Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The student's argument is partially correct but largely flawed. While airways are indeed the fastest and most comfortable mode of transport, investing exclusively in airports is impractical for India due to the following reasons:

1. Cost: Air travel is expensive and unaffordable for the majority of India's population. Roadways and railways are far more economical.
2. Bulk cargo: Waterways are cheapest for heavy/bulky goods; airways cannot replace this function.
3. Connectivity: Roads provide door-to-door service and act as feeders to airports, railways, and seaports. Without roads, airports are inaccessible.
4. Trade: 95% of India's trade volume is moved by sea — airways cannot substitute this.
5. Terrain and reach: Railways and roads serve plains and interiors efficiently; all modes are complementary.

A dense and efficient network of all transport modes is a prerequisite for national development — no single mode can substitute others.

Source: Chapter 7 — Lifelines of the National Economy, Roadways, Airways, Waterways sections

---

Examiners look for a structured evaluation — acknowledge what is correct in the argument, then systematically refute it using facts from the chapter. Key points: air travel's cost/accessibility limitation, the role of waterways for bulk trade (95% sea trade), roads as feeders, and the textbook's central idea that a complementary network of transport is essential. Avoid writing a one-sided answer; "evaluate" means both sides must be addressed.