel and transportation of bulky goods which are not easily transported  through motor vehicles. 

(ii)  It helps in the industrialization process of a country by easy transportation  of coal and raw- materials efficiently and at a cheaper rate.

(iii) It helps in the quick movement of goods from one place to another at the time of emergencies like famines and scarcity.

(iv) It encourages mobility of labor and thereby provides a great scope for employment.

(v)  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.

(vi) The carrying capacity of the  railways is extremely large. Moreover, its capacity is elastic which can easily be increased by adding  more wagons.

(vii) 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.

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  :

(i)   Useful in transporting  gas, liquids and solid slurry from far away location.

(ii)  Subsequent running  costs after laying down the network are minimal.

(iii) It rules out trans-shipment losses or delays.

Demerits :

(i)   Initial cost of laying pipelines is high.

(ii)  Pipelines  can  burst  or  can  have  leakage leading to wastage of valuable resource like water mineral oil, etc.

(i)  Rural roads link rural areas and villages with important towns.

(ii)  These roads received special impetus under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna.

(iii) Special provisions  are  made  so  that  every village in the country is linked to a major town in the country by an all season motorable road.

Features of water ways in India are :

(i)   India has been one of the seafaring countries. (ii) Seamen sailed far and near; carrying and spreading Indian commerce and culture.

(iii) Waterways  are   the   cheapest  means   of transport.

(iv) They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long distance.

(v)  It is fuel-efficient and environment  friendly mode of transport.

Following   are   the   factors   that    accord prominence to airways as a mode of transportation: (i)   They are the fastest mode of transportation. (ii)  They are  the  best  means  of  transport  for remote, inaccessible and hostile areas.

(iii) Airways play a vital role in the event of natural and human-made calamities like floods, famines, earthquake, epidemics and war by virtue of their swiftness.

(i) It facilitates regular and efficient long distance travel and transportation of bulky goods which are not easily transported  through motor vehicles. 

(ii)  It helps in the industrialization process of a country by easy transportation  of coal and raw- materials efficiently and at a cheaper rate.

(iii) It helps in the quick movement of goods from one place to another at the time of emergencies like famines and scarcity.

(iv) It encourages mobility of labor and thereby provides a great scope for employment.

(v)  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.

(vi) The carrying capacity of the  railways is extremely large. Moreover, its capacity is elastic which can easily be increased by adding  more wagons.

(vii) 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.

Metalled roads are made of either cement, concrete or bitumen  of coal therefore, these are durable over unmetalled road. Unmetalled roads go out of use in rainy season.

Border roads plays an important role in connecting strategically important difficult areas in the Indian boarders and helps in the economic development of the area. National Highways are the primary road system which links extreme parts of the country.

.  Merits of air transport are:

(i)  It is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.

(ii)  It can cover very difficult surface terrains with great ease.

(iii) It makes access to far-flung and remote or otherwise inaccessible areas easier and quicker.

(iv) It provides transport  services to offshore oil and gas exploration activities.

Demerits of air transport are :

(i)   It is a relatively costly means of transportation. (ii)  Places not having airports or helipads cannot be reached.

(i)  Conversion  of  meter  gauge  to  broad gauge.

(ii)  Steam engines have been replaced by diesel and electric engines. This has increased the speed and haulage capacity. 

(iii) The replacement of steam engine run by coal has improved the environment of stations and its surroundings.

(iv) Railways routes have been extended to areas were there was no railway lines earlier.

The following problems are faced by the railways:

(i)   Travelling without ticket.

(ii)  Thefts and damaging railway property.

(iii) Stopping of trains without any emergency on necessity in unauthorised way.

(iv) Railways also face challenges in constructing and maintaining   railway tracks in mountains, sandy plains, and swampy areas.

(i)  The Golden Quadrilateral Super Highway is a major road development project linking Delhi

– Kolkata – Chennai – Mumbai and Delhi by six lane super highways.

(ii)  The  two  major  objectives of  these  Super Highways projects are to
(a) reduce the time, and
(b)  Distance between the mega cities of India.

(iii)  The North-South Corridors linking Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) and Kanayakumari (Tamil Nadu) and East-West Corridor connecting Silchar (Assam) and Porbander (Gujarat).

