Chapter 7 - Lifelines of National Economy

The pace of a country's development depends on the production of goods and services, as well as its movement in space. Today, the world has turned into a big village with the help of efficient and fast means of transportation.Today India is well connected with the rest of the world. In Vidyakul CBSE Notes Class 10 Geography Chapter 7 – National Economic Lifelines, we see how modern transportation and communications serve as the lifelines of our country and its modern economy.

Transport

The movement of goods and services can span three important areas of the planet: land, water and air. Based on this, transport can also be divided into land transport, water transport and air transport. Let's elaborate on them:

Roads

India has one of the largest road networks in the world, about 54 in total. 700,000 km. The growing importance of road transport over rail transport is discussed below.

• roads can cover geographically difficult places that cannot be handled by rail.
• roads can accommodate higher grades and are easily set up to traverse mountains like the Himalayas.
• Road transport is economical.
• We also offer door-to-door service.
• Road transport links railway stations, airports, and seaports.

In India, roads are divided into six classes according to their capacity:

Golden Quadri Lateral Superhighway
Golden Quadri Lateral is a network of highways connecting India's four major metropolitan areas: Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. These highway projects are being carried out by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

National Highway
National Highway is a network of highways constructed and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The historic Sher Shah Sri Marg, known as Highway 1, lies between Delhi and Amritsar.

State Highways
The roads that connect the state capital to various county seats are called state highways. These roads are built and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD).

District Roads
These roads connect the District Administration to other locations within the district. These streets are managed by Zila Parishad.

Miscellaneous Roads
Country roads connecting rural areas and villages to towns are assigned to this category. These streets received special influence under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana.

Border Roads
The Border Roads Organization builds and maintains roads in the border areas of the country. This organization was established in 1960 to develop strategically important roads in the northern and northeastern border areas. Roads can also be classified by the type of materials used in their construction. For example
Paved roads may be made of cement, concrete, or bitumen. These are all-weather roads. Do not use unpaved roads during the rainy season.

Railways
Railways are a major mode of transport in India for transporting large cargo and bulky goods over long and short distances. Railways are gaining importance in the Indian economy. However, rail transport also presents certain problems, which are described below.

• Relocating the railroad line requires building a bridge across the wide river bed.
• In the hilly areas of the peninsular region, tracks are laid through low hills, crevices, or tunnels.
• The mountainous regions of the Himalayas are unfavorable for railway construction due to their high surface elevation, low population density, and lack of economic opportunities.
• It is difficult to lay railroads on sandy ground.

Pipelines
pipeline networks use pipes, usually underground, to transport and distribute fluids. They are used to transport water, crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, fertilizer plants, and large thermal power plants. Solids can also be transported through pipelines as they are converted to slurries.

There are three main networks for domestic pipeline transportation.
From Upper Assam Oil Fields to Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
From Salaya, Gujarat to Jalandhar, Punjab
From Hazira, Gujarat to Jagdishpur, Uttar Pradesh

Waterways
Waterways are the cheapest mode of transportation. Perfect for transporting heavy and bulky goods. It is an economical and environmentally friendly means of transportation.

National Waterways of India:
N.W.No.1 – Ganges River (1620 km) between Allahabad and Haldia.
NW NO.2 – Brahmaputra River (891 km) between Sadhya and Dubri.
NW #3 – West Coast Canals of Kerala (Kottapurma - Kollam, Udiogamandar, Champakara Canals - 205 km).
NW #4 – Certain sections of the Godavari and Krishna rivers and the Kakinada Puducherry Canal section (1078 km).
NW. No. 5 – Certain sections of the Brahmani River along the Matai River, the Mahanadi and Brahmani Delta Canals, and the East Coast Canal (588 km). India's inland waterways are the backwaters of Mandavi, Zuari, Kamberjua, Sunderbans, Barak, and Kerala for transport.

Major Ports

India's foreign trade is conducted through ports. India has been reported to have 2 major ports and 200 minor (medium and small) ports.

Here is a list of major ports in India:

• Kandla in Kutch was the first port developed after independence. Also known as Diendayal Harbour.
• Mumbai is the largest port with vast natural areas and well-protected harbors.
• Marmagao Port (Goa) is India's major iron ore export port.
• Mangalore port in Karnataka will be used for iron ore export.
• Koch is the southwesternmost port located at the mouth of the lagoon.
• Tuticorin Harbor is at the southeast end.
• Chennai is one of the oldest man-made ports in India.
• Visakhapatnam is the deepest inland port and well-protected port in Orissa, specializing in the export of iron ore.
• Kolkata is an inland port.
• Haldia Port has been developed as a secondary port to relieve mounting pressure on Kolkata Port.

Air 

The Air is the fastest, most convenient, and most popular form of transportation. Air travel has made it easier to access off-road areas such as towering mountains, stark deserts, dense forests, and vast oceans. Air transport was nationalized in 1953.
Air India offers domestic and international flight services.

Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited Provides helicopter services to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in offshore operations in inaccessible areas and difficult terrain. But air travel is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Communications

The main means of communication in India are television, radio, newspapers, and movies. India's postal network is the largest in the world. Handle parcels and personal written correspondence.

1. First class mail is airlifted between stations covering land and air.
2. Second class mail includes parcels of books, registered newspapers, and magazines.

They are transported by land, covering land and water transport. India has the largest telecommunications network in Asia. Direct subscriber dialing (STD) facilities across India have been made possible by the integration of space technology developments and telecommunications technology.

The media provide entertainment and raise public awareness of various national programs and policies. This includes radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books, and movies. India Radio Channel (Akashwani) broadcasts various programs in national, regional, and local languages. Doordarshan, the national television station, is one of the world's largest terrestrial networks. India publishes numerous newspapers in about 100 languages ​​and dialects.

International Trade

Trade is the exchange of goods between persons, countries, or nations. Trade between two countries is called international trade. It is considered a barometer of the country's economy. Imports and exports are the components of the trade. A country's trade balance is the difference between its exports and imports.

If the value of exports exceeds the value of imports, the trade balance is good. The trade balance is said to be unfavorable when imports exceed exports.

Goods exported from India to other countries include gems and jewelry, chemicals, and related products, agricultural products and related products, etc., electronic products, machinery, and agricultural and related products.

Tourism as a Trade

More than 15 million people are directly involved in the tourism industry.
Tourism in India:

• Promote national integration.
• Support local handicrafts and cultural activities.
• Helps develop an international understanding of Indian culture and traditions. Foreign tourists visit India for cultural tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism, and business tourism.

Frequently asked Questions on CBSE Class 10 

What is the meaning of an ‘Economy’?

An economy is a large set of interrelated production and consumption activities that aid in determining how scarce resources are allocated.

When was the Indian postal service started?

Warren Hastings had taken initiative under the East India Company to start the Postal Service in the country in 1766.

What is the meaning of ‘International trade’?

International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories because there is a need or wants for goods or services.