Class X Notes of All Chapters
Class X Notes of All Chapters
Class X Notes of All Chapters
Anything available in the environment and can be used to satisfy the needs of human being is called as resource, e.g. water,
land, air, minerals, wildlife etc.
Leaching is a process which takes place in high temperature and rainfall area. In this process minerals of the soil are
dissolved into the rainwater and they move down in the soil. Laterite soil is formed by this process.
Black soil is also called as ‘regur soil’.
Manganese nodules are extracted from Indian Ocean.
Full form of UNCED is United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
Rajasthan has abundant solar and wind energy potential.
Earth Summit was held in Rio de Jeniro [Brazil] in 1992.
The book written by Schumacher is ‘Small is Beautiful’.
Black soil is formed by weathering of lava rocks.
Red soil is formed by weathering of igneous rocks. It looks red due to iron-oxide.
Land degraded by gully erosion in Chambal River basin is called ‘Ravines’ or ‘Bad Land’.
Sustainable Development: Development without damaging the environment is called as sustainable development. This
development meets the demands of present generation as well as future generations.
Earth Summit and Agenda 21: Earth Summit is an international conference on environment. It was held in Rio de Jeniro [Brazil]
in 1992. In the conference leaders of the words discussed about sustainable development and they adopted 21 points policy which is
called ‘Agenda 21’.
Resource planning is method to use the resources in optimum way so that maximum benefit should reach to maximum people.
Resource planning also means avoiding wastage, misuse and overuse of resources. There are three steps for resource planning.
a) Identification and inventory of resources by surveying and mapping
b) Evolving a planning structure to use the resources with appropriate technology
c) Matching resource development plan with national development plan
Land is used for various purposes in a country. India has vast land resource. Total area of our country is about 3.28 million sq. km.
India ranks 7th in the world in term of size. But most of parts are covered by either mountain or plateau. India has only 43% plain
where agriculture is possible. Mountains are good sources of biotic resources where varieties of minerals are found in the plateau.
There are 5 categories under land use.
1. Forest
2. Land not available for cultivation
3. Other uncultivated land
4. Fallow land
5. Net sown area
Land not available for cultivation includes barren land, waste land and land which is used for building, roads, parks, factories
etc.
Fallow land is that land which is left uncultivated by the farmer. Farmer leaves some land to give rest to the land. Lands are
also left fallow due low rainfall, lack of capital or seeds etc. Fallow land for one or less than one year is called Current Fallow. If
land is left fallow for more than one but less than five years it is called as Other Fallow land.
Net sown area is the actual land on which agriculture is done. Some parts of net sown area is used more than one time in a
single agricultural season. When this land is added with net sown area, it is called gross sown area or gross cropped area.
Lowering the quality of land up to such an extent that the land become unfit for any use, it is called as land degradation. About 130
million hectare of lands are degraded in India. Following are the causes of land degradation.
a) Deforestation – cutting of trees and forest
b) Erosion by rain water and wind
c) Water logging in low lying area
d) Increasing salinity [salt] due to over irrigation
e) Dumping of urban and industrial waste on valuable land
f) Mining and quarrying activities for extracting minerals
Meaning of Soil: It is an important an renewable resource. It is upper part of the crust which is loose and fragmented. It has air,
water and minerals contents and it support growth of plants. Bacteria and other small organisms are also found in the soil which
makes it more fertile.
Formation of Soil: Soil is formed by weathering and erosion of rocks. Temperature and rainfall breaks down the rock into smaller
parts. After mixing of water and minerals in these sediments, it acquires the form of soil. Following factors affect soil formation.
Soil Erosion: Removal of top and fertile layer of soil by the agents like rainwater and wind is called soil erosion. Soil erosion is a
acute problem in India. Chambal river basin is so badly eroded that this entire area is called as ‘Bad Land or Ravines’. There are
three types of erosion, i.e. a) Sheet Erosion, b) Rill Erosion and c) Gully Erosion [Most Dangerous]. Followings are the reasons for
soil erosion.
India is very rich in biological diversity. There are variety of plants and animals found in our country.
India has nearly 8% of the total number of species found in the world.
About 81,000 species of fauna [animals] and 47,000 species of flora [plants] are found in India.
India is famous for rhino, elephant, tiger, lion, monkey, snakes, peacock etc.
