Transport & Communication – NDA Geography PYQs

Coastal States, Gulfs, Straits, Islands and Maritime Zones of India

Indian Geography • Coastal Geography • PYQs Included

Question 1 [NDA 2006-I]
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

Answer: Based on PYQ options — this is a map-based question. NH 6 and NH 7 intersection is at a point in eastern India. Among the options, (d) Rourkela is the most plausible, as both highways pass through or near this region of Odisha/Jharkhand.

Question 2 [NDA 2006-II]
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
NH 7 is the Varanasi-Kanyakumari highway — passing through Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad (or nearby), Bangalore, and Madurai before reaching Kanyakumari. It was the longest national highway in India under the old numbering system.

Question 3 [NDA 2007-I]
Match National Highway Numbers with Cities Connected:
A. NH 5 — B. NH 7 — C. NH 9 — D. NH 12

  1. Bhopal-Jaipur 2. Bhubaneshwar-Chennai 3. Nagpur-Varanasi 4. Pune-Hyderabad

(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
NH 5 = Bhubaneshwar-Chennai (2). NH 7 = Nagpur-Varanasi section (3 — part of the longer Varanasi-Kanyakumari route). NH 9 = Pune-Hyderabad (4). NH 12 = Bhopal-Jaipur (1).

Question 4 [NDA 2007-II]
Which National Highway connects Delhi and Mumbai?
(a) NH 6
(b) NH 8
(c) NH 10
(d) NH 12

Answer: (b) NH 8
NH 8 is the Delhi-Mumbai highway passing through Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara. It is one of India’s most commercially important highways.

Question 5 [NDA 2008-I]
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
NH 7 runs from Varanasi (UP) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) — passing through Jabalpur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Madurai. It does NOT start from Delhi or Mumbai. It starts from Varanasi.

Question 6 [NDA 2008-I]
Consider the following statements:

  1. Kandla Port is situated at the head of Gulf of Khambhat.
  2. Paradeep Port is situated in the Mahanadi Delta.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only
Statement 1 is wrong — Kandla Port is at the head of the Gulf of Kutch (not Gulf of Khambhat). Statement 2 is correct — Paradeep Port is in the Mahanadi Delta in Odisha.

Question 7 [NDA 2008-I]
Which among the following is the major item of export from Paradeep Port?
(a) Rice
(b) Tea
(c) Fish
(d) Iron Ore

Answer: (d) Iron Ore
Paradeep Port in Odisha exports iron ore — from the mines of Odisha and Jharkhand. It is one of India’s major iron ore export ports. The Paradip Port is strategically located to serve the mineral-rich hinterland.

Question 8 [NDA 2008-I]
For which one of the following is Lamba in Gujarat famous?
(a) Cultivation of oil-yielding plants
(b) Wind power plant
(c) Oil refinery
(d) Uranium enrichment plant

Answer: (b) Wind power plant
Lamba in Gujarat is famous for its wind power plant. Gujarat has one of India’s largest wind energy capacities — the flat coastal terrain and constant sea winds make it ideal for wind power generation.

Question 9 [NDA 2010-II]
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 total length is lower in the northern plains.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Statement 1 is correct — the northern plains have the densest road network in India because of flat terrain, high population, and intensive agriculture. Statement 2 is also correct — despite having many roads, a significant proportion of northern plain roads (village roads) are still unsurfaced (kutcha roads), giving a lower ratio of surfaced to total roads.

Question 10 [NDA 2010-II]
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.

(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
NW 1 is the Allahabad-Haldia stretch on the Ganga — correct (1). NW 2 is the Sadiya-Dhubri stretch on the Brahmaputra — correct (2). The Godavari stretch mentioned as a national waterway does not match the specific route given — answer is 1 and 2 only.

Question 11 [NDA 2011-I]
Which is the correct sequence of Indian ports from North to South?
(a) Haldia-Kandla-Paradeep-Kochi
(b) Kandla-Haldia-Paradeep-Kochi
(c) Kandla-Haldia-Kochi-Paradeep
(d) Kochi-Kandla-Haldia-Paradeep

Answer: (b) Kandla-Haldia-Paradeep-Kochi
From north to south along India’s coasts: Kandla (Gujarat, northwest coast) → Haldia (West Bengal, northeast coast) → Paradeep (Odisha, east coast, slightly south of Haldia) → Kochi (Kerala, southwest coast, southernmost among these). This sequence moves from northwest to northeast then down the east coast and around to the southwest.

Question 12 [NDA 2012-I]
Match List I (Port) with List II (Special Feature):
A. Kandla — B. Kochi — C. Vishakhapatnam — D. Kolkata

  1. Deepest landlocked protected port 2. Located at mouth of lagoon 3. Tidal port 4. Inland riverine port

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

Answer: (a) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
Kandla = Tidal port (3). Kochi = Located at mouth of lagoon (2). Vishakhapatnam = Deepest landlocked protected port (1). Kolkata = Inland riverine port (4).

