(i) The means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of a nation and its economy because they are the preconditions for progress and development. Goods and services cannot move on their own from supply houses to demand locales. This necessitates the need for transportation. Thus, a country’s economy depends not only on the production and sale of goods and services, but on their transport as well. Globalisation has been possible on account of easier and fast-developing communication channels between the countries of the world. Hence, it complements trade as well as transport. India is well-connected with the rest of the world due to these two things—transport and communication, which have contributed vastly to the development of our national economy. They have also added extensively to growing amenities and facilities improving our lifestyles.
(ii) The changing nature of the international trade for India, in the last fifteen years, has been impressive. 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 too has added to India’s upgraded position in international trade. In 2004, there was a 23.5% increase in foreign tourist arrivals as against the number in 2003. Thus, international trade for India has undergone a cognisable change in the past fifteen years.