21st Maritime State Development Council Meeting Concludes in Mumbai with Major Port-Sector Reforms

Why Is It in News?

The 21st Maritime State Development Council meeting concluded on 13 October 2026 in Mumbai. Chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the meeting discussed coordinated maritime development and announced several reforms, including credit-risk insurance products for shipbuilding and nationwide implementation of the One Nation One Port Process by March 2027.

About

The Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) was originally constituted in 1997 to promote coordinated development of India’s maritime sector. It brings together the Central Government, coastal states, Union Territories, State Maritime Boards, major ports and related maritime institutions.

The 21st meeting was the first after the Council was recognised as a statutory consultative body under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, notified on 15 May 2026.

Key outcomes included:

1. One Nation One Port Process (ONOP)

1. ONOP reforms are to be implemented across all ports by March 2027.
2. The reforms include One Nation One Documentation, port-process re-engineering and inter-ministerial process reforms.
3. Ports are to integrate with the Maritime Single Window (MSW–Sagar Setu) by March 2027.

2. Support for the Shipbuilding Industry

Two credit-risk insurance products were launched:

1. Shipbuilding Project Credit Risk Insurance Policy (SbPCP): Developed by ECGC Ltd. to cover export projects.
2. Business Credit Shield Policy–Shipbuilders (BCSPS): Developed by The New India Assurance Company Ltd. (NIACL) to protect domestic projects.

These products aim to reduce financial risks arising from delayed payments and other credit-related challenges in shipbuilding.

3. Port Transparency and Infrastructure

1. Electronic publication of port tariffs was mandated to improve transparency.
2. States were encouraged to develop port-linked industrial clusters with plug-and-play infrastructure.
3. Multimodal connectivity through roads, railways, inland waterways, pipelines and conveyors was emphasised.
4. States were directed to notify subordinate rules under Section 77 of the Indian Ports Act within three months.

4. Long-Term Maritime Development

The Council adopted targets associated with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which together identify more than 500 initiatives across ports, shipping, inland waterways, shipbuilding, green shipping and international collaboration.

Key Points

1. Council: Maritime State Development Council (MSDC).
2. Meeting: 21st MSDC meeting.
3. Date of conclusion: 13 October 2026.
4. Venue: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
5. Chairperson: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
6. Administrative ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
7. MSDC originally constituted: 1997.
8. Statutory basis: Indian Ports Act, 2025.
9. ONOP implementation deadline: March 2027.
10. Maritime Single Window: MSW–Sagar Setu.
11. Shipbuilding insurance products: SbPCP and BCSPS.
12. ECGC Ltd. developed: SbPCP, for export projects.
13. New India Assurance Company Ltd. developed: BCSPS, for domestic projects.
14. Long-term maritime visions: Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
15. Main objective: Improve Centre–State coordination, port efficiency, maritime connectivity and port-led industrialisation.