Question 13 [NDA 2013-I]
The Golden Quadrilateral connecting 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
The Golden Quadrilateral passes through major cities on the route connecting Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata. The route includes Vadodara and Pune (on the Mumbai-Delhi/Chennai side), Visakhapatnam (on the Chennai-Kolkata side), and Varanasi (near the Kolkata-Delhi side).

Question 14 [NDA 2015-II]
Which one of the following is NOT a seaport?
(a) Paradeep
(b) Haldia
(c) Diamond Harbour
(d) Dhamra

Answer: (c) Diamond Harbour
Diamond Harbour is a town on the Hooghly River in West Bengal. It is known for inland navigation and has historical significance, but it is NOT a major seaport. Paradeep (Odisha), Haldia (WB), and Dhamra (Odisha) are all seaports.

Question 15 [NDA 2017-I]
Which one of the following sections of the Golden Quadrilateral Highway is the longest?
(a) Delhi-Kolkata
(b) Kolkata-Chennai
(c) Chennai-Mumbai
(d) Mumbai-Delhi

Answer: (b) Kolkata-Chennai
The Kolkata-Chennai section covers the longest distance — running the full length of eastern India along the coast. This section passes through Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and other cities on the eastern seaboard.

Question 16 [NDA 2018-I]
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
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a highway construction and upgradation programme aimed at improving road connectivity across India — especially in border areas, remote regions, and economically important corridors. It is not about rivers, railways, or gas pipelines.

Question 17 [NDA 2019-I]
Kamarajar Port was commissioned in 2001 to handle thermal coal requirements. It is situated along the coast of which Indian state?
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Odisha
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Karnataka

Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu
Kamarajar Port (formerly Ennore Port) is near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It was developed to handle coal for the thermal power stations in the region. It is one of the newest major ports in India.

Question 18 [NDA 2019-II]
Paradeep Port is located on the delta of which river?
(a) Rihand
(b) Ganga
(c) Mahanadi
(d) Baitarani

Answer: (c) Mahanadi
Paradeep Port is located in Odisha where the Mahanadi meets the Bay of Bengal — at the Mahanadi delta. It is one of India’s major eastern ports, handling coal, iron ore, and fertilisers.

Question 19 [NDA 2020-I]
Deendayal Port is located at:
(a) Kerala
(b) Gujarat
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Goa

Answer: (b) Gujarat
Deendayal Port (formerly Kandla Port) is located in Kutch district of Gujarat — on the Gulf of Kutch. It was renamed after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. It is a tidal port.

Question 20 [NDA 2021-II]
Match List I (Place) with List II (Feature):
A. Mumbai — B. Visakhapatnam — C. Chennai — D. Kochi

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

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

Answer: (a) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
Mumbai = Biggest port of India (2). Visakhapatnam = Oldest port on Eastern Coast (4) — wait, standard knowledge says Chennai is the oldest port on eastern coast. PYQ answer (a) maps: Visakhapatnam=4=Oldest port on Eastern Coast, Chennai=3=Land-locked harbour. But Visakhapatnam is land-locked harbour and Chennai is oldest eastern port in standard geography. Follow PYQ: (a) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1 — meaning Visakhapatnam=oldest eastern port and Chennai=land-locked. This seems reversed. Follow PYQ answer as given.

Question 21 [NDA 2022-II]
Consider the following statements about UDAN scheme:

  1. It is an innovative scheme to develop the regional aviation market.
  2. It creates affordability yet economically viable flights on regional routes.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements correctly describe UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik). UDAN was launched to connect smaller cities with major airports through affordable regional flights. It aims to make air travel accessible to common people while keeping it commercially viable for airlines.

Question 22 [NDA 2022-II]
Consider the following statements:

  1. Maharashtra State has the maximum share of national highways.
  2. The nature of terrain and level of economic development is one reason for this.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Maharashtra has the longest national highway network in India — because of its large size, relatively flat terrain in many areas, and high level of economic development requiring good road connectivity.

Question 23 [NDA 2022-II]
Consider the following statements about inland waterways:

  1. India has one of the longest navigable inland water networks.
  2. Inland waterways transport about 25% of total cargo.
  3. About 111 inland waterways have been declared as National Waterways under the NW Act, 2016.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only
Statement 1 is correct — India does have one of the longest navigable inland water networks. Statement 2 is wrong — inland waterways carry a much smaller percentage of cargo than 25%. Statement 3 is correct — the National Waterways Act, 2016 declared 111 waterways as National Waterways.

Question 24 [NDA 2023-II]
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
The North-South corridor (Srinagar to Kanyakumari) and East-West corridor (Porbandar to Silchar) cross each other at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.

Practice Question 1 (Important for NDA)
Match Railway Zones with their Headquarters:
A. South-Eastern — B. South-Central — C. South-Western — D. South-East Central

  1. Secunderabad 2. Kolkata 3. Bilaspur 4. Hubli

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

Answer: (a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
South-Eastern = Kolkata (2). South-Central = Secunderabad (1). South-Western = Hubli (4). South-East Central = Bilaspur (3).

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