Cabinet approves ₹10,000-crore shipping container manufacturing programme

The Union Cabinet of India approved the ₹10,000-crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) on 28 October 2026. Announced in the Union Budget 2026–27, the scheme has a budgetary outlay extending up to the financial year 2039–40. It aims to develop container manufacturing capacity in India, reduce import dependence and strengthen supply-chain resilience.

Containerisation and manufacturing capacity

A shipping container is a reusable freight unit designed to move goods between modes of transport, including ships, trains and road vehicles. The twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) is a standard measure of container capacity based on a container 20 feet long; a 40-foot container is equivalent to two TEUs. The CMPS aims to raise India’s annual manufacturing capacity nearly tenfold to 7.5 lakh, or 750,000, TEUs.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that 95% of global container production is concentrated in one country. The scheme is projected to generate 3,000 direct jobs and more than 50,000 indirect jobs.

Scheme components and assistance

The CMPS has three components: ₹859 crore for Interest Subvention Assistance, ₹8,891 crore for Operational Expenditure Assistance, and ₹150 crore for testing and certification assistance. Interest Subvention Assistance provides a 3% annual subsidy on eligible term loans for new and expanding facilities. Operational Expenditure Assistance supports containers manufactured to global shipping standards.

The scheme also seeks to support ancillary industries producing specialised steel, corner castings, wooden frames and paints. These inputs are used in container manufacture and finishing.

Container standards and maritime transport

International standards specify container dimensions and ratings to support their use across transport networks. Testing and certification can assess whether containers meet applicable manufacturing and shipping requirements. Container availability affects the movement of cargo through maritime supply chains.

Important Facts for Exams

• One TEU represents the capacity of a standard 20-foot container.
• A 40-foot container has a capacity of two TEUs.
• The CMPS provides a 3% annual interest subsidy on eligible term loans.
• The scheme’s three stated assistance components total ₹9,900 crore.

The CMPS has an outlay of ₹10,000 crore and extends up to financial year 2039–40. Its target capacity is 750,000 TEUs per year.