Transport & Communication – NDA Geography PYQs

NDA 2023-II

Q. 1. The North–South and East–West Road Corridors of India cross each other at which of the following cities?

(a) Bhopal

(b) Itarsi

(c) Gwalior

(d) Jhansi

Answer: (d) Jhansi

Explanation: The North–South Corridor (Srinagar to Kanyakumari) and the East–West Corridor (Porbandar to Silchar) are two major highway corridors built under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). These two corridors intersect at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi is an important railway junction and road node in central India, making it the natural crossing point for the north–south and east–west highway axes. Concept Tested: NS and EW highway corridors cross at Jhansi (UP): key fact in India’s highway network

★ JOVIK Exam Insight India’s major highway corridors: Golden Quadrilateral (GQ): Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata (5,846 km). North–South Corridor: Srinagar to Kanyakumari (crosses EW at Jhansi). East–West Corridor: Porbandar (Gujarat) to Silchar (Assam) (crosses NS at Jhansi). Bharatmala Pariyojana: next-generation economic corridors (ongoing). The NS–EW crossing at Jhansi has been tested in NDA 2023-II. Remember: Jhansi, NOT Bhopal, Gwalior, or Itarsi.

NDA 2022-II

Q. 2. Consider the following statements about ‘Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)’ scheme:

1. It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.

2. It creates affordability yet economically viable and profitable flights on regional routes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik: “Let the Common Citizen of the Country Fly”) is a regional connectivity scheme launched in 2016 by the Government of India under the National Civil Aviation Policy. Statement 1: Correct. UDAN was specifically designed to develop the regional aviation market by connecting underserved and unserved airports across India. Statement 2: Correct. UDAN creates affordable flights for passengers while keeping routes economically viable for airlines through a mechanism of viability gap funding (VGF) from the government. The scheme balances affordability with airline profitability. Concept Tested: UDAN scheme: regional aviation connectivity; affordable fares balanced with viability gap funding for airlines

Q. 3. Consider the following statements:

1. Maharashtra State has the maximum share of national highways (length in kilometres).

2. The nature of terrain and the level of economic development is one of the reasons for the maximum share of national highways in Maharashtra.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Statement 1: Correct at the time of the question. Maharashtra has historically had one of the largest shares of national highway length among Indian states due to its economic importance, large size, and highway infrastructure investments. Statement 2: Correct. Maharashtra’s terrain is varied (coastal lowlands, Deccan plateau, ghats) and its high level of economic development (Mumbai as financial capital, significant industrial areas) drives the demand for and investment in national highway infrastructure. Concept Tested: Maharashtra: maximum national highway length; terrain and economic development as key drivers

Q. 4. 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 under the National Waterways Act, 2016.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: Statement 1: Correct. India has approximately 14,500 km of navigable inland waterways, making it one of the world’s largest such networks. Statement 2: Incorrect. Inland waterways transport only about 1–2% of India’s total cargo movement: far less than the 25% stated. India’s inland waterway transport is significantly underdeveloped compared to China, Europe, or the USA. Statement 3: Correct. The National Waterways Act 2016 declared 111 waterways (rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks) as national waterways. Concept Tested: Inland waterways: India’s large navigable network and 111 NWs under 2016 Act; waterways carry far less than 25% cargo

NDA 2021-I

Q. 5. Bharatmala Pariyojana is related to:

(a) Interlinking of Northern and Southern Indian rivers in a garland shape

(b) Networks of National Highways in India

(c) Interlinking of all cities of India through Railways

(d) Interlinking of all industrial regions of India through pipelines

Answer: (b) Networks of National Highways in India

Explanation: Bharatmala Pariyojana is a comprehensive national highway development programme. It involves building and upgrading a network of national highways across India: including economic corridors, inter-corridors, and ring roads. This question appeared as NDA 2018-I (Q. 12) with different options. Both questions confirm that Bharatmala = national highway/road network development. Concept Tested: Bharatmala Pariyojana: national highway network development (roads, not rivers, railways, or pipelines)

