21st Maritime State Development Council meets in Mumbai, first since gaining statutory status
13 October 2026
The 21st Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) concluded in Mumbai, chaired by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
It was the first meeting after the Council was recognised as a statutory consultative body under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, notified on 15 May 2026.
The Council was originally constituted in 1997.
It resolved that One Nation One Port Process reforms and integration with the Maritime Single Window (Sagar Setu) be implemented across all ports by March 2027.
States and Union Territories were told to notify subordinate rules under Section 77 of the Act within three months.
Two credit risk insurance products for shipbuilders were introduced under the National Shipbuilding Mission.
The Shipbuilding Project Credit Risk Insurance Policy for export projects was developed by ECGC Ltd., and the Business Credit Shield Policy-Shipbuilders for domestic projects by The New India Assurance Co. Ltd.
In plain words
MSDC Maritime State Development Council — The forum of the Centre and coastal States for coordinating port and maritime policy.
ONOP One Nation One Port Process — Reforms to standardise documentation and processes across all ports.
ECGC Export Credit Guarantee Corporation — The state-owned export credit insurer.