UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Adani’s Vizhinjam port share transfer suspicious: Pinarayi
Q1. The original build-operate-maintain concession agreement for the Vizhinjam International Seaport, signed between the Government of Kerala and the Adani group, was executed in which year?
- A. 2011
- B. 2015
- C. 2018
- D. 2021
Q2. With reference to the Vizhinjam seaport concession as revised by the supplementary agreement, consider the following statements:
1. The project timeline was extended by five years.
2. The final phase, originally scheduled for 2045, is now to be completed by 2028.
3. The Adani group is to share profit from total revenue with the state government from 2034.
4. The Kerala government's share of the project cost is lower than the Adani group's equity contribution.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- The project timeline was extended by five years.
- The final phase, originally scheduled for 2045, is now to be completed by 2028.
- The Adani group is to share profit from total revenue with the state government from 2034.
- The Kerala government's share of the project cost is lower than the Adani group's equity contribution.
- A. 1 and 4 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q3. Which one of the following is correctly described as India's first deep-water container transshipment port?
- A. Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Maharashtra
- B. Mundra Port, Gujarat
- C. Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kerala
- D. Kamarajar (Ennore) Port, Tamil Nadu
Q4. At the Union level, the Vizhinjam International Seaport falls under the administrative purview of which ministry?
- A. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
- B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- C. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- D. Ministry of Civil Aviation
Q5. Under the Vizhinjam concession agreement, prior approval of the Kerala government becomes mandatory once an equity transfer by the concessionaire equals or exceeds what proportion, at which point it is treated as a change in ownership?
- A. 10 per cent
- B. 25 per cent
- C. 49 per cent
- D. 51 per cent
Q6. With reference to the 2026 proposal to transfer a stake in the Vizhinjam port, consider the following statements:
1. The proposed buyer is Terminal Investment Limited, the terminal arm of the MSC Group.
2. TiL is to acquire a 49 per cent stake while APSEZ retains 51 per cent and board control.
3. The deal values the Vizhinjam port asset at about $2.85 billion.
4. Following the transfer, APSEZ will cease to treat Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd as its subsidiary.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The proposed buyer is Terminal Investment Limited, the terminal arm of the MSC Group.
- TiL is to acquire a 49 per cent stake while APSEZ retains 51 per cent and board control.
- The deal values the Vizhinjam port asset at about $2.85 billion.
- Following the transfer, APSEZ will cease to treat Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd as its subsidiary.
- A. 1 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q7. With reference to the classification and governance of ports in India, consider the following statements:
1. Major ports fall under the Union List and are administered by the central government.
2. Non-major ports fall under the Concurrent List and are administered mainly by State Maritime Boards.
3. India's major ports are governed under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
4. Vizhinjam, being administered through a state agency, is classified as a major port.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- Major ports fall under the Union List and are administered by the central government.
- Non-major ports fall under the Concurrent List and are administered mainly by State Maritime Boards.
- India's major ports are governed under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
- Vizhinjam, being administered through a state agency, is classified as a major port.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q8. Approximately how many non-major ports in India are managed by the respective State Maritime Boards or State Governments?
Q9. With reference to the leadership and institutional context of the Vizhinjam controversy in Kerala, consider the following statements:
1. V.D. Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala in May 2026.
2. The United Democratic Front won the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly election, ending a decade of LDF rule.
3. The Chief Minister holds the Ports, Law and Finance portfolios.
4. Pinarayi Vijayan is the incumbent Chief Minister of Kerala.
Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?
- V.D. Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala in May 2026.
- The United Democratic Front won the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly election, ending a decade of LDF rule.
- The Chief Minister holds the Ports, Law and Finance portfolios.
- Pinarayi Vijayan is the incumbent Chief Minister of Kerala.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q10. The Kerala government's own stake and interest in the Vizhinjam project are held and executed through which special purpose vehicle?
- A. Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL)
- B. Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited (AVPPL)
- C. Terminal Investment Limited (TiL)
- D. Cochin Port Authority
Q11. With reference to ports operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), consider the following:
1. Mundra Port, Gujarat
2. Krishnapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh
3. Kattupalli Port, Tamil Nadu
4. Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Maharashtra
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as ports run by APSEZ?
- Mundra Port, Gujarat
- Krishnapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh
- Kattupalli Port, Tamil Nadu
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Maharashtra
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q12. With reference to MSC Group and its relationship with the Adani group, consider the following statements:
1. MSC is the world's largest container shipping line, and its arm TiL operates over 100 container terminals across five continents.
2. The Vizhinjam agreement is the first-ever collaboration between the Adani group and MSC Group.
3. TiL's proposed 49 per cent acquisition at Vizhinjam mirrors its earlier 49 per cent stake in the Adani Ennore Container Terminal.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- MSC is the world's largest container shipping line, and its arm TiL operates over 100 container terminals across five continents.
- The Vizhinjam agreement is the first-ever collaboration between the Adani group and MSC Group.
- TiL's proposed 49 per cent acquisition at Vizhinjam mirrors its earlier 49 per cent stake in the Adani Ennore Container Terminal.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3