On August 6, 2025, Parliament passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, replacing the outdated Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.

This landmark legislation aligns India’s maritime trade laws with international standards, improving efficiency and legal clarity in shipping operations.

Key Points

• The new Bill replaces the nearly 100-year-old Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, signaling a major legal reform in India’s maritime sector.
• It incorporates global conventions like the Hague-Visby Rules to ensure India's shipping laws align with international practices.
• The Bill provides the central government the power to make rules via notifications, enhancing regulatory flexibility.
• It clarifies the responsibilities and liabilities of ship owners, carriers, and consignors, reducing legal ambiguities in cargo transportation.
• The government views this reform as a step toward improving ease of doing business and eliminating outdated colonial-era legislations.