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  :

(i)   Useful in transporting  gas, liquids and solid slurry from far away location.

(ii)  Subsequent running  costs after laying down the network are minimal.

(iii) It rules out trans-shipment losses or delays.

Demerits :

(i)   Initial cost of laying pipelines is high.

(ii)  Pipelines  can  burst  or  can  have  leakage leading to wastage of valuable resource like water mineral oil, etc.

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.

Roadways v/s Railways:

(i)   Construction  cost of roads  is much  lower than that of railway lines and construction time is also comparatively less.

(ii) Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography, which is a limitation in case of railways.

(iii) 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.

(iv) 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.

(v)  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.

(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 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.

The distribution  pattern of the Railway network :

(i)   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.

(ii)  In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracks are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels. 

(iii) The Himalayan  mountainous  regions  are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.

(iv) 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.

(v)  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.

(vi) The development of the Konkan railway along passengers and goods.

(i)  This pipeline is about 1700 km. long.

(ii) Hazira-Jaipur-Jagdishpur cross country gas pipeline  links  Mumbai  High  and  Bassien with the fertilizer, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India.

(iii) This artery has provided an impetus to India’s gas production.

(iv) The power and fertilizer industries are the key users of natural gas.

(v)  Use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles to  replace liquid  fuels is gaining wide popularity in the country.

Transport is the basic arterles of nation’s economy because :

(i)  Economic development of a region or a country very largely depends upon the dense network of transport and communication.

(ii) They  link  areas  of  production   with consumption, agriculture with industry and village with towns and cities.

(iii) They help the industry by transporting  raw materials and distribution of finished good.

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:

(i)  Road transport is more suitable for short distances whereas rail transport  is more suitable for long distance travel.

(ii) 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. 

(iii) 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.

(iv) Road  transport  increases  the  efficiency of railways.

(v) Road transport links the rural areas with railway stations.

(vi) The deficiency of railways is compensated by road transport and vice versa.

The distribution  pattern of the Railway network :

(i)   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.

(ii)  In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracks are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels.

(iii) The Himalayan  mountainous  regions  are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.

(iv) 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.

(v)  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.

(vi) The development of the Konkan railway along passengers and goods.

Railways are  the  most  important  mode  of transport in India due to the following reasons:

(i) Railways are the principal mode  of transportation for freight and passengers in India, as they link different parts of the country.

(ii)  They carry huge loads and  bulky goods to long distances.

(iii) Railways  make   it   possible  to   conduct multifarious  activities like business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with goods transportation  over longer distance.

(iv) Railways have been a great integrating force for the nation for more than 150 years.

(v)  They have accelerated the development of the industry and agriculture.

Five problems  faced by road  transport  in

India are given below :

(i)   Volume of traffic and passengers is very large. (ii)   Road network is inadequate.

(iii) Half the roads are unmetalled, which limits their usage in rainy seasons.

(iv) National highways too are inadequate and congested.

(v)  Roadways are highly congested in cities and most bridges and culverts are old and narrow.

Roads are classified as given below :

(i)  Golden  Quadrilateral  Super  Highways- reduce the time and distance between the mega cities of India.

(ii)   National Highways-connect the state capitals, big cities and important ports.

(iii) State Highways-join the state capitals with district headquarters.

(iv) District Roads-connect the district centres with the major roads.

(v)  Other   Rural  Roads-link  rural   areas  and villages with towns. 

(vi) Border Roads-have increased accessibility in areas of difficult terrain along the country’s border. Projects related to super highways are being implemented by the NHAI.

Merits of air transport are :

(i)   It is the most comfortable mode of transport. (ii)  It is the fastest mode of transport.

(iii) It is the prestigious mode of transport.

(iv) It can cover very difficult terrains like high mountain and dreary deserts.

(v)  Dense forests and oceans are not problems for air transport. It covers them with great ease.

Air transport  is considered as an important means of transport  in the North-Eastern  part of our country because :

(i)  Big rivers :    Presence of big rivers like Brahmaputra make it difficult to construct roads and railways. Airways are suitable when rivers get flooded.

