As the Opposition continued their protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, Rajya Sabha Thursday passed the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, through voice vote, which seeks to create a legal framework for vessels trading in coastal waters and repealing provisions of the older Merchant Shipping Act.
The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on April 3, 2025.
The House was earlier adjourned until 2 pm soon after it assembled at 11 am amid protests over the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar. When the House reassembled after lunch, Opposition MPs were once again on their feet raising slogans against the revision of rolls.
Amid the din, the discussion on the Bill, initiated by Union Minister for Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal, and the voting took place.
BJP’s Darshana Singh and six other MPs spoke during the discussion. Only one Opposition member, NCP (SP)’s Fouzia Khan was asked to speak but she was not present.
Given an opportunity by the Chair, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Today, the country is passing through a dangerous period… we have to work together and for that, you should allow this discussion (on SIR). (If that happens), we will participate in all other discussions.”
CPI(M) MP John Brittas, when asked to move amendments to the Bill, said that he would do so only if a discussion on the SIR was allowed.
Sonowal said that the Bill was a significant reform initiative, which will unlock the full potential of India’s 11,098 km long coastline and to take share of India’s cargo traffic to 230 million tonnes by 2030. “This (Bill) is designed to make coastal trade easier… it is a holistic, forward-looking framework in line with global practices and a part of the series of reforms in the maritime sector,” said Sonowal.
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The Bill contains six chapters and 41 clauses, he said, mainly about licensing and regulation of coastal trade and also creation of a national database for coastal shipping.
After the Bill was passed, the House was adjourned for the day.
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