Latest news with #IndianPortsBill2025
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Top news of the day: INDIA bloc considering impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar; after Putin, Trump set to meet Zelenskyy, and more
INDIA bloc considering impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar The Opposition INDIA bloc is considering to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources told The Hindu. The decision was taken at the meeting of INDIA bloc floor leaders on Monday (August 18, 2025). After Putin, Trump set to meet Zelenskyy Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday (August 18, 2025) to map out a peace deal amid fears the U.S. president could try to pressure Kyiv into accepting a settlement favourable to Moscow. Parliament passes Bill to consolidate law relating to ports, facilitate ease of doing business The Rajya Sabha on Monday (August 18, 2025) passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, which seeks to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline. The Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was introduced in the Upper House on Monday amid noisy protests by the Opposition. Chief Election Commissioner's press briefing raises more questions than providing answers to issues highlighted by INDIA bloc: T.N. CM Stalin Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin, on Monday (August 18, 2025), said Sunday's press conference by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has raised more questions than providing answers to the issues highlighted by the INDIA bloc on 'vote theft.' Debate rages in Kerala over stray dog control as rabies takes a toll on lower-income groups The Supreme Court's directive asking the Delhi government to remove all stray dogs from the streets and relocate them to shelters within eight weeks has sparked off an intense debate on social media and various platforms, with animal rights activists and citizens, including celebrities, arguing that removing all strays from the streets is not only inhumane and impractical, but also unlikely to solve the rabies problem. CEC did not answer our questions, acting like a BJP spokesperson: Opposition Accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting like a BJP spokesperson, opposition parties on Monday (August 18, 2025) said he failed to answer their questions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and issues related to voter list irregularities. Russian President Putin dials PM Modi; briefs him on Alaska summit Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (August 18, 2025) briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on ending the war in Ukraine. Mr. Putin spoke to Mr. Modi on phone, three days after the high-profile summit in Alaska that ended without a ceasefire deal. Australia cancels far-right Israeli lawmaker's visa Australia has cancelled the visa of an Israeli lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition who has advocated against Palestinian statehood and called for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. GST rate rejig: Nirmala Sitharaman to address GoM meet to put forth Centre's rate cut proposal on August 20 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) address a crucial meeting of a group of ministers of States as she makes a case for the sweeping GST reforms that will slash tax rates and lead to reduction in prices of common use items. DRG Jawan killed, three injured as IED planted by Maoists explodes in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur A Jawan of the Chhattisgarh Police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) was killed and three other personnel were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists went off in Bijapur district on Monday (August 18, 2025), officials said. Pakistan coach Mike Hesson urges Babar Azam to improve strike rate for T20 comeback Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been told to improve his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, coach Mike Hesson said. Babar is Pakistan's batting mainstay in other formats but has not played a T20 International since their tour of South Africa late last year.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Parliament passes Bill to consolidate law relating to ports, facilitate ease of doing business
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, which seeks to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline. The Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was moved for consideration in the Upper House in the afternoon session amid noisy protests by the Opposition, who later staged a walkout demanding discussion on electoral rolls revision in Bihar. "This is more than a legislative change. It is a strategic intervention to reposition India's maritime sector for the 21st century," Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said while moving the legislation. Elaborating how India has expanded its port capacity and cargo handling drastically while cutting down ship turnaround times by nearly 49 per cent through mechanisation and digitalisation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonowal said, "Despite this progress, we are still governed by a colonial relic — the Indian Ports Act of 1908." This outdated statute lacks provisions for long-term planning, modern environmental safeguards, and efficient dispute resolution. It is a legislative framework from a bygone era, unsuited for a modern, digitalised maritime ecosystem, the minister said. "The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 is our answer to this challenge. It is the product of extensive consultation with coastal states, industry stakeholders, and the public, embodying the spirit of cooperative federalism," he asserted. He informed that the Bill is meticulously designed to align with the global best practices and decriminalises certain offences and removes outdated provisions replacing them with modern and relevant provisions, while ushering in more transparency in port tariff. Later, replying to the discussion on the Bill, Sonowal said the ministry was neglected by the Congress, alleging that in ten years from 2004 to 2014, only one new legislation was brought. On the other hand, he said, the NDA government has brought in 11 new legislations in the last 11 years and listed the new legislations related to the ministry brought by the Modi government. "They (Congress) did not have any legislative reform in their mind," he asserted, adding the over 100 years old laws made by the British have become outdated and were not in sync with modern times. Sonowal said, "If the laws are modern, competitive, effective, business friendly, eco-friendly and people-friendly then only we can take the country forward through this bill. Referring to the Opposition who had staged a walkout, Sonowal said Congress and their alliance at least should "develop sense of respect to the nation because they are also citizens of the country". They have also a big role to play as Opposition, the minister said, adding the role of Opposition is not only to oppose but they always posses two important qualities of "responsibility and responsiveness". "But in this case, I have seen it. It is missing, very sad," Sonowal said. The minister said the Indian Port Bill 2025 has been brought after wider consultations with all stake-holders, all coastal states and users of ports. "This is the power of reforms. This is through which we are going to make India one of the leading maritime nations in the world," Sonowal asserted. "In line with our international obligation, the Bill empowers the government to direct ports to establish a maritime single window system enabling seamless electronic data exchange and improving the ease of doing business," the minister said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Parliament passes Bill to consolidate law relating to ports, facilitate ease of doing business
