India and Denmark collaborate to trace 1619 Danish shipwreck off Karaikal coast

Exam-focused facts from the 18 June 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Museum of Denmark's Njord Center for Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a collaborative underwater archaeological project.
The project aims to locate and document the remains of the historic Danish ship Oresund, which was wrecked near Karaikal, Puducherry, in 1619 CE.
The Oresund is recognised as the first Danish ship known to have reached India.
The investigation will utilise non-invasive archaeological surveys and advanced scientific methods to identify the shipwreck remains.
This initiative marks the first collaborative archaeological project between the UAW and an international organisation.