511 extractive question-and-answer pairs built from IWT compressed, published by shipmin.gov.in. The source is a 105-page publication. Source-evidenced topics include inland water transport, transport research wing, 2018-19, navigable waterways, cargo movement, states/uts, private sector companies, plan outlays. Every answer is a verbatim span of text the source prints, and each row carries the passage it sits in, its offset in that passage, the source quote, the page and the location in the document, so any row can be checked against the original. Question types in the export: 243 table, 213 factual, 25 list, 12 summary, 10 relationship, 8 definition. 55 of the 511 pairs (10.8%) ask explanatory questions; the remaining 456 are factual or table-based questions. 96.67% of rows pass the corpus quality gate.
This dataset contains 511 extractive question-and-answer pairs derived from a government publication on inland water transport (IWT) in India. The questions cover topics such as cargo composition, navigable waterways, dredging strategies, and private sector involvement. Each answer is a verbatim excerpt from the source document, ensuring traceability to the original material. The dataset includes various question types, such as factual, table-based, and explanatory, with 96.67% of rows meeting quality standards.
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df = desidata.load("shipmin-gov-in-fb00a1c341dd8f0fb633e75f7e6a0cf4")
df.head()First 10 of 511 rows
| question | answer | context | answer_start | question_type | knowledge_quality_score | source_document | source_quote | source_page | source_location | confidence | validation_status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What facility can be shifted and provided at any location along the national waterway? | Floating jetty (berth) with gangway facility | Further the construction of Phase-III, RIS stations between Patna-Varanasi is in progress. 2) 24 hours navigation aids being provided in Haldia-Ballia sector (1140 km) only. Day channel marking being provided in entire of NW-1. 1) Floating jetty (berth) with gangway facility can be shifted and provided at any location along the national waterway on need basis. 4) DGPS stations at Swaroopganj, Bhagalpur and Patna have been commissioned and operational. Further, DGPS Station at Varanasi has been commissioned. | 231 | definition | 1.000 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | 1) Floating jetty (berth) with gangway facility can be shifted and provided at any location along the national waterway on need basis. | 46 | page=46,block=18 | 0.700 | valid |
| What is the goal of the National Waterways Act, 2016? | to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country. | 12. Government declared 111 (including 5 existing and 106 new) National Waterways (NWs) spread over 24 states under the National Waterways Act, 2016, which came into effect from 12 April, 2016 to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country. A list of all the NWs with their approx. length is given in Annex-1. Efforts initiated towards undertaking the developmental activities for providing safe fairway channel and creating infrastructures, in phased manner on the identified new National Waterways from 2016-17. | 193 | definition | 1.000 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | Government declared 111 (including 5 existing and 106 new) National Waterways (NWs) spread over 24 states under the National Waterways Act, 2016, which came into effect from 12 April, 2016 to promote Inland Water Transport (IWT) in the country. A list of all the NWs with their approx. | 13 | page=13,block=24 | 0.700 | valid |
| What is the main role of the Inland Waterways Authority of India? | regulation and development of Inland Waterways for the purpose of inland shipping and navigation | 5. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), set up on 27th October 1986 under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, is entrusted with the regulation and development of Inland Waterways for the purpose of inland shipping and navigation. | 158 | definition | 1.000 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), set up on 27th October 1986 under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985, is entrusted with the regulation and development of Inland Waterways for the purpose of inland shipping and navigation. | 7 | page=7,block=22 | 0.700 | valid |
| What items are categorized under 'Miscellaneous' in the cargo composition on NW-I? | Machinery, Steam Turbine, ODC Cargo, Harbour Crane and Turbine & Generator etc. | Coal 561456 (16.8) 1736492 (34.4) 2843001 (45.6) 668740 (14.8) 160262 (2.9) 924 (Neg.) Iron steel 14857 (0.4) 34166 (0.7) 64989 (1.0) 29146 (0.6) 14839 (0.3) 9946 (0.1) Total NW I 3349138 (100.0) 5050209 (100.0) 6237124 (100.0) 4505377 (100.0) 5479362 (100.0) 7349330 (100.0) Source: Inland Waterways Authority of India for National Waterways. Note: Figure within brackets indicates percentage to the total Neg. – negligible Mix – Food Items, Iron Steel & Building Material(Flyash,FO,HF) etc. Miscellaneous – Machinery, Steam Turbine, ODC Cargo, Harbour Crane and Turbine & Generator etc. Cargo carried on Indo -Bangladesh Waterway Route Box: 3- Indo-Bangladesh Protocol for Inland Water Transport An Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol exist between India and Bangladesh under which inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country. | 509 | definition | 1.000 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | Miscellaneous – Machinery, Steam Turbine, ODC Cargo, Harbour Crane and Turbine & Generator etc. Cargo carried on Indo -Bangladesh Waterway Route Box: 3- Indo-Bangladesh Protocol for Inland Water Transport An Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol exist between India and Bangladesh under which inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country. | ||||
| What items are included under 'Mix' in the cargo composition on NW-I? | Food Items, Iron Steel & Building Material(Flyash,FO,HF) etc. | Coal 561456 (16.8) 1736492 (34.4) 2843001 (45.6) 668740 (14.8) 160262 (2.9) 924 (Neg.) Iron steel 14857 (0.4) 34166 (0.7) 64989 (1.0) 29146 (0.6) 14839 (0.3) 9946 (0.1) Total NW I 3349138 (100.0) 5050209 (100.0) 6237124 (100.0) 4505377 (100.0) 5479362 (100.0) 7349330 (100.0) Source: Inland Waterways Authority of India for National Waterways. Note: Figure within brackets indicates percentage to the total Neg. – negligible Mix – Food Items, Iron Steel & Building Material(Flyash,FO,HF) etc. Miscellaneous – Machinery, Steam Turbine, ODC Cargo, Harbour Crane and Turbine & Generator etc. Cargo carried on Indo -Bangladesh Waterway Route Box: 3- Indo-Bangladesh Protocol for Inland Water Transport An Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol exist between India and Bangladesh under which inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country. | 431 | definition | 1.000 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | – negligible Mix – Food Items, Iron Steel & Building Material(Flyash,FO,HF) etc. Miscellaneous – Machinery, Steam Turbine, ODC Cargo, Harbour Crane and Turbine & Generator etc. | ||||
