UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to Flag Off First International Cargo Voyage from Dibrugarh

Q1. With reference to how the Constitution of India divides legislative power over inland waterways, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Shipping and navigation by mechanically propelled vessels on inland waterways that Parliament has declared by law to be national waterways is a Union List subject.
  2. Shipping and navigation by mechanically propelled vessels on inland waterways that are not national waterways is a State List subject, leaving Parliament no power to legislate on it.
  3. Carriage of passengers and goods on inland waterways is a Concurrent List subject, subject to the Union List provisions on national waterways.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2 only

Q2. With reference to the India–Bangladesh Protocol on inland water movement of cargo, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Inland vessels of either country may use designated routes in the other country for bilateral trade as well as for transit.
  2. The Protocol routes allow cargo to move by water between the Ganga (NW-1) and the Brahmaputra (NW-2) through Bangladesh.
  3. Cargo moving between two Indian river ports through Bangladesh must be transferred to Bangladeshi-flagged vessels at the border.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. On National Waterway-2, the Least Available Depth that the Inland Waterways Authority of India maintains on the stretch upstream of Dibrugarh is lower than on the stretch between Dhubri and Neamati.
  2. The Inland Waterways Authority of India carries out regular maintenance dredging on National Waterway-2 to keep the channel at its target depths.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. On a dredged river channel, the Least Available Depth assured on a stretch is lowered, for example from 2.5 m to 1.5 m, while cargo vessels continue to use the stretch. Which one of the following is the most likely consequence?

  • A. Vessels must sail part-loaded, which raises the cost of moving each tonne
  • B. Vessels must load more cargo so that they sit lower and stay stable in shallow water
  • C. Vessel cargo capacity is unaffected, as depth limits only how fast vessels sail
  • D. Vessels can sail fully loaded, as shallower water slows the current and saves fuel

Q5. With reference to performance-based contracts for maintaining navigation channels on silt-heavy rivers, as piloted under Bangladesh's World Bank-supported waterway project, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The contractor is paid for keeping an agreed channel depth available through the year, rather than for the volume of silt it removes.
  2. Such a contract shifts the risk of the channel silting up again from the waterway authority to the contractor.
  3. Under a conventional contract that pays by the volume dredged, the contractor's earnings can rise if the channel silts up again quickly.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 only

Q6. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. The share of inland water transport in India's freight movement is far lower than its share in Vietnam or the Netherlands.
  2. Moving a tonne of cargo over one kilometre by inland waterway generally uses more fuel than moving it by road.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q7. Consider the following assertion: Although inland water transport costs less per tonne-km than road transport, its share of India's freight remains small. Which of the statements given above help(s) explain the assertion?

  1. Weak road and rail links between production centres and river terminals add extra handling and transfer costs.
  2. Navigable depth on rivers such as the Brahmaputra varies with the season and with siltation, so delivery dates are uncertain.
  3. Inland cargo vessels and terminal equipment are costly to acquire.
  4. Inland vessels can carry bulk cargo such as fly ash and foodgrains over long distances.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. Consider the following facts reported by a Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2023: India has 111 notified national waterways, of which 23 have been made operational; five national waterways account for about 80% of total inland water cargo; and waterways carry about 2% of India's freight. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Notifying a waterway under a Central law does not by itself ensure that cargo moves on it.
  2. The small number of notified waterways is the main reason for the low share of waterways in India's freight.
  3. Waterways that are notified but not yet operational have no navigable depth in any season.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 only