The Rajya Sabha has passed the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, a landmark piece of legislation poised to modernize India's maritime sector and propel it to global leadership by 2047. This new law repeals and replaces the outdated Indian Ports Act of 1908, a relic of the colonial era, with contemporary regulations designed to streamline port operations, enhance trade efficiency, and promote sustainable development. The Lok Sabha already passed the bill on August 12th, and it now awaits Presidential assent to become law.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the passage of the bill as a "milestone reform that unlocks India's maritime potential". He emphasized that ports are vital engines of growth, employment, and sustainable development, and that the new law will enable India to transition from "catch-up mode to global maritime leadership". Sonowal also highlighted that the bill aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of shedding colonial legacies and aligning India with global standards.

Key Objectives and Features

The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, aims to achieve several key objectives:

• Modernizing Maritime Governance: The bill seeks to modernize India's port governance by simplifying procedures, digitalizing operations, and promoting transparency and ease of doing business.
• Enhancing Centre-State Coordination: The legislation establishes the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) as a statutory consultative body to coordinate national port development strategies between the central and state governments. The MSDC will also prepare a National Perspective Plan for integrated development.
• Empowering State Maritime Boards: The bill empowers State Maritime Boards to effectively manage non-major ports, fostering greater transparency and uniformity in governance.
• Promoting Sustainable Development: The legislation emphasizes sustainability by incorporating green initiatives, pollution control measures, and disaster management protocols for sustainable port development. It mandates waste reception and handling facilities at all ports and enforces stringent pollution prevention measures in line with international conventions like MARPOL and the Ballast Water Management Convention.
• Improving Port Competitiveness: The bill seeks to improve port competitiveness through transparent tariff policies and better investment frameworks, while ensuring uniform safety standards and planning across all Indian ports. Electronic publication of port tariffs is also mandated.
• Ensuring Safety and Security: The legislation provides for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports.
• Facilitating Dispute Resolution: The bill establishes Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) to expedite the settlement of conflicts between ports, users, and service providers, providing a fast, efficient, and transparent mechanism for resolving port-related disputes.
• Compliance with International Obligations: The legislation ensures compliance with India's obligations under international instruments and takes measures for the conservation of ports.

Impact and Vision

The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, is expected to have a significant impact on India's maritime sector:

• Boosting Port-Led Growth: By creating an investor-friendly framework and promoting efficient port operations, the bill is expected to boost port-led growth and attract greater investment in the sector.
• Enhancing Trade Efficiency: The modernization of port infrastructure and procedures is expected to enhance trade efficiency and reduce transaction costs, making Indian ports more competitive globally.
• Strengthening India's Position as a Maritime Leader: The bill is a crucial step towards solidifying India's position as a global maritime leader by 2047, aligning its port operations with international best practices and environmental standards. Sonowal stated that the bill is designed to align with best global practices, mirroring the integrated planning models of Singapore and the robust environmental standards of the European Union.
• Promoting Cooperative Federalism: The bill embodies cooperative federalism by placing the Centre and States on equal footing in port-led development.

The passage of the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, marks a significant milestone in India's journey towards becoming a maritime powerhouse. By modernizing its port infrastructure, streamlining governance, and promoting sustainable practices, India is poised to unlock its maritime potential and achieve its vision of becoming a global leader in the sector by 2047.