Guwahati, Sept. 7 -- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, graced the 44th Manik Chandra Barooah Memorial National Debate Competition at Cotton University, Guwahati, on Monday, interacting with student debaters from across the country and announcing new initiatives to strengthen maritime education linkages in the Northeast.

The enthusiastic student participants had gathered from institutions across India, along with Bhutan, to take part in one of the region's oldest and most respected debating traditions.

Addressing the gathering, Sarbananda Sonowal said that Cotton University and the National Inland of Navigation Institute (NINI), Patna, would explore collaboration on maritime studies and student exposure p...