UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Sagarmala: Transforming India’s Maritime Landscape

Q1. With reference to the pillars of the Sagarmala Programme and the thrust of Sagarmala 2.0, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Coastal Shipping & Inland Water Transport is one of the original five pillars of the Sagarmala Programme.
  2. Shipbuilding, ship repair, breaking and recycling is a new thrust introduced under Sagarmala 2.0 and was not one of the original five pillars.
  3. Port-led Industrialization was entirely dropped from the framework when Sagarmala 2.0 was launched.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Under which one of the five pillars of the Sagarmala Programme is the modernisation of existing ports and the creation of new port capacity primarily undertaken?

  • A. Port Modernization & New Port Development
  • B. Port Connectivity Enhancement
  • C. Port-led Industrialization
  • D. Coastal Community Development

Q3. The Sagarmala Programme is the flagship maritime initiative of which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q4. The Sagarmala Programme is structurally organised around how many pillars?

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

Q5. Consider the following milestones in the evolution of the Sagarmala Programme, matched with the year of occurrence. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Concept of 'Sagar Mala' first floated — 2003
  2. Union Cabinet approval of the Sagarmala Programme — 2015
  3. Release of the National Perspective Plan — 2016
  4. Release of Maritime India Vision 2030 — 2011
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q6. Consider the following items linked to India's maritime-sector planning framework. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as part of the Sagarmala/maritime vision framework?

  1. Maritime India Vision 2030 — a maritime-sector blueprint aligned with Sagarmala goals
  2. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — a long-term maritime-sector blueprint
  3. Bharatmala Pariyojana — the perspective plan that guides Sagarmala's port projects
  4. National Perspective Plan (NPP) — the plan from which Sagarmala projects are formulated
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to India's maritime geography and trade, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. About 95% of India's trade by volume is handled through maritime transport.
  2. India's share of trade by value moving through maritime transport (~70%) is lower than its share by volume (~95%).
  3. India's potentially navigable waterways (~14,500 km) are shorter in length than its coastline (~11,099 km).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In the context of the Sagarmala Programme, the term 'port-led development' is best described as:

  • A. Driving industrialisation, urbanisation and logistics-cost reduction through and around ports by leveraging the coastline and navigable waterways
  • B. The transfer of ownership of India's major ports to private terminal operators
  • C. The construction of a national network of coastal expressways connecting all ports
  • D. The relocation of manufacturing industries from coastal regions to inland hubs

Q9. Which one of the following is the implementing special purpose vehicle (SPV) that serves as the funding window for projects under the Sagarmala Programme, including Sagarmala 2.0?

  • A. Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL)
  • B. Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL)
  • C. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
  • D. Indian Ports Association (IPA)

Q10. In the Sagarmala Programme's implementation status (as of March 2026), the figure of ₹6.06 lakh crore refers to:

  • A. The total estimated cost of all 845 projects taken up under the programme
  • B. The amount fully spent on all 315 completed projects
  • C. The entire budgetary support sanctioned for Sagarmala 2.0
  • D. The total investment target of Sagarmala 2.0

Q11. Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India's first maritime-focused NBFC, was inaugurated in which year?

  • A. 2022
  • B. 2023
  • C. 2024
  • D. 2025

Q12. The Bharatmala Pariyojana, frequently compared with the Sagarmala Programme, is implemented under which Union Ministry?

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