Maritime News, New Delhi, India: The Government of India has accelerated the implementation of a sweeping set of maritime reforms, initiating an extensive rule-making and institutional preparedness exercise under the newly enacted Coastal Shipping Act, 2025; Merchant Shipping Act, 2025; and Indian Ports Act, 2025.
The reform process, officials said, is being carried out through structured technical committees and wide-ranging stakeholder consultations to ensure smooth and timely operationalisation of the new legal framework governing India’s maritime sector.
Technical Committees and Legal Framework
To translate legislative intent into enforceable regulations, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has constituted multiple technical committees comprising nodal officers and subject-matter experts from across the maritime ecosystem.
Twelve technical committees are currently working on draft rules under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, while two dedicated committees have been formed to frame rules under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025.
Legal consultants have been engaged to ensure clarity and accessibility in the drafting process, and a dedicated legal vertical has been established within the Directorate General of Shipping to streamline implementation and compliance.
Public Consultation and Gazette Notifications
Draft Merchant Shipping Rules were placed in the public domain through the DGS and Ministry websites in December 2025 and January 2026, inviting feedback from stakeholders and industry participants.
In compliance with statutory requirements, draft rules under the Coastal Shipping Act—including provisions relating to licensing of foreign vessels and creation of a national database—were published in the Gazette of India in December 2025 and opened for public consultation.
Similarly, draft Indian Ports Rules under the Indian Ports Act, 2025, were published in January 2026, following consultations with Major Port Authorities, State Maritime Boards and industry representatives.
Notably, no additional rule-making was required under the Bills of Lading Act, 2025, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025, both of which came into force on September 10, 2025.
Broad-Based Industry Engagement
The consultative process has included shipowners, operators, seafarers’ associations, maritime training institutions, classification societies, port authorities, offshore service providers, legal experts and government departments.
Officials indicated that the review of maritime legislation remains an ongoing process, responsive to stakeholder inputs, operational experience and sectoral research.
Toward Regulatory Modernisation
The rule-making exercise marks a significant phase in modernising India’s maritime regulatory framework, aligning domestic laws with contemporary trade realities and international standards.
The update was shared by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, underscoring the government’s focus on strengthening institutional readiness across the maritime ecosystem.
