UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre Circulates Draft National Water Metro Policy for Inter-Ministerial Consultation Ahead of National Rollout in 18 Cities

Q1. In the context of the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 circulated by the Centre, the term 'Water Metro' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. An urban mass-transit system operating battery-electric ferries on inland urban waterways with terminals integrated with other public transport modes
  • B. A network of declared National Waterways used primarily for long-haul inter-state cargo movement under the Inland Waterways Authority of India
  • C. A coastal shipping corridor connecting major ports for Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax movement under the Sagarmala programme
  • D. A submerged tube-rail tunnel system linking riverine cities under the Metro Rail Policy framework

Q2. With reference to the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 circulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, consider the following cities. Which of the above are correctly identified as cities announced under PHASE I of the proposed Water Metro rollout?

  1. Prayagraj
  2. Tezpur
  3. Ayodhya
  4. Dibrugarh
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. As per the announcement accompanying the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026, for how many cities has the Centre targeted a nationwide Water Metro rollout in phases?

  • A. 12
  • B. 17
  • C. 18
  • D. 24

Q4. With reference to the Kochi Water Metro project, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which implements the project, is a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Kerala.
  2. The capital cost of the project was financed through a soft loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  3. The fleet deployed under the project consists of battery-operated electric ferries.
  4. The vessels of the Kochi Water Metro were constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. With reference to the Kochi Water Metro, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is NOT correct?

  1. It is India's first water metro project and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in April 2023.
  2. The project deploys battery-operated electric boats serving as a feeder service to the Kochi Metro rail system.
  3. Its routes connect a network of islands in the Kochi backwaters and have carried several million passengers since launch.
  4. The boats used in the project were imported from Germany as part of the KfW-financed package.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q6. As per the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, with how many terminals is the Kochi Water Metro presently operational?

  • A. 8
  • B. 10
  • C. 12
  • D. 14

Q7. In the context of the institutional structure of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), which one of the following best describes a 'Special Purpose Vehicle'?

  • A. A company incorporated jointly by the Union Government and a State Government with shared equity to execute a defined infrastructure project
  • B. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian Railways constituted to construct and operate urban metro systems
  • C. An autonomous body under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs that regulates urban mass transit tariffs
  • D. A statutory authority created under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act to manage metro property

Q8. The Kochi Water Metro project, financed in large part by a soft loan from Germany's KfW Development Bank under Indo-German Financial Cooperation, is being implemented by which one of the following Indian agencies?

  • A. Inland Waterways Authority of India
  • B. Kochi Metro Rail Limited
  • C. Cochin Port Authority
  • D. Cochin Shipyard Limited

Q9. The Kochi Water Metro, financed by Germany's KfW Development Bank, is primarily designed to connect the Kochi mainland with how many surrounding island communities?

  • A. 6 islands
  • B. 8 islands
  • C. 10 islands
  • D. 14 islands

Q10. Which one of the following is the statutory authority entrusted with the development and regulation of National Waterways for shipping and navigation in India?

  • A. Indian Ports Association
  • B. Inland Waterways Authority of India
  • C. Directorate General of Shipping
  • D. Shipping Corporation of India Limited

Q11. Which one of the following is the longest National Waterway declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016?

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

Q12. Which agency is the implementing body of the Kochi Water Metro, the model project that underpins the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026?

  • A. Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
  • B. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL)
  • C. Cochin Shipyard Limited
  • D. Cochin Port Authority

Q13. Under which Union Ministry was the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 circulated for inter-ministerial consultation?

  • A. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • C. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

Q14. Which one of the following cities operates India's first Water Metro system, whose battery/hybrid-electric ferry model has been adopted as the template for the Draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026?

  • A. Mumbai
  • B. Varanasi
  • C. Kochi
  • D. Guwahati
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