- Why in news
- On 11 April 2026, PIB published a progress note on the Sagarmala Programme. It reports 845 projects worth ₹6.06 lakh crore, a record 915 MT of cargo at major ports in FY 2025–26, and the proposed Sagarmala 2.0.
- What it is
- Sagarmala is the Centre's port-led development programme, launched in March 2015 under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It aims to cut logistics costs by modernising ports, improving hinterland connectivity and promoting coastal shipping and inland waterways. Its projects fall under five pillars and 24 categories.
- Launch and aim
- Launched in March 2015 to promote port-led development, cut logistics costs and raise the use of coastal shipping and inland waterways.
- Five pillars
- Port modernisation and new port development; port connectivity; port-led industrialisation; coastal community development; coastal shipping and inland waterways transport.
- Institutional framework
- The National Sagarmala Apex Committee (set up May 2015) gives policy guidance. The Maritime States Development Council coordinates Centre and states. State Sagarmala Committees identify and monitor projects in each coastal state or UT.
Don’t confuse with Major vs non-major ports: Major ports are administered by the Centre through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Non-major ports are run by State Maritime Boards or state governments.
Don’t confuse with SDCL vs SMFCL: Sagarmala Development Company Limited (2016) was restructured in June 2025 into Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, a maritime NBFC.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Cheaper and faster logistics: vessel turnaround time fell from 96 hours in 2014 to 49.5 hours in 2025.
- Shifts cargo to coastal shipping and inland waterways, which are cheaper and lower in emissions than road and rail, and adds coastal jobs and livelihoods.
Problems
- Only 315 of 845 projects are completed; 320 are still at the planning stage, so delivery is slow.
- Coordination between the Centre and states is needed because non-major ports and many linked projects sit with states.
Way forward
- Speed up the planning-stage projects and track them through the Apex Committee and State Sagarmala Committees.
- Use SMFCL and private investment to close financing gaps, as Sagarmala 2.0 plans.
Put in your answer
Vessel turnaround time: Average vessel turnaround time fell from 96 hours in 2014 to 49.5 hours in 2025.
Inland waterways cargo: Cargo on inland waterways rose from 18.10 MTPA in FY 2013–14 to 145.50 MTPA in FY 2024–25.
Ghogha–Hazira Ro-Pax: The service cut travel time from nearly 10 hours by road to about 4 hours by sea.
- 2016Mains GS1 · Q19Problems and prospects of inland water transport in India
- 2022Mains GS2 · Q6Gati Shakti connectivity needs government and private sector coordination
- 2017Mains GS1 · Q16Converting floods into irrigation and all-weather inland navigation sources
- 2009Prelims Q10Identify a non-major port among Kochi, Dahej, Paradip, New Mangalore
- 2026Prelims Q35Statements on Sagarmala's aims, shipping growth, and Sagarmala 2.0
- 2026Prelims Q24Vizhinjam seaport's structural shift in maritime trade and logistics policy
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 scheme on the syllabus with figures, but Sagarmala-based questions are already well covered; schemes are 16% of news-linked Prelims questions. Card for reading only.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.