#News | The 21st Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) meeting, chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, marked a significant step in India’s maritime reforms. It was the first meeting since the council became a statutory body under the Indian Ports Act, 2025. The meeting emphasised Centre-state cooperation to accelerate port-led industrialisation and strengthen the country’s maritime ecosystem in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of cooperative federalism.
A key decision was to implement the ‘One Nation One Port Process’ across all ports by March 2027, integrating them with the Maritime Single Window platform, Sagar Setu. The council also decided to mandate the electronic publication of port tariffs to enhance transparency and improve the ease of doing business across the maritime sector.
To strengthen domestic shipbuilding and manufacturing, two credit r!sk insurance policies were launched under the National Shipbuilding Mission, covering exports and domestic projects. The policies aim to provide greater financial security to Indian shipyards, enabling them to focus on building world-class vessels and expanding the country’s shipbuilding capabilities.
The meeting also emphasised the development of port-linked industrial regions with plug-and-play infrastructure and faster approvals to support integrated economic growth. Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai, Maharashtra Fisheries and Port Development Minister Nitesh Rane, Goa Ports Minister Digambar Kamat, Puducherry Ports Minister Malladi Krishna Rao and senior ministry officials attended the meeting, reflecting the shared commitment of the Centre and coastal states to advancing India’s maritime sector.
