Latest news with #IndianCarriageofGoodsbySeaAct
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Rajya Sabha passes Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025
Parliament on Wednesday passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, replacing a century-old colonial-era law with updated legislation designed to promote ease of doing business and make India's shipping sector future-ready. The bill repeals the century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. The new legislation is part of the government's effort to modernize India's legal framework by eliminating outdated colonial-era laws and aligning with global best practices to improve the ease of doing business. The bill adopts the Hague-Visby Rules, a globally accepted maritime standard also followed by countries like the UK. By replacing complexity with clarity, the legislation is expected to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, and enhance transparency and commercial efficiency in cargo movement by sea. 'Parliament passed two important legislations—the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025—effectively endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to modernize India's maritime sector, both policy-wise and action-wise. Today, with the passage of the bills, the Modi government's push for India's modern shipping gets double endorsement from the Parliament,' said Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways. The Lok Sabha earlier passed the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024—a progressive, future-ready legislation that replaces the outdated Merchant Shipping Act of 1958. The bill marks a significant step towards aligning India's maritime legal framework with global standards and strengthening the country's position as a trusted maritime trade hub. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, was introduced in the upper house by Shantanu Thakur, the Union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways. 'The repeal of this pre-Constitution era legislation and its replacement with a new legislation is a part of the greater initiative of this government to rid ourselves of all vestiges of colonial mindset and to ensure ease of understanding and ease of doing business through simple and rationalized laws," said Thakur. "This bill is not merely a statutory reform—it reflects a broader philosophy of governance led by our prime minister to replace complexity with clarity, outdated norms with modern standards, and colonial remnants with forward-looking laws that serve the interests of a resurgent India,' he added. The bill is a key step in making India's maritime trade laws future-ready and compatible with international trade agreements, including the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK. The legislation was passed by the Lok Sabha on 28 March. During the Rajya Sabha discussion, members raised issues including maritime security and smuggling risks, which the government assured were being addressed through statutory and operational safeguards. The bill received broad bipartisan support in both Houses of Parliament.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Parliament passes Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill by voice vote amid Oppn protests
Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, by voice vote, amidst protests by the members of the Opposition demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision(SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in poll-bound Bihar. The House was adjourned for the day, just half an hour after the afternoon proceedings began, soon after the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill was passed. When the members of the Opposition tried to raise a point of order, the Chair, Bhubaneswar Kalita, said he would allow a point of order only when there was order in the house. He then asked all the members to return to their seats. When Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was given the floor, he urged that the chair apply the rules similarly for both sides of the House. He said, 'When the members from this side raise a point of order, then you say that the house is not in order. There, they are giving speeches. And, you are allowing them. This is unfair, untenable…' To this, the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha J P Nadda said, 'Sir, those who create disorder in the house have no right to raise a point of order… the persons who are trying to create disorder in the house, they have no right to talk about a point of order. If you are so interested, obey the rules accordingly; otherwise, the chair's direction is the final. When Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari tried to raise an issue about 'propriety', Kalita again said he could only speak about the Bill being discussed. When the Opposition members were called to speak on the Bill, they either did not go back to their seats and forfeited their chance, or they tried to raise the issue of SIR. Kalita said that nothing would go on the record and moved to the next speaker. During the voting on the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, CPI (M) member Dr John Brittas moved an amendment, and asked for division of votes — a method for recording the votes of the members when the voice vote is unclear. The chair said that this could not be done as the House was not in order, to which Dr Brittas said that it was his responsibility to do so. The voting proceeded with a voice vote, following which Dr Brittas did not move two subsequent amendments listed against his name. The Bill was then passed by a voice vote. Lok Sabha passed the Bill, which replaces the 1925 Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, in March this year. The Bill aligns India's maritime law with international conventions and seeks to modernise provisions governing the transport of goods by sea.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- 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.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Parliament passes Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, replacing 100-year-old Act
NEW DELHI: Parliament on Wednesday passed The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025, amid Opposition protests and sloganeering over the Special Intensive Revision issue. A brief debate was held on the Bill amid protests. Several Opposition MPs who stood up to participate in the debate on the Bill, demanded a discussion on SIR. Chair Bhubaneshwar Kalita, however, said anything unrelated to the Bill will not go on record. Moving the Bill, Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said the Bill intends to replace 100 years old, pre-independence Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.
