THE EVOLUTION OF SHIPPING TRANSPORT ININDIA: CHALLENGES, INNOVATIONS, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

This paper explores the historical evolution, challenges, innovations, and future prospectsofIndia's shipping industry, offering insights into how the country can navigate the complexitiesof the modern maritime ecosystem. India’s shipping transport sector has undergonesignificant transformations, evolving from ancient maritime trade routes to becomingakeyplayer in global logistics. As one of the fastest-growing economies, India heavily reliesonshipping and port infrastructure for international trade, handling over 95%of its trade volumeby sea. The government has introduced major initiatives, such as the Sagarmala Project andNational Logistics Policy, to modernize ports, reduce logistics costs, and integratedigitization and sustainability into maritime operations. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including port congestion, inadequate infrastructure, regulatoryinefficiencies, and high logistics costs. Security concerns, environmental sustainability, andglobal trade disruptions further complicate the landscape. Additionally, India faces stiffcompetition from well-established maritime hubs like Singapore, China, and the UAE. Toovercome these hurdles, India is embracing technological innovations such as smart ports, block chain-based shipping documentation