Meaning of Biodiversity: Various species of plants, trees, animals, birds, reptiles etc. found in an area is called biodiversity. They
are good natural resources. They are important because:
a) Plants and trees give us oxygen.
b) Woods for furniture and construction are provided by forest.
c) Some plants are of medicinal use e.g. tulsi, neem, sarpgandha, aawla etc.
d) Leaves, roots, fruits, lac, rasin etc are collected from forest.
e) Animals provides us meat, fur, skin, bone etc.
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 4
f) Combine, plants and animals maintain food chain in the ecosystem.
Many species of plants and animals are under threat due to over exploitation by the human being. International Union for
Conservation of Nature [IUCN] has classified the species into following category:
a) Normal Species: There is no threat to these species, their population is sufficient in the environment.
b) Rare Species: Species with small population is called rare. They are rarely seen in the forest. Example – Himalayan brown
bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox etc.
c) Vulnerable Species: Population of these species decreases to such an extent that they may become endangered. Example –
blue sheep, Asiatic elephant etc.
d) Endangered Species: Population of these species become so small that they come under danger of extinction. If negative
factors continue, they may become extinction. Example – Indian rhino, black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass etc.
e) Extinct Species: These species are not found anywhere in the world. They have gone from our earth for forever. Example –
Asiatic Cheetah, pink head duck etc.
a) Deforestation should be totally stopped. Instead, trees should be planted on degraded land and on land where was forest
earlier.
b) People should start movement against tree cutting such as ‘Chipko Movement’.
c) ‘Vanmahotsava’ and similar kind of events should be celebrated to conserve forest.
d) Mass media, e.g. TV, radio, newspapers etc, should used for creating awareness.
e) Govt. should pass and implement [Indian Wildlife [Protection] Act – 1972] strict laws against illegal cutting of trees,
hunting and poaching.
f) Various project like Project Tiger; Project Rhine etc should be started.
g) More National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserve should be identified.
h) There should be frequent survey and census to count population of different species found in the forest.
Community or local people are very helpful in conserving biodiversity i.e. plants and animals. Many communities live in the forest.
Forest is home of many traditional people.
a) In Rajasthan, local people came forward to stop mining activities to protect Sariska Tiger Reserve.
b) People of Alwar District of Rajasthan have declared 1200 hectares of land as ‘Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri’ in which they
don’t allow hunting.
c) In Jharkhand, Munda tribe worship Mahua and Kadamb trees and they protect them from cutting.
d) Famous Chipko Movement in Himalaya was started by local community only. Beej Bachao Andolan and Navdanya
movements have also been started in Himalaya.
e) Joint Forest Management [JFM] stated in India is good method of involving local community in forest conservation.
a) Reserved Forests: These forests are earmarked only for production of timber. Grazing of animals and cultivation of crops
are not allowed in these forests. About 54% forests are grouped under reserved forests.
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 5
b) Protected Forests: These forests are protected from further depletion. Right of grazing and cultivation is allowed with
certain restriction. About 29% forests come under protected forests.
c) Unclassed Forests: There is no restriction in these forests. These forests belong to government and private individuals.
About 16% forests are unclassed forests.
About 33% land must be under forest for ecological balance. But, only 23% land is under forest in India. Distribution of
forest in India is not uniform.
Andman and Nicobar has about 87% [Highest] land under forest while in Haryana only 4% land is under forest which
lowest in India.
Most of the north-eastern states like Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh etc. have more 60% land under
forest.
But in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and J & K have less than 10% land under forest.
Southern states have moderately covered with forest. About 20-30% land is under forest in these states.
Tiger is one of the most important species among fauna. It was estimated that population of tigers has decreased rapidly in the last
one hundred years. Major reasons identified behind depletion of tiger were hunting and poaching, deforestation, depletion of prey
etc. Project Tiger was started in 1973 to protect them from extinction. There are 27 tiger reserves in India. Project Tiger has
successfully improved the condition. Population of tigers increased from 1800 to about 3600 in the last 30 years.
In India, it is believed that everything – livings and non-livings, have been created by god. Old tribal and traditional societies have
protected certain species from time immemorial. Munda tribes of Jharkhand protect Mahua and Kadamb trees and worship them.
People of Bihar, UP worship Peepal, Banyan, Mango, Tamarind etc. Not only that, rivers, mountains, forests etc are considered as
god and goddesses and they are worshipped and protected in India.
Important Terms
Dam: It is a concrete wall constructed across the river to stop the river water. The storage of water behind the dam is called
reservoir.
