On February 27, 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), launched several initiatives includes One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP), Bharat Global Ports Consortium and MAITRI Application(app), aimed at modernizing India’s maritime infrastructure and enhancing its position in global trade.
- These announcements were made during a stakeholder meeting in Mumbai (Maharashtra) focused on opportunities outlined in the Union Budget 2025-26 for the maritime sector.
New Maritime Initiatives :
i.ONOP: The One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP) was launched to standardize and streamline operations across India’s major ports.
- ONOP streamlines with Immigration, the Port Health Organization (PHO), and Port Authorities, reducing container documentation by 33% (from 143 to 96) and bulk cargo documents by 29% (from 150 to 106), addressing inefficiencies, costs, and operational delays.
- This advances India’s maritime power, supporting ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and a developed India by 2047.
ii.Sagar Ankalan -LPPI: The Sagar Ankalan Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for the Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24) was introduced to enhance port efficiency.
- LPPI evaluates India’s ports based on cargo handling, turnaround time, and container dwell time to enhance performance and reduce inefficiencies in maritime infrastructure.
Note: India rises to the 22nd position in the World Bank’s (WB) Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2023, for “International Shipments” underscores its progress in global logistics.
iii.Bharat Global Ports Consortium: The consortium was launched to expand India’s maritime reach.
- The consortium is comprised of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) in Mumbai (Maharashtra), Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL) in New Delhi (Delhi), and India Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) in New Delhi.
- This strengthens India’s position in global logistics, supporting the ‘Make in India’ initiative and boosting exports.
iv.MAITRI App & Digital Integration: The Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface(MAITRI) App was launched to streamline trade processes, reduce bureaucratic redundancies, and expedite clearances.
- This digital solution aims to create a seamless ‘Virtual Trade Corridor’ (VTC) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain for efficiency and security.
- The initiative aligns with the India- Middle East- Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and will expand to the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations.
v.India Maritime Week 2025: India is set to host the India Maritime Week 2025 scheduled from October 27 to 31, 2025, in Mumbai.
- This bi-annual global maritime gathering aims to celebrate India’s ‘Maritime Virasat’ (heritage) and ‘Maritime Vikaas’ (development).
- The week will feature the 4th edition of the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) and the 2nd edition of Sagarmanthan, among others, with representation from 100 countries and 100,000 delegates.
vi.Maritime Sector Budget 2025: In line with the Union Budget 2025, Rs. 25,000 crore was allocated for the Maritime Development Fund (MDF) to modernize India’s ports and shipping infrastructure.
- MDF supports long-term investments with 49% government and 51% private sector contributions.
- The Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP 2.0) was revamped with an outlay of Rs. 18,090 crore to level the playing field for Indian shipyards.
- The Tonnage Tax Regime (TTR) was extended to inland vessels to make river transport more attractive.
vii.NCoEGPS: A website for the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS) was also launched to promote sustainability in the maritime sector.
- This platform focuses on reducing carbon footprints, adopting cleaner fuels, and promoting eco-friendly port management practices.
Note: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, MoPSW also announced an investment of more than Rs. 4,800 crore at the Advantage Assam 2.0 event held in Guwahati (Assam), to transform the inland waterways sector of Assam.
About Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister- Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency- Dibrugarh, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS)- Shantanu Thakur (Constituency- Bangaon, West Bengal, WB)
