UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Corporatisation to usher in port efficiency

Q1. Which one of the following is recognised as India's first corporatised Major Port, established as a company under the Companies Act and serving as a model for the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021?

  • A. Jawaharlal Nehru Port
  • B. Visakhapatnam Port
  • C. Kamarajar Port
  • D. Cochin Port

Q2. Which Union Ministry is the nodal ministry for the administration of the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 and the governance of India's Major Ports?

  • A. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • C. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • D. Ministry of Heavy Industries

Q3. In the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index released in 2025, how many Indian Major Ports featured in the Global Top 100 — a first for the country?

  • A. 7
  • B. 8
  • C. 9
  • D. 11

Q4. In the context of India's Major Ports, the term 'corporatisation' most accurately refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Outright sale of port assets and waterfront to private bidders through competitive auction
  • B. Conversion of a statutory port trust into an autonomous corporate body with commercial freedom, while ownership remains with the Government of India
  • C. Leasing of individual berths and terminals to private concessionaires under the PPP model
  • D. Transfer of port administration from the Union Government to the coastal State Government concerned

Q5. With reference to the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 as compared with the predecessor Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, consider the following statements: 1. The Act of 2021 reduced the size of the Board of the Port Authority from 17–19 members to 11–13 members. 2. The Act of 2021 retained the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) as the exclusive body for fixing tariffs at all Major Ports. 3. The Act of 2021 transferred ownership of all Major Ports from the Government of India to private concessionaires. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Act of 2021 reduced the size of the Board of the Port Authority from 17–19 members to 11–13 members.
  2. The Act of 2021 retained the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) as the exclusive body for fixing tariffs at all Major Ports.
  3. The Act of 2021 transferred ownership of all Major Ports from the Government of India to private concessionaires.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3