CBSE · NCERT · Class 10 Social Science · Chapter 12

NCERT Solutions: Class 10 Social Science Chapter 12 - Geography: Lifelines of National Economy

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Geography: Lifelines of National Economy, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
Sections in this chapter
1. Multiple choice questions. 62. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. 43. Answer the following questions in about 120 words. 2
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11. Multiple choice questions.6 questions
Q.(i)Which two of the following extreme locations are connected by the east-west corridor?v
  1. (a). Mumbai and Nagpur
  2. (b). Silchar and Porbandar
  3. (c). Mumbai and Kolkata
  4. (d). Nagpur and Siligudi
Solution

The East-West Corridor links Silchar in Assam with Porbandar in Gujarat.

Answer:

(b) Silchar and Porbandar

Q.(ii)Which mode of transportation reduces trans-shipment losses and delays?v
  1. (a). Railways
  2. (b). Roadways
  3. (c). Pipeline
  4. (d). Waterways
Solution

Pipelines move liquids, gases and even slurries continuously without repeated loading and unloading.

Answer:

(c) Pipeline

Q.(iii)Which one of the following states is not connected with the H.V.J. pipeline?v
  1. (a). Madhya Pradesh
  2. (b). Maharashtra
  3. (c). Gujarat
  4. (d). Uttar Pradesh
Solution

The Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur network links Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, not Maharashtra.

Answer:

(b) Maharashtra

Q.(iv)Which one of the following ports is the deepest land-locked and well-protected port along the east coast?v
  1. (a). Chennai
  2. (b). Paradwip
  3. (c). V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin)
  4. (d). Vishakhapatnam
Solution

Visakhapatnam is described as the deepest landlocked and well-protected east-coast port.

Answer:

(d) Vishakhapatnam

Q.(v)Which one of the following is the most important modes of transportation in India?v
  1. (a). Pipeline
  2. (b). Railways
  3. (c). Roadways
  4. (d). Airways
Solution

The chapter identifies railways as the principal mode for freight and passengers over long distances.

Answer:

(b) Railways

Q.(vi)Which one of the following terms is used to describe trade between two or more countries?v
  1. (a). Internal trade
  2. (b). International trade
  3. (c). External trade
  4. (d). Local trade
Solution

International trade is exchange of goods and services across national boundaries.

Answer:

(b) International trade

22. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.4 questions
Q.(i)State any three merits of roadways.v
Solution

Grounded in the comparison of roads and railways.

Answer:

Roads have lower construction cost than railways, provide door-to-door service and connect farms, villages and difficult terrain. They also act as feeders to railways, ports and airports.

Q.(ii)Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation?v
Solution

Grounded in the geographical distribution of railways.

Answer:

Rail transport is most convenient on the level, densely populated northern plains, where continuous terrain allows extensive networks and large populations, agriculture and industries generate heavy passenger and freight traffic.

Q.(iii)What is the significance of the border roads?v
Solution

Grounded in the Border Roads Organisation passage.

Answer:

Border roads improve access to difficult frontier areas, support defence movement and surveillance, connect remote communities with markets and services, and promote economic development in otherwise inaccessible regions.

Q.(iv)What is meant by trade? What is the difference between international and local trade?v
Solution

Grounded in the trade definition.

Answer:

Trade is exchange of goods and services. Local trade occurs within a town, region or country, whereas international trade crosses national boundaries and is recorded as imports and exports.

33. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.2 questions
Q.(i)Why are the means of transportation and communication called the lifelines of a nation and its economy?v
Solution

Synthesises the chapter’s transport and communication functions.

Answer:

Transport links producers, markets and consumers by moving raw materials, workers and finished goods. Roads, railways, pipelines, waterways and airways integrate distant regions, support agriculture and industry, deliver relief and strengthen national defence. Communication systems carry information, prices, knowledge and decisions rapidly, allowing services, trade and administration to function. Together they reduce distance, promote mobility and national integration, and connect India with world markets through ports and telecommunications. Without reliable movement and communication, production would remain isolated, goods could not reach buyers and economic specialisation would break down. They are therefore lifelines because nearly every social and economic activity depends on them.

Q.(ii)Write a note on the changing nature of the international trade in the last fifteen years.v
Solution

Grounded in the chapter’s trade composition and service-sector discussion.

Answer:

India’s international trade has shifted from mainly exporting primary products toward a more varied exchange of manufactured goods, engineering products, petroleum products, chemicals, gems and jewellery, alongside agricultural and mineral items. Imports include petroleum, machinery, electronics, chemicals and other inputs required by a growing economy. Information technology and other services have become major foreign-exchange earners, so trade is no longer confined to physical goods. Liberalisation, improved transport and communications, multinational production and expanding global markets have increased both volume and complexity. The balance of trade depends on whether export earnings exceed the value of imports, with energy imports remaining especially important.