Content

1. The Indian Ports Act, 2025
2. NAVYA

The Indian Ports Act, 2025

What the Act Is ?

• Nature: Replaces the Indian Ports Act, 1908 → now modern, consolidated legislation for port governance.
• Scope: Covers both major ports (12 under Union) and 200+ non-major ports (under States).
• Objective: Create a forward-looking framework for efficiency, sustainability, and cooperative federalism in maritime governance.

Relevance :

• GS-3 (Economy ): Infrastructure & Trade , Blue Economy , EoDB & Digitalisation .
• GS-2 (Polity & Governance): Cooperative Federalism ,Modernisation of Colonial Laws ,Institutional strengthening.

Why Ports Matter ?

• Economic Significance:
  • Handle ~95% of India’s EXIM cargo by volume and ~70% by value.
  • Ports serve as gateways for trade, industrial corridors, and employment generation.
• Geography: 7,500 km coastline → 12 major ports + 200+ non-major ports (only ~65 are cargo-handling).
• Strategic: Ports are nodes in global supply chains, critical for India’s trade competitiveness.
• Global Vision: Aligns India’s maritime law with international conventions (MARPOL, Ballast Water Management, etc.).

Institutional Innovations

• Port Officers (Conservator): Expanded authority → vessel movement, fee recovery, penalties, disease control, damage assessment.
• State Maritime Boards (SMBs):
  • Statutory recognition, empowered to manage non-major ports.
  • Functions: port planning, licensing, tariff regulation, safety, and environmental compliance.
• Maritime State Development Council (MSDC):
  • Now statutory.
  • Role: Data collection, national planning, legislative reforms, Centre–State coordination.

Key Functional Reforms

• Dispute Resolution:
  • Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) at state level for port-user conflicts.
  • Appeals → High Court (not civil courts).
  • ADR (arbitration/conciliation) permitted → faster, business-friendly.
• Tariff Regulation:
  • Major Ports → decided by Board of Major Port Authority / Board of Directors.
  • Non-major Ports → decided by State Maritime Boards/concessionaires.
  • Mandatory electronic publication of tariffs for transparency.
• Digitalisation: Maritime Single Window, Advanced Vessel Traffic Systems → ease congestion, lower operational cost.

Sustainability & Safety Mandates

• Environmental Alignment: Compliance with MARPOL, Ballast Water Management conventions.
• Pollution Control: Central Govt. audits for waste handling, oil spill prevention, disaster preparedness.
• Safety: Penalties for mishandling combustibles, damaging navigational aids (buoys, beacons, etc.).
• Disaster Readiness: Mandates for emergency response and climate-resilient port infrastructure.

Data-Driven Performance (2013–14 vs 2024–25)

(Source: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways)

• Cargo Growth: 972 MMT → 1,594 MMT (+64%).
• Port Capacity: Expanded by 87%.
• Efficiency: Ship turnaround time halved to 48 hours (now comparable to global benchmarks).
• Coastal Shipping: Volumes +118% → stronger domestic maritime logistics.
• Inland Waterways: Cargo movement grew 7x → new logistics corridors unlocked.
• Global Recognition: 9 Indian ports ranked in World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index.

Strategic Significance

• Economic: Boosts Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) in maritime trade.
• Geopolitical: Strengthens India’s role as a maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.
• Cooperative Federalism: Empowers States via statutory State Maritime Boards & MSDC.
• Sustainability: Integrates ports with India’s climate commitments (net-zero 2070, SDG 14 – Life below Water).
• Vision 2047 (Viksit Bharat): Ports as engines of regional growth, connectivity, and global competitiveness.

Comparative Edge (Pre-2025 vs Post-2025 Framework)

Other Dimensions

• Polity: Strengthens cooperative federalism → statutory role to States.
• Economy: Enhances logistics competitiveness → aligns with Gati Shakti & PM Gati Shakti NMP.
• Environment: Port sustainability → aligns with SDGs & Paris Agreement.
• IR/Maritime Security: Supports SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
• Governance: Example of modernising colonial-era laws (similar to labour codes, farm law repeal debates).
• Trade Competitiveness: Reducing turnaround time (to 48 hrs) improves India’s position in global supply chains.
• FDI & Investment: Transparent tariff systems + dispute resolution attract private players & global investors.
• Regional Growth: SMBs → empower coastal states to attract investments in port-led industrial clusters.
• Blue Economy: Inland waterways expansion (7x cargo growth) shows potential for greener, cheaper logistics.
• Global Benchmarks: With 9 ports already in World Bank’s global rankings, India can target top-20 placements consistently.

Value additions

Major Ports (12 under Union List, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways)

• Names & Locations:
  • Kolkata (including Haldia) – West Bengal
  • Paradip – Odisha
  • Visakhapatnam – Andhra Pradesh
  • Chennai – Tamil Nadu
  • Kamarajar (Ennore) – Tamil Nadu
  • V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) – Tamil Nadu
  • Cochin – Kerala
  • New Mangalore – Karnataka
  • Mormugao – Goa
  • Mumbai – Maharashtra
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT/Nhava Sheva) – Maharashtra
  • Deendayal (Kandla) – Gujarat
• Significance:
  • Handle ~55% of India’s total cargo traffic.
  • JNPT → India’s largest container port (over 5.5 million TEUs annually).
  • Deendayal (Kandla) → biggest cargo volume handler (oil, fertilizers, coal).
  • Paradip & Vizag → energy hubs (coal, crude).
  • Kolkata → only riverine major port, gateway to NE and Bhutan.
  • Chennai, Cochin → vital for cruise & passenger traffic.
• Modernisation:
  • All operate under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 → more autonomy, corporate-style boards.
  • Integration with Sagarmala & Bharatmala projects for logistics connectivity.

