UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Landmark MoU Signed for India’s First Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi

Q1. The tripartite MoU for India's first Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi, signed under the India–Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership, was facilitated by which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Heavy Industries
  • B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of External Affairs

Q2. With reference to the April 2026 MoU for the Thoothukudi Mega Greenfield Shipyard vis-à-vis the separate HD KSOE–Cochin Shipyard Ltd MoU, consider the following statements: 1. Both MoUs were signed under the framework of the India–Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership for shipbuilding. 2. Unlike the HD KSOE–Cochin Shipyard MoU, the Thoothukudi MoU is a tripartite agreement that also includes Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited as a signatory. 3. The Thoothukudi shipyard's envisaged annual capacity of 2.5 million GT exceeds the total shipbuilding capacity targeted for India under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both MoUs were signed under the framework of the India–Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership for shipbuilding.
  2. Unlike the HD KSOE–Cochin Shipyard MoU, the Thoothukudi MoU is a tripartite agreement that also includes Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited as a signatory.
  3. The Thoothukudi shipyard's envisaged annual capacity of 2.5 million GT exceeds the total shipbuilding capacity targeted for India under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), the approximate value of loans it sanctioned at its 51st Board Meeting in December 2025, marking the commencement of its lending operations, was:

  • A. ₹1,300 crore
  • B. ₹2,300 crore
  • C. ₹4,300 crore
  • D. ₹8,300 crore

Q4. With reference to Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) vis-à-vis its predecessor Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL), consider the following statements: 1. SMFCL was created by renaming Sagarmala Development Company Limited, which had been incorporated in 2016. 2. Unlike SDCL, SMFCL is registered with the Reserve Bank of India as a Non-Banking Financial Company. 3. While SDCL functioned under the Ministry of Finance, SMFCL has been brought under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. SMFCL was created by renaming Sagarmala Development Company Limited, which had been incorporated in 2016.
  2. Unlike SDCL, SMFCL is registered with the Reserve Bank of India as a Non-Banking Financial Company.
  3. While SDCL functioned under the Ministry of Finance, SMFCL has been brought under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Among the Major Ports of India administered by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, which one of the following is the southernmost?

  • A. Cochin Port
  • B. Chennai Port
  • C. V.O. Chidambaranar Port
  • D. Kamarajar Port

Q6. As articulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Sagarmala Programme is built on how many pillars?

  • A. Three
  • B. Four
  • C. Five
  • D. Six

Q7. Sagarmala, India's flagship port-led development programme launched in 2015, is presently the nodal responsibility of which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q8. In the context of India-Republic of Korea bilateral cooperation announced during the 2026 State Visit of President Lee Jae Myung, what does the acronym 'VOYAGES' stand for?

  • A. Vision for Ocean Yards, Allied Growth and Enhanced Shipping
  • B. Shared Vision for Operation of Yard Assisted Growth with Efficiency and Scale
  • C. Voyage of Yards for Atmanirbhar Growth in Engineering and Shipping
  • D. Vision for Overseas Yards, Atmanirbhar Goals and Equitable Shipping

Q9. Which Union Ministry is the nodal ministry operationalising the India-Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership announced during President Lee Jae Myung's State Visit to India in April 2026?

  • A. Ministry of External Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Defence

Q10. With reference to the Indian maritime sector, the term 'Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A direct subsidy paid to Indian shipyards to offset cost disadvantages and help them secure shipbuilding contracts
  • B. A concessional refinance line offered by the Sagarmala Finance Corporation to private shipping companies for fleet acquisition
  • C. A customs duty waiver on capital goods imported by shipyards from India's FTA partners
  • D. A viability gap funding window for greenfield port and terminal development under Sagarmala 2.0

Q11. With reference to the Special Purpose Vehicle 'NSHIP-TN' set up for India's first Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi, which one of the following state-level agencies is a joint promoter of this SPV along with V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority?

  • A. Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO)
  • B. State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT)
  • C. Guidance Tamil Nadu
  • D. Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB)

Q12. NSHIP-TN, the Special Purpose Vehicle that has signed the 2026 tripartite MoU for India's first Mega Greenfield Shipyard, has been jointly promoted with SIPCOT by which one of the following Major Port Authorities under the Government of India?

  • A. Chennai Port Authority
  • B. Kamarajar Port Authority
  • C. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority
  • D. Cochin Port Authority