The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways of India, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, introduced the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, which aims to update and simplify the legal framework for shipping documents.
The proposed legislation will replace the colonial-era Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, providing a more modern and user-friendly approach to maritime shipping. The Lok Sabha passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 modernising the 169 years old colonial shipping law.
The current law, a brief three-section act, primarily governs the transfer of rights and confirmation that goods were loaded onto a vessel. With the shipping industry evolving and the global trade landscape changing, there is a pressing need for India to adopt a more comprehensive and understandable law that aligns with international standards.
The Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, will rename the existing law to the Bills of Lading Act, 2025, and include several key reforms. The new legislation aims to simplify the language and reorganize provisions without altering their underlying substance. It also empowers the Central Government to issue directions to facilitate the laws implementation along with an inclusion of a standard repeal and saving clause, while eliminating the colonial legacy of the 1856 Act.
“The passing of the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, in Parliament is a significant step in fulfilling Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modijis vision of modernizing Indias legal framework, making it more relevant, modern, accessible, and free from colonial legacies that have long hindered our progress,” said Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.
These changes will bring numerous benefits, including streamlined business processes, reduced litigation risks, and improved clarity for carriers, shippers, and lawful holders of goods. The updates are expected to foster a more efficient and reliable shipping environment.
The Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, is part of a broader effort to modernize India’s maritime laws and enhance the country’s competitiveness in international shipping. Post passing of this bill in the Lok Sabha, it will now be presented in the Rajya Sabha before the President of India assents it to be promulgated as the law of the land.
