UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Women’s Participation in India’s Maritime Sector Surges 340% Since 2020: Sarbananda Sonowal
Q1. The 'Sagar Mein Samman' (SMS) policy provides the structured gender-inclusion roadmap of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under which one of the following flagship national maritime visions?
- A. Sagarmala Programme
- B. Maritime India Vision 2030
- C. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
- D. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
Q2. With reference to India's maritime sector, what is the 'Sagar Mein Samman' framework?
- A. A gender-inclusion policy framework under Maritime India Vision 2030 aimed at empowerment, safety and skill development of women in the maritime sector
- B. A subsidy scheme administered by the Directorate General of Shipping to reduce port-handling charges at non-major ports
- C. An award instituted by the International Maritime Organization for Indian Ocean Rim states promoting blue-economy reforms
- D. A safety-at-sea protocol issued under the Merchant Shipping Act for traditional fishing communities along the Indian coastline
Q3. With reference to the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047), consider the following statements:
1. MIV 2030 was formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and released in 2021, whereas MAKV 2047 was launched by the Prime Minister at the Global Maritime India Summit in 2023.
2. MAKV 2047 outlines more than 300 actionable initiatives, while MIV 2030 outlines around 150 strategic initiatives.
3. MAKV 2047 has formally replaced the Sagarmala Programme as the institutional framework for port-led development in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- MIV 2030 was formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and released in 2021, whereas MAKV 2047 was launched by the Prime Minister at the Global Maritime India Summit in 2023.
- MAKV 2047 outlines more than 300 actionable initiatives, while MIV 2030 outlines around 150 strategic initiatives.
- MAKV 2047 has formally replaced the Sagarmala Programme as the institutional framework for port-led development in India.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. In which year was the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), originally known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), formally established?
- A. 1985
- B. 1992
- C. 1997
- D. 2001
Q5. As of the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD-10) held in New Delhi in May 2026, how many Member States constitute the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)?
Q6. Which Indian think-tank served as the lead institutional partner of the Ministry of External Affairs in organising the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD-10), 2026, in New Delhi?
- A. Observer Research Foundation (ORF)
- B. Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)
- C. Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
- D. Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA)
Q7. Under the Sagarmala Programme, projects are organized into how many broad pillars of port-led development?
- A. Three
- B. Four
- C. Five
- D. Seven
Q8. Which one of the following is the nodal Union Ministry responsible for implementing the Sagarmala Programme?
- A. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. Ministry of Jal Shakti
Q9. With reference to the 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047' (MAKV 2047) and its predecessor 'Maritime India Vision 2030' (MIV 2030), consider the following statements: 1. MIV 2030 was launched by the Prime Minister at the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, whereas MAKV 2047 had been released earlier under the Sagarmala Programme. 2. MAKV 2047 envisages a total investment of nearly ₹80 lakh crore, significantly higher than the ₹3–3.5 lakh crore projected under MIV 2030. 3. MAKV 2047 has been formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and builds upon MIV 2030. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- MIV 2030 was launched by the Prime Minister at the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, whereas MAKV 2047 had been released earlier under the Sagarmala Programme.
- MAKV 2047 envisages a total investment of nearly ₹80 lakh crore, significantly higher than the ₹3–3.5 lakh crore projected under MIV 2030.
- MAKV 2047 has been formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and builds upon MIV 2030.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. With reference to the 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047', consider the following statements regarding its stated targets and features: 1. Achieving a shipbuilding capacity of 4 million GRT. 2. Positioning India among the top three shipbuilding nations of the world by 2030. 3. Reaching an annual port handling capacity of 10 billion metric tonnes. 4. A total envisaged investment of approximately ₹3–3.5 lakh crore across ports, shipping and inland waterways. Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?
- Achieving a shipbuilding capacity of 4 million GRT.
- Positioning India among the top three shipbuilding nations of the world by 2030.
- Reaching an annual port handling capacity of 10 billion metric tonnes.
- A total envisaged investment of approximately ₹3–3.5 lakh crore across ports, shipping and inland waterways.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q11. The International Day for Women in Maritime, observed annually on 18 May, was formally proclaimed by a resolution of which one of the following bodies?
- A. United Nations General Assembly
- B. Governing Body of the International Labour Organization
- C. Assembly of the International Maritime Organization
- D. Executive Board of UN Women
Q12. With reference to the International Day for Women in Maritime, consider the following statements:
1. It was first observed in 2022 under the inaugural theme 'Training-Visibility-Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment'.
2. The theme adopted by the IMO for the 2026 observance is 'From Policy to Practice: advancing gender equality for maritime excellence'.
3. The Day was instituted primarily to support United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) on gender equality.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It was first observed in 2022 under the inaugural theme 'Training-Visibility-Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment'.
- The theme adopted by the IMO for the 2026 observance is 'From Policy to Practice: advancing gender equality for maritime excellence'.
- The Day was instituted primarily to support United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) on gender equality.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q13. With reference to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), consider the following statements:
1. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations headquartered in London.
2. It was originally established as the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organization and was renamed only in the 1980s.
3. Every Member State of the United Nations is automatically a member of the IMO.
4. The International Day for Women in Maritime, observed on 18 May, was instituted by an IMO Assembly resolution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It is a specialized agency of the United Nations headquartered in London.
- It was originally established as the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organization and was renamed only in the 1980s.
- Every Member State of the United Nations is automatically a member of the IMO.
- The International Day for Women in Maritime, observed on 18 May, was instituted by an IMO Assembly resolution.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q14. As of 2025, how many Member States does the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have?