UPSC Prelims 2026 · Question 34 of 96
UPSC Prelims 2026 question on Vizhinjam Seaport
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2026
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicHuman and Economic Geography
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeStatement
In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India's maritime trade and logistics policy?
1. By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations.
2. By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala's profile as a maritime heritage destination.
3. By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade.
Select the answer using the code given below:
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Answer: D. 3 only
Verdict
Only statement 3 is correct, so the answer is Option (d).
Statement by statement
Statement 1 is not correct: The world class, future ready port is the only transshipment hub in the Indian subcontinent, closest to the international shipping routes, and is centrally located on the Indian coastline. It has a natural draft of 24 m and minimal littoral drift. It is therefore not an exclusively domestic cargo hub, nor does it eliminate the need for foreign collaborations.
Statement 2 is not correct: The port's cargo handling capacity will be strengthened through the addition of ship-to-shore and yard cranes, enabling the handling of next-generation container vessels of up to 28,000 TEUs. On completion, the port will be capable of handling up to five mother vessels simultaneously, with an operational throughput capacity of up to 5.7 million TEUs per annum. Its focus is container transshipment rather than passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping.
Statement 3 is correct: Gifted by nature with a deep draft of 18 m close to shore that requires no capital dredging, Vizhinjam can leverage its natural depth to host even ultra-large next-generation container ships requiring 20 m plus drafts. This reduces dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhances revenue retention and repositions India in regional maritime trade.