New Delhi, Dec. 11 -- India marked a major step in its green maritime push as Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the commercial operation of the country's first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, on Thursday.

The vessel is the first in India to demonstrate hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion at sea and features fully indigenous technology. It operates on a low-temperature proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell system that converts stored hydrogen into electricity, releasing only water as a byproduct.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India...