Minister of ports, shipping, and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal will move ‘The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024’ to update and unify existing law to align with international maritime treaties.
The legislation will consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure the optimum utilisation of India’s coastline; establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports; establish the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector; provide for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India’s obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes. The Bill will be tabled for consideration and passage.
In the Rajya Sabha, seven ministers will lay papers on the table concerning their ministries.
The House will also see statements made by two Ministers.
Union minister of state for communications and rural development Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekha will make the following statements regarding: (a) Status of implementation of the Recommendations contained in the 2nd Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (18th Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2024-25) pertaining to the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources).
(b) Status of implementation of the Recommendations contained in the 6th Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (18th Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources).
Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Singh Bittu will make a statement regarding the Status of implementation of Recommendations/Observations contained in the 3rd Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways(18th Lok Sabha) on Demands for Grants (2025-26) about the Ministry of Railways.