LIFELINES OF NATIONS ECONOMY

Lifelines of Nations:-

• Means of transport and communication are the necessity of life.

• They act as a great integrating forces
• They ensure easy movement of goods and people
• Economic development of region or a country depends on efficient means of transport and
communication
• They promote industrial growth by insuring availability of raw material and delivery of finished
goods
• Development of other sectors of economy like agriculture, mining, trade, commerce in not
possible without a developed transport system
• India has great diversity in its relief, climate, economic, social and cultural life. Means of
transport and communication help in knitting the remote areas into simple economic unit. They
thereby bring about unity in diversity.
• Efficient transport and communication systems are essential for overcoming regional economic
imbalance

We are living in a shrinking world:-

Modern means of transport and communication have drastically reduced distance with
reference to time
• International trade provides us with necessities or requirements and amenities of life
• We are living in an interdependent global economy.

Modern means of transport and communication-Significance

The means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of a nation and its
economy because they are the preconditions for progress and development. A country makes
tremendous progress because of its developed means of transport and communication.

Movement of goods & services from the supply location to demand location is required for the
economic development.

Means of transportation help in quick movement of raw material to the industry and the finished
product to the market .i.e., in the production & distribution of goods. The pace of development
depends on the production of goods as well as their movement over space.

Efficient means of transport & communication raise people’s mobility & income.

Transport system is regarded as a strong pillar to protect the people from the difficulties of war,
natural calamities and other problems. A developed transport system is necessary to send
necessary helps to the affected people during the period of natural calamities.

Modes of Transport:-

It includes – Roadways, Railways, Waterways (Inland and Open Sea Navigation), Airways and
Pipelines
 Roadways

Importance/ Advantage of Roadways over other means of transport

• It is easier to construct roads along mountains, slopes, forests, swamps and deserts
• Initial cost of construction and subsequent maintenance cost is low, when compared to other
major transport
• It is a convenient mode of transport for short to medium distances
• It improves the efficiency of other means of transport providing linkage
• It is flexible and reliable
• Road network can be classified on 2 basis-
i. On the basis of construction material:-
a) Metalled Roads- They are made up of cement, bitumen of coil, concrete. They are all
weather roads
b) Unmetalled Roads- They are drains to carry rain water which are used as roads. They
are unfit for use in the rainy season.
ii. On the basis of their capacity & administration:-
a) Super Highways:-
1. These are four to six lane, signal free roads, connecting metropolitans.
2. They are aimed to reduce time and distance between mega cities.
3. Its construction and maintenances looked after by National Highway authority of India
(NHAI)
4. Example- Golden Quadrilateral, East West Corridor and North West Corridor.
b) National Highways:-
1. They connect national capital, state capitals, important trading centres and seaports to
one another.
2. They are primary roads for trade
3. Its construction and upkeep is looked after by CPWD under central government.
4. Example- GT Road or Sher Shah Suri Marg

c) State Highways:-
1. They link state capital with district headquarters and big towns
2. Construction and maintenance is looked after by PWD under State Government
3. These roads play an important role in collection and distribution of resources and
materials.
d) District Roads:-
1. They connect district headquarters with large villages.
2. They are looked after by Zila Parishad under State Government
3. They are generally unmetalled roads
e) Village roads:-
1. They connect small towns and villages to one another.
2. They are maintained by Panchayat Samete
3. In recent years, under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana- special provision
are made so that every village in the country is linked to major town in the country
by an all season motorable roads.
f) Border roads:-
 1. Border road organisation (a government of India undertaking) looks after
construction and maintenance of the roads in the border areas of the country.
2. These roads are used as supply lines of provisions for soldiers guarding the
borders.
3. They have improved accessibility in the areas of difficult terrain and have helped in
the economic development of the area.
4. Example- Leh-Manali road is the highest road of the world and it is a border road
also.
➢ Road densities:-
1. It means length of road per 100 square km of are.
2. Road density varies from place to place
3. It is an indicator of economic growth and prosperity of a region.
➢ Pipelines:- It is used for transporting water, oil, gases and even solids(by converting them into
slurries) from cities to industries.
➢ Advantages:
1. It is a convenient mode of transport
2. It overrules delays due to traffic jams
3. It can be easily laid through different terrain
4. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running cost is low
5. It involves very low energy consumption
➢ Disadvantages:
1. It is fixed and not flexible. Its direction cannot be changed every now and then
2. Its carrying capacity cannot be increased
3. Leakage is difficult to detect
4. Security of pipelines is difficult

Waterways- It includes inland and overseas waterways

➢ Importance
1. It is the cheapest mode of transport
2. It is suitable for carrying heavy and bulky material
3. They are fuel efficient
4. It helps to reduce pressure on other modes of transport
➢ Inland Waterways
1. It includes rivers and canals backwaters
2. India has 14,500 kms of navigable inland waterways
3. At present, 3,700 kms of the major rivers is navigable
4. There is a need to develop inland waterways of India.
➢ Major Sea Ports- India is served by 12 major and 181 medium and minor sea ports.
Sea ports along West Coast Sea ports along East Coast
Kandala- Gujarat Kolkata- West Bengal
Mumbai- Maharashtra Haldia- West Bengal
Jawaharlal Nehru- Maharashtra Paradwip- Odisha
Marmagao- Goa Vishakhapatnam- Andhra Pradesh
New Manglore- Karnataka Chennai- Tamil Nadu
Kochi- Kerala Tuticorin- Tamil Nadu
➢ Special Features
 1. Mumbai is the biggest port of India
2. Kolkata is an Inland Riverine and tidal port
3. Kandla is a tidal port
4. Vishakhapatnam is a landlocked deepened and protected port
5. Chennai is an old port with an artificial harbour

