The launches took place during the 37th Foundation Day of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Mumbai and were led by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

The LPPI, developed under the Sagar Aankalan framework, is a national benchmarking tool that assesses and aims to improve the operational performance of Indian ports. It is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and intends to strengthen India's standing in global logistics and maritime trade.

Speaking at the event, Sarbananda Sonowal stated, "We have introduced the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024-25. It is a major step towards improving the efficiency, transparency & global competitiveness of Indian ports. By promoting continuous improvement & global benchmarking, it will strengthen India's position as a leading maritime power."

The index measures port performance across three cargo segments: dry bulk, liquid bulk and container cargo. It utilises operational indicators including cargo handled, vessel turnaround time, berth idle time, pre-berthing waiting time, container dwell time, and ship berth day output. The framework assigns equal weight to absolute performance and year-on-year improvement, encouraging ongoing enhancement of port operations.

In addition, Sonowal launched four digital initiatives developed by the Directorate General of Shipping to improve service delivery, transparency, and accountability for seafarers and other maritime stakeholders. These initiatives are: a 24×7 Grievance Redressal Module within the e-Navik platform; a Ship Registration Module on the e-Samudra platform; a Medical Practitioner Module; and a Unified Ship Recycling Credit Note Module.

Regarding the grievance redressal platform, Sonowal described it as a significant welfare measure for Indian seafarers, enabling grievances to be submitted through various channels such as the e-Navik portal, toll-free helplines, WhatsApp, and dedicated email services worldwide. "Seafarers work far away from home, often under difficult and uncertain conditions. An effective grievance redressal mechanism is not merely an administrative necessity but a critical welfare and protection framework. It reflects the Modi Government's responsibility as a maritime nation and reinforces India's commitment to the principles of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006," he said.

The digital ship registration module was characterised by Sonowal as a crucial reform that would simplify vessel registration and align India's maritime administration with major global shipping nations. The Medical Practitioner Module aims to streamline registration and monitoring of doctors authorised to certify seafarers, reducing the risk of fraudulent certifications.

Another significant reform introduced was the Unified Ship Recycling Portal for the Ship Recycling Credit scheme, part of the government's Rs 70,000-crore maritime development package announced in 2025. Under this scheme, ship owners recycling vessels at Hong Kong Convention-compliant Indian yards can receive a credit note worth 40 per cent of the vessel's scrap value, redeemable against new shipbuilding projects within India.

Sonowal also praised the JNPA's performance, highlighting that the port surpassed 8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and handled over 102 million metric tonnes of cargo during the fiscal year 2025-26. "Over the last 37 years, JNPA's journey has mirrored the transformation of India's maritime sector itself from a conventional port ecosystem to a globally competitive logistics and trade gateway. Today, with the Modi Government's sustained effort to modernise, mechanise & digitise our ports, JNPA stands as a symbol of India's growing economic strength, its renewed position as a key global player and with strong maritime capability," he said.

The minister noted that the launch of the indigenous Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), the AI-powered tender evaluation platform NIVIDA, and several strategic memoranda of understanding signed during the event demonstrate the port's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence.

"Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, as India widens its stake in global trade evolution with newer emerging economic opportunities, India's ports must continue to embrace technology, efficiency and sustainability to sustain the momentum. The reforms launched today will further strengthen India's maritime ecosystem and support our vision of becoming a global maritime powerhouse," Sonowal added.

Among top performers, Paradip Port Authority led the Dry Bulk Cargo category by handling over 5 million tonnes, Sikka Port and Terminals topped the Liquid Bulk segment, and Mundra Port ranked highest in the Container Cargo category, managing over 0.5 million TEUs. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority secured second position among major container ports in this category.

During his address, Sonowal emphasised the significant improvement in India's global logistics rankings in recent years. He noted India's rise from 44th to 22nd position in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index for the International Shipments category, with seven Indian ports appearing in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2024 among the world's top 100 ports.

The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai Port Authority, JNPA, as well as representatives from the maritime, logistics, and trade sectors.