Symbolising a decisive move away from India’s colonial past, Rajya Sabha has passed ‘Bills of Lading, 2025’ bill on the first day of monsoon session paving the way for Presidential Assent. The bill, already passed by the Lok Sabha, now awaits Presidential assent to become law. Post Presidential Assent, the law will replace the 169 years-old colonial era Indian Lading Act, 1856 with a modern, simplified, and globally aligned legal framework for maritime shipping documentation in India.
The new law replaces archaic terminology with clear & business friendly language, streamlining rights & obligations for carriers, shippers and lawful holders; reducing ambiguity in shipping documentation to lower litigation risks as well as strengthening India’s position in global trade by aligning with international norms. Further, by incorporating a standard repeal and saving clause, the legislation ensures continuity and legal validity of past actions under the old Act. These reforms aim to enhance clarity, promote ease of understanding, and enable smoother enforcement in line with contemporary trade and legal standards enabling Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in India.
Talking about the bill, the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal indicated that the bill reflects country’s constitutional values and marks a vital step in replacing outdated colonial laws with a modern, accessible framework. Besides, this reform is expected to boost ease of doing business, reduce disputes, and strengthen India’s global trade standing.
MoneyWorks4Me is a SEBI-registered Investment Adviser (IA) dedicated to helping investors build long-term wealth through transparent, research-driven, conflict-free guidance. Founded in 2008, we started our journey as a Research Analyst (RA), providing deep fundamental analysis, intrinsic value insights, and long-term investing frameworks for Indian equities. In 2017, we transitioned to a full-fledged SEBI-registered Investment Adviser, strengthening our commitment to acting as a fiduciary—always putting the investor’s interest first.
To become India’s most trusted, research-powered fiduciary advisory platform—where every investor, regardless of experience, can make calm, confident, and well-reasoned investment decisions.
MoneyWorks4Me ensures this through: