The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is preparing to launch a National Shipbuilding Mission aimed at strengthening India’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that the scheme will reduce dependence on foreign shipping, help save nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore annually in freight charges, and generate 25–30 lakh new jobs.
The initiative is part of a three-pronged maritime strategy approved by the Union Cabinet under PM Modi, focusing on:
- Shipbuilding – boosting domestic ship manufacturing with a revamped financial assistance scheme of ₹24,736 crore.
- Ship recycling – promoting Indian yards with incentives like credit notes.
- Global competitiveness – building a robust maritime ecosystem.
Additionally, an India Ship Technology Centre (ISTC) with an outlay of ₹305 crore will be established at Visakhapatnam’s Indian Maritime University campus, serving as a hub for R&D, ship design, training, and skill development.
Highlighting India’s growing maritime workforce, Sonowal noted that the number of Indian seafarers has more than doubled in a decade, placing India among the top three suppliers of seafarers globally. He said the reforms mark the revival of India’s maritime golden era, with an unprecedented financial allocation of ₹70,000 crore for the sector.
