Rajya Sabha passes Bills of Lading, 2025, modernising India’s maritime legal framework.
On the first day of the monsoon session, Parliament passed the Bills of Lading, 2025, with Rajya Sabha approving the landmark legislation that aims to overhaul India’s outdated maritime law. The bill, introduced by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, now awaits Presidential assent to become law.
Once enacted, it will replace the colonial-era Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, bringing in a simplified, globally aligned legal framework for shipping documentation in India. The new law removes archaic language, clarifies rights and obligations for carriers, shippers, and consignees, and significantly reduces legal ambiguity to curb litigation.
Sonowal highlighted that the reform aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and reinforces India’s constitutional values. The bill also introduces enabling clauses for better implementation and preserves legal continuity with repeal and saving provisions.
Seen as a pivotal step in boosting ease of doing business, the reform strengthens India’s maritime sector and aligns it with global trade standards.
