India, with a 11098.81 km coastline, has 13 major ports and 200+ minor ones handling 95% trade by volume. These ports boost trade, economic growth, and regional links, but face challenges like poor infrastructure.
As per a Parliament reply dated 04 December 2025 (PIB Delhi), India’s coastline length has been officially revised using modern scientific methods.
Old coastline length: 7,516.6 km
Revised coastline length: 11,098.81 km
This revision was carried out by National Hydrographic Office (NHO) in coordination with Survey of India (SoI), following updated guidelines of National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
The increase is not due to land expansion, but because of:
1. Use of modern GIS software
2. High-resolution High Water Line (HWL) data
3. Capturing intricate coastal features like creeks, estuaries, bays, and island contours
The revised figures were:
Accepted by Coastal Protection and Development Advisory Committee (CPDAC)
Approved by all Coastal States & UTs
Officially notified via circular by Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways (29 April 2025)
State / UT |
Old (km) |
Revised (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | 1,214.70 | 2,340.62 |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 1,962.00 | 3,083.50 |
| Tamil Nadu | 906.90 | 1,068.69 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 973.70 | 1,053.07 |
| Maharashtra | 652.60 | 877.97 |
| West Bengal | 157.50 | 721.02 |
| Kerala | 569.70 | 600.15 |
| Odisha | 476.40 | 574.71 |
| Karnataka | 280.00 | 343.30 |
| Goa | 160.50 | 193.95 |
| Lakshadweep | 132.00 | 144.80 |
| Puducherry | 30.60 | 42.65 |
Port Name (Controlled by): Deendayal Port Authority (Major Port)
State / UT: Gujarat
Exports: Petroleum products, chemicals, grains, salt, textiles
Imports: Crude oil, chemicals, fertilisers
Significance (Fact File):
India’s largest port by cargo volume
Natural, protected harbour in Gulf of Kutch
Key node in IMEEC & INSTC
Proposed satellite port (Tuna–Tekra)
Port Name (Controlled by): Mumbai Port Authority
State / UT: Maharashtra
Exports: Textiles, machinery, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports: Crude oil, electronic goods, metals
Significance:
One of India’s oldest ports (1873)
Natural deep-water harbour
Gateway for Western & Central India
Port Name (Controlled by): JNPA
State / UT: Maharashtra
Exports: Textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals
Imports: Machinery, raw materials
Significance:
India’s largest container port
Handles 55%+ container traffic
Key to Make in India & export diversification
Port Name (Controlled by): Central Govt (Approved 2024)
State / UT: Maharashtra
Exports: Containerised & bulk cargo (proposed)
Imports: Crude oil, bulk commodities (proposed)
Significance:
Artificial deep-sea port
Can handle Panamax & Capesize vessels
Will be one of India’s largest ports
Port Name (Controlled by): Mormugao Port Authority
State / UT: Goa
Exports: Iron ore, steel, frozen fish, liquor, pig iron
Imports: Coal, scrap, potassium carbonate
Significance:
Historically linked to iron ore exports
First Indian port on Environmental Ship Index (ESI)
Upcoming international cruise terminal (2025)
Port Name (Controlled by): NMPT
State / UT: Karnataka
Exports: Iron ore, manganese, granite, coffee, cashew
Imports: Crude oil, LPG, fertilisers, timber
Significance:
Only major port of Karnataka
Deepest inner harbour on west coast
Important for energy & mineral trade
Port Name (Controlled by): Cochin Port Authority
State / UT: Kerala
Exports: Seafood, spices, rubber, coir
Imports: Crude oil, coal, fertilisers, machinery
Significance:
India’s largest ICTT (Vallarpadam)
Natural harbour formed in 1341 AD
Key trans-shipment hub
Port Name (Controlled by): VOCPA
State / UT: Tamil Nadu
Exports: Seafood, textiles, cement, granite
Imports: Crude oil, coal, fertilisers, machinery
Significance:
Named after V.O. Chidambaram Pillai
Third-largest container terminal in India
Gateway for South India trade
Port Name (Controlled by): Chennai Port Authority
State / UT: Tamil Nadu
Exports: Automobiles, textiles, engineering goods
Imports: Crude oil, metals, machinery
Significance:
Linked to Chennai–Vladivostok Maritime Corridor
Strengthens Indo-Pacific strategy
Major automobile export hub
Port Name (Controlled by): Kamarajar Port Ltd
State / UT: Tamil Nadu
Exports: Automobiles
Imports: Thermal coal, LNG, crude oil, fertilisers
Significance:
India’s first corporatised major port
Supports power & energy security
Operates outside traditional tariff control
Port Name (Controlled by): Visakhapatnam Port Authority
State / UT: Andhra Pradesh
Exports: Seafood, iron ore, steel, thermal coal
Imports: Agricultural products, chemicals, machinery
Significance:
One of India’s busiest ports
Strong link with IOR & Southeast Asia
Strategic counter to China’s influence
Port Name (Controlled by): Paradip Port Authority
State / UT: Odisha
Exports: Iron ore, coal, finished steel
Imports: Crude oil, petroleum products, fertilisers
Significance:
India’s largest major port (FY 2023-24)
Deep-water port
Critical for eastern India industries
Port Name (Controlled by): SMPA
State / UT: West Bengal
Exports: Tea, jute, textiles
Imports: Coal, fertilisers, machinery
Significance:
India’s oldest & only riverine major port
