- Why in news
- On 11 August 2026, the Shipping Minister told the Rajya Sabha that 19 more National Waterways have been identified for cruise tourism and passenger ferries over the next five years. The reply also gave the status of the 111 waterways declared under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
- What it is
- The National Waterways Act, 2016 declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways (NWs) and repealed the five earlier Acts that declared individual waterways. It places these waterways under the Centre, so that the Inland Waterways Authority of India can develop and regulate them for shipping and navigation.
- Number declared
- The Act declared 111 inland waterways as National Waterways.
- Operational waterways
- 32 of the National Waterways are now operational for cargo and passenger movement.
- New identification
- 19 additional NWs are identified, mainly for cruise tourism and passenger ferries, over five years. This follows the 2026-27 budget announcement.
- Government priority
- The government first wants to develop the already declared and feasible NWs before declaring new ones.
- Earlier Acts
- The 2016 Act repealed the five earlier Acts that declared NW-1 to NW-5, such as the Ganga (NW-1) Act of 1982.
- Nodal authority
- The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), set up in 1986, develops and regulates National Waterways.
Don’t confuse with National Waterways vs State waterways: National Waterways are declared by Parliament and run by the Centre through IWAI. Other inland waterways stay with the States.
Don’t confuse with IWAI vs Shipping Ministry: IWAI is the statutory authority that executes development. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways makes policy.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Inland water transport is cheaper and cleaner than road or rail for bulk cargo, so it helps cut logistics costs.
- Cruise and ferry routes on rivers can boost regional tourism and local jobs.
Problems
- Only 32 of 111 waterways are operational, so many are not yet viable. Shallow depth, silt and seasonal flow limit navigation.
- Land acquisition, clearances and weak cargo demand on many routes slow projects.
Way forward
- Prioritise feasible waterways with assured cargo and build terminals linked to road and rail.
- Ensure regular dredging and balance navigation with river ecology.
- 2016Mains GS1 · Q19Enumerate problems and prospects of inland water transport in India.
- 2017Mains GS1 · Q16How floods can become sustainable irrigation and all-weather inland navigation source.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting law: 111 National Waterways declared, 32 operational, 19 more planned for cruise tourism. A question is possible but this release is a reply with no new provision.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.