PM Modi Advocates Rules-Based Maritime Order at Sagarmanthan Dialogue
- Call for rules-based oceans order
- Indian port capacities nearly doubled
- World's second-largest seafarer workforce
- Modern legislative shipping frameworks introduced
A resilient global economy requires unhindered sea lanes and shared maritime governance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told international delegates at the third Sagarmanthan ocean dialogue in New Delhi. In a written address to the forum organized by the shipping ministry and the Observer Research Foundation, Modi emphasized that unilateral ocean disruption impacts supply chains far beyond local shores.
India is aligning its maritime overhaul directly with its Viksit Bharat 2047 economic targets. Major ports have nearly doubled handling capacity over the past decade while significantly reducing vessel turnaround times, backed by newly enacted legislative frameworks governing ports, navigation, and green shipping transitions.
The country has also emerged as the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, expanding its strategic footprint across commercial shipping. Modi highlighted that future sector expansion will focus heavily on domestic shipbuilding clusters, deep-sea scientific exploration, and coastal ecosystem conservation to ensure balanced economic utilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sagarmanthan Dialogue?
Sagarmanthan is a premier maritime thought-leadership conference organized jointly by India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Observer Research Foundation.
What key maritime achievements did PM Modi highlight?
The Prime Minister highlighted that India has nearly doubled its major port capacity, sharply cut turnaround times, and trained the world's second-largest maritime workforce.
How does maritime policy fit into the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal?
The government is prioritizing modernization through new shipping laws, domestic shipbuilding initiatives, green port operations, and marine scientific exploration to anchor long-term economic growth.
Source
PIB Press Release No. 2320335, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Release ID: 2320335) · 2026-10-07
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