NDA 2018-I

Q. 6. Bharatmala Project is related to:

(a) Improve road connectivity

(b) Interlinking ports and railways

(c) Interlinking of rivers

(d) Interlinking major cities with gas pipelines

Answer: (a) Improve road connectivity

Explanation: Bharatmala Pariyojana is a centrally-sponsored road and highways development programme launched by the Government of India. Its primary objective is to improve road connectivity and efficiency of freight and passenger movement across India. It focuses on developing economic corridors, inter-corridors, ring roads, and coastal/port connectivity roads: all highway/road infrastructure. It should not be confused with Sagarmala (port connectivity), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (rural roads), or river interlinking projects. Concept Tested: Bharatmala Pariyojana: national road connectivity programme; focuses on highways and economic corridors

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Government transport schemes for NDA: Bharatmala → Road connectivity (highways and corridors). Sagarmala → Port development and coastal connectivity. UDAN → Regional aviation connectivity (affordable flights). Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) → Rural road connectivity. Jal Jeevan Mission → Drinking water (not transport). Bharatmala was tested in NDA 2018-I and 2021-I with slightly different options.

NDA 2017-II

Q. 7. The Indian Railways have gone in for qualitative improvement since independence. Which of the following have taken place in recent years?

1. Gauge Conversion

2. Track electrification

3. Automatic signals

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: All three qualitative improvements have taken place on Indian Railways: Gauge Conversion (1): India converted metre-gauge and narrow-gauge lines to broad gauge (Unigauge Policy) to create a unified rail network. Track Electrification (2): Large sections of Indian Railways have been electrified, reducing dependency on diesel and improving speed and efficiency. Automatic Signals (3): Automatic block signalling has been introduced on many routes for improved safety and traffic management. Concept Tested: Indian Railways qualitative improvements: gauge conversion, track electrification, automatic signals: all three have occurred

NDA 2017-I

Q. 8. Which one of the following sections of the Golden Quadrilateral Highway in India is the longest in terms of route distance?

(a) Delhi–Kolkata

(b) Kolkata–Chennai

(c) Chennai–Mumbai

(d) Mumbai–Delhi

Answer: (b) Kolkata–Chennai

Explanation: Approximate route distances of the four GQ sections: Delhi–Kolkata: ~1,453 km (via NH 2, through Agra, Varanasi). Kolkata–Chennai: ~1,684 km (via NH 5 corridor, through Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam). Longest section. Chennai–Mumbai: ~1,290 km (via NH 4/NH 7, through Bengaluru, Pune). Mumbai–Delhi: ~1,419 km (via NH 8, through Jaipur, Ahmedabad). Kolkata–Chennai is the longest GQ section. Concept Tested: Longest Golden Quadrilateral section: Kolkata to Chennai (~1,684 km), the east coast stretch

NDA 2013-I

Q. 9. The ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ which connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata passes through:

(a) Amritsar–Ahmedabad–Pune–Patna

(b) Jaipur–Porbandar–Hyderabad–Varanasi

(c) Vadodara–Pune–Visakhapatnam–Varanasi

(d) Nagpur–Bhopal–Surat–Amritsar

Answer: (c) Vadodara–Pune–Visakhapatnam–Varanasi

Explanation: The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is a highway network connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata: India’s four largest metropolitan cities: forming a quadrilateral shape. The route passes through: Delhi → Agra → Varanasi → Kolkata (northeast side); Kolkata → Bhubaneswar → Visakhapatnam → Chennai (east side); Chennai → Bangalore → Pune → Mumbai (south-west side); Mumbai → Vadodara → Ahmedabad → Jaipur → Delhi (west-north side). Option (c) lists Vadodara (on the Mumbai–Delhi stretch), Pune (on the Chennai–Mumbai stretch), Visakhapatnam (on the Kolkata–Chennai stretch), and Varanasi (on the Delhi–Kolkata stretch): all on the GQ route. Concept Tested: Golden Quadrilateral route: passes through Vadodara, Pune, Visakhapatnam, and Varanasi

