Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the transformative potential of India’s maritime sector as two memoranda of understanding were exchanged at the Delhi School of Economics. The agreement links the University of Delhi with the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) to strengthen maritime education, research and capacity building in line with the national maritime vision. The minister framed the MoUs as measures to develop a skilled maritime talent pipeline. Sonowal said India’s coastline of over 11,000 kilometres and 111 national waterways underscore strategic advantages that require an integrated maritime ecosystem. He emphasised that policies guided by the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR doctrines prioritise regional cooperation, maritime security and shared prosperity. The minister outlined cooperation areas under the MoU, including development of academic frameworks for maritime programmes, joint research projects, training programmes and professional counselling for students. He noted that the collaboration aims to create opportunities in maritime logistics, green shipping, supply chain management and maritime policy, and to align human capital development with port modernisation, multi-modal connectivity, sustainability and digitalisation efforts. Sonowal highlighted that the seafaring workforce has nearly tripled in the past 12 years and now contributes about 12 per cent of the global maritime workforce, with a target to reach 20 per cent by 2030. The minister said integrated programmes will support students and researchers to engage with the Blue Economy. An additional MoU between RIS and the Delhi School of Economics will promote joint programmes in public policy research and training, signalling a broader push to integrate academia and policy. The ceremony was attended by senior officials, academic leaders, faculty members and students, reflecting institutional support for the initiative. Government efforts such as Sagarmala and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 were cited as enablers of the growth trajectory and as complementary to the educational and research initiatives.