2002 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2002 · General Studies

Question 94: Geography

With reference to Indian transport systems, consider the following statements:

  1. 1.Indian railways system is the largest in the world.
  2. 2.National Highways cater to 45 per cent of the total road transport demand.
  3. 3.Among the states, Kerala has the highest density of surface road.
  4. 4.National Highway No. 7 is the longest in the country.

Which of these statements are correct?

a1 and 2
b1 and 3
c2 and 3
d2 and 4

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Statement 4 was true then: National Highway 7, from Varanasi to Kanyakumari, was the longest highway in the country. Statement 2 is accepted too: National Highways, though a small part of the road length, carried about two-fifths or more of road traffic. Statement 1 is false: Indian Railways is the largest network in Asia, not the world. The given answer excludes statement 3.

  • 1. Indian Railways is the largest network in Asia, not in the world.
  • 2. National Highways carry a large share of road traffic despite their small length.
  • 3. Excluded by the given answer.
  • 4. NH 7 (Varanasi to Kanyakumari) was then the longest.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 4 is correct, (a), (b) and (c) go: each of them leaves 4 out.

    What you needed to know: NH 7 (Varanasi to Kanyakumari) was then the longest.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 3.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Includes statement 1, which is false: the network is not the world's largest.
  • (b) Includes statements 1 and 3, neither of which the given answer accepts.
  • (c) Includes statement 3, which the given answer excludes, and leaves out 4.
  • (d) Right: statements 2 and 4.

Worth knowing: Statement 3 is arguable since Kerala is usually cited as having India's highest road density among states, and NH 7 was later merged into NH 44.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2002, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.