UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SEAFARER SAFETY FRAMEWORK FOR EMERGING MARITIME RISKS

Q1. With reference to the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. It repeals and replaces the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. 2. It provides statutory protection and enhanced repatriation for abandoned seafarers, in line with the Maritime Labour Convention. 3. It adopts the Hague-Visby Rules as the framework governing the carriage of goods by sea. 4. It provides for tighter regulation of Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) for seafarers. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It repeals and replaces the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
  2. It provides statutory protection and enhanced repatriation for abandoned seafarers, in line with the Maritime Labour Convention.
  3. It adopts the Hague-Visby Rules as the framework governing the carriage of goods by sea.
  4. It provides for tighter regulation of Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) for seafarers.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following statements about the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025: 1. It comprises 16 Parts and 325 clauses. 2. It replaces a 1958 statute that had 561 sections. 3. It comprises 6 chapters and 42 clauses. 4. It was notified into force with effect from 15 March 2026. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It comprises 16 Parts and 325 clauses.
  2. It replaces a 1958 statute that had 561 sections.
  3. It comprises 6 chapters and 42 clauses.
  4. It was notified into force with effect from 15 March 2026.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing India's maritime legislation: 1. The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 replaced the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 in its entirety, while the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 replaced only Part XIV of that 1958 Act. 2. The Draft Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 sought to repeal the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 as well as the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838. 3. The 2025 Act reduced the number of provisions from 561 sections in the 1958 Act to 42 clauses. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 replaced the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 in its entirety, while the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 replaced only Part XIV of that 1958 Act.
  2. The Draft Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 sought to repeal the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 as well as the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838.
  3. The 2025 Act reduced the number of provisions from 561 sections in the 1958 Act to 42 clauses.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q4. The Draft Merchant Shipping Bill, 2020 — the consultation draft that led to the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 — was issued for public consultation by which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • C. The Directorate General of Shipping, the sole authority that independently enacts all merchant shipping legislation in India
  • D. Ministry of Law and Justice

Q5. Consider the following statements about the Coastal Shipping Bill/Act, 2025: 1. It replaces Part XIV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. 2. Vessels wholly owned by Indian persons are exempt from the licensing requirement for coasting trade. 3. It requires preparation of a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan. 4. A licence for coasting trade is to be issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It replaces Part XIV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
  2. Vessels wholly owned by Indian persons are exempt from the licensing requirement for coasting trade.
  3. It requires preparation of a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan.
  4. A licence for coasting trade is to be issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
  • A. 2, 3 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the Coastal Shipping Bill/Act, 2025, consider the following statements: 1. It aligns India's coasting-trade regime with global cabotage norms. 2. It provides for a National Database for coastal shipping data. 3. It establishes statutory safeguards and repatriation measures for abandoned seafarers. 4. It comprises 6 chapters and 42 clauses. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It aligns India's coasting-trade regime with global cabotage norms.
  2. It provides for a National Database for coastal shipping data.
  3. It establishes statutory safeguards and repatriation measures for abandoned seafarers.
  4. It comprises 6 chapters and 42 clauses.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q7. The maritime regulator that issues advisories and circulars for Indian seafarers and issues coasting-trade licences is correctly described as:

  • A. The Directorate General of Shipping, functioning under the Ministry of Defence
  • B. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. The Directorate General of Shipping, functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • D. The Indian Coast Guard, functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Q8. The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 — administered by the Directorate General of Shipping under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — came into force with effect from which date?

  • A. 6 August 2025
  • B. 15 March 2026
  • C. 10 September 2025
  • D. 3 April 2025

Q9. Welfare assistance to families of Indian seafarers who lose their lives in maritime incidents in conflict-affected waters is channelled through which body under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways?

  • A. Seamen's Provident Fund Organisation
  • B. National Maritime Welfare Board
  • C. Directorate General of Shipping Welfare Cell
  • D. Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS)

Q10. In the coordinated government response to safeguard Indian seafarers in the Gulf region, consider the following agencies: 1. Directorate General of Shipping 2. Indian Navy 3. Ministry of External Affairs 4. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Which of the above are correctly identified as agencies involved in this response?

  1. Directorate General of Shipping
  2. Indian Navy
  3. Ministry of External Affairs
  4. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q11. The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 enhances safeguards and repatriation for abandoned seafarers by aligning Indian law with the principal ILO instrument governing seafarers' employment and living conditions — often called the 'seafarers' bill of rights'. This instrument is:

  • A. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974
  • B. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), 1978
  • C. The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006
  • D. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), 1973/78

Q12. The following are described as categories of stakeholders in the 14 Technical Committees constituted for rule-making under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025: 1. Seafarers' Associations 2. Classification Societies 3. Foreign flag-state administrations of Panama and Liberia 4. Ports & State Maritime Boards Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as such a stakeholder category?

  1. Seafarers' Associations
  2. Classification Societies
  3. Foreign flag-state administrations of Panama and Liberia
  4. Ports & State Maritime Boards
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 3 only