Sarbananda Sonowal

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...

November 19, 2025 10:49 AM

Delhi set to introduce river cruise experience on Yamuna; Sarbananda Sonowal and LG review project progress

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Tuesday reviewed the progress of Yamuna Boat Tourism and Ferry Infrastructure Development Project. The project, located upstream of the Wazirabad Barrage between Sonia Vihar and Jagatpur, aims to introduce recreational boat cruises and ferry services on Yamuna in the national capital. Developed at an estimated cost of ₹20 crore, the initi...

October 29, 2025 12:09 PM

India poised to become hub for green shipping corridors, says Sarbananda Sonowal

India’s maritime sector remains central to its economic strength, with over 95 per cent of the nation’s trade by volume moving through the sea, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday. Speaking at India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 on Green Maritime Day, Sonowal said, “It is a day that embodies our shared resolve to shape a cleaner and more sustainable future for global shipping.” He added that India’s Net Zero by 2070 commitment places the mari...

October 23, 2025 3:24 PM

PM Modi shares article highlighting India’s maritime ambition and green shipping leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared an article by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, detailing how India’s growing and resilient industrial base - powered by the ‘Make in India’ initiative - and efforts to modernise, mechanise, and digitise ports are providing the nation with a unique strategic advantage along the busy east-west trade route. In a post on X, PM Modi said, “In this must-read article, Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal exp...

October 17, 2025 4:52 PM

India’s rivers are highways of progress: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described India’s rivers as “highways of progress,” highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to transform waterways into key components of national logistics and tourism infrastructure. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “India’s rivers are not just symbols of heritage, they are highways of progress!” He also shared an article by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, which focuses on India’s rejuvenated...

October 6, 2025 10:04 PM

India strengthens maritime ‘Atmanirbharata’ as VLGC Shivalik joins Indian fleet: Sarbananda Sonowal

Marking a major milestone in India’s maritime and energy sectors, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday received the country’s third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) - Shivalik - under the Indian flag at Visakhapatnam Port. The event underscores India’s growing maritime self-reliance and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Built in South Korea and named after the Himalayan range, Shivalik is an 82,000 CBM state-...

September 26, 2025 10:42 PM

India ranks among top 3 global suppliers of seafarers: Sarbananda Sonowal highlights maritime sector transformation at IMU Convocation

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday lauded India’s maritime growth, announcing that the country now ranks among the top three global suppliers of trained seafarers with a workforce exceeding three lakh. He was addressing the 10th convocation ceremony of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, where 2,196 students graduated. Sonowal highlighted the transformation of India’s maritime sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, no...