What happened
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has combined three strands of policy in its maritime agenda: promotion of coastal shipping, digitisation of maritime regulation, and skill development in ports, shipping, and waterways. The update matters for UPSC because it links infrastructure reform with logistics efficiency, trade facilitation, and workforce readiness.
The Union Budget 2026-27 announced a Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise the share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6% to 12% by 2047, according to the ministry.
Digital and regulatory reforms
The ministry says it has introduced digital and regulatory reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and ease of doing business in the maritime sector. The named platforms and initiatives are important because they show the move toward integrated, paper-light governance in ports and waterways.
The listed initiatives include Maritime Single Window, One Nation One Port Process, MAITRI, e-Samudra, e-Pariksha, and Jal Samriddhi Portal. The ministry says these measures have streamlined documentation, trade processes, regulatory services, and inland waterway development.
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