| What is the reason for not planning dredging on the Kahalgaon-Sultanganj stretch? | the presence of Dolphin Sanctuary. 2 | • The DMP has been revisited and the following approved: (i) Barh-Majhaua stretch on LAD and (ii) Majhaua-Varanasi stretch on Quantity Based Maintenance Contract. New tender documents are being prepared accordingly. • Presently, no dredging is planned on the Kahalgaon-Sultanganj stretch (50 km) due to the presence of Dolphin Sanctuary. 2. Construction of Phase-I of multimodal terminal at Varanasi. | 303 | relationship | 0.970 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | New tender documents are being prepared accordingly. • Presently, no dredging is planned on the Kahalgaon-Sultanganj stretch (50 km) due to the presence of Dolphin Sanctuary. 2. | 19 | page=19,block=0 | 0.800 | valid |
| What contributed to the increase in traffic on the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route? | increase in flyash consumption by cement plants in Bangladesh | x 15. The volume of freight movement on National Waterways-I was 73.5 lakh tonnes in 2018-19 against 54.8 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 reflecting an increase of 34.1%. The increase in traffic has been due to steady increase in Indo – Bangladesh protocol route traffic on account of increase in flyash consumption by cement plants in Bangladesh and general increase in traffic on NW-1. The volume of cargo movement by VIVADA IWL vessels increased to 2.98 lakh tonnes in 2018-19 from 2.68 lakh tonnes in 2017-18, the volume of cargo moved by other private operators increased slightly to 39.57 lakh tonnes on NW-I in 2018-19 as against 32.66 lakh tonnes in 2017-18. 16. The composition of cargo movement on National Waterway-1 over the years is shown in | 276 | relationship | 0.970 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | The increase in traffic has been due to steady increase in Indo – Bangladesh protocol route traffic on account of increase in flyash consumption by cement plants in Bangladesh and general increase in traffic on NW-1. | 15 | page=15,block=0 | ||
| What event marked a significant change for water transport in India? | The advent of railways and extension of its network | In the 19th century navigation by power crafts and country boats played a dominant role in development of trade and commerce along river banks and catchment areas of the navigable river and canal system. Bulk of traffic was, however, carried in country boats plying from Delhi and Nepal border to Assam. At its peak in 1876-77 country boat traffic registered at Calcutta were about 180,000 cargo boats, at Hooghly 124,000 cargo boats, and at Patna about 62,000 cargo boats. The advent of railways and extension of its network marked a turning point for water- transport in India. To start with, construction of main railway lines gave a spurt to river traffic as the two modes supplemented each other, with waterways providing feeder service to railways. This complementarily between IWT and railways was, however, short-lived. The decline of navigation started by about 1860. | 474 | relationship | 0.970 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | At its peak in 1876-77 country boat traffic registered at Calcutta were about 180,000 cargo boats, at Hooghly 124,000 cargo boats, and at Patna about 62,000 cargo boats. The advent of railways and extension of its network marked a turning point for water- transport in India. | ||||
| What led to the decline in cargo volume on National Waterway III in 2018-19? | the suspension of Ro-Ro traffic between Willington and Bolghaty terminals feeding containers to International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) Vallarpadam, due to contractual problems | xxiv have been constructed by IWAI at Bolghatty and Willingdon Island. NW-3 is provided with 24 hours navigational aids in the entire route. An average tonnage of 10 lakh tonnes of cargo moved on NW-3 per annum in the last five years. IWAI has sanctioned INR 38 crore for reconstruction of lock gate at Trikkunnapzha across NW-3 for utilization of full capacity of NW-3. The NW-3 is fully navigable. 25. The total volume of cargo moved on National Waterway III has been fluctuating over the past few years. The volume of cargo marginally reduced to 4.20 lakh tonnes in 2018-19 compared to 4.28 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 recording a fall of 1.9%. The decrease is due to the suspension of Ro-Ro traffic between Willington and Bolghaty terminals feeding containers to International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) Vallarpadam, due to contractual problems. | 666 | relationship | 0.970 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | The decrease is due to the suspension of Ro-Ro traffic between Willington and Bolghaty terminals feeding containers to International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) Vallarpadam, due to contractual problems. | ||||
| What led to the decline of IWT's dominance over time? | With an increase in rail network new centers of economic activity away from waterways developed | By that time extension of East Indian Railways had begun to make itself felt. With an increase in rail network new centers of economic activity away from waterways developed. Gradually, IWT lost its superiority. Source: Chapter 15, Inland Water Transport, Report of the National Transport Policy Committee, Government of India, Planning Commission, May 1980 | 78 | relationship | 0.970 | https://shipmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/IWT_compressed.pdf | By that time extension of East Indian Railways had begun to make itself felt. With an increase in rail network new centers of economic activity away from waterways developed. | 9 | page=9,block=12 | 0.700 | valid |
Read straight from the file — download or use the API URL for the full dataset.
| 16 |
| page=16,block=2 |
| 0.700 |
| valid |
| 16 |
| page=16,block=2 |
| 0.700 |
| valid |
| 0.700 |
| valid |
| 9 |
| page=9,block=12 |
| 0.700 |
| valid |
| 29 |
| page=29,block=0 |
| 0.700 |
| valid |