*_India’s First Underwater Naval Museum to Rise Near Sindhudurg, Maharashtra_* 🚢 Based on INS Guldar | 🌊 Location: Nivati Rocks, Maharashtra 📌 Key Points for UPSC : ✅ India’s First Underwater Museum to be built around INS Guldar, a decommissioned Indian Navy warship. 📍 Location: Near Nivati Rocks, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, chosen for its clean waters and marine diversity. 🌊 Purpose: Promote marine tourism, create artificial coral reefs, and preserve naval heritage. ⚓ INS Guldar Background: A 1,120-ton Magar-class Landing Ship Tank (LST), built in Poland, commissioned in 1985. 🛳️ Designed for amphibious warfare, capable of landing troops, tanks & supplies on battlefields. 🔄 Served in the Eastern Naval Command, later moved to Andaman & Nicobar Command; decommissioned in Jan 2024. 🪸 Will be intentionally sunk (scuttled) to create a base for coral reef formation, aiding marine biodiversity. 🌱 Artificial Reefs: Help rejuvenate marine life, supporting local fisheries and ecosystems. 💰 Funding: ₹46.91 crore sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. 🏗️ Implementing Agency: Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), with marine experts. 🐠 Tourism Impact: Encourages scuba diving, educational marine research, and future submarine tours. 🌍 Policy Alignment: Supports India’s Blue Economy, eco-tourism, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). *_❓ MCQ for UPSC/PCS/SSC_* Q. India’s first underwater naval museum will be developed using which decommissioned warship? (A) INS Viraat (B) INS Shardul (C) INS Guldar (D) INS Vikrant ✅ Answer: INS Guldar *_🧠 Glossary – Important Terms_* Scuttling: Intentional sinking of a ship to create artificial reefs or museums. Blue Economy: Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, jobs, and ecosystem health. Artificial Coral Reef: Man-made structures to promote marine life and biodiversity. Magar-class LST: A class of amphibious warfare ships in the Indian Navy. *_📘 UPSC Relevance_* 📍 GS Paper 3 – Environment: Marine biodiversity, eco-tourism, blue economy 📍 GS Paper 1 – Geography: Coastal features, coral reefs, Blue Economy 📍 GS Paper 2 – Governance: Role of tourism ministries, inter-agency coordination 📍 Essay/Interview: Case study on sustainable tourism and coastal conservation *_#examlife_*