Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The distribution of railway lines in India reflects not just engineering achievement but also where construction was impossible or highly challenging due to physiographic barriers.

Northern Plains: Though most favourable for railways due to level terrain, the wide rivers required construction of numerous bridges, posing significant obstacles.

Himalayan Region: High relief, steep gradients, sparse population and limited economic activity made railway construction extremely difficult and largely unfeasible.

Peninsular Hilly Terrain: Railway tracks had to be laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels. The Sahyadri (Western Ghats) could only be crossed through gaps/passes (Ghats).

Western Rajasthan: Sandy plains made it difficult to lay and maintain stable railway tracks.

Swamps of Gujarat & Forests of M.P., Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand: These posed serious engineering and logistical challenges limiting railway expansion.

Thus, physiography determined both where railways were built and, crucially, where they could not be.

Source: Chapter 7, Railways section

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• The question is analytical — examiners expect you to name specific regions with their specific barriers, not just give a general statement.
• The source passage lists exact regions (Himalayas, Rajasthan, Gujarat swamps, forests of MP/Chhattisgarh/Odisha/Jharkhand, Sahyadri). Use all of them — each one earns marks.
• Structure as region → barrier → impact on railways. This shows analysis, not just description.
• The opening and closing lines frame the answer analytically, which examiners reward in "Analyse" questions.
• Do not confuse this with roadways advantages — the contrast is implicit (roads can handle gradients; railways cannot).