Major ports in India are the backbone of the country's maritime trade — handling over 95% of India's international trade by volume and about 70% by value.
India has a coastline of approximately 7,516 km, with 13 major ports administered by the central government and over 200 minor and intermediate ports managed by state governments. Questions on port names, states, sea coasts, trade importance, and recent developments appear consistently in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams. This page gives you a complete list of all major and important minor ports in India with location, sea, cargo capacity, and exam-ready facts for 2026.
⚡ Quick Facts
- India has 13 major ports administered by the central government under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 — replacing the old Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.
- JNPT / Nhava Sheva (near Mumbai) is India's largest container port, handling the highest volume of containerised cargo.
- Paradip Port (Odisha) is India's largest port by total cargo traffic — surpassing JNPT in total volume (bulk + container).
- India's coastline of approximately 7,516 km spans 9 coastal states and 4 Union Territories.
- Kandla Port (now Deendayal Port) in Gujarat is India's largest port by area and one of the first ports developed after independence.
Do not confuse JNPT and Paradip. JNPT = largest container port. Paradip = largest by total cargo. They are different records. Also note that Deendayal (Kandla) is largest by area — yet another separate category. Each superlative is tested independently.
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🗺️ Complete List of Major Ports in India
| # ↕ | Port Name ↕ | State ↕ | Coast / Sea | Key Cargo | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deendayal Port (Kandla) | Gujarat | West — Arabian Sea / Gulf of Kutch | Oil, fertilizers, food grains | Largest by area; first major port post-independence; developed after partition (Karachi → Pakistan) |
| 2 | Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | West — Arabian Sea | General cargo, containers | Oldest major port; natural harbour; handles passenger traffic |
| 3 | JNPT (Nhava Sheva) | Maharashtra | West — Arabian Sea / Thane Creek | Containers (TEUs) | India's largest container port; handles ~55% of containerised cargo; Navi Mumbai |
| 4 | Mormugao Port | Goa | West — Arabian Sea | Iron ore, coal, fertilizers | Major iron ore export port; largest port in Goa |
| 5 | New Mangalore Port | Karnataka | West — Arabian Sea | Petroleum, fertilizers, containers | Karnataka's only major port; petrochemical hub |
| 6 | Cochin Port (Kochi) | Kerala | West — Arabian Sea / Laccadive Sea | Containers, petroleum, spices | Natural harbour; Vallarpadam ICTT; largest port in Kerala |
| 7 | V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin) | Tamil Nadu | East — Gulf of Mannar | Coal, salt, containers | Southernmost major port; renamed from Tuticorin; named after freedom fighter |
| 8 | Chennai Port | Tamil Nadu | East — Bay of Bengal | Vehicles, containers, bulk | Oldest artificial harbour in India; second largest container port |
| 9 | Kamarajar Port (Ennore) | Tamil Nadu | East — Bay of Bengal | Coal, petroleum, LNG | First corporate port in India (company structure); serves TNEB power plants |
| 10 | Paradip Port | Odisha | East — Bay of Bengal | Iron ore, coal, fertilizers, crude oil | India's largest port by total cargo traffic; fastest growing major port |
| 11 | Visakhapatnam Port (Vizag) | Andhra Pradesh | East — Bay of Bengal | Steel, iron ore, crude oil, containers | Deepest landlocked harbour in India; largest port on east coast; Eastern Naval Command HQ |
| 12 | Kolkata Port (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) | West Bengal | East — Bay of Bengal / Hooghly River | Coal, food grains, jute, containers | Only major riverine port in India; ~203 km from sea; renamed 2021 |
| 13 | Haldia Dock Complex | West Bengal | East — Bay of Bengal / Hooghly | Petroleum, containers | Satellite dock of Kolkata Port; at mouth of Hooghly River |
| Feature | West Coast Ports | East Coast Ports |
|---|---|---|
| Sea | Arabian Sea | Bay of Bengal |
| States | Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala | West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu |
| Major Ports Count | 6 | 7 |
| Key Superlative Ports | JNPT (containers), Kandla (area), Mumbai (oldest) | Paradip (cargo), Vizag (deepest landlocked), Chennai (oldest artificial) |
| Harbour Type | More natural harbours (Mumbai, Cochin) | Mostly artificial (Chennai); deltaic coast |
