Indian Ports Act, 2025

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Indian Ports Act, 2025
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Parliament of India
  • An Act to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure optimum utilisation of India’s coastline; to establish the Maritime State Development Council and State Maritime Boards; provide for the management of pollution, safety, navigation, disaster, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India’s obligations under international instruments; to take measures for the conservation of ports; and to replace the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
Territorial extent India
PassedAugust 12, 2025 (2025-08-12) (Lok Sabha)
Legislative history
Bill titleIndian Ports Bill, 2025
Bill citation Bill No. 65 of 2025
Introduced byMinistry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
IntroducedMarch 28, 2025 (2025-03-28)
Status: Pending

The Indian Ports Act, 2025 is an Act of the Parliament of India that replaced the colonial-era Indian Ports Act, 1908. It provides a modern legal framework for port governance in India, promoting integrated development, environmental protection, and cooperative federalism between the Centre and States. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Background and Timeline

Background

The Act overhauls port sector regulation by repealing the Indian Ports Act, 1908, which governed both major and non-major ports for over a century. It forms part of a broader maritime legislative reform in 2025, alongside the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025. [4]

The Act creates a statutory framework for coordination between the Centre and coastal States, addresses environmental obligations under international conventions such as MARPOL, and introduces uniform tariff and safety standards across ports. [5]

Timeline

Provisions

Maritime State Development Council

The Act establishes the Maritime State Development Council chaired by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, with membership including state ministers in charge of ports, naval and coast guard representatives, and senior officials. It advises on national port development plans, tariff transparency, and inter-state coordination. [8]

State Maritime Boards

Each coastal State must establish a State Maritime Board to manage non-major ports. These boards have statutory powers for development planning, licensing, supervision of port works, tariff-setting, and ensuring compliance with environmental and safety norms. [8]

Dispute Resolution

The Act mandates the constitution of Dispute Resolution Committees in each State to adjudicate port-related disputes involving non-major ports, concessionaires, service providers, and users, with appeals lying to the relevant High Court. [8]

Safety, Environment and Compliance

Ports must establish waste reception facilities, comply with the MARPOL Convention and the Ballast Water Management Convention, prepare pollution control plans, and be subject to central audits. The Act prescribes penalties for safety violations, obstruction of navigation, and environmental damage. [9]

Tariff Regulation

Port tariffs for major ports are set by their respective Boards of Major Port Authorities or boards of directors (if corporatised), while State Maritime Boards or authorised concessionaires set tariffs for non-major ports. All tariffs must be published electronically. [8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Indian Ports Bill, 2025: Key provisions". PRS Legislative Research. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  2. ↑ "Lok Sabha to take up Indian Ports Bill as Modi govt moves to replace British-era law". The Economic Times. 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  3. ↑ www.ETInfra.com. "Parliament passes Bill to consolidate law relating to ports, facilitate ease of doing business". ETInfra.com. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  4. ↑ "Indian Ports Bill, 2025 – Comprehensive overhaul of India's maritime framework". Fox Mandal. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  5. ↑ "Indian Ports Bill, 2025 – Key highlights". Lexology. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  6. ↑ "Indian Ports Bill, 2025". PRS Legislative Research. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  7. ↑ "Indian Ports Bill yet to be passed in Parliament". The Economic Times. 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Indian Ports Bill, 2025". PRS Legislative Research. 2025-07-28. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  9. ↑ "Indian Ports Act emphasises environmental compliance". GKToday. 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
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