UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — A Ride through the Inland Waterways of India

Q1. Under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, which of the following is/are NOT among the functions assigned to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)?

  1. Carrying out conservancy measures and providing navigational aids on national waterways
  2. Advising the Central Government on matters relating to inland water transport
  3. Declaring an inland waterway as a National Waterway
  4. Levying and collecting customs duties on cargo carried on national waterways
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. With reference to the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 and the National Waterways Act, 2016, consider the following statements: 1. The IWAI Act, 1985 created a statutory authority for regulation and development of inland waterways, whereas the National Waterways Act, 2016 declared additional inland waterways as National Waterways. 2. Both the Acts are administered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Inland Waterways Authority of India. 3. Prior to the National Waterways Act, 2016, each National Waterway had to be declared through a separate Act of Parliament. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The IWAI Act, 1985 created a statutory authority for regulation and development of inland waterways, whereas the National Waterways Act, 2016 declared additional inland waterways as National Waterways.
  2. Both the Acts are administered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
  3. Prior to the National Waterways Act, 2016, each National Waterway had to be declared through a separate Act of Parliament.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) as constituted under the IWAI Act, 1985: 1. The Authority comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, not more than three full-time Members and not more than three part-time Members. 2. The Chairperson and Members of the Authority are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission. 3. The headquarters of the Authority is located at Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 4. In case of equality of votes at a meeting of the Authority, the Chairperson has a second or casting vote. Which of the statements given above are correctly described?

  1. The Authority comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, not more than three full-time Members and not more than three part-time Members.
  2. The Chairperson and Members of the Authority are appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission.
  3. The headquarters of the Authority is located at Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
  4. In case of equality of votes at a meeting of the Authority, the Chairperson has a second or casting vote.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. How many additional inland waterways (over and above those already notified by earlier Acts) were declared as National Waterways by the National Waterways Act, 2016?

  • A. 96
  • B. 101
  • C. 106
  • D. 111

Q5. With reference to the National Waterways Act, 2016, which of the following enactments were repealed by it?

  1. The National Waterway (Allahabad-Haldia Stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River) Act, 1982
  2. The National Waterway (Sadiya-Dhubri Stretch of the Brahmaputra River) Act, 1988
  3. The Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985
  4. The National Waterway (Kollam-Kottapuram Stretch of West Coast Canal and Champakara and Udyogmandal Canals) Act, 1992
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. The provisions of the National Waterways Act, 2016 are implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), which functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q7. With reference to the geographical extent of India's first five National Waterways (NW-1 to NW-5), consider the following statements:

  1. The declared length of NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly) from Haldia to Prayagraj is greater than that of NW-2 (Brahmaputra) from Dhubri to Sadiya.
  2. Unlike NW-1 which traverses several States, NW-3 lies entirely within a single State.
  3. NW-4 traverses a larger number of States/Union Territories than NW-5.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. Which one of the following river systems was the very first to be declared a National Waterway of India?

  • A. Brahmaputra (Dhubri-Sadiya)
  • B. Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly (Haldia-Allahabad)
  • C. West Coast Canal with Udyogmandal & Champakara Canals
  • D. Krishna-Godavari with Kakinada-Puducherry Canals

Q9. Match List I (National Waterway) with List II (Year of original declaration as a National Waterway, in chronological order) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
  • C. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • D. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

Q10. Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project, the new navigational lock being constructed at Farakka is located on which one of the following National Waterways?

  • A. National Waterway-1
  • B. National Waterway-2
  • C. National Waterway-3
  • D. National Waterway-5

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP): 1. It is being implemented for capacity augmentation of navigation between Haldia and Varanasi on National Waterway-1. 2. The project is financed with technical assistance and an IBRD loan from the Asian Development Bank. 3. Construction of a new navigational lock at Farakka is one of the components of the project. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It is being implemented for capacity augmentation of navigation between Haldia and Varanasi on National Waterway-1.
  2. The project is financed with technical assistance and an IBRD loan from the Asian Development Bank.
  3. Construction of a new navigational lock at Farakka is one of the components of the project.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project on National Waterway-1, match the terminal in List I with the State/UT in List II in which it is located, and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

  • A. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
  • B. A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
  • C. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • D. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

Q13. Consider the following statements regarding the announcements made in the Union Budget 2026-27 with respect to inland water transport in India: 1. The Budget proposes to operationalise 20 new National Waterways over the next five years. 2. A Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme has been announced to raise the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047. 3. Dedicated ship-repair ecosystems catering to inland waterways are to be developed at Varanasi and Patna. 4. The Budget mandates raising the Inland Water Transport modal share to 25% by 2030. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The Budget proposes to operationalise 20 new National Waterways over the next five years.
  2. A Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme has been announced to raise the combined share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047.
  3. Dedicated ship-repair ecosystems catering to inland waterways are to be developed at Varanasi and Patna.
  4. The Budget mandates raising the Inland Water Transport modal share to 25% by 2030.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q14. With reference to the Union Budget 2026-27 announcements on inland water transport, match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
  • B. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
  • C. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  • D. A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

