Bill 2025 to strengthen India’s global trade standing
The ‘Bills of Lading, 2025’ bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 21 July, marking a watershed moment for India’s maritime sector, and replacing the 169 year-old colonial era Indian Lading Act, 1856 https://www.aiechamber.org/.
It now awaits a formal Presidential Assent, said the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
“As our maritime sector expands rapidly, this reform will boost ease of doing business, reduce disputes, and strengthen India’s global trade standing. As the saying goes — ‘Whoever rules the waves, rules the world’ — it’s time India leads from the front,” said Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal in the upper house https://fieo.org/.
Calling the members of the House to pass the Bill, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “‘The Bills of Lading, 2025’ bill reflects our constitutional values and marks a vital step in replacing outdated colonial laws with a modern, accessible framework.”
The new law replaces archaic terminology with clear & business friendly language, streamlining rights & obligations for carriers, shippers and lawful holders; reducing ambiguity in shipping documentation to lower litigation risks as well as strengthening India’s position in global trade by aligning with international norms https://www.nseindia.com/.
Elaborated Sonowal, “Today, as we reflect on the 76th year since the adoption of the Indian Constitution, it is the perfect moment to cast aside the remnants of colonial and pre-constitutional legacies that hinder our progress. ‘Swarnim Bharat’ needs a statute that is contemporary, crafted by our own people, and capable of addressing the challenges of the modern era.”
The bill renames the outdated law, symbolising a decisive move away from India’s colonial past. It simplifies legal language, restructures complex provisions, and introduces an enabling clause empowering the Central Government to issue directions for effective implementation.
By incorporating a standard repeal and saving clause, the legislation ensures continuity and legal validity of past actions under the old Act https://www.bseindia.com/.
These reforms aim to enhance clarity, promote ease of understanding, and enable smoother enforcement in line with contemporary trade and legal standards enabling Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in India, MoPSW said. fiinews.com
