Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, is set to introduce The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The bill aims to streamline and consolidate laws related to ports in India, focusing on promoting integrated port development, enhancing ease of doing business, and ensuring the optimal utilization of the country’s extensive coastline. A key feature of the bill is the establishment and empowerment of State Maritime Boards for effective management of non-major ports.
The bill also seeks to establish the Maritime State Development Council to promote structured growth within the port sector. The bill will address critical issues such as pollution control, disaster management, security, safety, navigation, and data management at ports. Additionally, it aims to ensure compliance with India’s international obligations under maritime conventions.
Alongside this, Minister Sonowal is also set to move The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024 for consideration and passing. This bill seeks to define the responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities of carriers in relation to the carriage of goods by sea.
In other legislative business, ministers from various departments are scheduled to lay papers for their respective ministries. The Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Defence, and External Affairs are expected to present documents related to their portfolios.
Meanwhile, members of several standing committees will lay reports and statements before the House. Chandan Chauhan and Smita Uday Wagh, members of the Standing Committee on Industry, will present the 328th report on the review of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Varsha Gaikwad and Sumathy Alias Tamizhachi Thangapandian, representing the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, will lay the 365th report on Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Other committees, including those focused on Water Resources, Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development, will also present reports and action taken statements.
Union Minister Manohar Lal is expected to make a statement regarding the withdrawal from the Contingency Fund of India to meet expenditures related to the new Deendayal Jan Aajeevika Yojana (Shehari) scheme.
Later in the session, private members of the Lok Sabha will present resolutions for discussion. Among the resolutions, MP Shafi Prambil will move a resolution to regulate airfare prices, advocating for a reasonable upper limit on fares for specific routes and the establishment of a quasi-judicial body to oversee air tariffs.
E T Mohammed Basheer will present a resolution addressing the growing problem of drug abuse in India, which he claims poses a significant threat to public health. Parshottambhai Rupala will move a resolution on the establishment of Jan Kitnasak Kendras aimed at providing farmers with affordable, high-quality pesticides. Finally, Kodikunnil Suresh will raise a resolution calling for measures to ensure that the delimitation process safeguards the democratic rights of all states.
