The Indian Ports Bill, 2025: Streamlining India's Logistics Sector

The Parliament recently passed the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, to streamline India's Logistics Sector by regulating its ports.

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The bill replaces the colonial era Indian Ports Act, 1908. The bill seeks to regulate port operations and management, levy of fees and tariffs, and environmental safeguards. The Indian Ports Bill has tried to resolve the modern issues related to the delay in freight clearances, resolve disputes among stakeholders, and ensure compliance with global maritime conventions.

The Indian Ports Bill, 2025: Features, Provisions, and Mechanisms

The Bill has repealed and replaced the Indian Ports Act, 1908. It has provided for the establishment of the following institutions.

State Maritime Boards

The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, provides statutory recognition to all State Maritime Boards set up by Indian states. These boards will oversee the administration and regulation of non-major ports within their respective states. Their functions include:

• Planning and developing port infrastructure,

• Granting Licenses,

• Fixing Tariffs, and

• Regulating Compliance with Safety, Security,and Environmental Requirements.

Maritime State Development Council

The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, provides statutory recognition to the Maritime State Development Council. The bill provides for the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways as its chairman. Other members of the council include: Ministers-in-charge of each coastal state, secretaries in the Indian Navy and Coast Guard dealing with coastal security, and the Secretary of the Union Ministry for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

Functions of the Council

The Council will issue guidelines in consultation with central and state governments on: Data or information to be collected by ports along with the manner of collection, updation, storage, and submission to the Council,