Major Ports in India: State-wise List of 14 (12 Operational + Vadhavan & Galathea Bay), Largest, Newest

Major Ports in India: Quick Answer

India has 12 operational major ports, plus two more — Vadhavan (Maharashtra) and Galathea Bay (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) — notified as major ports and under construction. Tamil Nadu has the most (3), and the 12 working ports split evenly: 6 on the west coast and 6 on the east coast. Port Blair is no longer a major port, and Mundra — India's largest port by cargo — is a private minor port, not a major port. This page is as of 7 November 2026.

🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Total = 12 operational + 2 notified = 14. 13th = Vadhavan (notified 2020; Cabinet approval 19 June 2024). 14th = Galathea Bay (notified 4 September 2024). Oldest = Kolkata (1870). First corporatised port = Kamarajar (Ennore). Busiest major port by cargo, FY 2024-25 = Paradip (150.41 million tonnes). Busiest container port among major ports = Jawaharlal Nehru Port (7.3 million TEUs).

Why do websites show 12, 13 or 14? Twelve ports work today; Vadhavan and Galathea Bay are notified but handle no cargo yet. A page saying "14" without "12 operational" hides that, and a page saying "13" that lists Haldia separately double-counts — Haldia is part of the Kolkata port.

Major Ports vs Minor Ports: Who Runs What

A port is "major" because of who administers it, not its size. That one idea explains every trap in this topic.

Major ports are run by the Central Government through the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021; minor ports are run by state governments or private companies. There are 200+ notified minor ports, 68 of them operational, and about 95% of India's trade by volume and 70% by value moves by sea. The one exception is Kamarajar Port (Ennore), run as a company rather than as a port authority. Size proves nothing: minor ports like Mundra out-handle most major ports yet stay minor because the state administers them.

All 9 coastal states have at least one operational major port. The coastline was recently re-measured at 11,098.81 km by the Survey of India and the National Hydrographic Office, promulgated on 29 April 2025. The old textbook figure of 7,516.6 km, in use since the 1970s, is now out of date. Under the new measurement, Gujarat has the longest coastline among states (2,340.62 km), while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the longest coastline overall (3,083.50 km). See the states and capitals list.

Major Ports in India: Complete State-wise List (All 14)

One table, every port counted once.

East Coast vs West Coast: The 6–6 Split

West coast (6): Deendayal (Gujarat), Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru (Maharashtra), Mormugao (Goa), New Mangalore (Karnataka), Kochi (Kerala). Five states, six ports — Maharashtra alone has two.

East coast (6): Syama Prasad Mookerjee (West Bengal), Paradip (Odisha), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Chennai, Kamarajar and V.O. Chidambaranar (Tamil Nadu). Four states, six ports — Tamil Nadu alone has three, the most of any state.

State tally of the 12: Tamil Nadu 3, Maharashtra 2, and one each for Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. When Vadhavan opens, Maharashtra will join Tamil Nadu on 3 and the west coast will lead 7–6.

The Newest Ports: Vadhavan and Galathea Bay

Vadhavan Port, Maharashtra (13th major port)

Vadhavan, near Dahanu in Palghar district, about 130 km north of Mumbai, will be India's first new major port in over two decades. It was notified as a major port in 2020. The project was approved by the Union Cabinet on 19 June 2024 at about ₹76,220 crore, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone on 30 August 2024. It is being built by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd, owned 74% by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and 26% by the Maharashtra Maritime Board, on the landlord model. Planned as an all-weather, deep-draft port (20-metre draft, 298 million tonnes a year, 9 container terminals), it will be the second company-run major port after Kamarajar.

Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar (14th major port)

Galathea Bay was notified as a major port on 4 September 2024. It is being developed as an International Container Transshipment Port (ICTP) — a hub where large ships drop containers for smaller feeder ships. The project is costed at about ₹41,000 crore (PIB), with Phase 1 of about ₹18,000 crore targeted for commissioning in 2028, handling about 4 million TEUs a year and rising to 16 million TEUs across four phases. Its advantages are a natural depth of over 20 metres and a position close to the East–West international shipping route. The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port is the nodal agency. (Some 2024 reports called it the "13th" port by skipping Vadhavan.)

Largest and Busiest Ports: Three Different Answers

"Largest port in India" has three correct answers.

By tradition — Mumbai. In most GK books, Mumbai Port is named the largest port in India: one of the country's oldest ports, built around a natural harbour.

By cargo among major ports — Paradip. In FY 2024-25, the 12 major ports together handled about 855 million tonnes of cargo, up 4.3% on the year before. Paradip handled 150.41 million tonnes, the highest of any major port, for the second year running. Deendayal also crossed 150 million tonnes in the same year. By containers among major ports — Jawaharlal Nehru Port, with 7.3 million TEUs in FY 2024-25, a record.

By cargo overall — Mundra, which is not a major port. Mundra in Gujarat, a private port run by Adani Ports and SEZ, is India's largest commercial and container port by cargo — over 155 million tonnes in 2022-23, about 11% of India's maritime cargo. Trade reports put FY 2024-25 above 200 million tonnes. That does not make it a major port: status comes from Central administration.

Firsts and Records

• Oldest major port: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata — the Port Trust was set up in 1870. It is also India's only riverine major port, on the Hooghly about 203 km inland from the sea. See the rivers list.
• Oldest artificial harbour: Chennai Port, whose operations began in 1881 — the third-oldest major port after Kolkata and Mumbai.
• First corporatised port: Kamarajar Port (Ennore) — declared a major port in March 1999, incorporated as Ennore Port Ltd in October 1999, operating from 2001.
• Renames examiners ask about: Nhava Sheva became Jawaharlal Nehru Port (1989); Tuticorin became V.O. Chidambaranar Port (2011); Ennore Port Ltd became Kamarajar Port Ltd (2014); Kandla became Deendayal Port (2017); Kolkata Port became Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Cabinet approval June 2020).
• Most cargo / containers, major ports, FY 2024-25: Paradip, 150.41 million tonnes; Jawaharlal Nehru Port, 7.3 million TEUs.

