Q1. [4] medium exam-ready
[case_study] Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Pipeline transport in India has emerged as a highly efficient mode of transporting crude oil, petroleum products, natural gas, and even solids in slurry form. The initial cost of laying pipelines is high, but once installed, the running costs are minimal. Trans-shipment losses and delays are eliminated. Strategic refineries located far inland — such as those at Barauni, Mathura and Panipat — became viable only because of pipelines. India's cross-country gas pipeline infrastructure has grown from 1,700 km to 18,500 km over the years.
(i) Why can solids also be transported through pipelines? [1 mark]
(ii) How did the development of pipelines make inland refineries like Barauni and Mathura economically viable? [2 marks]
(iii) Explain any one economic and one strategic advantage of pipeline transport for India. [1 mark]
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:34 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) Solids can also be transported through pipelines when they are first converted into slurry (a liquid mixture), which then flows through the pipeline like a fluid.
(ii) Pipelines supply crude oil continuously and directly to refineries, eliminating the need for multiple trans-shipment points. This made it economically feasible to set up refineries at far inland locations like Barauni and Mathura, which would otherwise be too costly and logistically difficult to supply by road or rail. Once laid, running costs are also minimal.
(iii)
- Economic advantage: After the high initial cost of laying, the running costs are minimal, making it a cost-effective mode of transport over long distances.
- Strategic advantage: It eliminates trans-shipment losses and delays, ensuring a reliable, uninterrupted supply of crude oil and natural gas — critical for national energy security.
Source: Pipelines, Chapter 7
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Explanation
- (i) The keyword the examiner expects is "slurry" — one word or one line suffices for 1 mark.
- (ii) For 2 marks, link two ideas: (a) pipelines allow continuous supply to remote inland locations, and (b) this removes the logistical/economic barrier that previously made inland refineries unviable.
- (iii) One economic + one strategic = two distinct points for 1 mark total — keep each point concise (one sentence each). Don't mix or repeat the same advantage.