Q1. [4] medium exam-ready
[case_study] Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Waterways are the cheapest and most fuel-efficient mode of transport, especially for heavy and bulky goods. India has 14,500 km of inland navigation waterways. Under the National Waterways Act, 2016, 111 inland waterways have been declared as National Waterways. Historically, India was one of the seafaring nations, and its seamen carried Indian commerce and culture to distant lands. Even today, 95 per cent of India's trade volume is moved by sea through its 12 major and 200 notified non-major ports along a coastline of 7,516.6 km.
(i) Why are waterways considered the most suitable mode of transport for heavy and bulky goods compared to roadways or railways? [1 mark]
(ii) Name any two National Waterways of India, stating the river and the stretch each covers. [2 marks]
(iii) What does the fact that 95 per cent of India's trade volume moves by sea reveal about the role of seaports in India's economy? [1 mark]
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:34 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(i) Waterways are the cheapest and most fuel-efficient mode of transport. Heavy and bulky goods can be transported at lower cost per unit over water, and it causes less wear and tear compared to roads or rail.
(ii) Two National Waterways of India:
- NW No. 1 – Ganga river between Prayagraj and Haldia (1,620 km).
- NW No. 2 – Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km).
(iii) The fact that 95% of India's trade volume moves by sea reveals that seaports are the backbone of India's external trade. They handle the bulk of imports and exports, making them critical to India's economy and international commerce.
Source: Chapter 7 — Waterways
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Explanation
- Q(i) is 1 mark — one clear reason is sufficient. Focus on "cheapest" and "fuel-efficient" from the passage.
- Q(ii) is 2 marks — name two waterways with the river name and the stretch (start point to end point and distance). These specific details earn the marks.
- Q(iii) is 1 mark — draw an inference from the statistic given in the passage. The key idea is that seaports are essential to India's foreign/external trade.
- Always use passage-specific data (figures like 1,620 km, 95%) — examiners reward precise factual recall.