| # | Port | State | Type | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mundra Port | Gujarat | Private (Adani Ports) | India's largest private port by cargo volume |
| 2 | Pipavav Port | Gujarat | Private | First private sector port in India |
| 3 | Hazira Port | Gujarat | Private | LNG and petroleum; Surat |
| 4 | Dahej Port | Gujarat | Private | Chemical and LNG; Gulf of Khambhat |
| 5 | Karwar Port | Karnataka | Naval / minor | INS Kadamba (Project Seabird — India's largest naval base) nearby |
| 6 | Krishnapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | Private | Second largest port in AP |
| 7 | Gangavaram Port | Andhra Pradesh | Private (near Vizag) | Deep-draft; bulk cargo |
| 8 | Kakinada Port | Andhra Pradesh | Minor | Petroleum; near Rajahmundry |
| 9 | Nagapattinam Port | Tamil Nadu | Minor | Ferry to Sri Lanka; pilgrim traffic |
| 10 | Rameswaram Port | Tamil Nadu | Minor | Palk Strait; ferry to Sri Lanka; pilgrim traffic |
| 11 | Kattupalli Port | Tamil Nadu | Private | L&T Shipbuilding; near Chennai |
| 12 | Kulpi Port | West Bengal | Proposed greenfield | Downstream of Kolkata on Hooghly |
| Category | Port | State | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest by area | Deendayal Port (Kandla) | Gujarat | Developed post-partition; India's largest by area |
| Largest by total cargo | Paradip Port | Odisha | Highest total cargo volume (bulk + all categories) |
| Largest container port | JNPT (Nhava Sheva) | Maharashtra | ~55% of India's containerised cargo |
| Deepest landlocked harbour | Visakhapatnam Port | Andhra Pradesh | Natural landlocked harbour; ship channel from sea |
| Oldest major port | Mumbai Port | Maharashtra | Colonial-era natural harbour |
| Oldest artificial harbour | Chennai Port | Tamil Nadu | Constructed 1881; no natural harbour; built into sea |
| Only riverine major port | Kolkata Port | West Bengal | ~203 km upstream on Hooghly River |
| First corporate port | Kamarajar Port (Ennore) | Tamil Nadu | First port in India as a company (not a trust) |
| First private port | Pipavav Port | Gujarat | First port developed by private sector |
| Largest private port | Mundra Port | Gujarat | Adani Ports; largest private port by cargo |
| Southernmost major port | V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) | Tamil Nadu | Gulf of Mannar; southernmost of 13 major ports |
| First post-independence major port | Deendayal (Kandla) | Gujarat | Developed 1950s; replaced Karachi |
| Nearest to Delhi | Deendayal Port / Kandla | Gujarat | Shortest land route from NCR |
| Old Name | New Name | Year | Named After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kandla Port | Deendayal Port | 2017 | Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya |
| Ennore Port | Kamarajar Port | 2011 | K. Kamaraj (former CM of Tamil Nadu) |
| Kolkata Port | Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port | 2021 | Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (founder of Jana Sangh) |
| Tuticorin Port | V.O. Chidambaranar Port | 2011 | V.O. Chidambaram Pillai (Tamil freedom fighter) |
| Project / Scheme | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sagarmala Programme | Central govt scheme for port-led development; modernise ports, improve road/rail connectivity, develop coastal economic zones |
| Vadhavan Port | New greenfield deep-water port near Palghar, Maharashtra; to become India's largest port when complete |
| Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 | Replaced 1963 Act; gave ports autonomy; replaced port trusts with Port Authorities; allows PPP models |
| Project Seabird (INS Kadamba) | India's largest naval base at Karwar, Karnataka; being expanded for aircraft carriers |
⚖️ Compare Two Ports
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
India has exactly 13 major ports — not 12 or 14. Governed by the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021. West Coast (6): Deendayal, Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin. East Coast (7): V.O. Chidambaranar, Chennai, Kamarajar, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Haldia. Some exams list 12 if they exclude Haldia as a satellite — know both counts.
JNPT (Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra) = largest container port — handles most TEUs. Paradip Port (Odisha) = largest by total cargo traffic — handles most bulk + liquid + all cargo combined. Never swap these two when answering.
Four ports have been renamed — a rich current affairs area. Kandla → Deendayal (2017), Ennore → Kamarajar (2011), Kolkata → Syama Prasad Mookerjee (2021), Tuticorin → V.O. Chidambaranar (2011). Both old and new names appear in exam questions. The persons named after are also tested separately.
