Consider the following pairs:
Contents16
Consider the following pairs:
| National Highway | Cities connected | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | NH4 | Chennai and Hyderabad |
| 2. | NH6 | Mumbai and Kolkata |
| 3. | NH15 | Ahmedabad and Jodhpur |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 only
- C1, 2 and 3
- DNone
Show answer
Answer: (D) None
All three pairs are WRONG (answer is 'None').
The old NH numbering (pre-2010 renumbering) was:
- NH4 — connected Chennai to Thane (via Bangalore, not Hyderabad).
- NH6 — connected Hajira (near Surat) to Kolkata (not starting from Mumbai).
- NH15 — ran from Pathankot to Samakhiali (Gujarat), passing through Amritsar and Jaisalmer, NOT connecting Ahmedabad to Jodhpur.
Note: India renumbered all National Highways after 2010. The new system uses different numbers entirely. UPSC sometimes tests old NH numbers from pre-2010 NCERT textbooks.
(Ref: NCERT Class 12 Geography Part II)
India completely renumbered all National Highways after 2010, changing from the old system that students often memorize from older textbooks.
UPSC deliberately uses incorrect pairs to test if students have memorized actual routes versus just highway names - NH4 connected Chennai to Thane, NH6 ran from Hajira to Kolkata, and NH15 went from Pathankot to Samakhiali.
NH4 (Old) - Chennai to Thane Route
Geography NH4 Chennai and Hyderabad
NH4 (Old Numbering): Chennai-Thane Corridor via Bangalore
NH4 (old) connected Chennai to Thane (near Mumbai), NOT Chennai to Hyderabad
Route: Chennai → Bangalore → Pune → Thane
Length was approximately 1,235 km in the old system
What NH4 Actually Connected
NH4 under the old numbering system ran from Chennai in Tamil Nadu to Thane in Maharashtra. The highway passed through major cities like Bangalore and Pune, forming a crucial east-west corridor.
Key Cities on NH4 Route
Chennai (starting point) - major port city of Tamil Nadu
Bangalore - IT capital and major junction point
Pune - industrial hub of Maharashtra
Thane (endpoint) - satellite city near Mumbai
NH4 Route Map
Source: Alchetron — National Highway 4 (India) - Alchetron, the free social ... · alchetron.com
Trap: Statement 1 shows Chennai-Hyderabad for NH4, but it actually connected Chennai-Thane
Confusion: Hyderabad lies on a different highway route, not on the Chennai-Mumbai corridor
Memory aid: NH4 = Chennai to Thane (sounds like 'Train' - railway connection)
NH6 (Old) - Hajira to Kolkata Route
Geography NH6 Mumbai and Kolkata
NH6 (Old Numbering): Hajira-Kolkata Corridor across Central India
NH6 (old) connected Hajira to Kolkata, NOT Mumbai to Kolkata
Hajira is a port town near Surat in Gujarat, not Mumbai
Route passed through Dhule, Nagpur, Raipur across central India
What NH6 Actually Connected
NH6 in the old system started from Hajira (a port town near Surat, Gujarat) and ended at Kolkata. This was a major east-west highway passing through the industrial heartland of central India.
NH6 vs Mumbai-Kolkata Confusion
Aspect | NH6 Reality | Common Misconception |
|---|---|---|
Starting Point | Hajira (near Surat) | Mumbai |
Location | Gujarat port town | Maharashtra megacity |
Distance from Mumbai | ~280 km north | Same city |
Industrial Significance | Chemical hub | Financial capital |
Major Cities on NH6
Hajira - starting point, chemical industrial hub
Dhule - textile center in Maharashtra
Nagpur - geographical center, major junction
Raipur - capital of Chhattisgarh
Kolkata - endpoint, major eastern port
Major Trap: Statement 2 shows Mumbai-Kolkata for NH6, but it started from Hajira (near Surat)
Geography Error: Mumbai and Hajira are ~280 km apart - completely different starting points
Memory Trick: NH6 = Hajira to Kolkata (H-K connection)
NH15 (Old) - Pathankot to Samakhiali Route
Geography NH15 Ahmedabad and Jodhpur
NH15 (Old Numbering): Pathankot-Samakhiali via Rajasthan
NH15 (old) connected Pathankot to Samakhiali, NOT Ahmedabad to Jodhpur
Route: Pathankot (Punjab) → Amritsar → Jaisalmer → Samakhiali (Gujarat)
Passed through western Rajasthan desert region
Actual NH15 Route
NH15 under the old numbering connected Pathankot in Punjab to Samakhiali in Gujarat. This highway passed through Amritsar, crossed into Rajasthan, went through Jaisalmer, and ended in Gujarat's Kutch region.
NH15 Route vs Question Statement
Route Segment | NH15 Reality | Question Claim |
|---|---|---|
Starting Point | Pathankot (Punjab) | Ahmedabad |
Ending Point | Samakhiali (Gujarat) | Jodhpur |
Key Cities | Amritsar, Jaisalmer | Ahmedabad, Jodhpur |
State Coverage | Punjab → Rajasthan → Gujarat | Gujarat → Rajasthan only |
NH15 Geographic Coverage
# NH15 (Old Route)
## Punjab Segment
- Pathankot (start)
- Amritsar
## Rajasthan Segment
- Ganganagar
- Bikaner
- Jaisalmer
## Gujarat Segment
- Radhanpur
- Samakhiali (end)Complete Route Error: Statement 3 shows Ahmedabad-Jodhpur, but NH15 was Pathankot-Samakhiali
State Confusion: Question suggests Gujarat-Rajasthan only, but NH15 started from Punjab
City Mix-up: Neither Ahmedabad nor Jodhpur were endpoints - they were Pathankot and Samakhiali
National Highway Renumbering (2010)
Geography
National Highway Renumbering: Pre-2010 vs Post-2010 Systems
India renumbered all National Highways after 2010 - old NH numbers became invalid
UPSC sometimes tests old NH numbers from pre-2010 NCERT textbooks
New system uses different logic and numbering pattern entirely
Why Renumbering Happened
India underwent a major highway renumbering after 2010 to accommodate the massive expansion of the National Highway network. The old system with limited numbers became inadequate as new highways were added.
Old vs New Highway Systems
Aspect | Pre-2010 System | Post-2010 System |
|---|---|---|
Total Highways | ~200 numbered highways | 500+ numbered highways |
Numbering Logic | Sequential (NH1, NH2, etc.) | Zone-based classification |
UPSC Source | Old NCERT textbooks | Current government data |
Exam Relevance | Still tested occasionally | Primary reference now |
Impact on UPSC Preparation
Old NCERT Geography textbooks still contain pre-2010 highway numbers
Mixed questions possible - some use old numbers, some use new
Strategy: Learn major old highway routes for static knowledge questions
Current affairs will use new highway numbers and projects
Source Confusion: Old NCERT vs current highway data - know which system the question uses
Number Trap: Same route may have completely different number in new system
Memorization Risk: Don't assume current NH4 = old NH4 route