(ii)  Dissected relief : Uneven surface-not suitable for the construction of roadways and railway-are costly and can be travelled by airways.

(iii)  Dense forests : Dense forests hamper the construction of roadways and railways.

(iv) International frontiers : International borders of Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, etc, can be easily travelled by airways without much hassles.

(i)  Border Road Organization was established in 1960.

(ii) This organization develops the roads of strategic importance in the North and the North East border areas.

(iii) These roads  have improved  accessibility in areas of difficult terrain.

(iv) These roads have enabled the economy to develop in the border areas.

(i) Commodities transported by pipelines : Crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas and even solids in the form of slurry.

(ii)  Network

(a) From  upper  Assam to  Kanpur  (Uttar Pradesh), via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad. It has branches from Barauni to Haldia via Rajbandh, Rajbandh to Maurigram and Guwahati to Siliguri.
(b)  From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab via Viramgam,  Mathura,  Delhi and  Sonipat. It has branches to connect Koyali (near Vododara, Gujarat) Chakshu and other places.

The longest National Waterway of India in the Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia. Importance of waterways:

(i)   It  is most  suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.

(ii)   It is a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.

(iii) More than 95% of the country’s trade volume is moved by the sea.

(iv) It is the cheapest means of transport.

(v)  They are the natural  routes, which do   not involve cost of construction.

Characteristics of Kandla sea port :

(i)   It was the first port developed soon after India got independence.

(ii)  It reduced the volume of traffic of Mumbai port.

(iii) It is a tidal port.

(iv) Caters to exports and imports  of highly productive granery and industrialised states.

(v)  It ia a free trade zone.

We need various things to sustain our lives in the form of goods, services and support systems. The same applies to all occupational activities. Each of the requirements cannot be in the close vicinity of our place of living.

We need to move the goods and services from the supply localities to the demand localities and this is done by the transportation system. We also need efficient transportation  for people to reach their places of work, play and learning efficiently. All these activities, which are integral in the economic growth of the local population and the country as a whole is greatly dependent on the transport sector. Thus a dense and efficient network of trans- portation  is a prerequisite for local and national development. Examples are –

(i)  fast and  efficiently moving transport  is required for traded items to reach their destinations on time, otherwise business will suffer.

(ii)  Transport is required to carry raw materials to production centers.

(iii) From   manufacturing   hubs   to   markets particularly for perishable goods.

(iv) Movement of people is also very important for trade and business.

Transport  and communication  are the basic arteries of a nation’s economy because :

(i)  Economic development of a region or a country very largely depends upon the dense network of transport and communication.

(ii)    They link areas of production  with consumption, agriculture with industry and village with towns and cities.

(iii) They help the industry by transporting  raw materials and distribution of finished goods.

Rapid    improvement     in    information technology has stimulated the spread of products and services.

(i)   Remarkable developments in information and communication technology helps to spread the information about products among a large section of the population, which facilitates business very quickly.

(ii)  Telecommunication  and  mobile  telephony are  used  to  contact  one  another   around   the world, to access information  instantly, and to communicate from remote areas. The network is also used to transmit large amounts of data.

(iii) Through  the  Internet,  one  can  obtain  and share information on almost anything. It also allows to send e-mail and talk across the world at negligible cost. It has also opened up online trade and retailing.

Personal     communication      means     a communication between two persons either through  oral,  letter  or  through  telephone,  etc, while mass communication includes the use of radio, television, press, films, etc, for wider public audience.

The two points of importance of mass communication are :

(i)   provides entertainment to a large audience

(ii)  creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies very quickly.

Communication services can be classified in two categories :

(i)   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. (ii)  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.

Mass communication : It covers large number of people at the same time. Different means of mass communication  are radio, television, films, internet, newspapers and magazines.

Significance of mass communication are :

(i)   Covers more than 95% of India’s total population

(ii)  Provides education and entertainment (iii) Most instant means of mass information (iv) Brings all classes of people together

Dense and efficient network of transport and communication are necessary for development.

(i)   We use different material and services. Only some of these are available near us while other requirements are met by bringing them from other places. Movement of these goods and services need communication and transport.

(ii)  Today, the world has become small with the help of efficient and fast moving transport.