NDA 2010-II

Q. 10. Consider the following statements:

1. In India, the largest concentration of roads is found in the northern plains.

2. The ratio of surfaced road to the total length is lower in the northern plains.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation: Statement 1: Correct. The northern plains (Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar) have the highest density of roads in India due to flat terrain, high population density, agricultural importance, and ease of road construction. Statement 2: Incorrect. The ratio of surfaced (paved) roads to total road length is HIGHER in the northern plains: not lower. Flat terrain and better economic development lead to better road quality (surfacing) in the northern plains. It is the hilly and northeastern regions that have lower ratios of surfaced to total roads. Concept Tested: Road density and surface quality: northern plains have highest concentration AND higher surfacing ratio

Q. 11. Which of the following have been declared as National Waterways in India?

1. The Allahabad–Haldia stretch of river Ganga.

2. The Sadiya–Dhubri stretch of river Brahmaputra.

3. The Cherla–Rajamundry stretch of river Godavari.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation: At the time of NDA 2010-II, the national waterways declared were: NW1: Allahabad–Haldia (Ganga): 1,620 km ✓. NW2: Sadiya–Dhubri (Brahmaputra): 891 km ✓. NW3: Kottapuram–Kollam (Kerala backwater/canal). The Godavari (Cherla–Rajamundry) stretch was not yet declared as a national waterway at that time. (It was later declared as NW-4 along with Krishna.) Correct answer: 1 and 2 only. Concept Tested: National waterways declared by 2010: NW1 (Ganga), NW2 (Brahmaputra); Godavari not yet declared

★ JOVIK Exam Insight National Waterways update: Under the National Waterways Act 2016, India declared 111 waterways as national waterways. The original three (NW1, NW2, NW3) remain the most tested in NDA. NW1 (Ganga, 1,620 km) is the longest. NW2 (Brahmaputra, 891 km) is second. Questions from before 2016 will refer to the original 3 or 5 waterways; post-2016 questions may reference 111.

NDA 2008-I

Q. 12. The National Highway No. 7 connects which of the following?

(a) Mumbai and Varanasi

(b) Mumbai and Bhubaneshwar

(c) Delhi and Kanyakumari

(d) Varanasi and Kanyakumari

Answer: (d) Varanasi and Kanyakumari

Explanation: Old NH 7 ran from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu: passing through Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Madurai. It was the longest national highway in India at the time (~2,369 km). Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of mainland India. Varanasi is in the Gangetic plains of UP. This route did not pass through Mumbai or Delhi. Concept Tested: Old NH 7 connects Varanasi (north) to Kanyakumari (south): India’s then-longest national highway

Q. 13. Consider the following statements:

1. Currently three waterways have been declared as the national waterways of India.

2. The Sadiya–Dhubri stretch of river Brahmaputra is the longest national waterway.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) Only 1

Explanation: Statement 1 (Three national waterways at the time of NDA 2008-I): Correct. By 2008, three national waterways had been declared: NW1 (Allahabad–Haldia on Ganga, 1,620 km), NW2 (Sadiya–Dhubri on Brahmaputra, 891 km), and NW3 (Kottapuram–Kollam, Kerala, 205 km). Statement 2 (Brahmaputra is the longest national waterway): Incorrect. NW1 (Allahabad–Haldia on the Ganga, 1,620 km) is significantly longer than NW2 (Brahmaputra, 891 km). NW1 is the longest. Concept Tested: National waterways in India (2008 context): three declared; NW1 (Ganga) is longer than NW2 (Brahmaputra)

