Overview

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on August 18, finalising parliamentary approval after the Lok Sabha cleared it on August 12.
• The legislation replaces the 1908 Indian Ports Act and unifies multiple colonial-era statutes under a modern legal framework.
• It establishes State Maritime Boards and a Maritime State Development Council to oversee non-major ports and guide sectoral planning.
• Key provisions introduce a maritime single window system, enforce tariff transparency and expand pollution, safety and dispute resolution regulations.
• Opposition members walked out of the Rajya Sabha in protest over Bihar electoral roll issues during the Bill’s passage.