(iii) We have been able to achieve this with the help of well developed communication system.

(iv) Therefore transport  and communication  are complementary to each other and are needed for trade.

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

.  Significance of tourism as a trade in India.

(i)   Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades.

(ii)  Foreign  tourists  arrival  has  witnessed  an increase thus, contributing to foreign exchange. (iii) Over 41 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.

(iv) It provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.

(v) Domestic tourism also promotes national integration.

(vi) It  helps in  development  of international understanding about our culture and heritage.

(vii) Foreign   tourists   visit  India   for   heritage tourism eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical and business tourism.

The industries closely linked with tourism is handicraft industry, sculpture, sea-shell, regional handloom, etc. Indian handicraft and handloom in particular hold special attraction for the western tourists. Hospitality in services sectors is benefitted immensely by tourism.

The transportation  services reap the benefits of tourism. Over 10 million foreign tourists visit India every years. For  example, tourism  contributed $230 billion to the Indian exchequer in year 2017 and generated employment for over 41 million people in the tourism industry (2017).

(i) Trade between two countries is called international trade.

(ii)  One of the important features of international trade of India is information technology.

(i)  The exchanges of goods among people, states and countries is referred to as trade.

(ii) Trade  between two  counties  is called international trade.

(iii) When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, it is called a favourable balance of trade.

(iv) When the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is termed as unfavourable balance of trade.

Tourism  is  very important  for  the  Indian economy :

(a)   According to the World Travel and Tourism Council tourism generated US$230 billion or 9.4% of the nation’s GDP in 2017 and supported 41.622 million jobs, 8% of its total employment. Over 10 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2017. Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories (domestic tourism) numbered 1,036.35 million (in 2012).

(b)  Tourism also promotes national integration, provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.

(c)   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.

(d)  The  various  industries   that   benefit  from tourism  are handicraft  industry,  sculpture,  sea-shell, regional handloom etc.

(e) Hospitality is another sector that benefits tremendously from tourism. So does the transport sector including air, railways and road transport.

(i)  The exchanges of goods among people, states and countries is referred to as trade.

(ii)  Trade   between   two   counties   is   called international trade.

(iii) When the value of export exceeds the value of imports, it is called a favourable balance of trade. (iv) When the value of imports exceeds the value of exports, it is termed as unfavourable balance of Trade.

Importance :

(i)   International trade of a country is an index to its economic prosperity.

(ii)  It is considered as the economic barometer for a country. 

(iii) As the resources are space bound, no country can survive without international trade.

(iv) Countries have trade relations with the major trading blocks.

(v)  In the present times exchange of commodities and goods have been superseded by the exchange of information and knowledge.

(i)  Tourism : “The cultural, recreational and commercial visit to different places is known as Tourism.” It is called trade because it provides huge income to the country and employment to people. 

The industries closely linked with tourism is handicraft industry, sculpture, sea-shell, regional handloom, etc. Indian handicraft and handloom in particular hold special attraction for the western tourists. Hospitality in services sectors is benefitted immensely by tourism.

The transportation  services reap the benefits of tourism. Over 10 million foreign tourists visit India every years. For  example, tourism  contributed

$230 billion to the Indian exchequer in year 2017 and generated employment for over 41 million people in the tourism industry (2017).

(i)  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.

(ii)  It helps in exchange of surplus goods with those of deficit countries through foreign trade.

(iii) Foreign  trade  has helped  India’s  economic growth,  raising  income  levels of  people  thus, increasing the foreign exchange reserves.

(iv) International trade helps to import advanced technology of other countries to improve its own production.

(v)  Thus, prosperity of a country depends on the advancement of the international trade and hence, it is called the ‘economic barometer’ of a nation.

There has been a change in the nature of our international trade :

(i)   Since  2004-2008, the  share  of  agriculture and allied products, ores and minerals, chemical engineering goods has been increasing in international trade.

(ii)  Exchange of commodities and goods have been superseded by the exchange of information and knowledge.

(iii)  India has emerged as a software giant at international level.

(iv) India  is  earning  large foreign  exchange through the use of information technology.

(v) Imports : Commodities imports include petroleum and petroleum products and high quality coal.