UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

India’s green shipping plans envisage converting vessels on coastal and inland waterways to run on cleaner energy sources. This includes proposals for hydrogen-powered and solar-assisted ships, as well as green hydrogen hubs at key ports. The initiative aligns with both national net-zero ambitions for 2070 and international maritime emission-reduction goals. It also includes financial and infrastructural measures like a Maritime Development Fund to support the transition. (Reuters)

Option A:
Banning renewable energy in ports and ships would contradict the very notion of green shipping. Current plans instead highlight increasing the share of renewables in port energy consumption and vessel propulsion.

Option B:
This option accurately reflects the essence of current announcements: a proactive shift towards renewable-energy-based propulsion on waterways. It captures the linkage to net-zero goals and mentions hydrogen and solar, which feature prominently in policy discussions.

Option C:
Increasing diesel subsidies would lock in fossil-fuel dependence and run against decarbonisation objectives. There is no evidence that this is the direction of India’s maritime policy in recent climate-related announcements.

Option D:
Restricting clean propulsion technologies to foreign vessels while denying them to domestic ships would be illogical and counter-productive. Policies emphasise greening India’s own fleet and infrastructure, not limiting innovation to external actors.