Energy, Transportation and Communication: RAS Prelims MCQs
84 RAS Prelims MCQs on energy, transportation and communication cover the energy sources and policy, the nuclear programme, solar parks, highways, railways and logistics. Small hydro, the National Energy Policy, Bhadla Solar Park, the longest national highway, railway zones and the Dedicated Freight Corridors are asked as facts and effects.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 31–40 of 84 questions
Statement I: India has the second-largest road network in the world.
Statement II: National Highways constitute more than 10 percent of the total road length in India but carry about 40 percent of the road traffic.
Explanation
India maintains the world’s second-largest road network, which is a significant achievement for national logistics. However, while National Highways carry about forty percent of total road traffic, they constitute only about two to three percent of the total road length, not over ten percent. This highlight the immense pressure and strategic importance of these high-capacity corridors within the broader national transport system.Explanation
The Bharatmala Pariyojana is a flagship highway development programme aimed at optimizing the efficiency of freight and passenger movement across India. It focuses on bridging critical infrastructure gaps through the construction of economic corridors, feeder routes, and coastal roads. Unlike rural schemes, it addresses the large-scale connectivity needs required to boost industrial growth and improve the overall logistics performance of the nation.| Highway Corridor/Project | Description/Location |
|---|---|
| A. Golden Quadrilateral | i. Srinagar to Kanyakumari |
| B. North-South Corridor | ii. Silchar to Porbandar |
| C. East-West Corridor | iii. Connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata |
| D. Intersection of NS and EW Corridors | iv. Jhansi |
Explanation
Major road projects in India are designed to connect distant regions. The Golden Quadrilateral connects the four major metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The North-South Corridor spans from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, while the East-West Corridor connects Silchar to Porbandar. These two massive corridors intersect at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, making it a vital hub for the national road network.I. Maharashtra
II. Uttar Pradesh
III. Rajasthan
IV. Madhya Pradesh
Arrange them in descending order of the total length of National Highways within the state:
Explanation
Maharashtra has the largest total length of National Highways in India, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh also ranks high in this category. The distribution of highway length is influenced by the state’s geographic size, its position as a transit hub, and the level of industrial activity. These four states consistently lead the nation in terms of overall highway infrastructure.Explanation
The Green Highways Policy focuses on promoting the greening of highway corridors through tree plantation, transplantation, and maintenance. Its primary objectives include reducing air and noise pollution and providing employment to local communities. It does not aim to replace traditional road construction materials like asphalt with bio-degradable ones. The policy represents a balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation along the nation’s highways.Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The road density in Kerala is significantly higher than the road density in Jammu and Kashmir.
Reason (R): Terrain, topography, and population density heavily influence the development of road networks.
Explanation
Road density in Kerala is much higher than in Jammu and Kashmir because of differences in terrain and population. Kerala’s relatively flat coastal areas and high population density facilitate extensive road development. In contrast, the rugged mountain topography and sparse population of Jammu and Kashmir make road construction extremely difficult and costly. Thus, geographic and demographic factors are the primary determinants of road density.Explanation
National Highway 44 is the longest highway in India, stretching from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari at the southern tip of Tamil Nadu. It was formed by merging several older highways and serves as the primary north-south artery for the nation. This highway plays a critical role in connecting various states and facilitating the large-scale movement of goods and people.Explanation
The Indian Railways network is currently organized into nineteen administrative zones, including the Kolkata Metro which has been granted zonal status. This divisional structure allows for efficient management of one of the world’s largest railway systems. Each zone is headed by a General Manager and is further divided into multiple divisions to handle localized operations, maintenance, and passenger services across the country.I. It is the largest railway network in the world under single management.
II. The Unigauge policy aims to convert all tracks to Broad Gauge.
III. The Vivek Express is currently the longest route train in India.
IV. The Konkan Railway connects Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka.
V. Over 90 percent of the broad gauge network in India has been electrified.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Indian Railways is the world’s fourth-largest network, not the largest under single management.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (c) NITI Aayog |
| 32 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect. |
| 33 | (b) Optimizing freight and passenger movement by bridging infrastructure gaps. |
| 34 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv |
| 35 | (a) I, II, III, IV |
| 36 | (a) To completely replace asphalt with bio- degradable materials for road construction |
| 37 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 38 | (a) NH 44 |
| 39 | (d) 19 |
| 40 | (b) II, III, IV and V |
Key facts from Energy, Transportation and Communication
- Small hydro projects have an installed capacity of 25 MW or less; the Brahmaputra basin has the highest commercially exploitable hydropower potential.
- NITI Aayog drafted the National Energy Policy; Homi J. Bhabha conceptualised the three-stage nuclear programme.
- Coal Bed Methane is natural gas trapped within coal seams; Bhadla is one of the largest solar parks in the world.
- NH 44, from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, is the longest national highway in India.
- Indian Railways is divided into 19 zones for administration.
- The Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors reduce transit time and unit cost for freight; Krishi UDAN helps transport farm produce by air.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Energy, Transportation and Communication?
This page has 84 practice MCQs on Energy, Transportation and Communication (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which is the longest National Highway in India?
NH 44, which runs from Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. It covers several States, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and links the north and south of the country.
How many zones does Indian Railways have?
19 zones for administrative convenience, each headed by a General Manager. The Kolkata Metro is counted as a zone, and each zone is further divided into divisions that run the day-to-day work of the railways.
What is Coal Bed Methane?
Natural gas trapped within coal seams. It can be extracted by drilling into the coal bed, and it is a source of cleaner energy that India is developing in its coal-bearing regions.