Launch & Objective
- Launched by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the International Day for Women in Maritime (Mumbai).
- Aims to create a future-ready, gender-equitable maritime workforce.
- Aligned with Government of India’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals.
Key Features of SMS Policy
- Increased Women Participation: Target of 12% female representation in technical maritime roles by 2030.
- Holistic Policy Approach:
- Planning & Strategy
- Training & Development
- Research & Development
- Governance & Compliance
- Communications & Outreach
- Focus Areas:
- Empowerment & Leadership
- Inclusivity & Equal Opportunity
- Safety & Well-being
- Skill Development & Retention
Maritime Gender Inclusion Achievements (2014–2024)
- Registered women seafarers increased from 1,699 (2015) to 14,255 (2024) — a 739% surge.
- Women seafarers on ships rose from 341 (2014) to 2,557 (2024) — a 649% increase.
- Financial assistance recipients: From 45 (2014–15) to 732 (2024–25).
- Total of 2,989 women received assistance since 2014.
Vision & Alignment
- Supports Maritime India Vision 2030: Including the ‘Women in Seafarer’ programme.
- Reinforces India’s commitment to IMO’s gender inclusion goals and UN SDGs.
- Complements 2025 IMO theme: “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity”.
