“India’s big maritime push: 20 reforms, a new fund, and a plan to cut shipping costs”, The Pamphlet, April 09, 2026
“The government is preparing for one of its biggest shipping and port overhauls in recent years, with a plan to roll out around 20 maritime reforms in the first 90 days of FY27. The idea is simple but powerful: make cargo movement smoother, reduce dependence on foreign ships, and bring down the high cost of doing business in India. At the center of this effort is a proposed ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund, which is expected to support shipbuilding, shipping capacity, and other long-term needs of the sector.
This move matters because India still depends heavily on foreign ships to carry its import and export cargo. According to the report, Indian ships carry less than 5% of EXIM cargo, which means most of India’s trade is transported by vessels owned or operated outside the country.
That dependence leads to a huge annual freight outflow of about $75 billion, money that effectively leaves the country instead of staying in the Indian shipping ecosystem. In simple terms, India is paying a massive bill every year to others for moving its own goods, and the new reforms are meant to change that……”
Read full article at thepamphlet.in
