As India enters Amrit Kaal—the 25-year journey toward its centenary of independence in 2047—its leadership has set a clear and ambitious goal: to become a developed, secure, and self-reliant global power. This vision rests not only on sustained economic growth but also on building resilient national infrastructure across all strategic domains. Among these, the national merchant fleet stands out as both critically important and yet deeply neglected. Despite a GDP exceeding $4 trillion and commanding substantial trade volumes, India accounts for less than 1% of the world’s flagged tonnage—a glaring commercial anomaly and . . .