India: Transport, Communication and International Trade
India's transport and trade section tests the national network, major ports and trade composition. Learn nodes and corridors rather than isolated lists.
Core rules
- Roads: National Highways carry a disproportionate share of traffic; the Golden Quadrilateral links Delhi–Mumbai–Chennai–Kolkata, with North–South and East–West corridors.
- Railways remain major for bulk freight and long-distance passengers; route length is about 68,000 km.
- Major ports include Kandla (Deendayal), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Haldia and Kolkata.
- Exports include petroleum products, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, textiles and engineering goods; imports include crude oil, gold, electronics and coal.
- Major trading partners include the USA, China, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Worked example
If merchandise exports are ₹400 crore and imports are ₹600 crore, the trade deficit is ₹200 crore. A deficit in goods can coexist with a surplus in services, so read the question's scope before concluding that the whole economy is in deficit.
Traps
Do not confuse Kandla with Paradip or JNPT with Mumbai port. Do not assume the largest port handles the largest value. Trade data change, so use the direction of trade, not a remembered rank. Do not call all highways national highways.