UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre notifies Kandla, JNPA, Mundra and Paradip as mega ports

Q1. Of the ports notified by the Centre as 'mega ports' under the Indian Ports Act, 2025 in September 2026, how many are major ports administered by a Port Authority under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the ports notified as 'mega ports' in September 2026: 1. Mundra was designated under a different sub-section of Section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025 from the one used for Deendayal, Jawaharlal Nehru and Paradip ports. 2. On being notified as a mega port, Mundra became a major port and moved from State Maritime Board jurisdiction to the Union. 3. The criteria for classification as a mega port were notified in consultation with State governments before the ports were designated. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Mundra was designated under a different sub-section of Section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025 from the one used for Deendayal, Jawaharlal Nehru and Paradip ports.
  2. On being notified as a mega port, Mundra became a major port and moved from State Maritime Board jurisdiction to the Union.
  3. The criteria for classification as a mega port were notified in consultation with State governments before the ports were designated.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, who chairs the Maritime State Development Council, which has been given statutory recognition?

  • A. The Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • B. The Chief Minister of a coastal State, by rotation
  • C. The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. The Director General of Shipping, Mumbai

Q4. Consider the following statements comparing the port governance framework before and after the Indian Ports Act, 2025: 1. The 2025 Act repealed both the Indian Ports Act, 1908 and the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, bringing all ports under a single statute. 2. Under the 2025 Act, the State Maritime Board, or a concessionaire it authorises, fixes tariffs for non-major ports, while the Board of the Major Port Authority fixes tariffs for a major port. 3. The 2025 Act provides for Dispute Resolution Committees to settle disputes between ports, port users and service providers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2025 Act repealed both the Indian Ports Act, 1908 and the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, bringing all ports under a single statute.
  2. Under the 2025 Act, the State Maritime Board, or a concessionaire it authorises, fixes tariffs for non-major ports, while the Board of the Major Port Authority fixes tariffs for a major port.
  3. The 2025 Act provides for Dispute Resolution Committees to settle disputes between ports, port users and service providers.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the constitutional and legal framework for ports in India, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct? 1. 'Major ports' form Entry 27 of the Union List in the Seventh Schedule. 2. Ports other than major ports form Entry 31 of the State List, so only State legislatures can make laws on them. 3. Non-major ports are administered only by the central government through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 4. The Indian Ports Act, 2025 gives statutory recognition to State Maritime Boards set up by coastal States to administer non-major ports. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. 'Major ports' form Entry 27 of the Union List in the Seventh Schedule.
  2. Ports other than major ports form Entry 31 of the State List, so only State legislatures can make laws on them.
  3. Non-major ports are administered only by the central government through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  4. The Indian Ports Act, 2025 gives statutory recognition to State Maritime Boards set up by coastal States to administer non-major ports.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Among the ports that fall under Entry 27 of the Union List, which one recorded the highest cargo throughput in FY 2025-26?

  • A. Paradip Port Authority, Odisha
  • B. Deendayal Port Authority, Gujarat
  • C. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Maharashtra
  • D. V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tamil Nadu

Q7. Deendayal (Kandla) and Paradip are described in official maritime planning documents as 'deep-draft' ports. What does 'draft' mean in this context?

  • A. The tidal range at the port, so the port has a large difference between high-tide and low-tide levels
  • B. The length of the approach channel from the open sea, so the port lies far up a river estuary
  • C. The size of the inland catchment the port serves, so the port draws cargo from a large hinterland
  • D. The depth of a vessel's hull below the waterline, so the port has enough water depth for Capesize-class vessels

Q8. Consider the following statements about where the four ports notified as mega ports in 2026 are located: 1. Deendayal and Mundra, one a major port and the other a non-major port, both lie on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. 2. Paradip is the only mega port on India's eastern seaboard. 3. All the mega ports on the western seaboard are in Gujarat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Deendayal and Mundra, one a major port and the other a non-major port, both lie on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.
  2. Paradip is the only mega port on India's eastern seaboard.
  3. All the mega ports on the western seaboard are in Gujarat.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. In FY 2024-25, how many major port authorities crossed the 150-million-tonne annual cargo mark, a first in the history of India's major ports?

  • A. None
  • B. One
  • C. Two
  • D. Three

Q10. Consider the following pairs of a mega port and its ownership or operating status: 1. Mundra — non-major port operated privately by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) 2. Jawaharlal Nehru Port — major port at Nhava Sheva run by a Port Authority 3. Deendayal Port — non-major port administered by the Gujarat Maritime Board 4. Paradip Port — dock system under the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority, Kolkata Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Mundra — non-major port operated privately by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)
  2. Jawaharlal Nehru Port — major port at Nhava Sheva run by a Port Authority
  3. Deendayal Port — non-major port administered by the Gujarat Maritime Board
  4. Paradip Port — dock system under the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority, Kolkata
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 2
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q11. Parliament enacted five maritime laws in 2025: the Merchant Shipping Act, the Coastal Shipping Act, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, the Bills of Lading Act and the Indian Ports Act. How many of them replaced a law enacted before Independence?

  • A. Only one
  • B. Only two
  • C. Only three
  • D. Only four

Q12. The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 builds on the Maritime India Vision 2030 and sets out more than 300 actionable initiatives for ports, shipping and waterways. Which body formulated it?

  • A. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • B. NITI Aayog, through its infrastructure vertical
  • C. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
  • D. The Ministry of Earth Sciences, under its Blue Economy work