Q15. Which of the following is/are NOT part of the Union Budget 2026-27 announcements relating to inland waterways and coastal shipping? 1. Launch of a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme. 2. Establishment of ship-repair ecosystems for inland waterways at Kochi and Kolkata. 3. Operationalisation of NW-5 in Odisha to link the Talcher–Angul mineral belt with Paradip and Dhamra ports. 4. Declaration of 106 additional National Waterways through a fresh National Waterways Act.

  1. Launch of a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme.
  2. Establishment of ship-repair ecosystems for inland waterways at Kochi and Kolkata.
  3. Operationalisation of NW-5 in Odisha to link the Talcher–Angul mineral belt with Paradip and Dhamra ports.
  4. Declaration of 106 additional National Waterways through a fresh National Waterways Act.
  • A. 2 and 4 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q16. Following the Second Addendum (2020) to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh, what is the total number of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes?

  • A. 6
  • B. 8
  • C. 10
  • D. 12

Q17. With reference to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) between India and Bangladesh, consider the following statements: 1. The Protocol was first signed in 1972, immediately after the independence of Bangladesh. 2. The Second Addendum of 2020 reduced the number of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes from ten to eight. 3. Under the Second Addendum (2020), the Sonamura-Daudkandi stretch on the Gumti river was included as new Protocol routes 9 and 10. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Protocol was first signed in 1972, immediately after the independence of Bangladesh.
  2. The Second Addendum of 2020 reduced the number of Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes from ten to eight.
  3. Under the Second Addendum (2020), the Sonamura-Daudkandi stretch on the Gumti river was included as new Protocol routes 9 and 10.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q18. Match List I (Indian Port of Call under the India-Bangladesh PIWTT) with List II (River on which it is located) and select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
  • C. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
  • D. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Q19. With reference to cargo performance of India's inland waterways, consider the following statements:

  1. Cargo traffic on National Waterways has grown from about 18 million tonnes in FY 2013-14 to over 145 million tonnes in FY 2024-25.
  2. The 'Jalvahak' Cargo Promotion Scheme reimburses up to 35% of the operating expenditure incurred while transporting long-haul cargo on National Waterways 1, 2 and 16.
  3. Inland Water Transport currently accounts for nearly 5% of India's freight modal mix.
  4. The Maritime India Vision 2030 targets inland waterways cargo of more than 500 million tonnes per annum by 2030.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q20. In terms of cargo throughput, which one of the following National Waterways has consistently handled the largest volume of cargo, accounting for the dominant share of the record 145.84 million tonnes moved on India's National Waterways in FY 2024-25?

  • A. NW-1 (Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system)
  • B. NW-2 (Brahmaputra river)
  • C. NW-3 (West Coast Canal in Kerala)
  • D. NW-4 (Krishna-Godavari river system)

Q21. Match List I (Policy / scheme on inland waterways) with List II (Year of announcement / enforcement) and select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
  • B. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • C. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
  • D. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Q22. With reference to the constitutional distribution of legislative powers over inland waterways in India, consider the following statements:

  1. Entry 24 of the Union List empowers Parliament to legislate on shipping and navigation, as regards mechanically propelled vessels, on inland waterways that have been declared by Parliament by law to be national waterways.
  2. Entry 32 of the Concurrent List enables both Parliament and the State Legislatures to legislate on the carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways, subject to the provisions of the Union List with respect to national waterways.
  3. Once a waterway is declared a National Waterway under Entry 24 of the Union List, the State concerned ceases to have any legislative competence whatsoever over every matter connected with that waterway.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q23. Which of the following statements regarding the constitutional and statutory framework governing inland waterways in India are correct?

  1. Entry 24 of the Union List of the Seventh Schedule covers shipping and navigation, as regards mechanically propelled vessels, on inland waterways declared by Parliament by law to be national waterways.
  2. Entry 13 of the State List, which deals with inland waterways and traffic thereon, operates subject to the provisions of the Union List and the Concurrent List with regard to such waterways.
  3. The National Waterways Act, 2016 was enacted by Parliament in exercise of its legislative power under Entry 24 of the Union List.
  4. The Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 was enacted as a Concurrent List subject and therefore required ratification by the legislatures of not less than one-half of the States before its commencement.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q24. Which one of the following is the statutory authority created by an Act of Parliament for the regulation and development of National Waterways in India for shipping and navigation?

  • A. Central Water Commission
  • B. Inland Waterways Authority of India
  • C. Directorate General of Shipping
  • D. National Waterways Development Authority
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