Class 10 Geo Ch 7 – Lifelines of National Economy
NCERT CLASS 10 GEOGRAPHY • DETAILED SOLUTIONS • CHAPTER 7 • LIFELINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

Lifelines of National Economy

Detailed Explanations & Map Work

Short Answer Questions
Question 1
Why are Roadways considered better than Railways? Give reasons.
Roadways have an edge over railways for the following reasons:
  • Construction Cost: The construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines.
  • Topography: Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography. They can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas.
  • Door-to-Door Service: Road transport provides door-to-door service, reducing the cost of loading and unloading.
  • Feeder to other modes: Road transport provides a link between railway stations, airports, and sea ports.
Question 2
What is the significance of the Border Roads?
Border Roads Organisation (BRO), established in 1960, maintains roads in the bordering areas of the country. Their significance lies in:
  • Strategic Importance: They improve accessibility in areas of difficult terrain (Northern and North-Eastern border areas), which is crucial for the movement of defense forces.
  • Economic Development: These roads have helped in the economic development of these remote border areas by linking them to the mainland.
Question 3
Differentiate between Personal communication and Mass communication.
1. Personal Communication:
It involves communication between two individuals.
Examples: Letters (First-class mail), Telephone, Mobile phones, Emails.
2. Mass Communication:
It provides entertainment and creates awareness among people about various national programmes and policies. It reaches millions of people at the same time.
Examples: Radio (Akashwani), Television (Doordarshan), Newspapers, Films, Magazines.
Long Answer Questions
Question 1
“Dense and efficient network of transport and communication is a prerequisite for national and international trade.” Justify.
Transport, communication, and trade are complementary to each other:
  • Movement of Goods: Goods and services do not move from supply locales to demand locales on their own. Transport facilitates this movement.
  • Global Village: Today, the world has been converted into a large village with the help of efficient and fast moving transport. Communication (Internet, Phone) supports this by allowing instant information exchange.
  • Economic Growth: Railways, airways, waterways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet have been contributing to its socio-economic progress in many ways.
  • Conclusion: No country can survive without international trade (export/import). Dense transport networks ensure that raw materials reach factories and finished goods reach markets/ports efficiently.
Question 2
Explain the importance of Pipelines in India.
Pipelines were earlier used to transport water to cities and industries. Now, their use has expanded:
  • Transporting Energy: They are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas from oil/gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories, and big thermal power plants.
  • Solids as Slurry: Even solids like iron ore can be transported through pipelines when converted into slurry.
  • Inland Locations: Refineries at far inland locations like Barauni, Mathura, Panipat, and gas-based fertilizer plants could be thought of only because of pipelines.
  • Cost: While the initial cost of laying pipelines is high, subsequent running costs are minimal. It rules out trans-shipment losses or delays.
Question 3
Why is air travel preferred in the North-Eastern states of India?
Air travel is not just a luxury but a necessity in the North-East due to geographical challenges:
  • Difficult Terrain: The region is marked by big rivers (Brahmaputra), dissected relief, and dense forests.
  • Natural Calamities: Frequent floods often submerge roads and railway tracks, cutting off connectivity.
  • International Frontiers: It is a sensitive border area requiring fast movement.
  • Pawan Hans Helicopters: Provides services to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and to inaccessible areas and difficult terrains of North-Eastern states and the interior parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Question 4
What is the significance of Tourism as a trade?
Tourism in India has grown substantially over the last three decades:
  • Economic Gain: Foreign tourist arrivals contribute huge amounts of foreign exchange (approx ₹64,000 crore annually).
  • Employment: More than 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
  • National Integration: It promotes national integration by connecting people from different states.
  • Support to Handicrafts: It provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
  • Understanding Culture: It helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.
Map Work (Crucial for Exams)
Map Items
Locate and Label the following:
1. Major Sea Ports:
  • Kandla: Gujarat (First port developed after independence)
  • Mumbai: Maharashtra (Biggest port)
  • Marmagao: Goa (Premier iron ore export port)
  • New Mangalore: Karnataka
  • Kochi: Kerala (Lagoon harbour)
  • Tuticorin: Tamil Nadu
  • Chennai: Tamil Nadu (Oldest artificial port)
  • Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh (Deepest landlocked port)
  • Paradip: Odisha
  • Haldia: West Bengal
2. International Airports:
  • Amritsar: Raja Sansi
  • Delhi: Indira Gandhi International
  • Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji
  • Chennai: Meenambakkam
  • Kolkata: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
  • Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi
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