Important Facts For Prelims
Initiatives in India’s Maritime Sector
- 03 Mar 2025
- 4 min read
Why in News?
The Ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched major initiatives to modernize India's maritime infrastructure.
What are the Key Initiatives Taken to Modernize Maritime Infrastructure?
- One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP): Standardizes port operations, reducing documentation inconsistencies.
- Through the ONOP process, the Ministry standardized documentation, reducing container operation documents by 33% and bulk cargo documents by 29%.
- Sagar Ankalan – Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) 2023-24: Evaluates port efficiency based on turnaround time, berth idle time, and cargo handling.
- Bharat Global Ports Consortium: Expands India’s maritime reach by integrating key stakeholders in port operations, finance, and infrastructure development.
- The consortium of India Ports Global Ltd (operations), Sagarmala Development Company Limited (finance), and Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (infrastructure development) will drive port expansion, operations, and financing, strengthening India’s role in global trade and logistics.
- MAITRI Platform: Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface (MAITRI) to digitize trade documentation, reduce processing time, optimize trade flows, and contribute to sustainable development.
- It enables the Virtual Trade Corridor (VTC) between India and the UAE (under IMEC) and aims to expand to BIMSTEC and ASEAN using AI and Blockchain for efficiency and security.
- NCoEGPS: National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) to promote eco-friendly shipping and carbon footprint reduction.
- It promotes cleaner fuels and eco-friendly port management, aiming to build a future-ready maritime ecosystem aligned with global environmental goals.
Initiatives for Maritime Sector in Union Budget 2025-26
- Maritime Development Fund (MDF): It is a Rs 25,000 crore MDF to support the maritime sector through equity and debt financing.
- Ship Breaking Credit Note Scheme: It incentivises ship scrapping by issuing a credit note of 40% of the scrap value which can be reimbursed to buy new Made in India ships.
- Infrastructure HML: Large ships will be added to the Infrastructure Harmonised Master List (HML), enabling long-term financing, tax incentives, private investment, and fleet modernization.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year’s Question (PYQs)
Prelims
Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)
- Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
- IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
Q. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements:
- It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
- It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (d)