Visakhapatnam (Vizag) is India's deepest landlocked harbour — the harbour is located inland (behind natural topographic barriers), with ships accessing it through a man-made channel from the sea. This is different from a riverine port like Kolkata. Vizag is also home to the Eastern Naval Command HQ and the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (Vizag Steel Plant).
India's 7,516 km coastline spans 9 coastal states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal) and 4 coastal Union Territories (Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands). This fact — length and breakdown — appears in UPSC Geography questions.
West Coast (N to S): “Deendayal Makes Jolly Mangoes, Now Cooked”
→ Deendayal (Kandla) | Mumbai | JNPT | Mormugao | New Mangalore | Cochin
East Coast (S to N): “Tuticorin, Chennai, Ennore — Paradip, Vizag, Kolkata, Haldia”
→ T-C-E going north in TN | then Paradip (Odisha) | Vizag (AP) | Kolkata + Haldia (WB)
Three Superlatives: “Paradip = Most Cargo; JNPT = Most Containers; Vizag = Deepest Landlocked”
🃏 Flashcards
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🧩 Practice Quiz
5 questions · Answer all · Check your score
India has 13 major ports governed by the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, which replaced the older Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. The new Act gave ports greater operational autonomy and replaced Port Trusts with Port Authorities. The 13 ports are distributed across both coasts — 6 on the west and 7 on the east.
JNPT (Nhava Sheva) in Maharashtra is India's largest container port, handling approximately 55% of containerised cargo in TEUs. Paradip handles more total cargo by bulk volume, but JNPT dominates in containerised trade specifically. Mundra (private port) is also a major container handler but is not under central government.
Visakhapatnam Port is India's deepest landlocked harbour — the harbour basin is located inland, with ships accessing it via a channel cut from the Bay of Bengal. It is also the largest port on India's east coast and hosts the Eastern Naval Command HQ. The only riverine port is Kolkata; the oldest is Mumbai; the largest container is JNPT.
Before partition in 1947, Karachi was the primary port for western India's trade. After partition, Karachi became part of Pakistan, leaving western India without a major port. Kandla (now Deendayal Port) in Gujarat was urgently developed in the 1950s to replace Karachi as the main west coast port.
Kolkata Port was renamed Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in 2021, in honour of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee — the politician who founded the Jana Sangh. Kandla was renamed Deendayal Port (2017), Ennore was renamed Kamarajar Port (2011), and Tuticorin was renamed V.O. Chidambaranar Port (2011).
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
India has 13 major ports administered by the central government under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021. Six are on the west coast — Deendayal/Kandla (Gujarat), Mumbai and JNPT (Maharashtra), Mormugao (Goa), New Mangalore (Karnataka), and Cochin (Kerala). Seven are on the east coast — V.O. Chidambaranar/Tuticorin, Chennai, and Kamarajar/Ennore (Tamil Nadu), Paradip (Odisha), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and Kolkata and Haldia (West Bengal). Together with over 200 minor and intermediate ports managed by state governments, India's port network handles over 95% of its international trade by volume.
The answer depends on the category. Deendayal Port (Kandla) is the largest by total port area. Paradip Port (Odisha) handles the most cargo by total volume across all categories — making it the busiest port. JNPT (Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra) is the largest container port, handling ~55% of India's containerised cargo. Mundra Port in Gujarat is India's largest private port. For any exam, always check whether the question asks about area, total cargo, or containers — as each has a different answer.
Four major ports have been renamed in recent years. Kandla Port was renamed Deendayal Port in 2017 after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Ennore Port was renamed Kamarajar Port after former Tamil Nadu CM K. Kamaraj. Kolkata Port was renamed Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in 2021 after the politician who founded the Jana Sangh. Tuticorin was renamed V.O. Chidambaranar Port after freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, who ran India's first Indian-owned shipping company — the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company. These renamings are frequently asked in Banking and SSC current affairs.
Major ports appear in UPSC Prelims (Geography + Economy), SSC CGL, Bank PO, and Railway exams through many question types — total number of major ports (13), east vs west coast breakdown, superlatives (largest, deepest, oldest, first private, only riverine), port-state associations, recent renamings, the Sagarmala Programme, and the JNPT vs Paradip distinction. Knowing all 13 ports, their states, coasts, and the key superlatives in Part D covers the vast majority of port questions in any competitive exam.
