ABC Live

Research-Based Journalism for an Empowered India

[ABC Live @abclive]

@SupremeCourtFan @dslaindia DSLA Weekly Supreme Court Review — Edition 11 (2026) reviews eight Supreme Court judgments delivered from 6–10 July 2026. The Court protected professional freedom, enforced legal process and set clear limits on banks, schools, courts and expert bodies.

[ABC Live @abclive]

DSLA Weekly Supreme Court Review — Edition 11 (2026) https://t.co/7LU5GvqxIn

[ABC Live @abclive]

DSLA Weekly Supreme Court Review — Edition 11 (2026) https://t.co/7LU5GvqxIn

[ABC Live @abclive]

DSLA Weekly Supreme Court Review — Edition 11 (2026) https://t.co/7LU5GvqxIn

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China The South China Sea arbitration achieved a major legal clarification but did not create a complete political settlement.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China As a result, the law now defines the country’s internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ and continental shelf by reference to UNCLOS.However, domestic legislation cannot by itself settle disputes with other states. Therefore, the maritime zones law strengthens the Philippine legal position but does not automatically deliver physical control.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China ASEAN states and China issued the Declaration on Conduct in 2002. Subsequently, according to the ASEAN overview of South China Sea cooperation, formal negotiations on the single COC draft commenced in March 2018.Meanwhile, the Philippines enacted the Philippine Maritime Zones Act in November 2024.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China The tribunal reached four central conclusions.
Third, artificial construction could not convert a submerged reef or rock into a legal island with new maritime rights.Finally, the tribunal found that several Chinese activities had violated Philippine sovereign rights and caused serious environmental damage. Consequently, the tribunal’s 501-page final award became a major reference point in modern maritime law.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China The tribunal reached four central conclusions.
Second, none of the examined Spratly features could generate a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, or EEZ.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China The tribunal reached four central conclusions.
First, China could not claim historic resource rights beyond the maritime zones allowed by UNCLOS merely because an area appeared inside the nine-dash line.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @ASEAN @bongbongmarcos @MFA_China The 2016 South China Sea arbitration rejected China’s claim to broad historic resource rights within the nine-dash line. However, it neither decided ownership of the disputed islands nor created a direct enforcement system. Therefore, ten years later, the unfinished ASEAN-China Code of Conduct shows why legal rights, conflict-management rules and maritime capacity must work together.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: Why the South China Sea Arbitration Still Matters https://t.co/Z3iRBXwGFH

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @IFSCA_Official @GIFTCity_ Why India Needs a Strong Ship-Leasing Market
India depends heavily on maritime transport. Nearly 95% of India’s trade by volume and around 70% by value moves through ports and maritime routes. Therefore, vessel availability and freight costs directly affect India’s exports, imports, energy supply and logistics competitiveness.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @IFSCA_Official @GIFTCity_ Meanwhile, the Government reported 36 ship-leasing entities in GIFT City by May 2026. Therefore, the lessor count increased by 50% from the July 2025 level.Similarly, the leased-vessel count rose from 18 to 37. Consequently, the number more than doubled, representing growth of approximately 106%.
Although these numbers remain modest compared with mature global maritime centres, they show that GIFT City ship leasing has moved beyond the planning stage. Moreover, the Section 11 exemption now supports a market that already records real vessel transactions.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @IFSCA_Official @GIFTCity_ In July 2025, GIFT IFSC had 24 ship lessors that had leased 18 vessels. By March 2026, however, the number of leased ships had increased to 37.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @IFSCA_Official @GIFTCity_ Why Section 11 Created a Business Hurdle
Ship leasing operates in an international market where prices and vessel availability change quickly. Therefore, even a short approval delay can affect the commercial terms of a transaction.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @IFSCA_Official @GIFTCity_ Why This Explainer Is Needed
At first sight, the reform may appear to remove only one licence. However, ship-leasing transactions involve several connected parties, including vessel sellers, lessors, banks, operators, charterers, insurers and port authorities.
Consequently, a delay affecting one approval can delay the entire transaction. For example, a lender may refuse to release funds until the parties prove that the vessel can operate legally. Similarly, a shipowner may refuse to deliver the vessel while regulatory uncertainty continues.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

@narendramodi @PMOIndia @IFSCA_Official @GIFTCity_ GIFT IFSC units can now charter foreign vessels without a separate Section 11 licence for covered operations. Consequently, the reform may reduce delays, lower compliance costs and attract maritime finance to India.

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45

[ABC Live @abclive]

Explained: How Shipping Exemption Boosts GIFTCity Ship Leasing https://t.co/XXVOH4RD45