• The Rajya Sabha passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 on August 18.

• It will replace the Indian Ports Act, 1908, ending more than a century of colonial-era regulation and ushering in a modern framework for India’s maritime sector.

• It 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 Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12.

What is the need for new legislation?

• The Indian Ports Act, 1908 was enacted to consolidate the laws on ports and port-charges. 

• It consisted of provisions on the powers of the central government and state governments for extending or withdrawing the applicability of Act and altering port limits, appointment of port-officials and their powers and duties, safety and conservation of ports, levy of port-dues, fees and other charges, penalties and supplemental provisions.

• India has witnessed expansion in the number of operational ports as well as the overall traffic being handled at ports. 

• Since the enactment of the 1908 Act, there have been significant changes in both the commercial operations of ports and the international norms for prevention of pollution of ports. 

• In order to facilitate the development of the port sector in a planned manner, it was felt necessary to reflect the present-day frameworks, incorporate India’s international obligations, address emerging environmental concerns and aid the consultative development of the ports sector in the national interest. 

• The proposed legislation seeks to to effectively adopt international obligations, allowing adequate power to frame subordinate legislation, keeping the domestic priorities in mind. 

• It further seeks to integrate development of ports so as to utilise India’s coastline in a coherent and sustainable way. 

Key provisions of the new Bill:

• The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 establishes the Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) as a statutory consultative body to coordinate between the Centre and coastal states. 

• The MSDC will prepare a National Perspective Plan to ensure integrated port development.

• Coastal states will be empowered to set up State Maritime Boards, bringing uniform and transparent governance across India’s 12 major and over 200 non-major ports. 

• Dispute Resolution Committees will be created to deliver sector-specific redressal in a timely manner.

• The legislation mandates compliance with international environmental conventions such as MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and Ballast Water Management Convention, while requiring ports to maintain emergency preparedness systems. 

• Digitalisation is a central plank with measures such as a Maritime Single Window and advanced vessel traffic systems will enhance efficiency, reduce bottlenecks and cut costs.