Question

How many public sector shipping companies are there in India?
A. 5
B. 4
C. 1
D. 6

Answer 1

Hint: The company has its headquarters in Mumbai. This is a public sector undertaking of the Government of India. This public sector undertaking was awarded the prestigious ‘Navratna’ status by the Government in 2008. This undertaking of the Government worked as an instrument for self-reliant economic growth.

Complete Answer:
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is the only public sector shipping company in India. This company operates and controls vessels, ships and cargos that provide services to both national and international lines. SCI was established on $2^{nd}$ of October 1961 with the amalgamation of Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation. Jayanti Shipping Company and Mogul Lines Limited are two other shipping companies that were merged with SCI in 1973 and 1986 respectively. Initially, SCI started with 19 vessels but it gradually turned into a big company that now works with 80 ships of 59 lakhs (5.9 million) tonnes deadweight. Some major clients of this shipping company are Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd., Steel Authority of India Ltd., British Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, British Gas, Tata Tea, Geographical Survey of India and many more. Mrs. H. K. Joshi is the Chairperson as well as the Managing Director of the company. Thus, it can be said that as The Shipping Company of India is the only public sector shipping company of the country.
Hence, the correct answer is option, ‘C, 1’.

Note: The services provided by this shipping company are cruise liner and Passenger services; bulk carrier and tanker services and some offshore services as well. Though it is a public sector company, privatisation of the same has been approved by the government and soon this will turn into a private company.