Two dock systems: KDS & HDC
Direct trade links with ASEAN
Handle 95% of India’s foreign trade by volume
Sagarmala Project → 87% capacity increase
Cargo traffic growth 5.9% (2024)
Focus on green ports & digitalisation
Shallow draft & dredging issues
Poor hinterland connectivity
High turnaround time
Environmental compliance
Skilled labour shortage
|
Port Name (Controlled by) |
State / UT | Exports | Imports | Significance / Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deendayal Port (Major Port) | Gujarat | Petroleum, chemicals, grains, salt, textiles | Crude oil, fertilisers | India’s largest cargo-handling port; Gulf of Kutch; IMEEC & INSTC node |
| Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | Textiles, machinery, chemicals | Crude oil, electronics, metals | Oldest ports (1873); natural harbour; western India gateway |
| JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port) | Maharashtra | Textiles, pharma, chemicals | Machinery, raw materials | Largest container port; 55% container traffic |
| Vadhavan Port (Upcoming) | Maharashtra | Container & bulk cargo | Crude oil, bulk goods | 13th major port; deep-sea; Panamax & Capesize vessels |
| Mormugao Port | Goa | Iron ore, steel, frozen fish | Coal, scrap | First Indian port on ESI; cruise terminal (2025) |
| New Mangalore Port | Karnataka | Iron ore, coffee, cashew, granite | Crude oil, LPG, fertilisers | Only major port of Karnataka; deep inner harbour |
| Cochin (Kochi) Port | Kerala | Spices, seafood, rubber, coir | Crude oil, coal, machinery | Largest ICTT (Vallarpadam); natural harbour |
| Port Name (Controlled by) | State / UT | Exports | Imports | Significance / Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) | Tamil Nadu | Seafood, textiles, cement | Crude oil, coal, fertilisers | Named after freedom fighter; major container hub |
| Chennai Port | Tamil Nadu | Automobiles, textiles | Crude oil, machinery | Linked to Chennai–Vladivostok Corridor |
| Kamarajar (Ennore) Port | Tamil Nadu | Automobiles | Thermal coal, LNG, crude oil | India’s first corporatised port |
| Visakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | Seafood, iron ore, steel | Chemicals, machinery | Strategic IOR port; links SE Asia & Central Asia |
| Paradip Port | Odisha | Iron ore, coal, steel | Crude oil, fertilisers | India’s largest major port (2023–24) |
| Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata–Haldia) | West Bengal | Tea, jute, textiles | Coal, fertilisers | Only riverine major port; KDS & HDC docks |
(a) Chennai Port
(b) Deendayal Port
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT)
(d) Paradip Port
Answer: (c) Jawaharlal Nehru Port
(a) Cochin Port
(b) New Mangalore Port
(c) Mormugao Port
(d) Ennore Port
Answer: (b) New Mangalore Port
(a) Visakhapatnam Port
(b) Paradip Port
(c) Chennai Port
(d) Tuticorin Port
Answer: (c) Chennai Port
It is located in the Gulf of Kutch.
It is India’s largest port by cargo volume.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
It is situated on a natural deep-water harbour.
It mainly handles container traffic like JNPT.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a)
It is located in Navi Mumbai.
It plays a key role in India’s container trade.
It handles the largest quantity of crude oil in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
It hosts India’s largest International Container Transshipment Terminal.
It connects the Indian Ocean with the Laccadive Sea.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
It is a deep-water port in Odisha.
It became India’s largest major port in cargo handling in 2023–24.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
It is a major exporter of seafood and iron ore.
It enhances India’s maritime influence in the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
It is India’s first corporatised major port.
It mainly supports thermal coal and energy imports.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
(a) Mormugao
(b) New Mangalore
(c) Cochin
(d) Chennai
Answer: (d)
(a) Deendayal Port – Gujarat
(b) JNPT – Maharashtra
(c) Paradip Port – Andhra Pradesh
(d) Tuticorin Port – Tamil Nadu
Answer: (c)
(a) Mormugao
(b) Visakhapatnam
(c) Paradip
(d) Chennai
Answer: (d)
(a) Kolkata Port is a riverine port
(b) Cochin Port has a natural harbour
(c) Ennore Port is tariff-regulated like other major ports
(d) JNPT is a container-focused port
Answer: (c)
(a) Paradip
(b) Kamarajar
(c) New Mangalore
(d) Kolkata
Answer: (d)
(a) Deendayal Port – Gujarat
(b) Paradip Port – West Bengal
(c) JNPT – Gujarat
(d) Cochin Port – Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (a)
(a) Visakhapatnam – Tea
(b) Tuticorin – Seafood
(c) Mumbai Port – LNG
(d) Chennai Port – Iron ore
Answer: (b)
(a) Kamarajar Port – Riverine port
(b) Cochin Port – Largest ICTT
(c) Paradip Port – Oldest port in India
(d) Mumbai Port – Largest container port
Answer: (b)
(a) Kolkata Port – Only major riverine port
(b) JNPT – Eastern coast
(c) Mormugao – Tamil Nadu
(d) New Mangalore – Kerala
Answer: (a)
(a) Chennai Port – Chennai–Vladivostok Corridor
(b) Deendayal Port – Sagarmala Inland Corridor
(c) Mumbai Port – Polar Silk Route
(d) Paradip Port – BIMSTEC Corridor
Answer: (a)
© 2024 | The Tutors Academy | Website Conceptualised and Developed by Promotion Paradise