Perennial River: A river having water throughout the year is called Perennial River. Their water source is melting glaciers,
e.g. Ganga, Brahmaputra etc.
Reservoir: Large collection of river water just behind the dam is called reservoir.
Annual rainfall in India is about 117 cm. Cherapunji receives highest rainfall in the world.
India has many perennial rivers e.g. Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Brahamputra etc. Seasonal rivers of southern India e.g.
Godawari, Krishna, Kauveri, Narmada etc are also good source of water.
India has long seacoast. It is more than 6000 km. Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean surround southern India
from three sides.
India is also rich in groundwater resources. There are many natural and man-made lakes, ponds, hydraulic structures etc
found in our country.
Water Scarcity: When water is not available in sufficient quantity and quality for all the people in an area, it is called water shortage
or water scarcity. Water scarcity leads to drought and famine and claims thousand of lives every year in India. Followings are the
causes of water scarcity.
a) Amount of rainfall less than the normal
b) Over exploitation of ground water by tube wells in the cities
c) Excess use of water for irrigation to grow more crops.
d) Water pollution by dumping of waste from city and industries
e) Flood [Water is polluted and become unfit for use]
Meaning: Capturing and storing the rainwater for recharging the ground water is called rainwater harvesting. Rainwater can also be
used for domestic and agricultural purpose. It is a good method of water conservation in water scarcity areas such as Rajasthan.
Rainwater is collected on the roof of house and it is stored in dug well or underground tank. This water is used for washing, animal
drinking, irrigation etc.
Watershed Development:
An area drained by an tributary is called watershed. All round development of this area is called watershed development. Sukhmajri
Village in Haryana is the best example of watershed development. Attempt made under watershed development are:
Conservation of soil and moisture,
Afforestation and forest upgradation,
Water harvesting,
Development of horticulture
Pasture development
Supply of drinking water
CHAPTER 4: AGRICULTURE
Important Terms
a) Indian agriculture is subsistence in nature. It means produce is consumed by the farmer itself.
b) Agriculture is dependent on monsoon rain. Only 1/3rd net sown is under irrigation.
c) Consumption of chemical fertilizer, HYV seeds, pesticide etc is very low.
d) Size of agriculture fields is very small.
e) Machines and modern farm implements are used only in small area.
f) Food crops [rice, wheat] are more important than commercial crops.
g) There are poor banking and insurance facility available to the farmers.
Plantation Agriculture
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 8
It is a type of commercial agriculture which need huge investment of money.
It is single crop farming practiced on large land.
Plantation agriculture was started by British in India.
Generally it is done in hilly and sloppy area where rainfall is high and water can drain easily.
Heavy dose of fertilizers, pesticides etc are required.
Efficient and fast transport and communication help this farming to connect with market.
Important crops are tea, coffee, banana, spices, rubber etc.
Agriculture in India is thousands of years old. It is subsistence in nature because farmers consume most of the produce by
themselves. But because of the use of modern technology and institutional reform Indian agriculture is becoming commercial.
Green Revolution [Crops] and White Revolution [Milk – Operation Flood] is the result of these two reforms.
Technological Reforms:
a) Wooden plough was replaced with tractors and tillers.
b) Drip irrigation and sprinklers are now used for irrigation which irrigates more area in less water.
c) Use of chemical and bio fertilizers have increase manifold. HYV Seeds, pesticide, insecticides are also used more.
d) Biotechnology has developed much genetically improved variety of seed which are resistant to drought and pest. They give
more production also.
e) Farmers are now using TV, Radio, Newspapers and Cell Phone to know about weather condition and according they plan
agricultural activities.
Institutional Reforms:
a) Zamindari system was abolished by the Government of India.
b) Small fields were consolidated to make large fields.
c) Agriculture was the main focus in the first Five Years Plan.
d) Kissan Credit Card [KCC], Personal Accident Insurance Scheme [PAIS] was started by Govt. to help the Indian farmers.
e) Govt. also announces Minimum Support Price and has abolished the role of middleman in the market.
a) Agriculture is the backbone of Indian Economy. About 63% people are directly dependent on agriculture for their
livelihood.
b) About 40% of national income comes for agricultural sector alone.
c) Agriculture also provides raw materials to many industries e.g. sugar, textile, food and beverage industries.
d) It also has ensured food security. FCI procure crops at minimum support price to stock. It also distribute among people
under PDS [Public Distribution System].
e) India export wheat, sugar, fruits, tea to foreign countries and earn foreign exchange.
f) Agriculture also brings happy, prosperity and development in rural economy.
