Sarbananda Sonowal Public Record

Public Record / India

Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Cabinet MinisterMinistry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

A documentary record of a public life that runs from student politics in Upper Assam, through the Assam Legislative Assembly and both Houses of Parliament, to the Union portfolio for ports, shipping and inland waterways.

Read the biography Political journey
Portrait of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, smiling, in a light cream Nehru jacket
Fig. 01 — Portrait27.47°N 94.91°E · Dibrugarh

Current rolePorts • Shipping • Waterways

  1. AssamStudent politics · Assembly
  2. ParliamentLok Sabha · Rajya Sabha
  3. Union GovernmentCouncil of Ministers
  4. Maritime IndiaPorts · Shipping · Waterways

ACurrent office

Since 7 July 2021, he has headed the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways as a Union Cabinet Minister.

He was allotted the ministry — together with AYUSH — on joining the Cabinet in 2021, and was assigned Ports, Shipping and Waterways again in the portfolio allocation of 10 June 2024.

PIB, 7 July 2021 · PIB, 10 June 2024
01
Major PortsTwelve Major Ports administered under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, with Vadhavan approved as a thirteenth.
02
Merchant shippingRegulation of ships and seafarers through the maritime administration, under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
03
Inland water transportThe Inland Waterways Authority of India and 111 declared National Waterways.
04
Shipbuilding & repairFinancial assistance and development schemes for Indian shipyards.
05
SagarmalaThe programme for port-led development begun in 2015.

BThe journey

Six offices, in order

  1. 2001Assam Legislative AssemblyMoran constituency
  2. 2004Lok SabhaDibrugarh · 14th Lok Sabha
  3. 2014Union GovernmentMinister of State (Independent Charge)
  4. 2016Chief Minister of AssamSworn in 24 May 2016
  5. 2021Union Cabinet MinisterSworn in 7 July 2021
  6. 2024Ports, Shipping & WaterwaysRe-assigned 10 June 2024 · MP, Dibrugarh

Full timeline with sources

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to Sarbananda Sonowal, seated beside him on a stage in Assam
Fig. 01.2With Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public event in Assam. Photograph: PTI.

CAssam

Majuli, and five years as Chief Minister

Elected from Majuli — a river island in the Brahmaputra — in 2016, he was sworn in as Chief Minister of Assam on 24 May 2016 and held the office until May 2021. The period included the dedication of the Dhola–Sadiya and Bogibeel bridges by the Government of India and state programmes such as Orunodoi.

26.95°N 94.17°E · Majuli

Assam years

DParliament

Three Lok Sabhas, one Rajya Sabha term

He has sat in both Houses of Parliament, and in the Assam Legislative Assembly on three occasions.

The parliamentary record
HouseTermSeat
Assam Legislative Assembly2001–2004Moran
14th Lok Sabha2004–2009Dibrugarh
16th Lok Sabha2014–2016Lakhimpur
Assam Legislative Assembly2016–2021Majuli (re-elected 2021)
Rajya Sabha2021–2024Assam
18th Lok Sabha2024–Dibrugarh
Lok Sabha member record · MoPSW profile

EMaritime India

From river
to ocean

The ministry's remit runs from river terminals on the Brahmaputra and the Ganga to the Major Ports on both coasts and the Indian fleet at sea. Figures below are official, dated and sourced.

12Major PortsApril 2026PIB

Vadhavan, in Maharashtra, is approved as a new Major Port and under development.

915.17MTCargo at Major PortsFY 2025–26PIB, 5 Apr 2026

Up 7.06% on the previous year.

111National Waterways declaredAct of 2016PIB, 27 Apr 2026

32 were operational as of March 2026.

11,098kmCoastline, as reassessedCircular, Apr 2025PIB, 4 Dec 2025

Previously recorded as 7,516.6 km; the change reflects finer-scale mapping.

Sarbananda Sonowal waves a green flag at a flag-off ceremony, standing with two officials beside Indian flags
Fig. 01.3At a flag-off ceremony conducted with a video link, with Ministry officials.
  1. 01Ports & port infrastructure
  2. 02Shipping & logistics
  3. 03Inland waterways
  4. 04Seafarers
  5. 05Shipbuilding & ship repair
  6. 06Maritime sustainability
  7. 07Coastal development
  8. 08Policy & legislation
Figures: PIB note, April 2026 · PIB, 5 April 2026 · PIB, 27 April 2026 · PIB, 4 December 2025

FDocumentary archive

From the archive

All documents
  1. No. 001Government profileMinister's profile — Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterwaysshipmin.gov.inView the minister's profile (opens in a new tab)
  2. No. 002Official statementAllocation of portfolios, Union Council of MinistersPIB · 7 July 2021View the 2021 portfolio allocation (opens in a new tab)
  3. No. 003Policy documentMaritime India Vision 2030MoPSW · March 2021 · PDFDownload Maritime India Vision 2030 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
  4. No. 004Policy documentMaritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047MoPSW · October 2023 · PDF, 48 MBDownload Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
  5. No. 005Annual reportAnnual Report 2025–26MoPSW · PDF, 23.6 MBDownload the Annual Report 2025–26 (PDF, opens in a new tab)
  6. No. 006SpeechFoundation stones for four river lighthouses on the BrahmaputraPIB · 5 March 2026 · GuwahatiView the river lighthouse release (opens in a new tab)

GLatest updates

Recent official record

The four most recent items in this archive, as of 19 September 2026.

Media & newsroom
  1. Chairs second governing council meeting of the National Maritime Heritage Complex Society; progress at Lothal reviewedANI
    Read
  2. Reviews green shipping corridors, green bunkering hubs and alternative-fuel readiness at TERI, GurugramPIB
    Read
  3. Addresses the National Shipping Board's first ‘Sagar Samvad’ in New Delhi on expanding the Indian fleetPIB
    Read
  4. Launches the E-Samudra platform at a stakeholder meeting on seafarer security and welfare, MumbaiPIB
    Read