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Major and Minor Ports in India
Major and minor ports of India are very important for UPSC CSE. Besides, it is also important for other competitive examination and if done properly, it is one of the doable sections in geography, without putting much efforts.
Ports sector in India is driven by high growth in external trade. In FY22, there was an increase of 14% cargo traffic handled by India’s major ports as compared to last year.
Major and Minor Ports in India: Indian port industry
- According to the Ministry of Shipping, around 95% of India’s trading by volume and 70% by value is done through maritime transport.
- India has 13 major ports and more than 200 notified minor and intermediate ports.
- The Union Government has allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of up to 100% under the automatic route for port and harbour construction and maintenance projects.
- Government has also facilitated a 10-year tax holiday to enterprises that develop, maintain and operate ports, inland waterways and inland ports.
Difference between major and minor ports
| Major port | Minor port |
| Managed by Union ministry of shipping | Managed by state government |
| Handles international trade | Handles coastal and fishing trade |
| Traffic more than 10 lakh | Traffic less than 10 lakh |
Major ports in India
| Port | State | Important points |
| Kolkata Port | West Bengal | Also called Shyama Prasad Mukherjee port. Only riverine major port in India. |
| Paradip port | Odisha | First major port on east coast of India. |
| New Mangalore Port | Karnataka | Exports iron ore. |
| Vishakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | India’s deepest landlocked port. It handles crude oil and petroleum products. |
| Jawaharlal Nehru port | Maharashtra | Largest container port in India. Best global port in India. |
| Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | Oldest and biggest port in India. Handles maximum traffic in India. |
| Kandla port | Gujarat | Tidal port and free trade zone. Handles edible oil, crude oil, salt, cotton, food grains. |
| Kochi port | Kerala | It is called natural gateway. It is also a natural harbour of India. Handles tea, coffee and spices. |
| Chennai port | Tamil Nadu | Largest port in eastern coast of India. It is also the second largest port of India. |
| Tuticorin port | Tamil Nadu | It was renamed as V.O.Chidambaranar port. |
| Ennore port | Tamil Nadu | First corporate port in India. |
| Port Blair port | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Youngest major port of India. |
| Mormugao port | Goa | Lead in exporting iron ore from India. |
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