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 :
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) 3 only
Why the answer is (b)
• Sagarmala (2015) is the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' flagship for port-led development: port modernisation, connectivity, port-linked industrialisation and coastal community development.
• Relationship 1 holds: statement II cites outcomes — growth in coastal and inland waterway cargo and better global port rankings — that validate the strategy set out in statement I.
• Relationship 2 holds: Sagarmala 2.0 builds on the original goals and reframes them within an innovation, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, so statement III extends statement I.
• Relationship 3 fails: statement I describes sustainable infrastructure as a means to growth; it does not exclude innovation, so there is no contradiction with statement III.
• Hence 1 and 2, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Relationship 2 is also correct: Sagarmala 2.0 extends the original objectives.
- (c) 2 and 3
- Relationship 3 is wrong: there is no contradiction between infrastructure-led growth and innovation.
- (d) 3 only
- Relationship 3 is wrong; relationships 1 and 2 hold.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.