Page 27 - NIS English 1-15 April, 2026

Cover Story
Legal Reforms
Accelerate Growth In
The Maritime Sector
The government has undertaken
comprehensive legal reforms to modernize
and make India’s maritime and inland
water transport sector competitive.
The sector has gained a strong foothold
through various Acts and new Bills
introduced in Parliament in 2025…
Acts
l The National Waterways Act, 2016
l The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and
Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017
l The Recycling of Ships Act, 2019
l The Major Ports Authorities Act, 2021
l The Inland Vessels Act, 2021
l The Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021
5 new Bills passed in Parliament in 2025…
n The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025
Nearly 50 rules,
n The Carriage of Goods by Sea regulations,
Bill, 2025 policies, and
guidelines have
n The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025 been implemented
n The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 to promote ease of
doing business in
n The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 the sector.
National Maritime Day Special
This land is the land of
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
not only laid the foundation
of maritime security but also
asserted Indian strength
across the trade routes of
the Arabian Sea. His vision
showed us that the seas are
not just boundaries but also
gateways of opportunity.
Today, India is moving
forward with the same vision
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
wide as the Mother of All Industries. It not
only builds a ship, but also expands the in-
dustries associated with it. Numerous indus-
tries, including steel, machinery, electronics,
textiles, paints, and IT systems, benefit from
the shipping industry. This, in turn, benefits
small and micro-scale industries. Studies
show that every rupee invested in shipbuild-
ing nearly doubles the investment in the
economy. Every job created in a shipyard
creates six to seven new jobs in the supply
chain. This means that if 100 jobs are created
in the shipbuilding industry, more than 600
jobs are created in other related sectors. This
sector creates a significant multiplier effect.
If India is to become a developed nation
by 2047, when the country celebrates its
100th anniversary of independence, it must
become self-reliant. India has no choice but
to be self-reliant. 1.4 billion citizens have
made a solemn resolve: whether it’s chips
April 1-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 25