Fri Mar 28 13:29:40 UTC 2025: ## Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Modernize Maritime Regulations
**New Delhi, March 28, 2025** – The Lok Sabha today passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, aiming to modernize India’s maritime regulations and simplify procedures for businesses. The Bill replaces the outdated Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1925, aligning Indian law with international standards while streamlining processes.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal stated that the legislation is part of a larger government initiative to eliminate colonial-era laws and improve the ease of doing business. The new Bill retains key provisions of the 1925 Act but empowers the government to issue directions and amend the rules governing bills of lading—documents detailing goods being transported by sea.
The Minister emphasized the Bill’s goal of clearly defining responsibilities and liabilities for carriers, ensuring smoother operations within the shipping industry. He highlighted extensive stakeholder consultation in the Bill’s development, aiming for a simpler, more easily understood legal framework. The Bill passed by a voice vote.
First Piper 