The Rajya Sabha on Monday (August 18, 2025) passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, which seeks to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline. The Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was introduced in the Upper House on Monday amid noisy protests by the Opposition. Opposition MPs later staged a walkout demanding discussion on electoral rolls revision in Bihar. Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the ministry was neglected by the Congress, alleging that in ten years from 2004 to 2014, only one new legislation was brought. On the other hand, he said, the NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought in 11 new legislations in the last 11 years. Mr. Sonowal also listed the new legislations related to the ministry brought by the Modi government. "They [Congress] did not have any legislative reform in their mind," he asserted, adding the over 100 years old laws made by the British have become outdated and were not in sync with modern times. Mr. Sonowal said, "If the laws are modern, competitive, effective, business friendly, eco-friendly and people-friendly then only we can take the country forward through this bill. Referring to the Opposition who had staged a walkout, Mr. Sonowal said Congress and their alliance at least should "develop sense of respect to the nation because they are also citizens of the country". They have also a big role to play as Opposition, the minister said, adding the role of Opposition is not only to oppose but they always posses two important qualities of "responsibility and responsiveness". "But in this case, I have seen it. It is missing, very sad," Mr. Sonowal said. The Minister said the Indian Port Bill 2025 has been brought after wider consultations with all stake-holders, all coastal states and users of ports. "This is the power of reforms. This is through which we are going to make India one of the leading maritime nations in the world," Mr. Sonowal asserted. The Minister informed that the Bill is meticulously designed to align with the global best practices. "In line with our international obligation, the Bill empowers the government to direct ports to establish a maritime single window system enabling seamless electronic data exchange and improving the ease of doing business," the Minister said. He informed that the Bill decriminalises certain offences and removes outdated provisions replacing them with modern and relevant provisions, while ushering in more transparency in port tariff. The Bill aims to establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports besides establishment of the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector, he said while moving the bill for consideration and passage. The Bill also provides for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; and provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes. It replaces the outdated provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 1908, with modern and contemporary regulations.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Rajya Sabha takes up Indian Ports Bill amid Opposition walkout
A bill to consolidate laws relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, amid noisy protests by the Opposition. Independence Day 2025 Modi signals new push for tech independence with local chips Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave India its own currency The Indian Ports Bill 2025 was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12. As the Upper House reassembled at 2 pm, BJD's Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, informed the legislators that the Business Advisory Committee had decided to allot three hours for discussion on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025. He also said that the committee has approved one hour for consideration and passage of the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill 2025, after it is approved by the Lok Sabha. Patra then asked Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to introduce the Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was listed on the agenda of the House. Live Events Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge stood up and demanded discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. He was joined by other Opposition members demanding a discussion on the issue. However, the Chair declined to take up the matter, which led to noisy protests by Opposition members. They raised slogans demanding discussion and staged a walkout in the House. The House took up the discussion on the Indian Ports Bill. Sonowal moved the bill, which aims at consolidating laws relating to ports, promoting integrated port development, facilitating ease of doing business, and ensuring optimum utilisation of India's coastline, among others. The bill aims to establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports besides establishment of the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector, he said while moving the bill for consideration and passage. The bill provides for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes and address matters connected therewith, Sonowal said.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
RS takes up Indian Ports Bill, passed by LS on Aug 12, amid Oppn walkout
A bill to consolidate laws relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, amid noisy protests by the Opposition. The Indian Ports Bill 2025 was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12. As the Upper House reassembled at 2 pm, BJD's Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, informed the legislators that the Business Advisory Committee had decided to allot three hours for discussion on the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025. He also said that the committee has approved one hour for consideration and passage of the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill 2025, after it is approved by the Lok Sabha. Patra then asked Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to introduce the Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was listed on the agenda of the House. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge stood up and demanded discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. He was joined by other Opposition members demanding a discussion on the issue. However, the Chair declined to take up the matter, which led to noisy protests by Opposition members. They raised slogans demanding discussion and staged a walkout in the House. The House took up the discussion on the Indian Ports Bill. Sonowal moved the bill, which aims at consolidating laws relating to ports, promoting integrated port development, facilitating ease of doing business, and ensuring optimum utilisation of India's coastline, among others. The bill aims to establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports besides establishment of the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector, he said while moving the bill for consideration and passage. The bill provides for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes and address matters connected therewith, Sonowal said.