Non-Major (Minor) Ports (200+ under States)

• Governance: Managed by State Maritime Boards/State Govts. (post-Indian Ports Act, 2025 → statutory recognition).
• Operational: ~65 of these handle cargo; the rest are limited to fishing, ferrying, or port limits.
• Key Cargo-Handling Non-Major Ports (examples):
  • Gujarat: Mundra, Pipavav, Dahej, Hazira → privately developed, highly efficient; Mundra is India’s largest commercial port (run by Adani).
  • Andhra Pradesh: Krishnapatnam, Gangavaram → deep draft, bulk cargo.
  • Odisha: Dhamra, Gopalpur.
  • Tamil Nadu: Karaikal, Cuddalore.
• Importance:
  • Gujarat alone handles >40% of India’s minor port cargo.
  • Private sector investment dominates → Mundra alone handles more cargo than any single major port.
  • Complementary role to major ports → reduce congestion, increase regional trade.

Additional Points

• Legal Framework:
  • Major Ports → Union List, regulated by Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
  • Non-Major Ports → State List, now empowered under Indian Ports Act, 2025.
• Economic Role:
  • Major ports = bulk of national/international trade.
  • Minor ports = regional connectivity, private-led efficiency, feeders to major hubs.
• Recent Data (2024–25):
  • Major Ports cargo: ~780 MMT (out of 1,594 MMT total).
  • Non-Major Ports cargo: ~814 MMT (slightly higher, driven by private ports like Mundra, Pipavav).
  • Trend: Non-major ports now handle >50% of India’s cargo, reversing earlier dominance of major ports.
• Strategic Angle:
  • Minor ports support coastal shipping & inland waterways, reducing logistics cost (~14% of GDP currently vs 8–9% global benchmark).
  • Major + minor ports integration → key to achieving India’s Maritime Vision 2047.

NAVYA

What is NAVYA?

• Full Form: Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls.
• Launch: 24 June 2025, Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh).
• Ministries Involved: Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) + Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD).
• Target Group: Girls aged 16–18 years, minimum Class 10 pass.
• Coverage: 3,850 girls in 27 Aspirational & North-Eastern districts across 19 States.
• Pilot: 9 districts in 9 states (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, UP, Bihar, MP, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh).

Relevance

• GS-1 (Society): Women empowerment, challenges of adolescent girls, regional disparities.
• GS-2 (Governance): Centre–State collaboration, Aspirational Districts Programme, legal awareness (POSH/POCSO).
• GS-3 (Economy): Skill development, digital economy workforce, women’s labour force participation.

Why NAVYA?

• Demographic Dividend: India has ~253 million adolescents (10–19 yrs, Census 2011). Girls form nearly half.
• Skill Gap: Female labour force participation in India is ~24% (PLFS 2022–23), among the lowest globally.
• Education-Livelihood Gap: Many adolescent girls drop out post-secondary school due to lack of job-oriented skills.
• SDGs Alignment: SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work).
• Viksit Bharat 2047: Empowering adolescent girls is critical for inclusive growth and women-led development.

Key Features of NAVYA

• Skill Training:
  • Conducted under PMKVY 4.0.
  • Focus on non-traditional & emerging sectors: AI-enabled services, cybersecurity, digital marketing, drone assembly, solar PV installation, CCTV installation, graphic design, professional makeup artistry.
• Holistic Development (7-hour module):
  • Interpersonal skills: hygiene, conflict management, self-presentation.
  • Communication skills: listening, workplace interaction.
  • Workplace safety: POSH, POCSO laws awareness.
  • Financial literacy: budgeting, earnings management.
• Forward Linkages: Internships, apprenticeships, entrepreneurial mentorship.

Institutional Linkages

• PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana):
  • Launched 2015 → short-term training, monetary rewards.
  • NAVYA runs under PMKVY 4.0 (with demand-driven, industry-aligned skilling).
• PM Vishwakarma (2023–28, ₹13,000 crore outlay):
  • Focus on artisans/craftsmen → synergy with NAVYA for blending traditional & modern job roles.
• NITI Aayog Aspirational Districts Programme:
  • NAVYA targets underserved regions for maximum impact.

Data-Driven Significance

• Coverage: 3,850 girls → concentrated in tribal, aspirational, and NE districts.
• Pilot Impact (9 states, 9 districts): Proof of concept before nationwide rollout.
• Women in Workforce: At ~24%, far below global average (47%, World Bank).
• India’s Skill Gap: By 2030, India needs ~70 million additional skilled workers (ILO estimates).
• Sectoral Demand: Cybersecurity alone projected to create 1 million+ jobs in India by 2026 (NASSCOM).

Comparative Edge of NAVYA

Strategic Significance

• Social Empowerment: Prevents early marriage/dropouts → prepares girls for economic independence.
• Economic Impact: Early skilling = smoother entry into labour force = higher female LFPR.
• Gender Inclusion: Encourages girls to break stereotypes (cybersecurity, drone tech).
• Safety & Legal Awareness: Awareness of POSH/POCSO → safer workplaces, assertion of rights.
• Entrepreneurship: Financial literacy + mentorship → push towards self-employment, startups.

Challenges Ahead

• Scaling from 3,850 girls → millions.
• Ensuring industry linkages for placements/apprenticeships.
• Tackling social barriers: patriarchy, early marriage, safety concerns.
• Need for monitoring & evaluation → track outcomes, not just enrolments.

Conclusion

NAVYA is more than a skilling programme — it is a social transformation initiative. By targeting adolescent girls in underserved regions and aligning with future job markets, it strengthens India’s human capital for Viksit Bharat@2047. Its focus on digital skills, gender safety, and financial literacy makes it a model of inclusive and future-ready policy intervention.