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 9
Food Security and Methods of Ensuring Food Security
Food Security: Food is the basic requirement of all the people in the country. But many people are not able to get sufficient meals at
least two times in a day. During natural disaster like earthquake, flood, drought there is shortage of food all over the country. Food
security is a method to ensure at least minimum quantity of food for all the people round the year. Food Corporation of India [FCI]
procure foodgrains at Minimum Support Price and maintain food security by two ways: a) Buffer Stock and b) Public Distribution
System [PDS].
Meaning: Integrating the national economy with the economy of other countries of the world is called globalization. It has made
cross-border flow of money, technology and people very easy.
Meaning: Minerals are natural substance which has certain physical and chemical properties like colour, hardness, texture, crystals
etc. Minerals are very important as most of the things we use in our lives are made of one or other minerals. Minerals are mined
from earth surface. There are about 2000 types of minerals identified so far but few of them are very important like iron, cooper,
mineral oil, bauxite etc. Minerals can be classified as under:
Minerals are found in the earth surface [crust]. They are extracted by mining activities. Minerals take millions of year to form;
therefore they are called as non-renewable resource.
h) In the veins and lodes of igneous rock and metamorphic rock important metallic minerals are found like cooper, zinc, tin,
lead etc.
i) Energy minerals such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are found in the beds and layers of sedimentary rocks.
j) Alluvial deposits [also called as placer deposits] contain very precious minerals like gold, silver, tin, platinum etc.
k) Ocean water also contains many minerals like salt, magnesium, bromide etc.
l) Weathered materials of the rocks contain bauxite [aluminum].
It is a ferrous mineral and backbone of any economy. Industrial development of any country depends on availability of iron ore. Iron
is used in making from needle to big ship. India is rich in good quality of iron ore. There are four types of iron ore.
a) Magnetite [Contains 70-80% Iron – Best Quality]
b) Hematite [Contains 50-60% Iron]
c) Siderite
d) Limonite
Coal is a type of fossil fuel and the most important source of energy in our country. Coal is formed by burial of plants and animals
in the rocks for million of years. Coal is used for generating thermal electricity and for smelting iron ore. Coal in India is found
mainly in Gondwana Rocks series of river Damodar, Mahanadi, Godawari etc. There are four types of coal as per carbon content.
a) Anthracite [Best Quality]
b) Bituminous [Mainly found in India]
c) Lignite [Low grade coal found in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu]
d) Peat
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 11
Gondwana coal is found in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Important mining centres are Raniganj, Jharia, Dhanbad, Bokaro. River
valleys of Damodar, Mahanadi, Son, Wardha have many mining centres. Tertiary coal [new coal] is found in north-eastern part of
the country like Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh.
a) Judicious use of our mineral resources. It means misuse and overuse of minerals should be avoided.
b) Public transport system [Bus, Train, Metro Train etc] should be used instead of personal transport like car and bike.
c) Switching off electricity when it is not in use.
d) Power saving devices should be used. Modern technology which consume less energy and give more output should be
adopted [like CFL Bulb].
e) Non-conventional sources of energy like solar, wind, tidal, geothermal energy should be used in the place of coal,
petroleum and gas.
Manufacturing: Processing of raw material to make another valuable product in large quantity is called as manufacturing.
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 12
Light Industries: Industries which uses light raw material and produces light goods are called as light industries e.g. electric
fans, bulb, button, toys etc.
Integrated Steel Plants: It is a large steel plant which handle everything under one complex – from smelting, rolling and
shaping of steel. Ex – Durgapur, Bokaro, Jamshedpur etc.
a) Manufacturing industries are the backbone of our economy. Economic strength of any country depends on manufacturing
industries.
b) Manufacturing industries help in modernization of agriculture. Tractor, harvester, thresher, irrigation pipes, sprinklers,
fertilizers etc are made in these industries.
c) It is a great source of employment. Millions of people are directly engaged in manufacturing. These industries also help in
eradicating unemployment and poverty.
d) Export of manufactured items help trade and commerce and our country earn foreign exchange.
e) Manufacturing meet the basic need of the people i.e. food, cloth and shelter.
f) Highest contribution to our national economy comes from manufacturing industries. It brings prosperity, social and
economic development.
Industries are not found everywhere. They are located at certain places only where they get favourable condition. Location of an
industry is governed by mainly by the following two factors.
