- Why in news
- A PIB Backgrounder dated 10 October 2026 describes how India's 205 lighthouses are being turned into tourism and heritage sites, and how 75 are already open to visitors.
- What it is
- Lighthouses are navigational aids along India's coast, run under the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Mahabalipuram is one of the oldest, with a conventional light dating to 1887 on the Olakkaneeswar Temple. Lothal in Gujarat is an ancient Harappan site linked to maritime trade.
- Number of lighthouses
- India has 205 lighthouses along a coastline of over 11,000 km.
Don’t confuse with Lighthouse vs lightship: A lighthouse is a fixed shore tower. A lightship is a floating vessel serving as a navigation aid. DGLL manages both.
Don’t confuse with Mahabalipuram vs Lothal: Mahabalipuram is a Pallava-era port in Tamil Nadu. Lothal is a Harappan port site in Gujarat.
Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.
Why it matters
- Heritage tourism creates local jobs in hotels, transport, crafts and shops.
- All lighthouses run on solar power, and 87 AIS stations on them add to maritime safety.
Problems
- Tourist footfall must not interfere with the working navigational role of the lights.
- Upkeep of old structures in harsh coastal conditions is costly.
Way forward
- Involve coastal communities in protecting and promoting lighthouse sites.
- Keep a common digital ticketing and visitor platform, and expand it to the 25 proposed sites.
Put in your answer
Lighthouse tourism growth: Visitors rose from about 4 lakh in 2014 to 18.63 lakh in 2024-25, showing the potential of heritage tourism.
Solar-powered lights: All lighthouses are solar-powered, an example of renewable energy in port infrastructure.
AIS shore stations: 87 AIS shore stations on lighthouses support navigation safety and traffic management under SOLAS norms.
- 2023Mains GS1 · Q14Comment on coastline resource potential and natural hazard preparedness along coasts
- 2022Mains GS3 · Q10Discuss maritime security challenges and organisational, technical, procedural initiatives taken
- 2023Mains GS2 · Q20Discuss IMO's role in protecting environment and enhancing maritime safety and security
- 2026Prelims Q35Statements on Sagarmala Programme's port-led growth, shipping gains, and Sagarmala 2.0 aims
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting topic on maritime heritage and tourism, but lacks a debate or clear testable provisions; places gave 26 Prelims questions, none Mains.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.