Shri Anupam Mishra, Additional Secretary, DoCA, delivered the keynote address at the One-Day Conference of Controllers, Legal Metrology Officers and Industry Associations on “Legal Metrology Reforms and Effective Implementation of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026” in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
In his address, Shri Mishra highlighted the need to reimagine Legal Metrology—from a compliance burden to a framework that builds consumer trust through correct quantity, accurate measurement and proper declarations. He emphasised a shift from permission-based to trust-based regulation, supported by improvement notices and proportionate penalties to promote Ease of Doing Business.
Speaking on decriminalisation, he noted that enforcement had often focused on procedural and technical non-compliances, such as font size, spacing, unit symbols and rounding of digits, rather than genuine consumer protection.
Shri Mishra also outlined key changes under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, as amended through the Jan Vishwas Act, 2026, including Improvement Notices, revised imprisonment provisions, decriminalisation of certain offences, and changes in fines and compounding provisions.
He also highlighted testing and verification reforms, including Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs)—with verification expanded from 10 to 23 categories of instruments and 51 GATCs approved so far. The verification period for petrol/diesel dispensers has also increased from one year to two years, reflecting technological improvements.
Outlining the way forward, Shri Mishra called for notification of the Legal Metrology Enforcement and GATC Rules, measuring enforcement by compliance achieved and consumer protection ensured, rather than inspections and notices, and expanding verification through greater use of GATC laboratories.
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