It is an agro-based and the oldest industry in India. First cotton mill was established in 1854 in Mumbai. At present, it the
largest industry in our country. There are about 1600 cotton textile mills in our country.
Cotton textile mills are mainly concentrated in Maharastra and Gujarat due to favourable conditions. Important centres are
Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Suar, Rajkot etc. Other centres are Agra, Kanpur, Hugli, Chennai, Madurai etc.
Cotton textile is produced by three methods in India: a) Handloom, b) Power-looms and c) Mills
Cotton textile industry involves ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, designing, tailoring and packaging to produce
readymade garments.
India export yarn and readymade garments to USA, Japan, UK, France, Nepal, Sri Lanka etc.
Cotton textile industries are facing many problems such as: a) scarcity of good quality cotton, b) main cotton growing area
went to Pakistan, c) old machinery, d) erratic power supply, e) low productivity of labour, f) tough competition from synthetic
fibers.
This industry is called as basic industry because it provide raw material to many other industries such as machine an tools,
transport equipment, construction material etc. It is also called as heavy industry because raw materials [iron ore, coal, limestone]
are bulky in nature.
Iron ore mixed with limestone is smelted in the blast furnace using coking coal to produce pig iron. The ratio of iron ore,
limestone and coking coal used in 4:2:1.
Pig iron is mixed with manganese, chromium and nickel which make it more stronger steel.
Most of the steel plants are located in Chotanagpur region due to its favourable conditions. At present there are 10
integrated iron and steel plants and many small and mini plants. Important integrated steel plants are Jamshedpur, Durgapur,
Bokaro, Bhilai, Burnpur etc.
India produces about 33 million tons of steel every year even though per capita consumption of steel is very low i.e. 32 kg.
It is low because India has low economic and industrial development.
Today steel industries in India are facing many problems: a) High cost of production, b) Limited availability of coking
coal, c) Low productivity of labour, d) Irregular supply of energy, e) Raw materials are found in a certain pocket of India only, f)
Poor infrastructure like transport and communication etc.
India is largest producer of raw jute and jute goods. There are about 70 jute mills in our country.
First jute mill was setup in Rishra [Kolkata] in 1859. Most of the jute mills are located along Hugli River in West Bengal
due to favourable condition.
Jute is used in making rope, bags, carpets etc. Bihar, UP, Assam and Tripura also have jute miils.
Jute industries are facing problems like: a) main jute producing area went to Bangladesh, b) high production cost, c)
declining demand of jute in international market, d) tough competition from synthetic fiber industry.
Why iron and steel industries are located mainly in Chotanagpur Region?
Most of important integrated steel plants are locate in Chotanagpur region i.e in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orrisa etc. It is because of
the following reasons:
a) Raw Material: Chotanagpur area is rich in iron ore. Iron ore is extracted from Singbhum, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar etc.
b) Energy: Coal is used for smelting iron ore in the blast furnace. Coal is available from Raniganj, Dhanbad, Jharia and
Bokaro.
c) Cheap labour: Bengal, Bihar and Orissa have high density of population. Therefore, cheap labour is available in this region.
d) Transport: This region is well connected by road and railway with other parts of the country. Nantional Highway 2, Delhi
– Howrah and Howrah – Mumbai rail route passes through this region.
e) Capital: Kolkata is a megacity which provide capital, banking and insurance facility.
There are 69 jute mills located in a 2 km broad belt along Hooghly River. This area provides many favourable conditions required
for this industry.
a) Raw jute is available for West Bengal. West Bengal is the largest producer of jute.
b) Coal for energy is brought from nearby Raniganj Coalfields.
c) Hooghly River provides water for washing and cleaning jute.
d) Warm and humid climate is very favourable for cultivation of jute and jute industry.
e) Kolkata is a metro city which provides capital and market.
f) Hooghly River also provides cheap water transport.
Earlier UP and Bihar were the main producer of sugarcane. Therefore, most of the sugar mills were located in these two states only.
