Mega Port

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-03082026-275110 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 4062] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2026/SHRAVAN 8, 1948 MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 30th July, 2026 S.O. 4233(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 73 of the Indian Ports Act, 2025 (27 of 2025), the Central Government, in consultation with the State Governments, hereby specifies the criteria for classification of a port as a Mega Port. 1. Application. — (1) This notification shall apply to all ports under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, whether classified as major ports or as ports other than major ports. It shall apply to both the existing ports and new ports notified under sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Act. (2) Classification of a port as a Mega Port under this notification shall be without prejudice to its existing status as a major port or port other than major port under any law for the time being in force and in accordance with sub-section (4) of section 73 of the Act. 2. Definitions. — (1) In this notification, unless the context otherwise requires, — (a) "Act" means the Indian Ports Act, 2025 (27 of 2025); (b) "financial year" means the period from the 1st day of April of a year to the 31st day of March of the succeeding year; (c) "cargo throughput" means the aggregate quantity of cargo handled at a port during a specified financial year, expressed in metric tonnes, and shall include all export-import (EXIM) and coastal cargo, whether bulk, break-bulk, liquid, dry, or containerised. Cargo throughput shall be computed in a manner that, to the extent practicable, eliminates double counting of transhipped cargo and is consistent with internationally accepted statistical standards and port reporting practices. (2) Words and expressions used in this notification and not defined herein but defined in the Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act. 3. Criterion for classification as Mega Port. — (1) A port shall be eligible to be considered for classification as a Mega Port if it satisfies any of the following criteria in the preceding financial year:- (a) Any major port or port other than major port that has recorded following cargo throughput levels : (i) 150 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo throughput in the case of a bulk port; or (ii) 7.5 Million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (MTEUs) in the case of a container port. (b) In case a port handles both containerized and bulk cargo, the containerised cargo volume will be converted to and reported in Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) terms as per the standard conversion methodology adopted by the respective port. (2) A port may be declared a Mega Port upon satisfaction of any one of the criterions specified in sub-clause (1) within a period of ninety days from the date on which the port satisfies such criteria. (3) Once notified as a Mega Port, such classification shall remain valid for a period of five (5) years, even if the total cargo throughput falls below the mega port threshold during that time; the status will be reviewed only after the completion of this period. 4. Review. — (1) The Central Government may review the operation of this notification as and when required. [F. No. PD-24015/1/2026-PD-I/E-378702] Praveen P. Nair, Jt. Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.