In India, ports are categorised into major ports and non-major ports (informally called minor ports). As of 2024, there are 13 major ports and 217 non-major ports across the country. Major ports are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Government of India, while non-major ports fall under the jurisdiction of State Maritime Boards of respective state governments—this also includes private ports running under the public–private partnership (PPP) model. Among the 217 non-major ports, cargo is handled only at 68 ports, others are used by fishing vessels and ferries.[1] India has a coastline of 7517 kilometres, forming one of the largest peninsulas in the world. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, around 95 percent of India's trading by volume and 70 percent by value is done through maritime transport. India's major ports handled highest ever cargo of 795 million tonne in FY23.[2]
Port Blair which was notified as major port in 2010 was removed later. The ports are spread across Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.[3] Government of India plans to build new greenfield ports and also built associated infrastructure such as railway lines through the 2015 established Sagar Mala project,[4] and National Maritime Development Program.[5]