A deeper dive into the legislative substance that defined the Indian Parliament’s 260th Monsoon Session: (July 21 — August 21, 2025). Bucketing the session’s output into thematic reforms, understanding Parliament’s significant work on maritime modernization, fiscal and economic reforms, and a bold restructuring of India’s sports economy in years. The much-covered online gaming law, though significant, takes a back seat here in favor of under-the-hood policy shifts that could shape India’s economic and regulatory landscape for decades.
Thematic Clusters —
1. Maritime and Transport Reforms:
For years, India’s shipping and port activities limped along under a patchwork of colonial-era legislations, some dating back to 1856. The 2025 Monsoon Session changed this trajectory through a synchronized reform effort:
- The Indian Ports Act, 2025: Replacing the archaic Indian Ports Act, 1908, this new law recognizes Maritime State Development Councils and State Maritime Boards, decentralizing powers to states for non-major ports and sharply upgrading port administration, dispute resolution, environmental compliance, and investor confidence. The aim: boost efficiency, lower litigation, and make ports globally competitive.