Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India:
I. The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure.
II. The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings.
III. Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
- 1.Statement II validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in statement I.
- 2.Statement III extends the objectives of statement I by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation framework.
- 3.Statement I contradicts statement III by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 1 and 2
Take the three statements as given and ask how they connect. Statement II reports results showing the port-led approach in statement I is working, and statement III continues the programme in its newer phase, so relationships 1 and 2 hold. Statement I does not contradict III, so relationship 3 fails.
- ✓ 1. Statement II gives outcomes for the strategy in statement I. Official figures show coastal shipping cargo nearly doubling from 87 to 165 million tonnes, and 9 Indian ports among the world's top 100.
- ✓ 2. Sagarmala 2.0 is the programme's next phase, with an outlay of Rs 85,482 crore. It carries forward the port-led goals of statement I, which is an extension and not a change of direction.
- ✗ 3. Statement I is not limited to traditional infrastructure: the programme focuses on cutting logistics costs through smarter, greener transport networks. I and III are complementary, so there is no contradiction.
Remember · Sagarmala: port-led development to cut logistics costs and boost trade; Sagarmala 2.0 (outlay Rs 85,482 crore) is its next phase. Check whether statements support, extend or contradict.
Sources
- PIB Backgrounder: Maritime India, From Vision 2030 to Amrit Kaal 2047 ↗ “The programme focuses on cutting logistics costs, enhancing trade efficiency, and creating employment through smarter, greener transport networks. … Coastal shipping has gained significant momentum, with cargo movement nearly doubling from 87 million metric tonnes (MMT) to 165 MMT, reinforcing the shift toward efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly transport modes. … a flagship initiative to transform India into a global maritime hub”
- DD News (Prasar Bharati): Sagarmala, 315 projects worth Rs 1.57 lakh crore completed to boost maritime sector (11 April 2026) ↗ “Over the past 11 years, the Sagarmala programme has delivered measurable outcomes. Sagarmala 2.0, supported with Rs 85,482 crore, aims to catalyse Rs 3.6 lakh crore in investment. … Moreover, Indian ports have strengthened their global presence, with 9 ports ranking among the world’s top 100, including Visakhapatnam Port, which ranks among the top 20 ports for container traffic.”
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 1 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·