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Economic Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Parliament passes The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025
Synopsis India's Parliament has passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, replacing the outdated 1925 Act. This modernizes maritime regulations, aligning them with international conventions and promoting ease of doing business. The new law clarifies liabilities, responsibilities, and grants the government powers to issue directions and amend rules, ensuring adaptability to evolving trade practices. Agencies The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, marking a significant step in the government's ongoing effort to modernise India's maritime legal framework. The Bill had earlier cleared the Lok Sabha in March this year. The legislation replaces the nearly century-old colonial period Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1925, aligning Indian law with international maritime conventions. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who piloted the Bill, had said earlier that the new law is crucial to promote ease of doing business. The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 21 and will run until August 21, with a packed agenda featuring several economic and reform-focused bills. The main objective of the new law is to modernise India's maritime shipping regulations and make them easier to understand and apply. Key features include: Clear allocation of liabilities and responsibilities for carriers and consignees Legal safeguards for parties in shipping contracts Regulatory flexibility for the government to adapt the law as needed Replacement of the outdated 1925 law with language better suited to current trade realities The Bill gives the central government two key powers: Issuing Directions: The government can issue guidelines or instructions to help implement the provisions of the Bill effectively. Amending Rules: The government can update or modify the rules related to bills of lading (listed in the schedule of the Bill) through notifications, without needing to bring a new law to Parliament. This flexibility, while useful for adapting to changing trade practices, has raised some concerns from opposition MPs, who argue that such wide powers should be balanced with adequate consultation and the heart of the law is a document called a bill of lading. This is a legal receipt issued by a shipping company to the person sending the goods. It lists what goods are being shipped, their quantity and condition, and where they are going. It also acts as proof of ownership of the goods and is essential for international Bill outlines clear rules around these documents—including who is responsible if something goes wrong, and what rights both parties replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha during the passing of the bill, Sonowal had stressed that the Bill was designed to make maritime regulations more transparent and easier to navigate for all stakeholders involved in sea cargo.'This new legislation is part of the greater initiative of the government to rid ourselves of all vestiges of the colonial mindset,' the union minister had said. 'Our intention is to make the law simpler and more effective, while ensuring it reflects the practical realities of international shipping," he Bill provides for clearly defined roles, responsibilities, liabilities and protections for parties involved in the carriage of goods by sea. It also grants the central government authority to issue directions for the smooth implementation of the law, a provision that has drawn both support and criticism.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Monsoon mayhem: Only thunder, no talk - a quick recap of Week 1 of Parliament that ended in washout
Photo: Generative AI NEW DELHI: A stormy start marked the opening week of Parliament's Monsoon Session, with frequent adjournments, high-pitched political confrontations, and rare bipartisan moves dominating proceedings. From the swearing-in of new members to heated clashes over national security and electoral roll revisions, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha remained mired in disruptions. Even as debates struggled to gain momentum, the week saw a dramatic resignation, an impeachment motion against a sitting judge, and the consensus on a special debate on Operation Sindoor from Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament (PTI) Here's a quick recap of Parliament proceedings: Monday, July 21 As the House convened for the day, Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) and Kanad Purkayastha (BJP) took oath as members of the Rajya Sabha. While this marks Baishya's third consecutive term, it is the first for Purkayastha. Three nominated members, Meenakshi Jain, C Sadanandan Master, and Harsh Vardhan Shringla, were also sworn in. All three are serving their first term in the Upper House. The Monsoon Session commenced, with both Houses starting at 11 am, but the Lok Sabha was adjourned within 20 minutes due to opposition sloganeering. MPs demanded that Prime Minister Modi respond to US President Donald Trump's claim about brokering a peace deal with Pakistan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Over 200 MPs (145 in Lok Sabha, 63 in Rajya Sabha) submitted a draft notice to impeach Justice Yashwant Varma in connection with a cash‑recovery controversy, marking a rare cross-party judicial accountability move. Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar accepted the Opposition's notice to impeach Justice Varma. Lok Sabha MPs submit a memorandum to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma (ANI) In the Rajya Sabha, leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge clashed with Leader of the House JP Nadda over the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The debate quickly escalated. Later, in an unexpected development, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as ex‑officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, citing health concerns, creating a leadership vacuum in the Upper House. Rahul Gandhi (LoP, Lok Sabha) claimed he was 'never allowed to speak' in the House; BJP pushed back on his allegations. Tuesday & Wednesday, July 22–23 Both Houses were repeatedly disrupted, with the Opposition demanding urgent debate on the Pahalgam attack, causing procedural stalemate and rendering the first few days largely unproductive. Rajya Sabha briefly considered the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, aimed to replace the colonial-era 1925 Act, before disruptions forced adjournment on Day 3. Thursday, July 24 Protests over Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls escalated, paralysing both Houses. Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm, and Rajya Sabha till 12 noon before full-day suspension. Opposition MPs staged protests inside Parliament and at the Makar Dwar; Sonia Gandhi and others vocally criticised the roll‑revision exercise as an "attack on democracy". LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav other INDIA bloc MPs stages a protest against the (SIR) in Bihar. (ANI) Deputy chairman Harivansh, acting in the absence of a Vice President/Chairman due to Dhankhar's resignation, rejected around 30 adjournment notices from the Opposition. Kamal Haasan took oath as a Rajya Sabha member; six retiring MPs from Tamil Nadu were felicitated. Lok Sabha began discussions on key legislation—the Goa ST reservation bill and the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024. Friday, July 25 Both Houses were adjourned for the day amid the continuation of the Bihar SIR uproar. Lok Sabha first recessed till 2 pm, but then suspended for the day, and Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till Monday. Opposition and government representatives reached consensus in an all‑party meeting called by Speaker Om Birla. From next Monday (starting July 28), a 16‑hour special debate on Operation Sindoor is scheduled. "We shouldn't remain in any doubt, proceedings to remove Justice Yashwant Varma will begin in Lok Sabha," Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday. "Today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and it was reiterated that we are ready for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. It has been decided today that there will be a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday (28th July)," Rijiju said. The Union minister further said: "We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be discussed first. We will decide which issues will be discussed after that... Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 29)".
