Indian Geography

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I (Railway Zone)	List-II (Headquarters)
A. East Central	1. Gorakhpur
B. North Eastern	2. Jaipur
C. Northeast Frontier	3. Hajipur
D. North Western	4. Maligaon

Code :

[amp_mcq option1=”A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2″ option2=”A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2″ option3=”A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3″ option4=”A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3″ correct=”option2″]

Let’s match the Railway Zones with their correct Headquarters:
A. East Central Railway: Hajipur
B. North Eastern Railway: Gorakhpur
C. Northeast Frontier Railway: Maligaon (Guwahati)
D. North Western Railway: Jaipur

Matching the provided lists based on the correct headquarters for each railway zone gives:
A – 3 (Hajipur)
B – 1 (Gorakhpur)
C – 4 (Maligaon)
D – 2 (Jaipur)

Indian Railways is divided into several zones for administrative purposes. Knowing the headquarters of these zones is a common factual question in Indian geography and general knowledge. The current number of railway zones in India is 18.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

• 1. India has one of the longest navigable inland water networks in the world.
• 2. Inland waterways presently help in transporting about 25 percent of the total cargo movement.
• 3. About 111 inland waterways have been declared as National Waterways as National Waterways under the National Waterways Act, 2016.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3″ option2=”1 and 2 only” option3=”3 only” option4=”1 and 3 only” correct=”option4″]

Let’s evaluate each statement:
1. India has a vast network of rivers, canals, backwaters, etc., providing a potentially large navigable inland water network. While debate exists on whether it’s ‘one of the longest’ compared to countries like China or the USA, the declared network size is substantial. This statement is generally accepted as correct in the context of India’s geographical potential and declared network.
2. Inland waterways currently carry a very small percentage of India’s total cargo traffic. Official estimates vary but are typically around 2-5%. 25 percent is significantly higher and incorrect.
3. The National Waterways Act, 2016, declared 111 waterways as National Waterways, incorporating the 5 existing National Waterways and declaring an additional 106. This statement is correct.

Statement 2 is factually incorrect regarding the percentage of cargo transported by inland waterways in India. Statements 1 and 3 are generally considered correct in the context of India’s inland water transport potential and policy developments.

The Indian government is actively promoting the development of inland waterways to decongest roads and railways, reduce logistics costs, and provide an environmentally friendly mode of transport. Despite potential, the actual utilization for cargo transport remains low compared to other modes.

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :
List I
(Place)
A. Mumbai
B. Visakhapatnam
C. Chennai
D. Kochi

List II
(Feature)
1. Queen of the Arabian Sea
2. Biggest port of India
3. Land-locked harbour
4. Oldest port on the Eastern Coast

Code :

	A	B	C	D
(a)	2	4	3	1
(b)	2	3	4	1
(c)	1	3	4	2
(d)	1	4	3	2

[amp_mcq option1=”2, 4, 3, 1″ option2=”2, 3, 4, 1″ option3=”1, 3, 4, 2″ option4=”1, 4, 3, 2″ correct=”option2″]

The correct matching is A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1.

Matching the ports with their features:
A. Mumbai: India’s largest port (including JNPT nearby) in terms of cargo handling, hence associated with Feature 2 (Biggest port of India).
B. Visakhapatnam: Known for its natural, land-locked harbour, associated with Feature 3.
C. Chennai: One of the oldest ports on the Eastern Coast, particularly known as an old artificial harbour, associated with Feature 4.
D. Kochi (Cochin): Historically famous as a trading port on the Arabian Sea and often referred to as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea,” associated with Feature 1.

Based on the matches A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1, the correct code is (b). Mumbai Port and the adjacent Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) together handle a major share of India’s maritime trade, making it the largest port complex. Visakhapatnam’s harbour is protected by a natural rock formation called Dolphin’s Nose, making it land-locked. Chennai Port is an important artificial harbour on the east coast, established in 1881, making it one of the oldest. Kochi’s moniker “Queen of the Arabian Sea” reflects its historical significance as a major trading port on the southwest coast of India.