By what percentage has the National Highway (NH) network expanded from 2014 to 2023?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -3rd)

Explanation

60%, representing the approximate percentage growth of India's National Highway (NH) network from 2014 to 2023.
Official data shows the NH network grew from 91,287 km in April 2014 to 1,46,145 km by the end of 2023.
The calculation for the percentage increase is: ((1,46,145 - 91,287) / 91,287) * 100, which equals approximately 60.1%.
This figure is commonly rounded to 60% in official reports and summaries.

Option A: A 70% expansion would imply a final network length of over 1,55,000 km, which is significantly higher than the actual length of 1,46,145 km achieved by 2023.
Option C: A 50% expansion is an underestimation. The actual growth was closer to 60%. A 50% increase would mean a final length of about 1,36,930 km, which was surpassed.
Option D: A 40% expansion is a significant underestimation of the rapid infrastructure development that occurred during this period. This would correspond to a final length of only about 1,27,800 km.

Visual 1: Line Graph - A line graph showing the year-on-year increase in the total length of National Highways in India from 2014 to 2023. This would visually demonstrate the steep upward trend.
Visual 2: Infographic - An infographic comparing the NH length in 2014 versus 2023 with a percentage growth callout box, highlighting the 60% increase.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Growth of India's National Highway Network as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question tests general awareness, a common component in nursing and other competitive examinations.
Knowledge of national infrastructure development reflects an understanding of the country's economic progress and governmental priorities, which can be relevant for context in public health discussions.
What if the question asked for the period 2004-2014? The growth was much slower in that decade, and the percentage increase would be significantly lower, making other options potentially correct for that timeframe.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core question: it asks for the percentage change in the NH network length between two specific years (2014 and 2023).
Recall or look for the initial value (length in 2014) and the final value (length in 2023).
Apply the formula for percentage increase: [(Final Value - Initial Value) / Initial Value] × 100.
Calculate the absolute increase by subtracting the initial length from the final length.
Divide the absolute increase by the initial length.
Multiply the result by 100 to get the percentage.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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