Why in News?
The Centre has recently urged all States and Union Territories to expedite the implementation of legal metrology reforms, particularly the shift from a licensing regime to a registration-based system for businesses dealing in weights and measures. This push aims to reduce compliance burdens and improve the ease of doing business while protecting consumer interests.
Major Reforms Introduced
| Reform |
Details |
| Decriminalization |
Jan Vishwas Amendment Act, 2023 decriminalized 7 sections of Legal Metrology Act, 2009 – replaced imprisonment with monetary penalties for minor violations |
| Improvement Notices |
Jan Vishwas Amendment Act, 2026 introduced “improvement notices” allowing MSMEs to correct procedural lapses before penalties are imposed |
| Licensing → Registration |
Shift from licensing regime to registration-based system to simplify compliance |
| Self-Verification |
Expanded self-verification mechanisms for businesses |
| Reduced Penalties |
Lowered penalties for first-time procedural violations (fraud/tampering still strictly penalized) |
Government Approved Test Centre (GATC) Reforms
- October 2025: Rules amended to authorize private entities for verification of weights/measures
- Instrument categories expanded from 10 to 18 (including breath analysers, weighing scales, water meters)
- 12 GATC certificates awarded to 11 private entities (Nov 2025)
- May 2026: Revised rules permit GATCs to verify dispensers for hydrogen, LPG, LNG, CNG fuels
- Enables public-private partnership in verification ecosystem
Other Notable Initiatives (World Metrology Day 2025)
- India became 13th country worldwide authorized to issue OIML Certificates
- 1 mg accuracy mandated in gold trade
- Launch of eMaap portal for metrology services
- “One Nation, One Time” proposed under Draft IST Rules 2025
- New rules released for speed guns, gas meters, precision instruments
Objectives of Reforms
- Improve ease of doing business
- Reduce compliance burden on businesses, especially MSMEs
- Encourage voluntary compliance
- Allow state departments to focus on inspections, enforcement, consumer grievance redressal
- Safeguard consumer interests while reducing business barriers
- Align India's standards with global benchmarks
Legal Framework
- Primary Act: Legal Metrology Act, 2009
- Key Amendments:
- Jan Vishwas Amendment Act, 2023
- Jan Vishwas Amendment Act, 2026
- Rules: Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013 (amended Oct 2025)
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