Page 25 - NIS English 1-15 April, 2026

Cover Story
National Maritime Day Special

Powerful Initiative

Initiatives Strengthening Maritime Power

A Peek inside maritime heritage
Lothal Museum strengthen maritime heritage in Lothal, Gujarat. This
India and the Netherlands have signed an agreement to

agreement is a historic step towards elevating India’s
4,500-year-old rich maritime heritage to the global stage.
PM Modi said that once completed, it will be the world’s
largest maritime museum. It will showcase India’s ancient
maritime traditions and will also become a hub for tourism,

Maritime University research, education, and skill development.
Sagar Samman Award
The Indian Maritime University (IMU) is a central The Sagar Samman Award is given to recognise outstanding
university headquartered in Chennai. IMU has six contributions to the maritime sector. It is usually presented
institutes in Chennai, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, annually on April 5, National Maritime Day. This award has
Mumbai Port, and Navi Mumbai, and 17 affiliated gained particular prominence in recent years. As part of
institutes. On April 8, 2025, Union Minister for the Government of India’s policy initiative, Prime Minister
Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal Narendra Modi’s government launched the “Sagar Mein
inaugurated 26 projects worth ₹67.77 crore at six Indian Samman” initiative. Its objective is to create a gender-equal
Maritime University (IMU) campuses across the country. maritime workforce for the future.

tions. Similarly, whether it was the devastation
caused by the earthquake in Myanmar or the
Ships built in India were once a crisis in Mozambique in 2019 and Madagas-
vital part of global trade. Later, car in 2020, India reached out with a spirit
we moved into the field of of service. Even during COVID, Operation
shipbreaking. Now, India is once Samudra Setu was launched to bring
people back by sea. This means that
again accelerating its efforts to maritime power is not only strategic
reach new heights in the field of and tactical, but also a vital protector
ship-making. We have of humanity’s interests.
now granted large POLICY CHANGES…
ships the status of SO THAT COASTS
infrastructure assets. BECOME GATEWAYS TO

PROSPERITY
Narendra Modi, Policy changes have been
Prime Minister made to strengthen the
country’s maritime sector.
The government has now

April 1-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 23