{"id":14182,"date":"2026-07-08T12:03:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T06:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/?post_type=academic_content&p=14182"},"modified":"2026-07-08T12:03:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T06:33:23","slug":"national-waterways","status":"publish","type":"academic_content","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/national-waterways\/","title":{"rendered":"National Waterways in India, Complete List, Types, and Importance"},"content":{"rendered":"

National Waterways of India are defined under the National Waterway Act, 2016 as “all inland waterways which are declared to be national waterways by notifications issued by the Government”. National waterways are created and notified by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) as per the provisions of the National Waterway Act, 2016. India has made 111 declared National Waterways, covering more than 20,000 km in the States and Union Territories. Inland waterways are an economic, fuel-efficient, and eco-friendly mode of transportation, making multimodal connectivity easier & economical, with a contribution to regional economic development.<\/span><\/p>\n

List of Important National Waterways in India<\/span><\/h2>\n

Complete list of National Waterways in India as notified under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Along with the states, river or canal systems and route details for easy reference for all relevant exams, we have provided a table containing all declared National Waterways.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
National Waterway<\/b><\/td>\nRiver\/Waterway<\/b><\/td>\nLocation (States\/UTs)<\/b><\/td>\nSignificance<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 1 (NW-1)<\/b><\/td>\nGanga\u2013Bhagirathi\u2013Hooghly River System<\/span><\/td>\nUttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal<\/span><\/td>\nIndia’s longest operational National Waterway. Connects major industrial and agricultural regions, supports bulk cargo movement, and forms the backbone of inland water transport under the Jal Marg Vikas Project.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 2 (NW-2)<\/b><\/td>\nBrahmaputra River<\/span><\/td>\nAssam<\/span><\/td>\nProvides a vital transport corridor for Northeast India, facilitates cross-border trade with Bangladesh, and improves connectivity to remote regions.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 3 (NW-3)<\/b><\/td>\nWest Coast Canal, Champakara Canal & Udyogmandal Canal<\/span><\/td>\nKerala<\/span><\/td>\nSupports passenger ferries and cargo transport, links ports with industrial hubs, and promotes eco-friendly inland navigation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 4 (NW-4)<\/b><\/td>\nKakinada\u2013Puducherry Canal System, Godavari & Krishna Rivers<\/span><\/td>\nAndhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry<\/span><\/td>\nEnhances coastal and inland connectivity, supports agriculture and industries, and integrates ports with the hinterland.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 5 (NW-5)<\/b><\/td>\nEast Coast Canal, Brahmani River & Mahanadi Delta<\/span><\/td>\nOdisha, West Bengal<\/span><\/td>\nFacilitates transportation of coal, iron ore, fertilizers, and industrial goods while improving port connectivity.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 16 (NW-16)<\/b><\/td>\nBarak River<\/span><\/td>\nAssam<\/span><\/td>\nImproves connectivity in southern Assam and strengthens trade and passenger transport in the Barak Valley.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 68 (NW-68)<\/b><\/td>\nMandovi River<\/span><\/td>\nGoa<\/span><\/td>\nSupports tourism, mining-related cargo movement, and inland water transport within Goa.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 73 (NW-73)<\/b><\/td>\nNarmada River<\/span><\/td>\nGujarat<\/span><\/td>\nHas the potential to improve regional connectivity, cargo transportation, and economic development in western India.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 86 (NW-86)<\/b><\/td>\nTapi River<\/span><\/td>\nGujarat<\/span><\/td>\nSupports industrial and agricultural freight movement and offers scope for sustainable inland navigation.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Waterway 97 (NW-97)<\/b><\/td>\nSunderbans Waterways<\/span><\/td>\nWest Bengal<\/span><\/td>\nStrengthens transport in the Sundarbans region, boosts tourism, and enhances connectivity to remote island communities.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Significance of National Waterways in India<\/span><\/h2>\n