National Shipping Board Rules 2026 Notified

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has notified the National Shipping Board Rules, 2026 under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. 

The newly notified rules supersede the National Shipping Board Rules, 1960 and establish a revised governance and procedural framework for constitution, functioning, administration, and operational conduct of the National Shipping Board (“NSB”).

The rules provide a comprehensive framework governing:

• Constitution and reconstitution of the Board

• Tenure and removal of members

• Secretariat and administrative support

• Meeting procedures and quorum requirements

• Voting mechanisms and decision-making

• Formation of sub-committees

• Travel and allowance framework for members.

The notification reflects the Government’s broader effort to modernise maritime governance architecture in alignment with the newly enacted Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.