पत्तन,पोत परिवहन और जलमार्ग मंत्रालय
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Government of India

The Ports Wing is primarily responsible for the development of 12 Major Ports with the objective to provide necessary and adequate cargo handling capacity to meet India’s EXIM trade. The Ports in the country handle around 90% of EXIM Cargo by volume and 70% by value. In order to meet the ever increasing trade requirements, expansion of Port Capacity is accorded the highest priority. While increasing the capacity of the major ports, the Port Wing strives to improve the operational efficiencies through mechanization, digitization and process simplification. As a result over the years the installed capacity & cargo handled by the Major Ports have increased considerably. Besides the efficiency parameters like average turn around time, average output per ship berth day have also improved considerable.

There are 12 major ports and 200 non-major ports (minor ports) in the country. While the Major Ports are under the administrative control of Ministry of Shipping, the non-major ports are under the jurisdiction of respective State Maritime Boards/ State Government. All the 12 Major ports are functional. Out of the 200 non-major ports, around 65 ports are handling cargo and the others are “Port Limits” where no cargo is handled and these are used by fishing vessels and by small ferries to carry passengers across the creeks etc

Chennai Port Authority

Cochin Port Authority

Deendayal Port Authority

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority

Paradip Port Authority

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority

Mormugao Port Authority

Mumbai Port Authority

New Mangalore Port Authority

Visakhapatnam Port Authority

V.O.Chidambarnar Port Authority

The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 provide for regulation, operation and planning of Major Ports in India and vests the administration, control and management of such ports upon the Boards of Major Port Authorities. The legislation empowers these ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of increased autonomy in decision making and by modernizing their institutional framework. 

The Major Port Authorities (MPA) Act, 2021 has come into force with effect from 03 November 2021. With the said Act coming into effect, consequently, the Major Port Trusts (MPT) Act, 1963, stands repealed.

1.2. With the MPT Act, 1963, repealed, the tariff-setting functions by Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP), stands withdrawn. Section 27 (1) of the MPA Act empowers the Major Ports to determine the tariff for services rendered by them and also for access to port assets including the port land.

2.1. As per the stipulation given at Sub section (1) of Section 54 of the MPA Act 2021, the Central Government shall constitute an Adjudicatory Board to exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority conferred on such Adjudicatory Board under Section 32 and Section 58(1) of the MPA Act, 2021. As per Section 55 read with Section 56 of the MPA act, 2021, the Adjudicatory Board shall consist of a Presiding Officer who would be a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court and 2 Members who would be retired Chief Secretary of a State Government or equivalent; or a retired Secretary of the Government of India or equivalent

2.2. In pursuance of Sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 54 and Section 55 of the said Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, the Central Government has constituted the Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports (ABMP) on 13 August 2025 vide Gazette Notification No.3647 dated 13 August 2025 vide Gazette Notification No.3647, comprising of a Presiding Officer and two Members, as given below-

2.3. With the constitution of the ABMP, the constituted under Section 47A of the (erstwhile) Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, TAMP has ceased to exist with effect from 13 August 2025.

3. As per Section 58(1) of the MPA Act 2021, the Adjudicatory Board shall perform the following functions other than tariff setting:

(a). The functions envisaged to be carried out by the erstwhile Tariff Authority for Major Ports arising from the Tariff Guidelines of 2005, 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2019 and tariff orders issued by the said Authority.

(b). To receive and adjudicate reference on any dispute or differences or claims relating to rights and obligations of Major Ports and Public Private Partnership concessionaires or captive users for dedicated berth within the framework of their concession agreements and to pass orders after considering and hearing all the parties involved in the dispute.

(c). To appraise, review the stressed Public Private Partnership projects as referred by the Central Government or the Board, and to suggest measures to revive such projects;

(d).  To look into the complaints received from port users against the services and terms of service rendered by the Major Ports or the private operators operating in the Major Ports and to pass necessary orders after hearing the parties concerned; and

(e). To look into any other matter relating to the operations of the Major Port, as may be referred to it by the Central Government or the Board, and to pass orders or give suggestions, as the case may be.

4. The head office of the ABMP is at Mumbai and is operating from the premises of the erstwhile TAMP.

Org Chart

Guidelines for Establishing a floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU) at Major Ports

Guidelines for Treasury Investment Improvement

Policy for award of Waterfront and Associated Land to Port Dependent Industries in Major Ports

Land Policy Guidelines

Berthing Policy

Harit Sagar - Green Port Guidelines (May 2023)

Sagar Aankalan Guidelines

GTTP SOP

Final CSR guidelines issued on 29 June 23