The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Indian Ports Bill, 2025, a comprehensive legislation designed to modernize and regulate port operations across the country by replacing the nearly century-old Indian Ports Act, 1908.
The new Bill establishes a regulatory framework aimed at streamlining port management, setting clear guidelines for fees and tariffs, and enforcing environmental protections to align with international maritime standards.
A significant feature of the legislation is the formal recognition of the Maritime State Development Council and State Maritime Boards. The Maritime State Development Council will be responsible for issuing directives to ensure transparency in tariff structures and overseeing the systematic collection and submission of port data.
Meanwhile, the State Maritime Boards will take charge of administering non-major ports within their respective states, fostering better governance at the local level.
To resolve conflicts efficiently, the Bill mandates the formation of Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) by state governments. These committees will handle disputes involving non-major ports, concessionaires, port users, and service providers, aiming to provide timely and fair resolution without overburdening the judicial system.
Environmental compliance is another major aspect of the Bill. It requires ports to adhere to global maritime conventions such as MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and the Ballast Water Management Convention.
Additionally, ports must develop detailed pollution control and disaster management plans, which will be subject to regular audits by the central government to ensure ongoing adherence and accountability.
Key Features of the Indian Ports Bill, 2025
The new Bill establishes a regulatory framework aimed at streamlining port management, setting clear guidelines for fees and tariffs, and enforcing environmental protections to align with international maritime standards.
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A significant feature of the legislation is the formal recognition of the Maritime State Development Council and State Maritime Boards. The Maritime State Development Council will be responsible for issuing directives to ensure transparency in tariff structures and overseeing the systematic collection and submission of port data.
Meanwhile, the State Maritime Boards will take charge of administering non-major ports within their respective states, fostering better governance at the local level.
To resolve conflicts efficiently, the Bill mandates the formation of Dispute Resolution Committees (DRCs) by state governments. These committees will handle disputes involving non-major ports, concessionaires, port users, and service providers, aiming to provide timely and fair resolution without overburdening the judicial system.
Environmental compliance is another major aspect of the Bill. It requires ports to adhere to global maritime conventions such as MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and the Ballast Water Management Convention.
Additionally, ports must develop detailed pollution control and disaster management plans, which will be subject to regular audits by the central government to ensure ongoing adherence and accountability.
Key Features of the Indian Ports Bill, 2025
- State Maritime Boards
- Statutory recognition to boards managing non-major ports in coastal states
- Responsibilities: planning infrastructure, licensing, setting tariffs, ensuring safety and environmental compliance
- Statutory recognition to boards managing non-major ports in coastal states
- Maritime State Development Council
- Chaired by Union Minister for Ports, includes coastal state ministers, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Ministry officials
- Issues guidelines on port data collection, tariff transparency, and advises on national port policies
- Chaired by Union Minister for Ports, includes coastal state ministers, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Ministry officials
- Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC)
- State governments must form DRCs to resolve disputes involving non-major ports, users, and service providers
- Appeals go to High Court; civil courts cannot intervene in these matters
- Arbitration or alternative dispute resolution allowed as per board agreements
- State governments must form DRCs to resolve disputes involving non-major ports, users, and service providers
- Tariff Setting
- Major ports’ tariffs set by respective port authority boards
- Non-major ports’ tariffs fixed by State Maritime Boards or their authorised concessionaires
- Major ports’ tariffs set by respective port authority boards
- Port Officers and Conservator
- Conservator appointed by state government oversees port operations and other port officers (harbour master, health officer)
- Conservator can issue directions on vessel movement, disease control, damage assessment, and penalties
- Conservator appointed by state government oversees port operations and other port officers (harbour master, health officer)
- Safety and Environmental Protection
- Retains penalties for actions endangering safety like damaging buoys or unauthorized vessel movement
- Mandates compliance with MARPOL and Ballast Water Management Convention
- Requires ports to prepare waste management and emergency response plans, subject to central audits
- Retains penalties for actions endangering safety like damaging buoys or unauthorized vessel movement
- Offences and Penalties
- Retains existing offences such as evading port charges or impeding navigation with penalties including fines and imprisonment
- Some offences are decriminalised and penalised with fines only; first-time violations can be compounded
- Introduces new offences with imprisonment up to six months and fines up to ₹1 lakh (e.g., endangering vessel safety, disturbing waterbeds)
- New monetary penalty offences include unauthorized port operations, failure to report pollution, and non-compliance with DRC orders.
- Retains existing offences such as evading port charges or impeding navigation with penalties including fines and imprisonment
