<h1>India enacts Merchant Shipping Bill 2024 and Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025 to modernize maritime laws</h1> Two maritime bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament on the same day, marking a significant legal reform in India's maritime sector. The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 replaces the outdated 1958 Act, modernizing the legal framework with 16 parts and 325 clauses aligned with international conventions, enhancing safety, environmental protection, and seafarer welfare, while promoting Indian tonnage and reducing compliance burdens. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 repeals the century-old 1925 Act, adopting the internationally recognized Hague-Visby Rules to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, and improve transparency and commercial efficiency. Both bills aim to align India's maritime laws with global standards, support ease of doing business, and strengthen the country's position as a trusted maritime trade hub. The legislation received bipartisan support despite opposition protests and reflects a broader governmental effort to replace colonial-era laws with modern, internationally compliant statutes.