Infrastructure MCQs for UPSC Prelims — May 2026

Q1. 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

Q2. 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

Q3. 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

Q4. 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

Q5. 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

Q6. 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

Q7. 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

Q8. In the context of India's evolving dam safety framework deliberated at the 11th NCDS meeting (2026), the term 'SQRA' refers to which one of the following?

• A. A Level 2 Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment for dams, sitting between potential failure mode analysis and full quantitative risk analysis
• B. A Standardised Quality and Rehabilitation Audit conducted on every DRIP-funded dam by the Central Water Commission
• C. A Statutory Quarterly Reservoir Assessment that every specified dam owner must submit to the State Dam Safety Organisation
• D. A Seismic Quantification and Reservoir Analysis module embedded within the DHARMA digital platform

Q9. With reference to the 11th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) held in January 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The meeting was convened at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
2. The Committee decided to constitute a national expert committee to finalise the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment (SQRA) framework.
3. The Committee resolved to reduce the number of seismic instruments prescribed in the existing NDSA regulations.
4. DAMCHAT, an AI-powered dam safety knowledge platform, was formally launched during this NCDS meeting.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 2 and 4 only

Q10. Which one of the following is the principal web-based asset management application of the Central Water Commission, on which all 6,628 specified dams of India have been registered for capturing dam asset and health data?

• A. Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan (RBSD)
• B. Rapid Risk Screening of Specified Dams (RRSSD)
• C. Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA)
• D. Seismic Hazard Assessment Information System (SHAISYS)

Q11. With reference to India's specified dams under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, consider the following statements: 1. India has more than 6,000 specified dams as per the latest official data. 2. All specified dams in India are exclusively owned by the Central Government. 3. About 26 per cent of India's specified dams are more than 50 years old. 4. The aggregate gross water storage capacity of India's specified dams is approximately 330 billion cubic metres. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. India has more than 6,000 specified dams as per the latest official data.
2. All specified dams in India are exclusively owned by the Central Government.
3. About 26 per cent of India's specified dams are more than 50 years old.
4. The aggregate gross water storage capacity of India's specified dams is approximately 330 billion cubic metres.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q12. With reference to India's large dam profile and the Dam Safety Act, 2021, consider the following statements: 1. India ranks third in the world in the number of large dams, after China and the United States. 2. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, a dam more than 15 metres in height is treated as a 'specified dam'. 3. More than 50 per cent of India's specified dams are over 50 years old. 4. Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams in the country. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. India ranks third in the world in the number of large dams, after China and the United States.
2. Under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, a dam more than 15 metres in height is treated as a 'specified dam'.
3. More than 50 per cent of India's specified dams are over 50 years old.
4. Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams in the country.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q13. In the context of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & III, the funding pattern of '80:20' refers to:

• A. the ratio in which the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank share the external assistance under the scheme
• B. the ratio of external loan to counterpart funding applicable to Special Category States participating in the scheme
• C. the ratio of the outlay of Phase II to that of Phase III within the overall approved cost of Rs 10,211 crore
• D. the ratio of Union Government to State Government share applicable to General Category States under the scheme

Q14. With reference to the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), consider the following statements comparing Phase I with Phase II & III: 1. While Phase I covered 223 dams in 7 States, Phase II and III together envisage rehabilitation of 736 dams across 19 States. 2. Phase I was co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whereas Phase II and III are financed solely by the World Bank. 3. Phase II and III follow a uniform 70:30 external-to-counterpart funding pattern for all participating States and Central Agencies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. While Phase I covered 223 dams in 7 States, Phase II and III together envisage rehabilitation of 736 dams across 19 States.
2. Phase I was co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whereas Phase II and III are financed solely by the World Bank.
3. Phase II and III follow a uniform 70:30 external-to-counterpart funding pattern for all participating States and Central Agencies.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q15. As per the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approval, approximately how many villages are expected to gain enhanced connectivity from the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project?

• A. 184 villages
• B. 234 villages
• C. 284 villages
• D. 334 villages

Q16. With reference to the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Unlike the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, the Ahmedabad–Dholera project is planned with indigenously developed technology.
2. Both projects were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in the year 2026.
3. The Ahmedabad–Dholera project will be Indian Railways' first semi high-speed rail corridor.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q17. With reference to the April 2026 MoU for the Thoothukudi Mega Greenfield Shipyard vis-à-vis the separate HD KSOE–Cochin Shipyard Ltd MoU, consider the following statements: 1. Both MoUs were signed under the framework of the India–Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership for shipbuilding. 2. Unlike the HD KSOE–Cochin Shipyard MoU, the Thoothukudi MoU is a tripartite agreement that also includes Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited as a signatory. 3. The Thoothukudi shipyard's envisaged annual capacity of 2.5 million GT exceeds the total shipbuilding capacity targeted for India under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Both MoUs were signed under the framework of the India–Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership for shipbuilding.
2. Unlike the HD KSOE–Cochin Shipyard MoU, the Thoothukudi MoU is a tripartite agreement that also includes Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited as a signatory.
3. The Thoothukudi shipyard's envisaged annual capacity of 2.5 million GT exceeds the total shipbuilding capacity targeted for India under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q18. The tripartite MoU for India's first Mega Greenfield Shipyard at Thoothukudi, signed under the India–Republic of Korea 'VOYAGES' Partnership, was facilitated by which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q19. As per the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approval, approximately how many villages are expected to gain enhanced connectivity from the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project?

