Relevance for UPSC: GS-III (Economy, Infrastructure, External Trade, Blue Economy)
Source: The Hindu BusinessLine; Government of India maritime policy documents

Context

India’s ambition to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047 is increasingly linked to the strength of its maritime economy. Given India’s geography and trade structure, the sea is not peripheral but central to growth, competitiveness, and resilience.

Why the Marine Pathway Matters

• Trade and Logistics Backbone
  Around 95% of India’s trade by volume and nearly 70% by value moves through maritime routes. High logistics costs weaken export competitiveness, making port efficiency and shipping critical to growth.
• Port-led Industrialisation
  Initiatives such as Sagarmala and the Maritime India Vision 2047 aim to modernise ports, develop coastal economic zones, and integrate logistics corridors—directly supporting manufacturing, exports, and regional development.
• Blue Economy Expansion
  The marine sector offers growth beyond shipping—fisheries, offshore energy, marine biotechnology, and deep-sea minerals under the Deep Ocean Mission, supporting industrial inputs and energy transition.
• Strategic and Geopolitical Leverage
  A strong maritime economy enhances India’s role in the Indian Ocean Region, ensuring secure sea lanes, diversified supply chains, and economic stability in a volatile global environment.

India’s $30 trillion future will be built as much on the seas as on land.

Q. “Discuss how the maritime economy can act as a growth engine for achieving India’s $30 trillion economy by 2047.”