UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Takes a Major Step Towards Maritime Self-Reliance with First Made-in-India EXIM Shipping Container: Sarbananda Sonowal

Q1. With reference to the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS), consider the following: 1. It was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. 2. It carries a total outlay of about ₹10,000 crore over five years. 3. It targets an annual domestic container manufacturing capacity of roughly one million TEUs within a decade. 4. It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
  2. It carries a total outlay of about ₹10,000 crore over five years.
  3. It targets an annual domestic container manufacturing capacity of roughly one million TEUs within a decade.
  4. It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. The Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) is operationalised by which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • B. Ministry of Railways
  • C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • D. Ministry of Heavy Industries

Q3. Consider the following entities identified as constituent participants of the proposed Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL): 1. Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) 2. Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) 3. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority 4. Airports Authority of India Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)
  2. Container Corporation of India (CONCOR)
  3. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority
  4. Airports Authority of India
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) and the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS), consider the following statements: 1. BCSL is a shipping-line initiative, whereas CMAS is a manufacturing-support scheme. 2. BCSL is aligned with CMAS, which was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. 3. Unlike CMAS, which is under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, BCSL is being set up under the Ministry of Railways. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. BCSL is a shipping-line initiative, whereas CMAS is a manufacturing-support scheme.
  2. BCSL is aligned with CMAS, which was announced in the Union Budget 2026-27.
  3. Unlike CMAS, which is under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, BCSL is being set up under the Ministry of Railways.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The first indigenously manufactured EXIM shipping container handed over to A.P. Moller–Maersk was unveiled by which one of the following Union Ministers?

  • A. Sarbananda Sonowal
  • B. Piyush Goyal
  • C. Nitin Gadkari
  • D. Ashwini Vaishnaw

Q6. With reference to the unveiling of India's first Made-in-India EXIM container, consider the following: 1. The container was manufactured by the DCM Shriram Group. 2. It was handed over to the global shipping major A.P. Moller–Maersk. 3. The event was held at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot at Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. 4. Maersk simultaneously placed a fresh order for 10,000 additional Made-in-India containers. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly stated?

  1. The container was manufactured by the DCM Shriram Group.
  2. It was handed over to the global shipping major A.P. Moller–Maersk.
  3. The event was held at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot at Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
  4. Maersk simultaneously placed a fresh order for 10,000 additional Made-in-India containers.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q7. As highlighted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, how many Indian major ports have featured among the World Bank's global top 100 ports — a first for the country?

  • A. 5
  • B. 7
  • C. 9
  • D. 11

Q8. The Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), which operates the largest network of Inland Container Depots in the country, functions under which one of the following ministries?

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

Q9. With reference to Inland Container Depots (ICDs) and Container Freight Stations (CFS), consider the following statements: 1. An Inland Container Depot is a customs-bonded dry port located in the hinterland. 2. CONCOR operates the largest network of ICDs/CFSs in India, numbering over sixty. 3. Unlike an ICD, a Container Freight Station is located deep in the hinterland, while ICDs are situated adjacent to gateway ports. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. An Inland Container Depot is a customs-bonded dry port located in the hinterland.
  2. CONCOR operates the largest network of ICDs/CFSs in India, numbering over sixty.
  3. Unlike an ICD, a Container Freight Station is located deep in the hinterland, while ICDs are situated adjacent to gateway ports.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. Vizhinjam, India's first deep-water container transhipment port, commenced commercial operations with an initial designed annual capacity of about how many TEUs?

  • A. 0.5 million
  • B. 1 million
  • C. 2 million
  • D. 5 million

Q11. The rollout of the first Made-in-India EXIM container is described as advancing 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. In this context, the term most precisely denotes:

  • A. A vision of a self-reliant India through indigenous manufacturing and reduced import dependence
  • B. A policy mandating a complete prohibition of all imports into India
  • C. A free-trade programme aimed solely at maximising export subsidies
  • D. A scheme exclusively for the privatisation of India's major ports