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RAS question

Among India's major ports, the largest by cargo handled is:

Correct answer: (D) Paradip Port, Odisha (or Deendayal Port, Gujarat — varies by year).

Paradip Port in Odisha was the highest cargo-handling major port of India in FY 2023-24, having surpassed Deendayal Port, Kandla.

  1. (A)

    Kolkata Port

  2. (B)

    Mumbai Port

  3. (C)

    Chennai Port

  4. (D)

    Paradip Port, Odisha (or Deendayal Port, Gujarat — varies by year)

Explanation

For a question on India’s major ports by total cargo handled, the key is not container traffic but overall cargo throughput. The PIB release on Paradip Port states that Paradip Port Authority clocked 145.38 MMT cargo throughput in FY 2023-24 and surpassed Deendayal Port, Kandla, to emerge as the highest cargo-handling major port of the country. Rankings can vary by year: Deendayal Port has historically been among the largest, while Paradip led in FY 2023-24. Container-port ranking is separate, where JNPT at Navi Mumbai is identified as the largest container port, so it should not be confused with the total-cargo question.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Kolkata Port is smaller by cargo handled and is not the leading major port.
  • (B) Mumbai Port has declined relative to the leading cargo ports and is not the answer for the current cargo-throughput ranking.
  • (C) Chennai Port is smaller by cargo handled and is not India’s top major port by cargo throughput.

Concept

This tests the transport geography part of Indian Geography: ports, cargo movement and the difference between total cargo throughput and container traffic. RAS repeats such questions because port rankings change with recent economic data, so aspirants must read the metric and year carefully.

Source

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