Infrastructure MCQs for UPSC Prelims — April 2026

Q1. Which one of the following is the flagship Government of India framework specifically aimed at proliferating public Wi-Fi hotspots through unlicensed Public Data Offices, and forms the principal focus of TRAI's April 2026 consultation paper?

  • A. BharatNet
  • B. Digital India Mission
  • C. PM-WANI (Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface)
  • D. Bharat 6G Vision

Q2. As per the data cited in the context of TRAI's April 2026 consultation paper on public Wi-Fi, approximately how many Public Data Offices (PDOs)/public Wi-Fi hotspots were operational under the PM-WANI framework as on 28 February 2026?

  • A. About 1.05 lakh
  • B. About 2.18 lakh
  • C. About 4.09 lakh
  • D. About 10 lakh

Q3. 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

Q4. 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)

Q5. 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

Q6. 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

Q7. 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

Q8. 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

Q9. 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

Q10. 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

Q11. 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

Q12. 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

Q13. 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

Q14. 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

Q15. On which section of the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor is the ~12 km wildlife-passage package built, featuring an elevated wildlife corridor (average 6–7 m height) described as among Asia's largest?

  • A. Ganeshpur–Asharodi section
  • B. Akshardham–Baghpat section
  • C. Saharanpur–Roorkee section
  • D. Haridwar–Rishikesh section

Q16. The Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor is a greenfield access-controlled highway. Under which flagship programme of the Government of India is it being developed?

  • A. Bharatmala Pariyojana
  • B. Setu Bharatam
  • C. Parvatmala Pariyojana
  • D. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

Q17. The Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project is significant as the first hydro-electric project to be taken up in which one of the following river basins?

  • A. Subansiri Basin
  • B. Siang Basin
  • C. Lohit Basin
  • D. Dibang Basin

Q18. With reference to the central public sector undertakings and their role in Arunachal Pradesh's hydro projects, consider the following statements: 1. Kamala HEP is being implemented as a joint venture with NHPC Limited. 2. Kalai-II HEP is being implemented as a joint venture with THDC India Limited. 3. In the August 2023 handover, SJVN received the projects with the largest cumulative capacity (about 5,097 MW). 4. THDC India Limited was among the PSUs that received the stalled projects in the August 2023 Arunachal handover. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Kamala HEP is being implemented as a joint venture with NHPC Limited.
  2. Kalai-II HEP is being implemented as a joint venture with THDC India Limited.
  3. In the August 2023 handover, SJVN received the projects with the largest cumulative capacity (about 5,097 MW).
  4. THDC India Limited was among the PSUs that received the stalled projects in the August 2023 Arunachal handover.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q19. With reference to flood moderation and storage-based hydro projects, consider the following statements: 1. A storage-based project can regulate river flow to provide flood moderation, unlike a typical run-of-river project. 2. The Government of India will extend Rs.4,743.98 crore as budgetary support towards the flood-moderation component of Kamala HEP. 3. Kamala HEP is expected to provide flood-moderation benefit in the Brahmaputra valley. 4. Dedicated budgetary support for the flood-moderation component of storage hydro projects was among the measures approved by the Cabinet in 2019. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. A storage-based project can regulate river flow to provide flood moderation, unlike a typical run-of-river project.
  2. The Government of India will extend Rs.4,743.98 crore as budgetary support towards the flood-moderation component of Kamala HEP.
  3. Kamala HEP is expected to provide flood-moderation benefit in the Brahmaputra valley.
  4. Dedicated budgetary support for the flood-moderation component of storage hydro projects was among the measures approved by the Cabinet in 2019.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q20. In the 2023 revival push, how many long-stalled hydro projects of Arunachal Pradesh (of more than 11.5 GW cumulative capacity) were handed over to central hydro PSUs under the Ministry of Power?

  • A. 12
  • B. 5
  • C. 10
  • D. 13

Q21. Prior to the 2019 Cabinet measures, only 'small' hydro qualified as a renewable energy source. What was the maximum installed capacity a hydro project could have and still be counted as renewable energy under that earlier classification?

  • A. 25 MW
  • B. 10 MW
  • C. 50 MW
  • D. 100 MW

Q22. The reclassification of large hydro power projects (above 25 MW) as 'renewable energy' sources — a status now claimed for projects like Kamala HEP — was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year?

  • A. 2019
  • B. 2008
  • C. 2016
  • D. 2022

Q23. Among the following NHPC-developed hydroelectric projects in the Arunachal Pradesh–Assam (Brahmaputra basin) region, which one has the largest installed capacity?

  • A. Etalin Hydroelectric Project
  • B. Dibang Multipurpose Project
  • C. Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project
  • D. Kamala Hydro Electric Project

Q24. Comparing the two hydro projects cleared by the CCEA — Kamala HEP and Kalai-II HEP — consider the following statements: 1. Kamala HEP has a higher installed capacity than Kalai-II HEP. 2. Kalai-II HEP has a shorter estimated completion period than Kamala HEP. 3. Both projects will be implemented as joint ventures with NHPC Limited as the central PSU partner. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Kamala HEP has a higher installed capacity than Kalai-II HEP.
  2. Kalai-II HEP has a shorter estimated completion period than Kamala HEP.
  3. Both projects will be implemented as joint ventures with NHPC Limited as the central PSU partner.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q25. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared both the Kamala HEP and the Kalai-II HEP in Arunachal Pradesh. With reference to these two approvals, consider the following: 1. Kamala HEP is located in the Kamle, Kra Daadi and Kurung Kumey districts. 2. Kalai-II HEP is located in Anjaw district on the Lohit river. 3. Kalai-II HEP has been sanctioned a larger investment outlay than Kamala HEP. 4. Kalai-II HEP is the first hydro project sanctioned in the Lohit basin. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Kamala HEP is located in the Kamle, Kra Daadi and Kurung Kumey districts.
  2. Kalai-II HEP is located in Anjaw district on the Lohit river.
  3. Kalai-II HEP has been sanctioned a larger investment outlay than Kamala HEP.
  4. Kalai-II HEP is the first hydro project sanctioned in the Lohit basin.
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q26. The 1720 MW installed capacity of the Kamala Hydro Electric Project is made up of a configuration of 8 x 210 MW plus 1 x 40 MW machines. How many generating units in total will the project have?

  • A. 9
  • B. 8
  • C. 10
  • D. 6

Q27. The Kamala Hydro Electric Project is described as a 'storage-based' hydroelectric scheme, which is central to its stated flood-moderation role. In this context, a storage-based (as opposed to run-of-river) hydro scheme is one that:

  • A. impounds water behind a dam in a reservoir so that releases can be regulated, allowing both firm/peak generation and moderation of downstream flooding
  • B. generates power solely from the natural flow of the river without any significant impoundment, keeping the discharge nearly equal to the inflow at all times
  • C. pumps water back to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours using surplus grid electricity for reuse during peak demand
  • D. diverts a portion of the river through a canal to a downstream powerhouse without constructing any dam across the main channel

Q28. The 50:50 Centre–State equity-sharing model for financing metro rail SPVs, as adopted for RMRCL in Jaipur and for SPVs in cities such as Pune and Ahmedabad, is provided for under which of the following?

  • A. The Metro Rail Policy, 2017
  • B. The National Urban Transport Policy, 2006
  • C. The recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission
  • D. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act

Q29. Which Union ministry is the nodal ministry for metro rail projects in India, including the Jaipur Metro?

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

Q30. Having crossed 1,000 km of operational lines in 2025, India's metro rail network ranks at which position globally by operational network length?

  • A. Third largest
  • B. Second largest
  • C. Largest
  • D. Fourth largest
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