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 51–60 of 84 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q51. Match List I with List II:
National Waterway
River/Canal System
A. NW-1
i. Brahmaputra River
B. NW-2
ii. Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River
C. NW-3
iii. Krishna and Godavari Rivers
D. NW-4
iv. West Coast Canal
Select the correct code:
Explanation
National Waterways are designated along major river and canal systems. NW-1 is on the Ganga- Bhagirathi-Hooghly system, while NW-2 is on the Brahmaputra River. NW-3 comprises the West Coast Canal in Kerala, and NW-4 includes parts of the Krishna and Godavari rivers. These waterways provide a fuel-efficient and cost-effective alternative for bulk cargo transport across different geographical regions of the country.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q52. Select the correct sequence of National Waterways in descending order of their total length:
Explanation
In terms of total length, National Waterway 1 on the Ganga is the longest, followed by National Waterway 4 on the Krishna and Godavari rivers. National Waterway 2 on the Brahmaputra is the third longest, while National Waterway 3 in Kerala is significantly shorter. This sequence highlights the varying scales of inland waterway development across India’s different river systems and regions.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q53. Which of the following is not a major challenge hindering the development and utilization of Inland Waterways in India?
Explanation
Inland water transport is actually one of the most fuel-efficient and cost-effective modes of transport, offering much lower fuel costs per ton-kilometer than road or rail. The primary challenges hindering its development include excessive seasonal variations in water flow, heavy siltation that reduces navigable depth, and the lack of vertical clearance under old bridges which restricts the movement of large cargo vessels.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q54. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Despite being a highly fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport, the share of inland waterways in India’s freight transport is very low. Reason (R): Most Indian rivers lack perennial sufficient depth for large vessels and require continuous, costly dredging.
Explanation
Despite being fuel-efficient, the share of inland waterways in India’s total freight is very low because many rivers lack sufficient depth year-round. Continuous and expensive dredging is required to maintain navigable channels for large vessels, particularly during the dry season. Therefore, the physical limitations of the river systems and the high cost of maintenance directly explain the limited commercial utilization of waterways.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q55. Identify the correct statement regarding the Krishi Udan scheme:
Explanation
The Krishi UDAN scheme helps farmers to transport agricultural products by air so that they get better prices for their produce, especially from the North-East and hilly areas.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q56. The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented to augment the navigation capacity of which specific National Waterway?
Explanation
The Jal Marg Vikas Project is a major initiative aimed at enhancing the navigation capacity of National Waterway 1 on the Ganga River. It involves the construction of multi-modal terminals, fairways, and navigation locks to allow larger vessels to traverse the river between Varanasi and Haldia. This project is critical for boosting inland water transport and economic activity along the Ganga basin.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q57. Consider the following statements regarding ports in India: I. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) is the largest container port in India. II. Kandla (Deendayal Port) is a tidal port located in the Gulf of Kutch. III. Kamarajar Port (Ennore) is the first major port in India registered as a company. IV. Mundra is the largest private port in India. V. Kolkata Port is a major coastal sea port located directly on the Bay of Bengal. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Jawaharlal Nehru Port is India’s largest container port, while Kandla is a major tidal port in Gujarat. Kamarajar Port is unique for being the first major port registered as a company, and Mundra is the largest private port. However, Kolkata Port is actually a riverine port located on the Hooghly River, rather than being situated directly on the coastal sea front.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q58. Identify the odd one out among the following major Indian ports based on their coast (East Coast vs. West Coast):
Explanation
Paradip is a major port located on the East Coast of India in the state of Odisha. In contrast, Kandla, Mormugao, and New Mangalore are all major ports situated along the West Coast. This geographical distinction is fundamental for understanding trade routes, as west coast ports primarily serve trade with Europe and the Middle East, while east coast ports focus on Southeast Asia.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q59. What is the primary cause for the continuous requirement of dredging at the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata Port)?
Explanation
The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata is a riverine port located on the Hooghly River, which naturally carries a heavy load of sediment. This leads to continuous siltation in the shipping channels, necessitating constant and expensive dredging to maintain the depth required for large vessels. Its inland location makes it unique but also highly dependent on active river management for sustained operations.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Energy, Transportation and Communication
Q60. Match List I with List II:
Major Port
Distinctive Feature/State
A. Mormugao
i. Deepest landlocked and protected port
B. Visakhapatnam
ii. Located at the entrance of the Zuari estuary (Goa)
C. Kochi
iii. Riverine port acting as a subsidiary to Kolkata
D. Haldia
iv. Located at the head of Vembanad Kayal
Select the correct code:
Explanation
Major ports have distinctive geographical and functional features. Mormugao is located at the Zuari estuary in Goa, and Visakhapatnam is known for being a deep, landlocked, and protected harbor. Kochi is situated at the head of the Vembanad Kayal, and Haldia serves as a vital riverine subsidiary port to Kolkata. These features determine the types of cargo handled and the operational efficiency of each port.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
51
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii
52
(a) NW-1, NW-4, NW-2, NW-3
53
(c) Extremely high fuel costs compared to road transport
54
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
55
(c) Assisting farmers in transporting products to improve value realization.
56
(b) NW-1 (Ganga)
57
(a) I, II, III and IV
58
(c) Paradip
59
(a) Riverine location on the Hooghly river prone to heavy siltation.
60
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii
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.