But now, sugar mills are shifting towards Maharastra and Karnataka because of following reasons.
a) Per hectare production of sugarcane is higher in southern India. Black soil is quite suitable for cultivation of sugarcane.
b) Sucrose content in the sugarcane is higher in Maharastra and Karnataka. It means more sugar can be produced for less
sugarcane.
c) Mills and machines are new in southern states. New and modern machines increase the productivity.
d) Crushing season for sugarcane is longer in southern states.
e) Cooperative sugar mills are running successfully in southern states.
a) Air pollution is caused by the emission of CO 2, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Dioxide etc. Chimneys of the industries
produce heat leading to Global Warming and Green House Effect. Use of CFC in various industrial products depletes ozone layer
which filters ultraviolet rays of the sun.
b) Dumping of organic and inorganic industrial waste into water bodies pollute the water. Industries which produce paper,
pulp, chemical, leather, acids, dyes, fertilizers etc generate lots of toxic waste which kills the aquatic life.
c) High intensity sound generated by running machines, siren, drilling, fans etc leads to noise pollution. It causes irritation,
hearing impairment, heart attack etc. among the nearby people.
d) Mining activity to get raw material for industries also degrade the environment. Land degradation, deforestation, soil
erosion, water logging etc. of result of mining activities.
Important Terms
Transport: Movement of people and goods from one place to another place is called transport. Modes of transport are: a)
Land [Road, Rail, Pipeline], b) Water [Inland, Oceanic] and c) Air [Domestic, International]
Communication: Transfer of idea, message, and information from one place to another place is called communication.
Modes of communication are TV, radio, cellphone, newspaper, magazines, internet. Communication has two types: a) Print Media
[Newspaper, Magazines] and b) Electronic Media [TV, Radio, Internet].
Harbour: It is an area of sea which provides safe entrance to ships. It also protects ships from waves and storms.
Port: It is a point on the coast which provides facility of anchoring of ship. It also provide facilities like loading and
unloading, berth, cold storage. A port is connected with its hinterland. Seaports help in international trade and commerce.
Hinterland: It is an area which serves port for international trade. For example, Maharastra, M P, Rajasthan, Punjab,
Haryana are hinterland for Mumbai seaport. Various things produced in these states are exported through Mumbai port.
Express Highway: These are 6 lanes best quality of roads. They have been constructed to connect important cities of India
and to provide fast traffic from one place to other place.
International Trade: Exchange of goods and services between two or more countries is called international trade.
Golden Quadrilateral road connect north with south and east with west. It connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
It is 6 lanes good quality super express highway. It total length is 5846 km.
East – West Corridor connects Silchar [Assam] with Porbandar [Gujurat]. It connects Guwahati, Gorakhpur, Kanpur,
Jhansi and Rajkot.
North – South Corridor connects Srinagar [J & K] with Kanyakumari. It connects Delhi, Agra, Nagpur, Hydrabad and
Bangalore.
Density of road is lowest in Jammu and Kashmir. It is only 10 km for 100 sq. km. area. Density of road is low in this state
because this is a hilly state with very low populaton.
Highest road density is found in Kerala. It is about 375 km. for 100 sq. km. area.
Longest pipeline in India is H-B-J Pipeline [Hazira-Bijapur-Jagddishpur]. It is about 1700 km. long.
Indian railway is divided into 16 railway zones.
NH – 1 connects Delhi and Amritsar.
NH – 2 connects Delhi and Kolkata. It is also called as Grand Truck Road.
NH – 3 connects Mumbai and Agra.
NH – 7 connects Varanasi and Kanyakumari. It is longest in India.
India has one of the largest road networks in the world. Total road length in India is about 2.3 million km. There are
various types of road in India.
Golden Quadrilateral: It is a 6 lane super highway. This connects four mega cities of our country i.e Delhi, Mumbai,
Chennai and Kolkata. East-West Corridor connects Silchar [Assam] with Porbandar [Gujarat]. North-South Corridor connects
Srinagar [J & K] with Kanyakumari [Tamil Nadu].
National Highways: These roads are most important in India. National Highways are constructed by CPWD. Important
National Highways are NH-1, NH-2, NH-7 etc. These highways connects important cities, railways stations, port, mining areas,
capital towns etc.
State Highways: These roads connect state capital with district headquarters. They are constructed by SPWD [State Public
Work Dept.].
District Roads: These roads are found in rural areas. They connect district headquarter with village and blocks.
Other Roads: It includes village roads. They are mainly non-metalled roads. Many roads have been constructed under
“Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana”.
Border Roads: Border Roads are constructed by Border Road Organisation [BRO]. These roads are constructed along the
borders which are used to connect isolated parts with main country. These roads are very important from strategic point of view.
Indian railway is about 150 years old. First rail was started in 1853 between Mumbai and Thane.
It connects State Capital with Capital of India. It also connects major towns and cities, tourist places, mining centers,
seaports, airports etc.