• A. 184 villages
• B. 234 villages
• C. 284 villages
• D. 334 villages

Q20. With reference to the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Unlike the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, the Ahmedabad–Dholera project is planned with indigenously developed technology.
2. Both projects were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in the year 2026.
3. The Ahmedabad–Dholera project will be Indian Railways' first semi high-speed rail corridor.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q21. Which one of the following countries was the first in the world to implement Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based highway tolling?

• A. Germany
• B. Slovakia
• C. Switzerland
• D. Czechia

Q22. With reference to the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based tolling proposed for India, consider the following statements: 1. In the proposed system, an On-Board Unit (OBU) in the vehicle uses multi-constellation signals, including NavIC and GPS, to compute distance travelled on tolled stretches. 2. Germany was the first country in the world to introduce GNSS-based highway tolling. 3. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) envisages a hybrid roll-out in which GNSS-based electronic toll collection operates alongside the existing RFID-based FASTag system. 4. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified the nationwide replacement of FASTag by GNSS-based tolling on all National Highways with effect from 1 May 2025. Which of the statements given above are NOT correct?

1. In the proposed system, an On-Board Unit (OBU) in the vehicle uses multi-constellation signals, including NavIC and GPS, to compute distance travelled on tolled stretches.
2. Germany was the first country in the world to introduce GNSS-based highway tolling.
3. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) envisages a hybrid roll-out in which GNSS-based electronic toll collection operates alongside the existing RFID-based FASTag system.
4. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified the nationwide replacement of FASTag by GNSS-based tolling on all National Highways with effect from 1 May 2025.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4
• D. 3 and 4 only

Q23. Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, a flagship highways programme being implemented largely through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), envisages the development of approximately how many kilometres of National Highways?

• A. about 24,800 km
• B. about 34,800 km
• C. about 50,000 km
• D. about 65,000 km

Q24. India's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system was launched at which one of the following locations?

• A. Kherki Daula Toll Plaza on NH-48, Haryana
• B. Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat–Bharuch section of NH-48, Gujarat
• C. Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link) Toll Plaza, Maharashtra
• D. Dwarka Expressway Toll Plaza on NH-48, Delhi–Gurugram

Q25. With reference to the evolution of electronic tolling on India's National Highways, consider the following statements comparing the existing FASTag system with the newly launched Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. While FASTag relies on Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), the MLFF system combines Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with FASTag for toll collection.
2. FASTag was made mandatory for all vehicles on National Highways from 1 January 2021, whereas MLFF enables toll collection without requiring vehicles to stop at fee plazas.
3. Unlike FASTag, the MLFF system as launched in India dispenses with RFID entirely and operates solely on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based positioning.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q26. Which one of the following is the location of India's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system, launched in 2026?

• A. Kherki Daula Toll Plaza on NH-48 in Haryana
• B. Chorayasi Toll Plaza on the Surat-Bharuch section of NH-48 in Gujarat
• C. Vadodara-Bharuch Toll Plaza on NH-48 in Gujarat
• D. Manesar Toll Plaza on NH-48 in Haryana

Q27. With reference to the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system operationalised in 2026 on the Surat-Bharuch section of NH-48, which one of the following is the implementing agency that rolled out the system?

• A. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)
• B. Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL)
• C. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• D. Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

Q28. With reference to the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system launched in 2026 at the Chorayasi Toll Plaza on NH-48, which one of the following is the implementing agency?

• A. Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL)
• B. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• C. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)
• D. Indian Roads Congress (IRC)

Q29. Which one of the following is India's first dedicated deep-water international container transhipment port, dedicated to the nation in May 2025?

• A. Galathea Bay International Container Transhipment Port, Great Nicobar
• B. Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Nhava Sheva
• C. Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kerala
• D. Vadhavan Port, Maharashtra

Q30. Which one of the following has been designated as the project proponent for the Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island, including the International Container Transhipment Port at Galathea Bay?

• A. Indian Ports Rail and Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRRCL)
• B. Andaman & Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)
• C. Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL)
• D. Indian Port Association (IPA)