Common Mistakes Students Make

1. Counting Haldia as a 13th port. Haldia is the deep-water dock system of the Kolkata port, not a separate major port.
2. Calling Mundra a major port. Mundra is India's largest port by cargo — and a non-major port. Testbook's "12 + 1 private = 13 major ports" framing is wrong.
3. Still listing Port Blair. Port Blair (now Sri Vijaya Puram) was dropped from the major-port list in 2017; old lists naming it are stale.
4. Saying India has 14 operational major ports. Only 12 are operational — "14" is correct only with "including notified" attached.
5. Answering "Mumbai" for busiest port by cargo. Mumbai is the textbook "largest". Busiest by cargo: Paradip (major ports), Mundra (overall).
6. Thinking Ennore and Kamarajar are two ports. They are one port: Ennore is the place, Kamarajar the current name.

How to Remember the Major Ports

1. Count timeline: 12 operational → + Vadhavan (notified 2020) → + Galathea Bay (notified 2024) → 14 in all, 12 working.
2. The 6–6 split. Six west, six east. If your list has 7 on one coast, you have counted a new port or Haldia by mistake.
3. Tamil Nadu's three: Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore), V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin).
4. West coast north to south: Deendayal – Mumbai – JNPT – Mormugao – New Mangalore – Kochi. States: Gujarat, Maharashtra ×2, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala.
5. East coast north to south: Kolkata – Paradip – Visakhapatnam – Chennai – Ennore – Tuticorin. States: West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu ×3.
6. One fact each: Kolkata oldest + riverine; Chennai artificial harbour; Ennore company port; Paradip busiest by cargo; JNPT busiest by containers; Mundra biggest but NOT major.

Major Ports in India MCQs with Answers

Q1. How many operational major ports does India have as of November 2026? (a) 11 (b) 12 (c) 13 (d) 14 Answer: (b) 12. Vadhavan and Galathea Bay are notified but not yet operational.

Q2. Which state has the most operational major ports in India? (a) Maharashtra (b) Gujarat (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Andhra Pradesh Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu — Chennai, Kamarajar (Ennore) and V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin).

Q3. Which is India's 13th major port? (a) Galathea Bay (b) Vadhavan (c) Haldia (d) Mundra Answer: (b) Vadhavan — notified in 2020, Cabinet approval 19 June 2024.

Q4. Galathea Bay port, notified as a major port on 4 September 2024, is located in: (a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (b) Lakshadweep (c) Tamil Nadu (d) Odisha Answer: (a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Great Nicobar Island.

Q5. Which is the oldest major port in India? (a) Kolkata (Syama Prasad Mookerjee) (b) Mumbai (c) Chennai (d) Kochi Answer: (a) Kolkata — the Port Trust was set up in 1870.

Q6. Which is India's only riverine major port? (a) Kolkata (b) Paradip (c) Visakhapatnam (d) Haldia Answer: (a) Kolkata, on the Hooghly river. Haldia is its dock system, not a separate port.

Q7. Which is the first corporatised (company-run) major port in India? (a) Jawaharlal Nehru Port (b) Kamarajar Port (Ennore) (c) Paradip (d) Deendayal Answer: (b) Kamarajar Port (Ennore) — incorporated as a company in 1999, operating from 2001.

Q8. Which major port handled the most cargo in FY 2024-25? (a) Deendayal (b) Jawaharlal Nehru (c) Paradip (d) Visakhapatnam Answer: (c) Paradip — 150.41 million tonnes.

Q9. Which major port handles the most containers in India? (a) Jawaharlal Nehru Port (b) Chennai (c) Mundra (d) Kochi Answer: (a) Jawaharlal Nehru Port — 7.3 million TEUs in FY 2024-25.

Q10. Which of the following is NOT a major port of India? (a) Paradip (b) Deendayal (c) Kochi (d) Mundra Answer: (d) Mundra — a private non-major port.

Major Ports in India FAQs

How many major ports are there in India?

12 operational major ports, plus 2 notified and under construction (Vadhavan and Galathea Bay) — 14 in all.

Is Mundra a major port?

No. Mundra is India's largest port by cargo, but a non-major port administered by the state. Status depends on Central administration, not size.

Which is the largest port in India?

It depends on the measure. The traditional textbook answer is Mumbai Port. By cargo among major ports, Paradip led in FY 2024-25 (150.41 million tonnes). By cargo overall, Mundra leads — but Mundra is not a major port.

What is the difference between a major port and a minor port?

Who runs it. Major ports: Central Government (MoPSW, Major Port Authorities Act, 2021). Minor ports: state governments or private operators.

Which is the newest major port in India?

Galathea Bay (notified 4 September 2024) is the most recently notified; Vadhavan (notified 2020) is further along. Neither is operational yet.

Why do some pages say 13 major ports and others 14?

"12" = working ports. "13" = 12 + Vadhavan. "14" = 12 + both. Accurate: 12 operational + 2 notified.

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Sources: PIB — 12 operational major ports + Vadhavan and Galathea Bay notified, 68 operational non-major ports; PIB Galathea Bay release (₹41,000 crore, Phase 1 in 2028); PIB renames release; MoPSW circular, 29 April 2025 (coastline 11,098.81 km); MoPSW FY 2024-25 cargo statement (855 MT; Paradip 150.41 MT; JNPA 7.3M TEUs); Vajiram/LotusArise compilations cross-checked against PIB. As of 7 November 2026.