Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The Konkan railway was built along the west coast of India, which is a region of significant geographical challenges. The Sahyadri (Western Ghats) could only be crossed through gaps or ghats, and the railway faced problems such as sinking of track in some stretches and landslides.

Despite these challenges, it was still considered worthwhile because the Konkan railway facilitated the movement of passengers and goods in one of the most important economic regions of India, improving connectivity and boosting trade and travel along the west coast.

Source: Contemporary India II, Chapter 7 – Railways

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• The question is 3 marks, so cover: (1) the geographical challenge (Sahyadri/Ghats), (2) specific engineering problems (sinking track, landslides), and (3) why it was worth it (economic importance of the region).
• The passage directly mentions these points — use its exact phrases like "sinking of track" and "most important economic region" to score full marks.
• Don't over-explain; examiners reward precise, textbook-grounded answers.