NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography (India - People and Economy) Chapter 8 International Trade

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Book : India- People and Economy Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 11 Social Science Geography

Class : 12th

Subject : Geography

Chapter : 11

Chapter Name : INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Q1 Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.

(i) Trade between the two countries is termed as

(a) Internal trade

(b) External trade

(c) International trade

(d) Local trade

(ii) Which one of the following is a land locked harbour?

(a) Visakhapatnam

(b) Mumbai

(c) Ennor

(d) Haldia

(iii) Most of India’s foreign trade is carried through

(a) Land and sea

(b) Land and air

(c) Sea and air

(d) Sea

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Book : India- People and Economy Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 11 Social Science Geography

Answer.

(i) (c) International trade

(ii) (a) Visakhapatnam

(iii) (c) Sea and air

Page : 132 , Block Name : Multiple Choice Questions

Q2 Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Mention the characteristics of India’s foreign trade.

(ii) Distinguish between port and harbour.

(iii) Explain the meaning of hinterland.

(iv) Name important items which India imports from different countries.

(v) Name the ports of India located on the east coast.

Answer.

(i) After independence, India had to import various items like heavy machinery, agricultural
implements, mineral oil and metals on a large scale for economic growth.But our exports could
not keep pace with our imports which left us with negative or unfavourable trade in the initial
yas. Previously, India used to export its traditional commodities only which included tea, jute,
cotton textile, leather, etc. India now exports over 7,500 commodities. Since 1991, India has
emerged as a major exporter of computer software and that too to some of the advanced
countries like the USA and Japan.India has trade links with almost all the regions of the world.
India exports its goods to as many as 190 countries and imports from 140 countries. About 95
percent of our foreign trade is done through sea routes.

(ii)

PORT HARBOUR

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Book : India- People and Economy Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 11 Social Science Geography

It is the point on the coast where the ship is It provides shelter to the ship.
anchored.

It provides facilities for loading and unloading for Ships are given protection from waves and
ship. stones.

Ports are generally artificially created. It is usually a natural structure.

(iii) Hinterland is the surrounding area which is closely connected to the port with roads and
railways. The products of this area are sent to for export; and imported material is distributed
here for sale and consumption. For example, Andhra Pradesh is the hinterland of
Visakhapatnam port.

(iv) India’s imports include pearls and semi precious stones, gold and silver, metallic ferrous
ores and metal scrap, non-ferrous metals, electronic goods, etc.

(v) Major ports located on the east coast are :-

➔​ Kolkata and Haldia in West Bengal

➔​ Paradip in Odisha

➔​ Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh

➔​ Ennore, Chennai and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu

Page : 132 , Block Name : Short Answer Questions

Q3 Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i) Describe the composition of export and import trade of India.

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Book : India- People and Economy Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 11 Social Science Geography

(ii) Write a note on the changing nature of the international trade of India.

Answer.

(i) The composition of commodities in India’s international trade has been undergoing a change
over the years.

➔​ The share of agriculture and allied products has declined, whereas, shares of
petroleum and crude products and other commodities have increased. The shares of ore
minerals and manufactured goods have largely remained constant over the years.

➔​ Amongst the agricultural products, there is a decline in the export of traditional items,
such as coffee, cashew, etc., though an increase has been registered in floricultural
products, fresh fruits, marine products and sugar, etc.

➔​ Manufacturing sector alone accounted for 73.6 per cent of India’s total value of
export in 2016-17. Engineering goods have shown growth in the export.

➔​ Gems and jewellery contributes a larger share of India’s foreign trade.

➔​ Changing Patterns of the composition of India’s Import India faced serious food
shortage during 1950s and 1960s. The major item of import at that time was foodgrain,
capital goods, machinery and equipment.After 1970s, foodgrain import was discontinued
due to the success of Green revolution.

➔​ Foodgrain import was replaced by fertilisers and petroleum. Machine and
equipment, special steel, edible oil and chemicals largely make the import basket.

➔​ Import of capital goods maintained a steady increase due to rising demand in the
export-oriented industrial and domestic sectors. Non-electrical machinery, transport
equipment, manufacturers of metals and machine tools were the main items of capital
goods.

➔​ Import of food and allied products declined with a fall in imports of edible oils. Other
major items of India’s imports include pearls and semi-precious stones, gold and silver,
metalliferous ores and metal scrap, non-ferrous metals, electronic goods, etc.

(ii) India aims to double its share in the international trade within the next five years through
already measures such as import liberalisation, reduction in import duties, de-licensing and
change from process to product patents. India has trade relations with most countries and major
trading blocs of the world.

➔​ India’s largest export destination country continues to be the United States of
America (USA) followed by United Arab Emirates, China and Hong Kong. However, in

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Book : India- People and Economy Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 11 Social Science Geography

2018-19, growth of India’s exports to the Netherlands was the highest (40.7 per cent),
followed by China (25.6 percent) and Nepal (17.4 percent).

➔​ China continues to be the largest source of imports of India accounting for 13.7 per
cent of the total imported value in 2018-19.

➔​ Exchange of information and knowledge has surpassed exchange of goods and
commodities. Through its advanced software knowledge and excellence in the field of
information technology, India has emerged as a viable contender at the international
level and is earning huge amounts of foreign exchange through the same.

➔​ Tourism has added to India’s upgraded position in international trade.

➔​ India’s share in total world trade is continuously declining. It was 2.1% in 1950 and it
is 1% in 2005.

In recent years, international trade has declined globally due to the adoption of protectionist
measures by European and American nations, trade war between US and China, ineffective
trade bodies like WTO etc. Movement of professionals have increased specially to countries like
Japan, Norway etc. which are experiencing negative population growth rate.

As a result of these changes, India is becoming human resource capital exporting human
resource in the world.

Page : 132 , Block Name : Long Answer Questions

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