India-Netherlands MoU on Lothal’s Maritime Heritage Complex
Why in the news
India and the Netherlands agreed to work together on building the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Gujarat.
About NMHC
- Flagship cultural initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the nodal ministry.
- Meant to showcase India’s 4,500-5,000-year-old seafaring heritage through a world-class museum and cultural complex.
- Site: Lothal, close to Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
About Lothal
- Part of the Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization landscape.
- Excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1957; dates to roughly 2400 BCE.
- Known for the earliest known man-made dockyard, a sign of advanced maritime planning and trade.
Exam angle
- Nodal ministry: MoPSW. Partner country: Netherlands.
- Lothal facts: Harappan site, dockyard, excavated 1957.