There are about more than 7,000 stations on 63,000 km. long railway tract.
Indian railway is divided into 16 zones for proper administration.
Railways in India have three gauge system: a) Broad Gauge [1.676 m]
b) Meter Gauge [1.0 m]
c) Narrow Gauge [0.762 and 0.610 m].
There are various types of train running in India such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Mail and Express, Local and Special Trains
which carry passengers.
About 80% of freight [goods] and 70% of passenger traffic is carried by railways.
Konkan Railways is built in Western Ghat Mountain. It is an example of best railway engineering in India. It has hundred
of tunnels and bridges.
There is marked improvement in Indian railways. They are: a) Computerised Reservation System, b) Waiting Room
Facilities on Stations, c) Catering Facility, d) Electrification of Tracks, e) Uni-Gauge System [Conversion of all gauges into broad
gauge], f) Replacement of Steam Engine with Electric Engine, g) Special Trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi, Summer
Special etc.
Pipelines are used to transport gas and liquid materials such as mineral or refined oil, natural gas, water or even milk. Solid
items can also be transported after making it ‘slurry’.
Pipelines are found from oil producing centers to oil refinery plants and from oil refinery plants to the market [city].
Minerals oil from upper Assam is transported to Barauni and Allahabad oil refinery through pipeline.
Pipeline from Salaya to Jalandhar via Mathura and Delhi is also very important pipeline.
The longest pipeline in India is H-B-J pipeline which connect Hazia, Bijapur and Jagdishpur. It is about 1700 km. long.
Pipeline is best for transportation of gas and liquid materials e.g. oil, natural gas, water and milk.
Construction of pipeline is cheaper than road and railways.
Pipeline can be constructed in forest, swampy area, hills and desert. It can also be laid down under river and ocean water.
Pipeline can ensure regular, quick and on-demand supply of liquid and gaseous materials.
Pipelines can be operated at low energy cost and it does not pollute environment.
Water transportation is cheapest among all mode of transportation because there is no need to construct any route.
They are cheaper for transporting bulky and heavy raw materials.
India has many perennial and seasonal rivers which offer transport facility. India has about 14,500 km long inland
navigation waterways.
India also has long sea coast on which there are many ports like Mumbai, Goa, Kochhi, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Haldia
etc.
India has three National Waterways:
o National Waterways – 1 Ganga 1620 km. Allahabad – Haldia
o National Waterways – 2 Brahmaputra 891 km. Sadiya – Dhubri
o National Waterways – 3 West Coast Canal 205 km. Kollam - Kottapuram
Geography Notes for Class X [Social Science] Page No: 17
There are some problems in using waterways like: a) Peninsular rivers are seasonal, b) Many rivers make waterfalls in their
course, c) Water transportation is slowest among all transport modes, d) Construction of dams and barrage also blocks waterways,
e) Many rivers flow in uninhabited area, f) Indian coast are shallow and we have less natural ports.
It is fastest and most comfortable mode of transport. It can cover long distance within hours.
River, hills, forest, oceans etc. do not come in the way of air transport.
Air transport play very important role in rescue operation during natural disasters like flood and earthquake.
It also connects isolated and far away places with main stream of the country. It is best for north-eastern states and Jammu
and Kashmir.
In India, domestic service is provided by ‘Indian Airlines’. It covers major cities of India and neighboring countries.
International air transport service is provided by ‘Air India’.
Pawanhans provides helicopter facility. Private companies like Sahara, Kingfisher are also operating air transportation in
India.
Problems: a) Air transport is very costly and not suited for common people, b) Construction of airport needs huge capital
and technology, c) Airports cannot be constructed everywhere.
Meaning of Trade: Exchange of goods and services among people is called as trade. In other words, buying and selling goods
and services is called trade. The place where trade takes place is called as market or trading center. Trade takes place because all
parts of world do not have same resources and they do not produce same commodity. Higher amount of trade indicate higher
economic development of a country.
Balance of Payment: The ratio between value of export and import is called balance of payment. If export is higher than
import, it is called ‘favourable balance of payment’. If import is higher than export, it is called negative balance of payment.
Export from India: Petroleum products, engineering goods, gems and jewellery, computer software, chemical products and
agricultural products are exported by India to other countries.
Import to India: Petroleum, pearls and precious stones, coal, inorganic chemicals, fertilizers, electronic consumer durables are
imported by India from other countries.