Modernising the colonial-era Bills of Lading Act to support India’s growing role in global trade: Sonowal
The Lok Sabha has passed the Bills of Lading Bill 2025, a landmark piece of legislation designed to replace the outdated Indian Bills of Lading Act of 1856. This move signifies a major step towards modernizing India’s maritime legal framework, aiming to align it with contemporary global standards and support the country’s growing role in international trade.
The new bill focuses on simplifying and updating the legal framework for shipping documents, making it more user-friendly for carriers, shippers, and other stakeholders. It seeks to streamline business processes, reduce litigation risks, and enhance clarity by simplifying language and reorganizing provisions. The bill also empowers the Central Government to issue directions for effective implementation and removes archaic provisions inherited from the colonial era.
By modernizing this crucial aspect of maritime law, India aims to create a more efficient and reliable shipping environment, fostering greater trust in its maritime trade. The passing of this bill is seen as a key component of building a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India), where outdated structures are replaced with modern, effective legislation. The bill now proceeds to the Rajya Sabha for further consideration.