With a coastline of over 3500 miles, her extensive maritime trade and the strategic position, which she occupies in the Indian Ocean, the need for India having an adequate maritime fleet cannot be over-emphasised. The development of Indian merchant shipping has accordingly received the constant attention of the Government after 1947. At the time of Independence the total Indian tonnage stood at 2,49,000 GRT and since then concreted efforts have brought the Indian tonnage to 1.4 million GRT. Since 1951, the expansion of Indian shipping has been governed by the targets and the financial allocations given in the successive Five-Year-Plans.

In spite of numerous handicaps, such as competition from foreign shipping companies which were firmly entrenched in the industry and the foreign exchange difficulties inherent in the purchase of ships from abroad, it is significant that whatever targets were fixed for this industry have not only been fully achieved but exceeded in the Third Five Year Plan.

Thus, from a modest beginning of a fleet with a quarter of a million GRT, India crossed one million - ton mark by the end of 1962 and thus attained majority. her fleet, which ranges today from small coastal vessels of about 500 to 1000 GRT, plies on various trading routes, particularly in the India-U.K.-Continent, India-Persian-Gulf, India-Australia, India-Far East, India-USSR and India-USA trades.

The fleet is both modern and balanced and has all types of vessels under the Indian flag, such as, tankers, tramps, liners, bulk carriers, passenger ships and coastal vessels. India has now rightly taken her place among the maritime nations of the world and occupies presidentship of the Assembly of Inter - Governmental maritime Consultative Organisation which is a specialised agency of the United Nations.

The Posts and telegraphs Department is glad to issue a special postage stamp to mark the achievements of the Indian Shipping on the occasion of the 2nd National Maritime day falling on April 5, 1965.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India