India launches Logistics Port Performance Index to boost maritime competitiveness
Synopsis
India has launched the Logistics Port Performance Index for FY 2024-25 alongside four DGS digital tools — a move that arrives as India's World Bank logistics ranking jumped from 44th to 22nd and seven Indian ports broke into the global top 100. The index ties port incentives to year-on-year improvement, not just size, which is the structural shift that past benchmarking frameworks missed.
Key Takeaways
India launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024-25 on 30 May in New Delhi .
The index benchmarks ports across three cargo segments using six operational indicators, with equal weight given to absolute performance and year-on-year improvement.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) simultaneously launched four digital modules , including a 24x7 grievance redressal system for seafarers via e-Navik.
India's World Bank Logistics Performance Index rank improved from 44th to 22nd in the International Shipments category.
Seven Indian ports ranked among the world's top 100 in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2024.
The LPPI aligns with PM Gati Shakti , Maritime India Vision 2030 , and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 .
India has unveiled the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024-25, alongside four new digital initiatives, as part of a concerted push to improve efficiency, transparency, and global competitiveness across the country's shipping ecosystem. The announcements were made in New Delhi on 30 May, with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal describing the LPPI as a landmark step in positioning India as a leading maritime power.
What the LPPI Measures
The LPPI is a national benchmarking mechanism designed to assess and improve the operational performance of Indian ports. It evaluates ports across three cargo segments — dry bulk, liquid bulk, and container cargo — using indicators such as cargo handled, vessel turnaround time, berth idle time, pre-berthing waiting time, container dwell time, and ship berth day output.
Notably, the framework assigns equal weightage to absolute performance and year-on-year improvement, incentivising continuous enhancement rather than rewarding only the largest ports. The index aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Four Digital Initiatives by DGS
The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has developed four new digital tools to improve service delivery, transparency, and accountability for seafarers and maritime stakeholders. These are:
A 24x7 Grievance Redressal Module under the e-Navik platform, accessible via the portal, toll-free helplines, WhatsApp, and dedicated email services from anywhere in the world. A Ship Registration Module on the e-Samudra platform. A Medical Practitioner Module. A Unified Ship Recycling Credit Note Module.
Minister Sonowal emphasised the welfare dimension of the grievance module, stating that seafarers work far from home under difficult conditions and that an effective redressal mechanism is 'not merely an administrative necessity but a critical welfare and protection framework.' He added that it reinforces India's commitment to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
India's Rising Global Maritime Rankings
The announcements come against the backdrop of measurable progress in global logistics metrics. India's ranking in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index improved from 44th to 22nd position in the International Shipments category. Additionally, seven Indian ports featured among the world's top 100 ports in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2024.
This is a significant jump, and one that the government is leveraging as evidence that structural reforms in port governance are delivering measurable outcomes on the global stage.
What This Means for Trade and Stakeholders
The LPPI and the digital modules collectively target two distinct but related pain points: operational efficiency at the port level, and administrative ease for seafarers and shipping companies. By tying benchmarking to continuous improvement metrics, the framework attempts to shift port management from a compliance mindset to a performance-driven one.
Industry observers will watch whether the index influences port-level investment decisions and whether the grievance redressal uptake among seafarers — a constituency that has historically been underserved — proves substantive. With sectoral guidelines and platform rollouts expected to follow, the real test of these initiatives lies in their implementation depth.
Point of View
And it matters because it prevents large legacy ports from permanently crowding out smaller, faster-improving ones. Yet the index's real value will only emerge if its scores are made publicly comparable and tied to capital allocation decisions. India's jump from 44th to 22nd in the World Bank's International Shipments category is genuine progress, but seven ports in the global top 100 still leaves the country well behind China's port density. The grievance redressal module for seafarers addresses a long-standing welfare gap, but digital access alone does not resolve the structural vulnerabilities seafarers face — enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 remains the harder test.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI)?
The LPPI is a national benchmarking mechanism launched by the Indian government for FY 2024-25 to assess and improve the operational performance of Indian ports. It evaluates ports across dry bulk, liquid bulk, and container cargo segments using indicators such as vessel turnaround time, berth idle time, and container dwell time.
What are the four new digital initiatives launched alongside the LPPI?
The Directorate General of Shipping launched a 24x7 Grievance Redressal Module on the e-Navik platform, a Ship Registration Module on e-Samudra, a Medical Practitioner Module, and a Unified Ship Recycling Credit Note Module. These aim to improve transparency and service delivery for seafarers and maritime stakeholders.
How has India's global logistics ranking changed?
India's rank in the World Bank's Logistics Performance Index improved from 44th to 22nd in the International Shipments category. Additionally, seven Indian ports featured among the world's top 100 in the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2024.
Which national plans does the LPPI align with?
The LPPI aligns with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, positioning it as part of a longer-term strategic framework for India's maritime sector.
How can seafarers access the new grievance redressal system?
Seafarers can file grievances through the e-Navik portal, toll-free helplines, WhatsApp, or dedicated email services, and the system is accessible 24x7 from anywhere in the world. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described it as a critical welfare and protection framework reinforcing India's commitment to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