Airways:-

➢ Importance
1. It is the fastest, most comfortable mode of time
2. It can travel across any relief
3. It plays an important role in the defence of country and at times of natural calamity
➢ Disadvantages
1. It is most expensive mode of travel
2. It does not provide door to door service
3. It cannot fly in adverse weather conditions
➢ Special Features
Air transport was nationalised in 1953. Its main companies were – Indian Airlines, Air India
and Vayudoot. It was followed by Pavan Hans Helicopter Service.
At present, private sector has been allowed to operate.
International Airports:- Delhi , Mumbai, Bangalore, Amritsar, Kochi, Chennai.

Railways:-
• First railway started in India in 1853, from Mumbai to Thane. It covered a distance of 34
kms.
• Indian railway is the largest under taking by the Central Government of India.
• It gives employment to more than 16 lakhs person on its regular pay roll.
• It has a vast network of stations( 7031 in number) which is spread over 63,221 kms of
length.
• Railways are the main lifelines of transport on land.
• It is used for business, sightseeing, and pilgrimage.
• It has played as an integrating force and bend economic life and accelerate economic
development of agriculture and industries.
• Distribution Pattern of Railways is governed by relief, economic and administrative factors:
a) In Northern plains and Eastern coastal plains, it has a dense network- Reason- 1. Vast
level land 2. High population density 3. Well developed agriculture and industries
b) In hilly regions of Peninsular India, it has a thin network- as tracks are laid through
low hills gaps or tunnels( due to presence of hard rock)
c) Himalayan regions are unfavourable for construction due to- 1. Rugged relief 2. Low
population 3. Limited economic opportunities
d) Sandy dessert of Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forests of Madhya Pradesh and
Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand- also have thin network
• Problem faced by Konkan Railway:
1. Landslides
2. Sinking of tracks in some stretches during rains
• Problems faced by Indian Railways:
1. Travelling without ticket
 2. Pulling of chain delays the running of train
3. Lost due to theft and damage to property
4. Many rail accidents take place due to human error.

Communication

Meaning- It refers to the ways of sending news, views, information to people across the
continents by using the postal service, telegraph, telephone, radio, television, newspaper, etc.

➢ Importance
1. They connect distant places and save time
2. They have played vital role in the development of modern industries
3. Helped in political, economic and cultural integration of the country
4. At times of war and emergency, they enables prompt action
5. They improve efficiency of transport
• Types of Communication
I. Personal Communication:- When information is limited to an individual or a small group
of people
It can be conveyed in 2 ways- Tele and Written
a) Tele Communication- When information is conveyed using means like telephone, mobile,
skype
b) Written Communication- Information conveyed using means like letters, postcards, emails,
telegrams etc

There are 2 classes of mails

a) First Class Mail includes cards and envelopes. They are airlifted between stations
b) Second class Mail includes books, packets, registered newspapers and periodicals. They
are carried by land and water transport.

Six Mail Channels have been introduced recently in cities for quick delivery of mails. They are-

1. Rajdhani Channel
2. Metro Channel
3. Green Channel
4. Business Channel
5. Bulk Mail Channel
6. Periodical Channel

II. Mass Communication

It includes radio, television, films, newspapers, magazines etc. They are means of spreading
information, entertainment, etc. They consist of electronics and print media.
➢ Importance of Mass Communication
1. Play important role in creating awareness about the govt. schemes & policies.
2. Is used for educating people
3. It is a source of healthy entertainment
a) Print Media- It includes newspapers, periodicals, books
Largest no. Of newspapers are published in Hindi
b) Electronic Media- It includes radio, television, internet, films
 Trade-International Trade

Trade- Exchange of goods among people, states and countries or sale and purchase of goods
and services between people and regions.

Market- It is the place where such exchanges take place

➢ Types of trade
1. Internal Trade- When buying and selling of goods and services takes place within the
boundaries of a country. It could be local, regional or inter-state.
2. International Trade- When a sale and purchase of goods and services takes place
between 2 or more countries.
➢ Importance of International Trade
1. It gives opportunity to exchange goods which are produced in surplus and
purchase goods and services in which a country is deficit.
2. It helps in developing friendly relations among nations
3. It results in technological exchange between nations
4. It helps in improving productive efficiency of a country. It helps both in increasing
productivity & improving quality of the products for export.
5. It helps earn foreign exchange for the country
It is thus, an indicator of economic prosperity.

2 Components of International Trade

1. Export- All goods sold by a nation to other countries

2. Import- Goods purchased by a country from other nations
• Balance of trade- It is the difference between export and import of a nation
• Favourable Balance of Trade- When Value of export exceeds/is more than that of its
import.
• Unfavourable Balance of Trade- When the total value of import far exceeds that of the
value of export

Tourism As A Trade
Tourism- When people travel to a place for recreation
➢ Importance
1. It contributes to the earning of foreign exchange
2. It provides jobs for millions of people
3. It creates demand for variety of goods and services like transport, commerce,
hotels etc
4. Promotes national integration through cultural exchange
• Types of Tourism-
Heritage Tourism, Eco Tourism, Medical Tourism, adventure Tourism, Cultural Tourism,
Business Tourism

Area/Popular Destinations-

Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Temple towns of South India

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