Rajya Sabha Passes Indian Ports Bill 2025 to Modernize Maritime Sector

The Rajya Sabha passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, on Monday, a landmark legislation aimed at consolidating laws related to ports, promoting integrated development, enhancing ease of doing business, and optimizing India’s 7,500-km coastline. The bill, already approved by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was introduced in the Upper House amid disruptions from Opposition MPs, who later staged a walkout to protest the Election Commission’s revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, while replying to the discussion, accused the Congress-led UPA government of neglecting the maritime sector, noting that only one port-related law was enacted between 2004 and 2014. In contrast, he highlighted that the NDA government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has introduced 11 new legislations in the past 11 years to modernize the sector. “The over 100-year-old laws made by the British are outdated and not in sync with modern times,” Sonowal said, emphasizing that the new bill is designed to be modern, competitive, business-friendly, eco-friendly, and people-centric.

The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, replaces the archaic Indian Ports Act, 1908, with contemporary regulations aligned with global best practices. Key features include the establishment of a maritime single window system for seamless electronic data exchange, which aims to streamline operations and boost ease of doing business. The bill decriminalizes certain offenses, removes obsolete provisions, and introduces transparent port tariff mechanisms. It also empowers State Maritime Boards to manage non-major ports effectively and establishes the Maritime State Development Council to drive structured growth in the sector.

Also Read: Parliament Passes Coastal Shipping Bill to Boost India’s Maritime Trade

Sonowal stressed that the bill was crafted after extensive consultations with coastal states, port users, and stakeholders. It addresses critical areas such as pollution control, disaster management, safety, security, navigation, and data handling at ports. Additionally, it ensures compliance with India’s international obligations and introduces adjudicatory mechanisms for resolving port-related disputes. “This is the power of reforms. Through this, we are going to make India one of the leading maritime nations,” Sonowal asserted.

The minister also criticized the Opposition’s walkout, urging them to show “responsibility and responsiveness” as citizens and stakeholders in nation-building. “The role of the Opposition is not only to oppose but to contribute constructively,” he remarked, expressing disappointment at their absence during the discussion.

The bill’s passage marks a significant step toward transforming India’s maritime infrastructure, aligning it with the government’s vision of making India a global trade hub. With India’s port capacity increasing by 80% from 870 million tonnes in 2014 to 1,560 million tonnes in 2024 under the Sagarmala initiative, the legislation is expected to further enhance efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness in the sector. As global trade dynamics shift, the bill positions India to capitalize on its strategic maritime potential, fostering economic growth and job creation.

Also Read: Parliament Passes Coastal Shipping Bill to Boost India’s Maritime Trade