Consider the following statements about INS Sagardhwani: 1. It is an oceanographic research vessel of Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO. 2. Recently it embarked on the Sagar Maitri Mission-4 to establish long-term scientific partnerships with Indian Ocean Rim countries in Ocean Research and Development. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)Both 1 and 2
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct — C, both statements 1 and 2. INS Sagardhwani is the dedicated oceanographic research vessel of the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a DRDO laboratory based in Kochi, so statement 1 is correct. In January 2024 the vessel embarked on Sagar Maitri Mission-4, part of DRDO's Sagar Maitri initiative to establish long-term scientific partnerships with Indian Ocean Rim countries in ocean research and development, so statement 2 is correct. With both accurate, the answer is 'Both 1 and 2'.
- (a)1 only — Statement 2 is also correct — the vessel did undertake Sagar Maitri Mission-4 for Indian Ocean Rim scientific partnerships, so limiting it to statement 1 is wrong.
- (b)2 only — Statement 1 is equally correct — INS Sagardhwani is indeed NPOL/DRDO's oceanographic research vessel.
- (d)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are accurate, so rejecting both is wrong.
INS Sagardhwani is a marine acoustic research ship operated for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), one of the Defence Research and Development Organisation's laboratories at Kochi. It supports the Sagar Maitri initiative, a DRDO programme of ocean research and collaboration with Indian Ocean Rim countries; its fourth mission set out in January 2024.
This is another 'both statements true' current-affairs item where each clause is separately verifiable — the vessel's parentage (NPOL/DRDO) and its mission (Sagar Maitri-4). Knowing that Sagar Maitri is a DRDO ocean-science outreach in the Indian Ocean confirms both.
- INS Sagardhwani is the oceanographic research vessel of NPOL, a DRDO laboratory at Kochi.
- Sagar Maitri stands for a marine and allied interdisciplinary research and cooperation initiative of DRDO.
- Sagar Maitri Mission-4 set out in January 2024 for scientific partnerships with Indian Ocean Rim countries.
- NPOL specialises in underwater acoustics, sonar and oceanographic research for the Indian Navy.
- Assuming a vessel prefixed 'INS' must be a warship — INS Sagardhwani is a research ship.
- Confusing Sagar Maitri (DRDO ocean research) with other 'Sagar' initiatives such as the SAGAR maritime vision or Mission Sagar humanitarian missions.
Asked as a two-statement 'is/are correct' — verify the vessel's parent laboratory and the mission separately.
With reference to 'Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)', consider the following statements: 1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills. 2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer(d) Neither 1 nor 2 — IORA (1997) fosters broad socio-economic cooperation among Indian Ocean rim states, not just maritime security.
Covers the Indian Ocean Rim cooperation framework that Sagar Maitri Mission-4 taps for its 'scientific partnerships with Indian Ocean Rim countries'.
The term 'IndARC', sometimes seen in the news, is the name of
- (a) an indigenously developed radar system inducted into Indian Defence
- (b) India's satellite to provide services to the countries of Indian Ocean Rim
- (c) a scientific establishment set up by India in Antarctic region
- (d) India's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region
Answer(d) India's underwater observatory to scientifically study the Arctic region — a moored ocean-observation platform.
A parallel piece of Indian ocean-science infrastructure — an ocean-observation platform — matching the ocean research and development theme of INS Sagardhwani's mission.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), which operates INS Sagardhwani, is a laboratory of which organisation?
- (a)ISRO
- (b)DRDO
- (c)CSIR
- (d)Indian Coast Guard
Answer(b) DRDO — NPOL is a Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratory at Kochi.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 'Sagar Maitri' missions carried out by INS Sagardhwani are primarily focused on which field?
- (a)Ocean and marine research
- (b)Anti-piracy patrols
- (c)Space launches
- (d)Border fencing
Answer(a) Ocean and marine research — Sagar Maitri is DRDO's ocean-research and cooperation initiative in the Indian Ocean.