Sarbananda Sonowal

March 5, 2026 4:59 PM

India to build first riverine lighthouses on Brahmaputra to boost navigation and tourism

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday laid the foundation stones for four riverine lighthouses along the Brahmaputra River, marking the first time lighthouse infrastructure will be established on an inland waterway in the country. The foundation ceremony was held at Lachit Ghat and was organised jointly by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping...

February 2, 2026 12:11 PM

Lok Sabha begins 18-hour debate on President’s Address

The Lok Sabha will on Monday take up the discussion on the President’s Address, with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal set to move the motion of thanks to the President for her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on January 28. According to the list of business, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya will second the motion. The House has allotted 18 hours for the discussion, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to reply on February 4. The Lok Sabha will convene at 11 am to take up the ag...

January 30, 2026 1:22 AM

India to develop Hydrogen Hub at Kandla under National Green Hydrogen Mission

India is stepping up its green energy transition with the development of a Hydrogen Hub under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce and export around 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen over the next five to six years. The initiative is a key part of India’s long-term strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said India’s future energy landscape ...

January 14, 2026 10:21 PM

Union Minister Sonowal proposes India-Oman green shipping corridor as ancient stitched vessel reaches Muscat

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal welcomed the crew of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Kaundinya at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat, calling the arrival more than just the completion of a voyage, but a celebration of deep-rooted civilisational ties. The Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways said the arrival of the traditionally built stitched sail vessel in the Omani capital symbolises the enduring friendship between India and Oman, anchored in history, strengthened by trade and mutual respect...

January 4, 2026 3:50 PM

Sarbananda Sonowal stresses press freedom, welfare delivery in people-centric governance model

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday underlined the vital role of the media as the fourth pillar of democracy, describing journalists as vigilant sentinels of society and the true voice of the people. Addressing the 17th Central Mid-Term Conference of the Assam Press Correspondents’ Union (APCU) in Tinsukia, he said a free, responsible and ethical press is essential for safeguarding democratic values in a rapidly changing information landscape. Emphas...

January 1, 2026 10:11 AM

India’s first maritime NBFC begins lending operations, sanctions ₹4,300 crore

Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first maritime-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC), has formally begun lending operations, sanctioning loans worth about ₹4,300 crore, marking a key step in strengthening the country’s maritime finance ecosystem. The loan sanctions were approved at the company’s 51st board meeting held on December 30, 2025. With this, SMFCL has entered the maritime lending space in line with its board-approved strategy. The move follows an ...

December 28, 2025 11:51 AM

Govt notifies guidelines for shipbuilding assistance, development schemes; ₹44,700 crore outlay to boost capacity

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has notified the operational guidelines for two major shipbuilding initiatives — the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) — aimed at strengthening India’s domestic shipbuilding capacity and enhancing its global competitiveness. Together, the schemes involve a total outlay of ₹44,725 crore and provide a transparent, accountable framework for implementation. Union Minister for ...

December 26, 2025 10:23 AM

‘PM Modi turned sports into a mass movement’: Sarbananda Sonowal at Dibrugarh Khel Mahotsav

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming sports in India from a limited activity into a nationwide mass movement, while addressing participants at the Sansad Khel Mahotsav in Dibrugarh, Assam. Speaking to athletes, students and local residents, Sonowal said the initiative reflects the Prime Minister’s broader vision of integrating fitness, discipline and youth empowerment into the country’s nation-b...

December 23, 2025 11:07 AM

Sarbananda Sonowal calls for blending modern education with spiritual values at Assam university convocation

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday underscored the need to integrate quality modern education with spiritual learning, saying such a balanced approach is vital for building a self-reliant, value-driven and developed India during the Amrit Kaal. Sonowal was addressing the first convocation ceremony of Krishna Guru Spiritual University at Na-Satra in Assam’s Barpeta district. Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya attended the event as the chief guest. A...

December 12, 2025 10:16 AM

India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel begins commercial operations in Varanasi

India on Thursday launched its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger vessel into commercial service, marking a significant step toward decarbonising the country’s inland water transport sector. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the vessel’s maiden commercial run from Namo Ghat in Varanasi. Developed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) and operated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the vessel is the first in the c...