Why In News?

The 21st Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) meeting concluded in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

What is Maritime State Development Council (MSDC)?

  • Establishment: Originally constituted in 1997 as an apex advisory body to ensure the coordinated development of India's maritime sector.

  • Statutory Framework: The Council transitioned from an informal advisory panel into a statutory consultative body under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, which replaced the century-old Indian Ports Act, 1908.

  • Nodal Ministry: Functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).

Governance Structure

  • Chairperson: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

  • State & UT Representation: Ministers in charge of ports from all coastal states (e.g., Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal) and Administrators of coastal Union Territories (UTs).

  • Administrative & Port Authorities: Chairpersons of all 12 Major Ports and executive heads of State Maritime Boards (SMBs) managing non-major ports.

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  • Security & Defense Stakeholders: Key institutional representatives from the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.

Key Functions 

  • Port Process Standardization & ONOP Implementation: Oversees the nationwide One Nation One Port Process (ONOP) reforms, setting strict deadlines (e.g., March 2027) for uniform digital procedures, process re-engineering, and complete onboarding onto the Maritime Single Window (MSW–Sagar Setu) platform.

  • Data & Tariff Transparency: Guides data collection, approves regulations on port data sharing, and mandates the electronic publication of port tariffs across major and non-major ports.

  • Multimodal Infrastructure Integration: Advises central and state authorities on hinterland connectivity projects—integrating port capacity expansion with roads, railways, Inland Water Transport (IWT), pipelines, and conveyors under the Sagarmala Programme.

  • Monitoring National Maritime Strategies: Adopts and monitors targets under Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047), spanning over 500 initiatives in green shipping, shipbuilding, and port infrastructure.

  • Statutory Compliance & Rule-Making: Enforces statutory compliance by directing States and UTs to notify subordinate rules under Section 77 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025.

Source: THEHINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC), consider the following statements:

  1. It was originally established in 1997 as an advisory body and received statutory status under the Indian Ports Act, 2025.

  2. Major Ports in India fall under the Union List, whereas non-major ports are included in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

  3. The "One Nation One Port Process" (ONOP) seeks to privatize all minor ports across Indian coastal states by March 2027.

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)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) was initially established in May 1997 as an executive advisory body to promote the integrated development of major and non-major ports. It was subsequently accorded statutory status as an apex consultative body under the Indian Ports Act, 2025.

Statement 2 is correct: Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, Major Ports are governed under Entry 27 of the Union List (List I), while Non-Major (minor) ports fall under Entry 31 of the Concurrent List (List III).

Statement 3 is incorrect: The "One Nation One Port Process" (ONOP) initiative does not seek to privatize minor ports. Instead, it aims to standardize port documentation, re-engineer operational workflows, harmonize inter-ministerial clearances, and integrate all ports with the Maritime Single Window (Sagar Setu) platform by March 2027 to lower logistics costs and enhance the ease of doing business.