Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Shipping, Waterways, and Ports has launched ‘Bharat Pravah-India along its Shores’, an initiative to highlight the significance and imagery of rivers, ports, and shipping in everyday life through a series of nationwide events.
Relevance:
GS III: Infrastructure
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is Bharat Pravah?
- Important Points related to Ports in India
What is Bharat Pravah?
- Bharat Pravah is a platform that brings together diverse stakeholders to develop a comprehensive vision for shipping, rivers, seas, and the people who rely on them.
- It aims to address challenges and policy issues, and establish future goals for the maritime sector.
Themes:
- Rivers and Sea-Centric Development in India- the Historical lens.
- Sea, River, Ports and Ship in Folk Culture and Literature.
- Representation of Ports and Shipping in Popular Culture.
- Role of Shipping and Ports in India’s Development in the last 30 years.
- The Politics and Economy of Privatisation of Ports.
- Inland Waterways – Arteries of Growth, their Role and Significance.
- Greening Ports and Shipping Industry.
- Future of Ports and Shipping Industry- Management, Challenges and Policies.
Important Points related to Ports in India
- The Indian government is working towards developing all ports into mega ports by 2047. Currently, a majority of India’s transshipment cargo is handled at ports outside of the country, with Colombo, Singapore, and Klang handling over 85% of this cargo.
- However, there are challenges in building these mega ports, including digitization and environmental concerns.
- Additionally, India’s containerization rate is lower compared to other developing countries, but progress is being made in this area.
- India’s participation in global trade is limited, with a 2% share, and a low ranking of 44 on the logistics performance index, due to inadequate infrastructure and lack of proce