NDA 2007-II

Q. 14. Which National Highway connects Delhi and Mumbai?

(a) NH 6

(b) NH 8

(c) NH 10

(d) NH 12

Answer: (b) NH 8

Explanation: Old NH 8 connected Delhi to Mumbai (~1,428 km): one of India’s most important highways. It passed through Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Mumbai. In the new numbering system, this route is largely covered by NH 48. Old NH 6 connected Hazira (Gujarat) to Kolkata. NH 10 connected Delhi to Fazilka. NH 12 connected Jabalpur to Jaipur. Concept Tested: Old NH 8: connects Delhi to Mumbai via Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat

NDA 2007-I

Q. 15. Match List I (National Highway No.) with List II (Cities Connected) and select the correct answer:

List I (National Highway)	List II (Cities Connected)
A. NH 5	1. Bhopal–Jaipur
B. NH 7	2. Bhubaneshwar–Chennai
C. NH 9	3. Nagpur–Varanasi
D. NH 12	4. Pune–Hyderabad

Codes:

(a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

(b) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

(c) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1

(d) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

Answer: (c) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1

Explanation: NH 5 (A) → Bhubaneshwar–Chennai (2). Old NH 5 ran from Kolkata to Chennai, passing through Bhubaneswar. NH 7 (B) → Nagpur–Varanasi (3). Old NH 7 ran Varanasi to Kanyakumari; the Nagpur–Varanasi segment describes this route’s northern portion. NH 9 (C) → Pune–Hyderabad (4). Old NH 9 connected Pune to Hyderabad. NH 12 (D) → Bhopal–Jaipur (1). Old NH 12 ran from Jabalpur to Jaipur, passing through Bhopal. Concept Tested: Old national highway routes: NH 5 (Bhubaneswar–Chennai), NH 7 (Nagpur–Varanasi end), NH 9 (Pune–Hyderabad), NH 12 (Bhopal–Jaipur)

NDA 2006-II

Q. 16. Which one of the following National Highways links Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Madurai?

(a) NH 5

(b) NH 7

(c) NH 9

(d) NH 11

Answer: (b) NH 7

Explanation: Old NH 7 was the longest national highway in India at the time (~2,369 km). It ran from Varanasi (UP) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), passing through Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore (Bengaluru), and Madurai. Old NH 5 connected Kolkata to Chennai (via Bhubaneswar). Old NH 9 connected Pune to Hyderabad. Old NH 11 connected Agra to Bikaner. Concept Tested: Old NH 7 route: Varanasi to Kanyakumari via Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Madurai

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Old NH 7 is one of the most tested national highway facts in NDA. Key route: Varanasi → Jabalpur → Nagpur → Hyderabad → Bangalore → Madurai → Kanyakumari. India renumbered its highways (~2015). Old NH 7 is now divided into parts of NH 44 (the new longest national highway: Srinagar to Kanyakumari). NDA questions before 2015 use old numbers; verify against the specific paper’s year.

NDA 2006-I

Q. 17. At which one of the following towns do National Highways Nos 6 and 7 cross each other?

(a) Coimbatore

(b) Koraput

(c) Ranchi

(d) Rourkela

[Note: No answer is recorded in the source for this question. The intersection of old NH 6 and NH 7 is typically associated with Nagpur; however, Nagpur is not among the options. The source answer could not be determined. Verify against the official NDA 2006-I answer key.]

Explanation: Using the old numbering system: Old NH 6 (Hazira–Kolkata): passed through Dhule, Nagpur, Raipur, Sambalpur, Rourkela area. Old NH 7 (Varanasi–Kanyakumari): passed through Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore. Both NH 6 and NH 7 passed through Nagpur. However, Nagpur is not among the options given. Among the four options, Rourkela (d) lies near the NH 6 corridor and is a possible candidate, but this cannot be confirmed without the official key. Students should verify this answer against the official NDA 2006-I answer key. Concept Tested: Intersection of old NH 6 and NH 7: context of old national highway routes

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