The 3rd edition of the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 was held from January 09 to January 10, 2026, at MGM Park in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP). This two-day national celebration was organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways MoPSW and the Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships DGLL.
The festival featured a spectacular light and sound projection mapping show at Aguada Lighthouse in Goa. An important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) and DGLL for developing a Lighthouse Museum in Visakhapatnam.
The event was inaugurated by Muppavarapu (M.) Venkaiah Naidu, former Vice President of India, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State (MoS) Suresh Gopi, along with key officials from the MoPSW.
The first edition of the festival, Bharatiya Prakash Stambh Utsav, took place in September 2023 at Fort Aguada, Goa, while the second edition was held in October 2024 in Puri, Odisha. The festival aims to highlight the importance of lighthouses in India's maritime history and development.
During the festival, Union Minister Sonowal laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of staff quarters in Junglighat, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Additionally, he inaugurated the light and sound show at Aguada Lighthouse.
While addressing the audience, Union Minister Sonowal noted that 75 lighthouses have been constructed across India, with 10 located in Andhra Pradesh. The Government of India (GoI) plans to develop an additional 25 lighthouses, aiming to position India among the top 10 maritime superpower nations by 2030 and within the top 5 by 2047.
On the sidelines of the festival, foundation stones were laid for four significant port infrastructure projects worth Rs 230 crore by the VPA. These projects include:
Q1. What is the Indian Lighthouse Festival?
Answer: The Indian Lighthouse Festival is a national event celebrating the significance of lighthouses in India's maritime heritage, featuring exhibitions and announcements related to maritime infrastructure.
Q2. Where was the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0 held?
Answer: The festival took place at MGM Park in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from January 09 to January 10, 2026.
Q3. What were the major announcements made during the festival?
Answer: Key announcements included the establishment of the India Ship Technology Centre in Visakhapatnam and the construction of four new lighthouses in Assam.
Q4. Who inaugurated the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0?
Answer: The festival was inaugurated by Muppavarapu (M.) Venkaiah Naidu, the former Vice President of India, accompanied by notable dignitaries from the government.
Q5. What is the goal of the Indian Government regarding lighthouses?
Answer: The Government of India aims to enhance maritime safety by developing additional lighthouses and positioning India as a leading maritime superpower by 2047.
Question 1: What was the venue for the Indian Lighthouse Festival 3.0?
A) Goa
B) Puri
C) Visakhapatnam
D) Andaman Islands
Correct Answer: C
Question 2: Who was the Chief Guest at the festival?
A) Sarbananda Sonowal
B) Muppavarapu (M.) Venkaiah Naidu
C) Suresh Gopi
D) Vijay Kumar
Correct Answer: B
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