Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Sea transport dominates international trade because India is a peninsula with ports along its long coastline, making it the cheapest and most suitable mode for carrying heavy, bulky goods over long distances between continents.

For domestic (internal) trade, sea transport is impractical because:

• Goods need to reach inland states far from the coast.
• Roads and railways provide door-to-door service, can reach all regions including hilly and remote areas, and are faster and more convenient for shorter distances.
• Inland waterways, though present (14,500 km), are limited in coverage and cannot connect all states.

Thus, roadways and railways are better suited for internal trade, while sea routes serve international trade efficiently.

Source: Waterways and International Trade, Chapter 7

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The examiner expects two parts: why sea suits international trade (cheapest, handles heavy/bulky cargo, peninsular location with ports) and why it doesn't suit internal trade (inland states unreachable by sea, roads/railways provide better connectivity and door-to-door service). Don't just state facts — link the reason to the geographic/economic context. The inland waterways detail shows awareness of the chapter's content and limits of water transport domestically.