Description

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Context:

India and Mauritius held a joint coordination meeting onboard INS Sarvekshak to commence the Joint Hydrographic Survey aimed at enhancing navigational safety in Mauritian waters.

About INS Sarvekshak

It is a hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy. It is based at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi.
She is equipped with state-of-the-art survey equipment such as Deep-Sea Multi-Beam Echo Sounder, Side Scan Sonars, and a fully automated digital measurement and processing system.
Additionally, the ship carries an integral Chetak helicopter, which would be heavily deployed during the survey.
The ship is the second ship of the Darshak class of ships and has 15 officers and 175 sailors.
In the past, INS Sarvekshak has also conducted foreign cooperation surveys in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania and Kenya.

What is hydrography?

Hydrography is a branch of applied science concerned with measuring and describing the physical properties of oceans, seas, coastal areas, lakes, and rivers, as well as predicting their change over time.
This is done primarily by specialized ships and boats operating echo sounders and sonars, but also by reconnaissance aircraft equipped with lasers.
Useful information can also sometimes be derived from satellite observations.
Hydrography also includes the measurement of tides and currents.
Unlike oceanography, hydrography will include coastal features, both natural and man-made, lights and towers to help determine a ship's position, as well as physical aspects of the sea and seabed.

READ ABOUT

India-Mauritius Launch Projects in Agalega

INDIA-MAURITIUS RELATIONS

Source:

BUSINESS STANDARD

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Which of the following statements regarding INS Sarvekshak is/are correct?

It is an advanced hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy.
It is equipped with solar and wind energy systems, making it one of the first green ships in the Indian Navy.
The primary role of INS Sarvekshak is to monitor and secure India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is Correct. INS Sarvekshak is an advanced hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy that conducts surveys of maritime areas.

Statement 2 is Correct. INS Sarvekshak is equipped with solar and wind energy systems making it a green initiative in the Indian Navy.

Statement 3 is Incorrect. While INS Sarvekshak contributes to hydrographic surveys and mapping, its primary role is not securing the EEZ but aiding in navigation and resource exploration.