Parliament Question: Share of Indian-flagged ships in global tonnage and support measures for shipbuilding industry

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1272 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026 SHARE OF INDIAN-FLAGGED SHIPS IN GLOBAL TONNAGE AND SUPPORT MEASURES FOR SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY

1272. SHRI SANJAY KUMAR JHA:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that Indian-flagged ships account for less than 1 per cent of the global shipping tonnage;

(b) how over dependence on foreign shipping lines affects India’s shipbuilding industry; and

(c) the measures other than granting infrastructure status could help India’s shipbuilding industry in procuring easy loans? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) lndia's share of the global shipping tonnage is currently estimated at approximately

1.7%.

(b) Over-dependence on foreign shipping lines reduces demand for vessels built in India, resulting in limited orders for Indian shipyards. This constraints capacity expansion, upgrading technology and developing skilled manpower, and also slows the growth of supporting and component industries.

(c) Infrastructure Status for ships enables access to long-term low cost funds. Further, measures such as Maritime Development Fund support the long-term financing requirements of the shipbuilding sector and dedicated maritime NBFC Sagarmala Finance Corporation will also cater to the lending needs of the sector. Further, Shipbuilding development scheme and Shipbuilding financial assistance scheme also provide financial assistance to shipbuilding industry.

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