Describe the importance of water transport for India.

1. 1 · Open in one line. Water transport uses rivers, canals, backwaters and the sea.
2. 2 · Cheapest mode. It is the cheapest mode, since waterways need little building apart from ports and upkeep.
3. 3 · Bulky goods. One ship carries lakhs of tonnes, so it suits heavy goods such as iron ore, coal and food grains.
4. 4 · Oil and foreign trade. India imports much of its petroleum by sea, mainly from the Middle East, and most of its foreign trade passes through ports such as Mumbai and Chennai.
5. 5 · Environment. It is fuel-efficient, causes less pollution and reduces traffic on highways.
6. 6 · Close in one line. So developing waterways and ports helps India's economy.

Scoring tip: Name at least one major port or national waterway. A named example makes each point stronger.