Match the following options correctly:

(a)- iii, (b)- iv, (c)- ii, (d)- i

The correct answer is Option 2: (a)- iii, (b)- iv, (c)- ii, (d)- i

(a) Food grains → (iii) Major item of import after independence. After independence, India faced food shortages and imported large quantities of food grains to meet domestic demand.

(b) 1973 → (iv) Energy crisis that pushed the prices of petroleum. The 1973 oil crisis led to a sharp increase in petroleum prices worldwide, significantly affecting India's import bill.

(c) Nepal → (ii) Trade carried through land routes by India. Nepal is a landlocked country, and a significant portion of its trade with India is conducted through land routes.

(d) Pattan → (i) Port. The word Pattan means a port or harbour and is commonly found in the names of port towns.

NCERT: India faced serious food shortages during the 1950s and 1960s. The major item of import at that time was food grain, capital goods, machinery and equipment.

After the 1970s, food grain import was discontinued due to the success of the Green revolution but the energy crisis of 1973 pushed the prices of petroleum, and the import budget was also pushed up. Foodgrain import was replaced by fertilisers and petroleum.

Most of India’s foreign trade is carried through sea and air routes. However, a small portion is also carried through land routes to neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

India has a long tradition of sea faring and developed many ports with place name suffixed with pattan meaning port.