Overview

• Both houses of India’s Parliament have approved the Bills of Lading, 2025, sending it to the President for assent to become law.
• The legislation replaces the 1856 colonial-era Act with a streamlined legal framework for maritime shipping documents and updated terminology.
• A new clause empowers the central government to issue binding directives for the law’s implementation across ports and related agencies.
• Opposition members warned that Section 4(1) could validate bills of lading before goods are shipped, creating potential for fake documents and fraud.
• Provisions for electronic bills of lading have been deferred to separate legislation following stakeholder consultations.