By Shivanand Pandit

The India Maritime Week, held from October 27 to 31, 2025, in Mumbai, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marked a significant policy shift — it reflected the government’s growing recognition that shipping is not merely a commercial enterprise but also a strategic national asset. For nearly two decades, however, India’s shipping sector had witnessed a steady decline. The ideological emphasis on liberalisation, privatisation, and globalisation that began in the 1990s gradually eroded state support for the domestic shipping industry. This policy orientation diluted India’s strategic intent and reduced government involvement in the sector.

Except for investments in port infrastructure and seafarer training, the government showed limited interest in developing

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