UPSC Prelims 2009 Q10: Geography – Transport & Infrastructure Geography

UPSC Prelims 2009, General Studies Paper I · Geography

In India, the ports are categorized as major and non - major ports. Which one of the following is a non - major port?

Answer: (b) Dahej

Explanation

Identifying a non-major port in India

Indian ports are classified as major (centrally administered) or non-major (state-administered/private), with specific examples of each.

Option	Verdict	Reason
(a) Kochi (Cochin)	Is a major port	Kochi is a well-established major port, centrally administered
(b) Dahej	Non-major port	Dahej, in Gujarat, is a non-major (intermediate/private) port, not centrally administered
(c) Paradip	Is a major port	Paradip, in Odisha, is a recognized major port
(d) New Mangalore	Is a major port	New Mangalore is also a recognized major port

Major vs non-major ports:

Category	Examples
Major ports	Kochi, Paradip, New Mangalore, and others
Non-major ports	Dahej, and various state/private ports

Answer: (b) Dahej.

Among Kochi, Dahej, Paradip, and New Mangalore, DAHEJ (Gujarat) is the non-major port — the other three are centrally administered major ports.

Dahej, Gujarat, is a non-major port — unlike Kochi, Paradip, and New Mangalore, which are major ports.

Assuming all well-known commercial ports are automatically classified as 'major' ports.
Not knowing Dahej's specific non-major/intermediate port classification.
Confusing the major/non-major classification with port size or traffic volume alone.

Major ports are centrally administered (like Kochi, Paradip, New Mangalore). Dahej is a non-major (state/private) port.

Ministry of Shipping, Government of India — Annual Report 2008–09 (major and non-major ports)
Indian Ports Act, 1908