India Now World's Second-Largest Supplier of Seafarers

India becomes world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers (12.16%)

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Battle Brief

India has become the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, with 311,936 professionals or 12.16 per cent of the global workforce, the Shipping Ministry said on 28 July 2026, citing the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026. Only the Philippines supplies more. In 2015 India was fifth, with 5.2 per cent. The next goal is Mission 20%.

Fact File

Released: 28 Jul 2026, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Ministry
Report: BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026
Indian seafarers: 311,936; 12.16% of global workforce; rank 2
Officers: 140,718; 13.41% of world officers
Ratings: 171,218; 11.29% of world ratings
Goal: Mission 20%: one in five global seafarers to be Indian

In the news

India’s seafarer workforce: what happened?

Seafarers are the crews of merchant ships, counted in two groups: officers and ratings. The report points to a continuing world shortage of qualified officers. India’s share has more than doubled in a decade, which makes it a key supplier of shipping manpower.

India is ahead of China, Russia and Indonesia; only the Philippines is ahead.
2015: 5.2%, fifth. 2021: 6%, still fifth.
Global supply is 2.57 million seafarers against demand of 2.55 million, a tight market.
Reforms cited: more maritime training capacity, digitised certification by the DG Shipping, and compliance with STCW standards.

Back Story

Which new maritime laws were passed?

Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
Merchant Shipping Act, 2025; Indian Ports Act, 2025; Coastal Shipping Act, 2025.
Bills of Lading Act, 2025; Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025.

Why examiners care

Why does India’s seafarer workforce matter?

Employment: Shipping jobs abroad for young Indians.
Maritime India: Supports Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on India’s seafarer workforce?

India: second-largest seafarer supplier (12.16%), after the Philippines.
BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026.
STCW: Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Infrastructure: energy, ports, roads, airports, railways; investment models

As per PIB (2026-07-28): india now provides 12.16% of global seafarers, second only to the Philippines; it was fifth (5.2%) in 2015; Indian officers form 13.41% of world officers.
Seafarers send money home and give India weight in global shipping.

Quotable data point
"Mission 20%" aims for one in five global seafarers to be Indian.
PIB: Shipping: India 2nd largest seafarer supplier, 28 Jul 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

According to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, the largest supplier of seafarers is

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB (MoPSW), 28 Jul 2026: India is second.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What is India's rank among seafarer suppliers?

Second, with 12.16 per cent of the global workforce, behind only the Philippines.

How many Indian seafarers are there?

311,936: 140,718 officers and 171,218 ratings.

What is Mission 20%?

A national goal to raise India's share of global seafarers from 12.16 per cent to 20 per cent, so that one in five is Indian.