In a historic move for India’s maritime sector, Parliament has passed two landmark bills — the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 — marking a significant policy leap under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). This is the first time the ministry has seen the passage of two major maritime legislations in a single session, both aimed at streamlining and modernising India’s maritime framework to align with global standards.
The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, cleared by the Lok Sabha, replaces the outdated Merchant Shipping Act of 1958. It introduces a contemporary, internationally compliant maritime governance framework. With 16 Parts and 325 clauses, the bill focuses on safety at sea, environmental protection, seafarer welfare, and reducing compliance burdens for stakeholders — ultimately aiming to transform India into a globally respected maritime jurisdiction.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, called it a “historic day” and said, “With the passage of these two important legislations, Parliament has endorsed PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision to modernise India’s maritime sector — both in policy and action.”
Highlighting the significance of the bill, Sonowal noted that the 1958 Act had grown bulky and outdated, containing 561 sections that failed to meet contemporary challenges or align fully with India’s international obligations under key International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions. ‘This new bill is a decisive step towards positioning India as a global leader in maritime trade and governance,’ he said.
On the other hand, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, passed in the Rajya Sabha, repeals the century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, a colonial-era legislation. Introduced by Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, the new law adopts the Hague-Visby Rules — a globally accepted standard also followed by the UK — thereby modernising India’s maritime cargo law to promote ease of doing business and legal clarity.
“The repeal of this pre-Constitution era legislation reflects our government’s broader effort to discard colonial vestiges and replace outdated norms with modern, rational laws,” Thakur stated. He emphasised that the bill is not just a statutory reform, but a step in reshaping India’s governance philosophy under PM Modi — making laws simpler, transparent, and future-ready.
The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill is also expected to enhance India’s international trade compatibility, especially under agreements like theComprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK. During discussions in the Rajya Sabha, members raised concerns around maritime security and smuggling, which the government assured would be addressed through robust statutory and operational mechanisms.
Both bills received widespread bipartisan support, underlining a shared national commitment to transforming India’s shipping and maritime sector into a globally competitive and efficient ecosystem. These legislative reforms follow over a decade of policy momentum, as the government continues to focus on building a resilient, transparent, and innovation-driven maritime economy.
With the passage of these bills, India takes a definitive step toward becoming a modern maritime powerhouse — one that is aligned with global standards and ready for the challenges of 21st-century trade.
